'Tis the season!

Having been sent through the new catalogue from Kikki K I have decided that my family and friends will be receiving one for Christmas. Pretty AND within my budget. Am loving that they have made it so gorgeous, and have shot Kristina grew up! Question! Why did she leave?! So beautiful! Although am very pleased she did, as her lovely notebooks and stationery grace my desk as 'important work items', also focussing on the very important work task of 'making my desk look pretty'.

So, if this is what Kikki K's Christmas catalogue looks like, imagine how gorgeous the actual goodies will be! Note to self. Must apply for Christmas credit card. Am sure bank will understand.

http://www.kikki-k.com.au/

All location shots snapped by uber impressive and super talented Mikkel Vang at http://www.mikkelvang.com/

Real weddings...

Because I'm just a little bit excited about that fact that Tec Petaja is not only an incredibly and super talented photographer, but also a super lovely guy, I thought to myself I'd throw caution into the wind and post his snaps instead of our regular beauty post. I know. I walk on the edge.

For quite some time now (it would seem I need to be busier) I've been scouting for a tree similar to this, one to have feasts under, one to drape with linens and lights, one to lazy about nonchalantly under, looking all model like. Seems I'll have to jet across to the US. I wonder if that could be considered a work expense. Tax deductable? I hear a yes!

Anyway. I love these pics, so relaxed and happy, colourful and friendly. Hurrah for prettiness! And how cool is that bike?!

Pop over to his super site or brilliant blog and say hi for me. Let him know we love his photos and wish him an early Merry Christmas because holy MOLY that's speeding around the corner in a hasty fashion! Must search for my carol cds...

Sniggle time!

I snorted. It wasn't attractive. Lucky I was alone so as not to embarrass myself. Oh wait a minute, I wasn't.

via A Beautiful Revolution

balloon fun...

It's my birthday soon, I just got excited. I'm hoping there'll be balloons...perhaps spilling from a New York cab, perhaps floating dreamily towards the sky. Perhaps in front of my face. The options are endless...

ps As before-mentioned and explained, these are pics I've had laying about like broccoli since I spotted them and had them at hello. If they are yours and you would like due credit please just ask. And if you lie, well, I won't know. But the pictures will *shakes fist*...

pps I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack :)

MIA

Ahoy hoi. It appears I shall be blogger-unable over the next 2-3 days, so please accept my profuse apologies, this pretty picture, and try to spend at least 32 minutes in the sunshine. It'll make you happy.

Super cool image from Tec Petaja

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post!

As this blog is full of very serious and insightful articles, all based on fact and lengthy research, I feel it only appropriate to write another cutting edge article filled with er, insight and fact.
So! As my research has shown, the spelling of the word balayage/balliage has yet to be confirmed and as my research is always faultless, I'm going to switch between the spellings, just to keep you on your toes. Fun AND educational! Well. Not really educational. Or fun. But let's not get too bogged down in the details...

For those of you who know me (hi, Mum), you will know I have recently converted from the hotel of 'Blonde with fringe' to the penthouse apartment of 'Brunette and oddly length-ed growing out mid way fringe'. Good times. After pushing through that whole 'you've COLOURED your HAIR!!!', 'Er, yes' thing, I've decided I quite like it! I have also named this Summer the 'Summer of Brunette and oddly length-ed growing out mid way fringe'. I'm pretty clever with names like that. But anyway. Lately, after seeing SJP looking all minxy and Carrie-like on the set of the new SATC movie (yay!), I thought to myself, "Why did no one tell me Citroen's have super magnetised windescreens and my e-tag wouldn't make that cool beepy noise!?". But also, "I like her hair!".

And also, when I posted about the super cool Alexa Chung um, a while ago, I thought, "I like her hair!". My thoughts are pretty indecipherable (don't worry, it should become clear where this is heading quite soon) sometimes. And then WHAM (here it is)! I decided this unspell-al-able technique of balliage would be my next hair-type adventure! Weeeeee!

Then I saw Daria Werbowy and thought, "Heavens! Perhaps one has to be good looking to pull off balayage."

But then I saw these chickies and thought, "Nah".

Ha! JOKING. I am curious though. If balliage if a bit of a Victoria's Secret "thing", does this mean one would need have a team of people throwing silver and gold confetti over oneself every time one would step out of one's house? Because that could be something of an OH & S issue. Just saying...

Happy weekend xx

Top image via primped.com

Second last image via beautyeditor.com

Tis the season...

Not so sensible brain 1 - PARTY SEASON!!!! wooooooo!!!! Oh! OH!! Party shoes! We NEEEED party shoes!
Sensible brain 2 - Is it nap time yet?
1 - Flowers!!!! Romance Was Born?! REMEMBER!!!? Ok. So we can't afford them, but OH! Flowers on shoes...BLISS!!!
2 - Seriously. Nap?
1 - We'll have to come up with a plan. I'm thinking LOUD colours, and BRIGHT flowers, and LOADS of texture and silly fun things that are SO illogical and have the potential to cause full scale falling down humiliation but would just be SO. MUCH. FUN! FRILLS!!! OhohOH! LOADS of FRILLS!
2 - We have no money, you remember this, right?
1 - I don't NEED money!!! You can't put a price on FUN and COLOURFUL party shoes that'll transFORM me into a glamourous hottie!!!
2 - I don't think the sales assistant will feel the same way.
1 - When are we going??? WHEN?! I want SHOES! PARTY SHOES!!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
2 - Oh my word.


1 - LOUBOUTINS!!!!!!!!
2 -Oh. We're still going.
1 - Ok. Okokok. So they're over 3 grand. But it's like buying ART, RIGHT???!
2 - No.
1 - And they're in SO MANY DIFFERENT COLOURS!!! It's like a party on my FEET!
2 - Why do you keep yelling?
1 - Because these may just be the COOLEST SHOES EVER!!!
2 - Right.
1 - Maybe I can MAKE some!!! OOOeeerrrr, they're so pretty...
2 - Do you remember the quilted Chanel handbag 'I can sew chains' fiasco? DO YOU?
1 - No.
2 - I don't believe you.
1 - Pretty shoes!!! OOH! OOH! PARTY SHOES!!!!
2 - Aaand we're back here.

first image via thesydneygirl
Louboutin Dillian pumps.

Love

The rain to the wind said,
"You push and I'll pelt."
They so smote the garden bed
That the flowers actually knelt
And lay lodged - though not dead.
I know how the flowers felt.

Lodged
Robert Frost

Image found via le love

Listening to...

Carla Bruni
Comme si de rien n'etait

Perfect rainy day office music. Even perfect-er with a pain au chocolat. Indeedy.

Real Weddings | Soph and Dan

The shoes! The shoes!

Red done right excites me just a little bit. It's such a tricky colour to use, but done well can look absolutely fabulouso. Example one...this delightful wedding of the lovely Soph and Dan. Made their own with brilliant details, these few snaps are a little peek into red done right. Ooh. That would make a good title...

Italian Vogue Bride September 2009

One of my MANY gifts brought back from the European travels had by family was an Italian Vogue Bride magazine. SO many gorgeous dresses and laces and textures! And, being the super thoughtful person I am, I thought it only fair to share some with you! You're excited, I can tell.

I also thought if imperative to ask the question, if one was to make a trip to Italy, strictly to look at bridal-like inspiration, this would be a tax deductable work...thing, would it not?

ps I've always been quite definite about my dislike for dresses that are short at the front, long at the back (the Mullet tried to sue some time back in 1982 but failed due to insufficient evidence it 'owned' a description), but something about this one makes me love it. Don't get me wrong, I won't be wearing one, I don't think ever, but I really love this image. Vogue just rocks my socks a bit.

http://www.isposa.it/

For a grey morning...

Just a couple of the many beautiful pictures snapped by the uber talented and super well travelled Ryan Ahern. Bringing some colour to a dreary morning (since 1989! Kidding...). Get out your compass and head over to his website or blog to see some more of his brilliant work, or head back to bed. It's rainy.

Sunday loving...

Found via le love, latest blog crush xx

Weekend loveliness...

From Style Me Pretty, one of the most gorgeous wedding blogs around, comes this beautiful collection of Vera Wang dresses. So beautiful! So textured and detailed, I love them all! Not the same way I would love a block of haighs hazelnut clusters right now, mind you, but OH the PREttiness!

Jump on your weboplane and shoot over to http://www.stylemepretty.com/ for a whole lot of lovely xx

ps - if someone doesn't make the dogs next door a WHOLE lot quieter within the next 2.7 seconds, I will not be held liable for what I may or may not do.

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post!

Good Friday morning muffins! You guessed it! It's time for me to share my pearls of wisdom with you about skincare! Except instead of pearls inside this mushy and slightly warm oyster shell, it's just me rubbishing on about something I know nothing about. Are you excited? ME TOO! So lets dive straight in shall we? And perhaps keep the ocean themed comments to a minimum.

SO! As the weather has decided to up and leave its sanity behind and take us on a merry journey I like to refer to as 'the ending of the world', my skin has decided to go a little berko in it's confusion. I know how it feels. Is it warm? Is it raining? Is it raining and warm? Or raining and cold? Will it be rainy and cold this morning and then lightnering and hot this afternoon? Or will it be sunny and cold this morning and windy and rainy this afternoon? My goodness. It's almost cause for a sick day. Anyhoodle. Methinks it's time for some tender loving care. And where best to start than at the good old Body Shop. This product here is tops. Not only is it hugely effective in moisturising and healing too, it's a pretty pink colour! Swell!

Now I've not actually used this lovely little pot of goodness in my wonderfully colourful 23 years, but I've heard SUCH good ravings from the beauty types, and I'm SUCH a sucker for sweet advertising, it seems only fair to include it here. Philosophy have some beyooootiful products, especially their yummy smelling shower and bath washes. Hello Mr Gingerbread Man. Super duper pressies that smell like a frosty white Christmas* laden with eggnog, fluffy pines trees and open flame fires. Except we're in Australia. But heck! Don't let that stop you! If Hope in a Jar can provide a miracle cure for confused skin, Mr Gingerbread Man can bring visions on caroling and berry covered wreaths, I'm sure of it!

I have a jar of this on my bathroom shelf, brought all the way from Sephora in Paris. Oh how I love Sephora with its shiny rows of lovely pretty things, sweet scents and best of all, bags full of freebies! But this little goody has carried me through many a season and shall continue to be used whenever I feel the gusts of Autumn, the smells of Spring, the rains of Winter, and whatever the hoolio it is we're experiencing now. It's downfall? No pretty smell. *sigh* But not to worry, the Clinique folk will probably read this blog, realise their mistake, ad get cracking on a new formula. Yep. No doubts about that. Use it! Use all of them! Or your trusty olive oil. Just don't be getting kissy with anyone, you will smell like a salad and most likely be a little slippy. Don't say I didn't warn you.

And then, voila! You shall look like this!!! Except more like you.

And if all else fails, get thee to a Benefit store, ask the lovely lady at the counter for some Posietint, insert hi-larious play on words joke (Benefit...Posietint, rhyming, good one...), purchase, and rub into those lovely little cheek bones of yours. Get glowing (see what I did there) and try it. It'll be fun. And not only will it be fun, it'll be like you went on a holiday, without going on a holiday at all! Brilliant! Wait...

* Christmas!!! Yay!!!!

http://www.thebodyshop.com.au/

http://www.meccacosmetica.com.au/

http://www.clinique.com.au/

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/