Happiness is ...

I'm rather in love with an African-print tunic The Stylist gave me.

Usually things get handed down from me to her, it's the first time an item of clothing has been handed up.

I see a sunny future where she and I swap precious finds and I'm going to wear this one to death!

Still no Internet and the wee lass took my camera to school camp this week, but we push on.

The Phoenix (hubby) took these pics using my old phone so they're a bit wobbly.

I've decided African prints are a neutral. 

Just like leopard print, y'know?

Headband - DIY

Top - op shop

Leggings - Black Milk

Earrings and pink heart sunnies - Etsy

Slave bracelet - Phussy

Creepers - Dolls Kill sale

I also wore the tunic yesterday to accompany The Phoenix to the doctor, enjoy lunch and do a spot of op-shopping with him.

It was the first time we'd been out together since ... dunno.

I wore the top with black and white striped leggings yesterday, purple stripes today. 

I'm sorry I can't comment on blogs yet, I miss you all but my five-year-old "retro" phone simply can't cope!
Fingers crossed we'll be up and running by the weekend.

I hope you're all having a lovely week.

Back,

Desiree x

Hola Cholita!

Today I was inspired by Bolivia's Cholitas after reading a story about those colourful, brave women yesterday.

The women, who have been steadfast in dressing in their acquired style, were until recently, banned from wearing their signature bowler hats, shawls, enormous puffy skirts, heavy jewellery and gaudy makeup in many Bolivian public places.

It's not the first time women's clothing has been limited to private places or completely banned.

Until recent times, it was considered inappropriate for women to wear trousers to work in offices or to job interviews.

Platforms were banned by many workplaces in the 70s, but considering their wonderful, towering heights, the shoes may have been a public safety issue.

Still today, many countries ludicrously ban women from wearing specific items of clothing.

It seems so strange and fearful to outlaw a woman from adorning herself in the way she chooses. 

So today, during a bout of despair over my lack of clothing storage, I spied my beloved top hat, my puffy skirt peeking out from a pile of clothes and paid homage to brave, proud women around the world.

1940s men's top hat - De Mille Vintage, Melbourne

Bodysuit - Black Milk

Studibaker Hawk skirt - market

Melissa shoes - Amazon

Sparkly heart earring - DIY

Sugar skull earring - Etsy

Oh look at that.

Frida's peeking over my shoulder.

I hope she likes my rosy cheeks.

Here's the Cholita story: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26172313

We have NO Internet except for a limited amount on my phone, which crashes when I try to comment ... grrrr!

We've been told all will be fixed by next Friday. 

Meanwhile, all pics and this post have been brought to you by phone.

You're welcome.

Desiree xxxx

I'm Touching Cotton Here!

God bless your little cotton socks.
Or if you've been sweltering through an Aussie summer, bless your wee cotton smalls.
Because cotton's about all I can bear in this humidity.

Some of you asked for Magic Soup. 

Ingredients: garlic, onions, mustard or cumin seeds, roughly-chopped vegetables, something green, litre or so of stock, two tins of chopped tomatoes, water.

Lightly fry up roughly-chopped onions and a full bulb of garlic, add a wodge of mustard seeds.

Throw in everything else.

Put the lid on and go and watch an X-Files episode.

Test the hardest veges with a fork, don't watch another episode yet.

Don't overcook.

Dish it up, add salt and pepper and maybe crumble a slice of toast over the bowl if you're famished.

You can now resume your viewing.

Yes, I'm bleaching my hair out, ready for the next colour.

Hubby was in hospital for 12 days while I packed our house to move.

We have now moved.

I'm traumatised, yet elated. 

Desiree xxxxxxx