The Scene: Full Figured Fashion Week™ 2012 Industry Awards

This week, Full Figured Fashion Week™ Executive Producer Gwen DeVoe announced this year's Industry Award honorees:


Plus Fashion Photographer of the Year- Stanley Debas

Plus Fashion Stylist of the Year - Spry Lee Scott

Plus Boutique of the Year - Curvaceous Boutique

Plus Lifestyle Magazine of the Year - POSE Magazine (Tiffany Jones and Renee Jennings)

Plus Model of the Year - Ashley Graham

Plus Designer of the Year -Jibri (Jasmine Elder)

Plus Retailer of the Year - Ashley Stewart

Plus Fashion Blog of the Year - The Curvy Fashionista (Marie Leggette)

Plus Model Agency of the Year - Dorothy Combs Models

Make-up Artist of the Year Award - Tara Taylor

Belle-Noir Magazine congratulates all of this year's honorees! We look forward to hearing your acceptance speeches at FFFWeek 2012!

The Frugal Files: Finding our Motivating Mantras

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing- that’s why we recommend it daily.”
~Zig Ziglar

Lately, I have been lacking the motivation to clear the space and declutter even though there are parts of my life and space that desperately need it.

True story…my home office desk is usually a mess. No matter how many times I attempt to clear the space, I just end up moving clutter for one side to the other; total paper pushing. Unfortunately, the mess is never contained to the actual desk, but the entire surrounding area. A friend, who I have been assisting with shredding old papers, came by last week. Since she knows paper clutter, she set out to help me with this issue. She found a place for everything and put me to work to address the piles and put away the files.

After it was completed, the entire room looked lighter and it was a refreshing to sit at the desk and not have to fight with other objects for arm space. In addition to the office, she addressed my sellable item clutter, as I had things sprawled all over. I decided to dedicate a closet to those items and once they were put away, I almost immediately received an email for the sale for those specific items. I truly believe decluttering, not only figuratively, but literally cleared the space for the new to come in. Thank you Universe for sending over my friend to set me straight and for getting me the sale.

Here are three ways I want to help you (and help me) to get you motivated and keep you motivated to get the junk out of your life, so that you can welcome what you desire!! You should know by now, it will involve your participation. Don’t worry though; it won’t hurt. It will just require your diligence in repeating a few words, a few times daily; some call them affirmations and I call them motivation!!

ASK FOR HELP

Whether your help is a prayer, a friend, or a licensed professional, call on them. It’s great when we can solve our own problems, but it is acceptable to lean on others for the support and motivation to take on a task. It’s like when you were learning to ride your bike and you needed training wheels. Then even when they came off, you still may have had to have an adult hold on to the back of your bike until you were steady and ready to finally go at it alone. Getting help builds confidence, so use your resources, as you grow stronger. Your personal life, professional life and financial life will thank you.

Affirmation: I attract those that help me reach my goals and I am happy and motivated when I achieve them.

JUST DO IT

This isn’t about Nike, but they had the right idea with this slogan. If you just get started then, motivation will meet you half way. Sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of getting motivated that we don’t trust ourselves to provide it. You don’t have to know how to get started; you don’t have to know how it will finish; you don’t need to repeatedly prepare for the idea of getting started. Just simply start and as you take one step, the next step gets easier and before you know it, your achievement will start to unfold before your very eyes. You can do it!!

Affirmation: I stay motivated and energized when working toward my goals.

HELP SOMEONE ELSE

You’ve heard of the Law of Reciprocity, so set it into motion by being of assistance to someone else. Motivate and help them with their dreams and goals. Not only will you feel good about it, you’re bound to walk away with a motivation to reach toward your own aspirations. In addition to that, you’ve opened the door for someone to step in and assist you. Remember, no good deed goes unrecognized and I promise it will be rewarded.

Affirmation: I am so motivated that others get motivated just by being around me.

This is truly how it works. Ask. Believe. Receive. When you want something better, you have to make room for it in your life. I have been getting unctions for about a week to “Clean it Up”. I believe God has been telling me to do this in all areas of my life and I know it’s specifically because I am in this transitional time in my life. Things are on the verge of happening for me and I have to be ready. Don’t you want to be ready for great things? Listen to that inner voice and move when it says move!! Let’s go for it frugalicious divas!!

Frugalicious Diva

The Fear of Weight

If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation. – Jiddu Krishnamurti

A few weeks ago, I talked about how happiness is not just a new dress size. I think that we all want to transform ourselves, make ourselves feel better and just be happy with ourselves. But sometimes, a few of us become so focused on the weight loss and equate that with happiness, that we lose sight of the real transformation that should take place; the one within yourself. And that transformation cannot take place, unless you first know who you are and accept who you are. If you don’t accept who you are, no amount of weight loss will ever make you truly happy because your inner self is still the same. And if you don’t love who you are to the core, you are certainly not going to be completely happy with your outer shell at any size. Sure, you’ll be happy after losing some weight but then what happens if you gain some of it back? Are you going to fall out of love with yourself? And then kill yourself to lose the weight again to feel that happiness again? I just think that’s ridiculous. Like Robert Holden once said, “No amount of self-improvement can make up for any lack of self-acceptance.”

None of us are perfect. Once we accept our flaws and imperfections, then we can truly work on loving ourselves as much as we can. Some flaws and imperfections can be worked on, such as weight loss. And some are just things we have to accept. However, if we look at our flaws in a positive manner…that we are each unique and our flaws are what make us so, then we can alleviate some of that self-loathing that sabotages us from making a true transformation within ourselves. Whether you have a lazy eye, a gap between your two front teeth, freckles, whatever…these “imperfections” are what lend to your beauty. They are not negative flaws.

“It's not worth our while to let our imperfections disturb us always.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

For me, surprisingly, I was once scared to lose weight. I have never been thin and the thought of being thin terrified me. I wore my weight as a badge of honor. It made me stand out in the crowd. I always had a strong personality and I was proud of my weight. It was my way of giving the middle finger to society. How dare they tell me what size I should be? And while it sucked not being to share clothes with my friends or shop in a straight size store when I was younger, I reveled in the fact that I was different and courageous for daring to be different. I never made any apologies for my size.

So imagine my shock, many years later, when I heard about a story about a mutual friend of a friend, who was scared of gaining weight. Her life story was the same as mine. She had never been thin. One day, at the age of 34, she decided to lose weight for health reasons. She lost 226 pounds. She began to embrace her transformation and see life differently than she had ever imagined it could be. I think when you’ve never been thin and don’t know how life is as a thin person, your life as a big person becomes the norm so you can’t even imagine life as a thin person.

As she lost the weight, she became obsessed with losing more and more. She lost 226 pounds in eighteen months! But her transformation started to become intertwined with fear. Now that she knew what life was like as a thin person, she was scared of gaining any weight and going back to her former self. Her anxiety started to rule her life. She worked out excessively and began to fear food. Then came a point where she was going to have surgery to have her excess skin removed and a breast lift. The doctors told her that she would need 8-10 weeks to recuperate, which also meant no working out.

She was so fearful that she was going to gain weight during that time. She became really stressed out, to the point where it caused her to have a nervous breakdown. It made me think…how did she feel about herself when she started her weight loss journey? I think that is the key to finding out where things went wrong. Turns out she entered therapy and learned that she never truly loved herself. She got used to being overweight and accepted that as a way of life. She never even entertained the thought of losing weight until her doctor told her she had no choice but to lose weight. She lost the weight so fast and it became such an obsession, that she never took the time to really start to build her self-love for herself from within. She equated weight loss with gaining beauty and being normal.

The lesson in all of this for me, and what I want to share with all of you, is that weight should not be feared. Physically, we will never be at a steady weight. As we age, our body changes and weight fluctuates. We should never be scared to lose weight or gain it. Weight is what it is, just a number on a scale. There is no perfect weight to be at. Everyone has an opinion as to what is the perfect weight or perfect size…what you should be and what you shouldn’t be. However, at the end of the day, you have to be at the weight that you are most comfortable with. You have to be happy with you. But that happiness starts from within. It starts when you let go of the unrealistic restrictions that are imposed on us by society. It starts when you stop listening to what others tell you that you should be. It starts when you stop becoming obsessed with food pyramids, BMIs, scales, tape measures, etc. It starts when you really look at yourself and start to accept who you are as a person.

Once you accept yourself, you slowly build your self-love armor that will protect you from fear, anxiety, negativity and any other things thrown at you. Then you can truly transform yourself as how you see fit (no pun intended, lol). True beauty has nothing to do with a number of a scale. Society has us thinking that in order of us to be beautiful, we have to be thin. And that’s a crock of BS. If that’s the case, you will be seeking beauty like looking for the Holy Grail. Funny thing is, your beauty is always there. There’s no need to look for it on the scale. You just have to look within.

So instead of driving yourself crazy with diets and trying to get to a number on a scale, start to live your life healthy by eating right and in moderation, exercising and loving yourself along the way. Give yourself a break and start to live now and not 15 pounds from now. Now that is a lifestyle change and one that will make you feel better and look better.

The Frugal Files: Tax Day Freebies & Earth Day Challenges

Hello frugalicious folks!!

Welcome back to The Frugal Files, with your lovely host, Frugalicious Diva!!

It’s certainly is tax time!! In case you were wondering why your friends, family and co-workers are scurrying around pulling out their hair and panicking about the deadline. Well, it’s here and hopefully everyone has finally filed their taxes and received their refunds, if you’re getting one. If you owe, I hope all of your checks have already been sent in or at least postdated for today!! We don’t want any penalties on top of what Uncle Sam is already getting do we?

If you are still in need of filing, you better get it done quickly. Here's a few last minute details you can reference for your information. Timely Tips for Tardy Taxpayers 

So, now that you’ve taken care of your business, I think we all deserve a treat. We’re not the only ones. Retailers and companies have all gotten into the tax season spirit and are offering big discounts to consumers, but best of all, some are offering what we love best: FREE STUFF!!

You name it, you claim it, so check out what you can get today for little to no bucks!! From coffee to Happy Hour, let’s get our after-tax treats!!

Want to relax? Based on where you live, see if you can get you a Free HydroMassage on Tax Day (4/16-20) Just reserve yours and print out the coupon to redeem it!! 

Hungry? Then get your free coffee and biscotti at Whole Foods for breakfast, head to Panda Express for a free Shanghai Angus Steak and Arbys for free value curly fries for lunch!! For dinner...GO HOME AND COOK!! We're frugalicious remember? Before you do though, stop in for Happy Hour at McCormick and Schmick's who has an extended happy hour from 3pm - 11pm. They'll have discounted appetizers and drinks called the Bloody Mary Tax Code, the Uncle Same and the Rummy Refund. Aren't those clever?

Okay, if you don't want to cook, then at least get something free. Get a free appetizer at Chili's and if you head to Chevy's, they will pick up the taxes for you!! Hooter's Tax Day Special offers 20 boneless wings for $9.99. Print this Boston Market coupon to get a free individual meal when you buy one!! So, dinner for two, for the price of one!! 

Then, get a sweet treat from Maggie Moos or Marble Slab Creamery, who are both offering a free scoop of their new yogurt flavors from 4pm - 7pm today!! You can also head to Cinnabon and get two Cinnabon Bites free from 6pm - 8pm. Taxes never tasted so sweet!!

While you're getting all your free tax breaks and delectables, don't forget it's still Earth Month and Earth Day is a coming up this Sunday!! We are still Spring cleaning, so don't forget to do your part. Participate in an Earth Day event in your area, create your own and submit your Green Act here: Earth Day Events

Here's a couple of challenging ways to celebrate Earth Day and do something that will matter in the long run.

Go vegetarian for a week. Can you do it? If I have my rice and black beans, I know I definitely could. We already go meatless 1-2 times per week. This is what I read from The Huffington Post, after seeing that the meat industry contributed man-made gas emissions.

"A report published by the Environmental Working Group last year found that if every American eliminated both meat and cheese from their diet for one day a week, it would be equivalent to removing 7.6 million cars from the road."

Wow, that's a lot of gas and speaking of it, do you think you could go without your car for a week? I don't think I can, but I can limit my driving. Other alternatives would be to walk, ride a bike or even take public transportation, all of which are cheaper than putting our cars on the road.

Even if you find those two difficult, saying no to plastic should prove to be an easier task. Purpose to recycle the plastic bottles you have and pick up a reusable metal bottle, drink tap or distilled water and save the earth. The more junk we keep out of the landfills the better.

So, with that, I will bid you adieu, but have a great freebie day!! We'll check in next week!!

Frugalicious Diva

Dealing With The Worst Day of Your Life

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~ Anonymous

A year ago on April 10, 2011, I received the call that I never wanted to receive, one that I was not prepared for. My dad had a heart attack and he didn’t make it. I remember that call like it was yesterday. I was speechless at first. Then I said it could not be true. I had just spoken to him two hours before. But yes, it was true. Even a year later, it is hard for me to comprehend. I’m crying as I type this because the pain is still so fresh.

For me personally, this was especially tough because I had never lost anyone close to me before. I didn’t know how to deal with it. My dad was not only my father but my friend, my confidante and my hangout partner. For me, this was the worst day of my life. And I was beside myself. I didn’t know how to deal. While I was standing still, the world around me continued. Time kept going.

Death changes a person. It puts life in perspective. It forces you to reexamine life. You are really shown that life is indeed short and not guaranteed. We get into this groove where we take life for granted. How many times have you said, “Oh, I’ll just do that tomorrow.” Honestly, none of us knows if we even have a tomorrow. So we have to enjoy the NOW.

My dad always looked forward to his retirement, which to him was the finale of his life. He could finally relax and travel with his wife, my step-mom. They could eventually move to South Carolina, live on a farm and spend their days gardening and relaxing. However, he never got to that finale. He passed away while at work, as a Greyhound driver, while on his way to Syracuse. He saved 24 lives that day on the bus by pulling over the moment he didn’t feel well. He died on the side of the road on the New Jersey Turnpike, sitting on the ground, leaning on the bus.

So how do you deal with the worst day of your life? Simply, one day at a time. All we can do is the best that we can, one day at a time. When you look at it that way, it is not as overwhelming. You will be amazed at your own strength. I know many people were in awe of how I managed to deliver my dad’s eulogy at his funeral and get through that whole service without falling apart. But I did.

I have days where I feel like my heart is being ripped from my chest. Many times, out of habit, I have grabbed my phone, ready to dial his number and then I remember that he is gone. It took me nine months to be able to look at a picture of him for longer than 5 seconds. But as each day passes, it got a little easier to accomplish these things. I just wake up every morning and make the choice to live my day out to its fullest.

Now don't get me wrong. The pain is still there. It'll probably never go away. I will never be the same. But honestly, living my life one day at a time helps me to cope. It heals me a little each day. I'm not standing still, dwelling on him being gone. I am working towards accepting that he is gone but doing so one day at a time so that it doesn't overwhelm me to the point that I will just break down.

You have to remember that even when you are standing still (like I mentioned above), life still goes on. And it can pass you by if you keep standing still. If you do that, you’re doing a disservice to yourself and any other life you touch. We all touch a life, whether we do it intentionally or not. And when you come to the end of your journey, your life will reflect who you were. Your life is your story. You write the chapters with the steps you take on your journey, every decision you make and how you choose to live your life.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. And you will emerge from that dark tunnel, stronger than before. You have to. Because you still have a life to live. And having a life to live is such a gift. Every day you make the choice on how you live your life. You choose to get out of bed. You choose to go outside. You choose to live. I usually reflect for a little bit when I wake up in the morning. I think of the day ahead and make a decision to get some things done, be productive and also treat myself to some little things that make me happy. It could be taking a walk on the boardwalk or having a mocha iced coffee. The little things can add up to big things and they help in boosting your spirit as you cope with the pain.

Even if you don’t get out of bed, you are still alive. This is what was on my mind those first few mornings after my dad passed away. I did not want to get out of bed. But no matter how hard I tried, God was telling me that I have to live. Now if I wanted to live it from under my blankets, that was my choice. But did I want to be known as someone who just stayed in bed and did not live life to its fullest? No, I did not.

My step-mom said something to me when she called me on the 1-yr anniversary. She said one of the most important lessons she learned from my dad’s death is to stop focusing on the finale of our lives and instead enjoy the journey while we’re striving to get there. She and my dad had planned to go to Europe within the next few years. It was my dad’s dream to see Europe.

This reminded me of how happy and interested he was to hear of my own travel tales. He was so proud that his little girl was brave enough to travel the world most of the time by herself. He saw places through my eyes and stories. One of the greatest things that gave him joy was seeing me live my life to the fullest. I think it inspired him to want to see the world. It really saddens me that he did not get to see Europe because he was too focused on his finale and not fully enjoying his journey.

In order for me to honor my dad and his memory, I have to live the best life I can. We should all strive for that. We should all make great stories to tell and inspire. We need to enjoy our journey. And we should all try to deal with the forks in the road, the monkey wrenches thrown our way and the worst days of our lives...one day at a time.

I love you, Daddy. Thank you for being YOU.

Daniel Cruz

November 10, 1949 – April 10, 2011

The Frugal Files: Spring is the Time to Grow Your Green

Hello there frugal folks!!

Welcome back to The Frugal Files!! I hope you enjoyed our Flip Flop week and that you took notes on Marcy’s tutorial on navigating CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens. I am especially grateful to Marcy for sharing her expertise. With me being fairly new in the coupon game, they were the stores that intimidated me the most. I just didn’t know how to shop in those places for the best price. Now, I’m much more comfortable and I hope you are too.

It is now April and Spring is here; one of my favorite seasons of the year. The sun is out, so we’re leaving winter and debt behind. As the saying goes…April Showers bring May flowers. I love flowers because they are beautiful, but also because of what they represent: GROWTH. Just as seasons change on the earth, it is mirrored in our bank accounts. As we continue to chat about Savings, Debt and Decluttering, it is only right that we now clear that space as the new ground is ready for planting and growth!!

We talked about basic savings and that should continue always. Now where can your money go from here? My first piece of advice is to seek out and hire a Financial Advisor. It doesn’t matter how much money you have because if you have the vision I know you do, you know that what you see is not where you will always be financially.

Ask for referrals and get started on your search. At your first meeting, listen to what they can offer, but bring your own questions. Ask them to help you calculate your current Net Worth, then allow them to help you write down some of your financial goals, both short and long term. It could be saving for a home, your children’s college fund, a mutual fund or other investments. Not sure which investments are best for you? Ask them about that too!! The more questions you ask, the closer you are to growing your own personal financial portfolio.

While you are securing your advisor, do some of your own financial gardening. There are some moves you can make without an advisor. For instance, you can commit to raising the amount of your Automatic Savings draft; the money you are saving regularly and automatically. Purpose to put more aside. If you want to step it up a notch though, ask your advisor about mutual funds. Open one and begin putting money there. It’s like a savings account, but it’s set up to be long term for you and can include low risk bonds and high-risk stocks. You can choose your own risk level. The long-term benefit of this type of fund is GROWTH!!

Another way to grow money is to get it from someone else. I know they say nothing in life is free, but I don’t think they have been exposed to it. If your employer offers a 401k/403b AND matches your investment, you have just proved those people wrong!! It is free money and you should take full advantage. If they will match up to 6% of your check, then you should be saving 6% of your check in your 401k fund. The amount you save is before taxes, so that means there are less taxes being taken out of your paycheck. This is an awesome long-term tool for retirement. If you really want to live well in your retirement, then start saving now. The greatest part is…the money grows as you grow older.

Just like you need a new wardrobe for the new season, you also need a refreshing look at your money. It is great to save it, but if your goal is true wealth, then it’s time to financially grow up. The season has changed and it is time you do the same. If you want to change the way you think about money, then you need to change what you say about money. Instead of thinking of stagnant saving, speak and act toward abundance and GROWTH. I have a financial affirmation for you that will do just that:

I Give Thanks For All My Prosperity that is Rapidly Multiplying!!

Frugalicious Diva

Living Up to My Size!! Big!!

Hey folks!! It's Frugalicious Diva here bringing you another great episode of Fearless Fridays!! April Fool's Day was earlier this week, so Marcy and I decided to switch it up on you!! She's passionate about savings just like me and I'm adamant about being true to oneself, just like our beloved Marcy!! So, here goes...

“You’re a pretty girl but, honey, you need to lose some weight. Boys don’t like fat girls.” These words were uttered to me as an eight-year-old girl by my sweet, but tactless, elderly neighbor. I never thought she was correct, but I was wrong in assuming that it didn’t affect me.

With the popularity of social media, blogs and the ability for so many people to have a platform to share their similar thoughts, the amount of criticism of plus size people has been at an all time high. Based on my neighbor’s words, it’s obvious people were saying, and thinking these things before online diaries were so prevalent, but now people say things overtly and are a little too careless with their words.

When I hear things like this, “they really need to lose weight and take control of their lives.” I realized long ago, this is not out of concern. It is bullying because in most cases they don’t even know that person and or have a true interest in seeing that person “get healthy”; they just felt the need to say something about someone fat. I once saw an interview with the late, great plus size super model Mia Amber, where she battled a woman, who was adamant about blaming the nation’s healthcare crisis on people of size. Mia’s response, “sizism is the last acceptable prejudice” and she was right.

After living and learning about myself, I now chuckle at people who are hateful with their words. It’s sad and such a crying shame that they don’t realize they are the truly unhappy ones. It’s such a catch 22 to be part of the fat race too. On one hand people look at you and assume that you’re unhealthy, that you sit around eating all day and that you’re miserable. Then when you workout, people have the nerve to make fun of you at the gym and spew venom at a person who’s just looking after their health.

My personal story is that I honestly didn’t think anything was “wrong” with me until I ventured into the plus-size modeling arena years ago. That experience is a story for another day, but it opened my eyes to not only how society feels about us, but how we feel about us too. I remember being resented by a “former fatty” (her words) because I had the nerve to live and love life while I was big. Hey, I wouldn’t mind releasing a few pounds, but I refuse to hate myself to get to my desired size. I will LOVE myself there and that means I will enjoy my life whatever size I am.

I’ve addressed the negative things because I know on all levels, whether you’re plus size, know someone plus size or have been narrow-minded enough to say or think some of these things, I want to say to you…POPPYCOCK!! The limited beliefs of others should have NO bearing on what you can and will achieve in your life. Plus size folks are falling in love, traveling and climbing corporate ladders daily and what someone thinks internally and says externally, is never going to change that we’re worthy of living a full and healthy life.

I make bucket lists of things to do and see all the time and I intend to do each and every one of them. Big Belles & Gents, don’t play your life small. You’re big, so play big and be full of life. In 2010, I went to China and for the first time in my life, I couldn’t fasten my seat belt on the plane. Did I leave the airport and go home? No!! I simply asked for a seat belt extender and continued the conversation with my neighbor. When I got to Beijing and saw the Great Wall, did I sit on the side and let its magnitude defeat me? No. I may not have run up those steps, but I certainly did walk up several levels, taking in the total experience of visiting one of the great wonders of the world. I wouldn’t have missed that opportunity for anything in the world and certainly not because I’m overweight.

The following months I went to Jamaica to cruise with a group, whose soul purpose was to get plus size people aboard. It was a celebration of curves and a slap in the face to those who think we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves in the sun at any size. It was an exhilarating experience and I felt comfortable in my skin.

Notice my open arms in both pictures? It’s a symbol that I’m open to life, welcoming every good thing that life has to offer me. I suggest you do the same. Guess what? When good things come your way, they don’t care how much skin you’re wrapped in. Speaking of skin, one of my most favorite things I’ve discovered was Belly Dancing. I always wanted a class and there are several in my area. I was drawn to Aegela’s class, as she proclaimed, “All bellies were welcome”. That line was a reminder, you can do whatever you desire in whatever body you have. I also found that I’m good at it.

I’m reminded of Proverbs 18:16 that says, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” Here’s proof of just that, when a plus size teen takes the stage in front of an initially judgmental audience. Take a look:

Yes, people will underestimate you, but YOU don’t have to underestimate you!! That is NOT your reality and it is certainly NOT your destiny!!

So, the next time you take on the negative words of others, I DARE you to live!! Every time you think your size will hinder you, I DARE to you do it anyway!! You have the right to live life, love yourself and stand out and make a difference. Let’s sing along with Beyonce when she sings, “I will leave my mark, so everyone will know, I. WAS. HERE.”

Frugalicious Diva

Mid-Week Must Have: Queen Grace Announces Vieta Handbags

We received the following from our friends at the Queen Grace Collection:

"Introducing the popular and ultra stylish handbag line by Vieta Accessories!

Vieta handbags are 100% sustainable, eco friendly, luxe looking, super stylish and the best part? They are a fabulous compliment to our gorgeous QG spring color palettes and we think these luxe bags are priced perfectly just for YOU.


This special, limited edition series will be running through Spring 2012 so get your QG Vieta bag now - they just may sell out before you blink your pretty little curvy girl eye!"

Redeem code QUEENIE25 and enjoy 25% off your 1st order! Free Shipping for all orders over $100.00! They ship worldwide & Queen Grace is proudly made In the USA!

I am loving the Allie Clutch and the Honor Handbag! Do you have a fave?

Have you checked out the Vieta Accessories line from the Queen Grace Collection? It's available now at www.queengrace.com!

The Frugal Files: Using Store Reward Programs to Maximize Savings

April Fool’s! Ha! Bet you were expecting the Frugalicious Diva and one of her fabulous money-saving blog posts, right? Well, in honor of April Fool’s Day, we decided to do what we call a “flip-flop” week. We have switched days for this week but will still maintain the topic of the day. I usually write about self-love and empowerment on my Fearless Fridays column but what many readers don’t know about me is that I am also a big couponer. I spend hours weekly, looking for coupons, cutting coupons and comparing coupons with circulars. I have been known to get things from free and have my own stockpile going on at home. So the Frugalicious Diva asked me to share some of my saving tips with all of you and she will share some of her positivity this week on my Fearless Fridays column.

One of the ways I get things for little to nothing is by utilizing reward programs at stores. Reward programs are loyalty programs where the sole goal is to reward and encourage loyal buying behavior with a customer. Stores like CVS and Rite Aid offer reward programs where you earn reward dollars per item that are good towards your next purchase.

Signing up for a reward program is super easy. You can sign up at the register in-store or online on the store’s website. Most stores will give you a card, which you give to the cashier to scan every time you make a purchase. That way your purchase is recorded on your account.

When you sign up for a reward program, the most important piece of information that you will give the store is your email address. Your email address is important because it is directly linked to your reward card so you can access your account on the store’s website and see where you are in terms of purchases towards a reward. With that said, here are 2 great reward program tips regarding emails:

Tip #1: Create an email address on Gmail or Yahoo that is dedicated to just being used for reward programs and couponing. That way your coupons and reward program-related emails are all in one place and not scattered within your main email inbox, which can become confusing and overwhelming if you get a lot of emails.

Tip #2: Sign up for emails for your favorite store. You can do this directly on their website. You will be notified of sales and coupons that are only available to online subscribers. Also, many times you will get a coupon for signing up. For example, when you sign up for CVS emails online, you automatically are sent a “$4 off a purchase of $20 or more” coupon to use on your next purchase.

Now you’re signed up! What to do next? Become familiar with the reward program at the store you will be shopping at. It is important to know the name of the reward program, the type of rewards earned and the store’s coupon and reward policy. Here’s a few to start you off:

CVS: Their rewards are called Extra Care Bucks (ECBs). ECBs are like money and all ECBs earned in a purchase are good towards your next purchase. $1ECB = $1 off your next purchase. Always be mindful of ECB limits, which are shown in fine print under the item in the circular. Most of the time, there is a limit of 1 ECB reward per item per customer. ECBs print out at the bottom of the receipt. You also earn 2% back in ECBs on all purchases during a certain seasonal time period. CVS also has their own coupon machine, where you scan your card and the machine spits out CVS coupons that can be stacked with manufacturer coupons. Keep scanning your card until the machine tells you it has no more coupons for you that day. I usually get about 2-3 scans.

CVS Tip: Make sure to sign up for CVS’ Beauty Club on the website. For every $50 you spend, you earn $5ECBs. Trick is, they count the $50 from the regular price. So even when you get any beauty item for free via ECBs, sales and coupons, you will get the value of the regular price of that item added towards your Beauty Club total. I hit my $50 almost every week and don’t pay that much out of pocket! Also, next time you’re in CVS, look for their Green Tag. This is a bag tag that you buy for 99 cents and every visit, you bring it in, hooked to a reusable shopping bag, have it scanned and on the 4th visit, you earn $1ECB. This is a great way to help the environment, use your own bag and earn some ECBs.

Rite Aid: They have two ways to earn rewards; +Up rewards and Single Check Rebates. +Up rewards are the same as ECBs. With Single Check Rewards (see picture at right), you have to enter in your information from your receipt online and you will be sent the amount of the rebate in the form of a check in the mail.

Rite Aid Tip: You can get store coupons (which can be stacked with manufacturer coupons) through their Ad Perks website. Basically, you watch a 2-minute video on a product and afterwards, you get a coupon, which you can print out and use in-store. Also, in their circular, be on the lookout for store coupons as well.

Walgreens: Their reward program is called Register Rewards and it works like CVS and Rite Aid, where you can earn register rewards on an item. However, you don’t need a rewards card in Walgreens to take advantage of Register Rewards. You just buy the item in question and the reward prints out with the receipt (see pic on left).

Walgreens Tip: Every month they come out with a coupon book, full of store coupons that you can stack with manufacturer coupons. The coupons expire at the end of the month and the books are usually located at the front of the store next to the circulars or just ask the cashier for one.

Final tips…Plan your shopping trip beforehand! The first thing I do is scan the circular and see what items have rewards attached to them. I then see if I have coupons for those items. Once that is done, I build my shopping list in an Excel spreadsheet with formulas that calculate my savings and totals. I also break my purchases up into 2-3 smaller separate ones so I can apply the rewards I receive on the first purchase to the next and so on. I plan my shopping trip in advance this way so I know what I am getting free on which purchase.

I hope this helps you to better understand how you can use reward programs to get free stuff. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below and I would be more than happy to answer them as best as I can. Now let’s shop!

All Eyez On...:Igigi Spring 2012 Look Book

If you have been reading the Belle-Noir Mag blog for while now, you already know that I have a love affair with Igigi. Team Belle-Noir has heard me say repeatedly that if I ever win Lotto, I would probably purchase just about every dress Igigi comes out with every season. It is not only the fact that their clothing is feminine, flirty, and just gorgeous, but in having purchased several of their dresses (both semi-formal and formal) as well as a few of their tops, I know first hand that their clothing is made with quality and from materials that just hug every curve I have (while often hiding the ones I don't really want to make stand out).

Our friends at Igigi were kind enough to send over their new Look Book for Spring 2012 entitled "A Breath of Fresh Air". And true to its name, the dresses featured make you just want to run outside on a warm spring day, breathe in deeply, exhale and say "ahhhhhhhh!"

From Igigi abut the new Breath of Fresh Air collection:

"My design sensibility has always had a vintage vibe to it, so this season I decided to go all the way and just have a blast with stylistics. I took the old covers of Vogue magazines from early 20’s all the way trough 50’s and created homage to the history of style.” Said Yuliya Raquel, Founder, Creative Director and Lead Designer in a press release.

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection that are available now (all in sizes up to 32):

Daffodil Love Dress
$122

Vintage Floral Dress

Lempika Dress $128.00

Vintage Polka Dot Dress

What do you think about these selections from the Igigi Spring 2012 Look Book? You can check out the full Look Book here and visit Igigi at www.igigi.com.  

A Note From Ms. Aja B.: We Want to Hear From You!

Greetings everyone!

One question that I have been repeatedly asked is "How can I be in Belle-Noir Magazine?" Usually, the question comes from an aspiring plus size model. But every now and again, one of our readers will send us the question, spurred by an eagerness to see more women like themselves on our pages. Our Editorial Team wanted a way for our readers--plus size women of Color like yourselves--to tell us more about themselves and tell their stories.

On Monday, April 2, 2012, we will be introducing our new "Be Featured in Belle-Noir!" tab, your one stop to find information on everything from being a model in one of our photo shoots to being part of an upcoming feature article (see our "Love Like This" article  in our January/February 2012 issue as an example).

Belle-Noir Magazine is nothing without our readers, and we are eager to shine the spotlight on all that is big, beautiful, and all about you! Click here to check out the opportunities that are currently open and let us know what you think!

Here's to seeing you on the pages of Belle-Noir Magazine soon!

Peace & Love,
Ms. Aja B.