CREATING AN AUTUMN 2024 WARDROBE | IN COLLABORATION WITH ASOS

If you’ve been a follower of I’m NOT Disordered for a while, you’ll know that I’m a huge fashion and beauty fan and that they are actually the blogs I follow the most! And occasionally, I like to include some more light-hearted content because I’m fully aware how intense and emotional my content can be, so; I’ve teamed up with ASOS again (our last collaboration is here) to create an Autumn wardrobe! I recognise this post might not be for everyone – or anyone! – but I’m NOT Disordered is, first and foremost, for me(!) and I need to be able to produce content that I want and enjoy creating so, here goes...

MY 32ND BIRTHDAY WISHLIST

Anyone who’s read I’m NOT Disordered for a little while or who know me, will definitely not be surprised by this post! I talked a lot about my enjoyment and the importance of creating gift guides and wishlists through Blogmas 2022, and with my Birthday coming up (February 1^st), it probably seemed like a no-brainer for me to produce content like this! I hope you like this and that it inspires ideas for gifts for someone you know too!

BLOGMAS 2022 | DAY TWENTY-TWO: A CHRISTMAS DAY WARDROBE | IN COLLABORATION WITH ASOS

 

Welcome to Day Twenty-Two of Blogmas 2022!

Today I’m collaborating with ASOS again (you can see my first piece with them if you scroll back to Day Six), but this time; I’ve compiled some of my favourite items from their site for pretty much all the various types of Christmas Days you can experience. Once again, unfortunately, this post won’t be relevant for everyone, but I’ve enjoyed putting it together and I’ll keep it as short as possible…

HOW TO PREPARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

*part of this post is in collaboration with New Look*

I’ve now spent almost two months planning I’m NOT Disordered’s content for Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) and with the Week still over a fortnight away, I thought it a good time to write this piece on my advice and thoughts for anyone else preparing for it…

TO GET INVOLVED OR NOT TO GET INVOLVED

I think that the first, most obvious step for this, is making the decision on whether or not you want to play any role in MHAW. Whether you’re a blogger considering producing content for it, or a social media fanatic debating hash-tagging things, or a mental health professional trying to think up some activities for service users, it’s an important decision.

Since doing Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for two and a half years, I’ve found making decisions a whole lot easier when using the Distress Tolerance module’s skill of ‘pros and cons.’ I think that it’s one of the many skills I learnt where afterwards I thought: ‘how did I not do this sooner?!’ I mean, ‘self-soothe’ and ‘distract’ (also from the Distress Tolerance module) are my two most useful coping skills when I’m struggling and they’re both things which might be seen as being obviously helpful by others. But, for me, I was so lost in the hallucinations and the thoughts and feelings around suicide and self-harm, that I couldn’t think clearly or rationally. I was so focused on hurting myself, that I didn’t have the time or energy to consider ways that would protect me and keep me safe from myself.

So, when making decisions – particularly around my blog – I use the pros and cons method to ensure that I’ve really carefully considered both the possible benefits and the chance of negative responses before making the final decision. For me, even if I agreed that I had made the ‘wrong’ decision, I would only be annoyed if I’d done so without putting any real thought into it. I think it’s because for so long, I did things on a whim and completely impulsively. I didn’t consider the consequences for any of my decisions and actions. And – in all honesty – I didn’t care about them either because I would always excuse myself from being responsible.

CREATING A DECEMBER WARDROBE WITH ASOS

*Huge apologies if this post doesn’t hold any relevance to you and your style; but I had a whole lot of fun creating it so…*

Since I’ll be collaborating with Pretty Perfect Products for the entirety of December (with Blogmas) I wanted to get in a collaboration with a brand a bit different; and so I’ve teamed up with ASOS to create a December Wardrobe that will cover all of the commitments (including Christmas markets and parties!) I have throughout the month…

 

Shoes

Sock Boots in Black: £38.00

Embellished Court Shoes: £35.00

Scarlett Box Mid-Heeled Shoe: £25.00

Sling-back Heels in Glitter: £25.00

Tie-leg Block Heel: £25.00

Studded High Heel Shoe: £35.00

Slouch Knee Boot: £45.00

Chelsea Boot: £27.99

 

MY NECESSITIES THIS NOVEMBER

I wanted to put a piece together that I enjoy; one which doesn’t build into an emotional rollercoaster the more I type! So, I was going to put together a bit of a list of necessities for November, but with the gravity of my blog’s readership in mind, I knew I couldn’t fit appropriate things for everyone in it, so here’s what I’ll be needing to get me through November…

Weekend Collective Sweatshirt: £22.00

Kingsley Ryan Star Bracelet: £12.00

Wednesdays Girl Rib Knit Jumper: £18.00

Slider Slippers: £10.00

Day Dreamer Sweatshirt: £28.00

Matte Sheen Legging: £16.00

Weekend Collective Sweatshirt in Slate Grey: £32.00

Long Woven Scarf in Black: £12.00 

BLOGMAS 2020 WITH I’M NOT DISORDERED | RECOMMENDATION EIGHTEEN: CHRISTMASSY CLOTHING

Hello and welcome to recommendation eighteen of Blogmas 2020 with I’m NOT Disordered!

Today, I’ve put together some clothing and accessories for different Christmastime events, all from ASOS!

CHRISTMAS WISHLIST 2019 | TOP 20 | ASOS, AMAZON, BOOTS, MICHAEL KORS, WILKO, & PAPERCHASE

So, after some very successful Christmas shopping in Newcastle and then again in Morpeth, I decided to put together a little wishlist of all my favourite items this year! 

Of course, Christmas isn't about presents but i don't think you should be made to feel shallow for appreciating material things. 

So here's my wishlist! 

What would go on yours?

Clothes etc

Missguided Christmas Jumper £22

Brave Soul Christmas Jumper £16

24HRS WITH... EM SHELDON | EMTALKS.CO.UK

Good morning!

What time did you wake up? 

7.30am 

Why did you wake up at that time? 

I always set an alarm so that I can do a morning Instagram post and head to the gym plus get some emails done before the world starts 

Did you have a dream? 

I can’t remember! I can never remember my dreams! 

Do you think today will be 'good' or 'bad' day? (use your own definition of these words to answer the question)

I always try and wake up assuming it’s gonna be a good day. There is good in every day and rainy days make flowers. Sometimes I wake up and external factors mean my day could be bad, but I try and see the positives in every day now. I read a book that said, ‘most of us focus on what’s wrong, and what we don’t have, rather than on what’s right and what we do have’ and I’m trying to wake up with that mind set

I'M NOT DISORDERED JOINS TEAM OB | OLIVER BONAS | AD

“I haven’t got a chance in getting this collaboration, but I figured that I’d try anyway”

“It’s like I always tell you; shy bairns get nowt!”

I had this conversation with my Mum not long after emailing the PR team at Oliver Bonas. After a few tweets with their Twitter team I finally got the email address for the team I needed to contact, to approach them with a collaboration idea.

A mental health blog probably seems a long way from a fashion blog but there can be more links than you’d think. Especially where the author of the blog is interested in, and passionate about; fashion.

I took Textiles at GCSE level and in ever project, and for every assignment I tried to incorporate clothing pieces as opposed to purely focusing on prints and researching artists specialising in multi-media. Admittedly, I’ve never been a trend setter; I prefer to follow them but my passion for fashion has me customising trends to flatter my body shape. I like how confident clothes and accessories can make you; if I wear a good outfit it doesn’t matter how I’m feeling on the inside, I’m smiling on the outside and strutting my stuff down to the corner shop! I like how happy fashion makes me – you should see my face when I find an amazing new Valentino bag in TK Maxx!

PARTYING WITH INTHEFROW, ALEX HARRISON, & GOOGLE PIXEL!! | AD

Friday 20^th January 2018, 09:43 - ‘Congratulations Aimee your Saturday just got awesome… You and your named guest are now part of a chosen few to joing us in celebrating the all-new Google Pixel 2 with InTheFrow at our Manchester event this Saturday’

Like most girls, I like fashion.                            

It was because of this, that I began to follow InTheFrow (Victoria McGrath) on YouTube. And - not going to lie - I was kind of mesmerised by her bright purple hair!

AD | PRESS RELEASE: GARY JAMES MCQUEEN RELEASES MENTAL HEALTH CARDS - "ARE YOU OK?" | AD

After studying Textiles as a GCSE student, I’ve had a passion for fashion; and as I grew older I became addicted to reading Vogue and Elle for style inspiration and the amazing photography of runway shows that I knew I’d never get to see in real life. Then, in my twenties, I moved onto makeup and beauty products (still with a jam-packed wardrobe!) and developed a keen eye for designer bargains (because there’s no money on the trees in my garden) in T K Maxx – particularly Valentino bags!

As I moved into blogging and the online mental health world in 2009, it became clear that most blogs were about fashion and beauty. It was a good thing at the time because it provided a gap in the market for I’m NOT Disordered to fill and at the time there were only four popular mental health blogs (and none of them were written by a current inpatient).

Like I said, the fashion and beauty bloggers took over the internet and seemed to be the ones who collaborated and were approached by organisations who wanted to use the blog as an advertising opportunity with the belief that when readers saw the blogger wearing a particular shoe, or talking about a new mascara; their followers would want to buy the same thing.

Blind Veterans Centenary Celebrations at Buckingham Palace

I began working with Blind Veterans a little while ago. I was originally taken on to support a particular member who had enjoying art before his sight was affected and wanted to pick this back up. I've actually ended up working with several different members and have set up the 'Culture Club' which is a group of members interested in arts, crafts and culture; who meet every so often to either do an activity or visit somewhere. 
This year, it is Blind Veteran's 100th Birthday! There have already been many celebrations all over the country and with our different centres in Brighton, Sheffield and Wales. But it's all come down to the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace!
A little while ago, I was sent a letter asking if I'd like to apply to attend the party and whether I'd like to take a guest and I, of course, applied for myself and my Mum. I'd completely forgotten about it when my mental health took a turn for the worse and then there was a posh cursive invitation through my door! There was no mention of a +1 but a few days letter, Mum received her invitation too! - I now have mine framed on my wall of achievements! 
Mum did a lot of research before the party into previous occasions and what would be happening at our event but I didn't have a clue. So, when we arrived at Buckingham Palace a few minutes after the gates were due to open, I was shocked to find a massive queue of people waiting to get in! We later found out, there was a little over 5,000 people attending! 
It was so surreal to walk in through the main gates and cross the forecourt of the Palace where the guards were stood with their fluffy hats! And it was absolutely beautiful as we rounded the side to come out onto the massive lawn area. I've always said that the sun makes things look prettier and so, I was so happy with how sunny it was! The set up, had another balcony with crowds of members and staff waiting for the Countess of Wessex to come down the steps and greet the particular people chosen to meet her.

There was millions of plastic garden chairs dotted all over the lawn in little huddles, there was a guarded royal tea tent and a marquee of food for everyone else with small table areas to stand and eat at.
After the amazing food, Mum and I walked around the lake and the grounds, which were beautiful! They were so... Unmanicured? Just, natural and I liked that in contrast to the rest of the event. 
After our walk, we found some empty chairs near the lake and sat and listened to the brass band who played such a variety of songs from Take That to James Bond! And a pleasant little surprise/treat came in the form of waiters and waitresses walking through the crowd with mini tubs of ice cream for the boiling guests! 
I think that a lot of people had the same idea to leave a little early so as to avoid a massive queue to get out. To leave, we were able to walk through the main central hallway of the Palace, through the courtyard and out onto the forecourt where all of the tourists were glued to the gates thinking we were important people! I managed to find Pennie, who I've worked with quite a lot so that was nice, and I met a volunteer and a member of staff from the Brighton centre so that I managed to mention to her that I'd like to visit it and she told me I was more than welcome! 

It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience, which I was so happy to share with my Mum, and it's an absolute honour to be part of such an inspiring organisation.

For the fashion savvy out there, my dress is from Cameo Rose at New Look: http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/cameo-rose-white-floral-print-cut-out-back-dress_351310819
And my fascinator was a last-minute purchase from M&S: http://www.marksandspencer.com/bow-feather-fascinator/p/p22363059

Even the Guide Dogs dressed the part!

To read my post about my time in London: http://imnotdisordered.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/im-not-disordered-does-london.html

To watch my vlog from the entire trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWPA6X4JR6E

Confessions of a Blogger

Becky from BeckyBedBug: When I was at Uni, I made two very good friends in my halls. We discovered - by accident, that the one girls key opened the others' door. One weekend the other girl went home and my remaining friend and I had no money to go out. So we used her key to enter our friend's room, polished off the vodka and filled it with water. When she returned and asked if we thought her vodka tasted like water, we told her that if you leave it open too long the alcohol evaporates. She believed us.

Rebecca from stopbeinginappropriatewithyourbread: I narrate my life in song!

Frankie from CrazyBlondeGal: I had an asthma attack last year after a night out but refused to call A&E because I didn't want to 'inconvenience' them

Safia from MyGriffinWay: I got cramp in my leg at Yoga and I'd forgotten to shave my legs and the hot yoga instructor has to give me a leg rub!

SugarBash: My life depends upon the low 'sock bun' with no shower and dry shampoo giving me a few extra minutes of sleep

Anabel from MascaraandMaltesers: I dated two men who were friends and on the same football team. I somehow managed it for a few months!

Noor from NoorsPlace: My celebrity crush is Derek Hale from the show Teen Wolf.  


Note: To see what I've been up to recently, go see my vlogs on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxkWBmMgubKY3zfqH_VkZJg

FBMH: Q&A with Katie from 'Knelt'

1. Do you ever blog about personal aspects of your life?

Yes quite often! I love seeing snippets of other bloggers lives, and I love sharing bits of my own life. It breaks up the monotony of review after review and shows the person behind the blog

 
2. What do you gain from doing this?

 

Well, happiness I guess. I’m doing it because I want to, so that can’t be a bad thing!

3. Why did you volunteer to be part of #FBMH?

There still seems to be a lot of stigma around mental health, and anything I can do to help combat that I will do. My partner suffers worse problems than I do and I strive to understand those problems as best I can to support him in the best way possible.

4. How do you feel about mental health stigma?

Frankly? Pissed off - why is it seen as such a negative thing?!

5. Do you actively campaign for better mental health services or to get rid of stigma?

I should do more than I do if I’m honest, but I also face the stigma head on whenever I see it. There was this one time I was on the bus and a passenger moved seats. They had been sitting next to a man who had obvious Tourette's, who then looked extremely embarrassed and upset, so I moved seats to sit next to him. I did it without saying a word, but hopefully the man appreciated the fact that he was being accepted by someone rather than rejected, and hopefully the other passengers got the message that people who suffer illnesses we don't understand often need the acceptance of society the most.

6.Why did you begin blogging?

 

 I began blogging because I really missed writing after I finished my literary based degree. I read lots of blogs already and I just thought, if they can why can’t I?

7. What made you decide to blog about beauty and fashion?

They are just things I really love, and it makes sense to write about things you love to me - how else can yon a bus when a man sat next to a passenger who had obvious Tourettes moved seats, tutting as they did so. The Tourettes sufferer was clearly upset by this, so I moved seats to sit next to him. I never said a word, but by sitting there I made the point that this person was not to be treated so negatively because of what they suffered.

 

8. How did you find writing your piece for #FBMH ?

 

I found it really therapeutic, it was a big help to get it all down on paper!

9. What has been the best moment in your blogging career so far?

Erm, it’s hard to pick out an individual moment to be honest, I enjoy it all so much! I wrote an article for an online magazine that had such positive feedback - whilst it wasn’t my own blog I was super proud of the reception that it got!

 

10. What has been the worst?

 

In some ways, when I started over from scratch it felt like the worst thing ever. I did this because of personal reasons (which are explained on my blog if you’re that interested!), but honestly, that ‘worst’ moment? The best thing I ever did!

11. What advice would you give someone just beginning to blog?

Enjoy it, and stay true to yourself!

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for letting me get involved Aimee!

 

 

FBMH: Q&A with Katie from 'Gold Dust'

 

 

Why did you begin blogging?

 

 I moved across the country and knew nobody. Blogging was a good way to fill in time and meet new people. 

 

What made you decide to blog about beauty and fashion?

I wanted to learn more about skincare and make up!

Do you ever blog about personal aspects of your life?

Yeah, I've tried to make my blog more "lifestyle" recently. 

If yes, what inspires you to do this?

Anything! Sometimes it's something I've baked or a place I've been. Or other times I will blog about how I'm feeling or what's going on in my life.

What do you gain from doing this?

It's nice to have a community that doesn't judge!

Why did you volunteer to be part of #FBMH?

I think it's good to speak out about MH. I've found by doing so it makes me realise I'm not alone!

How do you feel about mental health stigma?

I'd like to think it's getting less and less. However I was embarrassed and anxious about what people would say before I spoke out. People have been really supportive. 

Do you actively campaign for better mental health services or to get rid of stigma?

I actually ran a 10k a few years ago for Mind

If yes, by doing what?

Alongside charities, as well as openly discussing MH.

How did you find writing your piece for #FBMH ?

Really easy!

What has been the best moment in your blogging career so far?

Meeting new people and getting opportunities i never thought I'd get!

What has been the worst?

Sometimes there is bitchiness and negativity on social media. I try to stay clear of that!

What advice would you give someone just beginning to blog?

Be yourself! And enjoy it!

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for letting me take part!