I love a pork pie, had no idea that I could handraise my own though. Must get a book out the library and look that one up... Could be quite manageable if they're only small...
I hope everybody's had a lovely Easter Sunday. Personally, I'm not in the least bit religious, nor am I a chocolate fan, so you could be mistaken for thinking I would have this day pass me by without a sniff of a celebration. Not me, no, no. I like to join in. And luckily I have a hubby that knows me very well and cleverly provided a very superior egg substitute:
Feel free to join me Belle, let's recline together and enjoy a late afternoon glass and snooze together. Perfect!
This morning I dragged hubby and youngest up at the crack of dawn to go to a big outdoor car booty. Armed with the grand sum of £6 in my purse I was looking forward to hunting out some 50p bargains, but have to say I came home a tad disappointed. Isn't that always the way, if you expect to find something you don't? The only things I came home with, much to youngest's disgust, was a pair of "Mum sandals". Nothing whatsoever wrong with a pair of Mum sandals when they've never been worn and only cost a quid! And I started my Christmas shopping, with two very pretty eco notepads for 50p, complete with price label of £12. Seriously? Who spends that?!
So now I have a question for you lovely fellow bloggers that have started to read my Blog, (of which I'm very chuffed by the way!) I'll start with a little background detail to set the scene: I'm naturally quite an introverted person and have never wanted to be the centre of attention. But, maybe it's my age, maybe it's the fact I've been reading Blogs for a while now, maybe it's that I'm more confident and don't care as much about what others think.... but I'm feeling that I want to dress more for myself now, and brighten myself up. I have no problem doing this at home, but I'm quite nervous about changing the way I look for work!
Did any of you have the same problem? How did you go about introducing the new, more individual, more colourful you? What kind of response did you get? How did you feel? Please tell me, as I'm desperate to take the leap but unreasonably anxious about it! (Stupid woman...!)
If you don't comment it's fine, I'll assume it was a daft question and look my black top and jeans out for work on Tuesday... Don't mind me....!!!!
Be back soon!
Wendy x
Firstly - this Mum loves those Mum sandals! Bargain price too, but no, I haven't a clue who spends £12 on notebooks, even if the paper is recycled...
ReplyDeleteSecond - give me a bottle of wine over an Easter egg any day!
Finally - no, your question isn't stupid at all. I did have a similar experience, not at work, but just in general. I used to wear vintage clothes as a student and in my twenties. Then came my work years, and mum with small kids years, and I just got out of the habit, and I did experience a sense of fading into the background... Then I started selling vintage on Ebay, discovered the world of blogging, and thought to myself, why am I selling all these fabulous clothes and not wearing any myself? So I started to do just that, and then I started a blog myself, and I never looked back! I did get stared at (and laughed at) at first, because there was clearly a change in what I wore, but as daft as it sounds, my blog friends kept me going and gave me lots of confidence. Even if the mums in the playground smirked or stared, I knew I could post the outfit on my blog, and other vintage lovers and bloggers would appreciate it, and that really helped me not to give a hoot.
Now, you may not want to wear vintage clothes or anything especially outrageous, but more colourful attire goes get you noticed. I say - GOOD! Why not be noticed? You can always do it gradually, introduce colour via smaller items of clothing and accessories, wear a skirt instead of jeans. Practice at home, get together outfits that you feel good in and road test them, then wear them to work. What's the worst that can happen? Someone gives you the side-eye? Their problem, not yours! And I bet what will also happen is that you will get lots of compliments; I get way more now than I used to when I dressed to blend in.
Sorry, this is a very lengthy reply, but you did ask! And I feel quite passionate about the self-esteem boosting powers of being creative and individual about one's clothes, and blogging. Give it a go - and show us, we'll cheer you on! xxxx
Thanks for such a lovely long reply! You're right, what's the worst that can happen?! As for showing Blogland... I love looking at all of you, but I'll maybe save that leap for later! xx
DeleteNice Sandals. Not mumsy at all. And wine instead of egg? My kind of Easter! Now, just so you know, I didn't start posting pictures of myself until I had been blogging for almost two years! It was beauties like our Curtise that convinced me to go out and buy a tripod and turn the camera around. I'm still not comfortable looking at my own mug and I have a teensy weensy wardrobe since I spent quite a bit of time in my PJs recovering from several annoying medical things. But I'm wobbling about, trying it out like a little hand raised pig. Can't wait to see what you come up with. It is so fun to have you at the party! XXX OOO Connie*
ReplyDeleteThanks Connie! Sorry to hear you don't keep too well, I completely understand and sympathise. I had neck surgery exactly a year ago and am still in recovery, tis a very slow process isn't it?! I hope you're on the mend though, take care of yourself xx
DeleteSandals for a pound! my type of price! and I can imagine a little pen filled with little hand raised pork pies, I think that is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteand yes to wine all the time!
You aren't a stupid woman!! I had an age 40-ish wobble with clothes and I started to dress conservatively, I was miserable. Like Curtise and Connie I am so into the power of Blogs, once I discovered them it made every difference to me. I got my mojo back and took more risks, which wasn't a big deal I suppose, but to me it was. Then I started a new job. I was nervous, but wore what I wore at home (we can pretty much wear what we like!) and red lipstick and laden with brooches! and people are lovely, one or two may side eye, I don't give a f**k (sorry for swearing, but it sums it up) from feeling nervous I now feel quite powerful, because I am dictating my own choices - I still have crappy wardrobe days, but I have outfits to cover that and I channel the power of other bloggers, and it gets me through! x x x
I suppose my problem is that I've been in my job for donkey's years and everyone's used to seeing me dressed conservatively. Saying that, nothing dreadful's happened when I've changed my lipstick or got my hair cut... lordy, I even got new glasses once and the sky didn't cave in. Just need to pluck up a bit more courage!
DeleteI'm going through a similar thing with clothing at the minute. Well, kind of. I'm trying to smarten up a bit rather than looking like an explosion at a jumble sale, I'm now more a controlled explosion at a jumble sale. I was feeling older and invisible so wanted to tweak a little.
ReplyDeleteI wore something very different for my shift at the charity shop last week and people kept saying things like "you look well" and asking me if I'd lost weight. I think a lot of the time people know there's something different but they don't know what! And as others have said, if people don't like it then stuff them!
I think you're right, chances are nobody will notice anyway! I love the idea of looking like a more controlled explosion at a jumble sale - bet it's a great look! x
DeleteMmmm … an Australian wine … the very best kind … in my biased opinion ;0)
ReplyDeletexx
Was lovely! Only been back at work two days, could do with another bottle to soften the blow...!
ReplyDelete