Shall I grow my monobrow?

Mike’s back tomorrow, he’s only been gone a fortnight but I’m as excited as ever!

I have this ritual that I clean the house, cook a requested meal and make sure that I’m plucked, dyed, shaved, buffed and painted to perfection, so he comes home and thinks “yeah there’s a reason I keep coming back”. Some of you may think this is very 1950’s housewife but I do not care!

Today is eyebrows, moustache and nails; tomorrow morning will be dedicated to the rest. It’s hard work maintaining this bod especially when throwing up in between!

Cupcake Nails by my Sister Nicola

Don’t get me wrong I do all of the above even when Mike’s away I’m not some Neanderthal woman all stubble and split ends and I certainly don’t work hard on my appearance just for Mike; it’s mainly for me and my self confidence.

Self confidence is such a delicate thing, mine especially, I spend a silly amount time doing my face and hair every morning because people still comment that “you look nice for someone in that (wheelchair)” or “Wow your quite pretty for disabled person” or my utter favourite being when a young lad kissed his teeth and declared that I was “a fit unable”.

It’s not as if us disabled folk think “Oh well, my legs are buggered so I’ll let my monobrow grow out!”

On Friday alone night I’d borrowed my sister Nicola’s curlers to only look like an electrocuted scarecrow in search of those wavy effortless curls my sister sports... effortless my arse!

But imagine being a celebrity all that attention on your hair colour and size of your thighs, my internal critic is enough let alone other people printing my flaws.

One of my favourite bloggers the Beautiful Betty Bee wrote a wonderful piece on the Daily Mail Newspapers’ abuse of Clare Richards (a la’ Steps) and her weight Read here. The piece got me thinking; we (not just women, society) beat ourselves up too much in the quest to look fabulous, but how many of us truly believe in our own fabulous-ness? Betty has started a campaign to get her readers to submit their most treasured outfit that makes them feel like a goddess see/like/submit here!!

I was looking through the 1000+ photos of me on Facebook and although I agree I scrub up well and am looking good after following Weight Watchers (1 ½ loss maintained 1/2 st more to lose but I’ll tackle that when I’m fit and able or is that a “fit and able unable?” according to my admirer!) but I’ve never truely felt stunning and I wish I had done or at least thought to myself “damn girl you’re hot!” and actually believed it, sad isn’t it?

But just how do we boost self confidence? Tips please?? Recommended reading material? Until then I’m off to ponder this over a tub of Jolene.

L x 

What would you do?

Wow, what a reaction to my last blog lots of wonderful messages of support and ton’s of e-mails asking for advice - I'll do the best I can!

As you could all probably tell I’m not my usual self but I’ve had a few moments of clarity and deep thought (and no Dad, it didn’t hurt!).

One of the events I mentioned in my last blog happened this weekend; it was my friend Sarah’s hen do. I have a special place in my heart for Sarah and her Hubby to be Steve as my brother Steven and I introduced them at our sisters’ 18^th Birthday party and after declaring on Twitter that I was ready to party and that CRPS would not take my fabulous - it did – I was robbed!

Finding my in fab L- R Kylie, Me and Kate

We met Sarah and the rest of her party at Rendezvous Casino for dinner, which by the way was very delicious with a starter of mussels and salsa - plump, juicy and fresh, a perfectly cooked poached salmon for my main –  I avoided my dauphinoise potato (still on the Weight Watchers!) with fresh vegetables followed by half of a triple chocolate mousse. With goodie bags, sashes, mini crown’s and the wine (or Malibu in my case) flowing we were having a great time but by half ten my fabulousness was depleting fast and I was becoming a sweaty, red faced mess due to the pain levels.

We all know I love a clubbing session but I was beaten and came home before the rest of the party headed to a nightclub – gutted!

I was up most of the night sulking, crying and basically being pathetic! But I remembered a conversation I’d had with my friend Lydia and my Mum last weekend about receiving messages from readers around the globe saying I gave them hope that there is life outside their countries, villages and homes – some of these people can’t afford wheelchairs so they spend their lives in doors only going out when someone carries them and I’m moaning about missing out on a nightclub – utterly ridiculous really!

Now I can’t say I’ll never moan again... I know I will – the most positive people in the world have their moments but I did starting thinking just how many people cannot afford wheelchairs?

I googled my butt off and found out that it is estimated that 100 million people worldwide cannot afford wheelchairs... well, that was my sulking well and truly put in its place! Can you imagine whether you’re able bodied or disabled never leaving the house? For Pete’s sake you can buy them in the UK from Argos for less than £150..... I know people that own shoes 3x that cost!

So now my brain is switched on; what can I do to raise money for wheelchairs? Idea’s people?? – I’m on a mission – I need a project now more than ever - doing something positive! The weird and wonderful are welcome I may even use a few in coming posts!

I was also inspired by one of my favourite fellow Bloggers Betty Bee. Betty Bee is a writer, photographer, vintage enthusiast and crafter. Show wrote a brief blog last week about feeling “meh” herself but had found the joy in the little things like her favourite hand cream, True Blood books and her daughters swimming lessons – (Well Done on your 10 metres Mini Bee!)

Betty Bee
Images used with Permission of Betty Bee 
http://talesfrombettybeetowers.blogspot.co.uk/

So I thought since my world will be getting smaller over the next few months I really need to take Betty Bee’s example and take pleasure in the small things.

This week, mine are;

Having one of my nieces over for pizza and ice cream – Charley is sweet, chatty (in fact talks more than I do!) and I was proud of myself for only eating within my Weight Watchers points!

Charley 

Meeting with some girlfriends for Afternoon Tea (more on that in my next blog)

I’ve been banging on about Mighty Mouth by Soap and Glory to my friends – a lip balm that isn’t sticky and it makes your lips tingly fresh – yum!

And lastly my boy Mike is coming home from California in 10 days!!


What would yours be?

L x