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

It’s President’s Day Weekend and that means sales.  I a few emails from my favorite places to shop with discounts and sales going on, so I thought I would share them with you.

Avenue is having a Final Clearance Sale over the weekend with an additional 50% off the lowest ticketed price.  Be sure to use the Coupon Code of AV111040

Avenue.com

Fashion Bug is having a 50% off when you buy any other item at regular price plus $15 off your regular priced purchase of $50 or more.  Enter code 776441909 at checkout.

FashionBug.com

Joann Fabric and Craft Stores – for those of you who like to sew has a sale going on too – online or in the store.

Joann.com

OSP Fashion Show

Just finished watching the OSP Fashion Show that I thought was supposed to be a live show - NOT.  I have to say I was very disappointed.  It was the same model over and over again.  She was wearing the same cuts of clothing over and over again, just in different colors. 

And I have to say, the cuts and angles and sleeves of different lengths just were not that flattering.  The model was beautiful, but her hair was so distracting.  You couldn't see the back of the garment because of her hair.  Some of the pieces looked like pajamas or capes.  If that is what we have to look forward to in the plus size fashion for fall, I think I will just stick to my classic timeless pieces.

Price of Cotton Rising?!

This morning I was watching the news and one story caught my attention.  The headline was about cotton prices rising.  I listened a little closer and then I started digging for information. 

Apparently the price of cotton has doubled over the last year and many manufacturers are not going to be able to maintain current prices of clothing because of it.   The reason the price has doubled is because of horrible weather conditions in the crop growing countries of China, the U.S., Pakistan and Australia.  Then there have also been restrictions on exports from India, the world’s second largest exporter of cotton.  And on top of all that, the demand for cotton has risen with the improvement of the global economy.

Bottom line is that we, the consumers, will pay higher prices on spring clothing and then possibly higher prices in the fall.

What are some ways to save on clothing then?

Below are some tips for buying clothing a little more frugally:

·         Sign up for texted discounts from your favorite stores.

·         Use the coupons and “fashion bucks” you get from stores.

·         Shop at your local consignment stores.

·         Consider the quality of your purchases.  Clothing that is of a higher quality will last longer and your price per wear will make it a better bargain.

·         Ask yourself if you really love the item before purchasing it.

·         Pick and choose very carefully what “trendy” items you will buy.

If you have a solid wardrobe consisting of basic classic pieces, then you don’t have to spend a lot of money to freshen it up with a couple of new pieces for the Spring season.  Basic classic pieces being items like mid-rise boot-cut dark wash jeans; A-line skirts, fitted jackets,  mid-rise trousers with wide waistbands, etc. 

You can still have a great wardrobe on a budget!  You may just have to spend a little extra time looking.

First Meeting with CBCWJC

I have my first meeting tonight with Common Bond Christian Women's Job Corp (CBCWJC).  I volunteered to be a mentor for women that are trying to improve their lives and get better jobs.  I am not really sure what to expect, but I am excited.

I am also a dog trainer and my business, Sunshine Canine, is listed - incorrectly I might add - in the yellow pages as a veterinary hospital.  How?  I have no idea.  Anyway, I received a resume from a kid looking for a job over the weekend.  I took a look at her resume and I was very underwhelmed.  Basically, the only information I gained about her was her name, address, phone number, email address and a picture.  All of the rest of the information was pretty much useless.  She said she went to school for Equestrian Studies.  Ok, well, not being a big horse person, I don't have any idea what that would include.  So I sent her some suggestions on how to improve her resume.  Hopefully she didn't just delete my email and not try to improve it.

I have really been thinking about this image consultant career and where I could find my niche.  Besides preferring to focus on plus and full figured women, I believe that I could draw on my 26 years of office experience and really focus in on creating a professional image.  This could include:

• reworking your resume,
• creating a professional business card,
• creating a professional interview and work wardrobe,
• coaching on appropriate behavior in the office,
• coaching on appropriate travel behavior
• coaching on business presentations - the outfit and the actual presentation itself.

There are so many people that are looking to get a job, get a better job, improve their station in life, and improve their odds of getting promotions.  Basically, that is what I will be doing on a volunteer basis for CBCWJC.  They even asked if I would be willing to teach some courses and hold some workshops.  Yes!!! I would! 

So, I guess I will keep you posted on the meeting tonight.  Wish me luck!

Got My InStyle Magazine

So excited!!  I got my March 2011 InStyle Magazine today with 500 pages of Spring Fashion in it.  It's sitting right next to me and I keep putting off looking at it because I know once I dive in it will be hours before I come back out for air!!

Last fall I looked through the magazine at least 20 times.  Picked out the upcoming trends and ideas that could be translated into plus size fashion.  I even picked out a couple of ads from the magazine and recreated the look in a much less expensive version that was tweaked for my full figure.

Ok.  I'm going in.

Audrey Smaltz - She may be my new hero


I saw this posted by Fashion To Figure on Twitter the other day.  I took the time to really watch and listen to the interview today.

She is so right, you have to come out of your box.  You have to believe in yourself.  You have to work hard.  You have to Net Work.  You have to study. 

I guess when I am feeling like I can't do this, I need to just watch this inspiring video.

Kiyonna Wrap Arrived!!

My Kiyonna Wrap arrived!!  I have been anxiously awaiting its arrival.  And for whatever reasons the fates have dreamed up, the full picture of the whole outfit that my son took for me and posted on facebook yesterday has disappeared.  So all I have is this picture I took of myself in the bathroom.  The whole outfit looked great and I felt great in it.  And it wasn't all that expensive.

The Kiyonna Parisian wrap was $65
I bought a pair of Riders By Lee Slender Stretch Mid-Rise boot cut jeans in black and blue, each was only $19.88!!
I had a black shapeware camisole  from Fashion Bug that was $16.99
And then a pair of black boots that my daughter gave me for Christmas, I'm guessing those were about $50.

Total for the outfit, not including the jewelry, was $151.87 - Not Bad!!

Fit For A Queen Boutique

I wanted to share a local Plus Size Boutique here in the Chattanooga area.  Fit For A Queen Boutique is a great store.  She has all plus sizes and junior plus!  And all her prices are terrific!  She has name brand clothing by Sealed With A Kiss (SWAK), IGigi, Kiyonna and many, many more!  I love to drive down there and play dress up with all of her beautiful clothes.  And, she will special order stuff for you, if you need it.

She is getting into Prom Dresses and dresses for special occasions like weddings, ceremonies, etc too!!

Below is the link for a piece she did on Channel 3 here in Chattanooga:

Fit For A Queen Video on Channel 3

Fit For a Queen is located at 7333 Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN - In between the Bonnie Oaks and Shallowford Rd exits on Hwy 75.

They are a must see for beatiful, quality and reasonably priced clothing.

(And, no, she didn't pay me to say all of these nice things!  I just love her store.)

A little about me.

I have to admit something.  I am no fashion "expert"!  Aw, that felt good.  I am a very driven person, though.  And I want to share my story over the last 5 years or so.  That way you know where I am coming from.

I am the mother of 2 wonderful kids.  I lived with their father for 14 years before taking back my and my kids lives.  Without bashing him too badly, I would just like to say that he is an alcoholic and consistently chose the bar and his buddies there over his family.  Anyone that has ever lived with an alcoholic knows the chaos and unrest that comes with that.  Enough said on that subject. 

So almost 5 years ago, the kids and I packed up our entire lives and moved 850 miles from Texas to Tennessee.  Before you ask why, my mother lives here.  And the cost of living is affordable for a single mother.  We stayed with my Mom for 2 months and then we moved into a house of our own that we rent from my mother.

And so began the healing process.  When I unpacked my 2 boxes of clothes, I found that I had crew neck tshirts, the horrid mom jeans (pleated at the top, tapered at the bottom), sweatshirts and sneakers.  That was my entire wardrobe.  Pathetic.  Considering that when I was in highschool, fashion was my bread and water.  I wanted to go to school for fashion merchandising, but never got to go.  

What I did after high school was start working in offices.  Accounts receivable, assistant manager, insurance, and currently I work as the Distance Manager for an online company and executive administrative assistant for the owners of that company.  I did go to school, eventually.  I have an Associates Degree as a Paralegal.

During the healing process that I mentioned before, I started feeling better about myself. I made a significant change in my life.  I removed my kids from a toxic environment and I was showing them a better way to live.  As I started feeling better about myself, I wanted to start showing that on the outside.  I wanted to look better too.

I discovered that my body was considerably different from when I was in my 20's. I didn't know how to dress this new body that had been changed by gaining weight and having 2 children.  So, I started studying.  I watched every style show I could find.  I bought every book I could find about dressing my body.  I tried to convince my friends and family to turn me in to one of the style shows like "How Do I Look?" and "What Not To Wear".  I soon realized that the odds of me making it on one of those shows was slim to none.  So then I decided I would hire a stylist to help me through this.  Hah!!  Wow are they expensive!  On my income, there was no way I could afford that.  So, it was back to the books, the internet and the style shows.

I figured it out, finally!  And then I asked myself, "How many other women struggle with this same issue?"  I know that I am not the only one.  I also know that I am a little more driven to put in the time and effort to figure it out.  I work from home.  I have experience in research and pulling information together.  I have resources other women may not have.

So naturally my journey has progressed to the next logical phase.  How do I share what I have learned with other women that are having the same issues?  Yes, there are lots of Plus size blogs out there.  Yes, there are lots of plus size fashion tips out there.  The problem is that a lot of them are for high end designers.  You know what that means – Expensive!  There are some really good sites out there, please don’t misunderstand me.  I found some really great sites and I will definitely share those with you.  I can’t see any reason to reinvent the wheel, so to speak.

I am still working on my niche.  So as I continue to write this blog and share my thoughts, you may notice I change and create and tweak things as I go. 

I am going to start out with writing the blog and sharing my thoughts as I go.  I am working on a monthly newsletter that will address a particular subject each month.  I will send that out this weekend.  As I find good deals and sales on clothing, I will share those through Twitter. 

I would like to offer my services to those of you that would like me to go shopping with you to find a perfect outfit for a special event or occasion.  I promise I will not charge you an unreasonable or outrageous amount for my company and services.  I would love to help you with a wardrobe analysis.  We can go through your closet to see what you should keep and what should be donated.

Of course, I am always open to suggestions about what YOU would like to read about.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy and use all of the information that I am sharing with you.

Rock Those Curves, Ladies!!

I just watched a great video of Mia-Amber Davis, Editor At Large for Plus Model Magazine!!  She is presenting plus sized dresses that range in prices from $17.99 to $195.00.  Beautiful, colorful and form fitting dresses that make a full-figured woman's body look amazing!!

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/shows/10-show/Strut_their_Stuff_Philadelphia-114822014.html

I wish I could embed the video, but I couldn't.  It is worth the 5 minutes to watch it.