Simply Fabulous, Simply Be

Sometimes I get asked to help friends shop, and sometimes it just isn't feasible to meet up and physically trawl around the shops and so I spend time online browsing and getting ideas for them. When helping Best Friend look for an outfit for the wedding, I happened to come accross Simply Be, somewhere I'd heard of but not really browsed through as it caters for sizes 14-32 which I'm currently not (but I used to be a size 18 and there was NEVER anywhere this fab to shop then!). Best Friend liked what she saw, and so here comes this post, with my picks of Plus Size Clothing from Simply Be UK

Best Friend, I hope you are taking notes, I want to see you in at least one more dress by the end of the summer!

I'd also like to make it known that they do some stunning bags and shoes, too...currently on my personal wish list are these beauts...

 

I really hope this post is of interest to at least some of you...I was really pleasantly surprised by what I found and I know a couple of girlies in my life who might love me for this post (but their bank accounts might not!)

xxx

Mae time Play time.

Playing around with the new camera, on the most basic of settings only until I get a chance to really explore what it can do! Mae was more than happy to show off and pose for me...the first photo is honestly how she spends most of her waking hours, the second she spies someone...such a ladylike beast.

The difference in being able to get outfit photos is noticable. My other camera was so hit or miss with whether it'd take a photo or not, and this one just...did! Wearing Zara dress, New Look tights and shoes c/o Sarenza.

With the long weekend ahead I am hoping to get to play around a lot more with all the different functions and settings. If anyone has any hints and tips for me, they'd be gratefully recieved!

Two more days to go...roll on the weekend!

xxx

Shoes for the not so Dainty

When I was younger buying shoes was an absolute nightmare; I envied all my classmates who had pretty school shoes, whereas I was stuck with clompy (and often boy's), ugly ones. The problem was I have really wide feet and back in the day, pretty wide fit shoes just didn't exist.

To some extent this is still true. Sometimes I have to go an entire size up in a shoe I reallly want because otherwise they would be too narrow (length wise I'm a six, width wise a seven) and wide fit ranges are still somewhat limited in most places. Fortunatley places like Viva La Diva exist, with an entire range of wide fit shoes (up to an EEE fit with a handy guide to getting the perfect fit)...check out these beauties!

The first and last pair are my favourites...finally my flipper feet can be pretty in pink! Any other wide foot girls out there? Do you feel my pain....and where do you shop?

xxx

Summer Blues

My favourite photo from the weekend; I went to school with these girls and they are amazing.

New Look dress (old), Shoes, Dune c/o Sarenza. I'm loving bright shoes right now...well, shoes in general to be honest...there is something so impossibly cheerful about this pair, and despite appearances they are really comfortable.

It might not be a super fancy model, but it's a huge step up from what I have now!

xxx

Well, off to do my 7:15am start at work...remind me again why I agreed to that shift?! I can't wait to get home and out of my uniform so I can try and grab some outfit photos with my new camera!

Guest Post over at Swim 365

A few weeks ago I was invited to do a guest post for the Swimwear365 Blog...it's now gone live and you can check it out here!

xxx

Glamorous in Green

Skirt c/o Glamorous, Top, New Look

I've decided Green is my happy colour, so bright and cheery. I'm pretty obsessed with this skirt that the folks at Glamorous sent me, it's so swishy and cool for the hot weather! If you hurry you can snap one up with free delivery and 20% off until the end of May with the code "Glamorous20".



Glamorous are a brand that focus on trends, styled with elegance and have a collection to fit any personality. Inspired by high fashion, contemporary night culture and vintage, with fabrics sourced from across the globe, Glamorous will have a design to suit any mood or occasion. Glamorous are stocked in ASOS, Dorothy Perkins and House of Fraser among others.

The last photo on this post is where I spend most of my down time these days; my Grandad's garden. It's impossible not to laze on a deckchair and feel at peace...such a tranquil little place, and it's proven to be very healing for us all.

Have you heard for Glamorous?

Where's your little place of calm?

xxx

Daisy Chain Dreaming; Denim at Bank

I've posted about Bank before, mentioning it's one of those places that had shot back on to my radar as an awesome place to shop,
Well, I've spent a lot of time "window" shopping lately, on a mission for the perfect pair of denim shorts...and I've found myself loving Bank's collection of denim; both Jeans and Shorts! Here are my top picks, all at super reasonable prices;

From top to bottom:

1. Ribbon bleach pocket denim shorts, £25

2 and 3. Ribbon stone wash skinny jeans in coral and aqua (I can't decide which I prefer!) £30

4. Heaven Sent Ripped Biker Jeans, £30

5. Ribbon Flower cut out shorts, £20- these are my favourite...I just wish they were a little bit longer!

Where is your go-to for denim? Who makes slightly longer length denim shorts similar to the styles above? I don't mind show a little leg, but those would be practically knickers on me!

xxx

Sarenza Shoe of the Week

I guess it was inevitable when going through the alphabet that I would eventually run out of brands the further toward the end I got;
so my newest (and regular) Sarenza feature will instead showcase my shoe of the week...I'm pretty sure this is actually a post I could make daily, such is the variety of brands and styles they sell, but for now, weekly...

And this week I'm kicking it off with a Sarenza favourite, Georgia Rose and their amazing Ziggo sandal, £109.70

Wood, leather and a touch of gold glitter, it's pretty obvious why I adore these. They are just about laid back enough for day wear, and the right side of sparkly for a casual night out with friends. The gold glitter will look perfect against suntanned skin; something I currently lack, but if this weather holds up then maybe, just maybe I'll look a little less translucent!

xxx

such a perfect day

Yesterday saw the marriage of my wonderful School friend Louise to her wonderful partner James...These two could not be a more perfect match for each other and I can't quite put in to words how magical the entire day was, and how delighted I am for them.
Whoever organised the weather got it spot on, it was perfect and just added to the beauty of the day. Held at the Merchant's Hall in Clifton, the day just screamed Louise and James, with all the personal touches and quirky little moments.

I spent the day catching up with my school friends, and realising once more, just how lucky I am to have such a fabulous bunch of friends; bets are now on as to who will be the next to get engaged, though the way that lot were carrying on, it won't be anytime soon ;)
I also had a mini stalker ALL day! A little girl, the second she came in to the ceremony decided I was a Princess, and indeed announced this, several times during the proceedings! After that, every where I went, much to the amusement of pretty much everyone, came the cry of "PRINCESS" followed by little feet running after me! Ah well, if the crown fits...

Photos, from top to bottom:

Best Friend and I before we went; Her dress is from Monsoon and the shoes are Hush Puppies c/o Sarenza. I wore a Lavish Alice dress, Shoes from Next and Daisy crown from New Look.

Blurry shot of husband and wife! The bride looked STUNNING. My photos from the day are, as you can see, terrible, but plenty were taken and more will emerge!

Family shot.

Being a flower child.

Hazel and Leni, two more of my oldest friends.

The stunning grounds.

At the wedding there was a chap called the "Roving Artist" who walked around with black paper and mini scissors doing silhouettes of all of the guests. They were incredible to watch being done, and amazingly accurate!

The reception was held at a nearby tennis club and had touches of the Louise we knew and loved! As a tribute to our sixth form days there were plenty of balloons and a vat of cocktail umbrellas. I left before things really kicked off, but what time I spent there was amazing and I wish nothing but the very best to James and Louise who will be jetting off to St Lucia for a couple of weeks on Monday!

xxx

Daisy Day

Yesterday was a day for all things Daisy; from my New Look (last year) dress, to the clip in my hair. What you can't see in these photos is just how long my hair has got...it's half way down my back and in desperate need of a good few inches off to sort out the frazzled ends...I'll probably go ahead and bleach them and enjoy some dip-dye before I get them chopped; I'm having a hard time finding a hair dresser locally that doesn't charge the earth just for a trim! I'm not even sure what to do with my hair to be honest; I'm thinking of just getting a tonne of layers cut in as my hair is so thick it's the only way to ease the bushiness of it, and then get a chopping but long style. I am a bit hair hopeless, as you may have gathered by now.

I'm off to my friend's wedding today; I've spent all week tearful and on edge, grief, it seems, doesn't like to leave quickly...but I woke up this morning, albeit stupidly early, with bubbles of excitement for the day ahead!

Louise and James...I couldn't be happier for you.

xxx

Daisy Chain Dreaming: Dream Duvets from Palmers

A couple of weeks ago I was very kindly gifted my dream Cath Kidston Duvet from Palmers, I've seriously lusted after one of these for so.long. and I was far too excited to go to bed last night and snuggle up under it (heat be damned).

I confess, before they got in touch, I hadn't actually heard of Palmers before; turns out it's a pretty damn awesome department store that stocks all manner of fabulous things for the home- pretty china, amazing coffee machines...as well as a stunning range of bedding from designers such as Kirstie Allsopp, Kylie Minogue at home and V&A

(this is how I can tell I'm growing up, getting excited about duvets and homeware)

The second I am in a position to move out on my own, you can bet I'll be ordering this little lot for my bed...


Those of you that have moved in to your own place, did you go home decor mad?
What's your favourite ever duvet? I have fond memories of some of my childhood ones such as care bears and my little pony!

Had you heard of Palmers before today?

xxx

Sunny Weather Wearings

1. Brat and Suzie vest, Zara skirt, Toms; worn for a very hot day shopping in Bath (which was wonderful!)

2. Dorothy Perkin vest, Next jeans, Toms (which I really have lived in) for a post work chilled out afternoon...partially spent watching Mae enjoy the garden.

TGIF!

Just one long shift at work to go and it's the weekend...fingers crossed the weather holds for my friend's wedding tomorrow, how amazing would that be?

What are your weekend plans?

xxx