A Second Chance at Love

Guest Contributor

Madeline Northway

November 4, 2024

Gala Darling, an author, speaker and professional optimist, got engaged - quite unexpectedly - for the second time at aged 40. This time, she’s doing things differently.

Self Esteem, Body Confidence and Learning to Love Yourself

Kat

June 26, 2015

If you've been reading my blog (or following me on Instagram!) for a while you'll probably have already heard of Gala Darling. Not only is she one of my best friends, but I've been raving about her, and her message of Radical Self Love, for quite some time! I first discovered her blog in early 2009 (check out my adorable fangirling) but it wasn't until happenstance enabled us to meet IRL a few years later that I knew we were kindred spirits. There are just some people you meet who instantly light up your life and make the world seem like a more positive, happier place. Gala does this for me every single day and I'm so honoured to call her my friend.

The Blogcademy New York: A Quick Recap

Kat

October 22, 2012

I'm currently lying in bed in my East Village apartment (well, I wish it was mine!) with Nubby the day after the first ever Blogcademy. It's 7am and we're both bolt upright excitedly gabbing about the events of the past 48 hours. It was a weekend of magical, unexpected, positivity and excitable exhilaration. Loving, learning and inspiring each other - all in our own imitable fashion. I feel mentally exhausted and my feet hurt like hell but it's oh such a good feeling. Our 30 attendees were just what we hoped & prayed for and more, and I honestly feel we've all made some new BFFs for life.

A Sunday Kind of Love: Upgrades, Glitter Shoes & Blogger Dance Parties in the Park

Kat

October 14, 2012

Its been five months since I was here last but as soon as we landed in JFK I felt like it was only yesterday. Everything was so familiar, so comfortable but also so exciting! I've fallen head over heels pretty quickly again and I'm so thrilled to be back here.

A New York State of Mind: A Hop Skip & Jump Across The Brooklyn Bridge

Kat

June 1, 2012

So here we have it, the final installment of Gala & my frolic around NYC! When Christina & I first starting thinking about shooting in New York there was one place top of both of our lists - The Brooklyn Bridge! Iconic the world over, nothing screams New York more than this structure... or the amazing views from it! After a slightly hair-raising cab ride through China Town and over the Manhattan Bridge, we arrived in Brooklyn and proceeded to walk the 1.1 miles over the East River towards Manhattan.

A New York State of Mind: West Village Wanderers

Kat

May 30, 2012

After the exertion of jumping around the rooftop, Gala & I decided a much more leisurely pace was required for the second part of our day. So we hopped in a cab with the Made U Look girls and headed towards the uber trendy West Village.

A New York State of Mind: Rooftop Dance Party

Kat

May 28, 2012

II've been obsessed with Made U Look Photography for as long as I've been blogging. Even in the early days they were wonderful to me and allowed me to feature their beautiful weddings as much as possible. Christina, Marielle & Alie are amazing girls, and when Christina and I started whimsically chatting about one day doing a shoot together I knew we'd make it happen somehow!

A Sunday Kind of Love: Rooftop Dance Parties, Brooklyn Bridge Paparazzi & Extreme Cinemaing

Kat

May 13, 2012

After the aceness of last week I wasn't sure my New York adventure could get any better...oh how wrong I was! On Monday we waved goodbye to The Lasertron's (boohoo) and Gala & I then basically spent the whole week distracting each other. I'd love to move here one day, but if I did I fear neither of us would ever get any work done! We had too much fun doing things like this...

A Sunday Kind of Love: Hanging Out with The Darlings & The Lasertrons in NYC!

Kat

May 6, 2012

The last 3 days have been a whirlwind of excitement and adventure as Gareth & I have meandered around New York City with our friends The Darlings and The Lasertrons...wow our surname is so boring! We've been a right motley crue of chaos with late night pizza dates, neon pedicures, being papped in Tompkins square, flower crowns, florescent skirt purchases, passing out on sofas (yeah...that was me) and shopping til we dropped (sorry Gareth!)

Las Vegas Lovers: Sequins & Smoke Bombs

Kat

March 12, 2012

For the third and final setting of the Las Vegas Lovers shoot, Gala, Nubby & I wanted to get a little mean & moody...and that meant monochrome, silver and something a bit more dramatic! We moved from our beloved Ghost Town (Nubby & I have since decided we might take up residence there...just as long as someone can sort out some interwebz for us please...) and ambled towards a good-looking piece of desert.

Las Vegas Lovers: Ghost Town Glamour Girls

Kat

March 8, 2012

After the fun we had frolicking around the RV Park, Gala, Nubby & I were super excited to see the second location that David had found - an abandoned ghost town! Located in Nelson, just under an hours drive from The Strip, we were keen to get there late afternoon to make the most of the incredible early evening light...and boy did we!

Las Vegas Lovers: Airstream Dreams

Kat

March 5, 2012

Finally it's here, the shoot I've been mercilessly teasing you with! When Gala & Nubby told me they were going to be in Las Vegas at the same time as David, Lisa & I, I just about jumped at the chance for us to all shoot together. Although this shoot wasn't going to be at all wedding-related, I really couldn't wait to get my pose on with these gorgeous girlies.

Bright Lights, Late Nights, Shopping & Disco Trees…Why, It Must be a Las Vegas Round Up Post!

Kat

March 4, 2012

What time is it? What country am I in? How do I form sentences again...? Greetings. This morning's blog post comes from a head that still hasn't quite got back on UK time. It may have been a week since I landed back at Heathrow, but I'm still finding it hard to get back on track! However waking up at 2pm and going to bed at 4am could work for me I reckon... Those of you that follow me on Twitter or Facebook will have been lucky (or unlucky, whichever way you look at it!) to have been force-fed regular updates from my Las Vegas adventure over the past few weeks, but today I thought it necessary to put off getting back to work just a little while longer in order to share some of my favourite photos and fun times from Viva Las Vegas. I'm sure some of you are sick to death of hearing all about it already...sorry about that...but for the rest of you I hope you enjoy this extra epic extra huge post dedicated to one of my new favourite places, the city they call Sin...

Thursday Treats – 1st March 2012: Sneaky the Sneakiest Sneak of all the Peeks

Kat

March 1, 2012

Well you know me, I couldn't resist just one more sneak peek from my Vegas shoot with Gala & Nubby, this time from our second photographer Lisa Devlin. Jeez I literally can't wait to share the rest! We will be doing so from next Monday so be sure to pop by to all our blogs because we'll all have different shots to share! I ain't gonna lie - coming back from a trip to a Google Reader with over 1000 unread blog posts (and it actually only says 1000 because that's the highest number the counter goes to... Christ knows how many were actually in there!) was a daunting prospect and a bit of a moutain to climb. BUT I promised you a damn good selection of Treats upon my return from Vegas didn't I, so I hope these were worth the wait! How the devil have you been by the way? Did you miss me? What you been up to? I demand that you tell me all!

There’s a Big Wide World Out There

Kat

February 28, 2012

I'm going to get a little philosophical today as I'm still inhabiting my post-Vegas glow. It's a world where everything is neon, over-sized and delivered with a smile and it's one that, honestly, taught me a lot. I didn't expect that crazy city to have such a profound affect on me, nor for it to make me reevaluate how I run my business (hell, I just went to have a good time!) but it really truly did. Now forgive me if this offends anyone (!) but when landing back at Heathrow on Sunday I was immediately reminded as to just how small this little island of ours is - and I'm not just talking geographically.

Las Vegas Lovers & A Photo Shoot Teaser

Kat

February 24, 2012

The Inspirations: Gala Darling

Kat

January 18, 2012

Whenever I'm asked about who my favourite blogger is or where I find my inspiration, Gala Darling's name always comes up. It's hard to explain exactly how I felt when I first discovered her blog, then called iCING, back in 2009 - here was a girl, very much like me (well we both has pink hair and tattoos!) who was making a massive name her herself in the blogging world, but doing it her own way and with such inimitable style and sparkle - something I very much wished I could one day to do too. I was lucky enough to meet Gala when I was in LA in August. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she's just as beautiful and wonderful (OK actually more so) in real life as she is online. I'm thrilled to share this interview with you all today. I hope you find her as inspiring as I do!

A Sunday Kind of Love (Round 2) – Gala Darling, Big in the Blogosphere

Kat

May 22, 2011

...Because some things are worth doing twice. Watch this. Be inspired. Love yourself. That is all. Gala Darling I bloody adore you. Happy Sunday everyone.

Gala & Nubby in Paris

Kat

March 22, 2011

It's not often that I post a non-wedding photo shoot, but when I found out that two of my favourite bloggers Gala Darling & Nubby Twiglet were off to Paris, and that while they were there they were doing a photo shoot with one of my favourite photographers, well I couldn't help but ask them all if I could blog the photos too. (note: technically there are some wedding elements in this...Nubby got married in Vegas last September and the white sequin dress was her wedding dress!) "Gala and I met online after she linked to one of my Parisian Trash the Dress photos shoots that you featured on Rock n Roll Bride. When I heard she and Nubby were coming to Paris, I suggested doing a photo shoot. The shoot was a collaboration between Gala, Nubby and I. My vision for Gala's photos was vintage with vivid colours. She liked the idea and brought the most perfect vintage dresses and hats for the shoot. For Nubby, I visualized a lot of black and white with red. I even brought along a red beret for her to wear for a few shots."

Eyelashes Akimbo! Gala Darling’s Sexy Boudoir Sesh.

Kat

August 4, 2010

Oooh la la! I have been a huge fan of Gala Darling ever since I discovered her blog about a year ago. I love her style, her positivity and the fact that she's not afraid to be herself and speak her mind. I love the way she writes and I'm inspired by her every.damn.day! Gala posted these très sexy boudoir-esque shots on her blog last week and I'm really excited to share them all with you too. I think these make great inspiration for all your brides-to-be wanting to do boudoir shoots - they show that great light and fabulous styling makes all the difference! So do it. Embrace your inner minx and go for it!