Inspiration Tuesday

I am an advocate for Pinterest. I love it. I love looking for new things. And now when I want to know how to do something I look it up on Pinterest. I must say, it's much easier than Googling it! I must say I have hundreds of pins now. So I am going to use them to my advantage.

A few weeks back I found this lovely outfit.

I instantly had to add it to my style board. I love the simple classic elegance that this outfit yields. The high waist shows off the small size of her stomach area and making her look like she has long legs. But not only that, paired with this simple top it looks easily do-able for the budget minded. It's like she just stepped out of a time capsule. I do plan on having an outfit like this in the future.

But I was looking at this photo and noticed something different. Her CLUTCH. I thought "Does that say Charlotte's Web"? So I went to the Google for a closer inspection. Lo and BEHOLD it does!!

Olympia Le-Tan collaborated with Charlotte Olympia in order to make this quirky piece. It actually came out in NY in September. I must say this is a really different piece and wouldn't mind having one myself. It puts a new twist on old favs: a clutch and the book!

Wear your invisible crowns,

Shaniqua

GASP!!! Gurrlll... SHUT YO MOUTH!

Oh No!! I did it again! I totally went off the blog-a-sphere for... Hold. Let me check.. (Plays Wheel-of-fortune theme song)

THREE (that's 3!!) MONTHS!!!

I am so sorry. But if you didn't know a lot has been going on!

(I was quite annoyed on this day because it was so HOT and so many people everywhere!)

First, I would like to Thank my Lord and Savior for getting me through the months of May and June. I am officially a college graduate! So exciting right? I KNOW!!! (insert histerical "EEEEEEEEEEEEE") I can't tell you how excited I was to get done and be stress free for a while. It was like 3 weeks of no stress LITERALLY! And yes only 3.

Then July 9, 2012 I had my surgery! That was a big accomplishment within itself. LET ME TELL YOU! People that say that this is the easy way out have NO CLUE what they are talking about so they can just shut-up now. Yes I said it. SHUT-UP!

(The Instagram photo of me one week after surgery)

I think part of the reason why I haven't blogged in a long time is because I didn't want this to be a sob story. I wanted this to be an encouragement to people that are thinking about making this big step. But the whole time I was a basket case. I mean really? How can you NOT be?? This was the first surgery that I had ever had in my life and I didn't know what to expect. My mom was all "You're going to be fine. It goes by so fast!" It did. But you know me I have the tendency to over analyzed EVERYTHING. So when the actual surgery was about to take place there was no extra meds for me they just knocked me out! When I woke up I was in lala land for a week and it was GREAT.

(And here I am 2 months after surgery :)

Now that I look back it would have been good to go ahead and get all of my emotions down on the blog so that I could remember it all. I remember thinking I would never get to eat again. Then being sad and angry because I couldn't eat. I remember thinking "YEAHHH!! I can eat!!". Then few weeks later going "Oh god!! I don't wanna eat!!" But all in all I cried, prayed, and pushed through it and I came out on the other end wanted to push some more.

I know! I know! You want to know the stats.

Ok. So before the surgery I lost 25 lbs. from my heaviest weight. After the surgery I have lost 35 lbs.
Sooooo... 25+ 35= 60 lbs!! Yes, my frands, That is 60 lbs total. But like many people who have had the surgery I have come to a stand still. But it's ok because I am going to keep pushing.

YOU just keep rooting me on. I will try my best to get a better camera so that I can take better pics :)

Thanks for all of your comments and encouragement over the last few months. It really has helped to keep it coming.

Love,

Shaniqua

Thank you Shannon,

Thank you love for reminders like this:

When friends like you remember how awesome life is it makes the journey worth traveling. And I plan on traveling it. Peace and Love.

Love,

Shaniqua

Love YOU but also LOVE YOUR BODY

There is a difference


Don't get it twisted... I LOVE ME (and my mom reminds me of it ALL the TIME!!lol) But I also love my body. Really, I do.


There is this idea in the BBW world that if you are big you will love your body no matter what. This in turn gives you the chance to eat what you want, not exercise, and live an unhealthy life. That mindset may love themselves as a person, it does NOT, however, love their body.


Yes, you should accept yourself for the way that you are. That is an internalized behavior and way of thinking. But the idea of love your BODY is an externalized behavior and way of thinking. You can love your personality and beliefs (internal) and have self-esteem issues (usually comes from externally not liking your body).


In loving your body most people can come up with a lot of good things that they like about it. For me it's my hair, my smile, and even my strength (My dad has given me the gift of great upper body strength :)) But with the good things you HAVE GOT to accept the bad. This includes a variety of things. Here are some of mine:


1.   I couldn't fit into the connected desk-chairs at school comfortable for the entire time I was in school from middle school to college.
2. I get short of breath when I walk from my car and into a building. No matter how far it is.
3. I have the "diabetus".
4. I have poor circulation in my ankles that makes he have blotches on my feet and ankles like old people.
*****And the list could go on and on.*****


"Ok Nikki. Since you are the expert, lay it on us!! So how do you love your body?"


What I am saying is I love my body enough to know that i have these things and I am trying to eliminate them. If that means losing 150- 200 lbs, then so be it! Losing weight isn't just about being "skinny" (OH GAWD!! There is that DREADFUL word.) It's about being healthy and active. Giving your body a fighting chance to function as it should. It's about making you all that it can be.


I will tell you something. It's hard. I'm only at the beginning but I am taking the necessary steps to get here. But I have so much more to give and so much life to live than to let my weight hold me back. THAT is how I love my body. Not by polluting it with sugars that slow down natural processes. THAT is how I love my body. There is no better love than that you show your body than when you make it up 2 flights of stairs, even if you are completely out of breath. I know for me that was the best feeling :) I'm tired to saying "If I was skinny I could do that" or "when I lose weight he's gonna WISH he gave me a chance because I'm a good catch". You're right I am a good catch and he is going to regret it, but I'm not going to be around him to see it. I'm going to love my BODY the way it needs to be loved. And if that means turning down the idiot that couldn't see how wonderful I am then... SO BE IT!!!lol


It's easy to internalize behavior but it is harder to externalize behavior.
Love YOU but also LOVE YOUR BODY.


Right now my inner Developmental Psychologist is doing a touchdown dance for this post.  See Dr. Cain, I got it ;)


How do you show your body that you love it??

Love , 

Shaniqua

Thankful Thursday :)

To Dr. Whitney Cain,

Thank You for 2 great years as my advisor and instructor. Your quirkiness has relieved my stress on many occasions that I didn't know if I was going to get through a paper, or even stay awake for a class.

You are TRUELY inspiring.

Much Love,

Shaniqua