The NEW Age of Hipsterism

As recently discussed with J, I've come to fully accept my hipster tendencies.

A 'hipster' as defined by Urbandictionary is;

Independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.

If one is to be independently thinking, then one must also ponder counter arguments and alternative conclusions

Here's something to chew on;

• What happens when a distinctly counter-culture and anti-mainstream subculture becomes the main stream?
• When the characteristic of independent thinking is part of the socially generated label?

A case in point is teenyboppers stealing 3D glasses in an effort to emulate the hipster look. Stealing 3D glasses and popping out the lens - how very hipster

of you. I'm sure that the characteristic of intelligence associated with hipsterism had simply slipped your mind. No worries, you look very smart with lens-less glasses.

Now we all have to buy a pair when seeing 3D movies. Thanks

I can't complain too much though, now I have the opportunity to camwhore these babies out.

"The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment..." - Road Dahl

The witching hour - a special moment in time when Witchery goes on sale.

I hate to fill the stereotype but I love shopping

There's not much better than retail therapy and fighting your way through the crowds to pick up an amazing bargain.

With summer coming around here in Australia, there is an abundance in mid season sales. Let me propose a shoppers definition for mid season; 'Every bargain shoppers favourite time - 4 times a year'.

Being beached as bruuu (or broke in laymen's terms), I had to to resist 40% off MNG storewide sales and big bright red SALE signs all over the place. It was going really well, this whole 'self restraint' business until I saw Witchery...

...what a way to break the camels back.

20% off already reduced stock.

'Self restraint'? yeah, never heard of it.

So I picked up this gorgeous sweater dress in navy blue for $40 down from $129. Quite possibly the softest thing I own, its made from pure Merino wool. It does the trick for those odd windy summer days or dressed up for a night out.

Delicious and err... Nutritious?

Being Law and Health Science student, I have love-hate-cynic relationship with food (and men I suppose...)

Australia is now one of the fattest countries in the world, with 21.7% of our population being obese. Thats a rank #6 out of the 201 countries worldwide. Usually I'm all for competition and being a high flyer but maybe our weight getting a little too high.

With our most popular shows such as Masterchef and Ironcheg being related to food

its all: CHEFCHEFCHEF

which should be read as: FOODFOODFOOD

but actually means: FATFATFAT

Theres even a recent article about the so-called 'Masterchef epidemic' where sales of butter have hiked up with more people cooking at home. Sure you'll have better value for money when cooking at home... but I honestly hope you haven't deluded yourself into thinking that tub of butter in your carbonara is gonna be healthy - just because it was made in your kitchen.

And to solidify my point, here is a picture of my dinner last night. You guessed it - carbonora soaked in thick cream, cheese, bacon and.... butter. Delicious.

Mushroom and bacon carbonara in olive cream sauce.

Painful Pleasures

Your best frenemy, is your favourite pair of high heels.

Maybe we're all just closet masochists - why else would we continue to wear what will indubitably hurt us?

It's like that douche bag ex.

We're drawn to their magical ability to enhance ourselves - be it our lower limbs or our self esteem.

3 of the most popular types of heels include...

- kitten heels. Short heels (under 2 inches) with a smaller point of contact.

- stilletos. Tall, skinny heels (over 2 inches) with a smaller point of contact.

- wedges. Heels which occupy the entire area between the sole of your foot to the ground.

Here are some of my favourite heels.

Note how my dog has brilliant taste in high heels - he stole both sides of the golden Sachi heels first. I'm so proud of him :)

Om nom nom

So it's been a while since I've last posted. Anyone who knows me would realise that in between the the last post and this post I have been shopping. Alot. In respect of that, I've decided hold off on the goods and do my first food related post instead - a review on Korean Restaurants.

There are a few well known korean places in Perth; Poppo, Arirang, Hana BBQ and Seoul BBQ.

In terms of value for money I'd definitely go for Poppos, running in before/after uni and enjoying a bowl of sashimi rice or bibimbap. The food there is delicious and quite reasonable, especially during their lunch special times. Poppo can be found on Barrack St, opposite Taka.

For fine dining, high quality meals and amazing ambiance, either Arirang or Hana BBQ are great.

The last time I went to Hana BBQ was with a big group of friends. Great food, great atmosphere, great friends... what more could I ask for? Be aware though, Hana is the most expensive out of the list, with about $40 for a buffet dinner - including soft drinks.

Arirang serves huge portions for their bulgogi and other set dishes. What I love, is the condiments provided with the set menu - a sweet potato side dish, a side dish of kimchi and a side dish of namul. There's also the option of cooking the meat yourself instead of the chef.

Add this to a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup and your large serving of the dish (not to mention the sauces that come with the dish) you've got a feast in front of you. With prices ranging from the around low twenties/high tens to low thirties, there's a range of dishes for most budgets.

What sets Arirang apart though, is the option of having fondue as a desert. The fondue is what inspired the title of this post - 'om nom nom' indeed. Starting at $16 for fondue for two, it isn't cheap but it is definitely worth it. Melted milk chocolate served with pieces of apple, pear, banana, kiwi, strawberry, marshmallows and rice balls really spoil you for choice. Arirang can be found on Barrack St between Hay St and Murray St.

Seoul BBQ has the best tasting marinated bbq meat in my honest opinion. Served with rice, miso soup, namul and salad, the dish isn't clouded with any condiments when you simply want to enjoy its flavour. A bit pricey in terms of value for money, it is still well within budget at about $10 for a meal there. Situated on top of Woolies on Murray St, its a bit hard to find but definitely a place to keep in mind.

I'm sure I've missed a few Korean Restaurants and I'm on trying to hunt down some new places to try out. If you liked my suggestions or have any of your own, feel free to leave a comment or a message!

I'm going to grab something to eat now, all this talk has made me starving :)

'Modum set menu' - Cook yourself from Arirang on Barrack St, Perth