I love when friends share their clothing. My wonderful friend Toni gave me a cream colored tank dress that needed just a little extra touch. And vintage accessories did the trick.

Accessories are a great way to dress up the simplest outfits. I prefer flats on comfy days, but heels can take your casual Monday to a fancier evening when needed!

Hope your Monday is an enjoyable one!

She would tell me that her mother used to contract her abs throughout the day. How it helps strengthen your stomach and back muscles for better posture. “Pull your belly in” advice. Well, she was correct.

According to Daily Mail’s recent article “Why leggings make you fat: Wearing them ’causes lazy muscles and leaves legs and stomach flabby”  - your firming gear may have you looking smooth, but only for now.

Physiotherapist Sammy Margo explains: “Leggings feel good and look great and I am as addicted to them as anyone, but there is a downside.

They hold in and support the quadriceps (thigh muscles), buttocks and core muscles in your tummy,  and do the job the muscles are supposed to do.

As a result, the muscles are allowed to relax and switch off, so when we reveal our bodies for the first time as summer approaches, they are not as svelte or firm as they otherwise would be.”

Ever found yourself packed into a pair of Spanx under your favorite jeans, only to catch yourself belly’d out? Yea…me too. Going into Summer, my new resolution is to stop hiding my body under shapers and start loving my body for what it is right now.

The buy some better fitting shorts! I’m in love with Torrid’s Plus Size Sophia Bermuda Shorts…

 Enjoy your Mother’s Day, and be good to those mamas. 

“Fatkini” simply put, is when plus size women post pictures of themselves in bikinis and then tag the photo “fatkini.” The fat acceptance movement hasn’t quite ‘Tumblr’d” into mainstream attention yet, but Tumblr Fatkini bloggers are not shy about their bodies or their chutzpah in a society where the bikini is meant for the skinny.

So what do you think- loud & proud? Or just plain crazy?

Apparently if you have an affinity for anything produced before your time and you think you’re cooler than everyone else- you can be a hipster. No?

Anyway, I’ve been proclaimed a hipster strictly based on my love for all things vintage. So be it.
It’s a warm Spring day and I’m going out tonight! I don’t usually appreciate white, but this dress is perfect for a warmer weekend date, BBQ, or evening out with (hipster) friends…

Raise your hand if you’re lovin’ those shoulder pads! I used to cut them out of vintage dresses. That was until I realized how well they balance out my curvy hips.

A-line anything is a great pick for plus-size ladies with a “pear shape.” Not to make you appear smaller, but for a more symmetrical look.

I love these straw earrings. They look as though someone painted a glow stick bracelet and then popped it through an earring hook. Favorite bargain buy for the week!

Did you happen to fall upon an awesome bargain this week? Please share…

After class the four of us head next door for some steamed broccoli and a beer. Ahem…beer has B vitamins, ya know. ;P Anyway, I’ve noticed that our conversations are centered around our bodies. It’s appropriate after a regular class like that. We also tend to lead the conversation in a positive direction. Although, my mind is constantly flying around one question: As women, how did we get here? Why is so much thought, action, and conversation based on physicality? And most importantly- what tools do we all have to change this?

I read an article a few months back about changing the dialogue with young girls. Instead of putting focus on how cute they are and what girly things they are doing, ask them about the books they like to read, if they enjoy sports, etc. Although I agree with opening up broad based questions, it’s also imperative that we teach young girls a healthy thought process when it comes to their body, mind, and femininity.

-Keep conversations positive! Focus on the young girl’s ideals, hopes, dreams rather than perpetuating our culture’s obsession with food, weight, and looks. This includes avoiding labeling food as a negative thing, putting yourself or body down, and counting calories around your children or others. It’s important to realize that kids are constantly absorbing our own conversations, consciously or subconsciously. So even be careful of what you say to other adults within’ ear-shot of the little ones.

-My two favorite things to do with children are physical activities like taking them to the park, playing sports, and even simple excursions like flying kites. Getting kids a break from their usual over stimulated mediacentric lives is great for all parties! That and doing creative activities like painting, drawing, building something with their hands. These are both ways to separate the media messenger from the

-Put the love out! Girls especially learn from a young age to associate their bodies with how much love they will receive. Praise them, love them, compliment them on all things, and don’t say anything to them that would suggest any type of body is good, bad, ugly, or superior. All bodies are good bodies!

-”I hate my body.” “I’m ugly.”  When youngins’ say things like this they are usually releasing anger from a separate underlying issue. Instead of simply excusing these words with natural responses like “don’t say that, you’re beautiful”- dig  a little deeper. Ask them why they feel this way and if something happened during their day to cause these feelings. Then you can work from there in positively helping them change this image of themselves.

-Lastly, speak with your daughters about the different types of media and how those outlets affect us. Then get all the young women you know together and watch “Miss Representation.” It will change your life!

Here is a similar video from Miss Representation with more ideas to help empower each other and speak out against harmful media messages.

Enjoy!

(And sometimes that means no bra. Shhh!)

Then a ladybug lands on your toes and reminds you of all the small beauties that each day has to offer. (Even if it is Monday : )

As you may know from past post on plus-size bottoms- I love color! Stock up on different colored shorts, skirts, and pants. It will make casual days less dirty vagrant, and more Spring sweetie. 

Happy Monday, darlings!

]]> http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/30/manic-monday/feed/ 0 http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/27/brazier/ http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/27/brazier/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:55:06 +0000 Casey King http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/?p=2050 I have a confession…
For the last year I’ve owned only a select few bras! Maybe you can relate. It is difficult to come by a bra that is perfect in every which way. So when I found that perfect bra, but couldn’t find it again anywhere in town- I freaked! And then I called to the magic of the internet.

 I came across a similar style, but as we all know bras are better fitted in the store. Months later my friend Stacee dragged me into Lane Bryant and that’s where the search finally ended! I’m now the brand new owner and advocate of Lane Bryant’s “Cushion Comfort Plunge Bra.” I’ve never fallen in love with a tangible item, but trust me- this is a bra you must try out!

The plunge bra is also available in a convertible style. Perfect for an easy transition into strapless comfort.

And of course, I’m always in the mood for sharing the savings. Click-click those Lane Bryant coupons here!

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend.

]]> http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/27/brazier/feed/ 0 http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/25/back-in-a-splash/ http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/25/back-in-a-splash/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:11:23 +0000 Casey King http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/?p=2038 Ever struggled through the 3 months of Spring to find that perfect fitting swimsuit, and still came out frazzled? Yea- it happens to the best of us. With a quintessential “pear shape” I’ve resorted to making my own swimsuits. Not this year though! I’m going to try my best to bring you a series of top-notch plus size swimsuits, and today we’re mixing it up with my favorite Summer drink!

1. Sugar Skull Print Tankini – Torrid

Click here for Torrid coupon!

2 through 4 are from Swimsuits For All

Click here for a huge savings from Swimsuitsforall.com!

4. Infinity Blu Plus Size Cove One Shoulder Swimsuit

Summer just calls for a cute suit, floppy hat, and savory summer drinks. This is my favorite for the moment.

I personally took up fast walking, which turned into running (for the first time in my life!) and today I revved it up with kickboxing classes. It’s been rough, but I’ve never felt more accomplished than when I realized my endurance has increased ten fold. I haven’t lost a single pound, but I know that I am caring for my heart now….not my pant size. And let me tell you- that is the best feeling!

Today I thought- being curvy is something to be proud of, but how can us larger gals help each other be healthy at the same time? We need to stay fit & healthy so that we can be around for ourselves to enjoy, but also our family! I’ll tell you, I don’t ever want another to have to endure the pain & fear that I did when my father was laying in that hospital bed with a breathing tube down his esophagus. So many do though, and especially with heart disease at an all time high.

Today I came across “Curvy Goddess Lounge.” A community of exercises and tips specifically for plus size women. And of course, I pulled a few of my favorite fashions for hittin’ the mat. To top it off….huge savings for my favorite ladies! Check out the coupon below…

I call these the “keepin’ it under wraps” tank. (Avenue Plus)

(best pants ever- Avenue Plus)

And the Avenue coupon for some awesome plus size clothing!

Lots of love

]]> http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/24/living-healthily-stay-fit-the-plus-size-chapter/feed/ 0 http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/20/hairs-to-you/ http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/2012/04/20/hairs-to-you/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:32:46 +0000 Casey King http://www.plussizesteals.com/blog/?p=2030 You’ve probably experienced that awkward growing out stage at least once before. For me, it was traveling from long locks to a chopped top just below my ears. And nothing looks right, but I’m sick of masking my hair behind a bun everyday. So I’ve been loading up on other people’s creativity….

These all require less than 10 minutes!

Enjoy!

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