"Your Big Sister's Closet" Turns One!

This past weekend Toronto plus-size store "Your Big Sister's Closet" had its 1 year anniversary party. I went over to have a gander. It was quite the party!

In January, this store helped me get a new party dress for a wedding I was attending. This dress made me feel like a million bucks, especially when it can be hard to feel better than a toonie in some clothes!

They had a bunch of stuff going on, like a 20% sale, snacks and coffee, and plus-size bloggers in the window holding placards.

There was also a candy bar, which I had to take a picture of, naturally. IT'S SO CUTE.

And jewelry. Gimme gimme gimme!

I almost bought this gorgeous piece of lace right here:

But, alas, it wasn't in my budget this time.

Your Big Sister's Closet is run by blogger Karen Ward

These Things Are Delicious and No One Believes Me

Everyone has comfort foods. My comfort foods just happen to be gross to everyone else. 

I am perfectly confident in my food choices. I shall not be shamed!

*Liverwurst: while I can sort-of accept that people don't like liver... No, I lied. Liver is the best. And spreadable liver? YES. Perfect on nice crusty bread. 

*Sour cream and sugar: AKA poor-mans ice cream. Bowl of sour cream, sprinkle/spoon/pour some sugar on top and BAM! Easy creamy sweet treat!

*Soup and crackers: Not just any soup and crackers. I mean a bowl full of delicious chicken noodle soup with enough soda crackers added to make the soup cease to be soup, instead turning it into a thick mush that they serve to people without teeth. So comforting. 

*Cake for breakfast: I don't need to justify this one. Of course cake is an acceptable, nay, LAUDED breakfast item. Cold pizza comes in second. 

We can all agree that aspics are gross, right? Perfectly good meat and vegetables and gelatin gone to waste. 

Ms Marvel #1

I have a confession to make: It took me a long time to really consider Marvel comics.

Hear me out!

A few years ago my friend took me to a comic shop. I'd never been, and she wanted to pick up some more Manga. I'd always been curious, since like many people my age, I had grown up with Batman movies and animated series. I thought to myself, "Why not get into the comics? No better time than right now!"

So off we went, to The Silver Snail in downtown Toronto. I was quickly overwhelmed, but the manager made me feel right at home and knew exactly how to get me hooked. I became a Batman fangirl. I weathered the New 52, falling for Animal Man and Wonder Woman and Nightwing and Birds of Prey and...

But my forays into Marvel were always limited. Sure, I got their Alpha Flight miniseries because, hey! Canada! And I did read Alias on a recommendation and I loved it.

After the more recent snafus from DC (plus that one time they insulted me personally) I started branching out, slowly, into what Marvel had to offer. It can be really tough to break into comics, especially series that have been around forever. But let me tell you, I am liking what I am seeing!

So, Ms Marvel #1. Virtual ink has been spilled all over the place about this comic. Yes, she's a teenager. Yes, she's a Muslim teenager. Yes, she adores The Avengers. Yes, she gets powers.

This comic gets it. The book manages to encapsulate the angst of teenagers without becoming angsty itself. That is a hard thing to do.

And the main character, Kamala, is completely believable, sympathetic, and layered. She struggles with she wants for herself, what her parents want of her, what her friends want of her. She wants to branch away from some traditions, yet still have her parents be proud of her. Teenagers testing boundaries yet still longing for the approval of their parents is a tale as old as time, and Marvel gets it. 

The old adage of "be careful what you wish for" is certainly coming through here.

The art? Soft. Lovely. Yet, perfectly conveying the "UGH"-ness of a frustrated teenager.

I can't wait to read more!

What?

What is this blog? Well, a little bit of everything! Do you like comics? Obsessing over TV shows and movies? Feminism? Fatshion/fashion/nail polish? Seeing your "To Read" pile get bigger and bigger? Are you me? Then you're going to love this place!