Autumn Fashion: Grab Your Cardigans & Boots!

Pull out your cardigans, your knew-high boots, your leggings, mini-dresses! It's time to have some autumn fun. Decided to play with various prints and color combinations. I think I nailed this look. What you do think?

Hope For Tomorrow

I had the opportunity to sort through a few of my most recent self-portraits.  This one in particular stood out the most.  My eyes are striking, filled with hopefulness, and you can clearly tell that I am smiling or otherwise happy.  As Tyra Banks would say, I am Smizing.  Mission accomplished.  I decided to play with a few filters and make it pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is the entire month of October along with other commemorations such as Hispanic Heritage Month or Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I personally lost my maternal grandmother to breast cancer in 2002.  She was surely a woman of God, grace, and great strength.  I learned quite a few things from her about being a young woman - how to cook, clean, style my hair and dress up, go grocery shopping, interact/play with my cousins and family members, appreciate and respect those around me, and build my faith by being surrounded by other faithful people (we were up in the House of the Lord every single Sunday Amen!).  I used to spend my summers with her when I was a child.  Although I didn't fully comprehend everything that was going on leading up to her passing, I knew one thing - she was a soldier and I would never know she was going through anything.  She always held it down.  I've reflected on her impact on my family before (Flashback, A Trip Down Memory Lane); her legacy still remains.

The world needs some ounce of happiness and inspiration.  I hope that I can add to that equation with photography like so.

Maleshia J.

My Life May Resume

This weekend I took one of the most hellish departmental qualifying exams for my doctoral program.  I must say that for the past month or so I have really be in full grind mode because the exam covers SO much material (content spanning 7 subjects within mechanical engineering).  But thanks to the grace and mercy of God it is finished, over, and done with.  Finally, life as we know it may resume.

My life prior to now consisted of sleeping, studying, eating, studying, eating, studying, sleeping, and repeat (with all of the things in between).  I had to make a few sacrifices for the sake of dedicating time and efforts to preparing including going out on the weekends, traveling home or even communicating consistently with my family and friends, practicing my photography or executing photo projects, and sorting through my long list of photo albums.  It was a long strenuous process to prepare for that exam, and my efforts will not go unrecognized.

While I wait to hear the results from my examination, I will continuously cross things off of my to-do list.  I have so many ideas and dreams that must be fulfilled.  I have so many things to say to others, so many things to do, and things I need to do to work on myself (mind, body, soul, and spirit).

Be on the look out for more posts about my photography, my fashion (outward beauty), and my creations in the kitchen.  I recently invested in a Crock-Pot so I may have a few cuisines featured with the tag #CrockpotCreations.

Let's get it!

Until next time,

Maleshia J.

Monday: The Pressure

Monday...

It’s very easy for doubt to creep in when things aren’t looking up in your immediate future. I’m just not feeling it right now. It has me feeling like maybe this just isn’t for me right now. It will all be over soon, soon enough, but will I be ready. Sometimes, I have to look off into the distance just to keep myself from crying/shedding a tear. I know I’m not alone in this, I’m highly favored, but I can’t help but feel these emotions as I go through the motions of trying to figure out how to make it through. This is a very stressful time for me. My own self-imposed pressures are what is weighing me down at the moment. I do not feel confident, no matter how much I tell myself. It just doesn’t stop. It’s only Monday…

I will get through this. I should definitely take a double-take, maybe even triple-take at one of my favorite scriptures Philippians 4:13 which simply says:

"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me."

He strengthens my mind, body, and soul. Thank you Lord. I believe it and I will not give up. I will try my best. It’s just that getting to that end point and visualizing myself at the end of the road has proven very difficult for me.  My qualifying exam is scheduled for this weekend.

My current obstacles/challenges/struggles:

• PhD Qualifying exam
• Lack of focused state of mind and proper study environment(s) or study zones
• Feelings of inadequacy and unconfidence
• Mentally exhausted
• Unsure about what I want to research or am 100% passionate about
• Life at home

It’s a lot, but I’m hoping that God will help me cross out every item on this list in due time. This post was not meant to be sad, pessimistic, or depressing - I just had to get it out. If I could ask one thing, it would be for prayers for strength, endurance, courage, the spirit of boldness, and restored confidence in my abilities.

Side Note: Jhene Aiko's latest album "Souled Out" has been the business for me this past week.

Until next time,

Maleshia J.