Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014

I'm back, i'm back! What an amazing week of music, and weekend of non-denominational chocolate eggs. I've been at the Byron Bay Bluesfest, and i've come back so inspired and brimming with ideas and excitement for the future.

I volunteered, so I was there for the full festival, but I was lucky enough to score a spot as a team leader (which means slightly less work, but heaps of perks) so I camped for 7 days while we did a bunch of team-building activities like snorkelling out at Julian Rocks, and an afternoon of Circus Arts! I totally screamed on the flying trapeze. Whatevs, i'm still tough.

Also, this was the first Bluesfest in about a bajillion years that it hasn't rained (not even a drop!). The weather was PERFECT, and the week was an all 'round winner.

Below are my top picks for the week (in no particular order). If you were there, I want to know about your experiences! What did you see? Do you agree with my picks? Will you be going again?

THE HORROR KITSCH BITCH BYRON BAY BLUESFEST HOT LIST

Buddy Guy

Photo courtesy of here

What the heck can I say about Buddy Guy? He's Buddy-flipping-Guy! He's got teeth made of pearls, and the filthiest mouth of a man his age. Boy can he tell a story, and play a damn guitar. Honourable mention also guys to Marty Sammon, his keys player, who is an absolute BOSS.

Erykah Badu

Photo courtesy of here

A friend got me into the "Queen of Neo-Soul" a while back, and I was so excited to see her. She was having some sound/tech issues on the night, and at first I was a little put off by her seemingly diva-ish behaviour. But after a couple of songs I was all like “Oh shiiiiiiit. Dayum gurl, you do as you please, you are THE QUEEN”. This woman OOZES extreme talent. She didn't get up on stage and “sing her songs”. Instead, she demanded we enter the mouth of the living, breathing organism that is her music. I know that sounds a bit wanky, but seriously. Mind. BLOWN.

Beth Hart

Photo courtesy of here

Argh her voice! She is everything! I'm pretty sure if Etta were still kickin', she'd totally approve of Beth Hart. This woman made me be like “I am going home to do vocal exercises every. damn. day, because I would kill to have 1/100^th of what she's got!

The Beards

Photo courtesy of here

If you know me at all, you know i've got a beard fetish. So not only do these guys all have beards, and sing songs about beards, but they are all really talented musicians. WINNING.

Larry Graham (& Graham Central Station)

Photo courtesy of here

I have two words, and two words alone... FUNK. BASS.

Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes

Photo courtesy of here

An AWESOMELY fun 9-piece soul/R&B group from Melbourne, helmed by Clairy Browne, and supported by an amazing band, and 3 totally bangin' babes with killer backing pipes, and the most contagious 60's choreography. Not to mention the costumes. THE COSTUMES! * drools *

C.W. Stoneking

Photo courtesy of here

I know I said “no particular order”, but I totes saved the best for last. This guy. THIS. GUY. It's hard to put into words what I feel about this guy. But i'll try.

Quite simply, he makes my heart homesick for an era i've never lived in. He has the most genuine and authentic stage presence, an incredibly unique (in this day and age) sound, insane songwriting skills, and is about the best raconteur i've ever experienced.

I only took ONE photo of an artist, the whole week. And it was of him. I snuck sidestage to watch his first set, and I felt so honoured and happy in that moment that I cried. Lame. But I don't even care!

Photo courtesy of MY INSTAGRAM!

SPLOOSH TUESDAY (Issue I)

As a child of the technology generation I spend an awful lot of time on the internet. Heck, I even browse while I poop. As I'm sure you're aware, there is A LOT of awesome stuff happening out there. For all of it's downfalls, I am so grateful that I was born in a time where I have so much information and inspiration constantly at my fingertips.

A lot of the blogs I follow compile a weekly list of things that they love, and I think that's really cool cos it serves as a way of cataloguing online exposure/exploration, and it's also pretty indicative of how our brains work. They all have snazzy alliteration names, like “Things I Love Thursday”, or “Friday Favourites”. I'm not really cool like that, so mine is just going to be called SPLOOSH TUESDAY. Cos I'm classy.

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This is James Aitken – he is Australia's FIRST "plus-size" male model. Like, legit; he's signed with BGM. Don't believe me? His portfolio is HERE.

Now although he's a long way from fat or even big (with a 110cm waist), there definitely is a far cry between James, and a model like this:

YSL 2013 collection, Paris.

After all the banging on that happens about body positivity in the female arena, men are totally overlooked and it's easy to forget that they cop it, too. So, my feeling is that James Aitken is a step in the right direction. A small step, but a step nontheless. Viva La Revolution!

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For anyone who knows me, you'll know that I LOVE Japanese culture. Nearly everything about it, including (especially!) their whacky and eccentric approach to fashion. I first went to Tokyo when I was 11, and my innocent young eyes were perverted in the very best way when we set foot in Harajuku. I don't necessarily have a Japanese-inspired look, but I own a lot of small kawaii pieces that I like to mix in as part of my style.

As such, I'm SUPER EXCITED to discover that there's a new shop opening in Shibuya, called “Punyus”, and they stock straight AND plus-size sizes! And better yet, theit catalogues feature small and big girls modelling the EXACT. SAME. OUTFIT. And best yet, they will have an ONLINE STORE! Get outta town! Word on the grapevine is you'll have to organise a third party for shipping, but hey that's totally doable. Then again, with the prices Jetstar have on direct flights from Australia to Japan at the moment, I may just have to GO!




This is just downright exciting, but it's also really awesome for the girls of Japan - we think we have discrimination in the Western World, but in Japanese culture, even just being a *little* bit fat is a massive no-no. Take a look at this photo below: the percentage rating system is based on how fat the girl is:


While Japan is very slowly starting to come around, the Japenese cyber community has produced a good-humoured name for us fatties: Marshmallow Girls. I LOVE IT.

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Although this doesn't make me *sploosh *, I was really saddened by the passing of Mickey Rooney yesterday. I don't think he was an amazing person, but he had some really great on-screen characters that are very dear to my heart. Anyway, I bet now he's drinking sodas with Judy. RIP Mickey. xx

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OH MY GAWD, Game of Thrones was back last night. OH MY GAWD. Anybody else creamin' for this season? If you feel me, here's a cat singing the intro song.

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If you're as obsessed with Tess Munster as I am (I'm not sure that's possible), you will know about her effyourbeautystandards hashtag. If you're not, you should be, because it's an amazing movement and now has nearly 200,000 posts on Insta.

Well, these t-shirts go on sale in about a week, and i'm SO EXCITED to get me one. Both to have and to wear (to love and to hold), and so that I can support this amazing woman and all she stands for.

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On a similar topic, Elizabeth from Your Life in Design has just launched a new range over at Candy Strike – the TEENAGE JEZEBEL collection!!!

Which is reference to the John Water's film CRY BABY!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am seriously FROTHING to get me some of these amazing pieces. I NEED the Beat it Creep t-shirt, and I just WISH Tracy's Roach Dress came in any colour other than pink, but hey, maybe I can make an exception.

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THIS list, by the one and only Lexi DeRock, from Volptuous Vintage Vixen:

This is a hilarious, heart-warming and all-round good advice list. Definitely check it out, and let Lexi know which is your favourite! You'll see my favourite 2 in the comments on her page :)

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Lastly but not leastly, the work of my friend Isabel Peppard – stop motion animator, director, SPFX artist, everything good and fun. Izzy is such an amazingly beautiful person, inside AND out, and her talent is incomparable. I recently had the privilige of (finally) getting to see her stop motion animation short “Butterflies”, and it made me cry. It's not available online at the moment, but I think it will be on the SBS sometime soon, so i'll mention when it happens.

Until then, here is the WEBSITE, and the trailer, which gives you a taste of the beauty, style and story.

Izzy's currently working on her first feature length film, and I am SO STOKED for her, that she has this amazing opportunity, and for us, that we will get to experience it once it is finished.

Embarrassing and Awesome Evidence of a Cocktail Boozanza

The birthday of my bestie and I falls exactly one month apart, so every year we have a shindig/hootenanny/gathering/extravaganza smack bang in the middle. This year (since we are getting long in the tooth), we decided to have a sophisticated little soiree – a cocktail boozanza.

It was a quaint affair, as you can see below.

This was less than half the booze! See that amazing vintage, glass cocktail

shaker with ingredient measurements down the side? I thrifted that - $6. 

Middle set of 6 tall glass glasses, and 5 pink martini glasses - thrifted; $11 for all. BOOM.

The evening started charmingly. We had a superbly stocked liquor cabinet, and fresh lemons and limes were prepared in tea pots (note: if you're going to do this, do make sure you strain the juice – the pulp causes havoc getting through the tea spout, we discovered).


My bestie and I were treated to a gift fit for queens (of which we were amongst many that night).

Sidenote: Sorbent should totally sponsor this blog.

One of our friends (the dark haired one above) is a reformed bartender, and he made us our very first martinis! Here we are, being fancy ladies about it:


The olives were delicious, the beverage was quite foul. Perhaps Vodka Martinis are better?

I can do bad, bad things to an olive or two. Like, eat them. 

The all time favourite drink of the night was definitely the “Thai Tiger”. It seems there are no photos (?!), but I will treat you to the recipe. The sounded weird. Do cocktails have 'recipes'? I don't see why not!

THAI TIGER – DELICIOSO EXTRAORDINAIRE

1 part lemongrass and ginger syrup

(you make this simply by cooking down 2 parts granulated sugar to one

part water with some crushed lemongrass and, if you want,

some fresh ginger and a lime leaf)

2 parts fresh coconut juice

(this is optional – i've never used it because i'm cheap, and they are amazing without)

1 part vodka

1 small chilli, sliced

1.5 parts freshly squeezed lime juice

(fresh is VERY important)

Sprite or 7-up

You just chuck everything except the sprite/7-up in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake your booty, and then strain into a glass (highball suggested, but not mandatory). Top up with sprite or 7-up, and garnish with some lemongrass, a sliver of chilli and/or a juicy wedge of lime! NOM

Now here's where things start to get really fabulous.

If you're unfamiliar with that bootiful diaomond ring, that's Sam of Sam Doesn't Know Things.

And then I got sick of my part frock (which was from Target, PS), changed into my pyjamas and fell asleep on the couch with Gomez. Sam was kind enough to snap us while we were vulnerable. And yes, my terry towelling Hello Kitty pyjama shorts are amazing, thanks for noticing :)

Cat, Cat, Cat, SUNRISE!

I've been lame. I've been sick. I've been grape. Huh? I mean, i've been LIVING on grapes, cos my throat is full of razor blades.

Despite ratta-tat-tatting on Death's Door (drama queen, much?), the uni deadlines have continued to creep. I have a photography assignment due tomorrow, and it was to be an “exploration of space”. Meaning, no people or objects.

So since it's been a whole week and not a blog post or an OOTD in sight... here, have some photos. I titled them “West Side Pride”:

AM City Views from Footscray

Suburban Dreams

Old Meets New

Breakfast Of Champions

Dinnertime Hustle

Departures and Arrivals

Surprisingly a Sunrise!

The only exciting thing I did do this week is see JOHN WATERS at This Filthy World Vol. 2. Which was not dissimilar to Vol. 1, but since I adore him so, it's totally forgiveable. It inspired me to rewatch Multiple Maniacs, and I screenshotted the best bit for you.

Mink Stole, giving it to Divine. Fear not, dear readers, that face is one of ecstasy...

“She inserted her rosary into one of my most private parts”

Lastly, I stalked my cat, Gomez, around the yard. And since he's SO ADORABLE, I know you want to see these shots. Happy cat snaps!

Can You Even Dye My Dress to Match My Lips?

Edit: this post is now included in Mis Papelicos and her Share in Style blogger challenge. I wanted to participate but the theme is "summer" and it is the middle of winter here in Australia! Looking forward to more challenges and exploring the other ladies who participate! <3

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This post title is a complete lie – I didn't dye anything, and my lips don't match my dress. Today. But they will in the future, because I DID buy a lipstick that matches it. But more on that later.

I got this dress about a year ago, and today is the first time i've worn it. Because, well... it's kind of puffy around the sleeves, and i've always felt the upper half of my body doesn't need any help looking bigger. But in an effort to #effyourbeautystandards (see what I did there?), I decided to say “fuck it” to flattering and wear it anyway. Turns out, the sleeves are actually kind of annoying, so I think I will do some minor alterations. It's such a gorgeous dress, it makes me want to picnic.

This little vintage beauty came from the GORGEOUS ladies over at Hey Fatty. They are so cool, I want to be them. But more importantly, they are doing amazing things for the Melbourne plus size and found fatshion scene, and I'm stupendously excited to see them at the Curvy Couture Roadshow later this month!!

Jewellery is from somewhere cheap and nasty. I think it may have been Diva. I actually enjoy getting random combo packets of sale stuff from places like that.

My shoes look like bowling shoes, don't they? Well, they are. For years i've been fibbing and telling people I bought them from a closing down bowling alley, but in fact: I stole them. Relax, it was in the folly of my youth. They've been serving me well for nearly 10 years now (sadly, it shows)...

Gallery of vain selfies. For your closer jewellery inspection, of course. 

(haven't quite mastered making photos all the same size...)

Last exciting piece of news is: I GOT MY FIRST LIME CRIME LIPSTICK! I don't really have any lip painting skills just yet, but I will definitely work on it, cos this stuff has such a luxurious texture.

The universe has been flashing these puppies at me for some time, but I actually have a really hard time wearing lipstick because I feel like mutton dressed as lamb. I was talking to Sam (of Sam Doesn't Know Things) and another pal, Tegan, about this little issue of mine (#firstworldproblems), and their advice is to just start wearing it and i'll get used to it. Never one to go small or subtle, I decided to skip the “go subtle and assimilate phase”, and jump STRAIGHT to the good stuff. The vibrancy of the colour is unreal!

Instagrammed bathroom selfie, right after purchase:

Colour: Oh No She Didn't.

The final push was that I saw FashionHayley wearing an adorbs colour, and looking super cute at it. And she mentioned she got in a from a shop called Lady Petrova which is in the same street as my uni! The stars aligned, I got my first Lime Crime lippy. Also, that shop is so damn cute. They don't stock anything in F for Fat, but ermagerd it is kawaii heaven.

Check it out!