Happy Easter / Resurrection Sunday to those observing the holiday, and to those still surviving Pesach (Passover), happy no-leavening remembrance to you too! OK, I’m suffering silently, but it’s not helping that Martha’s in the kitchen making hot crossed buns so good I want to reach into the tv and take them all!

Some of you may know that I’ve been bouncing back and forth between choosing a way of eating. Why didn’t I mention the dreaded “D” word? Because we know all about that. I want to talk about a way of eating — it may be high fiber / high protein, low carb, low fat, low calorie. Whatever your “diet” (which really should just describe what you shove into your yap. I shove lots of kosher, organic, and often high carb things into my trap. However, now I’m a little smarter about what I shove into my yap.) consists of, it’s a personal choice that only turns public when we socialize …but since food is also culture, it bears discussion here as well.

I have often wondered why I am so obsessive about personally curbing food in various ways. I’ve gone nuts over carbs, slashing and burning like an angry flame zipping through a forest. I’ve declared a war on sugar, cutting away sugary sodas. OK, so I’m proud of giving up my soda. Unfortunately, I haven’t really seen the results of that.

I drink 100% juice, even though it has lots of carbs, and I try to eat as much organic food as possible. That part doesn’t quite bother me.

But I can’t keep counting. I can’t keep counting calories, carbs, fat… I can limit my portions.
I can’t keep stressing that I only manage to get 25 minutes of cardio at the gym, while other women there can do an hour or more. I can only worry about myself.

I cannot believe how sick I’ve made myself…maybe not physically, but mentally. I feel terrible to admit this, but I also feel terrible if I didn’t mention it. I’d be doing all of you a great disservice. I’m not perfect, and never will be.

I’ve been silent here on DG for a while because of this. It’s odd, and embarassing to say on a public blog where THOUSANDS of you are viewing this every month, but there it is. I never realized how depressed this has made me until today. So in a way, I do apologize — I haven’t done my job. Writing this blog post just might help someone else.

We’re all smart, dynamic, amazing women. I was going to keep this private, but I wanted to share it with all of you. Thank you for listening.

Y’all have probably heard this video again.

Favorite quote from the video: “Throw out the clothes that you can’t wear anymore. They’re just taking up space, and PISSING YOU OFF!”

Thoughts, ladies and gents?

Even though I’m moving towards low-carb eating after Passover/Unleavened Bread/First Fruits, I still hear loud and clear what she’s saying! Rockin’.

Oh yeah, and the woman is BEAUTIFUL. Oh man.

…is the gift of self-control. Seriously.

My involvement in the field notwithstanding, we’re bombarded with a whole lot of “buy it now” orders from every direction. I’m not saying to stay in your homes 365 days a year and never purchase anything (yeah, I’m talking to the online shoppers too — I keep my credit cards far, far away from my laptop). I am saying not to feel bad if you aren’t walking around busting your piggy bank.

Shopping is one of those areas that hit all the high notes — functionality, entertainment, community. We shop alone and in packs, we shop for what we need and what we could live without. Keeping perspective during this marketing overloaded holiday season is key to getting what you want, when you want it.

Why do I constantly get on this theme for the last six months? Because I believe that just because we’re plus size people, it doesn’t mean that we should kow-tow to any retailer. If Big Fashion Co. said to me, “Isabella, we’re giving you a full wardrobe in exchange for something-that-irks-my-moral-compass”, I’m going to have to pass up on that opportunity.

I’ve often heard the refrain, “Well, we should be thankful…”

Pardon my irreverence, but “thankful”? The only thing I’m thankful for is that God continues to pump oxygen through my wonderful curvy body. I can live without kimono-inspired blouses, I can’t live without oxygen.

I’m never thankful when someone snatches dollars out of my wallet. You shouldn’t be either. Instead, we should continue to be picky, and discern what’s best for us. No business can stay alive without customers.

What customer are you going to be today?

Tags: shopping, rants, plus size fashion, money

Now that I’ve moved to Springfield quasi-permanently, Deluxemom and I have lots of conversations — and plenty is said about plus size fashion. DM is older, and when we talk about the current offerings for plus size fashion, it’s clear that PSF is missing the over-35 group completely.
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Tags: older fashion, plus size fashion, over 35, style, clothing, fashion, image

Don’t let December be the only time you’re actually social - while the holidays are important, your loved ones still want you to be happy, safe, and well year-round! I went to see my father, which was exciting in of itself, but it got me thinking about social engagements, dressing up, and meeting new people.

I’m not a social butterfly, but I do like to dress. I stick to the same rules in fashion as I do in writing, speaking, or anything else - “be yourself!” If you’re a schoolmarm that wears turtlenecks and coveralls, don’t feel pressured to become a cocktail dress wearin’, Cosmo sippin’, couture-aware jetsetter. There’s so many styles of dress out there, why not stay true to your style instead of trying to completely reinvent yourself?

I learned this lesson the hard way over the last few weeks. I’m a conservative dresser — I like flowy kimono style tops, long black skirts, and just a touch of skin showing. This isn’t always 100% the case, but overall, that’s me. As I grow more comfortable with myself, I may throw on a tank top and a skirt and walk clean out the door.

Without diving headfirst into a church sermon - I believe that you have to have peace about your actions. If wearing skinny jeans doesn’t give you peace, then save yourself the angst and don’t wear them. If a plunging neckline makes your stomach turn, turn towards a square neck or a cute button-up instead. I live on career-style blouses, myself. Ignoring that peace is what lands us in trouble most of the time. It doesn’t even have to deal with how we look, but how we treat others.

This is my “reality call” before everyone gets wrapped up into the social scene during this time - your family will still love you if you aren’t wearing the latest and greatest, and any significant other worth their salt will still crave to be seen with you.

Now, how’s that for “positive body image”?

Isabella Murphy wants each and every one of you to be the best you can be, all year round. As the year draws to a close, however, why not pamper yourself one last time? Enter the Makeup Madness $100 Cosmetics Giveaway today!