Project Hera: Day 1

I have dubbed my experiment in assertiveness and gender signals "Project Hera." If haven't brushed up on your Greek mythology recently,  Hera was the wife of Zeus, the king of the gods, and had a reputation for both beauty and her temper. Unlike Aphrodite, the beautiful but vapid goddess of love, Hera was both beautiful and strong willed. Case in point: she had a history of turning her husbands many mistresses into farm animals to prove a point.

Not there's a lady to admire...

Anyway, today's adventures in sex appeal and confidence focused on something I am already very conscious of  and working hard to improve: my posture.

I slouched a lot as a kid because I was taller than most girls and I wanted to fit it, and now my bad habit, combined with a curvy figure, ends up making my look about 15 lbs heavier than I really am. So after reading the first chapter I put the lessons into practice... at the local Sam's Club.

Well, it could be worse...

What did I learn? Standing up straight, chin parallel to the floor with the pelvis forward (to make your bottom perky and tummy flat) is a lot harder than it sounds. I also felt very self conscious, as if curling my spine over myself makes me invisible somehow (hmmm... insightful, no?). It did, however, help me in some respects. Salespeople noticed me quicker than usual, and they were more willing to help me.

So today's results indicate that they way I carry myself might actually help to make favorable first impressions. It will take practice, however, until I am comfortable applying these techniques.

More adventures to come...

Note: there are also lessons in the first chapter on how different sitting positions can be sexy, assertive, feminines, etc... but it was way too complicated as far as I'm concerned. Maybe I'll revisit it later.

Because I am not sexy...

I have a confession to make: I am not hot. I am not particularly thin, my face is not particularly beautiful, and I don't know what to do with hair and clothing. Yes, I do have clinically diagnosed body dysmorphic disorder, but regardless, I am still convinced that, although I am told I am pretty, I do not see myself in that way and I do not think I attract positive attention.

It also doesn't help that I have low self-esteem or confidence.

In an effort to make me feel better about myself, Super Boy recommended  I buy this book, not so much as to be "sexier" but more assertive and confident in social situations, which, if you are a habitual reader, you know I am not.

So this is my seven day experiment: I will practice one of the lessons every few days and report my findings. If nothing else, this could be a fascinating read on the power of body language...

Moment of Joy

I don't know how I feel about this new pop culture fashion trend, but the UK's Daily Mail had a whole spread on dog dyeing. Retrievers become tigers. Chows become pandas. Pomeranian become... smaller pandas.

Hope you enjoy, because I'm not sure if these pups do...

Creation and Inspiration

I am back from a incredible week in Disney World (posts to follow!) and I am now inspired to get active and make something. I am trying to keep criminology off the brain and unwind with other, more relaxing, pursuits. Namely, I have recently begun creating and "upcycling" (recycling, updating and improving existing pieces) jewelry pieces.

In addition to making a necklace and a locket for myself, I have just ordered beading supplies and metal findings to start creating original hat pins! This first line of products will be marketed on Esty at the Daughter Of the Roses shop and will be called "Itsy Bitsy Spyder," as it is my first and "elementary" attempt at creating art for sale!

Featured above is the logo that Super Boy created for me. I drew a sketch on a crumpled Post-It, and he turned it into art. Thank, hun!

Updates to follow as the supplies arrive and, of course, obligatory sales pitches...

An Esty Review!

Spring is always a busy time of year in my family, with Mother's Day, my sister Weasel's birthday, my birthday and Father's day all falling within weeks of each other. And, of course, I end up buying many presents, mostly online as I am a graduate student short on time and money.

This does not mean, however, that I cut corners of gift giving! I have found Esty, the handmade and vintage community offering all kinds of fantastic goods and supplies imaginable. With a wide range of prices and an unlimited selection of beautiful things, picking out gifts has become a dangerous task: I often buy more for myself and others than I originally intend.

My first Esty purchase was from Little Bird Design UK, a fantastic Edinburgh based Esty shop that specializes in beautiful paper goods. These pictures are just a small glimpse of journal I gave my mother on Mother's Day and the photos hardly do it justice.

The variety of journals at Little Bird Design UK is astonishing. In all kinds of patterns and prints, from sedate to extravagant, and in all kinds of textures and styles. The attention to detail, from paper selection of the fine hand stitching on the binding, is the mark of a true artist.

There is even, I kid you not, a journal shaped like a cupcake. Heavenly!

 For anyone searching for a unique and truly personal gift, I highly recommend the products of Little Bird Design UK.

In fact, forget about gifts... once you see these works of art you'll want one for yourself!

See for yourself here, the Esty home of these delights!

The Shoe Review!

So in preparation for Disney I have gone a little crazy with my shopping habit. First I needed a new top... the I realized I don't have any shorts... then I saw this cute sundress... and then, one morning at 4 a.m., I decided to buy these shoes.

For my family, shoes for Disney are as important as the boarding passes for our flights. We live by a tried and true Disney motto: this is an investment in fun. We are nonstop, all out, early mornings, late nights, all over the place kind of vacationers. And when you are on the go all the time, you better have comfy shoes. When you go to Disney you can walk miles a day without realizing it, but if your shoes aren't comfy you will be miserable every step of the way. So as far as I'm concerned, it's worth the money to buy a good pair of shoes that can handle loads of walking, standing, and manhandling through airport security and still look good on the other side.

After some deliberation and lots of research, I choose this pair of Crocs Malindi in oyster. Unlike the Crocs you usually see, these are not hideously ugly but actually pretty cute; they look like a ballet flat with a thicker sole, and once you wear them for a while you forget about them. Your body heat molds the shoe material to your foot, making it a custom fit as your feet swell over the course of the day. And while your feet may sweat in these (my only complaint) the material is anti-microbial, so no smell at all. In fact, they are so easy to pull on and off you can rinse them in cold water, throw them back on and keep going in seconds. And if they get dirty? Soap an water and they'll look like you just pulled them out of the box.

And I also love Zappos.  Free shipping both ways, great customer service, great prices, and quick deliveries? Sign me up for all of my online shoe shopping needs!

Considering how your feet can swell on airplanes, in the heat, or with extended standing, the flexibility and cushioning of these shoes is a great plus. In fact, I am so in love with these shoes I recommended them to my cousin Opossum who will be joining us, yes, in Disney!

I highly recommend these flats for $30. They are cute, comfy, and perfect for traveling and lots of walking. You can see a Zappos review video here.

I LIKE:

Malindi by
Crocs