From Couch Potato to Lean Mean Exercising Machine!

For the longest time i've been super lazy, probably since secondary school when it wasn't 'cool' to ride bikes all weekend anymore and I started to hear the call of the high street. Now don't get me wrong, I used to walk about three miles everyday but this was more due to the fact that I don't drive and am too much of a tightwad to pay £1.50 for the bus to town when I can walk it, and maybe more importantly, remember when the same bus used to charge 42p! But I am a bit of a slob, I like pyjama days and sitting on my bum all day watching The Big Bang Theory with a constant stream of crappy foods to keep me amused, apart from the almost daily walks to town and back I was a complete exercise phobe.

However, that's all (almost) changed. Two months ago I moved to Dorset, and i'm now living with family until my job starts in September and I can finally rent my own place.

My sister asked me when I moved here if I wanted to go swimming with her, I don't think i've ever properly swam since primary school swimming lessons but I said yes, it would give me something to look forward to every week as until I start work i've got a LOT of free time on my hands and not a lot to fill it. So off I went to the pool, and in 45 minutes i'd swam EIGHT lengths! I had to rest between each length, got cramp in my foot and felt like i'd gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson the next day.

But I didn't give up, every week I swim more and more lengths, the rests got shorter and I can now swim six lengths without stopping and most importantly, i'm pain free the next day which is a big achievement for me.

Anyway, the swimming seems to have set off some kind of exercise bomb inside my brain, not only do we swim once a week but we also got an amazing deal through Groupon for 10 gym day passes for £16 (Usually £15 each!) we've been doing half an hour in the gym, Body Combat and Aqua Aerobics every Monday, I also plan on getting a gym membership when I start work, and i've bought dumbbells and a bike! She's a beautiful cream dutch bike, currently in my sisters shed, waiting for the rain to stop so that I can go over and fetch her.

But most importantly I now look forward to exercise, it makes me feel better and although it's early days and i'm not yet seeing any changes to my body I can feel them, my resistance is slowly building up and it's only going to get better. I would recommend to anyone to try to exercise more, as once I got over the initial hump, it's the best thing i've ever done!

Hey! Small Boobs Count Too!

I came to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to be blessed in the breast department a long time ago. After I spent my school days stuffing my bra, buying padded bras, covering myself up, making jokes before anyone else did so that I could laugh too and then going home, throwing myself on my bed and sobbing my heart out.

I am honestly fine about it now. I don't mind that there isn't a great deal there, I stopped stuffing my bra a long time ago, I don't buy bra's with inches and inches of padding, I don't even cry anymore. In fact I thank my lucky stars that I don't have backache like some big boobed women do, people look at my face rather than stare at my chest (because really there isn't anything to stare at!) and I can run for the bus without fear of knocking myself out. What I don't like about being a small chested woman is that we're not really catered for, and no-one seems to care!

There are so many websites designed for women with quite frankly more than their fair share, but I have just spent two days scouring the internet for some kind of swimwear that will make me feel like a fully grown woman rather than an over grown girl and have got nowhere.

Let me tell you my issues with swimwear (and not just swimwear, this also applies to bra's)

1. I do not want to walk around with three inches of padding strapped to my chest, it's not attractive, it's not comfortable and you feel 10X worse when you take it off.
2. I don't want ruffles or frills or tassels to give the illusion of a fuller bust, I'm not five years old, nor am I a can-can or salsa dancer. (Plus it doesn't work anyway)
3. Tiny little triangles of brightly coloured material makes small boobs look smaller.
4. Full swimsuits make you feel like you're 10 years old again in school swimming lessons.
5. Molded cups are useless if you haven't got anything to go in them in the first place, they gape and everyone sees your nipples.
6.  And Finally... Bandeau tops FLATTEN and SLIDE OFF rendering them utterly useless!

All i'm looking for is something that's comfortable, fashionable, makes me look and feel like a woman, something that I won't have to worry about floating off  in the pool, and most of all something that fits without the risk of everyone seeing a bit of nip when you bend down!

I shouldn't have to shove a load of gel filled, delightfully named "chicken fillets" into my bra to feel like a woman, I shouldn't have to hide under water so that people can't see my chest or lack of. I should be able to walk proud on a beach or at the swimming pool and not have to worry if people think i'm a tall, tattoo'd 12 year old.

Small busts are just as much of a problem to women as big busts are, someone needs to fix this and not just shove some kind of implant or insert at it. Where's the research into what our needs are?!

All done in the room... SOLD!

Just to let you know i've added more items to sell on Ebay, you can see them HERE, also some items finish TONIGHT, to be sure you take a look so as to not miss out on a bargain. I've put my Swedish Hasbeens on there now, along with other items both vintage and new, some you might have even seen here on Cameos and Espadrilles.

Spring is in the Air!

Spring has well and truly sprung! While the south are having a wonderful sunny Saturday by all accounts, we here in the north east are experiencing a lovely fresh, but misty day, which promises to clear into a glorious Sunday.

I spent my morning kneading dough and thought i'd write a little something while it's on it's second prove, getting ready to go into the oven where the heat will magically turn it into some kind of delicious, sticky fruit loaf. (You can see this over on my brand new baking blog The Bake Away)

Has everyone sorted out their wardrobes yet or are you, like me, still clinging on to those Winter warmers. I don't think i've been out of a hoodie since October! But I still like to look at lovely Spring/Summer clothes in anticipation, here are my favourite six from Topshop's Spring Equinox collection....

And just one last reminder that it's finally Spring...

Aren't they the most beautiful, delicate blue? Perfect Spring colour, i'm sure you'll agree...

Bid bid bid... Sob sob sob...

Long story short, i'm moving and selling some stuff including some vintage pieces, you can find and bid for them on Ebay HERE

Also, and you don't understand how much it pains me to say this but i'm selling my beautiful, much loved Swedish Hasbeens, you can see them below, they are a size 6 and i've only ever worn them outside once. They come with the original box and are like new. If anyone would like them, I want £90 for them, with £5.00 postage. (They cost £165 brand new)

I'm only selling them because we're seriously downsizing and like I said i've only worn them outside once so if you'd like them comment below with your Paypal e-mail address.

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

I've been a fully fledged member of the nail art gang for a while now, changing my nails at least twice a week, but this is the first time i'm showing off my nails.

I'm getting bored waiting for my acrylic nail kit to arrive from Hong Kong (I'm expecting it any day now!) and have been spending a lot of time looking through nail art blogs for inspiration, which is where I saw beautiful tiny roses and decided to turn them into Cath Kidston inspired nails.

They're super cute and will keep me satisfied for a couple of days before i'm itching to change them yet again! By which time I hope my acrylic kit will have arrived and i'll be roping everyone in for practice!

Stand Out From the Crowd

Stand Out From the Crowd by kayleighr featuring shirts & blouses

Be bold and bright, express yourself through colour and texture. Fashion is something that happens twice a year, style is what we make of it. Don't be fashionable, be stylish!