A hard word to pronounce, isn’t it. I’m not going to try either, except to say I think it should be pronouced FAB-U-LOUS!
Uashmama (actually pronounced Wash Mama) is a paper bag that feels like leather but washes like fabric and flattens for easy storage. Use them for plants, fruit, legos – WHATEVER!
I’m using mine, in the amazing metallic gold, as a clutch purse. Check out the range here.
Read more at Objet Trouve, home of Uashmama http://www.objettrouve.com.au/home.aspx
Just this morning I arrived back in Melbourne after ten days (was it ten? Maybe it was nine. Or eleven? Who knows!) in Tasmania. That’s why the blog has been so quiet. And my Twitter, and Facebook. It’s not often that a blogger gets to take a break – and I actually had no intention of stopping – but sometimes the Universe has other plans and almost as soon as I left the mainland, my ability to get a decent internet connection left too and my break officially began.
After spending seventeen days in Paris earlier this year, Tassie was definitely a trip more inspired by my partners desire to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and wind down in a place quite removed from our daily lives. As much as I think I don’t work that hard* (I very much adhere to the ‘do something you love and you’ll never work another day in your life’ philosophy), its amazing how once you step away from it all, what a difference can be made.
We headed to Tassie via the Spirit of Tasmania (adults at kids prices!!) and booked a cabin. The food on the boat isn’t much to write to home about but the accommodations are comfortable and almost as soon as you fall asleep (just ignore the drunk feeling you’ll experience from the rocking of the boat), you wake up on the other side of Bass Strait, with your car.
Guide Falls, Burnie Tasmania
Our first few days were spent in the North West region of Tasmania, visiting Burnie, La Trobe and Launceston. We stayed in an Airbnb, hosted by the lovely Kit, and couldn’t have asked for better accommodations and welcome. In Ulverstone, we found a great smallgoods supplier, Kings Feast, whose gourmet (and gluten free!) sausages were phenomenal. Don’t even get me started on the quality of the ham and bacon. The 41 degrees South Salmon and Ginseng Farm was also a highlight.
While we had a fair bit of rain in the first few days, our day of driving from the top of Tassie to the bottom was clear and sunny. The reputation of art gallery MONA had everyone telling us it was THE place to go in Hobart, so that was first stop on the list. Gorgeous buildings house this eccentric space and while I wasn’t as shocked as I thought I would be, the gallery was still amazing and a definite highlight of Hobart.
The Rydges Hobart was our hotel for the night, and we visited Tavern 42 South for a divine dinner just off Salamanca Square. A drive around Hobart uncovered some lovely buildings and architecture, before our big day driving sent us to an early bed.
Dinner at Tavern 42: Salmon, Broccoli, Stickydate Pudding and breakfast at Retro (all Salamanca Square, Hobart)
On Thursday we travelled further south, taking the ferry to Bruny Island: an island, off an island, off an island, at the edge of the world (according to the locals). Inspired to visit Bruny Island after watching endless episodes of Gourmet Farmer, this island is home to less than 600 people and enjoys spectacular views, landscapes and tranquility.
Daniel Bay, Bruny Island (from our lounge room window)
A keen fisherman, my partner was out finding the best spots mere minutes after our arrival at Pat and Johns, another winning Airbnb find. Armed with local knowledge, it wasn’t long before the fish were biting. Day 2 on Bruny Island saw us out on Daniels Bay fishing for flathead (Amusing sidenote: I was also on said boat, in the rain, with my umbrella up Queen of Sherba style) while Day 3 produced some of the most amazing squid I’ve ever eaten. Perhaps what they say about it tasting better when you catch it yourself is true.
Cloudy Bay, Bruny Island
The attractions of Bruny Island include Bruny Island Cheese – the ‘Nanna’ is my new favourite and certainly gives the French stuff a run for its money! Get Shucked is the place to be for Oysters and the Bruny Island Winery is worth a visit for the award winning Pinot Noir (and the menu looked brilliant). Unfortunately for us, many of the other tourist spots (the smoke house, fudge shop and cherry farm) were closed (but all the more reason to return I suspect!).
Our finals days took us back through the centre of Tasmania to Tarraleah, where the hydroelectric plant sits bang in the middle of the mountains. The pipes are a sight to behold but so too is the estate of Tarraleah Lodge, a gorgeous place to stay in Winter (and I suspect Summer too).
View from the clifftop hottub, Tarraleah Lodge
Complete with clifftop hottub, the lodge was one of the most spectacular places I have ever had the privilege of staying – and the fact that we were the only ones booked in on this particular evening made it all the more magical. The food here at the Highlander Arms was not to
be dismissed, and I feel there is no question we’ll be back here for flyfishing at some point.
By the time we arrived back at the Spirit of Tasmania for our return journey, I wasn’t sure whether I felt exhausted, or relaxed to the point of no return. The thought of getting back into it today was exciting, but also a little overwhelming with the list of how much I hadn’t gotten done in the past two weeks.
Sarah the fisher-woman!
Everyone who said ten days in Tassie would be too long was wrong – we could easily have spent more time there. There is a lot to see, do and experience – I guess it’s all about what you want to get out of your trip. I certainly learnt a lot (not the least of which is how to cook flathead and calamari) and look forward to our next jaunt across Bass Strait – perhaps with a slightly warmer season in mind.
*Mum, this is not an opportunity to agree with me 🙂
The Projects‘ Carrie Bickmore has done it again!
On The Project last Wednesday night, Carrie was rocking one of my fave Rodeo Show pieces from the current collection, the Blossom Dress.
I rocked this frock last week too – behind the scenes on the Be. Wines photo shoot!
I love a fab print! And I’m not the only one. Rebecca Judd is a fan too, wearing the Peplum top and the skirt on her hosting duties on Postcards.
Thanks to Rodeo Show for images of Bec and Carrie. Get your Blossom print today!
The shoulder pads, the glossies and some nude Royals. The 1980s. What’s not to like? After the roaring success of Paper Giants, the story of Ita Buttrose and Cleo, this installment depicting the magazine history of New Idea and Women’s Day – and the women who made them – looks just as awesome.
A year ago, just about to the day, I wrote this blog post about my prospective house move. I’d been living in my one bedroom flat for three years, alone, until the Gods up there deemed me worthy of someone who loved me enough to want to live with me.
And now, just twelve months later, we are moving again. Not because anything awful happened – the Gods still think I’m worthy (and even after twelve months, this man still wants to live with me) but because we are planning for the future, and part of that plan means short term ‘pain’ for long term gain.
Pain is a relative term though. The only part of this experience that will be painful is the actual moving part, 400m down the road. We still get to live in our amazing neighbourhood, with our favourite cafe, tree lined streets and easy commute to the office. The new place is still light and bright, with polished boards and big windows, a pretty outlook and (hopefully) great neighbours. It’s a touch smaller, but the move means we will save almost half the rent we are paying now.
Paris, here I come. Again. Maybe. 😉
Let the downsizing begin again. The first batch of eBay listings are in the mail and I’m slowly starting to accumulate piles around the house – this one for the op shop, this one for my sister, this one to sell at a market. I’ve already chopped all my nails off so the fear of breaking them mid packing is mitigated and resigned myself to the fact that we did it once and survived, we can do it again.
And in the meantime, I’m looking for volunteers to help carry furniture up and downstairs. Any takers?
The first time I was invited to Eat Street, in 2011, I was so excited I could barely contain it. The prospect of a night involving the best chefs from Melbourne with all the amazing food and wine that they create was almost more than I could have dreamt of. And then I got gastro and was devastated to inform my friend I wouldn’t be able to accompany her. I even had an outfit picked out!
And so the long 12 month wait for the night of the year to roll around again began.
In 2012 I attended my first Eat Street and it was everything I had imagined. The annual gourmet charity event raises money for Redkite (and has done for the past 13 years) by bringing together 50 of Melbourne’s top chefs and wineries, preparing their signature dishes and vino’s for the 800 guests.
This coming 28 May, I will again be indulging for a good cause. I’ve even chosen the outfit. Held at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, the 2013 event promises to be a night of food, frivolity, and fundraising, with entertainment from Lisa Edwards and Baby Grand, circus performers, clowns, and The Wackys as the Ringmasters of the evening. The Circus theme will be one not to be missed.
If you want to help eat and drink your way through the evening, whilst supporting an excellent cause, I very much recommend Eat Street.
What: Eat Street
When: Tuesday, 28th May, 2013 at 6pm.
Where: Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $160 per person
Bookings: Ph (03) 9653 0000, or email: h1902-co01@sofitel.com
Don’t you hate it when you buy into the marketing of a new product, only to get it home, open it and find it doesn’t suit your skin tone? Or maybe you buy a whole box of something, use it once and discover that the shade really doesn’t go with your colouring. Money wasted trying things you think you like is one of a woman’s biggest beauty problems and causes a bathroom cupboard full of once used products all past their expiry date.
The answer to this modern day conundrum is BellaBox, a selection of beauty products sent to your door monthly that allows you to test a variety of products for the small fee of $15 and discover the hottest new products in the market.
They have done deals with the big names – Clinique, Estée Lauder and Avène among them, and cover all bases such as skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrance.
The five trial size products in each box allow you to test the waters and see which ones you like best, before you head to their online store to pick up the full size product. You could even pass the ones you are not so keen on to a friend. Wins for everyone!!
The twin sisters who launched BellaBox a year ago, Sarah and Emily Hamilton, have since branched out into BelloBox, a quarterly service for men, and BellaBaby – self explanatory really!
Buy for yourself or a gift subscription for a friend (available in 3, 6 and 12 month deductions) or WIN one right here! I have four BellaBoxes to give away to the first four comments on this post, who let me know what their most recent fave beauty buy was. Enjoy!
My mum says I’m a little bit vain.
That’s the caption she wrote on a photo on me, holding the sides of a cheval mirror at age 2. Apparently she knew even then I was going to be into fashion – Mum does know best after all. So here I am 28 years later, still desperately holding onto the sides of the mirror, always changing something in the hopes of improving on what mother nature deemed sufficient.
In the interests of being efficient, it’s always a good idea to start at the top, and a good haircut and colour will set you on the right track to getting your look right. Last week I visited Salon XVI, in Richmond, to get the ball rolling and begin the process of my winter ‘look’.
I was welcomed to the gorgeous salon with a cup of tea (in a charming china cup) and the latest mags from Europe (bonus points for international kudos!) and allowed to relax in the oppulent surroundings of the salon. Golds, crystal and baroque set the mood of the salon, with not a bench or fluro light fitting in sight. The pictures on the walls depict hair styings, perhaps for competitions or fashion events, and I immediately felt at home.
Sarah is the newest employee at Salon XVI and a bona fide genius colourist and stylist. We began with a quick chat about my hair – I wanted to keep the length (it’s taken me FOREVER to get it this long) but everything else was hers to play with. She suggested some lighter foils to add texture and a general clean up of the ends with some more shape around my face. My recent balyage, though I love the look, is beginning to show damage to the ends.
While Sarah applied the colour and foils to my hair, we chatted about her travels through Africa, hairdressing past and how she came to be at Salon XVi. I talked about my blog, horror hair stories and recent trip to Paris. I think we bonded. And then – and this is the really cool bit – she offered me wine. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon. I would have given her my first born. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been to a ‘real’ hair salon (as in, not getting my hair done in my kitchen) and this was quite the treat!
Thirty minutes later I was cooked and a spell in the hairwashing basin followed. I love having my hair played with or washed so I was ready to fall asleep while Sarah put various lotions and potions on my locks.
The cutting process followed, and as anyone who has seen me get my hair cut can attest, I’m like a child in that I just can’t sit still or look in the direction I’m told to for long periods of time. I’m surprised I haven’t lost an ear yet. But Sarah perservered and soon, my hair was taking on a celebrity like quality. Shiny, healthy and fresh.
The final drying process involved using round brushes which were ‘stuck’ so they could set a bit volume and bounce but I simply couldn’t stop laughing at my ‘brushhead’ look. Apparently that style of blowwave is quite common (not to mention effective!) and I may be addicted. The result was fabulous.
I could have hugged Sarah when we were done. Not only had I had tea, wine and a good gasbag for 3 hours, my vanity was pleased with the result. My thanks to Salon XVI for having me – I’ll see you again in 6 to 8 weeks!
Salon XVI
First floor, 267 Bridge Road
Richmond 3121
(03) 9428 5545
It’s halfway through April – who would have thought time could go by so fast. I must be having fun.
Earlier this week, however, I had ‘one of those days’ and my friend Sarah sent me this quote.
I hope it helps if you are having a bad day. And remember:
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann c.1920
On my recent trip to Paris, the selfie was a much indulged photographic style. Short of asking strangers to take our picture every ten minutes, turning the iphone around and snapping away was a much easier way to control the happy snaps, get the picture we wanted and make sure we got our best angle. Then I was taking selfies to send to my boyfriend (strictly headshots and he started it!) and then it was about the outfits I was getting around the most fashionable city in the world in. The selfie was a big part of our trip.
Now Westfield want to make the selfie a big part of your trip – naturally, to Paris – by giving you the chance to win a holiday. And all you have to do is take a picture of yourself. Seriously. You are taking those pictures anyway!
The team at Westfield have even put together a list of handy hints on how to take your best selfie.
1. Work the angles
For the best shot, hold your phone slightly above your eye level and away from you at a 45 degree angle. This decreases the possibility of double chins and creates a slim and trim image in your ‘selfie’.
2. Duck, duck GOOSE
How the “duck face” became a go-to pose for many ‘selfies’ is a question for the ages, as the result often leaves the subject of the pic looking like an utter goose! Just give a natural smile and let your individuality shine through!
3. Be a turtle!
Stand tall, with your neck extended upwards; extend your neck out and then bring it down ever so slightly. Lean in a bit forward and look up if you’re sitting.
4. Mirror, mirror?
This comes down to personal choice: can you steadily hold your smartphone at arm’s length while working your best angles? If not, experiment in front of the mirror to determine which angles are most pleasing for your face and use this as a guide for your shot.
Using a full length mirror allows to you show your outfit head-to-toe. Hold your camera or phone with one hand, slightly to the side and angle in, to capture both your outfit and your smiling face.
5. Let there be light!
Natural light is by far the most flattering and ensure your light source (i.e. the sun) is behind the camera, so that it illuminates you in your best light. If you are taking your selfie after the sun has gone down, make sure your light source is slightly higher than your face, as shots lit from below can give a ghoulish look (the technique is popular in horror films – probably not the look you’re aiming for).
6. Wear something you LOVE
Your body naturally sets itself in a posture that radiates confidence when you feel amazing and this will enhance your look even further. Choose something that fits you well and keep in mind that patterns can flatter you if there are some parts of your body you’re less confident with, while bright and bold tones add colour to your features.
Easy, right? And did I mention the $5000 spendning money? With 62% of women aged 18-35 taking selfies (The Westfield ‘Style It, Snap It, Share It’ Report, Launch date 11 March 2013, sample size 1000 people), you better start working those angles and smiling in the mirror. Good luck!
Find out more here.
