It's my Mom's birthday today. Happy happy to her! So I thought I would share something that I had sent to her as part of her pressie. It's ok, I'm in the clear, she has already opened it.

This adorable notebook is from a company called Compendium Incorporated. I love that it is pale yellow ( I told you yellow has taken the lead over orange for me) and has an elastic close but most importantly the saying on it is inspiring and cheerful! She seems to like it so that makes me very happy. I am a good present buyer, if I do say so myself.

Since I currently have a wee bit of time on my hands I think I may go buy some fabric, borrow a sewing machine and fashion a notebook and pen folder like in the photo above. Why not get crafty! Maybe I will make April craft month...hmm yes, I think so. Oooh exciting. I heart a themed month.

Give a little bit

I am currently reading this book, Giving by Bill Clinton. I felt I needed to be a little inspired as I have long wanted to do some charity or community based work and haven't known where to start. This book is amazing. Not only are there amazing stories about huge Non profits impacting people all over the world but there are also inspiring stories of everyday people doing wonderful things. If you are looking for ideas I can't recommend this book enough!

One of my favourite mentions is of an organization I have been following for about 6 months. It's called Kiva  and it allows anyone from around the world to help give loans to people in countries where loans are impossible to get. Whether it be for a banana stall or a corner shop you can help someone get a start on making a better life for themselves and their families. The crazy thing about this NPO too is that 97% of the loans get paid back and when they do you can either take your money back or use it to help someone else. You can give anything from $25+ and the recipients write updates to keep you posted on how they are doing!

I have 100% been inspired to contribute in some way and I think I will have made my decision by the end of the book.

Giving is good.

Engrave your Tech

 How cool does this look! My laptop deserves to look good too. I will admit I spend an un-natural amount of time typing away and reading things online and my computer is the most valuable possession in my home by far. It houses all my music and photos, keeps track of all my favourite sites, gives me a rolling up to date weather report but most importantly allows me to talk face to face with my family spread all around the globe. I honestly don't know how people could stand living away from their family in the old days when calling long distance was super expensive and letters were the only way of writing. My trusty laptop is a saviour to me and I think she ( I just decided it was a she) deserves a little makeover too. 

The company that can pimp your laptop is called engrave your tech and they can personalise everything from your ipod to notebooks to laptops. Very cool indeed.

So the weekend is again upon us. The temperature is slowly dipping and I think the end of summer has most definitely arrived. I, of course, am in denial. Not that I don't enjoy the cooler days, on the contrary, Autumn is actually my favourite season. The clothes are way cuter and the evenings are beautiful, but the rainy grey winter does not appeal at all. So I have prepared a couple of travel brochures for Sam and I to eyeball when he gets home from work. I am thinking Samoa in June! Genius if I do say so myself!

Till next time

Sx

I realised a clothing post is long overdue so I took to my trusty laptop for some inspiration and ultimate frustration for things I cannot have. Yes, I will take a moment once again to complain about the lack of shopping and general cool shizzle in NZ. I know I live in a beautiful, safe and clean place but seriously...a girl needs retail therapy. On my return to the land of consumerism and material things I intend to embrace the madness and go nuts! Watch out y'all...in the words of posh spice, it's gonna be major!

So here are a few bit I came across today. The first is a gorgeous jacket by Nanette Lepore which is available at Nordstroms. I love many of Nanette Lepore's collection and have for a long time now...and saying that, I choose not to look at the prices. It's an old habit from my days working at Chloe Lane when I knew if I thought about how much I was spending on my clothes I would shudder with guilt and glutton. Oh how I miss those days...good times.

The dress is a good balance. It is from Urban Outfitters and has a much more palatable price. I am still loving bows...I thought I would have grown out of that trend by now but no, it's still cool in my book.

The swimsuit or for you kiwi's out there, togs, are also Urban Outfitters. It's totally not the season here to be looking at swim attire but a late honeymoon is in the works and I am digging the one pieces these days. This looks so cute and vintage to me!

And the last tunic is completely a 70's throw back by Marc Jacobs and I found it at Saks. Maybe not the easiest to wear but I love it. Hot hot hot.

So there is today's wish list. I will file it with the rest of them.

Till tomorrow....turrah x

Keep calm and carry on

I can't believe it has been a week since my last post. Where has the time gone!? We had a visitor staying with us which I mainly blame for my lack of computer time. Sam and I did our very best to give him a kiwi experience that he will fondly remember. I think we succeeded but in the meantime we wore ourselves out to the point that the last few nights have been spent staring at the boob tube and eating instant meals.
I have yet again found another print that I want to buy for our home which we one day will own. Of course I found this at etsy at a shop called sfgirlbybay. These reproductions of the vintage print come in a handful of colours and are easily framed. Having the message "keep calm and carry on" can only be beneficial to me. Keeping calm in order to carry on is often a real challenge and this poster will be perfect for when Sam is not around to tell me.
Yet again..I heart etsy. Almost as much as chocolate pudding.

We are on the cusp of Easter and oh what a yummy holiday it is! I have just been to the store to stock up on hot cross buns and chocolate for my hunnybun. The sun is still shining on us so the weekend looks to be filled with fishing, beach, food and frolicking.

I know Easter isn't directly related to cupcakes but I saw this one on Martha's website today and thought it was the cutest thing ever! You can click here to get the recipe. There has been a lot of cupcake chat over the last few months. Face it, everybody loves them and they are pretty much guilt free because if their tinsy tiny size. I made some just the other week to take to a dinner party that were inspired by the famous L.A. pioneers of cupcakes, Sprinkles. You can now buy sprinkle cupcake kits at William Sonoma. They make you look like a baking genius with practically no effort at all.

On that note I hope everyone has a good good friday. I will be sure to take a picture and post it if I happen to catch and impressive snapper tomorrow!

mugs need hugs

Now these may seem a little silly to some...not me! I want to give the person who made these a big bear hug and beg them to make me one in every colour. Mugs need hugs too! And these cosy little covers are taking care of it. These are available from a website called H is for Home. It's a great site that sells vintage finds and shows you how they can work in your home. I have long been pondering a similar venture. I love second hand shopping and believe you can get way cooler old stuff than half of the new crap around. Especially in New Zealand I have struggled to be inspired in retail stores. Shopping isn't on the consumers side here. 

As I get older I think my taste is closer to becoming described as "quirky". That's cool...until I start collecting ceramic cats and wearing my bra on the outside of my clothes. Then somebody, I beg you, please stop me.