Christmas time

Yesterday I finished decorating the apartment. This year I've decided to have it all in blue and silver, well, turquoise and silver to be precise. And it wasn't very easy I must say. When I went to the shop to get all necessary, I found out that his year's colours are gold, red and violet. The gave me hard time searching for the right items in the right colours. I was even harder as I didn't have time and had to buy half of the stuff yesterday on a way from work. In the end, I managed it quite well, so there's a wreath on our door, another one on the table (I don't know guys, we call it an Advent wreath but I've also found an expression "Advent candle holder" or "candle wreath" so I'm not quite sure which one to use) and some decorations on the windows. And it all looks so festive!

turquoise candles, gold-silver ribbon, silver pearls, turquoise ribbon, dried orange, candle holders

Why you should / shouldn't read Kazuo Ishiguro

I've been working on my book list for my English finals. I already have those thirty books we were supposed to have (unlike the others, I believe you should read everything on your list and not just an extract from each book), but I am still trying to make the list more interesting. I've read several present authors we were recommended - ok, I've read them not only because they sounded interesting but also to make an impression, but I don't think that's wrong. Anyway, Kazuo Ishiguro was one of the recommended. I started with Remains of the Day and, as I didn't quite get it, I continued with Never Let Me Go. Now I understand a little better.

OUTFIT: Bookworm

Not a very appealing name for an outfit, you might say, but that is just who I am. I love the combination of black and caramel brown, it goes well with the colour of my hair. As it's getting chilly in Czech rep, I started wearing infinity scarves. I don't like those really warm ones, as I sweat a lot in these, so I bought a few light and soft ones and I am really pleased, warm and comfy. 

I am making progress in my braids. My "Juliya Timoshenko" looks much better that it used to, even though I still can't figure out how to make the braid look the same from both sides. But it's a great thing to do, when you forgot /didn't have time or mood to wash your hair and still want to look good. My best braid work was my version of Daenerys Targaeryen for my sisters' prom, I'm waiting for the photos so I can show you.

black sweater, thrifted; caramel T-shirt, thrifted; black jeans, thrifted; caramel boots,  Baťa; caramel XXL bag, grandma's; black scarf, DIY

Long time no see

Sorry for the pause, but as the end of the semester is approaching, all the seminar papers, presentations, economy tasks and bachelor thesis are piling up. But I'll try my best to make it up for you in the upcoming week, I promise. Yesterday I finished my lexicology handout, seminar paper for culture in Czech regions and picked topic for economy paper. I am starting to feel exhausted and the worst part of the semester is yet to come. I managed to get some Christmas gifts (and Name day and Birthday gifts), even though I am far from being ready for Christmas. I have no idea when am I going to make the Advent crown and Christmas wreath and set up all Christmas decorations!
But I'm an optimist. It's not that I can't manage to do other things. For instance I saw two theatre plays this month, Visiting Mr. Green and Scapino, both enjoyable, even though I liked Mr. Green better. My sisters had a prom last week. The were so beautiful. Like night and day (the blonde had lovely ivory - pink dress with rhinestone applique and hair updo, the dark haired had black dress with open back, golden accessories and hair loose on the side) they were! And it was the first prom I attended together with my love, so we really enjoyed it! I managed to do some sewing, there had been things to improve waiting for me for ages. I also visited my favourite thrift shops and got a few things, most of them needed to be cut, sewn or otherwise adjusted but I don't mind that. Oh, and I bought a kilt! Like a real one, made in Scottish Highlands, from real wool, for just 60 CZK (about three dollars, I believe)!
I read my favourite Sci-fi saga for the third time. It consists of 10 books and I'm planning to write a review because I think Orson Scott Card is a must, not only for science fiction fans.

As for work, except from my standard hours in a bookshop, I spent some time as a Coat Check girl in the theatre/cinema/culture house for their puppet festival. I was also part of the staff for the strudel making competition. It was such a mess! Plus, all staff had to wear white aprons all the time (not very convenient, I managed to get it dirty in 5 minutes). I was able to steal two small pieces of strudel for myself, before the visitors attacked the tables with the apple pastry and ate everything. Truth is, I look tremendous in an apron :D

Tomorrow I am heading to Prague for my friend's graduation ceremony. We're having lunch in her favourite burger restaurant with her parents. On Saturday I'm back at the Hussite museum for a day (and two more in December). My plans for next week - passing the methodology of research test, finishing review of Zadie Smith's White Teeth for intercultural studies lesson, starting a paper for economy and getting together notes for the upcoming exam from Psychopathology. As I've said, I'm not not busy at all.

If I stay

I quite admire Chloë Grace Moretz, so I was having a hard time waiting for the movie, as I missed it in the cinema's. But then I discovered the book. And as I am one of those who believe that Book Is Always Better (with a small exception, which was Green Mile and LOTR, the movies are equally good as the books), I decided to read it first, so I could be bitching about how different the movie is and how they screwed up , that's what I do... Anyway, this is the book review. And below is a movie trailer with Czech subtitles.

Fall/Winter inspiration 2014/2015

On one hand I enjoy the simple classics, combinations of black, grey and white or brown and beige, on the other hand I like it when winter is full of colours, pastels, bright ones, doesn't matter.

OUTFIT: Steampunk ostrich

I had an idea for a T-shirt. I don't know how it came to my mind to paint a steampunk ostrich, it just did. The problem was that I couldn't find a picture I would like and I am not very good at painting and drawing, I am more music type. Then my love make a prototype sketch for me and I just edited it a bit and voila, the pattern was ready. This is the first version, it needs more layers, the picture is still stained. But I couldn't wait to wear it.

white t-shirt, DIY; red jacket, thrifted; black skirt, thrifted; black wedges, Tamaris; white satchel bag, eBay; red earrings, unknown

OUTFIT: I'm blue because of you

flower blouse, thrifted; blue jacket, thrifted; jeans, thrifted; black oxfords, Baťa; handbag, Dara Bags; scarf, unknown; van Gogh earrings, unknown; van Gogh watch, Vinted; blue sunglasses, New Yorker

OUTFIT: Hard Day's Night

I had this long tunic which I used to wear at home. Then I got a great idea of painting on it. And this was the result:

grey tunic, DIY; black jeans, thrifted; leather jacket, unknown; grey buck shoes, thrifted; white satchel bag, eBay; earrings, Kompot

OUTFIT: Redhead

I went to a punk concert with my friend. And I admit, I wanted to draw attention, so for that evening I used chalks to colour my hair red. It went quite well, although I had to wash my hair like five times to get it all off. And the concert was great. Two bands were involved, The Unholy Preachers and Dirty Blondes, videos attached, enjoy.

black T-shirt, thrifted; leather jacket, unknown; jeans, thrifted; Chelsea boots, unknown; crossbody bag, thrifted + DIY; blood drop necklace, DIY

OUTFIT: Pilsen trip

This is the outfit I wore to the trip to Pilsen. We were outdoors basically all day, so I had like five layers to keep me warm.

burgundy sweater, thrifted; leather jacket, unknown; jeans, thrifted; brown oxfords, CCC; crossbody bag, unknown; brown sunglasses, Lidl; compass necklace, grandma's 

28th Pilsen

So on the 28th of October we went for an organised trip to Pilsen (Plzeň). It was organised by a culture centre, where my SO works at the moment and they had free seats on the bus so we just had to pay for the entrance fees to several sights and not for the bus ride, which was great. Also, 28th October is a national holiday in Czech Republic (the creation of an independent state of Czechoslovakia in 1918) and most sights in Pilsen had the entrances only for 28 CZK. Also, many of these had special offers of commented tours. We arrived at 9 a.m. and our guide waited at the parking place. He showed us the historical centre.

OUTFIT: Visiting Mr. Green

I was at a local theatre to see a play called " Visiting Mr. Green", played by Kryštof Hádek and Stanislav Zindulka. I used my petticoat (well, the skirt I had on my lolita outfit) to make my skater dress look more formal. Sorry for quality, the light in the hall was terrible.

skater dress, H&M; blue jacket, thrifted; petticoat, thrifted; black wedges, Baťa; leather belt, unknown; blueberry bag, Dara Bags

Reading people

This is not technically a book review but I thought I'll just put it there. I like it when people read in public. And this guy in particular... well, it was a very interesting view. The only problem was that there was a couple in my was and I didn't want to look like stalker or to spook the object by coming closer. Also I used my compact camera and I changed some settings a bit earlier and didn't realise that I changed the size of the picture, so it turned out that it is really small! But I still like it.

OUTFIT: Birds

 Casual outfit I wore to work. I especially love the shirt with birds all over.

shirt, thrifted; white cardigan, thrifted; brown pants, thrifted; shoes, unknown; crossbody bag, thrifted