Curvy Sam

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Cairns Most Instagrammable Locations + How To Get To There

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Cairns (pronounced ‘cans’) is the gateway for Far North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. You can expect to come across crocs, delicious seafood, the most perfect palm trees, natural waterfalls and tropical islands whilst adventuring up here and one thing you won’t be short of, is instagrammable pics. And backpackers. Everywhere.

(Not that life is about the gram, but it’s always nice to get a few good shots)

I was lucky enough to live there for a few years so have experienced the best of FNQ. So here’s my top spots to get the gram shot.

Heads up – most of these photos are pics of me from my CurvySam Insta taken with my iphone. I will include some other peoples highly filtered shots probs taken with a fancy camera. But at least I’m going to tell you EXACTLY where to go.

Walsh’s Pyramid

This spot is located 25mins south of Cairns.
Put this exact address in your GPS ‘383 Behana Gorge Rd, Aloomba QLD’
I took this photo at 10am, have seen other people get some amazing shots at sunset. If you have a drone you would get the COOLEST footage.

Side note – there is a river on the right with some amazing fresh water swimming spots.
Be mindful of crocs especially during the wet season. A 3.5m was spotted in Jan 19.

Prawn Star

If you head to the Cairns marina (behind Salt House Bar) there is a boat called ‘Prawn Star’ where you can sit and have fresh seafood+wine. There’s no website, you can’t book a space. Just rock up and wait to be seated. It’s worth it.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve

This location is 45mins north of Cairns. It’s past Palm Cove and pretty close to Port Douglas
The GPS address is ‘5078 Captain Cook Hwy, Oak Beach QLD 4877’
You will see a sign for ‘Thala Beach Resort’ on the right and the pretty palm tree field is before the resort. Best lighting is at the end of the day after 3pm. (this pic was taken with my iphone at 1pm so the lighting is harsh)

Port Douglas – Rex Smeal Park

This location is super iconic. Pack a picnic and chill there as the sun goes down.
It’s Rex Smeal Park which runs along Wharf Street, Port Douglas.
For the ultimate shot without other people there I would be there for sunrise.

Palm Cove

This is right along the foreshore of Palm Cove, you cant miss it.
GPS address is 1 Veivers Rd, Palm Cove QLD 4879
It’s right out the front of two of my fave restaurants, Chill Cafe (good for breakfast) and NuNu which is moreso fine dining. It can get busy in the afternoons, morning pics would be the best. NuNu can set you up a private dining space on the beach during sunset which is an amazing experience and perfect for pics.

Kuranda Railway

The Kuranda Scenic Railway runs from the city of Cairns, over the Great Dividing Range to the town of Kuranda on the Atherton Tablelands. The views are impressive and you stop in Kuranda is a hippy touristy town with markets, you can also drive to this location. Roads are pretty windy but from here you can head to see the waterfalls.

Millaa Millaa Falls

Photo cred @matildaobermeier
GPS Millaa Falls Road, Millaa Millaa QLD 4886
This is around 2 hours from Cairns and can be accessed either by driving North or South. It’s a circuit – I think its best to do Palm Cove, Port Douglas then back to Kuranda and the waterfall drive which brings you out at Gordonvale (right near the pyramid). This is a great location to swim, there’s toilets and changerooms on site too.

PS. You may recognise this location from Peter Andre’s shampoo commercial. He grew up on the tablelands.

Davies Creek Falls

Photo cred @mickbreitkreutz
Davies Creek Road turnoff is 21km past Kuranda. You’ll drive on a gravel road to get there. There is no phone reception here & you will need to bring all food and drinks with you because its in the Wooroonooran National Park.

Behind where this guy is sitting is a waterfall, swimming hole and a small infinity like the picture below. Access wise you can park right next to the area, it’s around a 10 min walk down the path to get to the swimming spot.

Windin Falls & Infinity Pool

GPS ‘Old Cairns Track, Butchers Creek QLD 4885’
I haven’t been here personally, that’s because its a 90min hike each way in the tropical heat through the Wooroonooran National Park. Lots of people go there for this iconic shot.

Friends have given me these instructions.
1) Drive to Lamins Hill Lookout 2) Drive past Lamins Hill Lookout 3) Drive for around 4km until you see a sign for Windin Falls 5) Park and then walk about 5 minutes until you get to a large metal gate 6) Hike for around 50 minutes until you get to a little falls sign and an orange ribbon on a tree 7) Turn right and walk for another 15 minutes until you approach Windin falls. Access via the Old Cairns Track

Please watch out for snakes on the path all year round. Not even kidding.

Nerada Tea Factory

GPS ‘921 Glen Allyn Rd, Malanda QLD 4885’
Approx 90kms from Cairns. (also close to Millaa Millaa Falls)
You can visit the Nereda Tea Fields between 9.00am-4.30pm *closed Sat
Theres a cafe on site.

So apparently there are a few more tea fields close by which are on a hill so you can get better shots than this one. (I was standing in the mud in the tea)

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GPS ‘Greenslopes Street, Cairns’
Both of these photos were taken in the same location.
The concrete archway can be seen from the road & its next to a pond with ducks.
(I would park here) It’s technically the start of the Zhanjiang Friendship Garden.

This is a large area that has wetland pathways that connect to the Cairns botanical gardens which is a 20min. . The jungle like photo is only a 5 min walk down the elevated pathway. In this pic I’m wearing my work uniform because I’d go for walks during my lunch break.

I have linked a map here

Fitzroy Island

Photo cred @vikiphuocle
Photo cred @the_tropical_travellers
Fitzroy Island is a 45min ferry ride from Cairns. It’s a good spot for the classic palm tree / looking out towards the ocean shots. Ya know these are the shots you send to your friends back in rainy cold Melbs right?!

You can do a day trip there but to get the full value of the island I recommend staying there a night as you can only get on and off the island twice a day.

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Photo cred @thewininghills
The lagoon has to be the most photographed spot in Cairns. It’s right on the esplanade.

Go early morning if you want to get the shot because there’s always lots of people around. It’s pretty much the sleeping grounds for backpackers during the day.

So that wraps up my list of instagrammable Cairns spots.
For tourism info visit

Cactus Country ~ Roadtrip Guide {VIC}

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If you are heading to Melbourne anytime soon, road trip up north to Cactus Country.  It’s seriously worth the drive.

Last week I shared some behind the scenes on my Insta and got flooded with questions.  So thought I would share my experience in detail.

My relatives live in the region and I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve ever gone there.   After stalking the Cactus Country social media they day before I visited, I knew there was going to be some great photo ops so I packed a bag and my new camera (which I have no idea how to use but thats another story)

I went there with my cousins and their three kids + dog with the expectation to see a few cool cacti and get some fun photos but I genuinely had a great time.  The café and courtyards are wonderful places to chill out while enjoying an ice cold margarita or Mexican beer – and don’t forget to try their famous cactus cake and cactus ice cream!

I captured the most perfect family photo for my cousins.  Weather wise it was super warm so I recommend going there as early as you can.     The kids enjoyed it for an hour  or so then were more happy with sitting and having a slushy in the cacti garden.  (also when the kids arrive the staff give them a clipboard with questions to answer)

At the entrance to the gardens there’s fun hats for you to wear for a photo op.

My beautiful cousin, Beth.

Wearing a City Chic dress, DeCuba white tee & white Kmart shoes

There are SO many photo ops.  I didn’t really think I would be doing a blog post so the pics don’t capture the vibe of the place but if you check out their social media you can see more. People take some spectacular shots

On the left is out the front of the venue – in the car park! (Wearing City Chic) And inside theres many painted backdrops with cacti overhead. (Wearing Active Truth leggings & a white DeCuba tee)

My cousin Dan (who’s a local dairy farmer) and his daughter Sophie

What is Cactus Country?
Cactus Country offers a unique experience in Australia. More than 4,000 species of cacti and succulents from around the globe are presented in an unforgettable journey throughout eight different garden trails.

There’s also an onsite function area & restaurant thats full decked out with a mexican / spanish theme.

I wish I had of taken a proper photo. I screen shot this from a insta story video and put it together as a collage. You get the gist of the space – its fun and festive

Do they sell cacti?
They sure do

If you’d like to take home your very own cacti there’s a nursery shop onsite.

Where is it located? What are opening times
It’s an easy 3 hour drive north of Melbourne to Cobram & it’s open EVERY DAY!

How much are tickets?
$17 for an adult day pass or $70 for a yearly pass
Kids and seniors are cheaper.

I was a little reluctant to pay that much to just walk around and see some cactuses but after spending time there I would totally pay that amount again.  Because it’s so much more than looking at plants.

Is it pet friendly?
Yes! As long as you stick to the paths your fur baby will be fine.

Is it shoot friendly?
Yes! You could easily bring props or set up a location for hours and it wouldn’t bother people at all.  There are bathrooms to get changed in.  (no one was around so I just got changed in between plants)
Light wise early morning is the best or if you want those high contrast shots aim for the middle of the day, especially if you have a reflector.

Can you hold functions there?
It would be the perfect space for a function or themed wedding.  Like seriously look how amazing this shot is (taken from the website)

If you want to visit their website click here

Disclosure – This is not a sponsored post or collab. 

Trusting The Universe {The Story Of The Missing Passport}

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Brace yourselves, because it’s story time.  And it’s all about the time I trusted the universe when my passport went missing for an entire year.

For the last five years I’m grateful to done a lot of travelling. Every Dec-Jan I was off gallivanting around, visiting relatives living OS, volunteering in Nepal.  I had a decent stint working and travelling in the USA.  So grateful for the life I have lived.

Whilst some people call time away a ‘holiday’ I call them soul trips. When I travel I don’t stay in hotels and lounge around getting massages. I’m out and about connecting with people, staying in backpackers, doing homestays in remote villages, experiencing different sides of the world. These adventures made my soul sing and my heart feel full. I spent a fair bit of time trying to understand the universe and connect with my spiritual side.

Moving various times. Car packed to the roof. Saying bye to the last of my things leaving Cairns.

For that time in my life I needed trips like that to make me see and feel that there was more in the world than my home base could offer. You see, I didn’t really live in one place longer than a year. As soon as the next opportunity popped up I’d move – and it was always influenced by someone else. Always helping someone else.  Always cramming my life into my Suzuki Swift.

On the 23rd Jan 2018 I returned back to Aus. It’s almost like I knew I wasn’t going to travel again for a while.

The flight home was one of the worst I’d ever had. Had a seat in front of the toilets for 14 hours, a gazillion kids on the flight (slight exaggeration) and as we were landing, a lady power vomited on me whilst she was running for the toilet. YUP. The connecting flight home after being vomited on wasn’t pleasant either.

It left me absolutely traumatized. To the point I turned down a trip to travel to Thailand 6 months later.

My apartment at Christmas looking festive and pretty

My goals for 2018 was to move into my own place where I would have a pink couch. I wanted it to be a space I could be social and also host those who helped me over the years I gallivanted around. Finally I could say, hey come stay with me. When I reached the goal, I did some hardcore nesting and socialising.  My passport was no where to be seen.

I got to the point where I was kinda ready to go on a trip. Friends were going to Bali & PNG. But I still couldn’t find my passport. Trust me I looked everywhere. I’m one of those people that always knows where their passport is. Truly believe that it went beyond simple absentmindedness.

Friends helped me look for it. Encouraged me to order a new one. I told them all NOPE. Because I knew I hadn’t lost it. I knew it would turn up. Can’t explain it in another other way then it was just a gut feeling.

Rather than fork out money for a new passport so I could go on overseas trips, I took it as a sign from the universe that I needed to stay put in Aus.

For an entire year I didn’t travel far from home. I set up my home, hosted gatherings, held shoots at my apartment. Took care of my 18 plants, grew herbs. Had a revolving door of guests coming to stay filling my home with laughter and fun chaos. Purchased my first ever new bed, fridge, pink couch etc. Made my space beautiful and inviting.  All the normal stuff people do.

Dec & Jan came and went, a time where I was normally travelling and I felt at peace and happy with being in my home, in Brisbane. I did have a few moments where I missed my OS family & friends. But I trusted that this was exactly where I needed to be.

The moment I found my passport. In the place I’d looked many times before. GO FIGURE!

It’s the 11th of January and my passport just turned up. In the same place I had looked many times. I laughed out loud as soon as I’d found it. Because this very day I had started to plan out my travel schedule for 2019.

What I’m getting at is that sometimes you just have to trust the universe. You are where you are, learning those lessons and living this life for a reason.

When the time is right and you are ready things will change.

Your instincts and intuition often express themselves through a feeling in the gut and these feelings are products of an active unconscious mind that is relaying a message from the beyond.

So if something is missing, or isn’t in your life anymore.  Trust the universe that it’s meant to be.

USA Travel ~ Changing Up Your Look For A Confidence Boost

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USA.  The land where anything goes and you can be anyone you want to be.

I’ve been lucky to visit the states quite a few times over my career. Last year was a little different though.  Whilst in NYC for Full Figure Fashion Week, my hair started to fall out and break leaving me with 2inch bits.  This was an unexpected side effect from some medical treatment I’d had in Aus before I travelled.

It was a HUGE knock to my confidence. Especially because I was there to film and shoot content for CurvySam and wanted to look my best.

On the upside, of all places in the world to be, no one cares what you look like. No judgement at all from anyone. You could walk down the street wearing a garbage bag and no one would bat an eyelid.  There is so much diversity everywhere in the way people look and behave.

via GIPHY

So whilst initially there were tears. I embraced the situation, headed over to a wig shop and purchased a couple of wigs to wear to events and to shoot in.  My blogger buddy Crystal launched her own range called Astra Signature at NYC fashion week so I purchased a top that was totally different to my normal style. (wearing this in the pic)

Travelling to the other side of the world is invigorating. From the surroundings, the food, the people. It’s all different, a new environment can make you feel invincible. Like you can be anyone without judgment or criticism. (also there’s less chance of bumping into Susan from accounts or your gossipy uncle Nev)

Fake hair is the norm in America. It’s normal to see women wearing full ‘weaves’ ‘wigs’.  The first time I went to the USA for fashion week (2013) I was constantly admiring other bloggers daily hair styles having no idea that they travelled with a suitcase of wigs with them. Was genuinely baffled until Marie from TheCurvyFashionista explained it to me.

Kinda feel that in Aus if you wear a wig or anything too excessive its not socially acceptable. Not to mention they are expensive and not readily available whereas in the USA it feels like there’s a wig store on every street corner.

I decided that I would have a day of looking completely different. It might not seem too out there for some – but for this Aussie babe it was daring. I felt like a total BAD ASS walking around LA. Wig on, heavier makeup, stomach showing and wearing something totally different to my normal style.

Outfit details Astra Signature Top https://astrasignature.com – Lane Bryant Pants – Boots (vintage) Necklace (vintage) None of these items are for sale anymore

Reinventing yourself doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. Nor do you have to be on the other side of the world. Simple tweaks, many of which you can do at home can really change up your look which changes how you feel.  I felt like a new person with a wig on.

And you know what.  All of those bad ass empowered feelings were already inside me, I’d just lost my way a little bit.

Now back in Aus and in every day life I remember that day I strutted around LA.  I often think of this experience when I’m getting ready for an event or public outing.  I didn’t care what people thought of me on the other side of the world then why should I care now?

Focus on telling yourself you’re a total bad ass beautiful babe all the time, and you’ll be brimming with confidence and energy.  And if you loose your way then change things up a bit. Try a new style, pop on some lippy.  Just do you!

Here’s a few things you can do to changes things up without spending thousands on new clothes

  • Part your hair a different way or try a new style
    – this can totally change the shape of your face
  • Borrow clothes from a friend
    – nothing better than trying new styles and having to go shopping
  • Give yourself a pep talk
    – It may seem silly, but repeating positive affirmations to yourself in the mirror or saying things that you like about yourself will help you validate those traits and value them in yourself.

Who knows, taking small steps to change the way you feel about yourself  may give you the boost you need to feel a bit better about yourself. 

via GIPHY

How to Take Photos of Yourself When Traveling Solo

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There’s one little struggle that comes when travelling solo, and that’s how do you take those awesome travel photos of yourself.  Because we all know that if it’s not on social media it didn’t happen, right?nepal, yoga retreat, plus size travel

I’ve travelled by myself for a couple of years now, here are a few important lessons I’ve learned from years of trying to capture the perfect photos as a solo traveler – tricks that go way beyond a selfie stick.

Personally, I mostly  travel with two iPhones and use these for photos because I don’t want to lug a SLR camera around.

Take Your Time

This is probably my favorite thing about taking photos of myself: I can take as long as I want, trying out as many silly poses as I need to until I get the perfect shot without feeling like I’m keep my travel buddies waiting.

Use a Tripod (lightweight of course)

This is huge game changer and not as hard as it seems.  I got my first tripod off ebay, it came with a little bag and is super lightweight.  My phone clips in the top and the legs adjust.  I spent $20.

There are fancier ones that have a level thingy so you can get super straight photos….but a wonky angle gives…character I say.

nepal, travel, solo, curvysam

Just remember to take it with you because after taking this photo (AKA like 100 photos) I accidentally left it on the rooftop of my hostel in Nepal. It’s probably still up there. And in case you were wondering – yes my mother was not thrilled to see me on the edge of a building. haha.

Yes you can rest your camera on a ledge somewhere and use the self timer, but it’s going to be so much harder to properly frame your shot.  Also, I’ve broken many phone screens by trying to rest it up against something and it’s fallen forward…

 

I’m yet to purchase one of these. But have seen other solo travellers wrap them around trees and poles for the perfect shot.

Bonus tip: If I start to feel embarrassed about taking so many photos of myself in public, I just pretend that I’m working on a super important photo project. It might sound silly, but just pretending that to myself gives me the confidence to do my thing without worrying about how ridiculous I might look.  If anyone asks – I just say it’s for a university project.

Ask for Help

Sometimes you can’t set up a tripod (like somewhere busy where someone could steal it) to take a photo of yourself and then it’s totally find to ask someone for help! Almost everyone is going to be willing to help you out, and if you do happen to ask someone who doesn’t want to do it, just ask someone else, no harm done.

Photos taken by strangers can be a little hit or miss, but there are a few things you can do to ensure a better photo:

Thailand, travel, fruit carving

2005 – Thailand at a fruit carving class. Asked someone to take a photo. And have a basket in front of my face. And there amazing watermelon I carved isn’t even in the photo. YHUP.

  1. Ask someone with a nice camera
    They generally know how to take a decent photo if they’ve invested big $$ into a fancy camera.
  2. Ask them to take several photos of you
    It will only take a few extra seconds for someone to take 3 or 4 photos of you instead of just one, and those extra shots could make all the difference!
  3. Be specific about what you want
    Most people are going to want to help you get the photo you want, so don’t be afraid to give them instructions! In fact, being specific about how you want them to take the photo will make it easier on them.
    For example, hey I’d love for this big tree to be in the background and I’ll stand to the right of it.
  4. Be mindful of who you ask, approach people your own age. 
    Not everyone is tech savy.  Aim for gen-y or someone a similar age to you.  They generally know how to use gadets and don’t get flustered trying to use a touch screen.

June 2017 NYC Full Figure Fashion Week. One of 20 shots in with this background.

FOR THE LOVE OF BABY GEEBERZZZZ – ASK THEM NOT TO ZOOM.   ZOOMING IS THE WORST. It effects picture quality in a big way. It’s always better to crop afterwards. 

Befriend other solo travellers

The funny thing about solo travel is that oftentimes you’ll end up joining up with other travelers anyway. Take advantage of this and offer to take some photos of your new travel buds for them! If you spend some time getting the perfect photos for them, chances are they’ll do the same for you in return.

BONUS: Use these tips when you’re traveling with friends too!
Just because you’re not heading out on your own doesn’t mean you should leave the tripod and remote at home. It can be easy to forget to get photos with everyone in your group, but it’s worth at least sometimes putting in that extra effort to get some shots of all of you.

January 2017 I volunteered at a remote school in Nepal. Before I left I ran a confidence class with the girls of the school. During this photo (taken with a tripod) all the boys from the school were peeking through the windows trying to make us laugh. Nepalese don’t smile much in photos but I assure you as soon as the camera was away they were all laughing.

Use Video Screenshots

This is one of the cheekiest tips, one that I only learnt about this year.

Take a video or set up your camera and video, then you can screenshot the best moments, and use this as a picture.

@lizphoto with some of her travel pics – all screenshots from video. Girl has skills!

I met my friend Liz at a fashion show, we instantly became friends. She’s always travelling around solo and has the best insta photos.   She shared her secret with me.  MINDBLOWN

 

Hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know if you have any to add.

 

Happy travels! 

 

What I Wore ~ Tempting Twilight Maxi

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Don’t you just love a good maxi dress?

What I love about California is that it’s hot.  But not the kinda hot I’m used to.  It’s the dry heat hot that sizzles your skin not the tropical kind where you are a sweaty sticky mess.

Anytime it’s hot and I’m heading out somewhere my go to outfit is always a maxi.

It’s an added bonus when the maxi has a bit of dramatic flare to it when the wind blows. Which is why I LOVE this maxi!  It’s from Perfectly Priscilla Boutique

It’s often a struggle to find dresses that don’t show off massive amounts of cleavage or that actually fit my G cups.  I generally wear a modesty singlet top underneath so it’s great that with this particular style I don’t need to.

As I hold most of my weight in my boob and belly area when picking out an outfit I’m conscious not to wear anything that adds bulk to those areas.  Ladies, don’t be afraid to wear something with stripes or lines because as you can see the embroidery detail elongates my body.

I’ve matched the dress with a long line necklace and Torrid wedges.  Keeping it simple because the dress is the main feature.

Maggie, Lis’z dog who I adore always wanted to be in my outfit photos.  So if you’ve been following me on my Insta stories she’s always sneaking up in the background for pats. (and no I don’t have food in my hand haha, wishful thinking on her behalf)

Speaking of Liz (who also took my photos for me), doesn’t she look amazing in this Island Breeze Dress?

Island Breeze Dress (click for link)  @lizphoto on Instagram

 

Disclaimer ~ this post is sponsored by Perfectly Priscilla however the opinions that are expressed are my own.  I am under no obligation to write anything in particular. 

What I Wore ~ Full Figure Fashion Week 2017

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Full Figure Fashion Week is a plus size fashion event held in NYC every year.  Here’s a quick post showing what I wore to various events.

This is the third time that I’ve attended FFFweek.  Compared to other years the schedule of events wasn’t as busy and as the program didn’t come out until I’d arrived in the USA, I had packed many many extra outfits that I didn’t get the chance to wear in NYC.  Lucky I get to attend so many events in my line of work they certainly won’t go to waste.

Rooftop FFFweek Launch Party ~ Wearing Hope & Harvest SS16

Best Practices For Brand Protection Seminar ~ Wearing 17Sundays

Fruit of the Loom – Bloggers & Influencers Event ~ Wearing Society+

Curves at Sea All White Cruise ~ Wearing a dress from Macys

Curvy Expo ~ Wearing Little Party Dress

Mens Plus Size Fashion Show ~ Wearing Little Party Dress

Dance-a-thon ~ Wearing Little Party Dress & Lane Bryant

Runway Showcase & Awards Ceremony ~ Wearing Igigi

Cute USA 4th of July Outfits from Plus Size Babes in 2017

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As far as I’m concerned, the Fourth of July is for not just hot dogs, illegal fireworks and socialising.  It’s the perfect time to dress in a super cute patriotic outfit.  I was meant to fly home from the USA on the 1st July but extended to stay another week just so I could experience 4th of July in America.

The day started off with a BBQ, bocce ball and all things G rated.  And it ended in lighting illegal fireworks and drinking huge tequilas shots in a bar with locals listening to country music.  I also introduced them to my style of drinking, vodka shot followed by an apple juice chaser shot.  A great day! Although I must say the next day was a little rough (ha. because. hungoverness)

Here are my fave no-fuss outfits from USA curvy babes, incorporating red, white and blue in the chillest way possible.

@eclectickurves

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Cassia DeMayo @casdemayo

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@loralyee

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Lisa Rachel @lisarachelplusmodel

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Paola @chubbybabe_

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@marinetd

Screen Shot 2017-07-07 at 7.54.11 amNakitende Esther @nakitende_esther
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Allie @allisonkimmey
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Jazzmyne @jazzmynejay
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Troy Solomon @abearnamedtroy

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Joy @enjoycurves
Screen Shot 2017-07-07 at 8.14.48 am@mollyclutts

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It’s been on my bucket list to be in the USA for the 4th of July.  I had the best time, BBQ with friends, lit some fireworks, tried a firecracker icy pole (which was delish) and played bocce.  
Hope you all had an amazing Independence Day too and loved my top plus size fashion pics from the day.
Love CurvySam (Australian Skorch Editor)
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Plus Size Travel ~ Overcoming self doubt and trying new things ~ CityBikes

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Today I overcame my self doubt and hired a CityBike.


I’m going to start sharing more of my travel experiences on my website.  Quite often in the moment I think ‘ oh I should write about that, rather that just doing live snapchat feeds’ (As they expire after 24hours.)  I hardly have any photos to go along with this post.

Every time I travel somewhere I eye off the city bikes which are strategically placed all over the tourist hot spots.   These are available in most cities.  Especially in the western world.

Deep down I’ve always wanted to hire one.  I tried to think of reasons why I talked myself out of it in all my years of travelling.

I had an entire free day to myself in NYC.  I’d planned to pop in some headphones, crank up Fall Out Boy and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  My friend who I’m staying with suggested I hire a bike and cruise around.  He even handed me his bike pass which gives you 45minutes free ride time.

GULP.  I took it and said thanks as I waved him off to work.   And in came all of the excuses as to why I’m better off walking.

You’re too big.  Size 18 girls don’t hire bikes. You can’t ride standing up. You’re clumsy. What if you get hurt.  What if you can’t keep up.  The seat will be too small and uncomfortable. You’ll get sweaty and have to re wash and straighten your hair (I HATE doing my hair) You’ll get sunburnt and weird tan lines.  Your face will be red for ages. Eczema will flare up on your face.  If you don’t wear a helmet you will die.  Brain injury. 

SERIOUSLY. THIS GARBAGE WAS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.   (maybe the helmet thoughts are valid though)

But this time instead of talking myself out of it.  I ran through the positives.

You know no one.  Who cares.  If it’s too hard you can stop. You used to like bike riding. You only live once.  Everyone speaks english if you need help.  You have a map on your phone and international data. Take it slow, it’s not a race. It’s not going to cost you anything.  People of all sizes ride bikes.  It’s a cloudy day.  You have dry shampoo.  You can wear your new shoes & outfit.

I consider myself a seasoned traveller.  I’m pretty confident with putting myself out there and trying new things.  But the idea of riding a bike threw me off a bit.  And it’s okay to admit that.   I don’t have to be a strong independent woman all the time.

So long story short.  I hired the bike.  It took a few times to get the hang of it, even though the seat was large and comfy, I ended up stopping and walking on the pavement with my bike because I wasn’t comfortable riding on the road with NYC traffic.

Once I got to the bike track I rode comfortably and pushed my way up the slight incline over the bridge.  I took it slow and used my bell to alert walkers (who were on the bike track) that I was behind them.   When I got too hot and tired I stopped and had some water. No big deal.

It was a little tougher than I thought it was going to be getting up that slight incline.  I ended up walking up some of the way. My face was beetroot red.  My eczema was itching because I was sweating, luckily there were lots of clouds around so the heat wasn’t too intense.

Wore my FitForMe shirt that was gifted at Full Figure Fashion Week.

If you are travelling alone, don’t be afraid to ask someone to take a couple of photos for you at different angles.  Some people will say no but 98% of people will say yes.  It’s all about picking your moments to make sure they are free.  More importantly always offer to help someone take a photo first and they will most likely be happy to take one for you.  If the photo they took was blurry or at a weird angle, just ask someone else once the other person has moved on. 

Ended up walking and chatting to a lovely bunch of women who had come out for the day and left their grumpy husbands at home.  Honestly they were hilarious.  They even invited me to join them for lunch which was so kind of them.

I made it halfway across the bridge and rode back downhill because my 45minutes was almost up.  With the wind in my hair and yelling at people to get out of the pathway I felt great.  I rode a bike in NYC.  The world didn’t end.  I spent the next few hours walking and exploring taking in as much of the NYC Summer as I could.

Please be a traveller, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond whats in front of you. 

 

 

 

 

Surviving The Festive Season When You’re Single And Fat

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Christmas is one of those times that can turn up the volume of our emotions. That’s great if we’re feeling happy, excited and loved up, but not so great if we are single and feeling a bit blurgh about life changes or ourselves in general.

I’m not saying every single fat person dreads Christmas – far from it (I adore Christmas but certainly have my moments where its tough to be single, I’m not so worried about being overweight and have the tools to deal with any shaming).

Maintaining a body positive life takes work. Being happy takes work.  You are in charge of how you feel and react.  It’s your life and none of anyones business how you choose to live it. 

Whether it’s meeting up with old friends who are now in relationships, or negotiating nosy family members who ask, ‘Haven’t found anyone yet then?’or offer lectures on what products has the least amount of sugar that I can consume (eyeroll), being single and overweight during the festive season can feel more like a fight for survival and judgement day than a joyful time.

But, rather than crawling in a hole and missing out on all the fun, here are a few tips for tackling December with confidence.  

Us single fat babes really need to do is laugh at it all and try to keep a fresh perspective.

Look on the bright side
There are actually lots of bonuses to being single at Christmas – no agonising over presents for your partner, no stress over whose house to eat Christmas dinner at, being able to go to any party you want…the list goes on.
Also remember that there is life after Christmas – after all, it is just a week and it’ll soon be January.

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Rude comments made towards you have more to do with the person’s internalized fat-phobia than any hurtful intent.
We’ve all been taught to varying degrees and at different stages in our lives to talk and think negatively about our bodies and view fatness and being single as something that is undesirable.

When family members say things like, “Your Auntie Jean lost 30kgs with weight watchers you should give it a go,” or, “That top isn’t the most flattering thing on you,” oftentimes they’re not trying to cause your pain.

When someone says anything that has a body shaming flavor to it, I try to stop and remember where it’s coming from. I know that a lot of what they say comes from their own deeply rooted body negativity. My sympathy for my their own struggle with self love often outweighs some of the things she says to me, since I am in a point of my life where I’m relatively at peace with my body.

Pick your battles
Some comments (and members of your family) are simply not worth your time. If you have a senile grandparent or uncle who you never have to see any other day of the year but Christmas Eve and who loves asking you, “Do you really think you should be eating a second serve?” or, “It’s such a shame you haven’t met anyone yet, you’d be a great Mum,” it’s easier to just disengage and try to ignore the statements entirely.

I know from experience that trying to correct certain people in my family is more traumatizing than the fat shaming itself. Not everybody is open to understanding body positivity or making the effort to respect your own journey and beliefs.  They don’t know me well enough to know that I’m considering paying $7,000 to  have my eggs harvested and frozen due to reproductive issues.  Or that I’ve dated someone this year who ended up secretly having children already and didn’t think to tell me!

It’s massively frustrating, but sometimes there’s simply nothing to be said.

Take the chance to educate people or let them know what they’ve said is hurtful
However, if you feel safe enough, you should explain what the body positivity movement is all about or why you are happy being single, as well as what it means to you on a personal level.
There’s a good chance that whoever you discuss this with — especially after a comment is made — can greatly benefit from a little body positivity in their lives. Even if they seem opposed to the ideas you’re putting forth, whatever does resonate with them might incite a shift in how they feel about themselves and talk to others.

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Lean on your support network
One year I had a family member pull a plate of biscuits away from me in front of everyone and told me that I’d had enough.  Everyone saw. It was awkward. I left the room discretly and cried.  Called one of my body positive friends who made me feel a million times better.

Bowing out of the room when you feel particularly overwhelmed is healthy, and throwing yourself into body pos activities can make a substantial difference in how you’re feeling. Reaching out to your support system, reading through your favorite size acceptance blogs, or giving yourself some compliments in the mirror can help support and strengthen your body pos foundation, preparing you for the rest of your visit or interaction.

Come up with a few good comebacks
If there’s one thing to guarantee you regressing to being a sulky child, it’s a nosy relative inquiring about your love life or weight.

Yes it’s petty, but the fact is that when your smug distant cousin and his new wife are bearing down on you at a family gathering you’ll do well to have some stock answers to their potentially prying questions. This can range from the genuine (I just haven’t found the right person yet) to the flippant (I’m actually seeing quite a few people, one for each day of the week and I have a very busy and active sex life.  Oh and hows yours?) – whatever you’re comfortable with, just be prepared.

I also like to tell people that I’m practising making babies.  Which I find rather hilarious.   You can use that line if you want.  You’re welcome!

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Don’t wallow
This is the cardinal rule for surviving Christmas single – and in fact, the whole year round. If you wallow in your feelings of misery, you’ll enter into a downward spiral. Misery breeds misery, and it pushes people away. How often have you walked into a party and thought, ‘ooh, I’ll talk to that miserable person over there’? We’re guessing never.

You’re single. Your fat. NO BIG DEAL.  It’s seriously NO ONES BUSINESS and you do NOT NEED TO JUSTIFY YOURSELF

We know that it’s often easier said than done to banish those feelings of sadness – especially if you find yourself remembering last Christmas when things were better for you – but do try. As soon as you feel your mind wandering, distract yourself. Volunteer to do some cooking, call up a friend:  just get your mind off that subject.

The fact is that people are paying far less attention to you than you think they are. Simply try to enjoy the company of friends and family you don’t often see; after all, what’s funnier than Aunt Margaret after a few too many ports?

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Maintaining a body positive life takes work. Being happy takes work.  You are in charge of how you feel and react.  It’s your life and none of anyones business how you choose to live it. 

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