Blog Every Day in August - Round Up

I had so much fun trying to blog every day in August. Although I missed a couple of days, I still managed to blog much more than I would in a normal month. I also posted about a lot more things than I normally would, not just fashion. I like that, and I think I'll keep doing that. This is my blog and I want to share things from my life as well as what I'm wearing.

It was a busy month but really fun. I really enjoyed Style XL, going away for Lee's birthday, and the meal we had one Saturday lunchtime just with each other. I enjoyed having friends to stay and seeing a few more at other events. I read a couple of good books this month and watched some great films. It's been a nice, happy making month.

This photo is of the dessert I had when Lee and I went to the Toss O' Coin pub in Holmfirth. It was really yummy, as was the fish and chips I had before it. I recommend the pub if you're close by!

Blog Every Day in August - Day 29

I've had a busy old week. We were away last weekend and we're away this weekend, and in fact I'm busy every weekend until October 18th, which is making me feel ill to be honest! My depression and anxiety mean that I have to factor in a lot of resting.

This weekend we are going to stay with my aunt, uncle, and cousins Rob and Peter. There's twelve years between Rob and I, and 14 between Peter and I, so I've had the privilege of watching them grow from tiny babies to young men. They're both incredibly lovely, so it'll be nice to see them.

We're going swimming tomorrow, I think, and we're taking our Wii U for a Mario Kart tournament or two, and Lee and I have said we'll cook on Sunday so I think we'll do curry with rice and snacks. We're also taking the board game Cranium, which is a lot of fun if you haven't played it!

Here's my list of essentials to take for a weekend away:

NB I do not travel light!

Underwear, inc two bras
Nightie
Pillow (my black hair means I do not want to dye your pillowcases)
Shoes (one pair)
Two dresses
Leggings
Casual clothes for relaxing in
Games
A book
My Kindle - maybe I won't like the book so will want to choose something else!
Toiletries of course, including shampoo etc
Black/dark towel (again for the hair)
Dressing gown
Crochet stuff
Notebooks
Camera

Yes, that might do!

Blog Every Day in August Month - Day 27

Today's theme is to share some links of blogs that you love. Well I read LOADS of blogs, on lots of different themes, for lots of different passions of mine. But I'll share some of my favourite fashion and lifestyle blogs.

Lovely Annelise, aka Mookie
Nikki, whose hair I'm so jealous of!
Emma, whose face pleases me muchly every time I see her
Kathryn, who was one of the first plus size bloggers I read
Gorgeous Leah at Thirty Something Curvy Me
Another gorgeous Leah who I love
Gemma whose style I love and want to steal!
Beautiful Rebecca across the pond
And finally Steph who came up with this challenge!

Link me to some more beauties!

Weekend in Northumberland

For Lee's birthday I bought him a weekend away in Northumberland. He needed a break especially from work, and it's always nice to spend time with each other. Lee is from Durham which is close to where we were staying, so we arranged to see lots of his family while we were there.

We set off on Friday afternoon and headed up the A19 to Cresswell Towers. We easily got checked in and drove to our Bronze caravan. To say it was the most basic I thought it was lovely! It had a bedroom and bathroom at one end, second bedroom and a kitchen in the middle, and a big living/dining area. The kitchen was well equipped so we made our curry and settled down to watch a film, but not before we had wandered along the beach for a bit.

Wasn't it gorgeous? I even paddled a bit - I have some 'beach shoes' which make even the North Sea palatable to my feet!

On Saturday we went swimming for a bit, then drove to South Shields to meet up with Lee's mum, stepdad,  one of his brothers, sister, and her twin babies (her elder daughter was dancing so couldn't come). We had fish and chips on the beach front, then played mini golf. Lee won, because he always does. We played in the amusement arcade for a bit, then Lee, Daniel and I played ten pin bowling which I haven't played in years but I really enjoyed it! 

Look how cute the bowling shoes were!

On Sunday we drove to Morpeth to see Lee's dad and stepmum. We had a wander round and ate lunch in a really nice Italian restaurant. On the way back Lee and I went up to Amble where we played pool in the amusement arcade, and then again we had a lovely chilled evening in the caravan. 

Yesterday morning we just packed up and then drove to Gateshead where we saw our friend Paul. He's just bought a house there so we looked round, then went out for lunch. 

Gosh, it was a whirlwind tour around the North East but we really relaxed and got to see some people, too :) 

What I Wore 21st August

21st August was my partner Lee's birthday. He had the day off work (and Friday too, but I'll get to that) so we went to a really nice deli in Mirfield for lunch, then we did a bit of shopping. In the evening we went to Saigon 68 in Sheffield with my mum and stepdad, and some friends. I really recommend the place - it's REALLY amazing food, good prices, and the portions are enormous. They will give you any leftovers for you to eat later.

I had Vietnamese Stir Fried Noodles with Three Roasties meat, it's delicious! Lee and I also shared a portion of salt and pepper fried bean curd. They do have a good vegetarian section - we were eating with two vegans and they had the veggie set meal for £13 each.

I wore this red dress which you've seen before, but I also put on this lace back shrug. I got it in the New Look sale recently for £9.99. The sleeves are a nice length on my elbow and I like that the back would show any interesting details on the clothing underneath.

Blog Every Day in August - Day 22

Lee and I are away as you read this. It was his birthday on Thursday so I've whisked him away for the weekend. I'll share photos when we're home!

In the meantime I'm going to show you my current nail polish. This is a Zoya polish - Zoya are cruelty free, chemical free, etc. All their polishes are named after women, and this one is called Caitlin. I love the greyness to the purple!

Blog Every Day in August - Day 21

I missed Tuesday because I was out at my friend Sarah's. I stayed over so we got a Chinese takeaway, drank LOTS of wine, and watched three of my favourite films. I thought I'd write about them and maybe you'd like to watch them too!

Okay this isn't a happy film at all, but it is an excellent portrayal of the Moors Murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. It's told from the point of view of her sister Maureen, and Maureen's husband David Smith, who was actually the person who went to the police about Brady and Hindley when they murdered Edward Evans in front of him. I think using Maureen and David's point of view really helps to not glamorise Brady and Hindley and what they did. Maxine Peake is excellent at Hindley and Sean Harris is truly terrifying as Brady. 

This is a really sweet film about two boys who fall in love on a South London housing estate in a long hot summer. Jamie (the blonde) lives with his mum who is hoping to open her own pub, and Ste lives with his abusive dad and brother. Leah (the black girl in the photo) is their neighbour who is obsessed with Mama Cass. It's one of my favourite 'comfort' films. 

The Italian Job is another of my favourite films. It's such a classic and it's so much fun. I have been watching it since I was very little. I love minis and it's probably due to this film!

Sarah had never seen any of these films - have you? 

Blog Every Day in August - Day 18

This is going to be a quick post. I don't want to break my streak in blogging every day this month because I'm really enjoying it and because I think it's opening up my blogging past just fashion, which I'm also enjoying.

However, I want to be honest here too. I suffer from chronic anxiety and depression and have done since I was very little. I first took an anti-depressant when I was 14 and I've been on and off medication ever since. I've had two episodes of near breakdown in the past 8 years, and I've dealt with my dad's death by suicide in that time, too. Earlier this year I came off my medication and although I've been doing okay I have had some extremely low days.

It ebbs and flows - May and June were awful, July was better. This past week I've been not sleeping and I'm bouncing off the walls with anxiety about something - but I'm not exactly sure what. That's the worst part - if only I could direct the anxiety towards something I'd feel a lot better.

I ended up staying awake until 5am this morning reading, because it was better than lying in bed not being asleep. I finished my book and I fell asleep until 9.30 when the post lady woke me up. I've been trying to write a post all day, but it hasn't happened.

I hate anxiety, depression, and all that they rob from me. If I could live my life without them, I really would.

Blog Every Day in August - Day 15

Today's theme is "day out". I thought I'd write this post to show you what an ideal day out is for me.

Now, as I live in Barnsley in the middle of the country, the seaside is a long way away and therefore I like to go to the sea. I'm a big believer in this quote:

I love Whitby and Scarborough the most, because I was taken there a lot when I was younger. I like Sandsend, which is a tiny place just up the road from Whitby where you can paddle in the river and eat homemade cake in the little cafe at the end. 

In March Lee took me to South Shields and in April I went to Norfolk with some friends and we sat on two different beaches enjoying the sunshine. In May I went to France on a ferry with my mum and stepdad and we had lunch on the beach and even though it was blowing a gale I loved it. 

Here's some photos of beaches that I've taken:

Take me to the beach, buy me fish and chips, let me have a paddle and take me home with the smell of salt in my hair - happy Rebs!

Blog Every Day in August - Day 13

I'm doing these days in a slightly different order because of others posts that I've got scheduled or posted. For instance, today is supposed to be 'inside my wardrobe' - well I just posted three posts on exactly that subject!

So instead I'm taking the theme of 'sweet or savoury: discuss' and talking about a sweet thing and a savoury thing that I've enjoyed recently.

Lee and I went to the cinema recently and my favourite thing about the cinema is Tango Ice Blasts!

I only discovered these a couple of years ago but I love them! I like them swirled with the rapsberry and cherry flavours. Lee prefers just raspberry. 

I went into Sainsburys the other day because I was craving chilli, so I needed to pick up turkey mince and the spices etc. In the 'world foods' aisle I found tortilla chips on special offer with dips, so I picked up one called nacho cheese. It's very cheesy and a bit spicy and is yummy with tortilla chips!

I think in fact that it's time for me to go find some lunch - I wonder if there's any left? 

Weekend of Awesome 2014

In 2007 Lee went to the Rebellion punk festival in Blackpool for 3 days with his brother Andrew and friend Paul. While he did, I invited a bunch of internet friends to come and hang around with me. Thus the first Weekend of Awesome was born. I've had it most years for the last 8 and genuinely, if I invite you, you're welcome to come. My rules are simple: bring comfy clothes, a sleeping bag, some alcohol, some cash, maybe a craft or something.

This year Lee decided not to go to Rebellion so he was around the whole weekend which was actually lovely. I hope he enjoyed himself too?!

On Friday Lee and I had to see the mortgage advisor (we're not moving, just remortgaging) but then we went to Sheffield to get my friend Jane. But then the rain started! Visibility was down to almost nothing and the flooding had already started near our house.

The traffic lights were already in place and causing chaos, but the rain certainly didn't help! Leanne got soaked on her way to ours, so she got straight into her pyjamas while Jane and I went to get food.

This was the car park of the local shop!

However, Saturday was beautiful! My weather app had promised it would be, so we headed off to Wakefield to pick up Kim and Jacqui. Jacqui is one of my very best friends and I see her quite a lot, but I haven't seen Kim for years so it was lovely! 

We bought lunch and then went to the park. Despite the rain the night before, the ground was relatively dry and with a couple of picnic blankets and chairs we were fine! 

I took some wool and plenty of hooks so here are photos of everyone learning to crochet! This is Kim. 

This is Jacqui, who persevered the longest! 

This is Leanne and Jane. Leanne gets married in four weeks! 

Lee was also there, but he doesn't like photos so I didn't bother!

Leanne and Kim had to leave us, so we went home via the supermarket to get barbecue supplies! Sam then arrived - she's my very best friend and she lives in Huddersfield. She was mostly in charge of the barbecue. We just did burgers in buns with salad, very simple but delicious! We stayed outside chatting until about 10pm. It hadn't rained on us all day and Jacqui and I were quite sunburnt!

This didn't last, though. Today the torrential rain started again, so we just stayed in chatting. People have all gone, now, but I'm so glad to have such lovely friends and thankful that they will come to visit me :) 

Blog Every Day in August - Day 11

Today's post for Blog Every Day Month is "What have you been wearing this week?" But I spent a lot of time just at home in super casual clothes that I would NOT post on the blog! So instead I'm showing you a photo from my friend Michelle's birthday.

It was held at a place she works in Manchester which is a beautiful old building which added to the Downton Abbey theme that Michelle had. There was a buffet, a coffee/tea bar, punch, photobooth, photos everywhere, vintage teasets, and lots and lots of people dressed up. If Michelle ever gets fed up of being a youth pastor she could definitely have a future in event planning!

This photo is of four of us who went to 6th form college together and are still friends. Ailsa, the fifth of us, sadly couldn't make the party, but don't the four of us look beautiful?

I'm wearing the Claire Richards for Fashion World prom dress. It's so beautiful but fairly easy to wear.

Left to right - Amy the artistic teacher, Gillian the deep thinker, me, and Michelle the passionate!

Blog Every Day in August - Day 8

Today's theme is something I've made, and I actually made tea tonight! Lee asked for a fish pie earlier in the week, so he bought the ingredients and I made it.

First I poached the fish in milk in a frying pan, I also had onion in the milk because I like onion. After ten minutes, I strained the milk into a jug and flaked the fish (2 small cod fillets and 2 salmon fillets) into a dish with the onion. I hardboiled two eggs and quartered them and put on the fish. Lee thinks this is a pointless exercise but I really like hardboiled eggs so! I made a sauce with a packet of parsley sauce and the leftover milk, but you can also make a white sauce. I poured the sauce over the fish.

Meanwhile the potatoes had been steaming in the steamer so I mashed them with a little butter and milk, spread them over the fish stuff and sprinkled grated cheese on top. We baked the dish on gas mark 6 for 30 minutes. It was delicious and incredibly filling!

Fish mixture and eggs before the sauce was poured on

Ready to go in the oven

Blog Every Day in August - Day 6

Today's theme is about restaurants and although I could write about some, I never take pictures of food - usually too busy eating it! Instead I want to share some photos of some things I bought at Style XL on Saturday.

Iridescent Jewellery was there and the owner Samantha was such a lovely lady. The jewellery was really my style - statement pieces in gorgeous colours and styles, at reasonable prices too. There was a special offer on - buy one get one half price - which made the prices even more reasonable. Sam also accepted card and had a groovy app on her phone to do it with (as well as a card reader) - as someone who never carries cash this is a godsend!

I got these two pieces for £17. The bracelet was £12 and the ring was £10, but £5 on the half price deal. I think that is pretty good!

This ring is more copper-toned than it appears in this photo. It has 'love' engraved on it. I'm a big fan of things with hearts or the word love on them :) 

It's quite thick, too. It fits on my right ring finger. 

This bracelet has some really pretty bluey greeny beads on it, as well as that gorgeous dove. Sam had already added an extension chain to the bracelet, and had more with her to extend anything that a customer asked for. 

Here's a close up of the dove. It matches my dove tattoo! I love it. 

Blog Every Day in August - Day 5

Today's theme is "What's in my make up bag?" Well, I don't wear make up very often but I sure do seem to have a lot of it!

I keep my make up in this case, my father in law bought it for me a looong time ago. It's huge!

Here you can see dry shampoo and my big eyeshadow palette. 

Now on to some favourites!

This is one of my most used eyeshadow palettes, it's an Urban Decay one that I've had for years. 

This is MAC concealer, it's super pale and it's my favourite. This is a new tube I treated myself to a couple of months ago because I lost my old one and I find it difficult to match any others to my skin tone. 

This is one of my favourite lipsticks, it's by Rimmel. 

This is my only mascara, also by Rimmel. It's brown black because I find black too harsh on my eyelashes. 

And THIS is my best kept secret! It's the BEST blusher for my skin tone, it isn't too pink but kind of bronzed pink. One small sweep goes a loooong way!

Blog Every Day in August - Day 2

I have a post scheduled for tomorrow so I'm skipping today's theme, which is about blog challenges, as I don't join in any fashion ones any more. Instead I'm going to do Day 3 today, which is about the last book I read.



I read this book over last weekend. I saw it mentioned on a blog I read, thought it sounded like my kind of thing, and immediately got it for a couple of quid on eBay (I love eBay). I devoured it; it's really good and I recommend it!

It's about a midwife who does a home Caesarean on a dead woman on a cold night when she can't get the woman to a hospital. She's arrested for murder and the story is told by her daughter, who was a teenager at the time. It is easy to read but has enough twists and turns to keep the interest. I would give it a strong nine out of ten!

Here's the rest of the days in the challenge:

1.          Introduction who am I?

2.          Do you join in with any Linky’s or blog challenges? Tell us about them

3.          What was the last book you read?

4.          Have you been to any blog related events or are you going to any soon?

5.          What's in my makeup bag?

6.          Restaurant visit (The last on you went to / your favourite) 

7.          What are your holiday essentials? (Clothes, products Misc that you can’t live without)

8.          Make something (Share a recipe or just what you had for tea)

9.          What skincare products are you using? 

10.       Room tour

11.       What have you been wearing this week?

12.       Savoury or Sweet, Discuss 

13.       Inside my wardrobe

14.       False Eyelashes or show us an Eye makeup style

15.       Day out

16.       Summer Holiday (Have you got a holiday booked, tell us about it? Not going away this year, talk about your best holiday)

17.       Party Food, what makes a good party buffet for you. Maybe you’ve had a party recently and not had chance to blog about it. 

18.       Lip products

19.       Your Local Town or City

20.       Style yourself for a blogging event

21.       Drinks (what's your cup of tea or tipple) 

22.       Best Buys and Worst beauty buys

23.       A day in the life (let us follow you around)

24.       Nails

25.       If you could only eat one food forever what would you pick

26.       What’s in your to read pile?

27.       Share some blogger love. Which blogs do you enjoy reading and why?

28.       Essentials for a weekend away. What would you take?

29.       Your favourite place

30.       Empties (think ahead save the packaging of anything you use up this month and do a mini review of products you have got to the end of)

31.       Highlights of the Month

Blog Every Day in August - Day 1

Steph at Seeing Spots is doing a Blog Every Day in August challenge and I thought I'd join in. Well why not?! I have a few things scheduled already so I might miss a day here and there or delay a day, but the plan is to have 31 blog posts by the end of the month!



Today's post is "Introduction Who Am I?" So, here goes:

My name is Rebecca and I live in Barnsley in South Yorkshire with my partner. I am a self-employed bookkeeper; I currently work for two charities and a media agency. I'm also studying for my MA in Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam university. My passion is Young Adult literature, but I also write poems and short stories.

I'm plus size and have been for my entire adult life. I own way too many dresses and far too much nail polish. I'm a crocheter so I have a lot of wool. I also have a lot of penpals. I love stationery and stickers. I do a few other types of craft, too. I'm passionate about politics and have organised plus size events. I'm really into punk music and DIY. I write a zine called Opinionated Nobody. I love blogging and all the lively people I've met through it.

I like going on holiday and am getting a taste for camping. I suffer from severe anxiety and depression which is why I don't work full time, but I know how to take care of myself. I have a small black and white tuxedo cat called Ivy. I love my friends, most of my family, and Lee.

Here are the post themes:

1.          Introduction who am I?

2.          Do you join in with any Linky’s or blog challenges? Tell us about them

3.          What was the last book you read?

4.          Have you been to any blog related events or are you going to any soon?

5.          What's in my makeup bag?

6.          Restaurant visit (The last on you went to / your favourite) 

7.          What are your holiday essentials? (Clothes, products Misc that you can’t live without)

8.          Make something (Share a recipe or just what you had for tea)

9.          What skincare products are you using? 

10.       Room tour

11.       What have you been wearing this week?

12.       Savoury or Sweet, Discuss 

13.       Inside my wardrobe

14.       False Eyelashes or show us an Eye makeup style

15.       Day out

16.       Summer Holiday (Have you got a holiday booked, tell us about it? Not going away this year, talk about your best holiday)

17.       Party Food, what makes a good party buffet for you. Maybe you’ve had a party recently and not had chance to blog about it. 

18.       Lip products

19.       Your Local Town or City

20.       Style yourself for a blogging event

21.       Drinks (what's your cup of tea or tipple) 

22.       Best Buys and Worst beauty buys

23.       A day in the life (let us follow you around)

24.       Nails

25.       If you could only eat one food forever what would you pick

26.       What’s in your to read pile?

27.       Share some blogger love. Which blogs do you enjoy reading and why?

28.       Essentials for a weekend away. What would you take?

29.       Your favourite place

30.       Empties (think ahead save the packaging of anything you use up this month and do a mini review of products you have got to the end of)

31.       Highlights of the Month