(your) Rules - Sharing the Janergy Effect

Well, I am back on my blog after what has been a busy 12 months. Why busy? Well, I have been doing a word of the day project - something short each day that I shared on my instagram and something that I hope to document in a place where people can access it. My wall at home was awash with post its and was like a blooming garden of colour, words and inspiration.

I also lost my job. Yep, was made redundant. That's another story.  

I've also been thinking a lot more deeply about how I share my skills, talents, stories and inspiration with others, and here's what happened.  I was put in a touch with a life coach who has been helping me to determine how best to use these things - it's still a work in progress, but unless we give something a go, we will always be wondering "what if". And with that, THE JANERGY EFFECT was born. So I am back here doing what I love to do - writing about stuff - while I explore the possibility of public speaking, life coaching and helping people to find their true sense of self.

What else. Oh yeah. I met a lovely man in October.  He arrived unexpectedly and hasn't run away. He has actually run towards me. That was shocking at first, but I am loving it. Two weeks after meeting we decided to go to Fiji - can you believe that?  Yep.  Talk about adventurous and the journey continues in a very happy, calm, simple, uncomplicated manner.  Well there is one complication. He doesn't live here, but we are burying that under the carpet till we have to deal with it - out of mind out of sight I say.

Anything else? No nothing of note.  Hang on yes. I moved house, then had cataract surgery, also decided I loved sharing funny and some not so funny instastories - all in the spirit of authenticity and sharing my very real life, and that has opened up a whole new way of engaging with people. And that's it. 2018 done. 

No hang on, a bit more.  With the loss of my job, means the very real possibility of leaving Melbourne (maybe temporarily - maybe permanently - and maybe this week as I look for work). The cards are up in the air, looking for a place to land.

Okay now I'm done, so let's get down to business.    

Following my word of the day project, here's what I am doing. I am going to explore some more words. Words that resonate with me, and words that have become staples in helping me to define the person I am today.  The me who is resilient, happy, confident, stylish and wants to help others find and be those things. My words may not be what other people choose, but if you take something away to help you think, grow and find another layer of happiness, then that's a job well done.  I'll be talking dating, health, dancing, confidence and so many other things, so stay tuned.

And here are my words. I am going to pick one out randomly and write about it, vlog about it, maybe do a dance about it, or all three. However I do it, I need to express creatively. It's in my blood and pulsing through my veins all the time.

And now, I present word number 1. (your) Rules

Rules are an accepted principle or instruction that states the way things are or should be done, and tells you what you are allowed or are not allowed to do.

I get it, I know we need rules. They keep us safe, they uphold law and order, they provide a level of fairness but sometimes they are made to and should be broken.

A couple of years ago, when I entered singledom and began navigating the world of dating, I had no idea of the etiquette (or lack thereof) that came with the cut throat world of looking for love.

I remember going on what was my second post marriage date with a man I met online. We swapped a few messages afterwards and I wondered whether I should reach out to him a while later to say hi as there wasn’t really any clear open or closure after the date. Well I am awake up to that now. Hello Ghosting. I was new to Melbourne, didn’t have any friends, so for me, it was about connecting with another human. The rules of dating were – wait until the man contacts you. Seriously? How long – a day, a week, a year? You might be waiting forever, so I thought that maybe I should just reach out and say hi. There was the risk of rejection and the risk he mightn’t return my message and initially those things bothered me. I didn’t want to look like a dick. I’d never been great at dating, and was pretty clueless to the modern world of online dating. I met my ex husband online back in 2004 and boy, were things different then… So I ummed and ahhed this messaging thing, sound boarded it with a friend and they said “just play by your own rules”. (apparently, I always play by my own rules) and I guess that is what makes me, ME! I am comfortable making my rules up as I go, or changing them up when I want or need to in order to keep agile. In that instance though, I felt I should follow the rules, even when I felt like they were going to keep me constrained to a way of being that others had defined.

Life has so many rules and many of them we impose on ourself even if we don’t make them. Rules, rules rules……Fuck the rules, there are so many and they are holding us back from living authentic, empowered and fun lives. Where do I start about rules?

What about those rules around fashion? Pink and red should never be worn together. Well I was breaking this rule at the turn of the century and have continued to break the fashion rules since. See Example A.

Example A

 

I embrace black and blue, silver and gold, pattern clash like queen, wear too much together (think layers of jewellery, plus a hat with flowers, plus clashing colour – all at once) or too little – think mini skirt or short shorts with a bra under a sheer top. 

 

I’ve been wearing sequins in daytime since the late 90’s. Why should something so shiny and vibrant be left to dim under the evening lights? Why shouldn’t they glisten in the sun as we go about our day? My how times have changed. I even hand beaded a pair of ¾ pants back in about 1993, because I wanted something that I couldn’t find anywhere else. I wasn’t going to wait for fashion to decide when I could wear these things. I was going to break the rules and just do it.

See Fabulous examples B, B and B - skirt from 1999, sent to me by my sister when she lived in India. I still have it, and still wear it 20 years on. Note hot pink colour (I've never lost my love for pink) and yep, there are sparkles at the bottom. Other examples include colour and pattern clashing and short shorts (I'm in my 50's and I am owning the heck out of them).

Fabulous examples B, B and B

 

Now before you think - well you can get away with it, you have great legs, or great style, or are confident or anything else that might pop into your head, here's the thing, I am me and I am perfect as I am - with the veins on my legs, my flabby arms, a nose I grew to love, a tummy that's stretched and sags from having a child 33 years ago and a sense of style that one day blossomed. I didn't wake up like this, but I decided not to care about the things that we are expected to be ashamed of. I just want to live my life in happiness and I am not going to hide any of those things away because others deem them unacceptable or unpleasant to look at. 

I actively worked on my sense of self to walk tall and not give a fuck about what anyone else thinks. I said "F U" rules and "F U" anyone else who is going to try and make me feel bad because I don't follow along like a sheep. I am not a Sheeple - part of the passive herd behavior of people easily controlled by a governing power which likens them to sheep, a herd animal that is easily led about. 

Now I am going to let you in on a big secret. Are you ready? Okay then……here’s my rules……. (insert blank space). Hang on a “blank space”, yep, I have benchmarks, standards and values, but I try not to be confined to rules, unless they are mandatory or there's more than a 97% chance of me being arrested if I break them or if my safety is going to be compromised.

If you were to stop and ask yourself about what things you are doing because you feel you have to play by the rules, would there be many?

⏰Are you doing a 9 – 5 job, because that’s what your parents did or because that’s what’s expected by society? Or are you chasing your dream?

🐑Do you do things that everyone else might do because you think they might be living better lives and their vision might make your life better?

🍹I stopped drinking nearly 2 years ago. I consider this a pretty big rule to break, because advertising and society says we can’t have fun unless we are guzzling down booze. They never advertise the hangover that comes with it, or the violence that comes with it, so we just go along accepting a way of life that we might not really enjoy.

🍨Are you afraid to eat ice-cream for breakfast? Well treat yourself.  It’s not an everyday thing, but why shouldn’t we do it? Because we don’t eat ice cream for breakfast, that’s why…..It’s against the rules. But what if you wake up and get a big bowl of ice-cream and go and sit back in bed and enjoy every mouthful and then lick the bowl and go wow, I loved that and it made me feel great!

👫Do you want to fuck on the first date? Well if you do, then go for it (safely). You are in charge of your sexuality. I threw the "my rules" card around here - my body, my rules. If blokes didn't like my non compliance of their pressure, then I said "see ya and go fuck yourself".

So what happened with the guy who I wanted to message? Well I did message him and just said hi, how are you? His response was "I'm seeing someone" to which I responded "I am only asking how you are, not asking you for a date" and he said "fair point" and apologised for reading something between the lines that wasn't written.

I am glad I messaged him, because it put me out of my then comfort zone and enabled me to head into my dating life owning my part of the interactions while starting to build confidence in an area that I was really lacking experience in. I began to form my own rules around this part of my life.

So why do we sometimes live with other people’s life limiting beliefs and rules? 

 
When I think about it, it may be because we have inherited them or because they have crept into our lives to keep us feeling safe. We become afraid to explore, express and ultimately to experience true happiness and have fun along the journey of life. We put ourselves into a box that has all the should's and should not's in there and they define us. OPEN THAT BOX AND SET YOURSELF FREE....make you OWN rules.

That was the case for me at times. I was living safely, I didn't feel true happiness, I didn't know myself and I don't think I was living with true authenticity. I wasn't fake, I just wasn't anything. I was holding onto all those things I had been told not to do...and then I began to break the rules and break the routine and break into my life and dang it feels great.

 

It only took for me to choose change.

What's something you can do to shake it up a bit and take that first step towards making your own rules and stepping into your own life? Maybe....

• start by doing one small thing that you wish you had the courage to do. It might feel strange at first, but the freedom and follow on effects will begin to make your world bigger and with that comes strength and empowerment.
• go to a cafe and order that ice-cream for breakfast. Don't just order one scoop. That is playing safe.  People might look at you strangely, but I bet they are probably wishing they were eating ice-cream for breakfast. 
• question whether anyone else's rules are the ones you want to live by - you can do or wear or be or act or think a certain way if YOU want to. It's your choice.

OWN THE FUCK OUT OF YOUR LIFE....

now go, go, break some rules. You don't know where this new found freedom may take you!

 

How am I breaking the rules today...well I am wearing short shorts and popping out a bit of cleavage.  Big deal you say - well women over 50 shouldn't be wearing mini skirts, so I am being very risque.

 

If you want to run some rules by me, then reach out.  I'd love to help you consider if they are real, or if they really have to go.

See you soon for my next word and a much shorter post.  

💗

the sunday session 18 - what a scrubber

here we are into the fifth month of 2016.  can you believe it.  they say time flies when you are having fun right! and i am having fun.  it's really exciting to be on this journey of self discovery, growth and this thing called life and being mighty fashionable along the way.

so out of my looks this week, i think the poncho hat combo was the winner. i now officially own 4 ponchos, but they each have their own place in my wardrobe.  the one in my pic was a vintage find on saturday at the brotherhood of st laurence in melbourne city - i didn't even have to pay extra for the collar.   my hat was a vintage find in brisbane many many years ago, my jeans are boyfriend jeans from target and my boots are merrell suede boots i picked up in NYC, way back in 2005.  overall, the combo is sweet.

so i have a couple of things to cover off this week.

1. on monday when we had the public holiday, i was wandering in the city and as i walked home, i stopped by the yarra.  i cant even begin to explain what i was feeling, except that it was energy - i have travelled to so many wonderful places - italy, spain, rio, india, sri lanka, canberra..... but the energy that was flowing in this amazing city was incredible. what was that.  I want more of that. maybe this is why melbourne is the most livable city in the world?  janergy is getting a run for its money. sorry brissy, but you never showed this to me in all the years i lived there. it was intoxicating.

2. i want to share a recipe of the non food kind - a recipe suitable for a scrubber.

so my lovely sister in fiji suggested we try some homemade facial scrubs she found online and i was so on board.  i love a face scrub and one that is not a little sissy scrub, but one that actually feels like it is digging deeper than doctor pimple popper and this one hit the mark. not only was it environmentally friendly, but it  has 2 ingredients and leaves your skin feeling amazing. welcome to the homemade coffee scrub.

so if you are like me, then you love coffee - good coffee - and accordingly to legend it has many uses. some people drink it, some people like to use it as an internal cleanser (thank you my strange addiction coffee enema episode for showing me things that can never been unseen). i will not be going to bunnings anytime soon to buy some plastic tubing! some like to bathe in it (haven't tried that, but i hear it's good) and someone (aka me) likes to use it as a face scrub.

wowsers this was good and here's what i did.

i have an espresso machine, so i have grounds at the ready, but if you are keen to try this scrub, then ask your barista for the leftovers from your recent coffee hit. 

i mixed my coffee grounds with some olive oil.  i have no mathematics for this but about a couple of tablespoons of coffee mixed with some oil to make a soft pliable paste is what you do.  i then stored it in a jar and kept it in the fridge.  as it has no preservatives, it ain't gonna last as long as a McDonalds burger, but long enough to be used, or to grow mould when at which time, it can be disposed off.  trick is to not make too much, i guess. 

so yes, here's a bathroom selfie - there is no pretty candlelit picture of me holding a glass of bubbly while flashing my perfectly waxed legs and manicured toes, but rather me, with a face full of homemade coffee scrub, which i'd like to add felt at first strangely uncomfortable and tingly as let i work its magic, but then, as i washed the brown muck off my nearly 50 year old face was then overcome with an incredibly fresh, soft, highly energised face.  i liked it, but guess coffee is a great  perk-er-upper-er!

well, i have a pretty lackluster beauty routine. i'm vegetarian (that seems to work a treat for me), love a splattering coconut oil on my face and sure i love putting on the mascara and lippy, but i can't be arsed taking any of it off before go to bed. i always was a rule breaker though....but my beauty routine is super simple - i've never even plucked my eyebrows -- that's how lazy i am.

so i have another scrub to try at some point, but i cant imagine anything living up to the beautiful simplicity of this homemade wonder, which is now gradually being used as an all over scrub, but will never be used as the other kind of strange addiction involving a piece of plastic tubing from bunnings.

and in the words of my fave ever brissy coffee shop - please don't ask for decaf, as refusal may offend and i suggest sticking to full strength if you plan of giving this a go, cause decaf will never cut he mustard in life, on your face and probably not even in a coffee enema.  

the sunday session 7 - love love love

melbourne just never stops.  it's amazing.  i live in an apartment in the city on the 18th floor and there's a concierge.  it's a thing here.  there is one particular one who just LOVES to talk.  when i wander out in the morning (if he's working) it's like that moment in pretty woman when julia roberts comes back into the hotel looking like a total lady and the manager (concierge) has this little smile of delight.  in amongst all the black, that makes its way to the ground floor, i am the pop of colour that is unexpected and refreshing. i am the julia roberts of southbank fashion.

anyway back to melbourne - last week was busy - they had a besser block dominoes trail fall across the city, it's chinese new year festivities still, there was valentines day and coming up is white night. oh my god, the city stays up all night, from 7pm to 7am. can you believe that - arts, entertainment, food, fun anything i can possibly imagine may happen.  blows my mind. i hope it all happens before 11, cause i'll probs want to be in bed by then.

anyway back to the concierge......he said that melbourne just wants more and more...if you offer them something, they take it and then they want more! you think of it, people want it and they want more and more.  melbourne is just on board the more and more and more tram and there's no "next stop" in sight. and i for one, am excited about the more and more and more and more. even if it don't go to much, just knowing that the city is pulsing with life is very exciting.  i just want to embrace it all. 

anyway back to me and my looks for the week. i want to give you more. but you will have to wait till next week.

so i'm gonna try and choose one outfit from last week's looks to deconstruct.  it's so hard - the flamingo brooch as a hair accessory, the overalls with the big flower, the leopard mini... on and on it goes, but i am going for the love heart skirt for valentines day, or in my case, palentines day - the day i wished love to all my pals.

i made this love heart skirt cause i just love love hearts and of course i love love....and even though i don't have a valentine, and i'm not really into hallmark moments, i still embrace the love symbols.

what i would love to see though is more women and probably men, falling in love with themselves. it makes me sad to read about the numerous women who get body shamed, or have to put up with continual self doubt and low self esteem.  we aren't meant to be like this.  we should feel the love and confidence to be who we are regardless.  i know that at nearly 50 - 7 months to go - i don't give a fuck about what i wear, or do or sometimes say, i just want to be me, the woman who i love and love to spend time with, cause she is fun, happy, kind and unique.  don't wait till you are nearly 50 to be that person, be that person now.  own, love and embrace who you are.

so i went outside for lunch the other day and it was sunny and not only have i lost my sunnies, but i could have done with a a hat and i was encouraged to make a hat out of my lunch bag.  i did it. i don't care, i am just happy to be me, regardless of what anyone else thinks.  i just want to play by my own rules, and embrace the me who people love.  my advice to you reading now if you feel that you aren't good enough.......go look in the mirror and tell yourself how much you love you.  fall in love with you. i did it and it's a great feeling.  and a love that will be true and never ending.

anyway, tricked ya - i didn't deconstruct the outfit as cute as it was, i just wanted to share the love and hope that you take a step in loving the self, if you don't all ready.  here's to love! self love.

the what i wore project - week 43

so this week, i think my fashion has been overshadowed by the arrival of one very very hot pink couch and the love of not having to sit on my 39 dollar ikea chair any longer.  i loved that chair, but my arse didn't and to be honest, i was lacking colour in my life in the home decor front. that chair is now relegated to the balcony where i can sit out there an enjoy the fresh air and a vino.

my plan is to put on my pinkest of pink outfits, open a bottle of pink bubbles (great suggestion from my sister) and snap a pick of me blending in with the pinkness.

next countdown is the arrival of my second taxi box which arrives this week and i am busting to crack that bad boy open.

here's what i pulled out of the cupboard this week and there's a shock factor element in there - all black.

hello monday, i dressed like i was the sun in this orange frock that i made.  the obi belt was gifted to me and the shoes were a new much needed pair of flats to keep me on the low down till my other stuff arrives.  they are from famous footwear. as my paid job is in mining, it's been a while since i have been able to wear opened toed shoes without getting a safety share.

so a thing happens when i walk into the office - i get the top to toe sweep from people and people dropping by to see what colourful outfit i am wearing.  how funny is that.  fashion is becoming a talking point.  maybe it was before i arrived, but it seems to be a lovely discussion to be having each day.  how's that for bringing people together.

on tuesday, mumma wanted to dance and she went all satin shiny.  as i was getting ready, i just had ra ra rasputin pop into my head (boney m) for the younger readers and i was doing my boney m moves across the floor and decided to google them.  there was a recent boney m segment on rage the other day and i have to say, they were disco and i felt disco and if i had a hundred bucks to spare i would have wandered over to the crown to see them.

this head to toe sweep was made by me.  the shoes are from jo mercer on sale, the belt from a $2 shop  - buckle turned to the side for extra effect and my anklet was purchased on a beach in rio.  i love this outfit and the pants were loved by both the men and women who probably wanted to wear them....can you blame them!

go for gold wednesday had arrived and i rummaged through the wardrobe to find this beauty. the denim skirt and belt were made by me and the top is a huudaverti number.  the boots got an airing cause surprise surprise, the weather was turning.

thursday  threw everyone into a tizz and why, cause i wore all black (in no way a reference to a possible rugby world cup outcome - but it could be.....)  but it was all black from the outfit to the nickers and bra.  the only thing that wasn't black was a necklace and my socks which were flouro green.  a taste of things to come. i had people coming to me in the office asking if i had turned all melbourne. hell no, i just decided to wear all black.  don't know that i will be doing that again soon, cause it freaked people out.

my all black outfit was my pants from country road, top from seed, men's shoes from tarocash, some old necklaces i made.  (tip. when you use magnetic clasps you can join and join as many necklaces together as you like to make one super necklace.  or not)

hello friday and i should have been excited that it was the last day of the working week and the arrival of my couch.  i no sooner got to work when i became violently ill throwing up green ectoplasm that would make any ghostbuster proud and was rushed to the doctors.  you know when you reach a certain age that things leak from other places in excitement, well i am happy to say that none of this happened as i was chucking into a toilet, then bucket, then bag as i made my way to the doctor. keep up the pelvic floors ladies, it pays off.

i'm not sure if the universe was sending me a message that some shit i was dealing with was doing me no good, or the avocado i ate just didn't agree with me.  whatever it was, it was green and it wasn't pretty jan....and it resulted in a shot in the arm that made me drowsy for the next 24 hours. i also needed to pay redelivery on my couch cause timing was everything.

i however looked great in my jeans from target, boots from mollini, black t and my poncho from tree of life.

saturday arrived after mild sedation had worked its magic.  i went forth with caution and contempt. caution cause i wasn't sure if i was okay and contempt for that bloody fringed jacket. oh man, it just loves to be involved in everything - the seatbelt holder, the gearstick, the handbag, the glasses, the door, everything.  i love it though, but what to do....maybe i will cut the fringing down a bit on the arms, cause that seems to be the problem area. aren't arms always a problem area?

the shorts were made by me, shoes from famous footwear, singlet from uniqlo, jacket from dream diva and the earings - aren't they amazing. gifted to me from my sister back in 2006 when she was living in sri lanka.  she figured i'd be the only person she knew who could pull them off.

well look at mumma on sunday, feeling all like the ugly duckling who turned into the swan. i bought this top a long while ago when i had a few more curves than i do now and i put it away cause it just didn't feel right, but how cute is it and the image is on the back as well, giving me swan arse, if that's a thing.  uncovered it yesterday and made it my must wear item today.  teamed with my target jeans and cap, connies and my vintage bag that i picked up yonks ago, i felt great, all things considering.

so the weekend was filled with highs and lows.  the high of getting my couch after 8 long weeks and the low of still having to move through some excess baggage that i don't want to carry around but for whatever reason has haunted me.

so through this i shall once again find the silver lining and move forward in both the fashion and the life stakes.  hope that everyone has a great week to come.

the what i wore project - week 42

ouch this was a strange week, it was filled with both love and sadness. love came from having my son, his girlfriend and another friend come to visit and sadness because i decided to make a decision that would ultimately cut ties with the past and i shared that journey here when i wrote about closure. it's never easy, but with closure you either make a new direction or a new direction finds you.

well the week kicked off with rainy weather and tonight as i write this, i am sick - i think there's a combination of things - the constant change in weather - rainy sunny, hot and cold, it changes all the time, plus the change of food, location and job is all still finding its new normal.  at work i talk about likening how i am doing to a plane ride, there is the boarding, take off and ultimately the cruising altitude where you can sit back, relax and enjoy. i don't think i have hit cruising altitude yet but i know it will happen.

so here's what i wore while i am still ascending to my cruising altitude where the seat belt sign will soon be turned off.

monday it was a spotted corduroy dress i made myself teamed with pom pom necklaces also made by me. the boots are from jo mercer and i posed against a beautiful chest of drawers i purchased in brisbane following the devastating storm last year.

tuesday i decided to show a bit of leg and a comment i got was that i haven't shared my pins much. well it's been to fucken cold to go bare legged, or anything else for that matter, but on tuesday i busted out.  i liken them to snakes, they generally only come out in warm weather. the dress is from coles and the shoes are from jo mercer.

wednesday sucked for me personally, so i decided to pretty up in this dress that i also made.  gees i make a lot of stuff...... the shoes are from rubi, the necklaces are from an op shop, but i decided to pin my flowers (usually reserved for my hair) to them to add another pop of colour. those shoes still have to go - they are far too noisy.

thursday i had made an appointment to go and talk to someone about how i was feeling about a few things.  i think that addressing stuff head on is what can make all the difference between certainty and uncertainty. having constant noise in your head can hold you back and i decided to turn the sound down. i left feeling like i was okay to do what i needed to do - without guilt, or fear or failure, or regret. it wasn't easy, but i made a choice.

it was a hottie, so i wore this great silk cotton green dress that i made, with my silver shoes from jo mercer and necklace from lovisa.  i went forth with courage and an open mind.

hello friday - casual day and after my week, i just wanted to feel light.  this outfit did it - the flowing western shirt, the rolled up jeans and the sockless converse.  even my hair didn't care, cause it was happy to be plaited and to do its own thing.

jeans are from target, connies from dfo, top from second hand shop in melbourne.  i loved the button down top, but sadly, it decided that it would pop a bit of boobage every now and then and it's not the look i go for when someone is picking up papers from the photocopy machine and can see over to my desk.  awkward.

saturday i woke up feeling pretty ordinary and i chucked on this outfit, cause i know it works. i had some time with my son and we did a few things together.  i was feeling pretty crap, but managed to lug myself around town and enjoy the time we had together.  jeans i tie-dyed myself, belt from 2 dollar shop, havaianas from byron bay, old old top, my cap is from target and my necklace came from my first visit to india.

what i like about this outfit is that with a top that has an elastic base, it is great from covering a bit of nutella muffin top cause it gets a bit flouncy.  the belt sucks it in and it just works.

on saturday as part of my moving forward i said goodbye to the past. thank you to my lovely friend who gave me the suggestion to let go a balloon to symbolise the act of letting go.  i wrote all my feelings on it and set it free in order to free me.

on sunday i had gone downhill faster than a kid on a go-cart (gee, wonder why i might have got sick) and didn't have much time with my son, cause he was heading back to brissy, but we did enjoy brekky together before i headed home back to the comfort of bed. i would have spent the day on the lounge, but that mother fucker aint here YET...

i relaxed in my overalls that i got at a second hand store, connies from dfo and a tshirt from somewhere. there was a half marathon here in melbourne on sunday and the streets were closed off, so i jumped at the chance to stand in the middle of it all while it was quiet.

so, in fashion i always beat the sound of my own drum. i don't read magazines, or follow trends, i do my own thing.  many many years ago i was in india and on a visit to a market i purchased a pair of shoes for my sister and i (we have to often buy the same thing for each other) (pictured on my sisters feet a while back) well blow me down if i didn't wander into a store in melbourne on the weekend and spot a pair of similar shoes - they were nice, but they don't have bells on them like ours do or jewels like our do, but they look pretty much the same.

and with that, i guess i called this fashion trend a long time ago...and stand true to every outfit, accessory and look i choose to create each day.

the what i wore project - week 37

and boom - just like that i am settled in my own place in melbourne.....well kinda settled, i still have a lot of ikea to put together, but that's no big deal -what is a big deal is that i am sleeping in my own bed and surrounding myself with my own stuff and i have managed to hang all my clothes in a wardrobe instead of digging through bags.

i was also in desperate search for a fridge and after 3 long trips to harvey norman, i managed to get one by the skin of my teeth by delivery cut of on thursday enabling it to be delivered on Friday morning, aaaaahhhh that meant by wine time, at least the wine would be cold.

i transitioned out of my temporary accommodation through the week and into a whole new world of wardrobe possibilities and ended the week in short sleeves, while the wintery spring weather actually became spring weather.

monday i wore my trusty red velvet suit from sportscraft, mens shoes from tarocash, and my mokesh jumper from harris scarfe. it was time to start gathering my things at my temporary accommodation and prepare for the move.

tuesday i wore my jumper and puffer vest from uniqlo, boots from jo mercer, and tweed buckle pants from huudaverti. my necklace is from fiji.

okay, i am not a planner, but in order to facilitate the lugging that was required from one place to another, i had to lay out a few things to get me to the end of the temporary state of play.

of course, that meant having some back ups in case what i put out wasn't going to be enough for my love of variety and guess what, just like clockwork, i put on the tuesday outfit and totally changed my mind to this one. surely i can't be the only person who might change their outfit 3 or 4 times, before leaving the house?  lucky i planned to have a back up plan.

wednesday i wore a simple look - my boots, tube skirt from huudaverti, red jumper and a fancy necklace. of course that wasn't the first outfit i put on, was it, given i had a back up plan.

on thursday well didn't i go all preppy with a ribbon in my hair.  i didn't actually have any hair ribbons (will sort that out soon) but i did find a ribbon that was part of the wrapping of a farewell gift.  it was the last morning at freshwater place and after work, i packed up everything else i had and made a final departure to my new digs, where i discovered i couldn't find any sheets, or a doona, but i didn't care,  i was in my own bad. it was just like camping but better.

friday i was happy it was casual day and also nearly the weekend.  i still hadn't recovered from whatever bug was plaguing me, but happy to say that finally by sunday morning i was better.

friday, i went in search of a new place for my ootd pic and for this one, i was on the apartment terrace.  i wore my target skinny jeans, jo mercer boots and this totally cute top from seed.

notice anything different here.......well everything apart from my denim jacket has all come out of my stuff that was packed away during my move.  i had a workshop on Saturday that was gifted to me and after a rocky start to the morning, i was off and in spring mode.

the pants and top are made by me, converse are by converse, denim jacket from best and less and the necklaces are from local talent Beck Jobson at handmade life. not only is she an amazing artisan, but one of the only people i know in melbourne.

and what can i say about sunday, except that it was spectacular and it was like the city had woken up and come out of hibernation.  i had a busy day again - still unpacking and getting some bits and pieces and as i felt great, i took myself out to brekky before i got on with the day.

i wore black and gold  T from suzanne grae, mens shoes from stone, red flowers in my hair are from sportsgirl, my huudaverti name necklace and vintage overalls i picked up from OTC. i find it hard to get plus size vintage in some second hand shops, but i took a punt on these, and it paid off.

well it is feeling great to be settled, and i can't wait to get my sewing machines out and start creating. bonus is having a spotlight just practically around the corner and given i haven't sewed a thing since my sewing room was demolished in the storm last year, i am excited about this happening sooner rather than later.