le'LOVE.

{Life} One Hundred Thank You's + A le'LOVE Blogging Event

2012-03-08T23:38:00.000+11:00

ONE HUNDRED POSTS. I can't believe it!
I have had a tendency to start things and not finish them or push them to their highest potential. I am determined that this blog is going to be the end of that. I am motivated to push le'LOVE to be the best it can be, and for me that means quality content posted often and amazing readers and followers. So far I feel pretty good about my content, but you know my favourite part of my blogging experience so far? You. If you are here reading this, you are one of my favourite and most cherished people in the world.

Why? Because I am someone who has struggled with confidence for a long time, and in the three or so months since starting this little blog, my self belief and self confidence has grown immeasurably. When someone comments on my blog I feel so very thrilled and that little bit of happiness stays with me all day. I am serious; ALL DAY.

So I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for taking a little piece of your time to visit my little piece of the web. I hope you genuinely like what you see when you visit le'LOVE and I hope that it only gets better from here.

Specifically I'd like to say thanks to my Mum (hey Mum!), Kaelah Bee and her wonderfully helpful e-book, Melon Heart for her excellent guest post and responding to my random tweets, Kate Gabrielle for being awesome and having such great sponsorship options (seriously, go and sponsor her, she is brilliant), Becky, Jen, and Dayle for leaving such amazing comments so often.

Please share your 'One Hundred Thank You's' post below! I can't wait to read what you have come up with.

{Fashion} Snake Leggings and New Trends

2012-03-07T21:27:00.000+11:00

Have you ever decided that you hate everything in your wardrobe? It happens to me all the time; I go a little mad and try to fix it, but somehow it never changes. I had another fashion tantrum recently, and instead of buying things that I thought were appropriate or suited my style (obviously this doesn't work for me if all of my wardrobe is so blech, no?) I bought neon jeans and snakeskin leggings. I was shocked with my own tenacity, having spent a large amount of time trying to fit in, blend in really. I had gone and purchased the fashion equivalent of a tattoo on my forehead, albeit a more temporary version.

I am a little smug about how the experiment turned out. I feel amazing in these leggings. They are slinky and a little gritty. I don't feel like a kid in these clothes, instead I feel like a super confident grown-up woman. It is freaken' awesome! This may have something to do with my getting my long over due license, and being appointed to an advisory board for a local youth centre. Is this what it is like to feel like a real adult? Imagine how I will feel once I get a teaching job. No one will be able to stop me. Ha!

Oh and how pretty is this top? I love the sheer back and how great it looks with my new jeans. I was FB'ing with Maria over at Byrd Holland Designs/Fashion Fazer today about our fav trends this season, and we are both completely torn between the neons/neutrals and the deep jewel tones. I love them both!

Hope you had an amazing day lovers.
xx Samantha Alice

P.s Check out my experiment with cut crease liner in the first photo. TOO MANY YOUTUBE MAKEUP VIDEOS.

{Life} The Insta Eight

2012-03-07T13:35:00.000+11:00

More grey on the horizon
Indulgent desert
Neon pants oh my
ICE CREAM
The laziest and cutest cat in the world
Lazy cat part two
Lovely porcelain blue bird
Black on black nail polish

This week has gone too fast for my liking. It has been a great week here on le'LOVE with so many great new people popping by, it made my week!

Are you ready for my blogging event? I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. I am planning something super exciting!

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} Black and Bright

2012-03-06T10:30:00.001+11:00

First off, can I just say that I never thought I would try to wear neon pants, let alone feel good in them and, ahem, actually pull them off. It is a fashion miracle.

I got these from ASOS last week and am in love with them. They are so comfortable and I feel super confident whilst wearing these super bright jeans. The top is also a newbie from ASOS, and incidentally something I also would not have got only a few months ago. It is so lovely and drapey, made from a strange crepe jersey that I haven't really seen before, but I like that it is unusual.

I really love that this blog is pushing me to take some risks with what I wear and hope it continues to do so.

I wore this exact look, plus a necklace that I forgot to wear for these photos, out for dinner on Saturday night to celebrate me getting my license.

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} Texican Mexican

2012-03-05T18:10:00.001+11:00

How fun is this print? It is just so festive. Another ASOS find (sick of me yet? I buy a lot of ASOS) from last week and I think I have worn it three times since I got it- thats how much I love it.

xx Samantha Alice

{Tutorial} ONLY THE BEST THING TO EAT EVER

2012-03-05T07:52:00.000+11:00

Forgive the caps lock title and the boring nature of this post, but I couldn't help myself. This is my favourite thing to eat no matter the time of day; breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner or even desert. This rocks my socks.

If you think Vegemite is weird, I admit that you are probably right. But for me a life without Vegemite is just plain wrong. This snack is easy as pie to make. Just grab the crustiest bread around, toast it up all golden brown like, smother in butter (I use Nutalex not butter but it is up to you!), smear with loads of Vegemite and top with lovely slices of lurid green avocado.

I swear to you, it doesn't get any better than this. The creaminess of the avocado against the salty, buttery and crunchy goodness that is the toast will just about cure any hunger pangs.

Go on, try it. I promise you will love it.

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} Graphically Inclined

2012-03-04T09:37:00.000+11:00

I got these tights from target for $2. I know. Cheap huh? I wasn't sure if I would ever wear them but they were such a darn bargain I couldn't justify not buying them which is a nice change from the other end of that scale. The quality isn't great but for less than a fiver one can't really complain can they?

I had been wanting to try out that hot pink Models Own loose shadow I got a while back and decided to wear all black with pops of colour. It didn't really work out as I hoped- the pink made me look ill or a little evil. Either way, I had fun with this!

Do you have an idea for my blogging event yet? I have too many ideas.

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} The Insta Eight

2012-03-03T14:23:00.001+11:00

The bug that tried to kill me
My Frankie cat
A view of a room
New glasses (Finally!)
Waiting to do my driving test
Only the best bruschetta in the world
My favourite new ASOS necklace
My friend's study bunny

Sorry my posts have been erratic and not that interesting this week! It has been a draining and exciting week and I found myself needing lots of time to relax away from the computer. I promise to up my game in the next week and post loads to get to my 100th post deadline next friday. I am excited for my first blogging event, are you? So far I have some very lovely people wanting to be involved the more the merrier! Remember, come back here on March 9 for some super link up party fun.

Have I mentioned I am addicted to twitter? Well I am and I'd love for you to join me.

xx Samantha Alice

{Art} LitClouds

2012-03-03T10:13:00.000+11:00

There are some books I am obsessed with. Like crazy obsessed. I have two copies of Wutherings Hights; one stays on the shelf and one is usually in my bag. On The Road is akin to, and sorry to be sacrilegious, my bible; all rules for life can be found within it's pages. I love books, and I also love art so this little project is right up my alley.

The clever boys over at LitClouds turn well known quotes from some of the best literature out there into lovely art. I can imagine these working really well as wall prints, so head on over to the site and convince the fellas to sell them ok?

All images via HERE.

xx Samantha Alice

A le'LOVE Bloggers Event

2012-03-01T08:14:00.002+11:00

Have I mentioned that I think blogging is the most fun a girl can have? Well I do.
My hundredth post is coming up and I wanted a way to mark the occasion; my first blogging event.
Now it would be really sad for me if I ended up being the only participant so I am asking for your time and your help. Join in and spread the word to your blogging pals please. Details of the event are below.

{WHAT} A link party! The theme is 'One Hundred Thank-you's' so you can write about anything you like. If you think it fits the theme, then that's fine by me.

{WHERE} Right here on le'LOVE. I'll have a special post up on the day with a Linky thumbnail widget. Just post your link and if you like you will be able to post the Linky list to your blog.

{WHEN} I will publish the link up post on Friday March 9 at Midnight Australian Eastern Standard time- the list will then be open for the week following. I will endeavour to share all the entries via Facebook and Twitter so make sure you follow me!

I am super duper excited about this and I hope you can all join in!

xx Samantha Alice

NOTE: I have had a few questions about the specifics of this event/for clarification so I just wanted to clear it up! The theme is very open ended but if you are stuck for ideas here are a few; you could write about some great ways to say thank you to people, people you are thankful of or to, a thank you to your readers or the things that you are grateful for. It doesn't have to be one hundred things, it might only be one, but I wanted to do a thankful theme and it is my hundredth post so I just merged the two! Just write your post around the 9th, come share your link in the special post I will have up, and bombs away.

{Life} A Couple of Memories

2012-02-29T18:50:00.001+11:00

Some of my earliest memories revolve around clothes. My Mum says I started dressing myself from a very early age and although at the age of five I wasn't making the best sartorial decisions, I certainly had fun with it. Layers seemed to be my thing, as well as pairing the unexpected. I kept sketchbooks full of fashion drawings and pretty much had it set in my mind that I would be a world famous designer.

The first photo is of one of my oldest friends, Emma, and I. I love this image, and the adult me is impressed with our looks. Maxi skirts and shirt dresses? We were the bomb.

The other image is my sister at the front (with the Troll Doll!! Sooo 90s), my cousin Polly with the lace cuffed cut-offs and me in the floral frilled dress. We are in the backyard of our Grandparents house. Their house holds such a strong place in my mind, I will never forget the fun we had playing in that yard.

I'd love to hear some of your clothing memories if you feel like sharing.

Oh, and I said I had some big news? I GOT MY LICENSE TODAY. LIKE A BOSS.

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} Grapes of Wrath

2012-02-28T07:33:00.000+11:00

As our Summer draws to an end (who am I kidding, we barely had a Summer this year) I am excited about busting out some new looks. I have never been a fan of those classic Autumn colours like maroon and rust, but this year I am going to give them a second go. I got this cardi from ASOS a couple of weeks ago but it has been a bit warm to rock it. I love the dark pink colour but the fit and quality aren't the best. The knit is very thin so just kind of hangs there; I should have got a smaller size I think. I love the collar and think I will venture out into pan collars a bit more in the future. The skirt is a black lace full circle one that I made years ago.

I am slightly freaking out about a big day on wednesday (I promise to share after the fact!) so it was good to have fun with some photos and take my mind off it. Every time I think about it I get total stomach swoops, but don't worry, it is a good nervous and I am super excited!!

I am in love with my new hair! It is much blonder even if it isn't really showing in these photos, and the lighter colours go much higher. I am also obsessing over my new curling wand (how have I not owned one of these before? Best invention ever). I will review the wand soon so stay tuned.

xx Samantha Alice
P.s I am going to try super hard to bring you some more craft DIY ideas in the next 2 weeks.

{Life} This is Scary

2012-02-27T00:55:00.000+11:00

I'm not sure I'll be able to say everything I'd like to here; this is a hard post to write. I put a little piece of myself out there each time I post on this blog, but never like this. Here goes...

I am someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression for a long time. It is really scary for me to say it, but I get very sad and very scared more often that most people; it has effected the way I live my life in big ways. Anxiety can be completely disabling, and at times in my life it has taken over. Panic attacks are terrifying beyond belief and I know them well.

I guess anxiety has always been lying in wait in my life since I was a child. Throughout high school it meant I was painfully shy, with crippling social anxiety that interfered with my teen social life in a big way. I was never one of those confident girls that people were drawn to, and the thought of talking to a guy I liked was usually to much to handle for my scared little self. Sure I had fun, went to parties and got up to no good, but there was always an edge of fear that tainted everything.

Once I left school and moved away from home, anxiety found friends in depression and loneliness. These three together made my first year away from home a struggle, but it wasn't until many years later, after an unfortunate situation with a friend and flatmate, that I stopped being able to keep them at bay. They came crashing through my door and took away all the ways I had learned to cope in life. I had nothing and felt very alone.

If you have ever experienced a severe panic attack then you know that even though it may all be psychological, it can be easy to convince yourself that you are about to drop dead. My heart feels as though it is racing, I become dizzy and irrational, and adrenaline courses through my body in a hot buzzing mess. Imagine feeling this way for all your waking hours, and then being terrified of falling asleep because of a dreaded feeling that you might not wake up. There is little room for rational thought, and faced with living this way I figuratively sat down in the middle of the road and decided I couldn't move forward alone, I needed help. I guess a psychologist would call it a mental breakdown, I call it that time I lost all ability to cope with life.

I lost my job, and some friends, but after some help and some time, I now have anxiety free days quite often. I know the signs, and I know all the tricks my mind tries to play on me. I recognise when depression's ugly face shows itself and try to remind myself that it tells only lies. I still freak out about things regularly, and find some everyday activities to be challenging, but the days do get easier all the time. I went to the movies tonight, and on my way home I felt that familiar and unwelcome feeling of panic coming towards me and I was able to stop it in it's tracks. That feels like progress to me.

Mental illness can be such a no go topic, and I understand that it can be very personal for many people. For me, though, I have always been open to sharing my story with friends to maybe help them understand a little better what life is like with anxiety. Of course, there are those that cannot understand and choose to judge, but I try to ignore them the best I can.

I guess a lot of what I share on here is a little superficial, I mean makeup and clothing hardly changes the world does it? But on those days when I don't feel great, you know what a sure fire way of turning things around is? Prettying up myself with makeup and clothes that I feel great in and taking photos for my blog. It is the best cure for the blues around as far as I am concerned. So thanks for your continued support, it really does mean more than you know!

Sorry for the slightly downer post, but I felt like sharing something other than photos for a change.
xx Samantha Alice

{Life} I Went to the Desert

2012-02-24T08:27:00.000+11:00

Last October I went way out west into the Australian outback for a teaching practicum. I saw some amazing things, met some special people (including Renee and Jake from Tennessee) and all in all had a brilliant time. It was a while ago now, but I was going through some photos tonight and I wanted to share some of them with you.

I went to Broken Hill (an many other places in between) and I really recommend the trip.

Oh and incase anyone is wondering, those scary looking cars are from the movie 'Mad Max'.

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} The (late) Insta Eight

2012-02-23T08:14:00.000+11:00

My ruined nails after painting adventures
Cutest coin purses at the markets
Love this dappled light
Have I mentioned that I hate storms?
My five dollar target shoes!
Too many purchases
New glasses
The cutest wall art at Typo

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} Awash With White

2012-02-21T20:27:00.000+11:00

I decided last week that I wanted ALL my furniture to be white; I'll admit I got a little obsessive over it, but I did manage to make a big dent into the project. I managed to paint two bed side tables and two coffee tables though the process was rather annoying. The paint I got was a gloss acrylic from British Paints and it was horrible, horrible quality. It took four coats to get any of the pieces to look remotely good and still could have done with another two. That, for me, is pretty silly. The paint wasn't cheap, and I expected better performance. After the fact, about three people told me that Duluxe is the best, and all I had to say to that was 'thanks but a bit late'. Also, I ruined my manicure and a dress. That's how clever I am.

I threw the shot off my desk in because I want to paint it, and it included my glasses pre snap (sadness!)
I am picking a new pair today thankfully, because I am not coping with my bent and wonky pair. Come follow me on Twitter and you might see some picks of the potential newbies today.

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} Some Muffins + Some Thoughts

2012-02-21T07:56:00.000+11:00

When I started this blog I had a plan for how it would look and the kind of content I would write. Turns out plans don't always work, and the sweet little DIY blog has turned into something rather different. I really enjoy sharing so many different things but somehow le'LOVE feels a little too broad.

I hope to narrow it down a little in the next couple of months and I am excited to see how it might evolve, but I would love to hear your thoughts! If you'd be ever so kind as to leave a comment letting me know what you like and would like to see more of, and what you aren't such a fan of, I'd be ever so grateful.

On another note, here is a recipe for low sugar choc banana muffins.

You will need:

2 cups self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 medium bananas, mashed (Over ripe work best, they are sweeter.)
1 Tbs cocoa powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup sugar free yoghurt

Combine all wet ingredients in one bowl, dry in another then combine the two gently.

Spoon into muffin trays and bake in moderate oven for 15 minutes. This recipe should make 12 medium muffins.

*Note: You might notice that there is no added sugar to this recipe and that the only sweetness comes from the fruit. I have a very low sugar diet most of the time so the banana sweetens these enough for me, but if you feel they need a little sweetening up I'd add half a cup of dark chocolate chips to the mix.

If you want to try the low sugar version, watch out which yoghurt you buy. Most low fat and seemingly healthy yoghurts often have loads more sugar than their full fat cousins, so don't be fooled. I use a plain, pot set bio-dynamic yogurt.

Samantha Alice xx

P.s Sorry that this is a photo free post, I promise to get back to regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.
Oh and my sister is doing much better. She had an X-Ray yesterday and it all looked good. She is still in some pain but managing to hobble around on crutches.

{Life} Quiet Weekend + More Market Shots

2012-02-19T22:15:00.001+11:00

As I am writing this my eyes keep trying to close on me. I am exhausted but cannot really fathom why.
I have had a very quiet weekend with a great visit to the markets yesterday and a relaxing day at home today with some sporadic uni work. I did have an eventful afternoon though, so maybe that's it. My younger sister was bucked off her new horse! We were over at the stables and she decided to have a quick ride, he got spooked by who knows what and threw her off. It gave me such a fright- I went running over screaming her name terrified that she was badly injured. I think I have been in shock all afternoon.

She went up to the hospital to see if anything was broken, and whilst she couldn't have an X-Ray then, the Doctor thinks it is just muscular. She fell on her hip, was badly winded, and possibly jarred something. She was in quite a bit of pain but after the adrenalin wore off when I drove her home, it became much worse. Poor thing!

She has to have an X-Ray in the morning, but fingers crossed it is just bruising.

Ok, eyes officially shut; I am writing this blind.

Samantha Alice xx
P.s I can't wait to start including loads more street photography in this little blog of mine!

{Life} Eats + Spicey Vegetable Pasta

2012-02-16T20:20:00.000+11:00

This is my fool proof spicy vegetable pasta. If I am feeling hungry and lazy this is the perfect balance of effort and yum. It only takes about 5 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking, so it finds it's way to your plate quickly!

You will need:

2 Zucchinis (Have I mentioned how much I love zucchini?)
8 medium mushrooms
8 largish tomatoes
1 onion
3 large cloves garlic
Water
Dried chilli flakes
Dried basil (and fresh)
Salt

In a food processor, whiz up the tomatoes and garlic until very pureed.
Dice onion and add to pan with a small amount of oil. When the onions start to soften, halve the mushrooms and add to pan to brown.
Thinly slice the zucchini and add to pan to soften along with chilli flakes to suit your tastes. Add pureed tomatoes and garlic, turn heat down and simmer for 15-20 minutes until sauce has reduced.
Serve with pasta (spaghetti is my fav!)
This sauce would serve 2-4 peeps depending on whether you want seconds, and you probably will.

xx Samantha Alice

{Review} Some Makeup Favourites + Skin Progress Report

2012-02-15T23:36:00.000+11:00

Just wanted to bring you a very quick post with some of the products I have been loving in the last month or so and update you on my quest to fix my oily skin and large pores.

First off the blocks is basically a miracle product that I wish I knew about earlier. If you have super oily skin like me, and if makeup just never seems to last, then I urge you to try the Ultra Powder from Mattify Cosmetics. This super cheap and easy to use product is a translucent powder with magical mattifying powers. In Summer I can find myself applying makeup in the morning and by lunchtime or earlier I am completely shiny everywhere. Not just in my t-zone, but my whole face becomes an oil slick. It is seriously depressing guys. I started using this about three-ish weeks ago and am so pleased with the results. The directions say to use the powder under foundation as a primer and over it as a finishing powder. I tried this a few times but it made foundation a little hard to apply and the results didn't look great. I find it works best after all my makeup is applied and as an oil absorbing touch up throughout the day. If I have this powder on my makeup lasts around five hours which is pretty darn amazing really. It is completely matte with no mica or pearl so won't create shine, and completely transparent so blush and even highlighter shows through vibrantly. I am so pleased I found this, as while I hope I can find ways to cut down on how greasy my skin gets, this helps me look and feel great until I do. The company also do tinted powders and an enormous range of eye shadows that I haven't yet tried.

Also in the 'fix my skin' vein are these next products that couldn't be more different. First up, Thursday Plantation Teatree Acne Wash. This comes in a self foaming pump which I don't love, and smells very strong which I also don't love, but it delivers. My skin feels great after this, especially when I leave it to 'sit' on my face a little longer than a face wash. It unclogs my pores better than most drugstore products and my skin feels fresh, taut and nourished. Second, Clarins' Daily Energising Cream-Gel. I scored a sample of this which has sadly all but gone, and I will be buying it for sure. I would like to try their other matte effect moisturisers as well, but I am very happy with the results of this product. It leaves my skin feeling smooth and primed, and has actually reduced the size of my pores quite a bit.

Got any miracle products for oily skin you have found? Please share!

xx Samantha Alice
P.s This is my 80th post!

{Tutorial} DIY Lit Up Heart Art

2012-02-15T06:16:00.000+11:00

I am SO pleased with how this simple little project turned out- it looks great and hardly took any time at all. It just so happens that this DIY is being posted around Valentines day but I think you could make something similar anytime. Hope you like it!

You will need:

A canvas painted in your choice of colour- I went for a rustic textured white.
Battery powered fairy lights- I used red. Make sure you use the string lights, not a loop.
Measuring tape
Scissors
A Dress makers pin

To start with you will need to have a general idea of the shape you want-I went with a heart but others would work as well. You will need to work out how many lights you have on your string, how long the string is and how big your canvas is. The spacing and position of the lights will all depend on this. I had just over a metre and a half of lights with 15 lights in total. I marked the centre of the canvas so I knew where to start the heart. I wanted my lights approximately 8 cm apart so marked the canvas with a pin in the spots I wanted the lights to pop through.

From the back of the canvas you will need to make small holes (just big enough to pop the end of the fairy light through and hold it in place). Start to push the lights through from the back and you will see the shape taking form.

I did one whole side first then tried to line the other side up to match as best I could.

Tape down the battery pack on the back of the canvas as well as any extra lights or wires.

Isn't it pretty? Well it isn't too pretty that it is naff; I love it. I think a few of these would look great on a big empty wall. If you give it a whirl please come back and share some photos.

Happy Valentines Lovers xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} Bloggers Do It Better + This Heart of Mine

2012-02-14T14:39:00.001+11:00

I don't really need an excuse to dress up but I was very excited when Kristina from Pretty Shiny Sparkly announced the latest Bloggers Do It Better event. I had this fabric stashed away waiting for a reason to use it on something amazing, so when I read that the theme was red, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

The print of this fabric is so amazing so I kept the style simple- a heavily a-line shift with subtle gathering at the scoop neckline. I wanted to keep it classy with a long string of costume pearls and my go to sock bun hair. My shoes are Wittner.

I was aiming for soft makeup with a strong graphic element to my eyes and strong lips. I used the E.L.F 'back to school' neutral eyes palette and studio eyes gel liner, Mabelline Mineral Powder blush in gentle pink, E.L.F studio cheeks blush in peachy keen, Mac Lash Zoom mascara and Clinique Different Lipstick in Brilliant Coral. My base was Bougious Healthy Mix in shade 53, Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in Silky Beige and Mattify Cosmetics Ultra Powder.

Happy Valentines Day lovers xx Samantha Alice

{Life} The Insta Eight

2012-02-13T20:33:00.000+11:00

Way too much grey sky of late
Sneak peak of a dress I made
Pink! Vintage! Peterpan Collar!
Vintage fur
Love this monochromatic print
I want all these vintage handles in my home now.
This apron was made of the most amazing cotton voile- I fell in love
My (boring) closet

xx Samantha Alice

{Review} February Glossybox

2012-02-12T23:59:00.000+11:00

This was my second Glossybox ever so I was super excited to see what treats were in store for this limited edition Valentines theme box. After some initial issues with my subscription, which were handled very well and resulted in a small discount for me, the eagerly anticipated box arrived on Friday!

The box is VERY bright and very cute, and I was pretty darn pleased with what was inside. I think Glossybox has been reading my mind because most of the products were things I was thinking of buying anyway, or at least something similar. Also, all samples except the Proactiv, are full size making this box of treats great value. Plus they threw in some 'Love Hearts' sweets which remind me of my childhood.

My box:

Proactiv Deep Cleansing Wash
Polished London Nailpolish in Fuscha
Face of Australia Mineral Lip Shine in Beach House
Langlois Olive Lip Balm in Strawberry
Star and Rose Floral Wonderland Emergency Nail Files

I was most happy to score the Proactiv as I had been thinking about trying some of their products again to attempt to battle my oily skin and pores the size of moon craters. This was is very exfoliating so I wouldn't use this daily, but it does feel very cleansing and left my skin feeling refreshed and pleasantly smooth.

LOVING the polish from Polished London! This deep fuchsia is so pretty, dries fast, and only needs one coat. I also loved how it looked with my matte top coat from E.L.F.

At first when I saw the Face of Australia lip shine the colour didn't really do it for me but once I tried it I was converted. It is much more opaquely metallic than a icky frosted look which I am not a fan of. The best bit is the texture- amazingly smooth and moisturising. It never feels sticky and lasted a while which is great.

The balm from Langois smells like a Bonnie Bell LipSmacker. I owned like a million of those when I was a teenager and haven't been able to use one since without the smell being overwhelming and sickly. However, this balm is clear and has a great texture. I also like the natural plant based ingredients.

I don't know about you, but if I break a nail and I am no where near a nail file I don't cope at all. I can't stand when the nail catches on clothing and I go a little insane. Why then had I never heard of these emergency nail files? I think I will find them very handy and can't help loving the 'love birds' design on the front. One small issue with these was that mine arrived slightly broken with the files not attached to the cardboard case. A couple of staples and it was fixed so no biggie.

Overall I loved this months box. This Valentines I will do my chronically single self up with my Glossybox treats.

xx Samantha Alice

{Art} Marion Bolognesi

2012-02-09T22:35:00.000+11:00

I love the ethereal quality of these watercolours by Marion Bolognesi. The eyes really draw me in and the amazing colours don't hurt either. The depth and emotion she creates with such simplicity and minimalism is amazing. Marion works in New York City in illustration and design (apparently she designs accessories too!).

See more of Marion's work HERE. All images from Marion Bolognesi.

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} Thoughts on Motivation

2012-02-08T22:19:00.000+11:00

Ok. I am going to try something new here. I am going to attempt to, ahem, 'get deep'. I have no idea how this will go down or what this post will achieve, but maybe, just maybe, you might just relate to what I have to say.
I am realising that many, many of the things I find difficult in life come down to two main issues; motivation (or rather lack of) and anxiety. I haven't got it in me today to talk about the former so I'll just say that when you put the two together, results aren't great. Is it ironic that today I have the motivation to talk about my issues with motivation? Maybe, but bare with me.
As someone who has been a student for far too long, I have had many years of assignments and deadlines (read: many years of waiting until the last minute to write essays or study for exams). I am a hopeless last minute person and it isn't because I love the drama. It is because I often find myself with out even an ounce of motivation or volition. This is a problem.

I go through stages where I am super motivated and get 400 projects finished in a day and the next minute I can't find the energy to google 'finding motivation'; I am sure psychologists would have something to say about this.

As I get older and head ever closer towards 30 (Agghhh) I think I better up my game a little.
I am going to make serious efforts to try these strategies for improving motivation over the next couple of months.

Set small achievable goals.
Find inspiration in other people. Inspiration NOT envy.
Commit publicly. This one is a no brainer really- prepare to be reading about some of my goals.
Stick with it.
Squash negative thoughts and replace them with positive and pretty thoughts.

{Life} Vintage Goodies

2012-02-07T21:10:00.002+11:00

There is something special about owning something from another time isn't there? I love vintage clothes as much as the next blogger, but they usually don't suit me which is frustrating. Also I cannot stand synthetics and most pre 1970s clothes are polyester or nylon. I choose to get my vintage fix in other ways.

My step Dad recently went to Sydney to start slowly cleaning out his family home after his father passed away late last year. He has been returning after each trip laden with some amazing finds. His Mum kept everything it seems, and I am lucky enough to benefit.

This old crockery and crystal wear makes me so happy! A glass of water is a special thing with these peach and gold glasses. I have to say, however, that my favourite score after this latest trip is the 60s umbrella. Oh it is magnificent; scolloped edges, floral canopy, silver handle and wrist chain.

Do you have any treasured vintage finds passed down from relatives? I'd love to hear about them.

xx Samantha Alice
P.s I couldn't resist sneaking a photo of my cat in there. I was taking photos and she kept head butting my hand for pats, making the whole thing rather difficult.

{Life} The House that Julie and Collin (and Makita) Built

2012-02-07T10:08:00.000+11:00

This past weekend I went to a party. It was thrown by one of my Mum's dearest friends, Julie, and her Partner Collin, in their jaw droppingly amazing home near Byron Bay on the north coast of NSW. Julie and Collin found this old farm house falling apart some time ago and went to work on it with their special renovation magic. I swear, these two could turn even the ugliest suburban brick monstrosity into a chic and modern paradise.

The small details are what really makes this house special; the recycled doors from the old homestead, the quirky mix of furniture and Julie and Collin's design skills turn this well finished space into, well, my dream house.

The party was such a great night. I got to meet some amazing and creative people; furniture designers, costume designers and musicians. I felt very lucky to be among such fine people in such a great space.

xx Samantha Alice

oh, and P.S, Julie makes great clothes, Collin builds (among other things) very freaking cool decks and Makita, their blue healer cross, does the best stick tricks ever. He is a circus dog!

{Life} The Insta Eight

2012-02-05T22:38:00.001+11:00

MT Washi Tape Nails!
My flood frog buddy
My View
E.L.F Polish in Coral
400 Youtube makeup videos and this is all I can do?
Possible my favourite collection of words. Ever.
Ready for a party.
How freaking cute are these plates?

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} She Wore a Green Dress

2012-02-03T08:54:00.001+11:00

Dress: Green ASOS Curve fan print tea dress
Cardigan: Target
Belt: No idea (I stole it from my sister. Same with the headband!)

I took these on the first day of no rain! I was feeling very tired and hadn't been able to wash my hair in a week because of my ear infection, but I decided to get up and make myself feel pretty.

Samantha Alice xx
p.s I just realised I look like I have a black eye in these photos. OOOPS!

{Fashion} Trends on Trial + Red Carpet Missteps

2012-02-01T23:16:00.001+11:00

I love fashion. If I let myself, I'd spend way more money on fashion magazines than conceivable. I like to know what's happening out there in the murky depths that is the fashion industry. I read many, many style blogs, am religiously addicted to Go Fug Yourself and an embarrassing amount of my time on the computer is spent on virtual shopping trips I could never afford to fund.
Lately, however, I have been seeing a few sartorial adventures (mishaps really) that make me feel ill. It bugs me no end when attractive people with good genes and figures I would almost kill for, sink the soufflé with UGGO clothes that do nothing for them. I mean, C'MON? Did you not look at yourself before you left the house? I have managed to narrow these missteps down to five but god knows there are more. With award shows clogging the waves, what better to illustrate my point than red carpet pics?

Five Trends I'd Like to Never See Again:

♥ Sheer overlays of any kind.
You know what I mean right? Short dresses that suddenly decide they are long and 'oh my god I can see your underwear' see through. Simple gowns ruined by dodgy black mesh sleeves. Lovely tops made awful by sheer pink fluff. I just don't think they suit anyone. Ever. I always figure if a tall and gorgeous movie star can't pull it off, neither can the other 99% of the population.
Exhibit A: (P.s there is so much wrong here that the sheer ick is just the tip of the iceberg)

{Via Pocket Full of Sequins}

Exhibit B:

{Via ASOS}

♥ Droopy shouldered dresses.
Not everyone is blessed with perfectly proportioned and shaped shoulders. Mine are wide and I have to steer clear of any kind of shoulder embellishment lest I look mannish and weird. Others have narrow little petite shoulders that may even slope down away from the neck and unless styled correctly can look all weird and droopy. No one wants to look droopy do they?
Exhibit C: Now I know, this is Miss Portman, and yes she is gorgeous. But you can't deny that something weird is happening below her neck.

{Via My Daily}

♥ Layered Frills.
Repeat after me Amanda Peet: "I am not a dust ruffle, I am not a dust ruffle, I am not...". I believe that this style whether in a maxi dress, skirt, red carpet gown or camisole, does not suit a single human being on the planet. No matter which way you look at it those frills always manage to cut the body in the wrong place making even a cray cray tall model look wide and stumpy. Don't do it, ok?
Exhibit D:

{Via Washington Post}

♥ Fishtail gowns on anyone that isn't Sofia Vegera.
Case in Point: It's Glenn Close and she is all kinds of awesome but this dress and the awkwardness that is the lower half is all kinds if wrong. (plus for the trifecta, it has sheer overlay sleeves and layered ruffles on the flare!!)
Exhibit E:

{Via Go Fug Yourself}

♥ Fancy Pants.
When I am making clothes I generally keep texture and colour pretty simple and splash out with interesting shapes. This does not, however, mean that I in any way condone the use of such interesting shapes to create fancy pants. Dear rompers, playsuits, jumpsuits, super wide leg sheer pants (I mean c'mon just be a skirt please?) you are not cool. Pants are great, I love them, I live in them in winter. But that doesn't mean that I want to sew all my tops to my jeans to save time on getting dressed. Pants and tops stay separate ok? See below.
Exhibit F:

{Via Scandals Celebrity}

I rest my case. Any words from the defence?

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} Rainy Day Blues

2012-01-31T14:41:00.000+11:00

Blue Chiffon Blouse: I made it!
Scarf: DIY Rag Scarf (find the tutorial HERE)

I took these ages ago, but with the rain and my horrible illness I haven't got around to uploading them. I love this top- I whipped it up in 20 minutes or so and has been a real favourite all through summer.

Samantha Alice xx

{Review} Natio Brow Kit + Colour Complexion Corrector

2012-01-30T21:49:00.000+11:00

I am a blogger on a mission. I am downright determined to stop buying makeup on the fly just because I need it and it is cheap. I want products that suit me, my skin type and my lifestyle. I used to just assume that a product would work for me, buy it, then be disappointed. I probably just got down on myself, thinking that of course it didn't make my skin look amazing because my skin is awful and oily and has pores the size of the grand canyon.

I am done with this. There must be products out there that will correct some of my skin issues and give me some daily confidence, so my search has begun. I am starting out with low to mid range products as if I can manage to find products that are perfect for my skin and my wallet then that is fab! I will not stop until I find what I am looking for, however, and if that takes me to expensive makeup counters then so be it (I should get a job then, shouldn't I?)

Anyway, makeup overhaul started when I ordered some makeup goodies from ASOS that hopefully arrive this week! In the meantime I raided my local pharmacy, which doesn't stock a whole lot of makeup, but they do carry the brand Natio which I love!

I picked up a Brow Kit and a Colour Complexion Corrector. My Mum also grabbed their Pure Mineral Concealer Pen and their Mineral Pressed Powder compact.

What I really like about this company is that they offer makeup made from natural plant based ingredients. I don't want lovely looking skin if it means using yucky toxins, so Natio's philosophy sits well with me.

I had only ever used their moisturisers before- they make a hand cream that is heaven for the skin, so had no idea what their makeup products would be like.

I am loving loving loving this nifty brow kit! I was always so weary of these kits as I thought brow powders might be harder to use, or less precise, than brow pencils. I was glad to be proved wrong. The kit comes with a mid brown and dark brown matt powder (which would also work well for natural eye contouring), a tiny pair of tweezers (so darn cute!), a brown wand and an angled application brush. On top of this, and what makes this kit so great, you get clear brow wax.

The powders are really pigmented but go on softly. I tend to put most of the colour towards the centre and outside end of my brow and just add slight soft filling in towards the middle of my face, and these colours work great for that. I have been blending both powders for everyday use, though the darker would be excellent for a strong dramatic brow. The wax goes on last; it isn't too thick so doesn't glue the hair to your skin, but rather smooths the brow shape and adds some lovely natural gloss. See the results for yourself in the before and after below:

The Complextion Corrector comes in a small 20ml tube and according to Natio it is a "Lightweight, silky-smooth correction cream to help create even skin tone. Disguises redness and corrects uneven pigmentation." I have to say that it pretty much lives up to that description. I don't have rosatia or any large patches of redness, but the skin around the creases of my nose, the high points of my cheeks and my chin can be very red. I had been wanting to get one of these colour correcting products for a while, and had my eye on a Jemma Kid pallet (which I still may try as it has other shades as well).

The product goes on easily enough with a finger or concealer brush, though you do need to work it quite fast as it does dry quickly. The edges of this corrector do need to be blended out a lot to a soft edge otherwise the effect is unnatural. I have been using this followed by my regular Garner concealer roll on. It really does hide those red tones and the ever so slight light reflective properties brighten at the same time. A bonus with this, and something Natio doesn't mention, is that it reduces the appearance of pores as well. A little goes a long way with this so this small tube for around $13AUD will last a long time.

I am awaiting more lovely makeup deliveries in the next couple of weeks so expect more reviews.

Also, if you too have oily skin and have products that work really well for a long lasting shine free look please share in the comments!

Samantha Alice xx

P.s I am feeling much much better after a horrible week of sickness!

{Life} The Insta Eight

2012-01-29T14:31:00.002+11:00

Cute dog in a vintage car
Paper roses in my hair
What's in my bag
How I get around
Crystal
Bellingen Flood
The colour of the sky for the last 10 days
My world lights up

I am slowly on the mend health wise but haven't really left my bed much in the last week. Hopefully I will be feeling excellent very soon so that I can enjoy the rest of my holidays?

Follow me on Instagram! Samanthaalice is my username. I'd love to follow you back so leave your Instagram or Twitter username in the comments.

xx Samantha Alice

{Fashion} 1956 Australian Women's Weekly + Fashions of the Day

2012-01-29T12:56:00.002+11:00

Will you be running out to get a black cotton sheath and a white lace bertha? I certainly will. Perfect for 'city party going'. How about matching lingerie for you and your little sister?

I actually and quite in love with the berry satin gown with the massive rosettes peaking from underneath the full skirt- it is lovely.

Don't you just love these old images?

xx Samantha Alice

{Yay!} IFB + LINKS A LA MODE

2012-01-27T10:01:00.000+11:00

Well it is still depressingly dreary here where I live; into our fifth day of floods and about a week of torrential rain. Also, I am ill and intend to lay around all day watching movies and eating yummy food. I haven't had the energy to get something together for my Designer Friday feature, I know, I am a bad blogger. Luckily IFB came to the rescue and featured me in Links a la Mode which is very exciting! So instead of reading about excellent Australian designers, you can sink your teeth into these twenty fabulous posts. Enjoy!

LINKS A LA MODE: January 26th

Making a Connection

Edited by: Fajr Muhammad of Stylish Thought

Can you believe that it’s almost February. Fashion week is right around the corner and that means that the IFB Conference is right upon us. The IFB Conference has opened so many doors and channels for fashion bloggers to connect and expand their *ahem* influence. Fashion week is another great avenue to network and work with brands, the media and other bloggers. In our fast-paced digital (and fashion) worlds, connection is key.

Check out this week’s Link a la Mode and connect with our 20 selected bloggers. Read their post, comment and build relationships that will last past fashion week and beyond.

SPONSOR:
Shoes at Shopbop: Frye Shoes, Yosi Samra Flats, See by Chloe Shoes, Tapeet, Ash Sneakers, Sam Edelman Sandals, Steven, Wang Shoes, Pelle Moda, Vanessa Mooney, Loeffler Randall, Dolce Vita Shoes & Hunter Boots

PLEASE READ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE
If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE.

Samantha xx

{Life} Horsing Around

2012-01-26T08:39:00.001+11:00

Are any of you out there horse mad? Well I am not but my younger sister certainly is. Jamee has wanted a new horse for a while now. Her last horse, Natalie, was killed by lightening a few years ago which was really traumatic and awfully sad. But it was time for a new addition. My sister was very lucky to be offered a free horse, and although they say you should always (or is it never?) look a gift horse in the mouth, she jumped at the offer.

He arrived on Saturday; Jamee is keeping him in some local stables on the other side of town. He is really pretty (as you can obviously see right?) and lovely natured. I am usually quite intimidated by these animals as they are just so BIG, but I felt at ease around him. His name comes with him from the previous owners: Ali B. I am pretty sure it is short for Ali Babar seeing as he is an Arab cross breed, but who knows.

I watched my sister wash him and deal with his tantrum over being hosed (such a wimp) and I forgot how much of a natural she is with horses.
Once he has settled in and she is riding him I will get some better photos, maybe even some fancy fashion shoots?

It has been raining for days here and we are into our fourth day of a flood. It just so happens that the horse is on the other side of the river and my sister cannot get to him, which has been stressful to say the least.

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} 1956 Australian Women's Weekly + The Advertisements Part One

2012-01-25T09:08:00.001+11:00

If you follow me on Twitter you might have seen my recent post about reading a vintage Australian Women's Weekly magazine. I am so enraptured by this glimpse into the past that I couldn't resist sharing these fading pages with you all.

How fantastic are these advertisements? I am a Madmen fan and these images are so very Madmen (albeit an Australian version) My favourite is the Carnival shoe spread- teeny women sitting in their shoes that 'sigh with comfort'. Magazine layouts are so slick and produced these days, I love the imperfections here. If you don't already know it, I am a total graphic design nerd, and some of these fonts and compositions are making my typesetting heart skip a beat.

I have a stash of images from this 1956 Australian Women's Weekly that I will be posting over the next two weeks. Most of the features in the magazine relate to the Melbourne Olympics which were about to be held here, so I think it is fitting that I unearthed this collection before the London Olympics later this year. Wait until you see the fashion pages; they are mind blowing and hilarious.

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} To Market to Market

2012-01-24T12:01:00.003+11:00

I grew up visiting these markets every month. We'd save our pocket money for ages and then waste it on silly toys and sweets. Most markets, if Mum let us, me and my sister would get pillow puff pancakes; little puffs of batter goodness smothered in butter and icing sugar. They pretty much tasted like heaven. As an adult I have dealt with my addiction to fried dough, thankfully, and I appreciate market day for different reasons.

When I lived in Sydney (oh I miss it so badly!), Sunday hangovers meant glebe markets, Turkish gozlome and amazing coffee. Glebe markets are still my absolute favourite, but the Bellingen market day will always have a nostalgic place in my heart. I always leave feeling very inspired; hopefully these photos have the same effect on you.

x Samantha Alice
(P.s I totalyl borrowed a DSLR for the day and LOVE the quality of the images! I cannot wait to buy mine in a months time.)

{Review} January Glossy Box

2012-01-24T08:32:00.000+11:00

So. Glossybox. A really interesting concept, and although I am a bit behind the eight ball with this one, I am super glad to have jumped on the band wagon (I promise I won't use any more cliche' sayings, ok?) I was really excited when my package arrived. I don't have much luxury in my life, so this attractive box with its pretty ribbon made me feel very special. It is a shame they included the tacky Australia Day temporary tattoos as it almost ruined it. Almost.

I am not going to talk extensively about all five samples because firstly I haven't had a chance to try them all and secondly there is a standout product I am really excited about.

The five products in my Glossybox were:

Sheer Cover Lipgloss in Pink Praline
Sheer Cover Nourishing Moisturiser
Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Moisturiser
Miranesse Tightliner Hydra Gel Eye Liner in Sapphire Blue
Kosmea Daily Facial Exfoliant

My favourite product by far is the gel liner from Miranesse. It is pretty much the best makeup product I have tried in a while. I have a similar liner to this from Models Prefer but it is no real match in quality or ease of use. I really like this style of liner; it is much simpler than liquid liner but can create the same graphic look. This isn't a liner you would use to achieve a smudged or smokey look as it dries pretty much instantly. Where it really stands out is how easy it is to achieve a range of liner looks with the soft felt tip. Light pressure creates a thin, even line. The product glides on easily and is moderately pigmented. I have read elsewhere that people weren't loving the colour but I really do! I think it is unusual and a bit of fun. I used it on saturday with some of the Models Own shadow pot shadow in neon pink and espresso and it was a super fun look I will be trying again.

As for the other products I am a bit underwhelmed by them really, only because I have about a million moisturiser products already plus I am fussy about facial moisturisers because I have very oily skin and it doesn't take much to make it worse. However, I have used the Sheer Cover moisturiser for the past few days and it isn't making it worse, and may have reduced the oil though it is too soon to tell for sure. The Sheer Cover lipgloss isn't great- sticky and drying in a shade I am not thrilled about. I haven't tried the Kosmea exfoliant yet- it smells yummy but the exfoliating particles are a bit large, but I'll wait and see.

I am really looking forward to the limited edition Feburary Glossybox, I just hope there is less skin care and more makeup!

xx Samantha Alice

{Life} The Insta Eight

2012-01-23T08:29:00.000+11:00

1956 Australian Women's Weekly
My Hardware shop DIY bracelet
Cute Hoot owl vase
Daisy jar and MT Tape
My pimped up wireless keyboard
Rock stack in the rain
Yum, breakfast
Sweet peaches

xx Samantha Alice

{Art} Designer Friday-Aussie Blog Roundup

2012-01-20T00:38:00.000+11:00

I did it again. I got to midnight and started thinking that maybe I should write a post for tomorrow. This week has been exhausting and taxing on my brain which hasn't left much for le'LOVE. What do I do when my brain is mushy? An Australian blog roundup seems like a swell idea. So here it is; 5 Aussie blogs I am in love with (and you will be too!)

{Via http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/}

{Via http://www.figandcherry.com/}

{Via http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/}

{Via http://thedesignfiles.net/}

{Via http://www.daydreamlily.com/}

1. Meet Me at Mikes- Pip Lincolne and her never ending adorableness with loads of crafty goodness. Pip also has a book out called "Make Hey" and it is brilliant.

2. Fig&Cherry- Food? Check. Great photos? Check. Me drooling over the all round yumminess? Check check check.

3. A Spoonful of Sugar- This is the craft blog that I wish I could write. This mother daughter duo are seriously clever.

4. The Design Files- I guess you could compare this little treat to Design Sponge, but with a much more Australian feel, if there even is such a thing. I read this blog daily and am always left with a 50/50 split of emotions; inspired and inadequate. Worth it for the great photography.

5. Daydream Lily- Effortless style blog where prettiness abounds.

I am very happy about the weekend; local markets here which I always enjoy and my sister's horse arrives saturday. What have you got planned lovers?
x

{Review} Models Own eye shadow pots.

2012-01-18T23:39:00.001+11:00

I have been meaning to do this review for a while but it kept getting pushed back. I finished my university project yesterday so with some spare time I wanted to play with some pretty makeup. I ordered this Models Own eye shadow pot trio in 'Party' a few weeks ago from ASOS and since then it has sold out. However you can still get the individual pots in a couple of other colours from ASOS, though I am sure they are stocked elsewhere as well.

I'll start with the packaging. It came in a simple white box containing the three eye shadow pots and a Models Own eye shading brush in white. The eye shadows themselves are in cute little glass jars with white lids that seal in the product very well. The three colours that came with my kit were espresso, neon pink and gold&gold sparkle. My favourite thing about the packaging? The way the shadows clink against each other (silly I know but it is a great sound!).

I have used the shadows about four or five times now and I am generally happy with the results. The colours are very pigmented though because of the fine powder form you have to watch how much you load onto your brush as it can get messy.

Neon Pink is a colour that really gets in your face. It is very very very bright and will only ever be used sparingly by me even though I love it. It goes on very smoothly and would blend well. The pigment is great- one application and it is nearly opaque. What I love most about this shadow is that it is completely, i'm talking not even a slight shine, matte. I am really liking the lack of lustre or pearl or glitter here and it is a welcome change. I would actually love this same shadow in a baby pink or a pastel peach, but as it is I will use it for a real punch of colour close to my lash line.

Almost the opposite of this punchy pink is Espresso; warm and full of gold and silver flecks. I was hoping the colour would be darker than it is and with the lustre it looks much lighter still when applied. However I do think that for a shimmer shadow it can have a very natural look which is nice. I have used this as the darker shade in a smokey taupey natural eye and loved the result. It does need the addition of some black either in a liner or strong lashes to make it pop but this is an easy to use and easy to blend shadow that I will use a lot.

As random as these colours seem together I think there is a luxurious feel to the set- all candy and chocolate. Gold&Gold Sparkle continues in that theme with gusto. I will admit that even though I don't wear gold clothes I love love love a gold shadow and have tried many of them hoping for the right feel and look. I am happy to say that this cheap as chips (well cheaper, really) shadow pot is my favourite by far. Most gold shadows have a creamy undertone to try and make them more opaque but I am not a fan of that look. This shadow is a combination of fine gold dust and larger gold particles. When applied lightly it has a chunky glitter but not glitter look that is very cool. However, if blended just a little, the particles flatten down to give an almost flawless non creamy metallic look. For such an inexpensive product the quality is amazing.

I haven't tried the brush yet, as I already have too many in rotation, but having tried other Models Own brushes I am sure it will work well as a general shadow brush. It is soft and moderately dense and could work well as a blending brush if you needed it to be.
Overall these shadows are great; fun colours with good quality for the price point. A word of warning though- don't sneeze when using these or you will lose all the powder in an instant.

I gave in and signed up for Glossy Box so will have some more beauty reviews next week!
Adieu and stay pretty x

{Art} Small Worlds

2012-01-17T22:22:00.001+11:00

In between writing the most enormous research project (it is nearly finished YAY!) I have been secretly working on something exciting, and not just a virtual shopping list.
I'd like to give you a sneak peak into a series of illustrations I am working on called 'Small Worlds'.

I am hoping that they will be available as prints for sale by the end of March this year.
Inspired by tiny worlds and all the beauty around us that our eyes don't see.
This is the first in the series and is obviously not complete. So far it has taken about twenty hours to draw all those spheres. I am really enjoying the monotony of the drawing; it is very calming.

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to friday and the end of Summer trimester. I will have a little party in my room when I hit that submit button. I will also have loads more time for blogging which will be so great.

Remember, tomorrow is your last day to enter my vintage sewing giveaway!

Adieu x

{Fashion} If I had a Million Dollars I'd be Wearing

2012-01-17T00:14:00.002+11:00

Well not really a million dollars, just markedly more cash than I have now really. I am very broke and very busy which means I haven't made any clothes of late and haven't been able to shop, a combination I am less than thrilled about. I have major plans for sewing during my measly month off uni, but what's a bet I lie around blogging and reading instead? I hardly get any time off study because I have studied over summer these last two years. I forget what a holiday feels like really. Oh well, that is enough whining. Let's look at these pretties instead.

Ten things I'd own if I had a real job and wasn't just a student blogger:
1. This House of Harlow 1960 Starburst ring. I have been lusting from afar for this beauty for a very long time.
2. This Damn You Alexis dress.
3. These Verali emerald green wedges.
4. This ASOS floral strapless dress.
5. This Marc Jacobs bag in yellow, orange and taupe.
6. This entire collection from Country Road.
7. These to die for lace up boots from Molini
8. This adorable organic cotton Love Bubble dress from Gorman.
9. This Savanah fringe bag from Sportsgirl.
10. This Canon EOS 7D DSLR: the camera to whoop all other cameras.

I got to eight and either I was tired or had lost the will to shop. Turns out finding 10 things I really wanted was a little tricky. If any of my family are reading this, I have a birthday in about 7 months, you could get my present out of the way early if you like.

Is there anything you have been lusting after recently? Tell me all about it and we can comfort each other in our broke misery.

Adieu x

{Life} I Collect Sunsets

2012-01-15T20:32:00.000+11:00

I recently went on an enormous and life changing trip into the outback for a six week teaching prac. Along the way I collected memories and sunsets.

Adieu x

{Fashion} Designer Friday+Byrd Holland Designs

2012-01-13T09:14:00.000+11:00

Those who get to know me figure out pretty fast that I am not one of those very patriotic people; I love my country and think it is awesome that I get to live here and be happy and have loads of sunshine. I just don't gab on about it. I am, however, crazily passionate about Australian designers; I happen to think that we have some of the most amazing, brilliant, outstanding and down right talented designers in the world. We bring a different aesthetic to the table; whether it be in fashion, interiors or graphic design. It really is true that, on a generalised level anyway, us Aussies are more relaxed. This tends to show through in our creativity.
I could talk forever about how much I love Australian designers and how important I think supporting them is, all day. But I won't bore you with my words. Instead I'll show you. Introducing one such amazing Australian design brand: Byrd Holland Designs, a Sydney based business run by Maria Gallifuoco. I chatted with Maria about her brand and what makes her tick.

Tell meabout yourself? How did you come to owning an online vintage store?

It was a gradual process. I think I was enticed by the idea of beingable to run and own a business around my studies. But it took a long time ofmeticulous planning and sleepless nights that still continue to this day

Tell meabout Byrd Holland Designs. What do you aim for? What will be your nextdirection for the store?

Well- you’reactually interviewing me at the brink of a HUGE makeover. Byrd Holland is inthe process of moving e-commerce platforms and becoming bigger then I couldever have imagined. We will not only stock vintage but strange and interestingclothing, jewellery and accessories from up and coming designers.The focus will shift to building a community site that isapproachable and highly collaborative with the customers. It’s set to launch atthe beginning of March this year (I’m so excited!)

What isyour personal style aesthetic? Where do you like to shop?

I’ve been asked this in quite a few interviews and I still don’treally know how to define it. I tend to dress for my body type. I’m quite‘hourglass-y’ (is that even a word?) so my style usually enhances that. There’sa lot of high fashion clothing that is just meant to hang off an uber thinwoman’s body. I’m not sure I like that as much as seeing a gorgeous woman looklike a woman.

What doesgreat design mean to you in your life?

Oh design hasbecome my life. I put my soul into what I do and I want my life to be my greatest creative endeavor . Great design, in a garment, object, or evenpersonality, makes life beautiful and kind of miraculous. I realize that I’mjust a great sucker for aesthetics in the deepest way.

If westepped out in your neighbourhood what kind of style might we see?

I live in Bondi and the whole nonchalant ‘I just chucked this on butI still look insanely good’ look is abundant. Beach hair, great tans, oversizedsinglet’s and excess jewellery are the keys. Sort of Boho meets celebrity onholiday.

Do youlove living in Sydney? What makes it such a great place to live?

I have lived in so many places, and Sydney is by far the most amazingplace. My heart is here. It’s so great to have the city and three beaches amaximum 15 minutes away. As far as any other city in Australia, I prefer thesometimes insane business of Sydney. I love the rush.

Whatkinds of things will we see in your shop at the moment?

At the moment in Byrd Holland you’ll see a lot of vintage pieces,including some amazing home décor products. We’re also having a specialdiscount being offered exclusively to Le’Love readers, simply type in LELOVE atcheckout and receive an amazing 20% of anypiece!

Where doyou source your vintage pieces?

I go everywhere to source pieces. Honestly. Sometimes customers havean idea of what they’re after and I drive around Australia in search of it! Thebest finds are usually in random thrift stores but sometimes there’s some nicevintage stores with great price

Whatadvice would you give to people thinking about owning their own online fashionbusiness?

Research, research, research. Know what you want and how you’ll makea difference to a saturated market, and don’t give up! Have faith in a dreamand do everything in your power to make it come true.

Isn't she kind of amazing? The Byrd Holland store has about a billion things that I want for my own, in particular some red fox stud earrings that I simply must have. Maria's style is so elegant and effortless and is the epitome of chic eastern suburbs Sydney. I lived one beach over from Bondi in a lovely little place called Bronte and I can say that I have never been anywhere quite like these famous beaches. The Sydney beaches are incredible; I miss living there with the coastal breeze and inspirational style.

Do take a moment (or an hour!) to visit the Bird Holland Designs shop, Blog and Maria's personal Style blog Fashion Fazer for some inspiring photography and great style. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Also don't forget to take advantage of the discount offered to readers of le'LOVE; just enter LELOVE at the checkout for a very generous 20% off all items; hands off the fox earrings though!
You can keep up to date with all Maria's projects via twitter.

Keep stylish lovers x
All images courtesy Maria Gallifuoco, Byrd Holland Designs and Fashion Fazer.

{Fashion} Bluebird on my Shoulder

2012-01-12T07:57:00.000+11:00

I felt completely happy and light and free today. I had a driving lesson and it went really well; I think I am really close to getting my license which is exciting. Plus it was warm today but a little more bearable so the thought of making myself look lovely was not off the table. This top is nice and light despite it being synthetic chiffon. It falls nicely although it is getting to be a bit big with my weight loss.The top is from ASOS (notice a pattern? We have like no decent shopping where I live and ASOS is one of the few overseas companies with free shipping to Australia. The flowers in my hair is a DIY hair accessory I whipped up a while back for the races.

Adieu
x
P.s If you like my pretty bun you can learn how to do your very own sock bun HERE.

{Fashion} Old Look New Post

2012-01-10T23:04:00.002+11:00

So this was one of my Christmas outfits but I have only just got around to getting the photos up and writing this post. I know, I know, I am slack. I really should have new outfit posts to put up considering it is on my list. But I have a very valid reason; it has been mental hot here and I have been living in my swimmers and cotton dresses. It has been too hot to even think about taking photos and too humid for hair and makeup. Shock horror right? We are supposed to get a cool change through tomorrow but I think it will probably stay warm for a while longer yet. I am so completely hanging out for Autumn and layering and fabrics other than threadbare cotton. You feeling me? I bet all you northern hemisphere folk are crying out for the lovely spring air (I just wrote 'air' as 'hair' three times; maybe it also fits?)
The dress was from somewhere I can't remember, the jacket from Evans UK, belt from target and the flower whatsit is a floral headband from Sportsgirl.

Keep cool (or warm) lovers.
x

{Life) The Insta Eight

2012-01-10T14:51:00.001+11:00

The first of my weekly Insta Eight posts; my week in photos.
Adieu x

{Life} My Belated 26 by 27 List

2012-01-09T20:17:00.003+11:00

Have you ever noticed something and then not stopped seeing it, like everywhere? I came across a blog post that listed the 23 things the writer wanted to do by the time they were 24; it was their 23 by 24 list. I hadn't heard of this before, but since then I swear they are all over the place. I thought why not give it a whirl.

Well Whirl I did. I am sharing it with you here because quite a lot of them relate to blogging and other online projects. So here it is, my 26 by 27. It is a bit late given that my 26th was last August but oh well. And yes, I know, I am old; so very old.

Some of these may seem a little on the silly side but I wanted to give myself a chance for small wins.

Have you set goals for the year or have a list like mine? Tell me all about it in the comments!
Also my vintage sewing giveaway is still running so head over HERE and enter for your chance to win some vintage goodies.

Adieu x

{Guest Post} Kayleigh + A London Winter

2012-01-08T22:16:00.000+11:00

Today I am bringing you another guest post, this one all the way from the UK. Kayleigh runs a fashion blog that looks at trends and other fashion news and today she is going to share some top winter trends.

Winter fashion in London.

In the famous words of Austen Powers, this blog post comes to you from London, 'yeah baby yeah!'

I'm Kayleigh and this is my guest post for the lovely Samantha whom I met on Independent Fashion Bloggers. We've decided to be a guest on each others blogs so whilst everyone who follows my blog is being entertained by Samantha about the joys of Summer festivals in Australia and what people are wearing, I'm going to share with you what us girls have been wearing this winter in London, England. I can't imagine having a warm Christmas - random side note. ;)

What us Londoners have been rocking this winter...

Faux Fur has been everywhere this winter, most popularly in the style of a stole or gilet. I am loving faux fur gilets and if I could afford it, would have one in every colour possible. So seventies and yet so now, faux fur is delightfully fluffy!

If you're out and about in London and you look down, you'll see wedges, shoes with wedges, boots with wedges and shoe-boots with wedges. I am a fan of a nice wedge boot but have not been very successful in finding a pair to fit as yet. The most popular style of wedge I've seen is a lace up wedge boot in black, they look good with just about any outfit.

Glitter, sparkles and all things shiny have also been a big hit this winter, and beautifully timed for the Christmas holidays, getting a big shiny thumbs up from me.

Remember to wrap up warm if you're in a cold climate, use that faux fur to your advantage! And if the sun is shining where you are then boo! I'm jealous! ;)

Kayleigh

NOTE: Please do visit Kayleigh's blog, she has some lovely ideas. Also, my guest post should be up on her site today so go have a look-see. Also don't forget to enter my vintage sewing giveaway HERE and subscribe with Bloglovin' so you don't miss a beat.

Adieu x

{Life} What's in my Sewing Box + Giveaway [CLOSED]

2012-01-07T12:19:00.000+11:00

I am amazingly lucky to have a great collection of vintage sewing equipment passed down from various relatives over the years. My personal favourites are the tins in adorable little prints and my prized vintage needle books- a few of which are featured above. How amazing is the Happy Home needle book? Those illustrations are so amazing and the women so glamorous. I always feel a bit special using these little treats from the past; they some how make something I already love even more fun.

{Giveaway}

You could go in the draw to win this cute vintage sewing kit featuring a vintage tin, wooden cotton spools, 'Happy Home' needle book, 'British Snap' studs and a silver thimble. One lucky reader will have a touch of old world glamour arriving at their doorstep.

Winner will be drawn randomly. Entries can be made in the following ways:

You must follow le'LOVE via Bloglovin' and 'like' this post for one entry. To gain further entries:

Follow via Twitter and tweet this post.
'Like' le'LOVE on Facebook and share in your feed.
Follow le'LOVE via Google Friend Connect.

That is four easy ways to go into the draw.
Leave a new comment for each entry below; if you want all four entries leave four comments.

Entries close Midnight Thursday January 19th (Sydney time) and the winner will be announced the following morning here and via Twitter.

Good Luck!
x
P.s I just realised that this is my 50th post! If I cared about cricket I might say I had scored a half century. But frankly I'd rather eat glass than make cricket jokes.

{Fashion} Fields of Lavender

2012-01-05T12:06:00.000+11:00

My new top from ASOS arrived today! I was excited until I realised it was a bazillion times too big. Lucky I have rad sewing skills and was able to take it in about 3 inches at the side seam and the sleeve. Like I said, a bazillion times too big. It was so completely cheap, like $13AUD or something cray cray like that. It is lovely soft cotton and ~~I think I love it but we'll see.~~ I love it!

I cannot tell you how much I am yearning for a decent camera. My little Lumix just wasn't working for me today so these were taken will my iMac and the quality is not great, obviously. If you just bare with me for a couple more months of questionable images, I promise that the photos from my new camera will be way better. Hurry up February so I can splurge on a DLSR.

Adieu x
P.s I am not, however much I may look it, drunk in that last shot. It was the best of a bad bunch.
P.p.s My dodge camera skills have made my lower body blend in with the background. I am in fact wearing black skinny legs from ASOS.

Designer Friday// Damn You Alexis// Megan Moir Pardy

2012-01-04T18:39:00.001+11:00

I am falling in love with Australian fashion designer, Megan Moir Pardy's size 16-26 line, Damn You Alexis. Just looking these amazing images I can taste the salt on my lips and feel the burn of the sun; they go hand in hand with Australian Summer. Crisp lines and exquisite detailing such as leather straps and soft layering in all those classic summer colours. A fair few of the garments for her Spring/Summer 2012 collection are named after iconic Sydney beaches like Bondi and Coogee; I miss the Sydney beaches quite a bit and this collection takes me straight back there.

Yes these sweet clothes are designed and made for those who are bigger than the standard sizes, but there is nothing frumpy about these clothes.

Damn You Alexis clothing is available straight from their online store. Prices range from $49 AUD to $399AUD.

More info available from their website and Facebook page.

Adieu x
P.s Damn I want that blue silk and tan leather dress.

Fashion// Me// Hottest day of the year

2012-01-04T15:46:00.001+11:00

It is meant to be Summer here in Australia, and usually by now where I live it is 40 celsius and incredibly humid. For a while there I think we all thought we had escaped the sticky Summer that is the norm here. Turns out we were all very wrong.

Summer finally arrived and I'd rather it hadn't really. I know all you winter bound folk will argue with me but I want to swap places, ok? My house is usually rather cool but taking these photos outside was like taking photos in the Mohave Desert, or maybe something a bit less dramatic. I found the shadiest spot and took loads of photos really fast so I didn't get stuck in the sun and melt. The lighting is all wonky so I do apologise- it felt like my face was sliding right off my head.

I spent the day making soup which was not a good move considering the heat. I should have been writing my research project for uni but apparently motivation for anything other than blogging has packed its bags and left town. Please come home motivation because I really don't want to fail this annoying subject.

I am wearing: Floral chiffon T-Shirt and black lace ballerina skirt, both made by moi. The sunglasses are my precious Ray-ban Wayfarers, the thongs are Havianas and the belt is from Target. Straight after these photos were taken I changed into a cool summer cotton dress which suited me much better, but I like this outfit and will wear it again.

Adieu x
P.s If you have any motivation ideas to get me into study again please share! I am slightly stressing.

Life// Post Holidays Cleanse

2012-01-04T00:09:00.000+11:00

Did you indulge a little over the holidays? I sure did. I usually don't eat any sugar and I crammed quite a bit of chocolate into three days over Christmas. All that excess has left me feeling a little sluggish and wanting a bit of a cleanse. In comes my go to, super healthy, chicken and vegetable soup. You'll love it, I promise.

You will need:

1 onion
3 largish cloves of garlic
3 cans of tomatoes
2 carrots
1 floret of broccoli
Quarter of a largish pumpkin
Basil leaves (dried or fresh)
Chilli flakes to suit your taste
Tumeric powder
Salt
Water
Poached or steamed chicken breast

Dice onions and garlic; saute in a large pot with chilli flakes and basil. Cut veggies up into large chunks and add to pot; stir until coated in onion/garlic/chilli/basil mixture. Add canned tomatoes plus 4 cans of water. Stir in a tablespoon of turmeric powder and a teaspoon or so of salt; you can add pepper also but I find you don't need it with the chilli.

This will need to simmer on a low heat for around about an hour and a half. If it looks too thick, add more water. Once all veggies are soft and mush able you can take a wiz stick or a blender and puree the soup.

Serve with diced chicken breast for that hit of lean protein, and if you are in the mood, a slice of thick crusty sourdough bread.

This soup is a great kick start for a sluggish body; the chilli is good for your metabolism and turmeric is excellent for inflammation and heart and brain health. I make enormous batches and freeze it so I always have some on hand for those days I just can't be bothered cooking, which is like, everyday. Also, you can add any other veggies you like if these don't suit.

Adieu to you and you and you x

Review// What Kaelah Bee Taught Me

2012-01-03T15:25:00.001+11:00

Writing for this blog, making the art work, designing the layout and interacting with my lovely readers might seem like a simple thing. Turns out it is the most fulfilling thing I have ever ever ever done in my 26 years. It makes me happy on every possible level and something tells me that it can only get better from here. In the hopes that I can make le'LOVE the best little blog it can be and continue on my cloud nine ride, I want to learn all I can about this tricky business. I want to know the tricks so I can improve, and the pitfalls so I can avoid them like the plague.

When I came across Kaelah Bee and her brilliant blog Little Chief Honey Bee I was more than impressed, I was down right inspired. You can imagine my sheer delight when I read she had written en eBook about successful blogging; I just about fell off my chair.

I ummed and ahhed about buying it because my budget is pretty non existent at the moment, but in the end I couldn't resist. I decided to think of it as an investment in my future. After reading it, I am more than glad I took the plunge.

At around 40 pages it didn't take long to read, though it may take longer to sink in.
Kaelah introduces the book in such a down to earth way, so much so that you can't help but feel as though she is talking straight to you over coffee. Her relaxed tone is like receiving great advice from a friend. I tend to get put off by people claiming to be experts and arrogance is one of my pet peeves; but worry not, there is none of that here. She claims pretty much straight away that she doesn't know it all and that her journey is still going. I personally love it that Kaelah lets the reader know that there are probably spelling and grammar mistakes through the book and you can't fault her for it.

Kaelah Bee covers everything from starting a blog to monetising so is a great resource for those just starting out like me, and even those who have been at it a while and need a boost. Along with all the practical advice that I can't wait to incorporate into my blogging life, there is an under current that I think is much more important. Upon finishing it I felt a bit more confident; feeling like I can just be me and that is pretty rad. I know it's a bit silly to say that I got a self esteem boost from a book about PR and marketing, but it is true!

If you read the book you will get all the blog etiquette tips you need, but I'll tell you that I never really understood how important manners were in the blogging community. They are pretty much everything; Kaelah makes it crystal clear that if you are rude or pushy out just out for yourself, you probably won't make it or have the support you need. I can't imagine myself being rude, but it was great to read about the complexities of approaching brands, dealing with other bloggers and what to do with the negative comments that are sure to come. So far my experiences have been nothing but positive, but if things should turn, I know I will go straight back to this trusty book and get some advice.

So much of the information available for bloggers on the internet is not aimed at bloggers like me and blogs like mine; it all just feels so removed from my life and experience level. Kaelah Bee's sweet little book is easy to understand and super helpful; the opposite to everything else I have read. I am all for helping small business, and all profits from the eBook go towards Kaelah Bee's mobile boutique, Honey Bean. This made parting with my cash so much easier.
I got the book on sale for $20US; the regular price is a well reasonable $25US.

If you are serious about blogging and small business, I highly recommend buying this little treasure; it just might brighten your day and teach you something at the same time.

You can Find PR and Marketing for Bloggers here.

Adieu my lovelies x

P.s I did find a spelling mistake or two, but it just made me love the book more!

Art// Scribblings

2012-01-03T14:21:00.000+11:00

Just a few of my arty scribblings. God it looks like I love pink. Would you believe it if I said I hardly own any pink clothes?

Adieu x

Guest Post// Melon Heart// Smart Shoping

2012-01-03T08:31:00.000+11:00

So here is the first of (I hope) many guest posts for le'LOVE. I am excited to bring you a great post from Melon Heart- you guys remember her from my feature last week. She has some great tips for smart shopping.

There comes a time in a young woman’s lifewhere she becomes what is known as a “label whore”. Labelus Whoreus is a beastcommonly found in large shopping malls filled with department stores anddesigner goods. She can be seen on any day of the week, at any time of the daybuying even the simplest of sheaths at the most inflated of prices. You don’teven need to be shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue to become this beast! Many timeswe buy new items on impulse, or we don’t think to find a place where we can getthem at a better price. For example, Ilove Modcloth. It’s a great website that has adorable items and fits myaesthetic quite well. However, I’ve noticed that you can get the exact sameitems at other websites at a much better price! I’ve had my eye on their Dear Creatures Boathouse Brunch Dress since it came out. It’s not a cheap dress.Dear Creatures has the same dress (which they call the Par Avion Dress) at half the price! That’sa pretty dramatic difference with just a simple google search. It’s still notan inexpensive dress, but it’s much more attainable now.

You can also find many gems at thriftstores for very little money. Many times what happens to me with thrift findsis that they’re ill fitting. Sleeves are too big, skirts are too long, and topsare too wide, among other issues. This is a quick fix. Most dry cleaningestablishments have a seamstress who will work wonders with these clothes!Alterations are not very expensive. The most I’ve ever paid for a verydifficult alteration involving lace and all kinds of details was $25. That’sstill not that bad. Many times I prefer this because it means the clothing willfit you perfectly! Fit is everythingwhen it comes to your clothes. Even better, if you have someone in your familywho knows how to sew (or if you know how to sew!) you can spend time with themwhile they fix your newest addition to your wardrobe. Win-win situation!

The outfit I’m wearing in these picturescould have cost SO much more. The dress is thrifted, but it still had the tagson it when I found it. It was originally $50 I bought it for $7. The pinkcardigan is from my very favorite store, Anthropologie. It was originally $88.I paid $20 because I waited til it went on sale. (Anthropologie usually putseverything on sale. It’s rare for any item to stay at the elevated price. Justkeep an eye on it and you’ll save a bundle! Lots of times it’s out online, butyou can call them and they’ll find the item in another store. The shoes were$127. I got them for $60. Don’t ever leave coupons at home. If it’s somethingyou might even be interested, tuck the coupon in your purse. You never knowwhen you’ll need it!

The necklaces were gifts so those werefree! Let’s tally up the savings then shall we?

OriginalPrice Sale Price

Dress: $50 $7

Cardigan: $88 $20

Shoes: $127 $60

Necklaces:FREE!

Total: $222 $87

That means I got all this for almost athird of the price! Spend your money wisely ladies, it doesn’t take a whole lotof effort.

Shop Smart!

1. Search/wait for sales

2. Never leave coupons athome

3. Keep an eye on the sites

If you follow those three simple littlerules, you can save a whole lot of cash at the end of the day. Good luck!

Note: More info on Jacqueline's excellent nails can be found on her blog here. Take a minute to visit her blog my guest post. Remember I love comments about as much as I love diet coke- a lot.
x

Tunes// Lana Del Rey

2012-01-02T16:10:00.000+11:00

Can't help hitting repeat on these two gems. Such a dreamy voice and the styling for these clips is spot on.

Adieu x

Not Fashion// Maude and Tilda

2012-01-01T19:28:00.000+11:00

Cheap(ish) and cheerful, Maude and Tilda are your antidote to OTT Parisian fashions and ten thousand dollar bags. They may also be a cure for your consumer guilt.
Brought to you by Swiss designer Nichole Locher, Maude and Tilda want us to know that going green can be ultra chic and all kinds of fun. These spunky bags are made from unbleached canvas and printed with eco friendly dyes and would make a perfect substitute for those yuck plastic grocery bags.

I am digging the super simple design and the cute bow (you get to pick your colour!) but what really makses these super spesh are the ridiculously amazing slogans. It comes in ten different sayings but my favourite is probably 'Louis Vitton Just Doesn't Look Good on Me', because, well, frankly, I am sure that it wouldn't.

Check out these others, they are sure to make you grin:

The totes go for $45US and Maude and Tilda ship worldwide. Shipping to most countries is $9US. Find your favourite here and save the planet a little bit. You guys know I love this planet.

Thanks so much for dropping by. If you like what you see tell me about it in the comments and follow via Bloglovin', that way you never have to miss a new post!

Adieu x

IFB Project #28// Wish Board

2012-01-01T12:39:00.001+11:00

I am not the kind of person to have daily affirmations and mood boards. I think it's brilliant if others are into it, it has just never sat well with me. However, after attempts at making a makeup tutorial video this week I realised a few things about myself that might need some work. I found it so hard to even speak up with confidence in front of my computer and the thought of actually posting the video made me want to hurl. So when this weeks IFB project was about creating vision boards for twenty twelve and blogging goals I ignored the squirmy feeling in my gut and gave it a go. If I need some confidence why not make it a visual goal?

Here is my attempt. I found it tricky because, generally I have all the things I want. I chose to focus on confidence, feeling pretty and my yearning for a good camera. It is simple and uncluttered, just like me and my life. Click the image for a larger version.

Adieu x
p.s How flipping cute is my tinsel text? Instead of study last night, I stayed up late trying tutorials from Pugly Pixel; Just about the coolest graphic design blog around.

Tunes// Happy New Year// See you 2011

2011-12-31T13:52:00.001+11:00

So I am blatantly avoiding all uni work and trawling youtube. I couldn't resist popping by to say Happy New Year le'LOVERS. The end of 2011 has been excellent and I hope twenty twelve continues in the same vein.

Adieu x

P.s This song is making me oh so chipper right now, enjoy

Designer Friday// Daisy Doe// Erin Matthews

2011-12-29T21:09:00.001+11:00

I have a thing for diet coke, youtube makeup videos, pretty dresses and good design of any kind. Whether it be clothing, graphic design, electronics or cute stuffed toys, if it looks good, if it appeals to all of my senses, I want it. I am usually so overwhelmed by all the nice things out there I can't pick the best from the bunch, but when it came to choosing the designer to feature for my second Designer Friday feature, it was easy. I have known this fabbo Australian designer for quite some time and seen her multi talents at work. She has taken photographs for rocking zines, made lovely little animations and always managed to impress me. Her most recent venture is cute as a button; an online store called Daisy Doe that you will not be able to resist. Erin was kind enough to spare some time to talk to me about her life of design and little Daisy Doe.

Samantha: Tell us about your background in graphic design and photography.

Erin: I have always had a fascination with art and design, having grown up with parents who are very creative themselves. I never thought I’d get into design as a career myself, but after a few years of working in a job where I had no creative outlet, I realised that design is what really makes me happy. A few years ago I decided to have a career change, and so I undertook studies in Interactive Digital Media. I now work as a website designer, and love what I do.

I also have a great passion for photography. I bought my first digital SLR camera in 2006, and enjoy taking photographs as a hobby. My experience taking photos over the years has helped me when it comes to photographing my products for my online shop. When I’m not taking product shots, I enjoy photographing animals, nature and people.

Samantha: What is Daisy Doe and how did it come to be?

Erin: Daisy Doe is the name of my label which was established in 2010 to sell my handmade crochet animal soft toys. I taught myself how to crochet in November 2010 after I finished my studies. I was inspired by a few crocheted toys I had seen online, and figured I’d love to try creating my own.

Samantha: How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?

Erin: I am greatly influenced by nature and animals, hence why the majority of my crochet creations are animals. I also love to work with bright colours, which I believe can brighten anyones’ mood.

Samantha: What does good design mean to you?

Erin:Good design is original, eye-catching, shows good technique and is inspiring.

Samantha: What advice would you give young people thinking about following a career in design?

Erin: Always keep up to date on the latest news and trends in the design world. It is a very fast-paced industry, and it’s good to keep on your toes about up and coming designers or new technology. It is also a very competitive industry, but this should not put you off wanting to be a designer. It took me almost a year to get a job in the industry, but I would not change anything now. If you really love design (whether it’s graphic design or digital), your passion should come out in your work and the way you present it. If you are just starting out, try to get some work experience at a design agency so you can build up your portfolio with commercial pieces. It will also offer you the opportunity to start creating a network, which is essential in getting the word out there about yourself and will help to boost your possibilities for employment.

Samantha: What will my readers find in the Daisy Doe shop at the moment?

Erin:At the moment, I have all sorts of adorable crocheted animal soft toys available - from rabbits to birds and anything in between. I also make custom items and am happy to take requests.

Samantha: What does the future hold for your design career?

Erin: In the future, I hope to broaden my range of products available for sale. I would love to start making pieces for newborns and babies (such as beautiful crocheted blankets), and I also plan to sell home wear items such as decorative wall hangings and ornaments. Of course, I still plan to make and sell many cute crocheted animals too! And some day, I would love to sell Daisy Doe items in retail shops.

Samantha: Where can we find you and Daisy Doe?

Erin: Daisy Doe and I can be found on Daisy Doe the Blog, Twitter, the Daisy Doe store on Zibbet and Facebook. Come find us!

Aren't Erin's little creatures just jaw droopingly cute? I think so. The little Koala is my favourite, what's yours?

I am also a big fan of the Daisy Doe Blog which is brimming with brilliance and cheer so do please pay her a visit.

I am taking a break over the weekend to actually do some work on my much neglected university research project (hum drum; i'd rather be writing about cute crochet animals than the needs of Australian youth at a community level) so probably won't post over the weekend.

Adieu x

P.s My ears and eyes are pealed for new Australian designers to feature in the coming weeks so drop me a line if you have a hint.

P.p.s Yes, I just realised that yesterday I posted about a deer and today I am featuring a doe...haha

Art// Oh Deer Me

2011-12-28T20:31:00.000+11:00

Look at me getting all arty. Today I ventured forth into paint land to remedy my bad mood and boredom. I am no Degas but I am pretty sure I mastered the abstract rose blob today, no? I kind of wish I had left the background all white but too late for hindsight.

Tomorrow is Designer Friday so make sure you come back to see a real artiste (say that in an English accent in your head pleeeaaase) at work.

Adieu x

Life// The Makeover

2011-12-27T21:08:00.000+11:00

I have a very good friend who has been going through some difficult times. Her five year old daughter has Aspergers Syndrome and has many many behavioural problems that can make life tricky for her and those around her. So much of my friends time and energy goes into making sure her daughters needs are met, and so little of her time is left over for herself. I wanted to do something nice and self esteem boosting so I offered to do her hair. I got a hesitant yes (I am not a hair dresser!) but a yes none the less.

I decided, after talking it through, that some nice blonde highlights and a cut would be great for summer so we got down to business. I did simple balayage style highlights that faded up to her natural colour, then a choppy layered cut that gave her hair some shape and took the weight out of the ends for some volume and lightness. I did need to use a blonde toner through the hair following the bleach but the colour turned out great.

All I did to style it was blow wave it out then tidy up the ends with a hot iron before applying Moroccan oil (if you are blonde you NEED to get some of this) to the ends for moisture. I couldn't resist doing some makeup to match the hair so I evened out her skin tone with primer and concealer, applied some light loose powder and some peachy pink blush. I used a jet black liner on the top and bottom waterline and a few coats of mascara as well as a brow pencil to define her eyes.

I was so happy with the result, I swear I nearly cried. To see my friend looking so happy and confident was the best gift. She messaged me later to say that she better get a new mirror for Christmas, because she was wearing them all out; I guess that means she likes it.

I think I was a hairdresser in another life and I love the satisfaction I got from brightening up someones life. Have you helped a friend feel better about themselves? Tell me about it in the comments!

Adieu x

Find// John Paul Gaultier// Fringe me up Scotty

2011-12-27T16:35:00.001+11:00

I am lucky enough to own this truly gorgeous (and tiny!) John Paul Gaultier Maille Femme olive green fringe skirt, circa 1990s. I am not entirely sure when it was made but my Mum acquired it sometime around 1993.

A close friend of the family worked with Tina Turner as her wardrobe and costume manager and was always bringing these awesome clothes for me and my sister to use as dress ups. We would be getting about in John Paul Gaultier skirts and D&G leather jackets. I went to a school dance once, I must have been about 10, and I wore a black leather pencil skirt and a red biker jacket, all ex Tina Turner costumes. I must have been quite a sight.

Who knows what happened to the other treasures; if I had been old enough and aware that they were more than clothes, I may have made sure we kept them. As it stands though this is the last remnant of my outrageous childhood dress ups. I will keep it forever despite it's 12 inch waist. I think I will make some effort to keep special pieces because we never know what value they might have in the future.

Do you have a special piece hiding away in your closet? Some special vintage item with more value than the price tag? Tell me about it.

Adieu x

IFB Love// Links a la Mode

2011-12-27T08:50:00.000+11:00

I was super lucky to be included in this weeks Independent Fashion Bloggers weekly roundup; Links a la Mode! Take a moment or two to visit the other blogs on the list, they are fab.

Start 2012 with Style!
Edited by: Fajr Muhammad of Stylish Thought
Can you believe there are 9 days until 2012!? *Throws Confetti* With 2011 coming to a close, we are all contemplating fresh starts, new adventures and new wardrobes. Oh the joy of starting anew! While you’re making your resolutions, clearing out clothes you haven’t worn all year and spending much needed time with family and friends, take a moment to check out these links from our great community.
I hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday and hope to see everyone stylishly in 2012!

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: DECEMBER 22ND

40 Plus Style: Why You Need to Get Yourself a Drape Dress
Consider Me Lovely: Soft + Hard
El Fashionista: 2012 Shoe Calendar
Girl Loves Color: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Haute Cocktail: Wicce the Turkish Wizard
Homes & Heels: This Weekend
Incognito: Tomboy with an Elvis’ Hairstyle
Le’Love: Going the Distance
My Fashion Wishlist: Forget Skinnies, Everyone’s Rolling Up
Over 50 Feeling 40: Age Discrimination- Overcoming
Pippa Holiday: Dear Santa
Pretty Quirky Pants: DIY Braided Wrap Bracelet
Simply Frabulous: Christmas Fashion and Food
Style Delights: Fashion Victim, Trend Slave
Style Sizzle: Holiday Sparkle
Stylish Thought: Speak Your Mind
The Fashion Edition: The GoodHood Store
The Love Hanger: Rose Gold
Tickle Me Chic: Eco-Friendly Dyed Denim
What 2 Wear Where: Gifts That Give

SPONSOR:
New Bags at Shopbop: Cleobella, Marc Jacobs Bags, BE & D, Cambridge Satchels, Wang Backpacks, Anya Hindmarch Bags, Mara Hoffman Bags, Botkier, Romygold, KORS,LeSportsac, Weekend & Beach Bags.

Adieu x

<a href="http://initfortheloveblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/ifb-love-links-la-mode.html"></a> <a href="http://initfortheloveblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/ifb-love-links-la-mode.html"></a> Start 2012 with Style! Edited by: Fajr Muhammad of <a href="http://stylishthought.com/">Stylish Thought </a> Can you believe there are 9 days until 2012!? *Throws Confetti* With 2011 coming to a close, we are all contemplating fresh starts, new adventures and new wardrobes. Oh the joy of starting anew! While you’re making your resolutions, clearing out clothes you haven’t worn all year and spending much needed time with family and friends, take a moment to check out these links from our great community. I hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday and hope to see everyone stylishly in 2012!  THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: DECEMBER 22ND <ul><li><a href="http://40plusstyle.com/why-you-need-to-get-yourself-a-drape-dress/">40 Plus Style</a>: Why You Need to Get Yourself a Drape Dress</li><li><a href="http://www.considermelovely.com/2011/12/soft-and-hard.html">Consider Me Lovely</a>: Soft + Hard</li><li><a href="http://elfashionista.net/2011/12/19/calendario-2012-fashionista/">El Fashionista</a>: 2012 Shoe Calendar</li><li><a href="http://girllovescolor.blogspot.com/2011/12/baby-its-cold-outside.html">Girl Loves Color</a>: Baby, It’s Cold Outside</li><li><a href="http://hautecocktail.blogspot.com/2011/12/wicce-turkish-wizard.html">Haute Cocktail</a>: Wicce the Turkish Wizard</li><li><a href="http://homesandheels.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/this-weekend-5/">Homes & Heels</a>: This Weekend</li><li><a href="http://thinkincognito-eng.blogspot.com/2011/12/im-not-afraid-to-be-tomboy-with-elvis.html">Incognito</a>: Tomboy with an Elvis’ Hairstyle</li><li><a href="http://initfortheloveblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/obsessions-going-distance-erin-rankin.html">Le’Love:</a> Going the Distance</li><li><a href="http://myfashionwishlist.com/2011/12/17/forget-skinnies-everyone-is-rolling-up/">My Fashion Wishlist:</a> Forget Skinnies, Everyone’s Rolling Up</li><li><a href="http://over50feeling40.blogspot.com/2011/12/age-discrimination-overcoming.html">Over 50 Feeling 40</a>: Age Discrimination- Overcoming</li><li><a href="http://pippaholliday.blogspot.com/search/label/Primp">Pippa Holiday</a>: Dear Santa</li><li><a href="http://www.prettyquirkypants.com/2011/12/20/diy-braided-wrap-bracelet-christmas-inspired/">Pretty Quirky Pants</a>: DIY Braided Wrap Bracelet</li><li><a href="http://simplyfrabulous.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-fashion-and-food.html">Simply Frabulous</a>: Christmas Fashion and Food</li><li><a href="http://style-delights.blogspot.com/2011/12/fashion-victim-trends-slave-why-it-is.html">Style Delights</a>: Fashion Victim, Trend Slave</li><li><a href="http://stylesizzle.com/fashion/obsessions/holiday-sparkle-how-to-wear-glitter-sequins-holiday-dresses">Style Sizzle:</a> Holiday Sparkle</li><li><a href="http://stylishthought.com/quotes/stylish-thought-speak-your-mind/">Stylish Thought</a>: Speak Your Mind</li><li><a href="http://www.thefashionedition.co.uk/2011/12/product-spotlight-christmas-special.html">The Fashion Edition</a>: The GoodHood Store</li><li><a href="http://thelovehanger.blogspot.com/2011/12/rose-gold.html">The Love Hanger</a>: Rose Gold</li><li><a href="http://ticklemechiic.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-wish-list-eco-friendly-dyed.html">Tickle Me Chic</a>: Eco-Friendly Dyed Denim</li><li><a href="http://what2wearwhere.com/blog/2011/12/gifts-that-give/">What 2 Wear Where</a>: Gifts That Give</li></ul>SPONSOR: <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/bags/br/v=1/2534374302024667.htm?all" title="Shopbop">New Bags </a>at <a href="http://blog.shopbop.com/">Shopbop</a>: <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/cleobella/br/v=1/2534374302133171.htm?all">Cleobella</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/marc-jacobs-handbags-hobos/br/v=1/2534374302150422.htm?all">Marc Jacobs Bags</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/designer-index/br/v=1/2534374302163371.htm?all">BE & D</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/cambridge-satchel/br/v=1/2534374302198600.htm?all">Cambridge Satchels</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/red-valentino/br/v=1/2534374302180660.htm?all">Wang Backpacks</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/anya-hindmarch-bags/br/v=1/2534374302177900.htm?all">Anya Hindmarch Bags</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/mara-hoffman-bags/br/v=1/2534374302129512.htm?all">Mara Hoffman Bags</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/botkier-bags/br/v=1/2534374302024503.htm?all">Botkier</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/romygold/br/v=1/2534374302172038.htm?all">Romygold</a>, <a href="http://www.shopbop.com/michael-kors-collection/br/v=1/2534374302181844.htm?all">KORS</a>,<a href="http://www.shopbop.com/lesportsac/br/v=1/2534374302087631.htm?all">LeSportsac</a>,<a href="http://www.shopbop.com/bags-weekend/br/v=1/2534374302055381.htm?all"> Weekend </a>&<a href="http://www.shopbop.com/bags-beach/br/v=1/2534374302145731.htm?all"> Beach Bags</a>.

IFB Project #27// Share the love// Why bloggers rock

2011-12-26T22:02:00.000+11:00

Since starting this site in late November I have experienced something truly amazing and special. Not only has it been an outlet for the creativity I have felt bursting from me for sometime just looking for a place to land, I have been blessed to call myself a part of a community.
The blogging world stretches across this big blue globe, and from London to New York there are amazing people sharing little pieces of their world, online, everyday. It would be entirely possible for such a geographically disjointed group to be some what isolated and isolating, but it is not so.

The lovely generous people I have connected with in this short month have been welcoming, encouraging and just all round nice. I have not seen a bad word said about anyones work. The sheer fact that people are willing to take time out of their day to offer words of praise to someone halfway across the globe, who they neither know nor owe anything to, astounds me. And each time I receive a kind comment from a perfect stranger I feel myself smile with my whole body.

I had felt, since losing touch with some close friends in the last two years, that generosity of spirit was just not around anymore. I was wrong though. Bloggers, and in particular those lovely fellow IFB boys and girls, have welcomed me and many more like me. It could be competitive, this blogging thing. There are probably millions out there, all trying to leave a mark in this digital world, but it is far from cut throat.

So, in the spirit of saying thank you to the IFB community for supporting le'LOVE, and to in fact share the love, I wanted you to meet my new blogging friend. This weeks IFB project asked us to feature a fellow blogger and I am excited to introduce Jaqueline from Melon Heart; a Miami girl with a rocking blog and some cute style to match. I asked Jacqueline about her little blogging life, and this is what she told me.

Samantha: What makes blogging so fun and important for you?

Jacqueline: Blogging is this glorious mixture of photography and writing; two things I love to do! On top of the fact that I get to combine two things I love, I get to write/take pictures of whatever interests me! If I think it's beautiful or interesting I get to share it with the people who visit my little blog. There is no down side to this :)

Samantha: Tell me about what kinds of fashion we might see in your neighbourhood.

Jacqueline:I live in Miami, so fashion here is very "urban" and most girls show a lot of skin and wear very form fitting things. Others wear very summery flowy dresses and sandals are a year round staple. I dress very differently than most people here.

Samantha: Tell us about your blog 'Melon Heart'

Jacqueline:My blog is basically my own style journey. I tend do go through different phases in my style and my blog is my way of documenting a way of combining all of my varying tastes in clothing and accessories. I feature artists that inspire me, things I find beautiful, recipes, music and I do lots of outfit posts!

Samantha: What was your first ever blog post about?

Jacqueline:My first blog post was a little introduction. My family had just sold our summer home in the Keys and I had spent the last day out in the sun and enjoying the last drive home. The sky was grey and moody as I got closer to Miami and I thought the colors were beautiful so I snapped a picture of it.

Samantha: What are your most important blogging milestones?

Jacqueline:My second day of blogging, I was on Elizabeth's blog (Delightfully Tacky) and I saw that she and Teika (Selective Potential) offered an e-course for new bloggers. It was the best investment I've made for my blog. It helped me really realise what I wanted to do with my blog and how to organize it. It also helped a tonne with the layout and content. My blog changed 100% for the better that day!

Samantha: Why do you think bloggers are awesome?

Jacqueline:The bloggers you follow become your friends in a way. They are people who share their experiences with you and teach you things you want to learn. I believe when you follow a blog it's because you had an "she does/likes that too" moment while reading. Having that moment in real life is what creates best friends. Having it over the Internet creates the same sensation I think.

Samantha: What do you hope the future of your blog will look like?

Jacqueline:I hope that someday I can say that I helped inspire some wonderful readers to be brave with their fashion and to feel confident. I hope to collaborate with other bloggers and maybe host some kind of an event once my blog is more established.

Jacqueline will be doing a guest post next week (how exciting!) so I hope you will all check out Melon Heart and come back and visit next week.

I am still learning; le'LOVE is absolutely a journey and it is so nice to know there are others out there on the same road. I am sure Jacqueline will be one of the many fab bloggers I get to work with in the future.

Have a blogging friend you think I need to see? Post the link below and I promise to share the love.

Adieu x

Life// My Christmas// Owl vases and friends

2011-12-26T12:17:00.000+11:00

This Christmas was really special for me. We had an amazing Christmas eve gathering with amazing people and lush food. Christmas day in my house was relaxed; ham and eggs cooked on the new barbecue, a lovely sit down lunch with my sister, Mum and step Dad and then a swim at a friends pool in the afternoon. I ate lovely mangos and crisp watermelon all day and felt very happy and lucky.We came home and watched a sad movie that made me weep and I slept like a baby.

I wanted to share some treasures from my Christmas, including some of the most wonderful gifts ever.

Twenty metres of fairy lights. Love.

Cute little bird cage canvas print. Tweet.

Owl vase from Typo. Possibly one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Cute Hoot.

Manilla Bunting folders from Typo.

Bunting and Spotty drawer boxes from Typo.

My delicious low sugar apple pie. Yum.

Impromptu Christmas lunch.

Cherries and Lychees. My fruit dream.

How was your Christmas? Was it relaxed like mine or a little bit fancy? I love hearing about other peoples lives so please do share.

Adieu x

Christmas// Wearing + Doing + Eating

2011-12-23T14:27:00.000+11:00

So Christmas eve is tomorrow for us here in Australia, so I just wanted to share my Christmas plans. We always have such a relaxed Christmas day that usually involves a swim in the river or at the beach and maybe watching a film. This year we are having a little shindig the night before so I will be making an effort to look nice.

Wearing:

Lovely blue rayon drape dress, black blazer (of course), hot pink flower garland in my hair, tan plaited belt and tan leather sandals (not pictured).

Doing:

Christmas Eve party; relaxed gathering of lovely people. I am sure there will be some lovely cold beers and maybe some ginger and mint punch as well.

Eating:

Thai rice noodle salad
Roast turkey (I feel so American!)
Ham off the bone
Italian bean and potato salad
Sugar free apple pie
Fruit salad
AND my Italian friends who have a homemade gelato business will bring some chocolate, raspberry and pistachio gelato. It is so good that I will probably break my no sugar rule!

I Just wanted to say thank you for all your support and amazing comments, I am having so much fun with this blog and hope it can continue!
I hope you all have an amazing Christmas with great people and yummy treats, and I will be back posting as of tuesday next week.

Adieu x

Designer Friday// We Heart Paper// Dominique Falla

2011-12-23T06:01:00.000+11:00

Nope, these are not hundreds and thousands, nor some crazy fairy bread from a child's party; it is the brilliant and inspiring work of designer and typographer, Dominique Falla.

Falla, working on the Gold Coast of Queensland Australia, produces pieces in paper and a range of other lovely textured mediums. The work featured on her portfolio is more than eye-catching; the tactility draws you in. The sense of fun and quirkiness makes you smile.

I have always had a thing for paper and possible have a stationary fetish. Clean white paper makes me giddy with anticipation, so when I come across an artist who's medium is the very stuff of my dreams, I tend to fall in love on the spot.

I think my wanting to be a teacher has something to do with my obsession with office supplies. Oh, that and my love of design education of course. But enough of my rambling.

Revel in the images of Dominique's work and please visit her portfolio, it is truly astonishing. Also have a sticky beak at some other paper loving artists, here at the We Heart Paper project site.

Dominique Falla, Ideas are 1% Inspiration...99% Perspiration

Dominique Falla, Edible Art

Dominique Falla, I Could do Anything...

All Images courtesy Dominique Falla.

Adieu x

Black and Gold// Why I don't like photos of me

2011-12-22T20:42:00.000+11:00

I really don't photograph well, but I guess I have to start somewhere right? This has been one of my favourite outfits lately. Simple black blazer and my bronze cotton dress. Perfect for a day of shopping.

Adieu x

Life// Before and After// My Place

2011-12-21T19:19:00.001+11:00

I woke up one day and was overwhelmed by the space and clutter around me; I can't work in an unorganised space, and I am about to be very busy. So instead of having a little tantrum, I did something about it. Inspired by Frankie Magazine and their Spaces book I decided to work with what I have got and make my life flow a little better.
Behold, the transformation that is my bedroom slash lounge room slash office. I am le'happy with the new arrangement. My cat, however, is not.

Before. (So Messy!)
During.
After.

Do you need to reorganise your life? Let me know.

Adieu x

p.s Sorry about the poor quality of the photos; I keep imagining some kind person giving me a DSLR, but so far it hasn't happened.

New Design// Why I can't make decisions

2011-12-21T17:37:00.000+11:00

I have a severe inability to make decisions. This means I am constantly changing my mind in life, no matter the situation. Why should you care? Because this means that I have changed the design of my blog slightly and it is pretty much likely to be the first of many changes. So hang in there readers, le'LOVE will always be the same, no matter the skin she is in.

Adieu x

Obsessions// Going the Distance// Justin Long is a Babe

2011-12-20T18:27:00.001+11:00

In my opinion every man should dress just like Justin Long's character in Going the Distance, Garrett, at all times. If you want to become a fellow heart throb, I'll get you started.

"Yeah its my favorite homoerotic fighter pilot movie."

From Left to Right:
American Apparel: Fine Jersey T-Shirt $25.35 @ASOS
Polo Ralph Lauren: Plain Jersey Joggers $143.65 @ASOS
Puma: Mono No1 T-Shirt $37.18 @ASOS

"F@#*&er put his face in front of the game."

From Left to Right:
Penfield Kuffman: Plaid Shirt $70 @ASOS
ASOS: Slim Fit Jeans $42.25 @ASOS
H&M: Checked Cotton Shirt 15 pounds @H&M

Makes me wish I had a BF to dress up like my very own Justin Long Ken doll.

x

IFB Project #26// Best of 2011

2011-12-20T15:35:00.000+11:00

Ok. So here is the deal. I only started this blog towards the end of November this year, and it might seem a little strange to post about the best of 2011 when for le'LOVE, 2011 has been very short indeed.

My rationale for this post is that for one, IFB are amazing, and they told me to do it, and secondly, I am thrilled to bits about how well my blog is going. I am days away from reaching one thousand unique visits and that just about blows my head off.

I might not have a bazillion followers yet, but things are moving along nicely and the best is yet to come.

So to celebrate my minor successes, having 150 Russian visitors being one of these successes, here it is: the best of le'LOVE so far.

1.
le'Bunting has been my most popular post in terms of traffic. I am still pleased with the design of the post; I think it is a bit fun and a bit pretty. There is room for improvement with the layout though, and I am still working through those kinks!

2.
I am so in love with the stop motion Christmas card I made and posted for a Handmade Holiday. The video was so fun to do and really cemented for me that I do love the digital world.

3.
I was super psyched for my 12 Days of DIY Christmas series and the response has been nice. Apart from anything it meant that I had to make things and really explore my creativity. Plus it was so fun and left me with loads of gifts ready to wrap! My favourite piece from the series was the cup decoration from Day One. I can't wait to give these tea cups as gifts!

4.
Write me a love letter was posted on the last day of my DIY Christmas series and I still think it is such a lovely idea.

5.
My first Obsessions post was on the clothes from Going the Distance. I loved the process of 'shopping' for looks without spending a dime and and so super pleased with the look of the post.

6.
Being a crazy mad art lover and obsessed with fashion, I have always wanted to find a way to bring the two together. I think my first Inspired post that used a Gustav Klimt painting as a style inspiration was an excellent way to achieve this. I love love love this painting and if I could dress like this everyday (especially in the Balmain dress) I would!

So there it is, my favourite posts so far. I hope you enjoy my blog at least half as much as I enjoy writing it.

More new loveliness to come soon.

Adieu x

p.s Just to share the love a bit, here are the other Best of 2011 Submissions.
My favourites from the list so far are from Born This Way, 33 Avenue Miquelon and Fashion Harvest.

Obsessions// Going the Distance// Erin Rankin Langford

2011-12-20T14:00:00.000+11:00

The first time I saw this film I laughed for a straight hour, it was that funny. And it has Justin Long, who I think is a complete babe. And the clothes are amazing .

I think whoever styled this film is very clever and has captured a very chic but quirky style that I try to emulate. I have pulled together a few finds that I think fit well with the films style and I hope you enjoy. I wanted to start with Drew Barrimore's character, I will post something similar for Justin tomorrow pretty much just for an excuse to look at photos of him.

ERIN RANKIN LANGFORD.

"Sunshine Harbour"

ASOS: Gold Sequin Collar
ASOS: Turquoise Chandelier Earrings
Pop Stain Stay Lip in Brick Beauty
Topshop: Chain Sleeve Vest

"I have to meet my wife for breakfast"

Lip Marker in Popsicle
Topshop: Cream Cami
ASOS: Gold Collar
ASOS: Easy Tee
ASOS: Bow Tie

"Go Long"

River Island: Khaki Trousers
lnA: Zip Crew in Dhalia
Converse: All Star Light Ox Trainers in Optical White

"I've got a tip for you"

Boutique by Jaeger: Spot Neck Tie Shirt
Topshop: Faux Leather Cigarette Trousers
ASOS: Blazer with contrast Lapel

"I don't even want to think about what that looks like"

Topshop: Floral Embroidered Wrap Blouse
American Apparel: Unisex Welt Pocket Trouser
Topshop Nails: Blue Monday

Happy shopping lovelies

Adieu x

**UPDATE** This post has been picked by Independent Fashion Bloggers as one of the best of the week as part of their LINKS A LA MODE series.

Inspired// Gustav Klimt// The Kiss

2011-12-19T10:36:00.001+11:00

Gustav Klimt would have to be one of my favourite artists from the 20th Century and his iconic work "The Kiss" is complete bliss. The incredible use of light and colour to create depth and a sense of luxury always manages to capture my imagination. Plus it is shiny with flowers, and what more could we want?

When I see a painting in a gallery I always, ALWAYS, want to reach out and touch it. Sadly, this is mostly not allowed.

Today's Inspired post brings this lovely painting into the real world. Don't be surprised if, when you wear this outfit, random strangers come up and stroke you. It is an unavoidable side effect.

You can't really go past Balmain for over the top glitz. And even though I will NEVER be able to afford such an amazing dress, this one leaves me speechless.

Unless you happen to have a spare few thou' laying around, then you might like to check out these other lovely dresses from my favourite, ASOS.

From Left to right:
Motel Gabby Dress Sequins $98
River Island: Sequen Maxi Dress $101
ASOS Curve: Gold Maxi Dress $65

This satin floral blazer from D&G will only set you back a cool $1200, but we can do it cheaper than that, can't we?

From left to right:
Forever 21: Double Blazer Floral Blazer $20.99US
Forever 21: Abstract Print Floral Blazer $24.80US
Forever 21+: Abstract Print Open Blazer $27.80US

It is meant to be summer here in Australia, though I think someone forgot to give the weather the memo. Summer here means festivals and sunshine and lovely lovely clothes to match. It is likely that this year floral garland headpieces will feature heavily along with denim cutoffs and those awful sandals that don't know whether they are a thong or a boot.

Despite their imminent overuse, flowers in the hair can be amazing if paired with the right outfit. I think wearing one of these with a luxe gold dress could soften up the metallic harshness and change the feel of the look.
Her Curious Nature: Deep Velvet Flower RIbbon $47.32 @ASOS
Pearl and Ivy: Autumn Flower Garland $25.35 @ ASOS

All prices are in Australian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Images courtesy of Polyvore, Forever 21 and ASOS.

I think I might have to go and whip myself up a floral blazer now, they are all I can think about.

Adieu x

12 Days of DIY Christmas// Day 12// Write me a love letter

2011-12-17T18:22:00.001+11:00

It has been said countless times, that it is not the gift that matters, it is the thought behind it.
So why not cut out the gift and amp up the thought? I really like the idea of sending lovely love letters to those closest to me this Christmas. Especially if you take the time to make the letters thoughtful, original and filled with prettiness.

Asia Wong is the author of an online project in which 400 love letters were written attached to the outside of envelopes before being sent out into the world. Postal workers were treated to a touch of love (and sometimes sex!) in their day. I love the idea.

Enjoy these samples from the project, and hopefully you are inspired to write your own this Christmas.

12 Days is over! I am excited to bring you something new in the next few days so make sure to visit again.

Adieu x

12 Days of DIY Christmas// Day Eleven// Rag Scarf

2011-12-16T15:20:00.001+11:00

I love giving gifts. It is simply one of the most fun things in the world. Giving a gift that you made is also extra special, but at the same time it can be a little daunting. What if they don't like it? Hopefully if you make todays DIY gift and give it to the right person they love and appreciate your handmade gift.

There are a few versions of this recycled scarf but todays tutorial uses an old T-shirt. I made a couple of different ones to show you and hopefully inspire you. The green one was from an oversize T-shirt I had never worn (it was HUGE) so it could be doubled over, whilst the other two are from smaller shirts. So the shirt you choose depends on the length of the scarf you want to end up with.

I wore the green one to get coffee this morning and three people commented so I am quite happy with the way it turned out and might keep it. The other two I am likely to give as gifts this Christmas.

You will need an old stretch t-shirt; I got the one used below for $4 at a local op-shop. You also need fabric scissors and about half an hour to finish the scarf.

Lay the T-shirt out flat with the arms clear of the side seams.
Cut the bottom of the shirt off from just under the arm pits. The stripes on this shirt help keep the cutting straight but if you are working with a plain tee then be careful.
You should have a continuos loop of fabric with one unfinished edge.
From the raw edge you will start to cut strips that go about half way up the width of the loop.
These strips should be between two and three centimetres.
Take a strip and pull until the sides curl in- repeat for all.
You can either leave the scarf as is, or go all the way around the loop and plait the strands for a different look.

I really like these scarves and with simple clothes I think they could be really striking.

Adieu x

UPDATE: My mum just saw the plaited version and has run off with it. There goes THAT gift then.

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