Five Minutes On Being Too Much

I haven't been sleeping well lately. I don't know why, it's just one of those things that happens every now and then, but lying awake at 3am this morning I started thinking bad thoughts. You will know the ones, the ones where you remember every negative thing said to or about you from the age of two onwards... One thing each of these thoughts have in common for me is the word "Too"; You're too big, too lazy, too nice, too clever (The latter is less of an issue for me personally...). but it's incredible how putting this one word in front of another can turn it into an immediate negative. Try it: think of the adjective you'd most like to be described as and put the word "Too" in front of it - Weird isn't it? This word is used by other people to take away any control we have over ourselves and how we present to other people. GRIM. 

Stupid Cupid - A Joanie Valentine

With their romantic vintage prints and styles, Joanie Clothing seem to be just like me in that they were positively made for Valentines Day. Alright, so I only go to Morrisons for sausage, chips and beans (minus the beans), it's still nice to know that every year, there is a day put aside purely for getting mushy - whether this be with your partner, your friends or family (My Dad has sent me a card every single year as far back as I can remember which means more than any others) I'm all for the hearts, kisses and declarations of love.

www.terribletumbles.co.uk
Stupid Cupid Jumper* - Joanie Clothing
Pussy Bow Dress - Primark
Ankle Boots - Dorothy Perkins
Heart Bag* - Joanie Clothing

As someone who isn't big on accessories  it's somewhat controversial that I start a post by singing the virtues of a handbag BUT LOOK AT THIS BAG. Isn't it just sublime?!? I managed to fit all of my usual handbag things (Purse, phone, makeup, keys, crisps, hair brush, 7,000 receipts, wet wipes) and still fit a jumper in there too. It's a novelty bag without being too OTT, to the extent that even I can pull it off.

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Joanie are the Queens of jumpers, from Maybe Baby to Brunch Club; fashionistas across the country are going wild for the kitsch colours and sweet slogans. The Stupid Cupid jumper is no different and I think you will concur, incredibly apt for this time of the year. The fabric is lovely and soft and the chain stitch embroidery is such high quality. I'm wearing a Large here which is a 16-18, be aware that the jumpers aren't very long so I don't tend to wear them by themselves but they're the perfect length for layering over a shirt, or in this case, a pussy bow dress - the cropped sleeves make it ideal to show off a bit of cuff.

www.terribletumbles.co.uk
I'm off to see the ladies at Joanie this week, so keep your eyes peeled on my Twitter and Instagram for some sneak peaks!
Em x
* Denotes items gifted for review - All views are my own
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Keeping It Casual with Pink Clove

February is such a slobby month for me. I try wherever possible to stay in bed at all times and when I do eventually leave the house I'm all about the oversized jumpers and elasticated jeans. I basically channel Waynetta Slobb at all times...

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Rollneck Jumper* - Pink Clove
Joni Jeans - Topshop
Marc Ankle Boots - Topshop
With this in mind, I was extremely pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon this rollneck jumper from Pink Clove. With its sweatshirt material and slouchy fit, it ticks all my slob boxes, but that's where the similarities end; The high neck, raglan sleeves and longline length take the jumper from oversized PE kit to chic, casual Sunday. 

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I'd forgotten about these Topshop jeans but have worn them non-stop since I found them - For such thin denim they have a lot of life in them. The ankle boots are also Topshop - Now I have to be completely honest with you: Topshop's size 9s are a 42 - This is actually a size 8 in my eyes, HOWEVER, some of the 42s are actually a good size 8, so they fit me. These ones are pretty tight but with them being leather, they'll give bit, plus they look banging. Topshop are my fave high street store by a country mile, so it regularly breaks my heart that in most cases both their clothes and shoes are just that bit too small. 

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I've just started with a cold so there's a strong chance that I'm going to be living in sweatshirts, pyjamas and big coats for the next month (Sounds overdramatic but trust me when I say that I am NOT good with colds!)
Em x
* Denotes items gifted for review - All views are my own.

Five Minutes on What Now...?

Trigger Warning - This post mentions fertility and motherhood

I’m going through this thing right now. An internal debate if you will. Not a particularly fun or fluffy one, so If you’re reading this post in the hope of clarity or a deeper understanding of a woman who has her life together READ NO FURTHER.

I saw a quote recently that really stuck with me - it said something about there being two kinds of childless women; A loving and caring Auntie type and the other a drunken old floozy. Luckily I can’t find the exact quote again because I’m in exactly the kind of mood where I’d find the Earth mother who wrote it and kick their face off... Child loss broke my heart, there’s no doubt about it. MPW and I went from knowing exactly who we were as a couple, to getting our heads around the fact that there would be new element to life as we knew it, to actually looking forward to having another little dude to knock about with and take to McDonalds. Despite this, as a couple who had never formally written the “Along came a baby” chapter into our book, it’s since been very difficult to work out what exactly it is we grieved for.

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Northern Lights - Plus Size Winter Warmers

January can be grim can't it? It plays havoc with the weather, the light and more annoyingly our moods. My new job means that I literally don't have a moment to think about anything except all of the long words I need to learn (HELP!), but I'm still longing for natural light, warmth and a bit of extra brightness to my days. Hence this scarf.

www.terribletumbles.co.uk
Dress - Primark (Similar here and here)
Coat - Marks & Spencer (Similar)
Scarf - River Island
Ankle Boots - Dorothy Perkins
bought the scarf just before Christmas in a "Treat yo'self" moment on a particularly bloody freezing cold Yorkshire day and have worn it constantly ever since. I honestly thought it was green but I have since realised that it is definitely yellow. VERY yellow. It's also the softest thing I own and the perfect addition to an otherwise quite gloomy outfit. It certainly seems the case that wearing something flamboyant (even just a scarf) can really up my mood. 

www.terribletumbles.co.uk
Dress - Primark (Similar here and here
The dress is a really cheap one from Primark, bought last year and worn very occasionally - I'm not sure how I feel about the proportions of it. In the past I've lived in vintage look mini dresses and ankle boots but I think my style and body shape are evolving and this dress may become a top very soon. I just feel more put together with a longer dress or trousers AND I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME. ALSO, I don't like flashing my knickers as much any more - This must be what being an adult feels like...

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The coat, however, is a different story. This is my work coat and I LOVE IT. The joy of having a coat that you can throw on over pretty much anything and still look smart is a feeling I can very much get along with. I bought this double breasted woollen coat at the end of 2015 in lieu of being able to find a camel coat that I felt strongly enough about, Marks and Spencer very much provided on the navy blue front (I've since bought a camel coat but it's not to be worn until my birthday - Yes I am just that skilled at depriving myself of joy).

www.terribletumbles.co.uk

 I would like to thank lovely Violet for sharing a rather lovely afternoon with me in Hull (My hometown and the UK City Of Culture in 2017 "YORKSHIRE! YORKSHIRE! YORKSHIRE!") and taking these fabulous pictures - Violet has just been named as one of the Yours Clothing Bloggers so you'll be seeing a lot of her in 2017 and quite rightly too!
 Em x