First Spring Shopping Day!

The weather may not be quite as we would like it, but then Springtime is never known to be quite what it supposedly should be! The sun peeped out behind the clouds back on Father's Day (3rd September) only to hide again and since that time we've had plenty of Spring rains. Lovely for the gardens, and quite lovely for the opportunity of spending more time in the kitchen or the local coffee shop. Who needs an excuse to meet up with a girl friend or two and have coffee 'n cake?

Three of us ventured out last week to visit the local store/showroom of Kita Ku. Many of you will recall we've mentioned this lovely place a number of times through our newsletters. Well, we weren't disappointed in our visit this time either - they had lots (and we mean lots) of beautiful, wearable, trendy, affordable clothes. Many of last seasons were going out at "petty-cash" costs (such as $5). We all bought up for our "first Spring shopping spree of the year".

So why not visit Kita Ku's website yourself and see what they have. Also get onto their mailing list for news of their special sales and events. This is a beaut way of spending a lovely afternoon with friends. http://www.kitaku-australia.com/

Comfort food!

There's "comfort food" and then there's "comfort food". And all of us, from the Prime Minister down to the old gentleman who lives down the street, has our favourites. Even people like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson.

One that comes to mind easily is Sausages and Mashed Potatoes, or as it is more commonly or popularly known, "Bangers and Mash". I see where it has become the all out favourite in Britain particularly during the economic down-turn.

And whatever you may think, (and I can hear some of you say, yuk when you look at the photos), it is a delicious and filling meal. That is, if it is cooked properly and if it is presented properly. Why even my dear old Mum was able to throw a couple of snags (sausages) on the plate with a dollop of mashed potato, and we kids would be straining at the bit ti get stuck into "dinner".

I can't think of when I've been disappointed at a serving. Until I had a spot of lunch at Stallions yesterday. There it was on the menu (for kids alas, but I've heard that anyone can ask for whatever's on the menu as an adult serving and expect to be served), so I figured, yes, it's bangers and mash for me today. Even if it's just a teeny tiny serve!

Well it fronted up, and if I'd served this to my kids, they would have thrown the plate at me. The above photos tell a story and even though the first four have come from the internet (with full acknowledgement to the owners of the photo copyrights) they also tell it how it is when it comes to serving up simple tucker like bangers and mash. Or how it should be. But take a good look at the fourth (bottom) photo - this is a photograph of the ACTUAL meal I was served. And before I go any further, please take note that this was an "ADULT" serving!

You'll see what I mean by "you don't always get what you expect" even though you pay for it. This meal cost me $12 - so what? There are local places and I'm certainly not talking about McDonalds or KFC where you can buy a good meal (even 2 course, either soup and mains or mains and sweets) for $12 in nice surroundings, accompanied by table linen, a house wine (on the house) for $12. Why didn't I go to one of those? Simply because it's nice to try out something new. But again back to the photo. You can even see the "grease"or "fat" that the sausages had been cooked in, smeared across the plate (to the right). This serving and plate presentation, did not endear me to the restaurant at all.

And what's this got to do with being a blog on a plus size site? Everything. Because all of us have to eat. It matters not that we are size zero or size 20. And sometimes we need a bit of "comfort food". But not greasy food (even the mash was sitting in grease!) thrown on a plate and served up as though it were part of King Henry VIII's banquet!

We think we'll regularly re-visit the subject of food and "comfort food" a bit more often within this blog. There's nothing quite as good as a bit of constructive criticism!

Bright and Flashy!

Strolling through the local shopping mall this morning I couldn't resist stopping and having a look at s rack of "inexpensive" jersey garments in all sizes. From what I've seen around the place, younger women are wearing these as part of a layered look - you know the sort of thing, pants, shirt or tee shirt and then the coloured short garment on top. Those that I saw this morning were sleeveless, with a deep round neck but a nice amount of fluid "give" in the garment itself (in other words it sits over the tummy rather than constricts it!). When I say short I mean if it were worn without the pants, then it would come above the knees.

But everyone seems to be wearing these garments at the moment. And I've got to say they're quite attractive. They're young at heart for the older woman, and she can get away with wearing them just as easily as her daughter or even grand-daughter. I think in the case of this mode of clothing that it's one style for all. No one looks out of place.

And that's good for us - the curavaceous girls/women of today's world. Feeling as though we're the same as other women.

Curves on the catwalk!

At last! There are some of us who thought it'd never happen. But it has - and where else but the Big Apple?

Last week New York hosted a fashion show! So what you might ask. Well, included in this fashion show were fabulous frocks, fripperies, fanciful feminine garments and everything in between, for the plus size woman. The major host OneStopPlus.com showed some of their beautiful garments on girls with curves.

A few examples above.

Now all we have to do it get the Australian fashion industry "on side" and realise that curvaceous women not only want beautiful fashion, but we deserve it!

LOVE without ATTACHMENT

A lot of my friends (and even casual acquaintances) tell me that even though they surround themselves with lots of "positive" messages about self-acceptance, and plenty of healthy self-talk, there are times when they feel "out of place" and not quite sure of themselves, especially when it concerns relationships.

This is a favourite piece I have repeated and reproduced over many years through my newsletters and small booklets. I hope you will find it encouraging in your personal life.

Love without attachment!

After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love does not mean leaning,
and company does not mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses are not contracts
and presents are not promises

And you begin to accept rejection
with your head up and your eyes clear

with the grace of an adult,
not the heartache of a child

And you learn to build you life on NOW
because tomorrow is too uncertain

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much

Plant your own garden and decorate your soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

After a while you learn that you really have infinite worth.

...... Author unknown

Sunday afternoon 'n cake

"Interested in going to a cake tasting?" My girlfriend asked.

She must have known even without asking that I would be all for it! The fact that the funds were to go to two special charities was an added incentive.

So we drove up further into the lovely Dandenong Ranges hills (lovely one day and perfect the next! whatever the season) to a small hamlet called Kallista (the meaning of which is "most beautiful"). The small mechanics hall had a large sign outside "The Cake Committee". On entering we were greeted by lots of happy faces, a number of tables with pretty vases of spring flowers (camellias, daffodils and daphne) and ladies in the kitchen already to serve cups of tea and coffee - all in readiness for guests to sit and taste some of the lovely delights and enjoy a cuppa.

Interspersed along the major front trestle table were and interspersed with lots (and I mean lots) of the most delicious, cholesterol laden, cakes. Chocolate, lemon, tirimasu, banana, Black Forest, lemon curd, lemon meringue, strawberry roulade, and tiny bite sized strawberry meringue/macaroons. Ladies wielding sharp knives quickly set about cutting slices and guests very quickly took advantage of some of their favourites.

As my girl-friend said, "what a very sensible way to spend a Sunday afternoon!" I couldn't agree more.

Travelling in comfort for the plus-size person

I've just returned from a quick visit to Sydney. A surprise visit to share in my brother's birthday celebrations! I had a wonderful time, even though I only spent two days in Sydney. While I had left Melbourne having grey skies and rain, I arrived in Sydney to find even more grey skies, rain and bitterly cold. But that certainly didn't dampen my spirits!

But I thought you'd like to know something about air travel today. In the past even travelling by the more expensive airline Qantas I've had to request a seat belt extender. In fact a number of longer trips I've done to the West I was most uncomfortable with Qantas - it was almost as though the seating had shrunk from the previous time I'd flown with them!

But on other occasions I travelled with Virgin Blue and found the seating comfortable and the seat belts were sufficiently long enough to enfold my ample curves!

The same this time. I did request a seat belt extender as I entered the plane, but I found to my delight that when seated, the seat belt once again fitted! I was ecstatic!

I'm a great observer of people and situations, as you probably are aware by now, and I saw many business men of ample size and sort-of-ample sizes who fitted in comfortably to the Virgin Blue seats. Suffice to say I've heard from many other businessmen that they have had a few difficulties when travelling with Qantas over time too.

Is it that Virgin Blue have realised their seating is required for slightly wider, taller and heavier passengers these days? Whatever the answer, I have to say the trip to Sydney and back was great! (Even taking into account the fact we flew through storms both ways).

Photograph from Bug.co.uk, on the internet