I’ll walk this modern tightrope… Where is home?

No, no, I’m not leaving civilisation for a year – I’m just off to Taiwan/Japan for a month, and that’s what my luggage looks like. 90% of what I’m taking consists of “western food goodies” and other New Zealand-produce like sheep wool scarves and boots. The 2x party packs of salt and vinegar chips are for my godmother, because apparently they don’t have s&v flavoured chips in Taiwan?! Plus, chocolate just makes a solid, relatively cheap gift – I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate?

Among the slightly less expected items were milo – I’ve got four heavy packs of those in there somewhere, for my mum’s friend in Kyoto who’s kindly offering me and my friend a place to stay next month when we fly over. And Ugg boots. Apparently they’re all the rave in Taiwan during their winter at the moment, and my godmother’s very picky and wanted NZ-made ones, with proper wool, instead of the cheaper, Made-In-China alternative.

I think the most annoying thing is the fact that my flight is at 11:45pm tonight – making today pretty redundant. Asides from my last minute packing and tidying my room, I haven’t really been able to do much today. Although, I think Charlotte’s coming around for goodbye hugs and to snip my fringe. It really, really needs a cut. But I’m too scared to do it myself!

I think the main upside to my luggage being occupied by edible and space-consuming gifts is the fact that after I arrive, my bag will become virtually empty, allowing me to go craaaazy with shopping; this is mostly important because university will be kicking off a couple of days after I return, and I don’t know how I am going to cope with mufti everyday for the rest of my life! Blog entries full of newly-bought goodies and yummy foods and sights from Taiwan/Japan soooon. If all goes well, by this time tomorrow I will have in my possession a very funky pair of somethings that I’ve lusted after for aaaages now, look out!

Hey Stud!

Now, I’ve never been much of a bag person – in fact, anyone that knows me well enough will have been asked “can I put my stuff in your bag?” when out and about with me. Anywhere, anytime, I enjoy my pockets, thus making my leather jacket a staple with any pocket-less dress or garment that I wear. I remember the two summers spent in black skinny jeans and band shirts with the boys, walking to and from the mall everyday, with only my phone, eftpos card and house key stuck to my leg in the sticky sort of sweat that tells you such jeans are a bad idea for summer. Such idiocy has served me well – I’ve never fussed over bag checks at events since I’ve never had one! Until I started carrying cameras around…

Anyway, the point is, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with this Melie Bianco bag, which is saying a lot since I don’t even have a habit of using bags… but with the conversion rate plus shipping fees, it totals to about $145 NZD, which is a huge ask for someone who wouldn’t even have that much in their wallet/card that will be potentially going into this bag, ha. I don’t know if I’ll end up getting it, but the black, the studs – it’s all just so tempting for me. In the meantime, I’ve promised myself to definitely not get it until at least after my trip to Taiwan/Japan, where I will undoubtedly be assaulted by an uncharacteristic lust for hot leather in the form of bags!

So these are infamous shorts that I scored for $20 at Glassons on Boxing Day. The look much better when worn, but I didn’t feel like having my tum, legs and arse in the pictures – most especially since I just became very well acquainted with dinner. I really wished that I had a “before” photo now, just for comparison’s sake; but I wasn’t exactly anticipating on spending that much time personalising them.

They started off a completely hole and tatter-free, with the bottom hem in the typical style of being folded up with the sides sewn up to secure the fold. I hated how that looked because I’d always associated light denim with rips and holes, so I’ve never actually worn them out in their original state! The most difficult part of tearing up the folded bit was first having to use scissors and a seam ripper to get it undone – who knew Glassons was so intent on keeping their shorts intact? It was a bit rough at first, but eventually I got the hang of making the tattered, holey bits without actually putting a proper hole through – slashing the denim in the direction of the white threads worked wonders, and my personal favourite touch is the triangular hole on my right thigh (you can’t really tell in that picture, but the triangle’s more distinct when worn).

Then last night I had a huge spout of sleeplessness, and decided to stud my back bum pocket. The only reason I chose the right was because I’d put a few slashes in the left and didn’t want to ruin it… but discovered today that, apparently I usually instinctively slide my phone into my right bum pocket, oops, pocket no more! I’d have to admit that the studding was probably the cause of most of the sleeplessness past 3am, since I sat in bed doing it, but I hate starting something and not finishing it, so I persisted for much longer, since the studs were so hard to align properly!

Mum walked in this morning and joked that I’d raised the value of my shorts to $80 and I laughed – but she’s right though, I see these things in stores for prices upwards of $100! On one hand, considering the trouble, I can see why people are willing to pay for this to be pre-done, but I had so much fun doing it and thinking these were only $20 that I’m glad I didn’t succumb to being ripped off. Pun unintended. Promise.

So slag it all, bitter’s in fashion

By this time next week, I will officially no longer be a high school student! Next Tuesday is the 7th formers sign out day where we all go into school in our uniforms for one last time, return textbooks and get our yearbooks and leavers’ jerseys. To be honest, after five long, often tedious years, I’d often thought this day could not come fast enough. but right now… I’m kind of sitting at home wishing I could put it off for longer. That same night will be our Graduation Dinner, and as of right now I still haven’t sorted anything to wear. I don’t want to be too vain, but surely, who wouldn’t want to look good in front of people you’ve spent the past five years with, regardless of, and actually, most especially if you don’t like most of them very much? Haha.

At the moment I’m trying to feel out a draft plan of how I’m going to spend my 3-month long summer. So far I have flights to Taiwan/Japan booked for Jan 26th-Feb 26th, so that should be a really good trip right before uni starts in March. Apparently I will be working something like Sunday-Wednesdays at my part-time job in a cafe so that should provide me the funding for gigs/shopping/transport/booze/Christmas presents over the holiday period. Speaking of which, I saw the most amazing earrings today, so I already have an inkling of what I might get mum for Christmas. As for everyone else… especially my Dad? I might have to just wing it. What does one get a geeky, middle-aged man for Christmas?! I still owe Dad a (very very very) late birthday present too. Yikes.

In slightly irrelevant matters, I really need to dig in and shed my winter fat – what with all the pills messing with my weight as well for the past few months – I need to look good in the Volcom bikini that I found today! I haven’t bought it yet, but I’m convinced that’s what I will be spending my summer in; I should say hello again to my neglected friend, the gym!

“Healthy” rip off

See this drink here? This sloshy pinky liquid with what looks like pink biofoam on top? It cost $7.90.

Now normally I wouldn’t have gone near such an atrocious rip off, but my friend had a voucher for “buy 1 get 1 free”, so when I said that I was thirsty, we couldn’t help but endulge in a ‘bargain’ of a free drink… so technically that drink cost me $3.95. Regardless… it was supposed to be a berry smoothie, the menu frolicking with delicious descriptions of a multitude of berries and frozen yoghurt. What I got turned out to be about as viscous as a cup of tea. I don’t know whether the lady that made it forgot the part about frozen yoghurt and ice, or whether their recipe was just an uber-fail, regardless, the smoothie – no it doesn’t even qualify that title – juice thing was revolting. Not only did it taste awful, but it also had a lot of pips in it… from the boysenberry, maybe? Twenty minutes and a sore stomach later, I thoroughly regretted being firstly coerced into buying that drink, and then feeling too guilty about wasting and downing the whole damn thing. Never again.

What I don’t understand though, is the whole franchise of healthy, “tasty” alternatives to fizzy drinks and other smoothies/drinks of high sugar/calorie content being so expensive. $7.90 could’ve bought enough for a meal for two from the supermarket, or at least a burger combo at any buger joint, but no, instead, I merely got a disgusting, and disgustingly expensive healthy drink. It seems that people these days will pay an arm and a leg not to satisfy their tastebuds, but to mend their conscience by telling themselves they consumed something “healthy”. Next time I’m that thirsty, I’ll settle for a glass of tap water, thanks.

Red nails, retail therapy and a hundred posts

Finally, my term one holidays has been kick started by Easter Weekend. As usual, within 24 hours of being released from the realms of our strict school rules, I immediately coloured my nails… red again – I went on a hunt for black, but couldn’t find it, and gold was just not bold enough for my mood.

I can’t believe that after almost three years that this is finally my hundredth post! Actually, I can believe it, because I’ve simply always been too busy or too lazy; or, more often than not, a combination of the two. My friend Angie and I sped off in my car straight from the school carpark (oh what rebels we are, our school doesn’t allow students to drive to school, most certainly not with passengers, unless you have a driving permit and passenger permission – both of which I’m a proud owner of – although I don’t think the mall’s what they had in mind when they issued that to me) the minute school let out at 2pm on Thursday. One of the few upsides with my school is that school always finishes an hour earlier when there’s a long-weekend holiday – we take ample advantage of it, of course.

I don’t think the rooftop carpark wall minded witnessing our drastic transformation from a primped and highly decorated school uniform (we adorn many badges) to flash things on heels. Ang and I spent the next 7 hours glamourising ourselves in changing rooms and making mental wishlists… my 18th birthday is in a month, presents, anyone? I couldn’t remember the last time I had so much fun (window) shopping. Hopefully when I receive my holiday paycheck for tomorrow (not even working, on Easter Sunday, yessss) I’ll be able to go back and buy a gorgeous sequin dress from Max. It’s a shame no one wants to pay $199 for a pair of pants that look amazing on me (even if I say so myself) – which is really saying something about how nicely cut and designed they were, considering I don’t generally look very good in pants. Towards the end of the day, however, after 2 malls and 7 hours of strutting around in heels, I was satisfied with the purchase of a new cardigan-shawl-like thing, as well as four bits of jewellery for $5/each from Bling at Botany since they’re closing down – they’re getting more stolen from them than what they’re making, the girl from school that works there said. I’m not complinaing.

I’m thinking I’ll take some photos of how I’ve been dressing lately, sort of as a point for future reference for myself, maybe? I feel very rock ‘n’ roll lately. I’ve always felt that way… but moreso as of late.

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