Keep Calm and Carry On: It's all over!

This picture popped up on my facebook feed yesterday and made me laugh out loud.

I had actually used a "Keep Calm And Carry On" style poster for that days blog post and then later in the day whist queueing at the post office I saw shopping bags with "Keep Calm and carry on shopping " emblazoned across them, watering cans with "Keep calm and garden" painted down the side and mugs with "Keep Calm and drink tea"  Yes I thought as much as I still love the original sentiment the "Keep calm and carry on" slogan has had its day. Its original sentiment has been lost and we longer even read the words.Ring the funeral bells, order the flowers Keep Calm and carry on's moment in the sun has passed.

Its all over 

The thing is I loved the initial saying. Life can be stressful and frustrating and irritating and to dig deep and find some of that war time grit can be helpful.What could replace this I wondered? If we are not keeping calm and carrying on are we going to run screaming, being hysterical and giving up?
No we need a new slogan, one which sums up modern life. One which is infused with the same can do spirit as the original one which is just as easy to remember and which will look great on posters and mugs. 
It was my mum who introduced me to my new replacement slogan. Mama Bee is quite eccentric and loves silly sayings. Whilst moaning about something to her recently she chimed in with the following. 

"Don't Sweat The Petty Things, 

Don't Pet The Sweaty Things"

I have decided this slogan is genius. It neatly tells us all to shut the fuck up, take  a chill pill and not waste time on the unimportant.

I'm not petting a sweaty thing-honest

I'm not sure this slogan will be cropping up in interior magazines or on the front of notebooks and do you know what? I'm quite comfortable with that.
Ive taken my new slogan to heart. Yesterday afternoon following a bit of a craft disaster involving spray paint, icy conditions and crockery I ditched the lot, collected my little girl from school and went to the local cafe for hot chocolate. See not sweating the petty things.

All content (text, photos and other) are the property of Betty Bee unless otherwise stated. Please refrain from copying any material without recognition of the author and a link to the source on this blog.

whole body hyperthermia at the FachKlinik: Keeping The Faith

Today I wanted to tell you about my lovely friend Jenny Roberts.
I first met Jenny a few years ago when myself and my husband photographed her wedding to the lovely Andy.

Jenny and Andy on their wedding day

I instantly loved Jenny. Like me she is a nut about all things 1920's, is a total beauty product junkie and loves a good chat over a cuppa.

Going all Lauren Bacall at a vintage pamper day

I knew that when she got married she was recovering from bowel cancer and was amazed at how she took in her stride what had obviously been a tough old time. 
Ive since seen Jenny a few times and of course conversed over the wacky world that is facebook. She came to one of my Vintage pamper days and totally rocked the Lauren Bacall look and popped over last year to buy one of my cakestands bringing along her gorgeous dog Moo.

Life's kicked Jenny and Andy in the ass a bit recently with the cancer returning to her lungs and liver. Never one to quit Jenny is currently undergoing a course of treatment called whole body hyperthermia at the FachKlinik, a specialist hospital in Hessen, Germany.

Carried out by cancer specialist Dr Alexander Herzog, the process, delivered in conjunction with chemotherapy, helps treat cancer and boost the immune system by raising the body temperature to 107–108°F.

Jenny in Germany

Now my medical knowledge is mainly gleaned from old episodes of ER and Greys Anatomy so that means nothing to me but apparently this Dr Herzog is the Yoda of the cancer treatment world. Jedi Cancer masters don't come cheep and the first stage of treatment has cost £14000. This has gone well but now Jenny's family need to raise the same amount again.

Jenny's friends and family are a determined lot and have whipped themselves into a frenzy of charity events everything from quiz nights to bag packing sessions at Tescos.They run a facebook page called "Keep The Faith" and whenever things are looking particularly sticky for Jenny she will get hundreds of KTF messages popping up on the page. 

So my post today is asking you guys to join me in helping Jenny and her fab husband Andy "Keep The Faith" by making a small donation.

Yes I know we are all skint and you don't even know Jenny and you only came onto my blog to listen to me chat shit about victory rolls and lipstick but if you regularly visit Tales from Betty Bee Towers you know me and you also know that I never use this twinkly little blog of loveliness to hustle. This dear friends is an exception. Jenny is a girl, like us, a cool vintage botherer who swoons over eyeshadow and forces her husband to watch Downton Abbey.She is part of the sisterhood and this is a call to arms.

Even if its only a few quid that's fine, in fact that's more than fine thats great. 

You can donate sing this link http://www.keepthefaith.org.uk/donations 

All content (text, photos and other) are the property of Betty Bee unless otherwise stated. Please refrain from copying any material without recognition of the author and a link to the source on this blog.

Five For Friday

Everybody knows that Friday is really just a day for surfing the web, and killing time until the bell rings and the weekend begins. Here are my five fabulous things to brighten up your day.


Nigellas Marmite Spaghetti
I love Nigella and not just for her glossy hair and lovely boobies. Her recipes are pretty hot too. They always work and are never over complicated. This week I'm drooling over her recipe for Marmite Spaghetti. I know what I will be cooking over the weekend

Loving Nigellas Spaghetti

Snow White Decals for the Mac

These decals are all over etsy at the moment and I must say I'm sorely tempted to get this Snow White one for my Macbook. 

I think I have to have this

Dita Von Tease by Douglas Friedman for Instyle 

I found these photos of Dita whilst looking at www.ananasamiami.com they were for last February's Instyle magazine. Just dreamy and perfect photo fodder to waste some time on.

Dita looking just beautiful

This is what I look like baking-honest

Sea Odyssey Giant Spectacular Liverpool 20-22 April 

A few years ago I was lucky enough to see the Giant Spider puppet created by marionette experts Royal De Luxe.On a wet afternoon I watched in awe as the brilliant machine like puppet crashed through the streets, it was both exciting and surreal all at the same time.

So its very exciting to hear that RDL will be back in Liverpool in April.

This time a 30ft Little Girl Giant will take to the streets in a giant spectacular show produced specifically for Liverpool. Its set to be 2012's largest UK street event and will commemorate the centenary of the 1912 Titanic disaster. Sounds like a great afternoon to me. For more details go to www.giantspectacular.com/

Kiss And Bake Up Tee Shirt
You may remember I profiled Nick Bees art work a few weeks ago. His latest design is a fabulous tee shirt for those creative bakers at Kiss and Bake up. Modelled by the very lovely Missy Malone.Eating cake has never looked better. 

Kiss and Bake Ups great new tee shirt

So that's my five for Friday. Whatever your plans this weekend have  a good one. 

Today is the last chance to enter my lovely giveaway. In Grips We Trust is the cutest little etsy store which sells beautiful bobby pin boxes with pictures of old Hollywood stars on them. They come with hair grips contained and are my new favourite thing. I have the Bette Davies box (of course) 

I adore my hair pin box

Gina from In Grips We Trust has kindly donated a victory roll box to give to one of my lucky blog readers and entering couldn't be easier:

You could win this fab little box full of hair grips

To enter

• Join this blog if you haven't already
• Spread the good word about this giveaway on Twitter, FB, your blog, or whatever choice of social media you prefer
• Leave a comment on Mondays post.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator on Friday the 27th January 2012

All content (text, photos and other) are the property of Betty Bee unless otherwise stated. Please refrain from copying any material without recognition of the author and a link to the source on this blog.

How To Dress For A Meeting Betty Pamper Style

Challenges ahead-break open the confidence tool kit

Whenever I have an important meeting, a particularly daunting task or feel I need some extra fizz I have a set of go to rituals to help me look my best.I I think of these as my confidence tool kit and they always help me feel outgoing and positive. Obviously I'm aware that the best way to project confidence on the outside is to feel it inside but I like to give mother nature a little helping hand. 
My tried and tested tricks include:

Lots of hair-I always put some false pieces in when I want feel especially confident.My natural hair is like thin brown mist so whether its a fony, a few clip in pieces or a quarter wig the bigger the hair, the bigger my confidence.One day I might just go out as Cousin It from the Addams Family.

Too much?

Need a confidence boost-bouffant your hair

Bright red lipstick-The more striking the better. This is my war paint and always makes me feel sassy.

A slick of red and I'm ready for what the world wants to throw at me

Perfectly applied

Drag queen eyelashes. If my eye lashes are fluttering like RuPauls then I'm set to conquer the world.

My eyelashes-a new source of eco friendly power

 I'm not alone in having little tricks to make me feel my best. I remember reading an interview with Amy Winehouse where she said "The more insecure I feel, the bigger my beehive gets," I completely relate to this. When the pressures on my quiff gets bigger, my petticoats get wider and my make up gets thicker.

Amy with her huge bee hive

As I hurtle towards my book deadline (which has my little girls half term slap bang in the middle) don't be surprised to see me tottering around Tescos with kohl slicked panda eyes, lips like a fire engine  wearing a ball gown. To quote the legendary Dolly Parton "It's a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I'd be a drag queen." 

 it takes a lot of money to look this cheap

What tricks make you feel more confident? New shoes? matching underwear or is it as simple as having a quick squirt of your favourite perfume?

I have got the nicest giveaway this week. In Grips We Trust is the cutest little etsy store which sells beautiful bobby pin boxes with pictures of old Hollywood stars on them. They come with hair grips contained and are my new favourite thing. I have the Bette Davies box (of course) 

I adore my hair pin box

Gina from In Grips We Trust has kindly donated a victory roll box to give to one of my lucky blog readers and entering couldn't be easier:

You could win this fab little box full of hair grips

To enter

• Join this blog if you haven't already
• Spread the good word about this giveaway on Twitter, FB, your blog, or whatever choice of social media you prefer
• Leave a comment on Mondays post.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator on Friday the 27th January 2012

All content (text, photos and other) are the property of Betty Bee unless otherwise stated. Please refrain from copying any material without recognition of the author and a link to the source on this blog.

How To Become A Sassy Self Employed Woman

A rather depressing report came out this week saying a quarter of people with their own businesses were finding times so difficult they were considering becoming employees again. No one could blame them, the economic climate is making it so tough just to keep our heads above water and being on someone else's payroll with paid holiday, sickness and NI contributions is obviously tempting. Before we all wind down our ventures and start hitting the job centre though its worth knowing  that according to the office of National statistics last year 67'000 public sector workers were made redundant and only 5'000 jobs were created in the private sector.Sobering stuff. So if its that much harder to make a buck what are the small low cost changes we can all make to our businesses to try and keep the wolf from the door during 2012?
Here is what I am doing.

Sassy and self employed!

Getting things ship shape
January is often a quiet time of year for small businesses. Instead of mooning about worrying about what the future will bring use this time wisely. Start with your client facing profile. Does your website need a tidy? Could your company blog do with a rejig? Been meaning to set up a work related twitter account or facebook page? well now is the time to do it. If you work out of premises give them a good clean. If funds can stretch touch up the paint. If you work from home get that office tidy. Make sure your systems for filing, receipts and paperwork are efficient. You will be a well oiled machine when things start to pick up.

Come on chop , chop-tidy up that office.

Take A Good Look At Yourself
When you are self employed its often really difficult to take a moment and reassess your business. Looking at what you offer though and tweaking it to reflect current market trends can make all the difference as to whether you survive or go under. Your pricing structure or packages may have made perfect sense two years ago but do they still work? Are they popular? Think about feedback you have received, ask former customers to fill out a short survey. Get to grips with what you need to do and start doing it.Also take the time to research the market more. What are other people doing? Maybe you could collaborate with some other companies who are on the same page as you. Seek out sponsorship. Aim high don't assume that because a company is well known and doing well that they wont be interested in working with you. 

Collaborate with others

Plot out your year
Most businesses are seasonal. Whether you work in retail, are a performer,are in the beauty,leisure industry or design certain parts of the calender will be busier than others. If your business is one which relies on things like Easter, Valentines and Christmas think of some really exciting promotions. Organise  promo photos and write the marketing content. Knowing you have a strong idea of what your business has to offer will make the promotion of it so much easier.

Use your quiet times wisely

Find New Suppliers
Quiet times in business are a great time to start looking at how much you pay for materials and whether you can get them cheaper elsewhere. By examining your margins you can also see areas of your business which are just not profitable enough. Changing what you offer and finding more competitive wholesalers can help you offer your customers some better deals.This approach can be applied to anyone who is self employed. If you travel for work can you find a way to get cheaper train fare? if you have promotional materials like flyer's printed can you find a more competitive price and what about your business banking are you getting the best deal out there? If your income is small guard it carefully.

making savings which don't effect quality can really help

Sell Yourself
Having a decent press release about your business can be a massive help for generating free publicity. I am going to do a post specifically about writing a good press release but in the meantime,its worth thinking about these key points:
Keep it snappy.
Make sure it reflects your company's personality
Ensure the contact details are all correct
Ring or mail first so it goes to the right person

Testing, testing, 123

I have now set up a page called Sassy Self Employment which has all my articles and tips on working for yourself and navigating the job market. If it helps you during these tricky times I will be very happy.
Together we can do it!

I have got the nicest giveaway this week. In Grips We Trust is the cutest little etsy store which sells beautiful bobby pin boxes with pictures of old Hollywood stars on them. They come with hair grips contained and are my new favourite thing. I have the Bette Davies box (of course) 

I adore my hair pin box

Gina from In Grips We Trust has kindly donated a victory roll box to give to one of my lucky blog readers and entering couldn't be easier:

You could win this fab little box full of hair grips

To enter

• Join this blog if you haven't already
• Spread the good word about this giveaway on Twitter, FB, your blog, or whatever choice of social media you prefer
• Leave a comment on Mondays post.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator on Friday the 27th January 2012

blog.