If you work really hard and you're kind amazing things will happen

Hey there, fabulous ones!

All this unseasonably sunny weather over here has certainly got my brain a-buzzing like a bumble bee about summer plans! If all goes aright, I may well be returning to my beloved Cambridge for another year of theologising and flapjacks... which means I'll have to start the search for a summer job once again!

I don't know about you, but as a schoolkid or a student, it's always been really difficult to find holiday work that pays all those shopping, champagne and seaside bills...

...and also doesn't happen to be utterly depressing. I have spent some of my summers working as a telephone fundraiser [/cold-caller] and a maid, cleaning toilets and scrubbing grime from kitchen corners. I had to wear a tabard. Ugh! It was not stylish, jet-setting or inspiring, and work has to be at least one of those things to be rewarding! And I've always hated those vague advice pages you get from Google: babysitting... paper rounds... boring, unhelpful, unoriginal and often unrealistic for making much money, Isay!

So here it is, sweets:

The Sparkles & Crumbs Suggestions for Summer Jobs!

1. Disney Princess

Yes. Disneyland Paris are currently recruiting for Alice in Wonderland, Wendy Darling and Jasmine lookalikes. A summer in Paris, riding on those amazing floats in the parades and signing autographs? Tres magnifique, non?

2. Lemonade Stand

An oldie but a goodie! Wait on a sunny day, grab some cute kids [not, you know, literally - don't childnap - see this as a way to liven up a babysitting gig or entertain younger cousins!], have fun making lots of pink lemonade and a handmade sign selling your wares, then head to your local park - or anywhere people will be looking for lovely refreshments! - with a big cool-bag and a deckchair. All the better if you live on a busy road - set up in your driveway instead. It doesn't even have to be lemonade - tote slices of scrumptious homemade sponge cake or Ribena ice lollies!

The Boy's little sister and I made some amazing Easter biscuits, and Little Miss licked the bowl clean - isn't she the cutest?

3. Tread the boards

This one's a tip from a thespian friend - local theatres and playhouses are usually on the look-out for ushers and front of house staff. It can be as simple as dropping in with a CV or Googling their Careers page. Who knows - in a scene straight out of the movie starring you, you could end up being called on as understudy and stealing the show!

4. Life Model

Get your inner Rose on and pose for an art class. It pays really rather well, and think what a confidence boost it would be to see gorgeous paintings of your fabulous form! You'd feel like a goddess! Cambridge folk can check this out for details, but just Google your town and 'life modelling' for more specific info if you're further afield!

5. Punter

Again, if you live near Cambridge, this could be the perfect job if you love being outside in the sunshine, making up entertaining stories to tell gullible tourists, wearing a straw boater, and working on your arm muscles! Scudamores are looking for cashiers, too, if you don't reckon you have the brawn!

For non-Cantabians, if you're fortunate enough to dwell in a bustling metropolitan city, tote your own unique tour guide! Hang around by tourist hotspots - famous sights, train stations - looking fabulous, with a sign shouting out your speciality. Know all the best vintage spots in town? Offer a Shopping Secrets tour and take your customers to your favourite shops - you could even try and arrange a small cut with shopowners in exchange for bringing them big groups of buyers! Two friends of mine plan to linger by the Cambridge coach station wearing their university gowns with a sign saying: "HAVE TEA AND CAKE AND DISCUSS PHILOSOPHY WITH REAL CAMBRIDGE STUDENTS. £10 PER HEAD." You get the idea!

6. Mary Poppins

Now, this is a job that I have actually done - and it was an incredible adventure. I had a big, boring summer stretching ahead of me, so I signed up [it's free!] at Au Pair World. Within three days, I was flying out to Tenerife to live with a family of Spanish strangers for three months, and spent the time swimming with dolphins in the Canaries sea and singing Enchanted songs with the cutest little girl - you can read more about my time there here. Make like Mary Poppins and get registered!

Of course, the moolah for au pair gigs varies [I was fortunate - my hosts were incredibly generous and insisted I was 'one of the family,' covering all my food, drinks and meals out, and I came home with 700 Euroes] - and if you don't fancy going so far afield, why not apply to be an activities leader at a London day camp for kids?

Whatever you end up doing this summer, sweets, I hope it is fruitful, fabulous, and full of fun! I would really like to hear any of your job-hunting hints, tips and ideas, too, per piacere!

Love, lemonade and carousel horses xxx