This might be a #humblebrag, or it might just be a straight-up brag, but either way: with every Blogcademy, we just get better & better.

It helps to be in a beautiful venue, of course. We were overjoyed to be teaching in such a gorgeous space — Curtain Road Studios — & on the two days between classes, Tim Walker was in the very same room, shooting a campaign! (The temptation to “accidentally” leave something behind & walk in on him was extremely strong, I tell you! Such a fangirl!)

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but our students were so delightful! It was snowing like mad, flights & trains were delayed all over the place, & yet — somehow! — everyone arrived on time. Now that’s dedication.

Our students thrilled & delighted us. One woman burst into joyous operatic song at lunchtime, & another found out she was pregnant during the break! (We tried to persuade her that the baby’s middle name should be Blogcademy… I’ll keep you posted!)

We had cupcakes (& a unicorn cake!) from Restoration Cake, disco dance breaks, & drinks & giggles at the end of day two. There were hugs & smiles, new friendships were formed, & many, many photographs were taken!

Oh, & you may have noticed the proliferation of EARS on our attendees! It’s pretty righteous, & it certainly makes taking a class photo way more fun! Yep, when it comes to Blogcademy, it’s strictly BYOE: bring yo’ own ears!

Our fabulous goodie bags were supplied by the aptly-named Awesome Merchandise, & they contained rings from Finest Imaginary, Thimble & Fred & Pugly Pixel; an “I have to Instagram this!” custom iPhone case also from Awesome Merchandise; a special Blogcademy Moleskine notebook from Finest Imaginary; a sparkly hair bow from Crown & Glory; our workbook/magazine; a glittery collar from Alexandra King; loose eyeshadow dust from Sugarpill; a CD of Photoshop actions from Lisa Devlin; & shoe clips from Headful of Feathers! As you can imagine, they were a huge hit!

We were able to “bamboozle ‘em with branding!” (our new motto) with the help of INCREDIBLE cupcakes from Restoration Cake, as well as decor by The Tea Set & Peach Blossom, flowers from Hayford & Rhodes, & coffee cozies from Twinkie Chan! Babes, one & all!

I think I’ve decided that teaching is the ultimate high. Candidly sharing what you know, & seeing that flicker of recognition when one of your students just gets it, is one of the best feelings in the world.

It’s incredible how much we’re learning as headmistresses, too!

I’m absolutely loving having something completely new to sink my teeth into, to challenge myself with, to keep pushing, improving & refining until it’s the best it can be.

But, well, I can only bleat on about how jolly wonderful it was for so long. Maybe it’s better to hear it in our students’ own words!

“Being a bit of a natural cynic, I was a little worried about spending a not-insubstantial chunk of money on a two day course. I need not have feared. This was, and I’m not exaggerating, the best money I have ever spent – an investment in my blog, yes, but much more importantly, in myself.”
Lucy Loves

“Thanks so, so much for the most fabulous kick-starter and stimulating week-end. My brain is completely buzzing and despite the joyful exhaustion, I think it will be difficult to sleep for all the ideas and ‘notes to self list’ that you have all given me.”
Liselle Chisenhale-Marsh

“Words like fabulous, inspirational, glittery, engaging and epic are all accurate descriptions of The Blogcademy but they do not come close to describing the life changing experience that came in the turquoise packaging.”
Georgina Webb

“Just being in the same room as Gala, Kat and Shauna makes you feel like you can do anything.”
Emily Fisher

“Something inside has clicked. I’ve done B-School, I’ve read numerous books & listened to countless voices, but the bringing together of like minded souls is something really special. So for now I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the time, energy & love you put into Blogcademy. It truly feels like a gift that will keep on giving and one that will enable me to grow and pass on the gifts I have for the benefit of others.”
Jayne Rusby

“The Blogcademy truly was everything I thought it would be and more. The combination of your other-wordly, amazingly-over-the-top, Technicolor fabulousness and your savvy, straight-talking business nous was both inspiring and incredibly informative. Who says you can’t wear sparkly bunny ears and run a seriously kick-ass empire?!”
Caroline Gellatly

“Would love to tell all the bloggers out there who are writing in any other language than English that The Blogcademy’s awesomeness totally translates and that there is so much to learn, regardless of one’s language.”
Julia Safronova

“Well I have to say that it was officially the greatest weekend I’ve ever experienced! I have never in all my days, felt so inspired or excited in my life. My head is jam packed with ideas, my notebook is full and my head is now covered in sparkly bows and bunny-ears.”
Emma Rose Black

“Don’t be fooled by the pink sparkles and bunny ears, there’s nothing frivolous about The Blogcademy. Real business advice from three successful professional women who are doing it their way… in fabulous shoes.”
Scarlett Nymph

Read some reviews! You can wear fluffy cat ears when you grow up Glitter bows and bunny ears galore! Blogcademy chit chat The Blogcademy London Blogcademy graduate review The Biggest, Bestest Bits of The Blogcademy Sparkles & Crumbs The Blogcademy London: Where Dreams Become Reality Confessions of a Blogcadet: Four Blogcademy Secrets Words from a sparkly Blogcademy graduate The Blogcademy Things I learnt at The Blogcademy (that weren’t technically on the curriculum) Dreaming Big – The Blogcademy in Photos What I learnt @ The Blogcademy The Blogcademy, the best dream I ever had The Blogcademy Tips for international bloggers Who needs university? What I learnt The Blogcademy The A-Z of The Blogcademy! ...& watch some videos!

So, what’s next for The Blogcademy? We’ve packed up our poms & our enormous B balloons & we’re getting ready to TAKE OVER Portland & Los Angeles in two months time! We just secured a badass venue in each city, which we’ll be announcing on Monday… Stay tuned!

Kisses from your headmistress,

Gorgeous photographs by Shell De Mar (who I adore!)
Second class photo taken by Emily Quinton!
Illustrations doodled during class by Veronica Dearly!
(You should hire all of these beautiful, talented women!)

filed under: blogging, the blogcademy

I couldn’t resist posting this Parisian sneak peek from ultra-talented photographer Shell De Mar — who, you may recall, also shot yesterday’s Blogcademy pictures!

Paris was so wonderful, indulgent & luxurious: everything you’d hope for in a European adventure! I’ve been thinking about it — & the best quiche I’ve ever eaten in my life! — every day since we left.

But do you want to know a secret? As much as I love Paris, there’s no place I’d rather be than NYC. Sure, it’s cold, & sure, it’s snowing, but it’s still wonderful.

I went on a hot chocolate adventure earlier this week, & standing on Fifth Avenue, was struck by the intense beauty of the city. NYC is such a magical place, & I love it as much today as I did when I first visited 7 years ago. It makes my heart go pitter-patter every day.

As you may have guessed from the photo above, last night I went to the Juicy Couture event & had way too much fun playing in The Bosco Booth with Nicolette & Jordan, catching up with long-lost Kiwi Isaac & petting Keiko’s super-soft faux-fur coat!

Juicy Couture were celebrating the release of their Bad Reputation film (which is so cute!), as well as offering a preview of their new collection. There were some rad pieces, including irridescent jeans (!!!), fabulous flippy pink dresses & a leopard-print tracksuit which you can see in the video, & which I have already decided would be my everyday uniform if I lived in Los Angeles!

I was doing my best French girl impression in a Nasty Gal hat, a striped top from H&M (purchased in Las Vegas last February) & a blue leather metallic pleated skirt from TopShop. (I bought it a while ago, so it’s not available anymore, but this skirt is similar!) I was also rocking MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Intense lipstick in 33. New favourite!

Love-o-rama!
Spending lots of time with my man! The best! Guacamole with jicama (unbelievably good!) Going back to the gym & feeling my body hum with happiness! Watching The Phantom Of The Opera on Netflix — as a child of the 80s, I was raised on this & Les Miserables, so I absolutely loooove it! Accidentally attending an advanced vinyasa flow class — & loving it! Making plans for future Blogcademy events! Booking flights to Portland & Los Angeles… West Coast, here we come! Backing this MAD magazine documentary — my dad & I used to buy stacks of old MAD magazines from the 60s & 70s! Running to Sisters Of Mercy. Can #gothfitness be a thing? Liquid Christmas (aka hot chocolate) George Michael hashtags (#starpeople) (#toofunky) Best movie of all time... Are you following me on Vine yet?! Beyonce: yesterday, today, tomorrow Making new workout mixtapes A stack of Instax photos from Europe on my desk ...& this quote, which is my new favourite:

“This morning, with her, having coffee.” (Johnny Cash, when asked for his definition of paradise.)

Did you write your gratitude list yet?! It’s the ultimate mood boost… & it’s free!

Je t’adore,

filed under: things i love thursday

The beautiful Elbie, photographed by Jessica Roberts.

Hey, blogger babe: this is part four of a ten-part series, in which I tell you my top tips for kickstarting your blog & pushing it to the next level. I’ve also written about getting organised, demanding your worth, & creating new features!

You can make it really easy on yourself by just clicking on the blogging tag! Enjoy!

When I was growing up, goal-setting was big in our house. My father would always tell me, “A goal that’s not written down is just a wish,” & I’ve taken that to heart!

It doesn’t matter what you do; whether you’re a blogger, a baker, or a candlestick-maker, you need to work out what your goals are!

Danielle LaPorte would say that you should first discover how you want to to feel in your everyday life, & that will, in turn, influence your goals. (I love this way of looking at things. Her book, The Desire Map, is full of beautiful tidbits like this.)

So maybe that’s a good place to start. Begin to think about how you want to feel about your blog. Do you want to feel “successful”? (If so, go deeper. “Successful” doesn’t mean anything. Do you want to feel affluent, free, powerful? Investigate that one thoroughly!) Do you want to feel purposeful or on a mission? Do you want to feel inspired or creative? Take some time to sit down by yourself & really think about this. The emotions that resonate will dictate your goals.

Once you have a list of adjectives, write them on a piece of paper & consider what actions would help generate those feelings in your life.

For example, it’s easy to think that, as a blogger, your goal should be to increase your social media followers. But what does that really achieve? Sure, it’s good if you want to collaborate with brands, but if you don’t, it shouldn’t be your first priority. Maybe your priority should be creating really sticky content, instead. That’s exactly why I say that you should work out how you want to feel first, & then figure out your goals.

Maybe you want to feel free & affluent. That probably means you don’t want too many clients, but the few you have will pay a premium for your service. That’s okay! Feeling free & affluent is entirely different to feeling busy all the time, for example. So think carefully about how you want to feel.

Go slowly when you start to connect the dots between feelings & action. You might end up scribbling everything out & starting all over again a few days down the line, but that’s good news. This is about getting really clear on who you want to be & how you want to feel, so constant refinement is part of the process.

Once you figure out your desired result, or goal, work backwards. Think about the steps you’ll need to take to get there, then start to take them.

Remember: not every step you take towards your goal will feel amazing. In fact, sometimes it will feel gruelling, difficult & sucky. But you have to keep your eye on your prize. If it was easy, everyone would do it… That’s why you’re doing it, & that’s why you’re going to be fantastic!

Big kisses,

filed under: blogging

I can’t believe it took a girl from the Midwest — Alexandra Franzen — to drag me out to an icon in my own town! City Bakery is located on West 18th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues, & it’s a must-see/must-gulp for anyone in New York City.

Sure, it’s popular with tourists, & as such, some of the reviews on Yelp are a little unfair & snarky, but I’m more than happy to overlook the cluster of tourists & sometimes surly service for some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted.

Okay, I am not overstating the point when I say that I am a hot chocolate connoisseur. I have sipped (& sometimes outright guzzled!) it in many different locations all over the world. Some of my favourites include Angelina in Paris, The Chocolate Boutique in Auckland, Hotel Chocolat in London, & Koko Black & San Churro in Melbourne.

Truly, hot chocolate is an international language. You should know that I take this very seriously. Alex calls hot chocolate “liquid Christmas”, & I cannot disagree with her!

In NYC, I love Max Brenner for a quick, reliable, chocolatey pick-me-up, but I have definitely found a new favourite at City Bakery. You can order a little shot or a regular cup, & you can add an enormous homemade marshmallow on top if it pleases you. (It will please you… It’s like eating a pillow from heaven.)

Oh, & as for the shot versus cup conundrum? I say, go big or go home!

Of course, you could visit City Bakery any day of the year. They have insane cookies & brownies galore. But… February is hot chocolate month! YES! Every day they have a different flavour, & every day they will ladle it — yes, literally ladle it! — out of a huge vat & into your waiting mouth. (Okay, really they put it in a cup first. But you know what I mean.)

Some of the upcoming flavours include Darkest Dark Chocolate, Ginger, Love Potion, Moulin Rouge, Happy Hot Chocolate, Spicy Caramel & Ode To The Polar Bear! Who knows what half of these flavours are, but maybe that’s the best part!

It’s like a happy mouth surprise party!

Order your cup with a marshmallow, grab a spoon, & stir the whole mess together while you eat/drink gleefully.

I believe that celebrating hot chocolate month is the perfect way to drag your caboose through the end of winter!

Go on: embrace your inner Augustus Gloop! I’ll see you there!

Augustus Gloop will not be harmed,

filed under: new york doll

Hey, West Coast: we’ve secured two killer locations! Last month, we did a soft launch of our upcoming dates, & now we have more details to share!

We’re super-excited to let you know that our event in Portland will be held at The Cleaners at The Ace, & our Los Angeles class will be happening at Beachwood Studios in Hollywood.

These are both such extremely cool spaces & we’re completely over-the-moon to have locked them down. We love The Ace Hotel, & their special event space, The Cleaners, has a major scholastic vibe. It makes me want a big wooden ruler that I can bang on desks… It’s all a bit John Willie’s Bizarre, you know?!

We’ll be joined in Portland by three of our favourite Californian babes: the girls from Made U Look Photography! They’ll be shooting the workshop, & allowing us to bask in their glorious energy for two days. They are total sweethearts as well as some of our favourite photographers, & the amount of cameras each wears around her neck at one time will boggle your mind!

On the opposite end of the scale, Beachwood Studios is smack-bang in the middle of Hollywood, & it’s a truly beautiful & airy space. We’re going to decorate it with our enormous B balloons & have a whole lot of fun. Fingers crossed for a little sunshine too, eh?! (Don’t tell anyone, but the 7th of April is also Kat’s birthday! It’s going to be a pretty special day!)

By the way, a little bird (read: Shauna!) told me that there is a fantastic black & white photobooth right next to The Cleaners… So for goodness sake, #BYOE! (Bring your own ears!)

We still have a few spaces left, so don’t leave it too late! Snap up your seat!

Good things take time, or so they say, and The Blogcademy is no exception!  After three rollicking sold-out classes, we’ve decided to make some changes to the curriculum… & we can’t wait to roll them out for our next class!

Our weekend attendees in London may have noticed the dapper & talented Richard Wakefield of FX Films creeping around Curtain Road Studios.  In addition to making a video showcasing the atmosphere (& fabulous headgear!) of The Blogcademy, he also filmed the entirety of Lisa Devlin’s photography lecture.

The reason for this?  As much as we love (& secretly worship!) Lisa, packing her into our turquoise suitcase & toting her all over the world with us isn’t totally practical!

We’re thrilled to announce that all Blogcademy students will receive a link to this video with their ticket purchase, which is perfect for any graduates who desire a little “extra credit”! Think of it as a little way we’re giving you even more bang for your buck!

By shifting this segment to the online space, we have an extra two hours to learn & play together!  This will vary slightly from class to class, & will be tailored for our individual mix of students & their needs, but we’re going to pump up the volume in a segment on non-sleazy networking, info on savvy image use, as well as some excellent & immersive activities (to remain secret until the day!).

If you’re dying to come to The Blogcademy but you’re a little low on funds, don’t despair! As always, we’re giving away a scholarship to each class, & it’s easy to enter!

Simply let us know why you want to come along, & share it with us on Facebook! If you’re stumped for ideas, take a look at what our past scholarship winners Penny & Julia did to win our hearts!

We’re closing the scholarship off this Friday the 15th of February, so put on those thinking caps!

All the info you could possibly need about the scholarship is at the bottom of our FAQ, but you can always tweet us if you have any further questions!

By the way, we’re looking for sponsors for Portland & L.A. What does this mean? Basically, if you run a business that creates anything cool, cute or awesome, we’d love to get it in front of our 60 enthusiastic students! You’ll also be featured on all three of the headmistresses blogs, reaching well over a million people… Pretty awesome! If this sounds like something you’re interested in, get in touch!

Can’t wait to do it all over again!

Photo of The Blogcademy: London by Shell De Mar.
Illustration by Veronica Dearly!

filed under: the blogcademy

If you’re a weirdo or an outsider (like I definitely was!), the debate over going to prom (or ball, as we call it in New Zealand) is ever-present. Sometimes seen as the domain of the lame, it can be hard to get excited about voluntarily spending time with people you’d rather ignore.

But just like every 80s high school movie, in which I am imagining myself as the rebel heroine of the story, I decided to go to mine. Otherwise, I decided, I wouldn’t know what I’d missed!

I was in full-on goth mode at the time, & chose a crimson maxi-dress in a dark brocade. It had boning in the bodice & a full skirt, & I wore it with fishnets (I think?!) & Mary Janes. Actually, looking back, it was kind of a badass choice for a 16 year old girl to make.

I took two dates — one was my boyfriend, the other was a guy friend — & the only remaining photo I have from that night is of the three of us sticking our tongues out at the photographer!

But despite my cool dress & rad dates, I was still self-conscious. There was no way in hell I was going to get on that dance-floor, so my boyfriend & I stood around the perimeter, raising our eyebrows at one another until I finally said, “Okay, I’ve had enough… Let’s go do something else.”

We got in his car — there was a five year age difference between us, which was quite a scandal at my Anglican girls’ school! — & went out for pizza. We had way more fun eating greasy pizza in our formal wear than we did at the ball itself!

It can be easy to feel that, when it comes to your prom, you have to be traditional & play it safe. But those old rules are made to be broken!

These days, we have the luxury of being able to express ourselves in every piece of our lives… & the prom is no different. You have to put your own individual stamp on it; make it an expression of who you really are! Even if twenty years later you look back on it & cringe, at least you know you went with your heart… !

Re-imagining your prom is pretty fun. If I knew then what I know today, I’d have worn a bright pink dress with a tulle petticoat, & turned up on a bicycle. I’d take my best friend as my date & give her flowers. I might try to bribe the DJ to play a couple of songs by Missy Elliott. I’d mix it up & team my frothy dress with combat boots, fill my purse with candy & sparklers, & dance all night long!

Of course, it’s all about the dress… So many, many options would need to be scouted. In my quest to find the perfect prom dress, I stumbled upon Camille La Vie, a store which packs a punch & houses an extensive collection of dazzling party dresses. If you’re a girl/magpie who loves all things sparkly, check out their site!

I love this one the most, probably because it looks like psychedelic cotton-candy. That would definitely be my pick. But having said that, this gown is perfect for mermaids (& mermaid dancing), & this one is glorious. (I’m a sucker for sequins.) This dress is so modern fairy! J’adore!

Is your prom just around the corner? Have you thought about what you’re going to wear yet? Can we discuss it AT LENGTH on Facebook?! (I want to live vicariously through you!)

...& if you, like me, are several years past your prime prom, I want to hear what it was like! Did you wear something cool or something shocking? If you were going to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Dreaming of corsages & spiked punch,

This post was made possible with the help of Camille La Vie! If you like what you see, check out their site here!

Vintage photography courtesy Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images.

filed under: consumption, inspiration

When it comes to Vine, there are three questions that need to be asked.

First things first: do you know what it is? If not, it’s an iPhone app which enables you to film up to six seconds of video which loops. The videos end up looking like those thumbnails above… Except they move.

If you have an iPhone & you don’t have this app yet, well, what are you waiting for?!

The second question is, are you following me?! My username is galadarling, of course. My stream is very silly, featuring Shauna rolling her r’s in David Bowie’s bedroom, Kat chugging entire glasses of wine in Paris, & more public dancing than you can shake a stick at!

But perhaps the most important question is, are you as obsessed with it as I am?! Ever since downloading the app when I was in London, I’ve been tinkering with it, thinking about new ways to use it & what the medium is best for.

Sure: it’s great for filming your amateur ballroom dancing skills in Paris in the middle of winter…

But it’s also brilliant for sharing experiences & showing highlights. For example, on Friday I made these Vines at the Kate Spade presentation…

From making these videos, I started to realise the infinitely cool ways Vine can be used. Here are a few things I’ve learned…

1. Vine is not long-form Instagram. It’s a completely different medium, so think about using it in innovative ways.

There’s only so much you can show in a picture; with Vine, you can see different angles & details with ease. It’s not just about keeping your focus on one thing for six seconds, it’s about revealing more than you can with a photograph.

Think about the kinds of things that lend themselves to multiple shots. Once you get the gears turning, I know you’ll come up with more ideas than you know what to do with!

2. Download VineGifR. It’s a Mac app which allows you to turn your Vines into animated gifs. VineGifR is brand spanking new, & as such, it’s not perfect: the gifs it produces are only 200 pixels wide — as you see above — & are a minimum of 2mb per file. But it’s a great way to share your Vines on your blog.

The other way of sharing, which is to embed them, is not something I’d recommend, simply because they autoplay with the volume on. Firstly, websites that make sound are annoying & extremely 2002. Don’t go there! Secondly, if you embed more than one Vine, your website will sound like a mad cacophony, & there’s no faster way to get your reader to close the tab!

3. Follow people who are experimenting with it. By the way, this doesn’t mean “blatantly steal & rip off people’s ideas” because that’s never cool, but there is nothing wrong with being influenced (or awed!) by something someone else has done!

Over the weekend, I went through & followed a whole bunch of people from different arenas — blogging, fashion, technology, design — just because I’m curious to see what they make of the medium. Once you follow me (wink wink, nudge nudge!), you can look through my list & add a whole lot of them.

4. Stick with it. There’s a bit of a learning curve, & yes, the app is a bit buggy right now. But the more you practice, the better you’ll get at it.

Don’t feel obliged to post everything you film! It might take a few tries to get your Vine right. Here’s a tip: once you film it & click Next, the Vine will be saved to your phone’s Photos, so if you need to review it, you can.

Also, if you want to share your Vine with Twitter or Facebook, be sure to slide those dialog boxes over to “On”! Once your Vine has been posted, there’s no way of sharing it out to your social networks. Hopefully this feature is coming soon!

5. See Vine as a positive thing! I’ve seen a few bloggers lamenting Vine. “Do we really need another social network?! I’m already tapped out!”

Spoiler alert: you don’t have to be on every single social network. Just use the ones that you enjoy, & that make sense! Don’t spread yourself so thin that keeping up with your social media becomes a chore. Keep it fun & lighthearted.

Personally, I’m really enjoying having a new tool at my disposal to experiment & play with. I feel like I’m slowly beginning to get the hang of it, & it’s exciting to see the innovative & creative ways that other people are using it, too!

See you on Vine!

filed under: blogging, how to

I walked into Rite-Aid today & was horrified by the never-ending aisle of chocolates in tacky heart-shaped boxes, cheap teddybears & ugly tchotchkes. What could be less romantic than planning to be romantic?!

Two years ago, I wrote one of my most popular articles ever: Very Definitely Not Dinner & A Movie: 50 Alternative First Date Ideas! If you’re in a relationship, you might find something within that list that makes your Valentine’s Day a little less conventional & a little more cozy.

...But we’re not all in relationships. This one’s for all my single ladies… !

Yes ma’am! What follows are 50 ideas to make being solo not-so-sucky. In fact, being single is awesome... Embrace it!

Share it around, send it to your girlfriends or boyfriends, & enjoy the day!

Buy yourself a sex toy. My favourite is Jimmyjane’s Form 2. You will never need anything else, I promise! Spend the day relaxing. Put on a face mask, order some food & watch your favourite movies all night long. Go & get a massage… ...Or reflexology… ...Or a session of hypnosis… ...Or a glittery gel manicure… ...Or whatever else really makes you happy. Get really dressed up. Wear something fantastic on your head, like a flower crown or a pair of ears. Invite your BFF over for dinner, & have her/him spend the night. I love late nights & early mornings with friends. If you’re feeling bad, go for a really aggressive workout. Dance in public. Plan your perfect day, then go out & make it happen! Write love letters to all your closest friends. Buy yourself flowers… Not just today, but at least once a week! Clean your bedroom & rearrange it according to feng shui. Commit yourself to radical self love! Take a burlesque class, & smile at yourself while you shimmy in front of the mirror. Volunteer. Sleep in… & have wonderful dreams. Write a list of the things that make you fabulous. Stick it to your mirror & re-read it every morning. Bake heart-shaped cookies, write compliments on them in icing, & hand them out to your co-workers. Talk back to anyone who tells you “no”. Do a love spell. Celebrate the fact that you don’t have to compromise with someone else’s taste! Paint one wall of your apartment bright pink & delight in it. Buy a piece of art! Spend some time with a dog. Lounge around all day in a vintage slip, like a sultry sex kitten. Splurge. ‘Cause you’re an adult, & that means you get to do whatever you want! Take yourself out to brunch, like Skylar! Light candles & meditate. Start a magnificent project. Like Lady Gaga says, “Your career will never wake up one morning & tell you it doesn’t love you anymore.” A little cynical, perhaps, but she has a point. Invest in yourself! Re-read your favourite book. Wear bright pink lipstick. Drink champagne with your best friend & laugh until you cry. Write postcards to your long-lost buddies. Buy sky lanterns, make wishes & release them with your friends. Go on the hunt for your new signature scent. Decorate your bicycle! Wear a tutu. If not today, when?! Move on. Find a trampoline… & jump on it. A lot! Go to IKEA & buy yourself something to make your home a little more magical: fairy lights? A plant? Sequin cushions? Plan a trip to an amusement park with someone who makes you smile! Get rid of all that stuff your ex gave you. Get your tarot cards read. Start writing a journal. Read comics. Be your own valentine. Spend the day by yourself, doing whatever you want…

Have the best day ever. Tweet me & let me know what you get up to!

Eternal love,

Photo by Lisa Devlin.

filed under: the playgirls guide to radical self love

Hey, blogger babe: this is part four of a ten-part series, in which I tell you my top tips for kickstarting your blog & pushing it to the next level. You can make it really easy on yourself by just clicking on the blogging tag!

One of the most important things you can do as a blogger is to create yourself a blogger posse! This often happens quite quickly & naturally, as you start to read other people’s work & they become familiar with you at the same time, but it’s something you should be thoughtful about.

When you get down to it, blogging is a very solitary activity! While it’s valuable to allow yourself time to work alone — & since it’s almost impossible to write when people keep interrupting you! — it’s also immensely beneficial to have people you can bounce ideas around with.

As your relationships develop & deepen, you’ll find yourselves sharing triumphs, worries, asking for advice & sharing contacts. You can think of these people as your co-workers, or even a kind of creative council!

Obviously, my core blogging posse consists of Shauna & Kat, but that’s not the end of it. My husband, Mike, & Kat’s husband, Gareth, & are definitely part of my blogging posse. I know I can go to Simon whenever I need help, too.

I talk to my friend Rabbit a lot about blogging, simply because she’s one of the most clued-in people I’ve ever met. Veronica is a magical babe who always knows what to say or do, & has such an incredible sense of empathy & wisdom. I know I can ask Danielle or Kris for their advice anytime, which I really appreciate, & I have to admit I’m still thrilled to get an email from Problogger!

These friendships will pop up in likely & unlikely places. Shauna & I have been reading one another’s online journals since Livejournal in 2001! We had our first in-person rendez-vous in 2008 in NYC: it was a raucous time, involving weird parties in treehouses, rooftop photoshoots, & plenty of dancing. (Of course!) We only met Kat last year (this is the first photo we ever took together!), but when you discover someone who makes your heart do sparkly cartwheels, it’s hard to stay away!

When Rabbit lived in Chicago, she came to NYC & invited me to afternoon tea at Lady Mendl’s. Over slices of amazing crepe cake, we fell in love a little bit. (A month later, she emailed to tell me she was moving to New York… & the rest is history!) Veronica emailed me to invite me to one of her workshops, & when we met, something clicked for both of us. I discovered both Kris & Danielle through their blogs, & when I met them in person, realised they were both Good People™. Darren & I became friends after meeting at an event, & then regular coffee dates during which we discussed all things blog!

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that “normal” friendships & blog friendships are quite different. Bloggers are a weird but fabulous bunch, & we live in a unique & bizarre world. It helps so much to have like-minded people with whom you can discuss these things!

Most importantly, it’s essential to get offline & meet these people in real life. You can’t be best friends with someone you’ve never shared a meal with! The really good, deep, gritty stuff happens away from the keyboard… & you’ll never know unless you’re right there for it.

No one can do it alone, & you shouldn’t even try. Start building that support network! You probably already know some babes who you’d like to have in your blogging posse, so don’t be nervous… Reach out to them more regularly!

Oh, & if there’s a blogger you have a crush on, why not email them? You’d be surprised by the amount of girls who will happily write back!

Blog love!

filed under: blogging

Photo by Shell De Mar.

Good news, everyone! I’m still offering ad spaces for small businesses!

Do you have a fledgling business that you’re sweating over? I feel you, girl! These ad spaces are for YOU. I see you there, selling vintage clothing on Etsy! I see you, graphic designers looking for new clients! I see you loitering in the corner, filming your Youtube beauty tutorials! If you’re looking for a customers or an audience & have no idea where to find one, why not borrow mine?!

My intention was always to make these ad spaces ULTRA-affordable, because I know how hard it can be to kick-start your advertising, especially when you’re just starting out. They’re served in collaboration with Blogads, who are great — they provide advertisers with a fantastic system so you can easily track the efficacy of your campaign!

How does it work?

The spaces are $3/day, & you can claim it for as many days as you like — up to 30 at a time. You are, of course, welcome to renew it as soon as those 30 days are up!

The spaces are a 125 pixel square. Like this:

Your ad will be in the right sidebar of the front page, & on individual article pages, underneath where it says SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!

“Advertising on GalaDarling.com showed an immediate boost in site traffic, exposing my design consultancy and journal to new readers everyday…” (Steve G., RDQLUS Creative)

How can I get the most out of this?

Make your ad as engaging, dynamic & eye-catching as possible! This means USE your space as best you can! Fill the space, use a bright colour & bold imagery.

Give people a reason to click! Officially, this is known as a “call to action”. Why should someone click on your ad? Offer them something, whether it’s a discount code, free shipping, a gift with purchase, or something even better!

Animate it! Well, this is optional, but in my experience, an animated ad — a .gif with a few frames — performs better. You can relay more information & it is definitely more eye-catching. Try not to make it too much of an assault on the eyeballs, though!

If you’re not a designer, have someone else make it. This isn’t an option for everyone, but if you have a friend with a great eye, beg, plead & make cookies in exchange for a nicely-designed 125×125 ad. A designer will always do a better job than you can.

Be smart about it! Use fonts that are easy to read, & colours that don’t assault the eyeballs. Check your ad for spelling or grammatical mistakes. This is a representation of your business, so make it as wonderful as you can!

“I’ve done several promotions on Gala Darling’s site, and the results have always blown me away. First off- there’s the sheer volume of hits she sends me- thousands and thousands of uniques a day. But, more than quantity, there’s quality. Gala’s fans are a sparkly, tight-knit community that love and believe in her. If you’re lucky enough to do a promotion on galadarling.com, you tap into that good will. Promotions on galadarling.com have netted me passionate fan letters, wildly creative responses, and new fans from all over the world…” (Molly Crabapple)

All you need to do is choose how many days you’d like your ad to run, upload your image, & submit your link. Then click Preview or Buy! It’s THAT simple!

Questions? Get in touch via email or Twitter!

Mega-lovin’, all day, every day!

filed under: blogging, consumption

It was just like this… but with bangs.

Despite my self-proclaimed international playgirl status, I still fly economy most of the time. I love first class, but the prices are eye-wateringly hard to justify. Most of the time, you can find me in coach with the screaming babies of the world.

I think that may have all changed, though. Uh oh.

You see, I booked my flight to London through Virgin Atlantic — because really, who else would you want to fly to Europe with? — & even though I ummed & ahhed over upgrading my seat, I decided not to.

In a fantastic twist of fate, a few days later, I had an upgrade to Upper Class!

Was it all luck? No, not exactly! I won an upgrade to the Clubhouse by tweeting as part of Virgin Atlantic’s Christmas giveaway… But when they emailed me for my details, I sent them a sweet email not-so-subtly begging for an Upper Class experience!

Cheeky? YES! But cheeky is my middle name!

Thankfully, my cheekiness worked on my contact at Virgin — or maybe it was just that I told him he’d be “my new best friend”?! — & my new BFF Joshua upgraded me to Upper Class for my flight both to & from London.

Spoiled rotten, for sure.

It was the experience of a lifetime, so of course, it only seems fair to let you in on the details…

The Clubhouse
Virgin’s Clubhouses are one of the things that make flying with them such a delight. Now, having a dedicated lounge at the airport is nothing new: most airlines have them, & they’re pretty lackluster. They usually have a bar, some seats, but most importantly, they serve as a much-needed respite from the aforementioned screaming babies.

But Virgin’s Clubhouses are on a whole other level. For example, you can eat & drink all you want, & it is totally complimentary. Both times I was in there, I ended up devouring a full English breakfast, because let’s face it, you just can’t get good baked beans in the U.S.A.!

Secondly, they offer spa treatments, like facials, massages, haircuts & blowouts, & they are free. FREE!

Their Heathrow Clubhouse is partnered with Bumble & Bumble as well as Cowshed Spa, of Soho House fame. I trotted in there quite happily to get a facial before my 8-hour flight home to New York City.

It was a sublime experience: divine aromatherapy, hot towels, exfoliation, serums & wonder. After my slightly hellacious morning, in which I’d woken up at 5am, caught a taxi to Gare Nord, taken the Eurostar to London, & caught a black cab to Heathrow, it was exactly what I needed.

Afterwards, my therapist handed me a glass of water infused with strawberries & mint. I mean, hello. That is perfection.

But if you’d rather not have a treatment, that’s okay, there is plenty to explore. Heathrow’s Clubhouse — their mothership — comes complete with a rooftop garden, a Grey Goose loft bar, hanging bubble chairs, a restaurant, a deli & approximately three million power-plugs for ailing laptops.

I love you, Richard Branson.

The cabin
Ultimately, a cool glowing purple cabin & a killer Clubhouse don’t mean diddly-squat if you’re squished into a teeny-tiny seat.

Thankfully, I didn’t have this problem.

Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class is an actual slice of heaven in the sky. Filled with ambient purple light, it’s a big space full of oversized seats & ottomans, which recline to become a full bed. Your little pod comes complete with a fluffy pillow, a plump duvet, & even a slim but luxurious padded mattress which transforms your seat into the perfect place for a snooze.

Look, anything beats trying to catch a bit of shut-eye with your knees jammed up against a seat & a terrible thin pillow wedged between you & your noisy neighbour, but this is a pretty exceptional experience by anyone’s standards.

I actually fell asleep before we took off. Oops…

If you are not dead tired like I was, there are plenty of things to occupy you in your Upper Class playground. Like a trillion movies (when I finally woke up, I watched Pitch Perfect & Ted), a power point for industrious workers, all the food you can think of & infinite drinks.

...Which, if you wanted, you could drink at the bar.

Yeah, that’s pretty badass.

The service
I fly Virgin as much as I possibly can, even choosing to fly with them when their fares are a little higher, simply because the service is so good. If you’ve ever flown with them, you know this to be true… & as you can imagine, their Upper Class service is even better.

Checking in was a breeze, & all the staff members I encountered were 100% charming & sweet. They went out of their way to make me happy & comfortable. For example, when I decided to pass on breakfast, the flight attendant brought me two little chocolate muffins.

“Just in case,” she said, smiling.

They also will transform your seat into your bed for you: pressing the buttons, laying out the mattress, duvet & pillow just so. Pampered, for sure!

One of the coolest things? The private security channel at Heathrow. You hold your boarding pass up to a scanner on the wall, & the panel beside you — which just looks like a wall — swings wide open. You walk through, & right up to an x-ray machine. You don’t have to stand in a long, snaking queue. There is no waiting & no standing around. It is GENIUS.

Of course, the problem with service like this is that you start to want it everywhere else, too…

Had to snap a photo of this! If you’re interested, I had the carrot soup, roast chicken breast, & some cheese. The perfect meal! The afternoon tea, served just before landing, was an incredible treat, too: a warm scone with cream & jam, sandwiches with the crusts cut off (my FAVE!), & a raspberry macaron. Helloooooo lover!

So, do I recommend Virgin Upper Class?
Honestly, you’d be mad not to. The whole experience was wonderful from start to finish — from the Clubhouse where I was able to get work done as well as a facial, to the delicious meals, to the smiling service, right down to sleeping through half the flight.

Before we took off, I snuggled down in my oversized seat with a view of the door, watching people walk onto the plane. A mother with a fussy baby boarded, & I watched in amazement as the crying noises disappeared into the back of the plane.

Now, that’s worth paying for.

These days, we expect there to be no disruption to our routine, despite flying at 30,000 feet. We want to be able to work, to eat snacks & the ability to take a nap at all times… & Virgin has been able to provide this.

Are we all just being a little spoiled? Yes, definitely. But when you find someone to indulge your whims, you run with it!

Ruined forever,

P.S. This is not a sponsored post… But if Richard Branson wanted to hang out, I would totally not be opposed. Just saying. Call me, Richard!

filed under: travel

Paris, je t’aime! ...& you should never trust anyone who says otherwise!

It already feels like a million years ago, but it’s true, I came back from Paris a little over two weeks ago. Phew! After giving London — & The Blogcademy — our all, we decided that a quick trip to Paris would be the perfect way to reward ourselves.

We were right. It was exactly what we were hoping for: beautiful light & exquisite architecture, croissants for breakfast & spilled champagne. We danced all over the city, from le Palais Royale to le Tour Eiffel, ate crepes & drank mulled wine, & marvelled at the overwhelming beauty of it all…

We decided that it was imperative to be super-tourists & get some photos taken in front of the Eiffel Tower. But we wanted to do it right.

...So after a couple of days of causing trouble on our own in Paris, our friends came to join us. Yep, we had enlisted the help of Elbie van Eeden, makeup artist extraordinaire, & two of our favourite photographers: Lisa Devlin & Shell De Mar. (One camera is never enough!)

The following afternoon, after a quick ride on le Métro, we were right there, staring up at the Eiffel Tower. But where were we going to take photos? Lisa set off in the direction of a park, & we followed her for about ten minutes. When we turned around, this was our view. Gorgeous. She has some kind of sensational-location-homing-beacon, I think. Imagine living on this street!

As for the clothes… I was wearing a ’90s velvet skater dress (which I stole from Shauna that morning!), a hat by NastyGal, a belt by Betsey Johnson & Michael Kors boots.

In fact, when it came time to pack our suitcases that night, Shauna & I ended up swapping dresses. I took her velvet skater dress in exchange for this vintage dress which I’ve never worn, & looks so much better on her! (Also, on Sunday night, I wore this skater dress to a vampire ball. Yes, you did read that correctly! It’s turning out to be a very versatile frock!)

Shauna wore an ASOS dress & belt, Minimarket boots (similar) & a gold headband from H&M.

Kat wore a dress from Manoush (which we talked her into buying the day before!) & glitter sneakers by Jimmy Choo. If you’re planning on going to Paris anytime soon, you must promise me you’ll make a stop in at Manoush. It’s one of my favourite stores in the whole world!

I know it might shock you to see me in not-pink. It kinda shocks me a little bit too, but I love it & I’m embracing it. Oxblood is like a more grown-up counterpart to the raging fuchsia that I usually go for… Plus, it’s nice to switch it up!

It makes me grin to think that Shauna found this dress at Buffalo Exchange in Portland. In my imagination, someone wore this to a bunch of grunge shows in 1994, & paired it with Doc Martens & ripped stockings…

“Welcome to my LAIR!”

This door is exquizz to the max. Oh, Paris, you are so beautiful… & Lisa bloody Devlin, you are the best. These photos are just too gorgeous. We’re so thrilled with them!

Paris, we’ll see you again soon… (!!!)

filed under: daily outfit, travel

A little-known fact? I work out 7 days a week. Okay, sometimes I take Sunday off… But not often!

I always think the most difficult thing about working out is actually leaving the house. It can seem so unappealing, especially if it’s raining, snowing, or otherwise frigid! If you can get yourself out the door, the battle has already been won.

It’s so much easier to leave the house when you have a kicking track playing on your headphones… & it’s so much more fun to do another million reps when the music coming out of the speakers gets your heart racing.

...So I made another workout mixtape. It starts off kind of calm, then gets a bit crazy, then cools down. I hope you like it!

Boom boom boom,

P.S. If you don’t work out, you’ll still love this as a high-energy soundtrack to your daily life! Also, you can listen to my other mixes by clicking this tag!

filed under: mixtape

Photo by Juliane Berry.

I just had to share this photo, which arrived in my inbox this afternoon. It was taken at the Louvre, which is normally surrounded by tourists. Miraculously, on the day we were there, it was raining & cold, so most of the tourists stayed away… & we had the whole place to ourselves. Of course, we took advantage!

It’s been an interesting month, & I can’t believe it’s almost over?! This is day four of the Clean Program for me, & I’m already feeling sharper, more focussed, more aware. My body feels good too.

I also haven’t shopped all month (except to buy new glasses). Yesterday, between meetings, I browsed some shops, & it was so overwhelming. Not shopping is just like not eating sugar: the less you do it, the less you want to do it!

...Which, of course, is not to say that I’m quitting shopping forever. But it’s nice to give the wallet — & more importantly, the mind — a break. Since the start of February, I’ve barely looked at ASOS, Etsy, or Amazon. I haven’t strolled aimlessly around the city poking my head into every interesting shop. You may not be surprised to hear this, but I have been so much more productive! It feels amazing… Have you ever given yourself a self-imposed ban on one of your less-than-wonderful habits?

Although, Clean Program aside, I have to admit that I really like Nutella. I almost stole this from a crepe stand near the Eiffel Tower… !

Good times aplenty: “She’s Brigitte Bardot with vampire teeth!” Getting my goth on A false eyelash date with the babes from Juicy Couture! Really big cups of green tea Discovering new favourite lipsticks — Corrupt by Illamasqua is gorgeous! Instax scattered all over our coffee table Getting hopeful about spring Extreme dog snuggling Happy feedback on my 8track mixes — it makes me so happy to create something other people want to listen to! J. Cole (always) New glasses Hank & Dolly sharing one dog bed… I mean, the cuteness! Waking up in full vampire make-up Grease-inspired photos Re-watching Entourage (or as I like to call it, Sex & The City for guys) Ari Gold! One of the best characters of all time Burning candles every night Illamasqua Power Foundation which will — no joke — give you the complexion of a porcelain doll. LOVE IT! Really early (3am?!) breakfasts Working my magic, both literally & figuratively Speaking at Social Media Week & meeting some of my readers! I love you guys! Wearing a viking hat in the photobooth, OF COURSE! Grilled salmon, it’s my new best friend Re-discovering the wonderfulness of the Juice Press’ Chocolate Raspberry Kiss smoothie!

This email gave me blissful goosebumps!

“Every time I go on your blog, you make me feel like the world is this bright, beautiful place. Which is amazing, because I am in the seventh grade, and there is nothing beautiful about middle school… I feel like this is the beginning of my life, and I’m so glad that I discovered your blog when I did. Now, I have the confidence to wear sparkles…”

I hope you’ve had a beautiful week…

Kisses,

filed under: things i love thursday

Snapped shooting some Instax, by Jessica Roberts!

Hey, blogger babe: this is part six of a ten-part series, in which I tell you my top tips for kickstarting your blog & pushing it to the next level. I’ve also written about getting organised, demanding your worth, creating new features, setting goals & forming a blogger posse! (You can make it really easy on yourself by just clicking on the blogging tag! Enjoy!)

One of the wonderful things about blogging is the very low barrier to entry. As long as you have internet access, you’re away laughing!

You can go far with a blog on a free platform, some photos from your iPhone & a moderate amount of effort. But if you want to perform well, you need a bit of kit.

A good camera makes an enormous difference, though it won’t be much use to you unless you learn how to use it! (Make friends with your user manual & practice, practice, practice!) A smartphone which allows you to Instagram, tweet & Facebook on the go is invaluable. A fast computer, a Wacom tablet, & some cute head-shots can make such a huge difference. Using an Instax or Polaroid camera to take some of your photos can really add another dimension to your blog, too.

As tempting as it can be to use your iPhone for all your pictures, picking up your camera & actually using it is imperative! It adds a massive air of sophistication to your blog, & elevates it to a higher level. Think about your favourite blogs: one of the things you (probably) love most about them is that they use beautiful imagery.

There are a number of small things you can do to boost your blog too, like purchasing your own domain name, upgrading your layout & moving your blog to Wordpress.

Now, I know that doing all of these things may seem annoying, superfluous or indulgent, but there’s a method to my madness. When it comes to blogging, it’s just like what your English teacher said in school: “Show me, don’t tell me.” Blogging is such a visual medium, so if your site is hideous with blurry photos & a cheesy free layout, it will be judged accordingly.

The other thing is that I can guarantee you will feel 500% more motivated to write for your blog — & write great content at that — if you like the way your blog looks. I love my new layout, it makes me so happy, & I am thrilled to refresh it & see a new post appear. I’d had the same design for such a long time, & I was sick of the sight of it!

Making a few tweaks to the design has given me so much inspiration. Never underestimate the power of design on your happiness!

Additionally, I strongly believe in doing as much as you can on your own, & outsourcing the rest. A lot of bloggers are looking for anything that’s free, & I hate to tell you this, but you get what you pay for. PAY a photographer & get some great pictures for your about page. PAY a designer so your site looks clean & professional. PAY a copywriter if you’re having trouble coming up with the perfect bio. If you don’t have any money, trade!

The best way to run a business — & yes, your blog is a business — is to focus on what you’re good at, & delegate everything else. When you’re just starting out, that can be a big ask, & for a while you’ll have to wear multiple hats. But as you grow & your blog picks up steam, you’ll be able to work with people who are professionals… & it makes all the difference.

You can only go so far on a free template. When you start hearing the call to step up to the plate, put on your best shoes & DO IT!

You are your own best investment — & when it comes to blogging, doubly so! Click to tweet!

Blog love!

filed under: blogging

Photo by Laura Burlton.

Oh, Mercury retrograde.

You are here, AGAIN. You have arrived on our collective doorsteps in all your messy glory. You are our dreaded but regular house-guest. You stagger in the door, kick over our furniture, leave crumbs all over the couch & hog the bathroom. Then, as quickly as you appeared, you disappear again, leaving us slightly stunned but much better equipped to continue with our own lives!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, here we go. The planets are swinging around at all times, & their movements affect us all in different ways. All planets go retrograde, but Mercury’s journey seems to impact people much more than any other. (Even people who “don’t believe in astrology” often “believe” in the crazy aftershocks of Mercury retrograde!)

Why is that? It’s because Mercury rules communication, clear thinking, truth & travel, so when the planet goes retrograde — which means that it looks like it’s going backwards in the sky — all those things go backwards. They start to get ugly & tangle up. Mercury isn’t really going backwards, it’s just hanging out by the sun, but from Earth, that makes it look like it’s in reverse. It typically runs for a couple of weeks, a few times a year.

Check out these dates below & put them in your calendar!

In 2013, Mercury is retrograde from…

February 23rd to March 17th
June 26th to July 20th
October 21st to November 10th

Note: We sometimes start to feel the effects of Mercury retrograde a few days early. It’s nice to give yourself a bit of leeway on either side of the prescribed dates!

What happens when Mercury goes retrograde?

All sorts of things! It’s like everyone you know has suddenly gone mad! You might find yourself getting into bizarre arguments about nothing at all, being unable to finish sentences or barely even able to form a coherent thought. Your computer & other electronic equipment is more likely to go on the fritz. You could experience travel delays, too. Double-check your flights & take a book with you to keep you occupied while you wait for the train! We don’t tend to get all the information we need at this time, so it can be hard to make big decisions & it’s not always the best time to sign a contract, either.

Expect to hear super-loud complaining from your friends who are Gemini or Virgo, since both are ruled by Mercury! Mercury also rules a lot of industries like publishing, writing, editing, advertising, sales, public relations & anything to do with transport, like airlines, the post office & cabs! This means it can be particularly rough for Gemini train conductors & Virgo magazine editors, so be kind to any you know!

I often find that Mercury retrograde makes me want to go into hermit mode. I feel like half my brain is missing so I’m really not that interested in interacting with anyone, plus every conversation seems to go in an unusual, confusing direction. I feel much more irritable & frustrated & things just don’t seem to go how I want them to.

So that’s the bad news. Mercury retrograde can be a total kick in the teeth for those of us who normally pride ourselves on having our karmic shit together! The GOOD news is that Mercury retrograde provides us with lots of beautiful opportunities if we can just tilt our head & squint.

Mercury retrograde wants us to move back spiritually. It is providing us with a chance to re-examine various areas of our life which may need a little more work, so that we can move forward to a bright new dawn. Now, more than ever, the time is right to look at things with clear eyes. Delicious, fresh perspectives are revealed. We often have major breakthroughs — intellectual, emotional or spiritual — during this time.

It’s also a terrific period in which to tie up loose ends. So many of us have unfinished projects… Maybe that door just needs another lick of paint, or you’ll decide to put away your ex-boyfriend’s love letters once & for all. Having said that, this is also a time where it’s very common for old lovers, friends & acquaintances to get in touch! If you hear from someone from your past, get together with them & see what eventuates!

One of the best ways to cope with it — as with anything, really — is to just “go with the flow”. When you fight Mercury retrograde, that’s when life gets really ugly. Just take some time, go slowly, be careful, don’t freak yourself out by expecting to be uber-productive-perfect right now. Be good to yourself & the people around you, now more than ever!

Be sure not to take things too personally. People will often say offensive things they didn’t mean around this time, because their thinking is clouded & their communication skills are on pause! If your best friend suddenly became the most insensitive person in the world, give her the benefit of the doubt.

Back up your data!

Don’t purchase any big ticket items, because they will often have flaws or issues that you weren’t aware of! Of course, life doesn’t stop just because of wacky planetary movement, so if you absolutely have to get that car, computer or iPhone, TRIPLE-check all the paperwork, & make sure you have a warranty!

Take things with a grain of salt. Everyone is a bit confused, & people are much more inclined to change their mind once Mercury goes direct. Mercury can be a bit of a trickster — could it be that the next few weeks are a big karmic joke?!

Read the small print on any contracts. Ask lots of questions. Again, you can’t put your life on hold just because of some silly planet, but adapt your lifestyle a bit so that things run more smoothly. Communication can be a mess right now, but do your best to get as much information as you can.

Finish things you started a while ago. Home improvement projects? Wardrobe re-organisations? Short stories? Love affairs?! This is an excellent time to tie up loose ends & file things away forever.

Get together with old friends, reminisce & laugh!

Double-check any information you’re given, especially as relates to travel arrangements! During one particularly formidable Mercury retrograde, I actually caught a cab to the wrong airport! Check times, delays, baggage allowances, reservations… everything!

Allow Mercury to nudge you in unusual directions. If you seem to find yourself “back to the future”, don’t just try to wriggle out of it — look at what the universe is trying to show you. What can you learn from this situation? This is a fantastic time to re-examine, accept & move on.

Use the things you’ve discovered in the past to create a dazzling new vision so that you’re ready to blast ahead when Mercury goes direct!

If you want more tips, read 10 Magical Ways To Make The Most Of Mercury Retrograde!

Fingers crossed for the next few weeks, & best of luck to you!

Love & sanity,

filed under: astrology, how to, life

Two weeks in Europe was fabulous, but there’s nothing like coming home. Even more amazing — to me, at least — is the fact that now this is my home! Talk about a dream come true.

Every day in New York City is a blessing, but I’m feeling the love even more strongly than usual lately… Maybe because spring is in the air! Either way, here are ten reasons why I’m head-over-heels in love with NYC right now…

1. Simple acts of kindness.
When I flew back from London, my plane got in an hour later than expected. The queues were moving extremely slowly, collecting my suitcase took forever, and by that point, my phone was dead. Once I got in a cab, my driver and I started talking. I mentioned that my phone wasn’t working, and he immediately handed his over so I could let my husband know I was running late. I was incredibly touched by that simple gesture, and by his kindness.

2. The people.
New Yorkers have a reputation for being impatient and rude. They’re not. They’re just busy! New Yorkers like to get to the point, they don’t pussyfoot around, and if they don’t like you, they’ll tell you to your face. I love this. I’d pick honesty & integrity over insincerity any day. NYC is all about hard work and efficiency, and what could be better than that?

3. Street chat.
The conversations you overhear on the street are infinitely more interesting here than anywhere else. Maybe it’s because no one really has any space, so we take whatever opportunity we get to speak, but people who live in New York have the most candid conversations in public. It’s fascinating. I guess that’s why Overheard In New York is still going strong!

4. Neighbourhood bliss.
In a city of 8 million people, it is endlessly fascinating to me that you are able to carve out any kind of niche at all. After two weeks overseas, it feels so good when the guy at the sandwich shop knows your name, and the barista knows your order before you place it. The East Village is one of my favourite places on the planet, and doubly so in spring and summer. Everyone sits out on their stoops, kids play in the fire hydrant spray, there are flowers and music and everyone is happy. Ah! Just thinking about it makes my heart beat extra fast!

5. Nightlife.
Two Sundays ago, Rabbit and I went to a vampire ball. It was packed with people, and it was absolutely fabulous. We danced to Type O Negative and Bauhaus remixes, drank gin and teased our hair in the bathroom. A man in a latex catsuit asked me to marry him. (I politely declined.) Afterwards, Rabbit and I went to 24-hour Ukrainian diner for a 3am breakfast. Perfect.

6. Even exercise can be sublime.
The gym I go to looks like a haunted mansion, and I take yoga classes in a room full of stained glass windows. I ride my bike along leafy village streets and run beside the East River. Don’t be fooled: when it comes to getting (and staying) motivated about your health, your surroundings do matter!

7. 24/7 delivery.
In NYC you can get pretty much anything delivered to your door, although it is possible to go a little overboard with this. One of my favourite things to do is have waffles with ice-cream delivered as a midnight snack. Once, on a particularly lazy day, I even had brunch delivered (French toast with bacon!). My local bodega, Sunny and Annie’s, which makes famous sandwiches (seriously, if you come to town, you have to try one), will deliver a bunch of flowers, a pack of gum or even a Christmas tree at 4 in the morning. Now that’s service.

8. Compliments.
People here love to give commentary on what you’re wearing. I once had a twenty-something guy tell me, “That’s the cutest outfit I’ve seen in at least fifty years!” And on Sunday morning, while walking my dog in a ragtag outfit which included a leopard-print faux fur coat and knee-high boots, a cop stopped me to tell me I had “an amazing sense of style.” Thanks, officer!

9. Diversity.
There is an occult store, a boutique beer shop, a fabulous vintage clothing store, a tarot card reader and a store selling toys from the 80s within one block in my neighbourhood. In the surrounding couple of streets, you can find my favourite juice bar on the planet, an old-timey vegan ice-cream parlour, a shop that only sells vintage eye-glasses, and Russian baths. And that’s only within a few blocks. Truly, NYC has something for everyone.

10. Dog couture.
I saw a dog wearing a Yankees cap on Monday night. No further details required!

Have you ever written a love letter to your city? Taking the time to think about what makes your home wonderful is a fantastic gratitude exercise. And don’t get it twisted: no matter where you live, there are always great things happening. (One of my favourite city love letters is a song called Say Shh by Atmosphere.)

I NY,

I’m completely reminiscing as I look back over these photographs from Made U Look! Can’t wait to see them in Portland at the end of March… ! (Are you going to join us?!)

filed under: new york doll

It was a rainy morning in Paris, and three overdressed bloggers were floating around in their apartment on the last day of their vacation.

We had woken up, procured trois cafés au lait and trois pains au chocolat to go with ‘em, and were listening to some very French songs to set the mood!

Back in my (very) early twenties, my travelling priorities were simple: cheap trumped all else. I remember booking a holiday for my boyfriend and I to Europe so we could see the Legendary Pink Dots play two dates, one in Amsterdam and one in Paris. I had never been to either city, so I simply chose hotels that were inexpensive and had semi-decent reviews.

We were lucky with our hotel in Holland. To save money, I decided we should stay in Haarlem (a 15 minute train ride to Amsterdam), and the Hotel Amadeus was perfect for our purposes, with a sweet view of the town square. But our hotel in Paris was so scary, with a lobby full of unsavoury characters, that I barely slept a wink! (Somehow I felt like they were going to burst through the door at any moment!)

As I get older, it’s not just about where I hang my hat. It’s about the neighbourhood, the feel of the building, and getting a taste of luxury. Travel may be an essential part of my existence, but that doesn’t mean it should be drab or purely functional.

That’s exactly why we partnered with GoWithOh and stayed in a superb apartment right around the corner from the Arc de Triomphe.

Owned by an actress and perched at the top of the building’s superb spiral staircase, our two bedroom apartment was the perfect Parisian pad. It was eclectic but chic, with a velvet couch that made me swoon, and a bright red kitchen.

It was the perfect place to lounge, daydream, and listen to the rain falling outside.

While I did a little blogging…

Kat giggled with an oversized flower in the window…

...And Shauna thought about making us lunch. (Just kidding! This girl could burn cereal!)

I wore a custom tutu dress made by Ouma. I’d literally been eyeing her frocks for years, and I finally decided to take the plunge just before Paris! I don’t regret it one bit. My cardigan is from Victoria’s Secret, and not-so-secretly, I’ve worn it all winter long. It’s perfect for bringing a little glamour to your at-home lounging. This particular one isn’t available anymore, but this is similar!

Shauna wore a vintage top covered in crosses (how her!) that she found at Buffalo Exchange in Portland, and a plain black shift dress.

Kat wore an insane sequinned sweater from Manoush (I bought the same one!), an ombre tutu also by Ouma, a t-shirt from Whistles, and a belt from H&M.

Every trip to Paris goes by too quickly. I often dream about visiting in the spring, staying for a month, and really taking my time to soak up the place. After all, that is the French way!

Bisoux,

Photographs by the wonderful Shell De Mar. Hair and make-up by Elbie Van Eeden.

filed under: daily outfit, travel

A pink Crown & Glory bow, a bonjour pin by Jennifer Loiselle and my favourite leopard coat!

So much happens in a month, and it’s exactly this premise that helped to shape and inspire this new column!

I use and experiment with so many things in a 30 day period, but those things don’t always make it to the blog. This is a fun way for me to clue you in on my new favourite products, obsessions and ideas, and I’m really excited about it!

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things is pretty self-explanatory: in a variety of categories, I’ll give you a rundown of what I consider to be the best of the month. Oh, and do let me know if there’s any category that I have clearly forgotten to mention!

Now this is a handbag.

Beautifying
I am absolutely in love with my bob, and can’t help thinking that this could be my signature haircut. It really is perfect.

I’ve been experimenting with lip colour a lot this month. It’s ideal in these frozen temperatures; nothing cheers you up like a bright lip! My current favourite lipstick is Illamasqua in Corrupt. It’s so damn bright and it makes me so damn happy! The woman who checked out my purchase at Sephora was wearing Atomic and it looked gorgeous. I’ll be trying that next!

Buying
Well, I haven’t bought anything this month except these Dolce & Gabbana glasses, which I kinda love and which my trainer said make me look like the original Catwoman. (Compliment!) You can find them on Amazon or at Lenscrafters.

I tend to do what I call a buying cleanse once a year. I still allow myself to buy essentials, like food, face wipes, and lipstick (oops), but no clothing is allowed. It really helps me get back to a balance-point, to realise that I have more than enough, and to stop obsessing. It also helps me think strategically about where to go next, stylistically. The end result is that I’m feeling a little more sane about heading into spring!

Eating
This month, I’ve been doing the Clean Program, so my eating has been limited to Clean-approved foods. Basically this means lots of organic chicken, salmon and vegetables, and cutting out sugar, dairy and wheat. My skin looks so great right now, which I know is not a coincidence! Very glowy, clear and fabulous.

It’s exciting to have given up sugar, and last night when I was looking at Pinterest, the sight of cakes, macarons and pastries filled with sugar, food colouring and cream made me feel slightly ill! I would love to stay away from sugar once my cleanse is over. I have about a week and a half left.

I’ve been doing quite intense work-outs, so I’ve started making myself a pre-workout shake. Monday’s shake consisted of hemp protein powder, coconut butter, almond milk, mixed berries and some raw cacao. I mixed it all up in a few seconds in this single-serve blender. It was delicious and really helped me power through!

My favourite Clean-approved snack is green apple slices with almond butter. Oh my goodness. You don’t even KNOW.

I recently discovered Starbucks’ Evolution Fresh green juice, which tastes excellent for a green juice, and — since it’s sold in Starbucks everywhere — is an awesome way to get healthy nutrients on-the-go. No excuses now!

A photo of a photo…

Gallivanting
There was plenty of fun this month, despite the cold. The Kate Spade presentation was absolutely glorious, and even better, I got to see my favourite mama, Naomi! I also spoke at Social Media Week, went on a girl date with the Juicy Couture babes to get eyelash extensions, and enjoyed myself almost too much with Alexandra at City Bakery.

...But getting my goth on for Eternal Night, a vampire ball, was definitely one of the highlights of February for me. It excited my inner sixteen year old so much that I haven’t been able to stop teasing my hair since! (I’m going to do a full write-up on my experience soon.) Having said that, I’m going roller-skating tomorrow night, so we can’t write the month off quite yet!

Listening
I’m all about 8tracks at the moment. As well as creating my own mixes, I’ve been listening to other people’s, too. Some of my favourites include No Diggity No Doubt, French Femme Fatale, Brain Feeder, On A Trip, Karma Coma, goombay smash beetches (?!), The Pinnacle Of Badassery Part II, Funky Hip and Dirty-Funky-Soul-Jazz Vol. 19. They should keep you busy!

There’s that Victoria’s Secret cardigan again!

Manicuring
Lilac glitter with a sequin ring finger! This is what I like to think of as “casual sparkle”.

This is a gel manicure, which isn’t cheap, but it does last. I’m two weeks into this one and it still looks superb. Gel manicures are the best ever — since I discovered them, I haven’t bothered with nail-polish. I can’t see the point!

In New York City, Sakura is the only place I’ll go for a manicure. Tell your girl to hook it up!

A slice of my desk, right now.

Nesting
There are tulips and potted daffodils being sold in every bodega flower stand right now, so of course, I couldn’t resist. As a result, my house is full of fresh tulips and vanilla candles.

I go through candles like mad, and I am extremely picky about what I burn. These candles by Therepe and Soy Basics smell fantastic and are totally inexpensive. Perfect for glamming up your parlour!

Reading
I have a copy of Kate Spade’s Things We Love on the desk beside me, which I keep thumbing through for inspiration. It’s full of bold type, eye-catching photographs and sweet sentiments, so clearly, it’s perfect!

It’s funny, I was sent a copy of their mini-book (also called Things We Love) a few years ago, and it contains some of the same content. It’s fascinating to see them make the jump from a skinny chapbook to a thick hardcover! Either way: j’adore Kate Spade, and how could you not when they sell clutches that look like antique radios?!

Favourite fragrance, bar none.

Spritzing
Ever since I discovered La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain, I haven’t been able to wear anything else. It’s the perfect scent for winter: complex and sexy with a lingering scent of black cherries. I don’t know how appropriate it’ll be in summer, though, so we’ll see! (Another bonus: you get to practice your French whenever people ask what you’re wearing! It’s quite a mouthful, I assure you!)

Watching
I’d been idly thinking about Entourage — otherwise known as Sex & The City for men — for a while. So this month, I worked my way through the entire thing. I’d forgotten how enjoyable it really is!

I also loved Beyonce’s documentary, Life Is But A Dream. Did you see it? So cool.

This is what happens 99% of the time I open an envelope!

Wearing
I’ve worn my leopard faux fur coat so much this winter that the lining is shredded and falling apart. Quel désastre! I have also been wearing — shock, horror — JEANS, mostly my J.Crew toothpicks in black, but also some stretchy blue ones which are obscenely comfortable. Which brings me to my next question: what brand does jeans that will make my booty look spectacular? I need to know! (Tell me on Facebook!)

I’ve been basically living in my Frye Heath Harness boots (above). When I first got them, they rubbed the back of my ankle and I thought I had made a terrible mistake! (said in booming, foreboding voice), but they have softened with wear and now they are my favourite.

But really, I am ready for it to get warm. And soon!

Wishlist
Pretty much everything from Kate Spade’s fall preview… !

I also recently discovered Outdoor Technology’s Turtle Shell Wireless Boom Box which truly looks like the perfect thing to mount to my bicycle this summer. Music on the go = yes! Plus, it’s PINK! I see a lot more picnics in my future… (The video is so great and funny, too.)

My spending ban ends really soon and I’m excited about it. Ha!

Writing
Here are some of my favourite pieces from this month, just in case you missed ‘em!

Our amazing video from The Blogcademy: London warms my heart! Despite the snow…
Here’s a write-up of my sublime (and sweet) experiences at City Bakery’s hot chocolate month
I wanted to serve up a little antidote to the Hallmarkification of Valentine’s Day, which is how I thought up 50 Ways To Have A Very Un-Valentine’s Day. Truthfully though, every single one of these activities could be considered a radical self love exercise!
It’s probable that I was ruined forever when I flew Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to and from London.
I posted about Paris twice: dancing under the Eiffel Tower and our exquisite apartment.
For all you gym bunnies, I made a workout mixtape that I’ve been blasting at David Barton!
Sadly, I had to remind everyone that Mercury retrograde is here…
My excitement over being back in NYC was too much, so I decided to write a love letter to my favourite city.
...And I considered how I’d do things differently if I did my prom all over again.
Plus, I continued adding to my ongoing blogging series! Phew!

What a month, eh?! Soon, it will be spring, and the world will feel completely different… I can’t wait!

Love always,

filed under: consumption, favourite things

Last night I headed uptown to Dylan’s Candy Bar — which really is the cutest and best candy shop in the world, with its cupcake-shaped booths and candy sealed inside the floor! — for a party with Hanazuki. It was so cool to meet Hanneke and Niko, the creators of Hanazuki, and we even got to make our own clouds!

I made a pink one, of course, and gave it ears… and eyelashes. I kinda love it. It makes for a great head replacement, too! (Check out Niko’s cloud! I love it!)

While it was slightly torturous to be in a candy store during my cleanse, surrounded by cotton candy martinis, cupcakes, macarons and all gummy everything, I survived unscathed! They gave me a bucket to fill with candy — which of course I did — but when I got home, I hid the bucket in the back of our pantry. Hahah.

This was my first time debuting my cat ear hat, and it was a huge hit! I bought it from Patricia Field, but couldn’t find it online. This one is similar and waaaaaay cute! I’m also wearing a striped top from Betsey Johnson, a black skirt from Zara and a bubblegum pink belt by Ted Baker.

This time next month, I’ll be in Portland, OR, which I’m so excited about! The Blogcademy headmistresses will be all hunkered down in Shauna’s awesome house, exploring Portland, piling into photobooths and giving a Blogcademy education to 30 fabulous blogcadettes! I’m so excited to see my babes and to meet a whole class of badass bloggers, but of course, there is a lot to do before then… !

Yes please! Secret underground spas Eating enormous amounts of seaweed Morning snuggle times Thinking about the kind of groupies magicians must have?! ...And dreaming about a trip to Vegas to see all our favourite magicians perform! I mean, really: LOOK! Twisted by Keith Sweat Tulips on my desk, glorious Sunshine and making the switch from leather gloves to fingerless cashmere — surely a sign spring is coming! Cleaning out my desk and discovering treasures: hundreds of Instax photos, gem elixirs, yerba mate energy shots, and two packets of sparklers! “Pink hair is a gateway drug!” Major excitement over our custom city totes for The Blogcademy! (Turquoise ink for days!) Getting back into using Wunderlist (so great!) Skype dates and maybe I get to see my babe Jess next month?! Spring. Spring. Spring!

I’m listening to a Grease mixtape and life is good!

Born to hand-jive, baby!

filed under: things i love thursday