What I’ve been contemplating lately is why we’re seeing women with face shapes that lean more towards the round or square shape going for big blocks of bangs.

Let’s look at Hillary Scott for example – a beautiful singer from the group Lady Antebellum.

I happen to think she’s an attractive lady.  She recently opted for some serious bangs.

That doesn’t seem to be the most flattering look for her face shape.  At least to me.  Let’s look at another singer – Kelly Clarkson.

We’ve been fans of hers for a long, long time.  We got to see her in concert once and wow was her voice amazing.  She really put every ounce of her heart into her performance.  I’ve also thought she was very attractive as well.  She also went the same route as Hillary for her hair recently.

In both instances, it really creates a “blocky” feeling to their faces.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying women shouldn’t have bangs – just saying that maybe that look isn’t right for everyone.  The super cute and quirky Zooey Deschanel can wear them perfectly for example.

On the other hand she has a much different bone structure and features than the other two.  I noticed at the Grammys the other night that it looked like Hillary and Kelly were both in the process of growing their bangs out, so that makes me happy.

Anyone else surprised that high level celebrities don’t have a stylist that advises them on these types of things?  Or do they have those resources, but just choose to not listen?  Hmmm… maybe that’s a new career opportunity for me?  I would be glad to take large sums of money from people for advising them on their bangs… or lack thereof.

Women that are thin can pick up any tabloid or magazine, or watch any movie or TV show and feel good about themselves.  Women who are above a certain dress size don’t have that same luxury.  I started writing this blog so that my wife and women like her can see that they don’t have to look like the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit model to be considered beautiful and sexy.

I’m sorry if that offends people.  My desire is to lift up and encourage those that may not find inspiration elsewhere.  My apologies if I’m going about that wrong.  Just trying to make some people feel better about themselves.

Everyone knows by now that she swept the Grammys last night with six wins (SIX WINS!), but wow did she look stunning.  Absolutely stunning.  You match her beauty with that incredible talent of hers and you have one breathtaking and captivating woman.

However, it truly amazes me how some people still don’t see the beauty in a woman that isn’t a size 2.  I actually unfollowed someone on Twitter last night because they were cracking jokes about Adele’s weight.

You’re seriously going to tell me that just because she’s not a bikini model that she’s not an unbelievably attractive woman?  Really?  Oh, and did I mention that in my timeline last night not only did I see comments about Adele and Kelly Clarkson being too heavy, but also saw comments about Taylor Swift being too skinny?

What are men expecting?  Every woman to have “perfect” measurements… every last one of them?  That’s just unreasonable.  Yes, I write a blog celebrating women that are more curvy than others, but I also have a friend that prefers women built like Taylor Swift… and I don’t judge him for that.

As for me though, I prefer women that are curvy and I want to celebrate those women that are criticized by those people that expect everyone to have that cookie cutter figure.  Just like Adele.  I love her… everything about her.

So many congratulations to Adele.  She’s so young and talented – I look forward to listening and admiring her for many, many years to come.

I’m a teenage girl who recently suffered from anorexia. I lost 40 pounds in 3 months and now only weigh 93 pounds, but when I look in the mirror I still don’t feel skinny enough. I decided that starving myself wasn’t cutting it so I added an excersize regimen. I felt soo tired all the time, but I just couldn’t stop until I felt beautiful.

I’ve been taking major steps to feel better about myself and even stopped visiting I site I used to go to everyday called “thinspiration” where I would look at pictures of skinny girls to motivate myself. My boyfriend has been really concerned and told me that to help myself that I should look at pictures of beautiful healthy/curvy women.

That’s how I found your blog. You have no idea how much reading your articles have helped me, and I’ve read all of them. I honestly feel as if I’ve had a breakthrough and I want to say thank you for opening up my eyes. Please keep writing!

That makes me so happy because that right there is exactly why I started writing on this subject.  Oh, and not only that, but one of the women that I wrote about actually read this blog the other day and talked about how happy it made her feel!  So I guess all signs are pointing to me starting to write again.

Before I close this out… to the person that left that comment:  Thanks for sharing your story with me.  I understand the struggles that you’re going through because my wife has lived with the same problems for years.  It sounds like your boyfriend is very supportive and understanding.  Good luck and stay healthy.

Unfortunately my job doesn’t leave much time for this blog these days, but I’ll try to do my best to keep it in the back of my mind in the future.  I think mainly I felt that I had pretty much said what I needed to say and left it at that.  If I can think of something to write about, I’ll most definitely come back here and post it.

Thanks again – your comments were so much fun to read through.

Anyway, with the recent release of Jane Monheit’s latest album, “Home”, I thought I’d write a post about her.

If you’re not familiar with her, she’s an absolutely incredible vocalist.  I’m actually surprised she’s not more popular than she is, but I guess if you’re not in a bikini, gyrating on some guys in speedos, and letting machines do your singing for you, then you’re not at the top.  It’s a shame really.

Quite stunning isn’t she?  I’ve always thought she was one of the most beautiful women in the world.

“But wait a minute!”, you say.  “I thought this was a blog about no skinny women?”

Well… yes it is.  But I wouldn’t classify Jane as “skinny” per se.  Granted, in those photos she definitely looks pretty thin, but in real life, when she’s not doing press photos, she looks a little different.

Not BAD different.  Just different.  As you can see by the above photo, I think she’s a little more curvy, although it’s hard to tell.  Here’s another photo from a recent interview.

I think Jane is beautiful no matter what her dress size is, but I actually prefer the “real life” Jane to the “press photo” Jane.  She just has a glow about her in the above photo.  Maybe it’s due to her smiling in that one as opposed to the more seductive photos.

I guess since I’ve loved her for so long, then I guess I find it troubling that she “thins down” for her press photos.  Maybe because I imagine her depriving herself, working out incessantly, and possibly being unhappy, just so she can get down to what she thinks is a decent dress size for her photo shoot.  This may not be the case at all.  I’m just speculating of course.

All I know is that regardless of what jeans she’s fitting in to, I’d run her up against any of our modern day sex symbols, and as far as I’m concerned, she’d win hands down.  So Jane, if you happen to read this (which of course won’t happen) I hope that you are comfortable in your skin and confident in your pure beauty, and that other women can look up to you as a healthy role model, because that’s really what I’m hoping for – for women to see other women that aren’t size 2′s and find beauty in them and themselves. (I think that was probably a huge run-on sentence, but I really don’t care.)

Oh, and please be sure to check out her music and buy all of it.  You won’t be disappointed.

Do you find anything off-putting in that picture?  I do.  Her bony little skeleton hands.  Blech!  She always has them hunched over a latte like some sort of claw and it always creeps me out.

Dang!  Look how incredibly cute she is there!  All spoiled by those bony little appendages creeping over the cup like some little parasitic worms looking for their next meal.

If I can see veins and knuckles, then I’m pretty much grossed out by those freaky little digits.  I usually try to avert my gaze when I’m watching an episode and her hands look especially freaky.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I offer up some examples to prove my point.  Here’s exhibit A:

No bony knuckles, no sickly looking veins pulsing about, wriggling under the skin like some little snakes writhing for their last breath.

And exhibit B:

Again, very healthy looking hands.  I’d bet that the woman who those hands belong to would probably be considered “plus sized” by our society.

And finally, exhibit C:

Congrats to whoever that is who just got engaged.  Her future husband is going to enjoy many years of reaching out to hold hands with a nice, soft hand rather than a bag of leftover chicken bones.

As someone who has been in a long-term relationship for about 20 years now, I’ve grown past just looking at that boobs/waist/hip ratio to be able to find the little things in a woman that make her attractive.

It’s kind of like appreciating a fine French wine.  Of course a big California Cab is going to be up-front, bold, very powerful, and wow you with its flavor.  However, a nice Chateauneuf du Pape from the Rhone region will woo you with its subtlety.

It will at first taste seem very smooth and almost mundane.  After a second or third take, you begin to notice all the many subtle layers of flavor that exist underneath that first taste.

I find women to be much the same.  A woman that at first glance may not seem like much can turn out to be quite the looker if you just take the time to take her in.  The detail she puts into her eye makeup, the funky little toe ring she wears, or the little nose ring that goes almost unnoticed.

All of these little details make up the whole of a woman, and they should be appreciated, sip by sip, just like a fine glass of wine.  Nice supple hands should be one of those things that we, as men, shouldn’t take for granted.

So I guess I’ll just keep wondering… and throw in a gratuitous Nigella pic for good measure.

I can’t wait to see her new show.  We looked around on the website, but didn’t find any information on it.  I hope it does great.  Congratulations Aarti!

See, what I love the most about this blog is the interaction with readers.  I love to read the comments, reply to them, and have discussions – and I wouldn’t be able to do that.  So instead there won’t be any new posts until I get back.

I hope you understand and don’t abandon me.  I’ll be back soon, writing more about all things curvalicious – I promise!