30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 9

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

It may sound very cliche, but my mom has gotten me through the most! She's always been my voice of reason and support through the tough times. She's been my cheerleading throughout my entire adult life. I lean on her and everyday I realize that I am more and more like my mother. D'oh! :)

My chunky fairy tattoo and the meaning behind it

I've posted it on facebook and I've posted it on my Tumblr...but for those of you who haven't seen it, Nik's got a brand new tattoo. ;)

Tattoo is placed on my left shoulder, I plan to add more to it when $$$ allows

Saturday night, I joined some friends at a tattoo party. Now, let me just say this, I don't normally go to these parties. I'm always worried about cleanliness and needles. There is a shop in Michigan that I got a majority of my ink from and for a while I considered myself a bit of a "ink snob." But, since I had seen the work that the guy, Terry, did on Ryan, I had to have some done.

Originally, I had decided on getting the butterflies on my back extended. As I sat and thought about it some more, I decided I would get the chubby fairy that I had been thinking about for years. We skimmed through images on google and finally came across some hand drawn doodles by Lime Green Squid on Deviant Art. I was in love. Exactly what I was looking for!

Now, here's the story behind the tattoo, because all of my tats (well 3 out of 4) have a story behind them.

Growing up as a fat kid, I struggled with my self esteem. I  knew I was this intelligent person full of beauty and life and I had goals...but what good was all of that if people only concentrated on my fat outer shell? It has taken me years to accept the fact that being fat is only a descriptive term. Being fat doesn't take away from the fact that I am smart, beautiful, quirky and most importantly that I have a voice. It is simply a physical description.

This tattoo represents my journey through acceptance...not just the fat acceptance movement going on, but accepting myself as a whole. Throughout the years, I have grown into this beautiful woman (and I don't mean just physically). I have overcome so much and many times, have proven people wrong. My fairy, she represents that growth and acceptance.

I am definitely pleased with my little chunker. She's beautiful and inspires me. She is a constant reminder that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Thank you so much to Terry for making my vision come to life! If you are in the LA area, I definitely recommend hitting him up! He does EXCELLENT work!

Jessica London launches 2011 Spring Collection

Today, Jessica London announced the launch of its, "There's something special happening this Spring," campaign. The campaign is said to focus on bringing you what's new for the upcoming season.

Jessica London's Spring 2011 campaign brings to you an array of leathers in many styles and colors, high def denim with new and improved fit jeans and modernized fits on all of its pants. In addition, Jessica London has launched a, "What's your sign?" swimsuit campaign to help you find the best swim suit for your body type. Now you can find a swimsuit that has bust support, tummy control or a hip hider. Check out the, "What's your sign?" video posted at jessicalondon.com.

Maybe you have overlooked Jessica London in the past, but they definitely have some pieces that are worthy of any fashionistas closet. They also offer lingerie and shoes! They also carry petites and talls with their already large size range of 12-32.

The images for the Spring 2011 collection are great! Most of them were shot on location in Miami rather than in a studio. If you are a Jessica London shopper, you will probably notice a few fresh faces on their site as well.

Right now, I'm really digging the Jessie Coco Blazer ($69.99-$79.99), the Zip-trim Leather Jacket ($129.99-$149.99, also seen at the right), the Faux Sarong Skirt ($49.99) and the Ruffled Skirt ($69.99). These are a just a few pieces that I think my closet needs this upcoming Spring.

Do you see anything that you like? Are you already an avid shopper of Jessica London? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Ohhh and before I forget, right now, they are also offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more! Another great reason to GET TO SHOPPING!

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 8

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

I'm so sure that my mom hated me as a child. Yellow hammer pants w/pink socks and white shoes. Oh, yes, and the hair!? Thank goodness we were camping out in the woods so no one could see me lol This picture makes me die with laughter. I was such an ugly kid. Ryan always promised that our kids would NOT look like this...as if looking like this was a bad thing O_o

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 7

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

This isn't MY car but it's exactly what I have

My first major purchase was my 2004 Saturn Ion. I fell and love with it at the dealership and knew that I had to drive it straight off the show room floor...and I did just that! I'm emotionally attached to my car Ion. We have seen man places...Chicago, Alabama and it got me through every state to get my arse into California. <3 my car. It's going through some issues so if it kicked the bucket any time soon, I'm sure I just may cry.

Turn heads with Splat Rebellious Luscious Raspberries Hair Color Kit

In my last OOTD, I revealed my new hair color. I'm excited about red hair! I do my hair really bright red every few years, but the last time it was THIS bright was my senior year in high school. So to everyone who thinks I'm copying Rihanna, nah. :) Although I do love her hair!

Splat retails for about $10 at your local pharmacy

Anywho, lots of you want to know about the product that I used to get my hair this lovely shade of red. Yep, I colored it myself. I figure, if I don't love the color, then I only spent a few bucks on it as opposed to getting the wrong shade for more money in a salon. Normally, I'd reach for the Loreal Superior Preference to color my hair, but I know that in the past, the red shades never come out as bright as I'd like them. As I scoured the shelves, I reached for Splat His & Her Rebellious Luscious Raspberries Hair Color Kit. I wanted "in your face" color and I figured this is probably how folks get it.

The kit comes with the hair color, bleach, peroxide gloves and easy to follow instructions. Because I didn't want completely red locks with no depth in color, I bleached my bangs lighter than the rest of my hair and then slightly lightened the top layers of my hair. I wanted the red to blend into a dark auburn color and I'm happy with my results. The instructions say to use on unbleached hair for a subtle color and on bleached hair for "extreme, intense shocking color."

Splat is actually really easy to use. The bleach thickens up quite nicely and it doesn't drip. The color is a great consistency as well. My only complaint is that I totally stained my scalp! I know it'll go away but it's hard to dye your roots  after you've made them a pale blond color and not stain your scalp. The color is only semi-permanent so a little bit goes a long way!

If you are looking for a bright shade of red, I definitely recommend this Splat hair coloring kit in the Luscious Raspberries. If you want to be super funky, there is also a pink, green and blue kit! For those that aren't familiar with bleaching and home hair coloring, I would probably advise that you pick up the kit and take it to your salon and have a professional do it. Working with bleach and peroxide can be tricky and I would hate for you to overprocess your locks!

Knock the lights out & I still shine (OOTD)

Yesterday, gosh, it was gorgeous here in Southern Cali. I hate to rub it in to  my friends and family back in the midwest, but seriously! You can't beat a 76 degree day in the middle of January!

Yesterday was also the last day of BFD Week as we prepared to say goodbye to Sarah from Return to Sender. Cid and I drove out the OC to show her the last bit of Cali that we could. In our adventures, we discovered Balboa Island. BEAUTIFUL! I'm a lover of harbor towns and little cute communities and this little gem definitely fed my visual appetite. As Cid mentioned in her her post, we were definitely over dressed. But that's ok, that's just how we roll! Shout out to Allison of Curvy Girl Chic who has a real job and couldn't be there with us! You were there in spirit lady! <3 And of course, thank you to Cid for taking awesome pictures!

Outfit Deets:

• Boots, Torrid...Let me warn you about these shoes. These are thee most uncomfortable shoes I have purchased in a long time! There is absolutely NO PADDING on the ball of the foot in these shoes. Lately, Torrid has been really disappointing me with their shotty craftsmanship, but I bought them because they were cute! I'm always torn because I know I can get cute crappy shoes that won't last very long.
• Leggings: Bali (gifted by Monique)
• Dress, Fashion to Figure
• Butterfly Sequin Top, Forever 21. I totally bought this top on a whim on Christmas eve while shopping for others. I could not pass it up! I had seen a couple in 2nd hand stores but they were either out of my budget or too small. I think I paid 23 bucks for this top! WIN!
• Sunglasses, Metropark 

After our OOTD pics by the shoreline, we wandered around the boutique lined streets. We found really cool stores with tons of great gifts. Crush Clothing is one of the boutiques that we visited on our store hop. Granted there isn't plus size clothing available, they have some kick ass accessories! Not to mention, they were some of the cutest accessories and most affordable on the strip! I definitely encourage you, if you are ever in the area to check it out. The price points on the clothing wasn't too shabby either!

Oh! I almost forgot to mention, I also enjoyed my very first frozen dipped banana yesterday. It was like heaven on a stick. You've gotta try it!

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 6

Day 06 - A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day.

I have a huge girl crush on Alicia Keys! I have since the day I first heard "Fallin'." I know her love life has shaken lots of people's faith in her most recently...meh, crap happens you know? I'm not here to judge her or who she wants to love. I would love to be Alicia for a day just to see what it's like to inspire many on a larger scale. 

Klean Spa Blending Bash at MINDFULnest

Sunday, Monique from Curves and Chaos invited me to join her in Burbank for the KleanSpa Blending Bash thrown by MINDFULnest. We met up with plus model Denise Bidot and immediately started window shopping in this eclectic little store. MINDFULnest is filled with amazing art work, knick knacks and jewelry from tons of local artists; as well as KleanSpa products. There is so much character in this little store. There were tons of things that I could have totally indulged in. If you are looking for hand-crafted artisan gifts in LA, I would seriously recommend checking them out.

Once a month, MINDFULnest hosts a KleanSpa Blending Bash. For $35 you can go to the store, create your own signature fragrance in an oil roll-on and your choice of a lotion or bath syrup. While you're waiting and window shopping, you can also sip on champagne and nibble on yummy chocolates and cheese.

We worked with Cecile and Georgia, who were absolutely great by the way, to create our own signature scents. There is just so much to choose from. We sniffed and smelled every scent until we finally each created something fitting for us. Denise went for a beachy, coastal scent and Monique created a fruity exotic scent that she appropriately named "Chaotic Fruit". I chose a scent that reminded me of my dad's citrus pies that he makes occasionally...and named it "So Amazin'"...sorry guys, that's about as creative as I could get at the time. ;-) But it really does smell so amazing! It's a mix of lime crush, coconut-vanilla and ocean water. You know what's neat about the scents we created?

You can go into the store and order them at ANYTIME! They save your mixture and the "scentual mixtresses" can mix up a roll-on, candle, lotion, bath syrup or even bath salts with either your signature fragrance or a friends!

While browsing, I also picked up the Satsuma Glow roll-on and the Exhale Mist. I couldn't help myself! I've really been in need of some new scents! There were so many that smelled so scrumptious, it was hard to choose but the price point, even on my frugal budget, is definitely wallet friendly.

I think that you should most definitely grab your girls if you are in the LA area and head on down to MINDFULnest and attend a Blending Bash! Not in California? That's ok, you can check out the KleanSpa site and shop online too!

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 5

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.

From left to right: Marie aka The Curvy Fashionista, myself and Sam aka Stiletto Siren

Full Figure Fashion Week LA Silent Auction opening night. I met so many of my very favorite bloggers that night. Some of had just met for the first time and it felt like we were already a family. I couldn't have asked for a better way to introduce myself to the girls of LA. <3

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 4

Day 04 - A picture of your night.

Saturday night, I hung out with some pretty awesome girls. We drove to the OC to visit Allison of CurvyGirlChic and Sarah of Return to Sender. It was my first time meeting Sarah in person, but I felt like I already knew her. <3 my bloggers!

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 3

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

I mean really, do I need to explain this? Shout out to Raven for getting me hooked on Grey's Anatomy! I spent countless hours in my room with wine and popcorn when I first discovered Grey's. *le sigh* Gimme McSteamy please and thank you! ;)

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 2

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

My bestie, Nissa, has been around since high school. We met when I was a Sophmore and she was a Freshman. We played tennis together. We instantly clicked during practice. She was hilarious and always kept everyone laughing. We would hang out after school and run the streets (not in a bad heathen child type of way) We remained close up until our 3 year friendship hiatus due a blow out. She reached out to me on facebook (before she even knew how to use it) and asked me to call her. We met up and it felt like we never missed a step! I'm happy and proud to have such a wonderful spirit in my life. She probably doesn't believe me, but she inspires me in more ways then she could ever imagine.

I love you Nissa! <3

30 Day Photo Challenge; Day 1

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts

1. I fear large bodies of water. Not when I'm on a boat, only when I'm on a dock.
2. I was a confused tomboy growing up. I wanted to dress up like a girl, but play in the dirt with the boys.
3. Regardless of what most of my friends believe, I fear change. It's only been recently that I've been embracing it. The beginning of me getting over my fears was moving to Chicago by myself.
4. Losing my uncles that I was close to hurt me. I think about them every year around the anniversary of their death and even though for one it's been years, I still get really sad.
5. I am the middle child and I definitely fit the description of one. 
6. I once lost 80lbs trying to impress a guy. Once I lost the weight, I realized that I didn't want him anymore. But to this day we are still friends.
7. I can be quite moody and I stress out easily. I'm working on it lately. My ex used to always tell me to go with the flow and even though I'm not a control freak, it's so hard for me to do so.
8. Pride is my biggest opportunity. My stubbornness comes from being prideful and it often gets me into hot water.
9. Ignorance and sheer stupidity are the only things that can get under my skin. I have a high tolerance for pretty much everything but that.
10. Lip gloss, ain't nothing wrong with that!
11. Growing up, I hated being compared to my sister because I was always jealous of her. She was slender with huge boobs and all my guy friends had crushes on her. But when I look at the picture that I posted, I realize that we really do look alike!
12. I love hard but I don't fall easily and I'm super selective about guys that I date. Counting the relationship that I am currently in, I've only had 3 boyfriends in my life. Part of the reason I don't fall easily is because of all the infidelities I've witnessed growing up and even now. I don't trust many men so it's hard for me to form relationships beyond a friendship with most.
13. Sushi, I think I can eat that pretty much EVERYDAY and not get tired of it.
14. Although my family isn't super duper close, I get homesick at least once a month. I miss my nieces and nephews and I hate not being there to see them grow up.
15. I do not feel the need to have a huge social circle. Most of the friends that I am close to, they have been friends since school. The girls that I have met in California & Chicago are pretty awesome too and I really do see us being good friends. I'm totally fine with a handful of friends that I can lean on at any time.

Rihanna's big red do'

photo credit: Splash News Online

I don't post much about Rihanna but when she tweeted a photo of her big red hair, I died! I am a HUGE fan of two things, 1., red hair and 2., BIG hair! I know some folks probably think she looks absurd, but I fully support this giant red wig that she is wearing on the set of her new video "S&M".

What do you think of Rihanna's big red do?