Five take: Movie Character

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way and two weeks ago it was spots. But I was very very disorganised.


Well, you have probably never heard of it, but my favourite movie is French Kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline.

And I happen to love the way Meg dresses in this, and a number of other movies. Now, this was made in the 90's so some of the styles and shapes (oh my god the jeans!) are out of style at the moment, but I love the pared down look and the manly dressing style. And the hair, always loved her hair.

So, my look below is trying recreate the slighly french, relaxed, slightly masculine look. Huge apologies for the photo quality, but my photographer was curled up in bed when I left for work on Monday and for some reason I didn't get organised on the weekend :(

Trousers: Very

Cardigan: Phase Eight

Jacket: Very

Top: H&M

Shoes: Cath Kidson

Five take: Casual

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way and this week it's casual.


And I do casual lots... and lots. Very lots.


This is my look for going toddler swimming, dog walking, a bit of sitting around and cooking Sunday dinner. I would usually probably wear jeans but what with the warmer weather and my 'learning to love my legs' current project I decided to wear a skirt and leggings :)

As I was going walking, I'm also wearing Asics trainers (although I was wearing ballet flats mostly) They are fabulous and very comfortable. 


Skirt is from M&S, leggings from Primark, vest H&M, Jumper from Gap, scarf from Primark as well.

Random post and random answers

Thanks to Hanna I am going to bore you with details about me that you really probably don't want to know...

These are the rules

There are five rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.Now, I'm probably going to break rule 5 because I don't want to 'push' people into this. But if you do want to answer and keep the chain going let me know you have done so :)

Random things:

1. I'm scared of zombies and also dead people. Really scared they are going to come alive (see fear of zombies).

2. I have never been on a rollercoaster. Don't really have them in New Zealand.

3. I have two sisters called Karen. Half sisters, but still.

4. I didn't start speaking until I was over 4 years old and this lead to me have a speech 'defect' for years - although people just thought I had an accent. They still do, but as it's a kiwi accent I'll let them away with it.

5. If you read out numbers or spell something out to me, I won't be able to write it down unless you go r e a l l y   s l o w l y . . . . . think it's related to why ever I didn't speak until really late.

6. My darling partner doesn't know how many people I have horizontal line-danced with, and I'll never tell him.

7. I'm not sure if they are many principles or abstract things I would lay down my life to protect, but I would die to save my daughter in a heart beat. Husband, he can look after himself ;)

8. When I was about 7 or 8 a teenager tried to abduct me, but I ran away into a shop.

9. I'm very happy to spend time on my own, in fact I crave it.

10. I spent quite a lot of my childhood wishing I lived in medieval England. Now I live in England I wouldn't mind going back in time, as long as I could take central heating and Minstrals with me.

11. I still sulk that they stopped making my favourite sweet ever. They were like smarties but nice. Pebbles - gone but not forgotten.

AND now my answers:

1.  What is the last movie you’ve seen? What did you think of it?

It was actually French Kiss, which is my favourite movie I think. Never been great at having complete 'favourites', but there is something about the relationship between Kate and Luc that I adore.

2.  What has been your fave holiday?

This is a tough one. Have done a fair bit of travelling around the world. Perhaps Canada?

3.  Talking about holidays.. what is a place that you really want to visit?

Paris, and I'm going for my 40th OR ELSE.

4.  Do you like to cook? What’s your ‘signature dish’?

Love to cook. I find it weird that some fat people don't. I mean, obviously like food, why not love cooking it too? Pavlova is my signature I suppose as apparently they are hard to make so people get impressed when you make a good one (they are easy to make really). Oh and they are completely delish ;)

5.  Have you tried online dating? Any success?

Yes, and met a couple people off it. Met my husband online but not through a dating site. SIL has met people through online dating as have many of my friends.

6.  Are you a phone person? Talking on the phone I mean.

Yeah, but who has the time these days? And I find trying to organise to talk to people in New Zealand difficult due to the time difference of either 11,12 or 13 hours.

7.  If you could only shop clothes from one store for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?

Oh dear god. If I was thinner and could fit into all their stuff, maybe Gap. As I'm not... Asos. Good range, fab shoes, jewellery and bags.

8.  Do you have many best friends or just one?

Probably really just one long term, don't have to speak to that often but still friends, best friend.

9.  Do you feel that you’re in your right career (or going towards one if you’re still studying)?

Dunno. Enjoy what I do, but would like to help women more directly through training and self development.

10.  Are you a creative person? How does this come across? (Painting, photography, music.. whatever.)

Um, sort of. I like being creative but not in a particularly directed way.

11.  Where is your happy place? Please describe it.

Woods. Nice big woods, with a path, and preferably a river through it. My huskies and me.


So, some random questions for anyone who would like to answer them:

1. DO you like speaking in public?
2. What is your favourite memory?
3. Do you like animals?
4. If you could go back in time, where and when would you go?
5. If you could give one piece of advice to you as a 12 year old, what would it be?
6. 'You can never be too rich, or too thin'. Discuss
7. Do you believe in life on other planets?
8. How far have you moved from where you grew up?
9. Do you wear makeup every day or hardly at all? Why?
10. What is the one thing you are glad your parent(s) taught you?
11. Summer or winter?

Enjoy!

Collection Challenge - Coach

For the last 10 years or so there has been a bag company that I have lusted over. Coach. It's an American brand and I first discovered it in New Zealand, of all places. It's designer, without being too expensive (fabric bags for around $300-400 USD). I just liked the look of them and the build quality.

I found second hand bags being sold on the New Zealand version of ebay and quickly learnt the difference between the real things and the fakes. I bought a couple second hand and loved them! I used to make a few trips through LA so would stop and drool at the Coach stores until I bought myself a lovely new Coach bag as a treat for moving across the world. Unfortunately I was being foolishly sensible and bought the smaller size than I really wanted and just haven't used it very much as small bags just aren't me :(

What I really wanted was a large Carly bag (they don't make them anymore) and eventually I did buy one (the black bag below). I have also sold a couple of others that I used to own and have a brown one floating around somewhere that I couldn't find... it's a shoulder bag in the same pattern. Sadly I don't really use them at all, as my lifestyle seems to require that I carry around a truck load of crap, and they just aren't big enough.

Coach has moved on now with their designs and collections and looking through their website I could feel myself falling in love all over again. They are now available in the UK too, at Westfield and Terminal Five in London.

The lovely leather, simple yet classic designs and sometimes quirky touches make my heart go *ping*, But, head must rule heart and I have decided that if I ever have money I will buy a Mulberry bag. Fabric and soft leather bags and childen and dogs do not mix, whereas Mulberry bags have the kind of leather that wears well with age, and looks better for a few knocks. But Coach will always have a special place in my heart.

A few other Gorgeous bloggers are coming clean with some of their obsessions go take a look at these too!

Kathryn: http://misskathrynsmisstakes.blogspot.com

Sara: http://confusedbrit.wordpress.com/

Hanna: http://thewardrobechallenge.wordpress.com/

Mhairi: http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/

Dani: http://diyfatshion.blogspot.com/

Kaye: http://testybrunette.blogspot.com/

Cynthia: http://cynthiapickles.wordpress.com/

Caroline: http://curvywordy.blogspot.com/

www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com

 

30 for 30 challenge

The challenge was created by Kendi Everyday

How to take the 30 for 30 challenge:

1. Take 30 items in your closet.

2. Make 30 outfits. 

If you'd like, give up shopping for the duration of the challenge. Then take that money you've saved and take a bath in it. Or put it in a savings account, whatever you think is the more responsible choice. 

Claire is an old hand in this and inspired by her I'm taking part this time. Check out her blog to find out how she is approaching this.

While my spending is not that bad on clothes, I have become aware that there are people out there that don't buy clothes every week, or indeed even every month. And we have had a very very very very large vet bill.

So, my more or less constant shopping means that while there is a constant influx of new things, I don't really take the time or energy to explore and enjoy my current clothes. It also means if I'm unsure about how to put an outfit together with what I already have, I bypass the problem by buying something new. This challenge is an attempt to get me over this by giving me no excuses.

That said, I have just ordered some new tops from Asos, and have some things coming from H&M. In my defence, I do tend to return LOTS of things I order - except from H&M.

Anyway, this is what I'm going to wear over the next 30 days....

Asos jersey?
Asos coral top?
Blue new look jeans
spotty Next top
Denim skirt
black evans boots
Nautical jersey
Black ballet flats
Navy trousers
White short sleeve shirt
Black evans dress
Beth ditto jeans
Green cardigan
Brown shirt
Black cardigan
Teal shirt
Snake skin skirt
Denim jacket
Brown boots
Joules dress
Other dress - hm?
Black bat wing top
wide leg trousers
Black mini skirt
Zig zag dress
Tweed jacket
Hm satin top?
Pink cardigan
Blue asos dress
black OSP shirt?
Beige Simply Be trousers

Anything in the list with a ? by it is on its way and may therefore not fit and may have to be returned. If so, I pledge to either use something similar from my existing wardrobe, or delete the item all together - no going off looking for something else until the end of the challenge. *gulp*

Also, small admission: the list doesn't include things like tights, leggings or other basics. It also excludes Dog Walking Clothes (eg old jeans and sweat shirt) as these are not actual clothes I wear 'out' eg to work or coffee etc.

It starts today, wish me luck!

Five take: Spotty

Five take is where Nicole, Rebecca, Claire ,Becky and I all take a theme or item of clothing and wear it in our own way and this week it's spots. 


I like spots. Polka dots are brilliant and never seem to go out of style. I loved this top when I saw it on the Next website. I ordered it in January and it arrived two weeks ago. I'm assuming it was handmade with the cotton grown especially when my order came through. Anyway, it's lovely and a really dark navy. Wish it came in red.


The jeans are beth ditto and high waisted skinnies. Still not convinced about me and skinny jeans and at the moment I tend to wear them with boots, although in summer I will brave sandals and flats with them more. 


Love red shoes!!! These are from Accessorize, although I have a horrible feeling these are going to be hideously uncomfortable to wear :( Necklace is from Warehouse I think. Ring Primark (of course).


If I look a little more rough than usual, blame my neighbours. Went out on Friday night and got plastered. Brilliant fun and two of them (rather embarrassingly) sometimes read this blog. So hi!

Do you do spots?

No clothes were harmed in the making of this post..

So, not clothing related today I'm afraid. Instead I want to talk about something I have been thinking about for the last week or so.

As part of my job I help to run a training programme for female staff and students. It's the Springboard programme and it aims to help women to gain self confidence, assertiveness, goal setting and generally feeling more empowered. The course is four day long workshops which one or two trainers lead. As part of day 1 we had a speaker come along to talk about her experiences of the course and her life in general. This woman was truly inspirational.

I don't say that lightly. She had gone through a divorce and a change in career by her early 20's and then married again to a man who was older with teenage children. He had then lost his highly paid job due to disability making her the sole earner. They had a child together, who was then diagnosed with autism. Then her husband was given 6 months to live due to cancer and she went on to have two serious life-threatening illnesses.

You could hear the room of 40 women listening thinking 'oh my god. How do you cope? How would I cope? I wouldn't cope...'

And her message was this. You have a choice.

Simple as that. And as powerful as that. You have a choice.

You have a choice in how you live your life and you have a choice about how you feel about things that happen in your life.

It's too easy to say oh well, lots of things happen in my life I have no control over, things I can't change. Afterall no one would make a choice to suffer illness, or redundancy or loss. And that's true, but the sometimes uncomfortable truth is that you still have a choice about what you do in these situations and a choice about how you feel about them.

A good example that resonates with me is being fat. I'm fat. I have a choice about whether I am fat or not. No doubt. Genes, family history, set point, metabolism completely aside, if I wanted to work hard, not eat the foods I enjoy and dedicate a significant part of my life to weight loss and maintainance I could be thin. I am making an active choice not to. And I'm alright with that. My weight isn't beyond my control.

I also make an active choice to feel ok about my weight, and indeed that is linked to me making a choice to be fat. After years of dieting I was back to my heaviest weight, refusing to get photos taken and feeling crap about myself. So I gave myself a talking to. It went like this:

If I am making the choice to be fat, that's fine, but it has to be a choice based on the facts and honestly made. It has to be a true choice. Not a 'I'll be fat because I am but I'll really hate myself any way and not live my life as I really want to'. That's not making a choice, that's resigning yourself.

So I gave myself the choice that I could be fat but on the condition I embraced how I looked and loved myself and got on with my life, or I had to decide to get thin. And I chose fat.

Here I am the same size and weight I was 15 years ago but I feel completely different. I'm not hiding from myself or others. I'm not a victim of my weight and because I accept the choice I have made it ceases to define me.

It would be naive to say that knowing everything in our lives is the outcome of choice is easy. It's not, it's scary and it's hard. But once you recognise this as a reality it gives you the power and options to transform your life. It stops you from feeling like a victim and gives you a sense of control.