Never Give Up

When I began my journey with Bigmama's Clothing/P.H.A T. Girl Fresh very few people believed and even fewer supported. My of my besties Vanessa Mott, encouraged me and gave me ideas.  My homeboy Robert Freeman gave me all the information I needed to start a business.   My college buddy Che brought the first P.H.A.T. Girl Fresh shirt and motivated me. I approached several people with my ideas in pursuit of a partnership, no one was interested.  I was discouraged, I felt defeated and I wanted to give up.  However, I kept going and believed in what God have shown me more than I focused on the my fear and naysayers. 

Things did not happen over night but they happened.  Slowly He continues to show me that He is GREATER. No matter what the situation, He has the final say. Even now as I prepare for greater, he is still showing up and showing out.

The moral of the story is, never give up on your dreams. Never allow someone else's blindness effect your beautiful picture. Things may not happen in your time but they will happen in God's time.  Don't allow fear to cripple you as it has the naysayers.  #beencouraged #phatgirlfresh #blackgirlsrock #allgirlsrock #curvygirlsrock #twoyearslater #dreams #stayfocused

P.H.A.T Magazine wants to feature YOU!!

Are you a trend watcher?  Do you consider yourself a trendy person?  Do you add your own individual style to today's trends?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, Phat Magazine wants to give you a chance to be featured.  Phat Magazine is hosting a weekly contest in which they choose an individual to be spotlighted based on how well they interpret the trend of the week.  All you have to do to be considered is visit Phat Magazine's website (http://phat-magazine.com/)  to find out what the trend of the week is.  Once you have done that, photograph yourself wearing the trend(with your own style incorporated) and send it to PHATMagStreetchic@gmail.com  with the subject street chic.   You can also follow Phat Magazine and tweet your photos, please include #PHAT-TOTW # PHAT-MAG # PHATMAG to your tweets as well.  

This week's trend is one that I love, because I love black.  I am also big on chic looks that make a bold statement, monochrome is all of this.  Monochrome is a trend that is bold yet simple but very chic, this look is very easy to achieve.   The look is black and white with playful patterns and accents. The trend is guaranteed to be strutting up and down many runways this year and will be worn by your favorite celebrities. If you would like to see an example of what a monochrome look is, visit the Phat Magazine's website or visit http://fashionmaniac.com.  I will post below some of my favorite monochrome looks and where you can find them.  

By: Ivie Rose ( www.ivieroseboutique.com)

By:  Fresh Tee's (https://www.facebook.com/BigmamasClothing)

By: Jessica Simpson (http://www.jessicasimpson.com)

P.H.A.T GIRL FRIDAY

Me and Model Jessi sporting the latest FRESH TEE'S.

 HAPPY P.H.A.T GIRL FRIDAY TO ALL OF YOU!! I hope that today brings you lots of joy and relief, knowing that that weekend is upon us if nothing else.  I am especially happy today because I have two huge things to present to you.  It brings me such joy to know that my dreams are becoming reality and that in the midst of that I am helping others to come closer to their dreams.  I thank God for all that he has done and is doing in my life, simply because I know that it could have been another way.   I am the first to admit that I am perfectly imperfect, I know that there is someone out there some where who deserves God's favor far more than I do.  However, He has chosen me!!!  I am in no way trying to preach on this good (P.H.A.T GIRL) Friday, but I have to give honor where it is due.  I also have to reiterate something I have been saying for a while..... "It is time for us to activate our dreams in order to make them our reality.  

Feature model Samantha Lebbie

The first announcement I want to make is that Full Blossom Magazine has published my very first article.  It can be found in their 7th publishing which was released today, January 11, 2013.  The article is entitled, "The P.H.A.T Girls Guide to Fresh" and it includes photos of the beautiful model Jessi.  I am very proud of myself and the work that I put into this because writing has been a dream of mine since I was 10 years old.  There is a lot of pain attached to my testimony, and there are two things other than God that helped me live through my hardships.  Those things were reading and writing.  Reading was my escape, it introduced me to things I had only dreamed about.  Reading taught me to live outside of my situation.  Writing, gave me a voice!!  Although I wrote secretly, It let me express what I felt and allowed me the freedom of expressing it in the manner I saw fit.   The magazine includes a number of great articles that cater to the needs and wants of full figured women.  It also features the beautiful model Samantha Lebbie.  I have a great amount of respect for Mello E. Andrews for making dreams come to life through this magazine.  I know that tapping into the plus size industry is not always as rewarding as it should be.  However, he works hard and it has proven to be rewarding.  For a man to work as hard as he does in a industry that is geared around women is huge and for that, he has my respect and appreciation.  In addition to Mello, I must say that Shay Rozay, a model and executive for Full Blossom Magazine, has been a God sent.  Our talks and her direction has been a huge asset to me.    Ladies, if you are looking for information, clothing suggestion or a magazine that you can relate to........www.fullblossommagazine.com

My second announcement is that Bigmama's Clothing will be releasing three new FRESH TEE'S,which will be a part of my 2k13 line of FRESH TEE'S.  I am very pleased with the progress that is being made with Bigmama's Clothing as a whole and I am looking forward to all that God has promised to do for me.  In the coming months, The P.H.A.T GIRL CLIQUE will be going out into different communities mentoring to young girls.  I will be attending Full Figured Fashion Week in NYC, and I plan to throw my hat in the ring for the Fresh face contest.  Last but far from least, I am preparing for Albany Fashion Week's 2k13 show.  I am beyond excited about this show because it is an opportunity to show the growth and progress that Bigmama's Clothing and Maui Bigelow have made in 365 days.  So please stay tuned because it is guaranteed to be FRESH!!!!!

MODEL:  BRITTNEY REID sporting FRESH P.H.A.T GIRL CLIQUE SHIRT!!

BUILDING A BRAND

  THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!!!  DESIGNING, STYLING AND WRITING ALL WITH THE GOAL OF ENCOURAGING AND EMPOWERING OTHERS.  I AM WORKING TOWARDS BUILDING A BRAND BASED ON THE DREAMS AND REALITIES OF MYSELF AND OTHER WOMEN LIKE ME.  THE GOAL IS TO EXHIBIT THE BEAUTY AND STYLE THAT FULL FIGURED WOMEN/GIRLS ARE EQUIP WITH.  TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN NOT TO BE DEFINED BY THERE WEIGHT OR CONFINED TO THE BOX THE SOCIETY PLACES US IN.  TO TRANSFORM THE BASHFUL INTO BOLD AND BUILD CONFIDENCE WHERE SELF ESTEEM IS LOW.  I WANT TO DESIGN AND STYLE THE CLOTHING THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.  I WANT TO MOTIVATE CURVY DIVAS TO LIVE SO LOUD THAT PEOPLE NEED EARPLUGS TO BE IN OUR PRESENCE.  IF I NEVER SELL ANOTHER ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, OR SEW ANOTHER STITCH, MY SOUL WILL REJOICE IF I HELP OTHERS TO LOVE THEMSELVES.  YES, I WANT TO BUILD A BRAND, I WANT P.H.A.T GIRL FRESH TO BE A PHRASE SPOKE IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD BUT MORE THAN THAT, I WANT TO REBUILD THE PLUS SIZE COMMUNITY...........

PROTECT YOUR DREAMS

I have learned that you can't expect others to always be supportive and encouraging of your dreams and the efforts you make.  During my journey, I have met a number of  so called "positive people" who tried to down play, destroy and discourage my dream.  Not because they don't see my potential, but because they did see it!!!!!!!  AND IT SCARES THEM......It is historically proven that people make efforts destroy things that they fear and disagree with.  Slavery and the Holocaust are two example of this.  Both the Jews and the Africans were admired for their strength, abilities and intelligence and for this reason, they were both victimized and oppressed.............  September 11, 2001 is another example of how people will try to destroy what they disagree with.  The greatest example ever, is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.....  And I could easily go on and on......................  However, I just want you to know that you have to be mindful of who you allow to see your vision.

You should always handle your dreams with care!!!  Never share them with those who you aren't sure are in full support of you and your dream.  Just as the Bible says, there is power in touching and agreeing, there is power in touching and disagreeing.  You don't want to find your dreams in the hand of someone who is not in support of it because they will put forth as much effort as possible to destroy it.  I know a lot of people who are trying to obtain things in their lives and every time they are close to the mountain top....................  they find themselves back at ground zero.  Why?? Because they have powers working against them.  Sometime it is best to work in silence, execute your plan and display your finished project.  This is not being shady or wrong, this is just protecting your investment(dream).  I know that what God has for me is for me.  However, the devil is busy and he may not be able to destroy God's plan but he will try.  So remember to guard your dreams with your life because,“Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.”(unknown)