Highlighted for this week are several beautiful skirt suits for the large plus size woman. We have at least 5 awesome suits & dresses - some are NEW with tags still attached! These are mostly sized 30/32 and 4X. If this is not your size, but you KNOW someone wearing this size, please let them know!

These gorgeous pieces are meant to wear when you truly want to look mahvelous! Wear them to church, to a garden party, a graduation, the Wharton…….

This one is bright crimson red, with a top that is beautifully and tastefully embellished….want to make a fabulous entrance? Wear RED!

Or this one, all black with a crisp white lapel - so fancy…….it BEGS for a feathered hat and stiletto heels!

Want to see more? You’ll just have to come to BELLA GRANDE and check out our new arrivals - ARRIVING DAILY!

See you in store,

Betsy

With that said, as promised, here are some highlights of what’s new this week at Bella Grande. First of all, we still have some openings for the BRA FITTING this Saturday, April 12th. Even if you’re pretty sure you are wearing the right bra, why not do it just for the fun of it! And heck, we’re handing out $5 coupons to everyone who stops in!

The store is packed to the gills with great stuff, just waiting for you to come play! Here’s a trendy double handle bag in girly pink by Liz Claiborne! You would pay around $75 for this new, but not at Bella Grande! Like it? Better get here fast - this one won’t last!

Are you a Kathy Van Zeeland fan? We have two in store right now. Check out this one with the rhinestone buckle - like new condition! These Kathy bags are timeless, and run around $70 new, but this one is as good as new, at a fraction of new price!

Those trendy tops that have been popular for awhile now - we have many to choose from, like this satin number from Lane Bryant. This one’s size 18/20, and so reasonably priced, compared to the $49 price tag at the mall!

For you Quacker Factory lovers, how about this brand new “mermaid” sweater - perfect for cool evenings! Size 2X. Imagine the COMPLIMENTS you’ll get with this one!

Also from Quacker Factory - this aqua warm-up outfit with clear rhinestones - again, like brand new!

So much is in store - you just HAVE to come in and see! We’ve added dozens of new consignors. The word about our shop continues to spread - I am amazed! So, ladies, don’t pay ridiculous retail prices without first checking out BELLA GRANDE! Besides, shopping resale is eco-friendly and something to be proud of! And check back here often! As long as we’re getting new arrivals daily, I’ll be putting the best of the best right here for you to see! Love you - thanks for making this possible!

See you in store,

Betsy

Such is a day in the life of a harried shopkeeper such as I. As like every other day, armed with my Weekly/Monthly Planner all neatly updated for the week - which is how I spend Sundays - and done in PENCIL, of course - still high on the heels of a successful Saturday sales day, off to work I go, full of plans and ideas and….intentions. I’m going to get Amanda started on her task list I so carefully prepared; then I’m going to scoot off for an hour at the gym, followed by an hour shopping for necessities at the local discount store. (Ever been COMPLETELY out of toilet paper AND tissue paper?) Get to work, get Amanda started, help her a bit, make some necessary phone calls to complain about the new unauthorized phone bill charges, and order some tags; pay a couple bills. By the time I look at the clock, it’s already 11:30 - no way can I fit in the gym today; the insurance agent is coming at 1:00 to sell me yet another new fangled policy designed to save me money, followed by the sales rep at the newspaper to sell me on ad space I simply can’t be without. Run to the Dollar Store in search of store decorations. Get paged - AT THE DOLLAR STORE - Ms. Smith, you are wanted, RIGHT NOW, back at your office - Next time I look at the clock, it’s 4:30, with one hour until closing, and I wonder now….where did this day go?

We close the store and I go home. As I count the 24 steps to my home, I am reminded of my gratitude for not having a commute, like so many do. Ahhhh, a moment of gratitude. Next up: answering emails. Chatting with friends and family via IM. I am reminded of my stop at the Dollar Tree, when I passed over the Valentines Day cards in favor of an e-card. No, I do not like the draft you have presented for my new logo; no, I am unwilling to purchase 3 months of internet service maintenance for a flat fee; no, I am not buying your new jewelry designs, and no, no, no, I do not have time to talk to you right now. NO! I am too busy to cook, I am too busy to talk, I am too busy to even remember that I am old. I have a granddaughter. I want to know her, and her me.

It is 11:30. I PLANNED to get to bed an hour ago, but my brain is active; no, it’s on overload and gushing out ideas….task lists, to-do lists, forgotten tasks….must write them all down - quick, before I forget!

Can you relate? Is it me? Have you figured out how to balance it all and be Super Wonder Woman? If so, you should package it up and sell it - you would be a retired millionaire. Truth is, we, as a society, ARE juggling more than generations before us have had to juggle. It’s a different world we live in and we feel it every single day when we realize something, or someone, has sacrificed. A ball was dropped. The disappointed faces; the tears. So what do we do - we sit down with our Weekly/Monthly Planner, and IN PENCIL, we start all over again. Tomorrow is a new day.

Love you. See you in store,

Betsy

BELLA GRANDE is constantly striving to improve and to grow. We acknowledge the role you, our customers and consignors, have in helping us grow. Because you are the foundation of our business, we want to know what you think. If you visited BELLA GRANDE this past year, tell us about your shopping experience. Help us make an even better shopping experience for you this year. Talk to us…..tell us how we did.

Were you treated with courtesy and respect?

Did you find the prices reasonable?

Was the store clean and well organized?

What could we do differently to enhance your shopping experience?

Just click on the “Comment” button and give us your feedback. Not comfortable with that? During the coming weeks we will be inviting our in-store shoppers to complete a short survey about our store, and we would be glad to mail you one - just ask!

The point is - we CARE what you think and we HOPE you will tell us!

See You in Store,

Betsy

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2 lbs. lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 c. bread crumbs (oatmeal works good too!)
1 to 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (fat free or low-fat cheese of course!)
2 eggs
1/2 c. chopped onions
1/2 c. corn
Mix the above ingredients, and anything else you’d like to throw in there, and then form into a loaf pan, or even a baking dish. If you use a baking dish, make sure to leave space around the edges so that the grease has somewhere to go besides in your meatloaf! Remember, you can add or take away anything with this recipe. Some people like to add green peppers, or even beans. It’s up to you! Also, keep in mind, you can always puree vegetables and mix them right in with the meatloaf, and your kids won’t even know.

Cover meatloaf and bake in 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes.
Remove meatloaf and add topping:

1/2 c. ketchup
1 Tbs. mustard
2 Tbs. Brown Sugar

Mix this and put it over the top of the meatloaf. (You can always just use ketchup, or tomato sauce, whatever you’d prefer.)

Leave uncovered, and bake in the oven for another 15 minutes.

That’s it! I hope you try it. It’s not hard to make, and you can be creative and add whatever you’d like. If you have picky kids, put their favorite veggies in there. I’d love to hear all of your different variations that you’ve used with this meatloaf recipe!

Happy Eating!

You are in the car, on your way to a Christmas party with your family.  You have to stop at the store to buy a pie because the one you baked last night got eaten by the dog, and the one you baked this morning got burnt while you were rushing around trying to get everyone and everthing ready.  Crap!  You just realized you left Aunt Betty’s gift at home - you knew you forgot something!  Dinggg!!  The gas light just came on.  That’s just great.  Now you have to find a place to get gas also!  As you are trying to remember if you have any money left after spending it all on gifts, a little voice from the backseat yells, “Mommy, are we there yet?!”

Does any of this sound familiar?  It sounds exactly how I feel during the holidays.  It seems nothing goes right.  I start to wonder how such a wonderful time of year turns into one big headache.  There are so many things to do, and not enough time or money to do them, it seems.

My goal this Christmas is to not let myself get into a tizzy over everything.  I have been doing some reading, and have found some very helpful tips:

• Be Realistic - You can’t cook the whole Christmas dinner by yourself, so don’t bother trying.  Just ask for help.
• Get Organized - Make a list ahead of time of things you need to do.  This way you have time to add things to the list as new things come about, and this also cuts down on fretting over things that get lost in that always-going brain.
• Take a Time Out - Whether you want to focus on one of your hobbies, or just lock yourself in your bedroom and listen to soothing music, do something for yourself.  Make it known that anything holiday related will not be talked or thought about during your time.
• Everything in Moderation - This includes food, alcohol, and even scheduling your holiday activities.  Eating or drinking too much can cause you to feel bogged down.  So can having too many things to do at once!
• Help Another - Do something nice for someone else.  Visit with an elderly neighbor who lives alone, or put your pocket change in the bell ringer’s bucket.  Sometimes our problems become more managable when we see others in need.  Doing something for someone else can greatly improve your mood, and can give you a great feeling of self worth.

Most of all, have fun during the holidays.  Enjoy the fun, family, and friends.  Don’t stress over the little stuff.  In the end, the only thing that matters is the things that are the most important - not the pie, not the cost of a gift - the simple fact that you are spending the holidays with the ones you love most.

See you in store,

April

• Ruffled blouse, ivory, cream, white, or pink (pastel), size 3x, 24/26
• Turtlenecks in a brown or rust color, size 3x or 24/26
• Flannel Pajamas 3x or 24/26
• Trendy clothes size 3x/4x

If you have any of these items that you don’t want any more, please let us know or bring them in! We are always accepting seasonal items! Email us at bellagrande@sbcglobal.net, or call us at 517-543-1601.

I personally have had issues with bras my whole life. They would never fit right. I always had the problem that once I found the right fit under my bust, I could never find cups that would fit! And even though things have changed sizes and shapes since then, I still have issues finding one that fits!

My first problem is probably that I’ve never actually been measured. Who wants to walk into a department store and have some skinny sales lady have to look at and touch my fat to get my bra size? No thank you! I thought that simple fact alone would keep me from ever getting measured for a bra. But then I found this site that tells you exactly how to do it. It’s very easy! How to measure for your bra size

Now that you’ve measured yourself and figured out your bra size, here comes the fun part - shopping for bras! I have definitely had more luck shopping for bras online than I have at the stores. You can find so many more sizes, colors, etc, online than you can at any Lane Bryant or JCPenny.

I found this site, BiggerBras.com, that has free shipping right now, and a great selection of bras, lingerie, panties, and more!

Also, some of you might be worried that you will order a bra and you won’t like it. If that is the case, we at Bella Grande would be more than happy to consign that bra for you to try to get back some of that spent money. Keep that in mind!

Happy Bra Shopping!

Why do I wait until the last minute?  Am I hoping to find that good sale?  Or am I hoping if I wait one more week to buy it, I can lose 5 more lbs?  Either way, I am just stressing myself out.  I’ve realized that planning ahead is very important when it comes to finding that perfect outfit, especially for plus size women.  It is harder for us to find something that we absolutely love, that fits right, and is the right price.

I think my biggest mistake is waiting so long that I absolutely have to buy something that day.  If I would start sooner, I could just browse, try some things on, and then go back to the store in a few weeks to see what is new,  and try on more things.  Who knows, I might end buying a top I tried on 3 weeks ago because I just can’t live without it.  But at least I know that I’m buying it because I like it, and not just because I don’t have any more time to look around.

I need to give myself time.  Browse around.  Look online.  Sit on it for a while.  Shopping for clothes when I’m in a rush has left me with a closet full of never worn, still tagged clothing!  What a waste of money and valuable closet space!

Betsy and I have been discussing many new ideas on how to further this business, and I would like to share some of those ideas with you. I will be updating the web site and the blog more frequently, adding pictures and links to our favorite big girl sites. Also, I will be working on getting an eBay store put together to sell online, so anyone can shop at Bella Grande, no matter how far away. And our most exciting idea? The Curvy Girl Contest! We are still in the early stages of this idea, but I am very excited to see this come to life. I will definitely talk more about it in one of my future blog posts. But for now, make sure to practice your runway strut! Hehe.

One more thing. I found this song by MIKA and I think it fits perfectly!