Amazing Places

This just popped into my inbox from The Cool Hunter.

Santa Domenica nel Salento, Italy

Rice Field Terraces in Yunnan, China



Etretat, Normandy, France



Alentejo, Portugal



Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island, Hong Kong (I've been there!)




Pangong Tso Lake in the Himalayas





All images found via The Cool Hunter

Daily Outfit: Hot Pink!

Not so sure about this one. Oh well!

Daily Outfit: Channeling the Eighties

How outrageous is this jacket?! I brought it out for its debut on a grey Monday morning. Tried to tone it down with the black but I am completely understanding of the schoolyard snickers for this look. At least we're having fun.

Wear Colo(u)r

Have I sung the praises of the glorious Wear Colo(u)r tumblr before?

I'm not so much a tumblr addict but have subscribed to this one's RSS and find myself bookmarking lots of favo(u)rite looks. Shall I share a few?













Stay tuned for more glorio(u)s colo(u)r!

Daily Outfit: Air France

A bit stewardess (with golf clubs!) for the schoolday. Otherwise known as: it's cold and I'm tired; hence jumper and pants. C'est la vie.

Excellent Weekend!

Full of lots of my favourite things.




That is all.

Daily Outfit: A bit of rockabilly

I'll always like this colour combo! Really happy with this work outfit.

Daily Outfit: Deep Purple

In a quest to wear more colour, I tried this skirt again for school. Mostly win, except for almost falling up stairs the whole day.

Daily Outfit: Pigment Pressure

On these grey winter days, I really feel the pressure to maintain spirits by decking myself out in bright hues. Here was a day when nothing jumped out at me so I got dressed because I had to. Doesn't it show! Many other fellow teachers commented that I wasn't very bright and were concerned! Thank goodness winter is (slowly) coming to an end. Vive spring!

A couple of others...

Remember how I said I wasn't very materialistic and didn't want much for my birthday? Ha!


I've thought of a couple more.

The new Lonely Planet guide to Vietnam for an upcoming adventure

Amazing Face, by the always hilarious Zoe Foster
(sorry about the lack of umlaut situation)

Any other requests? Suggestions?

Daily Outfit: Swinger

Just a fortnight ago, before my entire garden was ripped up.

The Birthday Bug

Source

My 25th birthday is just two short weeks away but admittedly I haven't given very much thought to how I want to celebrate. That's not good sport!

All I've got:

Cupcake picnic

Cheese Party

Go-Karting

Treasure Hunt

And on the materialistic front? Things I desire?

Shorts for running

Fishnet stockings (mine all have ... holes?)

A haircut

Lovely fresh bedsheets and perhaps a new set of towels

I'm not easy to buy for...

Daily Outfit: Stormy skies

Layered up for brunch and Sunday times.

Five Things

The German sailing ship Alexander von Humboldt in the Tall Ships' Races 2003.

Hello you! What mischief have you been up to this week? Here's what's floating my boat.

Playing detective. All I need is a (polkadot!) trench and a pork pie hat!

Going for long runs.

Making positive steps towards producing my own Happiness Handbook, or something of the sort. It may manifest itself as a zine, seeing as I have access to photocopiers and coloured paper. Whee!

Walks around my neighbourhood, seeing what's new, patting cats and taking photos of flowers.

Continuing to challenge myself cinematically, given my film predilections are somewhat limited.

And the not-so-happy-times?

• Manfriend coming off his bike at speed and getting all scraped up


• Winter ennui back again this year


• Having trouble finding a decent place to rent


• Feeling as though I'm not giving teaching my full attention

She'll be right! What books are you reading? What flowers are you sniffing? What TV shows are you really into at the moment? When are you next going to the theatre? Send your friends a thank you text! Book a nice restaurant for this weekend! Start planning your summer holidays!

Daily Outfit: When in Russia?

This little furry hat that I wore last weekend (or the one before? Eek!) reminds me a bit of Russia.








Lunch in the city and a late afternoon stroll round the Botanic Gardens. Super day!

Daily Outfit: With the Lady herself!

Hot pink velvet for the fabulous Ms Chew's solo art exhibition

Daily Outfit: Covered up

I reckon this may just have been a Frock Friday, not that you'd know with me all covered up like that! So cold outside. I miss winter warmth.

Five Things

Erte

Watching lots of movies again this week.


Finishing a big run despite the grey weather and still having energy to burn.


Keeping on top of my marking by doing it under blankets in front of Mad Men.


Making opportunities to practice my French: wine and conversation tonight, conference tomorrow.


Homegrown eggs and homemade wine (not necessarily together!)

Daily Outfit: Petticoat Lady

Quite a demure schoolday look! Told you I love that blue belt.

Daily Outfit: Blue Belt

I'm loving this bright blue silk belt at the moment. Makes me feel like I could karate chop a block of wood!

After-school snacks

Perfect!

Daily Outfit: A Coral Colour

A bit of colour for school. Did you guys know this is a dress?

Daily Outfit: Back to Business

Winter workwear isn't easy! Thank goodness for pearls.


Apologies for all the inside shots at the moment; back and frontyards are mud pits due to renovations. It'll be a while till things are habitable...

Les Blues

After an awesome weekend, I've got the Sunday night blues: when you really don't feel like working in the morning. I know that when I get there I'll be fine, but for now let's look at this lovely blue dress.

Jean Dessès, 1951. via

PS. I read French philosophy in the park today to my boyfriend. Could I be any more of a cliché?!

Daily Outfit: Sunday Dinner

More often than not, on Sundays we go to the manfriend's parents' house for Sunday dinner. It's a pretty casual affair but I do like to make an effort. And wear a red polka dot tutu.

Daily Outfit: Frock on a Friday

I try to wear a dress on Fridays. Then again, half of my week is spent frocked up so perhaps I am exempt from making an effort?

I've been....

Sailing the seas on a big-ass boat! Not really. I just really love The Crash.

• looking for a place to live (the house I inspected yesterday smelt a bit like...death)


• wearing magenta lipstick and pearls like they're nothing special


• making long-term goals that involve France adventuring


• looking into amateur theatre


• swanning round (and almost tripping myself up in the classroom) in the most fabulous purple skirt


• scrapbooking while watching Revolutionary Road; marking while watching the Amazing Race


• running further than I ever have before
  

I feel.... inspired again! Spring is on its way! I'm working towards goals! It feels good!

Bookbag

I know I blog about books a lot. But when I'm trawling through my Google Reader, what do I like seeing? Smart ladies discussing novels. Oh yeah.


Normally I try to be faithful to my books, and only have one (perhaps two) on the go at any one time. Lately, I've somehow found myself juggling a few too many, so August's goal is to finish them all in their entireties so I can start afresh. I have tons of books sitting in my bookbag, waiting to be devoured.


Just finished this weighty tome after a few months of dipping in and out. While an inspiring read, I felt Kee's story lost momentum in the second half. Perhaps because she was no longer in Swinging London, but instead settling into a quiet(er) life of domesticity in the Blue Mountains.



I started rereading this roman a few months ago to exercise my language skills. Despite it being a slim text, I just haven't found myself drawn to reading it lately. This is the month that I'll finish it and put it back on the shelf with its other French pals.



In an effort to avoid the Winter Wardrobe Blues, I've borrowed a number of 'style' books from the library. This one's nicely divided into succinct chapters, anecdotal in tone and has delightful illustrations of outfits. Very nice.



I read the Curious Case of Benjamin Button short story quite some time ago (we're talking years) but never finished off the other short stories in the edition. I keep on borrowing it from the library in the hopes of completion but up till now I can't seem to digest Fitzgerald's writing. Maybe it's not meant to be. I loathe giving up on books, though.

Daily Outfit: In the Lab

This lace jacket kind of reminds me of a lab coat. Fitting, for a science teacher!

Rainbow Shoes

via Girl with the Flower

Daily Outfit: Minimal effort

Being sick is no fun!





I sometimes get comments on my clothes from students. Today's? "I like your outfit. Sometimes your clothes are a bit crazy but you look nice today." Thanks petal!

Daily Outfit: Sooky Sicky

I was a bit under the weather last week, but rather than take a day off (which involves quite a bit of work, setting reliefs etc.) I soldiered on through the clouds.




Thankfully I felt better after a few short days and some after-school naps!

Film List

I'm not much of a cinephile but I've seen so many movies this week (last week too)! I guess it's nice to do when it's wet and woolly outside.

Here we go:

Bad Teacher
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Love me if you Dare (Jeux d'Enfants)
Revolutionary Road

I've been reading a lot lately too and indulging in other cultural pursuits: Ruby Chew's art show and SALA Moving Images.

When am I finding time to work?!



Any movie recommendations for me? I seem to be on a bit of a roll here!

Daily Outfit: First Day Back

Back to school for what is sure to be a busy term! I can't believe it's August already... we're ticking along and before you know it my sister will be married and it'll be Christmas holidays once again. I'm trying to plan long-term so that we stay on track with school work and get through all we need. I'm teaching chemistry at the moment - makes a change!

Colours

Green tea, magenta lipstick, pearl necklace, blue sky, red wine.

Daily Outfit: Return to Grey

From this to this. Caped crusader for a mission of a day... otherwise known as afternoon tea with haloumi salad. Yum! A walk in the winter sun with friends does a world of good.

Daily Outfit: Winter sun

Summer holidays in winter being my thing, I packed my bathers for a four-night adventure on the Gold Coast last week. Purpose? Introduce the manfriend to the wonderful world of rollercoasters.





I braved bare legs for most of the day but put the leopard tights on as the sun started going down. Do I dare share my bikini outfit?