Poppy on a Kite

Poppy on a Kite is about the health, wellness and self-image journey …  the struggles and the triumphs, discovering that the human experience is unique and amazingly similar and that men and women of all shapes and sizes deserve to feel beautiful (always!) and be healthy.

I am honored to be working with a group of individuals who are willing and open to educating others about the importance of “the journey.”

The Poppy Seeds

Faarah Nur

Bio: I was born at the Howard University hospital on July 11^, 1985 – it was on that day the world became considerably more awesome. I am personally responsible for bringing the ‘high five’ back. I am not known for my modesty because I consider humility to be boring.

I love life! Everyday on this earth is a blessing and I live every moment to provide happiness to my loved ones. I consider myself lucky because I have the greatest family and girl on earth. My biggest inspiration in life is love. I truly believe that you can’t love unless you can learn to love yourself first. 

I am a proud Australian/American/Somali, and I aspire to be the greatest human being I can be. I am all about about embracing my inner FATTY (because he is awesome), and maintaining my outer SEXY!

Aliases: Dr Chocolate, Fattypancakez and Waryaa
Big Boy Since: I dropped my dumbbells and picked up a Whopper! Mmmm, Whopper!
Big Boy Job: Claim Lodgement Consultant (ATM)
Hometown: Canberra, Australia
Current Location: Newtown, Sydney, Australia
Fave Quote:“Never stand begging for what you have the power to earn.” – Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Likes: People, myself, my family, my friends, food, ESPN, life, fun, caffeine, hip-hop, most sports and a really good gym session.
Dislikes: Negativity, dream killers, haters, people who give up, impatient people, poverty and the effects it has on society and think about things I dislike (there are too many)

Kristen Adams

Bio: I am a small town girl, who grew up in a sturdy German family where eating and finishing your plate = validation. My grandmother used to stick a soda and a burrito in my hand and wouldn’t let me leave ’til I ate it (yes, I realize burritos are far from German, but that lady made a mean burrito!).

Since then, I’ve had to figure out my own struggles with food, weight loss, self esteem, validation and my happiness. It’s obviously a struggle for us all, but I’m excited to use my new experience as a regular guest on Poppy to keep myself in check, and get your input on how to continue my path as a strong, confident, sassy woman!

Aliases: Lucille BallBreaker, BallBreaker, Breaker (www.lansingderbyvixens.com ftw)
Big Girl Since:   Birth -  10 lbs 5 oz. – beat that!
Big Girl Job: Community Representative with the American Cancer Society. – (I am the staff partner for three local Relay For Life events.)
Hometown: I grew up in Portland, Michigan
Current Location: East Lansing, Michigan (and have all sorts of #lovelansing pride)
Favorite Quote: “Capax Universi: Capable of the universe are your hands when they move with love …” – St. Thomas Aquinas. I love it so much I tattooed it permanently on my body
Likes: My amazing family, my amazing second family – The Lansing Derby Vixens, volunteering, “That’s what she said …” jokes, peacocks, anything turquoise, pickles, a big-ass captain and diet, DeLuca’s pizza, thrifting  and learning more about myself everyday I’m alive.
Dislikes: Llamas, stuffed-crust pizza, working out, CANCER, the word “moist” *gag*, people who can’t see the beauty in a big girl, stress and the everyday struggle to learn more about myself.

Shannon Nobles

Bio:I have struggled with self-esteem issues most of my life growing up. I was raised in a “meat and potatoes” family with strict rules on finishing your plate before dessert. But when I went to my Grandma’s on the weekends, all rules were null and void.

That lack of self control has stayed with me in some capacity for the past 20-ish years and while I have worked hard to overcome many of my self-confidence issues (I can rock a little black dress better than most “skinny chicks”!) I still struggle with finding that healthy lifestyle balance.

I am excited to share my journey of self discovery, self love and learning to put down the chips and opt for a piece of fruit with all of you Poppy on a Kite readers!

Aliases: Shanana Split is my freestyle rappin’ name. Although I cannot actually freestyle
Big Girl Since:  Most of my life. But more so now than pre-2004
Big Girl Job: Resource Center Coordinator of the Michigan Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
Hometown: Macomb, Michigan- a suburb of the D.
Current Location: Lansing, Michigan (and love it so much, I blog about my love for the city!)
Favorite Quote: I love quotes! One of my many favorites is “‘Should I frown because roses have thorns, or smile because thorns have roses?” I always try to remember to look on the bright side of things
Likes: My friends and family (I swear I am the luckiest gal in the world to be surrounded by so many amazing people!), shopping, pizza!, reading, my bunny, cheese, coffee, reality TV (my guilty pleasure), feminist blogs and self-care
Dislikes: Bugs, anxiety, closed-minded people, selfishness, deadly diseases (one of my biggest fears, for real), meat. Oh, and apathy

Hair Extraordinaire

Stella Cantu

Stella is the owner of Headliners, a salon in East Lansing, Michigan, and has been a stylist for more than 30 years. She believes that everyone should take time to care for their hair in the same way they care about other parts of their body and self-image. Her goal as hair stylist for Poppy on a Kite is to “highlight” (pun intended) just how much of an affect a great hair style, cut or color can have on confidence and appearance.

Photographer

Jena McShane

Jena is a talented local photographer in the Capital region who has worked for too many publications and organizations to list here, so go check out her site and thank me later! Jena is vested in communicating the beauty of a person, regardless of what they weigh, and believes everyone deserves to feel good about themselves.

Redhead Design Studio: Creative Consultant

Poppy on a Kite couldn’t look as good as it does without the help of the fabulous creative team at Redhead Design Studio!

YMCA of Lansing: Fitness Consultant

Lansing, Michigan’s Westside Community YMCA will provide Suban with a comfortable facility to partake in some of her favorite activities with some of her favorite instructors: Movin’ and Groovin’ with Angie (best combination of exercise and fun), kickboxing and Zumba!