Fashionista Friday, A Fashion Diva With Ambition Featuring Marshel'le Hayes

Hello My Confident Dolls, Happy Friday! 

So 2 weeks ago I debuted a new topic to feature on the blog where I would showcase My Ambition girls who are confident and fashionable. We all love fashion and always get inspired by others for new ideas. Today our Fashionista Friday will be Marshel'le who I've been following on Instagram for awhile. Her style, beauty, and confidence truly graces your Instagram page every time she posts a picture. 

I wanted to more about her and know some of her fashion tips, favorite fashion wear and what are some of her favorite pieces to wear as well as how she balances it all in her life. Marshel'le is 24 years old college student  and  She is the happiest when she is able to inspire others in a positive way.Marshel'le describes her style as elegant with a fearlessly sexy plus size twist. She always want to present herself in a tasteful manner, but she isn't afraid to have a little sex appeal at the same time. As I always say BE CONFIDENT, BE SEXY.  She loves the fact that fashion allows you to express who you are and how you feel, without verbally saying a word. Fashion allows you to be CREATIVE , be YOU, and feel BEAUTIFUL. This is why I always say BE EXACTLY WHO YOU WANT TO BE, Fashion allows you to be that. 

I asked Marshel'le how does she find time to be fashionable with a career since she is still in college exploring a career path which best suits her. She currently don’t have to stress too much about managing a career and finding the time to be fashionable. However, she does have a very demanding school schedule, so her way of remaining fashionable with a busy schedule is to wear what makes her the most comfortable for all that she has going on that day. It could be jeans and a top or even a simple sun dress, but she make sure her makeup is clean and flawless and that her hair and/or accessories are on point. 

Marshel'le just goes with the flow of how she is feeling. Sometimes she feels like dressing down and keeping it plain and simple (no makeup, no accessories, and a ponytail). Other days, she feels  like going all out with hair, makeup, accessories, cute shoes, etc. She just go with how she feels and that's what I do as well. I just go with the flow and not with what anyone would want me to wear. Her favorite fashion trend is probably a really cute pair of comfy shoes/heels. To be honest she has a hard time walking in heels, so when she find a cute pair of short thick heels or wedges, she feels like she hit the jackpot! And they look great with jeans. YES!!! Same way I feel , I can't wear heels to save my life but as I wrote in the Confidence Is You book just because you can't walk in heels doesn't mean you can never wear heels, just wear some that you would feel comfortable walking in and won't give you no trouble.

 Marshel'le doesn't abide  by any “fashion rules” such as you can't wear white after Labor Day. She wear what she wants to, when she want to, and how she wants to, regardless of what anyone thinks about it. She feel like if she  looks good in it, why not wear it!??? AMEN!!!! What are her go to fashion items? Her go-to fashion item would have to be a good ole form fitting dress, either a sun dress or bodycon dress. Her sisters make fun of her because of all the dresses that she have in my closet, but thats just what works for her. WEAR WHAT WORKS FOR YOU!!!  

Her main goal is to be comfortable in whatever she wears, and you can never go wrong in a comfy beautiful dress that hugs your curves ( Great tip) Along with her dresses, she have another fashion go-to item that she can’t live without, and that’s a good pair of reliable spanx. She thinks shapewear is tremendously important, especially for curvy women. I AGEEE!!!! It ensures that you and your curves look the absolute best at all times and also keeps everything in place nicely. She get her Spanx  from Target and the pair that she have now cost her $43 but it lasts a long time so its a great investment. ( Lane Bryant, Macys & Other Brand Stores Carry Spanx) She loves shopping at Windsors, Forever21, Target, H&M (not all locations carry plus sizes), ASOS, and LuckiCharmz.com. Lately She have been finding that she also comes across really cute stuff at inexpensive stores like DD’s Discounts, Ross, and Marshalls.  

I needed to know what items was she excited to wear this Fall, Marshel'le said she is excited to go boot shopping! she think its time to retire her summer sandals, so she want to get back into comfy boots and jeans. She loves colors, so she is also excited to experiment with a lot of the popular trends and add her own twist of color to match her personality. You can find something else is wearing BS add your own twist to it and make it your own personal style. What would Marshel'le tell someone who is trying to find their own personal style is that it took her a while to develop her personal sense of style, so she can relate to those that struggle in that area. What she have learned is it’s really all about what makes you feel the most BEAUTIFUL and the most comfortable. 

She recommend trying on a few different things when you shop, just to get an idea of what compliments your figure best and which fabrics fit you properly. From there, you will eventually get more comfortable and confident with trying new things. DON'T BE AFRAID TO STEP OUT YOUR COMFORT ZONE! Try on something you normally wouldn’t wear. This is how you become more familiar with what works best for you and what to stay away from. Check out blogs for ideas and try recreating some of your favorite looks. You will be surprised how fast your sense of style evolves! She read my mind, I AGREE!!!

 It can be difficult at times to try to balance it all in your life, but Marchel'le says The only way she balance it all is with PRAYER! Honestly, that is the only way she knows how to balance it all. Her life is still a work in progress, but she tries to organize her time, she stay away from negativity, and she talks  to God often and allow him to take the wheel.

Confidence Is Me Because I LOVE ME FLAWS & All Says Marchel'le. 

Iam not a fashion expert but I know one thing for sure we all love FASHION and I just want you to be CONFIDENT, COMFORTABLE IN YOUR SKIN and wear what makes you feel BEAUTIFUL but as well what makes you HAPPY. We live in a world where we are judged for everything and told what not to wear due to our size. F what those with narrow minds have to say, wear what you want to wear. They can kiss your ass while you feel and look BEAUTIFUL. I hope you were inspired and will go out and buy something you always wanted to wear and go out and wear it proudly. 

Marchel'le you are AMAZING! As I watch you grow on Instagram, you are the epitome of what a beautiful, ambitious, confident women is suppose to be. I wish you nothing but the best my WCE and may God bless you always. Follow Marchel'le on Instagram @moosiewoosie. Thanks Doll For Being CIY Friday Ambitious Fashionista. 

      A Confident Love From Me To You 

                       Xoxo Yanika 

A Confident Tuesday Transformation Featuring Tamara.

When it comes to weight loss, we all struggle with it. It's not an easy journey but it's not an impossible one as well. Anything you put your mind into you can achieve but I know with motivation it will push you even more to not give up. This week story once again it's truly an inspiration, Tamara shares with us what made her get on her weight loss journey, what she did to lose weight, and also shares with us why she never wanted to give up. 

Tamara was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, she is currently living in west palm beach, Fl. She has 2 jobs as a  a district manager for a financial services company and a teller part time.  She moved to Florida in 2011 to pursue her career and most of her time was consumed by both jobs. I asked her what spurred her to lose weight she honestly said she was just tired of feeling non existent. She was very unhappy with how she looked. Tamara was that "boring", shy girl that stayed in while her friends would go out. She was always the bigger girl in the group and didn't want to feel uncomfortable because she either didn't fit properly in a seat or if she had to take a picture she didn't want her family and friends back home to see her in that way,  so she was always the girl behind the camera. 

I can totally relate it, that's exactly how I was before I found my confidence. As Tamara said it was like taking precious memories for others and never for herself. We all had moments when we felt like an outcast due to our weight, this is another reason why I started "Confidence Is You" because I don't want you to no longer be an outcast. I want you to be yourself no matter who was around.  Tamara started her weight loss journey with exercise and  food shopping. 

She joined weight watchers in March 10, 2013, she needed a system that was simple for her to follow and she knew it worked due to the fact she had success with it before. I have to say My Confident Dolls if you never thought about joining weight watchers, I suggest you do if you really need a program that can help you track your meals etc. I joined Weight Watcher in January 2013 and even though Iam no longer a member.  The 5 months I was on it, I did see some results.  Tamara also got a lot of her meal ideas from people she started following on Instagram ( Great Idea!) and also did research on google. What she loved about being on Weight Watchers, it doesn't restrict you on the foods you eat.  She still have her favorite foods like pizza but it's all in moderation. She incorporated more fruits, veggies and lean meats (power foods) into her daily meals. She also began working out from home by starting with the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD and then moved on to some beach body workouts such as Turbo fire and T25 which is her favorite. 

What kept Tamara motivated and made her never want to give up is times she felt like giving up was when the support of people and friends she made on Instagram going through the same thing she was and her before picture. She didn't want to allow herself to ever get back to how she felt at 265 lbs. One thing she did suggest to everyone starting off is to take a before picture no matter how uncomfortable it may be and I agree with her. It helps keep present with what motivated you to get you going in the first place and where you don't ever want to be again. 

Tamara works out at  home at least 5-6 days a week for about 30 mins. Since her accident in December 2013 (not a major accident) she doesn't have a car so since then she been walking to and from work which has been a bonus for her since the walk is 1.3 miles each way. Her meal planed haven't changed, just a few weeks ago she actually wrote down how a day used to look like for her before weight watchers and it was a lot of fried foods and fast foods in her diet. She no longer have an appetite for those kind of foods. Now a days Tamara eat more fruits, veggies, lean meats, brown rice, quinoa etc. 

Her lifestyle changes overall is staying  active which is a must. If she knows she is not going to be able to get a workout in that day, she tries to move as much as possible. It's not a workout but she is not sedentary. She also have made a habit of tracking what she eat daily, everything even on a bad day. And even if she  have gone over her daily points from Weight Watchers. 

When I ask Tamara what would she tell someone losing weight because of others, she answered "You have to do it for YOU! Motivated by losing weight for the benefit of others will not last. I know from experience. Lasting weight loss comes from truly wanting to make a change for yourself". Tamara tips to someone losing weight is slow and steady, It's a process. Losing weight comes with it's ups and downs and you learn from the mistakes you make along the way. It takes time, don't give up. Tamara plans on keeping her weight off  by working on creating a lifestyle, it's not just a diet. It has become a part of who she is and she know this is her life from now on. She  learned to love every part of it. 

Confidence Is Me, Tamara says Because it DEFINES ME!!!!! 

It's not easy but as I always say it's not impossible to start your weight loss journey. This story may inspire you to start tomorrow, it may not but  it will give you the courage to start when you are ready. Remember My Confident Dolls do it when you're a 100% ready on your own pace. Don't let anyone force you to do anything you don't want to do. I don't write these Tuesday transformation blogs to force you or push you to get up and do it. I write them to inspire you and motivate you so one day instead of saying how much you hate your weight, you can make the change you want to see. 

Thank you Tamara for being an inspiration to hundreds, I always say our struggle will once be our story. The thing that you use to hate now inspire others as myself to have a successful weight loss journey as well as a healthy lifestyle. Thank You and I wish you nothing but the best. To check out Tamara, Follow her on Instagram @ww_works. 

      A Confident Love From Me To You

                     Xoxxo, Yanika 

Fashion Forward, Confident Style!

As summer simmers to an end we see everyone going back to school, people returning from vacation, and for those of who were lucky enough to have the summer off, slowly dreading returning to work. It’s only right that we end this summer on the right note and recap on the hottest trends we’ve seen and worn this summer. However, with fall vastly approaching, we will touch base on some must have items for the upcoming season. We’ve seen it all this summer, bikinis, shorts, and crop tops… lets dig a little deeper on some of the trends that graced the bodies of Confident Dolls around the world.

 

The Kimono

 

It is no secret that the Kimono was one of the most coveted trends this summer. Floral print, chiffon, fringed, waist length, even ankle length! This fashion item added flair and style to every outfit. Whether you wore it with a pair of shorts, a skirt, or your favorite pair of distressed jeans, the Kimono tookfabulousity to a whole new level, and not to mention it was warm for those cool summer nights. Not to mention that this trend is integrating into the fall season as well.

 

The Crop Top

 

This summer we’ve seen crop tops worn in all the right ways. What was once a scary thought has now turned into a popular summer trend. No matter the shade, shape, or size, women all over have worn the crop top at least once this summer. Whether paired with a high wasted pant, short, or skirt the crop top continued to be a hit this summer.

 

Printed Shorts

 

While I love my minimalistic colors (white, black, grey) the printed short brought life to this summer and the woman who wore them brought even more life strutting the summer streets in their bold prints. While denim shorts will always be a classic, the printed short added oomph to outfits. Whether you were out running errands or having a night out on the town, printed shorts fit any and every occasion.

 

Protective Styles

 

Senegalese twist, Havana twist, locs, braids! Protective styles were hard to miss this summer! Women turned these hairstyles in to a fashionable trend that everyone wanted to try. Whether you wore it in bun, curls, half ponytail, or let them fall down your back, nothing screamed summer like a good protective style and a beat face!

 

If you know of any other summer trends or have a photo of you rocking a trend you loved this summer, comment and post a picture with the hashtagConfidenceIsYou. There are many more trends that weren’t mentioned and I’d love input from my Confident Dolls. Now lets talk about a few trends to look out for this fall.

 

Fall Parka

 

Perfect for those cool fall mornings and crisp fall evenings, the parka remains a hot trend for the cooler seasons. Whether you’re going for a casual look or a little more dressed up for a night the park is the go to item. Not to mention its super stylish coming in shades of blues, browns, greens, and blacks.  The parka is as important as a trench coat this fall.

 

Heeled Bootie

 

While a flat bootie is practical, the heeled bootie is a must have this fall! Whether your dressing up or down, the versatility of this item is extremely beneficial and cute. You can pair them with a pencil skirt or even a pair of skinny jeans and a parka (like how I merged two trends, LOL)!

 

 

Faux Fur Accents

 

Whether its something as a faux fur collar on a jacket or a faux fur vest, faux fur accents add warmth to every look and not to mention they do not involve harming and killing innocent animals. You can look cute and save an animals life at the same time.

 

Wool Floppy Hat

 

While the floppy hat sat prettily on the heads of many confident women, the wool floppy hat is a game changer this upcoming season. This item adds flair and mystery to every look. Move aside cable-knit hats and hello GLAM!

 

While I am sad to say Farewell to summer, I am excited to try these knew fall trends, forget Cuffing Season, fall will be more like CONFIDENT Season because if women slayed this summer I know they will be bringing this fall! XOXO

 

 

 Printed Shorts- @_jnatay

Kimono-@athickgirlscloset

Crop Top- @shirleybeniang

Protective-@jessloveme

Parka-@stylishcurves

Bootie-@walkinwonderland

Faux Fur-@beautyandthebeatblog

Wool Hat-@doodleandlucy 

 

A Confident Love From Me To You

          Xoxo Yanika & Kayla 

September Love!

September, Hello September, the second day of September, just 4 more months from 2015. Can you believe it? It seems as if yesterday was New Year Eves, time really does flies. How are you doing?! is the question I want you to ask yourself. At times we get so caught up with what's going on in our lives that we never take a few seconds to ask ourselves how we are really doing? Has 2014 been good to you?! Have you accomplished most of the things you had on your vision board? Have you succeed doing things on your new year resolution list? If 2014 haven't been good to you, it's Ok. Don't dwell on it, God woke you up each and everyday in 2014 so far which is a blessing  so in due time everything will be just fine. BELIEVE, HAVE FAITH & MOST OF ALL BE PATIENT. 

Now I know in the beginning of the year you most likely made a vision board or had a new year resolution list, if you haven't accomplish anything on the list, once again it's ok. You haven't failed, you aren't a loser, don't beat yourself up. Life passes us by and before we know it, we are entering a new month. Life is tough and some of us are just trying to make things right. Some of us are so stress and worried about what may happen or focusing on what's happening now that we forget to go for the things we wish for.  There are things on my list I haven't accomplished but that doesn't mean I won't accomplish it. That's why we have tomorrow, to start over and do it. 

Don't beat yourself up, don't think it is the end. You have to understand as the days go on we grow as human beings. Each day we will evolve to the person we wish to desire to become.  It's probably something you wanted to accomplish in 2014 that you aren't Interested in doing anymore. If you are still interested get up and get to it. Before you know it you will be writing down 2015. See this is the thing, yes there is tomorrow but don't have the mentality to always put it off till tomorrow because truth is tomorrow isn't guaranteed to anyone. So if you put it off for a day or two, It's Ok but don't put it off for months and years. 

If you think about it and you have the desire to do it then My Confident Doll, DO IT!!! I know in the beginning of the year I started a diet and I was determined to lose 60lbs before 2015, I would stay on track and then lose focus. But what I told myself this morning I have 4 more months  to lose weight and may not be the amount of weight I wanted to lose but I determined to remain focus and lose some weight. Bottom line My Confident Dolls, you have to start somewhere and somehow. 

Once you are focus and remain focus then everything will work out.  You have to believe everything will work out for the best, what God is preparing you for will be worth the wait. One Of The Most Challenging Things For Us To Do Is To Wait On God To Fullfill One Of Our Promises. Remember He Is In Control & What Is Meant For You Is Exactly What He Will Deliver. So Whatever It Is That Is Meant For You To Have Will Be Worth The Wait. Remember  My Confident Dolls, 2014 isn't over for another 4 months so you still have time to accomplish the things you wish to accomplish. 

Know that you are capable of doing it , don't doubt yourself and feel as if you you can't do it.  YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO! I believe in you so believe in yourself. 4 more months for us to get our goals started by the time 2015 comes if we haven't accomplished them yet at least we started. As for as things not going your way or being stressed about certain things, PRAY & be patient. What you are going through won't last forever. Every day is a blessing, be thankful as well as grateful for this life you live that will only get better as you live it. 

      A Confident Love From Me To You

                     Xoxo Yanika