Being Plus is Not a Minus

 

Being plus size should not be a negative or hidden asset. This contributes to body shaming and assumptions that are discriminatory and harmful. I usually make jokes during my frustration because it's how I cope. I have always been plus size since I was younger. The difference is, we didn't have plus size for kids or stylish clothes for plus size until after I became an adult. I used to shop at places like Fashion Bug, Dots, Lane Bryant, and Deb (all of which are gone now or rare in existence). There aren't many places for a plus size woman like myself to shop where we have a variety of options according to our style and price range. 

I used to work at Boscov's in Granite Run Mall in their plus size section titled Women's World which was located on the first floor toward the back, hidden from plain view. When you enter the store by the shoe department, the first departments to catch your eye are shoes, lingerie, misses, handbags and accessories, and dresses. If you happen to look to your left, stretching back, you will see Women's World. In fact, just about any department store that carries plus size clothing is usually not in immediate sight of the customers. It seems kind of shameful, don't you think? It's also not only department stores but any store that carries plus size usually has plus size customers trailing to the back of the store or not in immediate sight. Rue21 (another one of my stores I shop in) has their plus size department hidden from sight while the majority of the store is overrun by "normal" sizes and men's to the left. 

When I was younger and overweight, I was forced to wear clothes for those older than me so I always dressed older than I was. The most humiliating? Picture yourself in elementary school, trying to enjoy lunch when you see your classmate's grandmother wearing the same exact outfit as you. Yes, I said elementary school. 

Just because you're plus size does not mean you need to wear clothes that hide your shape, make you feel gross, ugly, or an after thought of society, nor should you have to pay a fortune to look good. Plus size clothing ranges anywhere from $20-$80, roughly. Torrid is the plus size alternative to Hot Topic though the merchandise is slightly different, it is also very expensive. 

Shopping online is tricky because you may not fit in the same size for each piece of clothing. Fit is dependent on your shape, the fabric, and overall, how it's made. I should know, I've shopped just about everywhere. Halloween is even more frustrating for plus size individuals because there is hardly anything available. Wonder Woman, Minnie Mouse, and the sexy nurse are only for the smaller figures while plus size get to look forward to a witch, a hot dog, a baggy scarecrow, a nun, and costumes that hide your figure because apparently, if you're big, you need to cover up. 

Plus size individuals have the right to feel and look sexy. Just like any individual, clothes fit everyone differently because we are different shapes and sizes. You should not have to lose weight before being recognized as beautiful or sexy. This is why I am so excited about SHEIN. If you don't know about SHEIN, it is a great online store that sells clothes for everybody and you can shop according to your budget. The other best part is that they allow for free returns in case something doesn't fit or doesn't fit like you thought it would. 

I've bought three pairs of pants from SHEIN and they fit so well. They hug my body making me feel desirable before my husband even sees me! I love their tops and dresses. SHEIN truly understands how to make a plus size woman feel and look sexy. Their clothes are affordable and they have coupons periodically that you can use to save money further. They also have different payment options that allow you to pay for your merchandise in multiple payments.

The pictures shown here (though you can't see the full shirts) are from SHEIN and I love them! I highly recommend them and give yourself the look you want and deserve! We are not just big and beautiful, but we are sexy bitches too! Thank you SHEIN for recognizing that!
To begin shopping, download the SHEIN app, create an account and you can get there by clicking my share link: https://shein.top/wgi9cpx

I'm happy to share this with you because we are individuals too. Plus size is just a label; we have every right to express our individuality and style. Remember, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL BABY!

Poppi: A Great Alternative to Soda

 

Soda is a weakness for many people and how can you blame them? Cherry Pepsi, Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, and Sprite just taste so good! But it's not always good for you. I've been working hard on phasing out soda from my diet though I don't drink as much as I used to. In place of soda, I've resorted to the Clear Americana, Walmart exclusive brand of sparkling water; specifically the black cherry and wild cherry flavors. (In case you haven't caught on, I LOVE cherry flavored beverages. 

Poppi came across as an advertisement on TikTok in conjunction with the show "Shark Tank." For those that aren't familiar with "Shark Tank," it's a show for entrepreneurs to present their inventions/products in front of a panel of "Sharks" to gain investment in their product. Poppi was one of those products. It seemed intriguing to me so I bought a can from Target for $2.49 to try this non-soda soda. The results were surprising. It is delicious and a great alternative to soda. I love the raspberry rose flavor and recently tried their strawberry lemon flavor. It tastes lighter than real soda and dare I say, cleaner, in a sense? Apple cider vinegar is one of the ingredients in the raspberry rose flavor but it's not overpowering. I feel like I'm drinking healthy though like all healthier products, it will begin to burn a hole in your pocket. It is $2.49 a can in Target but for a case of 12, you're talking $24.99 (at Wegman's) or $29.88 a case of 12 from Amazon. So if you love Poppi like I do, you will likely get a case, once a month or so or stick to getting a can every so often, when you can can. (Get it? Yes, I felt the need to toss in a corny joke, now my entry is complete.) 

If you are looking to stray away or cut back on your soda intake, I do recommend trying a can of Poppi. One can is affordable and a nice treat for yourself without the guilt of high sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Go seek Poppi, it be good to you! (Yes a play on Poppi for Papi but again, i just couldn't help myself.)

Film Review: After We Fell *Spoiler Alerts*

 After We Fell
Starring: Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin

After We Fell is the third installment in the After series. I have not read the books so my review is purely based on the film though I am curious to read them after watching the films to do a fair comparison of the flow of the story. First I want to say that I do love the series; guy from the wrong side of the tracks meets a good girl and fall in love if you want it in a nutshell. This third installment has opened my eyes to my slight problem all along; the flow of the actual storyline; allow me to explain. 

When we first meet Tessa and Hardin in After, they have just begun to know each other and give in to the spark between them. We see Hardin begin to let down his guard, admitting to himself and Tessa, his true feelings. His bad boy image is beginning to shed like a snake's old skin as he strives to be a better person while battling his demons which he does quite often though Tessa makes him feel like somebody. He doesn't feel alone anymore. However Molly feels the need to destroy what they have because of her insane jealous ways and needs to be the center of attention. When we depart from this story, Hardin has written a paper about Tessa, explaining his growth through his love for her, apologizing to her for the stupid thing he had done that caused her to leave him. 

At the beginning of After We Collided, we find it was a mere month later since we last saw our favorite flawed couple only to find, there was no happy ending like the end of the first film displayed. At this point in time, we are assuming it is during a break from the last semester as it seemed it was a final that the paper was written for thus Tessa is still a freshman and Hardin...well we're not sure what year he is in. We do find Hardin living out of his car (or so it seems that way at the beginning of the film) and Tessa is now a paid intern at Vance Publishing (first day of course). We are introduced to Trevor who is fair competition for Hardin and we find that there is no actual competition because Tessa allows Hardin back in quite quickly. By the way, has anyone wondered how Hardin has a tracker on Tessa's phone if they broke up so abruptly from the first film; not to mention that Hardin should have a tracker since he is the one that disappears for a time? Just thought I would point that out. Anyway, we meet Hardin's mom, find out a bit more about his past and we also get introduced briefly to Tessa's dad who suddenly appears in the picture. I was also quite disturbed by the relationship between Noah (Tessa's ex) and her mother Carol because, let's face it, they seem a bit too close since the first film. Moving on because we only see them for a millisecond in the film, essentially, Hardin "fights" for Tessa and we got our resolved ending again. 

Bringing us to the focus of this review, After We Fell which Tessa's dad is staying with Tessa and Hardin, (who's apartment magically grew larger with each film) because he is a recovering alcoholic. We find this out because he goes on a chummy drink outing with Hardin finding that "you fall for someone like your dad" is a true statement for Tessa though Hardin does prove to be better for Tessa. There is an argument about Tessa going to Seattle and Hardin wanting to move back to London after graduation (which is one of the few indications that we get about what year in college Hardin is in). According to the flow of this film, it seems years have passed but toward the end of the film, it seems only another month or so have passed. The timeline is confusing and by the time we find out the shocking secret connected to Hardin, it makes you think, "WTF?" How is this possible? You're left with a trail of questions like: Where's Trevor? Does Hardin's dad know he's not Hardin's dad? Where do they go from here? 

It also puts Hardin's mom in the enemy number one spot. My other complaint is that the trailer for the third movie is very misleading. Just when we think we're going to find out more about Tessa's past, it's more of a flop. Tessa is the good girl we met in the beginning and Hardin is still learning and working on being the man she deserves. How long do we have to wait for the 4th and final installment? I am eager to find out especially what kind of magical apartment they will get in Seattle or will Tessa leave Vance publishing because of recent developments? We shall see! Let me know what you think of the trilogy in the comments below. I'm intrigued to see what others feel about the flow of the storyline and the broken bits in between. Perhaps the 4th installment will present some clarity.