Miss Monroe goes to IndoFest!

Let me start by saying- that was the busiest weekend I have had in a while! I didn't get a single hour of granny time in! How ghastly! Usually I would hate that, but it was all so much fun that I didn't even mind! It started on Friday night when I threw a surprise party for my good friend and neighbour who has been away living in Canada. I was so happy with how it turned out- the surprise worked perfectly and I think he was genuinely in shock! Mwahahaha- my plans exactly.

The next day, in contrast, I had a going away party for another good friend and neighbour! It is strange how that worked out! 

THEN...the best part of the weekend happened...I got to dress up as my beauty and style icon- Marilyn Monroe! 

I was pretty proud of how it all turned out- especially my hair. I actually loved wearing it like that! Even though it was a costume, I felt pretty glamorous and feminine all night and it reminded me of why I love the 1940's era so much.

The costume was for an American-themed 21st birthday party and I can safely say that no one disappointed when it came to costumes! We had a 'hooters waitress' as well as Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta from Pulp Fiction. I could hardly look at these guys all night- they had me in hysterics. Can I just mention that the two men in this photo are actually my gorgeous friends Sophie and Hannah (who usually look like beautiful, feminine women, but pulled off being men soooo well!) Proud moment for us all.

Pulp Fiction! NAILED IT!

We all had a lot of fun playing out all the gimmicks of our characters and taking photos. I could not find a vent to stand over, so a spinning photo had to suffice! I like that the photo is blurry, because it means I look more like her! Haha!

Unfortunately, I got into my Marilyn character a little too well- and by that I mean that I drank a lot of champagne (it was her favourite you know!? I am reading her biography at the moment!) But that was not a good enough excuse for Mr. Hang-over the next morning... but nothing a meal of bacon and eggs out in the fresh air couldn't fix...kind of...

There was no time to be hung over on Sunday, because little miss hung over Marilyn had a festival to attend! My little amigo, Hannah, is learning Indonesian at Uni and has a lot to do with the Indonesian cultural stuff that goes on in Adelaide. I have been to Indofest a couple of times now, and this Sunday was as interesting as it always is- with a lovely sunny day to go with it!

While the cultural performances and Indonesian stalls were interesting, Soph and I were mostly interested in the Indonesian food there was to be devoured! 

The loud music and drumming from the festival was getting a little bit much for our sleepy heads, so Soph and I wandered over to this pretty lake to have a milkshake. I can't get over how nice the weather was! I keep thinking that I am enjoying my last day of nice weather, but then Adelaide just keeps on bringing it! I am not complaining! It was so relaxing to sit and watch the paddle boats, talking with Soph and sipping on a vanilla-malt milkshake- YUM.

That weekend was a big one for me, which is good because it will be the last one like it in a while! It is now only 7 weeks until I go to Europe and I need to get into serious saving mode, as well as focus on my health! So even though I didn't get any granny time in this weekend, there will be an abundance of it to come as I stay home to save money and prevent hung-over feasts like the one I had yesterday! It hardcore healthy gal for now on! Even if Easter is about to start...mmm chocolate! Maybe not so hardcore...

Even though some pretty cool stuff happened this weekend, I can honestly say that spending time with this lovely little Sophie-Lady was the best part. Since being back in Australia, I have been so busy with work and study and whatever else, and so has she. Even though we see each other at least once a week, it was good to take time out with just the two of us and really catch up. It reminded me of why she is one of my favourite people in the world and why we are still such good friends after all these years. The milkshakes may have made it extra special... :)

I wish I could grow octopus arms

Today is Thursday and Thursday is always ‘Uni day,’ appropriately labeled because I am always at Uni from 9am- 6pm on Thursdays. I love Uni day for a couple of different reasons...

 The first is that I really love my subjects at the moment and my tutors are really lovely- the kind of teachers that are approachable and fun and actually make you want to be in class. One of my tutors, especially, is a really good teacher. Today he said something that really struck me as a good life perspective. He said to us: 'Nothing is ever boring for those who choose to take an interest.' I thought that was really cool because it is a down to earth way of saying that life is something we should be passionate about living- taking interest in everything and anything, rather than just existing from day to day. Anyway, I just wanted to mention him because he is such a good teacher, one of those teachers who is really passionate and animated about the subject they are teaching- if end up choosing the teaching path (which I more than likely will) I want to be a teacher like that.

Apart from the fact that I actually like studying (yes, you read correctly), I also love Uni day because it means that I can wear whatever I want! My work does not have a uniform, but I do have a set of work clothes that I wear just about every day now. So Uni day is the one day of the working week where I can have a little bit of fun with what I wear and look nice for a change! Looking through some of my favourite vintage blogs lately has inspired me to put more effort into this. It is a nice feeling to dress up and look snazzy for the day...and in some weird way is a good motivation to go into uni and study!

This snuggly jumper is another recent Op Shop find. It is a little cutie with its sweetheart design across
the front. It is lined with tiny pearl beading (which you can't see in this photo). This teamed with red lippy
and a library setting full of books (ohhh I love the smell of books!) and I am a happy little student!

Besides those two reasons, I actually love Thursday Uni days for a lot of other reasons. I think because I have not been at my home campus for such a long time now (I did my second year in the Gold Coast and the first semester of my third year in the UK), I have such an appreciation for the campus. It is such a pretty place with its big gumtrees and the little creek that runs through it. I also enjoy living the student lifestyle for one day of the week and find myself actually looking forward to studying full time again in the future. 

I had another reason to dress up and get all trendy this week (and it did not involve study motivation, and wasn't even on a Thursday- so that's different!). I had a Skype interview for a position that I am REALLY hoping I get! Of course, I will be posting more about that it if I do...

IF (fingers crossed) I do get the job, I am going to have to start being even MORE of an compulsive list writer if I am to juggle my little bundle of priorities. With study, work, (insert name of new position here), socialising, fitness and all my many creative projects, I am going to grow octopus arms! In saying that...I feel that I need a new work space! I love my room, but I am getting sick of the purple walls in there. Plus I have been looking at some interior design blogs and these pics have me all inspired. Next pay day I am buying a bucket of white paint!

I love white walls with bright furniture and stationary...

(http://www.designsponge.com/2014/03/a-parisian-apartment-full-of-light-and-pattern.html) 

I want some old vintage suitcases!!!

(http://www.designsponge.com/page/7)

So next week, after the weekend (which is going to be a big one, I might add!) I need to really focus on all my goals. It will be only 7 weeks until I leave for my little romantic holiday (yay!) and before then I need to have all my assignments done, save as much money as possible, stay focused on my fitness/health regime and hopefully score that position! Sounds good to me!

My health regime has been a little bit off track this week due to having a sore throat (and also a few chocolate overloads) but next week I will be right back into it! Green smoothies galore! Shouldn't be hard with all this Kale Mum is growing in our backyard! Woo!

Why I love 'traditional' Op Shops...

Driving home after a stressful shift last Friday, I noticed that an Op Shop was open on my way home. I had always seen the sign for this one- 'Op Shop, Open Fridays 10am-3pm' but had never been able to go due to never having Fridays off at my previous job! So when I noticed that the little doors of the church it is held in were open last week- I'm not gunna lie, I pulled a pretty sassy U-Turn- and went in to check it out!

I am so glad I did! It was like I had stepped through the charity shop version of the wardrobe to Narnia, into a land full of funky clothes at old-school Op Shop prices! As much as I love Op Shopping for many reasons other than the prices, I do get frustrated when I see clothing that has been labelled according to its brand in a charity store. Sometimes the prices are no different to what you would pay in a normal retail shop these days, and I think that kind of defeats the purpose for some people.

But some Op Shops, like the one I visited last Friday, are still what I consider 'traditional.' I'm talking about clothes that have been roughly sorted into size order, items that have been randomly priced at two or three dollars, racks and racks and racks of cardigans that you have to sift through to find a vintage treasure. That is what I really like about the whole experience of Op Shopping- it actually takes a bit of mental effort.

I found some cool stuff last week, and it gave me that little bit of retail therapy that I was so desperately craving but could not indulge in due to my mission of saving money before June. Thank the shopping Lord for charity stores, that is all I can say. I got a lovely little red jumper with beaded flower detailing across the chest, a daisy-printed scarf, a red floral wrap dress and some Calvin Klein high-waisted jeans...all for the grand total of... $13 !!!!!!! Stoked level= one million.

Call me pathetic, but whatever- I know a lot of you girls (and maybe guys) out there do it too. Whenever I buy new clothes, I like spreading them out on my bed and leaving them there for as long as I can. Coming in and laying out different items that would go with them and then standing back and admiring them. Ok, that is probably the most materialistic statement I have ever made... go ahead and judge me.

Red dress, red lipstick, red wrapping-bow and a red love-heart card (which I made myself!)

The discovery of the red wrap dress was just in time- I had a baby shower to attend on Sunday and it strangely matched my gift-wrapping! I promise it was not planned!

Clearly excited about my bargain dress... at $4, who wouldn't be?

The baby shower was the first one that I have ever attended, actually! The expecting Mum looked gorgeous with her beautiful belly, even if it was strange to see a friend pregnant! She is the first one of my friends to have a baby. It was good to catch up with friends that I have not seen in years, even if it felt strange to be sitting with old school friends that are now engaged, married or having kids! While I'm over here just getting excited about my Op Shop bargains! It was a strange, but very nice feeling to see everyone making different life choices.

The baby shower was also a good excuse to wear my new dress. I really love this one. The length and the sleeves give it a 1940's look, and the wrap style accentuates allllll the curves! Haha! I further justified it to myself by noting that it will be a good winter dress, too- perfect for stockings and boots. But also perfect for European summer in June- win win!!!