Le Funk...

Hey!

I hope you all are doing well this Monday morning.  Admittedly, I'm in a little bit of a funk for a multitude of reasons.  Whenever I feel funky, all I can think of wearing is sweats.  I have these super comfy maternity sweatpants that I've had since '06 and they are my go-to "I'm-in-a-funk-and-don't-feel-like-dressing-up" pants.  I am trying to alter my mood by harnessing positivity around me.  I am a firm believer that you get back what you put out energy wise.  So today, despite my funk, I will be all smiles today.

I can't really say what inspired today's outfit.  I knew I wanted to wear black but I also wanted to make my outfit fun.  Since I work in a government office, it's kind of hard to wear what I want to wear (like neon and florals and stripes!) without getting the side eye from just about everyone.  I initially started taking pics in the house but decided to take one outside for variety--I know you all are tired of seeing that one corner of my dining room!

I suffer from pancake feet :sigh:

Cardigan: F21

Cami: Old Navy

Pants: Torrid

Clutch: Zara

Shoes: Tarjay

Belt: Tarjay

Earrings: Pieces via ASOS

Bracelet: Chain to a clutch

GIVEAWAY ALERT! GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Be sure to visit tomorrow for a giveaway! Hint: It involves NEON!\

Oneka...

Hi!

So today's post is not about me.  Today I would like to introduce you to my colleague Oneka.  Oneka has a very spunky personality and keeps me laughing most days.  I think she is very stylish (although she would probably disagree with me).   I love how she punched up her outfit with a splash of yellow.  The addition of the blazer is a very simple one but it is very effective in adding some "pop" to the outfit. Well done Oneka!

Werk it!

Blazer: Dots

Pants: Marshall's

Shoes: Madden Girl via Marshall's

Earrings: Handmade

Necklace: Handmade

Who/what influences your style choices?:  "I tend to look at what other people and try to figure out how I can make whatever their wearing work for me"

Feelin' neon-y...

Hi!

I've been playing around with the neon trend as of late (look out for future outfit posts featuring some really bright colors!) and I think I'm liking it.  I've been trying to include it in ways that I wouldn't normally (see below).  I think bright colors do an amazing job in breaking up a neutral or monochromatic color palette.  I was at H&M yesterday and literally went into the store on 3 separate occasions to scope out the little clutch you see below.  Normally, I wouldn't have opted for this particular color but I literally dared myself to buy it and make it work.  They had black (which I might buy as well) and a coral color.  The tulip dress I am wearing was purchased ages ago and is from ASOS' main range.  It is a size 14 and has a smocked waist.  I absolutely love the pattern and the subtle puff shoulder detail. The original plan for this outfit was to forgo tights but there was a slight chill to the air and I had not yet shaved my legs. The latter reality essentially shut down any possibility for a bare-legged pic.  I'm not really a fan of these tights (or tights in general) but it is what it is.  These particular tights do this crazy bunchy thing at the ankle which I hate.  I guess alot of "tight pulling" is in the cards for me today.

Have you been experimenting with the neon trend?  What are your thoughts on it?

Dress: ASOS main range

Tights: Torrid

Shoes: Dolce Vita "Hayword" (purchased via Amazon Warehouse)

Mini clutch: H&M

Bracelets: Horn cuff bracelet, ASOS | Bangles, Ashley Stewart

Earrings: Pieces via ASOS

Necklace: chain to an old clutch

Shoe close-up

The one with the animal print...

Hi!

I wasn't planning on doing an outfit post today since I wasn't completely satisfied with my outfit but then I was like, "what the heck!"  I also wanted  you all to see the animal print batwing top I bought from Marshall's a couple days ago.  If you told me a year ago that I would be loving animal prints I would have laughed in your face.  I have changed my tune since then because I've seen how it can turn a "blah" outfit into a "shazam" outfit! This particular top is very lightweight and sheer--perfect for summer! I'm going to try to take more pics outdoors so you all can look at something other than the corner of my living room.  These pics were a bit impromptu and I apologize for the less than stellar background scenery.  If I had a do-over I probably would've added some bangles, a clutch and worn a skinny leg pant. Alas, we can't win 'em all!

Top: Ultra Pink via Marshall's

Cami: H&M

Pant: Elementz via Macy's

Belt: GAP

Shoes: Avenue

Necklace: F21

Earrings ASOS

Pics of the earrings I'm wearing.  They're kinda major.

Pants on fire...

Hey!
I bet you thought I was joking when I said I'd be posting more eh?  So today I felt like wearing a vibrant color so I decided to wear my red-orange F21 pants that I purchased recently.  I had been eyeing these pants for some time but always held off buying them because I didn't know how I would make them work.  Well, I came across a F21 code and decided that I would buy them.  Surprisingly, the pants fit great (my luck with F21 pants is not so good) and the color is very vivid in person.  The pants come with this brown belt which admittedly looks and feels a bit cheap.  Since I'm a little obsessed about pairing bright colors with monochromatic ones, I decided to wear my striped Faith21 tank and topped the ensemble with a F21 woven cardigan.  I think the pants give the outfit a nice punch of color without being too in-your-face (which is not necessarily a bad thing). FYI, the pants I'm wearing are a size 16 so if you are wanting a looser fit, I would size up. 

Again, sorry for the craptastic pics! I will be getting my DSLR soon!

Pants: F21

Tank: Faith21 (now F21)

Cardigan: F21

Earrings: F21

Necklace: ??

Shoes: Old Navy

Bee-yutiful day...

Hi!

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day so the fam and I decided to go on a picnic! We went to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston which is my absolute favorite place to be.  The last time I went, I was pregnant, hot and very uncomfortable. Today was perfect picnicking and frolicking weather (the latter being done by the kids).  Afterwards, we got some ice cream and made a "mommy pit stop" to Marshall's.  Typically, I have the most horrible luck at Marshall's but today the fashion deities were smiling upon me.  I found the cutest coral collared cardi (say that three times fast) and animal print batwing top.  I am going to Full Figured Fashion Week this year so I'm slowly amassing my wardrobe for my trip. Are you planning on going? It should be a blast!

Top: Old Navy

Pants: Old Navy Jeggings

Earrings: Pieces via ASOS

Sunglasses: Chanel

Baby: My loins

Mommy Dearest...

Hey!
Hands down, I have one of the most fashionable moms on the planet.  Today she came to visit me and she was wearing an outfit that I had to share with you all.  My mother is 54 years old (don't kill me for posting mom!) and her style is so effortlessy chic.  Whenever I'm at her place, I scour through her belongings because I am sure to find something that I like.  She is frequently saying to me a variation of the following: "Are you wearing my scarf?" or "Isn't that my bag?" or "Take off my earrings!" The reasons I love my mom are too many to list here but I especially love her smile and the confidence she exudes each time she dresses.  My mother has influenced my style in the sense that I am not afraid to take fashion risks and try new looks.  I consider my mother a fashion vanguard and only hope that I will be as stylish as her when I am her age.  Friends, I'd like you to meet my fashion icon, my mom...

Dress: Kenneth Cole

Cardi: Jones NY

Bag: Calvin Klein

Necklace: Vine Camuto

Earrings: ??

Watch: Cerentino

Sunglasses: Prada

Shoes: Franco Sarto

 Necklace close-up

Bag close-up

Focus on the shoes, not the toes...lol!

I've got my eye on you...

Hey!

I thought I'd share with you some of the accessories I have my eye on this summer. I am all about chunky jewelry and bright vivid colors! The ASOS laptop clutches (I'm sporting one here) come in rich candy colors and are a must-have item for the summer months! What accessories are you coveting this season?

I've got my eye on you... by izzygetsbizzy featuring chunky jewelry

Lipsy chunky jewelry
$25 - asos.com

Stack rings jewelry
$20 - topshop.com

Earrings
£8 - asos.com

Asos Laptop Case With Metal Bar
$36 - asos.com

The Hairy Knuckle...

Hey!

I was looking at my hands today and realized that I have some hairy a$$ knuckles!  What does one due with hairy knuckles? Shave them? Braid them?  I mean seriously these are some hairy lumberjack knuckles!If I had a bar or restaurant I think I would like to call it "The Hairy Knuckle" just so I can say "Welcome to The Hairy Knuckle what would you like today?" #okimdone

Today was a floral day.  I purchased this bed jacket from Amazon last year and only wore it once.  I had it up for sale for the longest time and recently decided to get reacquainted with it. I've been loving all the florals I've been seeing lately but remain convinced that florals look great on everyone else but myself. I love the kimono sleeves of this jacket and the slight puff in the shoulders.  Although it is meant to be worn open, I decided to rock it with my pink glitter belt that I got from the Talbot's Outlet some time ago.  I thought that my new hand slot clutch from ASOS would complement the outfit but had second thoughts.  I kind of like the teal clutch better, what do you think? If I were not going to work today, I probably would've wore some colored skinny jeans instead.  Green perhaps? Red?  Teal? What do you think of the ensemble? What do you think of the floral trend that has been around lately? Sorry about the quality of the pics! I've been using my hubby's phone to take pics b/c it's so quick and convenient but admittedly, the pic quality is crappy.

Bed Jacket: Democracy via Amazon

Tank: F21

Pants: Rainbow

Shoes: Old Navy

Clutch (top) ASOS (bottom) F21

Belt: Talbot's Outlet

Necklace: ASOS

Earrings: F21

Necklace close-up

Belt close-up

Just because...

Looking sharp...

Hey!

So when I stalk something, I stalk it hard. This blazer is no exception.  If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have seen it on my board. I bought it off of eBay and noticed that it wasn't carried in my size so I contacted the seller and asked if he could make one in a larger size and he agreed! So even though it doesn't close, I am in love with this blazer.  The material is thick and it is very well constructed.  I have been so into the "power shoulder"/"sharp shoulder" trend but alot of the clothes I have seen have not been made to accommodate the plus size figure.  And as you can see, I decided to sport my Motel belt again.  I love the detail of the belt and also love the fact that it is elasticized! Remember what I said in my previous post about taking risks on main range clothing? Well this belt is a size large and has ridiculous stretch to it.  Check out the leopard detail! It makes me want to ROAAAAAR (like a dungeon dragon) every time I wear it!

I also decided to give my curly wig a bit of a break (although I anticipate it getting alot of use this summer).  My own hair is just at my shoulders but I decided to style it as a "mock" bob by pinning it under.  I think I like it.  I'm not really a fan of hair in my face but I could get used to the side bang. After these pictures were taken, I was holding my daughter and she literally grabbed my bang with her hand and yanked as hard as she could.  I could literally hear the sound of my hair ripping from the root! So needless to say, I won't be rocking the side bang around her anytime soon :-/.

What do you all think of the jacket? Is the "sharp shoulder" look something you can envision yourself wearing? How would you rock the blazer?

Blazer: shangarila_mart via eBay

Bodysuit: ASOS

Pants: Old Navy "Rockstar" jean

Belt: Motel via ASOS

Shoes: Corso Como via Amazon

Earrings: F21

Belt close-up

Lastly, I know I don't say it nearly enough but thanks for reading my blog! You all rock and I absolutely love reading all your comments! <3

Back in the building...

Hey!

Ok, so I know I've been a bum when it comes to outfit posts but I promise that that will all change now.  A lot of stuff has happened since my last outfit post and I want to fill you all in.  First off, many of you know that I have a son with special needs.  Well, my hubby and I recently visited with a neuropsychologist to get the results from my son's recent neuropsych evaluation.  He basically determined that my son has ADHD which came as no surprise to me.  He did his best to reassure us that with proper interventions his quality of life won't be adversely affected by the diagnosis.  Well "proper interventions" is basically the introduction of meds which I have A LOT of reservations about.  Although I know many people have benefited from psychotropic medications, there's something about giving those type of meds to a FIVE YEAR OLD that just doesn't sit well with me.  Needless to say, my hubby and I have alot of thinking to do and must make certain decisions before my son starts school in September.  I won't lie, this is all emotionally taxing for me.  I am determined however, to do the best that I can to make sure my son thrives emotionally, psychologically, socially, and academically.

Another decision I have come to recently is to start my own online clothing business for plus-sized women!  I am still in the business development phase of all of this but I hope to roll everything out by the end of this year. I will be sure to keep you all posted on any new developments!

Without further delay, let me show you today's outfit!  I had been stalking the blazer for some time on the ASOS site and finally bought it after coming across an online code.  The blazer is from the main range and is a size 14.  To be honest, I probably could've sized down to a 12 because the entire jacket is very roomy and I would've preferred a more fitted look. I also want to do some raving about the chevron bodysuit I am wearing.  Many of you may bypass Forever 21's main range section due to the fact that it only goes up to a large.  You'd be surprised to know that many of my wardrobe staples are from the main range section.  This particular bodysuit is a large and is VERY stretchy.  This holds true for many of their bodysuits.  When trying to determine whether to buy something from the main range line, I look for words like "elasticized", "jersey", and "spandex" in the description of the item.  Nine times out of ten, if an item says spandex, it will stretch significantly and WILL accommodate sizes larger than what the tag indicates. The message here? DON'T WRITE OFF THE MAIN RANGE FOR ANY STORE!!!

Blazer: ASOS

Bodysuit: Forever 21

Pant: eoquii Curvy Fit Skinny Jean

Belt: Motel via ASOS

Necklace: Forever 21

Earrings: Forever 21

Boots: ASOS

Clutch: Zara