12 July 2013

A Moment in your Day


Day 9 - A Moment in your Day


I get on my usual bus in the morning.  I look up, wondering which bus driver we have today.  The smiling, chatty one, the grumpy one; the one who thinks he is driving a tank; the racer, the one who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here.

Today it's racer guy.  I rush to the nearest seat to avoid the jerking of the bus as he veers back into the traffic.  Cool seat at the back be damned,  I want to remain upright.  I have experienced his driving before.

My eyes glance around me.  Do I need my usual armoury of book, earphones, Blackberry?  No, it's quiet today.  No screaming children running up and down the aisle, no throng of people all trying to use the same space.

Then, the quiet shatters.  Shouty man has gotten on to the bus.  All the regulars of the bus journey immediately reach for their chosen defence mechanism.  Noses disappear behind books and Iphone screens light up everywhere.  We know what's coming.

After a few minutes shouty man starts his usual tirade.  He gets on the bus once or twice a week, we are well used to the subjects.  We are all stupid, mobile phones are the root of all evil, the world is going to Hades.  His aim is always the same, get someone to argue back.  We ignore him.  His usual combatants of college students aren't here today.

When he starts swearing, which usually makes someone pipe up, the bus driver asks him to be quiet.  All falls silent and quiet resumes.

The bus reaches the bus station and I get off.  It's time for work.

source


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











11 July 2013

A Sunny OOTD

A second post for today.

I am currently enjoying a relaxing week off work.  I haven't been wearing anything of note until today when I a quick trip to the shops was in order.

My dress and sunglasses (my favourites, ever) were both bought from +Dorothy Perkins last year.  The dress is comfortable and cool and I have just added a little oatmeal shrug in case of any sneaky cold breeze.

I look moody on this, but I'm not, promise!

Favourite sunglasses ever


Sunshine!!!!!!!
What are you getting up to this week?


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:


10 July 2013

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













9 July 2013

Bare Faced Cheek!

Like most women, I love makeup.  Everything from the bright pop of a red lipstick that can add a zing to my day to the concealer that hides the late night of the day before.


Over the years I have found myself wearing less and less, until I have found what my tastes are and what I am comfortable with.


Gone are the electric blue eyeshadows I wore in the nineties, along with the neon pink lipsticks and the too thick foundation and in are more neutral colours, focusing more on enhancing what I have rather than starting from a new slate.


Although I wouldn’t go for a day out without makeup, I don’t feel the need to cake it on either.   If you were t0 leave me stranded on a desert island, mascara would be the one indulgence item I would want. 


I have taken three photographs of myself as below.  In the first photograph I’m wearing no makeup.  After doing the #flashtheflesh challenge on Saturday I no longer find this scary.  I wore a swimsuit, on the internet, I can damn well go bare faced.




Second photograph I’ve gone for the natural look which is what I tend to wear at work, although a red lippy is always in my handbag ;)




In the last photograph is my favourite makeup look of the moment.  It is how I would prefer to greet the world ideally, but I don’t hold myself to a “must be perfect at all times” theory so if I pop down to the supermarket with no makeup on?  Chicken Licken, the sky will not fall in.




“Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.”
  

 

8 July 2013

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


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

7 July 2013

The Magnificent 7th - Beachwear!


Hello all!  This month’s theme is the beach.

We will be posting on the 7th of each month, and the aim of the challenge is to create an outfit to fit the theme, using clothes from our wardrobes, and yes that does mean digging deep into the depths and finding those long lost clothes! Hopefully one of us won’t end up in Narnia, but you never know with a bloggers wardrobe!

Unfortunately I have to cheat a little bit. I am involved with the #flashtheflesh blogger challenge which focussed on beachwear yesterday and I used my one outfit on that.
Instead I decided to have a look around on the internet and find my dream beachwear outfit, which I have posted below.  Sorry to the other ladies involved in the challenge,  I will do better next month! 





My Favourite Quote

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

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!


6 July 2013

Flash the Flesh Part 3


When a group of bloggers join together for a chat you know that the final result has to be super!! This happened once more when, a few weeks ago, we were talking about our preferences between mini and maxi and Becky  thought that it would be great to create a challenge which goal was to show a little bit more skin and our body (but with style and no vulgarity) showing proudly our curves. And so it was born “Flash the Flesh”.

This is now the third installment in the Flash the Flesh challenge and all the women involved have done brilliantly.   After the second challenge the idea was bandied around about doing a beachwear edition.  Cue me running away at lightening speed.

But then, a funny thing happened.  I came back.  I looked at the idea afresh, saw some of the other bloggers in the challenge saying “Definately” “Why not” and “I’m in” with no hesitation.   I wanted that lack of hesitation.   So here I am. 

I bought this swimdress a couple of years ago for a wedding/holiday with my best friend, her husband to be and some of our closest friends.   Unfortunately where I bought it from completely escapes me, not very helpful, I know.

I apologise for the rabbit in headlights expression on my face in the picture.  Every voice in my head is telling me not to be in this challenge and definately not to post these pictures but I won’t listen to it. 


I only added this photograph this morning after reading some of
the other posts.  If they can do it, so can I.


A gratuitous breast shot to distract you from the other two pictures

So there you have it! Me in a swimdress and a wrap, on the internet.  Without evening seeing the other posts I know already that I haven't been as brave as some of the other ladies, but it is a giant step for me; which I am glad that I have taken.

What swimwear are you wearing this Summer?  


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!


5 July 2013

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?

2 July 2013

Paisley & Lace - My Way

I saw Lace Paisley Maxi Dress dress weeks ago on +Simply Be and was instantly drawn to the gorgeous pinks and purples of the paisley patterning as well as the lace detailing to the top and bottom of the dress.



My only issue with it was that as a maxi dress, for me personally I knew that I would not get as much wear out of it as I would with a shorter dress. If I could have chopped off the bottom of the dress then I would have bought it instantly, however you don’t pay £45.00 for a dress and then cut it up!

Happily though when I saw the fabulous Becky wearing the dress on her blog MrsBeBeBlog she kindly noted at the end of the post that the dress was now on sale. I headed over to the SimplyBe website and found it for the absolute steal price of £18.50.

Now a £45.00 dress I wouldn’t cut up, but £18.50? Hell yes.

So with the help of my talented mum who can wield a sewing needle far better than I, we chopped the dress off at the knees. I have gained a dress that will work with me in a variety of situations and my mum has used the excess lace to fashion a lace wrap to go with one of her dresses. Result!






Earrings from +Dorothy Perkins 


Have you ever taken  the scissors to one of your dresses?




10 Day You Challenge–Day 9

10-days-you-challenge

Today’s theme are your two favourite songs.

1.  Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight.
This song just speaks to me.  If I can't have a man say that to me, I'll have Frank sing it!

Lovely, never, ever change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it ?
Cause I love you, just the way you look tonight.

2.  Barry White - My First, My Last, My Everything
I have always loved this song but when it became connected with the Ally McBeal series and the bathroom dancing, that wedged it into my heart as a song that would forever make me smile, no matter what my mood.

If I had had a third choice, I would have gone for Paul Van Dyk, For an Angel which was my absolutely favourite song in my late teens, early twenties and has stuck with me ever since as a favourite dance track.

Which songs would you choose?

1 July 2013

10 Day You Challenge - Day 8

Today's theme is three films.

There are a million films that I love, but here are three that I always go back to:

1.  Breakfast at Tiffanys.
2.  Girl Interrupted.
3.  The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

It's funny that the first two films are about women that are just a little bit lost, trying to find their own path, just like me.

I absolutely loved the Lord of the Rings films and can go back to them time and time again.  I wasn't as impressed with The Hobbit film but I am hopeful for the second instalment.


Vicky x

30 June 2013

Planned Work OOTD

A quick #ootd that I am thinking about wearing for work tomorrow, a little different to the combinations I usually go for. 

I like this outfit although I feel I might be pushing it slightly as being acceptable for the office, but hey, I’m making the most of the sunshine!

I have featured the dress on the blog before and is from Savoir at Very.  It is cool and comfortable to be able to wear with ease all day although for me, at 5ft 4, it is a tiny bit too short to wear without leggings.  You can't tell that in the photos, but if I bent over I would be in danger of flashing my underwear, not the look you want for work!

When i originally bought the dress I had the idea of bare legs and sat outside in a beer garden but due to the length, a little more propriety is required!








10 Day You Challenge–Day 6


10-days-you-challenge

Today’s theme is your top 5 food items. 

1.  I adore Italian food.  I recently to Jamie Oliver’s Italian in Manchester and had the best seafood pasta dish I have ever had.  Will definately be making a revisit. 

2.  Raw vegetables, I prefer them to cooked and could easily munch away on raw carrots by the bucket load.


3.  My mum’s cheese & onion pie.  I have never had a better one, anywhere.

4.  Fresh seafood is a big favourite of mine but especially crab.  Mix seafood and pasta and I am in seventh heaven.

5.  Peanuts.  Not particularly because I love peanuts but because they are a food memory of when I was a little girl and my dad used to buy a packet on a Saturday night and always leave out an eggcup full for me.  Miss you dad.