The Summer of Dresses

After years of living in shorts and jeans and denim skirts teamed with a t-shirt for summer I've decided it's time to change it up.

I'm in my 30's now, I need to project a more grown up look. And how do I plan to do that?

By wearing dresses.

In the last month or so I've been on a mission to accumulate lots of dresses to wear through summer (and hopefully winter). I've bought modern dresses, vintage dresses, lord-knows-when-they-were-made dresses and so far I love ALL of them.

So this summer (what's left of it) I plan to share with you my dresses in all their glory.

Oh Christmas Tree ...

Oh Christmas Tree.

Oh Christmas Tree.

Your piney smell avoids us.

Yep, we were all set to put up a real tree this year but work got in the way. As well as slack as Christmas Tree selling folk who clearly couldn't be bothered selling their wares after 5.30pm when the majority of working people actually have the time to forage for a tree. Grrrr. What is the world coming to?

So we bought a fake tree.

A white one.

And I love it.

The only thing is I wish they created Christmas lights using white wire/plastic/whatever it's called cause the green wire/plastic/whatever it's called is ruining my trees minimalistic look.

Still, Merry Christmas!! And while it's highly unlikely to be a white Christmas EVER in NZ, it's going to be a sort of white Christmas at our house : )

I think my cat is a hippy

It has come to my attention of late that my cat - Mr Alfred Mao (not like Chairman it's just the sound he makes) - is a hippy.

While other cats are off hunting birds at this time of year my cat is hunting plastic bottle tops.

Lord knows why but he loves them

I often hear the catflap bang followed by the frantic mao's of a cat who has caught a bird and wants you to know how amazing he/she is.

However we are not presented with a feathered friend in the last throws of life, we are presented with a plastic top. Normally the blue rings you'll find attached to a bottle of milk, but most recently a purple top - lord knows where it came from.

We then have to praise Maofraido for his mighty hunting abilities before he bats it about like other cats play with a dying bird.

We wonder if he's had an altercation with a bigger stronger birdie?

But if he hasn't it begs the question, is my cat a hippy?

Or is he just a pussy?

Breaking the news

Today I went into the wonderful Jeans West on Queen Street to buy new jeans to replace my beloved Tsubi's. I ended up going for the 'buttlifter flare' - very nice, very kind on the butt.

While there they tried to get me to buy another pair of jeans "2 for $100". I said no, I have more jeans than I need, in fact I have too many clothes, two wardrobes, half a duchess and a floors full worth. They then suggested I peruse the two for $35 tops, which I did until I remembered that I have too many tops.

Back at the counter I then had to break the news that next year they will not see me as I will not be buying any clothing at all (barring the Aussie trip). They took the news well. In fact i suspect they could've cared less, though they did their best to appear interested. I love their staff, so well trained and so good at their jobs.

I'm so going to miss them next year.

The summer of salad and spuds

My dearly beloved told me the other night that he would happily eat salads five nights a week. Which is awesome because I'm getting into this whole nutritious faze where I want to actually eat 5+ a day.

Then the other morning I woke up with a craving for a hawaiian baked potato - basically a baked potato smothered in coleslaw, pineapple, ham and a little cheese and sour cream. So I made it and it was divine!

Then I got to thinking about how few dishes you use when you make a baked potato and a salad and how much happier my husband would be if he didn't have to wash loads of pans and utensils every day.

With all these thoughts and ideas swirling in my head it all became very obvious ...

This summer we are eating baked potatoes or salads, with the odd fancy meal thrown in.

So tonight I'm making nacho mix (beans, mince, herbs and spices) and we'll have nachos tonight, but tomorrow night i'll use the leftovers to make a mexican baked potato - YUM!!

A clothing disaster!!

I love my Tsubi jeans. Love love love!

They were bought for a bargain A$90 reduced from $300 and they have served me well.

Until now.

I noticed this week the zip was a bit gammy but thought nothing of it.

Then last night I discovered that the zip wasn't gammy it was BROKEN!!!! And I'd be unknowingly flashing my knickers to my workmates and my suburb for the last week.

But what guts me THE MOST is that there is no point in replacing the zip as holes are appearing in the inner thighs and on the bum.

Yes I'm still allowed to buy clothing for another three months BUT I was hoping my jeans would see me through the no-clothes-draught til the end of next year.

*sigh* now I have to go find a pair of boyfriend jeans that don't make me look like I've got an elephants arse.

Life without clothes shopping

I love clothes shopping.

I love buying clothing from Trade Me.

I love browsing through vintage stores, taking in that fusty old smell and imagining who would've worn the really ugly tartan skirt in an unflattering a-line style.

I love buying new cheap t-shirts from Glassons and Valley Girl.

I love it when the girls at Jeans West treat me like a doll and have me trying on lots of things I'd never wear in a million years.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Yes I am bloody shallow but I'm ok with that.

However something changed the other day. Stuff.co.nz or maybe in was nzherald.co.nz had an article about saving money. And it turns out not buying clothing for a whole year is a good way of doing that.

It got me thinking about my two wardrobes stuffed with clothing (and shoes and handbags and scarves). It got me thinking about how my clothing has started to infiltrate my husbands drawers and how piles of clothing litter our bedroom and our spare room. Then it got me thinking that maybe I ought to give not shopping for a year a try. That thought scared the bejeesus out of me. But I do like a challenge.

SO, i do decree that as of January 1st I will not buy any clothing (shoes don't count, nor do handbags) for one whole year. The only TWO exceptions are one, if i go to the Gold Coast to see the family, cause apart from eating and seeing the family the only other thing to do over there is shop. And the second exception would be if I was to get pregnant, then i'd have to buy maternity jeans and billowy tops.

OH! Third exception, if someone buys me clothing as a present.

One year without new or used clothing entering my home. Thank God I've got two and a half months to prepare.