Water Wear

I'm going to apologize in advance for the lack of quality of these pictures. I was trying to get this ish done before the sun went down and was working with the self timer option on the camera and had to crop to get the ceiling fan out of the shot because the camera wouldn't tilt further down. IM 5'2'' CAMERA, IM 5'2''!!! There was a lot of cussing... . Shit gets real, real quick when you're a moonlighter. Pretty sure that  saying should be a sign on a moonshine still somewhere in the middle of the woods in deep East Texas. 

Now, on to the good stuff. Aside from murder, natural disasters and/or hostage situations, being a fat girl in a bathing suit is maybe one of the most terrifying things in the world.  That was dramatic (I'm dramatic today so just grab a handle)- but I've been in a tornado and I've also been in my bathing suit and the fear of judgment day is a consistent theme. What better way to get over a fear than to post it all over the internet for strangers to see? So here we are. 

Links to all items are at the bottom.

Where to find: Plus Size Halloween Costumes

I know it is early for this.. but I love to get a head start on Halloween. Most stores wont even have their costumes out yet, but I'm already ready! As we get closer, if I find more options I will update this post. We take Halloween seriously in the Monus house. Prissy was a shark last year, I was Wednesday Addams and the boo thang was Flatline (a super villain). I literally spent hours on his face paint so I'm glad Wednesday was such an easy pick for me, not to mention she is my spirit animal and soul sister- sorry Melissa McCarthy. Also, before you take on doing your significant other's face paint, make sure your relationship is strong. Love is the only thing that kept me from stabbing him repeatedly with the paint brush. (Ok, so thats a little (read: lot) harsh- but it was still pretty trying.)

It is such a fight every year trying to find a costume as a plus size girl. Even the plus size costumes aren't very plus sized at all. Don't even get me started on our usual plus size stores (ahem, Torrid) with great plus size fitting options carrying a 3rd party brand that doesn't fit like the store's usual sizing. *groans*.

So what does work?

...and the Winner is

We are foregoing the usual Monday blog post for something even better! Our giveaway winner. But first... a little back story. (Seriously, if I wasnt always telling a story, it just wouldnt feel right. I obviously love to "hear" myself talk.)

This giveaway was for hitting 1K likes on Facebook. We are still pretty small on Twitter and Instagram, but Facebook and this actual blog have grown so much in the last seven months. I am so thankful for every single one of you. Interacting with you makes my hobby so much fun. Getting messages and laughing with you in the comments section really just makes my day. So again, thank you for being here.

Dia&Co. Unboxing: July

Link to the box: https://www.dia.co/r/cc3
Oh my heavens. I love just about everything in the box this month! You'll even see the note that says they picked a jacket from my Pinterest board. Yes please! Love it! I'm working on a new platform for this kind of post- its just tough getting the pics in during the week! I usually get my box on a Monday and have to have it back by Friday and amongst running between two cities for work, cooking dinner when I get home and getting all my beauty rest- I run out of daylight for pictures really fast! Not to mention the energy to do a real photoshoot. I dont know how some of these bloggers do it- better women than I! Back to the important part- they got the edgy classy thing so, so right! Also, a lot of these looks do better with shoes on your feet but boo- once I kick off the heels for the night, its all over. Imagine shoes.

OH! and don't forget- if you see something you love, you can request it in your own box! How amazing is that!? I literally couldn't love this program any more than I do. I compare it to Gwennie Bee because I usually end up spending the same amount I would to rent clothes and I get to try several things on but actually get to keep something forever. I'm all about investments.

My Style Picks: Wide Leg Pants

 Sticking with a theme this week- I'm really enjoying the themes the last couple weeks- more wide leg pants. Can we stop for a second and talk about my love for Jibri? Its the pants/top combo far left. If I was a rich girl Id have all Jibri everything, but I'm going to have to settle for making an occasional investment on one or two pieces. If one day I got to make a music video (I cant sing, I just want to be a video girl) I'd get all the obligatory bottles of booze and stacks of money and just roll around on a pile of Jibri clothes.

Enough of that, its getting weird. I picked three styles. (From L to R) Play, Casual and Work. One crop, one coverage and one you can tuck in or leave untucked. Im here for options. Come for the options, stay for the video girl fantasies... leave when it gets weird.

Its weird. Links below:

Cream Crop | Black Pant | Trouser Jean | Green Tunic | Cream Pant | Black Top| 

Cream Shoe | Black Shoe | Brown Shoe

Lane Bryant/Sephora Giveaway!

Okay lovlies! It is time! We reached our goal of 1k likes on Facebook. I promised a giveaway and here are the deets! (So excited. So many exclamations!!! )

I am giving away a $25 Sephora gift card AND a $25 Lane Bryant gift card to one winner. (side notes: LB gift card is coming from Amazon, so not pictured)

 RULES: Since we had a tough time with Rafflecopter last time, I'm going to try to make this easier. You must like the Facebook page, share the original post and comment on what you want to spend the gift cards on. I'll have the male randomly stick his finger on a comment with his eyes closed to pick the winner on SUNDAY NIGHT. Winner will be announced Monday!

Go here to enter. 

Quick Tips: Wide Leg Pants

Wide leg pants are hinting around at coming back into the spotlight. Flares are flirting with the Fall trends and what we knew as goucho pants (now cleverly renamed cullottes as to disguise themselves) have been trying to sneak in behind their more attractive cousin wide leg trousers. Club Elle is not allowing gouchos into the dress code, especially the short ones. They are a general nuisance.

I love the wide leg pant/crop top combo but as a plus size girl that wants the most flattering fit I've given myself some guidelines that I thought I'd share with you. Remember that I subscribe to the rule of "if you like it, wear it" so these are not must-do's, merely what I look for or avoid when putting together a look I love.

#curvy

I'm sure you knew this post was coming so lets get right into it. People are distraught over Instagram banning the #curvy as a search option. They blamed it on "too many people are using this for dirty pics so we are shuttin' it down!" of course I'm paraphrasing. Thank god they left eggplant friday alone, amirite!? /sarcasm ...and dont search that if youre at work- its extra NSFW.

People are everywhere on this thing! I may or may not have gotten into a debate (if you can call it that) on a Buzzfeed story- then accused of not being curvy or plus sized? It took a wrong turn somewhere. Here is what I wrote:

Now you know how I feel about that part- but what I really wanted to address in this post is that last comment. There were several others like it, some from women bashing other women for picking that particular adjective. Who. Cares?! I dont think it is anyones business what you consider or label yourself.

Story time:

Rue 107 Review

 First, lets address the fact that plus size swimwear is still pretty horrendous for the most part. There are a few stores that have it mostly together but overall... yikes. Is there some stone tablet out there that has the bathing suit commandments chiseled in it?
I. Must be the same pattern as movie theater carpet
II. Pick one of three necklines
III. Ensure the creation of new rolls if not exposing the ones provided.

The reason I like Rue 107 so much is because they went way outside the traditional bathing suit box. They have cropped tank cuts, cap sleeves and even full sleeve tops. Why has this not been done before?! Why aren't more companies doing it now?

Okay so on to the actual top. I put my leggings on to give you an idea of how it would look with my high waist bottoms- which are currently packed and in another city at the moment. For perspective, remember I'm only 5'2'' and currently wear a 42D in Lane Bryant bras. This top is a 3x (22/24).

Night Owl

I was going to take pictures of this during the day, but I got distracted by Polyvore. Seriously. It is becoming a real problem. I was at my sister's house all weekend watching the dog niece Beyonce. Shes dramatic. Lovable, but dramatic and I swear I walked more this weekend than I have all year because she refuses to just go out and potty like my dog. Prissy is like, "listen lady, its hot out here can we just get what we need to get done, done?" ...I'm a little nostalgic since I havent seen my babies in a few days.

I should have tied my shirt a little further to the side, but it worked for what I needed. This is a top from Asos in a size 24 (sold out now) with a simple black tank under. It is a cropped length, but since I'm so short it hit me in an awkward place so I just tied it up and moved along. We were just heading to dinner at our favorite restaurant/bar (Angry Dog) which is super relaxed and in a walkable neighborhood (meaning you park and walk a block to get there if you cant find a meter) so I threw on the blue flats and away we went!

Crop Top Crushin

Its 7 o'clock, Im in my crop top cruisin the stree-eets. No? No Usher today? I feel like any day is a good Usher day. I'll never forget when that song was my jam... in the 2nd grade. Probably not appropriate, but I knew a good thing when I saw it early on.

Links to all items after the jump

Back on topic- so distracted! Amanda Allison posted a picture of a Q&A sesh from O Magazine on Facebook Wednesday that really just struck a nerve with me. Then it found traction and everyone was cursing poor old Oprah out. Sorry Oprah! ..but only kinda. Wrangle your folks, lady.

I found it striking that they had to reiterate that you MUST have a flat tummy to wear a crop. As you all know I've already broken this rule- many times. I also decided that I was going to make this post so we can all share in the joy of wearing crop tops.

All American Skin

My 4th of July celebration was alllll day and Id say I dont even want to look at something bbq'd again, but I'd be lying. BBQ is on point and thats probably why I'm fat. We drove an hour east and started off at a friend's house swimming and eating then headed another hour east to go to my parent's house and the firework display the community puts on.

I left the pool party and changed into the above outfit. White pants, black lace top with my bra under. It was cool, I was covered for the most part and most importantly it was what I wanted to wear. Nobody really gave me too much of a hard time about it, though I got a few questions and a few more stares. My sister, who is most certainly more conservative than I am asked if I was just wearing a bra under my shirt and seemed surprised when I said yes. My niece who is no more than 10, got on to me for showing too much skin. A few other people did an extra look or two, but I didn't get anything that made me feel super uncomfortable.

It brought on a couple questions for me.

Take it to the Maxi

 Summer, Summer, Summer...

I wish I knew everyone's fascination with it. My hair doesnt want to cooperate, my makeup slides off, I sweat literally everywhere, I pay higher electric bills--- its just not a sexy three to six months depending on Texas' mood. I struggle through it every single year. This year I wanted more maxi options and I found this one on Asos for like $25, so of course I bought it. Also, can we talk about how hard it is to find a maxi with sleeves?! Entirely too hard.

Summer Black & White

I love black. This is no surprise to anyone by this point, I'm sure. How do you get black ready for summer? Add a little white. Best part of this post? Most everything (except the middle outfit) goes past a size 24.

A monochrome look is instant chic, but there is always something refreshing about a good black and white combo. Kate Spade is a thing for a reason. Links below!

Links: Peplum | Pants | Dress | Top |  Shorts | Quilt Flat | Strappy Flat | Sandal 

Fat Travel Anxiety: The Beginning

Original photo credit: Patrick Bennett

As I've mentioned about 75 times before, I'll be traveling in October.  We have had a pretty stressful year and decided a month or so ago to just schedule something and work out the details later. Cody, A friend of mine from high school is a travel agent now (follow the link if youd like to check him out; you can tell him I sent you over) and so I hit him up and was like, "Vegas... go!" Then we realized he also did cruises and so I threw in a "but if you have any great deals on a cruise, we'd be willing to look at those too." Im sure he was like, Oh Monus! Here we go. Long story short, we have a cruise to the Bahamas planned.

I've also casually mentioned my anxiety levels in passing, but I'm not sure if I've gotten much into it. It is paralyzing in some situations. In the past when I didn't have a handle on it, I couldn't get out of the car to go in the grocery store if I hadn't mentally prepared myself.  I cover it well enough with casual acquaintances, but my poor boyfriend and my best friends have seen the worst. I really cant thank them enough for just listening when I'm going over my packing list for the 2667th time making sure everything is perfect.