Meeting my birth mother

Chenet Bonnètt here,

   I normally wouldn't put a post like this up but I feel like if someone else is going through this right now then maybe we can share the experience, or experiences. This post won't have anything to do with fashion, but this is also a lifestyle blog so theres wiggle room for what Isha and I post. It's going to be a long post so I hope you like it, or maybe take something away from it, anything.
   
   I've always known I was adopted, always, ever sense I was a little girl. My parents never kept that from me, and for that I'm extremely thankful. I have three crazy, overprotective, electric brothers who I love very much and also am incredibly lucky to have. They picked on me and pushed me around like all siblings do, but they taught me things and life lessons that -had I not had any siblings- may not have ever learned or experienced. And to me, experiences are super important. My brothers never treated me any different than I would be if I was actually blood, my whole family to be honest. No one has ever looked at me as an outsider due to not being actual "family". 

   My family is a firm believer in " You can't choose your family, or who you are related to", but with that being said they chose to fully accept me as their family. Where I live (Virginia) the youngest you can adopt a child is 3 months of age, so when my mother (Lisa) and my father ( Tim) had my other brothers (Andrew,Alex,and Arick) my mom got fed up - at least thats how I like to think of it- and decided they were going to adopt a girl, because my mother wasn't about to try and have a fourth child and it turn out to be another boy.

   This is where all the details get a little blurry for me, seeing as I wasn't born nor do I remember every little thing about my adoption. But, my birth mother was very young when she was pregnant with me, and she knew she couldn't provide the life that she thought I deserved. So she did one of the hardest things I could even imagine doing, caring a child in your stomach for 9 months, seeing it grow and kick and move around inside you. Something that many women go through and love because it's a beautiful thing. She is one of the most selfless people I know ( well not really know yet), choosing to birth me and give me to an amazing and loving family is another thing I will be eternally grateful for. 
    
   From what Lisa and Tim always told me (also my birth mother recently) is that she wanted me to have other siblings to look after me and protect me, and that I got in abundance. She picked a family that she only knew select things about, but somehow knew they were absolutely perfect for me. I don't remember being brought home or how that went at all, I'm sure it was extremely emotional for both parties.
    
  I got a letter last May, I was in school and my mom was in the front office helping out. I went in during a class that we were just completely fooling around in, and she said   "Something came in the mail for you". Wait, I know, why did I get this letter thats pretty important at school? I'm actually not sure at all, ask my mom. I remember being extremely confused and just looking at my mom. She said " It's from Heidi". My heart stopped. I had known her name for a couple of years now, but had never gotten anything from her before. I remember just taking the letter -that was in a manilla envelope- and just walking back to my class. I sat down and stared at it. I opened it and started reading, but there was pictures inclosed that fell out, so I grabbed them, and I was absolutely shocked at how similar I thought we looked. I had never really thought about looking like someone. Now it should be said that Lisa and I look very similar, people often tell us we are lying about me being adopted because of the similarities between us. But looking at my birth mother in those pictures made me realize, no, I'm actually half of that person, half of her. A stranger that now was reaching out to me, is my birth mother.

   It took me a while to write back, I wanted to. I really really did but I didn't really know what to say. I wanted to meet her, but I didn't know what that was going to mean. What was going to come next. Who would she then be to me in my life? I still don't know, and I'm going to meet her tomorrow. How crazy is that, its actually now hitting me, that this person that has always been there, that I've been a part of, but was a stranger will no longer be a stranger anymore. 

   I can't finish how meeting her went, but tomorrow I will write another post, trying my best to explain how it went, my thoughts or maybe epiphanies that I might have. Im scared, Im excited, I may not be ready but I have to know. Until then-

  Stay Authentic- Chenet Bonnètt

Isha's two cents

   Hey everyone I'm Isha, and I'm just going to tell you more about the blog and what to look forward to in the future. This place will be a place of authenticity, me and Chenet feel its important to stay true to your brand and style. We are just going to show you things we like and think are authentic to life and if you enjoy them too then the blog has done its job.   

   I have included a section at the bottom that every week will feature new music that Chenet and I are into and what is humming in our Brains. They are linked so all you have to do is click and listen.Also I will be creating a Top picks and every couple of weeks or so we will pick 10 things, whether it be food, or clothes/shoes, or even apps that we like they'll be up there.   

   Also we would love feedback and tips on anything pertaining to the blog. So if you have a suggestion for music or if you want to tell us about something you think is awesome email us at chenetbonnettisha@gmail.com also if you want to see us cover something in a review or if you want to know how to do something also let us know.
    
     

Stay Authentic - Isha

Opening a Blog

 Chenet Bonnètt here,

     So Isha and I thought it would be interesting to kind of walk through the setting up process of making this blog. We had the actual idea of making this blog while face-timing each other. I was trying to explain how hard it was becoming for me to explain fashion trends or things I was obsessing over to my friends on twitter or through txt message, and I kept thinking - yes I have a youtube channel ( fashionbykailen) and I could post a video there, but I don't get the full detail as I could if I was writing and adding pictures-.So we thought about making a blog. 

   We both love taking pictures and styling outfits, also trying new products and telling anyone who will listen about them. So he picked me up from my dorm, drove me to this perfect little coffee shop in Norfolk that I am beyond obsessed with, bought $3 coffee for the two of us (cheap right!?) and got to it.

   Actually coming up with the name was the hardest part, we had names that were punny, fancy names, catchy names, and names with the two of ours combined. We finally agreed on the name Èlan-Brio. Èlan, which means energy, style, enthusiasm, and confidence.) and Brio 
(vigor, vivacity of style or performance) Which, once you get to know us, Is a perfect depiction of the two of us.

   We are going to be working hard and probably will change a lot during the beginning stages of the blog, but we hope that you guys love it as much as we do.

   Stay authentic - Chenet Bonnètt

Welcome to our Blog

Welcome to our blog-

     This is our first blog post, and are completely new to this. Isha and I (Chenet Bonnètt) are going to be co-running this blog, we will be covering our favorite fashion or trendy pick ups and things we think are interesting and loving at the moment.     

   We are both college students with a bunch of extra time on our hands, our main purpose for this blog is to share what we think fashion is all about. Isha and I have similar but different fashion style so you will be getting different views on certain styles and trendy items.

   Thanks for joining us on this new and exciting and very fashionable cat walk, we hope you guys love it.

 Stay authentic - Chenet Bonnètt - Isha