Baby You're the Best

Look at #2 Son looking all flash and cool for his Year 12 formal.
We all know how many hundreds of dollars parents lay out for their daughters to look special on their big night out.
It's mind boggling how much cash and energy is spent on looking super-spesh.
But you know, I think it's way cooler how my son looked at his watch at 3pm and announced it was time for a shower, had a shave, got dressed and stepped out the door smelling amazing and looking a million bucks.
Later he told me all the girls were falling asleep by 8pm because they were exhausted ... gosh all that spray-tanning, hair-do's, makeup, nails, blah blah blah ... it takes it out of a girl.
All the boys looked fresh, cool, and proud to be looking good.
Mama was proud too.
So she wore a 1930s silk nightie.

Besties since preschool.  That's 13 out of 17 years folks, almost a lifetime.

It was treat time on Sunday and Advanced Style was a treat for the eyes and the soul.
We laughed, we cried.
It was wonderful.

On Monday, it was all business in the courtroom.
And in the bathroom.
And waiting for hours outside.

Hold your precious ones close my friends.
Love Desiree xoxo

In The Beginning ...

I adore old houses filled with much-loved objects acquired from flea markets, op shops, jumble sales, garage sales, hand-made and gifted.

And in our last house, boy I really loved to fill every wall with all the things I adored.

It was earmarked for demolition so banging nails in the walls was never an issue.

But now we've moved, I haven't been able to bring myself to put up all the stuff again and replicate the style we had only a few weeks ago.

This house is about the same age, a post-war weatherboard family home, with a good-sized backyard and plenty of room.

But it's just been repainted, the floorboards gleam, it has clean, new blinds and it feels ... nice.

Storage is a problem: there isn't any, so I've been ruthless in moving on even more household stuff we weren't using or saving "just in case".

For now, I'm enjoying my houseplants as they make the place feel homely and loved and I've put up just a couple of paintings as it's what feels right for now.

And I have a horror of having to sift through mountains of clutter when we do have to pack up again.

Ivy Black Chat has a Shelf of Shite brimming with wonderful oddities she's collected over the years and I feel that will be my plan for when the clutter-bug in me strikes once more.

But I'll probably end up with a house strewn with junk anyway.

Here are a few pics of our lounge room so far.

This is Bruce the scotty dog.  I bought him for my sister in New Zealand, but he seems to have become stuck to the couch.

The start of The Phoenix's music corner ... there's a fretless bass on its way here, he's pretty excited about that.

Just a simple house, but it's home for now.

One of the views from the back deck.
It's such a lovely spot to eat, paint, draw, read, chat and drink endless cups of tea.

Dashed off to the city on Friday for a doctor's appointment in a typical last minute mish-mash of clothing.

1940s frock and green skull necklace - markets

1940s bed jacket and earrings - Etsy

Blue spiked bracelet - gift from Vix

Granny bag, glass bead and fruit necklaces - op shops

Creepers - Dolls Kill sale

I hope you've had a wonderful weekend.
Desiree x

I Haven't a Square To Spare

My wardrobe choices are dwindling.
And it's not only because I've been having a relentless sort-out to separate the worn from the unworn in my sprawling wardrobe.
I've banged on 10kg in the past three months and I have very little to wear anymore.
I simply don't have a square to spare!

The situation is under control.
Ditching Lithium from my medication regime and getting back to three classes a week of Bikram Yoga has been the most wonderful thing for my brain and hopefully soon, my bodeh.
But you know what?
I've realised I have loads of things I absolutely love wearing to bits.
And the things I'm not bothered about, well, I never really was bothered about them too much and selling or passing on things I can't see myself wearing again has been wonderful therapy.
I'm on the LAST hook of this shiny rainbow skirt and my Der Kuss-print swimsuit is a little bigger than my others, while the bed jacket is pretty much something I can wear anytime.
Shoes?  Jewellery? Bags? Well you can wear or use them at any size.

Vintage bedjacket - Etsy

Klimt swimsuit - Black Milk

Skirt and bag - Aid for the Blind op shop

Pink spike bracelet - gift from babelicious Vix

"FREEK" necklace - custom made by Bones Couture

Green vintage earrings - Christmas present from hubby

Shoes - Melissa sale

Number Three Son snapped these pics off before I took him to get some Saturday night fish and chips on the waterfront.

No, Mama didn't have any. 

She had her homemade Magic Soup, a vegetable soup with a whole bulb of garlic in it, a delicious, warm concoction that I put The Phoenix on to help him successfully lose 30+kg in 2012-13.

Sic F*cks tshirt - gift from the Manic Panic chicks

Flares - DIY using a cotton sheet and a pattern from sweet Tamera

Pink skull bracelet - gift made by delicious Krista

Granny beads and green necklace - op shops and market

Creepers - Dolls Kill sale

Globe earrings - eBay

The Stylist had savings burning a whole in her pocket and I took her shopping today wearing nuns on the top and ballerinas on the bottom.
I had a gift voucher and used it to buy a diary, part of my resolution to write more journal scribblings.
It started in the new year when I bought a little book called A Sentence A Day, which is part of The Happiness Project, where I answer a new question every day for three years.
To compliment the book, I've got small paper A5 journals where I expand upon my sentence-a-day thoughts.
I'm really enjoying it and along with hot yoga at 38 degrees, it's helping to control some of my Bi-Polar Disorder swings.
Oh I had a shed-load of sun spots zapped this week, eek!!
The backs of my hands are a mess at the moment but they're healing nicely.

Did you make any new year changes and how's that going for you?
Big hugs, 
Desiree

How Soon Is Now?

Do you know what's really great about decluttering?
Aside from the obvious benefits of sorting through shite to separate things into "keep" and "biff" piles, one finds much-loved treasures.
I rediscovered this butter-soft leather vest, weird petti-skirt thingy and gorgeous sparkly blue belt.
In fact, everything I'm wearing here, including the bag, was taking a break from the public eye.

These things weren't hidden away, just resting, waiting for me to re-visit them.
The belt was a gift from Clare of Miss Simmonds Says.
I've worn it more often in the past year, than any belt I've ever owned.  
I have a small collection of belts, but they're slowly ending up in The Stylist's wardrobe as I find them uncomfortable to wear ... except for this sparkly sequinned number.
Oh by the way, don't worry, The Stylist is getting her fair share of bits and pieces put away for her during this period of clothes sorting ... probably not for long, she's getting very tall!

Leather vest, Amy Winehouse rosary - Etsy

Earrings - Bones Couture

Rubber bracelets - DIY from The Stylist

Skirt, bag, granny beads, bangle - op shops

1950s hat - gift from Nelly of Vintage Wishes

Shoes - second hand market

Bodysuit - retail sale

Gosh look at all that wonky cropping!  I'm linking up to Citizen's Shoe Shine today.
Our tree is finally up and surprise, surprise, no presents are wrapped.  
What are you up to this weekend?
Baci, D xoxo

Last of the Truffula Trees

I'm standing in front of the last healthy tree growing on the property we rent.

Tiny isn't it?

Last week a big tree in the front yard was struck by lightning and crash, gone.

All the rest of the greenery has been carried off weekly by the new landlord in preparation for house demolition on April 28.

I'm the only bit of colour around here today.

Dice earrings, 1970s bag - op shops

Edwardian petticoat, 1950s bed jacket, heart sunnies - Etsy

Swimsuit - Black Milk

"Love Kills" cuff - gift from yummy Emma

Demonia shoes - Dolls Kill sale

Necklace - market

Ooh do I detect a mojo-return?  Why yes I believe I do!
Hugs,
Desiree xo

Alien Abduction to Planet Faaaaaaark!

Well hellooooooo there.
So yeah, aliens came and took me away to Planet Faaaaaaark! and now they've barcoded me, I expect they'll be back for more alien fun and experimental hi-jinks.
Yay.
Yesterday I recovered briefly from my abduction adventures to do something about making these awesome flowerhead-people pants fit me.

First, I turned them inside out, put them on and pinned the outer seams to fit me.

The waistband had elastic so I removed it and unpicked part of the waistband.

Re-checked the fit and sewed the new side seams, leaving a gap for a new side zip.
I didn't need to unpick the zip, I just cut it off with the excess fabric and replaced it with another one (white instead of brown).

I zig-zagged the raw edges and decided the pants were still a bit baggy so I reused part of  the elastic and stitched the waistband back down.

My latest pair of big pants!
I wore them to queue up at a local school to vote in the Australian Federal Election today.
I voted for The Arm Party (yep I just made that up but it's brill right?)

Paper parasol, bangles, Mighty Mouse t-shirt, Mickey Mouse t-shirt (previous pic) - op shops

1970s beaded bag, pants - Vintage Wishes

Headband - DIY

Creepers - Dolls Kill sale

Alien earring - available from MarinaFINI's Etsy shop

Fish skeleton earring - Bones Couture

What's going on here?

Well I WON Daniel's AMAZING MarinaFINI giveaway a couple of months ago and this week  I got the loot!

A beautiful titanium rainbow quartz pendant (with alien powers) that changes colour in the light and these incredible laser-cut perspex earrings!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!

Thank you so much Daniel for running the giveaway and darling Marina for your generosity. x

Headband - DIY, another one in my shop, Sassy Vamps

1950s very heavily-beaded top and green tutu - Etsy

Leggings - Black Milk

Shoes - market

Earrings - available from MarinaFINI's Etsy shop

Rosary - retail

The Shining dress - Black Milk

Silver crinoline - vintage market

Green glass belt worn as headpiece - gift from a kind blogger (can't remember who as aliens reduced my memory bank)

Pearl collar and diamante necklace worn as headpiece - op shops

I hear aliens whispering so I'd better get cracking with my mission to recode the brains of griege pant-wearers.

Wish me luck.

Baci,

Desiree x