Found (and I'll be back soon!)

Before I set off into the European sunsets for a couple of weeks, I've got a few things to share.

1. BBC shows off the latest must-have gadget instead of an iPad...a pack of A4 paper.Oops!
2. Hands down, this is the most fun you will have in your office today - playing dot-to-dot!
3. More (polka) dots and beautifully styled ladies at Milan Fashion Week.
4. This Apple Tart looks mighty fine. Apparently the maker of this tart is the Apple-Tart-Queen according my go-to blogger for all things cake at Cupcakery blog.

I've lost the links to both images! Will try to update as soon as I find them.

Well kiddos, I'm feeling like I've been swinging around with party balloons all week. I'm ready to scoot off to the sunsets of Cyprus with my...fiance! This is something sugary-sweet I'm still getting my tongue around (the word fiance, not Cyprus sunsets)! Plus, if you hadn't heard, I said YES to my incredible man as our love-lock was sealed with a stunningly-perfect digit accessory.

I'll see you on the other side of 12 days! Be good and keep the light, bright n' happy stuff in your days.

Maria x

Found

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It's about time for some link love, wouldn't you say? 

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1. Good gold! Vale Jewelry stacking rings.
2. Russell Brand opens his gob on the truth about Hugo Boss and gets booted from the GQ awards.
3. I've been all Man Repeller and stuff, this week. You'll be hooked, if not already.
4. A lady, a siren and tomboy walk into a bar...then they get a drink and discuss NYFW day 5 & 6.

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Hey, so the weekends here! Make good plans, stick to them and get some smiles into your hours.
Not that you asked, but I've set myself up for a pretty sweet weekend:
1. Much missed hugs from my guy - he's been away this week and it's driven me to giddiness for when I fix my eyes on him next!
2. The obvious stuff like ballet training...counting down to the final exam of the year. It's kind of a biggie.
3. Coffee and organic goodies with one of the sweetest girls I have by my side. 

Thanks for the blog love.
Maria x

Friday's Finds

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 Hey kids, it's Friday (and the intro to a long weekend in my neck of the woods). Here are the few finds I saved for these exact Friday minutes. Enjoy!

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 1. Remember the days (hello 80's) of the "two-in-one" Wash & Go product? Seat yourselves down - we now have a "three-in-one"...I KNOW! Crazy! Davines Authentic Moisturising Balm For The Face/Hair/Body; a face cleanser, a conditioner and as a rinse off body moisturizer.

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2. Jewellery to make you feel good about yourself.

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3. Iris Apfel visits the zoo. Watch the outlandish (91yo), native New-Yorker's zoo-treck here.

Maria x

Friday's Finds

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It's Friday and I have more stuff for you to kick back to. Enjoy!

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1. These James Perse Pacific Stripes!
I snapped up the maxi-skirt version from this all-time-favourite store (I cannot walk into without buying some kind of beautiful threads, leather or homeware!).
It's a summer staple, but I'm hanging to team it with boots and a knit in these cooler days.

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2. DIY Burt's Bees Lip Balm. The recipe has been tested by this lady.
Now we can make our own, natural lip balm. Worth it!

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3. Momo Suzuki is the elegantly styled lady behind the perfectly pared down line, Black Crane - perfection in my eyes (like magnets for minimal, simple, clean lines).
Her closet is just as amazing. Take a snoop!



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Can I just take a sec to say "Thank you" and "I'm so appreciative of my lovely bunch of wonderful readers (you) that stop by, follow this little blog of mine and leave wonderfully thoughtful comments. Means so much!" xo

I hope you're all set for a great weekend ahead! I'm looking forward to getting into another
less-planned, less-scheduled couple of days that I'm keen to fill with starting to paint my new canvas (procrastination is over!) and getting my toes through a few hours of ballet.
You?

Things I Love by Megan Morton

I'll admit my attention span leaves a lot to be desired, which does me no real favours when I'm staring down a challenge of finishing a novel. Great news on the book-finishing-front, for me and anyone else who's eyes dart off to any sort of visually delicious thing, is the gem I've stumbled across in Australian publishing land. Sydney stylist Megan Morton's book Things I Love is all about the spirit of aesthetic enquiry, pulling together a messy mish mash of reference material, house (interior) pervs, creative ideas and all sorts of useful info to build an eclectic encyclopedic tome. Megan set out to create an interior book unlike any other - with her tips and stylist tricks, she's delivered us this gorgeous read with that infectious energy of hers, minus the snooty design nonsense. I'd say she's bang on her game plan.

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Things I Love isn't designed to be read cover to cover, either. Hurrah! Retailing at $49.00, published by Lantern / Penguin, the book will be available from all good bookshops Australia-wide from this Thursday. Or you can buy online like me, here.

It's black and white

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The talent that screams through Lina Arvidsson's lens had me stuck in my tracks when I came across collection after collection of her brilliant photography. I thought this image was by far the best to reflect a little of the giddiness I'm feeling and finding in the things that fill my days. Sometimes all that's needed to plant my feet firmly on this ground and centre every sense of my being is to don the old black and white approach. Finding that simplicity and calm gravitates my energy to the treasures that fuel me - my love, my family, my friends.

Friday's Finds

via 73 Letterpress

Bring on the weekend! Here's a sneaky three links to help us through the last few work-day-hours...

1. As part of a 'homemade instruments' submission, this smarty pants has taken things to a new level. Sit back and enjoy...Fast Food in C Major.

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2. Having stumbled his way across the globe, this whisky pro presents us with the 101 WorldWhiskies to Try Before You Die. I'm not supporting any drunken silliness...in fact, I'm just a tad swooned by the catalog design!

3. If your lost with nothing to do, I suggest you click your way over to 73 Letterpress and flick through a set of time-passers! Brilliant.

I'll see you on the other side of this wonderful weekend! Welcome to my lovely new followers too. x

In the shadows

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Sometimes I wish I could slide between the shadows and drift off somewhere where herbal tea and beach-walks would define my hours - this Tuesday morning, where I meet my overflowing email requests of to-do's is no exception. Thanks to Russian photographer Alexey Bednij’s latest project, I can fulfil some kind of shadow-drifting. Bednij's precision and manipulation of contrasted black-and-whites has created a series of visual illusions perfect for a Tuesday morning distraction. See my write up and more of Bendij's ‘collages’ here...

Giampaolo Sgura for Dolce & Gabbana fw12.13



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It's been a while since a Dolce and Gabbana campaign has hit my browser history, let alone caught my eye. Their style has always been a tad too glammed for my drapey/relaxed style incination. But when Giampaolo Sgura's lense snaps up the likes of Monica Bellucci, Bianca Balti and Bianca Brandolini (yes, all three) donned in d&g's baroque fantasy inspired collection, I'm finding myself screaming praises from rooftops. What's not to love about this campaign? With all those "familiar" (aka normal people) faces about, the campaign seems less posed and more of a backyard, true Sicilan affair.
In fact, this reminds me of what our family gatherings are all about. Loud, dramatic outbursts tangled amongst  the gut-aching laughs, good food and family. This is the strongest campaign I've seen in a while, not to mention the spectacular fall/winter designs. The more I look over the images, the heavier I fall for this shoot. Enjoy x

Rachel Castle

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Rachel Castle. The one who collaborated with Gorman, remember? Well, her graphic screenprints and embroided typographic work doesn't end there. This talented lady is launching her brand new exhibition of 20 new paintings tonight at Koskela, Sydney! If you're lucky enough to be in her neck of the woods at the time of the exibition, you'd be headed to...

RACHEL CASTLE - 20 PAINTINGS
KOSKELA from July 20th 2012
Koskela Gallery
1/85 Dunning Ave
Rosebery NSW 2018

//lucky I stopped by Design Files today!

Kickin' goals and pointing toes

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Last week saw me climb the heights of my top wardrobe for the search and reunion with my ballet bag. Yup, after roughly 8-plus years since thinking I'd tied these ribbons up for good, I took the step (nervously) back into my ballet shoes. In all my late-teen-wisdom, right before my final exam, I decided that I'd give up the good thing. It's been a long time coming but I've finally made the return to the floor to get this one last ballet exam done with.

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Holding my own hand, there I was trying to settle these nerves that had just about suffocated me with anticipation for what class would present; the biggest fear was to be let down by my body’s failing attempts at translating what my brain knows it can do. Surprisingly, it wasnt all bad. You know what? Tackling fear never felt so good! Limbered up and a few plies later, those nerves I was talking about made a quick stage-right exit. Being back in a black floored, black walled, barre-lined space saw that sneaky, all consuming wave of artistic freedom sweep fiercely through my veins. I'll hold back from rambling, but I can't help sharing (quickly) the beauty in 'that thing' that exists for each one of us; if we all look hard enough, we can find a little something in our days that makes us tick with the power to burn a low wattage way up high! For me, 'that thing' has everything to do with the discipline in manipulating my own body to a perfect turn-out, a satisfaction in proudly stumbling my aching, bruised feet off the floor and digging deeper into stretching out my ability.

Righto...with that rambling over with, I'm off, butterfly-filled-tummy, pointed toes and all to wish everyone a great mid weeker.

iphone instagram edit of our rehearsal (see below)

P.s. It must have been the week for artistically wondrous happenings. My girlfriend (aka super talented flute lady) made her way to stand by my piano as we went back to our roots and re-introduced our lives to a love of the classical kind. Together, we've clocked up some years of serious music studies, travelling to Europe together with the stuff and all. Giving life to our instruments again left us in a state of ridiculously giddy, girlie excitement wrapped loosely within a sense of absolute soul-satisfying calm. Lot's more fun to be had. Hope you're all giving life to and enjoying your very own little soul-ticker, whatever it may be!

Make sure it's remarkable

image source / I'll get that posted ASAP...

Sometimes hanging up the "back in 5-er" is much needed; in my case it seems I've flicked it over on my blog without realising. I won't be long, but I will be taking a little break from the regular posts and blog visits to sort my energy as we (my family) take this time to be by my grandpa's side. It's difficult not to let  that sting of reality get you, but we maintain a balanced perspective on the direction his road has taken - after 3 weeks in hospital, critically ill. It is somewhat comforting, though, to know that this mellow pace we (family) are travelling to can be lifted by a shift in focus to the remarkable story that is my grandpa's. Not to mention his cheeky humour, gappy-grin, love of family and strength in his beliefs. He has injected an everlasting and unmatched streak of happiness and strength in each of our lives ...

Hope to see you when I get back into the swing of things. I'm not sure how long it will take for consistent posts to make their way back but in the mean time I appreciate your patience! Maria x

Home is where the heart sings

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That weekend away I told you about? It happened. In a bigger and better way than I could've imagined; packed to the rim with laughs, love and some special people I have in my life. I will continue to pinch myself for as long as they're around! If you've missed my earlier posts, the weekend getaway took me back to  Melbourne, the place I claimed home for the past 2 years. The beginning of 2012 saw me move back to my Adelaide family-home and when given the chance, I've been singing my bratty woes of missing Melbourne town's vibe and tribe of cultured creatures. This weekend, though, ripped every one of those spoilt-kid-thoughts to shreds and placed a new found appreciation and realisation. Melbourne's beautiful buzz and cafe lined nooks aren't rating on my importance radar. It's the family, the people that my heart sings for. It's these people that inject our own corner in this world with importance...no matter where that may be.

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On a note of all things warm and fuzzy, my sticky beak was drawn to Vanessa Partridge's Melbourne home and its cosy appeal. This pretty, weatherboard home comes with all the trimmings and charm - the commanding presence of a deer head included. Since it ticks all my interior design boxes, I'm considering taking up residence.  On a day like today, in reflection-mode and all, I can picture myself huddled amongst those cushions and art-dressed walls. Take a snoop.

Manmade forecast

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Neither are these digitally manipulated effects nor white fluffy stuff suspended from the ceiling. Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde has managed to work the seemingly impossible and bring these surreal indoor (real) clouds to life. By using smoke, moisture and lighting,  Smilde's ephemeral creations hang about long enough only to photograph their existence. Suspended in the empty, somewhat austere surrounds, Smilde's work presents this fascinating interplay between something beautifully ethereal yet unsettlingly eery. On another note, if you need a second's time-out from Thursday's morning workload, Smilde's work justifies you to a little time spent head-in-the-clouds...

The way we walk, the way we talk

Nothing beats a weekend spent indulging in all the good stuff - well served nosh, good coffee and a dive into that new read I mentioned last time. More reflective than anything else, here goes a post of thanks to a good time spent.

Seems Adelaide is picking up pace with the new generation of restauranteurs feeding the city with a refreshing take on the traditionally stale dining experience...and doing a damn good job of it. Here's my few Hurrah's to a couple of Adelaide eateries that had my praises plastered firmly on their shift away from the conservative norm this city does 'so well.'

images snapped by my iphone. sorry about the quality.

First up was The Stranded Store early Saturday morning. I am jumping out of my socks for this treasure of a cafe around the corner from our family home. White washed walls and wooden floors house the local art dressing this cosy interior. I snuggled in amongst the cushion lined bay-window and drifted away into the world George Bizos (the new read) took me to. A second coffee later  thanks to a lovely visit from my mum set the tone for nothing but a great day ahead....

Nicola. She's the one I'm talking about...

And then night fell. My cousin (who is more like that little sister I never had) and I ventured bravely into Adelaide's dining scene to find something offering a little more Melbourne inspired. If you know Adelaide, you'll appreciate the challenge we were up for!  We opted for Melt - a known tapas haunt in our neck of the woods.

Melt has been an easy option for me when it comes to looking for a relaxed night out dining with decent atmosphere, tapas to please and a selection of imported drops to sauce us through the night. Not too long ago, the local-ish (to me) city fringe haunt opened up it's second set of ovens inner-city-way and has since injected some much needed non-try-hard charm to the town. Aesthetically, its got all the goods. Wood tones, dimmed lights just bright enough to feature graffiti walls and a blackboard tapas menu carried by waiter to every table of new-comers. Not to mention, the pizza we devoured was every bit of perfection. Without rambling further, the pics might shine a little more light on Melt's CBD charm livening up this once sleepy town. Graffiti lanes and all! Adelaide, I'm impressed...