It's that time again ... watch this space ...

The count down is on to ...

Blogtoberfest is an annual blogging festival 
and a wonderful opportunity to:

* challenge yourself to blog every day for 31 days ~

* discover kindred blogging spirits ~

* carve out a tiny slice of time each day to write and to read ~

* share any creative projects you have on the go ~

* spread the love.

This will be my third year of ...
loving the challenge! 
Sign up & all information is available HERE ...
go on you'll love it ♥

Fat Fashion = Melissa McCarthy gorgeous at the Emmys or not?

A conversation in blog land that the gown worn by Melissa McCarthy did nothing for her motivated me to compose the following reply ...

Oooooo I can see such a generation gap here. Melissa McCarthy and her team are obviously part of the old school where she only knows to look stylish, dignified and glamorous by never drawing attention to her size ... hence wearing black. With the exception of the younger girls of today us fat girls have been severley educated to cover up. The old when you're fat in black you're fat in everything reigned ... the majority aren't  brave enough to adopt the who cares attitude of the gorgeous big girls of today!!! 

Large waists have never been defined until recently. Us fat girls wore a uniform of flowing or oversize tops, like a smock, or elasticised waisted pants with a tee shirt under a colourful, patterned, buttoned through shirt from Millers. Such were the only wardrobes choices us fatties had! I only found my first pair of larger sized jeans about 8 years ago. Large size fashion was out there but highly expensive from upmarket retailers of that era such as David Jones & Myers. 

Trust me fat fashion is alive & well in the US. Last year I was floored at the availability, the choices and how cheap fat fashion is in the US of A. There were mega choices in every retailer. My number one purchase example is the aubergine Calvin Klein size 22 Cashmere coat for $40 in Century 21 in NYC ... I died shopping in NYC ;)

Please don't knock Melissa and other big girls in the public eye. All their life they've dealt with the stigma of being fat plus years of being told there should be no wearing of colour, no sparkle, no stripes, nothing fitted and all flesh should be covered with shapeless fabric, preferably black!!! Please keep doing what you're doing in educating us fat girls that's it's OK to dress like everyone else. 

To me Melissa McCarthy looked appropriately gorgeous for the occasion.

What do you think ... Love to hear your thoughts??? 

image sourced

Aussie Curves = STRIPES ...

This weeks  Aussie Curves theme =  STRIPES. 

However stripes don't feature in my wardrobe ...

after having it drummed into me from an early age that ...

"big girls don't wear stripes going round ...

but ...

you can wear stripes if they're horizontal ...

cause they make you look slimmer!" 

I've avoided wearing stripes ...
with the sound of Mum & Grandma's disapproving opinions ...
ringing in my ears

Even now the only stripes in my life ...

are those formed by the paling fence behind me! 

Here I am ... 

last Saturday morning ...

off on a warehouse birthday shoppathon spree ...

with The Diva.

My timeless TS jacket from a couple of seasons ago = TS 14 + ...

'Anywear' Pants = TS 14 + 

V neck short sleeve Tee = Bonds ...
Necklace = created by Moi ...

Handbag = Leo Monk ...

Shoes = 'Oxley' by Supersoft ...

We checked out other warehouses ...

BUT ...

I blew the birthday gift cash, times three ...

at TS 14 + Warehouse ...

We were treated like royalty ...

co-ordinated & styled in true TS 14 + fashion ...

we were physically & financially spent & mega happy!

My bulging wardrobe remains stripe free! 

I'm looking forward to what else my wardrobe might be minus  ...
for future Aussie Curves themes ...
plus am loving how the girls are inspiring me ...
to break with ingrained fashion traditions !!!  

More Aussie Curves girls in stripes below ~

Aussie Curves = TRIBAL ...

This weeks theme TRIBAL had me confused ...
I thought Tribal was leopard / animal print/ khaki colours ...

a Google search led me to ...

Westfield's definition ...

Now that winter is FINALLY over, it's time to come out of hibernation and shed those stuffy layers - let out your inner bohemian with the ‘tribal' trend! 

Be carefree in gorgeous earthy tones, eye-catching prints like zig zag, paisley, geometric and Moroccan-inspired (worn together if you're daring), floaty maxi dresses and summery accessories like raffia wedges, stacked on bangles! 

My style is light on those designs ...

SOooo here's my interpretation of TRIBAL. 

Necklaces & Bracelets ...
courtesy "Anthropologie"New York 2011  ...

Jacket & Skirt  = TS 14 +  a couple of years ago ...
love the design on the back of the jacket ...
plus how  the design's been used as a trim on the jacket & skirt! 

Bonds T Shirt ...
Leggings NOW Kmart ...
Shoes by Enzo Angiolini "Ealizzia" bought 2011 on 7th Ave New York.

Enjoy the Tribal Look Aussie Curves girls by clicking on their links below.

Aussie Curves = SPARKLE ...

This weeks theme is SPARKLE.

I'm oozing SPARKLE this week...

my wardrobe's fairly skint on SPARKLE ... 
except for these gorgeous, soft ...

gold leather flats ...

with sparkling embellishments ...

bought on 7th Ave New York ...

that I wore today ...

decked out in TS 14 + 
Tights ...

3/4 sleeve T top ...

Smashing Long Red Top ...
and ...

Entwine Vest...

with a scarf that cost $4.00 from a New York street seller.

My reason for being so full of SPARKLE is this week  ...

medical tests showed my heart is "pristine" ...

AND ...

I became Great Grand MaMa again.

Life is Sparkle - arkle - arkle - ing!!! 

Check out the gorgeous Aussie Curves Sparkles girls ...

NO My Place & Yours this week = wondering why ...

NO My Place & Yours theme this week ...

too busy celebrating!!!!

Through all the joy here at the moment ...

I'm seriously considering closing the door on MP&Ys.

I'm mega despondant over MP&Ys...

mega sad with the blogging community I adore...
wondering why!

Wondering what it takes to get a previously much loved Meme ...

up and running again?

Statistics show there's over 200 visits each week,

some weeks even more ...

to MP&Y's ...

yet after 17 weeks there's no visible interest ...

WHY???

I'll get back to you ...

too much cuddling happening in my life right now!

Have a wonderful week ♥

Aussie Curves ~ Celebrity Copycat = Hello Possums ...

The theme this week = 

Celebrity Copycat . 

Hello Possums ...

Yep a Dame Edna copycat! 

I lead such a quiet life now...

so dug out this gem ...

from a sewing weekend retreat I organised. 

The gown & jacket were found in an op shop.

I still have the drag, the wig, etc if ever I get a call to repeat ...

 I was introduced as Dame Edna ...

face covered to make the surprise bigger. 

I presented a silk scarf to each girl as a welcome gift ...

there was lots of shreaking with a "Hello Possum" to each one ... 

 as they realised it was Moi !  

A fabulous memorable weekend.  

Enjoy the Celebrity Copycat's below ...

My Place & Yours ... making something out of "nothing" ...

My Place & Yours theme this week is 

Making something out of nothing ...

you know when you go to the cupboard ...

or even the fridge ...

you open the door ...

stare in looking for inspiration ...

and out of nowhere comes an idea for a creation?

A few years ago I was going to throw out a denim jacket ...

here's the denim jacket that became a bag.

Love to see your version of making something out of nothing ...

using cuttings in the garden ...

cooking up a luscious meal out of "nothing" ...

creating a wearable /or usable sewing project ...

recycling or upcycling is basically what this theme is about.

Blog stats show there's a good number of people popping in here ...

so don't be shy ...

play along ...

join in ...

we know you're out there ...

we'd love to see you here ...

please leave the link to your post below at Linky tools! 

  

AUSSIE CURVES = RED ...

The challenge this week is RED ...

Here I am in an outfit out of the archives ...

Cherry Cola Top & Long Cardy = Spring 2009 TS 14+ ...

 Anywhere Pant = TS 14+ 

Red Patent flats by Diana Ferrari = Myers ...

Scarf = somewhere around town ...

Leather Handbag = Italian Shoes in Leichhardt  ...

what's that little blotch of blue in the photo ...

it's my gorgeous shadow! 

Check out the other Aussie Curves girls in Red ...

On this day in 1942 ... Mum & Dad married ...

at St. Stephens Church Bellevue Hill ...

after only knowing each other for thirteen days!

Mum was walking with her girlfriend in the Domain ...

her string of pearls broke ...

scattered everywhere ...

tall, dark and handsome in his army uniform ...  

Dad was walking by ...

he stopped ...

Mum said " well don't just stand there pick them up" ...

he asked her out for dinner ...

when the bill came he had no money.

He was fifteen minutes late to the church ...

(why he wore that hat we never knew) ...

none of his family were there ... 

they disapproved immensley...

Mum's Mum told my Dad ...

"you'll rue the day you marry her she's a bitch" ...

they were together 62 years ...

another chapter in the book!!! 

My Place & Yours = theme this week = Dinner last night was ...

My Place & Yours theme this week is ...

Dinner last night was ...

courtesy of ...

Marion Grasby ex Masterchef contestant' range of ...

Marion's Kitchen Asian dishes ...

where you add the main ingredients ...

I tried ...

Marion's Kitchen San Choy Bow ...

quick ...

easy...

tasty ...

enough for two ...

not the quite the real thing ...

but it served the purpose.

What did you have for dinner last night?

An easy theme this week ...

you can even take a pic of tonights meal ...

then post later! 

Everyone's welcome to play along ...

please post a pic on the theme on your blog ...

then leave a link to your post below ...

enjoy! 

Blossie + Cat Thyme = EeUuWww No Way ...

the new taste sensation Cat Thyme ...

she rubbed all over it ...

sniffed it ...

sneezed at it ...

totally rejected it ...

NEXT!!!

Aussie Curves = Leggings ...

This week is all about Leggings ...

the greatest leg wear invention ever.

Basic black is my only choice ...

the $9.00 kind from NOW KMart that I live in ...

or

TS 14 Plus leggings that started my legging love.

Tuesday I'm in my new Virtu jacket ...

Desert Fever Blazer scored on sale 30% off  ...

Black TS 14 Plus dress that's a staple ...

NOW KMart Leggings ...

Gorgeous leather Handbag by Leo Monk ...

"Studio" Sandler black suede boots on ebay = $79.00 ...

with a smile on my dial after a ...

a little shoppathon ...

with my Great Grandbaby Belle together on our own ...

to my fave haunts ...

Clinique, TS 14 Plus, Myers, QVB  ...

yep we love leggings and animal prints!

My Place & Yours theme this week = A Favourite Place to Visit ...

My PLACE & YOURS ...

A favourite place to visit ...

the photo's are going to show you a gorgeous park ...

close to the city ...

where you can see the airport in the distance ...
yet hear the hum of the traffic ...

yet peace, stillness & tranquility abound ...

that you could be a million miles from nowhere!

If you'd like to play along ...

put some pics of A Favourite Place to Visit on your blog ...

then leave the link to you post ...

here at Linky tools.

Wishing you all a great week!

 

SPRING FABRIC SWAP = Green Living Centre at Newtown Market on 1st September ...

Not sure if your 'fabric' is Swappable? It should be clean, relatively whole, over 25cmsq and preferably seam free - think fabric, remnants, curtains and blankets, think 'what could it be used for' and 'what would I want to receive'.

Ask if you're unsure then Register for the big Swap!

and it's all FREE ...

All questions to : Green Living Centre ...

Register Online HERE ...

See you there.

AUSSIE CURVES ... challenge = NAILS

Mmmm will I or won't I ...

I'm so used to taking pics of everything else ..

rarely of Moi ... 

Taaa Daaa ... 

Nails DONE ...

like they have been ...

every two weeks for the past three years ...

Lincoln Park After Dark by OPI

ring fingers = Bring on the Bling by OPI ...

I'm wearing ...

Boots ~ Sandler Black Suede "Sahara" ebay = $48.00 ...

Tights ~ 'NOW' KMart = $ 9.00 ...

Jumper ~ 30 years old and priceless ...

Jacket ~ Robert D'Angelo for Table Eight size 20 rescued from ...

a Smith Family Store 5 years ago = $10.00 ...

Scarf - Patons 'Ostrich' yarn knitted by Moi.

This Aussie Curves BOLD Nails challenge was so much fun.

Click here to meet the 
 Aussie Curves bevy of beauties!

Happy Birthday Tess ~ 11 August, 1921 ...



My Mum was born 11 August 1921 ...

her Dad called her Tess ...

after the role his favourite actress Mary Pickford played ...

in the movie Tess of the Storm Country in 1914 ...

this pic from 1935 ...

shows her sadness ...

her Dad was killed on his way home from work ...

taken in Martin Place in 1941 ...

Tess epitomised style & fashion. 

My Dad always said Mum "was the best sort in Bondi" ...

             hope she's having a Glen Fiddich with the old boy today ...

she deserves a double!

♥ Happy Birthday Tess ♥

My Place & Yours ... theme choice = BOOTS or Under the kitchen sink ...

My PLACE & YOURS ...

The theme this week is a your choice ...

I discovered everything under my kitchen sink was soaked ...

the Lifesaver was here  ...

for the fortnightly clean.

The drip was found ...

mega scubbing to remove the rusted stain marks ...

from the bases of cans ...
and much throwing out occured.

I was rapt ...

thinking AhHa ...
a great theme for MP&Y.

NOT ...

if you'd seen the before ...

there's no way you'd have taken a pic either ...

 I realised ...
no one's going to want to show under their kitchen sink!

OK I will ...
here's the AFTER

with Tupperware still catching the drips ...

repairing to be continued.

Moving right along ...

my very favourite boots are ...

gorgeous soft, leather, by Sandler ...

wearing them is like walking on air ...

love to see your boots ...

or

under your kitchen sink ...

it's your choice!

Aussie Curves = BOOTS ...

Presenting an ...

Aussie Outfit Photo Challenge

hosted by Dannimezza ...

where every week there'll be a topic to take a pic of yourself in.

This week it's BOOTS ...

My Boots are Sandler 'Studio' style ...  2011 Myers. 

I only wear flats, so they're perfect for me with their gorge flat heel.

I have the same style in black suede, grey suede and black leather.

When I like something I tend to stock up.

These boots are all I wear, all winter long.

The rest of me is courtesy of  ...

Tights = TS14+

Black Dress bought a couple of years ago is a wardrobe staple = TS14+ 

Blue Tee Top with double side neckline V & Round = TS14+

Short Vest = Virtu

Scarf = in New York 2011

Watch = Faux Tortoiseshell Michael Kors in LA 2011

Necklace steel wire chain + found objects = Made by Moi

Bag = Made by Moi from my found object stash! 

So that's me ...

ectstatic from the day I discovered TS ...

that got me out of the older fat lady uniform that was ...

a large Tee shirt + cotton elastic waisted pants + a printed shirt!!

I swear it was like a uniform ...

it was all there was other than trackies all day every day!!

Loving my Aussie Curves ...

meet the rest of the gorgeous girls from their links below ...

see ya next week!!!