A modern-day fairy tale

Once upon a time there was a little girl who lived in a big city. She was a pretty normal girl and did all the normal stuff that other girls did, and eventually, like all little girls, she grew up and became a young woman, who found herself a husband and settled down.
As it turns out, she and her husband lived happily ever after, and spend most of their free time at home with each other, especially on Valentine’s Day.

With the season of love fast approaching, you can write your own fairy tale and set the scene to celebrate with your loved one.
This year, I won't be home for Valentine's, I will be in Singapore on business and my hubby will be home alone...
So I decided to create an inexpensive Valentine's Day display board to remind him of our special memories.
Here are some creative ideas to love-up your home.

A big empty picture frame is the focal point of the display. The background is a message that I had printed out to the same size as the frame (800mm. x 1130mm.) for only $4.50 at our local print shop. You can use any message your heart desires.

I punched out the hearts from old colour samples and stuck them on wooden clothes pegs, which I hung from a narrow ribbon strung across the frame. Then I clipped photos from each year of our marriage into the pegs. This is a simple idea that is very easy to do, yet offers a very personal feel and brings back all memories that we share.

Photo credits:

Vince viscose shirt
£375 - harveynichols.com

Miss Selfridge short mini skirt
£22 - missselfridge.com

Miu Miu glitter platform heels
$476 - bluefly.com

Friis Company flower jewelry
€23 - shopfriiscompany.com

Lipsy Perfume
£18 - bankfashion.co.uk

pretty faces & beautiful make-up / kissable lips
pinterest.com

OCC Cruising Nail Lacquer Review, Photos, Swatches
temptalia.com

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Style Canvas: Feeling Blue

This is a question from a teenage girl looking for an advice on brightening and modernising her room.

Question:
I need to decorate my bedroom, which has very light blue walls. I’m looking to add some color with decorative pillows, blinds or curtains, and some other accessories.
How would you incorporate them into the room?
As much detail as possible would be great as decorating isn't my strong point. I just mainly want colors that will look beautiful.

Styling advice
Designers draw inspiration from everything and this month, my inspiration comes from this fashion shot, particularly the playful way the light blue interacts with the coral and yellow. These three colours would be perfect for a teenager’s bedroom.

So, I couldn't resist putting together a mood board to illustrate the look. To enliven the white base and light blue tone, incorporate a mix of furniture styles, warm hues, colourful accessories and textiles to create a whimsically romantic boudoir that is both funky and welcoming.

Blue is famously easy to live with. Add a splash of white for a combination that won’t date. You only have to change the accent colour to create a different look for any time of year.

Feeling blue is not too bad, is it? Share your blue ideas with us and brighten everybody’s day.

PS: If you know anyone who needs some free styling advice, feel free to share the love.

Photo credits:
Fashion / MOR candle - Blood orange / Current in orange throw & pillow / Thai silk pillow swirl blue / Arthur bookends / Lorrie orange & yellow vases / Fizz clock / Aqua blue mason jar / Picture ledge / Turquoise & blue vase / inspiration decals / blue room / Le vie pillow / ikea pendent lamp / red daisy pillow & pink orange floral pillow/ blue eames rocker chair / blue glass table lamp / Shelves blue /

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Autumn racing season

Girls just love to dress up and social events are a great excuse. A highlight of the Australian style calendar is the autumn horseracing season and the much anticipated ‘fashions on the field’ events, when flair takes first place from flash.
Elegant headpieces, cute boater hats, and oversized floral decorations are just some of the fashion accents we can expect to see trackside this year.
Last weekend, local fashionistas took to the field for the first time in this season’s style stakes and really wowed the judges with their form.
If you’re thinking of taking part, here are a few tips to get you on track as we step into the glamour of the racing season and gallop toward the big day in November.

At this time of the year, keeping warm is just as important as looking great, ‘cause you can’t look good if you’re blue with cold. TV’s ‘Mad Men’ has been a huge inspiration this season with its animal print wardrobe, but make sure you choose a subtle print and pair it with neutral colours to keep that classic look.
Although it’s still warm(ish) during the day, nights can be chilly, so to keep your home cosy, faux-fur cushions, animal-print throws and this grassy-look shag rug are great winter warmers, especially topped off with some pretty lace and fabric flowers for a romantic vibe.

Sources:

Valentino leather jacket, $2,050
3 1 Phillip Lim sheer skirt, $450
Forzieri wooden jewelry, $315
Debut red hair accessory, 30 GBP
Giraffe at Home Throw Blanket, $132
Pearce Sofa - everydaysuede™ | Pottery Barn, $369
Kosta Boda 'Contrast' Crystal Vase, $100
Adrienne Landau Mongolian Lamb Fur 26" Pillow, $650
Adesso Lighting, Director Floor Lamp, $247
Heal's | Copper Pendant by Tom Dixon > Pendants > Pendants &..., 320 GBP
Linea Adrienne felt flower cushion, 30 GBP
IKEA | Rugs | Large & medium rugs | HAMPEN, $50
ELLE SHOP Banner Barrett, 17,850 JPY

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Beach picnic

Wow... I wasn’t expecting this week to be so exhausting and draining. Luckily, the weekend is coming soon and I'll have time to recover. It will be sunny and warm in the forecast for this weekend, which I take as an invitation to have a little picnic on the beach.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend.

image credits: housedoctordk / ilovewildfox


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Vintage lover: Honeysuckle

My friends are getting married next weekend. So we’re hunting for some vintage style to match the theme of the celebrations.
I love vintage. I’ve always been attracted to vintage and I love to use it in my wardrobe. Vintage can sometimes look like junk to the uninspired and it takes a creative eye to see the beauty behind it. So this week I couldn’t resist gathering some inspiring vintage wardrobe tips for all my dear friends.

Sources:

Blouse - EAT | espejo p (out of stock)
Retro Indie Shoes & Vintage Inspired Shoes - Poetrie.com
Vintage style handbag - Vera Bradley Alice in Paprika
Red cocktail ring - GUESS - 177749-21C (Red/Black) - Jewelry
Vintage inspired necklace - Mary Necklace
Vintage Valentino Dress Suits Owned and Worn by Edie Adams -circa...
Vintage mini gold mesh purse - A R C H I V E vintage
Wiola Kowal by Tamer Yilmaz for Marie Claire Turkey December 2010
Where Professional Models Meet Model Photographers - ModelMayhem
Royalty-free stock image | Antique photo frame - iStockphoto.com

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Colour of the year 2011

Pantone Reveals its Colour of the Year for 2011: PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, a vibrant, energizing honeysuckle tone that lifts spirits and imparts confidence to meet life's ongoing challenges.

via: pantone.com

For over a decade, Pantone's Colour of the Year has been a source of colour inspiration in multiple industries. That means you will see this dynamic reddish pink everywhere: in the home, in fashion, packaging, and cosmetics. Here are some ideas to get your adrenaline pumping.

On an accent wall, it engages the eye and, used strategically, looks sophisticated and stylish. But if a whole wall is too much of a colour statement for you, try adding splashes of colour with cushions, vases or ornaments.

Fabulous flat by wcarchitect via: desiretoinspire
A minimal feel ... a sweet treat for the eyes

Honeysuckle is best balanced with dark wood, charcoal or light to mid-grey. Floral tones add life and vibrancy to a room – proof that you don’t need to make a major investment to update and add impact to your decor.

image via fashion.telegraph.co.uk

Donna Karan mixes honeysuckle with raspberry reds in her DKNY collection, while the floor-length honeysuckle chiffon by John Galliano for Christian Dior is simply irresistible.

cosmetic image via: FashionTrendsetter / Tights by Fantabulous design

On the catwalk or at work, honeysuckle always looks fabulous and attracts the right kind of attention. But, be warned – once you try this striking shade, it can become addictive!

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designer names

The names of European designers can be tricky to pronounce.
Here’s a list to help you get your tongue around them. Have fun.

Found at Handbags.com

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+ Brisbane trip

Going to sleep on the 41st floor of Oaks Festival Tower surrounded by skyscrapers, stars and the lights on the river was a welcome change from our usual bush view. Right in the centre of Brisbane’s CBD and just minutes from Queen Street Mall, the Oaks is a great choice if you want to be in the pumping heart of the city.
Ten minutes away is South Bank, home to the Queensland Museum, the State Library, the Gallery Of Modern Art, and the Queensland Art Gallery, which was hosting the American Impressionism and Realism exhibition from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. At $20 a head, it was well worth the price of admission.

However, I couldn’t help but compare them with Monet's pretty flowers or the masterworks of Cézanne, Manet, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir and Sisley whose brush strokes conjure wind around scurrying figures, while their vivid colours and astonishing techniques create works of incredible beauty and immediacy.

The Easton Pearson exhibition at GOMA was something else; very inspiring with edgy glamour, exquisitely embellished fabrics, vibrant colours and a superb sense of style.

Here's some pieces from the collection:
Suspended mannequins are strikingly composed against a monochromatic background, almost a landscape.

It was very interesting to see how the collection was pieced together.

Creativity and fashion are inseparable.

I’m fascinated by the effort that goes into every piece.

From tiny details to the full effect of the end product.

Easton Pearson is showing at the Gallery of Modern Art until November 8. Entry is free. For more information, visit www.qag.qld.gov.au.

Take your pick from these FAB designs and eclectic sources. I’m inspired. Are you?

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+ out on the town

I’m off to Brisbane for a bit of a vacation, a bit of research and of course, a bit of shopping.
The art of packing for a vacation is try and pack everything very efficiently so it all fits inside my suitcase.
While I’m gathering things for packing, my husband walked by, took one look at everything and said, “are we moving?”
I’m actually a notorious overpacker so to avoid that I have to plan out the outfits in advance.
As we sweat through the hottest winter in a 100 years, So I need summer wear, sun cream, a hat and a good scent.

Plus Plus Feminine by Diesel, I love the smell of this one. It smells almost identical to Emporio Armani Lei with similar notes of bergamot, lily of the valley, milk and vanilla. It is suitable for both day and night. Its mainly fresh like a cold morning; a clean and modern smell. It’s delightful, very pleasant on my skin. I chose it to help me battle with the heat in Brisbane.

On the plane, I will wear blue pants with a sweet top and a tank top to add just a spot of color underneath it all. Pairing two (or more) necklaces adds a funky (not too tailored) and chic note to the ensemble.

Inside the bag will be reading material, lip-gloss and press powder. I’d like to arrive looking chic and feeling refreshed. And if not, I will hide behind these chill sunglasses!

Day 2 museum and exhibition; I've found myself in love with with bohemian-influenced design with crisp chic accents and a simple stud pearl earrings. With a cute updo, some smokey eye makeup, a pair of heels and a diamond & pearl brooch with a dangling diamond earlings.
I could easily wear this out for a candle-lit dinner as well!

Day 3 shopping and sight seeing; this outfit is for browsing through shops and around town followed by a trip to the local café for a cuppa and a slice of yummy cake! Flats are a must.

Day 4 back home
This slouchy sheer top looks great paired with pale cream pants with neutral palette make-up for simple yet pulled-together look.


Of course, I can’t forget a camera. The iphone will be good for a quick snaps and the chunky Nikon for professional looking photos.
Missing in the photo is the iphone3Gs, which I'm still trying to source in Brisbane. No luck so far. I might have to buy it online after all.

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+ celebrate Earth Day

Going green doesn't have to be a grueling task. Helping the planet is actually pretty easy. Try taking your own reusable bags to the grocery store, taking shorter showers, making sure you recycle at home and at work, and buy organic products when possible.

One of many resolutions we can all undertake is to be more aware of the materials we use in our daily lives.

Today is Earth Day, so here are some products to get you in an eco-friendly state of mind.


A wonderful accessory to any outfit! Made from re-used T-shirt material, it can be worn as a choker, a bracelet, a head band, or anywhere else you can think to tie it.
Reversible bag for market shopping or grocery shopping, pick the side that best fits your mood and off you go!!
From Marang97


Eco-friendly instant charcoal packaging
Coals are ready to cook in 15-20 minutes.
By design-duo: Mike and Maaike



‘straw straw’ by yuki iida (japan) for Muji
A straw made from actual straw, mimicking the ancient practice of using straw to drink from.
The original meaning of the term "straw" was "wheat straw". Wall art depicting people using straws of wheat to drink from have been discovered from ancient Mesopotamian ruins. Straws of wheat are forms created by nature; they are materials that return to the soil. There's no waste in either the shape itself, or in its actual existence.



Trash pack for outdoors　
by Ken Sugimoto/Eri Sugimoto (USA) for Muji
A trash bag that easily stands up by itself. By taking advantage of the triangular pack that originated in Sweden and has been used for years for serving milk for school lunches in Japan.



Custom made clouds
Flogos™ are shapes made out of bubbles that miraculously hold their form and float up through the air every few seconds. They are 100% safe and eco-friendly, and can be made into practically any logo or shape!
Flogos has done hundreds of events for clients such as Nintendo, Walt Disney World, the Sheraton, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the list goes on.



Reuseable shopping tote
You can go, and shop, anywhere with Bag the Habit’s signature tote.
It made with recycled polyester, also cushioned handles, which I found to be a super helpful and water-resistant finish.
It also completely folds up into a mini snap pouch. Or ball back up if you're me.

--> check out more about going green here

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+ it's getting cold

A great dress for winter, can easily be dressed up for evening or create a more casual look with boots and tights
:: via Lily-G ::

I love the Jeweled detail, so FAB! ::via casa sugar ::

These free-form cut cotton loops are multifunctional, you can use your Necklush as a necklace or scarf or possibly a headband.
:: via necklush ::

sweet with a delicate dash of sexy :: via fray ::

street smart and savvy ::via dotti ::

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