On Christmas Day In The Morning...

These are just a few snaps I've taken with my Christmas present! I love it even though I have no idea how to use it...

I hope you had an amazing Christmas and have fun tonight, whatever you're doing! I'll see you in 2011 ;)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

I just wanted to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope you have an amazing day & thoroughly enjoy this holiday period :) xx

'Tis The Season...

Evans clothing are running a competition to win £100 worth of Evans clothes! Details on how to enter are here but be quick as the deadline for entries is today!

This is my entry. The dress and jacket are some of my recent buys from Evans and firm favourites in my wardrobe :)

To check out the rest of the entries, click here!

Jacket: Evans
Dress: Beth Ditto @ Evans
Tights: Primark
Rings: Evans
Wedges: ALDO
Bag: Marc B

Sleigh Bells Ring, Are You Listening?

This cold weather is ridiculous. It was -7°c when I took my siblings sledging yesterday; painful! But nowhere near as painful as my sledging incident. I may have sliced my butt and destroyed the sled, a pair of tights & some leggings in the process. Attractive, me?

I adore this coat and although it's not as snuggly as my faux fur, it's fabulously cosy and the fit is perfect. Plus it managed to keep me warm, which is more than I can say for my wellies! I think Evans have been on point with outerwear this season, from aviators to parkas they've covered every trend :)

Coat: Evans
Wellies: Clothing at Tesco
Tights: Primark
Rings: Evans

What's your coat of choice this season?

Want Of The Week

Christmas want of the week! I've been an awful good girl, Santa. I promise! ;)

What's on your Christmas list?

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Thank you to everyone who commented my last post, there aren't enough words to express how much it means to me that people enjoy my blog and I can't believe it's been over a year already!

Even though Christmas is in a mere 4 days (!!) I'm still not entirely in the festive spirit. I'm hoping it's because I've been in a general funk lately and not because I've finally grown up! Is everyone else excited for Santa coming? Sophie and I went for a little meander around the shops today for last minute Christmas bits but nothing caught my eye (aside from shoes that is!).

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I'm back at home now and with my minions siblings on hand, hopefully I can work on some OOTD posts :)

1st Birthday!

My little blog hit the grand old age of one on December 16th but due to being a busy bee, I missed it!
I'd just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who reads, or takes the time to comment, my blog. When I started this, I set myself the target of getting 20 followers by the end of 2010 and that target was obliterated months ago. It never fails to surprise me how far this blog has come and I don't know what I'd do without the wonderful people in the blogiverse. Thank you xx

Want Of The Week

So, I realised my WOTW posts seem to centre around ASOS Curve but there's so many things on there that I love! I remember asking for a dress like this one ages ago, when they were looking for product suggestions on their Facebook Group. So, the fact that it's now available is fabulous! Now lets hope they've listened to my demand for peter pan collars... ;)

Holiday Offers!

Free UK Delivery on all orders until midnight 15th December.



20% off everything including Converse & Dr Martens with code: 'FULLHOUSE20'



To celebrate the recent US launch of City Chic, they're offering 30% off all orders until 22/02/11 with code: 'CR30FS'.



20% off & Free Delivery with code: '369PRES' for a limited time only!



Free UK, European & US Delivery on all orders.



Special holiday gift packs available including, 5 pairs of socks for $15 & 3 pairs of tights for $30. Plus receive a free Holiday Wrapping Kit with each holiday purchase. Just use code: 'HOLIDAYS2010'

Happy Shopping! :D

Want Of The Week

Not being a fan of knitwear, I have a serious lack of winter warmers. As much as I love my pearl & rose print cardigans, this Beth Ditto jumper would be the perfect addition to my wardrobe. Cute and cosy!

OOTD: If I Were A Boy...

...I probably wouldn't dress like this to be honest! (Although I do love a boy in a baseball t-shirt ;). To add to my apparent ~all American theme, I threw my baseball jacket on over the top. Overkill? Probably! But I thought it looked cute. I attempted winged liner for the first time using Keiko's tutorial and even though I used pencil liner rather than liquid or gel, I quite like the outcome!



T-Shirt: New Look
Shorts: Clothing at Tesco
Tights: Primark
Shoes: Converse
Rings: Evans & Gifted

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend! :)
xx

5 Ways To Survive The Holiday Season

My blog's 1st birthday is coming up so I've been looking back at those first few posts. I came across this one and figured it was equally as relevant this year :)

The holiday season can be stressful at the best of times, throw in some unfavourable relatives, the 'credit crunch' and the problematic weather and a little madness is a sure thing. So, I've compiled what is hopefully a helpful list in order to help banish the holiday blues:

1 Don't feel obligated - There's always one friend/colleague/relative who goes overboard when it comes to giving gifts and what was meant to be a pleasant token of holiday cheer can turn into a competition of who gives the best present. The pressure of giving back what you receive can become stressful and takes the fun out of the exchange. Don't feel pressured into purchasing things out of your budget, regardless of what others are spending create your own budget and stick to it. When it comes to a 'secret Santa' situation make sure that the set budget is suitable for everyone.

2 Let it slide - So your boyfriend's grandmother feels the need to drop not so subtle hints about how you'll never be good enough for her grandson and there's that one distant Uncle who has one too many and starts hitting on your friends? Everyone has at least one irritating relative whose mere presence causes tension at a get together. As tempting as it is to tell them to stick their back handed compliments, take a breath and move on. Rather than sitting in a corner fuming, move on to other more affable relatives who you may not get the chance to see very often. Look at it this way you only have to suffer their company for a few hours, other people have to put up with them every day.

3 Give thanks - Possibly the oldest one in the book but more often than not overlooked. That's not to say you should put a damper on the festivities by thinking rather depressing thoughts about the not so fortunate, but whilst you're enjoying all the fun things about the holidays, take a moment to put things into perspective and be appreciative of the things you've got.

4 Stay in - The holiday season is party season but with the prices of everything inflating (drinks/taxi fares/club entry) and money being spread thin it can become hard to enjoy yourself. Plan ahead, as fun as spontaneity can be, pick which nights you are going out and then stick to them. The weather can also put a damper on going out so where possible stay in! Staying in can mean anything from wacking on a Christmas DVD and sharing a bottle of rosé to blasting some tunes and having an all out party. Think of an idea and make it fun by getting everyone involved. Host a 'come dine with me' Christmas special party or have everyone dress up as Santa and play drunken old school party games. Whatever it is make staying in, the new going out.

5 Go out - The crisp winter air and the dreary skies can make even the most outdoorsy among us want to stay curled up in bed all day but as tempting as that is, braving the winter weather can be surprisingly fun. Whether it's going for a light stroll with the family, enjoying a spin on the ice with a loved one, taking your younger relatives sledging or for the more adventurous, grabbing a group of friends and having a snowball fight, it's free and it's fun so get outside and enjoy yourself this winter!

Graze

I'd heard about Graze through other blogs and after coming across a code to get a free box, decided to try it out. Being a broke student, the concept of getting free food was enough to get me interested!

The rating system means it easy to 'bin' things you don't like, in my case olives, and 'love' those you do like, in my case flapjacks, and you can chose whether or not to get a random selection or a selection mostly containing your likes and loves. I chose to get a box filled with likes & loves, it was amazing! The flapjacks and granola seed mix were especially yum. I think my friend & and I defied the fact of it being healthy by inhaling it all within moments!

It all comes beautifully boxed in recyclable packaging and even comes with a personalised book. I realise this sounds like an advert but I was genuinely amazed and impressed by the quality and quantity of what you got for free! I definitely recommend trying it out.

To get a free box & try it out for yourself use the code:
KYLGNP4L
@Graze.com

OOTD: Chiffon & Velvet

Please excuse my poor attempt at trying to get an outfit picture. I will get a tripod (or photographer) one of these days...

I adore this blouse, it can easily be dressed up or down and the pussybow adds that little bit of fance when the rest of my outfit is bundled under a coat. I got these Velvet shorts forever ago but have yet to wear them as they're a smidge too tight. I love the texture they add though and I really want to pair them with some sequins!

Blouse: New Look
Shorts: New Look
Tights: Primark
Rings: Evans

Want Of The Week

Although sadly out of my budget, I adore this dress. The sleek tailoring, girly shape and padded shoulders equals perfection!

What're your thoughts on Damn You Alexis? I think there's some amazing pieces, especially the dresses!

November Snapshot

Everything got a little festive this month. Awful snow aside, I decorated my room with a tiny pink tree and some Santa ornaments (dreadfully early but I wanted to get my enjoyment out of them)! The lights were turned on in Leeds with an amazing fireworks display and a performance from McFly. The German markets have also come to town which means lots of alcohol and yummy popcorn. Fabulous! I also attended my first Carnage (immense) and presented my first presentation (tragic).

Aside from my family coming to visit, the highlight of the month has to be seeing Harry Potter! ~AMAZING! If you haven't already, go and see it ;)

With a lack of funds and uni deadlines approaching, I fear December is going to be dire. Roll on Christmas!

Listening to: Adele, Willow Smith, John Mayer, Nelly, Ellie Goulding & NSYNC

Reading: far too many magazines

Watching: HARRY POTTER OMG! Dexter, Modern Family & Gossip Girl.

Buying: winter warmers, rings & coffee.

Wanting: the snow to disappear.

Trying: to love life again!

Loving: my family coming to visit ♥

Planning: to get immersed in uni work

Making: home made chips nomm

Writing: my Christmas list

Inspired by: the blogging community ♥


How did November shape up for you?

Presents In The Post

When my mum came up this weekend, she brought my post up and this little gift was included in the pile. I won this fabulous ring in Amanda's giveaway. I have an obsession with rings at the moment so this was a perfect surprise! I love the Martini sticker on the packaging too, so cute :D Thank you bb ♥

NOTW: Polka Dots & Glitter

In an effort to cheer myself up, I painted my nails my favourite colour and added some spots & sparkle! I've been sticking to nail strengthener this last month as my nails are in terrible condition but it doesn't seem to have worked :(

Any tips on how to strengthen nails?

Want Of The Week

I adore this cape! After seeing it on Nicolette I routinely checked ASOS hoping it would be added to the Curve collection and I wasn't disappointed! Now if only I had a spare £75...

What're your thoughts on the cape trend?

We Love Colours Review

Hey loves!


A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by the lovely people over at We Love Colors offering the chance to review a pair of tights. As I said in a previous post, I've yet to see a negative review about their tights, so I was excited to try them out for myself.


Like many, I find it a chore trying to find tights that fit. Not only am I plus size but I have a 36" inside leg, so most tights are either too short or too tight! We Love Colors Plus Sized Tights come in 51 different colours with a choice of 4 sizes. Clearly mistaking myself for a child, I chose white to try and live out my fantasy of being Susan from Miracle On 34th Street! Even though I should fall under the C/D sizing, I've read that it's best to size up so I went all out and got the EE. Which, considering they can pull right up over my boobs, probably wasn't the best idea! Rather too big than too small though and the extra length in the leg means that the white is more opaque.


Having tried them out for myself, I'm going to add to the list of positive reviews and recommend We Love Colors! Although at $15 a pair, they're not cheap, in comparison to Evan's tights, they fit true to size and are supersoft!

We Love Colours are currently offering free shipping to Ireland on orders over $30. Just enter WELOVEIRELAND at the checkout :)

Forever 21 UK!

Forever 21 arrived in the UK on Friday with a flagship store opening in Birmingham. For those like me who couldn't make it, the UK site has just launched! Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be too much on offer at the moment but with free shipping on orders over £50 and 10% off when you sign up to their newsletter, it's worth a look! :)

Free Shipping!

'Enjoy FREE Shipping
on orders over $30 for the next 10 days!
Just enter gift code
WELOVEUK at checkout.
Starts today and ends November 20th
at 11:59 PM EST!'
welovecolors.com
We Love Colors is an American based company specialising in hosiery and dance wear for men, women and children. With a selection of socks and tights in over 50 colours there's something for everyone! Gabi, Beth and Carla have all given glowing reviews so now would be the perfect time to shop! :)

Want Of The Week

After weeks of waiting, ASOS Curve seems to have gotten it's act together and put up new stock! With the gorgeous dresses and winter warmers currently available, I'm tempted to say it was worth the wait! These dresses are my favourite, the scalloped hem detailing and peter pan collar are perfection. I can't decide which one I need more!

What do you think of the latest additions?

& I'm Looking Like A Fool Again

Dress: ASOS Curve, Cardigan: New Look Inspire, Tights: Primark
After wrestling a bookshelf around my room, stacking up boxes, balancing on my bed, standing on the desk and getting increasingly irate, I finally managed to take some (admittedly shoddy) outfit of the day pictures.

I am so in love with this dress! It's now sold out but I got it for £8 in the ASOS sale and everything about it is perfection; the fit, the length and even the zipper detail on the back. I've been living in this and the lace trim smock dress.

I'm still having issues over things I mentioned in this post. I'm not too sure how I feel about myself or my blog these days but I love blogging too much to give it up. I reckon I should stop moping, get over myself and get on with it, ey?

I hope everyone enjoyed bonfire weekend! I loved the fireworks, unfortunately my camera didn't...

Lanvin ♥ H&M

After months of hype, leaked videos and a blogger contest, the Lanvin for H&M collection is set to drop November 23rd. Exalted as the most anticipated collaboration yet, there's talk of stampedes and outright carnage once this hits stores!

Unsurprisingly it's been rumoured that the collection won't go past a UK18 but with the recent expansion of their main range's sizing, fingers crossed! Personally I'm not enamoured with the collection. Aside from the blazer and tulle dress (both of which I can't afford!), there's nothing that jumps out at me as a must have. In fact, my favourite things about the collection are the bags it comes in! So I may join the masses after all...


What're your thoughts on the collection? Love it or loathe it?

Trip To Yours Clothing

On Monday I, along with Lauren, Devon, Georgina, Kat and Carla, took a trip to the Yours Clothing headquarters in Peterborough. As Georgina, Lauren, Kat and Carla have already written thorough posts about the events of the day, I won't go into it too much!

After meeting up at the train station, we met Leigh and were taken to Yours Clothing where we were given a yummy lunch and some background information about the company. The entire day was wonderfully informal and it was great to sit and chat about something we're all invested in. We took the time to describe our blogs and our inspiration for blogging and it was lovely hearing the different stories behind them.

After spending the majority of the day discussing everything relating to plus size fashion, Leigh showed us around the warehouse and we got to play dress up with the clothes!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It was great to find out that Yours Clothing is as passionate about plus size fashion as we are and seem to be in agreement about what we should expect from retailers. Leigh was open to ideas about the future of Yours and was enthusiastic about working with the blogging community. There was even mentions of opening a flagship store in London, so fingers crossed!

October Snapshot

This month has been a whirlwind of shopping, partying, travelling and trying to adjust to uni life. I've finally settled in and couldn't love living away from home any more! I'm not too sure how I feel about the uni aspect of uni yet though! It's all a bit boring...

For me, October ended with a quick visit home and a series of Halloween parties. What did you dress up as? I'm sad to say, I hate fancy dress so this year I pulled out the generic (read: lame) witch costume, which I also happened to wear last year ;)

Listening to: Pop punk

Reading: So many boring uni things...

Watching: Modern Family & Gossip Girl

Buying: Train tickets, headphones, jackets, shoes...

Wanting: a job/money

Trying: not to kill my flatmate

Loving: uni life!

Planning: to get back on the blogging bandwagon

Making: Veggie sausages, mash & gravy nommm

Writing: An essay ;(

Inspired by: the blogging community ♥


How did October shape up for you?

5 Pieces

After reading Beth and Katrin's posts, I thought I'd take on Beth's challenge and define my style in 5 pieces.

Currently my style, if you can call it that, is the ultimate in lazy. Lack of sleep (and clean clothes) means I end up throwing on the same things. Now that I think about it, my ~style really isn't very stylish at all...

♥ 1 Leggings

Leggings are my wardrobe essential. Cheap, easy to throw on and they go with everything. Although my new love of tights is slowly taking over from leggings!

♥ 2 Grandad Shoes

Crocs aside, these are probably the most unfashionable shoes in existence but I live in them. At £4.99 a pair, they're the comfiest shoes I own and even though I have a tendency to look like a hipster when wearing them, I'll take that over blisters!

♥ 3 Tube Skirts

I'm noticing a pattern here with the cheapness of my wardrobe. H&M's £2.99 tube skirts are an everyday essential and I love throwing on a bright or patterned skirt with an all black outfit.


♥ 4 Shirts

I'm not a big fan of cardigans and blazers can be too formal so I think shirts are the perfect alternative. Easy enough to throw on over leggings and versatile enough to wear with a variety of outfits.


♥ 5 Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, I'm not a fan of piling it on but I never leave the house without earrings!

This is possibly the most uninspiring post ever, my apologies! My style seems to change on a regular basis depending on how I feel but these are the basics that work with the majority of my wardrobe.

What're your 5 pieces?