Dedicated follower of fashion (oh yes she is)

The weather is crazy. Five Australian states are flooded. 75 percent of Queensland is a disaster zone and one third of Victoria is flooded. You can donate to the QLD Premier's flood appeal here. And register to volunteer to clean up QLD.

Melbourne has been humid for a lot of the week. It's usually dry heat this time of the year. It was 96 percent humidity at times! I know there are so many more Australians suffering to a greater extent than me, so I don't want to complain. But the humidity and heat has made me so sore. My skin feels wet. And hard to move. And infected. It's not nice. On the upside, the humidity styled my curls well!

Alas, I have had to work out the best outfits that would keep me cool, warm and covered. And to dry out my legs at one stage. Complicated.

Thursday: work then meeting for camp later this week. As hot as it was, I had to wear opaque stockings to stop my legs from exposure to nasties. I don't know whether the stockings did the trick or not. Very sore.

 I was sore and a bit miserable. My photographer said I was very serious and strict.

Skirt from Target, top from Temt, tshirt from Sussan, shoes from Diana Ferrari, headband from Witchery, necklace from Etsy, red purse from Olga Berg and pink camera case by a French brand by a shop in Yarraville.

Friday: work. It rained buckets in the city. It was hot then cold then warmed up. It was so wet that I only had time for one photo, crammed into a small undercover space.

Dress and cardi from Temt, tshirt and bird necklace from Sussan, purple singlet from Giordano, bangles from Diva, borrowed umbrella (I always assume vaseline and curly hair will keep me dry - but my theory always fails!).

I had this for lunch: lamb, spinach, tomato and tzatziki pizza.

Friday night: dinner at Tom Phat.

 

I needed nude stockings to air my legs. I don't know if it did the trick as they were still sore at the end of the night.

I wore floral ruffle top from Temt, shorts by Mink Pink from Freez, tshirt and shoes from Myer, bag from Forever New, hairclip from Mimco, ring from Diva and necklace from Etsy.

I was excited demanded to be photographed in front of the Daryl Braithwaite poster. He is another old time Aussie rocker I love.And I laughed that his poster was next to a unicorn painting when my favourite song of his is Horses.

It's a pity the concert has already passed.

Saturday: breakfast with Jentopia (review to come).

It was lovely weather on Saturday - not hot and humid like it had been through the week. But my skin was still very sore so it was a good choice of outfit - soft and stretchy.

The dress is by Elly M and I bought it at quite a reduced price from a boutique I discovered in Albury at Christmas time. It has an interesting textured vest attached - scrunched satin.

Leggings from Target (I like their silver studs on the ankle), Witchery sunglasses free with a magazine, tshirt from Jeanswest, necklaces from Tiger Tree and Etsy, headband from Mimco, shoes from Diana Ferrari, bag from Forever New.

That's it. You are now up to date.

In other news, I am hoping my costume arrives from eBay in time for camp. How awesome is this!

I really want the chance to legitimately wear bear ears!

Saturday bargains

I didn't do much today. My day comprised breakfasting with Jen, resting, sorting washing, researching for an upcoming interview, napping and a spot of shopping (only briefly as my legs can't carry me far).

I found a few bargains in Target. Temt tempted me too, but I thought I'd go quality over quantity.

The Stella McCartney for Target range is on its way out. I wasn't fussed by much of the range compared to last time. It was all a bit dramatic, and not practical for me.

I did buy this bangle though, which I wanted when the range first went on sale in October 2010. I couldn't justify the original price though. $30 for something similar to the stock at Diva. Today I paid $5. The below photo is actually Sydney Shop Girl's. My photo didn't turn out so well. Mine, like SSG's, was the last Love bangle in my local Target.

I prefer the Limited Editions range at Target to most of the Designers for Target (but I loved the Yeojin Bae range so much I bought most of the dresses when they went on sale). A lot of my workwear is from Target's Limited Editions. So it made me really happy to see a lot of it on sale today! I bought this dress for a steal at $30 (reduced from $80!).

I also bought these bikini bottoms. I will maybe - but most likely not - wear them with my (2009 Target) tankini top during camp. These too were cheap - $10 or something.

I had a burger at Grill'd (Melbourne's BEST burgers) and fell in love with the Jamie magazine. It was provided by Grill'd and I loved it so much I needed to buy my own. It's a really nice magazine with doable recipes and some backstories behind the recipes. I also bought my fave magazine, Shop til You Drop.

I could read them tonight, but instead I'll do some writing while enjoying a glass of moscato and this - a plate of strawberries salmon and cheese.

 Happy Saturday night, everyone!

I survived the (work) day without an afternoon nap!

First day back at work today. It was good. Good to see everyone (though some lucky people are still holidaying).

I knew it'd be painless because my favourite Crowded House song came on the radio somewhere between 6.00 am and 7.00 am.

And even though I had a hearty breakfast of a fruit smoothie (one banana, a punnet of frozen berries, half a cup of oats, a tablespoon of yoghurt and a cup of skim milk), I was hungry by 9.30 am. I think it was because of the energy expended trying to recall my computer password. So I ate two whole wheat biscuits with nut butter (almond, Brazil and cashew). I think I get hungrier at work, because during the past few days at home, my food consumption equaled my output - not much at all.

This is how I dressed today. I am still loving this cooler summer. It means I can wear opaque stockings and dress like I do in winter. People said I wear yellow well. I thanked them. I don't wear yellow often.

Getting dressed for work makes me really excited. I think about it more than I should. I think about it as much as I think about food. And that's a lot.

You see I am carrying a Temt bag. Temt was speaking my language. 30 percent off everything. My favourite sentence after 'I love you'.

I am wearing a yellow shirt and black skirt by Valleygirl, charcoal top by Sussan, ballet flats by Diana Ferrari, purple silk rose by Sportsgirl, bag by Catherine Manuell and headband by Witchery.

I have a new photo taking buddy. She understands my need to photograph my outfits for my blog at lunchtime. Yay! I find it hard to ask colleagues to take photos of me for the blog. As I said to a passer by, interrupted by my posing, 'serious vanity in progress here', and waved her through. S, my new photographer, is a very fashionable dresser. She wears dusky and muted tones, lots of layers, and fabulous jewellery. We had a laugh at my poses. Especially this one. When I look like I am busting for the toilet. I didn't need to wee. For the record.

I survived the work day without an afternoon nap! (But I sure felt like one, post 3.30 pm cheesecake.) And to reward myself I put this chicken in the oven. It's got lemon rind, mixed herbs, salt, pepper and olive oil. And there's a chunk of butter under the skin. Underneath the chicken there is potato and sweet potato. It smells delicious.

I hope you all had a good day!

Movie and shopping - the I Love Me date

As mentioned earlier, I spent today at the cinema and then shopping it upat the local massive mall.

I LOVED the film Valentine's Day. It didn't take much brain power, and it was really sappy in parts, but it was a great escape and it made me laugh and feel warm and fuzzy.

I did notice it was a lot like Love Actually, even though Valentine's Day was directed by Barry Marshall and Love Actually was directed by Richard Curtis. The part that reminded me the most of Love Actually was the little boy with the crush on his teacher. I don't love it as much as Love Actually, I don't think I could give my heart fully to another movie, but I will be watching again, if not buying it on DVD.

Another thing I thought about the film was most of the female actresses had high cheekbones and thin lips or narrow faces. Julia Roberts. Jessica Biel. Anne Hathaway. Jennifer Garner.

I recommend seeing the film at the cinema. It is nice. Boys may be bored, but there are enough female characters to distract them from the plot.

I think my favourite part was the Julia Roberts blooper at the end of the film in the credits - she's been down Rodeo Drive before.

After the film, I shopped. I have done some serious walking, enough to believe it's fine not to go to pilates tonight.

I believe shopping is my true love.

If shopping was a man, I would marry him. I love shopping.

I love finding bargains. I enjoy buying a few cheapish things on a shopping trip, but then I see something in Country Road or Cue and wish I had not spent my money on three items from ValleyGirl. I try not to spend too much.

Today I went shopping with the gift vouchers from my birthday and Christmas.

I really wanted to buy some CDs and DVDs from JB HiFi as I had a voucher to burn there. But there was simply TOO MUCH CHOICE! And being the bargain hunter I am, I didn't want to spend $30 on the Julie and Julia DVD when in a month or so it will be half that price. (Why are the prices of CDs and DVDs constantly fluctuating?) I picked up Bertie Blackman's Secrets and Lies, The Frames and the Swell Season, and Little Miss Sunshine. And I really wanted to buy Taylor Swift's CD but I was scared I'd regret it.

I was shocked to see Natalie Imbriglia's classic 1997 album (IMO) Left of the Middle for $4.99. Shocked! It is worth SO MUCH MORE THAN $4.99.

I walked around the store with the CDs and DVDs for a while. And I walked out with NOTHING. Too much choice means I can't make up my mind and so I leave empty handed, only to suffer non-buyer's remorse when I arrive home.

I did have luck with buying clothing though. My lovely managers gave me a massive mall gift voucher for my birthday and it could be used at most of the stores. I spent it in Temt and another cheapie shop. I looked in my FAVOURITE STORE OF ALL TIME, Cue, but everything on sale is really 80s looking and everything that I adore is well out of my price range. So I satisificed (a word I learned a few minutes ago in the Sunday Life magazine supplement with the Sunday Age = satisfied X sufficed) with buying from cheapie shops.

This is what I bought with the voucher plus only a little of my own money.

A pleather jacket from Temt. I wanted a jacket I can wear over a dress as well as with jeans. I like this one.

A sundress from I'm not sure where. I've been eyeing it off for a while now.

I adore the print.

A silver and cream top from Temt. I love silver.


I like how you can buy things for $10 that don't look $10. I enjoy the hunt for expensive looking cheap things.

Last night a friend came over and I cooked us a massive lasagne, full of vegies. It was delicious and there is lots left over for tonight and tomorrow's lunch.

I had a nice weekend. Hope you did, too.