Homegirl Quel (kel) in Austin

Usher, "Hey Daddy"

Maybe it's me. Most likely, it's Usher. Normally I'm put off by the whole "daddy" in the bedroom thing, but um...Usher and these lyrics and this super cute video got me like..."Hey, daddy!" *giggles*

Corinne Bailey Rae, "I'd Do It Again"

Corrine Bailey Rae's new album is out today! Here is the video for the first single, "I'd Do It Again" is so beautiful. And sad. This album will make my iPod very happy.Check for it on iTunes and Amazon.

Fashion Friday:Crystal Renn Photo Shoot for V Magazine and My Size Issues

 

Plus size model Crystal Renn and fashion's newest face, Jacquelyn Jablonski, 17 are featured side by side in this month's issue of V Magazine wearing identical outfits. They are both 5'9", but Renn is more curvy at a size 16. Both models are beautiful, but Crystal is serving it...and I'll take what she's having. Top fashion photographer Terry Richardson, photographed them for V Magazine's Size Issue in several high-fashion looks in this latest in a string of campaigns for designers and magazines to use models with more varied looks and sizes. More dueling photos after the jump.

But before you witness more of the fabulousness that is Crystal Renn, I just want to say how much seeing these images and reading about Crystal's journey as an anorexic size 0, teen model to a top model at a natural size 16 has encouraged me to re-purpose my weight loss goals. Do I still want to be thin? Of course (just keepin' it real), but I struggle with letting go of my obsession with thinness that started when I was barely 13.

Johnny Depp is GQ Magazine's Most Stylish Man

He's on the February 2010 cover sporting a new grill. That's all I ever needed. *swoon*

 

Get the scoop and see the full list at GQ.com.

Awesome Video: How to seal in moisture to natural hair.

This is BlackOnyx77 of Natural Diva World on Youtube. Love. Her. She drops knowledge on why we need to moisturize this way around minute 6. Natural Girls, pay attention. Your hair will love you back.

Fashion Friday: Fitness Trifecta for Amazon Women

So my weight loss journey comes back off hiatus on Monday (see DailyFit to play catch-up). I have been trying to get my mind ready...and eating lots of cheese pizza...in preparation for the changes I'll be making starting next week. I'm planning meals, cooking and freezing portions and getting my gym clothes together. When it comes to gym clothes, I am not looking to attract anybody and I don't have parts that I care to show off (yet). My goal is to be comfortable enough with myself that I don't mind sweating and making my ugly face in front of people. I don't need much--just a good bra that will work hard for me (for my cups runneth over), pants that are long enough to cover my ankles (and hug my thighs just right--to look cute...you know...for myself), and sneakers that fit my size 12s and actually look like girl shoes. My husband has an abundance of promotional t-shirts and old college tees, and they do the job for me. I haven't had much luck shopping in the stores for sportswear that fits properly, so I turned to the Interwebs, where tall, thick-boneded girls like myself can find the perfect fit. 

Here are my favorite finds for gym wear for the Amazonian chicas:

Sports Bras that keep big ones at zero-gravity-type suspension

Big girls, bow down. You are looking at your sports bra queen. Enell bras are made for us. And work like nothing you have ever tried before. Enell.com. Another brand worth checking out is ShockAbsorber.com. I haven't tried them, but they claim to lead the pack in decreasing bouncing...check their bounceometer on their website.

Pants that are long enough and are NOT men's sweats from Target

These yoga pants from FitCouture.com are the perfect amount of cute and comfort...even for shorter homegirls. The pink band is a cute bonus. Yoga pants are perfect for all of my workouts. Although I haven't tried spinning yet, which I plan to do and am sure I'll need some extra padding, from what I've heard. Cross that bridge when I get there. LongElegantLegs.com and Victoriassecret.com have them too.

Shoes that fit my big feet and don't look like they came from the men's department

Zappos.com is my mecca of shoe shopping. Mainly because department stores other than Nordstrom ($$) stop at size 11 and I now wear a size 12 post-baby. I found these super cute sneaks by Onitsuka Tiger for Asics there. I picked these because I wear my gym shoes even when I'm not at the gym and don't really ever intend on doing exercise out of doors (It took a while, but I have finally accepted this fact--I will never be a runner). These ones will go from Body Pump to Elliptical to Pilates to Spin, no problem. Also, I'm not a super-girly dresser, and usually live in black and white Chucks, so these don't venture too far from my norm. 

R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010)

I was just a baby at the height of his career. Most of memories of him are in a wheelchair. I wasn't there, but can sing along to all his hot tracks from the seventies. He was sexy. His music was sexy. His voice was too. If you are familiar with his songs, (like most songs from back then) it is hard to hear the music start to play and not bob your head and sing along (with at least one arm in the air snapping to the beat). Here are performances some of my favorites.

I LOVE how easy everybody is dancing on Soul Train in the first one. My people really knew how to party and have a good time back then. In the words of Liz Lemon of 30 Rock, "I want to go to there. "

The More I Get, The More I Want


Close The Door


Come Go With Me


When Somebody Loves You Back

Makeup Monday: I love these so much, I'm throwing them away!

Sort of. I am amazed at how I (and many of you) justify purchasing yet another mascara or lip gloss or blush to add to the other mascaras and lip glosses and blushes I already own. This weekend, in order to prevent myself from buying unnecessary makeup I didn't really need, I looked through my collection to see how much of my stuff I actually use and how much I wanted to use more before I owned it. In the past, I told myself that I would use up all of the cosmetic and skincare products I owned before buying anything else. That was crazy. At the time, though, I really believed I could do it. Now, to make another attempt at controlling my makeup consumption, before I buy anything else, I will use up my core group of regulars (the things I actually trash empty containers of and buy again) and will not buy until the empty container is in the trash.

So here are the items in my makeup bag that are in regular rotation and (most) have been for years. Warning: It's so boring, but makes TOTAL since since these items have made up my everyday fresh-faced look for years!

GoGirl! Kia of Urban Paper Loft (+ a giveaway!)

The GoGirl behind the URBAN PAPER LOFT 

Meet Kia. Just like many of the women I feature in this GoGIrl series, I met Kia online. We had been social networking friends and I had been a fan of her blog (one of the most eclectic and interesting artist blogs I follow) for quite some time before we talked about featuring her as a GoGirl. I shared the link to her stationary with my sister (my biggest fan and my idol and a stationary connoisseur) and her reaction confirmed my assumption that stationary lovers (my sister) and stationary newbies (myself) would be fast fans of Kia's designs. Kia, in her own words...

On what inspired URBAN PAPER LOFT: what inspired UrbanPaperLoft:
"I launched the kianicole site [kianicole.com features paper, gifts and home decor for children, with an emphasis on multi-cultural products] officially in 2008 at the National Stationery Show. I've been infatuated with silhouettes for some time, but had not seen any [designs] that reflected women of color. I wanted to do something with a funky edge and use different colors. I think right now there is really a huge movement of black women dealing with hair issues so I thought there was a lot of opportunities to have this reflected in apparel, paper. etc."

On trying to potty train my two year old:
"That ain't nothin' nice."

On her inspiration:
"My inspiration comes from blogs, art, music influences (I love hip hop), fashion,  you name it. I also just love sharing information with my friends in business regarding ideas and reaching goals."

On what women will find most appealing about her products:
"Hopefully in the art." 

On what she can't leave home without: One word.
"iPhone"

Where to find Kia Online:
Website: http://www.kianicole.com (multi-cultural paper, gifts and home decor for children)
Website: http://urbanpaperloft.com
Blog: http://urbanpaperloft.blogspot.com/ (I highly recommend)

But I know why y"all really clicked on this post. Y'all want the goods. Well here's the scoop on what one lucky HomeGirl winner will win:

Progresso "Souper You Debut" Makeover trip to NYC Contest (plus a giveaway!)

Update: Giveaway end date moved up to 2/1. Winner will be announced Monday, 2/1.

Starting today, DailyFitGirl is officially back in effect. I am moving full-steam ahead to get rid of this last 30 pounds. My original goal was to lose 60 pounds in 6 months, but I stopped at 30 pounds down. Now, I'm 24 pounds away from getting back into my wedding dress (for no particular reason) and my skinny jeans and I'm way anxious/excited about it. My toddler is primed and ready for the pool this summer and mark my words, I will NOT be the mom at the pool in a cover-all this summer. I will be using a fast, proven, extreme (because let's face it, I don't know how to be normal when it comes to weight loss. I have accepted this fact about myself and am at peace with it. Moving on...), yet healthy method to lose 20 pounds of fat (not water) and preserve muscle. I am SO putting myself out there this time. Because I NEED your comments and the threat of public humiliation to keep me motivated, I will be loading daily video updates on my Youtube page. Details and first video go up tomorrow at www.DailyFitGitl.blogspot.com.

IMPORTANT: I will be incorporating Progresso soups into my weight-loss effort and not just because they sent me an awesome gift pack and asked me to post about their contests and allowed me to host a giveaway, but because their lentil soup is a staple in my pantry and is awesome to have on hand when I lack the time and/or the interest in cooking lentil soup from scratch.

Now, let's talk about The Giveaway and The Contest.

It's Official! The New Sound of HomeGirl.

This is my new theme song. Not that I had an old one. I saw a video of this song and decided I needed a theme song and that this would be it. It is happy and sexy and optimistic. Words I use to describe myself most days. I could use more of those days at times. I will listen to it all the time. I will listen to it on the way to the gym and after my shower when I get home. I will play it when my house is quiet. I will play it in my head when I am walking. I will listen to it every day. It will be my get-hype song. Especially on days when I am not feeling good. 

Makeup Monday: Debut of Clinique's 2010 Insiders!

Remember when I told you guys that Clinique had selected me for a second year in a row as a Clinique Insider? Well the new group of Insiders are here! Check out my (very cute--if I may) new profile and first couple of reviews--->HERE<---. 

Spoilers: The 3-step Skincare System have increased my use of the term "buttery" when referring to my skin's texture and the Long-wearing Mascara stands up to steamy summer weather. 

Hey, y'all! It's twentyten up in this piece!

Honestly I'm not that excited about the new year, but am grateful for an opportunity to start fresh. A whole year's worth of days...365 days...52 Mondays, is plenty of time to start over and stop and start over again. 365 days to try to get it right...again.

Since 2010 is a pretty good number, 10 being symbolic of completion and rebirth and all that, I decided to take a look at my first posts of the year over the past 5 years to see how much I/things have changed, or how much my outlook has changed over time. Just as I suspected, I'm the same person. That's a little frustrating, since I'm always (apparently) on a mission to change something about myself. According to my previous first-of-the-year posts (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). I'm usually either over resolution lists or making ones that I end up not satisfying, still trying to lose weight (less weight now, but still), and still hoping to achieve the same things. I'm a little more mature I guess. Definitely more optimistic. And way, WAY more social. So there is definitely growth. Which I guess is most important. You know what they say about life being about the journey not the destination? I'm in a place right now where I'm really trying to enjoy the journey--not focus too far off into the future. To live, really live and enjoy today.

I cannot end this post without highlighting how much my 2009 recap post isn't much different from the previous one. So here is my first-of-the-year post for 2010, which is my 2009 post with some minor updates. Note the changes: