Free Writting

  He came back. Do you remember him? The man that has surpassed capturing my mind and heart, but also my soul. The same man that left due to numerous complications from our relationship. My greatest fears were faced when I contacted him. Yes, I contacted him- not the other way around. One year of tremendous agony from the loss of his companionship and a year of learning to move on for his sake and happiness. Two years of dreams, thoughts, the slip of his name off of my tongue, the continuous songs tying me back to him. 

We met and discussed the past and came to an agreement to forgive and forget. We laughed and flirted a bit, things were normal- comfortable. We drew closer into one another’s space, and as I spoke of my home life, he did something that I only prayed of. He kissed me. He whispers how much he’s missed me. He tells me that he loves me.

My guard was demolished by his sincerity. My fear of rejection had fallen to the waist side into oblivion. My heart raced, breath quickened, my hands feigning to touch him- to hold him closer. My prayer was answered; I wasn’t the only one feeling a void. The first night over pure bliss with my true love. 

(Time Lapse: A week later, Super Bowl Sunday)

Guess what?.. We have another outing together. Nothing major, just a walk in the park. Funny part of that is, it didn’t happen. We were both with family. Him watching the game, me watching commercials. Maybe another day.. Hopefully.

(A few days later)

We’ve been texting some, on and off. I’ve never been excited to read a simple text from someone. A simple “I love you” first thing in the morning can set my day to pure joy. We’ve caught up on most of the events that have passed over the span of our separation. We’ve also discussed his want of certain intimates that he desires. It’s like nothing has changed on his end. We have made a plan to meet up and hang out for a bit, which I’m a bit excited about. 

(Later that evening) 

Well, since I’m safely home and comfy in my pajamas, I’ ll let you in on our recent time together. Once again, we met up and I hopped into his car to our destination. We stopped at a park where he used to go to a lot. Unbeknownst to him, it was a hang out spot of my own when I needed to think. We walked and talked( well, he talked because I would start him up on a topic and allow his mind to run with it) and occasionally bump into each other. The flirtation was on high, and I was desperate to feel his kiss but I wouldn’t let him know that. Discreet and sweet is how I am, physically. Unyielding and bold is how I am mentally. When I thought I’d gotten over my want for his touch, he kissed me.. And kissed me.. And kissed me. I was numb to the cold air tapping against my cheeks or the trickle of rain that began to fall. A hand ran threw my softly curled hair, and his arm gripped tighter around my waist. His greed for my kiss was a bit surprising, but it was what I craved. Once we came up for air, we roamed the park and stopped on a nearby building’s porch and after a little while- we were kissing again. My heart flutters at the thought of his kiss because it was different from the first. Soft, calming, soothing, warm, easy are a few words that describe it. Just as the first night, he professes his love for me. This time I ask if he’s sure of his feelings; He looked into my eyes, almost as if he was looking into my soul, and said, Yes, of course I love you. If I didn’t love you, then I would hate you. I love you, Meleah.” With those last words, he kissed me gently once again and on my cheek. We walked hand in hand, fingers intertwined with one another’s to his car. After a political conversation, we went to a place that I had passed a few times on road trips. A place that I knew existed but didn’t know it belonged to his mother. Yep, we went to his mother’s house. No one was there, just him and I. I remember passing the driveway as a began my journey to Mississippi, but never thought how close I really was to him.  After stepping into the house, we walked to his bedroom. Though it appeared lived in, it was tidy nonetheless. I sat in his computer chair while he sat on his bed. We talked a bit more, then we laid together. To my own surprise I willingly and happily gifted him with one of his many intimate favors, but we didn’t have sex. I didn’t think we would nor really wanted to that evening. Afterwards, we began our journey to the meet up spot. I had to inform him that my intimate favor to him wasn’t given to end up with the title of Friend or F.W.B. He assured me that that wasn’t his intention, which brought my mind to rest. He gabbed my hand, kissed the back of it, and drove back to the halfway point. 

(Two Days Later) 

February 13, the day before Valentines Day, the last day I spoke to him. Well, we didn’t really converse more so send an emoji to one another. 

It is Tuesday, February 26th and I haven’t heard a work from him. I’ve sent messages to see if he’d respond, but I end up with nothing. The feeling of abandonment has made it’s way into my room. I’m once again where I was two years ago. He stays on my mind, constantly reminded me of our short times together. The messages are saved into my phone. I reread them sometimes. Especially when I attempt to find where I went wrong, what I did for him to fall completely silent while I wait for a response of any kind. Any answer would work for me at this point. It’s easier to work with the empty feeling because I’ve been through it before, but this feeling isn’t what I expected. He promised we’d see each other the next weekend after our last encounter, but that never occurred. No messages, no calls. I feel used. I feel taken advantage of. I feel betrayed. I feel exactly how he said he didn’t want me to feel now that we were rekindling our relationship. 

What does this all mean? Why do I love him so much? Why hasn’t he gotten in contact with me? Why did I let my guard down? So many questions rattling through my brain unanswered. My insecurities have resurfaced. I’ve once again crawled into myself, unwilling to let any male near my heart or mind. If he contacts me, I don’t know how I’ll react. I don’t know if I’ll know how to any more. Old wounds are open, and I want revenge, but then again, I don’t I want him to hurt, but I hate to hurt him. I want him to want me as much as I thought he wanted me. I thought he was here to stay.. I guess I was wrong. The agony isn’t just in my heart, it’s so much deeper than that. My mind is beating me up for being so naive.  My mind told me to ration out my feelings instead of going all in, but he said I would find out what we were in due time. I trusted him, completely. I thought he wouldn’t lie to me and make me feel this way. I don’t know whether to let things go and begin the hard process of moving on or hold on to my hope that things will work out; His comings and goings in my life have shaken me to my core and I’m left in the balance, struggling with my heart and head, wishing things were different than what they seem, hoping for a better reality.. Who knows what may happen next; Only God knows.

A Favorite Quote



”The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows.”

 – Audrey Hepburn 😘

Staples

  Hey ladies, Let’s talk closet staples! In a fashion world filled with embroiled this and embellished that, it’s great to have a stockpile of staples that can go with everything for every occasion. The staple item is a classic style and very versatile. It’s usually made of good or excellent quality (It’s okay to spend a little more on a staple than other items). Granted, everyone’s staple list won’t be exactly the same but they will be extremely similar. Let’s get started 😄

1. A Little Black Dress: Every magazine, blog, and even your mother was right — having a trusty LBD in your closet is a must in your fashion collection. Look for classic knee-length sleeveless styles, similar to something you could picture Audrey Hepburn wearing. Make sure it’s not too short and doesn’t show a lot of cleavage for the ultimate versatile piece.  (Great places to find LBDs with a moderate price: Banana Republic, Gap, White House Black Market, and Express)

2. Basic Cardigans: From thin cashmere to durable cotton to heavy wool knits, there’s a cardigan out there that will fit your needs no matter what occasion or season. I love cardigans because of their versatility. Be sure to pick up several different cuts, fabrics, and styles so you’ll have plenty to choose from.
3. A White/Black Dress Shirt: If you will be attended any special event or would like a polished look for a nice dinner anytime soon, a white or black dress shirt should be your new BFF. This is not an item that you want to go cheap on — you want your shirt to hold its shape through many washes without becoming translucent. It’s also a good idea to buy one size larger than you normally wear – when it comes to awkward pulling and openings around your chest, it’s better to be safe than sorry! 😣
4. Black/White tank: A white tank looks right at the gym or for casual occasions, but a black one can be worn with everything from slacks to a cocktail skirt.
5. Crewneck sweater: Choose thin knits in cotton or wool that layer easily.

6. Jeans: It’s worth paying a bit extra for jeans that actually fit and compliment your shape. Your best bet is stretch denim with no more than 2 percent Lycra (the fabric will follow your curves and keep its shape).
7. Long-sleeve white/ black T-shirt: Looking thin in white doesn’t have to be a hassle. Choose a slim-fit T-shirt that skims over your body, but isn’t clingy. 

8. Khakis: Forget the pleats (a flat front is more appealing) and the front crease. After all, these are casual pants. (Unless you want something dressier.)

9. Ballet Flats: The essential run-around shoe, and a preppy-wardrobe staple, I favor a basic black, nude, or bright color when it comes to flats. 

10. Black Pumps: A black pump in suede or leather is the perfect go-to item. They pull together any outfit and modernize your look. 

Those are my top 10 wardrobe must haves; I hope this helps! ☺️
StyledByLaRae 😘

Let’s Organize !

Hey Babes,

How do you organize sweaters versus lingerie or shoes versus jeans? There are different solutions for each, so here are ways that I organize my closet. Hopefully this will be a good start for you! 

•Tops 
This is my easiest organizing rule, HANG EVERYTHING. If you have the space to hang everything, hang it up! You’ll wear more if you can see it.

•Sweaters 

Fold the very heavy sweaters so they don’t lose shape on a hanger.Also, my grandmother taught me to use cedar. Trust me, it’s no myth. It really does prevent moths from getting into cashmere or wool sweaters. (Just remember to replace the cedar every six months.) Color code sweaters by weight, and use dividers or cubbies. If possible, use a sweater folding board to make perfect folds. 

• Jeans 

How you want to organize your jeans is a personal choice. There are a number of ways to do so—by cut, brand, color, style, size, or none of the above. Personally, I hang by the hem and organize by dark to light denim. It’s easier that way, unless you’re a die-hard jeans collectors.

• Pants/Skirts/Shorts 

Hang them using clip hangers and fold in the sides so the outside of the garment isn’t marked by the clips. This also makes everything look uniform on the hanger and gives it a cleaner side profile.

• Dresses 
     For dresses, I prefer to hang by color rather than length. I also like to start with strapless and go to long-sleeve. Then separate them from season and day or night. Never leave your dresses, or any other clothes, in the dry cleaning or plastic garment bags. The chemicals from dry cleaning attack the fibers of your clothing and cause damage. 😖

• Bags/Scarves/Hats 

     I like purses out of their dust bags and to have as many visible as possible. It’s hard to change bags if you can’t see them, right? They don’t generally get damaged out of their dust bags, so enjoy the view. 👜👝👛Scarves folded in piles by color and material works best for me, and makes it easy to pull one out without ruining the organization of the rest. I don’t wear hats, but I love hat boxes. Take uniform photos of the hats and glue them to the outside of the boxes, so you know which hat is inside.

• Shoes 

   I prefer shoes to go right shoe toe out and left shoe heel out so you can see both to make finding what you’re planning to wear easy. I also organize shoes by color and style. For tennis shoes and flip flops, always hide them in the least seen place. 

• Lingerie  

   Organizing lingerie by color, size, and type, is the easiest way for me. Make sure to rotate your bras and underwear so you’re not wearing the same few all of the time. For a luxe touch, Some women line drawers in silk and sometimes do sachet-lined drawers. 

• Jewelry   

I am partial to a built-in drawer in one’s closet or dresser in order to keep things neat and uncluttered. It’s also a great way to see what you have and makes it easy to keep your valuables hidden from plain sight. 

Happy Organizing, 

StyledByLaRae 😘

Hello Gentleman!

This one is for my fellas 👨
For starters, DON’ BE AFRAID OF COLOR- it doesn’t bite, I promise. 

   Knowing how to combine colors in clothing is an art. It’s not just a matter of picking a random jean and a shirt that “combine with everything”. That’s for those who are content to be average. If you want to distinguish from the rest and stand out, there are a number of rules that you should consider when choosing clothes and combine their colors properly.

 • Choose colors that fit good

  Tonalities similar to the tone of your skin tend to be bland. Darker skins look great with bright, contrasting, and white colors. Instead, pastel and dark brown tones add appeal to clear skin tones. Do you want a tip that some women perceive? Wear a shirt that match with the color of your eyes. 💁

• Get comfortable

  The key is to avoid anything that you would dress for a tipical business, or whatever it would make you feel over dressed in your favorite bar. A loose black Hugo Boss pants could be a good idea or a pair of straight leg Levi jeans would also be a good option. You can combine that with a colorful cotton green striped shirt. For something more formal, add a jacket or a sport coat like Polo’s. (Side note: The jacket shouldn’t have any front pockets. The pockets will make the outfit casual.)

• Some rules to combine clothes

  Try to wear neutral garments, such as black or denim, and try to keep two colors per suit. Do not mix similar tones; just the contrary, look for the contrast. When combining patterns, make sure they are from different sizes. For example, if you use a shirt with thin vertical stripes, use a tie with big designs.

 • Pants and shoes

  An example for usual combinations is black pants with black shoes. However, you can also make good color combinations between these two pieces. For example, navy blue pants are better with caramel or dark brown shoes rather than black; you can also perfectly combine sorrel brown pants with green sneakers; jeans are more flexible and they can be matched with more colors as, for example, red sneakers. If you can, try to avoid combining the same color for pants and shoes (unless you’re wearing a suit) because it’s better to give a little bit of colorful to the whole set.
 • The strap (or belt) should always match the color of the shoes
  It’s not enough to have a black or brown belt. You need a precise combination in finishing and color, even in buckle styles, for each pair of shoes you have. When you buy a new pair of shoes, go to the straps’ (or belt’s) rack and look for one that matches them.

   Now, I think that covers everything. I’d like to give credit to *www.blackpier.com* for these fabulous tips . Whenever I need some advice on menswear, I usually visit this website for a little insight. 😉
 I hope this helps guys,  

StyledByLaRae 😘

Eyeliner Obsession

Hey Babes! 

  How many of you feel completely naked without eyeliner? I know I do; I rarely go anywhere without it. I don’t have a favorite liner look because they’re ALL my favorite. I love bold  or simple liquid liner on any day of the week. A GREAT liquid liner is a make-up bag staple when it comes to defining and emphasising the eyes, mastering retro looks or turning a day-appropriate look to utterly glam. And no matter the person or personality,  the wide variety of different applicators and formulas makes it easier than ever to get it right. I applaud the ladies and gents who have conquered gel liner- I just can’t get it together! My favorite eyeliner has to be Mac Liquidlast Liner; Its smudge proof and lasts all day. Plus, it’s easy to add to it to make a more dynamic appearance for my eyes. What’s your favorite eyeliner look and product?

    Have a great evening, lovebugs!        – StyledByLaRae 😘

Art Is Magic

     I’m a huge addict of styling and fashion, but my 2nd love is cosmology. In a photo, you see everything coming together-  makeup, clothing, background accessories, etc. When I see that photo, it’s more than just a good advertisement; I begin asking myself why did the artists choose the hair, nails, makeup, etc? Clothing does play a part in the advertisements we see everyday, but the asthetics and play on colors from the background to the facial products is what I focus on. I see how the extras in the photo become the glue that pull it all together. Sitting behind a vanity, full of endless possibilities for producing something new or old is what fuel me to know more about beauty. What fuels your career or dreams? Have a great day, babes! 

  – StyledByLaRae 

Closet Cleaning 101

Have you ever said, ” I have NOTHING to wear!” ? Well, let me answer that for you; Yes, but you can’t see it right now. Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out together. 

Tip #1

   DECLUTTER! ! You have too many extra pieces, and it’s time to downsize.

  It may not be easy, but tossing out or donating old clothes is key to making room in your closet. Personally, I donate anything that hasn’t been worn in more than two years that has no major value. If it’s two sizes too small or two sizes too big, get rid of it. It’s time to shop. (Yay, new clothes!) Ask yourself if you’d buy this item today, or if it has a sentimental factor that justifies storage.

  Store your most-used items at eye level, less-used items below, and least-used items up high.

 Colaborate storage units to fit your different needs: drawers for folded items, hangers for dresses and suits, and boxes for any additional items. 
Step #2: Ask A Pro—Or Customize Your Own Storage Space. 

 If you’re interested in hiring a professional to organize your closet, it may be more affordable than you think. A custom closet is a luxury that many can afford. Even the major closet companies can design what you would like on a budget. If that’s not an option, I suggest using storage units that allow you to see your clothes and accessories. My motto is, If you never see it, you won’t wear it! Elfa is available at The Container Store and provides some excellent items. You can also check out Walmart or Target for different (and cheap) containers to use as storage. Many rave about Slimline Hangers because your clothes won’t fall off and they give you twice the space of wood and plastic. They’re a huge help to those you hate to fight with regular hangers, and gives a good polished look after everything has been put away. 😍 
 Bonus Tip 😮😃

    Love your stylish heels, booties, and dress shoes? Present and arrange them with a picture rail shoe rack!

 DIY: Line the walls of a walk-in closet, bedroom,  or dressing area with picture-rail molding. You can buy pre-primed pieces and have them customized to fit your space at any home improvement store. Decorate the molding however you went. Maybe match it to your wall or paint it in a neat contrast color for a bold accent to your space. Now, you have a closet space built for a Quenn..or just a person in need of more shoe room, like me. 😅
Happy Organizing,
              StyledByLaRae 😘