Winter Warming- Costume dance party.

Hello bunnies!

Last night Aberdeen Cultural Center and the TBA Collective hosted their 2nd Annual Winter Warming- a gathering of sounds, lights, and people in one of our city's historic buildings. It was a wonderful dance party with a killer light show, and the twist? It was a costume party, too!

Conveniently, Aberdeen is directly across the street from my home, so it was very convenient for us to mix up some drinks, and scoot over for some dancing and socializing! Kaycie and I threw some costumes together, and away we went!

I decided to be Hathor- the Egyptian goddess of music, dance and drunkenness. She was sometimes portrayed as a cow- so appropriate! A vintage velvet gown paired with various thrifted jewelry pieces, a coin belt, and a 1960s gold hat...voila!

Kaycie went as vaudevillian/ circus performer.

We had some drinks and took lots of silly photos...

The TBA Collective really delivered on their promise of a great light show. Psychedelics were projected on the walls, lasers, bubbles of light....fantastic! It was beautiful to see everyone dancing... so many different kinds of people, bodies, lifestyles- together.

I'm really pleased with how Moncton is shaping up these days. More events, more community involvement... I'm very proud to call this place my home.

If you'd like to see more photos of the event, you can check out my Flick page -http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenoralenoire/sets/72157629458873459

XOXO

Lenora

Fatshion February- outfits so far!

Hello bunnies!

So, this is the 2nd year that folks in the body-acceptance and fat-positive online communities have participated in a lil thing called Fatshion February! To beat the winter blahs, and to get some hot, fat, bodies out in the media- we try to wear our best outfits and document them every day and share them with the world. Mostly, this is taking place on Tumblr, but it can also be seen and tracked on blogger, Flickr, facebook, twitter, etc.

As you all know, I'm already an avid outfit-blogger, so I couldn't resist participating! I have to say, I love the sense of community that is going on right now. Radical self-love and support of each other is so damn fantastic, don't you think? This year there is a big push to see more gender-variance, people of color, and differently-abled folks as well! I love the diversity going on!

Here are some of my outfits so far this month

As you can see, one day I was dressed up as a cigarette girl- that was for a fundraising night at the bar for River of Pride. I passed out free candy, condoms and pride flag stickers!

You can see more of my outfits over on my Flickr page and as always, follow my daily musings on Tumblr and Twitter.

Are any of your participating in Fatshion February?

XOX

Lenora

New vintage items!

Alright all you vintage lovers! I've just posted a whole bunch of new, fantastic vintage peices over at Le Noire Vintage

I've finally listed the amazing, rare 1952 Gold Lame Jonathan Logan evening gown. I had it appraised between $400-$600, but it is listed for much much less!

Whoever snatches this one up will be the belle of the ball at Viva Las Vegas this year!

Other items include various plus size 60s-70s dresses and skirts, and much more!

Go check it out! http://www.etsy.com/shop/lenora85

XOX

Lenora

My big , fat, Cuban vacation.

My darling bunnies, it is with a heavy heart I report... I am home.

In other words? Cuba was unbelievable.

8 blissful days of sun, surf, sand, and mojitos. We stayed in sunny Cayo Coco, and were blessed with warm weather all week.

I fully immersed myself in the whole experience, and did exactly what I wanted, when I wanted...which chalked up to a whole lot of nothing- and it was glorious.

I let myself unwind completely , catch up on my reading, and spent most of my time fighting off advances. I'll tell you, if ever I'm feeling down about myself, Cuba is definitely the place to go! Every day saw flirtation, invitations to dinner, little gifts, knocks on my door at midnight...my mother quickly became annoyed and extremely protective. I was flattered, but I'll admit, it became a bit exhausting! I was "the one with the eyes" -and all of the male staff whispered when I walked passed. Silly boys!

I made a wonderful friend named Ceidel, the hotel porter, who kept me safe from the flirtatious boys, made sure I was okay when I became sick, showed me around the grounds, took me bird watching, etc. I am very thankful to have met him, he really made my trip special.

I snuck away on my own quite a bit, to do some thinking, healing, growing. On the last afternoon, I sat down in the shade, and wrote a letter to the universe...

This was a very important excercise for me, as I promised myself I would leave all that worried me buried deep in the sand when I flew home.

I wrote down a neat list of everything I would leave behind, and sealed it in envelop...

and buried it deep in the sand on a remote section of the beach.

Spending time with my mother was lovely, and seeing my aunt and uncle after 10 years was also very special.

I couldn't have asked for a better time. I wanted to stay longer, until the money ran out, but the red tape was too much to handle, so I will have to settle for returning the next I am able, and plan for a longer stay.

I spent my mornings in the hotel open-air lobby reading with a mimosa in hand, and my afternoons on the beach or by the pool. Not a care in the world- a gal could really get used to that lifestyle.

Unfortunately, on the way home, we had an extended stay at the Cuban airport due to our plane having to make an emergency landing in Florida- the windshield cracked! That extended stay meant having to eat the airport food, which did not end well. Yep. All of us Canadians are currently hurting units! What a way to end a vacation- with one hell of a stomach virus. I'm writing this while still feeling the effects. I have to say, though, it was worth it.

If you are interested in seeing more photos- click on over to my Flickr . There are a whole bunch!

And so ends another adventure for Lenora... Now, to deal with the post-vacation depressing haze.

Hola!

XOX

Lenora

Setting sail for foreign shores...

Just as the title says, I shall soon be off for a little adventure!

Next Saturday my mother and I are jetsetting to Cayo Coco, Cuba, for a 8 day retreat.

I will be treating this vacation as a healing event.

A bit of seasonal depression has crept in, and is cramping my style. I will be spending the 8 days relaxing, healing, learning, taking photos, and drinking many mojitos.

I plan to leave all my worries and depression buried deep in the sand. No room for any of that mess in my suitcase on the way home!

My biggest goals for my return are to stop procrastinating, stop self-doubting, and turning all " I should"s into " I could/ can / did" s.

Bon voyage, my pretties!!

Quick DIY project- Cupcake stand

Hello bunnies,

I've been a busy bee today! Tomorrow we will be hosting a little get-together for my friend Katie's birthday, and as I am a touch OCD when it comes to hostessing, I've been working on little details.

I have been dubbed "Martha Stewart Meets Dita Von Teese" by my close friends, as well as "Martha Stewart on Crack"...no detail is too small, no gathering will happen without ample amounts of glamour, and when I get an idea in my head, it usually evolves into something ridiculous and over the top.

Case in point: today's DIY project.

I originally had the idea to make Katie one hell of a glittery birthday cake. That idea evolved into glittery cupcakes. That evolved into glittery chocolate-covered-cherry stuffed cupcakes with white chocolate buttercream frosting. That lead to "What shall I display these fantastic cupcakes on?!"

I wanted a majestic, bejeweled, glittery throne for the delicious cupcakes to rest...so off treasure hunting I went!

I returned home with 4 pieces of vintage glasswear from Salvation Army :

Two vintage etched glass plates, and two vintage etched glass desert bowls. Total cost: $4 Above as you can see I already started the gluing process before I decided to take photos. Oops!

I also picked up a bottle of mixable, quick-bond, heavy-duty epoxy suitable for glass. You squirt a little into a dish, mix it up, apply to both edges being glued, hold for 5 minutes, and you're all done!

Isn't she a beaut?

Total cost: $5! Not bad if I do say so myself!

Don't those cupcakes look delish? Keep an eye on Fat Glam Kitchen in coming days for the recipe to be posted!

What have you all been making lately? Any crafts or projects you're proud of?

XOXO

Lenora

Happy 2012!!!

Happy New Year, my darlings!!!!!

It is a brand-spankin-new year, and I, for one, am elated. 2011 was a crazy roller coaster of adventure, heart break, love, learning and more, and I cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store.

I am not one to make resolutions, but I definitely am looking at this new year as an opportunity to start living more passionately and taking more chances.

Last night we rang in 2012 with our closest friends under our own roof, with good food, music and conversation. I always cherish these gatherings.

I made smokey jalapeno popper and corn fiesta dip- and blogged the recipe over at Fat Glam Kitchen if you are interested! It was a hit!

What did I wear, you ask? Why, Bettie Page Clothing, of course!

This was one of my Christmas presents from Nick, and I just love it! Bettie Page Clothing has really out done themselves with their plus size selections.

What did you all do for New Years Eve?

Do you have any resolutions?

Any big plans for 2012?

More photos from last night's party over on my Flickr page!

14 days until I fly off to Cuba for 8 beautiful days of booze, sunshine, sand and surf. I now must be off to plan some outfits for said trip!

XOXOX