Sponsored Video: Simply Being Myself

Hi guys,
It's not often I see a video for an advertising campaign and really relate to it, so I was surprised to really relate to the latest video from Simply Be. Its honest and heart warming, and its message to be true to who you are is both real and sincere:

Being true to yourself is what the Simply Be brand is all about, and it gives me the perfect opportunity to get all schmaltzy and sentimental about who I am, and how the people I love got me here. When I'm down or having a bad day it is being all these things to all these people that gets me through it:

I am a mum. I'm a dress size bigger and my tummy is significantly more wobbly, but having Wilbur is the best decision I ever made. Loving him is a whole different kind of love, unlike any other, and there's no bad day he can't immediately fix simply by smiling at me, or giving me one of his sloppy kisses which are at least 90% spit!
I am a wife. What can I say about my handsome husband? He drives me crazier and makes me happier than anyone else in the world (usually at the same time). He's a great dad, and a great man, and I'm phenomenally lucky to have him, and lucky that he loves me unconditionally: even on the days when I forget to brush my hair!
I am a daughter. I have hands down the best parents in the world, bar none. There's not a problem they can't fix, a hole they can't mend, a disaster they can't rectify. They're almost superhumanly amazing: it's awe inspiring (especially now I'm a parent myself). Their love and their patience never ends.
I am a sister. I am so lucky to have two sisters that I talk to every single day and that are like my best friends. They make me howl with laughter, and (occasional) want to give them a good slap. I don't know how I'd cope without them. I was doubly blessed when Amie ended up having the same dress and shoe size as me so I can borrow here stuff whenever I like!
I am a friend. Moving cities when we were pregnant was a massive upheaval but it has helped us discover who our good friends (new and old) really are and to cherish them all the more.

It makes me feel all Christmassy and good-cheer-y to remember how lucky I am to have all these awesome people, who all help to make me me! And when I have to buy a new party frock (because last year's is a little too snug) or I'm up all night and so tired I can't think straight I know that these are the wonderful people that will get me through. Let's face it: What better Christmas present could you want than that?

What blessings will you be counting this Christmas?

Love Tor x

*This is a sponsored post for Simply Be

Simply Be: Do you have what it takes to be a plus sized model?

Julian MacDonald (not exactly an advocate of plus sized modelling!) said that if you're a size 14 in a room full of size 10s then you're in the wrong room. I say prove him wrong and enter Simply Be's latest competition to find their new face, and the next plus-sized talent.

Simply Be are searching for the new face of plus size fashion. So if you're a size 14 or above, a natural in front of the camera and full of confidence this could be your chance to shine! I never normally post about this kind of press release, but I thought it was refreshing that a company was searching for someone normal sized that I could relate to, even if it is a plus sized fashion company (which means, to be fair, they have to use plus sized models)

The prizes are almost too good to be true. (If you want to be a model, that is!) First, the winner will be whisked away for a shoot with Best magazine. One makeover, lots of pictures and a short wait later, they’ll be named Simply Be’s Plus Size Model 2010! Then it's down to work. The new face of the Simply Be Style Files can expect more shoots, more portfolio shots and more exposure.

Simply Be’s newest model will need to look every bit the part, so, and this is the most exciting bit as far as i'm concerned, the lucky winner will also receive £10,000 to spend on fabulous Simply Be fashion! And to kick start the winner’s modelling career, Simply Be will even arrange a consultation with 12 + UK model management, a prize that money can’t buy!

How to enter

ENTRIES MUST INCLUDE: Your contact details: Email Address, Postal Address and Telephone number.

PHOTOS: Make sure you include a full length shot, a side profile and a head shot.

YOUR VITAL STATISTICS: Jot down your height and weight. Then add your waist, dress, bra and shoe sizes.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU: Tell us who you are, what you do, where you find fashion inspiration and anything else you think will make you stand out from the crowd.

THE REASON: Just one sentence on why you should be Simply Be's Plus Size Model 2010!

SEND YOUR ENTRIES TO: Griffin House, Lever Street, Manchester, ME60 6ESOR EMAIL THEM TO: simplybefashion@hotmail.co.uk

The deadline for entries is 27th August 2010 – don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!

For more information visit the Simply Be website, and you can follow Simply Be on Twitter for updates: @SimplyBeUK

Good luck!

Tor xx

PS - Don't forget to keep voting for me in the Sarenza bloggers competition! Just click here to send me to Paris!

Simply Be: It's getting hot in here!

This week I was given the opportunity to try something from Simply Be and I opted to choose from their new (gorgeous looking) hot tropics range. Which, given the hot hot weather all of a sudden, has turned out to be a pretty good idea!

I always knew of Simply Be as that plus sized catelogue off the telly, so I was suprised to learn three new things about them this week: 1) They have a website, which actually has some pretty lust-worthy stuff on it. 2) With their new collections, such as hot tropics, they are starting their sizing at a size 12, so they are targeting normal real women, not just plus sized ones. 3) Simply Be and Simply Yours (of super-bras fame) are sister companies. When you look at the names though, I could've worked that one out for myself!!

I opted for the butterfly tunic and a jungle maxi dress, as well as a more versitile boyfriend blazer with studded lapels. Here's how they look:

I'm in love with every single piece. The clothes are cut for curves, so there's lots of room for my boobs and each piece clings in all the right places. The floaty maxi dress is my favourite of the three, and is going to be perfect for hot summer nights out, and the butterfly dress teamed with sandals will take me for a day on the beach. The blazer will come into its own in Autumn, where I can team it with dresses and boots or use it to jazz up jeans.

I can heartily recommend checking out Simply Be if you're looking for clothes to flatter curves, regardless of whether your plus sized or not. I hadn't ever considered the brand before, but now i'll definitely be checking out what they get in stock!

Love, Tor xx