Archive for July, 2009

This time last year I was getting all excited about the arrival of friends from all over the country, spending ludicrous amounts of money on tiki-themed decorations, and wondering how many boxes of wine (yes, I said boxes) I would need to keep the masses hydrated. This year my birthday will pass by without fanfare, and I’m quite happy about that. But it won’t stop me doing a very self-indulgent wishlist on my blog…

Hell Bunny Casino Print dress £24.99

Yes. I’d wear it in Vegas. Possibly with a matching headband like Katy Perry. Mostly because I know it would annoy the people I’m there with, but also because it’s a dress with playing cards on it, it’s only £25 and it’s available in my size. This is fate.

A Samsung NC 10 Netbook

My laptop is both cheap and heavy. I want one of these beautiful little things so I can write my novel on planes, trains, buses and the tube. And then get mugged.

Nicholas Kirkwood Patent Platforms £290

I’m sure nobody loves me enough to spend £290 on a pair of shoes for me. But these used to be £480, so they’re actually quite a bargain if you think about it. No? Well, they’re still fabulous, and if not these, one day a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood’s will be mine.

Panda Necklace $50 Betsey Johnson

I know for a fact I’m going to end up buying this when I’m in the US. Watching an episode of Planet Earth the other day, I actually got teary over a Panda and her baby. I am clearly getting soft in my old age. Also, I love Betsey Johnson for sticking two fingers up to trends and just making kitschy, colourful stuff every year.

…and that’ll do for now!

It’s been a long week. I think what everyone needs is a very long video of a baby polar bear snoring.

Now smile!

Twitter regulars, friends of the company and anyone who reads the industry blogs will know that today news broke of Shiny Media going into administration.

It’s a sad, sad day for a company that I have very good memories of working for, and I am very upset not only for my good friends who have lost their jobs, but also that the future of Catwalk Queen hangs in the balance. Given the many years of hard work and love that I put into the various versions of that site, I am heartbroken that it might have to close, or worse, be bought by someone who changes it beyond recognition.

I was a very small shareholder in Shiny Media*. I was given the shares as part of the Catwalk Queen sale / partnership deal, but also in recognition of my continued loyalty. I was the company’s first employee and I stayed with them for almost five years.

Alas, it would seem that loyalty was one-sided.  I had to hear second-hand that the company was dead and my shares were liquidated. But I only lost money that I never had in the first place. I got off incredibly lightly compared to some.

It’s been a horrible day for all involved, but I am grateful to those who’ve supported my former colleagues on the editorial team (in-house and freelance) and recognised them for the brilliant, talented, creative, devoted, patient and tolerant people they are. If the continued success of ex-Shiny’s is anything to go by, I don’t think they’ll have any trouble moving onwards and upwards.

*I am not, however, the shareholder accused of switching off access to phones and email. Obviously.

To say it’s been a busy week is the understatement of the century. I’ve barely had time to sleep.

On Wednesday we launched The Nod. My new job is as editor of the site, and it’s great to see it finally go live. Now the real hard work begins! The site is all about celebrities and the products that they’ve been spotted using and wearing, and also the places they go, and links celeb profiles to lists of their ‘Nods’. Now we’re live, as well as writing editorial content, most of my day is spent researching what the Jennifers and Jessicas have been up to in the last 24 hours. Very different from Catwalk Queen, but lots of fun nevertheless.

I also soft-launched my new pet project, Big Girls Browse, a fashion blog for curvy women. Right now I’m unsure how much time I’ll have to devote to it but I still wanted to get it off the ground. I started to work on it when I thought I’d be going four days a week in my old job, and would have a day of freelance to devote to writing it and working on other projects, but with my full time commitments at The Nod, that fell by the wayside a little. I may find BGB isn’t updated as much as I’d like, but I had to give myself a chance.

I’ve been working a little bit with Gumtree to provide some content for their new blog too, just one post per week, mainly around the fashion and fun areas. Look out for my top ten pets post – so many cuties!

Finally, Domestic Sluttery hosted an amazing event last night, so thank you to everyone who came. I remember meeting Sian way back in November at a Qype event and she told me about this great idea she had for a fun domestic blog and I knew I have to be involved (though at the moment I barely contribute one post a month). It’s amazing how one little fun idea can capture so many people’s imaginations.