Working through Fear, Bellyflage and Stripe Pencil Skirts

So I know I haven't blogged in a while. Really my blogging and posting has been inconsistent for about the last year. It's easy to say I've been busy with work and family and that's all true but really I think for a while I just wasn't feeling inspired. Sometimes you can reach a point in pursuing you dreams and goals where it feel like things are not progressing like you would want or wonder if things are ever going to turn out like you hope it will, and I've been there. I feel like I hit a little road block and instead of letting that define me and allowing that to be the end, I'm working on pushing through and getting re inspired. And realizing that this is completely normal. Courage is not the absent of fear, but our ability to push through, work through, what we do with it. It is not that courageous or brave people don't ever feel fear or doubt, of course they do. It is how we face that doubt. How we deal with that fear. And I think I just need a reminder of that.

Now on to the outfit ...

One of the things I love about this shirt is its great bellyflage capabilities (and yes I made that up 😃). I hold a lot of my unwanted weight in my stomach area. So I'm always looking for ways to detract from that area and accentuate others and this shirt definitely does. And I got it from Kmart, yup I said Kmart, so you know it was a good deal. Paired it my one of my wardrobe staples, this navy and white pencil skirt ,that you may have seen me wear here, that I got from Old Navy years ago; and my royal blue strappy sandals for a pop of color. I feel my first inclination for a pop of color usually to go with a red accentuate, so I purposely just try to switch it up from time to time.

Budget Outfit Details

Shirt - Kmart $12.99 on sale

Skirt - Old Navy $8

Shoes - Steve Madden $0 (to hear the story how I got them free click here)

So the entire outfit was just over $20!

That Striped BodySuit

With the re-popularization of the bodysuit, Ive been wanting to try one out for a minute. Thought it would give a more seamless look than having to tuck in shirts, but I wasn't sure if they would be uncomfortable. Ain't no body got time no wedgies. Picking in your butt all night is NOT cute!! So when I took my daughter back to school shopping at Forever 21, I was excited to see a couple cute bodysuits in my size. I know, I'm shopping at the same store as my middle school daughter, I'm smh in disbelief too! :-)

This navy mock turtleneck bodysuit is one of the ones I ended up taking home and I'm so glad I did. I paired it with this black skater skirt I had and some red gladiator heels for a little pop of color and voila! I really like how this look came together. What do you think?

Budget Outfit Details 

Top - Forever 21 - $10

Skirt - JustFab - $12.95 on sale
Gladiator Heels - Shoedazzle - $39.99

To An Amazing and Fabulous 2017 - Black Tank + Sheer Striped Skirt

I'mmmmm Backkkkkkk!!!! Okay, I know I have not posted in quite a while. Like many others, I had a lot of things happen in 2016 that made it difficult for me to be consistent, mainly my dad's health has been very up and down and I lost my photographer ie my boyfriend and I broke up. LOL I also had some really fun and amazing things happen in 2016 and hopefully I will get a chance to share some of that too. Now it is 2017 and I am recommitting myself to the blog and making some amazing things happen this year!!

Now on to the outfit! This outfit is particularly special to me because I got the skirt from someone who is a second mom to me. I've known her most of my life. Her and my mom where really good friends and when my mom passed she told me that she would be my other mom and be there for me. You may remember a little while ago when I told you that someone very close to me had passed away this past year at the age of only 23 from cystic fibrosis. Well, that was her son and this was the skirt she wore to his services. I had told her how pretty it looked on her and she gave it to me. So every time I wear it I think about both of them and it makes me smile.

Budget Outfit Details 

Tank Top - Old Navy - $8

Bracelet - Forever 21 - $5 | Sunglasses - Forever 21 - $7

Skirt - Free (Given to me, but I believe she only paid less than $20 for it)

Shoes - Steve Madden via consignment store - Free (Read how here and I also wore them here)

So all and all this whole outfit including accessorizes only cost me $20!