Japan-i-am

Reason #8349834 I wish I was in Tokyo with a heck of a lotta yen right now.

Found at Five &Ten (which was found via Hello Sandwich)

Curiouser and curiouser...

The world has gone rather fittingly mad for all things Alice this year, in the lead up to the release of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.

Swarovski have released a range of Alice In Wonderland inspired jewelry, and while I'm not usually a big Swarovski fan... some of these are uber cute!

Those thread spools and scissors are so sweet, but it's unlike me to pass up a donut of any kind.

And OPI are on the bandwagon too, ranging Alice inspired nail polishes such as "Off With Her Red" and "Absolutely Alice".

What about you? Have you been struck by Alice mania?

A vested interest...

Cute or what?! This is what is currently catching my eye on Modcloth... But I think it would look best with jeans... and yes, you know that story by now!

Did you ever think of marrying just for fun?

This photo has me tickled pink. It's of Clarke Gable and his then wife Carole Lombard tucking into a big hunk of watermelon. They look like they're so much fun, don't they?

Lombard was known for her wacky parties - one was hospital themed where everyone dressed up and doctors and nurses and food was served on a make-shift operating table. The guests ate out of bedpans (hmm...) and used operating utensils to eat.

I like that someone with so much spunk and humour was the woman who captured Hollywood's ultimate ladies man. And from all accounts she was the love of his life.

Supposedly the main reason he even considered Gone With The Wind was because he needed a divorce in order to marry Lombard - so took the role of Rhett to earn enough money to pay out his ex-wife and move on with Lombard.

Their seemingly blissful marriage ended abruptly when she died at 33, in a plane crash during WWII. From all accounts Gable was never the same, reportedly searching for her engagement ring for an entire year after.

And that is my story for the day. I'm a bit obsessed with the Golden Age of Hollywood...can you tell?

How sweet it is

My lovely boyfriend Mike propsed to me the weekend before last, while we were watching that Darwin sunset that I'm so obssessed with. So now I'm planning my dream engagement party and I've decided that one thing is for sure... there will be sweets and lots of them! I'm thinking miniature lemon meringue pies, macarons, pastries, chocolate cocktails, and jars of lollies. Over the weekend I had a little practice run with the multi-coloured M&Ms I bought in New York, so now I'm more excited than before!

Pianos are cool, but lessons aren't.

I just love these slightly haunted looking pieces from Paula Walden. The black acrylic headpieces are amazing don't you think?

The "Haunted House" and "My Grand Youth" rings in solid sterling silver are my favourites and the pianio ring actually does remind me of my youth, since I did piano lessons for about 8 years (though you'd never be able to tell today).

The pieces are made in Australia and carbon neutral and you can buy them at the online store.

In the summertime...

Today feels like it's going to be a hot one so I woke up and cut myself a big hunk of watermelon. But you know what I really felt like?

This watermelon ice-block mama and I discovered in Harajuku and ate while wandering around Yoyogi Park - a sweet watermelon ice-block with chocolate chips for seeds. Sure ice-blocks and choc chips sound like an odd combination but they were delicious! Here's hopin' the Japanese are a little more understanding when it comes to ice-blocks and eating while walking, otherwise we made a nice social faux pas. Let's be honest, I'm sure I made plenty...(blowing my nose in public... look I'm sorry but I'd just finished an awfully sad book!)

Friday's child...

I think I was born on a Friday (I'm too lazy to look this up) so according to that random poem, the one that everyone somehow knows but isn't sure how, I'm of loving and giving. Hmmm I'm not convinced but I will give you the gift of telling you what I'm loving this Friday.

Pinafores! Since I'm a Pants-Free-Zone, I'm a big fan of pinafores, tunics, jumper dresses - whatever you want to call them. I love that you can wear whatever you want underneath them to give them a bit more life and personality. Just last week I picked up this cutie from victoria 'n bird for a measly $75 AUD including postage... and it's handmade! It's pretty much going to be my new staple for winter.

(PS that isn't me. I wish!)

 If you know me at all, you would know my love for Tony Martin. He is, without a doubt, my favourite comedian/radio personality/geek/whatever ever (he even beats Shaun Micallef in my book of cool). So I was extremely glad to open my latest issue of Frankie and see an article dedicated to the man himself. Buy it, read it, and love him. And then go and buy one of his books for a good chuckle (Lolly Scramble had me laughing hysterically on a train... cue the weird looks from fellow commuters).

And finally - one of my oldest, sweetest friends is having a bub! She's due in April and I'm very excited for her baby shower on Saturday. I'm not giving away what I bought her on the odd chance she might be reading this, but I will show out the impossibly cute suitcase I bought to put the gift in.

 

Not just for bored housewives and hoarders

Shop Til You Drop magazine put me onto this one. Extolling the virtues of the TV Shopping Network in the March issue, they convinced me to go and check out the website TVSN.com.au. It’s quite fun! Here are some of my favourite things and of course they’re the most expensive things on there.

Extasia Bracelet

Timmy Woods Purses

Royal Albert Sandwich Tray

I choo-choo-choose you

I made two of these goodie bags for my original Valentines - my mama and papa, of course. If you haven't discovered these white chocolate bullets with raspberry licorice, don't do it - they will ruin your life (as well as your teeth and wallet because you get so addicted). Oh and I are headed to the Moonlight Cinema to see New York, I Love You... weather permitting of course. Until then I'm off to make a Pecan and Butterscotch Cheesecake with my dadda - my thighs aren't impressed with this development. Hope someone is spoiling you rotten because I think you deserve it! xx

Put on that dress - I'm going out dancing

I'm celebrating one whole year without pants tomorrow! It was on Valentines Day 2009 that I decided I look pretty awful in jeans... so I simply stopped wearing pants of any kind. No siree, no apple bottom jeans nor the boots with the fur. And I haven't looked back since (well okay, once.. I have to admit I wore jeans on the plane to Japan, but only on the plane).

 

(found via we heart it)

I inherited not one, but two doses of big thighs - thunder thighs, I believe they're called. I'm one of those weirdly proportioned people that can wear two sizes smaller up top than on the bottom... so suffice to say no matter how hard I try, I just don't look good in pants. I was sick of feeling bad about it so I made a decision - and life without jeans really isn't as hard as you'd think. Sure you don't have your easy, go-to jeans and t-shirt outfit that takes all of two seconds to throw on, but having to think a little more about what I'm wearing actually means I leave the house feeling a lot more confident. Sure it's the lazy person's option - change your wardrobe, not your figure - but it works for me. And just think of the endless full skirts, waisted dresses and cute tights the world has to offer me now. Betty Draper eat your heart out.

So in honour of this special day, check out this super sweet and fitting clip of Ben Kweller's Sundress (starring his beautiful wife!). Not only is it dress related, it's a total declaration of love. Happy Valentines Day Eve!

Yell Fireeeeeeeee (and then run)

Reading Toni's post where she likened herself to a mixture of Frank Spencer and Bridget Jones, I couldn't help but recognise myself in her words. You see, I too am cursed with clumsy. And look, I'm sure people say that all the time.. but really, I am the clumsiest, most accident prone person you'll ever meet. I currently have a big, round graze on my knee the size of a fifty cent piece to attest to that fact.

I fall over around 85% of the time - find me a set of stairs, a ditch, heck just even some perfectly flat road and I'll find a way. Basically the more public it is, the more likely I am to fall in/on/over it. I once took an innocent cleaner down with me as I grabbed frantically for something to stabilise myself. Sorry!

(found at we heart it)

I also drop food down the front of my clothes a lot. Last week I managed to fling a piece of Chicken Tikka Massala off the table and onto my sweet blue, polka dot skirt. Today, I dropped a strawberry on one of the few white spaces on my dress - it's 90% black, but of course the strawberry had its sight's set on one of those few, pristine white patches.

It's a burden, this being clumsy, because you expend so much energy just trying to stay up-right and dignified. So you can understand my surprise, my horror, at my appointment to Fire Warden at work.
It hasn't been six month since I last caught fire (literally) and I'm prone to panicking, so surely this isn't in the interest of public safety?

And this is a picture of me, as Fire Warden, fleeing the building at the first sign of trouble.

Spotted:

My friend Sophie on the Sportsgirl Style Snaps page rocking knee high socks. Bless her.

There's a bear in there... and a chair as well...

Despite my best attempts to run away from the Sydney rain, some ten hours up the coast, it followed me and turned Byron Bay in to one big puddle. Oh well! We made the most of the doom and gloom and headed to some bookshops and drank far too many milkshakes. No regrets on my end.

I spied a book in the cooking section with a gorgeous gingham spine (what initially attracted me to it) titled "She's Leaving Home". Inside is page after page of delicious recipes lovingly collated by Monica Trapaga (yes... that's right, the Play School presenter, friend of Big Ted and Jemima. I liked Benita most... but Monica a close second) for her daughter as she moved out of home. It is a sweet book to guide her on her way and keep her well fed as she embarks on her independent life. If you could hug a book and not look mad doing it, I'd want to give this one a cuddle (I may or may note have already... the cover is padded, I don't think this is a coincidence).

Each page is gorgeous - delicate illustrations, personal blurbs about each recipe, collages of photos and fabrics... my favourite is a page dedicated entirely to sandwiches made out of buttons and wool. It's probably one of those things you need to see to appreciate... doesn't exactly translate in words huh? Anyway, if you're in the market for a cookbook or a killer gift for a friend, I can't recommend this warmly enough. Now what's the time on the rocket clock? Please let it be home time....

Rain Rain Go Away

Sure this miserable weather can drag your mood down but think how happy you'd feel in this Lulu Guinness birdcage umbrella from BrollyDollys.

East of Everything

I'm currently situated at the most easterly point of Australia and boy this makes me happy. Byron Bay is one of my happy places! I've been coming here long before my memory kicked in, or so say the photos of little me standing at the lighthouse being blown to bits by the wind at age 2.

I came here for schoolies, drinking Midori mixed in a two litre bottle of Lido with some sand added for good measure - the drink of choice for all 17 year olds I think. We used to start our bonfires early and before the night ended we had invariably picked up some strangers who were either twirling fire or strumming guitars.

Oh and I have come up here lots of times but our first time as just us and it's all sorts of lovely.

Anyway, I'm off to hit the beach before the sun disappears. I'm being dared to jump of the Wreck and I'm more than a little scared. Wish me luck xx

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm a fool for this song

After I watched Marie Antionette I could not get this song out of my head. It makes me feels so happy and carefree so now I'm sharing the love.

Modern Warfare

No, these aren't the tools of an amateur militia- these are some of the weapon inspired home wares at hart&heim. Why eat round eggs when you can mix it up with this unexpected shape? Tea light holders can look so generic but this one is da bomb, as is this grenade shaped screw driver set. I'm very much anticipating spicing up my next cocktail party with shot gun casing shot glasses and bullet shaped ice. Well a hangover feels like you've been shot in the head anyway so it's actually quite appropriate. Harbouring childhood dreams of being a ninja? Hang your coat on Ninja stars! But ultimately make love not war- so nicely expressed with the traditional symbol of romance being displayed in this ultra cool gun vase and a throwback to the days of flower power.

Waiter, there's a rabbit in my whisk...

Hey Miss Liz,

These cute Modcloth whisks make me think of you. I think I'll send M some psychic message to buy these for you(along with something shiny and or baked and sugary) for Feb 14. Or hopefully M is reading the blog and can save me some seriously needed brain-power.

Love Em x

Tis the season

I look forward to this time of year like a second Christmas... it's Cadbury Creme Egg season. I love them so much and apparently I'm not the only one. I read that in the UK over 200 million creme eggs are sold annually, that's a huge number considering they're only sold for 3 months of the year. I got so excited when I spotted them in the supermarket yesterday. I've already had my first one and there will be plenty more to come. Yay!

Just another manic monday... the bangles

I really love Dinosaur Designs - I think they're fab and fun... but just a touch overpriced maybe? I'm not sure - they are so distinctive and special, but their pricepoint sometimes makes me think twice. I've got a few special pieces... one given to me by my darling friend e on my last day of work. It was the perfect gift, I think it was one of the first things we ever bonded over... and it was our favourite colour.

My mama is also a special lady who happens to understand me inside and out. Knowing full well my love of resin jewellry she booked me into a course with bqueen. You know that feeling where something just clicks and you know you'll love it for life? Perhaps a Squee moment if you will? Well this was one for me. I love making this stuff and it's really not hard.! Admittedly I'm not particularly good at it, and I actually get a pretty brutal rash from it (er... I'm really selling it huh?), but it's so satisfying and fun. Check out a few of my latest...and yes they do kind of look like plasticine but they also need to be sanded, so give me a little credit!

 

  

Summer I've got Winter on my mind...

I'll never understand why it is that in the middle of a gorgeous Australian summer... all I can think about is winter clothing. Images of cute, buttoned coats or cosy, knitted knee high socks are dancing around my head - yet if I'd worn either of those items today I'm pretty sure I'd have melted into a puddle. I'm going to blame it on that blasted northern hemisphere and their talk of pretty snow and hot chocolates. And in the meantime, I'm going to suck on a raspberry zooper dooper and drool over these pretties by Betsey Johnson

Oh and you can bet that on those cold and blustery winter days I'll be dreaming of little dresses and days spent on the beach.