I like to think of myself as down to earth, low maintenance, easily pleased. I’d rather eat a sausage in bread by the beach than a $60 steak meal in a fancy restaurant, and apart from my over abundance of t shirts the majority of my wardrobe is op shopped or clothing swapped.

My real problem is just having too. much. stuff! You may remember me talking about wanting to pare down my belongings last year, right around the time I thought I would be moving to Canada in the one one. We’re not moving overseas any more but we did move house and left a lot of things in the tip on the way. How do I still have trouble walking around my room due to all the junk then?

Now that my 3 month back pack around Asia is only a couple of months away I’m thinking about the need to pare down again. Soon everything I own needs to go back in to boxes and I need to carefully select a very small amount of things to take in my backpack. Solid shampoo and medication is a given, but what about clothing? How will this seemingly low maintenance girl deal without her double wardrobe full of clothes or her dresser full of underwear and tights?

For practice and experiment I’m taking Ginger’s advice and participating in the Six Items or Less challenge. I’m only planning for a week at the moment (or I might freak out), but I’ll keep going as long as I can.

The basics I’m wearing are boring, comfortable, and things I wear often already. A plain black t shirt, a straight plaid skirt, a black button down dress. Things that can surely be jazzed up with accessories. Or not.

Three days down and I’m feeling uninspired by my clothes, but finally making use of my huge box of costume jewellery.

How would you handle a month of the same few pieces of clothing?

Don’t get me wrong, I love summer in New Zealand. It rarely gets too hot (high 20s), everyone is getting their required dose of vitamin D and it’s making them happy, holidays abound, and there is a general sense of love and frivolity in the air.

However, above New Zealand is a giant hole in the Ozone. This means an extremely fast burn time (think 5 minutes at midday for someone fair skinned like me) and a high risk of skin cancer whether you tan or not. I’m not a sporty type, I don’t get much enjoyment from battling waves in the ocean or feeling uncoordinated while trying to throw a frisbee, so I usually sit under a tree with the other pale uncos or amuse myself with books, photographs, and music.

What you need

1. Cool Clothes – I’m a big fan of rockabilly clothing but it’s almost always too windy to wear flowy dresses and skirts in Wellington. Pencil skirts are great for combating the wind but make lounging on the grass and sand difficult. Capris are sexy and generally stretchy – perfect for summer! I wore my pair a lot last year, this year I’m thinking of getting a few more and embracing by ass and thighs.
   A pair of loose dress pants are also essential for night time in summer. Mosquitoes, evening breezes, and sunburnt legs stuck to chairs be gone.
2. Distractions – While everyone else is off doing cartwheels I like to read a book, listen to some music, or take pictures of the fun. Books and music are also great for occupying the pockets of time you can grab for yourself in between holiday visitors.
3. Protection – For pasties especially a wide brimmed hat and plenty of sunblock are essential for staying healthy during summer. Sunburn is never fun and never hawt. If you have tattoos make sure to either keep them out of the sun or heavily sunscreened, you don’t want your artwork fading do you?
   If you’ve got darker skin, or skin that tans don’t forget you’re still at risk for sunburn and skin cancer! The only safe tan is one that comes from a bottle.
4. Hydration – Worse (IMO) than sunburn is heat stroke. You really don’t want to go there, it’s a nasty nasty business. Stay hydrated when it’s hot outside and if you’re drinking alcohol match each drink with a glass of water.
5. Bottomless pitBag – Gotta have somewhere to store your travelling fun, and a big pretty bag is most ideal. You’ll probably end up being asked to look after everyone elses stuff too so lots of pockets are a must.

What do you need to get through summer?

As America heads into Summer New Zealand and Australia sink into a wet, cold, depressing, winter. Working in an office brings many great things like always boiled water for hot tea and reasonably consistent temperatures via air conditioning, but there are still essential items you need to make sure you survive the dark months.

Your winter essentials:

• A long coat with a hood for Wellington wind – If you live in Wellington like me you should know that there is nothing more essential than a hooded coat in winter. Umbrellas are turned inside out and there’s no use for them when the rain is coming at you vertically anyway. A long hooded coat will keep your head and most of your legs dry.
• A pashmina or wide scarf – Wont take up too much room in your bag and it can be used as a scarf, as a whole head covering to keep your ears warm, and you can wrap it around your shoulders when the meeting room turns our to be colder than the rest of the office.
• Fingerless gloves – Even better if you can find the mittens that fold back into fingerless gloves. Sometimes the air conditioning can take a while to kick in and it’s difficult and painful to type with freezing fingers. Fingerless gloves are perfect for typing in.
• Knee high socks or stockings – Wether you’re a pants or skirts type of girl knee high socks will keep you warm.
• Long sleeved undershirts or polyprops – Wear them under your short sleeved tops and dresses and you wont have to go without your summer wardrobe or cover it up with jackets for 6 months.
• Bright nail polish and accessories – If they don’t keep you from being depressed then they might at least keep you from being hit by a car.
• Shoes – You’ll need at least one pair of closed toe shoes, with proper grip, and no details cut out of the sides and top that can be worn with socks. For those freezing days when you’re running down the hill to the bus in the rain.
• Waterproof bag – If you usually use a bag made from a material that absorbs water now is the time to switch to something more like leather or vinyl. There are not many things worse than discovering that not only is your bag soaked but so is every single thing inside it.
• Miso sachets and heat and eat meals – For when you haven’t prepared lunch and can’t face going outside on your break.

What helps you survive the winter months?

Super Summer Starter – Yep, it was amazing. Beautiful weather followed by a four day working week.

Angels and Demons – By Dan Brown. I started reading this book while camping and I’m almost finished, I’ve got the added distraction of work, internet and TV back in the real world though. If you liked The Da Vinchi Code then you’ll probably like this one. It may seem like you’ve read it all before though, it is VERY similar to The Da Vinchi Code. Religious guy is killed, Robert Langdon is called in as specialist and helps daughter of dead guy to save the world.

Sales – It’s that crazy time of year again. An emailed voucher for Glassons got me the bright blue purse for 30% off. My camera completely refused to take a photo to indicate its true colour, it’s bright 80s style blue. Awesome.
The necklaces were cheap to begin with but I’m not going to complain about 50% off! The plain black one is a long strand of star beads :D

Like my dance?

Fluffy skirts – After feeling like a slob in grey pants and a faded t-shirt yesterday I decided today had to be different. You’ll have to excuse everything from the shoulders up, the photos were taken after work and even though it was a short work week it feels like I’ve been dehydrating in my air conditioned office forever. I was also very bored and therefore falling asleep, it was beginning to feel like poking my eyes out with sticks would be a good option because at least then I’d get to take a trip to the hospital.
It’s amazing what a fluffy skirt can do to perk up your day and have everyone commenting!

Also note the bag from above, you can see the colour a lot better in these photos. I swapped the provided strap for a pink ribbon too :D

• Star bead necklace – Bling
• Tails style blazer – Portmans
• Misery t-shirt
• Blue purse – Glassons
• Silk check skirt with netting petticoat – Portmans
• Black over the knee socks folded down
• Sneakers – Babycham

Summer – I’ve always said that winter is my favourite season, mostly because it means I don’t get too hot or burnt. But with summer gradually returning I’m changing my mind. If I can see this from my bedroom window between 8 and 8.30pm what do I really have to complain about?

Can’t beat Wellington on a sunny day.

Excuse the hideous photos but I’m just too excited about my new backpack to wait and get pretty ones!

I’ve had the white skully bag for a while now and it’s starting to break and it badly needs a wash, and then, like a guardian angel a co-worker told me she’d seen a pink one at the shopping centre near her house and wanted to know if I’d be interested in something like that. Well duh?! pink & skulls & a bag, woohoo.

So there on my desk this morning was my new bright pink bag with 8 pockets (I love pockets) and a shiny chain dangling off it, she’d also chucked in a a pair of pink skully socks for good measure.

The good thing about being unusual and having a clearly identifiable “brand” is that people know what you like.

Now I just need this Loungefly handbag which totally matches my backpack and shoes and I’ll be sated for a few weeks.