This past weekend I found that the lovely and talented vintage diva, Shermy from http://www.shermette.com, nominated moi for a Liebster award!
What the heck is the Liebster Blog Award you ask….
The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn’t that lovely?
The value behind this award is for us to get to know other bloggers who might not be well-known, yet have a lot to share. Blogging is about building a community and it’s a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.
Thank you Shermy for the nomination and kudos babe! Especially nice to know that in the extremely short time I’ve been apart of the blogosphere, you – the collective ‘you’- You like me! You really like me! 🙂
Shermy’s questions for me were the following in bold, my answers beneath each:
1. What is your favourite non-vintage related hobby?
Dog-walking or ‘urban hiking’. Can’t wait for the warmer weather to get here already so I can really explore my new hood and surrounding neighbourhoods of West Toronto.
2. Do you plan your blog posts far in advance, or do you post on a whim?
It’s a combination of both. Sometimes when I’m in ‘the zone’…I find writing multiple posts so easy. I try and save them as drafts and publish them sparingly so that I don’t bombard my followers inboxes. Also, when I’m less inspired to write, I’ll always have something pending to update and share.
3. What is your favourite place that you have ever visited?
Oooo that’s tough. The most recent trip tends to trump the last, likely because the memories of the most recent are still sitting in the front of my brain. This past October I explored Peru for a week on an organized tour group. Never done one of those before – and was pleasantly surprised at how many friendships that were developed that week, many of them have carried on via regularly Facebook chitchats and some even made it to Christmas Card exchanges this year. The trip itself was one that challenged me both physically and personally. Climbing Machu Picchu…thought I was gonna die on that mountian…alttitue is no joke, let me tell ya. The trip resulted in some major self-discovery and made me re-evaluate the types of people and friendships I’ve chosen to keep in my life.
4. What is your favourite thing about yourself?
Yikes! That’s a toughie. It’s taken me a long time to really embrace who I am…personality flaws, waistline, crazy upbringing and all. But I can honestly say, now, today I truly do like who I am! My most favourite thing about me is my ability to shine regardless of what cards are dealt to me. It may take me a minute to lick my wounds, get myself on track and back on my feet. But I always do. Um, I also like my eyes…and I have a fantastic rack too! 🙂
5. Do you have any pets? If yes, what are they?
Yes! I’ve got a beautiful 12-year old Pomeranian pup named Bert aka The Berto! He is by far the best well-behaved dog ever, and is a total flirt. Can’t go out for a walk without people stopping to ooo & ahh him. Can you blame them really…they’re only human. He’s my heart! These pics were taken two summers ago at Toronto’s Woofstock – a festival for dogs. A photographer insisted Bert be his muse…yup…that’s the kinda of attention this pup elicits from strangers. How can you not fall in love with that face.
6. What is your favourite makeup product?
To be honest, I’m not big into make up. I’m a press-powder, eyeliner and lipgloss type of gal. Occasionally I’ll find a fab shade of blush and eye-lash extending masscara that I’ll devour. But once it’s gone, I tend to pick up whatever’s on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart. Typically Cover Girl and Maybelline products. Easy peasy. That’s me in the makeup department.
7. Are you an early riser, or a night owl?
Over the last year I seemly have given up sleeping at night. My body just doesn’t want me to sleep anymore it seems. Afterall, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. I do seem to get my energies, gusto, enthusiasm to write and get work done in the wee hours of the AM. So I’d say these days’ I’m more of a night owl type chick.
8. What is your favourite piece of clothing?
Well lately I’ve been all over this circle scarf I picked up back in November from Aldo. It’s a light-weight simple beige toned bird patterned scarf, that I find myself adding to any and all outfits I whip up, especially on the weekends for running errands or impromptu meet-ups for brunch, drinks and the like.
9. If you could go back in time and attend a party (think Cinderella), whose party would it be?
Hummm….so Disney Princesses…I’m thinking Little Mermaid’s Ariel. She, by far, scored the handsomest prince of them all in the Disney sagas. Yup. Def wanna party with that fishy chick! 🙂
10. If you could erase one fashion faux-pas from your teenage years, what would it be?
Hair Crimping! It’s awesome! It’s always been awesome! For thin-dead-straight-haired girls like me….the giant full-bodied crimped crazy hair is da bomb!
11. Favourite movie?
Princess Bride. Hands down! Can watch that flick (and do!) multiple times a year…especially if I’m sick. And I can recite it word for word with the movie on mute. “inconceivable!” “Anybody want a peanut?” “Hello. My Name is Inigo Mantoya. You Killed My Father. Prepare To Die!” “I’m Not A Witch! I’m Your Wife!” “As You Wish.” Classic!
I now have to nominate 11 other up-and-coming bloggers/blog sites and come up with a series of questions for them to answer. Give me time friends…I’ve got to do more reading and exploring on the blogosphere before I can complete this step. Stay tuned…xo
On one of my recent posts (Cherry Bomb), I reviewed an event I attended and spoke of how disappointed I was in the way the men were dressed. This spurred on a bit of conversation within the comments section of my post. Thank you for your comments friends…keep ’em coming!
I found this very interesting video and article that, I thought, clearly helped explain and illustrate how important looking your best is when interacting with others – after all you only get one chance to make a first impression – and those first impressions are lasting impressions. Looking your best is directly related to your ability to influence and persuade others and is the basics in the ‘Art of Manliness’.
Think both the ladies and gents out there will enjoy and learn something they may not have thought of before.
Article: Influence, Persuasion, and Personal Presentation: Why and How to Look Your Best When Interacting with Others
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/01/28/persuasion-personal-presentation/
(via Art of Manliness)
STARING at busty women can lengthen your life, scientists have proved.
A German study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, concludes that staring at women’s breasts for a few minutes daily is better for your health than going to the gym.
“Just 10 minutes of looking at the charms of well-endowed females is equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out,” said author Dr Karen Weatherby, an expert on ageing.
The research team, led by Dr Weatherby, spent five years monitoring the effects of this unique discovery.
The men who were told to stare at bosoms daily had lower blood pressure and slower resting pulse rates and also decreased their risk of coronary artery disease.
Dr Weatherby explained: “Sexual excitement gets the heart pumping and improves blood circulation.
“There’s no question – gazing at large breasts makes men healthier.”
She also recommends that men over 40 should spend at least 10 minutes daily admiring breasts sized D-cup or larger.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health/doctors-say-looking-busty-women-1107578
I bought this Cherry Bomb dress last year as my Happy-Birthday splurge. It is a sexy ultra form-fitting pin-up/vintage/ultimate bombshell dress…and oh so comfortable. This dress has a wrap twist in the bust area, enhancing ‘the girls’ and cap sleeves that look great on all arms. It even has helpful gathers in the front skirt to help hide any possible flaws in your waistline. The dress is a classy below knee-length, and has a nice slit in the back for ease in cat-walking. Being petite, I did have to get a few alterations to both the length (shorten) and have the arm holes taken in a bit more so that it neckline would stay-put.
Being a September baby, it was warm enough to simply be worn all on its own from dinner to dancing into the wee hours of the morning. I really wanted to wear this fab dress for this past weekend’s #DUSTED event I was invited to, but I would need to transform this Cherry Bomb dress into a more winter-friendly one. So here’s what I did:
Gave up the flower in my hair and the peep-toed pumps. Put on black hose and short rocker-chick booties, along with a black leather and suede open jacket that helps keep that rocker-chick look alive – plus helps keep me warm under the winter coat when waiting for the notoriously late Queen streetcar to get around Toronto on a Saturday Night.
Let’s talk about the event, the venue and Saturday night. Seeing as I only knew the DJ who would be busy working at this event, I invited a gf I recently reconnected with to be my +1 …someone to drink and dance with, flirt with boys with, someone to act as my paparazzi for blog-worthy photos. 🙂 Unfortunately, mere hours before waking up from my required ‘nap-before-I-have-a-night-out’ nap, I get a text and phone call from said gf, weeping about her on-again-off-again relationship that ended a few hours ago. Listening to her emphatically, I encouraged her to do whatever she needed to, and not worry about coming out with me…unless of course getting cute and dancing her cares away would help. She opted not to come. And I waffled – do I go to this event…ALONE…knowing nobody…completely friendless?
Why the heck not!? After all, I made a commitment to go, I’m dressed oh-so cute, and I’m chatty enough to manage a few hours of small-talk with strangers I’ll never see again, right? I was going!
The event was at Atelier Resto-Lounge (366 Queen Street East at Parliament St) – a beautifully converted space with exposed brick walls, that acts as a new casual restaurant for the neighbourhood sandwiched between small independent restaurants and shops on the north side of the street. I didn’t come early enough to taste their dinner offerings from their menu unfortunately, but the bar staff were lovely and I got to meet the owner, a young entrepreneur who seemed very pleased at the turn out for the launch party of this trendy new spot.
The venue is long rather than wide, with the DJ stage at the very back with a large screen that displayed various vids on mute and the occasional shout-out for the event name. I got there a little after midnight and from what I saw, it was a mature clientele (30+) who for the most part were dressed to impress. As I stood along the side-lines of the bar sipping my drink to people-watch I couldn’t help but observe how many more men there were to women in this place. And of this ratio, the women were all dressed fantastically, whereas I couldn’t say that about all the men there. In fact, it got me thinking about how much more of an effort chicks seem to put into everything that seemingly goes unappreciated yielding limited results, when compared with a guy who gets ready for a night out to meet or take out their lady.
I met a few nice women actually – they complimented me on my outfit and we got to chatting. Even danced around with a few, complete with fancy dips and spins on the floor. There was a professional photographer afoot, don’t know where/how I can get my hands on those pics just yet, so unfortunately my iPhone pics will have to do for now folks.
As the evening went on and the dance floor crowd diminished, I noticed a gaggle of guys who were dressed in jeans and hoodies – seriously – who, one by one, made their way to the group of ottomans where I was sitting waiting for my DJ friend. Listening to these 24-year-old boys tell me they’re 26, impress me with questionable humor and unnecessary close-talking, I have never been more acutely aware of how much I’ve grown and changed as a person who was able to politely tolerate my current situation. Don’t get me wrong, it is always flattering to be approached, but looking at the effort I put into my outfit vs. the results it yielded (young boys in hoodies) it’s a sad truth indeed friends. Luckily I was rescued by the DJ shortly after… {Insert “Last night a DJ saved my life” tune here :)}. Overall, the night was a success – I was glad I pushed past my fear of going to something like this alone, but in the end anything involving a dance floor is always better with a friend or two.
How I got The Look:
Cherry Bomb Dress by Stop Staring, from SexyPlus Clothing (Rosedale/Yonge Sts)
Rocker-chick buckle+zipper booties from Aldo/Black peep-toe platform pumps from Diesel, Winners
Black leather & suede open jacket by Jessica, Sears (Eaton Center)
Accessories: Earrings from BitterSweet; Odette Cuff from Stella¨ White hair-flower from Forever21
The term “petite” is commonly misunderstood. Many people believe that petite = short and slim and skinny. But this is far from the truth.
Weight has nothing to do with being petite. It’s actually your HEIGHT that determines if you fall into the “petite” category. In fashion/clothing, petite is a standard clothing size designed to fit women of shorter height, typically 5’4″ or shorter.
“Regular” clothing is designed for women who are at least 5’5″ tall which means regular size clothing will not properly fit women who are shorter than this.
Fit is EVERYTHING. If something doesn’t fit you properly, it’s not going to do you any favors.
I found this video from The Petite Shop that helps explain it better:
Hiya friends!
For the last few years now I’ve learned and managed to embrace my plus sized-busty-vertically challenged bod with zeal by making sure I “dress with style” for everyday, regardless of having an occasion!
Many people have suggested, even urged, for me to start blogging about my fashion finds and looks that I put together for myself. Not having ever felt like I was an authority on anything fashion related…I simply accepted the comments as compliments and never took them too seriously.
I’ve been finding recently however, with all the fashion blogging sites I personally follow, none of them really speak from a petite (short) plus sized large busted woman of color’s perspective. So, here I am hoping to fill that void/niche with this Fashion & Lifestyle blog. 🙂
My name is Irene….and I welcome you to Petite Plus, Meow!
Contact email: petiteplusmeow@gmail.com
Photo credit: Michael Hope
PPMeow! 