Thoro Gem Thursday: Flaws of Couture

"If you really tap into the fact that no one else is you; and nobody can do it like you. Whatever you have, no one can do it like you. That's amazing, and the minute you realize that, my girl you're free."

This weeks Thoro Gem is IG sensation Sasha aka Flaws of Couture.

This Toronto native of Jamaican descent is a model, designer and vlogger. When it comes to self love and embracing every single fiber of your being, mama is the poster-child; or at least in my eyes. She is one of my many inspirations to not only love who I am but to embrace every inch of my body.

I remember listening to one of her IG Q&A videos where she was expressing how annoyed she gets at the question "How are you so confident?" because she sees being confident in who she is and loving herself as the only option. There is no other way to be! I understand what she meant. I guess sometimes it can feel insulting when people ask you how are you confident because it almost sounds like why are you confident. In a world where injections, implants, and transfers are highly famous it can feel like pulling teething just to be happy in your own skin. BTW, I don't think anything is wrong with doing you to feel beautiful JUST like there's nothing wrong with loving on your belly and rolls.

   "I am me. There's no one else like me. There no one else like you."

Beautiful, Flyy,Witty, Sasha, you truly are a thoro gem!

IG: flawsofcouture

IG:shopfocapparel

YouTube: torontosfluffy

Thoro Gem Thursday: Shari Coats

Am I the only one obsessed with the home aisle in pretty much every department store?? It doesn't matter why I go in the store, I have to head to the home section before I leave. Your décor says a lot your personally and style. However some of us may need a little bit of help finding our eye for design. That is where people like this weeks thoro gem comes in handy. And when she comes in she definitely comes through.

This weeks thoro gem is Shari Coats, the CEO of Ri`Imagination. Shari is an Interior Designer based out of Wilmington, DE servicing the Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsalvyna, and Maryland areas. Decorating around the house and party set-up initially began as a natural hobby for Shari but In 2017 she took her love and talent for decorating and created her business catering to home improvements such as interior painting and home décor.

I've known Shari for a long time and she's always had a knack for creating beautiful arrangements and bringing old things back to life. Recently she refurbished a chair for me that I found discarded and totally made it brand new.

Her desire to please her clients and the quality of her work definitely speaks for itself which makes her a fierce competitor in these decorating streets.


Ambitious, beautiful and artistic, Shari, your truly are a Thoro Gem.

IG: ri_imagination

Self-Lovery be like...

They say self-love is the greatest middle finger of all time. I think there isn't anything more appropriate . When you have literally fought, kicked, and cried yourself into exhaustion just to learn how to love yourself without permission and unapologetically. Walking past the mirror naked and giving yourself a wink. Not being worried about making sure your shirt doesn't reveal your true tummy size. When you smile honest and you start to fall in love with he sound of your own laughter. When you accept that you're not everyone cups of tea and couldn't care a less. When you begin to cherish the magic in your tears too much to waste them on the shallowness of others...you are literally saying fck the world.


While everything about loving yourself is and should be intentional every day is different. Today I needed to be intentional. Today was one of those days when my emotions felt like boulders and anything that was a replica of what I was trying to avoid mentally, at any moment, could come in like a wrecking ball and shatter the front that I've built for the world today.  I cried. I cursed. I complained. I prayed. You see, I have bouts with depression that have stemmed from unworthiness. I put up with relationships longer than I should have because they can't leave me. If they go that  says I'm the problem. Their presence was( sometimes still is) an assurance that I'm worth the stay. See the cycle?!

Some days are heavier than others but the importance to love myself wont allow me stay stuck in sorrow. So whether I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed with self-affirming phrases sliding of my lips like warm butter or whether I can barley look at myself without melancholy telling me to get back in the bed, I have to be intentional and show me some love.

Self-Love does always look like a diet or a make over. More often, self love happens in those tearful moments as we look back into ourselves through the mirror past everything we highlighted as a reminder to hate or "fix" and attest " I'm beautiful" "I love me" "I'm worth it" and "I'm perfect as I am."

Thoro Gem Thursday: Mecca Nuri

"Fashions fade, style is eternal." —Yves Saint Laurent

Nothing else can better describe this week's thoro gem, Mecci Nuri.

Mecca Nuri is a South Philadelphia native. We first in 2013 when she and I were apart of this social group, Pinky Promise Philly. She was so down to earth and spunky that we clicked within seconds.

At the time she was personal stylist and soon after started her own consulting company Styled Out Loud, where she took her love for fashion and people to another level with a "think outside the box" vibe and bold statements through style. Mecca styled for several visionaries through out the city of Philadelphia and even personal projects for herself and friends. In 2015, she decided to take a step back from the fashion world for a bit to regroup and figure out exactly what direction she wanted to take her brand. In late 2017, she found herself back in the throws of fashion when she began working at a boutique in Margate City, NJ. Her spidey senses started tingling, creativity popping again and before she knew it, she was making industry connections and gearing up to start her own fashion accessory line.

On Jan 30th 2018, Mecca officially launched her jewelry line, The Collection Mecca, comprised of bangles, hoops, necklaces and cuffs. Mixed metals and some with a little sparkle. Her line is a perfect reflection of her. Chic and fun with a touch edge and not for the faint. Mecca isn't new to this fashion thing but I know this is just the beginning of what God has in store for her. I'm so proud of my friend for stepping out on faith and tossing caution to the wind to cat-walk into her dreams.

 

Fierce, a Go-Getter, and full of ambition, Mecci Nuri, you truly are a thoro gem.

IG: styledoutloud

      thecollectionmecca