“Raj, you’ve got to meet this girl, she’s awesome!” a hipster guy yelled to his friend as he draped his arm over my shoulder.

Once I realized that bar banter is mostly about carrying on silly/clever conversations, I was good to go. Especially since I wasn’t really trying to meet anyone at the party. But somehow my silly/clever convo’s with different guys would turn into actual conversations.

In between chatting it up with Jess and whatever guy came our way, Robert and I were carrying on a conversation via text. At one point my feet got tired, so I curled up in a corner with my phone. “Where’s CeCe?!” an Asian guy who I’d had some brief “bar banter” with asked Jess. When she pointed me out on the couches, he rushed over and plopped down next to me. “There you are!” he said. “Get off your phone and join the party…”

This was weird.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so popular with men at a party before. Over the course of the night, I felt like there was a constant flow of guys, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. At one point, even Jess leaned over and whispered “are you still dating Robert? ‘Cause you’re reeling them in tonight!”

It was the kind of night that I would have longed for, when I was “looking”. It was the kind of night I’d imagined would happen all the time if I had lost a substantial amount of weight. I’ve lost weight, but not enough to where it would affect my dating life. So what made me such a guy magnet? I was still thinking about it on the subway ride home and then I remembered something an old friend said to me when we used to attend the BBW parties. I had been complaining about how I wasn’t really meeting anyone and she said,

“CeCe, I don’t want this to sound harsh but… you should try to relax when we’re out. You always look like you’re taking the night super seriously and it makes you seem– thirsty. Guys can see thirstiness from a mile away, so they avoid you. They’re not trying to get engaged or anything– they just want to dance, have fun and see where the night goes. Just try to have a good time and things will happen.”

She was right. I think I always had “could this be it?” in the back of my mind when I met guys so, it seemed like I was on the prowl (which I guess I was). I just wanted to be in a serious relationship, so that “thirstiness” was hard to shake. I always tried to heed her advice, but I knew I wasn’t doing a good job. I was looking for something more serious, but I was projecting that desire and it was too much for a bar/club setting. I was scaring guys off.

Now that I’m dating Robert, I truly couldn’t care less about the guys that I meet. When I talk to them, I’m not “thirsty” or “pressed” to make a love connection and I think that might make guys want to talk to me more. Even thinking back to when I met Robert: He always talks about how he thought I was a snob at first. I think because we met at work, I didn’t have my “could this be it?” feelers up. I was relaxed, focused on work (almost aloof, even) and somehow that lack of thirstiness translated into him making a point to get to know me better.

It’s quite a paradox, that having a guy in my life makes me more at ease with other men and then more desirable to them. You know how the guys you’re 100% UNINTERESTED in are the ones who pursue you the hardest? Maybe its because those are the guys who never see our “thirsty side”.

If I ever find myself “looking” again (hopefully, I wont ), I’m really going to try to keep my thirstiness at bay.

Do any of you feel like you might come off a little “thirsty” when you meet guys? Have you observed “thirstiness” in other girls?

It seems like designers are encouraging Plus Size Princesses to step out of our comfort zone this summer. I’ve started looking for my swimsuit and I’ve realized that the days of swim dresses with floral prints are OVER (whew!). Now PSPs can hit the beach in bold colors, fabulous cuts and even… Bikinis!

One of the brands changing the game when it comes to plus size swimwear is Bare Necessities and their new brand, BarePlus. With over 300 carefully curated swim options, ranging from size 6 to 24W and bra-sized swim from D to K cup Bare Plus is a great site to find bathing suits for women of any size! This year there are swimsuits available in dynamite styles from SPANX, Panache, Fantasie, Freya, Miraclesuit and Elomi.

In honor of their swim selection, they’ve launched a Google Interactive digital swim catalog to help kick off the 2012 swim season, you can check it out here.

If you had to choose a new suit, would you choose a bold color? crazy cut? or a bikini?

www.facebook.com/bareplus

On Saturday I went to an awesome loft party with Jess Downey, a dating blogger who has crazier dating stories than I do! Walking into the party, I felt good. I’d spent 2 hours in the gym, gotten a pedicure earlier that day and I was wearing my convertible dress from Igigi in the one-shoulder version.

As we stood at the bar waiting for our drinks, men began to approach us. It was then that I realized how long it had been since I’d been out in the bar scene without Robert. Men were flirting with Jess and me and for a few minutes, I forgot how to flirt in a bar. At first, I let Jess do most of the talking. She’s adorable, she’s got a great energy about her and she’s very approachable. Guys were coming over and saying silly/witty/funny/random things. We’d laugh and then Jess would retort with her own humorous comments.

But I felt weird because I was no longer fluent in flirty “bar-banter”. Bar banter, is that kind of funny/sarcastic way that strangers of the opposite sex interact at a bar. It’s often short sentences that are yelled into someones ear over the music. Once a punchline is reached, everyone laughs and then prays that awkward silence doesn’t follow. Here’s an example:

Guy: I can’t believe they only have one bartender here

Girl: Me either, he’s making some complicated drinks!

Guy: I know– I say, he pours us all shots and we call it a day!

Girl: I’m down!

(laughter) (maybe even a high-five)

These are the conversations that “we met at a bar” stories are made of. There’s no substance, no real understanding of who the other person is… but somehow people translate this into dating situations. A few drinks later my Bar-Banter skills came back after a few conversations and I was holding my own while playing wing-girl for Jess. But then I remembered that bar-banter never appealed to me, it actually used to drive me a little crazy.

As a single girl, Bar-Banter is technically awesome! Being approached by a guy, laughing at his dumb jokes maybe even letting a guy buy me a drink or dancing with him felt good and of course, I always wondered if it would lead to something more. Turning Bar-Banter into something more (i.e. a phone number or a date) is even more difficult and honestly, I forgot how stressful it all can be.

Are you fluent in “Bar-Banter”? Do you enjoy flirting with guys at bars?

As I got dressed for my kickboxing class, I realized that I hadn’t packed a bra! My everyday bras are usually demi-cut with a deep plunge. This makes “the twins” look great during the day, but it’s not ideal for a workout. I didn’t want to skip my class, so I just threw my workout top on over my sexy bra and hoped for the best.

We started the class with jumping jacks. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and OH EM GEE was I bouncing around! But there was nothing I could really do about it…. well I guess I could’ve held my boobs down with one arm and let the other arm do the jumping jacks, but that would just call more attention to everything.

My favorite part about this kickboxing class is that the instructor works with us one at a time and makes is kick and punch him while he holds up a body pad. He really pushes us to work hard and if he feels our punches and kicks getting weak, he makes us start over. Its difficult, but awesome!

It was my turn to go up and spar with the instructor. On this particular day, he was pushing everyone extra hard. “Here’s your combination,” he said as I tightened up the straps on my boxing gloves, “front-kick, side kick, then eight jabs.”

I don’t know if I was being overzealous or what, but somewhere in the middle of my combination I felt my right boob pop right out of my bra!

Of course, I wanted to just push my boob back into my bra really quick but 1.) I was in the middle of a fast sparring session with a “no excuses” instructor 2.) I had on boxing gloves which meant my hands were basically useless

I’m still not sure how I finished the session, I think I just held my arms close to my body or something. But I finished and immediately rushed into the corner to pull myself (and the twins) together. Awkwardly, this is not my only boob mishap… I swear, sometimes I think they have a mind of their own!

In other breast related news… there’s a new bra line out that goes up to a 40H! Its called Natori and I was able to try one on at their launch event. The bras are gorgeous and have gel in the straps to make them extra comfy without the grandma-padding. Check them out!

New York City is truly the city that never sleeps. At the core of the Big Apple are the seeds that might lead you to your next big break… your true love, or maybe just the experience of a lifetime. There are numerous very good reasons why you should consider a move to New York, but here are five:

The people

You won’t find a diversity of language and culture like this anywhere else in the world. New York is home to as many as 800 languages and its resident population represents nearly 200 countries, all blending together to create a mufti-cultural environment which thrives on its very diversity.

Shopping

Boutiques, shops, street fairs, sidewalk vendors, bookstores, music stores, clothing shops, provide the opportunities to shop till you drop. The sheer accessibility of shops is enough to make any diva swoon. Everything from groceries, to home goods, to the latest runway fashions are never more than a few blocks or a subway hop away from home.

Activities

Boredom is simply nonexistent in New York. From monthly events in Central Park, to the shows, tours and boating trips that cruise past Lady Liberty both day and night, New York is constantly abuzz with activity. Chocolate walks, ghost walks, cupcake crawls… the list is endless.

The single scene

New York is ranked by the leading magazines as being the number one place to live as a single in the US, whether you’re looking for someone or are content to remain unattached. The cafes, bars, restaurants, art galleries, walks in the park and the simple joie de vivre of City life mean that singles are never alone unless they want to be.

Affordable Options (relatively speaking)

Although New York has a reputation for high rents and high pricing, salaries are proportionately higher, and the rents are coming down. Finding affordable housing may take some research but unlike English-speaking cab drivers, it does exist. Although apartment hunting may seem daunting, New York storage is affordable, reducing the complications of a move.

As a Plus Size Princess in the dating scene, requests for home cooked meals are something I constantly get from men.

“So, uh… when are you gonna cook for me?”

“I bet you can throw down in the kitchen”

“What do you like to cook?”

I’ve heard it over and over again, always in a husky “I’m being cute” voice and often from men who I’ve just met. I find it annoying and borderline offensive.

Just think about the logistics of me cooking for a man I just met. He’d have to come over to my apartment or I’d have to go to his. Is this something a smart girl would be doing on a 1st or 2nd date? No! But these dudes are constantly throwing out the idea of me cooking for them right away. Sometimes I wonder if the assumption that big girls will just drop everything and cook for any dude who gives them attention is wrapped up in the assumption that big girls will sleep with any dude who gives them attention. We all know that is definitely not the case.

It also becomes clear that some men assume that a Plus Size Princess is coming home and making fried chicken, mashed potatoes, buttered biscuits, gravy and a peach cobbler every night of the week.  We all know that is definitely not the case (although my stomach just growled a little bit).

Cooking is a lot like sex: it’s a very intimate thing and the better you know a person, the better you can give them what they like… also it’s not something that should be done for just anyone.

So please men, stop asking Plus Size Princesses to cook for you… court us and date us like you would a skinny girl. Then maybe if you play your cards right we’ll show you how good we are in the kitchen without you even asking!

Does anyone else hear this question a lot?

The spring/summer 2012 catwalk was bursting with whimsical styles inspired by hot climates and sultry summer nights. You might not be able to take full advantage of the latest trends in the gloomy British climate – but if you’re planning some fun in the sun this summer then here’s how to pack like a runway model.

Sheer fabrics: For some reason these are tricky to pull off at home, but on holiday sheer fabrics suddenly become wearable. Look for slightly see-through maxi dresses in the latest sorbet colours that can be pulled on over a bikini, or alternatively opt for a sheer print dress worn with an itsy-bitsy slip underneath for the evening.

Pleats: This trend is set to be around for a while, with pleated maxi dresses and maxi skirts seriously on-trend for the summer. Wear with leather flip-flops to channel the gaucho look, and when the sun goes down add a gorgeous knit cardigan and a pair of long boots to counteract the chill.

Bright prints: The obsession with tribal fashion shows no signs of abating this season – and despite looking a tad garish on the grey streets of London it’s a look that works well in hot climates. Next does a great selection of maxi dresses in bright prints that are perfect for sultry evenings. Alternatively, update your swimwear collection with a bikini in bold, tribal colours.

Feminine: Embrace your feminine side this summer with this girly look which sees pastel and sorbet colours coming to the fore. Lemon sundresses, turquoise accessories, sky blue jeans and peach jackets were all in evidence on the runways for SS12, while pastel shoelaces set a trend that’s sure to be around for some time. It isn’t just colours that trend towards the feminine either – lace, ruffles and lingerie-style baby doll dresses are also big for spring/summer.

Marine: Where better to embrace the marine trend than on a hot summer holiday? Go for aqua colours, sheer, shimmery material and jewellery that features marine motifs such as shells, dolphins and mermaids. Team with ruffled hair and low-key makeup to complete the look.

There are a lot of cool things happening when it comes to Spring/Summer fashion for Plus Size Princesses this year. For those of you who think it will be difficult to dress for the warm weather, you have LOTS of options if you take a look around!

New York City is slowly coming to life and I’m finding myself searching for fun colors and flirty styles to amp up my closet. I often find myself looking at European shops to find inspirations that are slightly different from what everyone else is wearing.

The new arrivals from SimplyBe’s UK site are giving me exactly what I’m looking for! SimplyBe has consistently done a good job of reviving vintage styles (like jumpsuits) and playing with colors (because wearing black all the time is no fun!). This is my second season ordering plus size women’s clothing from simplybe.co.uk and I’m very pleased with what I’m finding.

Here are some of my top selections…