Calendar Girls

One unfortunate side effect of getting older (yes I have to acknowledge that it is happening) is that my memory is not which it used to be.

In my early twenties I used to have a razor-sharp memory, able to recall dates, phone numbers and work file numbers with ease, but these days; after hitting my mid thirties (shush don't tell anyone!) my memory recall has definately taken a dip.

I have recently been looking into ways in which technology can help me with making better use of my time and having solved that with a tablet, I am now looking towards finding a calendar that suits my needs and to assist my forgetful memory.

What I want is a personalised calendar that I can tailor to both my blogging and personal life. With this in mind I decided to check out Photobox and see how they could help me create what I need.

One thing that I like the sound of is being able to upload your own photographs to use for each month. Whether it be family snaps, places you have visited or even quotes that you love, being able to choose my imagery and create a photo calendar specific to me is very appealing.

In the past few weeks I have committed to several monthly projects so being able to choose the starting month of the calendar rather than having to wait until January 2015 makes much more sense. Also, being able to enter my events, birthdays and blogging deadlines on the calendar before it is printed makes for easier reading and is much tidier. Much better than scribbling illegible notes and crossing out when you put an entry on the wrong date.

For an A3 calendar wall calendar with your own photographs costs £17.99 and for just £2.99 you can add in all the events and reminders that you like. Included in the £2.99 cost is the ability to add a photograph keyed to a specific date; great for adding photos for birthdays.

So with my technology sorted and my calendar arranged, my life is much more organised and I can use the extra time to have a glass of wine with a friend or just settle down with a good book. The important things in life.

What aides do you use to organise your life?

Just The Way You Are

“I like you very much. Just as you are." - Mark Darcy, Bridget Jones Diary

I was talking today with my friend about body image.  How we see ourselves, the way in which others words affect us and the ways in which those words can make us change the way in which we strive to look.

If you do not like your body image or even if you are uncomfortable just with certain parts, the slightest comment can wreak havoc on the way you feel about yourself.  The day you go without makeup to work and someone says "You look tired today" or you are wearing a new dress and someone comments "Oh that dress makes you look so much slimmer".

Suddenly that no makeup day sends you running for the makeup and the comment about looking slimmer sends you into a frenzy of "So they think I usually look fat?"

These are things that happen in our day to day lives.  We look at other people, actresses, singers, celebrities in general and think about what amazing lives they must lead.  People fawning over them constantly, getting their hair done, the professional makeup artists, the perfect photographs and think "I wish I had their life".

Today I saw a photograph of Renee Zellweger.  Although she has been in many films: Jerry Maguire, Miss Potter; Chicago; the one film I really associate with her is Bridge Jones and the now iconic image of her in red pajamas.

Source

It always made me a little sad when after finishing the movie she would then lose the weight and revert to the Hollywood image; but I also think that if that was the way she wanted to look, who was anyone to argue.

Source

The image I saw of Renee today though made me stop and question just how far women are willing to go in the quest to comply with what society, and in her case, Hollywood, expects us to look like.

Source

The image we see today looks like a totally different person.  It took me a few minutes to even realise who it was that I was looking at.  She is practically unrecognizable from the person that she was, on the outside at least.  But what about the inside?

I tried to put myself in her shoes.  You don't get a part you really wanted "Sorry Renee, the part went to a younger actress.  You know I have heard about this amazing surgeon....."  "You look tired Renee, you know Botox is amazing?"  

How far do you go before the comments, jibes and barely disguised hints get into your head?  Before you think "Oh a little Botox can't hurt".  A little Botox there, a little filler there and day by day you change; gradually so that you don't notice until one day, your photograph is splayed across the papers with the "Who is this woman".

Isn't it time that we stopped judging each other on how we look.  Isn't time that that we stopped saying "You would amazing if you just did this".

Isn't it time that we take a line from Mark Darcy and say "I like you very much,  Just the way you are".

New Work Wear

Today I have a new dress to show you which I have recently added to my work wear collection for Autumn/Winter.  The days are drawing in and there is a definate nip in the air which calls for a return to a darker colour palette and warmer fabrics.

This Ann Harvey dress ticks all the boxes for me.  I love the baroque print and at just shy of 42 inches, it hits me just below the knee which is my go to length when choosing a dress.  The dress features a wrap around style top which is brought in a the waist with a silver buckle piece which adds extra detail.  Being fully lined, it is warmer to wear on those colder days.

I have worn the dress today with some t-bar wedges from +Simply Be and a three strand jet bead necklace.  When the weather turns colder still I will be adding a long line black cardigan and tights.  

The baroque print dress is true to size and is available at Ann Harvey in sizes 18-32 for the price of £45.00.  Today there is a 20% discount code on the site so if you like the dress as much as I do, head over and grab a bargain.

Bedroom Makeovers for Autumn/Winter

Source

When I get round to sprucing my place up, I often like to start with the bedroom; it's where you start the day, after all, so a beautiful environment to wake up in can only be a good thing! Here's a look at some of this season's trends and ideas for updating your bedroom.

Beds

The bed is a great place to start, especially if yours is feeling a little tired. Most people are aware of the importance of a good night's sleep these days, and a new bed doesn't have to cost the earth. One idea to consider if you're changing colour schemes, leaving you with soft furnishings and other clutter that you don't really want to chuck out, is an ottoman bed. The mattress lifts up to reveal a storage area underneath, useful for extra pillows and the like - or anything else you'd rather not have on public display! Bedstar have a good range with plenty of options in neutral colours.

Colours

Source

Colour scheme choices are particularly important in the bedroom. For some people, relaxed, calming tones make it easier to get to sleep, while others like a more vibrant palette to help them get going in the morning. Mixing the two doesn't often work! You probably don't want to be redecorating every six months, so it's worth taking a tip from the luxury hotel chains if you're in doubt; neutral, calming tones seem to be most popular with those who run businesses based on keeping sleepy customers happy. You can always jazz the room up with colourful pillows, lampshades and so on. Natural fabrics are always popular; Sainsbury's "Indigo" range, new for autumn, includes bedding and soft furnishings in deep but relaxing blues.

Rustic Schemes

If you fancy a warmer, more rustic scheme, that's another way to go this season while staying fashionable. A couple of items of weathered oak furniture - say a chest of drawers and a nightstand - can look wonderful in a rustic themed bedroom. The Cotswold Company have a nice range of oak storage pieces, including small units that'll fit in an alcove. Tartan is looking like a popular theme this season as well, so a blanket or a few cushions can be deployed to give a splash of colour. Terry's Fabrics have ideas for both bold red tartan styles and more neutral, beige toned versions like "Balmoral Rosso".

Ultimately, the bedroom is perhaps the most personal room in the house, and how you choose to decorate it is down to you; but remember that clean, calm, uncluttered design will generally assist with a better night's sleep, whether you go for bright, "morning-person" colours - or the other way!

*In collaboration with Slap Up Media.

I Feel Good

You know sometimes when you spend ages getting ready for a night out, an event or even just a blog post, and the reflection in mirror isn't what you hoped? This challenge is for those times when you look in the mirror, no pre planning involved, and think "I look good today". 

We all have our good days and our bad, but this challenge is to record those good days and to remember that confidence, at any size, is beautiful.

I have been playing around with black and white photographs lately as they lean towards the vintage feel that I love.

I asked my friend to take a photograph of me today with a view to this post, a day late, I'm sorry. They say that whenever someone else takes your photograph it shows your emotions more than when you take it yourself and I think that this is true here.

I felt good when having this photograph taken but looking at it now, I looked tired and stressed; which is exactly how I am feeling.  Life is crap at the moment with various things going on my family life and people close to me that I am very worried about.

I'm trying to keep on with maintaining my blog as it is an escape from what is happening and it still brings me joy.  I will continue to try and do more outfit posts but for the moment, I ask that you bear with me.

Timesaving Tablets

When you have a busy life, as many of us do, it is important to utilise your day as best as possible.  In order to be able to have a little more relaxation time at the end of the day, I have been looking at ways in which I can make better use of the time I have available.

After getting an idea for a blog post I usually end up emailing myself with thoughts and ideas, texting myself when I have no Wi-Fi available or when I am really stuck, scribbling notes to myself and throwing them in my handbag (which invariably get lost!)  This is not a good use of my time as when I sit down to do my blog; I then have to try to collate all of these things together.

Whether I am having a brainstorming session whilst on the commute to work or taking a few minutes at lunch to jot notes down, I need something that I can work on that can sync with my all my devices.  What I need is a tablet. 

I went over to my local Tesco this week to pick up some things for the weekend and ended up having a look around the technology section.  On the upper end of the market, you have the Microsoft Tablet which has a 10.1 inch screen with a 256GB hard drive.  It also has a handy stylus, which is great if you quickly want to make notes on a document.

On the lower priced end of the market, you could also choose the Acer Iconia A1. This tablet is slightly smaller at 7.9 inches with a 16GB hard drive.  If you only intend to use the tablet as a bridge between your laptop and phone, the amount of storage should be fine, however it is extendable with the use of a micro SD card.

As our lives become busier and our free time is ever reduced, finding technology that can help you make the most of your day is always worth the investment.

*Written for Tesco.  

My Winter Wardrobe

I always used to tease my mum about the amount of clothes that she owned.  Every year when the weather turned warmer and then again, when the cold breath of winter started to make its appearance she would pack away her summer/winter wardrobe in suitcases and take out her other clothes, ready for the season to come.

I never did this.  What is the point is having many clothes when they are all black?  My summer and winter clothes fit into my wardrobe with ease.  There are only so many pairs of black trousers you can own after all. 

Last year however when the first warm days appeared, I realised that my attire was expanding at a rate that my small wardrobe could not keep up with.  The riot of colour and print, which makes me beam from ear to ear every time I opened the door, was getting cramped and overcrowded. 

I said goodbye to all of my winter dresses and cosy coats, packing them away until winter reared its ugly head again. 

This weekend I looked my wardrobe again and decided that it was time to change back to winter wear.  The nip in the air and the cold journey on the bus to work needed something a little warmer to wear than I have been wearing.

I actually found myself stood at my wardrobe talking to my clothes.  Not a good sign I know.  Dresses that I have been in love with over the summer months that I didn't want to say goodbye to.  I'll admit that a few of them have remained in the wardrobe, purely for gazing on purposes.

Upon getting my winter clothing out again though it was like greeting old friends.  My adored purple checked coat, the first leopard print dress I have ever owned, along with a body con dress that I bought when I was feeling confident.

It might have been hard to say goodbye to some dresses this year, but I can't wait to meet them again when summer comes around again!

Suits You 4

I am more than a little late with this challenge I have to say sorry to Sally-Anne Wills whom I have been allocated this month.

Blog address: www.thehumanmannequin.co.uk

Twitter: @sallywills

Instagram: @sallywills

I am trying my best to fit my blog into the whirlwind of things that are happening in my personal life at the moment but it doesn’t always work when you have hospital visits and a million other distractions.

I met Sally at my first ever event in London and she was very lovely, tweeting me before the event when I was nervous and scared to go in on my own!

I have looked through some of her recent outfit of the day posts and have put together this ensemble, I hope she likes it!

Vintage Floral Belted Dress - Yours Clothing

Shoe Boots - Yours Clothing

Pearl Infinity Bracelet from NotontheHighStreet

Please take a moment to check out the other ladies who are also involved in the styling challenge!

Patty

Katt

Vicky

Steph

Kathryn

Sally

Lisa

Leah

Kitty

Checking Out Clarks

I went for a night out with the girls on Saturday so whilst I was all dressed up and ready for a night of dancing, I decided to take a few photographs to show you what I wore.

My dress is the amazing Anna Scholz Check Print Skater Dress  I first spied this +Simply Be dress at Plus North and made frequent visits to the stand to gaze at it.  A sure sign that I was meant to own it.

I love how the bright pinks and yellows combine with the black and the PU trim to the neck, arms and around the waist really give it an edgy detail.  I bought the dress for £50.00 but luckily for you, it is now on sale at £35.00.  Run! Quick! Buy it now!

Now the last time I went out dancing my shoes absolutely crippled me so this time I wanted something that was a little more comfortable, but also added the final edgy touch to the dress.  I decided to go with the Macay Halle * boots from +Clarks 

These boots have a double zip, one on each side with one for fastening and the other as you can see above, which goes half way up, allowing for a little extra room.  One thing that is always important to me with ankle boots is having space to move around my ankle.

These boots goes perfectly with dresses but will work equally as well with lots of different outfits. The block heel isn't too high and the best part for me, strangely I know, is the sole.  I am the human Bambi on ice and when it comes to winter, I need a good firm grip to keep me on my feet instead on falling to the ground.

After wearing them for a night of dancing I can testify that they were very comfortable to wear and will be a firm favourite for the coming Autumn/Winter months.  You can buy them at Clarks here for £69.99.

I finished my outfit with two strands of jet beads and a 50's style roll in my hair.  I hope you liked the outfit!

* Denoted gifted item

Instagram Roundup

I don't have much time to blog at the moment, but I realised this morning that I had not had an instagram round up lately so thought that I would share a few pictures from the past couple of months, as well as my favourite memes of the moment!

Love the little picture of my dog Ellie.  Such a little cutie.  Hope you are all well!  

Shirt Style Belted Dress

Today I have a beautiful tomato orange dress to show you from the Look Magazine Collection for @SimplyBe.

The Shirt Style Belted Dress* is very simple in style which lends itself to be worn in a variety of different ways depending on where you are going and how you want to look.  The material is 62% Polyester, 33% Visclose and 5% Elastane.  The fit is true to size and the material is just the right thickness for taking you into Autumn/Winter.  

Given that I wear dresses every day, I love finding a dress that I can style in different ways to create alternative looks.  For the photos today I have the dress with the buttons open at the front, with heels and a glitzy belt; worn simply with a large statement necklace and low black wedges and also with a belt added.

Opaque tights will also look great with this dress or styled with some ankle boots for an edgier look.

The dress comes with a dull gold belt that I haven't featured here.  The solid colour and simple style of the dress lets you either wear it as is, or choose a variety of different belts in different styles and colours.  I am tempted to try out a clashing coloured belt to see how this looks too.

You can buy the dress at SimplyBe for £60.00.

• 
  

* Denotes gifted item

BGO Murder Mystery Event

I was recently invited by Shaun of Joe Blogs Network to attend a murder mystery event at the Rennaissance Hotel in Manchester which was sponsored by BGO which is an online gambling site in order to promote their new Murder Mystery game.  You can read more about them and the new mystery mystery game they have launched on their blog

As I have always wanted to attend a murder mystery event I of course jumped at the chance and was not disappointed.

After being greeted with a glass of bubbly upon arrival (always a good start to an evening!) we were taken through the dining and performance area. There were around 30 bloggers attending the event and the three tables were challenged to see who could solve the murder by the end of the evening.

The murder mystery theme was "Who Killed His Lordship?" which is run by The Murder Mystery Company

After being seated we were soon greeted with a staggering Lord Burlington coming into the room, shortly to meet his end and his maker, face down on the floor.  We were then immediately questioned as to what we had seen by the aptly named PC World and the famous Sherlock Holmes.

We were supplied with the list of all the known suspects as well as evidence packs, suspect requests forms, fingerprint kits and everything necessary in order to catch the culprit.

Whilst making our enquiries and voicing our suspicions as to who had committed the foul crime, we were also treated to a beautiful three course meal.

After the meal each table were asked to write down who they believed the murderer was and the winner won a bottle of champagne.  I had a brilliant night and want to thank Shaun of @JoesBloggers for the invite.

As to "whodunnit" ?  Well I'm afraid that I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you so instead, I urge you to attend a murder mystery event yourself!

Unconscious Fat Shaming

I said that I would not be posting on the blog for a little while given circumstances at home; but today I want to think about something that isn't sadness, worry and hospitals so I went looking for something to pique my interest.

I ended up on the Women's Rights Page on Facebook reading this post about a lady called Brittany Miles who runs a blog on Tumblr called Full Bodied Lovin She tells her story of overcoming depression and anorexia and her journey to finding self acceptance. She describes her blog as "a place to nurture my own self love, and help create a culture of acceptance for others".

Now, whilst I am rapidly discovering that the Women's Rights Page isn't all it is cracked up to be, with many many adverts, strange off topic statuses and mixed messages; I read this post as the lady in question sounded inspirational, and she was.

The comments however soon began to make my blood boil and I needed an outlet for my thoughts, which is why this post is coming to you now.

Remembering that this was a woman who had overcome fat shaming, who had gotten through anorexia and depression as a result and brought herself out at the other end; wanting to share her story and inspire and encourage others, some of the comments were in my view harmful.

It wasn't so much the troll type comments of which there actually were few, it was the misguided ones that really bothered me.  The "she isn't fat, she's lovely", the "she isn't fat, she's gorgeous" the "you're not fat by the way, you're beautiful!"  The last comment was directly in reply to her own personal comment on the page thanking them for sharing her story.

All of these messages I know came, in the commenter's eyes, from a good place.  An encouraging place.  But that therein is the problem.  What they are actually saying is "It is ok, you are not fat now.  You are good enough".

Do you not understand how harmless and dangerous it is to saying that to someone who is recovering from an eating disorder?????

I questioned one of the said commenters saying "Why can she not be both fat and lovely" and someone else responded with:

"I think because fat has a negative connation to it"

The word fat only has a negative vibe to it if you allow it to.  If you call someone fat as an insult, that says more about you as a person than it does anything else.   

In my opinion using phrases like "You are not fat, you are beautiful" is just a sugar coated version of saying that fat is bad, you shouldn't be fat, but it is ok because I don't think you are so that is alright.  It isn't the classic version of fat shaming, but it isn't too many steps away from that.  It is unconscious fat shaming.

I believe that we need to tell people when we hear this happening, whether the comment is coming from a place of malice or a genuinely wanting to be nice.  I know when someone says something like that to me it really rattles my cage.  I am fat.  I am not shying away from that.  Those people trying to sugar coat your weight  in an attempt to what they think will make you feel "better" are actually trying to justify your weight to themselves.

To understand why you could be happy at a certain size when they could not.

The lady in question is a US size 12-14 now and is happy and body confident.  This is so amazing and she inspires me so much.  What worries me however are the people who didn't read her Tumblr page as clearly many didn't.  What would they have said to her if they knew what her dress size was?  Would the sugar coating have been dropped and replaced with venom?

I am aware that a lot of my anger and frustration in writing this post is as much about what has been occurring (unrelated) in my personal life as the comments on the Women's Rights post. With that said, I am curious as to what anyone else's views are on this topic.  What do you think about unconscious fat shaming?

Disappearing for a While

Hello all,

Just letting you know that I am having a little blog hiatus.

There is a little too much going on in my life at the moment that needs my attention and has to take precedence over my blog.

My step dad is in hospital with a fractured spine and for a while my life is going to be hospital visits and being there for my mum.  I am sure I will be posting the odd thing now and again but for the main part, I am

So as Arnie says "I'll be back".  Don't get into any mischief while I am away, at least wait for me to come back so that I can join in.

Toodles xx

I Feel Good

You know sometimes when you spend ages getting ready for a night out, an event or even just a blog post, and the reflection in mirror isn't what you hoped? This challenge is for those times when you look in the mirror, no pre planning involved, and think "I look good today". 

We all have our good days and our bad, but this challenge is to record those good days and to remember that confidence, at any size, is beautiful.

I absolutely love today's photograph.  It was taken at the Friday night meal at Plus North in Leeds with the beautiful Emma from Terrible Tumbles who so kindly organised the meal for us and also some goody bags.

The photo is fuzzy and the two cocktails I had is making me a little cross eyed but I don't care, I love this picture.

Don't Be A Dick

I have received various different versions of the same article from various friends and people I know lately.  Which one?  The "Fat shaming does not help people lose weight, study finds".  I know that the intention of passing these articles to me was good, but what has actually happened is that I swiftly became irate. 

After reading various incarnations of the same kind of article, I confess that I am at the erupting volcano stage so rather than vent my anger on an unsuspecting friend or colleague, I will write here instead. 

So, fat shaming does not help people lose weight; no shit Sherlock!  I do not need a study to tell me that.  I also do not need a study to tell me that discrimination against fat people is a real thing.   

Is there actually anyone out there that does not realise that fat people are discriminated against, victimised and bullied?  The Times have reported in a recent article that " Fat-shaming is one of “the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice”, and should be viewed like racism and sexism" and I wholeheartedly agree.

What was laughable was the amount of articles that I read that clearly had no idea as to the extent of fat-shaming that goes on.  I read in this article in the Guardian that "Research suggests even doctors can unwittingly harbour negative attitudes and assumptions about fat people".  Are you FUCKING KIDDING me?  UNWITTINGLY?   

Have you met any fat people who have spoken to doctors?  

I'm depressed and need counselling  - lose weight and then you will be happy

I fell over and broke my toe                - lose weight that will help

I strained my wrist                               - just lose weight it will feel better

I see purple people                              - diet and I am sure that they will go away 

If you are fat, every ailment that you may have is put down to how much you weigh.   

I went to the doctors to ask about counselling.  I knew what my issues were which was nothing to do with the fact that I was fat.  I was told that if I lost weight, I would be happier and therefore not need counselling.   

I was not aware that a medical degree also enables you to read minds and see what people are thinking.  I also was not aware that a medical degree gets you a free bonus psychology degree either. 

How dare you to presume to think that I am unhappy because I am fat?   

How about instead of "Fat Shaming does not help people lose weight" the title was simply "Don't fat shame".  Concise, easy to remember, to the point.  Another way would be to quote one of my favourite shows The Last Leg. 

DON'T BE A DICK!

Fast Affordable Fashion

I was recently on the hunt for a new black cardigan when I came across a fashion site that I hadn't come across before called Wear All that I thought that I would share with you.  

Sites that have fast, affordable fashion that cater to plus size ranges are few and far between and after a few items accidentally dropped into my shopping basket, I thought I would show you my new outfit!

Margaret Crochet Knitted Cardigan £9.00 from Wearall
found here

Floral Print V Neck Sleeveless Dress from Wearall
Found here

 I didn't intend to pair the two together originally, but upon getting the dress through the post, I wasn't entirely sure about the bodycon fit on me.  I loved the colours and design of the skirt so much however that I decided to do a Tim Gunn and "make it work".

Spending less than £25.00 on a dress and cardigan is my idea of a bargain so I have put together some other items from the site that I love and intend to buy to start off my new Autumn/Winter season (even though I am in denial that Autumn is fast approaching).

 

I love finding new places to shop and with each of these items less than £20.00, even my bank manager can't object ;)

Interview with House of Fraser

I was recently given the opportunity to interview Sheila Toor, Senior Designer for the Therapy Brand at the +House of Fraser The Therapy line aims to interpret catwalk trends, being fashionable, but not too fashion forward at an affordable price. 

Here is what I asked:

What inspired you to get into fashion design?

From a young age, I have always been fascinated by clothes. My love of fashion design, however, started when I was 11 years old, after I made a pair of jodhpurs as part of a project. I made them from a horrible scratchy fabric but I didn’t care — I was so proud and I thought I looked great!

That’s when I knew that fashion design was the career for me. Even today, I’m still as passionate about crafting clothing as my eleven-year-old self was back then. The only difference is that I now steer clear of those dodgy fabrics!

If you had the chance to be able to dress anyone, who would it be and why?

Now this is a really difficult question! I’m always most excited to dress those who are similar to me and have a real passion for fashion. Someone who has their own unique style and whose eyes light up as they spot the rail of clothes are the most enjoyable to work with. 

Vintage-style prints and shaping are becoming ever more popular.  What trends from the past would you like to see return and which do you wish had never happened?

I think we’d all rather forget the questionable styles of the new-romantic era in the late 1980s. I mean seriously, what were we thinking!?

Personally, I would love to see a revival of 1940s fashion. The era’s flattering, feminine dresses perfectly enhanced a woman’s hourglass shape, while the beautiful floral prints were just to die for. Ladies always looked effortlessly elegant and, of course, drop-dead gorgeous!

The plus-size market is quickly growing momentum with more people than ever wanting the same fashion available to them as the straight-size ranges.  Do you think more fashion brands should incorporate a plus-size range?

Totally! Ladies should be able to express their individual style however they choose and should not be limited by something as silly as a garment’s size label. As attitudes change, I’m certain we’ll see more and more brands including plus-size clothes in their range as standard.

There are many rules that women obey when it comes to fashion, especially when you are a size 16 plus.  Do you believe that fashion rules should be obeyed or is your own sense of style more important?

I’m all for individuality and the beauty of fashion is its versatility. Life would be boring if everyone dressed the same, so I definitely rate individuality over style rules.

I live by the mantra that as long as you feel great, you’ll look a million dollars. Choose items you like, prints you adore and clothes you feel comfortable in. After all, confidence is the most important part of any outfit.