Booting Up For Fall with Curvissa

Today I am back on this lovely Bank holiday Monday with a blogger challenge from Curvissa and it's all about boots!

I have always had a nightmare finding boots that fit my calves and in the past when I have found them I always go for black leather and never anything else, so this time I decided I would change things up a bit for the arrival of fall.

I chose these brown suede boots from Curvissa to test out in the regular wide calf. The quality of the boots it great and they feel well made. The calf just fits my calf and is almost a bit snug, but I'm sure with a bit of wear, they will improve. The foot bed is large which is my only issue as I could have done with a size down in the foot. They would fit a wide foot without issue as well. If you are planning on purchasing a pair of these beauties, I would suggest going down a size in the foot.

I must admit, brown boots through me through a bit of a loop - I was at a loss of what to pair them with, so I gave my new quirky denim tunic, that I picked up from a random clothes shop in a market in London, a test run.

I like the sort of relaxed not quite fall but getting there vibe this outfit has.  It's defiantly not my usual look but I am glad that I stepped out of the box.

Here's another little close up of these gorgeous boots. I wish we had boot-o-vision where you could feel how nice the suede feels and how sturdy the construction is, they really are great.

I would rate these wide calf boots from Curvissa a 4 out of 5 due to the foot being too big but everything else is spot on.

Be sure to check out the other delightful bloggers who posted some amazing reviews about their different boots!

www.prettybigbutterflies.com

www.thecurvedopinion.com

www.nattynikki.com

www.itsmechannel.blogpost.co.uk

My Travel Philosophy - Five Things To Take With You

After doing quite a bit of travelling recently, I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you about being a fat travelling girl. 

So here’s the thing, I truly believe that everyone should be able to do what they like with their life regardless of their size – it is not up to someone else and their insecurities to stop you from accomplishing a goal or realizing a dream. I say this because I see posts on social media everyday where fat people express their major anxieties and down right refusals to travel (among other things) because of their fear of what others will say, do, how they will react etc.

I completely understand this and those worries – I have been there and can sympathize, but I’m happy to report that I am also at a place where it is a lot less of a concern. Since January, I have visited six new countries and flown countless times, and have had no comments or mention about my weight in a negative way. I’ve been grateful to have pool side conversations with other women about embracing your size, body and everything in between and to bring up just how few people genuinely are looking at you or care about your size or insecurities.

On my holiday last month to Turkey, I had a good ponder and decided that I would share my thoughts on how to stay positive while travelling fat.

1.     Embrace your size – you will be the size that you are regardless or whether you shrug, sulk and cower within yourself so you might as well stand tall and take charge. If you do get a comment or a remark, acknowledge it, let them know it’s unnecessary and rude and move on. Negative energy and attitude belongs to those that dish it out and you do not have to accept it.

2.     Wear clothing that makes you feel good – There is nothing brave about wearing a bikini on a beach or by the pool, just as it’s not shameful to choose a one piece, we all have different comfort levels and we should, while remembering to push the right boundaries, remain comfortable. If going to the beach or pool for a swim is already a massive step on your road to confidence, then wear something that makes you feel good, not what you think is brave. Bravery is not the objective but the act of swimming itself is.

3.     Accept challenges and live your life outside the box – I see so many people saying they can’t or won’t travel because of low self-esteem or even due to not having someone to travel with. Imagine what you could accomplish on your own, the places you could see, and better yet the people you could meet. The very trip you are frightened of taking could sort out so many of life’s woes, simply by going solo.

4.     Travel somewhere that you truly want to go. Every trip should have a purpose, even if that purpose is simply to relax. Plan a trip to Italy if you want history and food, a trip to a warm beach spot for relaxation (if that’s your thing) or head to a local spa for the weekend and simply treat yourself.  If you are afraid to travel, try building up to it – start small and work up to something special. Putting a focus on where you want to go and planning will help you realize it. If you are somewhere that fascinates and excites you, you will be so busy thinking about what you are seeing that those body negative demons won’t have time to creep in like they sometimes do at home.

5.     Smile, and laugh whenever possible – confidence comes from within and even if you aren't feeling it everyday, making an effort to look happy will attract happy, and therefor will come back to make you feel the same. If you travel, smile everywhere you go, it’s infectious, people will see and feel this beam of good and it will open you up to positive interactions.

The point I am trying to make is that I wish everyone to find ways to feel as liberated as I do when I travel. Don't ever let the opinions of other people or your own negative thoughts stop you from going somewhere!

Wearing S&J at the V&A

Happy Monday everyone!

Today I have a quick OOTD post for you all to show off what I wore to the museum last weekend. I was lucky enough to have a long weekend 2 weeks ago along with my love OH Steven so we decided to make the most of it and do some fun activities in London.

On Sunday, we headed to the V&A museum to have a wonder and check out what there was. I have been there several times as it's one of my favourite spots in London, but I never get tired of seeing all the rooms full of neat history and artefacts.

The weather was that weird humid yet not sunny type of thing, so dressing was difficult because I was sure I would either be too hot or chilly - either way, I made it work.

I snagged a gorgoeous Scarlet and Jo Skirt in the Evans sale that I wanted to take out for a spin, so I popped on a simple black top and knotted a cardigan to complete the look. I also wore my personalised "K" mermaid shell necklace from this month's Lucky Dip Club box.

I love the variations of purple and blue and I think it's a nice way to incorporate lots of colour without  going crazy. This was the perfect outfit for a casual day out and I was comfortable and felt cute all day.
I love the wide band on this skirt as it stays in place and give the actual skirt a bit more bounce. I could wear it everyday!
You can shop the post below if you like this outfit as much as I do!

#FrenchCurves - All White

Hello everyone!

It's #FrenchCurves time again and the theme for this month is "All White" which was a hard one for me. I almost never wear white and own very little of it. I just don't find that it suits me and it's one of those things that scares me a bit.

Bonjour à tous!

Il est temps encore pour un nouveau poste #FrenchCurves et le thème de ce mois est "All White" qui était un dur pour moi. Je porte presque jamais le blanc et j'ai très peu dans mon garde robe. Je ne trouve pas que cela me convient et il est une de ces choses qui me fait un peu peur de porter.

So for this challenge, I did a very relaxed and having out at home shoot of my new white LaRedoute shirt with a flamingo on it and my new favourite donut socks.

Donc, pour ce défi, j'ai fait un look très détendu dans mon nouveau shirt de La Redoute blanc avec un flamant rose et aussi mes nouvelles chaussettes de beignet préférés.

I almost never take photos inside so this was a bit of a challenge but I still like the casual shots. I also love this shirt, despite the fact that it is white - I think the flamingo is the reason that I am so in love with it.

J'aime cette chemise, malgré le fait qu'il est blanc - Je pense que le flamant rose est la raison pour laquelle je suis tellement en amour avec elle.

I can't wait to see what everyone else does with this challenge as I'm sure the posts will be amazing! I felt a bit lost on this one so it will be good to see some fun inspiration from other French curvettes.

J'ai hate de voir ce que tout le monde fait pour ce défi et je suis sûr que les poste seront incroyable! Je me sentais un peu perdu sur ce theme alors ce sera bon de voir un peu d'inspiration des autres des cuvettes français.

Shooting With Velvet - The Results

Hello everyone!

So today I have something super special for you all! I have finally had a chance to share my 3 favourite shots from my photo shoot with Velvet from a couple of months ago.

For those of you who don't know Velvet, she is an amazing plus size photographer, and the creator of Volup2 Magazine. She travels the world, lives in Paris and is really a force to reckoned with in the plus size world of fashion.

 I had such a wonderful time shooting with her and I have never felt better in front of a camera. Velvet has a way of making everyone look sensational when photographed and it's in part to her own confidence in how she gently directs you but also encourages you.

I wish everyone could have a chance to be photographed like this because it is empowering and such a great experience. I have loved seeing all the shots that have come out of it from others.

Thank you Velvet for being amazing!

Shop the post below:

Smile Brighter with Smile Brilliant!

Hello!

So as I'm sure you have seen in most of my photos, I have a hard time not smiling and it's always with my mouth wide open. I have always been a big smiler and I think that the most lovely thing about grinning and baring your teeth is that it's really infectious and that it helps others feel happy in a little way too.

In middle school, I had a little help with my smile, when my teeth were straightened through the power of braces which I am very happy about. I have, however always had an issue with my teeth being a bit yellow, but had never really done anything about it. When I was approached by American based company Smile Brilliant to test out their at home whitening kit. It's the same caliber and precision of whitening as you would get at the dentist but for a fraction of the cost. 

My partner, Steven, mentioned, when I was telling him about taking on this review, that he also has struggled with yellow teeth and has tried store bought treatments in the past, but has never had a long lasting effect or felt like any were particularly good so we decided to do it together.

We were sent a kit in the post with trays and special dental puddy to create moldes of our teeth which we then sent back to Smile Brilliant. 

Within a couple of weeks, we were sent perfectly made trays that matched our teeth.

From there, it was a simple task of using the whitening solution in the tray and popping the tray in for the allotted time. It really was a simple task and something that anyone could do - no less effort than using something store bought like whitening strips, only a lot less messy.

Because the trays are fit to your teeth, it means they stay in place and you can get on with doing stuff as they work their magic. When you are done, you pop them out, rinse your mouth and the trays and store them in the handy little container that you can take with you anywhere.

The Results: I used my trays once and did notice a difference in the colour, even after one go, however it made my teeth very sensitive after, which I found uncomfortable. I have had somewhat sensitive teeth most of my life, so it may come partially from that, but for me, this was a downside. I spoke to Smile Brilliant about it and they were very helpful, and linked me to a couple of articles about what I was experiencing including Tooth Sensitivity,  whether whitening is harmful to enamel, and if I had anything to worry about in terms of risks.

For Steven, it was totally different. He was over the moon with his results. Not only was there a massive difference after one go, and even more as he continued to use the trays over a couple of weeks, but his teeth genuinely looked much better and most of the stains had faded or gone completely from his teeth. He didn't have any sensitivity at all and absolutely loves the system.

Smile Brilliant is a great system if you want dentist style whitening but don't have the money to pay for the several trips to the dentist - it also means you can do it at your own pace and whiten for as long as you are comfortable. It still feels personal, as the tray fits your teeth and comes in a package just for you, so it's not like using something off the shelf at all.

If you want to know more or try Smile Brilliant yourself check out their website.

Best Teeth Whitening

Loving Your Feet with Evans & Scholl

Good morning everyone!

Can you believe it - two foot posts in a row! Actually, in a lot of ways, they compliment each other quite well so let me tell you about the most recent kit that I was to sent to review by Evans. I was contacted by Evans to see if I wanted to participate in a Summer footwear inspired collaboration with Scholl and I jumped at the chance.

Like I said in my previous post, I am always struggling to keep my feet looking good during the Summer months, so anything I can do at home is great. I was sent a Scholl 3-Step Perfect Feet kit and the most gorgeous pair of sandals that I chose from the Evans website and set to work to test everything out. 

I will be the first to admit that I have seen the Scholl diamond file on TV before and not been convinced and a bit skeptical of how well it would perform but I stand corrected, it actually really does work! 

The first step is to file your heels and anywhere else that may be dry, cracked, and difficult and it's really quite addictive. I would recommend doing it over a towel or straight in the bath tub for easy clean up as it leaves "dust" everywhere.

Once you have done that, you use the foot soak to soften and calm your feet. My feet felt lovely after the soak - it would be great after a long day standing up too, just to relax sore feet.

The last step is to cover them in the hydrating gel layer and your feet immediately look amazing!

I even plucked up the energy to paint my toes gold so it was a complete makeover and now all I want to do is go squidge my feet in the sand somewhere nice but alas the weather has gone chilly in London.

Once I was all set, I popped on my glorious new gold gem block heel sandals which I am wearing in a size 6 wide fit - and I would say that these are actually wide fit and true to size.

Thank you so much to Evans and Scholl for the lovely opportunity - my feet will be looking good for the rest of the Summer and beyond!

Not Just a Pedicure with DG Podiatrist

Good morning everyone!

So this morning I have another post about feet! I can't really explain why so many wonderful people have contacted me about my toes recently, but I am so pleased that they have. I guess because it's Summer and we all have a chance to let our feet free, wear sandals and even go barefoot, it does make some sense, but never before have I had so much interest.

I have always loved wearing sandals or going barefoot when I can, but struggled with dry and sometimes cracked heels and just generally not having nice skin on my feet. It does make me feel self-conscious when I got to someone 's house, and I always try and bring socks if I know that I am going to end up without my sandals on.

When I was asked recently about testing out a new kind of pedicure, the Medical Pedicure, at a beautiful podiatrist clinic in Mayfair, I jumped at the opportunity. 

I wanted to find out why my feet are such a pain to care for.

My appointment was at DG Podiatrist not far from Bond Street Station with podiatrist, Dina, a fellow expat Canadian who is absolutely amazing. One of her newest treatments that I was able to try, is the Medical Pedicure. and it aims to take really tackle the things that a standard buff and polish just can't do. Not only does Dina spend time asking about your general foot health, lifestyle as well as examining your feet, she then goes to work on smoothing, tidying and addressing any issues that she can correct on the spot.

I spoke candidly with Dina about being pigeon toed and how my heels have always been a tough area to tackle, and she wasn't phased in the least. She had a look at my feet, explained a few things that I needed to know about my concerns and completely put me at ease. I immediately felt like she had my best interest in mind and wanted to see my feet looking pretty and healthy before anything.

I sat in her gorgeous treatment room on a comfy bed while she went to work, turning my feet from a no to a yes all whilst chatting away with me, giving me pointers and information where she could about how I could best care for my feet going forward.

The medical pedicure is not like a standard pedicure, you don't get colourful toes but your feel will feel like new, I promise. Dina used specialist tools and machines to remove dead skin and tidy nail beds and really made sure that my feet were in the best condition. She recommended some wonderful products for me to use as after care, and since then I have been following her advice and had great results.

I don't know why it's so hard for me to take of my feet when they are one of the most important parts of my body - they take me everywhere!

Dina is a certified podiatrist and the most approachable and lovely person that I have encountered in a medical setting. It was refreshing to talk to an intelligent and vibrant medical professional who has a real passion for what she does and a true concern for those that she sees.

I think of so many people I have spoken to in the past who don't get their feet out for various reasons and hope that they read this and make an appointment with Dina because she will sort you out!

Thank you so much Dina for the wonderful experience - I promise to keep on moisturising! 

Find DG Podiatry here:

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