Baby, It's A Wild World: An Outfit Highlight

I'm sitting in one of my favorite coffee shops, Heritage General Store, listening to one of my favorite artists, Cat Stevens.  Wild World comes streaming through my headphones and a feeling of solace washes over me.  The times in my life that I have experienced struggle and redirection, his music has always spoken right to my heart and told me that I am not alone during these trials, and everything will always turn out as it should.  Today, is a new day and I am so very thankful for it. 

It was a chilly morning, but that didn't keep me from doing a little shoot outside of Heritage.  Thank goodness there was even just a little bit of sun!

HAT: Forever 21

SHAWL:  Buffalo Exchange

SHIRT: Thrifted

BOOTIES: Buffalo Exchange

I can't predict what this new year will bring, but It's off to a pretty crazy start!  I am more determined than ever to keep on keepin' on and doing everything I can to reach new goals and experience life to the absolute fullest.  Hopefully, this includes more traveling...the wanderlust in me is rising up!

The song Miles From Nowhere is playing now.  The lyrics seem so fitting in this moment.  "Miles from nowhere, not a soul in site, but it's alright.  I have my freedom.  I can make my own rules, the ones that I choose."

Here's to moving courageously into 2016!

 

Much Love xoxo

Mynt Condition: An Outfit Highlight

Being plus-size has never been easy.  Shopping for a dress for multiple school dances, middle school through high school, was my definition of torture.  Nothing I liked fit me, and most shopping trips ended in tears.  With the exception of a few curves-friendly stores like Maurices, my options growing up in Northern Michigan were slim to non. 

After graduating from college and moving to Chicago in 2012, I found myself immersed in a whole new world of possibilities.  Being plus-size has never been easy...but it was about to get so much better!

Shortly after moving to the city, I started working at Vive La Femme, a boutique that embraced women of size and retailed clothing from 12-24.  I met many other women in the Chicago plus-size community, including bloggers, models, and advocates, through Vive.  Most of them are still very dear friends of mine.

Last year, I was introduced to a new clothing line that was paving the way for fashion-forward, plus-size women.  This line is called Mynt 1792 and is based out of New York .  Even one of my favorite bloggers , Nicolette Mason is huge fan of the line! 

My outfit highlight for this post features my favorite Mynt 1792 top, the cascade sleeve blouse, in black.

Top: Mynt 1792

Necklace: Handmade

Bag: Coach

Pants: Forever 21

Shoes: Franco Sarto

Denise Bidot, Tanesha Awasthi, Tess Holiday; just a few of the many plus-size women who are breaking the mold and showing the world how beautiful and strong plus-size women can be.   I am proud to say, I am happy, healthy and curvy, and I am so, so thankful for brands like Mynt who support fashionable, plus-size ladies! 

Free To Be Human: An Outfit Highlight

In 2009, my eyes were opened to the reality of modern slavery.  Through Love 146, an organization working towards the abolition of human sex slavery, I learned the startling statistics behind this issue.  Every 2 minutes, a child is sold into the 2nd most lucrative industry in the world, next only to drugs.

In 2012, after moving to Chicago, I ironically found out about the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation while attending a Love 146 event.  Since then, I have joined the Young Activists Council of this amazing organization, active in prevention, policy reform, community engagement, and legal services.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, so I partnered with CAASE to spread awareness of trafficking by designing a T-shirt, now available on my Etsy store.  100% of the proceeds from this 'Free To Be Human' shirt goes directly to CAASE!

When sold or pushed into the industry of sex trafficking, these victims lose their right to be a human being.  They are robbed of the simple pleasures of life, their freedom is no more, and they slowly start to become a shell of their former selves.  Slavery was supposedly abolished in America in 1865 , but unfortunately it continues to happen world wide. 

Hat: Bon Voyage Vintage

Blazer: thrifted

T-shirt:  Alluring Chicago Etsy

Jeans: Levi

Heels: Tommy Hilfiger

If I ask myself, "what am I free to be?", I am happy to say, I am free to be loved.  What are you free to be as a human being? 

Pretty In Peplum: An Outfit Highlight

How is it already August?  It barely feels like we had summer here, in Chicago.  The bright side?  I am completely enthralled with fall!  As soon as the air starts to chill, I immediately start craving anything and everything pumpkin flavored.  Mmmmm... pumpkin spice lattes. 

Before it gets too cold, I am donning this sleeveless peplum top.  I combined it with a bright pencil skirt and strappy heals for a fun, yet work ready look.  

Top:  Apt. 9  Found at: Kohl's

Skirt: Apt. 9 Found a:t Kohl's

Shoes: Adrienne Vittadini Found at: TJ MAXX

 

For awhile, I was skeptical of the peplum trend.  Ladies, contrary to popular belief (just like the myth of stripes), it does not make your hips look any bigger.  Don't be afraid to try out a daring trend!  With the fall comes change...

 

Much Love xoxo