Instead

Dear Pinterest Users,


Clothing does not automatically look better on thin people.  


I know we're fed that lie in magazines, blogs, tv, movies, and pretty much everywhere else you look, but if you look at these images with a critical eye, you'll find that it's simply not true.  Different styles flatter figures with different proportions - curvy, boyish, petite, long torso, long legs, ample tush, slim butt, large boobs, small boobs, no boobs, boobs that are two different sizes, narrow hips, hips that are large and in charge, and the hundreds of other variations that make us uniquely beautiful.  This is why nobody, regardless of size or figure, has an easy time finding clothes that fit and look great - we used to make clothes to fit our body, not the other way around.


So please, please stop tagging photos or creating boards that are called, "When I'm thin, this is what I'll wear."  Pin fantasy outfits that you'll never wear because they're too expensive or ridiculous, not because you think clothes are reserved for girls who fall into one narrow definition of beauty.  Please start treating your body with some respect.  How about:


Instead of counting calories, count the number of fruits and vegetables you ate today.  


Instead of calling yourself fat, get yourself some omega-3 fatty acids.  They're so good for you.


Instead of criticizing the girl in the mirror, take your fine self on a walk and soak up that natural beauty.  


Instead of looking at the size on your clothes, turn the tag over and check out where they were made.  Think about the life of the woman who stitched those pieces together.  


Instead of learning how to pose for photos so you look thinnest, throw your arm around a friend: it's the best way to avoid unintentional arm widening (it happens to all of us).  


Instead of donning black because it's "slimming," wear colors that brighten your complexion and make you feel fabulous.  


Instead of hating on or envying the skinny girls, remember that they are just as unhappy with themselves as you are - and maybe more.  


Instead of obsessing over what life would be like if you looked different, remember that most people don't care nearly as much about what you look like as you do.  (This took me way too long to figure out.  I will never be tan, large-chested, wavy-haired, or any other number of things, and nobody else cares about these facts.  Maybe I shouldn't either.)


Be nice to yourself, because I bet you're pretty awesome when  you're not posting annoying captions on Pinterest.


Much love,
JM

a new nickname?

Just got an email to: "Hell Ms. Marie."  I like it.

Peppermint Lip Balm + Mocha =

Peppermint Mocha!  

(No, I did not eat my chapstick.  Maybe I would sneak a taste back in the days of Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers, but that was the whole point of those glosses.  Lip Smacking.  And luring in middle-school boys with the oh-so-subtle scent of strawberry.  Actually, most boys were afraid of me at that time, and maybe some of them now - 98 pounds of intimidation right here!)

This was just such an important revelation that I had to share it with someone.  I'm not sure my coworkers would have been amused.  You let this girl negotiate contracts on behalf of the University?  

Incidentally, for me, Sugar + Caffeine = BAD IDEA.  Weeeee!

Sometimes, I put on my headphones but forget to play the music

This happens on a regular basis.  When I remember to press play, it's generally either a mix of Glee covers and songs with a good catwalk beat or something epic, like Josh Groban love songs in languages I don't understand (although I think my accuracy for lyrics in Italian and English are about even.  Anyone else sing along to "Secret Asian Man" as a kid?).  Contracting never seemed so possible.

The saddest part of the holidays being over is that other people are back in their offices.  I enjoyed getting out-of-office messages.  Now, people actually expect me to do things for them, and they want them done FIVE MINUTES AGO.  This is complicated by the fact that I had 4 hours worth of meetings today in which I contributed very little besides affirming nods and the occasional ever-so-slightly raised eyebrow.

I lost the other half of my sandwich for about 15 minutes today.  I checked the fridge, the trash (don't look at me like that - it was double-wrapped), and finally found it sitting on the driver's seat of my truck.  I'm not sure how it got there.

I'm still a little woozy from having to take Prednisone.  I was going to answer an email this afternoon, but I needed a file from the top drawer of my filing cabinet as a reference.  It was a big file.  It was a heavy file.  I ignored the email.

Happy Monday, y'all!

Albert...

...are you reading this?

I'm not addicted to blogging, really...

but I've been posting over at this other blog: http://bideshisnomore.blogspot.com/.  Over a year ago I started thinking about writing regular snippets on making conscientious living choices.  The idea was to create a central place for sharing easy ways to make a difference in our local and global communities.  I felt that it would give me purpose for doing research to inform my own decisions, and keep me accountable in following through on the results of that research.  (Like stuffing blueberries in my purse and dropping tampons in the parking lot because I forgot my canvas bag, but feel too guilty to accept the plastic instead.)  Still, I put it off for months, rationalizing that 1. do people even really read blogs anyway?, 2. and, would people really read anything I have to say anyway?  

But the nagging feeling was persistent, and in July, I finally published my very first post with no expectations.  While brainstorming ideas for subsequent topics, I remembered the sign I had put on my trash bin in the office (back before I was jaded) to help reduce the number of plastic bags that were needlessly tossed every week.  I realized that maybe I could quietly encourage others to do the same by posting the sign next to the central printer.  My boss noticed, and told me to send her my "green wish list" for our office.  I did my homework and emailed her my suggestions, which were forwarded to her boss, which were forwarded to the Vice Chancellor.  The next day, HE announced the formation of a new Sustainability Committee for the Office of Research, and asked me to be the co-chair that afternoon.  We spent the next few months putting new initiatives into motion, and I got to know the VC well enough to ask him for a letter of recommendation for graduate school.  And in January, we will be a part of a Green Office pilot program that is set to roll out across campus.

So to summarize, so far this blog has brought me:

1. Accountability in my own life decisions;

2. The chance to make a difference in an office that has hundreds of employees; and

3. An awesome letter of recommendation.

I've gotten into posting more regularly now, which is why I'm mentioning it here.  And I'll keep posting, whether or not anybody reads it, because that nagging feeling continues to compel me.  While I'm used to talking to myself, it does make it a lot more interesting when people comment and share their own ideas and opinions - so if you feel like checking it out and joining the conversation, I'd be delighted!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and are looking forward to a New Year.  I'm SO over 2011.

D-U-N-DONE

For better or for worse, my app is in.  I think.  My job has made me paranoid that I missed a minuscule or confusing requirement buried in subsection B subpart 5 that will prevent me from getting in to grad school. Of course, it is far more likely that I won't get in because they don't like me.  Isn't that comforting?

I have been reminded over the past few weeks of how much more I love writing snarky blog entries versus puffed up essays about how awesome I am.  Maybe I should have just linked to my blog - the awesome is all here.