A short excerpt from a feature story I wrote about my burlesque life to be published in the October issue of Her Magazine.

via `Vorfas

Okay, so let’s not all be narcissists, but really, we should love ourselves, naughtily and otherwise.

When you undress for the night, how do you see your body? I’m not a mainstream media body type or size, but most nights, I think “Damn, I love my sexy self!”

Does anyone else get undressed for bed and just absolutely love how their body looks without clothes on? I kind of feel like I was meant to live a naked life. It’s one of the reasons burlesque is so appealing to me I guess!

It’s cheesy, but in a world where advertising and most of our outside influences tell us we’re not good enough, a little narcissism about superficial things like how you look, go a long way.

Sure there are things I want to change physically, I think we all want to live more active lives. But even if I don’t lose a pound and only gain strength and stamina, I’ll be happy. Because happy is an in-the-moment place, not somewhere in the future.

It took me a long time to get to this point. In high school I actively shunned any notion of feminity and body image. Sure I went to prom and wore a dress, but every other day was spent in an army jacket with boy-cut short hair. Of course, if you see me now I rarely wear pants. dresses and skirts make up almost all my wardrobe, and I revel in putting together costumes and cute outfits for evenings. All this to say that I used to think that image didn’t matter. It’s about what’s on the inside right? But if you’re constantly hiding who you are on the inside by rejecting people and shutting others out, how is anyone going to know? You don’t have to play by their rules.

Several of you on Twitter and Facebook have asked about some of my vintage ‘dos lately. While I’m certainly no expert, and there are plenty of wonderful tutorials on YouTube, I find my best styles have come from perfecting the pincurl. If you can make a pincurl, then you can create awesome high poofs without teasing, 40s victory rolls, and easy day styles that will fall out into gorgeous, perfect curls for the evening with minimal effort.

So I decided to make my second ever video blog, and show you how to perfect your own pincurls and three easy, retro, hairstyles you can do based off the pincurl. Hope you enjoy!

What’s your go-to hair?

What’s on your summer reading list?

This has been my totem for the past month. This image just, grabs me and envelopes me completely. It is a reminder to never be timid, but also not overbold. Madamoiselle Scheel is completely content just resting on the lions in their cage. There’s a delicious balance achieved in this.

The week in review:

On Sunday my Burlesque 101 class completed their six week session. Such amazing women all. We celebrated in a secret room with a chocolate iced cake and cupcake white wine.

I had the privilege of interviewing sword swallower extraordinaire, Dan Meyer. Dan has been featured on America’s Got Talent, holds multiple Guinness World Records, is a regular with Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and winner of an Ig Nobel Prize. Dan and I have been in contact through Twitter for a while but this was the first time we met in person. He is a wonderfully inspiring man. He absolutely loves what he does and is committed to preserving and evolving the great American sideshow.

I learned how to eat fire!! Dan and I were talking about performing and burlesque. I mentioned how I’d been working with fire but had yet to go so far as putting the torches in my mouth, and he offered to give me a lesson. Absolutely thrilling! I am still practicing on looking not terrified, but I plan on getting the Mr. to take a video soon so you can see how hardcore I am, haha.

The Mr. started his graduate studies in creative fiction on the 9th. He’s studying at a low residency program, so he goes out for workshops twice a year, and the rest of the work is online. I love that he had a wonderful time at his workshops, but I’m so happy to have him home again. Also, it was his birthday yesterday!!

I performed my signature burlesque act at the Toronto Burlesque Festival on Thursday. I just flew back today and that is why I’m a little late to posting. Canada was great! Every time I’ve been I’ve met the most amazing, warm people. Add that to a thriving and empowering burlesque community and Holy Whoa. I met a gorgeous redhead, the delightfully named Red Herring, on Thursday and ended up going home with her that night. Yes, her couch was comfy and her and her boyfriend a delight. So glad they took me in as my supposed to be roommate, the inimitable Lula Hoop Garou, got stuck in traffic all night driving from Chicago. TBF is a giant festival machine, and unfortunately I only got a little taste of Thursday and the Friday show, but it was all so well run and smooth on the performer and audience side. Oh and the swag, yum. I’ll have to share the details later this week! I also got to finally meet one of my Twitter loves, Ellie for a chocolate milk

Okay this was two weeks ago, but I’m catching up! Colorado . . . damn lover, you sure know how to charm! Denver was such a great city. I roomed with a dancer from LA, Red Snapper, and hung with her, Panama Red, and Scarlett Letter the weekend. (Apparently there’s a redhead theme in my life lately). Fantastic venues, soaring skylines, and really wonderful company.

I stayed up all night after the show Friday and so excuse my addled brain if this post is scattered. I’ll try and go a little more in depth on the fests and adventures later! The rest of this weekend I plan on just relaxing in my skivvies!

What did you do this week?

I’ve been working for the past few months with a great nonprofit, All About Women (AAW).

From the site:

All About Women, Inc. (AAW) is a non-profit (501c3) organization, created to remove barriers that prevent women from taking care of themselves. Time, resources, language, geography, education, fear and other challenges were identified in the Status of Women Report that ranked women in Tennessee 49th in the country based on health, education, economics and political participation.. Since 2003, AAW has offered the “One Day, One Place” FREE events across Tennessee.

While “health” is the focus of All About Women, we define it broadly to include fitness, nutrition, wellness, beauty, mental health, education, career, family issues, legal, spiritual, safety, financial, etc. AAW markets to all women ages 18-64 with a special focus on underserved women making $40,000 or less.

The goal of the AAW web site is to partner with women 24/7 and help them adopt healthier lifestyle behaviors. Our strategies include an ongoing story line with trademarked characters Lily and Z, interactive activities, Q & A with experts, forums and a personal journal for each participating woman.

Everything in this organization is volunteer built and driven, from the content writers to the illustrators to the web development and design. (I’m paid out of a grant specifically for bringing all these disparate pieces together) It’s a great program and we’re currently just beginning to build the community. I’ve written about the creative and mental benefits of volunteering before and this is a great, easy, and free way to connect with other women on issues ranging from time management to hormones to sleep to how to make a living will.

AAW’s online life begins today, so please take a minute and check it out! If social networking is more your speed, our forums are in need of engaging writers to share stories or jsut interact.

Thank you for your support! If you’d be interested in volunteering for AAW, check out their needs here.

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl

This is my new mantra. Whenever I feel down or overworked or worst of all, Bored, I have this pasted on my mirror to remind myself to look for magic in my life. When I do, I always find it.

I’m crazy busy this summer, traveling a lot for burlesque and with just about as much freelance work as I can handle (yay)! But all that running around does not a bloggess make sadly.

Speaking of travel, wanted to update all ya’ll about where I’ll be if you want to see me perform/get a drink with me!

July 9-11th: This weekend, I’ll be mainstaging at the Colorado Burlesque Festival!

Then July 22nd-25th, I’ll be an international performer at the Toronto Burlesque Festival. I’m in the Rising Stars showcase on Thursday night, which means I actually get to just relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend!

July 30th I’m back in Nashvegas, performing with Becca Brown at the Rutledge.

August 15th a new semester of Delinquent Debutantes classes begin!

August 20th I’ll be rocking out to the Ramones in a Rock n’ Roll High School show.

And whew, that’s the lineup for now, though I have a few more submissions for festivals outstanding. Want me to perform in your city? I’d love to! email me for more info!

Hello ladies and lads,

So I’ve been quiet on here but definitely not so outside the digital world. I’ve been wanting to engage more in burlesque community in Nashville since I moved here, and now the wonderful Bianca 13, former Chicago ballet artist and fantastic burlesque performer, and I are opening a burlesque finishing school, the Delinquent Debutantes! We will offer classes ranging from pin up poses, to choreography to ballet and yoga for burlesque as well as bachelorette parties and workshops in tassel twirling and costuming. I am beyond excited to have a one-stop for all things burlesque in Nashville, and to continue to foster and grow the community here.

If you’re in Nashville, please come out to our opening gala on March 27th. There’ll be a burlesque bazaar and performances by our talented instructors (including moi!). 8pm at 1406 McGavock Pike, BYOB.

Follow us on Twitter @DelinquentDebs! We’ll post specials and follower only deals coming soon!

Love and pasties,

Headmistress Freya