Lingerie, Empowerment and Body Confidence

As most of you should know by now I'm a massive lover of lingerie, often sharing my favourite sets and brands with you all as I find lingerie so empowering. A woman in lingerie doesn't equal being sexual nor is it's sole purpose to be for another's pleasure. It's a functioning item we wear daily and we deserve for it to be something we love to wear. I adore it as much as clothes and makeup, even though it's not necessarily seen, it's about feeling comfortable and confident about yourself. It really can completely change your attitude and self confidence knowing you have a beautiful matching set on underneath your clothes.

Barefaced.

The thought of going out, in public, barefaced has always scared me.

The most defining year of my life & #sunflowersforjacqueline

I originally started writing this just after Christmas. I was sat on my bed on a rainy Sunday, catching up with the world after a blissful few days. I'd been in my own little bubble of a new relationship nestled in the limbo of Christmas and New Year. The rare few days where you have more time and less worries than usual. In this bubble I'd hardly reached for my phone, I'd enjoyed my absence from the online world, embraced not checking at least one social platform every 30 minutes or so. Enjoyed dancing like no one was watching, smiled until my face hurt and smiled some more. Stopped worrying about likes or planning what images to upload next on Instagram. Actually living, you know in the real world. So I've spent the past 10 years of my life with the Internet being such a big part of it. It is for most of us, and always will be, but it's about balance like everything I guess.

Breast Augmentation - From surgery to 5 months on

You may or may not know that on the 26th July 2015 I underwent a breast augmentation at Transform, read my thoughts to why here if you're interested, or watch the video here.

It has taken me a while to do the update for several reasons. I lost my vlog camera whilst at Leeds festival just before my 6 weeks point. I'd been filming most days showing my progress, thoughts and feelings and now it was all lost. Highly annoyed at myself, but then feeling totally devastated when I then lost my best friend Jacqueline a couple of weeks later who I had taken with me to Leeds. All my memories from the last time I saw her were now lost. So for awhile I have been quite distant, watch my personal update video talking about life between July - November 2015 here if interested.

It's now been over 5 months since the op and they have changed so much over this time! As time goes on I'm becoming happier and happier with them. So let's catch up from the point I last left you guys.

Let's talk body confidence and boob jobs

So a change is about to happen, something you’ll probably notice. As I’m someone online it’s not something I can really hide so I wanted to be honest and upfront about it, in hopes it could help at least one person out there. I’m very soon about to have a breast augmentation at Transform with Mr Meleagros, to some this may be quite a surprise as online I’ve not necessarily expressed my body conscious issues about this part of me. Above is the only picture of me EVER in a low cut dress braless, I only posted this on Instagram as the side lighting is rather flattering.

So why am I getting this done you might be wondering?

Today my blog turns 2, time to reflect.

So 2014, you just flew by!

I thought for this post I would recap on what happened in 2014. See what happened in 2013 here.

January

- Featured on Polished TV home page.

- Had a shoot for Company Magazine! See the vlog here.

- Got to meet so many bloggers at the Missguided event. See a vlog here.

February

- Blog turned 1.

- Reached 30K on Instagram, 29K on YouTube.

- Attended London Edge and Pure London Trade shows see vlog.

- Was filmed and interviewed by ZDF German Television see vlog.

- Attended London Fashion Week see vlog.

- Was on the Cover and had two pages inside of Company Magazine.

- Was on Missguided's Home page.

- Got a new tattoo see vlog.

- Had a casting for a brand.

March

- Shot Blakely's new clothing range see vlog.

- Company Magazine featured my vlog of our shoot on their website.

- Saw Bombay Bicycle Club.

- Shot Baia's new collection see vlog.

- Started working with American Apparel!

April

- Shot with Company Magazine again see vlog.

- Filmed with Westfield Stratford City.

- Attended Abandon Ship Apparel's store opening.

- Attended Motel Rocks blogger event.

- See vlog for this month here.

May

- Attended Norwich Lush social event.

- Was spotted in Vogue Brazil Magazine.

- Attended Boohoo press day.

- Attended Topshop event.

- Photoshoot with Ax Paris in Manchester.

- Saw Miley Cyrus.

- Met Finn Jones from GAME OF THRONES!

- I was nominated for Best Personal Style Blog for Company Blogger awards.

- See the month's vlog here.

June

- Attended Very's blogger event.

- Attended Jarrolds' Blogger event.

Wrote an article which featured in Okay!, New & Star magazine.

- Attended Company Magazine Style Blogger Awards.

- Met FunforLouis! 

- Attended 5 press days in one day.

- Started facials at Uandyourskin.

- Attended Dr Martens event.
- Reached 50K on Instagram.

See this month in this vlog.

July

- Interviewed Michelle Keegan, interview here.

- Collaborated with Urban Outfitters.

- Spotted in Italian Grazia Magazine.

- Shot Baia's new collection.

- Had 5 inches cut off my hair.

- Went to LoveBox festival with Boohoo.

- Filmed one of my favourite videos, summer lookbook.

See this month in this vlog.

August

- Attended Missguided's blogger event.

- Turned 25.

- Went to Harry Potter Studios.

- Attended Jarrolds' Blogger event.

- Private screening with Urban Decay of Pulp Fiction for their new collection launch.

- See this month in this vlog.

September

- Met Fearne Cotton at her collection event see vlog.

- First time visiting Cardiff.

- London Fashion week see vlog.

October

- Featured on Primark's home page for my Velcro rollers hair tutorial.

- Went to Barcelona with Stradivarius see vlog.

- Dinner with Missguided for their new Nicole launch see vlog.

- Photoshoot with Motel Rocks for my own dress, buy it in red & black. See vlog.

- Witch skincare event, met lots of new bloggers/youtubers see vlog.

- Saw Nick Mulvey.

- Gleam Halloween Party, met the whole gang see vlog.
- Reached 100K on Instagram.

November

- Attended Boohoo Christmas Blogger event.

- Kardashian Hairfinity event.

- Motel Blogger party, our blogger dresses launch! See blog post.

- Very party at the OXO Tower, see blog post.

- Photoshoot with Ax Paris in Manchester.

- Saw James Bay.

- Urban Outfitters blogger event.

- Bloody Mary Metal Blogger event.

- See the month in this vlog.

December

- Primark press day.

- Interviewed Pixie Lott, see it here.

- Did a mini meet up and met some of you guys!

Made my Vlog channel.

Filmed my first proper makeup video, see here.

- See this month in this vlog.

I just read through my previous post reflecting 2013 and it's crazy just how much more I've achieved in 2014. I've grown so much on my platforms, I've been able to meet so many bloggers and youtubers I've been following over time which I now get to consider as friends. I've met lots of you guys, I've flown to different cities, I know have my own dress and bag I've designed. If someone said this would all be happening to me 2 years ago I would have laughed at them. Then I was a bit lost with what I wanted to be doing. Now I'm so happy and I'm doing something I love so much.

A big thank you for all your support, without you guys I wouldn't be able to do these kinds of things. I'm so excited for 2015, already it's been amazing!

I especially want to thank my parents, without their support in my first year I really wouldn't be doing what I am doing now. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for supporting me. I hope I'm making you proud <3

Youtube / Facebook / Twitter / instagram@leannelimwalker / Website / FAQ

My Company Magazine Photoshoot!

Photographer - Paul Whitfield
Stylist - Sarah Barlow
Mua - Sophie Higgingson

January 24th was the day I had a photoshoot for Company Magazine! I was one of their bloggers used for their Street Girl feature, and this was the East London special.

I was so excited for the shoot, I was intrigued with how I would be styled and excited to get my makeup done and be photographed for a magazine! The MUA actually like my eye makeup so kept that and then re-did the rest. Quite a compliment for a makeup artist to say they liked how I did my makeup.

I also got to hang around with Amy who kindly filmed some footage of me being photographed which you can watch in my vlog above.

I almost peed my pants when told we made it onto the cover! I'm so happy with my double page spread inside. It's so surreal and it was such an enjoyable experience. And Company also featured my vlog on their website!

Thank you to everyone who's tweeted and mentioned me on instagram saying they've read my feature, it all means a lot. I'd not be doing these exciting things with out you guys after all <3

Youtube / Facebook / Twitter / instagram@leannelimwalker / Website

Farewell 2013 - Highlights of the year

January

- Finally got to visit Paris! Went for 4 days, 3 days around Paris and a day at Disneyland. Visited all the main sites, also places that featured in my favourite film, Amelie <3

- I remember reaching 5K followers on Instagram

February

Where this blog began <3 I also started up my YouTube channel although technically my first video went up 31st Jan.

March

I went to my first bloggers event! Missguided's S/S preview.

April

I went to the Motel Rocks Press day blogger after party!

 Then went to the AX Paris blogger event

 

I was featured by Motel Rocks, Asos & Limecrime <3

May

- Started working with some wonderful companies; Baia & Shop Dixi.

- Crocheted my own top!

- Filmed my first look book which is my most like video with 1,500+likes

- Featured as the blog of the week on Lashes of London's homepage

June

Filmed my very first Vlog

- Started up a beautiful collection of jewellery by The Bohemian Co.

- Nights out with my best friends.

- Featured a picture of my 14 year old self on Instagram to show my young followers how I looked at their age.

 Went to my first Youtube event!

July

- Featured on Instagram's popular page with my video of the strawberries from our garden, it has 3800+ likes!

- Started up my Mac lipstick collection with "Russian Red"

- Created a kitty nails tutorial for Missguided

- Filmed a Joni Jeans styling video which is my 3rd most liked video.

August

Went to the Missguided A/W event

Turned 24

September

- Redid my room, which can be seen in this vlog

- Had an 8 page feature in Upraw Magazine, in print and online

- Things changed a lot, but I had the best people around to help me <3

- Creating goodie bags for the launch of The Blogger Programme

October

Went to the Norwich store launch party for Dr Martens

Went to Ax Paris event and was asked to film it too!

- The Blogger Programme launched!

- Became addicted to Game of Thrones, completing both series 1 & 2

- Collaborated with Missguided for Halloween

- Pink hair made a come back!

- Received my printed copy of my feature in Upraw

November

- Modelled for Sugar and style, can watch it in this vlog

- Designed my own bag for Baia

- Featured in Pro Photographer Magazine, was interviewed about Instagram

Went to the Motel Rocks Xmas Party

Finally met Victoria from Inthefrow and had the most amazing time in London! We stayed at the Thistle hotel, went out in London and went shopping the next day <3

Flew to Bangkok by myself, 2 planes and 17+ hours of traveling. Watch Part 1 of my trip to Thailand here.

December

- Flew to Chiang Mai and stayed near by at Jacq's parent's house.

- Learnt how to slalom board

- Shopped at Chiang Mai's markets

- Had the most amazing food and drink

- Visited the most beautiful locations

- Had crazy views on my return flight home. Took 24 hours to get back!

- Added to my Mac lipstick collection with "Rebel"

- My first Wildfox jumper!

- Reviewing the Nokia Lumia 1020

- Added to my Baia collection

- Achieved the perfect curls

- Featured on Sugar + Style's Website homepage

- Started laser hair removal which you can read about here.

Christmas <3

This year has been so amazing, arguably the best of my life yet. It's been so different to 2012! The biggest and best change from then has been starting this Blog and also my Youtube channel. I've been able to meet the most amazing people and do things I never of thought I could.

From this year I have learnt that I can achieve more than I think. I'm looking to say yes to more opportunities and not back out because I don't think I'm capable. I've grown so much this year and I cannot wait to see what 2014 brings! 

Happy New Year Everyone <3

x

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