Mid Life Melanin MaMa

Our weekend adventure on Saturday led us to our local library for an ice cream social! As a working single mom it's challenging to find events to do especially working on a limited budget. So I try to plan our adventures in advance. Have car will travel, have bus pass will travel, have legs that work will travel.

I believe this life is all about what you make it and today we made the fun outing at the library reading getting to know other people other parents and children and just enjoying a beautiful day all around. There's so many exciting things to do around the city and in the suburbs but on this day we chose to go to the library.

Our looks for this day were very simply casual and fun. I thrifted my overalls at least five years ago and they were up cycled by beautiful friend. Zi'Joy's Was thrifted before she was born last year. So yes we went looking alike for now I like dressing us the same or similar to each other not every day but a lot. Our thrifted and gifted and upcycled looks or purchase for less than $20 together.

So on Sunday the wind down of the weekend we did not do our usual church service. We choose to go to the 11 am service. While it was enjoyable. I was reminded once again why i go to the 7:30 a.m. service. Our day seemed shortened but i decided to take us to one of our local parks. I just love this one and Zi'Joy and I ate a late lunch there. Our looks today were again matching. This time our headwrap material was the same. Not to worry i found a safe tutorial for her head wrap it was very easy and safe. Yes I did carry the parasol in to Church because we have to walk from the parking lot to the church and she didn't have a sun hat on we decided to carry the parasol. I just keep it in my trunk. God mommy bought me two necklaces that are teething necklaces. I'm not sure about them yet but I got a chance to wear them in Zion'Joy did enjoy them.

A sweater that was high low a mesh belt denim slipper shoes and some harem pants that I love and have sported them before completed my look.    Zion'Joy had a onesie with polka dots and a simple white onesie underneath completed her look. She did have some Red Soxs on in church cuz it was a little cold.

From our family to yours We hope you have a beautiful weekend and remember all are welcome commenters, stop by to say hello or lurkers.

Well hello family!

Angie's blog today I spoke to my my love of hats. Sometimes like Angie get out of my head. Let me introduce you to one of my favorites. I bought her a long long long time ago from a vintage shop in Paris. She is a light blue looking like denim silk hat. When I put her on it was beautiful love at first sight or Love at First wear. I recently wore her again to church this past Sunday so it's fitting that I write about her.

I was going to title this post all you ever give me is the Blues a. It's from a group called Tony Toni Tone. Well because of Heather's have for many years I treat her very carefully she is in perfect condition and I mean perfect condition I'll have her steam cleaned once in awhile. As I said on Andy's blog it's very hard to find a good hat to fit a large head as well as a small head there is no one-size-fit-all standard. Although as in fashion they tried to be. Our looks from head to toe Our Vintage and thrifted and upcycled.

I love the pattern play that was going on and both Zi'Joy & my own fit. The play on polka dots me and my polka dotted palazzo pants Ensign and her polka dotted top. The tie-in of the flowers a great friend of ours gave us flower headbands. Talk about something not fitting Zi'Joy beautiful and hers. I on the other hand not so much. I decided to make it into a wrist corsage.

I love the Tomboy is girly look for my daughter I put her in all types of clothes. So the camouflage flower print pants or Too Cute. With so much pattern is so many brights going on I felt like I needed a solid which was my dark blue top which is a play on the high low trend.

I've included some of my favorite hats and pictures of my favorite hats from different times.

As usual all are welcome, lurkers, comments are always welcome or just stop by to say hi. I hope this finds you all well until next time.

Greetings family!

Oh what a fabulous day this was today on Mama Donna & Zi'Joy's Adventures we celebrated by the Chicago Lakefront. The wrap your beauty movement known as Ge'Le Day. So you may ask what is this day what is Ge'Le? Well it is a head wrap that is worn by women on the Continent African and/or African American descent. Although head wraps can really be found around the world and in Africa it is called the Ge'Le.

I have posted before about a special day this to me. Without going too deep I've been attending for 4 years. The Creator Pilar has been having this beautiful ceremony of movement for the past 6 years this is my fifth year attending. This is Zi'Joy's first but not her last. It was such a joy and a beautiful day out. At first we had heavy rains in Chicago the sky was overcast and was hot and humid. But then as if the universe heard us it cleared the ground was dry and it was a beautiful day sitting under the trees.

This time going out I certainly did look like the Luvs commercial but I took my little Zi'Joy with me. I took so much stuff because we were literally outside from 9:30 in the morning until about 5:30 in afternoon evening. I must say Zi'Joy was just that, an excellent Joy. She slept she rested she drink plenty of milk and Pedialyte and she was just fab. What I'll do is I'll add more pictures when they become available because of course I can't take pictures for everything but it was some beautiful moments that I would like to share with you all so check back and I'll add more pictures as soon as they become available.

I've included a link to explain fully what Ge'Le day is. For me it's a very personal Journey one of a tradition history and one I want to my daughter to know.
Essentially it is a celebration of life and it's a celebration of family it is a celebration of women it is just a celebration bringing all of us together and to wrap our Beauty which is our crowning Glory which is our hair. I love pictures so hopefully I won't go too overboard and bore you all. My whole outfit was thrifted my daughter's outfit was purchased for a very nominal price. But it makes a great impact I did have her head wrapped but it was very hot it was 87 degrees out but it felt hotter but the breeze was turning off the lake and made a beautiful day so she wore her sun hat. I hope you enjoy our looks/

My Fit was was pants and a bikini top but Mama Donna is not wearing a bikini top so I put a swimsuit underneath it a swimsuit top and a swimsuit skirted bottom underneath the pants and that gave me the look that I was going after conservative yet sexy mama. I'm still me after baby. I think sometimes moms lose a sense of themselves when they have their baby. My Z'joy as to the fullness of my life.

Anyway I hope you enjoy the pictures the reading or both. As always all are welcome. Lurker(s) commenters or just stop by to say hi.

The WRAP your beYOUty Movement & The African LIFE present Gele Day 2017: Mu Kawo Tare! (We Bring Together!) on July 22, 2017! we begin with libation/prayer and headwrap tutorials by Sisters from Nigeria, Ghana, The West Indies and America.

What is Gele Day.
https://youtu.be/LrPwE92SqzM

An interesting discussion took place recently about cultural appropriation. It was a great dialogue what is considered cultural appropriation vs. Cultural appreciation. This dialogue led me to a very emotional place. I think since having my daughter I've begun to think more and more of the history of my people.

As African American woman where does our Beauty and strength lay. If Africans were not taken from Africa where would our trajectory be by now. History has often been a brutal Taskmaster who robbed the African American of our identity and history. When you know where you come from and who you came from it gives you a sense of self. It gives you a sense of power it gives you a sense of owning your own Beauty. At least in my eyes.

Because of this discussion it led me to thinking of a tradition that was passed down too many African American women of unashamedly loving our natural hair. Of wrapping our Beauty which is often referred to as crowns or our crowning Glory. Not only is this fashion this is who I am. As an African American woman who's story and Journey did not just begin with slavery that is not where I choose to start from. But as we cannot Trace our history back to Africa we have to establish our own traditions and our own norms. Based upon that truth which is my truth I choose to pass my truth and my tradition on to my daughter.

This is Who We Are this is how I choose to raise her this is our Beauty this is our fashion this is our tradition. This Is Us!

Greetings family!

Time flies when you have baby. I keep wondering to myself where does all the time go. If I didn't take pictures I probably wouldn't remember half the things that I did. I mean I do sit and rest but it's nice to get out of the house. In the Chi we take full advantage of the summer. In other words we gets it in for real.

So I had to attend a funeral this past weekend I must say that I really hate funerals. Maybe hate is a strong word I really dislike them. This one was 3 hours and some change. I didn't get a picture of my outfit but it was summer appropriate I think I'll recreate it for church on Sunday. I did do a quick change so this is what I wore.

I have mentioned the Fleek Market before. Basic explanation is that it's a flea market on steroids. It's one of the most happening events to me in our thrifting group I belong to. Just so happened to be right down the street from the funeral. After I paid my respects it was time to enjoy the day. So me and baby nugget and my sister and my niece got out into creation and enjoyed the fresh air. It was so beautiful not too hot not too cold but a nice little breeze blowing great friends great music and course great Thrifty deals.

As always baby seems to be center of attention which I did not mind at all. I was really casual the denim leggings I actually wore to the funeral but I kept them on changed into some tennis shoes and wore this pretty pink and white flowy top dress tunic thingy. Now for my head wrap it was actually the dress I wore last week I just took it a wrapped around my head. I just love great head wraps especially for summer I love brights as you all can see I love patterns and this was perfect for the day.

Baby nugget on the other hand is just a beautiful bundle of happy happy joy joy. She went all casual and cool and of course without Sox or shoes because let's face it she does not like them. On this day she didn't do an outfit change but baby girl wore this pretty Aqua dress onesie thing and of course her pretty little onesie her sun hat had hearts and hot pink. Dresses seem to be the running theme in her wardrobe I don't mind it cuz they're so cute. We have all types of onesies but, baby is growing so fast. She's three months now but she's wearing like 6 to 9 month clothing my little chunky baby.

Picture 6 through 11 are from a book fair Festival on Sunday so many artists and authors and music. We're going to call this selfie Sunday because well it's hard asking people to take pictures of your outfit anyway it was a nice outfit and I'll get pictures one day. But of course a head wrap was in the order. I'm getting a little bit tired of my Afro but I don't want to cut it so we do head wraps. Baby girl just had an absolutely happy time this is bet happy face. I'm enjoying her so much she just puts a smile on my face. The apples were from a garden that was dedicated to Michelle Obama and they were selling them for $0.25 a piece and I love this artist mural of Kanye West not a big fan but the mural was really awesome. And last but not least a picture in selfie Sunday of us in front of our new church home. we finally found ourselves a church home. I've been with the same church for 15 years but it was time to move on this is our sister Church and just took a quick selfie to snap our joy and to remember the moment.

As usual all are welcome commenters lurkers or just say hi. I hope you have a great week and I'll check in when I can.

Hello Family!

So another beautiful week is passed us by. The summer is in full swing here in the Chi. Saturday here was so perfect the weather Cool Breeze sunny just a beautiful day. It reminded me of that song "Saturday in the Park I think it was the Fourth of July." Only it was the 8th of July. Of course the song is by one of my favorite groups Chicago.

Anywho Zion'Joy and I were able to get out and experience what summer is like in the Chi. So this was our first day really out being out all day about 6 Plus hours from afternoon to early evening. Baby girl did just fine of course like a new mom I was worried. There really wasn't any need to worry. I over-packed, like that commercial that says first baby you have everything and goes off and  leaves the baby in the house. Then when she gets to her second baby she's Old Pro. New moms huh?

So Facebook has this wonderful group called over 40 and Pregnant and raising babies. It's one of the best groups out there all I said I needed some help and some of the more experienced moms gave me help of a list of things to pack which was great and I don't have to worry about anything. I packed it all in one big bag and off we went. Zion Joy was as her name reflects Joy she slept she rested she enjoyed the music it was just all around a good day. Music food family friends and good times.

So these are outfits very simple but it's always impactful. My Fit consisted of a beautiful dashiki print dress a green head wrap tennis shoes because I have yet to buy sandals for the new sizing of my feet. As always my sunnies and my long leather earrings which I will have to put up until baby is old enough. Of course she tried to pull them and pull them but we worked it out and they look good so I had to go for it. Zi"joy had on this beautiful onesie the arms were a flutter sleeve it was like a short thing so very cute with polka dots green polka dots and of course we had other onesies for her but just very very lovely. Again this kid's wardrobe is amazing thrifted.

As usual, all are welcome and I hope this post finds you all well.

Humming to myself the song by Chicago

Saturday in the park,
I think it was the Fourth of July
Saturday in the park,
I think it was the Fourth of July

People dancing, people laughing
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs
Everybody is another
Can you dig it (yes, I can)
And I've been waiting such a long time
For Saturday...

Hey Family!

Well, here we are on another beautiful day it was in the 90s in the Chi. I wanted to dress for both comfort and beauty. Baby Zi'Joy turned 3 months old this past Sunday. We sang the Stevie Wonder version of happy birthday to her.

This was our looks for church and Her birthday. I wore this fabulous thrifted new with tags blush skirt. Oh it is so pretty and airy. It's the closest I'll come to an adult tutu. I wore my afro lady studded t-shirt a mesh belt a pair of my favorite summer canvas Ghillie shoes. Arnt they pretty? I just love them. Simple button earrings and a jade and copper ring.

Zi'Joy went all out for her birthday. With a grey tutu skirt with flecks of glitter in it. A new princess in town pink onseie and pink and white socks. She does not like her shoes just yet so we are waiting to wear those out. Her sun hat was a mix if greys pinks and whites. So very pretty.

This weekend we learned about texture smell and feel. Sensory touch of different things. It's so much fun seeing the world through her eyes. I feel a bit less jaded. After 10 years in the Army it can really change a perspective. Going back to work was such a challenge but i got through it. Thankfully.

I must say i enjoy reading your adventures in this fashion journey. Popping in and out commenting when I can.

As always thank you for reading,commenting , or lurking.