100 Days

Hey 👋🏾 Hope all is well in your world. It has been a long time since I last spoke to you guys and that is a bit out of the norm, but a few major events have occurred outside of the passing of time. I do hope the holidays brought you and yours together, while the turn of a new year with a new president brought uncertainties and many changes. Let us all remember to give ourself grace and focus on what we can actually affect in our own lives.

I left off in the midst of sharing artistic growths and life changes, so I’ll do that briefly. November is my bearthday month and it’s the first year in a decade that I went out to eat without a fashion show looming. I’m resting myself bc every year since 2015 I have been doing an annual show. Although it has been a lovely experience it is also a draining one. My friends took me out to a steakhouse and I was surrounded was with love. Got some amazing gifts and spoke to brother at the table. 🥲

On the 25th of this month it will be 10 years since my first independent fashion show was held downtown in Lafayette, La. Im grateful for the people that believed in me and supported at that point because I was so unsure of myself. I just knew that I had this vision and it needed to be seen. Almost every piece was touched by me and my grandmother. She didn’t make it to see the show, but she was so proud. Every other member of my immediate family was in attendance. That was so special to me. Below are some of the looks captured. Please be easy on me with all the tagging and foolishness, lol. It was 10 years ago. In A 90s Kind Of World. My first baby.

Moving into December, less than 2 weeks later on Friday, December 13th, I made the decision to quit teaching at a middle school level midday after 2 years; and late that night my older brother passed away surprisingly. My whole world changed that day, and to this very moment I’m still struggling with grief. Life moves on, but I was told it’s kind of like breaking a leg; you put a cast on and you learn to walk again, but it’ll never be the way it was before. You never walk the same. The holidays were anything but cheerful for me, but I’m grateful for all  of the love and compassion that was shown to me during those times. I lost my mom December 11, 2023, and for my brother to checkout almost a year to date is very saddening. My little sister and I joke through a lot but it’s been a lot. Still is a lot.. 100 days is a long time with out someone that has been in your world everyday since you have literally been in the world. The village misses him so much; not just us. Such an amazing light no longer in the world, but now in sky.

I did what I do best, create through it. I was booked to paint another Mardi Gras float for this season and was able to deliver a greatly appreciated product. Year 3 for me. That’s so wild to conceptualize. I worked through the literal snow, freeze, and heat to get it done in less than a month. Record time for me and I’m so proud. Check it out below.

I feel like I’m kinda living my life in deja vu because this season last year I was mourning my mom and painting a float. Life is weird like that.

https://www.afancyvibe.com/post/louisiana-carnival-time

I am working on finding myself again because in all honesty I was just beginning to find myself before I lost my brother, so please give me grace as I pick up the pieces again. This moment finds me picking up journaling. Something I’m really not that good at. Ironically. I like to draw it out. So of course I’m still painting and I have completely tapped back in with my green thumb. I’m growing again and it feels lovely. I have also started to tip toe back into sewing again. Everything is on my terms and about balance. Everything.

I’m keeping things a little private because I find energy so important now days. I’m pouring it where its mandated. I’m actually looking back on all my previous blogs myself at this time. Shopping from the lists and doing the same workouts. For a few weeks I fell to the wayside with everything in my depression but I’m doing better now, although there are moments. The things I’ve shared work for me and I hope that you would look back at a few gems as well. If the blogs don’t come as often…. Life be Lifein… Give me grace… I hope you extend some to yourself as well..

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