BOB by DOP Pop Up Shop

October 8, 2015November 2, 2015 | blueskygirlie

When I heard the Dawn O’Porter was launching another BOB pop up shop to tie in with Septembers London Fashion Week I jumped at the change to visit. Last season when it was in Seven Dials I hadn’t been able to get into London and had been really disappointed I had missed it.

The shop is located on Newburgh Street just off of Carnaby Street.

As well as her BOB range (new and last season items that are now in the sale) there’s a fantastic range of handpicked vintage clothing ranging from around £40 up to over £500. If you’re wondering what £500 buys you it buys the most AMAZING designer Courreges cream floor length cape that I looked at in awe… And then there was my dream skirt – the ‘Jane’ paper planes skirt. It has a print featuring stationary, Fab lollies, paper planes and Wotsits!!!! Do you remember I blogged about it back in December? Even though it is utterly wonderful, at £180 I just couldnt justify the cost while I am at home with my son and not earning much…

But as it was last season its now in the sale and with 70% off noless! In the shop they only had a small and large and even though I managed to squeeze myself into the small it was very tight – I’d say the small is a size 8/10 whereas the medium is more a 10/12. Dawn was really helpful and suggested I ordered it online and the next day I did just that! With delivery charges it came to £59.50.

It arrived beautifully packaged in tissue paper and in this gorgeous black box…Here is a close up of its brilliant Karen Mabon designed print – perfectly observed if you attended school in the 80s/early 90s…

And this is me in the skirt I’ve coveted for far too long… The newer designs of this skirt are now sized in generic dress sizes 8-14 which I think makes it much easier to find your size. Find the new designs here.

When I visited Dawn was in store and greeted me with a cheery “Hi! Ooh I LOVE your skirt!” (I was wearing a long leopard print maxt skirt) She was lovely and really helpful and chatty. I had to get my photo taken with her too – I love her TV shows and follow her avidly on Instagram. She is wearing the BOB ‘Kirstin’ dress here – the Toucan filled tropical print is adorable and you can buy it via the website here.

Get down there quick before it shuts its doors till next season…

BOB boutique: 8 Newburgh Street, London
Monday to Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday 12pm-5pm

My health & fitness journey…the story so far!

September 10, 2015May 10, 2017 | blueskygirlie

I’m just back from a 5k run and its time for a bit on my health and fitness progress I think… My change started about 4 years ago – going from a size 20/22 to UK 12. Now, I am by no means a preacher for how you should live your life but for me being fat was like being imprisoned in my own body. I hated myself, felt terrible, was a slave to panic attacks and suffered various aches and pains. I had a family history of heart attacks and looking back I was a ticking time bomb. You would never of know this though as I was always perfectly presented, with the nicest clothes, make-up etc and seemed bubbly and confident.

The history: my weight has always been an issue. I remember being on my first diet at about 11 years old and my issues with food carried on from there. My 16 I was about 11st ish and at a super bitchy girls school where I developed Bulima and via that, crash dieting and an old exercise bike got down to 9st 12lb by the time I returned to 6th Form that September. Of course I couldnt maintain that weight and I quickly put weight back on. During the early 90s working at Harrods, partying hard and enjoying the rave scene (plus a summer working in Greece) I slowly lost some weight and was around 12st 7lb on my return to the UK – ironically this weight became my dream weight throughout my 30s that I desperately wanted to get to. I was 13st 11lb on my wedding day – I felt great but in reality I was still a size 16/18 – my wedding dress was a size 20. I told myself it was ‘couture bridal sizes’ but the fact was I was still fat. Diets came and went, losing and putting on the same 3 stone. After the birth of my son I was at my heaviest – 16st 13lb and in desperation went liquid only for 100 days on the LighterLife plan. I lost 50lb but also felt terrible, my hair fell out and my blood pressure got so low even my doctor looked worried…and the minute I went back to normal eating my weight started going up again. I stayed big for a few years totally in denial telling myself I was big boned with a poor metalobism and that people should just accept me for who I was. I did no exercise, binge ate, had no portion control and suffered terrible anxiety.

In 2010 my best friend announced she was getting married and I decided to try and lose weight again as she had asked me to be a witness. This time something felt different, I felt different – I was in my late 30s and so tired of being fat, feeling old and ill, being scared for my health (my father died aged just 52 of a heart attack). I joined WeightWatchers and over a year or so slowly lost weight, started walking as much as I could and going to the gym doing Vibroplate to tone up. This coincided with some big life changes and I stopped attending group and just kept up the dieting at home using the MyFitnessPal app to track my food and find support. By 2012 I was 11st 11lb and well below my ‘dream weight’ from that summer in Greece, a comfortable size 12/14 and for a while that seemed perfect.

But something niggled me…I knew I could do better. In 2013 I decided I would try one last push to see if I could lose another stone and started running using the C25k app. I was petrified of high impact exercise – it took me a year or so to run 5k without stopping but I run 3 times a week every week running on holidays and even on Boxing Day!
Its been hard. Very hard. And I haven’t got to that illusive goal weight. Who knows, but for now the pain required outweighs the benefits…the body I have at 42 is not going to be the one I had at 16! I’m still technically very slightly overweight but I’m ok with that – I am so proud of the body (and new person) I have created. The saddest part as I write this is I remember every weight, at every point in my life. That’s how I judge myself. Thats how I remember things. I realise now I am more than a weight, that I have beaten my demons and found a way to change my lifestyle forever. Its not easy but its so worth it.

And most importantly I run whether its hot…

…or cold….with no excuses. And I watch what I eat. Simple really.

The here and now: So where am I currently? Ah the joy of weight maintenance and regular exercise with no excuses! I run 3 times a week without fail, my speeds are ok but I’m trying to get faster. I’ve been working on fat burning around my torso area to make it more defined especially my rib area (see pic below). The hardest part of all this is keeping the same weight while living a ‘normal’ life…holidays, parties, nights out and generally enjoying eating all are a part of life and not something that should be given up. After a bit of overindulgence on holiday I’m currently back dieting to lose a few pounds again. But thats the difference now – my weight will go up and down, the trick is only have to lose 1/2 stone not 3,4,5,6 stone…! Losing weight is relatively easy, but keeping it off? Now thats hard – for me its been like rebuilding myself from the inside out and a challenge I face every single day…

My current maintenance routine:

Restricted calories 5-6 days a week (1750kcals) but any exercise undertaken tops this up
All food tracked every day but treat day
3 x 5k runs a week
Minimum 1 hour of walking a week
Low salt, low fat, teetotal

Saturday is my cheat day and I enjoy it, lets just leave it there 😆

What I’ve learned –

Change is a very frightening thing for me.
The pain of exercise & not eating what I want is tough but the rewards are better.
Its hard to not obsess over every lb but weight is not the perfect measure of success.
Free apps and having the right kit can really help a fitness/weight loss journey – and they dont need a lot of money spent on them.
Mental heath and physical fitness are irretrievably linked. Wellness is everything.
Not giving into my food addictions is a non stop battle on par with alcoholism or drug addiction.
Find an eating plan that works for you. If you want fatty processed food once in a while (oh hello, Dominoes) then have it, enjoy it, but remember you’ll have to work harder the next day to balance it out. I eat a small chocolate bar most days but I make sure I keep my other portions small and within my calorie allowance. I realised early on that if I tried to live off of lettuce and juices I was just going to get depressed.
Vanity often drives weightloss (it did mine) but feeling healthy, strong and powerful is the best feeling in the world.
I’m realistic that having to stick to this for the rest of my life will be tough but I could never bear to go back to the old version of me.

…but I’m winning my own personal battle. I’m not totally happy with myself (who is?) but I’m very proud of the changes I’ve made – not bad for a 5’2″ 42 year old mum who used to be a size 20/22! No-one can or should tell you how to be or look, but for me being ‘normal weight’ has improved my life no end as my addictions had made me ill both mentally and physically.

Good health is everything and I aim to hang on to mine as long as I can.

All photos via my Instagram

Find the c25k app here

Find the MyFitnessPal community here

Find your nearest weightwatchers group here

I ❤️ Al Fresco Dining

August 24, 2015August 24, 2015 | blueskygirlie

I love to dine outside in the summer and aim to do it as much as I can while the weather allows. I have a huge collection of outside dining items both new and vintage which I have amassed over the years and we have a family outdoor dining table placed at the far end of our garden (to catch the best of the sun) and small bistro set on our patio right by our kitchen french doors.

Ironically theres something missing at the moment…a BBQ! Our last one went to appliance heaven after many years of faithful service and I’ve not had time to replace it. I do love to eat outdoors with family and friends and if I got a new one I know exactly where I’d put it – I’d place it against the wall that runs alongside our patio. It would be near enough to the kitchen for practicality, but still in its own little ‘outdoor zone’ for my style aesthetics.

In todays blog I’ve styled up the space in my garden next to where I’d have the BBQ located and created a fantastic look on our bistro set using some of my favourite outdoor items that I hope you love!

I have kept the colours mainly neutral and gone for a stylish ‘grown up’ setting with a rustic feel including my new Kilner drinks dispenser and mason jar glasses. The bright colour of the orange fruit punch shines through and you just can’t help but feel summery (and thirsty!) looking at it.

The 5L dispenser is from The Range and costs just £14.99 which I think is a great price. They also do matching Kilner jar glasses with handles but they come without tops which doesn’t work with a house full of kids, plus I personally don’t like the handled version (they seem too heavy and clunky for my style) so I’ve co-ordinated mine with smaller, prettier mason jar glasses from wedding retailer Confetti.

I love the rustic simplicity of a mason jar glass and the metal screw cap and washable straw means it can be used summer after summer. Yet again we have Pinterest (and America) to thank for the inspiration!

A chenille throw and a few cushions soften the look – I love the message on this Asda hopsack cushion – ‘Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will realise they were the big things’. Wise words indeed! I always like to have a throw or two available for guests to keep them cosy as the night gets chillier – why stop your BBQ when the sun goes down?

If BBQ’ing alone isn’t to your taste, how about setting up a pretty picnic basket, so that people can help themselves? This looks great but is also a clever way to display pre-prepared food such as sandwiches and cakes. Store loose food in quirky containers such as these mini mason jars again from Confetti – theres no tacky Tupperware boxes allowed here!
And once the sun goes down, light your candles – the glow from the tealights looks just lovely. I love how pretty different sized candle holders look when grouped together – repeat this throughout your outdoor space to make any party look magical. Holders can be picked up cheaply and one of my favourite places to buy them is Store TwentyOne where they start at just £1.

So get cooking outdoors this summer, surround yourself with your nearest and dearest, put on your favourite music and enjoy. I honestly couldnt do summer any other way!

Create the look:

Bistro table & chairs – Tesco Direct

Kilner drinks dispenser – The Range

Mason Jar glasses – Confetti.co.uk*

Mini Mason Jars – Confetti.co.uk*

Picnic hamper – Vintage

Throw – Dunelm Mill

Cushion – Asda

Wood bowls – Vintage

Tealight holders – Store TwentyOne, M&S

This is my entry into the Style Your Space competition via Direct Stoves.

Getting Engaged

July 31, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

So…I’m engaged now. At 42, divorced with a child, getting married again doesnt seem like something you need to shout about…except you kinda do! It is definitely a lovely feeling that makes you feel safe, very happy and most importantly very very loved.

Its fair to say Russ and I are a sickly sweet loved up couple already and making our love ‘official’ was always on the cards. We own a house together and parent four (yes four!) boys between us so we are already totally committed to each other. Plus we both have been wearing a ring on our wedding ring finger since we got serious…a committment ring of sorts.

After getting together after both leaving long term dead and pointless relationships, we promised each other we would really start living our lives. Properly living them, seizing each moment and as part of that each year would travel to a new and exciting foreign place. This year we decided to discover Copenhagen in Denmark which I blogged about here. Long story short – we absolutely loved the place!

So back to the event itself – after taking (and leaving) a love lock as a surprise for Russ on a our trip to Barcelona last year, I’d read that there was a pedestrian bridge on the edge of the city where Danish couples came to express their love in the same way.

For those not in the know, love locks have become a global phenomenon. They are messages of love, written by lovers and locked onto bridges, fences and gates in prominent and iconic spots and the keys then thrown away leaving the message (and the couples declaration of love) locked there forever…

This time I said beforehand that I wanted to do it, and in a lovely touch Russ hand engraved our padlock himself.

The Bryggebroen bridge is tucked behind a large shopping centre, on a street called Havneholmen, and spans the distance between the Danish areas of Kalvebod Brygge and Islands Brygge. No cars can cross it, so its quiet, clean and elegant.

We went to find it hoping it would be just as good as the other love lock spots we’d seen online. Walking over the bridge, gazing along the Sydhavnen (South Harbour) the modern architecture almost blends into the colour of the water and placed every so often along the railings are small groups of padlocks, a stark contrast with their mix of colour strewn across the bridge. Towards the centre of the bridge the numbers grew and the bridge became full of declarations of love.

Smiling, kissing and laughing (as ever) we placed our lock, declared our love and threw the keys in the river.

And here is our lock…❤️❤️❤️

And then the proposal! Suddenly looking very serious, Russ asked for my lovely emerald and diamond ring back, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! The feeling of joy was just overwhelming. As I got ready to answer a Danish jogger ran past smiling and shouted “say yes!” and we both burst out laughing. It was a perfect moment we’ll both never forget – and of course I said yes!!!

After quite a lot of kissing and cuddling, we then went out for a celebratory dinner, toasted our future, took a romantic walk back to the hotel and did a final bit of celebrating behind closed doors doing what we do best! The rest I’ll leave up to your imagination! 😉😍😉

I feel very lucky to have such love in my life and to have received such a wonderful proposal in such a romantic place and can’t wait to marry the man I love.

And now…wedding planning! I am a style blogger who is getting married!!! As you can imagine I want it to be fabulous, so watch this space…

Find my Pinterest wedding boards here here here and here for how its looking so far.

Featured Friday Bloggers: A Blue Sky Girlie

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 | blueskygirlie

This week I am thrilled to be featured as M&Co.s blogger of the week. Find my interview with them here…

http://blog.mandco.com/2015/07/24/featured-friday-bloggers-a-blue-sky-girlie/

This week’s Featured Friday blogger is Sarah from Always a Blue Sky Girl. We’ve spotted Sarah styling some of our pieces fabulously on her social channels and though it was time to find out a bit more…

Introduce us to your blog Sarah…

SkinnyDip London

July 21, 2015July 21, 2015 | blueskygirlie

So, who has seen this bag everywhere from the arms of fashion bloggers to the pages of glossy magazines? Its the fabulously named Unicorn Tears Cross Body Bag and at £28 it wont break the bank either!

Its by Skinnydip London – an accessories brand launched in 2011 which has managed to open more than 100 concessions in over 60 countries in the last few years, whilst getting on every fashionistas wish list.

And now the first Skinnydip flagship store has opened at 10 Foubert’s Place just off of Carnaby Street in London selling exclusive products as well as the regular range.

I had to check it out and it doesnt disappoint! The products are wonderful, well made and lovely quality plus there’s photo booth to jump in and record your visit.

Its range is so fun and innovative too. One of the best selling ranges are the customisable products where you can buy a purse, bag or phone case and then add ‘plushie’ stickers to them to make them look however you want. Stickers start at £4.00 and you can buy everything from letters to spell words to emojis, fruit and retro badges and symbols.As well as the fab new store the range is available as before via Topshop, Debenhams, River Island, Selfridges and ASOS.

What would you buy? And if you’ve already fallen in love with Skinnydip London how have you styled your purchases?

Confetti.co.uk ‘Style it Like a Pro’ day

July 10, 2015July 10, 2015 | blueskygirlie

As you probably know I’m recently engaged and as a stylist the look of my wedding is a big deal – to be honest the look of EVERYTHING is important to me!

As well as blogging here I also write inspiration blogs on wedding styling and have styled a couple of real life weddings, so new wedding ranges and trends are always of interest.

When I heard about www.confetti.co.uk‘s Style it like a Pro event I was really excited. The chance to meet some other like-minded bloggers, see the new ranges and also see some styling ideas in practice.

source

As a trained stylist I wasn’t expecting to learn anything new but it was a great refresher and definitely made me get excited about weddings! Seeing all the products, being able to touch and feel them plus see the gorgeous looks set up in real life was great.

So what were the Confetti.co.uk in-house stylist’s top tips for styling a wedding display?

Firstly always consider three main things when styling – height, detail and texture
Once you have those in your display then think about colour and theme. Three of their main trends were shown to us – Industrial, Vintage & Woodland. The boho side of me defintely liked the rustic, fairytale look of Woodland the best but they were all lovely.
Look to use a small amount of alternative ideas, such as mixing themes or repurposing items e.g. cake toppers as ornaments or cupcake holders holding decorative accents or candles.
If you’re mixing things together then make sure you keep a constant. If you mix themes for example keep the colour palette the same.
Finally, make it personal – this is your wedding, pick things you love and make it beautiful in your own way.

I had great fun Instgram’ing all the pretty stuff I spied…

Even the refreshments were beautiful – imagine having these lovely things at your wedding reception…

Here are some of my favourite items from the day…

Industial look table centrepiece – I love the starkness of the galvanised metal and chalkboard area for information, plus the flowers add a pretty and fresh element.

Lace parasol – the intricate detail of this full sized parasol was so beautiful and perfect for shading the bride or her guests at a summer wedding. There’s also a mini version that can be used as a display piece that is super cute.

Embracing bear cake toppers – These ceramic bears are actually designed to sit on top of the wedding cake but used as decorative pieces within the Woodland theme looked just adorable.

We were told that around 75% of the products are developed in-house for some unique style you wont find anywhere else. Great for all of us who want to be unique…and lets be honest everyone wants that on their wedding day. I definitely was impressed with the range and will be persuing the website soon for a few key pieces for myself…Hey, I am engaged! Look out for them styled in further blogs.

***********************************************

Confetti.co.uk has teamed up with some of the leading UK wedding brands to provide one lucky couple with a stunning prize package in their Win Your Wedding competition. The winner will receive the key components needed to have the wedding of their dreams, without the hefty price tag up to the value of a huge £40000!

Enter the competition today for your chance to win – I have! Find it on the website here. The winning couple will receive…*takes a deep breath*

Reception Venue courtesy of Big Chief Tipi
Wedding Photography courtesy of Jenny Martin Photography
Discounted Wedding Photography courtesy of Portobello Picture Co
Bridal Makeup courtesy of Made Up Makeup and Beauty
Caviar courtesy of Kings Fine Food
Bridal Lingerie courtesy of StephieAnn Design
Wedding Album courtesy of Illustries
Wedding Transportation courtesy of Transformer Cars
Flower Girl Dress courtesy of Poppy England
Bridal Dressing courtesy of Bridal Dressing by Angela
Wedding Stationery, Veil, Wedding Favours, Ceremony Accessories, Table and Venue Decor, Personalised Decor and Venue Styling courtesy of Confetti.co.uk
Thank You Flowers for the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom
Bridal Shoes courtesy of Crystal Bridal Accessories
Bridesmaid Jewellery courtesy of Tigerlily Jewellery
Wedding Caricature Entertainment courtesy of The Wedding Artist
Fabric flower bouquet courtesy of Daphne Rosa
Photo Scarves x3 courtesy of My Story Gifts
Groom and Usher Suits courtesy of Stephen Bishop Suiting
Wedding celebration recipe book courtesy of Recipe Gift Book
Speech Writing Services courtesy of Great Speech Writing
Bridal Headwear courtesy of Cata Vassalo
Reception Entertainment courtesy of Warble Entertainment
Boudoir Photography Session courtesy of Divine Divas
Videography courtesy of Shoot it Yourself
Male Shaving Hamper x4 courtesy of Dalit Goods Co.
Spa break and beauty package for two courtesy of Ardencote Manor
Doodle Duvet and Pens Bundle courtesy of Eat Sleep Doodle
Photobooth courtesy of Picture Blast
Bridal Gown courtesy of Eternity Bridal
Wedding Dress Storage courtesy of Empty Box Company
Cyprus Honeymoon courtesy of Kanika Hotels
Bridesmaid Dresses courtesy of Alexia Designs
Bridal Coaching Hen Party courtesy of The Bridal Coach
Stag Party courtesy of StagWeb
Hen Party courtesy of GoHen
Silk Flowers courtesy of Petals Polly
Live Band courtesy of earcandy
Wedding Bands courtesy of Beaverbrooks
Wedding Coordination courtesy of Black Pearl Weddings
First Anniversary Short Break courtesy of SuperBreak
Mobile Bar courtesy of Mambo Mobile Bars
Table Top Love Letter Lights courtesy of The White Bulb
A Bespoke Wedding Memory Book courtesy of Memeoirs
Wedding Macaron Favours courtesy of Anyonita Nibbles

Now thats an impressive prize!

Visiting Copenhagen

May 8, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

My partner and I have made a promise to ourselves to see a new city and do a new thing every year and this Easter was the turn of visiting a new place.

I’ve wanted to visit Denmark for a while. Its one of the most stylish places from a design perspective, is a totally different experience from travelling in southern Europe, embraces English as a language and is said to be one of the happiest place to live.

I instagram’ed A LOT while there so let me share with you what I saw, discovered and felt…

The airport – yep, Denmark scores high in the design department, even the airport is stunning.

Tourist attractions – theres so much to choose from but heres a few I loved…

There are a lot of royal palaces to visit as various ones were built, burnt down or replaced since the 1700’s. The current royal family live in two modest palaces (similar to an English stately home size) protected by Bearskin wearing guards not unlike ours.

The Little Mermaid has to be THE thing to visit while in Copenhagen. It can be reached on foot and is quite amazing to see in real life. Hans Christian Andersons legacy can be seen all around the city and gives it a magical air. I have to say I got quite emotional seeing it in real life. There is also a ‘Big Mermaid’ to visit further up the shores edge where you can also do watersports and sail.

Copenhagen is quite unique as it has a theme park right in the middle of the city. Tivoli Gardens was founded in 1843 and has become one of the cities biggest attractions. Hans Christian Andersen visited many times, as did Walt Disney who was said to of used it as inspiration for Disneyland. Part of Tivoli Gardens’ secret is that there is something for everyone – the scenery is beautiful with exotic architecture, theres fantastic food and drink, it has historic buildings and of course the famous gardens. At night, thousands of coloured lights create a fairy tale atmosphere that is completely unlike anywhere I’ve ever been to. It is quite expensive if you want to go on all the rides and eat dinner but its definitely worth it. I will never forget how magical it was.

For a great view of the city visit the Rundetårn (The Round Tower) which is a 17th-century tower built as an astrological observatory. It is most well known for its corkscrew style path instead of stairs leading to the top, and for the great views over Copenhagen. We liked the glass floor where you could look down and see how high you were plus we got to do one of our holiday traditions of kissing at the highest point we can find in the city!

Food and drink –

Denmarks food is fresh, simple and tasty. Copenhagen is expensive to eat and drink so it was great to have a good breakfast at the hotel before we started our day. Hot breakfasts arent really a thing in Denmark so expect boiled eggs, breads, meats to make sandwiches, yoghurt and many types of pastries. Open sandwiches with variations of salt beef, roast beef, fried eggs, beetroot, herring, liver paté and rye bread should definitely be tried for lunch. And for dinner? Well I loved their steaks…

Nyhavn –

If you picture Copenhagen you will probably picture the postcard prettiness of Nyhavn (New Harbour). Bright coloured buildings line the side of the canal with lots of beautiful boats moored there. Its a great place to eat and drink or take one of the sightseeing boats round the city – we did both. Absolute holiday perfection.

Love Locks –

Last year we visited Barcelona and left a engraved padlock there and it has now become a holiday tradition to do so. This years padlock is now happily amongst the others on the bridge at Bryggebroen where you will find hundreds of other peoples padlocks too.

If you don’t know the idea, also seen in many other big cities, it is that couples come and lock their padlocks (decorated with their names, dates and other messages) to the wires of the bridge, then throw the keys to the water below as a sign of unbreakable love. Pretty romantic, eh? See our love lock below…

Modern Architecture –

As well as the old, Copenhagen also has some amazing modern architecture. It really takes your breath away as it is such a stylish place. My favourite was the ‘Black Diamond’ building (seen below with us reflected in it) built to reflect the water all around so ever shimmering like a gem and close second was the Opera House (seen after).
Shopping –

I did some shopping of course! Strøget, the main shopping street in the city is Europe’s longest pedestrianised thoroughfare, running for well over 1,000 yards. The selection of designer homewares is amazing with recognisable Danish brands everywhere plus lots of antique shops. There’s also a real ‘healthy’ feel to shopping with the biggest selection of fitness clothing across different shops that I’ve ever seen including specific departments just for kids. Clothing wise, H&M rules the high street and its not hard to see why. Look out for further blogs on what I bought there! My partner loves Lego and he was not dissapointed either. Made in Denmark its presence is strong in department stores, toy shops and its own stores and it looks great.

Bikes –

Continuing the healthy feel, there are so many people riding bikes. It is a very ‘green’ city and you can hire bikes and park them pretty much anywhere. This leads to a very laid back vibe, with the streets clean and quiet.

We found everything really easy in Copenhagen. You can fly there cheaply (our flights only cost us around £50 each return and that was during the Easter break), the people are very friendly, everyone speaks English and signs/announmcements are all in both languages. The weather in April was warm and not that different to the UK. Its easy to get from the airport to the city centre (about 20 mins on the train) and the city can be navigated easily on foot or by metro/train. It has definitely become one of my favourite places and I would highly recommend a visit.

Its the perfect city break!

I am a runner, hear me roar!!!

May 5, 2015September 27, 2015 | blueskygirlie

I am a runner. I run 5k (3.5 miles ish) 3 times a week. Not a big deal? Actually it is.

Two years ago I couldnt run for 5 minutes. And 5 years ago I was more than 90lb heavier than I am now. So to me its a huge deal…and I’m very proud of myself.

I run obsessively. I rarely miss a run and run regardless of weather, illness or date (I even ran on Boxing Day). Me and my fiancé even do runs on our holidays – we’ve done runs in France, Spain & Denmark so far!!! It has changed my life…as well as my body – in the last year my weight hasn’t changed much but I’ve gone from a UK 12/14 to a size 10. My anxiety (which I’ve suffered from for as long as I can remember) has pretty much disappeared and I feel for the first time, totally in control of my body and health.

But today lets talk clothing – what to wear for running when you love your clothes. Fashion is one thing but running gear needs to be fit for purpose, so I stick one one brand – Karrimor. I buy it via Sports Direct where it is greatly reduced and in my opinion its just great – many runners swear by the brand. Its tight fitting but great!

On my feet I wear Puma Descendent’s – I have 2 pairs I alternate, one older black and pink pair and a newer white and pink pair (more for summer) plus supportive/padded running socks.

THE KIT:

Fitted long sleeve running top – this is great as a base layer or as a top when its a bit colder. For summer, short sleeve versions are available (plus vests for the 3 days in the year its hot enough 😄). Whats great about them? Bright colour and reflective stripes for visibility, mesh panels to help the body breathe and a tight fit that wont stretch or go out of shape.

Running tights – yes they are a bit scary if you have a few lumps and bumps you want to hide, but my view is, if anyone dared to make a comment youre the one running and theyre the ones sitting on their lardy asses! They are strangely flattering actually and where they are tight they act like shapewear. Whats great about them? Zipped back pocket, reflective details, zips at ankles.

Hat and headband – whether is cold or hot these do the job. A hat is imperative in the winter and I love the headband to cover my ears on windy days when my hair is tied back. Whats great about them? Reversible hat (pink is great for visibilty), a tight fit that wont stretch or go out of shape.

Underwear – you definitely can’t start running without a sports bra! That and trainers are the two things you can’t do without. I personally find Berlei bras really good and use a non wired version that you can also wear as a crop top. High impact is definitely the way to go. Obviously depends on your bust size but as I’ve still got D cup boobs I need them contained! Pants wise I’m still working on finding the perfect solution LOL. Some runners adocate going commando but I’m not so sure. My view currently is to wear seamless high waist pants that wont ride up or be too fussy – not sexy but hey, youre working out. Plus your bum is going to look a lot sexier in the long run!!!

Vest & cropped leggings – in the summer I go lightweight as I can’t stand being too hot. Capri leggings or shorts are perfect and a vest replaces my normal runnung tops.

Whats great about them? Breathable panels, zipped back pocket.

Trainers – Puma Descendents. Whats great about them? Lightweight, supportive, breathable mesh toe section.

Fitness clothes do not have to be expensive – my last pair of trainers cost less than £20 and the running pieces start from around £4 at Sports Direct. A word of warning though, once you buy a few bits you just cant stop building up your running wardrobe!

If I’ve inspired you to try running at all I’d recommend the c25k app which trains you from walking to doing a full 5k run (and beyond). I was terrified but it really works. Give it a go, it might change your life!

All clothing – Karrimor via Sports Direct

Sports bra – Berlei

Trainers – Puma