Onward and upward 2014 here I come!

Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers! I hope 2014 is full of happiness, love and opportunities. 

xxx

2013 for me, if I am really honest, was terrible, my mental and physical health suffered quite a bit meaning that all my efforts to meet the weight goals for the fertility treatment have gone out of the window and I have instead gained a lot more, financially 2013 was worse than terrible, so this year to be honest has to get better!

I have come to realise that resolutions and declaring this year will be the best year ever aren't going to cut it, only I can make the changes required to make this year better, I already have an interview lined up for next week, either way that is a positive step forward into the new year.

The blog is getting a new lease of life for 2014 too, my own self image took a real beating in the latter half of 2013 and I got into the bad habit of hiding from my camera and myself meaning that the blog slowed down to nearly nothing which made me even more depressed so I will be making every effort to get my but in gear, the blog wont be the same, I have decided that it needs to be about all of me not just the bits I feel comfortable of safe sharing, it will include our fertility journey, my endeavors to home-school my 14 year old step son through his GCSE's as well as the usual fashion and lifestyle posts.

There may be discussion of my weight loss as this is a huge part of the fertility journey, but please understand I do not believe everyone needs to diet, but I do support other peoples choice to do it if it is really what they want to do, everyone has different goals in life and I support them all. I don't do faddy diets so will just be trying to eat healthily and increase my daily exercise which is something I want and need to do regardless of the weight loss.

2014 is about taking control of our life and working together to make it better, our house has been in a total state for the last 2 years mainly because I have been avoiding doing anything about it, but moving forward I plan on working our way to a beautiful home. I have a post coming later which shows the transformation of our old dreary horrid kitchen to its new fabulous look, and some furniture up cycling posts for you in the near future too.

I am back ladies and gents and more determined than ever to make my life a happy and worthwhile adventure!

I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride.

xxx

well its day two. xx

My Sales Picks

For this years sales I am totally and utterly broke! Therefore I thought I would pick some sale items that I am lusting after for you all to see, and dream of winning the lottery for another week!

First up is ASOS

ASOS curve Peplum Top in Tartan £20 was £40

I have a bit of a thing for tartan, but it is never made in plus sizes and while this isn't traditional tartan, I just love it, but kind of wish it was a V neck, I wonder if it can be altered somehow????

ASOS Curve Exclusive Fur Peplum Coat £38 was £85

When I went out with my husband for his christmas party I ended up just taking a shawl as my coats weren't dressy enough, this would have been perfect, I am hoping to get my hands on one before they sell out in my size, as it is fabulous!

ASOS Curve Wiggle Dress in Wallpaper Print £25 was £42

I wasn't sure about this until I saw it on ZeZaftig this morning and she looks amazing in it!

Now I need it!

 ASOS Curve Exclusive Pencil Skirt in Tartan £22.50 was £38

Its tartan! what more is there to say.

Next up is Evans

Collection Navy Boucle Jacket £40 was £80

I have been looking for something smart casual to wear with jeans out to lunch and shopping and I love this, navy is a bit of a love for me!

Swan by Clements Ribeiro Colour Block Doris Dress £30 was £65

I actually already have this dress, and it is only available in a couple of sizes 20 and 22 last time I checked, but it is a beautiful dress that I highly recommend!

Swan by Clements Ribeiro Corsage Embellished Cardigan £30 was £65 and Swan by Clements Ribeiro Lace Grace Dress £20 was £55

This is just such a gorgeous Cardi I love it belted like in the picture above and it would just add a little loveliness to any outfit!

 Swan by Clements Ribeiro Contrast Trim Toggle Coat £60 was £125

This is a bit of a marmite coat, and I never had a chance to try it on, but I can imagine it with lovely thick jumper underneath and walking through the park in it!

Next up is Simply Be

Hush Puppies Lace Boots EE Fit £45 

I adore these boots, and they come in four colours, but the Green is my favourite!

Cropped Floral Print Trousers £20

So many of the girls looked amazing in these trousers last year and I think they would look amazing for the spring!

Printed Peplum Top £18

I also have this top and it is fantastic! but size down, I got it in my usual 20 but think I should have gone for the 18!

Anna Scholz Side Pleat Dress £35

Sometimes we just need a walk on the wild side!

Anna Scholz Crinkle Bird Trim Dress £34

I think this is a fabulous little black dress and would make a great addition to my wardrobe!

and finally New Look

Lovedrobe Black Sequin Rose Jacket £35

Who can say no to a bit of sparkle this would be fabulous with the 

Koko Gold Sequin capped sleeve dress £35

I saw some fabulous ladies in sequins this year and wish I was brave enough to go for it! I do love this one!

Koko Black and White Pearl Trim Peplum Dress £20

I love this dress, so simple but I love the pearls on the neck line, its a good one for work I think!

So thats my picks from the sales, has anything caught your eye?

Mhairi

xxx

Good bye 20bloody12

I am not going to do a look back at 2012 post because apart from my blog and the love of my family and friends it was honestly a really horrid year for us, so what I am going to do instead is think about the things I want out of 2013 and what I can make happen!

Health

2013 is about me and my health, asa general rule, I am pretty healthy, I have perfect blood pressure, excellent cholesterol and apart from a bit of asthma that I have had since I was 13 there is nothing really major BUT I am unfit!

Therefore I am going to walk more and get some exercise get my blood pumping and my endorphins flowing.

I am also going to beat my anxiety and depression and work hard on being positive about my life.

Work

I need to go back to work both financially and for myself as being cooped up indoors all the time feeds my anxiety and agoraphobia, my CBT therapy is centred around beating my agoraphobia to make living my life easier.

Not sure what I want to do, I have over 10 years admin experience as well as a fair few years in retail and customer service so I have some options, if you know of anything keep me in mind ladies and gents.

Rest

2013 will be about enjoying time with family and my animals enjoying these simple little happy times more. 

I will take a break when I need it but not come to a stand still anymore.

Play 

In the last 3 years I can count the number of nights out I have had on one hand, my agoraphobia has made it difficult for me to enjoy group activities but I miss my friends and most of them probably have no idea whats wrong with me, as I have pretty much become a hermit.

I love all my friends dearly and want them to know it, so 2013 is going to involve more activities with them.

Education

Last year I started my first year of an open university degree and my aim is to work my butt of to do my absolute best.

NO MORE QUITTING

Family

I have a husband who loves me for me and a gorgeous stepson who I love more than anything, we didn't get to do much last year but this year we will do more, if we cant afford to go out we will play games or watch a film together.

When we can, we will have days out.

Me and Marc need nights to ourselves and a date night occasionally is important!

Decisions, decisions, decisions......

2013 is about realising my life does not have to be set in stone, I can change my mind and make changes, it will have ups and downs but I need to work hard to make the ups more frequent!

Thank you

To finish off I want to thank all my readers for sticking with me through 2012 and also thank the amazing brands that I have had the chance to work with, I had the chance to attend some fabulous events last year and my blog has given me some amazing opportunities.

For all the fabulous ladies I have made friends with through my bog thank you for accepting me and making me welcome, you know who you are. 

I hope your coming year gives you all the light, love and happiness you deserve.

Mhairi

xxx

If Blogger decides to play nicely I will be back tomorrow with a FF post and I have a fabulous couple of reviews for you that I couldn't post before christmas due to blogger being useless.

Eliza Parker Review

This year we had a night at home for New years eve, the excitement of being ill, but I wanted you to see the amazing dress which Eliza Parker sent to me, it is truly beautiful.


I chose the Monaco Dress in Teal, the colour up close is stunning.

The dress itself is so well made, it is double layered on the bodice and the skirt is fully lined, on the hanger it weighs soooo much, but on it feels divine, it is floaty and soft and makes you feel sexy yet classy, it is a little big for me from the bust down as I ordered based on my bust size but now I have felt the fabric on I would order based on my waist as the material has some give. 


The sizing issue was easily fixed by adding a belt, which to be honest is my preferred look anyway to give my waist definition.

I teamed it with black tights and my gold matt shoes as i felt it complemented the colour of the dress, but black or a similar colour to the dress would also look gorgeous, when the dress arrived it was wrapped in beautiful purple tissue paper which looked amazing next to the teal so may have to invest in a purple belt.

The dress sells on the Eliza Parker website for $189 and I would say the quality, weight stitching and fabric are all worth the cost, I have a couple of nice events to attend this year and this dress will easily see me through any of them.


Eliza parker makes so many beautiful styles, if you have weddings or events to attend this year and want to get something that is less likely to be seen on other people at the same event, which are beautifully made and will last you through many seasons, make sure you take a look. 


Hope you have all had a fabulous night and that 2012 is prosperous and fun for you.


And thank you so much to the wonderful people at Elia parker who organised the dress for me and had it delivered before new year, I will be wearing it tomorrow for dinner hopefully but it depends if I can bring myself to risk getting something on it. 


Elisa Parker can be found at Eliza Parker on Twitter and Facebook
Love and Hugs


Mhairi

Disclaimer : This item was given to me free of charge from Eliza Parker for review, but all comments are my own and I have not been asked or paid to give any items a favourable review.

2011 what a year!

What a year.


Well it is 2.27 am and I cant sleep so instead of writing this post later today I will have a go at it now!
This will include a small discussion of my depression do not read if you do not want too!


2011 has been an amazing year and a horrible year all in one, it has been our first full year in our new home after having to leave a house we loved due to psychotic neighbours, I came here suffering from severe depression and agoraphobia and spent the first 6 months pretty much locked in our house.
With a little work and help from the people who love me I begun to venture out into the world with people for support and have been building on it ever since!


The biggest and most positive change for me came through finally getting the courage to blog, I have been passionate about fashion since I was a teenager and my aunt used to take me shopping to amazing wholesale warehouses, but after years of feeling down about myself I just stopped trying but with my increased positivity and confidence this year I am slowly learning to love it more and more.
The people I have met through blogging have also been an amazing help and support in finding my feet and I seriously love all of them!


Since august I have had the opportunity to meet and work with some amazing people and companies, starting with Simply Be who have supported me and my blog by allowing me to review clothing for them, and helping with my requests Charlotte is seriously such a Fantabulous and Splendiferous person. ( we like those words )
As well as Ann Harvey and Yoek who looking into working with me in the new year.
I want to thank Eliza Parker who sent me a dress which you will see my fabulous review of on sunday after my new years celebrations.
Also I am going to be reviewing for IGIGI early in the new year so you will have that to look forward to.


Special thanks also goes to my Husband and steps son, and family on my side and Marcs for all the love and support they have shown me in my blogging endeavours, I seriously appreciate everything you do big and small.


2012 looks like it is going to be very exciting and daunting as I have so many new and exciting things to look forward too, I am hoping to be starting a 12 week course with the HellsBells Roller girls and reviewing some items during that time too.
February sees the epic event Plus london Two taking place and the gorgeous  A Monkey Fatshionista who is doing such an amazing job of organising the event.


I am also totally freaking out with excitement that Pinup Girl Clothing are going to be working with Tess Munster as there new model and expanding some of there range to a 3X and 4X. *praying for the Heidi!
they may not be everyones cup of tea but I have been lusting over pinup clothing for so many years and Tess Munster is seriously hot!!!


But most of all to my readers who have made up my 5000+ page views, you are seriously awesome! Thank You!


All That is left to say is Happy New year for Tonight and I hope 2012 treats us all well. x


Love from 


Mhairi and Marc and Josh.

Poppy, Toby and the puppies (Hermione, Nell and Ron) wanted to be in on the action too :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!