Time after tea

Acquired

2012-01-29T20:52:00.002+11:00

One of my goals this year was to get better at budgeting and while I have been pretty well behaved a few new things have slipped through the cracks...

♥ Basic stripy top

♥ Clinique lip balm - I love this product, some lipsticks dry out my lips but this product moisturisers and colours all at the same time, its brilliant.

♥ I couldn't resist this cute jumper from Target, I have stored it away for Autumn.

♥ I think it is crazy that easter eggs are already out but I am happy to see these little guys again. I got addicted to them last year after seeing them on this blog

♥ New books, I can never resist walking out with something when I go into a bookstore.

Confetti

2012-01-22T21:43:00.000+11:00

Shoes: varsavia // dress: gift/vintage // top: valleygirl // hat: jeanswest belt: besey johnson

Today I have been in a grumpy mood and managed to completely waste the day away. I had a friends farewell last night and the classic white wine was on the house and I completely over indulged. I think I am getting too old for these shannanigans, especially as one day with a hangover is kind of a waste of a weekend. I also wanted to go swimming today and the weather was awful so that definitely compounded my mood.

On the other hand I had a really fun night, we went to a Greek restaurant and the end of the night saw plates being smashed and tables danced on, completely cliché and completely delightful. I wore this skirt yesterday which the lovely Alyssa sent me for my birthday, I adore the colour it reminds me of confetti.

Right now Brendan is watching the Jurassic Park marathon on tv and I am filling my ASOS cart with things I cannot afford (don't worry I wont hit "buy now"). Sorry to be a bit moany, I think an early night and I will hopefully be back to normal tomorrow. I hope you had a lovely weekend!

Oh and I joined Pinterest it would be great if you left your username in the comments so I can follow you, my username is timeaftertea.

Nespresso love

2012-01-21T11:56:00.000+11:00

Up until I was 21 I absolutely despised coffee, the smell alone was enough to put me off. On my 21st birthday a friend bought me a mocha, not wanting to be rude I had a sip and bam it was all over, a coffee addiction quickly followed. I would hate to think I how much I have spent on coffee over the years...

For christmas my mum bought me my own nespresso machine and it is absolute heaven. On a weekend we don't have to go out and get coffee to have with breakfast and during the week I make one in my keepcup or Starbucks travel mug and run out the door. Now the only problem is stopping at one.

An oldie but a goodie

2012-01-17T21:56:00.000+11:00

Bag: coach // shoes: forever 21 // dress: dangerfield //cardie: target // belt: allanah hill //watch: swatch

My wardrobe is currently failing to inspire me, I wish I was better at remixing things but I seem to create one outfit that I really like and continue to just keep recycling the same look. I am pretty sure that I have worn this dress (and possibly together with the cardigan) on my blog before but look at that cute red bow belt I have added and new shoes....ok so I need to work on the remixing. Feel free to tell me how you would wear this dress without a red cardy because thats the only way I seem to rock it. However this is one of my favourite outfits, polka dots and a pop of red have never let me down.

At the moment I seem to gravitate towards anything with dots, does anyone else go through phases like that? I seem to go through phases and never leave them as I am still obsessed with florals and stripes, so I will now just add polka dots to the list.

Today I stuck pretty well to my 30 day challenge but had 1 and a half diet cokes, caffeine is obviously a weakness I need to work on. I am going to go to bed and hopefully get up early to do washing and bake cookies for work, its been a bit hectic lately and I think people deserve a treat (plus I am loving freshly baked cookies at the moment and this seems like a good excuse to indulge.)

My 30 day challenge

2012-01-16T21:43:00.000+11:00

Link

Last night I was reading one of my fave blogs Milkteef which recommended I read this blog. This lead me to read the entire blog from start to finish and leave feeling completely inspired afterwards. I really feel like Rose has this whole life balance thing sorted out and made me want to persevere to achieve my goals this year.

So for 30 days I am concentrating on being kind to my body. I developed some pretty good habits in 2011 in relation to eating better and exercising regularly but after my trip to America it all started to go a little down hill so for the next 30 days I am aiming to:
♥ Only have one coffee and one diet coke a day (I failed this today...)
♥ Eat 2 serves of fruit & 5 serves of veggies (5 serves of veggies is tough, check out this guide)
♥ Exercise six times a week
♥ Get at least seven hours of sleep
♥ Four alcohol free nights a week
♥ Drink eight glasses (approx) of water a day
♥ Limit carbs after 4pm

I am not going to weigh or measure myself, I just want to concentrate on forming better habits and feeling good! Feel free to join me if you need to get back on track after the holiday season or maybe you could set your own 30 day challenge if there is something else you want to achieve. Lets all report back in 30 days....

Oh and by the way after 30 days I am rewarding myself with this....... its all about balance!

Avoiding the express lane

2012-01-15T17:01:00.001+11:00

Top: Fine and Dandy Vintage // shorts: //bag: forever new // shoes: wittner // belt: zara// earrings: sportsgirl

Yesterday I had absolutely no motivation to do anything. By 2pm I had managed to sporadically move from the lounge to the bed and back again without achieving anything in between. I bargained with myself that if I at least got dressed I didn't have to do anything else. Getting dressed some how lead to a spur of motivation and I baked some cookies, went and got coffee and walked around the lake.

Today I was treated to breakfast at one of my favourite cafes and than got an hour and a half massage with a gift certificate from my birthday. It was so lovely and relaxing, something I wish I could indulge in every Sunday, what a great start to the week.

However I than went to pick up groceries and was abused by a lady in the line for having two many items in the express lane. I was three items over and I can honestly say I had no intention of inconveniencing her, I didn't think that I was 3 items over. I was so taken back I didn't know what to say I guess in future I will just double check how many items I have, surely there is more important things to worry about in life.

I hope you have had a good weekend!

You're my best friend

2012-01-14T11:48:00.000+11:00

Today is my sisters 21st Birthday and unfortunately I am not celebrating with her, as the lucky thing is in Paris. She will be at the Moulin Rogue when the clock strikes midnight and than is spending the day at Disneyland. Pretty good 21st if you ask me! I wanted to put this post up because I will be thinking of her today and thanking my lucky stars that I was blessed with such an amazing sister. I know she will stand by me through anything (even when I accidently waxed half her eyebrow off) but is not afraid to tell me how it is. I love this girl and cannot wait till she gets back so we can all celebrate together. I am so thankful for the amazing bond we have and for having someone who knows me better than most.

Week two: Spinach and feta pie

2012-01-12T20:37:00.000+11:00

This week I tried out Spinach and Feta pie, I love anything that combines these too delicious ingredients so knew I was onto a winner. The receipe was once again from Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meals and once again it took me longer than 30 minutes but that's ok. The salad was easy and yummy, but when it came to the pie I broke one of Jamie's rules of easy cooking - I didn't have the right tools.

I had left our pie dish at a friends house so instead used lots of little dishes which made the pie far to thick and with not enough pastry. If I had have had a shallow dish I think this dish would have been perfect, just slightly disproportionate in taste with the deep bowls. You wouldn't think something like that would make such a difference.

What have you been cooking this week?

Safer in heels

2012-01-09T21:41:00.002+11:00

Shoes: Wittner // top: vangelica // skirt: target // watch: fossil // bag: markets in China town // earrings: sportsgirl

I bought these shoes from Wittner on the weekend for $25 originally $190. To me that is just a little crazy, it makes you wonder how marked up products are and how quickly styles come in and out of fashion that within probably a month a product can lose 80% of it's value. The retail sector is in a slump at the moment and I can see why, with crazy prices like this it really makes me question ever buying anything full price. Anyway I really shouldn't complain because they were a steal and completely budget friendly.

I am currently on the lounge nursing a very sprained ankle, you would be forgiven for thinking that it was the heels that caused the injury. However it was actually at netball tonight after falling over awkwardly and then causing a big scene due to my ridiculously low pain threshold. Plans of getting back into the gym tomorrow have subsequently been put on hold.

Oh and just one more thing, this top is pretty cute right? I wish I could have captured it better in the photos but it was too bright. I bought it from a very sweet little store in Melbourne called With Love from Harem which I unfortunately cannot find a website for.

All good things must come to an end

2012-01-08T19:10:00.000+11:00

Skirt: target // shoes: joanne mercer // top: i.d.k // ring and necklace: gift // earrings: monet

My holidays have finally come to an end and I head back to work tomorrow. It is probably for the best as a good portion of time has been spent lying around watching Pretty Little Liars and having afternoon naps. I did venture out a little this weekend for a friends hens night and than lunch and a movie today. We saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie which was pretty good, definitely better than the first one.

I bought this top in Melbourne from a boutique called i.d.k on Brunswick Street, it had lots of cute stuff at affordable prices and I am happy to find out that they have a stockist in Canberra.

Well I best be off to bed so I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning. Hopefully it doesn't get t0 4pm tomorrow and I curl under my desk for an afternoon nap.

Week 1: Steak Sarnie

2012-01-05T20:13:00.001+11:00

One of my resolutions this year was to learn how to cook so I am aiming to cook a new meal each week. This week I tried a receipe from Jamie Oliver's '30 Minute Meals' which I got for my birthday.

The beetroot salad was delicious, you really cannot go wrong with beetroot and feta. The potatoes were good too but I really am just not good at cooking steak. It wasn't bad I just imagine that it could be better. Definitely something I am going to have to try and work on over the next year. The steak was meant to be served with a baguette but I thought that was probably a little bit too carby for dinner time but I imagine it would be delicious. Oh and this definitely didn't take me 30 minutes, Jamie has high expectations of his readers but it was all pretty easy which I like.

My vintage moo-moo

2012-01-05T18:50:00.000+11:00

Dress & earrings: vintage // shoes: sportsgirl // belt: forever new

Have you seen the episode of the Simpsons were Homer decides to put on weight so he can work from home and swans around in a moo-moo? This my friends is my moo-moo because lets be honest without a belt it has as much shape as a heshen sack. I do love it though and it such a light and breezy material, maybe some sort of polyester blend. To be honest alot of my vintage dresses are this material and so good for Summer, not enough dresses are made of this material anymore.

I bought this dress from a Vinnies store in Newtown, there was also another dress I fell in love with there but it was unfortunately too big to justify buying, I hope its gone to a good home because it was beautiful.

I only have three more days left of holidays which is slightly depressing. I love my work but I love being on holidays even more. I slept in this morning and than went out for lunch and shopping for a friend. I stuck to my resolution and didn't buy anything except a new bedspread which I bought with a gift card from christmas, woo hoo!

Goals and resolutions for 2012

2012-01-04T20:55:00.000+11:00

I know there are lots of resolution/goal posts out there at the moment but I cannot resist adding my own as well. I love setting goals, even if I don't reach them every time it always motivates me to at least try. So for 2012 I want to...

Cook more

I really love eating good food and I want to be able to make more things myself and get a little more creative. I am aiming to try a new receipe every week and to document my progress on my blog. If you have any recommendations for cooking blogs I would love to hear them.

Read more

In 2011 I didn't read half as much as what I usually do. I spend about 40 minutes on a bus each day so I really have no excuse. I am aiming to read 26 books this year, which is one a fortnight, completely doable.

Link

Be kind to my body (thanks Jasmine)

I am not going to make goals about losing weight or getting fit, I do it every year. Instead I will commit to exercising regularly and eating as healthy as possible but I have learnt long ago that I can not give up my choccy and wine.

Spend more time with Brendan

Brendan and I have been together for five years in February and I will admit it can be easy to fall into a rut sometimes. We are both busy with work and social

Link

Stick to a budget

I was pretty reckless with money in 2011 as it was my first year with a regular income after being a poor uni student for five years. This year I want to work on saving some money away and just being more sensible with my money in general.

Live in the moment

Sometimes I spend too much time thinking about the future and forget to just live in the moment, enjoy what is actually happening. I want to try and enjoy each day for what it is and put everything into whatever I happen to be doing at a given moment.

Little Goals

Get my tattoo (finally) // learn to sew // redecorate our bedroom // go on a holiday with my sister and her bf // keep our house tidy//

What are your goals/resolutions for 2012?

2012 first outfit post: summer dress

2012-01-03T23:14:00.000+11:00

Dress & Belt: Forever New // Shoes: Joanne Mercer

I first spotted this dress a couple of days before Christmas but was in such a rush I didn't bother trying it on. A week later and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I looked in three Forever New stores before finally tracking it down on the "last of the must have" racks in a Melbourne City store. It is slightly too big but nothing a belt couldn't fix.

I have the rest of the week off work and am planning to read a book, watch the first season of Pretty Little Liars and clean up our house. I managed to get six loads of washing done today - yes things were a little out of control. It definitely feels nice to start the New Year with a clean house and good intentions of keeping it that way.

A week in delightful Melbourne

2012-01-02T22:07:00.000+11:00

New Years day in the Park ♥ Cricket time ♥Lunch at Borsch, Vodka and Tears ♥ Shopping ♥ Cute Melbourne graffiti ♥ Breakfast at St Ali ♥

I spent the last weekend in Melbourne with Brendan and a group of our closest friends. It was the perfect way to ring in the new year. We went to the cricket to see Australia vs India in the first test match which was fun even though I am not the biggest cricket fan. We ate lots of good food my favourite place was Borsch, Vodka and Tears where I tried perogi which was delicious and had the best cocktail of my life it tasted like puréed apple pie, yum. We also did lots of shopping (of course) we went to Brunswick Street, Chapel Street and did a little shopping in the city.

We had a really fun party for NYE, the theme was iconic you tube videos. The best day however was New Years Day which we spent in the park eating good food, drinking gin and tonic and playing silly games and having water fights. The weather was super hot, 33C, which I love, I was in my element. Finding joy in the simple things is definitely something I want to carry with me into the rest of the year.

How was your New Year? How did you spend it? I hope it was fabulous and 2012 brings you everything you hope for!

A very merry time

2011-12-26T19:58:00.001+11:00

Our little tree, for a little Christmas

Coffee machine, wohoo!

Getting Leah ready for Europe

Someone was sad that they didn't get any presents

Leah and her hunny, James

New watch and Christmas headband

My outfit: shoes: platform shoes // top: h&m // shorts: gap // headband: crown and glory //watch: fossil

Leah's outfit: shoes: styletread // dress: factorie

I have had such a lovely, laidback christmas. We ate far too much food, laughed too loud and probably had a little too much wine. I spent Christmas Eve with Brendan's family and I realised how lucky I am to get along with them so well and was very thankful to be an adopted member of the family. Brendan is the second eldest of four and I love being around a loud, busy family. We did secret santa this year and Brendan's brothers girlfriend got me and bought me a new hair dryer and the ring I am wearing in the above photos.

I spent Christmas day with my family and enjoyed getting to see my little sister before she jetted off to Europe today for five weeks. She is going to be in Paris for her 21st birthday, so very lucky. Brendan and I than had an afternoon nap and stayed up watching movies, it is becoming a bit of a Christmas tradition.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the holiday season.

How did you spend Christmas and what did Santa bring you?

Navy days

2011-12-21T22:26:00.001+11:00

shoes: platform shoes // dress & belt: forever new // owl ring: unknown // bag: vintage

My dad bought me this dress for my birthday, I would love to say that the man has impeccable taste but it was my mum who chose it out for me. The dress is so beautifully constructed with a stiff pleated skirt, with fluffy lining but what really wins me over is the cut out back, so cute. I think this is going to be my Christmas dress, hopefully we get some actual Summer weather to go with it, it has been so miserable and overcast lately.

I am feeling so overwhelmed by Christmas at the moment. I still have a fair few presents to buy and I offered to be in charge of desserts this year so am madly trying to organise that in between the lead up to Christmas festivities and wrapping up work for the year. It is also Brendan's birthday tomorrow so I am just going to chill out and enjoy the day and stress about Christmas on Friday.

Blog posts may be a little sporadic over the next two weeks, as much as I would love to be super blogger I think I might just get carried away with real life and the amazing times the holidays bring with them. I hope you are all organised for Christmas and taking time to enjoy friends and family :-)

24th Birthday

2011-12-19T21:39:00.001+11:00

Dinner with friends

Mum, Sister and I, birthday cupcakes, seafood platter and presents

Last Friday was my birthday and I had such a fantastic day. I woke up to breakfast in bed and presents to open. Brendan spoilt me with new pyjamas and a gift voucher to Forever New. I than had to head off to work which wasn't too bad with morning coffees and a cake in the afternoon. I than went out for dinner with some of close friends, we went to a little Vietnamese restaurant that was delicious and cheap. It was the kind of place where you can be loud and have fun and they don't rush you out.

On Saturday I headed to Sydney to spend time with my mum and sister which was also lovely. It was a very quick trip but we managed to squeeze in getting our nails done (we tried the new shellac polish which is amazing), shopping an an amazing seafood dinner at Darling Harbour.

I am really excited about this year, I have a bit of a superstitious thing about even years being better than odd and lucky for me I am back to evens again. I got some really cute present that I will try and share later in the week, if Christmas activities and other things don't get in the way. I hope you had a nice weekend

Top 5 outfits of 2011

2011-12-16T17:00:00.000+11:00

I have really enjoyed doing outfit posts on my blog this year. I never use to put much thought into getting dressed in the morning, or what purchases I made for my wardrobe. However these days I really love putting more thought into what I wear, experimenting by putting different pieces together and searching out vintage gems. It may sound shallow but getting up and putting on clothes you love and feel comfortable in is the easiest way to start the day on a good note. Here are my five favourite outfits from this year...

There really isn't anything exciting about my favourite outfit I just love this dress more than anything else :-)

The shoe craze begins...

2011-12-14T18:08:00.000+11:00

top: valleygirl // jacket: dotti // belt: portmans // shoes: joanne mercer

Is everyone else really busy at the moment? I have to admit I love the craziness of the holiday season but sometimes you just need to take some time out for yourself. Brendan and I are going out for dinner tonight (burgers, yum, my weakness) and than going to look at Christmas lights. My old boss has just got the world record for the most lights on a residential property, so we are heading off to check that out. You can read the story here if you like.

I went a little shoe crazy last week and bought three new pairs, all on sale so I don’t feel too guilty. This is probably my favourite pair due to their versatility and the fact they are so comfortable. I wore these all day at work yesterday and my feet just started hurting at 6pm as I headed home for the night so I am pretty happy about that. I think in this outfit they manage to give a much more classic look a bit of an edge.

I have slowly started getting back my motivation for the gym. I had a one off personal training session on Saturday and just learning how to do a few new workouts has managed to get me out of a rut.

Christmas packaging

2011-12-13T14:31:00.002+11:00

Before I started working full time I was always participating in swaps and writing letters. Since I have started working full time these hobbies have unfortunately fallen by the wayside a little bit. However, being Christmas time I decided to take part in two Christmas swaps and have already received my first one. I received the package above from my lovely friend Jasmine (I love being paired up with friends) and I have to say she went above and beyond what was required of her. This package made me so happy and excited to start packaging up my gifts for Christmas. I think from this year on I am going to keep a box of Christmas packaging to build upon every year because presents are definitely more fun when they are beautifully presented. Thankyou Jasmine for getting me even more excited for Christmas.

How are you wrapping up your presents this year?

2011: Top 5 books

2011-12-12T18:28:00.001+11:00

In recognition of 2011 coming to an end I wanted to start a little series for the rest of the December called the “2011 Top 5.... ”. This will include my top 5 books, music, outfits, blogs, buys etc. I think it will be a fun little catalogue of some of my favourite things from this year. Feel free to play along on your own blog or in the comments. Today I am starting with one of my all time favourite things, books! And just a little side note I have been a little sneaky and done books I read in 2011 and not books wrote in 2011.

5. Unsticky: Sarra Manning - I loved this book because it was so easy to read, a little bit silly and perfect for a Summer holiday.

4. The Gargoyle: Andrew Davidson - this book was so different to anything I have read and kept me intrigued though out, though some what disappointed with the ending, definitely worth the read.

3. Fallen: Lauren Kate - this year has seen me continue my obsession with 'young adult' literature. Out of all the series I started this year, this is my favourite, mainly due to my crush on Daniel!

2. The Slap: Christos Tsiolkas - this book gave me so many different emotions and left me questioning Australian society - I like a book that makes you think.

1. The Help: Kathryn Stockett - despite attempting to avoid the hype around this book, I caved and am so glad I did. A wonderful storyline with great characters, read quickly and completely enjoyed.

What were your favourite books this year?

Birthday wishes

2011-12-07T19:51:00.001+11:00

Motorola Xoom Tablet, Nespresso coffee machine, Fine and Dandy vintage shirt, Wanderlust & Co Ring, Fossil Tote Bag, Wedges Forever New, Peter Alexander PJs

It is my birthday in less than a week, this year has gone so quickly, I feel like I have barely just turned 23.

I am excited for 24 though and I feel like the coming year is going to be a lot more relaxed than previous and will hopefully be a time to take up new hobbies and go on new adventures. Plus I much prefer even numbers to odd so 24 suits me just fine. The older I get the harder I find it to think of gifts I would like to receive (not even mentioning that my bday is so close to Christmas). It took me three days to put this list together, so I think I will just be happy for a few little surprises and time with family and friends.

The "all kinds of wrong" dress

2011-12-06T21:05:00.000+11:00

Dress: thrifted // shoes: sportsgirl

Unfortunately this dress is a little tight and if I am completely honest a bit short as well (which is my own altering bungle). It is also probably hideous to some people, my mum was definitely not impressed when she saw it. However for some reason when I put it on, I just fell in love. It kind of feels like a sexy dress though most people would say it looks like a grandpa's pyjamas. I think it might be the long sleeve, short skirt combo that makes it feel a bit more pretty than it actually is.

So even though this dress is wrong in so many ways I wont be parting with it just yet. Isn't that the point of clothes to make you feel happy? This dress makes me happy and I am going to wear it with pride maybe with stockings in public though hehe.

Do you have any clothes that you just cant part with regardless of how they look?

Blogger of the month: the demure muse

2011-12-05T21:14:00.001+11:00

After being too disorganised in November, I am happy to introduce Katrina of 'the demure muse' as the December Blogger of the Month. I stumbled upon Katrina's blog a few weeks ago and was constantly hooked, spending the next hour or so reading through the archives. Katrina has a beautiful classic style and is such a friendly lady. I love that she jumped at the chance to take part in this project straight away, thanks so much Katrina.

Name: Katrina

Blog: the demure muse

Location: Seattle, WA

Describe your self in five words? funny (or so I'd like to think!), crafty, nerdy, optimistic, chatterbox

How would you spend your perfect Sunday? My perfect Sundays start off with a matcha green tea latte (or gingerbread latte, if they're in season)! I'm not a huge fan of caffeine, but I like to treat myself once a week to something yummy to start off my day. Sundays are the one day that I have a lot of "Me time" and I like to spend as much of the day possible outdoors. I love to check out different parts of the city. Sundays are also usually the days that I start new craft projects, so I spend my Saturday night planning out craft shops that I want to check out on Sundays to pick up all my supplies. :)

What is something you are loving right now? (It can be a blog, a fashion trend, something happening in your life etc anything you like) Right now I am obsessing over the holiday flavoured lattes. As a former coffee addict (I used to drink 3-5 cups a day! Yikes...), I now treat myself to only one latte a week, at most. During the week I will stick to my English Breakfast teas, but come Sunday morning, I get all giddy thinking about a yummy latte! In October and November, I was all about the pumpkin spice latte. Nowadays, I always have trouble trying to pick between the gingerbread and peppermint lattes. They're both so delicious and such a treat for the brisk Seattle mornings. If you have never tried one before, I highly recommend it!

Why did you start blogging? And any tips for bloggers just starting out? I started blogging when I moved Seattle back in 2010. I've always been a pretty big food nut and I loved taking photos at all the interesting places that I ate at. You'll notice that a lot of my earlier posts are strictly food photos and nothing much else. It wasn't until I returned to Toronto after a few months in Seattle that I started style blogging. I had been following a handful of personal style bloggers for a couple of years already and always wanted to start my own but I was nervous about putting myself out there. One day I just took the leap and posted an outfit photo and it just continued! The best piece of advice I could give to any blogger just starting out would be to blog about things that you love. Don't just blog about popular topics because you want to get noticed and have readers/comments. The views, followers, and comments go hand in hand when people see that you are passionate about what you blog about :)

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? I'm really looking forward to seeing my family and friends! A lot of my friends (myself included) moved to new cities in the last year or so. We're all planning on going home for the Holidays and meeting up.. I cannot wait! Good food and good company are my favourite things to combine for the holiday season!

And final words of wisdom.... "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Old dress, new hair

2011-12-04T16:57:00.001+11:00

Dress: thrifted // hat: asos // shoes: sportsgirl // ring: pandora // belt: zara

This is one of the first vintage dresses I bought. I loved the pattern on the dress but it had huge flowing sleeves which I removed and now I am really loving it. Thanks mum for being my personal seamstress. I really need to learn how to sew so I don't keep sending stuff to my mum to fix.

Do you like my new hair cut? Every two years I have this moment of madness where I chop all my hair off and then spend the next two years growing it again. Sensing the urge to chop it all off again I allowed myself to just get a fringe.Hopefully this will keep me from getting scissor happy again any time soon.

I put some things up for sale from my closet this morning which you can check out here. Nothing is over $20 and most of it has never been worn so head on over and have a look.

I am off to cook dinner for friends, making lamb hamburgers for the first time wish me luck!

Blocking

2011-12-02T22:07:00.001+11:00

Jacket: dotti // shirt: h&m // jeans: macys // shoes: sportsgirl

At work we have casual Friday which I interpret as " you can wear jeans" Friday. I had this outfit planned all week. I was quite proud of my attempt at colour blocking, until a girl stopped me in the street to tell me she had seen me on the bus earlier that morning and couldnt understand why anyone would wear orange and blue together. However she decided that on seeing it a second time she didnt mind the look at all. I managed to laugh it off and told her next time she saw me on this bus we should have a chat.
I am so happy that it is the weekend. I am having a 'Megan' weekend as Brendan is busy with cricket and my friends have gone on lovely adventures. I am getting my haircut, doing Christmas shopping and baking a chocolate chip cookie dough pie.

Our tree

2011-12-01T21:43:00.001+11:00

We have a tradition in our house that the tree goes up on the first of December. This year was especially important as it is most likely the last time it will happen with the three of us living together as Maddy is moving early next year. To me it really doesn't feel like Christmas, where did this year go? I am determined not to let next year slip away like this one did. Anyway now the tree is up and I have started buying presents I am slowly starting to get into the swing of things. Hopefully I realise its Christmas before it slips away on me too. Is your tree up yet?

Pink heart

2011-11-30T18:45:00.001+11:00

shoes: macys // skirt: H&M // top: valleygirl // stockings: equip

Last night we had the most amazing storm I have ever experienced. Sometimes I exaggerate but this storm was AMAZING, constant lightning, thunder, hail and rain for hours. Brendan and I laid upside down on our bed so we could watch it through the window. I was talking to my boss about it this morning and he was saying that all of us “young” people think it’s such a phenomena but we’re just so use to being in drought. The drought started when I was 11 so he probably has a good point, excessive rain and storms are such a novelty.
Since it was a pretty grey and dreary day I decided my outfit needed a little colour so got out the my pink tights that haven’t been worn in over a year. I really like the black and pink combo. I would like to try it more often. I randomly decided to clean out my wardrobe last night and am going to organise a little shop my closet as a lot of things have barely been worn. I am aiming for nothing to be over $15 so keep an eye out

Lazy days

2011-11-27T13:54:00.001+11:00

Blazer: dotti // tshirt: myer // necklace: forever 21 // shorts: just jeans // shoes: forever new // nail stickers: sephora // sunglasses: portmans // bag: steven madden.

I have had such a lazy weekend. Friday afternoon was our work Christmas party.I had told myself I was only going to have two wines to avoid making a fool of myself but ended up having a few more than that so Saturday was spent recovering and starting my Christmas shopping. I bought these shorts yesterday for $13 and am so happy with them. Very comfy and have the perfect Spring pattern. Even though I should stop buying so much floral but I always seem to steer towards it.

Today we have finally had some decent sunshine after days of rain so I am doing lots of laundry and going grocery shoppping, all those sort of fun weekend jobs. We have had friends from Scotland staying with us for the last two weeks and tonight is their last night before heading to Melbourne so were having an Australian themed dinner, kangaroo and pavlova, yum!

Hope your having a nice weekend.

Little life update

2011-11-24T22:25:00.001+11:00

Candy stripes // vintage earrings from my nan // summer fruits // the Christmas cottage

current read // smoothies // my ball dress // ball photos

watermelon ice cream // new swimmers // lazy hair // mini cupcakes
♥
Reading... Fallen by Lauren Kate (loving it!!)

Watching... Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Season 2

Talking... to my cousin in Scotland on Facebook

Thinking... that tomorrow is way to early for our work Christmas party
Wishing... that Brendan was home tonight :-( (literally two minutes after posting this Brendan came home unexpectedly, wishes come true people haha)

Buying... nothing at the moment but expect my first modcloth purchase to occur in the next 48 hours
Happy... that I got offered a permanent transfer from the job I hated to the job I love.

Planning... for Christmas and New Years

Wearing... pyjamas and a black dressing gown

Picturing... the sun shining and it actually feeling like Spring! It has been freezing here lately and we are only a few weeks from Summer.

Tweeting... about how I never buy magazines any more. Since I have started reading blogs I haven't felt the need to buy them but am planning on buying one this weekend as a treat.

The girl with no shoes

2011-11-23T18:58:00.001+11:00

I have never been a "shoe girl" I seem to have a tendency for handbags and dresses. Lately though things are getting a bit desperate, the heels fell out of one pair yesterday and my toe nearly popped out of a pair of over worn ballet flats today. My shopping ban has gone really well, while I cant say I have been perfect I would give myself 9/10. However with a depleted shoe collection things are starting to get critical and the little ban may have to undergo a 24 hour lift period.

Being the practical person I am I went to order the glitter ones this afternoon but alas they had sold out of my size, luckily there is many more on my wishlist. Where is your favourite place to shop for shoes?

Homeward bound

2011-11-20T20:10:00.001+11:00

♥ Our puppy Jack ♥ Cherries in the backyard ♥ Going out for dinner ♥ Yummy steak and creamy prawns ♥ View at dinner ♥ Birthday cake ♥ Out for breakfast ♥

This weekend I headed home to visit my family and celebrate Brendan's mums 50th birthday.

I love going home, as soon as I start driving into town a familiar feeling creeps over me. Not many of my friends still live there so I can dedicate lots of time to catching up with family. I spent time helping my dad order things off the internet, wished my nan a happy 81st birthday and helped her sort through her earring collection (which is huge by the way, I know where I get it from) and going out for a delicious dinner with my mum.

I haven't even thought about Christmas this year but this weekend has got me really excited for the holiday season. I am usually so organised and have my presents all sorted by now and am itching to put up the tree but this year I just haven't felt very festive until now. Are you already planning for christmas? Its definitely time to start as I really cannot handle the hordes of people when it gets really close to christmas.

Little thrifting tips

2011-11-18T18:06:00.001+11:00

I haven’t always enjoyed op-shopping it has taken a long time to develop the “skill”. I use to walk into op-shops, be completely overwhelmed and walk out again. However perseverance and a desire to grow my vintage dress collection as inexpensively as possible has helped me learn the ropes. I thought I would share a few tips I have learnt over the last six months.

1. Go with a plan! What are you looking for? Dresses, shoes, furniture? I usually go with a list of what I am looking for and concentrate on those areas of the store to avoid being overwhelmed by everything. I than generally have a quick browse of the other areas just in case something catches my eye.

2. Try things on. I have picked up so many dresses and thought that they wouldn’t fit or that they just weren’t right and then tried it on to be pleasantly surprised. Very rarely can I put on a piece of vintage clothing and have it fit perfectly. Try and visualise the piece with a shortened hemline or with the sleeves removed. Lots of my favourite dresses needed a little tweaking so don’t disregard something straight away if it’s not perfect.

3. More often than not I will go op-shopping and come home empty handed which can be a little disheartening. However that is the thrill of op-shopping your trying to find something that is one of a kind so you won’t always be successful. Visit your favourite shops often and don’t limit yourself to one place – test out all the shops in your area and find the gems.
4. Track down garage sales, estate sales, church fetes etc you never know what you might find at one of these events, think of it as a big old treasure hunt!

What are some of your op-shopping/thrifting tips?

branding

2011-11-16T08:15:00.001+11:00

Blazer: Dotti // shoes: Big W // shorts:gap // blouse:forecast // bag: steve madden

I wouldn't call my workplace conservative but I am unsure how red shorts would go down in the office. Today we had a training day and I decided that I would risk the shorts, sometimes it gets boring wearing the same old thing to work. It didn't seem to raise any eyebrows so I might even risk it one day in the office.

Our training was concerned with building a professional image, how to influence people's opinion of us and a little on how to "brand" yourself. I am always interested in learning these types of things and couldn't help but think how useful it is in the blogging world.

Sometimes I forget that everytime I post I am putting myself out there to anyone who happens to stumble upon this blog. Not many of my friends and family realise I have a blog but I googled myself and its one of the first things that pops up so is easily accessible to anyone who is looking for it. I never write anything overly controversial on here but it just reminded me to be a little more aware of what I am putting out into the interwebs.

What about you? Does it ever worry you who can come across your blog or what image of yourself you are putting out there? I think its good food for thought.

Please Mr Postman

2011-11-15T01:00:00.000+11:00

Lately I have noticed that lots of international stores have lowered their shipping prices to Australia. This makes me smile, however it does not make my wallet smile. To celebrate I put together a little wishlist of some of my favourite items from each store. Some of the stores have always had good shipping so they deserve a mention as well. I am hoping that a few of these might pop up in my Christmas stocking this year.

Sequin Skirt and Aqua Blazer

Boohoo

What are your favourite online stores at the moment?

Oh and the winner of my give away was lucky number 2, Jess!! Congrats Jess I will be in contact x

Back to life

2011-11-13T11:26:00.001+11:00

Dress & ring: Gary Pepper Vintage // Hairband: a little store in Amsterdam // Shoes: kmart

I have kind of dropped off the planet for the last few days as I had food poisoning. I haven't had food poisoning or a stomach bug since I was 13 so I forgot how horrendous it can be. Since today was the first time since Thursday I could bother getting dressed properly I thought I should wear something fun.

This is the new dress and ring I bought last week from Gary Pepper Vintage when I visited their stall at Terrigal. This dress is so light and the colours are perfect for Spring. I have to admit my hair only stayed out for another five minutes after these photos were taken as it is so hot here today, I love it!

It is my friends birthday today and we plan to eat gelato, drink cider in the sun and have a bbq later today. Lots of eating to do so I am glad I am back in action haha. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

Oh and my giveway ends tomorrow so make sure you enter here :-)

Three books you should read

2011-11-08T21:23:00.000+11:00

I haven't been reading as much as I would like to, I usually read on the bus but lately I have been squeezing in an extra little nap instead. Must get out of that habit. Anyway I have been able to read a couple of books lately and wanted to recommend some of them to you.

The Help: Kathryn Stockett

I am not going to ramble on about this book as it is the flavour of the month at the moment. I wasn't going to read it, I thought for some reason it wasn't my "type" of book. Boy was I wrong! This book is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time and if you haven't read it yet, order it straight away. The characters are so well developed that you can not help but fall in love with some of them and dislike others with a passion. I think it would have been interesting to have some of the chapters written from the point of view of the white housewives as well, just to add another dimension to the story.

Little Bee: Chris Cleave

This book was recommended to me by Maggey and I happened to see it at the LAX airport so snapped it up. I had finished it before we landed back in Australia.It is the story of a refugee, Little Bee, and how she ends up in London and the people who got her there. I love that this story has lots of twists and is written from a number of characters perspectives.I expected more from the ending but overall its a really well written story.

Delirium: Lauren Oliver

I love a good distopian story and since the Hunger Games I really haven't found one I like quite as much. However this has come pretty close. It is the story of Lena and the world she lives in, where love is a disease and must be cured through an operation. Lena believes everything that society has told her about love until she meets Alex. I really couldn't stop reading this book, it is well thought out and has enough suspense to keep you interested but isnt too heavy in issues that it becomes overwhelming. Plus I may have a little crush on Alex...

I have just started to read The Glass Room by Simon Mawer. I have tried reading it before but couldn't get into it. So many people have said it is good though so I am trying one more time. What are you reading at the moment?

Girls weekend away

2011-11-07T21:12:00.000+11:00

This weekend I went on my annual trip away with my girlfriends from high school. We went to Terrigal which is on the Central Coast, somewhere I hadn't been since I was 5 years old. We had an absolutely amazing time, we drank wine, ate good food, shopped and laid on the beach. Even though all of us can only get together a couple of times a year we slip so easily back into each others lives. I honestly don't think that I stopped smiling the whole time we were together, I am extremely lucky to have these gorgeous, smart, confident, funny women in my life, such an inspiration.

How amazing is that ice cream? $30 for a kitchen sink full of ice cream, so good! We were very tempted to order another. And another bonus of the trip was getting to meet one of my favourite bloggers at the Terrigal markets, Nicole from Gary Pepper Vintage. Such a nice person and I even managed to snag a beautiful dress from her stall.

How was your weekend?

I want to be a part of it, New York.

2011-11-02T22:28:00.001+11:00

Right now there is a million other things I should be doing rather than blogging. I should be writing my job application that is due on Monday or packing my bag for the girls weekend I am heading off on tomorrow but I really just want to share my photos from New York! It is such a cliché but I love New York. It is just such an amazing place, verging on indescribable. How they fit so much onto one tiny little island completely blows my mind.

I thought I would do something a little different from my other posts on my America trip and name my top ten things from my time in New York, so here goes in no particular order:

1. Pinkberry, this stuff is the nectar of the Gods I had it every single day.

2. Central Park.

3. Sex and the City tour, the most oestrogen packed three hours of my life but so incredibly fun.

4. The Dinosaurs at the Natural history museum, I completely geeked out.

5. The New York library, yes I re-enacted Carrie running down the stairs after finding out Big wasn't coming and I may have also did a Serena and Blair on the outside steps.

6. The Subway, so easy to use and saved our little feet from a lot of walking - embrace the subway people!!

7. Grimaldi's pizza in Brooklyn, the best pizza of my life.

8. Shopping on Fifth Avenue, I loved having my Tiffany's moment.

9. Jersey Boys on Broadway, adored it! Sister Act not so good.

10. Being asked for directions on numerous occasions, don't look like a tourist - check!

I adored the States and writing about my trip has bought back so many good memories. I am crazily thinking of going again next year which I know isn't financially possible but a girl can dream right?

Have you been to New York, what is your favourite thing about the city that never sleeps?

Dont forget to enter my give away here!

Missed milestones & a giveaway

2011-10-31T17:47:00.003+11:00

Skirt & top: Valleygirl // necklace: Betty Johnson // shoes: forever new //

October saw two big milestones of this blog come and go. I happened to miss both of them, which makes me a little sad but I thought its better to celebrate late than never. On the 11th October my blog turned two! Which is just crazy because I am generally the kind of person who starts a new hobby and never finishes it. Somehow though blogging has really hooked me, I think its mainly due to the amazing people that I have meet from all over the world.

When it comes to blogging it is easy to get carried away with how many followers you have or to publish posts that you think will be popular. I have learnt over my two years that you really need to just write about what you love otherwise blogging can get tiresome very quickly.

I had wanted to do outfit posts for ages before I actually started doing them I was scared that I couldn’t add anything to the already huge range of fashion blogs and I am not saying that I do add anything but I have so much fun doing it that it doesn’t really matter. Write about what you love to the best of your ability!

To celebrate these two milestones I have a tiny giveaway for readers! This purse and headscarf both from ASOS will go to one lucky winner.
♥ To enter you must be a follower of this blog (you can start following now) and you must leave a comment telling me your favourite posts to read on blogs i.e. travel, fashion, DIY etc ♥ For additional entries you can tweet about the giveaway (remember to include @timeaftertea) or blog about the giveaway. You must leave a seperate comment for each entry for them to be included.
♥ The giveaway is open internationally and is open until 14/11/11 at 5pm.

Virtual cupcakes and lolly bags for all xx

Motivate me

2011-10-28T23:18:00.000+11:00

Bag: thrifted // necklace: thrifted // skirt: target // top: forever 21 // shoes: sportsgirl

The weekend, oh dear, every weekend is coming around quicker and quicker. Soon it will be time to start thinking about christmas presents and summer holidays.This outfit is not very reflective of the Spring weather we should be having, the whole week has been overcast and chilly, I had the heater on last night it got so cold.

Tonight I have had a lazy Friday night in after dropping Brendan at the bus stop this morning at 5.30am - the things we do for love, right? Wine, pizza and a movie seems like a good start to the weekend.

Lately I have completely fallen out of the healthy habits (note the pizza and wine above) I had gotten into during the year so this weekend I am going to get back into exercising and going to go grocery shopping and try and stock up on fruit and veggies. Its amazing how it can take months to get into good habits but only a few weeks to fall out of them and you have to start all over again. Augh remotivate me, please!!

Have a great weekend!

Things to love about Spring

2011-10-26T22:51:00.000+11:00

Summer is my favourite season of all. I am one of those crazy kids who loves sweltering heat, not many people do. However as Spring is the lead up to Summer I quite like it too. So I thought I would share my top things to do in Spring and maybe you can share yours too.

Eat lots of seasonal fruit, mangoes, strawberries, cherries, grapes, passion fruits yummy! I eat way to many mangoes in Spring, I cant get enough.

Go on long bike rides, Autumn and Spring are the perfect bike riding seasons, Summer can get a bit too hot so I am going to try and squeeze in lots of rides now.

Stop and smell the flowers, literally! Unless you have crazy hayfever, than maybe stop and look at them. My neighbours have this crazy wisteria that smells so gorgeous for a couple of weeks every Spring.

Have Sunday naps with the blinds and window open, there is nothing better than napping with a fresh breeze coming in, plus it means you wont oversleep if you keep the blinds open.

Experiment with pastels and other fun Spring colours. I want to wear lots of pretty pink lipsticks and maybe give orange a whirl.

Make lots of yummy beverages; cocktails, ice tea, smoothies now is the season to get creative.

I put in a post last week how much I love just throwing on a dress in Spring and being able to run out the door. I am always attracted to floral patterns at this time of the year.

And finally a new tradition I want to start is going on a picnic with Brendan,with my laptop and a new movie downloaded and watching a movie under a big shady tree.

What do you love about Spring? Do you have any Spring traditions?

Los Angeles twice around

2011-10-25T17:43:00.000+11:00

We spent two nights in Los Angeles, one at the start of our trip and one at the end. Our first night was a bit of a disaster unfortunately and I couldn't help thinking that we had started our trip off on the wrong foot. We arrived at the airport just as customs computer system went down which left us standing in the cue for two hours. When we got out we made our way to our hotel which we found was practically in the middle of no where. We quickly had a shower and got changed as we had baseball tickets for that night.

We ran down and asked the quickest way to get to the Angels stadium which was apparently taxi. $100 later we got to the stadium, I nearly died handing over the money but it was our own fault for not researching better. The baseball was really fun and I loved getting to experience the atmosphere, my favourite part was the kissing cam. We then made our way back to our hotel (yes in our taxi) and got up the next morning at 5am to head to Vegas.

LA Take two....

We headed back to LA the day before we flew back to Australia and this time we were determined to do it right. We stayed at the Luxe on Rodeo Drive which was quite possibly the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. We sat at the restaurant on Rodeo Drive and ate delicious Caesar Salads and drank wine and people watched. We than went and had mani/ pedis and got Sprinkles cupcakes, yum! I think I liked them better than Magnolia Bakery. Before dinner we went on a big walk around Beverly Hills admiring all the gorgeous houses.

The next day we slept in and went on a bus tour around Los Angeles and finally spent some time in Hollywood. It is so crazy to see all these things you have seen on movies and tele in real life. We than had to hurry back to our hotel and head to the airport to come home. I was glad that we had the chance to go LA after our first little disaster, I would definitely head back as I saw lots of things on our tour that I would love to go back and do.

I only have one more place left to share from my trip, and I think I have saved the best till last, New York! Hopefully I will have it up later in the week.

Hello weekend, I am glad you're here.

2011-10-21T21:40:00.001+11:00

Skirt: H&M // Bag: Steve Madden // Shoes: Lucky Brand // Blazer: Dotti // Shirt: Blaque// Ring: Random boutique

Happy weekend everyone, I cannot believe how quickly it has come around this week. Work has been really busy lately and I have been working long days which has meant I have been coming home exhausted. It is 9pm on a Friday night and I am planning on going to bed after I publish this post, can anyone else say grandma? I was so excited for the weekend today I ran straight out of work and forgot to look both ways on the road and was nearly hit by a car. I think the driver got more of a fright than I did.

This weekend includes catching up with a friend from Sydney, visiting the farmers markets, catching up on blogs and going to a work Ball tomorrow night. Hopefully somewhere in there I will see Brendan, we have both been crazy busy lately and barely seen each other. That should all change now as today was his last day of uni, he is officially a teacher and I am so proud of him. Were officially both grown ups now haha.

Alright who I am kidding? Squeezing in an episode of Real Housewives before bed, have a great weekend!

New: purchases from the States

2011-10-20T09:54:00.000+11:00

~Tiffany necklace ~ Monet Earrings ~ Toms ~ New Shorts for Spring ~ Forever 21 Robot necklace ~ Starbucks cup ~ Kate Spade wallet and H&M skirt ~ Forever 21 Red Romper~

Just a fun little post to share some of my purchases from the States.

I adore my Starbucks mug, it reminds me of lazy starts to the morning eating a bagel and drinking a latte. It amazes me how Starbucks is everywhere in the US, Australia has such a different coffee culture. Everyone has their little local coffee shop that they get their morning coffee from, larger coffee franchises just don’t seem to do as well here.

My Tiffany’s necklace was an early bday gift from my mum, purchased on Fifth Avenue, of course.

The Red Romper is a bit of a diversion from my usual clothing picks but it is fun and will be good for Summer. I think I need a bit more of a tan first as my white legs are a little blinding...

Finally my favourite purchase is my Kate Spade wallet, I was due for an update and have no doubt this one will last me years.

So as you can see I am definitely due for a little shopping ban and am going to start concentrating on building up some savings and paying off the four new tyres and muffler I had to get for my car. Have you bought anything fun recently?

The Hotel California: San Francisco

2011-10-18T21:38:00.000+11:00

This post is seriously photo heavy but I cant help it San Francisco won me over completely. The weather was beautiful (well for two out of three days), our hotel was charming (yup we literally stayed at the Hotel California) the people were friendly and the food, well the food was amazing. If people asked me what to do if they go to SF, I would tell them to eat as much as they can. I had the best sandwhich of my life from a little cafe called Mango and the best pancakes of my life from Mamas.Two 'best of my life' in three days doesn't happen very often.

Apart from the food though San Francisco was absolutely beautiful. It gave me the impression of being a big city but with small town charm. I think there would be lots of hidden gems in the city that the locals keep under wraps, but I think I will be back one day to hunt them out.

The highlights of the trip were Alcatraz which has been on my bucket list since my early teenage years and riding across the Golden Gate bridge. I haven't rode a bike that far in a long time so was pretty impressed with myself for making the 18km trip. The only downside was my hands got seriously sunburnt from holding onto the handlebars, it was a little crazy walking around with tomato red hands for the next three days.

We also visited Muir Woods to see the Redwoods and as fate would have it both of our cameras went flat just before we got there. We managed to snap a few photos on our phone but sometimes its just nice to soak in a place rather than getting carried away with capturing the moment. It was so breathtaking and I definitely felt like I was in a place of peace. It was a nice little refresher before emerging back in the city for Mexican and then spending half an hour in the grocery store buying American chocolate and lollies. Australia just doesn't have enough peanut butter related products.

The simple life

2011-10-16T23:04:00.000+11:00

Dress: Forever 21 // Shoes: Sportsgirl // Ring: random store in SF // Bag: Steven Madden

I love the simpleness of Spring and Summer on weekends, it means being able to throw on a pretty dress and run out the door. This weekend has managed to fly by and at the end of it my house is still a mess and I still have huge load of laundry to do. I am starting to think that things like that don't matter as much when instead you have new memories of time with friends and have got plenty of sleep after a long week at work.

Highlights of this weekend include my first trip to Costco, getting bagels from the markets and reliving NYC mornings, making this pie which is really yummy, downloading the new iPhone software, borrowing a beautiful dress from a friend for a ball next weekend, going for evening walks, starting the Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 3 (love my trashy tv), avoiding shopping (apart from groceries) as I am trying to be good for a little while and getting a keep cup off a friend which I cant wait to use tomorrow.

What were your weekend highlights?

Vegas baby

2011-10-14T10:25:00.003+11:00

Vegas is a big kids playground. I have never experienced anything like it from the craziness of the casinos to being able to drink alcohol everywhere and anywhere. I can completely understand why a lot of people retreat here for a holiday. For me though I was more interested in lazing by the pool and, reading a good book and catching some sun after a long winter. That’s not to say I wasn’t completely mesmerised walking down the strip, margarita in hand. My friend joked ‘Why travel to Europe when you can experience it on the Vegas strip.”

I meet some interesting characters in Vegas, one afternoon a young couple came and asked me if I could tell them where the monorail was after saying I didn’t know where it was the girl looked at her boyfriend and said “Oh she doesn’t speak English let’s ask someone else.” It was very odd because I am sure I was speaking English haha. I was also asked by another guy if Australia was an island near Texas? I have to say though everyone was really friendly and all the staff at our hotel (the Excalibur) were very helpful.

We spent two days in Vegas and then headed off on a tour of the Grand Canyon. It was such a surreal experience; the scenery is just breath taking. The thing that struck me about it was that it was hard to perceive the depth of the Grand Canyon as you looked out towards the horizon, it looked like a 2D painting. It really is something that is so hard to put into words or to capture in a photo. We were actually lucky to make it to the Grand Canyon as our tour company was shut down when we got to the park as they hadn’t registered their vehicles properly. Luckily another tour company felt sorry for us and got us back to Vegas, luckily you can look back at these things and laugh.

I managed to spot two Vegas brides which made my day, though I felt a little sorry for the one who was sitting up next to her new hubbie looking bored while he played the pokies. I gambled a whole $5 in my time in Vegas and walked away with $50, I lost more money at Forever 21 then the tables and I am quite ok with that.

Have you got any crazy Vegas stories? I would love to hear them.

October Blogger of the Month: I-Zilla The Terrible

2011-10-12T18:33:00.000+11:00

I am so happy to introduce the lovely Iris as the October Blogger of the month. Iris is such a wonderful person and super creative I always love reading about her baking and crafting. I especially loved her recent post that really hits the nail on the head when it comes down to the importance of being yourself when it comes to blogging which you can read here.

Name: Iris

Blog: I-Zilla The Terrible

Location: Sacramento, California, USA

Describe your self in five words?

I’m a silly, nerdy, creative, impatient baker

How would you spend your perfect Sunday?

Sometimes when you have an event filled Sunday it makes it seem like the weekend came and went too fast so I like to relax and take it slow. Just lay in bed, watching tv or movies, or maybe go for a walk.

What is something you are loving right now?

Shoes. I’m obsessed right now and I’m not sure I have any more room in my closet to accommodate this newest addiction. I just bought a pair of gold glitter heels. I can’t wait for them to get here!

Why did you start blogging? And any tips for bloggers just starting out?

I was curious. It looked fun and it’s been an amazing creative outlet. I wasn’t sure I had anything important to say, but it was important to me so it was worth saying. For you new bloggers don’t be afraid to make friends. Read lots of blogs, introduce yourself, connect with those with similar interests. Most importantly you have to be yourself. I recently lost my way and I feel so much better starting fresh and staying true to myself. Instead of getting caught up in being popular, get caught up in enjoying life and sharing it with the world.

And final words of wisdom....

All problems can be solved with a cupcake...or bacon. Both always cheer me up! Don’t even get me started on maple bacon cupcakes...

Home again

2011-10-11T21:04:00.000+11:00

Bag: Coach // Blazer: Dotti // Top: Miss Shop // Watch: Swatch // Shoes : Love Couture // Skirt: H&M

Hello, I am back from my two weeks in the States. I had a post organised to say goodbye and that I would be back in two weeks but it never posted at its scheduled time, so goodbye and hello again.

I am currently a little jet lagged but managed to get through my first day back at work. The jetlag is definitely worth the amazing time we had. I feel like we packed so much into two weeks and cant wait to share photos and stories with you. I am officially in love with the USA and am already planning trip two in my head. I am also currently dealing with major bagel and cream cheese withdrawal, I am going to hunt them down on the weekend.

The skirt and bag are new purchases from my holiday. I have to admit I did quite a bit of shopping. Everything is a lot cheaper there than here so I thought I should take advantage of the situation. Especially with make up for example OPI nail polish is $9 in the States compared to $25 here, it is just crazy!

I came home from work today to find a lost dog in our front yard. She was the most lovely dog, very friendly. It broke my heart taking her to the RSPCA but hopefully her owners will find her there. It made me realise that I cant wait until we can get our own dog, oh well some day.

What is in my bag? Suitcase edition

2011-09-22T18:00:00.000+10:00

Just a little peak into what I am taking with me to the States. I am such a nerd, I actually started packing three weeks ago, are you one of those people, or do you pack the night before? I find that the anticipation of a holiday is nearly as good for you as the holiday itself. The planning and research is so fun for me, sometimes though I have to remember that it is good to be spontaneous too.

I tried to take lots of basics that can be remixed together. I know that I will do a lot of shopping so didn't want to take too much. The weather thing is also worrying me a little as we will be going from 36 degrees in Vegas to 22 in New York so have taken skirts and dresses that can be warmed up with stockings and cardigans.

Can you see anything I have forgotten?
Don't worry underwear is packed but didn't think you needed to see that :-P I think I have done pretty well, and still have nearly half a suitcase left to bring back goodies hehe.

Two Sleeps to go...

Travel inspiration: blogs

2011-09-21T18:42:00.002+10:00

Two years ago I would purchase 2-3 magazines a month, sometimes more. Ever since I started reading blogs though I very rarely ever buy magazine. More and more I rely on blogs to provide content that I use to rely on from traditional media.

I have found especially with travel that I prefer the personalised, unbiased accounts from bloggers than I do from travel books or magazines. Even just reading peoples personalised blogs, not traditionally travel related, give lovely little unintentional insights into places.

I have relied heavily on blogs to plan by trip to the States and wanted to share some of the posts that I have found super helpful. I would love if you leave links in the comments to your favourite travel blog/ posts especially if their your own.

Photo via Made in San Francisco

A work colleague put me onto The Everywhereist blog it literally makes me laugh out loud, she is such a talented writer – I especially enjoyed her San Francisco ice cream tour, salted caramel yes please.

Another post I found extremely useful was on Joanne Goddard's, A Cup of Jo, where she asks her readers for advice on San Francisco, 515 comments later there is a complete treasure trove now on San Francisco. Click here for the post.

Photo via Gala Darling

Gala Darling’s International Playgirl's guide to Las Vegas is absolutely fabulous and a great source for Vegas virgins like me. Her snippets into life in New York are also helpful.

I have found Fashion Intel a great source for all things Los Angeles even though I am still unsure of what I want to do while I am there. The only thing I know for sure is that I am going to a baseball game, not that I know anything about baseball.

Photo via Phillip Klinger

Similar to the post on A Cup of Jo, SF Girl by Bay, had a give away on her blog, to enter people had to leave their NYC travel tips, once again 99 comments later, a wonderful reference guide for all things New York.

The lovely Lady Smaggle recently ventured to New York and I literally waited with bated breath for her updates, her writing is so incredible I felt like I was there with her.

Only three sleeps to go.....

a little trip home

2011-09-18T18:59:00.001+10:00

Canola on the way home

Leah and James at our cousin's 21st

Spring view from Mum's balcony

21st decorations

1st Spring day with no stockings

More yellow

On our way back again

This weekend Brendan and I headed home to visit our parents. The weekend felt like an absolute whirlwind, there is never enough time to catch up with everyone when you only go home for two days.

On Friday night we went out for dinner for my dad's birthday which was really nice. It was the first time we had been together for his birthday in five years.

On Saturday I went and visited my nan and bought the shoes in the photo above. They are so comfy, I think from now on I will only buy wedges if I am considering high heels, haha. Than last night it was my cousins 21st birthday so it worked out well to be home and celebrate that as well.

We headed home today and I convinced Brendan that we needed to stop and take photos of the Canola, isn't it just gorgeous? It has further flamed my current love of yellow. We are now home and unpacked and our house mate is cooking a delicious roast dinner, life is pretty good.

How was your weekend?

Happy Birthday Dad

2011-09-16T10:00:00.000+10:00

Dear Dad

Happy 56th Birthday!

If I can say one thing to you it is thank you.You are the reason I am where I am today. You have always supported me, with everything I have wanted to do. You have made sacrifices and continue to do so, so that Leah and I can get the most out of life. While we are opposites in nearly every way, knowing you are always there no matter what provides more comfort than you may ever realise.

At my 21st birthday you said one of your fondest moments was us walking along the beach when I was little, me eating an ice cream and stopping to say hello to everyone. A memory of us walking into the sunset will always be the way I characterise our relationship. Whilst we have many challenges ahead the fact that at the end of the day we have each other will always remain.

Love you always, Megan x

The spotted top

2011-09-13T22:12:00.000+10:00

//skirt: target// shoes: kmart// ring: goram markets// watch:swatch // bag: spotted moth // headband: cotton on// sunglasses: Chloe // top: material pleasures//

I went on a bit of a second hand shopping adventure on Saturday. My favourite thing about op-shopping or searching for second hand pieces is the thrill of the hunt, finding the treasures amongst the trash. Of course this means sometimes you don’t find anything. I was nearing the end of my adventure empty handed when I spotted this blouse and had to have it. I just love how colourful it is and I braved wearing it to work today to bring a little more colour today.

I am feeling restless at the moment, I am craving change, does anyone else get like that? Not quite sure what it is that needs to change or why I am feeling so muddled but I am sure I will put my finger on it at some point...maybe its just the anticipation of going away or the changing of seasons... whatever it is change is not necessary a bad thing so maybe I should try to embrace it and shake things up a little.

Beauty Box & give away winner

2011-09-12T21:05:00.002+10:00

I have been waiting with baited breath for make up sample boxes to hit Australia and yesterday I received my first one from Beauty Box. I am not a make up expert at all but I thought I would share the first one in case there were people thinking of signing up and wanting a little more info. My make up routine is very simple and I am quite loyal to products that I know work for me so I signed up to this as a treat once a month and to try and shake things up a little.

Beauty box is $15 per month and you receive between 4 to 5 samples. This box included:
- YSL: Beauty Sleep
- Marc Jacobs: Oh! Lola! (three little sample bottles were included)
- Sally Hansen: nail file
- Playboy Spicy Body Spray
- Shu Uemura: Cleansing Oil.

Unsurprisingly the perfume is just lovely. I am planning on using the little sample sizes for travel and would definitely consider buying the regular size. The body spray smells nice as well and is a brand I wouldn't usually think about buying. I probably wont buy it again as I am not really a body spray person, I usually stick with deodorant and perfume. But if you do like body spray I wouldn't pass by this one.

I put the night cream on after my shower and the fragrance was a little overpowering for my likings and the consistency was a little watery. There was really only enough in the bottle for one use so not sure if I will be able to squeeze enough out for another try.

The stand out in this box was the cleansing oil, it was the most delightful product I have ever put on my skin. It smells delicious and is so soft and smooth. My skin felt lovely after using it and I am looking forward to using it again tomorrow. It retails for $105 for 450mls which is way more than I would usually spend on a cleanser but depending on how my skin is after the sample is gone I would consider buying it.

I won't be using the nail file, as filing my nails makes my skin crawl, does anyone else get that?

There has been a little controversy over the card that came with the box saying that you must review the product to ensure continued membership. I personally think the review is a great idea, but making it mandatory to continue receiving the box is a little excessive when were paying to receive the product.

Apart from that I am really happy with the box and looking forward to receiving it again next month.

Have you signed up for anything like this? What are your thoughts?

By the way the winner of the giveaway was lucky number 9, Micaela!!! Congrats lady! Thanks so much to everyone who entered.

Lazy lady

2011-09-11T17:33:00.000+10:00

Dress: vintage via material pleasures // silver ring: gift // coral ring: dova // shoes: novo // bag: sportgirl

I have had a very lazy weekend, spurts of action followed by a nap. Sometimes it is nice to just laze around. My friends ran a 10km fun run today, I went and meet them afterwards for lunch and am a bit disappointed I didn't go in it as well. I am a lot fitter than the start of the year so it would have been good to push myself. Oh well next time.

The silver ring I am wearing is a new addition. My friend is becoming a silversmith and she made it for me. It is made out of titanium and then laser welded together, she is a really clever chicken and I love seeing all the new works she comes up with. Hopefully she will have a store up and running sometime soon that I can direct you to.

The rest of the night I am going to spend doing laundry, writing letters and eating gnocci with a glass of wine. I hope you have had a good weekend.

Oh and if you haven't entered my giveaway you should get on that as is ends tomorrow ♥

Vintage treasure chest

2011-09-10T22:56:00.001+10:00

I have spent some of my procrastination time over the weekend looking for vintage treasures on the internet. Vintage pieces are appealing to me more and more. I love the idea of wearing something unique, that has a story. Trying to be sensible and spend as little money as possible before my trip I have decided to just create this treasury of inspirsation but maybe you will find something you like and I can live vicariously through your purchase. What are your favourite online vintage store? I would love to find some new places to look.

Lune Vintage// Fine and dandy vintage

Both Beautvintage

Both Ebay

BetaBoutique // Stylebook

2011-09-08T21:59:00.000+10:00

Hat: asos// bag: thrifted// dress: laura maidment //shoes: love couture// necklace: overseas.

Is it just me or does Thursday night mean you can slowly start winding down before the weekend? I always seem to stay up later on Thursday nights and don't worry about running around getting ready for the next day, yeah I am a rebel like that.

I wore this on Saturday when it was lovely and warm and not bitter and chilly like it is again now. Big floppy hats are definitely going to be my thing this Summer. Brendan is not too fussed on the whole idea, apparently its a driving hazard as you cant see anything when I am sitting in the passenger seat, way to rain on my parade.

I have been getting so excited about the warmer weather and the possibility of riding my bike to work. Unfortunately today I was witness to two serious road rage incidents involving bike riders. I have also seen numerous bike riders getting swooped by magpies this week. It has made me a little scared to literally get back on the bike. I think I will at least wait till these crazy magpies stop breeding and I don't have to fear getting attacked.

Have a good Friday, this week has gone by so quickly!

Springtime giveaway

2011-09-06T15:47:00.000+10:00

Whilst it is not officially Spring time I am ready to start celebrating the move away from shortdays and cold nights with a giveaway. I am giving away this fun pink bag from ASOS, i think it could add the perfect pop of colour to Spring outfits.

To enter you just need to be a follower of this blog (feel free to join the party) and let me know what you are most looking forward to this Spring (or Autumn if you are in the northern hemisphere).

If you tweet or blog about the giveaway please leave a separate comment as an extra entry.

Giveaway is open until the 12 September 2011 and is open internationally.

Little life update

2011-09-05T19:01:00.002+10:00

♥ The ring I have ordered from my amazing friend who is a silversmith in training // sunday pancakes // Mary Poppins at the Capitol theatre = amazing // new Spring clothes ♥

♥ New office accessories // selfy // opshop finds // Sydney town ♥

♥ iphone selfy // delicious homemade cream puffs // groceries // Brendan dressed as Wally for bookweek ♥

Reading... 'Delirium' Lauren Oliver

Watching... Game of Thrones

Talking... to Brendan about finally getting his tax done

Thinking... about all the jobs I have to get done tonight

Buying... a new camera

Planning... to start going to the gym in my lunch break

Wearing...all the things I want to get done by the end of the night.

Picturing... being in a pool in Vegas with a cocktail in hand (less then 3 weeks people!)

Tweeting... about the bracelet I lost today that Brendan gave me when we were 16 which I miraculously found on the footpath 8 hours after I lost it

vintage heaven

2011-09-04T17:02:00.000+10:00

Outfit: dress: vintage// watch:vintage// belt: zara// necklace:vintage// shoes: sportsgirl

Yesterday was such a wonderful day. I woke up and the sun was shining (hello spring) and we decided to head to the farmers markets where I ate the biggest muffin of my life.

After this I headed to the Fash and Treasure markets at the old bus depot. I went to these markets when they first opened and this was my first time back. It has really grown since I first went and looked really professional. There was alot more stall holders which meant vintage heaven.

I found some stalls were a little overpriced but alot of them were spot on. It kind of adds to the whole atmosphere though as you search out the hidden treasures.

I walked out with this gem. I love the yellow and navy combination, it is such a great dress for Spring.

I got it off the rack three times uming and ahing about whether to buy it or not. The lovely stall holder, Misfits Vintage, gave it to me for half price which was so nice. They have an online store too which you can find here

I ended the day with a gin and tonic passion fruit iced tea, it was all sorts of delicious and I think I might try and recreate it at home.

How was your weekend?

September blogger of the month: Thy lady says

2011-09-02T21:23:00.002+10:00

I am so excited to introduce you to the September blogger of the month. From the first time I came across Jennifer's blog I was completely hooked. Beautiful photography and a whimsical atmosphere. I feel very honoured to now call Jennifer a friend, she is such a lovely person and am so happy to have her here, enjoy!

Name: Jennifer Jehanné Hua

Blog: http://thyladysays.blogspot.com/

Location: Perth, Western Australia

Describe your self in five words?Organised, Bubbly, Girly, Helpful, Lovely

How would you spend your perfect Sunday?A good sleep in with the Mr, staying in my pj's all day having a perfect lazy Sunday, eating delicious sweets & sipping endless cups of tea and even perfect day to blog as well!

What is something you are loving right now?

There are many things I'm loving right now! Mainly my new house the Mr & I are currently moving into! I love that I have moved onto my next step of life with the Mr and it feels so lovely to have that feeling of your own privacy of your own home! Also been really loving beauty related things cosmetics and fashion - always loved it but loving it even more right now!

Why did you start blogging? And any tips for bloggers just starting out

I started blogging when I was 13 years old - (I am 21 now!) so yes it's been a really long time. Throughout time blogging has definitely changed a lot! When I was blogging in my teens it was more about personal things - like a diary where I would share my daily happenings but also my secrets, problems, thoughts etc. I have gone through so many blogs throughout the years and many different servers as well! The main one I've always stuck by is of course Blogspot.com! I use to use moonfruit, blogdrive, etc (those are so old now!). That was also when blogging was more of a personal thing - like there was not many followers and people on Blogspot to follow! Until over the years blogging has become really popular and almost everyone blogs now - it's definitely become more of a social network! I now blog about my purchases and review them especially if they're beauty related, occasionally I blog about a few personal things but I try to steer away from that! I don't like to be too personal on my blog anymore. From experience I've learn that being too personal can cause a lot of trouble for myself and letting others know too much about my life isn't such a good idea. Some tips for bloggers just starting out? I would say depending on your preference (as everyone is different and have different opinions) I think just be yourself and express your loves onto your blog. Don't worry about what others think because it is YOUR blog so you can do whatever you want but at the same time keep safe, don't put too much information out there especially on the www unless you feel safe to do so! I have met such lovely people on blog and have shared a great friendship with them all for many years also do mail with a few of them (ie. Megan hehe) and have been sending packages to each other for years! I love it and I definitely don't ever want to loose contact! I have also met a few blogger friends in person and it's such a great experience! To sum up everything in one paragraph without rambling - that is my thoughts on blogging.

Final words of wisdom...

My most favourite quote I've always loved is: "Everything will be ok in the end, if it's not ok it's not the end." short but so true! X

Reviews: Jane Eyre & The curious incident

2011-08-31T20:21:00.000+10:00

I rarely go to the movies, I am one of those "wait till it comes out on dvd" people, but whenever I do go I really enjoy it, especially if mint choctops are involved.

My friend invited me to see Jane Eyre with her and I jumped at the chance. The reason being I had no idea what Jane Eyre was about. I know so ignorant but my eyes have now been opened.

I literally sat on the edge of my seat the whole two and a half hours, I was enchanted by the story completely absorbed. It is one of the best movies I have seen for a long time. Oh and move over Mr Darcy, I now have a new boyfriend, Mr Rochester is a dreamboat.

But don't just take it from me, my friend is a die hard Jane Eyre fan and she said that it was wonderful and better then she expected.

Have you seen it? What are your thoughts?

Our book club choice for August was 'The Curious incident of the dog in the night time' by Mark Haddon. It is a quick read and an easy read. The book is written from the perspective of 15 year old Christopher who admits to having "behavioural problems". From reading the book it is assumed that Christoper has Aspergers or a similar behavioural disorder.

I really enjoyed the story and you cant help but love Christopher and want to go along with him on his journey to find out who killed his neighbours dog. I found some parts of the book repetitive and unnecessary but overall enjoyed this story and recommend it for a lazy weekend read.

slipped

2011-08-29T21:38:00.000+10:00

//Blazer: dotti// dress: tightrope // shoes: kmart // bag: chinatown markets // ring : gorham house markets //

Last week I tried to enforce a shopping ban for the next four weeks. This dress however managed to slip through the cracks. It was only $12 and will be perfect for my trip to America because of the non-crush material....yeah I can justify anything, needless to say the ban is over and I am back to my old tricks. Do I get points for trying? Probably not.

Today I came home with grandeous plans of cleaning and catching up on lots of odd jobs but the motivation seems to have passed and I am ready to curl up with one of my new books and relax for the rest of the night, there is always tomorrow.

weekend away

2011-08-28T22:40:00.001+10:00

Just a quick post after getting back from a whirlwind trip to New Castle.

Its a four and a half hour drive but it seemed like an eternity by myself.

It was all worth it though to spend time with these two gorgeous ladies.

We have been friends for over 7 years and even though I hadn't seen them for nearly a year it was as if we saw each other last week. It is so comforting to easily slot back into peoples lives.

A weekend was definitely not long enough and I cant believe it is Sunday night again and I am all tucked into bed ready for work in the morning.

Its a big week with dinners and sports and haircuts all scheduled through out the week. The busyness of it all makes it feel like Spring is on the doorstep.

Paris in a day

2011-08-26T10:00:00.001+10:00

Do you love Paris? Do you have plans to go there? Or do you even just like to daydream?

I am lucky enough to be guest posting over at Rhiannes blog, 'For the Easily Distracted'.

It is all about how to make the most of your time in Paris, even if its just for 24 hours.

I would love if you check it out.

Do you have any Paris secrets?

Tips for travelling with friends

2011-08-25T18:52:00.000+10:00

Travelling with friends is often a really wonderful experience. Getting to leave the normal parameters of your relationship and experience new things together can be both rewarding as an individual but can also strengthen your friendship. I have been really fortunate to get to go on lots of holidays with friends and have pulled together a few little tips you may find handy to make sure you make the most of your time away together.

via

♥ Don’t have unrealistic expectations – if your friend doesn’t like going out and partying to all hours of the night at home it is unlikely she will be like that on holiday. This can be really handy to keep in mind when planning activities for your trip and knowing what you will both enjoy doing.

♥ Read emotions – if you’re travelling together for a long period of time you’re probably going to experience your friend’s whole emotional ambit. Be receptive of this and act accordingly. It can make the trip go much smoother and you are likely to receive the same courtesy in return.

♥ It’s ok to do things apart – even though you’re travelling together it can be nice to spend some time by yourself and soak up your destination. This is especially handy if you want to do different things and don’t have time to fit them all in together.

♥ Keep track of finances – it’s sad to say but fights can happen over money. I have not experienced it personally but have been witness to a heated, very public, facebook exchange. For my trip to America my friends and I have had to pay for a lot of different things but we have managed to keep track of who pays for what so that it all works out evenly. Doing this from the start can reduce any problems later.

via

The most important thing is to have fun and be flexible. Do you have any tips for travelling with friends? Or any horror stories that you have learnt from? I would love you to leave them in the comments so we can all share our experiences.

Speaking of friends I am off to New Castle tomorrow to visit my bestie so I will wish you a splendid weekend now ♥

Ray of sunshine

2011-08-23T22:02:00.001+10:00

Skirt: target //shoes: kmart // cardigan: zara // scarf :overseas // shirt: myer

Yellow has never especially appealed to me until I saw a yellow cardigan on this lovely blogger. I was sold straight away and was on the hunt for my own yellow cardigan. It took a few weeks to find the right “yellow” but I am happy to now have it.

Yellow just brightens up the day, it probably sounds silly but I definitely feel happier wearing it. It’s funny how something so simple like wearing a bright colour can set you off in a good mood for the day. I definitely intend on adding more yellow to my life and other bright colours.

I started a new job yesterday, same organisation but a new branch. It is hard being the new girl again and I am looking forward to the awkward first two week stage being over. I find I go all shy around new people and take a while to really get comfortable in a new place. But change is as good as a holiday, right?

Outside in

2011-08-20T18:47:00.001+10:00

Top: Target//skirt: dotti // shoes: forever new // ring: diva // bracelet: from prague // silver ring: diva // watch: fossil

I am going to start by saying I am not sure how happy I am with these photos. I wanted to take some outfit photos inside for a change and decided to use some props but they turned out a little wanky haha. I decided to share them anyway feel free to have a little giggle, not a big giggle just a little one :-P

These photos are taken in my office/ wardrobe. I feel bad as Brendan and I were meant to share the spare room but I kind of took over.

Today has been a really lovely Saturday. I went op shopping this morning and found a really fun vintage maxi that I am planning to take the sleeves off for Summer. I then had lunch with a friend and hit the gym.

I have been getting really sore shoulders from work, the "office slouch". I am going to get some physio on Monday so hopefully that helps but am going to try and do more weight work at the gym to strengthen my shoulders so I am not a creaky old woman one day.

Hope your having a nice weekend.

Just the facts

2011-08-18T18:37:00.001+10:00

Lately there have been a few new readers of this blog which makes me happy as I love to meet new people. I thought it would be fun to share some facts about myself and I would love if you shared some fun things about yourself too,even if you have been reading for awhile its always fun to learn something new.

★ I am not very good at sports but extremely competitive about board games, I am surprised I still get invited to game nights.

★My dirty secret is that I LOVE reality tv shows, I cant get enough - real housewives, pregnant in heels, bethany in real life, teen mom - you name it I have probably seen it.

★I have had the design for my tattoo picked out for nearly two years but am to scared to make the appointment.

★ My two biggest indulgences in life are coffee and wine. Starting the morning with a fresh smelling coffee and ending the day with a yummy dinner and nice glass of red wine equals a good day.

★ I am allergic to cats and unfortunately the list seems to be growing to the point that I am now allergic to my own guinea pig. It makes me sad as I love having pets.

★I have never seen the whole of Beauty and the Beast as I use to get scared towards the end and turn it off.

★ I am a book worm; I always have a book in my handbag sometimes even two.

★ I live to travel, packing my suitcase and heading on an adventure makes me happiest. Whether its overseas or a couple of hours down the road I love exploring new environments.

Now over to you, what is a fact I should know about you?

pleat

2011-08-16T22:35:00.000+10:00

Necklace: betsey johnson// top: myer// skirt: target// shoes: novo// blazer: dotti// bag: mimco

I have been wanting a pleated maxi for the last six weeks and had been on a very unsuccessful hunt until this weekend. I found this gem in target and it ticked all the boxes. I wanted a slip that was as long as the skirt and a thick waist band as I feel it is more flattering with my curves. I wore it to work today and think I am definitely sold on maxi skirts.

At Target I was behind an American lady who was on the phone saying how much she loved shopping in Australia. It was ironic as I am so excited to shop in America, I guess the grass always seems greener on the other side.

Today I found out one of my good friends is getting married, I am so happy for her but it has made me realise I am slowly entering the age of lots of weddings and babies. It is kind of scary to think about us all "growing up" but a really exciting new chapter as well.

I have a presentation to give at work tomorrow eeck, so I best go and finish preparing, hope you have had a wonderful day!

To market

2011-08-14T20:08:00.001+10:00

♥ Fresh flowers, super cheap♥

♥ Fishies ♥

♥ Quite possibly the biggest strawberries of my life ♥

♥ Mussels ♥

♥ Seafood platter ♥

♥ My sister & dad (Peter) with Peter from the Fishmarkets - see what I've done there :-P ♥

♥ Walking back to the city ♥

This weekend I went to Sydney to catch up with my family.

After a rocky start, cue car battery dying and having to wait 45 minutes for NRMA and pay for a new battery, I had a really wonderful weekend.

On Saturday we went to Sydney Fishmarkets and got to eat lots of delicious seafood and fresh fruit.

That night we headed to Mary Poppins which was amazing, seriously if you have the chance to go and see it I definitely recommend it.

One of the highlights of the weekend was mum asking me if I am still blobbing- I replied yes I am still blogging. It kinda made my day and from now on am calling Time after Tea "The Blob". She also asked if she needed to bring a torch shopping with us, I cant even try and explain that one.

Wishful Spring thinking

2011-08-12T16:11:00.000+10:00

Sunglasses: mimco// wedges: boohoo// hat: sportsgirl// satchel & heels: modcloth// rainbow & nautical dress: loveclothing // white stripe dress: ASOS

I am finding it really hard to resist all the sales that are currently taking place on northern hemisphere websites. It just seems to make sense to buy summer stuff now that it’s on sale as were only a skip, hop and a jump away from Spring.

Nearly everything in this collage is on sale but I am staying strong and trying to wait to spend my money when I am actually in the US. This Spring I want to be surrounded by bright colours, florals and stripes. The weather is actually forecasted to be in the late teens for the next week so it actually already feels as though Spring is in the air.

This weekend I am heading to Sydney to stay with my sister and go to Mary Poppins on Saturday night for my mum’s birthday. I think a weekend away is exactly what the doctor ordered – what are you up to this weekend?

Oh and a quick ps – apparently people haven’t been able to comment on my blog lately but hopefully the problem is now resolved.

Little life updates

2011-08-09T09:10:00.001+10:00

♥ Lemons on our tree ♥

♥ Friday night in ♥

♥ Dessert from Grazing, a delicious local restaurant ♥

♥ Pretending its Spring in a floral skirt ♥

♥ New make up ♥

♥ Fresh strawberries ♥

♥ Brendan's belated birthday present, brewing his own beer♥

Reading... The curious incident of the dog in the night time: Mark Haddon

Watching... Lincoln Lawyer

Talking... to my best friend and organising to visit her at the end of the month

Thinking... about filling out the census tonight

Buying... a new camera

Planning... a trip to Sydney on the weekend to visit my sister & see Mary Poppin

Wearing... a red cardigan and big fake pearls
Picturing...a very clean house and hoping it will manifest itself.

Tweeting... about my ginormous papercut

asymmetrical

2011-08-07T18:26:00.000+10:00

Outfit: dress: little boutique in Sydney// hat: jeanswest // belt: portmans //shoes: kmart // jacket: target // bracelts: equip // watch: swatch

Sunday is such a lovely, lazy day. I usually get active about 5pm Sunday afternoon when I realise its nearly time to go back to work and I haven't accompanied half of the jobs I had set out to achieve over the weekend.

Luckily this Sunday was a good mix of relaxing and getting a few things done. Brendan and I have cooked our little hearts out today. We made silver side for lunches, cookies for morning tea and I am just about to make a goats cheese tart for a dinner were hosting for our neighbours tonight.

I also did a few things for my US trip like booking tickets to a Vegas show, finally getting travel insurance and my visa waiver form submitted. It is nice to feel a little more organised.

I really love the pattern on this dress but have barely worn it this winter, now that its warming up a little I thought it was time to bring it out. I only wish I had have slapped on some red lipstick to finish it off. Hopefully the mandatory twirl photo isn't too much leg, whoops..

How was your weekend? Hopefully we have a good week ahead, stress free would be nice.

Learning to say no

2011-08-03T21:49:00.000+10:00

Why do so many of us find it hard to say no? Instead we get ourselves stuck in hard or awkward situations in an attempt to avoid that dreaded feeling of guilt. Whether its saying no or standing up for myself I manage to talk myself around, to assume that others know what is best or to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. Lately I am learning that sometimes you just have to put yourself first. Here is a few little tips I have been finding useful...

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♥ How long is the decision going to effect you for? Hours, days, weeks, months....Sometimes we have to say yes to things we don't really want to do, especially in relation to our careers if it means getting somewhere better in the future. However if its really not something you want to do and your going to be doing it for a significant amount of time it may not be worth the mental anguish. You can always try and negotiate before coming out and saying no or ask to have some time to think about the request.

♥ What would the person who is asking you to do something do in your situation? You shouldn't feel guilty for saying no when other people in your situation would easily say no. Sometimes you can get targeted for being the nice guy - its important to know when people are being genuine in their requests or taking advantage.

♥ Will there be a financial burdon? Social commitments add up, dinner and drinks with friends, movies, birthdays and so on. It's ok not to go to everything, if your invited to something that is out of your budget politely decline but offer to catch up in a more money friendly way - like a walk in the park or invite them over for dinner at your place.

♥ If you say yes are you going to have feelings of dread?Will the situation make you feel really uncomfortable? Yes feeling guilty sucks but so does dreading an upcoming event for weeks and then having to get through the uncomfortableness of the whole situation. Yes, you will feel guilty if you tell your mums friends daughter they cant stay on your lounge for a month while they look for a place but it may be a better option then explaining to your house mate why someone you barely know is staying at your place.

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Saying yes and pushing my comfort zones can be rewarding but I am slowly learning that there is a difference between challenging myself or helping people out than letting people take advantage of me or get into situations I am really unhappy in. How about you? What do you do to get the courage to say no?

P.S Thankyou for all the sweet comments yesterday, I am feeling much better today.

colour and laughs

2011-08-02T21:49:00.002+10:00

Outfit one: jumper: zara // skirt: portmans//necklace: diva// shoes: kmart// jacket: target

Outfit two: jumer: zara// skirt: target// shirt: barque// shoes: joanne mercer // ring: pandora// nails inspired by cupcakesandcashmere

It can be really hard to create exciting work looks everyday, pretty near impossible for me, when some mornings I struggle to even get out of bed. These Zara jumpers have been getting me through these days, definitely not a fashion breakthrough but something that adds a little colour to work days, their super comfy too so that is a plus.
Lately life has been a little tough and I have been feeling a bit down in a number of aspects of my life. My blog is somewhere I like to keep pretty positive so I wont go into all the details but it is times like this that I try and not take things for granted and just not take things to seriously, remember to have fun and laugh. This video is something that has been making me smile and I thought I would share it with anyone else who needed a pick me up or just wants a laugh.

August blogger of the month: Royal Milk Tea

2011-07-31T22:13:00.000+10:00

I am so excited to introduce you to the lovely Lyndall from Royal Milk Tea. She has a gorgeous whimsical blog that is delighful to read with a cup of tea. Lyndall is now one of my daily reads and I am sure you will love her blog as much as I do.

Name: Lyndall

Blog: Royal Milk Tea (http://royalmilktea.nu)

Location: A little cottage about ten minutes away from Adelaide, in South Australia

Describe your self in five words?

Daydreamer, introverted, organised, creative, and kinda nerdy.

How would you spend your perfect Sunday?

I work every second Sunday, so my favourites are the ones where I'm not at work. It would involve sleeping in a little bit, going out with my partner, B., for breakfast at one of our favourite cafes (I particularly love Big Table - http://www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au/cafes/the-big-table, and Hawker Street Cafe - http://thethousands.com.au/adelaide/eat-drink/hawker-street-cafe/), then maybe going for a drive somewhere if the weather is nice, or relaxing at home while listening to records.

Why did you start blogging? And any tips for bloggers just starting out?

I've been blogging for a long time in a variety of places, pretty much since we got our first computer/internet connection when I was in high school. I started Royal Milk Tea as a 'news' section on what used to be an art portfolio site, but I found that I really liked using it as a kind of virtual scrapbook where I could share pretty things and little parts of my life. It's become a really enjoyable hobby and a big creative outlet for me. I love the sense of community which can come from the blogging world- I've met a lot of wonderful friends through the internet!

My tips for new bloggers…

- Write and create from your heart. Don't worry about trying to write what you think people will want to read, because it will drive you crazy! Just have fun, and create something you love that makes you happy. Don't try to copy trends, innovate, be original, and be yourself!

- Communicate with other bloggers. I love it when someone leaves a nice, thoughtful comment introducing themselves on my blog. Simple things like leaving comments and saying hello can be a great way to connect with other bloggers.

- Have a nice blog design. Maybe it's just because I'm really into web design, but I really notice it when a blog has an ugly layout that is hard to navigate. If you're a design novice, there are plenty of beautiful pre-made templates and graphics resources that you can find. Pugly Pixel (http://www.puglypixel.com/category/blog-layouts/) is one of my favourites!

- I also keep a notebook where I write down blogging ideas, and write goal lists of posts I want to do and things I want to achieve. But I'm a bit obsessively organised, so you know, don't force yourself

And final words of wisdom....

Be happy, love yourself, and find magic in the little things in life ♥