Dear fabbers,

I look forward to catching up with what's everyone here been up to in the past couple of weeks. Have Spring and warmth finally visited everyone? In the meantime, here are three very happy purchases from my recent trip and some other bits.

1. A Girl in the Red Dress (handmade). My heart skipped a bit the moment I saw the brooch.

2. Pewter metallic patent flat shoes. These were a want item, I wanted pewter metallic shoes ever since Michelle bough hers a few years ago. The appeal of somewhat unusual neutral shoes was huge, but the right ones never came my way. Then, it all came together in one package - the right shade of metallic, the right heel, even the toe shape. This is as far as I'm willing to consider the pointy-ness of the shoes (for now?) and mirror-ness of patent, also very fresh shape to my eye. And they seem to go with everything

3. Black ballerinas. These were a need item, as my other black flat ballerinas are beyond repair. Classic round toe shape, patent cap. The rest of the outer material is textured with polkadots. Sounds busy, but IRL they are not and I see them as interesting alternative to plain black ballerinas. Both pairs are insanely comfortable.

4. The next photo is of my scarf which I used to build the travel wardrobe around. I did not take many photos of the outfits and will try to recreate some for my own archive. The most important things are that my wardrobe served me well, it was minimal yet I still did not wear everything, but best of all - by the time I cam back home I was not tired of it all and had it not been for all the washing I could have happily continued wearing it all.

(ETA: Outfits thread here).

5. Last photo is a postcard from my trip.

This break, which started on a high following the concert we went to the night before the trip and which had practically shifted my entire thought process, was something I needed a lot. I was practically off line all the time, with only a basic mobile phone to make sure I can communicate with others. I made occasional peak to a few websites from other people's laptops, but I did not bring my own with me and it was the best decision ever. I finished reading one book and immediately started rereading it, I spent time with people who mean a lot to me, I spent time with myself, I had mental space to sort out through the past events and start getting ready for the move this summer, and beyond - I have plans and ideas that I want to commit to as I see their importance in keeping myself happy. I know I'm heading into very stressful and busy period, but it's a beautiful feeling to know there's a place like YLF that will also help me keep this achieved balance in check.

And now? Onwards and upwards!