Packing Guidelines for the Traveling Fashionista

Sal is, hands-down, one of my favorite bloggers in the land. And I'm not just saying that because she also lives in Minneapolis and we've met in real life. Or maybe I am. Her popular fashion blog Already Pretty is stuffed with heaps of useful tutorials, laugh-out-loud stories and a fantastic attitude towards fashion and body issues. I just love it. You should probably get to know her now, before she dethrones Trinny and Susannah and lands her first spot on Oprah.

I would never be so foolish as to claim that my travel experience equals our dear Sarah Von's ... but I've been here and there, hither and yon, and I've packed for trips both long and short. My personal travel experiences have led me to believe that packing successfully is darn near vital. Although many packing oversights can be remedied through shopping, sometimes you need to conserve those pennies/Euros/pesos/shekels for things like train fare and lunch. So learning to pack effectively is a valuable skill to cultivate.

Now, packing for a 6-month riverboat journey down the Amazon and packing for a three-week sojourn in Paris are going to be different experiences, obviously. But there are some basic rules you can keep in mind as you're chucking shoes and undies into your rolly bag, no matter where your journey might take you!

1. Choose a single color palette: If all of your items are interchangeable, you'll be able to pull together outfits quickly and easily no matter what's already dirty. Going with black, white, gray, and a single bright color works fantastically. I usually choose fire engine red, because it's my favorite shade of all time, and one of the best colors for my complexion ... but teal, yellow, purple, and hot pink work beautifully, too. Pick a truly vibrant hue, and be sure to bring accessories and shoes in your accent color in addition to tops and bottoms.

2. Select breathable, natural fabrics: Silk will keep you cool during a long stroll in the Grecian sun, then keep you warm once that sun sets and a chilling breeze moves in off the Aegean. Cotton can be snuggly and warm when you're hiking in the morning mist, but also allows your skin to breathe if you have to make a break for a fast-moving bus. Sure, polyester washes well and is wrinkleproof, but it keeps you neither warm nor cool and amplifies your personal bodystink. Stick to the naturals, right down to socks and undies as much as possible. (Wool is a possible exception: As it requires hand-washing and takes forever to dry, pack wool sparingly unless you'll be wearing washable layers beneath.)

3. Avoid wrinkles ... or embrace them: Bring lots of jersey, wrinkle-resistant fabrics (such as twill with a hit of spandex), and knitted items, all of which will bounce back quickly from being crammed into a suitcase. Or, if you love the world-wise and happily-rumpled look, pack your linen tunics and rayon dresses, boho scarves and chunky bracelets. Just make a decision ahead of time: Are you going to pack crumple-proof items and avoid ironing, or go with a laid-back look that includes some purposeful wrinkle-age?

4. Bring only one pair of heels: Unless you're going on a journey that involves charitable works, long hikes, and rural travels exclusively, you should be sure to include a single pair of dressy heels. BUT limit yourself to that single pair, and bring only flat shoes besides. Flat boots, Mary Janes, sneaks, ballet flats ... if you're a shoe person, need options, and don't mind some heavy duty schlepping, pack 'em all. Just make sure they're FLATS! Travel = walking unless you're on a cruise. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can make heeled shoes work for anything other than a fun night out.

5. Invest in disposable jeans: Jeans are a travel must regardless of destination, but I recommend against bringing your best pair. Your favorite jeans likely fit into at least one of these two categories: They set you back a pretty penny, or they took you a hillion jillion years to find. What happens when you spill borscht on them, or snag them on an ornery bramble, or lose them at the laundromat? You CRY BITTER TEARS, that's what! I prefer to pick up a comfy, slightly beat-up pair at a thrift store for trip usage: I feel free and easy in them, and don't give a flying rat's ankle what happens to them once I'm safely back home.

6. Pack mostly separates, but at least one dress: If you follow rule number one, you're throwing a lot of black, white, and gray into your duffle, as well as items in your personal favorite bright, cheerful accent color. Generally speaking, you'll want to pack tops and bottoms: Tees, sweaters, wrinkle-resistant blouses, and tanks as well as skirts, capris, and pants. But make a practice of toting at least one dress. A flattering dress can be paired with your single pair of heels for nights on the town, but if it's jersey or cotton it can easily transition to day with a pair of flats. Even if you have no fancy events on the docket, you just never know when a dress will come in handy.

I've learned most of these guidelines the hard way, and am fairly certain I'll never violate them again. What do YOU keep in mind as you pull from the closet and tuck into the suitcase? Ever found yourself stranded in a foreign land, wishing desperately you'd packed differently? Do tell!
Got the travel bug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

How to Go on Holiday without Leaving Home

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Vixel is a lovely, lovely British law student who loves kittehs, Amy Winehouse and working up the nerve to sing Fairytale of New York. Her blog Sparkle and Glitter is regularly inspiring, informative and full of sparkles. I suspect she is the girlfriend you call when it's all gone a bit pear-shaped because she will give you ice cream and then then talk some sense into you.

I'm a big fan of Sarah's brilliant travel posts, and always find myself wishing I could afford to away somewhere warm and sunny for a week or so! For my guest post, I decided to write about something that has really saved my sanity in these last few years of being a poor student - holidaying at home. Sometimes, when the time off work just isn't enough but you can't afford flights and hotel bills, a week at home can feel like a holiday in a posh resort with just a few simple touches! Get a few friends, stay in a house together and make it as holiday-like as possible!

* Start the day with a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice, then go out for breakfast. Have pain au chocolat at a posh cafe, a fry-up at a diner or local hotel, or a takeaway if you like - you are on holiday after all!

* Give yourself a facial whilst listening to your favourite music, relaxing with a glass of wine.

* Decide that for the week, cost doesn't matter. You're saving money by not going away so you can eat all your favourite foods, no matter how decadent!

* Visit your town or city's tourist traps - you may be surprised how many great things there are to do in your town that you'd never have thought to try! See this article for some brilliant ideas!

* Go swimming at your local pool when there's a "free swim" time and take a beach ball!

* Wear your favourite clothes and take time to look your best every day, even if you're just staying in the house.

* Read "trashy" books and magazines, the sort of thing you'd only usually read on the beach or by the pool.

* Write postcards and mail them to your friends and family.

* Forget diets and nutrition, ice cream is a viable lunch option!

* Go clubbing or cocktail-drinking mid-week, it's cheaper than at the weekends anyway!

* Fresh fruit however, strawberries, pineapple and big wedges of fresh juicy orange can be the perfect snack to make you feel like you're on a tropical island somewhere!

* Pick a country and gather together all the movies you can about or from that area.

* Photograph all of it and put together an album of your fabulous holiday so that you can remember it for years to come!

How do you holiday at home?

A Reminder

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I love the sentiment here. Right up until the "crap" part.

Nice work if you can get it: Dancer

This is part of our work series, in which I interview friends of mine who have fascinating, envy-inducing jobs. I met Mo at my pseudo sister-in-laws wedding and we fell into one of those instant, spontaneous friendships where you find yourself inviting them to your flat in New Zealand before you've even moved there. She's kind and lovely and also possessing of The Best Legs I've ever seen.

So what's the deal? What do you do?
I teach, perform, and choreograph modern dance. What is modern dance? I don't know.

Tell us about an average day in life of your job.
Well, in order to make a living in the arts I piece together multiple dance-related jobs. This makes each day different from the next. Right now I teach adult advanced-level modern classes and teen modern classes at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, as well as serve in the capacity of “Office Manager” fifteen hours per week.

I also teach Dance Appreciation to non-dance majors at the University of San Francisco twice a week. One night a week I have rehearsal for a piece I am choreographing, and work on ideas for that at various times. I perform for two amazing choreographers, Nina Haft and Katie Faulkner, and rehearse with them off and on for upcoming projects. A “typical” day involves some kind of teaching, a little office work, and most likely a rehearsal. I also spend a lot of time preparing for all of these things outside of the actual classroom or studio time.

Did you go to school for this? Or get any special training?
When I was an undergrad I was a dance minor, with no thought of making a career out of it. After four years dancing everyday and performing I was completely hooked, so after a short break from school I decided to go back to graduate school for dance. I spent three years at The University of Iowa getting a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance.

How did you get into this line of work?
When I was younger I was a gymnast and the coach suggested I take dance classes to help with grace and rhythm in the floor routine. I took lessons from the only dance teacher in town who taught in the basement of an old masonic building. The ceiling was low, the floors were concrete and covered your shoes in some strange grey powder, and I loved every tap, jazz, and ballet class I took. I never thought that I would make a living dancing or be in a professional dance company or teach dance. It's something I can't stop doing, and at some point it became more than just a hobby.

Are there any drawbacks to working in dance?
The biggest drawback for me is the lack of financial stability. Jobs in dance come and go and there are no sick days, vacation days, disability pay, retirement funds, or health insurance. I am constantly trying to piece together enough work to pay the rent and am always juggling different projects and commitments. Another drawback is that people don't really know what I do because it isn't very mainstream. It's difficult to describe and people usually end up saying “that must be fun.” And yes, it is, but it's a lot of work (both physical and intellectual) as well.

What are the highlights?
There are so many...I love the moment waiting backstage right before performing. The people that I work with are strong and intelligent and creative and caring. Activity and creativity are part of my job. I don't have a desk. I get to share my love of the art of dance with other people. It's amazing to stand at the front of a class and watch a sea of people moving together. My schedule is fluid and can be flexible. I get to dance in beautiful works of art!

What are the misconceptions about working in dance?
The most common misconception in my world is what I call the “Center Stage” misconception. I feel that the movies about dance portray it as a world of ego and eating disorders and competition. I think that does exist (more in the world of professional ballet), but there are whole other worlds of dance that aren't as mainstream that value community, creative collaboration, social engagement, and healthy living. I keep telling my friends that I want Ira Glass to do a This American Life show on modern dance...I think he'd get it right.

Another misconception is that dance is not a valid academic field of study. There are historians and scholars who engage with concepts of movement on a deeper level and apply philosophy and critical thinking to the art of dance. Dance has more layers and can have more significance that people commonly realize.

What suggestions would you give to people interested in becoming a professional dancer?
Here I must refer to my dad's favorite quote: “Do what you love and do it so well that someone will pay you for it.”

Is anybody a dancer wanna-be? Any questions for Mo?

Skills You Should Master Before You Travel

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And here you were thinking that packing light and drinking bottled water were all you needed to get by! While those skills are not to be underestimated, I have learned the hard way that there are a few other skills to add to one´s repertoire before skipping around the globe.

Furtive Map Reading
Now I know that you´re not one of those travelers shuffling slowly around the plaza, with your 4´x 4´ map unfurled in all its glory, tracing your route with a highlighter. Right? Riiiiight?! Because not only is this painfully embarrassing, it´s also an open invitation to have your fanny pack rifled through. Before you head out for the day, fold your map into a little square that showcases only the part that you need, and if you really have to engage in some Joey caliber map reading, save it for a cafe. If you´re really clever, you´ll photocopy all the maps in your trusty Lonely Planet so you only need one wee piece of paper for your big day out!

Squat Peeing
What?! Yes, dudes. I know. But squat peeing isn´t just for camping. Millions of people around the world exclusively use squat toilets and if you´re heading to Asia, India or the Middle East (or even parts of Europe) I´m afraid you´ll have to learn how. When I was living in Taiwan, using the squat toilet correctly (without taking your pants off or getting anything wet) was a much lauded right of passage. It seriously took me a good month to master. But I´m sure you´re much smarter than I am! Here´s a tutorial if you are, in fact, as inept as I.

Haggling
Most Westerners, myself very much included, turn inside out with embarrassment at the thought of haggling over prices. But it´s an unavoidable part of travel in most countries, and you´ll get stuck with crazy inflated prices if you don´t hone your bargaining skills. To get the best prices shop around a bit (you´ll find heaps of shops selling the same things) and if you see a local buying something you like, evesdrop to see how much they´re paying. Don´t be afraid to walk away if you feel you´re being taken, and bring a calculator with you to the shop if you don´t know your numbers in the other language. There´s a good tutorial here.

Sleeping on Transportion
And if you figure out how, will you teach me? I suspect inflatable neck pillows and eyes masks help. As does an absence of drunk silver miners.

The "Don´t Mess With Me" Walk
Okay, so all those other skills? They pale in importance compared to this one, friends. Acting like you know where you´re going, what you´re doing and generally behaving like a force to be reckoned with will save your cute little bum just about anywhere in the world. There will be no peering up unsurely at street signs, skittering away from people or mumbled requests for directions! There will be only walking like you own this cobblestoned street! In all of my travels, I have never been mugged, groped or seriously hassled and I credit my walking skills. When I´m not feeling up to strutting, I put on my sunglasses and try to channel Madonna.

What skills have helped you as you globe trot?
Got the travel bug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

Celebrating Women's History Month

Hi there, I'm Dollface from Rotten Little Girls. While I'm sure Sarah Von is having fun in South America, in the states (at least the Northeast) it's very dark and cold. Instead of griping about the massive amounts of snow still piled everywhere, I thought I'd mention that March is Women's History month! Now is the time to celebrate women's achievements, focus on women's issues and discuss feminist topics like abortion and domestic violence. I wanted to share some of my favorite events that will be taking place in and around this month.

• March 8th is International Women's Day. Celebrate by getting a "This is what a feminist looks like" button or donate some of your time at a local women's shelter or domestic abuse center. Check out the official website to search for events and more information.

• While it's not exactly a part of Women's History Month, Eve Ensler has given Valentine's Day a whole different purpose. If you haven't heard of her, she is the fabulous woman behind V-Day and the Vagina Monologues. She wanted to bring attention to violence against women, so she wrote an amazing play that theater companies and campus groups perform annually as a part of V-day. Check out the V-Day website to find out how to get involved.

• Find out if your local library or community center is having any events or guest lectures

• Activism can be fun, and there are many causes to get involved with. Women's History Month in particular is a great time to focus on women's issues. If you've always wanted to march with MADD or do a walk for breast cancer, now is the time to look into participating.

Women's History Month is about empowering women and paying our respects to the strong women who have fought for our rights. However, there's nothing wrong with being stylish while participating in some of these events. I've put together two outfits on Polyvore that I imagine some women wearing this month. I've also created a few character sketches to accompany them, although I'm sure they aren't as awesome as Sarah Von's!



Lena sat in the dark theater clutching her Vagina Monologues playbill tightly, inspired by the women performing before her. As the other audience members rose to give a standing ovation, she fingered her purple domestic violence pin thoughtfully. When she got home that night she wrote a monologue of her own.





Taylor hoisted her sign high above her head while women rushed past her into the clinic. She cringed as men and women heckled the Planned Parenthood employee attempting to break up the protest. Taylor stared straight ahead as someone yelled "Baby murderer" in her face. Her sign read "77% of anti-abortion leaders are men. 100% of them will NEVER get pregnant."

How will you celebrate Women's History Month?

Consider this while map-reading...

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...or while comparing yourself to others.

I often get a bit hung up on the path that my life has taken, what with the non-traditional adulthood and all. I worry that somewhere between all the traveling and adventures and cheese-eating, my career and grown-up life have gotten lost. Where's my IRA? Where's my Toyota sedan? Where is my impressive resume?

But I'm not lost. I'm right here!

And right here is a pretty good place.

Do you ever wonder when this adulthood bit is going to kick in for real? When someone is going to hand you the map into the land of grown-ups, where everybody knows how to change a tire and refinance a house?

5 Ways To Show Your Sewing Machine That You Love It

Fay Grimm is a talented photographer, loving cat mama and crafty goddess who chronicles all of these things in the most hilarious manner at BrightYoungThing. I want to have her over to my house for Coronas and crafting and macaroon making.

Hey, DIY Diva! I see you there, putting together your newest masterpiece. You're working hard, but you know who else is putting forth a lot of effort? Your sewing machine! Doesn't your machine deserve a little recognition? Here are five ways to show your sewing machine how much you appreciate all the help it gives you:

1.) Lavish your machine with praise. "What a beautiful seam! Who's a good little Singer? Who is? You are! Youuuu are!"
2.) Buy your sewing machine a friend. Maybe a dress form, or an overlock machine! They can tell each other stories while you are away.
3.) Give it a serious cleaning. I'm talking oiling and dusting and cleaning out any little bits of thread. Make your baby shine!
4.) Date night. Yeah, baby. Fine wine and dancing. No one will stare. Honest.
5.) Give your machine a name. Something that means a lot to you, or expresses your relationship. Refer to it by name. Make a little badge & paste it to the side of your sewing machine. Even inanimate objects deserve an identity!

Do you feel that? It's pure love, radiating from your machine to you! What a lovely feeling. Bask in it!

Do you have a special relationship with any of your machines?

How To Be Wild At Heart

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A Compelling Argument for Procreation

Granted, if I had a daughter she would be neither French nor brunette, but she certainly would wax poetic about monkeys!

Nice work if you can get it: Dogwalker

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This is part of our series of interviews with people who have interesting/envy inducing jobs. And what could be more envy inducing that hanging out with pooches all day?! Making your own hours and avoiding a life of desk-sitting are bonuses as well. Susan is actually the friend of a friend who is living one version of my dream life, owning her own dog-walking business.

So what's the deal? What do you do?
I provide a pet service; I'm a dog walker and I board dogs in our house.

Tell us about an average day in life of your job.
The average day starts around 11:00 and ends around 2:30. I have seven dogs to walk three times a week and three dogs two days a week. Each walk averages 20 minutes, but with the way the temperatures have been,the dogs can't last more than 5-10 min. Poor pups!

I also board dogs in our home. This is where the real pleasure is. Having a pet or three in our home is a blast and especially for our youngest daughter.

Did you go to school for this? Or get any special training?
No school or training. Actually, I never even grew up with dogs but I married into one and she was the best trainer I could have ever had.

How did you get into this line of work?
I lived in Illinois, worked in the golf industry for 12 years (it's warm weather business) and winters being cold and somewhat snowy in Illinois I started to board dogs while the snow Bbrds made their way to warmer destinations.

I met my husband, who lived here, moved up, and got married...blah blah blah. I attempted to start the business here but it was slow moving, so I got a job at the Edina County Club thinking I'll befriend some people and get the word out. It didn't take, so I put flyers up at vet clinics and in the local newspaper. It finally took off in about a year - even with an unfriendly phone call form some woman trying to discourage me from stating it. She said, "she covers all the Edina area and I shouldn't think of budding into her territory." I took that as a pleasant Minnesota-nice 'Hello.'

What are the misconceptions about being a dog-walker?
There aren't any misconceptions, the title says it all, but my business name Susan's Pet Services always brings the question of what do I do in my service. This allows people to ask more questions and really get to know me. In this business, your personality and love for animals needs to shine, otherwise the client will go to the next person.

What suggestions would you give to people interested in becoming a professional dog walker?
Make sure it's what you want to do because once you get involved there is no turning back.

When I vacation, I can't wait to get back home and see all my dogs. They bring such an awe inspiring drive in me. I could never think of ending this business, even when it's -20 or 90+, my love for each and everyone of them is overwhelming.

Are any of you guys a bit envious of all this doggy love? Any questions for Susan?

Notes from the Road: Mountain Muling

Friends, If I told you that the main ingredients in our three day mountain trek were:

• One non-English speaking guide
• One very gasseous pack mule
• Three days of hiking at 4,200 meters above sea level
  

You would think this was a recipe for Disaster Salad wouldn't you? I mean, it would fit right in at a Minnesota church basement potluck. All orange jello and grated carrots and mayonnaise.

But, you guys? Trekking through the tiny villages and mountains of rural Bolivia is awesome!

And because I´m a little psychic, I knew that this trek was going to be awesome from the moment I laid eyes on our intrepid guide, Mario. Mario resembled nothing so much as an overgrown third grader, complete with a bowl cut, missing front teeth, teal track suit and orange Jansport backpack. To complete the look, he also carried every nine-year-old´s favorite accessory, the all important Stick. The Stick was obviously used for bashing threatening bushes, poking into mud puddles and menacing at our pack mule.

Yes! Our very own pack mule! Granted, this gentleman was prone to tremendous bouts of gas, refused to eat my apple cores and spent most of the trip engaging in disapproving, doubtful noises. But then so would I if someone piled 60 pounds on my back and pulled me by my face up a mountain.

As we started our hike it occurred to me that we were making our way up a path that was more than twice as high as Denver and was that a minor coronary that I was experiencing? And when had I developed asthma? I felt like I was living through one of those dreams where you´re trying to run away from A Scary Killer but your limbs won´t move and you can´t get any traction.

But in this dream I kept getting farted on by a mule and the soundtrack originated from Mario´s hand-held radio.

But as we made our way higher into the mountains, my newly developed breathing problems took a back seat to the insane surroundings. Lush valleys! Sweet little sheep being herded through the passes! Tiny cemeteries crammed to the gills with orange lilies and sparkling statues! As the afternoon wore one, the clouds began to roll in and eventually engulfed us, making things completely surreal. We could only see the path directly in front of us, unable to tell exactly how sheer that drop off on the right was.

As we neared Mario´s village, a tiny woman with gold teeth, black jelly shoes and a pick axe leapt down out of the fog and handed Mario her bag. Mario informed us that the tiny elf was actually his mother, and when I told her that my Spanish was very poor she slapped me on the arm like this was the funniest thing she´d heard all week. We trundled on to their village which consisted of 20 houses and lots of sheep, tucked among the clouds.

Mario kindly offered to let us sleep at his family´s house instead of camping out in the fog. And I was thrilled when I saw their house.

Now, you may not know this about me, but I am total nerd for anthropology. I go absolutely nuts for adventure and cultural difference and any travel experience in which I get to see an authentic, not-put-on-for-the-gringos corner of the world. And this house fit that bill perfectly.

While Mario put the mule out to pasture, we took stock of the digs. Drying sheep skins? check. Some sort of bone hanging from the rafters? check. Root cellar full of tiny red potatoes and onions? check.

Oh wait. That root cellar is our bedroom.

And again, I was oddly thrilled! Because this was a proper adventure! And, more importantly, we were not surrounded by nine other backpackers and an English speaking guide. We hunkered down into our bed (re: structure made of sticks and straw) and set to work charming the family´s puppy.

But despite all my best clicks and whistles and broken Spanish, Pups was having none of it. Mario laughed and informed us that Spartakou didn't speak Spanish and only responded to commands in Aymara, the indigenous language spoken in the mountains. So once I started hissing ¨Chi-choo¨ at him, our young friend was all over us, jumping up into the stick bed and trying to lick our noses.

After some more pup cuddling, we ate dinner with Mario and spent a good hour making shadow puppets on the wall of the root cellar with our head lamps. In the morning we awoke to the requisite rooster and ate our ridiculously gringo breakfast of yogurt and muesli. We poked around outside till Elfin Mother motioned us over to the tiny windowless kitchen where she was boiling some potatoes.

As I watched her stoking her fire with what appeared to be dried cow manure, I caught sight of something small and scuttling under a bed in the corner. And what did I see there, crouching in the corner? Guinea pigs, guys. Four of them.

Now, I knew that guinea pigs were a common Andean treat, but I rather believed that these guinea pigs would be, um, wildish guinea pigs. With gray fur and long, fierce talons and sneaky, intelligent eyes. Not the white and tan dudes from your local pet store. But there they were, all fat and sleek and white and tan, crouching in the corner of the kitchen.

Elfin Mother laughed and handed me the flashlight so I could better inspect tonight´s dinner. ¨They´re big enough to eat now,¨ She told me in Spanish. ¨Two or three is enough for our family.¨

I nodded and thanked the travel gods for the Cliff Bar I knew I had somewhere in my backpack.

Got the travel bug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

Web time wasters

Everybody loves getting mail. But if you send these adorable wooden postcards? You might just be fending off marriage proposals.

Never have boxes with stuff in them looked so romantic and whimsical.

Wine of the month clubs are so passe. How about The Thing Quarterly? Subscribers pay $140 a year and receive a new piece of art every three months. The catch? They know who the artists will be, but have no idea what they will get. Past 'issues' include a pull down window shade by Miranda July that reads "If this shade is down, I'm not who you think I am" and an orange, rubber door stop with a fan letter to Bill Jean King from Anne Walsh.

I love Michael Eastman's photography, particularly his collection on Vanishing America.

Ohmygod. A toy a day? 365 tiny, adorable 3-D paper toys you print, cut out, slide together and then display in your cubicle to the envy of all your workmates. I particularly like Frida Kahlo, Brian Griffin, Alice Cooper.

So damn awesome. A Belgian artist builds a man-sized nest on the side of sky-scraper and lives there for seven days. Whilst wearing a feathered headdress and periodically throwing feathers on to the people below.

Who needs squares and stars when you can have ice cubes shaped like dentures? Because that's what I want to see floating in my drink.

I love this poster.

A fantastic window shade that replicates the look of a city at night.

Girls in Film

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(A is a grad student by day, fashion blogger by night, combining the two flawlessly in her blog The Glamorous Grad Student. She loves classic, bombshell style, cupcakes and fellow redheads.)

I often find myself realllly disappointed by the portrayal of women in movies.

There are stereotypical characters I find myself hating with a fiery redheaded rage... The "strong" female characters, who do karate and have great marksmanship all while running about in skimpy clothes. Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider? I'm talking to you. The "intelligent" female characters, who can break complex coding algorithms and are super-gorgeous all the time. Hi there, Bond Girls! Because they're not totally brain dead you're supposed to view them as inspiration for all womankind, but they're too flawless for that to really work.

And yet, it is consistently the "normal" female characters across a range of different genres that I feel so let down by. They're not assassins or spies or geniuses, and when the script and acting doesn't suck completely, I can identify with them on some level. Then it turns out that they are like freakin' crazy putty. You can cheat on them, ruin their businesses, their reputations, lie, and they will still forgive you just in time for the end credits. You can give them all the information in this world and the next and they will still make craptastic life decisions. I'm not looking for movie heroines with Masters degrees (Christmas Jones had a PhD and it didn't do her character much good), and have no problem with actresses being good-looking. I'd just like to see evidence of some activity in the noggin. That would be welcome.

Let's play a little game. Here's the advice I'd have given some movie heroines if they'd been my friends. See if you can figure out who I'm slapping across the head with a large fresh mackerel.

1. When a guy pretends to be a doctor just so he can bum a ride home with the unconscious girl, it's a bad, manipulative start. So when you find out he's using his relationship with you as fodder for a newspaper article, you probably shouldn't be surprised.

2. Beware the boy who describes your relationship in terms of drug addiction. If he tells you you're his "own personal brand of heroin", run away. Seriously!!! That's creepy even without perpetually cold, pale, sparkly skin and whatnot.

3. When your famously commitment-phobic fiance calls the night before the wedding sounding all uncertain, and you gloss over it? You have only yourself to blame if he doesn't show up!! Now quit moping, because it's not like this hasn't happened oh ten times before, and feed yourself some freakin' soup so we can go sunbathe.

4. If you get a vision of your husband dying, try telling your husband. Not the therapist, not the priest, not your mom. Tell your husband. Or at least hack the exhaust pipe off his car, or mildly spike his dinner with laxatives. Be imaginative and stop him leaving the house!!

5. When you get it on and the condom breaks, go to the doctor. Don't break up with your boyfriend, spend the summer wandering around New York getting freaked out every time you see a baby and then pray to a pair of pants and try to yogacise the late period into being. Honey, if you're unaware of the existence of emergency contraceptives, maybe put the kibosh on sex for a few more years...

Recognize any? When I get sick of seeing women as deranged, daft or delusional, I watch Volver or Waitress. What's your remedy?

My Favorite Addictions

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A wee while ago the lovely curiousbird tagged me to pull back the rotting log and share the white maggots of my addictions.

As though I´d be into anything as edgy and exciting as maggots.

1. The Internetz. As evidenced by the fact that I am currently on holiday in Peru, and yet? Here I am in an internet cafe, writing a blog post and compulsively twittering.
2. Cheese. Please allow me to share this anecdote to illustrate: I lived in Taiwan for a year and half a while ago and the Chinese people are not particularly keen on their dairy products. For the first two weeks that I was there, I could not, for the life of me, locate any decent cheese. This lack of cheese in my diet resulted in an eight pound weight loss. But don´t worry - after I found the expensive import store, all was once again right in the world.
3. Magazines. Few things beat a sun porch, a cup of chai and a lady magazine. And apparently I´m actually a 45 year old yuppie, because I love Real Simple and the Oprah magazine. So be it.
4. Baby Animals. I don´t actually own any at the moment, but I am often reduced to baby talk and cuddling upon seeing any mammal that is a pre-teen. I recently spent 15 minutes cooing at a stray Bolivian puppy with matted fur. Irresistable!
5. Planning. Hence my daily mantra. If I´m not careful, I´ll spend all my free time waxing Virgo on the up-coming weeks and months. I must always have three back up plans for any given scenario.

But what about you?! What are the things you can´t live without?

Best Time Suck Ever

Because it's an overcast Saturday afternoon and you know you want to devote half an hour recreating the face of your Driver's Ed instructor. The Unusual Suspects Facebuilder is one of the best time sucks around.

Nice work if you can get it: Handbag Designer

This is one! Of many! interviews with people who have interesting/envy-inducing jobs. They also all happen to be my friends. I met Laura at a Halloween party last October - I was a some sort of sexy Roman (read: trying to wear a toga in the most flattering way possible) and she was a very impressive Raggedy Ann. Over miniature Butterfingers I discovered that she was a handbag designer. No, but I mean she's a real handbag designer. Like, she's had purses featured in In Style. The girl's not even 30!

Her accessories line, Nelle, is made of gorgeous fabrics with delicious details and is quite reasonably priced. In addition to being incredibly talented and super cute, Laura is entirely self-trained. Y'all, she got her start with a used sewing machine from the Goodwill and sewing books from the library. Seriously.

So what's the deal? What do you do?

I run my own independent accessories label, NELLE

Tell us about an average day in handbag designing.

One of the fantastic things about running your own business is that there isn’t an average day. On any given day I could be designing an upcoming collection, developing a marketing campaign, actively pursuing sales leads, or spending time tracking down sources. One thing is for certain, there is always work to be done!

Did you go to school for this? Or get any special training?

No special training or schooling, but I did receive a BA in Communication/ Photography/ Visual Media. Upon graduating I knew that I wanted to work in brand development, but was having a difficult time getting my foot in the door. I decided to create my own opportunity.

How did you get into this line of work?

With the knowledge that I wanted to work in brand development I decided to create my own brand. I considered opening a flower shop, but with the high overhead I new that was not an option. I had worked at a flower shop for a bit in college and was fascinated by using color and texture to build a 3D object. I spent a bit of time thinking about what I enjoyed about flowers and what was something similar that I could create. I landed on handbags. There were similarities between the two and starting a handbag business required minimal overhead! I went to the Goodwill, picked up a machine and some fabric, borrowed some books from the library and got to work.

Are there any drawbacks to working in this field?

I can’t say that there are drawbacks to working in this particular field, but I think that when anyone works for themselves or runs their own business you realize rather quickly that there is no one to blame but yourself if things go wrong. You are responsible for all of it, the product, the relationships, the sales etc…

What are the highlights?

I get to create and I get to build something! Searching for materials is exciting and forming relationships with customers and buyers is enjoyable. I am always humbled when a bride decides that she wants NELLE to be a part of the big day.

Are there any misconceptions about working in this field?

I think that there is a fantasy about design; my fantasy is a little space with a dog in the corner, French music playing in the background, and the sun shining through enormous windows, all while I sit sipping tea and sketching out the next seasons upcoming collection. However, my reality is hurried emails/ phone calls to accounts, contractors and media, balancing the books, fabric scraps everywhere, a bit of loneliness, and learning to make sacrifices.

What suggestions would you give to people interested in getting into this?

My first piece of advice would be RESEARCH, REASEARCH, RESEARCH. I spent the first year researching and learning, I still continue to research. The old saying is true; Knowledge is Power.

Project Postcard Accomplished!

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Are you as in love with snail mail as I am? Because I might like letters and postcards even more than lady magazines. Shocking, I know! If you´ve been reading Yes and Yes for a bit, then you might know about Project Postcard and my promise to send all and sundry postcards from Bolivia. And I´ve just sent them off with a whisper and a prayer (because, really? the Bolivian postal system? who even knows.)

You might also remember my promise to rub said post cards on a llama for you. Well, we´re currently in the capitol of La Paz, which is a bit too urban for your average llama. However! There are heaps of mummified llama fetuses at the Witches´ Market and I am nothing if not a promise keeper. So, much to the chagrin of the stall keepers, I just rubbed 30 postcards all over a small, dried llama.

Be sure to sniff that postcard reeeeeaaaalll good. You might just smell baby llama mummy.

Just kidding!
Or am I?

Calling All Guest Bloggers!

Did you guys know that I have a side project blog? Not unlike a hip hop side project from my regular indie folk rock duo, but not nearly as cool as either of those things. Said blog is The Secret Society of List Addicts, a place for all of us Virgos and anal retentive types to share ridiculous lists that we make. Some of my favorite lists are Smells That Are Good, Things That Blow My Mind and Things That are better in Theory than in Reality.

What fun, right? And wouldn´t you like to join in? List Addicts has four regular bloggers but Fridays are open guest bloggers. And that could be you! Just drop an email to listaddicts (at) gmail (dot) com. We´d love to have you!

My Daily Mantra

This is my mantra when standing in airport lounges, writing on whiteboards, sitting in traffic. I take a mental photograph and know that sometime, years from now, I will look back on this wonderfully mundane moment and miss it.

What's your manta?

How to Make Friends Wherever You Go

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(Freya works in words. By day she is an editor for a publishing company, and by night she writes daily missives about life's better qualities on Fish nor Fowl. She loves cheese, Russian literature, and automatons)

One of the most rewarding aspects of traveling, whether short or long term, is meeting new people with new ideas. It can totally refresh your thinking and will brush up your communication skills. But making new friends takes time and effort right? Well, not as much as you'd think, and even if you're shy, follow these guidelines and you'll be meeting new interesting people in no time!

Dress to Impress

Everyone knows first impressions are important, so be sure to brush your teeth, comb your hair, and generally look together. If you look like you're trying to hide in your clothes, no one is going to try and approach that bubble. Wear bright colors, smile, put on some lipgloss, whatever makes you feel your best. Look like you have a delicious secret, and everyone will want to know what it is, and more importantly, who this secret-holder is. People are predisposed to different colors, and depending on where you are, they might mean different things, but if you stand out a little from the crowd, and look like you're enjoying yourself, you'll be a step ahead.

Know Thyself

While you can probably find something in common with almost anyone, to make fast friends, stick with people who have similar interests as you. So, if you're a wine freak, it's probably not advisable to go sit by the kids drinking Three Buck Chuck. Instead, mosey over to the group of people huddled around the specialty wine list. This is not to say if people look interesting even without a common denominator you shouldn't talk to them, just that you'll have an easier time with those who you know you already have a common interest with.

Practice Makes Perfect

I'm more an off-the-cuff person, so I usually just talk until I find something with others, but if you're shy or a little nervous about your foreign language skills, study up! Learn some neighborhoods, or at least about the one you're staying in, and do a little research on what the region or city is known for. Don't be a guidebook, but showing that you have genuine an interest in the people and city is always appreciated.

Location, location, location

Okay, so you look hot, you've done your homework and now you just need friends. Where do you go? I like to stay in hostels when I travel because it's cheap, you're already surrounded by like-minded travelers, and there's usually a bar or pub either in the hostel or close. Especially when traveling alone, this is a great way to meet people to take day tours or split a taxi with. Your bunkmate might be a rollerskating champion an avid fire dancer or studying to be a epidopterologist. A word of warning though, bring earplugs if you like to go to bed and get up early. Most hostels are awake until about three or four in the morning, and not so bustling at even of eight am.

If you're moving to a new city, you still have lots of options. You can by all means go to the hostel bar and meet people who are new. A walk around your new digs will hopefully reveal some local restaurants and shops. Look for the crowd you want and where they go. Follow that girl with the banana yellow handbag to see where she eats. Coffee shops, used bookstores and thrift stores are my first haunts in a new place. Even if you don't drink, don't rule out a laid-back bar to meet
new people. A lot of people, especially travelers, visit pubs for socializing as much as drinking.

Flattery will get you Everywhere

People love being told they are awesome, so don't be afraid to start a conversation by walking over to someone and mentioning how much you love their coke bottle glasses. Just be genuine about it and follow up with a comment or related question. Commiserating over terrible service at a bar can also work, just be careful because the bartender could be your potential friend's cousin. If the first person you approach just doesn't take the bait, don't take it personally, just move on to a different section of the pub and try again. Read the people who look like they're looking for a friend as well, and you should do pretty well. Once you start chatting, insert a "oh, by the way, my name is . . ." and they'll reciprocate. Remember their name the first time they say it.

Let's get together, Yeah yeah yeah

After you've chatted for a bit and feel like the conversation is going well, initiate a meeting. Especially if you're staying for a while in a city, it helps to have a few consistent friends around. Ask them where their favorite place for dessert is and make a date for next Friday. Tell them to bring a friend or significant other if they like, which will hopefully net you one more friend without as much work as the first one.

Keep in Touch

Be responsible with your fledgling relationship. Call and initiate plans, don't wait for them to do all the work. Be on time when you say you're going to meet or call if you'll be late. Listen carefully and remember the details about their life. With Facebook, Myspace, blogs and Twitter, it's easier than ever to stay in touch after you've left your destination. Even if you only spent a week or a few days with your new friends, keep a line of dialog open. You never know when you'll be in their home city again, or when they'll be traveling through yours. And who doesn't want to have friends the world over?

How do you make friends in a new place?

Online Dating: Not Just for Weirdos

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A quiz.
The Mister and I met

a) while traveling through Thailand together with the same tour group
b) at an ultimate Frisbee party when he accidentally spilled his beer on me
c) in high school chemistry when we were assigned as lab partners
d) none of the above

You would be correct if you chose d) and then surmised, based on the title of this post, that we met on the interwebz. You clever minx, you!

Now, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you just gasped audibly and pushed yourself back from the computer a bit. "But that Sarah Von! She seems so nice - and so, well, normal! I don't know if I can continue to frequent the blog of a girl so depraved as to date men she met on the computer!" Well, Grandma, take a deep breath, pull your panties out of that bunch and allow me to explain.

In 2006 I stopped in New York for the last leg of my Round the World Ticket. I was visiting my college roommate - an fantastic girl with Nigella-esque proportions, an enviable wardrobe and an IQ that, I suspect, hovers around 140. Roomie had recently split with her boyfriend and was interested in screening new applicants for the position. At the time she was attending NYU and working full time at Mt. Sinai; meeting gentleman callers was getting a bit time consuming. So she decided to try online dating.

When she told me this, I must admit I did that audible gasp thing. And let me be clear, Roommate has never had any trouble landing the gentleman. Ever. So my response was something along the lines of "Duuuuuude. Internet dating is for weirdos and scary killers."

Roomie leveled her eyes at me and said "Do you have any idea how stupid it is to go to a bar and devotedly hope that an intelligent, well-traveled, well-read, driven, funny, cute, straight, single guy between the ages of 22-30 is there? And that he'll think you're cute? And that you'll see each other? And that you'll talk to each other?" And she was 110% right. If I'm proactive about everything else in my life, why am I sitting around waiting for love to happen to me?

So, upon my return in Minnesota, I informed The BFF of my new project. I was only going to be back in The States for two months, so we decided that we would approach this as a sociological experiment. If it didn't work out no harm/no foul, I could go back to my method of dating Australian surfers five years my junior with adjectives for names. So we drank a six pack and cobbled together a dating profile for match.com which, hilariously, included the bio that I actually use for this blog.

And, guys? Online dating is like shopping. Seriously. You can click on a million different attributes you are interested in (religious affiliation, education level, hobbies, favorite bands, interest in having kids, height, even income level if that's how you roll), you choose the age range and how close they are to your zip code. You click enter and watch as heaps of guys that meet these requirements fill up your computer. Look at their photos, read their profiles and see exactly how many meet you exeedlingly high standards.

Another fantastic aspect of online dating is the fact that it will probably be a total ego stroking for you. If you use that particularly flattering photo from you sister's wedding, you can expect heaps of 'winks' and emails every day and literally hundreds of gentleman reading the profile of that cutie in the photo. I think this is particularly fantastic for anyone who's feeling a bit tender about being single. I, for one, don't get tired of hearing how cute gentlemen think I am. Do you?

Online dating also acts as a pre-screening device for commitment-phobes, I think. Uploading photos, writing a profile and paying $50 really takes a lot of those guys looking for a hump buddy out of the equation. That said, not every gentleman that you meet online is going to be a keeper. Just because all his checked boxes match your checked boxes doesn't mean you'll have chemistry or the same sense of humor or the same expectations. But he'll probably be a lot closer than the guy you met at the gym who meets your standards of a) looks good in a tank top b) wipes off the elliptical.

Have you ever tried online dating? Would you recommend it?

Warning: Epic Levels of Adorability Ahead

So sweet! I wish my love story was bathed in golden light and accompanies by an acoustic guitar.

Nice work if you can get it: Author

(This is just one! of many! interviews with people I know who have amazing, envy-inducing jobs. I met Andrea through the wonder of the interwebz. Not only can she rock a vintage dress like nobody's business, she's a blogger extraordinaire and an author to boot! Gosh! I'd be happy with two out of those three!)

So what's the deal? What do you do?
I write novels! I had a children's book published in 2002 - a fantasy novel for ages 9 to 12 - and now I'm trying to get an adult's novel published. But since I can't support myself doing just that at the moment, I also work as a freelance writer and editor.

Tell us about an average day in book-writing.
I drink two cups of coffee. I procrastinate for half an hour. I put another pot of coffee on. After waiting in vain for some kind of natural disaster, I get down to work at about 9am. I work best within a strict routine, so I'm chained to the desk for at least four or five hours every day. Essentially my day involves lots of caffeine and lots of staring at a computer screen. As well as working on a new book, I'm usually in the process of editing an old one at the same time, and sending out queries to literary agents by post and email.

I try to write 2,000 words a day when I'm writing a first draft. It's a little more variable when I'm editing or rewriting.

Did you go to school for this? Or get any special training?
If you want to be a writer, write. It's good advice. I have been writing since I knew that the black, squiggly shapes were letters. To me, that's more important than formal qualifications, but I did do a BA degree in English and took all the university writing classes I could. I worked as the editor of a magazine for a while after university, then did a post-grad diploma in book publishing, and now I'm finishing up a MFA programme in Creative Writing. I don't think any of those things are necessary if you want to be a writer, but they were all helpful in different ways - particularly the MFA programme. If you're really serious about fiction writing as a career, it's a good path to take.

How did you get into this line of work?
It's the only thing I've ever been really good at, and it's all I've ever wanted to do. I suppose it was a combination of that certainty, bloody-mindedness, blind optimism and the willingness to not earn very much money.

Are there any drawbacks to working in this field?
The aforesaid lack of money! It is unlikely you'll earn very much from being a writer, unless you're one of the 0.0001% who write a bestseller. It is also a very difficult field to break into. Finding an agent and a publisher is a Herculean task, and receiving all those inevitable rejections is emotionally quite hard. The average published author receives around 120 rejections before she is successful. You have to be prepared to hear 120 people telling you 'no' before you get one 'yes'. Working as a writer also means you will need a 'day job', unless you're very lucky. You have to fit writing time around your other commitments and responsibilities.

Oh yes, and the postage costs are horrific. Sending a 400-page manuscript through the mail is very painful for the wallet.

What are the highlights?
There's nothing better than doing what you love. Nothing at all. I'm lucky to work in a job that feeds my soul every day - even on the bad days.

Are there any misconceptions about working in this field?
Many. One is that it's easy to write a book. It's not. Another is the misconception that if your book is good enough, you won't have a problem getting it published. Again, not true. It's a complex industry, and publication relies on the opinions of many different people who all have very different ideas. It's tough to break into.

Working in any artistic field, there is also a chance that people will label you as an 'artist' in a negative way. Here are some of the terms I have heard associated with 'artist': temperamental, prima donna, drama queen (or king!), unreliable, starving, over-emotional, arrogant, selfish, waster. Of course, these terms hardly ever apply to the real people we call artists, but that stereotype is quite a powerful one.

What suggestions would you give to people interested in getting into this?
Write, write, write. Take all the classes you can, enter all the competitions you can, submit to all the literary journals you can. But most of all, write. Watch the word count mount up every day. Plunge right in, do something ambitious and keep plodding away until you're finished. It's the best way to learn.

Once you have a completed novel, edit it until you're blue in the face. One of the best ways to start is by reading the whole thing aloud, in its entirety. This will show you any problems with the flow. And do a really anal copyedit. Once you've done all that, show it to someone with expertise in the area, someone you trust, and get their thoughts, and edit it again. You really can't go over it too often. Once you're relatively happy with it (and it will never be perfect), you need to write a query letter, research agents and start sending out queries. I wrote a post on this process.

And good luck! It's a long, difficult process, but it's also hugely rewarding and fun.

Are any of you harboring visions of books with your name at the bottom? Any questions for Andrea?

Notes from the Road: Worst Busride Ever

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Remember, about a month ago, when I rocked some impressive travel karma? To the tune of a $500 flight voucher, a swanky hotel stay and a first class upgrade where I drank my weight in free Diet Coke? Well, the travel gods saw to it that any karmic imbalances created with all that good luck were righted during our most recent busing adventure.

The Mister and I had just finished a three-day tour of the salt flats, hanging with some fantastic Wellingtonians that we met at Carnival. Uyuni, the tiny dust bowl of a town that serves as the gateway to the salt flats, cleverly offers train service out of town only twice a week. Our bible, The Lonely Planet, called the buses out of town ¨cold, bumpy and inadvisable¨but then we know how they felt about the awesomeness that is sandboarding, don´t we? ¨We´re rugged!¨we cried. ¨We´re rough and tumble travelers!¨we challenged. ¨We don´t want to stay in this shit hole another minute!¨we wept.

So we were more than pleased when we found a bus out of town that would take us all the way back to the capitol in seven hours. We rounded up snacks for the bus, inflated those nerdy neck pillows and settled in for what we were sure would be seven hours of lovely mountain scenery and Pringle nibbling.

Here are some highlights of what transpired during my own personal version of hell:

• We find our seats at the very back of the bus and are immediately surrounded by a huge group of silver miners
• They pull out several bottles of rubbing alcohol, mix them with bottles of Fanta and begin drinking before the bus pulls out
• They joyfully (and repeatedly) offer us this delicious drink while asking Sam who is the hottest American actress. "Angelina Jolie, yes? Yessssss?!"
• After several drinks, they begin peeing into Sprite bottles
• As we drive over the rutted dirt road they spill beer, Fanta/rubbing alcohol and pee all over.
• The bus fords several rivers successfully. Then the driver stops the bus, asks us all to get out, wade across the river on our own and guns the engine over it.
• The miners take turns carrying each other across and in the excitement of all the wading and drinking, one of them gets left behind
• As night falls, the miners begin to drunkenly sign folk songs, getting louder every time someone shushes them.
• The two babies sitting in front of us begin to cry
• My seat doesn't recline
• Lather, rinse and repeat for sixteen hours.

There´s a special place in heaven for us, right?

Got the travel bug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

Gold nuggets and fake Prada? Yes please!

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The setting? lunch hour in Frogtown, St. Paul, Minnesota

Me: walking through the Salvation Army parking lot, feeling smug about my purchases.

Toothless guy carrying a baseball bat: Excuuuuuse me, Miss! Now, I don't want you to feel intimidated by my baseball bat. I use it as a cane for my bad leg, not for hitting things.

Me: Okay.

TG: Cause I don't hit things with it.

Me: Okay. edging towards car

TG: Now, Miss. Do you like gold nuggets?

Me: Um, no. Not really, no.

TG: You don't like gold nuggets!!?? feigned shock

Me: Nope, I think I'm good.

Big guy in an SUV: Hey, Miss! You like purses? I got alotta purses back here in my trunk for you! Gucci, Fendi, Prada. And it's the real shit, too!

Oh, Frogtown. You sure know how to charm a girl.

Web time wasters

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Do you love all things vintage? Are you a fan of handle bar mustaches and rosie-cheeked babies attempted to sell you salt? You will no doubt love this collection of old-timey catalog images. I particularly love the ad for Pong "You hear the sound of action! Every time electronic "ball" hits "paddle" or sideline you hear a beep!"

A functioning Grandfather clock that's printed on canvas. Because a real one looks out of place with your Wii/milk crate inspired decor scheme.

For the true cat lover: a mug with a cat on the bottom. You set your mug on top of his cheeky little face. Perhaps it's also the mug for cat-haters as well?

I know a lot of people consider the Midwest to be flyover space, but there's something haunting and beautiful about our expansive plains and obscene amount of lakes and snow. This photo series captures that.

A chocolate shoppe that markets itself as a research facility? In that case, I have many important experiments that I need to tend to.

You will undoubtably be the coolest kid in the office if you download this screen saver.

You know the face you make when you're giving yourself a french manicure? Or when you're applying mascara? Be glad that Robbie Cooper wasn't around. Here is his series of photos capturing the faces kids actually make as they play video games.

Abracadabra!

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(Erin usually blogs over at the hilarious and fun another girl, another blog. She is a fellow book lover and teacher-to-be, and the wearer of awesome shoes. I suspect she is the girlfriend you want to bring with you to a Kanye West show. Because she will drink beer with you and totally bring to the dance moves. - Sarah Von)

Sometimes I feel like I was born with magic powers and the things that other people claim are just coincidence are in fact not coincidence at all but a result of my wizarding prowess. Harry Potter eat your heart out!

In honour of Sarah Von, I am posting my own list for your dot-pointed pleasure. It is entitled *drum roll please*

Things that might mean you have magic powers

• When you have been thinking of a song and it comes on the radio
• When you are just about to call a friend and they call you
• When you are really low on cash and you find a $10 note on the ground
• When you find a piece of clothing you¹ve been lusting over on a sale rack and not only this, but it fits perfectly
• When you meet someone awesome who thinks you are awesome too
• When you wear your undies on the outside
  

And last but not least

• When you fly
  

What's your magic power?