tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76336467498673790992024-03-19T08:48:35.948+00:00MissKathryn's MissTakes<center>A blog tracking my fat acceptance journey... Lots of pretty dresses, separates and print</center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-47831959344147969232018-10-09T22:12:00.000+01:002018-10-09T22:13:12.166+01:00Dating While Fat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7ibvz_7D3sVy2k6npzUpYMN-thrZdEgf1qLwya6vBW5nITwpiA2JkP_uz2CtBc6YOl9bL3nj9-gtzSOZI8aAxdR8Ks49FhFnvdHV7wKBS3wLFKQchgjcfFiOKhORhfAZF-ZV3NCY6ho/s1600/Dating+while+fat+log.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="690" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7ibvz_7D3sVy2k6npzUpYMN-thrZdEgf1qLwya6vBW5nITwpiA2JkP_uz2CtBc6YOl9bL3nj9-gtzSOZI8aAxdR8Ks49FhFnvdHV7wKBS3wLFKQchgjcfFiOKhORhfAZF-ZV3NCY6ho/s400/Dating+while+fat+log.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Swiping left, and swiping right, it’s no longer the gut reaction that the app creators hoped for. It’s laden with politics, with doubling thinking, and who has the upper hand. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Typically, in my humble experience, the men are likely to just swipe right on everyone – I mean, what an ego boost, right? To see out of everyone on that particular app, everyone who things ‘yeah, okay’. The amount of ‘you’ve got a match’ alerts I get, and then poof, they’re gone – tell me this is not just my dating based paranoia speaking! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because we’re not swiping because we see a future with that person; we’re not just swiping because we might actually find this person tolerable; we’re swiping to get the middle ground. Obviously, I don’t know about the other people using the app, but I can guess I’m not alone in only swiping for those that I think I might stand a chance with. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For I am, swiping while fat. I mean, I know I am. I do everything that I can to make sure that the people who match with me know this too. Other than my carefully chosen selfies, I make sure I link my IG – gotta share those candid makeup free pictures too, as well as the plethora of cat pictures! But I also link my Spotify account, sharing my love of 60s girl groups, and mainstream riot grrl, to even out the picture, to show I’m more than just a cute chubby woman. That as confident as I am, the next match needs to see that the past experiences of dating need to be navigated, that there are some reassurances which need to be made. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When my phone lights up, another match on another app, I wait, knowing the likely hood of this one unmatching me as well, is pretty high. I sound bitter about that, don’t I? I’m not, I am battle worn. I am hardened to the Tinder, the Bumble, the Plenty of Fish's of this world. But then, I’m not new to these apps, although I do regularly throw my phone across the room in a fit of pique and decide to go on deleting rage! Or, and this one is rare, I am chatting with someone who I actually might just agree to meet, and delete the apps as a way of showing “here man, I’m taking a chance of you”. Sadly, this is usually the point they send the unsolicited dick pic, or tell me how much they love my confidence, my style, but have I thought about my health!? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let’s get this one cleared up: you can’t tell someone’s health by looking at them. The only thing you can tell is your own prejudice, your own fatphobia. I don’t smoke, I rarely drink, and actually, for your information, I’m fully gluten free. Foxtrot Oscar. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I worry that I’m a little block button happy sometimes. But then, got to protect my sanity – I’m not on these apps to educate for goodness sake! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you’re thinking of getting yourself out there, joining these magical apps (for I’ve had some brilliant conversations, it’s not all doom and gloom), expect quick unmatchings, remove that from your notifications if you can, and be ready to block if need be!</div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com180tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-17005713537225055142017-03-18T22:35:00.000+00:002017-03-18T22:35:23.193+00:00Mother and Daughter Style Challenge Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><div style="display: inline !important;">
I've been blogging for quite a while now - think it's about 5 years? - and my Mam has never really understood it. It comes from a place of love, that she doesn't want me attracting 'undue attention'. </div>
</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But she slowly started to take an interest - and I thought when the team behind J D Williams contacted me, I could work my Mam into my plan!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The plan was simple - I would choose 2 pieces for her, and she would choose 2 pieces for me. I would finally let her dictate what I wear!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We both trawled through the <a href="http://www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/womens/_/N-1ytvx07/products/show.action">Plus Size options on JD Williams</a> - and it seems we both went for one that was in our usual style, and another that pushed our limits a little.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My Mam first went for this <a href="http://www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/dark-green-twist-knot-dress/ky972/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5201#colour:Dark Green,size:">green body con</a> number: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/ky/ky972/m01ky972500s.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjFZEj4a2tlZsr7C63VG-jQZ7yqdXANZ1lMQ1mJCS_05-h0bnnU8dgNcLFo22JMct2vJWinnOGENuwDgBO-APcooQOIUCQ-5RUrW_aIABW-X5crCa0VwtNbhVzkFqVG8UDbz6wCYfF8EE1Yo_68oiJwF2R5xSaEwF0S8CFmAAkaWvRzWov16jv2pwoe3lNGEA=" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gFjhoNbcQNA59j5Qn9WIQOoX3H-63ZlDZpGE1Y1YM6_OxLoeEUHhQMPDBc3XYKWlOYdW8Uar03afXdnV_J6V_folRn3-eTfq7eV_fyaPA6hyphenhyphenwZlogfGNOS_tFd4xjpZL7YuSbEXEXy0/s1600/Capture+5+by+5.PNG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gFjhoNbcQNA59j5Qn9WIQOoX3H-63ZlDZpGE1Y1YM6_OxLoeEUHhQMPDBc3XYKWlOYdW8Uar03afXdnV_J6V_folRn3-eTfq7eV_fyaPA6hyphenhyphenwZlogfGNOS_tFd4xjpZL7YuSbEXEXy0/s640/Capture+5+by+5.PNG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My new job has me working from home, but I regularly have to go for super business smart. But as I'm still one for showing spark and personality, I like to mix up my smart with a side of Kathryn positivity!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><div style="display: inline !important;">
I paired with a grey collarless jacket for a work event.</div>
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeLgb1-3CZNpc6XGVhEZPZmwO1zlD_XOTl_-WwIR77fK76ri9fTyHwMM1bD5RzttHmEGNUZOcwICsYYGJMss-BpSBiKL34txedXdRlqurh26nTNzlT-NXBDHrn19vvrPJOMrZNrao7ck/s1600/Capture+grey+collarless.PNG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeLgb1-3CZNpc6XGVhEZPZmwO1zlD_XOTl_-WwIR77fK76ri9fTyHwMM1bD5RzttHmEGNUZOcwICsYYGJMss-BpSBiKL34txedXdRlqurh26nTNzlT-NXBDHrn19vvrPJOMrZNrao7ck/s640/Capture+grey+collarless.PNG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The joy of this (for me), isn't the awesome colour, but the draping detail:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2imG64awsVRQmP6lSUvMaHwZGO_SfnBShnrxM-dKSADAK9n2us7R9gbyGoDu5a-YPNAl5Iq6v4RhBzDRnNObBvWgdF5myx1r5WV7D_AhWKDXywwUdzLaNu2U2kEOWrNB699JEVfW2kEU/s1600/Capture+drape+detail.PNG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2imG64awsVRQmP6lSUvMaHwZGO_SfnBShnrxM-dKSADAK9n2us7R9gbyGoDu5a-YPNAl5Iq6v4RhBzDRnNObBvWgdF5myx1r5WV7D_AhWKDXywwUdzLaNu2U2kEOWrNB699JEVfW2kEU/s400/Capture+drape+detail.PNG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gotta say, my Mam did very well choosing this! I spent most of the event sat down, and although I did pull at the length of the skirt a bit, I still felt confident and pretty awesome in it - meaning I was giving my A Game at the event! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><div style="display: inline !important;">
I chose <a href="http://www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/nightingales-print-dress/eh797/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5201#colour:Navy/Pink,size:">this number</a> for my Mam:</div>
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/eh/eh797/m07eh797500s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/eh/eh797/m07eh797500s.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8wFACWmyd7D_erRmCHJle-gTnVnsOdtxEJEHgXiwzbtYcahPXsq-cvm9zJwG2OlG-w7MZ7tLvnpd3uIk1NH9rPYPWI8n6gqMeBOiSP-9SmoJ8tmvxV9yOzt2XM0ohHtOFeP6ijlYfNU/s1600/Capture+Mam.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8wFACWmyd7D_erRmCHJle-gTnVnsOdtxEJEHgXiwzbtYcahPXsq-cvm9zJwG2OlG-w7MZ7tLvnpd3uIk1NH9rPYPWI8n6gqMeBOiSP-9SmoJ8tmvxV9yOzt2XM0ohHtOFeP6ijlYfNU/s640/Capture+Mam.PNG" width="342" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</b></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I mean, just look at her face! You can tell she is a super happy in it - either that or I hit her with one of my bad jokes! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>She rocks dresses like this all the time - and a bold floral print gives her a number of options for cardigan coordination (which is where I get that particular sense of style from!).</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The waist detail is a great touch, something to separate it from the other dresses in her wardrobe</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OEMGa3P1-2HWhwiTfKzonNjHjfO6vuSOSkfjRJdx7wj6XRMw5NfPRpesAyd9_e7AHYjR3SZAuhxarvB16bvI7IEr5xcZ6BSd1JcwJgx8NvXoDCJjB7pCQknJx45ynA0yvEwbnKqUvk/s1600/Capture+Mam+waist.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OEMGa3P1-2HWhwiTfKzonNjHjfO6vuSOSkfjRJdx7wj6XRMw5NfPRpesAyd9_e7AHYjR3SZAuhxarvB16bvI7IEr5xcZ6BSd1JcwJgx8NvXoDCJjB7pCQknJx45ynA0yvEwbnKqUvk/s400/Capture+Mam+waist.PNG" width="348" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>She actually loves this dress so much she's picked it up in the navy / pink spot combo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/eh/eh793/m07eh793500s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/eh/eh793/m07eh793500s.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, round one of the Mother / Daughter style challenge worked out pretty well, didn't it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Much love my lovelies, </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
K and Mama K</div>
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fproductimages.drct2u.com%2Fmain_product%2Fproducts%2Fky%2Fky972%2Fm01ky972500s.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjFZEj4a2tlZsr7C63VG-jQZ7yqdXANZ1lMQ1mJCS_05-h0bnnU8dgNcLFo22JMct2vJWinnOGENuwDgBO-APcooQOIUCQ-5RUrW_aIABW-X5crCa0VwtNbhVzkFqVG8UDbz6wCYfF8EE1Yo_68oiJwF2R5xSaEwF0S8CFmAAkaWvRzWov16jv2pwoe3lNGEA=" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-8869787510338111052016-12-10T12:55:00.000+00:002016-12-10T12:55:08.432+00:00Introducing.... Joanie Clothing<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>There is rarely a new brand on the block that makes a splash without offending / upsetting people (ie me) in some way or other. Starting a brand, gaining a following for all the right reasons, and delivering the goods? If you've seen the most recent series of the Apprentice, you'll know that this isn't easy!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>So when Joanie Clothing came on the scene, using the stunning <a href="http://www.terribletumbles.co.uk/">Em </a>as one of their models, ranging from 8 - 22, with some styles up to a 26, they proved that it can indeed be done.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14690875_1137032643011625_8584559064796419610_n.jpg?oh=d9447b811ee4798de1c06f4709650936&oe=58B5B3C2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14690875_1137032643011625_8584559064796419610_n.jpg?oh=d9447b811ee4798de1c06f4709650936&oe=58B5B3C2" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I love these shots of Em, who I pretty much think Joan off of Mad Men is styled on, and she is a perfect face of this vintage with a twist brand. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>My first order from Joanie was this <a href="https://joanieclothing.com/product/lippy-lips-print-dress/">lipstick printed dress</a>:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://joanieclothing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-LIPPY_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://joanieclothing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-LIPPY_03.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I wore this at a works evening meal type thing, in Manchester, and teamed it with my fave bomber ever, the <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-embroidered-bomber-jacket/gy945/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=4402">Simply Be Embroidered Bomber</a>:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/15057225_328438467535501_8053131257015435264_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM4MTMzNTk3NjM0NTAwNjQ0Mg%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/15057225_328438467535501_8053131257015435264_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM4MTMzNTk3NjM0NTAwNjQ0Mg%3D%3D.2" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Now, I'm imbetween 24/26, so opted for the 26 in this dress, and I do think I might have been able to size down 0 but the relaxed fit of this tea dress meant it wasn't that big a deal.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I then invested in something that's been missing from my wardrobe since a zip broke - a good black skirt:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/15251640_579238082266682_2148452528197468160_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM5ODcxNzM2MzE0NzE0NDgyNA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/15251640_579238082266682_2148452528197468160_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM5ODcxNzM2MzE0NzE0NDgyNA%3D%3D.2" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>This <a href="https://joanieclothing.com/product/carolina-high-waist-skirt/">high waisted</a> number met all my needs - and a perfect counter point for this Alice and You pleated shirt (worn for a night of singing in the choral society)</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I also picked up the <a href="https://joanieclothing.com/product/jane-cut-black-dress/">Jane cut out dress</a>, as the cut outs reminded me of a chunky lace type fabric, and I was keen to replace one I'd sold recently.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://joanieclothing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-JANE_60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://joanieclothing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web-JANE_60.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I opted for the 26 again, just to err on the side of caution - and when it arrived, and I tried it on, I convinced myself it just needed a good iron - which improved the fit, but I still struggled with the neckline, but with a quick belt to help the fit, I was happy enough to wear it to a corporate event:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/14540389_731370857016505_1454483046928482304_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM5NDk4MzI3MjYxMDQ0MzA4Mg%3D%3D.2%22" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/14540389_731370857016505_1454483046928482304_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM5NDk4MzI3MjYxMDQ0MzA4Mg%3D%3D.2"" width="639" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I am super happy that there is another independent brand out there that I can get behind, and it's early days in terms of fit, and the size range that they offer. There are at least 3 dresses on their site that if they went over the 22 I would bite their hands off (Tartan, Books and Cat!! - need I say more?!)</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I might have been ridiculously sparse with my blogging this year, but with a new job, a new laptop, and a new love for the writing, I'm super happy that Joanie brought me out of the blogging dry spell!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>KK x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com160tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-37859237572693888742016-10-11T23:44:00.001+01:002016-10-18T10:24:48.083+01:00For the love of Autumn<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>This past 4 months of Summer has been pretty hard going in the land of KK, and I know I've been quiet on the ol' blog front - but as the clouds begin to clear, and the future is not so much the pit of despair it has been recently, I'm raising my head over the parapet, as it were. Partly because I wanted to share a transitional Autumnal number with you - but also, I've missed you all!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/iu/iu934/k02iu934500w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/iu/iu934/k02iu934500w.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>This <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/voodoo-vixen-rose-print-sleeved-dress/iu934/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Multi,size:4XL">Hell Bunny</a> beaut, modeled by the stunning Georgina Horne of of <a href="http://fullerfigurefullerbust.com/">Fuller Figure Fuller Bust</a>, with it's thick material, longer sleeves and yet summery print, makes this dress a lush Autumn piece - to be worn with tights, or bare legged, depending on the weather!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/2990998d-6be3-4939-8080-f3c349c0a2ac_zpsjja0isjv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/2990998d-6be3-4939-8080-f3c349c0a2ac_zpsjja0isjv.jpg" height="640" width="563" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I find the Hell Bunny sizing a little off most of the time, so opted for the 4X - my go to size in this type of brand. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I suspect, because the dress is a little on the big side, the neckline likes to slip and show my bra - which is the same no matter which bra I wear it with.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>(I personally recommend <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/curvy-kate-daily-dream-balcony-bra/cn754/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=4402#colour:Biscotti,size:">this bra</a> with this dress, as it gives great shape and lift! I wear a 36JJ, for reference).</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>To counter the revealing neckline moments, I've taken to pulling the shoulders wider, so it's a bit more of a bandeau neckline, which a bit of plunge too!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>However, like I mentioned earlier, this in the 4X, while a comfortable fit, is too big in places:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/BBC80DF4-7465-4A86-BF57-12DC5BBB1E83_zpsr74ylcgj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/BBC80DF4-7465-4A86-BF57-12DC5BBB1E83_zpsr74ylcgj.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I wore it recently to take my Grandma out to Sunday lunch, and the looser fit meant I was able to lift her walker in and out of the car with ease - not something people do every day, but certainly a winner with me!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I wore it bare legged with plimsolls, but would happily pair it with black tights and Chelsea boots and denim jacket for most of Autumn / Winter, I'm sure!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>It's no longer available in a 3x or 4x, but there are plenty of awesome dresses on <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/fashion/dresses/partywear/_/N-10tfZ1ytvjol/products/show.action">here</a> - including some lush Hell Bunny numbers!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A short but sweet blog post from me, which is hopefully a sign of more to come!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>K xx</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-41170620896990580312016-08-15T12:30:00.002+01:002016-08-15T12:31:55.635+01:00Interview at The Grand Hotel by Laura Pearman<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>There is nothing like coming home from Brownie Holiday, and having the chance to be super glam in an amazing location! What even is my life?!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13627968_1216180415069600_620855847_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTMxNjYzNjExOTg5MDI1MTUzMQ%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13627968_1216180415069600_620855847_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTMxNjYzNjExOTg5MDI1MTUzMQ%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Going from being Robin, the put upon sidekick to my Mam's Batman in the kitchen for a week, to having the chance to talk all things confidence and positivity with <a href="http://www.laurapearman.com/">Laura</a>, was just the tonic I needed!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>It was part of Laura's FacebookLive series, and the interview with me was the final piece in the puzzle!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>She had talked about her inspiration behind the #beachbumpinup shoot day here:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flpearmanphotos%2Fvideos%2F1043079359124117%2F&show_text=0&width=400" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="400"></iframe></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And explained all the different levels of tickets available here:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flpearmanphotos%2Fvideos%2F1043079359124117%2F&show_text=0&width=400" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="400"></iframe></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I watched her penultimate FacebookLive, live, but don't worry, you can see it in all it's glory here:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flpearmanphotos%2Fvideos%2F1044523452313041%2F&show_text=0&width=400" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="400"></iframe></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Every time Laura and I get a second together, we end up on some soapbox or other - and Saturday was no different - I'm not sure if it was the typical interview dynamic, but I'm so glad that our energy and passion came across as well as it did!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flpearmanphotos%2Fvideos%2Fvb.104791626286233%2F1045103932254993%2F%3Ftype%3D3&show_text=0&width=400" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="400"></iframe></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>And what did I wear?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I'd picked up this <a href="http://www.lindybop.co.uk/dresses-c1/swing-jive-dresses-c3/brittany-navy-scallop-heart-print-swing-dress-p2786">Lindybop number</a> as a birthday pick-me-up last month, and figured this was the perfect time to give it an airing, so to speak!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13671801_658633727634559_290937883_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTMxNTkyMjMxMDM3NjUzMTQ4Mw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13671801_658633727634559_290937883_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTMxNTkyMjMxMDM3NjUzMTQ4Mw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Honestly, this shoot day is going to be such fun, and I can't wait to meet you all! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Come along, get glammed up, and get your <i>strut</i> on!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fdU840BDrF4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fdU840BDrF4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-32138390354151534322016-07-10T08:03:00.000+01:002016-07-10T08:03:01.961+01:00Being a Beach Bum<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><b>"When you're sad and feeling blue,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><b>with nothing better to do,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><b>don't just sit there getting stressed,</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><b>take a trip to the beach!"</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ok, so I've changed the last bit a little bit, but that's poetic licence for you!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm going through a ridiculously anxious time at the moment, and using all the techniques I can think of to keep my MH in check. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">One such technique is to dust myself down, glam myself up, and be the best version of myself. Something about projecting that confident persona tends to rub off on me - for a few days at least!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>After working with the genius that is <a href="http://www.laurapearman.com/">Laura Pearman</a> for <a href="http://www.misskathrynsmisstakes.co.uk/2015/06/bloggerspearjoy-behind-scenes.html">#bloggerspearjoy</a>, we've often talked about working together again - and last Saturday was the perfect time to get myself glammed up, and to head to the beach to find out what she had in store. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I honestly had no idea what I was walking in to, and that just goes to show the trust I have in Laura after just one shoot - she literally said 'Meet me at x, bring with you a swimming costume, a vintage dress, and have your usual winged eyeliner and red lip combo'.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOiOwpDX7zoUl9yj-ebSQhlQ-sH4K8ffVxXO4SpKz91V0Y2JZRrFdzyG59icXMED4L0ocCf-MmE2oJmswIGfl3m0NfhwOYjoMPJdLz5l358IQeNapYl3qTuHAOGC_eq-ekDSfNK8G2Qs/s1600/sample+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOiOwpDX7zoUl9yj-ebSQhlQ-sH4K8ffVxXO4SpKz91V0Y2JZRrFdzyG59icXMED4L0ocCf-MmE2oJmswIGfl3m0NfhwOYjoMPJdLz5l358IQeNapYl3qTuHAOGC_eq-ekDSfNK8G2Qs/s400/sample+3.PNG" width="330" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Photo taken by Laura Pearman </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>(screen shot from the YouTube taster video)</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xcHWe2D60wrNpX2mMMmZhX61VoKIhyphenhyphenultmIiOx_khwnExuUBP7M6Bt9Pp0ucxnfQpZhrrMbHknQ0cUkkg52AD1wlXKs-ENlCmdHJqZ7VNl1J5hMJkHs1s_FTCstrvxhEilFM8vHBCcc/s1600/sample+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xcHWe2D60wrNpX2mMMmZhX61VoKIhyphenhyphenultmIiOx_khwnExuUBP7M6Bt9Pp0ucxnfQpZhrrMbHknQ0cUkkg52AD1wlXKs-ENlCmdHJqZ7VNl1J5hMJkHs1s_FTCstrvxhEilFM8vHBCcc/s400/sample+1.PNG" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>While I'm more than happy to spout about being a confident plus size woman, it's another to be able to pose like a mermaid. But the world didn't end, there was not an ounce of drama, and just good clean fun.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I even stripped off down to my bra while a group of 10k runners ran past.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>While Laura and I can sit and natter about anything from Taylor Swift to the EU, we also know when to get to work!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVzpyr09GRu53W6kMnarJE6WqcLLPoF6yhwZIbut4XY6v0EtADn6zYtfMLDhEOO9vg-rwqPx2194Nq_3qtTGC3U2ezWjLPkDckK8wbRvKV-CJ1SDnMIj2Dqcy46yhijHL4QZ4j4jcqjk/s1600/sample.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVzpyr09GRu53W6kMnarJE6WqcLLPoF6yhwZIbut4XY6v0EtADn6zYtfMLDhEOO9vg-rwqPx2194Nq_3qtTGC3U2ezWjLPkDckK8wbRvKV-CJ1SDnMIj2Dqcy46yhijHL4QZ4j4jcqjk/s400/sample.PNG" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The shoot was over, when the above photo was taken - never off duty us two!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Out of this day of fun and gossip, more than the actual reason I was in front of the camera, I got my mojo back! I mean:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWz7i5u3sLiF2EEhCGPmlOj9-1OEyPUdctQ6GHvfXuQ-i9T-6GgGesJMLE-XMys54iw5UXso77drNIQ1ebXz-zKh85RvRAzDg8kX_KUw_M2MEqjpK_XPH8zwDkq0cmsy7JRhxLhYmTOU/s1600/Sample+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWz7i5u3sLiF2EEhCGPmlOj9-1OEyPUdctQ6GHvfXuQ-i9T-6GgGesJMLE-XMys54iw5UXso77drNIQ1ebXz-zKh85RvRAzDg8kX_KUw_M2MEqjpK_XPH8zwDkq0cmsy7JRhxLhYmTOU/s640/Sample+2.PNG" width="360" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Photos like these aren't about vanity, or about self promotion, but about the confidence, and the swagger they give you. The glow that means you've got this. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Keep an eye out for the full video, and the full details as to what we've got in store for you all!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies,</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-22396398587808506602016-06-01T13:53:00.000+01:002016-06-01T13:53:06.350+01:00Summer Vibes on a Grey Day with BonPrix*<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Even when the weather is grey and dull outside, I am a firm believer in bringing summer into the office with you - and today I needed to push that idea just that little bit further:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t51.2885-15/e35/13259029_1087253484651881_274589808_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2Mjk3MDY5NzA2Mjc3NDc3MA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t51.2885-15/e35/13259029_1087253484651881_274589808_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2Mjk3MDY5NzA2Mjc3NDc3MA%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/t51.2885-15/e35/13320326_1744425629175854_1336292495_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2Mjk3MDQzMzYxMDE1MTkxMA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpt1/t51.2885-15/e35/13320326_1744425629175854_1336292495_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2Mjk3MDQzMzYxMDE1MTkxMA%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'm pretty sure this is as close to sunbathing as I'm going to get this year!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But that is no reason to let your summer wardrobe remain in winter, muted tones, NO! Bring summer to the office regardless of the weather! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The team at <a href="http://www.bonprix.co.uk/">Bonprix</a> have a number of options for summer style, and below are my faves!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.bonprix.co.uk/is/image/OttoUK/466w/stripy-day-dress~931561FRSB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://images.bonprix.co.uk/is/image/OttoUK/466w/stripy-day-dress~931561FRSB.jpg" height="640" width="459" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bonprix.co.uk/products/stripy-day-dress/_/A-931561_18?PlusSize=true"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Stripy Day Dress</b></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worn with a denim jacket for a day at the beach, or worn with tights and heels for the office, it's a multi tasking little number!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.bonprix.co.uk/is/image/OttoUK/466w/lace-hem-sun-dress~959595FRSB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://images.bonprix.co.uk/is/image/OttoUK/466w/lace-hem-sun-dress~959595FRSB.jpg" height="640" width="459" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bonprix.co.uk/products/lace-hem-sun-dress/_/A-959595_18?PlusSize=true"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Lace Hem Sun Dress</b></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b>I'm thinking of pairing this one with a bomber jacket and plimsoles, for an afternoon in a beer garden or with a brightly coloured cardigan, and a pair of contrasting flats!<br /><br /> <a href="http://images.bonprix.co.uk/is/image/OttoUK/466w/Country-Check-Wrap-Dress~915384FRSB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.bonprix.co.uk/is/image/OttoUK/466w/Country-Check-Wrap-Dress~915384FRSB.jpg" height="640" width="459" /></a></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bonprix.co.uk/products/country-check-wrap-dress/_/A-915384_12?PlusSize=true"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Country Check Wrap Dress</b></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But this dress speaks for itself, and doesn't need any accessories to dress it up or down. Perfect to brighten your day whether you're in the office or going shopping with pals. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A huge thanks to Bonprix for a box of goodies, including the flower crown, beach ball and pineapple cup. It was the perfect pick me up to step into June with!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Much love my lovelies,</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">K x </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-17232555100503374202016-05-31T20:25:00.001+01:002016-05-31T20:25:58.357+01:00Grab your Cote<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>God, that May. So glad to see the back of it! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>May has been, frankly, a shitty month. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It saw my Grandma having a stroke and spending 3 weeks in hospital, with a fall three days after she was let home. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13129767_1594730207508435_1696159678_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI0MTM5MDAzMjcwNjA0MTcyMw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13129767_1594730207508435_1696159678_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI0MTM5MDAzMjcwNjA0MTcyMw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It saw the arrival of my parents new puppy, Rory.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13277573_1725371404399204_1559397288_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MTc0NzgwMDYwNDM3NDA1Mw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13277573_1725371404399204_1559397288_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MTc0NzgwMDYwNDM3NDA1Mw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It saw my job thrown in serious jeopardy. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13113850_1737283753218395_1838555332_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI1MjgxOTA3NDUwNDE2MDg0Mw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13113850_1737283753218395_1838555332_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI1MjgxOTA3NDUwNDE2MDg0Mw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It saw me winning a competition for a trip for 2 to Glasgow.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Glasgow gave me something to look forward to, amongst applying for all the jobs - a brief relief from the anxiety of what the future might hold. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It started with a simple share of a picture on Instagram:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13102452_847603048681643_1608791208_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIzOTM4NDYxMTQ1OTkyMTYyNg%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13102452_847603048681643_1608791208_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIzOTM4NDYxMTQ1OTkyMTYyNg%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>And so, thanks to the amazing team at <a href="http://www.cote-restaurants.co.uk/cote/">Cote Brasserie</a>, my best pal Jackie and I headed north of the wall, and put our hearts in the hands of Glasgow.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BF8kEPHJ3V_/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Stunning restaurant right in the centre of Glasgow! Great start to our day - all fuelled and ready to go!! x</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A video posted by Kathryn (@misskathryn84) on <time datetime="2016-05-28T09:42:48+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 28, 2016 at 2:42am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Friday night saw us sat in the window of a beautiful restaurant, with the weekend spread before us. And I was delighted to have a vast selection of Gluten Free items to chose from!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13277747_1565602310406508_183432949_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI1OTY2MDM3Mzg0NDc4NDgxMw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13277747_1565602310406508_183432949_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI1OTY2MDM3Mzg0NDc4NDgxMw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>After a delicious starter of Crab Mayonnaise with avocado, cucumber, capers,
and tarragon with toasted gluten-free bread, I gave in to what my stomach wanted, which was chargrilled thinly beaten out minute steak
with frites and garlic butter, and it was just as good as my stomach had hoped it would be!!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Dessert was a no brainer - Crème Brûlée. Oh it was heaven. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13256659_1738360519742019_1773389312_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDAxOTMzMjg4MzY0MjE0OQ%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13256659_1738360519742019_1773389312_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDAxOTMzMjg4MzY0MjE0OQ%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It was a sign of the weekend to come, and with a full stomach, Jackie and I headed to our home for the weekend, the Radisson Park Inn hotel - a recently renovated hotel in an old Victorian </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">building. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13320322_799624633472245_2145711217_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDAxMTY4NDIwOTU4Nzc5OA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13320322_799624633472245_2145711217_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDAxMTY4NDIwOTU4Nzc5OA%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Breakfast was included in the package from Cote, so we trotted back to them for a chilled breakfast. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Feeding a gluten free and vegetarian table isn't easy - finding a combination restaurant that can please both parties is a bit of a challenge. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Cote stepped up to the challenge, and while I enjoyed a simple breakfast of fruit, yogurt and toast, Jackie had what she claimed was the best vegetarian breakfast ever! High praise indeed!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13285533_978878628832254_1406730062_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDExNTc4NTUyNjI0NTA2NA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13285533_978878628832254_1406730062_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDExNTc4NTUyNjI0NTA2NA%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Next stop on our whistle stop tour, was Gordon Street Coffee, which offered the perfect respite after a morning shopping. We were meeting a few pals there, and so settled down with coffee and cake - and I can attest that their gluten free cake was both delicious and gluten free!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After the chilled catch up, we headed up the hill to the Glasgow Theatre Royal, to see Emily Atack in Breakfast at Tiffany's. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I knew nothing of the story, having not seen the film, or read the book, and was looking forward to an escapist couple of hours. It was not the chirpy story I'd misunderstood it to be. It spoke of the quest to rewrite your own past, take charge of your own story, and not to let others determine your path. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>A quick stop back at the hotel to freshen up:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13329161_1195246790510102_1304217412_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDMwNTY3MjQ5ODAxODA5OQ%3D%3D.2%22" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13329161_1195246790510102_1304217412_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDMwNTY3MjQ5ODAxODA5OQ%3D%3D.2"" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Another warm greeting from the team at Cote, we were sat in 'our' seat by the window, and we were again faced with the epic task of WHAT TO HAVE!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My starter was my standard pate option. It was served in a mini Kilner style jar, assuring me it wasn't contaminated, serve with apple chutney on gluten free toast. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13267449_469191746610984_953170725_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDM2NTkyMTY3ODQ4ODk2MQ%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13267449_469191746610984_953170725_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDM2NTkyMTY3ODQ4ODk2MQ%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>This Poulet Grillé, or chargrilled butterflied chicken breast with
wild mushroom, crème fraîche and thyme sauce,
served with gratin potato, was far better than I'd expected - I'd assumed it was going to be an up market Sunday dinner and it was so much more than that!! </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Dessert was on a theme with Friday's - this time just plain Crème Caramel - oh but there was nothing plain about it!!</b></span></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13249826_1017331364970338_2131930643_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDM2NjMwMjM3MDI5NzIzNw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13249826_1017331364970338_2131930643_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDM2NjMwMjM3MDI5NzIzNw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>We rounded the night off, after a good old stomp around the streets of Glasgow to relive student days gone by (Jackie's, not mine), we ended up in Nice'n'Sleazy's for a famous £3 White Russian:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13256995_1187799234593785_1402406063_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDQyNTU5OTM1OTg3NDY4Mw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13256995_1187799234593785_1402406063_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDQyNTU5OTM1OTg3NDY4Mw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The following morning called for stronger stuff, so a full Gluten Free selection:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13260930_1777548409148088_2024115242_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDc3NDA1NzYzOTkwMDE5NQ%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13260930_1777548409148088_2024115242_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDc3NDA1NzYzOTkwMDE5NQ%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We waved goodbye to Glasgow, and vowed not to leave it so long the next time!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13329029_1542079839432039_1200520346_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDc0ODkwMDk3NjI2MDM3Mw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13329029_1542079839432039_1200520346_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTI2MDc0ODkwMDk3NjI2MDM3Mw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What really made this weekend the tonic I needed though, as well as the awesome Jackie, was the welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable staff at Glasgow Cote. Being fans of people watching, we noticed the staff weren't just attentive of us, but all their customers received the same level of service. And if that's the case, then Cote is a great jewel in Glasgow's crown. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Much love my lovelies, </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">K xx</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-37361760167898883172016-05-04T09:47:00.000+01:002016-05-04T09:47:20.468+01:00Filtering Out the Mistakes<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When I created this blog of mine, 370 posts ago, I didn't really have a plan - I wanted to track the outfits I was wearing and what I liked / didn't like about them, and from that small seed, this oak tree grew. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm super proud of what it has helped me achieve - and it's grown and changed, just as I've grown and changed. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I would have never thought that I would have written pieces on fat politics when I first started out. I would have never pegged that I would have been involved with a brand campaign like Simply Be Denim. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I had expected mistakes - be it in any aspect of my life. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And just as how social media comes with filters, so does this blog - I didn't intend to be as censored, or as selective about what I wrote about here, but I have been - and that makes me feel less genuine. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, I bring to you, my mistake column! </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yup - I plan to share my mistakes with you all - to show an unfiltered view on my life. To get back to why I started this blog of mine - and hopefully some of these mistakes will turn into successes too!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I subscribe to the <a href="https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/cqpdd">Birchbox beauty box</a>, mainly because I like getting surprise presents each month! I'm no beauty blogger, and I won't ever be, but getting tester products to try out, when a lot of them are high end products I would never dream of buying otherwise, is a great sales point for me (no, this isn't a sponsored post! Stick with it!).</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've been trying a number of cleanser / toners (since <a href="http://www.misskathrynsmisstakes.co.uk/2015/04/temple-spa.html">this</a> post) combinations, and the samples I've had in beauty boxes in general, have really helped me get to grips with what works. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Before Birchbox, I had subscibed to Glossybox - I can't remember why I cancelled or changed my subscription now, but while under their wing, I got sent a number of full sized products, including this:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabQl0BN1R6TAxI6tfVjuCI-ISW0CNd4NInfpK__uvKENKpp3HBF6C7WEBF_HWiAGcTCkbfcywIQIoU_xP0orvOtwHI3U0yDXgPCCP741mg930huBBjD50R2cV-me6jKfRQeIpgaNy8ys/s1600/glossy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabQl0BN1R6TAxI6tfVjuCI-ISW0CNd4NInfpK__uvKENKpp3HBF6C7WEBF_HWiAGcTCkbfcywIQIoU_xP0orvOtwHI3U0yDXgPCCP741mg930huBBjD50R2cV-me6jKfRQeIpgaNy8ys/s1600/glossy4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Which had me at Purifying Cleanser.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And, over the past few weeks, I've been ritualistically using this to remove makeup from my face.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My routine has been working very well, and my face has been super smooth and mostly spot free (stress spots don't count!).</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Until I read the 'Directions'.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I love reading these normally, I mean, as if people don't know how to shampoo their hair, or rub cleanser all over their face...</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Oh.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hang on.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It's an <i>intimate</i> cleanser.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Which, quite frankly, is not something I believe in. We really don't need to cleanse our '<i>intimate</i>' area - it's designed to clean itself!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But, this £7 of intimate cleanser has been doing quite a good job on my face. And since I've found this out, I've not stopped using it!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It serves me right for not reading the packaging, but equally I'm quite glad I don't subscribe to Glossy Box any more if they're promoting the idea that we need to cleanse our <i>intimate</i> <i>area</i>. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>So, mistakes happen.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Sometimes they turn into great things, sometimes they make no difference.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Much love, my mistake making lovelies,</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">K x</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-64418428438660617402016-04-18T22:07:00.001+01:002016-04-18T22:07:20.295+01:00The Diary of a Coeliacs Sufferer - Entry 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">TW: diets, disordered eating</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Disclaimer - this post is written to get my own head round this topic so it may not be the best piece of writing.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Back in February, I was diagnosed with Coeliac's Disease, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining of the small intestine, and the only treatment is a complete gluten free diet. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Diet.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A word I've not spoken for years, and actively avoid for my own good.. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Diet, and the idea of dieting, is a huge trigger for me, having suffered from disordered eating from my teens. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Discovering the world of body positivity, and the idea that your body is the only one you have, and you have to love it, was a revelation. It saved me.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>From that point forward, I've lived my life with the protective bubble of "Fuck Diet Culture" and been gloriously happy with living my life, where inspiring others was / is a wonderful byproduct.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I feel as though I'm a fraud to the BoPo movement, a failure to the community every time I use the word 'diet'. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>In my attempt to protect myself, I've turned the word 'diet' into a weapon. Every time I use it, to describe my food choices, or want to raise awareness about Coelics, I feel as though I'm firing a weapon into the world I've created around me - a word I know has so much meaning to so many, and a word I don't want to use if I can help it. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I'm conflicted - I want to explore my new lifestyle, I want to share my food discoveries, and want to join new communities to expand my knowledge. But gluten free is so often associated with clean eating, or some such fad, that I'm stuck between protecting my MH, and accepting my limitations.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I hope I can read back on this in a few months time, and laugh- but I suspect, my body positivity - and fat activism - will continue to take a beating every time I'm asked how the diet is going. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's not a diet, it's a treatment. I've had to remove gluten from every aspect of my life, replacing my microwave, toaster and fridge freezer. I can't just pop out for a meal, but I have to contact them in advance to see if they can accommodate me. I have to pay 3 times as much for food, and I'm ridiculously limited by my options there too. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I feel like my "Fuck Diets" bubble deflating around me, and I don't know how to stop it.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-55150607670828784102016-03-28T15:54:00.000+01:002016-03-28T15:54:23.209+01:00Friendship February<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Back in February, a group of gal pals and I took part in a Galentines Secret Santa type affair. A chance to share the love with each other, and for a single lass like me, it was a great feeling to actually join in with the commercialisation of Valentines. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I got my 'gal', the super lovely <a href="http://plussizeproud.co.uk/">Sarah,</a> a friendship necklace with a twist:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12534099_102714146782678_1003607518_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE3NjIzNTgwNTQ3MDMyNDQzMg%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12534099_102714146782678_1003607518_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE3NjIzNTgwNTQ3MDMyNDQzMg%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>See that donut, just visible? That's one half of the necklace, and the super awesome Sarah has the other half. And I would share my donut with her, any day.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12717070_779281455548650_978654097_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE4MzMyNjI2NTEwMjEwOTQ1Nw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12717070_779281455548650_978654097_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE4MzMyNjI2NTEwMjEwOTQ1Nw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My presents were cute and small, and no less meaningful. A collection of chocolate, jewelry, face masks, and a full heart. But this 'love', takes pride of place:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12599484_589324964563121_696902151_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIxNTk3NTQyOTMxODg2NTk3MQ%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12599484_589324964563121_696902151_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIxNTk3NTQyOTMxODg2NTk3MQ%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It sits perfectly with the 'home' sign I already had, and I'm tempted to paint it lilac, to make it stand out a little more. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I'm well aware it's nearly April, and I'm writing about something I took part in back in February, but I've been ruminating on the idea of internet friendships, and if distant makes them any less valid, or whether the 'virtual' nature of it, lessens the pain of arguments, disagreements and fallings out. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Having been grieving for a friendship circle lost recently, I would counter that the fact that a lot of our friendships these days are online, through mediums like Whatsapp, Facebook group chats, or snapchats, we're used to reaching out and getting someone - whereas when it's individual chats, there is the weight of waiting for a reply. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I don't respond to that pressure very well, I read messages and forget to reply - then people just stop messaging me all together - why bother, if I never seem to reply in a timely manner? </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Whereas a group chat, I'm a great voice of reason, a builder-upper - someone who can be relied on for a positive word.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But as I said, I've spent the last month or so group-chat-less. And wondering if it was them, or was it me? Was I too..., well, me?</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It's felt very much like a break up. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Which is why it's taken til now to write about my amazing and thoughtful Galentines. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>That Love sign? Reminds me whenever I walk past it, that I'm loved, I matter, and that while I might not have 300 Whatsapp messages to catch up on, I'm still a friend. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>An oddly personal post from me, but I've always had a thing where my blog is where I write to get my thoughts outta my head :D</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-13815696530762871012016-03-19T23:10:00.001+00:002016-03-19T23:10:41.108+00:00Spring Jackets I Can't Get Enough Of...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I struggle with being too hot a lot of the time. You're likely to spot me in mid November with a cardigan on and rather content to feel a bit of a chill - so come the first hint of Spring, and I shed my winter jacket in favour of something lighter - usually my trusty mac. This Spring, with my office being rather on the chilly side, I wanted something that could double as a stylish addition to my outfits.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My first step into the world of the statement jacket was this:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/jc/jc533/k02jc533500w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/jc/jc533/k02jc533500w.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></b></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've seen a few fellow bloggers wear this <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/print-bomber-jacket/jc533/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Blue Multi-coloured,size:">bomber jacket</a> with the matching skirt, such as the lush <a href="http://www.amandaapparel.co.uk/">Amanda</a>:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12751271_204399409919325_2031289989_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE5OTI5ODYwMDU2MzI4NTU2OA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12751271_204399409919325_2031289989_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE5OTI5ODYwMDU2MzI4NTU2OA%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I do love the combo, but I've wanted to pair it with more contrasting tones, so pinks and purples:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12751156_1574257746228867_144962268_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE5ODQzOTAxMTYyMTIzODcyNA%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12751156_1574257746228867_144962268_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTE5ODQzOTAxMTYyMTIzODcyNA%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>And really play with the vintage feel of the paisley print:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12826119_512542438932118_907121_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwNTc2NTgzNjQ3OTM2MzAzMw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12819070_1521495434822886_2016576053_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwMjcyMDg1NzEzNzgzNzUwMg%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12819070_1521495434822886_2016576053_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwMjcyMDg1NzEzNzgzNzUwMg%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's lightweight, and I opted for my usual size 24 and found it roomy and was actually surprised that it actually zips up fully!!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My other splurge on outwear came in the form of this <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-supersoft-acid-wash-denim-biker-jacket/jp264/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Mid Blue,size:">acid wash denim biker jacket</a>:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/jp/jp264/k02jp264503w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/jp/jp264/k02jp264503w.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It's a great option to 'toughen up' my usually feminine aesthetic, and it gives me the edge I feel my 'look' lacks:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12826119_512542438932118_907121_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwNTc2NTgzNjQ3OTM2MzAzMw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12826119_512542438932118_907121_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwNTc2NTgzNjQ3OTM2MzAzMw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I opted for the 26 in this jacket, to make sure it actually could be zipped up fully if needed, but still looks good when worn open:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12819096_1735407820063885_949013196_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwNDI4NzA3OTA3MTU3NzI2Nw%3D%3D.2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12819096_1735407820063885_949013196_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTIwNDI4NzA3OTA3MTU3NzI2Nw%3D%3D.2" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I might be growing my hair, but both these jackets keeps my vibe alive I feel!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-52401867652084277502016-02-18T10:27:00.000+00:002016-02-18T10:28:50.832+00:00River Island Plus Range<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>When the news of River Island, success of the British High Street, was launching a Plus Size collection, My pulse quickened a little.<br /><br />I mean, River Island was always a no go shop for me. I stared longingly at their pieces when in there with friends, and I never thought the day would come that I would be able to buy a piece from there. Never. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I read the rest of the news about RI Plus, and my heart soared - it wasn't just a plus size collection, but extending the size range on their MAIN COLLECTION! No token baggy tees, polyester skater dresses or bootleg trousers. But their main range, available in Plus Size! </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Oh. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Only available from 18 - 24. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>24 does not a plus size collection make!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I took to YouTube, in a rather rambley rant about why this wasn't good enough. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sqZL1NfOJ6g/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqZL1NfOJ6g?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b>Today, news broke that their collection would be available from 9th March, along with a sneak view of what we can expect to see. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b>I am in love with this duster jacket - all geometric print and colour:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg1aT4HeP2xPnKOpJEh-dJ5ldxnALCh95cGHXtxZU2mhnfG1Q-G9A2eDL-8nMRFUoTOvCrn5u0emfRI5jhOuIAw2JZ877qNu-KTFSaFmy_M0P3NwGFSx_tHsvuG0sniSxW-JmNTr-Y7E/s1600/RI+Jacket.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg1aT4HeP2xPnKOpJEh-dJ5ldxnALCh95cGHXtxZU2mhnfG1Q-G9A2eDL-8nMRFUoTOvCrn5u0emfRI5jhOuIAw2JZ877qNu-KTFSaFmy_M0P3NwGFSx_tHsvuG0sniSxW-JmNTr-Y7E/s400/RI+Jacket.PNG" width="321" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>And this wrap dress looks so floaty and feminine - for those days when you fancy being a bit 1940s:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBc0ROz19Zop39fQrFVIgcKtlet1xiDndMPTb-Qt9almAO0aiattffGJ_j_0IYeq-XtDYoebhf69iTVsEcLPENUMxm59RwaiGEXSvChNx6yn-f4Yo6TrJVMZzkmkQbJZTZSrb1qdiuKk/s1600/RI+Wrap+dress.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBc0ROz19Zop39fQrFVIgcKtlet1xiDndMPTb-Qt9almAO0aiattffGJ_j_0IYeq-XtDYoebhf69iTVsEcLPENUMxm59RwaiGEXSvChNx6yn-f4Yo6TrJVMZzkmkQbJZTZSrb1qdiuKk/s400/RI+Wrap+dress.PNG" width="292" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>But RI, pretty pieces aren't enough - what about those above a 24? I wear a 24, and if the pieces run on the small size, I'm sized out of this range. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>If this was a smaller company, I would understand with dipping their toe in the plus size market, but River Island are no small company. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>It's my understanding that this will be available in flagship stores only, meaning that once again, for the plus size (all 2 sizes) pieces, we're limited to on line shopping. Still.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b> Yes, it's a step forward. but a very very small step, and we demand more. We deserve more.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-91656507383515380492016-02-03T18:34:00.002+00:002016-02-03T18:34:50.529+00:00Dress for Danger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>When I saw <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/lovedrobe-crochet-midi-skater-dress/tj433/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Red,size:">this dress</a> on the Simply Be website, I had visions of wearing it to the office, for smart days, or days when I needed a bit of a pick me up.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It happened to arrive in time for my business trip to London, where I'd made some plans to meet a few pals throughout the week for dinner, and knew I wanted to dress to impress, so this dress was carefully thrown into my suitcase, and off I went!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12545325_1187288057965743_93930264_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12545325_1187288057965743_93930264_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I was over the moon by the fit of this dress. The length is the perfect midi on me, and the heavy crochet over lay to the dress added structure and volume, although it did make me think of the roadwork fencing material:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.odibi.it/files/64SM5E/mesh_fencing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.odibi.it/files/64SM5E/mesh_fencing.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I know a lot of people would have looked at the dress and thought it was the perfect dress for Valentines day, but the fact I've never had Valentines plans means that never crossed my mind - I was, however, super happy with the early mini Gal-entines dinner I had with <a href="http://www.secretplussizegoddess.com/">Tanya</a>, <a href="http://www.fatgirlforlife.co.uk/">Katt</a>, <a href="https://lottielamour.co.uk/">Lottie</a> and <a href="http://www.terribletumbles.co.uk/">Em</a>. The perfect tonic.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12479581_198000583879917_1288159460_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12479581_198000583879917_1288159460_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The beautiful <a href="http://curvygirlthin.blogspot.co.uk/">Charli</a> has recently picked up this dress, and while I'm rocking the roomy 24, Charli has sized down to the 16 for figure hugging amazingness:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12424728_1060363557361880_938520223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12424728_1060363557361880_938520223_n.jpg" width="512" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Keep an eye out on her blog for her review in the coming days. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-8531300103849617302016-01-31T19:28:00.001+00:002016-01-31T19:28:23.638+00:00How to Turn a Negative Comment Positive with Simply Be<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I remember as a young teen, scouring the pages of Shout! and Bliss, and as I got older, moving onto Glamour for my glossy magazine fix. Every once in a while, there would be the token 'curvy fashion' article, usually using brands who didn't actually stock above a 16 - but this was the late 90s, early 00s, and things were different then. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I learnt the 'rules' off by heart, and tried my best to follow them. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It's taken another 15 years to 'unlearn' these rules, and one of the last ones was the 'those blessed with a bust should always wear a v-neck'. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've now started to rebel against this rule with vengeance:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12424848_1959995427559952_2061094844_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12424848_1959995427559952_2061094844_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In my <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/high-neck-skater-tunic/nx167/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3402&productType=Fitting#colour:,size:">high neck skater tunic in tomato</a>, along with my faithful <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/crepe-duster-jacket/jc435/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Black/White,size:">duster jacket</a>.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12479513_1695570587325852_962862912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12479513_1695570587325852_962862912_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Or this <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-floral-stripe-swing-dress/jp100/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Black Print,size:">Floral / Geoprint mix dress</a>.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12568120_1001516443227443_1803951831_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12568120_1001516443227443_1803951831_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A <a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12568120_1001516443227443_1803951831_n.jpg">floral dress</a> with a little bit of a frill for extra cute!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12556051_1589034324679470_1168987258_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12556051_1589034324679470_1168987258_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">And my favourite, my <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-tie-neck-blouse/jp086/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Ivory,size:">shirt with added bow tie</a> - because bow-ties are cool!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The team at <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/sb-edit/how-to-turn-a-negative-comment-positive/">Simply Be</a> have looked at a number of these rules, and how you can break them!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-6514161901150277602016-01-24T21:25:00.000+00:002016-01-24T21:25:02.421+00:00Outspoken, or bullish?<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is a post which has weighed heavy on my mind since the events which inspired it.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I've been blogging over 4 years now, and I've had the pleasure of meeting a great many of my blogging babes. And I've the even greater pleasure of calling some of these babes my friends. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Just because we're bloggers; just because we're plus size, doesn't mean we always see eye to eye. But we, for the most part, respect each other and our shared experiences of fatphobia and exclusion. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Which is why, the week after New Year, when we were beset with fat shaming from all angles, from Pink Clove, BooHoo, MissGuided, as well as the diet culture ramping up gears and being on nearly every advertising break, I was in fighting mode, fighting all the bodyshaming I spotted, as best defense is the best offence, as they say.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>A little bit of paranoia started to creep in, as every tweet I seemed to make was calling out some brand or other and their bull shit, and so whenever a subtweet mentioned calming down, or not taking life so seriously, my self doubt crept up. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Which led to a particularly interesting conversation with a PSblogger (who I won't be naming, because, well, this isn't about her), calling her out on some choice comments and the power of social media and influence. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>When I then fixated on a few tweets about bullying. And I'm not going to lie, I cried. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My angle is always to fight for the underdog. Which mainly is us, the Plus Size community, or the wider body positive movement, or the larger fats who are sized out of ranges with the likes of River Island.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I use my loud voice to speak up for them, or to hold their voice up to a different audience. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I don't see it as bullying the brand, or the blogger, but calling them out on it, and hopefully changing their mind. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But, does this make me a bully? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I have agonised over this word so much in the last few weeks, and discussed it at length with a few special people. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I have been a victim of bullying, both at school, and more recently in the workplace. The very idea that it was something I was inflicting on someone else shocked me to my core. The following days were marred with self doubt, and I started to question my actions, my motives, and whether I had in fact been a bully all my life. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>A group of babes, knowing I was struggling, organised the most amazing thing: #superkaupa</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYJaq_5WQAEM2UH.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYJaq_5WQAEM2UH.jpg:large" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Image c/o <a href="http://murderofgoths.co.uk/">Murder of Goths</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>And it filled my heart with the love it needed to push that self doubt off it's perch, and steal the dinner money from paranoia, and to take control of things again. So my heart will once again fight for the underdog, call out shady actions, and run the side of those I love - while my brain follows behind, beaten down by Super Kaupa and her girl gang. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-91938346042129596852016-01-20T20:26:00.000+00:002016-01-20T20:26:27.154+00:00Monochrome Convert<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Last week I was off to London for the week for work - so not only was it a capsule week of dressing out of my suitcase, but it called for smart. Business smart.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My take on business dress means there is usually a 'Kathryn' twist - a bright cardigan, or some statement necklaces. This week called for none of that.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Monday saw me getting up at 3:45am to get my 6am train (and pack), so my face is tired, and my outfit is missing a key piece. A piece that pretty much made my outfits the statement I so wanted, without losing the 'smart'. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12479365_174860709535958_518547815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12479365_174860709535958_518547815_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Simply Be <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-lace-victoriana-top/lc952/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3402#colour:Black,size:">Victoriana Lace </a>top, and Simply Be Houndstooth skirt (no longer available)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>What is this magical trandormative piece of clothing, I hear you ask? It was <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/crepe-duster-jacket/jc435/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467#colour:Black/White,size:">this</a> duster jacket.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/jc/jc435/k02jc435500w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://productimages.drct2u.com/main_product/products/jc/jc435/k02jc435500w.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Worn with my cardigan underneath, it was the perfect layering combination to tackle London stuffy transport (how hot is the tube though, really??)</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The point is, it became my outerwear - I was strutting along the streets of London, head held high, with this statement outerwear, and when I got to the offices, it was shook off, and hung up in the corner, as I became the business dress, smart, Kathryn. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><u>Day 2: Simply Be <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/textured-keyhole-skater-dress/cp068/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3402#colour:Black/White,size:">Checked Skater Dress</a> and Duster Jacket</u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12547349_155298124842558_267273935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12547349_155298124842558_267273935_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Day 3: Simply Be <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-tie-neck-blouse/jp086/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3467">Shirt and Tie</a>, with Houndstooth Skirt</span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12523699_1673625136250072_1320422805_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12523699_1673625136250072_1320422805_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Day 4: Simply Be Checked Midi Dress</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12547534_665655923575863_690026946_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/12547534_665655923575863_690026946_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Day 5: <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-lace-victoriana-top/lc950/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3402">Victoriana Lace Top in White</a>, with Houndstooth Skirt</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12547317_456596307877113_1154218711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s750x750/sh0.08/e35/12547317_456596307877113_1154218711_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My last day in London was met with tired face, and a 'rushed outta my room without taking a selfie but now I'm waiting for my colleague' Instagram photo, but at least you can see the detail on my top, right?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It certainly seems that this one jacket has set my workwear colour palette to monochrome - and I've got to say, I think I like it!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Much love my lovelies, </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">K x</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-66688932116585572252016-01-01T16:56:00.001+00:002016-01-01T16:56:51.006+00:00Vintage and the Plus Size Aesthetic<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>A few months ago, the super talented Laura sent some questions over to me to reflect on our photoshoot together. You can read it all <a href="http://www.pearmanphotography.co.uk/the-blog/4586197125">here</a>, but something I touched upon, has, in recent days, come to a head in the plus size community.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">I think that pinup is always thrusted upon the plus size arena as the hourglass figure is lauded as the ideal. Which is why I was keen to express the other side of pinup – the rockabilly masculine side with my ‘fat rizzo’ outfit!"</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b>It seems to me, that when you start on your body loving journey, on of the first steps is into the world of 'flattering'. The society perception of flattering is very much so the hour glass figure, and so the vintage style is one that is 'flattering' - it skims the tummy and the thighs, it nips in at the waist, it highlights the bust. It is, to use a contentious phrase - demure. Especially the 1940s aesthetic of the tea dress.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lindybop.co.uk/images/juliet-navy-polka-dot-tea-dress-p143-2733_zoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lindybop.co.uk/images/juliet-navy-polka-dot-tea-dress-p143-2733_zoom.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Demure is such a loaded term, isn't it? Sexy but not too sexy, quiet and well put together. Oh, and femininity is a MUST. Because heaven for bid, women have to look feminine right!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>And that is why it's so pleasing to someone, emerging from the wardrobe of black tents, jeans and hoodies, and starting to experiment. Most likely to be met with comments about how flattering that outfit is, or how slimming, ad ultimately, how great they look. And this kind of attention is addictive. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And sometimes, people stay here, quite happy with their flattering, and they're content.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Just because they stay at this stage on their journey, doesn't mean that the journey is over. They are beset, just like you or I, with constant pressure and images that demand more. Or less. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>That's the thing, with this body love journey we're all on right now - there is no destination. Even for those who have the ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED BADGE, and wear it with pride, have to fight to stay at that peak level of body confidence. So those who are at the start of their journey, it's worth it, believe me, it is SO worth it, but it's a life long journey.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The journey looks different for all of us. Some of the most amazing women I know, have chosen to rock the vintage look, because it represents them, it is THEM to a T. I've talked often about how the rockabilliy aesthetic was something I dreamed of as a late teen, going to soul club nights, which then led to wanting the perfect 60s shift dress. But that is part of me, my personality. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>When I moved on from flattering, and vintage, and experimented with shapes, colour, print, trying to find the style that represented ME to the world. I didn't find any given style that appealed, it was about playing with styles, being 50s pin up one day, school teacher the next, and then a bit of an oversized shirt and jeans the next.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Our journeys are different, but it doesn't mean it's any less valid, or that we're any less of an advocate for body confidence because we dress in typically flattering w</b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>ay, or because we happen to want to have a jeans and a hoodie day! </b><b>Just because someone wants to dress in a pinup style all day, every day, doesn't mean they've thrown feminism out of the window either. As I said in the interview:</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"Pinup is the empowerment that feeling sexy gives you. Whether that sexy comes from the bold red lip, the cinched waist, or a visible décolletage, it is owning that sexiness, rather than being the unwilling participant in that exchange.<b>"</b></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Fashion is almost never about the opposite sex, but about taking the power back, and making it all about us, in all our amazing forms.</b></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-75588501254485420922015-12-22T15:00:00.001+00:002015-12-22T15:00:42.910+00:00What's in my Wardrobe with Kathryn Kaupa<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UneP8QecxQU" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-72033366411500696812015-11-21T22:42:00.000+00:002015-11-21T22:49:31.166+00:00Sparkle and Lace with George at ASDA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/3336F0F4-8EDC-4A8F-A133-74CD674486F1_zpsfga4uj5z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/3336F0F4-8EDC-4A8F-A133-74CD674486F1_zpsfga4uj5z.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The Christmas Party Season is one I love and fear in equal measure. I have a rather 'Don't Keep For Best' attitude when it comes to my day to day wardrobe, which means when I need / want to go glam, I have to pull out all the stops!!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When the team at George contacted me to review their <a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/dresses/D1M1G20C1,default,sc.html" rel="nofollow">Christmas Sparkle</a> range, I had high expectations of full on shimmer!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I surprised myself, by not going for a skater dress number, although if <a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/dresses/stolen-heart-floral-lace-skater-dress/G005260773,default,pd.html">this</a> had been available in my size (UK24), I would have snapped their hands off:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBqYJwvbhYQ6NXPgJWn0UeweSL5Rz0gQRp0rgVUm9DLqb4jSXNubUBvaY3LbxbZrguFyE5fASbPT1zex0HKsCaCSlsbgkLHZuu87VmBYoDltSL31AHS-0UqQsLb_-pvIBOxrzA3AhmP0/s1600/Gold+Skater.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBqYJwvbhYQ6NXPgJWn0UeweSL5Rz0gQRp0rgVUm9DLqb4jSXNubUBvaY3LbxbZrguFyE5fASbPT1zex0HKsCaCSlsbgkLHZuu87VmBYoDltSL31AHS-0UqQsLb_-pvIBOxrzA3AhmP0/s320/Gold+Skater.PNG" width="209" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>My aim for my outfit was all hinged around one piece, this <a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/women/blazers/sequinned-jacket/G005211539,default,pd.html">blazer</a>:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJZ89oDSx1XxYW3V7dzWU11DcYloO_lYPAKPTMDhgIYt5yohE1oNtzkg6XCDX40BgYy2F_M3M8mLJnvjfUa5MEQTBHOh_20gJTHR8kS1etACoO50pNrCf9UonaLYfzx57XjrfD1xDJ9Q/s1600/Jacket.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJZ89oDSx1XxYW3V7dzWU11DcYloO_lYPAKPTMDhgIYt5yohE1oNtzkg6XCDX40BgYy2F_M3M8mLJnvjfUa5MEQTBHOh_20gJTHR8kS1etACoO50pNrCf9UonaLYfzx57XjrfD1xDJ9Q/s320/Jacket.PNG" width="252" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNSuIe8MlUJaXQZjvZffT4CaUx_qSfoKEevqqhvDDv75Y1jHjwwjx3wVKCYgZBd_CPEGKkx2vI3fMGvHJrantz80NdCHxOa6hh88pQ0sQAKx8Wt-TozbohkpO4aKj4-Dsd2NQ2XNaEGk/s1600/Black+Lace.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNSuIe8MlUJaXQZjvZffT4CaUx_qSfoKEevqqhvDDv75Y1jHjwwjx3wVKCYgZBd_CPEGKkx2vI3fMGvHJrantz80NdCHxOa6hh88pQ0sQAKx8Wt-TozbohkpO4aKj4-Dsd2NQ2XNaEGk/s400/Black+Lace.PNG" width="233" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">With a jacket that made this much of a statement, I wanted a black dress to let the jacket do the talking! In choosing <a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/dresses/v-neck-lace-midi-dress/G005231488,default,pd.html">this</a> lace number, I've accidentally created a powerful combination:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/554ab9d1-e896-460f-8bd7-fd11c9ae2783_zpsvgslvrfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/554ab9d1-e896-460f-8bd7-fd11c9ae2783_zpsvgslvrfb.jpg" height="640" width="392" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/4FBD747E-67A4-4270-9007-A2E26EE6BA4D_zpsawppnauf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/4FBD747E-67A4-4270-9007-A2E26EE6BA4D_zpsawppnauf.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/84774294-00DF-4678-9DDE-609DD141EEAF_zpspj2zaiok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/84774294-00DF-4678-9DDE-609DD141EEAF_zpspj2zaiok.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I teamed it with this simple bag (<a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/womens/accessories/cross-body-glitter-box-bag/G005223579,default,pd.html">similar here</a>) with a hint of sparkle, and I had also picked out a pair of gorgeous <a href="http://direct.asda.com/george/women/shoes/sparkly-lace-up-brogues/G005196940,default,pd.html">sparkly brogues</a>, which sadly didn't fit my wide size 8 feet. I wanted to tie all the sparkle in together, without being obviously feminine (with heels) but I did want to try to make an effort with tying the shoes into the outfit as a whole!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b> The fit of this dress is perfect on me in a size 24, and a good length on my 5'10 frame:</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/30BE26FD-E393-4417-BDD6-FFD274AAD904_zpsrruezad7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/30BE26FD-E393-4417-BDD6-FFD274AAD904_zpsrruezad7.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I wanted to team this dress with some 100 denier tights, but then the lace scallop hem detail would have been lost against the black - so bare legs for the win with this dress!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/AECC5EA4-A2BD-4CD2-9328-C29C35EFFFB9_zpslufvgylq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/AECC5EA4-A2BD-4CD2-9328-C29C35EFFFB9_zpslufvgylq.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>The deep v neck at the front of the dress is rather nicely mirrored at the back, so it's a shame to wear the blazer the whole right, right?!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/E6B28897-AA28-472B-9762-413E6E460964_zpsubcpu1p4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/E6B28897-AA28-472B-9762-413E6E460964_zpsubcpu1p4.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">And a cute little out take from a self timer fail! Makeup wise I didn't want to go overboard, so I went for pale coral lips, and a double eyeliner on the eye!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was lucky that I was able to get all the items from ASDA George, but the main item - the blazer, could have been added to any dress in my wardrobe, to bring the dress kicking into the Christmas Party Season! I'm actually looking forward to teaming it with jeans and a top for a completely different look!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Check out how the lovely Sarah styled her blazer <a href="http://plussizeproud.co.uk/2015/11/19/survival-tips-the-office-christmas-party-ft-george-at-asda/">here</a>.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Much love my lovelies, </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">K x</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>These items were sent to me for review, but the comments and views are my own</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-67285995672635717852015-11-04T07:34:00.000+00:002015-11-04T08:46:58.639+00:00When dresses become tunics... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.dorothyperkins.com/wcsstore/DorothyPerkinsUS/images/catalog/03015230_2_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b></b></span></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>When Dorothy Perkins released their <a href="http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/category/dresses-203543/plus-size-dresses-4855343">Curve</a> range (size 18 - 28), I scoured their range out of interest, and found the usual plus size staples of skater dresses (and I love a good skater dress), and muted colours. </b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>There was one piece that piqued my interest, and that is the <a href="http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-203543/plus-size-dresses-4855343/dp-curve-monochrome-dog-tooth-check-tunic-dress-4863867?bi=0&ps=200">houndstooth tunic dress</a>. I liked that it wasn't the 'flattering' cut you'd expect, and who doesn't like houndstooth!</b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvgG34SP3FuzK0mrykqCL-CrVtsG-v3NPrHFyWaflSt1nsnBaJWLQkvId8THii7uBWr1GI9WM0-FOxYuxImCeb-noQE5ePKBClGvWED37fbb2FzidR57ECW152VqtUyw9q9IoTcmjFXA/s1600/Hounds.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvgG34SP3FuzK0mrykqCL-CrVtsG-v3NPrHFyWaflSt1nsnBaJWLQkvId8THii7uBWr1GI9WM0-FOxYuxImCeb-noQE5ePKBClGvWED37fbb2FzidR57ECW152VqtUyw9q9IoTcmjFXA/s400/Hounds.PNG" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>And I did what most probably did, and mentally filed the dress away in the 'maybe, after pay day' folder of my brain, and got on with my day. </b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>The delightful Charli messaged me to say she loved the dress tooo, and wondered if we could do a 'same Dress / Different Size' kinda deal. YEAHA! I was up for that! We're both on the tall side (I'm 5'10), and with Charli an 18, and me a solid 24, we were pretty much at both ends of the size spectrum. </b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>After coming to this agreement, DP had a conflicting message on their IG account, given that they had just launched a plus size range. </b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I took to twitter, and the team behind Shame Body Shame, to question how this was appropriate for their brand to share, given what they had just launched. </b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Over DM, we discussed the message this gave to the new followers, and I made a few suggestions on how to resolve this moving forward. As a thank you and apology for the posting, I was gifted a voucher which was swiftly dispatched.</b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Now, a brand who not only apologised, without opting for the 'sorry you're offended' cop out, but also listened to thoughts and recommendations of how to improve - are given a second chance in my book!</b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Coupled with a website promotion, this dress was then covered as part of their apology / thank you:</b></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e35/12071169_1099944116706885_1173697586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e35/12071169_1099944116706885_1173697586_n.jpg" width="400" /></b></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A perfect addition to my attempt to smarten up my work wardrobe!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I teamed it with leggings, because, as I predicted, it is just a fraction too short to rock with tights (bum on display level of awkwardness!)</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><a href="http://curvygirlthin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/preppy-perfection-with-dp-curve.html">Charli</a>, wearing the same dress, had made it look like a different dress! Teaming it with a belt was a goods move, as I saw it without, and the 18 was just a little to big for her, and so opted to cinch in the waist! Curves for days that woman!! </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://mmi688.whatsapp.net/d/8BuqElccA4Ceqrdl6Ax5BVY3gqM/Am7GoWcX-3qeDEQlkXR_553_BYoJoukSEYOFP7RjIbK3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://mmi688.whatsapp.net/d/8BuqElccA4Ceqrdl6Ax5BVY3gqM/Am7GoWcX-3qeDEQlkXR_553_BYoJoukSEYOFP7RjIbK3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>The shift in this is less roomy that some might expect, but just what I was going for! VBO be damned, I feel really cute in this dress, and am looking forward to teaming it with biker boots and leggings for the office.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies,<br /><br />K x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-71931200272294110122015-11-02T10:19:00.000+00:002015-11-03T15:31:23.023+00:00Newcastle's Best Kept Secrets<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When the team at Travelodge<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> asked me to put together a list of Must
See / Must Do places in Newcastle, I knew what would feature! There are two
events that I am proud to have happening in Newcastle, one of which happened
this past weekend. </span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.screenagekicks.co.uk/">ScreenageKicks</a> offers an immersive theatre experience for movie goers – their past
screenings of the Shining and Reservoir
Dogs. For Halloween this year, they opted for the classic Ghost Busters, with clips from your favourite (or scariest...) horror films!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/s2048x2048/12045434_1056946054317187_2537939938399796353_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/s2048x2048/12045434_1056946054317187_2537939938399796353_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">There were also appearances from Freddy, Chucky, and It (perfectly made up / costumed / in character!) and not for the fainthearted!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">After being vetted by the various horror characters at the entrance, we were met by the MARSHMALLOW MAN:</span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/12105140_1733978153499241_1577501617_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/12105140_1733978153499241_1577501617_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>The event started at 8, but the screening wasn't set to start til 10, so what to do with this expanse of time? You mean, other than stare adoringly at all the amazing 80s costumes? Or count how many ghost busters were in the audience? Or try to guess who were actors and who were wearing really really good costumes?</b></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Well, there was new Screenage Kicks merchandise to look at (their tee shirts are on my wish list!), drinking BloodBombs (Jager and Cranberry RedBull), and enjoying the burger in a brioche bun combo, the time flew by! There was also a band belting out Halloween classics, like Highway to Hell, and a montage of all the horror films I've never seen because I'm a wuss, along with the actors showing they're hired for their skill, as well as their lookalike-ability!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0.05in; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.04in; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">The screening of Ghost busters was as expected, and I do wish we'd been closer to the action to be able to watch the actors a little more, but from what I could see, the effect was perfect - they complimented the screening, rather than distracted from it. The main three characters were well cast, with Kyle leading the troops gallantly, just as Dan Ackroyd would have wanted it!</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/12139846_1678519822385194_386557951_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/12139846_1678519822385194_386557951_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Screenage's next venture is Batman returns, and instead of being in a 700 capacity venue, there are only 150 tickets or so available this time!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>If Batman Returns is right up your alley, you'll need to find a hotel - and what better place to stay than a <a href="https://www.travelodge.co.uk/uk/hotels-in-newcastle">Travelodge</a>, with a good selection of inner city locations, perfect for a quick city break for an event like <a href="http://www.screenagekicks.co.uk/">Screenage</a>!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I mentioned that there are two events that make me proud to be from the North East. If <a href="http://www.screenagekicks.co.uk/">Screenage</a> appeals to the movie fan, then <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Newcastle-SOUP-399201210252488/">Newcastle:Soup</a> appeals to the charitable and sense of community. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Newcastle:Soup is base on the Detroit model - which I happened to see profiled on a BBC News programme and loved the idea of it immediately. I was really proud to see that someone from Newcastle had put the leg work in and set up our own Soup.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Soup is an evening of community, where you pay £4, get a bowl of soup, and a vote - throughout the evening 4 charities pitch why they need the pot of funds raised that night, and the winner is the one with the most votes. But it also helps raise the awareness of your charity, or cause to a wider audience. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>If you wanted to set one up yourself, come along to the next event, or follow the team on <a href="https://twitter.com/NewcastleSoup">twitter</a>.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Newcastle has a lot to offer off the beaten track, and with <a href="https://www.travelodge.co.uk/uk/hotels-in-newcastle">Travelodge</a>, it's not that expensive to stay in the city with so much to offer!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Much love my lovelies, </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>* Sponsored post, but my views and the event's awesomeness are not influenced by this </b></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-78876217851694977112015-10-20T11:04:00.002+01:002015-10-20T11:47:04.254+01:00Role Models with Rolls WANTED<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Girls today have a plethora of role models available to them, from pop stars, athletes, sports stars, and now bloggers. Ask any tweenager about their role model these days, and I'm sure Zoella and her ilk will be high on their list.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Which is great for the youth of today that they have a wide variety of bodies, to admire, to compare themselves to, to aspire to be.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But where are our, us Grown Up Women, role models? I've carved a path for myself without a shiny beacon to light my way. But others aren't so lucky - they stumble through a world filled with media shouting that their body type is wrong, their body hair is wrong, <i>they</i> are wrong. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Brands like to pitch role models to us, presenting 'collections' with so call plus size role models. Ladies we should admire and aspire to be. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>We've had Gemma Collins, the Reality TV Star, bring out a number of collections with plus size retailers, before starting her own store (now in a shroud of controversy over an alleged 300% profit margin).</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.cheshire-today.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Gemma_Collins__Festive_Collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.cheshire-today.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Gemma_Collins__Festive_Collection.jpg" height="146" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Gemma, however, is no role model for me. She is often lauded as a role model, and brought out at plus size events and awards to show us how happy and content she is as a plus size woman. And yet the next week the press with have her showing off new latest exercise plan, or diet regime, and she'll be talking about how ashamed she was, how much she hated being fat. Seems she's happy to make money from being fat one minute, but then ashamed of it the next. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.ok.co.uk/dynamic/3/451x567/51120_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.ok.co.uk/dynamic/3/451x567/51120_1.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I can't imagine how having your weight discussed nearly every month in the glossy magazines must effect your esteem, your self worth. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But I want my role models to be made of better stuff than Gemma Collins.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>There hadn't been much in the world of collaborations, not until the Sprinkle of Glitter collection hit our screens (I've blogged about some of it <a href="http://www.misskathrynsmisstakes.co.uk/2015/09/sprinkle-of-glitter-for-simply-be.html">here</a>).</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I wasn't really aware of her as a YouTuber, but I was happy to see someone who clearly appealed with a young audience, having a clothing collection with the plus size brand, showing that you can be fat and successful, plus size and someone to aspire to be. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I wore my SOG dress to a Brownie meeting, and a few of the girls there said they had seen a few of her videos, and certainly knew who she was. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was over the moon to hear that my girls, aged 7-10 had someone to admire as they traversed their teen years. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">That was until I read <a href="http://www.wetheunicorns.com/creators/sprinkle-of-glitter-interview-simply-be/">this article</a>, where Louise said she didn't like the term plus size, and felt her range should span to lower sizes as it's unfair that those a </b><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">size 8 - 12 couldn't buy her collection. **sigh**</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"I don’t actually like the term plus size. I don’t think I’m “plus” size, I just think I am a size. You wouldn’t look at Zoe and say she’s minus size. Zoe is just Zoe size and I’m just Louise size."</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I think it's dangerous to do away with the term plus size - it increases the level of confusion, where you trawl through racks of clothes looking for those in your size, seeing what you 'could have won', but are relegated to the corner. And then you see Zoella wearing the clothes you were admiring. "Why can she wear that and I can't?" - that is when doing away with plus size becomes an issue. </span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am plus size, I have excess fat. I can't wear the same clothes as Zoella, or even SoG (who is a size 18) and it has taken 31 years to come to this realisation. I want more for the younger generations. I want them to know that while their fat doesn't define them, the term plus size does help them. It helps them find inspiration, and feel like they belong. </span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The only role model I'm willing to accept is Beth Ditto. It's telling that the Beth Ditto collection for Evans from 5 years ago is still such a sought after collection, and my red and black chevron dress is source of envy for most!</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t51.2885-15/e35/1724273_934124086646352_840171610_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t51.2885-15/e35/1724273_934124086646352_840171610_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But we deserve more. So I urge you to look at the plus size blogging community for your role models. We deserve role models with rolls, so we should become role models, for those still traversing the slippy mountains of body acceptance, to reach the summit of body love. </span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Much love my lovelies, </span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">K x</span></b></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-68847926375108902532015-10-19T12:04:00.001+01:002015-10-19T12:04:53.252+01:00Pinafore Wars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">You know the old addage - you wait for one pinafore, and a few come along at once? No? You've not?</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Well, it should a saying because that seems to be what has happened in A/W15 collections!!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When I first spotted this <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/simply-be-pinafore-dress/lc773/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3402#colour:Black,size:">pinafore in plain black</a>, I hopped to it, teaming it with my hot pink, lip print shirt for full impact!!</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11909340_295175887273040_355899980_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11909340_295175887273040_355899980_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I love the adjustable strap detail, meaning you can adjust to different bust sizes.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My one criticism is that it is rather short - a definite 'wear with leggings' category!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e35/12132842_1028127847232641_1059166166_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e35/12132842_1028127847232641_1059166166_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>But the cuteness level makes it very worth it!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>The pockets are a great touch too. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I opted for the 24 (so my size), and found the waist to be snug, and it sits directly on my waist, so if you're not as hourglass you might want to size up. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I'#m looking forward to wearing this with shirts and tshirts alike, with leggings and my biker boots in the colder months.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I was rather content with this addition to my wardrobe, until the <a href="http://www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/sprinkle-of-glitter-dungaree-dress/lc520/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=3402#colour:Dark Denim,size:">denim, skater skirt pinafore dress</a> came out!!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11934744_521130811378463_1807391150_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e35/11934744_521130811378463_1807391150_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I work in an office where there is a slightly more casual, casual Friday. I have found this to be my go-to basis for my 'casual Friday' outfit if I'm having a crisis of casual proportions! </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Again, I've found this to be a little short, but remember I'm 5'10 so short comes with the territory. The straps aren't as adjustable as the previous pinafore, and have had to cross them over at the back to make them a little bit shorter.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Again, I'm wearing a size 24 here, and the waist doesn't quite sit on my waist, but I feel the fit 'works' okay. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>One word: POCKETS.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My wardrobe has gone from being lacking in the pinafore department, to now having two! </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It's a shame that the first one can only be worn with leggings, as I would have liked it as a 'business dress' appropriate option, whereas I feel they are both casual, weekend pieces.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Much love, </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>K x</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633646749867379099.post-67661193489690300132015-10-15T13:41:00.000+01:002015-10-15T13:41:44.882+01:00Shaming Body Shaming<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It seems that not a week goes by without a brand (plus size or otherwise) dipping their toe into the world of 'motivational' posts which end up perpetuating the idea that you have to shame one body type to praise another. </b><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We don't need clothing brands to preach at us with 'motivational' posts - just show us clothes!!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>I'm not one to just roll my eyes and walk away, because it's not explaining WHY I unfollowed. And what's the point of talking about a brand (or a person) behind their back, if you're not willing to say it to their face? So yes, I do</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> call out brands who share the body-shaming content in the guise of a 'funny meme', in the hope that they realise their mistake, and learn from it. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Which is what led me to call out Pink Clove, when they shared this:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/Mobile%20Uploads/d54642c6-b4d6-42ce-a35b-aec804517c5a_zpsu8erge3p.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/Mobile%20Uploads/d54642c6-b4d6-42ce-a35b-aec804517c5a_zpsu8erge3p.png" height="400" width="296" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Shaming because it perpetuates the idea of 'good fat' - the hourglass figure, and that the boobs and the bums of the world are better than the stomachs and thighs. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>It was some time ago, but I still refuse to shop with Pink Clove because their response was to block people from their Facebook page, not to tackle the core issue with this post! </b></span><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I don't do this because I like an argument, or because I want to shame them into apologising, but because I want them to BE BETTER!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Next on the 'Kathryn's No Shop List' is Taking Shape. As if their Skinny Bird Watching wasn't enough at London Fashion Week, they then posted this, which gave me a headache, I eye rolled that hard!!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/Mobile%20Uploads/cf28f82b-8cb2-49f4-803e-35675e3d080e_zps3gakwjbr.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/Mobile%20Uploads/cf28f82b-8cb2-49f4-803e-35675e3d080e_zps3gakwjbr.png" height="320" width="269" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Some would say, the issue isn't with these images themselves, but with how they respond to them:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/Mobile%20Uploads/c2059739-30b0-4a2c-af46-48d66aab979f_zpsntffyydk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag26/Kathroooon/Mobile%20Uploads/c2059739-30b0-4a2c-af46-48d66aab979f_zpsntffyydk.png" height="400" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This is why I got involved with the awesome @radfatfeminist, and her brain child @shamebodyshame (called such because we couldn't think of a succinct name!). Because it takes more than one voice to comment and get behind a campaign.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And I really don't need to explain as to why my eyeliner game is struggling right now do I? (read the post <a href="http://www.misskathrynsmisstakes.co.uk/2015/07/the-hoopla-with-benefit.html">here</a>). </b><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We both might have taken the step to boycott the brands who we feel haven't redeemed themselves, but it's something we both came to the decision to do separately!! And we don't judge others who do continue to patronise those stores, but would like people to be aware of who they're buying from or working with. The rest is to settle with their own conscience. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>While Sharon and I are working on the finer points of @shamebodyshame (such as our name!) - our efforts aren't going unnoticed. </b></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Just this week, </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">after a dozen or more RTs, Dorothy Perkins got in touch to let us know they're keen to improve and will take our comments on board. Sculptresse also stated they thought it was a funny meme, but will think about what they post in the future. </b><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It proves that calling brands out on mistakes like this is a team effort - it can't just be one acting alone.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">We now have brands tweeting products from their Curve range, RTing posts from the psblogging community about the curve range, and I'd like to think that was a little down to the work of @shamebodyshame and the work Sharon and I have done, and will continue to do. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Much love my lovelies, </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">K x</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243299575370171097noreply@blogger.com18