Fashion blog banner featuring a woman styling cream Adidas ballet sneakers with a bubble skirt, graphic tee, olive jacket, pink sunglasses, and neutral accessories. Editorial lifestyle layout with close-up sneaker detail and text reading “How to Style Ballet Sneakers Without Looking Too Casual.”

How to Style Ballet Sneakers Without Looking Too Casual

By: Steffanie Monae" May 8, 2026May 8, 2026 fashion, Fashion TIps, How To, My StyleFeaturedLeave a Comment

Ballet sneakers are one of those trends that people have a lot of opinions about, and honestly, I get it. They sit somewhere between sporty and feminine, practical and styled, simple and statement-making all at once. But that is also what makes them fun. When you style them with intention, ballet sneakers can feel fresh,…

Black woman wearing a Green statement blazer for blog post how to style a statement blazer

How to Style a Statement Blazer Without Overthinking It

By: Steffanie Monae" May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 Uncategorizedblog, capsule-wardrobe, fashion, Featured, Lifestyle, statement-blazer, styleLeave a Comment

A statement blazer can completely change an outfit. It has a way of making even the simplest basics feel more polished, more interesting, and a little more fashion-forward without needing much else. The key is knowing what actually makes a blazer feel like a statement piece and how to style it in a way that…

Black woman styling a slip dress with graphic tee and denim layers for spring outfit ideas

How to Style a Slip Dress This Spring: The Timeless Closet Staple That Never Leaves

By: Steffanie Monae" April 24, 2026May 1, 2026 Uncategorizedblog, capsule-wardrobe, fashion, Featured, slip-dress, styleLeave a Comment

Some trends come and go. Others quietly return year after year, stronger, smarter, and more refined each time. The slip dress is one of those rare pieces. Minimal, feminine, effortless, and endlessly versatile, the slip dress has proven it isn’t just a passing trend. It has become a true wardrobe staple that works across seasons,…

flat lay of aa lavender"love is patient" embroidered sweatshirt beside an open journal and a gold pen on a neutral lien background promoting a christian personal growth blog post for women.

Love Is Patient With the Version of Me I Used to Be

By: Steffanie Monae" February 27, 2026 Uncategorizedfaith, Featured, life, love, mental-health, writingLeave a Comment

There was a version of me who felt like she was always behind. Behind in life. Behind in dreams. Behind in who I thought I was supposed to be by now. Becoming a mother at a young age forced me to grow up quickly, but it also slowed parts of my life that I didn’t…

About

Hey, and welcome to my blog! My name is Steffanie Monae. I’m from the San Francisco bay area and an SFSU alumni with a BS degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. I have over 15 Years of fashion styling experience and currently work as a freelance stylist, content creator, and the owner of Jayla Kids.…

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It’s Okay to Rest: The Reset You Didn’t Plan for (But Needed)

By: Steffanie Monae" March 27, 2026May 1, 2026

Uncategorizedhealth, life, love, mental-health, writingLeave a Comment

There are days when everything feels off. You sit down, ready to work. You have the plan. You have the vision. But your mind? It’s not cooperating. And instead of giving yourself grace… you start feeling guilty. This week, I had one of those days. As a work-from-home mom building a business from scratch, I…

blog banner showing a black woman in a cream "He has a plan, I hava a purpose" Tshirt standing outdoors beside the tile " Motherhood, Dreams & Purpose: Trusting the process when life disrupts your plans

Trusting the Process when life disrupts your plans

By: Steffanie Monae" March 17, 2026May 1, 2026

Uncategorizedfaith, god, jesus, life, motherhood1 Comment

Some weeks flow exactly how we planned. The routines are steady. The to-do list gets checked off. The house feels calm. Your mind feels clear. And then there are weeks like the one I just had. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a creature of habit. I like routine. Structure helps calm my mind and center…

It’s Okay to Enjoy the Ride

By: Steffanie Monae" March 6, 2026May 1, 2026

Uncategorized1 Comment

Holding Hope for Tomorrow and Gratitude for Today There was a version of me who believed everything had to be a lesson. Every moment needed meaning. Every experience needed growth. Every season had to prove something. But lately, I’ve been learning something softer. It’s okay to just live. It’s okay to enjoy. It’s okay to…

Neutral-toned blog image featuring a folded cream hoodie that says “Note to Self: Sis, You Got This!” beside a coffee cup, with the quote “Don’t Let Doubt Move In. Guard your mind. Stay focused.” displayed above.

Note to Self: DON’T LET DOUBT MOVE IN

By: Steffanie Monae" February 20, 2026March 17, 2026

Uncategorizedfaith, life, mental-health, personal-growth, writingLeave a Comment

There are seasons where you feel loud and unstoppable. And then there are seasons where you’re building quietly. Praying quietly. Hoping quietly. This week feels like one of those seasons. I’ve been pushing “One of One. The Only One.” But today, I want to pause and pour into us. Because sometimes the message we preach…

Black woman wearing a lavender “Love Is Patient” sweatshirt, standing confidently against a neutral background, promoting the blog post “Love Is Patient: Even When the World Tells You to Go Faster.

Love Is Patient: Even When the World Tells You to Go Faster

By: Steffanie Monae" February 13, 2026March 17, 2026

InspirationLeave a Comment

Last week, I talked about my four intentional hours, how I structure my day, how I protect my time, and how being patient with myself has become non-negotiable in this season. In that reflection on loving ourselves patiently — especially when growth feels slow or unseen, I was focused on grace. But this week, I…

Love Is Patient, Especially With Yourself

By: Steffanie Monae" February 6, 2026February 27, 2026

Uncategorizedlife, mental-health, mindfulness, writing2 Comments

We’ve all heard it before. “We all get the same 24 hours in a day.” It sounds motivating until you really sit with it. Because the truth is, not all 24 hours are created equal. And not every season of life gives you the same kind of time. Right now, in this season, I don’t…

Staying the course while it’s quiet blog cover featuring a woman wearing a black VIBE zip hoodie, representing encouragement, patience, and personal growth during quiet seasons.

Staying the Course When It’s Quiet

By: Steffanie Monae" January 30, 2026February 27, 2026

Uncategorizedlife, love, mental-health, mindfulness, personal-growth1 Comment

There’s something no one really prepares you for when you decide to go after the life, business, or calling you’ve been dreaming about. The quiet. Not the peaceful kind, the kind where momentum slows, motivation wavers, and the excitement you felt at the beginning starts to feel… distant. The kind where you’re still showing up,…

VIBE: Run Your Race at Your Pace (And Don’t Let the Noise Name You)

There’s a difference between being busy and being aligned. Many of us are doing “all the right things,” but still feel stuck because our focus is split. We’re building while watching what everyone else is doing. We’re praying, planning, posting, creating… but also comparing. And comparison has a way of making you second-guess what God…

How Jayla Became More Than a Boutique

By: Steffanie Monae" January 16, 2026March 17, 2026

Uncategorizedbrand story, Faith + PurposeLeave a Comment

Jayla didn’t start as what it is today Originally, it was supposed to be a women’s boutique, fashion-forward, cute, curated pieces. The kind of place where you come to find something that makes you feel confident and put together. But life happened, and it didn’t get off the ground the way I hoped. But God…