Kitten Monroe's Posts - Pinup Girl Style2024-03-28T08:20:31ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroehttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2214079337?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=2h5xaycgmzpzb&xn_auth=noWould The Real PUG Addicts Please Stand Up?tag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2014-07-19:6504043:BlogPost:3435582014-07-19T02:16:18.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
<p>"We're gonna have a problem here..."</p>
<p>Oh dear. It seems I have gone and purchased multiples of a few items recently. I think I may have a problem!</p>
<p>It started with the black Jessica, I adore my lipstick red version so much. I wore it for a coffee "date" and the poor gentleman couldn't get <em><strong>that</strong> </em>look off his face. </p>
<p>Last month I took a chance and ordered the red harlequin print Jenny dress. Due to my odd-ish size (39-31-39) it's hard for me to not…</p>
<p>"We're gonna have a problem here..."</p>
<p>Oh dear. It seems I have gone and purchased multiples of a few items recently. I think I may have a problem!</p>
<p>It started with the black Jessica, I adore my lipstick red version so much. I wore it for a coffee "date" and the poor gentleman couldn't get <em><strong>that</strong> </em>look off his face. </p>
<p>Last month I took a chance and ordered the red harlequin print Jenny dress. Due to my odd-ish size (39-31-39) it's hard for me to not feel 'shapeless' in swing style dresses. My affinity for Harleen Quinzel pushed me to do it and I had not a single regret! Once paired with the canvas underskirt I felt like a ballerina, or a princess, or something.. So much so that last week I went ahead and ordered the orange border print Jenny for another Marilyn shoot (read: the really cute one in the forest with Arthur Miller in the blue dress, but people want $500+ to make that and uh, what do I look like?). </p>
<p>Now today I happen to be running on two hours sleep. After being awake for 30+ hours circumstances absolutely called for therapy shopping (don't you dare tell me you haven't done it!). What do I go and do? I check my email and see the magic words <strong>PRIVATE SALE</strong>. Thank you Overlord! </p>
<p>Now I love my green Erin, a lot, even though it's a tad too big for me in a size L (I tend to always be a better M in bengaline...the fabric of the gods, I am convinced). I wore it to IMATS Toronto and caused quite a stir (which you may have seen in my PUG contest After Image). Show me the red Erin at 15% off...and available in a M...I am no stranger to an impulse buy. Somehow the black made it into my cart as well. Guys, I <strong><em>really</em> </strong>like Bengaline.</p>
<p>...and then the Jenny skirt from the Gothic Capsule collection ended up in there as well. <br/><br/></p>
<p>Who needs girlfriends when you have Jessica, Jenny, and Erin? (oh and Niagara, let's be honest)</p>
<p>What styles have you gone back for duplicates of? </p>
<p>xx</p>PinUp Girl Changed Everythingtag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2014-06-29:6504043:BlogPost:3406072014-06-29T03:00:00.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
<p>Good Evening Darlings;</p>
<p>It's Canada Day weekend, and I thought that while I watched the too-early fireworks from my balcony window would be the perfect time to try to string together all my thoughts over the PUG Changed My Life contest and results...</p>
<p>I'm going to start by addressing what I am sure most people are wondering; of course I was disappointed when I didn't win the trip. So were all the other hundreds of entrants. My joy that Allie, someone who had felt like she was…</p>
<p>Good Evening Darlings;</p>
<p>It's Canada Day weekend, and I thought that while I watched the too-early fireworks from my balcony window would be the perfect time to try to string together all my thoughts over the PUG Changed My Life contest and results...</p>
<p>I'm going to start by addressing what I am sure most people are wondering; of course I was disappointed when I didn't win the trip. So were all the other hundreds of entrants. My joy that Allie, someone who had felt like she was less than worthy, had gained the opportunity to feel like royalty supersedes that. The beauty of the universe is she only gives you what you want when you're ready for it and life is a lesson-less walk without disappointment, which brings me to why I am so grateful to have won second prize. </p>
<p>It's true that I already had started building a small collection from PinUp Girl Clothing. It's been a huge part of my transition. What you likely don't know is that a large part of that transition was learning how to save money to acquire these nice clothes, trying to convince myself I deserved them, while living statistically under the poverty level. I have spent the last three years going to college under student loans, literally half killing myself to earn A's (I had two small strokes last semester), and making very little money modelling and working as background in the film industry while I try to network and learn and perfect my art to earn my way into principal roles. </p>
<p>Prior to the aforementioned three years, I spent seven barely avoiding living on the streets. I am 25 years old, and at 15 I had no money, no family, alone in the middle of Toronto. At 16 I was living in my own apartment, I had learned how to "hustle" in the streets without selling myself or stripping. I knew prostitutes, I knew drug addicts, dealers, homeless youth who would hook via the internet to fund their next meal and fix. I wanted to help them, not be them.</p>
<p>17, 18, 19....that's when it changed, that's when I changed. A little bit, any way. I had a string of legitimate jobs. Jobs I hated, jobs that paid the rent and the bills and put food in the fridge...and that I despised. 20, 21, 22...laid off, a year with no work in a failing economy, and slipping quickly into wondering how I was going to avoid old habits.</p>
<p>What I never had over all these years, what I didn't "experience", wasn't lack of friendship, or love, or empathy, or the lesson of resilience...I lacked the privilege of understanding what owning nice things felt like. I had cheap clothing that would fall apart, I had ratty old furniture, a bed with a permanent dip in the middle, a cold apartment in the middle of the ghetto with prison white walls, no feeling of love, and nothing worth stealing.</p>
<p>22...I go to college! Year One, I love it. I do well. I prove everyone wrong. 23.Year Two. I realize my passion for law, was actually a passion for justice, and I wanted to bring messages to the world, not the courtroom. 24.Year Three. I start trying to teach the lessons I have learned to others. The value in valuing yourself. I still cry sometimes when I look in the mirror, and I determine daily it will not be for naught. </p>
<p>25...Awaiting Year Four's commencement...I win this awesome, generous contest! I am overwhelmed, and humbled. I have had some success, some let downs, and many struggles. I am grateful for them all. I am grateful for this. As a woman who has had nothing, who has learned how to work for things, and who has now been lucky enough to receive things, <em>who still lives in that ghetto</em>, and who is still striving to be more than her circumstances, who feels lucky to call herself a starving artist, I appreciate this with every ounce of my being. </p>
<p>In hindsight this whole situation stood to remind me that when you are truly appreciative of the smaller things, bigger ones will find you... </p>
<p>your time <em>will</em> come. </p>
<p>xx</p>I Just Want To Be Wonderful...tag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2013-12-18:6504043:BlogPost:3007252013-12-18T20:30:00.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
<p>This post has been weighing on my heart for some time. It's hard to revisit the past, especially when it contains pain and heartache. I want to bring myself to a level where all you lovely and diverse women can relate to me. I like to hope I can pass on some hard learned lessons and ideologies on love, motivation, and life in general. Plainly, I have decided to share with you how I got to this …</p>
<p>This post has been weighing on my heart for some time. It's hard to revisit the past, especially when it contains pain and heartache. I want to bring myself to a level where all you lovely and diverse women can relate to me. I like to hope I can pass on some hard learned lessons and ideologies on love, motivation, and life in general. Plainly, I have decided to share with you how I got to this <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2235202686?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="468" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2235202686?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="468" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>and morphed into this</p>
<p><a href="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1467267_10152019935541327_344570187_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1467267_10152019935541327_344570187_n.jpg" class="align-full" width="363" height="478"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p>The brunnette above I <em>promise </em>you is me, rather, that <strong>was </strong>me. I don't even resonate with that person anymore. She was 250 pounds, larger than a size 16, but more importantly she was in pain and that was manifesting in her appearance. Not to say that size had anything to do with it however let's be honest, there is zero self care going on in that image. I could have rocked that body just like so many of you do with your fabulousness, but I didn't. I simply couldn't because of the place I was in. Mentally, emotionally, physically I was unhealthy, Ladies, I was very slowly dying. </p>
<p>The back story; I was new to womanhood and after being an independent "adult" living and providing for myself since I was 15 I entered into a relationship with a man I had been friends with for several years. Someone I had met in the midst of an abusive relationship, who defended me and endeavoured to keep me safe from my then abuser. Someone who I trusted thoroughly. I was happier than I had been in some tIme.</p>
<p>As you may have guessed, I was very wrong about him. About six weeks into the relationship the same pattern of behaviour started; horrible name calling, remarks regarding my lack of worth, guffaws at my "pointless" life, the black eyes. Eventually these progressed into worse language, jealous accusations, financial dependency, and concussions. I found myself confined to my apartment that <em>I let him move into, </em>denied a social life entirely, and eating in the absence of any real human contact outside of hidden conversations on my phone. Leaving the house while he worked would always lead to a very loud and badly ending argument. I knew if I tried to leave him he would inevitably kill me. I lived like this for nearly three years before a fire in me sparked somehow. </p>
<p>I decided I was worth more, that I didn't want to look like that anymore, that I needed to initiate a <strong>hurricane</strong> of change. It started simple, leaving the house and accepting to go through the following storm in peace. I knew I had more up my sleeve, I just didn't know what yet. After a short time I moved to better myself; I started caring about my weight, my health. I remember making a simple change at first, skipping starchy carbs at dinner time and kicking my horrible pop habit in exchange for nothing but water. Before I knew it I had lost 30 pounds in two months, I was feeling fabulous and good god I wanted much more. </p>
<p>Due to when I had left my parents home, I had no education beyond the eighth grade. I had always loved literature however and absorbed a plethora of books over the years in order to somehow educate myself. One day I was reading and started questioning if I could get into college. I ran with this idea, realizing student loans would give me a level of independence and possibly a way out of the toxic relationship I was in. I applied for what we call 'upgrading' in Canada. It allows you to gain needed high school credits in a college environment and assists in you college applications after, if you pass the necessary knowledge tests. Wouldn't you know, I scored too high and they pushed me to apply for a 'real' program. Talk about a pick me up! I made my application to a simple law program, got accepted for that September, and began planning. I knew every harsh word, every slap that would come after would be so very worth it. About a week before classes were to start a friend, Joe (now fiance), took me out to get my hair done and we made a decision. We called my local police division after my appointment, went in, gave statements (Joe had seen many black eyes acquired over time), and had my ex arrested and charged with domestic abuse. You see, before that ex I had ended up in a series of <strong>over 3</strong> similar relationships. <em>This was my 'never again' moment</em>. That was two and a half years ago.</p>
<p>That experience of leaving, of freeing myself from a prison was liberation in it's purest form. It was empowering. That climax of </p>
<blockquote><p><em>I did it, I am my own woman, I am finally free </em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>brought tears of joy and more drive for me to be someone than I have ever felt in my entire existence. I began taking more interest in my appearance and living a healthy lifestyle. By the time I graduated that same May I had dropped down to 180 pounds via watching my food intake and doing BeachBody programs in my living room, <strong>and I graduated </strong>(that's my father and I at graduation, less than a year since leaving that relationship). <a href="https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547074_10151026071836327_1488215035_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547074_10151026071836327_1488215035_n.jpg" class="align-right" width="314" height="418"/></a></p>
<p> Throughout that school year I had started devouring every piece of information I could find about Marilyn Monroe. Her life began speaking to me in ways I never thought possible. Her desire to be an actress much like mine from childhood, the mentally ill mother and poor family ties like a mirror of my own experiences, her perpetual aloneness, in friendship, relationship, marriage vibrated through me like the bells of Notre Dame. This sparked me to push more and more, I thought to myself '<em>why can't I change my life that much, also?' </em>This beautiful, hurting orphan girl became this widely loved woman of substance and intelligence, <em>'who says I'm too old and damaged to reach for just a taste of her heaven?' </em>Just as Marilyn Monroe became a refuge for Norma Jeane, Marilyn became that and so much more for me.</p>
<p>Over the last year and a half I have watched myself change before my very eyes. Yes, I've lost another 32 pounds, but that has taken the back burner to something else, something that I feel is so much bigger than the number on my scale (though that's not to say I have changed my fitness goals, merely taken a small break). I made moves to start modeling mostly as an impersonation of Marilyn. If you're going to do something, I believe you must push yourself to the highest level of greatness you can imagine for yourself - a girl has got to start somewhere and I began to make her the very air I breathe. You should have seen how silly I looked practicing facial expressions in the mirror, studying her body language, my fits of excitement when I realized parts of her were always in me, like that damn wiggle walk. I noticed eventually the tears stopped coming the instant I looked in a mirror. I stopped hiding my body in sweaters and jeans. I began to hold my head high as I walked rather than trying to shuffle through places unnoticed. I saw how she frolicked on the beach in 1962 her surgery scars marring her perfect porcelain skin and I stopped constantly tugging at my dress shirts tied over my heavily stretchmarked stomach. I spent an entire summer immersing myself in makeup and hair tricks and techniques, her personal regime, and found myself smiling more often as I stepped out the front door. She made me feel glamorous, she made me feel powerful, bloody well beautiful. Marilyn played a role in saving me from myself. </p>
<p>Currently I am about to enter the last semester of my correctional program and graduate in May (donned in the ever famous JFK birthday dress - how could I resist?). I haven't decided what I'm more excited about - endeavouring towards law school or enlarging my modeling and acting portfolio. I may write a book one day...<em>the best part is I believe I can do all these things.</em> I am proud of who I have become, and yes even where I have come from. I cannot say that my hardships did not make me who I am today, and let me tell you how much I love myself now (hint: a lot). I am chasing my girlhood dreams and having a damn good time doing it as I approach 25 in January, and isn't enjoying every second of the life we have the whole point? </p>
<p>If I can pass on anything at all via this confession it would be this; nix out toxic people from your life, especially those 'frenimies', you'll be happier for it; take care of your body, I don't mean you need to lose weight like I did (unless that makes you happy), just put the right fuel in it, pamper it with yoga or stretching, take vitamins, whatever feeling your best means to you just do it; enjoy every day, every minute of this life - you only get one; and lastly never, ever, <em><strong>ever</strong></em><strong> </strong> stop dreaming. Bigger and better things are out there for each and every single one of you who dares to believe your stars aren't numbered. </p>
<p>xx<a href="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1016977_10151762321141327_1769220238_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1016977_10151762321141327_1769220238_n.jpg" class="align-center" width="407" height="407"/></a></p>
<p></p>I've been deep in thoughttag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2013-12-07:6504043:BlogPost:2986822013-12-07T02:08:14.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
I've been very absent and I feel like I should be here and be writing more often. School has been keeping me very busy and very underslept what with a full course load coupled with placement in the prosecutors office. I'm beat most nights and am doing the head nod as I write this.<br />
I wanted to state and make physical my want to be more active here. To solidify that I'm letting you all see that I am working on a large blog post about my story. It was suggested some time ago it may be of use to…
I've been very absent and I feel like I should be here and be writing more often. School has been keeping me very busy and very underslept what with a full course load coupled with placement in the prosecutors office. I'm beat most nights and am doing the head nod as I write this.<br />
I wanted to state and make physical my want to be more active here. To solidify that I'm letting you all see that I am working on a large blog post about my story. It was suggested some time ago it may be of use to others and I've been pondering on it since.<br />
<br />
xxPin Up Progressiontag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2013-07-25:6504043:BlogPost:2401322013-07-25T16:07:01.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
Hello my lovelies.<br />
I hope the sun woke you this morning and you smiled!<br />
What's that? You didn't? Well smile now DAMN IT. You're beautiful and fabulous and that smile will take anyone's breath away if you choose to show it.<br />
<br />
I wanted to share with you a little look book I made featuring casual vintage inspired dresses and featuring one of my personal favourites, the Jayne Dress from the brains of our lovely PUG clan leaders.<br />
<br />
I wanted to show that with very simple accessories you can dress up or…
Hello my lovelies.<br />
I hope the sun woke you this morning and you smiled!<br />
What's that? You didn't? Well smile now DAMN IT. You're beautiful and fabulous and that smile will take anyone's breath away if you choose to show it.<br />
<br />
I wanted to share with you a little look book I made featuring casual vintage inspired dresses and featuring one of my personal favourites, the Jayne Dress from the brains of our lovely PUG clan leaders.<br />
<br />
I wanted to show that with very simple accessories you can dress up or down anything. I used the Jayne belt across the board with each dress and I hope this inspires you to mark out your own pin up girl path, no matter your budget xx<br />
<br />
Thus I leave you with this link: <a href="http://youtu.be/-HwazeE1lxE">http://youtu.be/-HwazeE1lxE</a>Life with Marilyn...tag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2013-07-16:6504043:BlogPost:2367742013-07-16T15:54:37.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
Hello darling ladies;<br />
I hope this finds you well and fabulous (who am I kidding? I'm surrounded by gorgeous!).<br />
I wanted to share with you all my latest vlog up on my YouTube channel. You get to spend a day with me, meet some people I like, and take a look at downtown Toronto!<br />
Feel free to like, share, subscribe, and if you don't have a YouTube account you can catch all the upcoming misadventures of Toronto's Marilyn on my Facebook page as well.<br />
Forgive me for not really posting, this weekend…
Hello darling ladies;<br />
I hope this finds you well and fabulous (who am I kidding? I'm surrounded by gorgeous!).<br />
I wanted to share with you all my latest vlog up on my YouTube channel. You get to spend a day with me, meet some people I like, and take a look at downtown Toronto!<br />
Feel free to like, share, subscribe, and if you don't have a YouTube account you can catch all the upcoming misadventures of Toronto's Marilyn on my Facebook page as well.<br />
Forgive me for not really posting, this weekend was hectic and tomorrow I have a shoot with Lady Luck Pin Ups!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dgulJrJRMfg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdgulJrJRMfg">http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dgulJrJRMfg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdgulJrJRMfg</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/MissKittenMonroe">www.facebook.com/MissKittenMonroe</a><br />
<br />
Love and sugar kisses<br />
xxAnd she calls herself a princess...tag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2013-07-11:6504043:BlogPost:2353642013-07-11T15:06:53.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
Mornings. Good GOD I hate mornings.<br />
Nobody, not one soul, rolls out of bed in perfect appearance ready to take on the trials of a pin up princess.<br />
Anybody? Perfect pin curls? Right out of bed? Nope. Didn't think so.<br />
If you're like me you've got some monster hair going on, and likely yesterday's makeup smeared in some direction unflatteringly down your face. Let's be clear, I am high maintenance as hell. Anyone who knows me will concede to my princess status. Yet some days I just do not want to…
Mornings. Good GOD I hate mornings.<br />
Nobody, not one soul, rolls out of bed in perfect appearance ready to take on the trials of a pin up princess.<br />
Anybody? Perfect pin curls? Right out of bed? Nope. Didn't think so.<br />
If you're like me you've got some monster hair going on, and likely yesterday's makeup smeared in some direction unflatteringly down your face. Let's be clear, I am high maintenance as hell. Anyone who knows me will concede to my princess status. Yet some days I just do not want to go near that makeup bag, or all those steps to do my hair (though I will sit and stare longingly at my pin up garb).<br />
I think lately I've been realizing - no, becoming empowered by telling myself that, I don't need to be perfect from head to toe to wear my best clothes and be who I am.<br />
Do you know how many times I've been asked "what's a pin up"?! People here don't even know, so why should I care if there's no eyeliner on my face, or I have done NOTHING but throw on a perfect outfit and a hair wrap.<br />
(Hint: I don't care ;)<br />
Bombshells, princesses, and low maintenance dolls, be you. Be perfectly preciously you.<br />
With or without the bells and whistles.<br />
xx...is this thing on?tag:www.pinupgirlstyle.com,2013-07-10:6504043:BlogPost:2346712013-07-10T13:50:16.000ZKitten Monroehttp://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profile/KittenMonroe
Blogging is a little bit like a soap box isn't it?<br />
Fairly new here. Actually, here on the recommendation of a certain PUG staff member. I guess she thinks I could be useful (can we define the term useful?).<br />
Either way, hello!<br />
I won't go into too much today except to introduce myself to the PUGStyle community.<br />
Fellow bombshells, I am Kitten (or at least that's what a select few call me..I also adopted this as my model name. Why? Somehow I decided that something that would make me be associated…
Blogging is a little bit like a soap box isn't it?<br />
Fairly new here. Actually, here on the recommendation of a certain PUG staff member. I guess she thinks I could be useful (can we define the term useful?).<br />
Either way, hello!<br />
I won't go into too much today except to introduce myself to the PUGStyle community.<br />
Fellow bombshells, I am Kitten (or at least that's what a select few call me..I also adopted this as my model name. Why? Somehow I decided that something that would make me be associated with something cute and cuddly forever would be a good idea..sigh). I am a Canadian pin up from Toronto. I adore and emulate Marilyn, and I have found myself in vintage.<br />
They say never go backwards but sometimes that's exactly what you have to do. People and their philosophical phrases ;)<br />
I'll be off for now, I think breakfast is calling (or maybe my stomach is calling breakfast).<br />
xx