I Heart My Body 2012 #iheartmybody

Last year I wrote a post for the I Heart My Body campaign and this year I'm doing it all again. The difference? I was pregnant last year.

I find when pregnant I'm a lot kinder to my body. Flaws are overlooked because it's expected not to be a total rake or perfect when pregnant. Flabby bits, cellulite, big legs - all there helping my baby grow. When not pregnant there is no excuse for all those flaws. They no longer become anyone's friend, especially not mine.

Pregnant with sesame

Bullshit, right?

I don't think I'll ever not have cellulite. It's a fact of life for so many women and men, why can't it just be accepted? Lufflump and sesame both have cellulite too, it's not just contained to adults. I know I've had it since I was a baby.

I've also always had big legs. Not huge but out of proportion to the rest of my body. Derby has showed me to LOVE my body shape. A big ass is awesome to block with. Big legs mean more power. The girls I'm most scared of in derby have an awesome booty. AWESOME. If you are a pear shape like me, you have THE body shape for derby. If you are a cone, square, apple, ruler - you name it, you have THE body shape for derby.

Derby helps me love my body

The mister always tried to hurt me (mucking around, I'd do it to him first) by grabbing my leg just above the knee and I thought it was so cool that it didn't hurt. Little did I know the reason it didn't hurt was due to being fat. Now that my legs have muscles it hurts like a bitch when he does it. I love it.

I think what people forget is that skinny people can be fat too. Weight is just a number, what you need to look at is fat percentage. I was, and still am, skinny fat. I'm working on it and my body shows that. I feel and look better than I ever have. I have muscles and I'm proud of them. Would I like them to be bigger? Sure and they will be, but I have to work at it.

We just bought a bunch of exercise gear; boxing bag with stand, captains chair, weights and a declined bench. I'm so sore from using them and I know I'm getting stronger with each rep, each extra rep than the day before. It feels fantastic. Hardly work when you enjoy yourself.

Am I proud of my body?
I am. I'm proud of the progress I'm making.

Do I have days when I hate my body?
No, but I do have days when I shy away from mirrors. When I try on something and I cringe. When I whinge about my upper thighs and how they aren't what I want them to be, how I wish they were. I don't hate my body though, it carries me and allows me to function. My body allows me to do my favourite thing - skate.

Plow stop

Do I have days when I love my body?
Yes, I look at how toned I am and how much progress I've made and am making. There are things I love about my body; my arms, my calves and my knees (do derby and you'll either love or hate your knees). I can't wait until I love my stomach, thighs and butt and I know with hard work I will.

Hello little muscles!

Knees and calves with bruises.

What would I change about my body?
My upper thighs. I would love them to be in proportion to the rest of my body. I'm doing exercises daily to help this occur.

Mah bodah.

I know I'm fortunate to have the body I have. I'm fortunate to have a good metabolism. I'm fortunate to be able to lose weight relatively easy. I'm fortunate to not have any major health problems with my body. But if I didn't have a good metabolism, wasn't able to lose weight relatively easy or had major health problems I'd still love my body, it's the only one I have and I have three choices - accept, change or hate. Two outta three ain't bad.

What I Wore: Gay Pride Skate

Sunday night our not so local skate rink (how does Brisbane city not have a skate rink?) held a Gay Skate to raise money for Gay Pride. A bunch of NBR girls attended and the mister and I love any excuse to get out of the house and skate so we were in.

The only problem was what to wear. I wear a lot of black so I wanted to dress outside of my normal comfort zone. Dressing happy and flamboyantly was on the cards plus something I could easily skate in without showing my bits or being limited in movement.

Hello! 

This dress was just screaming to be worn. It's my mum's from before she had me (so pre-1986) and I'd never worn it in public. It's not exactly something you can just throw on to get the groceries. It's not exactly my style, the colours or the fit. Bodycon is not a style I've worn due to my obvious pear body type but I loved it. Since I've gotten more muscle and associated with a sport that accepts all body types has given me the confidence to wear tighter, shorter clothes. Jeans are still my favourite but skirts and shorts are no longer out of the question or just for summer.

I like big butts and I cannot lie...

I did wear bike pants underneath as I knew I'd fall over and no one wants to see my bits. Not to mention the comfort of knowing I had something underneath to protect myself. I also wore a pink tank underneath as I wasn't sure about the exposed shoulders and how exposed I could end up. It also meant I could wear a sports bra without making it obvious.

The pink fishnet tights haven't been worn since my clubbing, pre-children days and were perfect. I'll be wearing them again even if just to training. They were comfortable and I had awesome indentations for a couple of hours afterwards.

No idea how to pose

It was a fun night, filled with lots of laughter, dancing and of course skating. I got compliments on my attire and will be sure to wear it out again next time we go clubbing, whenever that may be.

Dress: Mum's. Tagged: FRESH Mooloolaba

Singlet: Kmart $5

Tights: I think Myer circa 2004 

Review: Schick Hydro Silk Razor

The cold winter months usually mean hairy legs hidden by long pants. Since starting roller derby I've discovered I can't get away with wild forest legs. Not only because stockings don't hide the hair but also because I'm scared I'll jinx myself and injure myself while having hairy legs. Not that I'm vain or anything...

My old razor isn't as old as it feels. It's lost it's edge and changing the blades isn't cutting it anymore. It was time for a new razor so I jumped at the chance to review the Schick Hydro Silk razor.

Shav'her box. Yep, I went there.

I was sceptical as I am with every new razor I try. Will it cut enough, too much or perfectly? Will it be so sharp that I'll cut my legs to pieces? I didn't need to worry at all, this is by far the best razor I've ever used. My 'socks' (the hair around my calves is course and black whereas the rest is fine and blonde) are still quite smooth three days later. Usually the next day my 'socks' are visibly noticeable.

The blades give a close cut but not close enough to cut the skin. Every girl knows how painful a shaving cut feels and the blood, so much blood! The moisturising serum around the blades help reduce the dry feeling that can come from shaving. My legs were smooth like silk all day, quite different from the usual dry scaly legs. It's such a lovely feeling putting long pants on after a good leg shave.

Would I recommend the Schick Hydro Silk razor? Definitely. I'll be stocking up on new blades next time we do the groceries, I love it so much.

Read more reviews of the Schick Hydro Silk razor at My Little Rabbit.

Disclosure: I received one Schick Hydro Silk razor from Lifestyle Media Group through My Little Rabbit. No financial payment was offered nor accepted by myself for this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Valentine's Day Loving

The mister and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day with a lovely picnic in the mountains. We sat in the middle of the clouds with a slight drizzle. It was magical.

Our first Valentine's Day: 2009

This year we didn't do anything apart from chores before the mister went to work where they're having a big Valentine's Day dinner. The mister received a disgustingly soppy text message from me and he'd planned a big adventure day for us before he realised we couldn't do it, damn pregnancy! 

People think it's odd that we don't give gifts to each other every time we are 'supposed' to, like V Day, anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas. We just don't feel the need to show our love through gifts. I know he loves me when I'm sick in bed and he's doing the housework. He knows I love him when I clean for him or let him sleep in. We know what is special to each other and we do it as often as we can. 

We are the couple that possibly says 'I love you' too much but it's always heartfelt. I find it impossible to sit on the couch without touching him in some way (usually my legs over his). We are affectionate when we aren't jokingly bickering.

What do I love most about the mister? 

He's thoughtful, loyal, works damn hard for his family, he's caring, kind, puts up with my shit and doesn't complain when I'm stuck in bed and the house is a pigsty. He loves us with all his heart and we know it. He is so humble though, I don't think he realises how much he actually does.

What do I love most about me?

My body has produced one beautiful child and is in the process of producing another child. To be able to give the mister and our families that gift is definitely something that I cherish. I also love the way that lufflump and the mister love me. For them to love me the way they do, I have to be doing something right!

V Day 2012

I'm linking up with the amazing Glow from Where's My Glow? who came up with the brilliant idea of posting what we love about ourselves. Some amazing bloggers have joined in too.

What do you love most about yourself?

I Kinda Heart My Body

Today is I Heart My Body 2011 day.

As my title says, I kinda heart my body. I've never really loved it although I was happiest with it when I was breastfeeding, I was finally in proportion and felt good about myself. I do love that it produces and carries babies so well, who wouldn't love that? Ok maybe a hooker who kept falling pregnant, that'd be annoying. Anyway, my body is currently carrying it's second baby and so far it's doing a damn good job again.

L - Isn't this the right way to do it?
R - Boring right?

Yes I have bumps, lumps, stretch marks, cellulite, flabby bits and ugly veins but most of that I could change if I put the work in. I'm just lazy and I like 'naughty' food too much. In fact my favourite breakfast would have to include coffee through a Tim Tam straw. Delicious!

The mister took these while I was yelling at lufflump

My biggest dislike of my body is the shape of my thighs. I put all of my weight on the lower half of my body. So while the top half is slim and trim, the bottom half is the opposite (thanks mum). If I was in proportion and a lovely hourglass shape I'd be happy. That means not changing my thighs though because shaving bone scares the shit out of me. Ouch. No instead I'd like big boobs constantly. Size C-D please and not just the skin.

At the end of the day though my body tells my story; lazy, chocolate obsessed mother who nurtured her babies. I have dark stretch marks on my boobs which tell the story of having no boobs to OMG BOOBS to deflated balloon boobs to BOOBS! I have scars, self inflicted and accidental that tell stories of pain, good times and misadventures. I have skin that tans beautifully if I care to venture into that devilish sun. I have working limbs that allow me to chase after and pick up my son, allow me to hug and hold the ones I love.

My belly, boobs and booty

My body has been kind to me now I need to be kind to my body.

Naked, Gok Wan and Danimezza Style

Danielle from Danimezza got the pleasure to meet the inspirational Gok Wan. The man who is transforming the fashion world one woman at a time. When meeting him she got a signed copy of his book which she is kindly giving away to one of her lucky readers. All she asks is a photo and story about your favourite body part. You guessed it, I'm joining in.


As soon as I read this I was all for taking a photo and writing about my wrists. They have been my favourite body part for years, about ten in fact. Why? They are skinny no matter if the rest of my body is not. They are so skinny that I can touch my thumb and little finger around them which for my unusually short pinky fingers is some feat.

Then I thought how lame it is that my favourite body part is my wrists. Seriously lame. Isn't there something else I like about my body other than my wrists which while being skinny aren't all that great in doing wrist things like picking up heavy pans. Yep, skinny wrists doesn't mean strong wrists. Who woulda thought?

As I was thinking this I wasn't wearing pants. Pants off Friday! Not wearing pants made me think of my butt and legs. Now I know Danielle doesn't want to hear about what we don't like about our bodies but I have to say something here.


On Wednesday I received a coupon email for non-invasive liposuction so I booked in. I spoke to the mister about it and decided to get it done on my thighs. After posting what I was doing on both facebook and twitter I received outcries from people who know me. Mind you I think only one of those people has seen me without pants. 


I was umming and arring about it anyway so I called back and spoke to the lovely girl on reception who told me she is a size 8 - 10 and gets it done so it could be beneficial to me. We spoke more and after me doing some feeling up of my thighs I realised that what I wanted to get rid of wasn't actually fat but bone. It doesn't take a genius to realise that taking away structural would be extremely invasive so I cancelled the appointment or rather the receptionist cancelled for me.


Why am I telling you this? Because I, and almost every other woman, needs to learn to love our bodies, to love how we are structurally built. I need to read munchkin's book that was Book of the Week 3 and learn to just not preach it but live it as well. We need to embrace our bodies, every part of it.


This is why Gok Wan is so amazing. He understands women's body shapes are unique and that you don't need to change them at all, just dress for your shape and style. Wonderful! But why does it take an amazing man to tell us? Shouldn't we already know? 


Regardless of my enlightenment I am still not going to lie and say I love my thighs and bum or my lack of boobs. I don't but I am trying. Although, I admit if I received a coupon for a non-invasive yet effective boob job I'd jump at it in a heartbeat. 


My favourite body part is my torso. It's tiny yet long. It allowed my son to lay with his feet in my ribs while I was giving birth. It elongates my body and makes it easy to wear high waisted and long length clothes. Munchkin and the mister hug my torso. Long torsos are not all that common or wanted, yet I love it.

I also love my shoulders, my long bony fingers, my ears, my back, my neck, my unusual toes and although it's still lame I do love my wrists.


If you have a favourite body part, love Gok Wan and want a signed copy of his book, Through Thick and Thin, join over here.