B is for Bead

Being a bead lover, I was stoked to have had the opportunity to tour the recycled bead making facilities of various suppliers here in Ghana. One supplier's family has been in the bead making business for over 200 years. I loved seeing the modest origins of the beautiful and detailed creations I've adored for so long. They're made using mostly recycled glass bottles as well as some pigments to achieve the colors you wouldn't find in beverage bottles (red, orange, yellow, etc).

The Adventure Continues...

I'm back! The last week and a half feels like a month and a half...I've done so much already. I've found a cute modern apartment that's in a great walkable area of Accra, Ghana called Osu, I've purchased an absurd amount of touristy things, hung out with a few new expat friends I've made, visited several bead suppliers and learned how African glass beads are made, learned how to bargain like nobody's business, got lost while jogging around my neighborhood (twice), and ate a traditional Ghanaian meal (banku and tilapia) in the traditional Ghanaian way- with my hands. But the highlight of my trip so far is pictured below. I happened to walk by two elementary schools just as the school day was ending and was immediately surrounded by the sweetest, cutest kids who hugged and kissed me and very eagerly posed for pictures. It was such a sweet experience...

Ghana Be A Good One

I made it to Ghana! Sorry for the longest delay in posting in West Native history, but cut me some slack- preparing for a month long trip to Africa ain't easy. I got in last night and I've already learned two valuable lessons: don't wear pale yellow pants and don't have bangs. Both are gross my noon.  In fact, most of my wardrobe selections are questionable. We're hitting up The Accra Arts and Crafts Center tomorrow so hopefully I'll get some fresh clothes that are more appropriate for my trip. Also, Internet is spotty and I left the cord thingy that gets pictures from the camera to the computer at home- so I'm afraid I won't be posting like I used to, but I'll do the very best that I can. Hope these hold ya over- pictures of Ghana coming next. Promise. 

African Sunset

My big trip is now less than a week away and my nervousness has been replaced with sheer and utter excitement. Excited enough to put together a sample African outfit. It appears exposed thighs in Ghana are the equivalent of over the top cleavage stateside. So outfits like the one below will likely be my uniform- long skirts and simple shirts topped-off with necklaces far less bold than the one pictured.

(skirt: Forever 21, top: Current/Elliot, bag and "sheva" necklace: birthday gift, necklace: self-designed, shades:vintage)

Prep

What I wore on a Saturday spent shopping and roaming around Silverlake with Danielle. This striped shirt has quickly replaced my denim cut-offs as my number one jam.

Also, after nearly 3 months of attempting to grow out my bangs, I went a little crazy and spontaneously took scissors to them myself as we were leaving the house for a New Year's Eve party. Think I'll be stuck with these bad boys for the rest of my life.

(jeans and striped top: Forever 21, belt: Gap, cardigan: vintage, boots: Charles Albert, ring: self-designed, bracelets: vintage, shades: Rampage)

Doily

Got this dress for $3 and a hug at a flea market in Santa Cruz. What a deal...

Newness

Happy New Year folks! It's gonna be a good one- I can feel it.

A couple shots from my Vegas vacay taken with the new camera Jash gave me for xmas. What a guy :)

 (striped top: Forever 21, vest: Quail, button-up: H&M, shorts: unknown, clutch: vintage, shoes: Steve Madden, shades: Rampage, pins and hat: vintage)