Funky Diva Lulu doesn’t apologise for taking up space. She doesn’t tone down her quirks, her ideas, or her voice to fit in. She’s a walking permission slip for authenticity, showing us that when you stop trying to blend, the right people and opportunities find you. And lately, I’ve been feeling a lot of Lulu energy myself. 

 

Because this season of life my semi-retirement chapter  isn’t about slowing down. It’s about stripping back the noise, simplifying what matters, and stepping into my full power. Not the “doing” power that drives you to keep achieving, but more of a quiet confidence of knowing who you are. It doesn’t feel like a reinvention, it feels more like a return. 

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m a creative magpie. I’ve always had loads of ideas, things bubbling away - new projects, fresh concepts, bold collaborations and I’ve often had to reign myself in, I still remind myself daily that just because I could, it doesn’t mean I should. If you’ve heard of Human Design, I’m a Manifesting Generator. It’s how I’m wired. 

 

I’ve realised that even creativity can get cluttered. The more layers you pile on, the harder it is to hear your own voice. And that became really clear once I drew my line back at the end of March. 

 

So I’ve been paring things back, physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

 

My first act of liberation has been deciding to ditch the forty-plus notebooks on my office shelves  - tons of scribbles, notes from meetings, ideas, and half-formed plans from 12 + years of business and personal development. Each one represented all the versions of me the teacher, the stylist, the coach, the creator. 

 

One by one, I’m letting them go. They’re ring bound so I have to deconstruct them before putting them in the recycling. Each time I’ve dropped one into the bin, it’s felt like another layer of expectation and responsibility peeling away. This is more than a clear-out, this is me “unsausaging”. 

 

 

Unsausaging is the journey from conformity to creative liberation. It’s the bridge between the sausage machine and Funky Diva energy. It’s what I did my  talk about at Ideas Fest in September. 

 

It’s about peeling off the layers of expectation and rediscovering your natural sizzle.The three steps are simple but powerful: 

 

 

 

 

Sorting those notebooks is one of  my “spot and split” moments. Selling clothes on Vinted has been another one. I’ve started with things I know I’m never going to wear again, things that aren’t right for this stage of my life.  I’ve got lots more to list but I’m over £50 up already that I’m saving to treat myself with. My stuff is finding new homes, and I’m creating more space in my wardrobe and my mind. That’s the “sizzle” element. And that’s the essence of unsausaging - creating room for what truly feels aligned. 

Here’s the thing that’s surprised me most about this new phase,  it’s not just my home or wardrobe that’s shifted, it’s my rhythm. These days, I’m ‘allowing’ myself to work from the settee, tablet on my lap, feet up, telly murmuring in the background. Middle of the day! No guilt, no apology. Old me would’ve seen that as lazy. “You can’t sit on the sofa during daylight hours midweek unless you’re ill,” she’d have said. And that was something I took from being a child and my mum’s ‘rules’. 

 

But 61 year old me has learned that stillness can be productive too. That creative energy needs breathing space. That sometimes the best ideas arrive when you stop trying to force them. 

 

It’s a beautiful kind of rebellion that I’m really enjoying. A quiet middle finger to the idea that your worth is measured by how busy you are. That’s proper unsausaging in action and rewriting the rules that never really served you. I’m  walking my talk and living the Funky Diva energy. 

 

 

When people ask where the idea for the Funky Divas came from, I always smile. Because the truth is, they live inside all of us. They’re the wiser, bolder voices that remind us who we really are. The playful, rebellious parts we often quieten down to fit in. The ones that nudge us to take up space, wear what makes us feel alive, and stop apologising for shining. 

 

Each Funky Diva represents a spark of truth within us,  that pure, untamed part that’s been waiting for permission to come out and play. Lulu, for example, is the voice of self-acceptance and presence. Here mantra is ‘here I am’. She reminds us that when we stop performing and start being, the right people and opportunities naturally find us. 

 

The Funky Diva cards are the physical embodiment of my empowerment work. They’re not just pretty illustrations; they’re touchpoints for transformation. Each one captures a moment of truth that helps you reconnect with your essence, embrace joy, and live in full Funky Diva energy. 

 

They are, quite literally, what my clients experience when we work together  - the spark that reignites their confidence, creativity, and courage to show up unapologetically. 

My clients, often find themselves stuck between worlds. Tired of the online business circus - the hustle, the “six-figure” noise, the endless comparison. They’ve done the courses, tried the trends, and still feel like something’s missing. What they’re really craving isn’t another strategy. It’s space to breathe, to think and to remember who she is. That’s what the unsausaging journey gives them -  the bridge from burnout to brilliance. And as I’ve pared back my own life, I’ve realised I’m walking that bridge right alongside them. This isn’t just theory, it’s lived experience. 

 

 

When I say I’m semi-retired, I don’t really want anyone to assume I’ve checked out, feet up, gin in hand (well, that bit’s accurate sometimes), just watching the world go by. Because that couldn’t be further from the truth, semi-retirement, for me, is more about full alignment. I’m choosing depth over volume and presence over pressure. It’s about working only with people who get it -those who want transformation, not quick fixes. 

 

It’s having the freedom to spend a Tuesday clearing my wardrobe, a Wednesday painting a new Funky Diva, or a Friday afternoon curled up with Ruby, watching Riot Women on Netflix .( It’s brilliant by the way – put it on your must watch list.) So I’m not really winding down, I’m just tuning in. 

For years, I measured success by momentum, thinking I always had to be moving, doing, creating. But this past 6 months has taught me that stillness has its own kind of magic. When you stop forcing, things start flowing. Doing less has given me more clarity, more joy and more energy (or is that the iron tablets?) 

 

I suppose that’s the beauty of unsausaging - you split the skin that’s keeping you encased, and suddenly, you can feel who you are again. Then once you feel it, you can’t ignore it. 

 

 

So, what about you? 

 

Where in your life are you being squished by expectations or routines that no longer fit?What skin could you split to uncover your natural sizzle? 

 

·         Maybe it’s clearing your wardrobe 

 

·         Maybe it’s saying no to something that drains you 

 

·         Maybe it’s simply giving yourself permission to slow down and trust your pace 

 

Because the world doesn’t need a watered-down version of you. It needs your true, vibrant, unapologetic self , the one that knows how to spot, split, and sizzle. The one like Lulu ready to say, without hesitation ‘Here I am.’ 

If you’re feeling that pull to reconnect with your bold, brilliant self, the Funky Diva Vibes Deck is the perfect place to start. 

 

Each card carries a spark of truth - a gentle nudge, a bold reminder, or a powerful affirmation- to help you find your sizzle again. 

 

Use them as daily prompts, journaling companions, or moments of reflection to reconnect with the Funky Diva energy that’s already inside you. 

 

You don’t need to wait for the perfect time to start you just need to begin. 

 

Order your Funky Diva Vibes Deck here and let your next chapter begin with a little more sass, sparkle, and self-expression.