2016 Favourites

For the first blog of 2017, I thought I'd share some of my favourite things of 2016!

Favourite Song - Daddy Lessons by Beyoncé and The Dixie Chicks

I fell absolutely in love with this song after hearing it at the CMAs. I haven't listened to all of Lemonade yet, but this song is fantastic. It's catchy country as it's best and I love it. Beyonce emerging as a political artist this year has been so incredible.

Favourite Shopping Website - ASOS Curve

This year I've bought so much from ASOS Curve. Getting Premier was a real bargain for how much I buy from them, and getting points that turn into vouchers as part of ASOS A-List is awesome! They release so many new pieces daily that there's always something new to look at. It's my go-to place for basics and it's very reasonably priced. Even my bridesmaid dresses were from ASOS.

Favourite Makeup Company - Makeup Revolution and Colourpop

It's a tie for this one as I couldn't pick just one. The Makeup Revolution eye shadow palettes are just everything and I use them daily, they are particularly great for travelling. Colourpop are my fave for lip products and both are cruelty free! The Makeup Revolution advent calendar was a particular highlight.

Favourite Movie - I am reasonably sure I haven't seen a movie that was released this year, I haven't even seen the new Star Trek yet which is very unlike me. It's not been a year of films for me!

Favourite TV Show - The Walking Dead & Luke Cage

I hadn't seen The Walking Dead till this year but we binge watched the whole thing and are now up to date. I love it! Daryl and Michonne are my favourites, she's such a bad ass. Negan is also the best villain I've come across in a long time, he really enjoys being a villain and is great to love to hate. It has it's problems, but it has some really strong female characters that don't need anyone to save them and I love that.

Luke Cage was incredible for totally different reasons. Taking the Luke Cage story and setting it in modern day Harlem and making it political was a brilliant choice, and it is the incredible story of a reluctant superhero. It discusses the Black Lives Matters movement, it celebrates blackness, and it is so powerful. The images of Luke Cage in his hoodie, impenetrable by bullets, defending his neighbourhood as a hero are something else.

Favourite Clothing Company - Navabi

Consistently wonderful, a stunning range of clothing, the best customer service, and they are never, ever problematic. They celebrate plus size bodies and are proud to cater for us. Love them! Plus size brands need to take note of Navabi and see how they run their social media and learn all of the things.

Favourite Event - Easy choice, our wedding! Best day of my life and just ridiculously fun. Everything went so perfectly and I got to marry my best friend. Yay! Being married is so wonderful and I am so lucky to have Stu.

What were your 2016 favourites?

Much love,

Kitty xxx

Christmas Day Outfits : Favourite Outfits of 2016

My Favourite Outfits of 2016

This year has been a funny one for my fashion. My tastes have changed, I've gotten braver, but I also feel like I should have documented way more outfits, so I hope to change that in 2017! I can't resist sharing some of my favourite outfits from throughout the year.

2016 was the year I decided that I could get my legs out as much as I wanted, and this dress was a summer favourite. I plan to wear it non-stop once it gets warm again.

I adored the black version of this Jameela Jamil dress* when it came out, so when they released it in red I had to have it. Plus I finally started wearing heels again this year and embracing my height!

This long sleeved lace dress* requires no bra due to my lack of boobage, which makes it super comfy and easy to wear.

I fell in love with drapey layers this year, and these leggings are faves too.

I also discovered a love of jeans, along with my obsession with this Navabi cardigan*. I feel like 2017 will involve a serious hunt for the perfect pair of jeans as every pair I find fits so weirdly. I will find my perfect pair!

A wintery party dress is always a must and this Lady V London dress* is so damn cute.Vintage inspired perfection.

I became a plus size brand ambassador for the Tutu Factory* this year and I think this outfit has to be the best one I've styled with their tutus so far.

LovedRobe sent me this amazing floral maxi dress* for my hen do. It's so unlike anything I would usually wear, but I loved it.

I could basically have picked any and every outfit involving a CowCow dress* because I love the so much, but as this is my most recent addition, this is the one I'm sharing.

I feel like this year I started to finally be the real 'Kitty' in my fashion, and express myself more. There are more different colours in my wardrobe, and more variety and adventure. Long may this continue!

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

*denotes an item that was gifted to me. In no way does this impact upon my opinions which are entirely my own.

My 2016

2016 has been an interesting year hasn't it? The world seems to be falling to pieces and I'm genuinely worried about the way politics seem to be going. In a stark contrast, my personal life has been mostly amazing, with a couple of downs to go with my ups, so I'm choosing in this blog to focus on that. 

The years started out relatively quiet, January was unremarkable. and in February my birthday was lovely and quiet. I'm not the biggest fan of my birthday, so anytime I can have a nice meal with my family I'm happy. Sadly in February we also suddenly lost our dear, sweet one eyed Sinbad. It was so unexpected and heartbreaking. I miss him a lot and wish he could have been with us longer.

March and April were filled with wedding preparations and DIY, it kept me so busy and I am forever grateful to my Mum, Fal my best friend, my Nanny and my Auntie Maisie. I couldn't have done it without you! I also got to hang out with Melly Em Clark, Nancy of Sugar, Darling and Dom Clark which was so much fun. Anytime I get to hang out with fellow blogger babes is wonderful and I'm lucky to have them nearby.

Me, Melly Em and Nancy, photo by Dom.

March also saw us welcoming a new arrival into our home, the wild hellion beast that is Lemmy Katmister. We adopted him from Cuddles Cat Rescue and it helped us heal after losing Sinbad, knowing we were giving another rescue a much needed home. He is much younger than our other cats Stitches and Patch, and certainly keeps us on our toes. He is a total Mummy's boy and can usually be found in my face!

May was my hen do! I had such a good time and felt so loved that so many people come to it. Afternoon tea, followed by Anti-Nowhere League in the evening. A bit of a mish mash of events, but I wanted something my Nanny and Grandma would enjoy in the day, and was more me in the evening. I also finally decided I needed fun hair again in the run up to the wedding and went pink, with long grown out roots.

Huge thanks to LovedRobe who kindly dressed me for my hen do <3 Headband by Corn & Glory and sash by Oh Squirrel.

And June... June was the best month of my life. I got to marry Stu! He's the best thing to ever happen to me. He constantly makes me laugh, I have never felt so loved, he shares my politics, is a goober with me, is genuinely caring and would do anything for those he loves, and is so supportive. I'm so damn lucky. Our wedding was truly incredible. I blogged a whole bunch about it, which you can read more of in the wedding tab in the top menu bar. I never thought I would get married, and to be able to call my best friend my husband is everything. Best day of my life.

Photo by ClickClickBang Photography.

A week or so later we then went on our first ever holiday together, our honeymoon to Turkey. Two weeks together in a beautiful country, relaxing and enjoying each other's company. We are hoping we'll be able to go on holiday again next year!

I'd say the rest of the year was a bit more peaceful, but between a 50th birthday, a 70th birthday, an 80th birthday, my brother getting engaged and so much more, I don't feel like we've stopped!

2016 marked a full year of Botox for my chronic headaches, and the first time I can say I had truly pain free days in years. It has been so liberating and life changing. I honestly couldn't have coped with the busy year and the wedding in pain like I was, and it makes me so emotional. I am so grateful for our NHS and how much they have improved my life.

I seem to have travelled more than I have in years this year, with trips to Liverpool for Curve Fashion Festival, and finally taking Stu to Wales to visit my family too. CFF was so much fun, even though I stayed in the worst hotel ever. We also had a weekend away in Sheffield to see Evil Scarecrow! My Mum and Dad moved to Cheltenham so we've been to visit them a few times too, such a lovely town.

Naomi of Diamonds and Pearls and Steph of Nerd About Town.

Both me and Stu got promotions in our jobs which has been so helpful in terms of our finances, and it's given us both new challenges we are enjoying. I love my new role and I'm really proud of myself for it. It's not a position I ever thought I'd be in and is so different from anything I studied. It's the first time either of us remember having disposable income like we have now. We've gone out for dinner a few times as a couple, something I don't think we have ever done before! When Stu needed a new pair of trainers he bought them. To not have to worry so much is such a dream and a privilege. We aren't flush by any means, but to have that little bit of money for us is everything.

Stu raised over £1300 for charity and shaved his beard! Full blog post on this here.

I've been able to work with some brands I love this year, and started writing for She Might Be which is a truly body positive website written entirely by plus size bloggers. I'll share some of my favourite outfits in another blog post I think or I'll be here forever!

My blog was also nominated for a couple of awards from a sadly rather unsavoury company who cancelled their awards last minute and hurt a lot of people. I didn't win, but I was so proud that you guys nominated me at all!

I can only hope that 2017 is brighter for the world, and that I can be lucky enough to continue to be so charmed!

Much love,

Kitty xxxx