Manolo for the Big Girl Fashion, Lifestyle, and Humor for the Plus Sized Woman.

May 3, 2010

Lazy Monday Poll: This Time Actually on Monday!

Filed under: Lazy Poll — Miss Plumcake @ 1:08 pm

Good morning my little pudding snacks, how’s every little thing?

Aren’t you proud that I actually managed to get the Lazy Monday Poll (which, as I’ve mentioned before, I pinched from Now Smell This, a perfume blog you all should read) up on what can only be described as an actual Monday? If not you should be.

Last week I asked you to weigh in on Boobquake, and many of you including Cat and Jezebella,  had the same feelings about it that I did, and are tired of being asked to get their kit off for Very Special Causes.  While Orora wrote:

“Well, I kinda look at Boobquake this way: I’m a multi-faceted person. I’m sexual and smart. I can be both at the same time. If other people look at me as an object for showing excess cleavage (to borrow a phrase) that’s their issue. It doesn’t diminish my feelings about my own smarts if someone looks at me and just sees boobs. For me, and I don’t presume to speak for any other woman, feminism means the right to embrace my sexuality and my brain.”

Our own beloved but clearly wrong-thinking Miranda said she didn’t get it, and besides “the only Lafayette that matters is on True Blood.”  Doctor Google tells me in a television show about vampires, which normally would be grounds for much mocking, but because she did just get accepted to Tulane (congratulations) I shall withhold my mockery and simply point out that there are only two Lafayettes that truly matter:

Lafayette #1:
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette aka General Lafayette, who is the only person to appear on both the my list for  Top Five Biscuits of the American Revolution and Top Five Biscuits of the French Revolution.

General Lafayette

(I’d hit it like it was Louisiana in a land grab)

and Lafayette #2

Les Galeries Lafayette, aka Notre Dame de Maxed Out Credit Cards.

paris-galeries-lafayette

(Hush. Don’t speak. There are no words.)

Incidentally, it’s a safe bet both Les Galeries and your silly little vampire are probably named after the General in one way or another. I don’t know anything about Sookie Stackhouse et al, but I do know Les Galeries were named after the Rue La Fayette, and just as we have George Washington Parkway and Martin Luther King Blvd after our notable (including several Lafayettes), Paris has theirs.

This week I’ve been thinking about Glee. I’m not a huge fan. I mean I like the little gay boy and Jane Lynch is fabulous, but last week’s Very Special Episode wherein Mercedes get obsessive about losing weight struck a sort of sour chord, although I can’t say why.

Whaddya think? Is there anything else exciting going on this week? If you want to say it, I want to hear it! (maybe)

44 Comments

  1. I’ve decided to cut off my hair! I’ve booked a Wednesday afternoon appointment, planning to cut it from waist-length to just below the shoulder. I’ve just bought an adorable pink angora pillbox with a little purple feather so hopefully the shorter length will look fresher. The long hair (even though it’s shiny and thick) is looking very ‘desperate to be feminine’ to me. Don’t know what I was thinking!

    Re: Glee
    I find it totally overrated but I absolutely love the scene where the little gay boy is dancing to Single Ladies and his ultra-macho dad walks in on him.

    Kurt: Dad, you’re home early.
    Dad: Deadliest Catch is on.

    Comment by Frances — May 3, 2010 @ 2:19 pm

  2. @Frances: How exciting! I do not have warm feelings for extra long hair. It sounds like you’re still young enough to do long but not like, Mormon Separatist long, hair. Pretty!

    Comment by Plumcake — May 3, 2010 @ 2:43 pm

  3. I adore Glee, but I hated that Mercedes caved to pressure about her weight. Before that episode, I was feeling rather surprised to see a show with a somewhat big girl in it that hadn’t been pressured and hadn’t felt ashamed of her weight. Then they threw that out the window. I was glad that she eventually told Sue to stuff it, and was vindicated, but I hated that they even felt the need to address that. Alas, no tv is perfect.

    Comment by Courtney — May 3, 2010 @ 3:01 pm

  4. @Courtney, yeah it was definitely a Very Special Episode. Bleh. You know what would be nice? I have unformed feelings about the Mercedes character because in a lot of ways “big black girl with the big voice” is such a cliché. I mean Tina and Other Asian aren’t computer hackers or martial arts experts. On the other hand, I love the relationship she has with Kurt because I’ve always felt there’s a special bond between a big girl and her best gay.

    Comment by Plumcake — May 3, 2010 @ 3:20 pm

  5. I’ve been looking for a new scent for the past few months, having tired of the one I’ve been wearing for several years. I think I have finally found a winner: Dulcis in Fundo by Profumum. I am in LOVE.

    Also, I confess to loving the bejeezus out of Glee, but I seem to be in the minority on that in the online communities I frequent.

    Comment by Cat — May 3, 2010 @ 3:27 pm

  6. Just turned 20, so I don’t think I’m quite into the crazy-old-lady-clinging-desperately-to-vestiges-of-youth but ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should’, right? Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I tried really long hair once but it’s just not flattering enough to stick with it and I’m up for something new.

    My relationship with my hair is a wee bit complicated. I was 5’10” by the age of 11 in a South Asian country, and my well-meaning mother would cut my hair with textiles scissors into an Oprah-style. It was horrendous. When I was 12, I put my foot down and started to grow out my hair. It takes forever to grow so I’ve only really had long hair since I was 18. It’s also been chemically straightened, because I’ve always really wanted straight hair. Now that I’m a bit older and more confident, I want to grow out my natural curls. It’ll have to wait til I’ve got a job, though. Curly hair is gorgeous but it’s devilishly expensive to maintain. One day, one day.

    The current length needs to go, I’m afraid I might actually be in Mormon Separatist territory but without the benefit of sugar hair spray.

    Comment by Frances — May 3, 2010 @ 3:40 pm

  7. @Cat. Hooray for finding a new scent. I don’t think it’s something I’d like –I love orange but I tend to prefer bigarade or other bitter orange over the creamsicle treatment– but isn’t it great to fall in love with a scent?! Congratulations.

    Comment by Plumcake — May 3, 2010 @ 3:41 pm

  8. Enjoy your haircuts! Nothing makes you feel better than a nice haircut. Don’t watch Glee. Whole lotta nuttin going on here. Writing away. Got a new painting back from the framer and it’s just magnificent.

    Comment by Lisa — May 3, 2010 @ 4:11 pm

  9. Going to a wedding 30 May – coming from Way Up North to California with so, so white legs. I mean WHITE, sort of transparent green with blue veins. Do I pretend its still winter and wear black stockings with my purplish grey dress and black shoes, or go bare-legged?

    Comment by Rebekka — May 3, 2010 @ 4:30 pm

  10. @Rebekka, you go bare-legged, and you apply Sally Hansen “Airbrush legs” in Light Glow, or as I call it, “Honky Legs Need Love Too”. Don’t spray it on your legs. put lotion on your hands, then spray into your hands and rub onto the leg, then let dry. You might want to take a little tissue or something and buff it out too. Alternately get a tinted moisturizer with a little shimmer in it. I think Jergens makes a nice one. Do not, under any circumstances, wear black tights.

    Comment by Plumcake — May 3, 2010 @ 4:38 pm

  11. Consider me educated! And to be clear, these vampires are definitely not of the Twilight variety. It is campy and trashy and great.

    Lately I have also been considering a serious hair cut. My curly red hair is starting to reach my bra band and that might be A Bit Much. I’m growing out bangs at the same time so I’m in a holding pattern of indecision.

    Comment by Miranda — May 3, 2010 @ 5:05 pm

  12. Oh, and thank you, Plumcake, for the congratulations!

    Comment by Miranda — May 3, 2010 @ 5:07 pm

  13. I picked up four kittens on Friday and they are currently residing in my bathroom. I’m fostering them until they’re big enough to be spayed and put up for adoption at the no-kill shelter where I volunteer. They’re adorable and extremely messy. I’d post a pic, but I don’t know how.

    BTW, the Bandolino Berry shoes are just peachy in the 9 wide. At first, I thought the pointiness might be a little Wicked Witch of the West, but they really do look good with my interview suit.

    Speaking of which, any suggestions for places to look for a summer interview suit? My winter suit is fast becoming too hot for weather conditions. I’ve looked at Igigi, Macy’s, Talbots, Lane Bryant. I’m just not thrilled by anything. I want a multi-season black or grey suit with a little flair. It HAS to have full-length pants, no skirts and no capris. If I could keep the outfit under $250, that would be ideal. I kinda like this jacket with the pants, but I don’t like the self-tie belt and it looks like if I take it out, there would be giant skin-baring slashes in the jacket: http://www.igigi.com/in-the-navy-jacket.html. Any ideas for where to look?

    One last thing: Is it morally wrong to snip a few sprigs from the overgrown lilac tree at the school across the street under cover of darkness? They just smell so GOOD!

    Comment by Orora — May 3, 2010 @ 5:54 pm

  14. Didn’t think I would care for True Blood, but then got sucked into (pardon the bad pun) watching a marathon of the first season one Sunday et voila! Hooked. It really is pretty funny and there are some very hunky men (the grown up variety) on the show (Eric is my personal favorite). It doesn’t take itself too seriously and therein lies the fun.

    As for my week, I’m heading to Vegas on a business trip. Every once in a while they send me somewhere good. I inadvertantly extended my visit beyond Mother’s Day, so I am rewarding myself on Sunday with a Spa day before I catch the Red Eye home. I even scored a first class seat.

    Comment by gemdiva — May 3, 2010 @ 6:01 pm

  15. Orora, I think anybody who grows lilac would completely understand if you were swept away and snipped a weensey branch or three. In any case, no court in the land would convict.

    It’s 90F in Houston which signals the beginning of six months of heat, humidity and bad temper. Yecchh.

    And I do kinda, sorta, against-my-better-judgement, like Glee. I wasn’t paying that much attention to the Big Girl thread in last week’s Very Special Episode–but I was utterly blown away by Kristen Chernowith’s duet with the Glee Club director. Mercy, I was purt’near blown right off the sofa. Such a big voice from such a teeny woman.

    Comment by Suseo — May 3, 2010 @ 6:57 pm

  16. Do I need to put it on my arms too? Because the only part of me that has any color at all is my hands.

    “Under any circumstances” as in NEVER EVER? I can still wear black (wool) tights during the actual winter, right? Right?

    Comment by Rebekka — May 3, 2010 @ 7:51 pm

  17. @Frances: Since you are getting it cut anyway, check out “Locks of Love” re: donating your hair.

    My spouse is on a trip, returning soon, so I have been watching the furkids. This weekend – MBA 1 yr. reunion. Plans have been FUBARed – but we will forge ahead.

    Comment by g-dog — May 3, 2010 @ 8:07 pm

  18. Your friendly neighborhood TV junkie here. Lafeyette’s not a vampire, but his decoration taste makes me swoon. I swear I tolerated half of last season just to see the inside of his house again.

    As to Glee…I’m chewing on it. It’s said that TV shows about high school are always at least ten years off base because it’s about when the writers went to high school. (With the obvious exception of Brit show skins, which is written by high schoolers.)

    It resonated with me because in many ways the style of body pressure was my high school experience – the crazy started young. Do I think they needed the Very Special ep? No. If they did that, they should have actually done something interesting with the Quinn pregnancy and issues of a rapidly changing body as a counterpoint.

    Comment by Diana — May 3, 2010 @ 8:24 pm

  19. @Rebekka, no, you don’t need to put it on your arms, and “under any circumstances” means at a spring wedding.

    Comment by Plumcake — May 3, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

  20. Ah I forgot to mention I have a good friend who works on True Blood as a camera man–he enjoys working for HBO quite a bit. Always fun to pass along to somebody that you encountered people who love the stuff they work on.

    @ Ororo Not sure about the suit, but as long as you aren’t overdoing the the trimming, I say go for it on the lilac tree.

    Comment by Lisa — May 3, 2010 @ 8:31 pm

  21. OMG I believe I have lost the will to tweeze. I’m so sick of dealing with eyebrows, chin hair, and the swarthy sideburns all us Sicilian girls end up with I could just die. I need suggestions.

    I can empathize with all the hair issues. I finally reached a point where I grow my hair long for a couple of years and then cut it short and donate it to Locks of Love – someone mentioned them here already.

    Thumbs down on Glee. Thumbs mostly up on True Blood. Gawd Alexander Skaarsgard is smokin’ hot. I don’t normally like blonds but I want to read him the Gettysburg Address.

    Oh, I just finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Steig Larson. LOVED it. What are y’all reading?

    Comment by Melissa — May 3, 2010 @ 9:31 pm

  22. I tried on a pair of heels last week that quite literally made me fall over. I wanted to try on the purple suede round-toe heels, but they did not have them in my size. So, my eye being caught by a pair of yellow suede almond-toed heels, I thought I’d give them a whirl.

    The saleslady said, “these can be a little tricky — are you used to walking in heels?”

    “No problem!” I scoffed. “I wear heels all the time!”

    So, I put on the shoes, stood up, took one tentative step forward…and promptly fell on my face.

    Turns out that not only was the heel killer high, but it was set so far forward as to completely decimate one’s centre of gravity.

    And when you’re 5’8″, and weigh 200lbs, and fall down from 4-inch heels…well, it ain’t subtle, boys and girls.

    Comment by La Petite Acadienne — May 3, 2010 @ 9:52 pm

  23. I attended a political party meeting in support of a friend running for office. On a whim, I wore a delightfully tacky dress. Almost all the men in attendance approached me to thank me for coming. Who knew conservative men were so easily distracted by bright colors? I think I’ll wear them to all future meetings! Er- the dresses, I mean….

    Comment by Califa — May 3, 2010 @ 11:00 pm

  24. I’m headed out with my snippers. Gonna get some smelliness in the form of lilac branches. Thank you for the aiding and abetting.

    Comment by Orora — May 3, 2010 @ 11:45 pm

  25. I’m loving Glee. Unabashadly. But I haven’t caught any of the new episodes yet, because I don’t have a DVR and I utterly refuse to deal with commercials. I also loved Firefly and Pushing Daisies, so expect Glee to be cancelled any second now.

    My sister is getting married in the California desert, outdoors, Fourth of July weekend. We have been warned that it will be 100+ degrees by noon. I live in the Pacific NW and am always cold, and obviously none of my current dresses will be suitable. Have any of you lovelies ever purchased anything from Avenue/Jessica London? How’s the quality?

    Comment by Leigh — May 4, 2010 @ 12:20 am

  26. @Melissa
    Do it yourself wax? That’s what I do. Then I just nip the strays with the tweezers.

    Comment by Rebekka — May 4, 2010 @ 12:24 am

  27. Ideas for a gift to give a friend who will be staying with my cranky post-surgical kitty and possibly giving Her Biteyness meds while I am gone? I will be heading to Virginia over the weekend, then coming home briefly and flying out to Amsterdam. Maybe a little toy from the Red Light District?

    Comment by zuzu — May 4, 2010 @ 12:43 am

  28. @Orora, don’t count me as an aid or an abettor. If it’s not yours, don’t take it. The lilacs aren’t yours. Don’t take them.

    Comment by Plumcake — May 4, 2010 @ 12:48 am

  29. Orora, snip a little. Lilacs are meant to be shared, and they’re here for such a short time, I believe that this infraction will be forgiven (though normally I agree with the sentiment of “if it’s not yours, don’t take it.”

    Melissa, I just finished “Superfreakonomics.” Just as good as “Freakonomics”. Highly recommended.

    Comment by Mrs. Hendricks — May 4, 2010 @ 1:49 am

  30. When I hear “Lafayette” the first thing that comes to mind is one of the bloodhounds from The Aristocats.

    I like True Blood a lot despite the vampires. I’m so sick of vampires.

    And my husband & I love Glee. Realistic portrayal of high school? Heck no. But the musical numbers are fun, everyone gets off some great one-liners, and we were both picked-on dorks in our younger years, so it makes us feel all validated and stuff.

    Comment by BSAG — May 4, 2010 @ 3:02 am

  31. I’ve cut my hair just yesterday, too! It went from mid-back length to a just under the chin length bob and I’m as delighted as can be. I started looking a bit like Cher.

    Comment by Cara — May 4, 2010 @ 4:59 am

  32. I have to come down on the “don’t steal other people’s lilacs” side. I’ve put a lot of work and money into my garden–and in the last 10 years I’ve lost 8 plants to people digging them up right out of the ground and stealing them. Every spring over half my daffodils are cut and taken by people walking by. People break branches off my rosemary shrub and ruin its shape, last year it died from the abuse and I have purchased and planted a new one–and already this spring somebody has broken off branches. Some days I’m so frustrated, I’m tempted to replace my entire front yard with poison ivy and just garden in the fenced back yard.

    Why not ask? Every year when the hydrangeas are in bloom, some people from a local church drop by and ask if they can take some to decorate the altar–I always say yes.

    Comment by Kai Jones — May 4, 2010 @ 12:18 pm

  33. @Kai, exactly. Ask and generally you shall receive, but I remember my grandmother spent ages cultivating her lilacs and irises just so, and people would snip away and ruin the shape. Plus, and I didn’t think it needed to be said: don’t take stuff that’s not yours.

    @BSAG, when I hear “Aristocats” I just think of a really vile joke. Ewwww.

    @Mrs. Hendricks, I respectfully disagree. Perhaps the lilacs you grow are meant to be shared (and thank you for being generous) but the lilacs my grandmother grew were always snipped snipped snipped away by strangers who felt the same way, and it ruined the shape of the plant. If it’s not yours, don’t take it. No exceptions.

    Comment by Plumcake — May 4, 2010 @ 12:27 pm

  34. @Zuzu, uh, I think a little toy from the Red Light District is less than ideal. I mean, when I use the letter seal my grandmother gave to me I think about her every time I use it. Unless you’ve got a Very Special Relationship with that friend, I’d skip it. Also? Boundaries.

    @Rebekka. I’ve given up on ever trying to wax my own eyebrows. I’ll wax everything else myself (well, not everything else) but I’ve ended up looking like I was chasing Moose and Squirrel once too many times to risk it myself. You’re a braver girl than I am.

    @Leigh. You know you can watch the new episodes of Glee the day after they air for free on Hulu, right? As for the Avenue quality stuff, as luck would have it I’m wearing a dress I bought from the Avenue about three years ago. It’s held up okay, not great, but not bad. I’ll say when they’re good they’re very good, but caveat emptor. No experience with Jessica London, sorry!

    Comment by Plumcake — May 4, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

  35. @Califa, I think men of any political persuasion are attracted to bright colors.

    @La Petite Acadienne.
    Now I want to know what shoes they are! I do love yellow shoes and have always been a sucker for an almond toe AND a challenge. I’ve never (knock on wood) face planted, but let’s face it. It’s only a matter of time.

    @Melissa. My soul sister. Since I’m mostly old Celtic stock (interestingly, red hair shows up later, after the northern invasions) I’ve got the dark hair of the Iberian peninsula. However, I’ve also got fair, fair skin and given the chance I will grow a full amish beard (alluring, no?) Normally I wax, which is less than ideal, but I’ve actually started doing laser hair removal and it’s aces. Sign up for your local daily deals like Groupon.com or LivingSocial.com and you’re bound to get a deal where you get a certain number of treatments for a bargain basement price. Good luck!

    Comment by Plumcake — May 4, 2010 @ 12:46 pm

  36. @MrsHendricks if you MUST take lilacs, take them from a place where it’s not an individual owner. They grow on highways in spots around Minneapolis, and along government buildings. Me? I ask the owners. My friend’s mother supplies me with hers in exchange for a perfume/tincture I’m making from them over the years.

    Comment by Diana — May 4, 2010 @ 1:13 pm

  37. I’m glad to have my lilac opinion confirmed. I walked past a neighbor’s lilac bush on the way home from church on Saturday and was so tempted. But no. Not mine. Plus I had just met the neighbor as I updated the neighborhood watch list and it turns out we have a friend in common and so yeah, stealing from someone I know is harder than stealing from a stranger. I mean, in theory.

    I will look for lilacs in the park tomorrow when I go for a walk. Those are public lilacs.

    Comment by The gold digger — May 4, 2010 @ 1:24 pm

  38. @Gold Digger: besides, stealing right after church? That takes some serious guts. Everyone knows God watches you extra carefully on Sunday mornings!

    @Diana
    . Thanks for the Glee shout out!

    Comment by Plumcake — May 4, 2010 @ 2:17 pm

  39. @Leigh – re: JL or Avenue. I haven’t bought from Avenue but as I remember their cuts are tailored for the pear shaped women (I am apple)
    As for Jessica London – it can be hit or miss from my experience, I ordered about 4-5 work dresses, and the ones where the quality seemed OK, the style was definitely not for me, the one I liked was exceedingly cheaply crafted. Overall quality has been pretty low in my experience (dresses, pants, cardigans, shoes) – but I am a cheapskate so have always targeted the sales items. Also, I would say that for bottoms, the sizes run on the small side. The one item I have actually liked is the scoop need 3/4 length sleeve tee – the fabric is a decent weight, with some spandex to hold some shape.
    @plummy – I tried laser hair removal (face) and while in treatments it seemed to stall the growth, but after ending treatments, it essentially all grew back. I hope it all works better for you – but for me it was highly effective $$$ removal, non-effective hair removal….

    Comment by g-dog — May 4, 2010 @ 8:24 pm

  40. Zuzu, bit late to the party but how about some band aids and antiseptic?

    Comment by bush piglet — May 4, 2010 @ 11:46 pm

  41. @Plumcake + Melissa

    Oh, sorry, definitely do not wax the brows on my own. I pluck my brows, and have done for years, so the growth is not very much, though sort of patchy. I just have to be careful not to over-pluck. But the burns, moustache and chin nasties I wax (on my own) and then pluck the strays, preferrably right after waxing when their grip on me is not as strong as otherwise (why, why do there have to be the little wiry ones? argh). I swing between using warm wax, which imo is easier for getting the necessary coverage, and cold strips which are much more convenient.

    Comment by Rebekka — May 5, 2010 @ 4:15 am

  42. Thank you for a great post

    Comment by Opticians — May 18, 2010 @ 6:14 am

  43. The Twilight Movie 3 rocks. I liked Paul Jarrett as Mr. Biers.

    Comment by Kim Schilke — August 17, 2010 @ 10:54 pm

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