STAY FABULOUS?

I made STAY FABULOUS my motto for 2025. I put it on the cover of my daily planner and even silkscreened a small monoprint edition of this saying last year. I like to think of this as a carry over sort of motto, one to last into my midlife and senior years.

STAY FABULOUS monoprints right off the press at Print Club London.

Yeah, I know that year is over (yay) and this one feels similar so far and even harder. We’re slogging through some difficult times. Sigh. The collective vibe feels heavy and I’ve been dragging my feet on my every other week posts here on Substack. Honestly, I feel like posting feels like driving a luxury car on a Sunday for a leisurely ride while emergency vehicles are wizzing by. I don’t want to be in the way of the important stuff.

So I guess it’s just a short note today. I want to stay in the habit of writing and really like it over here on Substack. People feel less shouty. It’s calm and smart. Yes, please.

One thing I’ve realized is that keeping ourselves going (and in turn helping others in significant ways) requires boundaries and time to reset. A good nap, lap swimming, a nice mani/pedi, and a touch of glam are also ingredients for keeping that inner spark going. I think I’ll make that a post for another day. But today - I’ll talk about laughing at yourself.

Today I was out with my teen daughter. A sunny Wednesday morning on our way to an appointment. Let me preface that by saying I used to live in LA - I love a good celebrity sighting. When I had my boutique, I played it cool. Hello Alanis, Anjelica, and Pink. Now I’m name dropping, it’s a hard habit to break, lol.

Here in London, though, I don’t know who most celebrities are. Except Florence and P.J.. I play it cool when I spot those two icons, lol. I digress again. So today. TODAY! I spot a well dressed, handsome man in a suit across the street. I get excited. I KNOW it’s going to be a good day. A really, really good day. So I do the typical American thing - I wave and smile and shout - MAYOR! So not British. I’m now a loud American, I can’t help it. I am gleeful. Acting like a tourist in a city I’ve lived in for over 9 years. My teen wants to disappear. So, sooooo embarrassed. I cross the street, go up to him and say - “Love the bike lanes.” He smiles, gracious. Thank you, he replies.

Good thing I recorded the interaction.

Watch me make a fool of myself...

I feel all happy. I am in a different part of town, a bit more posh than normal south London where things are a bit gritty. I was wearing something other than overalls and comfy sneaker. It’s my day off. I’m with my daughter. Things are looking up! I’m all excited - I saw the Mayor of London. Star sighting.

Then I do the typical thing - I go to post it on Instagram, my stories. And I go to tag the Mayor. But - ooops. That’s not him. Hand over face emoji. Yikes. I send a video to my husband. Honey - I swear that was the Mayor of London. No, he replies. That’s the former Prime Minister. Ooops. I started laughing so hard that I was crying. Thank goodness he was so gracious to me as I gushed over him. In a room full of others waiting for our appointment, I am laughing at my faux pas. My teen is still with me, wanting to disappear under the seat next to me. So they did the next best thing - move over and distance themselves from me. I may have passed my “Life in the UK” test and feel very very up to date on US politics, but can’t recognize the old Prime Minister, mistaking him for the current Mayor. I still don’t understand snap elections and how this whole government works. I have much to learn. Sigh.

I talk to one of my besties in Philadelphia later that morning, telling her about my morning mishap. We chat regularly, I love it. So then I start reminiscing about the time that I saw the Mayor of Philly in Center City in the mid 90’s. Ed Rendell. I smiled and waved at him from my little car. I acted just like I did today. And he waved back, all gracious as well. Some habits keep going. And same thing - back then my friend next to me in the car had the same reaction, wanting to disappear under the dashboard as I gushed about my local celebrity sighting. In Philadelphia, the only celebrities we saw were local news reporter. Seeing the Mayor was a big deal.

Moral of today’s mishap? Hmmm. Stay laughing at yourself and hope the recipient of your encounter is gracious enough to give you a pass.

Seriously, though. Hope you’re doing ok. 2026 has been a lot so far. Stay fabulous, talk to your friends, and stay connected, even if you trip up along the way. Embarrassing yourself and maybe your companion during the journey.

You can find out more about me and check out (and purchase if you like) my art here. Better yet, if this post speaks to you, please share this with a friend and subscribe . That is if you’re into this rambling world of mine. Let’s see where things take us.

XO, M.E.