Ok, so I love clothes just a little too much!

Hey everyone!

 We had a "landlord check" today. Basically, he would come round and check that the house isn't wrecked, etc. So I cleaned for hours and hours; every inch of the house had been hoovered, polished and disinfected. I also went through all my clothes and had a bit of a clear out! I ended up missing a meeting about being a student ambassador, and a lecture on Chinese Characters (which I was really looking forward to) and then they cancelled!

 When I was doing this, going through all the clean washing (from my mum's! We still don't have our own washing machine!) and hanging them up in the wardrobe, I realised "Gawd...I have a lot of clothes!"(and I really need a system of organising/wearing!).

 I love the concept of capsule wardrobes. The perfect shoes, a wearable skirt, several tops and smart blazers/cardigans. The thought of having a wardrobe like this makes me feel a little more grown up; everything neat and in it's place. A girl can dream!

 Anyway, despite realising, and coming to terms, with the fact that I have way too much clothes (plenty of which don't fit, are worn out, I don't like anymore), I've decided to show you a few of my favourite things from the New Collection at White Stuff. I blogged about the brand before, here.

The much coveted Cat Dress! I love the fabric and style, what a great shape! Here.

I love the postal theme of this fabric. Here.

And as a skirt! Here. 

I think this top is a must! I see so many possibilities! Here. 

And the postal print in a different colourway, and as a top! Love this too! Here.

It's a tough choice between Laura Ashley and White Stuff!

Peace and Love

xx

Laura Ashley Uniform

Hey lovelies!

I go in for training at Laura Ashley a week tomorrow and I can't wait! I start on the sunday after that, just too exciting!

One of the best benefits that I know about so far is that you get a uniform allowance every 3 months as well as 65% off all fashion and 30-40% off everything else. I love their fashion department, they've gotten a little younger with their audience recently, it was mentioned in the interview that they are aiming at the 30+ professional, but some of their stuff is really quite modern and young, depending on how you style it.

There are some really lovely things, and I always covet their summer dresses, just too beautiful!

These are the things I'll be having a look at especially, a lot is in their sales and so don't have their full ranges of sizes available (up to a UK 20; hence their trousers don't fit me >_<).

Super smart and chic black shirt dress (Was £75.00 Now £56.25) looks so easy to style! And the equally smart waterfall cardigan (Was £65 Now £48.75). I love this style, really flattering and comfortable to wear.

 

I love this combo together, the gorgeous dress (Was £95.00! Now £21.75) is currently only available in a UK14, but I'm hoping that they have one in stock in store! This cardigan would go so nicely with it (Was £65.00 Now £48.75)!

Block colours and stripes? Yes please! I like to wear shirts like this under high waisted skirts, especially if its for a smart occasion (Was £50.00 Now £37.50). This dress is so cute, I love the fabric, but the shades of coral are just a little off for me, nice all the same (Was £80.00 Now £60.00). 

I love my graphic prints, and this is just too perfect! I love the styling with blue leggings and smart shoes. Will be almost definitely getting this! (Was £65.00 Now £48.75). A nice monochrome striped boat neck, a good staple, I thinks! (Was £60.00 Now £45.00). 

Some gorgeous lovely work stuff, yes? I'm especially in love with the chevron shirt dress, the black shirt dress, the striped top dress and the cute matching polka dot cardigan. Cannot wait to start!

Peace and Love!

xx

A Goal For Every Month - Update

Hey my pear drops!

This year, instead of having a year long goal to keep to, I've decided to follow small goals each month.

In January, my aim was to get my finances in order. I'm still slugging it out to get there, with the help of the Citizens Advice Bureau. But it will happen! I've now got a job, just 12 hours a week, but awesome nonetheless! The extra money will really help.

In February, the goal is to Spend Quality Time together. We've been really busy the last few weeks, but we've made sure that we've had lunch together every week and that we sit and watch a film together on the weekend too. Next sunday we'll be going to a wedding fayre in Hull and making a few little plans, hopefully! The same weekend we'll also be going for a meal with Calvin's family as it's his sister's birthday. Can't wait for that!

In March, my goal is to Blog almost every day! Eep! I expect I may do a few scheduled posts over those busy days!

Peace and Love!
xx

How to be a Fat Bitch 2

Hey twinkle toes!

I'm really love this e-course that Rachele at The Nearsighted Owl. It's so empowering and eye opening! I am not a lesser human because I'm fat, I can go and enjoy days by the beach in anything I choose to wear. I don't have to wear tights because I should be ashamed of my legs and huge calves. I shouldn't feel self conscious and wrong to eat a big cream cake in public (I did this recently, huge hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream, and shared a lovely big cream and jam scone with my mum!). 

This week's FAT-ASS-IGNMENT (brilliant!) is to reclaim the word fat. Make it into an empowering word, recognise whether you are fat and love it!

What I will be doing this week is completing my contribution for Jess's Body Riot Zine which will be  all about fat bellies (and what they're good for; LITTLE SPOILER, everything!)

I now no longer consider FAT to be a bad word. As Rachele says, it describes me completely, it's empowering. I refuse to let it be a word which connotes shame and self-hatred. I am FAT and that's not just OK, but brilliant. I have nothing to excuse myself for or change. Everything about my body is fab, my thighs, my calfs, my tummy, my butt, my face, everything. And I decide that on my own grounds, not on what I'm told. 

I Am Fat but and I can....

....ride a bike

....be successful in my career

....be a good person

....eat what I like

....receive and give love on all levels 

....be funny!

....wear what I like and look awesome

....eat food

....rollerskate

....be creative

....have a valid opinion

....be kind to others

....have control

....be a good wife

....be an even better (future) parent

....demand and give respect

....be beautiful and know it

....be adventurous

....be inspiring

....be in control of my own self image

....be anything I want

Peace and Love!

xx

Update and How To Be A Fat Bitch 1

Hello my sugar doughnuts!

I am so sorry for the unexpected interruption! A few weeks ago my macbook gave up the ghost and I had to get it in to repair (it's winging its way back to me as we speak!).

This now leads to the inevitable update! So, recently I had a very scary cancer scare, I got booked into the clinic and got it seen too, all the tests came back negative and what a relief that was! I'll bring a post about that soon. I've also been making headway with the wedding plans, I've seen the dress I want and I think we may have decided on the venue, as well as the date!

Currently, I'm sat waiting by the phone to hear about an interview I had today (how sweet that they said they'd get back to me on the same day!). It's a part time sales position at the much loved Laura Ashley and I really hope I get it! I got it! 

Now, for the main part of today's post. FAT activism! Yayyy!

As you will all probably know, I'm on a journey to self-love, learning how to know that I am Awesome AND Fat, (not despite). The very sweet Rachele over at The Nearsighted Owl has started a much appreciated E-Course on How to be a Fat Bitch. It's a year long course delivered through her blog, including brilliant videos of her inspirational words and little assignments each week!

HTBAFB Week 1

This week, we are tasked with coming up with 5 things to do which make us happy. 

1. Go to my first open mic night (just to be in the audience!)

2. Cook with an ingredient I haven't tried before. 

3. Have a lovely dinner with my fiance's family for his sister's 30th!

4. Write a post dedicated to our wedding plans, complete indulgence! 

5. Attend the wedding fayre this sunday. 

We were also asked to discuss a few things;

How do you deal with people that make assumptions about you based on being fat?

Is the best revenge to live well and be happy?

How do you feel about the concept of there being a "good fatty" and a "bad fatty" perceived in society?

Firstly, I used to have this constant nagging feeling that I had to justify myself as a person because I was Fat. "Honestly, I'm a good person even though I'm fat". How awful is that? These were my own assumptions of what people were thinking. Other than in secondary and primary, I've had no abuse directed to me on the basis of my size. Of course, having years of bullying from the age of 4 -16 was enough! But I'm luckily enough to have never been harassed (knowingly) in a public place, and even more thankfully, in the security of my own home. 

Therefore, I think that the assumptions I have of what other people think of me are based on the insecurities that I've held due to being manipulated and brainwashed by the media. Like, people who are fat are lazy (you can't do sport if you're fat!) and you must really eat bad!

Realising that these assumptions are simply not true, and that I can live my life how I choose, eat what I like and not feel guilty, be happy in my own skin, is really inspiring and freeing. I'm not after revenge, I want to teach and inspire, those who treated me badly were just as involved and influenced by the media as I was. 

I certainly think that one fat person over another can be perceived differently by society as a whole. That fattie who is openly stating how unhappy they are with themselves and are actively losing weight (either through military exercise or drastic surgery) is clearly the better person! At least they're doing something about their situation. And the "bad" fattie who unashamedly dons a bikini and shouts a big FU to the world is a delusional heart attack waiting to happen. CLEARLY!

Nothing wrong with weight loss, done sensibly, in order to alleviate unwanted health symptoms. But clearly there is something wrong with somebody wanting to lose weight in order to make themselves a better person (thinly veiled in a "I just want to feel better about myself", which is more likely to be a "I feel bad about myself cause I'm not supposed to be fat").

Life is all about choices, and having the freedom to make those choices based purely on what I want for myself, and in my best interests. Tonight, I ate a big curry with prawns and veg, while drinking Fanta and a half eaten chocolate bar beside me. But tomorrow, I might decide to eat a salad with a tuna steak and drink water all day. I might walk to uni, or I might drive. These are my choices, they're ultimate outcome effects me and me alone and thats my burden to bear. 

Peace and Love! 

xx