What is Instagram for you? For me it is all about being inspired, learning something new and making (like minded) friends. I hope in some way I am this for you. That I inspire you to go somewhere you haven’t been before, to buy a piece of clothing that is outside of your comfort zone or to help you to feel better through my health tips. Through this app I have made many new friends. I will happily chat away to people who engage on my photos or through messages. In talking with them I almost always learn new things and on several occasions now have actually met up in real life for a brew. With all this in mind, in my ‘ladies doing it their way‘ series, I want to introduce you to people you may not be following who are doing amazing things on their grids to educate and inspire us.
I met the fabulous Ruth at a blogger event held by No House Rules at the beginning of the year. At the event she was smiley, chatty and just very lovely. We swapped Instagram accounts and (as you do) I came home and stalked her. (wearitlikeruth). How she comes across on her grid is totally how she is in real life. She is relatable and the clothing she shares is attainable. This is why I love her. It’s at price points that most people can afford whilst at the same time being classic with a twist. She is funny, gorgeous (have you seen her figure) and along with Lisa (thesearchforsassiness) is helping hundreds of petite and tall ladies with their new hashtag #thelongandtheshortofit. Lisa is a petite lady at 5’1 and Ruth is tall and together they go into high street stores trying on clothes so they can show their audiences what that style looks like on both. I am such a fan.
Tell me a bit about yourself
I’ve just turned 40; I say just; it was in October but the celebrations have only just finished!! I actually love being 40…don’t get me wrong, to be 28 again would be fun but I’ve had my time. What else…I’m married to Andy, it’ll be 13 years this October and we’ve three children. It wasn’t an easy road getting our babies, two laparoscopies, failed ivf attempts… and then had two healthy pregnancies naturally (we’ve identical twin girls) we consider ourselves to be totally blessed (most days!!) I’ve worked in lots of different roles, reckon my skills are pretty adaptable… although it’s fair to say I’ve never known what I’ve wanted to do and it’s probably taken me until now to get more clarity on this…
I’m a Geordie… but a fake one according to my husband as I don’t speak like Cheryl Cole haha!! I loved school, my husband also thinks this is odd but I honestly had the best time of my life. I’m not a veggie but easily could be, but Andy does 99% of the cooking in our house so I’m open to the odd meat dish to keep him happy.
Where did your love of fashion come from? I love all you choices and wonder where you get your inspiration from?
To be honest I’ve always loved style… as a kid if I didn’t get a entire brand new outfit to wear on Christmas day I was in a right strop, I know spoilt child or what?! I did a Retailing degree at Leeds Met Uni, my first proper job was down in London at BHS head office as a buying assistant on ladies accessories. God knows how I got the job as I reckon I flunked the maths test (I got a C at GCSE and now I dread the kids homework!!) It must have been the cool outfit I wore to the interview. At the time I had a part time job at whistles so the suit was killer! London was a huge inspiration to me back then. As soon as I was paid I would head to Portobello road market and buy something I knew no one else back in Leeds would have, I’d spend time in and out of the vintage shops near Brick Lane and literally eat cereal for the rest of the month. My influences are so varied, growing up it was definitely Kate Moss, I still love her style and all round ability to make everything she wears her own. Now, Instagram has opened up a whole new world of doors not just for fashion, but travel, interiors and food. People I’d have never even known about had it not been for these squares…handles I love are @aninebing @mum_a_porter @annacascarina @ericadavies @gemcwade and so many many more…
Your Instagram account has done so well, why do you think this is? Any tips or tricks?
Thanks!! I started wearitlikeruth in August 2018 initially to make myself accountable to wear my wardrobe well, not just 20% of it and not just t-shirt and jeans which had become my easy go to mum uniform. I was boring myself and wanted to stop saving the best items in my wardrobe for an occasion that to be honest might never arise!!! But what’s happened since then has been amazing. So much fun. I get incredible messages from such lovely people saying I’ve inspired them which keeps me on my toes to continue. I’ve met some totally lush people too. I must say too that I’ve had a huge amount of support from the Instagram community, it’s such a positive place and one fab friend in particular has been a massive cheerleader. Katie @comedowntothewoods (if you are not following her my question is this….why?!?!)
Where are your favourite places to buy clothing from and why?
My fave places to buy… oooh again I buy from all sorts of places now, places I wouldn’t know about if Instagram didn’t exist as it’s given the smaller brands, the brand with no physical shopwindow the platform to shine…but without a doubt andotherstories is my number one shop where I know that I’ll find something no matter what the occasion, I love their footwear, clothing, swimwear, jewellery…kind of a one stop shop for me. Zara is an easy one for me too.
I’m intrigued by peoples morning routines and how they set themselves up for the day. What is your breakfast/morning routine?
I love this question…. I am HUGE believer in a morning routine and I know what I’d love to do each morning and it would go like this……
Wake up without an alarm
Write down all the things I am thankful for
20 minutes of yoga stretches and quiet
A massage
Strong coffee whilst planning the day ahead
Then the kids wake….
Unfortunately in my real world, no matter what I do I can’t find the rhythm or the time or I’ve not been trying consistently enough to get anywhere close to this.
But what I do know is that the days I set my alarm at 5.45 to get to a 6.30 gym class are by far the best days of the week I have. I exercise for my mind. It keeps me feeling like me, it gives me the head space I need but equally I love the results on my body too
In the last 5 years what new belief, habit or behaviour has most improved your life?
It’s not really a belief or a behaviour but I guess my outlook on life has changed since my cancer diagnosis in 2016. It was a huge shock which I am sure it is for everyone, but I was young, healthy and had a cough, that was all. Thankfully the GP had the insight to check my neck and felt a lump. God knows how long it’d been there but put it this way, I had no idea what my thyroid was/ or did but it turned out to be thyroid cancer. Thankfully after a couple of operations and a short course of radiotherapy all I need now is to be regularly checked up at the hospital and I take thyroxine everyday. But just to be told you have the C word before you reach 40 and you’ve three young kids was enough to make me realise that we have one shot at this thing called life, so I may as well make it a good one. So my behaviour in some ways has become a bit more f*ck it..if that makes sense!!
If you could put one book in the high school curriculum what would it be and why?
Whilst the kids were tiny I ran a successful network marketing business which I just loved. Not only did I meet so many incredible people but I found it to be a great way to earn money flexibly around the kids. Anyway, another HUGE thing I learnt during this time was mindset, positive mindset and the power this has in adults but also our kids too. I came across some brilliant books which our kids love and honestly they should be made compulsory childhood reading… In my heart, a book of feelings by Jo Whitek and How are you feeling today by Molly Potter.
What impact do you want to have on the world?
If I had the power to change things, clearly there’s huge issues going on in our world that I’d love to be able to effect but by myself it’s unlikely…so if all I have in my lifetime is the ability to be be a positive influence on my kids in just a tiny way then I’ll die happy. It’s the small things… having manners and being kind. I’m happy with that. Being a parent is quite probably the toughest thing I’ll ever do in my lifetime, I often joke with my friends that we should all have degrees in child psychology, but it’s a “learn on the job” kind of thing isn’t it? No one knows what they’re doing, it’s ok to just go with my gut and think what would my mum do?!?!
What do you wish you could tell your younger self?
Wow. So so much but I still wouldn’t have bl**dy listened!! Erm… probably that in life it’s better to be the flamingo amongst the flock of pigeons. To always listen to your gut instinct… it is ALWAYS right. To never be afraid of starting a conversation, you never know where it could lead. (Even now I have to have a quiet word with myself to be brave in new situations) To travel more. Try to appreciate your 20s like they’ll never happen again, it’s hard because you believe you’ll never grow old. I get it. But you will and one day you’ll want to do it all again… Make a list of your log ins/ passwords… life will be much easier haha!!
What do you love/hate about Instagram?
I love that it allows me to have some kind of creative outlet. I love the fact that it’s a source of information, it is massively inspiring and to be honest I use it more now than Google as a search engine… for example if I’m going on holiday I’ll search a specific # to our destination to find restaurants/ local activities etc etc
I love that it’s opened up so many doors for smaller, independent business’s and bloggers too. An exciting time to potentially carve yourself a new career from your passion and maybe even earn some money along the way too. I love meeting and connecting with the faces off “the gram” (too many to mention) Shelley I include you in this, I mean we’d never have met had it not been for the @nohouserules events!!
What I dislike, I guess is that for some people there’s so much “unknown” about Instagram, and as is often the case in life; with a lack of information comes negativity. Everyday is a school day as they say; I have so much to learn but I am embracing every day and every opportunity that comes my way, I guess because I love it and when you find something that sets your soul on fire even the challenges are something to be embraced.
Shelley x
