Homegirl Quel (kel) in Austin

In case you've been wondering...

This is what I've been up to. Knitting my first thing.

I call this one Big Yellow Scarf. 

Keep It In My Backyard, Austin!

Kiimby (Keep It In My Backyard) is so quintessentially Austin-- a movement created by tech guys, encouraging people to do good, while shopping local. Wednesday night I had the pleasure of joining them at Dress Shop in downtown Austin for the first of many events around town to celebrate their good-hearted movement to encourage Austinites to shop at locally-owned businesses while simultaneously supporting local charities. The short of it is that shoppers can register (at no cost) for a Kiimby card, select a local charity to support, and use the card when shopping at Austin businesses. The card works like a local shopper loyalty card--swipe it at an locally-owned business and a percentage of the purchase goes to an Austin charity. Pretty good, huh?

A percentage of purchases made at Wednesday night's event went to support  . In case you missed it, my relationship with DFS started with a little cupcake party I threw and has blossomed from there. Leslie, Judy and the team of volunteers there are just awesome. Austinites, if you have a do-gooder itch to scratch, and being part of an organization that supports women interests you, go register to volunteer with us! If you don't have time to volunteer, go over to kiimby.com, register for your card, select Dress For Success or any other local charity you want your purchases to support and shop local! Let me tell you, Dress Shop is a great place to start. Obviously the dresses there rock, but the accessories at that place? Girl! I promise my heartrate increased when I saw the first display of statement necklaces. I'm going back there for my next accessorie run and you should too. Brave downtown parking (I tried to use the law of attraction--really--to find a close spot, but still ended up walking 4 blocks to the store), wear comfy shoes, and prepare to be enveloped in ultimate girlieness

I managed to snap a few decent pictures during the event. Here are a few, but as usual, head on over to my Facebook page for the full monty!

 

Out With The Toddler, In With The Handbags

My toddler will be starting preschool next month. More importantly, I will no longer have to lug around diapers and kid food, juice boxes and race cars all day in a (quite awesome, you may recall) HUGE tote bag. Finally, during the day at least, my bag will be all about me again! :)

I have always been a fan of huge bags. Pre-baby, I carried around lots of stuff. Back then, I needed a bag that was big enough to hold a bottle of water, 1 or 2 magazines, a makeup pouch a really big wallet, cell, lotion, gum,  yada yada yada you get the picture.  Now that toddler-freedom is upon me, and I have upped my gadget count, I will need an even bigger bag to accommodate all that stuff listed above, plus a netbook and a couple of cameras. But this one does not have to b water/baby-gunk proof. And on days that I am just making quick runs for lunch with friends or (yayee) to see a matinee, I can actually carry something that is small and pretty and has absolutely nothing to do with being a mom-person.

Here are just a few of the bags I'm coveting at the moment. I am seriously hoping to see one or two of these in my future:

Biguns

These bags by Joes Jeans (white) and Olivia Harris (black) are the stuff my dreams are made of. No, really, in my dreams, thanks to their hefty price tags. But, a girl's gotta dream. I found them on piperlime.com and fully intend to stalk them until the prices go down or until they are sold out.   

  Teeny Weenies

   

Behold the Fossil zip clutch and the fabulously long, fabric Aya Morrison clutch in all their ethnic, perfect-everyday-clutch glory. I read about Aya Morrison on Afrobella's spot recently and her bags have been on my must-have-one list ever since. I love both of these clutches not only because of their beautiful prints, but also because they are just large enough to carry my cell phone, money, Chapstick and lip gloss. And what stay at home mom wouldn't love to go out packed that light?

Fashion Friday: Wear a book. Look Awesome! Do good.

In the age of the iPad, who knows what fate lies ahead for the actual paper book cover. I happen to love actual paper books and enjoy the occasional audio book, but draw the line at e-books. I prefer the reading process that includes turning pages and using bookmarks, underlining notables and quotables and housing read books on shelves. I, however, am just one person. Perhaps a day will come when paper books go the way of the cassette tape and become obsolete, rendering actual book covers useless and of no nostalgic significance to future readers. It could happen. If or when that day comes (or now, just to be awesome), we cover lovers can proudly wear the cover of our favorite piece of great literature right on their chests...and...put paper books in the hands of fellow page-turners!

Out of Print is an awesome little company on a mission. Buy one of their comfy tee shirts featuring your favorite book cover from their collection and a book will be donated to a community in need through their partnership with Books For Africa. How cool is that?!

Fashion Friday: Nappy Rutz

The first time I saw Cherie Huff, owner of Nappy Rutz, was about a year ago at meet-up of a natural hair/lifestyle social group called Do You Austin. When she walked in, my stream of thoughts was something like this: Yay! another tall girl--Wow, she's striking (That's her in the middle in the pic up top, see? Striking.)--those earrings are HUGE--I want them. She's a six-footer like me and wore a floor length canary yellow skirt, a plain white tank top, and the biggest earrings I had ever seen. I learned about her company during a quick chat after the event and we agreed to keep in touch.

A few weeks later I got my earrings: a pair of huge, leather, diamond shaped earrings, and the teal teardrop pair I'm wearing in the photo. I wear the teal ones in my Twitter profile pic, in one of my Youtube videos and in one of my Clinique beauty reviews. I shot all of those on the same afternoon. Since the videos and pics made their debut, a few ladies have asked about the earrings, so I thought I'd introduce the artist here.

 

In her words...

"The tees came first. I’ve always admired nappy tees but had the hardest time finding tees long enough for me. I have the longest torso, EVER!! My hair is in its natural state, so I immediately thought Nappy Roots but with a twist spelled Rutz instead. The lack of large affordable earrings that made a bold statement were hard to come by, so I created my own. The rest is history. Nappy Rutz will be moving to Atlanta in the next few months. In the near future I plan to implement cuffs made of leather, clutches, belts and skirts. This means lots of work to look forward to."

The latest addition to her collection is the feather line! Peacock feathers, anyone?

Nappy Rutz tees and jewelry make a BIG statement. The pieces are designed with the natural girl in mind, but many of her fans rock Nappy Rutz pieces with their straight hair too. Check out her photo gallery of satisfied customers HERE.

Nappy Rutz tee-shirts and earrings can be viewed and purchased online at http://www.nappyrutz.com.

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.

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. 

Proof that the Law of Attraction is real.

I asked: (on Facebook to a friend) "I wish there was a boy version of the Gap "talk to the moose" commercial."

The Universe answered:

Fashion Friday: How cute are these boots?!

The girls in this commercial are just too cute. It's the one commercial I stop my DVR to watch. But this post isn't about this commercial, or those boots. It's about these boots...

Cognac, Steve Madden Fold Bootie. This is how I'd wear them if they weren't sold out of my size everywhere! You can try your luck HERE. 

Fashion Friday: Follow The Model

Why do I want to read Miss J's book? Because he's awesome?! I remember being so excited to get to see him in motion on America's Next Top Model. I've been over the show for a few years now, so haven't seen him in a minute. LOVE Miss J.

I promise you I have never been more intrigued by a single person in the fashion industry more than by Miss J. I think he's awesome, but have always wondered how man who doesn't quite fit into the conventional standard of beauty, managed to establish himself as a runway expert and, like, fixture in the high fashion model industry. I've seen the walk, as many of you have, and I GET why he's the go-to guy to ready new models for the runway...the man, the legs, fierceness on the catwalk. But I want to know what made Miss J, Miss J, so I'm really looking forward to reading this one. 

Supposedly it reads like a biography and a how-to. Here's an awesome quote from the book:

“There’s no getting around it - the church is the reason I am who I am today. I thank Jesus I ended up a man with a killer stride that has the power to burn footprints into a runway.”

Can.not.wait.to.read.it.

Title: Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power by J. Alexander

Sneak peek inside and available on Amazon.com.

Fashion Friday: Any Given Black Friday

No parking lots and shopping cart gridlock for me today. In between a breakfast and lunch of macaroni pie (my favorite Thanksgiving dinner leftover) and coffee, I spent my morning bundled up at the playground with my toddler and my afternoon napping while he did. Even though there was no Black Friday shopping for me, I did put together a list of black things that I'd be oh so happy to unwrap on any given Friday. 

1. Tiered Velvet Trim Dress, Forever21-$28
2. Converse by John Varvatos-$200
3. Kooba cross body bag-$469
4. BlackBerry Tour9630 
5. Idris Elba. He's not really on my list per se. This is just one for...um...you single ladies. Mhm.

Fashion Friday: Cropped Leather Jackets

Ok. So here's the short of it (pun intended): I'm into cropped leather jackets right now. And by "into", I mean admire them on people who have the body type to wear them and who do so well. As I've mentioned before, I'm very busty and since I have no desire to look like a lampshade, I'm steering clear of these for the moment. However, should I shed the remaining 30ish pounds that are currently still working with and achieve a little more proportion, I'm all over this style. So feminine and slightly bad-ass. If I where to ever literally get into cropped leather jackets, I would wear them with a plain tank, skinny jeans and heels like Ciara, Beyonce and Rihanna 'nem...sans the sunglasses, a few inches on the heels and the extra pointy shoulder pads.

These picks are pricey, but pretty. Fortunately, this style is very trendy,so your favorite shop is likely to have them at more reasonable prices.

Items in this set: Preen jacket, $749; DAY Birger et Mikkelsen jacket, $700; Rock & Republic jacket, $658;Arden B jacket, $58

Fashion Friday: Butterfly Things!

Hi. My name is Raquel. I'm 31 (or 32? I honestly can't remember), and I still love butterflies. Can't help it. I have butterfly jewelry, hoodies, tops, hair clips...I'm even contemplating a new butterfly tattoo! I fell in love with them as a girl, like most girls do. Back then, I loved them just because they're pretty. Now, I think I'm drawn to them more because of what they represent: beauty, transformation, freedom. A few years ago, I blogged about listening to a song by Corinne Bailey Rae (note to self--find her album on iPod and hit play/repeat during my drive today) called "Butterfly" and simultaneously seeing and hearing "butterfly" and how I felt it was a sign of some kind. When I have moments like that, I feel like such a twelve year-old. In some ways I feel like that's a good thing. Twelve year-olds dream with a kind of hopeful naivety that I miss sometimes. Although I'm in my 30's now and have traded doodling butterflies on my notebooks in school for sketching potential butterflies tattoos, I still wear them  whenever I can. My favorite everyday butterfly thing is a gold pendant necklace like the one pictured below. My favorite special butterfly thing is a diamond and sapphire pendant necklace my husband gave me on  my 30th birthday (one or two years ago--seriously, I need to check the dates to figure out how old I am). Here are some sweet butterfly things for my fellow butterfly-loving homegirls.

Items in this set:

Wetseal.com blouse, $19; Pewter/Yellow Butterfly Print T-Shirt, 16 GBP; Cocoeve flats, $88; Tory Burch bag, $375;Alex Monroe necklace, $130;Enamel Butterfly Bangle, $42;Butterfly Brass & Topaz Hues Hair Clip $16; Butterfly Computer Sleeve, $45

Fashion Friday: Let's talk about sequins.

While Beyoncé and Carrie from Sex and the City and maybe Cher circa 1982 would look right at home sequined from head to toe, it takes some careful thought for most of us regular girls (if I may speak for you) to pull it off. Not that we'd ever need to be sequined from head to toe, but we might be in the mood to sparkle a little bit along with the rest of the stars this fall.

This Fashion Friday post was a challenge, because I'm not one for shine unless it's on my lips or on my fro. But I wanted to give sequins a chance. Most of the time I dress for comfort. I wear jeans (structured ones) to church...sometimes even with my chucks. I don't dress to draw attention to myself, rather to look cute and decent should someone's eyes land on me. So choosing sequined pieces to potentially add to my fuss-free wardrobe took some work, but I found some that I would actually wear and still look like HomeGirl Quel.

Sequins make a statement, but are wearable everyday if the statement is small. Start with very simple pieces like the black t-shirt dress or black skinny-jeans and white tank I have chosen here:

Items in this set: Premium Sequin Blazer, $124, Betsey Johnson 'Law' Pump, $150, Monsoon Flutterby Butterfly Multi Sequin Clutch, $49, Juicy Couture | Sequined silk scarf | NET-A-PORTER.COM, $204, Black Sequin Ladder Beanie, $20

Then simply add one sequined accessories to finish the look. I chose the short, black t-shirt dress because of the red sequined heels I found. Shoes like those deserve to be showcased along with a good pair of legs...y'all know how I have a thing for my legs. The dress is plain enough to allow the shoe to shine, and simple enough for a plain dresser like me to wear flashy heels, yet not look like I'm playing dress up. Similarly, the sequined blazer or scarf can top a plain white tank and black skinny-jeans without making a fuss. I'd pair the blazer with a pair of black boots or pumps. With the scarf or the beanie, black and white high-top chucks will work every time.

See?! Sequins are doable. How would you do sequins? Or would you?

Fashion Friday: It's A Wrap!

Wrap sweaters deliver instant style--a cool edge to your look with as little effort as just throwing them on. They take on a different shape every time you wrap them, so it's like many sweaters in one. More importantly for those of us with a little more up top, there is no sweater more flattering than wraps. My philosophy when it comes to sporting big boobs: either flaunt 'em or camouflage 'em, but don't just lug 'em around. Before I discovered wrap sweaters, I was a lugger--a standard cardigan girl, and those things are so unflattering on a girl like me with more up top and less everywhere else.

That's me in the picture...looking wrapalicious at Blogalicious 2009. I think I ended up wearing this Old Navy sweater to every daytime event while I was there, because it goes with EVERYTHING, even in green! I dressed it down here with dark-rinse skinny jeans, a white tank and black ankle boots,  and later dressed it up with tan wool crepe J. Crew slacks, a pomegranate top and heels. I even rocked it with boot-cuts and chucks on the plane ride home. I liked this look so much that I actually went back and got the same sweater in black! 

Above: Splendid Cape Wrap $87 - piperlime.com;Roll-Up Wrap Sweater $40 - Old Navy;Loose wrap blouse -$688- brownsfashion.com

Tip for my HomeGirls: When you find something you like, especially a high-style, reasonably priced classic like the one I'm wearing here, go ahead and get it in at least two colors. Definitely a DO with jeans. We all know that jeans that fit perfectly are a gem, so when you find the ones that hug you just right, buy two pair or even three of the same ones if they're on sale. That way, you won't have to wash and wear one pair to death. When they're beyond that chic, broken-in point, you can pull out a fresh pair and keep it moving.

Fashion Friday: Ode To My Black Trench Coat

Don't be surprised that I'm about to spit a rhyme about an article of clothing. Many of you already know that I'm sort of a goofball. Remember back in 2005, when I wrote Ode To My Thermos? That was real and from the heart, y'all. It's been a few years, and I'm feeling like waxing poetic again. My love for my black trench coat is real. I'm feeling extra amorous right now, because while trying to figure out what to wear to Blogalicious 2009, one thing I never doubted was that I would take my black trench coat. This weather down south is all over the place right now, and my classic trench coat is perfect for it all. Plus, it looks just as fab with my favorite pair of jeans and Chucks as it does with a cocktail dress and heels. I love my black trench coat, y'all. I wrote a poem about it. 

Here you go:

To borrow from the great E.B.,please, "let me count the ways".
You stylishly complete me on those cool and sunny days.
And when the rain surprises us the way it always does,
I simply pop your collar--when it rains or just because.
And when you cross my mind at night the way you sometimes do,
You discreetly cover what my lover gets to view.
While fashion trends may come and go like random acts of kindness.
You, my love, will always be-- classic and chic and timeless.

*takes a bow*

Fashion Friday: Plaid?! Plaid.

During the Fall '08 and '09 shows, fashion designers did what they do and went out of their way  to let the masses know what is next and what is now in fashion. Out. Of. Their. Way...

So.....plaid is officially In. Most of us can't pull these looks off in our regular day-to-days, which is why, more wearable versions of these pieces are what actually hit the racks at our malls.

Delias is always on trend (for the youngsters). Their window display at my neighborhood mall is what inspired this post. The four, headless manikins in the window where all dressed in a rainbow of colorful skinny jeans and lumberjack plaid button-downs. They where cute there in the window, but I imagined would look quite silly on me. Not just because I'm twice the age of people who should be shopping at Delias, but also because at 6'1"  and being broad shouldered and busty, I know I don't have any business wearing the trendy lumberjack plaid button-downs unless it is my intention to indeed look like a lumberjack. Yeah. No.

So I decided to make a project of it and pulled together plaid looks that I could actually wear...if I where to ever wear plaid.And I was pleasantly surprised that there are some plaid looks out there that I'm actually feeling. Following are three outfits I created featuring plaid pieces I would actually wear:

Fashion Friday: A Trend For All Seasons

OK. So, there's nothing wrong with being a trendy dresser. They're called trends for a reason--what's in is in--which is fine. It's just expensive to keep up with. Since I quit working to stay home with my son, I have had to tweak my shopping habits a bit. I take a bit longer to decide on what I like and I ask myself if I'd feel as comfortable and stylish wearing this 5 years from now as I would right now. Hopefully I'll establish a wardrobe of pieces that say more, "HomeGirl Quel" than "Quel broke, but wearing what's in." I feel more comfortable now whenever I need to dress in more than my signature jeans, Puma track jackets and chucks. I wear way fewer trendy things than I use to. Notice I said "fewer" trendy things, because some fashion trends are just worth getting into.

My fave current fashion trend: Vests

My current object of desire: The Forest Floor Vest from Anthropologie, $88.

When I ran across this vest, I wanted it immediately. The shape, material and, shade of this vest just scream relaxed, comfortable, stylish and special; all words that I think (and hope that my peeps agree) also describe me. And just wait until you see the back of it! It's wearable year-round, especially in Austin, where it's rarely very cold. Of course I won't own this vest anytime soon, since I hardly ever pay full price for anything (why, when I can get it on sale later?), but it's definitely on my watch list.

What would I wear with such a special vest? I'm glad you asked.

On cooler days, I'd wear it with a long fitted tee and trendy yet SO worth getting into skinny jeans and great ankle boots all in neutrals like this:

When the weather is warmer (and my biceps/triceps game is tight), I'd throw the vest over a sweet, simple sleeveless dress and  awesome flats and I'd pull it all together with a few cool accessories. Yes, I know gladiator sandals are trendy, but these ones are awesome looking so:

What fashion trend are you feeling right now?

The Owls Have It

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love frog things. It actually crept up on me. One day I looked around and realized I had a LOT of frog stuff. And decided (along with my gift-giving sister) to move forward consciously getting frog things in my life.

Lately I've been all about owls. Frogs and owls--very Harry Potter, no? I don't know what it is about the birds that do it for me, but I'm all about them right now. This actually crept up on me too! After my most recent purchase of this scarf:

 

...and this dress:

...as well as an awesomely charming owl charm necklace, I realized I had an affinity for hooters. They're wise and witchy and apparently also trendy! These are just a few awesome owl things I found online. The tee and wristlet by Marc Jacobs have me spellbound and I'm watching them like a hawk to see if I can get them on sale--I love owls, but these ones in particular do not love my pocketbook. Aren't they lovely?!

Items pictured above:
Marc by Marc Jacobs Cotton owl-print T-shirt, $88
Owl Drop Necklace, $14
Stamp Of Approve-Owl Ring, $12
20x200 : Print Information : Owl No. 1, $20
Marc by Marc Jacobs Owl Appliqué Wristlet at Zappos.com, $98