Esty shop love

All my online shopping love seems to be going to Etsy lately on homemade and vintage goodies.

I posted a while ago about my search for arm jangle. Everything but the watch is from Etsy. (Chunky bracelet, Charm bracelet, Friendship bracelet) Next up. When we travel there is always a scramble at immigration to sort out the navy blue passports from each other. In honour of the Baby adding his own passport to the family mix I decided it was time for some colour in the travel wallet.

I found these monogrammed leather passport covers via Veronica loves Archie (massive blog crush) and was instantly smitten.

The leather is butter soft and who doesn't love a monogram? At $22 each I think these are a steal.

Finally, the Baby was getting to the stage where his trousers were all looking more like capri shorts. The boy needed new pants.

It can be hard to find nice clothes for boys but I'm such a fan of everything from Melbourne based Paul and Paula

As well as these jeans I got the reversible woolen vest he's wearing here too. So. Much. Love.

Invitations to my arm party

Now that Baby is a little older and can support his own head I feel I'm able to send the Swatch to the bench for a while, break out the gold sports watch and invite some more serious hardware to my arm party.

I'm thinking charm bracelets, (but real ones, no Pandora silliness) ID bracelets and big heavy chains. These are all on my Etsy shortlist.

1. Gold bangle with coral beads
2. Betty ID bracelet. My middle name is Elizabeth so I thought maybe I could get away with this one.
3. FAB bracelet
4. Neon friendship bracelets
5. 80s Dior charm bracelet
6. 1938 graduation charm bracelet
7. 70s enamel bangle
8. Monogrammed silver cuff
9. Big chunky copper chain link bracelet
10. 50s charm bracelet
11. Heart neon friendship bracelet
12. Jimmie photo ID bracelet

Hair cuts and sneakers for sports haters

Yesterday I went to the hairdresser. Rapture. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a haircut so entirely.

I know it doesn't sound like much, but visits to the hairdresser are one of those things I took for granted, never considering what a logistical nightmare they would be with a baby. I put it off for so long it's been at least six months since my hair has had any love but a bit of mousse scrunched through the ends and some nail scissors on the bangs.

I've named my new 'do the mop-head, now with extra, super crazy curls. I'd forgotten how wonderful a brilliant haircut can make you feel. I've become considerably blah about my appearance lately and now everything seems fresh and interesting again.

The motherhood lesson I learnt today? Small, previously throw away acts of vanity can generate extraordinary bliss when you spend all day wiping food off things.

The Olympics start next week. Here is Baby in training for the 'reaching for things' event. I think he has enormous potential.

I have zero interest in sport, but I'm quite frond of the Olympics as a thing. In honour of the occasion I might see if Baby has grown enough to fit into his basketball shoes.

Here is in them at Christmas. He's grown like a bean since then.

As for me, I've been saying no to the high heel sneaker trend that has sprouted up everywhere since Isabel Marant starting putting wedges in high tops.

Although I love these on Miranda, luxe-sport is not a look I can pull off. So I clicked away. Until I was looking for some ankle boots recently and found these DKNY contraptions on sale at Asos.

I have to tell you, I'm 100% converted.

Maybe it's their all black stealth profile, but they don't feel sporty at all. More like a chic moon boot in a Michael Jackson film clip.

Also, they are extraordinarily comfortable. For a such a high wedge it's amazing really. I have a feeling I will be wearing the soles off these things before this trend dies… which it will.

So, my advice is do not delay. If you want to rock some everyday, super comfortable heels and pretend you are a MJ back up dancer, but are worried you will look like Michael Jordan. Don't be. Just. Do. It.

Living in a cloud

We're still living inside a cloud here.

The weatherman said we've had a month of rain in two days. Everything is dripping and muddy but I can't begrudge it. Things usually start looking a little brown this time of year and I'm reminded how Brisbane looked through all those years of drought. I say, let it rain.

Also, it's so nice to finally have a chance to keep things cosy.

Cataloging my wardrobe has inspired me to dig out lots of favourite, but forgotten friends. This Clare Vivier messenger bag looks gorgeous no matter where you throw it or how many baby toys you stuff it with.

Incidentally, if you are in the market for a Clare Vivier bag (and if you're not you should be, they are spectacular), Pretty Mommy is the best place I have found. They do free international shipping over $250 and have frequent, very decent discount codes.

The camel Weekender bag is on my wish list.

And these clutches are very nice too.

Ultimate wardrobe organisation has been achieved

Ever since Clueless some part of me has wanted a computerised wardrobe like Cher's. How wonderfully Windows 3.1 does that screenshot look now? Love it.

I'm a geek who goes weak at the knees at the thought of a really solid database, but I can't be the only one out there who's dreamed this dream. Can I?

Anyway, I recently spent an entire day NERDING OUT and loading my wardrobe into the StyleBook app on my iPhone.

Now I have my own personal Polyvore and all my clothes look pretty and new and desirable, instead of stuffed, rumpled into overflowing drawers.

It's a little bit glorious.

The idea is that you photograph all your things and then use the in-app editing features to remove the background. This cut out feature isn't perfect (I used Photoshop as well) and neither was my photography set up, but it works for me. I also found pics of many pieces I own against a white background online using Google image searches.

I've always made little maps and lists of outfits I want to wear and this app is PERFECT for that particular obsession. You can even map what you wear each day on the calendar and it will give you stats on your most/least worn pieces, cost per wear etc.

I'm also finding that making looks using this app means I'm wearing more pieces that don't usually get enough love and are lost at the back of drawers. Seeing everything on one screen stops me from grabbing for the same three pieces every morning.

This is a travel outfit for a scheme of mine to get to Japan in November. I LOVE planning outfits around travel and once you have mapped out all your looks for a trip in the Stylebook app you can add the pieces you've used to a packing list. How good is that?

I'm currently in the process of convincing J of the Japan scheme. He mustn't know I'm already in the wardrobe planning stages though. I'm trying to play it cool.

The future is mustard

I've seen these 1961 Motorola future ads before but when they cropped up in my Google reader again recently my obsession was renewed. How good are they?

It's sad that the future wasn't as Mustard coloured as this artist envisioned. Also, I really don't think TV design has lived up to early expectations. And why don't we all have aquarium swimming pools in our living room?

The full set of pictures is here.

Eurovision and more lemons

I've cut and squeezed lemons until my hands stung today and it doesn't even look like I've made a dent in this basketful. There are so many more on the tree to be picked. I think we'll have to start finding other homes for them. Bags of lemons for everyone.

I did this lemon cake and also a sorbet in the ice cream maker. I'll do lemon curd too as soon as I get my hands on some more eggs.

I'd love any other lemony suggestions.

The cake did not cover herself with glory in the unmolding I'm afraid.

Of course, all this baking is only a distraction from the real excitement of today, which is that the Eurovision heats start tonight! I love love love Eurovision. It is one my favourite weekends of the year.

It's being held in Baku, Azerbaijan this year. I know very little about Azerbaijan but truly this is one of the wonderful things about Eurovision. It's educational as well as sparkly.

This is the Baku Crystal Hall, built on the shores of the Caspian Sea specifically for Eurovision 2012. Nice.

If you are in Australia, you should go to the SBS Eurovision page. Do not under any circumstances visit the official Eurovision page at this late stage (I'm not even linking to it) because it will tell you the winners before they are broadcast on TV here and spoil everything.

I'll be staying away from news sites for the rest of the weekend too. Just in case.

I haven't watched any of the song clips in advance but I see those excitable puppies Jedward are singing for Ireland again.

And the UK is sending Englelbert Humperdinck. Looking forward to that.

This is Loreen from Sweden. Apparently she is the favourite to win this year and Sweden always do well.

Serious haired young women with intense stares seem to dominate the line up this year. I think Kaliopi from FYR Macedonia should be good though. Interestingly, Kaliopi isn't wearing the eyepatch in her other publicity shots. It's a fashion only eyepatch.

Anyway, must go now. Husband has been googling Azerbaijan cuisine all morning to help us menu plan. I'm thinking we might try this recipe for Plov.

Swedish country house and Kate Spade

I'm besotted with this Swedish house that was featured on Desire to Inspire recently. It won't get out of my brain.

I love all the white gloss with blue and beaten up brown leather. I love the mismatched chairs with sheepskins. I love the gappy wooden boards and the curtains hung right from the ceiling. I even love all the Ikea (it is Swedish after all).

I'm currently stalking one of these cane chairs on Ebay for the living room.

If you're in the market for a Swedish country holiday house it's for sale. Go here for the rest of the pics.

In other news of the morning Gilt is having a Kate Spade sale with shipping to Australia. Yay!

Here's my virtual shopping cart.

Good clean neon fun or a crime against vintage?

I was trawling Etsy recently looking for neon things when I unearthed a trove of vintage costume jewellery blinged up with bright flouro colours.

Neon is everywhere right now isn't it? At first I was on the fence but I've recently come down firmly on the side of YES PLEASE. Such a fun bandwagon to be on.

So what do you think?

Are these the funnest things ever, or should the sellers be slapped soundly on the wrist for taking craft paint to vintage lovelies?