Sunday, 24 July 2011
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Guest Posting on Doing It all For Aleyna
With Alex away on holiday, she asked me to write a guest post. After a massive case of writer's block I found my inspiration for this post.... Why Do I Write?
I adore "Doing It All For Aleyna". It is an amazing and inspirational blog. If you haven't discovered it already, pop across and show some love. You won't regret it!
I adore "Doing It All For Aleyna". It is an amazing and inspirational blog. If you haven't discovered it already, pop across and show some love. You won't regret it!
Guest Editing on Real People Magazine
Back in January, I applied along with hundreds of others to be in with a chance of becoming a Guest Editor for the magazine for the day. I wrote about why I wanted to be considered and was shortlisted, and after submitting further details about myself was chosen as one of three successful applicants.
I didn't really know what to expect from it all, but my motto is to seize whatever opportunities come my way. Thankfully, Ian is more than happy to support my recent habit of upping sticks and gallivanting to London to attend events, but I'd never been away from the family for three days before. I was understandably nervous, but with Megan as my travelling partner, I felt the fear but did it anyway!
The itinerary arrived a few days before we left and I was surprised to find that we were to be treated to an action packed three days. Not only would I be working on my own pages in the magazine, but we'd also be treated to amazing meals out with key members of staff, a theatre trip, a guided tour of London all whilst staying in the gorgeous Russell Hotel. Add to that chauffeur driven cars and I was starting to feel a little celebrity-esque!
We arrived by train and were picked up at Euston Station and escorted to our hotel. I have never seen such an amazingly grand hotel. The Victorian building had intricate mosaic floors, stained glass windows and carvings in the stone walls. It has been sympathetically preserved and I could easily imagine the lords and ladies who would have been guests over a century ago. But for two nights this was going to be home to us!
We met up with the other guest editors and their travel partners and we developed an instant comradery born out of our shared adventure that lasted for the duration of our trip. Carol and Leanne were both fabulous ladies and I'm so glad I got to meet them!
After settling in, we were driven to the National Magazine building in the heart of London to meet Samm Taylor, the editor of Real People, and some of the team. We learned a few tricks of the trade and got involved in the process of seeing the front cover through from conception to being sent off to print. The amount of work that goes into every detail is quite amazing!
We had a fabulous meal at a bistro restaurant where I indulged in my first ever Artichokes and also my first Chocolate Fondant (they always make them on Masterchef and I always fancied trying one!) It was a glorious meal and we meandered back to the hotel feeling very satisfied indeed!
The next morning started with an excellent cooked veggie breakfast (I so could get a taste for this life style). We then headed off "to work" for the day. As guest editors we were involved in every step of the process including the morning meeting where potential stories were discussed. We saw what goes on in different departments and I was particularly impressed with the repro guys who use their skills to improve photographs. We flicked through their portfolio and saw some pre-photoshopped Angelina Jolie photos used in a glossy monthly mag. They made all her tattoos disappear, replacing them with clear, gorgeous skin showing through her elegant backless dress. Clever stuff.
After lunch I joined the features team to work on my pages. I was briefed and then left to get on with writing the copy for a double paged feature. I was also photographed, interviewed and videoed. It was great to be immersed in such an exciting, fast paced working environment and trusted to have input in some publishing decisions.
A quick bite to eat was followed by Priscilla Queen of the Desert accompanied by cocktails in light up cocktail glasses. It was camp, colourful and completely fun.
Our last day involved an unusual guided tour onboard an American amphibious vehicle from World War Two lovingly referred to as a Duck. The Duck Tours are a huge hit with tourists and we embraced the whole experience, trundling around the streets of London looking at the sights before heading offroad and driving straight into the Thames!
A final lunch with the editor saw an end to an amazing three days. I couldn't thank Samm and her staff enough for the experience. We were treated like VIPs and it was an honour to be let loose on an established magazine. My pages will appear in about four weeks time. Once it's published I can tell you more about what I did...needless to say I'm quite excited by it all!
I didn't really know what to expect from it all, but my motto is to seize whatever opportunities come my way. Thankfully, Ian is more than happy to support my recent habit of upping sticks and gallivanting to London to attend events, but I'd never been away from the family for three days before. I was understandably nervous, but with Megan as my travelling partner, I felt the fear but did it anyway!
The itinerary arrived a few days before we left and I was surprised to find that we were to be treated to an action packed three days. Not only would I be working on my own pages in the magazine, but we'd also be treated to amazing meals out with key members of staff, a theatre trip, a guided tour of London all whilst staying in the gorgeous Russell Hotel. Add to that chauffeur driven cars and I was starting to feel a little celebrity-esque!
We arrived by train and were picked up at Euston Station and escorted to our hotel. I have never seen such an amazingly grand hotel. The Victorian building had intricate mosaic floors, stained glass windows and carvings in the stone walls. It has been sympathetically preserved and I could easily imagine the lords and ladies who would have been guests over a century ago. But for two nights this was going to be home to us!
We met up with the other guest editors and their travel partners and we developed an instant comradery born out of our shared adventure that lasted for the duration of our trip. Carol and Leanne were both fabulous ladies and I'm so glad I got to meet them!
After settling in, we were driven to the National Magazine building in the heart of London to meet Samm Taylor, the editor of Real People, and some of the team. We learned a few tricks of the trade and got involved in the process of seeing the front cover through from conception to being sent off to print. The amount of work that goes into every detail is quite amazing!
We had a fabulous meal at a bistro restaurant where I indulged in my first ever Artichokes and also my first Chocolate Fondant (they always make them on Masterchef and I always fancied trying one!) It was a glorious meal and we meandered back to the hotel feeling very satisfied indeed!
 |
| Goat's Cheeses Tartine with Olive Tampanade and Artichokes |
After lunch I joined the features team to work on my pages. I was briefed and then left to get on with writing the copy for a double paged feature. I was also photographed, interviewed and videoed. It was great to be immersed in such an exciting, fast paced working environment and trusted to have input in some publishing decisions.
A quick bite to eat was followed by Priscilla Queen of the Desert accompanied by cocktails in light up cocktail glasses. It was camp, colourful and completely fun.
Our last day involved an unusual guided tour onboard an American amphibious vehicle from World War Two lovingly referred to as a Duck. The Duck Tours are a huge hit with tourists and we embraced the whole experience, trundling around the streets of London looking at the sights before heading offroad and driving straight into the Thames!
A final lunch with the editor saw an end to an amazing three days. I couldn't thank Samm and her staff enough for the experience. We were treated like VIPs and it was an honour to be let loose on an established magazine. My pages will appear in about four weeks time. Once it's published I can tell you more about what I did...needless to say I'm quite excited by it all!
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
The Gallery...Vintage
This week's The Gallery prompt is Vintage.
For me I've chosen to post some of my favourite photos of my mum which personify vintage glamour. Taken in the fifties, her style would be equally relevant today with the resurgence of retro styles.
I love how glamorous she looks, like a starlet from the decade. The off the shoulder look is really saucy and it's wonderful to see my mum as the gorgeous, young woman that she was before us kids (the pinny and the head scarf) came along.
Link up at Tara's and discover other photographic vintage offerings!
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Blogging...The New Self-Help
Yesterday I was in a bleurgh mood writing my weekly Mumentum post. The words just spewed out of me as I started writing and before I knew it I'd posted a miserable account of my week. It wasn't intentional or planned, it just happened as I tried to find something to share with the ladies who have been a part of my slimming journey thus far. I felt so low and shrouded with negativity.
After I posted it, something happened. It was as if my black cloud lifted and the darkness that had been totally enveloping me dissolved away into a greyish half light (much easier to cope with than the treacle that I'd been trying to swim in!) I cooked a meal for the first time in ages...a roast dinner with a mushroom bake. I also made Freddy the birthday cake I hadn't been motivated enough to do last week. I made a chocolate fudge butterfly (or butterbye as Fred calls them...he actually calls every insect a Butterbye. What a beautiful way to observe the world, seeing dirty great blue bottles in the same way as a beautiful Red Admiral!)
I enjoyed everything I'd made and didn't feel an ounce of guilt eating my baby boy's birthday cake. Tonight I made a spinach and mushroom pie and it was pretty damn good! I found joy in food again.
The process of writing about my feelings rather than internalising them is so liberating. Putting them in some sort of order and making them physical is so cathartic. Sending them out into the ether is so symbolic. It made such sense once I started to think about how I was feeling. My blog is like my therapy. I don't think I could ever explain myself to another person. I adopt the "I'm fine!" approach to questioning. It's harder to vocalise your problems into spoken words. I prefer the more logical, less emotive medium of the written word. Thoughts flow out and the unconscious part of my psyche finds it voice.
This has just reminded me why I blog. Exorcising demons that would otherwise have no outlet for release is such a powerful benefit of me having my little piece of cyberspace to myself. It allows me to assess objectively how I'm feeling and look at myself as if I were on the outside looking in. At my lowest I feel like a part of me is slipping away, tethered only by a gossamer thread which could be be severed at any moment. Sometimes I worry that if it does stretch too far away from me I won't ever get it back and I'll be stuck in my darkness with a part of me lost forever. Thankfully I've managed to reel myself back in every time and the relief is palpable when the light starts to shine inside me again.
I had some amazing comments from people I have come to regard as friends. The support is truly wonderful and uplifting. I thank each and every person who cares. It is another benefit of this community. Accepting face to face sympathy is something I find quite uncomfortable, but reading a thoughtful comment is heart warming.
So next time the ugly subject of stats, rankings, pageviews or Klout scores raises its head, I will remember what really matters. It's the words that count. It's the freedom, the space and the liberating nature of blogging that motivates me. This is my internet home and I'm happy to be here.
After I posted it, something happened. It was as if my black cloud lifted and the darkness that had been totally enveloping me dissolved away into a greyish half light (much easier to cope with than the treacle that I'd been trying to swim in!) I cooked a meal for the first time in ages...a roast dinner with a mushroom bake. I also made Freddy the birthday cake I hadn't been motivated enough to do last week. I made a chocolate fudge butterfly (or butterbye as Fred calls them...he actually calls every insect a Butterbye. What a beautiful way to observe the world, seeing dirty great blue bottles in the same way as a beautiful Red Admiral!)
I enjoyed everything I'd made and didn't feel an ounce of guilt eating my baby boy's birthday cake. Tonight I made a spinach and mushroom pie and it was pretty damn good! I found joy in food again.
The process of writing about my feelings rather than internalising them is so liberating. Putting them in some sort of order and making them physical is so cathartic. Sending them out into the ether is so symbolic. It made such sense once I started to think about how I was feeling. My blog is like my therapy. I don't think I could ever explain myself to another person. I adopt the "I'm fine!" approach to questioning. It's harder to vocalise your problems into spoken words. I prefer the more logical, less emotive medium of the written word. Thoughts flow out and the unconscious part of my psyche finds it voice.
This has just reminded me why I blog. Exorcising demons that would otherwise have no outlet for release is such a powerful benefit of me having my little piece of cyberspace to myself. It allows me to assess objectively how I'm feeling and look at myself as if I were on the outside looking in. At my lowest I feel like a part of me is slipping away, tethered only by a gossamer thread which could be be severed at any moment. Sometimes I worry that if it does stretch too far away from me I won't ever get it back and I'll be stuck in my darkness with a part of me lost forever. Thankfully I've managed to reel myself back in every time and the relief is palpable when the light starts to shine inside me again.
I had some amazing comments from people I have come to regard as friends. The support is truly wonderful and uplifting. I thank each and every person who cares. It is another benefit of this community. Accepting face to face sympathy is something I find quite uncomfortable, but reading a thoughtful comment is heart warming.
So next time the ugly subject of stats, rankings, pageviews or Klout scores raises its head, I will remember what really matters. It's the words that count. It's the freedom, the space and the liberating nature of blogging that motivates me. This is my internet home and I'm happy to be here.
5 Second Rule
In our house we adopt the five second rule whenever anyone drops a yummy piece of food on the floor. As long as you declare the 5 second rule ruling, you are free to eat the treat from the floor without anyone looking at you in disgust! This rule is regularly evoked with Freddy's habit of throwing tasty morsels around the living room.
However, this post isn't about our dirty eating habits, it's about a fabulous new family game from University Games, 5 Second Rule, that we were sent to test. It is a game of "quick thinking and fast talking" for 3 to 6 players ages 8 and up.
The game involves having to name three things on a designated subject in just 5 seconds. This could see you having to name three species of fish, three types of cheese or three things you'd find in a shed. Each card has a different question, some more challenging than others. If you fail to name three things in 5 seconds play passes on to the player on your left until someone succeeds and gets to move their playing piece one space on the board.
Pass on and Switch cards and a Danger Zone on the board shake up the gameplay and keep things interesting, in this fast paced family game.
The five second timer is absolutely brilliant. Ball bearings travel down a spiral in a tube...when they hit the bottom your time is up. It is a very satisfying way of timing your 5 seconds. 2 year old Freddy thinks it's the funniest thing he's ever seen and it makes him giggle everytime it's turned over!
We tried out the game with the minimum number of three players and then again with five players. It worked equally well both times. I liked it because 8 year old Kizzy was just as able to compete as her 19 year old university student sister. It was a level playing field which is an important factor in family games.
There was lots of laughter, lots of action and lots of fun! It's amazing how blank your mind can go as you watch the ball bearings spiral down the timer! You end up saying the most ridiculous answers as you get flustered and put under pressure. Random things spew out of your mouth in your haste to get your answers out in time...it seems easy until it's your turn!
I really liked this game. It was simple yet effective and the whole family enjoyed it. It is priced at £19.99 and can be bought from Amazon. A great choice for entertaining the family, especially if summer turns out to be the wash out it looks like it's going to be!
Here is a little video of our first go at playing 5 Second Rule!
However, this post isn't about our dirty eating habits, it's about a fabulous new family game from University Games, 5 Second Rule, that we were sent to test. It is a game of "quick thinking and fast talking" for 3 to 6 players ages 8 and up.
Pass on and Switch cards and a Danger Zone on the board shake up the gameplay and keep things interesting, in this fast paced family game.
The five second timer is absolutely brilliant. Ball bearings travel down a spiral in a tube...when they hit the bottom your time is up. It is a very satisfying way of timing your 5 seconds. 2 year old Freddy thinks it's the funniest thing he's ever seen and it makes him giggle everytime it's turned over!
We tried out the game with the minimum number of three players and then again with five players. It worked equally well both times. I liked it because 8 year old Kizzy was just as able to compete as her 19 year old university student sister. It was a level playing field which is an important factor in family games.
There was lots of laughter, lots of action and lots of fun! It's amazing how blank your mind can go as you watch the ball bearings spiral down the timer! You end up saying the most ridiculous answers as you get flustered and put under pressure. Random things spew out of your mouth in your haste to get your answers out in time...it seems easy until it's your turn!
I really liked this game. It was simple yet effective and the whole family enjoyed it. It is priced at £19.99 and can be bought from Amazon. A great choice for entertaining the family, especially if summer turns out to be the wash out it looks like it's going to be!
Here is a little video of our first go at playing 5 Second Rule!
Monday, 18 July 2011
Mumentum Update
I didn't link up to Mumentum last week, because I didn't really have much to report. I was also quite pre-occupied with Fred's birthday preparations.
I'm still listening to my Slimpods and am not experiencing any extreme greed related behaviour. I'm not weighing myself at all and I'm not stressing about my weight loss.
I am however starting to see a real downturn in my mood. I'm feeling really low. I used to enjoy my weekly food shop, planning menus as I perused the aisles. I used to love cooking and enjoyed making good wholesome veggie dinners for my family. But it's like I just can't be bothered with food anymore. Shopping and cooking have lost all their joy. I didn't even bake a birthday cake for Freddy...thank goodness Nana brought round a jelly tot covered sponge cake for him as a surprise!
I feel really detached from the pleasure of eating. As a real self-confessed foodie, this feels very wrong. I just can't be bothered with it all. Poor Ian is doing most of the cooking because I can't find the motivation. I happily eat it...but the joy surrounding the preparation and the interest I have in food has waned.
Being a size 12-14 is nice and I feel slimmer, but my passion has been lost along with the pounds. At first it was exciting to feel that my appetite was suppressed but the knock on effect has deadened a part of my personality. I don't want to go back to my disgusting old ways and I'm genuinely delighted that I am cured of my obsessive, self destructive gluttony. But something isn't right with me.
I know I have a history of depression and this could just all be a part of life's great plan to periodically test my mental state...and whereas I'd usually drown out the negative thoughts with cake, I don't have the compulsion to comfort eat. That in itself is a good thing, but also means I don't have the tools to soothe away the demons with calories and cream!
My favourite jeans are all too big and I'm down to the last hole on my belt. Instead of embracing this and buying new clothes, I'm slobbing around in my baggy, old gear and feeling dowdy. The skin on my belly is not a pretty sight. No longer padded by fat, its an unattractive apron and a reminder of my past problems.
I don't know why I'm not celebrating and striving for more dieting success. I still could do with shedding another stone, but I feel like I'm sinking and losing a part of myself along with the fat. Losing weight isn't a cure all for deeper issues, and obviously my self-esteem hangs in a fragile balance. Maybe it's just a phase but I really wish my joie de vivre and my zest for life, food and fun would return.
I need a make-over...but wouldn't know where to start!
I'm hoping my three day adventure in London will resurrect something inside me that has quite frankly curled up and died.
I didn't intend for this to be a depressing post...sorry!! It kind of wrote itself and who am I to deny a voice to my unconscious mind!!
I will cheer up, I will snap out of it and I will feel better about myself again soon. Then I can take joy in my success and stop making everybody miserable with my whining!
I'm still listening to my Slimpods and am not experiencing any extreme greed related behaviour. I'm not weighing myself at all and I'm not stressing about my weight loss.
I am however starting to see a real downturn in my mood. I'm feeling really low. I used to enjoy my weekly food shop, planning menus as I perused the aisles. I used to love cooking and enjoyed making good wholesome veggie dinners for my family. But it's like I just can't be bothered with food anymore. Shopping and cooking have lost all their joy. I didn't even bake a birthday cake for Freddy...thank goodness Nana brought round a jelly tot covered sponge cake for him as a surprise!
I feel really detached from the pleasure of eating. As a real self-confessed foodie, this feels very wrong. I just can't be bothered with it all. Poor Ian is doing most of the cooking because I can't find the motivation. I happily eat it...but the joy surrounding the preparation and the interest I have in food has waned.
Being a size 12-14 is nice and I feel slimmer, but my passion has been lost along with the pounds. At first it was exciting to feel that my appetite was suppressed but the knock on effect has deadened a part of my personality. I don't want to go back to my disgusting old ways and I'm genuinely delighted that I am cured of my obsessive, self destructive gluttony. But something isn't right with me.
I know I have a history of depression and this could just all be a part of life's great plan to periodically test my mental state...and whereas I'd usually drown out the negative thoughts with cake, I don't have the compulsion to comfort eat. That in itself is a good thing, but also means I don't have the tools to soothe away the demons with calories and cream!
My favourite jeans are all too big and I'm down to the last hole on my belt. Instead of embracing this and buying new clothes, I'm slobbing around in my baggy, old gear and feeling dowdy. The skin on my belly is not a pretty sight. No longer padded by fat, its an unattractive apron and a reminder of my past problems.
I don't know why I'm not celebrating and striving for more dieting success. I still could do with shedding another stone, but I feel like I'm sinking and losing a part of myself along with the fat. Losing weight isn't a cure all for deeper issues, and obviously my self-esteem hangs in a fragile balance. Maybe it's just a phase but I really wish my joie de vivre and my zest for life, food and fun would return.
I need a make-over...but wouldn't know where to start!
I'm hoping my three day adventure in London will resurrect something inside me that has quite frankly curled up and died.
I didn't intend for this to be a depressing post...sorry!! It kind of wrote itself and who am I to deny a voice to my unconscious mind!!
I will cheer up, I will snap out of it and I will feel better about myself again soon. Then I can take joy in my success and stop making everybody miserable with my whining!
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