Thursday, June 27, 2013

Hobble Along

Oh man, my ankle is sore.
Last Saturday I went on my first long outing with my boot. I went with my lovely friend Dani. We went to Spotlight to pick up some craft materials.
I'm still really slow, and the boot restricts my ankle movement. I've been taking it off at night, because I want to be able to flex my ankle. It's so stiff, I can't even point my toes! :(

I'm wearing:
Cotton biker jacket: No Future (DIY by me)
Bikini Kill shirt: From their website
Skirt: Avella (Big W)
Tights: We Love Colors
Boots: Dr. Marten

I've also sewed some new new patches. This is the slater on my left arm. I love slaters, they're so cute! They're called pill bugs in America. I also call them roly polies :)
On my other arm I have the symbol for Pluto. Sailor Moon reference.

This is my first week back at work. I'm doing okay, and luckily there is not much that I've missed. I've been using the priority seating on public transport (gotta use it while I can!). Next week I'm going to Wagga Wagga for my university resident school.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

FREEDOM!!

 
YAAAAY! I have my cast off and I'm up and walking!
I have been given a walking boot, and I tested it out today shopping with my sister. I don't know how I would manage without my sister to help me, she's been really great. She's taken days off work to help me get to the hospital. I don't know how to repay her.

I'm really tired right now, it's going to take a while for me to get strong again. I get to go back to work on Monday, so I'm very excited to see everyone again and be useful.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Care-package!


Two of my co-workers came to visit me with a care-package from everybody in my unit! This is my first ever care-package, I feel like I don't deserve this!
It includes lots of chocolate, a book (The Last Werewolf), a pair of gloves, some David Bowie photos, a cross-stitch pattern for the Stark family in Game of Thrones, and a bat bookmark from Threefold Designs. It's funny, because my coworkers didn't know that I'm online friends with Michelle, the girl who runs Threefold Designs.

It is so sweet and kind for my co-workers to think about me, and that I make such an impact on their life. I don't think I'm worth much, so it's really sweet to think that so many people like me.

Monthly Homework Assignment: Polkadots


I actually don't own anything with polkadots, apart from a pair of fancy knickers, but you're not seeing them ;)
I don't like polkadots, I don't know why but I've never been a fan. That's why I found this months homework assignment from Franny a bit hard.

Luckily, inspiration came in the form of Robert Smith


I first painted my nailed Double Decker Red by Rimmel.

I cut some toothpicks in half, and used them to dot black polish over the red.

I'm right handed, but I found it easier to use my left hand for dotting (strange)
Wait for this all to dry, and then put a clear coat of polish on top.

I now match Robert Smith!

Please excuse the messy sides of my nail, I didn't have a chance to clean them up.

Monday, June 10, 2013

My favourite book website

I buy all of my books online. I actually do most of my shopping online. There are always people in the news saying that online shopping is taking away from physical retailers. But until they offer the same prices in stores, I'll keep buying online.

I know that many overseas people use Amazon, which I think is great, but sadly it sometimes costs lots to ship to Australia.

My FAVOURITE website for buying books is bookfinder.com
This website shows price of the book INCLUDING shipping to your country!! It searches lots of different book sites like Amazon, AbeBooks and Book Depository, etc.

My little trick is to look at Amazon to read the reviews and summary of the book. If you're not 100% sure about buying the book, I suggest you order it from you Library. If you're a member of the library, you can request books from other libraries. This is called an inter-library loan, and I use it all the time! Just ask your local library!
Western Australia has a great system, where you can request a book from any public library in Western Australia. Gosh, I love libraries.

(I just bought another book online for only $10 including shipping, so I'm pretty happy right now. Yay books!)

University Resident School

I'm not sure if I told you guys, but I applied for university and got in! I'm doing a distance education course and I'm studying Bachelor of Information Studies. This will qualify me as a Librarian (right now I'm a Library Technician, which is one step lower). I'm doing the course part-time so I can work full time at my current job. This means it's going to take me 6 years to get my degree, better late then never right?
The university I'm using is Charles Sturt, and although they offer distance education there is a compulsory unit where distance students have to visit the university. They call this resident school, and it only goes for three days.
My resident school is at the Charles Sturt campus in Wagga Wagga, which is on the other side of Australia.
Pink arrow connecting Perth to Wagga Wagga.

The resident school is an introduction to the university and the course I will be taking. I'm dreading having to 'network'. I'm not they type of person who joins in with team building/icebreakers. I'd rather just sit in a corner and not be noticed. Usually, someone comes to talk to me and then I feel like a really horrible person for not being as enthusiastic as everyone else in the room. I'm really not interested in networking at all, I'm too anti-social for my own good. It's also really hard to go unnoticed with green hair!!
Actually, my co-workers always make fun of me because I don't understand why people remember me. They say "oh, Natalie, we have NO IDEA" looking right at my hair. Hahaha, luckily I like my co-workers and I tease them back.

I am excited about a little holiday. I've been home bound with my broken ankle for nearly two months. I like exploring places by myself. Wagga Wagga is near Sydney, so after my resident school I'm going to stay the weekend in Sydney.

Best of all, I get to visit two places I've always wanted to!

Monte Cristo, Australia's 'most haunted' house! I've wanted to visit this ever since I was a kid. It's only 30mins north of Wagga Wagga, so it's a great opportunity for me to check it out. I doubt I'll be in the area again.

The front of Monte Cristo Homestead

I do not believe in ghosts or the supernatural. I'm an atheist and a skeptic, so I think there is a rational explanation for all things and that there is no life after death. BUT I love ghost stories. I've always enjoyed 'real haunting' books when I was a kid. I used to get the same ones from the library and re-read them. I love spooky stories, and stories that are suppose to be 'real'. I have a large occult book collection, including some great skeptic books like A Magician Among the Spirits by Harry Houdini (he spent his life debunking spiritualists, such an amazing man) and Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer.
Australia is lacking any haunted places, I think because this is a young nation. All of the spooky places are over east, there doesn't seem to be anything in Perth.

The second place I'm going to visit is the Quarantine Station in Sydney. When Australia was first being colonised, this was the place to put people who had contagious diseases. It seems like a really spooky place, and I've always wanted to visit it!

I'll make sure to take lots of photos and write about my adventures over east.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Gothy Two Shoes List of Plus Size Online Clothing Stores

Plus-size Gothic clothing is very hard to find. Usually, I buy clothes from second hand stores and alter them to fit my style. Being a large girl, I like good quality black clothes that aren't too expensive. But even that is a lot to ask for! I buy clothes online because plus-size Goth clothing is hard to find in Australia (not to mention, it's usually more expensive than getting a few items from overseas)
Below is a list of clothing stores I have found online. I have included a little blurb about the stores I enjoy buying from.
Please leave a comment if you can suggest more online stores.

ASOS Curve: AUSTRALIA (although it does have sites for other countries). This website offers very trendy plus size clothes. Goth and black offerings are few and far between, but there is sometimes a good bargain. You really need to think about how the garment will look on you, because the models they use are pretty thin. The clothing is well made, and I haven't had any trouble with them. They also have a great selection of accessories. Pricing is good, and shipping is FREE!! There are usually coupons for 20% off. They also sell great accessories, I've bought some awesome bags and jewelry.
Quality: Good
Price: Overall it's average. $50 for a dress, $30 for a skirt. Sometimes good bargains in sales.
Rating: A

City Chic: AUSTRALIA. One word: Expensive. The only time I buy clothes from City Chic are in their 70% sales. $150 for ONE DRESS, seriously? I can buy a bunch of clothes from overseas for the same amount WITH shipping. That being said, some of their clothes are very Goth. But I'd seriously wait until sales. $70 for one shirt! Really?! City Chic is one of the only places for girls to buy Plus Size in Australia (if they don't order things overseas). They're clothes are up to date, and not frumpy. They have a good collection of party clothes and cute dresses.
I sometimes have a problem with their sizing, which goes XS, S, M, L, XL. It's sometimes confusing, as their sizing runs larger. I highly suggest going into a store and trying on the clothes. Many of the dresses hang strange and don't look good on the body or they're made out of strange material. Having a friend with you helps. Physical City Chic stores are nice, as they usually hire plus size girls.
Quality: Good
Price: SO EXPENSIVE! :( Wait until sales if you don't want expensive clothes.
Rating: C

Domino Dollhouse: USA. I love this small brand for the fact that they try to make trendy awesome clothes that girls love. They also use plus sized models, including the beautiful Tess Munsters. Clothes here are individual, so it sometimes takes a while for a good Goth item to come along. Sometimes I think "Wow, I love that top. I wish I came in plain black!". They also offer some good petticoats. I'm always excited when a new line comes out and I make a little wish list of what I would buy if I had a bajillion dollars. That being said, prices aren't too bad if you save because you'll be getting a unique piece of clothing that skinnier people won't be able to have. I love seeing customer photos of girls who are the same size as me rocking out in Domino Dollhouse gear. They always look so lovely! This store always high on my list and I recommend it to every plus sized girl.
Quality: Great
Price: A bit on the high side. $70 and less. Postage to Australia can expensive, but cheap if you combine a few items.
Rating: A

New Look: UK. New Look offer the 'Inspire' range of clothing. They're great on a budget, and shipping is also pretty good. It's sometimes a hit and miss in regards to the range of black clothing. They offer clothing that is trendy in the mainstream, and sometimes with bad fabric choices. I've purchased a few items from them, all have been unique that no one else in my town has.
Quality: Great
Price: Prices vary, but there are great bargains at sale time.
Rating: B

Torrid: USA. One thing that's always pissed me off about the Torrid website is that I can't sort by colour. This means I have to click through pages of stuff to find black items. I never really like anything available from Torrid, I guess that's why I've bought only one item from them. The clothing seems very plain for the price they're asking, I always look at the clothes and think "That's really ugly/boring, I don't know who'd buy that". They don't seem to have different collections, so I can come back in a few months and the same clothes would be there. I don't recommend buying unless you find something you like. They make it very difficult to buy things, shipping to Australia costs $41 and they don't take overseas PayPal.
Quality: I only have one item from them, a skull cardigan. The quality is okay.
Price: A bit much for such plain clothes. $30 and upwards.
Rating: D

We Love Colors: USA. Tights and pantyhose. I always buy the "Plus Size Nylon/Lycra Tights" in black. They have a wide range with over 51 colours. They also offer tie-dye, stripe tights and fishnets. The sizes are brilliant, they suit tall girls and are very stretchy but don't lose their shape. The waist sits above my tummy, which I love because it means they wont fall down while I walk. I've had tights that last for 6 months, which I think is great value! The price is about the same you'd pay for a good brand in the store, around $15 for plain tights. Shipping to Australia is $15 flat rate, but they do offer free shipping deals so make sure to grab a bunch when that happens (I just bought 10 pairs with free shipping, they'll last me ages)
I would LOVE to see some different designs printed on the tights. I love the current trend for 'spooky' designs on tights, but they never have plus size options. I'd love a pair of black tights with white or grey bats printed up the leg *hint hint*
Quality: Great, can last for ages!
Price: Tights price is average at $15. Try to wait for free shipping deals to get a good bargain.
Rating: A

Other 'normal clothing' sites:

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List of online Goth stores that offer Plus-size: