BLOGGER STAY-CATION: SPA & SWIMSUITS

To close our stay-cation, we decided to relax at Premier 57 spa in Midtown Manhattan. This spa was exactly what we needed to end our stay-cation. Premier 57 has everything we needed to relax and relate before we head back to the grind on Monday.  Spa included hydro therapy pools, relaxation lounge, water lounge and sauna's.

Jonquel and I twinning in similar bathing suits

We started in the hydro therapy pools to open our pours, have a drink and let the jets massage our bodies.

 Next we headed to Sauna Area. At the Spa I had three Sauna rooms that I loved. 

1. Chromo Room 
You to bathe in light in order to return balance "energy" within the mind, body and soul. 

2.  Himalayan Salt Room

Which smelled like a salty beach. Great reminder of California and at 160 degrees it was hot like Cali too.  

 3. Ice Igloo Room 

This is a cold room sitting at a cool 32 degrees. As most of you know I'm a polar bear so I spend a lot of time in this room.

A lot of the ladies was loving the Gold Room which was made of 10K gold but you cant get me to do 160 degrees twice!!!!

Brooke looks good in the Gold Room

As soon as I saw thins photos I thought Soul Glow!!! lol

Premier 57 has everything you can want in a spa and was a perfect end to our stay-cation. Also these bathing suits were just amazing right.  Click Here for detail on my swimsuit but all of our swimsuits can be purchased at Swimsuits four All.  

Sponsor post

Sponsorship does not influence the opinion in the blog

MY SWIM SUIT STORY- PART II

#MYSWIMBODY campaign by Swimsuitforall made me want to share another swimsuit story.
Most recently I attended The Golden Confidence pool party but never got a chance to take photos without my cover up.  Seeing that this swim campaign is all about no cover-ups I thought I'd break this two piece out on the beaches of NYC.

I recently wrote a blog post about the one piece swimsuit and how it made a comeback this summer but I cant deny the sexiness of the two piece suit.  I myself never bought a two piece but recognize that they can be very liberating and sexy. With that notion I decided that this year will be two piece swim summer for me.  Did I bucket list a swimsuit? ...yes I did.

As the swimsuit season started I shopping around and tried on a few suits.  Me being a size 24-26 the pickings were slim.  I guess even plus size retailers don't think the size 24/26 market would buy a two piece but I guess that's another blog post.

Anyway, I tired on a few two piece and found the same problem over and over again.  Even when I did find two piece that came in my size, they just didn't fit correct.  They made me feel sloppy not sexy. They didn't have enough coverage, support, or was just too plain for my taste.

Then I stepped in this two piece from the Liv Collection from Lane Bryant. It was love at first try.  Not only did it support my bust (which was the biggest fail of most two pieces) but it was playful and colorful.  It covered but I still felt sexy.  I didn't feel like at any moment I would fall out or the band on the bottoms would roll down.  In short...it was perfect.

Stylistas, I cant tell you how happy I was when I put this on.  I when through so much when I put on this bathing suit.  Joy and happiness yes but also a sense of relief because I didn't have to search anymore.

I WAS DONE!!!!

I've heard of a few bloggers complaining that Lane Bryant doesn't do this or doesn't do that....but honestly, they are the one retailer that has never let me down.  They made my two piece dreams come true and for that I say thank you. +

OUTFIT DETAILS

Bathing Suit: LIVI by Lane Bryant

Shade: ShadesLA

UNFORTUNATELY THE SUIT IM MODELING HAS SOLD OUT 

HERE IS ANOTHER TWO PIECE THAT I TRIED ON THAT WAS AMAZING 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE. NOW 30% OFF

Photographer: Art-n-Lee

Location Scout & Assistant: LaTonya Bradley

MY SWIM SUIT STORY #myswimbody

Swimsuits For All (www.swimsuitforall.com) is calling on women from around the world to show off their swim bodies this summer by participating in the #MySwimBody movement. #MySwimBody encourages women — regardless of age, shape and size — to make a powerful statement about body positivity by tossing their cover-ups and unveiling their curves!

The event was kicked off last month by plus model Ashley Gram and other models.  Swimsuitforall wants 10,000 women showing their swim bodies by the end of summer. 

I was asked to participate in this movement by showing my swim suit without a cover-up. Needless to say....I was very nervous. I've worn bathing suits before, of course, but with very sexy and fashionable cover ups. I have participated in encouraging women to wear what they want when they want in different campaigns but I NEVER photographed myself in swimwear. 

I remember being 22 and getting into a pool with my cover up ON.  I remember being 18 and going to the beach with shorts and a tee because "big girls" not dare wear a bathing suit.

At 37, being able to wear a stylish cover up was a huge step in the right direction.  I couldn't be happier with plus designers giving us great choices.

Even in my happiness I realized something.  Rather it was a tee & short or a sexy sheer one piece....I still NEEDED to cover up.  I was hiding (even if it was in sheer fabric. lol)

I tried hiding this 6 foot frame in plain sight from onlooker, laughers and the shit talkers of the beaches.  I felt those cover ups stopped then from seeing it all. Little did I realize that no matter what they will always see and say what they want. It wasn't them who needed to change....it was me.

Body positivity is not just about plus size.  Its about looking at ones body in a positive way...no matter where you body maybe at.  Is my body perfect?...No. Yes I am overweight, yes I have VERY thick thighs and yes I have the dreaded knock knees that I inherited from my mother.  But the key to my body positivity, it to realize that I am a work in progress.  And being that work in progress doesn't mean I don't live.  It means I work AND live.  I don't start living when everything are right.  It means I start live everyday like its my last.

After a lot of soul searching I decided to bare my body without my so loved cover up. 

I threw away my cover-up and I show that a women (knock kneed and size 24-26) can live a full life while improving her life.

So this is #myswimbody of 2016.  It may be bigger or smaller in 2017 but the important thing is that I live a full and happy life NOW.

Thank you to SWIMSUITFORALL for making me apart of this campaign.
I challenge you all to add #myswimbody to your swim suit photos on instagram and other social media platforms.  Lets show the world that all women no matter what size, shape or age can enjoy there FAB SWIMBODY.

OUTFIT DETAIL

Suit can be found +swimsuitsforall 

click HERE to purchase

New customers sign up to there email list and receive 30% off first order

Photographer: Art-n-Lee

Location Scout & Assistant: LaTonya Bradley

SWIMSUITS: THE REVENGE OF THE ONE PIECE

For so long the one piece was the only bathing suit for plus size women.  It was the ONE and "simple" bathing suit.  It was bathing suit that was the epicenter of what was wrong with plus size clothing.  The one plus size fashionista wanted to burn because it symbolized the lack of diversity and creativity for us.

Then....came the "Fat-ini" and it dominated the market. 

Not sure which designer came up with it first or who came up with the name but it crushed and revived our fashion spirits.  For years, it was the one and only bathing suit any self respecting fashionista would find herself in. 

Now I know there are "stylistas" that LOVE their two pieces and vow to never wear a one piece.  For you ladies I say go for it babe.  I am not against a two piece for ANY size women.  If you like it....go right ahead and wear it.But you have to acknowledge the influx of  ultra sexy ass once piece suits.

   Rather its mesh, shear, zippers, cut outs or intricate designs, One piece has     gotten a very much appreciated over hall and upgraded to sexy!!!

              Some suits are so sexy you wouldn't think its a one piece...but it is!

One piece colors combo are more vibrant 

Cuts have been updated to complement curves instead of hiding them

Plus size swimwear has made huge strides but this summer is defiantly the year of the one piece.

photos complement of "Swimsuit For All", Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewarts