Oops..

Well, doesn't time pass quickly??? Profuse apologies for my lack of blog action recently - I hope that I haven't lost you all! Things have been all change for me over the past 2 months (thats shameful that I've been awol for that amount of time). I have landed a full time job, which is always good news - it's nowhere near what I was earning before, but it's a steady full time job, in an area I enjoy - jewellery. And high-end jewellery at that - very posh. Who knows where is might lead? 

Other things I've been up to - my herb garden is fabulous - fresh coriander is taking over my kitchen, and I'm in the tentative stages of chilli pepper cultivation - oh, how my life has changed over the last 12 months!! Am nearly at the end of the fashion course - I completed my toile (I think thats how you spell it - fancy word for mock up) for my dress, and have been scouring charity shops for some bargains to alter/style up. 

General current obsessions to confess: 

1 - Mary Portas - Queen of High Streets, Queen of Common Sense in my opinion - this woman rocks. The programme last night on how the next step to revive the high street is to convince consumers its ok to shop again was excellent - Mary, you are my new hero. 

2 - Stripes - Am just loving stripes - on bags (I got the free Uran Outfitters stripy bag with the rope handles from Elle this month - loving it) and vest and tops (mais oui, it just makes me feel so French, n'est pas?)  - stripes rock. 

3 - The weather - I know its not considered PC - but I love laying out in the sun - it's been like living in the Med recently - fabulous. 

4 - The Hills - its back, and I love it - how crazy is Brody's Playmate girlfriend?!!?!?!? Brilliant!!! 

5 - Rocket and honey and mustard dressing - yum. 

6 - The colour coral - I have a brilliant new nail varnish from H&M which I have been wearing on my toes - beeee-autiful. 

So that's about it for me - if I have any readers left, due to my complete incompetence, please confess with me your latest obsessions - admitting the problem is the first step to recovery!! I promise to get back into my blogging routine - I'm very annoyed with myself that I let it slide - I hearby pledge allegiance to the blogging flag once again. 

Sorry...AWOL...

I have been absent recently - I know, I know, I'm slack. But lots of news for my next post which I'll do over the weekend. And will also be doing my awards post, in response to the lovely shout out given to me by Recessionista UK. Right back at you sister..

Scary but so very exciting...

The fashion course started last night...it was awesome. I'm making a little dress with bell sleeves - bit 60's, very cool. My biggest regret in my life was not pursuing fashion as a career, and last night, I felt a bit excited about the future again. But also really scared at the prospect of an almighty change in my life. I think it's a bit of "scared of what I might be able to achieve", rather than being scared of failing. By the same token though, I still have to remain realistic - I still have to earn a living while learning this new skill, so the job search continues...

Optimism, anyone?

Is it me, or does it feel that the sun has brought with it a little optimism to the world? I've read several stories in the press about "green shoots", and I feel a bit better generally - is anyone else feeling a little less grim? 

Let's hope I actually use this workout DVD

So, this morning I won a DVD on ebay for the bargain price of £10.50 all in - "The Tracy Anderson Method" Dance workout, or words to that effect. I figure that if I'm going to be out of work, then I might as well get a buff body while I can. Now, I don't know if anyone has seen this woman, but by God, if I look half as good as her, then I'll be super-happy. She's Madonna and Gwyneth's trainer - now, I'd like to state that I don't want to develop muscles like Madonna. I'm looking to become a bit stronger all round - plus, exercise is good for the spirit as well as the thighs, and I'll take any help going in both of those areas! 

Wish me luck...

Another lightweight TV programme I'm hooked on..

I am already hooked on The Hills and The City. I'm an educated woman, so goodness only knows why I'm hooked, but I am. Pure escapism. And I have another to add to that list - Running With Heels. Just saw an episode - hook, line and sinker. 

It's totally because it has fashion and New York - at least I recognise my own weaknesses...

New Opportunities

So, something cool happened. I got offered a free - yes, free - place on a 10 week fashion design course at a local design college. This is freaking amazing. You see, I always thought I should have been a fashion designer. As a young 'un, I would constantly be drawing dresses, shoes, bags etc, and even won national competitions and had designs made up into actual garments...but never pursued it any further than that. 

Why? Well, I think I probably listened to all those people who tell you to stop being a dreamer - the ones who said stuff like "Designing dresses will never pay your mortgage you know" - yeah, tell that to Karl Lagerfeld, pal. Anyway, I went down the corporate route, built up a pretty good career, which has just pretty much fallen apart, thanks to this lovely economy. 

But, was I happy? Was I hell. I pretty much detested what I'd become, not because of the organisations that I was working within or the people I worked with, but because I didn't feel the passion in what I was doing - it was like dating some guy that was "kinda ok" - believe me, this career I had was no heartbreaker. 

So now I find myself at the crossroads - and look what turning just opened up - the fashion highway....