Happy Monday My Lovelies!

So I was listening to Jeff Lewis Live (on demand, of course – get it? 😆) and they were talking about a woman who wants to petition for more boob space in dresses without sizing up the dress. Of course I had to check it out https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/4405812/woman-in-stitches-fit-one-boob-in-dress/

After laughing along with her, I started to get annoyed for her. You see there are huge problems in the women’s clothing industry. First, there are no universal sizes; a size 14 in one brand is a size 10 in another 😡. Don’t even get me started on the idea that 0 is a size. Or that that certain sizes run 10-12 or 14-16, but no 12-14  the in-between size, where some people land.

Then there’s the boob issue (as evidenced in the video). Obviously they come in varying sizes, but most tops/dresses do not account for that, forcing you to buy above your size (which usually ends up engulfing you 🙄) and getting it altered to fit. Or if you get something that fits your boobs, it usually shortens the length of the item because… big boobs 🤷🏼‍♀️.

And forget about button ups if you have large boobs as a gap will always appear (hell if you have boobs at all a gap may appear). Unless you buy it at a plus size store, which usually leads to the shirt being boxy and making you appear larger. As a plus size curvy gal, I want clothes that hug my body, yet move with it, not a boxy one size fits all people not “normal” sized.

As if that isn’t enough, let’s talk about pants and jeans! Women get bloated regularly but do our pants have any give? No! So, unless you have a long shirt to cover up the top of your pants so that you can unbutton them to breath, you’re stuck in agony until you get home (🙄🙄). And that’s not all 😁. As a plus size curvy gal, I struggle to find jeans that fit. Recently, I went to buy jeans and tried on a pair of 16 women and 16 women curvy. The 16W didn’t come close to fitting (yes size 16) but the 16W curvy fit so I bought 2 pair, only to find out that after about two wearing’s, they stretch out so much that they practically fall off of me.  Same size – one too small, one too big 🤯.  

And these are not just a plus size gal’s problems. It cuts across the board unless you have the body of a model.

So if the woman in that video starts a petition – I say we all sign it!

But until the clothing industry gets a grip and stops doing a disservice to women of all shapes and sizes, I’ll have to just suffer through (insert my patented dramatic sigh here 😆).

Rant over 😁!

I am all for positive thoughts, choosing to have a good day, generally anything that keeps the negative voices at bay.

But can we take a moment to acknowledge that when struggling with mental health issues, you may not get to choose the day you are going to have.

One of my best friends (who recognized that I was suffering from depression) said it perfectly – People will tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps not realizing that the bootstraps don’t exist when you are in crisis. Sometimes you need medication. Or time to take care of yourself. Or chocolate (oh wait that’s me 🤪).

I had fully intended to post yesterday, but I woke up to this feeling of dread emanating from the pit of my stomach and growing as it pushed outward (picture a small explosion followed by shock waves). I thought I had it under control with my affirmations when a I was struck by a second wave of dread. I couldn’t shake the sensation and knew it was not going to be a good day ☹️. Therefore, I focused on what I could control – dropping off some supplies to a friend, looking for inspiration at Lowes (still trying to figure out my bookshelf situation 😁) and hanging a cork board in my office – which distracted me from the dread because it was a P.I.T.A 😆! It was what I could manage for the day.

Because I managed my crisis as I needed to, today was a better day 😊.

So, while positive affirmations are extremely helpful, somedays they aren’t the answer to the challenge you are facing. And that’s ok (don’t let anyone tell you differently). Take the steps you need to deal with the crisis and the rest will take care of itself.

And know that I will send waves of support your way until the crisis has passed. I’m in your corner 💜.

Brought to you from Charleen’s Closet of Anxieties (if you’ve read Bloom County, you’ll get the reference 😜).

Give me a day or two to get back into the swing of things 😁.

Well, the New Year has certainly made itself known in these parts. Over the past week my area has had several small earthquakes/aftershocks happening. I only noticed one myself (thought something hit the house 😳), but it’s been all over the local news/FB pages around here. And we’ve had weirdly warm weather for about the same time period – mid to upper 70’s! I know it’s the south but it’s also the end of December – beginning of January for crying out loud 🙄.

But the weather started to change in the worst way about 4 am this morning when a rain and windstorm tore through the area. I mean it was howling so bad it woke me up twice (or maybe the second time was from another earthquake 🤔)! And I do not like my sleep disturbed 😠. I actually got up around 6 am to move my garbage can into the garage because I was worried it would blow trash all over god’s creation! 

The whole night reminded me of the hundred-year storm we had in 2015, only this time the storm didn’t last as long or have as much rain. But that wind, howling to beat the devil!

As for my NYE, it started off with a bang, or should I say several bangs 😁! My neighbors were lighting fireworks for their daughters at a reasonable hour, just before 7 until about 7:30. Very respectable. Unfortunately, it started off a parade of partiers in the area letting off fireworks until 12:30 am. Which wouldn’t have been so bad if some hadn’t combined the fireworks with rapid gun fire as part of their celebratory events 😡.  I really don’t get some people and their complete disregard for others when it comes to firing random rounds when you live in a populated area.

Therefore, I spent my night listening to the sounds of fireworks (and guns), channel surfing until midnight. And I’m ok with that 😁. I’ve done NYE on a large scale once (downtown Las Vegas) and that was enough for me. I prefer something with a lot less people, so I had a party of one 😆. Maybe next year I’ll try something different, somewhere different….

Before I sign off I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to mourn the passing of an American Icon – the great Betty White. She was one of a kind and one of the kindest people by all accounts. She will be missed 😢.

Usually, I like to end my year with a list of what I want to leave behind in 2021 and what I want to manifest in the new year.  But this has been a trying year. As a matter of fact, the last four years have pushed me pretty hard. And I have mostly weathered it well 😆😆.

Therefore, I’m taking a slightly different approach this year. After a lot of soul searching these past few weeks, this is what I’d like to see in the new year:

For the world: A return to civility and reason. The vitriol is too much, so let’s try to be kinder to those we disagree with and find some common ground. Also, an end to this Covid crisis asap.

For you My Lovelies: health, financial peace, and an over-abundance of family love. I want you to have an amazing year and I hope 2022 brings good things into your life 💜.

For me personally: No more major life changes that I don’t initiate myself. These past four years a lot of my life changes were not of my choosing: Divorce, letting go of one of my horses, selling my house (the financial and emotional burden was too much 🤷🏼‍♀️), boarding my other horse and losing my dog. Now I’m not saying that the last four years were all bad, but I need a break from forced life changes.

If you are going out to celebrate tonight, please be safe. And as I always say, watch out for the other crazies on the road. Also don’t be one of those crazies 😁.

Peace and love to all. Talk to you in the new year 🍾🥂.