Yesterday was Australia Day! I’ve never really been one to be patriotic or even that worried about celebrating public holidays beyond sleeping in late and doing bugger all for the day. But this year my best friend had an Australia Day BBQ so it was time to get out there and have fun. The theme was “bogan” but I decided to dress up in something completely different. I was also very much in a pink mood so I chose my pinkest and most in-you-face dress.

Dress: Gail Sorronda for Target
Shoes: Super cheapo pink flower thongs pinched from my mum’s closet :D

The dress was white, but as you may have already guessed about me, I don’t really like white (when you have pink hair, you tend to develop a healthy aversion to it) so I dyed it pink. It sort of looks tie-dyed, which was unintentional but I love how it turned out. I haven’t worn it in ages because a certain someone didn’t like it, but now that is no longer a problem, I am going to wear it more often!

And just for good measure, I thought I’d get into the Aussie Day spirit for a few moments:

How was your Australia Day?

It’s a HUGE change. It was something I’d been thinking about for a few months but I’m the type to procrastinate until the chance has gone or just plain wuss out and not go ahead with major decisions such as these. In other words, I’m all talk to action. And yet I had an epiphany last week and within six days I had moved my entire life across Brisbane. My mind is still boggling that a) I did it and b) I did it so quickly.

It’s easy to focus on the negatives when you make such a big change like this. I’m not a big fan of massive changes, I do like having a bit of a routine with the freedom to do what I want without bothering anybody else. Living with my mum now, I have to rely on here getting me to the train station (until my poor car gets back on the road) and it’s now a big deal transport and time wise getting to work our going out on a Saturday night. In order to look ahead and maintain a sunny disposition and not ket the big stuff get me down, I am concentrating on turning these potential “negatives” into positives in my new situation:

• The Long Commute to and from work. While this is a massive change from my usual 2 minute train trip to work and 20 minute walk home, I now have lots of time to read to and from the office. I can also listen to music and zone out which is something I haven’t had time to do for ages now and have actually rather missed.
• Being completely out of the hustle and bustle of the Valley. While I will miss $5 steaks at RGs and being so damn close to everything all the time, I am going to save HEAPS now I have less temptation to go out drinking or out to dinner randomly. There’s far less chance I can pop down to the shops for a late night snack or get tempted by the various shops on the streets surrounding home. I will also find myself with less to do so I will have more time for the things I love like blogging, sewing and various other crafty things I just couldn’t do in the Valley.
• Being so far away from friends. In actual fact, because my situation has changed so much, it’s likely I will spend more time with the friends I haven’t seen in a while because they’re no longer “just around the corner” and I’ll be able to see them in places outside the Valley (fancy that) which means I will appreciate my time with them a lot more.

In other words I am going to save SO much money, I will get more “me” time, I will be able to do more creative stuff more often and I will get rid of a lot of stress that I’ve just sort of learned to live with over the years. I am actually really excited! Plus I love my mum dearly so it will be great to spend lots of time with her ^_^

Me and Miss Mia Doll at Crown Casino on Friday night

I got back from Melbourne yesterday and I gotta admit, I love Melbourne very, very much. I spent four days there with good friend Miss Mia Doll, shopping, partying and having a grand ol’ time. I was fortunate and arrive just after their heat wave (though Brisbane decided to go and start its own heat wave the day I got back, typical) so I got to enjoy a warm sunny day while actually feeling cool when in the shade! You wouldn’t believe how much of a thrill that is like it is to a Queenslander.

Some of the things I did while I was there:

• Shopped at Chapel Street
• Wanted just about everything I saw in Dangerfield
• Wanted to buy everything from every store I visited, pretty much
• Went to the emo club night Nextwhich was hilarious
• Spent a day in the City where I was awed by how many kawaii asian shops there were. SO JEALOUS!
• Went to Crown Casino and had a ball laughing at the bogans and winning some money (well, watching the others win money, anyway)
• Visited fancy Melbourne cafes and ate a range of foods I never usually eat (ie. fast foods)
• Made new friends :)

At Tokyo NoNo, the Japanese mall on Bourke Street

It was a lovely trip, the only flaw was that it was way too short! I love Melbourne so much, and if I didn’t have my whole family and lots of friends up here, I’d probably already be living down there! Though admittedly, I’d be perpetually broke with all of the shopping and cafe/bar hopping I’d do. But it’s definitely worth regular visits. I hadn’t been there since 2008, and hope to go back at least once again this year and explore every party of that wonderful city.

Have you been to Melbourne? What’s your favourite part of the worlds most liveable city?

YAY! It’s 2012. Which is significant for me for a few reasons (ie. I turn 30, though if that Mayan calendar thing is actually true, we all die two days before my birthday). I also have some big plans for this year which I am very excited about (I will go into further detail as they start to pop up).

The first, exciting thing I have done so far was finally upgraded my poor 6 year old HP laptop for a brand spankin’ new HP desktop. I’m not computer savvy enough to worry about building my own computer and HP have proved themselves with how well they work for me. So now I will be able to get back into graphic design stuff (did I mention the fact it’s a touch screen computer? Coz it is!) and also VIDEO EDITING! I am pretty darn excited about the though of this, as I haven’t been about to do much proper editing with my old laptop. I’m not entirely sure what I will be editing exactly, but I will make sure it’s good :D

Also to start off my year with a bang, I am off to Melbourne for a few days. Which is going to be SO MUCH FUN. I haven’t been there since early 2008 and as an old school Victorian (I lived in country Vic until I was 9 years old) it holds such a dear place in my heart. I also went with someone who is no longer my friend and also wasn’t very much fun, so I am excited to share this visit with good friend Miss Mia Doll. I plan to go shopping, see some sights and go out and relish in how much trendier and more exciting Melbourne is compared to poor sleepy Brisbane. There will be a massive post to follow!

To celebrate the new year and because they were well overdue, I got my nails did. I knew I wouldn’t be bothered doing any designs of my own so I got them to add some cute little sparkly bows on my ring finger nails. They look MUCH better in real life, but until I get Photoshop working on this computer, I had to use this dodgy photo of them. I have decided this year I am going to get WAY into nail art and experiment a lot more. So if you know me in real life, hit me up so I can do your nails and get lots of practice!

OK well I really ought to pack, since I really haven’t started and have to be at the airport by 7am tomorrow morning. I look forward to sharing my exciting new adventures with you all very soon!

Getting ready for NYE 2011-12

Holy shit, it’s december 21st! Where the fuck did time go? I have about five posts half written but somehow time escaped me! 2011 has been fairly average for me, some good stuff happened and some shit stuff happened. We organised a highly successful and extremely professional zombie walk in October, and I got TWO puppies (one in August, the 2nd in October) who have changed my life so much, in a good way! I’ve also had my poorest year since I was a student now that I am finally being an adult and paying off my many debts and it SUCKS! I also lost my car of 6 years (which may be back in 2012, we’ll see) and my poor dependable HP laptop is finally on her last legs.

I have big plans for 2010, to make it worth my while in case that whole Mayan calendar thing ends up having some truth to it (if it does, we all die two days before my 30th birthday, mwahaha). Here’s a few:

• SAVE MONEY. I’m almost 30 for crying out loud. Time to stop wasting money on bullshit and save money for travels, a new car and for things I actually genuinely need.
• BLOG MORE. I have been terrible with blogging this year and I’m so ashamed of myself. Good news though, I got a new computer this afternoon (bless you Harvey Norman and your 24 months interest free) so I will be able to work to my full potential and bring to you some amazing stuff.
• GET WELL. I’m not actually sick as such, but I have the back of a 60 year old which I keep ignoring and getting just enough physio to fix it for about a week. I’ve also started managing my migraines and gotten rid of a lot of them, which I hope gets even better next year.
• LOSE WEIGHT AND GET FIT. Let’s be honest here, I will say this every year. But I’ve been AMAZING at it this year and while I’m not some skinny minnie yet, my fitness is at the best it’s ever been so I will just keep at it.
• TRAVEL. My good friends are getting married in Thailand which I cannot miss! I’m also spending a few days in Melbourne next week which will be awesome and long overdue. I need to try and travel more, it brings me such joy and I need more of that in my life.
• STOP WASTING TIME & BEING LATE. It runs in my family but it’s no excuse. I mean right now I am blogging at 10pm when I should be getting ready for tonight!!! Hopeless. But I will get better next year.

Thanks to those who’ve kept with me and still read/enjoy my blog. I promise to deliver more and more next year. I just hope I’ve kept a few of ya’ll entertained week to week. Lova ya gutses :D

So I turned 29 yesterday and since it’s a bit of a non-event turning such an age, I decided against a party and just had a dinner with friends and family at Wagaya Japanese restaurant. As expected the food was delicious and everyone loved the neat way you order food on an interactive touch screen menu. I was also impressed by how many people could make it considering it’s only two days before Christmas. I love my friends :)

I decided to wear an amazing party dress that I bought recently from a Vintage market where it was love at first sight and I’ve been desperate to wear it ever since.

It’s a Victor Costa who I discovered, upon doing some research, is famous for copying designer dresses impeccably and selling them for a fraction of the cost.  And then  discovered some boutique in Hollywood is selling it for US$495! Man, I got a good deal on mine, eh? It’s such an amazing dress, there’s so much detail and it’s so ultra 80s I could die. I mean come on, colourful tulips, dropped waist, tiered skirt and a big bow on the back? Divine, dahhhlink.

Back detail. Click pics for larger images.

As I’m not at home right now, I can’t tell you what brand the shoes are but I also got them from some market but they’re much newer and one of the most comfy pair of heels I own and from an obscure brand in the UK so I doubt there are many others in Australia. The tiny purple top hat was a birthday present from a friend.

Sara, Erin & I on our way to the festival

So, apparently we missed the memo where compulsory wear for girls was bikini tops, teeny tiny denim cut off shorts, sandal and bad tans. For the guys, it appeared the uniform involved dicky short-shorts and spaghetti strap singlet like body builders wore in the 80s and those ridiculous thin-material boat shoes. Option extras for the ladies were boobs jobs (extra points if we could see the scars/surgery tape) and tattoos of “meaningful quotes on their wrists, ribs or thighs. For the guys, acne caused by steroid use on their over-muscled bodies and terrible, stereotyped tattoos straight-from-the-wall, including a plethora of Southern Crosses, boxing kangaroos, grim reapers, wizards or general colourful cityscapes.

Now don’t get me wrong, this is what all festivals have too much of these days. But this was just…ridiculous. Sarah and I were seriously two of about 25 other girls there NOT wearing denim shorts. The three of us were the least tanned there and showing the least flesh by far. About 60% of the guys there weren’t wearing shirts, despite the festivals “TOPS ON” policy (which was definitely not being enforced). It was… mind blowing. The extra special part was seeing just how little the girls could get away with wearing. It seems to me there’s a new trend of denim shorts that are cut up so high in the arse area that half your arse is exposed. ON PURPOSE. We’re pretty sure next year they’ll just be wearing denim g-strings and pasties to cover their nipples.

My sister took a few sneaky photos of what we witnessed while having a sit-down earlier on the in the day (please note, we are not sitting in a forest, all of those brown things are actual human legs):

And our absolute personal favourite, this girl:

Except for the last “lady”, these aren’t even the worst, in fact they’re not even that bad. My personal highlight was seeing the woman who was pushing her late 40′s at least who looked like she was trying to emulate Barbie, with her bleached blonde hair, giant boobs, crazy dark tan and cutesy pink and white bikini. Shame her skin looked like old, soft suede that was about to peel away from her otherwise fit body. Or the guys who were so friggen buff their backs had cleavage! BACK BUTTS! Does anyone find this attractive? Well I guess they must, but I know I don’t and it was such a shock to see so many people rocking this atrocious look. Seriously, even the folk from Jersey Shore would have found it totally over the top.

Needless to say, they’ll need to have a damn good lineup and sort out their shitty layout (and get MORE figgen toilets) before I’ll go back. Admittedly half the fun was people watching and thinking of witty comments to go with all of the more “noticable” patrons.

Oh and here we are at the end of the ight, looking a little worse for wear but still, SO much hotter than everyone else there!

Well it’s finally over. the 2011 Brisbane Zombie Walk is now behind me. And I’ve just posted the Post Walk Statement on the site which means I am finally free to discuss the events of the day here! Hurra!

Our day started pretty well, I somehow managed to get an awesome night sleep which was an total shock. I got up at about 7am and checked the zombie walk email, updated the blog and finished tidying up the house for everyone who was going to come over to get ready. By 9am everyone had arrived and were getting ready in every corner of our unit. I had a grand plan of painting myself a nice, light green with hair colour spray which had worked really well for the cover of mX but failed on me by running out 3/4 of the way through painting myself! Luckily a bit of clever makeup blending skills and I managed to make my face almost the same shade of green as the rest of my body. I went for a cute green zombie with black accents (ie. black cartoony scars, black around my eyes and black lips) to go with my adorable pink Zombie Unicorn dress. Oh and the adorable little Brain fascinator that my mum made me :)

The first incident of the day happened at about 9.30am when Anthony, who was the leader of the set up team, got stuck in our ancient lift. He’d disregarded a warning from another helper who said they’d been stuck in the lift for a good 5 minutes and found himself trapped on our level, with doors that simply refused to open. A bit of panic set in then, so I had to finish up my personal preparations and rush to Wickham Park to start setting up. This set us back a bit and one of our sponsors was already there which got me into panic mode good and proper.

Fortunately things went fairly smoothly, and we had a lot of friends helping out, as well as a number of volunteers so while we ran behind schedule most of the day, it as definitely not as bad as it could have been. Lift Boy was released after being stuck for a good 90 minutes and we got back on track. The fencing we had put up to minimise entry points into the park worked a charm with regards to getting people to donate a gold coin on entry. Sure, some cheapskates jumped them to avoid paying, but most people were quite generous. Well except for the tourists who threw in 5c pieces but I will talk about them more later.

By 2.30pm the park was absolutely packed, and because people sort of hung around the two entry points it was proving very hard for everyone to get in, and thousands were pouring in by this point. The plan was to have our speeches at 2.30pm but we held them off because some of our speakers went missing! During the speeches (which unfortunately weren’t hear by 90% of the people in the park, something we will have to rectify next year) we did the 10 minute countdown required for our Guinness World Record attempt. We had Sarah as the MC as she’s an excellent public speaker (and I am a stuttery, nervous wreck in front of big crowds), Gerald from the Brain Foundation, Erin Snape who raised over $6000 for the Brain Foundation and an officer for the QLD Police to remind everyone of the rules of the walk.

At 3pm I rushed down to the front exit point to get ready to lead the crowd on the walk, and was shocked to see THOUSANDS of people trying to get in still. We gave them another 10 minutes before deciding it was useless, and had to run out of the park and down the road for a good 200 metres before we’d passed everyone. Naturally my megaphone, which I use to yell at people and get their attention with its obnoxious siren, ran out of battery then so we had to get the police to sound sirens to get everyone’s attention, and get them to start following us down Albert Street and into the City. It was hard work, we had to shout a lot for people to follow us because they were all sort of standing around, looking a bit confused. We then opened up another exit point and people just poured out of the park. In fact a lot of people left via the top entrance point and had to walk around the block to meet us. I just can’t believe how many people there were.

My sister and I then spent the next half an hour sprinting around the City between intersections making sure the police we OK and then sprinting most of the walk route to try and get back to the lead of the procession. I literally have not run so much in my life (thank god I go to the gym so much so I was fit enough to manage it). We also spent a great deal of time trying to get tourists off the road. They were seriously only leaving about a 3m gap for the zombies to walk down, like some sort of catwalk. I had to SCREAM at some of them to get off the road and had to give up when I got them back a couple of extra metres. It was infuriating, I know most of them probably didn’t speak English but my screaming “MOVE BACK” and all but pushing them backwards with my gestures surely must have made sense to them? That’s about when my voice started to give out. Once at the front of the procession we helped Cassie and the other volunteers keep everyone in line (though barely, bloody rowdy zombies). Thanks to the delay in taking off, we arrived at the end point close to 4pm which was perfect for our plans. We then had to try and get people moving on to the after party and I then spent the next two hours running between home and the venue trying to find various things that had been packed up in various vehicles. When I finally got to relax, the after party was really good and the bands excellent. It was also so cute to see kids in the all-ages room, many of which were doing the Melbourne Shuffle extremely well (others just rolling around on the floor and jumping off seats).

So in summary, we raised over $24,000 for the Brain Foundation and attracted between 15,000 and 20,000 people. We estimate about 12,000 of those were actually zombies, but holy hell that is some turnout!!! We made some huge improvements on last years walk but we still learned a lot and have lots of exciting ideas for next year and will undoubtedly only get better and better as we become absolute pro’s at it. I will keep you posted about when we get the Guinness World Record!

BAM! Guess who’s on the front page on mX newspaper today? Damn right that’s me and my bestie Sarah! We did this photo last week on a whim. I had to go and buy a whole bunch of zombie makeup that day as I was just too disorgansied to make the blood and stuff as I usually do. Not bad for a 45 min rush job, I gotta say!

The writing in the bubble says:

WALK OF THELIVING DEAD
Brisbane’s CBD will look like the set of Shaun of the Dead this Sunday when Sarah Keogh and Cara Westworth take part in the sixth annual Zombie Walk. Thousands of people in zombie costumes will start their journey from Wickham Park at 3pm until they finish at Centenary Place in Fortitude Valley. Brisbane’s Zombie Walk is the largest in the world and is held to raise money for the Brain Foundation of Australia. For more information, brisbanezombiewalk.com

And I believe we’ll be in City News tomorrow as well! What a week, I’m telling you now. But after a week of extreme stress (I lost a kilo from it this week alone) things are falling into place and the walk should be an amaing day. Don’t forget:

BRISBANE ZOMBIE WALK
WHEN: Sunday 23rd October, fun starts from 11am, walk leaves at 3pm
WHERE: Wickham Park, Brisbane City. Just follow Albert St up from the mall and we’re up on the right near Roma St Parklands
WHY: For fun, of course! And we also raise money for the Brain Foundation. So dig deep!

Guess who got their hair cut last night?

Let me just start off by saying, I love it. I have had pretty much the same haircut for a few years now, a concave bob with a blunt fringe that grows out into a lob (long bob, just to clarify for those not in the hair-know). There was a stage for about a year where I went quite short at the back which was fun at the time, but something I’ll never bother with again. I had a side-swept fringe for a bit but I’d always revert back to my faithful blunt fringe that would range between super short to in-my-eyes-and-pissing-me-off long.

I got an asymmetrical fringe a couple of months ago on a whim (it was going to be a side-swept fringe again but my hairdresser mixed it up a bit) which I really liked. So I kept it a while, even getting it re-trimmed in the same way (I rarely keep a “different” fringe upon my follow up fringe trim). Then one of the other hairdressers at the the salon I go to asked if I wnated to be a hair model. And this is the result!

I’ll probably loathe it when it starts growing out but it was FREE and I love the double asymmetrical thing and just generally having something quite different to what I’m used to.

Don’t worry though, the pink/black is here to stay!