Plaits, Ponytails & Plenty of Posing

Oh dear, there I go with the alliterative title again. That Mauz has a lot to answer for!

Anyway, many of you will already know, due to my daily bombing on Facebook of my mug and various body parts, that I partook in the April Style Dare.

"What is a Style Dare?" I hear you ask. (Yes you, lone reader who doesn't know me in real life and thereby did not suffer through a month of me poncing around in selfies on Facebook and Instagram)

Well, lone reader, I'm glad you asked.

Style Dares are run by the gorgeous and very foxy Andrea over at Fox In Flats and I have to say it was the most fun I've had with an iPhone, various fashion accessories and a tube of lipstick.

There were three things I loved about doing it:

1. I rediscovered things in my wardrobe that I had either completely forgotten about (hello denim jacket!) or found a new way of wearing (like the necklace stack - a bit like a pancake stack but with necklaces. Huh.)

2. I went way outside my comfort zone on a couple of dares. I have never worn my hair slicked back, nor would I have ever considered wearing fuchsia coloured lipstick. And yet I could and I did and the fashion police didn't come around and handcuff me.

3. I loved the creative aspect of photographing each day's style dare. Those of you who know me will tell you I never met an iphone photography app I didn't LOVE! Hipstamatic, Afterlight, Tiltshift Generator - I love them all. I am not a big fan of the selfie, but there comes a time when we have to learn to love 'ourselvies' (sorry, that was kind of pathetic . . . ) Seriously though, I enjoyed the challenge of coming up with new ways to form each composition, using various angles or lighting in different parts of the house or garden, using natural light whenever I could and then jooshing it with my beloved apps. I also met some seriously clever, funny, warm women on Instagram via the Style Dare challenge and learned more about style and photography as the month wore on. I also learned a lot of people like cats on Instagram.

Fun times!

It's all starting again tomorrow with the June Style Dare and I'm tempted to jump on the whole merry-go-round once more. But what I would love, more than anything, MORE THAN CEREAL, is for some of my buddies to get on board with me.

Come on! It's fun, it's easier than you think and there's no pressure to do every single dare. But I guarantee you will enjoy yourself and, if we live close by, think of all the money we can save by sharing tangerine nailpolish and hot pink lipstick!

Also, the first dare is Big Hair! A chance to release your inner Working-Girl-Melanie-Griffith. Or perhaps, Austin-Powers-Elizabeth-Hurley is more your style. How can you possibly pass that up?!

You can find this month's line-up, including tips and ideas for each style dare, here.

And if you have no idea what I'm talking about and missed all the selfie-action in April, here's a recap of my Idol Journey Style Dare Journey

Day 1: Arm Party

Day 2: Sparkles

Day 3: Scarf

Day 4: Slick

Day 5: Pink Lips

Day 6: Boots

Day 7: Dress

Day 8: Braid

Day 9: Necklace Stack

Day 10: Red Nails

Day 11: Denim

Day 12: Animal Print

Day 14: All Black

Day 15: Curls

Day 16: Stripes

Day 17: Studded

Day 18: Pattern

Day 19: Brooch

Day 20: Black Eyeliner

Day 21: Multicoloured Mani

Day 23: Ponytail

Day 24: Red Lips

Day 25: Australian

Day 26: Collared

Day 27: White

Day 28: Pigtails

Day 29: Flower

Day 30: Hat

So come on chicks! Don't be chicken. Come on in - the water's fine xx