Which will you wear this Christmas?

As the end of November sneaks up on us, Christmas parties and nights out with the girls are on our minds. If you want some gorgeous shoes - quality, limited edition, amazing value - take a look at what Shoes Galore have on offer.

You can see me at the Cromwell House Hotel in Stevenage (Sun 22nd) or the Three Horseshoes in Norton (Thurs 26th). On 27th & 28th November, plus the 2nd December, I have private parties - so the chances are stocks are going to sell out quickly!

If you see something you like, better get in touch soon, or you will be disappointed.

You'll meet a...

Last night I did something that I haven't done in about 20 years - I had my Tarot cards read. I did it with an open mind, or even something bordering on scepticism.

Let me tell you, it was very very strange.

Every card turned was described to me with a level of detail that leaves me stumped as to an explanation. These weren't vague "tall dark stranger" type statements that you could interpret how you chose. These were physical and character descriptions of very real people and very real situations in my life. I would not have been surprised to have been told their shoe sizes!

The reading didn't try to tell me my future or what I should do but it did give some insight into situations that are unfolding around me. Whether you believe in the cards or not, whether you think it is magic or the power of the unconscious, it was a very interesting experience. And I know that one theory is that the reader uses "cold reading" to create the illusion - but in this particular case I am certain that it was not the case.

Hmmm...

Be the gardener in your life

This morning I have worken up with an extraordinary sense of calm, peace and clarity. It is as if through my dreamings I have been blessed with a vision of the true workings of the influences that have surrounded me through the last months of my journey and through that understanding has come joy.

My personal growth over the last months has been on fast forward. If you haven't met me since the start of the year, there's a good chance that you won't recognise me - not just because my physical presence has changed radically, but because my very being is different. I have moved at full speed from being someone crushed, confined, and losing their very being to being full of positive energy, confidence and excitement at what the world has to offer. It is obvious that I haven't made this journey entirely alone, and I have to thank those people who have spent their time to help me to heal my soul.

However, people are flawed. All of them. Some acknowledge their flaws and seek to minimise their effect on others. Some glory in them and use them for their own good. You can be damaged by those last ones if you aren't psychically strong. You can take the negative energy they employ and have it crush your soul. But don't ignore the positives they also bring - because nobody is all good or all bad, and if someone helps you to find ways to grow you should give thanks.

So my clarity today is about not making someone else's behaviour or intentions personal. It is about how your teachers do not have to be perfect, and finding that they are damaged themselves does not invalidate the growth you have made yourself. In fact it can stimulate greater development and insights.

For a long time I have held onto the belief that you can only attain good things when the other person's intentions and actions are from pure motivations. No matter what objective good comes from it, if later you were to find that they were behaving from less noble intentions, then the good gained would evaporate.

Not so. The fact that good can come from negative energy is so exciting and reassuring to me. The universe wants to bestow good things on us, it wants to bring us to our higher selves. Whether you believe in God, Goddess or just yourself - be inspired today by knowing that the lessons you take from even the most corrupt teacher are still lessons you have learned. And if you can recognise the truth of what they are and still hold on to your own peace and contentment, then you have moved beyond them. People enter our lives for the season in which we need them. Acknowledge the good that that relationship gave you, accept your new understanding of the dynamics - and step into the next phase of your glorious life.

Be like a gardener who uses manure to feed the flowers!

Proud to help a great cause

A good friend of mine announced recently that he is taking on an amazing challenge to raise money for Stoke Mandeville Hospital's spinal unit. It is a cause close to his heart, after they successfully treated his son's spinal injury.

Gary will be cycling around 400 miles across Vietnam next year - now that it impressive! Personally, I hate cycling. I always feel scarily exposed to traffic and loathe it. (Did you think it would be the physical exertion part that I hated? Shame on you!)

I am helping to raise money for the cause by donating a percentage of any sales made at specially organised shoe parties. It's not as challenging as the cycle ride, but hopefully we can raise a great deal for Stoke Mandeville. If you would like to donate, get in touch and I'll pass on your details.

Where to find the Shoe Lady in October

Here are the public events where you can see me and my gorgeous shoes in the next month:

Sept 29th - Lister Hospital, Stevenage in the trading space opposite the Post Office
October 1st - Herts County Council offices, Stevenage, in the canteen
October 2nd - For All Occasions Pamper Evening, Judith FieldRecreation Centre, Huntingdon
October 15th - Pamper Evening, Pirton
October 28th - Indulgence night in aid of Herts & Essex Air Ambulance, Bishops Stortford
October 29th - Little Luxuries Pamper Night, Three Horseshoes, Norton, Letchworth

So come along and say hello if you can!

Styling Your Shoes

I have been having fun playing with my new shoes from the Shoes Galore Autumn range. I have to say, I thought I loved our previous collection, but these are even better, and I get so many compliments every time I wear them that it is quite turning my head!

I can't decide which style is my favourite - it depends on my mood - but here's a fun styling tip for the ribbon-tie tap shoes below: Change the ribbon to match your outfit! I did this earlier in the week and people were falling over themselves to ask where I got the shoes from! I am now building a collection of ribbon colours to use.

And there's more!

Another couple of styles on their way to me...




Those second ones are made from zips and look so cool in real life. I can't wait to get my pair!

Don't forget that you can try all of the styles on, with no hardsell, when you hold a shoe party at home. It's a great girly night in, and you can experiment with a new image in comfort.

Arriving tomorrow!

And that's just a sample!

They're here!

Take a look! Tell me what you like so I can plan my range!

Today is the day

After so much anticipation, today I will see the new season range from Shoes Galore and be able to choose which styles to include in my range. The few pieces I have seen in photos are just stunning, and I cannot wait to be able to share with you what beauties are available from mid-September.

But for now, you'll all have to be good & patient!

Autumn colour trends

I get to see the Shoes Galore new season range in less than a week, which I am very excited about. I've had a sneak preview of a couple of styles in photos and they are delicious!

So what colours are we talking about to be on trend this season?

Like last year, purple is a key trend. Almost any shade of purple is going to work, from dusky darks to rich royals. Alongside purple, we have rich reds - ruby, cherry and all those colours that evoke decadence and royalty.

But just because those are the real vogue colours, don't feel you are limited to them. The days of having to slavishly follow the fashion magazines are long gone, and you can choose to express your own style too!

Summertime Blues

Yesterday it was 30 degrees in North Hertfordshire. Today it is grey and drizzly. It isn't fair, is it?

Last week I was under canvas in Cornwall, and suffered the same extremes of weather - from swimming in the sea in the scorching sun to searching for indoor activities in the grey gloom. But you know what? We had fun anyway!

So I'm back to work, with a shoe sale party on Friday evening, the Little Luxuries Networking event on Monday and the Letchworth Little Luxuries Pamper Night next Thursday. There's still time for a sale party - it's another 3 weeks til my Autumn stock arrives, so grab a bargain while you can! If you have a late break in the sun booked, this is especially useful. And if you are already eying up the autumn style guides, then book a new season party now to make sure you don't miss out on the biggest range of sizes and colours. They sell out quickly!

Whirlwind week

Like a naughty schoolgirl I have been neglecting my homework! (Although this blog is much more of a pleasure than homework ever was, but anyway, I haven't been keeping you up to date lately. Sorry)

Last week was the first Little Luxuries Network meeting, and Emma & I were energised by the enthusiasm shown by the members joining us. We ran massively overtime because everyone had so much to say. It was like nobody had ever asked them what they wanted or needed, which validates our view that party plan & mobile businesses need business support. They may be micro-businesses, but they add so much to the economy it is criminal to ignore them.

Today I was honoured to have been asked to attend the launch of Bombshell Academy, the most amazing coaching/styling company. Based in Cambridgeshire, and run by two absolutely lovely women, Bombshell Academy helps you to be the you that you want to be.

8 women went on a journey today, and I saw them each develop a glow of confidence. By the end of the day they were radiant, and it was wonderful to have helped to style them by providing shoes to enhance the beautiful gowns they wore. The each deserved to be called a bombshell - dropdead gorgeous in their own unique ways.

New Networking event

If you run a party plan or mobile business, you know how tough it is. Working largely solo, constantly having to generate appointments and parties - it can wear you down.

That's why Little Luxuries are launching a networking group especially in these industries. Getting together, sharing what works, discussing how to do things better, hearing from knowledgeable speakers on subjects that will help boost your business - what's not to like?!

The first meeting is on Friday morning - 7th August - at the Three Horseshoes in Norton, Letchworth (Hertfordshire). It costs just £15 to attend, and that includes a buffet brunch. You can come along twice before you need to commit to joining the network - and that costs just £50 to cover admin costs. Meetings are timed to avoid the school run, and are informal and friendly.

Take a look at the website and get involved!

Spoil Yourself

Let's face it, the weather in North Hertfordshire is pretty grim at the moment. Rain, rain, rain - and when the sun does shine, you can't trust it to stay for longer than a few minutes. So take a few hours to cheer yourself up and spoil yourself for a while. The first Little Luxuries Pamper Night is this Thursday, 30th July in the gorgeous function room at the Three Horseshoes in Norton, Letchworth.

We have manicures, pedicures, aromatherapy massages, spray tanning, waxing and more. Plus there will be stalls selling all manner of goodies, from shoes and handbags to stunning jewelry. We are having some fascinating talks and demonstrations, including the spectacle of me having my haircut on stage! Entry is free, so come and browse. You can book your treatments on the night.

This is a monthly event, and we will be launching in other venues soon. Do join us and experience the Little Luxuries that you deserve.

Natural Born Style Confidence

My 3 year old daughter is inspiring. I don't know if I was ever like her, but she is now my official style icon.

Let's deal with the clothing first. She puts together outfits with decisiveness and conviction, never caring that other people may find her choices somewhat unusual. My favourite was the sparkly party dress, with a Tshirt over the top ("Mummy, I knew you would tell me that I would be too cold") and a swimsuit over all of that. Yes, you read it right - a swimsuit. And she just knew she looked fabulous.

Today I was at a meeting with my partner in Little Luxuries, when my phone rang. It was my husband, and he sounded nervous.

"Um, while I was in the garden the 3 year old brought me a toy saucepan full of hair. Her hair."

I confess that I giggled. "How much hair?" I asked.

"Um..I don't think it is too bad, but you'll need to take a look," he hedged.

On returning home and viewing the results, I found that my daughter's once shoulder-blade tickling locks were now mostly jaw length. Mostly is an important word in that sentence. There were several sections that were still long. I gently enquired about whether she required my services to tidy up her new style.

"No Mummy. I cut the bits I didn't want anymore, and the long bits that are left are the bits I do want."

Perfect! And you know, she rocks that hacked-by-a-3-year-old look! I'm not going to force her to let me neaten it all up, because she planned her look and she loves it. Unconventional it may be, but if we all had her style confidence, wouldn't we be happier in our skins instead of worrying about what other people were thinking?

I frequently meet women who tell me that they love the pink shoes (or purple or green - you get the idea) but that they "just aren't me". Rubbish! Next time you are inhibited by style convention, think of my daughter, with her uneven hair cut and her swimsuit over her dress. I truly hope she never loses that creativity and confidence - and neither should you!

Motivation

How do you motivate yourself or others? Is it with direct rewards - bonuses, prizes, gifts? Did your parents pay you for every grade A you got at O Level or GCSE? Did you get a new bike for passing your 11 plus?

Motivation needs to come from within. A job well done, being the best you can be, not having that uncomfortable guilt when you have cheated or got by through luck alone - those are the true motivators that will carry you through adversity and self-employment.

The child who studies hard to earn a £50 payment for an A grade will not understand that. They are not interested in doing the best they can, they are interested in the cash at the end. When they are put in a situation where there is no external carrot urging them on, what will they do? They may well gain the grade A, but in the long term the skills of self-motivation are worth far more.

If you rely on external rewards - either material or through recognition - you will struggle to motivate yourself through the challenges of self employment. The days when every phone call leads to a knock back...the days when you absolutely have to catch up on your book keeping...the days when everyone else is at a barbecue but you have a client proposal to finish...

Nobody else is going to give you a prize or a bonus for going the extra mile. The prize is your flourishing business, your returning clients and your pride in a job done well.

It happens, get on with life

Today I was at 4 Networking Stevenage, helping to run the group as usual. I felt great, there were great people there and I was wearing a gorgeous dress with my cherry red heels. All was well with the world...

Until the zip at the side of the dress - the one that runs from armpit to hip - broke. You know, when the two sides of the zip part company with each other and you can't make them meet up again...

Luckily I was wearing a camisole underneath, so it wasn't completely revealing, but hardly the image I wanted!

In situations like that, what else can you do? Nothing really was on show that shouldn't have been, I was decent and the only problem was my sense of dignity. The options were to leave abruptly, to borrow a jacket from someone else or to just carry on.

I chose to patch it up as best as I could with the single tiny safety pin available and carry on with as much grace as I could. I believe that was right decision and allowed me to continue networking and to demonstrate a confidence that (perhaps) I wasn't feeling! I certainly wasn't going to allow it to interfere with my day.

Still, I expect they'll all remember who I am! And compared to Lily Allen, I was demure!




Actually, I think my gorgeous Shoes Galore shoes draw the attention from the gaping dress anyway. Hee hee.

Wow! I want some of those!

I just got a sneaky peek of one of next season's styles, and I am lusting after them already. Our new Managing Director, Vivienne, has a real eye for a stunning piece of footwear - I can't wait to see the rest of the new range!

I should have my Autumn/Winter range in stock by mid September, so book your party now, because then you'll get the biggest range of sizes and colours to choose from. Only 36 of each colour are comissioned, so when they are gone, they are gone! When you own a pair of Shoes Galore shoes, you have a limited edition, high quality piece of design, at a price that the high street could never match.

That's why I love being The Shoe Lady!

3 days to go...

On Wednesday lunchtime I'll be running my shoe fashion show at the Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans. As well as showcasing some of the beautiful shoes I offer, I'll be explaining why some styles just don't work for some people, giving an insider secret to help where you have differently sized feet, and giving everyone a 10% discount on sales on the day.



Follow that with one of the hotel's gorgeous lunches, and for £18.50, you are definitely getting value for money! You can book here. If you can't make it, but you'd still like some pretty shoes, leave me a message, and I'll be happy to help you!