#FFFWeek, a reminder to stay Curvy & Confident

Hello Curvy Goddesses (& Gods)!

Please forgive my EXTENDED absence from the blog.  You see, in November I started working at an amazing new agency doing social media and time got scarce.  What's even MORE exciting is that I get the opportunity to work with one of my favorite brands as part of the day job!  All in all the past 6 months have been amazing and I am even MORE excited of what the year has in store for Curvy in the City.

I have to thank all the beautiful women who I've interacted with for work and well as on a personal level in the past few weeks, for inspiring me and reminding me why this blog is so important to me.  As most of you know, last week was Full Figure Fashion Week and the week prior to that I got to work with the brand I represent and some amazing blogger at a NYC Shop and Swap, and I left both events feeling in CONFIDENT and INSPIRED.

For those of you new to my journey, being curvy has been a lifelong "struggle" for me. Not a struggle as in a a struggle with my weight (that's an entirely different topic), but a struggle in acceptance.  Although I had an amazing and supportive mother, growing up in a family that demonized "fatness" made her and me not proud of our bodies.  As an adult I found myself attracting men and friends who shared a hatred of the curvy form.  But then, there was the relief of finding a community of curvy women who were beautiful and bold and confident, and I thought I'd found a home.....only to be told I wasn't curvy enough.  So, I felt unaccepted and without a place.  This blog became my place, my space, to heal, to learn to love and to work it out (literally and figuratively) with like-minded curvy souls.

Several of those souls I got the opportunity to interact with in the last week and I have found focusing on their beauty and love has allowed me to ignore the voices in my head and the voices from afar that say I am not "enough."  I had several really wonderful conversations with ladies this week about love, dating, body image, food and much more.  These conversations reminded me that beauty has nothing to do with the scale or how many digits are on those pair of jeans (love to all my #doubledigitdivas!) and everything to do with how you feel, staying true to who you are and how you treat your friends, sisters, competitors and even your enemies.

Overall the past few weeks have left me feeling uplifted and inspired.  I want to get more proactive in discussing how cuisine, fat shaming, body image affect not just us but our relationships with others and the world around us. Look out for more thoughts from me, more regularly---and welcome to the journey--it's gonna be a big year for us at CITC and I appreciate you all holding on for the ride!

xoxo,

Erica Michele

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11/1, One is the Magic Number

It's November 1st.
1-11
I've been seeing 11:11, every day, since I moved to NY almost 8 years ago.
17 days before my thirty...#th birthday.
The clocks turn back this weekend.
The city I love is hurting bad.
.  . .and it all leaves me feeling a little confused.

But then, there's the joy that is talking to my curvy lovers out there.

There's the joy of finding a job and career path that feels fulfilling and attainable.  (I start on Monday!)

There's the peace leaving behind the old model of my work life.
My relationship with my old job was like, well, like many of my relationships   The guy, I chased and from the moment I started dating him and had to prove that my quirky "me-ness" was good enough only for him to acknowledge I was good enough, but not....quite.

There is the joy in the freedom of knowing what I am worth, part of why I am here and a lot about who I am.

Therefore, this 1111 moment for me is one of grief at the past but with so much optimism and gratitude for the future.  Its of knowing I am where I am supposed to be at this moment and that God is guiding my steps.

This new year of life, is the year of one.  The year of me. Honoring myself means I honor everyone around me.

One is the magic number.

-Ericamichele

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#denimdelight with Catherine's

A few week's ago, I had the pleasure if enjoying some delicious lunch with Kellie B.and other gorgeous curvy women a The Park in New York City, courtesy of Catherine's #DENIMDELIGHT.

In the back patio of The Park, Catherine's set up a delicious spread including sliders, insane mushroom risotto and delectable Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta, Arugula and Pecorino. The team also had sangria and drinks available for us to nosh on while we mingled, tried on gorgeous feeling denim and getting custom made lop gloss courtesy of Giella Cosmetics.

I am always on the search for he perfect red and what better way to get it than to have on customized before your eyes.  After viewing my completion the technician from Giella added gold undertones to my gloss to compliment my skin tone.  I loved the results!  The best thing about Giella is that its custom, you can even come to them with something that is no longer made so they can match that hue of your favorite hard to find shade.

Giella Custom Made Red, Jewels courtesy of  Catherine's

The denim all felt gorgeous.  I really loved the feel of the jeggings (I wore them almost the ENTIRE #curvyinMA weekend) and picked up a pair of trouser jeans for my Mom.

My Mom and I modeling our Catherine's jeans on a girl's weekend in Massachusetts. #curvyinMA

For more on Catherine's Denim check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CatherinesPlusSizes

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MYNT1792 & Plus Model Mag Blogger Conference

On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending MYNT1792 & Plus Model Magazine's Blogger Conference held at the Ainsworth Park near Union Square in New York City.  This event had everything I love: good food and yummy portions (pulled pork sandwiches, hummus and chicken satay), gorgeous friendly curvy divas and great fashion.  It was a total blast!

Model Katherine on trend in a metallic jean.

MYNT 1792 will be launching its line in October via MYNT1792.com and at Nordstrom.com, but they have been around for years.  A family owned and operated company (as Adorn Fashions), they were tired of the popular "excuses" that many retailers gave them when discussing plus size fashion.  MYNT 1792 wanted to bring high end fashion to curvy women of all shapes and sizes and focuses on great materials and fit.  Calling their fashion sensibility "downtown trend with uptown sophistication," the Fall collection will include blazers, skinny jeans, motorcycle jackets and faux fur.

Model Kori with the luxe faux fur (with pockets!)

They are aware that one size, does NOT fit all; therefore, they use a number of different fit models (including friend of CITC Allie McGev) that have a wide variety of shapes (apple, hourglass, etc).   Most of the pieces we saw retail for under $200 (and we're talking amazing jeans, moto jackets and faux fur, here!) Best of all, MYNT1792 plans to offer FREE shipping, including internationally. How fab is that?

Alysa, from StylishCurves, Maddy of PlusModelMag and me!

The great thing about the blogger conference, besides the food and fashion was the opportunity to be in a room of smart and stylish women who all were focused on curvy confidence.  I left the event full, laughing, (a little tipsy) and inspired by the women I saw and met.

Model Allie and AThickGirlsCloset

Huge thanks to Allie McGev for reminding me to go and Maddy at Plus Model Mag for the invite!
Pictured above Blogger inspiration and sister in Cali, Marie Denee

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Curvy Confidence: Korean Spa Days

One of my best friends turned 30 something the other day and we decided to brave the world of the Korean Spa.  We went back and forth between Spa Castle and King Sauna and finally decided on King Sauna mainly based on the price and overall rave reviews on Yelp.

King Sauna is a place for spa pros and not for the faint of heart!  However, I will say that I have never been more thoroughly scrubbed or massaged in my life.  One of the most daunting parts for most people, isn't the efficacy of the scrub (and believe me it's insanely efficient) its the nakedness.  At almost all times when you are in the woman's spa, you are naked.  Not only are you naked, other women are also there naked.  

For a curvy girl, a girl who has been for the most part taught to hide her body, this can be an "experience."   However, as a curvy girl, the experience is also liberating.  You see all shapes and size, no one has any place to hide anything.  You then begin to realize, it doesn't matter.  As you watch families, friends, scrubbing each other, and walking around unashamedly   You realize the way you look DOESN'T MATTER.  You are all here for the same purpose; and that purpose is to treat and love yourself.  

For $80 and a $25 tip you will be scrubbed by thorough and sweet korean woman with a loofah and soap.  Every part of your body will be buffed to perfection.  Then you are given a little face scrub, told to shower, sit in hot tub then finish off in steam sauna, you come back to a glorious multi techniqued wet massage.  You start off with a fresh cucumber mask and then the massage begins! Its a little traditional massage, a little hot stone and a little shiatsu, better yet, they STRETCH you out.  Hands down best massage, ever!  It ends with a nice shampoo/condition and you are a buffed moisturized goddess.

For the adventurous, you can try the Hip Bath, which is . . .

Well, basically you sit on a cushioned seat with a hole in the middle (think toilet seat) and under the whole is a steaming pot of tea to help rid your lady parts of disease and helps to clean and tighten the overall area.  It is in a word, intense.  However, I have to admit I have never felt so clean, down below.

Even with all the semi awkward moments as described above (nakedness evey where). The best thing about King Spa is that you can make a day of it!  King Spa is focused on sauna/dry heat so if you are looking for a wide variety of pools, jacuzzis, etc, this may not be the best place for you.  But, to my surprise the dry heat was quite wonderful and restorative.  Also, there are plenty of chances to have good Korean food or even catch a nap while watching Korean TV or the occasional football game.  This place (despite the nakedness) is also child and couple friendly.  I saw all ages here and everyone seemed to be throughly enjoying themselves.

Overall worth they $28 dollar admission (get the e-coupon!) and totally more than worth the price. I feel like this will soon become a part of my overall beauty regimen.

Take your friends, your boo or yourself and let go of how you feel.  

Curvy girl you are beautiful and don't ever forget it.

DETAILS:

King Sauna & Fitness

321 Commercial Ave

Palisades Park, NJ 07650

201-947-9955

http://kingsaunanj.com/

Read my Yelp (and other reviews as well) here.

Photos courtesy of: http://kingsaunanj.com/

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