2013 has been a really great year for me for many reasons including visiting my first plus size fashion convention (Plus North) in Manchester and meeting so many lovely people.  In 2013, my blog became "noticed" and I was fortunate to be contacted by PR companies to review plenty of gorgeous clothes and jewellery.

Mr FH and I travelled down to Southampton for a weekend away which proved rather eventful and we, of course booked our wedding date.  I have enjoyed 2013, without too much heartache and pain which has made a nice change for me with the few years before that (prior to 2010) being some of my lowest times with losing my dad to cancer and going through the physical and verbal abuse from my ex boyfriend and do you know what, I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be even better than 2013...

From the amazing start with our wedding coming up, we already have so many plans that we want to put in place.  For once, I want to completely let go of my weight issues.  Although I am embarking on "Simple Start" by Weight Watchers tomorrow, I don't want to tell myself that I am on a diet and that I can't eat certain things. This will set me up for failure so instead, I want to look at this "change" as a new lifestyle.  I am getting older and I don't want to get diabetes or heart problems so I am doing this for ME.  Not to look into the mirror and see a skinny person before me but to look after myself from the inside out and do everything in my power apart from sheer luck to stay healthy.  

Whether this works or not, I don't want to let it hang over my head and call myself a failure. I have yo-yo dieted so many times going from a size 12 up to a 22/24 and have stayed around the same weight now for years so even if I change my eating habits and stay the same weight, my body is clearly happy with the weight I am and I need to accept that.  No more poking my fat rolls while looking in the mirror or feeling extremely guilty if I eat that piece of chocolate. 2014 is going to be the year that I let go and start living.

Another reason for me wanting to get healthier is that by the end of 2014, I would quite like to be carrying a baby!  I don't know if we definitely will plan for this coming year or not, because it does depend on a lot of factors but hopefully, all things crossed we will have a baby in 2015.

Along with personal goals and plans set in place, we also want to share some experiences together and finally get our asses to Wembley to watch an American Football game.  We'd like to go on our first proper holiday together as a family and of course for our careers and my blog to take off even more than they already have.  

So, 2014...  you're nearly here... Let's start it with a bang!   Oh and by the way, stay posted for some outfit reviews coming your way very soon! 

 

This is the first time I've done a Christmas gifts post, and I'm a little late considering it is New Year Eve but we are planning a nice night cuddled up on the sofa and I have a few minutes to spare. Neither I nor Mr FH are big drinkers and I am going to be starting "Simple Start" with weight watchers tomorrow so I didn't really see the point in eating everything in sight that's left in the kitchen.

Anyway, back to Christmas.  I always get beautiful gifts at Christmas.  Everyone knows me so well and although sometimes I get nervous around surprises, they never disappoint.  I much prefer giving presents than receiving them. Here is a selection of my Christmas gifts that my family and friends gave me this year...

Some of my gift highlights were Daisy by Marc Jacobs gift set from Mr FH.  I had been leaving plenty of hints about this but I never imagined that Mr FH would have listened to me and to be honest I was worried it was a bit expensive. I was so shocked when I opened it on Christmas Day.  My mum treated me to Nina L'Eau by Nina Ricci which is an absolutely gorgeous scent and the one that I wanted to wear on our wedding day. My step son (with help from daddy) got me "This Means War" on DVD, which is rather sweet because it's rated a 12 and he wanted to watch it with me. I had to explain it was a film for old people and suggested we watched Thomas the Tank Engine instead!

My future mother and father in law bought me some scented socks, body lotion and a bridal garter!  I was so excited when I opened it because I hadn't actually bought one of these yet and it also has my something blue on it :) Mr FH's auntie gave me some awesome cat socks from Accessorize - they aren't pictured here because I've already worn them!  They are so soft and comfy and everyone knows that anything with a cat on will be a winner :) She also gave me some hand lotion and my future sister in law gave me a cookbook (also not pictured) along with a cute marriage sign which I absolutely love and a chocolate orange (already in my tummy!)

 

I had an absolutely fabulous Christmas Day with Mr FH's Auntie cooking us a roast dinner - and beef too!  I ate so much I felt like I was going to pop and I was a little greedy with trifle and cheesecake! It's only one day though and I enjoyed every minute of it!

 

I've seen many bloggers posting a Christmas edition of "get to know me" and I thought it would be fun to join in!  I love Christmas, putting the decorations up, spending time with family and friends, choosing gifts for other people and of course now I have a five year old step son, things are a lot more magical around here!

What do you usually do on Christmas Eve?
These days, my Christmas Eve's alternate as once every two years we have my step son for Christmas Eve.  Last year, Mr FH and I spend Christmas Eve at our local curry house and enjoyed a romantic meal.  This year we will spend it together as a family watching Christmas movies snuggled up on the sofa.

Who do you spend your Christmas Day with?
Before my dad passed away, I spent Christmas day with my parents, my half-sister, her husband and my niece.  These days, things are a lot different and I spend Christmas day with my mum, Mr FH, my step son (for half of the day) and Mr FH's parents and auntie.

Do you enjoy giving or receiving gifts?
100% giving gifts for this one.  I love choosing gifts for people and spending the time to choose something that I hope they will love. I also like surprising my family with gifts and seeing their faces when they open them.  I must admit I'm not great at receiving gifts as I don't like to be the centre of attention when people open their gifts one by one.  I get a little shy!

What are you wearing on Christmas Day?
This year, I had two options. One was a gorgeous black, red and gold lace skater dress with red heels and the other was a purple embellished dress from new look with gorgeous purple kitten heels.  I've opted for the purple number although I think I might get a bit cold!  It's a bit of a tradition for my mum and I to buy something new to wear each Christmas Day.

Do you enjoy shopping for gifts for loved ones?
I really enjoy choosing gifts for my family and friends.  I have quite a small network of people to buy for, but I get super organised and get everything done as early as possible.

Have you ever received a gift you didn't like but pretended you did?
Yeah, I think that everyone goes through this. I'm not un-greatful so there's no way that I would tell someone I didn't like a gift!  I do know people, however who do tell you they don't like something and I find that really bratty!

What would your ideal Christmas be?
I'd love to go somewhere with snow, in a log cabin with family and friends and have a Christmas in front of a wood fire. That would be amazing!
 
What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received?
This one is a bit difficult as I have received some lovely gifts over the years. Although it's technically not a Christmas gift (It was meant to be), probably Mr FH proposing to me.  He was going to do it on Christmas day then changed his mind and did it on New Years Eve to make it even more magical.  Another of my favourite gifts was a pair of pink crystal earrings from my dad but unfortunately I lost them a long time ago which makes me feel really sad.

If you could choose one person to spend Christmas with, who would it be and why?
Apart from my family of course, I wish I could have my dad back for just one more Christmas. Since he passed away, things have been very different around Christmas time.   

I have completely finished my Christmas shopping as I'm pretty organised when it comes to this time of year but I know many people, including Mr FH have in the past shopped for presents on Christmas Eve.  To me, that is just INSANE!  I can imagine them scrambling around trying really hard to find something and ending up buying the easiest thing to hand.  If I am wrong please let me know!

I thought it would be useful to write a blog post on women's perfume. Perfume is a very personal thing and due to our own natural scents it can smell completely different on two different people (as me and my mum found out in Boots the other week!)  The perfumes I have chosen to write about are relatively safe as they are quite sweet and gentle in fragrance.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs
I used to have a house mate who wore nothing but Lola by Marc Jacobs and although I didn't mind the smell, she used to wear quite a lot of it and it became overpowering.  The reason I tested this perfume was actually because I liked the look of the bottle.  Marc Jacobs perfumes always have such unique, beautiful bottles!  I was pleasantly surprised by this perfume as it smelt natural and quite floral but it didn't overpower.  Whenever I try perfumes on, I tend to spray them on my wrist, and then walk about for an hour before seeing how the scent has settled.  The bottle is a gorgeous floral display of plastic daisies and looks much more expensive than it is. Daisy by Marc Jacobs has a massive YES from me and starts in price from £45 at various high street and online retailers. You can also buy gift sets in two sizes which feature body lotion and shower gel along with a bottle of perfume. This is on my Christmas wishlist!

Nina L'Eau by Nina Ricci
This perfume is the one that I have chosen to wear on my wedding day.  I stumbled across it completely by accident as I literally walked into a perfume shop and asked the assistant for gentle fragrances that would be suitable for a bride.  I have a tendency to be a bit trigger happy with my perfume so she recommended me a number of more subtle scents.  I've never smelt any of the Nina Ricci perfumes before but I was pleasantly surprised.  Nina L'Eau has a gentle, fresh smell about it with hints of grapefruit (believe me it smells better than it sounds!!) and it comes in a beautiful apple shaped bottle.  The good thing about this perfume is that you can buy a tiny bottle for approximately £20 to £24 so if you are on a budget, it is worth checking it out.  Again with this scent, it is very gentle and not overpowering.  

Miss Dior by Christian Dior
You surely must have seen the adverts with Natalie Portman on the television this Christmas?  I was really excited by this perfume and couldn't wait to give it a try.  The bottle and advert look so classy I thought that it would be perfect for my Christmas wishlist.  I was wrong.  Now, if your other half likes quite old fashioned, strong perfumes, this may work for her but for me it was far too smelly.  I can't imagine anyone young wearing this at all.  It's not cheap either at around £65 for a smaller bottle! :(

Purr by Katy Perry
Before you read the title and think, Felicity.. REALLY?  I wanted to try this perfume ever since I saw the bottle as the top is shaped like a CAT!!  I'm not a fan of Katy Perry so when I asked the male assistant in the perfume shop if they had the Katy Perry perfume with the cat bottle, he looked at me quite quizzical as I continued "I like the bottle and I've never smelt it before".  He sprayed it on my wrist and I was expecting quite an awful smell but after an hour or so walking around the shops, smelt my wrist and I was actually surprised by how "normal" this perfume smelt.  I would say that it has quite a young smell about it and reminds me somewhat of the impulse sprays that you can buy. It smells quite musky with toned of Jasmine.  This perfume is really reasonable and I've seen it on sale for less than £20 - however the price does reflect the quality and the smell doesn't last as long as more expensive perfumes.  If your partner is a crazy cat lady like me, she may love it!

As you can see, my first three picks look a lot more exquisite and if I had to choose just one, I would choose Daisy by Marc Jacobs...

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I am a complete sucker for partywear especially when it comes to Christmas!  Every year, my mum and I normally treat ourselves to a new Christmas Day dress/outfit.  This year, with the wedding fast approaching might be the first year in a while that I break the tradition but with so much temptation around... it's going to be difficult!

After experiencing Simply Be's party dresses previously including the Paper Dolls brand it was my first port of call when I decided to look online at the variety of dresses available this year.  There are some absolute beauties so here are my favourite picks...

Short Embellished Prom Dress, £160.00, Simply Be

I first spotted this gorgeous short embellished party dress in the Simply Be catalogue and I have been drooling over it ever since.  I'm not normally someone who wears white/ivory, but it looks so stunning and pure - I even contemplated changing out of my wedding dress into this one in the evening on my wedding.  The detail on the website is a little unclear.  I'm not sure if this dress has an elasticated back similar to my previous purchases or if it is completely fitted.  Either way, in the right size this dress would make you stand out from the crowd of black and red dresses that are in fashion this year.

The embellishments look very detailed and as shown in the photo above, this dress would look stunning with nude sparkly accessories or even silver to complement the beading on the dress.  This dress isn't cheap, and is currently £160.00 but even the frugal part of me is sorely tempted.  Available in a size 14 to 32, with some sizes selling out already grab it before it's gone... (now where's my bank card!)

Next up is something similar in shape but complete opposite in colour!  I have noticed that red and black are cropping up in this years winter party dresses so why not combine the two with this absolutely jaw dropping floral dress with lace sleeves!  

Rose printed dress with lace sleeves, Simply Be, £45

In my opinion, this dress looks a lot more exquisite than £45 so it makes it a perfect bargain for a plus size party dress for this year.  What I like about this dress is the lace detailed sleeves and the vibrant print.  I like how they have styled this dress with a bundle of necklaces in an almost punk feel.  I would probably combine this dress with either black or possibly bright red accessories depending on the mood I was in.

Another bonus about this beautiful dress is that every single size is still available on the Simply Be website from a UK 12 to 32.  From looking at the detailing, this dress isn't elasticated or stretchy so I would probably go for my normal size for fitted dresses.  I would love to know your thoughts on this dress as I fell in love with it as soon as I noticed it!

*PLEASE NOTE* This dress is currently on sale for £36... so I just ordered it myself!! :) 

It's been a while again, and this time I promise that I won't disappear for a month!  Lots of things have happened since I last posted including:

- An auntie of mine passed away and we had her funeral which was very sad
- Sending out all of the wedding invitations and collecting RSVPs
- Complete mess up with the bridesmaid dress not arriving
- Work halved by a client of mine :( Less spending money for clothes ARRGH!!
- Christmas Shopping
- Boiler broke!!

Unfortunately nothing fashion related! Grr.  I did, however purchase my first MAC cosmetics product from the counter in Debenhams which was the "Angel" coloured lipstick. This is for me to wear at the wedding for touchups as I recently had my makeup trial which I absolutely loved.  I'm going to attach a photo, however it really doesn't do it justice at all so hopefully you'll all see the professional photos and it will look much clearer.

 

As you can see, I have very pale lips, and shading on my cheekbones to give me definition.  My nose looks slightly shiny in this photo but it didn't in real life :)  Don't you just love all of the numbers over our fridge!? 

Other than sorting out the last few plans and working, I have been Christmas shopping.  I love this time of year when it gets colder and we all have to wrap up.  Plus I love buying presents for people. I get so much more joy watching someone open a present than receiving one myself.

The only people I have left to buy for are my mum and Mr FH.  I really want to get my mum something fabulous as a thank you for helping me with the wedding plans and also if I can supporting small businesses.  So if you have any suggestions on small businesses/handmade, please let me know :)

Felicity

xx

 

The wedding planning is pretty much done which means I can get back to my passion of blogging!  I have missed it so much and felt like I have let my readers down....To get back into the swing of things, I have an amazing offer for my readers and it's all about Yours Clothing.  Let me explain how I found this awesome retailer...

I first heard of Yours Clothing from another plus size fashion blog (I think it may have been What Laura Loves).  and of course met with Charlotte at Plus North where I had a good nosey on their rail they had displaying their clothes.  After the event, I also popped into their store in the Arndale centre to have a look at a wider range of their offerings.  I was being very good in Manchester and trying not to spend too much money due to the cost of the hotel and travel so I came away empty handed.

Regularly, I look online at what new items are available across a wide number of online stores and Yours Clothing is no exception.  I guess it's similar to window shopping but if I see something that I really love and would hate for it to be sold out, i'll place an order.  In January hopefully my normal shopaholic self can return!  

What I really like about Yours Clothing is that the clothes on offer aren't all old fashioned - they have some really on trend pieces suitable for all age groups.  There is nothing worse than having an online plus size clothing brand that is set on covering you up from head to toe - or everything being extremely baggy and unflattering.  Yours Clothing does neither of these things yay!

Here are a few of the recent items that I have picked out to share with you...

Firstly, I'm not going to make a clothing post without including a dress!  With Winter on it's way, I think that there is more of a need for darker dresses so that they don't look out of place and this purple and black flock skater dress really suits the season.  It is a stretchy dress made with viscose and elastane and I don't know about you but in this weather I really like to eat warming, comforting foods like stew and pasta and meatballs so I always put on a few pounds!  This dress is available in a 16 to 26 (the 26 is currently out of stock) and is a really reasonable £30.  

One thing I think this dress offers is versatility.  Combine it with ankle boots and a leather jacket for an on trend daytime look or alternatively, a paid of killer heels with a gorgeous embellished or lace jacket/cardigan would suit evening wear for a meal out or party.
 

 

Purple and black short sleeve flock print skater Dress, Yours Clothing, £30

Second up, a warm jumper!  I must admit I am a little less creative with my outfits for Autumn/Winter purely because I don't really own much for this season! I am not really a fan of this new trend of Christmas jumpers so I'll stay safe and showcase a jumper that you would wear out in public!

This nude coloured "LOL" jumper is still a bit quirky but a little less offensive than dressing yourself up as a Christmas pudding or with a bunch of reindeer on your tummy.  I love the colour of this and I think that with a pair of blue jeans and some nude coloured heels, this look would still be quite glamorous rather than another boring jumper.  This jumper is available in sizes 16-26 and is £25.  What I particularly like about this jumper is that it looks warm and cozy and although I can't feel the fabric through a computer monitor, I'd hope that it was soft too.  

 

 Nude 'LOL' Slogan Knitted Jumper, Yours Clothing, £25

Needing a new coat this winter?  I already have a cream faux fur jacket, but I need a black one too ,right?  This black faux fur coat looks absolutely gorgeous and would be perfect for a cold night out or a "date night" meal.  It's available in a size 16 to 28 and is really good value at £60.  I imagine that it would be really comfortable to wear and stylish too, without being too garish.

Faux Fur Black Coat, Yours Clothing, £60

I hope you'll agree that I have been a bit more practical with my picks from Yours Clothing, yet all of the items I have chosen are also very trendy and beautiful.  You don't need to look frumpy when it's cold!  

Now onto my amazing offer.  Yours Clothing have given me a discount code for all new customers, on full priced items...  £10 off a £20 spend.  Simply use the discount code BLOGGER10 when you are checking out and this will be applied to your order...   How cool is that!?






 

I know that some of my regular readers are quite interested in how my wedding planning is going, so I thought I would post a little update on recent events.

Last weekend, not only did we manage to sort my bridesmaid's dress (it's going to be an Eggplant/Aubergine colour instead of Cadbury's purple, eek!) but on the Sunday me and my mum went to a wedding fayre.  We weren't really expecting much due to previous wedding fayre's being tiny and having hardly any exhibitors so imagine our surprise when we turned up just before it was due to open and there was a massive queue!  Outside were vintage wedding cars and even VW campervans that were available to hire.

We don't need any transport for our wedding as we are all staying in the hotel the night before, so we ventured inside as soon as the doors were opened.  The first so many brides were given a goody bag with various treats and there were numerous rooms with exhibits which were all really pretty.  In the first room there was a bridal store, photographer, cake maker and a table with a lady who made guest books and post boxes.  Mum picked up a glass of bucks fizz as we made our way into the second room where there was another photographer, florist and a rack of wedding dresses.  There were literally around 5 or 6 more rooms packed with tables!

Upstairs, there was a beauty salon offering free makeup and hair trials so I decided to queue and have mine done, especially since some places charge up to £60 just for a hair trial. I had my makeup done first and if I'm honest it wasn't really something I would want for my wedding.  I told the lady that I wanted dramatic eyes - covering my whole eyelids in black eyeshadow wasn't quite what I meant!  It was free, however so I didn't complain.  Next my hair was done.  The hairdresser curled my hair, then did some fancy thing where she pinned curls that were rolled onto the back of my head on the right hand side.  She also gave me a mini "beehive".  Once she had finished I wasn't quite sure I liked it, but as soon as I put on my tiara (I had taken it with me) I thought WOW! People in the room were taking photos which was a bit odd!  Unfortunately 30 minutes later all the curls had fallen out of the bits that were hanging down which sucks but I'm hoping that it was just because they were rushing free trials out.  I may book in for a proper hair trial with them one morning and see how long the curls last.

Also at the wedding fayre was a really lovely lady who had the most beautiful cakes and sample slices to try.  Like i'm going to turn that down!  We spoke to a few florists, other cake makers and the local bridal store where I bought my wedding dress from.  The people who run it are absolute gems and the owner even wants to take a look at some of my tiara designs!

So that was Sunday... In the week, Mr FH and I met a local photographer who was really friendly and a lot of fun. Before we went in I told Mr FH we weren't making a decision on the day but her style of photography and her manner sealed the deal there and then :) We're even getting an engagement shoot to see how we are in front of the camera together.

Thursday, mum and I went to meet with one of the florists we met at the wedding fayre.  I took along one of the cream birdcages I have bought for the centrepieces and we sat literally for hours discussing my vision and going over various flowers.  We also decided we wanted them to do our wedding flowers and ordered a bunch of things, all with cream, peach and pink roses, purple flowers (no idea what they were) and pink calla lillies.  From their sample bouquets that I held, it is going to be stunning and I can't wait!

Today we all popped to do a bit of shopping and I ended up buying a candleabra and a massive set of vintage looking letters that spelt "LOVE" for added venue decoration.

Decorative Jewel Tealight Holder, The Range, £16.99

Vintage Style LOVE Letters, The Range, £14.99

So that's photographer and florist crossed off the list. Next to tackle is the cupcake tower, bridal shoes and faux fur wraps for myself and my bridesmaid... :)

As regular readers of my blog and twitter will know, last weekend I went bridesmaid dress shopping with my lovely Bridesmaid to be.  Now don't stop reading as this post isn't another boring wedding post...  It's all about SHOES!  We found ourselves in the usual places looking for that perfect dress when we stumbled into John Lewis.  I must admit I'm not a regular shopper of John Lewis apart from around Christmas time when they sell the most delicious gingerbread houses and Christmas treats but after looking online I thought we'd give them a go.

I found myself getting more and more distracted by the shoe section.  While my bridesmaid was looking for her dress, I still needed bridal shoes so left her to it while I ventured off in the direction of the shoe department.  This is where I stumbled across Kurt Geiger.  This is in all honesty not a brand I would have previously considered due to my bargain hunter instinct in me but I was really surprised by the different styles of high heeled shoes they had in store! I came away empty handed on the day but when I got back I thought I'd take a look at the John Lewis website and have a proper nosey with a cup of tea and my pyjamas in tow!

I am a little magpie when it comes to shoes and once I had settled myself into the website I came up with numerous pairs of shoes that I bookmarked for my wishlist.  You can never have too many shoes since your feet pretty much always stay the same size!  That's my theory anyway and I am sticking to it. I thought I would share with you my top picks of Kurt Geiger* shoes that I think would be equally as perfect for work wear or parties! (shove the bridal shoes!)

Kurt Geiger* Empire Court Shoes, £216.00, John Lewis

How could anyone resist these beauties?  With a massive heel and platform these are really glamorous.  When people mention John Lewis to me, I always think of older people but how wrong I am!  I can imagine wearing (teetering in) these with a pencil skirt and blouse.  These also come in black patent.

 

Kurt Geiger* New York Court Shoes, Currently reduced to £109.00, John Lewis

Speaking of glamorous... hello spike heels!   These shoes remind me of Sex and the City and with a pricetag of £109 in the sale, I am sorely tempted by them.  Being in black, these heels would go with anything and last forever so really it's an investment right?  That's what I'm telling myself anyway!

Kurt Geiger* Britton Court Shoes, £200, John Lewis

Finally, I couldn't resist showing you these gorgeous animal print court shoes. Again with a super spike heel, these beauties would look stunning with a little black dress.  They look seductive and although they are animal print, in my opinion they look really classy.  

Who says a bride needs white bridal shoes anyway? Imagine me rocking up in these animal print heels! I am so tempted!

Just a quick little post from me to let you all know that Yours Clothing is offering free delivery & returns on all full priced items on their website this weekend :)

This special offer ends at Midnight on Sunday and all you need to do is add the coupon code: FREETREAT at the checkout...

http://www.yoursclothing.com

And best of all, there is no minimum spend!  Have fun ladies.. I'm off bridesmaid dress shopping so I have to be good :'( 

Felicity
xx

I'm late... I know... I'm very late with these challenges and all I can say is that I'm putting it down to real hectic life, the weather and my cold that has knocked me for six.  I decided today that although I still have my cold that I was going to get myself all dressed up to make myself feel better and to make myself look more human.  There's only so long you can lounge about in fleece pyjamas right!? (Major perk of working from home though!).

Today's Style It My Way Challenge is from week 4 - Bodycon. I still have week 5 and this week to style and will aim to do that asap so that I am back on schedule.  The outfit I have chosen for the bodycon challenge is the same outfit that I wore to Plus North 2013 for the day event, minus a belt.

I am completely new to bodycon and if someone had suggested to me 5 years ago to wear it I would have told them where to go.  I always thought that bodycon actually meant "Body Conscious" and was corrected at Plus North that it means Body Confidence by a group of lovely bloggers and I felt like such an idiot! 

I am a lot more comfortable with my body and the way I look these days so when I saw this mini dress in New Look, I immediately loved the print and thought "What the heck!" and tried it on and here is the result...

 

 

Bodycon Mini Dress: New Look, £14.99 - Size 18,
Faux Leather Jacket, New Look, £39.99 - Size 18, Statement Necklace: New Look, £12.99, Ankle Boots: Tesco, £19.50 - Size 4

I'm like a walking advert for New Look! In all honesty I was panicking about what to wear to Plus North so found everything I needed in one go.  I love putting outfits together in a shop - it's so much fun!   Both the dress and the jacket are available up to a size 18 and the dress comes in either a mini style or midi if you'd like it that little bit longer.  I'd say that a size 20 would easily fit into the dress, but the jacket is kind of snug - I can just about do it up.

At Plus North, my necklace was commented on a lot which made me feel really great about myself and although I don't think I would wear a bodycon dress without some sort of jacket over the top just yet, I have since ordered 2 more bodycon dresses that will be arriving in the next few days.  They are sure to make an appearance on the blog soon!

I was reading my daily dose of fashion blogs when I stumbled across Betty Pamper from Pamper and Curves most recent blog update - "Are you size wise".  I found this post very intriguing because it explained about a new tool that the brand Marisota had released to see the difference in what we think we are and what we really are.

I thought I would give this tool a go.  Before I started, I had to choose a body size that I thought best represented me.  Easy so far.   You aren't asked what "shape" you think you are, however for years I have assumed that I am an apple and at high risk of heart problems etc which if I'm honest has been worrying me...

Once I had clicked on the body size that I thought I was, the tool then asked me for my measurements.  I have these to hand as I have been measuring these for the last few months since I started spinning.  I don't mind sharing these with you - I am currently a 42, 37, 47.  My ass has actually come down from 50 inches since I started spinning.

Once the tool calculates your measurements, it then loads a screen which shows you what your actual size is compared to what you thought you were.  I over-estimated my size by 17.5%!!!  That is how warped my view of my own body is.... the one that I look at in the mirror daily.  Betty Pamper also over estimated the size she was too by over 22%.  I am prepared to bet that 85% of women would over estimate how big they think they are.  

This tool also told me that I am a pear shape.  I guess from looking at my measurements that does make sense but I have never considered myself as a pear.  I have chubby love handles and back fat and I've never really considered my ass to be that big before... up until now!

Why don't you have a go and see what you come up with by clicking here... I'd be interested to know your results!

When Vicky from put a shout out that she was starting a new blog challenge I was excited to find out what it was.  I am still participating in the "Style it My Way Challenge" even though I am a few weeks behind due to various reasons.  Anyway, Vicky's challenge is completely different to any I have taken part in before...

"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."

The photo I have chosen is one that I took on my iPhone quite a while ago and although I'm not wearing any makeup I was pratting about with my hair trying to curl it and anyone who knows me knows that I always straighten my hair.  I think that I genuinely look attractive which is not a regular occurrence for me! I may even use this hair style for my wedding hair in one way or another...

 

Check back next month for another "I Feel Good" photo - It's funny really because I feel so ill with my cold today - I Feel Poorly! lol :) Do you want to see the other lovely ladies taking part in this challenge? Click the links below:

Becca - http://bekasstuffystuff.blogspot.co.uk

Becky - http://www.doesmyblogmakemelookfat.com

Bee - http://www.thelittlestbuzz.blogspot.co.uk

Hallie - http://knitteddaisy.blogspot.co.uk

Hollie - http://www.prettybigbutterflies.com

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

Kaye - http://www.polishedcurves.com

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

Leah - http://justmeleah.blogspot.co.uk

Mhari - http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com

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

Nikki - http://nattynikki.blogspot.com

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

Vicky - http://www.thecurvedopinion.com