Australia vs. Canada

2008-09-09T04:55:00.002+08:00

I saw this man yesterday, we made eye contact and smiled and I could no longer string together sentences.
I saw Jay Baruchel's new movie last night, it was pretty great. I went with my friend Kevin so I had hot jungle fever next to me and hot jewish love on the screen. Ideal.
So here is the list of celebrities I've seen so far (in order of importance to me)...
Daniel Bruhl (above)
Jay Baruchel
Dylan Moran
Ed Harris
Samantha Bee
Jason Jones
Evangeline Lily
Gil Bellows (Billy from Ally McBeal!!)
Various minor Canadian "celebrities"...

I really like Yeasayer right now. Some of their lyrics are so positive and uplifting.
I have no updates on outfits as I have worn jeans and tshirts every day of the festival. Although I am slowly converting my colour scheme into purely black, white, grey and denim. Its awesome.

Everything all at the same time.

2008-09-04T08:59:00.007+08:00

Here are some things going on in my life.
This thing is going to kill me...
But on the same note, this man (Cameron Bailey, Co-director of TIFFG) is my new idol.
This book is intense and confusing but extremely enjoyable. Its slowly taking over my soul...
I swam in the lake on Monday, this isn't it but you know, variation on a theme.
My friend Lily "enjoying" a beer on her birthday (ie. Tuesday night).
And here is me enjoying the rosiness of my cheeks after purchasing Posietint (see previous post about trip to Sephora).

And because I am still so in love with this girl...

Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone. I watch this at least once a day...

I am on the brink of the most intense month of my life and I am terrified and so excited all at the same time. Oh yeah, I waited in line for 2 hours for TIFF tickets only to find out all the films I wanted to see where sold out... At least I will spend 2 hours in the same cinema as Jay Baruchel! And tonight I visited Mexico, it was awesome.

We got the house!

2008-09-03T08:44:00.002+08:00

Hello, italian mansion. I am moving in over the weekend after we sign the papers on Friday so I will be internetless until sometime next week, I guess.

I'm going to try and take photos progressively while things get set up so you feel like part of the action ;)

Only 3 weeks til you can come around for dinner parties and gin!

Stuff, you know.

2008-09-01T18:06:00.004+08:00

Although Thomas, Larissa and I have not found our perfect home yet, I am already looking up inspiration for it. See below.

Also I am thinking about cutting my hair like this.

Agree/disagree?

I think I'm a little bit in love with you...

2008-09-01T10:25:00.003+08:00

I have a girl crush on Lykke Li. I want to be her when I grow up, even though I'm two years older than her...
In other news, I haven't been home before 3am the past three nights which has resulted in having about 12 hours sleep since I awoke on Thursday morning. My nights have been full of drinking, dance parties and boys. I enjoy my current carefree lifestyle.
Today was my last day at H&M, it was pretty anti-climatic. I worked harder than I ever had but I got to spend the afternoon with some of my favourite coworkers. It wasn't such a sad time because I will see most of the people I really like before I leave the country but yeah.
I feel a little lost tonight...

blogger hates me today :(

2008-08-26T21:26:00.004+08:00

Hello darling,

Sorry I haven't been updating. It's been five weeks since I had a day off and I have five weeks to go, it's easy to get caught up in other things.

Prac is going okay and I really love working at my two other jobs. I am really excited about the festivals and exhibitions we have coming up! One of my favourite parts of this story is that you will be home for their openings, we can drink wine and be civilized together.

I saw this band on Sunday and they completely blew my mind, listen to the 2008 album 'Devotion' by Beach House and feel like summer.

I promised I'd show you so...

This is my new crinoline! I'm wearing it under a vintage chiffon skirt, it's the only garment I own that covers the thing properly. I think I will have to find some dresses and skirts with mega a-lines to make it more versatile.

Other than that, I'm going out to dinner with about ten friends on Thursday for my birthday. I hope that you can call me during the day sometime! I will make time for it, I promise!

I did my sister's tax return and she's getting a ton of cash back, so I think she will buy me a bike for my birthday. Hopefully Larissa, Thomas and I find a house soon so I can start riding around... oh yeah, Larissa, Thomas and I are looking for a house together.

Here is a picture of my bookcase and the new lights I bought on Saturday.

I don't know but I've been told.

2008-08-25T01:30:00.004+08:00

On Friday night after work I went to see Handsome Furs who I love so so much. They are by far my favourite rock and roll couple. And the crowds at their shows are so amazing, I have never heard so much cheering and appreciation for a band before. This is a video that I really like, I really like the La Blogotheque Take Away Show series of videos too, they're all pretty amazing...

Sorry for all the videos but I have been spending a lot of time on youtube lately... Its up there on my list of favourite at home past times, along with painting my fingernails while watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report and laying in the sun and reading on my patio.
Today I am going to hit up Sephora and purchase some new skincare and make up products. I also need to buy another suitcase. I have started packing up my life here in Canada, it is scary and sad but also really exciting because I kinda want to go home now. Don't tell anyone here that though...
I also went to see Vicky Christina Barcelona last week, it made me want to make decisions that probably aren't the best and fall in love with inappropriate people. It also made me want to go to Spain...

2008-08-22T01:46:00.003+08:00

The weekend that just passed will go down as one of the greatest in my time in Canada. Friday night, seeing Radiohead, magic! Then hanging out with Americans, awesome! Saturday night involved alot of drinking with my favourite Canadians in celebration of Ben's birthday. He also told us that his wife is pregnant which is some of the best news ever!!! It was just a wonderful weekend.

I also had my festival training last weekend and it totally freaked me out. I think if I can get through working at one of the biggest film festivals in the world, I can pretty much do anything... The films that are playing were announced earlier this week and my top picks for what I want to see would be:
1. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Michael Cera <3 Watch the trailer!!)
2. New York, I Love You (a New York version of Paris Je'Taime)
3. Zack and Miri Make a Porno
4. Che (if I have a spare 5 hours...)
I get a lot of free tickets so I should be able to see most of them. They also released a list of about 500 celebrities that are coming to town including Brad Pitt and George Clooney, but I'm more excited about the prospect of seeing Michael Cera, Jay Baruchel, Gael Garcia Benal and Adrien Brody. Swoon City!

Last night, me, Lily and Lily's friend Tom broke into a pool at 2am and went swimming. It was pretty awesome.

Everythings on my mind.

2008-08-16T03:44:00.006+08:00

I have this incredible urge to go out dancing this weekend. My weekend is going to be EPIC. My last two days have ended up being so fantastic, full of great times with amazing friends and lots of drinking. Tonight I am seeing Radiohead and I'm so excited I can't explain it. Anyway, this is what Canada looks like today from the point of view of my patio.

This is what I want my life to look like.

And this is how I feel sometimes.

I really love this video. The song is so funny and wrong and all the girls are so nicely dressed and The Teenagers are cute so yeah. The End.

Stop raining Canada!

2008-08-15T02:16:00.003+08:00

So my apparent Canadian summer has been taken over by bad weather. It has been raining so much here its retarded. My Saturday at Beer Fest looked a little bit like Glastonbury...

But none of us were smart enough to wear suitable footwear :( My life right now is full of limited amounts of sleep and copious amounts of partying. I only have a month left in this wonderful country so I'm making the most of it. For example, tonight I am crashing a fancy party at Kania's work, its on a roof top in the middle of Toronto, there might be a magician there, and lots of free alcohol. Tomorrow is Radiohead which I am way too excited about. And the weekend will bring the first of my TIFF training sessions.
Speaking of TIFF, one of the perks of being an employee is the free press screenings I get to go to before the festival starts. They screen a whole pile of the films that are showing for the festival for critics so they can review them early and we get to go to them too! I'm so excited about all of TIFF but I'm so nervous as well, its going to be really full on. And its also so close to when I leave so its going to be an emotional time.
I have no inspiring outfits or clothing anecdotes to tell you really. I really want to buy a lot of the guest designer lines at Urban Outfitters right now, namely this Play by C. Ronson dress and every item in the Lark and Wolf collection. Its all so pretty! And I want a french bulldog.

PUP CITY!

Highlight of my weekend

2008-08-12T02:00:00.002+08:00

Wolf Parade <3 Spencer <3x100000000000000000

2008-08-10T11:26:00.002+08:00

This week has been crazy! I've been working a lot, a new friend started at my prac job, I bought lots of things from ebay, went shopping, made other new friends, started reading another David Sedaris book, wrote lots of lists, made some art, cleaned my room, went to IKEA and drank lots of coffee.

All this and I stayed home on a Saturday night! I made spicy lentil soup and watched Eagle vs Shark, probably one of the only films that will come to Australia before you get it in Canada. I liked it, watch it and revel in the New Zealand accent.

Speaking of... home soon!

I am in the process of culling my belongings and looking for a house to live in with Larissa, la la la life.

Going nowhere...

2008-08-08T02:00:00.002+08:00

I'm sorry I haven't updated so much, I have had a very lazy week of sleeping in and not achieving much with my days except tanning on the patio and tackling incredibly large books. I haven't been feeling very inspired lately either so theres that too...
So last weekend I spent a lovely Saturday night getting horribly drunk and listening to records with some friends from work. I really wish I had become better friends with these people sooner rather than five weeks before I leave the country :( Sunday involved a family orientated bbq at Mike's house with all of his family plus some dogs and a friend with a baby... Monday was much the same, picnic in a beautiful backyard with another friend with a baby. It all reminded me of that time we babysat and found out we would be the worst lesbian parents ever...
I finally booked all of my Europe trip, I decided to cut Amsterdam out because I don't really have enough time, which sucks but hey. I get to spend more time in London and Paris and maybe it will motivate me to go back to Europe soon. Anyway I really enjoy these photographs by Michael Hughes to get me in the mood for the tourist Europe...

Tonight I am attending Beer Fest, its going to be interesting... I'm doing the same thing on Saturday as well, its going to be a messy weekend!
Oh and last night Kania and I went to see American Teen, it was pretty good and I totally developed a crush on Mitch Reinholt, the cutest basketball jock ever.

Week Two

2008-08-02T00:10:00.004+08:00

This is week two of my ten week prac - means eight weeks til you come home, but also eight weeks of mailing brochures and being office bitch. On the other hand, my work is going really well - I have booked two program items this week and I am probably starting on my big gallery projects next week.

Tonight I saw The Savages with Thomas and I really enjoyed it! He said it was miserable but I felt like it was a realistic optimism. Shit happens, whatever, move on.

Tonight I also tried to order an iPhone, but to no avail. Last night I queued for 40 minutes to find out I had less than 100 points of ID, and tonight I had sufficient proof of identity but to secure a phone, I would have to start paying for the contract now and not receive the goods for another 4-6 weeks! No!

I am trying not to think about clothes too much or look at too many, but this picture in Yen gave me so many hot ideas.

Cue looking on ebay for crinoline skirts, factor in excessive postage, and voila! Will update if I make a purchase. I want black but there is a canary yellow one in my watching list. I see... Puffy skirt under sweetheart black dress, floral arrangement on wrist, raspberry lipstick. Now I just need a date for the prom, heh.

I have been looking at http://www.theselby.com/ for interior inspiration lately. I found it from the Yen website and boy oh boy.

I love Lesley Arfin and her apartment is really cute -

but Ryan Korban (interior designer, figures) has the pad I am coveting right now.

My room is all natural wood, white, grey and purple, but I would love a white fur rug (faux) like the one on his bed right now. I can't wait to assemble a house, I have a semi-offer of moving into a place on Walcott St so I might be decorating sooner than I thought...

Tomorrow I am going to bunnings to try find a light string with exposed bulbs, I need more wattage in my life... plus the pig lamp that I am looking after for Esther blew its replacement light bulb! I will post pictures if I get the glow happening. Talk to you in 8 hours!

p.s. I am loving Electrelane right now.

I hope it will be worth what I give up

2008-08-01T04:23:00.003+08:00

We went to see the Virgin Suicides at the free Harbourfront movies on Tuesday, it worked out better than the previous week where Annie Hall was rained out. I had forgotten how much I like that film, I felt like I was in a dream for 2 hours. It made me want to be young and in love...

Speaking of films, I am now officially an employee of the Toronto International Film Festival! I will be a Front of House Assistant at the Scotiabank Theatre so I will pretty much be a glorified volunteer except that I get paid and get a staff pass for all the films! I'm really excited, it makes me feel like all my time here has totally been worth it.

So today I got the new IKEA catalogue in the mail and it got me all excited for when we move to Melbourne and have a fabulous house together. I have an good idea of what I want my room to look like and I want a really cute kitchen to bake cakes and cook delicous meals in. I feel like such a grown up! Life is going to be fantastic when I get back to Australia.

I'm really into Santogold today, its awesome.

PROS AND CONS

2008-07-28T09:00:00.002+08:00

Should I get an iPhone?

I want one, I really do. But should I?

PROS:

It will hold more music than my current iPod
It will sync with my iCal, both eliminating the need for a paper diary and eliminating the frustration of my iCal not being in my pocket.
It will remove the need to use my current phone, meaning I don't have to put up with surprise loudspeaker and offensive muffled message tone.
It will coordinate nicely with my Apple life.

CONS:

It will cost more than double my current monthly phone outlay
It might become outdated as soon as the next model gets released
I might have to wait for one, they are in high demand
I will enter both the yuppy scum and techno-teen demographics simultaneously upon purchase.

Comments, please.

Welcome back, blog

2008-07-26T01:22:00.002+08:00

So the internet came back yesterday...

I am super busy, I spend three days per week at an experimental music producing co., then two days in a magical dream-land then two days in a gallery. I have nine more weeks with not a day off, then you return home to me and I will write my paper and then the festival and then more paper then

the end then summer, then who knows? Friends might come home and I might go away and I might move house, or that might happen sooner. I might get a job or I might not, life is limbo right now.

These are the things I am certain of;

I love everything, and hate everything, there is no middle ground.

Here are some things that are inspiring me lately;

high heeled-shoes and things with studs

my beautiful computer and its' accessories

The photography of Conor O'Brien, doesn't this shit just wanna make you go out and get stupid and be young forever?

Celebrity City!

2008-07-25T03:19:00.007+08:00

Yesterday I sold some shirts to Slim Twig at H&M. He's not a very well known musician in Toronto but he was in The Tracey Fragments with Ellen Page a year or so ago and I kinda had a crush on him for a while. Anyway! I was real excited but I didn't say anything, just exchanged some awkward eye contact moments with him, it was awesome.
I'm getting excited about TIFF, they have been talking up who's coming to town for the festival on ETalk, there is mention of Quentin Tarantino and Dennis Hopper, and Michael Cera's new film is premiering there so he should be here. I hope that my current Canadian Jew crush, Jay Baruchel, will be in town too. I need to tone down my celebrity excitement before I start working at this festival...

Time stands still when I think of you

2008-07-23T03:08:00.004+08:00

What has happened to our blog! No updates in two weeks, thats almost embarassing... I at least have a good excuse for why I haven't updated, my computer broke about a week ago, totally broken beyond repair. I'm considering buying a laptop in the next few weeks even though I can't afford it at all, I still kinda want one... I had an extremely crazy weekend just past, lots of drinking and dance parties, things inappropriate for discussion on the internet. This coming weekend is Polacko's going away party :( sad times, but at least with him moving to London I will have somewhere to stay when I go there!
So because I haven't had a computer/the internet for a while now, I haven't really been very inspired by anything new. I did get an amazing hair cut last Thursday though which I have gotten nothing but compliments about. It kinda looks like this on one side...

... and its longer on the other. Its freaking hot and I love it so much.
So I also applied for a job at Toronto Film Festival, I haven't heard back from them yet but before I applied, I asked my volunteer coordinator from Images to be my reference (she also works for TIFF) and she's going to recommend me for another position! Its one that doesn't get advertised, only people who are recommended by theatre staff can apply, so thats totally the best thing ever! Working for TIFF will be the best cap off for this whole canadian adventure of mine, I'm so excited!

In other film news, Bloor Cinema is showing some French new wave films in the coming weeks, I think I'm going to see Jules and Jim by Francois Truffaut. I need to feel inspired.

Truffles Oh My!

2008-07-08T09:24:00.005+08:00

My friend Nelia got back from Paris the other day and she brought me back a box of Belgian Truffles!

Delish!
So over summer in Toronto there's a couple of free outdoor movie series, one is romantic films (Titanic, The Notebook, Romeo and Juliet) and the other is indie flicks (Juno, Rushmore, The Virgin Suicides). I'm hoping to take advantage of them every week, mostly because it is so hot in our house that I need to spend every night outside otherwise I'll explode! The one I'm looking forward to the most is in two weeks, Annie Hall. I'm hoping to take a boy along and am thinking about an outfit, maybe some kind of reworking of classic Ralph Lauren, something like this picture from Elle...

I do like that Ralph Lauren...
Another discovery I made in Elle is Rizvi Millinery which is a hat/headwear designer who I think you would love given your love of feathery headbands. This is my favourite...

Ok I need to get my beauty sleep and actually do something productive with my life tomorrow.

The Cool School

2008-07-05T23:58:00.003+08:00

Today I saw a really great documentary as part of the Revelation Film Festival, at its new home in Mount Lawley.. it was about the founders and artists of the Ferus gallery in Los Angeles in the 50s and I have to say I am positively inspired! The documentary tracked the rise of abstract expressionism and later ceramic and pop art in the west of the country, and its rise to mainstream popularity. These guys didn't give a fuck about what the east coast was doing, or commercial art at the time, they just made a place to exhibit works they were excited about and had parties doing it.

I was definitely born in the wrong era! Everything they did was so new and exciting, pushing boundaries that haven't existed since I've been born. I sometimes doubt whether that kind of passion and fury will exist again but I suppose they didn't predict it then, I won't be able to predict it now. Watching this film and working in an incredible multi-arts complex for the past week has made me intensely fierce about art and I am adding "open a gallery" to my list of things to do in my life. Even if it's a gallery/store/studio type deal or something more prolific, I just want to be doing this forever and ever and always feel this good about it. You know?

I have one more week of full-time work then I move back home and I think I will experiment with form and colour on paper to get out some creative backlog I have stirring. I might update with my progress later on! ADIEU!

Adult Education

2008-07-05T22:51:00.003+08:00

When I get back to Australia I am going to take a course in baking, or cake decorating. And then we can have high tea at my house every Sunday!

Feeling better Feeling better

2008-07-04T11:11:00.004+08:00

My life lately has been a series of ups and downs. Esther, Stace and Rizz left this morning, we parted ways after TV on the Radio last night, we all got some jungle fever after that show!!! I was feeling pretty mopey today, I had been looking forward to them coming for so long and we had such an AMAZING time while they were and now I feel like I have nothing to look forward to :(

Anyway our weekend away in Montreal was great! The Yves Saint Laurent exhibition made me want to live my life completely differently. I want to stop spending money on stupid things and only buy fabulous clothes. And I want my life to be full of drama. I felt so unfashionable and boring... Montreal is so different in the summer, I could hardly recognise old Montreal without all the snow! I got sunburnt again though :( We ate some nice food, drank some nice beer, laid around in some parks, took lots of naps, generally lived it up! We got home for Canada Day which was full of bucket mojitos and fireworks! I also got to spend some time with my new housemates which was pretty great! But now those lovely friends of ours have moved on and I wish them the best for their continuing voyage!

So I've been thinking about an extreme haircut. I have had this shortish hair with straight-across-fringe things for a while now and I really don't think I have the will power to grow my hair right now... The problem I always have with really short hair is that I'm too lazy to style it so I always tie it up but I have an idea... I'm thinking asymetical, with a long sideswept fringe to one side then gradually into a short bob just at my ear on the other side. My plan is to wear it out as much as I can stand and then have the long bits long enough to braid around so it will be out of my face. Its the best of both worlds! I can't find a picture of it but I hope you get the idea.

I've been listening to The Teenagers alot lately, they're real fun and french. Jessica when I get home we are going to start french lesson and when we are good, we will go to France together ok deal.

Oh and I think I'm going on a date next week. Maybe there will be some french there too ;)

Here are the things that I like to look at tonight

2008-06-30T23:20:00.006+08:00

p.s. I hate working full time already and I am dreading the rest of my life. Except the parts that I can't wait for.

Niagara Falls Ontario, always a fun place to go!

2008-06-27T10:15:00.005+08:00

So today Esther, Stace, Rizz and myself ventured out to Niagara Falls, Ontario. It was freaking sweet! We went on the Maid of the Mist and laid around in parks alllll day! It was really nice and relaxing. Its a pretty tacky place apart from the majestic falls. And everythings pretty expensive... It was a good day anyway! We sang the jingle for Marine Land all day, its too catchy!
Tomorrow morning we are off to Montreal for the weekend. I'm really looking forward to it! Although when I get back, Kania will be in Europe and I will have new housemates who I'm not familiar with and I am a little nervous... But it will get some issues off my mind, number 1 being the fact that the boy I spoke about in my last post has NOT called me! Why hang out with a girl all night and give her your number if you have no intention of ever replying to their messages! Whatever dude, whatever. I'm going to be off with all the french Canadians, making out and speaking french. We're going to a 40 year retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, thats fucking better than any cute boy with glasses...

Ok I don't have much else to write about really but I have some killer sunburn after two days of laying in parks, I'm going to have a hot tan soon.

2008-06-26T11:00:00.002+08:00

I just awoke from a really vivid dream, and I will recount it here so I can recall it later on! It was one of those sleeps where you can't wake up, my doggeh had been restless all night and I was like "oh"- fall back down & snore.

OK so I was sleeping on the floor of Retravision, which I understood to be at my local shopping mall but looked more like the King of Prussia mall in PA, America. also the inside of the shop was like a dentist's waiting room, the waiting room of my oral surgeon, actually. I was asleep in a chair and my high school boyfriend, Gavin, was asleep on the floor. I was also experiencing the same crazy heavy sleep as I just explained. It's important to note here that it wasn't Gavin from 5+ years ago, it was Gavin as I know him to look today thanks to Facebook and our mutual friends. I was so tired I went out to my mum's car in the carpark, though it was really hot. My mum drives a Lexus but this was a new silver Commodore, and I couldn't decipher how to lock the car doors while I slept whilst keeping the windows open slightly to allow air to pass through the hot car. There were other people in the carpark too but the windows were tinted. I knew that we were in gang land, so I wanted to be able to let Gavin and Mum in the car without allowing any gang members in.

Okay while I was asleep (in the dream) I reminisced about earlier eating Subway for lunch and being horrified at the glorious choices of meats available. I asked for a vege delite but the sandwich artist kept putting meatballs and things that were shaped like vegetables but actually made from veal in my foot-long. For some reason though, I was so hungry that I ordered a 6-inch and ate that whilst the sandwich artist made the other 6 inches of heaven. Also Gavin's sandwich (chicken fillet with mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion - true story) was deep fried for some reason. An interesting point to note here is that Gavin couldn't eat his sandwich if he saw the mayo being applied, whereas I had to watch everything being done and hence why Subway was often a popular choice for us. That part is true, dream or no dream!

Okay so I was grappling with the concept of windows and locks and heat in the car whilst I slept, probably similarly to grappling with my dog's restlessness in real life. At one point I sat up really fast and hit the roof off the car, so I was sitting in a metal chassis with windows up and the gangs were laughing! I tried to pull a new roof out of the front of the car and the whole thing folded up into a curved bar like the ones that the roof rests on in a Jeep, but I closed my eyes really tight and I was back in the car again.

Next I was home, I don't know how I got there. I was in my bed and it was dusk, and instead of the wildlife park opposite my house there was the foreshore where bands, etc. often play. For some reason I'd been involved in the setup of this and Gavin's youngest brother Moe had found my VIP pass somewhere and was using it. I was ok with that!

Gavin SMS'd me to tell me he'd gotten home okay and had chosen Cripps, whereas my Mum had chosen Bloods. My sister walked in where I recounted the whole ordeal to her and she said she was going to McDonalds. I asked her to bring me home a cheeseburger meal with no meat and a vanilla milkshake, and passed her $5 from the huge jar of coins on my bedside table (does not exist).

The end!

week two

2008-06-23T12:52:00.004+08:00

I think today marks the first day of getting into the 'holiday spirit.' I slept til 10.30 and am still not dressed, even though I spilled coffee on my dressing gown and had to wash it.

Last week I had a good couple of days, Thomas and I hit up IKEA after breakfast, as planned, and I bought some new bedsheets that match said dressing gown. Their website is undergoing maintenance apparently but my room is all white and coffee/khaki and eggplant and black and walnut wood today. Plus everything in my life is really clean because I emptied it all out last week and now my wardrobe, shelves, storage boxes, desk, etc. are all really well organized.

Today I need to watch The Fountain because it's due back today but I don't feel like depressing myself just yet. My memoirs are going well and they're happening in list form, which I feel is a fitting tribute to my 21 years.

On Friday night I intended to go to the Leedy but we ended up sitting around at Jess' for ages and I went home. I was wearing a cute dress I bought in New York and some new wedges though, to acclimate to heels. Nice try.

On Saturday my first day at the gallery was really successful, I was concerned that I didn't know what I'd be doing but I basically got to talk to heaps of children and elderly people about contemporary art and I knew more than I thought I did. There's this awesome video installation at the moment by Julie Dowling about her Indigenous heritage and her journey back to her country, and it's really striking and incredible. I never thought that would be something I'd get into but my horizons are broadening every day.

Saturday night Laura and I went and saw Eddy Current Suppression Ring at the Norfolk Basement. Remember when we went and saw Wolf & Cub there (maybe) and the floor was sticky and it was full of old men? WELL, SAMES but the band was awesome and I've decided I'll become a regular at their shows when I move to Melbs next year. We had a full-on date night, she picked me up and we had gourmet burgers at Flipside and got photos taken at Timezone, had icecream and she dropped me home before curfew :~

This is a photo that was taken there and you can see my awesome collar, and home-job haircut courtesy of one Polly Smith. I am staying in her room for a few days this week so I'll be updating from a foreign house, and embarking on week two of holidays. This will include furtherance of memoirs, trip to Officeworks, banking of last paycheck from old job, new MJ bag, maybe cooking. I am making 2 x cookbooks today, one for my sister and one for me of recipes she loves and things I want to try, respectively. I might also continue the journey into op shop domination and get some new passport photox taken.

This entry is boring, your dress in your last post is pretty, and I want to live vicariously through your love life. Call me soon pls!

The world has joined Team Natalie '08.

2008-06-23T11:06:00.005+08:00

This weekend I have been enjoying the company of three lovely ladies, Esther, Stace and Rizz. Its so nice to have such nice and familiar friends in the same city as me again! And they are becoming fast friends with my Canadian friends also which I like alot. So we met up at their hostel on Friday night and hit up West Queen West, went to a couple of bars, they seemed pretty impressed by it all. I liked my hair and outfit alot on Friday so I took a picture.

Please note that I'm not very good at taking pictures of myself/my outfits...
Saturday I had to work which was kinda of bad but we met up after work, took a stroll through the annex, there was a street festival going on in my area so that was kind of fun. We bought some gin and limes and drank alot on my patio for a while. We hit up a few Toronto hot spots, did a bit of dancing, met up with a few more friends, it was a pretty fun night! I think everyone enjoyed themselves which was the main thing. I also met a boy who is SUPER cute. He is pretty much the cutest boy I've spoken to in Toronto.
Sunday we were meant to go for a bike ride but it started raining. Instead we looked around Kensington for a while, had a snack at Java House, went to the Joni Mitchell photography exhibition which made me feel bad about the world, ate some sushi, then went to see Young People Fucking which was not as good as the Canadian hype machines have made it out to be... We then went for a walk to find icecream and while walking past a bar on College Street, we spot said super cute boy from the previous night! It was a little awkward, I had been talking about my sms plan for the whole day! But good thing is that even without alcohol, he is still super cute! And luckily I was wearing this really pretty dress...

I'm hoping to see him again some time before we go to Montreal on Friday. I'm so excited about the future! My weekend was just the greatest weekend ever! I have to work for a long time tomorrow and then we might go to a party up the street from my house. Our new housemate is also moving in tomorrow so I want to hang out with her a bit. Excitment is my middle name.

At Last!

2008-06-20T08:56:00.007+08:00

Finally I am back on the internet!!! It is a great day...
So to fill you in on what I've been up to lately and what I have been wearing, I decided to take a few pictures of outfits and write stories that correspond with what I did on that day...

This is what I wore to the "Festival 101" symposium that I volunteered for at Worldwide Short Film Festival. It was pretty amazing, the festival director for WSFF is Australian so I was interested in hearing how she got to where she is now. One of my life goals is now to create a festival. Its not really out of reach either, thats what I like about my life goals these days, its all about realism. Cardigan and shorts are secondhand and the shirt is H&M.

This is what I was planning on wearing to see the "Scene not Heard" program for WSFF, a collection of particularly good music videos featuring a 3D version of "Wanderlust" by Bjork. However it rained so I wore jeans instead... Cardigan is secondhand, shirt is $2 from street vendor and skirt is American Apparel.

This is what I plan on wearing tomorrow at work and after work when I meet Esther Stace and Rizz! I also wore this when I went out for dinner with my friend Nelia on Monday in Chinatown. She's now in Paris for 3 weeks :( Shirt is Urban Outfitters and skirt is American Apparel.

What else have I been doing... We have been interviewing a whole pile of people to be our new housemates. We have Emily moving in on Monday, she seems sweet and she goes to OCAD which is like the Ontario art school. Kania has been desperately planning for her Europe trip, I'm hoping the new housemates will fill the void she will leave. And I am hopeful we will find someone good for Kris's room soon. Hopeful that it will be a cute boy... I've been having a few late night parties, last weekend I hung out with my H&M/now reallife friend Lily, the bars were open late for North by Northeast so I got home at 6am... I'm excited to party with Esther, Stace and Rizz again, its been too too long.
So here are some things that I like in magazines lately.

...lots of Sonia Rykiel and Coley Claire. Lovin' it like McDonalds.
Oh and all your sheer clothing purchases made me think I should share my sheer blouse collection with you!!

l-r: Black blouse from Urban Outfitters, Florals from Forever 21, Polka Dots from H&M and Yellow from Forever 21. You can see through about half of my shirts these days, its hot.

What I bought in Armadale, Kelmscott and South Lake this week

2008-06-19T16:45:00.005+08:00

l-r: double-v ruffle print dress, grey marle jersey cape sleeve dress, nautical cotton halter, heavy denim pinafore, ruffle neck polka print dress.

l-r: double-u black ruffle blouse, slate frill-neck bell sleeve blouse, white cotton and anglaise blouse, ivory quilted cape sleeve t, white cotton ruffle blouse.

l-r: black ballet skirt, grey printed pleat skirt, leather pencil skirt, red and white pleated circle skirt.

Week Timetable

2008-06-17T20:55:00.003+08:00

This is both forecasting and retelling the story of my week

Sunday (do you count Sunday? I don't but it makes me look more interesting)

Awoke at 8am on the floor of Jess' room, drove Camille home in the rain, sat on my new pillows for an hour, got clean and dressed, went to Cottesloe for high tea with Laura, came home, got ready at zombie-speed (real slow), went to dinner at the Pony Club, came home, watched TV.

Monday

Worked from 11-12, went to Zomp, went to the video store and got out 8 movies, went to the oriental food store and bought Edamame, went home, peed after being busting for 2 hours, watched The Darjeeling Limited, added India to my "places to visit" list, went jogging, made a pizza, online-shopped, watched La Vie En Rose with Thomas.

Tuesday (today)

Woke up at 9, ate toast, cleaned my already spotless room, re-arranged my shoeboxes, watched the same episode of Friends that I saw on the weekend, went to the shops, bought a bathrobe, came home, watched Best in Show, realized I might be a yuppy, went jogging, made cup-a-soup, wore face mask in bath whilst reading book, cut to now obsessing about the gothic girl from NCIS' wardrobe.

Wednesday (tomorrow)

Go jogging in the morning, go to Armadale for purposes of ops, watch the depressing movies I rented out, eat more Edamame, do my washing, research Pilates, start memoirs.

Thursday

Continue memoirs, focusing on past love interests. Research French lessons and report earnings to Centrelink.

Friday

Go to Ikea and buy new bedsheets after breakfast with Thomas. Go jogging probably. Maybe make risotto.

Saturday

First shift at the Gallery, might go out late and feel youthful.

This is boring but I'm sure you'll hear from me frequently in the next few weeks. My mission is to make sure I shower and dress every day.

Here are some things I am obsessing over right now.

I also bought a bag yesterday. I will post pictures of it when it arrives in 7-21 days.

yo

2008-06-12T21:48:00.002+08:00

Life update - I'm basically finished my last assignment/exam so tomorrow is a free day, I just googled the biggest list of op shops ever.. I'm not kidding when I say it's over 100 stores long.

I start work at the gallery next week and my old job owes me over 1k, happy holidaze..

I took some great photographs lately and have been getting crafty, one day they'll all make it on here.. new work features trendy employees, expect fashion.

Where are all my friends that have weekdays off when I have a tank of petrol and a list of ops? OH, IN CANADA.

Internetless :(

2008-06-10T03:03:00.002+08:00

I am internetless. When Will moved out last Thursday he decided to take the internet along with him... which really wasn't his to take but anyway. I'm dealing, at the moment I'm at the library listening to Jenny Lewis (who I missed seeing when I was on vacation) and trying to ignore the people who keep looking at my screen. I'm wearing an American Apparel dress which I could never wear in winter because it was too short and thin. I'm kinda in love with American Apparel again by the way, when I was in Vancouver I bought two skirts and a sweater which I pretty much wear all the time. I'm going to go today and perhaps buy some more things! Some singlets I think, I don't really have many things without sleeves and I don't want to build on my tshirt tan... I'm also going to purchase a basket for my bike and perhaps a fan because it is stinking hot in Canada!!! Never thought you'd hear that hey! I'm going to end my day with a bottle of wine and a book on the patio, sounds lovely hey!

In life news, I had a crazy Friday night involving a work friend becoming a real life friend, a Degrassi cast member and drinking vodka with some random boys on my patio at 4am. We started interviewing people for Will's room on SAturday but we didn't find anyone that good, we have more people coming in tonight. We also have to start interviewing for someone for Kris's room as well! Kania and I are very excited!! We will have a whole new house by the start of July!!!

In fashion news, I am feeling kind of uninspired to buy new things which I guess is good, I'm actually feeling pretty satisfied with my wardrobe! I don't have any pictures because this library internet kind of sucks but there is this link to a Nylon article about Natasha Khan aka. Bat for Lashes, who I kinda love alot and would totally dress like if I was going for that bohemian indian look... Apart from that, summer has been great for my clothing, I really have a lot of summer clothes I didn't get to wear for a long time and now everythings coming out! Its great!

I think thats all for now. Sorry if thats boring. When I get the internet back there will be actually pictures of actually things, not just words trying to paint pictures...

Winter Love

2008-06-06T10:49:00.005+08:00

After purchasing a 2,500$ laptop and deciding to take a month off actual work, my itch to spend must be subsided with ops again this winter break. It's a good thing, really - I have 5 weeks between semester end and secondment start, I need to build up 10 weeks of work wardrobe and preparation for winter chills and summer flings after that.

This is a good opportunity to spend my days in Armadale, Midland, Cannington, and the like! But after spending time trawling through the Vogue op shop thread I've come to a few realizations.

I am going to set out with a good list of things to buy, rather than be daunted by a warehouse full of clothes. I am also going to highlight my already elaborate winter wardrobe with pieces that I'm missing, and accessories. I don't accessorize enough! Spending the winter in the northern hemisphere has provided me with plenty of coats and dresses, so now I need more jeans, knits and skirts. I am also looking for tan leather accessories (like the plaited belt and clutch I bought from the Claremont sale, for $3!), hair accessories and socks. I am all about the knee socks lately, and I look like a grown up schoolgirl when it's done wrong but over tights and with a knee-length dress, they are AWESOME.

Your winter wardrobe has been a source of inspiration and so with this I present to you, the list...

- A-line skirts (I have enough pencil!)

- Hip-length jacket, maybe with a hood

- Long line cardigan

- Lace-up boots (Luella style)

- Wrist length gloves (completely impractical in Perth but nonetheless)

- something with colour

The incomparable Audrey Horne

I am also experiencing a love affair with vintage lingerie. Every blogger does at some point, and I guess it's my turn now! I've stocked up on basics and have seam-free everything in every colour, now it's fun time. See: Elle Macpherson Intimates and Stella McCartney for Bendon as hygienic inspiration. The Ayten Gasson website is also fueling this fire.. I shall see whether I cross the line into real vintage or not. Don't hold your breath.

Home at last...

2008-06-01T07:04:00.002+08:00

So I just got back from my vacation and I am very happy to be home! It was great seeing my parents and Esther, Stace and Rizz and I had such an amazing time. I will update with the purchases soon, I think I should have a shower first... 5 hours sleep and a plane ride don't make me look pretty. But here are some realisations that occured to me while I was gone:

1. I will never in my life live in a country town (such as Kamloops, BC, Canada, aka. worst place on earth).
2. I made the best city choice coming to Toronto, now that I have seen more of Canada I know that it was definitely the best city for me.
3. Parents are great but they're better when you're on the other side of the world.
4. We share some of the best friends in the world.

Also, I'm pretty much satisfied with almost every aspect of my life except for my boy aspect so I am going to get a boyfriend real soon. Or become close friends with a new boy, I need some man in my life.

THE CLOTHES UPDATE WILL COME SOON JESSICA I PROMISE!!

Ughhhhh

2008-05-28T09:45:00.002+08:00

Okay so I just gave myself a blogger profile and enabled access to it. I think if we are going to start getting readers from the big wide interweb we should tell them something about ourselves!

I will edit this entry later to include photos but I am considering buying myself a designer bag for my birthday in three months time. Yes I should probably start saving now. I want something classic, big enough to hold my laptop, but not boring.

I am thinking MJ/Miu Miu/Luella. If you find any pics of big leather totes in cream, tan or chocolate please share with me!

p.s. please update me with stories of live travelling through Canada and meeting up with Esther and Stace... I miss you all!

Shop shop shop til you drop

2008-05-25T15:54:00.002+08:00

So to make myself feel a little better, I have done a tonne of shopping in the past few days.

The op sale on Saturday (with the divine Miss Miller) was pretty successful. I bought a blue White Suede dress with buttons down the front, an Alice McCall sweater dress, gingham pencil skirt, nautical blazer, embroidered white blouse, plaited leather belt and brown leather clutch.

Then today I bought a MAC brush set off ebay and MAC 'frost' colour pigment - I have decided I need to experiment more with makeup. No more blush-and-mascara combo! I will update when I get the items. A bonus was the $100 in my paypal account I had completely forgotten about...

$20 including shipping

$70 including shipping

So knowing that I had only spend $37 so far on my weekend spend, I did a Lush order for their peppermint mask, teatree toner and champagne snow dream solid perfume.

The next things on my list are my Macbook (but clean white or shiny silver Pro?); Dermalogica daily resurfacer, and new foundations/powders to use with my brush kit. I also need some new flats because mine have all stretched out and it's becoming difficult to walk in tights when my shoes keep getting left behind.

That will probably happen on Wednesday, then the p's might come home next weekend with my new jewellery box and perhaps other nice gifts!

This week I also intend on getting the film developed that I snapped over the weekend, and purchasing some new moleskines for list writing and panic prevention.

Oh and study.

o misery!

2008-05-24T17:47:00.004+08:00

I don't know if it's because I've had 2 hrs sleep, or I am genuinely in a terrible place right now. I am having trouble being happy for my friends because I am going to be miserable when the next 2 of the BFF's leave the country. Even the Red Cross Op Shop sale in Claremont can't brighten my dour mood.

So a list of pictures;

I am totally ready for this year to be over.

Oh, Sean Morris' artwork is heartbreaking.

Last day of work...

2008-05-15T23:02:00.004+08:00

After your Lover post, I spent quite a while looking at all the clothes I could buy if I was rich and in Australia... My favourites of the bunch were...

I do like those short skirts! I've also been looking around for a swimsuit because I didn't actually bring one to Canada!! Theres a nice one piece at H&M that I like, its grey and has underwire. For so long I thought that the only swimsuit I should have is a two piece but now I think there is a revival in the one piece and its much more suited to someone like me. Ideally I would like this swimsuit from Urban Outfitters...

... which I think would look a lot better on me because I have boobs and curves!
I've also been thinking about what I want to buy when my mum takes me shopping in Vancouver. I want a really good pair of black jeans, a nice skirt, a white shirt and I really want a leather jacket, probably just a cheap one though... I saw a girl with acid wash jeans the other day, I thought acid wash jeans would be a bad idea but she pulled it off really well! Now I'm thinking that maybe I want some acid wash jeans and behold, acid wash jeans at American Apparel!!

Yeah, I've had alot of time on my hands today as its my last day at Rogers and theres nothing really for me to do... I signed up for some shifts at the Worldwide Short Film Festival on Tuesday, one of my shifts is at a panel discussion called "Festival 101" which is all about getting your films into festivals and what to expect from various festivals. A guy from Sundance is going to be there which is kind of exciting! Yeah, its going to be great!

PS. I bought some silk flowers last night but I also really want these Sonia Rykiel flowers...

Love Bomb

2008-05-14T11:10:00.003+08:00

It's finally here...

S/S 08-09 has finally been uploaded and I've spent the last three hours drooling. But Natalie, I need your advice.

I am definitely going to order:

Ritual Silk Minidress

Sleeveless embroidered blouse (black)

and Daria Kimono-sleeve blouse;

but do I order:

Ritual silk blouse, and in which colour? Ivory?

and one of these two....

UNDERWIRE SWIMWEAR! Halter bikini or halter bodysuit? in Black Lace (left)

N.B. I am also going to stop cutting my hair now.

Update about Vancouver fashion when you can!

What I did today...

2008-05-14T04:42:00.002+08:00

Because I only have two days left of work and I don't really have a lot to do, I'm taking advantage of the high speed internet Rogers supplies their employees with (not like the slow speed internet they supply to their customers...) and doing some research. So today I did the following:
1. Applied for two volunteer positions, one at YYZ (an artist run collective that publishs books on Canadian art and a zine, as well has a pretty great gallery) and Design Exchange (massive design museum and education centre).
2. Befriended multiple coworkers on Facebook.
3. Worked out how I can fit 4 countries into one week in Europe.
4. Worked out how much it will cost to travel and sleep in said countries.
5. Picked out some duty free goods for when my parents come over.

Its been great. After Thursday, my life in Toronto is going to be quite different. The last few months I have had an excess of money and not a whole lot of time to spend it. Its also been super cold pretty much since I've gotten here and the weather has just started to change and I will now be able to appreciate it. I've planned to do alot of things that I haven't ever had time or money to do and now that I won't be working as much I will actually be able to achieve some of my goals here. I envision a Summer of bike rides, new friends, lots of parties and lots of valuable experiences. My time will be spilt three ways between work, volunteering and friendships. For example, my day today included working, followed by a volunteer meeting for Worldwide Short Film Festival, followed by a bike ride down to Queen West for a patio dinner with Kania. If only every day was like that!

On a fashion note, I really like the white and black flowers in this outfit from Facehunter...

Oh I got new glasses in the mail yesterday but I haven't taken a picture yesterday, I will post when I do!

Uh Ohh!

2008-05-13T01:34:00.002+08:00

I apologise for the lack of updates, I have been busy busy at work the last few weeks leaving me with no time to do anything except for what I'm paid to do... Thats half an excuse, the other half is that because I am now trying to spend a little less, I need to distract myself from the material things in life. However, while using television to distract myself, I was distracted once more by the fashions of Gossip Girl (which has gotten extremely intense and is not going the way I had hoped but still really good!). Last week's episode made me yearn for decorative headwear such as the ones Jenny and her posse were sporting...

I couldn't find a really good picture of the sparkly ones they had but you get the idea. And really, headbands and things like that aren't very expensive so really its a cheap and easy way to jazz up my style! Last night I took my first step into lavish hairwear and wore a large flower in my hair for the El Perro Del Mar show. I was a bit overdressed but who cares!

I also want all those coloured tights in those pictures... I went into American Apparel on Friday and I want alot of things in there. I have been steering clear of it lately because its kinda over priced and most of the stuff isn't that spectacular but I have stayed away long enough! All of this purchasing should wait till I see my parents, they'll want to spoil me!

Other updates, I have spent today looking for a volunteer position for when I return to Toronto. The rest of my day has been boring, I feel as if I have out stayed my welcome at this job and I kinda want to break up with them before they break up with me.

Inspired!

2008-05-02T20:48:00.002+08:00

Lately I'd been feeling really unmaterialistic. As though I'd lost my desire to buy new things, to look pretty, to express myself in my clothes and my style. I've been unhappy with the way I look lately, always business-y, clothes never look the same on my body as they do on others. But that's always been the case....

And then I realized what it was - I am finding inspiration and creativity in other places. I am getting really excited about my environment, about autumn, about looking effortless (and subconsciously being effortless, I suppose) and enjoying other things in life.

So this evening I got home from working in my new office, in Subiaco, and after sitting on park benches and discussing life with Esther, and read my sister's fashion mags. Vogue, STYD, Maddison, and now I am reinvigorated.

In a few weeks I will start reaping the (pay) benefit of my new job, and after taking a break in Subiaco I realized my work attire just will not cut it. I don't want to mix my casual clothes with my work ones - I will have nothing to wear when I go out and want to relax - so I need to get a few key items that can translate back and forth.

These two three words are my inspiration right now - The Antwerp 6. Ann Demeulemeester and Dries van Noten in particular. I am thinking big nerdy glasses, bradied messy hair, long plait scarves and lots of grey marle. Fringe, feathers and silver. Long cardigans under cropped leather over leggings, white sneakers and biker boots.

Oh boy.

Pepper that with some pink and/or white flowers, long ribbons and other miscellaneous corsages. I am in freaking heaven right now.

So now in some logical order;

First of all I will buy a pair of flat, pointy black brogues. These pair I own already, are the most uncomfortable shoes in the world.

whyyyyyyyy

Then I will continue collecting long grey cardigans, scarves, dark jeans, and some neutral beige and creams. Add apricot blush and pink lip cream, or dark stain for night time.... man, I hope I stick to this.

Below is my first (and probably only) purchase from Lover Winter 08. It's the Polly Cowl Neck bodice in Sand. Originally I had planned to wear it like the left, but trying it on today I can wear it like the right too.

Tomorrow night I'm going to see Insitut Polaire at the Bakery, I think I might wear the outfit on the right with my cropped leather jacket over the top. Delicious.

OK so what else is going on with me? I also read the IKEA catalogue when I was getting inspired, and yeah. It worked. I saw Against Me! on Wednesday and had an absolute ball, I will go and see them every opportunity I get. It made me miss you, and Guinness, though! I had a pint with John before hand but it wasn't quite tradition.

Also, you getting a bike is making me so jealous! I can't wait to get a creamy Amsterdam and ride around the city. If only I didn't have to wear a helmet, hah.

My resolution for this weekend is to meet at least one new person and not be a loser in front of boys I think are ok.

My life is pretty great right now, how about yours?

2008-05-01T22:42:00.003+08:00

So just an update on whats going on this week...
Last night Kania and I went to see I Think We're Alone Now which was a documentary about crazed Tiffany fans. It was kind of funny and kind of really sad, one guy had Asperger's syndrome and the other person was a hermaphrodite. The Q&A after was really good, the director was great and he seemed to have a lot more compassion for these people than the film let on.
Last night I also waited for an hour to meet some girl who's bike I was going to buy... She never showed up so in the meantime I'm going to be riding the bike that Will stole some time last year... nice!
Tuesday, Lindsay and I had band practise, it had been a while but we are still rock stars. We finished our world tour on medium, pretty much 5 stars for every song. Thats just how we roll. I really hope Esther, Stace and Rizz will enjoy Rock Star, I want to show them my skillz.
Monday night I did some shopping which is kind of bad... Lindsay has been telling me that "everything at the Gap goes on sale some time..." So I went to the Gap on Monday night and found out the cashmere cardigans I had my eye on a month or so ago have gone on sale!! So this is what I'm going to look like now...
Except my cardigans are blue and pink. I got some floral camis for $9 as well! I'm pretty much set for spring now.
In other shopping news, I'm shutting down Operation New Wardrobe for a few weeks. I go on vacation in 3 weeks and well, my parents haven't bought me anything in 6 months, I'm pretty sure my mum is going to go to town on spoiling me. Plus, H&M is opening their first Vancouver store a week before I get there! Its going to be bigger than the one in the Eaton Centre! I'm sure my parents would love to go on a 25% discount shopping spree there.
Ok I think thats about all. My plans for the weekend include seeing some Toronto band at some Gallery for some festival on Friday night, going to our downstairs neighbours first solo art show on Saturday afternoon, doing something fun on Saturday night involving copius amounts of alcohol and working with my crush on Sunday afternoon. Great!

JUNGLE FEVER!

2008-04-28T22:39:00.007+08:00

So as you know, I have come down with a bad case of jungle fever. Its been brewing for a while but has escalated sinceI developed a crush on a very attractive man at H&M. So I thought I would dedicate a post to some beautiful and talented men who have fuelled my jungle fever for years...

Mos Def Kele Okereke Pharrell

This has nothing to do with fashion or life, they're just nice to look at. Here's an update on my life:

This week I worked alot. 65 hours (not including Hot Docs shifts). I also saw 11 documentaries and had an average of 6 hours sleep each night. The TTC went on a suprise strike on Friday night at midnight (while we were watching Eleven Minutes...SUPRISE!) and I had to walk to work on Saturday morning. I need to get a bike STAT! But I am feeling fabulous. I think fabulous is a stupid word but thats exactly how I feel. I bought some clothing items at work on Saturday, an oversized white tshirt, sunglasses that aren't as super trendy as my current sunglasses, an amazing scarf and a shirt I had my eye on for months and finally went on sale this week. I will photograph sometime, I have more time this week.

Thats about all! It is raining and cold today, I had to wear pants to work :(

2008-04-28T21:27:00.002+08:00

I got my hair cut the other day, it's shorter!

It essentially looks like this, from Facehunter. It's also a really dark brown, and kind of annoying so far. It will look awesome with huge flowers and fascinators and the like, though.

I also got really drunk all weekend, then set up a market stall at a swapmeet with Esther on Sunday. I think we sold about 80% of what we brought with us, and made about $180 all up.

I've also decided that I will move out before my secondment starts in July, I would enjoy some space away from the family and closer to amenities, work, etc. Do you have any suggestions of where I should look, and with whom? It seems like everyone wants a room lately. I'd rather move into an established house than have to find one/apply for it/bring whitegoods, etc.

I am getting super jealous of Est & Stace's impending vacation, I wish I was coming back to Toronto to hang with you.

I think that the email you sent me about jobs looks AWESOME and the programming assistant is my favourite of the available jobs.

I'm going to get back to being a lazy emailer and good procrastinator now, I have a zillion things to do and no desire.

Secretary's Day!

2008-04-24T03:14:00.003+08:00

Today is Secretary's Day (apparently) so all the assistants in my department at work got flowers! Including me! I would take a picture but I don't have a camera... but still, flowers!!! You know how I love flowers.

Last night Kania and I went to see Wesley Willis's Joy Rides, it was pretty great! It was a mix of sadness and happiness, he was such an awesome person but so many sad things happened to him. It kind of made you feel like life isn't fair, but then again he found a way through all the crap to have a really great life so yeah. Here is one of the thousands of pictures he drew...

I have a lot of thoughts going through my head at the moment that are not really in the spirit of this blog but I will tell you later.
HAPPY DAYS!

Employment, etc.

2008-04-23T09:43:00.002+08:00

So after our productive phone conversation on Monday evening, I trotted off to work at Tura on Tuesday and stuffed envelopes for 5 hours. That's not the fun part though.

The fun part is that BEAP (the biennale of electronic arts perth) is restructuring in preparation for next year's festival, and I just got a job with them! Starting on Tuesday I will be pretty much the only paid employee at BEAP while a consultant from Sydney comes over and meets with all the heads of arts boards and holds round tables to discuss the future of BEAP, and I am organizing his entire visit. So I will get to meet heaps of people in the arts communities of Perth and be at all these conferences, hella exciting.

Hopefully this will carry on throughout my secondment too and I will be able to earn a bit of cash moneys as a side dish on my final semester's plate. Yesterday I was feeling really flu-ey so I was kind of blergh about the whole thing but today I feel pretty excited. I just received my ABN so I can pay myself, got the key to the office yesterday and am going to have a fun weekend to get amped for it.

Oh and 6 weeks of classes left.. my last 6 weeks!

This Saturday I am going to get a haircut and buy some lip stain. So many catwalk shows have starred lip stains lately, yet I can't find a good pic to post. I hope your busy week is fun and update me soon...

Shopping Adventures!!

2008-04-21T23:27:00.005+08:00

I somehow fitted some shopping into my busy busy life this weekend, it was kind of a whirlwind shop, I was in the store for less than half an hour and half of that was standing in line... Anyway, I haven't had a chance to take pictures but here are some things I bought...This is so much better in real life than this picture...
I am wearing this at work today!

These purchases tick off some items from my new wardrobe list (namely "floral shirt" and "sheer blouses"). All the flowers that have been popping up around Toronto this last week has made me want even MORE florals!! Next on my list is a floral skirt, not unlike this one...... from l'atelier d'une fee. I was always a little unsure on what I would do if I did have a floral skirt, like how to wear it and all that, but I really like this look and I have done this with un-floral skirts before, I can make it work...

In life news, my contract at Rogers has been extended until I leave for vacation with my parents! I will be rolling in money by then!!

Friday Shopping Adventures

2008-04-19T10:41:00.003+08:00

Well I'm not doing anything exciting with my life right now, so I can't tell you about any awesome bands or great parties at all! I did go and see Off Minor last weekend at the Hydey and they played really well, even though all of their equipment failed at some point.

I have to buy a ticket for Against Me! this week but I don't know if anyone else is going. I'm trying to convince Laura but it's a slippery slope...

So in the past three days I've watched almost 2 seasons of Six Feet Under and yesterday I went shopping with my mum. She bought me a great silk dress (from Target..!) with an awesome ruffled scoop neckline for work, and a pair of DECORATIVE ANTLERS that I really love. We went into Freedom and had a look at all these great homewares, I almost drooled on a desk. Seriously it's gorgeous.

But on the fashion side of life, I am still hunting for the perfect pair of flat slingbacks. I think slingbacks look good with dresses OR pants, and all my flats stretch after a few wears and fall off while I walk. Slingbacks with an elasticated strap hopefully will avoid this problem!

I found a great pair by MIDAS that I can't find an online photo of, they're oyster coloured leather with three big clear jewels on the front. Cute almond toe too. Nothing beats these though...

Marc by Marc Jacobs flats, about $450 from net-a-porter.

I also am experiencing a crush on a boy, I added him to my myspak (before even talking to him, what am I, 15?) so I could lurk his profile. Good times.

Here are some pictures of things I saw in Freedom yesterday:

I also saw a daybed that was like a huge armchair. I loved it.

So today I plan on actually doing some study in my study week, avoiding the Subway DC sale, watching more Six Feet Under and recovering from this ungodly cold. I may convert a floral dress I opp'd into a skirt though! Wish me sewing luck...

rant...

2008-04-18T03:10:00.002+08:00

So I would just like to talk about how I don't like Cory Kennedy today. I think I go through phases where I do like her and think that she's cool and puts together outfits really well and all that, but right now I don't. This was first sparked on Tuesday night at MGMT where there were a whole pile of girls who obviously read Cory's blog. Every girl looked trashy and drunk/on drugs and like they would sleep with any guy around, but were still wearing clothes that I would like to own... I just don't get it, do they really think they look attractive like that? They need to take a shower, mend their ripped/ill-fitting clothes and brush their hair. Now I'm all for looking a little dishevelled, I OFTEN look a little dishevelled (mostly because I don't have an hour every morning to do my hair and makeup...) and I kinda like the oversized look, I would totally do it if I wasn't oversized already. But there is a line. I am blaming Cory Kennedy (although I'm sure its not actually all her fault at all...) because she seems be the person who started this trashy/hobo chic look. And I just looked at her blog and seriously, she always looks like she's either just about to fall asleep or just about to vommit. And generally, I like her long wavy brown locks and sometimes she wears her hair in ways that I'm like man I wish I had long wavy brown locks so I could wear my hair like that but fuck, brush your hair when you go out in the morning!!! Especially when you KNOW someones going to be taking pictures of you all day!!

Maybe I'm just feeling a little bit bitter because she is living this amazing life where she gets jetted off to every country ever to experience all this amazing stuff and meet amazing people (and hang out with Emile Hirsch) and be GIVEN all these amazing clothes but hey, if I was her, I would try a bit harder to look like I didn't just roll out of bed. Like if I was sitting front row at Chanel, I would brush my hair. If I was hanging out with Lou Doillon, I would try and look like I wasn't falling asleep. JANE BIRKIN IS HER MUM, HAVE SOME RESPECT. Deep down, I hope that she starts dressing a bit better, brushing her hair before she leaves the house and hopefully doing something good with all the opportunities she has been given, apart from appearing on the covers of magazines and going to parties. Otherwise she is going to end up being one of those "celebrities" who get caught showing their underwear in the drive-thru of Taco Bel. I mean she is young, she has her whole life to redeem herself but she does have a lot to answer for with the fashion choices of the young hipster nation.

Anyway, I just wanted to rant about it. I have had a good run of not encountering her on my daily blog searches and like they say, out of sight, out of mind. I'm just bored and feeling chatty today but I have noone to talk to except the internet.

In other news, Hot Docs starts tonight and I get to work at the party and I get a walkie talkie!!! Sweet. I will update with what films I see when I see them.

Guess where this is from...

2008-04-17T01:18:00.002+08:00

Well I hope you are as shocked as I am when I reveal it is from.... FOREVER 21!
Now I can't say that I know enough about Forever 21 to condemn it completely, I have made two trips into the store in my whole life, both trips I wished I was somewhere else... But after seeing Forever 21 cited in many other blogs, I thought I would check out their Canadian website and oh boy, I was shocked. Its like sheer blouse and ruffle heaven! And all for low low prices!! Now I've only seen these things on the internet and some times things don't work out so well in real life, I'm going to the store on Sunday to investigate...
But either way, check out Forever 21 Canada, particularly the dresses and blouses/shirts sections. I'm not saying everything is amazing, it is Forever 21, but there are some gems in there. Some gems I hope to own.

Boooooo

2008-04-14T22:07:00.004+08:00

I am sick. I came down with the flu about halfway through Saturday and woke up Sunday morning feeling like death... I don't have time to be sick Mr. Immune System!!! I guess I was counting myself too lucky with not getting sick over winter...
I still got up to some things over the weekend though, including some thrift store shopping (yes I just said thrift store)! I bought two pairs of shorts and two floral scarves, I wore one of each last night to Cloudcult. Faded black denim high waisted shorts and blue scarf with tulips and "Holland" written around the edge. Its awesome. When I feel up to it (and have time) I will post some pictures. Friday night, me, Kania and Kania's coworker David went to the No Cuts, No Splices Super 8 screening/party for Images, it was pretty good although we were all tired and wet after being caught in the rain running from David's apartment to the Gladstone. The screening was a good motivater, alot of them were like hey I could do that, and hopefully over summer we will. This is a still from one of the best shorts, lots and lots of treeeeesss...

So Images finished on Sunday, I couldn't make it to my last shift because I felt so sick :( Hot Docs starts on Thursday night and some good news out of all this volunteering (apart from the 16 screening vouchers I have for Hot Docs!) is that the volunteer coordinator for Images (who is also a theatre manager for Hot Docs) recommended me to be a volunteer captain for Hot Docs! Volunteer captains are kind of like supervisors, they tell the other volunteers what to do and when they can take a break and all that, the job is only ever given to veteran volunteers or people who have been recommended so it was very exciting that she recommended me! Its nice to be acknowledged, especially for something you really want to do.

I don't have much more to add apart from a life update. Being sick leaves me feeling very uninspired. Working at a boring 9-5 job where I do nothing does as well. I'm going to use my spare time today to create a cleaning schedule for our house and work out an outfit that is cool enough to wear to MGMT tonight.

Can I just say...

2008-04-13T19:50:00.004+08:00

This is the best thing I've seen today.

Watch this space for plagarised version, as this is 400 pounds.

Always something on my mind...

2008-04-12T04:26:00.002+08:00

Some things that have been brewing in the bottom of mind all day.

1. Radiohead tickets - they went on presale today, I picked up three for the lawn area of the amplitheatre they're playing at, we're going to try tomorrow when they actually go on sale for some closer seated tickets. But holy shit, I'm going to see Radiohead.
2. This bike...
I really want a bike, it doesn't have to be this one but one similiar that would go with most of my outfits. My problem at the moment is that I don't have any time to go out into the suburbs to buy a cheap one so I'm looking on craigslist where people put the bikes in the suburbs up for sale for like $200.... But I'm not going to spend $200 on a bike I'll only use for 6 months then have to sell.
3. Men in well tailored suits. Working at a company as huge as Rogers, I see a lot of men in suits and there are alot of ill fitting suits around. I guess this can be translated into clothing anywhere but I've just been noticing the suits more. But yeah, it always looks better when something fits just right.

Ok thats about all, I am off to the second leg of my 13 hour day. Craziness...

Friday Night

2008-04-11T19:56:00.001+08:00

Listening to: MGMT - Kids

Today I got my secondment confirmed at Tura New Music. Their GM did my degree and is excited. I might be going on their Pilbarra tour for 2 weeks, over my birthday. I'm excited.

What did you buy Natalie?

2008-04-10T22:51:00.006+08:00

So my big pay day was on Friday and I went shopping! Unfortunately, since I went shopping, I haven't had time to eat let alone take pictures of the things I bought so instead I have found said things on the internet and will show you that way!!
So firstly I went to Urban Outfitters and I bought this shirt, the picture on the website really doesn't do it justice, maybe because of the floral singlet underneath... Its wonderful though. It was on my list as well, I wanted more button down shirts and this one is sheer and kinda sexy but its really cute as well. I also bought some earrings with 'N's on them, you know, for Natalie. I've been wanting to start wearing earrings more often, I have holes in my ears, why don't I put something in them! I just have to make sure they don't swivel and become 'Z's, I don't want people thinking my names Zoe...

Next up I went to Sephora, my first buying experience at Sephora, it was actually quite good, mostly because noone spoke to me until I was at the counter. I bought the following items...
My interim fragrance, Maybe Baby by Benefit.
My skin feels creamier already!!

Thats about all to write home about shopping wise. In other news, I am 4 days (or 37 hours) into my first 70 hour work week, its been insane. Images is awesome though, I'm meeting heaps of great people and the volunteer coordinator works for lots of other festivals so making a good impression on her will be a good start for the rest of my time here. That said, I haven't had time to eat dinner the last few nights... But thats not totally from working so much, I have my extraEXTRAcurricular activities. Tuesday was Jens, it was good, but he seemed really sad... and last night I saw Okkervil River and the New Pornographers, featuing this lovely woman...

Neko Case! She never tours with the New Pornographers! Everyone was real excited.

The rest of my week involves more work. I think if I do buy anything new, it will be while I'm at work. I have had my eye on a bag there for a while, its kind of like your black bag from UO but not as big/as nice. I'm also trying to find time to get my haircut, although its now long enough to tie up in a high bun (aka. my favourite hairstyle of last year) so I might just go with it for a while.
One day soon I will take photographs of the outfits I have been wearing lately, I just need to find time to do my laundry so said outfits are clean...

Oh and winter is almost over!!! On two occasions this week I was seen walking around the streets wearing a tshirt and jeans! Too bad its going to be 5degrees tomorrow...

Good Evening!

2008-04-09T22:00:00.004+08:00

Hello world! I'm sorry I haven't written, I haven't had much to say lately. But I'm back, after a particularly good fortnight of op-shopping with a renewed passion for fashion. I've taken pictures of about half of my haul, and will describe more later.. I am so proud, I feel it important to document!

Usually I buy whatever takes my fancy, regardless of style, fit, condition, etc. So it was my aim to go with a list of things that would fit into my wardrobe and go well with everything, things that are durable and timeless, and not too expensive.

So I looked at my three favourite things lately; the new Miu Miu line, Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony, and Annie Hall.

I really wanted the picture of her singing the first time in the cabaret bar, with the highwaisted pants and popped collar. But this is sweet too. Cool androgyny; I bought but didn't photograph a long tuxedo jacket with cream silk lining, and this movie explains why I've been wearing oversized mens shirts undone to the bra-line with tight jeans & skirts all weekend!

I love the rockabilly aesthetic of this whole collection; like feminist punk, the type that aren't afraid to wear bondage heels and too-tight pencil skirts. I am still hunting for a long gingham pencil skirt, tacky florals and a good haircut.

So here are my purchases;

l-r: sleeveless gingham shirt, very rockabilly; long sleeved ruffle blouse, very Miu Miu; cream roll-sleeved blouse; and low-cut ruffle blouse, because I need some play clothes too.
Total cost: $11.00

2 out of 3 high waisted skirts I bought; knee-length coffee check with silver thread; above the knee black with pinstripe and awesome back pockets. Add to the navy skirt I bought last week.
Total cost: $14.00

These skirts really make me want the Lover san jose blouse that I tried on and passed up just before I went overseas last year. Sadness. The $300 odd dollars felt like far too much then - it still is now, but I want it more too.

I also purchased (new) a slouchy, cream tee shirt with a cowl neck and cute ties that keeps it together from David Jones for $50, reduced from $150. I tried on these chunky heels in Zomp that are like almond-toe pumps with about 7 straps up the foot, I have been dreaming about them and can feel a lay-by coming on. I also bought a tonne of Elle Macpherson underwear, both basics and vintage-inspired lace and silk numbers. Style Bytes, damn her, is reigniting my love of all things vintage with undergarments and homewares.

With my mid-semester break next week and my welfare check coming in Friday you can bet I will venture out to Midland and Armadale one day in the near future. Like I said, I'm still hunting for sunglasses, a gingham pencil skirt and tacky florals. I might also look for a skinny black tie and deep v-neck sweaters to wear over my many Ralph Lauren fitted shirts I've found by fluke.

I am entertaining my boring lectures with thoughts of the future; post-university jobs and possibilities, oh I have an interview on Friday with Tura New Music, living the punk rock dream and moving to a different state armed with only a suitcase of my belongings, and falling in love. After seeing a former crush on Friday night (but still not summoning the courage to speak), I have been fantasizing about meeting a lover, being wildly in love, and traveling the world together. For the first time in a long time I am actually caring about boys, and getting giddy at the sight of particularly tall, geeky types.

My final point of business is that I plan on losing some weight this winter. I have set a goal and a time (22 June - or end of semester 1) so I will update with my progress, I suppose. I'm 10 days into the program, eating well and jogging daily. Today's soundtrack was The Panda Band, and it was a nice rhythm to run to.

You've got mail!

2008-04-05T11:48:00.003+08:00

This was waiting for me when I got home today. It was a gift from Matthew, it totally made me cry and miss home and friends alot :( I ate the vegemite straight away! It tasty like salty brown love...

Springtime!

2008-04-04T23:36:00.007+08:00

I am being optimistic with Spring, there have been a few days where the temperature has hovered over 10degrees, its been marvellous. I know its going to be a while before I can get my legs out and hang up my coat for the last time but still, I'm excited. I have visions of time spent riding around parks on my bike wearing floaty floral dresses. Its going to be magical. And what better way to get excited about spring than some floral fashions!

from Facehunter.

All from Lorick! which is the lady who designs most of the clothes on Gossip Girl. By the by, her label is stocked in a store in PERTH!!! I don't know what the price range is but yeah, I love it...

I still have to endure the "April showers" until I get to the "May flowers" but florals are what its all about. I hope these flowers brightened your day!

The Cardinal Rules of Looking Good

2008-04-02T09:49:00.000+08:00

Okay so with much ado, I've been looking at ways to improve my wardrobe (or me wearing my wardrobe) without spending too much money on it.

I think we both have a bit of know-how when it comes to looking good so perhaps we can make our own rules about things!

1. You wear the clothes, not the other way around.
It really bothers me seeing people that are constantly fidgeting with hemlines or cuffs or waistbands, if it doesn't sit right, it's wrong for you and detracts from your look.

2. Hem and cuff things properly
Similar to the previous point, it is scruffy seeing jeans that are too long or sleeves that go halfway down your palm.

3. It's all in the underwear
You were talking about this before and I totally agree - the right underwear makes clothes look good. I love how Carrie in Sex and the City can show a bit of her bra and it doesn't look trashy, I think this can only work with a gorgeous bra that is well-fitted. Ditto for undergarments, I don't mind wearing nanna knickers under tight skirts if it means I won't get bumps in the sides.

4. Colour (or lack of)
I know that some colours suit me and others don't, and I rarely like to push this! I know that I have olive skin and dark features, so I wear green and blue and peach because they highlight but not red or yellow or orange because they detract.

Feel free to add...

Reason #524 why I should learn french...

2008-04-02T03:21:00.000+08:00

This blog.

So I can understand what blogs like these are trying to tell me.
Thanks to Moderniteter for introducing me to another blog I can't read...

In 1992 I was 4

2008-04-01T12:38:00.000+08:00

So here's what's up with me.

It's the Youth Week Launch on Saturday; and it's forecasting rain. I've been working on this for about 2 months now, and honestly I just want it to be over. Plus, when I get my cheque I can buy a Macbook! Writing a 30,000 word paper will be easier when I can bring my computer to the books, rather than carrying hundreds of books home.

I also have an interview for a secondment place on Monday. It's with Tura New Music - they're having their bienniale next year and it would be an exciting place to work when that comes round. I asked a few people what the general impression is - they're a small company who are very stylish, and they sound nice over the phone! All of this has made me a bit more chipper this week.

I picked up my new glasses yesterday - couldn't get a good picture of them, so I found one on the interweb! Since going overseas, I've been wearing my glasses a lot more and I wanted some that are more subtle than your average nerd glasses. These are actually deceptively thick at the top and look more mature than the Prada ones I wore last year. I plan on getting a new pair every year from now on, rather than every two years. Variety ahoy.
So today I am procrastinating from homework, I have a big paper due on Friday that I'm about 2/3 finished. It's the last few sections that are giving me grief, so I will update this blog, work for another hour then hit some op shops. I'm going to go to the High Road area and I am on the lookout for swishy skirts at knee length, sweaters, button down shirts and perhaps even a tie.

I watched about 4 episodes of The Hills today; around the time where Lauren and Whitney go to New York and run the Young Hollywood party. Lauren meets Marc Jacobs! When I get my tax return, one of his pretty purses will be in my paws just in time for my birthday - the loneliest one ever. Hopefully Thomas will be my BFF and have fun with me, it is a Thursday night after all.

Anyway they are doing heaps of work scenes in the show, and the one thing that keeps them looking polished and sophisticated even with unwashed hair and illfitting clothes is their shoes. Gorgeous heels, all the time. I bought these from Faith in London and I am in the process of wearing them in. Last time I wore them out I walked from Northbridge to the Belgian and back, and I didn't fall over once.

My dad gave me his ipod nano today, it's brand new and very pretty. It can only hold 4gb but I only use mine now for driving and walking, so I have put a new bevvy of songs on there. Some features include The Smiths, Lucero, The Kooks, Jawbreaker, Adam and the Ants, Moondog, Jesu, etc. etc. etc. Life is musical.

Last but not least, your life plans have made me think about my own. I only know that I want to be living, or have lived, in a different city by the time I turn 25 in 3 1/2 years, and I want to be heading in a good direction career-wise when I'm 30. That said, a lot of time between then and now to have fun and be young. I've been thinking about Perth, and if my best friends aren't here then the things that I love about this city will be few and far between. So if you decide to move to Melbourne next year, and want some company, I may go with you! I think if I get a job here at the end of secondment, I should put in a year to get a good start, and by that summer I will be ready to make some life-changing decisions.

Excitement ahoy.

How old were you in 1992?

2008-03-31T23:20:00.000+08:00

My weekend was full of music and fun. It all started on Friday night when I saw this band...

which is Beach House. They were super good and the band that supported them were super good too, all of their songs sounded like they could have featured in a remake of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, lots of eerie country... And their bass player had a killer moustache, it was amazing.

Lets skip over Saturday and talk about Sunday. I went to my first ever ice hockey game, it was intense, lots of people got smashed into walls but no fights :( I went to see Sunset Rubdown that night which featured this man...

He was really pretty and funny and from Montreal which means he can speak french even though he sounds like a normal canadian! Loves it... There were a lot of attractive men at both of those shows, like I would date about 50% of the male crowd... I need to find out where these boys go on the weekend. I met some guy who was friends with my friend Ben, he was like hey don't you work at H&M and I was like yeah I do! Recognised on the street, I'm like a minor celebrity. If he was cute and not so kinda creepy it would have been better though.

On the subject of minor celebrities, I saw a Degrassi cast member at Spadina subway station on Saturday night! He left me breathless.

I have been forgetting what clothes I've been wearing lately. I see girls wearing things and I'm like man that looks cool, I wish I was wearing that. Then I look down or take my coat off and realise I kinda am wearing that... I liked my hair the other day, I have been thinking about doing something with it but I can't decide. I think right now I don't have time to do anything so I might leave it till I have a day/afternoon/hour off...
Oh and Friday is the day, I finally get paid and can begin my journey to a new wardrobe!!

oh you're so silent natalie...

2008-03-29T09:55:00.000+09:00

Yes I have been silent! But thats because my life is a crazy ride right now! Everythings happening all at once and I have never been happier!!
This week was volunteer sign up week for both images and hot docs so I signed up for 5 shifts for images and 7 shifts for hot docs. It is going to be intense. During hot docs, I will be working 9-5 at Rogers, 5:30-10:30 at Bloor Cinema, then seeing a 11:45pm show that same night. Its going to be a whirlwind of film!!! The highlight I suspect, will be Wesley Willis's Joy Ride. Oh yes. The highlight of Image may be the suprise bonus live show featuring none other than JENS LEKMAN!!!

Yes that sweet man is suprising Toronto, and me, as I had no idea he was coming and I even knew his touring schedule for the next few months and I have read the Images book like a thousand times! I totally freaked out about it! He thought he could come to a city I'm in and get by me? No luck Mr. Lekman. I have sent many-a-pleading email to my images lady volunteering my time to work at the show, even though I already bought a ticket, anything to get in Jens' good books!! I am beyond excited, I was feeling light headed all day today...

So now to the wardrobe. I am obviously still in the planning stages because I am poor until Friday the 4th of April but I thought I would update you on what I am going to start with. One of the things the article in Elle told me was that you should start with some good quality underwear. Now I don't know if you know this but I think you do, I don't really enjoy going underwear shopping. My large rack makes it hard for me to find things that fit me and I hate that I have to contemplate going into the fuller figure section because I would not say I am fat. But anyway, I haven't bought any new underwear since I left Australia and I kinda need some. So thats first. And they will be smart choices in underwear, bras in colours and styles that will compliment my new wardrobe. I have also picked out a bag at h&m which I think would go with the clothes I wear now but also fit very well into the new wardrobe. And the next item will be some black jeans, probably the same style as my jeans now, just in black. Some other things on my list include
- a blazer (preferrable black and can be worn either formally in an office situation or casually)
- Cashmere cardigans from the Gap in a variety of candy coloured pastels
- High(ish)waisted shorts (I don't think I can do extreme high waist, again a rack problem, but at least high enough so bending over won't reveal anything)
- Floral blouses, tiny floral print, probably in sheerish fabrics.
- Plain coloured button down shirts, kinda Ralph Lauren style but not as expensive.
- Floral skirt, subtle floral though...

Ok thats all I want to share right now, and I haven't even talked about accessories! But for now I think thats all I want. I'm also planning on buying an interim perfume, something kind of cheap but still nice, to hold me over till my parents come. I want to smell like flowers because I'm really into that right now... So I'm deciding between Maybe Baby by Benefit or Amazing Grace by Philosophy. They smell kind of similar so yeah.

Tonight, Kania and I are going to see Beach House, I am very excited. Tomorrow I have a job interview at a hostel, I hope it goes well because it would be super fun to work at a hostel over summer. I have tried to think up a good outfit that will take me from an interview, then to work at h&m and then to karaoke. While I was thinking about this, I was checking Style Bytes which I just added to our blog list. I have been looking at her blog for a while, she has gotten very glamourous lately and I'm always like shit how does she do it! And then I saw this outfit and realised all I need is a tshirt, a pencil skirt and cute accessories and I have an outfit!

Loves it.

2008-03-25T10:55:00.001+09:00

Imagine my surprise this morning when the email I get regularly from refinery29 had something I actually liked in it! And more than that, something I could actually wear! Built By Wendy's Spring '08 collection is really cute and fresh, and I think there are things for both you and I, Natalie. I really love the long sportjacket, it reminded me of the one I opped last week (but still haven't had drycleaned). Also, the florals are really sweet. The bottom Flower Scoop Mini is all about rack & legs, you should look at the website to see it on the pretty model.

Built By Wendy Spring '08

I also found a pretty girl's flickr via Wardrobe Remix. Her haircut is so sweet, give me your opinion. Do you think this haircut will look as good with dark hair? Probably black, I think it's all black for winter. From what I can deduce, it's a little longer at the front and then bobbed at the hairline at the neck. I don't think I'd wear the bits (she has them plaited here) out, but I'm okay with little plaits all the time! I also don't want to look like a lesbian, if I'm going to be wearing blazers all winter.

Pic courtesy of piksi_

I really enjoyed your last post, Natalie, so I am going to list a list of basics that I think will complete my current wardrobe. I am also a culprit of thinking "yeah all I need is like, a sequined bolero jacket to complete my style" when in reality, nothing I own would go with a sequined bolero so that adds a whole other list of problems in my already questionable style scheme.

Good Flats
Starting from the bottom up, I really need 2 good pairs of flats. One hard wearing leather ballet flat, one sparkly almond-toe slingback. I have so many pairs of flats already but none that are really universal.

Booties
I am going to get some booties this winter that I hope will stay in my style for some time. I want some that are almond-toe, ankle length, and have heavy duty fastenings like buckles and zips. In an antique brown or black, please.

Good Raw Jeans
Stretch jeans can only last so long, so I need to find a well-fitting pair of raw denim jeans. I like Denimbirds but my budget, and body type, doesn't. Suggestions will be taken as of Winter.

Silk & Cotton Blouses
... are perfect. Vintage optional, in muted pastels and neutrals and every colour! They breathe, unlike the synthetic pussybow blouses of my past. I can also wear these casually or formally.

Cotton T-Shirts
In neutral or bold colours, oversized, sleeves rollable. I have taken to wearing L v-necked American Apparel t-shirts under last summer's pinafores, it's adorable.

Cashmere
I really want some cashmere this winter. A nice sweater or two, and a cardigan.

LBD's
I already have more than enough, but the hunt continues. I could really do with a strapless LBD that's fitted at the top and rounder from the waist to the knee. Heidi Klum wears one on a Project Runway ad that looks quilted, and that really appeals to me!

Summer Frocks
Vintage, or chain store, summer frocks are the greatest thing ever. To be able to sit on a picnic rug encircled with pretty patterned cotton is truly a blessing.

Outerwear
I have many blazers, that I love. Also a cropped leather jacket, my Lover tapestry cape, my APC over-shirt-jacket-thing, and my Kate Hurst mini peacoat. I'd really love a little capelet that ties in a bow to fasten to wear over above LBD with wrist-length-gloves.

Purses
A large leather tote (M by MJ?), a small shoulder bag (Luella?), a canvas duffle bag (Country Road?) and a pretty evening purse should do me just fine.

Headwear
Headbands, hats and feathers galore. When I finally make something worth taking a picture of, I will post.

Now I just have to fund these extravagances, find them, and be on my way!

Oh so now a real-life update. I had a minor breakdown last week about my lack of prac options. I was totally in the frame of mind where, this prac was going to determine the rest of my life. I have now set myself the goals of; 25 - not in Perth; 30 - on the right track. So I can work in music or theatre or festivals until I get the experience I need, go somewhere I really want to be, and then start on the discipline I want to be in. I'm also going to make a lot of art this year. Once Esther and Stace leave, I am going to be a total study bug, but I really want to have an outlet that isn't uni-related to blow off steam. Expect watercolours and experiments with light.

On Saturday I saw Lullatone at the Bakery, they were seriously the cutest thing ever. They handed recorders out to the crowd and made a symphony. Their latest album is called Bedtime Beats, all about getting ready for bed and going to sleep. By the end of it, I felt as though I'd eaten my body weight in fairy floss, but it was worth it.

Ba-donk-a-donkey

2008-03-24T04:08:00.000+09:00

H&M is slowly killing me.
I would have updated earlier about all this but I have been working like a mad woman. Even though this was a short work week and I took a day off for Images, I still worked about 45 hours. This week was the grand re-opening of my H&M, which involved a press party and alot of drunk women hanging out in change rooms for hours. It was actually pretty fun and our store looks amazing. So because we have all three floors open again and its gradually getting warmer, people are shopping alot and I am working alot. Right now it kind of sucks because I have no time to even scratch myself but I know in a few weeks, when my pay cheques start rolling in, I will be a lot happier.

Until that day comes, all I can do is plan. And plan I will! I recently read an article in Elle UK (which I am going to buy everytime I find it because it is just great) about wardrobe makeovers. Basically, some girl let someone talk her into throwing out all her clothes and replacing them with a wardrobe of fewer clothes which were more suited to her figure and style. I am really into this idea; I think it will solve all my style problems, it would give me a more refined wardrobe. But because I am not a millionaire who can afford to throw out all her clothes and buy a whole pile of new ones, I have decided to plan out this transition from style schizophrenic to someone with a more mature style. I've written a list a staples that I need to buy gradually and in order of importance, buying things that I can wear with the clothes I already have rather than buying random items that I can't wear until I buy the other items. This has also made me decide on what kind of style I want to have. I think I generally want to look cute like all the time so theres no point fighting that. I don't know if my love for florals is just because winter has been going on forever but I enjoy flowers so I want to continue with that. I have nice legs and a good rack so I'm going to start dressing to show them off, ie. continue wearing shortish skirts and buy some lower cut shirts, you know without looking slutty... I've always been into that preppy kind of look, the New York prep school kind of thing, so this new style will be a mix of different things, but in my head its all working out.

It feels good to be working everything in my life out. I have the career plan down, the style plan down, I think that my time away from my normal life has put alot of things into perspective as well, my priorities have changed. My priorities used to be friends, partying, looking cool. I really miss my family and I didn't expect that. I don't think I ever made them a priority in my life and I think that should change. Quality over quantity should be a priority, in all aspects. With my friends, there's people who I really like and who make me want to do things with my life (a few at home and a few in Canada) and I have kinda been holding onto a lot of people who never supported me or motivated me to do anything at all just because I've known them a long time. I need to get rid of the things that don't make me happy and start putting in more things that do. Its like I'm spring cleaning my life! I spring cleaned my house on Friday, noone cared and Chris hasn't washed her dishes since Friday night... but I'm still feeling good!

I have to say that I really like this skill of mine to pick myself up and make things work. I did it once before, bounced back after a tough time, and I feel like I'm doing it again but in a bigger way. I've started listening to much happier music as well. I'm embracing the indie hipster label I have been given by particular friends here in Canada and I am listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend and Born Ruffians and MGMT. Which is all cute pop songs which make me want to dance. Its a fun time of life Jessica, the sun is beginning to shine, my feet are continuing to dance, I'm doing more than I ever have/ever thought I would be doing!

I also spent last night in the company of attractive scandenavian men. Actually they were in a movie I watched called Reprise which was super good and one of the main guys were so attractive I occasionally forgot to read the subtitles because he was so distracting. I couldn't find a really good picture of him on the internet but there's this one.

Ok its laundry time!

Miu Miu

2008-03-18T19:55:00.000+09:00

After choosing Miu Miu frames at OPSM today - of which I'll post pics when they arrive in my paws - I am all about this label. The campaign, the clothes, Kirsten, etc.

So while procrastinating from study today, I put together my favourite looks:

This headband

With this dress for office, add black ankle-strap pumps..This dress for casual, with black ballet flats..

And this dress for formal, with jewel-tone heels.

Now all I need is a rich husband to finance the whole thing. And the perfect figure to pull it all off. I have a few ideas how I'll emulate this in my own wardrobe, but more details of that later...

Op shopping today was a complete success. I bought a long, tailored tuxedo blazer with cream silk lining, a blouse in the same shade of cream, a black shirt with silk ruffles down the front and a navy pencil skirt. I also went to Spotlight and got a few materials with which I'll get crafty later, namely organza roses to make a headpiece out of and a tonne of black ribbons to do the same. Hopefully over Easter I'll actually get something done and post something useful!

Hrrrrrr

2008-03-17T21:05:00.000+09:00

I need to go the hairdressers before I turn grey, and therefore need some advice..

Currently I am working the long-fringe-and-braids-bun but when I wear it out, it looks outgrown. Below is a picture of Maggie Gyllenhaal in 'Stranger than Fiction', I think my hair would do this okay.

It's pretty cute and I think it would go with my style this winter! But is it too similar to my last hairstyle..? And do I really like her hair, or do I want to be her character in this movie? Sweet, creative tattooed girl who has a great townhouse and who's lucky in love?

You be the judge... I would obviously love a long thick mane of beautiful hair but that just isn't in my destiny.

Tomorrow I am choosing new glasses, hitting the op-shop traps and interviewing at a bookstore, and telephoning you. I will update with hopefully new, old clothes and success in all areas of my life.

Oh and I saw Cat Power yesterday, le sigh. <3

holy crap.

2008-03-13T08:38:00.000+09:00

Leonard Cohen announced his tour today.
I knew this day was coming but I didn't believe it!! And now its real!!!
June 6th and 7th in Toronto, I love you Mr. Cohen!

Smelling so sweeeeeeet

2008-03-11T09:15:00.000+09:00

I have a dilema. As my parents are coming over to Canada in a few months, mmy mother has offered to buy me pretty much anything from duty free stores. So now I have to decide what I want! I am thinking about getting a new perfume, I've done a bit of scouting and I've narrowed it down to...
- The new Chloe fragrance.
- LAMB by Gwen Stefani.
- Burberry Beat.
- Prada.
I like all of them alot so its going to be a hard desicion! At least in the meantime my room smells like a blend of different perfumes because I have so many samples... Its like sleeping on a bed of flowers!
I really like flowers at the moment! I think its this prolonged winter, I'm missing seeing some green grass and colourful plants! All the floral fashion is making it worse as well. Maybe if I start wearing florals now, the flowers will come sooner...

Why are all the foreign blogs writing in english now! Its kinda making them lose their magic...

I should have known better

2008-03-10T10:17:00.000+09:00

So this last week has been quite eventful. I will start on Thursday because nothing really happened before Thursday anyway... At work on Thursday I helped put together a suprise baby shower for one of the ladies at work. We decorated one of the meeting rooms with lots of streamers and balloons and crazy baby shower things and there was lots of delicious food! And it was totally a suprise for her as well! It was lovely! Thursday night I went to Lindsay's for dinner and some rock band and then we went to see Be Kind Rewind. It was great. I was smiling the whole way through and continued smiling for a few days after. It really makes you want to make a film.

Thats Jack Black dressed up as RoboCop. Yeah, go see it!!

Friday was full of cute boys. It started at work where I saw a super cute boy in the cafeteria, his celebrity lookalike would be Ryan Gosling, and we totally made eye contact like twice. His casual Friday clothes were good as well... Friday night I volunteered for Canadian Music Week so I spent the night working the door at a showcase of BC bands (that means they were all from Vancouver pretty much..). All the boys want to talk to you when you're working on the door! The bands were pretty good, one guy called Dan Mangan was pretty amazing. It was a pretty fun night, but working 14 hours in one day isn't a good idea...

There was a snow storm that started on Friday night and continued all through Saturday, it was pretty intense and now theres too much snow around. I think we're like a few centimetres off the record snowfall for Toronto ever! Crazy! And its apparently one of the longest winters as well... I volunteered for CMW on Saturday night as well, Trainwreck and Bang Camero played. Trainwreck is Kyle Gass's band (the other guy from Tenacious D!) and Bang Camero is like a metal band with about 15 members! Seriously, they had 8 guys singing! It was fantastic!!! I wish I brought my camera, it was a sight to see!! Not as many cute on Saturday night, just a couple here and there. After the show I met Kania and Mike at The Social for some dancing. Coincidently, two of the cute boys from earlier in the night were there and we danced a bit and one of the boys gave me a button for his disco punk band... and then Mike came over with his "why are you dancing with my girlfriend?" face on... When I got back to my house I realised that I didn't have my key and noone was home... I tried calling Kania but her phone was off! So I called Will and he told me how to break in... Lucky because otherwise I would have been sleeping in the snow!!!

Ok I should actually talk about some fashion or something right? Well today I went shopping a little. I bought ElleUK, it pretty much mapped out exactly what I was planning for my summer wardrobe! Its kinda weird that I'm getting ready for summer while you're planning your winter wardrobe. I looked around at some stores as well and picked out some clothes I want, lots of cashmere cardigans and florals, I really like the new Luella collection, its kinda the idea I'm going for...

Although a new wardrobe is kind of a low priority at the moment, I am almost out of shoes to wear! All my shoes have been ruined in the snow so I'm going to buy some rubber boots next week, and probably some flats just to wear at work... I thought that this would be the end of the snow but after this, the rain starts! But Lindsay told me that April showers bring May flowers so thats something to look forward too. My next pay is dedicated to shoes and tickets. Xiu Xiu is playing next Monday and its only like $10! I want to go and sing I luv the valley real loud.

2008-03-09T20:33:00.000+09:00

Oh man.

Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony

Page 6 and page 27 are my winter '08.

Wednesday!

2008-03-05T20:27:00.000+09:00

Last week I got heaps of photos developed from my Holga - one roll of Canada and one roll of December in Perth. I'm putting my favourite photos in here.

December 2007, Perth

Old Montreal

Do you remember how freaking cold it was that day? Insane. It's been over 35 C here, all the time, and it's making me very upset that I can't wear my velvet ice-skater dress or my two-toned smock from H&M. I don't really have many winter clothes to buy for this year, although I do need to buy a tonne of office clothes. This is good, we have some things to confer over! Here is the list of what I want my winter style to resemble -

Androgynous but distinctly feminine, I think I'm too curvy to pull off man-style. I'm thinking oversized shirts with thin belts around the waist, over skinny-leg pants, blazers with scrunched sleeves and sparkly sling-back flats.

An anourak! I might move into the city mid-year so I want to ride a bicycle into work.

I'm growing my hair out again, it won't get out of hand this time though. Still lots of plaits and blush and that's about it.

For work I'm going to buy dresses with exposed zips in stretch fabrics, man-style s/sleeve striped blouses with wide cuffs and long pencil skirts, and wide-leg highwaisted pants with sheer ruffley blouses. Do you dig it?

DUDE. Having the flu in summer is terrible, but it does give me time to look at pictures of the new Designer for Target (Australia). It's Zac Posen - and considering the dire state of my unemployment, it's fortunate that I only like one item.

Ottoman Brocade Cocktail Dress

I went to Feist and Okkervil River last week - Feist was okay, she was so mellow. Dan Deacon was on after her though, and it was so fun. He made everyone in the whole venue (over 1 000 people) do a 'human tunnel' and there was a dance-off! Okkervil River was great too, I went to the beach before with Esther, Stace, John and Sean. I wore the same skirt I posted last time with a blush-coloured Lover blouse. I've been listening to lots of Joanna Newsom lately and I think she's infiltrating my style.

I'll post more inspirational things later, time to wallow in self-pity.

Everybody likes cake!!

2008-03-03T12:08:00.000+09:00

So last Thrusday was Jerry's birthday and to celebrate, Lindsay cooked us some dinner, we drank lots of champagne and I baked Jerry a cake! I discovered the key to making a cake, its mixing. When they tell you to mix something for 5 minutes, do it. It kinda looks like a child decorated it but it was really tasty and Jerry loved it!

It was a lovely evening. We decided that we're going to have a bake sale in the summer to raise some money for our projects! We'll set up a stall on our porch and put posters around the neighbourhood, yeah its going to be awesome.
Lindsay also had the new Nylon magazine at her apartment which featured an advertisement for the Converse for Target range. It is pretty awesome and so so cheap, it kinda makes me want to go to America so I can go to Target... Here are some dresses I like.

Super cute!
I went shopping over the weekend and bought some nice things which will probably pop up on here sometime soon, I'm trying to buy clothes that I can wear to work but are still cute enough for wear out and about. I don't like having two different wardrobes, I need more crossover items. Yeah!

Hairy Plans

2008-02-29T09:09:00.000+09:00

So ever since I saw Cat Power earlier this month, I made the desicion to grow a great mane of hair. Its going to take a long time but I've made a committment and I'm going to stick to it. So I picked out some in between haircuts, which will start like this...

...which will grow into this...

Thats going to be me, standing in a windy field. Its going to be awesome.
In other news, I have been working a full time office job which is not much fun but I have had the chance to come up with some super cute office outfits. I will update with a selection of my favourites soon!

Post One

2008-02-26T15:34:00.000+09:00

First post eh? Okay it's about 3.30 on Tuesday afternoon. I had my first day of uni yesterday, and Gilmore Girls has finished, so here I am.

It was one of my new years' resolutions to wear the pretty and expensive clothes I have more often. This week is going to be a good trial run - job hunting today, Feist tomorrow, work and Esther's exhibition Thursday, Okkervil River on Friday.

Tuesday - Lover frill sleeve blouse, H&M skirt, Zomp woven flats. I wore a H&M brown plait headband with this too. Today I applied for a job at Elizabeth's Bookshop in Fremantle.

I am also really excited about the Winter 08 collections coming out - I have a couple of pre-purchases and ideas already about what to buy. I think so far I'm going to get the Lover Ginsberg blazer and the Kate Hurst silk and velvet fishtail dress.

This winter I also need to buy clothes that are office-suitable - I'm thinking classic skirts, wide highwaisted pants, pussybow silk blouses and maybe some tan coloured wedges, and black oxfords. Also - buy things that aren't black! Maybe tan coloured skirts and pastel blouses. Speaking of uni - I have to get a headshot taken for the graduation wall! I don't know if I should keep my hair long or get a fringe cut back into it. I don't want to look at a bad photo for the rest of the year...

The new IKEA opened here last week, and you can see a peep of my new Expedit 2x4 pigeonhole shelves in the background of the first pic. Somewhere to keep all my records/books/cds/magazines!

Write back Natalie, this could be fun.....