Coffee Does Not Stunt Growth

Coffee won't stunt growth, but oh how I wished that it would when I was growing up. Coffee was around me everywhere in the town I grew up in, so I started drinking it at a young age. I always hoped it would stunt my growth in my teenage years, but I was 6'0" by the time I was 14. I am proof positive that coffee does not stunt growth in any way.

Growing up I wished I could just be a little shorter. I would dream of wearing pants that looked good (I was so uncool in the eighties), and shirts that had nice long sleeves. But, of course, I never did get shorter so instead I had to learn to live with it and get comfortable in my body. Once I hit college, I met other tall women, and guys that were taller than me, and it was then that I got comfortable. In fact, I started really loving my height. Clothes in the 90's helped... extra long, grunge looks were somewhat easy to pull off. But what really happened is that I stopped fighting my body. I learned to accept it. Of course, having clothes that fit properly make it easier to accept. When I'm not pulling at my clothes and they fit, I look better, when I look better, I feel better, and this leads to acceptance and good self esteem.

So, to all of you designers making nice long inseams and nice long sleeves... I salute you. You have made it easier for me, and others like me, to look good... and therefore feel good. Thank you!

An Amazing Tall Woman - Honored At U.S. Capitol

An Amazing woman was honored today, Sojourner Truth. They placed a bronzed bust of her in the Capitol. A woman who fought for the rights of slaves and women. Oh, and she was 6' tall, as clearly called out in the article.

Buying a Suit

For my current job, I do need to wear a suit every now and again. This also means buying something that is expensive, that better fit perfectly. This also means that I will spend days, weeks, months... trying on suits. To date, the best suit I have found for my height and body shape is from Theory. You can find Theory suits at some Macy's, most Nordstroms and all Bloomingdale's.

This suit is the suit that I can generally purchase and wear in the same day. It may need slight alterations, but the length is generally good in both the legs and arms. All you tall ladies out there know... this. is. another.tall. girl. miracle!

I have friends and family members who can take a trip somewhere and buy something at the last minute. They saunter into a store, try on multiple items, and can then go straight to the party, reception or wedding that they flew in for. Well, this may not be as extravagant as all of that... but finding a suit that I can buy on Saturday and wear on Monday... that is damn exciting for me!

So... go check out some Theory suits. You may be pleasantly surprised. By both the fit, and the comfort.

Can you grab that _______ off the top shelf?

At any store with high shelves, I will almost always be asked if I can grab chips/pants/tampons/etc. from that top shelf way up there. When I do it, the person asking always says something like... I wish I were that tall, Don't you love being tall? My answer... yes I do, but not because I can get things off the top shelves.

I wonder how people would react if I asked them to get stuff for me on the lower shelves (you know, cuz it really hurts my back when I bend over from way up there). I don't think it would go over to well. I'll probably never know. Why? Because I'd never ask someone who is not an employee, who is a complete stranger, to grab something off any shelf for me. It's rude.

Thanks for allowing the mini-rant. Just got back from a trip, and for some reason got asked this question frequently.

Bring on the Heels!

One thing people always ask is, 'Do you where heels?' Why yes, yes I do. I love love love heels. Now, I admit, I generally don't go higher than 2 to 2.5", but, oh yes... I where heels.

In heels, I am 6'2", generally. That makes me taller than my 6' husband, who is possibly 6'1" in his shoes. The best part... He. doesn't. care. In fact, he thinks it is great! Did I mention that my husband rocks. Why yes, yes he does.

When I Fly...

I wear comfortable shoes that I can slip off at security easily (but of course, they are still very cute!), and I check-in early and ask for a Exit row. If I'm flying Southwest, then I check-in early so I can get an 'A' boarding pass and do my best to get an exit row. On short flights, it isn't such a problem. But, on long haul journeys, I will do what I need to do to get one, even if it means forking over a few extra dollars for the 'economy plus section. '

Now, inevitably, if I don't get an exit row seat and I'm on a short flight... I will always sit behind 'put my seat all the way back' person. ALWAYS. The 5' woman next to me, nope, the person in front of her will stay straight for the 50 minute flight. But me... oh no... I get the seat pushed into my knees, which I know they can feel... and THEY. DON'T. CARE. It is frustrating and grates on my last nerve. People, dear people... please have some consideration for the people behind you. When you put your seat back, can you do it half way? Seriously... this may not mean much to you, but the extra 2" it gives me is priceless and will stop me from wishing bad things on you.

What are your tricks when flying? Do share.

Yoga Pants and Cargo Pants That Hit the Floor

Let's all just pause for a moment to say thanks to the long pants gods. I ordered comfy yoga pants that also look good and a pair of cargo pants that have a nice shape to them. Both types of pants are hard to find for me, because inevitably I look like I'm ready for the next flood.

So, when I ordered these pants from J. Crew, I was hopeful, but not excited. Well, I'm now lounging on a Sunday in my nice long yoga pants, and eating bon-bons and my husband is looking at me like, "Lady, what has happened to you?" I just look back and say... "do you not see the beauty... the wonderfulness, the all out miracle that has taken place. I have lounge pants, that I would actually consider wearing outside of the house becuase they are LONG LONG LONG and CUTE CUTE CUTE." He then goes about whatever he was doing because he is celebrating the fact that he no longer needs to hear all the reasons I think yoga pants are made to make tall people feel they are not welcome.

No more, tall women. Do Yoga, lounge around the house, go outside in comfrotable yet cute pants. You are now free to join the club... you now can get comfy pants that are long!

J. Crew Lounge Pants
J. Crew Cargo Pants

New Jeans

I went shopping yesterday, knowing I would need to try on 100 pair of jeans, just to get to the one pair that was long enough. I knew that this would involve many four letter words, crushed dreams, and at least one complete meltdown.

Why all the drama? Well, I'm 6' tall, with a 36" inseam if I wear even a 1.5" heel. The same height as most models who show us all of the wonderful clothes we should be wearing. Funny how all of the clothes they wear, are never long enough in the store. Never. ever. never. This drives me to have a meltdown at least twice a year, as I cannot and will not wear pants that are not long enough.

So, I scour and search, for the one pair that was made with end material, or accidentally got cut long, or by some miracle were made to be long, on purpose! Well folks, yesterday, was the day that I found not one, but TWO pair of jeans that were long enough and looked good on. This miraculous event deserves a party, a celebration.

Ladies and gentlemen I was able to walk out of a store with two pair of jeans that I could wear, immediately! No trying to find the long version online, no boo-hooing because I didn't find anything. No... none of that. Instead, choirs were singing, birds were chirping, and I... I was floating on air because I had done the impossible.

In case you tall girls out there want to know what I found, here they are:

7 For All Manking - Dojo (They say 34" inseam on the site, but the pair I found in store... 36")
Citizens of Humanity "Amber High Rise" (They also say 34"inseam, but the pair I found in store... 35", perfect for flats and tennies, also, the rise is not THAT high, still below the waist)