.Simply Me.

Artist focus: Adam Bogusz

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:35:00 +0000

I was browsing eBay when I came across this fabulous and very affordable Gold Coast artist - Adam Bogusz. His father is the well known artist Richard Bogusz, but Adam is very talented in his own right.

I ended up purchasing this diptych:

Adam paints in a few different styles. He has done numerous 'busy city' type paintings like the ones I bought, which are abstract and colourful.

He also does less chaotic paintings which feature Brisbane, water and people enjoying it:

His other distinctive style is in my opinion reminiscent of chaos, fear and decay:

I like paintings that make me feel happy, so I prefer his lighter styles. My favourite are probably his water scenes, and hopefully I'll be able to afford to buy some before his prices go up!

If you want to have a look at Adam's work, and buy some of your own, check out his eBay store or website (both also featuring work by his father Richard Bogusz).

Op Shopped

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:24:00 +0000

This is a table at the op shop, someone has donated their little bird collection! I love finding things like this...

I couldn't resist taking some home (between 50c and $2 each), and a nice Stoneware plate too (50c)

A new vintage linen pattern - a little bit pricey at $6, but it's double sized and in perfect condition

The collection is slowly growing :)

Books for $1 each, I couldn't resist jumping on the Fifty Shades of Grey bandwagon for that price!

This piece of 'artwork' will be a joke gift, part of my boy's 30th birthday present. It was marked $3, but the little old lady at the counter was so horrified by it that she discounted it to $1. I think it's fantastic (although a dust gatherer)

Kikki K wine journal (new in packaging, 50c), over the shoulder bag ($1 - my thinking is it will be a great 'cash' bag when I sell at the markets), vintage leather belt (50c).

Country Road floppy summer hat $6

Jeans - not brand name or anything, but for $2 each I'm not complaining. I actually like jeans that have been worn in a little, the denim is so much softer.

Vallen silk dress, $4

Desigual? or similar branded top, $4. This is intended for my Mum as it's very much her style, but if she doesn't love it, it looked great on me too :)

Portmans cream trench coat, $5.50

Sculptures by the Sea 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:47:00 +0000

This is a belated post, as Sculptures by the Sea was held in March this year. I absolutely love this yearly event which is held at Cottesloe beach in Perth. It is such a lovely day out, especially when combined with brunch at one of Cott's great beachfront cafes.

Here are my favourite offerings from 2013:

Look This Way by Ken Unsworth. Sydneysiders might recognise this guy from the Sculptures in the Sea held at Bondi in 2011, where it won the Children's Choice Award.

Ghost Net Crocodile 2011 by GhostNets Australia. It is made out of 'ghost nets', abandoned fishing nets which pose a risk to sealife. GhostNets Australia is an alliance of over 22 indigenous communities from coastal northern Australia across the three states of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. Since its inception, the programme has supported Indigenous Rangers to remove over 7,500 ghost nets of varying sizes.

Menang (memory) by Cave Urban. Cave Urban is a design collective of architects and musicians with a focus on sustainable living systems. Modelled on bird-scaring devices in Balinese rice paddies, each pole was carefully tuned to the chord D-minor sustained, and made an eerie but beautiful sound as the wind passed through. It won the People's Choice Prize in Perth this year.

Hard Rain Landscape 1 by Hugh McLachlan. According to the artist, "The steel frames focus the viewer and landscape, while the structure itself reflects aspects of landscape through form, texture and light."

The Optimist by Stephen Marr. I can imagine this guy as public art, he would make a wonderful addition to any communal space. About this sculpture, the artist states "It is in direct response to the political, economic, social pessimism that seems to be currently dominating world culture. For the brief time that I hold a persons attention with this work I wanted to make them see what a wonderful place (state of mind) this is."

Happy Floating Dream Cloud by Kathy Allam. A mobile made of hundreds of bright plastic kids toys! It's no wonder that it won the Kids' Choice Prize in Perth. I heard one little boy pointing at it and screaming "Look, we have that toy at daycare!"

Pot Luck by Lewis Horne. Mr Horne is an artist from Nannup in WA, and his sculpture is a tribute to the western rock lobster and the dwindling art of pot-making (I'm not entirely sure what 'pot-making' actually is).

A view over the beach with some statues (including a red chilli) in sight.

In Search of the Perfect Vintage Kitchenette

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:34:00 +0000

I am lusting after a vintage kitchenette (also known as kitchen dresser) for my house. I am undecided on the exact design that I'd most like, and whether I want to refurbish one myself (I'd love to, but I don't have any undercover space to do it so it would likely have to wait until next summer, which is annoying).

This one is for sale for $50, and ripe for refurbishment. It's a simple design and it would fit into the space I have well, but I'm not enamored with it.

This is probably my favourite! It sold for around $350-$400 on eBay recently. This design is generally the most expensive, especially if it is already refurbished.

The seller wants $250 for this cutie. It's a bit too bright and pink for my liking.

This one is solid, and could look very nice if painted. I like ones that have glass though, which this one is lacking.

This one is super cute and sold one eBay for $125 recently. It is a bit big for the area I want it and I'm not sure that the yellow would compliment my decor.

This one is simple and lovely. The seller wants $250 for it, and it has some issues (glass is missing parts at the corners and needs some repainting etc). I'm not sure that it's worth the asking price.

Even if I bought one in relatively good condition, I would add my own finishing touches. I love what has been done here with mosaic:

Source: Adele's Country Cottage

Given it will already be busy because it will be filled with vintage goodies, I think I might stick to something more subtle like stenciling. Stenciling with paper doilies is cheap, easy and looks fantastic. Watch this space!

Which is your favourite design, or have you seen nicer?

Things I'm Loving This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:29:00 +0000

My funky new flower vase filled with pretty flowers.

Citizen Khan, which is currently showing on channel Seven/GWN7. I am loving this BBC comedy series, which follows the trials and tribulations of Mr Khan, self-appointed community leader, and his family.

The series has been subject to criticism that it degrades Islam and contains unacceptable racial stereotyping. My opinion? Get over it! It's funny, and you have to be able to laugh at yourself. There are shows taking the mickey out of every religion or race. If anything, the series should be more offensive to "gingers" (redheads) than Muslims. Thankfully the ratings in the UK have been stellar for the first series, so a second series is in production.

A lowdown on the characters:

Mr Khan, self proclaimed community leader and Pakistani businessman. Terrible fashion sense, and a "tight-arse" who buys in bulk at Cash'n'Carry. Always trying to raise his profile in the community (through the Pakistani Business Association and Sparkhill Community Mosque) but causes havoc and embarrassment in the process. Stubborn and tries to talk his way out of every situation with ridiculous logic, until Mrs Khan steps in.

Mrs Khan, wife of Mr Khan (his "sweetie darling") and boss of the household (although Mr Khan would never admit it). She is competitive with the other women in the Muslim community, keeps a spotless house (which includes sponging the plastic cover on the sofa twice daily) and is terrified of anything that would bring shame on herself or her family. Very dramatic whenever anything goes wrong and always gets Mr Khan to do what she wants in the end.

Dave: a Muslim convert, and the "Mosque Manager" at the Sparkhill Community Mosque. Mr Khan refuses to acknowledge that Dave is Muslim, and refers to him as a "ginger" (referring to his red hair). Dave tries hard, but has difficulty standing up to Mr Khan and sometimes gets carried along with his unfortunate plans. He has a "certificate" in counseling and likes to get involved whenever there is the hint of a family disagreement.

Shazia Khan: the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Khan. Currently engaged and planning her wedding to Amjad Malik. A scruffy dresser, easily pleased, Mr Khan's least favourite daughter.

Alia Khan: the younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Khan. Always heavily made up and wearing super tight jeans and high heels, she quickly puts on a headscarf whenever her father is present. She pretends to be a devout Muslim, and has Mr Khan wrapped around her little finger. She is actually a party animal who loves clubbing, but Mr Khan would never believe it.

Amjad Malik: Shazia's husband to be. A very 'simple' boy who is easily led (and mislead by Mr Khan). He works at a phone shop (where he started out wearing a rubber mascot costume) and is deeply in love with Shazia. He comes from a wealthier family than the Khans, and his mother Mrs Malik makes this known at every opportunity.

The Feminist Lie

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:47:00 +0000

To anyone reading this, I apologise for the negativity in this post. I do try to blog about happy things, to remind myself appreciate the small things in life and to stay positive. However, I also see blogging as a tool of self discovery and that means I'll be writing about how I feel, and trying to sort out why. Lately I have been feeling quite sad, lost and unmotivated.

I also have a confession to make… I am incredibly clucky. Every time I see a photo of a baby I melt, and I really want one of my own. It doesn’t help that many of my friends are popping out kids at the moment and seem blissfully happy in the process. Every time I see a baby photo on facebook I am so incredibly jealous!

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on trying to get pregnant tomorrow. I don’t think my relationship with the boy is solid or developed enough. The next step for me is living with him, as we still live apart… and I have a lot of work to do to let him fully into my life.

Work is another story altogether. My choices are as follows:

1) Go back to a job like my previous one that is intense but will accelerate my development. Work my ass off for at least 2 years there, and then transfer to a firm or company with a more manageable workload and accommodating environment. Work at this more relaxed firm/company for at least 2 more years before taking maternity leave. At this point I will probably be valuable enough to retain my job and be able to return part time if I choose to do so, on a good salary and with prospects for advancement if I am inclined to pursue them. This would give me options, and the prospect of having it all would not be totally out of reach. Whether or not that optimism is misplaced is another question.

2) Stay in my current job (if I can tolerate the boredom) or move to a similarly relaxed (albeit less boring) job. Work for however long before having kids, but have no chance of solidifying my value to the extent necessary before taking maternity leave. I will no doubt have a job to come back to or be able to get another job, but it will be on a disappointing wage and I’ll be stuck doing grunt work and not really having any real responsibility or respectability. Once I have kids, it will be very difficult to put in the hours and effort required to work my way up the ladder from where I will have been at pre-kids. I will not shine.

Option (1) is depressing because it means having kids is so far out of reach, and I don’t know if I can survive 2+ years of hell to get where I want to. In my previous chaotic job, I could see myself changing as a person (for the worse...) and I was physically and mentally unhealthy due to the constant stress, exhaustion and struggle to have any sort of work-life balance.

Option (2) is equally depressing because it would be a waste of my potential, and I know I would be frustrated at the situation and disappointed at myself. I have always been competitive and wanted to achieve great things, I know that I am intelligent, robust, a natural leader and have great potential... but on the other hand my maternal instincts are tugging at my insides.

This situation epitomises what I believe to be THE question of my generation – can women really have it all? We were brought up being taught that unlike our predecessors in the pre-feminist era, we can now have both a stellar career and idyllic family life. The reality is, depressingly, quite different.

I just have to look around the legal profession and there are no examples of women having it all. You have a small number of female partners, but they are either childless or have children who were or are being brought up by nannies. You have female senior associates but many are part time once they have kids, and then their career progression halts or goes backwards. Hell, even I would invest in their male competition – he’s there more often, more likely to stick around without prolonged maternity leave absences or to give up his career altogether, he can put in the long hours, he can without any notice work until midnight and all weekend… and over time, when he is there and she is not, he gains experience, he accumulates knowledge, he networks, he gains clients… and he becomes partner material. It makes commercial sense to favour him, regardless of whether she is a better lawyer NOW or whether she has greater potential due to her intellect, interpersonal skills or acumen for the law.

Law is a crappy profession for women, but I don’t know if anything else would be much better. Medicine gives women a better earning potential from the get go (this is presumably why my Grandfather pressured me to study medicine rather than law) but the potential to specialise and climb to great heights seems similarly limited. If a women is not satisfied by money (and most human beings are not), but wants the satisfaction derived from challenging herself and leading others, or maybe even commanding widespread respect or admiration, she is setting herself up for disappointment unless she gives up the idea of being involved in her kids’ lives too. I know that not everyone wants these things, but unfortunately I think they're the things that drive me. I need to be intellectually stimulated but that is not enough, I also like having responsibility, control and being respected. I have always admired and practiced efficiency, and that means I am more suited to a fast paced environment.

There are women who may be an exception to the rule. I won’t name one who comes to mind, because I don’t know or care enough about her private life, nor do I think it is appropriate or respectful to speculate on it. What I do know is that we all have different conceptions of how much is enough time to spend with our children and families, and how much we want to be involved in our children's upbringing. I don’t think that heavy involvement with the kids and a stellar career are compatible. They just don’t add up, as a matter of logic. There are only 24 hours in a day.

Where you have a really successful career woman whose children aren’t brought up by nannies, the only other option in my eyes is that they have a super-supportive like-a-stay-at-home partner. I wouldn’t want this either… and therein lays the dilemma. I want it all, I have been told that I can have it all, and suddenly the reality is hitting me. What I believed and what I have worked towards was all a crock of shit.

It’s a very depressing revelation. It makes me want to throw in the towel on one level, have kids and just hope that my priorities change and I find another reason to live and find meaning through motherhood. My Mum says this is a copout, but what is it a copout from? There’s nothing to copout from if I am not able to achieve what I perceive to be worthwhile anyway. There is a small difference in my eyes between giving up, and working for a few more years, finding my work unsatisfying (because my expectations of myself are unrealistic, and I want to be stellar) and gaining a meagre few thousand on my salary every year.

I want to be able to change what satisfies and drives me, but I don’t know how. I think that a large part of it is in my personality - I have always been stubborn, driven, bossy and intense. Another part of it is a result of what my generation has been taught and what I have until now believed. Every endeavour I have participated in has fostered that belief – even where I wasn’t the best, I was solid at academics and sports and there was always the potential for me to work hard, improve and shine. In sport my physique and injuries were self-limiting, but on the academic and leadership front I always had the option of reaching for great heights. School and university studies came easily to me, and I wasn't the best not because I wasn't capable, but because I was more focused on an efficient use of my time and what I wanted to do other than study. Now, the rational view seems to be that the option of succeeding is no longer there, unless I am willing to sacrifice something that my genetic instincts are guiding me towards.

Either option seems hopeless, and I don't know what to do or how to change my hopes, dreams and expectations.

Stitch and Bitch: The Cutest Residential Street in Perth!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:31:00 +0000

Imagine waking up one morning to find the trees lining your street decorated with gorgeous, colourful knitting. This is what happened recently on a residential street in Mount Hawthorn. I was driving to visit a friend when I saw the decorations, and of course I had to pull over to take some photos. It really made my day, it's not often that you see something this sweet out of the blue! I asked a young boy who was playing basketball in a driveway if he knew where the decorations came from, and he told me that they're made by a local 'Stitch and Bitch' group. The decorations are put up in the dark of the night to surprise residents. What a lovely idea!!!

Here are some of the decorations:

Memories from the 90s!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:13:00 +0000

The Babysitters Club book series had a large impact. I had a similarly large collection, and it's what prompted me to start babysitting as a 10 year old. I got many hours of joy out of this series!

Vintage barbies. They were perfectly modern in their time, and I had the middle one pictured.

Cabbage patch kids. These are so cute, although I preferred my Baby Born doll!

Captain Planet was my favourite TV series for ages. I pretended to be Liza (the blond 'wind' girl) because we shared a similar name. In prep, and years one and two we would play Captain Planet in the school playground. I remember really wanting a toy ring like the Planeteers wore, but not being allowed one because it cost around $10 for a tiny plastic ring.

At around the same time that Captain Planet was a craze, I also loved 'Widget the World Watcher'.

Dunkaroos, a favourite snack!

Kids pretending to smoke was no big deal!

Goosebumps! I certainly bought into this craze. It was one of the few that both boys and girls were into.

My Little Pony dolls. You could brush their hair and not do much else, and I remember some being 'scented'.

Oddbodz! These came free in Smiths chips. I remember nagging my Mum to buy chips just to get a card... until they got banned from the school canteen, due to parent complaints. All of our collection items got banned eventually - Oddbodz, marbles, yo-yos...

Polly pockets! I think I still have these somewhere, they are so sweet.

Power Rangers were more for boys than girls but the pink ranger filled a void to some extent. We played this in the playground, but it often got rough and so the teachers banned it in year one!

Push pops (which are still available today) were a mega treat for me, I think I would have had a total of five in my whole childhood but I remember them well!

I had a pair of rollerskates exactly like these which my parents picked up at a garage sale. I even went to rollerskating lessons!

Rugrats was my favourite show for many years. I had a 'Tommy' doll, as he was my favourite character. My love of children was fostered from a very young age!

Spice Girls became an obsession at around year 5. I still remember the lyrics to their most popular songs, I must have sung them that many times!

STICKER BOOKS! We spent hours trading these and looking through each others collections. The 'serious collectors' kept the stickers on their paper backings.

Trolls. I never much understood these, although they are cute and being the spoilt child I was, I had several!

Twinpoles! Like many, I often had to share one of these with my little sister but wanted a whole one to myself!

Last but not least, Carebears. I watched and enjoyed the TV show for many years...

Op Shopped

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:25:00 +0000

I had a brief hiatus from op shopping while I moved house - there's nothing like having to shift all of your belongings to make you realise that you have too much stuff! Of course I'm back at it, it's just too hard to resist :) and hey, if you've ever watched the Tv show 'Hoarders', I'm nowhere near as bad as the people who feature on there so I figure my hobby could be worse!

Don't you love it when you walk into an op shop and just hit the jackpot? I had this experience at Vinnies recently, at a store where I usually don't find much at all!

Here are the latest purchases:

'Litro' jug $1, and a ceramic man with removable hat which I plan to use as a flower vase! ($5)

Retro bowl and lid ($5) and Australian pottery jug with leaf print ($15). I think the jug will be part of my sister's birthday present, as she collects pottery.

I hardly ever find these sort of retro goodies so I was very excited!

I absolutely adore this painting - it looks like a paint by numbers canvas ($4)

Bunny Suicides book, $1

This floor vase was $25 delivered on sale from Ezibuy, the flowers/reeds were $4 at the op shop.

From here onwards, the purchases are from Good Sammy's, during another very successful trip!

Mens waterproof jacket with concealable hood, $6

Jacquie E blouse, $3

Stunning Mei Mei watercolour flower print dress, $6

I couldn't resist this lovely floral side plate, $1

Another 'tea for one' teapot for the collection, $4

Silver snake-print leather flats by Nude, $5

Linking up with:

Recycled Fashion Finds

Blackbird has Spoken

A Living Space

Sir Thrift a Lot

My Home: The TV / sitting room

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:31:00 +0000

My sitting room or TV room has a very vintage feel:

The funky drawers that you can see propping up the TV and also to make a lamp table are all unattached, so can be rearranged as I please. They are upcycled vintage drawers with wooden boxing that I found on Gumtree - they belonged to two girls who run a printing and graphic design studio. They were re-decorating their studio so getting rid of these gems!

This vintage looking lamp was picked up at a garage sale for $10, and the photo frame is a souvenir from a trip to America. Notice the cute cushions? My friend who has a sewing machine helped me to make these out of vintage linen!

Almost everything in the room is second hand:

Leather couches: Ikea, sourced second hand from Gumtree

Vintage repurposed drawers: made by some creative and handy girls, sourced second hand from Gumtree

Vintage chairs: free from a roadside collection!

Shaggy rug: bought new

Cushions: from the markets (second hand), op-shopped or made by me (some from op-shopped vintage linen, and others I bought the material new from Spotlight)

Modern table: second hand, belonged to my parents

Vintage lamp: from a garage sale

Magazine holder/knitting bag: op-shopped

It is definitely my favourite room in the house because it is so unique (and suits my design taste perfectly), but it was also created well within a small budget!

House, work, relationships and life

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:01:00 +0000

As I stated in the last post, a lot has happened in the past several months. I am in two minds about how much personal stuff I feel comfortable divulging on here. On the one hand, I don't think anyone I know in real life reads this. I could also probably benefit from being a less private person and sharing my feelings more. On the other hand, I *am* a private person, I do find it hard to share and I am conscious that if someone who knows me came across the blog, it wouldn't be hard to work out and confirm who I am. With this in mind, here is a some-hands-bared account of my personal life over the last 9 months!

(1) The most exciting development is that I bought my first home. It is a townhouse in a suburb not too far from the city. It's an older house (with the maintenance issues which come with that) but is very liveable, and having been there for a few months now, I am starting to really feel at home. I furnished it almost completely with second hand furniture sourced on Gumtree. Here are a few cheeky snaps of the decor, and I will share more in a separate post:

It definitely has a vintage feel and is very 'girly' according to the boy. I don't think there are any bargains to be had in the Perth housing market at the moment, but I'm happy with what I paid for it. My only regret is not insisting on my rights at the pre-settlement inspection, I ended up allowing myself to be bulldozed by the bitchy real estate agent acting for the seller who did her utmost to shut me down and make me feel stupid whenever I raised an issue. My lack of persistence in this regard resulted in me not following up on some things I had gut feelings on, and the result is that I'll need a new air conditioning system installed (for which I have been quoted $4k) and a few other things. On the other hand, I paid $8k less than what I was ultimately willing to offer for the house so it evens out in the end, and I know I won't make the same mistakes with my next purchase (I will be pushy and bitchy in equal parts back!)

(2) The other major development is my relationship with the boy. We met when I moved back to Perth from Canberra last year (so about 11 months ago now) and took things slowly. I didn't tend to see him during the week during my previous job, as it was just so demanding and draining. If I ever got out of the office at a decent hour, I would just want to crash into bed straight away. Now that I have time on my hands, the dynamics have definitely changed. We are seeing each other a lot during the week and have gotten closer. I still feel like we're in 'early days' and not where we'd otherwise be after 11 months, because we hadn't really started combining our lives until recently.

This relationship is teaching me a lot about myself. I don't like to open up and share, and I find it really hard to reveal my true feelings, especially when I am feeling sad or down. I respond by being moody and isolating myself. I also think that I'm afraid of commitment. This is unusual for the female I think, it's more common with the guy. My stand-offishness and reluctance to give of myself is probably what snared me the boy in the first place though, as he had to work hard for my affections (and who isn't tempted by a bit of a game?). Until now, my relationships have not felt serious and so I did not put any pressure on myself to be 'sure' or question whether it felt 'right'. Now, many of my friends are getting married and having babies - partly due to that, our relationship feels 'real' and like it could or should be final.

I'm Baaack!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:55:00 +0000

Louis Litt, Suits

It has been a tumultuous 9 months. Work got too chaotic and took over my life. I was on-call 24/7, and even if I was being left alone (which wasn't often), I would be thinking about work. It's amazing the hours you can work and how much you can get done when it's necessary. I think I was on a constant adrenalin high for those months, and it wasn't sustainable. I would wake up at night thinking about transactions I was working on, and it was as if there was so much information to process that some of the processing was done in my sleep.

Although in one sense, I was thriving – doing mountains of challenging work, excelling at it, feeling proud of my work and the level of responsibility I had, it was exhausting and unhealthy. A twelve hour day in the office was a relatively short one, and I was regularly doing sixteen hour days. I was usually juggling several pressing
demands at any given moment, so all of those hours would be intense, stressful and intellectually draining. It wasn't like I had time for breaks or lunch, and there wasn't much of a social element because we were just too busy.

I was changing mentally too. I could see the change in my outlook and behaviour, which was probably mainly out of necessity. I was becoming more impatient, aggressive, dominant, selfish, unforgiving. These things helped me to excel in the office environment, but I was also becoming a not very nice person outside of the office (and to colleagues, although everyone treated each other like this). Feeling angry, frustrated, stressed and highly strung is also not good for physical health I'm sure.

To give an example: if someone wasted my time by doing a substandard job or not following instructions, I had little patience and was unforgiving. General office social norms and what is acceptable when communicating with others went out the window (as they had with everyone else in the office). This was certainly a symptom of having so little time and so many demands on it, and ironically it was smiled upon.

I left on a high, still managing the quantity and quality of work. In some ways it would have been better had I left after having a mini breakdown or getting really sick or something.

Now that I've left, I have started noticing the things I missed out on. I was so consumed by work that I wasn't part of what was going on with my family or friends. People close to me tell stories about things that happened to them during that period and I have no idea about any of it.

Deep down I knew it wasn't sustainable, and I watched the others around me who had been there longer slowly deteriorating. I was exhausted, I wanted a holiday… but now that I'm back in a more "normal" job, I feel like normal work can't satisfy me. I miss the adrenalin rush, and I miss being important and making a valuable contribution. I miss having so much responsibility which motivated me, and now I seem to lack any motivation.

I am also terrified that I have made the wrong decision accepting this new role. It's a new area of work which I'm not sure I like (and I loved corporate law), and I am feeling so unmotivated that I don't know what to do.

I have decided to come back to blogging to share my thoughts, and it gives me a reason/opportunity to sort through them myself. What has everyone else been up to? I have more news to follow ;-)

Still Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 02:57:00 +0000

I am still alive, just incredibly busy with work. I will be back to blogging in the new year (around February), with lots of news. I miss you all and reading your blogs!

Canberra Weekend for the 1920s Ball

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:39:00 +0000

I snuck out of work a little early on Friday afternoon and headed straight to the airport. After a bit of a scare that I wouldn't be able to find a 'long stay' parking bay, I nabbed one and headed to the terminal, just in time to board the flight. We had our own personal TVs (I love it when you get one of Qantas' newer planes!) so I watched 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' and a few episodes of Outnumbered. I enjoyed the movie, it is an uplifting, feel-good flick, and although the portrayal of India is quite unrealistic, it brought back some nice memories of my travels there.

As the plane started to descend, we hit turbulence and I got to the point where I thought I would have to throw up into my airsick bag. It probably didn't help that the lady sitting next to me was gripping the armrests for dear life and screeching, which was making me stressed. Thankfully it didn't get to that and we landed in one piece. I don't know how I manage to get seated next to bad fliers or annoying people more often than not, this is the second time I have had a near hysterical stranger next to me.

Our first stop on Saturday morning was Two for Joy Café in Kingston, which used to be called Pizzazz. It has the same menu and staff, so I think they just refurbished the inside. The sweet options there are still amazing – we had the lime and pistachio hotcakes with honey ricotta, fresh strawberries, raspberries, kiwifruit and raspberry coulee:

After that, we fit in an afternoon nap before starting the pre-ball preening process. Here are some photos from the night:

I am standing on the right. I ended up borrowing my sister's school ball dress which was a little dissapointing given how long I spent searching for the perfect 1920's dress (but could not find anything I wanted to spend $$$ on!). Still, I think I ended up looking nice and my long gloves and beaded alice band ensured I fit the theme.

More gorgeous girls... everyone put so much effort into their costumes!

I love my friend's headpiece, which she sourced from etsy...

I never said I wasn't immature... ;-) I am not talented enough to make a dog out of a champagne bottle foil, but I fed it some butter.

Sunday saw us tired and hung-over but I was not about to waste the short time I had, so we made it to brunch with 'the girls'. It was lovely to sit in the sunshine and catch up at Bicicletta, which has a very unique outside courtyard. It is set in the 'New Acton' art district which has a smattering of interesting sculptures in addition to award winning modern apartment buildings which are marketed as 'architectural art'. I think I could live in this funky area…

One of the many statues - this one is called 'Time Thief' (source and explanation)

Speaking of funky, my friend's housemate's collection of Mr Potato Heads is brilliant, don't you think?

The afternoon contained more catch-ups with friends and then I boarded my flight home to Perth. It was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend!

Chaos, Birthdays & Liptember

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:55:00 +0000

If you're wondering where I have been, the answer is working. Although you probably guessed!

I worked on my first 'hostile' takeover which meant 2 weeks of little sleep, very long days and having literally no weekends (I'd consider being in the office from 7am until midnight all weekend worse than your average weekday, so definitely not 'weekend' within the normal meaning of that word!)

In the midst of these chaotic times, I had a birthday. It would have gone uncelebrated (I had to cancel both my birthday lunch with girlfriends and my birthday dinner with the boy) but for an amazing and unexpected office delivery from my friends in Canberra:

First I saw these fantastic balloons. Did I mention that I LOVE helium balloons!? They remind me of carefree childhood days...

Then came a big box with lovely ribbons... which contained:

A delicious chocolate mud cake!

Last but not least, I got this fabulous card. You can't tell from the photo but it's holographic and moves. All very exciting...

It made a dark day so much brighter!

I have just now gotten back from a whirlwind weekend trip to Canberra which was exhausting but so enjoyable. We had the 1920's ball and I caught up with all my friends, which brought back such lovely memories.

Photos of the ball will be coming soon (you will be able to see the dress I ended up wearing). In the meantime, if you haven't already please check out Project Girl's blog and sponsor her for Liptember. Liptember is all about raising funds for women's mental health, and encouraging open communication about and familiarisation with gender specific mental health issues.

In blogging about her life, Project Girl shares her personal struggles with mental illness (which is much braver than I could ever be, I am not a personal sharer!). I just sponsored her and I hope you will too.

Brunch Review: Cranked Cafe, Leederville

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Cranked is one of those places I have walked past 100s of times but have never tried. That changed thanks to the entertainment book- I had a voucher, and I wanted to use it :-)

The Scoring

Menu variety / creativity: 7.5/10. Something for everyone, and some creative options. You can read the menu for yourself at the website.

Taste: 7/10. I had the 'Crank Addict': Two soft poached eggs bedded on wilted spinach with smoked chorizo and sourdough. Finished with home-made tomato jam and shaved parmesan cheese. The eggs were nicely poached and the home-made tomato jam was divine. Generous serving size and plenty of bread. I didn't like the chorizo much, it seemed to be cheap/poor quality. My friend had a "make your own" breakfast - she chose scrambled eggs on multi grain toast with avocado and homemade tomato relish. Yum!

Coffee: 6.5/10. Drinkable but not amazing.

Setting/location: 6/10. The decor isn't anything special but they have a nice big outdoor area for sunny mornings (and it has outdoor heaters in winter).

Service: 7.5/10. No complaints, efficient and friendly.

Price: 8/10. The more creative menu options are around $18, but the servings are very generous. If you have the Entertainment book, use the voucher in it for a further 25% off :-) We did!

Verdict: Nothing special but it was a solid meal with a generous serving size. I'd go back, especially with another voucher!

Sick Pets & Lack of Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 23:37:00 +0000

On Monday our dog had to have an operation. We picked her up at about 6pm after she had the operation at 4:30pm- and she was still totally out of it from the anesthetic. All evening she was walking around crying/whining, she was restless and wouldn't lie down, tripped over her own feet, almost walked into walls, swayed and her back legs were shaking. It was so sad and scary to watch.

I kept trying to take her outside to go to the bathroom and finally succeeded in getting her to do her business at about 11:30pm. She spent the night pacing around and whining, and when she had somewhat recovered she started barking. My poor sister had to sleep on a mattress downstairs with her like this, as it was the only way to calm her down:

In short, she has kept us both up the past 2 nights and I am now exhausted. She was obviously feeling better last night because she went and slept on the couch, which she absolutely knows she is not allowed to do.

She's not a young dog, and I think this episode made us all think about what will happen when the inevitable happens... Pets bring so much joy to our lives, but the flipside is that they are then sorely missed.

I hope you're all having a good week. I haven't forgotten to draw the winners of my latest giveaway (which ended almost 2 weeks ago)... well I did forget, but now I've remembered and I just need to find the time :-)

Shopping, Dating, Work

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:59:00 +0000

Shopping
I still haven’t found the perfect dress for the upcoming 1920s theme ball, I'm getting desperate! I found one I really like but its sold out:

River Island Beaded Deco Dress

Karen Millen does the most beautiful deco dresses but they're all around $400 on sale, and I can't justify spending that… not until I get a pay rise anyway!

Did I mention that there are some great sales online at the moment? I am still addicted to Asos despite my disappointing last order. I nabbed this dress:

ASOS Skater Dress With Flower Applique

And I'm also eyeing off:

Asos Laguna Suede Ballet Flats with Metallic Block Heel

and

ASOS LOS ANGELES Point Ballet Flats With Chain Detail

What do you think of them?

You can currently get 10% off sale items at Asos with the code 10SALE, and 10% off at Urban Outfitters with the code NEWSKOOL (and free shipping if you spend $50).

Dating

I guess our relationship is official, but I'm still not sure I'm 100% committed. I suppose it's because I'm busy and tired and he wants to spendmore time with me than I do with him. Also this is going to sound weird but I know a lot of people are unsure if the guy likes them and then really happy when he does, but I'm the opposite- as soon as the guy starts getting attached I get put off, it's like the challenge and excitement is gone. It's so stupid of me but I think that's what happens and why I never have had proper long relationships. Maybe it means I haven’t found the 'right person' but I think it's more likely to be my own approach and mindset that's resulting in this.

Work

Work has calmed down a bit. People have been leaving the office at 6pm, which I am told is very unusual so I should make the most of it! Our computer server has been all buggy which has resulted in some wasted and frustrating periods of time – lucky we're not flat out!

Op Shopped

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 08:57:00 +0000

I have been on several op shopping trips lately but have not had time to blog about them. Here are the spoils... :-)

Hand painted hanging frypan with poem for my sister {> - $1 from Save the Children

Cards! These have obviously been donated by a newsagency from excess stock. They cost 20c-$1 each, which is no much cheaper than buying them at retail prices.

Brand new uplifting quotations book with handmade paper cover - $3 from Save the Children.

Katies photographic print top- $6.25 (1/2 price sale) from Good Sammy's

Veronika Maine skirt, $6 from Save the Children

Flower t-shirt, $2 from Good Sammy's (during 1/2 price sale)

Weekly organiser ($3) and another card ($1) - newsagency donations rock!

I wasn't sure about these, but they're brand new and for $1!? who could complain...

I love this BNWT Target dress, which was $7.50 (1/2 price) at Good Sammy's

Finally, some homewares. A cute holly hobbie styled plastic cup (50c), some sort of jug which has holes in the bottom (so will be perfect for a planter, but I'm not sure what it was actually intended for!?- $2) and another teapot for the collection ($3). It is missing one of the cups but is still cute- I love the panda pop up head.

Close up of the cup which says "Start each day in a happy way..." - so cute, I'd love to collect the whole set!

Brunch Review: Sayers, Leederville

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 11:32:00 +0000

Ahh Sayers, now I understand what the hype is about!

Menu variety/creativity: 8/10. Lots of very creative options and something for everyone. Impressive.

Taste: 9/10. I was blown away by the roasted mushroom with spinach and fetta on sourdough. The boy loved his potato rosti with poached eggs, bacon and onion jam. The best tasting brunch I have had in Perth - this one is a winner!

Coffee: 6.5/10. We ordered it in mugs which may have been the mistake - it tasted too milky. Perhaps it's decent if you order normal sized.

Setting/location: 8/10. The inside is gorgeously decorated with damask wallpaper, big mirrors and lots of bling. They have a very cute outside courtyard too.

Service: 7/10. A little bit disorganised - some people who didn't have a table were crowding the till, and they kept bringing us someone else's drinks. Otherwise it was fast and friendly. You order and pay at the counter and they bring the meals out to you.

Price: 7.5/10. Smaller servings than elsewhere but the taste totally made up for it. Expect to pay around $18 for the meals and $3.80 for a regular coffee- standard for Perth.

Verdict: My favourite brunch in Perth so far. This one is a keeper! From previous experience, they do delicious homemade cakes for afternoon tea too.

Sex, Genes and Rock'n'Roll

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:02:00 +0000

A while ago I listened to an interview on ABC Radio National with Rob Brooks, author of the book 'Sex, Genes and Rock'N'Roll: How Evolution has Shaped the Modern World'. The book is about how an evolutionary perspective can give useful and interesting insights into modern issues and problems. Brooks is an evolutionary biologist who works at UNSW. I haven't read the book, but it sounds fascinating and I will buy/beg/borrow it soon.

I didn't know that evolutionary biology even existed as a discipline; now I am absolutely intrigued. Here are some examples of how it informs modern thinking (these are gleaned from the ABC interview and other interesting material on Brooks' website):

Statistically, the world's richest people are more likely to have male babies. This may mirror the evolutionary reality that if a female animal is having a bad year or is unhealthy, they are more likely to have female offspring. During the 1960s in China, there was a famine - and a huge increase in the number of female births.
Many diseases have a genetic basis. Natural selection has not eliminated the genes responsible because few of our ancestors lived long enough to suffer from most cancers or from dementia. Also, some genes that improve our fitness in early life come at a cost later on. For example, a gene called ApoE-ε4, elevates intelligence in early adulthood but it increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 5 to 20 times the normal risk. The new field of Darwinian medicine is showing how many common human maladies are a consequence of the inefficient way natural selection worked on our ancestors.
A study by Face Research Lab has found that women in poor health are more likely to have a preference for masculine facial features. Brooks and some collaborators hypothesised that this could be because in poorer countries where health is more likely to be poor, there is also likely to be greater inequality between the richest and the poorest households. It may follow that women prefer the most masculine men where household income and security depends more on male aggression and status. Upon testing this theory, Brooks and co found that income inequality (the Gini index, often used by economists) is a better predictor of variation among countries in preferences for masculinised faces. He also showed that homicide rate is a promising correlate of preferences – with countries where homicide rate is high also preferring more masculinised faces.
Evolutionary theory also predicts that a catastrophe is looming in the next decade, as 20 to 30 million more boys than girls come of age in China and India. In many animal species, when males overabound, they often compete so fiercely to court, win and even coerce the few available females into mating that everybody suffers. The same is true when the supply of men on the marriage market exceeds the demand from females.

Are you interested in this type of thing, or does it make you yawn?

Robustness

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:46:00 +0000

"Do you consider yourself to be robust?"

When I was interviewing for various legal jobs, I was asked the question several times. It seems to be the HR buzz word of the minute in legal circles.

They're presumably referring to emotional robustness, or resilience. Whether you keep going despite setbacks, how easily you give up. It's a way to weed out people who crumble under pressure -

"Mental hardiness is the way you interpret what we can call stressful incidents. If you view them as something frightening they’ll probably have a negative influence on you. But if you perceive stressful incidents as challenges you can control to a certain extent, if you involve yourself enough, stress can be a motivational factor,” Hystad explains. Source

Having now survived 6 weeks in my new job, I can confidently say I AM (quite) ROBUST. I have been yelled at, hung up on and given critical tasks well beyond my expertise. It is challenging (and enjoyable) but exhausting.

It has taught me a lot about my personality. Part of the reason why I took this job is because the supervising partner was an asshole in the interview. He basically said "You probably won't make it here, you probably won't be smart / strong / resilient enough... only time will tell whether you have what it takes". He made me angry, and I saw that as a challenge.

Although I'm proud of how I've coped so far, I'm terrified that I won't be able to keep this up. I'm actually not that bothered by the pressure / challenge of the tasks I'm given or the personalities in the office (ie being yelled at). The hardest thing is not having time to do anything other than work, and being constantly exhausted.

1920s ball outfit co-ordination!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:08:00 +0000

In a few weeks time I have a 1920s ball and I need to find something to wear!

The more research I've done, the more I have fallen in love with the 20s. The tones of the era are neutral or dark, and towards the late 20s there was plenty of lace, heavy beading, sequin and feather detail on the dresses and in the hair. The 20s is also associated with fur collars on coats, the mary jane heel, gaudy bangles, pearls, tassle earrings, cloche hats and elaborate headpieces...

I bought a dress on Asos for the occassion but returned it. In fact, I have found almost all of my recent Asos purchases to be very dissapointing. I returned 7 out of 9 items from my past 2 orders! I really have got to stop shopping on there, it costs money to return things (Australia Post is not cheap!) - it's such a waste. Have you been happy with any Asos purchases lately? Maybe I just choose badly!

Despite the Asos dissapointment, I am loving online shopping. I don't know how people survived before you could buy everything online. I am literally in the office for a minimum of 12 hours per day. It is VERY rare that I get a lunch break. Weekends are jam packed with social events, household chores and quite often, some work as well. As a result, I have had to buy everything online.

The good news is that I now have a parking spot at work. It's costing me $6000 per year, which is a huge amount of money on my stupidly low salary... but I decided I can't put a price on my health or safety. I don't feel comfortable walking to the bus stop when I leave work late at night, and I am spending so many hours at my desk at work, any time that I can salvage to do something healthy (like go for a walk, or to a gym class etc) is very important!!!

I'll keep you updated with what I decide to wear to the ball... :-)

The World's 20 Most Unusual Restaurants

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 05:24:00 +0000

(1) Modern Toilet Restaurant, Taiwan
This chain of restaurants in Taiwan allows patrons to dine on toilets and eat toilet themed food.

Food is served from a toilet bowl, drinks from a urinal. They also make an ice cream sundae that looks like pooh...

(2) Nyotaimori Cannibalistic Restaurant, Japan

Nyotaimori literally means "female body plate", and describes a non that uncommon (in Japan) restaurant where sushi is served off a naked woman's body. There is one restaurant which takes this even further; patrons are presented with a "corpse" and eat the "insides".

(3) Graveyard Restaurant, India

When Krsihan Kutti Nair started a successful tea stall outside a cemetery in Ahmadabadand needed to expand, he expanded into the cemetry. Patrons eat and drink in between graves (painted green). They don't seem to mind:

(4) Cat Cafes, Japan

Back to Japan where space is at a premium, cat and dog loving patrons who aren't able to have a pet of their own are able to visit these cafes to sip a drink beside the cafe's cats (or sometimes, dogs). These cafes are now very popular in Tokyo's entertainment district, but have recently come under fire from animal welfare groups who say that the animals are being exploited.

Further research has revealed that there are also reptile cafes and rabbit cafes ...

(5) Restaurant Inside a Coffin, Ukraine

Death + eating seems to be a common theme! This restaurant in the Ukraine is built inside a 65 foot long windowless "coffin". The inside decor is also morbid, with smaller coffins and funeral flower arrangements adorning the walls. Diners are served meals like "Nine Day" and "Forty Day" salads, named after local mourning rituals, as well as a dish called "Let's meet in paradise."

(6) Alcatraz ER Restaurant, Tokyo

Part prison, part hospital, part horror movie.. this novelty restaurant will see you sitting to eat inside a cell, chowing down on dishes such as human intestines (an unfeasibly long sausage in a kidney dish), a penis on a bed of lettuce (another sausage, suggestively carved) and various impossibly spicy delectables. The staff are dressed like doctors and nurses (with some fake blood thrown in for good measure).

(7) DS Music Restaurant, Taipei (Taiwan)

With nurses for waitstaff, the novelty here is that you'll be eating off tables shaped like hospital beds and each table has an IV drip, which functions as a keg (to store your drinks). You can even book a private function in the "intensive care room".

(8) Cabbages and Condoms, Thailand

There are several of these restaurants scattered around Thailand, with the logo "Our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy". You may be served by a waiter wearing a condom (on their face and head), and the decor is strictly condom related. Instead of being offered a dinner mint, you'll get a condom to take home. It's all for a good cause - proceeds go to the Population & Communitty Development Association, and one of the restaurant's aims is to promote the health and safety aspects of condom use.

(9) Penis Restaurant, Beijing

From the outside, this franchise looks like any other restaurant with chinese characters and bright lights. The difference is that you come here to eat penis- yak, donkey, sheep, deer and dog are on offer. Eating penis is said to be good for the libido, and for women, good for the skin.

This one belonged to a donkey...

(10) The Hobbit House, Manila (Phillipines)

The Hobbit House has got to be the most politically incorrect restaurant out there. The decor is said to be inspired by J.R Tolkein's Lord of the Rings. The waiters are all "little people". From the restaurant website:

"Friendly, charming and ever smiling, they are the reason why the bar is what it is today. Every night, you will find them gamely posing for yet another round of photos with tourists and travelers, giving folks back home something to talk about."

(11) The Whale Inside (Dark Restaurant), Beijing; Dans Le Noir "In the Dark" (Paris, London, and Moscow)

In these restaurants, you eat in pitch darkness. Waiters use night vision goggles. According to one company: "The meal will be taken in this environment with the complete loss of vision. By starving one's sense, your other senses are stimulated to full alert - all so the theory goes - and your food will taste like it's never tasted before."

(12) Kinder Kook Kafe, Amsterdam (Netherlands)

At kinderkookkafe (which has an unfortunate accronym, I might add) you are served food cooked by children. The kids also take orders, do the waitressing, wash up and settle the bill. There is some adult supervision, but your food will mostly be cooked by kids (yes - grotty, snotty kids). It's promoted as a "unique children's activity" and unsurprisingly, it is more a place of learning for children than purveyor of culinary delights.

(13) Underwater Restaurant, Maldives

The Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa in Rangalifinolhu houses this amazing restaurant which is actually built under the sea (at 5m below sea level). Diners have a 270 degree panoramic view of ocean life, but it is pricey, and only seats 14 diners at any one time.

(14) Restaurant of the 3rd Dimension, Nuremburg (Germany)

At this futuristic restaurant, meals and drinks are ordered by touch screen at each table and then are transported from above on metallic tracks directly to the table.

(15) Hajime Robot Restaurant, Bangkok (Thailand)
Customers order their food on a touchscreen display and their robotic waiter will whizz into action. The friendly robots will also dance to entertain as they work and go out to collect empty dishes at the customers’ table.

(16) Dinner in the Sky, worldwide
If you have the money (and desire...) you can eat in the sky. You'll dine at a table suspended at a height of 50 metres. These meals have been hosted in the UK, the Middle East, Poland, Brussels (Belgium), Portugal, Brazil, Scotland, Paris, India and South Africa (to name a few!).

(17) Le Refuge des Fondus, Paris, France

Apart from serving delicious fondus, this restaurant is famous for serving its wine in baby bottles. It seems very un-French, but I'd give it a try!

(18) Disaster Cafe, Spain
An elevator takes customers below ground to a cave-like restaurant. The first odd thing you’ll notice is the staff wearing construction helmets and other safety equipment, and when the food comes, the dishes are a lot heavier than normal. Every meal is interrupted by a simulated 7.8 earthquake (you just never know when exactly it will strike...)

(19) Ninja Cafe, Tokyo

Customers are led over drawbridges and down winding passages to an eating area resembling a 17th century Edo period village. Waiters dressed as ninjas slink about, you are visited by an illusionist mid meal who will perform tricks, and of course the food is ninja themed (whatever that is)!

(20) Igloo Light Cafe, Sweden

Winter is long and dark in Stockholm, so enter the all white, very bright Igloo Light Cafe. Diners are dressed in white, and sit under special lights to get their daily recommended dose of sunlight equivalent. The day's first customers arrive early to undergo an hour of light therapy before work while eating a healthy breakfast.

Myer Briggs Personality Types

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa @ .Simply Me.) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:23:00 +0000

Do you know your personality type? I find the whole science absolutely fascinating. You can learn so much about yourself and others, why people behave in certain ways, and how you can improve yourself and your relationships.

Before I started my current job, I read a book called Do What You Are. It's about choosing a career or job role that suits your personality, and it takes you through the different personality types and how to find your own.

I am an ESTJ, and the profile for this type describes me surprisingly well:

My primary mode of living is focused externally, where I deal with things rationally and logically;
I value competence and efficiency, and like to see quick results for my efforts;
I naturally step into leadership roles. I am self-confident;
I enjoy interacting with people, and like to have fun. I can be boisterous and fun at social events, especially activities which are focused on the family, community, or work;
I am generally enthusiastic, upbeat and friendly;
I can see what steps need to be taken to complete a specific task and am results driven;
I honour commitments, meet deadlines and am responsible and dependable;
What you see is what you get. I value honesty;
I think out loud and sometimes this means sharing half baked ideas;
I am happiest after a decision is made, I don't like keeping my options open until the last minute;
I value structure, hierarchy and certainty;
I am not personally threatened by conflict or criticism. I am interested in resolving conflict rather than ignoring it.

My weaknesses are also related to my personality type:

I can be demanding and critical, because I have such strongly held beliefs, and may express myself without reserve if I feel someone isn't meeting my standards;
I need to watch out for being too rigid, and work on being more open minded;
I sometimes have to remind myself to value other people's input and opinions and fulfill others needs for emotional sensitivity. I am not naturally in tune with what others are feeling;
I have a tendancy to always need to be in charge;
I am impatient with inefficiency and sloppiness;
I am generally uncomfortable with change.

More information, and the source of this image here

Do you know your personality type? If so, do you think the profile suits you well?