A Fluffy Post

When I am feeling sad or lonely and my people aren’t around I know I can always count on Maggie! She’s our 11 year old shi-poo and has been such a blessing to our family!

Is she perfect? Well, in our eyes she is but she is vocal which can irritate at times but she’s usually noisy when there’s a perceived threat to her family or she wants something like food, a walk, a treat or a belly rub.

She’s a loving girl and very sensitive to the needs of her family, always ready with puppy kisses to brighten the day. Pets are the ones you can always depend on to not judge how you look, what you do, what you wear or what you say. Unlike people they don’t expect a lot, just love, food and walks.

So if you’re feeling down or insecure about yourself, then snuggle with your furry friends or visit the local pet store for your dose of pet therapy.

Be Pretty, Plus and Proud and shower your furry family members with the love and attention they deserve for being your faithful companion!

Maggie ❤

Trailer Life

It’s been a week since we have been set up in our trailer. We’re enjoying all the luxuries of home while still being in the woods. Our site is very shady with lots of luscious greenery surrounding us. The campground is quiet and well maintained.

We’re enjoying family time and the simple life. However it is HOT!! I miss the ocean breezes of NS and hope COVID doesn’t stop us from travelling east next summer! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer months despite the extreme heat. Be Pretty, Plus and Proud and keep your cool in the warm days ahead!

Enjoy the pictures below of our home away from home!

My Feel Better Buy

On Tuesday evening I had to go into Toronto for a routine MRI appointment for my MS. I HATE THAT MACHINE!!!!! I know hate is a strong word but it’s the plain and honest truth. I hate laying flat on my back (makes me dizzy), I hate having my head strapped down and not being able to move for 25 minutes. I hate that it’s warm and confining. I hate that the noise is so loud you feel like you’re being shot by machine guns.

So needless to say I was not looking forward to Tuesday evening! My husband and I arrived early for the appointment and being the super, wonderful guy that he is, he sped to the Eatons’ Center, straight to the Torrid store for a little shopping trip to ease my pain, lol! Totally made the hideous trip worth it!. So in today’s post I’ve included a few pictures of what I purchased and some options on how to style them. Right now Torrid is BOGO 1/2 off and you earn Haute Cash for some future good deal shopping! Haute Cash is coupons for $25 off every $50 you spend.

Picture #1 – I paired this bright pink baseball t with distressed jeans (Forever 21), a black statement necklace (Aldo Accessories) and black hoops (Suzy Shier). The top was 41.50 but got it for 20.75 with BOGO 1/2 off, the item # is 10382733 and it’s a size 1.

Picture #2 – I first paired this pastel pink t with the same distressed jeans, a chunky floral necklace (Suzy Shier) and gold hoops (Torrid). The top was 44.50, item # is 10412042 and it’s a size 1.

Picture #2 – Same pink top and jeans but I changed out the necklace for a leopard print infinity scarf with hints of pink in it (Reitmans) and changed the gold hoops for black rhinestone hoops (Addition Elle). 

Picture #3 – The jewellery I bought at Torrid; gold hoops, reg. 17.50, got them 1/2 price with BOGO 1/2 off, item # 10192980 and the Barbie lipstick long chain necklace for $27.50, item # 1040801.

Look these items up on the Torrid website; my pictures don’t do them justice especially the pink one.

Enjoy the pics (as amateur as they are). Let me know if you like the way I styled them. How would you wear these pieces?

Until next time, Be pretty, Plus and Proud! 

The Liebster Award Nomination!

WHAT?! Yes it’s true!!! Fellow blogger “MATT AND HIS CATS” has nominated me and my blog for the Liebster Award! Little newbie me! Thanks Matt! I’m deeply honored that you would choose me and so very grateful for your support as well as the support of so many wonderful bloggers who have chosen to follow me.

I’ve been asked to answer the following questions, nominate fellow bloggers and then state 10 facts about myself so here goes:

1. My favourite film and why?

My favourite film of all time is “The Sound of Music”. I watch every Christmas and never tire of it. I love the music, the acting but most of all its message of hope and triumph over great adversity; very inspiring!

2. Are you looking forward to the next five years and why?

Yes because I have great plans for this blog and my support group. I’m excited to see where this journey will take me.

3. Are you a cat person or a dog person? 

I used to be an avid cat person with two beautiful long hair tabby cats. Also grew up with a cat for a family pet. Then about 6 years ago my last cat died and my daughter asked for a dog. I relented and our shihpoo Maggie entered our lives. Now I’m a dog person. She’s brought so much joy to our little family and I wouldn’t trade her for anything!

4. What is your favourite book? 

That’s a hard one as I read a lot!! I guess if I had to choose it would be Jodi Picoult’s “My Sister’s Keeper”. I like the way her books talk about some hard moral questions and the end of her books are always very unexpected.

5. If you were dropped in any fictional world/place where would you love to go for a 7 day holiday? 

Okay, this is probably going to sound silly but I pick Cinderella after she meets the Prince. I’m not picking this because I need to be rescued by a prince (I can take care of myself and besides I’m already married to my prince). I pick it because let’s face it ladies, who wouldn’t want to live in a castle, wear fancy ball gowns and get waited on hand and foot. Superficial I know but it is just a fairytale, lol!

6. Are you a marathon person or watch it when its on person, when it comes to T.V.? 

Depending on the show. If it’s a current show I’ll watch it while it’s on but if it’s an older show that I may have missed then I may do a marathon. Just finished a two day marathon of a show on Netflix called “The Hundred”. Another one I’ll watch several shows in a row is “Dr. Who”. Currently on Season 7.

7. Is your relaxing environment chaotic or organized? 

Well, I’d like it to be more organized but alas it isn’t always so. A family home with a teenager, a dog and a wonderfully disorganized husband can’t possibly be anything but somewhat chaotic but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

8. Tea or coffee? 

Neither. I like an herbal tea at bed but that’s about it. My tongue burns easily!

9. If you had the option to legally choose whether or not to pay for music, would you pay? Would you pick and choose? 

I would choose to pay. The musicians work hard just like everyone doing a job and deserve to get paid.

10. Would you like to pick one aspect of your life and completely lose it? 

I had to think about that one for a minute. I don’t like having MS. I don’t like the limitations it has and continues to put on my life. However, it has taught me empathy, patience, kindness. It allowed me to be a stay at home mom that I wouldn’t have been able to afford to do as a healthy woman. So for all of those reasons I wouldn’t want to lose any aspects of my life; they have made me the person I am today.

So now for my nominations:

1. Prettify Your Life

2. Ordinary Adventures

3. Jennifer’s Little Beauty Place

4. Bee Beauty

5. Scale Simple

My questions for them are as follows:

1. What’s your favourite kind of music and why?

2. What type of food haven’t you tried but might like to and why?

3. What’s your favourite musical and why?

4. Name any place in the world you would like to live and why.

5. If you could own any car in the world what would it be?

6. Ice cream; chocolate or vanilla?

7. Weather; hot or cold?

8. What’s your dream job (other then blogging) that pays?

9. Favourite flower

10. What is your proudest achievement?

Now 10 facts about me:

1. I like the colour purple.

2. My first love was teaching young children.

3. I love books written for teenagers.

4. I’m allergic to tomatoes.

5. I love stars; in my home decorating, on my clothes, in the sky on a clear night.

6. I like country music.

8. I like to sing (not good at it but like it).

9. My favourite T.V. show is “Criminal Minds”.

10. I’m a young 49 years old!

I guess that wraps it up! Thanks again “Matt and His Cats”  for the nomination. Enjoy the blogs I’ve nominated. They’re all wonderful reads and worth your time for a look!

Fasion Show – Forever 21

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

As I hinted on Friday, today’s post is a mini fashion show in the change room at Forever 21! Fashion, love it!

Cozy warm sweater with a hint of lace at the hem

I drove to Forever 21 to check out what was new in their plus size section. I like Forever 21 because their prices are affordable, their plus size section is fairly large so there are a lot of options, and their styles are on trend for all you fashionistas out there. I went out looking for tops and jeans. Unfortunately, the jeans I saw online were not available in store. While that was disappointing, I did find several tops to try on. I wanted to buy them all but alas I didn’t win the lottery so I had to choose.

Light weight white sweater with lace hem

Personally I like a lot of different styles, which you can tell by the photos. (I apologize for the poor photo quality… I need more practice and possibly a new phone with a better camera). I like feminine, flirty, trendy and edgy. If I put something on and immediately feel comfortable, confident and beautiful, I know I’ve found a winner. My daughter says I’m too old to wear some of the stuff I like but I say fashion has no age limit just like style has no size boundaries. Wear what you like and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Light weight grey sweatshirt with faux white shirt layer hem

What’s your style? Don’t know yet or still figuring it out? No problem! Get to your favorite store and start trying on different things. You might end up liking something you never would have expected. Buy it and Be Pretty, Plus and Proud in that stunning new outfit!

Blue long sleeve t-short with drawstring at hem

Can you guess which top I bought? Which one do you think looks best? I’ll reveal my purchase choice in tomorrow’s post!

Light weight pink sweater with lace hem

In the meantime, be Bold, Be Beautiful!

Wishing you some fun!

Hi, just a short and sweet message today wishing everyone a wonderful long weekend!

I hope you have wonderful, relaxing moments with those you love and hold dear! Or maybe you’re enjoying a quiet weekend of solitude!

Whatever you’re doing enjoy, treat yourself well, love yourself, be bold, be beautiful! Be Pretty, Plus and Proud!

Are you having fun with the girls?

Are you spending time with your spouse and kids?

Are you cuddling a furbaby?

Maybe you are relaxing on a beach?

What are you doing this long weekend?

Welcome to Canada, Torrid!

For all you plus size fashionistas out there I have exciting news to share with you (if you don’t already know). “Torrid” has arrived in Canada, and has opened its first store in Toronto’s Eatons’ Center!

Me, about to enter shopping heaven!

I was up at the crack of dawn (which for me is somewhat of a miracle, I am not a morning person) to make the crazy commute into the big city to witness this momentous occasion.

Some of you may be asking yourselves “Torrid?” Let me answer that question with these words: “Plus size shopaholics dream come true!” because if you like trendy fashion styles and the latest designs Torrid is the retailer for you.

I was in shopping heaven! The store opened with all the fanfare of a red carpet movie premiere. I was surrounded by Torrid’s top models Geo and Phil (so nice!), lots of bloggers (Karyn from Killer Kurves being one of them), and lots of beautiful ladies enjoying the shopping heaven just like me.

Me and Torrid Models – Geo (right) and Phil (Left)

Me and blogger Karyn from Killer Kurves

This is one fashion retailer that is taking the plus size world by storm! Torrid tells us curvy gals that we can wear skinny jeans, cropped tops, stripes, patterns, bold colors and statement jewellery just like everyone else, and they are right! We can, and SHOULD!

Most of the prices were comparable to other Canadian plus size retailers. Of the few items that are a bit more expensive, the array of different choices makes the slight additional cost worth bearing. There was also a great sale section for the ladies on a budget.

If this doesn’t sound like your thing maybe its time to step out of your comfort zone. Be bold, be beautiful; Be Pretty, Plus and Proud!

What do you think of Torrid? Did you know they were coming to Canada? Were you at the opening? Share your thoughts!

Happy shopping ladies and Torrid, Welcome to Canada!

It was so beautiful! The kind of place you want to say “Just give me one of everything!”

Welcome to our journey!

Welcome to the beginning of your new wonderful life as a plus size woman! OR maybe you already know you have a wonderful life as a plus size woman and are here to share, laugh, encourage, hug and teach! Everyone is welcome.

Together we’ll explore the world of plus size fashion to dress up our beautiful bodies. Everyone loves to share and read tips on fashion, so jump in. Tell us your fashion passions!

We will also learn tips and tricks for applying makeup to flatter our beautiful faces, because makeup is fun! Play with your look, be who you want to be, discover new looks! At the end of the day, wash your face and see how gorgeous you are without the makeup too – because makeup only enhances your natural beauty.

Most importantly we will inspire each other to try new activities, all the things that big girls are told they can’t do!

Here we will support, encourage, share, laugh, love and sometimes even cry. We will be us – big, beautiful, passionate, fun, sexy, loving, kind, and awesome us.

Let’s be pretty, plus and proud! I can’t wait to start this journey with you!