No Good Advice

Day 8: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

First of all, sorry for the Girl's Aloud title, I couldn't resist.

Giving advice to others can be tricky. If you get it right, then all is well but get it wrong and you are in danger of making situations worse or leading someone down the wrong path. As a rule, I don’t give it, unless specifically asked.

Unsolicited advice is something of a bugbear to me as there is nothing worse than someone trying to give you advice on what you neither want nor need.

You know the kind of advice that people try to force upon you, everything from diet tips you didn’t ask for to how you should be driving to what is “appropriate” for you to wear.

That said, it is important that if someone does ask you for advice for something that you give them the right advice. I always try to remember that they are not asking for your point of view, and the advice you give will be having a direct result in their lives, not yours.

So I guess my advice to you today is don’t give it, unless asked, and then, if you know what you are talking about.

I will end with some advice that I do like.  You can really go wrong with Robert Frost.

Check out the advice from the other ladies involved in the challenge:

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Claire http://lifeonadifferentlevel.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Kaye http://www.polishedcurves.com 

Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/ 
Mhairi http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/ 

Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk 
Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com 

Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Toni http://theonlywayistoni.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Verena http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk 
Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com

What Goes Bump in the Night

Day 7 – What are the things that you are most afraid of?

Things I am most afraid of…….  There are two.

Firstly, I am most afraid of the day when I will lose my mum. I know of course that one day it will happen, she can’t live forever.  I went through so much pain though when my dad died when I was little, that the thought of her going absolutely terrifies me.

We have built such a strong bond, especially over the course of the last year and I don’t want to lose her.  I joke with her that I will get her stuffed and put her in the corner.

This is my favourite photograph, ever.

My mum, my dad and me, pulling a weird face.  To me, priceless

The second thing, I am scared of going through my whole life without finding someone to share it with.  I haven’t so far, but that is more to do with past limitations that I have put on myself.

I am happy on my own and lead a great life, but don’t want to walk through all the days of my life without finding love.

Well that was a bloody depressing post wasn’t it.  Now immediately think of sunshine, bunnies and a cold beer on a hot day.  There, all better now.

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/
Emma http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/
Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/
Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Kaye http://www.polishedcurves.com
Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/
Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/
Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/
Mhairi http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/
Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk
Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com
Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/
Toni http://theonlywayistoni.blogspot.co.uk/
Verena http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk
Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com

A Favourite Blogger

Day 5 - Publicly profess your love for one of your blogger friends

My absolute favourite blog belongs to the fantastic Becky Barnes of www.MrsBeBeBlog.com. Becky’s was the first ever plus size fashion blog that I ever read and it was also the inspiration in kickstarting my own ventures into fashion blogging.

I had never even read a blog before I found Becky’s and I still remember being completed awe inspired by her. Someone who dressed well; who wasn’t hiding away in black and looking amazing and confident. I wanted that confidence for myself and wanted to be able to reach a place where I was happy not only wearing colour and print, but also was photographing myself wearing it.

Becky’s blog started me on my self confidence journey and continually inspired me to push the boundaries in what I was comfortable wearing, proving that you can be any size and look good.

I don’t hide from the camera now, my wardrobe is awash with colour and I am happier now than I have ever been. There are a lot of people who have helped me with this journey, but Becky’s blog was the very first step.

Check out the favourite bloggers of the other ladies in the challenge

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/

Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/

Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Kaye http://www.polishedcurves.com

Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/

Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/

Mhairi http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/

Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk

Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com

Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/

Toni http://theonlywayistoni.blogspot.co.uk/

Verena http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk

Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com 

My Favourite Quote

“You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches.”

― Dita Von Teese

There is so much that can be learnt from this quote. It took me so long in my life to figure out that everybody has different tastes and what suits one will not suit another.

There is not one “correct” way to look. We are all different for a reason and that should be celebrated. We do not come off a factory line shaped like Ken and Barbie and if we did, what would the fun in that?

These days I focus on being happy rather than trying to attain to be a particular size, look a certain way, or be a particular type of person. A happy confident person is attractive, no matter what you look like.

Check out the favourite quotes from the other ladies in this challenge!

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/

Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/

Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Kaye http://www.polishedcurves.com

Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/

Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/

Mhairi http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/

Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk

Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com

Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/

Toni http://theonlywayistoni.blogspot.co.uk/

Verena http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk

Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com 

An Uncomfortable Feeling

Day 3: Things that make you uncomfortable

The top of my list would have to be meeting new people. Whilst I do actually love having new people in my life, those first few meetings are so uncomfortable for me as I become very nervous. I either can’t think of anything to say or alternatively the most ridiculous things come out of my mouth in order to fill the silence.

I am going to Plus North in September and whilst I can’t wait to meet all the bloggers I have read and talked to via Twitter for so long, I am also terrified at the thought of meeting so many new people alone. A cheeky cocktail somewhere before the event may not go amiss!

Seeing/hearing racist and homophobic behaviour makes me uncomfortable. I like to think that I would say something if I witnessed it in front of me. I may be nervous in front of strangers but my moral conviction is strong enough that I don’t think that I would hesitate.

Compliments make me uncomfortable. I am actively trying to work on this one as you should just be able to say thank you when someone gives you a compliment, without trying to belittle yourself or whatever it is that you have accomplished.

That is probably my top three of things that make me uncomfortable, what’s yours?

Check out the other ladies on this challenge!

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma http://plussizemillard.blogspot.co.uk/

Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/

Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Kaye http://www.polishedcurves.com

Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/

Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/

Mhairi http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/

Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk

Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com

Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/

Toni http://theonlywayistoni.blogspot.co.uk/

Verena http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk

Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com 

I'm Not a Monica

Day 2 - Something you know a lot about or are good at!

Something that I know a lot about………….  Well I know a bit about a lot of things but am not an expert at anything, except maybe being totally clumsy on my feet.  That I am really good at.  I’d probably win a prize for it. 

I know quite a bit about certain aspects of law, personal injury and landlord & tenant matters; I won’t bore you with that however.

Something that I am good at however, I can probably rustle up something.

I am a planner.  I love planning things out.  Be it an event that needs planning or a series of things that need accomplishing within a specific timeframe, I’m your girl.  I am by no means a “Monica from Friends” control freak however and I am open to changing things up at a moment’s notice.  It is definitely not my way or the highway.

Planning absolutely suits my inner (ok not so inner) geek and is probably one of the many reasons I like blogging so much.  I can plan what I am going to write about in advance, take photographs and have them all ready to go, schedule posts ahead of time, I love all of that.

I am aware that I am outing myself as a massive geek here; but that’s me and you see what you get.  On the other hand, I do come in handy when it comes to arranging events.  For my best friend’s wedding in Cyprus for example we needed a really good restaurant to be booked in advance for a hen night, which had to be close to our villa, have really good food and not too expensive. 

After trawling Trip Advisor and many other sites to find the perfect place, I managed to find a gorgeous Italian restaurant, booked it well in advance and we had a fantastic night.

The thing about being a planner is that it can be beneficial to you too.  If you are arranging a night out in another city for example, if you are the one sourcing hotels, restaurants, bars etc you can weed out the ones you aren’t keen on yourself and you are left with the ones that you do like.  Sneaky ;)

So that’s my talent I guess, planning.  What’s yours?

Here are the other ladies involved in the challenge

Beth http://tinkerbellandthelostgirls.blogspot.co.uk/
Felicity http://felicityhart.blogspot.co.uk/
Karen http://toodulltoblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Kaye http://www.polishedcurves.com
Laura http://laurapantslifestyle.blogspot.co.uk/
Lisa http://lookingforlisa.blogspot.co.uk/
Mary http://channellingliz.wordpress.com/
Mhairi http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/
Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk
Nikki http://nattynikki.blogspot.com
Steph http://seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk/
Verena http://APlusSizeFashionObsession.blogspot.co.uk

Vicky http://TheCurvedOpinion.com