Day 143: A Smaller Suitcase

A beautiful electric blue Samsonite B'Lite Fresh found its way into my life today, courtesy of the seemingly bottom-less pocketed boy (I do know those pockets do have bottoms, despite all evidence against). In the past I have restricted the size of my bags in order to control the amount of stuff I take away with me. You know how it is—have bag, will fill. I am a little nervous of what I will take with me. For example, there is now no excuse as to taking my very large and voluminous kaftan to Thailand, just because I can. I could probably take the skates I wore with them here too! Don't get me wrong. I love it. And it will mean I can go to the States later in the year with an empty bag and come back with a full one, with only another three parcels sent back with newly thrifted items instead of four. What is does seem to highlight for me though, is a lack of naturally occuring self-control.

List_Addict               Irene
I have more shoes than fit on a shelf, more clothes than I can transfer from my washing basket to my cupboard, more books than I can read in a lifetime (especially at the current rate of none per ever, or something numerically similar). But, and I do feel a little ashamed, I don't really see any reason to stop getting more. I don't spend all my wages on these things—some people do. I give to charity every month. I buy the majority of my clothing from charity stores which both benefits the charities and assists with the reduction of waste (possibly in the same percentage as my reading rate, but it's a small difference). And I don't have a legacy—dependants, assets, responsibilities (within reason). And, ultimately, I probably don't need to justify myself. But this thing, this same thing is possibly what is behind the one other thing that I always want more of—biscuits. It sounds flippant, but I am serious here. I could probably do what I just did then with shoes, thrifting and books—find the justifications, see the lack of any real harm (except the physical which I manage to smooth over in my mind)—but maybe, in order to control this thing I need to find the equivalent of a smaller suitcase. You use the tools that work. If fabulous self control is not one of mine, I just have to work out how I can have less room to pack stuff (biscuits and sweet loveliness' of all kinds) in.

The Outfit Jumper: Op-shopped Skirt: Op-shopped Tights: Retail (Myers or David Jones) Necklace: CCJJSS Shoes: Irregular Choice

Photographer de Jour: Moi

Who wore it better?

Doing the link-in love-in today with:

Day 142: On The Selfie and Its Influence

I often see bloggers lamenting, praising, cursing or extolling the selfie. More on the negative though? No? I myself am a little over the selfie. If I have to be honest with myself. But instead of taking that cavelier and calm approach to this fact, I used a very broken night of sleep (Lollii has re-discovered the winter joy of being under the blankets, but insists on going in and out about three million times a night; she is incapable of doing that herself though and so face-stares me from a millimeter away until I wake up and let her in—if puppy-murder didn't leave you bereft without your puppy, I may have looked into it last night (not really)) as an excuse to completely melt down at my poor photographer-de-jour (good one, meltdown about selfies on a day when you don't have to do one) about how depressed I am about selfies and taking them in the kitchen with its horrible black wire (I took three in there!). Okay, it wasn't my most rational moment. The poor boy ended up driving me through industrial estates when he should have been napping for night shift, in order to find somewhere with light. The selfie lacks something the second-person photo has. I don't know what it is. The hardest thing about this blog is that, as a fiercely independent (read 'loner', 'recluse' or something similar) person, I am so reliant on others to make this blog as good as I can make it. (I wish I had another me; and then for a million other reasons I am so glad I don't.) It is a lesson in humility that I don't think I am learning very well. I do appreciate you my lovely photographers. I just wish you could give up your normal lives and willingly devote yourselves to just this task. Too much?

List_Addict               Irene
Am I too old? I don't understand social media. And it all moves too quickly for me. There is a new thing now. The Shelf. It's Pinterest for shopping. What is Pinterest for then? Just looking? Wishing? And The Shelf is your wishes come true? If you have enough money? I now have one shelf, with one item. I suppose if I was a proper fashion blogger it would make for a handy way to show others where can get your stuff, or make those outfit boards. When I started this particular project at the beginning of the year I became more aware than I had been before about what an industry blogging is. I was blissfully unaware. No more. The Shelf is another blogging opportunity. Like Lookbook. I am not sure if I can be bothered being that kind of a blogger. I don't think I have the time! Obscurity, you and I are going to be friends for quite some time—let me show you my shelf, oh, and my lookbook. P.S: I think both my shelf and my lookbook will be gone by the time I get back from holidays.

The Outfit Shirt: Howard Showers Dress: Op-shopped, Vintage Hawaiian cross over in delightful seventies polyester! Belt: Retail Tights: Retail Boots: Irregular Choice

Photographer de Jour: V——

Who wore it better?

Getting linky today with:







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Day 141: My Name is Charlie, And I Am a Book Addict

Today was meant to be my first participation in the Literary Junkies Book Club Twitter party to discuss this month's book Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir, by Shawn Colvin. I don't know what happened. It was a combination of coming off night shift, time-differences and the lack of energy to work them out, and, most importantly, two little things about the book itself. One: I didn't finish it in time. Two: I wasn't sure I had anything to say about it. Confession: I'm not a fan of memoirs. Confession: I was thinking book club would be like being at Uni, when really, I imagine, it's simply a chance for people to get to know each other and have a chat about a book that they may not normally have read. It doesn't have to be backed by theorists and foot-noted—even though there is nothing I like more than taking theorists out for a run to see what they can do. I tried to have a look at what happened on the Twitter party, but as usual I am a Twitter twit and can't work it out. I've just hit the one-click purchase on next month's book, The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick, and, having seen and enjoyed the movie, I am looking forward to, and optimistic that, this text will have so much more that I can talk about. If I can now just work out the Twitter thing and the time-difference, I will be there. Until then I'm linking into the Junkie's May link-up party.

Irene               List_Addict
Q: What are you currently reading? Tell us about it.

A: I have a pile (explained here). In the same way that I am unable to buy just one pair of shoes, rent just one movie or borrow just one book from a library (or, in recent times, buy just one), I am also unable to read just one book at a time. (I call it an 'admiration of variety'; others may call it an attention deficiency.) Currently the pile is out of control. I'll give you the names, but—although I could theoretically do it—I will not even start to 'tell you about it'. We would be here until tomorrow. Here goes: Aaron's Rod; Bones are Forever; The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (again); 1Q84: Books 1 and 2; Don Quixote; War and Peace; David Copperfield; This Side of Paradise; The Quiet American (those make up the Classics corner), Antigone (in French, wanker), Primal Body, Primal Mind; Turn of the Century; The Lotus Eaters; Up Country; The Secret Teachings of All Ages; The Book of Secrets; Midwinter Sacrifice; Diamond in the Rough (of course); The Bat; and; The Age of Chivalry. Phew! Mad. Just mad.

Q: Summer (in the Northern Hemisphere) and my favourite thing to fantazise is liying in hammock with a good book. What are your top three fave 'summer' reads?

A: In terms of books I would read again. I suppose the HP's would be top of the list. I have been through all seven Harry Potters four or five times. I am reading the Millenium series again at the moment, and I would consider doing the Hunger Games again. But, otherwise. I would rather go forward to try and get some of the other's done. The Library of Congress adds eleven thousand things to it's collection every day—mostly, I would imagine, books. There are untold numbers of books for me to try and get to before the end. The big end, not Summer.

Q: What are your top three summer 'to reads'?

A: Maybe I will answer this by going on-line now and choosing three books for my psuedo-summer (tropical holiday in a week's time). Back in a tick and I will let you know what I got. Typical. I got four: Ann Funder's, All that I Am; Daniel Keyes', Flowers for Algernon, The Girl on the Stairs: A Masterful Psychological Thriller by Louise Welsh; and; George RR Martin's The Game of Thrones. Reasons in order: loved Stasiland; always wanted to; recommended (but why do authors feel this need to explain what it is you are holding in your hand; every book I looked at was subtitled 'A Novel'. It was borderline annoying.); societal pressure.

Q: What book do you wish they would make into a movie?

A: I know it is a possibility already, but I had also heard that due to the first one not doing so well, the second and third Americanised Millenium movies where not a guaranteed go-ahead. I would prefer they did. I would like to spend time comparing them to the Swedish. And more Daniel Craig is never a bad thing.

Q: Has your favourite author published a book lately or going to publish a book soon. Tell us about it.

A: I saw an interview yesterday with Ian Rankin. I love him. He is so down to earth. I have the series ready to go for when (if ever) I get through the Reichs' series (stop writing so quickly already!!), and so I haven't actually read any of them. But I get a good feeling, and an even better one after seeing him. So I am really excited he has brought Rebus back. Standing in Another Man's Grave. I should get to it sometime in the next ten years.

The Outfit Dress: Op-shopped Jacket: Op-shopped Tights: Macy's, Times Square Shoes: Irregular Choice

Photographer de Jour: V——

Who wore it better?

Putting a link on with:



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Day 140: So Ordinary It Hurts

Almost needed to have a day of absolute plainness after the last little effort this weekend. I have Eurovision Drain. People at work are slightly disappointed that Candy didn't come in this evening. I think they like her more than me. But it is the classic 'plain' friend thing—all the work, all the stress and worries, all the brains, but no-one really notices you. It is rom-com staple fodder. Oh well. Just have to run with it. In the end the plain one usually wins, unless it's a French film.

On the 25 F(or) 25 front, didn't have to wiggle too much on the scales for another kilo off this week. That's five since Vietnam, and three from the goal loss—twenty-two to go. I didn't really do anything to get there this week except feel unwell and eat only small amounts of comforting carbs. But I got my grass fed butter and meats this week and am back on the bandwagon with minimal carbs and as little as possible sugar. The boy bought me a beautiful little teaspoon (I have an OCD requirement to have a special spoon in my coffee cup at all times), which is smaller than normal and so I have less sugar as a result. Good move V——.

Irene               List_Addict
I have been a reading dynamite this week. Well, not really. When you are reading a ridiculous twenty books at the same time (I am trying to chisel that down to something a little more manageable), there comes a time when you suddenly seem to have finished a large number in a short time. Two in the last two days and a couple more may fall prey to my ravaging appetite in the next few days. The two were Lee Child's Die Trying, the second Jack Reacher novel, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, the last of the Hunger Games trilogy. No rocket science, but the latter is a really interesting series which does raise some provoking questions about media-centric societies and the price of freedom, if it is purchaseable. I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't already some eager-beaver literary students studying these texts via theorists and having some interesting things to say. I would myself, but I am still waiting for someone to please do my PhD applicaton for me. I mean, people, how long will you keep me waiting. Go with something like: 'If there had been a TV in every living room sixty years ago, this country does not elect a man in a wheelchair: Reality Television and Celebrity as political power in Big Brother, the Hunger Games Trilogy and Chuck Palahnuik's Invisible Monsters'. Make it up, throw in some references. I'll work it out when I get there. The Jack Reacher novel was slightly unrealistic. Okay. Quite significantly unrealistic. But most crime fiction is to a degree. I started reading it after seeing the Jack Reacher movie as an experiment: I passed, I have, thankfully, been able to retain a non-Tom-Cruise-esque picture of the protagonist at this stage. Must beware of this if they happen to bring out more movies.

The Outfit T-shirt: Threadless, gifted Cardigan: Op-shopped Skirt: Op-shopped Belt: Factory Outlet Store in Las Vegas (ping, oops, sorry, I dropped a name) Shoes: Irregular Choice

Photographer de Jour: Moi

Who wore it better?

Getting linky today with:

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Day 139: Nothing More To Learn: Eurovision Grand Final

Well done Denmark. And without shoes. No shoes! I have nothing to learn there.

It is Social Sunday again, so here goes with a little Q an A:

Q: What is your favourite kind of surprise?
A: The little things. Like today, when I was running around like a goose getting ready for work and dressing up like the biggest drag queen of the last three days and my boy called on the phone. I made him pretend he was talking to Lollii as the phone sat on the bathroom cabinet and I tried to put an eyelash on. When he was finally allowed to talk to a person he asked me if I wanted a lift to work. I was all 'no, it's okay' (while thinking, 'eek, I have to ride a bike to work with a wig, false eyelashes and a tutu'). Then, 'Who's at the door?'. Confused. Oh, it's the boy come to give me a lift. Little trickster. But so sweet. And it happens a million times with lovely thoughts. A surprise doesn't have to be big.

Q: Flowers or Chocolate?
A: Well, the flowers, at least wouldn't have calories—even if they're nasturtiums. But I don't need either. I usually get shelves full of milk and a steak instead.

Q: What is your favourite summertime activity?
A: Wishing for winter. Only kidding. I only do that if it is over twenty-five degrees. Otherwise I do love to sit with a cider on the front porch and watch the drivers near-miss each other and play Scrabble until the mossies come out.

List_Addict               Irene
Q: Do you have any vacations planned this summer?
A: It's our winter, but I do have two planned for this year. It is better for your mental health to have more than one. We leave very soon for a week of cocktails, swimming, foot massages and reading in Phuket, Thailand. And later in the year we are going road-tripping through the States. Technically that may be more northern hemisphere autumn, but close enough. Thinking Nevada, New Mexico, Texas sort of a trip. Lots of me thrift shopping and the boy looking at fireworks shops, wide open spaces and mad Americans (the only kind I like!)

Q: Favourite Summer holiday?
A: We are all back to front, so our Summer holidays are Christmas and New Years. We have Australia Day in January. But I think a day where a whole State doesn't go to work (except for people like us, but irrelevant) because of a horse race is as good an excuse for a holiday as it gets, so Cup Day, first tuesday in November, is my favourite Summer holiday. Not that I am overly fussed about the actual race.

Q: Dream Vacation?
A: One that has no limit. Something like being able to do a long distance walk all the way through, ride Cadel Evans' Tour de France all the way through. No time limits, and no worries. That would be the best.

The Outfit Shirt: Target Jacket: Target Tutu: an online sock shop Leggings: Black Milk Wig: a wig shop in Mexico City—known as 'British Candy', or Candy for short. Remind me to tell you about how it landed on a stuffed lion at the museum one time. Shoes: Sachi (just for the shoot, I realised I had sold them on ebay and figured if I wore them to work, it would be inevitable that something would happen and I would have to explain to that unsuspecting buyer)

Photographer de Jour: V——

Who wore it better?

Linky today with:


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Day 138: What The Fashion Serious Can Learn From The Fashion Frivilous—Eurovision Day 2

Oh my. I think I have realised, by my photos rather than a major improvement in old-style Eurovision (there was a minor improvement, let me pre-empt), that what I really like is camp. I mean I have known that for a while, but todays's shoot is, let's face it, allowing me to channel my inner drag queen. I look odd in make up. Maybe it's because I never wear it and I am not really that good at putting it on. My boy was staring at me in an strange way. He seemed mesmerised. Maybe it was just shock misinterpreted.

List_Addict               Irene
Day two of Eurovision was a little more exciting although suits, casual hipster apocalypse and restraint were in the majority again. Some suits were a bit more sparkly; some acts dared the double denim; the alleged 'best dress of the night' was a slightly sculptural bandage dress in cream. On the plus side, the F.Y.R of Macedonia brought their babooshka, swathed in meters and meters of red fabric, which was exciting--like the embodiment of the Macedonian sun. Finland did a melange of manga and Vegas with lots of hot pink and a wedding dress. Greece had suits of a sort—kilted tuxedos (way cooler). But the finale was a tribute to how it should be done with Romania's entrant, a high-range male (not sure what his technical range was: contralto, soprano?) in a Phantom of the Opera-esque, heavily beaded dress. Ultimately, and because tomorrow will just be the winners of the last two nights playing again in their same outfits, I am going to have to call the best dressed person of Eurovision 2013 [drumroll], the hostess, Petra Mede (all her dresses are Gaultiers—that helps). And what can we learn. Maybe that despite it risking you looking like a drag queen, dressing uniquely rather than to please the 'buying' and 'ordinary' audience actually gives people something so much more to look forward to and enjoy. You dress for yourself in the end, but I wonder if this is really what happened this year. In other years it always looked like people were having more fun. Eurovision critic, out.

P.S.: I am having my biggest number of visits in a day today. May be to do with a referring site that I have just noticed in the list that apparently (I didn't try it, just Googled who they are) links back to a porn site. Oh, great. Knew yesterday's outfit was a bit risqué. Maybe it's the eyelashes. Mmmm, was that why my boy was looking at me funny?

The Outfit Corset: Target Bed Jacket: Op-shopped Culottes: Op-shopped (Could have done with an iron) Shoes: Irregular Choice

Photographer de Jour: V——

Who wore it better?

Making friends today with:

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Day 137: What The Fashion Serious Can Learn From The Fashion Frivilous—Eurovision Day 1

I wrote the title of this blog first today. It is usually the last thing I do. But I had the highest hopes about what Eurovision 2013 would tell us about, well, not taking fashion too seriously. I. Tell. You. What. It was one of the great disappointments of my life. (Exaggeration Alert) Not worth getting my false eyelashes out for. Eurovision has conformed to normality! I am mortified. We don't watch Eurovision to see people who look like Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber. We watch it for the openly kitsch, post-modern, piss-take on popular culture and the mega-bucks behind it. We watch for the infiltration of the satorially creative/sartorially challenged former Eastern Block. We watch for excess of sequin, feather and hue. Sure, they had the wind machine. And yes there were a couple of scupturally challenging pieces, but for the most part there was beige, black and boring.

Irene               List_Addict
Kudos to Croatia for their jousting pantaloons; Montenegro for their version of Fergie (and the Black Eyed Peas) with her perspex wings; Belarus for one of only two countries who could muster up some colour; Moldova for wearing a cinema screen (that was taking photo-realism fabric prints to the next level) and the Serbians who were Alice-In-Wonderland meets the Disney Princess' with a troupe of Robert Plant type back-up singers who had just experienced some sort of glue and cotton ball mishap. Even the countries who usually spare no lack of expense creating the whackiest entrants (I think in the mad hope that they don't actually win and have to pay for the extravaganza that is next year's Eurovision contest—I'm thinking Ireland, UK and Greece here) submitted an actual teeny-bopper rock star. I will stop the rant and pray that twenty four hours brings a renewed Eurovision spirit. More tomorrow.

The Outfit Top/Dress: Op-shopped Jacket: Op-shopped Necklace: CCJJSS Shoes: Irregular Choice

Photographer de Jour: Moi

Who wore it better?

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