Style Inspiration from Mini-Me

Recently, some co-workers and I had an awesome walk down our fashion memory lane when we reminisced on the HILARIOUS outfits we wore as kids.  It was comical to find out that some fashion statements such as huge collars, lace and crazy hats were things we all shared in our youth.

It also got me thinking about just how much fashion and style from the past can inspire our closets today. So here is my montage of favorite clothing items that will, well never be out of style :-)

1) A Statement Bag:  Yes, I was pretty gangtsa on my first day of school, but perhaps it was because my new leather cross-over school bag was SO on trend!  There is nothing a woman cannot stuff into the right bag, it's our armor of sorts. Knights have shields we have bags (an lots of them).

Moi, on the first day of school.  I'm also belting it!

2) Stripes:  I've never been a big fan of boating, but nautical stripes make me wanna sail away to a magical place called "In-style Forever Island."  Whether it's my navy and red striped Tee dressed up with a black pencil skit, or classic navy and white with some denim...I LOVE stripes (not so sure about the red short shorts :-)

Me on the right in the red shorts holding my sister Siobhan's hand (check out her Mary Janes). My stylish aunt Tish in the red skirt and Mom in the bold striped dress!

3) Cat-eye:  Anyone that knows me well knows I have been wearing a cat-eye since my teenage years.  Maybe it was infatuation with everything Egypt that started it, but I don't think I'm ever gonna stop.  There is a different length of cat-eye that is appropriate for day, night and costume. Obviously my 11-year old self hadn't got this memo yet.  But hey, I'm also rockin a black garbage bag in this pic so obviously style rules were meant to be broken.

Me, I think I was going to a concert that night!

4). Nude Shoes:  Wearing nude shoes is such a gleaming fashion trick-of-the-obvious....they make your legs look better ladies!  Today, there are so many shades of nude available every woman should be able to find a good skin-tone match.  Although buyer beware, wearing them with white angle socks kind of defeats the purpose :-)

Me on my many shopping trips with my Dad to Belfast.  Yes he is the reason I have a shopping problem today :-)

So, take a look back at some old pics of you, who knows what style inspiration you may find?! 

Would love to see your pics...email me at fionaodumosu@gmail.com

Peace & Blessings,

Fiona Olubunmi

Curvy Cover Girl

A couple of weeks ago the French press were thrown into the dog house of poor media ethics for  publishing the topless photos of  Kate Middleton.  I would like to take this moment to shake my head at this attempt for cheap sales, while also giving a standing ovation to the recent special edition of French Elle magazine for finally giving women a hope that the fashion industry can successfully promote the beauty of a real woman's body, hips, thighs and all.

Tara Lynn, a gorgeous and curvy fashion model was the featured star in this issue and her fashion spread was a refreshing taste of just how authentic fashion could be.  Her curvy figure showcases the clothes in a very flattering manner, and in my opinion made the designers' collections appear much more wearable.  And that has to be a good thing, right?

Photo credit: French Elle

My hope and prayer for our future generation of girls is that the media will evolve to the point that Tara Lynn's deliciously curvy body type becomes a norm in high fashion coverage.  So more women can relate and celebrate their true beauty, which should not be compared to an unattainable size 0.

The argument magazine publishers and advertisers give is that women don't want to purchase products or magazines that feature 'average'-sized women.  Well, how can you be sure when we women haven't really been given the chance to see a reflection of our own sizes in mainstream media?!

So, Tara Lynn, I admire your real beauty and thank you French Elle for breaking the mold.  Here's toasting to more curvy cover girls in the future.

Peace & Blessings,

Fiona Olubunmi

Timeless Stylin'

I love adore styling clothes!  I remember the first time my Mom allowed me and my friend Debbie to venture into the city centre to buy our own outfits.  The thrill, the excitement of putting together our own 'stylish' outfits...pure bliss. That lavender sweatshirt and white skin-tight jean buying shopping adventure is one of my all-time happiest tween memories. Years later, working as a fashion stylist/ women's boutique employee was probably the most fun I ever had at a part-time job.

Fast forward to this week when I interviewed a 60-something year-old woman fashion store owner for an article I am working on (more about that venture another time) I was inspired by her effortless elegance and style.  Belted maxi dress, cropped cardigan, brightly colored nails, rose red lipstick, all wrapped together with a confidence and love for fashion that oozed out of this woman's pores.  When I asked her what her best style advice is, without thinking she said, "Wear what you love!"   Yes, this woman was timeless stylin' indeed.

So in honor of New York Fashion Week (which I will one day hopefully attend), here are some of my favorite timeless stylin' fashion trends.

1.  Belt It.  Every woman has a waist no matter how many inches it comprises.  Belting an outfit showcases that waist and really makes a difference in your look and posture.  Just ask Nashville fashionista Miss Tiffany Johnson :-) Hey, Cleopatra wore a midriff belt so I'm thinking she knew what she was doing.

2.  Lipstick.  Ok, so Jedward wrote a song about it (Google Jedward and lipstick music video if you want a good laugh), and I shamefully admit they are right.  Wearing a great colored lipstick is a statement piece all by itself.  Burgundy is apparently a big trend for fall, but I love a soft baby pink or traditional red.

Photo Credit:  Keiko Lynn Fashion Blogger

3. Accessorize.  Adding a statement piece of jewelry is like placing a frame on a beautiful work of art.  Since I have a tendency to lose expensive jewelry, I actually prefer the low-investment involvement of trendy accessories from stores like Charming Charlie, Forever 21 and H&M.  Who said you can't make a statement with $10?!

Photo credit: Statement necklace from Piperlime

4. Shoes.  Ballet flats, pumps, wedges, boots...can a woman every have enough pairs of shoes? That would be a high-heeled Hell No! Comfort and style really do mix and don't forget to invest in some soft sole inserts; seriously changed my shoe life.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

5. Wrap Dress.  Flatters every shape and size... if you are a woman you need a wrap dress in your basic style pile.

Photo Credit: Polyvore

6. Confidence.  Fashion is what you buy but style is how you add in your personality and carry yourself with confidence.  Since it hasn't been socially appropriate to live a naked life full time, clothes are probably going to be a daily necessity for the rest of your life. If you wear clothes then you have a personal style, embrace it!

Peace & Blessings,
Fiona Olubunmi

What I'm Reading...

"There is no cheaper travel, education or humor than the reading of a good book!"

So, a couple of weeks ago I made a conscious decision to spend more time opening a book than changing the channel.  I am a non-committal TV watcher and often found myself flicking through mindless reality shows that was kind of like eating empty calories... unfulfilled at best.

So score! In the last six weeks, I have read three novels.  My favorite two are very different and I loved them both.

1)  Bossypants by Tina Fey

This autobiography is like watching Tina Fey's life journey being re-enacted live on the set of SNL.  In other words, you can't help but laugh at the scenarios and sense of humor that Fey weaves into her personal stories of youth, work, motherhood and her rise to fame.  But Fey's story is also one of inspiration and girl power, reminding us ladies that its ok to wear the pants now and then.

2) The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow

You know sometimes when you read a book and the characters become like old-friends and family members.  So much so, that you begin to hope and guess how people will act in future chapters.  Well, yes, this is one of those books.  There are many deep themes such as interracial relations, depression, alcoholism and family ties that penetrate the main character Rachel's young life.  However, most of all, this is a story that reminded me of the power of acceptance, personal recovery and hope.

Paris in Pictures

They say that when you travel you leave a peace of your heart in the places you visit.  However, for me Paris gave me a cardiac jolt of creativity, joy, peace, fashion...and love.  Merci Beaucoup!

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1)  Parisian Red door: saw this beautiful red door while strolling in Paris. In my dream house I would have a door just like this.

2) Le Louvre: We waited 45 minutes to visit this museum, which was so worth the wait. This place oozed creativity and history, and who doesn't love a "glass pyramid."

3) An intricately decorated ceiling in one of the exhibit spaced at the Louvre...golden beauty!

4) With lots of stone men and women hanging out, my brother didn't want to leave this one hangin'.

5) Notre Dame Cathedral: As a bustling tourist spot, this space is amazingly peaceful and spiritual.

6) Notre Dame Cathedral:  My Mommy took the time to light a candle and say a prayer :-)

7) Eiffel Tower:  Regal, powerful and sexy.

8) Parisian Water Fountain:  It was 80 degrees on this day... so tempted to join the water party goers, but refrained due to a later dinner date.

9) RIP Princess Diana:  While walking to lunch my sister saw a tunnel and as soon as she asked out loud if it was where Diana died, we saw this small memorial.  Princess Diana was one of my all-time heros, I was surprisingly moved and saddened by this memory :-(

10) EuroDisney:  Not quite the beauty of old Parisian architecture, but the Princess castle at Disneyland was a sight nonetheless.

11) Louboutin (aka Mecca):  As a shoe lover, this was simply a thrill of a lifetime...picked out my graduation shoes, hey a girl's gotta have something to shoot for.

12)  Statement tee:  Only my lovely sister could pull this shirt off in Paris...fun watching the looks she got from the locals that day :-)

Mourning the loss of my vacation days...

So today during my Monday morning email catch-up routine, the following headline woke me up: "More than 40% of U.S. workers do not get paid vacation time off." 

 I'm sorry, what?! You mean no vacation time whatsoever?!  Could this be that in the land of freedom, economic development and opportunity, four out of ten people are working year round with no chance of looking forward to a paid holiday, getaway, escape from the norm...time to recharge.

It got me thinking about my recent family trip home where family and friends would innocently and  inquisitively inquire, "So, why are only staying in Dublin for two weeks, gosh you must wish you could stay longer?!"

Wish?  Capital Yes.  Realistic? No.  I am luckily not one of the forty percent of employees in America who get no paid time off.  I currently get four weeks for my years of loyal service to my current employer.  However, the majority of my friends and America get a mere 10 paid days off...just two weeks!!!  But when you consider that there are 52 (sometimes long) weeks in the year, four weeks doesn't seem long at all, now does it?!

In my homeland of Ireland, 25 vacation days with nine glorious Bank holidays is pretty standard for the average employee. So, in doing the math, I figured that in my 10 professional years of working in the U.S. I have forfeited approximately 40 WEEKS, close to one full year of time off work.  Time to bask in the sunshine, let my hair down, visit new places, try new foods and simply not be at work.  

So tonight as I mourn the loss of my vacation days, I am reminded just how precious my time not working is.  And as we approach the American Labor Day holiday weekend, I plan on celebrating this  holiday in honor of the economic contributions of workers by guess what... NOT WORKING!

So my fellow Americans workers, join the movement of vacation day mourning by not working on Labor Day. We'll have the rest of the year to make it up!

                                        How I want to spend my Labor Day...

                                                  How I will probably spend my Labor Day morning...

Birthday Advice to my 13-year Old Self

One of my all-time favorite birthdays was when I turned 13 years of age.  I had my first slumber party with some of my favorite friends and even got to wear my brand new green-colored Levi Strauss jeans.  I had wanted those jeans all year and remember the pure joy of seeing my reflection of these jeans that hugged my tiny waist and newly forming hips in all the right places.

But what I remember most, was the feeling that something changed on this day.  Finally, I was a TEENAGER.  Life would now make sense, or so I thought.  But 20 years later, as I sip my green tea wearing my favorite pair of Gap jeans on my birthday morning I am blessed and aware that things do seem to make a lot more sense.

So here is some birthday advice I would send to my 13-year old self:

1.  Embrace your differences.  Growing up biracial in Dublin, Ireland, was a unique challenge to the normal awkwardness of being a teenage girl.  My skin was 'tanner' and my hair frizzier than most my friends...I was definitely different! I was blessed to always feel accepted by my friends and my family need to write a book on what amazing race relations truly means, but I longed to 'fit in'.  Now, I know that my differences have made me who I am am and given me the superpower of being color blind when it comes to race.

2.  Your Parents Don't Know it all but they do Know a Lot.  Yep, as almost every teenager can attest, my parents were strong figures in my life trying hard to steer me the right way.  "Uh, I wish they would just go away!" I remember thinking.  Now, all of their advice is the foundation for how I live my life.  Mom and Dad, you were right-- I have thanked God for your presence in my life.

3. Church is not a Building it starts in your heart.  As a young girl I spent many Saturdays kneeling before a priest confessing the fact that I hit my brother, yet again. Over time I became fearful of religion and God and wandered around trying to find myself.  Now, I am closer to God that I have ever been and I know that a building is not the Church, it starts in me.  Amen!

4. Make sure to find a boy that makes you laugh more than he makes you cry.  One of my first crushes was Claudio, a beautiful boy I met while living in Italy.  He spoke little English but we had so much fun together and laughed every day.  He once told me in his broken-English Italian accent, "Life is bellisimo, remember to love a man that makes you, er how do you say....smile!"  Truer words have never been said.

5. Pain and hardships are part of life... do not be afraid when they arrive. Fairy tales and movies created a world where pain is usually short-lived and all ends well.  Through my pain and sorrow I have learned to accept the good and bad as the natural order of the Universe.  Strength is not always built by laughing.

6.  Tanning beds are dangerous... avoid.  Yes, as the lightest child of my siblings I may have gone through a tanning bed addiction.  Bad, bad, bad...

7.  Healthy is better than skinny.  At age 13, I probably weighed around 100 pounds and remember believing I was a little chubby.  Over the years, I have tried quite a few diets some way less healthy than others and have been quite a few different clothing sizes.  Even at my skinniest, I was smoking, hardly eating and had no energy.  Today, I am healthy and happy with my body, which I now know is a vessel that I do not compare to others.

8. The world is small... make a big impact.  It was during my teenage years, when I knew I wanted to travel in my future.  I do now consider myself a global citizen and have become so full along my travels.

9.  Whatever you do.. never say "I can't" because you are what you think.  If you can see it, you can achieve it.  (Thanks R. Kelly)

10.  Be YOU! I am silly, sarcastic, emotional, talker, quiet, inquisitive, colorful...just me.  And you know what, I'm finally OK with ALL of me.


Happy Birthday to Me!!!

P.S.  Colored jeans are back in style, you were ahead of your time girl :-)

The Note Cards

In order to earn my undergraduate degree I, like many before me, had to take quite a few general education classes.  Most of these classes were boring and seemed like a futile way to spend a morning or an afternoon.  However one class that left a strong imprint on my college journey was a spirituality class called "The Power of the Goddess."

Yes, as the class name suggests it had strong themes of feminism and the wonder of woman. But it also had a fundamental life lesson weaved throughout: the human connection can take many forms and inspire in many ways.

Tonight as I got my usual burst of speed-like energy after doing my evening P90X exercise DVD, I had the urge to clean out some papers of a random box of papers in our garage.  As I opened the box earnestly, there they sat...a pile of crisp white note cards with handwritten notes on them all addressed to me.

A decade has passed since my Goddess class did our final assignment of writing personalized notes of encouragement to each other.  And there, in this 'random' box that I decided NEEDED to be cleaned out tonight, lay a pile of encouragement from Mark, Manuela, Abbie and 20 other former college peers who I somehow managed to lose touch with.

As I sat at my kitchen table and read these notes... something magical happened.  I began to remember the senior college-student Fiona.  Eager, excited, determined and hopeful...was the description being artistically painted in my mind through other's words.  And I was reminded that although a decade has passed and life has gone on, these notes may have been one of the most important college homework assignments we did.

Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes, knowing that my professor was right...the human connection of these people, in that classroom, at that time made a powerful impact.  So THANK YOU Mark, Manuela, Abbie and the 20 other former college peers who gave me a reminder message of inspiration 10 years later.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE NOTE CARDS:


"I think that as a woman it is wonderful that you honor the Goddess that lies within.Always remember that strength of womanhood." -- Beth


"Fiona, I admire your determination to make the world a better place.  Good luck!" -- Lana


"I admire you for being creative and having the vision to see the world as it could be."  --Manuela


"You hold your family and friends close. I've noticed over the semester that you are also very proud of what challenges you have overcome knowing that they make you stronger." -- Mark

Colors, Colors Everywhere

Anyone who knows me knows just how much I LOVE color! The brighter the better. Color is my music in life and without it, life would be...well, silent and blah.

So, I am super excited that color-blocking is fashion trending right now. I have been color-blocking my clothes since I fell in love with fashion as a little girl. I can remember at age seven pairing a bright pink skirt with an orange top because it reminded me of my favorite Popsicle at the time :-)

My Easter 2012 take on my orange and pink combo as a 7-year old.

Pairing bright colors together is not just a fashion statement of color confidence but it can also help boost your mood.  Research has proven that bright colors release similar endorphins to exercise.  Hey, what's not to love about happy-feeling chemicals.  See, colors really DO make a difference.

So why not raid your own closet to see what colors you can block together.  Take a color risk and you may just find a happier you :-)

Nail polish colors offer great inspiration for color-blocking.

Peace & Blessings,

Fiona Bunmi

It's so Green!

One of the first things my hubby said as we descended into Dublin Airport on his first of many trips to my native Ireland was "It's SO Green!"

Well, um yeah, it's Ireland! Of course its Green, I thought loudly!

On this St. Patrick's Day, I am one of the more than 70 million people worldwide who can trace their roots to the Emerald Isle.  As a daughter of this Emerald Isle, I find great pride and love for such a small country that has had such a huge impact on the world.

Ireland has given birth to one of the worlds best ever rock bands (U2); the most famous drink (Guinness); and some of the best writers ( think James Joyce).  It is a country filled with pride and honesty, and music and fun is our soundtrack for good times, or craic (Irish word that describe the joyous Irish times).

Kian rockin' his first Green Paddy's Day Attire (Age 1)

So on this day, I salute you Ireland for giving me a love for nature, music, art, the Irish language, Guinness, Celtic history and most of all the lifelong love and pride of the color Green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to All!  Slainte!!!

Turn the Page!

When I was pregnant, the hubby and I would spend Sunday afternoons at our local Borders bookstore scouring the shelves for books that would teach us how to breathe during labor, the right baby name to choose, how to avoid scarring our unborn child for life and other fun reads.

In fact, throughout my life, the bookstore has always been a place of refuge for me. I LOVE the smell of new books, the Black ink on paper, the front cover designs that give you a peek into what the book is about, the feel of a new book in hand...amazing!  Oh, how I adore the possibilities that lie within endless shelves of books... the worlds they behold and the stories and information just waiting patiently inside for someone to...well, turn the page.

So this week, when I decided a trip to the bookstore would be the perfect outing for my almost-three year old, my heart sank when I remembered there was NO bookstore.  Our closest Borders, my place of refuge, the actual place we agreed on our son's name while studying "1,000 Best Baby Names" was gone!  Yes, Borders was a victim to storm of online book sales and the changing book industry.

I was seriously sad when I realized that I had to add bookstore to the list of things that my son's generation will probably have no use for: Boom box, Cd's, VHS, Post Office, and now bookstore :- (

Then, I remembered the library...oh yes, the next best thing to my lovely Borders.  Even though the library doesn't serve the great teas or coffee I enjoyed at Borders, they do have the obvious advantage that their books are F-R-E-E!  So off we went to explore the library on a Monday evening.

K was just as excited about the endless shelves of books at the library and so we skipped to he children's section to find the some books.  K grabbed as many picture books as he could in his little hands, he was just that excited!

We sat down and with a Cheshire cat-like grin, K asked, "Mom, can I please turn the page?!"  

"Yes, please do...please turn the page!"                           

                                                                                      

Life is Fun When You're Pinning!

So, a couple of months ago, a website changed my life (thanks LZ.)!

Well, OK, I may be exaggerating just a little, but it sure did make a huge impact on some of my life activities.  For those of you who are still carefully cutting out interior decorating photos, menus, crafts and must-have outfits from an assortment of magazines or newspapers...there is something better, much, much better.

It is a website called Pinterest and I am seriously addicted to this website.  You see, the premise of this website is to create an online pinboard of amazingly cool things from websites, online stores and Blogs.  Things that I live for like fashion, shoes, craft projects and too much other cool stuff to mention.  Oh and there's the inspirational quotes that seem to say exactly what I need to hear at just the right time.  Amazing!

I could get into the psychological reasons of why I think Pinterest is so addictive, but really it's about sharing.  Sharing ideas and things that make life easier, more fun, more creative, more stylish, and more inspiring.  In similar fashion to other social sites, you can "follow" friends and other Pinners, which makes the sharing more intimate.  You create your own "Boards" that store your Pins, so it is easy to organize and store your favorite things.

Just some of the things I have gotten from Pinning in the last few weeks:
--Found my perfect Kenneth Cole belted winter coat
--Learned how to 'glitterize' a pair of patent pumps (stay tuned for future tutorial)
-- Finally mastered some crock pot recipes for the first time ever, including a mouth-watering jerk chicken recipe
-- Found some possible bridesmaid dresses for my sister's wedding
-- Began a list of toddler craft projects for my budding artiste.

So, yes, life may not be about winning... but it sure is fun when you're Pinning!

Peace & Blessings,

Fiona Olubunmi

Make Your Countdown Count

So, the Champagne has been popped, the countdown is over and a new year has begun.  If feels new, fresh and exciting to anticipate what 2012 will bring our family and friends.

I have always loved the countdown on New Year's Eve.  There is something so unifying about the world over celebrating the same moment in time (even at different time zones).  10, 9, 8....

So what goals and dreams would you pursue if they had the same pressure of a countdown?  In a way, this journey of life is our own personal countdown.  A countdown to celebrate happiness, love, redirection and the many other faces of life.  7, 6, 5...

This year, I am am going to make my countdown focus on living in the moment, worrying less, educating myself, fitness and making time for the wonderful people that have crossed my path. 4, 3, 2...

As the lyrics in one of my favorite songs says it best:

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes, Five hundred twenty-five thousand. Moments so dear. Five hundred twenty-five thousand. Six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?

So cheers to life and creating moments to measure.  1, 0... let's go and make 2012 a countdown that truly matters.

Peace & Blessings,
Fiona Olubunmi