We interrupt regular scheduling to bring you.....

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. It's actually my birthday today, but I went out to dinner with friends on Friday and had a 'Circus' themed party on Saturday night (so much fun). It's been a crazy busy weekend, in a good way, so have been away from the computer for a while. A good thing! I still promise to leave you all love on your blogs. In the meanwhile, the gorgeous and fabulously style-savvy Sweety P awarded me this, with a set of questions to answer (and lord knows, I love these):

Where's your cell phone: bed side table

Your hair: straight-ish/curly-ish depending on the weather

Your mother: a sweetheart

Your father: hilarious (stand up comedy-worthy)

Favourite food: biltong

Last night: I recovered from the party on Saturday night

Favourite drink: Guinness

What room are you (in): my bedroom

Hobby: photography

Fear: would it be cliched to say I try not to be afraid of anything?!?!

Where were you last night: At home

Something that you aren't: high maintenance

Muffins (huh??!): bran honey and banana ones from Muffin Break. Mmmm.

Wish list item: a house (it's near impossible to buy one in Perth, dammit)

Where did you grow up: Kenya, Africa

What are you wearing: tee, shorts, tennis shoes and my hooker hat...kidding. About the tennis shoes ;)

Your pets: (I used to have a turtle, a dog and 5 cats)

Friends: crazy and amazing...

Something you're not wearing: sunglasses, and a hooker hat

Favourite store: Billie & Rose

Favourite colour: turquoise

Last time you laughed: A few minutes ago, at the cheesiness of True Blood. I do love it though :)

Your best friend: Stuart and my sister

Place you go over and over: Melbourne. The Brisbane bar. Voyage Kitchen. The beach

Person who emails you regularly: people telling me I've won the British lottery. Score!!!???!

Favourite place to eat: a restaurant at Hillary's Boat Harbour that has just disappeared. Boo.

If you are not familiar with Sweety P's work, get there now! Thanks, hun :). I'd like to pass this award to:

Stiletto Stetico

Style Porn

Dream Sequins

Syd Vicious Lives

The Sydney Girl

It's Unbeweavable

Janetteria

Change-Shopping-Awards-Leopardlove

As you may have noticed, my blogger template appears different. I'm in the middle of playing around with the default templates, editing parameters to my hearts content. It's not done yet (I want to modify the header, change the background colour, change widths of the post and sidebar sections, and decrease the size of the wraparound) but please do let me know what you think I should do or aim for, or even if you liked it how it was and I should revert back! I decided it was time for a change.....I'm looking for a more professional finish.

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I've also been getting my act together and snapping pictures for my new blog: shopafricanteaparty. I know the idea of a blogger trying to sell wares is a staggeringly unique one....but I have too many shoes, vintage preciousness, accessories, clothing and other randomness that just sits there and that could be loved by someone else.

To summarise:

*prices will be reasonable, yay!

*there will be frequent giveaways, and all you'll need to do is be a follower of africanteaparty

*payment will need to be by Paypal: shoot me an email with item of interest, await invoice, make payment, and once it clears I'll post the good(s). [More clarity to be provided with regards to it all closer to launch]

I will update this blog once it's all in motion.....stay tuned!

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The Seeker bestowed upon me this gorgeous 'Golden Heart Blog Award'. It's Spanish, its sexy, and I'm honoured to be so highly thought of by this gorgeous lady with a fabulous soul and innate sense of style. Do check out her blog.

I'd like to pass on the award to these gorgeous girls:

A Daisy Chain Dream

Couture Carrie

Fashion Chalet

Fashion Distraction

Stompface

The Sydney Girl

We Were Damsels

Sharon Rose

More importantly, I want to thank you all for your lovely comments and kind thoughts....you guys rock (p.s. I promise to reply to comments sooon).

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Last but certainly not least of all, I recently received my highly anticipated and awaited Camilla and Marc leopard print boots. I kid you not, I'm wearing them as I type. These babies are officially my favourite pair of shoes. They're all sorts of platform-high goodness, they have that incredible leather smell, they are hand-made, they have the finest fuzz-haired surface, and to top it all off they make your legs look ridiculously good. Seriously. Grace from Camilla and Marc's flagshop store in Paddington, Sydney (ph: + 61 2 93311133) was a delight and looked after me all the way. Thanks so much, Grace!

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Hope all is well with you guys. Thanks for all the comment love, I promise to reply soon :)

Look, its me

So I caught the flu, the week just screwed me over (need to drink to recover from work!) and had to complete and hand in an assignment we got given at the course I did in Melbourne. Once again I'm reminded how glad I am (for now) not to be in uni.

Still, even though I was a crappy blogger....you guys rock. You thought of me, wished me well and I even got a few awards. Truly, thank you. I'm very much honoured.

Clarity of Clarity in Wonderland awarded me this fabulous award:





Clarity's blog is a must read because it's more than just a 'lifestyle' blog. She's articulate, intelligent and her posts are always witty. Go. Check it.

And like Clarity, I like the award for its simplicity. As passed on to me, the rules for this one are:
1. Copy the logo and place it on my blog
2. Link it back to the person who gave it to me
3. Pass it on to five fellow bloggers
4. List 10 things about myself

I'd like to nominate:
Pauline of In My Body's House- she's the Pied Piper of writing...you'll want to follow her down to wherever her stories go;
Battered Couture - nobody does fashion tidbits like this gorgeous lady does;
Caramell - her blog is a haven for photography enthusiasts and I adore her red hair;
Sharon Rose - love her blog for all its fab 2 quid designer ware bargains, lucky girl; and
the sydney girl - sketches like an angel and shares her work. Amen.

So, 10 things about me:
1. I 'see' in frames. Whether I'm looking at a tree/park/broken light/tractor/anything, I immediately frame objects and scenes as if I was taking photographs. I would love to be able to just carry my camera around and snap all the time, but I forget and am lazy.
2. I'm addicted to caffeine. Love and adore coffee from tiger tiger (perth) and x-wray (fremantle). I visit Tiger Tiger on an almost daily basis. Yep, I've got it bad.
3. I'm lusting over all things Maurie and Eve, and only just bought a pair of flare drip-print leggings (my version of the lace flares from bonadrag - not so big on those shock horror) and a black fringed maxi from the label. Coveting the new range and not so patiently waiting to indulge (and yes, I've marked what I want!).
4. I need to sell some of my shoes and accessories. I'm thinking of starting up a blog shop but once again, the laziness factor got in the way. I do however need to pass on these items to people who would love them. I meanwhile let them collect dust and ignore them. Shame.
5. I love beer. I will pick beer over any other alcohol drink any day. Poison of choice? Guiness.
6. I spradically feel guilty for not doing more, charity-wise. I want to do more and have promised myself I will.
7. I'm a 40 year old in a 25 year old's body. I'm constantly told this by work colleagues. Truth? I love it. I like being part of the "mature" crowd.
8. I'm diabetic. I'm insulin dependent (Type 1) and take insulin injections three times a day. I've been diabetic since I was 9 so taking a shot is now like brushing my teeth.
9. I am attracted to intelligence. You may be gorgeous looking but if you cannot put a sentence together (and are male) I would not give you a second glance. Obviously I'm not single so this is just generally speaking.
10. I am addicted to exercise. I run, do kick boxing, weight training and an outdoor workout every week.


Miriam of Insider's Journal also tagged me to list 5 things that make me happy. I nominate anyone who wants to do this!

1. Photography. If I won the lotto, I would travel around the world on a photographic trip.
2. My family and friends. I love them to bits and appreciate just how much each cares for me. Thank you! (I know you may be reading this, mum :)
3. Fashion. An obvious choice, but my own interpretations of trends and fashion give me a buzz and make my day that much more enjoyable.
4. Books. Literature is my passion. I will read anything; junk mail, the newspaper, fanfiction, books from all genres, scientific texts. I speed read too, which annoys Stuart to no end ;)
5. Humour. In any form or way, humour is a sure-fire way to entertain me. Comedy shows/joke books/more intimate joking between friends, I'll take it all.


Hope you liked the post. Apologies about the length......I look forward to reading your entries.

Next post: the Perth Fashion Festival Launch :)

Weekend shenanigans (and more snoodisms)

(long post, you have been warned)

Thanks for all the feedback on the last post. I got quite a few new book recommendations and will definitely be looking into them. I also got a few recommendations that are favourites of mine but that I had completely forgotten as I listed books off the top of my head (so thank you once again :). Also, I'm humbled by all your comments on my photography. I've been an avid photography enthusiast for ages and it's a passive hobby of mine. I'm saving money for a Canon Rebel XTI but thus far have relied on good light and just what feels right. I cannot wait to invest in a decent camera and take my hobby to new obsessive limits (probably :)

Antoine of florilège d'esthète meanwhile informed me that he had forwarded the following blog award on to me. Antoine's blog is a delight and his posts are intelligent and a must-read. Thank you Antoine, it is a pleasure to be awarded this :)

This past weekend comprised of gift shopping, coffee drinking, Gracie's birthday celebrations, Ellie's and my discussions about shoes, shopping and other randomness, overdosing on delicious punch and the inevitable tipsy-ness (although Charlie was more drunk than the rest of us....were you drinking beforehand??!!), catching up with friends I hadn't seen in a while and meeting new ones, unveiling the snood and convincing Charlie and my mother that they needed one like they needed air, staging a photoshoot featuring Stuart (photos to come) and more caffeine intake. Fun times.

the yellow ball = the side effects of severe storms!

my max shop leather jacket, I love her so...

happy birthday Gracie! (check out the pimpin' gold jacket Charlie has on :)

"but...that's what he said..."

gold jacket love.....

.....we all want a piece of it

smooth operator a.k.a the bug

"don't you dare....MINE!!!"

the birthday girl shimmying

wrecking shots, its what I do best :)

if I found these in a size 5.5, I'd buy them in a heartbeat...

....and Ellie agrees with me!

I just watched Camille's video on shredding tees (yes it's a little late but hey better late than never, right) and am committed to shredding a tee....let's see how that goes given my shorter-than-short attention span. Results to follow....???

1st outfit: top, myer. jeans, random shop in melbourne. shoes, colin stuart. jacket, vintage. necklace and cuff, diva.

2nd outfit: dress, vintage. jacket, max shop. boots, DIY rubi. necklace, gift from holland.

Newly Inspired...

A few days back, I was stoked to receive a lovely blog award from the gorgeous Eda of Eda's Planet. Eda's Planet is a recently discovered blog, comprising of a complimentary mix of fashion inspiration, outfits, beauty news and other random but relevant bits of information. Go, go, go...check out the blog :)

So, apart from smiling like a lunatic at work when I realised I'd been presented with this gorgeously floralesque award (bearing in mind blog checking is a no-no ;), I would like to pass on the award to:


1) Stompface - She always makes me laugh, we're going to start a tee-wearing business, she controls a strange man called Mr Bird, she has long Rapunzel-esque hair and a fab blog!
2) Fashion Bananas - Love her style!
3) CC of Couture Carrie - hell, this lady is listed under 'fashion function and fabulousness' in the dictionary. No really, go lookie.
4) Pauline of In My Body's House - her writing is haunting and you will not be able to look away. I guarantee it :)
5) Sharon Rose-Style, Thrifting, Fashion and Me - she IS the thrifting queen. You will not be disappointed.
6) Style Porn - Love this blog...always great for daily outfit updates, fashion updates or just updates in general.
7) Bella of Vintage Lollipops - If there was a way to do it (forget about getting caught out!), I would def plunder from her closet. It's my dream closet! Her blog is a no-brainer i.e. must read!
8) Sarah of Macaroni Club - a very recent discovery, this girl's style is off the charts and her blog a must read...what are you waiting for??
9) Anywhere but here - beautiful blog with gorgeous photography and style.
10) Life in Travel - another very recent discovery, this girl's style and smile are killer. Her outfits are insane too!

The shots are from Sunday, prior to Stuart and mine's coffee date. Every Sunday, without fail.

I found this gorgeous bauble sweater at an op-shop a while back and immediately thought of it as a cool oversize sweater dress. And it's a first for me because I NEVER wear pink....broadening my horizons, I am :)

I'm planning to stud the hell out of these boots....mwah hah hah, cannot wait! Studs are on their way, they were just puchased today off of ebay.

sweater dress, vintage. tights, sportsgirl. boots, rubi. cuff, gift. ring, queen victoria markets.

Kiltish tendencies

Still trying to upload the photos from Melbourne properly.

In the meanwhile here are a set of shots from just before I left for the course, on a coffee date with Stuart. I love this kilt-esque skirt with its wide double pockets at the front and pleating along the side and back. Noice. Especially like the fact that I could, if I wanted to, use the pockets for storing essentials/extra food (I'm always hungry) or for carrying around that spare joey that always seems to be following me....

Stuart managed to wangle his way into this set of shots, so will just have to deal with having his mug up on the blog for criticism of his "outfit" ;)

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I came back to a wonderful surprise from the Seeker; this award:

Searching the Inner Me is a must-read blog with geat articulation and daily outfits, and is particularly inspiring due the wonderful work outfits she puts together. Definitely sexy.

In turn, I'd like to pass on the award to these gorgeous bloggers:

- Stompface;

- Eden of Chic in the Tropics;

- Deana of Dooder City; and

- Elizabeth Victoria C of Chic Heroin.

Hope you all have a fabulous day :D

tank, supre. skirt, flower. cardigan, witchery. cuff, diva. ring and necklace, sportsgirl. boots, shoobiz. bag, vintage.

Post-Melbourne post

I'm baaaacccck.....

Melbourne was intense, crazy, fantastic, all rolled into one. It started off with our course group, atleast the folks who had travelled there from inter-state, bonding over the 3 hours we had to kill at the airport. The course itself was held at Mt Macedon, a commuter town on the outskirts of Melbourne. People move here for the lifestyle; that rural-residential living style that commands big bucks for vast, expensive houses. Shame about the extreme fire risk, but the lifestyle draw overrides the concerns experienced at the extreme fire risk and actual suitability of the locality for residential development.

The course days were spent bonding with fellow participants and working in groups, followed by "relief" sessions at the bar onsite. The bar was a god-send. The site is federal land, and therefore tax exemptions on alcohol apply. Leading to a substantial consumption of wine ($2.20 a glass) and beer (approx. $3) and spirits ($3.50). I'm not kidding. There was lots of drama, but as they always say 'what happens in Mt. Macedon stays in Mt. Macedon' (yeah, I'm pretty sure that's set in stone ;).

In a sentence? Challenges, alcoholic drips (literally!), sleep-deprivation, stalkers and flattery, intelligence members (ooooh, mysterious ;), Dougie Howser and random conversations and discussions. Fun times. And a long sentence, I know.

The weekend was spent in Melbourne; spending time at the Queen Vic Markets, going to one of my fave op-shops (retrostar; check out the new online shop), doing some shopping, going to our coveted French crepery, and err...fine dining and more shopping.

I was pretty stoked with the shopping I managed to do (and Abby, Melbourne is sooo much more fashionable than Perth, isn't it!), with the highlights being the Tristan Blair wedges I got at Sportsgirl (and that I was completely oblivious to until I saw them in the shop, unlike Rumi and Queen Michelle) and a Museum feather cape a la Brandon Flowers in err...that Killers video. Amen.

Pictures to come, my computer has completely spacked it.

Also, thank you guys so much for the lovely comments and, to the Seeker, thanks muchly for the wonderful award! I'll get around to showing you guys the blog award sooon. I promise. I promise to respond to the comments too, on the premise that my computer keeps up. Grrrr, must look into newbie replacement.

The caption for the following shot goes along the lines of Stuart being a wonderful boyfriend and coming across the country to meet me in Melbourne. The weekend was fabulous, and the fact that he indulged my shopping is testiment to his lovability. Thanks Stu!

p.s. Charles, this one's for you [blog post and the picture obviously] ;)

Feel the love...

A couple of days ago, I was awarded two fabulous blog awards by the gorgeous, witty (she really does crack me up :), and stylish creator of the highly addictive stompface.

I am beyond honoured, first awards ever!

I caught em, now its time to forward them on to the following:

Nina of Femme Rationale;
Erika of fashion chalet;
CC of Couture Carrie;
Bella of Vintage Lollipops;
Pauline of In My Body's House;
Antoine of Stilleto Stetico;

Stompface (yep, you deserve it!); and

Domonique of LilyLoveLock.

They each have such an individual perspective on the subject matter, write well (or incredibly well, even) and I honestly look forward to checking their blogs lots for updates at work

(sneaky, sneaky, sneaky....just don't tell the boss ;)

Also, if you haven't checked out Stompface's blog....what are you waiting for?!!??

(dontcha know, she's a superhero ;)