Sweet Escape

There are some days where I wish I could escape from the city life, I dream of having my own mini farm next to the mountains. Far away where it is just you and God. Where the sun rises and kisses every corner of simplicity. Where the moon shines and leaves a trail and nature elevates you into benediction. 

The older I get the more I want to be left alone. The lifestyle in New York City is so stressful it can be a pain in the ass! Then you look at something so beautiful like this photo and wonder what would it be like if I lived in the wilderness on the side of a mountain. How I would probably appreciate the simple things instead of being so shallow, waiting for that next one day sale. I haven't have the opportunity to actually do some real traveling but I am determined to make that my goal and share it with you. I want to live, not in a 4x4 Studio apartment, but in a meadow colorful floral beings. (Sort of like the Color Purple) Where I can run as far as the eye can see... That is my dream in a dream

Thanks for reading

Sade

It's Christmas Time in Hollis Queens

 Happy Holidays to all! I hope everyone received all that they wanted! I surely wish I did, but I am happy that we are not burned to ashes, we get to live at least another year lol...

For Christmas I went home to Hollis Queens to my parents house, my favorite place in the world next to the flea market. My parents haven't celebrated any holiday in about five years so this year they wanted to hold something small and more intimate. And mom had to make sure I was going to spend Christmas with her, dad and my brothers. So, of course, being that I was born and raised in Hollis Queens, that Christmas song by Run DMC always comes to mind. I grabbed my rope chain, Adidas and younger brother so we can parlay about the old days in the hood.

Good thing about coming home is going through your old closet. My style of dress has changed tremendously and it is funny to watch my evolution of style. Though, I am considering buying more men's apparel, I am trying to get myself into more heels and dresses but it's too bitter cold in New York,  so just can not bother! So the other day when I went to Macy's, I was roaming around the men's department to see what I can pick up for my brother and came across this hot sweater from Lil Wayne's brand TrukFit! Now, I will be brutally honest, I do not like TrukFit. It's fine if you like it, it is just not my cup of tea but this sweater I could not resist! This Galaxy print trend I am in love with however the only brand I saw with it thus far is Black Milk Clothing

Merry Christmas to All!

Best,

Sade

Best,

Sade

Pencil Black

 2 more weeks of school left and I am amazed that I haven't broke down in tears yet! Though school is not officially out of session, it's never too late to ball out crying

I went online the other day to look for a pencil skirt that I can wear casually and formally. This black high waist pencil skirt I bought from Miss Selfridge is amazing! I am in love with this new trend! It's comfortable (except if your a speed walker), it's skin tight (My kind of piece) to frame your body, and it goes with anything! I love pieces I can wear all the time; the knowing of just throwing something on real quick and still look like fashionably hot! What's also great about my skirt is that it comes in several other colors! So you don't have to be boring like me and stick to black

Golden Doors

 Something so enigmatic about doors

Questions such as...

Who designed it? What's behind it? Who/What inspired it?

How long has it been here? and Are there hidden messages?

Garment District, NY

Any Last Words?

Happy December! Or maybe not so happy. So apparently the world is suppose to end in 20 days (December 21st). So whatever there is you wanted to do, ya best to doing it NOW! Whether it's finally reading a book, or actually asking that hot guy out, you better make it worth your wild! My boyfriend and me have been so fascinated with the Mayans and their calendar. Watching Youtube documentaries of course feed that addiction. However I am unsure what will happen, though mother earth has been very upset with all of the floods, storms, earthquakes, tsunami's, volcano eruptions ... ok I know I sound crazy but I feel nature has a way of resetting life and we are not the only civilization who lived on this earth. I would hope that nothing happens of course but the world is so corrupt from wars, poverty to education. I know life can't always be pie in the sky for everyone but I really hope it was. It even saddens me when I see a homeless person on the streets and I live in New York! Home for the homeless! I just want the best for everyone no matter who you are, where you are from, or what you look like. Beauty lives in all. 

Thanks for reading

Sade

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I truly don't celebrate these westernized holidays mainly because I think it's a bunch of economic bull! However it is imperative since society is so caught up with their everyday busy lives that we do not stop to give thanks for the little or much we have. I think everyday should be a day of giving, love, and gratitude. Where families should take the time out from TV, work, games, social media, etc. and actually sit down and converse. I can not remember the last time I did that unless it is at an event. Though, that is besides the point. 

I don't like Thanksgiving because of it's real history. Praying over ham and turkey is disturbing, especially when I know that the Native Americans were betrayed and slaughtered by the Europeans after having such a precious meal like mine. The western civilization fake stories kill me... Now we have black friday tomorrow... where after we give thanks... we then choke thy neighbor for those crazy sales! 

Thanks for reading!

Chelsea Gem

I noticed this building on my way to school the other day. It's funny because I have been taking the same route to school ever since I started and there is no other building around that looks like it. Though somehow, being a typical New Yorker, I take beauty around me for granted. 

Chelsea, New York

The Boyfriend Oversized Coat

The boyfriend oversized coats have been my favorite fashion trends for these past couple of years. I bought one from H&M last year that I adore so much I hope I can show you guys soon. This coat covers all aspects, you look stunning, your definitely warm, and you can wear this with anything.

Thanks for reading!

1. Diane Von Furstenberg Laurel Coat
2. Stanwells Hoss Intropia Oversized Coat
3. TopShop Neoprene Oversized Boyfriend Coat
4. TopShop Quilted Cross Boyfriend Coat
5. River Island Oversized Ribbed Boyfriend Coat
6. Steven Alan Irina Coat 

Black & Olive Jewelry

I am sorry I haven't be able to post as much as I use to. I have 4 more weeks of school left (That went FAST!) and being that we are in the 4th Quarter at work, my hours were increased as well. So I don't even have time to sit on the toilet (lol). My photographer has been busy with school, so he has not be able to come around to take some new outfit shots. Though as soon as we get time, which will be soon, it's going to BLOGGING CENTRAL!

Anyway, since I did not have time for anything else, I did get to make some more bracelets while on my commute to and from school and work. Since that is the only time I actually have Black and Olive time I try to take advantage. Plus, I sold some really cool pieces this month and that has motivated me to make loads more. My only problem is time management when it comes to special request. Being that I do have a hectic schedule my response time is poor and I definitely need to work on that.

As we all know that my handmade beaded bracelets are on Etsy.com in the Black and Olive Shop. However I also created an account with Big Cartel just for those who don't have an account with Etsy. That way no one is forced to do something they don't want to do :)

I am in the process of still adding more bracelets. 

Shop Black & Olive Jewelry on Big Cartel

Shop Black & Olive Jewelry on Etsy

Thanks for reading!

Sade

Vintage Chanel Pearl Round Sunglasses

Yes! I have been craving for them too! I have been watching this glorious piece we lay on the top of our face for the paste couple of months. They were featured in the Chanel 1994 Spring Runway. Here they are... words can not gander. 

Vintage Chanel Pearl Round Sunglasses

Dreary November

 This week for everyone in New York was the worse. After Hurricane Sandy, the tunnels were either flooded or had no electricity. On top of that homes were destroyed, people lost loved ones and there are no friggin lights. -- what a week! -- As the week comes to an end New Yorkers struggle to try and pick up the pieces of what they have left. Getting to work in the city for me was horrifying and for everyone else that lives in Brooklyn. Since there are no current running through the whole Eastern Manhattan section, the MTA (Train) provided shuttle busses -- Trust me, it's a nightmare! I rather deal with Freddy -- Everyday I come home distraught and troubled because it takes me 3 hours to get a shuttle bus and when I do finally get a bus it's literally packed to the ceiling! I am on this bus for an hour breathing in a strangers carbon monoxide breath... Magical. 

Finally! I am off the bus.. Journey is over... uh no! There's no train running to my house, so now I have to walk home and since Sandy left the city the weather has dropped dramatically. Other than that... My life is just fine and dandy Thank you. 

Thanks for reading! 

Old Greenhouse

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone is enjoying their Halloween! Unfortunately not me! For some reason I never got into this holiday. Growing up my parents didn't allowed me and my siblings to celebrate it because of religious purposes and so I never really got into it. Through out my whole life I owned one costume, which was a witch (How fitting for me) and I was 6 years old. I believe my mom only bought the costumes because she felt bad for her kids. It is really depressing seeing a 5 and 7 year old looking out the window, in silhouette, watching all the children in the neighborhood go treat or treating in their Disney outfits. While your sitting at home with NO CANDY and NO COSTUME! Can you imagine what the conversation is like the next day at elementary school?

Green-Wood Cemetery - Brooklyn NY

xoxo

Hurricane Sandy Pt 2.

 As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. 

 - Clement Clarke Moore

Hurricane Sandy

 If you live in the east coast I am sure you are pretty up-to-date with the heck is what's going on. Hurricane Sandy is shutting down New York City! I am not complaining because school is cancelled woohooo!!! LOL -- I was suppose to take a midterm which I did not yet study for. Thanks Sandy! Spared me another week *phew*.  I did a little last minute shopping for some groceries and especially chocolate. I hope it's a minor storm but it looks crazy! Pray for me...

Black & Olive Shop on Etsy

YAY! LIBERATION!! CELEBRATION! I finally opened my shop on Etsy! and posted my beaded bracelets (Well some). Here are the few that are up in the shop right now! I would like to put all up but somehow I did not realize how much work this is. I am suppose to be studying for my French midterm and I am totally blowing it over because I really wanted to post them up. All pieces are one of a kind made just for you, all natural stones from Jasper, Pyrite, Turquoise and more. They are beautiful! I love them, you'll them, let's love them together.
Thanks for reading!

www.etsy.com/shop/BlackandOlive
(Some items in image are already sold)

Instagram Black & Olive

I don't get to post as much as I want to on my blog however I do post more frequently on Instagram.

Follow me @BlackandOlive

Fading

I officially have brain damage, too much going on! 

H&M Ankle Boots

 These past 2 years I have been looking for a pair of perfect ankle boots. Me being Ms. Picky, I do not like certain boots as well as my ankles are the same size as the width of a doorknob. So it is extremely hard to find a pair that looks great and fits my ankle the way I want it -- I have this problem with all boots, the width never fits my calves or ankles and I'll be damned if I am walking around with baggy boots so I always take them to the shoe repair to take them in but who wants to spend money right after spending money! Not me! --

The Monochromatic Look

I have never been the monochromatic girl. Something about sticking to one color scheme is just boring to me. Though for some reason it was featured all over the Fashion Runways this year. It's funny because I hate Black and White together - blame it on all the department stores I have worked in the past 10 years, my closet is filled with black!! - So since I am already caught up with the monochromatic fashion trend hopefully I force myself to wear it.

1. Carven Taffeta Skirt

2. Yigal Azrouel Duo Knit Sweater  

3. Dolce Vita Vien

4. Moc Croc Doctor's Bag 

Black & Olive Co.

 It's official I have no life. I am in the middle of midterms and getting term/team projects together and all I can think about is when am I really going to put my handmade beaded bracelets on Etsy. This year I have been completely distracted from school. It's sort of like I am thinking ahead of school, I am over it, throw me in with the sharks because I am ready. I am ready to start my career, or start something for God sakes or I am going to pull my Fro out. It's been about 5 months since I have been ordering pieces though it feels like 5 years I still believe that I am not fully equip yet. There's so much I don't have yet -- The smallest thing like a CAMERA!!!! -- However I am making do with what I have. I really would love to just launch my own site but I know that will take some time. It's ok I am willing to wait. Until then I'll continue to make more and come up with some more creative ideas.

 I am in the process of taking photos of them though I have not posted them up yet on Etsy, I will keep you guys updated. I am really hoping I can get them up some time this week... Maybe

Vintage Land Rover

My Country-side Ride

Brooklyn, NY

Rib & Hull

I have been dying for a tote I can wear everyday and that is classic without it looking like a sleep over bag. This one from Rib & Hill is whispering my name, do I give in???! I need something I can dress down, dress up, dress around etc...

1. Heirloom Tote
2. iPad Classic Sleeve
3. Raw Wallet Tan

Timeless

1. Daniel Wellington Classic St Andrews Lady Watch
2. Vintage Chanel Rare Round Logo Sunglasses

Testimonial

I finally found time between my hectic schedule to wash my hair. I finished most of my Homework throughout the week so after work yesterday I went to Ricky's to get a deep conditioner and shampoo. As I searched the curly girl aisle I remembered receiving a sample of the Miss Jessie Pillow Soft Curls. Now I've been natural for a year and 6 months so I am still trying to figure out what really works for me. As my hair gets longer I would have to move on to another product because the old just doesn't cut it anymore. -- Back to the curly girl aisle -- When I used the sample I loved how soft it left my hair and the smell... ohh the smell is oh so divine. Another great factor about this lotion, you can apply it to dry hair without it weighing your hair down.

It takes a awful long time for me to deep condition my hair if I don't have any heat. I want that conditioner to penetrate. I bought Mixed Chicks deep conditioner and was really unsure because the only deep conditioner I have ever used was Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque. I warmed it up in the microwave with extra virgin olive oil for 20secs, sectioned off my hair, slapped that bad boy in. It made it way easier to detangle and it left my hair soft (I haven't washed in 2 weeks, it wasn't pretty). My hair is weird, it struggles for moisture when and after washing but after 3 days, it looks stunning! I also bought the Hair Rules aloe grapefruit purifying shampoo. I only apply shampoo to my roots because shampoo dries my hair out to the max! no bueno! So I shampooed the roots and rinsed. -- Conditioned with Mizani Moisturefuse -- Check out Recent Post on Mizani

Nior et Olive

 As I listen to my favorite song Redemption song by Bob I think of finally understanding life. Today's world it is just so hard to become an aspiring individual, being that the media studies the negatives. On the cruise I recently took with my mother and grandmother I remember watching the ocean and realizing that I am just a molecule to what this world really is and I only know what I was taught. I get so caught up on ratchetness that I take the beauty of life for granted. At the end of the day I still take a look up and kiss the sun. Just have gratitude for what I have --


**

Quote The Raven

Fort Green Park, Brooklyn NY

 Everytime I see doors I think of one of my favorite poems by Edgar Allen Poe. Don't ask why...

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Read the rest of the poem HERE

Eye of a Leopard

This week has zoomed by; it went by so fast that I honestly don't even remember what I did. It seems like the closer we get towards the end of the year the faster it goes. It's been extremely hard to keep up with my life responsibilities -- makes me want to go curl up under my mama's arms and whisper to her like a little child "I don't want to be a grown up anymore".

I want to run without stopping, swim without taking a breath, fly without landing. If this is what Adulthood is then stop the spinning of the earth because I want to get off!! It can't be working at a dead-end job until your 85 years old; it can't be paying for education after 20-30years! (Just thinking about it gives me a headache) I always wondered how people have full-time jobs. I know I sound like a spoiled child but I made a promise to myself to never work full-time. I refused to give all my time for 30-40 years to someone or a company that is not benefiting me in a positive way. -- That's called modern day slavery -- Some might say, "Well isn't money a great benefit" no... Though it definitely does helps it's not something I'll go crazy over. I have no shame shopping at flea markets!

Vintage Train

Red Hook, Brooklyn NY

Au revoir Summer

There is going to be a lot of things I am going to miss this summer and a lot that I have missed. For sure, I am going to miss bike riding with my boyfriend. He loves it more than me; I am more of the complainer. I complain and complain on my way to the destination but of course when I get there I am awestruck. It's always an adventure that ends with allure. It conveys a grace of elegance that only happens for three months on the east coast. Now we move on -- which could be our last if the Mayans were right on their calculations -- I left home about 4 years ago to live in Brooklyn with my boyfriend, and since I've been here I fell in love with this place. Born and raised in Queens NY I was such a sheltered quiet child (Not anymore), the only thing I was allowed to do was to ride my bike to the corner and back. So exposure to the outside world was alien to me, however I don't really know if I can actually move out of New York because this is home. Home made me... me

Texture Symphony

Thursday I had a seminar at my job and the required dress code was business casual. I thought I had an pretty interesting melody going on so I asked a friend to take some quick shots with my phone. I don't really dress up much because I don't really go anywhere of that stature and lately I have been online just browsing for a couple of pieces especially in this category. These pants I bought from Zara are gorgeous! The tone on tone Jacquard print is amazing which just looks stunning in this hunter green -- for some reason this color has been my favorite this year -- Only issue is that I hate American cut; European cut obviously for me works better because I am pretty little lady (Though I can just take it to the tailor). The shirt I just love the bird and tree print, and the briefcase I bought years ago off of ebay for $10. 

Top from 4 Play Brooklyn ~ Zara pants ~ Vintage briefcase ~ Elie Tahari Shoes