Button-Popping All Over the Baklava

For some odd reason all my favourite people seem to have two things in common.
They get an obscene amount of satisfaction from consuming food and from their own twisted humour.
These pics were taken just a few minutes after The Stylist informed me my middle button had popped open while ordering a milkshake and Greek sweets at a cafe and I'd been walking around like that for an hour.
She looked all misty-eyed as she said, "sorry I knew there was something I was supposed to tell you but I forgot what it was".
I think she was holding back tears of laughter.
Bless.

Knickers - BOODWAH

1950s purple cocktail hat - gift from my international jet-setting friend, Miss A

Pink glitter star earrings - gift from glorious Tamera

1920s men's tailcoat - eBay

1950s peach cotton blouse - Etsy

Leggings - Black Milk

Shoes - F21 sale

Handbags - second hand

Rings - craft shops and second hand

Thinks: "The cheeky bugger!"

That look?  I think it's the realisation I didn't even get a discount for my impromptu strip-tease.

Men's vintage blazer, 1960s top - second hand

Leggings - Black Milk

Doc Marten boots and shorts - retail

Earlier today, I thought I'd try out full-size false eyelashes.  I forgot to let my liquid liner dry first so it got a bit smudged, but as I write this 11 hours later, they're still firmly planted on and fluttering away like mad.
What a god damn fricken hero huh?
Gosh, I'll be representing the United Nations next.

I see you've noticed my earrings.
Yes they're rather spectacular aren't they?
Scrumptious Tamera of Menopausal Supermodel sent them to me in a parcel of joy, which arrived today after a wee stop over at Australian Quarantine.
I'm still giggling at the thought of Quarantine officers opening the package expecting to find some exotic American fauna only to discover a pair of Trollz.
Tamera also sent me lightning bolt and star earrings, a beautiful brooch and two bright scarves, including one printed with Australian wildflowers.
Fancy that, all the way from Maryland, USA!
Thank you so much dear woman xx.

The parcel and card were addressed to both The Stylist and I, so she'll need to get her ears re-pierced to get full enjoyment from all of the glorious earrings.
Oh dear, what a shame.

On Sunday, #3 Son, The Stylist and I trotted down the road to the school fete with homemade current cookies in tow for donation to the cake stall.
As you can see we're in the thick of a typical Brisbane winter in all its freezing misery.
Yet another "optical illusion" is the fact The Stylist can now call her older brother her little brother even though he's 19 months her senior.
Oh the pain for the poor lad!
Number One Son recommends an arm wrestle to re-establish the correct pecking order but looking at all those skinny limbs, I'm not sure it will necessarily work out in the wee laddie's favour.

My first stops at any school fete are the trash and treasure and plant stalls, then I dive head first into the hall with the tea and club sandwiches.
The above pic of me is at the end of the day and you can see I desperately need to study the insides of my eyelids.

Some of the treasures I snapped up for a bargain including a cream silk top which will soon have a meeting with my dye bath, plus I found a 1960s lime green top and white crochet cape.
Woody Allen's books are getting hard to find, so are 1960s purses and bags, and the cute cotton apron says "Frae Bonnie Scotland".

I really felt like frocking up last Friday so I wore this 1940s crepe frock I bought from Etsy many months ago.
It has a hole in the peplum but I really couldn't give a shite about imperfections.
In fact, rips, tears, any flaws at all, highlight the beauty of a piece and affirms my belief that frocks are living, breathing beings with delicate feelings and need as much love if not more, as perfect princess gowns that cost a god damn fortune.
I'm pretty sure the dead animals hanging around my neck once had feelings too.
Oh well, they get a lot of love from me too.

1940s frock, Amy Winehouse rosary, pink glitter heart sunnies - Etsy

1950s silk velvet cocktail hat - gift from beautiful Sasha

1950s tapestry hand bag - gift from my divine sister, Mere

Slave bracelet - Phussy

Pearl collar, star necklace, earrings - op shops

Shoes - Melissa

I hope you're all having a splendidly hedonistic week my lovely readers!

Baci, Desiree xoxo

There's a War in My Mind

There are a number of ways to grow older.
I've chosen an unfamiliar path, an exhilarating one I feel most comfortable travelling along.
Until now.
It's not an unfamiliar feeling.
I vividly recall the unwelcome surprises adolescence visited upon my body ... changes I wasn't ready for and lashed out at without success.
It happened again during pregnancy and post-birth with #1 Son ... stretch marks like welts disappearing into secret places.
More physical and emotional changes went with the second, third and fourth big babies I carried, birthed and fed.
Then a lull, a time when walking, running, yoga and most of all dancing, became my joys.
Then I gave up alcohol and watched my bloated face disappear and cheekbones reappear.
More recently I've liked the creases around my eyes and neck ... now they are deeply etched and I realise yet again, I am unprepared for the next stage of permanent physical changes that come with ageing.
The creases and lines are there on "good" days and "bad", while although menopause hasn't even started knocking at the door, it's something I'll need to start thinking and reading about.
Dear reader, this is not a fishing expedition.
I need no reassurance.
I'm just putting it out there ... I'm talking about ageing, toying once again with the concept, getting accustomed to looking older than I did a few months ago.
And as always I tell myself and anyone who will listen, if we're lucky we'll get to live to a ripe old age.
Life is beautiful.

Yesterday I took my neck crepe to the Salvos where The Stylist snapped off a few pics of her happy but extremely tired Mama.
Fatigue seems to be a permanent state for me these days.
Again ... not complaining, it's just a fact of life.

Black sequin beret, 1950s layered slips, Papua New Guinea bilum bag, necklace and earrings - op shops

Leather jacket - retail sale

Layered tights - Sock Dreams

Miss Camel Toe t-shirt - Ms Mink

Shoes - Dolls Kill sale

Later that day, I took The Stylist to a birthday party where she dressed as Bat Girl.
I guess that makes me Bat Mama here.

Careful of those hooves!

Like Mama's, they've got some real leverage and she seems relieved at being taught to accept growth spurts as a means to becoming stronger.

I hope growing up is easier for my sons and daughter, than it was for me and my peers.

When her cape didn't work out, I chopped the back off one of her brother's t-shirts, leaving the neckband intact so she could pull it over her head.

And I painted a pretty lame upside down bat and told her it was asleep - heehee.

My knitting skills are at the uber-beginner stage, but I made these two pairs of fingerless mittens for our cold mornings.
They're brilliant for using with touch screens.
Here's the super-easy tutorial to make them.

I thought I'd show you my hair in the wave clips I used to create today's 1930s-style hair-do ... with extra pinkage!

1930s Hair with Wave Clips from Desiree on Vimeo.

I do hope you've enjoyed a spectacular weekend, every one of you!

Baci,

Desiree xx

The Right Attitude to Rain

Alexander McCall Smith's book titles have always intrigued me.
I can't help thinking of one his books set in Edinburgh when I reflect on the past week, which has been yet another period of deluge after deluge of rain.

Lots of time spent indoors, cleaning, organising, making stuff, getting long-overdue shite done, I do believe I've quite mastered the right attitude to rain this week ... 

Remember THOSE vintage ballerina sheets I bought from Vinnies late last year, then the lovely 1970s pattern lovely Tamera sent me last week?

Well today they met, hooked up and spent the day giving each other pash-rash.
The thought of making a skirt or a frock out of the sheets just felt terribly wrong and I couldn't do it.

These super-pants shall be known as The Nutcrackers due to the effect they had on the locals this afternoon.

I have a modest-sized fan club of elderly gentlemen in town, who today were chasing me down the street with proposals of marriage, comments such as "I hope you don't mind me looking, but your outfit sets off your figure beautifully", to one of my "boyfriends" who stood on the street and saluted me.

I think it's hilarious and sweet ... The Phoenix tells me "you've gotta watch the old buggers, they know exactly what they're up to".

Heheee!!

The Stylist and I have this move we do called The Grinch, from the Jim Carrey movie - he does this when he's trying to find a flattering outfit.

Tomorrow I'll take in the waistband and make a slight adjustment to the zip accordingly as they're a wee bit big in the waist, but hellz I'm happy as a ballerino (ballet dude) in tights showcasing his bulging package onstage!

Green silk scarf - gift from hostess-with-the-mostest, Tamera

Johnny Cash earrings - Create Beautiful Beads

Vintage patchwork bag - Two Squirrels Vintage

1930s satin bra - Etsy shop, Auvergne Memories

Necklaces, vintage brooches, bangles and rings - op shops and craft markets

Nutcracker pants - match-made by me!

Green velvet wedges - Nine West sale

May the right attitude to rain continue!
I hope you're all enjoying a satisfying week lovelies.
Baci,
Desiree xoxo

The Wind Will Change and Your Face Will Stay Like That

Remember the purple velvet dressing-frock I wore all last weekend?
Well it was one of two delectable items I picked up from Aid for the Blind, the other was this $4.50 purple velvet blazer I've been wearing all week.
Tuesday:

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

Leather circus pony brooch - gifted by sweet Em of Vintage Sweetheart

Blazer, other brooches, necklace, rose bracelet, green bangle and green granny bag - thrifted from Aid for the Blind

Leggings - Black Milk

Doc Marten's - retail

Thursday:

Snow White headband - more at Sassy Vamps!

Divinyls t-shirt - Ms Mink

1970s flares - eBay

Bangles - Salvos

Flower ring - ballet shop

Shoes - second-hand market

Red feather brooch - Aid for the Blind

Saturday:

Just checking the chi chi's are in place.

Feather hair clips, 1930s lace frock, peach slip and VW Melissa shoes - eBay

Earrings - gifted by Her Holy Hotness, Helga

Tights - Black Milk

Fur scarf - flea market

Green ring and peach feather brooch - thrifted

I loved styling the same blazer and bag all week:).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Molti baci,

Desiree xo