Can you have your cake and eat it too?

Something got me thinking the other day. It was as I was looking for jobs, for careers, in London and it suddenly occurred to me that at some point I will have to decide if I want a career, or if I want a job. Because obviously they are two very different things. I have been confident enough to say during the past couple of years that while I would like to work and be involved in the fashion industry, ultimately my ambition is to have a family of my own and raise children (three, in case you were wondering).

The more I thought about this choice, the more I wondered if it means I have an obligation to a company to tell them this would be my intention and risk any prospects of furthering my "career". If my choice would render me surplus to an industry I love so much. I told my friend about this, and instead of responding with confusion, she responded with a simple "well, why can't you have your cake and eat it too?"

Lorraine Candy can. Editor in Chief of Elle Magazine and devoted mother. Anna Wintour too. Victoria Beckham seems to be championing the expression. But would it work for normal women? Normal, working mothers. Personally, I wouldn't have children if I couldn't devote myself to them and their upbringing fully because let's face it, it's a huge responsibility to shape a little life. But I wonder, could I do both?

Could I have my cake and eat it too?

The Modern Housewife

Dinner parties, impeccable manners, daytime baking, traditional values.

That's what my book-in-the-making will be full of. Yes, I'm fully aware that I am going in the opposite direction to the feminist movement, but the way I see it, they rebelled against society so the women of the future could have the luxury of choice. So we could vote, so we could show off our ankles, so we could have careers of our own. So we could decide for ourselves.

And in order to repay them, I'm using my choice to honour them, the women who were the most feminine women in history. Who valued manners and appearance above all. Who valued and cherished their families and children. Who were elegant, polite and graceful. A combination of their values and my choice will result in The Modern Housewife, the future etiquette book for the modern lady, recipes, traditions, manners and how-to's. 


So, what do you think? Would you buy it?

The M Word

Marriage.

We've all thought about it. Each one of us. Regardless of what your opinion is on it, or what your gender is, you've thought about it long enough and hard enough to form said opinion. Men have given it more thought than they would care to admit. Yet, it is women who are painted as "trappers" when it comes to marriage. As if men think we're trying to corner them into a proposal, or bully them into a commitment. Even before marriage is even raised as a distinct possibility, in my experience it is men who play "hard to get", men who seem resistant to commitment. I just can't understand why! Maybe some men have such huge egos that they think women are theirs to pick and choose and dismiss? However, my (male) friend reckons the thought of being tied to someone when you're single is what is scary, and what in turn leads to the commitment-phobe attitude. Why is it scary? It's hard to envisage the end when you've barely begun - but surely when you come across someone you like and could love, it's not so scary after all.

It is programmed into (nearly, a few exceptions I'm sure) all of us to find our other half, our soul mate, the person we want to spend the rest of our lives with - so why on earth are women criticised for vocalising this mission?! We're working to a slightly tighter time schedule than men (biological clock etc) but last time I checked, most men didn't want to end up as lonely old bachelors, they want their other half just as much as we want theirs. So is it an image thing? Are they trying to remain aloof and cool? And if that it is the case, when are they going to grow up and stop playing games? Surely we're all a little old for the double bluff / guessing game / I'm-cooler-than-you charade.

Is honesty the best policy?

Long Hair Problems

Much as I love having long brunette (100% natural too, thank you) locks, unless I give my demanding hair regular love and attention, it decides to spring up into the most unruly curls. And not luscious long waves, no, no, I mean Birds Nest.

Help?