Anyone who knows me or follows me on Instagram is aware that I am a big fan of vintage and rockabilly style. I've really developed this love in the last five years or so after becoming a lot more confident about pulling it off.

Previously, it was quite difficult to get hold of quality vintage-inspired dresses and skirts in a good range of sizes without spending a fortune. There are brands like Hell Bunny, which I love, that offer a good range, but they can come at a high price and sometimes feature prints that are a bit out there for every day - especially when you consider I wear my dresses to the office.

I was lucky enough two years ago to discover a fab brand called Lady Vintage (also known as Lady V London). I found them totally by accident when looking for 1950s-style dresses for my lovely bridesmaids and it was love at first purchase, even though I didn't actually buy a dress for myself at the time. 

One of the most empowering experiences I've had in my journey toward becoming more positive about my body was getting married. 

There seems to be this acceptance that a woman will starve herself, exercise until she passes out and basically do anything she can in order to fit into a smaller wedding dress. While I started out thinking I would diet and work hard to lose weight, the stresses of wedding planning (especially for a wedding that was in south Devon while I was in Leeds), work and general life got in the way.

After a while though, it didn't really matter to me as I knew I would feel amazing on the day. A lot of that was down to the dress. 

Probably one of the best things about my job is the fact that I have to be so active online. This means I keep finding fun and interesting companies and brands.

One such brand is Bete Noire, which makes fun and original jewellery. Everything is handmade to order, which means they also create custom designs.

A huge part of my journey over the last couple of years has been the one I've been on with my body. Everyone wants to and should love the skin they're in, but this is a lot easier said than done - especially if you face negativity about the way you look from people around you.

I've had issues with my weight since I was in secondary school. I used to be quite athletic, enjoying competitive swimming, gymnastics, cross country running, judo and hockey. But then puberty happened and I started filling out, almost overnight. I also injured myself a few times (back, knees, elbow, wrists), which made it really hard to stay as active as I was.

I originally started this blog last year but got a bit slack with it, as it wasn't the direction I really wanted to go. I think I boxed myself into a corner a little bit by starting it as a blog specifically looking at places I was going while living in the north. 

I've now decided to start it over and make it more about my personal journey, wherever it is going to take me. I'll still be writing about the great places I visit while living in Leeds, but I also want to explore other things that I love and enjoy. 

It is worth stating that this blog is all about positivity, and as such I won't be accepting any negative comments. I'm also going to refrain from writing about anything negative. I'm focusing on all the good things that I'm getting to do now and I want my new blog to express this attitude.

I'm not saying my life is perfect, as that would be incredibly naive and a downright lie. After all, no one's life is ever perfect and to pretend otherwise means you aren't dealing with any issues that may arise. However, it does mean that I am choosing to look at everything in a positive way and accept the negative for what it is and what I can learn from it.

Hopefully, if you're all about that too, you'll enjoy the random thoughts that make their way onto this blog.

So anyway, this is the new and improved Lost in the North. I'm glad that you're tagging along.