So much to say but really nothing to say at all

Blogging had become my outlet. I was getting into a groove and it felt good. Then, I hit a wall. I had so many things to talk about. I started so many fantabulous posts, but then I wondered....am I sharing too much? am I not sharing enough? The biggest thing was I didn't want to put out a blog JUST for the sake of saying "I posted something this week"...in times past, the blog had been organic. It just sort of became..... Well, now I'm back. Refocused, rejuvenated and ready? But, I want to know, what do YOU wanna hear? More fashion? More faith? In a sea that's overcrowded with every kind of blog you can imagine, I don't want to just be one more. I want it to be beneficial to the reader and for you to have some kind of takeaway. So comment and let me hear your thoughts... I'm ready....

Until next time TrelleBlazers, be good to yourself! Muah

Love and Marriage..... Volume 1

I decided that I wanted to do something slightly different for today's blog. I met my mate when I was 14 years old. We started dating when I was 17. We got married when I was a week away from 22.... I was young and thought I knew everything and was seriously ill-prepared to be somebody's wife AND to be 500 miles away from everything and everyone I've ever known and loved. So, almost 19 years later, people are constantly shocked when I say I've been married to the same man all these years. The 1st thing I want to say is ANYBODY that you think has a perfect marriage, please know it ain't true! I love my husband beyond measure. We have an amazing relationship. Amazing doesn't equal perfect or good all the time. We fuss. We disagree. We get in our feelings. He gets on my last nerve sometimes. I'm sure I sometimes get on his (probably not that much though...LOLOL). I could write a book on our experiences, but I thought it would be nice to get marriage talk from the male perspective. So I asked my honey to jot down some thoughts on love and marriage. Short and concise is what he gave me, however I can honestly say these words and actions are what brought us through.....

     "Marriage is about making it work with what you have and who you are.  What works for one couple may not work for another.  But if I had to pick one thing I would say in marriage,  each person has to be determined.  Determine to carry the weigh when your spouse cannot or will not. Be determined to do better when you are the weak link.  Determined to make it work when you  realize that your spouse will not change who they are.  This does not include physical abuse,  infidelity or the like.  When you say I do, mean it and keep in mind ‘for better or for worse’ comes in many ways and different than what we usually consider.    "

Tyrone J. Chase, Jr.

Well, TrelleBlazers, that's it for today. Until next time, be good to yourselves (and to those you love and are in love with!)

Muah and much Love,

Mrs. TrelleBlazer

Completely Vulnerable...And I LOVE it! (well I'm learning to love it LOL)

I'm betwixt and between in EVERYTHING in my life right now. I find myself at a crossroads. I've come way to far to turn around, yet I find myself just idling and not really moving forward. It's often difficult to put what I want to do into words to explain to someone else, but I see it, I dream it, I BREATHE it.....Anyhoo, knowing what I'm seeing in my mind, I decided it was time to do a new photoshoot. Initially, it was for some of my upcoming projects, but then I realized, I NEEDED this because I need to MOVE forward. I recently preached a sermon entitled, "Live, Move, BE"...It impacted me in such a profound way. Anyhoo, I arranged a shoot with a photographer that I've been admiring for a while. We communicated a few times via email about my vision for the shoot. I was really looking for something that wasn't typically sweet, but was sultry (yet tasteful). I wanted some next levelness LOL. I didn't really think through exactly what that would entail...Fast forward to the day of the shoot.

Everything was going great until he pulled out a chair and asked me to sit. I do NOT sit down in pictures. Although I've lost a 'few' lbs, I'm still a big girl. I struggle with body issues and am very conscious of my stomach while shooting. I was SO uncomfortable. I wanted to ask him to stop. But then, something happened. I'm sitting there and I'm thinking, "LaTrelle, you're paying for this, so you just better go with it". And then I did. Although I was still not 100% comfortable, I decided to just suck it up (literally, cause I was holding my stomach in for dear life). What happened over the next 45 minutes was truly magical. Because he challenged me to do something I don't normally do, next level was exactly how the photos turned out. I felt confident. I felt in control. I felt powerful. I felt sexy. Now don't get me wrong, this wasn't the first time I've felt that way. Absolutely not. However, usually I do not relinquish control to another person about my images and how I'm photographed. 

So, I challenge each of you, as you're looking to move to next level, you're probably gonna have to relinquish some control. It's scary. It's a vulnerable place to be in. But, literally the week after the photos were taken, I was featured on a plus size website as their last fierce photo of the week. ...... 

This is the beginning of the newness of my journey...to live, to MOVE, to be! If I can face a fear and conquer it, I know you can do it too....

Until next time TrelleBlazers, be good to yourself...and you know what else? Make sure you're FIERCE while you're doing it!

Smooches,

Ms. TrelleBlazer

It's Been a Long Time. I Shouldn't Have Left You Without a Dope.....wait I'm not a Rapper!

Hey TrelleBlazers,

These past few months have been a whirlwind. I had so much going on but I didn't have alot to say :-( And, I didn't want to say anything just to be saying something. Today, I just want to encourage somebody that it's ok to take some time for yourself. It's ok to take stock of your current situation. It's ok to restrategize and refocus. And one of the oxymorons that I've been embracing and learning is this. It's ok to be selfish and selfless at the same daggone time. What that means is it's ok for you to be giving and loving and do for others. It's also totally ok for you to be concerned with yourself. Sometimes, we look at our lives and we're last on the list. We often celebrate people for that. But, that's not healthy. If you're no good for yourself, you'll never be good for anyone else. So, recharge and renew and re-evaluate your plans for YOU! And once you've done that, jump right back out in the game. It's one thing to dream dreams. It's another thing to chase dreams. Now is the time to make your dreams your reality!

Until next time (and I promise it won't be as long), be good to yourself...I love you all to life!

Smooches

Ms. TrelleBlazer

Danger, Curves Ahead

Being a plus size fashionista sometimes poses a bit of a problem. There are so many curvy girls who are proud of their curves and want to show them off tastefully. Unfortunately, there are still so many designers who think all big girls want to look like a frump or the others who think we want to look like a cheap, tacky mess. So, what's a girl to do when you want to look and feel fabulous, but you can't find what you need? Online shopping has been a Godsend to me. There are many designers now who design with the curvy girl in mind. We all know that one misplaced dart or seam can take you from looking like a curvy bombshell to someone who's expecting a bundle of joy any day now. Some of my favorite websites right now are Monif C., Kiyonna and Igigi. They are not outrageously expensive, however you won't find $29.99 dresses here. These are investment pieces, but they are cut to flatter a fuller figure. So embrace those curves ladies and flaunt your stuff. (Please remember though, Spanx or other shapers are most definitely your friend!)

One of the most important things to note is that YOU have to embrace your curves. Decide what you want to accent and do that! Accent something that you love about yourself; be it your snatched waist or your killer legs, show off your 'ladies' with a beautiful decolletage neckline. Classy is always classic. And a well put together woman, no matter her size, is ALWAYS in style!

Until next time, be good to yourselves TrelleBlazers!

Smooches :-)

Ms. TrelleBlazer

Don't Overthink It!-Launch Out in the Deep

Have any of you ever been on a jet ski? My first time riding a jet ski it was exhilarating. I couldn't believe I was actually in the middle of the ocean. And then I realized.....I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER ON A JET SKI. And I froze. And I stopped. And I removed my hands from the gas on the jet ski. And me and the jet ski toppled over in the water. 

There are times in life when we've finally pushed past our fears and we're doing things that we want to do. We're doing things that we've longed to do; things that we're destined to do..Everything is going well. Things are falling into place. Then, we overthink it. We think about all the reasons why we shouldn't be doing it. Why we aren't qualified. Why it won't work. And then......We take our hands off and we topple over in the water.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't plan. I'm not saying that we shouldn't be prepared. But what we shouldn't do is to second guess ourselves. If you get in the middle of it and you need to readjust, do that! Make adjustments. But don't overthink it! Sometimes, you do indeed have to just go with the flow. Have confidence in yourself and have confidence in your plan and work your plan. Because the truth of the matter is you've already put in alot of the work at this point. So in the middle of it is when you have so much more to lose. You've invested your time, your talents and everything else that goes along with that. So let's change our thought process. The next time you're in the middle of it and those doubting questions start popping up, kick them to the curb. Don't take your hands off! Because as long as your hands are securely fastened to it, you won't topple over in the water.

Until next time TrelleBlazers, be good to yourselves :-)

Ms. TrelleBlazer

Too Late? There's Really No Such Thing

Today, I want to deviate from accessories and music and fashion and chat about something a little different. I want to ask you a few questions. Are you fulfilled with where you are? Are you satisfied? Are you just going with the flow? If you're cool with where you are, great. But, if you, like many others realize that there's so much more that you want to do, why aren't you doing it? Are you scared? Have you been so let down in the past, that it's just become easier to go with the flow? Or have you just convinced yourself that you're ok, knowing that you're really not..When some people train their animals, they put up electronic fences. If the animal gets too close, they get zapped. After a while, the animal just knows and is trained not to get close. The owner can then remove or disarm the mechanism because the animal just won't go. For so many years, I was like that. I had been shocked so many times that I didn't realize that the fence was now gone. The only thing that was holding me back was me and my memories. Even once I realized that freedom was just over the 'gate', the memory of the shock was enough to keep me right in my little area. Until one day I decided that even if I got shocked, knocked down or whatever, it was worth it to break out of the comfortable spot I'd been saying. And realistically, that shock wouldn't have killed me, it would have just been painful for a moment. How many times in life do we pass up opportunities that would be so rewarding simply because we don't want to feel a temporary pain. I've got news for you. Change and growth are painful, but the pain is so temporary that when you feel the reward you wonder why you hesitated in the first place. It's never to late to be who you want to be, to do what you should have done, and go where you want to go. Whatever you put your mind to is possible for you to do. Go back to school, start that business, try something different that you wanted to do. Yes, it will take work. Yes, there will be sacrifices. Yes you may lose some 'friends' along the way. Yes, it might not even be successful. But if you never try how will you ever know. Who cares what people will say! And for the person reading this saying, 'It's just too late', well the only time it will be too late is the day you cease breathing. So until then, get going. You can do it.

Until next time, be good to yourselves. Smooches TrelleBlazers:-)

Ms. TrelleBlazer