Ring-a-ding-ding

I love doodling on paper when I'm bored in meetings or talking to someone on the phone but occasionally I find myself without pen... enter Timothy Liles amazing crayon ring set. They are too cool for words.

The set of eight rings comes in a very cute box and the crayons are washable too should you - all for $56. You can find them on Oye Modern - along with a lot of other jewellery I'm currently salivating over.

PETA friendly taxidermy

Hmmm I'm not entirely sure how I feel about these kooky faux-hunting wall-hangings from Made 590. Part of me thinks "CUUUUUTE!" and the other part thinks "that's a touch creepy".

Either way, I love the invovation behind them and know many buck-hunting friends (computerised hunting only, I promise) who might fancy hanging one of these babies on their wall.

Oh and for the bird enthusiasts, or die-hard Harry Potter fans... they've got white owls too!

Check them out at Made 590 -

590 King street Newtown NSW Australia 2042

or online!

What's your flavour?

Just spotted this cute idea on Apartment Therapy. What do you think? Would you like a waffle cone posie? I'm thinking it's also more environmentally friendly than sheets of cellophane.

Tea House for Two

I quite adore the little iGoogle theme Tea House. Every two hours this cute little fox is doing something different based on the time of day... eating sushi by the lake, star gazing or feeding the ducks.

He keeps me company all day long and puts a little smile on my face when I'm at work.

One day my prints will come...

How freaking cool is this make your own scarf kit from Prints Charming?!

The lazy part of me wants to buy this cute scarf ready-made... but the obsessively DIY side thinks is is a pretty great project for the up-coming long weekend.

So you're looking at a few hours of entertainment and a gorgeous and unqiue scarf with bragging rights (Oh this old thing? well actually.. I made it!), all just for $45? Sign me up!

My Doily Fix

Not just for your Nan!

Doily plates from Fred Flare

Vinyl Wall sticker from Byrdie Graphics on Etsy >

Doily Wall Clock from andfurthermore at Etsy

Doily Brooches by States of Nature >

Next Stop...

There is a big empty white wall in my living room and I am looking for something that is high impact to cover it. While in Melbourne I had spotted lots of stores selling vintage tram scrolls and David Met Nicole in Surry Hills has a great collection too. But living with a boy who thinks that vintage really just means "old and mouldy" I knew that when I walked into our apartment with an expensive and enormous rustic tram sign he was not going to be amused. Then I happened across these updated versions in the window of Orson and Blake. BusScrolls.com is an Australian company that sells these great canvases and they can produce them in any colour or any route that you would like. Or you can pick one from their catalogue that includes routes from London, Paris and New York.

The gruen transfer

I haven't smelt Miss Dior Cherie, but it doesn't really matter if it smells like a cityrail train headed south on a boiling hot day because this ad alone is going to make me go and buy it.

Everything about this ad is tugging at my heartstrings - those gorgeously round, pastel balloons (since when were balloons perfect spheres?!), the soft pink ribbon lazily spelling Dior and of course those classic french rooftops with the outline of the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Advertising clearly does work - and you don't even need John Hamm selling it to me!

Spring Haze

Spring has well and truly sprung in Sydney today, so here are some fun and bright things that have taken on my fancy on Aussie website Georgie Love (how freaking cute is their patch of button flowers above?)

<An Afternoon in Japan resin bangles by Madz has Runway - so sleek and stylish

Utterly adorable Paint Me A Picture palette by Betty Jo Designs

I'm listening to...

Having only heard Coin Laundry I wasn't sure if I would like the rest of Lisa Mitchell's songs. Not that Coin Laundry wasn't a cute and quirky song, I just didn't know how much more of that strange little girl voice I could handle. But having poked around on YouTube and listened to a few of her other songs I'm now hooked. Totally in love with Neopolitan Dreams which is so sweet and nostalgic.

One boy's tea towel is another girl's treasure

The first argument my boyfriend and I had when we moved in with each other was about a tea towel, a Country Road tea towel to be precise. Being a male he didn't realise that there are everyday tea towels and special occasion tea towels. He had foolishly used my brand new turquoise Country Road towel to remove something hot and greasy from the oven. He wasn't prepared for the wrath that followed and still to this day he doesn't know what special occasion would ever require a fancy tea towel. I'm not quite sure I know what that occasion would be either but I still have a lovely set of Country Road red tea towels from Christmas that haven't been used. They're just so pretty and fresh looking.

Can't buy me love... but you can give me free tickets!

I have a mug on my desk that says "I love free stuff" and I really do.

So imagine my delight when mother dearest called and gave me a code to get tickets to a free movie. Thanks Ma!!

If you're interested in movies, and particularly disinterested in paying for it, I suggest you check out See Film First.

Miss Post-A-Lot

If you're recently traveled (like me) and are having the pangs that only post-holiday blues can give you (like me), you should read this article on the SMH (like me).

A Little Slice Of Somewhere Else

See! My theory sticks, food can fix everything - even post-travel sorrow!

And because it's Wednesday and everyone needs some cheering up, do your ears a favour and listen to Feist - Mushaboom. An oldie but a goodie.

And then buy me this Kitchenaid because it means I'll be yours for life.

Books You Should Read Part III

While I'm on a recommendation roll, get your hands on a copy of Helen Garner's Monkey Grip.

I'm too lazy to write my own synopsis so I'm borrowing one from Borders -
"In this acclaimed first novel, Helen Garner captures the fluid relationships of a community of friends who are living and loving in new ways. Nora falls in love with Javo the junkie, and together they try to make sense of their lives and the choices they have made. But caught in an increasingly ambiguous relationship, they are unable to let go - and the harder they pull away from each other, the tighter the monkey grip."

Okay, so I can be a bit of a straight-180 and may have even been called a prude in my time, but I loved this book. When a friend lent it to me I thought a book about junkies wouldn't be of interest - too heavy and just too much work.

But this book is such an easy read, and not in the sense that it's dumbed down or basic, but that it is written so fluidly that you can't help but get caught up in it.

There are so many names, people and places that you really can't keep up and that's largely the point. You're supposed to feel a little lost and confused and vague, because (without sounding ridiculously corny and English teacher-y) Nora is all of those things.

For content that could be made to feel really gritty, it doesn't. It isn't exactly beautiful either, rather it's simple and real. And I know for a fact that it's on the Penguin $10 list - so no excuses!

Well I'm Sold...

For those of you who remember Joseph Gordon Levitt as the long haired, dorky adolescent from 3rd Rock from the Sun - do yourself a favour and see 500 Days of Summer.

This boy is just cuteness personified.

I'm not going to spoil any of the movie other than to say prepare yourself for a movie drowning in cute and a little bit of heartbreak. The soundtrack alone is enough to make it worthy of your time (Feist! Regina!). Ultimately it's the adorable pairing of Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel that makes this movie, discovering the very real highs and lows of falling in and out of love. Heck, this film earned major points in my book for making IKEA look fun (which is what I've been arguing for years!)

It's quirky, sweet and refreshing, if not a little jarring for the romantic at heart. But absolutely worth $17.50 and a couple of hours of your life.

Oh and Ms Deschanel's (now Mrs Gibbard for any Death Cab fans) wardrobe is to die for.

Life made simple, PDF style

I hope I'm not alone when I say I'm terribly disorganised. That means forgetting keys, running late and having a wardrobe of perpetually crushed clothing (irons and I never saw eye to eye).

This also means that it will be a friend's birthday and I'll have a beautiful wrapped present ready to go but no card. Short of scribbling my heart-felt message on a receipt or train ticket, what's a girl to do? Buy PDF stationery of course!

Check out this RIDICULOUSLY cute stationery set by Mel at Tinys.

It's really simple -
You buy the set, Mel sends the file to your email and then it is yours - forevermore!
Whenever you're in need of a gift tag, or some super kawaii notecards, you simply open the PDF and print it out as you need.

Now you never have to worry about being left card-less and you have some delicious looking stationery! Just be careful not to drool on the paper... those cupcakes look pretty tasty.

Lots of kisses...

I have just finished baking some Meringue Kisses. The first batch failed dismally (a little yolk got in the egg whites), but I'm quite pleased with these ones. On top of looking cute, they also taste delicious, and unless you run into problems with the egg whites, then they are really easy to make.

2 egg whites

Pinch of Salt

1/2 Cup Caster Sugar

Pink Food Colouring (to marble through the meringue)

Beat the egg whites and salt. Gradually add caster sugar, beating well until the sugar disolves and the mixture is thick and glossy. Spoon the mixture onto a tray lined with baking paper to make 24 little rounds and then run a skewer dipped in red food colouring the the rounds to create the marble effect. Pop into a 120/100 degree oven and bake for an hour.

Filling: You can either use chocolate icing (butter, icing sugar and cocoa) or I also used store bought lemon curd.

Simply sandwich the lemon curd or choclate icing between two kisses and voila!

These are a few of my favourite things...

It's Friday night and I'm doing some online shopping... so sad. But Not On The High Street makes me very cheery. They have such a large array of beautiful things including this gorgeous Union Jack pillow which I have been coveting for a while and this amazing bird cage mirror. Both would look so nice in my bedroom!

We love gift wrapping so much here at e and they certainly have this covered with beautiful crafty looking ribbons and accessories like these adorable little wooden letters.

And I know it's a bit early, but I thought I'd show you some of their adorable chrissie decorations, because another thing we are absolutely OBSESSED with is Christmas and it always pays to plan ahead.

Tape it up

When I came back from Japan I had a suitcase full of sticky tape... I'm not even joking. Forget kimonos and fans - it's all about the stationery!

If you aren't finding yourself in the vacinity of Toyko anytime soon, Etsy can sooth those rabid stationery cravings.

Check out these cute finds from Etsy store My Happy Store

Grey Gardens

If you have Foxtel (specifically the showcase channel) and you're home on Saturday night, I highly recommend you watch Grey Gardens.

It tells the fascinating tale of mother and daughter, Big "Edie" and Little "Edie", who were the aunt and cousin of famous First Lady Jackie O. The two lived a somewhat reclusive life in their house, Grey Gardens. The two were eccentric to say the least... and sometimes downright weird.

In the 70s they received attention after a documentary, also titled Grey Gardens, was made about their peculiar lives. The women were believed to be living in filth (apparently sometimes literally in their own...ew) and the house was practically dilapidated. The film crew had to wear flea collars around the ankles when filming due to the the poor level of hygiene. Jackie O stepped in and offered to clean up the house... 1,000 bags of rubbish later the job was done.

Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange star in the movie adaptation, inspired by the documentary, of this mother and daughter's curious relationship. From all accounts, it's definitely worth checking out.

Our dream job

is to be Amy Atlas.

"Amy Atlas’ unique dessert tables have made her a sought-after event planner in New York City."

Um excuse me, but did you just say dessert table?!

Worth more than a thousand words

If I could just have one photo for the rest of my life I think it would be this one.

You know how everyone always thinks that their grandparents came out of the womb aged 80? That they couldn't possibly have ever been young and free spirited and crazy with love. Well this photo challenged the idea that my grandmother was always... my grandmother.

By the time I got to know her she was little and round and cuddly in all the places a grandma should be. She baked and knitted and sewed. She made grapes in jelly and had an entire cupboard of buttons.
This photo tells me that in a previous life she was young and vibrant, that she let her hair go slightly wild, that she was one hell of a poser. Oh and that she wore short shorts! (heck she had the figure for it)

Smells so sweet!

Whenever I'm in Melbourne, I love to explore the stores along Brunswick St in Fitzroy and I always let my nose lead me to number 313... Klein's Perfumery.

The smell of tuberose, fig, milk, rose, hyacinth and every other scent you can imagine is too hard to resist. I adore this little store that is stocked floor to ceiling with soap, candles, lipglosses, bubble bath, well basically anything that smells fantastic!

They stock brands such as Diptyque, Jurlique, Tocca and my personal favourite Scottish Fine Soaps' Au Lait range.

Books You Should Read Part II

Can you tell I have a thing for the Sedaris family? These people are seriously funny.

Unlike Amy's somewhat schizophrenic but utterly hilarious "hostess" manual "I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence", David is much dryer and sardonic in tone.
Naked is a collection of essays, memoirs or just damn funny stories from Sedaris' colourful life. It will keep you in stitches - but probably best to not read this one on public transport as fits of uncontrollable laughter may ensue.

I want to be a part of it...

NY NY!

I am definitely in a New York state of mind today. Shopping on the MoMA online store will do that to you.

Nothing is cuter than this little wooden New York city by Muji.

Or have a New York moment every morning with this little "disposable" coffee cup.

Ranunculee ranuncula!

It is 31 degrees in Sydney today. The smell of the approaching summer is in the air and my little garden is thriving! I don't have the green thumb to grow ranunculas just yet, so I popped into Ruby Slipper in Paddington and picked up these amazing velvety purple ones.

Brand New Day

Sometimes living in Australia sucks - cool brands don't exist here, the best internet shops won't ship here and some of the most talented musicans from around the world won't tour here!

But today my faith has been restored - Joshua Radin is touring!
Described as "hushed folk-rock" this guy can write one heck of a song... and did I mention he is easy on the eyes too?

You may not have heard of him, but don't be surprised if a few of his songs sound familiar. Thanks to Zach Braff (did we really need a reason to love him even more?), Josh's tunes are used on a tonne of shows and movies- Scrubs, The Last Kiss, Greys Anatomy, heck even Home & Away. Braff, a friend from college, heard Radin's demo for 'Winter' and promptly included it in a heart-breaking episode of Scrubs... and the rest they say is history.

'Sif that wasn't enough, Ellen DeGeneres was so smitten with Josh's music she had him play at her and Portia's wedding. Yes indeedy!

So if you have your listening ears on, I suggest you pop over to Josh's myspace and listen to his tunes! If you like what you hear, think about catching one of his shows while he's in the country. Might see you there!

Nesting...

I know a great deal of posts lately are FOOD related... but they say talk about what you know right? Anyway this is kitchenware related. When you're baking do you have some grungy white bowls that you always use and just seem so lifeless and sterile? Well then you need these!If you're an avid baker and like me you're looking for a little fun in your kitchen - these Josesh Joseph Next 8 Mixing Bowls are a MUST! You can check them out on Amazon

Oh and while you're at it, why not pick up these delightful flower measuring cups. But beware, you may think they're just too cute to use (I've had mine for a year and have never used them!)

Let them eat cake

If you are even remotely interested in food (namely chocolate) and aren't even remotely worried about your waistline then do yourself a favour and get acquainted with

Not convinced? How about...now?
This woman is nothing short of a genius! She tries everything, isn't afraid to fail or... use packet mixes! Yes all you purists are probably dying at the thought, but by the looks of the above - this lady knows what she is doing.

Mon reve...

My dream is to wander the streets of Paris with La Vie en Rose as my soundtrack (not so original, I know). At least I can pop Edith Piaf on my itunes and flick through this gorgeous little book.

I can't wait to visit le Petit Atelier de Paris on the rue de Montmorenoy in the 3rd Arrondissement (even the address sounds so romantic). But until I have saved up enough euro for the airfare I'll have to settle for browsing their exquisite creations on their website.

Nothing says spring like...

I'm currently celebrating the start of spring the way that the Japanese do. They sure do love their cherry blossoms and it's hard not to get caught up in the excitement. These are just some of the hundreds of cherry blossom photos I took on my last visit. I'm recapturing the moment with a big bunch of cherry blossoms on my sideboard.