Manchester Blogger Meet Up

I am a rubbish blogger.  I cannot believe how long it took me to write this blog post.  

Some time ago now I went on a blogger meet up in Manchester with some fantastic plus size blogger babes.  We decided to have a little shopping trip in the +Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre which had been arranged by the lovely Steph of Seeing Spots which was followed by a brilliant cocktail making class at +Tiger Tiger Manchester which had been sorted by the brilliant Debz of The Not So Secret Diary of a Wannabe Princess

I will share a few photographs that I took during the cocktail class, please bear in mind that they were cocktail fueled photographs!

The beautiful Naomi

Concentration for making cocktails is key with Gemma of Pink Gemma

Dude, Where's My Cocktail?

Why are our glasses empty?  I don't know, I'm blindfolded!

I must confess that I was very nervous to go to the meet up, not only because the only person I had met in the flesh before was Steph, but also because I was meeting some bloggers that I had admired from reading their blogs and was a little "blogger star struck".  Not least Naomi of DiamondsnPearls with her radiant smile, Em from Terrible Tumbles who I thought was just fabulous (and was in the flesh too) and the beautiful Nicola of Chunky Cat Cuddler who makes gorgeous jewellery and is so so lovely.

We decided to stay for a "few" drinks later on given the 50% off offer, how could we not, which resulted in my weaving my way back to Deansgate ready for a bus ride home, trying not to fall asleep or look like a drunken mess.

I had a brilliant time and I think we definately need to do it again.  Spring Fling anyone?

I Feel Good

You know sometimes when you spend ages getting ready for a night out, an event or even just a blog post, and the reflection in mirror isn't what you hoped? This challenge is for those times when you look in the mirror, no pre planning involved, and think "I look good today". 

We all have our good days and our bad, but this challenge is to record those good days and to remember that confidence, at any size, is beautiful.

I am late with this challenge this month as I completed got lost in the days and scheduled posts all out of sync.

I recently wrote about a hashtag on Twitter called #bodyunshamed where you were allocated a blogger to say three nice things about, and then you had to apply the same to yourself. Unfortunately I was too late to get involved but I did have a go at the three things I like about myself, found here Body Unashamed

Society tells us that if you like something about yourself, you are either vain or deluded. I personally don’t see what is wrong about saying that you like something about yourself. There are many things that I don’t like about myself so focusing on the good is surely much more positive path.

With that in mind, I was looking through my recent Instagram photographs and I came across this one. It is only showing my lips and a necklace I was wearing but the reason I chose it is that it features one feature I like and one I don’t.   So focusing on the good, I like my lips!

Joe Browns Rambling Rose Dress

Today I am participating in a blog hop and this month's theme is "Breaking the Rules".

During a meet up with some other fantastic bloggers in Manchester we took at trip to +Simply Be in the +Manchester Arndale Shopping Centre 

I decided to buy another Joe Browns dress (yes another) as I love that they are not afraid of bold prints and bright colours.  I went with the Joe Browns Rambling Rose Dress which is priced at £44.00.  I loved the dusky pink colour and the beautiful floral print.  

The sweetheart neckline on the dress is just right on me and I love the pleating detail to the side and best of all, IT HAS POCKETS!!!  The length is shorter than I would usually wear being above the knee so some may want to wear leggings, but I just went with heels and a cheeky smile.

This dress definately breaks all of the rules that I am supposed to follow (screw the rules) so I thought that it would be perfect for this challenge!

I bought this dress in the summer but I will definately be carrying it through to the winter, I just need to add a cardigan and some tights.  

Another winner from Joe Browns and SimplyBe!