Monday. Seriously.

Yup

Why do I hate Monday today? Well because I am super mad at myself. I dropped my cell in water (no prizes for guessing where) and it was only 6 months old (a Christmas present - waaaaa!). Not a problem in the grand scheme of life but I'm so so annoyed and I hate not having a phone. BOO.

A Right Royal Roundup

1 & 2 Two Squirrels Vintage/3 Modern Miss/4 Needlebot Crafts/5 Kings Emporium/

6 Needlebot Crafts/7, 8 & 9 Brown Street Bespoke

Yesterday was my first time blogging in a journalistic sense (if journalistic is even a word) and to be honest I was extremely nervous.  I felt like a big faker -  approaching people (eek), asking to take pictures (eeeeek!), saying my blog name out loud (*faints*). I fumbled with my camera and jumbled my words, dropped things and nearly got stuck in a dress, but in the end everyone was so nice that I needn't have worried.  Self-promotion is difficult and I find it a bit cringy, but I couldn't have picked a better place to start.

So much vintage clothing under one roof - I could hardly contain myself! The Vintage Roundup at Queens Bar is one of Dunedin's newest markets and is organised by Tannia Lee, who also has her own fantastic online store called Most Wanted Vintage. The stallholders are vintage collectors who have shops or sell online, and there were also a few crafters. I was lucky enough to be contacted by Tannia to visit and take some photos, and I was so excited to be asked!  I managed to restrain my spending and only buy two pretty dresses, although it was almost too hard to choose from all the treasures on offer.  I met some wonderful, interesting people and had a lovely afternoon chatting with them about beautiful fabrics and how much we love our cats.

The photos in this post are only my favourites from the day, you can view the rest on my Facebook page. To see Tannia's photos, keep an eye on The Vintage Roundup page on Facebook too!  

Monday. Seriously - Did You Know You're Actually Tuesday?

WHY are there SO MANY expired yoghurts in the work fridge??! You know you're not going to eat it, WHY even bring it in. Oh wait, I think one of them's mine/I HAVE RUN OUT OF TEABAGS/I wish it was appropriate to lie down in the middle of the office, even just for a second. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and just need a moment/SO MUCH WORK/

Thank goodness for short weeks huh?  Only a couple of weeks until the shortest day, then we're on the way back out - yay! I can't wait, I've really been missing being able to run in the evenings and all this darkness is a serious mood-dampener. Luckily I've got lots of fun things with friends (and inevitibly wine) coming up. I know that I'm usually a stay-at-home kind of girl but I'm feeling cabin-feverish lately, and it's so nice to have fun things planned to break up these dark wintry days...

Freedom

Some days you just want to quit everything and escape....days are cold and dark, work is doing my head in - all I want to do is lie on a beach. Who's with me.

When Books Imitate My Life

I know that a book is enjoyable when the protagonist is relatable, but it's a little unnerving when you realise you often have the exact same thoughts as your main characters.  My current book is the kind of story that makes me laugh at the pithy, resigned way my main character observes his life, but only because I often observe mine the same way.

I'm not yet halfway through my book, which I prefer - I've still got a way to go so I can savour the story, and the anticipation of when I next get to read.  I'm not yet at that panicky stage when you really want to see how the story ends, but you don't want it to actually end - the internal struggle is nearly overwhelming.

I suppose a story is more relatable when it's set in the present, and doesn't involve any exotic locations or supernatural elements. But that's my favourite kind of story. I always seem drawn to books in which the main character is someone frustrated with their (often self-imposed) oppressed creativity, someone who is nearing 30 and still doesn't know what they want to do in life.  

Not that I'm unhappy with my life, but I just think I'm nearing the age where things haven't worked out the way I thought they would, and I'm realising that's the way it is for most people. Does that mean I'm finally becoming an adult? If so, it's about time. Up until now I've felt perpetually 12 - a bit awkward, internally clumsy and with front teeth a bit too big - but still with childish hope.  But lately things have been shifting and I can't really pinpoint when or why.  I'm still hopeful, and my dreams haven't faded at all, but now I feel like someone with determination and the realisation that your dreams don't magically drop out of a unicorn's rear and shower you with sparkles while turning you into a pop-star.  I feel purposeful and more in control, which is probably more exciting than any childhood dream.  Self-reliance is no longer scary, it's liberating and the anticipation of what I'll achieve as an adult is pretty cool.  I only wish it'd happened to me sooner.  

When did this turn into a therapy session. Sneaky books making me think about stuff.

(If anyone is wondering, it's called Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace)