Why I Chose To Love My Body, Instead Of Hate It

There has been some media coverage about the Fatshsion and plus size women lately. There was an article in The Times in the UK this week, an article in Women's Weekly Mag and the first female centerfold in this months Australian Cleo, is a plus sized model (I actually purchased a Cleo this month because of this. Something I haven't done in nearly 10 years, and obviously there is still a long way to go in the movement, I mean even though they have a plus size model, they still have an article titled the 10-second flat tummy tuck, and pages full of thin models). Over the last few months, my eyes have really been opened to changing the current beauty standards, about being healthy at every size and being happy with what you've got. And, since I started loving my body, and I quit dieting, I've never been happier.

Now, I’m not saying that people who diet are wrong, not at all, if it works for you, great! But, perfection does not exist  And perfection does not exist  because EVERYONE is beautiful. No matter what they body size, colour or sex. I’m not saying that being thin is wrong, I’m just saying that it’s not for me.

At the beginning of last year, I made a pact to myself that I was going to lose something ridiculous like 35 kilos. I developed what I now realise was a pretty bad eating disorder because of this. In hindsight, I now know that I was practically starving myself, and it would get to the point that I was so hungry, and depressed, that I would binge. I would eat until I made myself sick. Then the guilt spiral would start all over again. I’d feel guilty about eating so much food, that I would start starving myself again. Now, of course I never got anywhere being on a diet, because I like to eat. I like food. Since I've sworn on dieting, a lot has changed for me. I don’t feel guilty about eating. I eat what I want, when I want. And, because I don’t have this looming diet cloud over my head all the time saying ‘are you sure you want to eat that’ I don’t feel guilty. And because I don’t feel guilty, I don’t binge. I am actually eating better now, than I ever have. My view to food has changed, something switched for me. I used to eat as much bad stuff as I could, when I could (read: when I was on my own and no one could judge me) because I knew that I wasn't ‘allowed’ to eat it. Now, if I want fast food, I’ll eat it. That doesn't mean I eat it every day, I don’t, but if I’m on my way to work and I feel like a  sausage muffin, I’m going to stop and get one. I've even stopped having coffee every day. Not because I don’t like it, but because I don’t feel obligated to have one. I don’t feel obligated about anything regarding food any longer, and I’m much healthier, and better for it.

I've found a wonderful online community of body positive women. Women who have changed my view on life. Women who embrace what they have. Women who are fighting to be the change they want to see in the world. And this has been a monumental thing for me to discover. It’s changed my life.

Now, I've never really cared what people think of me as a person, but I certainly cared about what people thought about my body. I don’t anymore. I wore a bodycon skirt on Monday. And I rocked it. I’m wearing hemlines above the knee. I’m buying clothes that fit the body I have, instead of the body I used to want. And it’s fantastic to know that I can pull anything out of my wardrobe and know that it will fit me. I've purged every single ill-fitting item of clothing from my life. And it’s a wonderful feeling.

So, now I love my body. I love every wobble, and curve. Because no one, no one, should be made to feel like they aren't beautiful in the body they are in. Because self-love is so important. Because you CAN be healthy at ANY size. Because beauty standards should be changed.

And this is why I chose to love my body instead of hate it. 

Also, thanks to my dad for snapping these quick shots of me last night! This has become one of my new favorite outfits!

Things I Love Thursday

3 Weeks! I'm so excited! I'm going over to my parents house on Sunday to put up the Christmas tree with my Mum! 

I've found a lot I love this week!

Via Melissa

I've gone made for jelly shoes. I want a pair. Badly. I love this red pair. They are so cute.

Via Melissa

And I also want this flat pair with the cute bow. 

Via HeyMonster (Society6)

Via HeyMonster (Society6)

As soon as I have some funds, I am buying these 2 prints. They are amazing and I love them, and I need them in my life. 

Via Domino Dollhouse

Via Domino Dollhouse

Via Domino Dollhouse

Domino Dollhouse have just launched their new Astralnauts range. And I LOVE these three items. The leggings in particular are amazing. But I love the skirt with the pocket detail, and that dress is just simply my type of dress! I need to have these!

Via PinkyFany

This teeth clip is just cool.

I really want to subscribe to this! I might just do that in the New Year.

Also, having a rough day? Just summon a Calming Manatee . I love the calming manatees. 

That's it for this week!

Things That Make Me Happy

I am feeling super out of sorts today. It’s one of those day where you feel like your head is full of cotton wool. One of those days where you drop things, and bump into walls and doors. One of those days where you just want to hide from the world. So I thought it would be good to remember some of the things that make me happy.

This dude. 

Even before we fell in love, he would always cheer me up. And make me tea, and watch X-Files with me. I love him so much. And just to prove how awesome he is, he found this amazing onesie for me, to cheer me up.

Conversations with my nephews. 

These dudes are awesome. I had the pleasure of hanging out with them for most of the day on Saturday while their parents went to a movie, and they never fail to make me laugh. They come out with the wackiest things, and I hope when Jesse and I have kidlets, they are just like Jacob and Toby.

Tea. 

Tea makes everything good.

And, then there is always Commander Riker, and his creepy smile, and padded chest. And the way that he perpetually looks like he’s turning a corner when he walks. I have a strange fascination with him.

I am really looking forward to having a break over the holidays. This year has been super full on, and I haven’t really had any time to just let everything go and chill out.

And, the thing that is really cheering me up right now is remembering that I bought a Twix when I got petrol last night, and then I put it in my bag, and forgot about it. And now I am eating it. 

Things I Love Thursday

It's only 4 weeks dudes! 4 weeks! And I've got a whole 2 weeks off over Christmas. And I get to spend at least 5 of them with Jesse. Full days. Together. woo hoo!

The things I love this week are all clothes! Since I've accepted that I will probably always be a fat girl, and quit dieting, I finally got rid of all those 'I'll hang on to it and wear it when I loose weight' clothes. And, while being extremely liberating, I've got rid of nearly my entire wardrobe. So, I'm on a mission to slowly build it up again with awesome Plus size clothes. So, I've spend many hours lusting over various pieces  These are on my 'must buy immediately' list.

Via Myer

These pants are AMAZING! I need to have them in my life.

Via Myer

I love this shirt. It's a simple piece  but the cut out at the back just gives it something more. It would look awesome with the floral pants.

Via Myer

I love the colour of these jeans. And also the zips. 

Via Asos

I think wearing this dress I would feel slightly like a princess. And sometimes we just need to feel like that. 

Via Asos

I've got this sudden obsession with shorts and playsuits. I think it's because I'm finally not scared of showing off my knees, but this playsuit is super cute!

Via Emily McDowell Illustration

I know this isn't clothes, but I'm still on the look out for the perfect print for the bedroom, and I love this.

And lastly, I was looking at this yesterday, and some of it is not so funny, but other bits had me laughing out loud. 

No Fuss Lemon Cheesecake

When I say this is a no fuss cheesecake, I really mean it. This is my go to when I'm in a bit of a rush. I know I say this with nearly every recipe I post, but this really is very simple to make. If you can make it the night before it's needed, then do, but if not, as long as it gets about 3 hours in the fridge, you'll be fine. 

Ingredients

250g sweet biscuits. I use either Marie or digestives
125g butter, melted
375g cream cheese, at room temperature
zest of 1 decent sized lemon
Juice of 1 decent sized lemon (I use the juice of the whole lemon, because I like my cheesecake quite tart and super lemony. If that isn't your thing, just use about 1/3 cup of lemon juice)
1 tsp vanilla extract
395g tin condensed milk

Method

Grease and line a 20cm spring form pan. 

Process biscuits in a food processor until they are all crumbled. If you don't have a food processor, pop them in a snap lock bag and go at them with a rolling pin. Once they are all nicely smooshed, mix in your melted butter until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the tin, and pop in the fridge while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the lemon rind and vanilla, and beat. Gradually add the lemon juice and condensed milk, and beat until all combined and smooth. You will probably need to scrape the sides of the bowl at least once. 

Pour the mixture into the base and pop in the fridge overnight (or for at least 3 hours).

You can decorate the top with some berries, or shaved chocolate. 

And that's it. I told you it was super easy!

You'll notice that I didn't use a springform pan. This is because I've misplace the base of mine. I just used a normal round pan, and made sure the lining was hanging over the sides, so I could pull the cake out. It is much better to use a springform pan, and you get much smoother sides (see how mine is all wrinkled from the baking paper?), but a normal pan will still work.

25 Things Fat People Shouldn't Do - Number 5, Wear Animal Print

25 Things Fat People Shouldn't Do is an unabashed middle finger to the preposterous idea that any human who weighs more than the status quo does not deserve to live a full and well rounded (ahem) life. The list of 25 is composed word for word from direct lists of sheer assholery found on the internet. These range from the absurd to the profoundly shameful, and I will be disproving this offensive notion with style. Feel free to join in on the fun, and if you do, link at the bottom so I can share. May the Chub Club live long and prosper! - The Militant Baker

I broke out my leopard print maxi skirt yesterday. I have a strange relationship with this skirt. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. Part of the 'hate' is that I'm short, and the skirt is long, an I have to roll the waistband up, so that I don't trip (I could just hem it, but I don't have a sewing machine yet) and I feel that it doesn't hang quite right when I do that. But, I also love it, because it's flowy, and it's animal print, and it's just nice to wear on a hot day.

Anyway, seeing as I had it on yesterday, I thought I would snap a photo for the '25 Things Fat People Shouldn't Do' link up. I apologize for the mirror shots, I have just ordered a tripod for my camera, so I'll be able to get proper shots soon. Yay!

So, that's me, fat and in leopard print!

Festivals, Soufflés & Dresses

IT'S ONLY 5 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS! Just putting it out there. I will start to become unbearable, the closer to Christmas it gets. 

Well, I had a really busy couple of days. I accidentally went back to Ikea on Friday to get more of their amazing wrapping goodies. I went to The Beaufort Street festival with Mum and Dad on Saturday. They basically close off the whole of Beaufort St and have heaps of food stalls, and music, and general goodness. It was a really fun day, much better than these things usually are. It was super hot, and the bouncers at one of the bars were just ridiculous. We were going in to see Stereoflower play, and as we were standing in line, Blythe (Stereoflower's drummer) came up to the gate to get in, and they sent her to the back of the line, even though she had the wrist band that identified her as part of a band. Then, Alex came up to see if Dad had the batteries he needed, and dad handed the over to Alex, and then the bouncer said that Dad could go in if he was with the band. Then, when we got to the front of the line, they tried to get Blythe to show her ID. I understand the need for bouncers, but surely the need to be able to show a little bit of discretion and common sense. 

Yesterday I went to see the new Woody Allen film To Rome With Love, with my Mum. We were the only ones in the cinema! But, the movie was great! I think you either love or hate Woody Allen, and I love him. 

Here are some photo's from the last week.

Jesse and I decided to make a 3 course meal on Wednesday night. I was in charge of the goats cheese Soufflés. They were so yummy and light we are 2 each!

This was the dessert course. Lemon cheesecake. I had made it the night before. Recipe will be coming later this week.

I made Teriyaki chicken on Thursday night. So yummy and easy.

Friday was hot, and all I wanted to eat was chicken rice paper rolls. So I made some.

Burger I ate on Saturday. I was good, but no Rockpool burger.

I saw a giant moose!

Stereoflower at The Beaufort Street festival.

My Mum and me, waiting for a bus. Looking hot and tired after walking the entire festival, and being in the sun all day. But, don't we look lovely in our dresses?

Dad snapped this shot of me too!

There was also lots of Full House watching, and spending time with that gorgeous boy of mine. 

I also listed a few more things on eBay. Links are under the photos

Bat Skirt

Bird Skirt

Cherry Skirt

Cupcake Skirt

Cherry Swing Skirt

Leopard print top

I have another fairly busy week ahead of me, but I'm excited about it. Look out for some more recipes coming later this week!

Things I Love Thursday

Yep, it's Thursday again, already! It's just a short one today, but it's good!

Via andwasabi

This little cross stitch is so cool! It's a pattern that you buy, and then do the cross stitch yourself. It is so adorable. 

Via Asos

I love the waist on this skirt!

Via Anthropologie

This lamp is so cool!!

I think this is really cool. You can see more here too.

Also, I can't stop listening to Stereoflower's new single. I can't wait for the whole album!

Also, I just found out that Two Gallants are coming to Perth in February  I'm so excited to be able to see them.