LargeInCharge.com:
What is your name?
Stephanie
Ripa AKA the PLUS SIZE BARBIE
LargeInCharge.com: Where are you from and what is your current
Location?
I am from
Vineland, NJ but currently reside in Mays Landing, NJ
LargeInCharge.com: Can you give us some information about
yourself (Age, Height, Size, Nationality, Marital Status,
Children, etc.)?
I am 23
years old, 5'6", Italian; I am a single mother of two beautiful
boys 6 months and 3 years old.
LargeInCharge.com: Were you a big child, or did you gain weight
later in life?
Later in
life, I was skinny as a child but as I grow up I started gaining
weight.
LargeInCharge.com: (If you gained weight later in life) what
caused you to gain weight and how did you feel about it?
I gained
weight during my 1st pregnancy. After I had my son I just didn't
lose the weight. I was really upset that I was no longer a size
7 and wanted so bad to look how I use too.
LargeInCharge.com: What made you decide to enter the
LargeInCharge model search?
I saw so
many beautiful people on largeincharge.com and thought one day
that will be me. So I submitted my pictures to you.
LargeInCharge.com: Did you find it a hard journey to be accepted
for your size?
It was
extremely hard to except my self; I thought I was so ugly. I
took a personal Journey to discover who I was on the inside and
then started to love what I saw on the outside. One day I woke
up feeling like a new woman and I said “how can anyone love me
if I don’t love myself” I embraced my new body and loved me for
me. It took a while to be confident and comfortable in my own
skin. Now I am not only confident but for the first time ever I
feel like I have control of my own life.
LargeInCharge.com: Do you find acceptance among your family and
friends?
Yes. My
family is amazing and they are so supportive of what I do. They
think of me as an advocate for plus size women and love that I
have enough courage to get my curvy self in front of a camera.
My friends are all skinny but they love me just the way I am,
they are also amazing women that give me so much strength to
pursue my dreams.
LargeInCharge.com: What would you say inspires you most in life?
My children
inspire me the most. There the reason why I put on the make up,
do my hair, and snap on the pictures.
LargeInCharge.com: What is your primary job?
I work 8-4
Monday thru Friday as a secretary in a general contractor’s
office. Then the rest of the time my job title is “MOMMY”.
LargeInCharge.com: How did you get into this line of work?
It’s a
family owned business. So when a position opened up my Aunt gave
me a call.
LargeInCharge.com: Do you find acceptance in the work force?
Well I work
for family so its pretty easy to be accepted by them.
LargeInCharge.com: What changes do you believe should take place
for Large People in the work force?
Larger
people are less likely to get hired, promoted, we get paid less,
and are the 1st ones out during layoffs. This HAS to change. Big
is beautiful and they perceive us as stupid, lazy, & unhealthy.
Women suffer the greatest unfairness in the work force; we don’t
have to weigh very much for employment discrimination to kick
in. We deserve the same treatment as everyone else.
LargeInCharge.com: What do you think about the fashion industry
for big sized clothing?
Right now it
is still a little weak but definitely improving. I’m so tired of
seeing curtains for dresses and blankets for shirts. Who
actually wears that stuff? Just because I am a size sixteen
doesn’t mean I can’t be fashionable. Gave me fashion!
LargeInCharge.com: What do you wish to see change with the
fashion industry?
I actually
see it changing before my eyes. Great things are happening for
plus size women. Gwen DeVoe is doing amazing things for plus
size women. I recently went to one of her open calls and there
were so many beautiful plus size women. Monif C. has such a
great clothing line out. Her convertible dresses fit so well and
are very fashionable. Torrid is one of my favorite stores to
shop, the store was built for me. I would like to see more of
this going on. We need more wide heels & dress shoes. I would
love to see more fashionable plus clothing lines and stores in
the next year. And one day I would love to have my own clothing
line.
LargeInCharge.com: What changes do you think will happen if plus
sized modeling for men and women were to expand?
I think a
lot more opportunities would open for plus size men and women.
It would show America that you don’t have to be size zero to be
beautiful and model.
LargeInCharge.com: Tell us some of the places you buy your
clothing from.
Torrid,
monif C, Macy’s are the main stores I shop at but I’ll shop any
where that I can find great clothes that fit.
LargeInCharge.com: Tell us one of your secret beauty tips.
Moisturize.
It’s so important to moisturize before applying makeup if you
have dry skin. If you don’t moisturize your face will look
flaking and cakey, that’s not a good look.
LargeInCharge.com: Give us some tips on how to have a successful
Photo shoot. What should models be prepared for?
As a plus
model it is so important to bring shape wear with because you
never know what outfit your going to wear. If your makeup and
hair are being done on set come with a clean face and hair. If
not, come already done up. And please practice your facial
expressions in the mirror.
LargeInCharge.com:
Look at Size acceptance five years ago... look at size
acceptance now. What changes do you see?
A lot has
changed but still not enough. The modeling industry has more
recognition for plus models. More agency represent plus size
models. A lot still has to be changed and accepted.
LargeInCharge.com: What changes do you think will happen five
years from now with size acceptance?
We will have
agency that only accept beautiful curvy women.
LargeInCharge.com: Tell us about your goals as far as modeling
and other interests.
I want to be
represented by a great agency, be in a national ad campaign, &
movies/shows. Eventually design and own a plus clothing line. I
have many more goals and hopefully will achieve most of them.
LargeInCharge.com: Can you tell us about an inspirational moment
in you life that made you feel good about your size.
I rarely
feel bad about my size. I know I am a curvy woman and confident
about it. But after my first photo shoot I was looking thru the
pictures with my 2 year old son. When he saw my pictures come up
he said “awww mommy you look so beautiful”. He made me cry.
LargeInCharge.com: Is there a person in your life that makes you
keep going?
Of course.
My two boys, every day I wake up they motivate me to better to
do more, get my name and face known. Yes there is a man in my
life (not a boyfriend or husband) that also encourages me to do
it bigger and better.
LargeInCharge.com: What advice would you give to other people of
size who want to model?
Go for it.
If you want to model then model, who is going to stop you?
People told me I was to fat to model and I am doing it. I’ve
heard harsh words from people but that didn’t stop me, it only
encouraged me to do more. Call me a cow… Thanks I am a C.O.W
confident, overweight women. Moo
LargeInCharge.com: What plus size figure do you admire?
Gwen DeVoe,
she is doing amazing things for plus size women. She gives plus
models so many opportunities to advance or start their career.
She inspires me not only as a plus size model but as a woman.
She is so FABOULOUS and hope one day I can work for her.
LargeInCharge.com:
Describe yourself with one word.
Phenomenal
Raqui the Owner and Founder of LargeInCharge Magazine. This
spot is dedicated to her thoughts, vents, and observations of Plus
Sized Life. Raqui's "Tell it like it is" style of
writing has brought hundreds to her blogs and thousands to
LargeInCharge.com. There is so much behind the woman who has
brought this magazine into existence. Being Internationally
known as a wrestler/squasher lead the way to modeling for companies and being
featured in magazines and documentaries from all over the world.
She has made a career out of her size and personality. Born, Raised
and Residing in the Bronx NYC. This city girl is taking the world by
storm.
For the past 4 years Raqui officially moved into Size Acceptance and Empowerment.
With the creation of LargeInCharge she took what she said to
individuals to a higher level and made it public to the internet
world. She is a woman who doesn't let things get to her. Knock her
down for the moment but she will rise up stronger and better.
Being a speaker on behalf of many subjects and counseling Plus Sized
people online her grace and style has made people love her. Raqui continues to set an example of a powerful woman who will bend
the world to fit her, her way.
Raqui's appearances include, Uk Televesion, German TV, Japan, Europe
and the Spanish circuit. Her many magazines appearances have
been world wide. She has hit American Televsion in 2006 with
Good Morning American and since has appeared on The Christina Show,
The Maury Show and The Tyra Banks Show.
Raqui Appears on The Christina Show
Raqui Appears on The Maury Show
Raqui on Tyra
The Tyra
Show, It was an experience. When I saw an email in my mail box
from a Tyra Show producer I was a bit wary. I wondered what
kind of show would it be. I am quite picky about my
appearances. Things haven't always gone the way it was supposed
to and I didn't want to just be know as QUEEN RAQUI the 6'4
600lb squasher. Mind you I am not ashamed of my Queen Raqui
work. But to the rest of the world it will be seen as a big
joke. I want to be seen for everything I do. My writing, my
size activist work, my online magazine, my poetry. I do so many
things and I want to be seen as a whole not just some fat woman
who sits on people.
After talking to producers and be assured that they wanted
me to be featured for my work with Queen Raqui and my
LargeInCharge Magazine. I decided to take the plunge, this is
national English television. This could open more doors for me
and I would obviously get some attention. But most importantly
will I get the right attention? Will LargeInCharge be
mentioned? Will people want to know me as more than just the
Fat woman who makes some extra cash sitting on people?
With a little difficulty the show was set and I was going
to be on a majority of the show. I was quite happy and proud
that I was found this interesting. I was able to walk out on
the Tyra Run Way and strut my stuff. I was loving the audience
and it was a great feeling. I was actually a surprise to fellow
guest who made an appearance before, on the Tyra Show. Her name
is Gem and she started squashing her husband (Eddie) in private
and they both enjoyed it. She said I am her inspiration, that
because or me she is able to be squash her husband, and also be
proud of herself. Gem is a follower of LargeInCharge (My online
magazine for Size Acceptance and Empowerment) and she said that
it has helped her realize her beauty. I was so touched, while
yes I am told often how important my online magazine is, to hear
it on National Television was an experience I felt deeply. Even
when the woman who was the complete opposite of me (Yael - A
VERY SMALL VERY SLIM 88 pound) woman tried to bash me from the
audience and say I was fat and unhealthy. I had a come back for
her. My favorite part is a something I say very often. "I AM
FIVE TIMES MORE HUMAN, I DESERVE FIVE TIMES THE RESPECT!"
Because in truth if my Humanity could be counted in pounds I was
literally Five times her size!
After the show aired I had mixed
feelings. I was of course featured mostly for my Queen Raqui
work but I was supposed to be able to mention my online magazine
www.LargeInCharge.com
I was repeatedly told by producers to say the name of both my
sites. While yes I was aired as saying I am a size activist, and
the fact that I had an online magazine was mentioned through out
the show. I felt a bit hurt and dismayed that they cut out when
I said the URL of my site. I also noticed that in the Special
Thanks section,
www.LargeInCharge.com
was not displayed when I was told it would. Other women who came
on the show (Ms. Stacie, Mercedes, Trina) also have sites and no
mention of their sites were on the show. ( I have had the
confirmation of at least one other women that her site was said
in taping but not on the show). It leaves my mind to wander
over other Tyra Shows I have seen in the past. I remember one
especially because a Ex Pimp who had a stable of High Class Call
Girls was on a show not so long ago. And while his site was
bleeped many a time until he cooperated with the show. At the
end his new website which is a dating website was mentioned. My
heart hardened a bit thinking about that, if an EX PIMP got his
new Dating Website URL mentioned on the Tyra Show, why couldn't
they mention
www.LargeInCharge.com
. LargeInCharge is a FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE it empowers women and
men to live their lives. It has helped thousands of people over
the years. Is my LargeInCharge site not as worthy as an EX
PIMPS dating site? *SIGH*
Still I believe I was shown for who I am and all the Ladies
were showcased in a positive light. I was a bit down about not
meeting Tyra Banks herself. While yes I can imagine she is
quite the busy woman, and after a long day of taping shows she
must have wanted to just run to her dressing room, and get ready
to go home. I wish I could have met her and said hello, even
take a picture with her. She asked me questions during the
show, and shook our hands during the closing of the show then
she left promptly, I don't blame her. But I wish she would have
had a bit of time to greet us. I really would have liked to
tell her that her work with teen girls and body image is really
an important one that I appreciate. That I hope she continues
to have Plus Sized people on her shows and giving us some kind
of voice. Though I wonder what the voice will be. That if she
ever needed a big woman to speak to large framed girls I would
be happy to help. To let her know that yes I am more than Queen
Raqui and I am here to show the world that large women are doing
big things and I don't mean just with our bodies.
It left me with a bitter sweet feeling and while I can
understand why she probably didn't have time. A small part of
me wonders if it was just because we were not important enough
guests. I am sure if we were music artists or actors, much more
time would have been taken. While we are not famous according
to the rest of the world. In the BBW (Big Beautiful Woman)
Community in our own world we are similar to the Brittany Spears
of Hollywood. We are known and everyone knows our names. It
makes me wonder and I guess I might never really know why we
couldn't say Hello to Tyra. We may not be the most important
people in the world to some. But we are people. I can't say we
were treated badly in fact things went well. Over all I have to
say I am ok with this experience but still feeling a little
bitter.
Raqui
LargeInCharge Radio
- Weekly Radio show discussing Plus Sized Issues. Friday's 7-9
pm EST - Call in & Chat in our Chat Room.
Super Sized Sounds will be a Music Column that will feature those
who are in the industry or up and coming who are size positive.
Giving recognition to the plus
sized people who are out there and showcasing themselves.
Reviews, Interview, News and more from our new writer Super Sized Spanishfly Lynx.
Lynx
Garcia, also known as "SUPERSIZE SPANISHFLY", is a Latina BBW from
Queens NYC. Lynx is an activist speaking out against size
discrimination and began performing back in 1996 at social events
for big beautiful women and big handsome males and their admirers.
Her special mixture of sound held true as she sang, spat, danced and
performed spoken word, soon she was in demand by
Big and Beautiful parties nationwide. Lynx taking her "look"
and sound mainstream was rejected because of her size. She
did not let this break her spirit, hurt her confidence or minimize
her drive. Instead she rose up and started a public access show
(LYNX' LAIR) aired in Queens on TIME WARNER QPTV . Combination of
comedy and sexy style, she showcased underground artists of all
walks of life. The response to her show was PHENOMENAL....in less
than a year she has showcased many artist, some who moved to bigger
and better things.
Currently Lynx has caught the attention of Joey Mekkah of BLACK
SOLARIS ENTERTAINMENT and found herself on the Grandmaster MELLE
MEL's SOLO ALBUM "MUSCLES" featured on the hot latin hip-hop track
called 'DIMELO", she is the only collaboration on the album. Lynx
recently has started her own radio show on EXTRAVAGANGSTARADIO.COM
called Ladies Night. EXTRAVAGANGSTARADIO is #1 on the
itunes network.
WANT TO SUBMIT YOUR VOICE FOR REVIEW? See Below
Artist of the
Month
My people, mi gente…I
have some exciting news to share with all my loyal readers. I am now a
part of the blacktino.net family.
WWW.BLACKTINO.NET is a website dedicated to
empowering building ethnic unity among all communities of color. I will
be their new entertainment reporter. Please come by and show Blacktino
some love and look out for my article Monday May 5th, el
cinco de mayo. And now back to Supersize Sounds.
Unfortunately I didn’t receive any submissions and so I decided to
showcase the reaction of artists in the Hip Hop community concerning the
“Not Guilty” verdict in the Sean Bell case. Hip Hop unifies and it is
the culture that was created in the streets by people of color, children
of immigrants to release our struggles through creativity in the form of
rapping, dancing, Djaying and graffiti art. Tensions are high but the
people of New York along with community leaders and The Bell and Paultre
family have decided to shut down the city and not patronize the malls,
gas stations or stores Saturday May 3rd 2008. It is estimated
that this will cost the city of New York 70 billion dollars. When you
threaten the powers that be’s lifestyle they quickly pay attention and
may possibly be ready to invoke change and implement laws that will
ensure the safety of innocent civilian from officers and hold them
accountable.
Enjoy!
You Tubes of the Month
Jasiri X Dedication To Sean Bell-“ ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”
**WARNING**
The Images Of Police Brutality in this video are very disturbing.
The Games Reacts On The Verdict
Joell Ortiz Streamz Of
Consciousness
Want to send in your
Voice in for review? Are you a singer, rapper, or poet who performs
spoken word? Up and Coming, already established? Contact
Lynx through her Myspace page or email
articles@largeincharge.com and all information will be forwarded to
her (PUT "FOR LYNX" IN THE SUBJECT AREA)
You must be a Size
Positive Artist, or a Plus Sized Supporter.
From the Plus side will be column dedicated to short stories that
deal with all aspects of Plus size Life. Emily Smiltneck was
chosen for this position because of her dedication, and realistic
writing style. She captures the emotional and mental rollercoaster
those who are Plus Sized go through.
Emily Susanne Smiltneck lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
(pretty much dead center in the middle of nowhere). She is a
substitute teacher, and has recently started a tutoring business.
Emily is currently working on several writing projects,
including a historical fiction novel and several collections of
poetry.
Emily Smiltneck
receives recognition in Neighbors Daily Press - See article below
It is a great joy when our fellow Plus Sized people receive
recognition for their life's work. Join me in this Joyous
moment when one of our LargeInCharge writers is seen for her
contribution and great dedication to her goals in life. Click
the images above to read the article about our dear Emily. When the
page open click on the article to zoom in and read it.
"Invisible" The
Holy Chronicles
by Emily Suzanne
Smiltneck
“Hey, wanna go to Marquette with me
tonight?” she asks, over the phone.
My first instinct is to decline, but I hesitate for
some reason. I know very well that “go to Marquette” is Holly-code
for “go to Upfront & Company with me so I have someone to talk to
when I’m not obscenely flirting with every man in sight, and so I
have someone to drive me home when I’m so doped up on Vicodin and
booze that I can hardly walk, much less drive.”
I also know that Holly, at forty years old, is far
beyond the age of such irresponsibility, and that she fully intends
to leave her twelve-year-old daughter and her fourteen-year-old son
to their own devices for at least the night, and possibly for the
entire weekend. And I know that Tom is probably sitting home alone
right now, watching TV and trusting her when he has every reason not
to. But I do not decline.
“Okay,” I say instead.
I don’t know why I say okay. I tell myself it is
because I am afraid if I don’t go with her, she will drink too much,
drive too fast, wind up dead. But the truth is more than that, I
think. I, fat and overlooked and lonely and not at all wise to the
ways of the world that exists in bars and clubs and bedrooms, crave
excitement. I am twenty-two years old and I feel like my life has
not yet begun. I crave late nights in smoky bars, house parties
full of drunk people and fast music, early mornings on the beach
watching the sunrise through an alcohol-induced haze. I crave
intimate conversations with, of all people, men!
Holly, thin and fast and smooth and oozing sex, is my
vehicle to that end. I am using her just as much as she is using
me, because she is somehow able to drag me out of myself and into
her world, even if it is only as a casual observer.
And so I dress my curves up as naked as I dare
against the sultry AuTomt nighttime air and meet her at the coffee
shop on Eighth and Main. Tom, not home alone after all, is with her
when she arrives, and I envision a repeat of nights out past, where
he and I sit together at a table, nervously making small talk and
pretending his girlfriend isn’t flittering around the bar and
hitting on every other man in the place. He doesn’t come with us,
though. Instead, he kisses her goodbye, thumps me on the shoulder,
tells me to keep an eye on her, silently begs me not to let it
happen again. He watches through the window as we go outside and
drive away in Holly’s car.
Marquette is an hour away, but it’s worth it; we have
to get out of town. The smallness of our city is stifling us and we
need excitement, new people, something new to look at. This is what
Holly tells me in a steady but rhythmless chatter that hardly lets
me catch my breath as she drives, too fast, into the almost-sunset.
I think the real reason we are going to Marquette is that “we” have
scared away most of the men in Escanaba with our desperate attempts
to bed them so we can pretend that someone loves us (and by “we” I
mean Holly, of course). Whatever the reason, though, I don’t mind.
Marquette’s a little bigger, a little broader, a college town.
Maybe I will meet someone there who can ignore my fatness, discover
my beauty, let me see, for just a moment, what it’s like to be
Holly. Without the pills and booze and immaturity, of course.
When we get to Upfront, the streets are full of
parked cars, taxis, beautiful people with sun-bronzed skin. We are
forced to park in the city parking lot two blocks away, at the
bottom of a hill. I am afraid that I won’t make it, walking up the
hill. I am not in good shape and I can’t walk as fast as Holly, and
even if I do manage to keep up, I don’t want to walk into the bar
all sweaty and red-faced and breathless. But it’s okay, because I
always forget that a steady diet of cheap beer and Vicodin, not to
mention the beginning stages of anorexia, can take a toll on a
person. Holly is just as slow as I am in the damp heavy air. I
square my shoulders and stand tall, determined to appear as though I
think I’m hot stuff, the sexiest woman around. My tank top is cut
low and tight, and if I can meet everyone’s eye, they might miss
seeing the rest of me. If all they notice is my chest and my eyes,
I might be all right.
There is a bouncer just inside the door. He’s a big
man, massive and muscled, but just a little soft, too. And his eyes
are sparkling even in the darkness of the crowded bar. I don’t know
exactly why, but I find myself smiling, pulling back my shoulders,
thrusting out my chest.
“Hey, there,” I say as I flash him my ID, hand him
five bucks, and hold my hand out, palm down, to be marked so I’ll be
allowed to order drinks that I won’t order anyway. “Don’t just ex
my hand,” I tell him. I tip my chin downwards, look up into his
eyes through my bangs, smile. “I want somethin’ fun. How ‘bout the
Mona Lisa?” I wink. Am I flirting? Is this how it’s done? Maybe,
maybe not, but I’m having a good time.
“I can try,” he says, grinning. “But the marker only
shows up under black light. Can’t really see what I’m doing.”
“Go ahead.” I wink again. “I have faith in you.”
And so he does. He could be drawing random lines on my hand, for
all I know, because without a black light I can’t see his artwork
any more than he can. I make a mental note to ask a bartender,
later, to flash a black light my way. Holly asks for the Mona Lisa,
too, but I was first, and the bouncer rewards me, not her, with an
amused smile. Tonight feels good, so far. Better than I expected
it to.
We push our way through the bar and find an empty
table near the dance floor. I sit down to save it for us while
Holly goes to get us drinks: a rum and diet Coke each, minus the rum
in mine. She’s gone for a long time and I suspect that she is
chatting up some unsuspecting man and that she won’t be paying for
our drinks herself. Suits me just fine. I sure can’t get a guy to
buy me a drink, so I may as well take advantage. After all, I’m the
one who’s sitting at this table all alone, watching everyone around
me dancing and laughing and chattering while I pretend, with a smile
that feels too broad and bright, that I’m having fun, too.
It’s easier when Holly finally returns, because even
though the music is too loud for us to talk and I can’t think of
much to say to her anyway, at least there’s someone across the table
from me, and my drink gives me something to do with my hands. The
music is smooth and the atmosphere is cool and I begin to lose
myself again. Which is good. I’m at my best when I’m lost.
Then the band goes on break. Pre-recorded music,
much quieter than the real stuff, begins to play, and the dancers
abandon the dance floor. Holly gets up and wanders away without
saying anything, presumably to get herself another drink. With the
band and Holly both gone, there’s nothing to focus my attention on.
My face starts to burn as I look around the room, trying not to seem
lonely. I toy with the idea of getting up to get myself a drink,
but I haven’t finished the first one yet. Besides, if I get up, we
might lose our table, and then I’ll have nowhere to hide when Holly
goes on the prowl. I sit alone, bending my straw in a thousand
places to keep myself busy, until it splits open at one of the
creases. I finish my drink, strawlessly. I chew on the ice that is
melting in the bottom of my glass. I look at the people around me,
people who fit in here, who know what to say and who to say it to
and how to be a part of the crowd. I am careful not to let them
know I am studying them, though. If they catch me, they’ll think
I’m crazy, sitting alone in a bar and staring at everyone. Or they
will see me and know that I am fat and therefore alone and therefore
lonely, and they will pity me. I would rather they think I’m crazy.
It took me a while
to decide what I wanted to write on this month, but it hit me like a
bolt of lightning this morning. Online I saw the headline “Fuel
will probably hit $10/gal soon”. At first I thought the required
thought… OH GEEZ ! Then it hit me in another way, I got more than a
little ticked off. I have a friend who is a stock broker. Not too
long ago I asked him why at times they announce gas going up and it
goes up in price for us overnight (if not hourly) and in other times
it take a week for it to slowly edge up ?
At the time he conveyed that it
really has nothing to do with many things like: Supply and demand
are fine, availability is fine, we have plenty of sources for it, no
one is threatening to destroy oil, the middle eastern oil still
costs them the same amount per barrel (which for your information is
about $3 a barrel cost to the Saudi’s). He said it is not the cause
of the oil companies. So pretty much I asked is it the fault of the
government, to which he replied the government has no role in
pricing of fuel. Ok, I’m thinking that pretty much rules out anyone
I wanted to blame. So who the heck is to blame, man. He told me of
the stock exchange in Chicago, in which stock speculators are, and
have been driving the cost of fuel up artificially for the last
couple of years. He said they have been pushing it and will
continue to push it as long as they can. Let’s go back to our
supply chain. Yes, whoever is providing oil is making BILLIONS more
than usual. YES, Oil companies are making BILLIONS more than
usual. And, unfortunately those BILLIONS come from us, so we’re
spending BILLIONS more than usual.
The speculation of future values are
driven heavily if not completely on two factors fear of shortage, or
fear of surplus. I know you’re thinking “fear of surplus” ?
Surplus is good for consumers, bad for suppliers. Let’s use this
explanation, the more available a commodity, or the larger the
supply, the less the drive to acquire it, so you can’t get as high a
price for it. The more limited the supply the greater the desire to
have it, so the more money you can get for it. Think of past trendy
things, cabbage patch kids, tickle me Elmo, PSP, PSP2, etc etc whose
limited availability opened up markets for leaches to buy at a
reasonable cost and resell on Ebay to the tune of economic rape of
consumers.
This brings us to speculators who are
making so much money who would want to stop. Oil producing
companies and gas companies, while not responsible, are not
complaining because they make so much more money, and they can
honestly say, It’s not us…. It’s them !!
So who gives the speculators such
power…. Easily put… our fear. Now my thought is that there are
hundreds if not thousands of reporters across the world whose
primary form of income comes from taking the role of “Chicken
Little” screaming to the world that the sky is falling because all
they do is report how gas will cost more and more soon. In the
average consumer we take this as being some level of fact so we
accept it as truth and create the law of expectation. As a brief
definition of the law, it basically says this… IF you EXPECT bad
things to happen, BAD things will happen, IF however you EXPECT,
good things to happen, good things will happen. In making their
contrived guesses about the future cost of fuel, these ignorant
“guardians of truth” become unwitting and mindless zombies who
stupidly play a role in creating the news they are supposed to be
reporting. In other word when it hits $10 a gallon, tell me then,
until then why don’t you quit getting on your evil empire horse and
send out a real story.
I think if we had a hundred or so
reporters that sent out this story on Monday “Gas should be $1.50 a
gallon soon”, it may not make it to $1.50 by Friday the chances are
that the price would start dropping, because we expect it. While
you say this sounds ridiculous, that is the only reason the price
rises now with the report that someone in Iran has an upset stomach
and they may not be able to report to work at an oil plant even
though they play no role in oil production.
We see oil providers as being evil for
not increasing supply, but in actuality they are rather smart. They
earn all the extra money now, without responsibility. They know as
well as some others that this oil bubble (like the housing bubble)
is finally going to burst causing the cost to plummet. If the
Saudis increase the amount in supply it would drive down the cost of
oil in a huge way and they wouldn’t make as much money. I’m not
saying oil is going to be $1.50 a gallon again, maybe though, but it
will be priced more reasonably then now. So take this as a lesson
for every facet of your lives. The power of expectation is a real
thing that can alter and change our lives in many ways. Expect the
good ….. get the good, expect the bad …. Well you then get high fuel
costs.
Next time you’re ready to admit defeat,
or give up keep in mind that your mind can do more to help you
achieve then you know. In that same why, improperly used it can do
more to help you fail than you know.
So, until next time
keep the power of expectation in mind…. Oh and by the way, “Gas
should be $1 a gallon soon….. spread the word…. Spread the
expectation, let’s see what happens…
Xander
Xander's Recipe of the Month
Kickin’ Chik’n Pot Pie
INGREDIENTS
·1 1/2 pounds skinless,
boneless chicken breast meat
·1 cup chicken broth
·1/2 teaspoon salt
·1/4 teaspoon ground
black pepper
·1 1/2 cups milk
·3 tablespoons butter
·1 onion, chopped
·1 cup chopped celery
·1/3 cup all-purpose
flour
·2 cups frozen mixed
vegetables, thawed
·1 tablespoon chopped
fresh parsley
·1/2 teaspoon dried
thyme
·1 (9 inch) pastry for
a 9 inch single crust pie
·1 egg, lightly beaten
DIRECTIONS
In a large
saucepan over medium high heat, combine the chicken meat,
chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat
to low. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until chicken is
no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear.
Remove the
chicken and let cool. Pour the remaining chicken broth mixture
into a measuring cup. Let stand; spoon off fat. Add enough milk
to the broth mixture to equal 2 1/2 cups. Cut chicken into 1/2
inch pieces.
In the same pan,
melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Add the onion and
celery. Sauté, stirring, for 3 minutes. Stir in flour until well
blended. Gradually stir in broth mixture. Simmer, stirring
constantly, until the sauce thickens and boils. Add the chicken,
vegetables, parsley and thyme. Pour mixture into a 1 1/2 quart
deep casserole dish.
Preheat oven to
400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Roll out pastry
1 inch larger than the diameter of the casserole dish on a
lightly floured surface. Cut slits in the pastry for venting
air. Place pastry on top of casserole. Roll edges and cut away
extra pastry; flute edges by pinching together. Re roll scraps
to cut into decorative designs. Place on top of pastry. Brush
pastry with beaten egg and bake in the preheated oven for 30
minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is
bubbling. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.
Cher was born in Los
Angeles California in 1955. Being adopted by wonderful parents she
grew up in the city of Encino, and was always surrounded by loving
caring family and friends. Growing up with a thin mother, who was
always trying to get Cher to lose weight, diets of all types,
sending her to fat camp, bribing her, and
not ever having sweets in their home.
Growing up Cher never was lacking in friends and boyfriends who
loved her personality and her kindness.
Guys in her life always were saying your so pretty but why don't you
lose some weight. This she heard all of her life but her weight just
would go up and down.
Cher has always loved seeing others happy and helping others to find
their inner self and beauty.
Ten years ago, she found the plus size community and she knew this
is where she would focus on helping others who were like her and had
some of her experiences and pain that she went through.
Cher has been in the community working with others for size
acceptance. She was seen on "Dr.Phil, "Good Morning
America","Entertainment Tonight", "Russian, British, Japanese,and
Viet Vietnamese Television". Also a documentary filmed at the Las
Vegas Bash on the Travel channel, and Current TV, a online station,
with numerous radio interviews talking about size acceptance.
She was a promoter for the number one BBW hip hop club in
California, and seeing people come into the club and make new
friends and feel good about themselves warmed her heart.
Her love for helping others to feel better about themselves and to
help mainstream accept the plus size community is her focus and
goal. She is Vice President of "Hollywood Cure For Pain" a celebrity
movement to help those who suffer in chronic pain. She is now
showing mainstream that "Big Girls can rock the Red Carpet"! Besides
being a wife, mother and activist, playing with her Chocolate Lab
Ruby is what she loves best!
RED CARPET EVENT JOHNNY V'S BIRTHDAY BASH!
Article by:
Cher Rue
It was a happening Red carpet event March 21st Friday night at a
favorite Hollywood nightclub called "Ritual". Hollywood Cure for
Pain sponsored a birthday bash for VH1's Johnny V, cast member of
Scott Baio is 46 and pregnant. Other sponsors were WVtv, and Face to
Face entertainment. The red carpet started at 9:30 with celebrities
making their way along the red carpet for all the photographers and
videographers.
Celebrity guests included Johnny V., Christopher Atkins ( Blue
Lagoon), Michael Copon (One Tree Hill),
Kris Black, Dominico (VH1's that's Amore), Heather Chadwell (VH1's
Rock of Love), Deedee Bigelow (actress), Fawn and Vincent Covello(
singers-songwriters), Amanda Rushing (actress-singer),Eric Bayliss (Tila
Tequila a shot of love),Willie Macc (BET Collage Hill),Leroy Mobley
(Actor)Adeja Allen (Wild N Out) LTL Ent. Triflon (Music Hiphop
Artist) Dyverse Ent. Records, Jesse Hart teen Idol.
After singing Happy Birthday to Johnny V. the party moved into the
VIP area of the club, where the celebrities drank and socialized
with the birthday boy. A special live performance by emcee Ez which
had the house rocking and a little dance on stage by the humorous
Johnny V. Some dancing to the great tunes of the two guest DJ's at
Club Status @ Ritual.
FOUNDATIONS INVOLVED
ABOUT HOLLYWOOD CURE FOR PAIN:
Celebrity movement to promote awareness of
people who have chronic pain.
I am a big guy with a
big heart. My favorite thing in the world to do is to make others
laugh. It gives a sense of calm and peace to both people involved
and there is nothing better than to walk up to that person later in
th day and just see the smile on their face from the memory they
have of what you did earlier.
I am a family man as
well. I live in Montreal, Quebec with my wonderful wife Naomi and
my two adorable children Connor and Brett. They are the sun around
which I revolve and without them my life would have more tragedy
than comedy in it I guarantee.
I was raised in
Southern California, Moved to New York, Moved to Kansas and then
back to New York. Follow me so far? I have a perspective on the
entire country I think, from the surfers in Los Angeles, to the
Wheat Farmers in Kansas City to the Kodak Managers in Rochester.
I am sick and tired of
mainstream media not allowing the plus-sized person, be they man or
woman, to be represented fairly in the media. You have wonderfully
bright spots in the darkness, like our own Raqui, but the rest of
the clouds have yet to be broken through and I hope I can help in
that.
I am a open man
who loves to talk. You want to ask me a question, go ahead. You
have an idea for something you want me to write? Go ahead. I don't
mind posting my email (kaotiks@gmail.com)
because I do not shy away from responding to people. Plus, I have a
really good spam filter.
Love and Respect to
all. James, by the way, they also call me Kaobear
As a Child... Part 2 with
James Nealon
There were about ten Catholic churches in the small town. They
would tower over me as I walked with their gorgeous neo-gothic
architecture and there sweet incense laden open doors beckoning me
to come into them and find there what they assumed I so desperately
needed
It was walking by one of these buildings that I walked into,
literally, a man who made me look small by comparison. I tried to
apologize but my manners had been a tad lax of late and he smiled,
nodded his head in understanding and asked me to sit.
He was puffing on this archaic cigar that was as long as my forearm
and I looked from it to his face and saw the starched collar of the
cloth and immediately sat up a little straighter. My life may have
been going nowhere, but my mother and father taught me to respect a
man of the cloth.
He saw my attempts at respect and calmed me down, threw his cigar to
the gutter and motioned for me to follow him into the church behind
him. I had nowhere else to go so I followed him. He still had said
neither his name or anything else.
I followed him to his church and walking behind I realized he was at
least four inches taller than I was and more than a few inches
wider.
We sat down in one of the pews away from the few people who were
scattered within and talked. Not about God or anything near it, he
introduced himself as Shaemus McCoy, a priest with the church and
told me that if I needed somewhere to go, somewhere to sit down
during my travels the door was open twenty-four hours a day.
I said I would think about it and we talked, and we talked long. It
was well after dark when he finally patted me on the arm and told me
to go home to my mother. I smiled, nodded and shuffled myself
home. I think about it now and he never mentioned the Church a
single time, he was a man who saw a boy in despair and helped him.
In the days and months to come he would talk to me every day. He
would help me with my drug and drinking problem and even helped me
to shrug off, most of the time, the insults and abuses of those who
I was afraid of at school.
I will never forget Father McCoy. As a plus sized man himself I
know he had endured parts of what I did, I never asked and he
volunteered, but during that time together, I knew.
There is always someone who will listen to you, who will sit down
with you and take a moment to care for the issues you have.
Stephanie Baham is a native of Los Angeles, CA and now resides in
the San Francisco area. She's a 38 year old professional who has
long enjoyed the craft of writing. Her other interests include film,
theatre, yoga, dancing, literature and politics. Stephanie holds a
Bachelor's degree from Cal State University, Long Beach in Theatre
Arts. She is currently working towards her degree in Psychology.
Gabriel Iglesias -
He’s funny, fabulous and fluffy! with
Stephanie Baham
One afternoon I was watching Comedy Central and I discovered a new
comedian whom I decided to call one of my favorites. The name of
his stand-up show was “Hot and Fluffy”. He had on a big Hawaiian
shirt, he told the craziest stories, and he’s a Big Handsome Man.
His name is Gabriel Iglesias and he’s as funny as he is fluffy!
Gabriel hails from San Ysidro, CA and he’s the youngest of six
children. His family moved to Long Beach, CA when he was in the 5th
grade. Gabriel got his start in comedy by auditioning for his
school’s talent show that year. He was a hit and a comedic star was
born. Eleven years later, he got on stage as a professional and the
rest is hot & fluffy history.
Gabriel was a finalist in the 4th season of Comedy
Central’s reality series, “Last Comic Standing.” His stand-up
comedy has been featured on shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “The
Tonight Show With Jay Leno”, “Good Morning America” and BET’s “Comic
View”.
Most
of his comedy comes from his real life experiences:
"I get my material from things that happen every day," says Gabriel,
using his 10-year high school reunion as an example. "I had too much
to drink and I made an ass of myself. When they asked 'Who has been
on TV?,' one of the girls handed me a mic. I said, 'I see three or
four girls who turned me down in high school. But you know what? You
girls got fat and now I drive a Hummer.' One of the girls tells me,
'You're fat too!' And I said, 'I was always fat. I kept my figure,
why couldn't you?' It was the conversation of the night. I don't use
writers. I use real life." – Gabriel Iglesias
The way Gabriel presents a story is priceless. He took a story
about driving his new Volkswagen Beetle into the hood and turned in
into one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. And it’s not only
the content of the stories that cracks me up…it’s his usage of funny
voices, sounds effects and facial expressions. The impressions he
does of his friends, family and random people from his stories are
simply hilarious. Gabriel is a very animated & energetic comedian.
His style of storytelling just pulls you in and makes you feel like
you were right there. Right there laughing your ass off!
What I also like about Gabriel is that his routines are fun, clean
and positive. He pokes some fun at his size, but keeps it uplifting
and funny. He tells stories about being a fluffy man at an
amusement park, being pulled over with a box of donuts on his lap
and how he got his nickname “Picachu.” And he also reveals why he
prefers wearing colorful Hawaiian shirts.
If you want to hear the stories and find out about the Hawaiian
shirts, then check your local listings right away. His comedy
special is going to air on Comedy Central in early May. He’s
currently on the “Hot & Fluffy Tour 2008.” You can get information
about his tour at
www.hotandfluffy.com or
www.gabrieliglesias.com. You can also watch video clips
of his stand-up routine on either website. I guarantee you, he’ll
make you laugh and make you proud to be fluffy!
I am a former plus-size model and stage performer. I have written
articles that have appeared in local newspapers, college magazines
and I was a sports editor for my school newspaper. Currently I have
a book coming out in May 08, How to Make a Living Without a Job: the
Guide to Professional Temping. It will be available online through
Amazon and can be ordered through Barnes & Noble or Borders. I split
my time between the Bay Area, CA and Houston, TX.
Move over Mermaids the Manatees are taking the field with
Iolande Argent
For those of you who haven’t heard (and even for those that have)
the Florida Marlins are looking for some footloose fat men. Yes, you
read that correctly, “fat men”. It seems that the National League
team is creating an all-male; plus-size cheerleading squad will be
dubbed the Manatees.
A real manatee is a 1,200-pound mammal sometimes referred to as a
“sea cow.” They are gentile creatures. They’re not very agile and
often are caught in boat propellers. Bearing that in mind the
Marlins want their “Manatees” to have the same dimensions,
but with agility, that’s why they’re holding tryouts for the big
men.
The team hopes to recruit seven to 10 tubby men to dance, cheer and
jiggle during Friday and Saturday home games this season. The men
are judged on how well they dance a choreographed routine.
If selected for the Manatees the men won’t be paid. Instead they’ll
get tickets to games they perform at, and the honor of dancing in
front of crowds that have been smallest in major league baseball for
the last two seasons.
Now all this might seem strange to you but the Marlins aren’t the
only pro sports team capitalizing on Americans’ expanding
waistlines. The Matadors, a big-man dance troupe that’s entertained
fans at Chicago Bulls basketball home games since 2003.
The term cheerleaders might be an unfamiliar site in baseball; big
men , on the other hand, are not. Fans of the game have been
cheering for big men like Babe Ruth and Kirby Puckett for years.
Moreover, just for the fans that are not ready for “big male”
dancers; the Marlins have the more traditional female cheerleaders
called Mermaids too.
Erin says she grew up in a rural Texas town, the small town life
atmosphere has always appealed to me and that is why I currently
reside here. I have the city life girl burrowed deep within me
though and sometimes she is able to escape to Dallas and have a good
time. I was a very awkward child, and when ADD was not even
understood, I had it, and spent a lot of time in the principals
office. I grew up very much a tomboy. Once I hit 18, I set out on
the world and started school. My major was to be journalism, then in
1999, tragedy hit me and I nearly died in a car accident. The outer
wounds healed rather quickly leaving me with the inner scars I still
deal with daily. I try to see each day as a new one and keep family
and friends really close to my heart where they belong. I enjoy
music and photography and my love for writing has stayed with me
since I was a child. Now as a 29 year old woman, I spend most days
still day dreaming and working hard to make them come true. I am
currently in school full time and will complete my journalism degree
with a minor in music. Pink is my absolute favorite color! I write
poetry and am currently working on my first book about my life.
Erin was chosen because
of her flair with words and her ability to find real day to day
instances in which Plus Sized people say WHY, Oh, WHY.
Life
with Erin Thompson
For some reason today I was extremely emotional, not to sure why,
either...It was odd, like something bigger than me was at work. I
tried to hold back the tears but everything was extremely real to me
today. Why Oh Why do I get like this sometimes? It is like I see
everything in the world through binoculars. I enjoy and it gives me
a sense of sensitivity. I no longer see the world through rose
colored glasses and am usually able to sum people up after one
meeting, but lately I have found that I am very sensitive to those
who are worse off in life than I am.
In my ideal life, I work on a volunteer basis for PETA, I am a
Goodwill Ambassador and I am traveling all over the world helping
anyone and everyone I can. Then reality sets in and I realize my
fantasy does not pay my car payment or my bills, so I have to
continue to get up daily and go to work for a man who has a big
heart but in all the wrong places and with all the wrong people. Do
not get me wrong, I am extremely grateful for my job, but lately my
morals have been tested with the attitudes I have to face daily. I
have found that my faith is becoming a lot stronger because I have
been turning to Him for a lot more than just prayer time.
My attitude while improving daily has also become different and I am
ok with the changes. Things that use to bother me really don't
anymore and some things that did bother me before are getting worse.
It is all part of me being on the brink of 30. I feel like sometimes
we just need a simple encouragement to smile, get out of bed, be a
better person, lift someone up, and change the world. I do believe
that each person has equal opportunity to change the world in their
own special way. Everyone is given a good heart to start with and it
is what you do with that heart that matters. Whether, you are
skinny, fat, short, tall, Asian, Black, White, Latino, YOU CAN
CHANGE THE WORLD.
I am becoming the person I think was always in me screaming to get
out and you can be too! I am finding a lot of peace in the Bible.
God has the most amazing way of making you feel better, he really
does. He lifts you up when you are down! I have found that just
being yourself, no matter what that is and just believing in that
more than anything in the world and you will be successful in this
life. You will have peace in your mind and in your heart. I know,
most of you are saying, she is probably so emotional because she is
about to start her period or something, but it is not true folks. I
am REALLY finding that inner peace that a person needs to survive
and I want you to find it to! I use to really feel fat all the time.
It was like my whole existence was summed up because I was the fat
girl. I am starting to more and more be comfortable with exactly who
I am in this world. I am starting to live life the way it was
intended to live, plus size or not. I am extremely confident that
you all can do the same in your lives. Pick yourself up off the
floor from the pity parties. Be who you are in this moment and like
your mother always said, "Always hold the golden rule close to your
heart." DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!
This is an experiment in Confession, you can anonymously confess, or
let everyone know something that you feel. Every Month we will
post all the confessions and you can come and view them and be
inspired to make your own.
You can send in a picture, You can make a graphic, You
can just send in your written words. You can do it anonymously
and get something off your chest. You can let everyone know
who you are and liberate yourself.
Hope you enjoy Confession! Send in your own check the bottom
of this page!
CONFESSIONS
I am a big
beautiful woman.
I am six feet one
inches tall, and weigh 352 lbs.
But why am I in
love with a man that doesn’t appreciate me?
****CONFESSION*****
I used to love
me just the way I am.
He said
he doesn't like "big girls". Now
he loves me.
Now he wants to
get married.
Now I
don't like me. Now I want to change me. I am
a "big girl."
~Serena
****CONFESSION*****
I have been saying for
forever that I am a strong BIG LADY!
When we broke up I
wanted to die.
Now he came back and I
am relieved.
Am I still strong? or
is he my only weakness?
****CONFESSION*****
I had a friend who
always said for years she will date any man big or small who meets
all the requirements.
I have a good job, VERY
GOOD, I am more than financially stable. I am not lazy,
I have no children, I love children.
I volunteer in my
community 8 hours a week. I have never been to jail.
I am educated but am
still in touch with where I came from.
I am told often how
handsome I am, I am a big man but I like to be active and take part
in sports.
I am kind and generous
to those who are kind to me. I took care of my mother until
she passed.
I will take care for my
woman and my children. I believe in quality time and romance.
I want to make love as
often as she does and will work my hardest to please her.
I love women and
respect them.
I am open to going to
church even though I am not affiliated with any religion right now.
I like to cook though I
could use some help in the kitchen.
I am not stuck up and I
don't like to argue.
I own a home with land
and want to get married in my own backyard
where I can build a
gazebo for me and my wife
to sit under in our old
age and remember when we got married.
When I asked my friend
to date me she said NO!!!!
I asked her why and she
couldn't come up with any reason.
She finally confessed
it was because I was a Big Man.
****CONFESSION*****
Last month a young bbw woman asked
"Why is it so difficult
to find a young BBW-Lover?
It seems like all the
men interested in Plus Sized women are 35 and older.
What's a 23 year old to
do?"
So I ask why when I
approach a young bbw woman they don't take me serious.
They think I am joking
or want to use them. I really just wanted a nice thick
girlfriend.
I now date an older
ssbbw and I want to marry her! I will ask her on Mothers Day!!!!
****CONFESSION*****
Send in
your own Confession, Use the email to the Right and send in a your
confession, weather it is a graphic you made (NO BIGGER THAN 5x7 92 DPI)
or a picture you saw. You can also just send in text words.
Your Confession can be Anonymous or you can tell everyone who you are.
One of our
favorite parts of the Magazine. The Guest Spot is for our readers to
submit there talents to be viewed. We want to see all you wonderful
supporters making moves of your own. If you write poetry, short
stories, commentaries, or just thoughts in general, please submit them to
us. If your a designer we want to see pictures of your clothing. We would love to
include your talents in our newsletter. We hope you take an active
part in the L.I.C. newsletter. Send in your article, poetry, comments to -
articles@largeincharge.com
NOTE:
The Opinion of the writer
is not always the opinion of The Large in Charge Staff. We support the
Right to all views. We do not Condemn or Approve writing
based on our personal thoughts. We approve writing based on if the
subject is a concern for the BBW / SSBBW / BHM Community. Thank you
for your writing and please send in those articles! - The Large in
Charge Staff
Guest Writer of the
Month
See Me Radiate... Hear Me
Roar
A submission from our
Writer's Search Applicant's
Written By: Katherine
Luttrell
Looking back at my life, I have
always been for the most part a
“big” girl, even though I prefer
the term of curvy confidant. I
battled year after year with
weight issues, being a size 24
my senior year and then a size
16 two years later when I got
married the first time, then a
size 20 after I had my daughter
two more years later, then a
lovely size 14 right before I
had my second daughter then back
to my current size of 20. I
think about what kind of life it
was always thinking I need to
lose weight, I’ll never be loved
as I am, and if only I was
skinny, well let me tell you
know, to heck with all that
stress, I am X-large and in
charge, of my own happy, healthy
and curvy self. I finally came
to terms with I was a beautiful
person inside and out no matter
what my dress size shown, I was
the same lovable and likeable
person whether I was at a size
14 or a size 24. I embrace the
negativity of today’s society
and their views on we, the plus
size population and make a
statement to counteract it, that
not only am I plus size but I am
beautiful, talented, and a
successful real woman in my
community. I radiate it right
back in the face of all
negativity that I should come in
contact with. It is my dream and
goal to make this statement, not
only locally, but given the
chance, nationally. I close this
with a hello, my name is Kathy
Luttrell, I am plus size,
X-large and definitely in
charge, see me radiate and hear
me roar...
HOW TO APPLY TO
BE A WRITER!!!
Interested in applying
for a writers position?
Send in the information below along with a clear photograph of
yourself and one complete article at least 300 words. Please
make sure your article is matching the position your applying for.
If you are a versatile writer and applying for more than one
position send in one article for each position.
Any submissions maybe be used in the magazine as a guest article or
other wise if you do not receive a position. If you are picked
for a position it will be used as a back up for your column in case
of emergency.
I want to Apply for a
Writers Position:
My Name is:
My email address is:
My Phone Number is:
My location/address is:
The position I am
applying for is:
Here is my article:
I am allowing
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typing my name and date I understand that I agree to the above.
NAME/DATE
We love our guest
writers, they help us to make LargeInCharge more personal and reader friendly place. We bring the
people words from there own peers. If you always wanted to
write but never knew what to do with your thoughts and opinions.
Send them in to us we love to feature you in our guest spot.
What
type of entries do we accept?
Original
Articles that have not been placed in
publication.
Size Empowerment Stories
Discovery of Size Acceptance
Romance of Large Size
Poetry - at least 25 lines in length
Complaints about Society
Complaints about what is provided for
Big People
Complaints about Health Care
Weight Loss Surgery Experiences
Dealing with Doctors
The Joy of being Big
Learning to Love yourself
etc.
How to Submit my Article
for review?
Check your article
for spelling and correct format, We do not edit articles.
Attach your article
either in Word, Text Format, or in the Body of your email.
In your email send
your Real Name, E-mail and Address (state, location).
Under your Name and
Address include date, and the line. "I give
www.largeincharge.com
and there owners, permission to use my written article. I am
submitting it for there use at their discretion."
Include a picture if you so wish in .jpg or .gif format and a
brief description of yourself.
NOTE:
The
Opinion of Raqui is just that. I do not claim to be
professional or to solve your problems. I can however
give you a real answer that may help you out.
Ask Raqui
Q:
Raqui what is a bash. I keep hearing about them.
Denise
Raqui: Hey
Denise, A Bash is a multi day event when people from a
certain group get together. In our case a BBW
Bash. There are many around the country and I am
working on getting together Bash event information from
those promoters who have been doing bashes at least 2-3
years in a row.
It is a great way to
spend those vacation days. :)
Q:
Raqui I hear your
going to Vegas Bash is this true? I would love to
meet you there.
Bell
Raqui:
yes I am going to Vegas Bash I am
all booked and working on getting some new clothes so I
can look good :) Here is the info.
www.bbwnetwork.com
Q:
Raqui i love you girl, I saw
you on Tyra and you were the best! How was it and
what was Tyra like. I have to know!
Sharon
Raqui: Hi
Sharon, I will give all the info through my Radio show
called LargeInCharge Radio on the Blog Talk program.
You might miss the actually show if you didn't get my
email in time but you can go listen to it because it
will be same and posted, check out
www.blogtalkradio.com/LargeInChargeRadio
Q:
What can I do to make my BBW
lady believe i have no problem with her body.
I asked this last month. I don't know what to do I
keep trying and all she does is cry.
Ray
Raqui:
I know it is hard Ray,
I know your worried. Maybe going with her to a
therapist will help. But if she resists just keep
letting her know how much you love her in all ways.
It is going to take longer than a month to convince her.
Don't push to hard because that only hurts take time and
let it slip ever now and then how you admire her.
You don't want her crying all the time. She might
be crying because she really wants to believe. She
might also have a depression problem from past issues so
seeking professional help might be the way to go.
Last months answer:
Telling her over and
over and touching her and talking, letting her know why
you love each part. It is a process your changing
everything that she has been told and has learned.
She will get it with time.
We all hate how the Fashion Industry is just scratching the
surface when it comes to Large Sized Fashion. But I have
found out that many clothing stores and online companies are
beginning to take up the slack. Creative BBW, SSBBW and
BHM's are making there own clothing or mix matching and finding
basic everyday wear and night club wear.
Making it affordable is what can be hard so showcase your
wonderful finds here. If your a regular shopper, sew your
own clothing or a designer showcase your clothing here by
submitting a picture for Fashion Furious of the month.
Fashion Furious of the Month
How to
send in your Fashion Find. Send a Clear Picture as
an attachment
and
use the Format Below to describe your Fashion
Furious picture.
Fashion Type:
Swim wear and Cover Ups and Clothing
Description:
This wonderful site has been around for years and still
provides some of the best in Plus Sized Clothing.
Custom made if necessary and high quality. It is
worth the money when you have a item that is long
lasting and perfect in its fit. Just ask anyone
woman that attends Vegas Bash. almost everyone is
wearing Love Your Peaches by the pool side.
A very important and necessary part of LargeInCharge. Find out what is
helpful for big bodies. Keep your self straight with some of our tips
and tricks. Find out what other Big Sized people use to keep themselves
smelling, feeling, looking, and living a proper life. What kind of
products are allowed. Anything that deal with the body. From cleaning aids
to soap, lotions, powder, healing aids etc. anything that can help a
big body!
NOTE:
The Opinion of those who
submit items are not professional. They are everyday people who found
something that worked for them. We are not held responsible for there
opinion - The Large in
Charge Staff
Send your
favorite Item to be Product of the Month - Follow format below, include a
picture of product (most can be found online) and Send to
articles@largeincharge.com
The threshold ramp is
lightweight yet durable modular
ramp designed for doorways,
sliding glass doors, and raised
landings. These ramps may be
used either one by itself or two
combined to make entry and or
exit convenient and safe.
Constructed of extruded,
anodized aluminum that will not
rust or corrode. Features a
durable non-skid driving
surface. Easy installation with
a weight capacity 600 lbs.
Why I like this Product:This product is good for
anyone who has a wheelchair for obvious reasons.
