NotBlueAtAll

I'm just a fat gal with a blog and an opinion. Well, lots of opinions.

GlassesUSA.com A Review

December8

As a long time wearer of prescription glasses, I know all too well the pains, aesthetic and financial, of finding new eyeglasses. When I went into business for myself and became my own boss, that also meant not having things like big corporate benefits and insurance. Bummer! BUT I was soon introduced to a whole new way to buy glasses…ONLINE!

“What?! How the heck does that even work?! I’m no optician!”
I know, I know! And believe me, I had my doubts. Through many years of trial and error, I have finally found what works best and how to avoid the common pitfalls of online glasses shopping! I’ve tried the bargain buys and designer deals and find that I’m really neither and yet both at the same time. Ha-ha!
My most recent dip in the waters of online spectacle buying has left me quite satisfied. My first choice ended up not working out for me, but I was pleased with the level of service, turn around of my return and insistence on my satisfaction that GlassesUSA provided me. When I received my new pair of glasses I was hopeful, but as always with buying stuff online, a bit apprehensive. No one likes being disappointed.
I chose them because I was intrigued by the flexibility factor but also a lightweight and durable frame?! Seemed too good to be true! I was wrong…they rock!

I ended up with the purple and baby blue pair from the Ultem Collection. The purple was a touch darker than I expected, but after wearing them to work…They are perfect! In fact, they are so light weight that I kept checking to make sure they were still on my face! And they are super bendy! I love showing people, too, “Hey, check out my new glasses!” *BendsInAllDirections* and always they respond, “Whoa! Cool!” I love that!

 

Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 3.31.36 PM Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 3.31.43 PM Screen Shot 2013-12-05 at 3.31.55 PM

 

I love innovation and creative solutions to everyday problems, it’s what I do everyday in my own life and at work. So when I see a product or company that feels the same I typically jump right on it. Only this time? They found me first! Ha-ha! In the interest of full disclosure, I was gifted a pair of glasses by GlassesUSA in order to provide a true and honest review. I was impressed with their commitment to customer satisfaction! As a former corporate trainer in customer service (a job I miss and would love to do again), I appreciated this beyond words!
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When my first pair didn’t work out, they made sure my return was easy and seamless (but you will need access to a printer for the prepaid return shipping label, this was my only obstacle). When I chose my new frames, they emailed me to confirm that my prescription had not changed to ensure no further issues. No other glasses website I have encountered has ever done that. I have tried local companies, oversees ones and everything in between. I can honestly say that I am most satisfied with my newest experience and pair of glasses I got from GlassesUSA. Their selection was impressive, but their prices were even more so!
They offer…
  • 110% lowest price guarantee and a 100% satisfaction guarantee
  • A generous refer-a-friend program (You can get $30 for each first purchase a referred friend makes – and use the $30 towards your next pair of glasses)
  • A Facebook page and Twitter feed with exclusive discounts for fans
Their most current discount codes can be found here Sales & Coupons
And readers of this blog can take 10% off any order. With code: Blog10
From GlassesUSA:
“Seeing properly shouldn’t be a luxury – it should be a necessity. We do our best to help our customers and we take their vision needs very seriously by providing our customers with top quality lenses in the most fashionable frames available!”
I believe my complete prescription glasses (this included lenses and coatings) was around $70 total. Not bad! In fact, hella good! I remember paying $300+ at the eye doctor’s office. No more!!!
Here’s my tips for buying glasses online:
  1. Get your eyes examined! Not being snarky! Ha-ha! But you’ll need a current prescription in order to buy prescription glasses online. Sorry, that’s just how this works. I do recommend checking out your local JC Penny or Sears for exams or even Site for Sore Eyes, as they typically run promotions for exams at $50+/- which is a great deal!
  2. Get that prescription on paper! Many opticians will refuse, knowing you can just buy online and leave them and their huge mark ups in the dust. I usually say that I’m traveling abroad and want to make sure I have my prescription handy “just in case!” I once had one absolutely refuse and insisted that they would only Fax it (what is this? the 90’s?!) to another optician or optometrist. Psshht! I don’t know the legality of such a thing, as it is MY info/prescription, but be aware of the possibility. *Also, ask them to take and write down your PD or Pupil Distance measurement as this is very difficult to do on your own and you will absolutely need this in order to buy online.
  3. Measure your favorite and most comfortable pair of frames in Millimeters:
  • Measure your frames across the front, this is called Frame Width
  • Measure the height and width of one of the lenses Lens height/width
  • Measure the arm that goes over your ear (from frame to end of arm), this is called Temple Arm Length
  • Measure the part that goes over the bridge of your nose

Now you’re ready to start shopping! Please keep in mind that not all shaped frames will work for all shaped faces. You might look up how to choose the right shape frames for your face on google, I know I have and now stick with rectangular frames for my roundish face. I would also suggest using a picture of yourself without glasses on, so you can upload it and virtually try on frames online (different sites have different names for this feature)! Also? Have fun with colors! I used to only go for frameless or really skinny/barely there frames and now I go for the complete opposite and love it! Bold! Colorful! Fun! Hey?! That’s me!!! 😉

GlassesUSA also offers a NEW share-able Virtual Mirror feature!
I have not yet tried this feature but it sounds super cool! Let me know what you think when you try it!

posted under Easy, fashion, FUN!, Reviews, Shopping | No Comments »

Randomness is Random

May20

I would love to see a blog called “Perfectly Portly”…someone do this! 😉

Dance rehearsal was hard and good and a bit emotional. Our progress is fantastic when only a week ago we had just half a song choreographed. I  got that runner’s high thing again, it’s kind of awesome. I keep getting asked if I’m excited or nervous and I am, but it still somehow doesn’t feel real yet. Part of me also just wants it over with. Ha-ha!

If you’re local to San Francisco/Oakland area and are interested in seeing me perform for the first time in 17 years, or just want to see a fantastic body positive dance show (OMZ! It’s the best!) there are TWO chances: Saturday, May 25th at 8pm or Sunday, May 26th at 2 pm. Get your tickets in advance to save some time and money: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/378829

I paid for my NoLose registration…I cannot wait to go! Hoping and wishing and visualizing awesome job so that I can pay my credit card off and my hotel room. I may have to drive, but I’ve been itching for a road trip anyway. It’s in Portland, Oregon this year. PDX is like my favorite place not in California, so WOO!!!

Did y’all see that ReDress is back?!?! This is where I’ve gotten all of my Teggings!

A pic of me & Raven from the Fatty Affair Family Picnic a few weeks ago:

Gawd we are so aforable!!! Ha-ha! Both wearing Eshakti (current) and I’m not in love with vintage cocktail hats from the 50’s because of this little white one I’m wearing. Do you have any of these? Hit me up!!! I am dying for a black one! 🙂

Today is my last day at my current job. I have some interviews this week and I am feeling good and hopeful. I had a great weekend with wonderful people who made me feel special and cared for and I am so grateful to have them in my life. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I’m excited about it once again.

Rad Fatty Love to you ALL!

<3
S

posted under Blog, Buzz, fashion, fat, Fat Acceptance, Food, Free, FUN!, inspiration, Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Fatty Affair: FATshion!

February3

The clothing swap part of Fatty Affair seemed to be the most popular portion for sure. And while I only snagged a couple of tops towards the end of the main part of the swap, I’ve already worn one and Love it! What was truly fun for me was getting to see what people picked up, tried on and strutted around in! Many were quite pleased to just change on the spot and wear their new garb the rest of the day. That is so cool!

We also had a catwalk/fatshion show where people were asked to get their strut on if they were feeling good in what they were wearing, even if it wasn’t from the swap (the song of choice of course being “Super Model” by RuPaul). At first we had sign up sheets, but only one person signed up. So I said fuck it and started just recruiting people! Ha-ha! This did seem to work as soon there was a line on either side of the stage area. I didn’t realize that Jery would be the first or that he would even be participating, other than being the emcee, but gurl! He knew how to kick it off:

I went next and decided to twirl before bustin’ out my swagger down the catwalk:
Nicole of AWellRoundedVenture.com was, as always, dressed to impress!
Raven was such a good sport since she originally had no intention of participating:
Tigress & Amanda teamed up for an adorable twirl and strut combo!
But I have to say it, nobody embodied the spirit of the day or the swap quite like my friend Lauren!
This is her catwalk outfit (she had just snagged it in the swap):
This is what she showed up to Fatty Affair wearing (posing with her own artwork):
And this is what she ended up wearing the rest of the night after the fatshion show
(posing here with Milo and her companion looking ever so fabulous!):
It was a total blast! We all clapped along to the song and for each model. It felt so good and so empowering!
To live your entire life being told you could never do something because you’re fat? Yeah, fuck all of that!
We can do anything we damn well please! Together, as a community, we can move mountains and make dreams come true! I know this because it is my own experience. To see people really come into their own and become the person they always wanted to be. To shed the bullshit and the guilt and let go of toxic relationships and just live each day for you. To try things and step outside your comfort zone and experience the dazzling pleasures life has to offer if only we did that more! This is what Fatty Affair and the Fat community mean to me and have done for me.
I urge you, if you have even a tiny desire to attend something like this, do it yourself! Plan it! Team up! Coordinate! It’s so fucking worth it and you won’t regret it! Hit me up for tips. I mean, I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, but I did it! Ha-ha! You don’t have to live somewhere specific or know “all the right people” because that is not at all what this is about. This was only ever about community for me. It was only ever about exchanging the love! And belly bumps! Ha!
<3
posted under Blog, Buzz, fashion, fat, Fat Acceptance, FUN!, inspiration, Reviews, Shopping | 2 Comments »

Outfit From Fatty Affair

January31

This was a dream dress, y’all! I saw this dress over two years ago for about three times the price I paid for it. When I first saw it I envisioned myself standing in front of a piano in a jazz club singing Betty Hutton songs. It could happen! Ahem! I let it go due to my financial struggles, and not yet being comfortable wearing dresses (Psshht!), but never forgot it’s beauty and how it inspired me. I watched it on eBay a couple of times, hoping for the ultimate bargain…but no dice. I’d nearly given up all hope on owning it when a couple of months ago, when I was in my full-on-Eshakti-addiction mode, I came across it again on this interesting web site: www.ChicStar.com

I bookmarked the dress the moment I saw it again. I couldn’t believe my eyes! How could it be the very same dress for such a reasonable price?! It seemed impossible to me somehow so I hesitated buying it for awhile. As December began and my NYE plans started to come into focus, I knew I needed something special and maybe this site was worth the risk. I do tend to be a bit of a risk taker when it comes to online deals. But I still wasn’t quite ready to buy the “dream dress” for some reason. I first placed my NYE dress in the cart online and then perused a bit more, always going back to the bookmark for the “dream dress.” Then I thought I might as well do a quick search for coupon codes or free shipping deals for the sight. This is when I embrace and love happenstance and all of it’s magic and wonder! You see, I not only found an amazing coupon code (I don’t even remember the actual discount, maybe 30%), but I ended up qualifying for free shipping, too if I added the “dream dress!” And so I did! And it ended up being so affordable I couldn’t believe my eyes!

When the dresses arrived though I worried. They were both too big in the bust! The price was so cheap though that I didn’t want to send them back. I got a size 28 in both dresses. I bit the bullet and went to a local tailor. I paid exactly the same amount for his services as I did for both dresses…but it was totally worth it! They now hug my bosom (or bazooms if you prefer) and I feel confident and fabulous in them (except or the elastic back on the “dream dress”, My beloved Raven pinned it for me just before Fatty Affair began so I wouldn’t have to worry about slippage)!

I also went ahead and ordered the black crinoline to go underneath, since they’d both look better with it. So glad I did! I love it, I love how it makes the dresses look and I am just so pleased with it all in general! My NYE dress started my year off right and with a bang! The “dream dress” was more than any jazz club could offer! They were both Dream Dresses and the entire experience was, too! I mean, I hadn’t worn dresses happily or comfortably since high school! And now look at me? LOOK!!! Strapless! In public! Smiling! Laughing! Dancing! And having the time of my fucking life!!!

Oh yeah! The rest! Ha-ha! I am wearing my classic pearls from Shane Co. my husband bought me ages ago and one of my most treasured possessions. Also, winter length black teggings from ReDress. You all know how much I love my teggings, right? They are the perfect offspring of tights and leggings…No chub-rub!!! And the winter length are a bit thicker/sturdier so perfect for winder or colder days. My shoes?! Oh my beloved Doc Marten’s! I love my wingtips! I wear them mostly for special occasions, but also when I want a touch of sass in my style! I always get complimented on them. They are fairly comfortable, though not the best for support on long days. Docs are like that, no worries. I got these babies on eBay for $35 a few years ago. Another of my treasured possessions. Though few they are precious to me. And my hair feathers are from Ross (Dress for Less).

I had originally planned an entirely different hair do. Then I saw these feathers! The colors were perfect! They are on a comb and cost $7.99. A bit more than I would typically spend on such a thingy of curiosity, but so glad that I did. Everyone loved them! I loved them! They added that extra pizzazz you need when you have nothing on your shoulders. I still had another hair do in mind, but after my initial 80% blow dry my husband said how much he loved the natural flip my hair was doing and so I just fucking went with it! No hairspray or nothin’! Just shoved that comb in, pinned it in place and walked out the damned door! Okay, not really…I spent over an hour on my eye liner and nearly freaked out about it big time. Stress! What can ya do? Ha-ha!

It all worked out for the best. I got so many genuine compliments that I will be floating on air for weeks! Fatty Affair was a dream come true in so many ways. It is so sad to me that it’s over now, but I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s pictures and hearing their awesome stories. Everything I’ve seen so far has been just delightful! Except for the moment face book decided to block me from my account for using a “fake name!” Ugh! Don’t get me started…

Thanks for reading…more to come! <3

posted under Blog, Buzz, fashion, fat, Fat Acceptance, FUN!, inspiration, Reviews, Shopping | 14 Comments »

It’s The Simple Things…

January26

That can make you feel so friggin’ awesome!!!

Like Bright Blue Nail Polish (for the first time)!!! (Not really my nails, camera not cooperating)

New Lipsticks that look good and feel good, too:

Being anonymous in a random town

Being anonymous in a big city and just walking around like you live there

Friends! I have the most incredible friends, y’all!
They have so been there for me when I needed them lately and I cannot thank and love them enough!

My readers and commenters! I love you all! You amaze and inspire me everyday! You have touched me in some unexpected ways and I am so grateful to you for the time you spend on this blog. =0)

 

 

posted under DIY, fashion, FUN!, inspiration, Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
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