Shimmer and Sparkle. I love sequins. Thanks to Fabulous Somebodies.

This article first appeared in Onya Magazine

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A little flashback to jog your memories – this past January and February, I participated in Five in Five, a dating experiment (if you will) encouraging singles to go on five dates in five weeks by meeting people through friends, work colleagues and social skydiving rather than internet dating or staying home alone. The initiative raised funds for the homeless and gave young singles the opportunity to try meeting someone new, without the pressure or stereotypes associated with dating.

I went on my five dates, whimsically naming them after celebrities to protect their privacy (and for my own personal amusement) and documented the happenings for you to share.

Following the final date, and still finding myself single, I discovered the quote by Thoreau and wrote about Happily Ever After and just what that meant to me. I was happy with my single status. I was going to use the example set by Five in Five and go on more dates. I would essentially ‘stop’ looking for the happiness that comes from being in a relationship, and focus more on the happiness that comes from just being me and spending time with wonderful people and learning.

And then, without any warning, pre-conceived notions or ideas, love found me. All on its own.

Maybe I was too busy with work, perhaps I was more focused on finding five dates in five weeks, but whatever the reason – my attention was turned to other things and all of a sudden there was a butterfly sitting on my shoulder.

The stereotypes are apparently true. You will find love when you stop looking. Where you least expect it. When you most need it. Your mother was right all along. It will be with someone you were friends with first. It won’t be the Disney fairytale you imagined, but it will be a fairytale. Forget everything you have seen in romantic comedies – the reality is (seemingly) harder to achieve but the results are so much better.

So here is the summary. And in order to protect his privacy (apparently I am not meant to be using our life as material for articles) and in keeping with the theme of naming my beaus after celebrities, let’s call him Prince Charming. This is my fairytale after all.

I met Prince Charming in November, through a mutual friend, when I happened to be at a work function and had checked in at the venue on social media. A mutual friend noticed we happened to be at the same venue, phone calls were placed and introductions made. Before we knew it, our impromptu party of five was bar hopping to Richmond where we made quite the night of it. On a school night no less. (Those unplanned nights are the best, aren’t they?) Needless to say, the following morning many emails were exchanged noting the headaches and tiredness that resulted.

Weeks of group coffee catch ups, brunches, drinks and endless emailing followed, and by Christmas, our little friendship group was solid. After all, you can never have too many friends, right?

By my birthday in February, we were catching up less as a group and more one on one – yet they were still just friendly get togethers. I was five-in-fiving every week and work was as busy as ever. Seeing Prince Charming was a stress free, calming presence in my life – he listened to my concerns about my work hours and general neurosis and went out running with me after dark when I needed to clear my head.

And then, just like that, somewhere between learning about each other’s thoughts, dreams, hopes and fears, over coffee or brunch, or maybe a lap of the lake, we realised that maybe we were more than friends. That when Prince Charming went home, we continued to text, or talk on the phone, until we saw each other again. That we were spending more time together, than apart.

While Prince Charming and I continued on for a little while, protecting our bubble of happiness by keeping it to ourselves, we fell into a relationship. I discovered the Disney fairytale of dates and flowers and gushiness doesn’t exist – but what does is so much better.

That feeling when something good happens and you want to call him right away. The feeling of wishing you didn’t have to go out with your girlfriends or your family on any given night because you would rather be at home with him. Watching his football team play more than your own, because it still means spending time together.

By the time we started telling our friends and families we were together, we had been ‘dating’ for two months. And then just to mix it up a bit (because people were not happily surprised enough) we moved in together after just three months.

So five months on and I’ve crammed a decade into half a year. While I spent close to ten years worrying about never finding the one, I’ve discovered that no movie you will ever see, no book you will ever read, will help whatsoever when it comes to the real thing. Everyone’s story is different and every person unique – there is no rulebook, instruction manual or guide you can study that will make how this happens any easier. There is no right or wrong.

When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. Call it fate, or destiny, or what you will – but one thing is for certain: it seems Thoreau was right. I found my happily ever after.

PS In addition to meeting my Prince, I also met several wonderful girls through shared Five in Five experiences who have become wonderful friends. To the three girls in particular who shared my journey offline, and have continued to be confidants and are always available for laughs, drinks and general mayhem, thank you for being fabulous. I hope that the four of us live happily ever after.

Last night I watched the live stream from Sydney of the David Jones Spring Summer Parade. 

I love how technology can bring the ‘fans’ every moment that is the excitement of a runway show – especially one the scale of DJs.

Anyways, this Ginger & Smart frock was my fave of the night – worn by the impeccable, Miranda Kerr.

Spring Racing is a little under two months away but I’ve already picked this frock out as my Oaks Day stunner. That means its taken, ladies. Hands off.

PS How amazing is neon!?

Cue Summer 2012 launched today – available online and in stores now.

Black & Sherbert Spliced Dress $255.00
Orange Neon Tulle Tunic $110.00

There might be ‘no place like home’ but when it comes to working where you sleep, I beg to differ.

Three months into my freelance/working from home/I’m a consultant now work life and the ‘cool stuff’ that attracts people to working from home in first place is starting to lose its shine. Well, not lose it’s shine but perhaps the reality is setting in a little bit.

How’s that, you ask? Let me elaborate.

A beginner’s guide to working from home, by Sarah Kempson

1. Get dressed everyday
Seriously, this one is BASIC. And don’t just get out of bed and throw on whatever appears to be dry/clean on the floor from two weeks ago. Take pride in your appearance! Do your hair! Put on makeup! You never know who lives around the corner and might need to borrow a cup of sugar. Personal Note: I discovered Guy Pearce lives in the neighbourhood. Point made.

2. The fridge is off limits except for the time between 1pm to 1.05pm
While working at home means you will save on the costs of eating out at lunch everyday, it is not acceptable to snack throughout the day on foods reserved for particular meals. Ie. Ice cream should only be consumed post dinner. Cereal should only be consumed at breakfast (even if at 2pm it seems immensely appealing). Stick to a ‘proper’ diet and your productivity will be rewarded. Probably.

3. Household chores are not an acceptable way to procrastinate
But they beat Oprah and Ready Steady Cook any day. I’ll just wash those dishes… I’ll just hang out that washing… Before you know it, its 4pm and you haven’t done any work – a long night of copywriting lies ahead of you. But at least the house is clean. Right?

4. Call someone everyday
Being alone (ie. in my head) for eight hours a day is sending me CRAZY. I am a people person – what on earth would I do without Twitter and Facebook? If you are the person designated to entertain me for an hour at lunchtime, listen to me babble and I promise not to call again this year.

5. Meetings should be spread across the week
While loading up a Wednesday with back to back meetings seems like a good idea, it means spending a whole day on the road and four days in your office. A meeting a day keeps the crazies away. Plus you get to try cafes in different suburbs. That probably have free WiFi. 

All in all, I do have to say I am LOVING the working from home deal. I love the flexibility, the people I get to meet and the variety of my work. 

Now, if you still think working from home is an ace idea, check out this fun cartoon at The Oatmeal. 

Its for a good cause and there will be champagne. Why not? Book now.

This is what I want for Christmas, for my birthday – for any occassion that warrants gift giving for the next fifty years. Oscar de la Renta. Love.

A few weeks ago, I was doing the once a year shop at Ikea with my friend Miss J when we realised just how much everyone hates going to Ikea. It was full of miserable people, on their Saturday ‘out’, and not one of them looked at all excited to be there.

Miss J decided she knew what could spark us up – ‘I want to buy a wedding dress’ she said.

I laughed. ‘Are you kidding?’

But kidding she was not and off wedding dress shopping we went to the local Salvos. 

Miss J’s argument? Everyone who wears a wedding dress is happy. And I guess she is right. So between the two of us we scoured the gorgeous laces, tulles, satins and silks in the Bridal Boutique at the Salvos on Victoria Road and then laughed and smiled our way through trying on dresses that were both gorgeous and hideous. But they all made us smile.

We didn’t leave empty handed either – Miss J purchased an amazing skirt (yes, half a wedding dress) just for the fun of being able to play at home.

How awesome is disposable income and being old enough to buy fun things like this with it!!

Speaking of disposable income and gorgeous white dresses, this lovely Lula dress is perfect for beachside weddings (whether you are a guest or the bride!), picnics by the Yarra, Saturday barbeques or a balmy night out. 

It’s available in a maxi or above the knee style from Lula Lifestyle and Wellbeing, Hampton.

This is the sweetest dress ever. They have it in blue too. Actually, the blue could be the sweetest dress ever. Can I have both? 

Contrast Hemline Dress $239, from Cue

The Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2012 Campaign launched this morning on Presgrave Place in the CBD, a truly iconic Melbourne hideaway.

While it was chilly out, the collected fashion press and VIPs were thrilled to see young Melbourne talent being showcased rather than the token celebrities that have been bought out in the past years.

Check out this beautiful behind the scenes video to get a taste of what is to come.