Up, down and all around!

Hi, remember me? Wow, it has been a looooong time since I posted here. Not that I have been silent. But I haven't blogged in a while. I am living large and as always, it is interesting. I am surprised at the number of people who criticize my weight while encouraging me to make poor choices. I am referring to the food pushers at work, the "helpful" relatives who want you to eat, but say things like: "I am just concerned for your health" When you take steps to be healthy, those same people want you to just accept who you are. Hmm, I think that either they need to make up their minds, or I should stop letting their opinions matter. Besides the social side of fat, some of the things on my mind: an airline who would like to charge more overweight or obese customers (Samoan air) How healthcare reform will effect overweight people who can currently be denied coverage because of their weight, even without other pre-existing conditions. I'll be back soon with some thoughts and with an update on my journey to get healthy!

Big Comeback

Hey ladies!

Where do I begin? First, I am so sorry to be away from you so long. Grad school is kicking my butt! Between work and 8 grad credits, I am just barely keeping up. BUT, the semester is almost over and we have so much to talk about. Here are a few of the topics that I want to cover in the next 2 months.

Big Sexy - A step forward or a freak show?
Losing weight to move ahead?
Getting the clothes to fit: brand and styles to fit our curves
Fit and fat: can you be both?
How to take good pictures this holiday season

As you can see, we have a lot to talk about, but first I have about 5 papers and a final to handle first. Be back soon. Until then, live big and bold!

Alisha

I have a good excuse!

So, I have been away from my keyboard for the last many weeks due to surgery. Oh, and for the record, I did NOT have weight loss surgery. I had fibroids, which were causing me all sorts of problems including anemia and possibly infertility. The surgery removed them.

The plan was for me to post while I recovered. What happened was: I slept, woke when my pain medications wore off, ate to ward off nausea and took more pain meds which put me back to sleep. Wash, rinse, repeat. In between I entertained visitors with my loopiness. This continued for a couple of weeks. Then I magically felt better and was ready to join the rest of the world in being awake during the day.

In true overzealous fashion, I got up, did laundry, made my bed, washed my hair and pulled a muscle. Not just any muscle, but an ab muscle that lay directly beneath one of four incisions that were the only evidence of my surgery. And I hurt! The pain of the muscle was worse than the pain of the surgery and I headed back to the doc to rule out a hernia. I was sent home with instructions to resume the pain meds as needed and limit my physical activity to walking slowly.

So I took the next many weeks taking it slow. I listened to books on tape, talked to my family and truly relaxed. And I came up with so many ideas for my blogs that I can't wait to get started. First up: did anyone watch Big Sexy this week?

Until next time ladies, Live large!

Too big for Corporate America?

I have been looking to move up on my job. However, I am noticing that I am having trouble getting noticed. I have a great resume, good references, and I give great answers in interviews. What I don't have is a new job. People who are incredibly interested during phone interviews suddenly turn cold in person. Maybe I don't project the correct corporate "image". Hmm, maybe it's time for a makeover.

The right to bare arms!

It's summer and it's hot and I have to address this. If I want to wear my arms out, I will. I like kimono sleeves, dolman sleeves are still fashionable, and I am not opposed to any sleeve: full, short, or cap. But if I want to wear my arms out, I will do just that.

I haven't always been this confident. In fact for most of the last 10 years, I have been a member of the pale arms club. I would bare my legs, lets the girls hang out, and even go backless. But my upper arms would be covered at all times and at all costs. This changed last year when it got ridiculously hot and I ran out of sleeves. When all I had left was tanks, I wore what I had. And nothing happened. The fashion police didn't come for me. No one pointed and stared. I didn't get struck by lightning. In short, I discovered that my arm issue was just that: my issue.

It was confirmed that arms should be bare during Full Figure Fashion Week. Designer after designer sent out model after model with short sleeves and no sleeves. And I didn't look at their arms, I was looking at the hot clothes. So, if I am dressed to kill, it doesn't matter if my arms are bare or not.

So I will bare my arms if the style calls for it or if I just feel like it. It's my right. After all, it is the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am free to bare my arms and brave enough to do it!

What about you: will you bare your arms this season?

Change of plans

So, the plan was to include tons of photos from the fashion show and a list of what I liked. But due to time constraints (and the fact that my camera died before the end of the show) I don't have enough material. BUT I will be sharing what I am looking forward to for fall and some looks that I love from the show.

First up, the classic little black dress. This one is what I will be rocking this fall:
This is the faux wrap dress from VikkiVi

For a fun look, I like this dress by Sweetooth Couture.

I will be adding black leggings because that's just my personal preference.

Now for a work look, I love this 3 piece suit from LaDan's Closet. Actually I LOVE most everything from LaDan's Closet.

I also love LaDan's short trench, the Eye Spy:

I also kept my eye out for evening looks. Here are some that I really want.

Serenity by Margaux Kouture

Plush Boutique has this number, Anastasia:


There were so many awesome looks and I have so many more things to share, but that will have to wait until next time! Happy shopping!


Love,
Alisha

FFFWeek Finale - my report!

I'm back!

The FFFWeek finale was awesome!

First let me say a million thank-yous to the ladies from Daily Venus Diva Magazine: Valery Amador (@valeryvie), Stephanie Penn-Danforth (@SPDanforthDVD), Cassy Jones-McBryde (@CassyJ) and Olga Gonzalez-Ramos (@olgaplusmodel) for showing me a great time in NYC. You ladies are the best!

The finale started with a VIP reception, which was sponsored by Sonsi . There were red carpet interviews, lots of mingling, an open bar, and a drink created just for the event, the Sonsi-tini!


In addition to a smoking hot fashion show, the ladies in attendance did not hold them up! I saw these shoes and had to share:

It wasn't just shoes that caught my eye. Lakia McCoy worked in out in a bad purple dress!

Work it girl!

Another big standout was Olga Gonzalez-Ramos in white.


Once the interview and Sonsi-tinis were done it was time for the show.
Gwen Devoe of Devoe Signature Events opened the show and introduced host Shanda Freeman.

In true NY style, the night was kicked off with spoken word poets, a full figured dance troupe and then came the fashions! OMG! The designers this year are working to get all my money. We saw offerings from 13 different designer, boutiques and retailers, but that will be the next entry. The focus of the night was the awards for those who gave so much to the industry this year.

The 2011 FFFWeek awardees were:

Plus Boutique of the Year – Re/Dress NYC


Plus Designer of the Year – Monif C. Plus Sizes


Plus Fit Model of the Year – Terri Murray


Plus Fashion Photographer of the Year – Lucas Pictures


Plus Fashion Magazine of the Year – PLUS Model Magazine



Plus Commercial Print Model of the Year – Fluvia Lacerda

Plus Lifestyle Magazine of the Year – Daily Venus Diva



Plus Retailer of the Year – Lane Bryant




Plus Runway Model of the Year (posthumously) – Mia Amber Davis (accepted by her husband, Michael)


Plus Icon of the Year – Catherine (Cat) Schuller


Plus Agency of the Years – MSA Models (MSA Plus)


Plus Pageant of the Year – JT Productions – Full Figured USA Pageant


Plus Fashion Stylist of the Year – Susan Moses


Plus Fashion Blog of the Year – Big Girl in A Skinny World


I had a great time and will have to put all of the fashion show photos in another post, even blogger has it's limits!

Until next time, live big, bold, and beautiful!

Alisha