I will now be taking my Rockalily Style pictures at the hair salon, and as you can see, I haven't yet mastered the best camera settings for it!

Here I am, over exposed, in today's outfit.

I am in my new 1980s St Michaels Pencil Skirt, with a black body. I'm wearing a With Love from Hetty and Dave swallow leather necklace, and some brown mary janes.

Are you looking to rent a chair or space in a salon? Now that Rockalily Cuts is up and running, I am open to discussing with potential partnerships with businesses that may need a location.

I am open to discussing any suitable business ideas, and chair rentals can be anything from 1-5 days a week.

Perhaps you work from home, but would like the option to work from a high street position for some clients? Perhaps some customers don't like you visiting their own homes?

Let me know if you are interested and would like to talk abut any ideas you may have!

Today a dear friend asked if I was smaller, and if I had lost weight. It wasn't said with that common tone women use when asking about weight loss though, it was a genuine question. But it got me thinking. We will usually comment on weight loss with a positive phrasing, tinged with a congratulations.

It is rarely repeated for a weight gain, which we usually pretend we can't notice. So why and where has this praise for loss come from?

My initial thoughts is a vague relation to health. A lot of us carry a tad more weight than is perfectly healthy, and many of us can lose a bit of weight and still be a very healthy size. Weight is linked to health and lifestyle difficulties, and therefore it could be pretty logical that we praise each other for slimming down.

The second theory could include some sort of reference to the media pressure to be thin. Are we congratulating each other on getting closer to the perceived ideal of body shape?

Are we just being polite? Do we recognise that commenting on a potential weight loss of a friend will please her? Are we trying to be nice?

Is it a subconscious nod to what we ourselves would like to hear said back to us?

After being asked about my current weight today, I reflected upon how it made me feel. I'm not trying to get smaller, I'm pretty ok about my size. But I do try to make sure I don't get bigger again. 

I included a picture of me where I look a tad bigger. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from obese, I'm a 14, rather than my current 12, but that small difference does affect how I feel about myself. I am pretty happy at 12, and would never want to be a 10. If anything, I'd love to sculpt/shape my body with weight lifting, but right now I just don't have the time to dedicate to it!

So.....do you comment on your friends' weight? How do you feel when people say you have lost weight?

Here I am, aged 21, at the start of my four years at university. My flared jeans were a new purchase from Egypt, and my rouched top was a favourite for enhancing my 'assets'. I hadn't really found a confidence with makeup, and I had just left a stable little life in London. I had broken up with a long term boyfriend, and was ready to start a new journey, away from everyone that I knew.

The girl I am with, was my best friend at university and we met on a bus. There was something about her, and so I was determined not to let her get off the bus without swapping details! It sounded a little odd, to ask for her number, but it had to be done!

Univeristy was a time of myspace, garage music and smirnoff ice. Sharing a bathroom with 6 people, and travelling to far flung places. Walking home with my shoes in my hands, and getting 2 for 1 pizzas at 4am. I worked hard, often having two jobs as well as placements, and never looked too far ahead.

Would I bet 21 again? Never! It was part of a great journey, and I met many fabulous people along the way, but you couldn't pay me to be that age now. 

What would I tell 21 year old ReeRee if I could?

1. Don't sell yourself too short with boys. 
2. You should have one less drink and afford a cab home.
3. Learn to hold your tongue.
4. When you finally dye your hair dark, you'll never look back.
5. Fake tan is fun, but takes way too much time.

I'm sure I share a common problem with other business owners....finding it a challenge to switch off. There is always more to do, and the list doesn't seem to shrink, just change.

Today I made sure I had a small break, and it was bliss. I headed out with two friends and 4 dogs to a local park/woods, and we just walked and chatted. The weather is fabulous, and I was enjoying my new dungarees!

Afterwards me and a friend went for lunch, and then I did some charity shop shopping. It's amazing the power of taking a few hours out from life. Away from computers, accounts, invoices etc, and just enjoying the sun. It's as if my batteries have been recharged!

Ellington is enjoying a nap now, after such a busy day!

They arrived today! Here are the two cardigans I received, so I took a quick picture, but will wear them when it gets cooler and properly put them through their paces!

The first one is a cropped sleeve, with cherries. The cardigan itself is of a much higher quality to feel than I had expected, so I'm excited to wear them!

The second is a long sleeve Las Vegas themed cardigan! If you know me, you know I love Vegas!

A massive thank you to Lush Cherry, and watch this space for me wearing them in!

I haven't bought many new clothes for quite a while. due to having the salon to set up, so I treated myself to a little charity shop shopping yesterday!

I bought two H&M cardigans, both cropped in length and cropped sleeves.

I found a 1980s Marks and Spencer (St Michael) pencil skirt, which is super comfy. I couldn't get a good shot, so you'll have to wait for an outfit post to see it in better detail!

I then found some Moto dungarees. Perhaps a tad controversial, but I have wanted some dungarees for ages! I do have some 1940s style ones, but these denim ones are so fun too!

I am tripod-less so here is a terrible picture of me in them! I have a pile of paperwork I just haven't had time to tackle!

I have been so busy with the salon, I haven't had much down time. To relax my mind a little, I decided to attempt to make Ellington his first bandana. It's a simple job, but not quite as simple as just tying a bandana around him!

I wanted the tie to be velcro or popper based, so that if it did get caught ever, it would just pop open, rather than a fixed knot. I also needed a button hole on the top so that the clasp for his lead can stick through. I don't have my sewing machine so it was a hand stitch job!

1. I double checked how long it had to be so that it would fit around his neck. I wanted it pretty loose, so that it wouldn't bother him.

2. I sewed in the hem, and then sewed on the two sections of the popper. At this point I double checked it fit!

3. I then needed to create the button hole. I felt where it would need to be, and made a small nick. I cut the slit, and then started the fliddly job of handstitching around the hole. I needed it to be well sewn, otherwise the fabric will just fray with use. 

4. I double checked it all fit.....woohoo!

It is very hard to get a picture, as he can get pretty needy, and comes way too close to me all of the time! So I took a few so you could get the idea!

Yesterday was a Wonderful Women meeting at the salon, and as I had my laptop we posed for a silly photo as we waited for everyone else to arrive!

The meeting was a chance for a catch up (and everyone seemed to have done loads recently!). We had new trademarks registered, events coming up, new logos and business cards being planned, and new milestones passed.

We then had an activity based on reflecting on our own positive skills, talents and qualities, as well as telling each other what we thought each other's awesome things were. I think sometimes we are our own worst critics, and we forget to remember how far we have come, and how fabulous we really are.

If you are interested in becoming a #wwmoob, do let me know!

I haven't had my Outfit posts up for a few days as my camera has been at the salon, but my tripod was at home. I took this quick one, just to show a new top I wore. I actually got it for christmas, but haven't worn i!

It has squirrels on it, and has a round neckline. It isn't anything I would have ever bought for myself, but actually I really liked wearing it. It's nice to come out of our comfort zones sometimes!

I have now taken the tripod to Rockalily Cuts, so Rockalily Style posts will now be taken there......rather than at home.  Oooh....change is always exciting.