#fenixrisingreflection

[krileytips]

#StyleBiasCFW Story! Tickets: bit.ly/StyleBias2016! #LinkInBio ••• Last year when Donnie asked me if I could help with makeup, I was honored and excited. For many of the young ladies, this was their experience as a model and getting the chance to walk a runway. Read more for my reflection of that day ♢♢♢ #StyleBias x #ChicagoFashionWeek • So yeah I can assist with makeup too. 💅 Seeing so many young ladies (mostly between the ages of 15-21) who for the first time ever ripped a runway light up with excitement after seeing their face in the mirror after getting their makeup done just warmed my heart. 😣One of the young ladies even asked me to do her makeup for prom! 😍 you literally never know what opportunities are on the horizon. You have to be prepared to step up to the plate and knock it out of the park every time! #DondasHouse #fenixrisingreflection

[krileytips]

A period of emptiness.

While going through a pretty dark period of my life in the past six months, I was unable to write. Writing about my life and current events makes it too real. Growing up, I could never keep a consistent journal. I could talk all day. Ever since I could read and talk, adults would pick my brain to hear my thoughts. As I got older, in college, friends and colleagues would ask for my input and ideas. I started blogging, engaging in dialogue on social media, and found a community of scholars, organizers, activists, writers, journalists, creatives near and far who encourage me to speak, to share and reflect. So after putting this on the backburner forever, I plan on not only getting back to writing (essays, thinkpieces, etc.), getting into creative writing projects, but I would also like to  start a podcast. I envision that this podcast will be a reflection of the various things I'm interested in. No name for it yet but I realized that I enjoy being a storyteller a griot of sort. I plan on also doing short audio stories on air and poems and letting people submit their work. I hope I will have your support. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me during what has been a difficult transition. So much love to my mentors, homies and friends. xo

[krileytips]

#Repost from @myleik: when I was younger I would keep trying to run the tape back. was it something I said? was it HOW I said it? WHAT happened?! racking my brain. move on. whatever's meant to be ALWAYS circles back but in the meantime ... look forward. GOOD MORNING! ☀️#MyTaughtYou // I struggle with this all of the time. Since I was little, I would be hyper-critical of myself and reflect on the smallest mistakes. I'm learning to reflect and be more forward thinking and just to be in the moment and be confident in myself. #fenixrisingtruth #fenixrisingjourney #fenixrisingwords #fenixrisingquote #fenixrisingreflection

[krileytips]

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When I look back on 2014 and see how many magical moments I was apart of and the beautiful friends that have made those moments possible, I am grateful. I also survived seasons that I thought were at one point insurmountable. Thank you to those who helped me celebrate and enjoy life this year. Thank you God for restoring my strength and guiding me. I am excited to see what 2015 will bring as I live out the 25th year of my life!

I also may need to bring those #fauxlocs back. S/O to my stylist and photographer @arie_yayo! ♡

Also, love to my fellow #MyBlackIsBeautiful (@mbib) finalists and queens. Definitely a highlight of my year!

#fenixrising25 #fenixrisingreflection #Iconosquare #BestMomentsOfInstagram #fenixrising2015