Diva Style

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

{ feminine safari }

 inspiration is tribal with a pastel color palette sprinkled with touches of black & white. 

The natural light of this space is sending me. . .

  ☆             
Until we meet again,

Live Glamourously.
                                                  

                                                           






Wednesday, September 4, 2019

{ Black Girl Magic All On Ya Walls}

Can we pause for a moment and discuss how glorious the representation of Black women in art--and well, anywhere--is?

Enter Oliver Gal. They serve up whimsical, colorful, feminine art that excites the senses and adds vibrancy to any interior! And I'm in love. So far, I've collected eight pieces, and I stay on the hunt for more! 


I'm over the moon for the partnership between the Oliver Gal and TJX companies. NTM, the pieces I've found while out and about, are at minimum, often 4-5x less than the art I've seen online. There are minor distinctions between some of them. I've gotten most of mine from everyone's faithful decor sourcing standby, HomeGoods.

This beaut was found for me by an acquaintance I met on IG. She's equally obsessed with all of this  #BlackGirlMagic!

You may remember her from here. I found this one at TJ Maxx.



What decor are you currently obsessing over?

Until we meet again,
Live Glamourously.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

{New Digs}


I recently moved into a beautiful studio loft with 14' ceilings. That loft also came with a lil' living room--that was technically billed as a dining area, but I'm a free spirit, so it's a living area now. Plus, I eat in bed. That's my dining hall. Don't judge. You know you do it, too... 

To be fully transparent, I put down a deposit and signed the lease for this spot sight unseen. I waited almost two months for the previous tenant to vacate so I could move in. The most I'd seen was the outside stoop and the floor plan online. Nonetheless, I still decided to go ahead and develop a design plan for it. 

I envisioned black, gold, pink and white as the primary colors. 

Glitz. Glam. Girly. Feminine.
This is how I work. How my mind works. I don't draw, render, sketch. I mentally create the entire design concept. I've always been that person who takes mental snapshots and stores them away for a later time if (and when) necessary.

I repurposed a few of my old design relics. But you know ya girl also got that new new! 

The accent pillows are from At Home, Ross and Target. Black and white pouf and white shag floor pillow, also from Target. Nicole Miller Home Chair (which I've never found a matching counterpart to, sadly), calf hair ottoman and side/end/sofa tables are from HomeGoods. Most accessories are from various places--IKEA, Hobby Lobby, Pier 1. Disco ball was a secondhand purchase. I love the whimsy and flair it adds. Who doesn't love a shiny, pretty thing?!

My budget went out the window, but I'm in love with the finished product. 

Chu liiiiiike


Until we meet again,

Live Glamourously

Sunday, March 26, 2017

{Sunday Snacks: Recipe}

I recently decided I wanted to fry some chickpeas. After doing a little research, I took the leap. Because I laugh in the face of danger. *insert evil laugh* 

You'll need: 
*A skillet/frying pan (preferably large)
*1 or 2 cans of 15oz chickpeas
*2 tablespoons coconut oil 
*An array of spices: I used salt, cayenne pepper, 
curry powder and ancho chile powder. 
I would have also included cumin, but I was out.
*Cooking goggles (sunglasses?) (I'm not kidding, y'all.
Chickpeas pop (sometimes OUT of the pan), the oil splatters, 
and you will get f*cking burned. Your face is not exempt
from these random attacks.)

I started out by rinsing and peeling the chickpeas, setting the broth aside in a container to use later for making soup or cooking. I read somewhere that peeling them ultimately results in crispier garbanzo beans. I also read that, if making hummus, peeling them, results in a creamier product. To peel the 'peas, you drain after rinsing and place  on a paper towel. I use a plate to house the towel. Envelop the beans in the p/t, applying a little pressure and jostling/wriggling them around beneath the towel. This loosens the shell. It also helps dry the beans.

After peeling them individually--yes, this is a labor of love, but well worth the time--you're left with empty shells. Discard them. Some might feel this is a tedious part of the process, but quite honestly, I sort of relish the time it takes up. I use it to think, express gratitude, or just watch TV while standing in my kitchen. Truth be told, you can peel the 'peas sitting on your couch. The process is not all that messy.

 VoilĂ ! You're left with shiny, pretty, gleaming chickpeas. Go ahead and heat up your coconut oil.

 Throw the chickpeas into your pan. I use my GreenPan, gifted to me by a friend. I looooove this thing. It's huge! You could probably fry two cans in this, but I only had one.

 Fry the 'peas for about 20 minutes or so (covered, stirring intermittently), or until they reach the desired crispness. BE CAREFUL. When I did this, the oil popped up and stung me on my arms and in the face!! I add spices while frying, and once this part is completed, I drain them, and apply more spices while hot, so the coating of seasonings stick. 

 And finally. . .the finished product.

 Fin.

 
 In closing. . .you have crispety, crunchety, vegan-y deliciousness. I'm certain adults and children alike will love this lil' snack. Perfect for a holdover until lunch or dinner time! 

Enjoy!

~

Until we meet again...
Live Glamourously.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

{Luxe Living Rooms & Lofts}


I recently purchased new furniture for my home and am enamored with my setup! 
It just feels so luxurious and grown up!

 Full disclosure: this is the first full-price read: expensive (at least to me) 
sofa I've ever purchased in my life. 
  
I STILL love a bar cart.

 Nicole Miller nailhead chair...been running all over town to EVERY 
HomeGoods to find a match, but no luck yet.
 

 A little taste of my loft sanctuary life. . .
 Above, a small bouquet of flowers left over from my bestie's bridal shower. . .
countdown to the fall wedding in October!!
A closer look. . .made sure I filled this shelf with some of my favorite art 
and pretty little things that just make me smile

Not sure when I'll get around to wearing these shoes, 
so I decided to display them instead. 

Gotta have libations in every other room. . .
boozy guests are happy guests!
{click photos to enlarge}
~

Until we meet again...

Live Glamourously.

Friday, November 20, 2015

{Scenic Wine Tour}

Last weekend, my fabulous friend Dawn aka our group's "social chair", planned a wine day trip for us. It was really fabulous, and we all had a terrific time. We visited a whisky distillery, a brewery and two wineries. I collected a few snaps of the excursion. 

we began our journey at copper fox distillery


our incredibly knowledgeable tour guide


 finished product

after our initial tasting, we headed over to pen druid brewing
run by a band of brothers...

i started out with the orange rider...a citrus-y southern pale ale
...i have an obsession with fruity brews 

brew and a bag...
our group was nothing if not stylish

a sample of the mellow fellow

brewery nosh -- trout mousse...it was delicious

light show at pen druid...a nice touch

~

Until we meet again...

Live Glamourously.