teenage dream

Thrifted Threads: Dress $4 White Cardigan $4 Shoes Target Glasses Equip Earrings Prouds

Thrifted things make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream. 

All the things I could ever dream of when I was a teenager. Pretty clothes, cool shit. 

The type of gears that let everyone know; you were the shit and you knew it.

I was a complete poor soul. But I think everyone was. Nah that's bullshit. People were cool. I wasn't. 

I was a quiet, good, half-caste girl who was fat and couldn't afford all that fancy shit. 

It didn't kill my life like it did for others. 

It didn't sit at home and pine for it. 

I just waited around and grew into myself. 

It was nice dreaming away about all the things I wanted to become. 

I was connected to my family, friends and music and looking back, 

it seems to be the best youth ever. 

Things are getting messed up now days. 

You get everything you want and you get it quickly.

Now I realise that a lot of shit doesn't matter.

But it's nice to get all things that make me feel

like I'm living the teenage dream.

Big Love,

Falala Mele.

velour lips & quick visits

Hi!


Yes I know, it's been forever. I've been busy. School, niece, family & saving. All the necessary boring stuff that makes up a huge chunk of life. Amongst all the ordinary stuff, I was delighted to have my sis Emma come and visit my sister and I.

She brought gifts. The beautiful Australis Velour Lip Colour range. Two colours each. I was pretty keen to see how this gloss turn matte lipstick would work and I'm surprised by the punchy colour and staying power. It lasted through dinner and I literally had to wash it off. Cool for you makeup buffs out there.

My whole outfit was based around the lip colour. I decided to wear my rose blouse as a contrast to the lip colour. I love this thrifted find. Think it was like $2. Black skater skirt and boots. Casual and comfy. Went straight out to dinner after this. Thanks for making it all the way out here Emz. You are the bomb sis.

Big Love,

Falala Mele.

September Weekends

Hi Falalas,

Feels like another eternity since I've been on here. How are you all? I hope that you are all feeling strong and fabulous. It's a dreary Sunday morning here in Mildura and the lack of sun has meant that I slept in until 9am. I'm usually up when the sun creeps into the lounge room but not today, instead I'm sitting at my breakfast bench listening to old Mariah Carey & Destiny Child. So I thought I'd touch base and share a few pics with whats been happening with me the last few weekends.

Last weekend we had a visit by our lovely Level 2 sister Lolo. She was one of your youngest to graduate and she's doing great things in Melbourne with her teaching. We had another cause to celebrate because our other Level 2 sister Lo got the news that she was successful in her transfer to Melbourne for next year. She was out in Mildura for 4 years teaching. It wasn't one of those "serve your time in the country gigs" (and FYI Mildura is NOT country. Try Meekatharra and you'll see what real "country" is!) she loved growing out here in a smaller school; advancing to Deputy Principal in such a short period of time.

So we spent the last weekend laughing, picnicking, churching, dancing, brunching and chilling.
It was sooooo good to catch up with her and Alex and it reminded me that I need to organise a catchup with all my other college girls in the holidays.....YUSSSSS! Only one more week this term. This time last term I was in New York and now I'm gearing up to pack up my house and finish my time here in Mildura. It's going to go by so quickly, so we are making an extra effort not to let work get in the way of hanging out and having fun when we are not working.

1) Homemade garlic studded pizza 2) Asparagus Pea and Olive Salad 3) Brunch 4) Lentil & Current Salad

Brunch crew

Yesterday we were making our way into church when our Samoan family told us that they weren't staying for church because they were going to a wedding in Robinvale. We were about to say our goodbyes when Lo's Mami asked us to join them. It was such a beautiful day yesterday, there were two things that ran through my mind when she asked me: a nice road trip & fob food. YES I'll come.

We dropped our niece of at her friends place and set out on the drive. We arrived and sat through the long service (it was a lovely traditional Tongan wedding) and we chatted with all our Tongan school students who were there (they looked so beautiful and it was lovely to see them in their element with their family). Stelle loved seeing the contrast between a traditional service (she thought it was serious) and the joyous wedding reception where the dance floor was littered with Mums and Aunties and cousins and sisters dancing and singing shouts of praise. She loved the food and gobbled down the Ota (raw fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut cream) and lu (beef and coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves and baked). She spent time with her student and just really loved being immersed in another culture. I love how we can have these little adventures and I'm excited for our Hawaiian one coming up!

Stelle watching bridal party enter the reception

I also made my way around to visit Tae. She is a member of my Newman family. Everywhere I go, I always make a new family with the people I'm surrounded by. She is my friend Lupe's Mum and we all worked and lived together in Newman WA before my final year of college. I worked there for 2 months to save for my college fees and my trip to Europe.

I also saw her nieces. Lupe-Carmel (the girl nestled right into my shoulder was named after us both) and made arrangements for us to have some fun next term before I move away again. Aren't they just beautiful!










After the reception headed back to Mildura and I spent the evening running around a rollerskating rink with my students. We had a church social cake auction to raise money for the orphanage that our Grade 10 students visited in Vietnam earlier this year. Such a nice way to spend a Sabbath.

Big Love,

Falala Mele

NYC Summer: Evening 4 & Day 5

After the Bloomingdales event at FFFW I scurried off to the hotel in the horrors. "What a waste of time!" I complained. I was pissed off because I thought I had missed the chance to catch up with Deja. Deja was my first ever blogger buddy and a total sweet heart. We have met up every time I have been to New York. It's a personal tradition. Come to New York, visit Deja. This year was a little harder to coordinate because she had just graduated from college and was busy with her job schedule. We would text and try and tee things up but sometimes it just wouldn't work. I also didn't have internet on my phone so messages came through with every free wireless port I could find.Things seemed to work out okay because we managed to find a place and a time to meet up. To view our previous adventures

Mele & Deja 2012 CLICK HERE.

Mele & Deja 2011 CLICK HERE. 

Check out Deja's blog here: http://www.imjustdaisy.us/

We were so excited to talk about graduation and friends and family and future plans. Shake shack was okay. Not gross but I don't think I'll be dying to go there on my next visit. It all seemed to the one texture, just all weirdly soft and fluffy and I wasn't a fan of the fries. The shakes were yummy though.

After dinner we headed over to Crumbs to see the huge cupcakes. Sia turned her swag on to take pics and chat with the cutie behind the counter and I decided to jump on the subway with Deja while Sia and Theresa stayed to hang out in Times Square. It was great evening and I forgot all about the Bloomingdales disaster. All was right again in New York.

1)OOTD Friday 2) Bubba Gump Shrimp 3) Goodbye Pod Hotel we're off to Brooklyn

1) Shopping Soiree 2) Thursday Night OOTE 3) Lollies galore

Blazer Thrifted / Top Best and Less / Tights Target

Friday morning was our last day at the Pod Hotel. We woke up and packed up. We took some more photos of our view and doing things that had become our usual routines. We caught a cab through the rush hour to attend the shopping soiree. Wasn't really impressed with it at all. There wasn't anything I wanted to buy and there was no real atmosphere. People just wandered in and out. My sister bought a few pair of earrings but I left after about 30 minutes. Waste of money really. Vendors pay to sell and shoppers pay to shop. The whole FFFW was pretty disappointing. I missed tickets to Indie runway show and I didn't like the other 2 events I attended. The White Cruise was cool fun but if I was ever to attend again it would be to support my friend Jen sell her Seraphim label.

After we left we made our way into Times Square. My cousin wanted to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp. I wasn't keen because I had it in Manila. It was nice but I felt it was the type of thing you only need to do once because it's quite expensive and there is so much better food around New York.

After we had lunch we organised a driver to take us to our new home in Brooklyn with Gabby and Candice. This is where our new adventures began. It was Candice's birthday and we celebrated by eating more at Dallas BBQ. The atmosphere was awesome. It was packed with families, graduation parties, birthdays and people on dates. Everyone was talking, eat and sipping on the signature frozen cocktails. We were full from lunch and decided to order one meal to share between the three of us. The meals are huge and we still had leftovers! It's definitely a place my family would love to go and eat at.

We ordered the Henney wings with corn bread and yellow rice. It's far from fine dining but that's why I loved it soooo much. Lots of hot crispy wings and rice and cornbread. The kind of food we grew up on. We drank virgin Pina Coladas and managed to pack two containers of leftovers to take home with us.

Big Love,

Falala Mele

NYC Summer: Day 4 (I think)

 Hi Falalas,

Just a quick post to share my ootd on my New York Summer Adventure.... Feels like an eternity ago now. My previous post said we had a pretty laid back day. After wondering around we came back and got changed to go to the Bloomingdales free event for FFFW. If you followed any of the FFFW events then you probably heard a lot of negative feedback for this one and that's because it wasn't really that good and the people who attended the event were mad.

I feel like the general public got the idea that we all weren't happy and even Gwen DeVoe responded to Jassifer's post on it HERE. Running a huge event like the FFFW is bound to have holes because there is just so much to do and I don't want to be negative and nit pick so I'm just gonna say that I didn't like this event and I wouldn't attend it again.

The best thing about being stuck in a small confined space was that I got to meet some awesome plus sized beauties. Some models, bloggers and of course regular people like me who just wanted to have a little look around.

This is what I wore. I thought it was about time I get out of my Chucks and after meeting Kiah from THE REZ TO THE CITY I was ready to roll outta there. On my way out I stumbled into the Magnolia bakery and picked up some ice tea and a peanut ice box. FROTH! Lol it was so nice but I couldn't finish it. Too rich and decedent but definitely worth it just to say I did.

Check out my sister's comprehensive post the Bloomingdales event HERE.

Shorts Avella (originally pants but I cut them) / Singlet Factory / Blazer Thrifted / Chain Gifted/ Shoes Target

Big Love,

Falala Mele

NYC Summer Day 4

Dress Thrifted Best & Less /  Shoes Converse / Bow found in Manila 

Day 4: NYC wanderings.

After the WHITE CRUISE and our late night after party at Pie Face we finally had our first sleep in. I can't remember exactly what time we woke up but after lazing about in our room and contacting everyone quickly at home via our online portals, by the time we walked out of the hotel it was lunch time.

Perfect time to get the 2 course $10 lunch special at the Thai place that was next door. I needed some fresh food so I got the green mango salad and a delicious eggplant curry. Pretty sure I have pics on my instagram feed @mele2541. The food was so fresh and delicious and since then eggplant has been my current obsession of late. I've recently made eggplant and quinoa lasagna and yesterday I made a sweet potato & eggplant curry for the week. YAYURR!

So we ate and we wandered around and chilled before we made our way back to the pod. We were going to the Bloomingdales FFFW event that evening. I'll post on that soon.

Big Love,

Falala Mele.

Summer NYC 2 Day

Blouse Thrifted / Double Coloured Top Supre / Shorts Kmart / Shoes Converse

So after getting to bed at 4am in the morning, we woke up at 8am ready to hit the pavement and take Sia out for her first full day in New York. After getting dressed and taking our outfit shots we headed off to Ess-a-bagel to get some bagels for breakfast. This place was around the corner from our Pod hotel and it was a late discovery last year. We lined up and kept up with the ordering pace this year. Damn! People know what they want and it's so busy in there....you need to have it all ready to roll off your tongue when it's your turn to order. They don't play....luckily it wasn't as busy this year.

photo courtesy of @sikilou

Next we bought our unlimited subway tickets at 53rd and Lexington for the next 7 days. We may have fist pumped the air when we made it to our destination with little trouble at all (okay so we were so excited to find our line that we got on without checking which train  it was that we got on BUT we got off at the next stop and corrected our route). Then we made our way down to Battery Park and jumped on the free Staten Island Ferry to see Lady Liberty. We met this nice guy (yeah his green eyes, big arms and cute accent were an added bonus) named Carlos who was just as intrigued with Australia as we are with New York. After we got off in Staten Island we chatted for like 40 minutes talking about Australia and the Bronx and places to eat Puerto Rican & Dominican Republic food. I was like "So are you gonna show us around the Bronx?" I have no shame.

After meeting my friends Deja and Gabby and Candice I've confirmed two things. It's like a gazillion times better to be shown around by a local because you get a real feel of the place. I know you're probably thinking "STRANGER DANGER ALERT" but if you get the sense that people are good then 99.9% of the time you are right. Don't underestimate your gut feeling. Just think about how amazing your brain is. It's stored all of your life's experiences and memories and we humans learn from experience and routine so if for some reason something in your head is sending out warning signals than you should follow your instinct. I just don't want y'all to think I foolishly bash about with anybody. We met and talked and teased and shared jokes so before I asked for a tour I was thinking 'yeah he seems legit and cool". ANYWAYS back to the story..... He said he would show us around and we swapped numbers, social networks and email addresses but we ran out of time to make our way out to the Bronx during our stay. I'll keep in touch with good old Carlos so it's definitely sorted for next time.

After that we walked over to the Native American National Museum and wandered through the museum. It was full of beautiful artefacts, delicate carvings, spears and traditional dress attire. Next we ran through the rain and caught our subway (successfully) back to the hotel. More on our first night out in New York on the next post. Stay tuned.

Big Love,


Falala Mele

Joan and Karl's pre-wedding party

My lovely ladies Sia, Dasa, Arlene, myself & Angela

So I basically have the worst habit ever. I take photos, I edit them and they're ready to upload on the blog and then I forget or just become preoccupied with work and life and the photos never see the light of day.

To be fair though, this is the first time since the start of the year that I have had any real time so sit on my computer, read blogs and update my own. I've been busy with work and travel amongst it all. I made the right choice in only spending 2 weeks in New York. I was getting ready to book 3 weeks with multiple stops to try and squeeze every ounce of freedom out of my holidays (like I usually do) but I decided to come back early and save money. 

This is my second day at home and the cold weather and jetlag (and lack of winter clothes in my summer suitcase) has left me uninspired and happy to stay in bed. I'm going to give myself one more day of this. After today it will be back to the usual routine. Up early, exercise, eat and get to visiting all my friends around home. I will try to be a good blogger and keep you all posted. I am also keen to share the New York trip with you guys and make my photo book. 

Last night my sisters Pulu, Sia and Niva  and I met up with Dasa, Moala & Joan. We talked about our holiday, our Boracay trip and Joan's post wedding life. It was really nice just to catch up even though I was struggling to stay awake. The chocolate pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks were a nice way to help soften the jetlag ;) anyways it got me to thinking "Shit I still haven't uploaded the pre-wedding pics!!!!" so I thought I'd do it now while I remember. Joan's family booked out a little beachside bar for the evening. We enjoyed drinks, food (oh the sisig rice HOLLLA) and we were able to meet all of Joan's family (some had just arrived on international flights). It was a nice way to relax before the big day. See my post on the wedding day HERE.

Theresa, Nela & Dasa clowning around

My sisters Sia, Dasa and Pulu looking all pretty 

The instruction was "Gimmie your happiest face ever" Lol look at Joan and Karl.....sah cute <3

I met Karl's sister Paua and she is so sweet and kind always looking out for the workers and others on the trip.

Joan's gorgeous family.

These photos have given me another chance to remember how wonderful this trip was. EVERYONE got along, the weather was perfect and the wedding was soooo full of love. Thank you to everyone who made this one of my most memorable holidays ever.


Big Love,

Falala Mele.

ps. Don't worry my NY posts are coming soon.

90's Rose

On Monday and Tuesday I went to Adelaide for a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Workshop for professional development. It's one of the best parts of my job, teaching kids how to grow, harvest and prepare food.

We left Mildura at 8am and stopped at Taliem Bend Vinnies and I found this gorgeous rose top for $1.50. Lately I've been feeling the 90's vibe. I guess it's just the good feelings that swell up in my heart when I see anythings from this time. It's my youth.....recording mixed tapes off the radio, secretly crushing on the boys in the pop film clips and teen movies, waiting for the holidays so I could hang with my cousins to dream about growing up and going out. This was the time when parents ruled and after school 3-way chats on the phone were an essential daily ritual. You actually knew your friends parents because you'd have a quick chat when you asked for your friend on the regular.

People always be talking about the youth of today.....and I admit I have been one of them. Thinking about my childhood and teen years I feel a little sad for all the things our kids miss out on today. Sure iphones are cool and video calling is the bomb, but they'll never have to wait for anything so I wonder if anything is really appreciated or sacred? Easy come, easy go right?

When I loved a song or I wanted to hear the latest shit I'd stay up late to watch Rage. I'd wait out all the crappy songs to see one new song and I'd love it and remember the feeling of thinking "Yes this is my new favourite song!"

If I crushed on a boy I'd have to wait and hope that I'd see him around school. The anticipation, the butterflies, the satisfaction of whatever contact the universe would bless me with. This was gold. This IS gold and I'm wondering if this ever occurs these days?

 I could be wrong. Our kids communicate in sophisticated ways and I could just be out-of-the-loop with what the go is. However, all the little coming-of-age moments where one struggles with decisions, choices and heartache (you know, the real character building shit) seems to have been replaced with this self-idolising nature. Tumblr, Facebook, IG, Snapchat or whatever other new network is trending. Who has got the most followers? Who should be followed? Like for a like, follow for follow. The latest sound, the latest look, the latest must-have gadget. What is it teaching them? What will stick? What is truly valued?



Big Love,



Falala Mele.

Let's catch up

Hi friends,

I wanted to just come and say hello because I haven't been on here half as much as I would like to. I haven't had time to read all my fave blogs and that makes me feel disconnected and out of the loop. I used to be good at sharing what I've been up to. I know I've been a good blogger when my friends are like "yeah I saw it on the blog" and I haven't even kept them in the loop with my life. SMH. It's the same old "I'm just so busy drill" but I know that EVERYONE is busy these days so I'm here trying to catch up with you all.

How are you?


What's new?

I've been spending my mornings in the gym, days at school and evenings watching Bomb Girls, Supernatural, Pan Am, The Carrie Diaries, Freaks and Geeks and Grey's Anatomy. Don't judge. It's officially winter.

The kids at school keep me laughing and my sister and niece who also double as my housemates have kept the good times rolling at home. Just the regular teasing, eating, dancing and laughing routine.

I've been eating Laksa and grilled cheese once a week because they are the faves atm and I spent last Saturday night going through all my thrifted finds deciding what to take to New York.

It is now officially two weeks to go. I'm cutting out on school 2 weeks early because I was supposed to be going to Spain, Italy and France. But lack of funds (and perhaps the added trip to the Philippines) left me saying "Well I plan to live there next year so why spend thousands of dollars on a little holiday now when I can save it for next year?".

So New York was the fabulous booby prize :D I get to catch up with my New York sisters Gabby, Candice and Deja. I get to meet up with my awesome Aussie blogger ladies in another country and I get to spend quality-non work-no stress time with my sissys Bullu and Sia.

So instead of getting up and going to my 8:30am boxing class today I decided to stay home, enjoy the rain and write to you all. I am blessed and thankful.

I hope that you are happy and well. I hope your joys outweigh your sorrows and that there is something exciting on your horizon. If there's nothing that comes to mind then why not plan a little something. It doesn't have to be huge but something to look forward to is so important amongst work and life and responsibilities.

It's a thrifted-op-shopped-vintage life <3

Waiting to hit USA again.  1. Vegas tattooing 2. Slots 3. Buffet 4. Esa-bagel Photos by @sikilou

1) Guy Sebastian concert 2) 51 ST NY 3) Katz's Deli 4) Brooklyn repping our own

1. Brooklyn Bridge 2. Grimaldi's DUMBO 3. Subway heat 4. Miss New Booty in Harlem

Best way to keep up with me lately is to follow me on instagram @mele2541 it's where I'm usually at.



Happy Sabbath xo


Falala Mele