Month: April 2018

The kiddo and I had the opportunity to go see “I Feel Pretty” the other night with some friends.  We were unanimous in our review.  We all loved it!

The movie had such a powerful message about body-confidence and body-positivity, that I think everyone should go see this.

A quick plot synopsis, Amy Schumer’s character, Renee Bennett, is working at Lili LeClare Cosmetics for the online shopping site.  Unfortunately, the company does not feel that the online workers merit offices at the headquarters, but a small windowless office in Chinatown far and away from 5th Avenue.  Renee does like her job working in the cosmetics industry, but really wants “a seat at the table”, even if that table is the receptionist at Lili LeClare.  That job is a dream come true for her, not because it is challenging or even more money (it is a pay cut and obviously doesn’t utilize her skills at all), but it is a validation.  If you are allowed to answer their phones, then you “belong”.  You are valued.  However, feeling as bad about herself and Renee does, she won’t even try for the open receptionist job.

Renee does not sit around feeling sorry for herself.  She is trying to make herself “better” by working out.  So, off she goes to Soul Cycle.  She is pedaling away really making the effort.  Well, her bike breaks, throws her on the ground where she hits her head very hard.  When she wakes up, she looks in the mirror and looks the exact same…to us, but she sees something completely different.  She sees a beautiful woman.

With the new body confidence and body positivity, she applies and gets the receptionist job.  She meets a cute guy at the dry cleaners.  Gives him her number without hesitation.  She enters a bikini contest and loses, but who cares, free drinks and an appetizer!  So worth it!

I’ll let you find out the rest when you go see the flick, but I really enjoyed this movie.  It was fantastic.  Her confidence and positivity ARE the magic.  People react differently to her after she thinks she’s suddenly smoking hot.  She looks the same, it is her energy and attitude.  Self-love for the win!

Before you think, “Oh this is all about overweight women are pretty too and eff those skinny bitches.” NOPE!  For starters, Amy Schumer is not overweight.  She is a nice healthy size and pretty.  Secondly, she befriends another lady at the Soul Cycle class that is a fashion model, so she is thin, tall, the fashion ideal.  She gets dumped by her boyfriend.  She has body image issues.  So, this movie does not fat-shame or skinny-shame.  We are all trying to recapture that body confidence and positivity that helps us live our best lives.  The women in this film support and encourage each other, but they also each have their own struggles with body image and positivity (the woman with the high squeaky voice that is far from stupid; she has an MBA).

My final thoughts on this movie are that I really loved that I saw several groups of guys at this movie, not just girl squads.  I also saw a variety of ages represented in the audience.  We all showed up for a funny movie (and it was!), but left with a huge dose of positivity.  I hope you go get your dose soon.

Love, Kim and Scout

*All images may be subject to copyright

*All images from variety.com

If you guys have read this blog at all, then you know that my love-life is pretty much a s*&t show (keeping it clean, cause all-ages blog).  Well, unfortunately, that trend continues.

However, this last experience was not without its revelations.  Quick recap, dated a guy for five months.  We were not exclusive.  We agreed to this.  I don’t date more than one person at a time, but I did continue to visit my dating profile occasionally since not being exclusive yet was important to him.  He waited a very long time before meeting my daughter and some of my friends.  When this finally did happen, I thought it was a sign that we were moving forward. I mean, a guy that was super cautious about hurting my daughter’s feelings wouldn’t meet her and then break things off, right?  Wrong.

This time around I didn’t give my heart to him.  I held off since he was holding off.  So, I practiced some self-protection this time.  His reasons were kind of all over the place, so I never got a concrete, “This is why I am doing the thing.” from him as to why the breaking off of things. But from what I can best discern is, that he just didn’t want to be around me anymore because of my enthusiasm for nerdy things.

As per usual, I began to gather all the things that were “wrong” about me, and why I was getting dumped into neat little piles of baggage that were now mine to lug around.  After all, I wasn’t “good enough”.  I wasn’t “right”.  He even said, “You’re great, but…” So, I thought, “Well, serves me right.  I shouldn’t have been so enthusiastic about my hobbies.  I shouldn’t have asked him to go to the movies with me so much.  I should have dressed differently around him.”  So, I lug these bags to the vault and open it and realize something.  Holy crap!  There’s nothing but cobwebs and dust in here!  I forgot I emptied this out a long time ago!  Do I really want to fill it up again?

The answer was, “No.”

I realized that all the things that he saw as “wrong” were exactly what is right about me.  I have a hobbies that I adore.  I have a tribe of friends that I also adore.  I’m crazy excited about movies.  I like dressing the way I do.  It took me a long time to find my style.  I’ll be damned if you think I’m gonna ditch it now!  I have a house that I pay for and take care of myself.  I have a great kid that is going to rule the world, you’ll see!  I handle my own s*&t.

I honestly think that all the confidence and comfort on my part, made him feel bad about himself on his part.  There is literally nothing I can do to help someone like that.  I can thank him, though. Thank him for giving me the opportunity to take a quick inventory of my life.  I’m good, thanks for asking!

Love, Kim and Scout