Black Out Challenge...THE FINALE'!

(My Equestrian Look: Thrifted Ralph lauren Vest, Super old jeans, Thrifted Boots, H&M Shirt)

I made it! I did it! I managed to avoid wearing black for an entire week. Actually, a little more than a week. I am so proud of myself. I was able to dig out some clothes from the deep corners of my closet and add color to my life! As we speak, I am sitting alone, stroking my black leggings and singing to all of my black blazers. I've missed them!
(Not the grandest outifit to end the challenge but it satisfied the requirements. This pic was taken at the end of the day. I was so exhausted)


Meet "Christopher"...one of my students.

Black Out Challenge (Day 6)

Not wearing black is getting easier and easier every day...(Not really)...it just sounds like I should say that at this point:) I have no idea how this outfit came together but it was a last minute decision and I liked the gray/red combo. I could have worn my gray tights but wearing hosiery/tights of any kind aren't the best feeling for me. I always feel a tinge of claustrophobia. I went through a phase where I was rocking textured tights a few weeks back but I think I'm over it now. I need to breathe:)

Red American Apparel Circle Scarf, Gray Sweater Dress (gifted), Target Belt, Red Steve Madden Shoes, F21 Cardi/Vest

That zebra bag is not my purse...it's my lunch bag. Isn't it too cute! Although I detest packing lunch in plastic bags, I'm not above it. But when I stumbled upon this lunch bag...I had to have it. It even came with "stay-fresh" containers. Bingo!

I am mentioning the lunch bag only because I actually do eat lunch. I don't know who these bloggers are who are running through the fields taking pictures of themselves chasing butterflies and unicorns all while exposing their rib cage bones, rocking Chanel Booties with the hollows of their cheeks all sucked in. Don't get me wrong, I am uber jealous because I want to frolic and skip for a career but this blogger eats. Sometimes too much.

I have a job where I don't get to go to fancy petite cafes and walk through Time Square (hater alert)...I am packing a turkey sandwich with Frenchy's mustard, cheese, bacon, spinach and tomatoes. I am making my own trail mix out of Cheerios, almonds, sunflower seeds, and raisins all while sneaking an Oreo or four.

So, if I am forced to be just a regular person, I had to show you how regular people rock their lunches:)(he he he)

P.S...My sister just called me to ask if I carry the lunch bag around like a purse....Ummm no...I just was showing it for blogging purpose.

Visit Elaine over at Clothed Much for a fab give away. Check out her scarf swag while you're over there. She rocks scarves and bangs like no other!

Black Out Challenge (Day 5)

So this is day 5 of the Black Out Challenge. Not wearing black is still a challenge for me but I kind of like it. I have no idea why I put forth so much effort...I work at a high school...there is literally not one person there to impress other than myself!

I got a little creative today.Technically I layered two dresses for today's outfit. It was completely unplanned but I kind of like the result. The lighting doesn't do the color contrast justice. The shirt dress is actually navy and striped. I threw the yellow scarf to cover up "the girls" and pulled out my fringe blue suede shoes. Not the greatest pics but you get the idea:)

On a random note, I've been reading about Heidi Montag, a MTV reality personality who has gone out of her way to look a Barbie Doll via 10 surgeries in one day. It got me to thinking that people usually are down on themselves way more than they are "UP". There is so much to be insecure about...what are you SECURE about?

So let's play a little game. Leave a comment and tell me what is your favorite "Physical" attribute.

I'll go first. Outside of the obvious, (my dimples)...I really think I have great calves. I love the shape of my legs. It took me years to realize that.

What's your favorite Physical attribute?

Black Out Challenge...(Day 4)

Pretty boring outfit. I know. I am only posting for full disclosure. I actually wore a colorful scarf with this but I left it in the car.

(Jessica Simnpson painful shoes, Khaki Wrap, Thrifted Kasper jacket)

Nothing special here. This outfit looks way better in person. It's actually a khaki wrap dress that I got from H&M years ago. This is my version of business casual...navy and khaki...with a twist. The dress is a full cut. I had a coworker ask if I was wearing a "crinolin". I just stared at her. I didn't know what the hell she was talking about! She had to tell me that's old school for "petticoat". Tell me something! The jacket is navy and one of my thrifted finds. I love the cut so very much. That's all. Mama is tired!

Check out Mish Dish, she is killing it with the challenge!
I clearly need to step up my fab game because Mish is clearly not playing with this "no wearing black" challenge:)

Here is my theme song one more time ...just in case you forgot:)

Black Out Challenge (Day 3)

(I got this slouchy top and winged cardi from JC Penney...I totally feel like Diana Ross with those winged arms...which is always the point of getting dressed, isn't it? Who doesn't want to be a diva like Diana? By the way, the prices on JCP online for the shirt/cardi were more than what I paid. Both were under 12 bucks)



(Aldo Shoes)

I'm back on track. After the mishap yesterday, I believe I am redeeming myself with this ensemble. If you are just dropping by, I am punishing myself to wearing no black for a week because that's all I ever wear. Don't even ask me about my poses! I saw a park...pulled over and started posing. One thing led to another and pretty soon I'm running through the fields taking pictures! Just laugh at the pics...I did!

By the way, this is my theme song until I decide to change it. This is the song I want played any time I enter a room!

....well...it plays in my head when I walk in the room anyway!

Black Out Challenge...Sorta

Okay. Let me explain. I know I'm not supposed to wear black all week...I know, I know. I KNOW!! It was an accident! I didn't realize that this dress was black! I SWEAR!! I completely thought this was NAVY BLUE! Honest! This dress has been hanging in my closet for weeks and I've never worn it until today. I was under the assumption that I was wearing a navy blue dress. It wasn't until I got to work, sitting in a meeting... bored to tears that I realized that this was BLACK PLAID, NOT BLUE PLAID!! AGGH!! I felt disgusted at myself!
How in the hell am I going to initiate a challenge and FAIL at it!Ralph Lauren Taffeta Wrap Dress, Kate Spade Shoes, Old Gap Jean Jacket

Yes, I could have run home to change into something all colorful and challenge worthy but that's just psycho and an honest mistake. Doesn't it look navy to you? It does right.



(Are you wondering if I am actually standing in the frozen yogurt shop posing for pictures? The answer is yes. I was thinking it was a cute place, why not take a picture there...lol)

Since I am confessing...let me go ahead and tell it all. I didn't wear that jean jacket to work. Because I thought I was wearing a navy dress, I wore my Navy blazer with it. When I was in the meeting and made the horrible discovery, I felt dirty. I hate not matching...well not matching in an ugly way. All of a sudden, I started feeling paranoid. I kept thinking people were pointing and laughing at me. My left shoulder started twitching as if I was having an allergic reaction to the discovery that I was wearing navy and black together...not that I'm against that combo...but this was not one of those cases where it was cute. I finally just took the damn jacket off because I kept scratching like ants were crawling over me(not really)...ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I WASN'T MATCHING THE WAY I THOUGHT I WAS! So just may be I am a little psycho.
(Kate spade Shoes)
As soon as I got home, I knew I had to take pictures but I couldn't handle wearing the wrong jacket any longer. For your sake, I threw on the jean jacket. Ay de mi'!!. Extreme mental exhaustion today...all behind the color NAVY!

(Here is the dress posted on Ralph Lauren's site. Overlook the fact that the model doesn't do the dress justice like I do...but doesn't it look navy? LOL)

So, I'm guessing I failed at this challenge today? In my defense, I really believed I was wearing navy. Really I did. That's got to count for something? In my heart, I was wearing navy:) God knows my heart! LOL

Black Out Challenge (Day 2)

No black today!! I am proud of myself. I will even venture to say that the color in my wardrobe might have encouraged me to put an extra dip in my hip when I walked today. My mom hooked me up with this leather jacket ...it only took a whole two seconds before I ripped out of her hands, ripped the tags off with my teeth and was on my way home to introduce it to the rest of my closet.

Speaking of challenges, I have a few other personal challenges that I've inflicted upon myself this week. First of all, I am not listening to any secular music for a week....straight gospel music in the car. Now, if I just happen to zone out while driving and Usher's Daddy's Home song comes on...and I started grinding in my seat...that's the only exception.

But in general, I could use some extra inspiration/motivation in these days. The songs on the radio are just getting plain stupid anyway, so it's not like I'm missing much. Plus, I get tired of looking like Oprah during worship service at church...singing along to songs when I KNOW I don't know the words! (don't act like you've never seen Oprah lip sync to songs that knows she has never heard before.)

I've also challenged myself to pack my lunch every day this week. Not only is it more budget friendly but it's healthier too. Besides, my students are tired of me collecting money from them like I'm taking up offering so I can buy a honeybun from the vending machine everyday. My all time low is when I busted one of my kids for eating in my class. I told her to bring her bag to me. When I saw that they were animal crackers, I told her she could eat them only if she shared them with me. Shameful! LOL.

Click here to check out my "Blog Godmother" (I just made that up just now!). Mish Dish is doing the Black Out Challenge with me. Try to hate her as much as I do for her ridiculous shoe and purse collection.

P.S. I'm friends with Oprah in my head...she is laughing as she reads this right now:) Love you O!

Black Out (Day 1)

This is the first day of my "don't wear black all week so people don't think I am depressed or wonder if I see dead people" challenge. I think most people wear black because of the whole "black makes you look slimmer" theory. As you can tell from the pile of clothes on the floor in the above picture...I just didn't have the juice to take a picture. All I could think about was getting home to rip these clothes off my body and climbing in bed.

(I wore this jacket here and the shirt here and the heels here)

Actually, by the time I turned the corner on my block... I was already barefoot, the bra was already unbuckled and I was on my second shot of Petron.

Sleepy+ dealing with 145 different personalities under the age of 15 +paper work + a 2 hour meeting after work + an hour in traffic + no lunch all day = NO Picture today.

Let's see how I feel about this challenge by the end of the week. For some reason I picture myself at the end of the week rocking back and forth, crouched in the corner of my closet, swaddling all of my black articles of clothing, chanting "Kmart sucks" like Rain Man. (It should be obvious that I'm going through withdrawal:)

(P.S....just kidding about the Petron...I would never drink and drive:)

To avoid being Debbie Downer today, I must say that my mom surprised me with a Leather Fitted Blazer today. I can't wait to wear it:)

Friday Night Thrift!

I forgot to post Friday's pic for the Challenge. For some reason, I am really getting into men's style button down shirts. I kinda love the look these days. Can you tell that black pencil skirts and belts are essential to my existence? Belts are pencil skirts are essential when one is as curvy as moi'!

Authentic Burberry Shirt: Thrifted!

Belt/Skirt: Target

Necklaces: F21

Blue Vintage Clutch: Goodwill

Calvin Klein Shoes: Marshall's ( I have rediscovered my own shoes)

The Love of Jesus Christ: Priceless!

Okay, let me start by saying that I am not trying to force you to look at my butt! I simply heart this thrifted ALEXANDER MCQUEEN SKIRT AND HAD TO SHOW YOU WHY!! Look at the beautiful detail in the back. I got this a while ago but never got around to sharing this treasure. I. Die.!

I can't wait to wear this skirt with textured tights and heels and with boots!

Tell the truth, you kinda love it don't you? You should hate me because it was totally 4 bucks! YES! I thrifted an Alexander McQueen skirt for 4 bucks! I know it's tacky to tell the price but I am totally bragging right now...(insert image of me sticking my tongue out at the haters...lol)

And Yes...my dog (Frankie Beverly) was totally checking me out while I was taking these pics...I didn't even know he was there! Just like a dog, isn't it?

Oh..and I totally realize that most people are obsessed with the little crackhead model look that we are forced to see in magazines. I happen to like my curves and like to accentuate the positive. So if you are a rail thin person...rock on...If you are thick....rock on...if you are fat...rock on! (by the way...those models are more than likely shaped like me, they just have access to airbrushing:)

....if you are wondering what I am doing right now...I am petting my skirt right now. It brings me joy...temporarily atleast:)

For your viewing pleasure...HE HE HE HE!!!

Challenge: Mission Accomplished!

I did it! I didn't repeat my clothes for a whole month (not including accessories). It was actually quite fun. I dug out clothes that were feeling quite neglected in the back of my closet. I just may keep the challenge going. It allowed me to wear some oldies but goodies!

Thursday:

Skirt: Arden B's (Atleast 4 years ago)

Top: Banana Republic

Fave Belt: thrifted

Shoes: Carlos Santana

Yes, i wore this bedazzled skirt to work! I tried to dress it down with a classic button down. Did the croc wearing coworkers do a double take? Yes. Did I put an extra dip in my hip as I walked...YEP! HA!

I found a grafitti wall nearby and decided to snap a few pictures. I thought the building was abandoned but then I saw a garage door lift up! AAAHH! That explains the expression on my face...I set the timer, snapped a pic then hopped back in the car. I was trying to be creative because I seem to only have one pose...atleast I could give you some background scenery from time to time:) Can you tell that I love this belt?!?

Trench Jacket: Gap (last year?)

Daishiki: GOODWILL...(Yes it's a real daishiki too!)

Pants: Banana Republic

Striped Shoes: 9 West

Belt: Thrifted

Tuesday

Shirt: Banana Republic (I haven't worn this shirt in years!)

Skirt: Express ( I am not cheating either, I have ALOT of black pencil skirts)

Shoes: 9 West ( LOVE THESE)

Monday: See below post...this was a popular ensemble judging from the comments!

Also, scurry along to this blog and enter the TJ Maxx Gift card challenge...Tell her God's Favorite Shoes sent you too...So I can win something if you don't!

Did you do the challenge? How well did you do?

Do It My Darn Self!

It's Monday and I'm ready for Friday already. This will be short and sweet because it's naptime. I saw a picture of Janet Jackson at last week's Fashion Week festivities and loved the look to death. I knew immediately that I could throw that look together. For a second, I did say to myself that even I would have have shown a little more "cleavage" than Ms. Nasty but I get it...she was going for the school librarian look. The look also put me in the mind of Michele Obama.

So here is my version of the Sexy Librarian/Teacher look. We will call this segment D.I.M...NOT...D.I.Y...because I DID IT MYSELF!

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Banana Republic
Shirt: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: 9 West

Bag: In Philly visiting my cousin Messa 5 yrs ago

The challenge is still going on...just thought would share my D.I.M with you:)