The Mess Loves: Goddess Flora and Emily de Molly!

Hello my dove!

On Thursday, I went to the Clipsal 500 for the first time. I know it might seem a bit strange for a sequin high heeled, fairy floss eating cupcake enthusiast to be so excited over a car race, but I have to say- I honestly had an amazing day! The first thing I saw when I walked through the gate was a glittering purple Vegasmobile. It is my all time fantasy car. Amaze.

Sexpotmobile!

 

 

For those of you who don't know, the Clipsal 500 is a four-day long car racing event held in Adelaide each year. There's a bit of a stigma surrounding the event that it tends to 'bring out the bogans'- the beer-bellied, the crass-mouthed, the rat-tailed, the car-paraphenarliea-adorned, the drunken hob-nobs. I have to say that while there certainly were... shall we say... lots of 'car-over-enthusiasts' about the place, they were all so obviously enjoying the day and the culture surrounding the race that it didn't even matter!

 

The atmosphere was rich and colourful, full of excitement. I never understood why they call car racing a 'sport'- it always seemed to me that all it requires is for one person to sit behind a wheel and go round and round in circles at high speeds. I can now say that I have a new appreciation for the sport, and the teams that make these events work. Everyone involved, from the drivers to the spectators, is enthusiastic like no other. I'm so glad I went and experienced the Clipsal 500- at the very least, it's something to tick off my bucket list!

 

. . . . .

 

Now, the real reaosn I'm writing to you today is to share my new-found excitement for Etsy. 

 

Etsy is an online marketplace for crafters of handmade goods to sell their wares. Mittens, photoframes, jewellery, bridal veils, beaded shoes, tea cosies... the list is practically endless. Until I came accross a spectacular bottle of nailpolish on Pinterest, I really didn't have any appeciation for exactly who and what can be found in this cyber-treasure trove. So, last night, I logged into my newly created account and made three purchases that I am super, super excited about...!

 

The Mess Loves...

 

Nail polishes by Emily de Molly! 

 

 

'A Touch of Vintage'                        'Girl's Best Friend'

 

 

These might actually be some of the best sparkly nailpolishes I have ever found. Emily de Molly colours are bright and vibrant, super sparkly and totally amazing. Easy bottle is 12ml in size with ball bearings inside so they don't congeal and settle on the bottom. Emily de Molly polishes use 'high quality suspension bases' for all the glittery colours. This ensures that the glitter doesn't sink to the bottom of the bottle, which means less shaking and more even sparkle coverage. All the glitters are solvent resistant, too- helloooooo, long-wearing! 

 

I bought the 'Girl's Best Friend' pink holographic polish (!) and the 'Touch of Vintage'- I think this one in particular will be a brilliant addition to my manicure kit, because it's wearable over any base colour imaginable. Can't wait to try it over a lilac-coloured polish!  

 

 

Flower crowns by Goddess Flora!

 

 

 

 

These magical wreaths of deliciousness are handcrafted by the 'hopeless romantics' at Goddess Flora. Fully customisable and 100% beautiful, they are the perfect topper to any outfit- particuarly those of Spring and Autumn!

  

I've just placed and order for a hot pink crown of sheer delight (pics coming as soon as I recieve it). I already have big plans for the first few outfits I'll be crowning with one of these beauties...

 

. . . . .

 

The best part about Goddess Flora and Emily de Molly is that they are both owned and operated by Aussie girls! Goddess Flora herself Holly is from Sydney, and Hayley of Emily de Molly is from Canberra. Love supporting Australian businesses!

 

I can't wait to share my goodies with you when they arrive! Head on over to Goddess Flora and Emily de Molly to check out their amazing stores!

 

 

Holographic sparkles and Vegasmobiles,

 

MJ x

 

 

 



Back to Basics: Create A Style Map!

Thanks dothetwirl, Stephanie and Heather!

Hiya sweetcheeks!


Q. What do the above three wardrobes have in common?

A. Nothing!

Isn't that fabulous?

The first one reflects a romantic femininity. The second an eclectic vibrancy. The third a casual effortlessness.

. . . . .

When a person goes through a bit of a crisis, it's typical that once they've pulled through the other end, they begin to wonder- who is this person? Who is this stranger that I lost sight of all those years ago? Emotional reactions, thoughts, language, external relationships and routine aren't the only things that need to be rediscovered once lost. The same is true of style, aesthetic, passion and excitement.

The things that make you tick, the things that you love and appreciate- they are all the things that make up who you really are. These things are the truest reflection of your own beautiful form. And yet it's easy to allow someone, or several people, to take those things away from you through maintaining detrimental relationships.

So- what does all this have to do with our wardrobes?!

Most of us tend not to really think about what we're wearing every day. We all wail loudly that we have nothing to wear, while staring emptily at a faceless mass of fabric and faux fur dangling from wire hangers. Mis-matched socks, broken jewellery, clashing patterns, things that are too big, things that are just a fraction too small. Our wardrobes have become towering terrors that mock us as we stand in our underwear every morning, attempting to dress.

... perhaps I may be overstating the facts of the matter a little. But, the truth remains- my wardrobe, and by wider association, my personal style, is currently a diabloical mess.

The other night when I couldn't sleep, I began mulling over all of this in my head. I've been feeling exceptionally frustrated lately that I can't seem to channel the vibrancy that I want to through what I wear. I consider myself to be a happy, sparkly, spontaneous type of person. I like to have fun and I'm a real girly girl! I love pink (and I refuse to apologise for that). I am obsessed with glitter and sparkly things. I love hats and fascinators and flower crowns and pretty much anything else you can wear on your head. I love to paint my nails and I love to paint a false beauty mark on my cheek. So at one thirty in the morning, I got up, sat on the floor in my pyjamas and drew this.

This brain storming tool is called a mind map. You might recognise the clouds, lines, squiggles, notes and illustrations from any group project you ever had to do in primary school. Remember those big old sheets of butcher's paper that the teacher used to hand out? Well, buck up, Junior, because mind mapping is an awesome way for you to jot down all your thoughts, make bizarre connections and understand your own thought processes to help you learn more about yourself!

This particular design is my own personal style map. All the headings surrounded by red cloud lines are the major things that I personally love about clothing, and what I have always pictured myself wearing. Let's take a look, shall we?

 

. . . . .

Style Icons

These are women that, in my opinion, stand out from the crowd. They are stylistic, bold, confident. I love their own interpretations of femininity, and they all bring something unique and a little bit off-beat to the table!

Marie Antionette

(from Garet Thrussel)

 

Katy Perry

(from Touch Puppet)

 

 

Betsey Johnson

(from Huffington Post)

 

 

Lana Del Rey

(from MuuMuse)

 

 

 

Zooey Deschanel

(from Just Jared)

 

 

Marilyn Monroe

(from Fan Pop)

 

 

Edie Sedgewick

(from Moblog)

 

 

Carrie Bradshaw

(from Pauper to Princess)

 

Colours

These are the colours that I gravitate towards in stores. They are the colours I always notice on other people walking down the street. They are colours that reflect me and my personality!

- Bright pink/ fuschia
- Aquamarine/ turqoise
- Bright purple/ lavendar
- Mint green
- Bright yellow
- Black/ white (when striped or polka dot-ted!)
- Silver and gold

Patterns and Textures

I've always really struggled with patterns and textures. I love them but I've struggled to work with them. These are a few that I adore and that I want to learn to wear confidently!

- Leopard print
- Polka dots
- Stripes
- Cow print
- Sequins
- Glitter
- Furs (faux)
- Tulle (think TUTUS!!!)

Shapes

I'm having a girly girl blowout at the moment- crushing hard on all things pretty (including pretty mental)! I really want to make an effort to embrace my figure- while it's slowly shaping up, there's no denying I'm packing some decent curves. I'm tired of self-conciously covering myself in loose, floaty, oversized garmets. Bring on the cinch, yo!

- Full, twirly skirts
- A-line shapes
- Deep V or sweetheart necklines
- Wider straps
- Cinching with belts
- Tighter tops

Accessories

I LOVE to accessorise. See the following:

- Flowers
- Jewels
- Bows
- Statement rings
- Statement earrings
- Looooong necklaces (pearls!?)
- Flower crowns
- Hats/ fascinators
- Any other type of headwear imaginable
- Scarves

Shoes

I am a shoe freak. An addict. I just can't help myself. I love towering heels and strappy flats. There are, however, a few little additions and tweaks I need to look into:

- Flat gold glitter lace ups
- Enclosed neon yellow flats
- Anything jewel-encrusted
- Turqoise/ pink pumps
- New boots for Autumn (this will take some serious consideration!)

Face + Nails

I adore 60's inspired makeup- the dramatic eyes and amazing pale lips are so bold, and yet so indulgently lady-like it hurts. Loving the super-defined eye crease, loads of eyeliner and killer sets of false lashes!

- 'Cat eye' eyeline (big kicks)
- White liner on bottom waterline
- Full set false lashes
- Full, candy coloured lips (pinks and corals)
- Faux beauty spots!
- Shimmers
- Pink cheeks
- Fun nails (pinks, turqoise, lots of glitter)

. . . . .

What you wear is supposed to be a fun, honest expression of who you are and what you're all about. I can't wait to get stuck into shattering out my wardrobe, and to start dressing to reflect who I am. It's been far too long since I felt truly happy in my clothes- time to start making positive changes in this area, I think!

The next instalment in this series will be all about picking through my wardrobe, making connections bewteen colours and patterns, identifying existing common themes and things that I'm not vibing any more. If you want to join me, why not create your own style map? Start having a think about what you love to wear, what you don't, what you wish you owned, what you need to chuck out. Bonus points if you snap a photo of it and post it to our Facebook page!

 Let's start cultivating some amazing style!


Cat eyes and pink kisses,

MJ x

Fringe Festival 2013!

Hey there, Sexpot!

Ah, Sunday. A lazy, luxurious, lounging day. A day reserved specifically for the browsing of the internet, the baking of cookies, the watching of movies, the twiddling of thumbs. I feel pleasantly refreshed this morning after a decent night's sleep, which I haven't managed to achieve for a few days- I was sooo tired last night! I hope you are having a lovely Sunday morning, and that you have nothing to do today other than sink into a delectable pile of squishy cushions and soak up your considerable awesomeness.

. . . . .

 

For the most part, Adelaide is a sleepy little city that sits at the bottom of Australia doing nothing. Often times, Adelaide is described by others who have visitied here as a 'big old country town'. Our CBD is a grand total of two square miles. It is surrounded by rolling parklands. There is precisely one shopping strip in the CBD, and perhaps four hotspots within the centre of the city for cafes and dining. All in all, it's teeny. You can walk from one side to the other in half an hour.

However once a year, a massive, loud, whirling, fizzing, exuberant, fairylight-covered mess erupts at the Eastern end of the city. This gargantuan spectacle attracts visitors from all over the globe, and performances of every nature fill all the nooks and crannies of our sleepy little town for four glorious weeks. I am, of course, talking about the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

It is, without a doubt, the most exciting time in Adelaide each year. Every person I know looks forward to Fringe time, because at Fringe time, something magical happens. Where there was once a rolling, hilly park at the end of a cafe strip, a giant, magical playground seems to erect itself as though by magic. This fantastical construction is called the Garden of Unearthly Delights.

Thanks, Mike Krebs!

The Garden is a sumptuous playground of sights, smells and sounds. There's an astounding array of international foods ranging from Cuban to Turkish to Italian. There are several pop-up bars dotted under the canopy of fairylight-covered trees, including a bar set up in a disused double decker bus. Performers trek from all over the globe for the chance to share their talents in the Garden. You name it, we've got it- rope tricks, jazz bands, jugglers, midget comedians, sword swallowers. There are sideshows and rides, circus tents, glittering costumes, impromptu performances... it's absolutely, truly spectacular. It's my all-time favourite event on the calendar in Adelaide. Maybe even in Australia. And I got to visit the Garden on Friday night!

Here are a few happy snaps from my adventure- sorry about the poor quality, they were taken on my iPhone 3GS! (Don't laugh at me!)

Fairy lights in the trees <3

 

 

Left: The Claw ride! The hot pink carriages were so pretty spinning round and round and round and round and round and round ...

Right: The FERRIS WHEEL!!!

NOTE: I had been wanting to ride the ferris wheel at the Fringe for about three years and never had the chance. I made sure I did it this year! I even got a sneaky ferris wheel kiss at the top- best night ever!

 

 

Myself and the gorgeous Carmel, flipping out on our rickety old ferris wheel ride with our respective 'beau's!

 



 

 

Top: Aqua Balls! I had never seen these before, so imagine my delight when my most hilarious friend paid to crawl inside a deflated, giant balloon, get puffed up to the size of a teenaged elephant and bob around in a pool of water! Absolute hilarity.

Bottom: The boys on the dodgem cars. Bless.

 

 

 

Two of my most favourite, favourite things combined- a cupcake ferris wheel!

 

 

The Garden is such a fantastical place, filled with magic and wonder. It's like stepping back in time to a nineteen fifties circus show. I can't wait to get back there and get some more great photos (although next time, I will make sure I remember to take my DSLR so I can get some decent pictures!).

 

I also happen to be going to a Fringe show hosted on Rundle Street (which is right near the Garden) on Thursday evening with my lady friends- it's called Champagne Cabaret and it sounds like it's going to be an absolute hoot!

 

Check out the Garden of Unearthly Delights, and have a look at the wider Adelaide Fringe Festival programme!

 

 

Ferris wheel kisses and all that jazz,

 

MJ x

 

  

Things I Love Thursday + My Sick Obsession!

Thanks Douglas!

 

Bonjour, Pecan!

 

You might have noticed a few changes around here, if you haven't been to visit for a while! As you can see, I've renamed the blog MJ Valentine- this is my writers pseudonym for all my blog posts, articles and other works that I have been sending to publishers. Do you like it? I think it screams personality- 'MJ' comes from my actual name (Madeleine Jane) and 'Valentine' suggests all the things that I value, and try to channel in my life every day: love, happiness, glitter, loyalty, spontaneity, champagne, kisses, gratitude... the list goes on! Fabulous, no?  

 

. . . . .

 

Yes, it's that time of the week again...! I do apologise for not posting a Things I Love Thursday entry last week- pardon me- it will not happen again! As always, the original idea for TILT came from Gala Darling, but it's just too good not to share...

 

Here's what's made my eyes sparkle this week!

 

- Surprise bottles of chilled Moet

- Birthday celebrations

- Sneaking

- Planning

- Setting new goals (check out this article I wrote recently!)

- Street performers

- Glossy brochures

- Hair conditioner

- Coconut oil

- Avocado

- Imminent beach dates

- Fluffy pillows

- Job applications

- Raspberry M'n'Ms

- Sneezing

- Mascara

- Shoe porn 

- Chilli

- Kitty cuddles

- Puppy cuddles

- Any cuddles

- Banana and strawberry smoothies

- Feta cheese

- Making time to write

- Good lip balm

- Listening to music on my fully charged phone, knowing I am capable of hours and hours of imminent pleasure!!!

 

It's been a pretty full on week for me, with lots of job applications, writing, networking, organising, dreaming and to-do lists... as far as I know, it's been a pretty full on week for quite a few people actually!

 

. . . . .

 

Now, I have a sick and twisted confession to make. I am still absolutely and totally besotted with Pinterest. Honestly, I think I have a problem. I was awake until two thirty this morning sourcing pins for up-coming blog entries and all manner of other projects. Madness!

 

If you are not yet registered and pinning away like a lunatic, GET ON BOARD! I promise, you won't regret it! There are hundreds of thousands of recipies, DIY projects, tips and tricks, skin care and makeup information, inspirational quotes for loving, learning and working out, amazing images of travel destinations all over the world, cute puppies... I swear, it's some type of hive of perpetual estrogen, a place for women (and men) to scour the net for all sorts of amazing tidbits that help contribute to a better life... it's amazing. If that's not enough to convince you, here are the covers of my six favourite public boards...

 

 

 

 

It's like looking at a splash of your personality, right on screen! I just love it, and there are so many ways to use it!

 

But, back to Things I Love Thursday... come on, what made you smile this week?! Please comment on the Facebook post with your TILT list for this week (and ladies, I KNOW there are a few of you who read these posts every week and who used to send lists around in text messages... so get involved! spread the FB love)! It's such a wonderful way to show gratitude for all the little things in life that we take for granted, and it's a great tool for helping us to dwell on the positive things in our lives, rather than the negative things...

 

 

Shameless self promotion and air kisses,

 

MJ x

Don't Hate. Meditate!

Why hello, beautiful!

Image courtesy santmat!

 

 

Super early yesterday morning (got up at 6.45am on a Saturday, yuck!), I attended my very first ever meditation class! I had no real comprehension of what it was going to be like, and I'll admit- I was a little bit nervous. What if it was just me and a gang of hippies, decsended from Nimbin and looking to 'spread the peace, man'? But, I am determined to open my mind and try new things, and to be honest- if anything seems like it might make your life a little bit brighter, why not give it a whirl?!

I was the first person to arrive. I took a seat in the second row towards the right hand side of the brightly lit room, facing a small table laden with a candle, a glass of water, a bell and a picture of a happy, old, bald man (who I would soon learn was the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, founder of the New Kadampa Buddhist Tradition) wrapped in what looked like a maroon and yellow travelling cloak. There was a single chair next to the table, with a mic stand to the right hand side. There was a table loaded up with tea, coffee and cake.

It was already shaping up to be a great morning!

As fellow meditation novices started to trickle in and take their seats, my incredulity mounted. They were all very normal and friendly! There were people of all ages- guys and girls, husbands, wives, grandparents and grandaughters- even two strapping young blokes barely older than me sat in the row in front of me!  It seems meditation knows no bounds when it comes to who is willing and able to learn to practise it!

The last person to enter the room was our teacher. I nearly fell off my chair. A lady! A real life, walking, talking, Buddhist nun! I could barely contain my excitement! I had been expecting a Dalai Lama-esque shrivelled old prune with a big grin and poor English. And yet in walked Kelsang Norjin (Norjin)- a seemingly middle-aged Australian woman in traditional Buddhist dress.

Norjin!

Image courtesy Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Centre

Norjin's voice was so calming and soothing as we all settled down, gazing at her extectantly. Her big, lovely smile had a reassuring affect on me as she began the explain that the class was to be divided into three components- what is meditation and why do we practise it, how to meditate effectively, and techniques for concentration. In between sessions, there was to be two half hour coffee and cake breaks. Sweet!

Meditation and it's principals can be applied to everyday life, to make us happier, healthier and more peaceful. How good does that sound?! And so, without any further gilding of the lily, and the most miniscule further attempts at ado...

. . . . .

 

 

Image courtesy Indigo Children!

 

 

It's really important, first and foremost, to understand why you want to meditate. Is it for health reasons? Do you suffer from anxiety, or a panic disorder? Depression? Or perhaps, you just want to be happier in your life. Whatever it is, identify it. Use it to anchor yourself and make clear goals. 

To put it very simply, the focus of meditation is 'single pointedness'- to learn to concentrate solely on one thing. Meditation can help to adjust the way that your unconcious mind thinks. You can learn to re-order your most instictive compulsions through meditation (I've already talked about the necessity of doing this, to train our thoughts to be born from love and gratitude- check out this article I wrote a recently!).

It's also really important to remember that meditation takes hard work! It is a long term goal, and you can't expect to achieve single-pointed thinking in your first or second sitting! It can take months, and requires a great deal of patience.

Meditation is really the process by which we learn inner peace. Here's a cool fact, my lovelies- if we can practise effective meditation, we can hook into inner peace on demand! Can you imagine feeling such an amazing state of contentment just because?! Whenever you want? How much better would your life be if you could choose to be peaceful?

The good news is- ready? brace for it!- the deepest state of your natural mind is ecstatic happiness! What really causes us suffering is what our mind is thinking. The problem is that our minds lose their manouverability when they become full of niggly, unhelpful things. But, don't despair! The fact that we are already peaceful in the deepest state of our natural minds is an encouraging thought. It means we already have the capacity to achieve inner peace through meditation!

I am going to experiment with these ideas over the next few months. I really enjoyed the meditation we did in class- I found myself feeling very relaxed and very content. I wasn't able to achieve single-pointedness (hey! It was my first go, give me a break!) but Norjin was very encouraging. She explained that it can take months to achieve even a flicker of single pointedness, and that mediation is a strict discipline.

Training your mind doesn't come easy- but how great would it be if we could all access inner peace and true happiness?! I really believe that meditation can make our lives better.


Here are some links to some great info and articles about meditation and it's benefits!


- Learn a bit more about the The Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Centre (Adelaide)

- ABC's Fact File- Meditation

- This '10 Important Tips' guide is great for beginners!

- This article by Jim Hudson outlines his experience of meditation helping him through depression

- This is an amazing clip from an interview Oprah did with Dr Oz, where she dicusses transcendental meditation and how she has encouraged her staff to incorporate meditation in their lives

Give it a go with me!


Free carrot cake and glorious inner peace,

MJ x

Spring Cleaning Your Consciousness

Well, technically Spring is still a little way off (damn you, freezing winds and chilly rains, DAMN YOU), but I don’t think there’s any harm in getting a bit of a jump on things, do you?

A PRECURSORY LAMENT

Ah, to be alive. To hear the birds chirping, see the colours of the sunrise, feel the wind in your hair and have breath in your lungs... and yet, sadly, I feel I have sunk into a perverse disillusionment that has clouded my ability to appreciate life's gorgeous tenacity. I don’t know how it happened (that’s a lie, of course I do), but somewhere over the last six months, life’s usually-persistent knocking on my proverbial front door faded into the tap-tap-tapping of fingertips on knees, whiling my life away in pathetic fits of self-loathing. I momentarily lost the clarity in colour, the luxury of light- to be perfectly honest, I’ve just been downright miserable to be around, and for that, I do apologise.

It did get me thinking though, about my Conscious Self. I’ve always been fascinated by the Unconscious Self, whether it be dream analysis, or the concept of passive aggression (hello, Facebook user who posts status’ and photos specifically designed to make others miserable) but for the most part, I have spared very little thought for the what actually happens when you are conscious.

There are many varying definitions of consciousness. One, for example, is ‘to be aware of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts and surroundings’. Another is to have something ‘known to oneself; felt’. So for all intent and purposes, let’s look at consciousness like this:

Knowing Your Own Sensational Existence.

How sexy is that?

On Monday night, as I delicately sipped a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc and waited for my nail polish to dry, I got to thinking about existence. Or, more precisely, feeling my own existence. Even more precisely, feeling, hearing, touching, seeing and tasting my own existence. Do you see where I’m going with this?

Spring Cleaning Your Consciousness has to begin somewhere. And while it is most certainly a daunting task of monstrous proportions that should only be attempted in the most fabulous of shoes (stay tuned- Solestruck delivery ETA Wednesday), it should, of course, be attempted. But this does of course beg the question- how does one spring clean one’s senses?

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

... a plethora of stuff, really. Open your eyes and take it all in. What do you see? Your desk? Your bedroom? What about on the way to work? What does your house look like? What colours do you notice, what brightens your day? Do you like the look of certain shapes? Houses? Cafes? Street trees? Visual stimulation is powerful. Very powerful. And, happily, is one of the easiest things that we can alter to achieve a greater happiness.

I HEAR YA, BUDDY, I HEAR YA

Chatter. Car sounds. Birds chirping. Dubstep. Heels clicking on concrete. Screaming children. Sliding doors opening. Panadol popping out of foil packaging. Planes flying overhead. Shouting. Laughing. Crying. Computers whirring. What sounds make up your day? Which ones do you love? Which ones tire you out? Which ones are boring? Intruiging? Exciting? ... why?

LIKE A FAT KID LOVES CAKE

Mmm. Food. One of my all time favourite things in the universe. I personally prefer exotic, spicy foods, with lemongrass and ginger and coconut and peanuts and pretty much any variation of Thai/Indian food that you could find. But with the constant worry over sugar reduction attempts and not eating carbs without wanting to kill myself, my quest for flavours that make my tastebuds dance and sing has become bleaker that a Siberian winter morning. Why do you love the foods that you love? Ever find it interesting that some people absolutely love sherbet, but others find it acidic and foul? Why do identical twins have varying favourite foods? Why do you love/hate aniseed/chilli/caramel?

SMELL YA LATER

The sense of smell is an interesting one. They say (who are ‘they’? These faceless entities from whom knowledge and wisdom seem to spout like seawater from a dolphin’s blowhole?) that smell is the most powerful trigger of memory there is. I will attest to that- there is one particular aftershave that seems to be inexplicably linked between my nostrils and my tear ducts. Thus, it is a smell that I associate with certain types of emotional pain. What smells do you associate with happiness, positivity and joy? (..... freshly baked brownies, anyone?)

I GOT A FEELIN’... OOOH, OOOH

Silk, satin, fur, cashmere and ludicrously thick bath foam are my top five touchable textures. Of course, there are about a zillion others, but we’ll get to those later. The sense of touch enables us to relax or recoil; our hearts to skip beats; our hairs to stand on end. It brings us closer as humans and allows us to express affection (or rage) in ways that are so very powerful. A comforting hug from Mum, a spider creepily crawling on your bare skin, an electric, accidental brushing of hands with the person you have secretly loved for years. All are awe-inspiring. All are different.

Over the next week or so, I want to scour the proverbial seabed of tingling, tantalising senses and uncover ways to improve my experiences in my day-to-day life. We’ll start with sound, so get your thinking caps on. This is the very beginning of surrounding myself with joy. Out with the old. In with the new. It’s all uphill from here.

Join me, won’t you?

M x

Things I Love Thursday!

That’s right! I have decided to incorporate this fabulous initiative by Gala Darling into my very own blog! Things I Love Thursday, for those of you who don’t know, is an opportunity to share all the tiny little things that have made you smile over the past week. It’s a chance to be thankful, and also, to recognise the beauty in the seemingly small and insignificant details of your Mess.

Ready?! <3

Phone chargers
Staplers
The bubbles in champagne
Emails from University
Job interviews
Pink highlighter pens
The truth
Tissues
Lavosh bread wraps
Pink lipstick impressions on my Mickey Mouse coffee mug
Flight confirmation emails
Fresh flowers in my hair
Giving roses on Valentine’s day
My mascara
Shaved legs
Sun on my face
A confident strut
Mersey Valley cheese
Mum’s cups of tea
Kisses from my dog
New underwear
Crisp fresh salad

What do you love today? What made you smile in the last week? Leave a comment or share on my Facebook post!

Glitteringly,

M x

Engage Fabulous Style

Good morning darlings! I am in an unnaturally refreshed mood today as I selpt for FOURTEEN HOURS last night. Amazing! I feel like I could take on the Universe! (How appropriate- this blog is about me taking on my own world, after all.) Do you now what I'd love? To find some other people who want to committ to this project with me. We're right at the very beginning, here and now, this project is less than a week old- what better time than to recommend this page to a friend who might enjoy it, or someone who you think is ready to start Cultivating, and doing something new with their Mess.

Begin to Cultivate Your Personal Aesthetic.
Today is my first pay day (!) since deciding to embark on this fanciful journey. I'm filled with almost innappropriate levels of excitement over the fact that I will soon again have real, live money in my bank account. And while that is very exciting, as there are things I really do need to buy such as food, razors, shampoo and these leggings (because let's face it, they are gorgeous)- don't think that your creativity and Cultivation is limited to having a few dollars up your sleeve to bandy about buying fairy lights for your bedroom, or an entirely new nail polish collection. No, no, no. In fact, I'm going to help you out.

* Top 10 Money-Free Ways to Engage Fabulous Style and Promote Positive Change In Your Very Own Mess * 

1. Re-read a favourite book that you haven't picked up in years. Engage with the characters and get back to the roots of what your truly enjoy.

2. Pick some fresh flowers. Stick them in vases, jam jars, coffee mugs, anywhere that will make the whole house smell like a florist. (Just don't let the neighbours see you if you intend to pilfer their award winning roses).

3. Paint your nails in colour coordination with your outfit. Hurray, colours! You may even have a few nail art gems lying around the place- go crazy! Imagine having glittering jewel encrusted nails when you sip on your next triple-shot-latte at your local coffee house. You might make someone's day. And please, please, please wipe off any mistakes with nail polish remover before it dries on your skin. There is nothing that says 'unpolished' (forgive the pun) like a messy manicure.

4. Throw out anything smelly or rotten in your fridge. Have you ever noticed a person's expression when they've opened the door to a pongy fridge? It's repulsive, and yet so easily remedied! Stay on top of it! You know as well as I do, that ham went off two weeks ago...

5. Go through some magazines and tear out pictures and words that inspire you. You don't have to do anything with them just yet- we'll have a look at ways to use these things in the near future- but spend some time collecting and reflecting. Plus- it's fun.

6. Go through your iPhone/iPod/Andriod/MP3 and make notes of music you haven't listened to for years or don't like. Delete. Why take up precious space on your phone and in your Mess on things that don't thrill and excite you? Poo! Be gone!

7. Check out some different Blogs. Sign up for Blogger, or Tumblr, or any other blogging website that tickles your fancy. You don't have to post anything, but you should be granted to use of a 'next' button- once you view a blog, hit 'next' and it'll take you to another random one. Why not? Engage with others and add their beautiful, different colours to your Mess. (Just make sure you come back here evenually).

8. Apply a fresh coat of your favourite lipstick. Drink a coffee. Enjoy the coloured imprint on the coffee mug.

9. Air out your quilt. We spend almost half our lives in bed. We sweat in them, spill tea in them, other people sleep in them (including animals)... stick your nose deep down in your bedding and take a whiff. See what I mean? Not cool. Chuck it on the clothesline, or drape it over some chairs outside in the sun. Make your bed a bedbug free zone.

10. Get off your computer. It's not going to run away. Go outside. Sit on the lawn, or in your favourite deck chair, and get to work on numbers 1, 3, 5 or 8. And that, gorgeous reader, is exacly what I'm going to do.

M x