New things

 I've ordered / bought a few things recently so I thought I'd compile a list of my new bits & bobs.....

 This dress from George looked nice to me, so I ordered it and went for a size 24 to be safe because it has no stretch.

 Look... if I were a size 26 then I'd wear a size 26 and that would be fine, but I'm not a size 26, I'm generally a size 22 in fabric with a bit of stretch and 24 in clothing that has no give. My experiences with George recently would suggest that I am a 20-22 in stretchy dresses and a 26-28 in fitted ones. It's getting on my tit's frankly!

 There is absolutely no boob room in this dress.... as you can see I couldn't even zip it up and it was already squashing them!

This dress would work for ladies with more petite and high-up boobs than me, but to get it zipped over your belly you would probably have to size up.

 I have some boots that fit my calves!

 Good old Simply Be have saved me from a life without long leather boots! These lovely boots are a 6EEE extra curvy plus (the biggest size calf width) and they're quite a nice fit.

 I tried the calf size down first and although I could get into them I wanted the option of wearing them over jeans so I sized up to the super-massive fatty-boom-boom calf size.

 These are quite a good length on me - I tend to find Evans boots have the curve of the calf too low for my calf but these are a bit better, and they're tight and fitted on my ankles and lower legs. I have to say though that this might cause problems for those of you with chunkier ankles. I think a size 7 would be too big for me, but I think the size 6 is quite small. In an ideal world I would have a 6.5 wide, but these are real leather so I think I will just have to break them in! Having worn them to work for the day I got on fine with them.... I hope they'll stretch out enough for me to wear them with thick socks when the weather turns nasty, but generally they're pretty comfy.

On a side note, the other boots I ordered arrived this week, and sadly they don't fit me. Despite being the same size as the tan ones above (6EEE extra curvy plus) they're looser on the legs but smaller on the foot. Bummer! I need a 7 in these, and I'd have to get one size smaller in the leg I think. Dear Readers, do Simply Be do straight forward exchanges? I find the returns form so damn confusing! It looks like you have to pay again, rather than returning for an exchange?! If anyone can explain this to me I'd be very grateful.... I've met a stony silence from Simply Be regarding exchanging them, and I'm not paying again because I used a discount code that I can't use again. Bah!

 Oh my god these are amazing! Props to my friend for finding these in River Island and then posting a picture to facebook! I so wanted some holographic brogues but the Miista ones were super expensive and looked incredibly narrow, so I had to pass them up (even the rose gold toned ones... WAAAHHH!).

They're even more bonkers with the flash on! Thank goodness I ordered a size 7 & size 8, 'cause the 7 was soooo small I couldn't even get my foot in them. The 8 is a better fit. I put heel shields in the back of these (my flat ankles always rub on shoes, so most of them have heel shields in 'em!) and they were surprisingly comfy when I wore them out, so I'm a happy bunny!

I had the pleasure of going to a massive Asda while in my home town and I got some great things, this jumper being one of them. Dragon sweater for the win! This is on sale online in the smaller sizes but they still have tons of them in-store.

 I went bra crazy this week! So many of my favourite bras have gone bad recently (rolling up at the back, getting too loose or the wires popping out etc) that I needed to re-stock so I can chuck out some of the worst offenders :(. George have some lovely lovely bras at the moment and they're so cheap! I've come home with some right corkers! This is my favourite one in 42 DD - the back is quite generous on this one so the smaller cup size worked best. What a comfy bra... I'd describe it as a 'shelf bra' which is what I'm always looking for, basically it lifts my boobs and propels them forwards... nothing I hate more than a bra that squashes my boobs and makes them look smaller! Looks delicious on and is soft and scrumptious! £8!

 This lacy number from George has more of a plunge shape compared to the balcony feel of the coral one. This is my boyfriends favourite so I guess it makes my boobs look nice and big! I got the 42E in this one but I think the DD would be fine too if I wanted more of a wonderbra feel! £8!

 Super cute pack of two padded bras, also from George, also 42E. The backs on these are much tighter than the other and the build is very sturdy so I'm thinking they'll be good as everyday bras. I could run for the bus in these. They're full cup with a slight plunge and contain my boobs really well. they're a bit more pointy than the other bras, but I like the vintage pointy boob look so long as they still stick out quite a bit! £9! I've actually ordered some more undies from George because I've been rather impressed with all the bits and pieces I got at the weekend, I'll review it all when it arrives!

 A much more expensive bra now, from M&S. Per Una seem to be the only bras I like from M&S these days, and even then it's hit and miss. I tried on 10 bras and this style was the only type that fitted me properly. This is a 42DD and is spot-on. The others I tried (all the same size) fell into one of the following categories; too small on the back / too big on the cup / too small on the cup / completely flattened my boobs / straps too short. How is this possible? Fair enough if I just don't like a style, but how can the sizing be so incredibly inconsistent? Seriously, sort it out M&S.

This is a super soft stretch cup with very cute detailing. Should be cute for £22.50! It is comfortable and gives quite a natural rounded shape. It's sort of between a padded and non-padded bra really, and it's gonna be great for a comfortable everyday bra. This is the light taupe (more of an oyster colour in my book) and I'm getting the Navy version for Christmas (it's not navy in real life, it's more of a purple toned midnight blue - really beautiful!) as it's the one that caught my eye initially, but they didn't have my size in store so my mum ordered it online as part of my Christmas gift!

Bra's ahoy!

Christmas Tag!

 

I saw the Christmas tag on Leah's blog, and then Nikki & Becky did one and being a Christmas nutter, I totally loved reading them so I knew I'd have to do one myself! I've been off sick for a couple of days with a highly annoying head cold so to alleviate the boredom I've been thinking about CHRISTMAS! The Christmas tag came from Georgina of Makeup-Pixi3 beauty blog, and what a good idea it was.... I want to read loads more of these so I hope some of my readers will comment / tweet / blog this tag too!

1.  Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Real trees are amazing and they smell like heaven, but I'm not too keen on the real trees that are on offer in the UK for the last few years - they're big and bulbous at the bottom and then really sparse at the top. I really like a tree to be taller than me and nice and full.... in addition to that my flat is too small for a real tree so we have a tall & slim false one from Argos (get it here, I highly recommend it!) that does the job nicely. I've just bought a Christmas tree Yankee candle tart for my burner to see if I can get a bit of the pine smell in my flat this Christmas! My family have real trees so I spend Christmas eve / day / boxing day with the real thing!

2.  You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

100% Costa black forest hot chocolate. Oh.... my... god!

3.  Whats your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

I like trees that remind me of the trees we had when I was a kid, i.e multi coloured with random baubles that my mum had been collecting for years (some of which were her mothers). My family have got all posh and now have themed trees with just one or two colours and matching baubles, but for me it will always be a hotch-potch of coloured madness. I love odd and traditional style baubles, and anything that is (or at least looks) edible too. I'm keeping the candy canes this year, but probably not doing gingerbread because it gets all sticky and soft. I might put tinsel on the tree this year, which I didn't last year and I'm considering multi coloured lights! I think Poundland and the 99p store are the best places for tinsel and general Christmas decorations, but Ikea is amazing for crazy baubles. Can't wait until December 1st when I will be turning my flat into a full-on grotto!

4.  Giving or receiving?

Both I guess, although I think I'm hard to buy for because if I want something I just buy it, and when it comes to clothes and accessories if it's not my style I just won't wear it (my poor family!) so I generally know what I'm getting 'cause I've asked for it! Presents from my boyfriend tend to be a surprise, but lets just say that he has now been banned from buying me a) books that I haven't specifically asked for (harsh but necessary 'cause I don't read that much and we have no space!) or b) board games (because we both get them from his family and we are in danger of having to use them as furniture if we get any more!) so it'll be interesting to see what he comes up with this year! I suppose I enjoy giving more than getting really.... I do love watching people unwrapping gifts!

5.  To mince pie or not to?

Yes to my mums home-made ones, otherwise I'm not fussed. The M&S posh ones are pretty good, but bought ones need a generous dollop of brandy butter in my humble opinion! In my family Christmas is about being together and FOOD FOOD FOOD! Generally minced pies are pretty far down our list of must haves... as you can see above my sisters Christmas Eve fare is very exciting and there's not a mince pie in sight! Can anyone say Champagne Jelly?!

6.  What's your traditional sunday lunch?

Like I said above, Christmas is all about food for me. The traditional Christmas lunch made by my kick-ass cook of a mother is chicken (because we all think it's nicer than Turkey!) with every trimming known to man (yorkshires, pigs in blankets, Christmas tree shaped roast potatoes, mash, carrots, parsnips, at least two types of stuffing.... the list could go on forever!) and it's like heaven! A new tradition now is faux Christmas with my boyfriend before we go to our families (which are at opposite sides of the country) and I like to try new things and go hugely over the top! I've done partridge, duck, and posh chicken with 800 trimmings, but this year I'm going to cook a goose. I'm very excited about this, but goose is so rich that in order to not get gout from one meal I'm really stripping down the trimmings to just vegetables & a good sausagemeat stuffing (okay, and bread sauce / cranberry sauce 'cause that's the law!). I refuse to go through the Christmas period without pigs in blankets & devils on horseback though, so I'm having a gathering with nibbles to alleviate that problem!

7.  Christmas day fashion

If it's really cold I've been known to wear my Christmas jumper, but generally I wear a pretty dress with lots of stretch! I think this year I'll wear my bon marche red velour dress because my Gran will be with us for Christmas Day and I want to look smart, but need room for the enormous belly I will cultivate during lunch!

8.  What's your favourite Christmas song?

If I was forced to pick just one then I'd probably go for 'The Christmas Song' sung by Nat King Cole (has to be Nat!) 'cause it's so damn beautiful, but Ella Fitzgerald's swinging Christmas is by far and away the best Christmas album in the world ever, and her version of The Christmas song is the only other acceptable one! Ella singing 'Sleigh Ride' is pure Christmas. If you love Christmas and have never listened to this album then you must, every song is a winner, the band is flawless and the arrangements are swing-tastic.... is there anything more Christmassy than a swing band? I think not!

9.  What's your favourite Christmas film?

I love any and every film related to Christmas (no matter how shit!) but of the ones I watch every year Elf is my absolute favourite. I adore Will Ferrell which helps, but it is just so unbelievably festive!

10.  Open presents before or after lunch?

We open our presents before lunch and then inevitably end up watching one of the dreadful action films that dad got (!) while mum cooks up a storm, but we have what my mum calls 'tree presents' that are saved until after lunch (one per person) so we get the best of both worlds!

 

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Everyone is tagged to do this, please remember to tweet @TwinklinPixi3 all of your links :D

Wardrobe weekly

Monday

Day off to take delivery of new bed. Didn't arrive (fuck you Worldstores!). Forgot to photograph my outfit due to rage - it wasn't much of an outfit if I'm honest, you didn't miss much!

Tuesday

 Love a good granny dress!

Dress size ? - Vintage

Leggings 20 - Primark

Shoes - Charity shop

 Tuesday night we went to the Lambeth Fireworks.... I insisted!

 I love a good woolly hat!

 Whhhiiiizzzzz....

 ...... BANG!

Wednesday

Dress 26 - ebay (available from ax paris)

leggings XL - H&M

Hi-tops - Nike

Thursday

 Dress 20 - Asos Curve

Leggings 20 - Primark

Boots - Matalan (mens)

 Bed finally arrived. Massive ball-ache to sort old and new beds out on Thursday night but it's done now. Loving having a kingsize, even is I only got one night in it before having to go away!

Friday

 Thought I'd take my caged dress out for a spin today.

 Dress 24 - Asos Curve

Leggings 20 - Primark

Boots - can't remember where I got these but they're very old!

Couldn't resist getting some cute decorations for my tree which will be going up on the 1st of December... I'm not religious or particularly traditional so the twelve days of Christmas can kiss my butt, it's Christmas in my house from December 1st until I get time to take the decorations down in January!

 Friday night, off the to west country!

Saturday

 Hat & gloves - Primark

Coat 24 - Bon Marche

Jeans 22 - Dorothy Perkins

Sunday

 Dinner with the family to celebrate my mums birthday.

Dress 24 - Queen of Holloway

Cardi 18 - Dorothy perkins

Leggins 20 - Primark

Shoes - Charity shop

 My Nephew is such a cutie-pie!

 All eyes on the boy! My big sis in here Anna Scholz for Simply Be dress!

Guess which pudding I went for?! Tehe!

Taking Shape part-2

Hello lovely readers! Welcome to the next in my Taking shape series!

I felt the need to try this Eplisse dress when I chose my pieces to review, partly because I liked the roses, partly because it had a hint of tartan, but mainly because it was a bit odd! Vivienne Westwood is quite a regular visitor to my work place and she is pretty much always wearing something like this dress. A bit (dare I say it?!) sack-like and shapeless and I wanted to see if I could pull this look off.....

The answer is NO! My boyfriends reaction to this dress was 'you look mental', which I sort of took as a compliment because that means I sort of did get the Westwood look even if it doesn't suit me!

This is a size 22 and to be honest I would of expected it to be a bit looser - I found it a little tighter than expected on my bust, which may be why the fit just looked a bit bonkers on me (I'm wearing a bra that squishes my boobs down in these pictures!) but hang on now, I don't give in so easily!

I get so bored of belts, sometimes it's okay to not have everything nipped in at the waist yeah? On this occasion however I just needed the definition!

I kind of like this with the belt, it's quirky and unusual, which are both good things in my book!

The pattern on this dress is really lovely, I like that it's asymmetrical!

Oh and did I mention that it's a cotton / silk mix? Lovely fabric, although again, not suitable for the cold British autumn / winter unless you layer it up a bit!

I felt quite stylish in this once I'd added the belt, I sort of felt grown-up too!

by the way, since these pictures I have actually unpicked the pleats on the top section a bit and now my boobs have much more room!

Oh and my last plus point - POCKETS! God I love a good pocket! If you're interested in this Highland rose dress you can get it here from taking shape, and I'll be back soon (well, when next I get the chance to take pictures!) with my 3rd and final review of my Taking Shape dresses!