It’s Christmas, go treat yourself

It’s finally Christmas. The season of Yule is here, with its colourful lights and mammoth supplies of eggnog . There is nothing to be gained in refusing every mince pie that is happily shoved into your face, saying no to those ever regretful office parties or convincing yourself you will never get caught in a kitschy Christmas jumper – even the Foo Fighters are selling one. Embrace it with open arms, wear that tinsel on your head and knock back some Baileys before diving into the crowds, for the stress filled-bonanza of shopping for others.

Or, maybe… you could do it all the same, but buying for yourself. If there is something more heartwarming than overpriced mulled wine or receiving yet another singing elves e-card, is the joy of loving oneself. In the gospel of Parks and Recreation this comes under the TREAT-YO-SELF psalm. And it is good.

Please don’t get me wrong, I love giving presents to others, especially when I gift something that doesn’t involve socks or a voucher. Few things beat seeing the face of a loved one light up… but, let’s face it, it comes a close second to gifting yourself. That wonderful feeling when you open your wallet to buy that special object you may not need, but will make you endlessly happy. I did that recently, except it was less of buying an instant joy fix, but more, investing in my long-term happiness.

This particular TREAT-YO-SELF moment came via Sali Hughes’ Pretty Honest, a cute book on the outside, filled with all things beauty and wellbeing on the inside. It was a treat because, generally, due to my being-a-writer-with-no-means-but-a-hell-lot-of-dreams budget, I get my books from charity shops or borrow them from someone. On this occasion, this was not possible. So off I went spending £15 on the Guardian Bookshop – because, apparently, I’m a liberal and screw Amazon, really.

Being “pretty honest” about this photo: Jarvis doesn’t get out of bed for less than two biscuits

Sali’s book is packed with no-nonsense advice and straightforward explanations that are very useful for a hopeless tomboy like myself, or anyone wanting to learn about how to make the most of their skin. Amongst chapters on make-up, serums, pregnancy beauty and the like, my eye-opening discovery came via: “wait, you TIP at the hairdressers???!!”– there I was, happily collecting negative hair-karma points with my blissful ignorance. Who knew? But yes, it is common practice.

Truthfully, this book has been pretty life changing, or more exactly, skin-changing. A long sufferer of acne and moody skin, Pretty Honest helped me truly identify, once and for all, my skin type and discover what lotions would suit me best. After a month following Sali’s advice, my skin looks clearer and brighter, to the point that I recently braved my biggest fear: going out with my fringe pinned back. My bangs are my best allies and the fail-proof way of hiding some forehead lines I detest. Now, those lines have practically disappeared and this is when those £15 – plus a few more I spent on the right, yet inexpensive, products – make Sali’s book a worthy investment in my happiness.

Treating oneself  is an act of selfishness, albeit of the good kind. You don’t even have to spend money, it may mean eating your partner’s chocolate because, hey, you deserve it. It may mean going out for a walk because it’s blissfully sunny, instead of spending the afternoon working like an ass in front of the computer – which I did that today. It may mean going to the cinema accompanied only by a huge bucket of popcorn, and eating said bucket in its entirety. It’s that clear moment when you realise “yes, I bloody well deserve this”. It’s Christmas, don’t fight it. Grab the tinsel, enjoy a delicious drink, and TREAT-YO-SELF .

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Should You Dress Your Dog?

Fashion trickles down onto everything. Whether we like it or not, trends drive how we behave and the lifestyles we choose. In recent years there’s been a huge shift on how dogs are considered within the household, in many ways this evolution being for the better. The majority of people that have a dog will have the animal sleep under the same roof. Most people will even spend a good amount of money in accessories such as plush bedding and interactive toys to keep their furry friend happy. A lot of dog owners choose only dog-friendly holidays, where they can share their time off with their pets.

And now, we have actual dog fashion, as in clothing brands that are marketed towards dogs and owners who will buy a collar with a certain print, or a jumper with a colourful pattern. When it comes to dressing up your dog, I cannot help but feel like there is an invisible line, in which you go from “dog owner who wants to keep their dog warm” to “crazy dog-person who dresses their chihuahua in a tutu and tiara”.

I really got into dog fashion when I adopted my best friend, Nero, more than 7 years ago. I remember being so excited about my little companion that I bough him a camo-tee with “Action Pup” written on the back. To me, this was treading the very thin line between funny and ridiculous. A year later, I pushed the envelope a tad further… with a Yankees sweater.

I’d like to say no humans were harmed in this photoshoot, but Nero was pretty miffed at me

The fact that Nero would walk sideways, à la crab, every time he wore the sweater was a dead giveaway: what I found cute meant nothing to my dog.

There are ways of dressing up your dog, in the same way as there are many different reasons to do so. Sometimes it’s not about aesthetics. Any dog expert or veterinarian will tell you that certain smaller breeds, with short or barely any hair, do require an extra layer of warmth during the colder months. Greyhounds have such delicate thin skins that it’s advised they wear a coat if they are going to engage in play with other dogs.

I’m a firm believer of “to each his own”. If for you happiness comes from dressing up your dog in skirts, tees and beanies, go ahead. I do however wonder how these animals actually feel about it. Some owners will swear their dogs love to don some Santa shorts and a hat every Christmas and who am I to refute that?

Due to the fact that Nero is small and pretty thin on the furry side, decent canine attire is something I’ve learnt to look out for. Being a dachshund mix, he is fussy as hell and will refuse to walk in anything with sleeves or hoodies. I couldn’t have been happier when, more than a year ago, I found a brand that hits the nail on the head with regards dog fashion, Pepito & Co.

Their garments are very wearable and easy to clean, even catered for fussy dogs, as Celia, the lovely designer behind the brand, once told me. Their rescued dachshund Pepe, doesn’t enjoy garments with sleeves. So everything that is manufactured has to be canine-approved, otherwise it’s discarded. Celia and her partner Rubén are continuously inspired by their beloved dogs: Blondie and Pepe, and now, wonderfully sassy Conchita. Pepito & Co products can be bought via their online store and, recently via HOUNDWORTHY in the UK.

Yes, I’m a sucker for cute things, so it’s no surprise that when I found another sausage in need of a home, I adopted said wiener. I bought him his own Pepito & Co collar because I felt he deserved his own stars. I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to afford one of the travel bags by Pepito & Co, they are ridiculously cool-looking, and, I said I’m a sucker, didn’t I?

Jarvis giving good face with the 2013 Americana collar, part of a limited edition

I can’t help loving my dogs as much as I do. I honestly don’t make them wear anything they are not comfortable with …anymore. Having a dog is a massive change in lifestyle and I, for one, am happy to see cute accessories aimed at making my life easier and my dogs happier. I don’t know if I will ever be OK with dogs being dressed up as princesses or pirates. This is the thing about trends, they end up permeating everything. If it makes you smile and you are 100% convinced your dog wags its tail happily every time the superman suit comes out, it’s not the worst you can do. You could be one of those people who buys a dog of a fashionable breed to then abandon it when things get tough. For that, personally, I have zero tolerance.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo via @sausagemafia on Instagram,  Santos Román por Pepito & Co