Sunday links, 2/8/15

Blog note: I haven’t been doing Fatshion February posts for the past few days because I’ve been sick, booo. I’m hoping to be better, and back to daily outfit pictures, within the next day or two. 

Cute Valentines I saw in a store window

Fa(t)shion
-Rachelle is putting together a fatshion zine. Check it out and submit if you’re interested!
–16 black fashion bloggers.
-Mary Lambert writes about how she learned to love shopping as a plus size woman, and shares her favorite stores.
-I hope Julianne is right that ginormous pants are coming back in style–I still love them.
–Massculine Fatshion is a new site for masculine-of-center fat folks interested in style.
-Chastity shares her favorite plus size budget-friendly online shops.
–Plus size wedding dresses for the bride on a budget.
–Observe and reserve judgment on other people’s clothing choices.

Fat Acceptance
–Missy Elliott taught me that it was ok for a fat woman to feel desire.
-(NSFW) The Adipositivity Project has a gorgeous Valentine Series which features fat people and their lovers.
–Football, fat people, and media representation.
-Ali shares her strategies for combating fat-shaming on a day-to-day basis.
-Ragen also shares strategies for fat activism in her Say Something Sunday series of posts.
-The Fat Nutritionist talks about her relationship with food and exercise.

Mac n’ cheese: the ultimate winter comfort food.

It just never ends.

“I can’t breathe.” – Eric Garner’s last words, illustrated by Shirin Barghi (source)

Last night, a grand jury declined to indict Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer who choked Eric Garner to death.

I don’t have words.

But I follow a lot of brilliant and thoughtful people on Twitter, so, read their reactions.

Here in Boston, there will be a protest tonight at the tree lighting on the Common. If you live elsewhere, check the Ferguson Response Tumblr to find an action in your area.

Now, because all of the news lately has been so intensely horrifying and painful, here are some snuggling puppies:

source

Sunday links, 11/23/14

Can you believe it’s almost December? I’m starting to get excited for all the lights, festivities, and peppermint-chocolate-flavored desserts of the holiday season.

Fa(t)shion
-Rum + Coke’s emerald green holiday dresses and separates are gorgeously glamorous.
-I love all of Natalie’s top plus size dress picks for the holiday season.
–This marked-up 1998 dELiA*s catalog is everything we’ll miss about our fave teen retailer. Oh God, yes. I need to get around to scanning the rest of my Delia’s catalogs sometime soon.
-Annalog interviews Kobi and Margot about the Alternative Curves hashtag and blog hop. How amazing is Kobi’s black, flowy, velvety, witchy outfit?!
–A brief history of Old Navy’s troubled relationship with fat women.
-I love everything in Cwena’s dream capsule wardrobe–and it includes two items I already have, the black mesh ASOS skirt and the purple iridescent Docs. I haven’t broken in the Docs yet, but once I do, you’ll be seeing them in lots of outfit posts!
–Plus size yoga pants: Lineagewear leggings review.

Fat Acceptance
-An article in Fortune compared fatness to war and terrorism. WOW. Not surprisingly, the consulting firm that came up with this idea has an awful lot of employee overlap with Weight Watchers.
-Also shitty: an NBC article that concludes that diets don’t work…and then blames it on fat people “falling off the wagon.”
-In even more fat-shaming grossness, the federal government spent $10 developing a video game about escaping a fat town run by an evil fat king who forces people to eat junk food. BLARGH.
–Fat is the go-to metaphor and point of comparison.
–Fat women fuck too. Yes. Yes, we do.
-Check out the crowdfunding campaign for a plus size, fearless fitness DVD.
-An important question, and one that I’ve ranted about many times: Where’s the solidarity for fat people on the left?
-There is now a Facebook support group for people who have had bad experiences with weight loss surgery.

Climate and Sustainability
–The public is wrong on climate change, as it was on slavery and women’s rights.
–Within two years, a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions are likely to be priced.
-A group of students explain why they’re suing Harvard for investing in fossil fuels.

OOTD: Adventures in an enchanted forest

On Saturday I went hiking with a few friends through the spectacular mid-October foliage. Since I’ve been so into dark mori and witchy goth looks lately, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to dress up in dark layers. (No, I didn’t stay dressed up for the whole hike–it was unseasonably warm, so I ended up taking off both my skirts and most of my jewelry and just hiking around in shorts. I also brought sneakers to change into.)

Top and cardigan: thrifted, gray skirt: Target, black skirt and belt: ASOS Curve, socks: Domino Dollhouse, shoes: LL Bean, flower crown and bat clips: Crown & Glory, crystal necklace: from my great-grandmother, gray necklace: from a clothing swap, bangles: Torrid and Deb, spike wristband: Hot Topic, studded wristband: Macy’s, skull ring: Torrid, rose ring and earrings: really old

Sunday links, 8/3/14

Fa(t)shion
–But seriously…if you’re fat, you can still wear whatever you want.
-Help Elizabeth of CandyStrike get her clothing out to a major online retailer!
-Awesome pictures from Summer Strut, a plus-size runway show in Portland.
–Land’s End introduces adorable new science t-shirts just for girls.
-How cute is Sprinkles Bake Shop, which sells dessert-themed goodies like a birthday cake headband and macaron coin purses, as well as actual dessert-related supplies?
-Emma is putting dudes in dresses and watching chaos unfold.
–We don’t want your summer music festival fashion tips.

Fat Acceptance
–So much yes to this: I am not all about that bass: deconstructing the summer’s feel-good, body-positive hit. I wrote about “All About That Bass” a while back, but Jenny’s analysis is much more in-depth, and superbly breaks down the many different types of fail in the video. (And yes, I’m still sad that a video with such a catchy tune and such a gorgeous pastel aesthetic is full of so much race-, gender-, and size-fail.)
-Syruckus writes about why fat acceptance matters to him as a fat man.
-Ragen shares strategies for dealing with fat-phobia in the workplace.
-I love seeing pictures of two awesome fat activists meeting each other.
–Making Fat Ends Meet is a new Facebook group for poor and working-class fat people.
-Awesomeness: vandals trash plastic surgeon’s anti-muffin top billboard in Michigan.
–What they never consider when they link fatness with health problems.
-Oaklanders, checked out HAES’d and Confused, a series of events examining social justice within the context of the HAES model. There’s also a phone-in option for non-locals to participate.

Israel/Gaza
–Dear Nick Kristof, your Palestinian Gandhis are already here.
–Rays of hope in Gaza: 13 Israeli and Palestinian groups building peace.
–Jews around the world are facing attacks as the crisis escalates in Gaza. This is scary as hell, and it makes me so angry/sad/ARGH that so many people seem to think the answer to hatred and violence is more hatred and violence.
–If Israel calls to tell me they will bomb my house, what should I take with me as I run for my life?
–Life under fire in Gaza: the diary of a Palestinian.
-There are just no words for how heartbreaking this story is. No words.
–The awful decisions I’ve made to protect my Palestinian children from this war.
–Gaza myths and facts: what American Jewish leaders won’t tell you.
–Threats of sanctions worked against Israel in 1956 – and they can work again.

#UCSB shooting links roundup #YesAllWomen

source: Jessy Comfort Dog

There has been an incredible amount of thoughtful, important writing about the Isla Vista shooting. I apologize that this is a long and probably overwhelming links roundup, but there were so many pieces I just couldn’t leave out. Read them on your own time, or not at all if that’s what you need. I’ve included some pictures of Comfort Dogs to break up the terrible-ness.

Laurie Penny: Let’s call the Isla Vista killings what they were: misogynist extremism

Arthur Chu: Your princess is in another castle: misogyny, entitlement, and nerds

Jenn at Reappropriate: Masculinity vs. “Misogylinity”: what Asian Americans can learn from the #UCSB shooting

Kate Harding: It’s not all men. But it’s men.

Roxane Gay: In relief of silence and burden

Elizabeth Plank: #AllMenCan: 37 Men show us what real men’s activists look like

Sarah O at All the Things, All Mixed Up: Notallmen/Yesallwomen, secondary trauma and relearning everything for the sake of not killing each other

source: Maggie Comfort Dog

Sunday links, 5/25/14

We found an interesting tree while hiking last weekend…

Fa(t)shion
-I love this fatshionista paper doll.
-If you’re looking to both buy some awesome mermaid-themed jewelry and support a transgender person with Asperger’s who has trouble sustaining traditional employment, check out Earl Foolish.
–The fashion victims of Bangladesh.
–Wandering the no (wo)man’s land between straight and plus sizes.
–Work it! The new face of labor in fashion.
–Quvenzhane Wallis is the adorable new face of Armani Junior.
–From Lorde to Rihanna to the new Barbie, Goth culture’s comeback is a win for women.
–Sheri and Sarah both round up plus size crop tops.
–Do this don’t: dress like a fat marshmallow.
-A fascinating conversation on design and systems, both in fashion and in a broader sense.

Fat Acceptance
-Roxy takes apart the ridiculous concept of “glorifying obesity.”
–Great postcards for the Abundant Bodies track at the AMC.
-This fat coloring book project looks really cool.
–Fat-phobic trolls don’t just want to be rude–they want power over us.
-Check out Hanne Blank’s new body acceptance project, 52 Weeks to Your Best Body Ever.
–Discrimination, doxxing, and that ‘Louie’ episode: a Q&A with the filmmakers behind ‘Fattitude.’

Climate and Sustainability
–A call to arms for the climate march in New York this September. I will do my best to be there!
-Bill McKibben and a group of climate scientists and activists did an AMA on Reddit.
–Solar farms can enhance biodiversity and sequester soil carbon too.
–Geothermal: the red hot renewable that could incite a green power revolution.
–A blueprint to end paralysis over global action on climate.
–Before repairing the climate, we’ll have to repair the effects of racism.

An awesome mashup of two great songs:

Boston, you’re my home <3

Today is the one-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. To be honest, I’ve had a lot of other stuff on my mind lately, so I haven’t been thinking about it that much, but I’ve read a few things that I want to pass along.

My friend Emily writes a wonderful tribute to Boston.

Laura at RevEverett asks, “Which Boston is #BostonStrong?” She points out that some lives are invisible, the violence against them expected and ignored–and that we need to remember them and see their humanity.

If you’re a dog-loving Bostonian like me, you’ll be happy to hear that the Comfort Dogs, who visited Boston after the bombings, will be coming back this weekend. They’re such sweet, loving animals.

The little pup pictured above is Isaiah, who was only five months old at the time. He’s gotten so big since then, as you can see on his Facebook page (yes, I “like” all of the Comfort Dogs on Facebook–it means my newsfeed is filled with adorable doggie pictures!). These pictures are all Instagram-filter-y because my camera had just broken, and I really wanted to get pictures of the dogs, so I ended up buying a disposable camera. So old-school, I know!

On golden retrievers, potential energy, and tired feet

Yesterday, I came across the above picture of the Energy Exodus, a six-day march for renewable energy currently taking place south of Boston–which I’d take part in, if I weren’t so exhausted from my current job situation. My friend Bethany of Granite Bunny posted it along with the comment, “This looks like fun, which means it’s probably the right thing to do.”

I couldn’t agree more. Especially since there’s a prominently featured golden retriever, and I am nothing if not a golden-lover. Any political action endorsed by a sweet, fluffy golden is something I can get behind. (Ok, that’s probably not technically true. But, fluffy!)

Everything about the march sounds amazing–like a cross between an Occupy encampment and an art festival. From the official event description:

This event is family-friendly and fun for all ages! While we have a serious purpose, the march will also include musical performances, art, community potlucks, discussions, faith and spiritual experiences, and lots of opportunities to get to know your fellow marchers and movement members as we walk the transition we want to see. Along the way we will rally, sing, learn, make new plans, and meet new friends.

I so, so wish I could be there.

And I can’t help but think of one of my favorite critiques of the climate movement, Melanie Jae Martin’s “Three Tactics for a Stronger Climate Movement,” and be grateful that the organizers of the Energy Exodus have apparently taken her words to heart:

Imagine if, when blockading a pipeline construction site, radicals invited the whole community to a festival on the site? Instead of a few people locking down, what if the community barricaded the area and held a dance party or a carnival, reclaiming it as a community space for direct democracy, food growing, and celebration? When resilience becomes a key characteristic of the space, joining together to defend it will become less scary and more joyful. People could use the space to construct their own cooperative forms of alternative energy, like community-owned wind power systems. As the movement nourishes the souls of participants more fully, its passion, energy, and numbers will grow, just as the round dance protests of the indigenous rights movement Idle No More have caught on like wildfire throughout the continent and beyond. And in the process, we’ll be forging the alternatives that are absolutely crucial for subverting corporate attacks on the land, air, and water.

Friday Links 12/21/12

Happy apocalypse! Also, for those who celebrate it, merry almost-Christmas. Here is a ginormous Christmas tree I saw recently:

As for this week’s news, oy. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the tragedy.

There’s been a ton of discussion around the internet on everything from mental health to gun control to violent masculinity.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading and thinking, but I’m only going to post the few essays I can get behind 100%:
–These mornings after.
–You cannot make me own a gun: what gun culture looks like.
–How a gun-loving West Texas girl learned to fear assault weapons.

Also, I recommend this video of  golden retriever therapy dogs helping children in Newtown. Goldens are just the best.

Fa(t)shion
-I love these pictures of plus size celebrities’ best outfits of the year. If I had to pick one, I’d vote for Beth Ditto, but I also love Jill Scott’s black and pink dress.
–10 unique fairy gifts on Etsy for $50 and under.
–Harajuku’s top trends in 2012. I love that one of the trends is tutus/petticoats (which they call “pannier skirts”).

Fat Activism
–The space we need.
–Holy mixed messages, Fatman!
–What is a job for a morbidly obese woman?

Cuteness
-Issa has a new, ridiculously adorable puppy!
–Quiz: is this a bunny?

Everything Else
–Why we can’t ignore the caveats to Cory Booker’s food stamp challenge.
–Literacy privilege: how I learned to check mine instead of making fun of people’s grammar on the internet.
–Why the ‘nice guys commit rape too’ conversation is not helpful.
–My first resolution: be more vain.
–Glamorous girly New Year’s party inspiration. Giant disco balls? Hells yes.

Here’s some amazing music for you. If you like this, I highly recommend check out the rest of Lindsey Stirling ‘s videos–for the scenery and costuming as well as the music itself.

This is one of my favorite videos from the Project for Awesome, not just because the organization does really cool stuff, but also because they have the most adorable and rather large lapdog.