Better with time...

When I was younger, I heard grown folks say that they weren't getting older, they were getting better. And it wasn't just Furious Styles in Boyz in the Hood neither! Older people in my life used that phrase all the time. I never really knew what they meant until now. 

When I was a teenager, I thought that time would NEVER move. It took what seemed like an eternity to get from 9th to 12th grade! Not literally folks. Actually, it only took the normal four years, but I wanted to be grown so bad that I could taste it!

1995 Snow Daze Dance. I thought I was killin it in this dress! 

1996 in my high-school halls with the jailhouse pose 

Once I turned 18, I moved out. At the time, getting "old" (in my eyes old was 30) seemed light years away. 

Me with my best friend at our high-school graduation

In my 20's I didn't really think much about my age. I just cruised along. Hanging out with friends, raising my children, being a young wife, etc. Nothing could touch me! 

Then there was 30. The big 3-0 hit me kind of hard. I wasn't prepared! Where had the time gone?! I mean shoot, I still felt 20 something!

My 'Golden Birthday'. See what I did there? #solidgold

Time passed. I got older. My children got older. Life started moving a hell of a lot faster then it did before. All of a sudden, I look up, and I'm on the later side of 30, damn near pushing 40!! I decided to start taking better care of myself. To focus more on me. To look in the mirror and be proud of the woman who stared back at me. Thus began my weight loss/health journey. With diabetes, cancer & high-blood pressure running in my family I couldn't afford to ignore my weight anymore.

I knew that I wanted to lose some weight, but I never really saw myself as THAT overweight. Below is the first 'before/during' picture where I took a good look and realized that I didn't know where my weight had taken me. Well, I knew, but I didn't. I knew because as you can tell in the picture on the right, I tried to use that poor little clutch as a shield for my tummy. Sad, but true. I say that I didn't know because I actually thought it worked! lol! When I look at these pics, I see a different me from my hair, down to my knees :)

This 'before/during' pic was from a week or two ago. I posted it on Instagram as motivation for me to get to the gym. I was having a hard day, and I needed to let myself know that I don't plan on going back to the old me.

 This pic is from Dec, Jan & Feb. It was my goal dress. I went into Target, saw this dress for super cheap. I tried it on, and it was pretty tight around the mid section. Being that it was a medium, I gave myself until March to fit comfortably into the dress. I DID IT by February! YAY ME!!

I said all of that to say this. I'm not done. Not even close. Being active, and consistently making small changes to live a healthier life is ongoing for me. I slip. Hell, I fall! But I will never stop. And in the process I'm beginning to realize that, like fine wine, I'm getting better with time.

Do you feel like you become a better you as time passes? What are some of the things that keep you motivated to do better?

Until next time...

This was Friday of last week :)

Sweater - Old Navy

Scarf - H&M

Jeans - Old Navy

Boots - Target

Mixing it up...

I hope everyones week is off to a great start. I just wanted to quickly post one of my favorite outfits to date. If you've been rocking with me for a while, you'll remember the bottom half of this dress from a post last year (May, 2012) titled, Curves Ahead. This dress was my very first purchase from ASOS and I love it! I refuse to let this dress go, so I had to "take it in" a bit because I'm in the process of changing said curves. I'm thinking that's a good problem to have. At least in my case it is.

Aside from my striped dress worn here, here, and here this top is my only other peplum item. I love the trend, but have found that not all peplum is created equal. You have the find the right cut for you, and I do adore my two lonely little purchases.

 As some of you already know (and saw if you clicked the above links) I'm all about repurposing a wardrobe item. This is no exception. I wore the dress as a skirt this time, and added my new peplum top from Target (which I got on clearance for $8.97).

Last but not least, lets just take a sec to talk about these lace covered Steve Madden heels!! They've been in my closet for over a year, and this was my first time sporting them. Super cute, with a capitol C! I wanted to wear them with this dress/skirt because it gave me the feel of print mixing. Subtle, but still there.

Until next time…

Houndstooth and Me...

Hey peeps!! I hope you guys are enjoying your summer so far. We're coming up on the end of July and  I'm trying to soak up every bit of sun that I can. Minnesota can be tricky when it comes to weather, so I'm here for all of this wonderful heat.

I miss you guys! Is that weird to say? Maybe it is, but it's true. I'm just going with the flow and I post when I'm able to snap a few pics with my daughter. Our schedules are a bit hectic because she got a JOB!! You heard me right!! A paying job!! My baby-girl is a teachers aide for a Summer program. I'm so proud of her! =D With that being said, I don't really want to bother her too much with the blog stuff because I want to allow her to rest. I'm a nice mommy, huh? lol

I wanted to snap a few pics this morning, because it isn't often that I love my outfit AND my hair at the same time. Ha!

I copped this dress on clearance at eShakti. It is everything!! I was browsing through the "Overstock" section of the website, and that's when I spotted this cute houndstooth sheath dress. I had been wanting a dress or skirt in houndstooth print for a while now, but never found anything that I felt suited me. After a few clicks on some dresses that were possibles, there it was! My eyes lit up when I clicked on this dress!

Then, it happened. The dress only went up to a size 14. Even though the material indicated that it had some stretch, I entered complete let down mode. I was really bummed out. Then something told me to take a look at my progress/workout pics. And that brought me to this…

I posted this pic on Instagram about a month ago. I used it to motivate me when I went into a workout slump. I was feeling really down about the scale not moving, and I needed a boost. Once I looked at the before and after, I went through with my order. And I'm glad I did. That 14 fit me like a glove! I felt super cute and, so I had to snap a few pics before the kids and I left the house this morning.

**The moral of this story is... TRY IT!! You never know what works and what doesn't unless you try it out. Also, give yourself more credit. We sometimes get hung up on where we think we should be, and forget to be proud of where we are.**

Until next time...

I through on a light weight blazer for work. Reason #1, Sometimes a sista needs to down-play some of these curves. And #2, it gets chilly in the office & I don't like it :)

Dress - eShakti

Shoes - Steve Madden

Blazer - Target

Just Peachy...

Hey peeps!! I hope you all took time to remember and say a prayer those who gave their lives, as well as those who continuously put their lives on the line for our freedoms and liberties. And in the midst of being thankful, I'm sure that everyone hit up a BBQ somewhere & did some serious damage! lol

I had a great weekend. I took Friday off work, so it was a nice 4 day weekend for me. Why is it that no matter how long you take away from work, it always feels like it was never enough?

Anyhoo, on to the OOTD…

Today, I wore this easy breezy peach top. I snagged it on clearance at Herbergers (Boston, Carson Prairie Scott) for around $4 last year! I've only worn it a few times, and every time I put it on I ask myself why don't I wear it more often. I love the color and the fabric is so soft! I'm wearing a scarf because this cool Minnesota air just doesn't understand that it's supposed to be Spring! I want warmer weather, and I want it NOW!!

I picked up the jeans from Old Navy. They are my new favorites! These bad boys were on clearance for under $10, and now I'm kicking myself for not buying more than one pair. I try not to wear them as much so my "chub rub" doesn't ruin them. Ha! No really. I would hate to have to throw them away. I would probably shed a tear or two. I'm serious.

**Do you have a favorite pair of jeans? Do you want to keep me from crying? If you answered "Yes" to at least one of these questions, please leave the brand/style in the comments. I'm always taking recommendations.** Thank ya kindly!! ;)

Until next time…

Top - Herbergers

Scarf - Target?? (I tore the tags off)

Jeans - Old Navy

Shoes - Target

***Bonus pics!!***

Swimsuits that I tried on at Old Navy. I got the purple one. It was $9!!! The pink one was the winner in my Instagram poll, but I didn't feel comfy with no straps. Gosta keep "the girls" in check, ya know?

My aces/family (l to r) Shontelle, Regina and myself. Whenever we get together, we always TURN UP! We got it in on Sunday!!

Forever in the gym these days & I'm better for it ;)

Life Happens...

Hey peeps!! Let me start by giving a big fat THANK YOU to all of you!! You didn't delete me from your readers because I've been MIA, and for that I'm thankful!! I've been around, reading blogs, looking at pics, reading tweets and "liking" Instagram pics. I just haven't had the time to get back to blogging until now. 

I have so much to say/show!! But, I'm gonna try to keep my first post relatively short as I get back into the swing of things. Please hang in there with me if you follow me in IG and have seen some of these pics. This won't be the norm now that I can get out and do OOTD pics again. 

First thing's first. Hubby and I purchased our very first (and hopefully last) home! We're homeowners y'all!! I love our home! Packing, moving, and unpacking is a monster, but I wake up smiling, feeling blessed, and thanking God every morning. This pic was taken in April... And yes, that's snow in April! O_o

Secondly, I haven't given up on my health/fitness/wellness journey. I must admit that I have stumbled a bit here and there with my eating habits, but slacking on being active is not an option for me. Exercising at least four days a week as helped me to reach my 2nd weight goal. I'm not comfortable with sharing that number just yet. Not sure if I ever will be, but it damn sure felt good to get there. I now have a new goal, and I'm working everyday to get there.

While two great things were happening in my life, I also lost someone very close to me. My Aunt Berda was called Home to the Lord. Her passing was devastating to my family, as she was/is our backbone. She was one of the most kind, loving, passionate and family oriented people that I know. She had a significant role in raising me to be the woman that I am today. I know she's watching over me and I am comforted knowing that she's no longer in pain and can be forever young. Rest in Peace my Angel.

The next thing that I'm going to mention makes me smile every time I catch my reflection. My hair. When I tell you that I love the way my natural hair is shaping up, I mean it! There were times when it was growing out that I wasn't so sure about it. I'm sure now. From braid-outs, to twist-outs, to afros, to this cute little bun that I recently learned how to do, I LOVE IT!!

And last but not least... (I know I said I would keep it short, but I just couldn't. Ha!) An outfit post. Let me just say, I just love this Marilyn Monroe top. 

Thank you guys again for hanging in there, and shout out to those of you who checked up on me to make sure that I was ok. I'm good. BABY I'M BACK! Please stay tuned. Until next time...

Tee- Target

Tank - Old Navy

Striped Pencil Skirt - Old Navy

Leopard Flats - Target

Don't You. Forget About Me...

Hey y'all!! I hope you guys are having a fantastic week so far. I've been a little M.I.A. from the blog for almost two weeks. As much as I miss blogging, life happens. Hubby and I are gearing up to purchase a home!! It's a very exciting time for our family! It's also nerve wracking at the same damn time. There's just so much to do and it can be emotionally draining.

But in the words of Jada Kiss, We. Gone. Make it. Thanks to everyone who has wished me well in the Twitter-verse and on IG. It really means a lot.

One of the homes we've seen so far. Nice, right?

This is my "so over the process" face. 

Through it all, I've still been making time for the gym at least four days a week and going strong with changing most of my eating habits. I'm hanging in there! I know some of you have fitness goals and are working towards them. How's it going??

Bathroom photo shoots are the norm (as if you didn't know). I love this dress though! It's so comfy!

And don't get me started on this necklace! 

This one is just for fun. Hubby "made my face" with the iMadeFace app. I tried to make my own, and when I did, he told me I had no idea what I look like. This is what he came up with. LOL! What do you think? Is it me?

Until next time…

PS. Don't forget to check out my YouTube Channel! My next video regarding my workout routine will be posted soon!! Thanks for watching! ;)

All Compliments Are Not Created Equal...

Hey peeps!! I've been MIA for a lil bit on the blog, but I have good reason. Hubby and I are searching for a home!! It's exciting, nerve wrecking and scary all at the same time. It's keeping us busy though. Please hang out/connect with me on Twitter & Instagram. I'm there on a regular basis with my antics and random pics. With that said… Blog Family, I have something on my mind.

The few faces of yours truly ;)

Attention: This is a small rant. It'll be over soon, I promise.

I may be a part of a small percentage of plus or straight sized women who feel this way, and you might not agree with me. But if I can't let it all out here, then where, right??!!

Whenever I see articles or blogs about body types, our shapes are compared to the rectangle, the hourglass, the pear and the apple.

All of the advice for dressing said shapes is geared towards making us appear to look like the hourglass. Everything from the A-line skirts/dresses to cinched waisted tops, belts and a host of other items. God forbid an "apple" actually be alright with her wonderfully made round top portion. Would it be so bad if the "rectangle" loved her straight muscular build? And what about the "pear"? Would the world end if she was fine with the fact that her bottom half is larger than her top half and didn't try to "trick the eye" into thinking there was balance?

As I continue on my health/fitness journey, I've found that I'm not concerned about what patterns or pieces of clothing make me look slim. I joked on FB that I'm an "hour JUG", cause ain't no glass over here!! LOL! I'm here, in all of my glory. Bumps, curves, lumps and all. Granted, I'm doing things these days to decrease said bumps, curves and lumps, but I'm more concerned about what I feel good in. That's what works for me. I wear belts over shirts and things like that to accentuate certain parts of my body, but I'm never trying to pass my frame off as something it's not. Here's one of the comments that I don't like, "That pattern is really slimming on you." Not my concern. And contrary to what some people think, feeling and looking good does not equal looking or feeling thin... for me anyways.

Yes, my hair looks a mess, but hey. It's not a beauty contest. That elliptical don't play! 

I said all of that to say this. Wear what you wear because YOU want to wear it. Not because someone said this is how you should present yourself. If you are into A-Line or pencil skirts because you love the look, then by all means, do you. But if you're an "apple" shape and damn near passing out because you have a tight belt around your waist because someone told you it's needed... Please re-evaluate. Or if you're a "pear", and you're running around in a hot blazer with shoulder pads in the summertime because someone told you that you need to create balance... Please re-evaluate. In the words of Sweet Brown, ain't nobody got time for that!!

My outfit on Valentines Day. I loved the J's with the skirt.

Last but certainly not least, I am your link-up host for this weeks #BLMgetFit Challenge. The IG and TwitPic challenge is #LBSGone. Find some way to show us how many pounds you've lost throughout the week through pictures. Be sure to use the hashtags #BLMGetFit and #LBSGone so your pic will be counted!! LINK UP with your fitness/motivational inspired posts!!

What's My Motivation…?

Hi everyone!! I'm a day late on my weekly posts that I'm trying to keep up with, but I'm here now. Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the week ahead!!

Unless you haven't been checking in on me lately (shame on you), you already know about the #BLMgetFit Challenge that I'm a part of. Since starting the challenge, I've been discussing things that are going on with me along the way of this challenge.

This week, I want to talk motivation. Motivation is essentially the reason to act a certain way or do a particular thing. What makes you do the things you do. Good or bad, right or wrong. In the words of the ever so eloquent 2 Chainz, "They ask me what I do and who I do it fah!"

One of my workout jams. Feel free to judge. It gets worse, believe me. Ha! ;)

The initial reason for my interest in starting and maintaining a healthier, more active lifestyle was the number on the scale. I swear, if you guys could have seen my face back in June when I stepped on the scale at a health fair I attended, you would have thought I'd seen a ghost. Everyone always says, stuff like, "Don't worry about the number on the scale", or "You're more than just a number when it comes to beauty", which is all true… But it was daunting to me.

As I've started to decrease that number, my reasons have started to shift a little bit.  I'm now more concerned with my overall health as far as blood pressure, diabetes and heart health. Certain things run deep within my family on both my mother and fathers sides, and I want to be on the preventative end of these conditions as I get older. I want to make sure that I can move freely without feeling tired. I want to continue to keep up with my soon to be 8 year old son, who runs me raggedy every chance he gets.

As you can see, Oatmeal & fruit is my go-to breakfast. It keeps me full throughout the morning.

And last, but certainly not least, I want to make sure that I'm keeping it right and tight for that man of mine. Don't get me wrong, I've always thought that I was/am the sexiest thing on God's green earth to him, and he's never made me feel any different. I just want to ensure that those wonderfully handsome eyes of his remain fixated on this here. POW!!

Messing around in the Old Navy dressing room this past weekend. I got the camel one, and the purple wrap dress.

Bathroom shots are as good as it gets these days :(

The above may not be motivation for some people to get going with fitness and health, but they are MY reasons, and that's good enough for me.

Until next time…

Tell me, what's your motivation?

**Don't forget!! The weekly challenge information, as well as the link up for this week is over at Brittons spot My Big, Beautiful Life, so head on over and LINK UP!!! **

Look Good, Feel Great...

Happy Monday!! I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend, because whether we like it or not, the work week is upon us (for those of us who don't work weekends, of course). My weekend was good. Didn't do much. The weather here in Minnesota didn't allow for much anyway. It was bitter cold, and the snow came down all day Sunday. Every year, I say I won't complain, but here I am once again… complaining. *sigh* Anyhoo…

If you didn't know, I am the winner of last weeks #BLMgetFit weekly challenge (#BLMMoves). The challenge was to get moving as much as possible throughout the week. I won by submitting the below pic via Instagram of my interpretation of the challenge:

I'm loving everything about the challenges. It's inspiring to see all of the other ladies who submit pictures, and also provide encouragement along the way.

This week, I want to talk about workout clothes. If you haven't noticed from my pics, my go-to "uniform" is a tee (usually v-neck), tank top (to help catch the sweat and protect me from possible plumbers butt), sports-bra, a pair of yoga pants or leggings, socks and my gym shoes. I need to step my game up.

I want to feel good about myself, even while I'm busting my butt and sweatin it up at the gym. I know that some people just throw on an old baggy t-shirt, and basketball shorts or sweatpants and keep it moving. That's all well and good because you get the same workout regardless, right? Sure… Maybe. For me, when I can see what I'm working one, I work harder. When I feel like I look good, I feel great!

I also, want to talk support. That's right ladies!! Bra's and shoes!! Please be sure to wear the proper support to the gym. Having the "girls" bounce all over the place can be pretty uncomfortable, and cause you to not work as hard. Also, it's very unsightly and can cause creepy stares from some of the fellas (to no fault of their own) =D. And remember to care for your bras properly, as replacement can get expensive. Because you don't want to break down the spandex, here are two important rules of care.

• Wash in cold water. No bleach.
• Dry it flat, or line dry.

Shoes are very (if not more) important. If you're a runner/jogger, please do yourself a favor and head to your local running specialty shop to get assessed. They can be pretty expensive, so even if you don't end up purchasing from there, at least get the assessment. You will leave more informed than when you walked in. We don't want anyone hurting themselves out here. As for the rest of us, like myself who do light work, a good trainer shoe is all we need.

So lets ditch the baggy/saggy gym wear ladies and get cute in the gym!! I've found that Kohl's has some really cute gear! I ordered a few things myself. Here are a few of my favorites, and it doesn't hurt that they're on sale (you can also use coupon code TENFORBLOG at checkout for through March 9th for an extra 10% off!):

Tek Gear Basic Tee

Tek Gear Yoga Leggings

Tek Gear Racerback Sportsbra

Lets keep up the great work and continue to encourage each other! This weeks challenge is (one bad apple) #SpoilstheBunch. Get inspired to eat (or drink) the recommended two servings of fruit per day and don't forget to share those pics via Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag!! 

This weeks health/wellness/inspiration link up is hosted by Beatrice over at Inspired by Beatrice Clay. Make sure you head over to her spot and link up! Thanks for reading to the end, because I know my last few posts have been wordy.

Until next time…

Have you seen my hair all picked out lately?!?! Holy hair Batman!! lol!