Take a Step Back from the Work and BREATHE

Sometimes you can be so deep in that everyday can start to feel like you’re on a hamster wheel just going and going and not stopping to take in what you’re doing, not stopping for fresh air, not stopping to give time to other things, not stopping to pour back into yourself after all of the pouring out you’ve been doing and overall just getting so caught up in the “bigger picture” that you don’t even appreciate the things that are helping to paint that bigger picture on a day to day basis, and also working so much and focusing on grinding and hustling that you don’t even really realize how much you’re accomplishing.

So as a person that goes through this as well I wanted to give you a few tips on how you can simutaneously work and give yourself a damn break

1. Set boundaries

   -By setting business hours even if you work for yourself

   Don’t let people text you about business or needing help with something in the middle of the night if you know their job not calling them at 2am to work

2. Give yourself time off

   -Schedule or plan to take days off or give yourself vacation days or decide that you aren’t working on the weekend (I recently did this and it was such a game changer and breath of fresh air)

   -Schedule in advice if you can so you can plan for your business to still move during the days you are off

3. Set aside time to get inspired

   -You can’t keep working if you burn out or your mind is so clouded that it can’t even think of new ideas

   -As much as you work take that same amount of time to keep those creative muscles moving and creative juices flowing

   -Indulge in whatever inspires you or makes you think of new ideas

4. Set aside time to just enjoy yourself and have hobbies and things that bring you joy aside from work

   -Find things you like that you aren’t trying to monetize

   -Find things that bring you peace

   -Find hobbies that you may not be perfect at but they make you feel good by doing them

5. Don’t let go of your passion and spontenaity

   -Your passion is what keeps you going

   -Its okay to just do some things on a whim if they feel right

6. When you do something good celebrate yourself

   -This will help you to stop and smell the roses and see what you’re accomplishing while you do it instead of realizing later down the line

   -Buy yourself something nice as a celebration

   -Pamper or wine and dine yourself so you can bask in the fruits of your labor

How I've Been Surviving This Quarantine

So for about the pass 2-3 months we’ve been in Quarantine…

Some of us are doing just fine because we prefer to be home anyway, some of us are trying to find alternatives to not being able to go get our bi-weekly/monthly maintenance done (Hair, nails, eyebrows, eyelashes etc.), some of us are trying to deal with our emotions and be conscious of what we need out this quarantine in order to possibly come out better than how we went in. Some people are productive right now, some people are chilling and catching up on the rest they needed and overall everyone is just doing whatever the hell they want as they should (stop telling people what they need to be doing).

As for me I’ve been doing a little bit of everything. I’ve been taking it easy on myself and still getting work done and just enjoying life one day at a time. I’m allowing for myself to grow, I’m enjoying my company and I’m also dealing with how I feel internally. I’m not letting myself get pushed into thinking I should be doing anything more than what I want to be doing and honestly that’s helping the ideas flow better. During this time if it doesn’t teach you anything it should at least show you that we need to prioritize and pay attention to the things that really matter as well as if you want something go for it because at the blink of an eye things can change.

During this time I’ve been indulging in some great pieces of work from books, to shows, movies, and documentaries. I’ve also been tuning into some amazing Instagram Lives and gaining so much information as well as doing so much research and creating so many plans and goals. Despite how bad this current situation is there are some great things that I’ve gotten out of it I must say, I’ve been enjoying everything I love, great food, and good tv.

Things I’ve been watching and listening to:

Music:

-Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyonce: Savage Remix

-Da Baby, Megan Thee Stallion and Ashanti: Nasty

-Kehlani: It Was Good Until It Wasn’t (entire album)

-Tink: Hopeless Romantic (Whole Album)

-Any and Everything Jay Z

-Summertime Shootout 3 (always in rotation)

TV:

-Boomerang

-Twenties

-She’s Gotta Have it (for the millionth time)

-Black AF

-Insecure

-Andre Leon Talley: The Gospel According to Andre Documentary (Always gotta revisit)

-Beyonce Homecoming on Netflix

-Jean-Michel Basquiat documentary on Hulu

Books:

- Everything Sistah Souljah

-Red at the Bone

-THICK

-Black Girls Rock

-Training School for Negro Girls

Overall this quarantine hasn’t been all that bad for me thankfully, I’m in the house minding my black-owned business and trying to stay healthy and safe, I’ll catch everyone outside during Outside 2.0. Stay safe and remember it’s not that deep to go out, if you have the privilege to be able to afford to stay home then do so, if you have had the luck of not getting sick then continue social distancing so that you want. Social distance and follow the rules if not for your own health then to stand in solidarity with the people who have lost their lives, the people that can’t afford not to go to work and the essential workers out on the front lines. DOn’t be selfish, this isn’t a time to play.

I'm back.... I'm so sorry for the wait

I’m back

So I’m Back. After being on a hiatus from blogging, with my last post being at the end of January I’m finally back. I didn’t take a break for any particular reason not did I plan It, it just kind of happened and I didn’t mind so I stayed gone. I started this blog in 2016 and as of recently (about the last year and a half) blogging kind of became secondary to everything else I was doing and I no longer had the interest. Also the fact that things have been from blogging and more to YouTube videos and Instagram as far as people’s interest thats what I wanted to put my focus on because to be honest how many people still read blog posts, aside from the people that are actually interested in blogging and who wants to just be talking to no one. Also the fact that I wasn’t being able to get my content the way I wanted, take pictures as much as I wanted and just overall put as much time into my blogging as I wanted (because I mean there’s only so many hours in a day and I’m only one person) But after months of being away I knew that I didn’t just want to let my blog go, especially because it was my first baby before everything else that I am now doing and at one point I truly enjoyed creating blog posts. 

So all this brings me to now, no I didn’t want to give up on my blog and to be honest no I don’t have the interests to be creating as many posts as I used to but I am back and I will be bringing content as much as I can. I want to continue to grow this audience because it is mine and it is on my platform and I can say whatever I feel because I have the right to. I will be bringing new and fresh things so that things do get boring or sound repetitive with the same content. But I’m back.

Also make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel ShaKayla Diamond and follow me on Instagram @keepinguowithkay_ to see what I’m doing and up to more frequently. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy us being back on this ride. Make sure you subscribe to my site so you receive exclusive news and updates.

-Love ShaKayla, xo 

How to be Inspired and Motivated as an Entrepreneur

Shit: Young $tylish Lifestyle Merch// Blazer: Zara// Pants: Topshop// Shoes: Boohoo

As an entrepreneur many times I encounter being unmotivated or uninspired especially when it comes to doing so many things at one time. When you are the person that handles all aspects of your business or many different businesses and you serve as the creator, marker, creative director, content creator, director, producer, promoter etc. it can get hard to find inspiration to create new things because you have to focus on every single aspect and can also get draining and tire you out.

Although there’s been such big talk on entrepreneurship and the perks of it, a lot of people don’t speak on the negative things, or a lot of the things that entrepreneurs may experience mentally, physically or emotionally and that needs to be apart of the conversation just as much as “what’s coming next?” Entrepreneurs including myself deal with burnout, not paying correct attention to our bodies health, our mental space and how we’re really feeling while we’re constantly worried about work!work! work. As effective and important as it is to keep the hustle and work ethic strong and keep pushing forward it’s just as important to take care of yourself because without you there will be no businesses and without you being here to see the fruits of your labor it wasn’t worth it.

Aside from mental and physical health, being uninspired and unmotivated also presents itself in entrepreneurship. There’s been many times that I have had ideas for projects and just didn’t have the motivation or inspiration or even the energy to bring it to life and finally start putting the plans in motion to make it happen. There’s been times that I wanted to create something, but didn’t know exactly what and wasn’t creatively inspired to figure it out. For me to get out of my creative rut I have to go and do things that I truly enjoy and sometimes that needs to be things in different mediums than something like fashion which can include art museums, open mic nights, new music, documentaries etc. because those are all different types of creative things I like and they aren’t in fashion so it doesn’t over saturate my mind. Also even though on my social media such as Instagram I only follow people who inspire and motivate me, are in business or in fashion but still too much of it can be mentally draining and to get stuff done be mentally clear I have to put to close the app and put the phone down.

If you are a business owner or entrepreneur or even thinking about venturing into either then I want you to know that it is okay to take a break or do things that you like when you are feeling uninspired or unmotivated. Also I want you to know that this lifestyle isn’t all glitz and glamour and takes tough skin, it takes many hours out of your days as well as can take a toll on you and your body because burnout is real. Always remember that your well being is just as important as the hustle.

A Guide to your Spring Essentials

1. Colors/Pastels

   In the Spring things change, the weather gets warmer, the scenery gets brighter and everything looks more alive and our wardrobe needs to as well. Spring is that time that you bring out your bright red, blue, yellow and green pieces without any excuses. Spring is the time that you play with all types of color (even pastel) and just have some fun. There are things more groundbreaking than florals and that is COLOR. You can do this with separate pieces or even matching sets. Spring is the time to have fun because you’re implementing all of the outfit ideas that you’ve been storing since the winter but it was too cold to wear them.

2. Great Jackets

   Even though the weather gets warmer you still need a jacket in many places, despite what some people may think or dress like. As I’ve told you before, your coat or jacket is just as important if not more important than your actual outfit because it’s what people see first and you don’t want to ruin a great outfit with an ugly jacket. You can go bold with bright colors for a jacket, you can do a plastic jacket that is similar to a raincoat which is a very popular trend currently, also leather jackets are perfect for the Spring. because they aren’t super thick and are a bit lightweight. But your jacket is very important always remember that, have fun with it and keep it stylish.

3. Necklines

   There are many different necklines that can be worn in the Spring since the weather is now getting warmer. You can venture into square necklines, v-necklines. turtlenecks, heart necklines, asymmetrical necklines etc. Playing with different necklines allows you to create a chicer aesthetic, it allows you to be able to heighten your outfit choices with just one piece that has some extra detail. Different necklines are very flattering to your shoulders and your collar bone so when you add something with a square neckline on V-neck it allows you to add some simple jewelry as well to create a sultry and alluring look.

4. Materials and Textures (Sheer, Transparent, Rubber)

   Texture and material is an amazing way for you to be versatile in your wardrobe, you can wear transparent pieces, faux rubber pieces like outerwear, ruffles on blouses, leather pieces etc. Also with the Spring weather you can do different textures and materials in bright colors, adding texture to your looks adds depth and layers an outfit. These pieces can also be transferred to different seasons as well because they aren’t always super flowy, when you have different points of an outfit it makes it even better, but you have to make sure that they all come together to make sense.

5. Sunglasses

   Different and very unique sunglasses have been a big trend for the past few seasons. Whether there are the popular tiny lenses or the bigger shades that make a big fashion statement. I am a person that loves sunglasses and will wear them year around, but in the spring you can play with colored lenses and even just stylish shades overall and they are fitting for the season. Sunglasses are that accessory that can turn an outfit to being cute to best dressed. Most times nice sunglasses and a cute bag are the only accessories that I need.

6. Neon

   Neon is a huge trend entering the spring, whether its the neon pink, green, yellow or deep blue. Neon has been lighting up the fashion world, especially the fast fashion world, there’s is a few pieces in everything neon. You can choose to do a full neon look and balance it with darker shoes, a darker bag, or a darker jacket. Or if you don’t want to go full on neon you can chose one or two neon pieces and build your look from there. But this Spring you need to add at least two items that are neon whether its clothing, shoes, a bag, a jacket or sunglasses.

7. Animal Print

   Animal print has been trending since the fall and winter and it is definitely transitioning over to the Spring. Snakeskin is my favorite animal print that I am more than gladly bringing into thus new season. You can do animal print that’s in a quality material and get some amazing pieces, whether its a animal print shirt and pants that can be work together or separate. You can do an animal print bag and definitely light colored animal print shoes are perfect for this warmer weather. Animal print doesn’t seem to be going anywhere so if you don’t have any yet you should grab some, you can get animal prints of good quality for affordable prices.

How to make Clothes Work Appropriate

Bodysuit: Zara// Pants: Lexi Drew Boutique// Shoes: Ego Official// Purse: Zara//

So if you follow me on Instagram then I know y’all have seen this outfit before, and more specifically I wore it while I was in New York at Fashion Week a few weeks ago but in a completely different way. The first time I wore this bodysuit and leather pants combo it was styled for going out but this time I took this outfit and styled it to be appropriate for the office. As you all should know by now I am a huge fan of having a versatile closet, and being able to switch pieces up depending on where I’m going, but I’m all about multi-purpose pieces.

I’m a firm believer that if you work in an office space or in the corporate world your wardrobe doesn’t have to be boring and pretty much in the basic colors, It is more than possible to show your personal style and still be and look professional. All you have to do is be able to add some cute statements, or add a few pieces to make something you would wear on the weekend appropriate to wear during the week at your 9-5 It’s all about making your pieces hit.

With this particular look I added a black tank top under this deep v-neck bodysuit for obvious reasons, I chose black because it was one of the colors in the bodysuit and you can never go wrong with black because it’s dark and goes well with mostly everything. I still wore the leather pants and I added a blazer to the look which made it more chic, work appropriate and sophisticated. Adding the cute snakeskin bag adds a statement to your work look. Now for the shoes, you can choose a solid material bootie as well if you don’t feel that these boots are appropriate, but depending on your field they could be fine because no legs are showing since you have on ankle length pants and hopefully black socks or tights. I was able to take this look from cute for the weekend to cute for work just by adding a tank top and a blazer.

Your Luxury Purchases should always be Investments. Luxury Purchase Tips

There are many of us that love luxury fashion (including myself) and many of us that are able to actually purchase it and many times purchase a lot of it. But currently I’ve been seeing this wave of buying luxury items and brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Moncler, Canada Goose etc. just because it’s popular right now and it’s what everyone else is buying, but not actually because you like it and it’s something that you’ve wanted. SO if no one else has told you I am here to tell you that if you’re buying something very expensive just because it’s popular or that particular item is trendy then that is a horrible purchase already. Rule number one of buying luxury from the ShaKayla Eaddy Fashion Handbook (it’s not a physical thing but trust me it’s very real lol) is that if you can’t pull it out in ten years then it was a waste of money.

All of your luxury pieces should be investment pieces, especially if you’re just starting out your collection. What I mean by investment piece is that it should still be worth something in 10 years, you should be able to pass it down for generations and it still be timeless, you should be able to put it up and bring it back and it be a vintage item to die for, because if it’s just something that’s currently trendy and will probably never come back in style put it back. If you’re buying your first expensive bag or pair of shoes get it in a neutral color and put back the new lime green design because you’ll probably never wear it. If there is something popular out right now that you want from Fendi because you want to be like everyone else, put it back and save up your money for that Chanel bag that will always increase in value. These exact situations are why I will save my money to get the Chanel bag I want or rather wait and get an Hermes Birkin over a Gucci bag because those are what I really want and those are the two brands that you will always get a return on your investment if you decide to sell it or want to pull it out in 10 years or pass it down. Save up for what you want don’t splurge because everyone else has it.

Tips when buying luxury:

• As I previously stated I would save up for Chanel or Hermes over Gucci and Louis Vuitton and yes they cost more but they are smarter purchases and always remember quality over quantity.

• Buy Neutrals first and fashion colors and pieces last, don’t buy an orange Chanel bag first but you don’t even have a black or nude pair.

• When buying luxury shoes you can invest in a good nude or black pump from Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik etc. then once you build your basics you can branch out.

• Always think class and timeless not flashy and trendy, because classic never goes out of style.

• Make sure that you are able to get as much wear out of your pieces as possible because you paid for it, so maybe it’s a better idea to get the brown bag over the baby blue.

I hope these tips helped you if you’re interested in buying luxury but didn’t know where to start or helped you to make better and smarter purchases in the long run. It’s your money so spend it smart.

Sheer Third Pieces add Drama

Kimono: Leyton’s// Turtleneck: Lexi Dream Boutique// Jeans: Fashion Nova// Boots: Boohoo// Earrings: Shein

As y’all know I’m always talking about third pieces and how they can elevate your outfit and make a plain look popping, well although all of those things are true, there’s levels to this third piece life. Third pieces can come in all shapes, colors, textures and much more but this kimono is my favorite third piece that I’ve bought in a while. I can through it on with anything and make any outfit popping like I did with this one, I went from basic to best dressed with one piece.

It’s sheer, puffy sleeves, it’s floor length, it has body, it’s not stiff and it’s black!!! There was nothing wrong with this kimono but everything right so I had to get it. This piece is literally an outfit on it’s own I promise, you can literally have on sweats and throw this on and now you’re best dressed like that’s how bomb it is. The fact that I’ve already worn this twice with two completely different outfits, one out to a party and the other to class like that’s just how versatile this piece can be. Spend more time on picking wardrobe statements that you can wear how many every time you want in how many different ways you want and I promise your life will be ten times easier and more fabulous.

I don’t want to hear it costs too much to get nice quality fabulous pieces because it doesn’t, you can find fabulous third pieces or finishing touches at any price point, whether it’s thrifted, bought at a boutique or from a higher priced brand. This kimono was $16 and had more than 16 reasons why I should get it so I did!

Parisian Vibes in the States

Turtleneck: Lexi Dream Boutique // ‘Prevail’ Beret: FOREH// Jeans: Re/done// Coat: Forever 21// Shoes: Nike// Bag: Zara// Earrings: Shein//

So my favorite pieces of this entire outfit is my beret and coat, the first time I came across Foreh I fell in love with their products and just had to get something. Especially since they’re black owned and the products are amazing and once it came in the mail I couldn’t wait to style it and find the perfect time to wear it!! With this bomb coat I actually wasn’t expecting to get it but when I saw it it was such a statement and who knew that them together would be a match made in heaven.

My outfit at the basis of it all if very simple, its just a white fitted turtleneck, ripped jeans and my favorite pair of Nikes, but I added some fashion to it by adding the coat, beret and my signature red lip. As soon as I put the whole look together it gave me Parisian vibes and made me want to put this coat and beret combo in the archives for when I visit Paris. I took this outfit from 0 to 100 real quick all with accessories. This outfit is perfect for everything from errands to dinner because it’s so comfortable and you can transition it from day to night by adding some cute black pumps.

Although the coat is actual outerwear I wore it as apart of my outfit and it was perfect especially because the material wasn’t too thick. This is officially on my list of favorite looks for 2019 and we’re less than two weeks in.

#WeeklyStyleMoments

“Fashion is the science of appearances, and it inspires one with the desire to seem rather than to be.”

-Edwin Hubbel Chapin

#WeeklyStyleMoments

“I’m a very down-to-earth person, but it is my job to make that earth more pleasant.” — Karl Lagerfeld

#WeeklyStyleMoments

"When you don't feel to dress means that you are depressed. You need a fashion shower." 

     -Anna Dello Russo

#WeeklyStyleMoments

"Style is wearing an evening dress to McDonald's, wearing heels to play football. It is personality, confidence and seduction."

            - John Galliano 

#WeeklyStyleMoments

"Architecture is how the person places herself in the space. Fashion is about how you place the object on the person"

  -Zaha Hadid 

Do you see this coat?!

Coat: Zara// Purse: Zara// Shirt: Forever 21// Pants: Akira (Thrifted)// Shoes: Forever 21//

So honey let's just get right to it. Do you see this coat???? As soon as I saw it I just knew I couldn't pass it up. You wouldn't guess how much I paid for this coat compared to the original price, I caught it on sale for $29.90 and it was originally $119.00, like what? When I saw the price tag I was stunned, but I wasn't going to ask any questions. 

This is half leather and half faux fur, which was perfect for me because those are two of my favorite things and yellow made the coat pop even more. I will mostly wear this coat as a part of my outfit so you will probably catch me with a monochromatic look underneath and a cute lip like I did here, just so the coat can do all of the talking. Also you see this cute little purse? Well I also caught it on sale at Zara for $7.99 and it was originally $39.90, it went perfect with the coat and I absolutely love everything about it and it's great quality. I loved this whole look especially the key statement pieces and details that made it all come together. 

Kimono or No?

Kimono: Zara// Short: Forever 21// Pants: Love Culture// Shoes: Akira//

Recently Zara had their sale that happens twice a year and I went in and grabbed just a few things, and this kimono was one of them. Since I purchased it I've been trying to figure out if it is a dress or kimono, but me being me, I'm going to just wear it as both. 

I grabbed this kimono for only $12.99 and the original price was $49.99, I love a good deal so I absolutely couldn't pass it up. With statement pieces you usually want to keep your actual outfit ,or the canvas, fairly simple so the attention can be directed to the statement piece. For my outfit I just pulled out colors from the kimono and wore this zipped crop top which is so cute and versatile and a pair of olive green pants, along with one of my favorite pairs. I didn't really wear accessories, because I wasn't really going anywhere, but if I was going out I would have probably added one or two accessories and a cute lipstick. 

It's best to get clothing that is versatile and can be worn many ways or more than once. You want to  get your money's worth so why not invest in a great closet. 

Mini Patent Leather Skirts

Shirt: Thrifted by Girl Goodies// Skirt: Forever 21// Boots: Boohoo// Purse: Target

There's nothing like a good skirt especially when it's a nice material like patent leather and has cute details like a cute zipper going across it. Things like this skirt is something that can be worn in spring, fall, and winter. Yes, it's freezing out and people may as why you would ever want to wear a skirt, but me I just put on some tights with mine and go on about my day. 

For this look I kept it very cute and simple. I added a very cure blouse that cuffed at the wrist and has a nice fit. When you have a pair of bottoms that flair, it's best to have a top that's fitted so your outfit will still create a nice silhouette. I wore this top because I also wanted to make sure it could be tucked in so that the details in the skirt could still be seen. 

As I always say you can still be cute and warm in the winter, you just have to get creative with your style by adding things like cute tights, layering or adding a third piece.

#WeeklyStyleMoments

"Fashion is a weapon hat you can use when you need it."

        -Donatella Versace

Boss Lady Ritual

Shirt: Young $tylish Lifestyle// Pants: Thrifted GAP// Jacket: Forever 21// Shoes: DSW// Bag: Target//

The most important tool that you can have in business is the power of self-promotion. It is important that you promote and motivate yourself no matter who or how many people are watching. You should be the billboard for your brand and product. 

I always find new ways to rock my Young $tylish Lifestyle merchandise, especially my favorite piece, which is the Boss Lady Ritual tee. This time I styled it with this amazing velour puffer coat that I got from Forever 21, some amazing platform patent leather shoes and my favorite jeans that have an amazing fit. I topped this cute chill look with some amazing sunglasses, what's better than sun blockers in the winter.