I LOVE love, so naturally Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I have fun on Valentines Day even when I’m not dating anyone and a big part of that is dressing up.

To make Vday fun for all of my PSP’s, I’d like to kickstart something new: The Plus Size Princess Style Challenge (#PSPstyle). Think of #PSPStyle as the sister hashtag to #PSPfit, the Plus Size Princess Fitness Challenge. We’ve been taking pictures of ourselves all sweaty at the gym, now lets document when we’re looking our curvaceous best!

Here’s how to get your pics to me:

Facebook: Tag TBGB’s facebook page and once I get the notification, I’ll share your fabulous pic.

Twitter: Tweet your outfit pic to @thebiggirlblog #PSPstyle and I’ll RT

Instagram: Tag PlusSizePrincess #PSPstyle

#PSPstyle isn’t just for Valentines Day. From now on, whenever you post a cute pic on instagram or twitter be sure to tag #PSPstyle so that I can ReTweet/Repost your fun fashion style photos and award prizes when I can.

For the Valentines #PSPstyle challenge I’ve got FIVE prizes to give away: A $100 gift card to Igigi, a $50 gift card to Lane Bryant and 3 red satin bras from Just My Size.

The contest is open from 2/11-2/18 for those of you who celebrate Vday early or late. Enter as many times as you want, if you love your outifts every day tag them with #PSPstyle and send them on over! Here’s how to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As I walked across Eldridge street I had butterflies in my stomach. I’d been talking to Brian, the guy I gave my number to for a week and this was our first date. Brian had suggested that we go dancing at bOb, a hole in the wall dance club on the Lower East Side that plays hip hop and reggae until the wee hours of the morning.

As I approached the club, I saw a broad, 6’4 cutie waiting for me on the corner.

“Hi,” I smiled.

“Hi,” he pulled me in for a hug and I closed my eyes as he gave me a little squeeze. He took a step back, “you look good”.

“Thanks,” I felt good in a black and white mini dress and knee-high boots. My braids were pulled back into a ponytail and my face was done with bronzer, a smokey eye and clear lip gloss.

I was excited. The electricity I felt from across the counter in Urban Outfitters was even more intense as Brian took my hand and lead me into the crowded club. Without saying much, Brian took me into the middle of the dance floor and we started to move. The music at bOb, a tiny sweat box of a club, created a sultry mood. We danced all night, with Brian taking time out to buy me drinks from time to time.

The chemistry I had with Brian was great and as first dates went, this one was going very well. As the night went on I could feel my soft 5’10 inch frame melting into his solid 6’4 inch frame. His hands moved from my waist to my hips and back again as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. Then I felt his hands push my ponytail to the side to make room for his lips on my neck.

You know that old school Mya song? The one when she sings “your lips are telling me yes when they’re kissing on my neck… should I stay? should I go? I don’t know!” I was basically having the real life experience of that song with Brian on the dance floor at bOb.

I was melting in his hands and it felt great, but I wanted more than something physical and I felt like if we got any closer, our chances of dating in the traditional sense would be ruined. It was getting late, so I told him I was ready to go home. I was hoping that by pumping the breaks, Brian and I could get to know each other more and take our time. He seemed cool about it, he hailed me a cab, handed the driver $40 to get me home and then leaned down into the back seat, his face hovering in front of mine.

“I had fun,” he whispered.

“Me too,” I said.

Then he kissed me.

Part Three, next week….

I’ve been working with the HTC for the past few weeks, testing out their latest phone, the HTC One X+ and I’m having lots of fun with it. I’ve been an iPhone girl for a long time, but I must say there are some pretty cool features on this device. My personal favorite is the 8MP camera with built in filters and a self timer also, the Beats Audio has been cool to listen to Pandora with while I’ve been doing the Plus Size Princess Fitness Challenge.

With the HTC One X+, you’ll have access to all the great apps you love including Instagram. There are a lot of rumors about having to pay for apps, but I got all the stuff I love from my iphone on this HTC phone for free.

Now for the good stuff… I’m giving a phone away to one lucky TBGB reader! There are five fun ways to enter, details below:

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, HTC.

Ready to enter? Click here to get started!

Okay lovelies, I’m going to make this one quick.

Between the holidays and Miami I somehow managed to gain 10 pounds. (Womp Womp) Remember last week when I said my scale was going up and down? Yeah, well it settled on 10 pounds heavier than my lowest weight on Thursday.

Since seeing that number on the scale I’ve jumped into action, I haven’t had any wine/cocktails, I’ve been cooking relatively clean and I’ve been taking different types of cardio classes like African dance and boxing. I’m on MyFitnessPal now too, add me as a friend! Those things have enabled me to drop seven pounds, thank God!

I swear, this weight loss thing is not easy!

The numbers on the scale are starting to look better and I have three more pounds left till I’m back at my lowest weight. Then I will jump into my next goal of losing 15 pounds. I’m thinking no wine/cocktails until that goal is reached… I love having a yummy glass of wine here and there so abstaining from alcohol will be a good reminder of what I need to accomplish. It will also be a good reward when I can finally have it again.

Maybe I should dangle a bottle of Cabernet above the treadmill?

How are YOU guys doing? Any big losses? Big gains? Plateaus?

xoxo

A lot of you were asking about the dresses I wore while I was in Miami earlier this month, here’s the rundown!

Maxi Dress: Asos, Shoes: Avenue, Bracelets: Avenue, Bag: Steve Madden (see links below)

Silk Maxi Dress by FatPhrocks

Dress: Jessica Simpson, Shoes: Avenue, Bag: Old (see links below)

Shop the look…

The minute I locked eyes with the tall chocolate man behind the register at Urban Outfitters, something inside me awakened. It wasn’t love at first sight, but more like whoa you’re really hot and you keep looking at me maybe you think I’m hot too- whatever feeling that is. He kept glancing over at me from behind the counter and I kept pretending not to notice, while panicking on the inside. I was buying candles and a pair of sunglasses (all that would fit me from that store), and wasn’t sure what I should do if by chance I was called to his register.

This was (before Robert) when I was starting to understand that a Plus Size Princess can never predict who will be attracted to her. I had been going to the BBW parties in NYC and the experience of going to bars/clubs where my size was not an issue was doing amazing things for my confidence.

So there I am, making eyes with the store clerk at Urban Outfitters with butterflies in my stomach. I was next in line and there was a 50/50 chance I would be called to his register… but do to a missing price tag, I wasn’t. Instead I was waited on by a polite hipster girl who wrapped my sunglasses in tissue paper and sent me on my way. As I tucked my credit card into my wallet I snuck one last glance over to my chocolate cashier and to my terror/glee he was staring at me too and he smiled.

When I got home, I was still thinking about him. Without speaking he had stirred something up in me and I couldn’t ignore it. I wanted to know more about him and the way he looked at me was as if he was interested. Before I realized what I was doing, I googled the phone number for Urban Outfitters and dialed it.

“Urban Outfitters, how can I help you?” a cheerful woman answered.

I froze- I hadn’t really thought through what I would say, so I began to wing it.

“Hi… Um… I was just in your store and I think one of my friends was working the register but- the line was so long I couldn’t speak to him… he’s a really tall black guy with a bald head?”

“Oh, yeah- Brian, he’s here but he’s on break.”

“Okay, um… can I maybe leave a message for him?”

“Sure,”

“Okay- Can you tell him that CeCe called. Here’s my number…”

I gave her my name and number, hung up the phone and exhaled deeply. It was a random slightly stalkerish thing to do, but somehow it made me feel better. I was becoming more fearless when it came to men, less convinced that everyone was going to reject me. This was good.

Two hours later, my phone rang with a number I didn’t recognize.

“Hello?”

“Yeah, this is Brian, someone left a message for me to call this number… CeCe?”

“Yeah, that’s me, um… hi.”

“Hello”

“I was in the store today and you kept looking at me… I just… I just wanted you to have my number and I figured since you were at work you couldn’t ask for it.”

“Oh,” he laughed. “Well, a lot of girls come in the store. What do you look like?”

I couldn’t bring myself to describe myself as big/plus size/fat (I’ve grown more since then, but at that time it wasn’t happening) so I offered to text him a picture.

“Okay cool,” he replied. “send it to me now, I’m about to get on the train though.”

We hung up and I sent my most recent, cutest, full body pic. I figured I was being more forward than I had ever been before, there was no need to hide now. 40 minutes later I had a text back:

You are so beautiful

Ready for Part two? Click here!

So… I’m not losing weight.

For the past 2 weeks the scale dips down and then it zooms right back up again. I don’t think I’m in a plateau situation but I’m trying to see what changes I can make to get the scale moving in the direction that I would like. The first thing I’m doing is nixing alcohol from my diet. My life in NYC is very much surrounded by cocktails. My week can have a combination of wine with Robert, after work cocktails, open bar blogging events, etc. and those are calories that aren’t necessary, so I’m starting there. The Plus Size Princess Fitness Challenge (#PSPfit) is 100% about getting fit and healthy and I’m definitely doing that but I want weight loss to be one of the results of a stronger healthier life.

The other thing I’m doing is finding inspiration to keep trying. I spent the weekend looking at plus size swimwear by Simply Be and fantasizing about wearing a more daring bathing suit this summer. Of course, I find inspiration from the #PSPfit girls on twitter/instagram/tumblr. I’ve also found motivation in having legit workout gear because new gym clothes make me want to go work out more.

The latest addition to my #PSPfit wardrobe is from JCPenney’s Xersion line, The pieces are perfect for an active Plus Size Princess. Their racer-back tank flares out at the waist, so its not tight on my tummy. Their colorful jackets are designed to loop your headphones through the pocket so you don’t drop your phone. Best of all, they make really amazing workout leggings with reflective stripes and a pocket in the back for your phone/keys/credit cards. Its nice to have plus size active wear that goes beyond leggings and a t shirt. Just call me “Sporty Spice”

Photos taken with the HTC One phone!

The sizing on these items is pretty standard. Everything I have fits like a glove and the shirt and pants have adjustable draw string waist bands. Also note that the tank doesn’t have a shelf bra, so I’m wearing a sports bra underneath, but the shirt is made to camouflage that.

How are YOUR 2013 fitness goals coming along?

Snag Plus Size workout clothes from JCPenney & Xersion below!

Has anyone seen the “skater dress” styles online?

It took me a minute, but I realized, skater dresses are just a modern version of A-line dresses and I love them! As we all know the “A-line” dress/skirt silhouette is narrower at the top, flaring gently wider toward the bottom kind of like a letter “A”. Skater dresses get their name because they resemble the dresses the figure skaters wear; that same “A” silhouette but shorter.

Sometimes, I feel like traditional A-line dresses make me look matronly, so skater dresses will be a fun alternative for me! Thanks to everyone who helped me choose my first skater dress from SimplyBe in December.

Between SimplyBe and ASOS curve, there are lots of cool skater dresses to try, including a leather one that I’ve featured below.

Photos by Zanography

Have YOU tried the skater dress trend? Did it work for you?

More Skater dresses below…