I'm getting my groove back.New post..............


http://msfrangipanipresents.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/new-years-revolutions.html

Aloha petals,

New post over at

http://msfrangipanipresents.blogspot.com.au/

xox

New update over at the new blog..................

http://msfrangipanipresents.blogspot.com.au/

xox

New blog for a new life............

Hello petals,

Well,after much deliberation,I've decided that I need a new home in cyberspace.

So I present to you a shiny new blog...............

Ms Frangipani Presents

Hope to see you over there.....

xox

Coming a full 360...........

Hello Gorgeous Ones,

I miss you all!!!!!!!!!!! I miss blogging! I'm snatching some time at my parents being totally anti-social to bring you a loong overdue blog post.

My life at the mo is divided into two halves - pre wedding and post wedding.

Pre wedding is stress,nerves,being scared in a totally good way,budgeting,money,money,money! etc.

Post wedding is finally getting Internet sorted and an Ipad - I've been converted and settling into married life! EEK!

I never ever thought of myself as the marrying type,I'm still a little unsure about the whole white dress and fancy schmancy do,but it's all done and booked now.And besides,Mama Frangipani would never speak to me again if I did things totally MY way.

However,it's still going to be a very Scottish,very me......uh,I mean US ceremony.Very chaotic,DIY,kitsch and mismatched.That's all I'll say for the moment as I promise I will spam you with pics :D

As for this blog......well wow,it has totally come full circle.I am finally at the point where I am comfortable in my own skin and totally rocking it with fashion.

I mean,I've never been your typical fat chick hiding in black clothes,but now I am wearing things I would have shied away from as a fat chick.And it feels fucking good to not hate my body anymore!!!!!!

I don't know if it's moving back to Australia,being in my 30's,getting married,staying away from fashion magazines,finally  having a job I actually really enjoy or what,but I have never felt happier with myself and mentally healthier.

I am sticking 2 fingers up to society and wearing purple skinny jeans with leopard print jumpers.Gorgeously kitschy,tropical and bright 50's dresses.Snakeskin print leggings channelling my inner 80's cock rocker.Haha! I've gone back to red hair and red lips.

Don't get me wrong,I know I have to lose some weight for my health,but I am LOVING my body at every stage.I am walking at 5am because I enjoy it and it makes me feel pumped for the day,not because I ate 3 Tim Tams the night before.I am doing Zumba twice a week because I have so much damn fun,not because it will burn X amount of calories.I go by myself because I no longer feel self conscious as the token fat chick at an exercise class.I now dress for my body NOW as opposed to buying stuff  5 sizes too small for when I eventually will fit into it

I am balancing food portions and the right types of things to eat,but I am also having cake and carbs and chocolate when I want - just not the whole block!

I am focusing more on being healthy and not on the scale and what society deems acceptable for me.

I am comfortable with the word FAT.No more curvy,voluptuous,buxom etc. etc. I am FAT and fucking fabulous!!!!! My fatness does not impede on my worth as a human being or my attractiveness.I am just as beautiful as anyone out there,and if and when I do lose weight I will still be beautiful.

Being unapologetically fab ;P

Leopard print pants!!!

You make think I'm deluded,you may think I'm an ugly fattie,but do you know what? I don't care what people think anymore.I feel sooooooo much better within myself now that my life isn't ruled by weight loss,a roller coastering self esteem and being too shy to get up and dance in case people laugh at the fat girl.

I do hope all of you will stick with this blog as it will progress more to fashion,OOTD,Make up etc. as well as more recipes - healthy and decadent, and general life in Australia.

But there will still be the health and weight loss updates,it's just that this blog is not going to be ruled by it anymore :D xoxoxox

Hey guys,


I know,I know.I've been a totally shite blogger but there's just soooooo much happening and we have no internet yet.I'm working 6 days a week as the Scotsman's quest for work has been a little slow.


Things are falling into place or us,albeit a lot slower than we thought.But the main thing is we are in Sydney,we have each other,our own little place and we are getting married in 10 weeks! EEK!

I seriously miss blogging and venting to all of you and to hear how you are all doing.


Oh,and I've been walking at 5am,5 days a week and doing Zumba without gving anyone an accidental black eye! haha! There is even a girl far more un-coordinated than ME!


Anyways,I am still around and itching to blog,but alas it will have to wait.I'm on twitter @msfrangipani if anyone wants to keep up with my incessant rambles.


Miss you all.xoxoxox

This will blow your mind......or maybe just mine....and Timmo Young's.

Those of you not acquainted with the Aussie delight that is the Tim Tam, let me enlighten you and blow your freaking mind!

Those in the UK,during my near 7.5 years in the UK,I was told that the 'Penguin' was a very close substitute.It is not.It is like drinking Passion Pop after being introduced to the delights of Champagne.Having stewing steak after trying Wagyu beef......I've actually never tried Wagyu beef yet,but I'm told it's a comparison.

The Tim Tam has cult status in Australia.It may sound simple.2 choc biccies,think like a bourbon cream cookie component.BTW why are they called Bourbon creams? I sense no alcomohol? Anyways,2 of those cookies sandwiched with a chocolate cream and then dipped in chocolate.

Simple yeah? Au contraire.These little delights are simply O-gasmic.Even better when you do a TIm Tam slam,where the opposing corners are bitten off and coffee or hot chocolate are sucked through leaving a gooey,chocolatey,heavenly mess.

When I left Sydney we were getting our minds around the DOUBLE COATED TIM TAM.It came out apparently,due to consumers requests for thicker chocolate for a Tim Tam slam.

Then,I went to the supermarket for some a bits and bobs and what I saw blew.my.freaking.mind!!!!!

A WALL OF TIM TAMS!!!!!!!!!

Excuse the poor picture quality.Felt deranged enough taking photos on my phone,let alone a proper camera.

We have normal,double coated,double coated chewy caramel,normal chewy caramel,dark choc,dark choc mint,black forest,honeycomb and I saw creme brulee somewhere.

Sadly,it's been too bloody warm for a Tim Tam slam.

Sydney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello sweethearts!

I am now (FINALLY) writing this from Sunny SYDNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SQUEEEEEEE!!!! Those of you following me on twitter @msfrangipani will know all the ins and outs of the last few months,those of you that don't do twitter,well sheesh,where do I start?

Firstly I must apologise to my twitter followers.It's been a total roller coaster thanks to the in laws.I thought I was really lucky and blessed to have great in-laws.Turns out I was soooooooo wrong.Now,if someone hurts me I become a fierce beeatch (not the glamorous fierce,the vicious kind) but if someone hurts my loved ones,especially my Scotsman or my wee sister I become a fcuking vengeful FIEND!

So,sorry if my tweets have been a little bitchy.Social networks turn me into a passive-agressive beeatch,and well it's fun to taunt stoopid people,esp if they are shit stirring,mixing little beeatches who follow me on twitter.ha!

It's a long winded story,but let's just say some people have nothing better to do with their time as they are lazy a*holes who can't be bothered to get off their arse at the age of 22 and find a job,hence they feel the need to mix and stir with other people's live and emotions.And it is true,there is ALWAYS a good twin and an evil twin!

The Scotsman's family made our last 2 weeks in Scotland the worst when they should have been the happiest.We both cried veritable oceans,and it all came to a head on his VERY LAST NIGHT when his own twin sister waited till his last few hours to tell him she wasn't coming to our wedding.He begged and pleaded and still she wouldn't budge.I think there's a lot of jealousy coming from his sisters and niece,but c'mon,that's your ONLY brother and uncle?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

So we spent 48 hours (that's another story) with all this negativity and general crap going through our heads.

I'm really trying to work on just cutting them out of my life and my head but I just can't forgive the hurt they've inflicted on my Scotsman.Now I know I'm biased,but he is honestly the sweetest thing ever.He doesn't have it in him to ever hurt anyone and is too nice for his own damn good sometimes.Maybe that's why his twin is such a beeatch.MIAOW!

Right,I must stop that.Any tips on getting over angry vengeful thoughts please let me know!It's really not me and I hate that they are able to get me so angry and bitchy.

We have now been here 2 weeks and it's been absolute bliss.We've spent nearly every day at the beach.I've probably walked,swam and generally been active more in the last 2 weeks than I have the last 7 years!

We've hardly drank and are eating so uber healthy it's ridiculous.Fingers crossed it keeps up,but this hot weather certainly helps.

Anyways sweets,I just wanted to keep you all updated and let you know I haven't forgotten about this wee corner or the getting healthy issue.

I will be regularly updating this and will post up some photos soon.Till next time.

xoxoxoxox

Aloha petals!

I hope everyone hade a very merry Chrimbo and a debaucherous New Year.

To be completely honest,I'm glad all the festivities are OVAH.I love Xmas and the thought of a new year,but Dec has just been a total whirlwind,what with getting the visa,organising flights,getting the word out back home,starting to pack up the last 7 years of my life and figuring out how to ship the remnants.

Plus there's the emotional whirlwind that goes with such a big move + Christmas.

My 7 years in Glasgow have been a total rollercoaster.I've found it REALLY hard to make friends,a problem I've not had before.I like to think I'm a pretty easygoing,fun person and take pride in being a fantastic friend.The type you can call at 2 in the morning with a crisis (that's the MsFrangipani test of a good friendship).

A lot of my friends were therefore fellow transient travellers/gap yearers and I'm the last standing in Glasgow.

Glasgow itself is a very hard city to get ingratiated to.It can be a horribly racist,ignorant place full of junkies and beggars.Drab and grey,hopeless sometimes even,and when you live in a place affectionately known as 'Govanhell' well,you get the picture.

On the other hand,as much as Glasgow has it's problems,it will always be my second home and I like to think of myself as an honorary Scot or 'Ozwegian' as my in laws have christened me.(I could proudly tick that I can speak and understand Scottish on the Scotland census) I've got a lot of brilliant memories and experiences here and will certainly miss the fact that you can be sitting at a bus stop and within 5 mins get the entire life story of the stranger next to you.

And as for Scotland herself,well she's just the most stunning country I've ever had the pleasure of travelling about.

However,I of course can not wait to come home.7 yrs and 7 months is a long time.

I feel like the last 7 years have been in limbo,and now the Scotsman and I can finally get settled down and start planting roots.

So,bring on 2012.I know it's probably going to be an emotional rollercoaster but a fun,mostly happy one at that.

Best wishes for 2012.xox

FAB News!!!!!!!

I am still laptop-less,have indulged wayyyyyyyy too much over the festive season thus far,but I finally have some GOOD,albeit non weight related news to share.......

THE SCOTSMAN GOT HIS AUSTRALIAN VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After all the stress,tears,angst,empty pockets and emotional binges we are finally on track to be going back to Sydney :))))))))))

BEST Xmas pressie EVER!!!!!!!!

So,I handed in my 4 week notice yesterday and we are looking at going home the first week of Feb,2012.

I can not tell you how unbelievably happy I am,the smile hasn't left my face and I have been on an absolute euphoric natural high since Weds.

Plus I haven't slept much at all in the last few days due to excitement.

As for the weight,I have a feeling it will slowly be falling off now........

Xox



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Computers hate me part deux

Aloha petals!

I have the blue screen of death again so blog posts will be short and sweet till pay day,when I can visit the laptop fix it man.

I have sooooo much to blog about but it will haveto wait till tomorrow.

Xox


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday was our 5 year anniversary and the Scotsman was working 8:00 - 22:00,so we were meant to celebrate yesterday.Turned out to be a pretty fucking shit anniversary.

We should be at our happiest at the moment,making our Aussie plans and getting excited about going away and starting our new life together as husband and wife.

Instead the Scotsman is stressed out to the max and upset and in tears.Now,I have to tell you something......SCOTTISH MEN DO NOT CRY! 7 years I've known this man and I've only seen him cry twice.

It's his fcuking family,primarily his mother.Now,I'm not a mother,but I assumed that being a mother would entail supporting your children no matter what.Loving them no matter what.Supporting their dreams and encouraging them.

Not his mother.There's been a few hurtful,nasty comments made in the past few weeks as we have progressively got closer to the final stages of the visa.His mother is now ill with shingles,and in quite a bad way (nothing life threatening though) and my poor Weegie boy is blaming himself..........as she told him 'It's a stress related illness'.I.e. It's all your fault because you're going away.And that was one of the tamer things she said!

He can't come home and get excited and tell her how things are going as she just throws it in his face and makes negative,hurtful comments.I'm not a violent woman but if I had been there I would've slapped her one!

The most hurtful thing is,it's all coming out now.Nothings ever been said before.I understand they've had 7 years to get used to the idea,and probably thought we would never actually do it,but FFS,that's your son/brother.

I tried to be supportive,I tried to listen and cuddle him and empathise but after a few hours I lost patience.Family shouldn't make you feel like this.It's NOT his fault his mother is ill.Family should be supportive of of another,not make you feel like shit because you're following your dreams.

My family were so different.They positively encouraged my sister and I to travel the world and expand our horizons.Every time I went off travelling they were always full of support and happy for what adventures lay ahead.They didn't burst into tears at the thought of their daughters backpacking to the other side of the world,by themselves!

When I left on my Australia-Scotland overland adventure,they threw a big party for me and everyone made a wee good luck,happy speech for me.In fact,I didn't find out my mother's apprehensions about me backpacking across Russia until after the deed was done and I was safe in Glasgow.And there was absolutely no tears from anyone until the airport departure.FFS,my parents have both their daughters on the other side of the world!

I know that we come from completely different families,my Dad left Germany when he was 21 and my Mama left her island when she was about the same age.They met met in Bali and travelled about the world working until they settled in Oz and fell in love with Sydney.

My Scotsman's family have never left the UK,except for his sister and his niece and they only go to Tenerife or Benidorm.When in Glasgow they barely go beyond their East End bubble.It's such an alien way of life for me,but they seem happy,I just wish they would in turn be happy for the Scotsman and not make it so hard for him to go.

LAST PIECE OF DOCUMENTATION FOR THE SCOTSMAN'S VISA HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a waiting game now.Happy,happy days :D :D :D :D

Shhhhhh,don't tell the Scotsman..............

But today was Afternoon Twee.It's a monthly Vintage fair just on the other side of the park from me,i.e. the posh part.

I'm really trying to be good and not spend too much money,as our move to Oz will hopefully be happening in the near future but I couldn't resist these finds.................

Tropical pin up girls,BELA LUGOSI Dracula and macarons courtesy of wee sister.

Then I spied the most awesome vintage bag EVER.....................

I wanted it as soon as I saw this but my sister convinced me to take a walkabout before deciding,as I NEVER wear beige or neutral colours.So sadly I left it and another women went straight over with her friend to check it out.

Whilst walking about all I could rave on about was that bag and how brilliantly it would go with the ample leopard print in my closet.Soooo,wee sister convinced off we went to see if it was still there.And would you believe after purchasing it,that woman that was looking at it after me came back to buy it?!?!?!? PHEW!

I know it has a few marks on the front but it is so utterly divine I have been smiling all day.Over a freaking bag! Le sigh.

Let's stop this damn nonsense!

You all know I am a hard rocking chick from way back when.I detest the X Factor and everything is stands for and what it's doing to the music industry.

I do,however find myself sucked into watching it week in and week out and even,God forbid,tweeting about it!

This week especially I just can not shut y mouth about it.We've all seen the incredibly cruel comments dished out on this here web thingy,primarily aimed at the women and their physical appearances.

Sami - fat,lesbian.Cue the jokes about food,weight and wanting to sleep with all the female contestants.Jokes that a 5 year old would come up with.So Sami is FAT and GAY.

SO.FCUKING.WHAT?!?!?!?!?

Does Craig get the same treatment?????? He's slightly overweight.NO! Is it because he's a guy?!?!?!?!? I don't know for sure.

Then of course there's that poor wee lassie from Little Mix.OK,she isn't conventionally beautiful.She's kinda quirky looking but I think she's really cute.But there have been INCREDIBLY cruel comments comparing her to a slovenly,South American animal,jibes about her weight etc.This girl is by no means over weight.And she is just that,a GIRL.Whatever your thoughts are about X Factor can we justify publicly villifying a wee lassie all over the internet for daring to chase her dream?

It was heartbreaking to see her crying her eyes out on X Factor this week and then still seeing the vicious taunts on Twitter in reply to her wee segway.

C'mon guys,we need to be building each other up,not tearing each other down.I admit I love a wee gossip as much as the next girl and I love having a wee bitch session with my friends but we never venture into such cruel territory as someones appearance.Dress sense maybe,but not their physicality,as in their actual face,beauty and looks.

We are also,however very complimentary to each other and strangers about their nice shoes,dress,jewellery etc. I'm very lucky that my small group of girlie friends are wonderfully supportive and complimentary.We build each other up,we don't tear each other down.My girlfriends and I are very outgoing and think nothing of complimenting a stranger.Some may run away thinking we've escaped from Carstairs,but for me,it makes my day when a stranger compliments me.

So today I am making a vow to the blogging world that I will try my utmost to stop bitching and tearing down my fellow females (and males),and do my utmost to compliment my friends and strangers.I will do my utmost to stop judging a woman on the way she presents herself to the world and try and do my wee bit to build each other up.

FAIL!

I totally failed and slept in last Friday and missed my WW meeting

This week however,I finish a sleepover at 8am,literally 5 mins away from my meeting.So I will hang about at a cafe with a good book and nursing a strong coffee till th

e damn meeting opens!

I am so glad to see Paul back on the scene,and I know this is slightly sadistic of me,but I am so glad to see I'm not the only one who has fallen off the wagon,BUT I am so pleased to see that so many of us keep on climbing up that wagon until we finally succeed.

And please remember.........

Onwards and upwards!

xox

Devil vs Devil

Thanks for all the twitter,facebook and blog loving guys..........especially to my last picture post.

I don't know where that quote came from but I fucking love it! I will not even disguise my use of profanities because it's that ridiculously awesome that the gratuitous use of profanities is needed.

Now,I've written and re-written a post along thee lines about a million times now.Forgive me if it's a bit disjointed.For some time the total feminist,anti-body fascist,pro body acceptance in me has been totally battling the vanity in me that wants to be slimmer.I'm totally cool with the health reasons for it,it's just the vanity of it.The want to (sort of) give in to societies dictations of what's beautiful and 'normal' and what the shops dictate to be an acceptable size.

I've said before,I have never been skinny,size 14 is maybe the slimmest I was once I hit my teens but I was fit and healthy and active.I never really suffered from low self esteem,ironically I've become more self conscious in the last few years or so,but then I have been at my biggest these last few years.Plus the fact that Glasgow has to be the eating disorder/superficial/ competitive women capital of the WORLD.........outside LA,maybe ;P

Here's a wee story for you......................

Some days I feel fcuking AMAZING and gorgeous and it must show as I still get compliments from both strangers and friends,men and women,despite my ample proportions.Other days I feel like a totally unattractive lump of lard and just don't take pride in my appearance.Then I get pissed off at myself for falling into the trap of believing that I am somehow less beautiful, amazing,worthy or plain FABULOUS because I am fat.I am really trying to work on my mindset in terms of self worth as well as changing eating habits.

I hold myself back from so many things because I think 'I need to be slimmer to do that'.For example,I really want to do a Burlesque class.But I keep thinking,when I lose some weight I'll enrol.Why the fuck should I wait?!?!?!?! Why am I listening to society's voice inside my head telling me that it wouldn't be socially acceptable,offensive even to shake my jelly in a Burlesque class?

I buy gorgeous vintage style dresses in size 14 or 16 for when I eventually lose weight and deem myself worthy of dressing the way I want instead of buying those dresses in my current size and dressing the way I want NOW.

I really need to stop this attitude and I really need to make peace with my anti body fascism vs. wanting to slim down self.I am slowly beginning to console the two.I know I need to get healthier,but I also know that my ideal body is a big F.U! to the face of fashion and society.

I have no problem with girls that want this body,as long as it's REALLY what you want and not what you THINK you should be..............

BTW,I'm not sure how I feel about the message in this photo.

But my ideal is this...................................

I know for a fact a girl can be curvaceous and fit at the same time.Been there,done that.I LOVE having boobs and a bum,but how do I tell a Weight Watchers leader that?

Yes,tomorrow I am biting the bullet and joining a meeting,but I know my goal shape is going to be at least a good few stone over the WW/BMI index ideal weight.DO I just go in and continue on till I get to the shape I want? Or will that be soul destroying as I will be 1-2 stone from goal??? My ideal weight for my height of 5'6 is 55kg-69kg/8.5st-11st,by the way.My shape at a size 14 was about 12 st.

So,onto you readers,particularly you feminists out there.How do you console the body acceptance with the vanity of losing weight (disregarding the health side,as we know that's a MUST)? Do you let your weight hold you back or do you go f*ck it and do it anyways? This goes for the guys too! Is your goal weight what your WW/SW goal is?

xox Steph

Glasgow Girls

I work with a few challenging kids that are 2:1.My fellow colleagues are usually girls much younger than me - 21,22 years old.I would HATE to be a young lady in Glasgow.

Growing up in Sydney,we young ladies preferred the fresh faced,natural look.Full faced make up was reserved for weekends only.Night time at that.Fake tan was/is non existent.You hardly see a sun bed/tanning salon anywhere and ladies seem to be less hard on themselves and their bodies and less damn competitive.

Don't get me wrong,stroll down Bondi Beach and you will be reaching for the bottle of anti-depressants.Trimmed,taut,muscly bodies.The women have AB's ffs.But Bondi is it's own little world up it's own arse.

Anyways,the other day myself,and a few of my colleagues were meeting up with our respective kids we support.Now it was 10am on a Saturday morning,so none of us had had breakfast.The 3 young ones were going out into town that night,so none of them had breakfast.Or any other meals for the rest of the day.

The reason?So they wouldn't have a bloated stomach that night.This was 10am.They weren't going out till 9pm.Then there was the spray tans,fake nails,hair straightened,make up troweled on etc. all organised and planned ahead with military precision.Does no girl do natural in this town?????????

Think TOWIE times 20!!!!!!!

Then when we went our separate ways,one of the girls was stressing out because there was another girl coming who was 'pure gorgeous'.In other words,she was worried she would be out shined by the other girls.The solution was to bare as much flesh as possible with the most amount of make up possible.

Why do young ladies in Glasgow feel the need to compete with each other and be so harsh on their bodies? Do they not realise that the men they are after don't care about the tiny bit of tummy or that little bit of cellulite? Do they not realise that a (decent) man cares more about their gorgeous smile and their lovely personality than their tan or lack of and their shovelled on war paint? Whatever happened to having a fun girls night out with your friends,rather than the whole aim being to get a man at the end of the night? When will girls of Glasgow realise they don't need to freeze their little arses off in the teeny,tiniest of outfits in order to out 'shine' the other girls out there and snag themselves a man????

I love my make up as much as the next girl,but for me less is more.Sheer mineral make up as close to my natural skin colour as possible.It makes me so sad for my lovely,gorgeous,younger friends,that they feel their worth is only determined by how short their skirt is and how pretty they look.

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying to maintain a healthy self esteem and emotions whilst getting healthy,physically.

Onwards and upwards........

Hello Lovelies,

I feel infinitely better after my last stressed post.I have actually managed to say 'NO' and stick to 2 days off each week this month!!!! Big achievement in this workaholic's life.

I have spent today's day off being leisurely and trying to learn how to crochet amigurumi.FAILED! Are there any crafters out there? How long did it take you to learn crochet beyond a single chain?

I did however successfully bake some choc raspberry cupcakes and some Earl Grey cupcakes.I've only ate one and the rest will be distributed amongst friends and collegues.It isn't even about the eating any more,I just like the zen and ritual of baking.I've ate uber healthy and pretty much vegan all day,though for dinner I'm trying out the sausage and chorizo casserole thing from the latest WW magazine.

In another fail! I forgot to weigh myself today.I actually seriously forgot,not a bury my head in the sand kinda forgot.

I've learnt to stop reading the 'success' stories and simply go straight to the health tips and recipes.FFS,most of the success stories STARTED at a size 14 this issue!!!!!!

Aaaannnnnnndddddd,THREE different people commented that I had lost weight this week.Don't know how the hell coz I've not been exercising or eating healthily so that was a nice surprise.Onwards and upwards from now on! :D