Big Green One Eyed Monster

I recently spent a good hour on the phone, consolling a friend who was absolutely beside herself. She had been scathingly attacked on her appearence by one of her Lecturers. A Woman with a P.H.D, in a position of power failed my incredibly intelligent, capable friend just because she happens to be devastatingly beautiful.  Berated for being too young, too thin & too pretty,  this lecturer also added that she could use her looks to persuade a males opinion, but that it also made her less authoritive and there in lied her problem. In plain english, this well educated & successful Woman was balatantly abusing her authority in this situation to satisfy her jealousy, which obviously stemmed from her own physical insecurities.

This is not an isolated incident. The Big, one eyed green monster has been rearing its ugly head quiet frequently of late. It has become apparent, the while overweight Women get slently judged, we are quiet happy to vocalise & even openly attack a thin or attractive women. But why? Is it because we think someone so thin couldn't possible be offended? What if they had a life threatening disease that caused their petiteness? Since when is it ok to approach a perfect strange and tell them they look "gaunt" or "anorexic"?

I had a woman recently come up to me in a pub to tell me she thought I was beautiful. I said thankyou & offered to buy her a drink. Drink accepted, we made fast friends. Until I was being filrted with and she wasn't, which is where she loudly announced that she would prefer a much more intelligent conversation to the one I was immersed in. Needless to say, our friendship ended right then and there.

So heres the ettiquette lesson of the day: If you don't have anything nice to say, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL! It's not ok to approach an almost stranger and criticise their body, intelligence or anything about them. Ever.  Let this be a lesson to everyone. Green is not a colour suited to everyone, least of all when worn in the Jealous hue.

A Whole New World....

Age: 22 and nine tenths. City: Adelaide. Occupation: Finance. Studying: Journalism. Colour: Yellow. Relationship Status.........

Facebook Married to my former Housemate (female), planning a faux wedding to one of my male best friends, previously seperated from a male I can only now start calling a friend, utterly infactuated with a man who was once more than a friend, oh and has taken a foreign lover with an adonis body.

That about answers it. With friends as lovers and lovers as friends, it's a wonder I don't believe in the perfect one for every person. Perhaps Marriage in the Christian sense is outdated and the Polyamorists have hit the nail on the head. Instead of searching for one perfect person and ending up with no one (or even worse, a highly imperfect someone) have several different relationships at once, where ones specific need is satisfied in one specific way by each parter. I.E John for Social, Jack for Intellectual, James for Economical, Jared for Family, Jeremy for Emotional, Jacob for Spiritual and Jose' for Sexual. In other words, responsible non-manogamy.

So what makes being a Polyamorist different to being a cheating four letter word? Polyamorists believe in the possibility of having multiple romantic loving relationships with the knowledge and consent of all partners concerned.  As long as everyone involved is being open, honest, responsible and communicative, deep and loving relationships can be formed between more then 2 partners.

Before you go jumping to conclusions, Polyamory is not free love a group sex, or even sex at all. It's about acknowleding that sometimes, the best relationship you could possible have is not just with one person, but with several different people for different needs. John may be great fun in social circumstances and get along amzingly with your friends, but when you've had a rough day Jeremy is better at knowing exactly what will lift you spirits. Neither may light you fire the way Jose' can, but at the end of the day, when you want a good, hearty intellectual discussion, Jack is your man. As log as John, Jeremy, Jose & Jack are all aware of eachother & are ok wth one anothers existence, there is no reason why we can't all haveout cake and eat it too.

More to come on this topic at a later date...

Artwork

GeoTagged, [S35.03039, W138.90953]

I just wanted to showcase a sketch that is going to go towards my next collection. It's a rough draft of a piece I call "Hot Under The Collar".

Inspired by all those great Women I know and our intuitive sense of knowing exactly what to do to make a Man sweat.

I did this sketch in about 20 minutes but I think it did alright. Just a bit excited about fitting this one into the story line and getting it on to canvas!

Skinny Jeans- The Traditional Rock Star Jean

Far from being a trend unique and new milenium, Men have been wearing Skinny Leg jeans since the 1950s.  The Original Shock Rocker Elvis Pressley wore them whilst scandalising the world with his Gyrating Pelvis. That was the first moment that Skinny Leg Jeans and rock 'n' roll were linked.

Danny Zouko & The T-Birds Demonstrating The Skinny Leg Trend

Fast forward to the early 70s when Punk & Glam Rock bands  such as The Clash, Ramones, David Bowie, Queen & Bay City Rollers set the trend for the younger generation.

Today, the look is favoured not only by those talented with Musical Instruments but also skaters, artists, emo's, the fashion pack and nearly every Man in between. However there seems to be divide amongst the modern man – some are more than willing to wear skinny jeans, while others cringe at the thought of metaphorical and literal emascualtion that goes hand in hand with the Skinny Leg Jean.

Classic Casual Yet Masculine Look

You do need a certain irreverant attitude to pull it off and I would caution Men of a rookie fashion calibre (or those who don't care enough to own more than one belt) against this trend. However if you do fit that category and still would like to give it a whirl, I've suggested to easy to put together, brainless looks below.

The key to pulling off the style is keeping the look profane & relaxed. Team dark washes with an open slim fit shirt and match the leather shade of the belt and shoes for a preppy take on the look. turn it slightly more formal by button up the shirt. 

For a more casual, weekend look, team a slightly more distressed pair of skinnys with canvas shoes & a bright v neck. Layer it up with a Chambray Shirt, a Dark Military style jacket or a Leather Bomber Jacket to complete the look.

Not For The Faint Hearted

The Chocolate Project

Oh C'mon now, everybody has a My Little Pony Alarm Clock...Right?

World meet Snickers- Snickers, meet world. Why am I posting a picture of an uneaten Snickers bar on my blog? Well, dear reader, the answer is quiet simple, yet rather long-winded. I, Kathryn Hartley, am, at the best of times spontaneous, compulsive, uninhibited and in lacking of any self control whatsoever. Get into my mind that I can't do or have something and that's all I will want, all I will be able to think about until I get it. Oh, and I'm a total chocoholic.

So in a moment of what was most likely craziness, I decided to enroll myself into a little self tortuous experiment. Can I last a week not eating Chocolate? Especially with my favourite Chocolate Bar, sitting on my bedside table, unwrapped, taunting me with its delicousness? Well, lets see.
Over the course of the week, I will use different methods to help control my sweet tooth. Expect this to become an utter obsession. It will be the bain of my exisitance, but if I get through it all, it will go for another week.

Day 1-

Technique: Willpower...let see how this goes...

Big Move

Veiw At Shaw & Smith Wine Tasting Room

The biggest thing I've done in the last 10 years was not get on my return flight to Brisbane after my summer holiday. If you knew me before my shock snap decision to stay away, you would have never believed that I was going. I didn't even believe it.

I was the ultimate city slicker Brissy girl. Tonnes of close friends, a great career in fashion, Brisbanes' (very small) world at my fingertips.  That was the outside. On the inside I was dissatisfied, miserable & claustrophobic. My love affair with Brisbane was well and truely over. This was no 7 year itch. This was grounds for seperation.

Everytime I've arrived in Adelaide I've gotten this feeling like I can breathe properly again. The air tastes sweeter and I just couldn't get enough of it.



Sun Setting in the hills, taken while walking the dog

 If you've never been to Adelaide you are seriously missing out. Beautiful white sanded beachs being caressed by crystal blue water and that gorgeous clear blue sky summer making it the perfect place to spend lazy summer days. Head into the hills where I live and you move into a different way of life. It's a small town area, where everyone knows your name. Streets are lined with big green trees and there are green rolling hills as far as the eye can see. The best wines in the world are made in your back yard, as well as some of the best fresh produce. There is always something happening, something to check out and see.  How can you not love it?

Citizens here love to recycle. Everything. This is not a wasteful society. You head into the city centre and you see not one scrap of rubbish. In fact they even pay you to recycle bottles and cans. How awesome is that? 

Sometimes I miss my parents and my friends. Sometimes I miss the clubbing and the special treatment we used to get from the Brisbane clubs. I even sometimes miss the silly boys that used to boost my ego. Mostly I'm enjoying learning about myself and learning how to be independant. I love being mostly annonymous and that although everyone here knows everything about everyone else (a bit like Brisbane, huh?)  they only know what I want them to know about me.

Veiw from Glenelg Jetty

So to my friends and family who are still left wondering "Why?" I hope I've explained myself, at least a little bit.