It's Time For My Big Girl Pants

We are only 3 weeks into the year.

After a wonderful Christmas and New Year,

I was focused with game plan in hand,

and raring to go.

My New Year goals/objectives were

on track and I was making small

but consistent progress.

I was amped.

And then something unwanted and unexpected

comes along and completely knocks the winds

out of my sails.

My estranged and unstable sister shows up

after 10 years and instigates a chain of

events that sees me go into a melt-down, 
my poor Dad quaking with fear and my protective

but confused Husband

wondering can the family he married 

into get anymore crazy ;-)

It's left me raging with an anger I never
knew I had in me

It's left me so sad seeing the confusion

and sadness in my Dad's eyes

It's left me emotional watching my

poor Dad trying to keep

strong for me; a strength I know

he doesn't really have.

It's left me bloody angry that someone

who has not cared about anyone but

herself, suddenly feels the need to 

disrupt everyone's life and 

getting immense pleasure from it.

It's left me not having the energy to get 

out of bed, but knowing that that

isn't even an option.

It's made me realize blood is not
always thicker than water.

It's made me falter with indecision between

"she's mad, don't do anything", to

"I have to lawyer up if for no other 

reason but to 

protect the people I love".

It's made me determined but frightened;

this is legal territory I know nothing about.

But I will learn-I have too.

It's left me tossing about at night as 

I visualize scenes from CSI (of me

being handcuffed to Warwick ;-)

after being arrested for murder

It's left me getting up in a cold sweat.

It's left me feeling if I just 

take things one step at a time

I will come out of this the other side, 

(but still not totally convinced).

I know this calls for my
"big girl pants";-)

 I know it's  reminder that I  really can scrap 
with the best of them

if it means protecting the people I love.

I know how intensely

damaging hate can be (but I still

haven't worked out how to get past 

this one).

It's reminded me just how cathartic my
blog is. What started as a business tool
has now become much more than that.
I can sometimes bear my soul in
what is still a fairly anonymous way

Some would say take the high road.

But there are just some occasions

when you have to get down and 

dirty with the best of them.


It's made me realize that no
matter how I feel inside,
I will always put on my happy
face and sparkle for the outside world

This helped me maintain my sparkle
this week

It's made me accept
there are times when I just cannot
be "zen" about everything-but
that's not bad either.

More than anything

this week has reminded me 

what doesn't kill you

makes you stronger.

xxxxx

Furrrrrrrrr! It's Cold Outside.

Well this first week of Jan

has seen horrible weather 

just about everywhere, and I'm blaming

the weather on the "funk" I've felt all week.

London has seen gales and storms.

The US is experiencing a polar freeze which is making

its way (apparently) to the UK

next week.

Chanel

Spain has seen really horrible weather too.

However, whenever I am there I am 

overwhelmed by the number of women

who are proud to wear their fur.

Carolina Herrera

Even just going to the food markets for their

fresh bread and they are all adorned in fur.

Tom Ford

My late Mum has her few furs in storage.

"I'm keeping them for my daughters" she always said.

Lanvin

However her daughters are too frightened to wear them.

You see in the UK animal activists are "active".

Ralph Lauren

I was accosted once in Regents Street (London)

when I inadvertently walked past a demonstration

outside a fur shop . I had a coat that had fur around the

hood, and I was spotted.

Valentino

Thankfully I was not on my own and after a growl

from my Husband I was released.

But it has since put me off wearing anything that resembles

fur when I am in the UK.

I SO want this

However, when I am in Spain I don't have that fear.

OK, I do understand that Spain is a country that

considers bull-fighting an "art", but that's another

discussion for another day ;-)

Fur & Camel

So what's your thoughts?

To "fur or not to fur, that

is the question".

Mink anyone

As always I love hearing your opinions and views

and hope the first week of the year has been good to you all

xxxx

p.s If anyone is interested in upping their

social media strategy (as I did in December), may

I recommend the lovely Julie from www.sociallyaligned.com

She's an absolute doll and has the patience of a saint.

She also really knows her stuff. Just drop her line and

tell her Van sent you ;-)

New Year Dreams

Firstly HAPPY NEW YEAR Lovelies!!

I hope you all entered 2014 with a bang.

Always at this time of  year I think about where I want to be

one year from now.

For the last few years I've veered away from goals and resolutions;

I didn't want to feel like a failure when I didn't stick to my resolutions.

So I stuck with a mantra and focused on how I wanted to feel.

But I noticed something.

It was much easier to drift when I had no clear objectives;

 I didn't have to be accountable to anyone about anything. 

I could just do

as I pleased and "play" at progress.

I allowed myself this pleasure as I had made big changes

in my life in 2013 and I needed some time to re-set the balance.

However, this year I've decided the kid gloves must come off.

It's time to play big.

It's time to set objectives and I will work to achieve

them using the 80/20 rule.

It's time to stop wasting time with the unnecessary,

the time-wasting, the minutia details.

My new mantra (for my business objectives) will be:

Mantra 1:

Don't get me wrong, altho' I am thinking BIG

(and not keeping that fact to myself, which may be

a bad move) I will still nurture and renew as I go along.

On a personal level I have lots of little changes I would

like to make aiming

for the 80/20 rule:

*giving up wheat (currently reading the book

Wheat Belly and am horrified by what

I am reading)

*giving up the dreaded Diet Coke

*a green juice for breakfast every morning

*drinking more water

*making time to read 

(and not buying any more books until I 

finish all the ones I have. Does anyone else

buy books constantly? Is it a "medical condition"?

My husband seems to think so ;-)

*having one technology free day

*not checking emails until after 3pm

*stop the "compare and despair" that

platforms like Instagram allows to seep into 

the fibres of your soul

Did I say drink more water or chocolate?

I won't beat myself up when I make mistakes.

I won't label myself a failure just because one 

idea didn't work. 

But most importantly I will always try to be a 

better person than the day before

I will just work towards making things happen

However, I AM going to enjoy the journey also,

something I am guilty of not always doing ;-)
I usually battle my way to finish line 
only to move on to the next, big shiny thing.

And of course I won't forget to

try and sparkle all the way ;-)

I hope you will stay with me on
my journey.

I would love to hear what your thoughts, plans

objectives are for the forthcoming year.

xxxx