Blog Archives - The Madisons

Blogging Challenge - Day 24 - What time do you go to bed?

7/31/2013

Image: wkdq.com

Mariana - What time of the day are we talking here? Night time or siesta time? I have two bed times. One for the day and one for the night.
According to my family, I am lazy. It is not uncommon for the conversation to go:
"Where's Mariana?"
"She's asleep?"
I love to sleep. I have never been able to stay up all night. At parties, I am the first to surrender. My bed is my happy place. So....for my day time nap I go to bed between two and three (unfortunately my job interferes with this so I am only able to nap on weekends and holidays). My night time bed time varies. I have been know to say I am going to bed, only to be told it is 6pm so I am forced to wait until a more reasonable hour. According to my husband, adults shouldn't need 12 hours sleep a night. So usually my night time bedtime is between 8pm and 10pm.

Image: nicolefaithroxas.blogspot.com

Lisette - Bed is my boyfriend. It is my favourite place to be. One day I vow to spend the entire day in bed. I am going to order a pizza and eat it in bed. I love bed. Therefore sleeping is also at the top of my list of favourite things to do. Sleeping is my super power. Mornings are my kryptonite. They kill me. They make me weak and and awful. Mornings are probably so bad because I am a night owl. I used to stay up until around 2am. Why? Because that is when the creative juices start flowing! My right brain finally gets up and at 'em at around 11pm. That's when I feel compelled to pull out the paints and get crazy. When I met my lover-man, all this changed. He is at work everyday by 7.30am. I know. Crazy! So when we met I had to adjust my timetable somewhat.
These days, seeing as my kiddies get up at 6.30am, I too must rise at this ridiculous time! Therefore I must forgo my creative 'go time' and go the f#*k to sleep at reasonable hour. 9.30-10 is my cut off time. If I am not in bed by then it is curtains for my sleep cycle. Then I lay awake in the dark writing plays and blog posts in my head, considering the idea of sneaking out of bed and getting the paints out.

Image: willowsbranches.wordpress.ocm

Image: weheartit.com

How do you Tell the Mean Thoughts to Shut Up?

7/31/2013

Why do we beat ourselves up? Why do we judge ourselves so harshly? I am talking about 'the voices'. Those awful nasty voices that tell you, "You are fat". The voices that tell you, "You are not good enough." They whisper things like "Nice work dick-bag" when you drop something or miss the bus. They mutter "You suck", "Just give up", and "Nothing you do will amount to anything." Sometimes the voices play in your head making you think everyone hates you. A lot of the time it is in the middle of the night. 3am is the usual time to nit pick at ones self. The 3am reflection time is never a kind one.

My internal monologue is cruel. I am a nasty bitch. I only see the negative. Nothing is good enough for my bitchy little brain. But this is all only directed at myself. Other people don't really register. I am generally quite kind when it comes to others but when it is about me? Sheesh! My brain is a real nit picking Nancy.

I have become a little kinder to myself recently once I was called out on my bullshit by those close to me. But occasionally I still suffer from 'the voices'. They get to me when I am at my most vulnerable. When I want something really bad they tell me "No, you can't have that cause you never get what you want, you are unlucky". They mess with my head, trying to get me to do nothing. To give up and rot on the couch in misery. Why? Why are they so mean? But the truth is, there is no 'They'. It's me. It is all me.

It could all be attributed to a fear of failing. Perhaps I am afraid of failing so therefore my negative voices are paving the path for failure. Breaking in the idea to make me accept that it is okay to just give up. Telling me it's okay to just stop. Why aim for so much? Just give up.

Image: www.slowyourhome.com

But maybe. Just maybe my nasty brain needs to be told to shut the heck up. Perhaps nit picking Nancy needs to get out more. The only sure fire way to fail at something is to GIVE UP! I find the 10,000 hours rule very comforting. The theory, created by Andres Eccleson features largely in the book Outliers (excellent reading!). The idea is basically that excellence in any field requires a great amount of dedicated practice. Namely 10,000 hours. The book also shows examples of people with very high IQs who are not necessarily successful. I find this information comforting. It means that the only thing in my way is me. I can deal with me!

My voices of 'you suckiness' were at their peak when I was at drama school. Which is funny considering I was the thinnest I have ever been. Perhaps it stems from constantly competing with those around you? Whether it is for a part in the next show, or to look the thinnest, or to be noticed by the guest director. Whatever it is, you fight for it. But when the tutors don't choose you for that role or a guy finds your co-star sexier than you, what does it mean? Does it mean they are better than you? At everything? At life? In general? Does this mean that they will succeed in the industry more than you? Can you even act? Are you even good? Or should you maybe just give up? So many questions. How do you get an answer. Well my usual course of action was (and sometimes still is) to self sabotage. Maybe I just wanted to test people to see if they would tell me the truth? Maybe I wanted to see if I could actually suck? Would they notice if I didn't try? So I gave it a go. It turns out yes. If you try to suck you can in fact suck and yes people will notice that you suck. But the main thing I learned from drama school is: you have to think you are awesome. What ever else you learn isn't as important as that. If you let those mean thoughts in, they will consume you and eat you up. The mean thoughts are not an option. The only option is this: I AM AWESOME.

This philosophy is not just reserved for drama students and actors. I think everyone can practice the I AM AWESOME technique. There are four simple steps to the program.
1. Believe you are awesome.
Do what ever it takes to get it into your head. We manifest what we believe. Believing it makes it so.
2. Thou shall not fear.
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Because awesome people don't really make mistakes. They just discover new ways of doing things that may not be intentional.
3. Tell the voices to shut up.
Hear them. But don't buy into them. Don't follow them down that rabbit hole.
4. Don't give up.
Because awesome people don't. Because they are awesome. Remember 10.000 hours!

Perhaps 'the voices' could be a curse of the creative. Creative people are always putting themselves out there so are always up for scrutiny. It is the creative aspects of what I do in life that cause most of my negative self reflection. As I get older though, I have much more confidence in my abilities and my negativities are more directed at the people that don't seem to see how fucking awesome I am! "I mean what were they thinking not selecting my work? I mean, I'm fucking awesome!" Hooray! I guess this means I am cured! The technique is working!

30 Day Blogging Challenge - Day 23 - White or Dark Chocolate?

7/30/2013

Image: guardian.co.uk

Mariana: Dark chocolate. White chocolate is not chocolate. Anyone who says it is has serious issues. I really cannot believe that people even eat white chocolate at all. I would not waste my time. As for dark chocolate, yuuuuuuuuuummmmmmm. Life would not be as good without it.

Lisette: Dark. As dark as you can go. Dark Chocolate is chocolate. White Chocolate is made from old dog poo. Ever wondered where all the white dog poo went? When I was young it was everywhere! And a huge mystery for me and my gang of air force children/misfits. We'd stroll around the base collecting white poo to do experiments on. Ah those were the days! Kids don't stroll around any more collecting poo; such a shame. Anyway, the reason there is no more white dog poo on the streets is because the big chocolate companies collect it in the dead of night to make the white chocolate. They add sugar of course. Lots of it. Other than that it is just poo. Yeah so dark chocolate it is.

Image: sodahead.com

Amour and Haine - Garage Sales

7/29/2013

Image: heartcityvintage.com

Amour - Lisette Prendergast

Love! I love, love, love garage sales. I like that people sell their old shit from their garage giving it a new lease of life! Garage sales build community spirit. Why stop at garage sales? Let's have lemonade stands too! I love them. And is there anything cuter than a kid who sets up a toy sale stand out the front of the house to pay for guitar lessons? No. There is not. We need more community spirit in this country. I don't know why but us kiwis are a little reclusive at times. Which is funny considering the preconception that all kiwis are friendly and chatty and involved. A lot of us hide away in our homes and don't know our neighbours. We should. I should. Oh I know my neighbours, but they hate me, cus I am the grumpy lady with kids who likes it quiet in the day. I know! What a bitch!

I also love garage sales because they are fun. Think of the bargains! I imagine finding all kinds of treasure at garage sales. Not that I actually get to go to any. Ever. Sadly my husband/partner/lover-man does not like the idea of garage sales. Every time I see a sign from the car and point it out, he seems to subconsciously press his foot down heavily on the accelerator. Bastard.

Garage sales are good for the environment. If more people recycled their stuff by on-selling it in their garage, just think what could happen! It would eventually lead to reduced carbon emissions. Which is a good thing. So I am told. Yep, reduced carbon emissions are what will save the human race! That is if we survive the Zombies.

Haine - Mariana Collette

I've tried to like garage sales I really, really have. I have even pretended to like garage sales. I have gotten up at the crack of dawn every Saturday for a full month to rifle through other people's shit that they don't want. But, I can pretend no longer. I hate garage sales. Yes I do.

No, they are not fun. No, I don't enjoy them and who the fuck carries cash these days anyway? I can't barter. I'm terrible at it.
"Can I buy this chipped vase?"
"Yes that'll be ten dollars."
"O.K"
And then I walk away feeling ripped off. Do you know why I feel ripped off? Because people are greedy. They want ridiculous amounts of money for their junk.
Here's an idea, we should have a garage sale. Let's find everything ugly and crappy in our house and get other people to pay for it. Yay! Great idea. We should combine three family lots of crap we can't use and don't like and put it all in one of our garages very, very, very early on a day when people should be allowed to sleep in.

I never find anything good at garage sales ever. Some people do - I will give them that. But those people are born with a special gift. They are the same breed that can find good stuff at op shops. They have a special gene or something. They can walk into a room full of junk and pull out a diamond or a cool bag.

Here's some advice: Never, ever hold a garage sale with other people at YOUR house. Do you know why? Because, once the crazy hoarders have been and gone and pilfered everything salvageable from your piles of junk, the other people leave and you are left with even more crap than you started with.

It's not that I don't believe in sustainability. I do.
Do you know what my family does with stuff we don't want? We put it in a pile at the front of our house with a 'Free' sign next to it and if it doesn't get taken, we chuck it.
That is the best way to do it - no hassles.

Image: histyley.com

30 day blog challenge - Day 22 - Are we going to finish this bloody challenge or what?

7/29/2013

Lisette: Yes! I say we should finish it! We can get back on this horse. All we need to do is put our minds to it and we can do it. There are only 8 more days to go. That's nothing. Easy peezy. My kids could do it. Let's give it the old college try! It is all about sticking it out. WE CAN DO IT!

Mariana: I feel I must say yes also. Otherwise I would be a party pooper. That means we need 8 more questions. One for each day. I'm pretty sure we were supposed to do them 30 days IN A ROW. But, we are rebels so we don't care. We can do it. We will finish it. Now for the 8 questions.....

Tight Pants

7/27/2013

Paperdoll

7/26/2013

One of my favourite shops in the whole wide world is Paperdoll in Raumati Beach. I have a permanent lay by there and Trina the owner is always ready to help me find the perfect outfit. Once she found me a dress that I put on in the morning with stockings to wear to Saturday sport (with gumboots on). Once that duty was over and done with, I put on some flats and went into Wellington for some shopping. Then it was out for dinner so I put on a scarf, heels and make-up. I was supposed to drive home but I couldn't be bothered so I slept at my parent's house. I took off the stockings, bra, shoes etc and slept IN MY DRESS. The next time I saw Trina, I said "Do you realise you sold me a 24 hour dress?" She laughed her cute giggle and said, "I have something else perfect for you." - Gotta love her!

Anyway, I have a super soft spot for Paperdoll because I bought my wedding dress from there when it was called Voon and Trina was running the store. Now she is the proud owner! I caught up with her so she could tell us how she ended up being a businesswoman. She also let us play in some of her clothes for a photo shoot. Fun!

LPM: Tell us how you ended up getting into fashion and running your own store.

TL: Well, I guess I've been into fashion for as long as I can remember, from dressing my dolls (and of course paperdolls) to cutting up my mum's scraps of fabric and sewing funky outfits for my Barbies.
My family grew up with a green Husqvarna sewing machine permanently perched on our dining room table
as my mother was a dressmaker. My sisters and brother would all fight over who was next on the sewing machine. Fabrics of beautiful textures and colours were always stewn all over the floor.
Growing up we all made our own school dance dresses, much to my mothers horror, as us girls all went through our many phases ( hippie, punk, vintage!) Mum's white sheets in the linen cupboard were great when I went through my tie dyed stage.

Working in, and managing clothing boutiques for the last 25 years has given me huge insight into where I
wanted to go in terms of owning my own shop. Thanks to my dear friend Sophie Voon, who got me to manage her shop in Wellington, while she created beautiful designs out the back in the workroom.
We had lots of fun and many laughs as we were able to hang out together as well as do our work that we
both loved so much (Girls just wanna have fun!) I ended up having 15 years of fun at Voon.

Like yourself, I never tire of dressing up and playing dress ups. So having my own shop and helping
others find the perfect outfit is so fullfilling for me. We have lots of fun in the shop and customers quickly become friends. There was no doubt in my mind that one day I would have my own shop.
I love all the wonderful ladies up here on the Kapiti Coast. There is such an amazing community feel here in the Raumati Beach Village. It is the perfect place for me to have my Paperdoll shop.

Having a range of different designers in the store allows everyone to find something they like.
We stock Voon, Sable & Minx, Bobb clothing, Tava and sometimes if I have time, some of my own designs.
We all have different shapes and we all have things we like, and things we want to hide on our bodies, so
the best part of my job is finding the outfit that looks and makes a woman feel fabulous.

I love how as women we have learnt to love ourselves and celebrate our shapes and differences.
It is such a wonderful feeling when we are all giggling in the shop about our bodies and the silly things
that we complain about.

As women we are often juggling so many things, so nothing like a good giggle to get us through the day.
I love the many special women coming through my shop door everyday, as they all share, and leave a part of themselves with me and hopefully I am able to impart a little something special back.

Image: Magda Bojes

Photo: Magda Bojes

What we wore! Above: Mariana wears Noa Noa Dress and Lisette wears Voon pants and Cape. Below: Lisette wears Voon potato print shirt and hot pink skirt and Mariana wears Voon dress in cobalt.

Photo: Magda Bojes

Thanks Trina! See you soon. If you would like to visit Paperdoll it is located at 8 Margaret Road, Raumati Beach on the beautiful Kapiti Coast - where the living is easy (I made up that slogan but I think it should be the real one).

Interview with Imogen Wilson - Jewellery maker and designer.

7/26/2013

Wellington based jewellery designer, blogger and business woman Imogen Wilson, makes clever, funky jewellery out of paper.
Since starting out as a hobby in 2009, her business has bloomed! Now her jewellery is available in stores all over New Zealand!

We caught up with Imogen to chat about how it all began...

What is your favourite colour?
Red, always Red, I love it. Unless it's a lolly... then green.. because as we all know lime flavour is the best!!

Star Sign?
Gemini 'the twins' which is a shame really, as I'm an only child

What gets you out of bed in the morning?
My husband, who is my alarm clock and amazing breakfast and coffee provider!

What inspires you in your day to day life?
The fact that I am living my dream, creating things that I love and reaping the rewards myself. It's a pretty big motivator, so many people aren't so lucky, I feel like I owe it to them to keep on keeping on!

So when did you start making Jewellery?
I dabbled briefly as a teenager with beading, as most teenage girls do. I got into what I do now in 2009, it all blossomed out of a personal need (well, want). I created my first crane earrings as I wanted to wear them myself. In fact, I had the idea and convinced a talented origami maker friend of mine to make me 2 cranes as small as he could so I could make earrings out of them... When I saw them I was convinced I could make them myself (and of course I could). People kept asking where I got them from... So I made some, then some more... The rest as they say is history! Funny thinking back on that first pair, that I was convinced I couldn't fold paper so small. At fairs I quite often get asked if I use tweezers, it's so second nature to me now that I can do it while watching TV and barely have to look!!

Where do you get your awesome design ideas?
I'd love to say Pinterest as it would help me justify how much time I spend on there, but in all honesty if I see something on there that inspires me or that I want to try to make myself, by seeing it there it means I am less likely to make it. Like by pinning it I have already completed it, if that makes sense. Most of my designs are things I would personally like to wear, or see people wearing. They don't tend to be 'cool' or 'in season', I try to make things that have style and that are different instead.

You work a lot with paper. What made you decide to work with paper as a jewellery medium?
I love working with paper as it contains colour and pattern possibilities not present in other materials. I also really love re-purposing materials or objects that get overlooked in every day life and making them into precious objects. Making people look twice at something, making precious objects from every day materials or making every day objects out of precious materials.

What's new to your collection?
I got home from a honeymoon in Japan recently clutching, as carry on luggage, a very large (A1) roll of Washi paper worth around $600. I had collected bits and pieces from all over Japan as we travelled. At the time it seemed like the obvious thing to do... but the origami I make is so tiny the beautiful patterns on the new Washi paper were lost. So I have been encasing them in glass to show off their true potential as I can't imagine anything worse than hiding their beauty!

I have also been working on two new collections which have nothing to do with paper, or origami. It's exciting to be working in a new medium... but I'm not quite ready to un-veil them to the world yet, you'll just have to wait. I can tell you that they are called 'Major Tom' and 'Ex-Libris'... although I feel by telling you their names I've given away the game a bit!

You also write a snazzy blog too, huh. What do you write about?
I write about the trials and tribulations of being a self employed, stay at home maker. It has been quite fun, although I'm not a writer at all... so it's a bit of a learning curve! You can check it out here. Every week I'm surprised that my Mum isn't the only person reading it so I must be doing something right.

So what is it like doing what you love FULL TIME?
It's everything you would imagine, terrifying as hell, hugely fun, motivating, easier than I expected, harder than I expected... and after all that, I still don't really know, it's only been three months, I'm still settling in to it. I'll let you know!

What would you say to someone who wants to quit their day job to follow their dreams?
I have to say I couldn't do it without the support (both financially and mentally) of my husband. Without him as a cheerleader I don't know where I would be. You also need to have a direction you want to take your business in or a plan of attack for when it happens, I wouldn't suggest doing it because it's 'fun' or 'easy' because it's not... it's hard work, but it definitely has it's perks. I would suggest working at what you do in your spare time and when it has become so big that you are matching your day job (in hours spent working or money made) then it's time to take the leap.

So where can people buy, see or view your work?
You can view it on my website. On the website there is a full list of shops, throughout NZ, where you can buy it in person. You can also buy it straight off me via Felt (in NZ only) or Etsy (anywhere in the world).

Do you do other crafty stuff too? (Do you still make those awesome teapots?)
I have made stuff since I first tasted the craft paste at play centre... the list of the crafty hobbies I have had over time would be as long as my leg. At the moment all my creativity goes into creating jewellery, although now that I am doing it full time a new hobby may be on the cards soon. Sewing seems to be at the top of the list of contenders at this point, as although I have no intention to start sewing again no one seems to have told my ever growing pile of fabric... so subconsciously I apparently can't shake the idea of sewing...

Anything else we should know about Imogen Wilson Jewellery?
She is ever changing and one worth watching as this year she will grow, as now I finally have the time to put the work into her that I've always dreamed! To watch my progress in self employment make sure you check out my blog, or for updates on new work you can subscribe to my newsletter or like Imogen Wilson Jewellery on facebook.

Thanks Imogen. Looking forward to seeing your new collections!

If you would like to WIN a pair of Imogen's awesome Musical Crane earrings (below), Just like us on Facebook and leave a comment on our page about why you deserve to win!

Lark!

7/25/2013

Image: Connie McDonald Photography

How cool are these melting ceramics?

At least I know there are other people who play on the internet and find things...

Get out your cauldron and whip up some of this coconut/olive oil body butter.

Things no one will tell fat girls so she WILL!!

The top ten happiest jobs.

Which emotions do dogs actually experience?

Just about to try this waterfall hair braid.

A Pinterest board devoted to fun usb sticks!

Absolute worst pictures of men and cats??

Image: Connie McDonald Photography

Pinball

7/24/2013

Image: bmigaming.com

My Fish and Chip shop has a pinball machine. I know! Awesoooome! I fricken love pinball. I could play it for hours. I don't even like Fish and Chips anymore - I just go for the pinball. It is a Jurassic Park pinball machine which as far as I'm concerned makes it even better.

The first time I came into contact with pinball machines was on my dad's record player - The Who - Pinball Wizard. I would play it over and over.

I want a pinball machine. Where do I get one from and how much are they?
If you want a pinball machine, it is going to set you back around three to seven grand. Bargain. I will get one next week. Now for the theme of my pinball machine.....

Image: vintagepinball.tumblr.com

Image: retrothing.com

Image: news.cnet.com

Image: inventors.about.com

Image: etsy.com