Just Shana: No Style Blogger but...

I have always loved all things fashion related.

Prior to attending FIT I was obsessed with The Style Network (before reality TV took over and when I would actually enjoy watching Elizabeth Hasselbeck...), MTV's House of Style (which coincidentally was also my first introduction to Kevyn Aucoin!) Fashion Television, Behind the Velvet Ropes with Lauren Ezersky, you name it, if it was available to watch, I was all in.

Not too much has changed since then aside from maybe not being AS clued in as I once was.  I mean who has time to sit and immerse themselves in all things fashion all day long?

Now, thankfully, if I have a question I can hit my younger brother up since he is a student at LIM in NY (and he ALWAYS knows the answer, he is my walking fashion encyclopedia) so I stay current with what time allows me to.
 

cute dress I spotted one day while at Pentagon City)

When not bothering my brother with random questions via text I peruse various fashion blogs and one of the best things I picked up was snapping pics of myself in different outfits.

No, not necessarily setting up difference scenarios in various vignettes using the latest most expensive camera and/or camera person, and/or tripod possibly with lighting and a decent dose of photoshop and filters...just my handy dandy iPhone and me with an armful of clothing...or 7 pieces maximum, you know whatever the dressing room attendant allows; and I get my try on, uh, on!

Forever 21 dress that I thought was ugly but cute.  Very hippie chic

You see aside from things like time getting away from me, so has this weight of mine.  Which at one time was on my side, meaning I could walk in a store and know I wore this size, grab it and go without trying it on.

NOW?  The weight is still on my side...and on this side, and that side...and in the front...in the back.  You name it its there!  So now I MUST try EVERYTHING on for the most part or go home and stare at my self in horror.

Another Forever 21 excursion f. a Biggie 'Brooklyn We Go Hard' sleeveless tee and an asymetric sheer skirt.  I got the tee!

Its crazy how something so simple has made the world of difference in me selecting items to add to my closet.  Now I snap the pics and put the clothes on hold.  I enlist the help of my good girlfriends on whether it deserves my coin or not and then if it does I pick it up.  If not?  Well it was fun to play dress up while on my lunch break.

I have wanted a striped blazer forever...and I still dont have one.  Can we say referee?  And the whole return of the hammer pants trend?  Eh...I wasnt convinced.  I still want a striped blazer...this happened at H&M

So for all my good girl and guy friends reading this post if you absolutely hate to shop (who ARE you people???? LOL) then make it fun by having a fitting room photo shoot.

Bustier c/o the Mrs Carter collection at H&M...yes I purchased it.  I dont think they ready for this jelly!  HA!

If nothing else you wont waste any more of your good hard earned coin on random wack purchases

Freakum dress also c/o the Mrs Carter x H&M collection.  It was like $18, of course I got it!

You can also boost your confidence by picking pieces you like but may not be too certain about but guess what?  Its only you in that tiny box with the awful lighting so who cares?!  Try it anyway, you just might like it!

H&M trip again - golden bralette was $5!  The dress not so much but paired together I liked it.  SOLD!

Grecian goddess flow

oh look!  Its the striped blazer again, on yet another day...and I STILL dont have a striped blazer  LOL or a peplum top but it was cute and I still want it...the blazer and the top

see?  you could tell I thought it was cute...I hope its still there...

HAPPY SHOPPING!

You gonna learn today...

That when your body is trying to talk to you, but you ignore it, often times your body will punish you.

Remember the other day I posted a pic of my nice healthy lunch of a side salad?  Well I followed that with foolery.  My vice is snacking so I may go the whole day and not eat but as soon as I get a breather I chow down on whatever snack is handy...no good when you have two kids under the age of 10 cause at any given time any crazy snack may be in here.

Yesterday I had a busy schedule, an FX client and a beauty client followed by a family event.  Felt perfectly fine Friday and hung out with the fam at Wegmans (dont laugh, if you have a Wegmans in your area you know how awesome it is).  I even picked up a variety of veggies to make some vegetarian dishes this coming week.

All was well until the live music led me to the aroma of the hot bar...i kinda knew no good could come of it, especially when making my son's plate he had fried rice, fried chicken, dumplings...that little boy can eat!  I could feel my upper lip begin to dampen with sweat at the impending temptation as you see, I have a problem in that I dont like to tell myself no.  I feel like life is too short for deprivation, the problem with that theory is you can land yourself in some compromising situations...

I started off good at the hot bar - butternut squash with cranberries, kale and carrots, asparagus - but then I just had to have the singapore noodles with shrimp, and the bread pudding...*smh* and yes I had them all together in one container.

The asparagus ended up not being that good but everything else was delicious.  I went to bed full and satisfied (and therein lies another issue, going to bed FULL after eating a bunch of randomness after 7p).

Around 5:30a Saturday morning I awoke with a jolt.  No there was no intruder in our home but there WAS one in my stomach wreaking havoc.  I spent the greater part of Saturday in the bathroom, or bent over with my face in the grass trying to rid my body of whatever toxin was invading.  All bodily functions were engaged in a full out battle...it certainly was not pretty.  And yes I STILL went to my FX client at 8a because there are no sick days as a freelancer but yes I did get sick while there...three times.  *sigh*

I ended up having to cancel my 2nd client so as not to risk any more embarassment (sorry Kesh bookie) and passed out in my bed.  I was able to gather a bit of energy to spend time with my extended fam but I didnt eat anything.  I sipped on unsweetened iced green tea.

I will be more diligent from this point forward in practicing healthy eating habits and hope to share my journey here.  I will try to eat raw as much as possible (i picked up some raw, vegan snacks that I will share later) and of course vegetarian.  Every once in a while I will have seafood but that will be very rare.  No more dairy will be consumed, replacing milk with almond milk, as much gluten free as I can do, and cutting back on granulated sugar and sweetening agents.

I leave you with pics of todays breakfast and of my fam from yesterday.

"Nothing tastes as good...

As skinny looks!"  Its my new mantra cause something has GOT to give.

Todays lunch - greek side salad, water and a small tomato soup.  Next time I will be strong enough to leave out the cheese and croutons.

Thanks Panera!