I'm darkly fascinated by the MAGA women's magazine in Sara Petersen's piece, so I went and found the article "Do You Smell Like a Feminist? Here's How to Tell". I thought it was going to be tongue-in-cheek/ at least winking at the reader. But it seems dead sincere and entirely instructional. It says: only wear florals and sweet edible scents; avoid anything that could smell unisex (anything that isn't floral or edible), and unfortunately every perfume has a note of (unfeminine???) amber so just try to minimise it. Every bottle they recommend is pink. And the writer is so serious.
I think the Fat Talk paperback will be an excellent Christmas present for myself (I read it in hardback, but it was my sister’s copy, so I am sure I do need it for my personal collection). I have been thinking a lot about the book recently because I know that Hannah will be with a whole new group of kids next year and they won’t all be eating the same thing anymore since meals aren’t provided for the school we are sending her to (private Christian school in our area has this weird takeout option where you can order food from local restaurants which I know she wouldn’t eat), so I know there will be a lot more talk about food in general. I already have heard her say the phrase “junk food” which she picked up in preschool from talking to friends, and I have had to reiterate that we don’t worry about only eating “healthy” food in our house. I told her that we eat a wide variety of foods, and some of that includes things that some people might call junk food, but she doesn’t need to feel like it’s “bad” to eat certain kinds of food or “good” to eat other foods. I said that the food we buy or the food given to her at school encompasses a wide range of foods, and she should just enjoy eating what she likes.
For the record she told me that currently her favorite foods are Daddy’s spaghetti (she says the school spaghetti isn’t nearly as good as his), Daddy’s jambalaya, baked beans, rolls, cheese pizza, ham and cheese sandwiches with only mayonnaise on the bread, strawberries, strawberry ice cream, toast with strawberry jam, oatmeal cream pies, butterscotch pudding, goldfish/CheezIts, bananas, muffins, and she says she only wants to drink milk and water because she doesn’t like juice. So it does seem like there’s quite a wide variety of things even among her favorite foods!
Yes, get the paperback!! They hear a lot about junk food at preschool. I like to change it to treat foods or just snacks. They call the snacks special at elementary school now because they aren’t in the free lunch but it’s chips or ice cream they can buy.
I had somehow heard of that Evie magazine before—it must have published an article on something I was looking for information about—and was struck by how similar its logo looks to Elle Magazine, almost like it’s trying to trick people into buying it because they think it’s Elle. Sleazy, shady, cheap tactic from a sleazy, shady, cheap operation.
Hey this is fantastic news! And fun timing! My book club (bedtime book club in Winston-Salem, NC) is reading Fat Talk as our December book, and we will meet on paperback release day (12/10) to discuss it! In conversation with Debra Benfield (@agingbodyliberation on IG)! What a delightful coincidence! If any Burnt Toasties want to join, feel free to contact me for details - Keri at KSGCounseling dot com 😍
I read Fat Talk in English (bought the UK edition at the Strand bookshop in Berlin when I was visiting last year) but honestly I can't wait for it to be translated to French 🙏 I have been telling my friends and family about it but it's too difficult for them to read in a foreign language (being very dense and like not an easy novel)!!! If the publishing and translation gods hear me: French Fat Talk 2025 plsss
Ordered my copy, I originally purchased it as an audiobook (you as the reader was wonderful). Glad to have a copy to reference both personally and professionally.
I had started that Angela Garbes piece and not finished it so thank you for relinking it- that last conversation with her husband was so beautiful. I am currently on a short book buying hiatus until I pay off Hawaii and my impulsive Eras Tour purchase, but I am wondering when my kid might be ready to read it. We read the Snack Monster chapter aloud as a family.
Thank you for the fat lingerie roundup too, love that Torrid set. I got 5 sets from Mentionables over the last year but they only go up to 3X- they’re a model free company but I wish they had larger mannequins! https://shopmentionables.com/products/polka-dot-mesh-babydoll-red I have the baby doll in black, all their fabric is smooth and not scratchy at all.
I'm darkly fascinated by the MAGA women's magazine in Sara Petersen's piece, so I went and found the article "Do You Smell Like a Feminist? Here's How to Tell". I thought it was going to be tongue-in-cheek/ at least winking at the reader. But it seems dead sincere and entirely instructional. It says: only wear florals and sweet edible scents; avoid anything that could smell unisex (anything that isn't floral or edible), and unfortunately every perfume has a note of (unfeminine???) amber so just try to minimise it. Every bottle they recommend is pink. And the writer is so serious.
Maybe the absence of humor or knowingness will be its downfall, eventually? Or maybe its fountain of eternal life???
it makes it ripe for parody, that's for sure
I don’t wear perfume but I do wear Old Spice deodorant. I’m guessing that doesn’t fit into their “non-feminist-appropriate” categories 😆
Sarah I'm sorry to tell you that you probably smell like a feminist
😭😭😭
I think the Fat Talk paperback will be an excellent Christmas present for myself (I read it in hardback, but it was my sister’s copy, so I am sure I do need it for my personal collection). I have been thinking a lot about the book recently because I know that Hannah will be with a whole new group of kids next year and they won’t all be eating the same thing anymore since meals aren’t provided for the school we are sending her to (private Christian school in our area has this weird takeout option where you can order food from local restaurants which I know she wouldn’t eat), so I know there will be a lot more talk about food in general. I already have heard her say the phrase “junk food” which she picked up in preschool from talking to friends, and I have had to reiterate that we don’t worry about only eating “healthy” food in our house. I told her that we eat a wide variety of foods, and some of that includes things that some people might call junk food, but she doesn’t need to feel like it’s “bad” to eat certain kinds of food or “good” to eat other foods. I said that the food we buy or the food given to her at school encompasses a wide range of foods, and she should just enjoy eating what she likes.
For the record she told me that currently her favorite foods are Daddy’s spaghetti (she says the school spaghetti isn’t nearly as good as his), Daddy’s jambalaya, baked beans, rolls, cheese pizza, ham and cheese sandwiches with only mayonnaise on the bread, strawberries, strawberry ice cream, toast with strawberry jam, oatmeal cream pies, butterscotch pudding, goldfish/CheezIts, bananas, muffins, and she says she only wants to drink milk and water because she doesn’t like juice. So it does seem like there’s quite a wide variety of things even among her favorite foods!
Hope you love it, Laura! And I think you're doing such a great job with your kiddo!
Yes, get the paperback!! They hear a lot about junk food at preschool. I like to change it to treat foods or just snacks. They call the snacks special at elementary school now because they aren’t in the free lunch but it’s chips or ice cream they can buy.
Congrats on the paperback release!
Thanks Dana! So excited for your new one too!!
I had somehow heard of that Evie magazine before—it must have published an article on something I was looking for information about—and was struck by how similar its logo looks to Elle Magazine, almost like it’s trying to trick people into buying it because they think it’s Elle. Sleazy, shady, cheap tactic from a sleazy, shady, cheap operation.
SO sleazy, shady and cheap!
Hey this is fantastic news! And fun timing! My book club (bedtime book club in Winston-Salem, NC) is reading Fat Talk as our December book, and we will meet on paperback release day (12/10) to discuss it! In conversation with Debra Benfield (@agingbodyliberation on IG)! What a delightful coincidence! If any Burnt Toasties want to join, feel free to contact me for details - Keri at KSGCounseling dot com 😍
Ah love this!! If you’re interested, I wrote a bookclub discussion guide, which you can find linked here:
https://virginiasolesmith.substack.com/p/fat-talk-resources
Ooh super helpful. Thank you!
I read Fat Talk in English (bought the UK edition at the Strand bookshop in Berlin when I was visiting last year) but honestly I can't wait for it to be translated to French 🙏 I have been telling my friends and family about it but it's too difficult for them to read in a foreign language (being very dense and like not an easy novel)!!! If the publishing and translation gods hear me: French Fat Talk 2025 plsss
Haven't sold French rights yet, alas, but here's hoping!!
Congratulations on PAPERBACK DAY! And thank you for the shoutout! :-)
I tried to click on the ab exercises link but it went to the home design piece.
AGH thanks for catching! I'm fixing it now. It's supposed to link to Anna Maltby's fantastic new piece!
https://howtomove.substack.com/p/are-ab-exercises-bad-actually (so you have it directly)
Thank you!!
Ordered my copy, I originally purchased it as an audiobook (you as the reader was wonderful). Glad to have a copy to reference both personally and professionally.
I had started that Angela Garbes piece and not finished it so thank you for relinking it- that last conversation with her husband was so beautiful. I am currently on a short book buying hiatus until I pay off Hawaii and my impulsive Eras Tour purchase, but I am wondering when my kid might be ready to read it. We read the Snack Monster chapter aloud as a family.
Thank you for the fat lingerie roundup too, love that Torrid set. I got 5 sets from Mentionables over the last year but they only go up to 3X- they’re a model free company but I wish they had larger mannequins! https://shopmentionables.com/products/polka-dot-mesh-babydoll-red I have the baby doll in black, all their fabric is smooth and not scratchy at all.
https://shopmentionables.com/products/lacy-off-the-shoulder-bralette-red and I also have this. I can’t find my favorites I bought last year any more, there’s a teal baby doll that’s very soft and beautiful. I have really been liking satin sets this year too.
OOH these are cute. Thanks for the links!
https://shopmentionables.com/collections/babydolls/products/lace-mesh-button-babydoll-something-blue?variant=42254026277055 This is the light blue version of the baby doll. I think Teal may have been limited for summer! But this is my most favorite style.