Well it seems after my surreptitious Instagram post of all my chopped of hair you guys are clamouring to see the finished product. It’s not quite the correct colour yet but it should only take one more go.

It's actually lighter than this picture makes it look

I was hoping for a lighter, more golden colour but we didn’t want to bleach the heck out of all my hair in one go so we settled for this the first time around and it should only take one more bleach to get it to the perfect colour.

Out perfect colour looks like this.



So what do you think?

Some of my latest finds - an amazing atomic print skirt, a sparkly lurex number & a rather wonderful gingham dress

Vintage clothing is draining my bank balance. Sucking the lifeblood that is my pay check.

The more vintage I acquire, the harder I find it to say no to anything!

Why? Why do I have no self-control when it comes to vintage? I can easily contain myself when it comes to repro. Remind myself of my saving goals, smack my hand away from that 'Buy Now' button.

But vintage has this whole other effect on me. I think it's a sickness.

I see something and contact the seller to arrange payment and shipping before I can even think about it. And as exciting as it is getting packages in the mail filled with wonderful new vintage things...I'm meant to be saving for the States!

I think the thing with vintage, for me at least, is that it's not like repro stuff. Not as easily accessible. Not like you can just go back a week or two later and decide to buy then.

Vintage is one off. And when you find something you adore, in your size (a big one for me given my large bust!) I can't bear to say no. Because I just know there is some other lucky lass waiting to pounce on it.

What do I do? How do I stop myself from all this impulse buying? I need help!

It’s not quite Tattoo Tuesday today, but I have written a post about my tattoo on today’s subject.

That subject would be my mother. Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday Mum!!

She drives me batty, but she’s actually pretty amazing you know. She’s taught me a lot. How to tie my shoes for instance. But the biggest lesson I’ve learnt from her is independence and perseverance. She’s never had it easy my mum. She’s one of those people who it seems life has always been just a little bit unfair to. The whole ‘one thing after another’ deal.

Her childhood was no fairytale and there’s no doubt she did it tough. But she was never one to complain, always finding some way to be happy with her lot in life. Her early adulthood was definitely no bed of roses either and after some particularly difficult years it seemed her only outlook was to just keep on pushing through for something better.

Then she met my Dad and they fell in love and got married and had two beautiful daughters and they all lived happily ever after. For about 8 years. Until the fighting got too much and they decided they’d be better parents separately than they were together, always fighting.

And so it was that she found herself a single mother to two young girls. Money was always tight but we never went without. She worked two jobs to put food on the table and keep us in clean clothes and studied from home at nights to increase her skills and education so that she could get a better, higher paying job. It was always about us girls, keeping us happy and not missing out on things.


Meanwhile, with no man around the house Mum taught me that it doesn’t matter if you’re a girl – we can do it! She could change a tyre, play football, install lattice work, hang a door, put together a cabinet…well, there wasn’t much she couldn’t do and nothing that she wouldn’t at least give a try.

My mum has taught me so much. Like how to be a blabber mouth. But she has also taught me some of the most important lessons in life I think I will ever learn. Like how to be strong, resourceful, independent, to stand up for what I believe in, to work hard, to always be grateful, to be kind to others, to never give up.

She has sacrificed so much for my sister and I and for that I will be forever grateful.


Thank you Mum, for showing me how to be the best person I can be. I’ll never forget all you’ve done for me. I know you hate making a big deal out of your birthday but it’s a pretty special day and after everything, you TOTALLY deserve it.

So please, let us spoil you today and have the happiest of happy birthdays.

Is it just me or do good dreams never feel quite as real as bad dreams? It seems quite unfair really.

I don't dream that often, usually just when I'm hormonal and often they're neither good nor bad just...strange. But on the rare occasion that I do dream, the good ones never feel as real as the bad ones.

You know the ones, the ones that wake you up with a jolt convinced something with teeth is about to tear you apart, or wake you up moaning or crying. The kind that can sometimes stick with you into your waking hours.

Why is it that when you wake from a good dream it only takes a nanosecond to realise you're not actually a millionaire yet waking from a bad dream takes you a good few minutes to calm yourself and be convinced the terror you felt was not real?

I had a bad dream the other night. Not a nightmare like the scary kind I mentioned above, but an intensely hurtful and emotional dream. A really personal dream. One that I awoke from feeling physically ill. Despite knowing that it wasn't real, that it hadn't actually happened it took me probably half an hour to calm myself and get back to sleep, only just managing not to burst into tears.

Even into the next day, the weight in my chest was there, following me around for most of the day. Making me feel like I could burst into tears at any moment. How is it that dreams can have this power over us, even in the light of day when we can clearly define what is real and true? Why do these horrible things stick in your mind, no matter how hard you try to forget them?

And why do our brains do such nasty things to us? Present us with these fallacies, forcing us to endure the most hurtful words and scenario of our entire lives only to jolt us awake, alone in the dark of night to go - Ha Ha tricked ya!

It seems like some sort of cruel joke.

How do you chase away the black cloud of a bad dream? Or do you only have good ones?

Well, after yesterday's heavy post not to mention all the nagging I've gotten on Twitter and Facebook I thought I'd be nice and kick the weekend off with some pictures of my new tattoo work. My sleeve is ALMOST complete, just a small amount of colouring and shading left to do in a few weeks. It's going to look AMAZING when it's done (if I do say so myself) but I'm in love with it already!

Thanks for the shot Mimsy!

Some of my favourite little bits

As always a massive thanks to Mimsy's Trailer Trash Tattoo for always providing me with such quality ink and artwork - this woman defies belief! Probably the only tattoo artist I know who I trust enough to walk in to her studio, hold my arm out like a piece of meat and say 'do what you want'.

What do you think?

My Auntie was recently diagnosed with bone cancer. I feel horrible because I haven't called her, but I don't know what to say. What can you say? I'm never very good when it comes to expressing myself verbally, my power is always in my words. So I wrote her a letter, to let her know I am thinking of her. I'm also putting it here, as a way of putting it out into the universe. For luck.

I’m sorry I haven’t called you. I really wanted to, but to be honest I wasn’t really sure what to say. I guess there’s not much anyone can say. Mum mentioned that you’ve been struggling a little in coming to terms with it all which is completely understandable.

I just hope you realise how much you are loved and supported. I know you have a fight ahead of you but you certainly aren’t facing it alone. There is so much to consider at a time like this, but first and foremost is your health. You have always been such a kind and caring spirit and always thinking of others. But you must focus on you right now.

You have always lead such a wholesome life and I firmly believe that your dedication to this has all been leading up to now, preparing you and your body with all the things it needs to come through this with strength and grace.

I imagine the road will be long and a little rocky but always remember we are there with you, holding your hand through each and every hurdle, even if not always literally certainly at every moment figuratively.

We are here if you need anything, from a favour to a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or for some words of comfort. Although there probably isn’t much comfort for you to be found right now, I hope these words do offer some small solace as they are more than words, they are filled with depth and intention and truth and honesty.

And love. Always love.

Stay strong. We still need you. Be brave. We love you.

Lots of love,

Sheri

This is a whinge about the weather.

It's too cold in the morning and at night. Then during the day it warms up to quite a lovely day. It's difficult to dress appropriately for this and I really don't like the cold mornings. They make it very hard to get out of bed.

And yes, I am a Queenslander, I have no concept of what REAL cold means. But hey, this warm sunshiney place is all I've ever known. I'm a product of my environment. It's not my fault!

HOWEVER.

I think I have found a way around the frosty mornings and the reverse psychology I have to perform on myself in order to get myself out from under that glorious warm doona and up getting ready for work.

It's called TIMER FUNCTION.

Last night I performed a miracle. I figured out not only how to set the correct time on my air conditioner. I also figured out how to set it to turn on all by itself 15 minutes before my alarm goes off.

I am beyond pleased with this.

I no longer have to attempt to ninja my arm out from under the warmth of the doona to snatch the remote and turn the heat on rather ungracefully while simultaneously creating a frigid pocket of air that invades my jim jams and pretty much defeats the purpose.

Never again!

I can now wake up to a toasty warm room that is a joy to peel back the covers and spring up out of bed while blue birds remove my night clothes and squirrels proudly present freshly pressed clothes for my work day ahead.

Or something like that. It's bliss. Timer function. Who'da thought?

Literally! Ok, maybe not LITERALLY *all* of my friends.  But a heck lot of them! And it makes me feel...something.

I dunno, it's weird. Don't get me wrong, I'm sooo happy for them! They're all the cutest couples, so in love, everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

But for some strange reason I get all happy and excited for them. And then feel a little like I've been punched in the stomach.

It's completely stupid, because I don't even know if I ever WANT to get married. Yet whenever I hear about friends getting engaged I can't help but feel a tiny small sadness in the pit of my stomach that it isn't me.

Like I said, ridiculous.

But it just seems like the nicest thing in the world. That someone cares about you and loves you so much that they say to the world I choose her to spend the rest of my life with.

That kind of commitment is a pretty massive compliment. To take someone for all their awesome bits but also all of their un-awesome bits and say I don't care, I like you the best. It kinda blows my mind.

Ah well. Maybe it will happen for me one day. Maybe it won't. Maybe I'll care. Maybe I won't. I still got plenty of time. No need to worry just yet.

Besides, in the mean time I get to go to a bunch of awesome weddings and cry at how lovely it all is and how much they love each other and how happy they will be.

Yeah, I always cry at weddings. Such a sap!

UPDATE: I wrote this post days ago and over the weekend I found out about ANOTHER friend who got engaged! That makes a total of 5 couples! FIVE! You see what I mean??

Ch-ch-ch-changes

It happens all the time. Mainly with girls. Especially after something like a break up. The feeling of the need to reinvent ones self. To change things up. Usually drastically.

It can be cutting all your hair off. Dyeing it a REALLY different colour. Getting a tattoo. Doing something crazy. Pick your poison.

Whatever it is, it seems to act as a reminder of who YOU really are. A way to make your life more about YOU. Inject some excitement into possibly difficult times. Throwing caution to the wind, realising that you answer to no one and experimenting and having fun with the power of that.

I am the poster child for reinvention. I've mentioned many times that I get bored easily. I crave excitement. It's kinda weird considering I'm resistant to change in almost every other way. But I just like to keep things fresh, new, interesting.

If I had a dollar for everytime someone has said to me 'gosh, every time I see you your hair is different!'...well I'd be well and truly paying off that salon time.

But it seems my post-break up reinvention has been slow to show itself. Unless you count all the clothes buying? Nah, that couldn't be it HAH

Perhaps running away to the other side of the world for a month? Drastic yes, but not happening for way too long. And when it's with aforementioned break upper-er then I don't know that that counts either.

SO...

Get ready. It's coming. The reinvention. Starting from next week, the stages will begin. I should be done in time for my birthday.

What do you do to reinvent yourself when you feel like a change?

As of tomorrow, my birthday is exactly 3 weeks away. Just in case anyone is stuck for ideas (anyone??) I've put together my list of current lust haves. Unsurprisingly, they all revolve around clothes!

I need a rest.

That's one of the reasons I'm not going to the events I mentioned yesterday.

I need to relax.

So much has been going on lately, mostly good things, but they've been keeping me very busy and I'm starting to feel like I can't keep treading water.

I need to slow down.

I could feel it coming, this feeling. The one where your chest feels like it's slowly being crushed by the weight of all the things you need to do.

I need to catch my breath.

It started with little things. Like for the first time in six months not joining in this month's photo a day challenge. It seems silly but it just felt way too hard, like too much work.

I need to just stop.

I've been trying to create more valuable content for you guys. And I can see and feel the blog improving with that conent. But it takes work. And at the moment aside from working my full time job and on the blog I've been writing magazine features, copy for festival websites and press releases and going to events. Lots of events.

I need to put myself first.

And I realised the impact doing so much was having on me. It was affecting my moods and my happiness. Making me feel down, feel bad about myself. So that's when I said, hold it right there. No more. Some bad news about a family member has helped put things in perspective.

All of these things matter. But they have an order of matter. And I don't have to do it all, right now.

So if you feel like I've been a bit MIA lately, especially on social media (hello Twitter silence, hello poor neglected Instagram which I haven't posted to in almost a week) don't worry. I haven't left you. And I'm ok.

But I'm taking a step back for just a tiny little while to make sure that I can keep being ok.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will be resting and eating and drinking wine and staying warm and relaxing and being happy.

And just breathing.

Let me just say it here.

I am not going to Cooly Rocks On or Wintersun.

Really. Really, REALLY.

I know what you're doing right now. The surprised face. I've seen it so many times these last few weeks everytime someone asks.

I know, ME the Kim Kardashian of Brisbane rockabilly, the blogger of all things music, fashion and dancing...IS. NOT. GOING.

It's sort of surprised me, it IS the first year in many where I won't have gone to these. But they always end up costing money. If you're like me and like to buy lots of drinks and pretty things, they always end up costing LOTS of money.

And I'm saving for my big USA trip next year.

So I'm not going. Really.

Instead I'll be chilling out at home staying warm, eating Brissie's best burgers, drinking wine, celebrating a friend's birthday.

Strangely enough I don't even think I'm going to miss it.

I guess we'll see after all the fun pics and posts start coming through on Facebook.

Saying 'instore appearance' sounds wanky.

It doesn't matter how good the heels look, after the second or third hour they will be replaced by flats.

You can't please everyone.

I am not as eloquent in my speech as I am in my writing.

I don't handle rejection well, even if they are only turning down my offer of a glass of bubbles.

Meeting new people is fun but knowing they have to go all the way back to another state is sad when you realise you can't just 'hang out' again.

I am bad at receiving praise - I am gracious and grateful but get awkward and don't know what to say.

Tight high-waisted pants are the best weight loss tool ever - you won't even want to try and squeeze in another cupcake.

Try not to be so distracted when your 'real life' friends come into the store - remember to mingle with everyone.

Remember you are on display, doing a silly pretend sexy dance when you think noone else but your fellow instore appearer is looking only to turn around and find an old man staring at you is awkward.

People will expect and ask strange things of you. Try to be friendly and accommodating but realise it's also ok to say no. I'm looking at you older man who wanted to take pictures of me eating.

The opportunity to be glamourised and spend the day surrounded by pretty dresses and lovely people while helping celebrate the success of a hard-working woman is a very fortunate one. Be grateful.

But that was the easy one to remember.

Saturday morning saw me roll out of bed nice and early and roll on up to 771 Gympie Road Chermside, the new address for all things stylish, glam and pin up perfection. I stepped inside the pastel walls to a wonderland of accoutrements, beautiful dresses, vintage knick knacks, accessories, sleek and sexy wiggle skirts and capris and tunes blaring from the juke box.

Sydney's leading pin up photographer Bexterity has extended her love of pin up to encompass the art of style and dressing. With a store already going strong in her hometown of Sydney, Brisbane is overjoyed to welcome her and her One Stop Pin Up Shop.

The lady herself proud as punch outside the store

I was very lucky to be invited to attend the opening as a special guest and alongside Bek, pin up model Elixir Black and the very lovely shop girls Emma and Lara, we welcomed the masses to the new store while The Lindy Charm School provided make overs.

Hair & Make Up by Bexterity, Outfit by Your One Stop Pin Up Shop

The store was packed all day and I'm surprised there was any stock left at the end of the day! Everyone was buying up big from frocks and petticoats to cardis and capris, tops and skirts, belts, jewellery, scarves, catseye glasses and more!



Your One Stop Pin Up Shop stocks a great range of all my favourite brands including Hell Bunny, Collectif, Tarantula, Pin Up Girl Clothing and much more. The thing that really stood out to me and that I also heard many people remarking on throughout the day is how reasonably priced everything was. Easily on par with online pricing, you can try before you buy and there's no extra cost for shipping plus you get to take it home straight away!

It was a privledge to celebrate Bek's success and attend the opening, I got to meet so many lovely people and look at so many lovely clothes! I have a wish list a mile long already and I will DEFINITELY be back to shop up a storm.

Look at that AMAZING front counter!!

If you want to get in on the action and nab yourself some hot threads, Your One Stop Pin Up Shop is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm however keep an eye on the Facebook page as you can also order over the phone if something takes your fancy.