Every Girl Should Read...

Here is a few books I think every girl should read. These were some of my favorites, although I have to warn you, they are fairly homogenous in their portrayal of white heterosexual able-bodied girls (Just sayin') if you know of any others that you think deserve mention, please tell me in the comments!

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Mongomery

I just love Anne Shirley, she is an absolute riot. One of the most lovable female protagonists ever, Anne story begins when she is adopted by brother and sister Mr and Mrs Cuthbert. Her antics include accidently getting her 'bosom friend' Diana drunk, dying her hair green and obsessing over 'puffed sleeves' (yes, I think she paved the way for all of us here) Anne of Green Gables is timeless and heartwarming and a definite must for any young girl

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

Giving any young girl a crash course in philosophy, Sophie's World is not for the light hearted. The book's plot basically revolves around the packages Sophie receives each day from Alberto, a strange teacher that Sophie learns from via this bizarre and seemingly random correspondence. There are some very warped and sometimes confusing events that ensue but all together, Sophie's World is not your typical narrative fiction and very deep indeed, a great book for the young budding philosopher to tackle

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Bloom

Religious or not, every girl in my generation knows this book, it is like the teenage girl version of 'Where did I come from?' in the way it just explains everything. Based around Margaret, a very vulnerable girl going through puberty, she talks to God about her plumbing, her desires and her fears. It's a great book to realise you're pretty normal as a teenage girl and that periods, masturbation, envy and desire are just the everyday norm when your hormones are pumping through you like nobody's business. This is made of the stuff that sometimes you didn't want to ask your mum about and it makes you feel alright about it. Having said all that Judy Bloom is a fantastic writer and very well known for this particular novel

National Velvet by Enid Bagnold

Who could pass up a classic love story of a girl and her horse (and come on ladies, who doesn't want a horse?) This is the story of Velvet Brown and her horse Pie, as she wins him in a raffle and trains him to ride in the National. The outstanding thing about this novel is the strong female characters and the theme of women achieving whatever they set their mind to. This book is an absolute must for any young girl starting out on classic chicklit

The Diary of Anne Frank

Although this is not fiction, this will be absolutely compulsory for my kids. It teaches us so much about hate, love, fear and hope and if you are yet to read it I suggest you make a date with your local library first thing tomorrow morning! Anne Frank truly is one of the most inspiring stories any young girl could read

Hello Addict!

Well, since joining the blogging community, the fatosphere and the wonderful world of fatshionistas, I have been exposed to some of the loveliest outfits on the loveliest girls from the loveliest online shops. This is not a good thing. I have spent way way way too much money and have ended up with a whole new wardrobe that is currently making it's way across the Pacific in various dribs and drabs. But don't let my irresponsibility deter you from having some shopping fun, and to help you get inspired, I have put together my summer look book. Here are the items I have bought this past few weeks. Now be nice, I am not a fashion blogger so I don't claim to be the most on trend...

From left to right, top to bottom: Pyramid Bangle (Forever21), Blue Pocket Dress with Sequin Trim (Torrid), Elastic Band Jean (Faith21), Embellished Chiffon Top (Faith21), Solid Tights in Grey (Faith21- SOLD OUT), Striped Knitted Dress (Faith21- SOLD OUT), Pastel Draped Necklace (Forever21), Draped Twist Necklace (Forever21) Source of Wisdom Denim Cropped Pant (Torrid- ON SALE)

Braided Craze Heels in Blue (Forever21- ON SALE), Antique Large Necklace (Forever21), Purple Control Swimsuit (Evans) Cat Intarsia Knitted T-shirt in pink (ASOS Curve- ON SALE), Striped Mariner Top (Faith21), Black T-Bar Sandals (Evans)

Jeweled Mesh Pleated Skirt (Faith21), Striped Capsleeve Dress (Faith21), Topstitched Short Boots (Forever21) Jersey and Velvet 2 in 1 Dress (ASOS Curve- ON SALE), Leatherette Jacket (Faith21), Teal Brocade Tank Dress (Torrid)

Phew! Suffice to say I am now on a spending band for a very very long time! anyway I will post piccies on my tumblr once they come and maybe even give them a review here but for now, I wait eagerly by the front door for the postie!

Power in your pocket- 10 awesome ethical beauty buys

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite products that are both cheap and effective. I also try my hardest to be a conscious consumer and shop ethically. I feel like as a consumer the power is in my pocket and I make a point of buying things I know are not tested on animals, have less harmful and yucky ingredients and are guaranteed to get you squeaky clean and/or moisturized

Natures Organics Fruits Hair Spa in Mango and Coconut

This stuff smells amazing, retails for about $4 a bottle at your local supermarket, is Australian made, vegan, not tested on animals, plant based, and even the bottle is made from corn! It is a great everyday shampoo that makes my hair super yummy, there is a whole range of 'flavors' and it is a definite win for the price!

Natures Organics Spa Fruit Sensations Refreshing Body Wash

While we are on the Natures Organics plug (and no, I don't work for them) Their body wash is also sublime- and smells like lime! It makes me smell good, has all the perks of the shampoo and conditioner above, and at $3 or thereabouts a bottle you can have one of each flavor in your shower!

OK Tea Tree Deodorant

Speaking of smelling lovely, you would be hard pressed these days to find an effective deodorant that isn't tested on animals and doesn't have yuckies like aluminum in them. The Lush ones are great, but a bit pricey. I love OK's tea tree deodorant because tea tree is a miracle for soaking up nasties and neutralizing smell so this stuff is effective. I do find on a hot day I need to apply it once more throughout the day and I go through a bottle every 2 weeks (I can be sweaty especially, and I mean dripping, when I exercise) but for around $3 a bottle at the supermarket, I really can't complain.

Lush Buffy Bar

I can't tell you exactly what is in this, the Lush website would tell you, all I know is that my skin is fucking amazing after using it in the shower, unfortunately this doesn't last long at my house, which makes it so much more exciting that they now sell one twice it's size. The Big Buffy bar retails for $25.95 but it lasts a lot longer (well, if you call a couple weeks a lot longer) the trick is to not get carried away with it, smother it over everywhere, then get it away from the moisture!

Lush Angels on Bare Skin facial scrub

Amazing stuff! my skin is never clearer as when I use this stuff, the texture and smell reminds me of Jurlique but for a quarter of the price. Still a little on the expensive side, retailing for $15.95 but it is totally worth it. St Ives is also an affordable option and good quality and I have recently encountered a press release from their parent company stating that they have put a ban on all animal testing, so that could be an option for those of you not close to a Lush or not willing to pay that much

Palmers Olive Butter

Made from "Certified Organic Olives" (um... ok) and admittedly with some er... questionable ingredients, I am still an addict for this stuff. I lather it on thick every day and have tried many many moisturizers in my time, some expensive, some miracle making, but I have always come back to this stuff. I am also excited to say that Palmers are on PETA's 'do not test' list which is great considering how cheap and available their products are (this one comes from the supermarket at about $12 a bottle)

Ecotools Bamboo Sleep Mask

My theory on wrinkles= they happen quicker when you scrunch your face. What makes you scrunch your face? trying to go to sleep or stay asleep without absolute darkness. I know this is a strange theory but I have taken to wearing a sleep mask to try and delay my inevitable aging. Does it work? Maybe. Is the mask good? Most definitely! and at $6.95, made from sustainable materials and designed by an amazing company that makes great beauty accessories, it's a great buy

Ecotools Recycled Steel Nail File

This little gem is $6.95 (or thereabouts) made from recycled steel and sustainable bamboo and works better than any nail file I have previously used. There is no reason not to own one. Seriously.

Vicco Herbal Tothpaste

Like deodorant, you would be hard pressed to find a toothpaste that isn't tested on animals and isn't produced by a major corporate player (hello colgate palmolive!) This stuff is vegan, all natural and makes for a great toothpaste (it really cleans your teeth!) the taste is a bit herbal but you get used to it pretty quick and you will never go back! I find this baby in health food stores and it is on the pricey side (about $8) but it is a small price to pay for actual toothpaste you know isn't evil (an it won't stain your teeth like fluoride toothpastes can)

Premium Spa Australia SOS Hand Cream

This hand cream is shockingly good and shockingly cheap. Here is the thing, I have disastrously dry hands and feet, to the point where the skin on my hands can peel and I get very untidy and painfully dry cuticles. I bought the best hand cream money could buy- it didn't help. This stuff at $5.95 for a standard tube and $12.95 for a giant tube is a life saver. I found it in Big W (but look here for more stockists) The great thing about this product is it is Australian made with organic (and in Australia 'organic' usually means organic) macadamia nut oil, cocoa butter and licorice extract to help with 'hand aging'. It is all natural ingredients and absolutely no animal testing. They tick all the boxes with me and it smells amazing, plus it really truly makes my hands soft as soft can be. Premium Spa also carry a wide range of other beauty products which I am just dying to try

So there you have it, great, cheap beauty products that are good for you, good for the planet and from ethical companies... who would have thought most of these come from the supermarket!

Fat Girls on your television

I don't think fat girls are visable enough, but when we get a lovable character whos is a fat girl on TV, it always gets me a little excited. Here are some of my favourites

Sookie St James (Melissa McCarthy) from Gilmore Girls

TV's favorite protagonist's sidekick and an adorably funny character, Sookie is a top chef and wonderful friend, who doesn't want a friend like Sookie? Portrayed as beautiful, smart and compassionate this favorite character warms all of our hearts

Rosanne (of the same name) of the same titled television show

What's not to love here? big hair, big personality and big humor, Rosanne was a positive image for the average wife and mother who could relate to her witty insights and hysterical responses to the everyday challenges of life and her children and husband's antics, plus her 90s fashion is all back in vogue at the moment, Rosanne invented tights and boyfriend shirts!

Geraldine Granger (Dawn French) from The Vicar of Dibley

The funniest spiritual leader I have ever seen, Dawn French is an absolute comedic genius and is able to make even the biggest fatophobe crack a smile

Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim) from The Practice

A smart, high profile lawyer who is fat... yes! they do actual exist!

Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangness) from Criminal Minds

Another quirky, funny smarty pants who is beautiful and chubby. She shows us how hot chubby nerds can be

Bettina (Kathy Bates) Six Feet Under

Becoming Ruth's best friend towards the last seasons, Bettina is wild and unpredictable, bringing Ruth right out of her shell, teaching her to shoplift (from a large department store...), getting her drunk and crossing the border to Mexico on a whim. Bettina is hilarious and compassionate and is my favorite character on Six Feet Under

Dr Stephanie Barnette (Sara Rue) from Big Bang Theory

Although she was not on Big Bang theory long and she did turn out a little er... clingy, Dr Stephanie is gorgeous and makes being bigger look glamourous even next to Penny. Plus, she is a doctor and smart, and rumor has it, we have not seen the last of her on the show

Isabelle Hodes (Allie Grant) from Weeds

Although Isabelle may have lost some of her chub now, she is amazing in earlier episodes. She defies her mother's obvious resentment of her fatness in the most hilarious and awesome ways, such as modeling for a plus size children's clothing label and claiming to her mother that she is a lesbian, not to mention locking her out of the house.

Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) from Glee

Ok, so there is a lot of mixed arguments about this character, some people claiming that she enhances stereotypes about being a fat African-American women in a partially homogenous setting. But it's her visibility that pleases me, she is gorgeous, talented, energetic and fat. Yeah! take that, world!

Berta (Conchata Ferrell) Two and a Half Men

Even though she is the hired help in a predominantly misogynist setting, Berta is incredibly funny, incredibly blunt and you just wouldn't want to fuck with her. Not to mention, she is the longest standing and most featured female character in the show and Charlie loves her and best of all, she loves herself.

So tell me, what are your favorite fat girls on TV? is there anyone you think I have missed?

It's Meeeeeeeeeee!

Sitting up at 2am feeling some serious ebuyers remorse (my credit card company loves me and I hate myself) and watching old Buffy episodes (don't judge me!) I decided I am going to take some photos of myself in my silly hat (yes I have one and I wear it frequently) and post them because up until now, I have been the faceless blogger. Well here I am in all my no frills glory! Featuring of course, the best hat in the world

By the way, said hat is bear ears I bought from some random stall at this years royal show

I have this obsession with wearing crazy things around the house, such as my Princess Sparkle boots, which make me feel like I'm five years old

I also need to show you my new awesome stationary! Being a perpetual student, my motto has always been pens= motivation in other words, new stationary makes my want to study! anyhoo, I usually don't get over excited about mass produced cheapy cheap stuff but when Typo came to my neighborhood I bought up the place

The desk notepad that my boy and I have taken to leaving notes to each other on

My new pencil case with the dog I can't have printed on it (heart!)

I always take a notepad with me, have one by the bed, pretty much one in every room because ideas come whenever they darn well feel like it and if I don't write it down more often than not it's gone before I can say 'Pulitzer Prize' so these ought to keep me going for a while (I have an adorable red and white polka dot one also but it's already on my bedside table)

Finally I can't wait to use these for taking messages at work. I know what you're thinking, highly inappropriate (that is if you can read the dodgy out of focus iphone picture) luckily I work for my mum and she has a sense of humor (most of the time)