Bad times

Hey friends.

I just wanted to apologise for the lack of, well pretty much anything over the last week. I have been feeling really ill, like flu ill :( So I've been trying to rest around sorting the kids out as it's half term. I'm feeling a little better in myself, but my throat is killing me, and now I have a chesty cough...I'm hoping it goes by Wednesday! I've got an event to attend, and I'm not missing it for anything!

So, this post was just to apologise for not posting much in a while, I have just not had the energy to put clothes on and take pictures, and let alone look at least half decent in the pictures!

So I am hoping normal service will resume by the end of the week! In the mean time, here is my dog in her Halloween outfit to make you smile :)

See you soon!

Beka x

Five Question Friday - Jess

Hey there!

Welcome to Friday here on Stuffy Stuff, and Friday means it's time to ask some questions!! This week I aksed some question to the grogeous Jess @ Lovely Jubbly.

1. What is your favourite clothing shop?

As a plus size girl I tend to shop a lot on line and for fashion I really like Yours Clothing, ASOS and Simply Be! I also like New Look as the best high street store for plus size fashion! 

2. If you had £1000 to spend on one item, what would it be?

I'd spend it on a holiday of some kind, or maybe a designer bag as those are two things I could never justify spending on myself!

3. What is your favourite accessory?

For the autumn/winter time we are in now, I think it would have to be scarves. I really love chunky knitted scarves and snuggly 'snoods'! Other than that .... fluffy socks and slippers?

4. What is one fashion trend you wish would come back? 

I'm not sure on this one! I remember loving those skirt and trouser combos back at the school discos, but I'm not sure I'd like that trend to return! I love monochrome so I hope that trend stays!  

5. What is your favourite TV Show?

Without a doubt Grey's Anatomy! I've watched every single episode and it's the one show I watch religiously! I also really love Dexter, Catfish, Sex and the city, friends and Prison Break! (Netflix addict) 

I have to admit that I haven't ever watched Grey's Anatomy.... But I do love Catfish! And you can't beat a nice knitted scarf to keep you warm in the winter :) Thanks so much to Jess for taking the time to answer my questions, and if you haven't looked at her blog yet, what are you waiting for! You can find her here :)

See you next week!

Beka x

Revlon Nail Art Style Strips

Hey!

I went out for my friends birthday last month, and decided to FINALLY try some nail wraps that I bought about 3 months ago.... I bought them from a beauty shop in Dockside Shopping Centre. They were on offer at 3 for £5, and I had had some good experiences with nail wraps, so thought I would get them to try.

So I went for these ones for my evening out...

These were probably my favourite design from the three that I bought, I love leopard print! But I do have to say I don't own any clothing items with the print on..... so I love it when I can accessorise with it :)

So I made sue I read the instructions properly as I find that some of them differ on how you are supposed to prepare your nail or the strips. So I got out the strips and the file from the packet and got very excited - somehow they looked more sparkly than when they were in the packaging!

So, I started by taking them out of the packet, and sizing them up on my nails. They had a good range of sizes and shapes, which was great, with a total of 18 'stickers' all together. 

So off I went.... and they were pretty easy to apply, and quite stretchy, which came in handy for some of my nails. Some where just not wide enough for my nails, but it was really easy for me to stretch them out. It took me about 10 minutes to finish off my first hand, I do like to make sure they are on nicely, and file them gently. So, here is the finished result.

They looked so lovely! I was ready to party!

I love nail wraps - it's a chance to have nail art without having to do the nail art! I am really looking forward to using the other designs I have soon!

Have you tried nail wraps?  What do you think?

Beka x

Our Anniversary

Hey friends!

Today is my first wedding anniversary! I'm so happy to have found my soul mate and best friend, all on one amazing man, and even happier that I got to marry him.

This past year has gone so quickly! It feels like it was only a few months ago that we got married. We had such a great day, having all our friends and family around us to celebrate with us meant so much.

We had a bit of a tough time around the time of the wedding. The week before, Mike had a biopsy on a lump in his abdomen, and then the week after the wedding, we found out that is was a tumour. They started treatment the next week, so we didn't get chance to go away on honeymoon, but I was so proud of how Mike handled the next few months. We managed to get away for a long weekend in Edinburgh at the beginning of December and we had such a great time, then it was Christmas! Throughout this time, Mike was being so strong and positive about what was going on. He finally got on track with everything and had the tumour removed in February. It was a 5 hour operation, and he was home in just under a week!

Mike is truly my 'other half'....without him, my life would be incomplete. I love him so much and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him. 

Beka x

Five Question Friday - Leah

Hey friends!

Welcome to another Five Question Friday! This week I have been chatting to Leah @ 30 Something Curvy Me.

1. What is your favourite colour to wear and why?

I don't think I have 1 favourite colour that I wear but I always wear colour. Bold primary colours suit me best. I don't wear black, white, washed out colours as they don't look good on me but Bold Reds, Greens, Blues, Purples. I think the colour that dominates my wardrobe is burgundy/berry/wine. This is the best colour for me and I really love it too. 

2. What is on your clothing wish list at the moment?

There is always a thousand things on my wishlist but at this time of year there is always one thing I need but don't get till it's too late and that is a coat. 

My favourite one right now is the Green Duffle Coat from ASOS. I love how it's slightly flared and I think I have always had a duffle coat toggle fascination.

3. What so your favourite make up brand?

When it comes to make up I have no loyalties to just one brand. Some things are great for my lips and others good for my skin.  I am currently transitioning in to new brands as I get further in to my 30s. I still love Avon for a lot of things. I have so much Avon following being a rep and I do rate a lot of it. Lipsticks from Avon seem to be an essential in my make up bag. The one I really love is 'Charged Cherry'.

4. Which celebrity's style do you admire the most?

I pondered over this question for ages. I've never followed celebrities that closely so I found it quite difficult to answer this. I always felt I was far removed from that sort of scene so never relied on anyone in the celeb world for style. 

My main approach to style are the blogs I read and the people I meet.

5. Describe your ultimate dinner party - who would you invite and what would be on the menu?

Now this is a question I think about ALL THE TIME. Dinner is my favourite thing (who am I kidding, FOOD is my favourite thing) 

I would have a table of 6 including me. Firstly, I would invite Will Young, I wouldn't say I am a fan of his music particularly but I like him and I genuinely think if we met we would be great friends. I saw him on Question Time once and I was nodding like a crazy dog to what he was saying...I wrote about it in my blog here. 

Secondly I would have Barack Obama, I love the man. He just encapsulates cool.

Third on my table would be Tom Jones. I genuinely have a a soft spot for him. When I see him I often say 'I wish he was my Grandpa'

4th on my table would be Marilyn Monroe, I would love to speak to her, find out her real story. 

5th on my table would be Sue Perkins, I really like her, she's clever and funny and I genuinely think we'd get on. Saying that I saw her in a coffee shop once and I couldn't even say 'Hi' I was so star struck!

The menu would be Starter: Scallops and Pancetta, Venison for main and a lemon tart for pudding. YUMMMMMM!

I would love to meet Marilyn Monroe! And I haven't bought anything from Avon in a while, but that lipstick looks amazing :) I love reading Leah's blog, and if you haven't had a look already, you can find it here. Go and enjoy!! And of course, thanks to Leah for taking part in Five Question Friday!

See you next week :)

Beka x

The Autumn Tag

Hey friends!

I'm getting in the Autumn/Winter mood, and I wanted to share with you this Autumn Tag :)

For Autumn, what is your...

Favourite thing about it? 

The colours of the leaves and the change in temperature.

Favourite drink? 

Hot chocolate....so yummy, with a couple of hobnobs for dunking

Favourite scent/candle? 

Cinnamon...getting ready for Christmas!

Best lipstick? 

Deep red

'Go to' moisturiser? 

Clearasil Skin Perfecting Wash - I use it in the mornings and leave it on for a few minutes, and it leaves my skin moisturised all day.

'Go to' colour for my eyes? 

Reds and Purple, and all the shade in between.

Favourite music or band/singer to listen to? 

I love listening to some of my old albums, The Calling and Maroon 5.

Favourite outfit to wear? 

My new Yours hooded jumper with leggings and my denim skirt :) I need to purchase some winter boots to finish off the look :)

Autumn treat? 

Mulled cider - we had some last year in Edinburgh, and it is so yummy and warms me up a treat!

Favourite place to be? 

At home, on the sofa, with Mike and the kids, eating a bit of junk food, drinking hot chocolate and watching some old films.

As this is a tag, I would like to tag some lovely ladies to give this a go :)

Leah @ Just Me Leah
Vicky @ The Curved Opinion
Leah @ 30 Something Curvy Me
Kim @ Call Me Kim

Hope you are enjoying Autumn so far!

Beka x

I Feel Good!

Hello!

Welcome to I Feel Good!!

This is the brain-child of Vicky @ The Curved Opinion and when she asked for people who wanted to take part, I was right in there! Here is how she describes the challenge....

"You know sometimes when you spend ages getting ready for a night out, an event or even just a blog post, and the reflection in mirror isn't what you hoped?  This challenge is for those times when you look in the mirror, no pre planning involved, and think "I look good today".  

We all have our good days and our bad, but this challenge is to record those good days and to remember that confidence, at any size, is beautiful."

So this week I wanted to share with you a picture of me that I was dreading to be in, but when I saw it, I thought I looked brilliant!!

Yes....this is me in a onesie!! I love it! It is so comfy, and I think I look pretty good in it :) I do have to say this is from the men's section in Primark and was only £12. I didn't even bother looking in the ladies section due to:

1. my height

2. my fatness

But I couldn't be happier. Maria was ecstatic when she saw me wearing it, crazy child. She thinks it's brilliant that I have one too....well I do too!

Becky @ Does My Blog Make Me Look Fat
Bee @ The Littlest Buzz
Felicity @ Felicity Hart
Hallie @ Knitted Daisy
Hollie @ Pretty Big Butterflies
Karen @ Too Dull To Blog
Kaye @ Polished Curves
Laura @ Laura Pants Lifestyle
Leah @ Just Me Leah
Mhairi @ Lily Bombs Lovely Lumps
Natalie @ A Wheelbarrow Full Of Style
Nikki @ Natty Nikki
Toni @ The Only Way Is Toni
Vicky @ The Curved Opinion

See you next time!

Beka x

Simply Be Trend

Hey!

There are a few good trends out there for Autumn/Winter 2013, and Simply Be have got two great ones for you.  

Simply Be gave me the chance to pick an outfit from these collections to wear as a 'date night' outfit. As soon as I saw the jacket in the 'Flirty 50's' I knew that had to be part of it! So, here is what I ended up with :)

Animal Jacquard Boyfriend Blazer £45 (here - and on sale for £27 right now!) 

Floral Printed Doll Dress £45 (here)

Box Clutch Bag with Metal Clasp and Detachable Chain £25 (here)

Slate tights - Marisota

Black pumps - Evans

I went for a clash of prints, but I really think it works well. The dress is so pretty for me, in fact, it is my first floral print dress, and I have to say that I love it. I have been on the look out for another 'day dress' than my two ASOS skater dresses, and this is it! Here is a little close up of the fabric...

And it's also a great length for me! It's longer than my other 'day dresses' so I managed to get away with wearing it with tights, which I was so pleased with!

The jacket is so light and comfortable, and I loved the pattern. I described it as giraffe print, but black and white. It has 3/4 length sleeves with turn-ups and is a great length. I can't wait to style this with soooooo many things!

Lastly, is the cute little box clutch bag. It is available in Black and Ivory, and I went for the Ivory as all I seem to own is black clutch bags! I love it's detachable chain, which means you can take it from being a little hand held clutch to a bag over your shoulder.

This is such a cute little bag and I am so pleased I picked it in the ivory as it looks stunning with the gold edging. 

You can check out the trend collection here.

Beka x

DEA London Coat

Hey guys!

In June, Mike and I went to the launch of Dea London's A/W13 range on a rooftop in London on one of the hottest days of the year! You can read about the event here. So, I was lucky enough to win a prize draw on the day, and my prize was one of their amazing coats from the A/W13 collection.

After the event was over, the designer Jelena Fehmi took me to one side and took some measurements so that my coat would be custom fit just for me. I got to choose where I wanted the coat to come down to, and where the pockets would be, so it was all completely my choice :)

So yesterday, it arrived! I couldn't wait to try it on...and I wasn't disappointed!

It is so lovely! I felt so warm in it, it is lined and fit me perfectly! It has a pretty lace-style detail on the collar and sleeves, which I love! In the picture above, I have the sleeves down fully, but you can roll them over and you can see the detail....

Then there are the two little cords that hang down from the collar....you give them a tighten and then the collar becomes more like a built in scarf!! It is so comfy :)

I love it! And I am so happy that I get to own a piece from this wonderful collection. You can find their whole collection here.

Beka x

Five Question Friday - Hollie

Hey!

This week on Five Question Friday, I have been asking questions to the lovely Hollie @ Pretty Big Butterflies.

1. What do you buy the most - clothes, shoes or accessories?

This is so difficult. At one point it was always shoes and jewellery. Being classified as 'plus-size' it used to be really hard getting fashionable clothing. But now more and more shops are stocking up to a size 20, as well as online brands really making headway, I have to say I am a clothes addict.

I feel bad because my boyfriends wardrobe has been banished to the spare room as I have literally take over our bedroom!

2. What is your favourite way to wear your hair?

I have recently been introduced to the love of hair doughnuts. I love wearing them to work! they make any outfit look that bit more classy and professional. (My fave outfit is a peplum top, pencil skirt and my hair in a bun with the help of a doughnut).I struggle to do them though so any tips are much appreciated!

3. What is the one essential item in your wardrobe you can't live without?

I have 2! Sorry to cheat. But leggings are a MUST! Literally pull on and go. I wear them around the house as loungewear but they can be dressed up with boots and a jumper dress which is going to be one of my staples as we head into Autumn.  I also can't live without skinny jeans. I can wear them with anything and everything. They are just a casual staple that are a MUST in my wardrobe. (The Bailey Range from Dorothy Perkins are the best I have found).

4. What is the last piece of clothing you bought?

Now there is a question. The fact I got paid last week doesn't help. I bought a gorgeous coat from Simply Be. It's a little bit pricey but I don't mind paying more for a staple item that is going to get a lot of use! Plus I know the fit would be decent and the quality would be good. 

 It has a PU trim with a diagnal zip design. It looks great and will keep me warm! I sized up because you always need room for the chunky knits when it gets cold! I haven't had a chance to wear it so bring on the cold days please!

5. If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be, and who would it be with?

My dream holiday is Barbados. The sun, sea, sand, tranquillity, food! Just imagine the sunsets and the clear water.... such a contrast to the busy streets of London.  take me now!I would go with my boyfriend (If I didn't he wouldn't let me live it down!). I had my dream holiday 2 years ago when I went to New York for the Christmas holidays. We arrived on boxing day and stayed until after New Years Eve. It was the best week of my life I can't even describe it. Everything came straight out of a movie from the crazy taxi drivers to the shop assistant in Bloomingdales pointing at me and saying ''OMG That bag is sooooooo cute!''.

I literally left a piece of my heart in New York.

I would love to go to New York at some point in my life. Everyone that goes there seems to love it! I would have to see a Broadway show :) 
A big thank you to Hollie for taking part and answering my questions, and if you haven't already, you can check out her blog here.

See you again next week!!

Beka x

OMCZ #17

Hey friends!

This time on Outside My Comfort Zone, we have gone for a 'free' challenge. So we get to set our own little challenge to show anything we want to :) 

So this time I wanted to share with you a sneak peak of a dress I will be featuring in a post next week...

If you had of told me a year ago that I would wear a flowery print dress....and like it, I would have laughed in your face! But now, with the help of all of the wonderful women I have come in contact with through blogging and Twitter, I now own one of those dresses! Don't get me wrong, I do like it, but there is still part of me that feels like I shouldn't be wearing it, but you know what, I like it :)

Check out the other ladies taking part in the OMCZ challenge.

Stephanie http://www.seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk
Leah http://www.justmeleah.blogspot.co.uk
Mary http://www.marysbigcloset.blogspot.pt
Becky http://www.doesmyblogmakemelookfat.com
Rachel http://www.adressisforlife.com/
Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk/
Nikki http://www.nattynikki.blogspot.co.uk/
Rebs http://sullen-hearts.blogspot.co.uk/
Verena http://aplussizefashionobsession.blogspot.de/
Vicky www.TheCurvedOpinion.com
Rebecca http://theplussideofme.com
Hollie Http://www.prettybigbutterflies.com

Sabina http://www.femmefatalexsabina.blogspot.de/

Beka x

Wrapping up warm

Hey!

As the Great British weather changes from crazy hotness, to pretty darn coldness, we all need to be prepared for it. So I decided that I needed to have a good look at some coats as I don't have a decent warm coat to do the school runs in..... last year I managed with just a waterproof, but I left it a little late to find myself a nice warm winter coat. So, being good, I have looked through some of my favourite websites and picked out some coats that took my fancy :)

1. Lovedrobe Grey Fur Trim Hooded Duffle Coat - £75

2. Evans Grey Hooded Wax Jacket - £69.50

3. Evans Black Zip Peter Pan Coat - £59.50

4. Yours Purple Faux Fur Trimmed Hood Duffle Coat with Toggle Fastening - £55

5. Bon Prix Fishtail Parka - £39.99

As you can see, I have a few different styles that I like, I'm not quite sure which one I like the most, but I hope to get one soon :)

Are you ready for the winter weather?

Beka x

Five Question Friday - Nancy

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to Five Question Friday! I am so happy to bring you some more lovely ladies whose blogs/vlogs I love! So bringing this feature back in style is the gorgeous blogger Nancy @ Sugar, Darling?

1.Which celebrity's style do you admire the most?

Dita Von Teese is my absolute style idol. I don't think she has ever worn anything that I haven't loved and her dedication to beauty is unrivalled - I've never seen a photo where she didn't look lovely, not even a papped one!

2. What was the last piece of clothing you bought?

The last thing I bought was a sparkly blue dress from Excite Clothing that features a cut out collar which is just adorable. I've just changed jobs and wanted something special for my night out with my old colleagues and this fit the bill perfectly.

3. What beauty product could you not live without?

This is a real toughy because I'm pretty addicted to make-up and beauty products... I'd have to say black eyeliner though as I wear a cat eye style look on my eyes every day and have done since the age of about 14! My current favourite is 'Liner Pinceau' by Bourjois - it has great staying power and a nice thin brush perfect for applying a perfect flick.

4. What are you 'go-to' shoes for a night out?

I have to admit that I am really not confident in heels but I love the shape they give your calves, so I pretty much always wear my favourite leather ankle boots that my boyfriend bought me from Evans last year. They have a bit of a heel but aren't too high so I can stay in them all night and they look great with black tights and pretty much any dress.

5. What is your favourite film and why?

There are two I just can't decide between - How To Marry a Millionaire and Blade Runner. They both feature amazing costume and set design but are completely different genres. They both have wonderful scripts that compliment the visuals wonderfully but in very different ways. 

HTMAM stars Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall so is a real classic beauty all star movie - the costumes are stunning and Marilyn looks amazing in her sparkly cat eye glasses! The ladies all have some great one-liners, it's a great heart-warming comedy for a lazy afternoon in.

Blade Runner is a really stylish film set in futuristic Los Angeles - the plot line is really hard to explain briefly so you'll just have to give it a watch. One of the main characters Rachael has an incredible wardrobe of 1920's-1940's style clothes with a futuristic twist. I got to see one of her outfits in person at the V&A in January as part of the Hollywood Costumes exhibition and it was even more stunning in person!

I want to say a massive thank you to Nancy for answering my questions, and now I really feel I need to watch How To Marry A Millionaire! If you haven't already checked out her blog, you can find it here. It's amazing, she has great style, brilliant taste, and she is stunning! Check her out :-)

See you next week!

Beka x

The Long And Tall Of It - Dresses

Hey there!

This is the first in a series of posts in collaboration with my lovely tall twin Kim @ Call Me Kim. 

We have met a few times now, and each time we have ended up discussing our difficulties in finding clothes to fit us properly. We both love how much the 'plus size' market has grown in the last few years, but we feel that there is currently a large gap in the plus size market for longer lengths and we are often forced to make things 'work' instead of wearing it as it was originally designed to be worn.  Often, we're asked by other bloggers or readers for tips on how to combat these issues - as there seems to be little advice from brands in store.

First up, I wanted to talk about dresses.....

This is one of my favourite dresses! It is from ASOS Curve and I bought it in July. I loved the print, the style, the sleeve length and love the way it looks on me. My only criticism is the length. In the picture above, I am wearing leggings with the dress, and that is my 'go-to' way to wear this dress.

Here I am wearing the dress with black tights for my birthday. I really didn't want to wear leggings, so I went for tights instead, but it was rather short! I had to make sure I didn't bend over or move the wrong way, or I would be flashing my knickers! 

I do have to reiterate that I LOVE this dress. I wear it lots, and have even got another one the same style, but with an Aztec print, but they are more like tunics than dresses for me.

Next up is another dress from ASOS Curve.....

Now this was more like it! I ordered this dress with my birthday money, and as soon as I tried it on, I was soooo happy! It was a great length on me, the neckline was lovely and the sleeves were also a good length. It wasn't advertised as longer than the average dresses, I think they are all slightly different, but this is SO much longer than my first dress. I wore this for the Friday night at Plus North, and I had so many compliments, and I felt great in it.

I have become a true dress wearer over the past 6 months, but the majority of the dresses I have bought, and still love, have been just a little too short for me. I still wear them, but I have to 'make them work' with leggings, rather than as a dress, with tights. 

Beka x