The Big Fat Summer Challenge!

I'm definitely late with this posting, mostly because I just got in from a very nice wedding and couldn't post earlier! I didn't quite complete every bit of the challenge, but I had fun doing what I could. Like I said a few days ago, I found out about it so late, I didn't think I'd complete it! I did my best and I hope you enjoy!

Click pics to enlarge!

Here are the results from my whirlwind attempt at wearing everything for the Big Fat Summer Challenge. I don't usually step outside of my comfort zone when it comes to clothing, though that zone is gradually expanding. There were some things I was very reluctant about because, let's face it, my arms are obviously big. They're impossible to hide, it's as if they can think for themselves! Anyways. I found some, what I think, were very clever ways of putting together those options (since I don't own all the different types, I faked it and loved the results!).

I love body hugging stuff, ironically, since I don't like my body all that much. I went for the clubgirl look...since I have tight dresses for the purpose of dancing all night long!



My sister is always telling me I need to stop with the Meg Ryan look. Admittedly, Meg is one of my fashion icons. I love how she brings her beauty to the forefront with baggier attire. Or that's how I look at it. There's something sort of Japanese about it as well. I own quite a few flowy, loose, baggy things so it wasn't hard to put this one together. I'm in love with that jacket...I'd wear it everyday if I could!



To go sleeveless takes quite a bit of moxy for me. I hate my arms, but, for you out in fatshion world, I'll go for it! Plus, I'm in love with me in this outfit.



Short dresses have been my Summer staple, to darken my legs before they go into hiding for Winter and because I'm in love with them. The shorter the hem, the better this Summer! I like the bubble cut, even though it enlarges me a bit. I dig it. I thought the shoes would really emphasize the length of the skirt.



Bathing suits...EEK! I wish I'd taken a picture when I was in California in the beginning of the month. I took this one in the front corridor. I love this suit, so my insecurities were quelled by my love for the suit. I'm glad I did it. :)




Shorts. Well. I hate shorts. That's just fact! Plain, simple, fact. However, I forced myself to be up for the challenge. I picked these up from the Salvation Army, since I didn't own them before. (As noted in a previous post) I just want nothing to do with them, though this made me give them a second thought. I like the length and the simplicity.




Me without my shaper. Well. I have been avoiding that girl for quite a while now! Only for this challenge will she be unveiled! ;) I'm not sure if I cheated since this skirt fits so darn well! I try to make sure that my clothes fit me nicely without the shaper, unless it's form fitting. Jean skirts are my new best friend because they are quite forgiving (like their legged counterparts). Just a tip, ladies!




Strapless was also an improvisation. Can you tell? I don't think it's obvious, really. The way this dress flows makes me feel confident about going without and shoulder/arm protection. I feel a bit naked, but I'm trying not to think about it!



The maxi dress never happened, sadly. I didn't own one and never got around to picking one up, but I still wanted to share what I could do!

My personal selection had to be special, it had to highlight my biggest fatshion fears while making me feel beautiful. That's quite a tough one. At first, I wanted to go naked--do some tasteful maneuvering to assure appropriateness. Then my mind jumped from that, to this, a halter top showing off as much arm as possible. I hate it, but anything for a challenge!

Groovy, baby!

Some inspiration is smacking me in the face right now. The song "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones! I'm grooving out big time. I've always been into the 60s-70s vibe: modern cuts and flowy styles look fabulous on most people!

To start, a record from those greats of the 60s and 70s, The Rolling Stones! Mick Jaggers giant lips are inspiration alone! From, aptly named seller, TotallyAwesomeVinyl.

Of course, The Stones put me in a trippy mood. The 70s were a pretty cool time, and very mellow. Even the craziest things seemed totally chill. Imagine having your moring tea with this set! It would be a great day indeed! From overthetopoverstock.

This probably has quite a few meanings. I'll leave it to your interpretation. If your pants need to be held up, attach this buckle to your hand crushed leather belt. From RecycleBuyVintage.

No 70s entry would be complete without something with a peace sign on it! The necklace is so adorable! I'd wear it every day with a few other necklaces to spice it up. Modern, yet old school. From WoodNCreations.

These days, no entry is complete without a hippo! This bespectacled gal is totally trippy, totally 70s, and totally cool. From MomentOfZen.

I'm reviving the recipes (at last!). Today, I'm going for a drink and a dessert. The Stones weren't into 3 squares a day, they were into joy and a good time!

The Tequila Sunrise was a favorite of 70s folk. It looks great and tastes even better. There's a link for homemade grenadine on the recipe page. Looks like fun!

One of my personal favorite donuts in a larger form, the Boston Cream Pie! I love this recipe because there's a video attached. Cool, right?

Ok, tomorrow's entry is going to be related to my new job. ;) Then, the Big Fat Summer Challenge post goes up! Get excited!


Ciao!

Reasons for Living.

Today, I'm in a fabulous mood. Here are the reasons:
1. I'm drinking hot coccoa!
2. My Pandora is on the Heatmiser station right now.
3. I am freshly employed.
4. Life is beautiful.
5. I'm exercising regularly.


In honor of this lovely day, I'm going to do multiple posts. (Since, technically, I owe the blog-o-sphere for my absentee-ism.) And I just want to.


This first entry will be a lot of my favorite things. I usually don't share what I'm loving at the moment, but I feel communal right now. As that demon said in the Bible, "We are Legion." :D

A. Over the past couple of days, I've embraced my body more and more. I just love the things I can do. That said, the hippo and I have formed a true bond. We're round, but strong. That's who I am. I love it. I am actually planning a trip to the zoo to get my own shots of hippos to hang in my apartment. This smug mug is a perfect expression of Hippo and Me. From WheeTreasures.

B. In accordance with embracing myself and simplicity, I'm wearing my hair naturally, as it sits atop my head without any help. That sort of beauty is encompassed in this print from AFroDisiacs.

C. I'm in love with decals right now. All sorts of decals. this decal just brings so many great elements together. Cute kitties, birds, and a tree! From ClipArtDecal.

D. I'll admit. I have a favorite etsy seller that I turn to for jewelry. I pick favorites! I just love the cheeky style of her designs. Yep, I'm talking about thelovelyteaspoon! This cute anchor necklace is one more reason to love her stuff. It's absolutely adorable! That little heart is the perfect touch. :) So sweet!

E. What's cuter than moustache pins? Nothing at all. Except perhaps kittens wearing moustaches. Pins from MustacheandFriends. Plush from cordialkitten.

vs.

F. I'm always fascinated by the octopus. Eight legs, super smart, and very ugly. (Or so we'd think!) This cutie is defying the odds by being totally adorable, wearable, and subtle. I love everything. From Alwynstore.

G. I'm into oddities (which I'm sure you can tell), and I love owls (yet another obvious one). So, when those two loves came together with this strange bank, I just had to share! Imagine tossing pennies in there and bringing that bad boy in to the coin star machine! From jayne2333.

H. Small, sweet, muted objects are completely timeless. I'm always searching around for another great find. This petal ring does the job famously. It can be worn with a gown or a t-shirt and jeans. I'm in love with versatility and this piece has it! From littlebugjewelry.

This entry came so easily. I think I'm at a more creative and open place. I'll be sharing on this blog way more often. (Funny, now that I actually have things to do, I want to make time for it!) Everything about this flows. I love you guys! Adios.

Fatshion! My newest discovery!

For awhile now, I've embraced my "largess," shall we say. I know I'm big and I don't really mind it because I'm healthy and have lost plenty of weight since I first decided to take ownership of my body and my health. That said, I've discovered FATshion, a fun way for chubby girls to share their styles. I'm embarking on my first *blog challenge* adventure!

Begins: June 1st

Ends: July 31st

THE RULES:

Wear shorts (NO LEGGINGS, NO TIGHTS!)
Wear something without sleeves
Wear something STRAPLESS
Rock a bathing suit
Wear a bodycon dress/outfit
Go SPANX/shaper free (might be harder for some of us..ahem…ME)
Rock a maxi dress or something similar
Wear something structure-less
Wear a short skirt/dress
YOUR CHOICE: Something you normally wouldn’t wear/do – BE BRAVE!
HOW TO PLAY:

You must photograph yourself doing each of the things listed above. At the end of July write a post with all of your pictures included stating which rule was followed. Leave me a comment with the link, I’ll post all the links with a poll, and we’ll have everyone vote who rocked the challenge the most!

As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm totally thrilled. I recently had a falling out with someone and could definitely use some cheering up. The best way is to go back to my first love, clothes! :)


I'll have to buy shorts/a maxi dress/a strapless something, but I'm totally up for it. I'll be going out tomorrow to snag some things. (Target, Goodwill, and Marshall's/TJ Maxx shall be my mecca)

No blog entry today. Tomorrow I'll be back and in full-effect! Getting into a nice routine around here, actually. I've started working out!

Bye, dear readers. ;)

Baby Delights (for a special little boy!)

(Note: Click the links not the pictures! :D)

So, things in my life are going quite well at the moment. My best friend is pregnant, and I am the godmother to growing boy. He's perfect, she's perfect, the works! I've recently developed an outlook about life that is dependent upon beauty, and new life is definitely a beautiful thing.


In honor of that young life, I'm seeking out the best baby- and mommy-related goods I can find on Etsy. I've set aside some great things that I want to get for them, but I'm going to quest for entirely new stuff for you guys! I'm trying to go organic or natural, just to make things that much healthier for the baby in your life!

First off, I'm in love with natural wood teethers, like this one from littlesaplingtoys. I like them because they're simple and practical. They come in so many different sizes, shapes, and styles that it was hard to choose just one! What a great shop!

Babies love to play and learn! These little animals can let your baby do both! You can play along with your baby/toddler and name the animals as you take them on a woodland adventure or just toss them in the air. =P From justhatched.

Mommy has to wear something while she's buxom, right? This dress from thesimpson is so structured and pretty, with plenty of room for a growing tummy (and if you widen in some other areas, it's forgiving, but highlights your pretty, sculpted shoulders. ;)

Let's not forget that baby must be dressed too! First, a sweet girly onesie!



Then, a boyish onesie!



Both from lynsflinders. So many cute options from them!

A great unscented soap for sweet baby's skin. I like this mild, unscented soap because it won't irratate your baby's skin. From wyldeivy.

I love cute, soft, minky washcloths for the perfect skin on a baby's body! Since discovering the minky fabric, I'm totally in love with it! These washcloths from theposhtots are so cute and very affordable! Even though you only get 3, they're machine washable and just feel better with time!

Because I love variety, I'm going to provide a few options for a very special gift...THE DIAPER CAKE! Yes, all new parents need diapers (and lots of them), but how often do you get to dress it up? Rarely! So, I'm gonna bring you cakes at 3 price points where one will definitely fit your budget! Drum roll please...DUN-DUN-DUN!


1. Who doesn't love Winnie? This 60-diaper cake is perfect if you're hosting a baby shower and need a centerpiece. From ericajmoore. It's pricey, but totally adorable.




2. A more affordable, but still adorable option. That lion looks so ferocious! And I know baby would love to cuddle with it! From ilovepattycakes.




3. This mini-diaper cake is so cute, new parents will gush over it! Tons of characters to choose from and it comes with sweet extras. From nicole4129.

Mommies have needs too, and some of them can be annoying or frustrating for a new parent. One thing for breastfeeding moms to worry about is leaky *ahem* faucets. These bad boys will help with any unwanted leaks. They soften when washed and look great! Even if only you get to see them! From MasonsEcoMom.

Even though that big belly is a constant reminder, sometimes mommies want something a bit more delicate. This necklace is the perfect little trinket to make anyone smile. Those little feet are beyond adorable! From TheTwoBeans.

I could really go on forever, but I'm trying to finish the 2nd season of Arrested Development...so, I've gotta go! I hope you enjoyed this baby edition of Musings! Tomorrow, a daddy and baby edition!

-Bye!