Awesome women for a snowy day

I've been dealing with norovirus this week so my physical activity has dropped to zero. I only started really eating solid food on Friday and am still not feeling 100% - so since I've no new musings on running or yoga lately I'll be doing something different.

I've found that one of the best ways to cope with a difficult situation or find motivation is to share your experiences. Every time I've shared something I've been embarrassed about or struggled with - I usually find I get responses from people are "Me too!!!" No one else has their shit together either, we're all just fumbling through this and doing our best. So today I am going to share with you some of my favorite resources and women that have made me laugh, made me feel less alone or made me think "I can do this!"

1. Anna Akana

I stumbled across her YouTube channel when I had just moved into my apartment post-divorce. I had no friends in Kansas and worked alone so needless to say I was lonely. I think I googled something like "how to be alone" and up came one of her videos. Not only is she hilarious and genuine, but she also struggles with anxiety and confidence but is constantly working on herself. In the last year she's gotten even more into film making so you can always expect a quality video that will make you laugh. Oh, and she's a total cat lady.

2. ALBinWonderland

ALB is pretty 'internet famous' from my understanding. She has a popular YouTube and tumblr (which is where I came across her) and she is a great voice for modern feminism. She is also down to earth, and shares stories of falling on the treadmill, dealing with cat calling, depression and developing self-love. I also really respect her approach that "femme isn't anti-feminine" and you can be any type of woman you like and still be a feminist. 

3. Chloe Dykstra

Chloe is again, another YouTuber, and big in gamer/cosplay culture. Now I don't play many video games so most of that is lost of me, but she does has some great personal videos about dealing with insecurities. 

4. Lagusta Yearwood

Lagusta owns an AMAZING gourmet chocolate shop in New Paltz, NY. I learned of her through a bunch of our NY vegan friends who introduced Scott and I to her chocolates. Hands down, the BEST vegan chocolate out there. It's beautifully hand crafted and no detail is lost on her. All aspects of her business are as sustainable as possible (compostable ribbons, socialist sliding soup scale days, policy of not fraternizing with shitty companies cough *UO* cough). Her personal blog is a fantastic window into being a feminist, anarchist, chocolatier in this complicated modern day and age. I very much admire her quest to avoid sweat-shop clothing as much as possible and to do it with style. No seriously, it's great. Just browse her instagram here.

Photo by Deena Feinberg for The Hairpin

5. Herself

I only came across this website yesterday but it really was a great read. Called Herself, the site features nude images of women of all types and is accompanied by a very personal interview with the women. Jezebel describes here,

The women of Herself are always photographed naked, by a female photographer, with the intention of flipping the script on what it means to have nude photos on the internet. What happens when the woman depicted is subject and rather than object? What happens when she's exposing herself by choice, and without the intention of titillation? What happens when she is in control of her own image?

I saw this really as a great display of body-positivity, though it encompasses so much more. Needless to say that website contains nudity, so you've been warned.

So! There's something for you to browse if you are stuck inside like us on this snowy Sunday.