Ode to My Fashion

Last Saturday of the decade! A great way to celebrate would be to go out dancing to some old tunes circa late 90s and early 2000s. But your girl here does not have dance partners with the same love for old times music or at least free ones tonight. Therefore I chose another way to celebrate by taking the kids for brunch. I love brunch. I mean it is breakfast and lunch all mixed, a combination of savory and sweet, what is not to love? I am lucky because Dakar has really some nice brunch spots from the freakishly expensive to the reasonably affordable. I took the kids to the reasonably affordable brunch place called Mawa's Taste of America. Scarf - gift Top - thrifted at Sandaga market Jeans - Numero Uno Shoes - Numero Uno Bag - borrowed from my Mom's Sunglasses - Kiabi  I have heard of Mawa's from friends but also on Twitter.  It is nice restaurant that serves mainly American style food, located in the Almadies area. It is actually in a nice house...

Hello my friends! I have a confession to make: I rarely wore make up until I was in my late 30s. Shocking I know!!! I started wearing make up when I was a kid. My Mom would insist on applying powder to my face before attending a social event. I used to hate it. Then when I became a teenager, I was almost forced to wear make up, pressured by my classmates. One of the first make up I bought was black and gold lipsticks. I would mix both to have a very grown look. I actually remember that the first time I tried to apply make up, it was so bad, my classmates had to redo it for me.  Fast forward to 24 years later and I am still not sure how to apply make up. I have lived most of my life not really needing it. I often joke that I would only wear make up once a year. I am not that confident in my bare face because it is not necessarily great. I have pimples all over, particularly around the time of my periods. I have tried several products (and still do) but nothing gives me ...

Hello you guys! Today I am going to rant! I was watching a video on YouTube about how to look expensive. FYI, I started watching a lot of YouTube videos about Fashion. I go through cycles on YouTube or Netflix. One period it is only Bollywood movies and songs, another is about crime series and right now it is watching fashion bloggers/youtubers. But back at the topic. I was watching this youtuber give tips on how to look expensive. I skipped some parts of the video but her main message was that if you want to look expensive you have to wear polished clothes in neutral colors that fit you well and also do your hair and nails. I did agree for some parts of the video. As a true child of my Mother, I always try to wear clothes that are at least ironed well before leaving my house. And I am never wearing torn clothes intentionally. To this day, I still cannot buy distressed jeans. If my clothes are torn, I try and fix them myself or ask a tailor. Bogolan Fabric - bought from ...

Hello my dear readers! I turned 39! I started celebrating my birthday by having lunch with my sons one Sunday. I initially wanted to take the entire family out for lunch the Saturday before but some were sick, some were out of town. I was sick myself ans stayed home all day watching triggering documentaries, don't ask me why? But on Sunday I was done sulking at home. I decided to go out and make the best of the day by taking the kids to an Indian restaurant I have heard about on Twitter. Glasses - bought from a street vendor Dress - Thrifted Bag - HLM Market Jeans - Numero Uno Leather sandals - bought from a friend The Indian Gate restaurant is located in the Almadies Area near the Ngor roundabout. It is a tiny place, nothing luxurious or extravagant about it. We ordered Palak Paneer (cheese in spinach curry), Butter Chicken, and Chicken Biryani with butter Naan. The food was quick to arrive. And it was delicious. Not as delicious as in India, and not as spicy....

Since I have decided that I would celebrate me turning 39 by indulging a bit, I started checking places where I could get the things on my birthday list . As a frugal shopper, I rarely buy something the first time I see it. I usually check other places where it  is cheaper. Remember the Cauri shell bracelet and the Bogolan tote bag, that were on my list? Well I had to see if I could get it cheaper. I decided to go check the Artisan's Village of Soumbedioune or Village Artisanal de Soumbedioune. The Village Artisanal de Soumbedioune is a small mall located right next to the Soumbedioune fish market along the corniche. It has been there for as long as I can remember, or since the 60s to be more exact. It was created by the first president of Senegal in an effort to boost Senegalese artists. It used to be visited by many tourists who wanted to buy unique souvenirs. There you can find articles in African prints such as clothes, pouches, silver jewelry, paintings, sculptures, and even...

Hello Lovelies!!! How is it going? I am doing great. October is really started to test me with its heat. It can become quite unbearable. I am so looking forward to the days where I can rock a sweater or my denim jacket. Anyway, today I wanted to talk about self-confidence. I recently attended a workshop on self confidence hosted by a French Influencer I happen to follow on Instagram. The workshop was 4 hours long and I could only enjoy three because I arrived really late (I was babysitting my niece). But I still managed to get all the information I needed to help me build my self confidence. Sateen scarf - HLM market Short Bubu - tailor made Pants - gift Shoes - Thifted Accessories - different markets  I am not a confident person. I always doubt myself. When I was a housewife, I always felt like what I was doing was never enough. I wanted to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife. I felt like I was constantly failing. This lack of confidence was also felt ou...