Just like anyone else, I have had times in my life when I’ve “fallen off the wagon” so to speak.  Times when work took over everything, time when appearances were the last thing on my mind, and time when I thought, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?”  But by and large, these moments have been blips on the radar of an otherwise colourful and memorable life.

One such time for me was after the birth of my first daughter. I had a body that no longer belonged just to me, in a shape I didn’t recognise and responsibilities that I hadn’t even contemplated before hand. A demanding schedule with very little sleep and only a small baby for company did nothing to help the situation.  Like so many women before me, I would look through old photo albums barely recognising the woman I was just twelve short months before hand. But it didn’t make me sad, melancholy or wistful; it made me mad. And just like Dylan Thomas said, I could feel a “rage against the dying of the light”.

Of course, my life wasn’t literally over, but as many mothers know deep down there is a little grieving that goes on for the girls we used to be. And frankly, I wasn’t having any of it. I didn’t want to be surrounded by Wiggles music and the life of a homogenised happy baby commercial; I wanted something that was mine, that was ours and that was a unique reflection of the people we are.

Yes, that is all a little deep and raw but it applies to so many situations. Those times a job is lost, when children leave home, when we go through a bad break up; any life situation that we have allowed ourselves to become overly content in and sneakily, it has come to define us. That’s when it is time to take measures into your own hands and rediscover what makes you you. It can be a long slow process, but it is ultimately a joyful one. So take heed my friends and I’ll give you the secrets that help me keep my groove each day.

ART -

Image via Patrick Ng on Flickr

In order to think about who I am I also have to think about who I was. Fortunately I kept my school art folio with pieces dating right back to early primary school.  Each piece contains a memory of a time, of friends, teachers, passions and stolen kisses behind the shed. This is super powerful stuff and a brilliant place to begin your journey.

Whether you draw, paint, doodle or whatever; now is the time to pick up your tools and start to create something for yourself. It never needs to be seen by another person, but the process of creating it, what inspires you and learning to look at the world with different eyes is something you need to retrain yourself to do.  These are the skills that you will use each day when doing the most simple things like choosing an outfit, picking the tea set that makes your happy instead of the one that is just on sale, or finding beauty in the small free moments that each day brings.

MUSIC -

Image via Buttha on Flickr

I still have a little child’s suitcase full of my very first cassette tapes.  The first cassingle I ever bought ( Poison’s ‘Unskinny Bop’!), Mixtapes with love messages from high school boyfriends and even recordings I made myself with a little microphone and a portable tape recorder.  Some of it makes me cringe but I never fail to see the influences of this music on myself. The times I bought albums to impress a boy but really hated the band, and those that I never played for anyone, my heart set to music. The albums I would dance to like my life depended on it ( Jive Bunny & The Mixmasters anyone?), and the albums I have bought many times over that still appear in my collection. Music feeds your soul. Don’t let it starve.

Also, never say never. When asked to define my music tastes I used to say, “Oh everything but XX, I hate X.” Mind you, I had never really given X a good go and neither had I explored it properly. So I took off those blinkers and made a foray into previously forbidden territory only to discover a brand new passion that set my soul on fire. This is how I found New Music Me and she can make even the worst day shine!

FOOD -

Image via Sifu Renka on Flickr

I’m not the greatest cook. In fact I’m downright lazy. But when you have to do it and you have more than yourself to cater for, the things you love often go out the window. You find yourself living on a diet of spaghetti that pleases all and indulging in a block of chocolate afterwards as if that will make up for the neglect your palate has been suffering. Allow yourself to eat something that you really want. Something that may not be loved by all, may not be PC or even cheap. But do it, and do it just for you. If you want to eat a whole dozen natural oysters with caviar, then by golly  you’d better do it! Even if you have to hide in a tub of bubbles, or eat the sitting alone on the front porch, it is just you and your food. Treating yourself like the King of the Castle every now and again with nary a thought for the other occupants whims is key to true decadence and a great way to get in touch with what you really love.

There is so much more I could say on this topic, but this is the place to start.

So I’m offering you my challenge, my life line if you will.  Try these three simple things and tell me what a difference it makes to you. You can come back here and ask me questions or leave me comments to let me know how you get on.

Remember, life is for living – do it with all the passion and verve you can!

]]> http://www.superkawaiimama.com.au/2010/07/27/how-to-get-your-groove-back/feed/ 18 http://www.superkawaiimama.com.au/2009/08/01/dear-weekend-1-08-09/ http://www.superkawaiimama.com.au/2009/08/01/dear-weekend-1-08-09/#comments Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:45:49 +0000 Super Kawaii Mama http://www.superkawaiimama.com.au/?p=1943

I’m currently craving colour. Colour and order. Perhaps this is a backlash from the last few days of monochromatic posting, or perhaps it is the result of spending lots of time in a fabulously merchandised, colour blocked store recently.  Whatever it is, my constant penchant for cleaning, purging and organizing is taking on yet another layer of complexity.  The desire to colour block my closet!   I’m imagining a perfect world in which I has so much storage space that I can keep every outfit and accessory together in small, harmonious colour groups.  Where pink angora sweaters brush up against musk coloured wrist gloves and hot pink patent shoes.  Of course, this is entirely impractical as I struggle to simply store everything as it is, let alone spread it out like this! (Oh the trials of a collector.. sigh..) I suppose it all stems from this weekends BIG activity – the yearly cleaning of the wardrobe.

I don’t mean the seasonal culling that we all undertake, but and honest to goodness, soap and water scrubbing. With a wardrobe full of vintage beauties, you cannot neglect their care lest a sneaky moth or twenty decide to make their home their.  After finding three holes in three separate (cashmere!) garments this week, it seems that I am overdue to wage this years war. So I got stuck into it today, only to find yet more ways to confuse the situation by wanting to make it look even prettier in the end.  Stumped for innovative storage ideas, I turned to the fountain of inspiration that is Flickr and promptly found some great OCD storage sets. Perfect.

So aside from this Everest of a task, there are a few other minor things on the agenda.

Creating good wardrobe Karma by packing up all the unused items for a women’s and children’s shelter.

Experimenting with the new hair cut. Currently taking daily photos after yesterday’s hot roller set, so that I can show you the results as it evolves to see if day four is as good as day one….

Discovering that those Air hostesses know a thing or two about leg wear, as I find my legs both warm and super comfortable in light compression stockings! Who knew they were the perfect solution to a winter chill?

Letting go of a ridiculous amount of glossies that have accumulated over the last few years.  Why do we get so attached to these?

Playing surgeon in the toy animal hospital – I had ten patients in surgery this morning!

Image by Elegant Mint

… and taking lots and lots of photos of everything for more eye candy next week!

My obsessions are never ending.  I wake up one morning and want to re paint my kitchen.  Then about ten minutes later think it would be nice to have a canary… or maybe a hamster.  And with the obsession feeding internet at my finger tips, I can satiate some of my cravings by simply living vicariously through others.  Such is the beauty of  Flickr and other  candy shops.

1. isbn 9784277563130 small animals made of felt, 2. Kawaii Japanese Doll Kitchy Toy Retro Elephant Cute Japan, 3. Kawaii Plushie Doll Deer Charm Mascot Pink Home Decor Japan, 4. close up of kitchen back wall

Too too kawaii!

Happy Birthday HRH Lizzie!

Have I told you lately how much I love you? This week has been a week of reader love and I have had so many lovely emails from those of you I’ve not met on comments before. I love knowing that I am read by Burlesque Dancers, Accountants, Academics and Lumber Jack Show presenters! I even occassionally find myself in a store looking at a dress thinking, “Oh such and such would love this!” Anyway, all this has put me in a very upbeat and optimistic mood which I plan to use for good (as opposed to evil) this weekend. Here are my good intentions.

Watch My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn and spend the day singing the show tunes.

Get productive and tackle mending a pile of vintage garments I have put aside that need some TLC.

Sort out my collection of Kawaii stationery and put it in places that it will get used everyday.  I have a collection of stationery and stickers dating back to when I was seven!

Go on a fragrance hunt.  I’m looking for a new signature scent and although I know what elements I’d like to find in it, I haven’t yet found one in Australia.  I’m looking for something with a strong tobacco and bergermot scent if you have any recommendations.

Create a new display in my china cupboard.  I have a great old Victorian antique china cupboard in my front hall. At the moment it holds a collection of world costumes dolls from my childhood.  I’m thinking of getting creative and putting some of my favorite shoes, handbags and toys in the instead. Just like my very own shop window.

Plan some fun outfits for the coming week. Some mornings when it is cold and frosty, I find it hard to get inspiration and all I want to do is wrap up in cashmere pajamas.

1. Smart Suit, 2. Sakura vs. Sasuke, 3. Re ment colazione, 4. Untitled

Links a la Mode

• Style Symmetry – Seven Questions with Susie of Style Bubble!
• Solo Lisa – Canadian jewelry line DESIGN + CONQUER puts a bold, quirky spin on the meaning of geek chic
• The Coveted – Win a $250 gift certificate for Avelle (formerly Bag, Borrow or Steal) luxury handbags!
• Agent Dreamer – Hearts Idil Vice
• Tickle the Blog – Make your existing make-up into summer beauty must-haves!
• The Musings of Ondo Lady – Too cool for school, NYLON magazine have just recently celebrated their 10th anniversary
• Dramatis Personae – Ashe Mischief Asks Herself “Why Develop Your Wardrobe’s Color Palette?”
• fete a fete – Guerlain’s new summer Terracotta lip glosses, Fard Indien, and the new Rouge G lipstick!
• The Capitola Fashionista – The 15 Must Have Sandals for this Summer
• Style With Anna – The Hottest Swimwear and Bikini Trends for Spring/Summer 2009
• A Few Goody Gumdrops – is giving away a Hana Elite Ceramic Flat Iron for Mother’s Day. Enter to Win!
• Capitola Girl – So ready for summer on The Devil Wears Etsy
• Two Thousand Things – Celebrity Walk-In Wardrobes and some pictures for reference
• The Curvy Fashionista – A Curvy Fashionista declaring her fashionable existence in a straight world
• The Fashion Grail – Get Miranda Kerr’s look for less!
• Misslikey – my view on the night at Met’s
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Khaki goes beyond its preppy stigma with the new Gap designer collaboration
• Brick My Lane – DIY: how to make an “organic” spike Rock’n’Roll belt

Enjoy your weekend all!

It has been a fun filled week this week. And by fun I mean busy. I’ve been spending a lot of time working on new articles for various mags and lovely posts for you all.  Sadly, my planned video tutorials are experiencing some hiccups as Windows Movie Maker continues to crash and is forcing me to spend more money on new software. I’ve been playing with the iPhone – still newsworthy here in Australia – to see if it is going to work with me and my long red nails.  So far I have learnt that iPhone have not anticipated users who wear gloves on a semi regular basis, so in that respect it is not vintage friendly. It does however, allow me to check my Ebay auctions so perhaps the two cancel each other out. I’ve also been having fittings and rehearsals for next weeks Robert Fritzlaff salon show, which although it is rather drafty standing around in the all together on a 4 degree morning, is still worth it.

This weekend looks to be just as busy and just as fun.

Heading down to a big collectables fair in Geelong on Saturday to see just what other goodies I can find for the winner of my Mad Men competition.

Reviewing entries to the same competition.  You are all so creative it is going to be hard to choose a winner. Officially the contest closes on 4th May, but I have had a few requests to extend the deadline another week, what do you think?  Shall I give it another week for the stragglers?

Yet more children’s parties to attend.

Meeting up with my favorite Melbourne bloggers and some new friends.

Attempting to sleep in past 8am at least one morning.

Planning a Mother’s Day weekend for next week. I think I might treat myself to a weekend in the country for the Ballarat Heritage Weekend. Sounds like the perfect place to indulge in some vintage style shenanigans.

Enjoying some Flickr feasting.

1. painting the moons, 2. I’ll eat you alive., 3. cinnamon II., 4. Vintage Alice–Why Was The Hatter Mad–Vintage Ad

Of course I have some reading for you too with the lovely…

Links a la Mode.

• 39th & Broadway – Is the fashion industry responsible for our weight issues?
• A Typical Atypical – When to ignore the fashion houses – the ridiculous, the impractical and the downright foolish!
• Broke & Beautiful – Earth Week! The best of plastic bags are highlighted.
• Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog – Take flight with some fanciful feathered jewelry
• Culturistas – The Culturistas take a trip to the Vintage Expo and give tips on how to shop for vintage
• Debutante Clothing – A private, curator led tour of the Valentina exhibit in NYC
• Dirty Laundry – Who needs Marc Jacobs when you have DIY?
• Dramatis Personae – B&Lu Presents Fun Plus-Sized Fashion…
• Fashion in my eyes – Interview with Sarah Korsiak Cellier, owner of a vintage shop with designer pieces
• FashionMind – Dressing up classy but very bright and not boring.
• Fasshonaburu – A public request for online stores to provide more and better pictures of their merchandise!
• Gladys L – Construction boots or Lotus shoes? The astonishing Chinese quest for female beauty incorporating small feet!
• In Pursuit of Fashion – Bleach for beginners: How to DIY the latest trend, bleached jeans.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – 6 Do’s and Don’ts for Networking Online
• Retro Chick – Ethical Design Spotlight – Heart’s Desire Jewellery (+ 20% Discount!)
• Style Symmetry – My Storage System for Belts.
• StyleCovered – How fusing trends and culture can create something unique and chic! Who said covering up had to be boring?
• The Art of Accessories – The Art of Accessories show you how to make your own tinted moisturizer, how thrifty?
• THE COVETED – The Coveted: Two chances to win Pequito Bun Vintage Jewelry!
• The Curvy Fashionista – The brains behind Full Figure Fashion Week- Gwen DeVoe dares to bring Plus Size Fashion to the forefront
• The Style PA – Where to go in Leeds for Vintage fashion and beauty treats.
• Work Chic – Blowing your shopping budget? It may be your shopping habits!

Enjoy my Friends!

I’m feeling very social this week, chatting to all my wonderful online friends, so I thought I’d try and share a little happiness through these delightful images from Flickr. I’ve also been tagged to bring you three different memes.

1. Nobody But Me – Lou Rawls ( This would have to be one of my all time favorite tunes)
2. Is you is or is you ain’t my baby – Dinah Washington.
3. The Lady is a Tramp – Ella Fitzgerald
4. L.O.V.E. love – Emma Pasque
5. Plenty of Money and You – Tony Bennett
6. Me & My Shadow – Robbie Williams

The 123 tag from Disney Roller Girl.

The rules:
1. Pick up nearest book
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the next 3 sentences
5. Tag 5 people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

from Sinatra – The Life by Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan

I’ve had this book for a number of years now and am only just starting to read it in my spare time. Hence, three months on, I am still on chapter 2.

And the 6 Unimportant Things About Me from Ivyology, I think I have done one like this before but for the benefit of my new readers I’ll have to come up with something.

The rules are as follows:

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.

2. Post these rules on your blog.

3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your entry.

1. I have an overactive imagination and start looking for laser sights to appear on the walls when the power goes out.
2. I use my fork in the wrong hand, and swap it to cut.
3. I am constantly creating nonsensical nicknames for my children and dogs, so no one knows when I am talking to them.
4. My husband calls me Rain Man.
5. When I bought my last pair of slippers (hand made), the little old man who sold them to me said, ” I have only ever sold these to elderly ladies.” And I was quite pleased with that.
6. I still have to count forward from 12 to figure out what time it is in 24 hour time, but I like how military and organised it sounds.

Rather than now tagging 15 people, I’m going to tag 5. Each of you can choose which of these tags most appeals to you or that you haven’t yet completed. Have fun!

Today has been a big day; more decorating and the like. So I’ll admit I am being a little slack but my perspicacity is lacking this evening. Therefore please enjoy today’s Flickr Favorites. More vivacious posting will resume tomorrow.