Bikini Kill

To mark the hottest December day in 11 years, it's time to face one of my own personal demons.
I've had a two decade-long hate-hate relationship with my belly.
And at age 44, I'm calling "last orders please" on this body-part hatred.
Time for a bikini shoot.

Last time the mercury hit 39 degrees in the month of December, was 2001.
Number 3 Son was a bouncing nine-month-old scallywag and The Stylist was several weeks off becoming a human bean.
It's been more than 20 years since my tum's seen the light of day.
Four HUGE babies resulted in weird stretched-out tummy skin, a distorted belly button and a phobia about showing off my torso.
I show my belly off to the kids who, like most children, have always been fascinated by any kind of body "weirdness", before they recoil in horror.

First-time belly exposure calls for a killer 1970s bikini.

Hell, I can't believe this is happening.
I'm actually showing you the part of my body I fear the most.
I know I'm not the only one to "fear" their body parts.
It's familiar terrain; the earliest I can remember the feeling was at age 13.

I have stretch marks, pocked and stretched-out skin, a distended belly button and other "flaws".
But there is an opposing point of view.
I also have beautiful, funny, joyful, healthy children who are encouraged to explore their talents and be fearless yet cautious.
I will always have someone to cuddle until the day I die.
They will always have a mama who loves them despite their flaws.
No BODY is perfect.

It's so easy for us fling positive phrases about like "love your body" or "it's the beauty inside that counts".
But concerns about our body are fuelled by edited images, before-and-after celebrity and diet pics.
They creep in and viciously chip away at our self-confidence.
Today's revelation is hopefully one small step for womankind:).

Silk scarf, bracelet, vintage lace slip and 1970s bikini - thrifted

Necklace - gifted by Helga "Hot Body" von Trollop

Earrings and shades - Etsy

Arse-squeezes all round me-thinks!

Desiree xoxo

Take It Easy

There's no point getting your knickers in a knot over Christmas shopping.
Especially on a 33-degree weekend.
For many, there's the temptation to flee to the nearest shopping mall, seek sanctuary from the heat and tick some crap off the Christmas list.
Shopping mall?  You must be bleedin' kidding!
I'm not giving those thieves my precious pennies.
These days, there are far more interesting and entertaining choices.
A market or two, op shops and local craft markets are more my style this Christmas.
The key is to pace yourself, stop for a well-earned cool drink, count the pennies you're saving and keep your sanity.

The Stylist and I visited the West End Vintage and Designer Markets on Saturday afternoon and picked up a few bits and pieces for some special people.
And for each other.
It must have been quite an entertaining sight for stallholders to watch these two customers doing some covert shopping for one another.
Of course, I can't put any pics up here until after Santa's visit, but I can show you a couple of things.

I bought myself this skull necklace with a silky tassel from Hattie ...

and this cute badge probably made from a 1970s tea towel.

The Stylist found some bargains for special people with these delicate and tiny cactus plants.

Swimsuit - Black Milk

1970s shorts - vintage market

Shoes - Solestruck sale

1970s bag - gifted by Erica Louise of Recycled Fashion

Bangles, rings, metal pendant and earrings - thrifted and craft market

Shades - Etsy shop, Mysteres Masquerades

We joined the sensible people cooling off under the shade of an ancient and beautiful Moreton Bay fig tree.
Bliss.

This lovely lady brought all her glorious 1970s stock with her from LA, where she lives six months of the year.

I fell deeply and passionately in love with this 1950s cotton swimsuit which was far too small for me ... wah!!!

Yesterday we braved the heat again and went to a flea market where I spotted this print on hardboard.
Although I was tempted to buy it, the print was very faded and this is the best pic I could get of it.
Any ideas on who I think it looks like?

I'm linking to Visible Monday this week.

Desiree xo

It's Started!

Silky vintage slips worn as frocks, warm northerly breezes, finding a cool spot in the heat of day and cool showers ... these are some of the things I love about summer.
And this week I discovered the perfect non-alcoholic tipple to battle the heat with:  tiramisu frappe ... icy, crunchy, not too sweet and zingy!

Slipping on one of my vintage slips on a sweltering summer day is a sweet pleasure I've come to look forward to since starting my wee collection a couple of years ago.
Where once upon a time I grappled for cool-dressing ideas, these days I turn to breezy rayon or silk slips and nighties.
They skim the body and let the rivulets of sweat run dry ... eeeeew I know, but they can be hand-washed in cold water and are dry in half an hour.

Yesterday I received a beautiful card and Tibetan prayer flag in the mail from Forest City Fashionista, mementos of her recent trip to NYC.
There must have been some special magic in that envelope, as when I returned home I spotted The Phoenix returning from his first solo stroll since I met him.
Your good wishes and prayers must be working, he is battling his illnesses like a warrior ... it's a daily fight, sometimes minute-by-minute.
Yet to think he strolled down to the waterfront, snapping beautiful pics of the scenery, the sea ... I see my man returning.
Thank you Shelley and all the rest of you bloggy beauties!

Oooh look at this tired face ... I needed some sparkle yesterday so a bit of curl and glitter did the trick.

Miss Simmonds Says has been asking me for a 1920-30s hair tutorial after seeing a couple of my finger-wave pics.
I'm not quite ready yet as I'm still practising, but I also do curls and these are the tools I use for them.
I give my hair a squirt with Miss Lindy's excellent setting lotion, before rolling my hair tightly in the hot sticks for at least half and hour.
Take them out, then spray with firm hold hairspray.
The curls come out as firm and bouncy.
The curls above were created using my curling iron that I bought for five bucks at an op shop.
The wand is tiny - no wider than my little finger, so I get super-tight curls that last a couple of days.

1940s rayon slip - eBay

Earrings - by Mallory Knox of Create Beautiful Beads

1950s tapestry bag - gifted by my lovely sister, Mere

VW Melissa shoes - Amazon

Sunnies - Etsy

Bangles and rings - thrifted

A parcel from the glorious Sarah Misfit arrived today, she's my swap partner for Lakota's Christmas Swap Party and I let out a squeal of delight at the goodies!
Look at the giant crochet Christmas stocking!
She also sent me a super soft bolero that looks and feels like a soft snowball, I ate the mango liquorice with minutes and I'm just thinking about cracking open the chilli chocolate  while we watch Midsomer Murders.
Hot pink tights - GAH!!

Darling Sarah wrapped everything up in parcels wrapped in uncut sewing patterns and crochet wool:).

And LOOK what The Stylist got!  This beautiful 1970s evening frock - she absolutely loves it and spent the afternoon swanning around the house, draping elegantly about the place.
Thank you darling Sarah!

Here's a pic of The Stylist at her school's Christmas carols celebration tonight ... everyone sang beautifully and it was such a treat.
I hope you're having a wonderful Friday my lovelies.
Baci,
Desiree xoxo

Mercy It's Hot!

Too hot for words ...

Headband - more at my shop Sassy Vamps!

Shoes - gifted by gorgeous Georgie of Dickensian Dandy

Black and metal necklace - gifted by lovely Aminta

Scrabble ring - gifted by Nelly of Vintage Wishes

Skirt, bag, bangles, earrings, pendant - thrifted
Swimsuit - Black Milk

Too hot to stand in the sun.

Too hot for a skirt.

Too hot for anything more than lippy.
Sweaty hugs to you!
Desiree xo

In The Mood

Waddya do when it's been family party-party get together time, you're run ragged from funnage and lack of sleep and there are sick kids in the house?
Watch Poirot re-runs, eat leftover pork roast sandwiches, drink copious pots of tea and practise some finger waving of course.
Duh!!

I'm in the mood for making up a couple of rules.
Rule #1: Never let a hair and/or make-up playtime sesh go to waste.  Dress-ups are compulsory.

  Rule #2:  If your knickers are spangly, wear them on top of your pants.

Earrings - gifted by Two Squirrels Vintage

Leopard and glitzy brooch - handmade by hornbag Helga

Corset - Etsy

Knicker shorts - Etsy shop, BOODWAH

Leggings - Black Milk

1920s tailcoat and VW Melissa shoes - eBay

Vintage collar, brooches and bangles - thrifted

Rule #3:  If you have vintage corsets gathering dust, you're not impressing anyone.  Tart 'em up, put 'em on.

Rule #4: If it's chilly, get real and put a fecking coat on.  See Rule #3 - you're not impressing anyone.
Oh I've taken Citizen Rosebud's pledge to shop second-hand first and I'm feeling well smug and impressed with myself.
Think about it, make the pledge and grab a badge for your blog.
You know it's the right thing to do.
I'll leave you with a bit of 1940s nostalgia.
I love how the dancers in this cheesy film manage to keep their excitement under control and their smiles just-so.  
If it was a "real" dance, surely all the hot prostis would be losing their scanties doing the jitterbug - or is it just me?
I hope you've had a full dance card this weekend!
Oh I simply must link up to Visible Monday ... have you?
Baci,
Desiree xoxo

I've Got the Painters In

No really, we've got an actual painter-guy in to paint our ceilings.
But although the results are looking good, it's still a right pain in the arse.
It's not like I can push all the guff into the middle of the room and throw a drop sheet over the mess, it's a great flippin' huge-o job of lugging shite from room to room.
Getting this t-shirt in the mail today helped though.

Georgie from Dickensian Dandy tapped into my carni-gal desires when she put me onto the Etsy shop, Carouselink, thinking I might like their gear.
Well yes I did like very much and corset-print t-shirt?
Don't mind if I do!

Wow!
Thumbs up for the nice-rack illusion-print.
Juicy ... my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.
I was a very good girl in October, sticking to my Buy Nothing New Month pledge.
It actually wasn't all that hard ... the op shops just got an extra pounding and since it coincided with my ongoing patchwork curtain project, the fabric bins were well plucked.
Still, a super-soft t-shirt with the perfect neckline and sleeve-length, designed and made by a Nashville indie artist was a welcome buy.

Pink sparkly heart-shaped sunnies are one of life's necessities and essential to keeping your pecker up in times of domestic upheaval.
I remember the first time I saw Citizen Rosebud and Sarah Misfit rocking heart-shaped sunnies, I nearly fainted with desire and envy.
Those chicks know just the right buttons to push!

These pics were taken at the local chippie after The Stylist's ballet lesson - the lil' darlin'.

T-shirt - Etsy shop, Carouselink

Sunnies - Etsy shop, Mysteres Masquerade

Leggings - Black Milk

Ruffle shorts - some online retail shop I can't remember

Granny bag - thrifted

Doc's - retail

Oh and I love the back print:).

By the way if you're in Toronto, check out Georgie's wares at the One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale, then report back to me after you've decimated her awesome stock of top hats, jackets, waistcoats, tail coats and dandy trousers;).
See you when the paint dries!
Desiree xo