let the light shine in

It's been foggy, misty and grey in Melbourne all day, but the sun just came out, perfect.

Photos via: Jan Durina, ms muse, lolita

green fingers

I have quite a comfortable obsession with flowers, I love buying them, recieving them, and now growing them. I've always loved gardening, the whole idea of creating and nurturing something. We have a vegetable garden at home, and a lot of fruit trees (I am a very lucky girl), and I have just recently planted my very first bulbs.I've never planted bulbs before and I must say it's been a few weeks and nothing seems to have happened above ground, although when birds got in recently and dug around a bit, I was rescuing my hyacinths and noticed some tiny green shoots which got me all giddy. I've covered them up now but will keep you updated as they progress.

In the meantime here are a bunch of lovely nature and flower pictures. For those of you in Melbourne wanting to buy flowers, Flowers Vasette on Brunswick Street comes very highly recommended, it smells amazing in there and the french man who might make up your bouquet is the perfect french florist man amount of flirty but not creepy. There's also a place on Gertrude Street I've never been to but which has fantastic window displays whenever I walk past [*update* I have been in there and they are so nice! It's called Mr Lincoln and you should definitely go there if you want flowers and are in the area]. For plant and pot buying (the ceramic variety) go to Fitzroy Nursery, also on Brunswick Street, they're having a huge sale at the moment and are really smart and helpful. If you're in Auckland there's a sweet little garden shop on Ponsonby right near Nosh, and Bana Brothers' Greengrocers (also ponsonby road) have great flowers, but otherwise I don't know too much...

most photos via oh joy

as the weather gets worse...

The last one is my favourite. I can't remember who I took these from in particular, but they are from here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1049625@N22/pool/

gay rosé

Pink things are pretty. When I was little I cut all my hair off and went through a phase of wearing Exclusively pink and/or lacy things, to avoid being mistaken for a boy. A little while ago I was taken to a pretty rooftop bar called Madame Brussels, their walls are pale pink and the furniture is white wrought iron. Their menus are bound in candy colored faux reptile and contain such drinks as 'fancy gay rosé'. Bursting Capsules.

Rosé also tastes nice, particularly if you like red wine like me but it's a hot sunny afternoon...

images Senseless Acts of Beauty, le love, don't forget to fly

the gokey is out

Friday nights on TV3 are amazing in New Zealand. You've got New Zealand's Next Top Model (there's going to have to be a whole other post about that at some point - suffice to say, this week they are going to LA and Nigel from ANTM is taking photos and on the ads he looks extremely gutted about it), then an hour break where you can watch American Idol and then Project Runway. All in a row.

As a result, I have been following American Idol. I'm not ashamed. It's hilarious and awful and cheesey and I love things which are hilarious and awful and cheesey.

When I read this today, some capsules burst in heaven:
http://gawker.com/5254555/american-idol-victory-over-the-dan

I know its kinda against the principles of this blog to have bursting capsules over hating something but I can't help it.

I HATE Danny Gokey. I'm rejoicing in his failure. For some reason (although the picture below sums up a lot of it) the Gokey is hugely annoying to me.

YOU'RE OUTTA HERE, GOKEY! Whoop whoop whoop!! Get the hell offa my television!

THIS GUY???

neo-geometry

I love Aztec prints. I bought a pretty dress by P.A.M which is part of the SS09 Secret Messages collection, they describe it as "Neo-geometrics". I can't find pictures on the internet but above is a t shirt fro the collection and an intense campaign image. Oh and a 'real' aztec print.

Mimco have a couple of pretty bags and necklaces in this vein also. I am head over heels in love with this little black number;

And here is a ridiculous poncho blanket thing for your dog, because we LOVE ridiculous outfits for your dog.

ayeye ayeye jesse mfana (jesse boy) ayeye ayeye!

Ok, so it has been a while...but things which are making me happy today:

- "Cruel, Crazy Beautiful World" by Johnny Clegg and Savuka. On repeat. On the bus. Also they have amazing pants. Rainbow band! It's feel good, but "with a conscience".

- Planning a care package to be sent to my sister and best friend in London who are about to move in together. This is doubly awesome because I live with my sister's best friend. Friend exchange 2009. So far I am thinking $3 (plus GST) Japan, music, some sort of Aotearoa-n beauty balm that you can't get overseas and delicious food. I hope they don't read this blog. Cat = not in bag.

- Had dinner with my Dad last night. He cooked the Dad classic - steak, peas, carrots, potato. To make it more cosmopolitan, he added mushrooms. To make it less "boiled vegetables", I mashed the potato. We drank a bottle of wine, watched Jeeves and Wooster and his giant tubby cat fell asleep on me. And then I stole a whole pile of winter reading from him. He made me borrow a book on Stalin which I probably won't read. All good, really.

-My charming English boss just told me I look like an "illegal Turkish guest worker the Opera pays in lunch" because I am wearing a beanie.

- Finally, I gotta mention Doctor Who Season 4, the only season I have ever watched. I spent my day off watching the first 8 episodes (eep) and eating quesadillas. But man oh man, I think I am becoming a bit preoccupied with it. And with the 970-something year old Doctor himself. As my flatmates say, he wears glasses so very, very well. And his eyebrows do amazing things. And Catherine Tate is in it.