Me Pluss Hot Chocolate

Chocolate made me do it!  And if you had tasted this hot chocolate you would have done it too.

I had a clique to run with...once upon a time...but I think when their alarm went of at 5:30 that morning, they opened one eye, checked the temperature and simultaneously shot off a text..."cold as a witch's tit...I'm sick...cough...catch u nxt yr."

And so I was left to go it alone.  Hence the face. It was too cold and too early but I paid too much money to balk. I stumbled out the door haunted by visions of heated blankets and fuzzy socks...I thought about turning around...I thought about it a lot.

Music pumping, DJ clowning, chocolatiers jammed in on top of each other on Hank Aaron Drive taking selfies, and we were off into the heart of Hotlanta on a sunny, freezing Sunday morning.  For the first full mile you could only trot until the crowd thinned out, then hills, hills and more hills! Thank you sir and may I have another?


Me? Trot? Maybe that's what I though I was doing...but the ache in my back, my butt, my calves and the shock in my heart were very contradicting.  I far from trained for this, but I really thought I was maintaining my fitness by eeking out at least 5 miles a week on the treadmill.  No ma'am, not at all! Having not street raced since the PRR last July, my body quickly informed me of how truly and miserably out of shape I really was...I was looking for the medical tent at mile 1 and seeing spots by mile 2. 

By the time I rounded Fulton Street back onto Capitol Avenue, I caught my second wind, probably because I could see finishers with their cups of chocolate.  I couldn't let them run out or else my pain would have been for nothing...had to...get to...chocolate...

I sped up and started passing people left and right, I started seeing the camera men.  There is nothing worse than a painful run shot. We can't have that, I need you to see me smiling and running effortlessly, I have to look like I'm having a great time.  Then I saw it ahead, the finish line, the clock, and that annoyingly fit guy who singles out the bigger girls with a condescending shout, a high five and a "you can do it! keep running!" If I could have gotten my foot off the ground I would have kicked him.

I did it!  Chocolate time! Where is the tent? I cant see! Please! Please point me to the tent! Chewy...Warm...Gooey...Chocolate!

 
 I joined the crowds of irresponsible 5Kers gouging themselves on chocolate and candy while convincing themselves that they earned it after their 'brisk walk'. We were wobbling, wopping and electric sliding ourselves into a chocolate coma at the after party.

My take away from my Hot Chocolate 15K/5K experience:
-Tall men should wear tall pants, I saw entirely too many unintentional ankles for my liking
-Please dress for the weather, you look ridiculous shivering in a shorts and an undershirt
-You should spit away from the crowd...funny how its not as obvious as you would think
-Chocolate is a serious motivational factor, albeit counterintuitive
-Chocolate after running makes people loopy and possibly illiterate (evidence below)

The swag! I can't forget the swag, the goodie bag that made me sign up to run in the street for the promise of chocolate all those months ago....

Was it worth it? Heck yeah! Paying to run in the street is my thing, reality check and all.  The technical sweatshirt with thumb holes and waist pocket for my mp3 player is like a badge of honor, you runners know what I mean.  Orange and brown last year, purple and black this year, who knows? Next year they might actually make the ladies sweatshirts in pink and I will do it again, all for the incredibly inexplicable love....of chocolate.

Me Pluss the Crop Top

I just had to try it...just once, just to say I did.

I was wary of showing skin.  I picked up this blouse, I put it back down, I left the store, I sat in the car, I lingered at the door.  I just didn't know...

Then I went back into Rainbow and tried it on. The long sleeves were promising but I could see a sliver of skin...

"That's the point", I kept telling myself.  And it is the point, to show a little skin.

Crop Tops have been all the rage in the plus size blogging ranks. So I got up my courage and got me a high waisted pant from Asos Curve to go with it.

 What made me pull the trigger on it was the cashier.  This plus size lady realized my hesitation and just had to say something.
"What's the problem, it a cute top" she said,
"I know, its just that I know my tummy will show and I'm buying it on purpose" I replied.
"You wanna switch stomachs? Cause I have no problem taking yours for a spin at Magic City"

And that sealed the deal, cause the simple fact was, I didn't want to switch stomachs with her.  I don't have a wash board but it wasn't an 'apron' as she described hers.  It made me think that certain fashions aren't for everybody or every body type.  And if I could pull one off, it might encourage somebody else to be a little more daring with their own Pluss Fashion.

But these shoes though?  I needed no convincing.  These high voltage kicks had my name on them, the only question I was asking was "what other colors you got?"

Me and the crop top will be acquaintances, we probably wont ever be besties or even be tight like that, she is too young for me.  I leave her to the 18 year olds, the fashionably bold and the gym rats with the six pack like nature intended. But I just had to try it...At least once...

Me Pluss CSI Atlanta!

Have you done a murder mystery?  This was my first and it won't be my last, but before you open a new tab to Google it, let me tell you how it all went down...

 

 



Living Social Deals offered  Unique Event Atlanta for $29, so we got a bunch of girls together and rode deep...we made reservations (you have to, to sit together).  This is what we met walking in the door (door: far right by the window), tables of groups in a huge loft to embark on the adventure with us.

 

 

When we got there, a serial killer had already committed two murders and we got to 'CSI' the crime scene, gathering info and taking notes....and yes, that is a complete crime scene and this is the other one...

 

The killer would leave Bin Laden type videos complete with clues, gloat and corny evil laughter, and they would play intermittently throughout the evening.  The clues would tell you something about the murders, when, why or how someone was killed.

 

We were separated into groups of 9/10 crime solvers and instructed to split up and get involved in various cast conversations.  The cast would carry on regular conversation with each other as if you weren't even there, then you got to interrogate them about the conversation or about anything else you think they might know...(which wasn't always much)

 

This gist is: they had all gotten an ominous post card inviting them to a secret gathering, they didn't know why or who would be there but all promised to be revealed.  Two couples and three singles showed.  They talked, they argued, they fought and drifted in and out of conversation and you were left to piece the puzzle together. Then things started happening.  Some man, Steve, was cheating on his wife with his secretary, the wife found out on video! Hair was pulled, pants were yanked back on and there was lots of screaming, running, slaps, kicks and threats of murder.

 

The philandering husband sulks off to lick his wounds, but not before being handed two wierd packages, one from his scorned wife and the other from his neighbor who tells him that he needs to get a 'Hoe Manager' app to keep up with all his side chicks.  After all the guys excitedly checked Google Play store and were disappointed, we were left to ponder the remarks until we heard an explosion, a thud and poor philandering Steve lay dead by the steps.

 

His side chick secretary runs to his side and stays there crying over her love all night before the body was taken away...She was sure that bitter wife Carrie had done it!

 

But wait! a development?  The neighbor's girlfriend is pregnant and word is, the dates don't match up...the truck driving boyfriend wasn't in town for conception!***enter ominous music here***

 

 

Meanwhile, elsewhere, ridiculously awkward stabbings are happening in broad daylight and wife Carrie and Secretary girlfriend are having themselves a good old Mexican standoff for cheatin' hubby Steve's insurance money.

"Girl! She gotta gun" say onlookers, but its too late...

Wife Carrie (African American actor in purple striped top)

 

Secretary Girlfriend runs back to the safety of her chair avoiding the bullets...

 

But the Secretary got gun too! She shoots with proficiency, hits her mark and becomes the sole beneficiary of the insurance policy!

 

But wait, why is there a dead dude on the ground? Well, when you find that out please let me know, I missed that part of the convoluted program....

 

But wait, who killed the two people in the crime scene you were talking about?  Bailey, the construction worker who was psycologically and irreparably  damaged when he walked in on his girlfriend servicing many men.

 

The killings? Electrocution by cell phone and stabbing with an icicle....inventive...

  

 

 By the end of the night, all questions are answered and killers revealed and the whodunit comes to a close.  The winning group (they were the first to get the most questions right on the questionnaire) gets Tshirts and we leave feeling like we did something.  The cast tried, and for their 2nd week out, they did a pretty good job, when its refined you should go check it out.  As for me? 3 out of 5 stars, a pat on the back and a tip to get a decent bartender.

 

Next stop? Agatha's Atlanta Murder Mystery Theatre on Peachtree Street! Wanna come?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me Pluss the Tulip Jumpsuit

Love is in the air...a wedding is afoot...

I'm attending my second wedding this year.  All my friends are getting hitched.  While patiently waiting my turn, I fell in love with this tulip jumpsuit from F21+.  So I asked her to be my pluss one and here we are...

After meeting Tulip a few months ago, we chatted a bit online and in my closet but it never really went much further than that. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how to proceed with her...Should I ask her out? Should I make the first move, or should I let her pick the occasion?

Then this wedding happened and we both just seemed to have the same idea.  She was sassy and classy, like I had hoped she would be. We had a good old time together, we added an ASOS plated belt, Fioni pumps and off we went.  We caught a few eyes and got some complements, "You two make a cute couple"  "Thank you", I said. "Indeed we do."

 Even the overcast day couldn't dampen our first date, we had black rivet for protection. We made the best of our time together, got to know each other and enjoyed the wedding without a mishap.  There will be a second date, we are taking our time and learning each other, seeing where we fit in each other's lives.  We WILL see each other again....and the best thing about today?

We met a man! I hear wedding bells...

Me Pluss the Polarizing Swing Dress

I like controversial clothes.  Busy patterns, plaid pants...I like the conversation it creates.  I sent a picture of this dress to some girlfriends to get a read off them--to buy or not to buy. Not really because I was gonna do what they said but because I was curious.  I have a friend that says 'Big girls shouldn't wear busy patterns, it draws attention to your size" You're damn right it does.  Since when is that a bad thing?

My friends hated it, but they knew I would buy it anyway.  They said "Nae! Its paisley! Ugh!" and I said "Exactly and I appreciate your candor".  I may have been asked by a couple of them to not wear it in their company, they would either have to fake sick or walk on the opposite side of the street...there would be no Facebook posts that day.

The dress is really supposed to be shorter, to make it cheekier, give it more personality.  A wrong sizing choice relegated it to the matronly halls of Sunday Worship, but it still swings all the way my way.  Lightly accessorize with gold F21 arrow necklace and pendant, always classic gold hoops and even more classic Mary Jane Platform Pumps from Brash, and this is all me down to the stiletto tip.

The rains and the clouds came a little closer to earth and stuck around a while, so I had to protect my head with a F21 Mens Bowler and protect my heart with a black rivet Trench from Wilson's Leather.  The inside tag says, "created w/style 4 people with personality"--Thank you black rivet, Thank you for noticing...



Paisley Dress: Asos.com (sold out)
Bowler: F21 Men




 

I vote this a 'Sister Huggins', what do you think?  

Check out the polling on the right, let me know what you think.  Or comment!








 

Me Pluss the Black Wedge Sneaker

All black everything is classic, timeless.  I'm a huge fan.

I'm a big fan of rocking it but not such a big fan of modelling it, me + different poses = lame!

I'm late to the game with the wedge sneaker but now I'm finally here, I'm making up for lost time. Expanding my color collection has been fun! But the black...always back to the black...

My wardrobe has a solid foundation of solid black shoes so it freed me up to get a non-functional gold zipper on my kicks.  I love the look of yellow gold in the morning...(and evening)!

I paired it with a black Forever 21 faux leather and ponte knit skirt...for work...in a professional setting...what did you expect?  I'm a rebel!  I don't do 'establishment' its just not my style...

This Old Navy top in tall is one of the most comfortable tops I've ever worn.  Why? Cause its Dolman but it fits to body and it comes down past my wrists...thats money!

 

This is fast becoming one of my favorite Jackets this season.  This red tweed F21 waist length jacket has prim, priss and twist all in one.  The assymetrical shawl collar is my fave detail, busty ladies beware, the peacoat feature has been deconstructed...

 

Look how small my feet look, loving these comfy cozy badassments (shoes)!

Sneakers: High Top Wedge Sneaker from Shoe Dezigns for Amazon
Tights: Walmart Just My Size Opaque tights
Skirt: F21 last season Faux Leather denim skirt
Top: Oldnavy Dolman Sleeve Top
Forever 21 Cozy Chic Tweed Coat

 

Hello World! Its Me Pluss You!

It's long been a fancy of mine to ramble on and on about my thoughts, opinions and fashion sense and now I can!

A few things about me...

• I find funny in everything, funny is rooted in truth
• I love to shop! Its my therapy, it might sound cliche but I find getting packages in the mail very addictive.  It's like what did you buy...oooohh, ooohh let me see!
• I love exclamation points and ellipsis (...) you may become annoyed...forewarned is forearmed!
• I really do think that my fashion sense is unique, it ranges from homeless chic to lusty librarian. 
• I believe in the graphic tee, It. Is. Righteous!
• I'm pluss:plus sized, but my blog is for everyone and fashion inspiration comes from everywhere

Things/People I love

• Forever21 and Asos
• Janelle Monae
• Bernice McFadden
• Pearl Cleage
• Theatre!

In a blogoshpere glutted with plus sized fashion and 'learn to love me' body ideals, this blog will just be me, a mix of fashion, movie rants, random observations, author worship and play reviews.  I get to talk non stop about any and everything. I liked how that felt as I typed it. :) 

I plan to fully exploit my wardrobe that is 50% Forever21 and 5% Asos, 30% Old Navy and 15% summadis and summdat, its an excuse to plaster my clothes all over the web so I can justify buying more.

Shameless selfie to prove it...


Hat: F21 Men
Jacket, Pants, Graphic Tank, Shopping Bag : F21+
Boots: JcPenny Online
Jewelry: Personal collection and F21
Nokia Lumia Phone Case: Ebay

So come with me on this journey why don't yah? I can't promise we will agree on everything but I promise you will enjoy the disagreement.

P.S. Thank you Drea for encouraging me, if it sucks its your fault!