Carousel Girl

February 13, 2012

A Change for Carousel Girl

Things around here have pretty much stagnated, I’m in a rut that I know for sure. Instead of doing something about that I have just done the same things the same way and gotten the same results. I post a few personal posts, a rant when something sucks or a celebratory post when things are good. That’s not enough, it’s not fulfilling me creatively and it’s not pushing me. There are a lot of things in my life that I have to settle on. I can hand out all the CV’s in world but I can’t make someone give me a job. I can think about moving out and getting our own place but really at the moment I can’t make that happen. I can dream of being a size 10 and beat myself up every single day that I am not. I can complain as much as I want about things that bother me but that won’t change anything. But I can do more to spread some love, some inspiration and speak my mind.

So this blog will be heading in a new direction. Not one I ever thought I would take but one that the more I think about the more it feels right. It’s going to force me to be more creative, to be stronger and braver.

We’re going plus size people, fashion, hair, make-up, weddings and in our own skin. This is something that I’ve fought against my whole life being ‘Bigger’, ‘Curvy’, ‘Plus Size’. I’m tired of always dreaming for something else so now I’m going to try and love what I have and hopefully help others to do the same.

I have spoke to a couple of people about this so far, and have had nothing but positive responses! Which has blown me away. I’ll be up dating you on how things are going with the change and behind the scene I’ll be preparing posts and ideas. All I can do it try right?

If plus size or being comfortable in your own skin at any size, is something that means a lot to you and you’d like to help or you’d like to find out more please let me know because this is all new to me. But most of all spread the word!

Thank you,

Carousel Girl

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February 11, 2012

A Love Letter to anna and the ring.

Today I will be off getting ready for the 30th Birthday party of one miss Anna. I sadly do not have the means to buy her something wonderful and sparkly as a present so instead I’d like to tell the world why she’s a huge inspiration and why she rocks!

Photo by Emma Lucy Photography

Have you seen her blog, (surely you must have!) that hub of fashion, weddings, goodies and most of all honesty. I have been following anna and the ring for a long time now, I’m always amazed by the beautiful things she finds in the most unsuspecting places. I am in awe of the community she has created, her own pack of modern, smart, funny women that aren’t to be messed with.

I had been loving the pretty and the witty when Anna spoke out on World Mental Health Awareness Day, about her own struggle. I was astounded that this person who I admire and follow, was just like me. I felt less alone, then as the comments started to roll in… well there were many of us, living with a secret and suddenly the heaviness was a little lighter and the darkness a little brighter. Then Anna continued to be honest, to be heard on twitter and on her blog about what she was going through, but the whole time never making it the focus of her, she dealt with it but didn’t let it become her. Well colour me inspired and so I took a whole new view as to what I could and couldn’t do.

Lets talk about her wedding shall we if you haven’t seen it you must! (It’s here on Love My Dress) I was blown away by Anna’s wedding to her Bean. Her dress, I love most that she says ‘Conventional wisdom says I should have gone for a corset and meringue to suit my shape. They are just not my style. I wanted silk, I wanted flowing, I wanted to twirl and I wanted sleeves.’ (from Love My Dress) Inspiring me in my own dress hunt.

What I’m most thankful for is Anna, her kindness and her thoughtfulness. I have had a few emails with Anna and have always felt she had time for me. I was on the guest list for her Ring bash where I met her and so many wonderful people and have made some great friends all of which would not have been possible without Anna. I also met her yesterday and I am never disappointed by her style and loveliness.

So Anna I can’t wait to see what you’ll will do next (did you see her featured in Dashing Magazine?). Hope you have a fabulous 30th Birthday see you tonight.

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February 1, 2012

Writers Block

To say that I have I have writers block is an understatement. It’s not even that I don’t have things to write about, I do. It’s all because of stupid Christmas the time off and the things that happened good and bad made me take a break from writing. Then more and more things happened and I kept thinking today I’ll sort it in my head I’ll write about it tomorrow. Mistake… Huge mistake because here I am of the 1st of February (What the Hell! How?!) and not a real post to be seen. So I’m hoping this little post will convince my brain it knows what it’s doing and that it isn’t as scary as it seems and then my mind will kick back in gear. So heres hoping I’ll see you tomorrow… exciting isn’t? lol

Simone
x

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January 10, 2012

Our “Engagement” Shoot

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December 12, 2011

Lush Henna Hair Dye Review

I’m a rubbish blogger I’ve said it once I’ve said it 100 times, I make up a schedule stick to it for a week then forget the next week. I was going to do all sorts of advent calendar stuff but as always life wins and gets in the way so I’m back and I have a few posts up my sleeve so sick with me

Do you dye your hair? Do you you dye is vibrant red? Dark beautiful brown? Gorgeous chestnut? Yes *good choices*

Do you dye your hair yourself at home using one of those little boxes? Yes…

Well stop it! Step away from Superdrug or Boots hair dye section and find your nearest LUSH. Yes I am serious. Let me explain why.

So first let me tell you I was the emo kid, I had short cropped black hair with slices of colour in my fringe that changed weekly, from the ages of about 16 – 18. Which ruins yours hair, as I have been dying my hair since I was about 14 and couldn’t remember what my natural hair colour was even meant to be I decided at 20 I wanted to go back to my natural colour. That I would use wash-in wash-out hair dye until my roots where long enough that I could have my hair cut short and every inch of my hair would be healthy thick and my natural colour. I achieved this this year had it cut short my hair is a mousy brown colour with natural blonde highlights in the front… that is about 4 shades lighter than my eyebrows and makes me look completely washed out… well that was worth all that hassle then….

The one great thing about what I did was the condition of my hair it was no longer fried. I have really thick hair it has baffled every single hairdresser I have been to and it is something I really love. (most days) Thick hair in good condition makes me feel a little bit like a princess. (if only it would grow back a little quicker) But people don’t normally walk by you and notice or comment on the condition of your hair, it’s not the head turner. What will do it is the colour and mine was letting me down.

I was trapped in this place where I wanted to keep my hair in it’s new awesome condition and I wanted a colour that stood out. By now I am working at LUSH and they do Henna Hair dyes. My Mum used to do Henna hair dye when I was younger I remember her really liking it. So I ummed and ahhhed over should I, shouldn’t I. LUSH Henna comes in 4 colours Caca Brun, Caca Noir, Caca Marron, Caca Rouge. Which equates to Brunet, Dark Brunet, Chestnut, and Red. I of course was set on going with Rouge and till my Mum talked some sense into me. I had a chat with the girls at work and they suuggested Caca Noir as the believed Brun would not make much difference to the colour of my hair just the condition. So I went with Noir. (So glad I did)

I had Hollie from work help me because I’ve never done it before and I now know that it’s not that easy to put on by yourself but have a girls night in and make a party of it, bet it would be great fun. If you buy the blocks from lush they will give you directions and gloves so I won’t explain all that here. I did mine while I was working so customers could see what henna was all about. I needed more than we thought because my hair as I said is super thick but for mid-length hair you should only need about 4 squares of your henna block. I left it on for a good few hours wrapped in cling film carried on working. Just before the end of my shift I washed it off and the colour was much darker wet which I was glad of I was a little worried it wouldn’t make much difference.

It wasn’t until I got home, washed my hair again and dried it that I saw the real benefit, my hair was in amazing condition! It was sleek and shiny it looked beautiful. The colour was really natural looking it stead of the dye working to make every strand the exact same colour, the henna shows the different high lights and low lights in your hair. There was no nasty chemicals no thinking my hair might all fall out or my face will puff up. So all that work getting my hair into a great condition wasn’t wasted and in fact was enhanced by the henna.

Score: 8/10 – just wish it was easier to put on myself.

Simone

*I meant to take before and after photo’s but I was so excited I forgot… lol*

*I was not paid to do this post, I purchased the dye myself but using my LUSH discount although I would/will buy it again without it*

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December 2, 2011

Advent Calendar Day 2

My Dad was the provider in our house and my Mum the carer. Unless my Dad cooks things on the hob where he can see them he sets the kitchen a light. But when I was little in the lead up to Christmas we would make peppermint creams together! I love this sweet little fact and although I was so young it’s tough to remember it’s something he has now started doing with my Niece, which is beyond cute. When we made these we would wrap them up and take them into school for all to share. So give it ago it’s super easy.

Ingredients

1 egg white
Juice from 1/2 a Lemon
1 tsp peppermint essence/flavouring
peppermint essence
425g / 15 oz icing sugar
Food Colouring (optional)
175g / 6-1/4 oz dark chocolate

Whisk the egg white in a bowl until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed. Slowly whisk in the lemon juice, peppermint and icing sugar to a stiff paste.
Tip the peppermint mixture onto a work surface dusted liberally with icing sugar and roll out thinly.
Use a 5cm/2in cutter to cut out circles and place them onto a baking tray. Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or until the mixture has set.
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. (Do not let the base of the bowl touch the water.)
Dip each peppermint cream into the melted chocolate and set aside on a baking tray. Chill the peppermint creams until set.

Enjoy
x

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December 1, 2011

Advent Calendar Day 1

Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel – Baby It’s Cold Out Side.

Elf is one of my top 5 Christmas films, and Zooey Deschanel is one of my my biggest girl crushes! Enjoy and hopefully this will get you in the Christmas spirit. You should also check out Zooey’s band, She & Him and their Christmas album.

Chirstmas is on it’s way people.

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December 1, 2011

Time is making fools of us again…

December is here, this time of year for me is always odd, I think it’s to do with the darkness that slowly consumes more of our days but my being tends to take on some of that darkness. I love the winter months for the wrapping up in warm clothes, snuggles with loved ones and snow but these latter months are also the time for thinking about the year just gone, the one that is almost done. This leaves me lost looking back on the goals I set at the start of this year, to move out, to go to uni, to have a job and to have done so much, I find myself disappointed, yet again. When I turned 18 I was about to start a gap year, after that I would go to uni and become a primary school teacher. But I got in my own way I put obstacles in my own path. I tore down relationships with friends and family that I then had to work twice as hard to regain. I didn’t have the grades to apply for uni and had to wait till I turned 21 to apply as a mature student. I tried endlessly to get a job in a drowning economy. I tried to find volunteer work but this too has been fruitless. I have worked for 8 months out of the last 3 three years not through choice and it is soul destroying. It flattens your confidence, with no money you sit in and the days slowly tick past and before you know it, it’s almost December and there you are again thinking where did this year go what did I do? From 19 till 21 life has been passing. All the people I went too school with have graduated, seen a bit of the world, partied made friends and lived. I on the other hand have gotten lost. Watching TV, watching twitter, watching Facebook, creating a pretty impressive Pinterest but now achieving much else.

But this is also the time to look forward to the year ahead and to once again set goals. Things I know for the next year, I will apply once again for uni, but for what course I am still deciding as this writing and social media has made a place in my heart and has become quite a passion the I cannot ignore. I will be married on the 14th of July to Kyle, it will be small is may or may not involve certain things depending on how much money we have, I may change my name I may not who knows. I will work at the LUSH until till after Christmas and hope that something happens that means I can stay, or I will go back to the job search once again. Most of all I know I will wake everyday, get up and fight! See the possibility of what can be and hope that I can get there. Because I’ve been depressed, I’ve done defeated and all it gets is worse.

So how do you feel about this year just gone? What are your goals for the year ahead?

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November 30, 2011

A Love Letter to Laura Babb

*The first in a series of love letters to awesome people I know or that inspire me*

Dear Laura Babb

I didn’t know you until your competition on Rock n Roll Bride. First I’d like to offer a huge congratulations to the winners of the competition and I’m about to tell them why they are so lucky to have you as their wedding Photographer!

I entered your competition, I wasn’t expecting much because our wedding is so little, we’re not even having a real reception. So when an email arrived in my inbox from you I was a tad confused…

It was informing me as expected that I had not won your competition but that you had liked my entry so much that you had asked around on our behalf for wedding photographers that would do our wedding at cost…

Well firstly I was blown away by the kindness I had once again received from the member of a blogging community, as this little community is everyday feeling a little more like home because of so many people just like you. Secondly I had no idea what cost meant…

I checked out the photographers recommend and one of them was spot on, perfect. *A love letter to this person will soon follow* I emailed this photographer, explained who I was and about the you and what does doing our wedding cost entail?

Followed by a reply from yet another lovely person explaining that cost meant that we would need to pay if we wanted our disc of photos personalised or if we wanted an album.

This was followed by tears many happy tears, for the kindness of strangers, for the wedding coming together and me not really being sure how. I called my Mum and Dad to which they were wowed and now also loved you and our new wedding photographer. Kyle was out when he returned I told him, I cried more and he was very grateful.

I followed you on Twitter and communication started to dwindle until I found out that you was also attending the Ring Bash. I was so excited to know there would be someone there that I knew. You were one of the first people to speak to me and put me at total ease. Now I have met you Laura I can officially say you’re awesome! I mean pink dress with a pink bird in your hair… how ever so Carrie Bradshaw of you! You are great fun and made me feel like you have known her for ages! Also thank you for introducing me to Kat (Rock n Roll Bride) *cringe!*

From the bottom of my heart thank you Laura, one of my wedding angels!

Forever indebted to your kindness,
Simone
x

Please go check out Laura’s work and her blog tell her she is awesome. Also follow her on twitter!

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November 29, 2011

Carousel Girl Attends The Ring Bash…

Last Friday was Anna of anna and the ring‘s Ring Bash and my first steps into the the blogging world. I now had my brand new blog, domain name and all, it felt like time to take the leap. Until I told my Mum…

*Monday On the phone*
Me: Mum I’m going to a party on Friday in London…
Mum: Is Kyle going?
Me: No…
Mum: Then who are you going with, that new friend of yours? Gina?
Me: Erm well actually it’s a blogging thing you know like the one I write and no one really knows about it so I’m going on my own… *Holds Breath*
Mum: Hold on
*She walks off, talks to my Dad in disapproving tone in the background, Dad comes to the phone*
Dad: I want Kyle to have the name, number and address of the place you’re going to. I want you to set a time with him that you’ll be home and if you’re not going to make it then you’re to call and tell him.
Me: Hi and OK Dad and I’ll text you to when I get in. It’s a party for some bloggers and I’ve set up my own domain name and I guess this is a sort of networking thing.
*Dad gets distracted by networking and computer talk and my Mum continues to worry*

Kyle won’t let me walk from the bus stop to our home when ever I go out so I’m starting to get the feeling that my loved ones believe either, I will get lost or that they believe that there is something about me that means I’m bound to get in some sort of difficulty.

*Friday Morning 10 minuets before Kyle has to leave for work*
Me: I have nothing to wear I look stupid in everything!!!!
Kyle: No you don’t what about…
Me: What if I get lost? What if something happens?
Kyle: We’ll go through how to get…
Me: I don’t even know anyone what if I get there and no one talks to me?
Kyle: You’ll be fine once you get…

This goes on until he has to go to work. I realise that I do have something to wear but I need a bag because I don’t have a single bag to go out with. Considering the times I’ve been out in a party situation this year I can actually be counted on the hand of a person missing a few fingers, it’s amazing I had anything so on the morning of the party I go to lakeside to get one bag and 4 hours later I return! Seriously just don’t ask. Getting ready went surprisingly according to plan hair went up first time, eye-liner went on no problems. I’m sitting waiting for my nails to dry proclaiming to twitter that I am on my way and know no one so please be kind.

The train journey all goes well, then walking up Goodge St I’ve walked past where my phone navigation said the place was and I’m lost. Out of the corner of my eye there it is a sign saying the place is at basement level. I notice another lady next to me also looking at her phone and appearing lost to which I ask if she is also going where I am going, we laugh, as she is and we walk towards the place together. Inside I’m totally confused at this dark little place, the other person knows people and is gone… I’m lost looking at my phone like it could actually help. When a voice calls.

I’m not sure who spoke first but in this amazing group of three women that have just explained, I am in fact in the right place and that they have just added me on twitter after seeing my tweet saying I know no one. One of them is someone I *twitter* know the awesome Laura Babb (there will be a post to follow on how I know this wonderful person) she was in all honestly the person I was most looking forward to seeing at this party apart from Anna herself. I quickly get myself a long island iced tea and I am offered a seat by Emma of Emma Lucy photography her bubbly personality make me forget that I knew no one. People switch and change around us I get to take in the venue eccentric yet cosy, with the most stunning swallow wallpaper and awesome industrial light-bulb thing on the ceiling. I am fast gaining a collection of beautiful business cards for which I a thankful as with the darkness and the music I will never be able to identify these people on twitter tomorrow and make a note that business cards might be useful. Then I gain some courage and change tables, They introduce themselves as Amy, Anna and others that I for the life of me can’t remember their names. (my apologies) Now I have been sitting a while before I ask Amy who she is (blog) or what she does (wedding industry), she is Amy from Field & Fallow who’s stuff I love and tweets I have been following since the blog I had before and I’m shocked that I know this person… sort of. Then Anna says oh well she’s one of the writers for the ‘little’ wedding blog Any Other Wedding! I have an intake of breath as this is one of my favourite wedding blogs. We continue to talk about blogs and about life, when you know Anna asks if I’ll submit a post to Any Other Wedding and I’m all like yeah ok, when inside I was singing! More drinks are drunk someone walks past and I ask Amy who that is and she’s all “Oh that’s Annabel… from Love My Dress Blog” again another blog I love! Who I am currently writing my application to be an intern for. It’s like sitting around with all the people that inspire me and I want to call someone and say I just met so-and-so but the only people that would understand are in this room.

Then Anna herself arrives! looking stunning in a wonderful sparkly dress and everyone cheers. She says a quick hello to everyone makes cakes appear and then makes the rounds and she gets right into the party. She is soon followed by The Rock ‘n’ Roll Bride, Kat. Her blog is the first blog I read 2 years ago, which inspired me to start my own blog she sat down just behind me and it was as if Adele had just entered the room and sat down, Meeting Anna K, Annabel, Laura, Amy and Anna took me right to the limit of how cool I could keep it Kat came in and too many people that inspire me to work at this blog and improve my writing and that I respect were all in one room and I turned into a super fan. Telling everyone that Kat was here asking Laura to introduce me. She did and when I spoke to her she was nice, just how I thought she would be, I couldn’t think of a single thing to say so just gushed about how much she had inspired me then said good bye. I had another drink called kyle, stole a minuet with Anna and she was just how I wanted her to be lovely, beautiful and friendly before after an amazing night I excused myself and almost floated all the way home! Where I talked Kyles ear off from the station to our house, text my Dad and fell fast asleep from all the wonderfulness!

Simone
x

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Ingredients

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