My New Gabifresh Bikini

Another year, another collaboration. Working with Swimsuits For All, Gabifresh has designed a number of bikinis and one-pieces, and the online plus-size community is drooling. Including me!

It was the Sea Reef bikini that really caught my eye, though. Admittedly I love all of the designs, but I went with my instincts and pre-ordered it. 

Since I'm a pear shape, I ordered a smaller top and larger bottoms. They both fit perfectly! Now I just have to find the right occasion to wear it. Mind you, wearing it around the house was pretty nice too.

I have to say, I'm always impressed with the quality and customer service of Swimsuits For All. I highly recommend ordering from them if you've been sitting on the fence. I also find their products reasonably priced, and there's always some great sales happening. By the way - I bought this swimsuit myself and they didn't pay me to say that! ;)

Thanks for reading! x

Aussie Curves: Swimwear

Last summer I lived across the road from the beach and was there nearly every day - snorkeling usually. Swimming is my thing. However, in July I moved house and I'm almost ashamed to say that I haven't been to the beach yet this summer, despite being only a 5 minute drive away! I've been to the pool quite a bit, but I usually go on my own. So please forgive my backyard swimwear posts, with stupid chickens who don't care that I'm trying to capture some glam. Also, since seeing these photos, I've decided that my boyfriend is going to have to go back to being my photographer because using the self-timer application just isn't giving me the crisp photo finish that I'm used to. I usually hate it when bloggers apologise for stuff in their photos, like: "sorry about the mess on the floor" - I just tend to think...well...CLEAN IT UP or just don't mention it all. Pretend it doesn't exist and then your readers are more likely too as well. But I really do want to acknowledge that I know these photos could be better. Hopefully you can look past it to seeing how cute this swimsuit is.

swimsuit SWIMSUITS FOR ALL (gifted) || sarong SEAFOLLY

I've gone for a bit of a pinup style, with the halter neck, polka dot and cute little skirt. It's navy blue  with pink polka dots, and very comfortable! It's called the Shore Club Cotton Candy Bandeau/Halter Swimdress, from Swimsuits For All.

I've blogged a lot about body confidence and swimwear in the past, but I wanted to add a few personal thoughts I've had lately. Last summer I felt pretty confident on the beach, something I had worked very hard to achieve. However, my body has changed since then and I've had to face old demons all over again. Taking off the sarong was not easy for me. Learning to value yourself - ALL OF YOURSELF - including your body - is such a lifelong process, isn't it? As Meagan Kerr said on her swimwear post, "you can’t sit there and worry about what other people might think of you – you just have to live your life. They don’t care if you miss out on swimming with your kids or splashing about with your friends… but you sure will." 

I really hope that this summer, I continue to not give a f**k.

Thanks for reading! x

Aussie Beach Babes #4: Fun In The Sun

We're down to last few weeks of summer here in Australia. I'm not really a "favourite season" kind of person - I like all the seasons because I enjoy the variety. By the end of winter, I'm soooo ready for summer, and by the end of summer, I'm usually super excited thinking about scarves and boots and jackets. Regardless of that, I think I'm a little more sad than usual to say goodbye to summer and all the fun I've had in all my gorgeous swimwear from Swimsuits For All.

Swimsuit: Swimsuits For All, 

Beach Belle Aqua Floral Plus Size V Neck (here)GIFTED

Necklace: Lovisa

Headscarfe: Oh Honey Hush (here)

Enjoy the last of your summer, ladies! Thanks for reading xx

 

Aussie Curves: Activewear

The only form of exercise I've ever been able to stick to is swimming. I tried the gym and walking, but neither lasted long. I can be a pretty lazy person, especially because I love sedentary activities, like reading and writing and watching films. I had to be really honest with myself. I didn't want to psych myself up to join another gym or get into a walking routine because I knew it wouldn't last and I'd end up hating it like all the other times.

So I found my local pool and started swimming laps after school. I did this for ten weeks, and didn't get sick of it. Then over the summer holidays I skipped the pool and went to the beach instead (it's across the road from my unit). I bought a snorkel and explored my little piece of the coast. It wasn't as vigorous as swimming laps, but it still felt good to get out there. Now that school has started back, I'm keen to getting back into my routine at the pool. 

Just one photo from me this week. I'm wearing a swimsuit from Swimsuits For All and the swim skirt is from City Chic. I wouldn't swim laps in this, but it's nice for a leisurely beach snorkel! 

I'll be writing a review soon on the book, The Unapologetic Fat Girl's Guide to Exercise, by Hanne Blank, as part of my Body Loving Book Review series. So keep an eye out for that!

Thanks for reading! xx

Aussie Beach Babes #2

I've noticed that swimsuits with cutouts are a bit of a trend this summer. I love this cutout one-piece because it's a great mix of sexy and edgy, and great for building your way up to a bikini if you're a little body-shy. I have to admit, I felt a little bashful in this swimsuit at first, but I'm starting to warm up to the style and embrace the sexy vibe!

swimsuit: Swimsuits For All (here) || sarong: seafolly || necklace & ring: lovisa

The swimsuit has a great structure, feels supportive and the little details like the belt and neck clip make it so lovely to wear. I feel so glam in it. I wore it with my Seafolly sarong and whipped it off for a quick dip. I don't usually wear one-piece swimsuits like this, so the cover up helped me to build up my confidence before I was ready to let my hair down and enjoy some beach time. It's really exciting to find on-trend swimsuits in plus sizes.

See you on the beach! x

Aussie Beach Babes #1 - Beach Confidence!

When the people over at Swimsuits For All approached me to be involved in an Aussie Beach Babes challenge with three other Aussie bloggers, I was so excited that a little bit of pee came out. Okay, maybe not THAT excited, but definitely thrilled! I live right on the beach and regularly swim laps at my local swimming pool after work most days, so I'm always on the lookout for cute and practical swimwear. I've often lurked the Swimsuits For All website, and I'm so glad I finally took the plunge (pun intended) and gave them a go!

But....

Then I realised that I'd actually have to model swimwear (eek). However, before I got to the photo-taking part, I had a good month of trying each pair out; for the swimsuits to become a staple part of my wardrobe and take a place of pride in my "swimming drawer". 

I am in love with my swimsuits and can't wait to show them all to you! 

For this first post, I wanted to write a little bit about beach confidence and what I've learned. I used to be the girl who would never swim without a t-shirt and board shorts. Somehow that changed. My sister helped me with this post and taking the photos, and we had a great conversation about body confidence. My sister is a very different shape to me, and by no means "plus size", but she's still had her struggles and insecurities despite that. It's funny how we can think that people who seem to have the perfect body don't struggle with body confidence. It's just not true. 

Here are our sisterly tips on how to get your bod in a swimsuit and down the beach without a freak out!

1. It all goes downhill from here. Yep, when you're pushing past 50, you may just wish that you had your current body back and had enjoyed it a little more instead of criticizing it for its perceived flaws. Think of your body in terms of the enjoyment and movement it can give you, not in terms of body-fat ratio.
2. Don't assume that everybody on the beach is some "enemy" out to judge every roll of fat. It's just not the case! And even if someone does look at you and has a judgmental thought, they'll probably either keep it to themselves (as they should) or they'll get bored and move on to think about something else. Or there's the possibility that someone might look at you and think, "Her swimsuit is cute," or "I admire her confidence." You can't assume that everyone who looks at you is thinking something negative. Also, don't judge other bodies. Be the change you want to see.
3. Have a few comebacks ready in your mind just in case someone does say something. I've made up my mind that if someone is ever rude to me, I will come out on top with my witty response. No more 'ducking-my-head-in-shame-because-I-deserve-it' bullshit.
4. When it comes to the beach, all bets are off. Everyone has a right to wear what they want and bask in the sun. Including YOU. 
5. I tend to be an "all or nothing" type person and used to believe that to prove I was body confident, I would have to go dramatically from wearing t-shirts and knee-length board shorts to wearing a bikini. It's simply not the case! Small steps of courage are okay. Start with a cover-up over a one-piece, or a bikini top with board shorts. Don't feel guilty for not being "body confident" enough. It's about finding what works for you.
6. Read fashion blogs by people of all sizes. Seeing other plus size babes confident on the beach will inspire you to do the same.

wrap: swimsuits for all (here) || board shorts: swimsuits for all (here)

bikini top: asos (here) || necklace: lovisa || headscarfe: oh honey hush (here)

This cover-up is so perfect for the beach, I just love it! The board shorts were part of a duo, but I wanted to bare a bit more skin today. I love these board shorts because they have built in knickers and POCKETS. Soooo good! The matching tankini is pretty cute too, though. You can find the entire swimsuit combo here.

Here's my sister in the same cover up but in a Valley Girl bikini. She's my love! :)

As always, thank you for reading! xx

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