Good things come to those who whinge

I think I've ranted and raved more than enough about the limitations of living in Australia, also known as the other end of the world...where Martha Stewart is an unknown quantity and flavoured Kit Kats cost $6 a pop.

Look, ultimately the good outweighs the bad but when I saw that Target in the US had an entire range of Orla Kiely homewares I was more than a little jealous. I searched high and low for a way to get my hands on some, but short of paying with my first-yet-to-be-born child, it just wasn't going to happen. Fast forward one year and what do you know? Myer is stocking a (very limited) range of Orla Kiely!

I nabbed myself the queen quilt set and matching pillows... check out how cute the packaging is!

So moral of the story is this - good things come to those who whinge.

Woman with a parasol

I wish there were more opportunities in day to day life for me to carry a parasol. Sometimes, when it's sunny outside and I would prefer not to put greasy suncream on, I just think a parasol would make my life a bit easier. Not to mention make me look as pretty as a Monet painting. I suppose you could always carry one on your wedding day, like these very pretty options from Pink Frosting.

Speaking of weddings, this site has had me in stitches for the past 15 minutes- Wedinator.

Smells like teen spirit... or cinnamon toast?

Oh boy, I'd love to wake up on December 25 and find one of these in my stocking. These Demeter frangrances are pick-me-up perfumes that smell exactly like the names suggest they should. Can you imagine smelling like waffles? Some of the product names sound delicious... some not so much...Funeral Parlour?! No thanks... Cinnamon toast? Much better!

Thicker than water...

I've been fascinated by the Kennedy family for a long time. I specifically remember my brother's Year 10 assignment on the assassination of JFK and me, 13 at the time, pouring over every article I could find on it at the time.

After watching Grey Gardens a few months back and reading about Ted Kennedy (particularly the Chappaquiddick incident), it reignited my interest in America's first family. Trawling through second hand book shops I chanced on Laurence Leamer's book - The Kennedy Women. It is over 1000 pages long but I cannot for the life of me put it down.

(I'm kind of freaking out at how much Bobby looks like Owen... second from front)

Like most people I'd heard of the Kennedy curse... but I thought it was mostly in relation to both JFK and Bobby. I didn't know that before their assassinations, two of their siblings had already died... or that another had undergone a lobotomy in her early 20s. Nor that their father would bring his mistresses along on family holidays or that JFK battled illness his entire life.

The Kennedy family makes for good reading... you don't need to embellish or exaggerate because their lives really were that bizarre and intriguing. They weren't perfect, so many of their decisions and actions make you cringe with disappointment and regret. But they loved each fiercely, protectively. Most of all they loved each other above all else and I think that is pretty special.

PS I can find no credits for these pictures... so let me know if it's a problem :)

Hang me on your wall...

We're quickly approaching that time of year stuffed to the brim of family, friends and annual traditions. For me it inevitably involves Peter Combe's Christmas album and a day set aside to decorate the tree with my Ma, Pa and brother dearest.

I stumbled across NieNie's tradition of creating new silhouettes of her family each year. Although she creates hers in April each year, I think Christmas is a great time to stop and capture your family for posterity and reflect on the year that was. It would also make for a pretty rockin' gift when teamed with some great frames. They look so regal and elegant!

Click here for a great tutorial on how to make your own silhouettes - easy peasy!

Remember the days by the old school yard...

I'm so excited to be going back to school.... style school!
I tend to get a bit blog obsessive... and in the last month or so I discovered the wonder that is Red Velvet Art, namely Elsie Flannigan.
You know how there are some people out there who are just so damn cool that you wish you were them? Well, sometimes I wish I was Elsie.
Come on - she makes amazing crafty goods, has a cute muso boyfriend and a wardrobe I would literally kill for (you heard me...)
Look at her! She's so freakin' cool!

She even mananges to make hanging up her stockings look fashionable... so who better to learn style from?

I've just signed up for Style School - six weeks of fun and quirky projects.
Best homework ever!

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A week of shopping with e

Ruby Star Traders is dangerous for wrapping afficiandos... $30 later...

Urban Oasis is dangerous for anyone with a wallet...
But how cute is this scarf/hat hanger? It's a Secret Santa present, ready with scarf of course!

Something pretty

Dress from Fleur Wood.

The wheels on the bus...

There is one item I have been dying to own since 2007 when I still worked at the House of Mouse. I spent hours staring at it, willing it to find its way to me - but alas, as I've whinged many times previous, Fred Flare do not ship internationally.
Well fast forward to 2009 and I discovered the world of mail forwarding. A few weeks and a heck of a lot of dollars in postage later, I am finally united with said item of desire - my school bus tote!

I love him and his jolly little face very much, but unawares to me at the time of buying (thanks FF)... it's actually a nappy bag! Upon opening the bag, the lining is water-resistant with thousands of pockets for which I have no use... and well to be honest, it just looks like a nappy bag. My suspicions were further confirmed when a middle-aged man commented on my "funny, nappy bag". Who cares - I still wear it with pride, just not motherly pride.

December baby...

The month of December is almost upon us, and it's extra special for the two girls called e - we're both December babies. Adding to that, we're both Christmas freaks - so December is by and large THE BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR.
We're getting a little anxious to get baking and crafting for the silly season and I think this gum-drop wreath by Alicia Paulson will have to be added to our to-do list. Anything made out of sugar is going to be a winner in my book, but it's darn pretty to boot! And all it takes is some jube-y looking lollies, a styrofoam wreath and some toothpicks. But word to the wise - buy an extra pack of jubes if you're anything like me!

Pretty In Pink

Ask anyone, I'm probably the furthest possible thing from a domestic goddess. You literally have to wade through clothes to get to my bed - I only wish I was joking.
But that doesn't stop me from wanting to channel a mixture of Nigella Lawson meets Betty Draper (on a good day) every now and then.
Enter Pretty In Pink. Nope, not the quintessential John Hughes movie (which, by the way, if you haven't seen... shame, shame shame)- the tooth-achingly sweet, and slightly retro shop, up the St Peters end of Kings St, Newtown.
Full of gorgeous bits and bobs, from fun bags and bloomers to quirky measuring cups and lip-glosses, this shop is seriously a must. Although what has currently caught my eye is this sweet as sugar Sweetheart Goddess Apron - made to order in the fabric of your choice. And let me tell you, PiP has sourced the best fabrics around so you really are spoiled for choice. It would really be perfect for whipping up a bunch of Christmas shortbread...

Lovely day for it

Yesterdays' weather was amazing and as usual the sunshine drew Sydneysiders outside, me included. I ventured down to the Tamarama-Bondi walk with M to see the Sculpture by the Sea exhibit. There were some great pieces, many of them quite cute, like these little toad stools. I loved this crystal looking skull that was actually made with wire mesh and old plastic bottle bases. But my favourite had to be the various coloured flags set up on the hill overlooking Bondi. They made the most fantastic whipping sound as they flapped in the wind and they looked beautiful, like they were fighting to be set free.

The missing link...

in my christmas decorations has always been a pretty paper chain. I have the best intentions of making one each year but inevitably time gets away from me and before I know it, it's the 1st of January and I never made the chain. While it is such a nice idea to sit down and cut out all the little bits of pretty paper and stick them together yourself, if you really are strapped for time but still love the home made feel of a paper chain, then you can buy this lovely one from Lox and Savvy. They also have pretty gift wrap items like these cute pine tree chrissie cards.

Move over polaroid and make way for grapefuit...!

Okay, I think I may have meant make way for Fuji Instax Minis.
I have a feeling I'm a bit late to the game and that these cameras aren't anything new, but since the slow and painful death of the Polaroid these cameras are a great alternative.
The cameras print out instant photos the size of a credit card with more clarity than your average polaroid and the shell of the cameras are pretty darn cute too.
Check out this cute comparison by A Beautiful Mess - I'm hearting these wallet sized snaps!

So this is #1 on my Christmas list this year... but what a bugger they don't sell them in the land down under! There is always ebay...

These are a few of my favourite things.

You can seriously do all your Christmas shopping from your desk. It's amazing what you can find. And as someone who thinks that the care taken to wrap a gift beautifully is just as important as the gift itself, it was really exciting to come across The Wrapping Paper Company. So now I can buy all my gift wrap online too!

My true love gave to me...

a partridge in a pear tree.. card from Kate Spade at Papier D'amour. Isn't it adorable. They have lots of other goodies there too like this beautiful wooden advent calendar.

You can fill it with your own selection of little gifts and then there is a cute surprise for the one you love each morning of December.

Santa baby...

feel free to drop these cuties in my stocking this Christmas...
These sweet bobby-pins are by those clever girls at Made by White. Already I can see the trees adoring my hair in summer and the cute little red riding wood and her big bad wolf keeping me company throughout winter.

Better late than never...

It seems that on any given Friday you'll find at least one of the girls called e at home... usually me! But tonight I didn't vegetate - I did something I've been dying to do for two years - I Print Gocco-ed!
I bought this nifty little screen printing machine almost two years ago once I heard they were out of production and just had to, in my impatient haste, get my hands on one. A couple of hundred dollars and a few years later and here we are... I was petrified of this machine - it has old-school, one-use-only light globes and it all just seemed too scary. But guess what? SO FREAKING EASY.

The design is pretty basic, drawn by me one night in front of Come Dine With Me on Lifestyle Food with an artline pen... but I think it's cheery and cute and will now be my 2009 Christmas card.
I opted for black because now I can go and use my sharpies to colour in the gaps!

With mustard or ketchup?

I don't think I really need to explain why I want this miniature dachshund, do I?

(Photo from Bourke's Backyard Magazine)

Knitta, please!

My grandmother tried terribly hard to teach me to knit when I was no more than 4 years old. In hindsight I was probably a better knitter then than I am now, yet I persevere. I can tell you that if I owned this knitting/sewing kit from Moulin Roty/Remo that I would, without doubt, be a better knitter. So if you'd like some pretty scarves in your stocking next year, I suggest I find this in my stocking this year.

The race that stops a nation...

...is unfortunately not stopping my day at work. But nevermind - there will be celebrations and plenty of good food and champagne downed by mid afternoon, I'm sure.

So although I am chained to my desk for the day, and not even in the same state as the Melbourne Cup for that matter, it doesn't stop me wanting to buy a whole heap of pretty fascinators, does it? Of course not. If I was headed to the racetrack today you can bet (ha.. get it!) I'd be wearing this pretty (giant) bow by Hopelessly Devoted on Etsy. Hopelessly adorable!

My name's E and I'm a shopaholic.

I keep seeing the Lily Allen jewellery collection in all the magazines and I'm more than a little bit in love with this bejewelled flamingo, so I went onto the Trilby Phoenix website tonight to look it up and discovered a whole new world. They launched this year and they sell accessories by brands like House of Harlow 1960 (Nicole Richie's brand) and CC Skye.

I'm quite glad I came across the website before Christmas because I think quite a few of the items would make really cute gifts. This little safety pin necklace by CC Skye is very sweet and I love the angel wing ring. There's also a fortune cookie necklace that I want.. and a cutlery necklace and another one with a panda, and a poodle one and-oh my, the list goes on and on!