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. Tuesday 31 December 2013 .

"2013 was my character development year which means 2014 is strictly action and story progression"

So in just a few hours we will be ushering the new year here in New Zealand. I know I'm not alone in saying that the 31st of December is usually a time for reflecting on the year that's been. I think this is my favourite part of the holiday season - looking at the good, the bad, the ugly, and toasting to letting go of 2013. The best part is that you know 2014 is coming and with the new year comes a whole new adventure and life lessons to be experienced. So before I get all "new year, new me" on you guys, let me just end the year with the 13 great things that's happened in 2013 (in no particular order):

13. Nexus mag music features - Netsky interview, Netsky gig, and Six60 interview

The Netsky interview was my first "big artist" interview ever. I had a few days to prepare and when he called me from Belgium on a Friday morning, I really had no idea what to expect. The interview lasted for almost an hour and I had such a great time talking to him and asking him the most random questions I could think of (I asked him what makes him come alive based on his song "Come Alive". Pun intended). It wasn't until after a couple of hours later when I got a call from one of the staff organising the gig asking if I got through the interview that I found out I was only allowed 15 minutes. Oops.

The Six60 one was also a lot of fun. They were in New York and this time I had to ring them. It took a long time for me to get through and a lot of back and forth calling from Auckland to NY but we got there in the end and just hours later, I turned in my article. That might be the fastest record of getting work done for this procrastinator.

12. Fitness

I started getting into the whole #cleaneating #healthyliving and signed up for a gym, got a personal trainer, and lost a bit of weight. Then I stopped. Not a proud moment but it's incredible that my body is now craving for that exercise and getting sweaty. 2013 was a starting point.

11. Life lessons

This year I learned a few things the hard way. The downs were pretty down, and my heart was pretty broken. I learned that sometimes karma is all you've got to hold on to.

10. Friends

My best friend moved to a city 8 hours away and it was strange not having her with me all the time. I guess you could say I was out of my comfort zone for a bit. But it was the best thing that could ever happen to our friendship as we've grown a lot because of the distance.

Same goes to my beloved girlies - Angela, Danica, Lichelle, Suzanne, Eva, Tendy, Mel, Sarah, and Steph. We don't get to see each other as often but I know they're always there for me.

Then there's all the friends I've met and gotten to know this year. To name you all would be a whole blog entry but you know who you are. Thank you for keeping me sane this year.

9. Spark

Of course I have to put this here. Spark has taken over my life for months and I cannot thank Kat and the rest of the Wintec team for this opportunity. Spark has opened me up to a lot of great opportunities and it was great to have been involved every step of the way. Meeting people in the industry that I would never have had the chance to encounter like Nadia Saccardo of Smith Journal and Zara Mirkin. Spark has been a gateway to some pretty amazing ventures like. . .


7.  Scarlet

It's funny how we never talked in class and it only took us 3 years to be this close. Now I see this crazy mofo several times a day even! So grateful for this friendship.

6. Tutors and Mentors

One of my tutors jokingly said I was an overachiever, one asked me to do a star course for a high school class, and the other one headhunted me for a job. Then there are mentors. My former tutor Flick was someone I met this year that has impacted my life. I don't think I would have gotten through that semester without her guidance!

5. Fashion Week

This and this. The people I was with made it 100x more amazing!


4. Job

Goal in 2012 was to leave retail in time for boxing day. On my mid semester break I was offered a casual job Comms job. I've been so lucky to have had a full time job waiting for me before I finished. 

3. Finishing Uni

I got through it - 3.5 years of my degree and a straight A last semester!

2. Marriage Equality

This. I still can't believe this happened. Seeing my words and face on the headline over on Stuff Nation for a letter I wrote to the MPs was bewildering. Then there's the comments and the people that have reached out to me on social media. This is probably one of the greatest things that I will ever do. My favourite comment from that was "It's because of people like you that people like me can finally have equal rights". I still get teary eyed. 

1. Family

It always comes back to this. Family is always on top.

13 in 2013

. Monday 30 December 2013 .


I was having one of those "woe is me" moments a few weeks ago. I was exhausted and adjusting to full time work life, I was feeling a bit lonely, and I was upset because I was me. I was hanging out with a friend and we walked in to my favourite magazine shop to cheer me up.

My jaw literally dropped when I saw Blacklisted on the shelf. I couldn't believe it was there - in all its physical glory - on sale along with the titles that I love.

I met this girl called Naomi in August right after my internship doing Spark. I noticed her in the sessions always looking keen to be there. Long story short, we started talking (thank you Facebook) and eventually hung out for real. We talked about ideas, culture, religion, and a mix of other topics the first time we hung out. She told me about an idea she had for a zine and then we started bouncing ideas off each other.

Fast forward to that day in the magazine shop when Blacklisted was staring at me in the eye. While I didn't really do anything for this issue except name it, I felt a sense of pride and joy. I felt so proud of Naomi. She had a vision and then she made it happen. How often have we had all these ideas that we've parked because of excuses? Not Naomi. This girl means business. I felt like it was also my baby despite not contributing anything for the first issue.

We met up this morning to discuss the next issue. We made great progress, had some tea and sweet treats, and did what we did best: throw ideas around. It was a very creative session, one that I felt like I needed to end the year in a great buzz.

I'm sitting on my bed right now and looking at the magazine for the hundreth time, enjoying every photograph and every sentence that's in it. Today I am glad that I am me and that I am someone who is capable of doing some great things. Excited to be taking on this managing editor role! Let's do this!

Blacklisted

. Friday 27 December 2013 .
I like your Sunday personality better

(rock music starts playing)


I'm dreaming of Sundays spent exploring markets, sitting in cafes drinking tea, and jotting down my thoughts. Someday this will be my reality. 

I like your Sunday personality better

. Sunday 8 December 2013 .

On the list of things I enjoy, cider and shopping would be pretty up there. I never really thought about how much more enjoyable cide and shopping would be together until I walked into Bing, Harris, & Co yesterday.

Ok I admit it. Bing, Harris, & Co is one of those stores that I would go into often even though I had no purpose there at all. It was a mens store and clearly I am not shopping for any guys at this point in my life. But the clothes though. . . the clothes are exquisite. Walking in there always made me want to be a man just so I could wear all their beautiful clothes.

I am not averse to cross-dressing (by that I mean wearing mens stuff like oversized tees etc) and in fact Scarlet (absolute fave person ever) and I even bought matching bandanas from there the other day. The good news is that now I don't have to lust over pretty man clothes because their womenswear range is so on point!

The shopping experience was fab (there was a DJ in the store and I had cider. It was a party in there) and I fell in love with the Albion Track Pant (pictured above) straight away that I knew I couldn't leave the store without it. These are just some of the pieces that I really want too. The Birchfield Chambray Shirt is next on my wishlist and from my previous entry here, I think it would work well with the sweatpants.

Thanks to the staff at Bing, Harris, & Co. and their awesome manager Scott for being so lovely and helpful. I shall return.

Check out Bing, Harris, & Co online here. 

Bing, Harris, & Co launches Womenswear aka that time I had a cider while shopping

. Monday 18 November 2013 .


Sometimes taking outfit shots can be extremely awkward so I end up dancing instead. This is also how I looked like on Friday when I officially completed my degree! Can't wait to be back on the blogosphere and to be working on some amazing projects. Watch this space. 

Happy Dance

. Monday 28 October 2013 .

Hooray for long weekends! Spent mine hanging out with family and friends, disconnected from the world for a bit, and wrote down things going on in my head. I guess you could say the last few days has been blissful.

Sunday was awesome because I got to see my blogger girls (Alyson, Naomi) for a quick lunch date and spent a bit more time with Emma afterwards. We pretended to shop (I'm officially saving as much as I can. Goodbye spending) and explored different parts/alleyways of the city that we know and love. You can see more photos on her blog here

My outfit was a bit of vintage mixed with shorts from Wildpair and shoes from Hannah's. The floral crown is from The Bread and Butter Letter.

Hope you're weekend was great! Bring on a new week x

Alleyway Adventures

. Wednesday 23 October 2013 .
Spur of the moment afternoon tea with my folks because why the hell not. 

It is the little things that we remember - like some my fondest childhood memories are picnics with mum and dancing to children songs one Halloween evening. The simple things matter the most. Your family will be there for you no matter what. Friendships blossom if you nourish it. Be kind to everyone you encounter and smile. Blast the cheesiest music guilty pleasure you have at the highest volume. Dance while said music is playing. Stop and enjoy a cup of tea in silence every once in a while. Open your window and let fresh air in. Homecooked meals are the best especially if shared with good company. Eating out alone will do wonders for your soul. Same with going to the movies alone. There's a different kind of satisfaction in being comfortable in your own company. Appreciate your tutors and the people you learn from. They want you to succeed. Let them help you. Wear the clothes you want. Stop caring about what other people think. Don't step on anyones toes to get to the top. Don't forget the people who helped you get to where you are. BE KIND TO OTHERS. Be mindful. Be grateful. Eat, drink, and be merry. Eat healthy. Be curious. Never stop learning. Buy that pair of shoes you've always wanted. Surround yourself with things that inspire you. Let art make you feel. JUST FEEL GODDAMNIT. Feel something. Anything. Everything. It's all about DA FEELS guys. Crush on that celebrity and read fanfiction. Send appreciation letters to your heroes. Create. Embrace change. Strive to excel. Don't be average. I hate average. Don't settle. Dream big. Wear floral crowns or whatever makes you feel pretty. Fill your environment with fresh flowers and pretty things. Do it. Do that thing you've always wanted to do. Don't be afraid to tell someone you love them. Write them a fucking love letter if that helps. Make mixtapes. Take care of nature and the environment. Same goes with pets. Support local artists who gain next to nothing for their work yet do it anyway for the love of it. Appreciate everything you have. Gratitude goes a long way. Get rid of your sense of entitlement. Work hard and reap what you sow. Eat that cheesecake. Cry while watching wedding videos. Support your fave band. Be one with the crowd and music. Question. Let go. Defy gravity. Do what you love. Let your passion light your eyes. Take control. Never stop living.

Life is short. Pity we don't realise that until we are reminded of it yet again in horrible ways. 

This is it

. Friday 13 September 2013 .





Here I am, lost in the light of the moon that comes through my window
Bathed in blue, the walls of my memory divides the thorns from the roses
It's you and the roses
- Afterglow, INXS

Sometimes when I can't sleep, I stare at the cards on my wall. Sometimes I just blog. What's on my mind? A lot of things, actually. It's full of random thoughts that I can't quite articulate. What I do know though is that I have some great people in my life. It's the little things that mean a lot to me like sharing laughs over the silliest thing, a message out of the blue from someone wanting to catch up, and a text from someone at 1 am saying that they know what they want to do with their life. Little things like that make me so happy, and I am just grateful to be surrounded by these people. I want to be more appreciative of them and what they do, because life is too short not to share the happiness around. So here's to you, beautiful people. You inspire me. A lot.

Images sourced from Tumblr except the last one. 

Touch me and I will follow in your after glow

. Saturday 7 September 2013 .

Friday: Woke up at 5 am and messaged a handful of friends that I felt sick and that I wanted to listen to Mr Brightside, exhausted at 8:30 am class, Lunch with Jacob and David, a quick visit to The White Room (resisted impulse shopping but I will be back), took photos with Jacob and completely missed David's rad outfit, finally paid my overdue fee of $10.20 after all these years from the library so I got to borrow a book, and accidentally dressed like Kim Kardashian. Where's Kanye at?

Yeez

. Friday 6 September 2013 .

Dress - Salvation Army, Cape - Witchery, Hat - Vintage, Bag - Handmade, Shoes - Dr Martens, Jewelry - Thieves & Co.

I think the title says it all. I'm a big believer that style is about mixing pieces to create a look. Fashion need not be expensive and my wardrobe is a combination of vintage and branded pieces.

This dress is possibly one of my favourite pieces at the moment. I love the splits and the length! The cape is also a well-loved piece. I remember when I first got it, I told everyone I was going to be wearing it when I carry my firstborn child in the future for the first time. Yeah, that's how much I love it. Wore my trusty docs because well, they're docs. The bag was knitted by my great-grandma and was passed on to my auntie, and now it's mine. Lastly, my jewelry is from Thieves & Co. which is a local brand by Grace Hodge. Each piece is quite raw and really unique. I think that's what I love most about it!

Photography by Steven Park of New Zealand Style Collective.

That time I got photographed wearing a $7 dress at Fashion Week

. .

Thursday afternoon at NZFW kicked off with The BMW New Generation Show held at the Westpac shed. The show featured Beverly Riverina, Nara Paz, and Crooked Seven and it was a treat to see three very different collections in one show. I cannot count how many times I looked at my friends sitting beside me and saying "I'd wear that!" throughout the show. After the show, I just wanted to skip Spring/Summer and just jump straight to Autumn/Winter 2014. It was stunning.

At the end of the show designer Alexis Komene of Crooked Seven took home the $5000 prize from BMW and righteously so. Her show was cohesive from the models overall look down to the music choice, and it added to the overall vibe. Definitely an emerging designer to look out for and I cannot wait to see where she takes the brand! I am seriously lusting over the cobalt blue maxi dress and the sheer black dress!

 Below are some photos of the collection, "Only by the night", taken by SVDH Photography.

Find Crooked Seven here.
"Like" the SVDH Photography Facebook page here.

Crooked Seven

. .

"It's a great time to be alive!" #overheardatnzfw

Actually no, I just made that up. Is the hashtag still applicable if I was the one who said it? Ah, well.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend the day - fashion, friends, fun. Half of what made the day great was the company so Rick, Emma, and Ellie, thanks for the adventure! This is how the day looked like according to my phone (and Emma's and Rick's too). Photos of the actual fashion part of fashion week in my next post!

 This post is quite photo heavy with some messy scribbling on my part. You have been warned. 

NZFW '13 Thursday Photo Diary

. Thursday 5 September 2013 .

Quick hello from Auckland! It's New Zealand Fashion Week and because life is awesome sometimes, I'm sitting here at the VIP lounge with an amazing view while sipping on the bubs in the company of some truly amazing people I am grateful to know. I'm kind of not on official blogging business, but when you've been blogging since you were 13, it's hard not to blog so the spectator status quickly turned into a blogging one. Didn't take my camera with me (#regrets) but I had my phone and still got to take some photos! Yay. What a day so far. Congratulations to Crooked Seven for winning the coveted new gen show and to all the designers who were part of it as well. Stunning show!

Hello from Fashion Week

. Saturday 31 August 2013 .

I've always loved the way light falls through my window come sun set. As the day winds down, I sometimes find myself lying in bed while the warm glow of the sun illuminates my room. It's such a nice way to end the day.

Today was spent making the most of our hang times as the bestie is home for the break. I got to show her how whimsical afternoons are in this room. These are the photos I took of Steph.  I can't get enough of the lighting and love how it translates in photos.

All The Little Lights

. Monday 12 August 2013 .

The road leads to this. . . Spark 2013. I've worked so hard these past few months because I made it my personal mission to make this the best Spark ever! Too early to tell if I've achieved it but today had a good vibe all around so I am feeling positive. Here I am with the lovely Katie Rose at the Ramp Gallery exhibition and official Spark opening.

Here's to a life-changing week!

Sparkette

. Tuesday 25 June 2013 .

There is a big difference between feeling full and being satisfied full. I guess you could say today I was very satisfied full! The handcut pasta with chicken, chorizo, and creamy pesto sauce was divine and the pizza with a peach bbq sauce and pork belly plus pancetta and chorizo was equally tasty. It is torture writing this at 10 pm really because all I want to do is eat all of this again and wash it down with the mousse-like iced chocolate. I need to look away now because I'm getting hangry (hungry + angry).

Who would have thought that there is such a place hidden away in Te Rapa that holds so much yummyness?

District

. Monday 17 June 2013 .
I know what you're thinking. Yes, it is a word. No, I did not just type random letters in hope that my header would make sense. I've always had "Bibbiddibobiddiboo" as my header for most of my online accounts. I get asked about it a lot, and I'm surprised that hardly anyone gets the reference.

When I was younger my mum said I would watch Cinderella on VHS repeatedly everyday. I guess even at a young age, I've always been a hopeless romantic who believed in magic and happy endings. This is exactly why I am drawn to this bibbiddibobiddiboo.


This is the scene in Cinderella when her fairygodmother rescued her. Bibbiddibobiddiboo was being chanted when Cinderella, and everything around her, was transformed. This is the part where the magic happens, where everything changed for her. It's almost as if the mantra in itself holds such power.

Which leads me back to why this. . . I am convinced that the meaning of life is to experience something magical. I am here because I want to be inspired, to inspire, to do things, to experience, to create, to live, and most of all to feel something. This is why I am seeking a Great Perhaps (more on that later). So for now I am looking forward to this new chapter, to this adventure that will take me to the wildest of dreams and imagination, to where I want to be standing, to infinity and beyond. 

So here's to that great adventure we all know as life. Here's to what lies ahead. All together now. . . Bibbiddibobiddiboo!

Bibbiddibobiddiwhaaaaaaat?!

. Thursday 4 April 2013 .

I am 21 years of age, straight, been Catholic all my life, and I have never been in a relationship. So why am I here fighting for marriage equality? I've wondered the same thing time and again.
The first time I supported marriage equality through Facebook, I was bombarded with comments and it turned into a debate thread straight away. I even had someone ask me something along the lines of "I thought you were Christian, Jess?" which I thought was fair enough. The answer is that yes, I have my religious beliefs but more than that, I am a human being. To quote Morrissey: "I am human and I need to be loved just like everybody else does". Mothers, fathers, partners, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, lovers, children. Love is a basic human need but it is also exclusive in a sense that we choose who we give this love to.
So going back to the question of why I am fighting for this. My siblings and I were raised by parents who are still married and very much in love. I am straight, and this does not concern me at all. It's because I am standing up for love.
I have never been in a relationship, I have always been the perennial single girl. I think I've been in love once but the feeling wasn't mutual. I wish I could say I've held hands with a boy before because he liked me in that way, but I can't. I wish I could say I've been kissed by a boy without being under the influence, but I can't. I wish I could say I've had guys ask me to go out on a date with them because they wanted to get to know me, but I can't.  I know firsthand how hard it is to find this love that everyone keeps raring on about.
It is very lonely on the other side. I wish I could accurately express how hard it is to be surrounded by couples and not have a hand to hold. If you asked me if I would trade it all (a semblance of a career, all my clothes, and even my Dr Martens collection) for love, I would probably say 'yes' in a heartbeat. That's how much I want to feel this kind of love. To believe that I too, am worthy of being loved in return. Don't get me wrong, I am all for being an independent woman, but someday, if the time comes where I find someone to love and who loves me back, then I want the whole package: marriage, children, one dog, and a white picket fence.
So if you find someone who loves you back, who is to say that it is wrong? How can we intentionally stop someone from marrying the person they love? Why would we deprive someone of the right to marry whoever they choose? Why would we deprive a child from being adopted into a loving home? Wouldn't we rather live in a world where orphans were put in families who would provide them with a home, an environment to grow, and a chance to feel that safeness and comfort in knowing that you have a family to always come back to? Given it's not a typical mum and dad situation, but the thing that turns a house into a home is love. Why would we deprive someone of love?
This is why I'm fighting for this cause. For these people who have found love regardless of whatever trials they have faced, these people who have fought for their love, and these people who continue to fight for love. These people have found someone who loved them not because, but in spite of, everything. These people who love you for who you are. They are the lucky ones, because I would do anything to have what they have.
I know equality isn't just about marriage or love and the fight has really just begun, but I am hopeful. Call me an idealist, but I think it should start and end with love. No buts, no ifs.
I am going to keep fighting because I really do believe love makes the world go round. I am going to keep fighting for marriage equality, just like I am going to keep fighting feeling lonely and not worthy because I don't have someone to love and who loves me back.
I am going to keep fighting for the couples who can't marry who they love because of their gender. I am going to keep believing that people's minds will change, that someday we will look back on this as a turning point in our evolution as humans. Because really at the end of the day we all just want one thing: To have someone special to share this amazing life with.
I am going to keep fighting for that because love is something that we are all worthy of. 

Fighting for love