pingylove
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No means no! ….and yes can mean no too.
I tried, I really tried, but after two whole days of saying yes to everything, I became….well, extremely angry.
You see, the problem is that people tend to ask you to do things on the off chance that you will ACTUALLY do it…and they ask because they don’t want to do it themselves.
Examples:
Ask: Thanks so much for organsing the photo shoot, would it be possible to write a press release and do some captions to go with the images?
Gut feeling: No! sod off. I said I would do the shoot but I did not agree to all the other crap. Frig off and if you ask me to do anything else for the rest of the day, I will pour tea over your head.
Actual response: Yeah, sure.
Ask: Thanks for organising the workshop. Could you now organise a meeting so that we can present our designs?
Gut feeling: Look, I am carrying you and what pisses me off the most is that you don’t seem to realise it. Without me there is no YOU, got it? Organise your own sodding meeting…Did I not cc you in? Do you not have the email adresses?!?!?
Actual response: Yeah, sure.
So there you have it. What started off as an innocent experiment, an attempt to become more open to new experiences has turned into something very different. The basis of a new understanding. The realisation that saying ‘yes’ can be hazardous to the health of everyone involved.
*Remember, when I say no to you, don’t take it as an insult as I am doing it for your own good. It is better to drink your tea than to wear it.
Yes!…yes!….yes!….etc.
So after a recent visitor came a calling – I have begun to assess my life strategy #yawn….
Sounds boring I know, but for some reason our conversation has left me thinking about the decisions I have made and the direction my life has and is taking. I truly thought that I didn’t care about the opinions of others…but surprise, surprise #cillavoice, I bloody do.
It irks me that I give a toss, however the truth is that I want everyone to think that I am amaaaazing. Not in that predictable, Beyonce kind of a way (I see myself as more of a Salonge) I want to be that alternative, quirky but ultimately cool trailblazer type of gal, a real character, the kind of person you love to have around but you can never get hold of …yeah, yeah that’s me!
So, with that in mind I have decided to temporarily change tac. Whereas due to my heavy workload I invariably find myself turning down offers of work, new projects, dates and general hanging out (…unless they involve food of course.) I have decided to wipe the slate clean and throw open the door to some brand new experiences.
I have decided (for just one week) to say yes to everything – no matter how ridiculous or annoying. Yes, yes I know that it has been done before…but I haven’t done it have I? I intend to keep a diary of all of my experiences including all of the opportunities that have been passed my way because of them. So wish me luck, because given the fact that I have posted this information on Twitter, I will probably need it.
For why?
Not quite sure why I told my mum about this blog. This was going to be my opportunity to vent, to moan, to cry. But now all of that feels slightly ‘inappropriate’ -now I know that my mum could be reading my every word – although I tell her everything anyway so I don’t know why I care.
So, is it just me or is time running out? No really, I feel like I need to hurry up and do all those things that people keep telling me to do. In fact, I think I need a to-do list:
Important and urgent
1. Get a boyfriend
2. Get married
3. Have a baby
Important but not urgent
1. Clean my house
2. Get a new job
3. Lose some weight
Not Urgent and Not Important
1. Just be myself and enjoy my life
2. Be content with what I have
3. Coast
Where to start? Cup of tea.
Good PR…
How do you know when a PR knows her stuff? When she sends two of the same product in the post…one for the reviewer and one for the Editor.
Can it be true? A 24 hour PR service?
As you know, I love to give shout outs to good PRs…so I gotta give props to the PR who sent me an email at 22.51 – just to say thanks. She didn’t even need to reply but she did, and she did it in her own time. I have to say that I am always impressed by those who go the extra mile…
Now seriously, it might be time to log off. 
To bravely go….
So, I have been asked to go along and try out an Infrared Dome with mydetoxdiet. It’s a dome that you lie inside and it’s supposed to encourage weight loss and detoxification. When I got the email from their PR it sounded amazing…until I visited their website and read the disclaimer:
‘Please be aware that you enter the Infrared Dome at your own risk. Beautiful break Ltd is not liable for any health problems which may occur during or after the treatment.’
Eh? That’s scary. Now I’m imagining all the things that could go wrong. Will I be burnt alive by the infrared ray? Will I gain xray vision and never be able to look directly at my boss again? Will I turn into Cyclops from the X Men, omitting an infrared ray from my forehead or have metal objects fly at me from across the room magnetised by it’s strange and mystical forces …?
More importantly, is it up to the PR to warn me of this before I go along?
Well to be honest probs not, as a Blogger/Writer/Journalist you get lots of opportunities to do fun stuff but you do them / use them / take part in them at your own risk. Ok, ok I am not an overseas correspondent risking my life to report on war torn Somalia, however what if something goes wrong, do I just shrug and say it is part of the job and give them a bad review? To be honest, with the amount of treatments I have to review, I am about a million times more likely to suffer the adverse affects than the average person. *shivers dramatically*
mydetoxdiet say: “The Infrared uses the technology of the unique black carbon dome gradually heats up the body by emitting vibrations of far-infrared rays that are in line with the infrared naturally produced within the body. The head remains uncovered during this process whilst the dome cocoons the rest of the body for a purifying, regenerating and slimming treatment…”
…Oh yes and the Infrared Dome ensures a loss of up to 600 kilocalories for every half hour session. SOLD!
Pingy Loves good PR
Dear PRs,
As someone who has been on both ends of the phone, I know how challenging the life of a PR can be. Nobody really understands what’s it like until they have had to sit on the phone with a disgruntled Journalist, trying to explain to them why your product / service should be featured on their ‘oh so precious’ pages. However, on the flip side some PRs do not make it easy for themselves. Lazy PRs do not understand that the little things really can go a long way.
Example:
Today I received something in the post – it was from a PR company. I had been contacted via email to find out if I would be interested in featuring one of their products. I said I would. The next day I recieved a parcel with a selection of New CID Cosmetics (one of which is a lipstick which actually lights up – genius!)
However, the very best thing about this parcel, was the beautifully hand written postcard that was included. This particular PR had addressed the postcard to me and had included the name of the product, reference to the video review I had mentioned in my last email and an offer of any images and extra information…
Now you may wonder why this is so important. Well firstly, it is because SO MANY PRs don’t do this! I have lost count of the crumpled bits of paper I have received or poorly printed press releases that have been stuffed into too small envelopes. Yes, it is mostly about the product itself, but believe me when you are trying to persuade someone to write something complimentary about your product, at least spell their name correctly.
So, for those PRs out there I feel your pain. But it is worth remembering that every little helps.
Love Pingy.x
Clever design
The Manifattura Donna label is managed by two friends who share a great love for fashion: Dominika Mosz and Julita Lange. Their brand new 24h Dresses Collection is a real reflection of their own style and has been created to take you from the day right through to the evening – in one single dress.
Women who are both beautiful and successful usually annoy me, but both Dominika and Julita really know their stuff and have come up with a very clever collection indeed. The designs are great for the office as they are understated whilst being extremely feminine and flattering.
Nice work ladies…
Bloggers to the front!
What a great night at the Fashion Show of American InterContinental University London’s School of Fashion. The event was sponsored by L’Oreal and Shu Uemura and we even got a great interview with Zandra Rhodes…however, a word of advice – always put bloggers on the front row!
Just chilling…for now.
I have recently become quite lazy. However, I have realised that this laziness is part of something much bigger.
Chill out music from Esperanza Spalding – rocking an afro and pencil skirt, nice .
Recently, I woke up with the realisation that I am extremely busy. I know it is all relative, but I have not seen my friends, been on a date, visited a market or shop without a camera, or just sat in a coffee shop without a laptop in a very, very long time. For the past few months, I have not given myself the chance to do anything that didn’t involve my work.
Now, this is not necessarily all bad.
I started off with a hobby, and turned it into a business, a business that I love like a child. In fact, it is when I am working/hobbying that I feel at my best.
The thing is that I am always ‘doing’…I am never just existing. All of my actions seem to have ulterior motives and must have some kind of reward or contribute in some way to the bigger plan.
So what to do? Well, simply put, I have decided to give in to the laziness and hope that it passes.
I am going to do nothing Sit around in my PJs on a Saturday, watch T4 and not make any notes on what they are wearing, I am going to cook a meal and take absolutely ages eating it.
Frankie and Nicole sleepwear (nothing like my PJs)
I am simply going to exist. I am going to lounge about, chillax, snooze, veg, kick back, put my feet up, meditate…(you get my point). Maybe I will learn something new from this new approach. It might actually help me to pursue my passions with a new vigour, with a real sense of balance. I could learn how to focus in on what is important, outsource those bits of my work that I don’t really need to concern myself with, I could end up getting someone in for that actually, a new member to the team, I could get so much more done…
Yup, here I go again.
All about the booty…
These boots are killer and work with almost everything. They look great with pencil skirts and statement tights, but look absolutely edible with leather jeans. There has been a real bondage theme underlying this season’s fashion stories and the lace up ankle boot is a big part of this. Straps, studs, leather and PVC are ‘must have’ additions to your wardrobe and will add a refreshing edge to your woolens this winter.
Don’t be afraid of colour…
Go Gucci and don't be afraid of colour
Shhiiish! Yesterday’s event was a blast, but now I am well and truly knackered.
I was booked to give image/style advice with my friend Astra from the Rouge Make-Up school. The problem was that we only had 15 minutes with each person and had to give mini makeovers and do a questionnaire at the same time. (I’m complaining, but this was actually my idea).
By the time we had finished seeing our 10 bookings back to back, all I wanted to do was lay down in a dark room. This as well as the impromptu magazine interview and a Journalist who was determined to do a recorded interview during one of my sessions…I was all about ready to pass out and drag the Journalist down with me.
I just hope that we did a good job.
There were quite a few questions around colours and shapes which threw me off, as I always have a hard time remembering the rules, this might be because I don’t really believe in them. All this stuff about cool and warm undertones and colour matching is fine, but noone really thinks about that stuff when out shopping. I like to get people to try stuff on regardless of whether it’s ‘supposed to look good’ or not. The truth is that there are no good or bad colours. You can wear almost any colour if you learn to choose the right shade and intensity that will enhance your skin tone.
Anyway, I thought I would do a bit of research and this is what I found. Maybe it will be useful to you…
People with cool undertones: They tend to have a pink or rosy look to their skin – and look best in blue-based colours. Opt for vivid blue red raspberries, deep emerald greens, royal blue, plums or pure black. The softer pastels from the blue range and rose-based pinks will suit this tone too. From the green palette choose the emerald and icy greens, as well as the aqua blue green from the very light pastel shades to the deeper tones. A pure white or soft white look great as well as clear lemon yellows and rich colours like ruby and sapphire.
People with warm undertones: They have a golden or apricot undertone and work best with yellow-based colours. Mochas, bronzes, sage greens, mango oranges, also peach, apricot, yellow and apple greens. Reds – dark tomato or a burnt orange hue are other great colour choices. Earth greens like olive, moss, or jade will create a soft natural look and fresh lime, grass or celery greens will bring out the beauty in this skin tone. Try Crisp ivory or oyster whites as well as colours from camel to warm taupe to bright navy for a sophisticated look.
Shapes: Pear shapes are best with maxi lengths; top heavy’s work well with wrap dresses – especially ruche wastes. Boyish figures are great for bodycons and would do well with belted dresses; this can bring in the waist and give more of a curvy look. Curvy girls, (that’s me)… draw in the waist, draw in the waist, draw in that gosh darn waist!
Stick to what you know!
Christian Louboutin shoes A/W 2011 - Size 7 please!
Do you ever get the feeling that you took a wrong turn somewhere? …
It’s not clear exactly when or where that decision was made, but at some point you made it, it was the wrong one and ultimately that decision is exactly why you are right where you are now.
Possible wrong turns for me could have been:
- Not competing at X Factor (I said possible wrong turns)
- Every ex-boyfriend I have ever had
- Not sticking it out with any of my ex-boyfriends (…again I said possible wrong turns)
- The first time I ate cake at my desk…which lead to this happening again and again
- Not putting enough thought or energy into my application for London College of Fashion
- Leaving Journalism behind to work in Communications
- Not moving abroad
That said; there have been some pretty good decisions too:
- Joining the gym
- Launching my websites
- Working in Communications (…although I shouldn’t have left Journalism)
- My friends
- Not moving abroad
- Making an effort to be as close to my family as possible
So here I am, decisions made…but what next? I have taken the time to look back on my past successes and mistakes and to be honest I’m blooming scared. Now, I realise how important every decision really is, I might just stick to making decisions that I know I cannot fail at and just ignore the rest…
“I’ll take a size 7 in the Louboutins please.” Easy peasy. 
Bow ties and tux’s…
I will never wear a bow tie...but I still love em!
Look at the pearls on that dress delish! Sharp tailoring but still very fem. Lush!
When you just know…
My new red lipgloss is just like this!
Six years, six whole years…that’s the amount of time that I have been working in my present job – Communications Officer for a national charity. Blimey, who’d of thought that the time would fly by and that I would spend it in the unglamorous world of charity comms. This is not to say that I dislike my job in any way, however at some point I realised (maybe I always knew) I would come full circle and start working in fashion again – but it has taken a while.
So, here I am running a fashion consultancy on the side of my day job, whilst launching another fashion, photography and furniture e-commerce website and also trying to update this blog with my spare hand – without dropping the ball of course.
I think I’m a little obsessed.
I wasn’t always like this. I used to spend my time on other things – boyfriends, partying, friends – now, I spend every minute trying to reach some unknown goal. Don’t get me wrong I have always been passionate about my work, I started out as a fashion Journalist then became a Fashion Marketeer for a high end luxury brand which I found quite fulfilling.
Yet, I would never take my work home.
...and this!
Now my home life and work life have become one and I’m a little worried that if I seperate the two I just might die…just like if you pull a knife out of a fresh wound and sever vital organs on the way out.
Also, which one would I choose, my home life or work life? The truth is neither can really exist without the other, they are part and parcel of living in London, being single and being ambitious (well recently anyway)…Or maybe it’s just that I have given up on everything else and allowed my work to consume me. Best not to think too much about that eh?
I have to say that having had fairly glamorous jobs doesn’t really set you in good stead for a charity role.
I went from sending out £100 bracelets to Journalists to printing on both sides of the paper to save money. Taxis, long lunches on the company credit card and expensive hotels are a thing of the past, it’s full steam ahead on the bendy bus and overnight stays at the Holiday Inn for me.
I got into chairty work because I thought it would give me an inner piece to be helping my fellow man, then I realised that you need to remind yourself of that everyday otherwise the daily grind of slogging with no bonus, perks or fancy offices will simply erase that from your mind.
On the flip side, since launching my own business I am beginning to get a taste for what I would call the high life again. PR people are sending me free goodies in the post again, I am being invited to fashion shows, screenings and private views again, I have even been flown to Portugal to review a spa…and do you know what, I love it. I really really love it and I want more.
I am quite appalled that my greed for glamour and freebies knows no bounds…yet it is what it is.
So, whilst I’m riding the bendy bus on my way to another external meeting in some unglamorous office somewhere, I will also be planning exactly where I’ll be wearing my brand new perfume sample and yummy bright red, strawberry flavoured lip gloss… I know, I know, this all sounds extremely shallow, but after 6 years of charity work don’t I deserve just a little bit of wanton indulgence?
Answer: Yes.
I’ll always have fashion…
Once again I spent last night talking to my friend about being single and over thirty. The convo went something like this…
Me: It’s not that I want to be in a relationship right now…it’s just that everyone else (my mother) really wants me to be.
Her: True, but who’s to say we won’t regret not putting in the ‘hard work’ now and finding that special someone, so we don’t panic when we hit 40.
Me: But I just want to enjoy my life without worrying about tomorrow. Can’t I just be me?
Her: No.
Me: Oh.
The evening ended with a few too many glasses of wine and a faint feeling of dread that has been creeping up on me for a while now. The problem (if this is a problem) is that I’m pretty darn happy. Even more so now that I have just been given a vintage, snakeskin Pierre Cardin clutch bag which my aunt found in the back of her closet (one of the benefits of having aunts who were complusive shoppers in the sixties and seventies). It’s just that I am expected to be unhappy, lonely, desperately seeking, unfulfilled, scared etc. etc….just because I am childless and single?
I repeat: I love my life.
…On a lighter note, I found these glorious fashion illustrations on photobucket! (every cloud and all that…):
