Is spring on its way?

I'm not someone that copes well with cold weather. Funny then, that I'm drawn to cooler climates (France, anyone?!) and will likely be missing yet another Australian summer this year.

This spring floral shoot is just the thing I need on a cold winter night.

Full set found via FashionGoneRogue.

Daily Outfit: Favourite colour(s)

I haven't felt very sartorially inspired lately. Perhaps because I am very, very tired at the end of a long term and it is also freezing in the morning when I'm attempting to get dressed.

 When in doubt, wear red.

 

Five Things

One.  Enjoying my new computer! Ended up getting a MacBook Pro, on sale as they'd just released new versions. Ended up cheaper than the Air and now I have the perfect travel laptop! It did take me a week to get it out of its box (I've been busy, okay?)

Two.  Reading in bed. One of life's simple pleasures, for sure.

Three.  Went for a lovely walk at Morialta on Sunday. Unfortunately was in a bit of a stinker of a mood but was still able to appreciate the natural beauty on a very crisp winter's day.

Four.  Being busy at work, but having the end in sight. Marking 65 of the same exam? Planning for a new semester? Keeping up with year 12 work? Supervising exams? Writing reports? Meeting parents? Thankfully everything is (gradually!) winding up but I sure have put in the hard yards this term.

Five.  Making magical music. Had one (amazing) concert on Friday night and working towards another on Saturday. I really like being part of my various musical groups.

Daily Outfit: Trop Sensible

I sometimes find it difficult to unwind on the weekends and end up looking rather sensible for downtime!

Daily Outfit: Willy Wonka

Are you more of a Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp fan?

Five Things

After yesterday's post, I thought I'd ease back into blogging (if I feel like it! I do what I want!) by resurrecting a short, simple list of what's been happening around my Universe lately.


1.  My attention span has been pleasantly surprising: I've been sitting down to work (write tests, fill in spreadsheets, email parents, mark exams) and finding myself disciplined enough to work solidly for at least half an hour. Baby steps, people.

Fun tactics include:

 Hot drink breaks every 40 minutes 

Timing myself marking tests and seeing if I can beat my own time

Sorting exams into piles of 10 and not letting myself get up for a stretch until they're all done

 Listening to my iPod on shuffle (seriously, why haven't I got into this before while marking?!)

2.  Still going with the trying to watch movies thing. This week: Sin City and Coffee and Cigarettes (which I'd seen many moons ago). I'd like to borrow Battleship Potemkin before I play a live score to it in a fortnight.

 

3.  Visited some op shops near work yesterday and picked up a few goodies: a black lace shirt, red tartan skirt, white obi belt, and three editions of Another Magazine (which I've not read before but look interesting).

4.  I've come to the realisation that I don't mind grocery shopping at all. I keep a running list on my phone so I never have to worry about forgetting the essentials and then get to top everything up with seasonal produce and take advantage of specials! I may also be the grown woman zooming down the aisles on the back of her trolley, hanging on for dear life and cackling with glee. Maybe.

5.  I saw the Wizard of Oz in a live stage show this week and it was fantastic! What a timely reminder to live your life a bit more musically and that perhaps what you're searching for you've had all along (end pseudo-wisdom here). You bet I dressed up and rendezvoused with the musicians during interval!



That's all I've got! Five Things. Five Things. Five Things. You're very welcome to share your Five Things too, should you feel so inspired!

Daily Outfit: Class Photo

I wore bright colours for school photos a few weeks back. I proofed them the other day, and oh boy, does my look stand out against my students' uniforms! Hilarious.

On acknowledging, then dismissing excuses.

Excuses, excuses.

• I don't have a laptop to call my own at the moment (to be remedied tomorrow afternoon! Exciting!)
• I work all the time (but I have holidays in two weeks!)
• Outfit photos are hard due to short daylight hours and long working hours
• I'm not feeling very creative, or like anything I produce will be of suitable standard for the blogosphere

MS SEQUIN CAT, LISTEN UP! Whatever you write/photograph/create/post will be fantastic because it is your blog. There's no point doing it if it's getting to be a chore!

I want to feel like this about blogging again! But I won't beat myself up if I don't, either.

I'm aware there's been a fair bit of dissatisfaction out there lately about the future of blogging, and the commitment it (supposedly) requires. I guess for me... blogging is whatever you want it to be. I like having a visual diary of my life. Reading back over past adventures makes me happy and reminds me of all the awesome things that make up the Sequin Cat. It energises me to create, once again.


I'm never going to be self-employed, or create amazing photo shoots, or have a regular posting schedule and a legion of dedicated followers. And that's okay.


It's enough for me to occupy the tiniest of spaces of the internet, and share my latest loves, looks and links.

Daily Outit: Lost Spark

Haven't been feeling the winter wardrobe love lately so I may just have to tap into my own archives of what I was wearing this time last year.

I'm not feeling particularly creative or innovative with my clothing at the moment and I wonder if it's due to my awkward wardrobe situation - a small,  heavy clunky number that's perpetually dark and loves to hide my dresses. To accompany it? A pirate's treasure chest - I never know what I'm going to find in there.... which is both good and bad.

Time for a clean out.

On making the most of long weekends

If you're in Australia (except those poor folks over in WA, who want to secede anyway) then I am certain that you'll be looking forward to tomorrow's public holiday.

Rather than treating it as a Sunday re-run, why not use it as an opportunity to get organized for the second half of the year?

Why don't you?

Get all your receipts together ready to do your tax return?

Paint a thick clear gloss on your nails and look polished for the week ahead?

Pour a glass of wine and commit your afternoon to planning that holiday you've been talking about?

Write your friend/grandmother/cousin a card just to say hi?

Update your calendar with all the latest invites? Remember to RSVP?

Take a big bike ride to your local library and stock up on fresh reading material?

Seriously go through your wardrobe and prepare your things for a clothes swap? Sew on those buttons? Neaten loose threads?

Find some seasonal recipes and cook a few big batches?

Let me know how you plan to make the most of your public holiday! Best wishes to my sister over in Perth who has a rather important job interview tomorrow.

Daily Outfit: A cheeky remix of the white shirt

Isn't the whole point of Daily Outfits to showcase what we're wearing on the.. Daily?

More like Weekly or Fortnightly Outfit at the moment. Hopefully things will get better once I have a functioning laptop.



Still enjoying the crisp white shirt.

The Technology Debate

Does anybody else find it hard blogging from an iPad? Perhaps I'm just not dexterous enough with the touchscreen.

First World problems, I know.


With some travel on the horizon, I've been debating buying a new laptop before end of Financial Year. I finally booted up my third-hand model (dad to sister to my fingertips) and after a few restarts and a lot of patience, got it working.

I researched its model. Turns out my laptop was discontinued in 2006. High time for an upgrade.

Do I go the Air? I've been an Apple girl the entirety of my technological existence. I'm not sure if that means I succumb easily to the marketing hype or that I have confidence in Mac products - I have a first edition iPod with hard plastic shell and grey screen that still works. Seriously.


If you were in the market for a new laptop for everyday use (no extreme graphic designing/music mixing/movie making) what would your choice(s) be?

Daily Outfit: Not so basic basics

White shirt and black skirt given a fun Sequin Cat twist!