At last! Some “me time”
When I was working freelance, I had a lot of time to myself. Too much time actually, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go back into an office. I was getting really lonely.
It's been great having colleagues to talk to again, but after a while I realised I hadn't actually been completely alone for over a month. Unless driving to and from work counts. Well, it doesn't to me.
I've always been someone who enjoys my own company, so the lack of "me time" was starting to drive me stir crazy.
So this weekend has been nothing short of blissful.
Mr K went down to his parents place before I woke up on Saturday, to help them install a new AV system in their house. Leaving me with the whole day – and the whole house – to myself.
***
My car had a flat battery, so after the RACV came and jump started it, I was told to take it for a long drive. I ended up finding a factory outlet in Moorabbin selling accessories for cheap.
I couldn't resist these animal prints for $10 and $7 each.
***
When I got home, I walked in the beautiful autumn sunshine down to a local cafe, where I luxuriated in coffee, eggs benedict and the weekend papers.
It was 1pm by the time I had my first sip of coffee. You know those long-awaited sips, when your whole body relaxes and goes Aaahhh? It was one of those moments.
Pure heaven.
***
Then I kept wandering down Chapel St and did something I haven't done for ages.
Opshopping!
Ah oppies, how I've missed you.
I found these great flat, leather and leather-lined boots for $12
I really like the biker-type detailing on the back, without the clunkiness or hardware of typical biker boots. I think these will look great with skinnies.
And this stretchy studded mini dress which will be good for layering, for $9.
At another oppy I found a whole pile of near-new Sheridan towels. You can tell by the state of the tags that these have been washed a couple of times, if that.
I got a bath towel, bath mat and two hand towels for $19.
A bit of napisan tossed in with a superhot wash and these will be as good as new.
I prefer white towels because my skincare always seems to bleach coloured towels. Our taupe ones have those pinkish blotches all over them, no matter how carefully I wash any suspect skincare off my face and hands.
***
It seems I've developed a scarf problem because in a vintage boutique I couldn't resist these two wool scarves.
I need a bit more colour in my winter wardrobe, and I've been wanting to wear red lipstick lately, so this will inspire me to be a bit bold.
Does red lipstick kind of scare anyone else a little bit?
It's also very hard for me to pass up a Vera Neumann design.
Vera was a legendary textile designer in the 70s and 80s, who I first discovered via etsy, and I've been lusting after her scarves in particular for a couple of years.
I really don't need any more grey in my wardrobe, but I fell in love with this design.
The pretty little birds sealed the deal.
No more scarves for me!
***
At 2.13 this morning I got a message from Mr K saying he was staying over at his parents because it wasn't worth driving home so late. Boy, am I glad I'm not a techie! Technology is great but it kind of sucks at the same time.
So I had Sunday to myself too.
I've just pottered around, doing washing.
Watching old Deano Martino movies.
Loving the clothes and the New York apartment sick.
***
And painting my nails!
My new job's taken up so much time and energy my nails have been completely neglected.
I know full-time working mums who change their nailpolish every night (Louise!), and I just want to know – how??
You might have seen that Coles has a new nailpolish range out, called Kink.
I think they're $8.
This is Femme Fatale. No more sunshine by the time I got round to it, so these pics aren't that great, unfortunately.
It's like a garnet-red, with gold-bronze and red micro-glitter through it.
This reminds me a bit of Ulta3's black plum. Which, in my opinion, is about one zillion times superior.
While black plum doesn't have the gold-bronze micro-glitter, it has a rich luminescence that Femme Fatale just doesn't.
It's very patchy and even after 3 coats, I still have visible nail line. It also dries very flat, so definitely needs a high shine top coat.
I say save yourself the $6 or so and buy black plum. I don't think I'll be purchasing from the Kink range again.
***
Do you get any "me time" on your weekends? Or during the week?
I'm going to make sure I steal a few relaxing hours to myself more regularly.
xx Kiki
Nice op shop haul. I particularly like the vintage scarves
I try to fit in some ‘me time’ whenever I can. I would go crazy if I didn’t have any!
Justine – Thanks! I definitely felt the ‘crazy’ creeping up without the me-time, so not going to let it happen again!
I LOVE ME TIIIIIIIME!
I haven’t had it in a while either until Saturday. Started off with an hour long phone call to my sister while I was still in bed with a hot cuppa. Pottering around, doing house work with SATC on the telly, reading cook books, painting my nails (ulta3 watermelon – love) and thinking I should get out of my PJ’s around 2 PM. Bliss indeed!
I have a slight scarf obsession at the moment too! CAN’T. STOP. BUYING. THEM.
I wear red lipstick occasionally, I should do it more because I usually get so many compliments from friends and family. It’s not so scary once you’ve worn it a couple of times.
Lovely boots, great find!
Reezy – Your Saturday sounds like it was wonderful. I love pottering day
I need to stop buying scarves and actually start wearing some of the different ones. I seem to stick to the same ones.
I am going to try red lipstick this week. I think I’ve worn red lipstick probably twice in my life, I’m quite the chicken.
I LOVE me time. I get quite antsy if I don’t get it… I usually have Sundays to myself – bliss.
miss posy – One day a week sounds perfect.
Ooh, great buys from the op shops! I have to wander down Chapel Street soon – I used to work at the Windsor end and haven’t been back for ages. Forgot how much cute stuff there is!
Julia – Don’t do it, it’s a trap! I had to force myself to turn around and go home or I would have just kept shopping, and shopping, and shopping. Way too much cute stuff…
Hahaha! I only change my nail polish so regularly because I’m so clumsy and I always chip it. I can’t stand chipped polish. I’m actually loving the gel polishes. Even I can keep them on for an entire 2 weeks.
Louise – Is gel the same as shellac? I love the idea but 2 days and I’m itching to remove Femme Fatale. I can’t commit to a colour for 2 weeks.. haha
Sorry – just read your question. Yes, there are a few brands out there now. Shellac is the most well known but they don’t have a great colour range IMHO. I have stumbled on a new brand called Phettish who have the most amazing colours. Lots of fabulous neutrals as well as nice dark vampy colours. I’m just not a pink polish gal! I often get a French polish. I can stretch it beyond two weeks but usually get them done every Friday just because I’m bored of the colour.
Oh the lovely coffee ‘aahhh’ moment! I had one today too… was blissful!
Seems we both have a recent addiction to scarf buying!! I managed to pick up a vintage Fendi, Leona Edmiston and faux Chanel from some op-shops near my folk’s place over West… never thought i would go back to an oppie.. but there i was!
Me time is great isnt it? Although when i do get it, i feel so strange not carrying bottles in my handbag (and being able to carry a clutch!), and not having little hands gripping mine… so i enjoy enjoying ‘me time’ in short stints
Emma – Well done on your opshop finds! A vintage Fendi sounds fabulous. I want to see it. I hear about mothers feeling guilty for taking me-time, but I say hand the kids over to dad and block it out in thick black texta on the calendar – you deserve it!