Orange for Church

I wore this long sleeved orange top that was a gift from my mom a couple of weeks ago. I paired it with the dark denim boot-cut jeans and my beige jacket that I love – also gift from my mom. So I got dressed at around 7:30 since it was so cold and cloudy. When I got outside, 20 minutes later, the sun was out full force! So I had to go back upstairs and change into this orange vest.

#UnpredictableKenyanWeather!

xo

Jo

Summer Vests

We’re in a season here I like to call Kenyan summer. Right after cold July and before November short rains. 

So, I bought these vests at Bus Station and they’ve come in quite handy! I’m even planning on going to get some more!

xo

Jo

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

Maxi Skirt for Summer

We are officially in the middle of Kenyan Summer, right? It gets hot and sunny by like 9 a.m. By 12 noon, it’s CRAZY hot! Like, walking in an oven hot! Don’t get me wrong, I love the gorgeous, strident blue Nairobi sky, but wah!

Anyway, I had to get over my arms issues (all the fries I eat go straight into my arms) and thank God for that because these vest have saved my life! Ignore the ridiculously huge smile.

I wore this to town this week and I felt really good, all feminine like. Again no make-up, (my sweat plus mascara don’t mix rule). I absolutely love this hair! If only it was mine! I wore this with my brown flats, but I felt really uncomfortable, like it didn’t look right, next time, SANDLES!

Ok, here we go:

Denim half-coat and Brown shoes – Muthurwa (very new though!)

Grey vest – Bus Station

Maxi skirt – Used to be a dress of my mom’s but I tailored it into a skirt.

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

Photo booth

Went for a glam look here, full make-up, including bright orange lipstick! I got this purple dress for my 20^th birthday at Jamia Mall in town. I love the gold thingies on the straps, I didn’t get a full length image this time, but I’m sure I’ll post it at some point. I got the gold drop earrings from a guy at Donholm Market.

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

Fearless Summit 2012

I don’t remember if I ever did a recap for Fearless Summit at Church I went to in June. I was going through my computer and found these pictures and I got happy all over again:

1. Swag bag
2. First Day Outfit
3. Meeting my most favorite Kenyan singer Atemi Oyungu (Please come sing at my wedding!)
4. Me and Pastor Daniel from Mexico; this guy was awesome!
5. Swag bag
6. My friend Sally (from Worship Team) and I

We got to hear from some amazing speakers!

1. Kenton Beshore from Mariners Church
2. Esther Obasi-Ike (Eish, this woman was IT!)
3. Session hosts were Gowi Odera and Angie Gichuhi
4. Pastor Simon shares with us
5. Background pic, camera, equipment and crew
6. We had a game where we had to throw balloons at each other across the dome
7. Prashan Devisser spoke for like 10 minutes but he was unanimously the person guys remember the most, all the people I meet who went remind me about him.
8. Swag bag + my first Delegates badge = me feeling like the coolest person in the world

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

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,

Clothes Week :: Oufit of The Day

I wore this to School last Tuesday, it was cold and Tuesday is technically my Monday since unlike the rest of the week, I'm at School from 9 to 5.

The jeans and shoes are new and I was really pleased with the fit. The red top thingy I've actually had since I was like 12 years old. It stretches and it hasn't aged at all...crazy huh? I wore the white vest underneath to connect the lightness if the jeans with the dark colors on top, also, the red top thingy undernath has a couple of white stripes, and of course the red pin-stripes for the red top, I liked how it came out :-)

 So what would we call this...office-casual?

xx
Jo

Clothes Week :: Shoes

 

Last week, I talked about my Pinterest tour and how I was seriously going to tackle updating my wardrobe. I totally did it and forced my mom to join me on a shopping trip last Saturday because to be honest no one haggles better than my mom.

I got these 4 pairs of flats...

 

And the piece de resistance (sp?)...

 

These were a little on the expensive side, but I figured they're versatile so I'd splurge a little for once in my life. They are super comfy and I LOVE them.


xx
Jo

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

22nd Birthday Recap Part 2 - Gifts and Outfit of the Day

I got a couple of things I was really looking forward to...

(If you know me, I'm all about Bethel Church and Jesus Culture, and this book is written by the Pastors from Bethel Church and Jesus Culture. It's 40 chapters of excerpts from Banning Liebscher, Bill and Beni Johnson, Kris Vallotton, Danny Silk and Kevin Dodmon)

 

I have wanted this Bible since forever. I've been looking for a Bible that I can read for the rest of my "adult life" that was a bit more age appropriate, that looked good and that I'd actually enjoy reading. This fit all my categories. It has a brown leather cover, with a flap, its small enough to fit in a purse, it's got this black part that looks really nice and the gold dust on the sides looks pretty good. Its also New Living Translation which I LOVE to read because it's so easy to understand, and Jesus' words are in red which I've always wanted. Wanted to get this last month, but it's a bit expensive for a Bible ad I couldn't justify buying it. THANK GOD FOR BIRTHDAYS, huh?

Last but not least is my guitar. I dont have pictures of this guitar because it's still in the store. My mom gifted me with some cash to go buy one, but once I got to the store, a lot of other costs got thrown in. 

CPK Acoustic Gutar 8500/-

or

Yamaha Acoustic Guitar 11000/-

plus

Guitar bag 2000/-

Tuner 2700/-

Other accessories, extra strings, picks 500/- 

So right now, I need to take some time and figure out these choices as well as save for the bag, tuner, and accessories. Hopefully in June/July?

OK, and finally on the Birthday front, of course I had to do my #ootd

 Sandals from a stall in Bus Station, Top and Jeans from Moi Avenue, Stars Jacket from Ngara

xoxo
Jo

What I Wore January to April 2012

These are some of my favorite ouftits that I've worn the past 4 months, mostly in the last 2. I think it'll be funny to look at this in a few years (or even months!) and think, "oh my goodness what was I thinking!" Plus it kinda gives me more of a reason to get dressed up because I'm ordinarily a comfort-over-style-nobody's-even-looking-at-me girl.

xx
Jo

Outfit Of The Day

This is what I wore to school tomorrow. It looked kind of crazy and out there for me with all the lace and sequins on the skirt, but I thought to myself, "Jo, if not now, then when???" Plus, my class was at night, it was the end of the day and it looked like it would rain so people will be too busy getting home in the rain than looking at me...

The pink sweater was gifted to me by my mom, I like it, its girly. The boots are my usual, brown boots.

xx
Raha

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