Remember when I recently moved from aimeemarie.com/blog to aimeeaimeeaimee.wordpress.com, because it was taking up too much space on my server? Yeah? Cool.

Well, er, I’m moving back to aimeemarie.com/blog again.

Apologies if you changed your links! (I know the majority of you lovely people have linked straight to aimeemarie.com, which is best really, as you can then reach my blog & portfolio.) I missed being able to change my layout & have my blog on my own server, so I’ve installed Blogger rather than WordPress (which took up a billion mb’s– my reason for moving in the first place.)

If you’re reading this through Google Reader or something similar, please change your links back to aimeemarie.com/blog & I will feed you cupcakes forever.

<3

If I was Barbie, going to the beach, I’d totally wear this.

(I actually did a video of this weeks Friday Feeling, but I’ve chickened out of posting it! If you’re really interested though, leave a comment & I’ll email you the link.)

Aimee Marie Loves… — This is a brand new feature on here, that I’m really excited about! I’m still looking for creative people to feature & interview, so if you’re interested, just let me know & hopefully your name will be popping up here soon! It’s similar to Link Love features out there (& my regular posts, Editor’s Pick), but it focuses on one amazing person. Get involved!

Getting fit— I went for a jog yesterday, to start training for the charity run & let’s just say, I have a LOT of training left to do! So I’m digging out my Charlie Brooks “Before & After” workout DVD, spending time on my mini-stepper, powerwalking & finding the perfect place to jog, to raise my heartbeat & stamina.

Ask Me Anything!— I gave you the opportunity a few days ago to Ask Me Anything & lots of you have emailed me! As ever, I want moremoremore questions, so please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Michael Jackson— HEE HEEE! Wacko Jacko is back. He’s going to be playing in London this summer & part of me really wants to go, but I know it will either be AMAZING or a complete shambles & I fear it will be the latter! And I’m sure I’d have to sell a kidney to buy a ticket. Plus I’d also be a bit scared of all the crazy, screaming Brits who would probably try & rush him on stage & also prevent me from hearing a word he said. It’s not to be, you & me, Mr Melty-Face. Next time!

Houmous & carrots— since I’ve given up chocolate & biscuits, I’ve been snacking on yoghurts & fruit, & I’m seriously addicted to houmous & carrots right now. I feel like a rabbit & with this amount of carrots in me, I’ll be back to 20/20 vision any day now!

Moo Mini Cards— I last ordered these in 2007 & they’ve lasted me until now! They needed updating, so I’ve ordered a whole new batch from Moo— & you should too! The Mini Cards are really great value & of good quality.

Going back to my roots— I’m no longer a redhead & I’ve gone back to my brunette roots, after my hair turned the colour of baked beans! It feels a little weird— I’ve always had something crazy or different about my hair, but now it’s brown & I’m growing it out, I just feel like I’m blending in a bit. I must persevere though, as I haven’t had long hair in YEARS & I need something different.

Dressing up— I still love my Minnie Mouse ears! I’m now contemplating a fancy dress party this year for my 22nd birthday. Adult, schmadult!

Amazing new blogs— one, two, three.

Honourable mentions— trashy tv; over-blogging (I’ve posted so much this week!); nights in & alone; Granola Bars; HOUMOUS (again); making videos; iced buns; tutugasms; photobooth.

Em is a little bit fabulous. She’s a 23yr old Australian girl after my own heart; she adores cupcakes, sparkles & pink AND she has the tattoos to prove it— a baking unicorn? Check. A happy cupcake? Check! By her own admission, she’s “a little bit nuts”.

Why do you blog? What do you enjoy the most?
I ADORE blogging. I have had all sorts of websites and blogs since I was 13. The thing that amazes me the most is how many incredible people you can meet. I have made SO many great, great friends online, and then, often in real life. My 3 best friends I’ve ever had were all met initially online, and my group of friends now, who I met through my current blog- I know I will be friends with for life. I treat my blog like a personal journal with feedback. It’s incredible to be able to vent and spill your guts, or be super excited about something, and actually have responses from people who can relate, or offer advice.

Why Lick My Cupcakes?
Why not? My current blog actually started out as a food blog, but I wasn’t finding I would bake enough to keep it interesting, plus I get bored with things that aren’t full of silliness and adventures, so I went back to my roots of old-school talkin’ crap about nothing. Name-wise, I couldn’t find anything remotely cupcake-related that was still available for a URL so I started typing in dirty sayings with the word ‘Cupcake’ in them, out of pure boredom. This was free, and I instantly knew it HAD to be my blog name. Dirty & cute sums me up pretty well.

Besides blogging, what’s your favourite pastime?
I would say baking, but that’s probably a lie, as much as I love the final result, I am WAY too much of a perfectionist, the kind who makes 24 cupcakes instead of 12, to allow for 12 non-perfect ones to be thrown away, or fed to the pooches! It gets stressful! I love nothing more than hanging my my husband and friends, going out to lunch or dinner, seeing a movie. I love movies, any kind, and I love reading. I love getting caught up in other peoples worlds, imaginary or not!

What’s your day job?
I work in a motoring bookshop, a very non-girly job for a very girly girl! I have been there for 6 years, and loved it for the first 5.

Is that something you want to do forever? If not, what’s your dream job?
As I mentioned, the first 5 years it was fantastic, I loved the people, I never got sick of it- but lately, I’ve been yearning to do something more creative with my time. As a super-crafty-machine I feel as though I get hardly any time these days to just create. Whenever I bump into someone I haven’t seen for a while and tell them my job, they are always shocked that I don’t do something arty! The past year or so I have started looking for opportunities, but I’m not leaving to pursue just anything. Cake decorating would be my number one preference. I have thought many times about opening my own business from home but unfortunately our budget/space doesn’t allow the neccessary requirements to be met to have a food business from home. You need an entire seperate kitchen, bathroom & office for clients. Ack. Another option on my list in opening an Etsy store. I’ve been thinking about making a bit of jewellery for a while now. Accessories are a passion of mine. Hopefully I’ll get started on that project soon!

Em’s cute tattoos!

Your tattoos are so cute! What inspired you to get them?
I have ALWAYS loved tattoos. I got my first (a heart on my hip, with the kanji symbols for “yours for eternity”) for my now-husband, when I was 16. We had only been together for 6 months so some people (including him!) thought I was a little loopy. I had dreamt of all the tattoos I wanted for years- but I had a very precise fairytale idea of my wedding, so I wanted to wait until after we were married to get any visible ones. After the wedding, I went for it! My tattoos sum me up pretty well, a little bit bad-ass & rockstar, but still oh-so-bright-and-adorable!

Any plans for more tatts?
I already have my next 3 planned out, it’s terrible! Since the cupcake on my wrist I’ve been meaning to get an electric mixer to match on the other side, but all my bigger tattoos tend to take priority! I am planning for a castle in the clouds on my left arm (I need to even them up! I have 4 on my right side and only 1 on my left!) and also a pin-up version of me I am still drawing up for part of my birthday invitations (A.K.A. The Cupcake Extravaganza!)- if it comes out well I want to get it on the back of one of my legs.

Where & when did you meet your husband?
Um…well..my boyfriend at the time introduced us! Luckily, he was a total jerk. My hubby was my knight in shining armour! I was 16 when I met him & he was 19. Leaving the ex for him was the hardest and best descision I ever made, as you can probably tell, 7 and a half years later!

Chico!

Can I steal Chico?
You can, but he would more than likely maul your face! He is an EVIL, EVIL little adorable dog. He only loves Me & my husband. The way to his heart is extreme perserverance, and LOTS of treats. He may like you when you’re sitting or lying down, but touch him, move suddenly, or stand up, BAD IDEA! It’s a bit of a problem, being an adorable, tiny dog, children and old people are kind of drawn to him. This may, on occasion end in severed limbs.

Where do you want to visit most in the world?
Japan again! I went FINALLY for my honeymoon, but I belong there, I always have. I’ve been told since I was young that I was born into the wrong country & reminded “you know, you’re not Japanese…”, I’ve been called “The token asian friend” and everything. Even though I’m white as snow & a total Aussie, my love for Hello Kitty & everything kawaii just screams JAPAN!

What’s your fav thing about living in Oz?
I can’t pinpoint it, but I do love Australia. I find it hilarious when everyone says Aussies are so laid back and welcoming, but when I visit other countries, I really do see it! We take it for granted and assume everywhere is the same I guess, and then you get a little thrown when people aren’t uber excited for you to be visiting their country!

Favourite cupcake flavour/filling?
Plain old vanilla, though my cookie-dough-centred, peanut-butter-frosted ones are pretty insane! I love my vanilla recipe, it tastes so traditional and light- like something your grandma would make!

Favourite band/artist?
God, don’t get me started! I adore music more than anything in the world. I live and breathe it, it determines my mood for each day. I have the BROADEST music tastes, from Motown to Metal. Some of my all time faves are Prince (yes, Prince!), John Mayer, Marvin Gaye, Blink 182, The Goo Goo Dolls, Cute is what we Aim for, Lydia, Chiodos, Forever the Sickest Kids, Kisschasy, The Used, Angels & Airwaves, Hello Goodbye, it’s honestly WAY to broad to go on!

Who’s Fred & why’s he so entertaining?
Fred is a traveller! He is is a rare breed of Garden-Elf. Please, do not mistake him for a Gnome. He has some terrible self-harming tendancies and cannot handle another blow to his squishy stuffed self-esteem. Frederick was made for a forum swap, and travelled across Australia to meet his new Mummy. Many months later, He was found sitting glumly in my meter box, sobbing quietly, covered in “Unclaimed” stickers. He decided he needed to find himself, who he really was, and thought it was time to be brave. Frederick had gotten quite a taste for travelling on his trip, and revealed to me he would like to journey across the world, meeting new people and discovering more about himself and the world along the way. To read more click here. Due to my extreme laziness, he hasn’t left on his trip yet, so there is still time if you want to have him come visit you! Just read more on the link & shoot me an email at mypinkheels@hotmail.com with your address details.

What do you prefer– shoes or bags?
For the love of god, don’t make me choose! Probably shoes, thought I can’t for the life of me walk in heels, unless they are super chunky. I like weird, different things. I used to have a friend who would say “I have NEVER seen shoes like that before”- for EVERY pair of shoes I wore! I’m an accessories girl through and through. I love anything bright, chunky, cheap and sparkly!

What makes you ridiculously excited & squeal with delight?
Anything pink, sparkly, fluffy, rockabilly, pin-up, sequinned, rainbowed, glittery, tattooed, cutesy, gross, or frosted! Lameness is also a fave of mine, and anything Scareligious! I have a Jesus action figure, a bible ring, and I just bought a tee that says Jesusarus-Rex, I kid you not. It’s a Tyrannasaurus with a Jesus head, and it’s probably the coolest thing ever. I’m going to hell. I’m probably the easiest person in the world to buy for. I get told seriously EVERY DAY “Oh I saw something and thought of you!”

Describe yourself in three words.
Ridiculous, happy & uncoordinated!


So, to sum it up, cuteness + pink + macabre + cupcakes = Em. <3 her!

If you’re working towards a career in journalism / photography / design / fashion / art, then you should seriously consider starting a ‘blog’. If you want to be a journalist & you don’t have a blog already, you’re stupid. Go & sign up now! It’s the perfect (free!) way to practice & it’s much easier to send someone to your blog, when you’re applying for jobs. And for all other creatives, your blog is your big opportunity to let your personality shine through too– people will warm to your work, if they know something about the person behind it & it will mean they return to your website for new content. Portfolio’s on their own can be a bit stale.

Blogging Pros: Networking, communication, feedback, money-earner, personality & branding, drives passion, employer reference & portfolio, sharing, educating & learning — & it’s FREE!

A blog is not necessarily about writing a diary of events & pouring out heartfelt emotions– that kind of stuff is best left on journal websites such as LiveJournal– it’s about communicating your ideas, networking, making new friends with common interests & showing off what you can do to the world, including potential employers. You can receive instant feedback on what you’ve created, from industry people & simply fans of your work. You need to hear responses sometimes, from people that aren’t your friends or family (who will adore anything you create or do, because they love you!)

I don’t really consider myself a blogger, per-sé. I’m a journalist & photographer, primarily. It just so happens that my ‘blog’ is my chosen form of communication, to share ideas, thoughts, post my work & network– categories, tags & the comments feature, make it easy to find related subjects & get feedback. I don’t post about personal matters & prefer to concentrate on articles, tutorials & the odd regular feature. I think of it more as a magazine– I don’t have the opportunity to write for a published one at the moment, but this little corner of the www is here waiting as reference for future writing jobs & has helped me gain some unpaid work too.

More & more businesses & celebrities are using blogs now– Stephen Fry; Ricky Gervais; the BBC; newspapers; the Whitehouse & loads more & so I think they’ve become a lot more acceptable, but what do you think about blogs & blogging?

Related Articles from Problogger:
Blogging tips for beginners
How bloggers make money
How to find readers for your blog

Photos Copyright Lucia Holm

If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further! Miss Lulu (aka Lucia Holm) is probably one of the best photographers New Jersey has ever seen, & if you haven’t perused her Flickr stream yet, you’ve seriously been missing out. This 26-year old creative lady started off in the Fine Arts, studying at Rhode Island School of Design & the New York Academy of Art. It wasn’t until after she took a break from painting, that she picked up a camera & her freelance career began– & I’m so glad she did!

If you think you’ve got an amazing talent that’s going to waste, because you don’t have anyone to photograph, take a leaf out of Lu’s book & DIY– no one to let you down, no model expenses & you can take all the time you need. Her seamless & saturated photos often feature herself, which as you can imagine, is a hard thing to pull off (unless you’re going for that MySpace angle…), but Lu does it spectacularly. The colours always ‘pop’ & her art background, means they’re Photoshopped to absolute perfection. Apart from specialising in self portraits, she also photographs for musicians, including The Parlor Mob & Nicole Atkins. She’s busy at the moment, shooting for fashion brand, Spanish Moss Vintage (again, another self-portrait project!), so unfortunately didn’t have time for an interview, but her photographs really speak for themselves. Have a look!

Photos Copyright Lucia Holm

If you’d like to appear in the series “Aimee Marie Loves…”, please leave a comment or email me at foto AT aimeemarie.com — I’m looking for bloggers, photographers, artists, designers, writers & anyone who does anything remotely creative!

Want to know why I blog? What my favourite nail polish is? How I got into photography? My favourite website? How I met my other half? I often get questions landing in my inbox with a thud, so join everyone else & Ask Me Anything! I’ll answer them all in a bumper post soon! You can either leave a comment here or email me at foto AT aimeemarie.com. The crazier & more imaginative, the better!

You can also read an interview with me at Sparkle & Glitter!

If you’re doing 101 in 1001, how’s it going? I think I’m progressing, albeit at a slow speed! I’ve revised my goals, by re-writing, deleting the odd one or two that I’m either no longer interested in completing, or aren’t really goals or objectives, but something that will inevitably happen in my life, anyway! I’ve also re-organised them, which I suggest everyone does, if you haven’t already!

Fail-safe Resources!
If you’re struggling to remember your goals on a daily basis, Lesson In Life gives some great tips on how you can be reminded
Maybe we shouldn’t be writing down our to-do lists at all…
Need some motivation? Get off your butt!
Inspiring lists; Sparkly To Single; Collage Diva; Secret Wish Jar; Lick My Cupcakes; Eleanor’s Trousers; Cusp of Normal.

My List!

(Points that are crossed out have been completed, items in italics are in progress & goals in red are brand new!)

PERSONAL & SOCIAL

001 Move out of the family home & in somewhere with Ashley
002 Take part in a charity run in 2009 — I’m running for the BHF in June. If you haven’t already sponsored me, please do!
003 Give blood– I’m booked in for March 18th!
004 Re-use tote shoppers & stop using plastic bags completely, by the end of March — [Completed 28/02/09] — I’ve got totes in my handbag & car, permanently!
005 Do some fundraising for Red Nose Day 2009 — [Completed 02/03/09] — I’ve donated money, bought my Stella McCartney for RND t-shirt, suggested fundraising ideas at work & I’m offering my creative services on the Red Nose Day weekend, by face-painting & photographing the event!
006 Enroll on a Make-Up For Theatre course
007 Develop my French / German speaking — I’ve decided against spending money on DS games & I’m downloading podcasts instead!
008 Get out of my current retail job
009 Procrastinate less & complete at least 75% of the things on my daily to-do lists for a month [0/31]
010 Get new business cards from Moo
011 Be on time to work for 6 months [0/6 months]

FINANCE

012 Be less frivolous with money & think about purchases before acting impulsively — this is an ongoing thing, but so far I’d say I’ve pretty much done this. I’ve curbed my addiction to shopping & haven’t bought much at all, as my savings will tell you.
013 Save at least £50 a month for a year — [3/12]
014 Buy a new car

APPEARANCE & HEALTH

015 Drop a dress size; get in shape through exercise & healthy eating by my birthday (22 June)
016 Lose at least a stone & maintain that weight (give or take 4 pounds), for at least 6 months [0/14lbs]
017 Give up chocolate & biscuits for Lent 2009 [6/46 days]
018 Attend 10 dance aerobics classes [0/10]
019 Learn to hoop
020 Do sit-ups every morning for a month [0/31]

TRAVEL & LEISURE

021 Re-visit Paris with Ashley
022 Visit the Caribbean
023 Visit the Maldives
024 Re-visit New York
025 Read the rest of the books in the series ‘Confessions of Georgia Nicolson’ [1/9]
026 Watch classic films that I’ve either not seen, or watched & not taken any notice of [Requiem for a Dream / Scarface / Trainspotting / The Matrix / Dogma / The Terminator 1 & 2 / Apocalypse Now / Donnie Darko / Edward Scissorhands / Pan's Labyrinth / Monty Python & The Holy Grail / Rocky Horror Picture Show / Snatch / Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels / Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas / American Beauty / Clockwork Orange / Pulp Fiction]
027 Watch all 6 series of Sex & The City [0/6]
028 Watch all 10 series of Friends [4/10]
029 Learn to knit & make a scarf for Autumn/Winter 2009
030 Have a professional massage
031 Re-visit The Science Museum, London
032 Go Strawberry picking

CREATIVITY

033 Commit to a 365 project for the full 365 days — After my MacBook died, I lost a lot of photos, so there’s going to be a big gap in my life, which I’m not digging! I’m going to sort out the photos that I do have, but I might have to give up for this year and start in 2010. [39/365]
034 Receive regular paid/voluntary photography and/or writing work for at least 6 months [Regular = at least one job / article every month] [1/6 months]
035 Publish a photobook
036 Photograph for “What I Wore” at least twice a week for 6 months [0/52 posts]
037 Expand my printed portfolio
038 Make a Friday Feeling post every week for 6 months [2/22 posts]
039 Blog frequently. Frequently = at least 10 posts a week — I’ve just managed to complete this in January, but it’s definitely something I’m going to continue for as long as I have this blog!
040 Start a regular, monthly blog feature with Beauty Tutorials

UK Lady Bloggers!— If you still haven’t joined, please do! I’ve already met some lovely people & discovered amazing new blogs. I’ve added all the lady bloggers to a new category on my blogroll, so please check them out. & if you’ve recently joined UKLB & I haven’t added you yet, then don’t worry— I’ll catch up eventually!

Blogging for my local newspaper!— I’m going to be starting a blog called, “The Diary of a (my hometown) Fashionista”! Exciting & slightly daunting at the same time, for various reasons.

Tidy Room— with a clear workspace, comes a clear mind. I find myself being a lot more productive, knowing that I haven’t got a mountain of things behind me, to put away. Try it!

Re-working photos— I love being able to look back at my work & think, “I can do better now!” because it means I’ve improved, developed, learnt & I’m thinking in a different way.

Yet another name necklace— I think this is my third or fourth! But they’re all so fab in their own way. The latest addition to the collection is from Heidi Seeker. I first discovered the necklaces when I photographed for the brand & I’ve forgotten to purchase one, ever since! I always seemed to remember I wanted it at the end of the month when I was broke, but I finally managed to buy it this month. I love that it’s big & OTT & made of felt, so there’s no chance of it snapping. I can’t wait for the day when me & two of my friends (who have their own), go out wearing them together by mistake, because no doubt it will happen!

Support— I’ve had lots of support & promised donations from friends & family, for when I do the Canary Wharf Jog (up to 10km! Ack!) for the British Heart Foundation, in June. If you haven’t sponsored me already & you’d like to, please visit my fundraising page. Anything & everything will really help. And if you’ve already given, big hugs & glittery kisses to you, you angel!

Honourable mentions: photo competitions; pay day!; baking; not eating chocolate & biscuits; early mornings full of sunshine; iMovie; finding new blogs; time off work to do my own thing; putting my entire music collection on my iPod (a work in progress!); banana & jam on toast; discovering new photo locations right on my doorstep; ASOS.com 20% discount; to-do lists; new clothes stores; Friday nights out; Chicken Biryani & Peshwari Naan; Westfield Shopping Centre.

The view from my door of my bed & work area. Can’t wait for long summer days with the sun shining & my window open, listening to music on my pink dock while I work! I love having my bed under my window too– it’s the best start to the day & a great way to end it, if it’s a clear night.

& from the foot of my bed you can see one of my wardrobes & my dressing table.

Those black boxes are full of DVDs! Hurrah. I also have an obsession with cushions & the colour pink as you can see from my fab Pauls Boutique bag! Hanging on the back of the door are some empty shopping bags– no plastic ones for me, thanks!– the newest addition being the cassette tape one from Heidi Seeker, which unfortunately is not worth the £7 I paid for it.

New iMac = love! Those boxes on my shelves are full of magazines & the smaller ones on top, my CDs.

Stationery & post-its & USB cables & other leads can be found in the clear boxes, as well as a notebook & my Moleskine diary on top!

My beauty trolley! This has changed my life(!) & holds all my cosmetics & beauty products.

And finally, a quick sneak peek at my clothes & handbags / shoes obsession.

What does your workspace look like? I tag everyone who reads this!

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