You want to change something? Put some stress on it

I am always hearing people talk about changing the world, or about changing other people but rarely do we talk of changing ourselves.

Change and managing it is something I find interesting personally and professionally. It comes in two flavours and I'm not talking chocolate or vanilla. Change is either planned or forced. The difference between the two is simple our choice - we choose planned change and bought into it, forced change is as the name implies forced upon us and we have no choice but to chew down on the sandwich of change and pretend that we like the flavour.

Our reactions to change are interesting. I must confess that when it comes to forced change I tend to like the "let's sweep the pieces of the chess board approach", my logic being you will remember where the important things were and keep them.

The thing is if you want something to change you have to apply some stress or force so that you change and adapt, it is just like exercise, you increase the weight and stress your body it gets stronger. And over time you start to realise you are capable of things you weren't before.

Most people talk about stress like it is a bad thing, the reality is most of us have no problem what so ever with stress. It is anxiety that is the killer. So stress yourself out in the right way, make a change a positive one. A change that is going to have you queuing at the front of that door waiting for it to open.Or maybe the change you want to make is shutting a door and leaving what was.

Welcome constructive criticism, look at how your life might improve if you take the feedback in positive light."This is right." "This is wrong." We make such distinctions all the time. We hardly think twice about them, how often do we say 'This is wrong at the moment but if only I were to do this, or that, it would all be right!' 

For some strange reason, too many of us equate creativity with speculation. If a leap of imagination is called for, or a change to the status quo is so much as considered, we suspect that we are dabbling in the realms of dangerous risk. Yet if you don't, what will ever change? What wonderful things are you missing out? The people, the places and the experiences.

People who are you friends say things for a reason, their motivation is not to cause you pain, upset or berate you (we are all only human), instead maybe they said it because they want you to grow as a person and be the very best that you can possibly be.

So you want to change something? Put some stress on it!

Now when it comes to change then this dress is one of the biggest I have made, I would have never worn circle skirts if it wasn't for Marv. I trust her when it comes to telling me the truth about what looks good, because your friends want you to look and be your best. Anyway when Marv said wear the orange belt (orange is a funny colour if you have red hair) I knew to trust her. Friends make us move outside our comfort zones and they do it for your benefit not theirs, the trick is knowing who has your best interests at heart; and sometimes the answer to that question can be surprising.

Dress: Netti in Tiki Print by Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Silver screen Sunday's with Ava

I have been saving The Dambusters all week, and I am going to indulge today. I love that film, there is one line that makes it for me. Some lesser spotted RAF person is extolling the rarities of the Wellington bomber and that how did Barnes Wallace think he was going to convince anyone to lend him one for this project..............He simply replied "Tell them I designed it".

Sometimes it is cool to be the geek :) It's fair to say we dropped on when it came to geeks in WW2, Turing, Wallace, Whittle and Fleming. Necessity is after all the mother of invention. 

Someone has to add the Geek Chic, it's not all socks, sandals and pipes you know. Ava in Green is a beautiful and comfortable dress and great for a little silver screen indulgence. I love the satin sheen and the rouching. I'm still having fun breaking those fashion rules :)

Dress: Ava in Green by Pinup girl clothing
Shoes: Aldo

Courageous creations, can you refuse the muse?

Beethoven’s symphonies were courageous creations. So, too, were Picasso’s paintings, Byron’s poems, Einstein's theories. What if any of these great artists and scientists had decided to refuse the muse. All were human. All had doubts about their own ability - or the ’worth’ of their contribution. All of them too, had bills to pay, chores to perform, social and domestic commitments to honor. They didn't have to be develop their talents. They were not obliged to believe in themselves. Are you any less special? 

Well then... what SHOULD you be doing now? This is a time for developing your talent and using your imagination. Beyond the mountains of reality lie oceans of ideas. 

Never forget that creativity contains a precious truth all of its own. The Experiences, the sights, the sensations and the people that inspire us to create are a reflection of our inner selves.

The most precious thing that any of us has is ourselves (not your house, car or money - but plain old you). When we are inspired to dance, to write stories or to compose poetry, write code or experiments we show and share a part of ourselves. A treasured token and this is the greatest gift any of us can ever give, part of ourselves.

Being creative is also about breaking the rules, and sometimes you have to be your own muse. I decided to inspire myself by breaking some fashion rules :) I'll let you guess which ones!

Shorts: tailored red sateen high waisted shorts by pinup girl clothing
Top: Black halterneck by pin up girl clothing
Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Trials, Planetary Laws and a Lawyer's unexpected patent

This morning in 1536, Anne Boleyn woke up in the Tower of London and went to face her trial. She knew she would be sentenced to death, but there was still her daughter to preserve. She was charged with treason, adultery and incest.

In 1618 Johannes Kepler confirmed his previously rejected discovery of the third law of planetary motion. It was ground breaking as it moved away from the idea of perfect circles, and well he was outrageous, he actually used physics in astronomy! The establishment didn't like that. Without these discoveries there would have been no foundation for Newton's work on gravity.

In 1718, James Puckle and London Lawyer patented the first machine gun, it fired 9 shots per minute and was called the "Defense gun"  though it is best known as the puckle gun. As with many ideas and inventions the design was ahead of it's time and so never achieved mass production because the components were too complex to be manufactured accurately by the gunsmiths of time. Indeed it was said that the gun "only wounded those who hold shares therein".

Each of these events shaped the world we live in today, Anne Boleyn's daughter defeated a superpower and set us on the road to empire. Kepler's law gave us space travel, satellites, mobile phones, communication and well you can see how James Puckle changed the world on the news every day. It is the ripples of history on the pond of time.

Today it had to be a dress with stripes because the way the bands follow are like the peak and troughs of the waves in the pond, it makes sense that it is blue too.

Dress: Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Character contributes to beauty

Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades. A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude, and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful.

A Woman's beauty
Her pretty face first attracts a person who wants to flirt,
Her kind heart is what attracts a lover, 
Her strength of character now that, that is what attracts a man.

I am always telling people, care more for your character than for your reputation. Your character is what you think of yourself, your reputation is merely what other people think of you.

The reason that your character is so important is simple. That's the person who stares back at you in the mirror. I think the reason that judgemental people irritate me so much is because they aren't the people looking into the other persons mirror! I mean how arrogant are you to think that what is appropriate for you is appropriate for everyone, not to mention incredibly narrow minded.

So there is wisdom in the tale of Snow White, the fairest of them all, are the people who see the beauty of their true self, their character. Vain people, see only what people think of them and can't face themselves.

Dress: Grace by Pinup Girl Clothing
Shoes: Aldo

Happy Star Wars Day! The long and short of it

Star wars day and my sisters 50th Birthday party, how exciting? It is as good as it gets because it means outfit change :) Love it! It is also Saturday and that means shorts day :)

I like this outfit, the cardigan is really soft and snuggly and I love the sailor collar with the anchors on it. It looks really sweet, the red shorts are my favourite tailored ones from pin up girl clothing in a chirpy bright red and as ever heels. 

Cardigan: Hell bunny

Shorts: Tailored shorts in red by pinup girl clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

I'm hell on heels .....

I'm hell on heels,

Say what you will

I've gone and made the devil a deal,

He made me pretty, 

He made me smart,

Now I'm going to ................

Pimp myself mercilessly for charity

Please sponsor Marv - She is cycling for Combat Stress

Text

MCCS75

£1 or whatever amount up to £10

To

70070

Dress: Military Secretary by Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Aldo

Please sponsor Marv - She is cycling for Combat Stress

High 5 day :)

Well you have to laugh when you get high 5 wherever you go thanks to facebook! And there I was thinking that it was just my shorts and good looks :) Hehe

I love bright primary colours, they are cheerful and look great in the sunshine. The top is called Doris, and seems to generate the compliments "love the lapels" not something you expect to hear. Still it is a pretty top and it is flattering too. I love the bright blue shorts, they are tailored with a high waist.

Top: Doris in Red Pinup girl clothing

Shorts: Tailored shorts in blue sateen

Shoes: Schuh

And so it was declared, Saturday is shorts day

There was a long tradition of Capri pant Friday, which involved The Cure and Crunchie. That tradition fell away once I could wear Capri pants when ever I wanted at work. The song changed too as did the chocolate indulgence.

So it is time to start a new one, from henceforth Saturday is shorts day. Part of this is because I get annoyed when so called "fashion editors" say things like women over 30 shouldn't wear shorts, gingham or have long hair. But then bless them these are the people who describe some horrific outfits as "On trend". 

I see it as my reason d'etre to show them that actually whether you can wear shorts or not depends on your legs not your age. On the topic of gingham and long hair, then I am with Coco Chanel, you have the face nature gave you at 20 and the face you deserve at 40. I will be wearing my hair long, loving gingham and wearing shorts (not to mention daisy dukes) for as long as I can. I've been breaking the rules for 8 years now, and I love it!

Marv and I have had the debate about when it is time to hang up the shorts and playsuits, that's what is great about a best friend they tell you when something doesn't suit you 

These blue sateen tailored shorts are fab, they were so good I also bought them in red and black! I love that they are shiny, they look really nice teamed with a blue gingham halterneck. This is a look that doesn't date, it just looks nice and summery.  

Shorts: Blue Sateen Shorts by Laura Byrnes at Pinup Girl Clothing

Top: Halterneck in Blue Gingham by Vivien of Holloway

Over the Hedge with Hammy

I find the kids movie Over the Hedge really funny. I have been likened to Hammy the squirrel this probably explains why people don't let me have energy drinks! So today I am going over the hedge and wearing my cute squirrel print dress because I could do with some of Hammy's energy levels.

This dress is very pretty it has a straight top with scalloping on the front which leads into a fitted circle skirt. It is very feminine, and easy to wear, it also makes you want to twirl round or go for a picnic. (Don't forget to pack the nuts). I like the soft beige's and peachy pinks of the print it works well in spring, summer or at the start of Autumn, this dress is a good all rounder.

Dress: Nettie in Squirrel print by Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

The shorts of sympathy and solidarity

Terry Pratchett hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that someday's the Trouser of Time bifurcate and you unexpectedly shoot off  down the wrong leg. We all have those moments, and that's why we have friends, they arrive armed with the shorts of sympathy and solidarity. 

Life rarely goes to plan, in fact life is what happens whilst we are bust making plans. This doesn't mean we shouldn't have them but it does mean that we have to be flexible and adapt. We have to be willing to let go of the life we planned, to have the life that is waiting for us.

So here's to the genius of shorts, they are fabulous. The red sateen material of these shorts is beautiful, I just love it's bright shine. Teamed with a chiffon blue blouse with cream neck tie trimmed in red this makes a cute 'sailor girl' outfit. 

Shorts: Red Sateen high waist tailored shorts by Pinup girl clothing

Top: By Tara Starlet

  

The many faces of Doris: An Auntie, A Cat and A Top

When we here words we associate things with them, the more association the greater our ability to think laterally. Doris makes me think laterally. I think of my Gran's sister Auntie Doris, My Cat called Doris, the cartoon cat called Doris, Doris Day and my top by pin up girl clothing.

I like to mix bright colours, and I think the red of the top and shoes looks really pretty with the purple skirt. It also adds a modern twist to the vintage look.

Top: Doris in red by pinup girl clothing

Shirt: Vixen in purple by Bettie Page clothing

Shoes: Aldo

  

Good Friday? Makes me want to take Charles Atlas by the hand

It is going to be a fab day :) Marv and I are off to see the Rocky Horror Show as part of my birthday celebrations. I love the Rocky Horror Show  I went to see it for the first time when I was a teenager and I guess I have been hooked ever since, but then I did understand How Frank'n'Furter felt when it came to Faye Wray:

What ever happened to Faye Wray?
That delicate satin draped frame
As it clung to her thigh,
How I started to cry
'Cause I wanted to be dressed just the same.

It has some amazing songs, Sweet Transvestite, Toucha toucha touch me and the classic "I can make you a man" which is always an amusing track to pick when you are doing weights at the gym!....Something might as well want to  take Charles Atlas by the hand!

So to get into the spirit things before I get ready I thought I would wear Violet. She's a show stopper for sure, and it seems to sensible to start off in Violet as I will be Magenta later on!

The gathered bust is lined in stretch charmeuse for comfort and support, and the bengaline continues under the velvet to give the shoulders more structure. The bust features a daring keyhole front and two black rhinestone faux buttons sparkle at the collar. Finished off with a back zip, puff sleeves, and a matching grommet velvet belt. 

Dress: Violet in Red by Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Your jade will break first

The Chinese say your jade will break before you do, and I like that as a thought, especially as my jade hasn't broken yet. I guess though that if life were going to break me that there is a fair chance it would have done it by now. So here's to being the unbreakable Mrs B! (well the one from the Titanic was unsinkable).

I love the dark emerald colour of the silk. It is beautiful and a classic colour. The dress has a slash at the neckline with the ornate knotted buttons that so typify the chinese style. The high neckline is a challenge for me as I don't like things tight around my neck but this is nice and roomy and I can comfortably fit all fingers between the collar and my neck (this matters).

The unusual aspect to this dress is the big Obi sash. I love this feature of Japanese/Chinese clothing. A huge bow at the back? WOW, though as Marv says the bows tend to be wider than I am! Still they are great fun, and it is cute to wear a bow at the back of your belt, it really emphasises your derriere in a nice way.

Dress: Jade Dress in Teal with Obi Sash Belt

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Anchors away, the last of 37

Today is just like New Year's Eve, except it is my New Year's Eve :) Add that that the bonus of it being the Spring Equinox (or Autumn to those in the southern hemisphere) And in your life, wherever in the world you happen to be? It speaks of renewal. Reflection, reconsideration and review.

I love to spend the day reflecting on what has changed over the year, the ways I have grown as a person, the things I have learned about myself the people I have met and the new friends I have made.

We get out of life what we put into it, this holds true for every aspect of life. People will place the same value on you, as you place on yourself, so value yourself and be kind :)

Well it's anchors away for 37 - you have been an amazing year! 

THANKS to you all - the main characters, the supporting roles, the extras and the innocent bystanders who helped, aided or indeed abetted to make this year it was.

Big hugs xx 

Dress: Nettie in Anchor print by Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Mary Janes in white by Boredello

The friends you haven't met!

Today's dress is called Christina and she is a stunning! I love the material it is a shiny stretch bengaline in the most amazing teal colour. It is beautiful. The wide neckline and fold over collar that wraps in a V and finished at your waste really is flattering to your decollete. It is great for emphasising you curves.

It is a special dress because of it's name, you see I have a best friend who I will never get to meet called Christina, and trust me she is special she's been keeping her eye on Adrian for the past 4 years! And to put up with him that long means she gets my full respect. When Merv and Marv party down here, Chris and Adi are partying up there :) 

Sometimes things happen to you and at that time they seem horrible, painful and unfair, but on reflection you realise that without overcoming these obstacles you would have never realised, your potential, strength and power of heart. Everything happens for a reason, nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments or true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of the soul. Without these tests life would be like a smooth paved, straight flat road to nowhere - safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. These are the things that make us who we are.

"If love is blind, friendship is clairvoyant".

Dress: Christina in Teal by Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

But maybe I ought to practice a little now? 

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised 

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple. 

  

I thought I better give people warning as to the impending aquisition of extra age, and get some practice in so people aren't so shocked and suprised when I start to wear purple! Though the people who know me well know that purple is my favourite colour. I love it, but when it comes to my favourite colour to wear it is green and then turquoise/teal.

This is a great Friday dress and the ladies at the gym love it too!

Dress: Lorelei in Purple
Shoes: Kurt Geiger




Stanley Kubrick: I wanna be your drill instructor

Today in 1999 Stanley Kubrick passed away, he was regarded as one of the greatest film makers of all time. His films include but are not limited to

1. Spartacus

2. Lolita 

3: Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb

3. Clockwork Orange

4. 2001: A Space Odessey

5: Full Metal Jacket

Spartacus, an epic movie. Who will ever forget the lines "I'm Spartacus", "No, I'm Spartacus". I always found it fitting that the woman who was the match for Spartacus was a Brigantes, no where makes women quite like they do in the North West of England.

2001 A Space Odessey made HAL 9000 a household name, and every techie has at some point put a copy of "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that" and replaced a command so that file executes instead LOL For the none techies HAL stands for Hardware Abstraction Layer, and the music amazing. Amazing!

When it comes Full Metal Jacket I will never forget the scene when Gunnery Sergeant Hartman walks in and demands that Private Leonard Lawrence surrender his rifle, Hartman is killed by Lawrence who then takes his own life with an M14 rifle. It is this scene where the file gets it's title and the line "seven six two millimetre full metal jacket". Sadly psychotic episodes rarely if ever end well.

Dress: Military Pinup Dress in Olive Green with Red Trim by Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: Aldo 



Poetry in motion

Rupert Brooke was born today in 1887 he died in 1915. He is perhaps best known for his poem "The Solider". I never fail to be moved by the line:  That there's some corner of a foreign field, that is for ever England.

I have been getting back into my poetry over the last few days. I enjoy writing poems though I will confess I don't have much skill, still it is about enjoying it. It is nice to write poetry, it is cool surprising your friends on their birthdays with things you wrote just for them!

I am going to spend the afternoon indulging in writing, reading and dancing. I want a nice relaxed outfit that I can chill out in, so what better than Capri pants and a halterneck top? These are wardrobe staples.

Capri pants: Dangerous curves by Deadly Dames

Halterneck: Red Gingham by Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Aldo

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke

If I should die, think only this of me;  

That there's some corner of a foreign field  

That is for ever England. There shall be  

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;  

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,         

Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,  

A body of England's breathing English air,  

  Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.  

  

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,  

A pulse in the eternal mind, no less  

Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;  

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;  

And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,  

In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Going Bertie: Liquorice Allsorts

It's getting ever closer to spring and the days are getting brighter and soon all the lovely spring flowers will start blooming. 

It's March! So you are allowed to be as mad as a March Hare (not to mention a hatter) so I've gone a bit Bertie and I am wearing my liquorice allsorts outfit!

The national press are terribly disparaging about women over 30, we shouldn't have long hair, wear shorts (or Capri pants) or wear gingham! Oh well rules were put there to be tested and broken LOL I'll still be rocking my Capri pants in the old folks home with Marv, whilst we dye our hair rainbow bright colours.

So here's to continued long hair, gingham tops, dresses and playsuits, shorts and hot pants! 

Capri Pants: Dangerous Curves in Hot Pink by Deadly Dames

Halterneck Top: Black and WHite Gingham by Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Mary Janes by Bordello

Growing Old Disgracefully by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple 

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me. 

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves 

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter. 

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired 

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells 

and run my stick along the public railings 

and make up for the sobriety of my youth. 

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain 

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens 

and learn to spit. 

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat 

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go 

or only bread and pickles for a week 

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes. 

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry 

and pay our rent and not swear in the street 

and set a good example for the children. 

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers. 

But maybe I ought to practice a little now? 

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised 

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.