I was on a roll back in December with my fitness updates. Since then, I've even given up meat. It hasn't been extremely difficult but it's been a major learning process. Learning where your food comes from and how it's made really begins to churn your stomach and makes your head spin. Coupled with the ideas and notions that certain illnesses that supposedly "run" in your family might not actually be hereditary. You start to question a lot of things in society from marketing to medicine and it really encourages you to focus on putting GOOD stuff in your body and on it. Being 100% truthful, I have eaten meat since I "stopped" eating it. Sometimes succumbing to temptation, other times out of human habit. 

I started taking pictures to document my fitness journey in the beginning but after a while, I felt as if the pictures were distracting me from the entire purpose of why I started in the first place. My obsession became to look thinner for more obvious change in my pictures not really caring about my actual health or how I felt internally. I'm sure if I took a picture today, it would be WAY different from December, maybe I will do one soon..

Since we're being so truthful, in all honesty, I went on this whole fitness binge for Corey and not for myself which seemed to fail me miserably. I resented him for making me feel inadequate, unattractive and fat and I despised myself for letting him do that to me. After a few months of not working out, I was inspired to go out and pick up new hobbies that would make becoming fit interesting to me because Lord knows I'm not cut out for the gym, and I haven't enjoyed running since I was in college. 

Here are some notes I use to keep myself motivated

- Focus on milestones no matter how small they are

People are always focusing on the big picture instead moving frame by frame. Instead of focusing on running a mile, work your way up and do a half a mile first. There's nothing wrong with working in small increments. 

-Focus on how you feel versus how many pounds

Losing pounds is a tricky way to monitor progress. Eating the right foods can give you weight in different places and exercising builds muscle mass. You're not always going to lose weight when your body changes. Focusing on how you feel, if you're able to wake up in the morning, did you stop feeling heavy and sluggish instead of counting pounds. 

-Remember it takes 21 days to break habit or start a new one

This is probably the most underrated advice that I tell myself. We think change happens overnight and time empirically proves us wrong over and over again. Habits aren't created quickly so give yourself time and a little slack to be where you want to be.

-Water not only keeps me hydrated internally but keeps my hair/face quenched

Prior to my lifestyle change, my face was riddled with large pores and tons of blackheads. Since cutting out meat, I've noticed a major change in the hydration of my skin and my hair. Although it's not the best it could be (I've picked soda back up to replace meat) I know that these milestones are positive signs that I'm going in the right direction. 

-Social media can be detrimental to your positive psyche

Scrolling mindlessly on Instagram does have adverse affects on your mind. If every time you go on Instagram, there are some snatched women clad in bikinis subconsciously you are going to feel like you are less or that you should look that way. The majority of social media is definitely not a good place to seek self acceptance or body positivity. 
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-Change your thinking, TREAT day not CHEAT day

I honestly think I deserve to treat myself daily. Like, not even on some fat shit on some real legit, I deserve this just because. So once a day I treat myself to whatever my heart desires. Cheating has such a negative connotation to it, so you automatically equate the word "cheat" with something bad. Break that habit! 

-Pick up a hobby

Some people love to do 1,000 fucking squats and run in a circle for 40 minutes. That's just too boring for me. I love to rollerblade and roller-skate. I love tennis, handball and jumping rope. I like to struggle swim. So, I used all the activities I love to come up with a workout routine that was intense but also fun for me and didn't feel boring. 

If you read my blog or have been stalking my life on social media, then you probably know that May, 2015 I quit my job. It was a place that I loved, with some people that I adored but I felt like I preferred sanity over the work environment that I was in. Since then, I have learned tons of lessons about the work place and the way HR works(since I'm now in HR) and I figured I would share some of that wisdom (or lack of through trial and error) with you guys.

1. Every Company Thinks You're Replaceable. 

We have this notion that if we don't show up to work, that the earth will melt and swallow everyone whole except for us and force us to be the ones to un-melt it when we arrive in the morning. That is not the case. To put it in perspective, the company has survived before you and will survive after you. It doesn't matter if you're the Queen of FIFO or the Hamburgular of burgers, you are indeed replaceable and they will without a doubt replace your ass. When I said I was leaving, not one person batted an eye or even sat down to speak about changes within the organization. So despite what you think, nobody gives a shit about you. The question you need to ask yourself is what is the price of your sanity. 

2. Do Not Go To Old Work Events

Big no. I found myself attending the Christmas party and getting so drunk, and I'm sure that everything is on camera which will be replayed for years to come. So no, that's not a good idea. You can convene with ex co-workers on your own time but not a function that everyone attends. You'll end up bringing up old feelings for the one or two people you despised and when mixed with liquor that's not a good thing. 

3. People Can Feel Your Positivity 

That whole exude positivity and become it is actually not bullshit. When I first quit, I questioned my rationale and my common sense. Like, who quits a job without a plan or at least a back up job with bills. However, I felt like I was at my lowest point and I couldn't go any lower. I did not let myself slip into my old bad habits when it came to my views about employment including but not limited to giving opinions that I'm not paid to give, and offering to do shit I'm not paid to do. Not to say that you are not allowed to go above and beyond at your job but understand that our worth is displayed in dollar amounts. Once you start doing shit not in your dollar amount, you open the flood gates to be used and abused and that is bad for your mental health.  Understanding that concept and the way business owners actually think helped me to get through the majority of the workplace bullshit and laugh at the unfavorable stuff that came my way. 

4. Be Vocal Without Being Emotional 

Many times in the workplace people confuse passion for bat shit crazy. Being passionate for something doesn't require you to act like a mad person going around ranting and raving all day. You can express your grievances without becoming too damn emotional. Emotion does not get you far but being a well spoken, well thought individual does get you places. 

5. Make Sure You Are Worth Your Employment Before You Complain 

The biggest mistake I feel employees make in a company is finding time to complain about shit when they are not up to par in their job duties. For example, if you want to complain about upper management, please make sure you arrive to work on time, don't call out and actually do your job when you're there. If you complain about your job but you don't do the bare minimum of your job, you should probably just sit down. Your complaints are null and void if you are less than a model employee. While I was the money clerk at MCU (last year right after quitting), it was literally just a job to me. I showed up did the bare minimum and left. Because of my nonchalantness, I was in no position to request anything of management nor was I in a position to dictate what I think they should do. I stayed in my place.

6. Job Titles Without Responsibilities Are The Best Jobs to Have

My whole life, I've been obsessed with titles. Want to be the "manager", "key holder" "head receptionist" but a big fancy title comes with big fancy responsibilities some of those that usually follow you home. As a regular ass employee, I come in do my job and go the fuck home. I don't have to worry about getting texts on vacation or on my days off about something I could care less about.  When the Mets season is over, I will go back to my job of handing out flyers for 5 hours a day.  Yes, it's true the lower on the totem pole you go, the less you get paid BUT that's more mental space for you to attribute to other things that you actually care about and want to do! 

I've been MIA for a few weeks but I swear I'm doing purposeful stuff. I'm wrapping up this season at the Mets and after much contemplation decided to decline on the opportunity to work the US Open. I have re-started my YouTube channel and believe it or no there is actually content up there worth watching! You can check that out here.

On to the good stuff!

I stumbled upon SheIn through a LADIES only Facebook group that I belong to. The owner posted a picture of a cute ass top and she told everyone that she bought it at SheIn. I previously thought SheIn was just another overseas website out to get your coins similar to Zaful. Which  I will discuss them in my next video and to see my last experience with overseas sites click here. 

They sent me this dress for free but you know I'm about to be completely honest with my entire experience. The shipping is unlike any other company from overseas, it was here in 4 days. I was shocked. Speaking to some other girls from the group, this is not just something they do for bloggers, apparently their shipping is always on point which is A++. 

I found the sizing a little off but that's mostly expected when shopping boutiques from another country. As you all may know I am no longer a smaller woman, I err more to the thick side and usually I'm a US medium on top, US medium or large on the bottom depending on the cut and material. Sometimes, I can fit into an extra large. After checking the sizing,  I ordered this dress in a large . When it arrived, the mid area was still a bit snug (check out the last picture on the bottom right). It only bunched up after moving around(I decided to pick up stuff off of the floor and then take pics please don't ask) and I did need help to zip it up because it's one of those hidden zipper things. 

I can't lie, The dress is gorgeous, the eyelet material, the sheer parts just everything was on point and EXACTLY as pictured on the website which was a major plus. It was a little shorter on me than pictured which was expected because I am a little thicker therefore knee length stuff tends to be shorter than that on me.

It's also totally appropriate for work minimal skin is showing and basically everything is covered. It's extremely lightweight, I've worn this dress twice and both in dead NYC humid  ass heat and I felt cool. Another thing I wanted to note about this dress. Usually when I wear white on NYC subways I get off looking beige, this material didn't hold dirt at all and I didn't have to use bleach when I washed it because it wasn't soil. I really despise using bleach so that was another thumbs up on my list. I have a SheIn wishlist and will be doing a review soon on their sister site MakeMeChic. So comment below and tell me if you've ever ordered from them or will you in the future.