A few weeks ago I had Shawn, the delightful founder of Chatillon Lux in the studio for a headshot session. When I get to know my clients prior to a session I like to ask about what they do, and how the images we shoot will be used. Shawn explained that his company creates luxury fragrance…
Why St. Louis Experiential Gifts?
You know, for once was thinking I was kind of unique, or at least somewhat ahead of the curve. For a few years now I have been slowly divesting myself of my worldly goods. Not all of them, in a monastical fashion, but just the (many, many) extras—things I had collected…
Poor freaking Meghan Markle cannot catch a single break.
I know that's an odd thing to say about someone who just had a fairytale wedding into fabulous wealth and actual royalty, but still. I feel for this woman. At first the press was So Glowy. She was amazing! Such romance! So many breaths of fresh air!…
Some Black Friday Plus Sized Fast Fashion #NoJudge
I have been anxiously awaiting Black Friday deals in order to fill in some key missing wardrobe pieces. At the moment I am caught firmly between a "buy nothing" ethos and a "you honestly need a new XYZ" reality, so I was waiting for sales to pick…
As a fat American woman, every single encounter I have with a healthcare "professional" is fraught. Not only my own personal experience but also copious research bears out the notion that fat people in general and fat women in particular get less accurate diagnoses, get lectured and condescended to more often, are mis and under-diagnosed…
A Week of Outfits
We got ripped off.
The universe promises Midwesterners a real autumn to make up for how crappy it is to live in this political hellscape.
"Hey, we didn't expand Medicaid, but at least we have pretty foliage!" we sneer at Californians.
"OK so our last governor tied a lady up and took naked photos…
Being a more conscientious, ethical and thoughtful consumer is on my mind quite a bit. I am always working to be more aware of the environmental impact of the packaging I purchase and I am also trying to better evaluate and control the types of ingredients I consume or use topically. In addition I just…
I wouldn't say this was the most exciting Sephora PLAY! Box of all time, but it was a pretty solid delivery, with some good basic products. The theme for this month was "Next Gen Beauty" (I don't get it, necessarily, because some of these are pretty old school products, but as I have said before,…
I am always on the hunt for a holy-grail status sunscreen. Even though my personal natural preference is for pale, smooth skin rather than a bronzy tan, my skin absorbs sun rays (and consequently sun damage) with an unholy glee. I can just go *near* a window and I feel my skin begin to tingle.
The…
My aspiring minimalist wardrobe has been getting what feels like a near-total makeover this summer, with many more things finding their way out than finding their way in.
As I make a concerted effort to buy and keep only those pieces that
A) Look good on me
B) Make me happy
C) Conform to my own personal style
I…