It's Cool to be Uncool

I have come to the conclusion that's it's cooler to be uncool. In my line of business you meet the uber cool kids, the ones that know the names of every trainer (sorry, sneaker) that's ever lived, are on first name terms with the 'in' crowd and dress in a very considered way. I'm not knocking them, I'm just acknowledging their existence, for the purposes of this post..

I'm often classed as being 'a funny little thing', I don't mind it, I'm happy in my own little haphazard world. I've never had the 'urban amble' that laid back walk/look that the 'kids' have (too much dancing from an early age has mean't that I walk like I'm always on the verge of either breaking into a run or the splits (whichever is needed first).

My track record of coolness thus far reads..

1. Being born with an afro when I am in fact of white origin with a father of Irish descent. ( I once backcombed it for a 70's do and no-one would believe it was my real hair.
2. Managing to snare a cool boyfriend at college, only to run into a metal fence the night before meeting his Mum and so met her with the beginnings of 2 black eyes... Relationship R.I.P
3. In my first job as a footwear designer for a brand, (whilst in Germany post a massive meaty meal) I declared (in an awkward silence) that I couldn't remember the last time I'd had so much meat inside me...not a good moment.
4. At another important branded designer job, I had to hold a meeting with the Head of Men's Apparel, I offered her a biscuit.. 'Ginger nut' I enquired, only to look at her and feel suddenly aware of her gingerness....Ouch

This 'Prince Philip' gene (that my mother has passed down to me) rears it's head on regular occasions. I'm convinced if looked into it would be some strain of autism. Anyway..this whole cool thing has reared it's ugly head recently. I'm working with a great client who I managed to convince of my coolness (?) and on my first day in their design studio I was very aware to keep the 'Prince Philip' gene in check ( and was doing a good job) but like with all secrets that you try to hide it appeared when I least expected it...As I was furiously typing away on the mac, researching some branding ideas who would know that I was about to stumble upon a Porn star? Whilst randomly searching for chunky zips I innocently typed 'Big Zip' into the search field only to bring up a page predominantly showing the aforementioned Mr B. Zip in compromising positions. As I hammered (scrap that sounds rude) tapped at the keyboard, mouse to try to get the images off of the (super dooper oversized monitor) I managed to attract even more atention. Luckily the rest of the design office are too cool to comment upon it..as I blushed from the inside out. 

So to summarise, I'm not entirely sure where this post was going, I just wanted to let my fellow 'Prince Philp' gene sufferers and uncool cru know that it is cool to be uncool. Embrace your inner oddballness and let your randomness shine through!

Anyway hopefully more less inane ramblings from me soon, am up to my eyes in deadlines at the moment, so brain is quite frazzled.

Much Love

xx

Time management/ Just a minute!

Sorry I haven’t posted for a week, things have been manic. Work is going well, in fact I am turning it down which is a fantastic position to be in. Just one problem time management, I can manage my workload no problem, I’ve been doing what I do for a long time so I can park up at my mac or sketch book and just crack on. The time management I struggle with is little ‘M’s’ she only seems able to concentrate on something for a maximum of about 10-15 minutes. I make these grand sweeping statements about creating glitter fairy paintings or making pink fairy cakes (note. ‘M’ is a girl and at the ripe ol’ age of 3 and ¾’s if it isn’t pink she isn’t interested). The thing I find, fellow parents/carers correct me if I’m wrong, is that precisely 11 minutes into the activity the intended participant has wandered off and I then find myself completing the aforementioned glitter fairy picture, or icing the pink fairy cakes. Ok, if truth be told (where the fairy cakes are concerned) I’m a Virgo and as such struggle with the haphazard devil may care attitude with which ‘M’ fills the cake cases, she hasn’t yet grasped the softly, softly approach to baking.

The day it seems is broken down into these 10-15 minute windows and currently each one seems to be interspersed with meltdowns (hers not mine, ok. sometimes mine) so with this in mind I’m finding myself operating under these strict allocated windows:

Reading a magazine = 10 minutes exactly it seems

Checking emails/computer time = 10 likewise/ unless on laptop which seems to give me 15 minutes as am able to pretend to be watching ‘Rastamouse’ (other cartoon mice are available)

Consuming chocolate= (this involves only non noisy confections which can be put into mouth whole without arousing suspicion.) 10 minutes- I do have to pretend that I am making lunch/ dinner at the same time.

‘M’ will soon be starting school, and I’m sure to really miss her, and her funny ways, she is hilarious. She has definitely taught me to be more patient and to be more creative, finding things to keep her amused.

Anyway best crack on, lots of work to be getting on with… just after I’ve scheduled in a quick 10-minute window of chocolate eating…

Take care

Xxx