I have to say that I’m excited — a more targeted diet, coupled with exercise, has made me get closer and closer to my goal weight. However, the more I read in the plus size fashion world, the less I feel as if I deserve a voice — especially if instead of a size 24, I become an 8 or a 10.
Therefore, today’s question is, what qualifications must be met before one can, with conviction and credibility, write about women’s plus size fashion. Does one have to be plus sized in order to do this? Heck, does one even have to be a woman in order to write about plus size fashion?
Well, the latter question is answered with a no, as Glen from Full Figure Plus writes about women’s plus size fashion all the time.
But the other question, for me, is harder to answer. The designer of a well-received brand in the plus size world, Igigi, is not a plus size woman in the slightest. Yet her line of clothing has turned women’s heads and made us all collectively drool (and collectively wince over the price tag) over those collections.
I’m a blogger that writes about women’s plus size fashion, who is also plus sized herself. However, I’m reaching a part of my life where I need to get active. Am I silently slapping the faces of silent multitudes who aren’t down with the weight loss train? I certainly hope not, though I feel as if I post progress on my weight loss or anything health-wise, I will undoubtedly step on some toes.
You want to know something about weight loss and Deluxegrrl? It’s been a hard ride. I’ve given up soda, candy, chocolate (for the most part. I do slip in a little dark chocolate as a treat every now and again), ice cream (now reserved as a once in a while treat), and fast food (though I still order a steak at a nice restaurant). Am I going to plus size hell for giving up the grease? I surely hope not, but since I kinda exist in a bubble, I’d appreciate comments at this point.
Whenever someone talks about weight loss, especially a plus size person, I almost feel like a million people are sighing, like “oh no, not another ex-big-girl-to-be!” It’s not like I’m going to go from a 24 to a 2, I just don’t have that type of build. But even at 19 going on 20, I have to get real: diabetes, high blood pressure, and other ailments are a huge problem in my family, and the thought of jabbing myself three times a day (or more, my mom definitely had to poke herself a lot more than that!) with a needle is not my idea of a good time.
I’m not saying that every plus sized person is on the same wavelength as me, or faces the same problems as me. I know several that are healthy as horses, and could outrun me on a bad day. But I’m taking control of this weight loss issue for my health, and therefore I might have to break away from traditional thought on the plus size manner.
If I was doing this for looks, I’d laugh at myself. I’m no starlet, but I definitely get enough attention when I’m out being just plain old Isabella. So I don’t wish to do this for the “hot factor”, since my ego tells me I’m hot as is. 
But when it comes to describing myself, I’d prefer elegant over hot, it seems to last longer.
OK, I’m done. Discuss.
I wish I was as cool as Marianne Kirby. If I were that cool, I’d be getting naked for cancer. Except I’d totally use apples, because apples are the new limes, the way pink is the new black.
Marianne is part of a really cool calendar whose proceeds go to helping a sweet, really interesting woman not only fight her cancer, but the mounting debt that seems to come as part of the “hey! hospital!” package. Deluxemom was blessed with insurance, but it’s no secret that “insurance” and “coverage” can often be gray and vague.
Unfortunately, I’m cool like Marianne. I did however, follow my secondary-wannabe-primary passion, marketing by just writing a blog on that: Talk On Corners.
I wanted a place to tell stories without going completely marketing-suit on everyone. This is my passion — letting the world know the way things are. I had a lady ask me the other day why I decided to be a marketer when “they’re all scammers anyway.”
Hey! Some of us think long and hard before doing anything. In the case of yours truly, well, my boss is a Jewish carpenter that doesn’t take kindly to me scamming anyone. Heck, I still feel a twinge of guilt when I divebomb those pennies on the sidewalk.
Anyway, check out Marianne and her mission. Which isn’t quite getting naked. But cool. Too cool for Isamarketingnerdbella. You know how it is.
Sidenote: I really want a Super Nintendo so I can play Mario. Oh, sweet Ebay, why are you so tempting?
Sidenote #2: Marianne’s gorgeous, pass it on
OK, so I can’t hide my excitement. I was going to stay mum on this giveaway until the end of the month, but I love you all far too much for that! Right now though, I must fill in a few words before we actually get to the ‘giveaway’ part.
We all want our skin to healthier, shinier, and just in overall better condition. I know I do - walking from class to class, meeting clients, and just being luxuriously deluxe can take a lot out of a gal! That’s why I’ve focused on skincare so much lately - it’s important to take good care of our skin, especially when we’re going to put makeup on top of it.
Our faces are the canvas for that makeup, and it’s my goal to make sure your face is in tip-top condition! That’s why I’m letting you in on a secret that even queens of ancient times knew about: dead sea cosmetics.
The Dead Sea may be devoid of “life”, but it is rich in minerals! These minerals include potassium, bromide, iodine, magnesium, magnesium carbonate, and zinc oxide. The list goes on, but these are minerals that give people great results when it comes to skincase.
Remember your mother constantly reminding you to exfoliate? Well, you can keep mom happy and get better results by using black mud from the Dead Sea, which also improves blood circulation. Why not kick up the regeneration process of your skin with Dead Sea cosmetics?
Dead Sea cosmetics aren’t just good for your face, but they’re also good for your whole body! No matter if you’re trying to care for your hair, face, or the rest of your body, there’s a product made from the Dead Sea that should help you. Even those with common skin problems such as ezcema, acne, dermatitis, psoriasis and skin rash can get the relief they deserve: black mud and other Dead Sea products can soothe the itchiness and irritation you go through everyday.
Don’t be fooled by imitation from supposed “competitors”! You really do “get what you pay for” when it comes to Dead Sea cosmetics. They can be expensive, but plenty of sites, such as AHAVA Cosmetics and Obey Your Body offer great prices for these beneficial skin care products. Like with most retailers, if you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you can generally return items.
One last note: Guys: skincare is important for you too! While most that buy Dead Sea cosmetics are women, you too can benefit from the Dead Sea’s restorative and healing properties! Taking good care of your skin should be something that both men and women are interested in - good skin doesn’t know gender!
OK, that’s enough talking about that. If you’re interested, you’ll definitely enjoy what I’m giving away: $100 worth of Dead Sea Cosmetics from Obey Your Body. It’ll be a $100 gift certificate, because with so many lovely products, I’m not sure what you ladies (and supportive gents) want!
To enter the contest, you will need to enter your name and email address into the boxes below. If you are selected to be the winner (it’s one of those “random draw” deals, mmkay?), then you’ll be contacted with some more information.
One rule my accountant is jabbing me about repeatedly: the winner will have to send me some identifying information (such as their SSN or tax-id) so our company (Reversia Media Productions, Inc.) can report the income. Unfortunately, we’re pretty big sticklers about this point. If that’s a problem, I’m afraid this contest isn’t going to be your cup of tea. It’s not quite the scale of Oprah’s great car giveaway, but the IRS doesn’t make silly distinctions like that.
Age is the other stickler he’s on about: you must be 18 years of age or older. Why? Collecting personal information for anyone under this age is a really big hassle. I apologize to all the curvy teens out there - if you’re miffed enough, we may have a giveaway for just teens in the future. I would definitely need some feedback on this point, though.
So, all that rule-ese out of the way, it’s time for the contest! The contest will run from today until October 30th, 2006. The winner will be announced November 2nd, 2006. Trust us: we’ll be spending the whole day before we announce the contest to randomly pick that winner. As far as I can see, virtually everyone is able to enter the contest. You just have to be over 18 and have a Tax Identification Number (if you’re a U.S person, this is most likely your SSN. If you have an EIN floating around, you can use that too.)
Memorial Day is a time of remembrance, and a time of togetherness. Today, most people in the United States are getting together to have barbecues, picnics, and just general cookout fun! However ladies, you must start this busy day off right: by selecting the right bra.
Good bras take a little bit of effort from the user - you have to be properly sized and fitted for the bras you buy, otherwise they will not fit properly. A good bra will do more than just lift the breasts: a good bra will also provide the right support you need to get on with your day! The cooking, socializing, shopping, and everything else in our busy schedules these days demands that we take this little step in taking care of ourselves.
The secret to a well-fitting bra is all in the measurements. There are two measurements that must be done: a chest measurement and a cup measurement. To size yourself for both measurements, get a measuring tape and a mirror.
For a chest measurement, run the measuring tape right under your breasts, all the way around your back and rib cage. Once you have the measuring tape in place properly, note your measurement and add five inches. If your measurement comes out odd, round up to the next even number.
For a cup measurement, run the measuring tape along the fullest part of your breasts. You will want to wear a comfortable bra for this one, while avoiding sports bras and padded bras. Once you take the measurement, write it down.
The chest measurement is your band size. Band size is a major part of a well-fitting bra. Wearing a bra with an extra small band puts strain on your chest, and leads to back and muscle problems.
The cup size is derived from the chest measurement minus the cup measurement. The difference in these numbers is where the cup size comes in. Below is a breakdown of what each number corresponds to:
| Difference of… | Corresponds to… |
| 1 | A |
| 2 | B |
| 3 | C |
| 4 | D |
| 5 | DD (also an E) |
| 6 | DDD (also known as F) |
| 7 | G |
| 8 | H |
There’s a lot of options in bras, and plus-sized ladies need not feel left out anymore. Bare Necessities offers plus sized bras — from sizes 36C to 54H. With over 200 styles, there’s definately something here for everyone!
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dee·lux·GRRL n.An intelligent, dynamic female who isn't afraid to take risks, take time for herself, or create her own unique style!
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