Op Shopping Loot

[ recently went on a shopping spree. It's time, after all, to bust these out again:

It is FINALLY getting hot here in Melbourne and I needed to stock up on spring and summer clothes. But as the temperature rises my bank account balance drops, so I didn’t want to spend a lot of money to spruce up my wardrobe. So.. Op-shopping it is!

Melbourne is a treasure trove of awesome op shops and with blogs such as Trish Hunter Finds and I Op therefore I Am it is obvious that Melbournians love their op-shopping. True to being a neophite Melbournian, I have slowly become a regular at op shops mostly to fill my bookcase with a wide variety of  second hand books.

But let’s get down to the loot I came home with when I scoured the op shops in Preston shall we?

So I came home with a big satisfied smile on my face with:

Salvation Army 331 High Street, Preston

grey top from Country Road                     $4.99

blue top from Country Road                     $6.99

Witchery Singlet                                     $4.99

Scrooges 385 High Street, Preston

blue dress from Glassons                           $8.00

St Mary’s Opportunity Shop 629 Plenty Rd, Preston

black tailored dressed                              $4.00

————————————————————-

$29.00

So you see I bought great spring and summer staples for less than $30.00 and all for a good cause too!

St Kilda Surprise

After 4 days spent within the confines of the flat because of an ankle injury, I finally hobbled stepped out to attend a friend’s surprise party all the way in St Kilda. It was the perfect day to go out again as Melbourne was in a good mood and showed just how pretty it is when it is sunny & warm. I was finally able to wear a skirt without tights!

Funny thing happened on the way to the party, Mitch and I were running a bit late. We were told to be there at 730. By 710 we were still in the city so we figured, we won’t get there in time for the popping out from behind the couch bit, we might as well eat dinner first and arrive after the surprise. By 830, I messaged G, the superwoman who organised the event and the one who took the birthday boy Carlo out for dinner so the guests can sneak in. I asked if it was safe to come now, she didn’t reply so we gathered the festivities were well under way and it is safe to make our way there. Getting to the house, it was all quiet and dark. I had a split second of doubt thinking I got the date of the party wrong when Mitch suddenly whispered they’re behind us. Scared but acting casual we walked on and rounded the corner. We giggled to ourselves hoping we didn’t get caught out and a minute later we heard a big exclamation of “SURPRISE!!”. We very nearly ruined the surprise! And if you’ve seen THAT episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, you don’t want to do that.

I’ve known G since High School in the Philippines. We really didn’t know anyone there aside from G and Carlo. It was very interesting talking to other students from the other unis here in Melbourne. It was an awesome party to venture out into the world for.

the 3rd anniversary of my sister’s 25th

MUDDLE BAR ~ Shop 8, West Row, Canberra

these boots are made for walking …

One night, while walking along Brunswick Street I showed Jack the boots that my heart is aching for through a shop window. I told him how they stopped me on my tracks and made me block the walkway for about  10 minutes while I stared longingly at them. How when I walked away from them with tears in my eyes, I heard them calling out to me. (yeah.. i get a tad melodramatic about footwear and other wardrobe staples)

So he asked (as a boy would) “why didn’t you just buy them”.. I gave him a withering look and commenced a long rehearsed speech that I repeated to myself the whole day to stop myself from running out the door of my flat to the 2 short blocks where the boots were waiting to be rescued with a quarter of my monthly budget in hand. So my whiny retort to his question consisted of these very mature reasons:

They’re expensive ! If I buy them I’m going to have to eat 2 minute noodles for a week!

Winter is almost over. I won’t have much use for them in about a month!

I really don’t need ANOTHER pair of boots (but one can never really have enough pairs of boots. really.)

I’m a big girl. I know now that not everything you want, you get.

He shrugs, continues on and that was the end of that.

Or so I thought…

he came over on his lunch break the next day and told me to open his bag and there my booty babies emerged.

I was so shocked (and secretly ecstatic)!! I couldn’t believe he bought them for me! But I couldn’t accept them 9r could I? I told him to return it, he said he is most definitely NOT going to do that. I said I can’t possibly accept them and won’t wear them, he said fine I’ll throw them in the bin then. I couldn’t let him do that….

THE MAN IS A FRIGGIN LEGEND!!!

They are beautiful… I couldn’t get enough of them! I wear them to Coles, to go to the post office and even to take the rubbish down.

One bright windy wet Friday I took it out for a spin in the city. Jack was paparazzi taking photos of my bootyfull boots. So here they are..

trodding that arcade between bourke & little collins

cocktails and the croft

We . . .

set a date to try out Pete’s reknowned cocktail while having beer at Bimbos. So the Fitzroy dwellers trouped to Kew to sample this controversial cocktail (with stories ranging back from parties in Port Vila).

which consisted of an expresso shot + vodka + whatever else was in Pete’s extensive liquor collection they fancied to drop in there. The concoction was potent! I think one sip got me dizzy.

After a few (labour intensive) trials, we decided against our better judgement to head to the city. It was determined that the girls have never been to the Melbourne laneway institution The Croft Institute and so the boys were quick to suggest the place.

After the most entertaining cab ride EVER (thanks to the best cabbie in Melbourne)  and some head scratching from the boys to try to remember just where the mysterious hidden Croft Institute is (Little Bourke & Swanston at the end of Croft Lane after a walk through a stinky laneway, overflowing rubbish bins, an abundance of milk crates  & quite possibly scurrying rats) we arrived at our destination where we proceeded to:

dance to awesome old school music (complete with crazy dance moves)

pose for a few decent photos

examine our footwear?

emerge victorious from the Institute with another night of fun under our belt

suburbia

Mitch and I went to St. Albans so I can satiate my craving for Filipino food. We found an Asian grocery store that stocked mostly Filipino products and then was directed to a Filipino fastfood place where I had lechon and sisig (two really delicious traditional Filipino pork dishes).

I realised I haven’t really been exposed to the suburban part of Melbourne. I live in Fitzroy which I stay close to. I study in and explore the city. I’ve been to St. Kilda, Albert Park, Kensington, Clifton Hill and opshopped as far out as Preston. But going on the freeway and taking an exit and seemingly being transported to Suburbia was a bit eerie for me.

To see houses in big blocks I suddenly missed the congestion of my tiny suburb, the constant (and often colourful) foot traffic and the ramble of the trams. I could certainly understand the appeal of the suburbs for families: the quiet, seemingly safe neighbourhoods are ideal places to raise kids. But at this point in my life, I’ll only come here for when my homesick tummy wants Filipino food.

*I am learning the art of op shopping! This dress was bought at a church op shop in Preston for $8!!!

busy in the city

Friday is my free day and on this particular one, it was Jack’s too. So we went out to the city to do some things we’ve been meaning to do for some time..

Like …

Go to the music store on Bourke Street to buy Jack’s drum sticks

And then have coffee and some yum lunch at a laneway in Flinder’s Lane

Neighbourhood Watch

Sunday, 2 August

Sundays are made for sleeping in; long, lazy brunch and idle talk. And so we did just that.

Living where I do, we are alway spoiled for choice and I am ashamed to say we haven’t really been exploiting the variety available to us.  We have made it a point then, not to go to a cafe or restaurant that we have already tried, until we have given at least half of the other establishments in this charmed suburb of ours a chance.

Why, it was only last week when we realised that there is a whole area we have yet to explore. So instead of turning right towards Johnston Street, we veered left to get to Gertrude.

And there we were confronted with brunch heaven. We decided to walk the length of Gertrude Street from Brunswick to Smith before deciding on where to eat and this exploration lead us to Arcadia.

Arcadia 193 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

The place was packed but had a fast turn over and in no time we were led to a table out in the small courtyard. There is no table service, orders are placed at the counter so while Jack and I deliberated over what to eat, next table’s meal arrived and we looked at it wistfully. We knew what we are getting! Who needs menus when you can stalk other diner’s food instead?

The food was fantastic! Service friendly. And for two of those plates in the photo + 2 lattes = $40.50 the price was ok.

back from our sunday stroll

Thanks Gertrude Street, so far you haven’t disappointed us.

In the jungle, the mighty jungle..

So I went on a safari in Africa.. and took photos of these guys

sleepy lion

giraffes

rhinos and zebra

the guide said these guys are mistaken for unicorns

mongolian wild horses

big burly bysons

lazy hippo

beautiful cheetah

funny meerkats

monkeys

big something or other

Jack and Jill went up the waterfall..

Even before he decided to come to Vanuatu, Jack has become familiar with the must-see sights in Port Vila thanks to my screensaver/slideshow that shows my adventures from last year. He’s always been intrigued by my photos in the waterfalls and my smug boasting that I prefer to climb up the waterfall as opposed to using the sissy mud paths that were made for the tourists being herded in and out of the place.

So when we went on a beautiful Monday arvo, he was insistent on climbing up the falls despite the slippery rocks, gushing water and precarious paths. Good job Jack. Neither of us fell and our cameras didn’t even fall in the water and we went up right up close to the twin falls where even I didn’t dare to go before.

The Mele Cascades is about 10 minutes drive from town (don’t quote me on that). You pay Vt1500 (about A$15) per person for entrance fee which they claim they use for maintenance and security.

Don’t be discouraged when you see the puny falls for the first five minutes of the walk. After the long haul up the rock stairs and the little trickles of streams the rock pools and Cascades await..

Don’t forget to have a photo taken in the giant bamboo poles

And climb other things that come your way for wacky poses..

Don’t be shy.. ask the American Dude to take a photo of you. He went to a waterfalls and didn’t bring bathers.  We might as well make use of him.