An athlete my size.

I am an athlete.  I am not small or dainty.

I am a former figure skater, and my thighs were built to toss my body and get beat up hours for on end.  I am not a stick, and never was.  I am an Athlete.

I am currently more active than 80% of people I know.  I participate in endless amounts of sports and activities.  I throw this body around as if I weighed 100 lbs.  I am an Athlete.

I was recently told by my Surfset instructor, that joking about being a ‘chubby athlete’ was a defense mechanism.  Not realizing what I was doing I am now correcting my vocabulary to not be so ‘self-deprecating’.  I am an Athlete.

My thighs touch.  My thighs keep me grounded.  My thighs are bigger than yours.  I am an Athlete.

I am a RETIRED competitive athlete.  But! I am still an Athlete.  I may have grown since I retired but my muscles are there.  Strong, powerful and wonderful.

As every year comes and goes, ESPN releases their body issue.  The magazine shows top notch athletes naked in various sports.  It highlights the body, the muscles the athleticism that it takes.  It is the body.  We all have one, those inside the pages are just are athletic.  This issue is always remarkable to study and read how these humans train and sacrifice to be the best they can be. 

Rarely do I see a woman athlete my size, and even rarer, to see her on a magazine, and impossible to ever see her naked.  And then, 2015 happened, and Amanda Bingson made the cover.

The power of having US athlete Amanda Bingson to be selected to be one of the 4 ESPN Body Magazine covers is amazing!   She is me.  She is you. 

She is an athlete that is not small.  The article is fantastic and I encourage you all to read it.  Read about all the athletes frankly, they should also be applauded for their feats.

I want to thank ESPN for opening people’s eyes that just because I am solid and bigger than you expect it makes me no less of an athlete.  And yes, I realize that she is not the only athlete with curves, she clearly has to compete against others, But, this is the first time someone like ‘me’ is showcased.  And for that it is empowering.  Thank you for the reminder ESPN that I too am an athlete worthy of the cover of a magazine.

I am confident about the size of my body.  Hell, it puts up with way more than it should.  I fall down, it gets me back up.  I have scars and bruises, but I wouldn’t trade this model in.  And to quote Bingson “You might be prettier and skinnier than me, but I'll kick your ass in a game of one-on-one.”  That power is confidence.

We are all athletes in our own way.  OWN IT.  Own your strength.  Own your courage.  Own your abilities.  Own your successes and failures.

I am an Athlete.

This is the link to the article:  http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/page/bodyamandabingson/hammer-thrower-amanda-bingson-says-athletes-come-all-shapes-sizes-espn-magazine-body-issue

GRIPE...

Sandal season is around the corner.. or so I hope with today's most recent 'spring snow fall'.... ugh.... What may be more 'ugh' than snow in March is the trend of super UGLY sandals on the horizon!

And with that said... let's GRIPE!!!

 

Fashionistas all over are making the 'Birkenstock' work..... first I should say I don't 'mind' a Birkenstock, obviously NEVER EVER with socks.  I know many stylish women, my sister included, that sport the shoe but this new wave of 'STYLED' birks as best I can put it make me want to vomit.  

Shower sandals are now a thing!  Think those wide strap slip on Adidas decked in gold and metallic colours.  UGH!  

So with that said.... here are my DONT'S!

and if you are going to wear a Birkenstock... my HOW TO!

HAPPY GRIPE WEDNESDAY!!!!

Sandal image from {shutupilovethatshirtonyou}

Styling images from Pinterest

Styling...

You can do your very best to wear lots of colour in life.  Or you can stick to just black.   But when it comes to being the stylist of Lupita (yes I am talking about her AGAIN.. should rename the blog) I can't help but wonder if during this awards season that this was done on purpose.

A perfect sartorial rainbow.

Not all worn in this order I should state, however there is an undeniable truth that this girl can literally wear ANYTHING and look amazing.

I may have my closet organized in this manner, but I think I should now start to always dress in a different colour.  You cannot not be happy when you literally can wear the rainbow!

Also... I need to walk more red carpets in my life.. they make for great pictures.

 To make this picture bigger, click {here}


{SOURCE}

Finds...

Well by this time we are all caught up on who wore what on the red carpet.. how great Jared Leto looked... and we have seen the 'Oscar Selfie'.

We also know that Lupita Nyong'o won the OSCAR for Best Actress wearing that custom baby blue Prada dress.  But what you may not have seen if you don't run in the fashion circle of social media is this great diagram put out by a UK based website depicting all the past Best Actress winners gowns.

Stunning right!  A few things to point out! 
No lady has ever won wearing RED.. interesting eh!  Hally Berry was close but it was way more burgundy/orange then true red. 
Eighteen ladies have won wearing long sleeves!

Which year and leading lady was your favorite?  Do you remember these iconic dresses from years past.  It also shows you what looks are classic and can easily be worn by the leading ladies of today!

Red Carpet... Oscars 2014

Are you ready for it?  Can you handle it?  My annual OSCAR red carpet review!

The pre-shows started and the fashion was boring, muted, nothing was off the charts.  And then, BOOM, there wasn't a miss!  Thank goodness because I was begining to fret that the OSCARS were going to be a big let down.

I suspect that a bunch of ladies loved the Disney movie FROZEN because sheer, icey metalics were adorned on a bunch of ladies.  A few stunning black dresses pulled us to the dark side, and the other major trend everyone brought their mums!

Drum roll please..... dum dum dum...  here we go!

Amy Adams was a little boring for a lead actress nominee.  Even though she looked like a knock out in Gucci I expected/wanted more from her.  However those Tiffany earrings were amazing.

This is what she wore to an after party!  This is what I was expecting on the red carpet.  

a KNOCK OUT.

 Anna Kendrick left me puzzled.  I love the dress, I didn't love the dress.  Over all I thought the detailing on the bodice was so amazing and that clutch was everything.  J Mendel gets that the small things matter.  I want a GIANT gem as a handbag any day!

She came in late and pretty much went under the radar and who even knew Lady Gaga got an invite!  No matter what you say about the Mother Monster this pale pink Versace ensemble with breathtakingly feminine.  I could have done without the scarf (never a fan) but the beading made her petite frame look sooo curvy.  Great job Gaga!

 

And in another small package is Kristin Chenoweth in Roberto Cavalli.  Again with the beading detailing!  Ladies listen up, if you dont have it, allow detailing to give you it.  She was like a mini Oscar!

  Everyone's favorite girl and fellow clutz (she fell again this year.  a woman after my own heart) Jennifer Lawrence wore this fantastic colour Dior dress.  Simple a little to twin-sies to Amy Adams for me, she was one of a handful of ladies who wore colour so bonus points for her.

 Classy flapper was Jennifer Garner in Oscar de la Renta.  Cant say anything bad about this dress it was stunning.  The hair however, let's talk how amazing those tosseled locks are!  She gives Jared Leto a run for best hair of the night..lol

And then the carpet's jaw dropped.  Forest green Vera Wang on Idina Menzel was breathtaking.  That rich colour with her brown hair and that necklace.  She knocked it out. 

 Bette Midler in Reem Acra was in my top three favorites of the night!  She looked unreal!!!!  That colour with her skin tone was delicious.  If you think lace makes you look old, THINK AGAIN!

Anne Hathaway in Prada at first I wasn't a big fan.  Yes nice dress, beading is nice, but that is all I thought.  Nice dress.  Then she went on TV and HOLY COW it sparkled and blinded my on my couch!  

Well done Anne.

The night's darling was Lupita Nyong'o in custom Prada.  She looked like she was walking on a cloud!  And rightfully so, as her first movie got her to the Oscars.

After she arrived this began circling the internet and I just had to share!

 Portia de Rossi in Naeem Khan made me think of honey combs, crochet and lace all wrapped up into one!  I thought it was a nice dress, a great silhouette on her.

Sally Hawkins in Valentino made me swoon!  Loved the sleeves, loved how she paired light flouncy hair with a heavy embellished dress.

BOOM BLUE!  This is what a class act and Oscar worthy dress is.  Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen was literally out of this world.  Stunning.  She made my top three; I am sure she feels so honored..lol

More ladies in neutrals and metallics.  All three we gorgeous, but what stood out to me was Angelina's boobs looked awesome, and Cate's opal earrings were unreal.

Who says you can't wear white in Winter!  These ladies proved white in LA is an all year thing!

I will speak more on Kate Hudson below ;)

And then the BLACK reigned.  Charlize was hands down the sex pot of the night.  Those high peaks on the straps screamed VA VA VOOM!  Julia Roberts in Lace was great.  Like Sandy that is what class and perfection look like. 

 

Drum roll... my hands down favorite of the night was Kate Hudson in Atelier Versace.  First the detachable cape is everything, that plunging V, the subtle hair.  I mean.  Hollywood Glam eat your heart out.  This is a dress that makes fashion legendary!

 

and now my least favorite

 

Margot Robbie in Saint Laurent.  Girl, I am all for the new dark hair.  Hell I love a strong brow, I even dig a deep deep coloured lip.  But doing that ALL with this black column dress was too much.  I would have loved the same styling in a lighter coloured dress.  Would have made more of an impact.  Sorry Margot.

I could continue with thirty other red carpet looks.  Hell I could break down all the parties and what everyone wore.  But I won't.  Mostly because I am sick and have zero energy.  However!  I will show you an amazing dress from the Vanity Fair party that I think is soooo note worthy!

Zooey Deschanel is Oscar de la Renta.  Only way I can describe it is grown-floral-sexy.  Loved this dress.  Thought it was so refreshing from all the super heavy beaded metallic dresses.  And that hair, this girl is stepping up her flirt game!

Hope you had a good time with this year's OSCAR Red Carpet review!!!  Leave comments below, tweet me or message on Facebook with your thoughts!  Did you agree?  Who did I miss?!

_Carlie xo

Finds...

WINTER BLUES are in full swing in my neck of the woods.. I am OVER Winter, although I am FULLY immersed in the Winter Olympics!  Let me take this moment to say GO CANADA! lol

Now with all that said, I am window shopping all my usual stores for the perfect Spring handbag.  I cannot help but look ahead and see all the pretty things I want to be wearing once the warm'er' weather hits.  As for the bag, blue is the colour I want, mark my words, you will want a blue one as well.

Here are my top three choices!  I am leaning towards the {Little Burgundy} bag the most, but then the super light blue one from {ALDO} has be second guessing!

What do you think?

Styling...

Are you a football fan? Is your significant other one?  No matter the answer to that question if this coming Sunday you are going/being dragged to a Superbowl party show up looking super duper awesome!!!

Let us begin.  Two teams are playing, Denver Broncos (the horses) and the Seattle Seahawks (the birds).  Both teams base colour is navy and no doubt you already have that in your closet.  Add a splash of orange or green pending the team that you like or being forced to like and you are set!

Each team below has two looks, both paired with jeans, cause duh it is a sports game.  The one on the left is the 'casual' look, and the other is the dream world outfit I live in if a Superbowl party came with canapes instead of buffalo wings, and champagne instead of canned beer.  I am a football fan but a girl can dream can't she! hahahha

Into that closet you go, and take these looks as some inspiration to be the BEST DRESSED fan at the Superbowl party you are going too!  Fashion game faces on ladies, it is the Super Bowl after all!