Fashion bucket list item #53526748: A nice, form-fitting, head spinning pants suit.

I realized this year that in addition to my regular vision board with all of my dreams aspirations, and hopes, I also need to add my fashion vision board to that list. I'm going to fill it with all of my wants,. fashion icon inspirations, and outfit to-do's. If I had thought of this a few years ago, an all white suit would have been on this list...FOR SURE.

I had an event the other day. The attire: formal. So in come the last minute mad dash for a nice form-fitting lacy gown (as I do best), and when I came up empty and almost lost hope, my darling mother rushes into the rescue with a pretty risky idea.

"Didn't see you see those suit separates the other day? What if you wore those? How crazy would that be?!"

Now we're talking ball gowns, pressed edges, and the most expensive jewelry. And here I was toying around the idea of wearing a SUIT. But if there's one thing I've learned in my few years in the blogospehere is that fashion is whatever the heck you want it to be. And that night...I wanted it to be an off white suit.

These pieces came from Dress Barn. Another surprise deviation from my normal go-to shop, as Dress Barn always felt a little mature for my tastes. So now I had the task of dressing up a power suit, while not trying to look too mature.

I paired the powerful outfit with this shimmery rose-gold body I scored from Charlotte Russe, as well as this gold chandelier choker.

Top it off with a pop of color on my feet, and I was ready to go head to the ball...in a pants suit. Take THAT dress attire.


Don't forget to subscribe to my blog! Stay tuned for more daring choices and great finds1

Pants:Here

Faithfully,
Brieana

I don't classify myself as a particularly emotional person. I cry during typical occasions (weddings, funerals, Grey's Antatomy episodes, etc.) But sometimes... things will hit me, or dare I say, rub me the wrong way. So in a moment of weakness, I vent to someone for a good 10 or 15 minutes, I go to the gym for an hour to release the frustrations, and I move on. Nowadays, I've begun to take that hour and 15 minutes to pray, meditate, and "break bread" with God. I assure you that the latter works more effectively. 

Being offended is a direct result of our ego feelings that something has been taken from us, or that we have been deprived of some unspoken respect or kindness from someone else. Being offended usually means that you assume certain motives on the part of the offender, and react to what happened as something that could have and should have been prevented.

For anyone who didn't enjoy my extremely abbreviated version, please visit Genesis 4:1-17.

Cain allowed what he felt he deserved ( and didn't get), lead him on a path of destruction and unrighteousness. Many of us do this in our daily lives at work (when we don't get a promotion), at home (when the kids don't say thank you), and even at church (when others are too slow to lay out the red carpet). I read through the story of Cain and Abel just as my ego began to deflate what I felt was unfair treatment. I wanted an apology! I wanted to be treaten better! I wanted!.....

I wanted. 
I wanted.
I WANTED. 

At that moment, I had to stop myself DEAD in my tracks, beg for forgiveness and look at exactly what I was doing wrong. God states in his word that “A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from Heaven” (John 3:27 MKJV), So it was important in that moment for me to understand that my 1. I didn't DESERVE anything at that moment and 2. The real prize doesn't come form someone's pat on the back. And my being offended at what was done to me (or what I thought was wrongdoing), was only going to prevent me form continuing to do his works that I had been placed to do. So who would have been the real loser? Me,that's who.

Expectations about what we deserve from others or how we should be treated are sure fire ways to move on the "not so good foot" within the kingdom of God. When we have a moment of "But I'm great", its important to remember whose we are. Its even more important to take a second and think, "Why am I offended anyway?" I promise you 9 times out of 10, your answer won't be enough to leave you upset for long. So pick yourself up, grab a slice of humble pie, and thank the Lord for another great day for the righteous. 

His will be done. ;)

Reference scriptures

Proverbs 19:11
Matthew 18:15-17
Luke 6:22-23

Faithfully, 
Brieana

Several weeks ago, I participated in what was one of the most time-turning and unique experiences of my 25 years; I participated and walked as a curvy model for my first time EVER in a fashion show. When I began my blog in December of 2015, I did it moreso to spread the seeds of confidence God has planted in me to embrace ALL of me as he should have it, according to His glory. I prayed to God to allow me to bear the fruit of His spirit in putting me in positions of prosperity and networking if He saw fit. I never imagined the doors this blog would open for me, in terms of feeling great about me, as well as meeting others who feel great about themselves and were likeminded in spreading messages of self-love and self-worth.

Fast forward not even 4 months later, and the connections I have made have made allof the 'what if's', 'I don't think I can's', and the occasional 'why did I take this on' seem a thing of the distant past. Lehigh Valley Fashion Week was not only a premiere event within the Valley to showcase unique and fine fashions of local business owners, it was also an opportunity for myself and many others to see 1st hand that IT IS POSSIBLE. In our whirlwind lives, we can prevail. And it may not be in the way that the woman beside us did it, but it will be as He saw it.

Three testaments to that were the powers that be of Lehigh Valley Fashioin Week. I had a chance to chat with Cyrie Jackson, Winsome Cullen, and Kari Holmes after  the excitement had subsided (if only for a little bit) to speak to them about what their successes, struggles, and takeways have been while being involved in Lehigh Valley Fashion Week. And like most of us women, its what you would expect; lots of juggling, some doors slammed in your face, and the will to carry on--
despite the rain.

Kari MC'ing the Premiere event

Cyrie Jackson

Kari, doubling as a model on the finale night.

Winsome Cullen

Welcome baby Quentin!

 

The maxi dress has been the cornerstone/premiere item of the spring/summer season for years. Women love it because its simplicity in outfit planning as well as the reduction of putting various pieces together. Men love them because they hit all of the right spots, emphasizing the fine creation that is the female. Maxi dresses have stood the test of time and now emerge in various lengths, sizes, shapes, and colors. Today's outfit was centered around this beige maxi dress I scored during a women's fellowship event at my church in Bushkill, PA. Once a year, we clean out our closets and bring them in for our sisters to peruse and "swap" out for the treasures we find in their closets. I think its a fantastic idea, and I haven't been disappointed yet.

This dress was great for my spring maxi dress season, as the material wasn't as light and flowing as a summer maxi. I almost steered clear of this dress because of how close it was to my skin tone, but then I decided to go for it, and wasn't disappointed. So many of my fashion mentors have told me to always try things on, because you just never know.

I really enjoy the dress due to the ruched/gathered detailing in the front. It created a nice bust line along with this chunky gold necklace.

Similar shoes here

I paired the dress with my moccasin heels from eBay. These heels and other fringe/moccasin details have become all the rage the past few seasons, as outlined in this post.
Put together, the ensemble gave off this Glamazon boho look that didn't disappoint.

What are some of your favorite wardrobe items for the spring and summer? Leave a comment below and don't forget to subscribe! I love hearing from you!

Faithfully,
Brieana

Good evening everyone! This week's outfit was a homage to one of my favorite stylists (soon turned blogger) D. Nicole! She was one of the people who inspired me to begin creating Polyvore sets. She's a fellow plus sized diva, but she creates some amazing ensembles for the petite and straight sized fashionistas as well! Check out her IG page, Stylebydnicole. She'll have some great outfits for the upcoming warm weather. No matter where you are, you'll be sure to find something that works for you! And while you're at it, check out my Polyvore page for new outfit creations. Happy Sunday!

Faithfully,

Brieana

Caged heels: ASOS Purse: TJ Maxx

Peasant blouse: similar here/here

There's this unspoken habit that we tend to wear the same 20% of items within our closet. When I look at my wardrobe, I can with certainty say that is true. I usually stick to the same grays, blacks, and a special assortment of skinny jeans and leggings. Looking back at my blog posts, I also noticed that although some of my choices are fashion forward, they remain fairly safe. At least to my standards. So you can imagine some of the discomfort and out of the boxness I was feeling today in this neon yellow shift dress. It's not a color I normally wear, I would have added at least 5 inches to the length, and the open slit in the sleeves shows more of my arms than I'm comfortable with . This dress is the poster boy for out of my comfort zone. But as I thought of the past six months, I've started (and maintained) a decent blog, started a new job, and began singing again for the 1st time in years. Its safe to say, I'm out of my comfort zone. So this dress is perfect for my season of growth.

Happy Sunday everyone! I come to you to day to boast the blessings of my mother's wardrobe and the opportunities I've been afforded to raid her closet day in and day out. I could probably do a whole post of things that have slowly migrated to my closet. She doesn't even remember they're hers half of the time. THANKS mom!

This sweater happened on a day of rummaging. It super comfy and I've done it dressed up and dressed down. One tip I can give for my budding fashionistas rummaging through a loved ones closet is to make sure its versatile. After all, if you're going to re-purpose mom's clothes, you may as well do it more than once!

I went for a minimalist look under the sweater, donning all black for the rest of the look. These caged heels are from my favorite shoe diva at Step N'Out On Faith Shoe Salon. These shoes have a a unique pattern and allow for the open feel, while still featuring a closed in toe, making them perfect for the colder winter weather. The patent leather jazzed up the ensemble a bit, and they are so so comfy!(believe it or not)  They run big, so I got them in my normal 8.5 shoes size (I normally purchase my heels in a size 9 to give me some breathing room).

I got this layered chain necklace from Step N' Out on Faith's partner in fashion on Main Street, Lindo Jewelry. What I love about this necklace is that it features a few different colors, making it very useful for my wardrobe. There's some silver, gold, and even a bit of bronze. They came with a matching pair of earrings, as many of her necklace sets do.



This neutral outfit is normally how I love to dress. Contrary to popular belief, blacks and neutral colors can pop just as much as a red or pink. How do you dress up your sweaters? Leave a comment below!

Faithfully,
Brieana. 

Story time!

The other day I was having a conversation with my boyfriend, and he said a very profound thing to me. He said, as human beings we tend to worry about things and that's where we normally lack in our lives. One of the most popular things we tend to worry about are our finances. And I can say this for myself that money is one of the things I think about all the time. Am I going to be able to afford this? How much will that cost? And the most pressing question: Will I have enough? He continued on with saying that we need to operate in rest over things that we would normally fret over.


I didn't know then that this discussion would ring true for me in just a few short days. I'm a Supports Coordinator at the county mental health office in East Stroudsburg. I had gotten this job just 7 short months ago after a hiatus of not working full time. It was a long time coming, and I was so thankful and grateful to have one. On Monday though, exactly one month from my 25th birthday, I got fired.

YUP, you read it right. Fired. Me. In my 25 years of living, I had never so much as gotten suspended from school or a note sent home. And on Monday, I sat looking unemployment in the face.While I could get into that story, I'll save it for another time. And as I left my now, former place of employment, I did one thing; I adopted a state of rest.

I know what you're thinking: BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW?! And for a split second, I thought those same things. Where will I go next? Is this termination going to impact my ability to get another job? WHAT ABOUT THE MONEYYYYYYY?!

Fast forward 10 hours later, I had calmed down (even more than I already was, again Praise God) some more.  I placed a phone call to an outpatient clinic that I previously interned for when I was still  getting my Master's degree. I had built quite a rapport with the director and one of the secretaries there. During my conversation with her, she told me "You're always welcome here. He's available today if you want to come in and chat."

At this point, I still wasn't expecting anything, and I wasn't worried.On the drive there, the song "I Won't Go Back" by William McDowell was laid upon my heart. As I drove and listened to the song, the words "there's nothing to go back to." resonated with me. And I thought to myself, that while I would love to go back to my old job and explain that there must have been some kind of mistake, it wasn't worth it. The sense of calm that came over me as I left that place was one clue to that.

So I arrived at the clinic, with nothing in hand, again ready to tell the story of my departure from my old gig. After about 20 minutes of casual conversation and catching up, I was handed a job application. And coupled with this stack of paper were two simple questions.
1. How many hours a week are you going to work for us?
2. How soon can you get this back so that we can get you started?

It took me almost a full two hours later to process the roller coaster of the day before and this moment. Fired and then re-hired that quickly.So I essentially had one door slammed in my face, to be met with another door wide open and waiting. All of these life changes were possible because I never left the presence of the Lord. The peace that I felt during the most trying hours of Monday into the more triumphant hours of Tuesday was not my doing. For me, the type-A individual who likes to plan out breakfast to what pajamas I'm going to wear to bed, could never stay that calm. But in his presence, I was at rest. And what blessings awaited me! I say all of this to say that it's very easy to praise and adore the Lord when it's easy. It's easy to do when you're on top of the world. But what about when it doesn't seem so great? Will you stand firm?

Exodus 33: 14- And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Proverbs 3:5-7- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all you ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.



Stay encouraged,
Brieana. 

        When I was about 10 years old,I noticed something about myself;I'd always been pretty tall for my age. Me and one of my sisters were always the Glamazon queens in elementary school and throughout.And it would ALWAYS bother me.My peers could say something as little as "Oh but you're tall, so you don't have the problem." In my head I'd be like, "I have problems!" I wanted to empathize with my shorter counterparts.I would even dread the check ups at the doctor and close my ears to the sounds of me growing another half inch.  In school pictures, we were always in the middle to back row,normally reserved for the pubescent boys. For years,I would ever so slightly hunch my back when I walked or slouch in my seat .It made me look shorter,and thus more girly and feminine because height was something I typically associated with masculinity (as illogical as that sounds).I was usually seen as one of the guys as my shorter my girly looking female counterparts etched hearts on their notebooks and made MASH games of the popular guys in our class(talk about a throwback). That could never be me! I would look others in this adolescent envy because I wanted to be like them and live the life they lived. But because I was tall AND plus sized,that could never be.Fast forward 10 or so years later,that growth spurt has slowed down and my height has actually come into some very good uses.Can't reach that shelf?I GOT THIS! Does my 5'6 frame work perfectly to model those shoes?!Why of course! There were so many great things about being taller that I had never stopped to think about. And it wasn't until I stopped looking at the qualities and characteristics that I didn't have that I was able to focus on my God given assets.

       Think about something you REALLY want. Something that you normally see on a window shopping excursion( I know I'm not alone). It could be the newest Vera Wang,or even the latest pair of Jordans (A blessed afternoon to my male readers! *says a quick prayer for increase*) For me it's this trench jacket from Kierra Sheard's new line eleven60. 

    


 



I was talking to one of my best friends the other day. I'm so proud of her. She just graduated from a Medical assistant program. She moved out of her family's house into her own apartment. She has a full time, good paying job. Still, despite all of those accomplishments and blessings,my best friend was sitting before me talking about going to the military