Style-Notes To Self

1) Shop in the men’s department for demin and rock em’ jeans like this:-

2) When and if I land a Birkin, wear it ever so casual-chicly:-

Still making rounds on the internet; endearing indeed.

…But there’s something else Susan Boyle awakens in us as we watch her come out of her shell: our own selves. Who among us does not move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more? That underneath our ordinary exterior lies an extraordinary soul? That given the right opportunity, the right stage, the right audience, we would shine as the stars we truly are?

That promise underlies most successful advertising campaigns: the desire to transform from caterpillar to butterfly. Maybe if you buy that (fill in the blank), people will see you for the sophisticated, cool, gorgeous, talented, lovable person you know you really are.

It’s easy to admire Susan. But it’s far more interesting to be transformed by her. “There is grace,” a friend recently wrote to me, “in being molded by your own gifts.”

To allow yourself to be molded by your own gifts takes courage. You have to be willing to stand there, exposed and authentic, while the audience rolls their eyes at you and sneers, expecting failure. And then, of course, you have to fail, laugh or cry, and keep going until, one day, they stop laughing and start clapping.

Note to self: C o u r a g e

And she had her mother.

“She was the one who said I should enter ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’ We used to watch it together,” Boyle told the British paper The Times of her mother, who died in 2007, “She thought I would win. … I am doing it as a tribute to my mum, and I think she would be very proud.”"She was the one who said I should enter ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’ We used to watch it together,” Boyle told the British paper The Times of her mother, who died in 2007, “She thought I would win. … I am doing it as a tribute to my mum, and I think she would be very proud.”

If we’re lucky, we have parents who encourage us. Nothing really replaces a mother or father who believes in you. But even if you don’t have parents who believe in you, it’s important to have someone. Someone you trust, enough that when they offer criticism, you know it’s to draw you out more fully, not shut you down even partially.

The above are extracted from an article on Susan Boyle I came across on CNN.com , written by a Peter Bregman. Seemed like a man with interesting thoughts so I clicked on the link to his How We Work column on HarvardBusiness.org and after a quick scan of the page, immediately subscribed by RSS.

Online Shopping Beckoning

I find myself swinging between two poles; on one end, simplicity, less-is-more, decluttering towards my ideal of a superbly, simplicit-ly, zen-ly calm lifestyle // and compulsive shopping towards a more perfect life on the other.

?

With exams a week away, I’m really supposed to have face buried in book(s). Also, I’m really not to be spending $$ unnecessarily till this sabbatical’s over and the salary picks up once again. But. The blog-shops beckon!

I recently bought these:-

Jumbo Chanel inspired bag

Super comfy slouchy oversized top. Needs a belt.

And today I ordered this:-

images 1, 2: Kyurii

image 3: Lou Lou Invades

image 4: Mod Parade

Japanese Zen Garden DIY

This is so adorable. Especially noteworthy is the rake:-

“…to make the tiny rake, cut the balsa strip into two pieces: one .5″ long and one 2″ long. cut the tips off of three bbq sticks (about .25″) and glue these tips to the .5″ strip. hold the 2″ strip at a slight angle and glue to the back of the .5″strip”

katepruitt’s zen garden miniatures via Design Sponge!

I am currently unemployed, just taking sewing classes and studying music. One day I hope to be a clothing designer

What do you do or what would you like to do when you grow up?

I am currently unemployed, just taking sewing classes and studying music. One day I hope to be a clothing designer.

images from Backyard Bill | found via frolic!

How did these GUYS get so sophisticated?

Sometimes life gets really mundane – zero inspiration from anything. at. all. Negative motivation to do. anything. at all.

and then. something pops up!

The impeccably stylish Bagaholic Boy says of his latest featured character:-

The other featured people on Bagaholic boy have the most drool-worthy stuff like Birkin bags, Leica cameras and Vertu phones. Also, they all seem to make men’s shoes appear quite beautiful! How did that happen to the beat-up, black leather, worn daily, one-of-a-total-of-4-pairs-of-footwear-owned shoe?

I somehow get the impression that these style-conscious guys subscribe to the ‘quality over quantity’ principle. They seem to know exactly what they like and they splurge on it. Isn’t such simplicity much better than what us girls tend to do – have 50 pairs of shoes which were all on sale, slight off-size, not entirely desired but affordable etc

Another thing is, these guys all seem to know exactly what the good stuff is!

image 1 – killspencer.com | images 2, 3,4 – Bagaholic Boy

The late-bloomer gets the last laugh

She told how as a youngster she was ruthlessly mocked by other kids because being starved of oxygen at birth left her with learning difficulties.

Her ordeal saw her seek comfort in singing – a talent she discovered when she was five.

Spinster Susan – who has never had a boyfriend – said: “I was born with a disability and that made me a target for bullies. I was called names because of my fuzzy hair and because I struggled in class.

“I told the teachers, but because it was more verbal than physical I could never prove anything. But words often hurt more than cuts and bruises and the scars are still there.”

…

The singer said: “I still see the kids I went to school with because we all live in the same area.

“They’re all grown up with children of their own. But look at me now – I’ve got the last laugh.”

—

She admits she regrets never finding romance and having a family of her own. She said: “I’ve never been kissed.

“If someone even pecked me on the cheek it would be nice but I’ve never even got that close. My parents didn’t want me to have boyfriends so I’ve never been on a date. I’ve had crushes but I’ve never been in love.

I suppose I’ve accepted it’s never going to happen.

“The only thing I really do regret is not having children. I love kids and would have liked to have been a mum.”

- The Mirror

I want!

I’m a big fan of under-stated chicness and no, I don’t think this is an excuse for lazy. I absolutely love Alexander Wang’s philosophy and TOTALLY would like to have one of those Classic Tanks with the pocket. Too cute! A few other items I’m totally checking out:-

Bright Lights Big City

I love the way big cities are romanticized in the movies. They’re portrayed to be full of love and life. But then, that’s the movies.

Coincidence? w.r.t. Hermann Hesse.

I very recently read Hermann Hesse’s Siddhharta and was completely struck. Of course, I now feel the urge to read more of Hesse’s work, but hadn’t really thought about which one to read next, though I really felt Siddharta still resonating very strongly.

So this morning I was reading the Australian Financial Review’s monthly supplement magazine and therein contained an interview with a Ms Amber Long; a glimpse:-

And then in my inbox today, this was to be found:-

*

Last night I suffered a strange bout of insomnia and felt the urge to start painting at 2am.

But then, I suddenly recalled, I couldn’t was I was out of white paint.

Then it came to my mind that I had come across a bunch of paints in a plastic bag in one of my lesser-opened drawers, which perhaps had been abandoned by my brother and were placed in my drawer by my mother, without my realisation.

And true enough, there was indeed. White, gold, silver, bronze, orange, green and cadmium and a few others!!

So I started painting.