What The Doctor Ordered

One of the biggest questions I receive is why did you decide to be on My Giant Life? I answer all of this and more on the latest episode of my fabulous friends podcast, The TV Doctor.

Dr. M. Foss is ev-a-ree-thang and really this is a podcast that is a weekly prescription that you need. Get into it. Sorry that I was a little forceful but I just really want you to bask in the greatness of this podcast.

Click HERE to listen to Episode 5: The Spectacle of Exploitavision. I mean, the title alone is really a reason to click. Am I right?

Exploitative television (TV that benefits from the pleasure we get from watching the hot messiness of others) is on the rise, and it's got us addicted, even when it's a show on the topic of addiction!

Good Day Sacramento

November 30th not only marks my birthday, it will now also be known as the day that I recorded my first style segment on Good Day Sacramento. I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity and here it is! Drumroll please...

Now for the deets! Neutrals will be taking over this season and to celebrate the trend, I styled 4 Tall looks that go a little somethin like this:

 ISSA WRAP

Carly (6'2") rocked a Tall wrap dress from Alloy Apparel. The arms are super long and the midi actually hits where a midi is supposed to. The shoes are by House No. 3028. You can order any shade of nude in sizes up to 13. In addition you have the option for a 2"-5" heel and a matte or shine finish. 

SPORTY SPICE

Monique (6'5") beautified an all black look with a little edge to it. The jumpsuit is from Height Goddess and is built just for our tall frames. It's not available right now but here are some options from asos and Long Tall Sally. The asos Tall leather look jacket and BRASH sneakers (up to size 13) completed this look.

PS. Neva, eva, eva, eva buy Payless Shoes without googling a coupon code or waiting for a BOGO. Also, you can order online and get them shipped to the store for free. I always order all the styles that I like, try them on in the store and return the ones I want right on the spot. 

SWEAT EQUITY

High necks and belled sleeves are both on-trend this season. With this tall sweater dress from Long Tall Sally you get both! Monica (6'1") served this navy piece (up to size 18) with a belt and these killer over-the-knee boots from Smash Shoes (they are REALLY over-the-knee and up to size 14). A simple, chic look that will never go out of style.  

COAT OF ARMS

Now you know it's hard to find a coat that keeps those wrists warm and hunni asos has one straight from heaven. Lameka (6'1") slayed it on Good Day with some 36" Height Goddess Jeans, a roll neck top from LTS and some beautiful Smash booties (up to size 14). Check out these jean options from asos, LTS, Alloy Apparel, Doubs Clothing and Amalli Talli.  

As for me...I have on a Long Tall Sally dress from last season and a pair of Eleanor Anukam heels (size 12).

A segment like this really takes a village to execute and let me tell you...my village is gorgeous and strong! Thank you to my dear friends Carly, Monique, Monica and Lameka for shutting these looks all the way down, my ace Nikki Notarte for always having my back and enhancing all of our beauty with her talents and last but certainly not least Courtney Dempsey for making all of this possible! God has really placed some incredible people in my life. I am blessed in every single way!

Let me know what you think about the piece. Also, if you have any ideas/connections for more pieces...please let me know. I mean...a closed mouth doesn't get fed lol. I am here for all of the constructive criticism, suggestions and connections:-) 

Werk in Progress

It's here...The Werk in Progress podcast is live! Check out this introduction. I cant wait to empower and improve with you every week!

Click here to listen...let's werk!

One Giant Night

Photo by Nikki Notarte

Today is a GIANT day for many reasons..

1. Season 3 of My Giant Life on TLC premieres TONIGHT at 10/9c! I am blessed to have been added to the cast. I am proud to be the first African American cast member and hope that ALL women find inspiration through the lives of the women on the show.

2. I am stepping ALL THE WAY outside my comfort zone. Listen, putting your story in the hands of someone else is completely uncomfortable. It has stretched me and in turn I have grown in ways that I never would have. I now see the beauty in being uncomfortable and I know that no matter what comes out of this show, that I will be better in the end and God will ultimately use it for my good. It certainly will not look that way that I think it should, but I rest in the fact that it will be exactly what it needs to be.

3. I get to share my story on a major level. I was built to tell my story. It's part of my purpose. This opportunity was mapped out for me before I was even born. Having the faith to be so vulnerable in front of hundreds of thousands of people is a step of obedience. I am blessed to have been given this responsibility. If I inspire just one person from this show, my transparency will have been worth it.

4. This is a huge step in loving myself completely. Man...when ya girl saw the trailer I was like ummmm that's not the way I look! I freaked out. I wasn't used to seeing myself with natural hair (as I stopped wearing a weave a short time before the filming), the angles aren't the most flattering and I indeed look taller than everyone else. Well Alicia, I hate to break it to you (in my sarcastic voice) but you are. See, we tend to only show the world our best angles. We can scream we love ourselves from the mountain tops until the perspective changes. Can your confidence remain strong despite an unsavory viewpoint? Will you continue to stay resilient despite what others think and say? Without a doubt, this is a test of self-love and I'm here to pass it.

5. It's an accomplishment. It took a lot of work to get to this point and really, this is just the beginning. I'm going to work harder than ever but tomorrow is a time to celebrate this milestone in my journey.

6. I get to share this win with all of you. God has given me a community that I share every accomplishment with. I am honored to be on this journey with friends and family which includes you. We are standing Talll every day, in every way together and today is no different. Thank you for your support. It means the world to me!

Those are just some of the many reasons that today is truly a giant of a day. Check out the preview below as well as a segment that I did with Right this minute previewing tonight's premiere. I am blessed to have had many opportunities to tell my story which I will share with you soon!

See you tonight at 10/9c...it's going to be a wild ride!

Click for a preview of season 3 of My Giant Life

I had so much fun with the Right This Minute Crew. Click to check out my segment on RTM!

Let God

Style posts have taken over my life for some years now. People don't understand how much work they really are. Imagine every outfit you have worn in a 2 week span, constructed, gathered and shot in a single shoot. It's taxing. While this style schedule has been draining, this post is the first time in a long time that I actually had fun doing one.

In the past I put so much pressure on myself to look perfect, have the perfect on trend clothes and obsessed about angles. I was unknowingly creating an image that I could never live up to. I was doing you a disservice and I apologize for that. 

I would toil over every detail and it was taxing.

No more.

Whenever I shoot these from now on, I will just let them unfold organically. Those veins on my hand will be poppin. If a hair is out of place, that is where it will sit. If my nails don't match, oh well. If I don't feel like rockin a trend, I won't. I will no longer push outside ideals of what I think I should be. That drug no longer has a place here.

For the past 6 months especially I have been stretched to the hilt. I have found out so many things about myself. I love the beautiful things and am repairing the ugly ones. My confidence is a constant werk in progress. It ebbs and flows. I don't want to preach that it is always positive. While our confidence is always there, no doubt there are days when it's exausted.

There will be many more days where I will need to build my strength. This doesn't make me weak, it makes me human.

And really I need to stop caring about what you think. I found myself caring more about your thoughts of my content than the purpose behind the pictures and words. 

I absolutely enjoy sharing our stories and beautiful comments about life. It is one of my favorite things about being a blogger but I need to shed the act of caring what you and other people think. The only opinion that should matter is God's. He built me, He gave me my purpose and has made me exactly who I am. He and He alone is who I should be concerned with. I love you and will listen to anything you have to say but at the end of the day, He is the only opinion that matters. To fully live my life, I must walk tall in this fact every single day.

Sweatshirt - STUZO Clothing/Tall Mom Jeans - ASOS/Glasses - Opaque Eyewear/Kicks - Nike via Nordstrom Rack

Photo credit: Ashdav Photo

This is a revelation that came out of a 14 day period of non-stop anxiety about the show. When I dropped the trailer, anxiety enveloped every being of my body. I didn't like the reactions of some people, I didn't like the way I looked with my natural hair (silly yet real thought), questioned the telling of my story and a hundred other completely fabricated things. I built a false mountain out of a non-existent molehill.

I relied on my own view of the situation instead of relying on God's principles and promises for my life. He has given me this opportunity, told me to do it and will do great things with it despite what my view of it may be. Our steps of faith are hard and often confusing but lead to God's plan that is always better than anything we could ever piece together. 

I say all of that to say this...stop trying to control your life and let God take the lead. Work on giving Him the reigns for good. Your life is strategically unfolding in the way that He wants it to. Get out of your own way and certainly get out of His. Listen to Him and unapologetically walk with Him. Be yourself, learn, grow, let go and let God be who He is.