Dare to be...

Hey peeps! Long time no see!!

I've come to the realization that Instagram has been my mistress for the past few months. Like any cheater, I've neglected my home, so it became less appealing. The interaction that I get on IG is awesome because it's in real time and I feel like I'm getting to know those of you who are over there.

I do miss the writing side of blogging and I also miss those of you who aren't on IG. Btw, what the heck are you waiting for? Get on over there and connect with me! :)

Anyhoo, on to more pressing matters. Like the fact that most of you know, Google Reader is going away. Aside from Instagram, you can still find me on Twitter & BlogLovin. And for you guys who are worried about finding/losing blogs that you read everyday, (mine included) I've transitioned over to a really cool alternative for Google Reader. It's called Feedly. I was able to migrate all of the blogs from my Google Reader to Feedly very easily and it's actually better than I thought it would be! Try it!

I've babbled long enough. It's time for my OOTD. I know that this outfit is not everyones cup of tea. Hell, I wouldn't even wear it without the Hubs!! There's no need to give me "constructive" feedback on how NOT to show my midriff. Yes, I know I have stretch love marks & this tummy ain't flat (I'm working on that part). I have two children and I've lived with all of the love they've given me for the past 14 years (shout out to my babies!!).  I've heard/read it all. Seriously. I got this.  There's a reason why it's called personal style. It's, well… Personal. There's also something awesomely liberating about owning your own style. Hits, misses, and everything in-between. Do it. I dare you!

Until next time…

P.S., my daughter cut my feet out of every pic & I didn't notice until I started editing. Ugh! Gotta love her!

Denim shirt - Target

Skirt - H & M

Sandals (not shown *eye roll*) - Target

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!!

BLMGetFit…Challenge

Hey peeps!! As usual, I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. This is kind of long, so... don't say I didn't warn you :)

I'm sooooo excited about this post! As you all know, I have been workin on my fitness a lil bit lately. Well, I have teamed up with some fabulous ladies from a blogger group (of which I am a member) called Bloggers Like Me in hopes to step my efforts up a notch or two.

If you don't know about Bloggers Like Me, it was started by the fabulous Leslie Hendricks Young of Fashion du Jour Daily. The group includes all kinds of blogging divas from diverse genres of the blogosphere. At this time, it is a closed FaceBook group, so if you have a FB page, feel free to click the link and request to be a member. You won't regret it (tell'em I sent ya!). The support and information that is shared amongst the ladies is priceless. **Side note** Women ONLY =D

Ok, so I went off on a little tangent, but I'm back now. Today kicks off our 3 month long #BLMGetFit challenge (the button below leads to the BLM FB Fan Page, which is open to everyone)!! I'm co-hosting the challenge with Britton of My Big, Beautiful Life, Dee Dee of Miss Foodie Fab & Beatrice Clay of Inspired by Beatrice Clay. Quite a few of us have decided to pay an entry fee of $10, and whoever loses the largest percentage of bodyfat wins the pot!! Isn't that cool!? Our Challenge is sponsored by Michelle at Eat Style Play, who will be offering products and services from Beach Body Coach, to be included in our grand prize package.

Because 3 months is a long time, we've incorporated smaller weekly Instagram & Twitter challenges to keep us motivated. This weeks challenge is #WaterWasted. That means, increase your water intake. We can all benefit from that, right?! If you want to follow along for fun, you can search for #BLMGetFit to see all of the entries. The weekly winners will receive blog promotion from the BLM group on all social media outlets (Pinterest, Twitter, FB, Instagram, etc.) for that week.

While the challenge is open to only the members of the BLM group, I invite all of my lovely readers to join me in my quest for making better/healthier choices. My co-hosts and I will host weekly link ups, on our pages so everyone can participate and link any health inspired posts that you may be writing about. The link up this week is over at Brittons spot My Big, Beautiful Life, so head on over and LINK UP!!! Be on the look out next week for who will be hosting the link up.

On another note, I don't have really have any OOTD pics to show at this time, but all words and no pics is kind of odd for my blog, so here goes nuthin!

Until next time...

At the gym walkin it out

OOTD: Old Navy Blazer, Target Tee, Old Navy Rockstar skinnies, Target Booties

Yup… you guessed it! lol

Not sure where I got this sweater from, but I like it!! Tank from Rue 21

Gym & Food. Making better food choices =D

Rue 21 Jacket, Old Navy Dress, Market Scarf, Target Leggings, Minnetonka Moccsins

Gym & food… again 

Hanging In There...

Hey peeps!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! I know I did. Sharing time with family and friends is always a wonderful thing! Add in presents, and you've got yourself a party!! lol! 

Being that it's been almost a month since the last time I've blogged, I'm ashamed to call myself a blogger. With no camera, no no natural light, and the freezing temps, I been strugglin y'all! 

I've still been going strong with my workouts (with the exception of the past week or so). Now that the holidays are over, I'm back on my grind though. I'm still smitten with my hair. The growth over the past few months has been nothing short of awesome. And lastly, I have recently taken a liking to scarves... As you'll see below.

I'm including a few basic snapshots of my goings on via Instagram (again). I'm hooked! I truly love it over there =D. Won't you join me?!?!?

Now I'm off to visit all of your blogs. Until next time...

I love me some bathroom photo-shoots!

You can always catch me at the gym. That sweat is real folks!!

OOTD= Old Navy Blazer, Old NavyStriped skirt, Steve Madden heels

This was a Curves and Confidence inspired look. I'm so upset that I couldn't get pics of the entire outfit =(

I'm sure people think I'm crazy taking pics in the gym all the time, Ha! (never mind the crazy hair)

OOTD = Rue 21 Top, Target Scarf, Old Navy Skinnies & Target boots. That's been my "go to" lately

Again?? Yup!

I just wanted to toss in a throwback pic for kicks and giggles (that's me in the yellow, ha!)

Todays OOTD = Gifted Jean jacket, Forever 21 Skinnies, Sears Scarf & Target Boots

Me and my babygirl on Christmas Eve. I'm trying to get to her hair level!

OOTD = Herbergers Dress, Target Leggings, Old Navy Scarf and Target Boots (BTW, I love my puff in this pic)

It's true what they say… Black is slimming! =D

OOTD = Old Navy Striped Skirt, Rue 21 Jean Jacket, Market Scarf & Target boots

I'm back behind the wheel of my car!! I was using public transportation for a while there. It's good to be rolling again!

Hubby copped me another pair of J's for Christmas!! I was sooooo excited!

Bout that Insta-life...

Hey peeps!! Long time no see! Believe me, I've been around. Reading, lurking, sporadically commenting and such. I hope you all have been well.

Since my camera has been busted, I haven't been much for taking blog pics. Mostly, I've been around and about on Twitter and Instagram.

In this post I have a few pics of outfits, shoes, and random goings on that I've recently captured. Be forewarned that it's quite picture heavy. If you kick it with me on Twitter and Instagram, then these pics are nothing new to you. If you don't, feel free to stop on by and chat me up! I'm really hoping that "Santa" is able to help a sista out with a new camera... Seeing as how I've been a really good girl and all. ;)

Until next time...

Moccasins that I LOVE so much

My first time wearing All Stars. Pretty cool.

 Lace skirt - Target; Blazer - Old Navy; Shoes - Call it Spring

J's - Sometimes gymshoes are necessary

Working my Torrid dress for Ladies Night Out with #myclique

Ladies Night Out done right!!

Hubby and I attended a social event and made it in the local paper!! =D

Been working on my fitness. Those inches tell the tale.

Still getting used to, and loving my #naturalhair

OOTN: Headed out with hubby to a comedy show.

More on that fitness routine. It's been good to me.

Quick dressing room photoshoot

Old Navy sweater dress as a top & Rockstar jeans