Where it all started (part 2)

When I was a teenager I used to love going shopping for clothes with my friends but as the years went by and I became less and less secure with my body image I found it much harder to find clothes that I liked so I stuck to shoes and accessories most of the time (can't go wrong with shoes!).

I remember back to a time when I was in my early 20's and I was in the process of dragging my boyfriend Ben, now my hubbie, around Cambridge in the uk, looking for some new clothes. I went in to all of my normal shops but couldn't find anything that I liked the look of. It was then that Ben pointed out to me all of the shops that I had walked past.

Something he said to me that day has stuck with me ever since. Ben pointed out that I had walked past all of the shops who's target audience was late teens to early 20's and I was in fact shopping at those that catered for a much broader age group (about 30-60) - I hadn't even glanced in to the shops that were directly catering for my age range specifically.

Ben convinced me that I should take a look in some of the 'younger' shops just to see. By the end of the trip I came away with bags full of clothes and a massive smile on my face as I'd found so many new outfits that I loved and that I thought looked great on me (no mean feat for someone with low body image).

I realised that I thought that I couldn't shop in the 'younger' shops because I wasn't 'fashionable' enough and wasn't a size 8-10. When in fact it was the opposite - because I didn't shop in those shops, I was actually dressing older than my age, and you know what - all the 'younger' shops did larger clothing too - and it tended to sell out the quickest so I must be 'normal' after all!

Ever since that day, I have never walked past a 'younger' shop again and will always take a look in them (even now I'm in my 30's). I regularly find the 'perfect' outfit in those shops and I'm very grateful to my hubbie for pushing me out of my comfort zone that day.

Try it - push yourself out of your comfort zone and take a look - it can't hurt you and you never know what you'll find!

Chop it all off

How good does a new haircut make you feel!?

Often as a mum to a little one it's hard to fit in things we took for granted previously - like going to the hairdresser and getting your hair cut! My daughter has a melt down every time I take her to get her haircut and I never seem to find the time at the weekends to go on my own.

Well - we had a break through last weekend when my little one asked if mummy and her could go to get their haircut together. Jumping on the opportunity we went the very next day and here's the result...

So happy that I finally had time to chop it and the additional win was that my daughter actually let the hairdresser cut her hair without screaming once - RESULT!!!!

As always - let me know what you think of my new 'funki' hairdo.

Best of the month - February

Yes - I know, I'm changing the title but seriously - did you ever think I would have enough clothes to do Best of the Week forever? This blog is about going from frumpy to funky in a practical (e.g. child resilient!) way ON A BUDGET! So you'll have to put up with monthly best of's from now on.

So here's February's Best Of's - let me know what you think!

P.s sorry for the delay and the photo quality - technical issues (in other words - I've lost my memory card somewhere so I'm using my point and shoot instead!)

Black pants are always a winner. Matched with this great top for a smart / casual look. Top's from the UK and pants were $10 from an Op Shop (I love a bargain!). I love these shoes too - will give you a closer look soon!

Black pants again with a spotty top (again from the UK thanks to my mother in law!)

And for my casual look - a grey cotton V-neck dress which shows off my tan (and my boobs!) but which i've had for years! Put together with these cream T-bars from Ruby Shoes - and check out my funky nails - love the matt look.

So there you have it - feb's best of. Let me know what you think of the outfits and any suggestions for improvements by commenting below!