Goodbye 2011

Beck's year 2011...

1. Enjoyed being part of a live TV audience for a football show, along with Mr Big and friends.
2. Revelled in the glorious tackiness that is the Eurovision Song Contest.
3. Completed my first paid copywriting assignment for a recruitment agency's blog.
4. Placed 3rd in an amateur pole dancing competition by performing a routine to Jason Derulo's "In My Head".
5. Was a bridesmaid for my very close friends, Alexis and Ying, in a lovely October ceremony.
6. Experienced my first spray tan, massage and facial and shortest haircut (a bob) in ten years.
7. Won the Alannah Hill Challenge by compiling a nice little magazine writing portfolio and bought myself a pretty cardigan as a reward.
8. Became hooked on the fist-pumping, hard-drinking action in Jersey Shore.
9. Celebrated a delightful first anniversary in Sydney with Mr Big, exploring Taronga Zoo, discovering the amazing Kinokuniya bookstore and eating at Pie Face and Wagamama.
10. Became hooked on zines and started creating Magazine Love.
11. Dressed as a Strawberry Shortcake character, in a masquerade mask and as a pirate for friends' birthdays.
12. Survived the fifty-billion musical numbers we watched in a stage production of Miss Saigon.
13. Worked as a guerrilla secretary in a private boys' college, tree-lopping company, hospital, car dealership, solar panel provider, law firm and old folks' home, amongst others. Almost worked for Witchery.
14. Witnessed my football team's worst thrashing in the club's history live in Melbourne.
15. Hosted the first Becks and the City giveaway.
16. Let my inner nerd out to play at my first comic convention and saw Lance Henriksen (the android, Bishop, in Aliens) speak live.
17. Wrote for Women's Health & Fitness and eBayLife magazines, and scored a gig as assistant editor for The Essential Guide to Twitter.
18. Won a VIP backstage pass to a fashion parade and enjoyed a personal styling session, makeup application by The Body Shop, meeting hot cricket stars and getting a behind-the-scenes view of the modelling world with my mother-in-law and two friends.
19. Nearly collapsed learning to dance the can-can.
20. Enjoyed a full 12 months off from my regular 9-5 occupation to write, write, write.

Thanks 2011, you've been amazeballs and awesomesauce!

Wanna see my 2010 list? Here it is.

Fabulous Fridays: 30 December 2011

In the New Year, let's hope for many happy returns of Fabulous Friday. And the countdown begins...

• I'm a big fan of Bailey's -- it's like dessert in a bottle, so why not try your hand at the homemade version?
• My latest songstress crush, continuing my obsession with Brit musicians: Duffy.
• Have a few issues of Cleo and Cosmo occupying valuable real estate on your coffee table? Make bows for your giftwrapping.
• Everyone needs Patricia Field silver jeans. At least, I do. : )
• Oh my goodness, I think I've found my 2012 diary, and it's made from a recycled Little Golden Book! Also.
• The incredibly talented lady behind the pic above? Megan Hess, illustrator for none other than Candace Bushnell!
• Anyone else gagging to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie? PS: bitch please, what sort of name is Noomi?
• Inhabiting my DVD player this week: New York City Ballet Workout. It's even endorsed by SJP. Win.
• Tuxedo leggings. Bring a modicum of class to your comfiness... or a lot.
• Because no one is friends with those mongrel little cubes of '80s torture. Actually, I solved it in my teens, no clue how it happened!

Hello Lover!

Pinup Couture Pink Satin Cutiepie T-Strap Pump

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!



Query Letter: "Madison" Magazine

Here's another pitch email that disappeared into the ether along with my dignity and those lost socks from the dryer. I never heard back from Madison about my fantastic feng shui idea...

I'm a freelance writer and mediator for Consumer Affairs who's been published by magazines including Women's Health & Fitness and Cosmo Bride. Samples of my work are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

Feng shui, the Chinese system of aesthetics combining the laws of heaven and earth, shows no signs of waning in popularity. Mystical though it may be, feng shui can teach us a lot about making our lives orderly so every facet functions smoothly. Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts all reportedly use its principles to improve their lives and I'd like to write "Feng Shui Your Life" to help Madison readers do the same.

With advice from experts in the field and modern life coaches, the piece would contain sections focussing on transforming your happiness, house, health, wealth and general prosperity. A breakout box could highlight celebrity adherents to feng shui and give examples of how they've used it in ways readers can emulate at home.

Coming to 1,800 words, the article would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you're interested.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Rebecca Douglas
 
I must not have sent my pitch on an auspicious occasion. Or was it something I said?

Fabulous Fridays: 23 December 2011

 THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE

A very Carrie Christmas to you! Just one sleep to go until fun, family, food and fabulousness. : ) Here's a few sprinkles of festive magic to tide you over...

• Remember Carrie's Christmas gift from her assistant Louise in the first Sex and the City movie? It was a DVD of Meet Me in St Louis.
• Martha Stewart teaches us how to make a snow globe. Gorgeous and glittery.
• Hooray for anonymous Kmart shoppers getting into the Christmas spirit!!! So lovely. : )
• Their handbags are not ultra-affordable, but the Burberry festive video sure is. See it here.
• When you don't mind the calorie count, you seriously can't go past Nigella's cooking: her egg nog recipe.
• Christmas craft and decorating eye candy -- My Little Jedi magazine via Hostess with the Mostess blog.
• The Killers do Christmas, cowboy-style. Ummm...?
• Sparkly reindeer and snowman cookies. Yum!
• How cheery are these magical gnome Mary Janes? I so should have found these in time for wearing Christmas Day. D'oh!
• On my travel wishlist: Ice Hotel, Sweden. Very cool (literally!).
• Nobody does a moving story like Dickens and nobody does merry-making like the Muppets. You get both in one of my favourite movies, The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Merry Christmas! xx

The Mini-Update

I'm back to playing secretary this week, so between that and last minute Christmas shopping, I can't stop long to chat...

So here's the briefest of updates on my writing projects right now:

• Magazines: I emailed a pitch to a gardening glossy tonight about the writer/garden designer I met on my recent seaside holiday.
• Blogging/copywriting: My first ever paid blog post (for a recruiting company) was well-received, but the company is still deciding how they want to use it. It remains in the unpublished ether for now. Sigh.
• Zine: I'm writing my own zine about magazines. Progress was excellent last week -- I wrote about movies and gifts for mag hags and pasted in some cute and quirky pictures. This week I'm still inspired, but haven't had the time to keep going yet. Stay tuned!

Have you been squeezing writing and other activities around your festive preparations? If you're doing it well, let me in on your secrets! ; )