CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

High Praise

I would like to sing for you praises of Bloomingdale's.

My mother and father gave me some clothes for Hanukkah. I was appreciative though a little troubled by their fashion choices. I can't really blame them, however, for that as I am probably not that easy to shop for. I have all kinds of rules about what I wear. Things like sleeve length, colors, shirt length, buttons (as in none of them), patterns and so on... Anyway, like I said, they gave me some questionable fashions.

So I had to take them back to Bloomies where, previously, I have never had luck finding clothes in their small, shabby plus-size department.

Yeah... No idea why I thought "small" or "shabby." That department was shiny and well-stocked and ginormous. Not only that? I was delighted that, for once, the plus sizes were not relegated to the third floor with kitchen items and lingerie. We were mixed in with the regular sizes. We were not banishes as outcasts!

Praise the lord!

Another good thing about RETURNING clothes at Bloomingdale's? You're gonna get some spending money back. At Macy's, you're gonna get back what was spent after discounts and coupons but here, I had about $100 to blow. Made out with a nice pair of slacks and then some pretty earings (and I still have $22 left on the credit).

Check out your local Bloomies, won't you?

Have a SAFE, HAPPY and HEALTHY new year! All the best to you and your families, readers.

I'm An Odd Duck

The Who, Dave Grohl, some HUGE country stars, showtunes and Barbra Streisand all in one TV special... It's like Les Mooves was all "call Amanda and ask her who she wants to see on TV tonight."

Thanks, Les. My love to Chenbot.

P.S. (Would it have killed you to hand Dubya a hair brush?)

Winner!

Ok-- BEST holiday card I got this year?

Confused? I was too...

GENIUS.

A look back at 2008 plus size fashion trends

Thanks to Melissa for the article!

A look back at 2008 plus size fashion trends

  

December 26, 12:11 PM

by Kelly Simmons, Chicago Plus Size Shopping Examiner

Crystal Renn, plus size model 

 As 2008 comes to a close, so do some of the major fashion trends that were all the rage and some that fell a little short. So lets get started taking a look back at big hits and big misses with plus size fashion.

Hits

1. Dolman sleeves: Easy to pair with some skinny jeans and flats. The Dolman cut has wider sleeves for an easy casual look that can simply be transferable to evening.

• Tip: If you are wary of skinny jeans look for a boot-cut fit

2. Menswear: My personal favorite look is a menswear inspired look. The tweeds, plaids, herringbone and pinstripes are the typical accents of this look. Plaid is dominating the fashion scene right now, from scarves to blouses, plaid will be here for a while.

• Tip: Avoid looking overly masculine, so add a piece of femininity to the ensemble.

3. Cardigans: Another key piece that every plus size girl needs in her wardrobe. Whether it is the boyfriend or the grandpa cardigan, this look will make a smooth transition in 2009.

• Tip: Also look for button-less cardigans that drape.

4. Pencil skirts: Teamed up with some pump and a great blouse, the pencil skirt will take you day to night. With a multi-cut stitch design, a pencil skirt can be flattering on a fuller figure.

• Tip: Look for a pencil skirt with belt loops and avoid a pencil skirt with trimming in the fronts and sides. The trimming will put more emphasizes on wider hips.

5. Boots: Slouchy, the frye, the Ugg® , or the bootie; the boots of 2008 will still be a staple piece in your wardrobe for 2009. When you pair tall boots with some skinny jeans or boot cut jeans, you can easily create the trend hit of the tucked-in look of 2008.

• Tip: Measure, measure, measure! Before you purchase a pair of slouchy or riding boots, measure your calve to avoid the boot falling down. A tip I had to learn the hard way!

---

 Misses 

1. High-waist skinny pants/jeans: Earlier in 2008, you could see several trendsetter celebrities donning the high waist skinny jeans or pants, but this look isn’t for everyone. Skinny jeans are a risk to some and adding the high-waist look could end up not looking as flattering as you might think.

• Tip: If you are one that wants to try this look but are a fuller figure girl, look for a wider leg instead of a skinny one.

2. Swing coats: You need to look for coats that are figure flattering like a classic trench and these coats flair out creating an illusion of an wider body. Cute, yes; functional, yes; silhouette pleasing, no.

• Tip: Look for trench coats with a removable belt to recreate an hourglasss silhouette.

3. Leggings: These fashion pieces are not for every body type. If you have larger hips or if you are of shorter stature, you want to avoid this trend.

• Tip: If you love the comfort and ease of this trend, pair up with a sweater dress.

4. Houndstooth: Words can’t describe how this look is not flattering on a fuller figure girl. When you have a small pattern such as this, the more of that pattern can create a silhouette that is wider and larger.

•  Tip: If you insist on this pattern choice, stick to smaller pieces, like a scarf.

5. Ruffle: This trend wasn’t going to be on the list because I do like the ruffle look but if you are busty, you might want to avoid this look because it is meant to add volume.

• Tip: If you decide to wear a ruffle piece, make sure you place it correctly because it could emphasize a part of your body that you don’t want attention brought to.

source: http://www.examiner.com/x-1055-Chicago-Plus-Size-Shopping-Examiner~y2008m12d26-
A-look-back-at-2008-plus-size-fashion-trends

Cleansing

So someone asked me tonight if I've ever been in love.

The answer is immediately yes. But then it gets me thinking about old wounds that I try to pretend are healed...

It is likely I will be up, trapped in my head, for a while still. Which is thoroughly annoying.

And this is why I don't open up about such things.

Regardless, and despite missing out on Vegas (yeah, I'm still bitter- can you tell? LOL), I had a surprising, lovely, fun, adventurous, rather interesting 5-day weekend. I am overwhelmingly excited about working just Monday and Tuesday and then having an additional five days off.

Ever the supporter am I of stepping outside the box. Boxes suck.

("You said box.")

The Year in Quotes

Always a fan of quality sound-bytes and purveyor of the "QOTD," I thought I'd offer my personal-faves of the last year. Here are the gems:

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our Founders if alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." -President-Elect Obama, November 4 (For full transcript and video, click here)

"In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving." -John McCain, November 4 (Read the whole thing here)

"I think I was unprepared for war." -President George W. Bush

"The Yanks have a great lineup on paper, but it guarantees nothing." -Joe Posnanski, Sports Illustrated

"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade; I will be the loudest voice. It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan." -Kanye West 

"I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?" -Vince Gill, accepting the Grammy Award for Best Country Album from Ringo Starr

"Tonight we look beyond the dark days and focus on happier fare: This year's slate of Oscar-nominated psychopathic killer movies. Does this town need a hug? What happened? 'No Country for Old Men,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'There Will Be Blood.' All I can say is thank God for teen pregnancy." — Jon Stewart, hosting the Oscars

"Well it's official. For the next four years, it will be pronounced 'new-clear.'" -Seth Myers, SNL's Weekend Update

"According to KLAC-AM, Jose Canseco has been detained at the U.S.-Mexico border for alleged possession of steroids... Wait, do you hear that? It's the sound of us not being surprised." -Perez Hilton

"It's kind of freaky knowing you're diving into someone's Grandpa." -Boston Red Sox Outfielder, Coco Crisp, after Fenway banned pouring cremated ashes over the field

"Then why are you covering the Nationals?" -Ralph Nader when told by the Washington Post they would not cover his campaing since he would likely not have a chance to win

"...All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years." -Sarah Palin, asked by Katie Couric which newspapers, specifically, she reads

"I can see Russia from my house!" -Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

"I want to be done playing this lady November 5th. So if anybody can help me be done playing this lady November 5th, that would be good for me." -Tina Fey

"This quote helped shape the election results... as it sank in the public realized this was someone really, really inexperienced and perhaps lacking in curiosity about the world." -Fred R. Shapiro, Yale Law School

"Now don't make me cry. I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair." -David Tennant upon announcing his departure from Doctor Who

"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life. He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined - a thirst for life, for love, and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking." -Ang Lee, director, Brokeback Mountain

"Watching the returns on election night was an amazing experience. Barack Obama is our new president. Change is here. I, like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step towards equality. We were watching history... This morning, when it was clear that Proposition 8 had passed in California, I can’t explain the feeling I had. I was saddened beyond belief. Here we just had a giant step towards equality and then on the very next day, we took a giant step away... I believe one day a 'ban on gay marriage' will sound totally ridiculous.  In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us." -Ellen DeGeneres, November 5

"... Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen... so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books... I don't mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California... What recession? We're gay!" -Melissa Etheridge (full statement here) 

"I said, 'Wow, this girl is angry.' And then I said, 'Oh man, I think it's Alanis.' ... I listened to the song over and over again, and I said, 'I think I have really hurt this person.'" -Dave Coulier, recounting the first time he heard "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette

"Let's put that guitar down and go fuck Matt Damon." -Matt Damon to Sarah Silverman

"That's pretty fucking good." -Josh Groban in "Fucking Ben Affleck"

Mosaic Survey

I saw this on Pepper's FLICKR and thought it looked cute:

The Concept
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search. (I used Google image search - my FLICKR page was running SO slowly!)
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker. (I didn't quite know what this was so I googled it and came up with this site: http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php ).

The Questions
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name

And presto!

 

The Caretaker

Goodbye, Harold Pinter

Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter died Wednesday after a long struggle with throat cancer. He was 78.

Pinter's early plays -- "The Homecoming," "The Caretaker" and "The Birthday Party" -- are his most celebrated, although he wrote two dozen more. He was nominated for five Tony Awards, winning best play for "The Homecoming." Pinter also adapted other writers' works for film, including "The French Lieutenant's Woman," for which he received an Oscar nomination. His careful language and long pauses were so distinctive that his style became an adjective, "Pinteresque."

In recent years Pinter had dedicated himself to political activism, frequently turning his attention to the U.S. On the eve of the Iraq War, he called the George W. Bush administration a "monster out of control." After the war began, Pinter said U.S. policies were "beyond reason" and compared them to those of Nazi Germany. His attacks alienated some who thought that great playwrights needn't be politically outspoken.

But during his 2005 Nobel acceptance speech -- too ill to travel, Pinter made it from home -- he illuminated his decision to take a political stand:

So language in art remains a highly ambiguous transaction, a quicksand, a trampoline, a frozen pool which might give way under you, the author, at any time.

But as I have said, the search for the truth can never stop. It cannot be adjourned, it cannot be postponed. It has to be faced, right there, on the spot.

The film "Synecdoche, New York" begins on the day that Harold Pinter died. Sadly, that day has come.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2008/12/goodbye-harold.html

True Love

I've found him. The man of my dreams.

 

Wedding date TBA.

No Rest For the Oh-So-Very-Weary

This morning's coffee date was futile. This is partially because I am a pussy and partially because he is. I throw my hands in the air in surrender. It's entirely possible I will be engaged soon and not even know about it.

I apologize for the vague-ness of that little vent however I am too tired and/or too lazy to really elborate and am happy to enlighten anyone via the ol' IM. Co-workers inquire within.

I can't remember the last time I slept in. The last time I had nothing to do, when I could NOT set the alarm, and irresponsibly sleep til noon. I can't even remember the last time I woke up early but got to take an irresponsible nap later in the day.

I. Am. Exhausted.

Last night, at my grandmother's house for Hanukah, I fell asleep after dinner, in a very strange position on the living room sofa. I came home and fought to stay awake, thinking I'd go to another party or to see my cousin who just got into town but no such luck- the bed beckoned me like donuts beckon cops (I am too tired for truly creative metaphors).

This afternoon: horrible. Came home from coffee date and faded in and out of consciousness for two hours, finally waking up for good, feeling more tired than ever and remarkably like I'd been hit by a bus (I look to Jaime for verification of how this actually feels).

December is so family filled and moreso for me with my mom, father and brother all having their birthdays in a two-week period so I was happy to have a friend come by for a little bit and I paid a vist to a friend earlier today for a few minutes so thankfully, I feel like less of a social leper. Of course now, after the ill-advised choice of iced tea with dinner, I am wide awake and considering some sleep-inducing options...  It's odd to feel exhausted and wide awake at once. But I am mastering this.

Happy first-night, everyone. I leave you with this prime example of why Hannah should never take my photo without warning: