think pink

By

Lisa Clark

I’d like to send glitter-filled wishes and lip-gloss kisses to:

My biggest crush and leading man, Anthony – for dealing with my foot-stompin’ tantrums and for being really rather fabulous (not to mention cute to look at) on a daily basis – love you!

My very own pink ladies – ed girl Lindsey Kelk, agent lady Julia Churchill and chief cheerleader/mentor Cathy Cassidy – for being super-talented, super-supportive and for Thinking Pink from the get-go, I’m a lucky lady to have such an all-star girl gang!

The parentals – popashongo, mum and John – for your endless support and love.

Susie, Sarah B, Sarah C, Vicky, Stephen B, Mark W, Brett, DK and all my amazing be-there-buds for never, ever doubting me.

Techno boy Jason Nelson – for spending the past four years immersed in all things pink and fluffy – you rule.

And to all the feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous Pink Ladies who have visited the website and made pink-world their home, this is for you – the pink revolution starts here girls!

Contents

Introduction

1. Big Up Yourself

2. It’s a Girl Think

3. Mad About The Boy

4. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

5. Dare to Dream

6. Live Life Now

It’s all about me…

The Think Pink Manifesto

Copyright

About the Publisher

Introduction

If you’re fed up with your current dull and dreary existence, put on a pair of pink tinted shades and see the world through the eyes of the feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous…Lola Love.

That’s me, by the way! I will offer you exclusive access to the most exciting, full-to-the-brim world of opportunities and possibilities, a place where kooky chicks rule and boys are all beautiful and without complication…Mmm, let’s pause on that thought for a moment.

A place where you can crown yourself princess and wear your tiara with your pyjamas and most importantly, a place where you can shine because, let’s face it, you are a star!

big up yourself ‘CHICA, YOU RULE!’

‘It’s official, I rock!’

Whether it’s making friends, passing exams, getting an allowance increase or bagging a buff boy – being a feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous princess of pink world is a sure-fire way of getting what you want out of life and, once you’ve discovered the fantastic things that can happen when you Think Pink, it will quite possibly be the most exciting, sunshine-splashed experience…ever!

Before seeing the world through pink-tinted shades there were some days when I just didn’t feel like the star-shaped sparkle girl that I actually am. I’d look in the mirror and become queen of the putdowns, I just couldn’t see past the spot on my chin or the size of my bum. This would be an instant excuse for me to hide under the duvet indefinitely with a family size pack of biscuits wallowing in bad thoughts and self-doubt.

What you see when you look in the mirror depends on whether you’re a self-esteem queen or an esteem-lacking Lucy. Self-esteem is an essential item in the Think Pink vanity case. If you have it, you like yourself, you’re confident and you’re satisfied with being you.

Unfortunately, loving and accepting yourself is not something you can buy in a tub at the cosmetics counter (oh my stars, how fabulous would that be?) and for some it takes much longer to discover than others, but Think Pink and you will be well on your way to becoming your very own dream girl.

Are you a self-esteem queen?

Are you happy being you or are you in need of a bravado boost?

When you walk past a mirror, do you:

a. turn and run in the opposite direction

b. take a good look and smile at what you see

Do you believe you can do whatever you want to in life?

a. it’s nice to dream but they never come true, so no

b. with a lot of hard work you can do anything, so yes

You’re meeting your Pink Ladies for a slice of chocolate cake, but when you arrive they go quiet, do you:

a. feel awkward. They could have been talking about you

b. ask them what the latest gossip is!

When the cute boy behind the counter winks at you, do you

a. look behind you to see who he’s winking at

b. smile your sweetest smile back at him

When you think about how you look, do you:

a. feel uncomfortable and wrong

b. feel happy and content

Mostly a’s

You’re an amazing person but sometimes you need a reminder of just how cool you are. A quick way to boost your bravado is to try little confidence tricks like smiling at people and keeping eye contact. Try to set yourself some cool challenges like getting involved in a new activity, your confidence will grow and you’ll have a great time too!

Mostly b’s…

You’re a self-esteem queen! You seem to be blush-free, in control and sorted, you lucky lady. You don’t let anything hold you back and are positively filled-to-the-brim with self-belief – keep it up, chica!

Don’t believe the hype

I used to have the hugest hang up about my weight. This was due to an over-zealous stick-thin cousin who thought it would be mucho fun to laugh at my chubby tummy at every available opportunity. I remember feeling my curvaceous contours and despising them. They made me want to look like her, instead of being happy with being me. I’d feel so inadequate and unnecessary that I’d think nothing of eating five doughnuts in a row and telling myself how grimsville I was.

Most of us put ourselves down because of the unhelpful messages that have been fired in our direction by the ‘Negative Ninas’ of the world – teachers giving us a low mark, our so-called mate not picking us for the hockey team, parents saying we’ve done something wrong – the list is endless.

These nasty-rude comments and actions can knock our confidence faster than a ten-pin bowler, the trick is to not let this happen. Living the rest of your life according to what other people think of you is going to be a serious waste of your time and energy and will stop you from doing all the amazingly fantastic things you are destined to do. Let any negative vibes bounce off your sparkly-gorgeous tiara and, instead, lose yourself in thoughts of how fantastically fabulous you are because when you ignore others’ mistreatment of your gorgeous self, the world will become a decidedly deeper shade of pink!

Boost Your bravado!

Think about how great you feel when you put on your all time favourite outfit with those to-die-for pair of atomic-pink kitten heeled mules. You feel like you can take on the world, right? That’s because you’ve wrapped yourself up in a prize-winning package that makes you feel sparkly-gorgeous fantastic. Now imagine feeling like that every day…well, you can! You see, when you feel that great about yourself, you automatically stand taller, smile more and ooze confidence – this instantly makes you decidedly more attractive and a whole lot of fun to be around. Boost your bravado on a regular basis by:

* Making a statement

Start by looking in the mirror. Smile, grab your hairbrush and get that all-important dose of self-esteem pumping by belting out Christina’s ‘Beautiful’ loud enough to shatter glass. Alternatively, choose a positive statement that will have the same feel-good factor and write it down. Stick a copy on your mirror, in your school book, make it a screensaver on your computer, anywhere that you look on a regular basis, as this will become a constant reminder of how cool you really are!

* Be good to yourself

Don’t beat yourself up because you don’t look like someone in the pages of a magazine (I’ll let you into an industry secret – they’re all airbrushed by techno peeps on computers anyway!) Instead, love the things that make you the feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous YOU.

* Celebrate you

Here in Pink World anything from passing an exam to tidying your room deserves celebrating, so reward yourself with a treat of your choice. Naturally, mine would be chocolate!

Love Your label

I surprised everyone, not to mention myself, when I unleashed the real me onto the world. People had always thought of Lola Love as the ‘weird writing girl.’ They had given me a label that looked set to stick. Now don’t get me wrong, I was a little bit weird in a cool and kooky way and I did, and still do, love to write. But there was a whole lot more to me than just those things and I wanted the world to know about them. Except, I was too scared.

Y’see, the popular girls wore their ‘too-cool-for-school’ badges with pride and the fit, football playing dudes of the playground were more than happy to live up to their ‘sports jock’ title. Nobody really questioned their labels, even the people with bad ones like shallow diva’ or ‘flirty floozy’ so how was I ever going to lose mine?

By being who I was destined to be without worrying about what people thought, that’s how. I know it’s easier said than done, but by ditching the pressure of what other people thought of me, I became free to be the sparkle-shine girl I’d always wanted to be, not who other people expected me to be.

There are some labels I’m sure you’d be more than happy to carry around, Prada being one of mine, but if you’re not digging the badge you’ve been given, hand it back and make your own!

What label would you like to ditch?

What would you like people to know about you?

Shameless self-promotion

As any successful, kick-ass chick will tell you, if you want to get ahead in life, you’ll need to be super confident, know what you’re good at and maximise your potential. So, forget big name brands like Nike and Coca-Cola, make ‘brand YOU’ the most successful, exciting and fantastically fabulous brand on the market. Check me out!

Brand: Lola Love – Pink Princess

Main features: Feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous

Unique Selling Point: My pink hair!

Packaging: In-your-face, original and creative

Content: Funny, unique, kooky, determined and genuine

Tag line: I Rock!

In order to tell the world how sparkly-gorgeous you are, you need to sell yourself baby!

Brand: who are you and what do you want to be seen as?

Main features: what makes you so amazing?

Unique Selling Point: What makes you stand out from everyone else?

Packaging: How would you describe yourself?

Content: What are your kick-ass qualities?

Tag line: How would you sum yourself up in one sentence?

Now read it and believe it, start believing the hype, because when you believe in yourself and all the things that make you great, you will rule the world!

Motivating Mantras

For those moments when you don’t feel like the sparkle-shine glitter girl that you really are, mutter a marvellous mantra. A mantra is a few simple words, a phrase or a sentence that will boost your motivation and confidence and encourage you to Think Pink. I’ve got them everywhere, on my mirror, in my school books and I’ve even sewn ‘you rock’ onto my school bag – I’m so art girl! These are a few of my favourites, cut them out, tape them up and be inspired!

Take it ‘til you make it

Last year, when the poster went up for the school production of Grease, I wanted nothing more than to play the part of Frenchy – she’s a fun and fabulous, pink-haired kinda girl who rocks my world. Angel, my best friend and real-life Frenchy (you’ll meet her later, she’s super sassy and allsorts of fabulous) was relentless and would not rest her shiny-glossed lips until I agreed to audition. Thing is, I was scared, super scared. I thought I would make a prize plum of myself and I doubted my abilities. So I faked it.

I pretended I was Marilyn Monroe, all graceful and beautiful and adored by millions auditioning for the role. You see, Marilyn was far too cool and talented not to get the part. So as I stepped up to the stage, I instantly became tall, proud and confident. Thankfully, acting like you’re confident tends to make you feel confident and once I had belted out ‘Beauty School Dropout’ I knew I was rockin’! It worked, I bagged the role, the play was hugely successful and I was so confident in my own acting abilities that I left Marilyn at home throughout the whole production.

This technique can be applied to any situation. If you’ve got a date with that oh-so-fine, hot-to-trot chico then pretend to be a celeb type who everyone admires for their sparkling wit and melt-heart eyes. If you’re nervous about a sports match, pick your favourite athlete and pretend to be her. Faking confidence is a great way to prove you can do it, get through it, realise you rock and have the real confidence to go solo next time!

Lola’s top five confidence tricks…

1 Walk tall. I know it sounds like something your mum might say, but it’s true. Pull those shoulders back and move like you’re proud of who you are, soon enough you’ll actually feel it too.

2 Become an art girl and take some moody pictures with your camera, join a trampoline class or become a superchef – whatever you choose make sure it’s something you’ve never done before.

3 Think good thoughts. When you’re feeling a little bit nervy, remember good times for an instant boost.

4 Be nice to yourself. You’ll be hanging out with yourself for a long time so you’d better kiss and make up.

5 Smile. A lot.

How to…go ahead!

I used to have one of those fabulously fab-like Magic 8 Balls, a destiny-deciding device that is ever so helpful when you’re as indecisive a person as moi…thing is, the ball didn’t always tell me what I wanted to hear so I decided to make me some sassy ‘Go Ahead’ cards to keep in my Think Pink vanity case. These sparkly-gorgeous little cards give me permission to do something I love every day – how cool?!

Directions:

1 Take a big piece of card and cut it into 10 sections

2 On each section draw or write something you would love to do

3 Place your set of cards in a bowl or bag

4 Close your eyes and pick one

5 Say after me… ‘Go ahead and….’

What you will need:

* Card * Colouring in facilities

* Scissors

If you need any ideas, here are mine: Wear false eyelashes…Take a nap… Beautify from head to toe…Play air guitar…Emulate the style of a 50’s pin-up girl…Shop…Read a book… Paint the town pink…

Shine like a star!

To shine like the superstar sparkle girl you truly are, take a tip from those celeb types.

* Wear shades at all times – pink, natch – the world is a truly amazing place when seen through these.

* Get a look that’s all yours – you need a look that’s completely YOU-nique for your moment in the limelight.

* Be determined. Celeb types don’t give up when life gets a little real-lifey and seeing as that’s what you are, nor should you lil’ missy.

* Accept compliments – when someone says how fabulous you look, be sure to thank them right back coz rejecting a compliment is super rude. Don’t question the person’s obvious good taste and judgement – I make a habit of collecting candy-kissed compliments, you should too!

* Bag a buff boy – it’s not essential but c’mon, a boytoy to walk down the red carpet with would be rather nice, wouldn’t it? I like the shaggy-haired guitar boys but there are so many kinds of yummy boy-shaped candy: Sporty-yet-sensitive-jock boys, deep-and-meaningful-book boys and cute-and-quiet-boy-next door boys, the list goes on…

Hey good Lookin’

‘…DON’T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO TREAT YOU LIKE THE PRINCESS YOU UNDOUBTEDLY ARE…’

I’m feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous.

FACT.

How do I know? Because I tell myself everyday.

I’ve got a chubby tummy and hair that doesn’t do what it should but, inside, I know I’m sunshine and smiles and deserve to be treated like a punk-prom princess. So instead of running from my reflection, I just tell myself how sparkly-gorgeous I am as many times as it takes for me to actually believe it.

90% of chicas spend their time fretting about parts of their body that they don’t like. Most of these hang-ups are based on what we think we should look like, according to the media and celeb types.

Now listen up, images in a magazine are airbrushed and manipulated to become Polaroids of perfection. While celeb types have a whole entourage of stylists, make up artists, and wardrobe people to make sure they’re looking tip-top and tooti-frutti at all times – they’re not true representations of us chicas. We come in all different shapes and sizes and are all totally YOU-nique.

When you Think Pink constant comparisons to Britney, Beyonce or any other pop diva beginning with ‘B’ for that matter, are banished. Instead they are replaced with a super-cool mantra that will make sure you feel like a star-shaped, sunshine girl at all times, mine’s ‘There’s only one me. And I rock!’

What’s yours going to be?

Notes:

Looking good?

Do you smile when you look in the mirror or do you want to run in the opposite direction?

You go shopping with your mates and they’re all trying on clothes, do you:

a. watch but don’t join in because you’d look awful in everything

b. try everything on too, it’ll be great fun!

You sleep through your alarm and have to get ready in a rush. Before leaving the house you take one final look at yourself, do you:

a. burst into tears at your reflection and search for a paper bag to put over your head

b. pull your hair back, dab on some lip gloss and smile

You’re watching MTV when they introduce a new girl group do you:

a. instantly compare yourself to them and realise they’ve got skinnier legs, a smaller tummy and glossier hair than you

b. turn your nose up at the music but love the cut-off denim skirt the lead singer is wearing

You’re at a party throwing some serious shapes on the dance floor when you notice a group of girls looking over, do you:

a. stop immediately and blush with embarrassment

b. smile at them safe in the knowledge that they’re lovin’ the moves that you’re bustin’

When you get home, you can hardly contain your yawns do you:

a. lay awake thinking about how great everyone else looked

b. clean off your make up and fall straight to sleep, you’re so tired after all that dancing!

Mostly a’s:

Too much time spent comparing yourself to others and worrying about what other people think of you means that life becomes all sorts of dull. Try not to compare yourselves to anyone, you’re YOU-nique. Next time you look in the mirror, I dare you to find at least one thing you like about yourself, it can be your oh-so-long eyelashes that don’t need mascara, the way your favourite jeans hug your bum, the sprinkling of freckles across your nose, just something that when you look in the mirror turns your frown upside down!

Mostly b’s:

You know that nobody is perfect so instead of getting hung up on the bits you don’t like, you celebrate and enhance the good stuff. There are even times when you embrace the not-so-good bits anyway, because you know that when it all comes together, it makes a super cool version of YOU and that’s such a good thing.

No Comparison

My very cool and prettilicious friend, Sadie, thinks that her life would be infinitely more fabulous if she had bigger lady bumps. She obsesses about her 34A bra fillers on a daily basis, expressing the need and necessity for plastic surgery as soon as she turns 16, to anyone who will listen. Today is no exception.

‘It’s not fair,’ she says, with her hands on her T-shirt covered chest, standing in front of my full-length, fairy light-lit, bedroom mirror. ‘Why haven’t I got boobs like Eva Satine?’

While others may pick up glossy magazines and go green with envy at images of models, actresses and celeb types, the object of obsession at our school is Evil Eva. She’s that girl. The one who’s beautifully packaged but has nasty, knotted insides that make her very rude and terribly unpretty.

Despite this, Sadie wants to be her, a lot.

Not because she gets good grades (which she does), or because she’s got teeth like a girt out of a toothpaste commercial (which she has), no, it’s because she has, according to Sadie, the perfect cleavage.

‘They’re just so round and, you know, there,’ gestures Sadie pushing her own lady bumps together and upwards.

I sigh a big sigh. I’ve never wanted big boobs but I did used to wonder what it would be like to be a size 10 or to have a walk-in wardrobe like Eva, but when I saw the world through pink-tinted shades I realised how super-boring it would be if we were all the same. We’d be like a teen version of The Stepford Wives, all glossy hair and robot-like with false smiles and no personality. That would most definitely not rock.

I give Sadie the hugest hug, and tell her that she is the most scrumptiously gorgeous girl and that having a small chest is cool because she gets to wear those to-die-for tight tees from the kids department that cost £2.99. She nudges me playfully in the ribs, before breaking into a fit of giggles. She agrees that this is most deffo a good reason and one that she hadn’t previously thought of. I then tell her how much the average bra costs and she is even more than thankful that she doesn’t have to wear one yet.

Change what you see

Take a look in the mirror, I know it might sound a bit scary but for every so-called imperfection you find, instead of feeling bad and sad about it, change it into a positively smile-worthy thing. It’s simple…

BEFORE: ‘I’ve got so many freckles, I hate them.’

AFTER: ‘Having freckles will always mean I look younger than I am, which will be very helpful when I’m 84.’

BEFORE: ‘I have to wear glasses all the time’

AFTER: ‘Wearing glasses will mean I no longer miss out on a buff-beauty stealing glances – I will also look super smart!’

Your turn!

This girl will rock your world…

The lovely Lauren Laverne – radio DJ, TV presenter, guitar strumming goddess, queen of cool – rock on!

She says: ‘IT’S REALLY TOUGH BEING A TEENAGER AND GIRLS ARE SO HARD ON THEMSELVES, BUT IT DOES GET BETTER. JUST BE NICE TO YOURSELF. YOU’RE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE SO BE HAPPY AND ENJOY YOURSELF.’

Dare to be different

I rip up any rulebook that tells me what I should or shouldn’t wear because life is far too short to conform. We all have different sides to our personalities – that’s what makes us so distinctive and interesting. So what if one day you want to be all 1950s glam girl and the next you want to be a retro punk princess?

While these contradictions might be confusing to others, they are the things that make you individual so make sure you hug them up because, where style is concerned, there really are no rules. It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are, it’s about having your own YOU-nique style and being true to yourself. Think Pink, princess, and set your own trends. Work on the principle that whether it’s this season or football season, style is not about rules, it’s about the endless possibilities.

Of course there is a chance this can lead to serious fashion faux pas territory, like the time I thought it would be super cool to let trainee hairdresser and guitar playing pink lady, Bella, cut my fringe with her Hello Kitty scissors. I ended up with an oh-so-short, asymmetric ‘thing’. As you can imagine, it wasn’t my finest fashion moment but, with a few v. cute sparkly hair slides I managed to flip it into a moment to shine, because the next day people were commenting on how cool it looked!

This proves you never know unless you give it a go, with a little imagination I managed to transform what was just a wonky fringe into a look that was too-cool-for-school!

Be Experimental

Don’t be afraid to experiment and find out what works for you. Experimenting with my appearance is my absolute favourite thing to do. Whether it’s trying out the latest fluro-green eyeshadow or adding a whole lot of sequin-sparkle to an old pair of jeans, experimenting is my playground! Vintage finds, homemade punk-trash trinkets and oh-so-kitsch ensembles scatter every corner of my room making it a sparkly-gorgeous treasure chest for any would-be customising queen.

Customising is the coolest, there’s no better way to express yourself and show what you’re all about than by making your clothes and accessories a reflection of your personality. Prettify your belongings by letting your imagination run wild. If your creativity needs a kickstart, take a look inside the Think Pink vanity case to find all you need to run riot with your wardrobe…

Custom-made

What you need:

A case/box: I use a mini pink vanity case to keep my customising kit all in one place

Fabric glue: If sewing doesn’t float your boat then this is a great way of sticking material like too cute patches on your jeans

Fabric paints: Simply the coolest way of creating super fun designs on tiny tees

Scissors: Embroidery scissors are most deffo the way forward for chopping material, but if you can’t get your hands on any, then kitchen scissors will do.

Superglue: If you’re making jewellery or sticking pieces that can’t be sewn this is super strong. Just be sure not to stick your manicured fingers together in the process!

Sewing stuff: An assortment of needles and threads because stitchin’ is officially bitchin’!

Start simple with designing a cute tee, then as you begin to gain confidence and have endless ideas, let your imagination run wild. My favourite thing is to go round charity shops searching for cool one-offs, don’t just look for clothes, I like to find sparkly buttons that I could add to a plain old shirt – the possibilities are endless, chica!

Prettify your belongings by letting your imagination run wild.

This girl will rock your world…

Leona Baker, queen of super cool label, Lady Luck – pop art jewellery for music-junkie-fashion-freaks, has made customising her living and is now receiving major press coverage from here to LA.

She says…

“I WORKED AS AN ASSISTANT STYLIST ON POP VIDEOS AND FASHION SHOOTS AND SOLD CUTE FINDS AT PORTOBELLO MARKET ON SATURDAYS. I DISLIKED THE FASHION HIERARCHY AND WANTED TO DO MY OWN THING. AS I ENJOYED SOURCING AND MAKING STUFF TO SELL ON MY STALL SO MUCH, I TURNED IT INTO A FULL TIME THING AND BOUGHT MY PITCH AT PORTOBELLO MARKET, LONDON.

I LIKE SEEING KOOKY GIRLS DO THE HOLLYWOOD THING, LIKE CHLOE SEVIGNY, MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL AND KIRSTEN DUNST.

Leona’s tips for would-be customisers:

“…HAVE AN OPEN MIND WHEN LOOKING FOR STUFF TO CUSTOMISE WITH. YOUR LOCAL CRAFT SHOP MIGHT LOOK LIKE IT’S FOR GRANNIES, BUT THERE’S ALWAYS A CHANCE THEY’LL HAVE A STASH OF 1980’S PATCHES IN THE BASEMENT. LEARN THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN YOUR LOCAL CHARITY SHOP, TELL THEM WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AND THEY MIGHT START PUTTING THINGS ASIDE FOR YOU! IF YOU DON’T LIKE EARLY MORNINGS (I’M ALWAYS THE FIRST TO TURN UP AT A CAR BOOT SALE!), EBAY IS A GREAT WAY TO THRIFT IN YOUR ARM CHAIR. LOG YOUR DETAILS INTO ‘MY EBAY’ AND YOU CAN TYPE IN ALL YOUR FAVE SEARCH WORDS AND THEY WILL E-MAIL YOU WHEN SOMETHING IS LISTED THAT MATCHES YOUR DESCRIPTION. SOME OF MY KEYWORDS ARE ‘80’S CHARMS’, ‘BAMBI’ AND ‘BLONDIE BADGES’! GOOD LUCK FELLOW CUSTOMISING QUEENS!…”

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