Packing!

I'm packing, I'm packing! Or at least, I'm making plans to pack and to make a giant bacon and egg pie. I have my pack sitting in my room and I can't wait to put my bits in there. I spoke to Bex on The Skype yesterday, and we talked about how packing and planning outfits for certain adventures is part of the fun of going away on holiday. I haven't planned outfits for anything for so long, but I'm bloody determined to enjoy the hell out of this holiday. Planning is definitely the way to go.

So I need to decide:

• What shall I wear to Hot Water Beach? *
• To the Waihi Museum?
• To Whitianga township for a cup of coffee?
• Road tripping around the Coromandel Peninsular?

I shall NOT answer: "jeans and a giant cardigan" to all those questions. Orrrr. Maybe I will and just bring a huge selection of scarves (a la SIOL challenge).

In slightly related news: I'm going to give this whole "no shampoo" thing a whirl. It came from reading this article on the Hairpin, and I suspect starting it while in the country is probably for the best. I wonder if "no shampoo" will stick? Should I take shampoo with me Just In Case? Is it possible to be more of a hippie than I already am with the crystal deodorant and the Mooncup? Do I smell funny?

All questions shall be answered In Time I am sure.

PS: Dropping my year long challenge because it's depressing me and I just don't need any more depressing things in my life while dealing with coding.

*Swim togs would probably be the most sensible option here.

Just some chattiness with a glass of cider

Hello my darlings, have I told you today how wonderful you're all looking? I love to see your little shining faces staring up at me. "Ginger", you ask, "Ginger - what wisdom do you have to share with us all today?"

WELL let me tell YOU - the wisdom I have to share is merely the wisdom brought upon one by a lovely glass (read: bottle) of French cider, of the kind that tastes a little bit like feet. So it's mostly wisdom like: CHEESE IS GOOD! YOU LOOK PRETTY WITH LIPSTICK ON, YOU SHOULD WEAR IT MORE OFTEN! And also - THE BEST WAY TO COOK KAMOKAMO IS WITH BUTTER! Meaningful stuff, you know?

My big excitement of this evening is rediscovering all my Gillian Welch albums. She's like, totes a genius y'know. I'm crazy about her. Also, I quite like Neko Case, but she doesn't compete with GW, noways. GW is deliciously old-timey, and THATS what does it for me. Nostalgia for a time and culture that's like - MILES - away from my own. Yep.

SIX ITEMS OR LESS: Colour me Over It. Yes, I thought (a bit) about clothes and consumption and stretched myself a bit in terms of accessorising and won't give up before the end date (next Monday), but I went through my love of uniform/Zen stage and I've come out the other side, itching to wear bright colours. Lately I've thought a lot about the way I dress and if nothing else I guess that the SIOL has given me space to re-assess how I'm going to approach the whole "dressing" thing for the next wee-while. As in: I need to accept the fact that high waisted pants don't really look that good on me, but on the other hand lots of 50s and 60s style stuff looks amazing. Also, I feel better with a big pop of colour and pale colours don't always cut it. Also, I love playing dress ups! I get so bored dressing one specific way for any length of time. I'm Madonna! I'm a Chameleon! I'm drinking out of an empty glass now so I'm going to go off and do something about that!

Incidentally, I DO think you're looking wonderful today. I love that thing that you've done with your hair. xxxxxx

My pen has a moustache on it! Also: Fifty Two Tasks, again.

ello my darlings

 

My new pen does indeed have a moustache on it, and here is a ladylike face I am pulling with the aforementioned pen. Oooh la la! It's a Seven Year Pen which means that it should last seven years (amaze), and will save BILLIONS OF PENS in the process. How good am I? There is a website that sells them - Seltzer Goods - but I bought mine in spending fit at Madame Fancy Pants. Yes indeedy, Thursday was a day of fitful and impulsive spending. I also bought another Lipstick Queen lipstick and a pair of tights from Farmers which seemed like a great idea at the time but do my legs no favours at all - they make them look like strangely blotchy sausages.

 

I'm writing this on Day Six of my Six Items or Less Challenge, and can I quietly say that I'm actually really beginning to enjoy it? It's been making me thing a lot about how many clothes I have, what I feel comfortable wearing and how I want to dress. All excellent things to reflect on! Shannon brought back a whole heap of beautiful silk scarves from India and Nepal during his trips and I've been learning a bunch more ways to wear them, and I've found that I really love wearing scarves! Especially headscarves as turbans: turbans rock my tiny world.

 

FIFTY-TWO TASKS

I had a busy week (for me) so it was a bit of a squeeze getting all my bits sorted out in time. I went through all my fabric, got rid of some random second hand purchases and sorted out a bag that I now know just contain little scraps of awesome fabric. I cleared out my yarn and put all the yarn I was revolted by or that was acrylic (such a snob) in a separate plastic bag. I was planning to take these to the op shop but then I realised that if I was to do the task that Megan nominated (knitting a scarf for a Wellington statue) that I was best to hold on to it, no matter how uninspired it made me. Thus, it shall be relegated to the garage for the time being. A conclusion that I came to during the clear out: I have no reason to buy more fabric, and I should sew some awesome things with the awesome fabric that I have.

 

So! On to the next one. And I think that this week ... I'll attempt to make something delicious with liver or kidneys. Yes! Awesome! The opportunities are endless really aren't they? Pate, steak and kidney pie, liver all delicious and rocking by itself, kidneys with bacon fried up for breakfast ...

 

Which brings me to the end of my ideas. Do you have any? I'll keep you posted about mine.

Fifty-Two Tasks: The first week

via All Things Amazing

Very vaguely, I chose "Start the New Year with a clean slate" as my first task of 2011. I can definitely confirm that there was much tidying that went on - an entire room was reorganised (as has already been noted) and everything in the aforementioned room was cleaned, including myself. I've been wearing makeup to work and arriving on time (both of which bode well for my productivity). I've addressed some things that happened in the old year that I wasn't happy about and have made some active re-thinking decisions. My bed has been made everyday for a week! Thus, I say that "Start the New Year with a clean slate" is indeed a success. Consider my slate wiped clean. Onwards and upwards!

My next task is a decluttering one, because that's the kind of lady I am. I will be choosing item 26 from my list which is - "Clear out my craft stuff and get rid of any fabric or wool that makes me gag". A whole week to achieve! This I can do. Also, it will make my room look tidier because at the moment there is a blue plastic crate that is vomiting fabric scraps everywhere. And tidier makes Ginger happier, yes indeed.

I'm taking part in the new cycle of Six Items or Less! We begin on January 10 - my first post is here. If you see me in the street, amaze at my sophisticated style please, and don't point and laugh. Lovely xx.