Body Conscious Cosplay

Recently the "CONsent" campaign has been taking charge over the Internet. Cosplayers everywhere have banded together to stop the negative sexual advances, and other commentary towards many a con-goer. The campaign has even gone as far to produce t-shirts and swag for others that also support the cause. It's a wonderful display of how a community can come together to stop discrimination, and oppression. There is, however one more point I feel that hasn't been addressed enough (or maybe it has, and I fail at the internet). That is harassment towards those that don't share similar... ahem.. physical attributes. Yes, I'm talking about those full figured cosplayers.

As a full figured person, I've been faced with my fair share of "bullying" for my figure and the like. In this day and age everyone is picked on for one thing or the next. Unfortunately, it's become a regular part of our society. I do however, feel that more full figured cosplayers can take different routes to prevent such ridicule as well...

I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here. If you possess a plumper figure, try altering the costume to compliment your body type. If you're a curvier lady sporting a size 16 - a leather body suit to cosplay as Catwoman might not be the best idea (although there are some that do pull it off - let's not discount that).

It seems more common to see a cosplayer in an outfit that doesn't suit their figure (I don't want to post examples from the internet, but they're there.). On one side, I completely understand loving a character above all else. I love Emma Frost - she's my favorite character, but let's face it... there's no way in hell I'd pull off an accurate Emma Frost cosplay and make it look good. On the other hand, wearing something that doesn't fit you in all the right places, might make your cosplay look worse, and nobody wants that.

Muffin-top is not attractive in any sense.. Delicious, yes... flattering? Not so much. Don't fret, though. Just because a mainstream costume is tight leather, doesn't mean there aren't other options. I'll give you an example...

If you're a Catwoman fan, you can always go the classic Catwoman route, and do the lovely purple dress, and mask combo. That way you're still Catwoman. The dress looks much more flattering, and you're a lot less likely to be the subject of ridicule. Not to mention that there's a less likely chance of someone wearing the same thing! I mean c'mon... can you think of one woman that wouldn't rock that dress?!

Now that's the type of dress that could be flattering on any figure!

I'm not saying more full figured people can't cosplay too, but regardless of one's own body type - it helps to always dress accordingly. The same would go for someone with a much smaller figure cosplaying as Ben Grimm - it just doesn't work. Not to mention, who wants their convention ruined because some jerk couldn't keep his heartless comments to themselves? It'll only improve your chances of that not happening if you dress for your body type. There are plenty of options of cosplay for those that aren't built like Lynda Carter.

Play on your strengths. If you've got great legs - try wearing something that shows them off! Maybe a Mary Marvel cosplay in the short black dress would flatter you - not to mention black is very slimming, and looks good on anyone! You'll feel more confident and less exposed too!

Comfy, and functional! Plus, Mary Marvel is a badass.

Speaking of confidence, that's the first thing you'll need above all else. No matter where you go, or what you do, there's always that one person that will try to ruin your fun. Ignore them. The pride of knowing you put so much love and effort into something should just remind you that trolls aren't worth paying any mind. If you've got the confidence to go out there, ignore the naysayers and work it!

Also, part of the fun of cosplay is the creation! You don't have to be %100 accurate. Sure, there are those that don't appreciate artist interpretation, but who cares?! I don't see them slaving over an amazing costume to wear out for everyone to see. A lot of cosplayers make costumes based off of characters they love. Cable from X-Force is not a lady, but I've seen girls dress as him, and they look great! Sketch out a few ideas, peruse Google, try to get some inspiration. Once you've got that, the sky is the limit!

Please don't think I'm trying to pick on the plumper folks. I'm a plumper lady myself, and it took me a long time to learn what to wear, and how to wear it. I just want to share what I've learned in my years around the geek scene. It's come to a point where I'm sick of hearing nasty comments from heartless trolls, when all a person is trying to do - is show love for their favorites; whether it be comics, movies, anime, or something else. So go my fuller figured people, thrive, cosplay, and enjoy yourselves! Just remember, making your cosplay body conscious will not only improve your experience in public, but will make your experience in general more enjoyable!

Battle of the BB Cream!

So with summer beating down it's warm embrace these days, women everywhere suffer with makeup application. Do I want to wear makeup? I'll just sweat it all off anyway. I have to put sunscreen on too, so what's the point? My makeup just slides off when I apply it during the summer!

Ladies, don't fret! I've found the solution to our summertime plight!

OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!! The answer is not to go into that dark night (or blistering sun) without proper coverage, but to love your skin... with BB Cream! It's not a new thing on the market or anything like that, but this gem seems to have something a little more to give us exactly what we're looking for.

There were two options that I wanted to weigh before making a decision. It was between Rimmel London's BB Cream (Beauty Balm) and Avon's Ideal Flawless BB Cream.

 

They both come in 1 oz. bottles just like you see here. Of course, as is usually the case with Avon, you have to order it from your local representative or online. Luckily I have a wonderful co-worker who sells Avon in my office - so I have a hookup. If you have an Avon rep that you work with - never turn down the catalogs. Avon is full of useful and wonderful items. Not just makeup...

So the Avon Ideal Flawless BB Cream... it was $10. Not a bad price, reasonable in my opinion. Sure, do I want to pay $10 for an ounce of concealer tinted sunscreen? No... but this is for posterity. 

So the Avon brand cream is said to accomplish.. well... sun protection. Oddly enough it doesn't mention moisturizing, concealing, blemish reduction or anything like that on the box. It's also only SPF 15, so if you're pasty like me... this won't do you much good. 

As far as application goes, the consistency of this stuff is very liquidy. It's runny, and it's way to easy to make a mess with this. The first time I applied it, I got it all over my fingers and had a little bit of cleanup to do afterwards. If you decide to pick some of this up... make sure you shake it like a Polaroid picture before applying.

So how about the wearability? Not to great either. It feels like I've got thick sunscreen on my face. It feels heavy, and I know I'm wearing it. I'd be afraid to scratch my nose or anything in fear it'd rub off.

The coverage wasn't bad though. It actually did offer a decent amount of coverage. So for $10 you can get a 15 SPF sunscreen with concealer. All in all... 2 out of 5 stars for me.

Now moving onto Rimmel London's BB Cream. Or as I think it should be called... SUPER CREAM!

Yeah... I'm sure you know my choice between my two options now... but let me tell you why! This picture about sums it all up...

Yeah... this literally does all of this and then some. Not to mention it's SPF 25. Did I mention it was only $8 too!? You don't have to order it, it's available at your local drug store more than likely. I found mine at my local CVS.

So I'll go over the same points I did with the Avon brand, to be fair of course...

It only cost me $8, which is something to smile about. You mean I got something for two dollars cheaper that has more benefits?! I'm game! If you're a CVS shopper you might even have coupons to use to make it cost even less! I know... this just keeps getting better and better, right!?

So the Rimmel London BB Cream does exactly what it says. It's a primer, pore minimizer, concealer, skin brightener, and sunscreen. The  benefits you get in this tiny bottle are well worth the price you're paying.

The consistency is much more solid than the Avon brand as well. It's easier to apply and it's got a nice smooth texture. Something that could easily be applied with a makeup brush if you so choose (it's always better to use a brush than rub the oils from your hands all over your face).

It feels great on, too! Sure, you know you're wearing makeup, but it doesn't feel heavy. It's even a little lighter than some standard concealers I've tried in the past. It also doesn't rub off easily. Sure if you get wet and wipe away said moisture, you're going to lose some product too - but that's just science. That'll happen with any product.

Converage?! PHENOMENAL! For what this little bottle is, it's going on my list of new favorite products.  The coverage, the price, the benefits... need I say more!?

So if you're looking for a concealer to wear during the summer months, take a gander at Rimmel London's BB Cream. You'll be glad you did!

Wicked Pissah Chocolate Cheesecake

                  So I've never been a fan of cheesecake. I don't have a massive sweet tooth (although I have a massive butt). My office was having a potluck, and I didn't feel like making pulled pork. I wanted to make something sweet. I surfed the internet for hours searching for anything that piqued my interest. Then I gave up. I couldn't find anything... Until one night I was at home, and I heard one of my roommates express an urge for cheesecake... Huzzah! A much needed spark! Only problem was... I had never made it before. I had seen my Mother make it a million times, but to be blunt - I wasn't a fan of her cheesecake. She puts lemon zest in it, which personally isn't my cup of tea, but plenty of people adore her cheesecake (and rightfully so).

                  So once again I consulted the interwebs. There I found a lot of complicated spring form pan recipes and the like. Cheesecake apparently isn't an easy thing to make... and then it hit me. Why not make my cheesecake like I make my brownies?!

                 When I make brownies, instead of pouring batter into a 9x13 pan - I pour them into muffin tins. Perfect size and consistency every time - and everyone gets edges! So my brainchild starting to come to life. Then arose the issue of a crust. I didn't want to make graham cracker crust and form it to a muffin pan, so on and so forth. Then my inner fat kid whispered something glorious.... cookies. BOOM! Put a cookie in the muffin tin, and there it is! A no bake crust!

                I didn't want to do just normal old cheesecake though... that's boring. So when in doubt, chocolate. For a person like me who isn't a huge fan of chocolate (no really... I don't like chocolate), I wanted to add something a little extra to it. BOOZE! For the lack of love I have for chocolate, I make up for in my love for booze (no, I don't have a problem).

              I frantically ran to the store to procure the items to form my new creation...

Wicked Pissah Chocolate Cheesecake (makes 24)

2 - 8oz. packages of Neufchatel Cheese
Muffin Cups (I forgot these the first time and had to go back)
1 box of Nilla Wafers
6 oz Semisweet Chocolate Chips melted and cooled
3 egg yolks
1 1/3 c Sugar
6 Tbsp of Spiced Rum
3 Tsp of Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp of Milk

Preheat the oven to 350. Line your muffin tins with your baking cups and drop a Nilla Wafer in the bottom of each cup. Set aside.
Melt your chocolate and let cool for a few minutes.
Combine Neufchatel Cheese and chocolate in a stand mixer.
Add Sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, rum, and milk
Combine in a stand mixer* until smooth.

* - If you don't have a stand mixer, I recommend a strong arm and a steady hand.

Take a large tablespoon and fill the muffin cups halfway. Once they are all filled - put them in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until they've set.
Once done, take them out and let them cool for one hour. After they've cooled, place them in the fridge overnight (up to 24 hours). Make sure they're covered - otherwise you'll get a weird skin on them.

It's very hard to wait overnight to sink your teeth into one of these, but it's worth it. Even for someone like me, who doesn't like chocolate. So go try my "Wicked Pissah Cheesecakes" for yourself!