And I’m going to be spending it with the fam. Feel free to use this as an open thread if there’s anything we should all know about or if you need to vent because your family makes you feel guilty about how much you weigh. (Oh, is that just me? Nevermind.) (Now I feel bad […]

Filed under: Meta, Personal, Tidbit | 11 Comments »

In case you’re wondering where I’ve gone this week, it’s finals week (well it’s the first of two finals weeks, but we won’t talk about that) and I am busy writing, giving, and grading finals! In the meantime I’m loving the fashion do’s and don’ts you guys have come up with; it’s given me wardrobe […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Diet Talk, Meta, Personal, Weight Loss | 9 Comments »

I realized the other day while purchasing yet another sweater with horizontal stripes that I actually have a lot of clothes that have stripes on them. For a long time that was a big fashion no-no in my brain, because STRIPES = FAT = OMG! = AAH! But then I stopped worrying about it. My […]

Filed under: Fashion, Personal, Question, Tidbit | 45 Comments »

There’s a girl on the campus where I teach who wears the CUH-yutest sweater. I asked her where she got it and she went on at length about how her family had finally gotten her a decent gift for her birthday this year, hallelujah! It was a cute conversation, but a cuter sweater. And I […]

Filed under: Fashion, Humor, Personal, Question | 26 Comments »

We’ve talked about the separate-but-equal thing in fashion, but have we talked about it in the wider world, in social situations? Because here we have an article on Plus-Size Nightclubs–night clubs that are, as perhaps indicated by the term “plus-size nightclub,” set up and run specifically for plus-size patrons. “When you’re not what they consider […]

Filed under: Advocacy, Cold Hard Cash, Fat Positive, Personal, Politics, Question | 43 Comments »

Pepsi Max – Save the calories for baconOriginally uploaded by jsmjr Women drink Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi; men drink Coke Zero and Pepsi Max, aka the diet sodas without the word “diet” in the name. Since diets are for girls! Feminist blogs such as The Gender Bender Blog and I Blame the Patriarchy both […]

Filed under: Advertising, Advocacy, Diet Talk Warning, Feminism, Media, Personal | 46 Comments »

I just finished Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol on audiobook. (Please don’t judge me. I drive a lot.) And I wanted to talk about the character of Trish–especially once I saw my own thoughts echoed on one of the Amazon reviews. Spoilers for The Lost Symbol after the jump…

Filed under: Books, Personal | 9 Comments »

Lord ByronOriginally uploaded by jadc01 My life these days is almost 100% schoolwork, as I am currently teaching five classes at two different colleges. (I spend my entire weekends grading; it’s exhausting.) This week, my literature class is going to start on the Romantics, and I was doing some reading about old friends like John […]

Filed under: Books, Celebrities, Old Timey, Personal | 9 Comments »

I was catching up on my blog reading this weekend and found two posts I thought were especially worth passing along. First, I really enjoyed Kate’s post, “We Already Know We’re Fat“: “This so-called epidemic is not made up of theoretical fucking people who are just as fat as you can possibly imagine. It’s made […]

Filed under: Health, Meta, Personal, Question, Science, Sex & Romance | 2 Comments »

Although I saw this news about this when Kate Harding Twittered about it, I didn’t get a chance to post the link until today! It’s a story about a study that suggests having larger or more muscular thighs is better than having thin ones. People who have agonised over their fat thighs might be able […]

Filed under: Fat Positive, Health, Personal, Science | 7 Comments »

Jill at Imagine Today is kicking off Self-Esteem Awareness Month today, with a list of great suggestions of things to do every day this month to increase our self-esteem. First comes Change Your Mindset; then Change Your Actions; then Change Your World. Here’s today’s: August 1st – Lets start this all of with a simple […]

Filed under: Advocacy, Personal, Self Esteem Awareness Month | 15 Comments »

In response to Roger Catlin’s article (which I can’t find online*) about fat people on TV, a reader named Chamein Canton writes a powerful response. Here’s an excerpt: [*Chamein also kindly stopped by the comments to post the text of the original article. Thanks!] I read your article about the rise in the number of […]

Filed under: Biggest Loser, Dance Your Ass Off, Drop Dead Diva, Media, More To Love, Personal, TV | 8 Comments »

Here, from Sarah in the previous post, is a comment worth commenting on. (She’s talking about a scene in Drop Dead Diva that depicts our fat leading character binging on donuts and cream cheese): I’m not bothered by the overeating though. I am 100% on the FA bandwagon, and I know fat can be caused […]

Filed under: Advocacy, Drop Dead Diva, Eating Disorders, Fatism, Personal, Question, TV | 62 Comments »

In a “Perspective” a radio piece for KQED public radio, Lisa Lyon compares the effects of driving a new car to the effects of losing a lot of weight: people treat you differently depending on how you look and what you drive. Big surprise. But I was most interested in the car talk; it made […]

Filed under: Humor, Media, Personal, Question, Tidbit | 26 Comments »

Kate wrote a piece for Powell‘s about fat characters in literature. I love fat people and literature! And I read it with great interest: Truly fat women in books and movies are most often villains, mammies, overbearing mothers-in-law, or unlikable tertiary characters (think the irritable secretary with a box of donuts in her desk drawer). […]

Filed under: Books, Feminism, Personal, Question, Tidbit | 36 Comments »

SWAK sweaterOriginally uploaded by mo pie A while back, the kind folks at SWAK Designs offered to send me an item of clothing or two to try out (and be brutally honest about, of course). Since I’m always happy to find another source for plus-size fashion in these uncertain times, I said, and I’m paraphrasing […]

Filed under: Fashion, Feel Good Friday, Meta, Personal, Question | 17 Comments »

Anyone who knows me knows what this post really is. It’s a flimsy excuse to mention Adam Lambert, my favorite American Idol contestant ever; sorry Clay, Kelly, Daughtry, whomever. (Adam Lambert, I make such a good best-girlfriend-of-a-gay-dude* ever; seriously, call me. I have references.) *Avoiding the potentially inflammatory terminology here! Anyway I LOVE HIM, is […]

Filed under: Adam Lambert, American Idol, Celebrities, Eating Disorders, Gossip, Personal, Sex & Romance, TV | 17 Comments »

I love to travel but hate to fly. I don’t overlap into the next seat and I can put down the armrest, but I’m also very aware of the discomfort (perceived or real) of my seatmate so instead I hold an origami yoga position for the duration of the flight, jamming as much of my […]

Filed under: Personal, Weetabix | 29 Comments »

I was entertained and sort of fascinated by Mike’s post about the new Big Mac Snack Wrap, currently being tested in Canada, the home of the Maple Leafs, half of Niagara Falls, and Robin Sparkles. The sad, sad, Big Mac Snack Wrap. It is apparently half a hamburger patty with some sauce, pickles, and lettuce, […]

Filed under: Advertising, Diet Talk Warning, Food, Humor, International, Kids, Personal, Science | 23 Comments »

I’ve been struck down with some kind of death illness for the past few days. You’d think that being curled up on my couch for 72 hours would mean I could manage a blog post or two, but it hasn’t seemed that way. I’m hoping to be back in action tomorrow, but in the meantime, […]

Filed under: Advertising, Advocacy, Celebrities, Fashion, Kids, Meta, Personal, Sex & Romance, TV | 11 Comments »

I had to post about this bus stop ad not only because I work in the advertising industry but also because I’m Dutch. Oh, those wacky Dutch. The premise of this ad is a bus stop that, when you sit down, projects your weight onto an advertisement for a gym. Shakesville has a picture, and […]

Filed under: Advertising, Fatism, International, Personal, Question | 24 Comments »

It is Feel Good Friday and it’s my thirty-fourth birthday today! How perfect, then, that I have two feel-good e-mails to share. Reader Katie forwarded me an e-mail from the wonderful BUST magazine, which featured a little blurb about Big Fat Deal. One thing they said really jumped out at me: The best part of […]

Filed under: Feel Good Friday, Meta, Personal, Sex & Romance, Tidbit | 10 Comments »

My lovely friend Chiara has written a lovely poem, and the first thing I thought when I read it is that I wanted to share it with you. My last name means “round,” it literally means “round,” and usually what I say is ha ha my ancestors clearly really loved pasta and sometimes I pat […]

Filed under: Art, International, Personal, Tidbit | 1 Comment »

I was browsing through the archives of Fatshionista today and I found a post that made me stop and think. And it made me want to know, as ever, what you guys think! I am a sexy, beautiful, wonderful plus sized chick. There are days, however few (…or many, whatever) when I can’t see that. […]

Filed under: Fat Positive, Personal, Question | 20 Comments »

congratulations, kate!Originally uploaded by mo pie As if I was going to let the fact that MY GIRLFRIEND KATE WINSLET WON AN OSCAR go unrecognized. When I was waiting for her name to be called, Ian turned to my cousin and her boyfriend and said “Be careful. If Kate doesn’t win, you’re going to see […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Kate Winslet, Personal, Tidbit, TV, Video | 3 Comments »