Liebster Award Nominations

I had a very sweet surprise yesterday when I found out that the lovely Kat of Murder of Goths had nominated me for a Liebster Award. It's a really cute idea - it's bloggers nominating other bloggers, with the idea being that it introduces their readers to some new material to browse through.

In return, you are meant to then nominate three other blogs who you follow, and give them a list of questions to answer. I've chosen to nominate three of my favourite people (as well as blogs), Claire from A Monkey Fatshionista, Miranda from Black Chick Tit Cancer and my darling Lord Dicely from Confessions of a Gentleman Gamer.

1. A Monkey Fatshionista - amonkeyfatshionista.co.uk

Before I started to use my blog to talk about fashion, it was mostly a scrap book for my photography work. I still followed a few bloggers, and Claire was one of the first who really caught my eye as she always looks so well put together in every single photo. I love her style, her accessories and she always looks effortlessly cool - something which I really struggle to pull off when I'm trying to be casual. I was so happy when I got to meet her whilst shooting the first Plus London event, and over the last few years we've gone from being fashion-friends to boardgame playing babes and she is often the first person I'll send a message to when in search of outfit advice.

2. Black Chick Tit Cancer - mizzilla.wordpress.com

I've known Miranda for almost half my life now, and as you can probably guess from the blog's title, this last year has been a difficult one. Her blog is inspirational, and a helpful read for anyone dealing with breast cancer, or with friends or family affected by it as it is a real, raw and powerful journey through a fight which thankfully she is winning. (Sidenote, we shot some epic photos together a few months ago which you can see here.)

3. Confessions of a Gentleman Gamer - lorddicely.blogspot.co.uk

Lord Dicely (aka Howard) is responsible for getting me hooked on boardgames. With his super hero power being trying to save the world from the drudgery of Monopoly, his blog is witty, insightful and accessible for anyone who is dipping their toes into the world of the games for the first time. He is also owner of the most enviable hair, which deserves a separate blog all of it's own, but that's another blog post right there.

The Rules:
- Thank and link back to the blogger who nominated you.
- Answer the 11 questions that they have asked you.
- Nominate bloggers who have a following of <200 on Bloglovin’
- Ask them 11 questions.
- Notify the nominees.

Questions:

1. What has been your favourite discovery since you started writing your blog?

2. What are you currently reading?

3. What is your favourite boardgame?

4. What is your favourite movie quote?

5. What made you decide to start blogging?

6. How do you pick yourself up after a difficult day?

7. What's your cocktail of choice?

8. Who inspires you?

9. What's your getting ready to go out song?

10. Favourite place to visit?

11. Favourite London hideaway?

And now for the questions given to me by Kat.

1. Why did you start your blog?

My blog initially started out as a scrap book for my photography work. I'd use it as a place for out-takes and magazine editorials, and something of a diary for what I was up to creatively. I'm not quite sure when the balance shifted in favour of fashion content, but I think I missed writing about sartorial trends and vintage lifestyle pieces so it all just kind of meshed together into one thing.

2. Best piece of advice you’ve heard for bloggers?

Always be yourself. It sounds so obvious, but it's much more fun being an individual than trying to shape yourself to be someone else. Also good lighting is your friend. It doesn't have to be studio lighting - natural daylight is beautiful to shoot it, even when streaming through a window. 

3. Who is your favourite female role model?

This is so hard, as there are so many of them. I would probably have to say Diane Arbus or Cindy Sherman as they are undoubtedly two key female photographers who broke boundaries with their work.

4. Favourite item of clothing?

This depends on my mood, but I love anything which nips in at the waist. This lace collar 60s number is probably up there quite high, but I am also a massive sucker for swing and tea dresses.

5. Best decision of your life so far?

That first date with Lord Dicely.

6. What would your perfect day be like?

It'd start with tea and pancakes at home with a morning spent at one of London's museums followed by a cheeky afternoon matinee at The Prince Charles Cinema. Dinner would be pieced together from items found at Borough Market, or skipped over in favour of cocktails. Or ignore the whole thing and spend the day holed up in a cute cafe with lots of cake, Earl Grey and boardgames.

7. What are you most proud of?

I still feel that getting my first magazine cover published before 30 is up there. I'm just about to start work on my second solo exhibition and it's different to anything I've done previously so I'm feeling pretty good about how the concept has changed and grown to where it is.

8. Most embarrassing fashion choices in your past?

Oh my goodness, there are SO many to choose from. I am so glad that there are very few photos of me as a teenager, as I had the worst home-dyed streaks and lived in baggy t-shirts and oversized jeans. Even now I make the odd mistake here and there though - buttons flying off my dresses, things being more see-through than I'd imagined, that sort of thing. Thank goodness for good undergarments to save the day! 

9. Favourite plus size brand?

I really like mixing vintage with high-street pieces, with ASOS Curve and HM making up a huge part of my wardrobe. I love the affordable fast fashion of F&F too, who really took huge steps forward with their plus size line last year. Collectif also get a mention, because although they're not strictly a plus size brand, they do go up to a size 22 and have the most incredibly cuts for busty figures.

10. Your favourite hobby?

Am I allowed to say sleeping? No? Ok then. Howard has pulled me into his world of boardgames which I love, but I'm still a sucker for sneaking out to afternoon movie matinees or hiding in a cafe somewhere with a good book. I love to write as much as I enjoy taking photographs, so often have a project or two on the go with the intention of growing them into something more substantial.

11. What is your dream career?

I'm very fortunate that I get to do my dream career every day. Working as a freelance photographer has it's downside in terms of financial stability, but the creative freedom it brings is indescribable. I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life,  and love that I get to do something which directly makes other people feel pride and happiness with themselves.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Blue Skies.

I love living in London, but the last few weeks have been crazy and I could not wait to escape to the countryside to spend the Easter bank holiday with Howard's lovely family.

It was four days of boardgames, good food and countryside walks with a touch of Easter Bunny magic thrown in for good measure.

My fruit bunny made by Howard's niece and nephew.

The personalised Kinder egg I made for Howard. Turns out it's impossible to re-wrap them once open! 

Mount Everest - one of the many, many boardgames played over the four day weekend.

Although I've been visiting Lambourn for almost three years, it was only this weekend where I felt like I'd really explored it. Howard, my lovely sort-of-sister-in-law and I all went for a 5k walk through the local fields, which despite nearly killing me thanks to big hills and hayfever, was very much worth it for the stunning views.

The start of this walk is just minutes away from the Burdett parental home, and it offers breathtaking views and a path of wild flowers to make you feel like you've stumbled into some sort of fairytale.

We were also lucky enough to see two families of ducks and ducklings learning to swim against the current in the river running along the backgarden. There were several cries of "Ducks! Ducks!" over the weekend which led to everyone running outside to see them. Although the first family of ducklings were older, the second one were very much still tiny balls of fluff!

Most importantly, I got to spend lots of time with this handsome face. It currently feels so rare that we're not stuck to cameras or laptops until late in the evening, so it was absolute bliss to just spend time together doing very little. Most mornings began with playing boardgames in pyjamas with his mum at the breakfast table, and that pretty much set the pace for the rest of the day!

That said, no matter how lovely it is to get away, there really is no place like home and it was nice to be back in London.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Golden Years; The Struggle Against New Years Resolutions.

I always think the week between Christmas and New Year is a bit like sitting in a railway station. You feel like you're waiting and waiting for something to happen, whether it's an end of year party or just getting back to a normal schedule. I love Christmas and all the fun which goes with it, but you do find that you lose track of the days and each festive movie begins to melt into the next.

My Christmas was a fun, happy boardgame filled affair in the countryside with Howard's wonderful family. I feel incredibly lucky that they've let me share in their traditions including finding the fabled sugar mice in my tree stocking and was absolutely spoilt by all of them. Although the day itself was great, I have always been a lover of Christmas Eve as it has a certain magic to the air, mixed with excitement and anticipation. I got to read a Christmas story to Howard's five year old niece and nephew which had already made my holiday complete before I even got to the giant pile of presents! There is nothing like two excited faces to make you go home filled with a genuine excitement for the happiness which Christmas can bring.

One of Mama Dicely's favourite games, K2. This always gets brought back to Lambourn, and you can read Howard's hilarious review of it here.

Back in London, our thoughts of course turned to plans for New Years Eve, and with that, I started to consider the crushing series of resolutions which would inevitably make my January miserable and leave me feeling a washed up failure by the first week of February. And then I decided that I was done with resolutions - what I really need to do is make some small changes, and re-focus. Instead of working against myself with deprivation, I am going to apply more moderation and see what happens.

1. Don't aim to lose weight - try to change your diet and fitness routine.
We've all been there on the 1st January with a raging hangover and an unopened box of Celebrations. Those promises of "I'm eating nothing but salads" have made way for "I need a fry up or I am going to die", and the thought of even crawling from the sofa to the kitchen makes you want to cry.

I've been in a constant battle with my weight since the age of 15, and it's taken until my early 30s to get a proper diagnosis of what's going on. For me, it has never been as simple as eat less and exercise more as my body is dealing with both PCOS and Insulin Resistance to quite severe degrees. Yet there are things which I can do to help moderate the condition - a low GI diet, making sure I do take regular exercise and ensuring that the things which are bad for my body are treats only, and not a regular occurrence. (Pizza, you, me and the rest of the carbs are going to have to have a little chat...)

It doesn't have to be a horrible, restrictive ordeal. It'll be fun to experiment with food and find tasty alternatives which will make me feel better both inside and out. I don't need to eat less, just differently, and when I fancy that slice of pizza or pack of Malteasers, I can do so without feeling guilty about it. Complete deprivation is a bad  idea as it often leads to feelings of shame and self hatred when we inevitable crumble after a bad day. Where's the fun in that? Life is for living, and I fully intend to keep that tub of ice-cream and emergency bottle of wine for those days where nothing quite else will do.

I have also learnt to take on board that I need to watch what I'm not eating as well as what I do. It's important to eat your five a day, but it also needs to be varied. Eating ten tangerines isn't going to give me enough protein or good fats! When I'm busy working I frequently have a bad habit of not eating enough which is incredibly bad for my blood sugar, thyroid and metabolism and need to start packing small healthy snacks to take on shoots with me. This will also hopefully stop me crashing once home and craving a truck load of carbs as I need a sugar fix.

Time will tell with this non-resolution, but it is one which I am feeling positive about. I'm looking forward to getting back on the running wagon and enjoying waking up with beautiful, foggy views from Hampstead Heath.

2. Don't aim to earn more money - ask yourself how you can be more successful.
Every January, I always seem to attack my business plan with some sort of wolf cry, and then instantly fall back into familiar patterns. This year has been one of my busiest with many new clients ranging from corporate big wigs to individual small businesses and sole traders. So why hasn't my bank balance reflected this? Even more frightening, why has my work / life balance turned into work / work / sleep for five hours / work?

Certainly November and December saw me take on more work than I could reasonably manage, and it was by editing insane amounts in my pyjamas on caffeine highs that I managed to clear the backlog in time to hit their respective deadlines. So what was the problem? It all stems from knowing what your worth is and although I have a series of rates, I have always been happy to work on a sliding scale with smaller businesses and individuals. But taking on a job which sucks up all your time for next to nothing? Sometimes you need to know your worth and walk away.

This year I am not going to be afraid to ask for what I feel my time and work is worth. I'll be happy to negotiate, but being paid isn't someone doing you a favour. It's because you can fulfil the client's specific needs to a perfect standard. This is something I need to remember when moving forward. I don't want to get to next December, and contemplate how hard it is to be this broke!

I have also learnt to not be afraid of trying new things. Two years ago, I started up Whiskey Kittens with my friend Tom, and discovered that I'm actually quite good at DJing! Who knew? This has led to being paid to DJ at private parties, events and even weddings, and with a wide love of music ranging from 20s jazz to 70s glam and beyond, I've been quite flexible and picked up a lot of gigs as "that vintage DJ" which totally works for me!

(If anyone who wants to offer me some work, I am also an internationally published writer too with particular interests in fashion, music, cinema and vintage lifestyles. Just in case anyone's looking...)

My plan moving forward is to sort out my portfolio, upload my new work, cut the old stuff and hype up the other things I'm good at. It's easy to be stressed and second guess yourself, but if you're a freelance and you're surviving in this climate, you must be doing something right!

It feels incredibly liberating to ditch the new year ball and chains. I'm hoping that a clear mind and fresh outlook which offer a more positive avenue to seeing the changes I want to make happen. I am also hoping that it will be easier to bounce back from when things inevitable go wobbly from time to time.

Here's to a happy 2014, with no self-loathing, deprivation, impossible diet restrictions and self imposed stress. Remember it's easier to make small changes when feeling more positive, and small changes eventually add up to huge ones.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Date With The Night

Peggy Lee Dress from Vivien of Holloway, belt from ASOS Curve, Bolero by Yours Clothing, Bag is vintage, shoes from Primark and leggings from Simply Be.

Love has certainly been in the air this past week, and it was with a feeling of intense sappiness that I celebrated my second anniversary with Howard. 

Card doodles; clearly you can see why I'm a photographer and not an artist!

 We had spent hours on our very first date walking the streets of London in the sunshine, and somehow found our way to the courtyard of St Pauls Cathedral. It was there where we shared our first kiss, so we decided that it'd be nice to go back there with a picnic lunch in the sunshine after he'd finished work.

b

This little guy clearly didn't believe that three was a crowd, and seemed quite determined to sit in my lap at one point.

Since we were in the middle of an incredibly busy week for both of us, we decided to take things easy. We ditched plans for the cinema in favour of a cosy evening of boardgames which was silly and cute - even if I lost!

Customised necklace from Bete Noire Jewellery back when it was Clutterfly, flower (just seen) from Pearls & Swine.

Peggy Lee Dress from Vivien of Holloway, belt from ASOS Curve, Bag is vintage, shoes from Primark and leggings from Simply Be.

The next loved up adventure was just outside of Wiltshire for a 50th Wedding Anniversary. Cue the most unforgiving car and train journey on my life which served up humidity, dehydration and the worst traffic ever seen on a motorway.

The journey was worth it though, with a beautiful day celebrating some beautiful people.

The happy couple! (A sneaky back of camera shot).

Another back of camera grab.

Sunday morning meeting.

Beautiful countryside views.

Stonehenge.

Stonehenge.

The payload when we finally made it home!

Until next time,
Diana. x

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