Love & Sequins #1 Is Live!
[ 2 May 2009 ]
Hello!
I wanted to write & let you all know that the first installment of Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen was sent out all across the world two nights ago — beamed straight from International Playgirl HQ into the homes of sweet nonpareils!
Like I said when I first announced the project, Love & Sequins is the bare bones of my new big project, a delicious book about blowing kisses to the universe.
The first installment is almost 10,000 words, & an hour long. The topic? LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF: Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
I’m really proud of it & I think you will totally love it. But don’t just take my word for it — here’s some feedback I’ve received!
“I just wanted to let you know how much i enjoyed the first installment of Love and Sequins. I was beginning to get impatient but it was totally worth the wait. I just finished listening to it, huddled under a doona, eating a cookie in my new house in Melbourne… Thank you again for this excellent installment in the Gala Darling saga. I look forward to the next episode.”
“I adore the idea of these podcasts! I assume they’re meant to be listened to on an MP3 player during a quiet & calm time, so I’m going to copy it to my music player. Though I have listened to the beginning on my computer, and have to say that it is wonderful so far! I’m sure loads of other iCiNG fans will agree when you upload it onto the site. One excellent quality of these ‘podcasts’ is that they’re so personal, as you write and speak it yourself and support the information with your own experience, which is truly fascinating.”
“Dude. I’m just listening to your podcast now. Honestly, I was a little apprehensive because I’ve noticed your content on iCiNG has changed a little. This is the stuff. SIGH! RELIEF! CONGRATULATIONS. Don’t ever forget how much the ‘nonpareils’ have their hearts out there for you. Me included always always always. You’re just GOOD, you know? Substantial and full of perspective, dripping with sticky as honey vocabulary. Plus your voice is so badass.”
“It’s f*cking BRILLIANT. Whoever didn’t pay for this is REALLY missing out. F*cking brilliant. Loved it.”
You can snap up this podcast alone for $12, subscribe for a year & be billed monthly at $10, or pay for it upfront — $84, which works out at $7 a month.
Clever nonpareil Becky had a great idea — these podcasts can easily be purchased for a friend & sent as a digital gift! If you want to do this, just let scribble me a note when you make the purchase, & I’ll set it up!
I also wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me in this exciting new chapter! It really means so much to me. Eternal luuuurve from the Galaverse to you!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Tags: consumption,
gala,
how to,
podcast Share this! + Email This + Del.icio.us
+ Facebook
+ Stumbleupon
+ Technorati
Sadcat is sad! I don’t even have the $12 to happily hand over for the very first “Love and Sequins”! Sob!
Ellie — Aw! Maybe you can snap up my book when it comes out instead :>
I listed to about half of it yesterday morning when I received it—and immediately I shared some of it with my boyfriend, who has some serious issues with his body image.
I plan on putting the rest on my MP3 player and listen to it that way—
I was apprehensive when I first purchased this, but at an hour long it is more than worth it! Cannot wait to hear next months…
Also, have you ordered FLB’s new book, “Open Letter to a Quiet Light” yet? I’m so excited for mine to arrive on Monday!
How exciting! It’s up! Good luck with it
Hey Gala, I’ve been an enthusiastic reader of your blog for a while now. While this podcast thing is a really awesome idea, and I hope it goes brilliantly for you, I really hope that your other money making ventures don’t cause you to neglect icing itself, because you’ve built a really amazing thing here.
Lorelle — Oh that’s awesome, I hope he found it useful too! & no I haven’t ordered FLB’s new book yet, somehow that slipped past my radar! Adding it to my Amazon wishlist now!
Words Seduce — Thank you!
Beth — I don’t think there’s any chance of that! But I definitely have more projects on the go now than I did when I first started. It all comes down to time management, something I am constantly learning about, haha!
Love & Sequins 1 was UH-MAY-ZING! I loved loved loved it!
Gala speaks with great fluidity and eloquence, and it really feels like just having an (hour-long!) conversation with her! Obviously every word and sentence has been mulled over at great length – there is so much to absorb here I’m going to listen to the whole thing again! Despite the fact that Gala has obviously put loads of effort into making this readable – it is completely listenable too, and just the sound of her voice is totally entertaining!
GALA I salute you. This was excellent and I’m subscribing to all the others! Thank you so much for all the love and effort (and sequins!) you poured into this… it was totally worth it. Can’t wait for the book!
Evie~
xxxxxxxx
it is lush. to the extreme.
extremely effing lush.
the idea of being asked spending this money on a top or a cup of coffee or 2 over this content, to me, has proven totally irrelevent and inconceivable.
i hope you all
get it if you can.
xoxo
Hurray! I can confirm that L&S is indeed fabulous, and I’m super-happy that you’ve added the ‘gifting’ option! What a wonderful method of brightening someone’s day.
xxxxxxxxx
When I received the first installment of Love & Sequins, I was almost disappointed to learn that it would be all about ‘Learning to Love Yourself’ as luckily, I’m actually pretty happy in that department. However, I didn’t just dismiss it and decided to give it a go anyway, and BOY am I glad I did!
This is powerful, life affirming stuff- and I truly think that it contains things every girl needs to hear, whether you do have a problem with your own self image and awareness, or even if you’re a pretty happy-go-lucky chick like I am. I think every girl needs to learn to love herself that little bit more, we’re all worth it!
I truly feel that Gala is one of the best kinds of girls out there. She’s a strong, crazy, whirlwind girl who has turned her life around and is now sharing her secrets with other girls who need to hear them, to get the ball rolling on their own transformation adventure. Now that’s what I call sisterhood :)
Congratulations Gala on some pretty ass kicking stuff! I cannot WAIT for the book x
ps. Hello I am incapable of condensing my thoughts and write small novels for comments, apparently. Eek!
Hey Gala!
I just wanted to thank you for sending out L&S, I listened to it and I think it’s amazing. I had a hard time at first adjusting to your accent but that’s only because English is not my first language.
However, I think that I’d rather wait for your book. I simply don’t have the funds for L&S right now, but I really wanted to thank you for letting us listen to the first installment.
Kisses.
i could so use this podcast right now – major self hate and identity crisis going on over here. unfortunately i have no money. eh.
blush Note to self: check email on a more regular basis.
Gala you’re amazing. I shall load it up and listen now. Eeee.
I feel really silly for asking, but how do we get the podcast? Is it emailed to us? I just paid for the whole year via paypal but wasn’t directed to a download page or anything, and i want it now >_< hehe.
I just paid for it. How long does it take to actually get the podcast?
These compliments are making my head spin, thank you all SO MUCH!!!
Vixie & adroitly — I’m mailing them out by hand, sit tight, they are on their way! Big kisses!
After reading what people have said & seeing that the topic was learning how to love yourself, i have snapped this podcast right up.
I am SUPER EXCITED for it to arrive in my inbox, it feels like a pre-birthday treat for myself.
I have been checking this blog every morning for around a year and a half now, and I get so excited for you when you reveal a new project.
Thankyou so much Gala,
xoxo
Ok…problem…
On firefox it only plays about 3 seconds and if I try to download it from firefox it only plays 10 seconds on iTunes. On IE it says the page does not exist and it won’t let me download it for iTunes. Any ideas why, anyone?
I am glad the podcast went great! Eventually when I have a steady source of income and a credit card I shall buy them. Or I could just wait for the book, which sounds like it will be AMAZING!
Congrats on all the great stuff that is happening in the iCiNG universe! I am glad to be a small part of it. :)
Hi Kati- I was having the same problems, with both internet explorer and firefox- then tried safari. Voila- it’s working! In the middle of listening to it right now. Excellent stuff Gala!
Thanks Liz. I don’t have Safari but I’ll download it now so I can listen!
Ok, so I have a question actually. If I fail something the first day I am a complete pessimist and the next day I wake up and wonder what the hell was I so angry/sad about. So am I a pessimist/ optimist/ just plain crazy?
Oh, and I love how you explained everything. I like how you talk, like we truly are friends. It feels like my best friend-who has the same views as you- is talking to me. And the reference to shoulder pads-hilarious.
I always thought I was overpowered by my given name-Amelia-because here where I live is quite rare and people tend to mess it up and also because my dad wanted to name me after Amelia Earhart(which was a pretty awesome person).
Again the writing is pretty awesome. I’d buy a book written like this(because unlike other texts yours doesn’t speak from a high pedestal).
This is so going on my iPOD ^^ thanks Gala
Wow congrats on the podcast! I’ll look it up now… xo Cari isnotfashion.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the reminder!
Unfortunately, I can’t afford this just yet… but if I wanted to purchase it in a week or a month or whenever, will it still be available to us?
I’m assuming that after I pay for it, I wait for it/a download link to turn up in my inbox? :) waiting…. B xo
Okay…after seeing all of the great feedback (not that I had any doubts it would be amazing!) I have decided to give it a try. I have tried numerous self-help books (meh), medication, and other means of getting my spirits up and my happiness radiating, but when I think about it your website has given me all of the ideas that have actually WORKED for me..(lately, I have been doing my positive affirmations like crazy). I am excited to see it in my inbox!
After reading these comments I went and purchased it and am now patiently waiting for the arrival of Love and Sequins. This truly couldn’t have come at a better time, my long term boyfriend and I broke up yesterday and I have been very upset. Thanks Gala!
Just got home and saw this, then SNAPPED IT UP. So excited for more adoration and glitter from International Playgirl HQ! I wish you superluckandsuccess in this new venture!
I’m excited!!! Can’t wait to listen to this on a long walk taking pictures, or lifting weights at the gym, or riding my horse on a trail ride. :D I have recently gotten really, reeeeaallly into learning new things (Spanish, stories, lectures, motivation podcasts) through audio while simultaneously getting other things done or enjoying leisure activities so this should be a nice treat.
Holla!!
I just bought the years subscription .. the 7dollars a month dealy..
So will i get this months in my inbox?
If so, when will it come?
Thank you Gala.
you are truly rad.xo
I haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet as I just got online and it’s downloading right now!
I’m so excited!
I really wish I hadn’t just lost my mp3 player so I could listen to it on the bus or go somewhere nice and pretty and just relax and listen. :(
Already I want to say I think it was a good choice of topic to start out on, I was instanty so excited when I read what it was going to be about.
I think this might really help me right now because things are just not going well and I’m not feeling so great about myself! I know I should be trying to see things differently and I used to have a very good mindset but things have happened recently and I’m just not feeling it anymore. So maybe this will help me see things properly again. :)
Thanks you little star! xxx
ahh i’m so broke at the moment, i can’t afford the podcasts.
but i’m so anxiously waiting for your book to come out, i can’t wait! do you have any idea about when it might come out?
xx
I just finished listening to the first edition of Love & Sequins and couldn’t be more thrilled! It’s the kind of thing I’ll come back to again and again to refresh and re-inspire myself with.
I can hardly wait for my flight to California, just so that I can listen to your podcast from thirty thousand feet, and really take it all in.
Thank you so much for all the work you put in to sharing yourself with us. I’m super stoked for the next edition to come out!
Lots of love!
XOXO
I haven’t listened to it yet, but I read some of the text…. and I can already tell that this podcast is going to come in handy when I’m in a down mood…
I’ll come back to leave feedback when I listen to it tonight :)
Also, I think it’s good that there are three different options. I picked the first option cos I wasn’t too sure if I’d be interested in all the topics you talk about, so I like being able to choose which ones I buy, so thanks for having that option available!
xox
Lalala. You’re amazing. I always want people to read to me at bedtime when i’m too tired for eyes.
Solution!
Podcasts are in my top 10 favourite things.
Book?
BOOK?!?!?
i was so glad when i got this in my inbox the day before yesterday ^^ it really brightened up my day!
thanks gala. the first episode was AMAZING! it has SO much useful information. i already listened to it twice :) & will probably listen to it again today. & re-read some of the transcribed parts lots. & do the “homework.” it’s really great when you want to start loving yourself & living the life that you want to, but don’t really know where to start.
thank you, thank you, thank you so much for sharing all that information with us, in your own style. i can’t wait for the next episode. & your book! i LOVE books :p
i also love your accent & the way you talk, by the way.
xoxo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz2inE…
if you wanna feel happy, listen to that ^^^
absolutely amazing band/song/voice/everything…..
xxxx
I am really worried that if I eventually have the money to buy this, that it’s not gonna work on my super-crappy computer!!! I once downloaded a podcast & it didn’t play on my laptop, so I dunno… what’s a girl to do?!
x
Wow!
I ordered it last night and listened to it before I went to bed and it was astounding.
You have such a way with words, it’s incredible. This has helped me so much; I feel like an improved person!
Also, the headphones kept falling out because I smiled too much! ;)
Gala – I love your website! It’s so cute, and it’s given me a new positive outlook on life! _
But, there is one thing I need to know – how do you make a blog like yours? I have searched ways on the internet but all of them are not proper sites, they are just blogs uploaded onto sites, if you know what I mean;
and I would really appreciate it if you could tell me how you made this site or how Nubby made hers, because I would like to start one up!
xoxo
<3
It was completely briliant…written like the cream skimmed off the top of the best articles on your site! And on a really interesting and relevant topic. Will definetly be getting my hands on your book when it’s out.
And an added bonus was the little slice of New York in my very english house! :) xxx
I loved that you could hear the sirens and traffic in the background, by the end every time I heard a horn I would burst out in fits of giggles.
However, it was amazing. Some of it I’ve read on here before but never actually implemented it but it was as if hearing you say it actually made me go ‘why of course, why didn’t i think of that before?!’. I also liked the little ‘homework tasks’ at the end.
My favourite bit was definitely when you said “life is not about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself”. So true but most people don’t realise that. Me included!
Thank you very much.
Love in the form of a podcast. I listened to it after I was all snuggled up in bed, ready to go to sleep. It was perfect. I went to sleep very happy.
Also, that “every day, in every way” affirmation is posted in front of all the beds at my local hospital. Exciting!Hey Gala! I got mine and uploaded it up to my ipod and went for a walk, it was AMAZINGLY AWESOME AND YUMMY, even though I have read almost everything in your site there was a lot of stuff you havent write here that was worth the wait and the money, totally worth it!!!
Thank you so much! It made me laugh and cry, and realize how awesome the world is and how lucky we are to have you in it!!! And your voice is contagious! Very nice and friendly! The only suggest I can think of is when the other girl talks the volume of the sound goes really low so I had to turn it up and then when you came back to talk was harsh in my ears, I dont know if you could actually do something about that, but just so you know…
Anyways, thanks again! And cant wait for the next episode!!! Besos! :*
wow. I wish I could afford this!
Hey! I paid for the love and sequins but I never got an email! What do I do?
Marie — I sent you one at 1.49am on the 1st of May! mariesteinberg@yahoo.com, yes?
Okay. I wrote you an enormous comment but I just don’t have the guts to post it. It just sounds too kooky. Besides it would take you so long to read and your a busy chick!
I just want you to know that L&S 1 was fantastic and it really, and I mean REALLY had helped me realise a lot of things and already begin to work through some stuff.
I just want to thank you and wish you every success in this venture. I will definately be buying updates as much as I can depending on whether I can afford them. I hope I can though because, just wow.
Also I really love your little optional homework assignment it’s very cute and it gives me a few goals and things to do as well as working through my other little breakthrough.
x
Ok, I listened to it a few hours ago and i love it, even though it was a lot more informal than i thought it would be! I will definitely listen to it a few times. Great job Gala. Anyone with body image issues will get a lot out of it.
Constructive criticisms: *Maybe include some music in the background. Lindsey Markel’s podcast, one of my favourites, did that to great effect. Obviously you may have copyright issues etc *I second the statement that when your friend talks, the music goes really soft. *At the end, the podcast finishes a bit abruptly. Maybe you could sort of have some sort of concluding statement and some music to taper off.
Again, great work and good luck!
Hmm. I disagree with the above comment. I feel music would be a little distracting and it would only be for superficial reasons that it’s there.
I think the fact that it was informal and not over pruduced with music etc made it less intimidating. I know that sounds odd that a pod cast would be intimidating! I just mean it was much more casual and relaxed and rather than feeling a little odd or silly listening to it I could really settle into it and listen to what your saying.
That’s just my two pence! :)
Really loved it – Just what I needed at the moment – I stopped everything I was doing with a cup of tea and lay down and listened for an hour – bliss! What’s going to be next?!
I’m off to do my homework!
x
I’m not gonna lie, I was a little skeptical cause I’ve never even listened to one podcast before but I should’ve known coming from you it’d be amazing! =D
I started listening @ work (naughty me, I know!) and I was brought to tears about 20 seconds in. You are so brilliant and above all else, honest. I BELIEVE what you say because I can see & read on your blog that you really have manifested your dream life and come a long way from the place you were before. It’s so inspiring!
Thanks for sending the text along, too, though. I liked that I could read the parts I liked over again without having to find them in the podcast.
I listened to your podcast while hooping the entire time. I laughed, I smiled, I cried TWICE! It felt like a very intense conversation I was having with someone, when really it was me listening to someone speak. I’ve been out of sorts lately and I feel like this has drawn me more into myself than I ever have been before. It made me want to jump up and take charge of my life and make everything I’ve ever wanted happen. I’m seriously going to listen to this everyday until I’m sick of your voice! (Just kidding, of course!)
It occurred to me that you are right. I’ve been waiting to “find” myself, instead of CREATING myself. Who I want to be and what I want to do.
Dammit, you are a blessing. Thank you.
This podcast deserves a celebratory parade!! Thank you Gala for sharing your wonderful insight into this theme—it has come at a perfect time for me and continues to be an delectable hour-long ear feast each time I listen to it!
I’ve finally decided to throw in my 2 cents about the podcast. I had my reservations at first, but decided to give it a whirl after the fabulous reviews you posted.
I am in love with it, after feeling run down and empty about a few things in my life, you re-affirmed a lot of things I aim to sort out. I love your investigation into things like meditation and eft and reporting back on your findings. Both of these I have found great, particulaly meditation which i have only taken up as a discipline recently.
Just wow, I can’t wait to hear more. You are very wise and you can tell how much work you have put into it. Absolutely worth the $12 for the single outlay :) xxx
When I saw the L&S prices, I thought, ‘No way, I’ll wait for the book’.
I discovered iCiNG just over a year ago, and though this might sound sad, it’s one of the best things that ever happened to me (though I will add, there are MANY wonderful things in that list!). The articles spoke to my heart, with your captivating style of writing, beautiful outlook on everything, the heart-shaped bullet points, your fantastic outfits and the overpowering aura of LOVE, glowing from every pixel of this website!
I subscribed last night, and woke up to find you! in my inbox. I didn’t think I’d have the patience to listen for the full hour, but I did, and it was truly amazing. SO much inspiring content. Cannot wait for the next 11 instalments!
Thank you,
K xox
I was wondering if you forget to email me L&S1 because I paid on the third .;;
I was really cynical at first about this (I am after all, queen cynic of cynicaldom). I never thought i could listen to someone for a whole hour, then i thought that it might be more boring self help yak like the books ive read in the past. But i am curious as well as cynical, and couldnt resist purchasing the $12 podcast. I put it on my mp3 player and listened whilst i walked, and was amazed that the hour flew by, by the down to earth understandable gala darling, and by the content. Amazing. Buy it.
Susan — Can you forward me your Paypal receipt? I just searched on the email address you provided here & found no trace of it!
Thanks, you guys, for such fantastic feedback, it means the world to me. I am like a one-woman swoon parade over here!
I have done so!
Gala, I really enjoyed this! It is lovely and raw (raw only in the best way possible) – please don’t polish it too much!
On the technical front, I have listened to the ‘cast on my Safari internet browser but I cannot download the file by right-clicking. Something about Quicktime… It’s not a big deal, but I would love to have this on my iPod. You know, easy access (hehe) without having to stream it from the internet. Any suggestions?
Thanks, sweetheart.
Wow. I loved it! It seemed to have come at the perfect time for my life. I’ve been reading Icing for quite a while now, but this podcast finally convinced me to put some of the things I’ve learned here into practice! Gala, you may be even more inspiring in podcast form then in writing. Which is saying something. Thank you!
I have been waiting for my credit card to clear a little so I could snap up the whole 12 months at $84 kinda annoyed when paypal had to convert it to Australian and that I was really paying 113 buckaroonies…but you know what after seeing all these amazingly enlightened people I do not mind so much…I will be checking my inbox like crazy to recieve the first installment which I am soooo excited to listen to!!! A hole HOUR!!!! Incredible!!! Gala can not wait to listen to that New Zealand accent of yours motivating me into life like those before me hehe…
waiting to be enlightened with Love and Sequins…
Kittyx.
Hi Gala
Just wanted to say thanks for the first instalment of Love & Sequins … I LOVED it.
I’m a bit older than a lot of your readers (ie 40!), but I still found it really releveant. And I believe this type of thing should be compulsory reading/listening for teenagers (I’m trying to word this without sounding/feeling 1200 years old … hmm!)
Maybe you could create your own school … Galaverse High ?? With a pink sparkly uniform and a unicorn coat of arms. Seriously though, I think this sort of thing is way more beneficial than a geography or a maths lesson. After all, isn’t school meant to prepare you for life?
Well done you!
xox
Hi Gala,
When I clicked the link (the $12 one) and proceeded to PayPal, I thought I was getting this installment of Love and Sequins, but you sent me the second one? I was wondering if I did something wrong there? If you could enlighten me for future reference that would be great! Although Love and Sequins 2 looks great I was really looking forward to Learning to Love Yourself as a starter, especially since all the feedback is so wonderful.
Holy shizzles.
If I could put to words how much I love and adore this podcast, I would, but nuff said I completely fail at that. It’s just mind-blowingly, earth-shatteringly,toe-ticklingly (why yes, these are all actual words) cute and awesome, and on top of that so relevant! So important! I think absolutely everyone should hear this, Galaverse High doesnt sound bad at all ^^
Thank you from the bottom of my little heart Gala, seriously.
cupcakehugs!
-Jen
I really enjoyed this podcast! I went for a big long walk when I listened to this and it was fantastic. Galas voice is really easy to listen to (I think this is quite important!) and she shares her own personal experiences along with some really great advice. When the podcast finished Queens song ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ started playing on my playlist which I thought was just so perfect and it made me smile.