What a better way to start off 2017 than giving you amazing folk the chance to be rewarded just for being kind...

Early in December I won a fantastic prize from Evans as part of their #EvansBlackFriday blogger competition which included two things which I think might interest you way more than the items of clothing that I chose. Of course it wouldn't be right to not show you what I got but that's not the purpose of this little chat here (bear with me, that post is coming soon)

So in the meantime, who wants some "free"ness?

I would like to give one of you beautiful kids a £20 gift card to spend at Evans Clothing but as it's new year I want to kick it off with nothing but kindness. So in order for you to win I want you to head on over to Instagram and post a photo of you doing something kind for someone else this week, a random act of kindness if you will.  Post your photo, tag both @evansclothing & myself @kat_v_henry in your photo and make sure to use the hashtag #KindnessComesForFree so I can see it.

At 8pm on Sunday 8th Jan 2017 I will pick one of your photos to win this awesome prize.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...

Just for you guys I have been given an exclusive discount to share with you so you can grab 15% off all full price items on the Evans website between 1^st January 2017 and 7^th January 2017.  Just use the code KAT15 at the checkout.

If you use the code, don't forget to tag me in a pic of what you buy...I'm proper nosey and I wanna see what you buy plus I wanna live vicariously through your purchase cos Christmas got me BROKE as hell!

So - don't delay, go get your kindness on and happy shopping!

http://www.evans.co.uk/

xx

So fully armed with that info I opted to size up to a size 22 on the crop top to account for the puppies. I am a size 38GG and this was totally the right decision, had I gone for my normal size of a 20 I'm not sure that it would have fitted my chest. It might have been a little more fitted in the body as this is quite loose but I'm way more comfortable with it being looser.

The crop top retails at £60.00 and is available online now.  It has a sateen type feel to it, it has a full zipper at the back which completely undoes and the cups are structured for a better fit.  The spaghetti straps are also fully adjustable.

The midi skirt is also has a sateen feel, this would be lovely with a block bold coloured top and chunky scarf for a warmer feel.  

The skirt retails at £70.00 and is also available online now.  I chose the size 20 and it's a perfect fit for me on the waist. I usually wear an 18/20 so Evans' advice on sizing is pretty accurate in my opinion. 

I am 5ft 4" and quite short in the body - this skirt would  look lovely on someone a little taller but it you are under my height be prepared for this to be more of a maxi skirt!

Back in April I won a #selfie competition run by +Scarlett Jo to win a luxury night's stay for 2 at the swanky member's only venue Home House in London.  To be totally honest looking at some of the other entries in the competition, I didn't think I stood any chance of winning. So when another fellow blogger reached out to me on FB to say congratulations for winning, I was very much like "oh I didn't win...I just entered" thinking there must be some misunderstanding.  I did a little google search and happened across Scarlett & Jo's blog announcing the winner - you can read it here

I got in touch with Gifi Fields the brains behind the brand, and we arranged to meet for cocktails at Home House.  I instantly warmed to Gifi,  he is a very intelligent man and oozes charisma and a passion and drive for the industry that I admire.  He took the time to really explain some of the ins & outs of the fashion world and told many a story of his experiences. I was in awe and he has the most infectious laugh.  

Following my drinks with Gifi - I organised my date to go back to Home House for my overnight stay.

My other half Andy & I turned up at Home House on 30th May after a heavy night the night before. Andy had been DJ'ing so we had not got home until the early hours of the morning.  We needed some serious R&R.

The staff at Home House welcomed us with open arms and were fabulous hosts.  We were shown to our suite; a feature room named after "Lady Susan Thorpe"

We were greeted by a beautiful glass of champagne.

We took the time to relax & get ready for dinner at our leisure, Andy watched a little bit of football whilst I pottered around getting glammed up!

I had chosen to wear this gorgeous floral bodycon +AX Paris dress from +Simply Be 

I felt like a million dollars - this dress instantly became my fave dress, it really accentuated my curves & Andy approved #winning <3

We started with a few cocktails in the bar & followed by a delicious Thai meal in the hotel's restaurant.

Even though the Hotel has it's very own exclusive members only club which stays open till 3am, we were both shattered so retired to our room.

We had done a bit of research on the venue before hand and I have always wanted to take some lingerie shots, I feel most comfortable around Andy, so we seized the opportunity to use the ornate surroundings of the suite to do a pop-up boudoir shoot.

Take a look at some of the photos...

Firstly - I would like to apologise...I had not realised that this post did not publish as scheduled back in March!!

Meeting these lovely ladies on 28th March was such a blast.

Nikki of +Natty Nikki very kindly organised a plus size blogger meet up in Birmingham which I jumped at the chance of going to.  Ok, so it's a bit of a trek from London to Birmingham, but I do not regret it one bit.  After all what more could you ask for; shopping, food & the opportunity to spend the day with PS Blogger babes.

I was nervous on the train going up; meeting new people, worried whether I would be welcomed given that many of these ladies are pro's at the blogging game!  All my fears were dispelled meeting them, each lady had a warm, welcoming persona, which made me feel completely at ease.

We grabbed some food whilst waiting for everyone to arrive and then we hit the shops!

I was a +Yours Clothing virgin - having never been into a store.  I was pleasantly surprised by the array of items on display, I tried on quite a few dresses all which made me feel fabulous.  I picked up a lovely long line cardi/throw which I haven't got a pic of as I am saving it for a special occasion.

We headed off to +Evans Clothing to storm their changing rooms!  Lord help anyone else in store that day, I'm pretty sure they weren't prepared for 7 ladies cavorting around the dressing room taking crazy selfies!

We all picked up a pair of the sought after "Ultra Stretch Skinny Jeans" in varying lengths & sizes and all tried them on together.  I loved the fit of these, they hugged me in the right places and accentuated the curves, it was love at first sight for me!

Next we raided the +Scarlett Jo section and each picked a few dresses to try.  I tried these two;

I had never tried on anything like these style of dresses; I was pleasantly surprised with the cut, fit and how girly they made me feel. The inner lining of these dresses were extremely fitted, which in hindsight, I reckon this was designed like this for a reason (to suck everything in) but it definitely made for an interesting vision of me trying to actually get them on! I think at one point I managed to get into the dress, without actually being inside the lining at all! So confused!  If I were to rock these dresses, I would totally wear shapewear to give my silhouette a more defined outline, but all in all I loved these.

All the ladies looked fabulous in their outfits, I know that opinions were mixed on the shapes and cuts but it was so much fun trying them all on together and getting some honest opinions on how they looked from women who really understood how difficult it can be to find clothes to compliment our figures.

I think we were all pooped after all the dressing room madness, but we wandered around to Lush and MAC and a few other places but after everyone had said their goodbyes I had some time to kill before my train back home, so Lottie & I got a cuppa in Costa.  

Meeting Lottie was the highlight of my day - she met me from the train when I arrived and stayed with me until I went home. I have been following Lottie on Instagram for a while, so when I found out I would finally meet her, I was super excited.  We got on so well, she is such a lovely lady and someone who I now consider a good friend.  Since I started following her, I have seen her come out of her shell and really push boundaries with her clothing and make up and that is so empowering to see.  Her confidence is growing and she is really starting to shine, I am so proud of her.

I cannot wait to meet these ladies again for more fun-filled shopping sessions!

It wasn't until I met +Curvy Kate 's Hannah who actually took the time to fit me at the Oxford Street branch of +Evans Clothing recently that I realised that I had been wearing the wrong bra size for years.  I have been measured many times by Debenhams & M&S; my last fitting had me at a 40E but I have previously been told I should be both a 44D & a 42DD.

No bra ever fitted correctly and I wrongly assumed that this was something to do with my shape & size or perhaps that I was simply to big and bras weren't made for people like me!

How naive I have been! Now I must admit that with my recent weight loss, dropping a back size is totally plausible but Hannah measured me up as a 38GG and gave me a recommendation of two Curvy Kate bra's that not only were absolutely gorgeous, had the best fit I have experienced ever!  She even suggested that if I continue to lose more weight that I drop another back size but perhaps increase a cup; so try a 36H. As soon as payday rolls around, I will be heading down to the nearest stockist to revamp my whole underwear selection!

Although I wasn't successful, I broke down a major confidence barrier and bared all (well in lingerie) in a submission for their #StarInABra competition.  I knew I didn't have a chance, but for me to even consider submitting an entry was a big milestone for me!

Did any of you get fitted by the Curvy Kate ladies or did you enter #StarInABra??