Imperfect, impervious and improving, Brenda Cankles is an unlikely heroine. Unfazed by the enduring censure of society, she is determined to realize the fabulous life that she has always believed is her destiny. Brenda’s story—written in the unflinching first person—is utterly unvarnished. Here, find a fantastically real person, sometimes struggling to fit in, but mostly giving the rest of the world the mother-lovin’ bird. From her clunky childhood through her stumbling yet optimistic adolescence to her full-figured and unapologetic emergence into adulthood, Brenda is a special brand of warrior. She is big, bold and beautiful. While the quirky cast of characters who surround her is eternally insistent that Brenda live her life in the background and fit into society’s mold, she will have none of it. Dip into the outspoken world of Brenda Cankles and get lost in the adventure of a big and fabulous gal who takes no prisoners, makes no excuses and has never had any doubt about how truly special she is.
From the star of TLC’s My Big Fat Fabulous Life and the YouTube sensation “A Fat Girl Dancing” comes an empowering memoir about letting go of your limitations and living the life you deserve. Right now. Whitney Way Thore stands five feet two inches tall and weighs well over three hundred pounds, and she is totally, completely, and truly . . . happy. But she wasn’t always the vivacious, confident woman you see on TV. Growing up as a dancer, Whitney felt the pressure to be thin, a desire that grew into an obsession as she got older. From developing an eating disorder as a teenager, to extreme weight gain in college, to her ongoing struggle with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Whitney reveals her fight to overcome the darkest moments in her life. She holds nothing back, opening up about the depths of her depression as well as her resilience in the face of constant harassment and mistreatment. Now Whitney is on top of the world and taking no BS (Body Shame, of course). And she’s sharing the steps she took to get there and the powerful message behind her successful No Body Shame campaign. She even reveals her favorite “F” word (it’s probably not what you think), the thrill of doing it with the lights on, and the story behind the “Fat Girl Dancing” video that started it all. Exuberant and utterly honest, I Do It with the Lights On is the inspiring story of how Whitney finally discovered her fabulousness when she stepped off the scale and into her life, embracing herself unconditionally—body, heart, and soul. Advance praise for I Do It with the Lights On “Whitney’s story is one of radical vulnerability. She is a vibrant example of what it means to choose confidence when insecurity beckons from every corner. She is cool, funny, and shameless—in the best possible way.”—Kelsey Miller, author of Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting & Got a Life “Soaring above expectations, I Do It with the Lights On delves into the complicated relationship between a woman and her body. With her trademark charisma, Whitney emerges triumphant, plucking from the mire some of the most important realizations one can hope to have. If you have a body, this memoir is a must-read.”—Linda Bacon, PhD
Brimming with exciting projects--50 in all--this collection provides extraordinary value. Choose from decorative crib quilts, lap quilts, and bed-sized quilts in a variety of fabric combinations. Create everything from two-fabric designs to scrappy multiple-fabric quilts. Featuring traditional patchwork and fast cutting and piecing techniques, these quilts have broad appeal--as one would expect from such a well-loved designer!
KIRKUS REVIEWS called this winning tale of a queen-sized queen bee "Hilarious and fresh."Manhattan It Girl Riley Swain is no pudgy wallflower. She's brash, bold, fashionable, and yes, fabulous. Riley has no qualms about kissing her best friend's crush, or bribing her dad's lawyer. But this spring break, Riley's dad and wicked stepmother are shipping her off to New Horizons, a two-week fat camp in upstate New York. And it's miserable: like military school without carbs. But then Riley gets to know adorable Eric, who sees beyond Riley's tough exterior. Soon, Riley might just realize that maybe it's not her shape that will change at New Horizons. . . but her heart.
Increase your stitch repertoire! Access hundreds of crochet stitches that you can use year in and year out. From two of the most respected names in crochet, this indispensable resource provides excellent value. Find step-by-step instructions for more than 350 stitches, from easy to advanced, including shells, fans, clusters, bobbles, and more See a swatch for each stitch in a full-color, close-up photograph Locate quickly and conveniently any stitch you like; stitches are grouped by style for easy reference, and an alphabetical index is also included
Fat-free flavorings, favorite food lore, and low-fat menus for all occasions highlight this cookbook of more than 225 healthy recipes--many of which are vegetarian. 64 full-color photos.
An exploration of what it means to be fabulous--and why eccentric style, fashion, and creativity are more political than ever Prince once told us not to hate him 'cause he's fabulous. But what does it mean to be fabulous? Is fabulous style only about labels, narcissism, and selfies--looking good and feeling gorgeous? Or can acts of fabulousness be political gestures, too? What are the risks of fabulousness? And in what ways is fabulous style a defiant response to the struggles of living while marginalized? madison moore answers these questions in a timely and fascinating book that explores how queer, brown, and other marginalized outsiders use ideas, style, and creativity in everyday life. Moving from catwalks and nightclubs to the street, moore dialogues with a range of fabulous and creative powerhouses, including DJ Vjuan Allure, voguing superstar Lasseindra Ninja, fashion designer Patricia Field, performance artist Alok Vaid-Menon, and a wide range of other aesthetic rebels from the worlds of art, fashion, and nightlife. In a riveting synthesis of autobiography, cultural analysis, and ethnography, moore positions fabulousness as a form of cultural criticism that allows those who perform it to thrive in a world where they are not supposed to exist.
The Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of Slow Cooker Dinners is a lifetime of delicious dinner ideas that are as easy to make as they are flavorful. The Crock-Pot Ladies walk the walk of raising busy families and feeding them well. Meet Heidi, Katie, and Sarah, three awesome cooks who preside over households that together include ten children along with a variety of husbands, grandchildren, and other relatives—all while they maintain super-busy work-at-home schedules that fill most of each day. The hundreds of thousands of readers of their wildly popular website, Crock-Pot Ladies, rely on them for nutritious and tasty recipes that deliver variety over monotony, comfort over pretense, and, above all, quick prep work over laboriously fancy productions. In this book, their first, featuring 275 recipes—over half of which are brand new and not available on their website—the Crock-Pot Ladies use easy-to-shop-for, available-anywhere ingredients to build terrific soups and stews, dips and spreads, sides and casseroles, and, especially, protein-packed main courses for big appetites. Experts at cooking for the freezer, the Ladies serve up 25 freezer meal plans, covering 5-, 7-, and 10-day plans, that use the many freezer-friendly recipes in the book. Nobody knows Crock-Pots and other slow cookers like the Crock-Pot Ladies, and The Crock-Pot Ladies Big Book of Slow Cooker Dinners is chock-full of tips and tricks that show you how to get the most from any model or size of slow cooker. This is a book you can rely on, day in and day out, weekdays and weekends, for fabulous dinners that don't demand time that you don't have.