Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

Plus Size Jumpsuits for Spring

This is a collaborative post.

All this snow is absolutely making me think of warmer weather. Browsing through some of the gorgeous plus size jumpsuits online have made me long for lighter clothing, warmer weather and of course got me in full holiday planning mode. Being plus size usually means I struggle to find outfits for myself in a variety of patterns and colours but it’s nice to see there are some gorgeous items around! I do usually opt for a dress and leggings but sometimes it’s nice to mix things up a bit and jumpsuits provide a really lovely alternative to my usual fashion choices.

Firstly I love this pack of two summer inspired jumpsuit pack. The floral print absolutely makes me think of lazy beach days whilst the bold blue can be paired with some lovely accessories for a light lunch. I like the shorts rather than a full leg too although I do think we hardly see weather warm enough here in the UK, so this would be a perfect choice for a beach getaway abroad.

This gorgeous, wide legged black and white jumpsuit would make the perfect day to night outfit choice. Smartened up with a nice jacket and a pair of black flats for the office and then switching to some heels and a bold lip for the evening would make this piece a necessity for a spring wardrobe. This would be a lovely item to wear on date night too! I love pieces that have multi uses.

Another lovely choice is this petite layered jumpsuit with a gorgeous floral print. Another perfect jumpsuit for wondering around on holiday, browsing the shops or a fun family day out. All these lovely warm florals really do make me think of warmer weather which is exactly what I want to see after what feels like a very long winter. Floral prints are perfect for spring bringing us a sense of the warmer weather to come and many of which can be stylish all through the summer.

When it comes to finding the perfect jumpsuit it’s worth heading out and trying some on to see what you like best. I personally prefer ones with a more jersey or soft feel material as I find they’re usually much more flattering for my shape. The good thing with jumpsuits though is that they’re easy to match with accessories and dress up or dress down.

I love to wear red, it’s such a warm colour and one I usually opt for especially when my hair is darker and my skin is tanned making this lovely red wrap, culotte style jumpsuit perfect for a long summer holiday. If only we were still off to Greece in September, this would be a must have for my luggage! I love the wrap look and the culotte style cut in the leg would keep it a little cooler. I particularly like the longer sleeves on this one too making this another great choice for a summer evening.

Lastly, a perfect alternative to evening wear, again great for a date night or evening out with friends is this black chiffon jumpsuit with a red rose print. The legs have that lovely flow that chiffon brings and the top is conservative enough for most places. I love a cruise and feel this would be perfect for a meal and a show in the evening with a decent pair of flat shoes and a light blazer style jacket.

Are you a fan of jumpsuits? Do you have any spring wardrobe must haves?

March 6, 2018
Family Holidays to St Barts

St Barts is a gorgeous Island in the Caribbean which just seems like a completely different world to me. It’s a place I am so keen to visit and explore all the beautiful landscapes, wildlife, beaches and that sea with crystal clear waters I could spend hours in. As a family we always look for holiday destinations that give us a real chance to explore, experience some luxury and give us the opportunity to relax in the sun. Visiting St Barts in the winter months really appeals to me, especially around Christmas time although it is known that accommodation tends to get really expensive this time of year thanks to the consistent temperature.

I think for our family a villa in St Barts would be ideal as it would give us lots of space and the freedom to get out and about whenever we wanted to. I do prefer it when we are free to make our own plans and timetable which is hard to do when in a resort. St Barts is a volcanic island with lots of beautiful reefs and a terrific landscape to match giving families lots of things to see and explore. It is one of the smaller islands in the West Indes and has French roots in it’s language, cuisine and culture. Getting to St Barts would require a little planning as flying direct is not possible. Instead, flights can be arranged to the neighbouring St Martens and then alternative transport such as chartered speedboat or ferry are available to connect. I imagine the travel with children might be a little offputting but seeing more of the beautiful Caribbean is very appealing and it’s a great chance to visit more than one island.

I can imagine a typical day for us as a family would start bright and early with a big breakfast around the table in our villa followed by a stroll to the nearby shops, perhaps in search of a local market to try some local cuisine. Lunch would be small and simple, before heading back to the villa to escape the sun before heading out to the beach to play and join in on some of the fun things that St Barts has to offer. You can read more about family villa holidays with My Gorgeous Boys.

Things to do in St Barts

There are plenty of beautiful, golden sandy beaches to visit giving you the chance to build sandcastles galore, relax and sunbathe. Perfect after all that travelling and I don’t think any family could visit the island without having a few days at the beach. A big blanket, beach snacks, sun cream and a bucket and spade will see you through. The beaches just look so beautiful and tranquil. What’s more, there are 14 beaches across St Barts to choose from so you’ve got plenty of opportunities to find your absolute favourite. Lorient Beach is a favourite with local families and a place to surf too, catering to all ages. Petit Cul de Sac is another lovely choice with relatively calm turquoise waters.

For those that want to see a little more underwater action then there are plenty of bays and reefs to snorkel in. It’s something I would absolutely love to do with my family in St Barts. Scuba Diving is also widely offered with plenty of diving schools throughout the island. I can just imagine capturing all those beautiful fish swimming around the waters and getting to see just a bit more. It’s a dream of mine to Scuba Dive in the Caribbean. Leading on from diving there are a few submarine trips available which would be a truly incredible experience and something I think many members of the family could enjoy without getting wet. St Barts is also a popular location for sailing and watersports such as Jet Skies.

St Barts is a quiet island and the nightlife is small which resonates with me so much more as a mother. I’m a fan of decent food and an early night now I’ve got children and I’m not really getting younger. A big nightlife scene is something I want to avoid and whilst St Barts does have some bars available, it isn’t known for its wild parties.

Food and Drink in St Barts

Food can absolutely make or break a holiday for us and knowing that St Barts is full of delicious options and variety is really appealing to us as a family. The island is incredible for those that are a fan of amazing restaurants and with plenty to choose from it’s doubtful, you would be disappointed. There are plenty of places to eat and drink along the seafront reminding you of the beautiful scenery and would make for some truly spectacular family photos. Restaurants will have plenty of wines and champagnes for you to try which will compliment your meal perfectly. French wine is my absolute favourite and it’s great to know that you can enjoy a delicious drink whilst sampling the food.

Much of the cuisine is traditional French with tender cuts of beef imported to the hotels and restaurants around the island. Ideal for families that are budgeting their spend when eating out, plenty of places offer a fixed price menu giving you a chance to sample a fair few dishes without a super steep price. Alongside this are plenty of fresh fish dishes and so much is served with freshly baked bread too. I know that rum is a popular drink across the Caribbean and it’s my favourite choice of spirit so trying a few of the local drinks.

St Barts really does look and seem like the ideal place for a relaxing, food filled family holiday and it’s a place I’m convinced I need to add to my bucket list.

Packing for a Family Holiday to St Barts

The best time to visit St Barts is between December and April. This avoids the tropical storm and hurricane season between August and October. The sea is warm all year around meaning there is always time to swim. I can’t help thinking that St Barts would be a lovely place to go to spend February half term or the Easter holidays. The temperature is warm with an average low of 23 degrees and an average high of 29 degrees Celsius. This seems like the ideal climate for a family holiday and with an average of eight to nine hours of sunshine there would be plenty of opportunity to do all the things St Barts has to offer.

With weather like this I think layers would be the best option. Light, comfortable clothing, plenty of swimwear and something a little warmer for the evening like a light jacket. For young children a mix of light clothing that they can too dress in layers.

Other essentials would of course include suncream, medications, snorkel equipment, comfortable walking shoes and hats. I would also pack a few items of entertainment for children such as a magazine, colouring, crayons and a tablet and charger.

This is a collaborative post.

March 2, 2018
Ear Piercing: Is There A Right Age?

On Friday I took my seven-year-old daughter to get her ears pierced. I honestly never thought she would have them done because she has shown absolutely no interest in having piercings before even though I have had many in my face in the past. For Christmas this year my mum bought me three sets of silver earrings in a beautiful little box. Whilst I’ve worn earrings in the past I can never really afford the good quality ones and have always opted for sterling silver or plated versions. I’m not allergic but these do get a bit uncomfortable from time to time so I don’t wear them. The new proper silver ones which are really beautiful have been in my ears now since Christmas and haven’t given me any discomfort at all. I hardly even feel them or remember they are there.

I think this and the fact that some of Evie’s friends in her class have earrings in has helped her to decide that she wants them herself. I was going to wait until the summer holidays to get them done so they had plenty of time to heal without the worry of school but we just thought why wait? I took Evie into Claires Accessories and spoke to the very nice lady there who gave me all the information and let Evie take a look at her choices for her first pair of earrings. She happily chose 9ct gold earrings which were going to set me back £54 with the three week hypoallergenic, paediatrician approved cleaning solution. We talked about what it would feel like and how it would be done and it didn’t deter her decision in the slightest. They should be fine to change within six weeks of having them pierced and then she needs to keep something in her ears for the next six months to prevent them closing up. Hopefully, she will keep them in, will look after them properly and will be relatively pain and infection free. We’ve talked about the importance of keeping hands clean before touching them too.

I think this is why I’m glad I waited until this age because she understands much more than she would have done if she had been younger. I was eight when I had my own ears pierced and I’ve never really had a problem. I was also old enough to understand how to clean them and change them properly when I needed to. I don’t remember getting any infections with them either. It makes me think about if there’s a right age to get children’s ears pierced and I think we are absolutely at the right age.

I think one of the main reasons I never took her to get them done before is because she had never given her consen

t. I really oppose the decision to pierce a babies ears and it’s never something I would ever do. I don’t believe in any form of body modification on a minor unless there is a serious medical reason or they are old enough to give their consent. Whilst it’s not something I would ever call someone out on, piercings are never a choice I would ever make on my child’s behalf. I really don’t think it matters if the baby doesn’t look like a girl or that the parents think pierced baby ears look nice. You are still changing a part of their bodies without them asking for it. I think giving consent is really important because children should be aware of bodily consent. How can you teach that when you’ve already crossed the line and pierced their ears? I know it isn’t exactly a serious issue compared to some which require consent but you’re still deciding something should happen to someone else’s body without them asking or even wanting it. I take Evie’s consent seriously enough that I always ask her for permission before I share photos of her on my blog and on social media. Most of the time she is really happy to share her photo but sometimes she says no and I respect that.

I think it’s important to note here too that I wanted my nose and lip pierced before I was sixteen and my mum always said no. Partly because she doesn’t like piercings but also partly because I think she wanted me to wait until I was out of school and it was completely my choice. My parents also waited until I was old enough to ask for my own ears to be pierced and I’m glad I’ve also given my daughter that choice. Since then I’ve had a lot of body piercings, most of which have been over the age of eighteen. Some I have had repierced and still have today, some have been removed but all of them were completely my decision.

So yes, I do think there is a right age for a child to have their ears pierced and that age is the age they ask for it to be done. The age where they are giving consent to have a piercing and that they understand what it will mean. I’m really glad I waited until Evie actively showed an interest in having her ears pierced and then ones she has chosen are very pretty. However, if she decides later on that actually, she doesn’t want her ears pierced, at least it was her choice in the first place.

February 25, 2018
Cozy Cats Fuzzikins Crafts Review

It’s half term and Evie has returned from her dads which means the job of keeping her entertained during this cold half term is now down to me. We experienced a lovely holiday to Disneyland a couple of years ago during the February break but since then we’ve made the most of time together at home. I was so pleased when I was offered the chance to review the Cozy Cats set from Fuzzikins Crafts as I just new it would be something Evie would love doing. She absolutely loves cats and pairing it with making something and colouring is a genius idea. I think February half term can usually be quite hit and miss so having some fun and easy to do crafts and activities is ideal.

The Cozy Cats set comes with a small family of three cats, which Evie has decided is a mum, dad and a baby. The set also includes three bedding sets which you can make up so you can put the cute cats to bed. The bedding is made of felt and requires no sewing to make the little beds up ready to get them tucked in. There are also some little fish and heart stickers and each cat comes with perfectly sized eye masks to cover the cute little kitty’s as they sleep. We also had three pens, a grey, orange and pink pen, to colour in the cats and give them a little detail.

At first the cats are plain white with a fuzzy feeling material over their bodies which helps make it easy to colour them in. The heads move around and each cat can sit up on their own making them great little play toys to add to your child’s other characters. The little felt beds are quick and easy to put together, requiring no sewing, no scissors and no mess. For each bed you simply push the tabs through the ready made holes to make a pillow and pouch that each cat can fit in. Evie has chosen to decorate her eye masks and beds with the fish and heart stickers. She even let me colour one in which was a nice surprise.

Altogether we had about an hour of colouring and creating the Cozy Cats which was a lot of fun for Evie. She was so excited to open up the box and start using it straight away. She has now coloured them all in completely pink which is very fitting – Evie does love pink! She has decided that the small family of Cozy Cats is our family and throughout the day has trusted Adam and I to take care of them – so far, I think we’ve done okay!

I really liked doing this Fuzzikins Craft set with Evie because the Cozy Cats are really cute and it was really simple. I am not very good when it comes to creating things and prefer to follow a guide or instructions which makes this sort of set ideal. I particularly love that it is mess free creative play and something that Evie can continue playing with amongst her other toys unlike some craft kits that seem to be sort of finished with when you’ve made them. I would highly recommend the Fuzzikins Cozy Cats set for any cat and craft lovers this half term!

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The set is for children aged 4 years +. Other sets by Interplay also include Dozy Dogs and Cottontail Cottage with Rabbits. It’s available from John Lewis and Amazon with an RRP of £9.99.

Disclaimer: We received the box of Cozy Cats in exchange for this feature and review. All opinions remain my own.

February 15, 2018
#SmearForSmear – The Truth About Cervical Screenings
This week is Cervical Cancer Awareness Week so I wanted to share some helpful stories from other women to get the conversation going about cervical screenings, or, commonly known as Smear tests. Throughout 22nd – 28th January you might see a lot of lipstick smeared selfies across social media and this is to encourage people to talk about smears and most importantly go and have their cervical screening. I’ve had two since turning 25, I’m no expert but I know what to expect. The years before I turned 25, despite having a baby at 21, was full of anxiety about my first cervical screening but when I got the letter through inviting me to make an appointment I did.

I remember getting that first letter and leaflet and thought how strange it was that I was being invited to a cervical screening. It’s not really the kind of party you want to attend but it’s the kind of invitation you should always, always RSVP with a big fat YES! Get it done, get yourself checked out, have the screening and be on your merry way. At least then, whatever the results, you didn’t just leave it. It shocks me to learn that women just aren’t going to their screenings when it’s the biggest cancer killer for women under 35. 2 women die every day from Cervical Cancer and that just breaks my heart – but it makes me glad that each time I’ve got that letter, I’ve made the appointment, dropped my knickers and chatted to the nurse about how many she’s done (I think I was number 960 – she seems pretty qualified!)

Here in the England women are invited to their first cervical screening around the time they turn 25. There are plenty of campaigns to have this age restriction lowered as it is in other parts of the UK. A cervical screening or smear test is taking my swabbing some of the cells from your cervix. It can’t tell you if you have cancer, but what it can do is check to see if you’re cervix is healthy, has any abnormal cells such as HPV which can sometimes lead to cervical cancer. It’s important to note that there are 100’s of different types of HPV which is why it’s so important to get that smear test done as soon as you can. It takes a while for the cells to change which is why you go back every three years. These cells are sent off to check for abnormalities and over the years as you have more they are checking for changes and abnormalities. They’re quick, uncomfortable but not necessarily painful, and usually take place at your GP’s surgery by the nurse.

The appointment in my area lasts for around 40 minutes and the majority of that chat is talking about general health. We spoke a lot about my weight and BMI, general concerns and a quick look over my medical history – despite being fat I’m relatively healthy and don’t really go to the doctors for anything. I was then given the privacy to undress – I always opt for a cotton or jersey style dress, leggings and big ass comfy cotton knickers. It takes just a few minutes of lying back with a big bright light at your lady bits, some discomfort, a swab and your done. A few minutes of your time that can safe your life. I said above I’ve been lucky enough to have regular results but some of my blogger friends have experienced a bit more. I wanted to share more stories with you to help you see just why Smear tests are so important and why, if you’re due one, you should book in right now!

Twinderelmo talks about abnormal results and the fascination of watching a colposcopy.

Evan Angels Fall shares why she welcomes smear tests and encourages you to do the same.

Whinge Whinge Wine shares her story about abnormal results and what to expect if you have to get checked again.

Through Ami’s Eyes talks all about her nerves for her first smear test and how her nurse made her feel relaxed and reassured.

Mimi Rose and Me gets open about Smear Fear

Emma Reed has got together with a group of ladies to share more Smear for Smear selfies and about how we have to get our lady bits looked after!

Pass the Processco talks openly about her Cervical screenings including having one post-partum and dealing with PCOS.

And lastly, The Incidental Parent and Me, Annie Bee both encourage you to just go and get that smear done!

I hope the stories above help to show you that a cervical screening is just a way of looking after your body and having a health check. It’s important to get it done, it might be a bit embarrassing but ultimately, it’s five minutes of your life. Five minutes that could tell you if you’re at risk of developing cervical cancer.

How to get involved – Check Out Jos Trust for more information

When you share your #SmearForSmear make sure you tell people why you’re doing it. Here are some example posts you can use to let people know what the campaign is about, remember to tag us!
1. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35, yet one in three young women don’t attend their smear test. I’m supporting @JoTrust (Twitter) / @joscervicalcancertrust (Instagram) and sharing my #SmearForSmear because every woman should know that smear tests save lives. Attend your smear test, #ReduceYourRisk
2. The number of women attending smear tests is falling. I’m supporting @JoTrust (Twitter) / @joscervicalcancertrust (Instagram) and sharing my #SmearForSmear because I want every woman to know that smear tests save lives
3. Attend your smear test; reduce your risk of cervical cancer. Here’s my #SmearForSmear for @JoTrust (Twitter) / @joscervicalcancertrust (Instagram) to encourage more women to go to their smear test
4. I’m supporting @JoTrust (twitter) / @joscervicalcancertrust (Instagram) with a #SmearForSmear selfie because 1 in 4 women do not attend their smear test. Attend your smear test to #ReduceYourRisk of cervical cancer.
January 23, 2018