The Re-Fit!!

Don’t mention the word re-fit.....although I am pleased to announce the shop has now had a re-fit and is newly decorated........but most of all I’m glad it’s over! Who.....in their right minds would even consider shutting the shop doors on a Saturday at the close of business and hope to re-fit and re-decorate a whole shop by start of business on a Monday morning? Well we did...which begs the question....who in their right minds....which obviously we aren’t it would seem. So the three of us, with basic decorating skills, an unquenchable thirst for interior design and even fewer shop fitting skills, began the task.
Who knew that wallpapering could be so difficult! Mind you, the walls  probably stem back to the Victorian era when obviously spirit levels hadn’t been invented...because believe me....this property does not have one straight wall or a ceiling that is perfectly flat!!! To add to the despair, the wall paper was patterned.....believe me it was soul destroying and coupled with the paste sticking to every conceivable surface on the way to the wall and a rickety ladder....we were grateful three hours in to have three lengths of wallpaper adhering in a reasonably matched pattern and relatively straight to the wall itself....we won’t mention the cut offs stuck to the soles of our feet and the paste covering the entire length of our arms. It was a triumph.....1:0 to us....however...the clock was ticking....the gloss work was wet.....the polyfilla refusing to set and the eyeballs stinging whilst the bodies began to flag and only half a wall papered! Of course we hadn’t completely emptied the shop either...nowhere to store the entire contents...so in amongst this we had to keep moving the rails and furniture around. So, only three more walls to paper, emulsion to do, gloss to finish, eight shelving units to go up and the window displayed to be recovered......amazing how good a cup of coffee can seem at this stage.....and only midnight!
By Sunday morning the reluctance to actually get out of bed and part ways with the duvet cover was overwhelming. A few hours sleep seemed to have gone in the blink of an eye. Dragging ourselves back into the shop was no mean feat.....and it looked as if we hadn’t even really begun.  But bolstered with mugs of steaming coffee and armed with numerous chocolate bars and sweets......we made it through the door, each one of us offering the other positive thoughts and motivational speeches.....who knew we could lie to each other so well!
Sunday seemed to see the clock hands going alarmingly fast......maybe they had been motivated and not us! The wallpapering continued amongst waves of cursing interspersed with rallying songs and music and then pure silence to conserve energy...and what was left to say....”don’t worry...we’ll get it done”?  I don’t think so....in fact at this point I think I would have slapped anyone who said it!  By 4am....we were getting there.......slowly, painfully and in desperate need of sleep...so defeat became the buzz word.  It was obvious the shop would not be ready in six hours to open.....we accepted our lot and trudged off to that glorious place called “bed”. Second round to the shop.....1:1 – and so the tie breaker began.
By Monday afternoon the decoration was done.....onto the shelves!  Unbelievable!  Some walls so hollow even the wall plugs lost their way and dropped into oblivion and some so hard...even the masonry drill looked scared! But we persevered – there was no way we couldn’t open on Tuesday morning.  Finally, it came together...and it looked remarkably good...pride beamed from our faces, and at 4.30 am we resumed our relationships with our duvets...battered, exhausted, scarred and bruised but...do you know what....it was now 2:1 to us...we had done it and to prove it....pictures will follow shortly.

Birthday Blog

Seen To Be Different has now completed its first year of trading....Happy 1^st Birthday to Us!! On the one hand – can’t believe it’s been a year already and on the other hand.....it feels like we have been doing this forever!

Over the year there have been tears and tribulations – most memorably a low point in January when running away to a foreign land and living on the beach for six years to avoid tax and legal obligations – was seriously considered! However major flaws to that plan and lack of disposable income led us to plod on, despite the property continually having minor floods, water coming through the roof, so many bills we could have wallpapered the shop and the snow ice affecting sales...happy days! Another low was the sweeping out of gallons of sewage water which flooded the shop on the Sunday of our 1^st Birthday weekend amongst the bunting, balloons and cupcakes to the strains of the song “my mumma told me there would be days like this...”! Memories...I am reliably told...are made of stuff like this.

Yet the highs have far outweighed the lows and the response we have had from customers and interested parties has been immense; The advertising in local and national magazines, being asked to be part of Vogue Boutique section, being asked  to showcase our clothes at a major fashion show in London’s Savoy Hotel, designers approaching us to sell their lines and generally the wonderful response from customers who have adored our shop and recommended it to family and friends. The delight on customers faces with their purchases (keep them coming!) and the loyalty of people has both humbled us and delighted us, bringing smiles to our faces and inspired us to continue, improve, expand and diversify.

It has been a real eye opener this year, with many lessons learnt – sometimes not in the easiest of ways – but you do learn – you take from each experience some knowledge and use it to ensure mistakes aren’t repeated and that progress is made. The good times have been amazing and the bad times are just history. So here’s to the next year and the year after that – no one ever said it was going to be easy and it wasn’t – I have the grey hair and wrinkles to prove it – but was it worth it?  A loud resounding “Yes” and it still is, and if we succeed then maybe I shall be able to afford the cosmetic surgery to erase a few of these wrinkles! So,...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEEN TO BE DIFFERENT – here’s to another successful, happy and amazing year.

Window Shopping

I have never understood, window shopping- what is the attraction- you’re not going to buy so why torment yourself with seeing all those delightful items you’d like, but for some reason or another can’t have? Seems an unnecessary form of torture, this then spills over to trying clothes on, why do so many people, go into shops announcing they can’t afford any item or aren’t going to buy it, but still try it on?  What is the point? If you look fantastic then you must feel really sad that you can’t have it. If you look awful is that supposed to make you feel better in some warped way- about not being able to have it?? Does either make up for the disappointment felt in either case?

Personally, window shopping is a pointless exercise that generates feelings only of disappointment, sadness and frustration. Or is it only me? Am I missing something here?

        

Be Bold Be Brave!!

Why is it, that when it comes to clothes, we value the opinion of others, more than our own? Which then in turn, begs the question...do we therefore dress more for others approval than we do for ourselves.

An almost daily theme when selling clothes to women is that if she comes in with others, whether they are male or female.....if these people don’t approve of her outfit choice, then it is simply discarded.  Do we have such little self esteem then, that we need others to make our clothes choices for us? Or do we feel we haven’t a clue where fashion, style or what suits our body shape is concerned?

We ask our female counterparts for their view – the same females who also ask our advice on their fashion choices! So what makes us feel that they know any better than we do – we can see ourselves in a mirror just as well as they see us – so it’s not a viewing problem. Or we ask are male friends/relatives – WHY???? What do the majority of men know about fashion or what suits our individual body shape?  So are we choosing an outfit based on what he thinks is attractive? Problem is.....men often base their judgement on their own individual attractiveness scale – or how much attention they wish you to receive. This can go one of two ways....low cut top...boobs on show....high neckline...no glimpse of those boobs......short hem...plenty of leg on view.......longer hem....get the picture?  Anyhow, how many men do you really know who you admire for their own sense of fashion and style? Don’t women usually advise them!!!! Seems we are all at a loss.  The difference seems to be however, that the male of the species will wear what he likes and what he feels comfortable in – its only the females in his life that often despair at his choices. How many men do you know who ask “Does my bum look big in this?” or “Do you think this suits me?”

So maybe, as women, we need to adopt more of the same male attitude; wear what we feel comfortable in, wear what we feel attractive in and wear what we like! Let’s be confident and bold in our choices and stop worrying what everybody else thinks. After all, other’s opinions are simply that....an opinion....it doesn’t make them necessarily right and at the end of the day a woman wearing an outfit SHE doesn’t love or feel comfortable in, in spite of its fashion, style or the fact her friends like it.....doesn’t exude attractiveness but a woman who feels confident and self assured about her look is very attractive – with or without clothes.   

Sunshine

Sunshine.....finally after months of doom and gloom and the suffering of cold and inhospitable weather...we have real sunshine; and so the outer layers come off and gradually our bodies are bared to the delights of sunlight. This process however is not always a delight! As the clothes come off we are confronted with the realities of our lack of exercise and over indulgence during those cold, depressing winter months. Up until now, we had successfully been able to hide our less than attractive bumps and bulges under those snuggly warm winter woollies. Now we can no longer hide quite so successfully.  However, with a bit of imaginative thinking, we manage to drape ourselves in our summer attire, covering the particular areas we individually “hate”.

But......there is always a “but” in life.......the legs are often a problem!  I’m not talking shape, size or length here – these we can cope with – but unless we wear trousers or jeans for the entirety of the summer months...there is always the awful unveiling of those “lily whites”. Those of us who have to work or do not have access to a garden are at a particular disadvantage – and legs take so long to go brown anyway. The rest of the body can almost be burnt to a crisp whilst even then, legs look only mildly tanned! Unless of course, you are one of those enviable women, we all hate, who have all year round colour or who tan easily. So the dilemma begins;

Sun bed? Such controversy over the damage caused leads more often to a not acceptable manner to deal with the “lily whites” Fake tan then?  Unless it’s just me....it never looks good or real and orange knees and ankles with streaks on your shins and blotches on your toes are so not a good look. So do we keep the tights on?  Nude tights are often unattractive – why is it the shade on the packet never corresponds to the shade on your legs??  Black or coloured tights then? Not a cool look particularly when it’s a baking hot and personally only black works for me. There again if you keep wearing tights, your legs never stand a chance of becoming tanned and weekends in the sun (providing the black rain clouds don’t descend for those two particular days), often prompt a response of intense sunbathing to make up for the limited time available and invariably ends with legs covered in calamine lotion on a Sunday evening!

However, a solution – looking through magazines there are adverts for swimsuits you can tan through. Do they work? Have no idea but what a thought......how about tights that allow you to gradually tan through – so those odd working moments and times you can dip in and out of the sun are not wasted. They could allow those legs to lose some of their early summer starkness – you know the feeling when you have bared them and feel that everyone is staring solely at your legs and judging you with pity – and then when the legs have reached the transition from brilliant stark, screaming white to a more acceptable hue of mottled pink or pale cream, the tights can be whipped off and revealed to the full glory of the summer sunshine. Leaving us feeling a little more dignified, less self conscious and still reasonably attractive to the masses. So, do they exist these “sun through tights”? If not they should and if they don’t, and you decide this is such a good idea that you go into production – just remember – the idea was MINE – I may just sue you, or demand a lifetime supply of free tights. You have been warned!

But in the meantime....I’m trying out yet another brand of fake tan, that promises even colour and beautiful legs.....I WISH x

Mother's Day To Me...

Sunday, as a mother (four times over) is my day......I love mother’s day......because it is a day all about me! It’s like having an extra birthday, another day when I am made to feel special and am allowed to be spoilt and do whatever I want (and get away with it) all in the name of Mothering Sunday.  Each one of my children, buys me a card (although I still remember the joys of receiving their little handmade cards when they were younger and of knowing how much effort and wax crayon went into its making) and they also spend time and energy in choosing me a gift (and I like most people....do like gifts...large, small......cost a lot or cost a little it doesn’t matter to me).........and presenting it to me on this special day. Gifts are wonderful......who doesn’t like to receive a treat? I have to admit that on this score I have always been extremely lucky. I have both generous children, but also children who care about the gifts they give and who put so much energy in getting just the right gift, they know I will love. And the cards they buy, always have beautiful words...you know the type, the ones you find, that somehow manage to say to someone, all the things you would like to say, but would struggle to put into words by yourself. But one of the greatest things about my mother’s day, is the kindness, thoughtfulness and care that goes into it....the lying in bed in the morning (heaven....my bed and I have such a mutual adoration of each other), the breakfast eaten at leisure and then not having to do the washing up. Followed by the permission to choose what I want to do...even if its deemed boring by other’s standards, and not feel guilty or feel that I have to give in and say I don’t mind what we do, as I have on many other occasions...because this is my day today...I am allowed to be selfish. As a mother, putting oneself first, is often a rarity...you become programmed, to always consider the needs and happiness of your children first, so the luxury of putting you first is really something...especially without pangs of guilt following. It’s a day chores are not your responsibility – unless of course a major disaster occurs such as the washing machine floods or the cat has brought in a mutilated animal (which by necessity means that’s my job because only I can sort such things out...obviously!) and your children are there to heed your every wish. Such as another cup of tea – right in the middle of the film...which has no adverts.....someone to run the bath for you and make sure it doesn’t overflow or too much hot/cold water goes in....someone to get your dressing gown you forgot.....to change the DVD or even...if you’re really lucky (which I am) someone to paint your toe nails for you.  It is the accumulation of all of these little treats (both bought and unbought) that make mother’s day so special to me. It reminds me how much I am appreciated and loved...and also that I have raised four wonderful children....so good job done. 

Jam's Summer Delights

The sun is now shining and we can finally start looking to the spring and with that comes a few little treats for all our bland winter wardrobes!! Jam's Summer collection doesn't disappoint this season either... have a sneak peak at their tapestry bolero and gorgeous city shorts both available to buy now... can't wait until the rest of the collection is in store and that's when the real justifying will commence!!! :)

Edie Bolero Jacket: XS-L  £60

Olivia City Shorts:   XS-L  £40

Anyone for a Tutti Fruit??

Ok so I know I go on a lot about shoes but what can I say I'm a woman obsessed and when these came into the shop yesterday well I instantly fell in love. There are just so different!! And I love the purple and yellow tones, one feels that summer may finally be arriving and I can't wait to strut down the street in these little beauties!!!

The Perfect pair Of Statement Shoes!!

Cash flow a little unforthcoming after the Christmas spending spree? Afraid to splash that cash with the government threatening to raise taxes, interest rates liable to go up and the price of food rising weekly?  Sometimes, life seems a tale of doom and gloom and spending those hard earned pennies on yourself can seem like a frivolous act of self indulgence. Yet, let’s face it, when all is not quite as rosy with the world as we may like......this is the time we need that little boost...that little treat to keep us going and keep us smiling. Thinking about this and how best to utilise that minimal justifiable spare cash.....I have found the perfect solution......A pair of shoes! If you buy a dress or jumper...its limited...one maybe two outfits but with a pair of statement shoes that can be worn with jeans, dress, skirt, trousers and dressed up or down depending on the occasion or your mood.......you have a sure fire winner. A pair of statement shoes will enhance so many different outfits and looks and take you right through the coming season and give you style, fashion and a whole new look for a small one off price. Better than that...when you take a look at the shoes below....it will also put a huge smile on your face and a spring in your step......so let’s find ourselves that perfect pair of statement shoes.

Just a few ideas...

A Tempting Thought

Okay...we’ve all had enough now haven’t we?  The post Christmas “being good” is now wearing extremely thin and let’s face it....it’s boring. We’re bored! Bored with being good, of counting the pennies, of denying ourselves those little treats and only purchasing the necessities of life!  But ladies, we deserve those treats, they ARE necessities in our lives – they make us feel good, they cheer us up and let’s be honest – they make us far more bearable to live with.

Who says expensive face creams are no better than the cheaper versions – we are not stupid – we do not expect a miracle in a jar – it’s not always down to the ingredients within that tempts us – somehow if it costs a little more, it makes us feel a little more special and is an acknowledgement that “we are worth it”.  Each time we spy that little jar on the dressing table, it brings a smile to our face and who can deny that smiling does lift the complexion and gives us that “glow” and reminds us that we are “deserving”.  Worth every penny.

Still keeping to that diet to lose those few extra pounds piled on at Christmas? Still waiting to be that smaller size or for curves to respond to those hours of sweat and toil in the gym? Ladies you have been good, you have done well enough and now is the time to embrace the shape and size you really are and SPLURGE.  Hours of pedalling that bike, walking up those mountains, lifting those weights and all the while, partially starving yourself should now end – enough is enough. All that activity and pain should be rewarded, with a little treat. Doesn’t have to break the bank....just a little something to acknowledge your efforts and reward your pain and discipline. Go on....go for it.....is it really going to make a big difference to the family budget? And after all, you can always remind those disapproving few, that this is you doing your bit for the flagging National economy....what a selfless act.

As women of today, we are expected to work hard in our careers, to raise a family, to keep a nice home, to be financial wizards with the family budget, to be taxi drivers for our offspring, to juggle our lives to accommodate such events as our children’s sports days, special assembly’s, to have the in-laws to stay, to be comforter and mentor to both family and friends, to have a social life and always ensure the P.E kit or his work shirt is clean and ready for when it is required or wanted – we are strong, dynamic and powerful......okay and possibly a little exhausted!  So do we not deserve small treats, to help us shoulder our burdens and get us through our daily lives....they are as vital as the air we breathe (perhaps that’s a small exaggeration). These little treats make us feel good about ourselves, they make us feel valued and put a smile on our faces.  Not forgetting that another of our expectations is to look good.....how can we possibly do or feel like that with a jar of “value” face cream and wearing that dress.....that yes may still look good on us...but we know is six years old!  Style and fashion help us define who we are, they allow us to make a statement about ourselves to the outside world and give us that inner “glow” in our own recognition of our personal value.

So ladies....handbags and purses at the ready....because we deserve to treat ourselves to that something special and we are so bored of being good...after all we have done it now for over a month...and if we continue...heaven help us, it may become a habit and then it will not be appreciated and aren’t we always told that habits can be hard to break. Resist no longer......hit the stores. Indulge a little and spoil your very deserving self before it is too late.