I'm painfully aware that I am being a dreadful blogger at the moment.
After all, bloggers, by definition, actually get their arses in gear and blog, no?
Me, I lurk in the shadows feeling overwhelmed by the number of posts I have failed to comment on, and wondering when the hell I can take some photos for a post of my own.
Going dotty? I just might be...
1970s dress - gift from Tania
1960s Admyra jacket - charity shopped
Boots - retail (sale)
1970s Miss Mary of Sweden dress and denim jacket - charity shopped
So that's what I've been wearing for a couple of days at least.
Not much else has been happening apart from work.
There is plenty of colour on the rails at the shop...
and party frocks from the 1970s or 80s, take your pick.
Dressing the mannequins is like playing with life-sized Barbies (and Ken).
We've got some great sewing patterns...
funky homewares...
and something for the kids too.
But you know, as much as I love the shop and passionately want it to be successful, I have decided I don't want to work full-time.
I want my life back. I miss my family, my friends, my blog. I want to sleep through the night, go to charity shops which aren't mine, cook better meals, I even want to clean the house. I want to sew, take photos, and get out in the garden.
There is colour going on out there too, and I hadn't even noticed.
So, as soon as the charity can recruit a shop manager, I will revert back to my role as deputy and part-time hours. Until then, blogging may be patchy, but I'm looking forward to a time when I have something other than work to write about!
Linking to Patti's Visible Monday, despite feeling decidedly invisible at present.
Hope all is well with all of you.
xxxx
39 comments:
Ooh! It's a big decision in a town called Sheffield! So, that's what you decided. Good for you. Bet you feel relieved now you know what you're going to be doing? It always surprises me how attractive housework can seem when faced with other, less palatable options. I have to confess to feeling somewhat comforted when people are too busy to manage many blog posts, makes me feel better about my own poor track record! :) But it will be lovely to see more of you, particularly when you show up wearing jaunty little outfits like these. The blue dress is perfect on you, and fancy you having something similar in a range of colours! Cor, I know what you mean. I have a commenting session, feel pretty damned pleased with myself. Go on the next day and there's a whole load more. Sometimes I blink in disbelief and think, how am I ever going to get a post out?! Good job there's not much on't box at the moment. Xxxx
Good for you for grabbing your life back! The shop looks great, you've done a brilliant job setting it up, but yay to part time hours and more blogging, I've missed your regular blogs and fab finds. xxx
You've given it a go Curtise and it's not for you and that's fine. You will be a much happier more productive deputy than an harassed unhappy manager, which can only be a good thing all round.
So look forward to moving on to another stage and we will look forward to seeing more of you in blogland. Happy days ahead.
Lynn X X x
The two dotted dresses side by side makes it look like you pushed a digital edit to swap out the colours. I love that brain tease. You look fabulous, Curtise, no matter how worked-off-your-feet you are feeling. Good decision to get back to a schedule that lets you fit in all the things you love. Great to see you!! Mwah. If it makes you feel any better, I have 97 unopened emails waiting for me and who knows how many unread new posts. Gaaa!!
You look adorable!!!! I've been an awful blogger this year!!! I'm glad to finally have a moment to pop back on so I understand completely!
My older daughter is all about the dots! She would love those. I love with the denim shirt. I had planned to wear a vintage like (newer just looks 70's) log skirt with my jean jacket, but it seems to have disappeared. I'm feeling the early retirement urge again-about 10 years too soon for even an early retirement, so I can understand you wanting your life back.
Missed you! x
I can't imagine working full time and having a family and trying to blog. I skipped the family thing, and I still find the rest a chore. You look amazing, and don't worry, we're all still here. I would ravage your shop!
It's wonderful to see you and your adorable dresses again! I am glad that your work is so much fun, and I also am glad to learn that work is not all you want. I'll be happy for you when you get your colorful, interesting life back, and until then - good luck with everything, Curtise!
These two dresses' prints look identical, simply in different colour :) And both variants are so pretty! Yes, working full time hardly leaves time for anything else. Would be nice to have you back to regular blogging
I fully understand your decision Curtise. I wish I could do the same but I can't. I'm lucky that my hubby is retired and doing the brunt of the housekeeping, but I'd still like more time for myself. And now that I've started blogging, trying to keep it a regular thing is taking up even more time. I love it though, but I couldn't do it if I worked full-time and had a family. I love your two dotty dresses side by side, and I see that you are still rocking your tan boots too! Hope you will be able to get your life back soon. xxx
Big decision, love and good call. Life is not all about work despite what they tell us!! Part time is good. I've worked all the hours and never felt any better off for it. And it will be lovely to see mor eof you.
The shop looks fabulous...I wihs I could nip up and have a rummage. I'd have all those patterns and the dress and cap combo is lush.
Loves ya.
xxxxxx
I so relate to this, but at least you've blogged more often than I have! I've been bad at leaving comments too, even if I'm still reading. On the other hand, life extends beyond the internet and you shouldn't feel guilty because you don't have time for both. But I'm glad you've been able to make a decision that lets you find time for all the things you love!
The shop looks fab, and so does your garden. And your blue spotty dress is the exact same shade as a blue spotty shirt my mum gave me yesterday. :)
Good for you Curtise, you gave it your best but I agree with Em, we are a long time dead (as my mum used to say) and more time with family and friends can only be a good thing. (I think I said on a couple of occasions that I didn't know how you did it.) You've got some great stock in your shop, unlike some of our chazzas. I must confess I haven't been in one for a couple of months. Loving the dotty dresses and looking forward to seeing you and your glorious wardrobe more often. Hope you are finding time for Indian Summers?
xxxxxx
Yay for you - making your own life #1 again. Making fun memories with your kids, and garden and blog (and cleaning, even!) Life flies by, we have to do what makes sense and smell all the flowers. And btw, I have missed you terribly! Thanks for linking, xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Of course it will be your store's loss and our gain. I can see where it would be hard to find a balance to do everything you want and not feel like part of your life is suffering.
Those two dotty dresses made me do a double take. Like, "One of these things is only kind of the same." That was from Sesame Street I think.
bisous
Suzanne
I'm feeling the same as you at the moment and I don't even have a family to look after! I think the older we get, we realize more and more what is truly important in life - time with friends, family, for self-care, and to be creative. Working a full-time job leaves most of us feeling drained and exhausted with not much left to give to those things. Good for you for giving it a shot, and then realizing it's not what you want for your life. I'm sure the shop will try to get you to stay full time!
I am drawn to both of those party dresses, although I very likely couldn't fit into the one on the right.
You've done a blinding job setting up the shop, training the staff to spot decent vintage and displaying it so beautifully. Time to step back and let someone else take the strain. Life's too short to spend it working constantly.
The dotty dresses are wonderfully Spring-like and pretty. Tania's dress is extra so]special as it will be forever Leicester!
I've only got to work a weekend and I'm hopelessly behind with blog reading. I've spent the day gardening today and about a million have popped up in Bloglovin'.
Love you! xxxxxxx
Please don't beat yourself up, sweet lady. Blogging should be a stress-free joy that you do at whatever pace works best for you. It's awesome to see a new post from you anytime, no matter the frequency. You and your blog are such a bright spot in the vintage fashion world.
♥ Jessica
What you achieved with that shop is something to be quite pleased with-it has your excellent eye and incredible taste wall-to-wall (or the walls you've shown us anyway). Think of the pieces now beautifully displayed that would have been in the rag pile a few months ago. Think of it like a child. You birthed it, fed it, kept it from running in the street and now it is ready to move out (please, please tell me that they (real children) eventually move out. They do, don't they? Oh please tell me they do). You gave it the very best possible start. Besides, it isn't like you're going to disappear completely.
Don't tease my old eyes like that with identical dresses! For a fraction of a second I thought perhaps I'd better give up the cocktails *shudder*.
You don't owe it to anyone to blog. Blogging should be fun, not a chore. A new blog from you is always welcome, though. It's good that you've worked out how you want your work/life balance to fall and are adjusting your life accordingly. Fitting in full-time work, a family and everything else must be a nightmare, I only just manage and I don't have kids.
My mother-in-law had plates like those on the bottom-left of your 'funky homewares' photo.
Good for you! There's more to life than work, even if you do work in such spanktacular surroundings! Your shop is a treasure trove. I wish you were closer!
I am another bad blogger.
xxxx
Hey, I don't blame you at all - I know that I couldn't go back to working full time and I'm lucky to be in a position where I can work the hours I want. They can't knock you for all the hard work and love that you've put into the shop, it looks amazing. Great stock too and I've got a bit of sewing pattern love going on there! xx
You're my favorite blogger, and I'm glad to hear you'll be posting more! We're all at our best when we're happiest, and I can tell that's how the decision leaves you.
dear lady, it's a big decision to take a part-time job and enjoy your life!, but I think you won't regret it!
Lovely to see you wearing those polka dot cute dresses, and they look fabulous worn with both jackets but I love particularly your jean jacket styling!
besos
Sometimes you have to try these things to realise they are not for you.
What an amazing shop you have set up though, you should be thoroughly proud of yourself. Hope they find a new manager soon. x
Oh don't feel bad, Curtise - your blogs are always worth waiting for!
It's good you've made the decision to reduce your hours. Life is literally too short to work yourself into the grave if there are other things you want to do.
I was able to reduce my hours from full time to 3 days per week for the last 5 years of my working life although it meant a reduced pension due to the drop in hours/contributions. I had two days free for me a week - and then daughter had another baby after a 15 year gap! I then babysat 2 days a week and worked the other 3, but I was able to spend a lot of time with my youngest grandson; time I will always treasure as I spent a lot of time with my other 2 grandsons from babyhood to starting school.
Hope a new manager will be recruited quickly and you can get on with your real life!
Lovely outfits on you - just can't resist a spotty pattern....
Have a great week
Veronica
I have been pretty bad with blogging and commenting of late too. But you have a good excuse juggling everything you have to do in your busy life. Good for you with realising part time work is better for you. I work part time and do all those things you mention except tidy the house, I am a sloth! Need to sort that part out but I get distracted easily with my camera!
I love your blog so much, make sure you look after yourself chuck..... sorry I sound a bit bossy there! X
Never fear! Though it's a busy time, I will follow you anywhere. Good for you for knowing the life that you want and creating it. I find myself in a similar situation, but hope things quiet down soon.
You are stunning as always and I can see that your shop is pristine! xo
Quite right, Curtise! Blessed is the woman who chooses which balls to juggle! Blogging is something I hope to do (with a sketchbook, rather than a camera) when I retire from full-time employment. A too-full to-do list does interfere with a good night's rest!
oh curtise - i´m impressed!
in a world where climbing up the job ladder is the one and only thing - stepping back is a very brave decision!!! but i know you as a brave and wise women! you know what you want and need and whats necessary in life!
and i wait and will have a look from time to time after your blog :-)
in the meantime cheer yourself up with dotty, colorful looks like the ones you´r wearing here and sniff on the flowers in your garden!!!
you are gorgeous - you do not need a manager job to proof this (i know how hard it can be to understand this from my own experience!)
love and hugs to you! xxxxxxx
I'm been a pretty sketchy blogger lately too! Good on you for knowing when to take a step back from full time, work can come so all encompassing! Enjoy your life and smell the flowers I say!
I bet you thought long and hard about that decision but it's got to right for you and your family. All about getting that 'work life balance' right!
There never seems to be enough time to get the things we want to do done and if pesky works gets in the way then it has to be dealt with!!
Good for you.
I'm surprised the long dress on the model in the top isn't in your wardrobe, I can can just see you in it.
Lisa x
You know I understand! I see your name regularly in my stats and silently greet you. Commenting can be such a burden on busy lives. I hope you can return to some balance and get to smell the roses!
Many hugs! xo Jazzy Jack
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