Oh Hell No!

I’ve been asked if by posting pictures of myself on the internet is asking for criticism.  My answer has to be no.  Am I aware of the possibility of criticism?  Of course.  People are people, and people love to criticise.

I believe that confidence is something that everyone should have and for some, including the old me, it can be the hardest thing of all to attain.  

I’m the girl that hated her picture taken and if I couldn’t avoid it then I would make damn sure to detag and distance myself from the photographs I didn’t like.

Posting photographs of yourself, putting yourself out there, especially when purposely showing and highlighting the clothing you are wearing is damn scary.  The first time I did it, I honestly was waiting for a flood of criticism and abuse.  But you know what?  None came.  

Now when a camera is pointed at me I smile.  I don’t hide.  I don’t run for the detag button.  

I’m a different girl to what I used to be.  I’ve even reviewed clothing for SimplyBe, something that I would never ever have dreamed possible before.  I still weigh the same, I still look the same, but I’m no longer ashamed of who and what I am.

Compare and contrast if you will.  The first photograph was taken a few weeks back.  Girl number one's smile is genuine.  She's happy, wearing colour, comfortable in front of the camera.  In the second photograph girl number two is terrified of the camera and ashamed to be in front of it.  Personally, I prefer girl number one.

Fat girls can't wear print, or bright colours.  Fat girls just wear black.
Well this one damn well doesn't!

I'm scared

So am I opening myself up to criticism?  Yes.  Do I care any more?  Oh HELL no.

Vroom Vroom

Dear Anyone who follows me on Twitter purely in relation to blogging, outfits post etc,

The Formula One season starts this weekend.

I'm sorry.

I can (do) get very shouty.  You'll hear "Vettel you bastard" quite a lot.  I'll understand if you leave me.

Love

Vicky

Oh Holly!!

I recently wrote a post called “What is a Real Woman?"

I feel obliged to mention it again as I have just seen the new Very campaign with Holly Willoughby.  Now I love Holly and I love the clothes that she is associated with on Very.  But this ad campaign leaves a sour taste in my mouth I’m afraid.

A competition has been launched to find “real women” to walk the catwalk and model her collection.  She has been quoted in their blog saying:

“I want to show the clothes as they should be seen, on real women with real figures walking down the catwalk. This is when the clothes will look their best.”

What does that even mean?   Holly, Holly, we are all real women, whatever our size.  A woman is just as real at size 6 as she is at size 30.    

We all have a body.  We all wear clothes.  We all wear our clothes in different ways, with different attitudes and with varying amounts of confidence.  A dress can look fabulous on a woman of any size.

Design a collection for specific sizes if you want Holly, but don’t say that it is for real women.  Size 6 or size 30, every woman is real and has a right to dress, feel and be how she wants.

A Couple of Outfits of the Day

I love having red somewhere in my outfits, it inspires confidence and it is my favourite colour.  I bought a red cardigan from Primark a few months ago and it has become a key piece in my wardrobe, bringing together many an outfit.

I wore the cardigan with two different outfits today and thought I would share them with you.  The first is one photograph, an outfit I quickly put together for nipping out of the house in the afternoon.

Red cardigan - Primark £6.00

Glasses print top - Next

Jeans - Dorothy Perkins

My second outfit was put together for a Mother's Day meal out.  Never being one to turn down the opportunity to put on a dress, I raided my wardrobe and put together an outfit comprised mainly from the @So_Fab_Clothing.

Heart Print Tea Dress - So Fabulous from Very £32.00 from here

Biker Jacket - So Fabulous from Very £45.00 found here

Bow Detail Belt - Very

I loved wearing the red cardigan with the heart print dress.  I felt a little like the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland for some reason, although I promise, all heads remained where they were!

Did you have any good outfits for Mother's Day?

The Notice Me Dress

I had my birthday this week and to mark the occasion I wanted to go with the family for a meal.  I also wanted to use the occasion to find a dress that showed how my confidence journey had progressed.

When the lovely people at SimplyBe let me review a few pieces for them, I immediately noticed this Anna Scholz dress as being one that stood out from the crowd.  With it’s bright, bold colours and colour block design it is a world away from anything I would have previously chosen (black, black and more black) so I decided that this was the one for me.

The dress is very well made and has those little details that you get with a quality dress, such as a weight on the inside of the cowl neckline to ensure that it hangs perfectly every time.  There are also pockets to the front of the dress which add a different dimension to the dress.

As you can see from the first photo, if you have a larger chest the expanse of colour at the top of the dress may be a little much, so I added a necklace and also a shrug which finished the look for me and also covered my arms.

I wore the dress for my birthday meal and I loved it.   With a lot of people wearing dark and muted colours in the restaurant, I felt like a peacock strutting my plumage with the bright colours and felt confident in it.

The dress can be found here, priced at £70.00.  I also wore t-bar shoes from Love Label and a shrug from Very.

Facing Up to Facebook

I have been meaning to create a Facebook page for the blog for a while now.   I have been chickening out of doing it for ages but finally this week have bitten the bullet and given it a ago.

It is one thing doing a blog and posting it on Twitter etc, but Facebook can be and is a nasty machine at times and I knew that I would be opening myself up to a lot of potential criticism, particularly with regard to the plus size clothing and reviewing.

Most of the people I know on Facebook have never heard of a blog before and the thought of posting photographs of yourself on there is an alien concept to most.  Putting on my confidence shoes on however I created the page which can be found here!

I've done the page primarily for photo posts and also in relation to body confidence issues.  Now I have found confidence and self belief, I want to pass that confidence on to others, help other people find their confidence too.

I've had some great feedback from the Facebook page from friends, from others I am not too sure about but time will tell.

Maybe someone will see a post I write or something I wear and have confidence to think it or wear it themselves.  Maybe they will, maybe I'm just putting all this out in the cosmos not doing much at all.  But I'd rather try to do something then sit still, not moving forward.

What is a Real Woman?

There is a phrase “One man's trash is another man's treasure”.  Whilst I don’t particularly like the wording used, the meaning behind it stands true.

Not everyone’s version of perfect is the same.  There is not one standard for how people should look, behave, be.  We are all different because we were meant to be.  Striving to be perfect is pointless but in fact, there is no such thing.

I have seen a lot of arguing and debating on Twitter and other forums lately, which has been spurred on a lot by the media.  The “real women” argument and what that statement means.  For me, there is no argument.  WE ARE ALL REAL WOMEN!!

Whether you are fat, skinny, tall or short we are all women.  We are all different and there is no perfect example of what we should be.  Creating camps of fat v skinny is just ridiculous.

Even in today’s world woman still face challenges.  In many countries of the world women are still second class citizens.  We still fight for the rights to our own bodies and the phrase “She was asking for it” is still bandied about.  We face enough challenges in life without fighting between ourselves over who is thin and who is fat.

As long as you are happy with yourself, no one has the right to judge you.  Happiness isn’t something that comes as standard and if you can attain it, then you are already winning.  I don’t care if someone I meet is fat or thin.  If they are happy in themselves, that is what shines through.

I’ll end my little mini rant with a quote from Dita Von Teese which is rather apt

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

Wardrobe Staples

There are a few things that every girl should have in her wardrobe.  One of them is a biker jacket.

A biker jacket is one of those items that I have always meant to buy, but have never gotten around to purchasing.  They are just as perfect with jeans as they are with a pretty dress.

After reading MrsBeBe's post today which showed her styling of a biker jacket with a floaty dress, I have decided to have a look around and have picked out my favourites with a view to hopefully buying one soon.

Image from Asos Curve
£100.00

I love the zip detailing to the wrists and the quilt trim to the this jacket.  It can be found here

Image from So Fabulous at Very
Currently £34.00

 I like the simple styling on this jacket.  It has a quilted look to the shoulders but generally it allows your clothing to make the statement whilst providing a stylish finish.

Image from Yours Clothing

£65.00

This jacket is very on trend at the moment with the studding detail to the shoulders and the side buckles.

So those are my favourite biker jackets available at the moment.  Now I just need to decide which one is right for me and get saving!

   

AX Paris Floral Prom Dress from SimplyBe

 Normally when I put together an outfit, I look at the end result and, providing it looks ok, I forget about what I am wearing. The clothes just become a part of me and I carry on with my day or evening without further thought.

Sometimes though, you find an outfit that makes you feel special. The kind that you really do feel pretty in. The kind of outfit that makes you smile to yourself.  You know the kind I mean.

Recently SimplyBe kindly let me review some pieces for them and I jumped on the AX Paris Sleeveless Floral Prom Dress like a vulture. Having already seen this dress worn by Mhairi of Lilybobombslovelylumps I had admired it then was curious if it would suit me.

Image courtesy of Simplybe

I wasn’t sure whether this dress would suit my body shape or even have a good fit as usually anything button up fits badly on me.  I usually end up having to undo too many buttons and AGAIN use the slip under the dress trick. I need not have worried as it buttons all the way to the top if I want it to and it fits just right without any pulling anywhere. 

I am wearing the dress, it doesn't wear me.

I feel fantastic  in this dress. It makes me want to waltz around the room like Maria from West Side Story singing “I Feel Pretty”. It is floaty and feminine and fits just right. Any dress that makes you feel like that is a special thing indeed.

The Floral Prom Dress is available from Simply Be in sizes 12 to 32 for the price of £35.00.

Red Skinny Belt from Asos Curve
Cardigan from Ebay

Do you have a dress that makes you feel like that?

I have not been paid to write this blog and the opinions in the same are honest and my own.

The People on the Bus

I get the bus to and from work every day.  You tend to get the same people getting on and off and I like to play a game with myself of guessing what kind of person they are purely by observations.

There is the woman with two devil children who run up and down the bus, standing on the side seating trying to balance whilst the bus hurtles along the road.  She says nothing and the bus driver has to ask them to sit down. 

There is the little old lady who always smiles at me when I get on the bus.  She is 80 if she is a day, but she is always perfectly turned out and has a ready smile for everyone.  I don’t know where she goes to three times a week, but she always seems happy to go there!

There is one passenger who gets on every day though who freaks me out a little.  If you were told to picture a serial killer in your head, he would be what I saw in my mind.  I can’t put my finger what exactly it is about him.  Typically though, he gets off at the same stop at me.

He is an ordinary man to look at, in his 40’s I’d say, but he has this gaze when he looks at you that just seems off.  His fingernails are way too long and he likes to tap them against the rail. 

He also has a quirk where he waits for someone to press the stop button, and then he practically runs to the front of the bus, then turns around and stares at the person behind.  It is quite disconcerting if you are that person.

If someone gets to the front before him, he tries to stand as close as possible to them and puts his hand above theirs.

He is probably a normal guy but I’ve observed his quirks for too long now and I always think “serial killer” when I see him. 

Who knows what people think of me when they observe me on the bus.  Why is she staring at all the other passengers probably!

 

Photo from Maritime Catholic - Crazy People on Bus

 

Where the Heart Lies

The off period of Formula One has seemed to be extra long this time.   Thankfully if you are on Twitter at least, there have been continuing updates and in the case of Lotus, a constant stream of entertainment and fun for the fans.

People either get F1 or they don’t.  But if you love it, it becomes a part of your heart.  For me, it is the love of the sport first and foremost, with supporting teams and drivers coming after.

I started my love of F1 very late (gnashes teeth).  Jenson Button in his 2009 season was the start of my viewing and my love of JB has stuck with me.  Everyone else in the sport has been harder to place, both teams and driver, although who I disliked has remained pretty constant.  Vettel & Maldonaldo, I’m looking at you.

My favourite team has at last been settled in my head.  I have always cheered for McLaren in previous years, but only for the fact that JB was in the team.  But McLaren has never set right in my heart.  My heart was taken by Lotus F1 Team in the past season.

Their fan interaction, both off and on season, the constant updates and photographs is what does it for me, as well as creating a race winning car and letting Kimi say and do exactly what he wants.  I would have loved them alone for the "#ImSexyandIKnowIt on Kimi’s car in winter testing. 

When it comes to the drivers, I have a few favourites, for different reasons.

Jenson for his warmth, his amazing driving and the fact that his winning year was also my first as a fan.

Webber as he says what he thinks, when he can get away with it.  I still think he would have been better at McLaren than Red Bull this season though.

Kimi – Two words.  Team Radio.  Enough said.

The last driver who entered my heart was a surprise, because it’s be fair here, he’s a bit of git.  But it’s Fernando Alonso.   He went up in my estimation when he joined Twitter and was sharing with his photographs and humour. 

The thing that sticks with me however is that you cannot deny that he drives the wheels off any car they give him.  I believe he was right when he said in one interview that he wasn’t racing Sebastian Vettel, he was racing Adrian Newey.  Vettel is no match for Alonso.

He is the person I want to win the driver’s championship this year as I truly believe that he was robbed last year.

You’ll notice that I haven’t mentioned Lewis Hamilton.  The truth is, although I wish him well in this new season with Mercedes, I have had such a love/hate/love/hate/love relationship with him that I’m done. 

So that’s it, my Formula One heart is set.   Whether you are a Red Bull fan, a McLaren, a Ferrari or a Lotus fan, I wish you all a fantastic season.  I think we’re going to have a good one.

Spring, Where art Thou?

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I don't know about you, but I for one am absolutely sick of the Winter now.  I've had it with the cold, I 've had it with the multi layers of clothing, I've had it with boots, I've just had it basically.

 

Last night I decided that whilst I couldn't physically change the season, I could dress a little more to suit Spring weather which would a least make it feel a little better.  So after raffling through my wardrobe I came across this dress which I bought from Very

 

I am only just starting on flower prints but already have a few in my wardrobe and they seem to be everywhere this season!

 

 

 

 I have worn the dress today with a black jumper underneath to keep me warm and also to ward off the usual excess cleavage that a wrap dress seems to come with!  The bow belt is also from @Very and I have teamed the dress with opague tights and some long boots.

 

 

How do you combat Winter fashion when you have had enough?

 

Knocking Down Barriers

It's weird having a blog.  At least for me.  It's my baby and I have always guarded it like a mother tiger.  Not letting hardly anyone I know actually read it.

I have been writing posts on here, from the serious to silly, from clothes to items on the news for close to two years now.  Whilst I've let my mum read the odd post and I know that my sisters have read some, it isn't quite the same as letting my close friends read it who know me best.

With my family they know the "family version" of me, not the whole.  It is undoubtedly my close friends that know me best, but I have taken this blog further then I have ever told anyone.  I've poured myself onto these blogs without holding back.

This weekend past I let my two best friends read it.  I gave them the link and then went to hide in the corner. Neither of my friends are blogging type people so I didn't know whether they would read one or two posts, or the whole lot.  

I didn't care what they thought of my writing (well ok, a little bit ;) ).  I didn't mind if they thought the blog was good or rubbish.  That was never what I was scared about.  It is one thing letting strangers read your thoughts, chances are you will never meet them, it doesn't matter.  

But letting the closest people to now read your inner most thoughts, the things you think but don't say, the things you feel but hide, the honest to god "this is me yes I'm bat shit crazy really sorry about that" stuff that you typically don't share with anyone but a counsellor.  

Ironically my oldest friend is training to be a counsellor and she knows me best.  Poor girl.  She's had to put up with a lot ;)

Both of these girls have always been cheerleaders for my confidence, knowing how I could be before I knew myself.  They also knew me well enough to know that I work at my own pace, on everything.  Either supersonic when I make a decision and go with it or a slower more steady route when things are harder.

Both say that I am a different person today than I was a year ago, in a good way.  

True friends are the people who stick with you through thick and thin.  In my case, they knew me when I was unhappy (although I rarely admitted it), under confident, scared and insecure covered at all times in black.  It is good to be with them now when I am happy, confident, strong in my thoughts and with a wardrobe full of colour.

So thank you ladies, aka Lady Jebley and Wifey  I'd have to go a long way to find better friends than you.

Review SimplyBe Glamorosa Tunic Dress

I often compare finding the right dress as being similar to finding the Holy Grail.  Both being much talked about mythical objects that no one can find.

Having accomplished the feat of finding a plus size dress that is both fashion forward, to my taste and not shaped like a tent I am often thwarted at the last hurdle by the bust area.  Many times I have tried on a dress which has fit perfectly in all areas, but my breasts have either been squashed so much it looks like I have a lumpy pillow stuffed under my dress or there is far more cleavage showing than I would prefer  to show outside of my bedroom!

SimplyBe recently kindly offered me the chance to review an item from their range.  I came across their Glamorosa section which said it’s clothes were “Designed for your boobs, tailored for you”.  We’ll see I thought and decided on a Bird Print tunic dress in Voluptuous Fit.

Having high hopes I tried on the dress and hurrah!  Finally a dress that ticked all the boxes.  What I wanted from this dress was something that I could wear either at work or with the girls at the weekend.  The v neck hits me at just the right spot to be work appropriate.  With the length, if you are 5ft 4 or over, this dress may be a little short without tights or leggings.

The viscose material is light and flows perfectly, although personally I wouldn’t wear it without my trusty silk slip underneath as it is a little see through when viewed in sunlight.  After wearing it for a full day in the office, I can confirm that there was not a crease to be seen!  The bird print on the SimplyBe site appears to just be black and white but there is a smattering of pink on each bird which really adds something to the dress.

I can’t wait for the warmer weather to arrive as I anticipate this dress getting many an outing.  I prefer a belt that cinches in a little more at the waist so have substituted one of my own, although the belt has come into other uses, namely in my hair as you can see from one of the photographs!

The dress can be found at SimplyBe and is available in sizes 14-32, covering cup sizes from A - K.

Here are the pics!

I have not been paid to write this blog and the opinions in the same are honest and my own.

MUA Blusher Review

As part of being my plan for being more sensible with my money (read not buying so many shoes) I have been looking where I spend a lot of money and have been trying to cut back.

I recently did a post on MUA Mascara which was the first product I have tried from the Makeup Academy. It has become my go to mascara for the working week and works very well, for the price I couldn't be more happy.

I was looking through my makeup collection recently though in my budget frame of mind and realised I needed a change in blusher.  I have always used Dandelion by Benefit which I used as a double up for brightening up my complexion and adding blush to my cheeks.  I adore it.  But at £23.50 a time, can I still justify it?  Probably not.

Given my good experience with the mascara, I once again raided the MUA section of my local Superdrug.  For the unbelievable price of £1 I bought the MUA Shade 2 Blusher and have been roadtesting it for over a week once.

The blusher goes on well, without being too heavy.  It has a good staying power and I have nothing bad to say about it at all.  In fact considering the price I ended up with two as I keep one at home and one at the office (sometimes a girl just have to retouch).

The blusher has a very good level of pigmentation and as a result, you only need to dab your blusher brush once onto it in order to get the appropriate amount of blusher to apply.  I learned this at my peril after using for the first time and ending up looking like Aunt Sally.

Making a saving of £22.50 is a definate win in my budget task, although I still need to retrain my brain so I don't think "Oooooo, what can I buy instead?"

Have you found any good bargains lately?

Exciting Times

This week has been a crazy one for me and my blog.

I never really had a plan, it just gradually morphed itself over the course of a couple of years into what it is today.  Opinions, rants and plus size outfits.  My very first post A Love of my 30's, Finally feels like it was written a lifetime ago, although I'm glad the blog started on a positive note!

Over the course of the past few months I have found a little confidence and have been doing a few plus size posts.  I have experienced everything from sheer terror to complete surprise and actual pleasure in writing them.  

Taking photographs of myself, of which I'm still on a massive learning curve, was definately a challenge as I always used to hide from the camera.  I was expecting nasty comments, or more likely, no feedback at all from these posts but the reaction to them has been great.  

With this in mind, the next step I have reached in the blog is twofold.  Firstly, I promised myself that when, and if, the views in one month ever went over a certain figure, I would get a domain name.  I'm quite liking the blog being TheCurvedOpinion.com now!

The second move forward is that I have been lucky enough to be gifted some dresses for review on the blog.  I have purposely chosen dresses that are completely out of my comfort zone and not what I would normally wear.  I have been pleasantly surprised!  These posts will be up in the following few weeks.

Onwards and upwards!

What's in a Name?

Back in July 2012 I wrote a post entitled What's in a Name?

After much thinking and consideration I had decided to revert back to my original surname, before it was changed to be the same as my step-fathers.  I never regretted the change and only wanted to change back because I was searching, I'm not sure what for, for me I think.

 

I received various opinions on my decision to change, all unwanted to be honest as it was my decision, not anyone else's.  While some supported me, others disagreed with my choice.  I let them sit in their judgement then, I wouldn't today.  Unless I am doing something illegal, I won't be judged by anyone.

 

So much has happened in my life since I wrote that post.  I feel like a completely different person.  I am secure in myself, I know who and what I am.  I'm confident.  I'm not longer drifting.

 

Someone asked me today if I I still wanted to change my name.  I had changed it on the social networks and my email etc but so far had done nothing official as I was wanting for my student finance to be sorted out.  My answer though was yes, I really wish I still had my old last name, but the reasons I had for changing, didn't seem so important anymore.

 

I wanted to be my old last name again but in truth, back then I needed an anchor.  Something to latch on to saying "This is who I am".  I needed identity.   Eight months later, a whole world of change in me and I realise, it isn't my name that matters.  The identity inside is the one that matters.  I am who I am, regardless of what my last name is.

 

In my head, I will always be my father's daughter, I will always think of myself with his surname.  Do I need a physical proof of that anymore?  No, I don't think I do. 

 

The only change I will be keeping is my Twitter user name.  In a weird way, joining Twitter was the catalyst for all the changes I have made since and I have never been more myself than when I am speaking on Twitter.  So Vicky_Coop I shall remain.

 

 

 

 

Dressing Up

As we slowly crawl out of the winter, it is time to start looking at some pretty dresses (one of many excuses I use to look at dresses).

I have seen SimplyBe mentioned a lot in plus size blogs recently so I thought that I would use the site for my first foray into dresses for the spring and summer.  I have shopped there in the past but it has been quite a while now so I was excited to see what they had to offer.

Here are my favourites!

Glamorosa Tunic Voluptuous EE-G
£36.00

I love this dress.  It is something that I could use both at work and also at the weekend which is an added bonus.  I love the print detail and the fact that the dress actually goes in at the waist, whilst still catering for a larger cup size.

It can be found here

This is on my wish list!

Red Print Skater Dress
£34.00

I have an ongoing love affair with red.  I love this dress because of the added bonus of a pattern, as well as the tie detail at the back to give you more shape.

It can be found here

Bespoke Penelope Poppy Dress
£60.00

I actually have no idea whether this dress would suit my shape, but I have fallen completely in love with the poppy pattern.  It is bright, colourful and perfect for summer with a 50's twist.

It can be found (maybe in my wardrobe soon but also) here

AX Paris Sleeveless Floral Dress
£35.00

Being sleeveless, patterned with a floral print and floaty, this dress is right out of my comfort zone which makes me itch to try it out.  I have heard good things about AX Paris dresses although am yet to buy one myself.

It can be found here

AX Paris Heart Print Cross Over Dress
£35.oo

This dress got a Carrie esq "Helllo lover" out of me when I saw it.  I absolutely adore the dress.  I like that the heart print gives it a feminine touch but the dress has clean cut lines and adaptable to being dressed up or down.

What's not to love.

It can be found here








So that rounds up my favourite dresses I have seen on SimplyBe.  I have to say that I was more than pleasantly surprised with the range, colours and style available for the plus size gal.  I think more than one of these dresses will be making their way into my wardrobe.

Do you have any favourites?

Milestones

There is saying that you have confidence, and actually putting it into action.  This weekend has turned out to a milestone in confidence.

 

On Saturday night I was helping my mum out with a party.  She had decided to have a 60’s themed quiz as part of the evening and wanted me to be her “quiz master”.  Anyone who knows me would know that ordinarily, this would be the last thing in the world I would agree to.  Speaking to a room full of strangers, 12 people all looking at me, no way, no how.

 

After a little coercion however I agreed.  But then a strange thing happened.  Instead of the usual shy, embarassed, avoiding eye contact & get this over as quickly as possible girl, another girl appeared. 

 

I had just finished reading out the fifth question when suddenly I realised that I sounded different.  My voice was at normal tone, I was looking people in the eye and engaging, even joking with the people in the room.  People I had never met before.  This was a first.  A milestone reached.  An ability to be in a room full of people, and just be myself.

 

The next night I was talking to a friend on Twitter and I said something to her which again just flowed straight out of me, which I never would have thought, never mind said before:

 

"I've spent 33 years thinking 'I'll be happier when I'm thinner'. Now I worry first if I'm happy, which is healthier."

I reread that tweet this morning on the bus to work and I'll admit,  as daft as it may sound, my eyes filled up.  Because I'm happy.  Because I felt confident enough to say it to someone else.  Because it wasn't about the way I look, it was the way I felt. 

I'm not saying that suddenly all of my confidence issues are cured, tomorrow I may be back to being Holly Golightly but it's some damn good progress ;)

Have you have a confidence milestone?

 

Back to Dresses

If I could walk around every day and night in a dress, I would.  On Saturday though I was helping my mum out with a party at home so dressed down rather than dressed up was the order of the day.  With heels of course, they go with everything.

I haven't done an outfit of the day post for ages so quickly took a few snaps when I had gotten ready.  I liked the long jumper when on and was certainly comfy which is always a bonus, but I don't think it is quite me.

In the end, although I liked the skinny jeans/heels combination, turns out, I'm not not a long top kinda gal.  But hey, I gave it a go and the top from Very (from the sale and is now out of stock) is certainly lovely and I love the lace insert detailing, just not particularly for me.

Back to dresses is the answer, the Summer needs to hurry up as I have lots of lovely dresses I can wear.  

Obligatory check the make-up - pointless photograph

That's a "I'm not sure about this!" face

I'll go with casual if I must, but not with the shoes!

An 18th Century View

In today's society you can change laws, but changing views takes far longer.

We see ourselves today as a progressive society.  Our 21st century views in many cases would seem foreign, and unheard of back and in some cases scandalous in the 18th and 19th century, and yet some prejudices still remain to this day.

 

Daybreak this morning asked the question "Can women who are drunk or flirty ever be blamed for being attacked?"

 

How can it be that this question is still being asked, let alone why anyone would ever say yes as an answer. 

 

      If a house is burgled, is it the fault of the home owner for having a nice house?

      If a drunk man with his top off walks in front of a group of gay men, is he "Asking for it"?
 

      If someone steals money from their employer, is it the fault of the employer for having a lot of
      money?
 

      If a man is robbed in the street, is the first question "But had you been drinking sir?"

 

These questions are never asked, purely because a) They are nonsensical and b) The answer is either no, or "Why are you asking irrelevant questions?".

No will always be no.  Let's treat victim blaming as what it is.  An archaic view that has no place in society.

Eaten by the Internet

When does social networking move from pleasurable to a pain?  When did it change from something that you nip onto in a spare five minutes, to being something that you constantly maintain and check?

I first entered the realm of social media with Myspace.  It is so long ago now I can't even remember what I did there, but it wasn't anything that was particularly addictive, or fun.  From Myspace I was encouraged by a friend to move to Facebook.  So it began.

Fast forward through to 2013 and I have Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and a blog.  How did that happen?  I'm not even sure myself but I know that a chunk of my time is taken maintaining or checking these sites.  How profitable is it to me however?

Looking at each one and the reasons I am there, it becomes easier to see how you can get caught up.

Facebook is used to catch up with friends.  It was the first of the social networks to go global and it is still the most popular, thereby being the one that you can still catch up with most people you know on.  It is however also massively irritating, although more down to the things people post as opposed to the site itself.  Baby pictures, quotes, it's just not interesting enough to hold my attention.

That took me to investing Twitter.  I joined Twitter to find like minded Formula One fans.  It has grown into an addition that I don't want to quash.  I love my Twitter and I'm keeping it.

 

Google Plus I was forced into having when I changed my email to a Gmail Account.  I ended up using it for blog purposes but don't use it for any other reason.  I see fail to see the point of it but somehow, I still end up having a look 2-3 times a week.

 

The last of my online addictions is of course this blog.  This is the place that I spend most time on and many many hours have been spent in maintaining and adding to the blog.  I don't regret these hours however as the blog gives back to me as much as I give it.

 

This is however how you end up with so many internet commitments.  I have managed to justify all of mine, quite easily.  I think that as long as it doesn't interfere with your working life, and you have a social life outside of cruising around Twitter, there isn't a problem.

 

This said, I have just got my claws into Tumblr.  Goodbye social life, it was fun xx