Guest Blogger: Natalie, Derby Girl

About now, I'm nursing a hangover (boozy & emotional) from my baby brother's wedding in a quaint cottage by the water. So let's skip the prelude & let me tell you how happy I am to introduce you to Natalie! I know Natalie from twitter through a derby connection.  I've decided to not hold it against her that she plays for our Fog City Roller's rival team Capital City Roller's since she seems pretty great.  Natalie also has her own blog so make sure you check that out as well! Without further ado, here's Natalie (Thanks lady!) xo Em



It’s a girl thing…..


My name is Natalie and I am plus-sized. Recently, I‘ve been able to add “proudly” to that sentence. Proudly plus-sized. Sounds so simple, only it isn’t.

I come from a long line of people who’ve struggled with weight and size. I’m sure some of you can relate to coming from “big families”. I am one of those people. I have one of those families. We are those people. Are you? I’ve spent a lifetime, plus a day, reconciling how my jean size could somehow dictate my sense of self and my sense of worth. I am smarter than that. I’ve read everything from the Beauty Myth to Cosmo and I’ve spent far too much time coming up with far too few answers. I’ve said “I’m happy as long as I’m healthy” and wanted desperately to mean it. But truth be told, deep down, I never did.

So many times, I’ve said “I’m done, and I am happy if I stay this size forever”….so many times I have only felt it for a matter of weeks, and sometimes even days. It never stuck. A new dress usually made me feel better for a brief period and a new bra could even squeeze out a few months at times, but it never lasted…until recently.

What has changed? Nothing really…I’m still the same person…I still weigh about the same, give or take, on any given day…. And try as I might, I’ve not won any fabulous sums of money which would allow me to buy a new bra every day of week. What IS new in my life are the people surrounding me. I have joined roller derby…. and suddenly my world has expanded and so has my appreciation of my body.

We joke about it being a cult, or at best, a sisterhood, naysayers have called it a trend….but for so many of us, especially myself, it is simply more.

It is a new way of seeing myself and seeing all women. It is feeling truly appreciated, loved and attractive for the first time in many, many, years. It is realizing that the tiniest woman can pack a huge punch and that the girl with the big wide hips can roll like a freight train. It is getting compliments from people who are not trying to sleep with me or trick me into buying anything. It is getting support from people who want to see me succeed as a blocker and also as a person. It is understanding that a good pack is often made up of many sizes and shapes. It is being praised for knowing how to use my big ass strategically to defend a fellow teammate when she is trying to score points. It is wearing tighter clothes, brighter colors and more daring cuts. It is not being afraid of revealing that version of me that been hidden under oversized clothes for far too many years.

It is pride…in not only what my body looks like…but what it can do. It is proudly answering “Torrid” when someone asks me where I bought my dress….instead of “I forget”. It is learning that my body can be an incredible thing of beauty, even at a size 16-18.

Guest Blog; Simpli Baye

Right about now I'm gearing up for the big event - my brother's wedding!  There will be preparations, rehearsal dinner & I heard rumors of a bonfire the night before! Gee... I guess I need to pack a cute bonfire outfit!
I'm super excited about today's guest blogger, the most adorable Baye! Baye isn't a blogger but a fabulous tweeter, a cupcake queen & like a said... ADORABLE! I'll let you see for yourself, but trust me when I tell you this won't be the last you see of her...... *something up our sleeves*

Sympli is Simply the Best


For all the women that have squeezed yourselves into slimming undergarments in order for you new dress to look perfect, been afraid to eat another bite at Christmas dinner in fear of the button on your pants popping off, or been totally stuck while packing for you dream vacation due to the hassle of ironing adorable dresses. Well ladies, be "outfit conscious" no more!

Canadian made "Sympli" is an amazing line of clothing suited to everyone. Sympli is a heavy jersey material available from sizes 2-18 (the plus size collection is debuting this fall!) in 36 different colors! Talk about versatile!

The jersey is amazing, especially for travel as it is wrinkle resistant and no fuss - its easy care fabrics can go in your washer and hang to dry - ball it up in your suitcase and go! With most pieces fitting generously you feel beyond confident and beautiful in it. Another benefit of the heavy jersey? It truly does NOT cling! With Sympli I can wear the same outfit as my friend in a size 2 and look just as good ... maybe better! Meanwhile, you feel like you're wearing your pajamas - perfect!

Me at the Pgal's Closet Sympli Trunk show in April '11. I am wearing the Pallazzo Pant and Kimono in Black with my own denim jacket and infinity jewellery scarf from Pgal's Closet.

Sympli is all hand made in Vancouver by women for women. Working mom's are their number one resource and are dedicated to promote positive self-image encouraging women of all ages, shapes and sizes to wear clothes with confidence and as a compliment to their personality, mood and to forget the myth that they would be happier with a "perfect body" The White House Design Company proudly supports the Looking Glass Foundation, a non-profit organization based in BC run by a group of passionate mothers who are making a difference by trying to bring happiness and positive futures to troubled youth struggling with eating disorders. (For more information check out the Looking Glass Foundation at www.lookingglassbc.com)

Sandra Miller of Sandra Miller Floral Design at the Trunk show wearing the Sympli Chakra Tunic, Urban Cardigan and Diva legging all in black - jewellery is from Pgal's Closet.

Me at the trunk show wearing Sympli's Deep Pocket Tunic in black.

Sandra Miller again looking stunning in the Rhythm tunic, Rhythm coat and cigarette pant in Currant.

Pgal's Closet is owned by - my fabulous, if I do say so myself, mother - Patricia Gallagher and is located in Rothesay, New Brunswick; attached to it's sister home decor store, Country Treasures. All Sympli pieces can be ordered from there and takes about 8 weeks to arrive by special order; the in-store collection, however, is always great!

Sympli is available at:

Pgal's Closet/Country Treasures
116 Hampton Road
Rothesay, NB

506-849-PGAL

As well as at the beautiful & seasonal;;
Pgal's Closet featuring Boutique Zekara
172 Water Street
St. Andrews by the Sea, NB

506-529-PGAL

You can check out more Sympli looks at: www.symplithebest.com & www.pgalscloset.com

Guest Blog: An Inexpensive Update by Melissa

Hi again folks... still on vacation but have another fantastic & fabulous blogger to share with you! Today my friend, dancer, blogger & teacher is Melissa from Sigh...Gush...Gasp (one day I totally have to ask how she chose the blog name cuz I love it!). Check out her post & then swing over to her blog to see her fabulous fashion posts & OOTD's!
Thanks for filling in for me Melissa! Oh.. & if you order the teal bracelet - can I borrow it??


Hi everyone, I’m Melissa from Sigh…Gush…Gasp. I am so honoured to be guest posting for Emma while she is away on vacation. Hope you have a great trip Emma!

Each season there are always so many things that I want to add to my closet. Fall is no exception. However, sometimes we can’t always afford all the things we want. The great thing is a lot of the time summer clothes can be extended into fall by adding a cardigan, tights and booties to an outfit. However, for me, one of the most inexpensive ways to update my wardrobe and to add something new, is with accessories.

Inexpensive update by melissacurler featuring metal jewelry

Chain jewelry
$35 - modcloth.com

Metal jewelry
$15 - modcloth.com

Metal jewelry
$12 - modcloth.com

Earrings and necklaces are great updates for a wardrobe anytime of the year. However, if you can tailor it to the season it is even better. The earrings and necklace pictured above are a couple of my favorites, but could be worn in any season. The ring could be worn in any season as well, however the burgundy colour of the flowers is perfect for this fall, as it is one of the in colours. Also for fall, you could add some animal print accessories like these bracelets available at Nordstroms

Click here for link

I am in love with the teal and animal print bracelet. This may be the next addition to my wardrobe for this season. What is your must have accessory for the fall?

Guest Post: Hello Heather!

So glad to have Heather of Gully Beads & a great friend, be my first guest blogger while I am off in Ontario (hopefully soaking up sun & drinking mojitos..).  Heather makes fabulous jewelry & is also a graphic designer - you can find her on twitter, facebook & her very own website with blog included!


First let me tell you it's great to be guest blogging today on Full of Fabulous, and what's more fabulous this season than nails?!


I have a huge nail polish collection it may even rival my shoe collection and this year nails are HOT and it seems anything goes. Everyone seems to have a different take on what the hottest colors this season will be. Neutrals are high on the list but judging by some of the color pallets from OPI I think it's safe to say anything goes.
My favorites of the season is Nice Stems by OPI.

OPI Colours Left to Right: Black Shatter, Come to Poppy, Play the peonies, I lily love you, Be a dahlia won't you and Silver shatter

Pictured here is 'Play the peonies', with a top coat of 'I Lily love you'!

Today I want to share with you two growing trends that have been out all summer but show no sign of slowing down in popularity.

1. Sally Hansen nail pens, used to draw on your own designs on top off your favorite colour.

2. Shatter by OPI, it creates a crackel effect on top of your favorite colour polish.

Both trends are available in multiply colors. I'm going to test the black Sally Hansen nail pen and the Shatter by OPI in Black and Silver.


I'm sure like me, many of you like the idea of drawing on your nails but your saying can it really be that easy. The answer I'm afraid is, NO! I liked to think I could accomplish this adventure into the art of a nail pen but alas I don't have the patience for it. Overall I didn't like the finished product (as I'm sure you'll agree by the photo below).
It is really hard to draw on your nail and the pen is not as fluid as polish on a brush.

Nail Colours from top to botton: Mauving to Manitoba, Yodel Me On My Cell, Didgeridoo Your Nails and Come to Poppy

(I just can't get enough of the 2 cute names)

The second trend is was Shatter by OPI, I first purchased the black and I fell in love, which led to the purchase of the silver. *note from Em ~ it was Heather that got me hooked on Shatter too!
It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 and you'll love the results - no special skill required! You use your favorite polish for a base coat let dry completely (10min) then apply a top coat of shatter, application is easy with OPI's new wide brush. Apply in one swipeas it doesn't allow for multiply coats then watch it shatter.

Simple and beautiful. Another added bonus is when your polish has started to chip but you don't have time to do a polish swap, hit it with shatter and it will look revived.

Overall I think the Nail pen at $8.99 is for people who have a lot of time on their hands (insert corny pun here) and want to perfect the art of the nail pen but if you want more bang for your
buck, I totally recommend the Shatter by OPI $9-$11 per bottle for a no muss no fuss awesome finished look.

Stay Fabulous,

Heather

Homeward Bound

Yes I'm in my car, but no I'm not driving so please don't hassle me about dangerous driving

Well by the time you read this I will be en route to Ontario!
I am heading back to my hometown for 10 days & 2 weddings & I have to admit I am beyond excited about the whole thing.

Our first stop will be Edmunston to spend a night with my husband's Aunt & Uncle before we make our way to Montreal for an evening with my gorgeous cousin, Noelle & her adorable family. From there we will make the drive home & arrive mid day Friday. Saturday is the first wedding, so needless to say it is a jam packed trip!

Our friend's Phil & Tiffany are an adorable couple, with an even more adorable daughter Claire (sorry guys, but she IS way cuter than both of you combined, just sayin'). We couldn't be happier that these two found each other & are finally joining us in the 'husband & wife' category!
I can't wait to show you the dress I picked out from Torrid for their wedding & how I style it.

The second big event for us on this trip, is actually HUGE... one of my younger twin brothers, Noah, is getting married to the gorgeous Mary Claire.  I mean this is huge for me. So big I don't even have words.  Let's just say I get teary thinking about it.
It is going to be an outdoor/barn wedding & I'm sure the photos I have to share from that day will be magnificent! As will the Cherry Velvet dress & a few surprises I have up my sleeve!

While I am away I have some awesome guest bloggers lined up for you so make sure you are following via google friend connect of bloglovin' to keep up to date (& this may help with an upcoming blog giveaway... hint hint).  Check back tomorrow for my first guest blog post ~ Heather from Gully Beads!

An August Full of Pictures

September 1st!??
Only a few dates a year feel quite this dramatic as they arrive (my birthday, December 1st... and ya that's all I got). I was almost sure I had some how been tricked of my August/summer until I started to look at some of August's instagram photos. 

                                          Obviously my life is jam packed full of awesome!

And fun!

And so much love & cuteness!!

(Obviously we got a new baby kitten but I won't bore you with ALL the photos)

And finally, a bit of calm & beauty after Tropical Storm Irene...

OOTD Goodnight Irene

By now everyone has heard of Hurricane Irene hitting the east coast. Luckily by the time it hit my part of the world it had been down graded & our city had very little damage.  Yesterday was high winds & tides.... today all was beautiful again.

In fact, it might be some of the best weather we've had all summer!
I took advantage of the amazing skies, misty blowing of the sea & hit the shore with my tripod.

Second hand skirt from Torrid. Top from Addition Elle (years ago!). Bracelet, Forever 21.

I've had this skirt for months now but keep forgetting that my wonderful friend Vanessa sent it to me from Toronto. Today was finally the day to wear it.  The top is a favorite but shows plenty of cleavage so isn't always appropriate - hanging at the beach with coffee & a friend seems cleavage appropriate to me!

A little fun in the sun (and a mad dash from the waves!)...

Saint's Rest Beach, Saint John, New Brunswick

Just an all around great summer moment, when there are so few left to be had...