Suzanne Bells Blog

Where Muse Meets Whimsy…

A Trend Setter

May 21

Posted by SB in Musings... | No Comments

I just know that I have true power and that when I left the fashion business my real calling would appear.

I share this simply because it makes me smile.

My husband and I had a nostalgic moment a while back and decided it would be fun to go to a White Spot and sit in the parking lot and order car service. I declared I would have a Coke float in honour of our nostalgic feelings and he agreed. It was so good, a sunny day, old memories and OMG I forgot how good a float tasted.

Ice Cream Float - Suzanne Bell's Blog

I of course told several friends of this and weeks later one of those friends took another friend and went to a restaurant and ordered a float. She advised me it was a diet caffeine-free Pepsi, float, but still……

I started to see the trend of which I am so sure I started.  (I should say the resurgence of a very old simple indulgence)   Yesterday I was on the phone with my cousin and was interrupted when in flew two friends with all the makings of guess what??? Yes, no question, I was on a hot trend…

Who knew how fast it would spread? My cousin called me back hours later to tell me she walked to Save On Foods near Cambie and Broadway and saw a big line up. They were serving customers free floats. That did it, we declared me a trend setter right on the spot!!

What will be next?

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A Quote By Melissa McCarthy

Apr 18

Posted by SB in Found Items... | No Comments

Even when someone gets to looking like she should be so proud of herself, instead she’s like ‘I could be another 3 pounds less.  I could be a little taller and have bigger lips.’ 

You just have to say “It’s pretty damn good.  I am right here at the moment and I’m OK with it.  I’ve got other things to think about.” ~ Melissa McCarthy

{{Information |Description ={{en|1=Melissa McCarthy at the Audi and Derek Lam Kick Off Emmy Week Celebration 2012.}} |Source =http://www.flickr.com/photos/minglemediatv/7996875793/ |Author =http://www.flickr.com/people/47170787@N05 |...

Melissa McCarthy at the Audi and Derek Lam Kick Off Emmy Week Celebration 2012.  Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/minglemediatv/7996875793/          Author =http://www.flickr.com/people/47170787@N05

The above image is from Wikimedia Commons. Information about it can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Change Of Pace

Mar 31

Posted by SB in Musings... | 1 Comment

It has been such a different lifestyle not working.  For me it has been great to slow my processes down and take time  for the journey my head insists on taking.  When I was working my brain seemed to “quick fire”, always making me  fast on my feet and accomplishing lots of things but not really allowing that deep brewing that can shift one’s thinking.

After the store closed and I had some time to catch up on sleep. It seemed that I was in for a time of engaging with friends who needed me.  As always it was also a time for me to learn some universal lessons of my own.  I believe that as one engages with a pure intent to be sincere and “there”for friends in need, we receive an opportunity to grow.  I have trained myself to listen carefully ( in a large part thanks to all of my friends from the store) for lessons that I need.  Wow have they been coming in my direction…

Like learning to say “no” which I am good at, it feels very powerful for me.  It gives me a sense of authenticity.  When I say no, I mean it and therefore when I say yes I mean that also.  This is not a new lesson for me, in fact I think I did write about this before.  It comes up still which probably means I need to pay attention.  I have a friend who’s yes and no I do not trust.  She does things often that she does not want to do and shares that with me.  I find it hard to have a meaningful friendship under those circumstances.  On the other hand I have a dear friend that took on this lesson with me and we love the feeling of pure clarity, although she says I waffle sometimes.  Waffling for me is just working out the logistics and I am sticking to it….

Thanks for  asking about what I have been doing.  This is a taste.  In this moment I am in the “zen zone” as one of my friends and I are fond of saying.  I am learning to do things and have relationships in life without expectation.  I am also learning that this is very tough work.  I believe it has something to do with getting it all clear about yourself and therefore being truly available as best you can at this moment in time.  Expecting nothing in return, incredibly, has brought me great joy. 

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Pennington Ads

Oct 14

Posted by SB in Musings... | 3 Comments

I hope you have had a chance to see the Pennington ads that are now showing on TV. It is a woman of size wearing a bra and briefs, several funky choices and she dances in and out of the shot. It is also a breast cancer campaign if I recall. I have heard lots of chatter about the fact she is a large woman. From my camp it is mostly positive but of course lots of the negative chatter from those who are opposed to using large women as role models.

This could be a very long piece, as most of you know I have lots of opinions, but this reminded me of something important…..When I started to teach fitness for large women 30 years ago it was the first time folks in community centers had seen women of size participating in fitness classes. At first it was shocking to them and as we assimilated it became part of the norm. I remember very vividly when I was asked by the center to sub for a “regular fitness class teacher” who was away. The fact they asked me in itself was amazing (they were stuck but still…) but when I taught and stood at the front of the class of 50 adults, men and women I was accepted. They were accustomed to seeing me in that environment. As the class progressed I was could feel the shift and by the end they were asking me if I could come back.

Seeing this Pennington’s ad has the potential of having a real impact. It is well done, positive and hopefully will be the first of many… I am sure there are lots of opinions about the underwear but the big picture from my many years in the “plus” business is “we are being seen”. We all might choose to stand proud and give a clear message we are here, in this moment in time, as we are. For those who are fat phobic and don’t like it, well maybe you will just have to get used to it, we are great and we are part of all communities.

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