New Blog Challenge, Any Takers?

I’m thinking of starting a new blog challenge, so thought I would first write a post to see if anyone wished to join me.

 

This challenge would be once a month, on a fixed date.

 

The idea I have is one of a confidence booster.  Something very simple.  At some point during the month, take a photograph of yourself.  Not when you have decided to take photographs for a blog post or when you know that you are going to be dressed up.  Take the photograph when you look in the mirror and think to yourself “I look good today”.

 

I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t think that every time I look in the mirror but now and again, I’ll look, and think “You know what, you look ok today”.  That’s the image I want to capture.  Not planned, not prepared, just whenever you feel you look good, but it in your pajamas or a ball gown.

 

The title of the challenge, unless something can think of something better, will be “I Feel Good”.

 

I thought that I would put the idea out there to see if anyone wanted to join me, or if not, I will do it myself.

If you are interested, please email me at thecurvedopinion@gmail.com  I would love to hear from you.

 

Cereal for Breakfast, Tuna for Lunch

I wanted to write this post further to a blog that the fabulous Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista wrote on Wednesday, found here at I am always more than just a blogger.

She was talking about her friend, who had been told that she was “just a blogger”.

I always find it interesting to note when people insult bloggers.  While some people understand blogging and enjoy reading/writing them, many others have no comprehension what blogging is all about and insult it instead.  Sound familiar?  Insulting what you don’t understand? 

One pre conception I often hear is that bloggers write down everything about their lives, from what they had for breakfast to what pyjamas they are wearing that night.  Everything is micro analysed in the smallest detail and written about. Maybe some do, but so what?  That’s their bag, what they enjoy doing, who are you to criticise?

Blogging can be many things to many people.  I for instance used it in the beginning as my own free form of therapy.  Talking through my fingers rather than saying it out loud.  Any issue I have or problem I am worrying about, I write about it and nine times out of ten, I find the solution right there in what I have written.

source

Now I blog about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, opinion pieces, whatever takes my fancy.  It is something that I adore doing and the fact that some people would insult you for that blows my mind a little.

I started to think today as well; how many people who have insulted bloggers actually read blogs to find out what a product is like?  I bet many do it without even realising it.

That mobile phone review on Youtube, that’s a blogger.  That detailed camera review you found that tells you everything you need to know, that’s a blogger.  That £1 miracle mascara that you have thanks to something you saw online singing it’s praises, that’s a blogger.

I spend the equivalent of a full working day (probably more) each week doing what I do, if I review something (either paid for by myself or gifted) I try to be as accurate as possible, and if once in a while something that I say helps someone else to improve their lives; well what is better than that?

I read the post, as did many, on Wednesday entitled "The Rise of the Fatshion Blogger" (since deleted).  The writer implied that bloggers were solely in it for the freebies these days and that we were all doing somersaults for the brands in order to get attention.

Personally, I feel extremely lucky to have been allowed to review anything.  I don't accept every offer that comes my way and if I don't like something or notice an issue with something I have been gifted, I say it.  I checked the count and I have reviewed 9 pieces within the last 150 posts. 

I got into fashion blogging because I love fashion, I adore the plus size fashion community and have felt welcomed by it.  There are some amazing people who didn't deserve the critique that they received from someone who was clearly following them and reading their posts, but then slating them behind their backs.

So having read the posts as above, I still say yes, I am a blogger, and I am damn proud to be one and part of the plus size community.  Are you? 

OMCZ 13

Today’s challenge was thought up by Rachel from A Dress is for Life and the theme is “Standing Out From The Crowd”.

For this post I decided to share with you my quest into brighter and bolder prints, charting how I became to be more adventurous.

This first dress I bought over a year ago.  I loved the shape of the dress and I am a sucker for anything coral.  Now, I say I bought the dress over a year ago, but the picture below, taken in May of this year was the first time I wore it.  Because before, I was too scared. 

I tried to wear it on numerous occasions previously, but it was so far out of my black comfort zone that I felt like I was wearing a flashing neon sign saying “Look! Fat girl!”  Now I wear it and enjoy wearing it.  Looking back, I can’t believe how scared I was, simply to wear a pretty dress that wasn’t black.

The next dress I am showing you is one that truly does stand out from the crowd.   This dress has a beautiful flower print and is quite unusual.  I wore this on a trip out to Manchester with the girls for cocktails and it definately stood out from the crowd, for the right reasons!

I was so nervous about wearing this dress, but I loved it so much that I had to wear it, even teaming it with a red cardigan for an extra pop. 

My next standing out from the crowd dress I am not showing here, but will be wearing at the after party of Plus North.  I wanted something that exuded confidence and for me, that had to be a bright red dress.  My final goal.

Check out the other lovely ladies to see what they have chosen to stand out from the crowd.

Stephanie  http://www.seeingsp0ts.blogspot.co.uk
Gail  http://www.gailygumdrops.blogspot.ie
Leah  http://www.justmeleah.blogspot.co.uk
Mary  http://www.marysbigcloset.blogspot.pt
Becky Brown http://www.doesmyblogmakemelookfat.com
Emma http://www.meetthemillards.co.uk/
Rachel  http://www.adressisforlife.com/
Natalie http://awheelbarrowfullofstyle.blogspot.co.uk/
Rachel  http://stateofmylessthanthree.blogspot.co.uk/

Rebecca http://theplussideofme.com

Nikki http://www.nattynikki.blogspot.co.uk/
Rebs http://sullen-hearts.blogspot.co.uk/
Verena http://aplussizefashionobsession.blogspot.de/
Beka bekasstuffystuff.blogspot.com
Vicky http://www.thecurvedopinion.com/