A Second Look Project: May 2011 Update

P.E. is one of my dearest and best friends Edwina..and I call her P.E. Photographer Extraordinaire, because when I was starting this blog about life and my addiction to thrifting, fashion, and fitness...I didn't have anyone to take my pics..
So she volunteered..and .in return I PROMISED her I would help to find color in her life and be her partner in getting healthy and fit...together we embarked on a journey..and transformation..over a years time, P.E. has lost over 50 pounds, and gained a whole new perspective on life.

All the outfits shown here are almost 100% thrifted by P.E. and I, with the exception of some of her shoes, gifted items from moi, and some accessories! I was helping her shop...she then went home and created these looks all on her own!!!

So, I obviously couldn't wait anymore to update you on A Second Look Project cuz you guys have actually seen P.E. and her progress on my Youtube channel! But I have so many great pics and so many outfits she put together that I wanted to share May 2011 pics with you..we are almost there, and pretty soon we will be current!

For some of you who are new..
You can find out more about P.E's story and Before and After pics by checking out the  "A Second Look Project" Link on the left hand side or click HERE. You can scroll down to the very first "A Second Look Project " post..where I talk about how I was my FIRST project...still in progress I will have you know..

P.S.
 I will have all of you know that I took ALL of these pics, and directed her!! I was thinking I would give myself the name, Snappy Shana...get it...cuz I snap pics of P.E

....no....not so much?...fine...I'll just stick to showing you my clothes...haha

na na na na na NA NA...NA NA....They say it's your birthday...

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birrthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear P.E./Edwinaaaaaa,

Happy Birthday to You!!!!

Everyone please join me in wishing photographer extraordinaire a Happy Birthday! You all know her so I thought I would share her day with you.

Thank you P.E. for being such an amazing friend. Who would have thought we would be best friends for over 18 years!!! From our first orchestra trip back in 1995. I will never forget your sega you had on the bus, when I busted out my black and white game boy and PRETENDED that Tetris was sooo much more fun than Sonic...my disc man was sooo much cooler than your one disc Boom, mega skip cd player...from laughing our butt off when we drove away from sonic not realizing the tray was still on our window...to your Pontiac Le Mans, which by the end of sophomore year turned into an E Man...haha

You were in the army, and I was back here going to school...you wrote every week and we never lost touch...time flew by and there you were right there for me when my mom passed.

We always tell our friends "I will always be there for you, whenever you need me" and boooy did I need you...Thank you

Thank you for taking care of my babies (animal babies that is) You are an amazing auntie...and one day when I have REAL babies..haha you can watch them too..haha...ok I will simmer...this year was filled with so many firsts for you, and I am so thankful I was able to be there for so many..2012 will be an amazing year for you, I know it...to more NONSENSE and more firsts...

Happy Birthday P.E.

A Second Look Project: Michelle Obama Starter Kit

Outfit Details:

Vintage Obama Starter Kit Dress: Thrifted Savers (found by Shana...eh ehm...thank you very much haha)

Heels: Ellen Tracy DSW

Bracelets: Thrifted Savers

Earrings: Thrifted Savers

P.E. HERE!

Dresses! Where have you been all of my life?! I learned that not every dress needs to be skin tight. I feel like a real woman whenever I throw one on. Before Shana saved me, I never wore dresses ever unless I was going to a wedding- and it would be a bad pick from the 90's. I'm the loving 70's & 80's business style dresses/ my Michelle Obama starter kit dresses the most.

To look at my transformation from the start CLICK HERE!

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Second Look Project: April 4, 2011 3 foods that have changed my life..

When P.E. told me what she ate on a daily basis I knew that there was a reason she was feeling as though she had to eat larger portions to get full...snacking is so important to losing weight..I know right? Again, I am no nutritionist, but I know that for me...I need to have snacks available that will keep my blood sugar down and keep me satisfied...filled with nutrients and healthy goodness, I invited P.E. over  for sister night, and served her 3 foods she instantly fell in love with:

Edamame

(via)

Hummus

(via)

Bell Peppers

(via)

I know...most of you are like..umm I eat those already...but for P.E....this was brand new information...she had never really tried any of them...eating bell peppers sliced ALONE with hummus is one of my FAVORITE snacks...and now P.E. enjoys all of these during the day to keep her satisfied...as do I ...so if you haven't tried them...do...and let me know what you think!

A Second Look Project: March Update Continued...

It is that time again to check in with P.E. even though you guys have already seen where she has come...I am trying to get you caught up so I can begin to show you pics of her now!!! These pics were from March..I know the last one said March because it was March 1...these are from the rest of March! You can slowly see the transformation in just 2 weeks...from the use of colors to her confidence behind the camera..and in case you forgot where she started there is a Before and After below!

Be prepared for a whole lotta pictures...it's P.E.'s turn to be in the spotlight!

March 2, 2011

March 3, 2011

March 4, 2011

March 8, 2011

March 9, 2011

March 10, 2011

March 10, 2011

March 11, 2011

March 11, 2011

March 16, 2011

March 17, 2011

March 17, 2011

March 18, 2011


March 18, 2011


March 21, 2011


March 23, 2011


March 24, 2011


March 24, 2011


March 25, 2011


March 28, 2011


March 28, 2011


March 29, 2011


March 30, 2011


March 31, 2011


March 31, 2011

For more pictures and stylings of P.E. Click HERE

P.E:

Last time on "A Second Look Project" I found that my know it all attitude on food was a hot mess which explained how I could completely hide a new #2 pencil in my side stomach crease when seated. Because I didn't drink soda or eat refried beans, I thought I was pretty healthy- WRONG! So with my new found nutritional education and writing everything down that hit my taste buds, I got it started. While my boo was gone, I had so much free time and I didn't waste a day. Here is a snippet of what I did regularly.....

• I brought my lunch to work everyday and only ate what I brought to work- avoided the office goodies. SO hard when you see everyone else stuffing their faces and smiling!
• I kept healthy snacks everywhere- my desk, purse, car, and nightstand. SO helpful when detoxing and keeping energy up during the day!
• I only ate food from the grocery store- and only from the perimeter. Everything in the middle aisles were avoided. SO hard, and takes practice I know! Costco is a great way to buy healthy in bulk to where you must cook/eat it all or it will go bad- Thanks for the membership Shana! (I will share more of the exact foods P.E. at in the next post!) 
• I worked out 5 days a week or more with no excuses unless I had an injury or a commitment I could not reschedule. This still my daily getaway- Stairmaster and free weights!
• I got 8 hours of sleep and drank only water, PowerAde zeros, and plain iced coffees from Starbucks. NOT as hard as it seems.
• I ate whatever I wanted on Saturday- funny thing was I didn't want to indulge as much as I thought I would since completing my food detox and seeing the results I wanted.
• I would eat before I went to functions and get togethers to avoid food temptation- that worked like a charm!
• NO more than 2 glasses a wine per week- hangovers= too many extra calories ingested and putting off the gym to recover.
• I thought of how I wanted to look before I put anything in my mouth- that will make you put more things down than you know.
• I did not eat past 8:30 pm!!!! It was hard to go to bed hungry sometimes- but it paid off.

Don't get me wrong, there were days where I screwed up (I went and bought a large fry from Wendy's and proceeded stuff my face in the parking lot, threw in a piece of gum and met up with Shana like nothing ever happened) but as you go along, the less you will screw up- TRUST ME.

Sooooooo, my boo was gone for 4 months- and boy did everything about me change.  FIRST thing that changed was my confidence. Regardless if you are losing weight or not, there is a feeling you get by just going to the gym. I had more "skinny days" -days where I looked the same but just felt skinnier for some reason and had a mean strut to match. Anyway, with me losing weight I had to change my hair and makeup. I did simple changes that made a big difference such as adding highlights and using lighter makeup for a more natural look (although sometimes I did look a little Amy Whinehouse). These simple changes were needed to adapt to the complete 360 I made with my wardrobe. But the fashion thing all started with Shana's curiosity with Savers and a new job opportunity that came my way.

Stay tuned to find out how P.E. found P.E and her new addiction.................

Thanks' for listening.......with much love from P.E.