You know one of those days when you wake up from the wrong side of your bed, the toothpaste sits in the bathroom without its cap on, you try to open a can of coke and it fizzles and oozes all over you? Yep, those days when you can’t catch a break. Or every other Monday. Or every other weekday.
On those days, I like to obsessively watch pet videos. Or scrounge Instagram for baby photos and videos or videos of cats being goofy or basically anything or everything that’s cute.
THAT is how I stumbled upon Laura Izumikawa, or @lauraiz and her ADORABLE AF toddler.
Izumikawa is a photographer turned mom who takes hilarious photos using her year-old baby as a prop while she sleeps blissfully. Baby Joey Marie Choy has till date donned various costumes, usually borrowed from pop culture.
From “Stranger Things” to “Game of Thrones”, divas like Beyonce – nothing has been spared by baby Joey whose going to be having a huge cult internet following when she grows up, bless her heart.
Hello, Salt Bae-by.
As a running series, Laura has also been posting pictures of Joey wearing cultural outfits from all over the world under the hashtag #JoeyWorldProject.
People all over the world have been sending Laura beautiful outfits and props for Joey to showcase their culture and heritage.
Here’s the little nugget in a traditional dress sent to mommy all the way from Albania.
And this Peruvian delight.
But MY personal favorite, and I’m obviously biased as all hell ’cause I’m a true patriot, but this little goober looks so FAB in Pakistani Shalwar Kameez.
Discussing the outfit at length, Laura writes, “This gorgeous shalwar kameez is a version of the national dress of Pakistan and was custom-designed for Joey by Pakistani designer Sana Arif. Can I just say, WOW! This dress was made in pure silk and chiffon with adda and gotta embellishments. Gotta is a gold or silver ribbon that’s used in traditional dresses from the subcontinent including countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Adda got its name from the huge wooden embroidery frames that the cloth is fitted on and combinations of beads, sequins, diamantes, silk thread and mirrors are designed upon. The ring-toed slippers are called kolha puri and they go back to the 13th century and have made a come-back in Pakistan with designers giving them a more modern look. I believe the scarf is worn more often on the shoulder but I decided to photograph Joey with the scarf on her head because I wanted to showcase just how beautiful the scarf is. What a stunning piece of art this outfit is! I just want to frame it and hang it in our home!”
I feel you, Laura. I love the whole get-up SO much that I’m going to have to break it down to address each and every aspect of it.
Like the check out that chunri ka dupatta and the gold teeka on her little forehead.
That wig, though. YOU GUYSSSS. ?
and that itty bitty flag in her hand.
Can we also pay attention to the miniature kolha puris?
And those chooriyan that are probs like size XXXS.
Speaking about this outfit in particular, Laura writes, “Today’s #JoeyWorldProject comes all the way from Pakistan from our amazing new friend Maria who runs an non-profit org called Women’s Digital League which seeks to empower Pakistani women by training and connecting them to online work.”
Maria Umar, the powerhouse behind Women’s Digital League, a platform that has been working tirelessly for over five years in digital outsourcing spheres and capacity building.
Assisting women in KPK, WDL trains them to find work opportunities online.
“Maria wrote to me that they promote economic empowerment for women this way as “it’s really difficult for women in Pakistan to go outside to work.” “Through the Joey World Project,” she wrote, “I’d like to bring a softer image of Pakistan and show a new side of Pakistani women achieving amazing things.”, Laura continues.
“She also wrote that she didn’t want publicity for herself or for WDL but that she just wanted to send this dress simply to do it for her fellow Pakistani women. But I just can’t help but share about her and her incredible work as it inspires me deeply! Thank you Maria and WDL for all you’re doing every day. It’s people like you who stirs my heart and gives me hope!”
Thank you, Maria, Sana and Laura for this beautiful treasure of a photograph that I’m probably going to go back to for the rest of the week, whenever I feel a downer coming on. ?
Don’t forget to tap a “heart” and drop your comments to let Laura know you care.