White veil occasions.

Last year one of my best friends from primary school got married! The wedding was really lovely, in a pretty garden with a few close friends and family. It was hard not to be emotional about seeing how far your friends have come and how much they've grown - and reflect on everything you've been through together! My friend looked so beautiful in her Disney-inspired dress; both bride and groom were just glowing with happiness. I felt very privileged to share their wonderful moment with them. <3

This is my go-to dress for formal occasions. It's so reliable; I just love it. It's from Forever New. Nude heels from Famous Footwear. Bronze purse from K-Mart. x

Moon prism power.

It must have been winter, despite the sunny day, because I'm wearing chunky bamboo socks. It's also outside my best friend's house, so I'm guessing we were probably there for a Pathfinder campaign, or just to hang out and watch movies or play video games. Standard.

Oversized black knit is from Jay-Jays winter 2016 collection. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon themed leggings are from Teefury and I love them to death. Purple bamboo socks were a gift, but they were probably from Aussie Disposals - they are honestly so warm and comfortable and I highly recommend them if you live in Melbourne where the spontaneous wind and rain are bitterly cold and can freeze you to the core. Chunky boots from Famous Footwear. x

Wear a hat.

Greasy hair day? Wear a hat.

It's been a busy week. I worked 6 days and did a lot in the evenings, so there often wasn't time to go home after work and put together an outfit for the rest of the day. Most days I just wore my uniform all day, which is depressing. Or there wasn't enough time to take an outfit photo before it was too dark. The 14th was my dad's birthday, and we met at the cinemas after work to see The Big Short (actually very good - interesting and funny; I recommend it) and eat pancakes. Pancakes feature a lot in my life, you'll come to understand. Last night after work I visited my friend (she likes Firefly and dinosaurs) to eat fajitas and look for houses we'd like to inspect. We're potentially moving out together soon. Excitement.

This pretty floral kimono is from Cotton On. Black denim shorts are from Uniqlo in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. They were $13AUD. Uniqlo is so expensive in Australia, so that's an astoundingly amazing price to us. Black wedges are Naughty Monkey, sold at Famous Footwear. I wear them all the time, and they're a pretty low heel, so they're extremely comfortable. They would've cost me about twenty bucks a few years ago, but they're almost always being stocked because they're so popular. Basic white singlet is the same Coco Latte one from the other day. And this felt floppy hat is a recent addition to my wardrobe, intended for styling in autumn mostly, and was $39.99AUD. I got it from an adorable quirky clothing store in Sassafrass in the Dandenongs. It's on the corner on the high side, and they also sell great socks, so if you're ever up there, go visit. x

Mars power, make up!

Pretty much by complete chance, I ended up invited to my manager's birthday party. In Cranbourne. With a bunch of people I don't know, and that she also didn't know. It happened last week, when she showed me a snapchat of her dressed up as Sailor Mercury, and when I asked what it was for she said her birthday. And then she immediately invited me, and when she asked if I had a costume I couldn't lie, because I do and here it is, and it was too perfect so I couldn't not go, even though I had work that day and that would make us (boyfie came too - what a champ) late. So we went. And we were late.

It was a pretty decent party, actually, even though her cousin (the only person she knew) and all her friends were dressed up like famous movie axe murderers, which was utterly terrifying and made us look awkwardly, obviously out of place. They were nice people though, and they'd ordered - kid you not - fifty pizzas and a tower of garlic bread loaves. I've never seen so much pizza. It was heaven. Despite how weird things got (watching your tiny manager play beer pong dressed as Sailor Mercury tops the list), it was fun - until their dog (they brought their dog to the party) ate rat poison and had to be rushed to the emergency vet hospital. Several hours and much vomiting later, he was fine, and we drove them back to the party, then scarpered for home. Shit got real. The night was not at all what I expected. I'm sure we'll all laugh about it fondly one day.

This amazing dress is an imitation of a limited edition range Living Dead Clothing ran last year. Unfortunately the authentic one was too expensive for me at the time, so I had to get this rip off from eBay. It's pretty good, considering. Rei is my favourite sailor scout. It's impossible not to love Usagi, but Rei is just mint. She's so driven and passionate, and she's stunning. So badass. My wig isn't a perfect match for Rei's hair, but I'll invest in a better one at some point. This one was for my gender-bent Ash Ketchum cosplay for PAX Aus last year. I think it did all right. Sensational red pumps are from Famous Footwear. I also wore elbow-length white gloves from my debutante, but I'd forgotten to put them on here. Mars fire, ignite! x

And then there were strippers.

Saturday I worked the afternoon (lame), then rushed home to hyper-quick get ready for a hen's night. It was one of those days where everything that could go wrong, did. Somehow left my makeup bag at work and had to use cheap, old stuff that clumped all my eyelashes together and smudged black all around my eyes. Couldn't find my phone when I had to leave. Broke my necklace. My hair didn't work (but then, my hair never works). Lost one of the earrings I wanted to wear and had to settle for a not-as-good backup pair . Ended up running late looking for my phone. You know the kind of day I'm talking about. It was not a good time. But I got there, and everything turned out fine, as everything always tends to do.

One of my oldest friends (who loves Disney, and is very good at drawing) is getting married next month. We've known each other since we were born; we met in a baby group, then went to pre-school, kindergarten and primary school together. Even though we diverged at high school (literally went to different schools), we've stayed friends all this time. Due to her love for Disney (and, as it turns out, snowflakes), the hen's was kind of "Frozen" themed (think snowflake fairy lights, blue and silver sparkles everywhere, snowflake icing on the cake, etc), so I dug out my nicest blue dress. I think the paisley kind of worked. And the party was great fun. There was a lot of alcohol, dirty innuendo based party games, phallic accessories (straws, party horns, etc), you get the idea. Sadly I left before the strippers arrived, but I heard it was a real ripper of a time. I've seen photos. I hadn't been to a hen's night before, and can now vouch that they are memorable experiences for those who do not drink the entire night from memory (ie: me, obviously). Also, I won a donut-cake flavoured Lip Smacker, which was in all seriousness one of the highlights of my evening. It smells delicious.

My paisley dress is from Valleygirl last year and was very inexpensive. It's flattering, and quite adventurous for me. I rarely wear blue, or bold patterns. You can't really see because of the light, but I'm wearing the same statement necklace from this post. And the same London Rebel nude heels from last post. Simple, lady-like, and above all comfortable. x

That's amore.

So, after those two crazy days where I wore the same outfit and ended up in the city twice in a row, Friday was a reasonably uneventful day. After work, boyfie and I went for dinner at our local Italian restaurant, for our usual gorging of cheesy garlic focaccia and the signature pasta dish - gnocchi with chicken, bacon, shallots, mushroom, curry, cream, and more delicious, delicious garlic. Garlic is life. Incidentally, I used to work at the restaurant. Hashtag small town life. 

I really dug out some rarely worn stuff for this outfit. The pale pink, floral summer dress is from Valleygirl many years ago, and I'm surprised it still fits. It has a cute little rosebud print and a sweetheart neckline. I don't even know why I don't wear it very often. This bolero/cardigan thing is absolutely adorable, and it's pretty special, too - which is exactly why it doesn't get worn much. The Japanese friend who collects perfume bottles came back to Australia for a year on student exchange, and she lived with us for a little while. We went shopping one afternoon to Bridge Road, back in the glory days, and the Alannah Hill store was having an amazing sale. We browsed in the dreamland that is Alannah Hill for many hours, and ended up buying these matching cardigans. She recently told me she still has hers. It's kind of like a friendship bracelet. I love the heart-shaped pockets, and the diamante trim is really exquisite. I'm always worried I'll lose them, so it stays carefully tucked away in my closet and brought out for special occasions. Nothing more special than lazy pasta at your local restaurant on a Friday night, right? At least it got worn again. Nude heels are London Rebel from Famous Footwear, and they are so comfortable. Definitely would recommend. They're pretty much always available there. x

Beetlejuice.

The first thing anybody over the age of thirty says when they see these pants is "Beetlejuice!". I should probably see the film. I get the reference, but I don't really get the reference, you know? I kicked off February with brunch in St Kilda with a friend (who likes good coffee and dining out) and her cocker spaniel. It was a glorious day, and we made the most of it, playing with her dog in the park and enjoying well-made hot beverages outside a trendy cafe in Chapel Street. Then home again, home again, jiggity-jig. I put Cornflake on her leash and tied her to the clothesline so she could nibble the grass and run around a bit, and spent the afternoon reading in the garden. Considering the rest of the week is work, I'd say that's a day off well spent.

This blouse is from Supre many years ago, and has been worn many times. I've always loved the ribbons at the neckline, and the way the sleeves billow at the cuffs. My Beetlejuice pants are from Sportsgirl, and, thanks to my still not having been to the gym, slightly too tight. Naughty Monkey wedges. Sailor Moon cat bag from last post. x

So long, January.

The last week of January was work, work, work, and house hunting and inspections (still) all of Saturday. Sunday was meant to be a day off, but the supervisor rostered on was sick, so I worked for her. I'd packed this dress to wear to dinner with boyfie after (Sunday was meant to be our fun date day, so we planned to try to make the most out of the rest of it) but we ended up meeting my parents and going to the movies to see Spotlight (about a team of journalists in Boston in the early 2000s who investigated allegations of Catholic priests having molested children for decades). It's a dramatically eye-opening film, based on true events. Worth a watch if you're interested.

This dress is from Modcloth and reminds me of Madeline. I adore it. Plain black cardigan is from Coco-Latte. Cotton tights are basic. Same Naughty Monkey wedges. The Luna bag is Sailor Moon inspired and available through several online retailers (try kokopieshop). I got this one from a seller on eBay. They'll definitely still be available; it was only a few months ago. It's been my favourite handbag ever since. It has ears! x

More house hunting.

Training at work continues; houses continue to be inspected. We've got three we're applying for now, so fingers crossed we have some success. It was slightly cooler the past two days, too, which is a blessing. Yesterday it actually rained a little bit. It was a crummy day otherwise, though; I had a scuffle with boyfie, which is never fun. I've been feeling a bit isolated lately, too. Friends seem to be a bit hard to find these days. However, I was visited last night by a friend (who studied law and likes Sailor Moon), which was lovely. We played with Cornflake, had tea and fresh fruit, and watched Center Stage (one of the greatest movies of the 90s, in my opinion). Charlie remains, inexplicably, one of the biggest babes ever.

Another thrown-together outfit to rush to inspections after work in. Same Cotton On jeans that will continue to feature this frequently. Also same Naughty Monkey wedges, again only because they were still lying under the passenger seat of my car. This singlet is super cute though. Those fat daisies are adorable, and the 90s-style cut is fun and flattering. I really like it. It came from one of those affordable Asian fashion shops you find in local shopping centres. Would've been about twenty bucks. Velvet Ray-Bans were a Christmas present from my bro a couple of years ago, and they're one of my most prized possessions. x

House hunting.

It's still hot. But there's too much going on this week to be overly concerned about it being the peak of summer. Today we went to two house inspections. We have three more tomorrow, and four on Thursday. But we're definitely going to apply for one of the ones we saw today, which is extremely exciting. I also started training for my new position today, which was a massive information overload. Fingers crossed it gets easier with time. Tonight I'm going to write a cover letter for our application, and draft a review for Shogun by James Clavell (which I've been trying to conquer since 2014 and finally finished yesterday), and eat frozen yoghurt. I'm also teaching Cornflake to high-five for treats. Big week.

This was definitely a I NEED SOMETHING TO THROW ON AFTER WORK TO WEAR TO INSPECTIONS WITH VERY LITTLE TIME TO GET CHANGED kind of outfit. I actually got changed in my car in the staff car park before I left. The flannel shirt is from Coco Latte and was about ten bucks many years ago. It has served me well. It even travelled to Japan. Black denim jeans again from Cotton On. And I threw my Naughty Monkey wedges in the car yesterday, so that's what I had. x

Better not be Gryffindor.

True story: Cornflake peed on my original outfit for today, so I had to change into this. But it's okay, because my backup Potter-inspired outfit makes me happy every time I wear it. Today was a lazy home day, except it was actually kind of productive. I called Monash to confirm everything was cool with my degree before officially applying to graduate and paying the exorbitant graduation fee ($215 upfront - ouch). Then I played with Cornflake, did some bloggy stuff, intended to clean but didn't, had coffee at our local chocolatier with an old high school mate, and wrote tons of upcoming events in my diary because I intend to do more shit with my life this year. That's my version of a productive day.

I love everything I'm wearing here. The sweater is a Jay-Jays novelty piece and probably cost me thirty bucks. Potter stuff features a few times a year, so keep your eyes out - they always have awesome merch. These absolutely amazing leggings are from Teefury, and cost $40USD. That's pretty pricey for Australians, who generally have to pay their lifetime's savings, an arm, a leg, and their firstborn child if they want anything shipped from America. But these are 150% worth it, and that's not even mathematically possible. I can't rate Teefury leggings enough. They are so well made, so comfortable, and the fabric is beautifully pigmented. And the designs are all fan-made. I wear these all the time and they haven't stretched or torn or worn out anywhere, and I've had them for about a year now. My booties are from Famous Footwear and they are my staple autumn/winter shoes. I love them so much I wore the heels out and had to get a shoe repairman to replace them. For how much they cost - probably twenty bucks? - I've gotten my money's worth countless times over. I also wore my new Potter earrings, which were my Kris Kringle gift for 2015 and which are completely fantastic, just to add the final touch. Mischief managed. x

Happy birthday to me.

January 4 is my birthday, yay. If you can guess how old I turned this year, then... you'll have the satisfaction of being correct (and who doesn't enjoy that?). I was weird about my birthday this year. I love celebrating other people's birthdays, but honestly, I didn't really want mine. The older I get, the more uncomfortable I am about being the centre of attention. It's probably because I was an attention-seeking asshole when I was a teenager, which I've come to find detestable in young people. 

Anyway, it ended up being a lovely day. Traditional birthday breakfast with my family at our favourite brekky cafe, then cake with my grandparents, a summery walk through Sherbrooke Forest (no, not Sherwood Forest) in the Dandenong Ranges with boyfie - to a waterfall! - followed by afternoon tea with my other grandma, and polished off with dinner at Meat & Wine Co., a trendy steakhouse in a converted old bank. Plus boyfie transformed his bedroom into a temporary day spa and gave me a massage complete with meditative music, candles and delicious massage oil. Pretty awesome. He did good.

This dress is my birthday dress. I ordered it last year during a barrage of deadlines, as a reward for surviving that particularly difficult week. Hashtag unilyf. It's so gorgeous, all covered in cupcakes and strawberries and sprinkles, and I absolutely adore it. Look at that polka dot netted sweetheart neckline. Ugh. Even more amazingly, it's completely handmade by the lovely girls over at bonnechancecollections. Definitely check their shop out, they hand make beautiful one-of-a-kind party dresses with the most adorable designs and prints. Completely affordable, too. Mine cost about $50AUD. I belted it with an off-white belt that came with the Polite and Day dress from Modcloth. The wedge sandals were about twenty bucks from Famous Footwear, and my super rad soft-serve handbag was a gift from boyfie. x