I am in love

I am in love. With a pair of boots. While I was linking the websites in my Cheap, pretty and plus size. Where? Part 1 post the other day I saw that City Chic were now selling wide calf boots. Any girl knows that knee high boots are the hardest things to buy if you have big calves. I do have a pair of great black knee high boots I got from Bennetts Boots a couple of years ago but they are too tight to tuck my jeans into. City Chic have these gorgeous tan knee high boots with buckles at the back. I LOVE buckles! I went in today and bought a pair (and some skinny jeans to go with them). Only problem is that they are actually going to be a birthday present for me next week so I have to wait until then to wear them. Sigh. I will probably demand them back before then so I can wear them this weekend.

Due to the boot shopping this evening I didn't walk but I'm ok with that. I hope to get in a quick walk tomorrow but I have dinner plans so I'm not sure how timing will work out.

I did ok food wise today. A tub of low fat yogurt, a box of dried apple & sultanas, a tiny bit of left over pasta bake, a bowl of home made chicken and corn soup, a small can of diet coke, 2 small chocolate Easter eggs, home made shepherds pie with steamed sweet potato and some cauliflower with white sauce, a can of Pepsi max and 1L water.

Obviously I could have done without the white sauce and chocolate but otherwise not bad.

Its a long weekend in Melbourne this weekend and in true Melbournian style I am celebrating it by going out everyday to something food related. The fact that its the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival this month means there is heaps of great food experiences on offer. Hopefully I don't gain too much!

~Missy

Cheap, pretty and plus size. Where? Part 1

I thought I would share with you some of the places I buy clothes. I think quite a few plus sized young ladies out there find it difficult to find nice clothes. I have only recently started to get quite picky about my clothes, there is a difference between it fitting and it actually looking nice.

In Melbourne (may also be in other Aussie locations):

Myer - if you are looking for very nice plus sized clothes, particularly for workwear then Myer should be your first stop. The three brands I like the most are Basque Woman, Piper Woman and Estelle. They also have other good brands like Mink. They are on the pricier side but always good quality and you should only buy what you really love.

Target - I know this is a bit surprising but I love shopping at Target. I fit into most of their size 18 stuff so I dont need to move to their plus sized brand Moda (which is often too casual and to 'big' clothes for me). I buy a lot of my work clothes there.

Rivers - Rivers outlet stores tend to be completely haphazard and its difficult to find things but most of the time its worth it. I buy most of my jeans there (last two pairs were $8 each!) and I occasionally hit the casual top jackpot. They are also good for work shirts that are a little on the casual side.

Jeanswest - I love their stuff. I buy stacks of my casual tops there and have just about every cardigan they have ever sold. Definitely try stuff on and be picky if its tight on you! (they go up to XXL in about half the range and a small 20 in jeans)

Suzanne Grae - This one surprises even me. I only discovered the other day that they go up to a size 18 and actually have some cute stuff hidden in between the older lady clothing. Its worth the occasional visit.

Rosanna - This shop is good for more formal dresses. I have bought quite a few dresses to wear to weddings here. Usually less than $150 for a dress and I think they go to a size 24.

Crossroads - These guys sell a whole range of clothing and its cheap! I have found some of my favourite clothes here and they are great for the basic plain tops and singlets. Some stuff is trashy looking but a lot of their stuff is really good.

City Chic - These guys specialise in plus sized womens clothes. I have found some great stuff here over the years but most of the time its too expensive for the quality you get; I would prefer to go to Myer. Don't write them off though, some things are worth paying for or keep your eye out for sales time.

Other shops that sell plus sized clothes are Kmart, Big W, My Size, Katies, Miller's etc but I don't regularly buy from them and some are targeting an older age group generally.

My shopping rules

- Don't shop desperately, shop carefully

- Only buy horizontal stripes if it fits on the looser side otherwise they will make you look bigger

- Layering creates vertical lines which are slimming (and layering is a must in Melbourne anyway)

- A nice pair of jeans, a plain top and a cardi can be made amazing with great jewellery, a pretty scarf or even a waist belt tied interestingly.

- Do NOT be afraid of colour!

- Pretty is still pretty no matter the size so don't be afraid to dress feminine

I'll do a list of online shops in Part 2 later.

~Missy