A funny thing happened when I started blogging. I started getting offers. Offers to trade links (yeah, I know, not really an offer at all since I don’t promote diet plans). Offers to try food samples, to preview cookbooks, to review new products, new websites, new stores. To date, anything I have reviewed is something I purchased on my own. My approach to offers of free or discounted products is to communicate to the contributor that I will write an honest review and, when possible, I will arrange an opportunity for my readers to benefit, too.
Melissa, the owner of Ecolissa: where fashion meets eco recently offered bloggers a discount to her store. In return, we were to write honest reviews of our shopping experience. Based on photos I had seen of other bloggers wearing clothes from Ecolissa, I was pretty sure these clothes were not designed for this 5’5”, roundish, 45 year old. I was wrong.
I used my discount to purchase the Mata Traders Mela-Purple (on the beach), Mata Traders Low Neck Top-Purple (top right), the Toggery “J” Dress-Black (bottom right) and, not pictured on me, the Ecoskin “Sora” Tee.
Long-term readers know that I now have an interesting relationship with trying on clothes since my big decision to stop dieting and buy bigger clothes. When the package arrived, just days after ordering, it was with great trepidation that I began to try on the clothes. I’m not a skinny vegan—I’m round-ish. Each piece I pulled on fit perfectly. I mean perfectly. The quality of each piece is solid. The material is soft, supple and literally flows on me. I’m delighted to report that all four tops gently, subtly, cover my pooch. (That pooch with which I’m slowly falling in love.)
I have found an online store that offers eco-friendly and vegan clothing that fits me! I will most certainly be a return customer.
You, dear readers, have an opportunity to try Ecolissa items, too. Melissa has offered my readers a 20% discount. Simply enter the code vegan20 as a coupon when you check out. I hope you enjoy her store as much as I do!
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At the age of 45 I finally decided to embrace a new size and stop striving for skinny. I can’t help but think that part of the reason is because a year ago I took on a vegan diet. I fell in love with food. I quit counting calories because I knew I was eating incredibly healthy, plant-based foods.
I am thankful that I lived most of my life not at all concerned about my weight. When I hit my 40’s I realized by body was, in fact, changing. I fought it for five years. Then I adjusted my thinking. That is, I quit struggling to get back to the skinny jeans and just bought a more comfortable pair of jeans. Unfortunately, many men and women struggle with body image and eating disorders all of their lives. My good friend Gena has launched a compelling series, Green Recovery: The Plant-Based Road to Healing from Disordered Eating. I hope you’ll check it out and share your thoughts or experiences.
