You guys, my first day back to work was yesterday. I still don’t feel 100% myself or totally back in action. I don’t know if it’s jet lag, or that longing I was telling you guys about, or what, but I’m in a wee bit of a funk.

So, I figured it would be appropro to have some subtle Kenyan reminders in my first “outfit” back in the real world. Or something.

So, I rocked my favorite zebra print cardigan as a nod to those zebras we saw everywhere. Seriously, zebras are like deer in Kenya. EVERY-WHERE, they are.

I also had to rock some of my new Kazuri beads. Kazuri is this AMAZING bead factory where they train underprivileged women the craft of bead making and pottery and give them an opportunity to work and earn money. 100% of the proceeds go to the women there. We took a tour of the factory and it was amazing to see the love that goes into EVERY piece of jewelry.

I like to call this my Kenyan arm party, you know… minus the watch. But these bracelets give me a constant reminder of where my heart is. My handmade KENYA bracelet, my NILISAIDIA band (Nilisaidia means “I helped” in Swahili), and my Resonate HOPE band that is the mission of HOPE Missions at our church.

And my red TOMS seemed even more appropriate. I mean, ONE for ONE, of course.

And I know this is something I go through every year, but it just seems especially hard now. I mean, I think about how much I love my TOMS. They’re probably my favorite, most comfortable shoes. But then I think about the fact that they were $45, and that’s like one and a half month’s salary for my friend Philip in the village – it just seems tough to justify something like that.

I mean, I’m just being real.

I’m not saying that to say that spending $45 on a pair of shoes is wrong, because it isn’t – it’s just a mentality of a consumer-driven society that we live in. And I think as long as we keep ourselves in check and we remind ourselves of what’s most important – God, our family, our friends – not STUFF, then it’s okay.

Or something. I know I probably am not making any sense at all… this is more me word-vomiting the jumbled post-mission trip thoughts I have going through my head.

[Cardigan: JCrew (old, similar here) | Tank: LOFT (similar) | Pants: Old Navy (old) | Shoes: TOMS | Jewelry: Kenya | Sunnies: Target | Watch: Target]

Forgive me. I promise my dry, creative wit will return soon enough. In the meantime, I leave you with Christopher’s lion story to make you laugh.