Oh man – this past weekend was a fun one! I had the pleasure of celebrating a stagette Salsa style!!!
The Lula Lounge (Dundas W/Duffrin Sts) in Toronto has a number of party packages, which makes celebrating a special event easy-peasy.
A gaggle of us -some more tipsy than others- with flowers in hair and penis-staws in hand …. visit my Instagram for that one friends 😉 … arrived for dinner (any appetizer + any main + any dessert), a beginner salsa lesson and then got to dance the night away to three sets by the live salsa orchestra (with a DJ in between sets.) And before the night was done, we were served up a round of Blushing Bride shooters!!! T.R.O.U.B.L.E. 😀
My Entree: Red Snapper over Polenta, with zucchini-corn-bean salad ~~~~~ My Dessert: Poached Pear. Delish!
Much thought had to be given to outfit choice for the evening. The MOH (matron of honour) assured us that there was no ‘theme’ requirement in the dress-code for the party she had planned, which naturally translated to:
Saturday Night Titty CityAttirewas encouraged and welcomed!!! 😛
I couldn’t find a hot pink hair flower …so feathers had to do 🙂
‘The Girls’, who too often are forced into hiding in an effort of making others more comfortable in their presence, extra precautions always need to be taken to keep them at demure levels of exposure.
But not tonight.
Tonight, “Thelma & Louise” (aka…’The Girls’) were coming out!!! STAND BACK!
All Black Everything – jumpsuit style!!!
The pants are a bit on the long side on my 5’2 bod. So this outfit only really works with a significant heeled shoe.
I picked up these black booties recently – while in search for sandals for my upcoming Asian Adventure – from Payless on sale for $33 and they work perfectly.
Now, I bought this all-black jumpsuit online, from Reitmans, just after Christmas. Buuuuuuut due to the amount of boobage I’ve avoided wearing it much. This one-piece has a sexy deep-v, back tie-up belt and nice broad sleeveless-shoulders to hide a supportive bra – requirement for fast paced salsa dancing.
And….there are pockets!!! Perfect for lip gloss, iPhone, credit card & ID. BOOM!
End of the night outfit shot — bridesmaids came to my hair flower aid 🙂
How I Got The Look: Black jumpsuit fromReitmans;Black booties from Payless; Necklace from SexyPlus Clothing; Earrings from Aldo; Hot pink feathered headband, gifted.
Salsa dancing with the Bride-To-Be + general stagette shenanigans. Fab Fun Saturday Night!
Now I wasn’t always a fan of the plus-sized jumpsuit. For more jumpsuit action on the blog ….click here and here and here.
In exactly TWO Fridays, I’ll be at the airport on my way to the tropics to explore and live as beach bum for nearly a month with only the items I bring on my back – literally.
With all my many flights and connections, I’ve decided NOT to check any luggage. Which means, I’ve gotta come up with 22-days worth of outfits NEEDS to fit into my 1 piece of carry-on below … yikes! 😮
My immediate thought: Where Do The SHOES Go!??!?!
When I did my big trip to India, I bought myself a sturdy Women’s North Face backpack with Opti Fit™ System provides an intuitive, adjustable, easy-to-use-tool to measure torso length to ensure a correct fit. This was a big deal since I’m all of 5’2 – these adjustments were critical. The shoulder harness easily slides up or down according to user’s back length, and cam locks pack in place. This pack is also tough enough to withstand the forces of nature and airport security.
It was pretty expensive (I picked it up on sale when I bought it back in 2012), but within the world of backpacks and suitcases it’s certainly worth the investment if you’re planning on traveling long-term.
Thank you for your comments and suggestions on thePetite Plus, Meow’sFB page … it has helped me come up with a checklist to pack the essentials.
I went out and bought myself a new Travel Purse aka Day-Trip Bag … its material is apparently slash-proof and has a cut-proof shoulder strap too. I’ve been warned about aggressive pickpockets where I’m headed, so it’s kinda nice knowing my bag won’t be such as easy victim. Especially since this will be the bag I keep my most prized possessions like money, credit cards, passport and snacks from airport to airport.
Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bucket Bag in black
The weather is expected to be tropical super-summer-heat for the month of March (30+ degrees). Plus, the main religions present in the three countries I’ll be exploring are: Islam, with significant Buddhist, Hindu and Christian minorities. These are the two factors I’ve gotta keep in mind when coming up with outfit choices for the trip.
If you’ve been following my Instagram, you know that ROUND 1 of determining what to pack was an epic fail!!! 😦
ROUND 2 was much better.
Tah-Dah!!! This is what I’ve managed to streamline my choices. Here’s what I’ll be bring in my backpack …
Thin long pants. I plan on wearing these on my flight days.
Sun hat. Packed one that bounces back into shape, regardless of being packed in my carry-on.
Large, thin scarf. This is great for a chilly night out and useful for covering up shoulders, head and cleavage as needed. Plus it dresses up an ordinary outfit – cute scarves make it look like I’m at least trying.
Belt. Figured it would give me more options when mix and matching, giving an outfit a different/new look.
Comfort tank tops (x4). For daytime activities and easy beachwear.
Sarong. This not only can be a cover up at the beach…. but it can act as a fast trying towel, a sheet to picnic on, blanket for an over air-conditioned bus ride.
Swimsuits (x2-3). I just got my GabiFresh Swimsuitsforall – my first two-piece ever! These will be making their debut Fo Sho!!
Sun dresses (x5). These are basically what I wear everyday. Plus one extra one that currently fits me perfectly that I’m hoping to get copied by a tailor in Vietnam.
Lounge shorts. I’m not a bit shorts wearer, but figured in 30+ degree weather I may want something quick n’ easy to pull for those lazy mornings.
Nice tank tops (x3) for dinners out or party evenings.
Sleep clothes.
Small cross-body purse. Great for heading out to dinner when I don’t need to carry much – this one has a wristlet strap too. The cross-body strap is nice because I never have to take it off, even when sitting. And I can adjust the strap to fit across my waist (like a fanny pack) at swing dancing events. This helps deter would-be purse snatchers.
Sun glasses (x2). I’m known for losing a pair of sunnies on every vacation I take, so I always bring along two … lesson learned
Flip flops. Bring one pair that can get wet for the beach. Plus, need something to walk around in the hotel room (and possibly in the shower).
Slip-on shoes. I plan on swing dancing while I’m there, and my usual dance shoes needed replacement and more support. So I bought myself some cute black Champions memory foam that can be sporty or dressed up. These will likely be what I wear on planes too (with a pair of socks).
Walking sandals. Something light, breathable, and easy to slip on is fantastic in hot, beachy climates…, or if I have a big day sight-seeing. I plan on wearing these the most all trip, so these are also memory foam supported.
Black pencil skirt. This basic piece will help transform any of the top options into evening/party wear.
Tee-shirts (x2). For travel days so my backpack doesn’t rub on my bare shoulders.
+ tons of panties & bras that go with most of my outfits above. There you have it….22 days of outfits in 1 backpack…HAZZA!!! 😀
Happy to report that I’ve done a practice run at packing my pack — using the ‘burrito method’, where you layer clothes flat onto of each other and then roll them all up together and end up with one giant burrito of travel clothes…which then easily fit into a long backpack (like mine), maximizing the space.
I’ll likely bring along a simple solid cardigan too for the flights … I haven’t figured out my “Pearson Airport” outfit yet, but I’m determined to wear items out of the above in layers, reducing the bulk of my backpack a bit more. And, am aiming to leave my winter coat at home.
So glad I tackled this well in advance of my trip, as I was really anxious. I hear it isn’t easy finding larger clothes in the cities I’ll be visiting. With all my many connections, the possibility of losing my luggage filled with PLUS SIZE clothing was terrifying. Even more motivation to only travel with carry-on!
I’m very proud of myself for being able to streamline my choices as much as I have. And I’m determined to continue treating the world as my runway … even if it means wearing pieces that are wrinkled repeats that have been slightly re-accessoried to give me a new look from my travel backpack.
South East Asia … here I come! Akkk! 😀
To find out where exactly I’m going click here. To find out what to know before you go, click here.
For the past month and a bit I’ve been three NEW products in my facial care routine …
This Active Naturals line of AVEENO products feature an exclusive formula of Southernwood Extract with anti-oxidants and vitamins A,C, and E.AVEENO FRESH ESSENTIALS Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30
Whenever I select a facial moisturizer I always make sure that it has an SPF baked into it … saving me one less thing to worry about. Happy to say this product protects from the sun’s harmful UVA & UVB rays. And the upright pump bottle doesn’t take up too much space in my already crowded ‘get-ready-station’ around my bathroom sink. 🙂
I have extremely dry skin in the winter, and while the lightweight daily moisturizer locks in existing moisture while adding extra hydration, I found that it wasn’t enough for my skin. By mid-day I would notice certain spots on my face appeared dry and chapped, particularly my cheeks and forehead, requiring additional application throughout the day. So this product might be a summertime ‘go-to”, rather than in winter. I’ve got my big Asian Adventure in a few weeks…definitely gonna be bringing this slim bottle along to protect my skin in the tropics. (I’ll let y’all know how that goes.)
AVEENO FRESH ESSENTIALS Daily Exfoliating Scrub
Typically, I only use a facial scrub product once a week. I was nervous to use a scrub product daily like this one. The exfoliates are super fine and gently sloughs off dead skin cells, leaving a light coconut scent upon your skin. This product is oil-free and hypoallergenic and super affordable at under $13 CAD.
I did find that using the scrub every day for the first two-weeks brought redness and caused me to break out a bit on my cheeks. Perhaps, that’s due to the scrub cleaning out all the pore-clogging impurities …leaving my pores more vulnerable to having crap fill them in again causing breakouts. But once my skin got used to this new routine, it did seem to make my skin smoother and fresher looking.
AVEENO FRESH ESSENTIALS Hydrating Night Cream
This was my favourite of the three products I used over the last month!
The night cream’s rich and creamy texture left my skin dewy and soft in the morning. My face looked refreshed and felt uber soft, smooth and renewed. It even showed improvements with the dark under eye circles I struggle with, and patches of dry skin on my forehead and cheeks! And at under $20 CAD for a jar — I love this night cream!!!
Overall, the Fresh Essentials AVEENO line of products are effective, smell wonderful and are affordable. I encourage you to try them out yourself and see if they work for you.
What’s your skin care in the winter? Anything special or additional you do to your regular facial care routine to combat against the winter elements? Share them with me in the comment section below.
Whether you need a special dress for a cocktail function, be a fabulous guest at a wedding or just want that va-va-voom dress for a special night, Kiyonna will have a dress for you.
This purple Valentina Dress is kinda perfect for making that special someone swoon on Valentines Day. It comes black, white, mauve, navy and burgundy (which I have also) 🙂
Photo Credit: Rebecca Northcott Photography
No matter your shape, the contrasting side lace panels will give you a knockout hourglass silhouette. The silky stretch fabric on the front of the dress elegantly flatters your curves while the ruching in the mid-section masks any tummy troubles.
It’s a fantastic dress!
Kyionna has so many lovely black lace dress options that make every body type look and feel sensational!
Rebecca and I are both wearing dresses from Kiyonna — This line seems to have a ton of lace offerings to the plus population…and their sizing is nearly perfect for those in the petite category when it comes to arm & shoulder lengths too!
For other posts I’ve done on Kiyonna, click here, here and here.
Kiyonna dresses that will make ’em swoon for Valentines Day
Want to save 20% off on Kiyonna order – click here friends!!!! 🙂
Do you own any pieces from Kiyonna? Which ones caught your eye? Tell me about them in the comment section below.
How I Got The Look: Dress from Kiyonna; Shoes from Torrid (click here & here to see them in other looks)
Photo credit: Rebecca Northcott Photography
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I’m sick of winter! I’m sick of wearing boots! I’m sick of wearing my winter coat!
I’m sick of winter! And it’s making me moody!
I’ve found that wearing colors … even just a pop of color … often helps boost your mood 🙂
This is why I went with a aqua-teal blue collared shirt to pair with my leopard pencil skirt for spending a day in the office last week.
Yikes! Dunno what happened with my iPhone camera …ignore the white lines on the shirt, camera malfunction 🙂
Layer your shirts, blouses, tops, etc! An outfit can go from blah to amazing by just adding a simple cardigan, jacket, or even a plaid shirt! (Maybe not with leopard. Or then again..hummmmm)
I especially love this open 3/4 sleeved black cardi I picked up from Reitmans a few years ago …cuz there’s a bit of lace along the shoulders and down the front that just adds an extra oomph to anything worn underneath it. Don’t you agree?
How I Got The Look:
Leopard pencil skirt, SexyPlus Clothing (click here and here to see in other looks); Collared shirt, Lane Bryant; Black lace cardi, Reitmans; Jewellery set, Necessities; Black laced cardi , Reitmans; Booties, Nine West Outlet
Never underestimate the power of good accessories. Many a plain outfit has been saved by the addition of a scarf, belt, or piece of jewelry. But try sticking to one focal point accessory. For example, if you’re wearing a big statement necklace, like me in this outfit, keep your earrings small or skip them altogether.
I picked up these baubles last week – you may have already seen them on my Instagram. Are you following me yet? you should 😉
What tricks have you been using to keep warm, cozy and cute during the winter months that help you make the most of your current closet offerings? Tell me about them in the Comments Section below.
It has been bitterly cold in Toronto. So keeping warm and cozy has been more important than ever. Which means a perfect excuse to adorn oneself in faux furs!!!
Regular hosiery options just wasn’t warm enough under this light Fall dress. So I’m wearing thick leggings with tall boots instead. Cover up as much of that skin as you can ladies. Instead of going bare-legged, consider wearing tights or thermal leggings beneath your skirt or dress. Not only does it look more climate-appropriate in formal situations, your legs will remain softer since they won’t be as exposed to the elements. Just like scarves, leggings and tights come in many different varieties, so it is nearly impossible not find a pair that will work with your outfit and mesh with your personality 😉
How I Got The Look: LBD from SexyPlus Clothing; Grey fur scarf from Indigo; Black boots from Payless; Black leggings and earrings from Old Navy.
Do you have a favourite Little Black Dress? Where’s it from and how to you style it? Tell me your tips and tricks by leaving a comment below.
WANNA see the other LBD’s I’ve talked about so far – click here and here.
Continuing with January’s Little Black Dress series on the blog today.
Today I took a cheap little summer office dress and transformed it into winter wear ….
LBD #2: Belted Merona from Target
This dress is pretty great. The long silver zipper down the back adds this simple, sexy quality to an otherwise pretty modest dress. These pictures don’t showcase the large buckle belt that comes with this dress.
My apologies for the poor photos quality in this post – it was pretty dark outside when I remembered to snap pics. Pardon my winter-bun-headed look ….its the only way to keep my hair from getting crazy static once the parka goes on.
Here’s a zoomed in look at this fabulous hot pink sweater I picked up on sale at Winners. It fit nicely under the dress as its quite light-weight and the details up the arms really add a little dazzle to break up this all-black look.
How I Got The Look: LBD from Target; Hot pink sweater from Winners; Glossy silver pumps from Payless; Sheer hosiery from Dollarama; Necklace & earring set from LOFT
Do you have a favourite Little Black Dress? Where’s it from and how to you style it? Tell me your tips and tricks by leaving a comment below.
WANNA see the other LBD’s I’ve talked about so far – click here.
I dunno about you friends, but January is officially Little Black Dress month for me. There has been WAYYY too much eating over the festive season … and this holiday weight is making me choose blacks over other fun colours in my wardrobe these days.
Lucky for me, I’ve got a lil’ Collection of LBDs that don’t nearly get enough of my attention all year round. So why not use this month to let them shine 🙂
LBD #1: Forever21+
Truth be told, I bought this dress as a Halloween Costume one year, when a girlfriend and I dressed as Robert Palmer girls. The best (and easiest) costume to pull off I tell ya.
What sold me about this dress was the different textures of fabric used. The top is this shiny poly-blend with a sweet little twist to the neckline which leads to off the shoulder sleeves, and the skirt portion is a ribbed cotton.
There is beauty in simplicity. I tried sticking to a head-to-to black … keeping the hose and heels black too. But in the end, I needed more — and that’s when this red blazer just kicked it up a notch.This giant pearl necklace is my absolute favourite (Your Big Sister’s Closet) – it just adds the perfect punch of sophistication to this entire outfit.
Do you have a favourite Little Black Dress? Where’s it from and how to you style it? Tell me your tips and tricks by leaving a comment below.
How I Got The Look: LBD from Forever21+; Red blazer from Jessica, Sears; Glossy black pumps from Payless; Sheer hosiery from Dollarama; Necklace from Your Big Sister’s Closet; Gold earrings from Ardene
Here we are….the last day of 2014! And thus concludes my first year of blogging! Yay!!! 🙂
Thank you for reading, following and commenting. If you’ve got feedback or ideas you’d like me to explore/review in the new year … let me know in the comment section and I’ll do my very best to tackle them as blogposts in the New Year!
There have been 170 blogposts, not bad for the first year! I only really got the hang of publishing and alerting various social media channels towards the later part of the year, so I thought I’d pick out a few of my favourite posts that were maybe missed, or hidden by Facebook at the time.
Go Canada Go! The biggest news worthy thing I remember happening in 2014 is Team Canada winning gold, beating Sweden 3-0 in men’s Olympic hockey! Canada dominated moving into the finals! And at 6am on this Sunday in February bars everywhere opened their doors to die-hard Canadians who support our athletes by drinking beers and cheering at big screen TVs with complete strangers in unison. And to join the hoopla I dedicated an Outfit Of the Day to the win 🙂
Although I often write about fashion – What I Wore – I try to also focus on lifestyle too – What I Did while wearing it. Just as seeing someone who more resembles your body shape wearing an outfit you never thought to try yourself, I write about my adventures at trying something new in hopes that YOU might try it for yourself as well. There have been several specific LIFESTYLE posts around activities I’ve tried such as:
BollyFuze – Now What? a Bollywood dance based workout designed to get you up and moving! Each class runs an hour-long, blending together elements of Indian Classical, Modern Bollywood & Folk dance with main stream fitness techniques that gives you a full body workout. Best part – BollyFuze is designed for all levels, ages & abilities …and with the energetic beats of Bollywood you totally trick your body into getting fit with hip-shaking-fun!
Yoga I personally hadn’t practiced yoga in nearly two years before I found Studio Blue. I was super nervous to go back into the classroom with a bunch of wafer thin bun-headed girls, wearing nothing but LuLuLemon pants and sport bras that matched with zero sweat on their perfectly manicured eyebrows and likely full make-up faces (Why are People Afraid to Try Yoga?) But once I got over the initial ‘scare’ it yield a ton of benefits …. AND I even arranged for a PPMeow! $30 Pass EXCLUSIVE to YOU – my blog’s readers & followers 🙂
Swing Dancing I officially got bit by the swing fever bug at my first Rockabillie Concert… I signed up for classes the very next day. I’ve blogged about my very first swing lesson – describing myself as a hot mess. It was tricky at first, but week after week I felt more and more confident of the steps, felt myself improving and I couldn’t for class to learn the next big move. And now, honestly I dunno what I did without this fun dancing outlet in my life!!! There have been a number of different blogpost related to swing dancing … I love it so… simply type the words “swing dancing” into the search bar within the blog and you’ll find them all friends 😉
There have been a ton of outfit posts so I’ve created my first Flipagram to capture my faves ….it’s even set to my personal theme song:Golden by Jill Scott 🙂
Thank you again for reading, commenting, following and supporting Petite Plus, Meow! There are some exciting things in store for me and the blog in the upcoming months – as I’m declaring 2015 to be THE YEAR OF TRAVEL in my life. Stay tuned friends.
Wishing you a fantastic New Year’s Eve tonight, and may 2015 be our best year yet! xo
Curvy Canadian Ladies … designer plus size retailer TONI+ now introduces high style genuine leather European boots for women with wide calves and feet!!!
Just in time for the winter season too! 😉
THE PERFECT MEASURE:
You may think you know your shoe size, but do you truly know how to get the right boot fit for your unique shoe and calf? TONI+’s directions will help you to properly measure your feet and calves in 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Length of your foot – Measure the length of your foot
Step 2 – Width of your foot – Measure the width of the widest part of foot (from the ball to just beneath your little toe)
Step 3 – Calfsize – Measure the circumference of the fullest part of your calf
Measure both feet and calves for all 3 steps. It is normal for one foot and calf to be bigger than the other. Always use the larger measurement to gauge your boot size.
TONI+s footwear collection features a stylish 100% Italian leather options ranging from ankle and riding boots. And with this Personal Fit Code, they will ensure your boots fit perfectly. You can get professionally measured in-store or measure yourself at home using the above steps.
Click here to find a TONI+ location nearest you friends 🙂
My personal favourites are:
Sydney Niada – $275Verona Maxima – $410Bradford Roxy – $295
Do you struggle to find boots that fit your calves and feet? Where have you found the best selection and fit? Share with me in the comments below.
AVEENO FRESH ESSENTIALS Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30
I have extremely dry skin in the winter, and while the lightweight daily moisturizer locks in existing moisture while adding extra hydration, I found that it wasn’t enough for my skin. By mid-day I would notice certain spots on my face appeared dry and chapped, particularly my cheeks and forehead, requiring additional application throughout the day. So this product might be a summertime ‘go-to”, rather than in winter. I’ve got my 
It has been bitterly cold in Toronto. So keeping warm and cozy has been more important than ever. Which means a perfect excuse to adorn oneself in faux furs!!!
PPMeow! 
