The motherload

Sometimes, if you're really lucky, you will have an amazing Aunt who not only pays for you to stay in one of Gion's best ryokans on your last trip abroad... she'll also remember your feverent love of Japanese Kitkats. I was lucky on both accounts and on Aunty C's trip home from Italy via Narita she pretty much scoured the entire airport for every Kitkat she could find. Which resulted in the above haul! (along with some Baci and an Agatha Ruiz De La Prada lipgloss... she knows me so well)
I scored NINE green tea/matcha Kitkats - I had just finished my stockpile so this was great timing. I also scored two plum soda, a bag of mini orange, two carrot & apple and a Tokyo limited edition box of koi-kinako (dark soybean)! Score!!
Jury is still out on the carrot and apple flavour... I've eaten plenty of green kitkats, but pastel orange? Not so much.

Don't say no to a mo

Just a reminder that Sunday is the first day of Movember so make sure your boyfriend/husband/dad/brother signs up and grows the mo to end all mo's to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and BeyondBlue. I'm going to make M grow the "connoisseur". And since I might have Mo-envy, then I might have to buy this very cool mustache on a stick from SomethingsHidingHere.

Nostalgia...

These very lovely little cardboard creations are made by Under The Stair Studio and can be bought on Etsy. They're quite Beatrix Potter-esque, don't you think? For me, they bring back memories of being a little girl reading pop-up books. Weren't they so fun?

Better than Iron Chef France any day... sorry Sakai!

Do yourself a HUGE favour - hurry over to Iron Chef Shellie's blog and drool over these absolutely beautiful cupcakes she made! I'm having palpatations just looking at them... (it's my inner fat-kid as my other half lovingly tells me...on a daily basis)

White chocolate + macadamia + buttons = lots of e love

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

Being bored and trawling through blogs and online stores often pays off when you find something that you never knew existed. Like tonight, when I stumbled across Stone and Honey. Can you believe how beautiful these necklaces are? The colours are really vivid and since they are made from natural agate, you know that it is a one of a kind. Online shopping is so much more fun than studying

Stick em up!

Planning on having lots of bbq's with friends this summer? I know I am (just as soon as I buy a bbq).

Proving that you can make the most mundane object quirky and interesting, the Condiment Gun makes that old glass sauce bottle just look plain sad.

Aside from the obvious risks of putting this in the hands of a male (especially on a day when you're wearing your prettiest white cotton summer dress), I think it is too fun to resist.

Buy it at Opus Design.

A bird in the hand

So pretty for warm summer days. Acrylic "Hohloma Bird" brooches from A Skulk of Foxes.

I know it's only October but...

I'm already on the prowl for fantastic Christmas things. I'll definitely be visiting Kiki K this year, to stock up on some seriously pretty gift wrapping accessories. I love how everything is themed to match, the ribbon, the paper, stickers and the gift tags. And even these too-cute-to-handle Christmas stamps which would make sending out your Christmas cards so much more fun!

Run, run, fast as you can, can't catch me...

I spotted these little cardboard Gingerbread Men in the Christmas issue of Real Living (be still my beating heart). They are just so adorable and they look really easy to make too.

They're made from supplies from Eckersley's Art and Craft and the "recipe" can be found here. I want garlands of them all over my house!

And as the old year took a bow...

October is coming to a close, which means Christmas and the new year aren't far behind. Each year I make a tonne of resolutions to start fresh - be kinder, healthier, more organised and less messy. Within a few days it all peters out - so this year I'm just going to make a resolution to buy cute things. And what better way to start the new year than with a very sweet calendar? Made 590 seem to have this well and truly covered.

How FREAKING cute are the babushkas? It's no secret we love those cute little matryoshkas with their sweet scarves.

Next up is this kitsch tree calendar which changes its foilage depending on the season! And while theoretically it's backwards for us in the southern hemisphere, I just don't care! I think this is my favourite.

The last one I'm featuring (but by no means the last on offer by Made 590) is this cute stamp calendar. Each month has a new page of stamps that are actually stickers. Fantastic!

So I strongly urge you to follow my lead and make a resolution to buy cute things in 2010... it will help the GEC too right? Or something.

TGIF

I'm home on a Friday night (I know it's lame but I couldn't be happier) and these are my favourite things as of 10:49PM.
Photographic evidence that two girls called e can make an awful pretty baked treat!

Do you have a happy show? This is mine. Erica, in her mid 30s and totally fed up with her life not going to plan, has a car accident and wakes up to a therapist insisting she writes down all her life's regrets. Gee, sounds like a riot Em. It is! Each week the therapist sends her back in time to a different part of her life so that she can do-over. It's fun and fabulous and worth your bandwith (or in my case, a Friday night on ABC2!)


Mr Joshua Radin (pronounced Rayyyydin apparently, I'm not convinced) and his whisper rock and babbling stories. Each song was prefaced with a story about the song, the story spanning longer than the song itself of course. That said, no one can keep a room of hundreds that captivated and silent unless you can play one heck of a song and so he did! Thanks Mr Braff for sharing him with the rest of the world, we appreciate it.

And on another note magnation has opened in Newtown! At the present time they aren't too well stocked, but I'm excited that I'll be able to get my grubby paws on an issue of BUST regularly. And my home-girl Martha should be in attendance too!

Who doesn't love a Babushka measuring cup?

If you ask me, no visit to Melbourne is complete without a stop at the Douglas and Hope store in Fitzroy. They have such an amazing collection of items in there. It takes all your energy to resist buying the entire store! I just spotted their latest offering in Real Living magazine and coincidentally, its from Fred Flare (you know how much we love Fred Flare), but Douglas and Hope have already imported it for you!!

Seriously!! Who doesn't love a Babushka measuring cup?

Oh fudge...

I have a rocky relationship with fudge. Sometimes it works splendidly, other times it won't set which leaves a soft, gooey mess that tastes amazing but ultimately has no practical use!
Last week I bought myself some matcha powder after having recently drained my green tea kitkat stock. So I set out to make something equally sweet, with a touch of the bitter matcha flavour to counter it. Hence - white chocolate and matcha fudge!
And PS I'm a terrible cheat and always stick with a good ol' tasty can of condensed milk.

It was all pretty simple -
1 x can condensed milk (395g)
2 x blocks of white cooking chocolate
1 x teaspoon of matcha powder
1 x nob of butter (yes a nob is a precise measurement.. if I was to guess, I'd say 20g?)
1 x baking tray
1 x wooden skewer

1. Grease and line a tray with baking paper
2. Set aside 1-2 tablespoons of condensed milk and combine with the matcha powder in a small bowl. Stir with a fork until it's smooth and even.
3. Get your double boiler set up so that the water in the bottom pan is bubbling away. Throw your condensed milk and chocolate into the top bowl/pan and keep stirring until combined, melty and glossy.
4. Once all smooth, throw in your nob of butter and continue stirring (or whisking if you're really particular) for a further minute or two (my baking is never an exact science... er...)
5. Pour your white chocolae/condensed milk concoction into your lined baking tray.
6. Moving pretty quickly, pour your matcha/milk mix in a swirly pattern on top of your white fudge.
7. Grab your wooden skewer and swirl quickly! Try and keep the green matcha evenly spread through your fudge. Keep in mind the fudge is wanting to set so I mean quick!
8. Chuck in the fridge and lick the heck out of that bowl! (but make sure it's cool, taste buds take a week to grow back). I generally like to give it a night's worth of chilling, but it's all dependent on your fridge.

Next time I'll definitely be going for more matcha powder because the flavour was a little too mild for me. I'm not completely sure about an entirely matcha fudge... but who knows, I could be swayed.

The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook

This is a recent purchase of mine. I have never been to the actual Hummingbird Bakery as it is located in Notting Hill, London. But these recipes look so delicious and I can't resist a book with a pretty cover, despite what they say.

The recipes include American classics like Key Lime Pie and Pumpkin Pie. I'm most looking forward to making the Banana Cream Pie. Sounds amazing!

Will let you know how I go.

Hang me on your wall...

Yesterday I received my last issue in my Frankie subscription (courtesy of Oh's gorgeous parents). Le sigh, all good things must come to an end... but not this! I'll be re-newing it ASAP. I haven't had much of a chance to read the issue, but I did notice that their 2010 calendar is ready and oh boy it's a good'un.

It features work by The Black Apple and Ashley G and Drew, both of whom I heart and have bought from in the past. I think it'd look awful pretty on my wall at work...
You can source it through Frankie or Pulp Creative Paper

In other news, I've been having serious jealousy issues over Pretty Pretty Yum Yum's stamp collection. So while I was attending the Big Yum Cha in Ashfield on Friday I popped into Morning Glory and nabbed some cute teeny, tiny stamps. I have no idea how or when I'll use them, but I feel all the better for having them. ('scuse the flannel... I do know it's almost summer...). I bought some other goodies but more on them later

Zimmer-map

If only I could stop eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups then maybe I would look hot in this amazing Zimmermann bikini this summer. But since I really can't resist any American sweet then I guess I'll have to cover up with this equally cute dress.

The colour looks like what I imagine the water would look like in the Bahamas. And the map pattern makes my inner travel bug yearn for freedom.

I would add some bling with this over the top Serpent Ring by Kenneth Jay Lane on Net a Porter... it's just the right amount of gaudy.

Don't think, just spend...

This panda fry-pan is haunting me! I saw it in in Japan at LoFT, along with some very cute apple shaped cutting boards, and thought... oh.. maybe I'll get it tomorrow.
Of course tomorrow came and went without the panda fry-pan having made its way into my luggage.
So now I'm relegated to staring at it forlornly, knowing that I could have had it much cheaper if I'd just bought the damn thing when I first saw it!

Same goes for these taterpots for growing herbs. These were like ¥400 instead of $14USD online! I just love their old-fashioned faces - particularly Winky on the left there.

Of course, if either of these take your fancy and you aren't short on dollars - Fred Flare will fix you up. But beware - they don't ship to Australia which means you need to use a mail forwarding service... which again is a bit exxy!

So let that be a lesson to all of us, ignore that voice of reason and SPEND WHILE YOU CAN! You'll only regret it later (but don't quote me on this...)

Your Legs Are As Hairy As My Beard

Can you believe ZZ Top actually had a song called "Your Legs Are As Hairy As My Beard"? Actually I can... and I have a feeling Owen might agree with them on that front.

But seriously, beards are very cool. My father has the best beard in all the land. It's thick, with just the right amout of scratch for when you go in for a cuddle.
Some people, no names mentioned, aren't so blessed by way of facial hair. But fear not... I have found a solution! I made you a beard! Well, not me but.. I Made You A Beard did...!Fancy a face full of lustrous, ginger hair? Or are you a more demure, grey-beard? Maybe you're channeling Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat... on your chin!

You can check our I Made You A Beard on etsy or at Mahardry Goods (they have lots of cute bits and bobs for little'uns)

About a girl

On the same day that I discovered Brunette, the hazelnut spread that will play a pivotal role in my life, I also toddled off to the movies with Ma and Pa, as well as Oh. Talk about ultimate double date. That's right, I double date with my parents and it's great!
We had scored some free tickets to An Education. I'm terrible at synopses so I will sum it up in the below picture that captures the mood of the movie quite well...

(On another note, why do boy stick figures get to be naked? I guess I should ask myself that seeing as I drew it...)
Basically the movie is the above picture, except set in the 1960s in England, with much better fashion and some fantastic Parisian scenery (as per the poster).

I could go on and on about whether or not I liked the movie (I did, it was a screenplay by Nick Hornby which = win in my books), but I'd rather focus on Carey Mulligan who plays the lead, Jenny.
This girl is cuteness on a stick! She plays this part so convincingly and so sweetly that I couldn't take my eyes of her. I've heard a whisper she is in the running for an Oscar, and while the movie itself probably isn't worthy, I think her role might be.
If you've got a spare two hours and some money to burn, An Education isn't the worst way to spend it.

Grandma's purls

To that gorgeous lady who...
wore a swimsuit like I never could
made the most amazing melting moments ever tasted
was Margaret Fulton's doppelganger (only cuter)
taught me to knit
tried relentlessly to teach me to hold my pencil properly (it never worked)
and loved me always.
Miss you... sending you a big love on your birthday xx

How appropriate, you fight like a cow...

I was raised on a strict diet of Mario Kart and Monkey Island. This is back in the day when floppy disks were actually floppy, not those rather hard looking A drive disks. Anyway, I was quite the little geek and, considering my brother and I have owned every Nintendo console known to man (except the Gameboy Lite), I suppose there is no denying it has followed me into to adulthood.
But times have changed - I just don't catch up with Guybrush Threepwood as much as I should, and Bowser still has Peach captured in the castle at the present moment. I've started spending more time cooking and crafting, and I guess the gameboy just had to fall by the wayside. But who said that my new loves and my old couldn't meet in the middle? Hello Naomi sure seems to think they can. Step over Bakerella, I think we have a new favourite baker in town.
This girl can turn geek to chic, all on the surface of a cupcake. And really, is there a better place for the two to meet? Look at the ridiculously amazing Super Mario Bros and Pacman cupcakes! It's a my idea sugary heaven.

Check out more of Hello Naomi's work on flickr or if you're in NSW, order some of this geek goodness for yourself!

Love is...

a big, fat jar of Brunette from Le Pain Quotidien. Thanks Ma and Pa!


Forget Nutella, it just won't do after this. This praline spread is just hazelnuts! And a lot of sugar of course... but no chocolate, which of course seems blasphemous to all our inner-fat children (or in the case of mine...outer). But trust me on this - it's better without it.
(Photo found here)

One, two, three, four... I declare a thumb war...

Have I mentioned I love free stuff? I'm pretty sure I may have mentioned this. I spent a good portion of 2001 signing up for free things on the internet... with mixed results as you can imagine. And now I just sound scabby, cheap and kind of creepy...
Anyway... if you head over to The Small Object, you'll see a whole section of fun, free printables just for you. You can choose from book plates, recipes cards and my all time favourite... thumb wrestling championship belts!
I'm not sure about you, but all disagreements in my life are settled via thumb wrestling or scissors!paper!rock! so this is right up my alley... and probably in vogue with everyone aged 10 and under. I particularly like that the loser gets the prettiest belt... no guessing why!
I'm hearting these cheery recipe cards too...

Things I would purchase had I ample funds..

1. Bag by The Cambridge Satchel Co. (£64.99) - found via The Angry Chicken

2. Strangers on a Train dress from Modcloth ($67.99 USD)

3. Leaf shoot tape from Miss Macau ($2.20 USD)

And we'll collect the moments one by one...

This is pretty darn close to my dream home - nothing like organised clutter! This fabulous apartment belongs to Melia Mardern and Frank Sisti Jnr and was photographed so sublimely by The Selby. So many great colours and pieces - I'm pretty sure if I lived here I'd be happy every single day (hear that one Oh?)... I like her shoes and skirt too.
Check out The Selby for other inspiring houses that make you go "Oh...I wish I'd thought of that"

Towelling off...

I have a special friend who, most days, sends me a little bit of happiness in the form of a cheery email and some fun links.

Today's offering is the irrestitably named To Dry For - a website full of delightful tea-towels... the kind that make your partner think less of you because you want to spend $100 on "rags that are used to dry plates". Sometimes they just don't get it.
I'm particularly fond of these three...


And on another note, the other half of "e" is jet-setting to Dubai for two weeks... which means you're stuck with me, just me!, until her return. Bon Voyage!

Kermit was wrong, it is easy being green

I'm guilty, as I'm sure many of us are, of not always making the greenest decisions. Sure I tryyy and recycle - that's the thing with paper right..? Joking, joking - I really do try, but maybe not consciously enough.
There seems to be a wide spread belief that climate change is so big that surely our own minute actions can't really make that much of a difference. WRONG! Alex over at Head, Heart and Hands can set you straight on this. Sometimes it's as simple as switching off a light when you leave a room (or turning off that naughty electric blanket...) or hanging onto that copy of mX to throw in your own recycling bin.

And sometimes being green is fun too and involve shopping... which is more my field of expertise. If you head over to Head, Heart and Hands you'll learn why it's so good to get a decent refillable drink bottle... but why on earth not make it a really cute one like this baby from BioMe?

Better still, flaunt your style and environment conscience at the supermarket by grabbing a set of these re-usable shopping bags in Flora from Todae. They're practical and fun, all the while saving landfill from a couple of nasty plastic bags each time you visit Woolies.

And for those of you with no room to swing a cat, let alone plant a herb garden - pocket gardens from Todae! Not only will it help spice up your culinary skills, it also brings a little bit of outside inside. And it's a pretty cute gift, no?


See, even the most fickle of us can do something green.

squee!

I ocassionally feel this emotion that I can only describe as Squee. It's the noise my brain makes when I see something I really, really, really love. I literally feel like my heart is going to explode through my chest because I want it so badly and all my brain can think is SQUEEEEE!

It can happen in the oddest of places but it's usually while I'm in stationery stores (LoFT was very nearly the death of me), cupcake bakeries, or Alannah Hill. It's as though these stores were MADE for you without your knowing you even wanted it - as though someone walked into your brain and turned it into a shop on King St.

You have the sudden urge to empty your life savings on the counter and run around the store wildly grabbing at shelves, trying to stuff every little thing into your bag. These moments are so bad for my health (increased heart-rate, sweaty palms) and my bank balance it would seem. It's usually a feeling of extreme excitement that one place could house so many things you love, followed by a dollop of disappointment that it isn't yours.

And that is what Pink Frosting does to me! Oh lordy, have you ever seen such delicate cupcake cases, sweet cookie cutters or quirky place card settings? They have such a huge range of partyware that you're going to be planning parties just so you have an excuse to buy these things. Seriously people -there are things on this site that you didn't know you existed, didn't know you needed... BUT NOW YOU DO. And that my friends is the feeling of Squee.

And while you're frothing over the Squee worthy goods on their site, why not also head over to Not Quite Nigella and try your hand at winning a $100 voucher for Pink Frosting? And then donate half to me when you win...

Let there be light.. bulbs

You don't know what you've got til it's gone. That's how I feel about incandescent light bulbs. After visiting people with fluorescent lights in their houses I'm pretty sure that I'm not going enjoy the changeover- the light is harsh and cold (not to mention the scariness of breaking the bulb and having to dispose of the mercury properly!).

Panic almost set in when I could no longer buy the good light bulbs in the supermarket.
Apparently there is similar panic in the EU which prompted Ingo Maurer to unveil the Euro Condom at Milan Design Week. This image pretty much says it all. The "condom" softens the light emitted from the fluorescent lightbulbs.



I also spotted these very cute Bulb Caps on Design For Use > which would cast a really pretty light around your home and you could change the colour on a whim.

Um.... I er... will finish this post.... later....

I think I speak for 95% of the population when I say we're a giant bunch of procrastinators. The only time you'll see me clean my room is when an essay is due the next day. Safe to say I no longer have essays to do and my room remains filthy... but I still find other ways to procrastinate (this blog for example!) and for that reason I intend to buy this calendar from Modcloth for everyone I know. Provided I actually get around to it...