All fired up (or challenging stuff part 1)

I'm actually a bit rubbish at checking my googlemail account which is the email contained in my blogger profile. I only set up a different account from my proper one as I was being bombarded by PRs about everything and anything.

Then I thought I must take a peek and there were a few emails I needed to attend to. But there was one really hilarious one. Hilarious in the sense I got an cross patch person ranting at me. Now I love a rant. For one I never find them offensive even if it involves name calling and secondly there is always something you can learn from annoying someone - even if it just that you don't care a hoot.

I often wish I set up my blog in the spirit of Sister Wolf to allow for inner most thoughts observations and public commentary. I have to confess to being a bit of a weasel and containing my views due to manners and also respect to others. Sometimes expressing your views or truth isn't really an option. And I know sometimes how you read things is not what the person intended - lost in cultural translation.

But I'm mightily glad person X got mad with me. The gist of the rant was basically how can you call your blog Make Do Style when you are parading new clothes! This is completely understandable given the person a) hasn't followed my blog from the beginning January 3rd 2008 nor my first feature in the late Mrs Fashion's blog in November 2007.

Me a la Mrs Fashion's blog in 2007 plus same pic appeared in Grazia Jan 08!

Back to answering the peed off email....

On the whole I live by my philosophy of making do. I'm exceptionally good at foraging for food with the petit garcon and I grow my own herbs and vegetables. I undertake all my own beauty routines including waxing my own bikini line (sorry maybe too much info here!). I've sold things on ebay to buy new items and so on...you get the picture.

fresh cut spinach, rocket, lettuce and basil from the garden

I've also worked really hard as well as doing my MA, and by working really hard I also mean I do styling jobs which are demanding and receive little kudos. None of this is a justification merely facts of what I've had to do, due to moving to London and a lifestyle change. I chose to have the petit garcon which has restricted my working life and I choose to do a MA. If I was working full time I'm sure making do would be far from my mind. However if and when I work full time again I'll never go back to my wasteful ways.

So the short answer to my recent necessary wardrobe refill was I earnt the money and saved hard, saving every penny and pound I could lay my hand on. And when I came to spending it I found it very hard to do so. In fact I didn't spend it all, mainly due to a few items I really want not being in store yet. But it was painful to part with my folding. I did try not to buy a single item all year but such a resolution was too tough a call for a style gal, although the spend was reduced massively (only 5 items in 9 months and 4 in the sale) - call me weak willed but did you not see my orange wedges sale purchase!


My recent dye posts are a reflection of my continued commitment to being resourceful. I'll keep posting handy make do tips as well as my own focus on style, plus general commentary on fashion. And please do email me with any comments or requests I'm happy to take the rough with the smooth!

my tie dye t-shirt drying on line (it is my new favourite item, currently)

PS I also pinched all of Mr MDS's changed (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 20p coins) as well as emptying mine daily - after 6 months I had £80!