To keep reading my Sunshine Plus Style blogs, I can now be found at the following website:
I look forward to seeing you there!!
Terri
I believe that every woman is beautiful. I believe that God does not make mistakes. I believe that every woman can own that beauty and rock it, if she has the tools. My goal is to give every woman the toolbox she needs to own her beauty.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Blog Has Moved to New Website
Hi Everyone,
To keep reading my Sunshine Plus Style blogs, I can now be found at the following website:
To keep reading my Sunshine Plus Style blogs, I can now be found at the following website:
Unemployment Rates for Women higher than for Men
I was watching ABC News last night and they were talking about the unemployment rate going down. But there was an interesting statistic included with that. They said that 90% of men were getting the jobs. They were saying that the thinking of employers was that men had families to support. But the reality is that 40% of families are supported by single women.
I have a few friends in Chattanooga who are incredibly dedicated, highly educated and very motivated to find jobs. They are applying every where and keep running into obstacle after obstacle. I have never been able to understand why these very employable women have not been able to get the jobs they are applying for. Now it makes more sense.
If employers are hiring mostly men because they think they have families to support, then where does that leave all of the women who are trying to support their families? Again, we are up against the double standard.
Jobs and salaries should be awarded on the basis of skill, not gender or race. Women are still underpayed for the same jobs as men. Now, women are not being hired because of a misconception that they don't have families to support.
I know it will never happen, but I wish that employers would turn a blind eye to gender and race for a change. I wish that skill level and loyalty and dependability were the buzzwords for hiring and keeping jobs.
I read an article the other day in More Magazine that was talking about the fact that the market is full to overflowing with Baby Boomer generation workers. But, the employers were looking at the next generation, Generation X, and how there are about half the number of people in that generation versus the Baby Boomer generation. The article said that employers were really starting to appreciation the Generation Xers they had on staff and they were really trying to hold onto them because there won't be as many or as skilled workers to replace them. I read this article before I saw the newscast on ABC News and I was thinking that the employment situation was really looking up. I guess it is, just not for women who are currently unemployed or underemployed.
I know, no one ever said that life was fair, right? It just seems that it ought to be a little less unfair in these days.
I have a few friends in Chattanooga who are incredibly dedicated, highly educated and very motivated to find jobs. They are applying every where and keep running into obstacle after obstacle. I have never been able to understand why these very employable women have not been able to get the jobs they are applying for. Now it makes more sense.
If employers are hiring mostly men because they think they have families to support, then where does that leave all of the women who are trying to support their families? Again, we are up against the double standard.
Jobs and salaries should be awarded on the basis of skill, not gender or race. Women are still underpayed for the same jobs as men. Now, women are not being hired because of a misconception that they don't have families to support.
I know it will never happen, but I wish that employers would turn a blind eye to gender and race for a change. I wish that skill level and loyalty and dependability were the buzzwords for hiring and keeping jobs.
I read an article the other day in More Magazine that was talking about the fact that the market is full to overflowing with Baby Boomer generation workers. But, the employers were looking at the next generation, Generation X, and how there are about half the number of people in that generation versus the Baby Boomer generation. The article said that employers were really starting to appreciation the Generation Xers they had on staff and they were really trying to hold onto them because there won't be as many or as skilled workers to replace them. I read this article before I saw the newscast on ABC News and I was thinking that the employment situation was really looking up. I guess it is, just not for women who are currently unemployed or underemployed.
I know, no one ever said that life was fair, right? It just seems that it ought to be a little less unfair in these days.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Seeing Ex-Husband today - Ugh
So, today I am driving my son to Memphis from Cleveland, TN. My ex-husband drives there from Sherman, TX so we can meet to exchange our son. He's going to visit for a week.
Anyway, I always try to dress in a way that makes me feel confident and pretty because... well, I want to look good and feel confident whenever I have to see him. Don't misunderstand me either, I don't want this guy back. More, I want to rub it in his nose that he got the worse end of the deal.
I was taking a look at my outfit today and I realized that everything was Lane Bryant. And I realized that when I was looking at a Lane Bryant catalog yesterday, I was not being fair. I kept thinking that their prices were too high. But looking at everything I have on today, that I bought last year, maybe, just maybe I am wrong.
Everything is roughly $25 to $50 for each item. But when you break down how many times you wear one of their pieces of clothing, the dollars per wear become nominal. I am wearing a denim pencil skirt with a kick pleat, a lace cami, a short sleeved hoodie and a t-shirt bra by Cacique - all of which were purchased from Lane Bryant. The skirt, the cami, the hoodie were all bought last year on one of my trips to Memphis around this time last year and they all are still in great shape. The t-shirt bra just came in the mail to me yesterday!! And I love it. This has to be one of the most comfortable bras I have worn in a long time. And that is saying alot for a 40DDD girl.
So, say a prayer for us this weekend so that everyone's trip is safe and good.
Anyway, I always try to dress in a way that makes me feel confident and pretty because... well, I want to look good and feel confident whenever I have to see him. Don't misunderstand me either, I don't want this guy back. More, I want to rub it in his nose that he got the worse end of the deal.
I was taking a look at my outfit today and I realized that everything was Lane Bryant. And I realized that when I was looking at a Lane Bryant catalog yesterday, I was not being fair. I kept thinking that their prices were too high. But looking at everything I have on today, that I bought last year, maybe, just maybe I am wrong.
Everything is roughly $25 to $50 for each item. But when you break down how many times you wear one of their pieces of clothing, the dollars per wear become nominal. I am wearing a denim pencil skirt with a kick pleat, a lace cami, a short sleeved hoodie and a t-shirt bra by Cacique - all of which were purchased from Lane Bryant. The skirt, the cami, the hoodie were all bought last year on one of my trips to Memphis around this time last year and they all are still in great shape. The t-shirt bra just came in the mail to me yesterday!! And I love it. This has to be one of the most comfortable bras I have worn in a long time. And that is saying alot for a 40DDD girl.
So, say a prayer for us this weekend so that everyone's trip is safe and good.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Painted Lady
I was at our local mall today, getting my hair cut and picking up some Bath and Body Works Body Spray (had to settle for Sweet Pea since they don't sell Wild Honeysuckle anymore, hmmff), and I decided to check out this store called The Painted Lady. I was very pleasantly surprised. I have walked past this store for years because I figured they didn't have any plus sized clothing. I figured they catered to the Size 0 to 10 ladies.
Today, I decided to stop and ask. And the owner, Betty Scott, took me all over the store pointing out all the Size 18 clothing that she had. She and I were talking and looking at all the beautiful clothing and just having a great time. I decided that I wanted to try on a shirt, but she convinced me that if I tried on the shirt, I had to try on the skirt with it. I guess there is a reason she owns the store, right? I was instructed to try on the whole outfit and come out in the store so she could see it. And then I could try on just the shirt with my jeans. I am all for playing dress-up, so I dutifully followed the instructions I was given.
She was completely and totally right about the skirt having to be worn with the skirt. The whole ensemble worked really well together. And the outfit looked much better than the shirt with my jeans, although, I will probably wear it that way some day.
So I spent twice what I had intended to spend, but if I wear the outfit a bunch of times, either together or separately, my dollars per wear will continue to go down. And I can wear this outfit just about anywhere.
Let me know what you think.
I went ahead and put on my Size 18/20 form because I didn't feel like begging my son to take a picture of me in the outfit. He has a new computer program for video editing and I can't get him off the computer. But that is a totally different story. You can't see it in the picture, but there are little gold flecks in the skirt that catch the light and sparkle. The seaming on the shirt and the ruching on the sleeve are all perfect for my body type too. And I really like the little ruffle that runs down in front.
I am working on another article for the Spring Trends. I should have it up in the next couple of days.
Today, I decided to stop and ask. And the owner, Betty Scott, took me all over the store pointing out all the Size 18 clothing that she had. She and I were talking and looking at all the beautiful clothing and just having a great time. I decided that I wanted to try on a shirt, but she convinced me that if I tried on the shirt, I had to try on the skirt with it. I guess there is a reason she owns the store, right? I was instructed to try on the whole outfit and come out in the store so she could see it. And then I could try on just the shirt with my jeans. I am all for playing dress-up, so I dutifully followed the instructions I was given.
She was completely and totally right about the skirt having to be worn with the skirt. The whole ensemble worked really well together. And the outfit looked much better than the shirt with my jeans, although, I will probably wear it that way some day.
So I spent twice what I had intended to spend, but if I wear the outfit a bunch of times, either together or separately, my dollars per wear will continue to go down. And I can wear this outfit just about anywhere.
Let me know what you think.
I went ahead and put on my Size 18/20 form because I didn't feel like begging my son to take a picture of me in the outfit. He has a new computer program for video editing and I can't get him off the computer. But that is a totally different story. You can't see it in the picture, but there are little gold flecks in the skirt that catch the light and sparkle. The seaming on the shirt and the ruching on the sleeve are all perfect for my body type too. And I really like the little ruffle that runs down in front.
I am working on another article for the Spring Trends. I should have it up in the next couple of days.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
My First Image Workshop
Well, I did it!! I just finished my first Image Workshop. I was so nervous!!!! My voice was shaking. I was shaking. But, I did it!
I arrived 15 minutes early so that I had time to get my laptop hooked up to the projector for my power point presentation. I started on time. I introduced myself and started the presentation. Somehow I managed to cover Body Shapes, Facial Shapes, Complexions, Styles and How to Dress Appropriately in 30 minutes. Shwhew (Wipe sweat off brow).
I even assigned a homework assignment. Really tough one too, LOL! They have to take their measurements, based on the chart included in the handout. Then they have to determine their body shape, based on the descriptions in the handout. Next, they have to look through the magazines I provided to find the right shaped clothing for their body type.
We're girls - who doesn't want to look through tons of magazines and pick out pictures of clothing!! Like I said, tough assignment - LOL!
Now, I have to figure out how to personalize the information for each participant and get them on the road to a fabulous personal image in the next 30 minute workshop.
Wish me luck.
I arrived 15 minutes early so that I had time to get my laptop hooked up to the projector for my power point presentation. I started on time. I introduced myself and started the presentation. Somehow I managed to cover Body Shapes, Facial Shapes, Complexions, Styles and How to Dress Appropriately in 30 minutes. Shwhew (Wipe sweat off brow).
I even assigned a homework assignment. Really tough one too, LOL! They have to take their measurements, based on the chart included in the handout. Then they have to determine their body shape, based on the descriptions in the handout. Next, they have to look through the magazines I provided to find the right shaped clothing for their body type.
We're girls - who doesn't want to look through tons of magazines and pick out pictures of clothing!! Like I said, tough assignment - LOL!
Now, I have to figure out how to personalize the information for each participant and get them on the road to a fabulous personal image in the next 30 minute workshop.
Wish me luck.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Update on Common Bond Christian Womens Job Corp
I promised I would keep you up to date on my dealings with the CBCWJC. Last week I met with the ladies that have been working for the last 3 years to get this program up and running. They were excited about being able to offer the participants a workshop on improving their image and I am excited that they want me to participate with them.
Today we got to meet the participants in the program. The program lasts for 9 weeks. They meet once a week for 3 hours. They have a program that was designed by the Christian Womens Job Corp that will walk the participants through all sorts of helpful courses on building their self-esteem, how to create a resume, how to get through a job interview, how to create and follow a household budget. Information that everyone needs to know, but isn't always taught.
They worked into the schedule 2 thirty minute sessions for me to teach the participants how to improve their images for finding and keeping a job. My challenge is to only give the absolutely critical information they need in that short timeframe. So, tomorrow I begin creating that program.
I thought I would start with face shapes, body shapes and coloring. Then I would determine who is what and what they can and cannot wear in general. In the second class I would show them how to start with, let's say, 5 must have pieces and how you can create 15 or 20 outfits using those 5 basic pieces, either by accessorizing or using a few other seasonal items with those.
Another challenge is that I need to be able to present office attire and production attire. Not everyone is going to be looking for jobs in an office. I was thinking about teaching the production workers how to create their own "uniform" for work and then learning how to dress outside of work.
I'll keep you posted! And if I haven't said it lately, Thanks for reading my blog!!
Terri
Today we got to meet the participants in the program. The program lasts for 9 weeks. They meet once a week for 3 hours. They have a program that was designed by the Christian Womens Job Corp that will walk the participants through all sorts of helpful courses on building their self-esteem, how to create a resume, how to get through a job interview, how to create and follow a household budget. Information that everyone needs to know, but isn't always taught.
They worked into the schedule 2 thirty minute sessions for me to teach the participants how to improve their images for finding and keeping a job. My challenge is to only give the absolutely critical information they need in that short timeframe. So, tomorrow I begin creating that program.
I thought I would start with face shapes, body shapes and coloring. Then I would determine who is what and what they can and cannot wear in general. In the second class I would show them how to start with, let's say, 5 must have pieces and how you can create 15 or 20 outfits using those 5 basic pieces, either by accessorizing or using a few other seasonal items with those.
Another challenge is that I need to be able to present office attire and production attire. Not everyone is going to be looking for jobs in an office. I was thinking about teaching the production workers how to create their own "uniform" for work and then learning how to dress outside of work.
I'll keep you posted! And if I haven't said it lately, Thanks for reading my blog!!
Terri
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