Ask me ANYTHING: http://www.formspring.me/notblueatall

Sign up here: http://www.tut.com/theclub/

and get neat-o emails like this Mon-Fri (some are amazing):

S****, everything is easy when you live in a dream world.

As long as you know that you’re dreaming.

You do and you can –
The Universe

I would like to be under worked and over paid! Ha-ha!

I was reading some of my fave blogs and it seems like more and more are getting to review products and services by the company sending them free stuff. I thought about this. My issue? My size alone cuts that possibility down to…I dunno. Just down. Oh sure, I could review beauty products and pretend to be oh-so-girly, but that just isn’t my style. If it was something that fell in line with my own beliefs and passions, maybe! But I would always give an honest review. No matter what.

I have been struggling with eating again. I am doing well with eating a breakfast, not always the greatest on offer, but I manage. It’s lunch that is my current hurdle. It used to be my fave meal of the day. Now? Not so much. I own & operate a cafe and thus am around food and drinks all day long. So when I get hungry, and I do, I can’t figure out what to eat and often just don’t. Ugh!

Here were the challenges:

• Wear shorts (NO LEGGINGS, NO TIGHTS!)
• Wear something without sleeves
• Wear something STRAPLESS
• Rock a bathing suit
• Wear a bodycon dress/outfit
• Go SPANX/shaper free (might be harder for some of us..ahem…ME)
• Rock a maxi dress or something similar
• Wear something structure-less
• Wear a short skirt/dress
• YOUR CHOICE: Something you normally wouldn’t wear/do – BE BRAVE!

Here’s my pics: Death Fattie Ahoy! (I’m 5’4″, 32 years old

#1 Shorts: WOW! I did this? Um, okay. I think they don’t show as well in this pic, but when I walk they were above my knees. Scarily so! I paired them with this top because it’s cute, comfy but also strappy! Again, mega-scary, but also so glad I did it! I felt 14 again! Ha-ha!

#2 Sleeveless: As featured in this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/fun-fatshion-friday/Very empowering! I’m so glad I went out and about. I felt all classy with my pearls. I should really wear them more often.

#3 Strapless: from this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/big-moves-bay-areas-go-big-or-go-home-7-10-2010/ What an incredible night that was. I’ll never think of dance the same way again! Thanks to my two fabulous BFFs for supporting me, taking the picture and attending such an incredible event. Y’all rock my socks to no end!

#4 Bathing Suit: This is my oh-so-comfy Junonia suit from last year. Got rid of my old too-much-cleavage-I’ll-never-be-able-to-swim ones. This one keeps my ladies zipped in, for your safety! And finally at a length I can deal with. It’s such a soft and fun, ribbed, fabric. Love it! But this was a hard shot to take, too! I had planned a pool visit, but it was freezing out! Yeah, in California, I know! So I grabbed some props and did what I could.

#5 Bodycon dress/outfit: THIS DRESS! You guys? You have no idea. When I saw it at Ross weeks ago I thought A.) it will never fit me (tag says 3X). B.) it’s so very sort! C.) it’s so clingy in a not-very-obvious but still very conscious way. BUT? I love this dress!!! I feel awesome in it and can’t wait for an event to make en entrance with it to go to.

#6 Go Spanx/Shaper free:
I never wear ’em! So what you see is all me.
#7 Maxi Dress: This was that Ellos maxi dress that was sold out over and over again last year. It’s this thick jersy cotton…so comfy & I love it, but it is sometimes too hot for such heavy fabric. But again, the comfort! Woo! (And bonus, back of my pug’s head! Ha!)

#8 Structureless: Not sure if this qualifies, but it’s all I had. Very slouchy top from Target last year and a “skirt” also from target that can be worth thusly or as a tube top dress thingy. I’ve worn it both ways, but this is the comfy-est non-skirt ever! And watch out: Fatty wearing a belt! Run Will Robinson…RUN!

#9 Short Skirt or Dress: from this post: http://www.notblueatall.com/archives/bfsc-an-evening-at-the-theatre/ I had no idea I still harbored so much shame about my legs. WOW! I learned a lot about myself that night.

#10 My choice, Be Brave: My Legs! YIKES! In the shortest thing I own at that! WOW! I actually like this pic even though you see my legs!!!

This whole challenge has me feeling so strong and brave and…just..GOOD!

And my ankle tattoo since some seemed interested. It was 8 hours of horrible pain, but totally worth it! While it made me reconsider ever getting another, I am already plotting & planning! =0)

Thanks for following along with me on this adventure. It truly was a challenge and taught me things about myself I never would have imagined. And all thanks to this gal & her lovely blog: http://www.tabayag.com/

Did you do the Big Fat Summer Challenge? Send me a link, I wanna see!!!

Had some downtime today (yeah, feeling post-y!) and checking up on some of my fave blogs and sites and came across this delightful (NOT) product:

Huge Lips Skinny Hips

“Huge Lips Skinny Hips, the yummiest lip plumper equipped with Hoodia, is for every woman who ever craved plump-looking lips that beg to be kissed.”

WTF?! NO! Hoodia, for those who may not have yet heard of it is a plant from (in this case) Namibia and is currently use all over the damned place as a weight loss drug due to it’s ability to make you feel fuller longer thus creating an opportunity for you to eat less…or so the story goes. EW! NO! In lip gloss? For fuck’s sake! It’s just so wrong. The name made me cringe, but then I saw it had hoodia and I realized that this is a very sick and twisted world we live in (I knew this, of course).

Look, one of the few damn things fat and skinny girls can bond over is fucking make-up! And now even this is anti-fat?!

I simply don’t have the words at the moment. What do YOU think?

Some fluff, thoughts and even some neat-o stuff I thought would be of use:

I really liked this article about conversational phrases. Go beyond the usual chit-chat!
http://yahoo.match.com/y/article.aspx?articleid=5338&TrackingID=526103&BannerID=68352

While I cannot stand the word they use in this article “Obesogens” there are some useful facts about chemicals in food:
(Trigger warning: mentions weight loss, dieting and other related talk)
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/loveyourbody/why-you-cant-lose-those-last-10-pounds-1964849/

12 things retailers do to get us to spend more, more and more:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/financiallyfit/12-spending-schemes-we-fall-for-2029497/

9 myths & facts about lightening!
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/143/nine-myths-and-facts-about-lightning.html

Brain teasers and optical illusions:
http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/brain-teasers/brain-teasers-and-optical-illusions/1400154

2011 Betty White calendar to benefit Morris Animal Foundation: I LOVE IT
http://www.stylelist.com/2010/07/08/betty-white-calendar-2011/

Adipositivity = Fabulous!
http://adipositivity.phototage.com/archives/9478_1745602162/348037
This one makes me completely unable to stop smiling:
http://adipositivity.phototage.com/archives/9478_1745602162/347764

This blog makes me daydream:
http://ohjoy.blogs.com/

This blog makes me giddy for a new project:
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/
Oh the possibilities!!!

This is terrible, awesome, funny and creepy:

What are your plans for this weekend? Are you happy it’s Friday? I have to work tomorrow, but still plan on enjoying my Friday this evening. Woot for the weekend!  =0)

“Pinhole” lens                        “Fish-eye” lens

“Drawing” lens

The babies! Hover-cat & Melty-pup!

I wanted to share with you a male fatshion perspective. What a breath of fresh air! And yes, he’s wearing white:

http://red3.blogspot.com/2010/07/fat-man-wearing-white.html

Fattastic! So elegant and classy! I certainly don’t want to objectify this man, whom I respect, but he could stop traffic in that suit! So very handsome. He’s also a fantastic FA blogger. Please, check out his blog!