Hide the Lube!

I didn't think of it until The Stylist and I arrived at the meeting point for our date with Will and Kate yesterday afternoon.

I should have made the Duchess a rose headband fit for a future queen!
I'm sure she would have popped it on immediately and finished her pit stop Brisbane visit in real proper style like.
My wee lassie and I were the only ones in our family up for a long, hot wait to grab a glimpse of the royal heads.
It seems there's nothing like a celeb-royal visit to release our local loonies and precious bogans (white trash) onto the streets for wonderful slinging matches over barricade space and anything closely resembling a legalised scrum.
It's an experience neither of us will forget.

 Killing time on the train.

We traveled to Southbank and found an excellent shady spot with a view of the Wheel of Brisbane, suitable for a very long wait.

 I found a good spot for The Stylist and she waited patiently, slathered with 50+ sunblock - Mama's orders.

 We got a good, close look at Kate and she even shook The Stylist's hand, which naturally, will not be washed for a couple of weeks.
Kate is very beautiful in real life.
As for her old man Will, he was too far away, but I expect it was for the best as the natives were revolting.

After all the fuss died down, we had a swim at the artificial beach, I finally had my first cuppa and bite to eat and we enjoyed a stroll through the night markets.

Headband - DIY

Earrings, tooth necklace, yellow African necklace, 1950s handbag, gold skirt - op shops
Frida necklace - gift from dear Tamera

Klimt swimsuit - Black Milk

Neon creepers - Dolls Kill sale

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my last post, luckily Kate read it and told me she and Will would be delighted to pop over for a BBQ and bring themselves a couple of cardboard casks of plonk.

I'd better get tidying up pronto, my bedside table is a disgrace!

Love D xo 

We Have No Secrets

A week ago today, we had people over for drinks and finger food, which turned into dinner, thanks to our dear foodie friend Paul who was staying with us.
I remarked in my last post it was the first time I'd entertained a decent-sized crowd in five years.
Truth is, it was the first time in half a decade that I'd fed and watered any group other that my immediate family.
Why?
Because I was scared of falling off the wagon.
It will be five years on May 2 since I had a drink and I still haven't had a drop.
I've been blogging for four years and each year I make a point of giving myself a pat on the back here.
But don't congratulate me, I don't expect accolades.
Before that date in 2009, despite my ernest efforts, I'd slowly been making a big mess of myself and couldn't face a social occasion without getting hammered to some degree.
Three days later I was having my first stay in the loony bin.
The people I hurt the most were my children.  But they still seem to like me.
The words of #3 Son will always ring in my ears. 
I was making my daily late afternoon detour to the bottle shop for supplies and the wee chap (aged 7 at the time) piped up "Why are we ALWAYS coming here?"
I will be forever grateful for their forgiveness and for my dear husband, The Phoenix, for getting me through.

So, I've broken the spell, I'm not afraid to be within a metre of alcohol, I can entertain again and I've finally relinquished my self-imposed titles of party-pooper and social pariah.

If you can ignore the rant about The Onion, Emily has some interesting things to say about socialising without a drink in a piece published in xo Jane today, which reveals similar problems she faced when she decided on sobriety.

Yesterday I craved another poison: neon!
I couldn't get enough of it so as you can see, I piled it on, even my lipstick was a neon shade of red.

Earrings, sunnies and 1940s navy slip - Etsy

Green necklace - secondhand market

Yellow African necklace and bracelets, 1970s pendant and bangles - op shops

Pink spiked bracelet - gift from darling Vix

Slave bracelet - Phussy

Lipstick - Suedeberry by Lime Crime

Oh and remember my Frida lamp?
For those interested, it wasn't purchased from an op shop, anyone who gave that away would need their head read.
No, the lamp and hand painted cushion were from a wonderful local emporium called Creative Treasures which stocks locally-made crafts, clothing and soft furnishings, retro records, vintage clothing and collectibles.

Pics of the lamp illuminated and our gorgeous new cushion, both made by Recycled by Wendy, who has an amazing eye and knack for mixing stunning fabrics and tapestries to make cushions, reupholstered second-hand furniture, throws, footstools, bags and clothing.

 

I need this enormous cheongsam satin cushion and footstool in our house pronto.
Even the chillies are handmade using satin fabric.

The kimono lady, reef, windmill and mountain scenic fabrics are all tapestries and are mixed in with sequinned Indian fabrics and colourful cottons.  

The perfect throw, couch cover or wall hanging.

 

I bought these vintage sunnies from Creative Treasures for $5.

Tonight, blinged up once more and my hair curled with hot rods.
Not enough jewellery though ... never enough!

1960s top, shoes, globe earrings - eBay

Shiny skirt - op shop

Slave bracelet - Creative Treasures

Ring - craft market

Zip hair clip - gift from Erica Louise of Recycled Fashion

I hope you're all enjoying your long weekend.
We're off to Southbank tomorrow to ask Will and Kate to dinner. haaaaa!!
Baci, D xx

Faded Hair and Elastic Waists

No clashing cymbals, no big announcements, I've snuck into 2014 through the side door.
That's probably because I don't want to jinx myself or my intentions, just quietly chip away.
I had to don my thinking crown to survive Brisbane's recent heatwave, which has thankfully passed.
Lots of cold showers, baths and swims to cool off, dripping, fading hair and preferably little or no clothing.
Waistbands and shoes? Ugh!  Too, too much.
Now the heat has abated, I can revisit some of my trusty old summer frock friends, firstly this cotton number called Dorothy, which I bought at a market about six years ago.
It's the first time it's ever really fit properly as it's always been far too big, dropping off my shoulders and wot-not.
Local bakers should thank me for necking so many fruit mince pies.

Spiked headband, vintage square dance dress, 1960s beauty case, fruit necklace, bangle - second hand

Pink star earrings - gift from dear Tamera

Paper bead necklace, rose headband - DIY

Shoes - Melissa

I'm wearing the green eyeshadow in the centre of this beautiful palette, which I bought during Lime Crime's 30 per cent off Cyber Monday sale ... bargain!
The palette is called Aquataenia and the colours are saturated and I'd say medium-long lasting using an eye primer.
Manic Panic's Lust Dust, which darling Suzanne gifted me, are more stay-fast and incredibly intense!

The Stylist and I made our first trip to the local op shops in a quite a while and boom!  
This fantastic early-80s Praktica camera leaped out at me, a bargain at $15, I had some unused film in the fridge at home, found the manual online and now it's my new toy.
I enjoy learning how to use it and I love the sound of the shutter clacking away.

I also found DVD treasures, patterns for $1 each and fab plastic jewellery for 50 cents a piece.

Oh what the hell, let's start 2014 with a bit of a lurk ... some of my goodies.
I had a bit of a tidy of the sideboard I call my dressing table and The Stylist squealing-ly scored loot galore.  
The remaining necklaces ended up neatly arranged on my cork board, earrings hanging off old hangers with crochet covers and other bits and pieces in sweet dishes.

Bowls of sweets.
More necklaces, mostly my vintage granny beads.

An Avon powder-puff bowl full of hair clips.
(Did anyone EVER use those powders?)

 More candy ... some of my brooches.

Happy days!
Baci, 
Desiree x