#keeptheplus

Sure, sure, I know I wrote up a whole piece on how plus size is a new gimmick word and how we shouldn't let ourselves be taken advantage by it, but is it so bad that we need to ban it? Plus size model Stefania Ferrario is trying to ban the term plus size and I'm over here still trying to decide if I want the tenders or the breast meal from Chicken Express think that's such a good idea.

On one hand, I'm on team "lets do this, everyone is human and beautiful, no need for labels!" Then I raise my feminist flag and dance naked on a beach somewhere. On the other hand, how many times have I typed in the words "fat girl ____" or "plus sized _____" into Google to see what would work for my specific body type. Answer: probably six million times (I do a lot of Googling.)

Tess Munster had her own (probably related) status on Facebook, explaining how the plus size community loved her when nobody else did, how she is proud to be plus sized and that it is just a descriptive phrase. (Spoiler:

Inside the Dressing Room | Torrid

The weather here has just been rainy and dreary for the most part this year so any chance I get to get out and wander around the Earth purchasing things in the sunlight, I will take it! There is an outdoor mall just a few miles from my house that has a Torrid in it as well as an Ulta (dangerous to say the least!) and so when I wanted to go do some shopping, I headed there first.

Saturday Night's Alright | Make Up Tutorial

I posted a look of my make-up from my last blog post and some of you wanted the deets! So here you are! I enjoy makeup... a lot but I cant say this is an Elle original, because I was totally recreating one of Vintage or Tacky's looks. I'll have that video below for you so you can watch her in action! If you'd like more makeup looks featured on the blog, comment down below and let me know!

Trendy Under Twenty

 
Listen, if there is one thing I love, its ballin' on a budget. I know, I know.. I also love brunch and black lace and alliteration, but there is no replacement for finding something swoon worthy at a fantastic price.

Saturday Nights Alright

So since I'm a little older now and don't have a job that is nearly cool enough to be getting turnt up on a Tuesday, I have to make my Saturday nights count! I was actually just reliving my past with a friend yesterday and we talked about how much crazier our nights were almost 10 years ago. We would be out at lingerie themed parties and I'd be in my little white blazer with only a peek-a-boo red bra on under and some sweet ass flare jeans (ahh the early 2000s)... I just dont have many lingerie themed parties to go to anymore.

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

Birds of a feather flock together. Ever heard it? I'm from a tiny country town so if you havent, it may be one of the charming word strings people tend to throw together out there. Like... thingamabob, cattywhompus or whopperscopper... literally all things someone in my family has said in full seriousness at any given time of my childhood.

It means exactly that- like people tend to stick with each other. I've been a fat kid my whole life and for the most part, my closest friends were also fat. Not because I don't like skinny girls, but because there is that "shame bond" as I like to call it. We have been through the same bullying, the same daily body struggle, the same fear of being judged. The fear of being called... the fat friend. The ugly friend. or... the DUFF, which is a newer creative term.

Somewhere along the way, for a lot of girls-myself included at certain points- we look for a place to put all the blame. As a group, we tend to put the blame on our skinnier counterparts. We took what they did to us and reversed it with "Real women have curves" and "Only dogs want bones". As I said, I am guilty! I wont sit here and say I never felt animosity towards someone with a smaller frame. I learned to be better.

$25 Torrid Gift Card Giveaway!

Well, we did it! At some point during the night (while I was sleeping because I'm getting old and need extra beauty sleep), we surpassed our first goal of 100 Likes on Facebook! I really cant explain how much this means to me. I've been at this about 3 months now and I never dreamed that I would enjoy it as much as I do.

I love interacting with everyone about being plus size, overall body acceptance and the love of clothes and fashion. I wanted to show my appreciation in the best way possible- so here you are- a chance to enter to win a $25 Torrid Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Where to find: Plus Size Swimwear

I posted a picture on Facebook of sun tan tights that I found on ASOS and boy was I amused. I went first to a place in my mind where I'm out sun tanning in a hot little bathing suit and my legs look so great and tan and then it slowly pans up and BAM! blinded by the whiteness of my upper body. I often compare my life to a Melissa McCarthy movie, and I feel like this would be one of those moments.

I wont even lie to you- I hate being out in the sun. I'm okay with it a few days a summer, but I just don't do well with sitting out by a pool days on end in the Summer. My skin is vampirey and just as I think Im okay with my 200 proof sunblock Ive got a 3rd degree burn.

I do love swimsuits though. I enjoy looking at them and putting them on with a killer cover up and pretending that Im having drinks at a resort so I put together a list for you guys and dolls that are looking forward to getting a glow this Summer.

Inside the dressing room: Target| Ava & Viv Collection

I finally made it over to Target to check out the Ava & Viv collection they just launched for the plus size ladies. We are still don't have a plus size sign and are right next to the maternity section aaaaand now even further away from the dressing rooms, but at least we have 6 racks instead of two, amirite!? There might be a little sarcasm there.

Not going to lie, I found a few cute things there I'm excited to go back and get but I was on a specific mission this time. Something green for St. Patty's day parade. As Ive mentioned before, I'm not much of a t-shirt girl so I needed something comfy that I could be morning drunk in but on point. I think I made it work. Of course I didn't get pictures of the green, but imagine the tank below in green and there you have it.

Where to find: Wide Width Shoes

My father used to always tease me about my camel feet. He meant that they are wider than they are long- which is a little bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. Really though... I've got some wide-ass feet. I proudly call them my camel feet because they are mine and they aren't going anywhere.  In fact, they probably help me swim like little flippers.

I have a hard time finding cute shoes that fit properly, and even when they do fit, the sides of them wear out really fast because I obviously don't know how to walk properly. I get around just fine, who are my shoes to protest?! I've put together a list of places I like to pick shoes from because it has taken me literal years to find them and I want to share that joy with your feet if you also have a wide width.

Flawless?

So I was writing up one of my last talks (I think it was Self Love) and I made a little side comment of "Sorry, Beyonce, not even you are flawless. Then I had a moment of silence for how profound I was feeling. Like when a stoner has a revelation that rocks their world... maybe when they realize how their hands work or something, I dont know but you know what I'm talking about. 

Im not going to lie- that song (Flawless, in case Ive lost you here) is my jam! Especially with the Nicki Manaj remix... wwheeeewww booooyyyy!! I pass some cops on the way to work every morning and I'm always rapping it to get hyped for work, Im kinda surprised they havent pulled me over just to check on me yet. I digress...

What I'm going to say here isn't new, its isn't revolutionary and you've probably heard it a million times but it never hurts to be reminded that

Review: Dear Clark

You know its time for a haircut when you spend most of your day staring at your split ends silently cussing and glaring hatefully at anyone with nice healthy hair. I was becoming obsessed with how damaged the ends of my hair were, so I went searching for a new salon to try. I will admit that I am the worst about just not getting my hair cut. It is an emotional time for me. I literally cry a few tears because of the loss of inches.

There was a traumatic hair cutting incident when I was in 2nd grade. My dad had taken me to Toni & Guy for my birthday and a guy named Vic cut my hair. I wanted a cute little bob and I ended up with a pixi. I cried right then. We went to the movies after and during the movie, I leaned over to my dad and asked if it had grown back yet. It hadn't. I cried for days about my hair. Then I went to school and everyone made fun of the "boy haircut." Now that I think back on it, poor Vic probably had a rough day that day- he made a 9 year old cry. That has to be the worst case scenario for a stylist. Vic, if youre reading this, I FORGIVE YOU!

I ended up at a cute place in uptown called Dear Clark. It is huge! Everyone was very nice; clientele was a tad stuffy, but that's what you get in that part of Dallas. I worked with a stylist named Crystal and she was precious! We talked about my entire life and I am not one to be open with strangers. I had a mimosa, so maybe she made it a bit strong to loosen me up! There was also a shop dog. She had a pink and purple Mohawk. Already winners in my eyes. Booze, dogs and friendly girls. (Sad note: Crystal said that someone had called to complain about the dogs and that starting next week, no animals would be allowed.)

Dear Clark has their own line of products as well, and they will actually be sent out in the Birchbox this month, so if you have that- keep an eye out! She used one of their smoothing creams on my hair to keep frizz down and it was amazing.

I am still adjusting to my new hair as its quite different, but I am so happy with how much healthier it looks. I had to go quite a bit shorter than I wanted because so much of it was damaged. I really liked this little place!  I even scheduled my next apt six weeks out so we can keep it healthy as it grows back to my beloved longer length.

What are your thoughts? Which style is your fav?



Where's Your Hat, Jack?

I started my love for hats very young. In fact, I had a sort of Bowler type hat when I was still in the single digits with a black flower on it that I wore all. the. time. Just think, tiny Elle in her little tiny hat doing little tiny Elle things. I was precious. Probably considered odd, but definitely precious in my own little odd way.

In high school, my first car was a 1961 VW Bug with the huge sunroof (what they call now a panoramic roof... so ahead of their time in 1961). Her name is Journey and she doesn't have any a/c so I got real acquainted with that sunroof. Windows down all the time and long hair? Hats. My hat of choice back then (early 2000s) was the newsboy! So Britney Spears/J-LO.

Now I drive a full on convertible and let me tell you- the hair issues get serious. I find it almost impossible to keep the top up when its nice outside so I keep a set of hair ties and a hat around to keep from being blinded by all my hair blowing in my face. Also, I only did hair down/top down about once before I realized spending an hour de-tangling my hair was not my favorite activity. My top three these days are the floppy, panama and fedora styles. See my picks below.

On to the actual hat-a-palooza. If you want to buy one, check out the links below.

(Numbered Left to Right)

Floppy #1 |  Floppy #2 | Floppy #3

Panama #1 |  Panama #2 | Panama #3

Fedora #1 |  Fedora #2 | Fedora #3

Are Plus Models and Bloggers Glorifying Obesity?

Fat Is The New Thin! 10 Ways To Ditch that Skinny Waistline Just In Time For Summer! Diet Food Tastes Awful- Fat Feels Better! 

How many times have you seen those headlines in today's news? Never? Yeah, me either. If you're at all into this body positive movement or if you even happen to look at any picture posted by a high profile plus size advocate (i.e. Tess Munster, Garner Style) You have probably seen someone say something about "glorifying obesity". Its a huge talking point for the opposing viewpoint. Fat = unhealthy lifestyle. Happiness and self acceptance while fat = promoting obesity, unhealthy lives and ultimately death. 

Listen, I've been fat for a long time- like since I came out of the womb. Never once have I felt like fat was the "glorious" lifestyle. I don't think that someone posting a picture of themselves being happy while fat would change my mind on the subject either. What it does do for me is chip away at all the damage that has been done previously instigated only by my fatness. It shows me that I can be happy if I so choose. 

As a general rule, the plus bloggers and models aren't body shaming anyone for being thin. They also do not promote getting fat. They promote self love, a topic I've hit on before. They promote being happy with who you are as a person no matter what your size. 

So what is it that people are saying when they say I'm glorifying obesity? They are saying I should wait to be happy until I'm a socially acceptable weight. They are saying I shouldn't live a grand life doing what I want as a career path or as a hobby until I'm deemed healthy (should I work on getting a public release from my Dr on that for you?) They are saying I should just hide out from society until the children of the world wont see me and think that my happiness is due directly to my fatness, become fat to be cool and then die of diabeetus, heart failure or running out of breath when walking through Walmart. When you break down what they are saying, it seems extreme doesn't it? That a picture of a beautiful and happy fat person doing nothing other than living ultimately leads to death of others. 

People will always say what they feel the need to say and as Ive said before, most of the time it isnt any of their business. Will I change everyone's thoughts with this blog post? No, but I'm satisfied with breaking down what is being said to what it really means. The absurdity of the phrase itself is enough to destroy its credibility but sometimes when you attach fancy words to something it gets convoluted. 

...Now if you'll excuse me, I have some children to go give the diabeetus. (*eye roll*)

LBD: Snow Day

 

I should have known full well when I headed into work last week as it started snowing that I was making a wrong decision. Actually, after about the first hour in the car (of a drive that usually takes 20 min) I said out loud, "this was a bad idea". In Texas, a couple inches of snow effectively shuts us all down so I was stuck in the office for quite a few hours while I waited for my hero boyfriend to come save me.

 

Little did I know that my black on black on black outfit would work perfectly for playing in the snow when we finally made it home. It looks pretty graceful, but I on the other hand am not. I almost fell on the way into the office and then again trying to get into the truck to go home. Just not very lady like at all.

 

Its a little hard to see, but What I have on here is a Jessica London black dress, Torrid leggings, Torrid belt you've no doubt seen on this blog before and a black scarf the aforementioned hero boyfriend's mother got me for Christmas.

 

 

Links: Dress (Similar) | http://goo.gl/3mBqKC

Leggings| http://goo.gl/NrdBAf

Shoes | http://goo.gl/3v2xWG

Belt (Similar)| http://goo.gl/9zbAlj

Scarf (Similar) |http://goo.gl/NWNrHs