Marlene Mcgaw

I see this quote all over social media these days and it got me thinking, who actually lives their best life?

I don’t, I really wish I did and it’s something I am working towards this year.  I blinked and my 30’s were gone. My 40’s are going to be different.  I touched on this on another post but we plod through life & I was one of those people “One day I will do XYZ” why wait for that one day? Why not now?  Whats stopping you? I want to look back with no regrets.

Confidence gives me the fear.

It kills my all my plans, from the way I dress to how I run my business.  I love clothes, I mean really love clothes, I have rails of beautiful dresses, more coats, boots, shoes that you can imagine but I stopped wearing them due to weight gain and being judged.  Just because you like to look after yourself doesn’t mean you think your better than anyone, I’ve had a few snide comments over the years that slowly knocked me but I’m bouncing back!  Now the weight is slowly coming off – thanks to the Joe Wicks Plan, I have rearranged my wardrobe, had a good clear out, sold on ebay, gave to charity and binned a lot.  I take 10 minutes at night to look out my outfit and arrange my bag for the next day,  Not only does this save a melt down in the morning but gives me extra time to snuggles with the dogs & sets my days off in a positive mood!

Now if I’m walking along the street and I find someone staring at my boots (it happens) I smile and say hi instead of going home to change.  (yes my paranoia got that bad)  Business wise, I have my first shoot next weekend featuring moi and Tallulah Belle Fashion, yes my throat expands when I think about it but if you want something in life you need to push through your fears.

I remember going into a local shop to ask for the Vogue September issue, its the only time of year I buy it, its the holy grail of the fashion seasons ahead, the girls in the shop looked at each other and smirked, “No hen, we don’t sell it, the girl thought I had left the shop but I heard her saying to her colleague, “who the **** does she think she is”,  my heart sank and  the tears filling my eyes.   It knocked me for 6.  I had so many plans for you tube, this blog, photo shoots and just those words stopped the lot.  I’m growing a thicker skin as my confidence comes back.   If I went into a garage looking for a car part, or a grocery looking for certain food, would you be treated the same? I very much doubt it – so why does what clothes you wear become so judgmental – answers on a postcard please!  We all can judge, I get that but keep it to yourself because bringing someone down aint pretty.

Anyway, its the Easter weekend, I plan to indulge in a little chocolate, spend time with my family on Sunday and I’m going fishing with Alex and our dogs, well I will be reading my book snuggled in a blanket next to the loch while he does a spot of fishing!  Have a good one, Marlene x

There’s something magical when you pull back the curtains and outside is a blanket of snow, the child in you gets butterflies, the adult in you gets the fear of having to make that commute to work.

I have every Wednesday morning off my full time job to work on my blog and also Tallulah.  Alex was sent home from his job this morning so we decided to down tools and get outside with the dogs.

The snow was blinding, the wind chill was biting but we picked up the pace and soon had a Winter glow on our cheeks.  Reaching the park, the kids sent home from school were sledging on the hill, squeals of delight as they went racing down the slopes, puffing and panting pulling the sledge back up the hill to have another shot.  Meeting other dog walkers all wrapped up, the dogs greeting one another, running around crazy in the snow!  People do have a spring in their step when we get a big freeze and its all we talk about, it’s headlines on the news, social media, the post office queue!

We headed off in the other direction and soon there was silence, nothing but beautiful scenery so we stopped for a few photographs.

Autumn & Winter are my favourite months, I love the colours, Winter candles, the fashion, wrapping up for the weather, Spring is just round the corner so I’m enjoying what’s left of Winter.

Stay safe and wrap up well.

Marlene x

Hair is such an important part of us and our everyday style………

I trained as a stylist when I left school but only lasted a few years in a salon, I was young with no confidence.  The colouring aspect fascinated me, even as a junior the senior stylist’s would ask my opinion on which colour to use on their clients (always through the back shop, never in front of a customer).  I sometimes wish I had perused a career as a colour technician but back then I’m talking 20 years, I didn’t know how to go about it .

Since the age of 16 I have coloured my hair, being in a salon it was hard not too.  Starting out with the dreaded hi lighting cap and crochet pull through hook, it was a form of torture, seriously what we went through back then! But I was introduced to bleach and loved it.  Now the process is isn’t as harsh switching to foils, I really enjoy going to the salon, it’s my treat to me, 3 hours of relaxation and pampering.

I had the same stylist for 8 years until she left to have a baby.  I moved around different salons and during this time I had a bit of a disaster with some bleach which left my hair quiet badly broken.  I tried a lot to salvage it but eventually went for the chop.

I found my current stylist, Brogan from Harrison Hair and Beauty in Irvine and I adore her.  Having a good relationship & being able to speak with your stylist is important, they don’t have crystal balls, if you sitting in the chair thinking I don’t like this or your unsure say something.  Do be afraid to speak out, your stylist wants you to return to them.

Brogan transformed my hair from this to this.

Salon visits are only half the story, when bleaching your hair the other half is up to us.  I’ve been using Kerastase for the past few months and I swear by it.  I’ve always been a fan of the product.  I would apply a hair mask maybe every 6 weeks or so but now I’ve switched to the shampoo, conditioner and hair treatments.  My hair is much healthier and thicker with less breakage, the ends of my hair have stayed fuller instead of the straggled v shape it would always grow in.

It is a bit more expensive than I would usually pay but if I works its definitely worth every penny. And I do keep it in my beauty drawer and not the bathroom, my husband shaves his hair within an inch of it’s life so theirs no chance he’s using my Kerastase on his shaven head 😉 sorry Alex x

February is the new January to me this year.  2018 began a bit bleh, things weren’t going to plan & to be fair I did dwell a bit in self pity.  It’s allowed but only for a wee while.

Anyway I thought I would share a few of my monthly goals.  February is shaping up to be busy, I’m heading to London this Saturday on a buying trip for the Autumn Winter 2018 collection for Tallulah Belle Fashion.  I don’t think I will ever get used to the buying 2 seasons in front but that is the fast pace industry. The following weekend I’m off to see my favorite band “The Script” their playing the Hydro in Glasgow and I can’t wait for that. The weekend after that I want to go away with Alex and the dogs and that will be be the end of February!  Just like that!

1. Decorate the spare room

Oh my lord, this room has dragged out long enough, I stripped the wallpaper back in November.  We’re doing it on our own, never wall papered before but you’ve got to learn sometime and believe me if I’m good at it  I will be on a interior design mission.

2. You Tube

I’m joining Youtube (inserts petrified emoji) I will be vlogging my London trip, I’m teaching myself how to edit so I’m hoping it will be up for the end of February and the content to follow will be vlogs & fashion hauls, the reason for the spare room to be decorated as a wee filming space. I have the lights, ring light and my macbook the only thing that’s missing is the confidence but I’m hoping that will get better through time.

3. Find a photographer

I’m on the search for a local photographer to help me with content for my blog and you tube channel.  I also want to get better at editing myself so my nights will be spent practicing with photoshop.

This month is going to fly past I just know it.  February is a fresh start, what you up to this month?