Mizizi Week 3

I wore the maxi skirt again a couple of weeks ago, and teamed it with this top I’ve had since I was like 14. My mom buys really great stuff, she has an eye for quality and I’m really appreciating that because a lot of the stuff she and I wore in the past are making their rounds back into acceptable fashion. The silver ring, I got for my 21^st birthday.

Mizizi this week was insane! I’ve talked before about how I wanted to maybe go into Pastoral Leadership as a career, so a couple of months ago I decided to get a head start and start serving in Church. So I joined Worship Tea, (yayy!) and I signed up to teach/understudy a beginners course at my Church called Mizizi.

Yesterday it hit me that it isn’t about going and working. Serving is a major Spiritual burst! What I mean is, it pulls so much out of you, you’re constantly expected to grow and change and move out of your comfort zone. Last night I just felt the weight of it. I was just drained. Putting myself out there, sharing my heart with a group of practical strangers, having them share their heart, just the weight of all that.

Then there’s the feeling of, “God, they are so close! Please let them encounter you, please let them encounter you, please don’t let them leave here discouraged and not knowing all that you have to offer”

Then with Worship Team, again a bunch of practical strangers, trying to fit in, having to go all the way across town for fellowship and again, investing relationally and pushing myself out of my shell. Then these thoughts come in, “Why are you doing this? This isn’t a requirement! You’re getting tired for nothing! How safe is it to walk around town at night when you could be at home?”

The fact that I feel like this is an encouragement to me. Christian life isn’t about having this cushy, comfortable, status-quo existence, its active and action packed. Otherwise, stagnate and die. About the stress, I was watching Francis Chan and he said something along the lines of, “Mizizi/Worship Team, this isn’t my party that I’m inviting God to, this is His party that He lets me be a part of. I’m not the one on whose shoulders lie the responsibility of encounter, God is.”

I have to let God come and do what He does, that is, love in His people.

My only job description is to seek God, and put myself in a place where He can fill me up, so that I can pour into others. I have to rely on Him more than ever now because in my passive-church-once-a-week life, I’ve never been in this space where I’m technically “leaking”.

It’s also great because when I start dating and when I get a family, I’m gonna be “leaking” all over that too, so getting into the practice of getting filled up by God so I can pour onto others is a POSITIVE thing.

xo

Jo

Mad Love - Move Tour Concert

I just realized I never posted these pics! This was such a fun day, I already talked about it here. I think I dance a lot, like at Church, during Praise and Worship, I’m very expressive. At home, I’m about a thousand times more expressive, jumping around in my room and across the corridors, so at this concert, I was right at home!

Outfit of the day:

1. Had a lot of denim going on which I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I rocked it anyway, including the denim across the shoulder bag (a must to keep my stuff safe and my hands free)
2. Blue pearl drop earrings I got from a guy at Donholm Market
3. Side View
4. Jewelry for the day plus freshly manicured nails
5. No make-up; mascara and sweat don’t exactly go together; and, I changed my hair, I love this long and curly look, it’s my fave hairstyle of the year

Performers:

The guy in the middle is Sean Simmons. He was my fave performer of the night! First because he had the crowd shout “Hi” to his wife and he taped us (aww! )Gotta love a man who remembers his wife and does something like that for her!) Second because of his song, “We astronauts, we outta here”. I have to find that song and put it on The Sound! Another performer I loved was Jahaziel and he did this Ragga-ish song that sounded amazing! And of course, Adawnage leading Worship! Gah! Amazing! Plus the crowd responded, the Holy Spirit moved, and this was at a Hip-Hop concert! God is amazing! We left before Da Truth finished his set, Aggie and I were both car-less and live far, so we couldn’t stay late L

Aggie and I:

Fun day, but next time…VIP!!!! We’re getting to old for this standing and getting pushed around by kids for 5 hours business J

xo

Jo

Date Outfit

No, my friends, I’m still very much single! However, a girl can’t help but look at her closet and dream. When I’m back on the scene, I don’t want to be jeans every date like I used to be, especially after all the growing up I’ve done!

I’m feeling very feminine now…and the girl has turned into a woman…Haha!

Anyway, I figure this is a cute outfit for grabbing lunch or coffee…out of the city center and if I’m driving, those stories for girls being howled at (or even stripped) in “down” town or those sides for bus station, when they wear short skirts or short shorts, I don’t want none of that!!!

Grey vest - Bus Station

White belt – Gifted by mom

Grey skirt – Bought those huge 1990’s skirts on Thika Rd and I got it tailored

Zebra print flats – Muthurwa shopping trip with my mom (no way I can go to Muthurwa alone J)

xo

Jo

Brown Boots

I love these boots! I feel like a Southern girl wearing them. They are so comfortable!!! I don’t wear them often because they are the most important thing I own in my closet and there’s no way I’m letting ‘em get old.

My favorite clothes I wear to Church. A couple of girls stated a rumor about me in school that I dress way different at Church than at School…school I’m all T-Shirts and jeans and Church I’m all dresses and heels…well duh! Ever heard the expression “Sunday Best?” #College Drama

Anyway, I wore this with my black skinnies and polka dot dress top. Funny story, this Denim Jacket, I’ve had since I was like 14! I wore it a bunch back then, then we had this phase where denim jackets were out of fashion and it stayed in my closet, and now, they’re back! I just folded the sleeves to make it a little more updated and edgy, and also because I’ve grown a couple inches since then. The brown slim belt I got from raiding my mom’s closet.

Polka dot dress top – Donholm Market

Brown Belt – “Gifted” from mom

Denim Jacket – “Vintage”/gifted from my mom

Black Skinnies – Ngara Market

Brown Boots – Greenspan Mall

xo

Jo

How To Get Over Sore Muscles

I hate the day after a workout...its great to feel the burn right after. In my mind I tell myself, "those are muscles forming" then I wake up next day and I swear to myself I'm never putting myself through that again!

Anyway, been researching how to get over sore muscles because hey are a major dent in my motivation and found another great post from the awesome Kathrine Kunde, which you can read here!

As much as I put time into training, I also have had to put time into rest and recovery, and here is a few things that helps me deal with soreness:

1. I watch my diet! I make sure my body is getting enough food (meaning highly nutritious foods) to support the physical activity I have done or that I will do. I try to get allot of fresh fruits and vegetables, some protein, fiber and vitamins (Creatin, iron, B12 and B6, vitamin C)
2. Ice ice ice! After a run, I dig out that bag of frozen vegetables in my freezer and let my calf rest on it while I check my e-mail or tell my husband all about my very interesting run.
3. H2O! Try drinking at least equal amount ounce of water as minutes of working out. 40 minute work out equals 40 ounce etc.
4. Rest! relax, sleep, laugh, read, draw and destress...which leads us to the next one:
5. I take baths! A hot Epsom salt bath with lots of Eucalyptus oil/soap does any achy muscle good.
6. Get a massage! Having someone do the after work on your muscles is amazing. It increases the blood flow to the muscles which acts as an aid to the stiffness and swelling in your muscles.
 7. Get motivated for more! Some of us needs a reason to go back on that treadmill or whatever the work out is, I found that getting the actual proof of my work out in pictures is a good way to stay motivated. My muscles look toned, I am a happy girl and I take care of my health! That is something to celebrate!! So ask someone you know who`s in to photography to do a photo shoot with you, or pay a professional one! You wont regret =) 

source: Kathrine Kunde

xo
Jo

Concert Day Outfit Prep

I'm really looking forward to Church tomorrow because there's a concert afterwards and it's been AGES since my last concert, so I'm really excited.

via

Anyway, so I'm on Pinterest looking for outfit ideas, and I think I'm gonna go with...

Source: polyvore.com via Kaci on Pinterest

OR

Source: polyvore.com via Joanne on Pinterest

OR

Source: christinamarie0824.polyvore.com via Joanne on Pinterest

I definitely can't do heels for the event, and I dont want to carry a bag with extra shoes or anything, so I think these are good,

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Fashion

Hi guys so, I finally have resolved, for realz this time to budget money for clothes. I'm older now, plus in that horrible phase of life called single-and-searching-but-absolutely-not-desperate-because-am-a-catch-and-i-know-it-but-am-not-proud-nor-picky-am-just-waiting-for-the-right-one, you got all that right?

Anyway, I obviously want to look good, but honestly, I just don't really put that much thought into what I wear. I dont go shopping unless its for something specific, the last time I went shopping per say was a year ago when I'd just gotten a job and I needed formal work wear, which to me was just baggy trousers and jackets...FAIL! What can I say, I'm just not a fashion maven. I wore hand-me-downs for most f my life, to this day, I still wait for my sister to empty her closet so I can ba some "new" stuff...but NO MORE!

I am a blogger surrounded by a sister-hood of fashionable bloggers AND PINTEREST! I am woman, see me shop! AFFORDABLY! Let's not get crazy. So before I head out, I'd like to do a bit of planning, pick some higheer budget items, then for the smaller stuff, we can do that later. For now, I'm lovibg this yellow blouse, with both the faded skinny jeans and the navy jeans.

Thoughts? Hit or miss? Should I head out and look for/buy this look?

Source: margauxachard.tumblr.com via Joanne on Pinterest

Source: mystylepill.com via Joanne on Pinterest

xx
Jo

White Dress and Heels

I’m not really a dressy person, I’m more of a jeans girl. I wore skirts all the way through primary school. I was in boarding school in High School and wore skirts for another 4 years straight. I went to a private university with a strict  dress code, so again, it was mostly skirts and loose trousers, finally got a chance to wear jeans when I moved to my public university. So, I’m partial to jeans and flats; if I’m feeling more dressy, maybe skinny jeans and heels.

 

Going to church, personally, I can’t exactly be comfortable jumping up and down at worship time or walking around saying hi to people all across the campus in a dress and heels, but I did make an exception a couple of weeks ago:

 

My mom’s friend and her daughter run a home-shopping business/boutique and they brought over some clothes for us to try. So this is one of three dresses I bought. I like it, except for the fact that it creases easily, I like it.

The last time I wore this was to our New Years’ service, then the weather got hot after January and I retired it. Now that it’s cooling down, I thought it was time I brought it out of retirement.

 xx

Jo

Outfit Of The Day

This is me trying out pink lipstick and pink blush...

This is me going full siren red lips!

This was actually a few days ago. My simple/office/innocent-cutie/comfortable look :-) The black vest underneath the white shirt just gave it a little bit more layering slimming effect. I liked it.

Make-up was just Luron Compact and Pink blush. Experimented with pink and red lipstick. The pink is more me and what I went with.


xoxo
Jo

Nairobi Weather and Fab Boots

Like I mentioned it rained yesterday for the first time in months. I had a class at 9 a.m and I woke up to rain and cold and I checked my Facebook and all my friends were writing how they were blowing off school and I was tempted to do the same until I remembered......

Rain+Cold=Chance To Wear The New Boots I Bought Last Year But Never Wore Because Of The Sun!

That, ladies and gentlemen is the reason I got out of bed and went to school, not to learn, not to take notes, but to FINALLY wear those boots. And luckily for me, it rained all day! My mom took this picture after I got home from school so that explains why they look wet. They're like Uggs but they have a bit of a wedge heel at the back and they're super comfortable and can only be worn once a year according to our weather. I wore it with black skinny jeans and a green top and white Ethiopian print scarf.

It's a good thing I wore them too, because this is what I woke up to, or rather was woken up by at 7 a.m this morning. This is the view from my bed in my EAST-WARD facing room. Now you know the reason I wake up early is not because I'm focussed it's because the heat and light is just ridiculous.

 CRAZY NAIROBI WEATHER!!!!!!

Headed to my Mizizi Class and I'm late. Yes, this time I'll be early enough for the mingling/refreshments thing :-) Details later!

Ciao!