Breaking Barriers……

Sweet Jesus, I only went and sodding broke a very solid barrier yesterday. Not a literal one, but more like a mental one. As most of you know, me and my training for Team Bangs has and is being somewhat hard. Who said things were easy right? but I never actually realised that just putting two feet in front of each other can be so sodding difficult both physically and mentally. I’m not going to lie, running is difficult. Any bugger that tells you it takes no effort, is either soul-less or hasn’t really trained to a goal. I started in Team Bangs as a relative novice – sure I’d jogged before, think I even managed 10mins non-stop once, and even that was hard. Now with going past the 5 weeks till Race Day point, things really start get serious, and more painful.

Training has been going steady, my pacing is ok, not brilliant, but I’m getting there. I then got ill with some virus so I took time off which pulled me back a little on the training but I picked it back up, dusted myself down and carried on. Now, the thing is, I have kinda been stuck, not literally, but mentally, at 6 miles. 6 miles was my safe bet, I pretty much knew I could (just about) manage this: it was safe, steady, worked me hard, but left me feeling confident. However, with under 5 weeks to go, I have been playing the following words over and over in my head: 10 Miles.

10 Miles doesn’t sound scary to you? Well, to me I was pretty much crapping-myself-crying scared. The sheer thought of even attempting to go that distance stopped me, my feet and my brain in their tracks – scared was not even the word. I knew that this was more mental than maybe physical, but being stuck at 6 miles for so long, and feeling confident and happy at this distance made the fact of stepping away from this so much worse. Conveniently enough, everytime I went out for the planned ’10 mile-r’ I was either sore, not feeling it, too cold, too wet, blah, blah, blah – I am also the Queen of excuses… and even more so when it came to running 10 miles. Until yesterday, with the help of my running angel: Michelle Allen (@_missallen) who finally managed to get me to slow-the-hell down I went for it.

I aint gonna be the one who tells you I felt fantastic, cos I didn’t. It was pretty much a breeze until I got to the 6 miles mark, my lovely, safe, friendly 6 miles. But oh boy, carrying on past that safety mark was hard, it was almost if my brain said no, no, no and well, my legs followed suit. But I did, continue… I did, carry on and I did, do the 10 miles.

It felt pretty darn amazing to be quite honest, and yes, I pretty much wanted to cry, I know, I know. But blimy,it felt amazing and I was so proud. No-one can ever tell you what it’s like to push your body as far as that. Granted people do alot more mileage, but for me, a novice, a newbie, it was amazing to see what a body can do.

Well ,there ya have it kids…. it is possible. Even for someone like me. Oh, and the ice bath afters? I swore… alot.

By the way, pretty please go donate donate anything you can to us 13 amazing ladies running 13 miles all in aid of Refuge. Donate HERE

Monday’s Must-Have Purchase

Cute enough to raise a smile on a Monday? I think so…

OH YES. These really are rabbit hooks, yes. Yet another excuse for me to fill my house with rabbit-like goodies, not hard is it! Bringing the outdoors, in, these hooks can be adhered anywhere you like in order to add a slight bit of bunny happiness into your life. Chose from either white or silver and priced at only £12.99 with free delivery, how can you not give these woodland lovelies a home.

Get them at Firebox here

Happy Monday!

Website of The Week: My Vintage.co.uk

It’s not often I pipe on about a website, and it’s even rarer if I mention a website twice. So, for those who (stupidly) missed it first time, this weeks Website of The Week is….. *drum roll* My Vintage.co.uk

Run by the gloriously wonderful kick-ass Mumtrapeneur Emma, My Vintage.co.uk is literally a home from home for everything wonderful and vintage. From the outset, the website is clean, simple and easy to navigate. What I love the most, is the different options Emma has added in order for us mere Vintage mortals,to locate what we want, easily and quickly. I am as shy and scared as they come when it comes buying Vintage and am often lost in a mindfield of, well, a big load of fabric that quite frankly, I would not have a clue as to what was Vintage and what was a load of tat! But imagine my very surprise that nearly everything on My Vintage.co.uk was something that I’d most definitely wear. The descriptions of each item are flawless and the prices are well within everyones budget.

To show you just how simple it is, I have, within 10minutes, come up with three, yes three, outfits for you lovelies,  to show you just how simple this Vintage shopping business is!

*1960’s Orange Waistcoat £22, 1970’s Denim High Waisted Shorts £25, 1970’s Jaeger Neck-tie Blouse £38, Red 1970’s Wedges £30, 1980’s Orange Escada weave bag £90*

*1970’s Burgundy and Gold piping dress £26, 1970’s Gold Tassle Necklace £18, 1980’s Vicki Beth Shoes £36, Gold Drawstring bag £16*

*1980’s Sage Green Pencil Skirt £28, 1980’s Starzewski Cream Blouse £245, 1970’s Lanvin Scarf £160, 1960’s Leather Box Bag £52, 1970’s Russell and Bromley Leather Peeptoes £98*

Tell me these are not simply, absolutely amazing??? Exactly, I thought so. You’re sold right!? I ruddy well am. I finally feel I can access Vintage shopping easily and confidently and not feel like I don’t know what I’m looking for and how the hell I actually wear it! Get yourself over to My Vintage.co.uk to create some absolute fabness in your wardrobe.

Now to save my pennies for that blouse…..

Ooooo What are YOU wearing?!

No, I’m not being dirty and neither am I rubbing my thighs as I’m asking, This, my ladies (and Gents) will be the question on everyone’s lips very very soon.

The genius, and ruddy gorgeous, Poppy Dinsey has started something, that I predict is going to go viral – it is going to give you and me a whole new, better, alternative to Facebook – none of the crappy, irritating status updates, nope, but still keeping with the same social media aspect. Already famous for her simple but effective WIWT website, she is now giving us all the chance to become style icons. WIWT is simple, it gives you the opportunity to showcase exactly what you’re wearing – literally just that. You upload your photos to the site under your account, and Bob’s your uncle, you are now online. Other users than come along and ‘star’ your outfit if they like it, also allowing comments. Not only do you show off your individual styles, but you can tag the items in your outfit linking them to the brands, there is an Editors choice section, where Poppy picks her favourite outfits out – which could see your very own style getting on the Homepage for all to see… The list is endless.

So why is this perfect? err, well let me tell you. We all love to secretly ‘people watch’ don’t we? and don’t you dare tell me otherwise, it is programmed into all women to scope out, look, and sometimes even judge other women or men’s outfits/looks – well instead of hiding behind dark glasses, Poppy’s website brings you every outfit that you ever wanted to stare at for either the right or wrong reasons. This is the future – tying both the world’s love for all things fashion, and for every one’s roving eye. I have been lucky tryout the trial site and I have been using it for a while now. My Verdict? I haven’t been this obsessive and excited about something since I started really getting into Twitter, and you know ?this is probably better. I love the freedom to express my, sometimes bad, outfits, what I consider to be stylish, but it also allows me to freely pick on other people’s styling and hopefully find new ways of using my already bursting wardrobe.

The full site is due to be launching soon and when it does, I’ll be sure to let you all know. However, the trial version site is on: http://beta.wiwt.com/ where you can fill in and possibly get entered into using the trial site…

Now I cant go showing you too much on here, but keep your eyes peeled people, for it is coming, it is the future.

Simply Beach = Simply ME

I do love the Summer months: long, drawn out days with light long evenings, the birds are tweeting, the flowers blooming, and the heat of sun on your body – you just cant beat it can you? As we all know, for us women, Summer means something altogether completely different, our whole wardrobe changes: hemlines, arm lengths, strap size, even shoes and accessories. – it’s not just your simple t-shirt and shorts jobby, oh no, a Woman’s Summer wardrobe takes Military planning. Along with the normal Summer dresses and strapped tops, comes the Summer essential: Swimwear.

This word pretty much strikes the fear of God into most (un-surgically enhanced) women at the best of times, but for me? I chose to, every year, ignore it. How do I ignore it you ask? Well, I don’t go swimming, I will always say no to pool parties, I don’t often go to the beach and if I do, I conveniently forget my swimsuit – this pretty much runs year in, year out, without fail. I have, somewhere, got a old swim-all in one strap everything in-suit, that I might wear if I was kidnapped and placed on a desert island (yeah, I should be so lucky) I hate everything about swimwear, but can possibly hate the bikini even more. I owned a bikini once before – I had spent about a tenner on it, and thought that it was perfect for sunbathing – it was pretty much one of these string-porn-star type ones, but with a D cup chest, that really wasn’t going to work was it!? So the love affair ended. Since that moment I haven’t worn anything like that in public again, and never again did I think I ever would – that would mean going into a shop and possibly daring to bare in a changing room with the brightest white lights and curtains that are no bigger than dental floss – yeah = not going to happen.

Along came Simply Beach.com Now I know alot of you are going to say ‘there are alot of swimwear websites, but I will respond, saying no, none like this. The reason why Simply Beach is so different, is not only due to the extensive ranges and brands, but to the amazing service you receive when looking on the site and purchasing. I was drawn to purchasing a bikini online mainly because I could get to try the garment on at home, where I could black out all the curtains and light some candles, we all know what good lighting can do for a figure right?! Simply Beach is well set out, its tabs lets you decide to zoom straight to the Brand you want, or whether you’re looking for swimwear, cover ups or even clothes – you cant really get lost.

I decided to fight my fear and go straight to the bikini section – I wanted one that wasn’t your normal cheese  grater strung kind, nope, I wanted one that was going to fit my enlarged figure, be well supported but also not look like something Bigfoot would wear. I found this in the ‘Cup-sized Swimwear’ tab, which is a first for me to see – I knew I was going to find something to hold my puppies in, in this section. I fell almost instantly in  love with Freya’s range of bikini’s – with actual cup sizes and pretty, feminine but fun designs, I knew this was the option for me. As for the bottoms, well, anything that doesn’t have enough fabric to cover both my japan-sized cheeks, is a no-go. So a full, but sexy brief was my aim – my final pick was the Freya Pier Halterneck Bikini – perfection by fit, and perfection by print – love.

Now the decision and purchasing was complete, all I had to do was wait for the normal, agonizing delivery times until my bikini body got it’s D-Day. A pet hate of mine is delivery times anyway, but with Simply Beach, my order came within 2 days! I was truly excited to see the package nestled safely on my doorstep and ran inside to my darkly lit boudoir in preparation to try the elusive bikini on. Well, strike me down and call me Ms. Pamela Anderson – It was lush, lush and well lush! On every level I loved it – the fit, the quality and the style. Believe it or not, I felt, mildly, attractive. Would you Adam and Eve it!?

Now, as the above pictures will show you, I do not have a bikini body, I probably never will, and yes I still wish I was about 2 stone lighter, but what I love more than anything, is that I’m in a bikini, yes, that’s right, I’m in a bikini. That is all you need to know.

Simply Beach made my journey to Bikini stardom (ha!) so much easier. Giving me a easy to use website, with no silly jargon, its amazing descriptions, truthful measurements and a really really handy catwalk function where you can see those gorgeous models swishing their amazing bods down the catwalk *sigh* I loved everything about this website and the fact it got me into a bikini, through its ease of purchase pretty much equates to a big resounding success.

Thank you Simply Beach… Thank you…

**I would ask if you have nothing nice to say about my pictures, please do not say it at all – It took me over a month to pluck up the courage to post them!**

Oh yeah, if you’d like, pretty pleasio go vote for me in the Cosmo Blog Awards HERE

Monday’s Must-Have

If you ever needed cheering up on a Monday, this would be it! Monday Must-Have Purchase is back and today’s really is a must-have!

Priced at only £24.99 this animal-print inspired necklace really is the only necklace to be sporting come this A/W11. Maggie Angus is by far, a long standing love of mine – with eclectic looks that are always a guaranteed eye-catcher, this necklace is by far one of my faves! At this price and with this beauty, you cant really say no can you?

Go check out this and many other gorgeous designs, on the Maggie Angus website HERE

p.s Don’t forget to nominate me in this years 2011 Cosmo Blog Awards HERE

Knitting – the place to be…

Knitting is most definitely not just something your Gran used to do, Oh no, there is a new breed and social aspect to knitting in 2011, and right at the forefront of this breed of knitters is the delightful Louise Dungate.

I’ve featured our Louise before, I was originally entranced with her delectable and statement but precise knitwear style: her collections were distinguished yet easy to wear. There was something oh so comforting about the chunkiness of Dungate’s knitwear, and something about the styling that made it so fashion forward. It was most certainly a welcome change on what my nan used to knit!

After designing her own knitwear for two years, Louise has developed her own signature style of Big Chunky Knitting. She is currently working on a commission to create 38 garments for ‘Dagny & Barstow’, a new boutique opening in New York this month. And if that wasn’t enough for our Knit-trepreneur, Louise has opened her very own Knit Shop Studio, aptly named ‘The Knit Club’ on the High Street in Caterham-on-the-Hill. Louise has put her heart and soul into the shop and opened it following the closure of ‘The Yarn House’ so the community still had somewhere to buy yarn.The Knit Club proudly stocks Louise Dungate Knitwear and tees, as well as a large range of knitting yarns and accessories, carrying popular brands like Rowan, Sirdar, Rico, Brittany, Pony and Artesano.

Louise will be holding her own knit club on Thursday evenings for anyone who wants to learn, or simply wants to enjoy knitting with others and a crochet club will also be held in due course. Louise said of the club: “Anyone who’s interested in knitting should just do it, Knitting with a group of people is great, you get inspired by others, get to share knowledge and show off your work. Knitting is making a comeback!”

Now if that isn’t enough to make you grab those knitting needles, all of this is done in the shops amazing surroundings, all served with copious tea and cake. That’s me pretty much sold….. Now to see if I can make something out of this little lot…

If you don’t knit, don’t worry – just get yourself along to The Knit Club, pick up one of Louise’s hand-knitted accessories or take a lesson with the lady herself, and she’ll have you knitting in no time!

The address is 27 High Street, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5UE

Telephone number is 01883 345220.

P.s Dont forget you can vote for me in the Cosmo Blogger Awards HERE

I’d like to thank my Mum…. my Dad…. blah blah blah

No, I’m not going to start blubbing all over your computer a la Gwyneth Paltrow, well, not yet anyway! For it is time for me to get on my hands and knees and ask you lovely readers, if you would do another favour for me!

Back in 2010 Cosmopolitan magazine held the first ever Cosmopolitan Blog Awards, if you’re a fellow blogger you will know just how amazing it is to have competitions like this, if not, it’s a huge deal for alot of us. I chose last year not to enter – simply because I felt I was too new. I felt the blog wasn’t really that good and would get little to no readers. This year however, I’ve decided to put myself forward.

Now firstly, its because of you readers that I’m doing it – I guess you guys have made me feel like what I write, is, well, interesting, and secondly I done it for me. Now I know alot of these competitions are a popularity contest etc etc but to even be in with a chance of winning, I have to put myself out there – so here it is!

If any of you would like, please click on the below link and nominate me – I cant tell you how amazing it would be to even stand a chance of getting through the nominations, I’ll be eternally grateful to you all, and even promise to cry on acceptance of my award if I win…. yes, I’d do that for you! In all seriousness though, it’s because of you lot I’m here so a nomination vote would be amazing!

Thanking you all!

Fruity Nails…

You know what it’s like when you’re nearing the end of the month and you are a little somewhat ‘strapped for cash’ you end up seeing a million and one things that you simply must have in your life, well, that’s me every month.

After realising I have just enough money to feed myself, I knew that the much-lusted after pair of brogues were not going to be mine, however with the words of a Thrift book I’ve been reading ringing in my ears, I knew of a cheap and easy way to update my look – nail varnish! I wanted some new, summery-type colours so popped off to Boots after work. To my utter delight, Boots had a special deal on Rimmel nail varnish’s so I well and truly stocked up! Here are my new Summer nails:

From L-R: ‘Sunshine’, ‘Apricot Punch’, ‘Misty Jade’, ‘Strawberry’

Overall, I really love these colours! All work really well together and by themselves, plus I quite like how ‘juicy’ they look! Yum yum!

What are your nail colours for Summer?

Shining Happy People….

You know that R.E.M song where Michael Stipe sings about “Shiny, Happy People”? Yeah, well, that is me in a nutshell right now.

No, I haven’t won the Lottery, no, it’s not me birthday and neither has that Jason Statham called me up wanting to take me for dinner. Nope, the reason why I am practically skipping round with a perma grin (doing this on a Monday is frowned upon!) all because of this running malarky! When I’m not running, I’m thinking of running and when I am running I am pretty much loving.every.god.damn.second.

As the weeks of training for the Half Marathon are wearing on, my excitement and feelings towards myself and my body are changing each and every day. As I’ve previously chattered on about, I’ve never been a huge fan about my body, who is right? but every single time I run, it is an accomplishment: my two (very short and stumpy) legs have given me the ability to run, to move fast, to bounce off the tarmac – this is my body. Yeah I’m not the fastest or strongest runner, but I sure as hell am out there doing it! Thanks to Team Bangs I literally have opened a new chapter in my life: Never before have I seen how strong muscles can be, how mechanically my body works, and most of all, what it’s like to be in a team, to be supported.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t lean on the Team Bangs girls for help: whether I’m having a bad training day, or a bad day in general – they are always there, always. It got me thinking though – why was I so unhappy with life before? I’m healthy, have both my parents who I love, a fab brother and a job that I enjoy, doesn’t sound so bad does it!? but what I was lacking was some real focus in my life outside of work. I didn’t have anything but work and the occasional blog post to write, I don’t have many friends and would often find myself alone, alot, of the time. Running and Team Bangs has pretty much given me new focus – focus to get off my rotund arse and get out there. I’m meeting new people at the gym I signed up for, I’m getting out to see the countryside whilst running and immediately I have Twelve  kick-ass girls that, I hope, will be my friends for life. I go about my life, every day, happy. I get up with an absolute spring in my step, my body feels better than it ever has done – granted, I have not lost a mere gram of fat, but I am healthy as an egg! and my mind is in the best shape of its life. How can you knock that?!

It’s a sheer wonder how complete my life feels now… so, what about, winning the lottery eh?

What makes you happy? Do you need focus to feel complete?