I'm still here..I swear and yay 50% sale at Torrid

So sorry with lack o updates. I'm still kickin. Been so busy with ebay lately. In efforts to make ends meet I have introduced misses sizes into the ebay store. It's not exactly what I envisioned but in life you make adjustments as needed I suppose. My heart pines to have a plus sizes only store but it just isn't in the cards for me at this time. Le sigh.

I am also working on a new website design for Hourglass Fashion. I am thinking I want to go a little more modern looking. I would love to introduce a store into it also. That will take a little more work and learning on my behalf. If we only had more hours in the day lol.

Oh I did make a Halloween special for plus size costumes and I put the link up today on HF. It is in the style of the new design I am currently in the middle of designing. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. I actually have a different navigation top planned but it is not in working order just yet so I just used a banner for now at the top of the Halloween page.

My main objective with the redesign is to make it more modern and less cluttered. I am having a hard time keeping up with updates from vendors the way it is now. Wish me luck on making it more streamlined. I realize many of the links are in dire need of updating on the HF website and I hope to take a couple days to straighten it out in the near future.

That's what's new with me...I digress and bring you a long awaited reminder...Torrid is having a sale!!! Get an additional 50% Off Clearance Items! 3 Days Only: 10/7 - 10/11. I know you all love those sales. Who doesn't?! - Till next time ~ Jax

Such a touching story

It's really off topic but wanted to pass on this heartwarming article I read on Yahoo today about a young girl who turned a cabbage into a movement that helps the hungry. She really is an inspiration to all with her kindness and generosity. Sometimes it seems like nowadays you don't hear about kids being thoughtful like this so it was so refreshing to read. I hope she continues down this path of doing good for others. Big hats off to Katie. We could all learn a thing or two from this little girl.

ugh... Bad luck go away

It seems I am having one of those weeks that just seem to go all wrong. I think it all started when I accidentally opened an umbrella in the house a couple days ago. That same evening the living room flooded after a big rain. Spent the whole night into the early morning hours trying to get stuff moved out as well as about 4-5 inches of water out. Not fun at all. The carpet is still being dried and will have it cleaned today.

To make matters worse, I heard a crash in the living room last night, I go down to inspect what it was and I find a broken mirror. Really? What next a black cat walking under a ladder lol. OMG

I don't really feel like doing anything today but I do need to hit the post office at least to ship out some ebay orders. Luckily all the ebay stuff is upstairs and safe. whew. Here's hopin I find either a 4 leaf clover or a penny on the ground when I'm out running errands LOL. I just always tell myself it could be worse....It could be much much worse :) So I am thankful. Have a good one readers. ~Jax

Yippee!! It's Snowing!!!

Ok so most of you gals in the north and northeast are sick of the stuff but personally I rarely get to see snow. Imagine my surprise to wake up to a winter wonderland here in Texas! OMG.... I'm just a tad excited. Is it okay to call it a snow day and be a bum all day? lol

Me vs. Google...ps corset tops rule!

I just noticed yesterday that Google search wasn't working on my site for some reason. I guess they decided to update search and not tell me that I needed to change my code. Thanks google...groan. So I figured it would be as easy as getting the new code and putting it in my site's code. Oh nooooooo. No matter what I did, the search would not display correctly. So, 3 hours later, I think I have it wrangled and working so now if you want to search google for something you didn't find on Hourglass Fashion you can. It almost went to hair pulling LOL.

This month for some reason has been technologically against me. Anything tech or mechanical or in any way 20th century has been breaking on me in some fashion. I'm sooo ready for october :P

But onto happier news! I recently added some more new items to my eBay store. If you are looking for plus size corset tops, I still have some left. Most of them are Torrid or Tripp NYC brand if you are familiar with the brands. Ok, I'm taking a post google fiasco break lol. Enjoy your weekend! ~Jax

OH, NOOOOO!

Off topic but am I the last one on earth to realize that Kool Aid is now sporting cargo pants? wth ?? lol. I can't believe they felt the urge to clothe a pitcher of liquid. What's the world coming to? Ok...where's Michael J. Fox and his damn time machine. I'm goin back in time to stop this nonsense lmao.

NOW

THEN

....Anxious....

Well, tomorrow's the big day. As I posted last year I had LASIK vision correction surgery. Overall the results have been good with the exception of my left eye. Its abit smeary as I ended up with what's called a "central island". I have been putting off having it relasered as the first experience was something I really didn't want to go through again. Maybe I'm abit of a chicken but it just wasn't pleasant.

When the doctor says things like "I'm pretty sure.....or I think... it just doesn't give me the confident warm and fuzzies I am looking for if you know what I mean. Needless to say, I am a ball of nerves for having another surgery tomorrow morning. I am hoping for the best and for a speedy recovery. Cross fingers this fixes the problem. I will post an update as soon as I can to both the blog and to Hourglass Fashion.

Beth Ditto clothing line coming July 9

I wasn't too familiar with singer Beth Ditto of The Gossip until some recent news articles came out featuring her refusal to do some in store appearances for a UK clothing store that didn't carry plus sizes and in turn has taken the reigns to launch a clothing line for plus sizes that will debut at Evans UK on July 9, 2009. They do ship to the USA from their online store so that's good news if you find something you can't live without!

I just want to thank her for being bold and standing up for what is right in what can seem like a fashionably unequal society. Read more about it here. Here's a vid below if you wanna check out her music! This is one lady that deserves to be heard in more ways than one. Rock on! ~Jax

I have a bone to pick with entertainment industry

Ok..so I was watching "America's Got Talent" last night all the while being bombarded with commercials for the next show "Dance Your Ass Off" as well as numerous weight loss commercials on the Oxygen network. I really started to get irritated with this Oxygen network. It's supposed to be a network for women. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure a network for women should be encouraging self esteem and confidence and all around positive things for all women. The only thing their programming and commercial choices did was repeatedly say to me "There's something wrong with you". I really don't approve of this message you are sending out to women. Maybe you should rethink your programming as well as the mental programming you are inflicting upon your audience.

On a side note. I watched the first 3 minutes of Dance Your Ass Off and it was all I could stand as they jumped right into sterotypes of what a plus size person is. The moment they showed them immediately raiding the junk food cabinet I was disgusted. This is not what all plus size people do. We don't walk in a room and go Ooh FOOD and proceed to pigout. Btw Oxygen if you need a new show idea let's put anorexics on tv and make them eat food to gain the most weight for cash prizes. It's no different from The Biggest Loser etc. It's just not right..any of this....

Oh and ps. Why is it that the only time we see plus size individuals on tv is on weight loss shows for God's sake. This has to change.

psps. Too funny. I just went to their website and lo and behold it has diet advertisement all over. sheesh.

Stepping off soapbox.

Jax

Oh and if google decides to put weight loss ads in the top right corner for this post my apologies..le sigh.

So I'm thinking about yoga...

I was rummaging online the other day and found out there's actually a yoga class that is designed for plus size individuals. The idea that I can walk into a place and not be stared at or judged makes me feel very inclinced to give this a shot. It's a little bit of a drive, maybe an hour, but I really don't see any reason why I shouldn't treat myself once in awhile. It's called Heavyweight Yoga and is lead by Abby Lentz who is plus sized herself. I love this! If you would like to find out more info please visit her website Heartfelt Yoga. She also offers DVDs if you are not in the Austin area. On the left side of the blog I have an amazon widget which has the link to her DVD at Amazon.

I also found this snippet on YouTube with a little background on it. If I get the oomph to go I will definitely report back about it. Sometimes I just need a little push. ~Jax

Low on funds but need some new clothes?

I know that clothing is probably near the end of alot of people's concerns at the moment but it's surely still a necessity for most. The best thing I can suggest is going through your closet to really get a feel for your entire wardrobe. Purge, sell or donate the items you no longer wear due to fit or preference. Try to make a variety of possible mix and match outfits from your existing clothing and when you shop for new items, use those to fill the gaps or create new combinations with what you already have. This will stretch your wardrobe farther as well as your budget. Try not to be a label snob when bargain shopping. Nobody sees that label but you. Truth be told I've had some of my elcheapo garments last a heck of a lot longer than some items from higher end stores.

The other thing helps is shopping clearance racks, during sales, or with coupons. If you prefer to shop online in your jammies then make sure you check online for coupons to your favorite store first. I normally post a good amount of the sales here on the blog for you or on the Hourglass Fashion website so be sure to check before you shop. That being said let me have a looksee for some coupons for ya. Lets seeeee....

One Hanes Place has a sale starting tomorrow 5-13-2009. They have a plus size selection including intimates and swimwear. If you are looking for the best deals, make sure to check the clearance sections first. If you order, don't forget the coupon code. 15% off PLUS $2.95 shipping at onehanesplace.com! Use promo code: 611521 at checkout. Offer Valid 5.13.09 through 5.16.09.

The swimsuit to the left is available through One Hanes Place. They have a version for average cup sizes as well as a suit for D cup plus. Finally someone picked up on the fact that our boobs come in different sizes. Yay!

I found some really cute stuff at Walmart.com. Best of all the prices are really affordable. Check out the new women's Plus Knit Halter Dress to the left. Currently it's $17 with 97 cents shipping. It's also available in turquoise. Sexy stuff! If you look through their plus size apparel section it's not uncommon to find cute tops and more for less than 10 bucks each. I've got my eye on some $5 dollar tops.
Shop for Apparel Online at Walmart.com

Here are some more current deals from some of your faves.

Lane Bryant - Save $25 on your online order of $75 or more at LaneBryant.com! Just enter promotion code 025009972 at checkout. Expires 07-27-2009.

Fashion Bug - Get free shipping with a purchase of $75 or more at FashionBug.com Use promo code 776276701at checkout. Expires 08-14-09.

Avenue - Final Clearance! Save on plus-size fashion from Avenue.com! & Free Shipping on $75 or more on your order at Avenue.com! Click Here for Details.

Happy bargain hunting! ~Jax

Well, it's official...

Well, it's official...The universe is telling me I'm old. Why you may ask? Today in the car I hear the radio announcer declare it's "Flashback" day, only to proceed to play Nirvana. Wow... really? flashback? We are talkin early 90's here for Nirvana. I remember because I was in either my jr. or senior year in high school. Surely the 90's can't be called "Flashback" already can they? I would like a jury ruling on this one lol. Anyone else feelin like I do?

Enjoy the rest of your Monday!

Goodbye Figure Magazine

....Another plus size magazine bites the dust. I wasn't exactly the biggest fan (no pun intended) of Figure magazine but I'm still sad to hear that it's run is over. I used to grab it once in a while from the magazine rack for a quick fashion read. It definitely was the plus size magazine with the most visibility and was usually easy to find unlike other magazines for bbw. Their last issue is the March/April issue. I really hope someone comes along and claims our place on the magazine rack again. It was nice having something to relate to amongst the sea of skinny model "how to lose 5 pound mags". RIP Figure magazine. ~Jax

I'm mad at Target

Speaking of stores I haven't been in in awhile. Target would make that list when it comes to the plus size clothing department. The one where I live is brand spankin new and it's just awful. I mean they stuffed the plus size department in some corner merged with maternity with like 3 racks of ugly out of season clothes. (They had sweaters out when it was 100 degrees out!) I'm pretty sure Target could rake in some dough from us plus size gals if they would only find a plus size clothing buyer that has maybe half a brain and knows what they are doing when it comes to style. (PS. Target, I'm for hire! lol). I think their buyer must think we all like wearing boring grandma clothes for some reason. Gawd awful selection. There's my rant for the day. I haven't looked to see if their online selection is any better. We can only hope. ~Jax

I found the Shamwow guys long lost brother....lol

OMG! Is it just me or does the Shamwow guy look like Beavis...hmmm?? Methinks yes. Even the protruding jaw. The resemblance is uncanny! Ok yet again not fashion related but funny nonetheless lol. Unless you are talkin bad hairdos of course hehe. ~Jax

Farmer's Market goodies!

A little off the fashion topic but...Hubby and I took some time out yesterday afternoon to enjoy the day and browse a nearby farmer's market for some fresh local produce. The weather was beautiful until a freak hail storm broke out. Luckily we had just finished up our shopping. If you love to cook and eat then I really do recommend checking out a farmer's market. I like knowing that mostly everything is fresh, organic and grown the old fashioned way. Not only that but it's a great way to support local growers and agriculture. This market even had a local baker with yummy french bread baguettes for sale. I'm a carb hound so I had to get one lol. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar and a couple slices made a great snack.



The tomatoes were hydroponic and grown without soil. I have to admit they were really really juicy and so flavorful. They put the supermarket tomatoes to shame. Tomorrow I will probably make a zesty pico de gallo with the other veggies. If you want to find a farmer's market near you, check out this site Local Harvest for locations around the country. Sometimes it's the little things like this that do wonders for your well being. Enjoy the fresh air and healthy veggies! ~Jax

Sales hot off the press!

Fashion Bug just released their newest sales. Great time to stock up on some bras and undies. They usually have a really cute selection of plus size panties to choose from.
Like these for example. They have some sexy string bikinis in plus size too. A rarity indeed. The second sale they are having is Free shipping for dresses and that is only good for one day from today (3-17-2009) through tomorrow (3-18-2009). See the links below for coupon code.

Buy 2 bras and get 2 free, buy 3 panties and get 3 free at FashionBug.com. Shop the Intimates Stock-Up Sale now. Expires 03-26-09. Exclusions may apply.

Be the first to get our new style for the season with free shipping on dresses at FashionBug.com. Use promo Code 776265704 at checkout. Valid 3-17-09 through 3-18-09.

On a side note, I read an article from Toronto about the modelling industry and the demand for plus size models being overwhelming. Which I have to say, I am thankful that finally they are starting to pay attention to someone in something over a size 10. Although sometimes I look at these plus size models and think, hmm, that's not what plus sized means to me but hey it's a step in the right direction at least. Here's the article if you would like to read, as well as the site that hosted the plus size model search. *site has music just to warn you to have your speakers down first :). They also have a facebook page etc and some fashion and modelling tips for those interested. ~Jax

Rainy day=lazy Jax

After a nasty couple of hot humid days we finally get a mellow cold rainy day. I love days like this but I tend to get really lazy and just wanna huddle up with a warm cup of cocoa or coffee and watch some tivo or a DVD. Guilty pleasure #354 - I've been tivo'ing Whatever Martha and I have to say I love it for a laugh and their personalities and demeanors remind me of my best friend from high school and I (minus the super rich parents). Me being the curvy one of course (LOVE Jennifer's hair!!! - I am envious!) and the skinny blonde my best friend in high school who after many years adrift we finally reconnected a few months back through a high school reunion site. I think it had been like 14 years since I last saw her.
Big thanks to the internet for making that reunion possible lol. Ahhh technology. When it's not biting me in the ass, I love it. I digress...I know I have a tendency to ramble..welcome to my head lol. Ok I'm off for now. Enjoy your day! PS. here's a snippet preview of Whatever Martha if you wanna take a peek

Oh noes.. broken hard drives suck. PS goodbye Yahoo radio

A little bad news from a borrowed laptop. I am the victim of a broken hard drive and am awaiting the data retrieval as we speak. I will be updating sporadically this week until I can get back up and running with some new drives. I will chalk this up to an expensive lesson learned. Always back up your data!! Good news is that it should be retrievable for a pretty price tag of course... Makes me want to go back to the days of paying with shells...but then again I'm fresh outta shells too.

This unexpected hiatus gives me the chance to look for a new radio program since Yahoo's launch cast plus which I have been happy with for many years has sold out to CBS and are now going to inundate the service with ads and no more personal stations. Forget that! So far I am keen on Slacker who has a paid service that lets you skip ads which believe me is worth the couple bucks a month. There's also Rhapsody who has a hefty monthly fee but they give you the luxury of being able to listen to whatever song you want whenever you want. The music lover in me wants Rhapsody but the cheapskate in me votes Slacker or Last.fm which has a pretty cool player you can embed in your blog or facebook etc.

I added their widget to the right on this blog if anybody wants to give it a whirl. I have it set up as Zero 7 type music which I LOVE and am always eager to learn of comparable artists. Well, I'd like to thank Yahoo for the good years we had. That music player has helped work go by faster and has made updating Hourglass Fashion more enjoyable. Front page editing and eBay work can admittedly get a tad boring in a quiet room.

Ok... I admit it. I will go crazy without my computer LOL. Yes, a tad geeky.. I know I know. I will just commandere this laptop for a couple days as much as I hate typing on laptops. I might just have to move on to my other loves to include Anthony Bourdain tivo'd episodes. I am convinced he could be a long lost relative if sarcasm and snide humor are part of the genetics code that the guys in white coats evaluate. Speaking of guys in white coats...did I mention I will go nuts without my compter haha. I digress. I will try to get some new updates for you very shortly. Till then ~Jax

Sorry I've been absent. Still recovering from surgery

I apologize for the delay in sales updates lately. I recently had lasik eye laser surgery and am having some adjustment problems especially with my close up vision so updates may be abit slow for the next couple of weeks. I am hoping for the best with the recovery and am basically pacing myself on the computer. At this point, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't. :( It has been about 11 days since the surgery so I still have to be patient with my vision changes as it can be a daily change it seems. ugh lol.

Oh oh oh! I almost forgot to tell you that I updated the fashion spotlight on Hourglass Fashion. For September I posted all kinds of cool plus size halloween costumes. The sooner the better to start shopping so you get a good selection. As I was browsing even in September alot of plus sizes seem to be selling out fast. So I definitely advise shopping as early as you can for your costume and accessories.

On a side note, if you are in need of a plus size homecoming dress be sure to check out the great styles at Sydney's Closet. Wow I really wish I had as much selection in plus size clothing when I was a teenager. Maybe that's where my obsession with finding great plus size clothes comes from lol. Till next time :) Jax