31 Days of Breast Cancer Awareness - Cut Your Risks

This is my last post for the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign this year. I hope that I achieved my goal, which was to provide snippets valuable information that would motivate folks to stop for a moment and think about their breast health and possibly share the information with others.

Ways to Potentially Cut Your Risks of Developing Breast Cancer

Obviously these suggestions will not apply to everyone. This is simply a short compilation of certain schools of thought on ways to potentially lower the risk of developing breast cancer.

You should spend a bit of time researching what your potential risk factors might be and work to incorporate changes that would make a difference for you.

Some areas to consider for lowering your risk are having regular checkups, watching your alcohol consumption & not smoking. The two areas that I will address briefly in this post are dietary choices, in particular fats and weight maintenance and physical activity.

Dietary Choices

There is tremendous controversy regarding the role of dietary fats in the development and progression of breast cancer.

However, evidence is building to show that the types of fats you eat and levels of other nutrients in your diet may greatly influence how your body processes estrogen-like substances, which clearly affect the risk for breast cancer.

Some of the typical dietary recommendations:

Fish was highly recommneded but because of the ever rising mercury levels found in a variety of fishe, fish oil supplements are being touted as an alternative for their Omega 3 fatty acids.

Eggs, Olive oil, Garlic, Soy foods, Legumes,Organic vegetables including broccoli, kale, fresh fruit, especially cranberries and citrus and apples, are others.

Also, some studies suggest that the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer.

Weight Maintenance & Physical Activity

The chance of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher in women who are overweight or obese.

This means that although we love being our wonderful curvy selves we have to take in to consideration the potentially deadly effects that great amounts of excess weight can have on our bodies.

Also, women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being active may help reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity.

This means that small adjustments to your lifestyle, say walking more instead of driving, can have a huge effect on your health in the long run.

Here's to our Breast Health!

Sources: National Cancer Institute World's Healthiest Foods

Curvatude Fab Five - Hot Chocolate

Today here in the Windy City is one of those fall days that makes you want to crawl back under the covers and stay there.

Its so dark and chilly and the rain is coming.

Thankfully there is...hot Chocolate!!

I love hot chocolate and I drink all kinds, so I thought I would make that the subject of today's Fab Five.

To start off, Alton Brown for the Food Network has a very basic simple recipe.

David Leibovitz of Living the Sweet Life in Paris (which is a to die for blog of so many delicious things) has a very decadent version called Wittamer's Belgian Hot Chocolate.

Southern belle Paula Deen brings one of my favorite types with her recipe for White Hot Chocolate.

And I have never had it before but this Mexican Hot Chocolate from Epicurous with the chocolate liqueur, chili powder, etc sounds incredible!

To wrap it all up Fine Cookin gives you their no cocoa powder aloud take.

It's all good!

Fab Five Out!

Curvatude Fab Five - Great Gift Sites

Today's Fab Five consists of two sites that I think are just fantastic for finding really great gifts for any occasion.

To start, if you are not familiar with Charles and Marie, you are missing out on some of the most unique products that you will ever come across, like the animal index

Next up, who doesn't love the supermarket?

And no, i am not talking about the one that is overflowing with slow moving people, crying babies and highly marked up groceries, i am talking about this supermarket!

Where you can find funky prints like this one (which I happen to own and love) or beautiful handmade jewelry like this!

And yes, i know, there were six links this time.. just consider it a bonus

Everybody likes those right? ;0)

Fab Five Out!

The Artist Summit Experience - Part One

Note: I started this post almost a week ago and I have decided to just break it into pieces so that I can say all that I want to say without writing a huge post and to better spotlight the people, the events and the products.

To say that I like makeup would be an understatement.

What I feel is more along the lines of addiction but I rarely blog about it.

Weird huh?

Anyway, that is about to seriously change.

I remember being around 9 years old and spending hours upon hours with my childhood friend Rita indulging in the two obsessions of my life at the time, Janet Jackson and makeup.

Now, my mom has never been the kind of woman to wear a lot of makeup, and actually none of the women in my family are. So, I don't know where my fascination with makeup came from.

But there was just something about it, from that early age, that pulled me in.

I loved the colors, the textures, the way you could essentially transform with just a few swipes of mascara, or a brush of blush on the cheek.

But a funny thing happened along the way.

As I grew older, life took hold and along with a few other passions, makeup took a backseat but it always loomed in the crevices.

I would still spend hours at Sephora or Ulta or Sally Beauty and even Walgreens and CVS scouring the makeup sections.

Being at The Artist Summit was such an inspirational experience for me. It was a reawakening.

But enough about me for the moment, on to the experience.

The Artist Summit is a three day educational summit created by The Powder Group that primarily focuses on all levels of makeup artistry for the professional makeup and beauty community.

There is also a retail environment dubbed "The Summit Shop" that features a small select group of brands.

There were two Summits held this month; one in Miami and the other here in Chicago.

I received an invite to attend the bloggers preview of The Artist Summit from Felicia Walker Benson of This That Beauty and I gladly accepted.

Side note: it might sound all groupie-ish to say, but i totally fell in love with these people. Like I would work for the guys from the Powder Group for free kinda love.

Now you know that's serious, right? They left that great of an impression on me.

Anyway, I arrived at the River East Art Center where the Summit was taking place and was greeted by Felicia. This was my first time meeting with her and I must say that she is a total sweetheart. Really open and friendly. (Thanks Felicia!)

Since in my eagerness I had arrived a bit early, I took a stroll around the The Summit Shop while waiting for the other bloggers to arrive.

The first person I encountered was Danessa Myricks of I Make You Beautiful.

To say that Danessa does incredible things with makeup would almost be insulting.

She has a series of how to videos that showcase her artistry.

After spending a few minutes talking to her, I made a mental note to find out what else she was participating in during the weekend and to make sure that I witnessed her at work.

And lucky me, I got to do so on Sunday.

I sat in on her Eye Focus session and it was kind of funny because she actually didn't get to work on the model that she was supposed to work with.


There was a young lady in the audience that Danessa used as an example instead because as she pointed out certain details about her makeup while she was talking about techniques in general, she eventually felt compelled to fix them.


She felt that the way her makeup was applied and the way that her brows were shaped were aging her and it was amazing what a difference Danessa made with just a few techniques.

And although my pic is a bit blurry, you can see the difference. The brow on the left is full and frames her face as opposed to the untouched eyebrow on the right.


Danessa was so detailed and interactive with the audience, highlighting tips and products and techniques. It was a real eye opening experience. One I am glad that I did not miss.

Anyway, stay tuned for part two: the blogger's preview walk thru conducted by makeup artist extraordinaire, James Vincent.

Queen Latifah - Rockin Fast Car

Back in August I blogged about the release of Queen Latifah's album Persona and how much i loved what i had heard so far at the time.

I also noted that a lot of people were not feelin' the song Fast Car and how i totally dug it.

And the more i hear it the deeper my diggin goes..

Happily the video for it is now out and the Queen and Missy both look major haute!

I am so loving it!






What do you think of it?

Curvatude Fab Five: Halloween Martha Stewart Style

I have probably mentioned this before (and i will probably mention it many times to come) but i love Martha Stewart.

so when it comes to holidays and decorating her site is always one of the first places i go and especially for halloween.

martha seems to love halloween and the great thing about it is that she always tends to do it with a extra special twist.

like these gorgeous lace patterned pumpkins. these would be great even on a bedside table..

they are a bit of work to make but they are extra fab.

but if simple cut out decor is more your speed and all the time you can manage, these paper mice would be a fun project for you and the wee ones.

and even if you don't have a staircase as pictured on the site, these would be nice along your baseboards (which is where i am going to strategically place a couple in hopes of freaking my crew out!!) or even on a window pane..

and what is halloween without ghoulie bloody things like body parts..and while martha and her crew chose to go with white icing on these brain cupcakes i would totally bring up the eww umm yumm factor by using red icing instead.

another great thing is when martha herself dresses up for halloween, its always a major production that turns out fierce like this glampire look.

these are just a few of the martha stewart features that i love but you can check out more on her halloween central section.

Fab Five Out!

31 Days of Breast Cancer Awareness - Potential Screening Test Risks

Per the National Cancer Institute while its important to take proactive steps when it comes to breast health, not all screening tests are helpful and most present some degree of risk.

Before having any screening test, you may want to discuss the test with your doctor. It is important to know the risks of the test and whether it has been proven to reduce the risk of dying from cancer.

The risks of breast cancer screening tests include the following:

Finding breast cancer may not improve health or help a woman live longer.

Screening may not help you if you have fast-growing breast cancer or if it has already spread to other places in your body. Also, some breast cancers found on a screening mammogram may never cause symptoms or become life-threatening. When such cancers are found, treatment would not help you live longer and may instead cause serious treatment-related side effects. At this time, it is not possible to be sure which breast cancers found by screening will cause symptoms and which breast cancers will not.

False-negative test results can occur.

Screening test results may appear to be normal even though breast cancer is present. A woman who receives a false-negative test result (one that shows there is no cancer when there really is) may delay seeking medical care even if she has symptoms.

One in 5 cancers may be missed by mammography. False-negatives occur more often in younger women than in older women because the breast tissue of younger women is more dense. The size of the tumor, the rate of tumor growth, the level of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, in the woman’s body, and the skill of the radiologist can also affect the chance of a false-negative result.

False-positive test results can occur.

Screening test results may appear to be abnormal even though no cancer is present. A false-positive test result (one that shows there is cancer when there really isn’t) can cause anxiety and is usually followed by more tests (such as biopsy), which also have risks.

Most abnormal test results turn out not to be cancer. False-positives are more common in younger women, women who have had previous breast biopsies, women with a family history of breast cancer, and women who take hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. The skill of the doctor also can affect the chance of a false-positive result.

Mammograms expose the breast to radiation.

Being exposed to radiation is a risk factor for breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer from radiation exposure, such as screening mammograms or x-rays, is greater with higher doses of radiation and in younger women. For women older than 40 years, the benefits of an annual screening mammogram may be greater than the risks from radiation exposure.

The risks and benefits of screening for breast cancer may be different for different groups of people.

The benefits of breast cancer screening may vary among age groups:

* In women who have a life expectancy of 5 years or less, finding and treating early stage breast cancer may reduce their quality of life without helping them live longer.

* In women older than 65 years, the results of a screening test may lead to more diagnostic tests and anxiety while waiting for the test results. Also, the breast cancers found are usually not life-threatening.

* In women 35 years or younger who go to the doctor for breast symptoms, mammogram results may not be helpful in managing their care.

Routine breast cancer screening is advised for women who have had radiation treatment to the chest, especially at a young age. The benefits and risks of mammograms and MRIs for these women are not known. There is no information on the benefits or risks of breast cancer screening in men.

No matter how old you are, if you have risk factors for breast cancer you should ask for medical advice about when to begin having mammograms and how often to be screened.

Source: National Cancer Institute

Next Post: Ways to Potentially Cut Your Risks of Developing Breast Cancer

Wrap it up! Scarves Under $25

I love scarves, wraps and capes and of course now is the perfect time to rock them.

I love all different materials, from the thickest knit to the thinnest gauze.

All colors from white to orange to of course black.

And all styles, from fringe to sheer to the cable knit.

From scarves you can bundle up in or just casually tie around your neck.

To the ones you can slip in your jacket pocket or wrap on your purse strap for a shot of color.

Here are some budget friendly options that I am loving right now.

Curvatude Fab Five

Today's Fab Five is once again a mish mash of link love.

NYX Cosmetics has a crazy sale going on. Bundles of product for practically pennies.

Are you like me? Would you rather just chuck something rather than eat if if you are not sure about it? Welcome Still Tasty, the site that helps you decide if you should keep it or toss it.

New Marie Claire columnist Ashley Falcon talks about being plus size and her picks for the best jeans for curvy women (btw, do you agree with her choices?)

Although i would agree that in some ways they did style her very well, Some of the comments are just down right snarky.

oh and while you are there, you might want to enter their giveaways

Fab Five Out!

Curvatude in The Stores: Ashley Stewart

I was downtown running errands the other day and decided to stop into Ashley Stewart to see what was new.

And since faux leather is ev..verry..wherrre this season, I decided to check out a few of their pieces.

First up, the Trapunto Stitch Jacket.

You can't really tell from my picture but this jacket is actually blue, a very subtle nice blue.

Verdict: I love it. It's very soft and was very well made, i.e. in this case, the stitching is not frayed, the zipper did not stick and it fit well. I could totally see myself rocking this.


Next, the Ruffle Trim Jacket

Looking at this pic now, I realize that I should have wrapped it around my body more so that you could see how it's supposed to look.

My bad. But just take a look at the one on their website.

Verdict: Initially when i saw this on the rack, i was in love but it just so happens that the jacket i tried on had some issues.

In particular, the stitching was off and that is high on my list of deal breakers.

Can you see it? Right there along the side edge of the pocket. There is a section where the pocket isn't sewn on all the way.

And yes, i know its not high end fashion but in my book it doesn't matter.

I expect a certain level of basic quality control from even the dollar store and unfortunately this does not meet it.

Bummer because i love the girly ruffle detail.



Anyway, i also tried on this shrug, which unfortunately i could not find on their website.

Verdict: Out of all the things i tried on, this is the only one that my honey liked and that i actually really didn't.

Although it was actually very well made, it was just a bit too shiny faux looking for me.

But I do love the detail around the edges. Very biker girl.




And it's obviously not faux leather but i tried on the Cascading Ruffle Party Dress because although it somewhat breaks another one of my rules for the way i dress by having a broach built into it, i thought it might be a cute dress for the holidays.


Verdict: Even in my blurred picture you can see that this dress has issues.

And amazingly the issues centered around a problem that i never have.

The breast cups were way too big and shapeless AND they had pads in them!

I totally do not get why they did that.

The pads were small, oddly placed and just unnecessary. It ruined the whole vibe of the dress.

Overall, I love that the jackets provide something that I always need, room in the upper arm area and that Ashley Stewart continues to keep bringing trendy new styles and working to give plus size girls options, i just wish that they would spend a bit more time on quality control.

New Feature: Fab Five

Because I am always all over the web and come across so many really great websites and articles, I have decided to start this new feature called Fab Five.

It will basically consist of five random links and why I think they are fab!

Simple.

So here we go..

ecoterre - they describe themselves as "devoted to the future of clothing and textile design", i describe them as simply cool.

check out the post on 6 eco friendly non toxic lipsticks to get you runway ready and the post on the collection of supersized baubles being displayed in amsterdam...talk about big blingin!

and after the fantastic weekend that i had with The Powder Group (which i will be blogging), i would be remiss if i did not mention them in my first fab five post!

they cover the gamut of all things beauty and have a few extra special things in the works. and if you love makeup or you are considering a career in makeup, on makeup magazine is a must have!

check out a preview (and you can subscribe to it) here!

Fab Five Out!

31 Days of Breast Cancer Awareness - Mammograms and Diagnostic Tests

There are two main types of breast cancer testing, screening tests and diagnostic tests.

Screening tests should occur on a regular basis and Diagnostic tests become necessary when breast cancer is suspected or has been diagnosed.

Screening Tests

Breast Self Exams

As discussed in the prior post, a breast self exam is vital and should be a part of a woman's monthly routine.

Annual Mammograms

I went for my first mammogram a couple of weeks prior to my 40th birthday this April.

Usually you hear a lot of horror stories about how it hurts and how uncomfortable it is but I have to say that my exam was pretty uneventful.

I think the fact that my breasts are a glorious 44DD made the exam easier. ;0)

But really, the pulling and squishing that took place, while it made me roll my eyes a bit, because who really wants a stranger getting all that intimate with ya girls, was worth it for the peace of mind that came when my results arrived showing that all was well.

Anyway, back to the important stuff!

A mammograms is an x-ray of the breast. This test may find tumors that are too small to feel. It may also find abnormal cells in the lining of a breast duct, which may become invasive cancer in some women.

The ability of a mammogram to find breast cancer may depend on the size of the tumor, the density of the breast tissue, and the skill of the radiologist.

Along with monthly breast self exams, annual mammograms should be part of every healthy woman's routine.

Clinical Breast Exam

This test is performed by a doctor who will carefully feel the breasts and under the arms for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.

Diagnostic Tests.

The type of diagnostic tests given will depend a lot on if it is believed that the cancer is Non-invasive ("in situ") or Invasive (infiltrating).

Non-invasive cancers confine themselves to the ducts or lobules and do not spread to the surrounding tissues in the breast or other parts of the body. They can, however, develop into or raise your risk for a more serious, invasive cancer.

Invasive cancers have started to break through normal breast tissue barriers and invade surrounding areas.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A MRI uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

Screening trials of MRI in women with a high genetic risk of breast cancer have shown that MRI is more sensitive than mammography for finding breast tumors.

Blood Tests

Some doctors order "cancer markers" or "tumor markers" to detect possible cancer activity in the body. If cancer is present, it will usually produce a specific protein in the blood, that can serve as a "marker" for the cancer

Bone Scans

Doctors may order a bone scan (also called bone scintigraphy) to determine whether cancer has spread to any part of the bone system.

Bone scans begin with an injection of radioactive material that is taken up by the body's bone-making cells. Using a special camera, doctors are able to see these areas of extra bone activity (common in both cancer and arthritis) by detecting the gamma rays emitted by the injected material. These areas appear as dark patches on the film. Any part of the bone can be affected by cancer

Chest X-rays

Chest X-rays may be performed in women who have or may have breast cancer to evaluate the slim possibility that the cancer may have spread to the lungs.

PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography)

PET scans are still in the experimental limited use phase, and are one of the newest breast cancer diagnostic techniques. During this procedure, a patient is injected with a small amount of radioactive material. Active cells, which often indicate rapid cancer growth, take up the radioactive material. This helps radiologists identify areas where cells are suspiciously active, which can indicate cancer.

Tissue sampling

Breast tissue sampling invloves taking cells from breast tissue to examine under a microscope. Abnormal cells in breast fluid have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in some studies.

Scientists are studying whether breast tissue sampling can be used to find breast cancer at an early stage or predict the risk of developing breast cancer.

Three methods of tissue sampling are under study:

* Fine-needle aspiration: A thin needle is inserted into the breast tissue around the areola (darkened area around the nipple) to withdraw cells and fluid.

* Nipple aspiration: The use of gentle suction to collect fluid through the nipple. This is done with a device similar to the breast pumps used by nursing women.

* Ductal lavage: A hair-size catheter (tube) is inserted into the nipple and a small amount of salt water is released into the duct. The water picks up breast cells and is removed.

These are just a few of the tests used for detecting breast cancer.

Thankfully in additon to these, there are new tests and drugs such as Tamoxifen being developed and research constantly being conducted to eradicate this disease.

Sources: BreastCancer.org NationalCancerInstitute

Next Post: Potential Screening & Diagnostic Test Risks

Chattin Curvatude: Big Gurl Fashion

Take just one look at Bella Fierce's blog Big Gurl Fashion and you will instantly know that she has a genuine love for fashion and a sincere desire for the companies to show us some love by improving our options.

She styles great outfits that show her love of dresses, edge and accessories to tie it all together.

We spent some time chatting a few weeks ago...

Check it out..

Curvatude: How long have you been and what made you start blogging?

Big Gurl Fashion: Well I started blogging in June 2009. What made me start were the streets of NYC. I saw that there were plus size ladies that would kill it and there were others that made me wonder, do they really leave their house like that.

People were also complimenting me on my clothing, so I said why not put it in words and start blogging.

Curvatude: God, I miss New York. I lived there for 2 1/2 years and always dream of going back someday. I guess I know what you mean, a lot of people think that everyone in NYC is as fashionable as you see on Sex and The City.

Big Gurl Fashion: Exactly.

Curvatude: How would you describe your style?

Big Gurl Fashion: I would describe my style as Bohemian meets edgy. I mean I can wear a dress and edge it out with a pair of stocking or shoes. I love to mix textures and see what I can come up with.

Curvatude: What textures and fabrics are you loving for fall?

Big Gurl Fashion: I love suede, leather, floral, tweed and also abstract art on clothing.

Curvatude: How do you feel about all of the faux leather that is showing up on the racks?

Big Gurl Fashion: Well I can say that I have mixed feelings on it. I feel there is an extent you should go to on wearing faux leather. You can tell the difference between real and faux, so I say if you are wearing leather pants let it be real and keep faux leather to a minimal. With leather we plus size ladies have to be very careful on where and how much we put on.

Curvatude: I totally agree. I saw this cute lil jacket in Target the other night (actually in maternity which sadly is better than the plus section) and I thought, ok a cute little jacket is doable but pants would be a bit too much on my plus size frame.

There are a lot of new designers and companies jumping into the plus size fashion game, like Forever 21 with its Faith21 line. Who do you think is getting it right?

Big Gurl Fashion: Well that's funny because the other day I was at the Forever 21 store with my sister and I started to feel the material on the clothing and it was pretty shabby, and close-up the clothing is made for small breasted plus size females, which was pretty upsetting.

I don't think any plus size store is getting it right because plus size doesn't mean one size. To me, Ashley Stewart is made for tall plus size and it's sad because you can't just go into one store and pick up a whole outfit.

Curvatude: Well yeah Forever 21 is not known for being top quality so that is not totally surprising. But do you think any of the higher end designers, like Calvin Klein, Anna Scholz or others are getting it right?

Big Gurl Fashion: Well on the high end designers are getting it right. Calvin Klein of course. I have bought many pieces from him. And Michael Kors has jumped on the band wagon which is great.

At first their prices were ridiculous but I think they are listening to their consumers when it comes to pricing.

I know we may still be upset for some of these high end designers not showing their pieces on plus-size models but one day at a time. I also think you do have to pull out of your pocket and pay for good quality that can last you a good amount of years.

Curvatude: Right. If there was one thing that you could sit down and tell the plus size fashion companies, what would it be?

Big Gurl Fashion: Talk to your consumers and not only listen to them but take their worries and fears into consideration, not to be funny but every plus size fashionista has rolls in different places.

Curvatude: Lol. Right. It’s very true that most of the companies seem to think that we either want to hide everything that we have in boxy clothes or show everything we have in tight too short clothes.

From looking at the pics that you sent to me, you seem to favor dresses.

Big Gurl Fashion: Well as you get older we all know your style changes and when I turned 26, I said I wanted to wear more dresses.

Older pics would show me in jeans and a top but I love my legs and wanted to show them off more. I feel more feminine with a dress on, I can turn it from day to night with a slip of a shoe.

Curvatude: Yeah, funny you mentioned age because actually I have somewhat been the opposite. When I worked in corporate America I was all dresses but once I left, it was jeans, jeans and more jeans.

If there was one piece of fashion advice that you would give to plus size women what would it be?

Big Gurl Fashion: This may be unorthodox but try on everything you buy before wearing it! Go home put it on and walk around it, sit, bend, jump up and down.

The one mistake I see consistently is that we put on the clothes the day of, and what happens? You are pulling, tucking, squeezing all day.

But I love to say with fashion comes a battle and at the end you can come out the victor!

Curvatude: I like that, that’s good advice. My main piece of advice is under armor. Make sure you have on the right under armor. There is nothing worse than the wrong bra or shape wear.

Big Gurl Fashion: I love Spanx, if I didn't have friends, they would be my best friend. Lol!

Curvatude: Lol. What are three of your must read blogs and why?

Big Gurl Fashion: My three must read blogs are Karla's Closet. This lady's mixture of vintage and current clothing is remarkable.

I also truly enjoy Gabi's Young, Fat and Fabulous. Her sense of style is fun and flirty.

And the last one I would say is a mixture of different plus size blogs, because believe it or not, I try to read every plus size blog because we bring something different to the table and it brings inspiration into my blog.

Curvatude: I totally agree about the inspiration. I feel that we all have our own unique expression to bring to the table and that supporting and working with one another we are all the better for it.

Big Gurl Fashion: Yes that is true. What good does it do to bring another person down when I can learn from them.

Curvatude: What is a typical day like for you and what would your dream job be?

Big Gurl Fashion: My typical day is working for NYC Children Services from 9am-5pm. I work with children all day but my dream job would be a stylist and in PR. I love working with people and dressing them, so why not the two!

Curvatude: Cool. I think that would be a great career for you. You put together some really nice looks together on your site.

Speaking of looks, what is your ONE fall must have?

Big Gurl Fashion: A cardigan or a bomber jacket because you can take your summer dresses into fall.

Curvatude: Where are you hoping your blog goes from here?

Big Gurl Fashion: Well I am hoping that it reaches millions of plus size fashionistas and helps them to learn what goes well with their bodies, or having a producer see it and asking me to style a cast of FAB ladies.

But if not I appreciate all my readers whether they number 10 or 10,000. If I can help one female feel better about herself or solve a what to wear dilemma, then I have done my job.

Curvatude: Yes you have.

One last question. Shoes or clothes?

Big Gurl Fashion: Shoes of course, hands down. I can be naked for the rest of my life but if I have a fierce pair of shoes, I can die happy. Lol.

Curvatude: Lol! I feel ya. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me.

Learn more about Bella Fierce @ her blog Big Gurl Fashion.

P.S. btw Calvin Klein is currently offering 20% OFF ALL Sale Items during its Columbus Day Sale.

Sex and Weight

i made a small mention about this article "Weight Issues: How They Affect Your Sex Life" a week or so ago (before elle.com had it up on their website)

now its up and i wanted to give it a little more attention with a few observations.

- its interesting how most women will look over things about their partner that they don't really find attractive while most men will not..its the what's love got to do with it when what really matters is are you getting my juices going right NOW thing and women fall for that

- she wrote "We give ourselves to each other soul and body, after all. If I had some kind of soul sickness that was affecting our lives—alcoholism, uncontrollable rage—then I’d expect Alex to tell me he loves me but he’s unhappy. So why does it feel so different when it’s my body we’re talking about?"

weird how issues with weight carry so much weight that we have to compare it to alcoholism and other "diseases"

- i love that her "depression" over the way he felt about her body that added to her own angst about her body eventually turned into her showing her body and spirit some love and eventually not caring (all that much) what he thought in certain ways

but the flip side is that she stays with him although he can barely do the deed anymore and purportedly not because of her weight but because he is having other "issues"

jeez..what are you thoughts?

this brings up so many questions for me.

has this been an issue for you or other women you know?

would you stay in a relationship with someone who has issues with your weigh?

how does your weight make you feel about sex?

Giving Dorothy Perkins a Try

we poor plus size american girls are always lamenting the fact that some of the cutest stuff in some of our sizes are only available in stores overseas and how a lot of them do not ship to the u s of a.

thankfully there are a few that do and dorothy perkins is one of them. )

one thing to note: dorothy perkins largest size is said to convert to a US 18/20, so they are not a plus size business but a lot of size 18 (and sometimes above) plus size ladies have had luck with their clothes.

anyway, they are having a 20% off event from now until the 9th (in the UK so shop accordingly) (Coupon code DPEXCLUSIVEA and it also applies to sale items

looking at the website, i do notice that a lot of the dresses are pretty short, so take note of that also but i have decided to give them a try and so here are a few of the items i am considering

~this cowl neck tunic that should be about $10 USD (all prices are pre discount)

~this crinkle biker jacket which i have had my eye on for months now ($66 USD)

~this cowl neck dress (yes i am a huge cowl neck girl) ($51 USD)

anyway, these are just a few of the possibilities, i am going to spend a bit more time going thru the site before i decide and of course i will blog about my purchases when they arrive.

in the meantime, have you shopped dorothy perkins, and if so what has your experience been like?

Mr. Fierce Himself..

Today is the big release day of Christian Siriano's Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self

Per the editorial info for the book "he helps readers discover how to look, feel, and act fierce in everyday life. With tips from some of fashion and Hollywood's biggest names -including Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Vanessa Williams -- along with gorgeous original sketches by Christian, never-before-heard stories, and behind-the-scenes photos, he tells his journey of developing his own fashion sense and overcoming obstacles to success"

Here he is on the cbs early show doing what he does best..talk about being fierce or ferosh..and his love for halle, heidi, victoria and more..



oh and he also brought along one of the crazy horn like shoes coming to his line @ Payless


As much as i love the funkiness of his shoes, (although i am not over the lack of size 11 in the best of the styles from this seasons line) i have to wonder if the everyday girl will actually rock them.

What say you?

31 Days of Breast Cancer Awareness - Common Symptoms

Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. Still, a woman should see her health care provider about breast pain or any other symptom that does not go away.

Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems may also cause them.

Any woman with these symptoms should tell her doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

The following are some of the symptoms that can indicate the presence of breast cancer.

Obviously symptoms can be different in different people.

* Changes in how the breast or nipple feels

o A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
A lump is a firm mass somewhere within the breast that can be felt by pressing on it. Women's breasts normally get lumpy around the time of their period, and that is not a cause for concern. If a lump is detected at some other time of the month, or if a lump doesn't disappear within a week of your period, you should consult your physician.

o Nipple tenderness
Of course this can be a normal occurrence for women especially around menstruation but tenderness that does not seem to fit your normal pattern should be addressed.

o Changes in the size or shape of the breast
Though it is normal for a woman's breasts to be slightly different in size, a large difference that suddenly occurs is a cause for concern and could be a sign of breast cancer.

o A nipple turned inward (retracting)
This will either appear as your nipple retracting in towards your breast or a part of your breast retracting in. This is something you would most likely notice with your arms raised over your head.

o The skin of the breast, areola, or nipple turning scaly, red, or swollen.
It may have ridges or pitting so that it looks like the skin of an orange.

Also, these are a couple of other rare signs of breast cancer.

* Nipple discharge or bleeding from the nipple.
* Swollen lymph nodes (see picture of lymph node locations)



Please see Cancer.org to learn more about the symptoms that can indicate the presence of breast cancer.

Next Post: Breast Self Exam

Charmed I'm Sure!

In the fall, in addition to the instinct to want to layer clothes on, I also like to wear more jewelry and this season I have been drawn to a couple of styles that have never really been on my radar.

One such style is charm bracelets and necklaces.

I think a couple of reasons why I never really wore them in the past is for one, a lot of them are just plain corny to me and two, I feel some of them are just too bulky but for some reason that is almost comforting to me this year.

This armani exchange chunky charm bracelet caught my eye after I spotted the matching necklace in an email from elle magazine.



Both pieces are kinda rocker girl chic over the top, which i find myself wanting to be on occasion

What about you?

Do you like charm bracelets and necklaces?

31 Days of Breast Cancer Awareness: Breast Cancer in Men

Male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.

Women have more breast cells than men do, so women are about 100 times more likely to get breast cancer.

This is perhaps due to the fact that women's breast cells are constantly exposed to the growth promoting effects of female hormones.

But any man especially those between the ages of 60 and 70 can develop breast cancer. The average age for diagnosis in men is about 67 years old.

Important distinctions such as breast size and awareness affect early diagnosis and survival in cases of male breast cancer.

Just as in women, breast cancer in men is caused by abnormalities in the cells. In most cases it isn't clear what triggers abnormal cell growth in the male breast tissue but doctors do know that about 1 out of 5 men with breast cancer have close male or female relatives with the disease, so heredity can play a part.

Prior to puberty males have a similar amount of breast tissue as females but during puberty and beyond, male hormones produced by the testicles prevent further growth of the breast tissue. The male breast tissue contains ducts but only a few if any lobules.

The most common type of breast cancer found in men is infiltrating ductal carcinoma. It starts in the cells that line the milk ducts in the breast, grows and breaks through the walls of the ducts, invades the fatty tissue of the breast and often spreads to the lymph nodes.

In the past, breast cancer in men was often diagnosed at a more advanced stage, partly because of the belief that it is a "woman's disease".

The most recent American Cancer Society estimates for male breast cancer in the United States are for 2011:

About 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men
About 450 men will die from breast cancer

Check here for information related to the risk factors for breast cancer in men. They can include the consumption of alcohol, radiation exposure, obesity, etc.

Please also see Cancer.org for additional information.


Next Post: Signs and Symptoms

Half Gloves & Liquid Pants - Rock of Not?

I spotted these half gloves on a recent photo from people.com of Jennifer Hudson.



Apparently Carrie wore them in the sex and the city movie, which i have watched hundreds of times but still don't recall seeing.



Anyway, the new mom looks good but would you rock this style?

And while we are at it, what about the pants?

Are you adding "liquid like" pants to your wardrobe this fall?

How do you think this trend translates in plus size?

31 Days of BCA - Sephora

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Sephora is offering a collection of pink ribbon products.

Each brand will donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations that help raise awareness and to hopefully find a cure.

They normally have quite a few products for this cause but currently there are only the following three.

First up the Ojon Revitalizing Mist.



I actually use this product. A while back I got the Ojon Nurturing Hair Ritual Kit and it included small versions of this mist, the Restorative Hair Treatment, Ultra Hydrating Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner and the Hydrating Styling Cream.

Some of the Ojon products (like the restorative hair treatment) leave a bit to be desired in the smell department but this product smells delish and its light and doesn't weigh my hair down.



Ojon will donate 20% from the sale of this product to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.* Up to a maximum of $35,000

Next up is the Clarisonic Skincare Brush



I am not familiar with this product but it was voted a best of Sephora winner. There are a lot of reviews for it on the site, so check them out.

With every Pink Clarisonic purchase, they will make a donation to various organizations to help fund the fight against breast cancer.

Last up, the Balmshell Lip Gloss 1 In 8



I have never used this lip gloss but it comes in 15 flavorful shades and I like the cute way they are trying to get the message out.

The 1 In 8 lip gloss was designed to educate people and to promote awareness of breast cancer. Between two blossoming trees hang eight bras varied in size, color, style, and shape symbolic of the many different types of women.

As the tube of gloss is tilted, a hot pink target slides back and forth. Reinforcing the statistic that approximately 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.

$1 from every 1 In 8 lip gloss sold will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Curvatude in the Stores: Lane Bryant

Yesterday I went downtown to run a couple of errands and spotted the Drape front ponte dress from our Icon Collection in the window at Lane Bryant.

I loved the way that it draped so I took a quick detour from the business at hand to go in and try it on.

There were only two of the dress remaining in the store. One a size 24 and the other a size 16. The sales girl said that they flew out of the store.

Anyway, I decided to give the 16 a try.



I would definitely get this dress in a size 18 because it hugged my hips a tiny bit too much, which takes away from the drape of it.



Verdict: I love the style of the dress. My only gripe is that I really wish that they would have gone with another material instead of the polyester/rayon/spandex blend. It just loses some of the flow of the drape effect in this fabric.

Also a few weeks ago I also tried on this Belted sweater dress but i never got around to blogging about it.



Verdict: I like it. I think its very "diva-ish" with the wide sweeping butterfly sleeves. The sweater material is not too heavy and I could see this being worn dressed up or down.

Oh and I almost laughed out loud when I saw this Jaquard jacket which totally resembles the coat that I thrifted for 5 bucks a week or so ago.

Mind you the cell phone pictures that I took of both jackets really do not do them justice.

They both are really funky fab in person.