I fell in love with ASOS-Curve while reading a Gabifresh blog post.  What she was wearing just screamed my name, but when I went to the U.K. site they only went up to a U.S. Size 22, I was so bummed since I wear a size 26-28.  Then I started seeing their plus size line in lots of blogs and I could not resist trying them out. Currently this is my favorite. I wore it on the plane, you can dress it up with earrings and cute shoes or you can throw it on with tights and tennis shoes. What I learned:  If I stick to knits or box shaped I can buy their fabulous clothes.  But I cannot wear their fitted or cotton clothes nor any belts. I usually wear the high waisted size 22 skater dress below with a little jacket or sweater like this one from Domino Dollhouse.  It is quite cool in San Francisco most of the year…affinity

This asymmetrical top from Roaman’s  is one of the trends I have seen on the local women in both Italy and France.  The online plus size stores in the UK and the US both seem to carry quite a few high/low tunics, with the front shorter and the back longer, but I had to look around to find this longer on one side and shorter on the other side.  I wonder if this trend is going to come to the US?

I have seen all types of Gladiator shoes wherever I have seen the locals.  Mainly sandals and some wedges because of the cobblestone or concrete paver streets.  They are often worn with leggings and or a mini skirt with a top like the one above.

I have also seen all ages of women and girls wearing t-shirts with their racer-back tops. Seems like the goal might be to be able to wear a bra and not have the back and straps show.
Au revoir mes jolies femmes…affinity

This is me leaning out of our balcony in Nice, France. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have real wifi again.  I will go back and share some outfits from the ship in the next few days.  Today I am wearing a long sleeved pink striped tee. Size 26-28 from Avenue. It tends to be a little long in the arms and the cuffs, but I can count on an Avenue 26-28 to fit me everywhere else.  We can see the parasailing from our desk in the room. Joie de vivre…affinity

A few weeks ago I told you how much I love my Mycra Pac raincoat, although they are expensive.  But they do run very large and last forever (I have had mine at least 8 years).  My friend Janet got a postcard that they are having an outlet sale in Moraga, CA.

Wednesday June 6, 2012   1PM – 7PM

Thursday – Sunday June 7 – 10, 2012  11AM – 4PM

535 Center Street,  Moraga CA     (925) 631-6878   Rheem Valley Shopping Center

Krystal thrifted her prom dress from Crossroads Trading Co. Store. I love that it is up-cycled. Precious!

Last Saturday night we went to a “Prom” given by Burning Man for staff and volunteers.  I think this Prom was conceived as a way to allow you to create a Prom “how it might have been” or “how you wanted it to be”.  We had a great time and thanks to Krystal and Meghan for letting me take their photos…affinity

Meghan purchased this dress for her high school prom, 15 years ago. Very Elegant!

Today is International No Diet Day.  It is easy to remember to remember when International No Diet Day is: It’s the day after Cinco de Mayo, and two days after Star Wars Day: May the 4th (May the Force be with You). So grab your light saber, bash the piñata of the Dieting Industrial Complex, and think about all the things that you love about yourself that have nothing to do with shape or size!

Just to be clear “no dieting ” does not mean that you should not be paying attention to making healthy choices that fuel your body in good ways,  This day is an annual celebration of body acceptance and body shape diversity.

So go out and have an wonderful amazing day appreciating yourself and your body and loving yourself, just the way you are, perfect…affinity

I have been doing aerobics or working out at the gym since 1983.  I have loved it, but I fell into the abyss and stopped working out for over a year.  My trainer and friend Cinder Ernst invited us to come to the new gym she is training at and for the first time in six years we all danced to the songs we had danced together for over 15 years, and then Cinder said “We are dancing today because Affinity said she missed dancing, so here we are”.  I just glowed and danced with my friends. and now I am back, ready to workout again.  But, guess what NOW I NEED SOME NEW WORKOUT CLOTHES!  I know you were waiting for that sentence because I love to shop and tell you all about how it fits and where you can get it and what is fun and happening right now.  And did you know that I am going on a cruise around Italy at the end of May so I have to represent for the big girls. So be on the lookout for me and tell me what you think a size 26-28 girl can wear to shake her booty, and I will tell you what I find out there...affinity

Last night some of my colleagues from The Wyatt Company in the 90s, Denise Spencer and Deborah Rochelle, gave me a little retirement party, which morphed into a reunion. I was thrilled to see everyone. There were about 15 of us who worked together for 4 years with no turnover (during THAT recession) so we got very close and they taught me all I know about ERISA.  The party was at Denise & Paul’s fabulous Sausalito  condo, overlooking the Bay.  Aside from great hugs and the camaraderie of old friends the highlight of my evening was when one of my colleagues told me I had been the best colleague he had ever worked with.  Eight more working days until retirement...affinity

This dress is my go-to dress for afternoon parties, daytime events, dinner out on vacation.  Not really dressy but dressy enough.  I have loved it.

Dress: Big on Batik: Size 3-4 or XL, since it is over 5 years old they do not really make anything quite like this any more, but they do carry some 8Xs and a variety of styles.

I also wanted to include a recipe for the favorite Carrot Salad which I took to the party.  It is a little spicy and a little sweet, my favorite combination:  Spiced and Roasted Multi-Colored Organic Carrots