Sweating and Soirees

My hip hop dance instructor had a birthday party on Friday and when I say that we were in there dropping it and getting bodied like we were Beyonce, pleeeeeaaassseeee believe it!

Let The Sideshow Begin!

Getting ready for some big things in the next couple of weeks!

Growth Spurt

I have been trying to get my head wrapped around a lot of things that have happened in the past two weeks. I guess the recurring theme is that people are fallible. We all mess up, we make mistakes, we act out when we feel vulnerable or afraid and we sometimes hurt people that we care about.

In The Fashionista's Closet: Censored (Kinda)

Wore this outfit to a birthday party.

Earrings: Aldo Accessories

Top: American Apparel bodysuit

Skirt: Thrifted (Got this skirt for a buck, took it to a tailor and had it shortened)

Clutch: DSW

Shoes: Nine West

Sometimes I do censor myself, contrary to popular belief.  Except when I talk to certain friends, then it's no holds barred. Reiko thinks we should have a podcast but I would need a five second delay like at live awards shows.

Sometimes I don't say the things that I want to say because of the people that read my blog.

But if I COULD say what I wanted to say, I might say that the birthday boy forgot that it wasn't going to be his birthday forever.

You know how you feel on your birthday, all invincible and popular and like you "got it going on"?

 (P.S. Do people still say "got it going on"?)  

Then there's the day after your birthday, when everybody else goes back to normal. And you realize that you've been acting like Boris Kodjoe on his birthday. 

 Just a gentle reminder.....

In The Fashionista's Closet: Biscuits

I mean that literally and figuratively. I almost didn't post these pics because I felt very "bootylicious" in this outfit and not in a good way. Too many biscuits and no workouts....

I also call flaky people "biscuits" who never show up to events or are always constantly changing their minds about things.

I have a friend who will call me and suggest that we get together and it NEVER fails, we always have to adjust the date, time or location because she forgot she had to bake a cake, attend a baby shower, or has to get a colonic. Seriously. No, really. Seriously......

It.burns.me.up.

I've tried to accept her as she is but I feel as though she has no respect for my time and just won't commit to what she says.

So now when I meet other Pillsbury People I have to tell them that I already have one flaky friend, I can't afford two.... 

Shirt: Thrifted

Sweater: Zara

Clutch: DSW

Skirt: Target

Boots: Nine West

Do you know any "Biscuits"? How do you deal with them?

In The Fashionista's Closet: Gumballs

 Gumballs is what my mom called this dress so this is what it is.

 Dress: Vintage
Belt: Came from another dress

Clutch: Gifted from sister

Shoes: Nine West

I love bright colors (as if you didn't already know) and I don't know if I'm in a good place because of the bright colors I'm wearing or if I'm gravitating to the bright colors because I'm in a good place but I'm taking everything in stride right about now.

Life happens, setbacks happen, people happen, but you just gotta keep it moving.

I have the love and support of my friends and family and that's what matters to me.

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

In The Fashionista's Closet: Put Your Pretty Panties On

Now, now before you get riled up, hear me out. I actually thought of this post title while I was in the shower (does anyone else do their best thinking there also?)

Most of us have reasons that we are waiting to do something. "When I lose those last ten pounds then I am going to buy me a new dress." "When my kids graduate then I'll open my interior design business."  "When my husband lands his promotion then I'll go back to school."  

  Or in my case, "When I find someone date-worthy, then I'll put my pretty panties on." Pretty panties set the stage, even if no one sees them, you know you're wearing your pretty panties and you feel fabulous. Well I  have a drawer full of pretty panties that haven't seen the light of day. Everyday when I reach for my unmentionables (I guess I can't call them that since I'm mentioning them) and even if my pretty panties somehow end up at the top, I bypass them and get my 'everyday' drawers. (I'm laughing hysterically as I'm typing the word 'drawers'.)

There are some obstacles that are beyond our control, you can't very well go back to school if you have no money, but you can apply for financial aid, or save to register for one class or make a plan so that you can get an accurate timeline of when you can actually begin school. The point is, what are you waiting for?

I've said time and time again, stop waiting to lose weight in order to buy something that makes you feel fabulous, it may be just the catalyst you need to get started. And if you never lose the weight, then you have something in your closet that makes you feel wonderful at the size that you're at right now.

So I decided to wear my pretty panties today and not to wait for a date or a special occasion, but just because I want to. Whatever those obstacles are that are preventing you from going after your goals, STOP waiting to put on your pretty panties. Pretty panties are meant to make you feel special so throw caution to the wind and wear them every day. Well, not the same pair of course....

Turtleneck: Ralph Lauren

Necklaces: Vintage, Forever 21, Aldo

Skirt: Thrifted

Shoes: Nine West

My name is Juanette and I approved this message!

In The Fashionista's Closet: Ahoy Matey

It's been a week since I've posted but don't abandon ship, I'm here, I'm here! I haven't worn anything that I considered to be 'blog worthy' and I've been kinda busy but now I'm back, baby!

It's been so COLD in the D (Please, if you haven't heard about T-Baby and nem, please click here) it snowed Sunday and the temps have been in the 30s. I have on many layers on the inside of my dress so if I'm looking a little puffy in my pics, that's why.

 I left these boots at my mom's when I visited at Christmas and she was so kind to mail them to me because I couldn't sleep at night without having all articles of clothing where they should be. Thanks ma!

Ahem....World, meet the fabulousness that is Gabriel:

Yes, ladies and gents, that is a FULL LENGTH mink coat on Gabriel and he did not blink an eye when I told him that I wanted to take his picture. Gabriel was so many things people, he was very complimentary to me and please note the Louis Vuitton pouch he's carrying. 

But wait, there's more. This is what Gabriel was actually wearing when I met him:

ummm hmmm, that's right, a hat with dreadlocs attached. Betcha don't see that everyday, now do you????

YOU'RE WELCOME....

Dress: Thrifted

Earrings: Thrifted

 Belt: Came with another dress

Sweater tights: Marshalls

Boots: Nine West

In The Fashionista's Closet: Scarves and Sniffles

I've had a killer sore throat for a couple of days so I've been feeling lousy. I wore this to go run errands and was told that I looked "spiffy" while I was out. 

sunglasses: Giorgio Armani
blazer: Giorgio Armani (thrifted)
grey long sleeve tee: Walmart
scarf: Forever 21
jeans: 7 For All Mankind
boots: Nine West
bag: Chloe

This is what I wore Wednesday:

Not too crazy about this outfit, I think it's the shoes but I had to do a flat boot with the way that I was feeling...

turtleneck: Zara
vest (with pockets): Zara
skirt: Zara
(See a trend here?! I used to shop at Zara faithfully and hopefully will be seeing them again real soon when my funds are replenished!) 

The kids were so enamored by these earrings. They asked to touch them, if they are heavy (no) and one girl asked if they were clip-ons (they are.) She said her granny wears clip-ons. (Not sure if that puts me in a good or bad category.) I got them at a resale shop for $3.

These aren't "birthday outfits" but hopefully tomorrow I can redeem myself...

In The Fashionista's Closet: B'Day

It's my 39th birthday today! W-O-W! I am so blessed to have such awesome family and friends and it's hard for me to believe the number because I definitely don't feel 39. (Although the grays that try to keep popping up in my hair tell me otherwise.)

Sunglasses: Giorgio Armani
Silk dress: Thrifted

Owl necklace: Garage sale / long gold necklace (wrapped around twice): Forever 21

Belt: Came with another dress

Boots: Nine West

(after looking at my pics I should have worn some bangles but I was rushing around this morning)

I had something totally different to wear for my "Big Day" but it was too cold out so I am going to see about wearing it on Wednesday since it will be 70 degrees then. I figure I can dress all week in Birthday Outfits to celebrate my birth, nothing wrong with that, huh?

I felt so 70s in this silk animal print dress, which is fitting since I love and was born in the 1970's. I was described as a "doll baby" an "African queen" and "a tiger" so I guess the kids approved.

Meeting friends for drinks later so I will posts that outfit plus there's still 4 more days of birthday outifits, so stay tuned!

This is what I listened to this morning complete with all (well, most) of the dance moves:

Get Me Bodied @ Yahoo! Video

I love the guy who dances with B, his facial expressions crack me up!

In The Fashionista's Closet: Club Metro

The upside of working at a major retail store during Christmas: cute guys will flirt with you. The downside of working at a major retail store during Christmas: not-so-cute guys will try and flirt with you. From now on I am going to call this place Club Metro because all it needs is a giant disco ball in the center, it feels like a nightclub. If I would have known that all I had to do was work in the men's department of a major retail store, I might have tried this route sooner. Reiko keeps asking me "WHAT are you wearing???" because I have had funny "Girl let me tell you what happened today" guy stories every day so she acts as if I'm strolling around in tube socks and nothing else. I told her maybe it's the hair because it has really been at it's awesomest lately if I do say so myself. It's the shea butter, I tell ya.

I had dinner with a friend and this is what I wore, Reiko helped me put it together via phone, camera phone and instant message (isn't technology grand?)

 Clutch: DSW

 Jeans: Calvin Klein skinny leg

 Top: Zara

Assorted necklaces from Forever 21, chain belts, and vintage thrifted necklace

Boots: Nine West

I had the pleasure of running into not one but TWO readers of Fashion Nette-work over the weekend and I couldn't have been happier! I was so surprised because I think no one ever reads my blog but me and my mom so thanks Dionne and Brandy, you really made my day!

In The Fashionista's Closet: Mod Squad

Today has to be one of the most wonderful days that I've had in a long LONG time. I won't say too much yet but I am so grateful for all the things that are happening in my favor. I had an impromptu interview today and I KNOW that it was because of THIS outfit:

(I'd like to imagine) that the principal took one look at me and thought, "This is a woman who works well with kids."

(I realized after taking the pics that I had my jacket buttoned up wrong.......) No do-over!

Or maybe she thought, "Well at least the kids can learn their colors while she's around."

I am definitely a color person, I love bright colors all year round. I like to mix at least two contrasting colors with each outfit and keep everything else neutral.

Now if I can get this pattern mixing thing together....

Dress: Thrifted

I got this dress in the heat of summer, I look for things of all seasons when I thrift, most people only focus on the season at hand. I could not figure out if it should be zipped in the front or the back. There is no tag, I believe it's handmade. I finally zipped it up the front since it has darts there also.

Tights: Walmart; Shoes: Nine West

Thanks to all of the visitors and commenters on my blog, stay tuned for a giveaway to celebrate my having 100+ followers! 

This sums up my day: 
(This isn't a video but just for you to listen to.)