This Charming Girl...

I got this new dress today. I love it! Only $25.00. Bargain. I look a bit odd in this picture but I love the dress so much it doesn't matter to me in the slightest!

Ooh lala, some lovely finds on thischarminggirl. I love jewellery. Sorry that I've been posting these fashion, picture type posts, there are two reasons really. A) I keep finding cute things that I think you should all see and (this is the real reason), B) I can't think of anything to write about. I'll post something writey soon, promise. Anyway, once again: thischarminggirl. Head on down.
Cat xx

Pretty clothes...

(This is the one I really loved)

I don't usually post fashion type things, but I was on the Sportsgirl website and I found an outfit that I thought was absolutely lovely, so much so that I just had to show you. After deciding that I went through and found a few more. You may notice I absolutely love vests, waist-coats, jackets, cardigans and basically anything that you can put over a top.

Cat xx

Apologies, "Frankie"...

I'm really sorry I haven't posted for ages. Lately I've just not known what to say. I've also been focusing on the story I'm writing and trying desperately to think of something to write about for my Herald Sun work experience entry. I'm not a very news-ish person, but I guess I should become one. Bottom line though, is that there's no excuse. I am a poor blogger of late. My apologies.

The latest issue of "Frankie" arrived in my mail on Monday. I think it actually comes out either yesterday or today. It's a lovely issue. I haven't read it all yet; I like to draw out the experience for as long as possible, although at the same time I want to read it all at once. Its always tricky when you love something that much. The highlights so far for me have been:

An article/interview on Zooey Deschanel about her new movie "500 Days of Summer". This was great because I love Zooey Deschanel, I love her music duo with M. Ward, She and Him and I am extremely excited for her new film, "(500) Days of Summer". Extremely.

The bathers on pages 70 and 71, "pretty as a picture". Seeing bathers in magazines never fails to get me all excited and tingly for summer. The bathers in "Frankie" are sometimes vintage, often colourful and always pretty. Sadly they also tend to be exxy. My favourite was the hotel bondi blue wrens one-piece. They're $219. Lovely.
"I can't believe it's not meat!", a group of reviews on meat substitute products by Benjamin Law. Just as everything he writes, they're are funny and besides, I'm a sucker for reviews. There's something great about being told what to buy. Benjamin Law is one of my favourite writers in "Frankie", so this was just my thing.
"The Break Up". A group of ex-couples look back on their relationships. I found these stories really sweet, although the breaking up thing was sad. I actually got nostalgic reading them. I have a severe case of empathy. One of the ex-couples were two men, which is great. It's nice when a magazine doesn't just represent the mainstream.
If you want to know more, you'll just have to go out and get the real thing, which I highly recommend!
Cat xx

OMG, like, speak IM?

I don't like to use too strong a word, but I hate msn speak. Hate. It just annoys me that people feel the need to say something like "lol" whenever I say anything. Tell me the truth! You're not laughing out loud, I'm not that funny! I don't want or need your fake pity laughter. It annoys me even more when people say it just 'cause. I mean this:
Cat says: I just find it so annoying when I can't find my favourite top, you know?
Friend says: Yeah, totally. lol
What do you mean lol?? How did my loss of clothing inspire your laughter? You just can't come up with an intelligent remark, is that it? Yeah, I'm onto you.
And what about "ily"? You love me, huh? Enough to actually type out three measely words? Not that much, eh? Yeah, that's what I thought. Gosh.
Lastly, what is with people who use msn speak in real life? I have news for you, buddy. YOU AREN'T LAUGHING OUT LOUD, I CAN SEE YOU!!! Sorry to be all angry like but seriously, learn english.
Cat xx

Favourites...

Songs I love at the moment and in no particular order:

Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts by Bob Dylan
Rita May by Bob Dylan
Days Like These by The Cat Empire
Coin Laundry by Lisa Mitchell
Nothing by The Cat Empire
Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley
They Weren't There by Missy Higgins

Wow, I haven't been listening to even nearly enough music of late...
Cat xx

Racism is everywhere...

Here's an odd little find for you. My friend told me to type "i am" into Google search and see what came up (before you actually search). Anyway I did this, but typed in one letter further accidentally and typed in "i am e". 10 results come up underneath as most searched. Four of them were:
I am extremely terrified of Chinese people
I am extremely scared of Chinese people
I am extremely afraid of Chinese people
I am extremely terrified of Chinese.
The last on the list was:
I am evil homer.
What does this say about the acceptance of our society? And what does this say about the TV viewing of our society?
Cat xx

Writers Block. Shudder.

I finally got my new header to work! It's very exciting for me. It's a bit blurry (tiny bit) but I'm such an "Alice in Wonderland" nut that I don't mind. Sorry my posts have been so irregular lately, I've got a case of writer's block! If you like writing/ are a writer and you just read that, chances are your whole body seized up in fear, because writer's block is a terrible, terrible thing. Don't worry though, I am determined to fight off this illness and I'll be back with some interesting posts soon. Sorry for this crappy one.
Cat xx

3 hilarious mag fails...

Usually I enjoy reading trashy teen mags (namely Girlfriend and Dolly) in a passive, embarrased sort of way. But every so often I'll come across something written in one that's so ludicrously stupid that I never want to read another. Here are three examples of dumb things I've seen in Girlfriend and Dolly (not word for word):

1) In a movie review late 2008, a movie was called something like: Possibly the most epic comic-based movie since the Dark Knight.
So what you're saying is that between mid 08 and late 08, out of every single movie made that was based on a comic, this was the best? How impressive.

2) In an article about great women before feminism became a popular thing, one of the women was (unsurprisingly) Jane Austen. In the small description of her and why she was great it said something to this effect: Not only did Jane Austen write the original Rom-Com (Pride and Prejudice), it has been said that it was Mr. Darcy who inspired Edward Cullen from "Twilight". 'Nuff Said.
I'm sorry, but that is just outrageous! As if Jane Austen being a great woman has even a speck to do with "Twilight"! Are you saying that until Edward Cullen strode onto the scene, Jane Austen was, you know, OK? Edward Cullen is completely irrelevant to Jane Austen.

3) In the recent issue based around having a positive body image, there was an article presented as a list of reasons you shouldn't worry about what size of clothing you are. I'm all for positive body image, don't get me wrong. However one of the reasons was: It's. Just. A. Number.
As though you just randomly pick a number out of a hat and that what size you are. Wrong! That number is representative of what size your body is. So no. It's. More. Than. Just. A. Number. Don't. Deny. It.
Cat xx

Poor back slash...

Lately I have been getting quite into a few video blogs on YouTube. This is a side effect of having no life- i just sit at home in front of the computer and its blog, vlog, blog, vlog over and over again. Anyway, they are quite funny, so I thought I'd show you some, which you can watch in your spare time (rather than always, like me).

1) GoCheeksGo
Ahh the narcissistic gay boy. So annoying and yet so compelling. It was this video about Miss California's comments on gay marriage that introduced me to him. It's not that I agree with his views- I'm not really sure where I stand on that. I mean, i believe in gay marriage, but it's her opinion.- but this video is highly hilarious.


2) Shanaynay
You've probably already heard of Shanaynay- ie. Shane Dawson dressed as a woman- but I thought in case you hadn't I'd put this here. My favourite Shanaynay vid is 911. Seriously, I'm already laughing in anticipation. I have an extremely immature sense of humour.


3)The Community Channel
This is my favourite. A young Sydney woman just kind of talks about whatever happens to be on her mind at the time, and she makes these example scenes in which she acts every part. Hilarity ensues. A while ago, Frangipani Princess posted one of her vids (The "We Just Touched Awkwardly" song) and I wasn't that impressed. But after watching more of her videos, I've fallen in vlog love. This is my favourite:

This week...

I thought I'd give my lovely readers a little peak into what my week has been like:
The Good:
I was walking to my music lesson on Tuesday and it was absolutely beautiful. It was raining quite a bit but I had my favourite, bright orange umbrella so I could observe the rain without getting soaked. In front of me the sky was covered by dark grey clouds, but behind me the sun was out and light was shining onto the grey clouds in this really whimsical way. All the colours of the trees were sharpened and where the sun was hitting them, I could see particular areas had blankets of rain coming down. Lovely.
In film we watched "Strictly Ballroom" and I thought it was very well made. For those of you that don't know, it's about ballroom dancers (shock), and one particular boy, about eighteen, who has the chance to be a star. However he wants to try out hiss own moves, which is seriously frowned upon and he is told not to by the competition organisers, his teacher, his mother and his dance partner. Enter a dorky but sweet girl who nobody thinks much of and has only been dancing two years (the boy has been dancing for more like 12), who is just the person to show him how great he can be. Love story and dancing ensues.
My algebra test was today. Before you deafen me with your screams of protest at a maths test being listed under "The Good", I'll explain why I think it is completely deserving of a place on this list, for a few reasons. I find algebra very soothing. it's just patterns and rules which you can follow over and over again, being satisfied when you get the result. Also, it's always nice to finish a maths unit and know that you can start afresh next lesson and not have to think about algebra for a while. Lastly, and I must admit, most importantly, is that I'm quite confident that my result is over ninety (I validated all of my answers. Checked, that is). So, nothing but grins!

The Bad:
My humanities map assignment was due today and I basically hadn't started it until the double we were given. Because drawing is far from being something I have even the slightest shred of talent for, when I get an assignment that largely includes it, I tend to freak out, procrastinate and hand in something well below the expected standard. This is not, as you might imagine, because I don't care about school. Quite the opposite. Bad school marks are one of the things that just freak me out. That's why when I think I'm going to fail because I can't draw, I push the assignment way back into a tiny corner on my mind. Not. Very. Smart.


The Ugly:
In a particularly gruesome part of "Walkabout", (a film about two white children deserted in the Australian outback meeting up with, and basically being saved by a young aboriginal man) I had to watch a lot of cows being shot and one particular cow being gutted. Blood and insides everywhere. Ew. That being said, "Walkabout" was amazing.
Cat xx

50th post!!!

Which is worse? Being afraid to be different to others and forcing yourself to listen to popular music you don't like and wearing fashionable clothes you don't like, or being afraid to fit in and when you occasionally do like a "mainstream" band or item of clothing, not listening to it or wearing it?
I was talking to a friend the other day and she was talking about how she really needed a headband (I can't remember why).
"I've looked everywhere!" she exclaimed.
At this point another girl suggested SUPRE, to which my friend said "No way, I hate SUPRE".
I thought this was odd and I asked her why she wouldn't go to SUPRE. Turns out it was just a pride issue. Even if SUPRE is the only place she can get what she needs, she won't go in.
I think this sort of thing is even worse then refusing to be different, because it's just so damn pretentious. I have to admit, I think it's something that I sometimes do, subconsciously. I think everyone needs to take a breath and get over themselves.
Cat xx

Lisa Mitchell is lovely...

A survey to listen to...

Try this lovely survey. It's a good boredom buster, but a great boredom causer. Using only song names from one artist, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people you like and include me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Pick Your Artist: The Cat Empire
Are you a male or female: Voodoo Cowboy
Describe yourself: How To Explain
How do you feel: Sly
Describe where you currently live: Protons, Neutrons, Electrons
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: In My Pocket
Your best friend is: Down at the 303
You and your best friends are: Fishies
What's the weather like: Panama
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: Days Like These
What is life to you: The Night That Never End
Your last relationship was: Nothing
Your fear: No Mountain
What is the best advice you have to give:Know Your Name
How I would like to die: Motion
My soul's present condition: Party Started
My motto: Wont Be Afraid

Cat xx

Let me take you down...

Last night I watched "Across the Universe" for the seventh or eighth time, and my intense love for it is not wearing off even one tiny bit. If you've never heard of it, "Across the Universe" is a movie musical about a bunch of young people in America during the Vietnam War. It's set to the music of The Beatles, so the word "awesome" comes to mind just writing about it.
A simple version of the plot would be that a group of young boys and girls in America get sucked in to and changed by the war and the revolution surrounding it. Lucy and Jude are the main characters really, closely followed by Max. As you can probably guess, there's also a love story between them(SHOCK). If you don't really like The Beatles I definitely think you can still enjoy it. The versions in the movie are extremely different to those by The Beatles, and the film has much more to offer than just the songs (though obviously they play a big part.
The acting in the film is also realllly good. The main characters are played by Evan Rachel Wood(Lucy), Jim Sturgess(Jude) and Joe Anderson(Max). Before the movie I'd only heard of Evan Rachel Wood (she was the lead in "Thirteen", another very good film), but they all do an incredibly good job. The boys are not at all bad looking either.
I won't give any of the details of the plot away. I will say that anyone of any age, either gender and with any interests should get up right now and go and buy/rent "Across the Universe". Why are you reading this? You should be getting up. GOGOGO!!!
Cat xx

The best day of 2009 is here...

Yes, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was released in Australia today. Sadly, there are four whole days between when it comes out and when I get to see it and I doubt I'll be able to relax until I have. Those I know that have seen it seem to have enjoyed it. They had the same complaint that comes out each movie: they cut that out/ changed this. But I just thought, while reading a Miss Moi blog, that the Australian release of Harry Potter was the perfect occasion for a list. Here we go...
Reasons I Love Harry Potter"

Number One: It appeals to a large audience. Not just age wise, but gender wise and just personality wise in general. This means that I will be able to read and re-read, watch and re-watch the books and movies...forever.
Number Two: It's a great conversation piece. Awkward silence? Easily peasily fixed. Just bring up Harry Potter. Everyone has something to say: they love it, they hate it, they think it's overrated and wont dignify it by reading it. Whatever a persons view, there will always be some kind of conversation to be had, whether it be a squeal fest about how much you both love it or a debate.
Number Three: It created its own universe of magic and fantasy. I mean, until my twelfth birthday I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, Hogwarts existed, and maybe I would be accepted. I've also had the occasional Voldemort nightmare. Its just a completely new and beautiful world.
Number Four: The characters are loverly. I mean, Harry Potter himself annoys me a bit, but Ron, Hermione, Tonks, Luna, Ginny, Fred and George, Lupin, Sirius Black, Dumbledore and my lord the list goes on; these are people we(hardcore fans) have come to love. The boys are gentleman(I'm excluding Malfoy from this), and the girls have actual personalities.
Number Five: As an aspiring author, JK Rowling rise to fame and wealth has really given me hope. It's one of those inspiration things that I hold onto when I feel absolutely hopeless. If she can do it, so can I. That was not meant as an insult to JK, by the way.
Cat xx

Jane Austen, you crafty lady...

I've decided that I'm going to make myself a promise. For a long time I've been trying to make my way through "Pride and Prejudice". I find it difficult because the language confuses me quite a bit and it stops the flow of the story. As with so many other things though, I am determined. I find the most effective way of making myself do something is to have a specific goal. Generally when I set a goal I become quite stubborn about it. So, I Cat promise that by the end of the year I will not only have finished "Pride and Prejudice", but I'll also have read Northanger Abbey" and "Mansfield Park".

Maybe that doesn't sound too hard, but factoring in the time I'll need to read another book in between each and homework plus extracurricular commitments, I think that's all I can handle. Set a goal for yourself today. It's exciting, really.

Cat xx

Harry Potter...

Yesterday I attended a "Harry Potter" marathon at the Nova, and I have to say it was one of the greatest things I've done in ages. It ran from 9am to 11:20pm, however I had to leave at 5:05, after the third (a shame, but it was still a serious undertaking). I kind of assumed that by the end of the third I would be pretty much over it, but I absolutely wasn't. In fact I think I could have happily watched all five. It was really nice to be able to see the older movies that I haven't sat down to watch in ages.
Previously, I'd thought that the first two movies were pretty, well...bad. I feel shameful even saying it. Watching them again I see what a fool I was ever to doubt any film. It was awful of me. I'd say that out of the three I watched, my favourite was "Chamber of Secrets" (I'm a sucker for a flying car), but the third is a pretty close second. Not to say I didn't like the first. It's great too. And yes, the more recent ones have a few advantages over the earlier ones, but there's a certain charm that they are lacking. At this point I warn anyone who likes the Harry Potter movies but hasn't read the books to stop reading. Spoilers are ahead. I would also like to tell those people that they should read the books ASAP.
Having said that, I am SO excited for the release of "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". It is after all the movie which brings together Harry and Ginny (Oh. My. God), as well as Ron and Lavender, which is an important step in Ron and Hermione's iconic relationship. The sixth book is also the book in which Dumbledore dies (I have tears in my eyes just typing it), so I know that even if it is bad, the next movie will be full of events. I. Can't. Wait.
Cat xx
PS- By the way, I'm a Harry Potter fan. Just a tad.
PPS- I would like to say that although I made little reference to them here, I really love the books. More than the movies.

I know of meaning, but what does that mean?

People so often talk about the meaning of life. This amazing secret that sums up our entire existence, but that we don't understand. Personally, I never understood that kind of thing. It feels natural to me that there is no meaning of life. It's not just my atheism that forms this view , although that probably plays a part. It's just that I think that if there was a meaning of life, ironically enough, that would take the meaning out of life. What if we found out our life had a single meaning? So many things would then seem trivial, things that we previously loved. I like to think that I have complete control over my life and that I choose the meaning. That in itself is mind blowing.
Cat xx

Beaches in winter...

I realise this is incredibly belated, but I'm so glad the holidays are here at last! The reason I've been absent for the past week or so is that I've been in Queensland! It was awesome. I never realised winter could be so warm. It was actually in the 20 degrees all the time. When I got back home to Melbourne I spent the next hour shivering!
I'd have to say that the highlight of the trip was Australia Zoo (because "Dreams come true at Australia Zoo!"). I saw a crocodile feeding presented by the Irwin family. It was actually really scary, I was close to standing up and screaming "I DON"T WANT TO BE ONE OF THE WITNESSES OF TERRI IRWIN'S DEATH". Luckily I controlled myself and even better: everyone was fine. I also got one of those snake photos with the snake around my neck with my auntie and sister. It was awesome.
Cat xx
P.S- You know what else is awesome? The word awesome. Awesome...

Happy thirtieth issue "Frankie"!

Considering I got this issue in the mail on Monday, I probably should have posted this already, but I haven't and so here I am to tell you all a little something about "Frankie" Issue 30.
The first thing I always check in "Frankie" is the art poster. The artist this issue was Ghost Patrol and the poster was a picture of a "little guy and his mystical creature sharing a milkshake". There's a red pattern behind the two of them, giving an otherwise simple picture some colour. In my opinion, it's one of the nicest posters they've had in a while.
Next I perusal over to "Frank Bits". Some of the highlights this issue included: Angus Stone, Mark Everett of The Eels, Jenny Wilson, some lovely badges and possibly the cutest scarf I have ever seen from Victoria n' Bird. But I'd have to say the real gem in these pages this time were an adorable pair of handmade shoes made from vintage materials by "Dames and Divas. Sigh.
The Photographer Alex Prager was featured and her pictures are serene to the point of unease and also awesome. There's something incredibly eerie about staged shots. "Music Talks" featured PJ Harvey and Peaches, neither of whom I know very well, but I've been meaning to give PJ Harvey a listen for a while now- clearly this was a sign. "Creative People" were "Creatives Outside the City Limits". Gabrielle Miller's shop "The Gigi Bazaar" really caught my eye- definitely worth a read.
The fashion this issue was very pretty but bothered me in the way magazine "winter" fashion always does: they all seem to think that slapping a pair of tights on under a dress makes it a winter outfit. Tights are not that warm.
My favourite articles this issue are "apologetics" by Jana Roose an ex-bully who's ever so sorry and "wasted words" in which Marieke Hardy gets her feminist on and asks why "the great literary drunks are all men".
But the happiest surprise I came upon this issue (except for possibly that adorable scarf) was "Homebodies". Already one of my absolute favourite sections, this issue it featured none other than the ab fab, ever so brill Sarah Blasko!
That's only a tiny fraction of what this issue holds. It's one of the best issues I've read (my favourites were 19 and 29 but this is coming in 3rd or 4th), and you should definitely get your hands on it before it gets cold....not that "Frankie" ever does.
Cat xx