What I haven't bought...

Okay, so as I've already mentioned, Frugal February started properly for me at the weekend, but being in work is probably the time I'm more likely to get my purse out.

To date, I've NOT spent the following:

• 2 x Starbucks Skinny Sugarfree Hazelnut Latte (small) = £3.50
• 2 x 75ml Diet Coke = £2.20
• 2 x chocolate bar = £1.40
• Total = £7.10

Now, for 2 days, I've now saved enough for a top from ASDA, or a cheap album on iTunes. Or a book.

So **fingers crossed** this continues in a similar fashion... although I know that with Plus London Meet Up at the weekend, I'll be hemorrhaging money, but I will try to limit taxis, instead going for an Oyster Card.

To put it in perspective, if I can live like this for 20 days, I'll have enough for that handbag... although not to pay off my debt, but that's not the point. A hand bag you say? Not just any handbag:

I'm thinking about a Mean March as well...?

Much love my lovelies,

K x

GlossyBox Love!

It is unlikely this year that I'll be getting any Valentines (my best bet would have been a sweet Brownie, but...) so I thought I would treat myself to a Glossybox. I figured one box, see what I thought, and probably cancel it.

I think you can guess by my 'Header' that I have fallen in love with them:

I'm in love with the Green Eyeliner (will now plan outfits around this this week!) and a primer (not thought of using one of these before) as well as an intensive First Aid Defense Body Moisturiser, and some Clarins Day and Night Cream.

I get that I've just posted about being Frugal this month, but it's kind of nice knowing that there is something heading my way once a month to cheer me up a little bit.

Like I said, I'm in love!

Much love my lovelies,

K x



Frugal February Starts NOW (well, last Saturday actually)

For those of you unfamiliar with Frugal February, more information can be found here: Frugal February Explained.

Now, my reasons for this is simple - my spending is getting out of hand! Part of it is "oooooh, that dress is pretty, I want to blog about it", the other part is, well, I'm rubbish with money. Always have been. Although I'm paying for it now with debt etc, but I'm trying to do better. Promise.

I give 3 people a lift into work, which nets me about £28 a week cash, to cover petrol, and the Tyne Tunnel (a tolled road at £1.40 each way). But this is cash. Cash that sits in my purse and says "Spend me on Starbucks" - Skinny Sugarfree Hazelnut Latte, thanks for asking - or chocolate, or over priced work sandwiches, which are RANK. I need to change. Frugal February seems as good a place to start as any. And leads nicely into Lent (more on that one later).

So, for the month of February, no on line shopping, no Starbucks, no iTunes, nothing. Nope. Zip. Any money I **would** have spent, needs to be deposited in a jar.

However, Mam and I are planning a trip to York at the end of February (Helllllllllllllllllllllllllo Cath Kidston) so other than saving monies to pay off debt, there is also a £75 hand bag with my name on!!

Lovelies, prepare for many a post on "This is what I would have spent" throughout February.

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Week of Colour, Day 7

Okay, so my final day of colour should have been spent in my PJs, but as I was on Sunday School duty, and singing in choir, my plan failed!

But I wasn't far with my outfit plan, opting for trousers (the HORROR) and a tee shirt, but with my pointy boots... smart but relaxed at the same time.

Cords: Evans, size 22

Tee shirt: ASDA, size 22

My trusty "There's no place like home" tee, and my wide legged maroon cords.

I was all set.

Granted, as soon as I got home I pulled on my PJ bottoms and watched my eBay items go for an average of £5 each. Still, better off in my pocket than hanging in my wardrobe!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Week of Colour, Day 6

So, today I got lost north of the river - nothing new there then - and had a date with my good friend Erin for a general catch up. She also wanted to get her hands on my hair to see if she could convince me it was a good move.

Well, what to wear to such an event. As you may have noticed, I don't really do jeans / trousers if I can help it. So I dug out the following outfit, in the hope it would fool you all as a part of my #weekofcolour. I think I managed it, as the teal cardigan stayed on all day!

Dress: ASDA George

Cardigan: ASDA George

Tights: M&SNails: Front Cover

I love the pattern of this dress; I love that I can wear purple / teal / grey with it. It is my 'go to' dress for any type of dressy / casual (read date) type event!!

And today, I fancied a little something colourful and bright, without being too 'in your face'.

Oh and look, I managed my nails as well today! All together a good day in terms of clothes, but this outfit didn't lift my spirits as much as a mooch and a chat with Erin did!

Much love my lovelies,

Kathryn

Week of Colour, Day 5

My Inspiration: The Prime of Miss Brodie

When I was teaching, I was often likened to the above. Not by the students, or my peers, but from friends of my parents. Miss Brodie. Teacher. Friend. All round good egg. I'm guessing at the story here, but I'm guessing it's like 'To Sir With Love'.

Why am I talking about Miss Brodie? Well, my Week of Colour in the office is over (with the weekend my next challenge!) and was bound to end with the outfit that inspired it!

Okay, the eagle eyed amongst you will notice it was the outfit I wore last Thursday, and even a recycled photo but, well, I miss the hair!

Now, how is Miss Brodie my inspiration? After the cleavage heavy day yesterday, I fancied a more reserved, professional look today, and felt that the above fitted the bill.

Comments regarding my teaching style, my approachibility, and my general approach had the link to Miss Brodie, but one area I often struggled with, was my outfit choices. How do I express myself, and remain professional. Oh how I wish I had an outfit like this available to me 4 years ago. But then, if I had, would my outlook have been the same, been any better? It's hard to tell.

I glanced back over my LiveJournal entry for when I left teaching, and other than being melodramic and generally, er, whiny, I was quite brief in my description of my departure from my career. But one thing was clear: it was not an easy decision for young Kathryn to make.

Since then I've grown (physically and emotionally), and changed dramatically, coming down off my medication and (I think) I'm more laid back.

But then, show me someone who doesn't have regrets, or want to go back and shake their younger self.

I've come to terms with my decision. 4 years on!

Bring on the next 4 years!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Week of Colour, Day 4

And an idea was borne!

Okay, you know what it is like, you plan an outfit in your head, and you when you excitedly start putting all the components together, you start to realise... Maybe, just maybe, it doesn't work.

I had this doubt this morning with my #weekofcolour, but I perservered, and so when I was starting to get the face on, Mother Dearest was quick to comment. Now, I'm 27. I still live at home. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known what I was wearing!! So it began. 7am this morning she was quick to pass judgement on one item, claiming it was too short (her eye is much more critical than mine on shortness of dresses / skirts - and we all know how critical I am!!)

I was thinking of just wearing this dress, from Simply Be, which you lovely readers convinced me to keep:

But for work? Even though it is 'dress down', I was conscious of shortness + cleavage.

So, in my mind last night, I teamed it with something else. The lovely Rosie had mentioned wearing a playsuit with a skirt over the top... well, if you can do that with a playsuit, surely it would be easier with a dress? So out came the trusty Domino Dollhouse Retro Dame skirt:

And so I thought it looked rather like the lovely Kelly in the Dolores, with the sweet heart neck line, just, you know, bigger.

So my #weekofcolour seemed to be making me take some risks with my choices for 'dress down' day. I teamed it with leggings and flats, just to give it a little more of a 'casual' look.

But...

The Mother intervened! We went from saying the dress was too short to saying that "I looked ridiculous" in this. I felt 15 again! So while I might have debated the merit of this look myself, I chose the teenager response, and have decided to wear it to spite her. That'll teach her! Erm, really?

I'm not training today. I'm sat at my desk in a rather visible part of the office. But as someone reassured me this morning - cleavage is cancelled out by the long skirt. Here's hoping.

Then the rational Kathryn kicked in. And I've worn some unflattering items of clothing to work in my time, this may be no different.

Remember kids, fashion is about risks.

I'm about to take one soon, off the back of this interaction... watch this space!!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

A Break in Colour... Collectif Style!

Well, last week I watched an eBay item to the end, winning this dress. And I actually felt like I had won it, even, getting a brand new dress with about a 1/3 off the RRP:

Now, I've been lusting after Georgina's PinUpGirl collection for some time now, and wondered how my hourglass would fit into this style / fit, but before ordering from the US (Domino Dollhouse was a long time lust).

When I was introduced to Collectif (again, by Georgina's musings) I reconsidered my shelving of the full skirted dress. Even more so when I was pointed in the direction of an eBay shop selling dresses / Collectif.

It arrived through this week, so I've waited until half way through my #weekofcolour to post about it!!

I love this dress:

I had just got in from work, so pardon the rubbish hair!

Look at how happy I am with this dress! It has 'night out on the tiles' written all over it! Or at least PlusLondon2!!

Now I know this picture is out of focus, but I wanted to show you how it defines my waist, and flows over the hips. I may, may need to get a colourful belt to go with it!!

I may have tentatively ordered this dress on eBay in the hope that it fits me - now that I know that it does, I will be contacting Collectif to get this dress in as many patterns as possible!

#hooked!

Well, I would be, other than the fact that it will be Frugal February. Means I won't be spending on anything for while (actual sad face)

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Week of Colour, day 3

Okay, so I really feel like I've found my stride now, after a little bit of a shakey start with the ASDA top.

So today is the day of *the* dress. Or at least that what I was calling it when I first saw it on Em's blog - doing it more justice than the ASOS Curve model, but then, you know my thoughts on that one!!

Now it is known as the flesh dress because of the colour tone nature of material. I know my Mam doesn't really like it because it looks like I'm not wearing anything (but I'm not dressing for her, I'm dressing for me).

But the pink just pops on the mutual colour, and that is probably why I love it so much:

And from the side:

Now I would wear this even if there wasn't a 'Colour Challenge' involved, so to make an extra colour statement, I've added my new ASDA shoes:

At least the picture is the right way round as well!!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Week of Colour Day 2

So I just wanted a quick update on my colour mission, as it is the Blood Orange dress from Saturday.

But, for today I thought it needed a little something, so teamed it with a thin black patent belt, my trusty opague tights, and ASDA £7 flats, which I wear out in about 2 months!



Strange upside down leg



My favourite picture ever I think!!

I loved this dress today, and really feel like I can complete Week of Colour quite nicely. But just don't ask me for a Month of Colour. Not yet anyway!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME BY CLICKING LIKE ON ALL PHOTOS xx

Reasons for entering

Other than the reasons outlined here: Em's amazing post - I'm entering for me. And for other girls / women who want to see clothes on someone of their size.

With ASOS Curve using models who are obviously a 14, when their clothes start at a 20, with Simply Be asking for a plus model in their Model Search competition, and the gorgeous Abi Hill winning it, who, when wearing a bodycon dress, makes it look stunning, with curves in the right places, I hang my head, as I didn't enter. Why? I thought no one would want to see me in clothes (or out of them). But with some encouragement, and postive reactions from the blog, I WILL enter next year. Same with the Evans competition.

Now, say what you like about Evans being off the boil at the moment, but I think the work they're putting in to dressing for your shape is going to prove the doubters wrong. Their models in the catalogues lately have been busty, hourglass, apple and pear. What better to see if a dress would suit you?

The Beth Ditto range was a perfect example of fashion forward clothing, in a larger than a 18: seeing it modelled by Beth herself, with a confidence and a glint in her eye.

=

I knew what I would look like in this dress. I knew it would be too short, but if Beth didn't care, then I didn't care.

This is my main photo for the Company & River Island modelling competition. I shows me, warts and all, but ENJOYING my clothes.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME BY CLICKING LIKE ON ALL PHOTOS xx

Boombands Em

Rosie Round Face!

MissKathryn

Toni

Isn't that what fashion is? Enjoying yourself, expressing yourself, and most of all, accepting yourself?

Much love my lovelies

K x



Day One on a Week of Colour

So last week, when I used colour to brighten up my days, I realised that in the dull days of January, colour has a greater place, than in the bright days of summer. Walking through my local ASDA on Saturday, these tops jumped out at me:

Now, this is a lonnnnnng top. I always like a long top for jeans and hiding the tummy / bum area, but when I saw the above tops, I immediately knew I wanted to wear them with my Domino Dollhouse skirt, so I could wear them to work (I'm on admin this week, so don't need to be 'true' business dress).

I've since added a belt, and whilst it isn't the best match (the top is a little too 'Sportswear' for the office) at least I can default to wearing it with jeans...

I'm also wearing it with my purple M&S cardigan, to add to the colour effect.

Tomorrow, I'll do better. Promise :)

Much love my lovelies,

K

Post Brownies

Well, those following me on twitter, or reading my blog carefully, may have noticed a slight downward slope in my general demeanour / activity this last week. And, yes, I've needed time to get my head back in the right place, and my clothing suggestions have helped with that this week (bright blue Thursday)

After writing this post on my work with my Brownies, I thought every Monday, I would be able to post about the great things my girls did / had said that meeting. Last Monday though, I was removed from my post as Brown Owl. I'm still struggling with their reasons for this, but that is not why I'm posting about this tonight. I have just drafted my handover report to the new Brownie leader of my girls, and thinking about how I never got to say goodbye.

And that is what most of us struggle with isn't it, the 'not saying goodbye' thing. I will be writing them a lovely card, but I have no doubt that this will not answer their questions as to why I'm not theirs any more. Just as they aren't my girls anymore.

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Okay, so I've had some strange hair dos in my time. I think the only thing I've not done to it is a perm!

So when I think about how I can change up my hairdo from the bob / graduated bob / side fringe / full fringe combo, I'm a little stuck!

My new hair do:

Short on one side, chin length on the other, is a little scary for me, as my previous daliances with 'shorter than chin length' testifies:

Sorry for the rotation, blogger seems to be clitched at the moment.

Yes, that is me. I started off wanting hair looking like this:

And ended up with a number two, back and sides, short and spikey on top.

Not only was this a one time thing - I had this hair for about 3 years (17 - 20ish). Oh yes. I thought it was cool and edgey. Then I realised, and started to grow it out.

There is a reason I don't have many pictures of my hair bright red, with a newly shaved back and sides. Other than the one above, in a memory book made for me by Jackie for my 21 birthday.

My favourite photo of me / my hair is this one:

So honestly, where was left for me to go from here, other than growing it, and pulling it back in a ponytail everyday  -  which I would.

Shorter hair needs more work, more effort, but it makes me do it, and so, helps with the framing of the face, and air of "I give a f**k about how I look", even when I don't.

Any photos of you out there that you wish didn't exist? Or hair styles you regretted?

Much love my lovelies,

K xx

Blood Orange

Okay, when the fashion world annouced that this seasons colour was tangerine, I cringed. I dye my hair red, and my colouring suits it. I would not say I was a orange person. I don't like the fruit. I didn't think I need this colour in my life.

Until...

The esteemable Mrs BeBe introduced to me this ebay purchase - a Tu dress, meant to be £40 but was being sold for £14.99:

I'm getting used to the new hair - post to come - so pardon the strange posing. But I love this vibrant colour!!

The skater dress has been around for a little while, but this is the first on I'd managed to get that I liked the fit and cut of. The material is heavy, but moves beautifully!

I'd say this though, I'm tall. Yes, this again, but I might not be able to wear less than 60 denier tights with this derss.

If I was a part of Five Take Five, I'd have this as my 1960s outfit. I was wearing my purple tights when I tried this on, and actually it looked okay!!

Now, I really need to start selling some dresses to make room!!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Dare to wear red!

Okay, we've all see that adverts for a certain Special Cereal!!

And I say "Not me!!"

This ASOS Curve dress is stunning on. It skims where it needs to skim, and highlights what I need it to highlight.

I needed something smart but 'Kathryn' like for work this week, and this fitted the bill.

It looked like this:

on the model, but I honestly didn't know what it would look like on me, but I'm suitably impressed.

I wore this on Monday, and as something happened on Monday night, I haven't been able to blog about it before now. But hourglasses, this suits us!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

My tools - my face

Okay, I'm not a beautty blogger.

Just wanted to get that one out there. But this morning, when applying my face, it struck me about the tools I was using:

That when I talk about clothes, I think of enhancing what I have, and masking areas I don't particularly see as a strong point.

And for me, that is what makeup does. I don't cake it on with a trowel, instead, I use my Virgin Vie Correct and Perfect to help hide any spotty outbreaks, and to dull my rosy cheeks a little. I then put on my No7 Stay Perfect Foundation (which I find quite shiney, but I then add the Stay Matt powder by Rimmel to cover this).

As a natural blonde (dirty blonde), I need eye brows (No7 dark), and mascara (Boujoius Extreme Clubbing Black) so you can see them!

Quick cat lick eyeliner, a dab of lipstick for colour, and the face is done!

I hide what I don't like (spots and blemishes) and highlight what I do (my eyes) and add some eyebrows, and this is the result:

Outfit of the Day, Tomorrow.

I know I've been on a bit of a black out of late, with just the odd Tweet, and even less blogging.

I don't think I'm quite ready to address what caused this, mainly due to waiting for the information to be public knowledge.

But, when my latest SimplyBe purchase arrived, I couldn't wait!!

I would say that I ordered this thinking that I could wear it with trousers / jeans, given the photo, but when it arrived, it was clear that my curvy kates would make it hang higher than on this lovely girl. Instead, I've styled it with my Domino Dollhouse skirt, and think that it looks pretty darn good!

The colour is divine, and the buttons don't gape - always a bonus!

Well done SimplyBe, you've done it again!!

Much love my lovelies,

K x