Blogging every day March 2014

Blogging Every Day in March

Friday, February 28, 2014

Hey Lovelies, 

As March is almost here 10 mins to go, I've relaised i've been a bit lax in my blogging in 2014 so far so from tomorrow I will be blogging at least once a day, maybe more!

I have a feeling a couple of challenges over lap and I have a few catch up posts to do!


Cosmo Quiz

What being a Fat Woman is Really Like.....Cosmo Questions - My response

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Hey Lovelies, 
Yesterday I saw a tweet from Claire asking if people fancied doing a post on the back of an article on the cosmo website. I had a quick scan of the questions more than the answers and thought, actually I do fancy answering the questions so this post was born. 
Myself and a number of other bloggers are going to answer the cosmo questions and let you know what our replies would be. 
How do you feel when other women around you complain about feeling/being fat?

It doesn't bother me really, if they are feeling fat then they are feeling fat. Even the fatest fatty has a fat day. I often don't know how to respond because when you tell someone they're not fat they don't take it on board, or you give them a look well if you're fat what am I (Still fat BTW) and they don't know where to look. If someone is feeling fat I leave them too it.
How has your body image changed since high school? College? 
I'm not totally sure it has, I've always been the biggest or one of the biggest girls in my school, class, work, friends group so I guess it's the norm. I've always shown my arms, wore colour, boob tubes, bikini's I guess as i've got older you start to hear more and more comments and snide remarks and I find it easier to let them roll off me.

Have you tried dieting? What happened? 
I've never been one for fad diets, I've never tried diet pills, shakes and soups or anything like the southbeach diet, Aitkens etc etc
I have been a member of weightwaters more times that we've all had hot dinners and I am currently a member, however I haven't been to a meeting in week and not counted a point since before Christmas. In all my attempts at weightwatchers I have never lost more that 27lbs. 
I did join Slimming world about 5 years ago and lost 3 stone and I felt so much better and more confident, I went from a size 22/4 to a 18/20. I felt far more healthy than I had done previously which I think was due to eating a better quality of food, more meals prepared from scratch rather than prepacked and snacking on fruit and veg. However something went wrong and I couldn't (wouldn't) stick to it, I found myself "cheating" I lost and gained the same 3lbs week in week out for about 4 months then decided to quit. I've put on everything I lost plus around another half stone (if not more) 
I'm not unhappy as I am now, but I don't feel great about myself. I am above maximum weight for my body and my body alone. 
Reading this back I think part of the stopping when I felt happy, was part of me was scared to be happy and scared that people thought I was getting arrogant and I was always the one in the background blending in (or sticking out from behind and the side) but not having attention and suddenly it was there and I didn't like it (or I liked it a bit too much)
Do you think in your case your weight is partly or entirely genetic?

Not really, my family is fairly small and for the most part people are average size (what is average) (and I need to stop using brackets) I think environmental influenced take their part, I am an emotional eater, or shall we say and eater. 
I eat no matter what my emotional state is, I'm also really bad for not feeling full so I continue to eat. 
I also thing the ease of getting food. From my bus stop to work I walk past between 2-4 supermarkets, between 3-5 Greggs bakeries not to mention various coffee shops, fast food outlets, well known chemists with there meal deals and other fast food chains. 
I think a lot of my weight is due to my inability to stop eating. 

Do you consider yourself healthy? Have there been instances where people assumed you were unhealthy?

I don't consider myself healthy, I have health issues. Some which might be helped by losing weight. I know I'm not fit but I I don't think anyone has ever said to me you seem unhealthy are you?

Are your parents both supportive of you at the weight you're at? Have they always been?

My dad never says anything either way, my mum used to say things but not in a "you need to lose weight" more I want to lose weight. We're gonna eat healthy food from now on. 
My gran often tries to bribe me into losing weight, £1 for a 1lb or lose a stone and i'll buy you a dress, It gets my back up and I gain weight when she does it, even if I am in a I want to lose weight phase. I work full time I can buy my own dress. 
Cutting my nose off to spite my face as she would say.

How do you think retailers can improve clothes for plus-size people?

I think plus size retailers have a hard time of it, there are more of them around now than ever before, but reading comments on facebook pages such as Evans, Yours Clother et al and Fat Women have no idea what we want. 
They make it loud, bright, short, sleeveless, long sleeves, wild pattern, plain, long, young, more mature, cheap, expensive, cotton, linen, nylon, bodycon, loose and flowing - you name it there is pretty much everyone of these things listed in a plus size shop / section but someone always complains. 
How the buyers and designers actually manage to get any clothes out amazes me. 
We all know you can't please all of the people all of the time but from these comments there seems to be no pleasing any of them.
Retailers make all these things make none of them. 
For me I like bright colours, No sleeves, knee length, medium high neck, jersey fabric. 
I have no shortage of clothes in my wardrobe, I seem to have gone off on a tangent most unlike me. 
My biggest bugbear is not being able to find the range of clothes in the shops themselves. I like instant access to things. I don't want to pay for delivery and I don't want to wait 5 days for delivery. I want to go to a shop try on and buy.
Also tidy your plus size sections and don't use them as a  dumping ground for all the crap you can't be arsed putting away properly (New Look, i'm looking at you!) 
Do you think plus-size women are judged differently than plus-sized men are? How?

I don't really know more than 2 plus sized men. (I must do?!) I don't even know how to define a plus sized man. 
Do you think there’s an assumption made/stereotype that exists about plus-size people? How would you respond to it? 
I think there are stereotypes about every type of person in this world. As humans we like to put a label on things, compartmentalise people and things to make it easier for us to understand. 
Do you think there’s ever a right way or time to express concern about someone’s weight? 
No, it's none of your business. If they ask for help and advise and they are a close friend it might be different but unless you are their doctor and have medical proof then it isn't your concern. 
What are the worst things people have said to you about your body?

It's fat (err yep round of applause), it's ugly, i'm ugly, I can't be a nicer person because I don't have a nice body.
I get a lot of abuse shouted at me from passing cars while i'm waiting at bus stops, or from kids walking past.

After drinking about 2 bottles of cava and lots of beer someone patted my stomach and asked me my due date! 
How did you respond?
It depends on the situations, I stick two fingers up at passing cars,  put my head down and carry on walking.
With the woman who patted my stomach (we were at a baby shower) I just said I'm not pregnant I'm fat and stormed out. Sadly they were having a lift in the same car as me so the effect was lost a bit! 
What have people said (or do you wish they’d say) that would compliment your body or appearance?
Most of my compliments come from close friends and other bloggers, I don't really have an extended network of people around me. 
The odd compliment is nice but one to may can seem insincere.
Do you find yourself hanging out with women who are closer to your size?
No not really, my friendship group has people of all dress sizes.

How has your weight affected your sex life, if at all?

Yes, I don't have one at all.

When you've been single, has your weight affected your dating life?
I am always single, I am the single friend! 
I think from when we first started  pubbing and clubbing I have always been the fat friend. I sat back and observed lads playing the fat bird game and it really knocked me. I don't trust anyone on a night out. If a guy speaks to me it's for one reason he is playing the game and I can't get over that.

Do you feel weird if the guy you’re with only dates larger women?

NA

Do you feel weird if he's only dated slimmer women before you?
NA
As much as it pains me not to answer any questions on this, I don't have anything to contribute to the last two questions. 

In a Funk

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Hey Lovelies,

I just wanted to let you all know I am still around and I will be back soon just taking some time away from the blog. Mainly because I haven't got the time to post, take pictures, write, go to work. 

I use the family Desktop or my mums net book to blog and recently someone has always been on one or the other when I get the motivation to do a post. 

I've had a crap month money wise and i've spent up 2 weeks before payday, I don't mean I really shouldn't do X, Y,Z cos i'm running low I'm officially over my overdraft limit! Opsie! 

I'm going to get my laptop back from my gran's soon but it's really old and slow so need to try and see if I can work out how to make it go faster. Any advise would be much appreciated and then maybe I can get into a routine! 

Country Attire

Country Attire Fashion Event Manchester

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Hey Lovelies, 

On Monday evening I went to a fashion event by Country Attire in Manchester. 

Country Attire is a website selling a number of different brands from footwear, clothing, accessories and have a wide range of everything.
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The event was in Revolution De Cuba in Manchester which is really handy for me as I work 5 mins walk away from it. 


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Hunter had a game set up to win a pair of wellies, I didn't have a go on it but now I'm wishing I had done. especially as the weather seems to have turned bad again. 

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I'd only taken my small point and shoot camera and it was quite dark so I'm not loving my photo's and they don't do any of the items any justice. 

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I'd really love a pair of these gloves or similar, the bow is so cute. 

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I was also very taken with this bag from Strathberry, the guy from there was one of the first people we spoke to and he was telling us they put a lucky penny in each of the bags and purses they sell, which is a lovely thing. I can't stop looking at the bag below. I must have taken about 10 pictures of it. It is out of my budget at £600 but oh to dream and I'll always have the picture! 

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They do have a number of other bags but oh how beautiful is she, I'm tempted to name her. Let us call her Bess! 

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It was lovely to meet the faces behind country attire and get to see some of the products they sell in person. 

They had set up a few booths with mini make overs and nail painting, I didn't try either of these so I'm looking forward to reading other posts and seeing pictures. 

They also had models walking round in swimwear (we left quite early as it's been a long day, so I'm sure we missed out on seeing a lot of stuff) 

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I'm loving the Sorel Snow boots, especially the grey ones with the pink flash. I have some thinsulate ones from a couple of years ago but they are on there last legs so I'm very tempted when pay day cycles round to invest in a pair of these. 

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From the practical to the pretty, how amazing are these leopard print boots, if i owned these i think I'd sleep in them as well! 

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More pretties that my photo's don't do any justice to. Beautifully soft suede deck shoes and another of my loves note books! 

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I had a lovely time and got to spend some time with the lovely Pippa and Jen we went for a bite to eat before the event and had a catch up. 
     

#OMCZ

OMCZ 26 - Looking Back

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Hey Lovelies, 

Just around 12 months ago I was invites to take part in a new blog challenge Outside my Comfort Zone by Rachel and when she stepped down I decided to take over and I didn't think it'd last and here we are on challenge 26. 

For a few months i've know I wanted to be the person to set Challenge #26 and I've wanted us to reflect on our year, there have been many changes, the line up has altered more than once but one thing has remained a constant the amazing posts and the love I have everyone who takes part. 

Some of us have done all the posts for others this will only be the first or second post but i think it will be interesting to look back at the last 12 months.



Theme: Looking Back
Due: 12th February 2014

My theme is looking back and I’d like us to all look back over the last 12 months since the challenge started and see how we have changed.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first or 26th post in this challenge I think it’s be nice for all of us to look back and reflect on how we have changed in 12 months style wise.

For those of us who did #OMCZ 1 you might like to share that post again and  re-do the theme:

Challenge #1: February 27, 2013
Blazing Red - Blazer and Red as the colour to add in the *POP*.  Does not have to be a red blazer, just a blazer with the emphasis colour of red incorporated with the blazer somehow.I think this is a good week to try black nail polish!!!
How would you approach it differently? 

For everyone, you might want to show your own take on the "blazing red" theme(you don't have to follow the spcific guidelines given just you take on the name) 

Or show us something that 12 months ago you never dreamed you’d wear and now wear on a regular basis. 

I'd love it if everyone would say how they feel they have changed style / confidence wise in the past 12 months. 

OMCZ 1 -Asda Skirt, Primark Boots, Yours Blazer 

For my first post in this challenge I didn't actually own anything in a true red so went with a burgandy skirt from Asda and boots from Primark and for my Blazer I used an black one from Yours clothing.

These boots are made for walking (not in the rain or very far)

12 months on, I now own quite a few true red items including this red skater dress which is a simply be one I got from the crazy clearance shop. 

Blazers really don't suit me, they make me look boxy and don't sit right on me and i'm really not comfortable in them. Saying that I still own a couple but they are all packed up in my Grans garage. 

12 months later i've aproached the challenge just using the red element. 

For me this dress is out of my comfort zone because it is really short for me, I also wore it to work which has a fairly formal dress code but the high neck and three quater sleeves makes up for the lack of length (well i've not been told not to wear it) 

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Red dress & cardigan Simply Be (via Crazy clearance shop)

I also wore another crazy clearence shop bargain a size 12/14 simply be over sized cardie that is so oversized I be I could fit three of us inside it and still button it up. The sleeves are a tad tight but it's still wearable. 
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Red dress & cardigan Simply Be (via Crazy clearance shop)
This outfitt is even better cause I didn't pay for any of it, it's is all courtsy of the bank of mum!

How have I changed in the last 12 months, I think i'm more confident & braver in the clothes I wear. I wear more of what I like that what looks good or what people think I should wear. 

I've spent the last year blogging more frequently than I ever have before and i've met some amazing people, I'd like to say i've got more confident in social situations but I don't think that I have. 

In the coming 12 months I want to learn how to small talk better and how to start conversations at blogger meet ups / events. Any hints and tips will be most welcome. 

I can't wait to read how everyone else has approached this theme and i'd like to thank everyone who takes part and has taken part over the last 12 months! 

Magnificent 7th

Magnificent 7th - February Date Night Outfit

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Hey Lovelies,

This months theme is fitting in with the day some of us love, some of us hate and most of us could live without! (yes I am a bitter singleton who has never had a valentines card)

I haven't got anyone to take me on a date so I thought about not posting at all.

Last Monday I went out for tea with some of my friends so this is my Mate Date outfit.

My mum came home from Tesco with this amazing bargain of a dress, £4 in the sale. She was very jealous they'd sold out in her size.

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Tesco Blue print dress £4 Size 22

We went out straight from work and this dress worked really well as a work dress, it's a medium thick jersey material with plenty of stretch and for me the perfect length. I also loved it as an evening outfit as I didn't overheat while in the restaurant.

What do you think? What will you be wearing on your next date?


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