Baby, it’s gettin’ coooooold outside

December is here and brought the nippy with it! Hubb and I are adding cold weather apparel to our cycling arsenal, since there is no sign of us stopping our routine yet :) We’re milking everyday we can, if it ‘aint storming, we out riding!

My new cape is the bee’s knees, I never thought I could pull one off, but here I am rockin it ;)

• New gloves were attained

I feel so classy in the red leather ones, the fingerless funky ones are a trip back to tweenhood!

The cutest skull scarf(Joe Boxer)for 50% off? MINE its soft as hell too

Hubb is stocking up on knit hats since his helmet is a summer helmet. If it comes with a visor, it’s a BIG plus!

• Im a boot-bitch..didn’t you know?

These Route 66 lined boots can be worn two ways:

and were on sale!

These are the newest Uggs in my collection, I wore my green ones for the Tour De Bronx and my black ones need cleaning. I remember saying “I’ll never wear those UGGly things!” That’s before I got the hookup and found out how comfy they were!

and cycling-friendly..minus the grease stains(ugh)

I remember there being a time I dreaded shopping, maybe because I had my mother dressing me, but mostly because bigger sizes weren’t always available in the junior section. Shoe shopping was awful too, my feet were wide. Plus being a growing girl I needed new shoes every few months…so it was pure torture I had to endure. Being a young adult, I appreciate how far clothing has come for the plus size gal, I can now take solace in the fact that I will always find something in my size virtually anywhere I shop :)
..O yeah…you may have noticed but I took my hair in a different direction;

My Facebook followers were quite vocal about “losing the bike-riding cotton candy” I must admit, once I was done going back to brunette, I shed a tear….maybe more!
But ya know…I kinda like it…Its shorter, darker, choppy, but still has some color in there. Not bad for doing it myself eh?

But badass rebel Barbie will be back….she will be back..

Its like I‘m always playing catch-up

Whether its with paperwork, gym work, reading and even seeing friends! Keeping a blog means being consistent with posts, and I feel like I can do a better job. One of my resolutions this year is to make time for blogging, there is many different topics I want this blog to be about; fashion, cycling, body positivity, city life, road to a healthier me..in order to cover them all, some organization is needed.

Besides having a typically great Turkey day, here’s what has been getting all my time lately..

• I joined a new gym!

like my old gym, its quick to get there by bike

I quickly found my parking spot

Here’s some shots of the lobby

Inside set-up

It’s a far cry from Planet Fitness….I made a pro and con list:

Pros            

• Classes!
• Welcoming vibe even if you’re a new member.
• Easily accessible by bike, and not far from the house.
• Change of surroundings
• All the freebies, and even birthday Zumba classes! I may do it for mine next month.
• Same membership price.
• Success stories within the members of the gym, I met a girl doing WW during a workout, just another sign to get my ass to WW!

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Cons            

• Old equipment
• Minimal weights over 50/60 lbs.
• Having to sign up for cardio machines..I’m lucky if I get an elliptical for a whole hour *ugh*
• The hours of operation:

Mon - Thurs: 8:00am-9:30pm
Friday: 8:00am-8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00am-2:00pm

Seems as the pros outweigh the cons! Don’t you love when that happens?

I wore my Tour de Bronx Tshirt for the first week..if finished 25 miles, in the condition I was in, I COULD DO ANYTHING..wearing this reminded me of that.

Besides that, I’ve been shopping around, still revamping my wardrobe.

I am going coo-coo for petticoats lately so I ordered one!

My petticoat from Hips&Curves came before Thanksgiving, after stuffing my face I just had to try it out on Sandy Dee. Did it again for Fridays ride,‘cept I wore the petticoat alone;

Posing is still pretty awkward for me…I’m still getting comfortable with full-body shots, but progress is progress right? I felt like a child riding around in a pretty poofy skirt, my smile could not be contained :)

The first skirt if from City Chic, the second from Domino Dollhouse. My main focus on a petticoat is fullness..I plan on pairing petticoats with my two gorgeous corsets :)

 

Speaking of progress, Tumblr threw this at me and I couldn’t help but think of all the girls out there embracing themselves. No longer hiding. No longer caring the words that spew out of peoples mouths.

I’m proud to be part of this revolution of confident women who know that a number doesn’t define who you are. Being healthy surpasses being thin(ner). Everytime :)

One leader in the revolution: Tess Munster. A true inspiration.

Corsets and Bicycles Part I: Corsets

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A corset is a garment worn to hold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing this item, or with a more lasting effect). Both men and women are known to wear corsets, though women are more common wearers.

Fashion, as ever-changing as it is, something's just don’t die. The little black dress, a pair of sling back heels, fishnet stockings, the perfect shapewear…a go-to outfit for any woman. While times have changed, women’s needs have not. We are all looking for clothes that we feel great in, and in turn, look great in. I doubt my journey for the perfect jeans will never end. But best believe I will  never stop shopping for them, because once I have it, I will probably never want to take them off. Which is the way I feel about my newest additions to the revamped armada of garbs..

        Top images: The Baronessa steel-boned corset 

Bottom images:The Ainsley raw silk steel-boned corset

Hips and Curves is a plus-size lingerie company based in California and from the first time Hubb sent me a link from their site, I was stunned. They have great shit and offer a range from 1x(the smallest) to 6x(the biggest, but special sizes can be ordered). The models are gorgeous, curvy, and aren’t generic looking in anyway. I know my + size girls out there know what I’m talking about. It’s good to see curvy and chubby girls NOT look as if they are in their 40’s..but look my age.

!THE ERA OF BIGGGER SIZES ONLY COMING IN GRANDMA-STLYE CLOTHING IS OVER!

These may not be the first corsets I have worn, I own an underbust corset to which I plan on using to start up my Waist training(or tight lacing). These are however, my first OVERbust corsets, meaning they cover the breasts(adding some va-va-voom if you get my meaning ;) For a HC’s construction and sizing of Corsets click here and here.

*If you are new to Corsets, sorry for all the jargon that I have and will be throwing around in this post.*

Opening the box was Christmas come early!

Tag attached to Ainsley Corset.

wondering why you see no skin behind the laces? The corsets from Hips and Curves come with a “modesty panel”- you choose how much to skin to show!

         "To put on a corset properly is as much of an art as to make a corset properly." -- Anna Held

Lacing and tightening a corset on your own is difficult. With practice is can be done, but its ideal to have someone help you; Hubb has become quite used to tying me up *teehee*, so I’m lucky in that department..but I found this guide(along with cute drawings) on self-lacing.

I’ve referred to this video countless times..

A big(if not main) reason I covet shapewear, is because of the body shape I was bestowed. I am the dreaded “apple shape". I use corsets, girdles, extra high panties, slips, cinchers, belts and something called the “Torsette”(which has changed my life!). Typically we apples gain weight in the tummy and face, but blessed with slender limbs….had to give us something right? Not to mention most apples are buxom to boot…anything giving me a wait is total thumbs up.

Body shapes are usually compared to fruit or actual shapes:

Knowing your body helps with dressing it to flatter your assets!

Part one of this two-part post down. Next up: Lady bikers of yore and their corset-wearing history.

K.