GFS in Dallas: Homebound

As much as I loved my trip to Dallas, I was kind of ready to go home. I could never be a celebrity. I got sick of living out of a suitcase and eating out every night. The one thing I wanted when I got back to Houston was a homecooked meal, and to watch tv in bed and have nowhere to go. I see why people like Prince don't tour alot..he wants to sleep in  his bed! I don't know that for a fact but he's a friend in my head and friends usually think alike.

I met some wonderful people in Dallas, people that I will surely keep in contact with. Before I left, I grabbed a fab statement necklace from Juanette because the necklace haunted me every night since I saw her wear it!

(You have to see it on...you can see Juanette wearing it in the post GFS in Dallas: Day 1)

One of the highlights (outside of meeting the Dallas bloggers) was finally making it to Buc-ee's! Do you guys have a Buc-ee's? I've traveled across Texas from time to time and I've always seen it...I thought it was just a truck stop. But oh no boo, Buc-ee's is anything but a truck stop! It's a movement! I don't really know how to describe it except that it's kind of like Wal-Mart meets Chucky Cheese meets a gas station meets a Deli Shop sponsored by CRACK! It was overwhelming!

It's the only place that you can get Jalopeno Cream Cheese in a jar, turkey jerkey, homemade Butter Pecan Fudge,  a DR. Pepper ICEE and the cleanest restrooms ever all under ONE ROOF! I'm a Buc-ee's believer! If you ever see one, stop and go in! You will never look at truck stops the same!

I was on the chartered bus on the way back home and I was reading my new book by Chastity Garner called "The Curvy Girl's Guide to Style". One person saw it and wanted to see it and by the time I got back to Houston, half the bus was asking about the book. That's when I was all like "Umm hmmm girl, my homegirl wrote this here book!" Totally pimping out the book! Chastity, the book was very popular among the curvy teachers I roll with!

Next stop? Norfolk, VA and Washington Dc in a few weeks!

GFS in Dallas: Part 3

(Fab Girls love big bags!)

My third night in Dallas brought a night with blogger and newly minted author of The Curvy Girl's Guide to Style , Chastity Garner. I stumbled upon her blog a few weeks ago and I went through each and every post screaming I LOVE THIS GIRL'S STYLE!!

Chastity has been doing press for her newly released book so I was delighted that she agreed to meet me! My Dallas road dawg came along for the ride drove us to Mi Concina (might be the best quesadillas I've eaten in a long time) to meet Chastity.

When we walked into the door Chastity greeted us in a fab all black ensemble.  She is so beautiful! We sat and talked like we've all known each other for years. She told us everything from how she learned the tricks of the fashion industry from being a model to falling out of a tree (You'll have to ask her about that!) Of course, we talked about her new book, her recent engagement and subsequent move to Dallas. Juanette and Chastity bonded over the Boondocks cartoon...and when I say bonded...I mean they started re-enacting scenes from the last few episodes!

(I wish I could have taken a pic of the back of Chastity's top...it was fiyah! )

I am so proud to know a published author...and she is only 30 29! I love motivated people! I have the book..signed of course and let me tell you, it is an easy read and it actually feels like I am talking to my homegirl on the phone saying "Ummm ummm girl, don't wear that...your boobies are hanging out!" Everybody needs a friend like that! I wholeheartedly believe that Chastity would not let her friends "dress whack!"

Please check out her blog here and support her book...buy one and pass it on to other curvy friends and  family!

A special THANK YOU to Juanette! You went out of your way to accomodate a total stranger in town. Meet ya in the parking lot of Buc-ee's! (inside joke) Anyone in need of fabulous jewelry or a stylist for hire, please contact Juanette here...(and she didn't pay me to say that either!)

GFS in Dallas: The Finale...next post!

GFS in Dallas: Part 2

Day 2 of my Dallas trip got even better. Erin from Work with You've Got contacted me and wanted to meet. I've been following Erin's blog for some time and she's a friend in my head anyway, so of course I agreed. She invited Tina from T Minus, T Plus and I invited Juanette again...and off we went to Vickery Park.

When Erin arrived we immediately embraced. But it was a different kind of embrace! She kept stroking my skin and I kept stroking her hair! We were both cracking up! Tina was a doll and I can't really tell you everything that we talked about because it was nonstop but we covered everything from wanting to buy a Smart car (Erin) to wanting to karate chop a wedding photographer (Tina) to being invited to a wedding where you were asked to bring $65 to eat for being a "plus one"!(Juanette)

(Juanette and Tina)

You would have thought that we all have known each other for years! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the grilled chicken sandwich that I ate! At one point, it felt like a convention in the bar because Juanette whipped out the BEAUTIFUL jewelry that she sells, Tina whipped out her new computer and Erin demonstrated how she makes her JEWELRY! What was my contribution you ask? Hell, I brought them all together...I was the PIMP of the whole operation! That's gotta count for something right?!?

Of course we took pictures of ourselves because that's what we do.

(I'm wearing my pretty dress from Anthropologie and my Lamb Shoes. I can't get enough of the nude shoe look!)

Tina noticed that I stayed in a pose even while positioning the camera...I'm always ready. (Not really, it's weird that I take pics for a blog because I was that kid that would always jump out of pictures when I was younger...still will in most situations. Hmph. I need to examine that further one day:)

So here is what you need to know about each of these ladies.

Erin- Mad Funny...like needs a reality camera to follow her funny. She makes her own jewelry! And it's pretty jewelry too. She also takes note that everyone in our group dropped a cuss word or two! Oh...her hair....luscious!

Juanette- CREATIVE and multi-talented. Chick sells beautiful jewelry, a natural hair efficiando, she is a Dallas stylist for hire and the best Dallas thrifting tour guide! PS...that red dress she is wearing is really a skirt that she hiked up and threw on a belt!

Tina- is a lawyer, recently married who just went to the Lane Bryant conference as part of a focus group and got major free swag!

Me- I'm a Pimp. I bring people together! Praise the Lawd! HA

Part 3 up next...

GFS in Dallas: Part 1

I was in Dallas for a week and I made the most of every moment...thriftily speaking that is. I knew that Juanette from Fashion-nette was in Dallas and we have chatted through emails before so we agreed to meet. Since I'm all about thrifting, I could tell through Juanette's blog that we had the same style so I knew she would know the spots.

(This pic was taken after hours of thrifting! We were both exhausted!)

When I got to town...I went to my meetings and scurried to the hotel to meet her. This is how the conversation went.

Me: Hey girl, I'll be ready around 6pm.

Juanette: Okay. I'l be there but I'm kind of sick so I hope you didn't dress up.

Me: (looking at what I had on) Nah, I just have on a skirt and some wedges. Nothing special.

Juanette: Okay. I've got a cold so I'm not gonna be all jazzy.

Me: Okay. (thinking about changing into some jeans and flats but didn't feel like ironing)

Fast forward 15 minutes.

I get my butt in the car and this chick looks like she just stepped off the pages of Essence magazine! Really Juanette? Sick...really? Why do you have on make-up Juanette? Why do you have on that beautiful maxi dress? Why do you have on heels Juanette? This is not the look of I'm So SICK! She was trying to catch me slipping YALL! When I'm sick, I have on a tee and jeans and maybe a cute sandal...usually a cap pulled over my head...not beautiful earrings and a PRADA bag on my arm!

I am wearing the Zebra wedges by Sam Edelman. Remember when I wore that dress from ASOS here? The dress came in that printed fabric. I just stuffed one of my large clutches inside it to make it sturdy and voila...a new clutch!

As soon as  I get in the car, I gave her a not so secret "side eye". Ummm hmmmm. I see how you are Juanette. You wanted me to be the ugly duckling? No boo, no!

This was literally the first time we have ever met and you would swear that we've known each other few years. She didn't hesitate taking me anywhere at all! She took me to some hidden gems and I found some awesome pieces that I will show you later.  The funny part is the thrift stores didn't have dressing rooms. You would've turned around wouldn't you? Nope. Not us. Juanette showed me her corner of the store in the back and all you saw were shirts flying, zippers breaking, hips squeezing! I had to prove to her that I could hang.

We had a blast and she was so willing to take me anywhere. This girl is crazy talented...I will tell you more about that in the next installment of GFS in Dallas: Part 2 along with Erin and Tina. I also met, Chastity a new author of a fab book! That will be in Part 3!

GFS Does Dallas (The Prelude)

I'm not able to get into full blog mode yet because I am still in Dallas on business but I did manage to meet some fab Dallas bloggers. I'll post in detail when I get back home and settled but the pictures alone should tell you how it went.

Juanette from Fashionnette

Erin from Work with What You've Got

Me

Tina from T Minus, T Plus

P.S....Here are a few of the topics we covered.

1. Jobs

2. Getting your hustle on when you have a craft/gift (ERIN!) or a business (Juanette!)

3. Being invited to a wedding where you are asked to pay 60  65 bucks for your plate...(hot mess)

4. Cutting off dinner dates to get home before the sun sets to take pics of your clothes for your blog

5. The joys of the Hoola Hoop!

More meet ups/shenanigans and foolishness to come

I had a blast ladies!
(Sorry for the title of this post...I had to do it. If you don't know what I am talking about...it's good that you don't:)

Touching Bases

Sorry for the slow up in posts:) I rarely go anywhere since I'm on vacation and I am pretty sure you don't want to see me rocking my PJ's in every post. I probably won't get around to posting often this week either because I have a business trip (when did I get old enough to say that!?)

(Nothing special about this outfit but it's all from Target...except the Sam Edelman wedges that I am officially obsessed with. I look mad in this pic but I'm not...it was just hot outside! The heat affects my smile:)

Allow me to share the highlights of my past week though:

1. I took the best NAP EVER on Thursday! It was awesome. I slept so hard that when I woke up, I thought it was the next day....literally. In real time, it was only about 4 hours but it felt like days!

2. I finally saw Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. I enjoyed it. I wish someone would adopt me...any takers? I clean up well and I do dishes:)

3. I jogged 20 minutes on Saturday! That's the longest I have ever jogged in my life! I was so surprised at myself that I kept looking at my reflection in the mirror to make sure it was me that was still standing upright. Question: Does anyone else jog to a beat? I have to jog to a beat. Meaning if a fast song comes on and I can't land my steps with the beat of the song...it throws me off. Am I the only one??!?? So far, the best jogging song for me is Hey Ya by Outkast and some other not so nice rap songs!

P.S...I'm hoping to meet a few Dallas bloggers this week, I'll keep you posted on my foolishness and shenanigans:)

Quality Time

So, it's the summer and my nieces and nephews are in Houston from Tulsa, Oklahoma for vacation. I hung out with two of my oldest nephews and pretty much was mocked and questioned all day.

Since they were with me, I took the opportunity to talk to them about exposing themselves to different things...like new restaraunts/traveling/ wearing things other than sneakers. Basically, I was trying to be the cool auntie....I don't think that conversation went over too well but maybe when I am dead they will remember that conversation. Here's to hoping! LOL

Conversation with Nephew 1

Nephew 1: Why are you taking pictures of your clothes all the time? Who cares? Do you get paid for this?

Me: Dude, I have people. People like to take pics of their clothes.

Nephew: Why you? Your shoes don't even match your outfit.

Me: See, if you would read my blog you would know that my shoes are a neutral color.

Nephew 1 & 2: You're weird. You have different ways of doing things

Me: *hands on my hips* That's right!

Nephew 1: Put me in one of the pictures. I'm 'swagnificient'. Your readership will be up like Oprah if you put me on there.

Me: *roll my eyes*

(I'd like to say that my tanline was on purpose in the above pic but it so wasn't. It was the result of me jogging  walking on a Saturday morning at 7am...yeah...even the morning sun is a beast in Texas!)

Conversation with Nephew 2

*as I am posting pics for this post*

Nephew 2: So, people look at pictures of your clothes?

Me: yes

Nephew 2: They are probably just fooling you. They probably look at your website and then laugh and say 'ewww, look at her.'

Me: *burst into laughter*

Nephews 2: So, you just come on here and narrate your life on your blog? (then blank stare)

Me: *hysterically laughing...but somehow starting to feel like a loser*

Nephew 3: I don't see how you do this...this is boring.

Me: *blank stare*

...and then I forced them to take pictures of me!

To beat the heat and boredom. I took them to dinner and the book store. You can only imagine the tongue lashing I got from both of them because I was looking for the new book in the Twilight Series...that was in the teen section I might add. They were brutal on me. Brutal!

Didn't Ya Know??

I went to the Erykah Badu concert last night. It's like 2000 degree in Houston now so avoiding any extra pieces of clothing is crucial for survival.

For some reason, I just decided my vintage Prince "Life is Just A Parade" T shirt was sufficient for the concert. Short skirt, fedora, LAMB shoes and clutch...done.

Speaking of concerts, there was a man who stood up most of the time and blocked my view. Now, if he was just feeling Erykah and the songs "like that", I wouldn't complain because it's a concert. I get it. BUT he was not snapping and swaying to the music. HE WAS RECORDING HER PERFORMANCE ON HIS DIGITAL CAMERA! So here is what I wish I could have said to the man who blocked my view last night.

Dear Not so Small Man,

I am so glad that you are getting to enjoy Erykah's performance. You deserve it. You probably work really hard and have been looking forward to this night for a while. But sir, why are you oblivious to the fact that I am behind you as well as others? Why can't you sit down periodically? I am also pretty sure that those aren't you seats. Let me see your ticket...I bet I can prove it. But I won't judge you for that. We all want to get closer to the stage, don't we? There's no harm in that.

But sir, I am not trying to assassinate you or your character in any way but you are not really that small. You are kind of a big dude. As a matter of fact, every one is sitting down in the whole arena because she is singing a ballad right now. Hell, ERYKAH is even sitting down. Furthermore, can you tell me what portion of your recordings will be quality? It looks like you are holding an Olympus digital camera...the same kind I have to take pictures for my blog. That's not even a video camera. Who are you going to show this footage to? Are you going to watch it again? Are you going to edit all the people's heads who are passing in front of you?

And while we are at it, could you please put that damn camera down and attend to your "about to pop any minute now" pregnant wife! She is uncomfortable. She is not even grooving to the music. She's just kind of just sitting there taking short breaths which look alot like the breathing  techniques I see on tv when a mother is ABOUT TO GO INTO LABOR!! Sir, please rub her back! She can't even close her legs when she is sitting. She is kinda just propped in her seat to alleviate the pain and pressure in her uterus. Sir, please stop recording. It looks like your wife wants to ask you to escort her to the ladies' room so she can throw up but she won't because you are standing up, blocking my view...while you record.

So please sir, excuse me for longing to tap you on your hip and ask you to sit so I can see. This is a small theater, there aren't any jumbo trons for me to see the performance. All I have to enjoy  this concert are my shotty eyes and my two ears. I keep hoping that the next song will be a fast song so that I can atleast jump and dance with everyone and not worry about blocking the view of the person behind me.

Thank you sir. I probably wouldn't have even bothered you if I saw that you knew the words to any of the song but YOU DON'T!

Sincerely,

The chick behind you in the Prince T Shirt crouching in between the cracks of you and your wife to see Erykah sing:)

(Erykah Badu in concert: Here is my contribution to grainy, poor pixelated concert photos to add to cyberspace...and I didn't block anyone to get these pics:)

(Are you trying to see if she is wearing some warm up pants, loose fitting t shirt, extra  long hair to her butt and gold foil paper around face?? Yes she is...That's Erykah!)

P.S...Next post I will write a letter to the two screaming, drunk ladies behind me who were cackling the whole concert and never heard them hum one song! lol!)

P.P.S...The title of this post is the title of my favorite song by Erykah Badu:

(click here to win a free gift certificate from Fashion for the Economically Challenged!)

I Need Your Help

Just been hanging out this weekend. I got this dress from H&M in Cleveland last year. I threw on my pink fedora and my favorite sandals today. I wore these sandals out last summer so I had to have them re-soled because I couldn't bare not wearing them again. I probably could have used a belt to hide the "jelly" but sometimes you just don't care. By the way, I went to see The A Team today and I was thoroughly entertained:)

I'll be doing a bit of traveling the next few weeks so I need your help.

I'll be in Dallas for a week. I am hoping that I get to catch up with some of my favorite Dallas bloggers:)What are some places do any of you go vintage/thrift shopping in Dallas?

I'll also be in Norfolk, Virginia and Washington, DC next month! Where do you guys go? What must I visit? Where must I eat? Where are the best vintage/thrift shops there? I so HATE going to the "cliche" places when I travel. I wanna go eat a hamburger where I risk getting shot but it's worth it! (Not really). For example, if  you were to come to Houston I would tell you to go to Frenchy's for the best chicken ever and to Burn's for the best barbecue:)

Better yet fill in the blanks:

Girl! If you are in (Dallas/Norfolk, VA. or Washington, Dc), you must eat at ____________ and you must shop at ____________________  for the best___________!

P.S. After careful thought, this is not one of my favorite dresses. I do alot of pulling this, pulling that. The top has wires in the front and back and when I walk my body will be going one direction and the dress is another. Plus I've decided that it needs a belt...but it was so hot in Houston today that I couldn't imagine putting on another piece of clothing on my body. I swear it was so hot that I kept *looking over my shoulder and peeping around corners* because it felt like the devil was following me with a plate of hot grits!!

You get a gold star if you know what song "looking over my shoulder and peeping around corners" comes from! If you know it, chances are you are from the South:)

Someone Stop The World

(Excuse the *moistivity in my face. I'm in Houston, where even the sun breaks a sweat)

If anyone ever asks you who my favorite singers are (what? It could happen:), I hope you know to tell them *Jill Scott and Maxwell.

Last night, I got to see both  Jill and Maxipoo (my pet name for him)  on the same stage last night. It was awesome. I've seen Jill perform live maybe 6 times already and Maxwell I've seen maybe 4 times? (I even snuck into one of his concerts long time ago, ssshhh). I. Love. Him and Her...LOVE. Most people who know me will probably say that I'm laid back and quiet and observant but those people have never seen me mad or at a Maxwell concert. All bets are off baby. I scream like he can hear me. I scream. I scream. And I scream some more. I really don't know what screaming does for anyone at concerts but I find myself doing a lot of screaming at Maxwell concerts.

I think I may have also waved my hand a couple of times like I was praising Jesus. I think at that point, I made a mental note to scream really loud for Jesus at church on Sunday.  If I can scream that loud for a man who has never met me or done a thing for me, then certainly I can eek out a holla  for Jesus on Sunday. Commitment made:)

I saw alot of outfit nightmares travesties at the concert. I wish this was a blog that takes potshots at people in their nightmarish get ups but I am way  too "classy" for that. (Not really)

I'll be honest, I built this whole ensemble around the sleeves on my vintage jacket (Thanks to Goodwill). I may have even screamed when I grabbed it. Notice a pattern? Things I love= Makes me scream.

(Thanks to the "fella"/sponsor/bf for the tickets:)

(Of course, I had to show you a poor concert pic that I took at the concert. If you don't know who Jill Scott or Maxwell is...get to know them)

Things you should know:

*Moistivity- not a real word:)

** The title of today's post "Someone Stop The World" is the title of one of Maxwell's songs.

*** Janet Jackson is my all time favorite performer...even if she can't quite move like she used to. I'm loyal**

****I don't always scream at concerts, sometimes I break into routines (click here)

Who would make you scream at a concert??

Allow Me To Ramble For A Minute:)

First of all, Thank you for all of the votes for that Blog Lovin contest I entered! Voting ends Monday but I know when to call a spade a spade! LOL!

Here are a few comments that I came across from the contest:

"Have y'all* seen the voting tally!!!! They are beasting on Reiko...but yeah you can do it sis...maybe they will send you a complimentary Alexander Wang COUPON for $5 off your next purchase for placing a distant 20th!"

(that comment was courtesy of my brother! LOL)

"Her style is colourful, out from boring diktats and really personal. Moreover, she’s a real woman :)"

(that came from someone who voted for me in the contest..HUGS to her!...and I don't know what 'diktats' means but I'm using my context clues!)

(BF's Jimi Hendrix tee from Target; Gap skirt; Thrifted scarf, L.A.M.B shoes)

Conversation with the bf:

Him: Hey babe, you know I love you right?

Me: Yep.

Him:(saying with hesitance in his voice)  Well...have you seen the votes yet?!?

Me: I know fool! (laughing hysterically) Who is that Chiarra lady!??! She's got people!

Him: *still laughing*

Me: *my laughter starting to taper off a little....lol!* 

(It's all good though...my birthday is right around the corner...let's see who will be laughing then (wink!)

In all sincerity...thanks for the kind words and votes...and welcome to my new followers and lurkers

Here is a pic of the shoes (from Heels.com)  I am wearing since I didn't get a good shot of them:)

I do want to clarify a few things to my new readers as a result of some of the comments on the message board for the contest.

1. I am not a professional blogger. I am a teacher. I have a job so it's rare that I get to run in fields of wheat to take pictures.

2. I do not have a photographer...I beg whomever is rolling is with me at the time  or I set up that good ol' tripod:

3. I don't have a Canon camera...yet. I have a digital camera that fits in my pocket and only has a few buttons. (working on that though)

4. It's not easy putting yourself out there (especially your pictures) on the internet. I don't even lke people in my personal business so this definitely is not my comfort zone. It's not easy so criticism is sometimes hard to take (I haven't gotten any but I saw some nasty comments about other bloggers)

This is what I threw together this weekend. It's nothing special but I figured you should see what I look like on the weekends. I hi jacked the bf's closet and somehow decided the shirt that I bought for him needed to be worn that day. I had a busy weekend because I went out of town to go to a water park! That's nothing to you but that's a huge deal to me! I CAN'T SWIM! That means for 34 years I have avoided anything that has a pool or large bodies of water. I avoid pool parties, most trip to beaches, lakes,etc. When I was ten years old, I even took swimming lessons. On the last day of class, we all had to invite friends and family to watch us dive off a board. Yeah. So, I got on the diveboard, jumped in...and almost drowned!! I was the only person that didn't get a swimming certificate that day!(It's okay to feel sorry for me:)

(This is my one and only swimsuit..I must say that I love the neckline though!)

Then, when I was about 29 or 30...I took lessons at the Y. Ummm...yeah, I still don't know how to swim. Anyway, the point is I sucked it up and went to Schlitterbaun in New Braunfel, Texas (click here).  My friends...I got on every single ride! Every one of them...and I didn't drown! Granted the water was never any deeper than 3 feet but I still am proud of myself!  Of course, there was no way that I was going to give you a full swimsuit shot but I will say that I am way more modest than I  should be! I saw alot of swimsuit travesties this weekend!

And last but not least, I went to dinner this weekend and spotted a group of ladies in full diva hats throwing back cocktails. I had to pull this lady to the side to get a picture because she was working it! I had a feeling they were dressed up to go see the Sex and the City movie and I was right! Isn't she fab!? And she broke right into this pose without me asking her to! lol!

P.S. Thank you BLoglovin for choosing me as a finalist...it gives me the right to brag to my little brother who punched me in the stomach when I was little that I am somebody! People do like my style! (sticking my tongue out at him)

*Y'all- I'm from Texas:)

UPDATE!! The kind folks over at Heels.com have created a coupon code for you guys to enjoy 10% off any shoe purchase over $50!
Coupon Code: godsfaveshoe
(every little bit helps, doesn't it!?!?)
Thanks Heels.com!