A mugs game

Buying mugs is easy, but having a great mug for a cup of tea is hard.

It seems I have no trouble buying mugs. I have plenty. Nice ones I was attracted to in op shops mainly, ones I like having in my house, and they are fine for a cup of coffee. But a good mug for a cup of tea - that is something else all together. And that is a much more important cup to have because I usually only have one cup of coffee at home but a cup of tea, well I may have two or three of those a day in winter.


And in fact, despite this lovely, and inexplicably brown cup collection my favourite cup to drink coffee from is this Peter Rabbit cup.

Which I think - though I could be wrong - was gifted to Baby by K's mother when he was born. And which, therefore, seems an inappropriate coffee cup. But I don't care, it's perfect.

But tea, for tea, I am still looking for a cup. The look is important, the feel even more so, and in this case size really does matter, perhaps more than anything. Though shape is crucial too. For tea you need a much bigger cup than for coffee but not something so big that the tea in the bottom will go cold before you have a chance to finish it. You just need it to hold the perfect amount of tea. And it needs to feel nice in your hands of course. And it is amazing how hard it is to find a mug that fits the bill. I know because I've been looking and though I've seen cups lately that seem almost great but when I held them they just didn't seem right.

And the more I write about it, the more I think, what a fucking idiot I am. Why the fuck do I think I need a perfect tea cup. Just make a pot of tea and refill one of those smaller cups! Perfect tea cup! What has this world come to?!

Recent purchases (PM)

Congratulations on buying a house, Mate. So adult! Also that Aesop moisturiser really is the bomb, I'm all out and really need to get me some of that. And I love those bathers! I've been coveting them too, but given I just bought bathers for literally a tenth of the cost (OK, literally a ninth of the cost) I have been forcing myself to turn a blind a eye to their awesomeness. But kudos for acquiring that awesomeness, Mate.

Anyway, I'm glad you brought this up, Mate, because I myself made a life-affirming purchase this week. Two in fact. I replaced my two pairs of ripped-knee Dejour jeans with two new pairs of unripped Dejour jeans. 

Of course most readers know Dejour. On Tuesday after I'd been there I went to visit my friend L-Bomb, she's recently returned home from six years in London with her English husband. When I asked her how he liked living in Melbourne she told me he'd recently initiated an outing saying, "There is a place called Brunswick and there is a jeans shop there. I'd like to go there to buy jeans." Dejour! The jeans are made in-store all cost around 50 bucks, are super flattering and are altered to fit perfectly. It is always crowded as all git out and pretty small so is kind of annoying but I knew I wanted a black pair and a blue pair so I went at 9:30, straight after dropping Baby at kinder and right when they opened, I marched in tried on jeans got them marked up paid my $100 left to do a quick supermarket shop and returned 30 mins later to pick up my perfectly fitting jeans. Oh my God you guys, you know how I've been all "I don't know what to do about my clothes!"? It was just a jeans situation, I wore those blue jeans on Tuesday and felt like myself again. It's like everything old was new! VIVE LE JEANS!!!

Recent purchases (AM)

It's been the longest time since the misses soft crab have talked about buying stuff (days can feel long after all), so I thought I would share some of my recent purchases with you. What fun. 

Aesop geranium leaf body balm is the best moisturiser ever and I dont know why I try any others. I've been eeking out every last skerrick of my last tube, rolling it up and squeezing like crazy like with toothpaste. But now I've got a fresh one and everything is good again. 

Nice bathers from Kuwaii. Since I joined Instagram I've been following some clothes shops and labels and coveting more things more often. They post a picture of some nice new thing coming in store and sure enough, it makes you want it. Kuwaii posted pictures of these bathers for weeks before they were available in store and as you can imagine it whipped me into a bit if a frenzy of desire. I went in and tried them on, kidding myself that I just wanted to see of they fit. Idiot. But I love my new bathers. 

A house! 

Things moved pretty quickly after Monday's post and now Appleheart and I have a house with a garden. Contracts have been signed and tears of excitement have been shed. It also has a shed! 

Why I buy fashion magazines (AM)

 Oh, I mean why do I buy fashion magazines?

I don't do it often, and I do think I can see a pattern. Every few months I buy one. Either Vogue or Harper's Bazaar. Not that it's a rule, just looking at my magazines I see that is what I buy. I guess because they are big and glossy and full of fashion and not as trashy as the other shit out there. I think I buy them when a) a change in season makes me want to buy new clothes and rather than do that I buy a magazine for some inspiration or so that I can pretend I bought stuff without having to actually buy anything; or b) I want to do something with my hair and need inspiration. (This is in fact a constant state.)

HA. Great reasons, J. Yeah Vogue is going to give you some excellent hair inspiration. A bunch of models who have had their hair done for hours.  It's the Georg Jensen girls that always appeal to me.

First:

Now:

Sure, a couple of models with a bunch of product and people putting in time and energy and effort into their hair. I can't help feel that I'm never gonna look like that. And that no hair cut is going to look like that on me. Although, according to Carre Otis in the current issue of vogue, although her hair looked "shiny and full" as a young anorexic fucked up model her hair "was very dry and brittle from being teased and blown out...since I wasn't eating enough I'd lose lots of my hair in the brush and in the shower." Hey! Maybe there is hope for me after all!

But it's not just useless hair inspiration you can find in Vogue, of course there are fashion tips too, like this page giving great tips on how to get more leopard print in your life. 

Or this great coat. Only cost six grand. 

So why, why oh why do I buy them? What I tell you is not a surprise to me or you. The fact magazines are full of unattainable hair and faces and bodies and clothes is not new. I know before I hand over my eight bucks that I'm just buying a bunch of BS, and yet I still buy them and enjoy them. What the eff does Condé Nast know about my brain that I don't. Eeeeeeeew Condé Nast, get out of my brain. 

Things I don't care for (PM)

Oh, um, this is awkward. Because the phrase colourways doesn't really bug me that much. I mean, certainly if I heard a person use it in coversation like commenter Jo mentioned after K's morning post I would want to punch them in the face. But luckily I am pretty discerning with who I have conversations with. Though, sure, sometimes you can't avoid talking to deebs. BUT my understanding is that colourways doesn't just mean the same thing in different colours, though that's part of it. I think that if you are an actual designer doing a range that colourways really is more about differnt sets of colours that may be used in a full range of products. You know? Ok, I am not describing  this well at all. But I am not a designer or anything like it. I just know that it is used professionally and it makes sense. Still if you are in a shop and someone is showing you a thing in a different colour then they may as well just say different colours. I mean, in we all know what different colours means, right?.

But just because I don't hate the word colourways doesn't mean I am taking the moral highroad. I mean, there are heaps of things I hate, kind of unnecessarily. Like, I hate it when people say 'whilst' and 'amongst' instead of 'while' and 'among'. And when people say 'myself' instead of 'me' it drives me bonkers to the point of distraction. Seriously. I hate it. I hate it.

Thank god the sun is shining outside, cause otherwise I may have to carry this rage inside me all day long. Ugh.

Things I don't care for (AM)

In this post, I am going to tell you guys about a thing that people say that I don't care for. I don't want to be a hater or anything, but sometimes people say words or use phrases that really get my goat.  And now I am going to tell you about one of them which I guess is kind of mean, because maybe you dislike it too, so...sorry?
Also, I know what you're thinking. Whoa K, let she who is without sin cast the first stone. And you'd be right (and kudos on your  use of biblical references, I LOVE biblical references). Of course I say a lot of things that people don't care for. I'll admit that. I'm pretty sure no one else finds the term 'tommozletov' as funny as I do. But heck guys, I'm just telling you how I feel.  Maybe you're thinking the same thing and reading this will make you feel better. Maybe we can make a series out of it!
Ok, maybe I'm getting carried away. Why don't I just tell you the word and we can take it from there.
Ok, here I go. The thing that people say that I don't care for that I want to talk about is the word...

colourways.

People in design circles use it, from what I can gather, to describe the same pattern in different colours. So, for example these rugs that people with a spare $1200 odd can put in their hallways (assuming they have them - I have neither a spare $1200 nor a hallway).

Same pattern different colours. Only, these days people don't say colours, they say colourways.

I really don't care for it. It seems a little like dudes with stuff to sell are trying to  elevate the status of their stuff from regular things to designy things, so we go crazy for them and drop a bunch of cash on them. It makes me think groan and eyeroll and depending how lazy I'm feeling, I may even roll my eyes when I read it/hear it.

So that's the thing I don't care for.
Unless it has some technical definition that I don't understand. Does it?

Things we're loving right now (AM)

You know how on some blogs, or in magazines back in the times when they were a thing, there is a post or a page called something like Things we're loving right now that showcases a bunch of products that the authors are loving fully sick? And often those things will be something like a $100 candle or $200 hat? And it will say something like
"We are OBSESSED with the new lip gloss from Wherever....the luscious texture and subtle shades...  it's a must-have for those lazy summer afternoons...at $50 a pop you'll want one in every colour!"
Yeah, I hate them too.
But this morning, in the shower, I was using the stuff I use in the shower and it smells so nice and makes my skin feel so nice that I felt compelled to write about how much I love it.

Here it is.

The Aesop geranium leaf body scrub. J put me on to it a while ago. It smells lovely and has little bits of pumice in it so it feels kind of rough when it goes on the skin. But kind of invigorating, like when you get your hair brushed at the hairdresser and they go a little bit hard, but once they get all the knots out you think "yes, this is good for me". It feels like that. And afterwards your skin feels as soft as marshmallow.
But really it's the smell that really does it. Somehow light and fresh and deep and musky at the same time. Who knew that a nuff nuff flower like the Geranium would have a leaf that if put through what I can only assume is some pretty intensive processing, would smell this great.

Nuff Nuff geraniums in a pot. 

This guy? You think this guy knew? There's no way. No one knew! But it does, and now Aesop package that stuff up in to pleasantly shaped and styled vessels and I for one am very glad about that.

So that's the thing I'm loving right now. And I'm sure this goes without saying, but this is absolutely not a paid advertisement.  Are you kidding? I would love Aesop to pay Miss Soft Crab to use their products. Instead, we pay them. I'm just telling you because I really do love this stuff. And when I back it up with the geranium leaf moisturiser, I basically feel like I'm on top of life, and maybe living the kind of life that belongs in a magazine.

I have a new mantra (PM)

Mate, did you buy Jerusalem and not tell me?! Or is that someone else's nice looking bookshelf?
Oh wait, that post is about stuff you want, not stuff you have. Right, I get it.

Ok, so it's great that you are trying to resist the urge to buy stuff during this season of loving and giving. Those of us who know you in the real world know that loving and giving is something you do freely and willingly all year round, so you don't need to worry about justifying this urge. But I support you in your efforts to resist it.

But Matey, I'm not sure it's a good idea to have the word 'hate' in your mantra. Hate is the worst.

How about:

Stuff. Who needs it?

It's a little friendlier, don't you think?

Stuff. Who needs it?

I have a new mantra (AM)

When I say I have a new mantra it is not that I really had a mantra before this. Unless you count ‘sausages’. Sausages was the mantra we, Chickpea, Russeth and I, prescribed to our parents as children because they meditated and refused to tell us their mantra. And I guess not fully understanding how things work we decided sausages was a possible word they may meditate with. I can only assume that Chickpea was the mastermind behind this and it is possible she had a better understanding than me of the whole meditation thing. Or maybe she didn't. Whatever the truth is, throughout my childhood I always used to pretend to meditate with the word sausages.

I don’t pretend to meditate anymore but I have started to use a mantra, “I hate stuff”.

You see guys, I don’t know if you know this about me, but actually, I love stuff!! And this weird thing happens at Christmas. I want to buy heaps of stuff! For me! It’s not that I don’t like giving presents to people. I do. I love buying and giving presents. But I love doing that for me too! Perhaps it’s the additional advertising and push to sell that does it. Perhaps it is the start of summer and the promise of a beautiful summer  life. I don’t know. I just know I want stuff. And so, in attempt to curb my desire for stuff, every time I feel the feeling I just think “I hate stuff!”

I hate stuff like this:



And stuff like this:





And I hate stuff like this:

I hate stuff.

I hate stuff.

I hate stuff.

I hate stuff.

Now, please excuse me. I need to go focus on my mantra.

I hate stuff.

I hate stuff.

Eff you, sale season, eff you (PM)

Look, Russeth is right about the flood coming when you open the floodgates, but I think you should just buy that pink shirt dress because:
- it's really cute
- it's relatively affordable
- you can't take it with you when you go
- dusty pink is like my favourite colour
- if you came in to the city to buy it I could meet you on my lunchbreak and see whether that dress I tried on around the time of the Blizzie wedding but couldn't afford (and is from the same shop as that dusty pink dress) is on sale!

This is me right now

Eff you, sale season, eff you (AM)

You know how at the start of a season, if you are a shopper, like I am, you may see some things you like and you may buy a thing or two and you may covet a thing or two and maybe some you think you will revisit come sale season? Well it’s sale season guys and I am drowning!

In fact I don't think I have even bought anything in the sales. But I’ve been thinking about it so much I can’t even remember anymore, guys! I’m losing it, guys! I'm losing it. Because it has become a mad jumble of stuff and desire. 

Yeah, we bought a new doona (that baby is so warm I wish I was under it right now). And some new linen too. Because our old doona cover actually disintegrated, but those don't count. They were pretty much necessities and if you need those things, of course you buy them during the sales. No they don't count at all.  I'm talking about clothes, shoes and accessories, people. The things that came out this season and if you don't snap them up this season they could well be gone forever.

 

I told Russeth about this very cute shirt dress I wanted and he (he, who is a total stuff-lover and stuff-buyer) told me that I should resist, because much like sweet treats, when you open the flood gates, well then the flood comes.

But even though I haven’t opened the flood gates, I’m still drowning! I’m still thinking about that shirt dress. I’m thinking about a two-tone Alpha60 jumper I don’t think they have in my size any more. I’m thinking about a Gorman jumper that is now half price and I want real bad. But I am held back by some invisible internal, mental flood gate. I can’t buy anything and yet I can't stop thinking about stuff.

Just get away from me stuff. Leave me alone. And while you are at it why don't you jack your prices up like the petrol stations so I don't have to think how attainable you are.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to think of something to do today that isn't near shops. Again.

So, do you like stuff? (PM)

OHMYGODILOVESTUFFSOMUCH!

But happily for me I have been house sitting other people's houses for the last month and a half and as a result I don't covet stuff for myself as much because I am not at home thinking about how I can make my space nicer. Also, I just wish I could find regular stuff in these houses. The other day I had to roll out pizza with a large jar. Do you know how hard it is to find a jar appropriate for rolling? Where is the effing rolling pin?

Usually, though, I am just coveting the shit out of homewares.

You know another thing that is distracting me from my usual homewares coveting is that I have an idea for rearranging my place when we get back home which is even better than buying new stuff! Free AND it makes you feel like you are in a new space.

But of course there are always things I kind of want.

Beautiful bedding.




Ralph Lauren, you sure know how to work navy.



Enamel cookware.

Want that

A large pot big enough for chutneys.

Thanks, Mate, now I'm just thinking about all the stuff I want.

So, do you like stuff? (AM)

People, I'm just going to get straight in to it today.
This post is about how I want my house to look really super cute and be full of super nice stuff, but  because I struggle to commit to making any major home decoration decisions, I just focus my wanting stuff energies on a bunch of small things I really don't need.

The only home improvement thing I have done since moving in to Chez K last July is put a wallpaper sample on my bedroom wall, as evidenced by the above picture of Niecey capering about on my bed. (Before we go on,  does anybody else find those little socked feet and those indentations her tiny feet have made in the bedclothes MEGA ADORABLE? I do too!)

But back on topic. The reason there is only a wallpaper sample on my wall, and not any wallpaper, is because I seriously struggle to make big decorating decisions. What if I spend heaps of money on something that doesn't even look that good, but I am forced to live with because I spent all that money on it? It could totally happen, and its something I worry to the point that it prevents me from following through. I know what the Spanish grandmother of Tara Morice's character in Strictly Ballroom would say about this. She would say "A life lived in fear is a life half lived" and she would be totally right!

But the small stuff, guys. The small stuff. Just as the world says, I really don't sweat the small stuff, I openly covet it and feel totally fine about doing so. Today, I'm going to show you a bunch of these smaller things that I want to buy for my house right now!

Lets begin with this throw.

You can buy it from Safari living for a tidy $470 if you like

Isn't it nice? I think it is nice and pretty and I want it.

I also want this cushion.

You can buy this one for 70 pounds from the Donna Wilson webbie.  

What's that, internet? You say 70 pounds is equivalent to  $110 AUDs? Gee, Thats better than I thought it would be, but it's still a lot for a cushion. Right? Right guys? No one should spend that much on a cushion, should they?

I want one of these planters too.

Aren't they nice? You can get them from Mr Kitly. 

Actually, this is something I may actually buy, because I love an indoor plant and I think that one hanging down over my staircase would look super cute.

Here's a trivet I want. Hey, do you think the sentence "Here's a trivet I want" is the dumbest one ever uttered on Miss Soft Crab?  It's definitely up there.

That pot looks really comfortable. The trivet is from RK Design. 

But it must be said, trivets are actually very handy.

Another thing I want is this really nice basket from Husk to put my dirty clothes in, replacing the blue bucket I currently use. But the Husk website wouldn't load for me, so I can't show you guys the picture. Just imagine a very expensive, but very tasteful basket.

That's all for now. I wonder what J wants for her house?! Lets meet back here at about 12:30pm and find out. Until then, crab friends!