Work it Isis!!!

As some of you may remember, LaJule started honoring women in the past for our "Work it Wednesday" spotlight. We have been searching for just the right time to relaunch this and today proved that it is perfect time! Everything just lined up...So, this week LaJule has chosen the unforgettable and gorgeous Isis Frasier and we wanted to share a little about this lady who truly knows how to "Work it!" It's truly and honor to know her.  

To be honest, she is very well known by many around Charleston, but for those who don't know her, she is a 34 year old mother who works hard and sacrifices herself daily for so many others! Not only is she an inspiration to her friends and family, but even to those who may not even know her personally! Yep! That's right.  Trust me, we all could take and learn something from a page in her book. Like I said before, not only is she an amazing individual, but she has made a lifestyle changes that has a resulted in her loosing over 150 lbs!  She lost the weight, but gained a platform by using her influence to share her experiences and daily lending encouraging words for anyone who may need it.  With her spirit, hard work, and being such an over comer of many obstacles she deserves the spotlight today. 

 

 Here, she is looking extra fabulous in this color blocked dress by Guess and boots are from Francis Gibbs.  Isis is standing her ground and showing off her sexy for sure!  She has accessorized her outfit with a pair of gold dangle earrings, makeup and photography by Thettra Brown, with her hair by Alaina Smalls...  Isis, work it girl!!!!  We love you! 

 

 

Blue Cirlce Skirt

So, today was kind of an interesting one... You have to excuse me, but I get random ideas in the middle of the night and sometimes, I have to act on them.  But to be honest, I'm kind of excited about it.  I've  never had a royal blue skirt (yes could you believe that...) or of this type, so I thought to myself why not try and do it yourself? So I did.  Yep, at 1am, I'm finishing some final touches on this skirt.  I posted it on Dressa (my dress form you'll hear me talking about) last night.  Anyway,  I thought I'd share with you two different looks with the same skirt with only one quick change! 

If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times...don't be afraid of bold prints and patterns! This classic circle skirt midi reminds me of something I could rock in the 70's... SO why not go there with it.   Here is a patterned shirt that compliments the skirt. This is one of those throwback kind of looks...

The turtleneck sweater gives a more fun, easy and low "fuss" kind of look.  Accessories can be simple... I accessorized with a black belt and dangle earrings. Add a cute bag and done! 

So literally, you can change one simple thing, and give a totally different feel to an outfit.  Try it out with something that you have and let me know how it goes! xoxo 

Sweater Dress and Pink Pea

With the cold...let me rephrase that.. simply unbearably cold weather affecting us all, we can be warm and still look fabulous in the process. To be honest,  I just don't have time to even think when it's this cold...So I found this old sweater dress in the closet while trying to get dressed with only one eye wanting to open.  I've had this sweater for several years now, but would wait to wear it because it is pretty warm, simple, and quick.  In the south, it's not everyday that we see wind chills in the "teens" so .. There you have it. I'm not used to this! Who would have thought right? I had to revamp this old sweater dress, but I really didn't want to wear just tights or leggings under it.  I would do that usually, but wanted a little but more warmth to hold me down... so I wore it as a tunic instead.  Here's a quick way to get some versatility in the clothes you already have.

To be honest at 5am, I'm really not in the mood for a thinking about anything to wear, but this dress came in handy (with a coat).  I wanted to brighten my mood up a bit, so I threw in a little color for a simple, yet noticeable change in the look.  For early mornings, everyone can use a little flare.

 

 

 

Simple and basic doesn't have to be boring.  You can literally give new life to your mood and your look very simply... I wonder what else I can dig up from some old closet finds...I just found out that I suffer from #HIH (Hand In Hair) syndrome...Ok, I'll take it :) the 3 day old braid out is still working for me. xoxo



Conscious Shoppers

Almost all stores have some type of weekly sale (especially this time of year) to lure customers into their doors or make entice them to make online purchases. Because of my business degree, I have had some exposure to the psychology of marketing.  I have seen first hand how retailers encourage customers to buy, buy, and buy and how to encourage their employees how to sell, sell, and sell-- to be honest, this is how they keep their doors open.... But fortunately, because I've been exposed to both sides of the coin, here are some tips for the shopper to use when preparing themselves to look good, avoid the retail traps, snag some good deals, and still save some cash!

 

1. Emotional shopping will lead to you wanting to spend money until you "begin to feel better".  But a lot of times, emotional shopping is not the way to go if you are trying to save money. But if you absolutely have to reach out to just "get something...you have to start somewhere.  Instead of going to the mall, go to a discount store or even a thrift store. You can snag some unique and affordable finds!  You have to be conscious of your caution that you don't buy and end up debt.. because then you end up with 2 problems instead of one.  Proceed with caution, but this works. 

 

2. Practical shopping people will shop because they feel they don't have anything to wear. Trust me, I KNOW you have SOMETIHNG to wear. It's just about thinking outside the box.  When this person feels the clothes they have are not good enough to wear, they will go a spend money on what they feel will work for them in that moment. I know people that have more clothes than two or three of my friends closets put together, and still say "I have nothing to wear!" What???? Try going on www.polyvore.com to get some cute ideas. Pick things that are similar to what you already have, and get creative.  

 

3. Identity shopping will lead to wasteful shopping every time.  When someone shops because they don't feel good about themselves to fill an emotional void.  Honestly, I don't feel like trying to buy more clothes/items when you have no direction is the way to go.  Take the time to figure out who you are and what you stand for. Stick to your authentic style.. search to find what that is.  Make sure that you shop for what YOU LIKE, not what you think everybody else will like.  You can't shop for what you see someone else with. What works for one person, may not work for everyone else.

 

4. Financial shopping is easy for those that have a lot of money. But don't be fooled. There are people that spend and spend like they have a lot of money, but in reality, they are drowning in credit card debt.  These shoppers spend money because of their relationship to their money. It can be hard to save money and shop wisely when there is no limit. Setting a budget is important. You can spend what you want, but you need to figure out if YOUR object spending or saving.

 

 

You can have nice things and not have to go broke to get them. TRUST ME, I DO IT ALL THE TIME.   If you are conscious of what your goal is, no one can take that from you. I'll admit, shopping makes me feel better too...because the reality is, if you look good you feel good.  You just have to know it can be done in a strategic way. You know your style and the types of things you like, a sale can be a great thing.  If these shopping issues are stronger than your discipline, you need to rethink what is important. Do you want to look good and be broke? Remember, there's a way... you can have a fat wallet and a fabulous style as well.  

 

Holiday Spending Tips

The holidays are approaching very fast. Most of us will be traveling, cooking and shopping. I have to admit, even though it can get a little crazy, I love this time of the year and spending time with family. But in all the mayhem, we can get caught up and go overboard! Let's admit, most of us will eat more than usual, spend more than than we could afford to spend, and simply indulge more than we need to....all because it's a "sale" and "it's the holidays".  But here's a few tips that I've used over the years to help to avoid getting caught up in that trap.  

 

Five ways to save money during the holidays when shopping and still stay FABULOUS ON A BUDGET!  

1. Plan ahead, Make a list, and set a budget! (That's actually 3 tips in one). Only shop for the people you plan to get gifts for. When you know who you're hopping for, it makes for easier budgeting. When you go shopping don't get caught up in the, "oh, I know this person would like this and its on sale" mess... Hunty, you are setting yourself up for over spending. Stick to the list! 

 

2. Shop outside the box! What do I mean by that? Well, try to focus on getting ONE universal gift for a group of people instead of buying a bunch of gifts for individuals. This is when you can use your creativity! Get crafty, bake, host a dinner, etc.  Not only are you crafty, you have earned a title of being a "socialite" as well :) That's always a plus. It shows more of your heart and will help you stay on task.  

 

3. Shop at discount stores (even online) rather than the mall. In order to do that, you have to get over "brand names" defining the quality of the gift. Who's all that for? Is it for you to get credit for buying an expensive purse or is it really for them?  I have been able to find some FANTASTIC deals online on boots, dresses, accessories, etc. recently.  And still keep my diva going :).  You can do the same too.  If you are a person that only purchases based on brands, but are always claiming your broke, then it may be time to re-evaluate some things. If you are looking for you to purchase a gift that will set you back a few months....WELL......at the end of the holiday, remember, you still have bills to pay!! Check out www.amiclubwear.com. This has been my fav site in the last weeks... TRULY money savings and still allowing me to keep my fabulous right :) 

 

4. Pay with cash. It is easy to know how much cash you are willing to spend and have more control. If you swipe and swipe, understand you are creating another bill you will have to pay well after the holiday season. But it's your choice.  I rarely get store credit cards. I don't care about the "extra percentage off the purchase" because I just literally earned myself an ADDITIONAL bill that is going to cost more than what I was going to pay in the first place. If don't have the cash in hand, it goes BTTR (Back To The Rack)!" 

It is easy to fall for all the advertising being sent in the mail, on television and online. There are some folks I know who start tallying all the items that are going on sale without figuring what their budget it. After they spent all this money they didn't have, now they're borrowing money for gas to put in their car, cell phone bills, and even rent. I'm here to say, you can do both! You can look good and still have some cash left over!

Next week, I'll show you how! 

Why do you have confidence?

Things happen in your daily life that have affects on your mood, attitude and emotions. Self-esteem is one of the      most important assets you can posses.  Can you build your confidence to the point where no matter what happens   in your life, it will not shake or break you?  What happens when you feel stronger than you actually are? Do you give up or give in? Do you find a person you know is strong and ask for encouragement? Well, today I am going to           encourage someone. It may not be you directly, but you may know someone who needs that encouragement. Here   are 10 ways  to boost self-confidence and here it is...

S-Strength, have the strength to know you can handle and deal with anything that is given or thrown  at you.
E- Enlightenment, when you have that knowledge and understanding. When you know that you know.
L- Love of self. Easier said than done, give yourself a break. You are harder on yourself that anyone else is.
F-Fulfillment, Don't forget to take care of yourself. Do what is required to maintain good health.
E- Energy, Always stay positive. Think about the good qualities and good results.
S- Selflessness, put others before your own self. You are important, but someone else may need you.
T-Trust yourself.  Trust yourself that you will make the right decisions or choices.
E-Emotions, you always have to stay in touch with the way you feel.
E-Effectiveness, have an affect or someone or something that is positive. Change for the better.
M-Motivation, be you own cheerleader. Find that reason for doing what needs to be done.
www.psychologytoday.com

Sometimes we find that it is easier to encourage someone else, but why is it so hard for us to encourage ourselves the same way? Sometimes, it is ok to encourage yourself.  I challenge you to     look at yourself in the mirror.  Really look at what you see when you see yourself.  Find one thing that you love about what you see.  Own that, love that, and the next day, do it again.  You are all you've got.  You really can't love someone else until you learn to love yourself.  After that, you can then be able to give more and more of yourself to help encourage someone else.  We all are in this walk together.  Try it... .

What are you saying without speaking?

Things happen in our everyday lives that seem to knock us off course. There are times where we feel the world is on our shoulders or even against us. One thing I would like to tell you, no matter what happens in your life, never loose confidence. It is so important that you keep your body language saying what you want have interpreted.

Here are 3 ways your body language can make or break you.

1. Maintain an assertive posture.
Stand upright. Period.  Even if you are scared out of your mind to talk to someone, smile. Believe that or not, that is your game face.  A smile will help to boost your confidence, and produce more of an interest in the other person to actually hear what is it you are saying.  Because everyone is so "serious" all the time and associates that with confidence, smiling simply help you stand out from the crowd.  I know a lot of people that when things are not going great, they slouch and hunch their backs.  Really!?!?! What's all that about? We're not going to do that business... It could always be worse...look at how far you have already come.

2. Watch your hands.
You don't want to talk to someone and have your arms crossed. This is often seen as defensive posture. There is nothing more irritating than talking to someone that claps their hand with every other word they speak. Y'all have seen people in Charleston do that mess.. "See, (clap) what I'm trying to tell you (clap) is I am all about my business (clap)"  What the heck is that? That is a distraction all by itself.  I've already gotten tired of hearing that noise.  Pull it together.  I would be focusing more on the beat and tap my feet to a tempo...trying to figure out if they are going to break out in a shout.  Leave that alone! Check out this example of what NOT to do...

3.  Pay attention to your face.
If someone is speaking to you in a conversation, and you really are not interested in what they are saying, you still need to honor them (no matter how much you want to escape). Don't start yawning, rolling their eyes, giving black stares, or looking away. That is just plain rude.  You will be sure to provoke an emotion that is negative toward you.  The thing is, that will precede you.  Proceed with caution. That one may come back to bite you. 


At the end of the day, your body language has a voice of it's own. Be careful of what that body language is saying to others. As you saw in the video, the little girl said her mom claps her hands like that. Actions speak louder than word, your body language is also your action.