Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! We’re currently bracing for *more* snow this weekend. I’ve got my fingers crossed as we’ve got two shows on Saturday: Bumps Upon a Grind immediately followed by our annual appearance at The Mardi Gras Ball. I’m particularly concerned about Sunday. Our Burlesque Your Way students missed their last two classes, plus a make-up class because of the snow. We’re trying to hold yet another class on Sunday, but I fear for it.

Anyway, enough fretting, on with your Friday Tip!

A plastic cup makes a tiny trash can for your make-up station.

During a show, there are lots of showgirl droppings — the backing from pastie tape, cosmetic pencil shavings, spilt glitter, snack wrappers, broken hair pins, &c. I like to keep my space clean & tidy. Rather than make a trip to the trash can (if there even is one in the dressing room) with every little bit, I just sweep the detritus into a cup as I go and toss everything before I leave for the night.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your New Year, New Habit tip:

Simplify.

Do you really need all that stuff in your act? Is every prop essential? Is every garment used to its full potential?

Paraphrasing the great Coco Chanel, take a good look at your act and take one thing out. You may find that you have more time for a skirt tease when you eliminated the glove remove that was kind of perfunctory. Or that you don’t need to have a full vintage bar cart on stage when all you really use is that one shot glass.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your New Year, New Habit tip:

Use your stash. Hoarding is no good.

There’s a saying amongst those who practice the fabric-based arts “She who dies with the most fabric, wins”. Not true. If you have it and don’t use it, what’s the point? I have nothing against having a stash — it’s awesome when you can whip up a garment or accessory without buying a single item. The problem is boxes & boxes of fabric & trim that just sit there, year after year, while you buy more.

I’m hardly innocent of this myself. Part of my own New Year, New Habit is to figure out what’s worth keeping and what I should sell or give away.

Go through your stash. Figure out some fabulous uses for that great fabric and then do it!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!

I’m sorry that I’ve been a less than stellar correspondent lately. I been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, what with the New Year’s Eve Spectacular followed immediately by Bumps Upon a Grind and The Expo*. Also, preparing for some festivals as a soloist (to appear and to apply), making costumes, trying to keep Stately Babydoll Manor from squalor, and generally suffering from winter malaise.

But I will leave it all behind for a moment to deliver your much anticipated weekly tip.

Here’s your latest New Year, New Habit suggestion:

Answer your email in the order you receive it and as promptly as possible.

*The Expo is a massive undertaking and relies on a *lot* of people. Want to volunteer? How about displaying a costume? Do you know someone who wants to sponsor my tea party? Or just attend.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy 2015! For the next month Friday Tips are going to be on the theme of New Year, New Habit.

Here’s the first one!

Once a month, go through your makeup kit. Replenish anything that’s running low. Replace anything that’s old. Get rid of anything you just don’t use. Clean your brushes. Organize everything.

A tidy makeup kit means peace of mind on show day.

This is the new makeup bag Scratch gave me for the holidays.

It’s the perfect size for my Beauty Butler palettes!

Wishing you peace, prosperity, and organization in the new year!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I hope you’ve been enjoying whatever festivities you celebrate this month.

Here’s your tip!

When you’re not able to iron a wrinkled garment, hang it up in the bathroom and take a very hot shower.

The steam will relax the fabric and you’ll get clean at the same time! You’ll want to keep the door and windows shut tight and keep any kind of fan off to trap the steam in the bathroom.

You can also use this trick to fluff boas. Just make sure they don’t get too wet in the process.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!

Here’s your tip!

Work out first thing in the morning.

Not only will you be energized for the day, it will be done and you can’t put it off until “later”. I don’t know about you, but for me “later” often becomes “never”.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Fake it ’til you make it.