Relaxing || Motivational Monday

Hello Glitterbugs!

Merry Monday to you, how are you feeling? 

I feel slow and sluggish but I've just made a big to-do list, had some toast and I'm writing this. Sometimes completing just one task gives you the motivation to tackle and complete another, you just have to start. 

Yesterday was a write off. I had such plans for so many things since I had just returned from a week in New York but none of them happened. I wanted to organise my footage, begin my edits, start some writing, wash my laundry, see to my post and bills, visit some family and so on. Instead, Darcy and I took everything into the garden (hammock, cushions, paddling pool, snacks, toys, music) and spent the entire day there. 

We cuddled and chatted and played. Some of my Mum friends called by and our littles bounced in the sunshine on the trampoline, I whipped up drinks and food with whatever I had in the kitchen, we sat on the decking and just watched the day go by with birds tweeting and bees buzzing and children getting sticky hands from ice lollies. 

It was beautiful. 

I didn't do any of my jobs. I didn't earn any money. I didn't further my career. I make my mark on the world. I just lived my day. 

It was so, so beautiful. 

Last year was cray. I did so many things (managed both channels, wrote a book, released a diary, completed 2 book tours, performed my first live comedy tour, travelled a bunch of times, designed and released a clothing line, etc) and I felt like career-wise it was such an amazing year. Personally though, I was crumbling. In 2016 I made the resolution that Darcy and I come first. Obviously I still want (and need) to work and it's one of my biggest passions but sometimes, just sometimes, it's OK to throw in the towel and have a garden day with your babe. 

This week remember what you're living for. Remember that there is so much more to your life than working and think about what really makes you rich. 

Love you lots Glitterbugs. 

Toodlepip!

xx

LouiseLIVE Info and Chat

Good Morning My Glitterbugs!

I say morning, but who knows what time you're reading this? Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a little bit of tech that could change some of the words in blogs to suit your time? Like morning and afternoon or even seasonal if you're reading this at like Christmas or something? Why am I talking about this?? I'm jet lagged, let's blame that!

I'm typing this blog post from my hotel bed in New York, with a 14th floor view over Manhattan at sunrise. I'm not even kidding. It's glorious. I feel like such a go-getter haha. If you're super interested, THIS, is my current view, except I'm actually under that duvet of dreams. 

Anyway, what was the point of this post, oh yes, LouiseLIVE! I thought that since I've been talking about it so much on my social media that I would make a blog post to kind of A any Q's and fill in the gaps for people who might not know much about it. I've also included some images that guests from LouiseLIVE 2015 took- thank you for sharing those with me <3

Click here to buy tickets!

What is LouiseLIVE?

LouiseLIVE is a live theatre show where I try to bring the essence of my channel to the stage but also a lot more personality that I'm not always able to convey via a screen. The general theme of the show is comedy but there are big elements of self empowerment and hopefully a little bit of inspiration in there too. It's audience interactive (so some guests are invited up on stage with me) but not audience led (so not a Q&A). 

How did LouiseLIVE all begin?

A few years back I was at a YouTube convention in America and I wanted to find a way to spend time with my audience but in a different format to the traditional meet & greet, which I felt wasn't offering the quality that we all deserved. I wanted a way to interact face to face but wasn't just a human conveyor belt of a quick hello and a selfie. I needed more than that and I felt like the audience did too. 

So, I came up with this idea where I would have a bunch of you in a room, you could ask me anything at all you wanted and I could ask you anything and we'd have a sort of giant conversation. 

With each question that someone asked, I ended up talking for a few minutes, sharing stories, asking more about you and we all came away having learnt something more, deepened our relationships and having had a higher quality experience than a fake smile and blurred selfie. It was GOOD. 

After that someone said, why don't you develop this and take it to the stage? So, in 2014 we did a pilot show called, 'The Sprinkle of Glitter Experience", in my home town (woo yeah Northampton! ha) that was very unstructured and audience led, with Q&A's, quizzes, chats etc. The reviews were crazy positive!

When we launched LouiseLIVE in 2015 (much better name, non?), I wanted there to be a proper structure (like you would get in any stage show) and to focus a little bit more on the comedy element of it as that's something that works really well in a live setting. I was also keen to maintain a section about confidence and self empowerment since this is something I'm so passionate about and I think really resonates with a lot of guests. 

And so, 3 years later, here we are about to embark on the second official tour and I couldn't be more excited! I was so happy with how 2015 went so will be going with the same format but of course, all new stories, new ideas and hopefully a lot of new audience members too!

Why is LouiseLIVE so special? 

I have been growing, nurturing and loving my GlitterWorld for 6 years now. I consider it a part of my family, like a second child. When I read comments from you or open your letters that land in my PO Box, I feel like we are connected. Unfortunately, there is a certain distance and coldness that having screens and technology between us brings, so, to have an experience with you all in a theatre setting is very special. 

It allows us the unique opportunity of being amongst this community that we have all worked to create and to celebrate it. We are all sharing in one common interest and the vibe is always incredibly positive and exciting. 

I also think it's special because I feel so much more free on a stage than I do in front of a camera. I feel a lot more like the Louise I am when I'm with my friends and find myself relaxing and hitting on so many more topics than I would on my channel. Hearing the audience laugh and seeing faces with all the feels, it's special. 

Where can I buy tickets for LouiseLIVE?

Right HERE. A lot of tickets have sold out now but a few remain for most of the venues so do be quick if you're wanting any. 

Can I vlog at LouiseLIVE? 

This is just my personal opinion and not that of the theatre venue (they all have their own individual policies). I would love for you to not film the entire show but if you are vlogging your day and want to include little snippets that are a few seconds long here and there, go for it. Also, still photos (as far as I'm concerned) are completely fine. If any of my youtube friends attend, I'd love for them to not be filmed and just be left to enjoy the show <3.

I suffer from anxiety, will I be ok at LouiseLIVE?

I've seen this question a lot. I think because there is an element of audience interaction, some people worry that they'll be picked on or dragged up on stage. DON'T WORRY. If you look terrified or are shaking your head or not raising your hand, I'm 100% not going to pick you. I don't want anyone at my show to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed or afraid. Also, I want to have super bubbly confident people on stage so it's not in my interest to pick a person who's just not feeling it.

If at any point you need to leave, I'm not going to call you out or make a fuss, I'm just going to hope you're ok and leave you to it. 

So, if anxiety is your worry, I hope this has eased it for you. 

------

And that's it! If you have any further Q's, leave them below and if there are any that I see multiple times I will address them in another blog post. 

Can't wait to see you there!!

Toodlepip!

xx

Mistakes || S3P3 || Motivational Monday

Aloha Glitterbugs,

Merry Monday to you, a brand new day and a brand new start. How refreshing. 

Like every single person except Mary Poppins (who as we know is practically perfect in every way), I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. A lot. From big ones like not working harder at school to little ones like that Krispy Kreme donut at 1.40am last night, I'm a mistake maker. 

It's really easy, I think, to let those mistakes fester within us. For a long old time after my marriage broke down I would sob and sob to my friends that I'd failed. I felt like I was walking around with this huge neon sign floating above my head and everyone could see all the things I hadn't achieved. 'Couldn't Make Her Marriage Work', 'Didn't Try Hard Enough'.  Over time I realised my failing didn't mean I was a loser and nobody thought that. Nobody was forcing these negative labels on me, except me. It wasn't a mistake to get married (we had a lot of wonderful years and brought Darcy into the world) and it wasn't a mistake to move on (we're both infinity happier now and I feel like a better parent for it).

Same for my A-Levels. I did terribly. At uni in freshers week the hot topic was, 'Which A-Levels did you take? How many UCAS points did you score? Did you get your first place of course??'. Truth be told, I got into my uni through clearing. I did brilliantly in my GCSE's, moved schools for my A-Levels, discovered boys, took my eye of the prize and was a bit of a flop. Still went to uni though, still came out with a degree, still lived my life. My mistake didn't define my success. 

What I'm trying to illustrate is that even if you make a mistake, you can fix it. You can work through it and with the right attitude, over come it. 

Whatever little or big mistakes are niggling away at you this week, let them go or refocus. You don't need to beat yourself up and you are not the walking embodiment of failure. You are a human and you're doing OK. I promise. 

Toodlepip!

xx