Love & Sequins VALENTINE'S DAY SALE!
[ 14 February 2010, 16:05 ]
SALE IS NOW OVER! Thanks so much for your support!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
In celebration of next week’s launch of Love & Sequins #8 (BEST FRIENDS FOREVER — Discovering platonic soulmates, keeping your friendships fresh & clearing out the fakes, phonies & meanies!), I’m having a Valentine’s day SALE on my podcast, Love & Sequins!
Love & Sequins is my handbook on being a love letter to the universe. It’s about living magically & celebrating ourselves & it’s delivered in delicious monthly installments! Each chapter is a whopping 10,000 words (or more!), & you also get an MP3 of me reading it aloud to you, which is brilliant for boring subway rides or as a kind of modern bedtime story! What a fab Valentine’s Day gift to YOURSELF!
Additionally, I’m donating 1/3 of the profits from the sale to the American Red Cross. Haiti still needs our help & the very best way we can give aid is by donating money. Straight up.
Feeling luxurious? Want a year-long subscription? Usually a full year of Love & Sequins is $84, which comes out at $7 per issue. If you take advantage of the sale, I’ll slash the price down to $60! That makes the chapters a measly $5 each! You’ll save $24 & get three & a half months for FREE!
When you pick this option, you get sent all the past chapters (1 through 7) & will be sent the new ones as soon as they are released!
“I’m so glad I paid for all them upfront. Now every month I get a delicious chapter to inspire and thrill me. It’s one of my favourite pick-me-ups.” — L.
Prefer to pick & mix? You can pick up the chapters you’re most interested in — or grab the issues you missed! — for only $9 each! They’re usually $12, & it’s no joke that $9 is less than the cost of a mixed drink in Manhattan, without the hangover!
When you buy the chapters separately, they are immediately sent to you via email for your consumption & delight!
“I only bought one (the 5th I think) out of curiosity but I was so moved and engaged in what you were saying that I have gradually acquired more. I think for me it’s the sheer quality and hard work that comes through and makes these so fantastic and inspiring. I am always wary about being promised quality and sold B/S and I have on many an occasion but these are brilliant and when I find something I like like this I cannot help myself and have to have them all!!!” — E.
See below!
Love & Sequins #1: LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF — Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
Excerpt: So what does “loving yourself” mean? There are a few different ways you can look at it, but from my point of view, loving yourself means treating yourself the way you would treat your very best, most treasured friend. See, that’s the thing with friends — they’re not perfect & we know it but we love them anyway. Your best friend might get into a ridiculous flap over some boy you think is nowhere near good enough for her, she might turn up to a party in an outfit that is less than flattering, she might slack off at her job or constantly talk about wanting to go to Paris & yet never save any money — but you still love her. You still think she is amazing. A shooting star in the shape of a girl. I think this is how we should choose to view ourselves, too…
“This podcast has been tremendously helpful. It has indeed resonated deeply in all of the tiny crevices of my being where I’ve been hiding my hopes and dreams and instead allowing myself to be swallowed by fear and doubt. I couldn’t agree more that we all know that self-confidence and self-love are the root of success, of living the positive inspired lives we all dream about. And yet, until now it escaped me that I could practice at being confident. That I could slowly develop these skills over time. I had a huge a-ha moment – of course it won’t happen overnight! Of course it’s about making small changes, adjusting my mindset and perceptions in the moment… Thank you for letting your own light shine as it has given me permission and inspiration to do the same. I’m deeply grateful.” — L.
Love & Sequins #2: THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
Excerpt: What I’m saying here is that life shouldn’t be a hard slog with five years of faux-leisure at the end before you die. I think that is such a perverse way of viewing work, life, the universe & everything! Honestly, it’s WRONG. That is not how things should be. Why punish ourselves needlessly? I think the ideal situation for pretty much everyone is to do work that they enjoy & which challenges them, to have the freedom & autonomy necessary to take leave when they wish, & to be able to sustain a lifestyle which appeals to them. We don’t all want to be millionaires, but we should all be able to live at a level at which we’re comfortable, without sacrificing our integrity or happiness…
“I am writing to you in regard to a project that I started as a result of your lovely site. I guess you could call me one of your inspired non-pareils. Wikifashion began as an idea around one year ago and I never really had the “chutzpah” to give it a go until I purchased your podcast on “being your own boss”. I fell asleep listening to that podcast every night for a week, taking it all in and furiously scribbling down notes. It was so groundbreaking for me and every word that you spoke really resonated with me. Thank you for inspiration and words of wisdom.” — M.
Love & Sequins #3: LOVE, SEX, THE GALAXY & EVERYTHING — From falling in love to co-habitation, & all the beauty & madness contained within!
Excerpt: People do not seem to realise that the planet is FULL of AMAZING people, many of whom would pass out at the opportunity to TALK to you, let alone hold your hand & kiss you in public & buy you rad Christmas presents. If your boyfriend or girlfriend is a stinker, you are awesome enough not to have to put up with it! For real. Just get out of there. You will never regret it, & you will make space in your life for a really, really fantastic person to appear. Just like magic…
“Gala, I loved this one! I listened to it as soon as you sent it. I’ve always been kind of a cynic when it comes to love, but I think I’m ready to let my guard down and take the plunge. The ‘love self-evaluation’ and ‘figuring out what you want from a partner’ parts stood out the most to me, and I’m definitely going to take the time to write and reflect on these areas. Thank you so much!” — D.
Love & Sequins #4: A GUIDE TO MANNERS FOR THE MODERN MINX — Etiquette, social graces & charming the pants off total strangers for the uninitiated!
Excerpt: It’s all very Eckhart Tolle when you think about it — the key to being charismatic is being PRESENT. It sounds so basic, but so few people really get it right — & the people who do don’t necessarily do it consistently. The first time my friend Dhrumil & I went out to dinner together, we discussed the importance of being present in a conversation. He said to me, “Think about it. Over the course of this dinner, you & I have probably made more eye contact than some married couples would in a week”. That has always stuck with me. Eye contact is vital, & really makes the other person feel important, valued & engaged…
“Gala, you have truly hit the spot once more! I sat there nodding to myself, smiling with recognition, laughing out loud and thinking WOW this girl inspires me to change the world too as I listened to the 4th Love&Sequins. Thank you so much wonderful!” — A.
Love & Sequins #5: FINDING HAPPINESS & MAKING IT STAY — Choosing joy, making magic & devoting your life to love, adventure & deliciousness!
Excerpt: Taking responsibility for yourself is so incredibly liberating, & here is why. It will show you what innate power you have within you. Look at all the things around you, good & not-so-good. You have attracted them into your life, whether you believe it or not. & in a worst case scenario, if you can create awful things for yourself, like horrible relationships, crappy jobs & a general sense of malaise & apathy, think what you could create if you focused your attention in a different way! What if, instead of thinking about how bad everything is all the time, you thought about how WONDERFUL life is? Because even if you look around yourself & see things which make you unhappy, surely you must acknowledge that the world is full of marvellous things too. There’s love & music & art, delicious food & springy green grass, snowflakes & puppy kisses, hula hooping in the sunshine & exploring new cities. There are fresh vegetables & false eyelashes, majestic mountains & elephants, dreams & adrenaline, sky-diving & gardening…
“I can honestly say this is the best $12 you will ever spend. I’ve been seeing a psychologist for the past 6 months… What Gala has produced is that 6 months of therapy all wrapped up into an hour long podcast. Her advice about choosing how you react to situations is the most helpful life advice you may ever receive.” — K.
Love & Sequins #6: DAINTIER, SMARTER, BETTER DRESSED — A deluxe guide to looking truly fabulous, defining your personal style & being the best-dressed girl at any party!
Excerpt: Yes, it would be wonderful to look like a 5’10” gazelle in everything we wear, but the reality is, most of us are never going to look like that, regardless of how many pairs of shaping underwear we buy & no matter how few carbs we consume in a given day! You are never going to look perfect all the time, & the pursuit of perfection is such a yawnfest & time-sucker. It’s totally not worth it. There are so many other things you could do with your time & energy! So if you’re wearing a skirt that is maybe half an inch too short, but you feel GREAT in it, then that’s fantastic! Confidence comes from feeling good in your clothing, & if you do, you’ll have a much better time than the girl who looks immaculate but is freaked out in the corner…
“This months’ Love and Sequins was my favorite so far. It is clearly a subject that you feel very passionate about, and that really came across in the podcast… This podcast really inspired me, and even while I was listening to it, I had a pad of paper next to me and was jotting down outfit ideas and sketching possible combinations.” — V.
Love & Sequins #7: BLOGGING 101 — Living & loving online, monetisation in the new world & thinking beyond the 9-5!
Excerpt: I promise you, if you do not have purpose or determination, your blog will also go the way of so many before you. In fact, this is pretty much the same as anything in life. If you want it, you have to prove that you want it, time & time again. You will be tested! But if you can stay the course, after all the trials & tribulations, misfortunes & madness, you will be rewarded…
“One more thought: It’s not about blogging. It’s about ANY online business. I.E., pretty much any modern business at all. Blogging is just an example, and at that, really a very small part of it. I read it, thinking about what I was doing, nodding & going, “Yep, good advice, yep, can use that”. ... Loved your comment about your core audience. Great advice about managing online rep. The list of ‘little things’ is frickin’ brilliant. High density, high value. All in all? Damn, that’s one high value podcast. Amazing stuff.” — S.
This sale is for one day only — it ends 24 hours from now! If you’ve been wanting to get your hands on a juicy issue of Love & Sequins or have been wondering what all the fuss is about, now’s your chance!
As ALWAYS, I appreciate your support very, very much, & I’m so excited about donating to the American Red Cross! Thank you!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [28] Tags: consumption,
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Love & Sequins #7!
[ 22 December 2009, 09:47 ]
Happy holidays from magical, snowy New York City! I’m really excited to announce the latest installment of Love & Sequins, my monthly podcast series.
Love & Sequins #7: BLOGGING 101 — Living & loving online, monetisation in the new world & thinking beyond the 9-5!
On December 16th, iCiNG celebrated its third birthday. In the past three years, my site has been visited by over 13 million people, I have been offered jobs at magazines & invited to speak on panels. Best of all, I have done what so many people think is the impossible dream: I have made a living as a writer & blogger.
Throughout the course of my blogging career, people have asked me how it’s possible to earn a living in this field. In this installment of my podcast, I explain how I’ve achieved my goals. From iCiNG’s tiny beginnings to the global influence it has today, I detail every step of the way. I lay it all on the table for you with complete honesty & transparency.
Love & Sequins #7 is a whopping 14,000 words — with the MP3 running for over an hour — discussing how to run a successful (read: popular & lucrative) blog!
In this chapter, you’ll learn about:
How to create a truly popular blog
A variety of ways in which you can monetise your blog (& think outside the box when doing so)
The bare-all truth of how I earn my living
How I primped, preened & promoted iCiNG from the very beginning
The complete low-down on finding readers (& giving them what they really want!)
Some of the biggest mistakes I’ve made & the steps I’d take if I had to start all over again
What to do when your visitor numbers start to drop or plateau
How you can use your blog to secure other opportunities to generate cash or press
The current trends in the blogosphere & how to capitalise on them
Navigating ethics & integrity online
Things to consider before you get in bed with a big company
Why comments aren’t everything
Figuring out how much of your life you want to share online
Hustling your way to the top
...& plenty more!
The entire podcast is packed with real, anecdotal, actionable advice, as well as a reading list & a slew of homework assignments! If it doesn’t make you a better blogger, I will eat one of my many hats!
I sent it to my friend before it went live, & he emailed me, saying…
“One more thought: It’s not about blogging. It’s about ANY online business. I.E., pretty much any modern business at all. Blogging is just an example, and at that, really a very small part of it. I read it, thinking about what I was doing, nodding & going, “Yep, good advice, yep, can use that”. ... Loved your comment about your core audience. Great advice about managing online rep. The list of ‘little things’ is frickin’ brilliant. High density, high value. All in all? Damn, that’s one high value podcast. Amazing stuff.” — S.
How does it work? If you just want this chapter, it’s a one-off payment of $12. Alternatively, you can subscribe monthly (& get all the back-issues) with 12 payments of $10, or pick up the whole thing for $7 an issue (a one-off payment of $84)!
Note! This chapter doesn’t detail the technical nitty-gritty of how to set-up & start a blog. If that’s what you need to know, check this out! Love & Sequins #7 was written more specifically for people who want to optimise & capitalise on what they already have.
Here’s a rundown on what the previous chapters were all about! Each installment is 10,000 words or more & full of love!
Love & Sequins #1: LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF — Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
“This podcast has been tremendously helpful. It has indeed resonated deeply in all of the tiny crevices of my being where I’ve been hiding my hopes and dreams and instead allowing myself to be swallowed by fear and doubt. I couldn’t agree more that we all know that self-confidence and self-love are the root of success, of living the positive inspired lives we all dream about. And yet, until now it escaped me that I could practice at being confident. That I could slowly develop these skills over time. I had a huge a-ha moment – of course it won’t happen overnight! Of course it’s about making small changes, adjusting my mindset and perceptions in the moment… Thank you for letting your own light shine as it has given me permission and inspiration to do the same. I’m deeply grateful.” — L.
“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.” — S.
Love & Sequins #2: THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
“Thank you so much for your inspiration. it really gave me the kick up the bum that I needed. I was always afraid to take a creative income path, for fear that my talent was lacking. I still have these insecurities, but I realise that right now, while I’m young, enthusiastic and motivated is the very best time to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll try something different. if it is a success, then maybe it will give me the confidence to try some other more innovative ideas.” — V.
“I am writing to you in regard to a project that I started as a result of your lovely site. I guess you could call me one of your inspired non-pareils. Wikifashion began as an idea around one year ago and I never really had the “chutzpah” to give it a go until I purchased your podcast on “being your own boss”. I fell asleep listening to that podcast every night for a week, taking it all in and furiously scribbling down notes. It was so groundbreaking for me and every word that you spoke really resonated with me. Thank you for inspiration and words of wisdom.” — M.
Love & Sequins #3: LOVE, SEX, THE GALAXY & EVERYTHING — From falling in love to co-habitation, & all the beauty & madness contained within!
“Gala, I loved this one! I listened to it as soon as you sent it. I’ve always been kind of a cynic when it comes to love, but I think I’m ready to let my guard down and take the plunge. The ‘love self-evaluation’ and ‘figuring out what you want from a partner’ parts stood out the most to me, and I’m definitely going to take the time to write and reflect on these areas. Thank you so much!” — D.
“This was supermegaawesome good! I like the way it flows and sounds natural… Like you’re whispering good advice in my ear! And also I was walking my dog while listening to this and 3 or 4 times I just burst out laughing at some of the things you said; a lot of strange looks! Please keep this up, they’re all super good and I really do owe a lot to you!” — V.
Love & Sequins #4: A GUIDE TO MANNERS FOR THE MODERN MINX — Etiquette, social graces & charming the pants off total strangers for the uninitiated!
“i just listened to this & it’s SO helpful, you have no idea. thank you, thank you, thank you! i’ve always been pretty socially awkward & it’s only gotten worse the past year or two & i’ve really been wanting to change that, but never knew where/how to start… i’m sure i’ll listen to it many more times :] & absolutely do the homework.” — M.
“Gala, you have truly hit the spot once more! I sat there nodding to myself, smiling with recognition, laughing out loud and thinking WOW this girl inspires me to change the world too as I listened to the 4th Love&Sequins. Thank you so much wonderful!” — A.
Love & Sequins #5: FINDING HAPPINESS & MAKING IT STAY — Choosing joy, making magic & devoting your life to love, adventure & deliciousness!
“Thank you Gala for this one. It is your best yet and came at a perfect moment as the universe so decided. Starting today I will be happier, stronger person, set my goals and achieve them. I will be happy because I can be and I am going to take responsibility for myself and my emotions and not blame it on anyone else. Thank you a million…think you gave me the push I needed to achieve my goal and be happy in the mean time. Thanks again! Stay magical stay wonderful stay powerful and never stop moving forward!!” — S.
“I can honestly say this is the best $12 you will ever spend. I’ve been seeing a psychologist for the past 6 months… What Gala has produced is that 6 months of therapy all wrapped up into an hour long podcast. Her advice about choosing how you react to situations is the most helpful life advice you may ever receive.” — K.
Love & Sequins #6: DAINTIER, SMARTER, BETTER DRESSED — A deluxe guide to looking truly fabulous, defining your personal style & being the best-dressed girl at any party!
“thanks again!! What lovely, positive inspiration for everybody! I’m stoked for my wardrobe challenge, and excited to put together new outfits and think a little outside the box. you are officially my new hero!!” — B.
“This months’ Love and Sequins was my favorite so far. It is clearly a subject that you feel very passionate about, and that really came across in the podcast… This podcast really inspired me, and even while I was listening to it, I had a pad of paper next to me and was jotting down outfit ideas and sketching possible combinations.” — V.
Pick ‘em all up with either of these options!
“I’m so glad I paid for all them upfront. Now every month I get a delicious chapter to inspire and thrill me. It’s one of my favourite pick-me-ups.” — L.
As always, I appreciate your support, encouragement & excitement so much! Thank you for coming along with me on this amazing journey!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [31] Tags: consumption,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins MP3s
[ 2 November 2009, 17:07 ]
Hello my darlings!
This is a bit of a boring administrative post, so sorry in advance! (I picked a rad picture though, so even if it doesn’t apply to you, you have something good to look at!)
I have been having some issues with my server & the hosting of the MP3s for Love & Sequins. We’ve been looking at it for ages & can’t seem to figure out what the problem is, which is super-frustrating for everyone involved!
However! I’ve just uploaded all the MP3s elsewhere, so if you’ve had trouble wrapping your ears around yours, just forward me your Paypal receipt & I’ll send you an alternative download link!
Sorry for all the inconvenience, but hope this will bring a big grin to your face!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [16] Tags: consumption,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins #6 Is Live!
[ 30 October 2009, 16:52 ]
Hooray! Today I sealed my latest Love & Sequins chapter with a kiss & sent it off around the globe!
For those of you who don’t know, or are new (welcome!), Love & Sequins is my monthly podcast series. It’s a book which is all about becoming a love letter to the universe, & you get a chapter sent to your inbox every month! As well as the text (which is at least 10,000 words each time), you also get an MP3 of me reading it aloud to you!
Love & Sequins #6 is called DAINTIER, SMARTER, BETTER DRESSED — A deluxe guide to looking truly fabulous, defining your personal style & being the best-dressed girl at any party!
This is the biggest chapter so far — I actually found it really hard to stop myself writing! (I still have so much I want to say, & think Chapter 7 will be a continuation of this subject.) Love & Sequins #6 weighs in at a MAJOR 20,630 words! It is a veritable style & aesthetic bonanza, loaded with pictures & more ideas than you can shake a stick at. It is super-delicious & a feast for the brain!
Oh, & did I mention that the MP3 runs for an hour & a half?!
It is absolutely perfect for anyone going through a wardrobe crisis, wanting to wear more colour, in the throes of concocting a new style direction or just wanting to get to grips with their aesthetic! You’ll learn how to construct your very own style bible, where to find inspiration & what to do with it once you have it, the story of my personal aesthetic evolution & how to put looks together for maximum impact!
I also included (& made some little additions to, & recorded!) some articles from the iCiNG archive which are totally useful & relevant — but even without those, there are over 12,000 words of brand-spanking new original content!
So how does it work? You can pick up this chapter for $12, you can subscribe monthly for $10 (& will be sent all the back-issues) or you can snap them all up in one fell swoop for $84 (this brings the price down to $7 an issue). You buy them through Paypal, which means you don’t even need a credit card. Boom! You’re WELCOME!
Of course, before this chapter, there were five others! Here’s the low-down on each of them, with some reviews to let you know what you’re in for!
Love & Sequins #1: LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF — Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
“This podcast has been tremendously helpful. It has indeed resonated deeply in all of the tiny crevices of my being where I’ve been hiding my hopes and dreams and instead allowing myself to be swallowed by fear and doubt. I couldn’t agree more that we all know that self-confidence and self-love are the root of success, of living the positive inspired lives we all dream about. And yet, until now it escaped me that I could practice at being confident. That I could slowly develop these skills over time. I had a huge a-ha moment – of course it won’t happen overnight! Of course it’s about making small changes, adjusting my mindset and perceptions in the moment… Thank you for letting your own light shine as it has given me permission and inspiration to do the same. I’m deeply grateful.” — L.
“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.” — S.
Love & Sequins #2: THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
“Thank you so much for your inspiration. it really gave me the kick up the bum that I needed. I was always afraid to take a creative income path, for fear that my talent was lacking. I still have these insecurities, but I realise that right now, while I’m young, enthusiastic and motivated is the very best time to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll try something different. if it is a success, then maybe it will give me the confidence to try some other more innovative ideas.” — V.
“I am writing to you in regard to a project that I started as a result of your lovely site. I guess you could call me one of your inspired non-pareils. Wikifashion began as an idea around one year ago and I never really had the “chutzpah” to give it a go until I purchased your podcast on “being your own boss”. I fell asleep listening to that podcast every night for a week, taking it all in and furiously scribbling down notes. It was so groundbreaking for me and every word that you spoke really resonated with me. Thank you for inspiration and words of wisdom.” — M.
Love & Sequins #3: LOVE, SEX, THE GALAXY & EVERYTHING — From falling in love to co-habitation, & all the beauty & madness contained within!
“Gala, I loved this one! I listened to it as soon as you sent it. I’ve always been kind of a cynic when it comes to love, but I think I’m ready to let my guard down and take the plunge. The ‘love self-evaluation’ and ‘figuring out what you want from a partner’ parts stood out the most to me, and I’m definitely going to take the time to write and reflect on these areas. Thank you so much!” — D.
“This was supermegaawesome good! I like the way it flows and sounds natural… Like you’re whispering good advice in my ear! And also I was walking my dog while listening to this and 3 or 4 times I just burst out laughing at some of the things you said; a lot of strange looks! Please keep this up, they’re all super good and I really do owe a lot to you!” — V.
Love & Sequins #4: A GUIDE TO MANNERS FOR THE MODERN MINX — Etiquette, social graces & charming the pants off total strangers for the uninitiated!
“i just listened to this & it’s SO helpful, you have no idea. thank you, thank you, thank you! i’ve always been pretty socially awkward & it’s only gotten worse the past year or two & i’ve really been wanting to change that, but never knew where/how to start… i’m sure i’ll listen to it many more times :] & absolutely do the homework.” — M.
“Gala, you have truly hit the spot once more! I sat there nodding to myself, smiling with recognition, laughing out loud and thinking WOW this girl inspires me to change the world too as I listened to the 4th Love&Sequins. Thank you so much wonderful!” — A.
Love & Sequins #5: FINDING HAPPINESS & MAKING IT STAY — Choosing joy, making magic & devoting your life to love, adventure & deliciousness!
“Thank you Gala for this one. It is your best yet and came at a perfect moment as the universe so decided. Starting today I will be happier, stronger person, set my goals and achieve them. I will be happy because I can be and I am going to take responsibility for myself and my emotions and not blame it on anyone else. Thank you a million…think you gave me the push I needed to achieve my goal and be happy in the mean time. Thanks again! Stay magical stay wonderful stay powerful and never stop moving forward!!” — S.
“I can honestly say this is the best $12 you will ever spend. I’ve been seeing a psychologist for the past 6 months… What Gala has produced is that 6 months of therapy all wrapped up into an hour long podcast. Her advice about choosing how you react to situations is the most helpful life advice you may ever receive.” — K.
As always my beautiful, thank you so much for your support & encouragement!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [47] Tags: consumption,
how to,
inspiration,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins #5 Is Live!
[ 18 September 2009, 20:07 ]
Ooh la la! It has arrived! This morning I put the sparkling finishing touches on the most recent instalment of Love & Sequins, my personal guidebook to being a love letter to the universe!
Digital copies of it are whizzing all over the world as we speak, arriving with a puff of glitter into the inboxes of international playgirls, continental sweethearts & psychedelic disco ghouls across the planet!
Love & Sequins #5: FINDING HAPPINESS & MAKING IT STAY — Choosing joy, making magic & devoting your life to love, adventure & deliciousness!
In it, I talk about filling your life with enchantment, how our words create our world, surrounding yourself with incredible people, rising above your critics (boo hiss!), dismantling troublesome patterns, how to really make yourself happy & a bouquet of breathtaking mantras to literally transform your life! (No kidding!)
Clocking in at over 11,400 words (!!!), it is the most comprehensive chapter of Love & Sequins so far! In a delicious new format with yummy pictures & good-lookin’ formatting, it’s definitely the most enjoyable, useful & fabulous instalment yet!
I’m extremely excited about it, I think the content is super-practical & inspiring! It’s perfect for anyone who finds their moods sometimes get the better of them, if you’ve been wallowing in a case of the doldrums or if you just want to bring more happiness into your life!
The timing is ideal too for those of you sliding into winter or poking your heads out into the spring sunshine!
You can snap it up for $12! Otherwise you can subscribe monthly for $10 (& you’ll get the back issues you missed), or you can buy them all at once for $7 each!
The back issues are pretty wonderful, too! You can pick ‘em up here!
Love & Sequins #1: LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF — Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
“This podcast has been tremendously helpful. It has indeed resonated deeply in all of the tiny crevices of my being where I’ve been hiding my hopes and dreams and instead allowing myself to be swallowed by fear and doubt. I couldn’t agree more that we all know that self-confidence and self-love are the root of success, of living the positive inspired lives we all dream about. And yet, until now it escaped me that I could practice at being confident. That I could slowly develop these skills over time. I had a huge a-ha moment – of course it won’t happen overnight! Of course it’s about making small changes, adjusting my mindset and perceptions in the moment… Thank you for letting your own light shine as it has given me permission and inspiration to do the same. I’m deeply grateful.” — L.
“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.” — S.
Love & Sequins #2: THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
“Thank you so much for your inspiration. it really gave me the kick up the bum that I needed. I was always afraid to take a creative income path, for fear that my talent was lacking. I still have these insecurities, but I realise that right now, while I’m young, enthusiastic and motivated is the very best time to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll try something different. if it is a success, then maybe it will give me the confidence to try some other more innovative ideas.” — V.
“I am writing to you in regard to a project that I started as a result of your lovely site. I guess you could call me one of your inspired non-pareils. Wikifashion began as an idea around one year ago and I never really had the “chutzpah” to give it a go until I purchased your podcast on “being your own boss”. I fell asleep listening to that podcast every night for a week, taking it all in and furiously scribbling down notes. It was so groundbreaking for me and every word that you spoke really resonated with me. Thank you for inspiration and words of wisdom.” — M.
Love & Sequins #3: LOVE, SEX, THE GALAXY & EVERYTHING — From falling in love to co-habitation, & all the beauty & madness contained within!
“Gala, I loved this one! I listened to it as soon as you sent it. I’ve always been kind of a cynic when it comes to love, but I think I’m ready to let my guard down and take the plunge. The ‘love self-evaluation’ and ‘figuring out what you want from a partner’ parts stood out the most to me, and I’m definitely going to take the time to write and reflect on these areas. Thank you so much!” — D.
“This was supermegaawesome good! I like the way it flows and sounds natural… Like you’re whispering good advice in my ear! And also I was walking my dog while listening to this and 3 or 4 times I just burst out laughing at some of the things you said; a lot of strange looks! Please keep this up, they’re all super good and I really do owe a lot to you!” — V.
Love & Sequins #4: A GUIDE TO MANNERS FOR THE MODERN MINX — Etiquette, social graces & charming the pants off total strangers for the uninitiated!
“i just listened to this & it’s SO helpful, you have no idea. thank you, thank you, thank you! i’ve always been pretty socially awkward & it’s only gotten worse the past year or two & i’ve really been wanting to change that, but never knew where/how to start… i’m sure i’ll listen to it many more times :] & absolutely do the homework.” — M.
“Gala, you have truly hit the spot once more! I sat there nodding to myself, smiling with recognition, laughing out loud and thinking WOW this girl inspires me to change the world too as I listened to the 4th Love&Sequins. Thank you so much wonderful!” — A.
As always, sugarpuff, huge thanks to you for supporting me in this endeavour, being so encouraging & always inspiring me to be bigger & better!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins #4 Is Live!
[ 14 August 2009, 14:48 ]
Hooray! I am so excited to announce the fourth installment in my monthly series, Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen!
Offered up for your reading & listening pleasure is A GUIDE TO MANNERS FOR THE MODERN MINX — Etiquette, social graces & charming the pants off total strangers for the uninitiated!
What started as a simple piece on manners has blossomed into 10,000 words on meeting people, the art of conversation, getting people to like you, table manners, making an incredible first impression, how to influence people, intercultural competence, proper dinner behaviour, improving your language, & a whole lot of ways to crank up your personal charisma! Essentially, the whole thing is about how to turn on the charm in every possible scenario.
So many of us have grown up either without having been taught manners at all, or purposefully ignoring what we were told as children — but unfortunately, as we grow up & into the world, we’re faced with the shocking reality that what we used to be able to get away with is no longer acceptable!
This is a charm school crash course, covering personal magnetism, grace & being delightful for lost girls & moguls-in-training.
I’m so proud of it, & there are absolute stacks of real, able-to-be-applied-straight-away advice, so I know you’ll totally love it! I learned more than I could have ever imagined just from writing it!
Single issues are $12 each. Alternatively you can subscribe monthly for $10 (& I’ll send you the ones you’ve missed!), or buy the whole lot at $7 a pop!
...& if you missed out on any of the previous episodes, you can grab them here!
Love & Sequins #1: LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF: Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
“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?” — K.
“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 doesn’t sound bad at all!” — J.
Love & Sequins #2: THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
“Thankyou so much for your inspiration. it really gave me the kick up the bum that I needed. I was always afraid to take a creative income path, for fear that my talent was lacking. I still have these insecurities, but I realise that right now, while I’m young, enthusiastic and motivated is the very best time to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll try something different. if it is a success, then maybe it will give me the confidence to try some other more innovative ideas.” — V.
“I finally developed the balls to register as self-employed this week and quite by chance have been offered my first self-employed gig. I teach adults, literacy and numeracy. So this time around I’ll be teaching young adults with learning difficulities, the basic literacy they’ll need to get them by in life generally and in work. But it has made me realise that anything is possible… I’m planning to keep on some employed work to pay the bills. But I’m planning to expand into online tutoring, proofreading and writing. I intend to be completely self-employed eventually. So thanks. Wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for that podcast. They’re worth their weight in gold.” — A.
Love & Sequins #3: LOVE, SEX, THE GALAXY & EVERYTHING — From falling in love to co-habitation, & all the beauty & madness contained within!
“Gala, I loved this one! I listened to it as soon as you sent it. I’ve always been kind of a cynic when it comes to love, but I think I’m ready to let my guard down and take the plunge. The ‘love self-evaluation’ and ‘figuring out what you want from a partner’ parts stood out the most to me, and I’m definitely going to take the time to write and reflect on these areas. Thank you so much!” — D.
“This was supermegaawesome good! I really like the way it’s all starting to sounds more natural… But I like the way it sort of flows and sounds more natural… Like you’re whispering good advice in my ear! And also I was walking my dog while listening to this and 3 or 4 times I just burst out laughing at some of the things you said; a lot of strange looks! Please keep this up, they’re all super good and I really do owe a lot to you!” — V.
As ALWAYS, thank you so much for your support! I couldn’t do it without you! MWAH!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins Sale Extension!
[ 10 July 2009, 10:29 ]
Photos by Tim Walker.
Hello bubble!
This is just a quick note to say that because of the EXTREME success of the Love & Sequins sale (I was literally tethered to my computer all day yesterday, sending them out!), I am extending the sale for another couple of hours! So if you were unable to get the cash together by 8.30 this morning, you have a little bit longer!
Click here to purchase!
If you need a couple of days to organise your finances, flick me an email to let me know & I will give you some additional grace time! Who loves you baby?!
& finally, if you ordered your Love & Sequins installments last night but have yet to receive them, I just got home from a Dishy slumber party so you will receive them soon!
Once again, thank you so much for your all support. It means a lot to me that you are so enthusiastic about my project & feel that my words are worthy of your hard-earned dosh! It’s really amazing to me & I feel so blessed. Thank you from the very sparkly bottom of my heart! I love you!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [23] Tags: consumption,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins One-Day SALE!
[ 9 July 2009, 07:30 ]
Say what?! OUI, it is true! Today ONLY, I’m having an enormous (& fabulous!) sale on the Love & Sequins series!
Love & Sequins is my handbook on being a love letter to the universe, delivered in scrumptious, sensational monthly installments. As well as receiving the text (at 10,000 words every month, it’s a good read!), I also read each chapter aloud & send it to you as an MP3 — perfect for listening to on the bus or when you’re all tucked into bed at night!
It’s a rad way to invest in yourself, or even your best friend (just email me about it!)... if I do say so myself!
HEY BIG-SPENDER! A year-long subscription to Love & Sequins bought all at once is usually $84, making it $7 a month. If you buy TODAY, I’ll knock the price down to $60 — only $5 a month! Incroyable! That’s a saving of $24, effectively giving you three (& a half!) chapters for NOTHIN’!
LITTLE BITES OF DELICIOUSNESS! If you’re more of a pick-&-choose kinda kid, today ONLY, individual chapters are a mere $9 each! Less than the price of a pack of cigarettes in New York City & much, much better for you! You’ll save $4 on each one — aaaaaaaamazing! — & you can pick up the installments you missed for a fab price!
Love & Sequins #1: LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF: Self-adoration, manifesting your ideal persona, channelling your inner Marie Antoinette & everything in between!
“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?” — K.
“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!” — J.
Love & Sequins #2: THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
“Thankyou so much for your inspiration. it really gave me the kick up the bum that I needed. I was always afraid to take a creative income path, for fear that my talent was lacking. I still have these insecurities, but I realise that right now, while I’m young, enthusiastic and motivated is the very best time to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll try something different. if it is a success, then maybe it will give me the confidence to try some other more innovative ideas.” — V.
“I finally developed the balls to register as self-employed this week and quite by chance have been offered my first self-employed gig. I teach adults, literacy and numeracy. So this time around I’ll be teaching young adults with learning difficulities, the basic literacy they’ll need to get them by in life generally and in work. But it has made me realise that anything is possible… I’m planning to keep on some employed work to pay the bills. But I’m planning to expand into online tutoring, proofreading and writing. I intend to be completely self-employed eventually. So thanks. Wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for that podcast. They’re worth their weight in gold.” — A.
Love & Sequins #3: LOVE, SEX, THE GALAXY & EVERYTHING — From falling in love to co-habitation, & all the beauty & madness contained within!
“Gala, I loved this one! I listened to it as soon as you sent it. I’ve always been kind of a cynic when it comes to love, but I think I’m ready to let my guard down and take the plunge. The ‘love self-evaluation’ and ‘figuring out what you want from a partner’ parts stood out the most to me, and I’m definitely going to take the time to write and reflect on these areas. Thank you so much!” — D.
“This was supermegaawesome good! I really like the way it’s all starting to sounds more natural… But I like the way it sort of flows and sounds more natural… Like you’re whispering good advice in my ear! And also I was walking my dog while listening to this and 3 or 4 times I just burst out laughing at some of the things you said; a lot of strange looks! Please keep this up, they’re all super good and I really do owe a lot to you!” — V.
You get the message right?!
TODAY ONLY!
P.S. LINKS HAVE BEEN REMOVED BECAUSE THE SALE IS OVER! Mwah! Thanks so much for your support!
Okay, now back to your regularly-scheduled programming!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins #2 Is Live!
[ 1 June 2009, 08:20 ]
Hooray!
The second chapter of Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen was sealed with a kiss first thing this morning, & is ready to be devoured by you! (For those of you who are new to iCiNG, Love & Sequins is the bare bones of my new big project, a delicious book about blowing kisses to the universe!)
The title is THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO BUSINESS — Taking control of your life, finding your passion, loving what you do & making mad bling!
Written in New York City & recorded in Toronto, it weighs in at over 12,000 words, & the MP3 is an hour & a bit. I talk at length about my experiences as an independent business owner, discovering what you love to do, how to escape the corporate world, the lessons I’ve learned, what it’s like to make a living as a “blogger”, what it takes to be successful & much more!
This chapter of Love & Sequins is split into two parts. As a super-special treat, this chapter includes a half-hour long interview between the infamous, creative, prolific & extremely successful Molly Crabapple & I, recorded last month at International Playgirl HQ! We discuss starting your own business, being self-sufficient, how to manage your money, online personalities, the new professionalism & following your passion even when times get tough! It’s cute & hilarious, by turns serious & frivolous, & if you close your eyes you can pretend you’re sitting on my bed with us. There are even cabs blaring their horns outside, essential to the authentic New York City experience!
I’m so passionate about this topic, because since starting my business it is all I have really been interested in! I have so much to say about it, I could write an entire book on the subject — maybe one day I will!
You can purchase this podcast for $12, subscribe for a year & be billed monthly at $10, or pay for it all at once for $84 (a super-saving at $7 a month).
Once I receive notification that you’ve snapped it up, I’ll send you an email which has the complete chapter as well as a link to the MP3!
If after listening to #2 you want to go back & hear the first chapter, you can pick it up here!
As always, thanks for your support & enthusiasm! It means so much to me.
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [41] Tags: consumption,
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productivity Add Gala on Twitter!Love & Sequins #1 Is Live!
[ 2 May 2009, 07:29 ]
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,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Gala Darling Loves Bridget Marquardt!
[ 22 April 2009, 12:55 ]
I find Hugh Hefner totally fascinating. One of the most well-known figures in publishing, he has an enormous empire & built it from nothing. What is most interesting to a lot of us, though, is his lifestyle. A self-proclaimed man about town, he is known for bedding some of the world’s most desirable women — & at 83, is still surrounded by beautiful women at all times of the day.
When I was back in New Zealand last year, staying with my parents — who have cable television — I became totally infatuated with The Girls Next Door, a reality show based around life at the Playboy mansion & more specifically, Hef’s three live-in girlfriends. When I was done working for the day, my mother & I would congregate on the couch & watch a few episodes of The Girls Next Door. While at first I watched it out of morbid curiousity, the more I got into it the more I enjoyed it. It’s really a very fun show — Hef, Holly, Kendra & Bridget are all very personable & their lifestyle is pretty inspiring & very fun in all its extravagance.
However, times change, & late last year, news broke that all three of the girlfriends had moved out of the house & onto new things. Holly — Hef’s #1 girlfriend — had shacked up with Criss Angel (the gothic David Copperfield), Kendra was engaged to an NFL player, & Bridget had a new television show to work on: Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches.
I was recently extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to interview Bridget about her show & the changes she’s made in her life. I was really interested to hear about how the transition had been, from being one of Hef’s girlfriends living in the lap of luxury, to branching out as a single girl, on her own, carving out her own path.
We spoke on the phone & I instantly loved her. Bridget is so sweet, funny, uplifting & positive — & not a bimbo at all! You can download our interview below, but I also transcribed it so you can read it at work! I hope you enjoy it!
I also wanted to say a huge thank you to Bridget, the Travel Channel & Ingrid of Room 214 for making this all happen. Big kisses!
Gala Darling loves Bridget Marquardt (MP3)
(Right-click to download — for some reason the whole thing won’t load in Firefox!)
Gala: I’m sure it must have been a really magical time for you, living in the mansion & everything, & I’m sure it was a really strange adjustment & there was a big leap of faith when you left your previous life behind, so what I really wanted to know was what’s the most exciting thing that’s happened to you so far as a consequence of having branched out on your own?
Bridget: Well, definitely doing this Travel Channel show & having this opportunity with them, not only has it been the coolest opportunity but made it possible for me to branch out on my own. I’ve been at the mansion for 7 years, & when this opportunity came up & everybody was supportive & I knew it was going to be a go, I knew that that was kind of the beginning of the end for me & my life at the mansion. Nothing to do with my feelings towards Hef or any of the other girls, but I just knew that it was… I was looking for an opportunity that would branch me out on my own, & so this has been the most exciting thing to come along. & honestly, I have given 110% to it, & I haven’t been doing anything since because my whole life has been devoted to travelling around the last 7 months, even prior to moving out of the mansion, coming home between trips & packing really quick, putting everything in storage & continuing to travel, so it’s really all I’ve been doing for the last 7 months & since I’ve been out of the mansion.
Gala: Wow, okay. So what’s been the most challenging part of the transition that you’ve made?
Bridget: You know what, I feel like I haven’t even made the transition yet. (Static!!!) So that’s been the most challenging part, just trying to get all my stuff packed up & into storage! Other than that, I haven’t even really realised that I’ve moved out, because I’m homeless still, um, in a funny way, because I’ve been travelling so much that I haven’t had to find a house yet. I’ve been looking! Even before I left the mansion I was looking for like a condo or a cute little house in the Valley or something but I’ve been travelling so much I haven’t really had a chance to look, when I’m at home, just online, so I’ve been living hotel to hotel, or if there’s a few days open when I’m in L.A. I stay at a friend’s house, so it hasn’t really occured to me that I’m not living at the mansion any more. That’s still my physical address, I still go there & get all my mail & say hi to Mary & the butlers & the security & everyone, & I feel like they’re my big extended family, so the adjustment & the transition hasn’t really hit me yet. I don’t have another place that I call home yet.
Gala: Right. So how is it going living out of suitcases? Doesn’t that drive you crazy?! It drives me totally crazy.
Bridget: Really? I love it! I love staying in hotels, & I mean… re-packing the suitcases gets a little bit old & lugging them around everywhere gets a little bit hard, & I feel like I’ve been wearing the same clothes over & over again, just re-washing & packing the same stuff, ‘cause most of my stuff’s in storage for like the last four or five months now, but other than that I really like it! I’ve been buying a few new things along the way & taking from wardrobe!
Gala: So given that you’ve left the mansion — well, you know, theoretically left the mansion — what has your perception of the fan response been to that? Has there been an outpouring of support, have people been asking you a lot of questions… How has that been for you?
Bridget: Everyone’s been really supportive, the fanbase about Girls Next Door is sad that that whole — they feel like it’s the end of an era, & are really sad about that — but as far as the most part, I’ve been really supported & encouraged. People are really happy for me, that I have this opportunity & they’ve been supportive of the show, & a lot of the Girls Next Door fans are watching it & happy for it, & it’s been funny because everywhere I used to go… I mean, Girls Next Door is syndicated in 170 countries or something ridiculous like that, everywhere I go I’m recognised, even in Thailand & Australia & just everywhere, even Costa Rica, especially Costa Rica! In fact, Costa Rica, every time I was in my hotel room, Girls Next Door was on! It was weird, like they run marathons of it constantly! & everyone used to know me as the girl from the mansion, one of the Playboy girls, a girl next door, whatever, but now I’m finding that everywhere I go people are coming up to me going, “Oh are you doing that beaches show?! I’m so excited for your beaches show! I love your beaches show!” Even when I got to — I’m staying at the Beverly Wilshire right now for the upfronts today, & when I walked into the hotel this guy in a business suit & everything goes, “Bridget, Bridget!” & I turned around & thought, ‘What, what?!’ to the lady who was escorting me to my room, & he goes, “Oh my god, I just wanted to let you know — BIG fan of your new Beaches show, big fan, wasn’t a big fan of Girls Next Door, wasn’t really my thing, but I love your Beaches show.” & people are starting to come up to me, not even bringing up Girls Next Door or the mansion or any of that, & just saying, “Are you shooting your Beaches show? I love your Beaches show! I love your Travel Channel show!”, & now I feel like I’m starting to get to be known for the Beaches show & the Travel Channel & not just Playboy, Girls Next Door, which is really exciting for me because it’s more personal & individual.
Gala: Yeah, that’s really cool, & I think that’s a really positive indication that obviously people are ready for you to make that transition & they’re accepting it & you’re really going to make a name for yourself, which is really great.
Bridget: Yeah, I’m hoping that, I’m pushing it that way, I’m giving it all I’ve got & it’s really exciting for me. I think part of the reason too is from the start of Girls Next Door, I always said that this is what I wanted to do, right from the very beginning, even before we started Girls Next Door I was taking classes in — I have a Masters degree in Communications — & then I was taking broadcast journalism classes at UCLA, through the extension program, & when Girls Next Door started, & press or whoever would ask, “So where do you see yourself in five years? Where do you want this to lead?”, I would always say, “I really want to host my own show, something travel-related or something spooky-related, & they’d be like, “Oh, cool, whatever”, you know, but here I am, it’s not even 5 years later & I’m doing it! & I put that out there kind of during the whole show, any time we’d do interviews, & they’d be like, “Where do you want to go? What are your ambitions? Tell us about school, why was it upsetting for you to miss that test?”, that kind of thing, during Girls Next Door interviews, I’d always talk about how career was so important to me & school is so important to me & how I really wanted to host my own show. So I feel like this was kind of a good arc for me, because the fans kind of went through all of that with me, & now they actually see it come to fruition.
Gala: Well that’s very cool & very inspiring, because it reminds people that they can actually live out their dreams & do what they really want to do.
Bridget: Oh that’s the number one thing I tell people — I don’t get a chance to go & speak very often but I did get to go speak at the University of Pittsburgh, & I just told them that education is so important, because it allows you to be able to follow your dreams, even if what you went to school for isn’t exactly what you want to do or what you end up doing, you always have that to fall back on, it’s something nobody can take away from you. So just follow your dreams! Get your education & just follow your dreams!
Gala: Yeah, definitely. So I know you had a regular spot, was it on Sirius FM?
Bridget: Yeah! It was Sirius radio, 198, I had a live radio show every Friday, a morning show, I had so much fun. I really enjoy doing radio, but due to my schedule now I’m not able to do it any more. But they still talk to me & they were like, “Any time you want to come back, like when your schedule frees up, when you want to come back, want to do a show, we’d love to have you, you can talk about anything you want, we’d just love to have you back!” So I mean it was about the lifestyle & what was going on at the mansion all week, even what we were serving for dinners, & what movies we were watching, & that kind of thing, but if I went back we could come up with a whole new format, which would be kind of fun.
Gala: That’s awesome. Okay, so tell me how Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches came about. Was it your idea? Or was it a whole lot of crazy late-night planning sessions with a bunch of people…? How did that come to fruition?
Bridget: You know I wish it was totally my idea, it was my ideal job to begin with & like I said, I was putting it out there from the very beginning. But I didn’t really have any way of making that come true other than just going to school & trying out different opportunities, but what happened was the executive producer of Girls Next Door, Kevin Burns, was doing some other shows for the Travel Channel — they weren’t hosted shows, they were just like Food Paradise kind of things, & then they came to him & said, “We really want to do a show about amazing beaches all over the world, & we want somebody kind of sexy to host it” — they were thinking maybe a Playmate or something — & Kevin was like, “Well, what about Bridget? She’d be perfect & that’s really what she wants to do.” & they were kind of like, “Well, what about Girls Next Door? Can we get her?”, & he was like, “Well, I kind of have a pull with Girls Next Door!”, you know, because he’s the executive producer for it, so he set up the initial meetings, & we met, & we hit it off great, it was with Michael Klein & Charlie Parsons & I thought they were great. & before they even left the mansion I was already emailing them my ideas of places I thought we should go & things I thought we should do, & later they said that that’s when they knew they had the right person, that I was emailing them all my ideas before they even walked out the door!
Gala: Yeah, that’s fantastic! So have you just finished filming the first season?
Bridget: We aren’t completely done yet. There’s 13 episodes, 12 original locations. We’ve completed 11 of them, & on Monday I leave for Morocco, which will be the final original location, then I come back & in-studio the 13th episode, which will be the best of.
Gala: Wow, okay, so have you been to 12 different countries for each thing, or… ?
Bridget: Well, not entirely different countries but 12 different areas or regions. We did Southern California was our first one, then we went to Spain & Croatia, & then Turks Caicos & Jamaica, Australia & Thailand, Florida & Mexico, Hawaii, & I just got back from Costa Rica the other night. & on Monday I leave for Morocco. & I think that’s probably all 11 of them.
Gala: Okay, so my final question is as an amazing, independent woman, what would be your advice to other women who are recently single & wanting to strike out & do their own thing? What would you say to them?
Bridget: Oh… That the sky’s the limit, & you just have to set your mind to it. I mean, know what you want & love what you do, like think of what you would enjoy doing every single day, that it wouldn’t necessarily feel like work. I mean, any time you do something that’s in your career, there’s times where it’s going to be stressful or it’s going to be work, but if there’s something that you love so much, that every day doesn’t feel like work, & follow your dreams! The sky really is the limit. & if it means going & taking a few classes, or doing a few things for free, or at a low end to get your foot in the door, just go for it! Do it!
Gala: That’s fantastic advice. Alright, well thank you so much for your time!
Bridget: You’re welcome! Thank you!
Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches airs on Thursdays at 10pm EST on the Travel Channel. If you’ve never seen it before, you can get sneak peeks on Youtube!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Announcing... Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen!
[ 23 March 2009, 04:41 ]
If I could embed a marching band right here, I would. This is a GRAND ANNOUNCEMENT! I have been squirming in my seat for ages waiting to tell you about this, & finally, it’s time! This is the biggest thing I’ve done since the launch of iCiNG itself, & I’m so amped!
I’d like to introduce you to my new baby, Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen, a super-deluxe addition to the daily iCiNG we all know & love. It’s a monthly exploration & adventure delivered in podcast format, perfect for hunkering down to in your favourite place with a pair of beloved headphones.
I’m so excited about putting this together, & I can’t wait to share it with you! So what can you expect? Every month for the next 12 months I’ll be exploring various topics in lots of depth — an entire HOUR of my ridiculous accent each month! It’s a delicious mash-up of the best of my archived material, plus huge helpings of new, never-before-seen treasures. Some of you know this already, & some of you don’t, but my Next Big Thing™ is a book — a definitive guide to living the iCiNG way. This is your chance to get the mega-early scoop, because an enormous portion of what will be covered is material written specifically for that. Yum yum!
I’ve been writing feature-length articles for iCiNG for over two years now, but I want to start getting more in-depth. This is my opportunity to do that — to go deeper & expand more — & I have so much to say!
What will I be talking about? Love! Style! Music! Creating your dream life! Sex! Travel! Entrepreneurship! Fashion! Metro-spirituality! Relationships! You’ll learn an arsenal of secrets to keeping a relationship fabulous, be given tips on how to start your own business, & find out how to be a better lover. We’ll discover your passions & create a grand, glorious plan for living your dreams, as well as talking about fun things like money, shoes, & travel. I’ll let you in on the personal exercises I use for visualisation, staying motivated & learning how to use astrology in your daily life. I’ll be interviewing amazing people & sharing my most exciting discoveries. It’s a combination of my all-time sweetest tips & tricks — like how to look picture perfect all the time, dealing with unrequited love, & escaping the world without going anywhere — with all the trimmings. Who loves ya, baby?! 
Recorded live in a handful of my favourite cities, like New York, Austin, Los Angeles & Las Vegas (yay!), each month we’ll cover a mix of subjects. & just like iCiNG, it will always be inspiring & invigorating with a view to helping spark up your love of life!
With Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen we’ll be moving together into the fabulous fast-lane of hyper-love & miracle-making — but of course, it’s totally optional. Everything you love about iCiNG will stay the same — & free, like it’s always been!
Want a demo? Of course you do! Here’s a minute-long sampler with some assorted clips!
Enough teasing. Keen?! (Me toooooooo! I can’t wait to kick this off!) You can choose your own adventure because there are 3 ways of doing it.
Option One: $12
Pay as you go. Only buy what you want, when you want it. I’ll send you a reminder to let you know when the latest one has been released, & you can pick it up as you go. Option one is $12 a pop.
Option Two: $10
Go for the one year subscription, but pay in instalments. You’ll be billed monthly at $10 — saving you $2 a month, or $24 for the full year.
Option Three: $7
Snap up the whole year for $84 (a whopping 12 hours of material!) & receive all of Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen. Your one-off payment will help me heaps in funding the project, & by way of saying a big sparkly thank you, the price drops to $7 a month. This saves you $5 a month, or $60 annually!
The first instalment of Love & Sequins: Making Magic Happen will be released in April — yes, next month! You’ll be emailed a top secret download link as soon as it’s completed. I’ve done my very best to price this as fairly as possible — $10 is about what you pay for a mixed drink in New York City, or two mixed drinks in Austin, Texas! Ha! It’s probably less than your favourite foreign fashion magazine, & even better, no ads or tree-killin’!
You can pay instantly via Paypal right here. Click click click!
I hope you’re as excited as I am. See you on the other side!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!The Constant Gardener: Podcast
[ 22 May 2008, 17:38 ]
Gala Darling – The Constant Gardener (MP3)
Click to listen now, or save it for later!
Enjoy the honking of taxis in the background! (Makes it more authentic, don’t you think?!)
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Raw Coaching With Karen Knowler -- Part Two
[ 24 April 2008, 20:00 ]
Karen Knowler coaches Gala Darling (MP3)
Last night was my second raw coaching call with Karen Knowler, & just like last time, it was spectacularly helpful & eye-opening.
Things had changed quite a bit since we last spoke. In our first phone call, I was in the so-called “raw honeymoon phase” — really excited about the changes that were happening in my body & mind, experiencing an elevated mood & loving the extra energy. But since then, I had been to New Zealand & fallen off the raw wagon in a big way, & was struggling to get back on.
Our call went for 45 minutes, & we covered a lot of ground, much of it centred around working out why my enthusiasm was low & how I could get it back on track. She gave me lots of “raw homework” to complete, which was all amazing.
If you’re going raw as part of the iTC, idly considering it, or are already mostly raw, I think you’ll gain huge benefits from listening to our call. It was really interesting to me to discuss all my feelings about going raw, & then after the call, sit & think about what we had discussed. Everything she said made perfect sense, & it gave me lots of perspective.
Karen is a raw Wonderwoman, with infinite tools at her disposal. She should have a cape, with a big cabbage sewn on the back of it! & a parade! I am truly indebted to her for making my raw transition so much easier, for giving me lots of things to think about, & for helping me see my change in diet in a more holistic way!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!Raw Coaching With Karen Knowler
[ 21 March 2008, 16:58 ]
Karen Knowler coaches Gala Darling (MP3)
On Thursday evening I had a raw coaching call with The Raw Food Coach, Karen Knowler.
I was introduced to her by the dazzlingly wonderful Dhrumil of We Like It Raw & Give It To Me Raw fame, & I can’t say thank you enough times! Mwah!
Our phone-call went for an hour & in it we discussed some problems I was having with the raw food transition. Mostly my issues were that I had cravings for old, familiar “cooked” foods that I found hard to shake, & I felt a bit stuck for variety in food (as I’m quite a picky eater).
I expected her to be useful but not THIS useful! The phone-call was a revelation — it was absolutely amazing. Sometimes when you’re having trouble with something, having someone else there to ask the right questions is all you need, & all of a sudden your problem starts to unravel & you realise the root cause of it. Well, Karen asked me some totally brilliant questions — & I came away from the phone-call with all of my problems solved!
It was one of the most interesting phone-calls I’ve ever had, for sure. I just love getting to the bottom of a problem & gaining a deeper understanding of why I do what I do! I think anyone interested in going raw (or who is currently making alterations to their diet) will find this a really useful thing to listen to, because many of the questions she asks me you will be able to ask yourself.
We’re going to do a follow-up call in about 3 weeks time, to chart my progress & see how I’ve applied the new information! That will also be made available for you to listen to.
So, I hope you enjoy the MP3 — let me know what you think!
Oh, & for those of you who are interested, Karen sends out a weekly newsletter on Fridays called Successfully Raw, with recipes & tips for staying raw. You also get 10 raw recipes free when you sign up. Woo! Just in time for Easter Sunday! :D
I’ll be writing more about my progress over the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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yum Add Gala on Twitter!Interview With Mike Dooley
[ 11 March 2008, 16:05 ]
Gala Darling – Interview With Mike Dooley (MP3)
Click to listen now, or save it for later!
Yesterday I was exceptionally fortunate to be able to interview Mike Dooley of Notes From The Universe fame! I met him at his hotel & we proceeded to sit down & natter about life, the universe & everything. I captured it all on my sparkly new dictaphone for your listening pleasure!
Additionally, I went to his lecture last night & it absolutely blew my socks off, & we’re about to head out to his all-day seminar. It’s like Mike Dooley mania up here in the iCiNG Bowl! If anyone in Melbourne has the urge to skip out on work & do something inspiring & fulfilling instead, come along to the seminar! Details here.
I hope you enjoy the interview… we had a lot of fun putting it together for you!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [20] Tags: inspiration,
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productivity Add Gala on Twitter!Being Happy Podcast
[ 7 March 2008, 18:34 ]
Gala Darling – Being Happy (MP3)
Click to listen, or save-as for fun in the future!
I had a request to turn yesterday’s article, Being Happy, into a podcast, so I hope you enjoy it!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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productivity Add Gala on Twitter!iCiNG Podcast Featuring Simon!
[ 23 February 2008, 06:14 ]
iCiNG Podcast Featuring Simon! (MP3)
Click the link to listen now, or right-click to save & listen later!
I have had a couple of requests for podcasts recently, so I enlisted my boyfriend to help me out. Here we respond to an email I received recently from a girl dealing with… well, being a teenager.
Hope you enjoy it!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [46] Tags: advice,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!How To Be The Life Of The Party (Podcast)
[ 8 September 2007, 20:55 ]
Gala Darling — How To Be The Life Of The Party (MP3)
Click the link to listen now, or right-click to save & listen later!
The concept of a party can be seriously polarising. Some people live for them, while others would prefer never to be invited to one again. For those who view festive occasions with a mixture of fear, anxiety & nausea, it can be very easy to shut yourself in the house & consider your social life cancelled until further notice. However, sometimes we just have to attend. It could be a party held by your best friend, a baby shower, or an engagement party — & generally, it is pretty bad form not to turn up to these events.
For anyone in the grips of Party Panic, try following my lead & you’ll see that parties aren’t really as bad as all that!
Dress
Dressing for a party is another one of those situations which is greatly improved by having a collection of daily outfit photos. Go through them, select a look you like, & then dress yourself — it couldn’t be much easier. If you’re not sure what the crowd will be like, or how everyone else is likely to be dressed, ask a friend who has also been invited. If you’re going alone or your friend/date is equally clueless, just wear something which makes you feel good about yourself.
Depending on the crowd & age group of the other attendees, unusual things could happen at the party. Try to dress in a way which prepares you for these eventualities. Will you be drinking or partaking of substances? Is a long walk on the cards? How about dancing? Are the other guests the sort of ruffians that are likely to spill or throw drinks? (If the answer to this question is yes, maybe it’s time for new friends!) You get the idea. You might also like to take cosmetics to freshen up (foundation, eyeliner, blotting papers), breath mints, cash & your cellphone.
Interaction
Talking to other people is usually the most terrifying part of a party. It can be really difficult to start a dialogue with someone you’ve never met before. Try to remember that about half of the guests are as scared as you, & everyone has their own neuroses & self-doubt anyway. People hide it in different ways — by getting really blasted, by being rude or snobby, by hiding in the corner, by trying to be the most obnoxious person in the room or by spending a lot of time in the kitchen. So, just know that you are not alone. The host is also probably quite petrified. All is not lost.
When you get there, find the person who invited you. Hopefully they will tell you a place to put your coat, explain where the bathroom is & get you a drink. If not, just ask! Engage them in conversation but be aware (especially if they are the host) that they probably have other people to attend to as well. If you’re still feeling shy, ask them who they would recommend you talk to next. They might have an idea of someone who you will hit it off with!
Even if you feel like your knees are knocking together so loudly that it is providing musical accompaniment for the room, if you see someone standing alone, go & talk to them! They will be grateful for the company & from there you have a ‘buddy’ to keep you occupied. Ask them questions — this is the secret to successful small talk. People love to talk about themselves as long as they feel like the other person is genuinely interested! Ask them their name, how their night is going, how long they have lived in (insert city here), what their passions are, what they want to be doing in five years time, who their favourite artists are, what they dressed up as last hallowe’en, if they collect anything, whether they have a celebrity crush, etc. Try to go naturally with the flow of the conversation, rather than just providing questions point-blank. If they have a clue, they will soon be asking you questions as well!
Don’t be afraid to be honest! If you’re still nervous about the party, it’s alright to say so! You never know, they might feel exactly the same way, & then you’ll have something in common, see?
If you have inadvertently been saddled with the world’s most banal person, don’t feel obligated to keep them company. Life is too short! Make your excuses (“I’m just going to dash to the bathroom” / “Hmm, I seem to have misplaced my bag” / “Oh, I think I’m going to be ill”) & escape! Go to another room if you feel uncomfortable having ditched The World’s Most Boring Man (or whomever).
I believe the secret to being charming is being positive, flirting a little bit with everyone & doing your best to stay away from tired topics like politics, work or online gaming. It’s really not that difficult.
Calling it a night
Do your very best not to outstay your welcome — though if you started the night with a heart full of trepidation & are now enjoying yourself so much you didn’t want to leave, congratulations! If the amount of guests has halved, it’s probably time to call a taxi (or your driver, darling). If the host is yawning & talking about how she is planning on going for a run at the crack o’ dawn, this is your (not so subtle) cue to toddle on home.
Offer to help your host clean up if you’re the type that enjoys that kind of thing. Otherwise, be sure to thank them profusely for having you before leaving.
If you’re pretty sure you’re not going to be able to hack it for long, remember that Anna Wintour is famously known as the world’s most efficient party guest. She never stays longer than 10 minutes — unless she’s the host. (She likes to be in bed by 10:00 — one assumes this is so she can wake up at 5.45am for her rousing daily tennis game!) Feel free to take a page from her book. Make an appearance, speak to the people you came to see, then depart. There is nothing wrong with doing this. Most people will think you are delightfully eccentric, & those who think otherwise are not worth bothering with!
Additional tips
If you don’t drink or are trying to stay sober, having a non-alcoholic drink in your hand will make you feel more like you fit in. No one has to know that you’re actually sipping lemonade or ginger ale! Often in social situations I feel like I need something to do with my hands — drinks serve this purpose, as do cigarettes, even if you’re not a smoker (don’t light it, just use it to gesticulate wildly).
Before you walk into the party, decide that you’re going to be open & let people in. If you go in there anxious & pent-up, other people will feel this & stay away from you, which will probably make your time there rather unpleasant. If you are the type of person who gets so nervous they feel like they’re going to throw up or pass out, use one hand to tap the underside (fleshy bit) of your hand while you think about it. It sounds crazy but this is an acupressure point which will — I promise — remove any feelings of nausea or dizziness. (You can do this in time to music if you fear looking like a nut.)
If social occasions bore you, set yourself tasks or make the whole thing into a game. See how many people you can make smile. Try to take a good photograph of everyone in attendance. (People love anyone with a camera, especially if you’re good with it.) Choose a number & decide to make the acquaintance of that many people. You get the idea.
Relax. Breathe deeply. Drop your shoulders. Think about your body language. (No crossed arms!)
Try to avoid getting totally blitzed, “getting funky” with anyone who has a partner, or exiting a car without underwear on!
If all of the above tips aren’t working, here’s an oldie but a goodie. Pretend you are someone else. Like Madonna, or Diana Vreeland, or your friend who always has a fabulous time at parties. Just imagine you are in their skin, then act accordingly. This is a pretty foolproof way of having a good time.
Above all, be friendly & helpful & inviting, & you’ll be having a blast in no time!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!A Pre-Shopping Primer (& Podcast)
[ 6 June 2007, 15:23 ]
Gala Darling – iCiNG: A Pre-Shopping Primer (MP3)
Click the link to listen now, or right-click to save & listen later!
Here’s the transcript…
Hello! This is a pre-shopping primer & an iCiNG original podcast! I’m your host, Gala, & you can get your daily fix of sweetness & life frosting at galadarling.com.
The purpose of this podcast is to mentally prepare you for a shopping trip, whether large or small. As much as I love shopping, sometimes it drives me a little bit crazy. There are so many things to keep in order that we all need a little help sometimes. I’m going to give you some helpful tips & ideas for navigating the shops like a pro.
My first tip is that you should always eat breakfast (or lunch) before you go shopping. It’s just like going food shopping on an empty stomach — you end up spending far more money than you normally would, & because your blood sugar is low & your body needs a fix, you’ll make rash, emotional decisions which never benefit you. If you’ve ever gone shopping on an empty stomach you will probably be nodding your head or smiling wryly as you listen to this! Please believe me! It is a bad scene. My suggestion is to always eat before you start & take something with you if you think you’ll need it. I’m one of those people who snacks constantly, so I carry a little packet of candy with me pretty much everywhere I go.
This might be a contentious point, but for the most part, please, please don’t be tempted to bring your boyfriend (or husband, or both — gulp!) shopping with you! The same goes for children. They will get cranky & bored & you’ll either have to cut your trip short or it won’t be anywhere near as fun as it should be. If you feel like you’re in a bit of a fashion rut, take a fashion-forward friend, but only if they’re into it! There is nothing worse than going shopping with someone who is only thinking about themselves the whole time — you need their advice, goddamnit, & if they’re not going to give it to you, they may as well not be there. The best friends to go shopping with are those with style who are happy to take risks. Try the weird things they thrust at you — you never know, you might love it. Take a chance, kitten!
The third thing you need to know about shopping is that it’s a big task. Even if you’re only in the market for a pair of shoes & a new coat, it could easily take you the better part of a day. Leave yourself ample time to get it all done. Try not to schedule in anything else for the rest of the day — or the evening. Usually, after a day of shopping, all I want to do is put my feet out & chill the hell out!
Another thing to keep in mind is that you will probably be walking long distances while you comb the stores looking for your perfect wardrobe. Wear comfortable shoes! I’m not saying wear sneakers, but make sure you’re wearing something which isn’t going to give you blisters after a block & a half. You should also dress as well as you can — this will give you a little bit of extra confidence when you go into those stores with immaculately-presented sales staff — but make sure it’s something you can slide on & off easily. I usually go shopping in a dress, stockings & boots. Anything else is too much effort after the tenth store.
This tip is one for the obsessively organised. (I admit to being a member of this group.) All year round, make a list of dream items — things that you feel would improve your wardrobe & make it more versatile. The easiest way to do this is to tape a piece of paper to the inside of your closet door & make notes whenever inspiration strikes. Then take that list with you when you go shopping, though make sure everything on it is still relevant!
You should also shop with a plan & a budget wherever possible. What are you in the market for? Some dresses for summer? Warm tops for winter? An outfit for your annual autumn visit to Paris? Obviously your plans will reflect in what you shop for. Make a list. Your list might be simple, like, “Long-sleeved tops for underneath vintage t-shirts, skinny jeans in dark grey & round sunglasses”, or complicated. It doesn’t matter, just write one! & stick to your budget! Seriously! If you LOVE something but can’t afford it then & there, think about smacking down a deposit & having the shop put the item on lay-buy until you have the cash. (This also gives you time to reconsider whether you really want or need the item!) Some people also say you should pay in cash so you have a firmer grip on how much you’re actually spending, but I think that’s a bit tedious. It’s enough for me to just look at the price tag!
Those of you who are longtime iCiNG readers will know that I always advocate spending as much as you possibly can on each item. I know a lot of people maintain that “basics” can be cheap, but the problem with that is that it means you then have to go out & re-buy those items every few months. You’ll actually save money if you buy the good stuff for a kick-off. Always inspect the clothes for flaws or imperfections. How does the stitching look? What about collars — do they look as if they will lose their shape after a run through the wash? Check the tags — is your item dry-clean only, & if so, is that going to put you off ever wearing it?
I also think that shopping at the BEGINNING of the season is the best way to do things. It might seem a bit crazed, but if you leave it too long, all you have to choose from are the unsuccessful styles in bad colours & the wrong sizes. Sale time is the absolute worst time to go shopping, & if you insist on doing it, again, take a list & don’t feel tempted to buy something because it’s only $10 down from $100, or whatever. It was probably passed over by everyone else for a reason!
Also remember — sales assistants are not your friends! They work on commission, keep this in mind at all times! Some of them are lovely, but ultimately, if you buy something, you are going to be the one wearing it, so YOUR opinion of it matter. If you feel the need to seek reassurance from them about whether something looks good on you, it probably doesn’t. However, having said that, don’t be afraid to ask them for help — they know whether this goes with that or what shirt will look best with those pants.
Finally: try not to buy everything from one store — it increases the chances of looking like everyone else on the high street. Only buy things which fit & colours which suit you! & buy your accessories last, so that they go with everything else. Think of accessories as the candles on a glorious cake. You don’t need too many, but the few you buy should totally thrill you.
Go forth & shop!
Love & cupcakes,
Gala.
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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podcast Add Gala on Twitter!iCiNG Podcast #002
[ 6 April 2007, 23:16 ]
If this doesn’t make you judge me, nothing will!
Gala Darling – iCiNG Podcast #002 (MP3)
Click the link to listen now, or right-click to save & listen later!
This is a podcast detailing one of my weird, constant, secret habits! I am such a dork. Enjoy.
(If it bores you, just count the number of times I say “like”. How embarrassing!)
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [27] Tags: gala,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!How To Keep Your Head Above Water (iCiNG Podcast #001 Transcript)
[ 1 April 2007, 13:41 ]
I just received a request to post a transcript of my first podcast…
Gala Darling – iCiNG Podcast #001. (MP3)
Click the link to listen now, or right-click to save & listen later!
“Hello! You’re listening to iCiNG podcast number one, & I’m your host, Gala Darling. You can keep up with what I’m doing at my website, galadarling.com, where I obsessively document my discoveries about fashion, style, aesthetics & living a better life.
“Since this is my first podcast, I just want to say thank you for tuning in! I’m really excited about moving into audio as part of the iCiNG project. It’s so cool to create something which is portable in a way that my website & videos just aren’t. It’s quite amazing to think that there could be people listening to this in their car in Spain, or on the subway in New York, or on a beach in Tonga. I’m thrilled that you have chosen to let my voice into your head — as it were — so thank you! I hope to provide you with some sweetness.
“This podcast is about staying above water, & how to cheer yourself up when nothing else seems to be working. I recently went through a pretty intense period of writer’s block & apathy, & it was really awful. I know how hard it can be, & hopefully listening to this podcast will give you some ideas to help keep your chin up.
“The changing of the seasons is happening as I speak. I know this because I’ve been wearing a hoodie all day, when this time last week I had the air-conditioning on full-blast while I worked. This means that those of us in the southern hemisphere are starting to experience cold, blustery weather, while you people up north are seeing the first signs of spring. I’m almost jealous, but we had an incredible summer here in Melbourne, Australia, so I’m okay with it. I forgive you!
“Weird things happen when the seasons change, though. It seems like more relationships break up than normal, usually prolific people lose their creative drive & ambition, everyone seems to sleep more than usual & pedestrians can no longer walk in a straight line, causing lots of near-misses on the sidewalk. The whole thing is bizarre. Really, it’s a time of emotional turmoil, & it can be very odd & unsettling to experience.
“That’s why I thought I would talk a little bit about how to bolster your mood when things seem to be getting you down. Unfortunately I can’t make you any promises that it is going to be the perfect solution, but maybe if you try a strange combination of things, it will be the magic answer — keys will turn, locks will break & you will feel like yourself again.
“Sad days are awful. It’s such a waste of time, & all that wallowing just makes you feel worse. The more you focus on it, the bigger it becomes. It’s a nasty cycle. I think a pretty big part of getting over the angst is accepting that it’s there. I’m sure you have a busy life, like almost everyone else I know, & a lot of the time it seems like we just don’t have TIME to be sad, depressed or stressed out. If you give yourself permission to feel crappy, it can help a lot. Try not to worry about things you need to do or obligations you need to fill. Everything is workable, but put yourself first right now.
“Try having a really good shower or bath. Close the door, light candles, use as many deliciously-scented powders, potions & bubblebaths as you possibly can, & relax. Breathe deeply & slowly. Sometimes all you need is a good dose of alone time, & the bathroom is a good place to get it.
“Go for a walk with your headphones on. You could take a camera & make it your mission to take three good photographs, but you may not need that. Sometimes, just being out & alone in a city at night can be great. You can window-shop all you like, look at the people passing by, drink coffee, browse the movie listings, sit in bookshops devouring their magazine section, look in asian supermarkets at the great confectionary packaging, or have a meal at your favourite place. Just take your time & do whatever you want.
“Buy a Moleskine (or other lustworthy journal or notebook) & a great pen — I like black ink pens — & start writing. Make plans. What do you want to be doing in five years, ten years, fifty years? You can be as outrageous as you want, no one else needs to ever read it. Maybe you want to be like Andy Warhol or have your own media empire. Write it down, dream about it, make plans, believe it can happen! Get excited about your life! If you’re not immediately enthusiastic, try, try again. It will come to you.
“Go to a cake shop or bakery & buy something which looks beautiful. Eat pickled onions or pate on toast or Whopper burgers, anything that is comforting to you. My mother always has lime marmalade on toast for breakfast, which as a child I thought was absolutely disgusting, but it is now one of my insane weaknesses. I always feel better when I eat it, so I keep lime marmalade in the cupboard at all times, just in case.
“I have to admit that I have a secret love of terrible, trashy television. I don’t mean Sex & The City — which I consider to be perfect in every way conceivable — I’m talking about horrific shows like The Hills, The Osbournes, America’s Next Top Model, & E! Entertainment Specials about Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. Sometimes I like to watch Daria, which isn’t as trashy, but works well when you really need a dose of good teenage angst. My favourite thing ever is to watch them on my laptop in bed, with lots of pillows & some kind of nutritious food. Ice-cream with chocolate sauce, for example.
“Buy terrible, embarrassing magazines or tidy your house with some really good music going. Get lots of sleep. Indulge in a little retail therapy — it’s tacky, but it works. Get a makeover at a department store cosmetics counter. Split a huge ice-cream sundae with one of your best friends. Hold hands with someone, anyone you like. Go for a good, long drive (again, with good music). Watch horror movies, especially the ones which manage to somehow straddle the border between terrifying & embarrassingly awful. Get dressed up & go out for breakfast, either with someone or alone. A good eggs benedict can solve a lot of problems. Get some exercise!
“Try going dancing alone, if you can muster up the courage. When I was living by myself in Auckland, New Zealand, I lived right in the centre of town (the corner of Victoria & Queen Street, for locals), & sometimes it would be 2am on a Sunday morning & all I really wanted to do was listen to some good hiphop & dance for a while. I would throw some shoes on, run downstairs to this bar called Fu, smile winningly at the bouncer, & go dance. I rarely did it with the intention of meeting anyone, but I ended up talking to people quite a lot anyway. The whole experience always made me feel really good, & I slept like a baby afterwards.
“Buy new sheets for your bed. I like pink striped flannelette ones, because secretly I am actually a five year old girl. Drink cocktails. Attend a performance of an orchestra or ballet. Hopefully it will be so beautiful you will come away with your mouth gaping open & a sense of wonder which will overcome your sadness. Bake cupcakes (or go out & buy some). Drink tea & listen to records. Go to the library & get out a stack of books covering all kinds of subjects — meditation, interior design, music biographies, palmistry & really old cookbooks. Speak in a fake accent for the next day. Get a friend to visit & have a picnic with you on the floor. Go swimming. Buy new underwear.
“Finally, my ultimate, failsafe trick to feeling better is to put a couple of drops of Thierry Muegler’s Angel perfume. I bought a tiny bottle of it on Ebay for a pittance. My mother wears it & the scent is very comforting to me. I can’t explain how, but it just helps. I think to myself, what would my mother do in this situation? & then I go out & do it.
“Remember: Dress up, leave a false name, be legendary!
“With love, Gala.”
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [11] Tags: how to,
inspiration,
life,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!iCiNG Podcast #001
[ 31 March 2007, 18:41 ]
I just spent the day thinking, writing & recording my very first podcast!
Gala Darling – iCiNG Podcast #001. (MP3)
Click the link to listen now, or right-click to save & listen later!
This podcast is about the strangeness of the seasons changing over. It is such a weird time for so many people (myself included), so I thought I would make a podcast about how to triumph over the elements & feel sane again. I hope you like it, I’m really nervous about it!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Comment [16] Tags: life,
podcast Add Gala on Twitter!
