Big Fat Toronto!

Hey Everyone!

I just thought I should let you know about a fabulous event taking place tomorrow called "Big Fat Toronto." It starts off with a size 12+ clothing swap, and finishes with a discussion about fat acceptance and a social, where you can mingle with other people in the Toronto fat acceptance community. I am so going, and I am just trying to figure out what to wear now! If you're in the Toronto area, you should come. Here are the details for tomorrow:

Thank You For the Music!

Hey Everyone,

This isn't really a fashion or an OOTD post, but I was really, really inspired when I came across the blog By Anika and she wrote this post about music and how it can help us to feel great about ourselves. Music is a very important part of my life and definitely helps me channel emotions. Anika was saying that when she wants to feel great and have a bit of a spring in her step when she is rocking an awesome outfit, the song that plays in her head is "Show me What You're Working With" by Mystical. She says, "The lyrics may not be politically correct, but who cares, it gives me ooommmppphh and the power to let go of what I can not change (my backside) as well as the power to change what I can (my estimation of my backside)." She is a great inspiration! Do you have a song that does this for you? I have SOOO many - and they are all on my iPhone in a playlist called "Swagger" so I remember to have that when I'm listening to them. They sort of remind me to feel good about myself. Peacock clothing and accessories also do this for me - as they typically represent pride because of their showy colours. Do you have anything like that, which reminds you to keep your head held high? I am going to share my feel-good mix with you all - these are songs I play in my head or on my iPhone when I need a boost or really show that world out there what I'm working with. What are your favourites? These are not in any particular order.

Beautiful You Are - Deborah Cox
The Dress Looks Nice on You - Sufjan Stevens
Follow the Light - Travis
Here Comes the Sun and Let it Be- The Beatles
Hometown Glory - Adele (really anything by Adele - she is such an inspirational curvy woman!)
Hot Child in the City - Nick Gilder (this is a good one for that strut thing I was talking about)
I Gotta Feelin' - Black Eyed Peas (I like this for getting ready to go out)
Live Your Life - Rihanna ft. T.I
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
Queen - We Will Rock You
Sea of No Cares, Ordinary Day, and When I'm Up - Great Big Sea
Single Ladies and Bootylicious - Beyonce
So What and Raise Your Glass - P!nk
True Colours - Cyndi Lauper
Vogue - Madonna
You're So Damn Hot - Ok Go

Please comment with your favourites!

"Free for Chubbies": Some Vintage Ads about Fatness that I found

Hey Guys,

After my Aunt sent me a forward with a bunch of now-politically incorrect ads in it, I was inspired to see what other ads I could find from around the 1950s and 60s of a similar nature regarding being fat. Here's what I found:

What do you all think of these? It makes me question our society's ideologies even more than I already do... What will people be saying about current advertising in 50 or 60 years from now? One ad (or series of ads) that always bugs me is the Special K ads of the woman in the red dress. Urgh. This is just one amongst many, though, and these ads are where our current ones get their lineage. It makes me think that the message hasn't really changed at all - but it's only the method of delivery that has changed (more subtly communicated). Very curious to see what you all have to say! Here's a Special K print ad to show you what I mean:

Salut tout le monde,

Après ma tante m'a envoyé un de l'avant avec une série d'annonces actuellement politiquement incorrect en elle, je me suis inspiré de voir ce que d'autres annonces que j'ai pu trouver à partir des années 1950 et 60 de même nature sur d'être gros. Voici ce que j'ai trouvé. Qu'est-ce que vous pensez tous de ces? Il me fait question idéologies de notre société encore plus que je fais déjà ... Que feront les gens dire au sujet de la publicité en cours dans 50 ou 60 ans? Une annonce (ou une série d'annonces) qui irrite toujours moi, c'est les annonces Special K de la femme à la robe rouge. Urgh. Ce n'est qu'un parmi tant d'autres, cependant, et ces annonces sont ceux où nos actuels reçoivent leur lignée. Il me fait penser que le message n'a pas vraiment changé du tout - mais ce n'est que le mode de livraison qui a changé (plus subtilement communiqué). Très curieux de voir ce que vous avez à dire! Voici une publicité imprimée Special K pour vous montrer ce que je veux dire:

FAT RANT!!!

Just found this video on YouTube which I love!!! Everything she says is so true. What a wonderful, inspirational message. Hope you like it! A quote from the third installment of fat rant that really spoke to me: "fat hate is one of the only forms of prejudice where the people who are subjected to it feel like they're getting exactly what they deserve. You deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. You deserve to be happy." Don't put up with fat hate anymore. Joy gives a few examples (in rant 3) of come-backs you can use when people damn you with faint praise or flat-out bully you. Joy treats the topic with a wonderful wit and irony. You should really check this out.