Why I Focus On Plus Size Fangirl Merch

Why I Focus On Plus Size Fangirl Merch

by | Jun 12, 2021 | Shop

I have always been plus size, even when I was a kid. I've always been fat. My weight has gone up and down over the years and whether I lost a lot of weight or not, I was always a fat girl, at least inside. I've come to kind of embrace it.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a fashion designer. I would buy wedding dress magazines and look at the dresses and draw them. I would check out fashion books at the library and draw things and learn how they did design clothes. For a while, I was even kick-ass at sewing (thanks Home Ec!). Over the years, thanks to computers, I lost all of the drawing and sewing stuff.

Lately I've picked it back up. And I think that's why I enjoy my Etsy shop so much, especially now that I'm designing T-shirts and stuff.

No, I will not have a show at next year's Fashion Week, but I kinda like what I'm doing.

Yesterday, while shopping for T-shirts to design at a local store, I noticed something and then remembered something - bigger sizes do not get the attention they deserve. I could get black, white, neon pink and I think red in 2x or 3x. None of the pretty teal colors or green.

And then I remember how shopping for band merch can be. I remember going to the Jonas Brothers show two years ago and the shirt I wanted came in nothing bigger than a 1X. I could wear a 1X, but it would be hella tight and I like my T-shirts to have a little room. I ordered a retro album cover shirt from them online this past summer and it's a 2X, but it fits like a 1X.

Backstreet Boys and NKOTB are two of the bands that do cater to fans of all sizes for the most part and maybe that's why they are my faves. Taylor Swift has also more recently been catering to bigger sizes (I love my Taylor era t-shirt!).  Marvel is very good about bigger size also, mostly probably they have a high male audience.

That's why last night, I made a decision about my Etsy shop.

While I will still design smaller pieces, especially custom orders where they pick their size or vinyl color (such as the BSB Army shirt, which I also offer in bigger sizes) I'm going to try to do more pieces for the bigger fangirls who wear 2X and 3X. Us bigger fangirls deserve cool stuff, too.

I've already kind of done that with my "This is HOWIE do it" T-shirt in 2x and I've had a few others that have already sold. And I'm going to be doing that more. I will still have the smaller sizes, because, let's face it, they are cheaper to buy.

But I'm gonna give a little extra focus to my bigger girls. <3

Why Journalism Leaves A Bad Taste in My Mouth today

Why Journalism Leaves A Bad Taste in My Mouth today

by | Jun 8, 2021 | Opinions, Thoughts

A lot of people know this already, but I spent over 10 years in journalism. I won awards for not only my writing, photography and designs, but toward the end of 2017, my heart just wasn't in it anymore. In July 2018, I took a job in marketing and I honestly haven't looked back.

Why?

Because most journalism sucks now.

Newspapers, which is what made me fall in love with journalism, are full of nothing but advertisements because that's what keeps the newspapers running. That, or they are in the pockets of local government and not wanting to report on real news.

It was always my dream to write for Rolling Stone or Entertainment Weekly or something like that. I'll be honest, I neve came close. Yes I got to interview people like Luke Bryan or James Aldean or legendary actors like Scott Wilson, but it was never my full time job and when I did come very close to having that as my full time gig, it was taken away. The new "editor" was an alcoholic who sat around and told us about her sex life after coming to the newsroom at night, drunk, and then wrote us up when we were late with our deadlines because she made us listen to her.

Yes, that really happened at one of my past jobs.

That was the beginning of the bad taste in my mouth, but to be honest, it was all I knew at the time, so I took another newspaper job.

Now a days, I sit and roll my eyes at people who write for People Magazine or Us Weekly who do not do their research before writing an article. Because you know, the Backstreet Boys had to cancel their reunion tour due to the pandemic or someone who thinks Nick Lachey is a former member of 98 Degrees. Sometimes I wonder how these people got their jobs. Did they never learn to research? Hell, all it would take is to look at Wikipedia.

There will probably always be a part of me that looks at an article and know that I could do a better job at it. But the fact that these news outlets hire people who aren't worthy of the jobs because they obviously don't know the basics of journalism, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

And it probably won't be one I'll get over anytime soon.

 

A new beginning, but stuck in the past

A new beginning, but stuck in the past

by | Jun 6, 2021 | Thoughts, Website

I know what you're thinking - here we go again. Karah has started another site which will end up closing, blah blah blah.

Well, I can probably agree because over the last 20+ years, that's kinda what would happen. But this time is a little different.

A few months ago, I created a portfolio site on my old web host that showcased a lot of my work. The only thing was - I wanted a blog on there. The last few weeks, I worked, along with Emilia (BSBFangirls.com's new co-owner and previous owner of Kaos Online) to move the site to a new webhost. That meant redoing the portfolio site and having the ability to have a blog.

If you've followed for a few years, TheFangirlingLife.com was the original BSBFangirls.com. I've kept the domain the past year and a half because I loved it so much and knew I would want to do something with it again. For a little while, I had it pointing to my Etsy shop.

This site will be a lot about my past work, as a portfolio, but I will also blog over here about anything and everything - my distaste for the current state of journalism, music, television, movies, social media - whatever I want.

If you see the featured image with this post, you can see that it's an empty stage from a Backstreet Boys cruise. I picked the picture because it was in the past, but it looks like the present and future - empty stages, cruise ships, etc. I've been reliving a lot of stuff the past few days. People joke that I'm stuck in the '90s and, well, I am, but at this point I'm just stuck in the past.

I'm stuck in the past where I see my friends all the time. I'm stuck in the past where I see Backstreet Boys at least twice a year. Last year was the first year since 2008, I think, where I hadn't seen them atleast once a year. Things are getting better and I will get to see friends next month FINALLY, but it's still a long wait until the fun of next year.

So expect stuff from this site. No matter what I did in the past.

Note: I have to redesign and reupload content for the Design page, so right now that is Coming Soon. I will also have more information on the Hire Me page soon, also. I will let everybody know what I add on each of the pages, but for right now, the site is open. 🙂 

Throwback Article: Backstreet’s Back (Interview with Howie Dorough)

Throwback Article: Backstreet’s Back (Interview with Howie Dorough)

by | Jun 4, 2021 | Throwbacks

Interview from June 1, 2010 that I did with Howie Dorough from the Backstreet Boys.

Backstreet’s back.

In reality, the vocal group was never really gone, and they will prove that Saturday night when they take the stage at Wild Adventures.

The group has sold over 130 million albums worldwide and is one of the best-selling vocal groups of all time. Their sophomore U.S. release, “Millennium,” which featured the singles “I Want It That Way” and “Larger Than Life,” is one of the top 10 best-selling albums of all time.

While they may not be the boy band that they were in the late 1990’s, the group has matured — not only in age but in sound.

The group’s “This Is Us” tour, named after their latest album, which takes the guys back to their original rhythm and blues-influenced pop music style, has already hit many places around the world — Europe, Russia, Japan, India, Korea, Australia, China and even a show in the United Arab Emirates.

The United States/Canadian leg of the tour, according to Backstreet’s Howie Dorough, will be the same.

“We put together a great tour that we’re really proud of and we’re (taking)

 it all around the world with us,” Howie told The Valdosta Daily Times.  “It’s a very entertaining show for our fans, to come out and hear some of our greatest hits, as well as the new album, and hopefully take them on a trip down memory lane. Hopefully, (we can) give them a chance to get them away from whatever is happening at home for a good experience.”

The tour, while simple, features the four members of the group — Howie Dorough, along with Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and A.J. McLean — a DJ and four back-up dancers. There is a lot of dancing and theatrics. The show is a mix of new songs and old songs, including their very first single, “We’ve Got It Goin’ On,” which they haven’t performed live in years.

The first single off the album, “Straight Through My Heart (Soldier Down),” while catchy with a dark, vampire-themed video, didn’t top the radio charts, but the group has no doubts when it comes to their new music.

“I think we would have liked to have our song played a little more on Top 40 radio,” Howie said. “As an artist, you put your heart and soul in creating a body of work. You want people to hear it. Thank God we have our fans out there who will find our music wherever it is. It would be nice to once again have the masses out there hear our music. We believe in our music and we believe in our product and we have loyal fans that are there for us, and whether it’s radio played or not radio played, we’re fortunate to provide music that way.”

Howie, the oldest member of the group, also has a connection to South Georgia.

His father, the late Hoke Dorough, who passed away two years ago this month, is originally from Cordele. Howie also owns the new Country Inn & Suites in Cordele as a part of his expanding real estate ventures.

“I have family not far from you guys up in Cordele. We drive up from Florida, all the way up to Valdosta. We always get off at that exit every so often and eat at the Japanese steakhouse,” he said.

He expects his family to come down to the concert since it’s the first time the group has performed in South Georgia.

“They would always have to drive to Atlanta to see me. I don’t know what they’re going to do. All the woodwork is going to open up and it’ll be all Doroughs,” he laughed.

For Howie, family has become much more important to him since the arrival of his son, James Hoke Dorough, last May.

Touring has also been a drastic change for him.

“My wife (Leigh) and son come out with me every so often,” he said. “They were on the tour with me over in Europe. We shared a bus together with Brian and his family. It was during the time when ... (my son) was a little bit younger and he would wake up during the night. My sleep has definitely lessened a little since he’s been around ... but it’s great. I’m enjoying the tour in a different light now. It’s almost like we have an extra body with us. Now, it’s not just about me and my wife, enjoying our days off. Now, we have a child and we think about things that we can do with him.”

In April and May, the Backstreet Boys performed two live and up-close acoustic shows in California and New York while in the area doing promotion for the new tour.

“This was just a little thing for the fans to see us more than just on TV,” Howie said. “We all had so much fun with them ... We love doing the private, intimate concerts that give the chance for the fans to get close to us.”

Since “This Is Us” was released last fall, the group has already started talking about their next album.

While their main focus right now is the tour, they have discussed writing songs and coming up with concepts and directions for the new albums.

“We haven’t gotten into the studio yet, so it’s all prep work right now,” Howie said. “We haven’t really reached out to any producers in particular right now. Everybody’s enjoying the break right now, but when we get back out on tour, the ideas will start flowing.”

Unfortunately, that album will not be with their longtime label, Jive.

In an announcement that was posted on their official site, www.backstreetboys.com, on May 27, the band announced that the split was “amicable” and the group was very excited for what the future holds for the Backstreet Boys.

Throwback: Florida Georgia Line Cruises to Athens

Throwback: Florida Georgia Line Cruises to Athens

by | Jun 2, 2021 | Throwbacks

This article is an interview from March 13, 2013 with Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line. 

Growing up in Monroe, Tyler Hubbard didn’t attend many concerts in Athens or any of the surrounding areas.

But he’s making up for that now.

Hubbard, the Georgia half of the hot new country duo Florida Georgia Line, is riding on the success of the group’s first number hit, “Cruise” and their album, “Here’s to the Good Times,” which has reached No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.

And Hubbard and his bandmate, Brian Kelley (the Florida part of the group), are bringing their show to the Georgia Theatre.

The last eight months have been a whirlwind, from being independent artists to signing a record deal, having a No. 1 hit and reaching double platinum status.

Hubbard, 26, first took interest in music in church and played guitar throughout high school. But it was when he left Monroe for Nashville to attend Belmont University that everything started to fall into place.

“I was pretty passionate about music, and I went to college to get away from Georgia,” Hubbard said. “I slowly became more passionate about songwriting. ... One thing led to the next, and BK and I met ... and started writing songs together. It was both of our passions, and it worked out and here we are.”

Hubbard and Kelley currently are on the road opening up for fellow Georgian Luke Bryan. In between dates, the duo are headlining their own shows, such as the one in Athens.

“Luke is a great guy, and we are out here having a ball,” Hubbard said. “There’s no other tour I would want to be on right now for sure. It’s pretty amazing every night when the show is sold-out.”

At the end of March, the duo will join Taylor Swift on tour for three shows in New Jersey and then again for several shows in May and August.

After that, Hubbard hopes the duo will get a headlining tour of their own. But for now, Hubbard is looking forward to coming back to familiar territory.

“We played (Georgia Theatre) before, and it was a good time,” he said. “I’m excited to come back and play for a sold-out crowd.”