Meet Annah Chakola Ramsey

 

This girl's got a swagger and attitude that's laid back and badass cool.  You admire her style and your boyfriend admires her gigantic, gorgeous eyes.  And get this, she's incredibly talented.  Jewelry you'll die for and a new luxury line of handbags designed and made on her last trip home to India.  How would I describe the feel of the line?  Rich ass bohemian gypsy.  Carefree, chic, elegant, inspired.  The fabrics and leather are so beautiful, you won't fling it on the ground at your next patio lunch date.  I got a peek at her new jewelry pieces, seemingly inspired by animals and nature, a running theme in her delicate necklaces and earrings.  Lucky enough to have been asked to the photoshoot for her new line, I took a few behind the scenes photos and asked Annah a few questions.                          ♥ Jaguar Paw                                     *the first 2 photos were taken by the uber talented Peter Roger Dolese.                     

Do you have a nickname?

I have a few! I grew up being called Annahmol.  "Mol" means daughter in my mother tongue.  Everyone back home has been calling me that since I was little and it stuck to this day. It's almost weird when I hear my family and friends in India calling me Annah.  In America, people think it translates to Animal!   Ha!  My mum called me "Kiki " for a long time and my dad called me"Bambi" after the cartoon bambi.  Once I got to the US, I realized that name is most common among strippers...  hmmm!!

Who are you?

I would like to think Im a 21st century bohemian...whatever that means.  I do what makes me happy in this moment. Sometimes its not always a good thing but thats me!

What inspires you?

Traveling and seeing traditional arts around the world inspire me to no end!

 What countries have you recently traveled to and which was your favorite? 

I traveled to India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Thailand. India is my fav because my family lives there and the energy of that country inspires me! I thoroughly enjoyed Thailand too. Im a bit of a foodie and thai food does crazy things to my palette so I can quite confidently say I ate my way through Thailand. Thai street food is quite possibly the best in the world...  hands down! All the other countries were beautiful in their own way too!

Did you always know you would design someday?
Ive always been designing- I think I started with greeting cards when I was a wee one.  I used to have my own logo at the back of each card that said "designs by AC milan" after my fav Italian soccer club!  I think my logo was a dove.  Dont ask me why!  Fashion design was what I wanted to do for the longest time and I had plans to go to school in Milan after high school but my father passed away and my path took me to America.  I initially started off doing what was "safe" and would help pay the bills" but I realized I was starting to feel numb inside and thats when I knew I needed to make a change and get back to the drawing board so to speak!

                                                   What is your best advice? (about anything!)

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
Nelson Mandela ...one of my favs!

Do you have a badass hangover cure you'd like to share? 

Pad kee mao, it's a Thai dish and funny enough its called "drunken noodles" in english.  It is heaven on a plate and gives me instant relief.  Oh, and some fresh juice!  Orange, carrot, whatever ..as long as its made right then.  I'll have it!

What can we expect from you next?

I initially started doing just jewelry as a hobby but I realize I love accessorizing and I dont want to limit myself. I have a new handbag collection out that I am very excited about. I traveled around Asia and found antique hand embroidered tribal fabric and built a collection based around that. Mixed with buttery soft leather to boot! I also got my hands on some amazing naturally dyed organic cotton fabric and I designed a wardrobe essential that should be ready in mid august. I would love to get into clothing more one day...where it all started!  I like the idea of coming full circle! 

                                                *Annah.   

Check out more of Annah at www.bohogypsy.com

                                                                       

the easter bun bun.

Baby is getting taller, skinnier, louder, bossier, and more independent everyday. Some days he's sweet, some days he's in a bad mood. Goes with the 2 year old territory I guess. This weekend we had egg hunts, a birthday, a wedding reception, and a friend in town. It rained. We ate red curry and pra ram. I drank a little wine, Husband drank a few beers. We watched an obscene number of Friday Night Lights episodes on Netflix streaming. Ohmygod that show is SO GOOD. If I talked about how great it is, it could have it's own blog. I'm sure there's one somewhere. Oh Tim Riggins, you are beautiful.
Baby was sick last week so he missed school and I didn't get to visit my Grandma. As nice as it is to have the baby around all day, everyday- this mommy needs a little break. We have several friends who offer to watch him every week but then can't ever actually watch him. I know how it is though, people have lives. I'm guilty of living in my little bubble with Baby and Husband and dismissing everything else. That's something I need to work on. But... if you are a friend and can watch Jack this evening or tomorrow evening, that would be awesome and I will owe you a huge favor. Like, if you're ever stranded in a nearby state, I will totally come and pick you up. Or if you leave your wallet at home, I'll buy your lunch. Or I'll just take you out for dinner sometime. Babysitter's choice!

What's going on- Tonight Mates of State play a free show at OU. It's rainy outside so they've moved it inside. BOO! We thought about taking Jack but I think it'll be too crowded inside so we probably won't go. Water for Elephants opened in theaters this weekend- i loved the book so i'm excited to see it. Wednesday we have The Oh Johnny! Girls' rehearsal. Thursday we play the opening day of the Norman Music Festival. Bill and Dee's at 11pm. Saturday I play twice with my other band, Bulletproof Tiger. 1:30 at the Opolis and 3:30 at the Blue Bonnet Bar.
above: My dad cut a piece of birthday cake for Jack (my niece's sweet 16) and the birthday girl wasn't even there yet! There was a big hole cut out while she blew out her candles. Jack was appreciative.

above: The early works of Jack H. E. Brady. Baby Jack's school/church had an art fundraiser for a new playground and art center. Jack's painting sold for $30. The kid has art in his blood- i can actually hang it up! I love it. Some of those other kids have questionable art skills. Jack, once again, you rule.

above and below: Saturday night we had a casual sort of wedding reception to attend. It was nice to see old friends. We stopped by The Library and The Garage before the party. The Garage is new and I like it. Last week I went to Blackbird Gastropub and liked it too. Feels good to have some new places in town to go to.
Baby Jack calls the Easter Bunny "Bun Bun" and is terrified of him. I never knew he could hold on to me so tight. I don't blame him though- Bun Bun was pretty creepy looking. Sunday we had lunch at The Trails. Bun Bun was there and we went on an egg hunt in the men's locker room because of the crazy rain floods. Jack had fun, I had a mimosa. I went casual with gap jeans and a white banana republic shirt, a trench, and heels. A pastel dress just seems weird to wear when it's dark and crappy outside. I LOVE Easter dress hunting so it was disappointing but there's always next year.

I erased all contacts in my phone yesterday. Yay! I'm such a mess already this week. If you're around, let's get a glass of wine or something. I need to get out of the house, even if it's for an hour.

♥ jp

The Cutest Baby in the World.

That baby of mine sure knows how to have fun.  Every night, the Husband and I play with him on the floor and he has so much fun that he wears himself out and he's ready for bed.  He loves his baby Harley.  He's finally figured out how to push the peddle with his foot to take off.  (it doesn't go fast)  "Vrrrroom!"

Just Baby and the open road.

This is the new shirt we picked up at Target.  He was going to wear it on his birthday but I couldn't resist putting it on him with his gray skinny baby jeans.  He peed on the jeans and so we switched them out for comfy Gap sweat pants.  For his birthday outfit, I picked up a really cool and very  cute bright blue and white button up shirt.  Also from Target.

Sweet Baby face.

Baby tickles.

Tired out!  Baby Jack sat with Husband and watched TV for a little bit while I fixed his cereal and bottle.  He didn't squirm or grab at the remotes-  he just sat quietly, like a mature little boy.  Eventually he became sleepy.

Looking at these pictures makes me miss hardwood floors.  They just look so much nicer!  I haven't lived in a house with carpet in over 10 years.  The carpet is really appropriate for baby play though.  He rolls around and falls down on it and doesn't get hurt!  Someday when Baby and his baby sister (no, she's not here yet and no i'm not preggers again) are bigger and we have the money, I really, really want wood floors.  Or that house down the street that looks just like ours (flat roof) only bigger!  I would take that instead of the floors.

So I am in possession of some almost finished Bulletproof Tiger songs.  If you would like to hear them and give me feedback, please email me at festivalcityfilms@hotmail.com and i'll email you a song or two.  I'd like to hear what other people have to say- good or bad.  

Lately I just haven't been my usual self.  I'm tired for no reason, I throw up a lot for no reason, I'm moody, have headaches.  (No, i'm absolutely not pregnant!)  I'm pretty sure I'm either sick and dying or just stressing.  I wish I had more time to work on things i love.  Music being the biggest thing with photography and art following.  It's so frustrating!  Oh yeah!  Also, for the past few weeks i've been having lucid dreams.  Lots of them.  It makes my brain so tired by the time i wake up.  Sometimes they are positive dreams where I can control everything and sometimes they are bad dreams where I know I'm dreaming and can't wake myself up.  I had a dream this morning that Husband and I were getting married in 1 day and I didn't have anything planned or a dress or anything.  It's a reoccurring dream i've had about different occasions since i was a child.  Sometimes it's halloween and I'm searching for a costume?  Prom and I'm searching in some crappy store for a dress?  It's kind of funny.  Wonder what it means.

Also, I think it would do me good to spend a nice evening with Husband.  When we go to dinner, one of us doesn't get to eat because we have to entertain a one year old and make sure the salsa and sugar packets are out of his reach.   We really want to see a movie but it's impossible to find someone who will babysit him in norman long enough for us to go see one.  When we do go out, friends are usually along for the ride, which is also fun, but it would be nice to hang out one on one.  

This post is really random, I know.  My brain is very unfocused today.  Going to bathe baby and we're going to get out of this house.  Baby always makes me feel better about everything.  Especially when he gives me baby kisses.

♥ jp

Where the Wild Things Really Are

In Oklahoma, of course! The Baby seemed at home in his "Max" costume. Serious as ever. However, in the town we live in, football is quite serious. And it so happened the Sooners were playing on Halloween evening. So... our trick-or-treat night was on Friday instead of Saturday. Baby started feeling bad on Friday evening and by Saturday morning, he was full on sick. So no real Halloween for him. He cried and cuddled. Sunday we dressed him up and took some photos of him with his baby cousin in her giraffe costume. See below.

Husband came home one day and seemed surprised that I can actually sew. (i made Baby's costume) I've told him several times that I can but I guess he thought that meant hemming pants or something. Which is fine. If you've read this blog at all, then you know my husband has only known me for about a year and a half. And honestly, in that time, there is no reason i would sew. Or be creative at all. I was pregnant! And tired. And more pregnant and more tired. Anyway. I can sew! 

I thought I could use the Baby's naptime to blog but I was grossly mistaken. His naptimes are few and far between these days and i'm now using them to run to the shower and partially dry my hair before he wakes up and wants Mommy. He is obsessed with Mommy. He wants Mommy to hold him when she's in the room and to watch him while he does things when she's not holding him. It's a lot harder than it sounds. I'm on my feet, holding a 26 pound baby ALL DAY LONG. My back hurts. My brain hurts. My soul hurts by the end of the day. I'm tired. 

♥ jp