Greece World Cup Players To Be Admired

I read this article this morning in The Metro about the Greek players at the World Cup.

Metro Newspaper - Greece Players Ask for World Cup Bonuses To Be Used To Build a Training Centre

The Greek players at the World Cup have said that PLAYING for Greece and representing their country is all the bonus that they need, they play for Greece and their people and do not need bonuses to make it worthwhile, they have requested that their bonuses be used to build a new training centre, something that will benefit their sport for years to come.

HOW ADMIRABLE IS THAT?

I am completely full of respect for the Greek team and all that they stand for. For these guys, it ISN'T about the money, but the honour of representing their country.

THAT is sportsmanship, THIS is sport, THIS is how teams should be.

This is what the England team should be doing,  instead of cashing in on a SHAMBOLIC World Cup by appearing in dandruff ads and adverts for Subway.

I don't know about you but I want my children to be looking at Greece for their footballing heroes, for their inspirations on the pitch AND off it.


Greece team, I admire you for what you have done and you should hold your head up high, also bear in mind that Greece are STILL in the World Cup, not out on the first plane like another team I can mention.


*Edit*

Apparently Greece are now out. This makes me sad, but congratulations to them. In my eyes, true sporting winners*

What are your thoughts on this?

Are you full of admiration for the Greek team? Do you think England should have done something similar considering they are already extremely well paid?


Let me know.


Big Fashionista x x x

Shutterday

Big Fashionista x x x

Nom or Vom

A couple of months ago I introduced some of you to the pictures of Ricky Hall as Nom or Vom. 

He went down better than I expected. (insert your own rude joke here)

So while I was researching hot bearded men this week, I came across this fella, (again, rude joke goes here) and I didn't know who he was until the lovely Leah found out he was a bearded male model that goes by the name of Josh Mario John, 

So let's see what you think. 

All pictures are sourced from Josh Mario Johns Facebook page

So this is Josh Mario John, 

I ask you this.........

Ladies and gentleman,

Nom or Vom??!!! 

Big Fashionista x x x

Suarez, Has He Bitten Off More Than He Can Chew?

I know, I know, some of you guys are not huge football fans but stick with me, let me see if I can keep you interested.

Luis Suarez, the Uraguay player with a history of biting people than Edward Cullen, has done it again.

Last night it looks as though he fancied Italian for a change and chowed down on Giorgio Chiellini as a snack.

It is not the first time he has been caught chewing either. in fact, third time seems to be a charm for Mr Suarez and now Fifa are looking into punishing him.

(May I suggest a muzzle?) 

This time, he may have bitten off more than he can chew. The World Cup stage is no place to bear your teeth in anger and Fifa will have to come down hard to show that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.

(Maybe they should let Chiellini bite him back?) 

(Or smack him over the nose with a rolled up newspaper) 

The possibilities are endless here.

But it is plain to see that Suarez can not control his temper, as the old saying goes (Sort of)

Bite me once, shame on you
Bite me twice, shame on me.
Bite me three times and you are probably going to get a huge fine and banned for a considerable amount of time.

(Catchy, huh?) 

But what do you think should happen to Suarez? You can make it as imaginative as you wish, I know that some of you guys have been immensely imaginative on social media over Suarez so I would love your thoughts.


Let me know


Big Fashionista x x x

Visit Philippa Gregory Country With Style

If you're a fan of the Philippa Gregory novels, or the adaptation of some of her books in the recent hit tv series The White Queen, why not take a tour of some of the UK's historical sites mentioned within the books and tv show? Perhaps even make a holiday out of it as you stop off around the country, staying in different B&B's nearby. It would be the perfect opportunity to indulge your inner lady! So which historic properties should you visit? Take a look below for details of some of the most well known historic sites and properties from the books – and don’t forget to pack for the occasion, with ladylike skirts and blouses and regal colours being the order of this mini-break!

Warwick Castle

This magnificent stronghold has over a thousand years worth of history contained within its walls. It was home to the mighty Kingmaker, Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick and, later, his daughter Anne Neville and her husband Richard, Duke of Gloucester, before he became King in 1483. You'll be able to experience what life was like here while Neville was in residence in 1471, raising an army for battle at Tewkesbury, thanks to an excellent exhibit that transports you back in time with its sights, sounds and smells.

Grafton

Although the manor house, once home to Lady Elizabeth Woodville and her parents before her marriage to King Edward, is no longer here, the village of Grafton Regis, (known as Grafton Woodville back in the time the Woodvilles lived there) remains to tell the tale. There's so much history here that it's certainly worth a visit if you're interested in this period of history. The Church of St Mary the Virgin has remained in the village for around a thousand years and the remains of the hermitage where it's thought Elizabeth married the King are located nearby. 

Tewkesbury Abbey

Tewkesbury is mentioned a lot in the books and the tv series and is where George, Duke of Clarence is buried alongside his son and wife Isabel of Warwick. It's also where in 1471 Edward VI broke sanctuary after the Battle of Tewkesbury to drag the defeated Lancastrians out of the abbey and to their death. The son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou is also buried here, following the Battle of Tewkesbury, and you can see the brass plate on the floor of the sanctuary where he was buried at just seventeen years old, after fighting to return a Lancaster heir, his father, to the throne.

Other great sites of historical interest to visit that will allow you to follow in the footsteps of King Edward, Queen Elizabeth and their court are the Tower of London, where you'll see the spot their sons, the infamous Princes in the Tower, are said to have been buried under the stairs. It's also where Edward's brother George was drowned in malmsey wine at his execution. You can also visit the site of the Battle of Bosworth field, where Richard III was killed and his crown taken by Henry VII, marking an end to the notorious cousins wars and commencing the reign of The Tudors.

It’s nice to have some new clothes to pack for any trip, especially one as decadent as this - but entry fees to places of historical interest all add up. If your budget is definitely shy of a King’s ransom you can stock up on all the holiday and day trip essentials you'll need for your visit including pretty but practical skirts, ladylike blouses and comfortable shoes at George, so you can enjoy your trip in true high-born style.

Big Fashionista x x x


*advertorial content

Blogging Problems, Recycling Old Posts

So I have come across an unusual problem, (No, not the third nipple, hey if it's good enough for Harry Styles, it's good enough for me) well, I say unusual, but I'm sure some of you are in the same boat. (If you are, it's your turn to paddle, lazy git) 

For the last FOUR YEARS, I have blogged pretty much each day during the week and once on Saturday, (Shutterday, you should look at it, no other bugger seems to) and I don't actually schedule posts, I blog on a daily basis, or whenever the mood takes me. (Except for yesterday, when the mood drove me into a carb coma and I frankly, couldn't be arsed) but what I have found lately is I have a GREAT idea for a post, I begin to write it, and suddenly I start to think..... 

Haven't I written about this before?

Grrrrrr, and it is happening more and more lately. 

Dead animals at the side of the road? Wrote about it. 

Wagabees? 

Wrote about them. 

Ryan Giggs bonking his brothers wife?

Wrote it.

And the list goes on, and on and on. 

It's like I've used ALLLLL THE WORDS,

and written ALL the blog posts and now, a bit like our dear beloved Kate, I want to recycle them and use them again! (Except I won't have The Daily Mail praising me-Oh dear God, what a thought) 

Am I alone in this? 

If you blog, do you find yourself starting posts that you've written before? Without realising it? 

If you don't blog and you are reading this thinking, "Shut up and just write, you whinging cow" I can only apologise and will promise to do better tomorrow. (I have a great idea about male celebs called, Nom or Vom.... Oh) 

What do you think, can you get to a point in blogging where you have said ALL the things? 

Let me know. 

Big Fashionista x x x 

Shutterday

Big Fashionista x x

Nom or Vom

Nom Or Vom is probably my most popular post of the week and this week when I asked people who they wanted to see as Nom or Vom the same name kept popping up A LOT. 

A new addition to Nom or Vom is the black screen so you can't see in the previews who Nom or Vom is. Am I sneaky or WHAT? 

This gentleman has seen a huge resurgence in his popularity lately due to being a commentator at the World Cup, not only does he come across as a handsome chap, he has THE accent, you know? THE accent. 

Swoon. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you the finest man at the World Cup......

Thierry Henry 

So what do we think? 

Have you been playing close attention to this mans punditry at the World Cup? 

Would you like to play with his balls? 

Let me know.

Big Fashionista x x x 

I Should Be So Lucky

There is one sentence that I sometimes hear in the context of blogging that is guaranteed to send me spinning into a white-hot vortex of anger.

"Oh you are SO lucky"

Lucky?

Lucky?

Lucky?
(Is there an echo in here?) 

I've been writing this blog for over four years. I work hard, very hard, at trying to turn peoples frowns upside down, to inspire people, move people or just amuse people. In the last four years I've been through a relationship breakdown, court cases, I've moved halfway across the country and am now hand-rearing three children of various ages that all think they know more than me and know it better than me, and I have done all of that while writing this blog, contributing to other sites and being involved with running some social media whilst being altogether quite fabulous.

That is NOT luck.

That is sheer hard work, determination and downright stubbornness.

Anyone who uses the term "luck" in these circumstances, just doesn't get it.

If someone is reaping the reward of their hard work, they should get a hearty well done, a pat on the back, hell, send flowers if you wish, but saying "You are so lucky" just makes it seem like an accident and is downright insulting.


The definition of luck.

"Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions"

Oh hell no!!!!

Nothing any blogger receives, be it a product, an invitation, an award, accolades or even becoming a brand ambassador is down to luck. Hard work, writing when there are a million other things you would rather be doing, taking pictures in that two minutes of sunshine in any given day, writing five scheduled posts in an hour at midnight because it is the only time you have to yourself. THESE are the actions that bring rewards.

In the words of Kylie, I should be so lucky. 


But I would much rather use this other great quote.


"The harder I work, the luckier I get"


How about you?


How do you feel about being told you are lucky when you've worked your arse off?

Let me know


Big Fashionista x x x

Jumpsuit by George at Asda

In the past I have steered clear of jumpsuits for a few reasons. Firstly, I'm curvy. I have always imagined that in a jumpsuit I would look like the deranged teletubby that the BBC secretly had put down. Secondly, because I have a bladder the size of a peanut, when I gotta go, I gotta go and I don't like to strip naked to use the bathroom. 

But with my new found confidence and you know, life is TOO short not to try new things, I thought I needed to at least try on a jumpsuit before deciding whether I hated them, or just hated the idea of them. 

As always, George at Asda had just what I wanted. 

Smart casual, soft flowing trousers which are very light and a lovely pattern to the chiffon overshirt. This goes up to a size 20 and is just £18,00.

I was actually wearing this with a bolero over it because, you know? I live in THE NORTH. 

Sans bolero.

The jumpsuit is available in store at George and also online here ---> George at Asda Jumpsuit

What do you think about jumpsuits? Are you a fan?
Do you wear them or would you rather walk around in a rabbit onesie?

Let me know

Big Fashionista x x 

Disclaimer, this was purchased with my own money and is not a sponsored post or a gifted product. 

Follow Me

It is Sunday evening, I may POSSIBLY have just eaten a big bag of Reeses white peanut butter cups, I MAY be watching France V Honduras (side note, if this was on at any other time of year, I would switch it off, but because it's the World Cup, I'm all. Oh WOW, France V Honduras? A must watch. WTF is with that?) and I may have spent all day at Bolton Abbey with my beloved family.

Now because of this, I have opened my laptop and my brain is shouting,

NO THIIINKKKKKIIINNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

(I'll be honest, it says that quite regularly but this time it is hopped out of its head on chocolate)  

So instead,

I'm going to be excruciatingly naughty and just link to all the places that you can follow me if you wish.

You can find me on Facebook ---> Big Fashionista Book of Face

You can find me on Instagram ---> instagram.com/bigfashionista

You can find me on Google+   ---> (Actually, I can't find me on Google+ but I'm there, honest) 

You can find me on Bloglovin  ---> http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3912518

and you could even give me a little follow on GFC over there --->

So why not give me a follow so that when I am less lazy and I write something worth reading, you can catch it first.



Big Fashionista x x x

Unhappy Meals, Why I'm NOT Loving McDonalds Gender Stereotypes

Occasionally, I take my children to McDonalds, they see it as a treat, not as part of a balanced diet, I see it as an excuse not to cook, (So sue me) so every couple of weeks we grab a Happy Meal and I'm not even sorry.

Today we went to McDonalds, I took two of my children (If you read this G, I apologise but you were out) One girl and one boy. It had already been decided by my son that at 12 he has no use for a you that comes with the meal so was happy to ask for a Hello Kitty for his little sister. 

I order, 

"Would you like the girls toy or a boys toy?"

I was asked 

SORRY?

"A girls toy or a boy toy, you get a choice"

Now I've already put my foot through the TV twice after seeing the McDonalds advert, what I really didn't expect was McDonalds servers to reinforce the gender stereotype of cars for boys and Hello Kitty for girls, and yet they did.

I asked for two Hello Kitty toys and asked the server why she couldn't just ask if we wanted Hot Wheels or Hello Kitty but she refused to answer. 

McDonalds, I'm really disappointed in your gender stereotypes. Why can't you just let toys be played with by children? Do not put YOUR ideas of what toy a child should play with into the heads of children,

I'm NOT loving that.

How about you? Have you experienced this in a McDonalds? Let me know 

Big Fashionista x x  

Shutterday

It's been a while, but I wanted to bring Shutterday back. If you've not seen it before, Shutterday is just some of the pictures I've taken on my iPhone during the week.

Would love your thoughts and opinions on the pictures. 

Big Fashionista x x x 

Nom Or Vom

Now this one is simple, it's the beginning of the World Cup and this week I sat and watched the documentary Into The Unknown.

Is it just me or is David Beckham getting hotter the older he gets?

(It's not just me)

So let us feast our eyes on this weeks Nom or Vom.

Mr David Beckham

So ladies and gents, what do we think? 

David Beckham?

Nom or Vom?

Big Fashionista x x