Hello darlings! It’s your girl Pink Tutu Sparkles here, ready to sprinkle some glitter onto your festive December day! Today's post is a whirlwind of colour, tutus and...well, possibly a tad too much excitement! It's all been rather eventful in the world of Pink Tutu, but I wouldn't have it any other way!
As you know, I love a good adventure, and what better way to kick off the holiday season than with a jaunt down to the beautiful seaside town of Paignton, in the heart of Devon? Yes, this sparkly queen packed her sparkly bags (and yes, they are actually sparkly – think shimmering holographic fabric and tiny little iridescent beads, all pink of course) and ventured out to the west coast, full of festive spirit and the joy of a freshly baked pink tutu. It’s not a true Pink Tutu adventure without at least one sparkly new creation to wear, and this time it was an absolute masterpiece. It's a gorgeous layered creation, a fluffy cascade of pink and magenta netting with hand-sewn sparkly flowers that shimmer under the stage lights like magic. The matching gloves were so detailed – they even had tiny sequined snowflakes around the edges. You might think that would be OTT, but trust me darlings, it's an absolute showstopper.
Speaking of showstoppers, the train journey to Paignton was a hoot. I don't think anyone can deny the pure joy of train travel. The world flashes by in a series of lovely little moments – fields full of frosty green, cozy cottages draped in ivy, and, of course, all those quaint seaside towns we pass on the way. The highlight of this particular trip had to be the delightful little gentleman in the carriage, clearly dressed to the nines in his Sunday best. A sharp brown suit, shiny black shoes and an impressive moustache that gave Clark Gable a run for his money! We spent the whole journey comparing notes on favourite Christmas recipes and reminiscing about days gone by. It turned out his name was Cecil, a retired hairdresser with a wickedly quick wit. We were, in essence, kindred spirits – sharing a love for good old fashioned British politeness and the odd sprinkle of outrageous fashion. You see, there are certain times when wearing a full length pink tutu and an impressive amount of feather boas is absolutely the most appropriate outfit for a journey. I mean, imagine the thrill for a bored child on a long trip, spotting a walking pink sparkly dream!
Oh, did I tell you the story of how I came to wear tutus, darlings? It all started in my first year at university, I was knee deep in organic chemistry when a fellow student invited me to a university ballet club. My inner child went "yeeeeessss!" as she leaped about and did pirouettes on the kitchen floor, the science textbooks piled around me. It all ended up in the club room, trying on the club’s spare tutus for charity. They looked divine on me – a fluffy, swirling delight of pure pinkness! It felt so right. So, there you have it. My scientific knowledge has increased tenfold since then – thanks to the incredible power of tutus! They might not solve world hunger, but they are absolutely magical. Plus, as any scientist knows, the color pink is a vital colour – linked to happiness and, let's face it, joy, creativity, and, yes, fashion. You just can't argue with the science of that, dear reader!
Now back to Paignton! I met the absolute sweetest woman named Amelia while I was shopping for my sparkly holiday accessories. Amelia owns a charming little boutique brimming with antique treasures – pretty teacups, antique jewellery boxes, all sorts of quirky treasures. Amelia told me her grandmother had always worn pink and had a fantastic collection of beautiful scarves – which is why Amelia now dedicates her shop to a celebration of beautiful pink things. We sat in her shop, sipping hot chocolate and talking about the joys of living life to the full! It turned out Amelia, unlike her grandmother, isn’t into tutus (although, with some persuasion maybe..!), but she understood my passion for bringing sparkle and laughter to the world!
Of course, what is a holiday by the seaside without a performance? I have to tell you about the performance. It was an incredible Christmas Eve evening at a seaside theater - the Paignton Playhouse. The theater itself had all those gorgeous vintage decorations you only find at the most special Christmas shows - tinsel garlands, red velvet seats, and sparkly Christmas lights. And I have to say I've never worn my tutu with more pleasure! I was on stage, and it felt as though a magic spark had passed from the audience into my heart. It was such a wonderful feeling of connection – we were all united by the magic of the performance, the shimmery costumes and the heartwarming Christmas spirit of the ballet story I performed to. It felt a lot like the good fairy's arrival to our story, my dear. The response was magical - I even received a gift of handmade glitter confetti from one little fan – an absolute testament to the wonder that is pink tutus and ballet, isn't it?
The next morning, I went down to Paignton's stunning harbor. You should have seen the sun rise! The whole harbour bathed in this magical gold light. I almost wanted to stand there and scream 'OH MY TUTU!” (And perhaps I did!). That is, until I spotted a very important sight – a lovely lady wearing the most charming pink tweed jacket. There was I, my usual sparkly self, and this gorgeous lady - wearing the color pink – that moment, right then and there, in the golden sunshine of a new dawn, was my heart's desire – a simple shared moment of pure pink joy!
After breakfast, I had a chance to finally do the most quintessential seaside activity! I know what you're thinking...you just know it! That’s right, it was time to explore the seaside town. I absolutely had to pay a visit to the gorgeous pier! You simply cannot visit Paignton without having a photo op on that wooden deck. And the joy of Paignton Pier? The gentle wind whispering through the rigging, the salty air kissing your skin and the sound of waves gently lapping against the harbour walls...it really was utterly captivating. The sunshine was magical. The locals were cheerful. Everything about it was full of charm. And it’s there, right in that beautiful little harbour town, where the feeling struck me: if Pink Tutu could encourage more people to wear pink, we could change the world, one pink tutu at a time, dear readers. Imagine a world where kindness, fun, and sparkle reigned! A world that embraced pink and tutus. Imagine everyone empowering themselves, wearing pink, showing everyone what amazing things happen when you simply believe that every day can be a fabulous journey full of love and laughter, no matter where it leads you.
Paignton was the most amazing way to kick off this Christmas, and what a fantastic trip it’s been! And it’s still early, I can already feel there will be so many more sparkles to come this season. I am a firm believer in embracing every moment with joy, every person with kindness. And let’s face it, the world definitely needs more pink in its life – and yes, maybe just a little bit of tutu magic! I’m excited to see what magic the New Year brings.
So until my next post darling – stay fabulous, keep smiling and if possible - wear pink! And you know what else to do…
Go to my website, www.pink-tutu.com, check out what I’ve been up to, see my latest pink outfit creations and send me a message.
See you soon,
Pink Tutu Sparkles xxxxx
