Friday, April 30, 2010

velvet snow


I love shoes.
I have always loved shoes. I visit my favorite shoe stores at least once a week to look at shoes. I love the way shoes can change an outfit, mood and attitude.
Most people buy an outfit then buy the shoes to go with it. I go the opposite way, shoes first then the clothes. I bring my new shoes home and image and the beautiful clothes I’ll get to wear with them. Then I hunt for the perfect dress, pair of jeans that will go with my shoes.

I love shoes all equally. Sport shoes, sandals, high heels, boots even hiking shoes. I don’t own 300 pairs of shoes, a handful which have been chosen carefully and meet my needs. At times I buy shoes on impulse, I see them try them on, must buy them cause they are from the sale rack and my not be there next week. It happened last night, new sandals practically giving them away. I can’t wait for some warmer weather to show them off!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

some good reads


7 websites that will make you hate your love life I will never be looking at these websites EVER, except for facebook, damn it.

Eva Moskowitz, the controversial leader of the fastest-growing charter network in the city, wants to save New York public education by, in a sense, destroying it. One women trying to save the public school system in New York.

Jay-Z. He is still the king and now you know why.

Monday, April 26, 2010

dislakes


a few of my dislikes....
teenage girls
flavored tuna
Neighbours- the TV show
crunches
lunges
mushy bananas and apples
American Idol
Americas Next Top Model
Nickelback
Sarah Palin
parallel parking
having to pay $200 plus for a pair of running shoes
wearing a bag on my head
people who take themselves too seriously

Saturday, April 24, 2010

dress me


I buy clothes for the life I wish I lived.

Lately I’ve been into dresses. All kinds of dresses; party dresses, summery dresses, cozy dresses to wear around the house. I have been staying away from black, which is hard living in Christchurch. I love corals,pinks,nudes and white. I only buy from the sale rack, except for my birthday dress. I picture myself wearing these dresses at parties, clubs and dates. I dream about these places and times. It’s always warm in my mind, I also have the perfect tan with great hair and makeup and fabulous friends around me. I do have fabulous friends, that don’t live near me; I really don’t know anyone here and hardly ever go out.

Why do I continue to fool myself that will have a reason/place to wear these dresses? Because it is my dream.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

soap box please


Being a substitute teacher can be a lonely business. There are perks, all the caring without the responsibility, you can leave when the bell rings and no grading or staff meetings. But you are also treated second rate, the work is not steady and the kids do not behave.


I regularly work at two high schools in town; a boys school and a co ed school. I have been with the boys’ school longer, know the kids better and can use the referral system effectively. There are a lot of old men that work at the school and when someone retires, which is not often because there are SIX teachers that have been there for 35 YEARS or more, they hire another old man.


The staff room is can be a tricky place, you don’t want to sit in someone’s seat but not get stuck with the other relieve that EVERYONE dislikes and then be forced to make small talk with him. The staff room at the co ed school is a much friendlier place to be then across town with the old men. The other teacher actually talked to you and asked you about you day, too bad I don’t enjoy the kids more. They are a tough group; don’t know how to manage girls very well. Boys are easy and most of the time they manage themselves. Awesome.


The pay is good, but never knowing if you are going to be working one day to the next is tiring. I would be even worse if I also had to worry about rent and car payments. It requires saving planning and lots of finger crossing that you will get some more work. Right now I need to work EVRY day til I leave to have enough when I get to America and avoid eating out of trash cans. Thou I fully intend on getting food stamps and raping the government of any other assistance they will give me.


I didn’t choose to be a substitute teacher; I was forced into it as could not get a job as a normal teacher. They ssaid they need science teachers, but I only had two interviews from the 80 CV send out. Wow, that sucked. They wanted someone with more experience, then why did you even bother interviewing me, it states clearly on my CV that I have just completed teachers college and have no experience as a classroom teacher, can you people not read. I drove over FIVE hours round trip for a 20 minute interview then to be told that I didn’t get the job. Thanks I just wasted a whole day.

I also have a girl crush on Jennifer Aniston. Her legs are amazing, hair is perfect and dress...oooommmmgggg I WANT IT!!!!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

dear person...

Formal letter writing has never been a strength of mine. For the past few years I have had to write a few is search of work, dealing with teachers union and people to rub me the wrong way.

The internet provider in NZ is the worst. Just so bad.


Dear Telecom,
Sort your shit out, that’s right I’m not even going to say please. The internet service you provide is poop. Why my connection so slow, reminds me the days of dial up. Did you build a time machine, go back to the early 90’s and why yes the modern people of NZ will love this incredibly slow and useless speed at which to use the world wide web.
Get it together Teleco
m, get it together.


One organization wanted a motivational statement why you have decided to apply and what sparked interested in community service. Of course I wrote about giving back to the community that I grew up in and the importance of community service how is connects people, they feel pride in their communities and will work hard to keep them in a desirable state. Blah, blah blah…


Dear man or women
I was motivated to apply for this job by money, plain and simple. I would like to have some money to live, buy food and in a perfect world health insurance.

Yes, I would apply for unemployment if I had lived and worked in Oregon for the past five years, but I have not. And the great state of Oregon has deemed my qualifications received overseas less than adequate, I’m applying to this job which will not pay me a wage I can live on without assistance.

If I am successful in the application processes for this job I will have to get a second, just so I can live. Wow, that sounds like such fun. I cannot wait.
I am motivated to work for less than I’m worth, to work two jobs and to receive food stamps so I don’t go hungry.

So many cover letters, just so many have been written, re-written, stressed about and sent over the last few months. Most of them are just full of bs, the typical teamwork, hard worker, completing tasks to the highest standard.
Cover letters for teaching positions are even worse. You talk about these amazing teaching methods, which you never use, encouraging all students to achieve, catering to all needs, which is impossible, unless you want to be crazy and have no life outside of the classroom and how you enjoy seeing student problem solve for themselves, less work for you. I have had only two interviews for teaching positions. Maybe it’s my cover letter.


Dear man or women,
I would like a job.
I am smart and have an education plus the papers to prove it.
I can use a computer, photocopier and even a fax machine.
I can pour a pint, yell at kids and explain the Krebs cycle.
I have work a verity of jobs and like working at schools the best.
I can play well with others but prefer to play on my own.
I am pretty bad ass.
Call me to negotiate a salary.

Friday, April 16, 2010

listen, love, repeat


The Kooks Inside/Outside and Konk

I was lucky enough to see them at R&V 08. The Kooks were electric live, as drunk as they were, made the set that more exciting and frantic. They were perfect to dance in the rain with.

Inside/Outside got through my second teaching practice on the west coast. I listened to it EVERY day after school.

Konk recently has been a life saver.




Plus the lead singer, Luke Pritchard, is probably the most sexy thing ever. Thank you Kooks.

Best Tracks: Inside/Outside "I Want You"; "See the World"; "Sofa Song"
Konk "Sway"; "Gap"; "Love It All"





Green Day American Idiot

This is an oldie but a goody,my favorite Green Day album. The rock opera is extraordinary!! I can listen to it over and over. I love the flow, the lyrics - it's the whole package of goodness.

Best Tracks: "Last of the A Jesus of Suburbia: Jesus of Suburbia/City of the Damned/I Don't Care"; "She's a Rebel"; "Extraordinary Girl"; "Whatshername?"



John Butler Trio April Uprising

April Uprising is crammed with undeniably great pop songs and enough inventiveness to suggest that John Butler's own star is finally rising.
I love JBT I would call them root music. Or my friends describe as hippie/folk dancing music. This is their fifth album, I have the last two and regularly listen to them, when I feeling a little blue. I have three songs so far and I heart them.

Can't wait to hear the rest of this album.


Very excited about


MGMT Congratulations

Pitchfork's thoughts-
They're in love with 1970s art-rock, and they've immersed themselves in uncool subgenres like pop-psych and prog. And despite the lack of marquee songs, they've made, top to bottom, a more interesting and even better record this time out.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

the best of high street


Clothing Shop: Hunters and Collectors: They have the largest selection of jeans anywhere. Tons of New Zealand designers and really cool clothes. Plus upstairs is their outlet store. Sweet.

Coffee Cafe: C1 Espresso: The creamiest, smoothest coffee in Christchurch. Period.


Vegan Cafe: Eternal Delight The chef is one of the top 50 raw foods chefs in the world, the offer classes and everything thing is gluten, soy dairy, egg and honey free.


Thrift Shore: The Red Cross of New Zealand. Buy nice clothes help the Red Cross and write it off on your taxes.

george gross and harry who, yes please




George Gross and Harry Who.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

see and take note





The Hurt Locker. Is good. Very, very good. By far the best movie I've seen in a long time. It's not political, just wants you to think. Jeremy Renner is superb.


Summer Beauty Tips From Interview Magazine Online

1.Summer is time for fun in the sun. We all need accessories that look good and also protect our skin. Besides the obvious, which is to wear a light weight sunscreen, a cute straw hat and stylish sun glasses are must haves! Makeup is like an accessory. Color on your lips, cheeks, and eyes changes your whole look.

2. Tinted moisturizers are the best way to not only protect your skin from the sun, but to even out your skin.

3. Bronzer in the summertime is essential! You can sweep bronzer across your eyelids as well as your cheeks to create a classic summer look.

4. All over color is a simple way to add a pop to your lips, cheeks, and eyes. I love the neon peach color used on the model in this picture. A little goes a long way.

5. Moisturizing, shimmering body lotion wears all day and is a great way to give your skin an over all glow.

6. A soft smoky eye is an easy transition from day to night. Frame your eyes by smudging a dark blue cream eye shadow on your eyelids.

7. Brown waterproof mascara is the only way to go in the summer.

8. Exfoliate your skin to keep it clean and smooth.

9. Use a hydrating mask weekly . It makes a huge difference in the way your skin looks and feels.

10. Keep yourself hydrated from the inside out. Your skin is extra thirsty in the summer! Spritz your face with rose or lavender water throughout the day.

you can do ANYTHING for a year

I was a waitress for a year. It was a pretty nice place downtown on the river. The owner was nice, the duty mangers were cool and most of the other staff were easy to get a long with.

One of the duty mangers could be real dick at times, most often on Saturday nights, he was in charge on the cocktail bar associated with the main restaurant. He would yell, make unreasonable requests and more often then not get very, very drunk. It was horrible. Nothing you did was right or up to his standard. He friends would come in and also get very, very drunk. They run up tabs in the hundreds, where rude and bang their shoes on the bar for service.

But when he was working in the main restaurant he was like an awesome. Really laid back, dealt with unhappy customers and actually did work. It was a slow night, he taught me the proper way to make coffee, I can make a mean latte. I never understood why there was such a drastic change in

The the restaurant was sold. The new owners were nice, handful of the stuff stayed on and the new duty manger was an ass. He was sexist, racist and arrogant. I could not stand working for him. He refused to serve some guys because 'they look like terrorist' I was so happy when they closed down for renovations and I lost my job.

Could I go vegan for a year? The only reason this would ever cross my mind is that I found the most wonderful cafe recently, which happens to be vegan. This got me thinking and Googling. I love mac n cheese as much as the next person, begging dairy free and living in NZ this limits me to instant mac n cheese made with soy milk.
When I was at uni I found a place that sold soy cheese that came in a tube, was a bit like plastic and tasted nothing like cheese. I, with all of my create power, come up with a mac n cheese recipes, using plastic cheese, that was pretty darn good.
Back to being vegan, there are a few recipes 'the very best vegan mac n cheese ever', they include nutritional yeast. I have never heard of this and drove all over town looking for it. I found it and was so excited straight home to try it out.
First it looks like bark dust, ok and it doesn't have that nice of a smell, that ok I will be adding lots of spices to make it yummy!
Long story short, it was- horrible- uneatable- just not good. People on vegan.com lie. this is almost the most awful thing I have ever eaten.

Please, please give me instant mac n cheese any day.

lush wants you to cheat on your diet




I got a sample of Cupcake face mask from Lush.I love Lush because everything in the store smells amazing. Cupcake is no different, its smells like a fudge brownie with just a hint of mint. I love mint chocolate- match made in heaven. Almost want to have a little taste, read ingredient list, decide not. After washing off Cupcake there is a faint scent of chocolaty goodness that lingers. Great you say until you wake up a 4:30 in the morning starving and craving brownies. You decided to make something to satisfied this chocolate craving - come up with chocolate wave zucchini bread. Yum!







Chocolate Wave Zucchini Bread

The outside is mighty crisp with a very moist center. The oven is shit so this could explain the crispy outer layer. I wish the chocolate bit was sweeter but really can't complain too much, I love chocolate and I love zucchini.

I don't know if Cupcake will work wonders on your skin but its certainly not good for the waist line.

becoming a half hooker


The Half Hooker Economy By Lisa Taddeo


"Your a bottle waitress, and that means you're a half stripper, half pimp"- experianced bottle waitress

Bottle girls get rich men to buy over priced bottles of Grey Goose, flirt with them and drink the over priced Grey Goose with them. This got me thnking: is there a market for bottle girls in Portland? Am I too old to persue becoming a bottle girl, will this be my new part time career?? I taking a wild guess here that when I do decide to become a REAL teacher having bootle girl/stripper/pimp/half hooker would not be a good look.

Monday, April 12, 2010

I would like you to come live with me


This adorable Kiwi Pendant is from Boh Runga's 'Birdland' collection. The Kiwi is the national symbol of New Zealand. A flightless, shy bird, the kiwi looks bashfully over his shoulder.






I have been looking for the perfect pair of nude high heels, Siren LOUIS are perfect and lovely. I hope they go on sale soon.


Sunday, April 11, 2010

New Project: Toilet Photos








I have started a new project, Toilet Photos.