Cute & Affordable Plus Size Clothing

I hate frumpy clothes.  Unfortunately, once you join the ranks of the plus-sized, it becomes harder to find affordable clothes that aren’t frumpy!  Today, Zulily has a few different plus-size sales going on and they have some really cute clothes!

Black Lace Belted Plus Size Dress $19.99

Carmine Ikat Plus-Size Tank $26.99

There are plenty of other things to choose from too!  Hurry and check it out before it’s too late!

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February is the New January

I’ve decided that February is my January.  Since we had some major family changes over Christmas break, I never got my act together as far as goal setting goes.  Yes, I’m still working through all my Project 36 goals, but sometimes you just need a fresh start.

Today is that day for me.  Actually, I started yesterday.  I’m back to no sugar and no gluten (I’m actually trying to avoid all grains).  Hopefully I’ll start feeling better in a few weeks.  The first week is always the toughest, but I know it’s what I need to do for my health.  If you’re kicking yourself because you’ve already lost sight of your goals or maybe you never had any goals to start off with, don’t delay!  Start over today!  Today is the day to make things right!

Source: tumblr.com via Lisa on Pinterest

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Starting Over {Motivation Monday}

This year I have excelled at falling off the wagon! It’s not something I’m proud of, but it is what it is. And now, I’m getting back on the wagon! And you can too! Don’t wait til the new year. Start now! :)

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Lane Bryant Twitter Party on 12/17 {Win Lane Bryant Gift Cards}

Last week, I shared with you some of my favorite Lane Bryant styles!  And  on Monday, 12/17 you can join the awesome @LaneBryant “Holiday Fashion Fun” Twitter Party at noon PT/3pm ET!  There will be some sweet prizes! You’ll need to RSVP to win prizes, including $30 Lane Bryant gift cards! You can RSVP at http://clvr.li/128tjBx

If you need a little fashion inspiration for an upcoming holiday party or some tips on how to keep your look fresh this season, you won’t want to miss this party! Sure it’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean we can’t feel and look sassy, stylish, and maybe even a little flirty through the winter!

The Details:

What: Lane Bryant “Holiday Fashion Fun” Twitter Party
When: Mon 12/17 noon PT/3pm ET
Where: On Twitter! CleverTweets: http://clvr.li/SYaCNf
Follow: Hashtag #LBHoliday @CleverGirlsColl @LaneBryant
RSVP here: http://clvr.li/128tjBx
Prizes: 18 $30 Lane Bryant gift cards

I also selected the winners of my Lane Bryant giveaway and the winners are Julie W. and Heather.  (Check your inboxes ladies!)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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Lane Bryant Surprise Offer, Lots of Fun Holiday Looks, and a Giveaway! #LB12Days

I like to shop {shocking…I know} and since Lane Bryant has started their 12 Days of the Most Wonderful Surprises, I’ve been doing more shopping than usual.  Before I tell you all about the shopping I’ve been doing, I wanted to make sure you knew what today’s surprise offer is.

Cacique bras: buy one get one for $1.

Accesories: buy one get one for $1.

I’m totally heading back to Lane Bryant today to take advantage of this surprise offer!!!  I found so many cute accessories! Ok…now on to my shopping trip(s)!

On my first trip (I made 3 this week), I was in a hurry and just picked up a few basics (like panties and earrings).  If you’ve never checked out the panties at Lane Bryant, you’re missing out.  They have cute styles in fun prints.  How cute is this cupcake print?

On my 2nd trip, I was in the store less than 5 minutes, I just needed some Spanx.

My 3rd trip, however, I hit the jackpot!  The sales associates working (Nikki and Danesha) were so helpful and I was able to put together some really cute outfits.

I was looking for something that would be fun for all the Christmas parties and festivities that I will be attending, but that I would be able to wear after the holidays as well.  I decided to stick with my normal color palette (black, denim, more black, and a little gray to mix things up), but just add a few sparkles.  I loaded up the dressing room with things I thought might work and got started!

For starters, I found these fabulous boots and decided to work an outfit around them.  I found a pair of jeggings, added a black shimmery blouse, and topped it off with a shrug.  I finished the look off with a shimmery hat!

While the outfit was cute, I didn’t love it. I liked the top, liked the boots, thought the shrug was OK, and I loved the hat, but I wasn’t a big fan of the jeggings.  They just didn’t fit me right.  I decided to try on a coat next.

Plus Size Red Coat

I liked the coat…and I liked it even more when I paired it with this fabulous red hat!

Lane Bryant Red coat with Red Hat

When I took off the coat and the shrug, I realized that the shimmery top from the first outfit looked quite cute without the shrug.  If only I still lived in Phoenix, I could pull off sleeveless in the middle of winter.  I mean, seriously, don’t’ you love the neckline on this?

Lane Bryant Holiday outfit with red hat

My next choice was a black and white houndstooth shirt with a black sparkly hat.  I figured that I could pair it with black dress pants for work.

Lane Bryant Houndstooth Blouse

The shirt was OK…the pants looked hideous on me.  I have a friend that wears that style of pants and they look fabulous on her, but they definitely were not the right style for me.  Thankfully, Nikki and Danesha were on it and they found me a much better pair of black pants which you’ll see later with a different outfit.

The next outfit I tried on was not something I’d normally try on, but I was trying to get out of my box.

I tend to go for things that are a little more fitted, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this non-fitted top.  I was actually pleasantly suprised.  I added a few necklaces and I thought it was a nice change from my normal look.  Then I headed back into the dressing room to try another outfit.

I tried on this shimmery Lurex sweater with the arm cut-outs and wasn’t sure how I felt about it.  I took quite a few pictures so I could see it from every angle.  While in the store, I decided I wasn’t too thrilled about it, but after getting home and looking at all the pics, I’ve decided I really like it…and I think I’ll like it even more if I’m wearing some shapewear under it. I think I may go back and get it. What do you think of it?

The last outfit I tried on was a pair of black pants (which I LOVE!!!) a grey shimmery top, and the black shrug I wore in the first outfit. {Note to self…wear shapewear when going shopping.  Rolls are just not flattering…especially when you post pics for the whole world to see.}

I thought it was a great combo.  The black pants were a must for me.  I took a picture of the tag because I wanted to be sure I told you exactly which style they were in case you wanted to go try on a pair.

I’m loving Lane Bryant right now.  And although this is a sponsored post, I spent far more money at Lane Bryant this week than what I’m getting paid to write this because I honestly love their clothes!

If you’re in need of some fabulous clothes, you’re in luck!

I’m giving away 2 $30 Lane Bryant Gift Cards!

Here’s what you’ll want to do to win…Pin it to win!

Pin your favorite Lane Bryant looks to your Pinterest account, using the #LB12Days hashtag. Then, leave me a comment with a link to your pin and you’ll be eligible for a prize.  This giveaway ends on December 16th, so hurry and start pinning! Make sure you include your email address when you comment so I can contact you!  {And if you’re not following me on Pinterest, you can follow me now!  I pin some pretty fabulous things!}

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Posted in Fashion, Plus Size Fashion | 9 Comments

What I Wore Wednesday {The Mustache Edition}

I have been horrible about taking pictures of what I’ve been wearing, but this week I wore something a little different, so I took a picture! :)  If you can’t wear something fabulous, you can draw attention away from your outfit with this fabulous accessory!

I originally got these mustaches for a craft project, but they are absolutely delightful to wear.  We even shared some mustaches with the bears.

If you’d like some mustaches, you can snag these Self Adhesive Fake Mustaches for only $.76 plus $1.49 shipping.

This post has been linked to Wordless Wednesday and What I Wore Wednesday.

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Motivation Monday: Don’t Wait for Perfect Conditions!

If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done!

I’m the queen of waiting to get back on the fitness and healthy bandwagon til the circumstances in life are ideal, but that never happens!  Set a goal…and go for it now!  Don’t wait! Don’t procrastinate! Don’t hope that someday you’ll have perfect conditions!

For more fitness inspiration (and lots of other fun stuff), follow me on Pinterest!

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Plus Size Style Files: Holiday Party Wear

It’s been a little while since I’ve done a Sunday Style File post, but since I’ve been looking online for some holiday party wear and something to wear to my brother’s wedding in January, I thought I’d share some of my fave finds with you.

For starters, I absolutely love this Luna Lace Dress from Kiyonna.  It’s on the short list for my brother’s wedding. It comes in multiple colors, but I’d probably go with Twilight Gray or Crazy About Blue.

I also love this Retro Glam Lace Dress from Kiyonna.  While I think the black would be great for all kinds of parties, I think the black with the red underlay is perfect for Christmas.

If you’re looking for a more casual holiday look, Lane Bryant has you covered.  This Sequin Embellished Halter Top would look great with a pair of black pants or a black skirt!  Add a pair of heels to really make your outfit sizzle!

Another great look is this Bead Embellished Halter Top from Lane Bryant.  Pair it with jeans and a great pair of heels for a festive lunch with the girls!

These are my faves right now!  Leave a comment if you have great holiday fashion suggestions!

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The Results Are In: #Mamavation #BobHarperLive Challenge

So I told you 2 weeks ago that I was going to let Bob Harper kick my butt for 2 weeks, and boy did he ever!  The workouts were totally intense and there were a few days where I felt like I got run over by a bus!  I also kept up with my regular exercise routines during the first week in addition to my Bob Harper workouts.  During the second week of the challenge, I walked a zillion miles in addition to the challenge workouts.

During the first 10 days of the challenge, I was super disciplined with my eating.  No gluten.  No sugar.  No processed food.  Not super fun, but I had some amazing results during the first 10 days.

I probably could have had even more amazing results if I could have kept up with my disciplined eating.  Unfortunately this week was highly stressful and I’m an emotional eater.  I also was in New Orleans for part of the week and thought that a trip to New Orleans would not be complete without beignets from Cafe Du Monde. So between the beignets and the Steak n Shake Peanut Butter Cup Shakes, the end of my week was a little rockier.

But I’m sure what you really want to know is about the results!

I lost 9 pounds during the 2 week challenge!  9 whole pounds!  That’s huge!!!!  I also lost 3 inches off my waist, 2 inches off my hips and 2.75 inches off my thighs!

I’m so thrilled with my results and I’m really hoping for another challenge in the near future.

Thanks Mamavation!!!

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Posted in Bob Harper, Mamavation, Weight Loss | 1 Comment

How to Lose 25 Pounds Quickly

Have you ever said “I desperately need to lose 25 pounds?”

I have.  I’m heading to New Orleans next week.  Thanksgiving is in 3 1/2 weeks.  Christmas is in 8 weeks.  My brother is getting married in 9 1/2 weeks. In other words, lots of big events in which lots of pictures will be taken!

Many of my friends are hoping to lose weight before Christmas concerts, corporate holiday events, vacations, etc.  Your event may be different than the events above, but if you’re looking to lose weigh quickly, I’ve put together some tips.

For starters, you’ll need to decide whether you’re hoping to lose 25 pounds of fat, water or muscle?

You see, when people talk about losing weight, they don’t always comprehend exactly what that means. Most people automatically connect weight with fat, but that’s not accurate.

If you want to lose 25 pounds just so it looks better on the scale readout, then it probably doesn’t matter whether you lose fat, water or muscle. If you want to lose that extra bulge around your middle, then you’re looking to lose 25 pounds of fat.

Regardless of whether you want to lose fat or pounds, it’s important to know that water makes up part of that loss. In fact, during the first few days of any diet, water makes up the majority of loss.

There are countless sites on the internet that claim to be able to show you how to lose 10 pounds, 15 pounds, or 25 pounds fast. What they don’t always tell you is that losing weight fast can be dangerous to your health. Of course, it all depends on what you consider ‘fast’. For some people, a month would be fast while others see it as something more immediately, like a few days or a week.

The most realistic goal would be to lose 25 pounds in 2 months because that’s far more achievable.

If you started tomorrow, you could possibly lose 25 pounds by New Years Eve!

Wouldn’t that be awesome?

While losing 25 pounds by New Years is doable, it can be risky if you don’t approach your weight loss correctly.

If you want to lose 25 pounds fast, it can’t be all water, which is the easiest to shed. Your body needs water to survive. Deprive it of too much water and it will begin to break down.

Starvation or near starvation isn’t the answer either. In fact, not eating will cause your body to retain and even gain weight. When your body isn’t getting enough nutrients, warnings go off. In a desperate effort to survive, it hangs onto everything you feed it, which adds weight.

The best way to lose 25 pounds fast is by eating foods such as meat that use more of your energy to digest it. You could eat nothing but meat, but that wouldn’t be healthy either. Your body needs a well-rounded diet that provides all the required nutrients. You can eat a well-balanced diet and still lose weight if you know which foods to choose.

Before starting your weight loss plan, take measurements of your body, take pictures of yourself from a few angles and weigh yourself.  If you have access to callipers to measure your fatty tissues, that’s a bonus! Keep these figures and pictures handy so you can see your progress.

Now…the tips you’ve been waiting for!

1)  Avoid foods that cause water retention like salt.

Cut back on salt and you’ll begin to shed weight.

2) Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day to keep your body’s digestive process working.

3) Add foods that use more energy to digest.

These foods include meat, chicken, salmon, asparagus, cheese, carrots, squash and green beans.  (Make sure that the food your eating is as unprocessed as possible.  Eating a jar of Cheese Whiz is not going to help you lose weight!)

4) Drink water throughout the day as this helps boost your metabolism.

Try to drink 1 oz of water for ever 2 pounds of body weight.  If you weigh 150 pounds, drink at least 75 ounces of water.  If you weigh 250 pounds, drink 125 oz of water.

5) Exercise to build muscle, because muscle increases your metabolism naturally.

6) Last, but not least, make sure you’re taking a good multivitamin.

When you’re body is lacking nutrients, your cravings go into overdrive.  I’ve been taking Beyond Tangy Tangerine and I highly recommend it.  It’s really helped to reduce my cravings!

Re-take your measurements and picture each week and if you aren’t seeing results, adjust your weight loss plan accordingly.

Most importantly, stick with it!!!

If you give up, you’ll never see results.

Be loyal to your plan and you can lose 25 pounds before New Year’s Eve!

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