A Favourite Photograph

 

Day 17 – A Favourite Photograph of Yourself and Why

I have previously shared some really special photographs of me on this blog.  One with my parents on holiday, another with me and my dad and my favourite ever photograph of my friends and I.

When asked to choose a photograph just of myself though, I struggle.  I used to systematically detag every photograph of me that I didn’t like on Facebook (so about 99% of them).

Embracing who I am and what I look like has been a bit of journey.  I have chosen a photograph though, but this one in particular marks the start of acceptance. 

This photograph was taken for a review of a SimplyBe dress.  This was the first time I had worn so many colours and such a loud print, and I LOVED it.  It is probably the first genuine smile in front of a camera since I was a little girl, because back then you don’t care do you?

So yes, this is definately my favourite photograph of myself.  Not because of a right camera angle or even the way I look, but more what I was feeling when it was taken.  Happy and hopeful.  You can’t ask for more.

Check out 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

Lady in Black

I haven’t worn an all black outfit in absolutely ages.  In fact I have consciously been shying away from wearing black, after wearing it constantly for so long.  I fell out of love with it.

 

Today though I was riffling through my wardrobe looking for something cool to wear to the office when I came across a black dress that had escaped the great purge of January 2013.  Rather than throw it into the donations bag that I am currently collating, I decided to try it on.

 

My love of black was reignited. 

 

It made me remember that black can look great.  It doesn’t have to be depressing and used as a way to cover up and hide yourself.  This dress certainly doesn’t cover up much of anything on me being sleeveless and with the low neckline!

 

I had forgotten the power of a little black dress. 

 

It is probably a little too revealing in the chest area for the office and indeed when I tried it on my first thought was “Vicky, your breasts look too big in this dress”.  Then I remembered that my breasts are not going to shrink, they are what they are.  It’s a boiling hot day and I want something cool to wear so I’m wearing it.  Screw it.

 

So here are a few photographs of me in the dress and I feel great in it, fat arms out and all.

 

The dress is an old collection from So Fabulous at +Very.co.uk

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine!

 

 

 

A Day in the Life

Day 15 - A Day in the Life of Me

A sight I see nearly every morning, Elvis the Squirrel

Ready for work - got that I need coffee glazed look

My bus stop

Usually the water fountain is switched on, typically not today.  The Court House in the background

Not, I haven't loaded this upside down.  A letter box of a well known bank, been like that for ten years

Room with - well not much of a view!

My Messy Office!

Stairs to nowhere, leads to no doors, a useless space.  I vote filling it with water, could use a swimming pool

Lunch Outfit of the Day Photo

I stupidly put myself on the reception rota for two hours, The Times and my phone saved me from boredom

Planning my outfit for tomorrow

Movie and then bed!!

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

10 Things That Make You Happy

Day 14: Ten things that make you really happy

1. Catching that song on the radio when you are alone that makes you turn up the volume and dance around like a wild thing. Typically the guilty pleasure ones.

2. Sunshine. The weather is tied to my mood and I find that it is impossible for me to feel down or sad when it is blazing with sunshine like it is today. Maybe I should move to warmer climes?

3. Books. I absolutely love to completely immerse myself in a good book. No romance books for me, I prefer true crime, sci-fi and horror. Many times I have picked up a book with the intention of reading the first few chapters and have emerged hours later, 700 pages finished.

4. Going out with my mum. We are both as silly as each other and usually end up in fits of giggles no matter what we do.

5. Being with my friends. A guaranteed great time no matter where we are and what we are doing.

6. My blog. It makes me immeasurably happy.

7. A good banter. I think that is one of the reasons I like Twitter. Diverse opinions that (most of the time) you can have an interesting discussion with. I don’t like “yes” people who agree with everything you say.

8. Opening parcels. Most of the time it is something that I have remembered ordering so I already know what it is inside, but occasionally I forget and I am react like a six year old at Christmas.

9. When a plan comes together. Sorry, A-Team quote in there. If I have spent a great deal of time planning something, be it a event, a night away or something smaller, when everything works out just as I planned it, that makes me really happy. Geek.

10. My blog post for the Flash the Flesh Challenge – Swimwear. I talked myself out of doing that post more times than I can count but in the end, I had to do it and I’m proud of myself. I have come a long way from the girl who detagged herself from nearly every picture.

So there you go, ten things that make me happy.  What about you?

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

I'm Sorry

Day 13 - Issue a Public Apology

I have previously written a public apology post on this blog, so I feel it is only right that I link that post now.

http://www.thecurvedopinion.com/2012/02/confession.html

The Death Penalty–Pre Meditated Murder

In September 2011 I wrote about the death penalty, my views on the same and in particular about Troy Davis who was due to be executed in Georgia that day.  That post can be found here. Despite an international outcry and overwhelming support, he was executed.

Troy Davis had to undergo three different execution dates. The first time in 2008 he had already been strapped down before a stay was granted, the second in September 2011 when he was strapped down, then removed, only for four hours later to strapped back down and killed.

Do we really call ourselves civilised?

Today in Georgia another man is due to be executed.  His guilt for the crimes committed is not in question here.  Warren Hill is mentally disabled.  This has been agreed by seven different experts and his death would violate the US Constitution.  In 2002 the Supreme Court ruled that you could not execute a person who was intellectually disabled.  Yet that is exactly what is happening today.

Like Troy Davis, Warren Hill has also had to undergo previous execution dates.  In July 2012 he was given a stay of execution only ninety minutes before  it was scheduled to take place.  In February of this year he was again due to be executed.  He had been sedatives to calm him, had said goodbye to his family then again, thirty minutes prior to the execution, it was again stayed.  Five months later he again faces the execution chamber.

This isn’t justice, this is torture.

To find out more about Warren Hill and send a message to the Attorney General of Georgia asking the Supreme Court to intervene, PLEASE click here.

Will it make a difference if you sign?  Maybe it will, maybe it won't.  I have signed it.  Because my heart and my soul tells me too.  Because if you sit in the sidelines your whole life, you can't participate in what happens. I have a voice, and I'm using it.

What Do You Miss?

Day 12 - What Do You Miss?

I was going to talk about my dad on this post. He died so many years ago now and I still miss him so much. It is a subject very near to my heart however and is something I don’t really want to use for a blog challenge. I’ll choose something else.

I miss that time in your childhood when you believed in magic and fairies and that Narnia wasn’t just in a book, it was a real place. Before the real world collides with you and you have to “grow up”; before cynicism and skepticism enter the equation.

I always believed in magic when I was a child and would have loved to have been part of the generation growing up with Harry Potter. I loved the books as an adult and would have been completely obsessed as a little girl.

When you believe in magic you also believe that anything is possible. I wanted to be a model, bless me. At that time in your life no one tells you that you are too fat, too short, not pretty enough etc etc. That is the time in your life that people say “Of course you can be!”

I really miss that innocence. I may still be that girl who is lost inside her own head a lot of the time, but at least back then I believed in magic. That part of me has grown up now.

But you know what? I still believe in fairies ;)

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

Selling Myself

Day 11 Sell Yourself in 10 words or less

Honest, loyal; friendly; caring; clumsy; occasionally funny and mildly ditzy.

I’m not sure if that is selling myself exactly but it does describe me to a tee.

How would the other ladies sell themselves?

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

Review of Ruby Rocks Dress

I was recently lucky enough to be allowed to choose a few items from +Simply Be  for review.

I have had my eye on this Ruby Rocks Print Tie Tunic Dress for some time now and so this was the first item that I chose.  I love the midnight blue colour and the unusual pattern.  On me (5ft 4) the length is above the knee but not too much, and the keyhole at the neckline of the dress falls just right with being too low.

I was a little worried when I first got the dress out of the packaging that I may have to wait to review it until Autumn/Winter due to the colouring, but styling it with bare legs, open toed heels and some red lipstick solved any qualms I had. 

The material is dense enough that I didn’t need to worry about the sun making it see-through but not too thick that I was too warm.  The dress is true to size and really comfortable.

In Summer I would wear this dress at any evening party or event styled as below, and in Winter with opaque tights which will give it a completely different look, like having two dresses in one!

I was so impatient to try out this dress that I taken all the photos myself, fighting attacking plants in the garden and balancing my camera precariously on thin walls.  Note to self, buy a tripod.

Attack of the killer plants!

The Ruby Rocks Print Tie Neck Tunic Dress is currently on sale with SimplyBe for £28.00 so I urge you to rush over to the website and grab yourself a bargain.

* I was not paid to write this review and all my opinions are my own

Cake or Death

Day 10 - Your Most Embarrassing Moment

My most embarrassing moment. Hmmmmm. Well there is only one massively embarrassing moment that I can think of, but I don’t particularly want to go into full details.

Let’s just say it involved Amsterdam, my first try at a very “strong” cake, a very busy pedestrianized area and me, sat on the floor at the side of a street for an hour outside a cafe as my legs had apparently forgotten how to walk.

Not my proudest moment.

Do the other ladies have a more embarrassing moment?

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