HEY SASHA...WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?

Sacred Valley Region (Peru)

Hello everyone! I hope this posts find you all in good condition mentally, emotionally, and physically. It's been a while since I've posted anything, and it's mainly due to the fact that there have been some shifts in life since the weeks following Full Figured Fashion Week 2014 (don't worry, everything is fine). For the month of July, I was off the grid and not very active online because I was traveling.Some people hypothesized and said that I wasn't around because I was doing the newest season of RuPaul's Drag Race and that I said that I "was traveling" as a cover up. As you can tell, since they just revealed the cast for the upcoming season, I really was traveling. I spent some time in South America and enjoyed my travels through the Andes Mountains! I biked through the mountains at an elevation of 13,000 feet above sea level and the views were just amazing. I stopped along the route one day and took in the views, inhaled the fresh air, and then took a ton of pictures!

Machu Picchu

One of my most enjoyable days in South America was the full day I spent at Machu Picchu! I went back for the second summer in a row because I felt like last year's trip wasn't fulfilling enough. I felt like my time at Machu Picchu was too short, so I had to go back and boy am I glad that I did! I arrived around 8am and walked the grounds that members of the Inca Civilization walked around centuries ago. I then hiked up Waynu Picchu, which is the huge cone-shaped mountain behind Machu Picchu. After descending, I spent the next few hours (until 4PM or so) exploring the grounds, taking thousands of pictures, and talking with other tourists about their journeys to one of the most historical and famous locations of the Incan Empire. From Machu Picchu, I headed to the Amazon Region of Peru (aka The Peruvian Rainforest), where I stayed in the depths of nature without electricity nor a cell signal for a few days. It was very peaceful and relaxing; the polar opposite of what us New Yorkers are used to!

Upon my return to the states, it took me a few days to adjust to everything from the food, to the pace of life, to even responding to thousands (no really...thousands) of emails and a few dozen voicemails. After being home for a few days (just enough time to pay bills and do laundry), I was on the road again to work music festivals and to travel around the US a little. I had to come to terms with the fact that I missed so many wonderful fashion events like Curves Rock Fashion Weekend in Baltimore. Even though I wasn't there, I heard a lot from fellow bloggers and received messages with pics and stories of the good times had by those in attendance. After traveling a bit, I was able to attend Brooklyn Night Out, which featured young local up and coming designers and featured the designs of Big Girls United. I then hit the road again and so I missed Plus Night Out, but again I was able to see how successful the event was due to friends messaging me, posting pics, and posting online.

with Isabella & Ruben Toledo

As the fall approached, I began to wind down my travels as my new role at work caused me to be around and in the office a lot more. With a new work schedule, I had to adjust to a new personal schedule. It took a while to get used to, but I was still able to attend events like The Color of Teal and Lane Bryant's release of Isabella Toldeo's latest line. I slowly made my way back onto the scene by also attending the Ashley Stewart Pop Up shop at the Source 360 Expo. It was good to connect with the team from Ashley Stewart, share some laughs, and pick up a few hot items for some upcoming events. I ran into the Ashley Stewart team a few weeks later at Alissa's Stylish Curve's Pop Up Shop (which was a big success). The Pop Up Shop also included designers and representatives from Eloquii, Fashion to Figure, Rebdolls, and a host of independent designers. It was nice to see a lot of familiar faces at the events and it was good to reconnect with people. Over the past few weeks I've also attended Ashley Stewart's "Thankful for Fashion" fashion show in Harlem, Plus Model Magazine's fashion event with Marina Rinaldi, and a few shows featuring local independent designers. There's so much going on that my next post will be in a few days (stay tuned!).

Since reconnecting and reading posts from other bloggers, I've gone back to comments, emails, and questions from my readers, followers, and drag fans to come up with the topics for my next few posts. I'm not going the route of other bloggers and talk about the hot colors or jackets/coats to wear for this fall & winter. Instead I'm personally going to focus on accessories! For some reason I have the urge to explore the world of scarves, hats, necklaces, earrings, and rings to spice up some pretty nice outfits already in my collection (you'd be shocked how changing the footwear and accessories for an outfit can change the whole vibe of a look). Stay tuned, because I'm going to consult with some of the giants on the plus fashion scene to get their input as well! For all of those who have asked about advice on where to buy clothes, tights, and shoes for bigger girls, do not worry: I will be posting an updated version of one of my posts (since I do have some new places to add to my list). Lastly, for all my drag fans out there, I haven't forgotten about y'all! We need to have a kiki about my personal "10 commandments of drag", the upcoming season of RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7!), and tips when getting ready to beat that mug for a night out or for a show!

My goals are ambitious, but I know that I can do it. It's good to be back around and I'd love to hear from you. Let me know what topics you'd like to read/hear about. In the meantime, be well and remember that "being beautiful is not just about what you wear!"

- Sasha