Last weekend I went to the Take2Markets with Miss J in an attempt to get rid of some of my old clothes rather than continuing to clog up my parents rumpus room with boxes of my ill concieved fashion ideas of days gone by.

We didn’t do badly for a days work, but then it came to my attention that an important calender event was coming up – and a chance to offload some more clothes. National Swap Day.

This ‘holiday’ (we should have more holidays for clothes!) takes place on October 17 and fits in nicely with Buy Nothing New month (which I am not doing. Sorry kids, no willpower on this one!).

Melbourne-based sustainable fashion collective The Clothing Exchange are partnering with the Australian Red Cross and will host a series of simultaneous swapping events, trying to help fashion-conscious Australians find great styles while also raising awareness of the environmental impact ofthe fashion industry.

National Swap Day is a chance for fashionistas nation-wide to update their wardrobes while also helping to protect the environment by recycling their unwanted wares.

Events will take place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra and I ask that any of you in regional areas get your friends together and host your own swap.

http://www.planbig.com.au/national-swap-day-2

When experiencing minor life crises, or suffering from the lack of sunshine in Melbourne town, retail therapy is always a good idea.

After the little shock horror saga the other week (read: GASP!) in regards to the retail industry, it seemed shopping for pleasure was perhaps a thing of the past. And then I visited Sportsgirl.

As a retail outlet that I am in awe of because of their visual merchandising capabilities, I was thrilled to find that their customer service matched. Sportgirl have the goods.

After checking out the merchandise and selecting more than a couple of outfits to try on, I was approached by a male sales assistant. He asked if he could take the clothes to the change rooms for me. I was headed that way and he showed me to the styling suite.

As I tried on the clothes, I almost felt guilty that none of them were anything I was excited about. I really wasn’t in the mood to try on clothes but I had thought it might make me feel better. I exited the change room, wondering how I might break it to the nice sales assistant.

I handed them back and apologised – not today.

And to my surprise, he smiled back and advised he had wrapped up the acessories I had left with him and we completed the transaction in the stying suite, rather than having me wait in the store queue.

The necklace I bought on the day!

The guy was a gem. My bad day was totally turned around by a smile and a kind word – and a dose of damn good customer service.

Bravo Sportsgirl. Keep up the good work!!

This is my niece. She totally takes after me.

You know I’m a girl who LOVES a sale and there are two coming up that I have my eye on!

Friday will kick off the first sale this weekend – sass & bide.

Styles are up to 80% off but for 4 Days only,

When: Thursday 13th till Sunday 16th October 2011 

Where: 
Collingwood Town Hall
140 Hoddle Street
Abbotsford, VIC 

Times: 
Thurs 13th: 12pm – 9pm
Fri 14th: 10am – 8pm
Sat 15th 10am – 5pm
Sun 16th: 10am – 3pm

Kicking off next Thursday night, the Kirrily Johnston Melbourne Warehouse Sale will be an event not to be missed!

The sale will include the entire selection of past season stock as well as the most recent AW 11 collection – all up to 80% off! With press samples and one-off production samples, the sale consists heavily of old favourites, shoes, accessories and event dresses perfect for the Spring Racing season.

I’m so excited already, I can’t sit still!

BOTH: Payment: Cash, Eftpos & all major credit cards

May the credit card be with you – go forth and SHOP!

PS I know many of you are ‘celebrating’ buy nothing new month but can’t you buy a day off or something? There are events not to be missed!!

We all know I am a bit of a princess when it comes to keeping house – I don’t like to clean and feel time spent cleaning could easily be spent shopping or watching Gossip Girl. A much better use of my energy?

Perhaps not. But let’s face it – when thinking about cleaning (besides the time part) the next thing on my list of dislikes is the smell. Oh, and the chemical ickiness, and the ugly bottles that are hidden under the laundry sink, behind other stuff more pleasant to look at. Yeah, cleaning rocks doesn’t it?

Now there is actually a product that might make you want to clean. The bottles look like beauty products (but don’t mix them up!) and they smell AMAZING (just don’t drink them!).

Introducing new kid on the cleaning shelf – PLANET LUXE.

Environmentally friendly and sustainable, PLANET LUXE products are natural, botanical blends of organic herbs, plant extracts and pure essential oils. They are toxin-free, readily 100% biodegradable and greywater safe with no animal testing or animal-by-products.

Australian Lemon Myrtle, Ylang Ylang, Sweet Orange, Vanilla, Australian Eucalyptus Blue Gum, Kakadu Plum, Rose Geranium, Coconut and Lavender are just some of the oils and extracts that make these cleaners good enough to actually want to clean and will leave your home, office or car a heavenly place to be.

The laundry liquid is safe for all your designer threads as well. Go forth and fire your dry cleaner immediately.

The PLANET LUXE cleaning range includes a Dish Wash 500ml $12.50, House Cleaner 500ml $12.50, Floor Cleaner 1000ml $15, Toilet Cleaner 1000ml $14, Laundry Liquid 1000ml $18, and two varieties of Hand Wash 500ml $20.

Planet Friendly. PLANET LUXE.
www.planetluxe.com.au
Available online and coming soon to selected locations across Australia.

Now you all know I recently had laser eye surgery and that earlier this year I went to Paris. Those things don’t come cheap and since I can’t see myself winning the lottery or getting a payrise anytime soon, I’ve had to turn to the street corner to make an extra dime.

While I won’t be selling my body or soul, I will be selling fab frocks and sexy shoes – come down to the Take 2 Markets this Sunday and visit me (and plenty of other Twitter fashionistas!) and grab a bargain.

See you at the sale!

They used to say the Venga Bus is coming – now they say the Honey Bus is coming and you are all invited!

Need a ride to the Spring Racing Carnival? Cheaper than a cab (and way more fun) the Honey team will chauffeur you to and from the four big race days and provide a whole lot of fun at the bar before and after, if you are so inclined.

Spring Racing is less that four weeks away folks! Book your ticket for the bus today.

2011 will be remembered as the year colour came back to Melbourne.

While the drab winter has stretched our wardrobes and black has tried very hard to overwhelm us, spring is here and with it, the races and all the colour of the carnival.

Against the clear blue skies and greenery of the country, pinks and oranges will pop; purples and neons glow and that old adage of ‘blue and green should never be seen’ will be thrown out the window in favour of ‘anything goes’.

Colour pops at the Melbourne Spring Fashion week launch

While the dress is usually a girls’ first point of call for Spring Racing Fashion, mix it up by starting with statement shoes (remember wedges work wonders on grass!) or a wow factor fascinator that will make your outfit the centre of attention and a winner on raceday.

Be inspired by vintage racewear and traditional shapes but be sure to inject your personality and a touch of modernity to your ensemble. Don’t be afraid to try a maxi skirt, clash colours or – shock horror – wear flats! Bright and bejewelled are beautiful, and better for your ankles!

Orange and pink pop this spring so add some colour to your country racing outfit!

Accessories are distinct and unique. They don’t shy away from adding to the rainbow. Earrings, cocktails rings and purses should add to your outfit but not detract from it. Find the balance and reap the rewards – in the country, you will be city chic. Don’t forget nail polish!

The boys shouldn’t stick to black and grey either. A pink shirt or a tie with a twist will make you an odds on favourite with the ladies, even if you don’t back the first horse over the line in the Cup.

Your safest bet this racing season is to take a risk. No one ever won big by following the favourite so be daring, pick your favourite hue and increase your chances of taking out racing’s most coveted prize – the fashions on the field.

In an odd couple partnership, quirky and exotic headwear designer Peter Jago has teamed up with Slurpee to mark the official start of Slurpee Season for 7-Eleven at the Australian (and possibly) world first Slurpee BYO Cup Day.

BYO Cup Day was created to mark the start of Slurpee season (although you wouldn’t know it from the weather in Melbourne!) and Peter was engaged to design an alternative Slurpee vessel in the form of a signature Peter Jago hat.

Peter’s Slurpee inspired creation was an absolute show stopper at the BYO CUP Day launch. His top hat, which can hold approx 17L of Slurpee, served as the centrepiece at a mad hatters tea party.

‘Slurpee is an irreverent brand and I’m an irreverent person so this is a match made in heaven! The colours and fun of the Slurpee product inspired a mad hatter design that boasted the neon colours of Slurpee, as well as incorporated the actual Slurpee drink into its design, not to mention a few touches of magic here and there!” Peter said.

Last week, thanks to Nuffnang, I was lucky enough to walk the red carpet beside Steve Carell at the Australian premiere of Crazy Stupid Love.

Actually, Steve was already inside when I rocked up and I walked the red carpet with my girlfriend much to the dismay of the assembled media but it’s nice to think a real celeb had walked by not so much earlier.

Steve and the film’s directors introduced the film to the packed cinema and much like the characters he plays, Steve’s humour and personality shone through.

The movie is funny, just as you might assume, but it will keep you guessing til the end with a few plot twists you definitely won’t see coming.

Steve plays Cal, a middle aged husband and father whose wife Emily, played by Julianne Moore, says she wants a divorce in the opening scene.We then follow Cal’s journey as he gets a makeover thanks to Ryan Gosling (who is at his HOTTEST) and attempts to work out where his place is in the world – with his wife, or with someone new.

If the funny wasn’t enough to get you to see this film, seeing a semi naked Ryan Gosling should get you over the line. The man is buff and will have girls all over the world swooning. My favourite scene was when Ryan removes his shirt and asks the girl he is with to take off her dress – she says ‘No, not when you look like that!’ I can totally understand how she might feel.

The film also stars Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Emma Stone and Analeigh Tipton, formerly an America’s Next Top Model contestant.

Australia can see Crazy Stupid Love from September 29.