Nessbow

I am sad to announce that this will be my final post on this blog.

However, I am incredibly excited to announce that, from today, I will be posting from my brand new blog!  From this day forwards, you will be able to find me at:

www.nessbow.com

It makes me a bit nostalgic to think that this is the last time I'm going to be posting here.  This blog has been up and running for more than two years.  I've truly loved writing on this site and building it up from the ground.  However, I think that the time is ripe to start moving on to bigger and better things.

The new site will, indeed be bigger and better.  I'll still be posting at least four times a week, with plenty of fashion, outfit, beauty, lifestyle and fun posts.  Here are some of the other amazing things you can look forward to on my new blog:

- Easier navigation.  The new site has more detailed categories, so it's easier to browse the types of posts you want to read.  It also has chronological archives.  There's also a search function, so you'll always be able to find what you're looking for.

- Easier commenting form.  I can't stand the commenting form on this site.  I know how awful it is when you want to leave a comment, and you have to jump through a bunch of hoops to do it.  My new site has a much simpler commenting procedure, which is great for everybody.

- Ability to schedule posts.  I'll be able to schedule posts for days when I know I'm going to be busy or away from my computer, so you can count on regular, awesome posts all the time.

- Social media functions.  The new site has a twitter feed and easy-to-use links to my Facebook and Twitter pages.

There are plenty more brilliant things about the new site, but I'll let you check it out for yourself.

Also, for the time being, this site will still be up and running, and you'll still be able to access the archives here.  However, I will be gradually transferring my archived posts over to the new address. That means that all my content will eventually be in the one place, and you'll be able to check out some blasts from the past as I move my old posts over.  I've already taken some of my favorite posts to the new site, where they are waiting for your peepers to check them out.

Thankyou so much to all the loyal readers who have frequented this site.  I hope that you'll all join me over at my new online home for more fun, fashion and frivolity.

Greetings good gentles! I hope this pleasant Thursday finds you happy and well.

A couple of nights ago, I listened to a butt-load of Nirvana and classic Red Hot Chilli Peppers while doing the dishes. The music seemed to seep into my brain and the next morning I awoke to find myself inspired to dress in a grungy, 90’s style outfit.

I am wearing:

- Alice in Zombieland tee-shirt from Threadless.

- Black and red slip dress (gift from Sam)

- Grey ribbed socks from Sportsgirl.

- Dr Martens boots

- Leopard print beanie from Equip

- Assorted silver bangles from my aunty

- Jack Skellington bracelet (gift from Violet)

- Cross necklace (gift from Sam)

- Key earrings from Altered Eras.

One thing you might not know about me is that I live right next door to a kindergarten. Another thing you possibly don’t know is that I’m not the biggest fan of children. I don’t hate children or anything silly like that. There are certain children that I adore. But in general, the whole “Screaming, yelling, obnoxious child’ thing doesn’t really appeal to me. Most of my day is peppered with loud bursts of squealing and hollering from over the fence. I have to plan my writing around the kindergarten’s schedule, because when the kids are playing right outside my window, it’s really hard to concentrate. This is especially difficult, because the kindergarten doesn’t really seem to have a schedule, they just let the little cherubs outside to squeal their guts out whenever they feel like it. Sometimes they’re out there for an hour, sometimes three. Sometimes they like to peer over my fence while I’m taking photos, which results in pictures like this:

I think they think I’m crazy. They might not be too far wrong.

Why couldn’t we have bought a house next to the Milford Academy?

This Thursday, I love:

- Reading in bed.

- French Toast. Ross made it for me and I tried it for the first time ever this weekend. It was truly delicious.

- Looking forward to our housewarming party this weekend.

- Sleeping Ringo

- This clip from Wayne's World.

-Also, this clip from Empire Records.

- Daylight savings. I get so much done when the evenings stay light. Sadly, this is the final week of Daylight Savings until the end of the year.

- Putting a stack of winter socks and underwear on layby.

- Listening to Ross play video games over the internet with his friends.

- Hearing my Nana refer to a bicycle as a ‘fanny-banger’

- Helping old ladies to pick out Easter Eggs for their grandchildren.

- Buying awesome birthday presents for some of my favourite people.

- Getting letter addressed like this from my friend Amanda:

- Also, this button from Amanda. I feel like a bit of a hypocrite when I wear it, because I’ve never been to New York. However, I do intend to visit there one day, and I’m sure I will love it when I finally get there.

- Saxby’s ginger beer.

What are you loving this week, sweetheart? Puppy-dogs? Whipped cream in a can? Dancing to Bowie? C’mon, it’s time to share your sunshine!

I've just finished recording my latest vlog, which is all about getting up and going in the mornings.  I am a self-confessed morning person.  I really enjoy being up and about at the crack of dawn.  Things are so quiet then and it almost feels as though you're the only person on the planet.

However, I realise that not everyone feels the same way.  Some people (my boyfriend, for example) would rather stay cocooned in the covers until mid-afternoon.  As lovely as a sleep-in can be, there are some mornings when you have to be up with the birds.  That's why I've put together a vlog with loads of tips and tricks to get you feeling all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, whether you're a morning person or not.

Check out the new vlog right here.

Are you a morning person?  Do you have any tricks for getting going in the morning?

I adore rings. I’ve been collecting them since I was about twelve, and my collection grows a little larger each year. There’s something awesome about piling an assortment of rings onto your fingers. The clink together as your work and flash as you gesticulate. They fit nicely with my gypsy/ boho style outfits and compliment my look when I am wearing something a bit more rock and roll. Sometimes I like to pile several rings onto one finger- who says that layering has to be confined to your clothing? Today I thought I’d share some of my favourite rings with you.

My teapot and teacup rings are so much fun to wear. Although I do sometimes wear them on their own, I like to pair them together. I got the teacup at Supanova a couple of years ago, from the One Day in Paradise stall. The teapot was a gift from Ross.

Two of the oldest rings in my collection are my Donald duck ring and this faux garnet and diamond cluster. Donald was a gift from my cousin Vicci when I was seven. She had been living in America for a year and brought this back from Disneyland for me. The cluster ring was a present from my aunt Jenny, who bought it at the toy store when I was about six or seven.

This giant, pink-stoned ring came from the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne. It’s incredibly heavy, and I always get so many comments when I wear this one.

I got this white gold and sapphire ring from my father for my eighteenth birthday. It’s so elegant and I adore the unusual shape. I used to save it for special occasions, but I realised that was silly, so now I wear it all the time.

I got this red leopard-print ring from Diva a long time ago. Most of the stones have fallen out, but that’s O.K, because I only paid about three dollars for it. I got the owl ring from the same place, about three years later. The turquoise ring was a gift from my mother, and I love teaming this one with some of my hippy-luxe outfits.

My parents gave me this beaded flower ring for Christmas two years ago. Of all the rings I own, this is the one that gets me the most compliments. It’s so huge that I don’t normally wear other rings with it- I let it speak for itself. The claw came from Sportsgirl, and is a really cool addition to some of my gothic outfits. It’s a bit cumbersome though, so I can’t wear it on days when I intend to do anything with my hands.

I’m not at all adverse to wearing plastic jewellery. In fact, I relish it. The rings are really light and heaps of fun. The black and white one is a ring that I affectionately call my ‘liquorice allsorts ring’. I got it from Westco about a million years ago. I like to add this to my mod outfits, because it goes well with graphic prints. The bubble ring was a last-minute souvenir I bought when my family went to Surfers Paradise when I was sixteen.

This amethyst and cubic zirconia cluster belonged to my grandmother, and she gifted it to me when I was a little girl. It used to feature heavily in my dress-up outfits, and it’s only in the last couple of years that I have started wearing it as part of my everyday wardrobe. The cat ring used to belong to my mother’s best friend, but she thought it was tacky, so she gave it to me. That does make me wonder what she thinks of my personal style, but I couldn’t care less, because I flipping love this ring.

I’ve also put together this set of rings I love on Polyvore. I could have masses of them if my income would allow it.

Are you a fan of rings? Which are your favourites?

In the past couple of years, I have become a total convert of bodysuits. I bought one to use as part of a mime costume, and it started creeping its way into my everyday outfits. At first I was unsure about how to wear bodysuits, but now I have quite a few on heavy rotation. They are so versatile and can become an indispensable part of your wardrobe.

When buying a bodysuit, I would recommend looking for styles that have snap fasteners in the crotch. These allow you to go to the toilet without getting completely undressed, which is always a good thing. Try on the bodysuit before you buy, and have a bit of a wriggle around while you’re wearing it. I find that sometimes bodysuits and leotards tend to be cut very low in bust, which can cause them to slide off your shoulders if you have a narrow frame. Make sure that the suit stays firmly in place before you buy it.

Bodysuits are excellent for giving a streamlined silhouette. They look even tidier than simply tucking in your shirt, because they sit smoothly against your skin, and don’t rumple or pucker the way shirts can. Plus, you never have to worry about them coming untucked. They’re great for wearing with pencil skirts or for throwing on with a pair of jeans. Bodysuits also look great under full skirts and even shorts.

If you have a limited clothing budget, you’re probably on the lookout for ways to make your warm-weather gear wearable when the icy wind starts blowing. Bodysuits are ideal for layering underneath summer dresses and tee shirts for extra warmth. Once again, they sit snugly against your skin, so you won’t have any nasty lumps or bumps to spoil your outfit. They don’t ride up and you can get them in a variety of colours and sleeve lengths.

I tend to wear bodysuits a lot when I am emulating looks from the 1960’s. I am a huge fan of Edie Sedgwick, and leotards were a staple of her mod style. I just slip one on over a pair of opaque tights and then throw a mini skirt over the top. Then all you need is a pair of ballet flats and some massive earrings for effortless mod chic.

Bodysuits also work brilliantly if you’re trying to emulate the ballet style that has been popular this last year. Simply pop your bodysuit on under a floaty skirt and a pair of ballet flats. Slick your hair up into a ballerina bun and you’re all set.

For a gorgeous bohemian look, wear your bodysuit with a flowing gypsy skirt, ankle boots and an ample helping of clashing jewellery. Throw a vest on over the top to finish off the outfit.

Are you a fan of bodysuits? How do you wear yours?

Happy Thursday to you all! This week, I finally got around to wearing those gorgeous cheetah-print loafers I showed you last Thursday. Here is the outfit I styled them with:

I am wearing:

- Cheetah-print loafers from Target

- Black harem pants from Remember Me

- Empire Records tee shirt from Pulp Kitchen.

- Egyptian cuff (used to belong to my aunt)

- Wizard of Oz watch (gifted).

- Gold owl ring from Diva

I also wore my new/old floral dress that I thrifted a couple of weeks ago. I am a huge fan of this dress, and I can see that it’s going to make many appearances in my autumn wardrobe.

I am wearing:

- Vintage 70’s floral dress

- Tan leather sandals from a random Indian shop

- Silver squiggle ring from Kleins

- amethyst ring

- Silver thumb rings (thrifted)

- Drop diamante earrings from Diva.

- Bird brooch from Wayward Designs.

This week, I’m loving:

- My Mum. It was her birthday yesterday. She’s a fantastic person who is really generous with her time. She has a great love of animals ( I think that must be genetic) and has a brilliant sense of humour. I am so lucky to have grown up with such a caring mother, and now that I’m an adult, I appreciate her even more. Love you, Mum.

- Moving Ross’s comic shelves into the comic room. Things are starting to take shape in there!

- Watching Jelly climb the empty shelves in the comic room. She’s been using it as her own personal jungle-gym.

-Cat yawns!

- Getting my Gelish nails removed. The Gelish manicure did have its advantages: the colour stayed bright for three weeks, my nails were really strong and the finish was very chip-resistant. However, I hadn’t taken into account how much my nails would grow, and they got so long that they started to be a real pain. Also, after two weeks, the edges of the polish started to lift and they were catching on everything. It’s a relief to have them taken off.

- The weather at the moment. It’s the perfect combination of sunny with a cool breeze. Gorgeous.

- Planning our housewarming party.

- Ironing. I know it’s weird, but I find something oddly soothing about working my way through a pile of ironing. I like any household chore that I can do in front of the television.

- Toasted hot cross buns for breakfast.

What are you loving this week?

I love cats.  Do you love cats?  Good, we can be friends then.

Do you want to hear me chat about my two cats- Jellylorum and Ringo?  Excellent, because that's just what I do in my latest vlog.  I explain how I got each of my cats, clarify how they got their names and talk a bit about their different personalities.

You can check out my new vlog right here.

Oh, and in the vlog, I mention Jelly's other kittens.  Here are some uber-sweet pics of them.

Scuba Steve

Mini Jelly

Phillip

Timmy

Sugar

Have a cat-tastic Wednesday!

This is one of my favourite posts. It was originally posted on October 22 2010.

Shopping temptation is a nasty little beast. I’ve experienced it myself. It’s a heady moment when you are browsing through a store, and your eyes lock onto an item that you are suddenly sure you can’t live the rest of your life without. This item is the thing that has been missing from your life, and if you don’t buy it right away, your very existence will be meaningless. Everyone has had a moment of weakness when they have found something that seems to speak to them and they just need to obtain it.

Impulse buying is rarely a good idea. It’s true that I have snapped up some of my very favourite things on a whim, but for every wonderful impulse buy there are ten that make you cringe. It’s important to learn to resist the urge to buy things when you first see them, and carefully consider your purchases. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that if you spend your money on every sparkly trinket you lay your eyes on, you will quickly find that you have no money left for things like food or electricity bills. The second is that impulse buying tends to breed regret, clutter and remorse.

With practice, it gets easier to monitor your spending and resist the temptation to go on a buying spree. Here are a few techniques that I use to nip that naughty urge in the bud:

- Only go shopping for a particular purpose. Don’t head down to the nearest shopping centre just because you are bored. If you do this, you will wind up wandering aimlessly through the stores, getting seduced by the salespeople and walking home with several bags filled with crap you don’t need.

- When you go to the shops, only take the amount of money that you need for the things you need to purchase. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend wildly.

- Carry cash, rather than using a debit or credit card. I find that I am more conscious of what I am spending if I use cash. When you use a card, it’s a lot harder to keep track of how much you are spending, because it doesn’t feel like ‘real’ money.

- If you must have a shopping expedition, go ahead, but leave your wallet at home. Pack yourself enough to buy a snack and a bus ticket and that’s all. If you don’t have any money with you, you can look til your heart’s content, without being tempted to whip out your wallet and buy.

- If you see something that you really want, but that you can’t afford or which you don’t really need, try this visualization trick. Imagine your bank account as a giant vault filled with money. Imagine making that purchase and watching the money quickly evaporating from that vault. Another visualization that works for me when I am tempted to buy clothes I don’t need is imagining my wardrobe exploding and knocking me unconscious from the force.

- Find some good shopping role models. I am sure that you will have at least one friend who is excellent with their money and has the willpower of a concrete elephant. This is the friend that you should hit the shops with. You can try things on, flip through the books and CDs and exclaim over gadgets and they will be able to talk you out of silly purchases. Don’t go shopping with friends who burn through their paycheque like the Human Torch in a fireworks factory.

- If you get the urge to buy, distract yourself. Walk out of the store and find something else to occupy your attention.

- Recognise that salespeople are trained to peddle their wares. Don’t be sucked in by a slick spiel.

- Take Ebay and Etsy off your favourites list.

- When you see something you like, ask yourself if you really need it. Ask yourself how your life would be better if you had it. Ask yourself if you already own something similar.

- Don’t get sucked in by bargains or special deals. It’s only a bargain if you save on something you really needed in the first place.

It’s really important to understand that spending isn’t all bad. It’s fine to spend your cash on something you really love, but it’s so much better to do that spending after a little consideration. If you see something tempting, and force yourself to walk away for even an hour, nine times out of ten you will totally forget about coming back for it. If you can’t stop thinking about the item days later, chances are, you really want it and it’s a worthwhile buy for you. Put aside some cash for rainy day purchases and allow yourself a treat every now and then. These purchases are the ones that will make you smile, and it will be so much easier to save for the things you really need and love if you aren’t blowing your cash on loads of useless crap.

I got an email from the lovely Tanya last week, asking me how she can style a pair of leopard-print tights. As a fan of adventurous legwear, I jumped at the chance to help her out.

To start with, leopard print has a bit of a bad reputation. It tends to be associated with, ahem, women of loose virtue (or skanks if you prefer). There are a few simple rules to help you shake off the Peg Bundy vibe that tends to linger around anything leopard print.

First of all, you must follow the ‘legs or boobs’ rule. This rule states that when you want to show off your legs, your boobs must be covered up. Similarly, if you want to showcase your cleavage, you need to hide your pins. Showing a moderate amount of skin is sexy, without looking over-the-top.

Secondly, it pays to make sure that any leopard-print garments fit you well. If they’re a poor fit, they can tend to look cheap and a little trashy. Keep things trim and tailored (unless you’re intentionally going for an oversized look, in which case, ignore this rule).

Finally, leopard print is bold and brash, and it attracts a lot of attention. Use this to your advantage to highlight body parts that you want to show off. If you’ve got gorgeous legs, then leopard print tights are a great move. If you’re uneasy with your pins, you might prefer to wear a printed top or shoes.

O.K, now for the fun part. Leopard print is really versatile, and can be worked in to a huge number of looks. Punk, rockabilly, bombshell, bohemian, minimalist and retro looks can all benefit from a dose of leopard print. Tights are a great way to try out a new print, because they are easy to wear with your favourite dresses and skirts, and they’re perfect for re-purposing your summer wardrobe for the colder months.

Here are a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:

- Wear your tights under a pair of ripped jeans, so the print shows through the tears.

- Spice up a little black dress by popping the tights underneath for a bold statement.

- Experiment with clashing prints. Leopard goes gorgeously with red tartan for a punk look, or pop your tights under a flowing, floral skirt for an eccentric outfit.

- Leopard print tights look great with heels, but they’re also fab with pretty flats. The juxtaposition between sweet and animalistic is great fun.

- Pop your tights on under a pair of black or denim shorts. Add a fun tee shirt and some wicked sneakers for a fun weekend look.

- Add a wiggle dress and sky-high heels for a bombshell look. Finish your outfit with a swipe of vampish red lipstick.

- Wear an entire outfit made up of a single block colour. Red, black, royal blue and emerald green work well. Add the tights as a fun pop of print.

I’ve put together a couple of outfits to get you started. See how many different ways these tights can be styled?

Leopard parisienne by nessbow featuring a classic black dress

Punk's not dead. by nessbow featuring punk jewelry

bombshell leopard by nessbow featuring below the knee dresses

weekend leopard by nessbow featuring black high top sneakers

You might also like to check out this post I wrote a while ago, about How To Wear Coloured Tights. It has even more tips for dressing up your legs.

I'm feeling mighty weary this afternoon, on account of the fact that I had to begin work at 7am this morning.  That meant being awake at 5:30 in order to be showered, dressed and breakfasted before I walked to work in the still-dark morning.  I'm good at getting up in the morning, but when I know that I have to be up bright and early, I always have trouble getting to sleep the night before.  I get preoccupied with the need to have a good night's sleep, and just can't drift off.  I keep looking at the clock thinking, "If I fall asleep now, I'll have 5 hours of sleep before I have to be up", "If I fall asleep now, I'll get 4 hours of sleep" and so on until it's morning and I've had a mere 20 minutes of shut-eye.

Even though I powered through work today, I'm feeling a wee bit sleepy now that I'm home.  Never mind!  Even in my brain-addled state, I can still think of a whole bunch of things that I'm loving this week.

- Sudden thunderstorms that take you by surprise.

- Coming home at lunchtime to find that your boyfriend has made the bed.  Bless.

- Candy-stripe roses.

- Road trips.  I headed off on a four-hour journey with Ross's mum, sister and brother-in-law to visit Ross's cousin for his 18th brithday.  The trip was very merry and the party was ever merrier.

- Realising that I am way awesomer now than I was when I was a teenager.

- Receiving part of my Supanova costume in the mail today.  Can you guess who I'm dressing as?

- Seeing a fish flip out of the water and nose-dive back in as I walked across the bridge this morning.

-This biography of Frida Kahlo that I'm rocketing through.  Seriously, I adore Frida, and this book is fascinating.  I don't know much about art, but the author explains the symbolism in Frida's paintings so well that I feel I understand them better.  I also learned some very interesting things about Frida.  For example, most of her paintings are very small, because she wanted them to be able to be viewed only at close range.  She felt this created a more intimate atmosphere, because only one person could look at each painting at a time.  Also, a lot of her paintings were done on sheet metal.  The book is a really moving account of Frida's life as well.  I've cried no less than three times, and I'm only halfway through.

-Setting my slow-cooker up to start dinner before I go to work, and coming home to a pot of perfectly-cooked stew that's ready to eat.

-My new shoes.  I got these from Target on Friday, and I love them.  I've been after a pair of these loafers for ages.  I imagine they're going to be a staple of my winter wardrobe.  I can't wait to style them.

-This video that Violet made, featuring yours truly.  I can't get over how talented she is.

What are you loving this fine Thursday?