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

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

I think I've managed to convince anyone who sees me in public I have a social life.
All it takes is a shiny maxi frock, in fact anything bright and shiny, lots of baubles and something plonked on my head to look like I'm actually Going Somewhere.
This is what I wore to visit the doctor and chemist, stocking up on Griffins biscuits (New Zealand's speciality) for scary movie munching this weekend (the little rascals are away for a couple of nights) and a flying op shop visit.

I'm wearing the exotic black lace scarf because it's school holidays and The Stylist has been painting my hair pink and yellow.
Aaaaaaaand it's not washing out.

1960s lurex maxi (with matching cape), bracelets, granny bag, scarf, 1970s sunnies - thrifted

Glass beads - eBay and gifted by Miss Dani-Long-Legs

Glass bead earrings - handmade and gifted by Heather of By the Sea

Rings - craft shops and thrifted

I'm wearing some nail decals from Cha Cha Covers.
They're a bit fiddly as you have to trim them to size and dunk them in water like temporary tattoos before applying, but I love them.
Today I'm wearing a mix of Virgin of Guadalupe and Day of the Dead sugar skulls.

Shiny!

Another quick outing earlier this week.
It involved a shock of yellow, a coffee and milkshake break, The Stylist and a camera.

Ooh there she is!

Beaded kaftan - flea market

Shitty tank top - who cares?

Leggings - Black Milk

Docs - Solestruck sale

Earrings - craft shop

Silk scarf and bag - thrifted

And there she is again, in school holiday mode: hair pinked up, Princess Leia plaited buns, temporary tattoos, black nails and the remains of scrubbed-off eye make up (only allowed at home).
Damn I wish I'd taken heaps of pics of The Stylist as her outfit was extra amazing, especially for a wee lassie recovering from a snot-fest.

These pics were taken a few weeks ago, I'd just forgotten about them and as they reminded me that good hair days are possible, they deserve an outing.

Oh RULLY?????

Military blazer, silk camisole, handbags, bangles, heart ring, domino earrings - thrifted

JPG mesh and rubber top - Zambesi, Auckland, NZ (in 1995)

Velvet shoes - Nine West sale

Creepy "Day of Judgement" leggings - Black  Milk

Camera mirror necklace - borrowed from The Stylist

Granny beads - Etsy

I'm attempting a record for scaring the pants off myself this weekend.

I've already watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose (it's fantastic!!!!) and I've got a wee selection lined up: The Haunting in Connecticut, Sinister and Insidious.  

I'm feeling all Halloween-y already.

What are you up to this weekend?

Molti baci,

Desiree xo

I Got Gangrene

Funny how the brain works ... 
Without realising, my legs went green for three days in a row and it was only after looking through pics I noticed the running theme.
I had pics taken by my wee paparazzo on two of the days ... by the third day, I think she'd gone blind.

Good catch!
Yes, a rather blindingly bright colour combo isn't it?
I bought the cotton frock a few months ago and haven't worn it much even though I adore those retina-melting colours.
It wasn't until I was leaving the house that I remembered why I hadn't worn it for ages ... every button from top to hem had popped undone by the time I reached the car door.
Oh dear, it had missed the mending pile for bigger replacement buttons, so out came the safety pins to save the day.

I don't think anyone would have noticed if I'd walked down the street with my frock flapping open anyway ... lovely Greta the Cherub copped quite an eyeful as she knelt down for her pony-leap circus routine with her tatas on show.

I'm so proud my wee cherubs aren't too shy about hula-hooping and practising their Ministry of Silly Walk routines in public (their idea, no input needed from mama).

Jacket, earrings and DIY leather gloves - thrifted

1970s frock, 1960s beauty case, cherub brooch and wool cap - various markets

Leather pony brooch - gifted by lovely Em of Vintage Sweetheart

VW Melissa mary janes - shopped by precious Suzanne of Idee Fixe

On Sunday night, we slipped out for a bite and a movie ... yes, it's school holidays so it was Ice Age 4 **sigh** so I had to make it a bit exciting by adding some much needed bling to the evening.
Oh how I would love to see a non-PG movie at the cinema, I think the last one I saw was Mic Mac about two years ago!
Talk about gangrene of the brain.

Ummmmm ... hi.

Yeah, butter wouldn't melt.

Waving the flag for my Mexi putta-sista, La Dama, who will read your future in the cards at her new Etsy shop.

Chicken nachos, they needed more chilli ... but mama never wastes her food.

Leopard-print coat - gifted by glorious Sarah Misfit

Sparkly bracelet - gifted by the scrummy Miss V of Two Squirrels Vintage

Spiked headband - from fellow BM-addict, Queenie

1970s lurex flares, Count Down t-shirt, floral headband, 1960s beauty case, suede shoes, granny bead necklace - various flea markets

Fishnet long-sleeve top - F21 sale

Earrings - Etsy

Happy 4th of July to all you American chickies out there!
Baci,
Desiree xoxo

Get Down those Hot Pants!

An hour earlier, I was prancing about like a smug thing, knowing I had a pair of green and silver lurex hot pants cookin' in my bag ...

1970s blue flares - flea market

Tribal necklace, 1970s orange plastic earrings, black metal bracelet - thrifted

Pink skull bracelet - gifted by that nebulus Krista

Red rose headband - made by me

Black VW Melissa Wedges - Melissa Australia sale

Red sunnies and beaded white ring - Fitzroy, Melbourne
Swimsuit - Black Milk

Yes I'm looking very happy with myself here, so I should, Number Three Son had given my newly-thrifted green and silver lurex shorts the thumbs up.

He loves his Lego dude necklace.

That's one very smirky smirk ... soon to be wiped off my face as you know.
Later in the evening a bit of a refashioning went on and now I have a pair of hot pants that are burning my eyeballs!

 I bought a length of thick cotton braid from a collapsing warehouse on my visit to Melbourne last year and I finally found a use for some of it.

I added the braid to the shorts to add extra width by cutting the side seams apart with my shears, sewing the braid to the raw edges and hemming the braid top and bottom.

 I removed the flacid elastic, unpicked the back seam part way down, added a button and buttonhole to the waistband and a hook and eye to the open back (not really necessary but I did it anyway).

I got that funky smokin' hot pants feelin' ... makin' me wanna dance!
I'm back!!!
Ooh, there's more greeny goodness in the latest Everybody Everywhere challenge.

Desiree xoxo