Mary Elizabeth Coen, YOU Magazine in The Irish Mail

I grew up in Athlone, on the left bank of the Shannon, close to the castle and the river itself, both an endless source of fascination for me. The eldest of a growing family, I lived in a sprawling, three-storey townhouse which also served as my parents’ place of business. My father had his furniture and electrical shop at the front of the building while, to the rear, the house was divided into a mix of flats and guest-rooms, with my mother operating a bed and breakfast business there for a few busy months each year.
One day I arrived in from school out of breath after a chase up the street with my friends; the aroma of lamb stew and Eve’s pudding leading the way from the hallway to the kitchen as hunger roared in my belly.
Opening the door that day, I stumbled over an enormous package on the kitchen floor. Tied up with sturdy white string and covered in foreign postage stamps, I knew at once that it had to have come from my aunt in Boston.
‘I left it for you to open. I didn’t have time and I knew you’d enjoy tearing it apart after you eat.’
My mother’s words fell on deaf ears as I grabbed a nearby scissors and straightaway chopped free the twine to unfold whatever treasures lay within. Dinner could wait, hunger postponed, as I lacerated chunks of thick brown paper.
Once inside, I scrunched my nose in disgust at the beige crimplene trouser suit, something which absolutely thrilled my practical mother. Shirts and anoraks for my father and brothers followed, and for me there were pretty summer dresses, along with a book and a tapestry kit.
But what really excited me were three frothy confections in layers of voile, net and taffeta. From her place at the cooker stirring a custard sauce, my mother threw a glance, sighing in disbelief at the frivolity of my aunt sending her three ballet-length ball gowns. To me, however, they were the stuff of dreams, reminiscent of a bygone era and conjuring up images of ladies dancing across the silver screen.
The following Saturday I invited two friends over to play. Since I was the one with the wild imagination – and the dress-up box, to boot – the games were generally initiated by me. We began that day by painting designs onto paper before folding them into fans. Then, using our fingers, we daubed our lips and cheeks with red paint, wondering why on earth it felt and looked so unpleasantly dry. Taking turns, we backcombed each other’s hair into beehives, pinning tousled messes atop our crowns. Next we brushed our eyelashes with mascara made from charred matchsticks moistened with a drop of water. I’d discovered the recipe in an old book titled, Make Your Own Cosmetics, and really fancied myself as a future Estee Lauder.
Our efforts on that occasion, however, amounted more to the ‘street urchin’ look than that of any Hollywood goddess.
I was nine years of age.
Undaunted, that Saturday, we donned the magnificent creations that had arrived in the parcel from America earlier in the week. Soon swathed in layers of oversized candy-coloured froth, we told each other that we looked gorgeous. As we headed outside, we practised rolling our vowels in the way we thought that elegant ladies always spoke, nodding and saying little apart from ‘Oooh, yeees’ as we fluttered our fans and tried not to trip in pointy court shoes several sizes too big for our childish feet. Not to mention, of course, the problem of getting our heels caught in all those layers of net.
As in the tradition of all fine costume dramas, ladies are often seen walking close to a lake or river, and so the Shannon was our obvious destination that afternoon. So we strolled arm-in-arm along the banks of the river, at times walking perilously close to the water’s edge. Meanwhile, two anglers, a picture of serenity, were sitting motionless with their fishing rods poised in expectation. Until they overheard me suggest it would be fun to step onto the lock gates, just as they were about to start opening. Their shocked expressions said it all as they threw down their fishing rods and rushed to pull us back from the verge of disaster.
Ungrateful for the intervention (what nine-year-old thinks of danger?) we traipsed up to the castle instead. There we spent a couple of hours leaning over the ramparts until the church clock struck six – time to head back home and each go our separate ways.
So imagine my chagrin, then, when I arrived home to find my mother cooking supper for none other than the two fishermen, a mix of horror and relief on all their faces. How was I supposed to know that my rescuers were staying in the family B&B?

*Mary Elizabeth Coen’s book, Love & the Goddess, is now available in paperback and on Kindle.

Photograph by Gerry Sanford for You Magazine, The Irish Mail

Fashion choices for Spring 2013 have never been more diverse. There’s a dizzying array of looks including Oriental, Ethnic South American, Digital, Floral, Sportswear influenced, Tropical, Stripes and clean cut Classic. Great variety on the one hand but some of us could end up mixing this lot up in a rather mish mash way unless we bear in mind a few basic guidelines.

For that reason, I believe it’s a good time to reassess what is already in our wardrobes and apply Coco Chanel’s principle of ‘Less is more’.

You may have a lot  more variety in it than you think. If it’s well organised you can literally shop your own closet, ie. see it as your own mini boutique.

Ask the question – What do I have in my wardrobe that will work well for the next couple of months into summer? Most of you will have the following:-

(i) A favourite pair of blue jeans

(ii) A white shirt

(iii) A trench coat or blazer

(iv) A simple white t-shirt

(v) A pair of black trousers/black skinny jeans or black dressy leggings

Working around those 5 items alone you can put together a great look by adding a scarf or jewellery, belt and bag. Look in the latest edition of any magazine and you will see millionaire celebrities carry of this look with great élan. You can too, it’s all a question of attitude; – if you feel good and wear a smile then you will radiate that star quality.

Jennifer Aniston wearing blue jeans & leather jacket over a simple white t- shirt

(1) If you wish to add a splash of colour with those blue jeans this shirt is ideal and will also look fab worn over cropped leggings or over a bikini for days at the beach.

ORIENTAL-PRINT CHIFFON BLOUSE
39.95 EUR at Zara

(2) For warmth, chose easy to layer sweaters. Lots of designers from Victoria Beckham to Helmut Lang have included dual fabric sweaters, usually in cashmere and silk mix. Great if you can afford one of these luxury items. Don’t despair! Warehouse do amazing versions, currently priced at 20 Euros in their mid season sale.

WOVEN FRONT POINTELLE LINE JUMPER WITH SILKY BACK
Price: £38.00 at Warehouse

(3) If you hanker after print leggings, these are adorable:-

Swap your jeans for print leggings – Ginger Fizz Leggings In Cherub Print
€33.34 by asos.com

(4. A) THE JACKET -  Next a choice of whether to go for an on trend biker style black leather jacket or be bold and go for colour as in this piece from Zara -

COMBINATION QUILTED leather JACKET 219.00 EUR from Zara

(4.B) Or chose the classic blazer that will take you from day to night. My choice is this tuxedo colared version:-

COMBINED STUDIO BLAZER
119.00 EUR at Zara

(5) If you feel your white shirt or t-shirts have gone a bit lank you can always freshen them up with home-made boiled starch or fabric whitener. On the other hand if you have the urge to update, here’s a great option in a style that says ‘ laid back chic’.

BLOUSE WITH FRONT FRILL
39.95 EUR at zara.com

(6) Trousers are seeing a revival thanks to Stella Mc Cartney who for the past few seasons has introduced styles in beautiful silk jacquard. The high street has caught on, producing less luxurious versions which cost a fraction of the designer price tag. Wonderfully comfortable and stylish for after 6 wear. Wrap an obi belt around the waist for a very flattering effect. Showing off the waist is back in vogue and you don’t have to be super slim to get away with this look.

ASOS Straight leg Trousers In Jacquard
€55.56 by ASOS Collection at asos.com

For Aphrodite Goddess types – ASOS CURVE Exclusive Trouser In Statement Geo
€51.94

(7) Back to black and what to wear over those black skinnies, leggings or trousers. Once again, I suggest going for colour. Choose between either of the following styles for rock star glamour.

Helmut Lang Asymmetric printed fine-jersey top Original price €266.09 Now €119.74 (55% off ) at the outnet.com
Pricing correct at time of posting this article.

ASOS CURVE Exclusive Wrap Top In Galaxy Print
at €48.62

That’s basically how you can add to your capsule wardrobe by choosing one or two pieces from the currect seasons collection. Black and white is a big trend, especially in stripes and colour blocking. The shirt here may be worn as a very smart option over black trousers and under the blazer, choice number (3)

STRIPED SHIRT WITH POCKETS
39.95 EUR at zara online

An overview of other trends

With regard to dresses the bandage dress is being replaced by clever use of colour blocking. Since Kate Winslet first appeared in a dress with slimming side panels, every woman coveted the optical illusion of having dropped two dress sizes.

DESIGNER VERSION – Illusion jacquard dress by Richard Nicoll at matchesfashion.com £650

Less Pricey – Collage dress by Sportmax £260 at matchesfashion.com

MORE DASH than CASH – BLOCKED A LINE DRESS
Price: £55.00 at Warehouse

The very feminine Floral dress is back in a variety of shapes from bodycon to 1950′s  dancehall. The stunning designer version is beyond my price range but if you’re good with the sewing machine you may feel inspired. It must be admired for the craftsmanship and of exquisite fabric design.

Floral Dancehall dress in exquisite silk by Suzannah at Matches fashion online £750

ASOS CURVE Midi Bodycon Dress in Jewel Flower Print
€41.67

And lastly because this model is so unabashedly sexy and happy in her body, I have to show you the next dress. Really and truly, doesn’t she make the skinny models look wanton?

Va Va Voom! ASOS CURVE Bodycon Dress in Jewel Print
€38.96 

That’s it in a nutsehll: – The capsule wardrobe plus your choice of what to add, depending on the occasion. Of course there’s lots more variety in the shops and you can also browse or shop online.

ACCESSORIES

The key accessory are the strappy sandal and the wedge trainer. Some lower heeled pumps are also becoming popular.

STRAPPY HIGH-HEEL SANDALS
59.95 EUR at zara.com

The key accessory is the wedge trainer. Women everywhere have fallen in love with this oh so comfortable style, which adds a bit of extra height yet looks deceptively cool with jeans. These are by the original of the species, luxury brand Ash. They are now so popular, you will find wedge trainers in most shoe stores.

There you have it. Survey your wardrobe carefully to check your capsule pieces. You may think you have nothing to wear but if you look carefully you will most likely find you need to buy very little. The key is to have respect for the clothes you own.

Get rid of anything you haven’t put on in over two years. Check the condition of clothing and get any necessary repairs looked after. If you know a good seamstress, you can get items of clothing updated.

Polish shoes and hang clothes on proper hangers.

Before you purchase a new item ask yourself how well it will work with the existing items in your wardrobe.

Shop your own closet and remember to rock the goddess vibe in those jeans!

Feel free to comment or ask questions on any of the above, Mary E. xx

1. DONNA’S EDIT

Donna’s edit includes the best buys for the season – Chose from looks involving printed jeans to a rose printed sweat shirt or a tailored leather jacket.

Donnaida.com was started by Owner Donna Ida Thornton who spotted a gap in the market in 2006 when she opened the first of her three boutiques in London followed by  a website which has recently gained an enormous following.

The boutiques stock a roll call of the latest and most sought after denim brands in sizes 23-34 including J Brand, Citizens of Humanity, Goldsign, Hudson, MiH Jeans and Current/Elliott plus new and emerging brands, launching Bleulab and Mother Denim. Donna Ida also stocks tops and accessories to complement jeans including Wildfox, Tucker, By Malene Birger, Simeon Farrar and Hanky Panky.

The website is intended to mirror the in-store experience with a Denim Clinic page where shoppers are invited to ‘Find your perfect jeans’ and videos demonstrating how to shop for different body shapes including Pear, Apple, Boyish, Petite, Curvy and Long Legs.

Donna is also a patron for the Jeans for Genes, the charity which aims to change the world for children with genetic disorders. In 2011 Donna recruited 130 friends and colleagues to run the Adidas 5k in September 2011 which raised over £50,000 for the charity.

I love Donna Ida’s magazine style edits of current season trends. The items may be in the luxury bracket price wise but I can guarantee you these are investment pieces which if taken good care of will last a life- time.

2. PARADISE LOST

This look is achievable by investing in a colourful t-shirt and combining it with a great pair of jeans in a pastel shade. Or indeed you could go full out and invest in floral printed a maxi dress

3. GLOBAL TRAVELLER

This theme hints at travel to exotic climes where the living is easy. The shapes to look out for here are Tunics, Kaftans in soft drape fabrics. Combine with shorts for beach wear or tailored jeans for evening or city dressing.

For the Global Traveller, I love this intarsia sweater by Leon & Harper

4. PICTURE FRAME

This look includes use of bold colours, to sometimes create and optical illusion of the garment having a very slimming effect, as in jeans with a bold dark strip down the side – in this case the legs look slimmer provided the jeans are worn quite loose

5. AND FINALLY

If I had to pick one item of clothing from Donna Ida’s Spring/Summer collection it would be this wonderful tie dye effect denim jacket by Muuba.

Muubaa Tehmi Dip Dye Jacket – Black/Coral. Price £405.00

Georgie gives tips on mixing leather with denim, wearing an oversized t-shirt and colour blocking.

Donna Ida is a super site for fashion tips from the best stylists. If you even invest in one key piece per season and mix and match with the rest of your wardrobe, you can put together a complete new look.

Follow Donna on Twitter & the Donna Ida boutiques on Twitter. Find them on Facebook and online at their website

On second glance however I spotted some beauties, which I include here:

Catherine Zeta-Jones in gold Zuhair Murad  (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Catherine totally rocks the Goddess vibe! With glowing skin and womanly cuves, this is pure Aphrodite and one of my winners on Oscar night.

Charliez Theron in structured bodice over full skirt by Christian Dior(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images). Where some blondes can’t wear white, Charlize carries it off, with her cute pixie crop and glowing skin.

Kristen Stewart in embellished Reem Acra gown. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

The workmanship on this gown may be exquisite but it doesn’t suit Kristen Stewart’s complexion, age, figure or posture. I’d prefer to see her in something with slightly more street cred – maybe a ballgown version of biker gear – lace and leather in navy blue rather than black. Any designer willing to take her on?

Amanda Seyfried in equisitely embrodered Armani prive. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

My verdict; – It’s a stunningly executed dress but the colour does nothing for her. This is a dress she could wear in 20 years time. While she’s young, please please give her something modern and flirty.

Jennifer Aniston in red Valentino with Justin Theroux. Jen totally nails modernity in this apparently simple yet stunning dress. Love gives her a radiance and everyone agrees they are the cutest couple in Hollywood.  Some of the younger stars need to start taking style tips from Jen who always looks natural and unfussy – not an easy feat on Oscar night.

Sandra Bullock looks great in beaded Elie Saab gown.   (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images). It’s great on her figure and she looks relaxed. The little train adds just the right hint of elegance to a very classy dress.

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) George donned a Giorgio Armani suit, while his paramour wore a Naeem Khan dress.  I’m not mad about the beard as I feel it creates an optical effect of shortening the face. For exactly the same reason, I’m not keen on the belt around her dress – it cuts an otherwise beautiful gown in half.

Helen Hunt  arrives in a H& M dress, having shunned designer offers (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images). The navy blue strapless dress, which appeared not to have been steamed or ironed, is from the fast fashion chain’s eco-friendly Conscious collection, and is totally green. The borrowed jewels however were worth $700,000. We forgive you Helen – at 49 you look amazing and really rock the Goddess vibe!

Jessica Chastain in a strapless golden Armani Prive (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images). Again, I believe the pale coloured gowns are not good with pale hair and skin. Great figure, skin and posture and classy yes, but boring on a young woman.

Nicole Kidman in a diaphanous L’Wren Scott dress. ( picture Getty images) I love this dress on Nicole, although some fashion insiders are slating it. Nicole looks healthy and natural (leaving her skinny, botoxed days behind). I’m also extremely biased here as the gold swirls on the bottom hint at the ‘triskelion’ symbol -  a powerful emblem of the triple goddess. Yes Nicole – you too rock the Goddess vibe!

Zoe Saldana in  Alexis Mabille Couture dress(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images). Zoe can wear pale because she  is dark haired with sallow skin. This gown is perfect for her petite frame, the train lending her an illusion of being taller. Very graceful and  atmospheric.

Reese Witherspoon in royal blue Valentiono gown. ( picture by Getty images) What can I say?  Reese looks beautiful but we’ve seen this look before. The black side panels are clever for optically slimming the waist but apart form that I’m quite sure I’ve seen something similar among debs dresses. I’m sure some of you have  too. We want to be wowed by Hollywood and top designers like Valentiono whose couture creations cost a fortune!

And finally a complete lack of political correctness in Brandi Glanville’s dress ( picture by Getty images) – no stylist or designer involved here.

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville left fashion commentators searching for the appropriate response in a plunging gown which she reportedly designed herself. What do you think?

Who are the winners? Are the older stars winning here? Feel free to add your comments below.

On-line dating and what’s in a username?

My book Love & the Goddess deals with the search for love and the nature of love itself. My protagonist Kate who has an interest in Greek mythology, uses the names of three Goddesses from a Greek myth on different dating sites. To get an understanding of how the dating game works I did the research by first employing the username Persephone on plentyoffish.com, then Demeter on anotherfriend.com and finally Hekate on match.com

I have to admit I got quite wrapped up in it initially and was surprised at the amount and variety of men available. I learnt that the username you use definitely says a lot about you and therefore attracts certain types of people. It’s amazing how many women use variations of ‘Thumbelina’, the tiny fairy girl from the Christian Anderson story. For men, variations of James Bond or James 007 are probably among the most popular.

In my case I attracted macho domineering men while using the name Persephone, the maiden aspect of the triple goddess myth. Like the name Thumbelina, it was disempowering and added to my feelings of vulnerability, since I was going through a rough patch in my life. The pictures I used to accompany my profile showed me looking girly, despite my forty something years, so of course they were also a contributory factor in whom I attracted.

A few months later on anotherfriend.com I chose to affiliate myself with the goddess Demeter and since the name was already taken, I called myself Demetriana. This name created quite a stir as men seemed to find it exotic and many of them asked me was I Russian. The photos I posted on this occasion showed me looking more empowered; dressed casually and mostly outdoors in beautiful nature settings. Surprisingly I attracted a lot of attention from young men aged 21 to 32. I wondered were they subconsciously aware that Demeter is the mother Goddess and therefore attracted to me as a mother substitute? Some of the content in emails however would suggest they had something other than mothering in mind. Of the older men I attracted, I did my own little survey by asking questions about their relationship with their mothers and strangely most of them had mammy problems. When I said to one guy -

“Most of the men I meet seem to have mother problems”.

He answered glibly “I have no problem with my mother, I just hate her!”

Overall I met nicer men during my incarnation as Demeter though I never met anyone I really clicked with.

My incarnation as Hekate

Finally on the week preceding Halloween, I put up a profile on match.com using the name Hekate. I certainly couldn’t have been prepared for the pandemonium this would cause. Some men were magnetically drawn to my profile, while scared senseless that I was some kind of wicked enchantress. How could I use the name of the witch Goddess? She whom Shakespeare cast as evil in Macbeth …Goddess of the dark side of the moon and patroness of witches! Mail came pouring in asking me why I would call myself this when I could call myself Aphrodite? The accompanying profile was kick ass – I said I found it hard to meet any man who would interest me. In reply I received mail from high achievers telling me they loved a challenge and begged me to consider them a contender. In fairness I also got the occasional one telling me I was extremely arrogant.

I spoke to some of them on the phone and met three during the Hekate stage, but this time around I was open about telling them I was doing research for my book. I was also getting a bit jaded by the amount of serial dating, where one man seemed to merge into the next in front of my weary eyes. One date (a clinical psychologist) tried to convince me that “If you are interested in personal development, surely the main objective is to heal yourself in order to enter a relationship?” He was so pushy I half expected him to produce a piece of paper to coerce me into signing up to a relationship with him there and then.  What’s more he wasn’t the first who had been in a mad rush to get serious. I discovered a lot about the male psyche and one thing I can state emphatically is that men need women more urgently than we need them, finding it very difficult to be alone for any period of time.

Hekate with added Wharolesque spookiness!

Two years later I am still single and delighted to be so, despite the approach of Valentine’s Day. I have learnt to love and accept myself more than I ever did before in my life. I will pamper myself on February 14th by walking in nature, taking a long bath with scented oils and playing soft music. The poetry of Byron, Shelley, Neruda and Rumi are for the lover in all of us, whether we are alone or in a relationship. Love is beautiful but there are other types of love which are as joyful as romantic love, namely friendship and unconditional love for nature and the divinity in all. Sometimes one has to withdraw from the intensity of romantic love in order to truly learn what love is. That I believe has been my path and it is a wonderful learning curve.

Jumping up on the windowsill, his dancing eyes scanned the room. After searching our faces one by one he smirked as he fired out a loaded question;-

“Is God a man or a woman?”

Silence fell, broken only by the sound of us shifting uncomfortably in our seats. I picked up my pencil and began chewing it nervously, head bent to cover my acute embarrassment. What the hell was he up to? An Irish Dominican priest teaching theology in the late 1970’s to future teachers. Was he trying to provoke us? Then again most of us thought he was nuts – a wired up jack in the box leaping about from table to podium and back again, wild eyes gazing at us in earnest through shaky wire spectacles.

“God is a man because he’s ‘God the Father’.” Came a steadfast reply from the back. A collective sigh ensued as we felt relieved to be let off the hook and I for one hoped he would change the topic. No such luck! As though ignoring the response he prodded further:

“Why could God not be female?” He paused to look at our blank faces before pointing to the tall girl seated in the middle of the front row.

“Fiona what do you think?” Obviously he presumed the one non- Catholic among us was the only student capable of lateral thinking.

“It is possible that God could be a woman or not have a specific gender, like a tree. It seems we need to personify God in order to understand the concept of God.” she answered.

What she said was beyond our understanding at that time, so conditioned were we in believing the dogma that had been forced down our throats since childhood. To not believe what we were told would have been to question the ‘Word of God’ and therefore a sin. An urgent need to defend our beliefs and save our souls compelled a few of us to blurt out some form of protest, beginning with:

“But it says in the Bible …”

Yet the wisdom of Fiona’s words struck to the core of an inner knowing.  Furthermore our comments appeared to have no basis in logic when faced with the weight of theological and historical knowledge of our Woody Allen-esque teacher. Yet it was deeply unsettling for many of us to have our belief system overturned, like being sent to sea in a boat with neither compass nor rudder.

Over the coming months, the priest went on to tell us about earlier Matrifocal societies, where Mother Earth and the Goddess were worshiped. Bit by bit we began to take him seriously despite his jumping around the tiny lecture hall. Instead of nattering about how weird he was and dreading his classes, we began to look forward to his unorthodox teaching methods as he opened us up to learning the various philosophies behind different spiritual traditions. He knocked many theories on their head including ‘Eve as temptress’ and ‘Mary Magdalene as scarlet woman’. For the first time in my life I began to feel considerably less tainted, less disempowered by my heritage as a Christian woman.

Sadly he did not return to teach us the following year and we were left wondering had the college authorities dismissed him on grounds of over eccentricity, as had happened with a psychology lecturer who was rather too fond of Freud’s sexual theories. Many years later as I began to research my novel Love & the Goddess, I realised the lasting impact of having been taught by the quirky priest who obviously was a very wise fool indeed.

My novel is due for publication on the 25th of  January 2013! I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support so far.

I ‘d love to hear your opinions on this, so please comment.

Love, Mary E.

I’ve been tagged in The Next Big Thing by fellow writer Siobhan McKenna. I’m instructed to tell you all about my coming book by answering these questions and then to tag five other authors about their Next Big Thing. For my tagging, I’ve chosen a mix of one established author, newly published authors, and authors yet to be published by a publishing house. I hope this blog will help connect these great writers with their readers, past, present and future.

What is the working title of your next book?

Love & the Goddess

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea for my novel from a few different sources; – firstly I wished to write an inspirational novel, easy to read and with wisdom woven through.

My personal obsession with the Greek myth of the triple goddess was a driving force along with healing journeys I had undertaken through Brazil and Peru. Listening to friends gossiping about dating gave me the idea of employing the names of the three goddesses as online usernames for my protagonist Kate’s dating exploits.

What genre does your book fall under?

Mainly contemporary fiction, though it is cross genre.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

That’s a real teaser! Funny thing; – it’s important to have a clear picture of your characters, so I always imagined my main character Kate as looking like a cross between Naomi Watts and Julianne Moore. Either would be perfect, and an Irish actress like Victoria Smurfit would be even better.

Comedienne Ruby Wax provided irreverent inspiration for Kate’s friend Ella and Simon Baker would provide a gorgeous romantic interest.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A woman’s voyage of self-discovery begins on the Internet and leads her all the way to Peru.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Self – published

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Approximately 4 months. Subsequent drafts took a lot longer adding up to probably 20 months in total.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Mine being cross genre, most resembles memoir and inspirational fiction, so I have to compare it with some books outside the category of contemporary fiction. It is probably most like a cross between Eat Pray Love and The Celestine Prophecy. It is similar in tone to The Lingerie Designer by Siobhan McKenna and The Shaman in Stilettoes by Anna Hunt.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

When I first sat down to write, I considered doing a memoir covering a period in my life when dramatic events were an almost daily occurrence. Some were traumatic while others were inspirational, bringing healing along with renewed joy, hope and laughter. So I wished to share some of the wisdom and systems of healing which helped me through a difficult time. I chose instead to respect the privacy of loved ones and weave the threads through the fabric of a fictitious tale.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

One of the main themes in my book is Internet dating so expect lots of laughs as my characters plan dates, swap notes and don the glad rags in search of Mr Right.

My protagonist is a cookery teacher so there are lots of mouth – watering foodie references. Readers interested in the recipes will be able to find them all on my website by the time the book is launched

And finally for those interested in travel writing, Peru and Brazil provide an interesting backdrop.

You can also read about one area of my research on this blog post.

The book retails at €14.99 but will go on sale at a special introductory price of €11.99

The book retails at €14.99 but will go on sale at a special introductory price of €11.99

Buy the Kindle version from Amazon.com here:

Buy the paperback version from Amazon.com here:

Buy from Amazon.co.uk here:

My chosen authors are:

Ferdia Mac Anna http://ferdiamacanna.com/

Georgina Heffernan http://georginaheffernan.weebly.com/

Merrie P. Wycoff: http://www.merriepwycoff.com

Carole Pilcher:

Siobhan McKenna: http://chopraperfecthealth.blogspot.ie/

Called ‘Cinderella Strong’, this was first posted in August’s blog, in April 2012.

August McLaughlin is a Los Angeles-based health writer and journalist with articles featured regularly by LIVESTRONG.com, EHow Foods, ULMagazine, Healthy Aging Magazine, IAmThatGirl and more. She’s also an internationally recognized certified nutritionist with specializations in eating disorders and sports nutrition. Before completing her first novel, In Her Shadow, she worked in the fashion, film and wellness industries, wearing hats ranging from Parisian runway model to culinary coach.

I first became acquainted with August through Twitter and then Facebook and it was immediately obvious that we had several interests in common. Like my protagonist Kate in my (soon to be released) novel Love & the Goddess, August is fascinated by myths and fairy tales. Take time to sit back and listen to her sing the beautiful song she composed. There is no end to this girl’s talents!

Cinderella Strong

Taken literally, one could argue—and numerous have—that Disney’s Cinderella is a passive woman who does nothing to improve her dismal situation. Rather than stand up to her evil step-family or step out on her own, she relies on others—singsong mice, her fairy godmother and a handsome prince. She makes wishes, and they do the dirty work. Her prize? A beauty makeover and happily ever after with Bachelor #1.

In the 1980s, psychologist Colette Dowling presented similar views her best-selling book  ‘Cinderella Complex: Woman’s Hidden Fear of Independence‘.  (It’s a fascinating read, if you’re interested.)

But what if Cinderella is entirely metaphorical? Here’s what I see:

• Cinderella’s mice represent her spirit, prodding her to believe in “the dreams [her] heart makes?” Our hearts recognize our dreams before we can pursue them.
• The evil step-family illustrates the naysayers in life—people, including ourselves, who tell us to stop striving, that our goals and pursuits are foolish, that we’re destined to live out our lives doing undesirable work, caring for everyone but ourselves.
• The fairy godmother is Cinderella’s muse—the inner voice that prompts us to step out of our comfort zones and toward our passion.
• The glowing gown she wears reflects how she feels once she begins honing in on her dreams. Once we find the “shoe” (life path) that fits, we stands a bit taller, and our inner-beauty shines outward.
• Reverting to her “raggedy” self at midnight represents the time, rest and self-care personal growth requires. There are no quick fixes. We all face risks and challenges along the way. If we embrace them, they can help make us strong.
• And speaking of passion, the hunky prince represents the handsome life Cinderella eventually obtains, and the chivalry she finally shows herself. Once that happens, the world is her stage to dance on. Sure, we might get blisters now and then, and every step won’t be graceful, but we’re free to live happy, authentic lives.

Ever seen bits of Cinderella in yourself? I know I have. I wrote this song while enduring a tough time. By the time I made this video, those “dirty floors” were behind me. I’d also started writing my first novel. (Its pages have a special cameo.  ) I first posted this video last fall. By August Mclaughlin at http://augustmclaughlin.wordpress.com/

After a decade-long deeply reflective and spiritual journey to discover for herself who she is, Carré found the balance and serenity she sought. In her very candid memoir Beauty Disrupted, Carré shares her story along with her unique insight into the business of beauty and the high price it demands by giving an honest account of her struggle with love, identity and spirituality. Now a wife and busy mother of two she’s found a new voice as a passionate advocate for young women in and out of the modelling industry.

In an interview with Carré, I asked her the following questions:-

Question 1

Tell us about your struggles with low self esteem and how this led to anorexia and addiction?

Carré answers:

Many young women suffer from low self esteem and mine was exacerbated by working in the very competitive world of high fashion. When your life runs out of control it’s a normal human reaction to seek to ‘control’ whatever you can along with attempting to medicate the pain of suffering.

In my case, as a model under pressure to be ultra slim, it was quite a text book reaction to try to control my weight with an eating disorder. The drugs were readily available and initially seemed to act as a false crutch.

The idea of operating within healthy limits and setting personal boundaries was something I had no understanding of until I entered therapy and began to work through my issues. It was only then that I started to understand the importance of boundaries in self care and living a healthy life.

Question 2

Why is body image such a big issue for women today?

Carré answers:

The media perpetuates a great myth about women. In fact it’s a lie. The images that supposedly represent women in fact do not represent us. Not accurately. We are so much more than 17 years old, a size double zero, and ‘sexy’. This false representation has encouraged many women, both young and old, to try to live up to an impossible standard. An understandable dissatisfaction occurs when women try to achieve this ideal as every single woman will fall short at some stage in their lives even the handful who once met the mark. And sadly this concept is also perpetuated by us as women and us as mothers. The very way we speak of one another and about one another and then speak or feel about ourselves carries that energy.

Question 3

I understand exactly what you mean.  We very quickly think we need to diet if we wake up one day and no longer fit into our favourite pair of jeans. And the beauty industry makes a lot of money from our insecurities.

How do you feel about the ageing process?

Carré answers:

Ha!  I love it and I am of course affected by it. I love where my mind is at this age; my wisdom, my intentions, my view on life. And most of all that I have begun to relax and be at ease with who I am. But certainly I have had to adjust my expectations. What I see in the mirror today is not the same image I saw looking back at me twenty or even ten years ago. But what is important to me now is not what was so monumental a decade ago.

I would rather have my sanity than a flat belly. I would rather be strong and confident than wrinkle free! And I would rather be joyful and agile than have a head of hair with no grays!

Question 4

You are very wise. What advice would you give to mothers with daughters, regarding positive body image.

Carré answers:

This is a big and great question. The direct influence we as mothers have on our daughters is profound. The role we play in their lives has enormous consequences for how they view themselves.

Our daughters look to us as mothers and receive cues and prompts that let them know what and how they should be thinking about their bodies. A mother who does not love her body or is uncomfortable with her femininity and sexuality has a very negative impact on her daughter’s self image. I am grateful that I fully recovered from my eating disorders before I had my daughters. And I work daily at my commitment to empower them and send them positive enforcements about their body, individuality and femininity. We are careful and conscious in our household about how we speak about bodies and nutrition and health…

Question 5

Your role as mother to 2 daughters is very important to you. Tell us about ‘Conscious Parenting’. On mother’s day you very wisely tweeted “my daughters know my happiness is not dependent on them.”

Carré answers:

Yes! And this should be the case. I have done so much work on myself and I am the parent now. I really keep my role in perspective. I was in co-dependant relationships earlier in my life, feeling I was responsible for someone else’s happiness and vice versa.

Now in contrast I really feel empowered and aware of what my role is. Even in my marriage, I am responsible for me and my wellness, my husband for his. And from that place as individuals we can come together as partners and parents and do so from a place of love and responsibility as opposed to a place of neediness.

Question 6

As a woman with an endless choice of eligible men, how did you end up in an abusive relationship… one that you seemed increasingly drawn back to?

Carré answers:

I suppose the choices we make in life, including partnerships, is a reflection of where we are at and how we feel about ourselves. On a deep level I was wounded and attempting in my own way to resolve that woundedness though relationship. I’ve since learned that we work things out in relationships… often times the internal and unresolved stuff our lives.

Clearly I was not well… or I would have seen that what I was involved in was not healthy. And as I recovered, that too became clear… that my marriage was a sick one. Ultimately the only thing I could fix or was responsible for fixing was myself.

Question 7

How did Yoga, meditation and therapy help you overcome addiction?

Carré answers:

Equally they all helped me to break habits, train my mind and become conscious of my behaviour.  

Question 8

As with 12 step programmes, do you believe a spiritual aspect is helpful in aiding recovery?

Carré answers: 

Different things work for different people. For me, 12 Steps was never one of them.

In my case, it was all about therapy and my spiritual practices. Today I am recovered from disordered eating and I no longer abuse myself in any way. I drink wine, I eat food and I enjoy life without any need to harm myself in any way.

Question 9

Most women feel they need to be validated by a man in order to feel loved yet you chose celibacy and avoided relationships for 3 years. How did that work for you?   

Carré answers:

It was the only way for me to gain perspective and it was an incredibly rewarding time for me. I had gone down the road you mentioned… needing to be validated by another. It was clear to me that wasn’t working for me. Celibacy gave me the opportunity to change my habitual beliefs and behaviourisms in favour of more conscious choices.

Question 10

By taking your relationship with Matthew slowly, you learnt to surrender to the freedom and love that can be discovered, received and expressed in sexuality. I know you like talking about this. Would you mind telling us briefly your views on the big ‘O’… Orgasm.

Carré:

This is what my next book is about.  Wait for it!

Question 11

Can’t wait Carré!

What do you think of the current trend for BDSM as espoused in ‘Fifty shades of Grey.’

Carré answers:                 

I no longer require fantasy in my life. I am much more into reality, which means being present and authentic to myself and my partner. I have not read nor feel any urge to read that book.

Question 12

What is your present involvement with the fashion industry?

Carré answers:

Still modeling when it involves the right mix and working with Model Alliance to make some much needed changes within the industry.

Question 13

You returned to the catwalk recently in Milan. How was that experience for you?

Carré answers:

It was great. It was a perfect fit and good to be back with some great friends I have known for years!

Question 14

Your book is a compelling read, from cautionary tale of life in the fast lane through to the final chapters where your energy and integrity shine forth. I know you are passionate about raising awareness of the issues you have survived. Can you tell us a little about how you would like to see women unite to overthrow society’s worn out stereotypes of beauty and youth.

Carré answers:

I think it begins with us connecting and working together… raising one another up instead of tearing each other down. We are powerful and can use this energy to nurture, support, create and educate or we can use it with ill intent. I chose to come from the heart and support women.

I have daughters to teach this to and am determined the world can be a better place than it is now… especially for women.

Question 15

Lastly, I know you love animals and they continue to play a big role in your family. Tell us a little bit about life at your house.

Carré answers:

We have 4 dogs, 4 chickens, 2 daughters, 550 olive trees, 7 acres and I know we are very fortunate. Animals have always been a big part of our lives!

Thank you so much Carré Otis, for your wisdom and candour. Having enjoyed your memoir Beauty Interrupted, I look forward to your new book with eager anticipation. 

You can find out more about Carré Otis at http://beautydisrupted.com/info/

Second Prize :-  cookery book ‘The French Laundry’.

Third prize:- Lotus candle by Laura Ashley.

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The first winner will be picked on 8th of November.

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All winners will be chosen via a random number generator. This competition is open to everyone, regardless where you live. I will post to anywhere in the world.

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I’ve thrawled the internet looking for the pieces which are not only currently popular but will also remain classics. I’ve endeavoured to choose some pieces which suit curvaceous bodies as well as skinnies. As you know this is not always possible as fashion favours the more wasp – waisted creatures among us.

Where I have chosen designer pieces I’ve credited the on-line store where the images come from, but in most cases you will find a stockist in your nearest city, certainly in Dublin or London.

Lace has been around a few years but this year it is more popular than ever. Madonna’s choice of lace dress will always be Dolce & Gabbana and certainly a version less demure than I feature here. I love the two versions by ASOS, one for curvy Goddesses and the other for you sylph like Persephone types.

Dolce&Gabbana Lace Pencil Dress from Nordstrom €1821

Sexy Lace Pencil Dress by Asos €63.98

ASOS CURVE Exclusive Midi Dress In Lace €63.98 in sizes 18 – 26

If you’ve been watching the T.V. series REVENGE, set in the Hamptons then perhaps you hanker after an effortlessly elegant number in dark red. Diane Von Furstenberg has been popular among the West coast Wasps since the 197O’s. This elegant tunic dress can be dressed up or down for any occasion.

Diane Von Furstenberg silk crepe dress €483 at www.netaporter.com

PUFF SLEEVE DRESS €49.95 at Zara. Zara’s version of a classic long sleeved shift comes in cranberry crepe and at €49.95 it suits most pockets.

PRINTS

Adding a Print dress to your wardrobe will inject some much needed colour and since green is a favourite for the new season, Dian Von Furstenberg’s perennial wrap dress is sure to work well. For a more budget friendly option, Coasts Donna dress is bang on the button.

Another choice is opt go for a jersey dress with digital print on the front. The version here from Alexander Mc Queen’s diffusion range is roughly 70% less than a similar peice from his mainline collection.

Diane Von Furstenberg Zalda Bis dress (136522) €402.00 at www.matchesfashion.com

Coast Dorana Dress in Printed Jersey €135.06 at www.asos.com

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Black Hummingbird Print Sweatshirt Dress £285 at Stylebop.com

Choosing a coat

Even if you decide to purchase a black coat, you will still be faced with an array of styles and shapes to chose from. So how do you choose the perfect multi-purpose coat? One that works well with a jeans and flat shoes combination will not necessarily look well worn over a dress.

My advice is to go for a simply tailored style; – great with jeans. Yet with the addition of a large wrap, it can be transformed into something more dramatic for weddings or a special occasion. Roksand a Illinic’s Oskar coat is beautifully tailored in a sumptuous fabric mix. But since it’s outside my budget I’d opt instead for Zara’s simple version with sleeve appliqué

Money no object -Roksanda Ilincic Oskar coat, €1,242.00 at www.matchesfashion.com

COAT WITH APPLIQUÉS ON THE SLEEVE 149.00 EUR 75% wool at Zara

Trousers, Jeans or leggings

While tailored trousers are returning, two of the funkiest looks around are leather leggings and animal print jeans. Where designer leather jeans can hit close to 4 figure sums, this version of Zara is better value. Less expensive again, River Island offer a an alternative which can look just as good if paired with the right jacket and boots.

STRETCH LEATHER TROUSERS 279.00 EUR by Zara

BLACK PU PANEL SKINNY TROUSERS, Euro 55 by River Island

Flocked animal print jeans can help you get in touch with your inner Goddess. This season, they are available everywhere from Marks & Spencers to Zara. The original of the species is by Current Elliot if you wish to splurge out on a great cut and beautiful fabric.

Current Elliot rolled skinny jeans at www.revolveclothing.com $204

5 POCKET JEANS WITH FLOCK ANIMAL PRINT Euro 49.85 form Zara

Footwear

There’s an endless choice from strappy sandals to wedge boots and shoes and high boots this season. If you’re going for the simple coat and leather leggings combo, my choice is the wedge boot for a minimalist look which is part androgynous mixed with Star Trek. Diane Von Furstenbergs come in sumptuous leather while the budget version at Zara is in PU.

Diane Von Furstenberg leather Opalista boots €372.00 art www.matchesfashion.com

WEDGE ANKLE BOOT WITH FLAPS 59.95 EUR at Zara

The new trainer is more a style statement than a functional trainer since it has a hidden wedge incorporated into the design. Ideal for making you look taller while wearing casual clothes, the only drawback is the fact you won’t be able to run very fast. Designer brand Ash have been to the fore in bringing out this style over the past couple of years. For a more affordable option have a look in places like River Island and Marks & Spencers, along with online stores.

Ash Cool Multicoloured Green Wedge Trainers €248.80 at www.asos.com

Black high top trainer with hidden wedge £40 at River Island

Knitwear

My favourite high street buy this season has to be the mixed fabric sweater from Warehouse. It comes in a choice of three colours; – navy, burgundy and soft pink. (A slightly different version is available in dove grey). Arms and back are in a viscose/cotton knit and the front is in a silky shirt fabric. The style is similar to an expensive cashmere/silk version by a top designer but at prices ranging from  €45 to €50 the fabric mix used here is a little less luxurious.

I have bought the navy version with longer back and can assure you it drapes beautifully. They are ideal for layering vests underneath and dressing up with scarves or jewellery. Equally they are a neat fit so it’s possible to wear them under a fitted blazer.

Jumper with silky front fabric, knit arms and back €48 at Warehouse and www.warehouse.co.uk

Woven back knit jumper in pink €48 at Warehouse and www.warehouse.co.uk

 Other pieces I recommend you look at are the following:

(1) A stylish army jacket at River Island which combines leather look sleeves with khaki twill. KHAKI PU SLEEVE ARMY JACKET £55 at River Island

(2) A skull scarf from Zara- the skulls look as though they are made form crystals and there‘s a hint of blue in there too. SKULL PRINT SCARF 19.95 EUR at Zara

(3) A colourful scarf from Zara. ORNAMENTAL PAISLEY HANDKERCHIEF 25.95 EUR at Zara

(4) The studded ankle boot for to put the Va Va Voom into Goddess! STUDDED ANKLE BOOT 119.00 EUR at Zara

(5) A neutral block heeled boot is good with denims and adds versatility to your wardrobe. BASIC COWBOY ANKLE BOOT In Leather 69.95 EUR at Zara

(6) A multi – purpose bucket bag. Multipurpose bucket Zara 36 x 46 x 16 cm. / 14 x 18 x 6 inches. 69.95 EUR

(7) Cage sandals are the perfect shape for most dresses this season. Black caged sandal £55 from River Island

(8) A dress which can be worn on its own or over leggings is great for a weekend away. Above: Karen Millen Feather Print Jersey Tunic Dress €106.63 at ASOS

Lipsy Tapestry Print Bodycon Dress €56.87 from ASOS

Don’t get me wrong… I’m a nature junkie and I love to be awe struck by mountains like those which inspired the movie Avatar followed by a boat ride on a lake inside the enormous dragon cave in Zhangjiajie National park. And yes there were lots more on a recent trip to China, including a temple devoted to Quan Yin, the Great Wall and a Yangtze cruise. But ultimately if I’m told I have to visit X amount of museums and spend so many hours per day gorging on culture, like many a beleaguered traveller before me, I’ll fall prey to Stendhal Syndrome (named after the 19th-century French novelist). It literally means to over dose on art or culture to the point it becomes self defeating.

When I travel to a foreign country, I want to feel the pulse of the land in the quietude of an evening sunset. I want to feel the heart beat of the inhabitants; learn their sorrows as well as their joys. I want their wounds to touch me and melt me so that I can understand my oneness with a people who on the surface appear vastly different to me.

My abiding memories of China include the times I could break away from the expected conformity of a tour group and mix with the locals. I enjoyed being adopted by an adorable fifteen year old girl on my way up the great wall. Shy yet full of joie de vivre, Shaolin ran to buy me a bottle of water at one of the stops and her enthusiasm kept me buoyed despite the searing temperatures. We took pictures of each other and vowed to stay friends for life.

On a four hour train journey, I left a very noisy carriage, full of middle class tourists in search of somewhere more peaceful to hopefully meditate a while. After passing through two carriages, I stopped to ask a man if I could occupy the seat next to him. Nodding, he removed a plastic bag and I sat down in its place. It was only then, as I looked around, it dawned on me that I was the only woman in the entire carriage.

As I scanned the weary faces of the three men sitting opposite, my eye was drawn to a medal of Quan Yin dangling around the neck of the youngest man by the window. This was meaningful for me because I have a special relationship with the Buddhist Goddess.  Before I ever knew who Quan Yin was, she appeared to me during meditation and in dream like altered states of consciousness. (I will write more about this on some other occasion.)

Due to the synchronicity with the young man’s medal, I closed my eyes and decided to devote my meditative practice to the men in the carriage. I chose to do a Metta or loving kindness meditation. Any of you who are familiar with this will immediately understand how similar this is to a very powerful prayer and you will also know how it can literally change the energy in a room. And so it was for me that as I entered that state of consciousness, I gained intuitive insights about the beauty of these extraordinary people sitting around me.

I instinctively knew these men had toiled long hours in inhumane work conditions for very little pay and were now making a long train journey home only to restart the odyssey soon again. I knew I was sitting among men who as we Irish would say were “the salt of the earth”, men who knew hardship and accepted it, labouring for love of wife and child. I felt deeply honoured to sit among them.

In the early days of the trip I started thinking about how I had entertained pre –conceived ideas that most Chinese people looked alike. How naïve was I to think that? After all we’re talking about 1.6 billion people and I have to tell you I was often in awe of how beautiful I found these smiling people, both inside and out.

Close to the end of my visit, I walked the streets of Zhangiajie city coughing and spluttering from the Co2 emissions hovering like a dense fog, when all of a sudden a beggar girl cried out to me. Looking down I saw the exquisite face of an eighteen year old girl peering up at me from a skate board. As I handed her an offering, I couldn’t help but wonder what ailment afflicted her. Was her tiny body with distorted limbs due to something as simple as malnutrition or lack of human growth hormone? One thing I do know however, is that I was touched by grace when she smiled a magnanimous smile that told me her heart was whole and filled with gratitude for life.

I was privileged to have several such encounters, including help from a special young woman, as I tried to cross a kami – kazi street. That near death experience was lessened by a good belly laugh as she linked her arm in mine. Then of course there were the street traders who proudly stood behind food stalls stacked high with everything from cooked chickens and sausages to fruit. Mostly they are jovial characters operating an honest business and they are fun to chat and bargain with, though few will allow their photo taken.

Ultimately I was still a tourist passing through, but my longing to learn about people urges me to look beyond the tourist attractions. What are your experiences of contact with different cultures? I’d love to hear from you.

Beauty Interrupted by Carré Otis. (Memoir)

Carré Otis biography is a very moving account of her life from troubled teen to international model and marriage to movie star Mickey Rourke. In baring her soul, Carré allows us to peer not only at her individual insecurities, but also reflect on the doubts that afflict most young women at some stage. An early diagnosis of dyslexia proved how harrowing and destructive such labels can be for young people.

The fashion world instead of being uber glamorous is depicted as a sometimes cold callous industry attracting predatory men.

At the height of her career, Carré Otis fronted international campaigns for Guess and Calvin Klein. Her exquisite face and body were instantly recognisable from magazine covers and provocative billboard campaigns for the movie Wild Orchid. Envied by millions of young women, Carré recounts how she developed an addiction to heroin and an eating disorder which almost cost her life.

Reading this you cannot fail to have the height of admiration for a woman who has not only battled her demons, but is now devoted to raising awareness in the hope other young women may avoid the pitfalls. Carré’s humanity and wisdom shine like a beacon through the later chapters.

For any young girl hell bent on pursuing a modelling career, this book should be compulsory reading.

Shaman in Stilettoes by Anna Hunt (Memoir)

Disillusioned with the endless round of parties, work and shopping, Anna Hunt, a celebrity journalist embarks upon a life changing adventure in Peru.  Once there she meets an extremely handsome and charismatic shaman called Maximo who sets about coaxing her to become his apprentice.

Anna has the choice to go with her head and return to her glamorous job in London or go with her heart and train to be a medicine woman in the shamanic tradition. While in Peru, she undergoes several journeys into the wilds of the jungle and participates in mind expanding rituals.

As she becomes increasingly attracted to Shamanism and to Maximo, she wonders how this could possibly fit with the life she has left behind. The chemistry between Anna and Maximo is however electric. You know if these two get it together, there will be orgasmic fireworks in the tantric manner. What other way for a red blooded man and woman on a spiritual path?

Having personally undertaken a healing journey to Peru, I couldn’t wait to read Anna’s book and I was not disappointed.

I laughed at her scepticism combined with a genuine respect for the traditions of the Amazon. This book is the real deal; – an accurate account of what it is like to experience the wonders of Peru and shamanism first hand. Read it to understand how living the simple life surrounded by nature can induce happiness impossible to find at the glitziest party imaginable. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone interested in the mysticism of South America.

My choice to download onto Kindle: Later Bloomers

35 Folks Over Age 35 Who Found Their Passion And Purpose by Debra Eve. Available on www.amazon.com [Kindle Edition]

Debra Eve offers inspiring motivation for those of us who feel we haven’t yet achieved our potential. Detailing the short biographies of 35 people over 35 who found their passion and purpose later in life, the list includes Charles Darwin and Richard Adams author of Watership Down.

Among others, Julia Child savoured her first French meal at age 36, igniting her passion for French cuisine and her resolve to educate America through cookery books and later a t.v. network.

Susan Boyle electrified the world with her singing voice at age 48. English character actress Liz Smith got her first break at 49. She recently co-starred with Johnny Depp.

Bram Stoker wrote Dracula at age 50. There’s a granny who took up hip-hop dancing at age 64, one who became a famous nightclub DJ at 68, and one who her ran her first marathon at age 86. She’s still running.

These are some of the fascinating people you’ll meet in this compilation. In the garden of life, a “late-blooming” flower blossoms right on time. At the end of each chapter, there’s a wise saying in the form of a life lesson learnt from each of the ‘Bloomers’. One of my favourite is from Edgar Rice Burrows, the author of Tarzan.

“You don’t need to be the best to be successful, but a little obsession goes a long way.”

Debra Eve’s book is not only entertaining, it is full of inspiring wisdom and insights into the reasons behind the phenomenon of “Later Bloomers”

Check this out to learn if you too have yet to bloom.

The Other Woman by Siobhan McKenna (Fiction)

If like me, you adore novels set in exotic locations with lots of foodie references, then you’ll love The Other Woman by Siobhan McKenna. Be prepared however to stock up on chocolate or better still have a glass of wine by your side as you put your feet up to savour saliva inducing culinary descriptions.

The story centres on a Dublin chocolate emporium and its owners Owen and Katherine Kennedy as they prepare to celebrate a centenary of business. The business is thriving but the Kennedys’ marriage is falling apart. Owen Kennedy, intent on introducing wine to his chocolate café menus, travels to Italy to form a business alliance with the Boselli family whose estate is set in the hills of Lake Garda, Italy. Ruby Harte, his diligent right hand woman is only too happy to accompany him and leave her own troubles behind in Dublin. But right away Ruby suspects that the relationship between Owen and Emma Boselli is a little more than professional. Meanwhile Owen’s wife, Katherine, is on a journey of self-discovery in Kenya, where she becomes enthralled by the beauty of Africa and the sensuality of its inhabitants.

Mc Kenna’s style is very engaging, employing descriptive language as the plot develops. The characters are well drawn and easy to identify with, especially the warm hearted and humorous Ruby. It is a compelling tale and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend as a great holiday read.

The Love Book by Fiona O Brien ( Fiction)

This is a beautifully written book about friendship reminiscent of the style of another O’Brien – the great Edna O’ Brien.

I loved the innovative start to this book where three 15-year-old schoolgirls offer up their requests to St Valentine in a Dublin church. Straight away the reader is drawn into the world of the main characters and the bond between them. After this we spend most of the story with the three boarders as grown women. There are a few, short-lived reminiscences back to their school days but only to explain to the reader why these women behave as they do.

The reason The Love Book is so appealing is because we are shown what fears, hopes and desires lie behind each character and the actions they take. We learn why Vonnie can’t trust people and why her own birth mother made the choices she did. Diana’s glamorous, flirtatious tendencies have led her life and her marriage down dangerous paths and Abby played it safe by quenching her own light and living in the shadow of her husband.

O’Brien touches on psychological and social issues such as family conflicts, adoption, alcoholism and unfulfilled dreams. It’s the type of book that leaves an impact on you. You get to know and care for the characters, each beautifully drawn and revealed as the plot develops. Unexpected twists in the story will have you hooked to the very end.

While it was a relief to have my ailment acknowledged, no effective solution to treating the condition existed and I continued to suffer for many years. At my worst I could not drive a car because of chronic sciatica. On some occasions, my weight plummeted to way below my body mass index and I was too weak and stiff to put a foot out of bed. I could barely walk around the house, never mind take the type of regular exercise recommended for a woman heading for the twilight years of pre- menopause and rapidly diminishing oestrogen. Temporary relief came from visits to Osteopaths, massage therapists and acupuncturists, though sometimes I ended up in more pain after a treatment than before.

As someone who was always prone to anxiety, I became increasingly fretful as to what the future might bring. Would the condition develop into arthritis, leaving me crippled and confined to a wheelchair in five or maybe ten years time? It was a viable concern since both my Grandfathers had spent their later years bed ridden with rheumatoid arthritis. I was also racked by guilt that I could not be the spontaneous fun loving mother I wished to be for my children, since it was more or less impossible to plan events, given the episodic nature of how chronically ill I could be on occasion. Needless to say that kind of negative thinking based on fear and guilt only served to worsen how I felt. But when you feel sick and miserable it’s not easy to change your perspective and suddenly turn yourself into a chirpy vessel for positive thoughts and endless joie de vivre.

Yes there’s the school of thought that says “Fake it till you make it” – meaning fake a smile to release endorphins and then you suddenly begin to feel better with happy chemicals floating around your body. It’s true to a certain extent but we can end up denying all the negative stuff of our lives in the process. And that is exactly where the root of my problem lay: – I had been denying my feelings since I was a child, often in the hope of pleasing adults. That resulted in me stuffing down every uncomfortable thought or sensation as soon as it reared its head in the hope of being processed in a healthy manner. I had to learn the hard way that whenever we deny or suppress emotions, they will eventually find a different mode of expression, often through pain in our bodies. I was afraid of difficult feelings like fear, anger, sadness and loneliness because I thought they would overwhelm me and define who I was as a person.

Anger especially is frowned upon in women. Have you ever noticed the way an angry woman is described in our culture?

“Oh she’s hysterical.”

“She’s irrational.”

The list is endless, but the one thing you will be aware of is that those two words are rarely if ever used to describe an angry man. There is a similar taboo with expressing grief or sadness and children are told from an early age to dry their tears and cheer up: – this is where men usually get a harder rap than women. As for loneliness… forget it. Loneliness has connotations of failure and being un -loveable, despite the fact that the most popular girl with five thousand face – book friends can be silently wallowing in the quiet belief that nobody understands her despite her outer show of popularity and success.

I have learnt to make friends with my emotions and to view them as transient.

Like the waves of the sea, they are part of who I am but they do not define me, since we are all bigger than the sum of our parts. That doesn’t mean I find them easy; the tougher ones always appear to hang around a while longer like un -invited gatecrashers keeping me from more favoured guests at a party. Occasionally they even turn into dark nights of the soul. The gate crashing bogies have however taught me lessons in humility, patience and empathy. More than anything else they have thought me self acceptance is preferable to perfection. Kindness begins with treating our selves in a gentle manner and the journey to wellness begins with self awareness.

My recovery from fibromyalgia is an ongoing process. Instead of shutting down my life, it continues to open doors onto beautiful meadows. I can now find joy and healing in a sunset, a poem by Neruda and many other wonderful every day events. I have become the observer of my mind; catching my thoughts whenever they bring me away from the present moment into projected fears for my future or regrets of the past. I have learnt the importance of giving gratitude daily for my health and peace of mind. Learnt to love life and cherish my body as the temple of my heart and soul.

I now embrace each new day and view my feelings as an inner guide towards a more fulfilling life, connecting me to every other sentient being on our planet. My ability to take an energetic three mile nature walk is evidence that miracles do happen. It has been said we can only let our illness go when we begin to see the gift it brings. Perhaps the Vampire will yet prove to have been a fairy Godmother in disguise.

I welcome comments on this post.

Note: Image copyright Paul Bates at http://paulbates.com

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For some of you who are unfamiliar with the different Goddesses, I hope you enjoy this introduction. There are many variations on the Greek myths and the fate of each Goddess, but essentially the individual Goddess archetype remains the same.

Take my Goddess quiz and discover which Archetype you are right now.

Carl Jung and Goddesses

Carl Jung was committed to self awareness, believing the key lay in understanding the subconscious. Jung transformed psychotherapy from a practice concerned with treating the sick into a means for higher development of the personality. Many consider him the founding father of ‘Personal development.’

Jung was especially knowledgeable in the symbolism of complex mystical traditions such as Gnosticism, Alchemy, Kabala, and similar traditions in Hinduism and Buddhism. If anyone could make sense of the unconscious and its habit of revealing itself only in symbolic form, it would be Carl Jung. For this reason he valued characters or archetypes as he preferred to call them. For him they represented universal patterns (of behaviour) which come from the collective unconscious and are the basic content of religions, mythologies, legends, and fairytales.

According to Jean Shinoda Bolen(Jungian psychiatrist and author of ‘Goddesses in every woman’), the ancient Greeks had a deity to mirror every mood, thought, act, and experience of the human being.  There is a wisdom in the myths which is still relevant today.

A woman may have many roles throughout life from daughter to sister to mother to career person.

At various times she may identify more strongly with one role. In understanding archetypes, it can help us make sense of difficult dynamics as we move from one role to another. Rapid shifts tend to happen during periods of transition in our lives, e.g. when we fall in love, get married, have a baby, get divorced or retire. Here is an opportunity for you to learn how stories and myths can help ease these transitions as you identify with the protagonist through her story.

In all the ancient mythologies which honour the Goddess we find very definite archetypes, e.g. maiden, mother and crone. In some cases these three aspects combine to form what is known as the triple Goddess;- meaning a divine trinity. The triple Goddess also represents the three stages of a woman’s life, yet individual traits may not be confined to chronological age when considering archetypes. Persephone is a maiden Goddess yet some women may identify with her until old age.

Many of the Goddesses within Greek mythology overlap in description and role. I have chosen seven here as an introduction to Jung’s identification with archetypes.

Goddess Quiz.

Take this quiz to find out which Goddess you are. Your archetype may change at different times throughout your life, depending on what you are going through.

Angelina Jolie may have been strongly associated with Aphrodite yet she has matured through various different Goddess archetypes in recent years. Judie Garland whereas, retained the childlike demeanour of Persephone throughout her lifetime.

Please select only one answer to each question.

1. 1. How I feel about my body:

 I am never fully happy with my body
 I feel sexy and attractive
 I love the fact my body can bear children
 I work out to keep my body fit and healthy
 How my brain works is more important than outer appearance.
 I like my body when my partner finds me attractive
 I don’t waste time thinking overly much about my body

Question 1 of 9

2. 2. I dress:

 Fashionably; -To look slim and feminine.
 To be admired; in sexy figure hugging clothes
 In comfortable practical clothes which are easily washed.
 In jeans and sportswear.
 In classic timeless clothes.
 To impress my partner.
 In whatever is available, but occasionally like eccentric pieces.

Question 2 of 9

3. 3. Which of the following women do you most readily identify with and admire:

 Princess Diana
 Marilyn Monroe
 My mother/women around me
 A spirited athletic woman like Venus Williams and/or Ali Hewson
 Hilary Clinton
 Michelle Obama
 Oprah Winfrey

Question 3 of 9

4. 4. What is the most important thing in your life:

 Inner peace
 Romance and passion
 Being a mother/nurturing others.
 Saving the planet and wildlife
 Career
 Marriage
 Self individuation and connecting with others.

Question 4 of 9

5. 5. Your ideal partner would be:

 someone reliable and protective, a good provider.
 someone as passionate as i am.
 someone who loves children and family life.
 i’m not sure i want a permanent relationship.
 as successful and ambitious as i am
 my equal partner; committed to relationship.
 a good friend, lover and soul mate.

Question 5 of 9

6. 6. When you have free time how do you like to spend it:

 Alone or helping others
 Shopping or visiting the beauty salon.
 Hanging out with other mothers who have become friends
 Outdoors hiking or enjoying a favourite sport
 At the theatre or a book launch.
 With my partner
 There are endless different pursuits from which to choose.

Question 6 of 9

7. 7. My attitude to food:

 Eating is all that important to me. I don’t have a big appetite.
 The ambience of where I eat is important. I like sensual, romantic food.
 I love the smell of baking to fill my home.
 I like to eat healthy organic food.
 I don’t have the time or interest for cooking. Prefer eating out.
 Meal times are important family occasions
 I love to cook and equally enjoy someone else cooking for me

Question 7 of 9

8. 8. My attitude to sexuality:

 I could easily be hurt if I felt used sexually. It needs to be part of a relationship.
 I am passionate and require a partner with a high sex drive. Otherwise boredom sets in.
 Sexuality for its own sake is not that important to me. The ability to give birth is most important.
 I can take it or leave it. If however my sexuality is aroused I become passionate and very physical.
 I need to be seduced mentally in order to be aroused
 For me sex and marriage go hand in hand. I could never do casual.
 I am a sexual being just as I am a physical, emotional and spiritual being. It is part of who I am.

Question 8 of 9

9. 9. My friends are:

 A select few whom I trust. I enjoy being alone.
 Mostly men. I don’t have many female friends
 Other mothers;- Neighbours and Women I have met through my children.
 I have lot of very close women friends. Not many male friends.
 People of like mind and people I’ve met through work.
 The wives of my partner’s friends.
 From all walks of life. I make friends easily.

Question 9 of 9

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The Goddess quiz based on Carl Jung’s theory of Archetypes, has finally arrived. You will find which Greek Goddess you most resemble by answering the questionnaire in the Goddess quiz section.  It’s fun  to take and your results are completely confidential. Here’s a brief description of each of the main Goddesses in the Greek Pantheon.

Goddesses in the Greek Pantheon

This is intended as a quick overview to acquaint you with the main Goddesses. Most had a counterpart in Roman mythology and often similar Goddesses appeared in Celtic, Egyptian and Norse myths.

Persephone

Persephone (sometimes known as Kore)

Persephone is the maiden Goddess, daughter of Demeter (Goddess of the harvest) and Zeus king of the Gods. Persephone helped her mother Demeter tend the earth until one day she was abducted by Hades, king of the underworld. Having eaten six pomegranate seeds while in the realm of the dead, Persephone would henceforth have to spend six months a year with Hades, who took her as his bride. The other half of the year sees her return to Earth to be with her mother Demeter.

Persephone’s youth and innocence make her carefree and intuitive;- a child of nature. Due to her abduction by Hades she however became a victim, somewhat helpless. Persephone types will always look girly no matter what their true age. If this is your archetype, it’s likely you suffered a great loss and may have ended up feeling a victim of life and circumstances.

For this reason, you may be good at understanding others and helping them, finding it easy to empathise with their pain. This can lead you to a desire to work in professions such as nursing, teaching, psychology or areas of artistic expression. Often a people pleaser, who may find it difficult to maintain boundaries with others, having grave difficulty saying ‘no’. Some Persephone types suffer from body dysmorphia, meaning they do not feel comfortable with their bodies and can develop psychosomatic illnesses. In turn, they may not be comfortable with sexuality.

You move from this archetype towards empowerment when you start seeing yourself as co-creator of your own life; – you create your reality with your thoughts, words and actions. Take control and do not hand over your power to anyone else. Neither blame nor praise another for your successes or failures. Accept personal responsibility: with your gifts and capabilities you can become a powerful woman.

Persephone can learn lessons from Artemis’s independent nature and Hekate’s ability to not take herself too seriously.

Demeter (Roman Goddess Ceres)

Demeter and Persephone © Susan Seddon Boulet

Demeter is the archetypal mother Goddess. As queen of the harvest she also represents the embodiment of mother Earth. Like her daughter Persephone she is a victim Goddess. The abduction of her daughter by Hades led to her spending six months each year in mourning. During this time of sorrow she refused to tend the earth until the return again of Persephone in Spring time. The ancients accepted this as an explanation of the seasons; – Autumn and Winter as the time of Demeter’s neglect of the earth and Spring and Summer a time of her working once more with her daughter to produce a bountiful harvest.

Demeter loves her role as life giver and nurturer, even with children who are not hers. This role is more important than career. Kind, patient and gentle, she is nevertheless a vulnerable Goddess, like her daughter Persephone. In the Greek myth, she represents the sorrowful mother who lost her child. Like Persephone she is mystical and intuitive, allowing her to empathise easily with the suffering of others.

As a giver, this archetype may neglect her needs in favour of looking after others. Rather than be assertive the mother is in danger of becoming passive aggressive to get her needs met. If this happens, over time there is a danger of becoming co-dependent and adopting a martyr complex. There always needs to be a balance. In order to truly relate well to others, you must first be kind to yourself.  Being overly identified with the mothering role may result in a suppression of the sex drive or adopting a mothering attitude towards your partner: – if this is the case you could do with discovering your inner courtesan.

Demeter could earn from Aphrodite’s ability to take care of herself and be sensual, along with looking to Artemis ability to work healthy boundaries and the ability to say ‘no’.

Artemis ( Roman Goddess Diana)

An independent spirit, Artemis is Goddess of the hunt, nature and birth. Another maiden Goddess, though unlike Persephone she has the strength and ability to protect herself from any unwanted attention. This can mean she is overly independent to the extent men may find her off- putting.

Her gifts include a strong empathy for other women, the ability to be an avid campaigner for human rights, the environment or animal rights.

Goddess of the hunt and wild animals, she was also a midwife and healer.

Solitary by nature, Artemis is concerned with the environment and women’s rights. Her strong masculine side means, she has integrated male/female energy and her most complete relationship is with herself. Known as Virgin Goddess, she does not need or depend on having a man in her life. Artemis types may be drawn to outdoor careers such as veterinarian, explorer or working for an NGO.

If Artemis is your archetype, you are likely to be driven by physical rather than mental energy and have a good gut instinct. You are sporty and love the outdoors, along with being passionate about organic food and animals. You constantly seek self expression and may be a champion for animal or women’s rights. Your independent nature means you are skilled at establishing personal boundaries and you generally have excellent relationships with other women. Your attitude however, may be off- putting to men. If what you’re looking for is an equal, loving relationship, take some tips from Hera.

Athena © Susan Seddon Boulet

Athena ( Roman Goddess Minerva)

Goddess of war and wisdom, domestic crafts, and writing. Plato believed her name meant “mind of God” whilst others suggest it comes an ancient word meaning “sharp.” Both these words point to Athena’s great intellectual ability to see the true nature of a situation and to develop successful strategies. Logic is her forte but on certain occasions she may lack the kind of empathy Persephone has in abundance.

Her superior intelligence may tend towards arrogance and a judgemental attitude of others.

One of the Olympian Goddesses, she represents a capable, ambitious woman. A woman who scales the career ladder, is good in business and the law. Her independent nature means she shies away from opening up in relationships. The danger is you may become a bit of an ivory tower if you remain identified with Artemis. Men may view you as intimidating, aloof and judgemental even if the outer show is in some cases a cover for hypersensitivity.

Inclined overly to think along straight lines (left brained logic), life demands resilience from us and a need to constantly change our thoughts and ideals in the way nature and society constantly changes. Athena could learn from the two Goddesses of love; – Demeter’s maternal love and Aphrodite’s sensual love.

Aphrodite © Susan Seddon Boulet

Aphrodite

The Goddess of love and beauty. No man could resist Aphrodite when she wore her magic girdle. Her name means foam – born or risen from foam as she was birthed from the churning sea as in Boticelli’s painting ‘The birth of Venus’.

Aphrodite has a great aesthetic; – the gift of making herself and her surroundings look beautiful. Her sensuality and passionate nature are very attractive to the opposite sex, yet she may have commitment issues and find relationships difficult.

As Goddess of love and beauty, she understands the art of seduction; keeps herself looking well and wears beautiful clothes. If this is your archetype your ideal career ranges from performer/actress or fashion designer to events organiser.

Aphrodite represents an alluring woman who has no problem attracting men, but will often attract the wrong type. A man who is successful and values outer beauty will see her as a prize worth winning ;- the trophy girlfriend. In turn she may be offered financial support and material gifts. In the long run these do not sustain a relationship and remember looks fade with age. If You are identified with Aphrodite, you are keenly sensual and very comfortable with your body. You shine on social occasions and have many admirers. Your artistic expression is evident in your style and décor.

Aphrodite types need to learn who they truly are inside and not accept sex or materialism as a substitute for love. As a child you may have been praised for looking pretty rather than loved for who you truly are. If this is the case your outer persona hides a deep yearning to be loved. Start by loving and accepting yourself and let go of a constant need for perfection. Life will start to take on a deeper meaning when you accept this truth and connect with other women on a soul level.

Aphrodite archetypes could learn from Artemis’s freedom of expression. Also, look to Hera for lessons in committed relationship.

Hera( Roman Goddess Juno)

The Goddess Hera depicted with a peacock.

Queen of the Olympians and Goddess of marriage and birth. One historian claims her name could be connected to the Greek word for seasons – hora, suggesting she is ripe for marriage.

Hera was married to Zeus , king of the Gods. Following on this, the Hera woman desires marriage to a rich, powerful man and will sacrifice her own career to be part of a ‘power couple’. Hera valued her position as the wife of Zeus and remained constantly vigilant of her husband, since he was fond of straying from the marital bed.

If Hera is your archetype, it’s likely you value relationships and look on the marital relationship as the most important. Hera is confident and has no problem asserting her authority in all areas of life.  She is status conscious, seeking successful men who are her equals; – who neither fear her nor wish to belittle her. Hera’s gift is her ability to commit and be a loyal and faithful partner.

Kahlil Gibrain may have been writing about Hera when he said of marriage: “The oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow”.

If you are identified with Hera, chances are you will be successful at maintaining good relationships. Life however does not always run predictably well and powerful men often seek ego fulfilment through other women. Hera types may view sex as a necessary aspect of marriage, not as something to wilfully engage in. If this is the case, you could look to Aphrodite for lessons in appreciating sensuality.

Should your partner discredit your relationship, you may be tempted to want to numb your feelings of hurt by taking refuge in alcohol or acting out with passive aggressive behaviour. If this happens you will need to concentrate on your own growth and take some tips from Hekate or Artemis.

Hestia( Roman Goddess Vestia)

The domestic Goddess of the Greek Pantheon, she rules over the hearth and home. Her name comes from the Greek word estia meaning “she that dwells or tarries.” This reflects the importance of the role that the ancient Greeks attributed to this Goddess in sacrificing her position as an Olympian to guard the fire and maintain a happy home.

Hekate (has several counterparts in various world mythologies)

Goddess of the dark side of the moon, childbirth and the crossroads. She is closely associated with magic, witchcraft and alchemy. Also known as Hecate, she is the crone (older and wise woman) aspect of the triple Goddess and is affiliated to Persephone, since she helped bring her back to Earth. Patroness of witches, she represents the crone or older woman, though in rare cases, she may be present in a young woman who is wise before her time.

Hekate is feared by many ( Shakespeare cast her as evil in Hamlet) and perhaps her  power threatens the traditional view of how women are perceived in society. Alchemists were not solely concerned with changing base metal into gold. It was also a philosophical movement requiring mastery over the self. This in turn would lead to an ability to manifest on a material level; what is commonly known as working the ‘law of attraction’. Hekate’s ability to walk between Earth, sea and sky allows her this gift, whereby she may transform  her darker emotions and life experiences into the gold of wisdom and healing.

Hekate understands what Socrates spoke of when he said “Know yourself and you know the universe.” You do not judge others. Equally you accept your own short comings with grace and fortitude.

If this is your archetype, you are capable of living in the present and trusting in the universe. Career choices could span the arts, telecommunications, motivational speaker or life coach. You know the material world is illusionary and  you value spiritual connection. Oprah Winfrey is a perfect example of this archetype.

This is a powerful archetype for the woman who wishes to age gracefully. If this is your archetype you have the gift of seeing life as a series of lessons and probably have developed a great sense of humour. Hekate sees life as a rich tapestry, beautiful despite its inherent flaws. Hekate remains forever young and wild at heart.

For more on Hekate’s wisdom; – read ‘Power of the Crone’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estes 

Themis

Goddess of divine justice, order and customs. She also had the gift of prophecy. Her name simply means “law of nature” or “divine nature.” Her role may appear to overlap with Athena and Hekate.

Here are some of my favourites.

Fiction

Chocolat by Joanne Harris is one of my all time favourites, and the following two Blackberry wine and Five Quarters of the Orange are by the same author .

Madame Bovary  by Gustave Flaubert (translated by Lydia Davis).

Having read several different translations of this wonderful book, I believe Davis does justice to Flaubert’s reputation as one of the best Western novelists of all time.

Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges

A book of fictions, essays and parables, all presented in a short story format. Film maker Edmund Yeo says of Labyrinths “The reader gets to see Borges forming a work of fiction from a philosophical premise and then dissecting that premise analytically. If that sounds like a magician giving away his tricks, it’s not – since the essays include some of Borges’ most personal and autobiographical writing, and any possible ‘explanation’ is always filled with as many paradoxes and points of thought as the fiction.”

Art

Susan Seddon Boulet, A Retrospective

The late Susan Seddon Boulet, a Brazilian Shamanic artist painted stunning pictures of the Goddesses from various Mythological traditions. Susan was a keen aficionado of Jungian psychology, employing many of Carl Jung’s principles to her art.

Celestial Gallery [Hardcover] by Romio Shrestha (Author) & Ian A. Baker (Author), with a foreword by Deepak Chopra. The price varies from $20 to $200, depending on availability, so shop around for value over the net.

This is a stunning book, standing 62 cm (2ft) tall. From it, I chose three mandalas and handed the book into a framing studio to have them transformed into pieces of art. This justified the initial price I paid for the book as I now have beautiful mandalas hanging on my walls. There’s also a new edition titled ‘Goddesses of the Celestial Gallery’.

Psychology

Goddesses in Everywoman by Jean Shinoda Bolen

This books explores Carl Jung’s theory of identification with archetypes. Jean Shinoda Bolen, M. D, is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, author and activist. An internationally known speaker who draws from spiritual, feminist, Jungian, medical and personal wellsprings of experience. She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, UCSF clinical professor, and a former board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women.

For all her qualifications, she is an extremely down to earth wise woman. This book had been translated into 22 different languages. It is a very empowering book for women of all ages.

The Power of the Crone by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

I have this on audio because I love listening to Clarissa Pinkola Estes’s beautiful lyrical voice and hearing her laugh between reading. Clarissa is mischievous in urging women to be true to themselves. For any woman fearful of the ageing process, this will change your outlook  forever.

Clarissa Pinkola Estés, PhD, is an internationally recognized scholar, award-winning poet, diplomate senior Jungian psychoanalyst, and cantadora (keeper of the old stories in the Latina tradition). She is the author of the bestseller Women Who Run With the Wolves (Ballantine, 1996) and The Dangerous Old Woman audio series (Sounds True, 2010).

Autobiographies

Borges by Edwin Williamson.

Since I’m enthralled by Borges, I love this autobiography for an insight into the mind of the great Argentinian writer and poet.

Carl Jung: Wounded Healer of the Soul by Clare Dunne

Another visually stunning book, this autobiography is by Irish woman Clare Dunne who travels the world lecturing on Jung. It features wonderful art and is incredibly easy to comprehend, even as an introduction to Jung.

It’s now out of print but you may pick up a copy on eBay or Amazon at a good price.

All Will be Well by John Mc Gahern

Available from www.amazon.com. This is a beautifully written, evocative memoir. I was privileged to attend a reading of this book seven months prior to Mc Gahern’s death.

Books on writing

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

For anyone who wants to be a writer or free the artist within, I recommend this book. I also have it on audio and listen to it in the car, especially if my ability to express myself gets blocked.

Natalie is inspirational and funny and best of all gives us permission to freely express ourselves, while ousting the inner critic.

On Writing by Stephen King

Not only a memoir with fascinating insights into the mind of Stephen King, this is also a great book for anyone hoping to become a writer.

Cookery books

The French Laundry Cookbook by Thomas Keller

Thomas Keller is not only chef to the stars in L.A., he’s a cook’s cook:- The Cappo di Tutti Cappo of chefs. This wonderful book is rated as one of the best cookery books ever compiled. Artistic and elegant, it is an absolute treasure.

Make Bake Love by Lilly Higgins

On a very different theme to Keller’s no fuss streamlined presentation, I love the exact opposite when it comes to baking.

Artsy, homey books like Lilly Higgins ‘Make bake love’ along with the following by Angel Adoree

The Vintage Tea Party by Angel Adoree

These two cookbooks are so girly with an emphasis on home baking. Angel Adoree brings you on a whirl wind tour of living the vintage life in London replete with tips on vintage dressing. Her book is a divine experience. Even Aphrodite would approve.

Poetry

Love Poems by Pablo Neruda

What is it about South American writers and poets? Neruda, a Chilean poet knew how to express his love for a woman. For me, he is one of the greatest love poets of all time.

Love Poems by Pedro Salinas

It must be the Spanish language  and temperament that moves the heart so intensely. More wonderful love poetry by Spanish poet Pedro Salinas

The Poems of W.B. Yeats

Yeats, a mystic and nature lover (like Carl Jung) is my favourite Irish poet.

Children’s books I love to dip into

Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson

This recent edition was originally published in 1916. It contains 24 of Hans Andersen’s most famous tales illustrated by many of Irish man Harry Clarke’s enchanting colour plates and his fascinating black and white line drawings.

I must be Hans Christian Anderson’s number one fan. Yes… at my age! I also love his lesser known fairy stories as they pay homage to nature along with offering a depth of philosophical meaning. For the lesser known stories,  seek out  versions of  his complete works. Sometimes if you’re lucky you will find them in second hand book stores.

Treasury of Greek Mythology by National Geographic

This is an excellent introduction to Greek mythology. Read it to your children, nieces or nephews and learn as you go along.

Wearable Art

It’s expensive but it’s to die for and it’s top of my wish list (friends and family make a note please!) for S/S 2012 because the design is borrowed from nature and made with love on the banks of Lake Como.

A brightly printed scarf adds a dash of colour to a monochrome outfit. In the luxury bracket, Richard Weston scarves are extra special because they are inspired by his intimate knowledge and love of nature. As the Brown Thomas sales assistant pulled it out of the box, it sprang into life, almost taking flight. Such is the organic quality of the silk satin and the vibrant print.

Prize winning architect and landscape designer, Professor Richard Weston creates unique pieces inspired by the forms, patterns shapes and colours found in nature. His luxurious collection of silk satin scarves are digitally printed with mineral stone and fossil designs. Given their affinity to nature’s beauty it is fitting that they are printed and made in an artisan fashion at Lake Como in Italy. Weston scarves are available on line at westonearthimages.com.

Orange Pietersite Print Silk Scarf, Weston Scarves £165.00 (€190)from www.liberty.co.uk and Brown Thomas nationwide

The Little Red dress

Kate Middleton wore this Issa dress in long sleeved blue for her engagement and it sold out worldwide within 24 hours. I splurged out on the red version three years previously for a special occasion, though in my usual fashion I managed to get it at the Harvey Nichol’s sale (I have a policy of never paying full whack). The style has proved so timeless, Issa have once again included it in their collection. It’s very accommodating  if like me your weight fluctuates. Pricey, but the good news is there hasn’t been a price increase since it was first introduced.

Red knot-front dress in silk jersey €460 at www.matchesfashion.com

Star Print dress

Star prints have been around for the past three years. It started with Chanel and was followed by other major fashion houses. Remember the skull print (began at McQueen) has been around for eight years and is till going strong. The star denotes more optimism than the skull and I think it’s a winner for a few seasons ahead. Get it in scarves or in this cute little dress.

Star Print dress at Zara,€69.95

A Great White shirt

A  timeless classic: – one white shirt is a must in every woman’s wardrobe. Here’s an elegant take on the white shirt;- perfect with jeans or skirts. It could even be worn with a long skirt as part of a formal wedding outfit.

SHAWL COLLAR CROSS-OVER SHIRT WITH TIE FRONT PRICE: £89.95 NOW £54.00 (€68)from www.theshirtcompany.com

The Aspirational Piece

If   money were no object this hand embroidered dress is my number one choice. Just when I’ve begun thinking designers have gone boring I’m blown away by the exquisite hand embroidered work and creativity in  this dress and shrug. It’s by innovative Japanese designer Junya Watanabe and is available at www.netaporter.com It’s sure to be a celebrity winner this season as no mere mortal could afford it.

I’m in awe of how utterly fabulous it is and simply had to show it to you. Makes me want to get the sewing machine out again… Anyone got a red faux leather jacket I could cut up?

Available at www.netaporter.com

The Versatile Tunic

Easy to wear tunic dress has a nod to Tribal in the addition of coral and turquoise beading, especially when paired with flat sandals. You don’t have to be skinny to wear this silk piece. It’s extremely versatile and can look quite 60’s if you backcomb the front of your hair and wear it with coral stilettos. On the other hand, wear it with flat sandals for a look that says effortless chic. For colder days, try it over skinny jeans.

EMBELLISHED CUFF SHIRT DRESS by Warehouse €95

Printed skinny jeans

Top fashion label Current Elliot was at the forefront of this trend with their animal print jeans. It looks set to continue as it hits the high street. Tacky in natural leopard but ultra cool in grey/black! Among an endless choice of printed denims, there’s a gorgeous pair of giraffe print jeans by RICH & SKINNY available online at www.revolveclothing.com

ANIMAL PRINT ULTRA SKINNY JEANS by Warehouse €60

www.revolveclothing.com have a variety of printed jeans varying in price from $145 to $299

Digital print

Digital printing started with designers like McQueen and 3 years later it’s gaining momentum among high street labels. It can be great in blue… images of outer galactic space odysseys!

Fluid marble print dress €175.00 by Karen Millen

Cargo Jeans

If you’re cash rich invest in the original J-brand cargo jeans. If not there’s lots of choice in a variety of price brackets. Remember these are different to utility pants worn loose. Wear them tight for a super sexy look. Add a pair of heels and a fluid white shirt.

TOMMY HILFIGER CARGO JEANS from asos.com vary in price from €85.00 to €95 depending on the model, fabric and detail.

Two Tone Heels

Two tone heels are hot this season especially in this colour combination.

LAMINATED HEEL SANDAL by Zara, €59.95

The Blazer

The blazer as seen at Stella Mc Cartney for the past five seasons, is now just catching on in the high street. Pretty in pink, this is a versatile  and elegant jacket.

BLAZER in almond pink, €99.95 at Zara

A go-everywhere bag

A classic bag in the season’s statement colourcan be bought on-line from Irish designer Orla Kiely.

Layered Link Classic Ella Bag sale price £243.75 at Orla Kiely www.orlakiely.com

The cardi-cosi

Another great buy; DKNY’s cardigan- cosi in cashmere/silk mix. First introduced 3 years ago, it’s as popular as ever. It’s available in a myriad of different colours and can be worn 11 different ways according to the DKNY website.

Price approx.€195

You can also view my other posts in this series: From Designer to Where and Get an Edgy Look on a Budget.

This lady -like Fontana Tunic price £75 ( average €95)from Monsoon, ticks the right boxes for a colour block 60’s look

Studio overcoat by Zara in wool/cotton mix at €139

Natalija Dress by OASIS €37.00

HORSE PRINT SCARF in viscose €25.95 Zara

BLACK LEATHER FALLAWAY GILET by River Island £100 ( average €120)

GREY CUT-OUT BACK SHIRT by River Island £16 (€19)

BLACK SUEDE & LEATHER WEDGES £50 (€65) by River Island

LILAC ACID WASH SKINNY JEANS by Oasis £40.00

The perfect asymmetric top: - River Island Chiffon Shirt Dress, reduced to £24.50 (approx €35) at www.asos.com

DIPPY HEM CHIFFON BLOUSE €50.00 BY OASIS- oasis-stores.com

PRINTED T-SHIRT at Zara, €22.95

Miss Sixty Asymmetric Dress With Tribal print, price reduced to £54.00 (approx €76) at www.asos.com

T-SHIRT WITH PRINTED PHOTO by Zara €22.95

You can also read my other articles in this series From Designer to Where and What Makes A Good Buy.

I believe we have really out lived trends and fashion is now more about value and wearability.

Five years ago fashion pundits and designers around the globe declared skinny jeans passé. Yet they have remained and are more popular than ever due to improvements in the introduction of new fabrics with added stretch and comfort. Not just for skinny malinks, women decided there were many different ways to wear them e.g under layered t-shirts, tunics or dresses.

It’s proof that the Fashion industry now has less power to influence women. We have access to the internet and can order what we like long after designers have decreed an item outmoded. A recession can spur people towards creative pursuits and there’s a growing number of women taking dressmaking classes in the hope of learning to make and alter clothes.

At a symposium I attended, spiritual guru Deepak Chopra predicted a return to an emphasis on CRAFT where not only the designer would be acknowledged on the clothing label. Everyone in the chain of manufacturing right back to source…from the cotton grower to the weaver is of equal importance in the chain of manufacturing. Designer Donna Karan, a regular visitor to Haiti, has begun enlisting the co-operation of artisans and craft workers. In viewing the work of Haitian painters, sculptors and craft persons. Karan reiterated her passion for Haiti as a nation where “each person is creative” and promised to assist Haitian artisans in promoting their works. “Creativity can be manifested into jobs,” said Donna Karan, an ardent supporter of Haiti through her company Urban Zen.

Donna Karan I admire, along with Helmut Lang. Quite simply they stay faithful to their own concept of a unique aesthetic, producing very wearable clothes that women can make their own. They don’t impose a particular fashion or shape on women.

Perhaps the reason I love them is because the drape of their clothes is not unlike the simple asymmetric lines of a Greek toga worn by the Goddesses in the myths. The clothes are directional yet remain timeless classics.

These two designers have remained committed to their ‘look’ over the past decade, barely changing either their colour palette ( of monochrome and muted taupes and grey) or shapes from one season to the next. Karan often includes a red dress to add a bit of colour. The clothes are easy and elegant and regularly imitated by other manufacturers.

Designer clothing is beyond the price range of most of us but we can take inspiration from innovating designers. Once you recognise a look you like and are comfortable with, you can do one of the following:

1. Go for quality rather than quantity and buy the best you can afford. Practice restraint and buy less. French women are famous for their well organised capsule wardrobes.
2. Save up for one special investment piece and build around it.
3. Check out the designer’s diffusion label. Donna Karan’s DKNY. Rick Owen’s Lilies Dark shadow is another worth looking at.
4. Scour internet sites like www.theoutnet.com ( recently reported to be Victoria Beckham’s favourite on-line shop) and ebay for special pieces at discounted prices.
5. Search high street stores for similar items.
6. If you’re good with a sewing machine, you can make your own clothes. Be inspired by elegant draping, though it’s not as easy as it looks in the pictures below. These designers make it look simple and that is their genius.
7. Buy vintage clothing. That way you’re helping to recycle. If you can sew it’s a bonus, since you can alter to fit your body shape.

The Helmut Lang look

Lush voile dress by Helmut Lang

Era suiting blazer by Helmut Lang

Draped top with white feather design by Helmut Land worn over narrow trousers.

Helmut Lang Chrome jersey T-shirt €179.00 from www.matchesfashion.com

Helmut Lang Contrast-sleeve silk blouse €285 at www.netaporter.com

The Donna Karan look

Donna Karan oversized cardigan available at www.netaporter.com

Donna Karan artist srtetch jersey dress at www.netaporter.com

And finally the Goddess dress by Donna Karan. Availlable at www.netaporter.com

Donna Karan Spring/Summer 2012. Tribal fashion inspired by Haiti

You can also view my other posts in this series: What Makes a Good Buy? and Get An Edgy Look on a Budget.

Goddess Quan Yin by Artist Sue Halstenberg ©

Have you noticed there seems to be a growing interest in mythology? There may be countless reasons, including a hankering for nostalgia as witnessed in the revival of old cookery recipes and vintage clothing. More of us may wish to reconnect with nature and simplicity as our ancestors did. As we live in uncertain times, we look to older civilizations in the hope of ascertaining wisdom.

Mythology has been around for thousands of years in almost every ancient civilization on Earth. The Gods and Goddesses of the myths represented the eternally male and feminine qualities that pattern our lives. Each of the myths is different, with each God and Goddess having distinctly different traits, both positive and negative. Human nature hasn’t changed much despite advances in technology and education.

In olden times these stories were a source of entertainment just as movies and books are for us today. Stories filled with emotion, heartache, lost innocence, revenge and jealousy helped to shape the values of individual societies by teaching what is normal, acceptable and likely to be rewarded or punished. Above all else the myths shed light on the human condition and our struggle to be whole in mind, body and spirit.

Through the Goddess quiz, you can acquaint yourself with the personality traits of seven of the main Greek Goddesses. Assuming that not all of you are experts on mythology, I intend to gradually introduce you to Goddesses from other traditions in this section.

One of my favourite Goddess myths comes from the East.  The legend of Quan Yin, Buddhist Goddess of compassion as depicted here in Sue Halstenberg’s beautiful painting.

She is often shown sitting or standing on a lotus flower, which is one of the main symbols of Buddhist purity, since this flower grows out of mud. The meaning is that our hearts should always be pure like the lotus flower, even when we encounter difficult people in our lives.

Her story is not unlike certain fairy tales and has similarities with the story of Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism in that she was the daughter of a king. It has parallels with the story of Jesus in her role as sacrificial daughter, wishing to save mankind from suffering.

The legend of Quan Yin, Buddhist Goddess of Compassion.

In 7th century China, a king had three daughters, the youngest named Miao-Shan. At Miao-Shan’s birth, the earth shook as flowers blossomed and their fragrance permeated the land. Many who saw the child claimed they witnessed the marks of a holy incarnation on her body. In Buddhism such a person is called a Bodhishattva.

While the king and queen were amazed by this blessing, they saw little value in a child who appeared pure and kind. When Miao-Shan reached her teens, the king decided she should marry for political reasons. Replying to her father’s request, she said she would only marry if she could help alleviate the suffering of all mankind.

The king was outraged by her devotion to helping others. Her mother, the queen and her two sisters forced her to slave away at menial tasks. Finally, in desperation, the king decided to let her pursue her religious calling at a monastery, but ordered the nuns there to treat her so badly she would change her mind. She was forced to scrub floors and collect wood. Wishing to give her an impossible task, they ordered her to plant a garden on barren ground around the monastery. Much to everyone’s amazement, the garden flourished even in winter and a spring welled up keeping it watered.

Incensed, the king wanting to kill Miao-Shan, sent his henchmen to fetch her at the monastery. As they arrived, a spirit appeared out of a fog of clouds and carried her away to safety on a remote island. There, she lived alone for many years, pursuing a life of spiritual devotion.

Several years later, her father became seriously ill and was unable to sleep or eat; his doctors believed he would certainly die soon. As he was about to give one last breath, a monk came to visit. The holy man told the king he could cure the monarch, but he would have to grind up the arms and eyes of one free from hatred to make this medicine. The king thought this was impossible, but the monk assured him that there was a Bodhisattva living in the king’s domain who would gladly sacrifice her body parts if asked.

An envoy from the king went in search of the the unknown bodhisattva. When the envoy made the request, Miao-Shan gladly cut out her eyes and severed her arms. The envoy returned and the monk made the medicine. The Monarch instantly recovered and thanked the monk who reprimanded him. “You should thank the one who gave her eyes and arms.”  the monk said before disappearing. The king, believing this was a sign of divine intervention, ordered a coach  and headed off with his family to find and thank the unknown bodhisattva.

When the royal family arrived they realized it is was their daughter, Miao-Shan, who had made the sacrifice. The girl spoke, “Mindful of my father’s love, I have repaid him with my eyes and arms.” With eyes full of tears and hearts full of shame, the family gathered to hug Miao-Shan. As they did so, clouds formed around the girl. The earth trembled, flowers bloomed and a holy image of the Thousand Eyes and Thousand Arms appeared in the sky.

And then, the bodhisattva disappeared from this world. To honor Miao-Shan the royal family built a shrine on the spot, which is known as The Fragrant Mountain.

BODHISATTVA literally means “enlightened being”, a soul who through compassion and altruism, has earned the right to leave this world of suffering and enter nirvana, but has chosen instead to re-incarnate on Earth and help others until all beings are enlightened. The Dali Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh are acknowledged as Bodhisattvas.

How are we familiar with the archetype of Quan Yin?

In Hans Christian Anderson’s story ‘Thumbelina’ we are introduced to a flower child who appears to resemble Quan Yin. In another of Anderson’s myths ‘The story of a mother’ we read of a mother who sacrifices her body parts in the hope of saving her baby son. Quan Yin has many similarities with the Celtic Goddess Brigid and the Hindu Goddess Tara. In appearance and character traits she is similar to the virgin mother of Christianity.

In her role as daughter tending the earth she resembles the maiden Goddess Persephone (of Greek mythology), yet she assumes the role of mother Goddess in her spirit of compassion and unconditional love. Her wisdom and devotion to spirituality are attributes of the crone Goddess, so in many respects she embodies the strong archetype of the triple Goddess. Through her suffering she never identifies with a victim mentality, instead she rises above it. In this way she represents a very enduring feminine archetype.

In Buddhism there are no Gods to worship since the path of enlightenment is an individual path of wisdom, ethical conduct and mental development. Though it may be helpful to visualise Quan Yin in human form, it is more accurate to say she represents the energy of compassion and unconditional love. In this way many devotees call upon the feminine energy of Quan Yin when reciting mantras or during mediation.

The most popular mantra recited to Quan Yin is ‘Namo Quan Shi Yin Pu Sa’ [Nah-moh Kwahn Shee Yin Poo Sah] which means ‘Salutations to the compassionate and merciful Bodhisattva Kuan Yin’.

Prizes

A Vintage Miu Miu bag

A vintage Miu Miu bag with distinct Bauhaus design on back and front. Leather frame and handles add up to a very classy look.

An ideal travel bag or shopper it measures 14”(36cm)Accross by 12” (31cm) High by 5”(12cm) wide.

Nicole Farhi dress

Second choice is this fabulous Nicole Farhi dress. This is a loose fitting dress – looks very French and the silk feels amazing on. It is a size S but would in fact fit from size 8 to 12 European sizes. Sizes 4 – 8 American.

It could very easily be taken in by a dressmaker. On the other hand if it was tight in the hips, the side seams could be slit and the dress could be worn as a tunic over jeans or leggings.

Lightweight silk shirt dress by Nicole Farhi taken from the exclusive Farhi collection. Large contrasting horizontal stripe design with cropped turn up sleeves. Two pockets at the side and a detachable belt which you can use to tie around the waist to add definition to your figure. Round neck which fastens at the back with press studs. Fully lined this silk dress will work with fashion tights and a pair of Mary Jane shoes for a chic look. Photo and dress courtesy of ( www.julesb.co.uk) a great fashion website. Measures 92cm from shoulder to hem.  Retail price approx €210.

DVF laptop case

This brown and green trio-dot vintage-print laptop case from Diane by Diane von Furstenberg is the ultimate tech-accessory. A sophisticated yet playful way to secure your essential information. This brown and green trio-dot vintage-print laptop-case has a silver-tone zip around closure with black tassel comes from another great fashion website www.matchesfashion.com

It is Faux-leather and retails at approx €150

How you Enter

Just complete these four steps for a chance to win.

1. Subscribe to the blog by completing the quick subscribe form in the sidebar or footer of this site.
2. Follow Goddessmeca Stories on TWITTER HERE
3. Like Goddessmeca Stories on FACEBOOK HERE
4. Leave a comment under this post saying you did all three

The first winner will be picked on 25th of April and will be awarded the prize of their choice so please specify which prize you would prefer.

The second winner will be picked on the 30th of April

The third winner will be picked on the 10th of May.

In the meantime check in to see if more prizes are up for grabs.

All winners will be chosen via a random number generator. This competition is open to everyone, regardless where you live. I will post to anywhere in the world.

Thanks for visiting,

In one friend’s apartment, she uses the microwave to store groceries because she’s tight for space. Others like me, stuff things under the bed. OK, the obvious thing  to do is have a great big clean out…. it being spring – time and all that. I’ll get around to that eventually… sorting one pile for charity and another box for sale on eBay. After that, there’s the usual pile of itsy bitsy rubbish which compiles broken down electric items, empty hairspray cans, out of date vitamins and other pieces of tat.

The relief that arises from shedding unwanted possessions is fast replaced by angst ridden concern for Mother Nature. I’m a worrier and it’s an old question, but I’m asking it anyway: – “Even with recycling how will our poor planet cope with the mountains of plastic, metal and chemicals which are continuously being dumped?” As I write, factories everywhere are churning out more stuff and people are still shopping, fuelled on adrenalin and promising images from glossy adverts.

By 2024 the world’s population will have doubled and that means double the amount of waste unless we seriously cut back on our consumer habits. What are the chances of that happening? We’d all need to sign a global agreement never to give gifts for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries etc. since many unwanted items arrive in that manner. Not to mention holding on to the car for at least twelve years. I could go on with an endless list.

One answer hit me smack in the face as I wandered around a Household department, spotting dainty little miniatures of almost everything from casserole dishes to scented candles to measuring jugs. And yes, as my heart palpitated, the voice of my inner Jiminy Cricket warned me that I was in the throes of ‘more shopping’. But hear me out! I’m never mean when it comes to portions, yet small dishes mean less waste, especially if you’re cooking for only one or two.

A mini scented candle is less expensive and you won’t get so fed up with the scent before it’s only quarter way down the wick. It’s the same with a small bottle of perfume. And when it comes to cooking, I’d far prefer to keep filling my tiny food processor than use the large one and go through the exhausting process of cleaning all the parts. Even the act of hauling it out from the giant drawer often leaves me in need of a visit to the chiropractor! Perhaps downsizing in this manner could actually be good for my health and Mother Nature’s.

Win a Miniature Straightening Iron

The pièce de résistance was the discovery of a very cute miniature straightening iron – ideal for travel when weight is an issue. Not only that, I’ve been given an extra one to offer as a prize to one lucky reader.

How you enter

Just complete these four steps for a chance to win.

1. Subscribe to the blog by completing the quick subscribe form in the sidebar or footer of this site.
2. Follow Goddessmeca Stories on twitter here
3. Like Goddessmeca Stories on Facebook here
4. Leave a comment under this post saying you did all three

You will entered into the draws and also receive occasional updates about the site in your inbox, I promise not to spam you. If you have already signed up elsewhere on the site you will be immediately entered for this draw. Closing date: 12th April 2012.

Robert Downey Junior played him on the big screen and who doesn’t adore Downey Junior? We know he’s fought a tough battle with his demons in real life and at one stage it looked like he was caught up in an endless cycle of drugs, prison and re-hab. His little boy lost look and lopsided grin had women everywhere offering a shoulder to cry on. Instead he chose a pair of iron clad shoulders for his role in Iron Man. We didn’t hold that against him as we applauded his later portrayal of Sherlock. It was action packed and glamorous with a sprinkling of magic realism, but there was something missing.

In the summer of 2010 there appeared an altogether more worthy contender for the role of our favourite sleuth. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock is described as brilliant, detatched and almost entirely lacking in social graces. Sounds like Autuism… doesn’t it? Diagnostics aside, Cumberbatch nails Sherlock to perfection in the BBC’s T.V. series. Though it’s set in present day London, it manages to evoke an ambience of Victorian times. This is done by way of Sherlock’s demeanour, clothing and living accommodation. Did I mention his curly hair and cheekbones sharp enough to slice cheese? Stop me before I drool.

Bringing it into the modern era, the series uses technology, such as texting and the internet. Watson (played by Martin Freeman) even sets up a blog, featuring a picture of Sherlock in his famous tweed cap. Of course Sherlock fumes as Watson gives him regular updates about the number of hits the blog receives. How outrageous that a man of Sherlock’s dignity could be the subject of something so common. What is the world coming to?

My favourite episode titled ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ runs high on sexual tension when Sherlock meets his nemesis in the gorgeous shape of Irene Adler (played by Lara Pulver), a woman who is more than a match for the brainy detective. It’s sexy, brilliant and action packed right to the end when there’s a clever twist.

I found myself wishing I could be Irene Adler, with her kick ass attitude and endless smarts.

Observing Sherlock and Irene in action, they appear to possess a superior intelligence which comes from a sixth sense. In another episode, Sherlock even goes so far as to order Watson out of the room while he enters his “memory palace” to help solve a crime. We next see Sherlock seated as he enters a state of deep concentration to recall everything he has ever observed or learnt (this is him accessing his memory palace). Information rushes through his brain in the form of images and words while he organises data like Tom Cruise in Minority Report.

Eureka…my own memory bank threw up a recollection of hearing about a gadget called sixth sense. Yes it’s true. We can all be like Sherlock and Adler soon, with immediate access to information. This is how techies like Watson could out wit brainiacs like Sherlock. Take a look at this gadget MIT are working on. Minority Report no longer seems far fetched.