Music To My Ears

Those that know me know that my musical taste is very very eclectic!!   Love everything from Gospel to Country and just about anything in between!   But if I had to choose my favorite genres I would pick: Gospel, Jazz, Old School R&B and Neo-Soul.

One of my favorite Neo-Soul (as they call it) artist is Goapele.  Her voice is so haunting and her music is so free and melodic!!   Her latest single "Play" is no different, the beat is infectious and again haunting.  Her lyrics give just enough sexy without being overly sexual, but it is definitely for the grown and sexy!!  Her new album "Break of Dawn" is set to drop Oct. 24th and I will be definitely be getting it!!

Facing Your Fears - Outfit of the Day

F.E.A.R False Evidence Appearing Real................

 Part of my new journey of embracing the real me and being comfortable in my own body even at the size I am now is facing my fears.  I am a 16 now almost back into a 14 (yaaaaaay) working to get back to my size 11/12.  Buuuuut as I was saying, part of my journey is overcoming my fear of my self image and loving what I see when I look in the mirror. I have for sooooooooo long HATED and I mean with a serious passion taking pictures.   I haven't had pictures of my self done in years and when someone else tries to take pictures of me I either run (literally) or I would cringe at the thought of how it would come out.   Then when I did see the picture I would instantly start picking myself apart.  There were times that I would literally cry (sobbing) after looking at a picture of me (yeah I had it BAD).   Yes ya'll pray for me cause a sista is a work in progress :-)

I Won't Go Back - Outfit of the Day

I have always been told that what you have done in the past is just that in the past.  You can't change it you can only learn from the lesson and move forward.  That is something I am really taking to heart like never before.  I used to say that there were things in my past that I would change if I could, and it is true in some cases.  However, now I say more that there are somethings I wouldn't change because they taught me some great life lessons and helped to make me who I am now.

No need to dwell on the past, learn whatever lesson is to be learned from whatever you're fretting over. Use it as a stepping stone and not a crutch to get to where you're going in the future!!

You've Got The Look - Fall/Winter 2011/2012

I have stated this before, I am curvy girl and as much as I love fashion I know I can't wear it all, but I still like to be stylish.  So I was happy while I was checking out fashions for Fall/Winter 2011/2012 to see the gorgeous clothes for us curvy women. One line that really caught my eye was Elena Miro, when I say Stylish and Chic I mean it.  Look at this and tell me you don't love it:

 

Fashion Finds - Makings of a Divanista

Yesterday (Friday) I stopped by the mall after I picked up my son and before going home.   Sears was having a sale and I wanted to check it out.  You might be thinking Sears?!?! yeah I used to be that way too.   That is until one day my sister and my mom decided to go to one of their sales and brought back some really cute pieces.  I mean I wasn't clueless about them having some nice clothes, but I never really cared to go in there.  However, since that day my mom and sister went I've been hooked.  Oh and do rule out JcPenny's either.

So now whenever they have their 3 day sales I make sure to check it out.  Or just whenever I am at the mall I might stroll through there, because they usually have some cute pieces in their clearance section. They aren't Dillard's or Macy's when it comes to the brands and some styles, but they do have some nice items.  Plus, whenever I go I don't go in looking for an outfit to buy right off the rack, I go just to see what I can add to and wear with what I have (a shirt, sweater, pants etc..). Even though the last 2 times I went in there I was able to walk out with a full outfit both times for the low low!!  And when I say low low I mean it.  I can usually find some really cute stuff in the clearance for $10 and under.

A Little More To Love..........Continued (long read, but worth it)

I left off in my last post talking about my journey to lose weight going into my Senior year of high school..

By that time I was ready for a change a QUICK one.  For me I wasn't into exercising or anything like that, I just wanted the weight off, so I started eating one meal a day and taking laxatives everyday.  It wasn't safe or healthy but I wasn't thinking about that, I wanted to skinny and cute like the other girls at school.   I thought I was doing good too.  My family didn't know I was starving myself until one day while I was working at my after school job.  I was working and all of a sudden felt light headed and really sick, I almost had to go home.  My sister just so happen to work at the same place and I think that night we worked the same shift.   After that I had to confess to them what was going on.  They knew I had been trying to loose weight and had cut back on some of the foods I was eating, but didn't know I wasn't eating until I got to work at night (I worked at least 5-6 days a week) or only when I got home after school when I didn't work.  They didn't know about the laxatives......of course they were upset.  They rallied around me and made sure I knew even more that I was fine the way I was and didn't need to kill myself to look beautiful!!  I have such great parents and sisters!!

Well, I did stop starving myself and taking the laxative everyday, plus by that time I had lost a great deal of weight and I was ok with my size.  The school year went by, I was feeling a little better about myself because I was smaller but I was still getting the same attention from the guys wanting the one thing.  I guess some could call it boys being boys (shrugs)........but after losing all the weight I still knew inside I still felt like that chunky/dorky unattractive teen age girl.

A Little More To Love.......... (long post but worth the read)

I am a Curvy Divanista (my new name) have always been.  Even at my smallest a size 11/12 (which I am on my way back to becoming) I was curvy and of course by the clothing industry standards still considered plus size.  I wouldn't dare try to go any smaller than a size 11/12 because even at the size I looked quit small (see the pictures below) and if I had gotten any smaller I think I would've looked like a crackhead. 

These pics are 6 years old, before my son:

 

BUUUUUT.......as I saying I am a curvy sista and for years I HATED to shop because I wasn't comfortable with my size and the clothes I saw just were NOT that appealing to me.  Then I started seeing all these beautiful, sexy, sassy, curvy women dressing fierce and I started thinking hmmmmm maybe I can jazz things up a little more.  However, I still battled with self image so it was still hard to be comfortable in my own skin. 

Music To My Ears: What I'm Feeling

New video by Tyrese.  This song had to grow on me, I am a Tyrese fan since his first CD, but this was different for him.  However, the more I listened to it the more I liked it!!   The video is so cute because we see him and Taraji (P. Henson) back together (Jodie and Yvette, Baby Boy).  Check out the video:

Psychedelic- Real Groovy: Outfit Of The Day

 Just a quick outfit of the day post.  This is what I wore to work yesterday (Thursday).  One day soon I am going to get a new digital camera with a tripod so I can take pictures of my outfits on or get a full length mirror since I don't have anyone around that can take my pictures for me.

Well I hope everyone's work week went well and your weekend it starting off even better!!

TTYL!!!

 

Dress: Ross  Wedges: Cathy Jean  Cropped Jacket:  5 years old can't remember the store  Jewelry: Random beauty supply stores

Living Your Best Life Now

I had a sweet blogger Lea of Re-Tell Therapy stop by my blog the other day and leave me a wonderful comment.  In her comment she said something that really struck me.  She said she is "Living Her Best Life Now",  I really like that.  It's funny though because I 've heard that before but it never hit home with me like it did when she said it.

I am over 30 and years from 40 but I think I'm just now really starting to live my life.  I mean I've lived obviously, but now I believe that I'm living my best life now or at least that is what I working towards.  My eyes are wide open, blinders are off and I'm seeing my life differently now, definitely better than I have in the past.  The hurt/pain of the past, the resentment/unforgiveness, feeling of failure, the feeling of not being good enough all of that is gone. It no longer has be bound, blind and afraid.  I walk/live in freedom, it's like the song says:

I can see clearly now, the rain has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone're the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day

I am sooo excited about what life holds and what God has planned for me.  I am definitely living my best life now and there is NO turning back for me.  The past is gone away besides there is nothing in it that I can change anyway.  I've learned from my past mistakes and I cherish the great memories I have, but I live for now and the future.

Are YOU living your best life now?   If not, why not, what's holding back?  Why not let your later days be greater than your past?

White After Labor Day, YES - Outfit of the Day

Here is just a quick outfit of the day post.   I know it is or was taboo to wear "white" after labor day.  I never understood that, but always tried to follow it in the past.  However, as I got older I decided it was crazy, I mean there is a thing called "Winter White" so why not be able to wear white after labor day????? (shrugs)

Anywho, here is what I wore to work yesterday.   I didn't do ALL white but decided to do black and white.   the outfit was simple yet cute.

A Splash of Red - Outfit of The Day

Ok this is my very first Outfit of The Day post, yaaay!!!   Yeah kind of excited lol!!     It's Sunday and for me I am in church every Sunday unless I am sick (even then I still try to make it) or out of town.  Yes church is that important to me.  I was born and raised in the church (Christian/Baptist) so going is very important, but not only that but so is my relationship with God.   Buuuuuut you will learn that about me later!!
 
Back to the outfit!!   I don't have a way to take the pictures of myself wearing the full outfit.  I don't have a full length mirror or a digital camera with a tripod so I just took pictures of the outfit.   I have a digital camera but for some reason it didn't take clear pictures (it's always hit or miss).   Well here is the outfit and I hope everyone had a awesome Sunday!!

Remembering The Victims and Heroes of 9/11

I can't never imagine the pain felt by those that lost loved ones in the 9/11 tragedy in New York at the Twin Towers,  Arlington, Virginia at the Pentagon and in  Shanksville, Pennsylvania in that field, but my heart still goes out to them.  I think this Jennifer Hudson song is a great tribute to those that had to fight and be strong after losing their loved ones and also for those Heroes that risked their lives and fought to save the lives of so many people!  Continue to stay strong and brave!!

HERE'S TO YOU!!!

Stand Up, Give Yourself A Round of Applause!!

If no one else celebrates you, you CELEBRATE YOU!!!   Give YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND SAY BRAVO BABY!!!!

Blogs I Follow (just a few)

Hi All!!   It's me, on my lunch break here at work and thought I would share with you SOME of the blogs that I found recently that I follow!    Most of these are fashion blogs, but some of them are life style/fashion blogs.   These are some of the blogs that inspired me to start this one.  Not just because of the fashion but because of how it made me look at me differently and how I felt about it and how it showed in how I dressed.  Funny how the simplest things like someone talking about fashion can inspire a change in someone!!  I guess the confidence in others can be contagious!! :-)


So here is a list of a few of the great blogs, check them out when you get a chance:

What Inspires You?

I've been thinking all day since I decided to start this blog about what has inspired me to do this.  What has inspired me to want to embrace Carsedra Glass, really love her, to put my best foot forward and want to keep improving my life.   Well the one major thing is my son KJ, he is truly a gift from God.

 

 

Welcome To "Embracing The Real Me"

I just wanted to say a quick welcome to you that come to my new blog!!   WELCOME!!   This blog is going to be about the things I love and that make me who I am.  It will also be about me even after 35 years deciding to embrace the real ME!!  Lastly, I hope to use this blog to inspire someone to do the same to embrace the real them and love who they are!!    Well that is my short welcome!1   I will come back later to tell you more about my purpose and the real me!!



TTYL!! :-)