Have you ever looked in the magazines at a celebrity and wanted to copy their style? With the onset of COVID I have been focusing heavily on lounge wear, comfort, and affordability. Flipping through my O Magazine from November, I became inspired to up my game significantly for the Christmas Holiday Season. So I let my fingers go to my favorite store for a high-end look on a modest budget—TARGET! As a plus size women I have been so happy with Target upping their game to bing affordable and quality clothing and it’s become a favorite.
![]() I even looked for earrings as well and found these at Target that helped complete the look. Very affordable and pretty. To help me complete my inspiration look. I really enjoyed pulling this look together especially since it’s been a while since I’ve dressed myself up. I'll b so glad when COVID-19 is behind us. STAY SAFE! WEAR YOUR MASKS! WASH YOUR HANDS!
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Earlier this year I had to let go of a relationship that I had invested my heart and soul into. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do. My track record with men is not the best I have the tendency to give my all to someone and am left being in a committed relationship on my own. At the age of 42, most of my close friends are either in a relationship, married, or divorced. In my family I am the only cousin who is not married and the only one that has had a child out of wedlock (my mom has been noting that point is a bit of a trigger for me—Geechi see’s all). While 2020 has not been the year that I anticipated it has in an odd turn of events been the year that I have needed. 2020 has oddly been about introspection and addressing areas of my life that have been consistently ignored. During this time I have focused on my mantra of “CST—Create Space girl and Thrive”. During the last 8 months there are 3 things that I am proud of doing:
Until I could do that fully and routinely I was no good to anyone and my desire to help others would be nothing but hollow and empty. I have also been learning that self-care can look like many different things. My narrow view of selfceare involved a period of significant uninterrupted time to rest, relax, pamper myself. As a single working mom it’s hard to carve out a big chunk of time to devote to just myself. Even so when I would carve out that time I would feel guilty and often that I was imposing on others to handle my responsibility. This resulted in me feeling run down, overwhelmed and depressed. So often as a women of color I felt I was failing others. It was a hard realization that in actuality I was failing myself. So now selfceare looks different than what I envisioned. Self-care takes the form of journaling, blogging, working out, meditating, reading a book even if it’s only for 2-3 minutes at a time. I make it a priority to get some time in every day just for myself, my goals, and my dreams.
After the birth of my son the feeling that I had repressed began to resurface. I started my blog seeking to write about my experiences as a single working mother as a way to satisfy that passion. The more I wrote the more I have longed and now have decided to invest in my passion to bring authorship to fruition. The more I denied the the passion to seek authorship the quieter my voice became for my blog. I finally decided the listen. The further I have come in the process my voice has become louder. Stay turned for my newest project that I can’t wait to announce soon!
walking away from a situation where I had invested my time, my hopes, and had invested dreams in a situation where I was not valued fully. In addition to that feeling pressure not from others but from myself to have what I saw others have. Not in a “Keeping up with the Jonses” manner but more of falling wedded to the dream that I came close to settling for less than what I deserve. Often we focus on others not valuing our worth that sometimes we neglect that we must value our worth as well and walk away from situations that no longer serve or honor our worth despite the investment of time and feelings.
As the seasons are changing so is my wardrobe. While leggings are still in season for my virtual visits I am finding that comfort is high on my list as it appears that my virtual days will be continuing and I am even adding a third day!. Working as a single mom with my son periodically being at home I have found of late that my bottom attire is actually being seen if I have to get up quickly from the chair in the middle of a visit which started me looking for some comfy yet cute. I found these cute sweatpants from Target that have me stylish and feeling like I’m still seeing patients in my PJ’s. If you are looking for some stylish sweatpants that are comfy as PJ’s shop below!
The quarantine took a lot of us by surprise. I anticipated that it would be coming however I never expected such a protracted period. As reopening phases continue my family and I are still staying as quarantined as we can. Which has left me searching for ways to engage in self-care when possible. GiGi Honey Wax
Early during the quarantine I discovered a review of GiGi Honey Wax and ordered it. While I’m still learning my technique and I’m quite messy with it—Picture it HONEY WAX EVERYWHERE; it has become a can’t live without product that is keeping me sane and feeling a sense of normalcy during these trying times. Yeouth 30% Glycolic Acid
Pixie by Petra Vitamin C Juice Cleaner
Laneige Lip Sleep Mask My lip sleep mask is a must have. Currently single I’m not doing much kissing of others but my little one does appreciate the softness of my lips when I’m tickling him with mommy kisses. If you haven’t tried this lip mask you are missing out. Baby Feet Foot Peel Not being able to get a pedicure was driving me nuts until I remembered the Baby Feet Foot Peel I started using this past winter. Boy were my feet baby soft all winter long. I may have to polish my own toe nails but there is no reason why my feet can’t be baby soft while on quarantine.
Overall one must be intentional. Intentional with how you start and end your day. Intentional with your inner circle of friends and what you allow to influence your sphere. Intentional in seeking out opportunities for growth and new experiences. Intentional in spreading positivity towards others.
It was my birthday so you know I had to go into the closet and create a special look or two 😘. This year my birthday plans were pretty low key. I had lunch with a “friend” and dinner with my awesome family so I only needed two outfit changes. For my late lunch outfit I drew inspiration from @GarnerStyle. However $300 dollar jeans were not in my budget. Thanks to Lane Bryant I was able to find something comparable in my price range. I’m wearing an 18P because ya girl is “shorty by nature”. I’m thinking about getting another pair in non-petite size to have a wider cuff. What do you think? The top was courtesy from my closet from long ago. I’m not sure where I got it from but you can get a similar look here. I accessorized the outfit with a necklace from Zulily and earrings I’ve had for years. I pulled the necklace into the look with a cute and surprisingly comfortable pair shoes from Target and a lovely MKF purse from Zulily (don’t sleep on Zulily). But if you slept on Zulily here is a comparable purse also at Target that you can get while you pick up the shoes 😁
Summer time has come and the pools have opened up! It’s the time for skin exposure. Getting my wardrobe ready for summer is fun and this year it called for new swimsuits. This year I decided to step out of my comfort zone and look for a two piece 👙. While I technically I have worn a two piece in the past it’s usually been a tankini style to cover my belly and rolls of fat. This year I vowed not to purchase a tankini and to purchase a true two piece and become more comfortable with my new body. On my hunt I found 2–one that was sporty and one that was sexy. I was done but a surprising one-piece suit caught my eye and begged to to be worn 😇
BONUS
ONEPIECE: GABIFRESH Now I think all I need is a splash of water 💦, a martini 🍸, and a man to fan me and I’m all set. 🥰
I have been waiting to bring this blogger inspired outfit to you ever since I saw it in 2018 and started crafting the look. Geechi inadvertently added the extra spice with her and Jeremy’s Christmas gift to me! So If you haven’t caught my previous blogger inspired look of CeCe Olisa you can check it out here. ![]() This look was inspired by Faith Lasha and when I saw it I knew it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day. I needed a special look to celebrate my singleness this year. If you aren’t following her on IG I recommend that you do because she has some fierce looks, and fierceness is what I wanted to channel. So what do you think…TADOW???
If you don’t know I LOVE to dress up and look cute. I don’t know where I got that from 😉 (I get it from my momma!)
There is a blogger/influencer (I’m still confused by the titles to be honest) that I follow in IG that I find inspirational and of similar kindred spirit (no I am not stalking her). If you are not following CeCe Olisa on her many social media platforms--YouTube, Blog, or Instagram you are missing out! She is hilarious and seems to be very transparent with certain aspects of her life (she keeps her “Fan Fam” in ✔️). So, there was this look that she wore several times on her IG stories at the end of last year that just caught my eye and I had to rush out and get it as a Christmas present to myself. Now truthfully, I didn’t rush out anywhere I ordered it on line from Amazon but I know I wanted to play dress up with this look. The thing that made this looks so awesome if that first it’s my signature color pink. Secondly, it looked comfortable as heck and still stylish; and as mothers know comfort with a 2 year old is paramount. Thirdly, the jacket can be worn on its own therefore giving you different outfit options—pair it with jeans, skirt, or even leggings. Click the links below the pictures for details of my CeCe Olisa inspired look. |
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