I'm So Hot, My Fuses are Blowing!

Aussie summers are the tourism board's best kept secret.
Last week it was 38 degrees in Tasmania and 24 here in sub-tropical Brisbane the same day.
Floods, power cuts, sweltering humidity, closed surf beaches, extreme UV danger, mosquito plagues and wild storms.

Meh!  After almost 22 years living in Oz, I consider myself a hardened Queenslander - bring it on!
These pics were taken one sweltering arvo (Aussie for afternoon) after I picked up the scalliwags from school, we grabbed something nommy, then took to the water.
It's become almost a daily routine.
We always emerge from these escapades happy, sweat-free and feeling like we've blown the cobwebs out.
These afternoons are precious and we're making the most of them before ice bergs start forming;).

Number Three Son always has time for Where's Wally?  Where's the flippin' water I say?

Frida badge and vintage dangly brooch - gifted by the goddess Helga

Headband, red hat brooch, 1960s pink lace make up bag, sunnies and bracelet - thrifted
Blue dice earrings - gift from Miss Danni-Long-Legs

Barry M green nail polish - gifted by the foxy Vix

Skirt - homemade

VW Melissa Wedges - Melissa Australia sale

Swimsuit - Black Milk

 I caught a giant, lanky squid which made delightful squealing noises and demanded ice cream.  

How could I resist?

Where I Took a Break from Shopping Then Didn't

I guess it's possible, but I was all shopped out after Melbourne and Kitty's vintage fashion parade on Tuesday gave me a refreshing vintage boost, so shopping's been bottom of my list for the past couple of weeks.
But the temptation of the final West End Vintage and Designer Market for 2011 was too hard to resist so I took a certain birthday girl along for a wee rummage.

 The purple and white wonder is a 1970 jumpsuit with flares big enough to fly away to a festival love-in and the purple frock underneath is a beautiful embroidered cotton 1970s Treacy Lowe dress.
I did a search on the webz and came up with a couple of her frocks in a similar style for around US$120-225.
So it was quite a bargain at ten bucks!!!

 My frock is a 1950s cotton wiggle dress, an Etsy bargain I've been dying to wear and it's perfect for our spring.
I love the way dresses were made to fit the body.
They make me sit and stand up straight and they're just made for heels!

  The Stylist and I were ready to book tickets to Crete after she sampled her first Greek food ... I don't think either of us will ever be hungry again after scoffing down that scrumptious lunch!

 And what have we here?
Miss Nine got her very first camera for her birthday yesterday and she's over the moon with it!
As The Phoenix put it, you wouldn't deny a painter the tools to paint with, so why deny our budding photographer a decent camera?
Yes she's wearing a tie as she's recently learned how to tie one and spent some pocket money on one.
Thass mah girl!!!

After ordering our food a man stopped at the table said to me "I love your shoes and your hair.  I just wanted to stop and tell you that" - what I think he really meant was, "can I check your buttons are secure?" ooh errr!!

My favourite beach blanket bingo babe, Sarah Misfit, gifted me the pin-up girl and I thought she needed company today.

 The usual jewellery and nail mash-up - jingling makes me happy!!

 Along with the tie, The Stylist bought herself a couple of necklaces.

 

Hooray for plastic shoes!

We're wearing VW Melissa's and Holster - check out the glorious Idee Fixe's offer to be your personal shopper at the next Melissa VIP sale in NYC!

This one's for my favourite chola slut, La Dama.
I thought of the darling when we snapped up this beautiful old embroidered dress at the market - it's pure cotton and made in Mexico - yay!!
Yes, the lassie's wearing her "new" tie as a belt and leggings she bought in Melbourne - "They make me feel like you Mum!"
Awwwwwww.

"Quick, quick take a photo!"
The Stylist snapped this one off quickly before the school disco last night - gee, whose disco was it?
I'm ready to boogie in my thrifted 1960s wool cape, BM Sick of Men leggings (which The Phoenix is looking forward to reading one night), red VW Melissa Wings, one of my disgracefully ludicrous headbands and a great pile of ethnic necklaces, including a "new" boar's tooth.
I think the whole junior school stopped by to see what I was wearing and one little lad stopped dancing to bend down and read my comic leggings haaaaaaaa!!!

I've included this incredible pic from one of my dear readers, Bethellen, who sent me a snap of her amazing daughter Asia.
She says Asia was inspired by my floral headbands to make one for herself for Halloween.
Doesn't she look A-MAZING?!!!!!!
Hope you're having a glorious weekend my lovelies!!
Desiree xo

Kitschy, Kitschy, Koo

Thanks a lot Blogger.  Not.
I'm reposting these pics due to Blogger's Friday the 13th spazzy, spack-attack.
But thanks for all your lovely comments before things went tits-up anyway.
You readers always make me smile.
BTW, I realise that some of you don't have blogs and come along for a visit anyway and I just want to say thank you to you all.
Send me an email so I can say hi back or if you feel like a bit of a chinwag.
If you're reading this Tralala and AB, yeah I'm talking to you too:).

I'm wearing a 1960s gold, raw silk wiggle frock - yes, they make you wiggle!!  Plus a 1960s tartan cape part of a kilt suit, layered lilac tights and VW Three-Straps.

.

DIY leather driving gloves; gold leather thrifted belt; white, mesh bag with (I think) a lucite handle; Mona Lisa earrings and some old brooches.

Last week's thrifted treasures - 50 cents each or for a pair - weeee!

I hope this week's blog glitch hasn't bugged you too much and you have a splendid weekend!
Desiree xo

Them Chains Gonna Drag Me Down - DAY 21

The first time I ever saw a woman of a certain age in her underwear was when my grandmother discovered Weight Watchers in the 1970s and lost about 20kg.
She was only about 5ft tall so it was quite a bit for a little lady to lose.
Nana was so proud of her success that she insisted my mother take a photo of her in front of the house.
In her all-in-one girdle.
At age eight, all I could do was stand frozen in horror at her audacity, and at the strange, strangling contraption which held her "new" figure in a vice.
I realised with sadness that Holly Hobbie days-of-the-week knickers were not an option for old ladies; or maybe they just didn't come in old-lady sizes?
So if one old lady can wear her girdle on the outside, I figure one more old lady can't cause too much ruckus.
I love this 60s pink girdle I bought off Etsy ages ago, yet styling it was quite a challenge.
(Little voice says: "That's coz it's UNDERwear!")
I'm wearing it with black wet-look leggings, Etro blazer, 1940s snakeskin handbag and a Jean Paul Gaultier mesh and latex long-sleeved t-shirt I bought at Zambesi while holidaying in Auckland in 1996.
The t-shirt is insane - it has a body shape on it, front and back - the back has a spine and hips on it.
I'll need better light to get better front and back pics.
Some lovely readers wanted a close-up of my vintage brooches, so here they are.
I think I can safely say that Nana would have liked my bag, but the rest would have met with frosty disapproval.
Oh how I love this growing old disgracefully lark more and more each day!