I had an idea for a new series where I share the last three things in various life categories – things I did, bought, read, saw, etc. I was inspired by one of my old guided journal, which included blank lists for recording the, shall we say, ephemera of life. I found it an interesting way to approach journaling. And what is this blog if not a journal, too?
So, let’s get into it!
Last Three Things I Bought on Poshmark
I got this vintage-ish Liz Claiborne jacket a few months ago now, on a tip from an Instagram follower. It’s from the same collection (circa 2009, I think) as my beloved rainbow plaid dress. I’ve been low-key collecting pieces from that collection for a while now, so of course I had to get this jacket. It came in pristine condition, basically unworn, and it’s absolutely gorgeous IRL. Bright and vibrant and joyful. I paid $65CAD, which I consider a good deal given its condition, quality, and relative rarity.
Sourcing magazines for my scrapbooking continues to be a struggle. I’ve tried FB Marketplace, only to be ghosted by sellers on several occasions (even though I was offering to pay their asking price). On Poshmark, people tend to sell one-off magazines for $25 and up, plus shipping, which isn’t feasible for my needs and budget. So, I was happy to find this lot of 5 Harper’s Bazaars from 2022 for $28CAD (shipping included). Still kinda pricey but your girl is running out of options …
This was another lucky find bundle; the seller didn’t have them listed by brand, but I’m pretty sure these earrings are from Indi City, one of my fave indigenous designers. I was looking for something else entirely when I stumbled onto another of the seller’s listing, which led me to finding these. Both were designs I had previously coveted but was unable to get before they sold out. The last time I checked, Indi City was on a hiatus/not selling anymore, which is a shame. I hope they return. For now, I’m happy to have the chance to enjoy some of the old designs. I paid $50CAD for the bundle (shipping included).
Last Three Books I Read
I picked this up at the thrift store on a whim, but the truth is that I have a mild obsession with secret societies thanks to reading The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail as a teenager, and then Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum in my early 20s. At this point in my life, I have no patience for conspiracy theories (unless they’re written as straight fiction and even then, barely), but I do enjoy reading about the history of humankind’s obsession with esotericism and related conspiracies. This book seemed like a safe bet in terms of being serious non-fiction grounded in research rather than speculation, so I decided to give it a try. It was an enjoyable read and well-balanced – discussing the available scholarship in an accessible way.
Between this and the Frances Yates book on the history of the Rosicrucians that I read last year, I have some ideas for a potential book percolating in my mind. Always fun!
I loved Sarah Bakewell’s book on humanism, and this one on existential philosophy has been on the TBR for months. I’m glad I finally got to it – it was great! She writes in a such a beautiful and accessible way about a subject that can, at times, feel quite daunting for someone who’s almost 30 years removed from her university philosophy classes.
I grew up with Terry Pratchett’s books. To this day, he is one of the biggest influences on my writing and, in particular, my writer’s voice. I admire his humanism and his humour, which are reflected in his characters and his story-telling. It’s been years since my last re-read of his books, and I decided that it was time to revisit them all – or as many as I can manage this summer. I started with this one, randomly, because the Wyrd Sisters books are some of my fave Discworld novels, and I realized that I didn’t own this particular one. I ordered it and then, when it arrived, promptly started to read it because I have no chill or patience. Oh well. The beauty of most of the Discworld books is that you can read them out of order without dire consequences. Anyway, this one was a brilliant banger.
Last Three Collages I Made
“Chaos in colour” – 9+ layers. This started with the background, which appealed to me because I love mixing classical art with modern images. Then came the figure in the middle, which covered one in the background image that I didn’t like as much. Everything else was chosen as part of a colour story, which is why it’s pretty chaotic – hence the text, apposite.
“Take me anywhere” – 6 layers. This started with the central image, which was a Gucci ad, I believe. The rest was just … vibes, lol!
“Leaping bloom” – 6 layers. This started with that gorgeous, kinetic image of the leaping woman. I chose the background to complement the colour of her dress.
And that’s it: a glimpse at my life, lately. Let me know if you enjoyed this post, and I’ll do another 3×3 soon (with new categories!).