Feliz Cumpleaños-Depot Reunion

Tuesday was by every means a special, special day. It was the birthday of one of my oldest friends. She is an incredible linguist, a musical maestro, an amazing partner in all sorts kebab-seeking crime, and absolutely my sister.

Luckily, in a rather wondrous piece of kismet, it coincided with one of our favourite nights of the year -- Depot Reunion. It's a one-off reunion for a club night that was once hosted in Brisvegas, one whose irreplaceable qualities we fully relive on the eve of Ekka Show Day every August.

We celebrated both on Tuesday evening, and in honour of a magical night and an even more magical friend, I present:

The Depot-Jo Playlist

"for under a full moon"

Early evening..
Organ Donor - DJ Shadow
 Ladyflash (Hot Chip remix) - The Go! Team
Young Love - Mystery Jets (feat. Laura Marling)
She Loves You - The Beatles
 Crazy For You - Best Coast
 
Warming Up..
Mr November - The National
Let's Dance - David Bowie
 Your English Is Good - Tokyo Police Club 
Fickle Cycle - Animal Collective
Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) - Arcade Fire

Packed Rainbow Floor..
Silent Shout - The Knife
Helicopter - Bloc Party
I Wanna Be Your Telephone - Jamie Lidell
Friday Night - The Darkness
Let's Dance To Joy Division - The Wombats
Freak - LFO  

Wind Down/3am Kebab..
The Magic Position - Patrick Wolf
Rainbowarriors - CocoRosie
The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
New York City Cops - The Strokes
Walking - The Dodos

(I can't link this because I have to go to class, 

but all artists should be Youtubeable)

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Kebabs aren't completely necessary,

but after our first Depot we had a two-second kebab
- and it was something I'll never forget.
Thanks for sharing Joey!
xx

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Photos from dinner at Vespa, New Farm
and the Depot, Valley
by my phone

Can't stop, won't stop

One for summer. Hello dancing!

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Sorry for being so low-key, more assessment

and I've needed some free time for other things.

Have a magical Thursday

I'm thinking I'll post a Frolic Friday

instead of Recuperation Wednesday this week

xx

Too soon for Summer?

These are just some things I've been using for the past little while. Somehow their delicious herby smells are causing me to dream pocket summer dreams for brief moments every day.

These products have a natural freshness that makes me wish I was a gypsy lady, traveling among the trees by day, until I reach a new coastline every afternoon, by which I will spend the night. How I long to have a caravan.

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It's probably best not to dream the last of winter away (not when there is pie to be had), but until then I have these drops of yumminess to soothe my soul.

From left to right:

Conditioner for dry hair (Coles), Baby Moisturiser I use all over (Woolworths), Leave In Spray Conditioner  (BiLo - may be completely discontinued..I snaffled a few)

I do find that I always feel far better with natural smells, such as these, incense, candles, fresh herbs or tea around.

Any other products that are truly amazing and take you on a dreamboat?

 

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Instagram photo by me and my phone..that I will. not. drop.

xx 

Red. Yellow. Blue.

 

I think I've finally managed to figure out Instagram. (I'm saying this loosely as I'm incapable of giving directions, let alone comprehending simple ones, #sonotalinearthinker..)

It's been a strange, busy and sickly week, and not productive in the ways I might have liked. But we have a clean house, a litre of Butter Chicken, and a kilo jar of Nutella. So we are happy pandas indeed.

For the longest time, red has been my most favourite colour. Perhaps it's the symbolism -- love, passion, rage -- but without a doubt it's the richness endowed in its presence in my life. If I wear red I feel just like me, and it's a feeling of savvy wilfulness. I always feel like I'm allowing myself to walk as my own person, choosing to be this woman, and revelling in the innate individuality we're all gifted with at birth.

It's so powerful to just be and claim that moment, even for a moment, and that it's solely, purely yours. Like any of the senses, I don't know where I would be without it.

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Here's to an exhilarating weekend.

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All photos by me with a variety of filters on iPhone4, Instagram app.

Just in case I forget..

 One - Meze Platter from Ouzeri

Two - Darling new Has-Beens 

(H&M version)

Three - Love pancakes, from my love

(Vanilla pancake, blueberries, maple & blueberry maple syrup, 

wildberry froghurt, cinnamon, vanilla custard)

Four - CityCycle stand on Merthyr Road 

(that's an in-joke..)

Five - ..fingers, toes 

(Revlon - Gold Coin, Revlon Red + Top Coat)

Six - Sick day clothes..

(welovecolors tights, etsy vintage Bonjour shorts, 

etsy vintage sailboat blouse)

Cause to be

 

I had chocolate for dinner,

so now I felt it necessary to share

some sweetness with you.

Can't be greedy now.

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One via..

Foxtail and Fern (you will get lost in the soft loveliness)

Two and Three via..

unknown (help?)

Recuperation Wednesday

"music is the weapon of the future"

- shirt, '07

I have spent the majority of the past few days hunting and sifting and fossicking for new music. For some reason, (still) nothing has really been as meaningful as I'd hoped but with time and further listenings, I'm sure that I might be satisfied with more than just one album.

So I don't really have any musical recuperation today, but these are pure goodness..

A spot-on opinion piece. In fact, just trawl this whole site.

Some evocative, thought-provoking writing to make you feel

like you're living in NYC, circa Dylan, Cohen and Mitchell.

Visit here to reignite the poetry in your soul. Mandy has a real gift.

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I had the loveliest conversation about music and writing and poetry and lyrics and creativity last night. It's reassuring to know that your passions can always be cultivated, you just have to know how and where to water them -- there isn't always a when.

Have a Wednesday that you're a part of, not wanting to be somewhere else.

xx

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Picture by me

Florence and the Machine - St Jerome's Laneway Festival

Brisbane, 2010

Hyggelige

Denmark is such a special place. This word is by far my favourite -- such an innately special concept. Perhaps a direct line to what we all long for when life and the moments are especially where you want to be.

One of the fundamental aspects of Danish culture is "hygge": spending a calm, comfortable time with good friends or loved ones, often while enjoying good food, snacks and something to drink. Lighting candlelights is also often associated with "hygge". Christmas time, when loved ones sit close together with candles lit on a cold rainy night, is a true moment of "hygge", as is grilling a pølse (Danish sausage) on a long summer evening. These examples, although they do not precisely define "hygge", can give an English speaker an idea of a deeply valued traditional concept of Danish culture.

For me, hygge is my parent's beach house. Always and forever. 

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Definition via Wikipedia (no judgement)

Photo by me

Hey calendar

I worked on my calendar today. The warped and superstitious part of me doesn't feel right talking about it, but should I make it through this semester -- determinedly, passionately, successfully -- I will graduate.

It feels pivotal and strange and scary. I'm not after a magic number, a dream degree, I still don't know how to answer with what I want to be.

I just want to work hard, play hard and be the best I can be. And have nights like the Saturday just been, take runs like the one I took yesterday afternoon, and feasts with my special people.

I just want to live life like it was meant to be: without guilt after fun, and trepidation over writing. I really feel that life will begin after, and good enough will be more than enough.

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This entry made me dream very hard too.

I don't think I've ever really felt like this before.

It's like I finally have a proper dream.

Ohhh November..

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The sweetest friends

One taken by April

Two taken by Elise