{Featured} JD Williams: Summer Jackets

I always love being introduced to new to me companies that cater to plus size women.

One such company that was recently brought to my attention, is JD Williams.  JD Williams was started in the 1800's and has been bringing plus size fashion to the UK for years.

As I have already highlighted here on le blog, I am so excited for summer and the warm days and cool night breezes and I have already been spending time at the beach.

And although the weather might end up being warm as the day progresses, a summer jacket is definitely needed at times.

I was perusing the jackets for women at JD Williams and I saw several fun styles that I would love to have in my fashion arsenal this summer.

Isn't this parka the cutest? I love the color and it's frilly, girly-ness.

{ootd} psychedelic paisley

i love this vibrant print.

{ootd} stripes and neon forever

the weather in chicago has been setting records the past couple of days.

and so, as i always do when its boiling, i reached for light, easy pieces.

dress | similar bag | similar shoes | similar sunnies

this striped dress fits the bill completely

{fun} Kiyonna Blogger Brigade

The fab folks at Kiyonna invited me to be a part of their Blogger Brigade and i am stoked.

It truly is a brand that I love and I am have joined the ranks of
some pretty awesome sauce bloggers.

Check out my feature!

You might find out an interesting fact about me 

that you didn't know!

And a special "hey girl", to the Kiyonna customers
who are just checking me out for the first time.

Welcome....and stay awhile...

{ootd} all green everything...

i am still so very much in love with this jacket (last seen here) 

jacket: macy's | top: thrifted LB | jeans: (last seen here) | bag: b makowsky

{life} T to the G to the I to the F!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

In addition to giving thanks to the women and men who put their lives on the line to protect us all, 

i hope that you honor their sacrifices by living out loud! 

{fun} love is...

chilling at the beach!

rockin a dress i have had forever as a skirt...see the full dress here

with the temps in the mid 80's there is no better place to be than the beach.

{events} Randolph Street Market Season Opener

The summer season begins at the Randolph Street Market this weekend and they have some serious fun on tap.

The Market is over 9 acres and filled with any and can feed any shopping addiction you might have, which is why I am always a big supporter ;).

 This vintage “Market of Markets” will be a great time. 250 Vendors * Relaxation Cabanas * Live Music and Happy Hour from 3-6 pm * Complimentary WorthPoint appraisals from 11 am-2 pm * Animal Adoptions with Chicago Animal Control * Silent Auctions featuring Garden Planters from Top Chicago Artists * Genuine Scooter designed by Francine Turk for Charity * Fashion Show with Redgi Woods * Event Curation by VandM™ * Delicious Local Food * DIY Demos * The World’s Largest Peace Sign Photo and SO MUCH MORE!

One of the fashion highlights this weekend: Contemporary label Bar III (who made this necklace) and that was previously exclusive to Macy's Impulse department will be on hand along with fashion blogger Aimee Song of Song of Style.

It's a definite can't miss!

Go HERE to get your tixs and learn more about early entry, charitable deeds, antique appraisal opps and more.

{ootd} lace and bright pink

every time i put this jones new york jacket on, i feel a little happier. 

it's just so perfectly pink and i wear it with everything (last seen here)!

{#ootd} brights and polka dots...

when i snagged these two pieces while at an event at vive la femme,

i knew that i would love them together.

orange is my all time favorite color for clothing (next to black) and

this polka dot top (last seen here) has become almost a staple for me

{shopping} Penningtons Summer Collection

remember this post where i rocked that fab pink coat?

well the folks who so graciously sent it to me
have a new summer lookbook out and lots of sales going on.

their summer collection is all about the chill vibe of the season... 

featuring bright colors, stripes, denim, colorblocking, sexy underthings and more.

{ootd} spring palette...

{fun} instagram my life...

if you follow me on twitter or instagram (i am Curvatude of course) or tumblr (which is where i send my pics from instagram), you know that i post A LOT!!!

photography is one of my huge loves so i am always taking pictures.  i currently have almost 5,000 pics in my iphone after moving at least 1,000+ to my computer!! (yeah..i know...LOL)

anyway, here are some of my recent favs...

i post a lot of my fashion and beauty looks there on a regular basis

{recap} Chic Swaps Dress Swap

The Chic Swaps Dress Swap was a blast!

The ladies were happily clearing out the racks, noshing on eats and sipping on champagne.

This was a dress that i was going to sell in my Closte Fete shop 

(it was brand new with tags on it like a lot of the plus size things 

i need to put in the shop but haven't yet...le sigh) 

anyway, i decided to take it to the swap and as you can see, 

the chica who snagged it was very happy about that!

The next swap will be in the fall. Get on the mailing list to stay in the mix.

More pics on my facebook page.

{events} Dangerous Curves Ahead

Dangerous Curves Ahead is one of the loveliest fashion events that I have ever attended. I say that mainly because it's not just about fashion AND it's an all inclusive show for women of all sizes that benefits a great cause.

{fun} beachin it.

the beach is one of my favorite places to spend a warm day and since today was in the 80's, i knew when i woke where i was headed.

joe said that i look mean in this pic...i was just chilling

{links} love...

i am a big lover of blogs and have so many fabulous ones in my reader that inspire, make me laugh, make me cry and make me appreciate the connections that we all have.

so here's a fab five of a few links from a couple of my fav blogs and a cool new product find.

hope you have a wicked week!


love this fun take on the hoodie from the Queen Latifah collection

the new yorker captured the President's #marriageequality statement in a cute way.


this burger will be all over my summer menus

get your tissues out for this one.

raw spaghetti (that i need to make) and mama love

{fun} @BatesDesigns Blogger Studio Event

I attended a really fabulous event at Barbara Bates Designs.

It was one of those nights where you are surrounding by really great people and the conversation just flows.

Let me just start by saying I am a major fan girl of Ms. Bates!  After all, she's from the westside of Chicago just like me.

Westside!!!

I am rockin every color of the rainbow and my top is actually a scarf! 

{rock} Kiyonna Betsey Ruched Dress

The fab folks at Kiyonna invited me to choose a piece from their collection and I gladly jumped at the offer.

I have always been a major fan of the brand and own several of their pieces.

When I got to choose a new one, I didn't hesitate to choose the Betsey Ruched Dress.

The only hesitation I had was "which color!??!" because it comes in so many gorgeous ones.

It was a fight to the end.

I loved the Black Pin Up Polka Dot version but I ended up going with this red one. 

 Red is such a power color for me and I always try to rock it in one way or another.

{recap} My Interview on SocialRevUp #BBRadio

I seriously want to thank the ladies of SocialRevup, Dwana, MJ, Melisa and Beth for including me in their latest Bloggers and Brands (#BBRadio) show.

Beth conducted the interviewer and she had my LOL'n (with my mute button on) before and during the show and kept the conversation interesting and engaging and the hour flew by.

Also interviewed was Chrysa from Thrifty Jinxy, a great site for the thrifty girl in us all!

During the interview, in addition to gabbin about a variety of blogging related topics, I gave shout outs to a bunch of my fav folks and events, including my girl Marie Denee, Blogging While Brown, IFB and FFFWeek.

Once again,thanks a bunch ladies, ya'll rock!

{fun} Full Figured News Mag & Feature

Congratulations to the fab folks @ Full Figured News on their inaugural magazine issue!

I love the diva rockin the fro on the cover! 

I am also stoked that they asked me to share some of my Spring favs in the issue (pages 26-27).

Per Full Figured News' founder Je Tuan Lavyonne, who is a really fabulous Chicago girl doing all kinds of kick ass thangs, Full Figured Magazine is about "challenging the status quo".

The magazine is very well rounded and chock full of articles about everything, from fashion to beauty to health and lifestyle.

I especially love the interview of Myisha Hill, who is the force behind the upcoming Plus Fashion Week Chicago.

Show some love and check it out!

{events} Chic Swaps Dress Swap This Weekend!

Spring has just sprung and the social calendar is definitely starting to burst with fun!

One such fun event is the second Chic Swaps!

Chic Swaps is Amber of Style Plus Curves brainchild and it is a curated by size (currently sizes 12-28, or the equivalent 0X to 4X) clothing swap built around a clothing theme.

So you drop off 5 items to be swapped and the day of the swap (which is this Sunday, May 6th) you get to choose 5 items while noshing on eats and sipping on libations.

You also get to shop some of the crazy cute shoes and fun jewelry that violette always has on hand. I tell you, I never leave that place without a bag of something...always very affordable, trendy goods.

This time around the Chic Swaps theme is dresses and although I am so late in posting this, (and I am scrambling to get my dresses together!!!!!) YOU can still join in on the fun by going HERE!

Check out Amber modeling a couple of the dresses that will be on the swap racks!

{events} Chicago Green Festival - This Weekend!

As previously mentioned in this post, the Green Festival is once again being held here in Chicago this weekend!

It really is a fun event, full of a variety of activities, so Chicagoans should definitely plan to come out.

You can get discount tickets online and you can also qualify to get in free if you bike to the festival and belong to certain groups (learn more here).

Oh and if you are looking to get some volunteer time in, there are still opportunities available to do so. Learn more about getting involved here.

I am working on social media there both days, so if you see me, please say hello!

Follow the Green Festival happenings on twitter via the hashtag #GreenFest

{events} #BBRadio SocialRevUp Brands & Bloggers Show

Tomorrow, Wednesday 5/2/12 at 9pm cst, I will be one of the guests on the #BBRadio SocialRevUp Brands & Bloggers Show, that is hosted by Beth Rosen.

They have had some great bloggers on their show, so I was highly honored when my girl Dwana asked me to join them.

Check out some of their previous shows here.

SocialRevUp is a Chicago based, woman owned organization that helps build and bridge successful alliances between bloggers and brands marketing to women and families.

In addition to the radio show, they host a very successful conference called the #BBSummit that is all about bloggers and brands learning about how to effectively build relationships with one another.

It is taking place July 21st here in Chicago. Get more details about it here).

But please tune in tomorrow night. I have no idea what we will be talking about, as they like to keep it organic but it should be fun.

{life} bwaaa....

somehow a nasty little bug snuck up on me and i ended up spending my friday night sipping tea and vitamin c and heavily medicated and on saturday...i pressed repeat.

sunday i forced myself to get up and get out. it was probably a bad move because by the time i made it back in the house i felt 10 times worse.

monday it was a wash. i rarely left the bed, except to run to the bathroom as the coughing induced peeing phase began. (it's making me crazy!!!)

today, i am up. still coughing my lungs out, sucking cough drops and sipping tea. i just put on an oxygen mask because being sick makes me so dehydrated and it shows up immediately on my face.

of course being down for so many days has me so behind on so many things, so the catch up phase begins and i am hoping to tame this coughing beast as much as possible because i am scheduled to be on a fun blogtalk radio show tomorrow night (more on that in the next post).

hopefully things only go up from here.