On this soulful thursday

Maryam was among the first people I shyly ask to start up my first experiences with photography. Along the lines of me directing her on where to pose, how to pose a bound of great friendship was found between her and I. Here is my little interview with her, enjoy

S:In your own words and self love what makes you beautiful?

Maryam :My love of being different makes me beautiful. The fact that I take pride in being a good person, and that I strive to be a better person every day is what makes me beautiful.

S:-Those are deep and clever answers. I know when you found out you had cancer you were devastated but how and what did you do to keep going to this journey?

Maryam: When I first found out I was devastated, I went through the “why me” phase, I went through a very dark depression for the first month.  I slowly came out of the depression as time progressed and as I got closer to my last session of Chemotherapy.  I had a great support team, and I strived to think positive, because I was told by a fellow survivor, that I needed to call myself a survivor even while I was going though it all, because it gave me the strength to know that I am a bad ass fighter.  Cancer is something that is a part of my life now. Sometimes still to this day, I have my moments were I cry when I think about what I went thorough and how much my life as changed.  Other times I cry because I am so happy I was blessed with a second chance at life. But the people I had around me and my positive attitude were the main thing that kept me going.

S:It's very moving and difficult but you are truly a survivor. I know you recently went back home from switching to Orlando to Arizona and as you were home you decided to take a break from school before you go back for your bachelors. What were the pros and cons of taking the break from school? did you had any time to polish any given talents

Maryam :YES! I am back home in Phoenix, Arizona.  I have the job that I wanted to have during my gap year.  I work in a school district as a teacher’s assistant.  I love the experience I am getting.  Like I am not use to always depending on solely the job as an income, especially when some much is taken out for certain things…smh, but hey it is life.  I also just miss the networking of school and getting up to go to class, etc.  I am saying that now but I am sure when I go back to school, I will be totally like, “I can’t wait for school to be done!!!” Sadly, no I do not have the room to get back into my art.  Most of my stuff is still in storage.  When I eventually leave the nest and spread my wings, and have my own, cute, adorable, place,I will have the room, to have my little art corner set up.  I miss my beading and fiber arts, it relaxes me. The pros of a gap year are I get the experience of working in a school district, I see how it works and runs, and having the time to just relax and focus on making myself and my health better. 

S:Very nice that you did constructive experiences with your time off from school.How do you describe your style in clothing? do you spend a big amount of time before figuring out what you’re going to wear like I do? Or you already know ahead of time.

Maryam :my style in clothing is so different and universal.  I don’t go by name brands; I am all about Quality honey!!!  Quality is what matters.  I do not like to fit into the fads and trends.  I embrace being different.  Sometimes I pick out my outfits the night before, and sometimes I just pick randomly, sometimes they are nice outfits, and sometimes they are pretty eccentric and fashion no no’s.  Other times, I like to dress up and wear make-up.  It all depends on my mood, and where I am going.

S:What are the quotes that you live by?--Think Positive! 

Maryam:--This song about smiling

Smile, tho' your heart is aching. Smile, even tho' it's breaking, when there are clouds in the sky you'll get by if you smile, through your fear and sorrow. Smile and maybe tomorrow you'll see the sun come shining thru for you. Light up your face with gladness, hide ev'ry trace of sadness altho' a tear maybe ever so near that's the time you must keep on trying. Smile what's the use of crying, you'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just smile.”

Charlie Chaplin

--And these Dr.Seuss quotes

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

Thank you for taking the time to answers my questions Maryam. You are one hardcore positive and lovely person always stay true to yourself...oh wait I know that's not a problem for you because you are already true to yourself :)

It's All Love

Sophie :)

Style is eternal featuring Valentina {Archives}

Valentina and I been friends since our childhood days in Haiti. We met in our school bus when I was a second grader and she was in 6th grade. Although we were in the same school bus we went attended two different schools.What I remember from her from the past is that everyone on the bus were drawn to her because of her smile, she was easy to talk to and definitely outgoing. We've grown up to have our unique taste in style and thought of playing the role of interviewing her on her style. Enjoy :)


S:What were the first things or piece of clothing that inspired you into fashion as a child?
Valentina: To tell you honnestly, it wasn't an artist from tv nor a model. It was from my God-Mother; my mother's sister who was always a fashionable icon to me. She used to wear her high heels and even made her own clothes, sometimes she used to make clothes for me as well,therefore her style led me to be a Fashionista. One thing that I remembered about her is that she had the style of Marilyn Monroe

S: It came straight from your family which is a great start to your confidence. I've always been a fan of Marilyn Monroe for her glamorous style and because she represents us curvy ladies. 
Valentina: Yes me too and I remembered as I was growing up I had many shade of style...in fact...I follow fashion to the core...I love everything there is in Fashion even if its made in plastic I am in. I am what you would call Fashion Victim. 

 S: Are you serious? you're making me laugh. Can you regroup any similarities and differences from your style of yesterday at the time you were in Haiti to your style now as you're living in Canada? 
Valentina : In Haiti I had more of a chill type. However in Canada my style became a mixture of glamour, rock and trendy. It all comes down to the way that I am feeling.

S: What is your favorite season of the year to play out with your clothes?
Valentina: Humm I would say that fall season because it's neither too hot nor too cold. I love wearing my boots, and my leggings and dresses as well. It gives me bigger options to dress up with clothes and do more mixing.

S: Who are your favorite icons?
Valentina: The Olsen Twins, Victoria Beckam, Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson and my love RIRI (Rihanna) :)

S: What inspires your fashion looking photos because whenever I stalk your Facebook albums, I feel like they are telling a story about a girl who's living her life, they are just fun to look at.
Valentina: I think you just answered that question without your knowing because you're right, the pictures are about a girl who's living her life. It's my philosophy to live life in the moment. So I always make sure to enjoy my life as much as possible because we don't know what the future hold, we are young once and before we know it, it's all gone. love taking pictures of myself because I feel like it immortalize the moment that I am portraying and it will be a great reference for me when I look back at my youth when I get older. I want to feel that I've lived my life to the fullest by looking at them.


S: What are the quotes that you live by?
Valentina: "La vie est trop courte pour ne pas en profiter".
 "Vie dans le moment present car on ne sais pas ce que le futur nous reserves." translating to
"Life is too short to let it pass you by"
"Live in the moment for we do not know what the future may hold for us"



S:I am going out on a date with my wonderful guy and I want the outfit to be fun, girly, a bit trendy but I don't want to wear any jeans at all. What would 
you recommend me

 Valentina: I would tell you to go with leather leggings that goes to your ankle (because it allows you to be comfortable and sexy) with high shoes but more of a wedge shoe. For your top, I see you more with a beige color rather long but not too high, not too tight with straps because guys find it sexy and it gives you that feminine allure that you are looking for and in case it gets cold you can always add a little cute cover up with that. In the accessories side I would say a necklace with earnings in gold with a bracelet and ring made in gold as well. For your make-up as far as I am concerned from I know that guys love it when girls are simple so I'd go with a natural light make-up, like no one will notice your make-up because it's not heavy :)

Thank you for your time Miss Valentina
I hope you always stay true to your beautiful personality and your personal style



It's all Love


Sophie

© ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHTED to Valentina and Sophie