"Marie Claire" Magazine Does Burlesque!

My burlesque teacher is in Marie Claire magazine!

I was just a tad excited by this. Flip to page 24 of the June 2011 issue, and you'll find the photo feature, "Exotic Birds: The Burlesque Queens of the Suburbs". It's all about the Clark Kent-like double lives of burlesque stars -- yummy mummies, office workers and nerdy science students by day, and all sparkly and glammed up by night.

It's an intriguing, colourful feature and best of all, the very last pic is of my Monday night dance teacher, the gorgeous Luna Eclipse. Go Luna!

I've migrated back to Marie Claire after a few years' hiatus and am glad to report, it's even better than I remembered, so the rest of the magazine is well worth a look too. Get into it...

And no, you won't be seeing me in nipple pasties any time soon (collective sigh of relief!).

Alannah Hill Challenge: Update #6

The Mission: To amass an impressive magazine writing portfolio and win the Alannah Hill Challenge.
The Reward: Buying myself a pretty cardie from the Alannah Hill collection.
Last Known Status: Living the pauper lifestyle, despiting landing a decent swag of writing assignments.

So what's the current status of my challenge?

Thankfully, I'm much more cashed up, due to applying to temping agencies and scoring two office jobs from them. The first was at a law firm dealing in patents and trademarks for two weeks and the other a two-day stint at a wine industry organisation. I'm eager to keep temping to top up my writing income, as long as I can find the right balance and it doesn't interfere with writing time. I'm also expecting to be paid for several articles in the next two months, so hooray for the money rolling in!

My Women's Health & Fitness article, "Being Left-handed," was published two weeks ago. I returned from buying the magazine on my lunch break and couldn't resist showing my supervisor at the law firm, who photocopied the article and pinned it to the noticeboard. It was like a proud mum sticking a kid's drawing on the fridge! Very cute.

I'm now back on the bandwagon of pitching article ideas to magazines, but there have been no new breakthroughs to report, sadly. In the meantime, I've tidied my current portfolio and linked the entries to my scanned-in articles. Check out the spiffy results here and click on one of the magazine covers to read my articles, if you'd like. : )

It's beginning to take shape...

Fabulous Fridays: 27 May 2011

It's Fabulous (un-) Friday!

Sorry folks -- it's a day late as I was ill yesterday.

In other news this week, I've been temping again, this time in the wine industry. While there were no free tastings, unfortunately, I can offer a few sips from the online cup...

• I'm not usually much for displays of obscene wealth, but this car is so shiny.
• Given my fave bookish haunt, Borders, has shut, I may need to chase these bookstores around the world.
• Celebrity rubber ducks! I'm especially partial to Alice in Wonderland and the munchkin from The Wizard of Oz.
• All-new heights of kitty cuteness...
• Gwyneth Paltrow's My Father's Daughter and Eva Longoria's Eva's Kitchen both came out last month, but the celebrity cookbook I most want remains Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl:

• Get your knickers in a twist over bebaroque printed tights. My picks? Dolly and Gracie.
• How the girls at Madison magazine handle deadline fever.
• I saw Miss Saigon on Wednesday night and fell in love with this powerful number. I'm not sure I'm such a fan of the musical itself though. Too sad.
• A new twist on the Sex and the City girls' favoured drink, the Cointreaupolitan. Serve with orange zest at your next party and voila, instant burlesque style cred.
• Gorgeous ladylike and ballet-inspired looks in Forever New's most recent collections. Can barely restrain myself from storming the city store!

Hello Lover!

Leg Avenue Shoes "Princess" glitter heels

Happy weekend. I'll drink to that!

"Women's Health & Fitness" Query

I wrote this query email to Women's Health & Fitness magazine on 17 February 2011 and received a reply from the editor, Angela Tufvesson, five days later.

I'd accidentally chosen the perfect editor to receive this story idea. Little did I know, Angela's a fellow lefty and replied with a "Greetings comrade"! The 1,200-word story was published in the June issue out in news agencies mid-May.

Here's the original email...

Dear Ms Tufvesson,

I'm a writer from Adelaide who's been published by Cosmo Bride and Onya Magazine. Samples of my freelance writing are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

Next time you're using a pair of scissors, computer mouse, can opener, or spiral notebook, spare a thought for left-handers (unless you are one, in which case, greetings comrade!). These and many other everyday tools are made for easy use by right-handers. Historically, lefties have faced discrimination in language, with the Latin word sinistra meaning both "left" and "unlucky" and the French word gauche meaning "left" and "clumsy". They have been beaten and victimised and reprimanded in schools.

I'd like to write an article, "Being Left-handed," discussing theories including that left-handed people are more violent, talented at art and mathematics, more likely to be born from older mothers, and able to sprout three heads (okay that last one's made up). Intriguingly, it's claimed to have health implications such as increased risk of schizophrenia, alcoholism, dyslexia, Crohn's disease, mental disabilities and early death. And apparently, left-handedness is on the rise.
Coming to 1,000 words, the article would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you are interested.

Yours sincerely,
Rebecca Douglas
Mobile: xxxx xxx xxx
Email: beckemail@gmail.com

Fabulous Fridays: 20 May 2011

Where did the 13 May Fabulous Fridays go?

Friday the 13th struck! There was no post last week because Blogger malfunctioned and deleted it. So this week I'm making amends with a bumper issue. Double the web link goodness for everyone. Hooray!

• Review brand clothes sure hit you in the hip pocket, but at least they'll be deliciously swathed in rich fabrics and luscious styles, like the Luella skirt.
• I've broken ranks from my usual "Hell no" attitude to salads to make a winner tonight using a hot chook, celery, lettuce, cucumber, and mushrooms topped by thousand island dressing. Taste buds partying. This one looks great for my next attempt.
• Yellow nail polish is so hot right now. I say yes!
• Even better than fresh-cut flowers at a wedding... purple origami bouquets!
• Great list -- beloved children's characters who are probably gay. I had to laugh at the Smurf inclusion!
• A special mention goes to my Mr Big's blog, What Issue Was That Again? Hot comic book-reviewing action!
• Dream of starting your own fashion label? The must-read blog for you.
• Michael Bolton sending himself up brilliantly in a tribute to Pirates of the Carribean. It's a helluva catchy tune too.
• Gratuitous shot of my fave cupcake haunt, BTS Cupcakes (they even have cupcakes name "Carrie" and "Mr Big"). Love:

• Becks and the City has now clocked over 100 Twitter followers. Welcome, tweeps. : )
• I finished up my 2-week temp job on Wednesday at a law firm handling trademarks and patents. The people were lovely. Sad to have left it, but here's a clue to a new gig I was offered yesterday...
• Feeling an urgent longing for this book lately. Dita is simply fabulous.
• Gala Darling's list of "33 Movies to Watch When You're Sad, Glum or Bummed Out" really hits the spot. Ecstatic Burlesque, Clueless and Mrs Doubtfire get a guernsey.
• I was never much a fan of Roseanne... until this.
• Miranda Kerr can shove her patronising Treasure Yourself book up her size zero jumper. Treasure my ASS! Dislike.
• Haha, retro cute. Who knew a test pattern could be this chic?
• So proud to finally hit a difficult pole trick -- the Madonna. Hopefully it wasn't a fluke! Here's Veena demonstrating it.
• Coveting so much these darling gloves.

Now bubble baths and fashion mags all round... go!

Fabulous Fridays: 6 May 2011

Thank goodness Kate and Will royal wedding fever is over. I must admit, my enthusiasm never really heated up for it, although I did get suckered into the telemovie. For shame. Here's some other shameful confessions for the week...

• Cannot, cannot wait for season 4 of Secret Diary of a Callgirl. Billie Piper totally rocks this role.
• In search of the ultimate homemade butter chicken recipe. Could this be it?
• Prudes and university politics: Female Professor Fired For Burlesque Performance.
• Guess what I'm doing this Fabulous Friday? Clue: one of the best characters ever to grace the small screen. For those who guessed being tried for murder, guess again.
• You may have already sussed out that I'm a total Lego tragic. Here's the new minifigs Adam bought me in little lucky dip packets -- gorilla, explorer and painter. So cute:

• A hen's party in the style of retro TV show, Mad Men. Aprons and tulip skirts are a smidge more elegant than a penis headband with flashing lights.
• An Alice In Wonderland-themed restaurant? Oh my ears and whiskers!
• My friend's having a cosplay party. I'm thinking this character's outfit may be ripe for the picking, plus I had the colouring book as a kid. Can't go wrong then, ahem.
• Uber-blogger, Gala Darling, shares 33 Movies to watch when you're sad, glum or bummed out, including my faves, Clueless and Mrs Doubtfire.
• #livebelowtheline is a massive trend on Twitter right now. Major props to those taking part in a bid to end world poverty.
• Ahh, Kermit will always be my leading man. Come serenade me with this, little green dude!

Happy weekend, muppet babies!