Purchase...plus plus...

A beautiful friend of mine, now residing in Hong Kong (holla!!) mentioned how much she likes the home inspiration I used to post....so this little ditty is for my former Sexy in the mother City friend...

Stacking frames on the floor....with a little humour thrown in...soon to be seen at unit 49...

I want this in the study so I have somewhere to go hide and sulk when Bourne wins fights...which happens often...

Daily inspirations...sure to turn x-rated as did the fridge poetry...

Nice idea for the one-day beach cabin...

Hmmm...feature on the brown wall...?

Books should be displayed as art...not hidden behind doors...

Efficient and pretty...just like me...

Much love...

Family tree idea is nice...not enough branches for mine however...

Another great idea for the island holiday home...

Images: Imgfave

Storm before the calm...

I would like to be all melodramatic and say I'm at a crossroads in my life but the truth is, I've already made a decision and now it just has to be followed by the action... Isn't that the hardest part of changing your life? Making the decision?

I've been one of those people who sit back and dream and wish and hope but I've never done anything about it. I've always been responsible and consistent and I've always done what others expect of me...I'm far too concerned with what others think...but that's all about to change.  I'm making the change I've always hoped for...but instead of waiting for it to happen for me, I'm going to make it happen. That's the secret to life and being a complete person...make the changes yourself. No one is going to do it for you. You can either sit by and moan about how nothing goes your way and how unhappy you are...or...you can get off your broadening ass and do it yourself.

So I've made this decision...more info to follow soon...and now I just need to put all the little pieces in motion...that's the easy part. It's frightening though...I have constant butterflies and I am worrying myself sick about certain aspects, but underneath it all I have this calm reassurance and confidence in myself and my decision...and for anyone that knows me, knows that that is a big deal.  I can feel my path in life changing and correcting itself to where I want it to be, not where others expect it to be. For the first time in a long time...or ever...I feel in control of my life...simply by loosing the assumption and facade of control and following my heart.

I am so excited for the future and I know this is going to be that moment in time, where I look back and say...I am so glad I took that leap.  It's going to be scary, exciting, hard, fun, trying, exhausting...but most importantly, rewarding.

The best part of it all? I'm doing it for myself...no one else.

That's a first.

LINK LOVE ~ You're welcome...

I've prowled the www and found some lovely inspiration for you...Look here first, thank me later...

Philippe Roucou silk polaroid scarves...

More at Fashionising.com

Lanvin...loving this brand more every time I see (or should I say, experience?) it...

More at Lovely Lissy

Romantic Dressing...Vogue China March 07...

See more at Dustjacket Attic

Sex and the City movie stills...this is how I look deciding on my outfit for the day too...

Want more? Visit Popbee

The Open Road...Harper's Bazaar Feb 08...love the clean finish...

See the rest at Dustjacket Attic

I hope you enjoyed that. You're welcome...

LINK LOVE ~ BELLA MUMMA

I love this blog. Bellamumma writes such beautiful posts which are so helpful and relevant.  There are very few legitimate makeup and beauty blogs out there...present company excluded, of course...

Want luscious skin during winter...?

"Rub a freshly cut lemon half over your complexion (the fruit’s natural acids remove flakes and smooth skin), then steam your skin over a pot of warm water. Next, slather your face and neck with an extra virgin organic coconut oil, a luxuriously dense emollient. It will make your skin glow like a Tahitian princess."

See more at Bellamumma here.

Source: Real Simple via Bellamumma

Linkypoo: Red Door red...

"To commemorate 100 years of beauty innovation, Elizabeth Arden is celebrating with the launch of the new Limited Edition Anniversary Lipstick.

A universally flattering, sheer lipstick, the Red Door Red hue stylishly represents strength and femininity – a beautiful way to pay tribute the Elizabeth Arden woman.

In honor of Miss Arden's belief in the importance of total beauty, Elizabeth Arden is proud to donate all of the proceeds from the lipstick to Look Good … Feel Better®. This community-based, free, national service teaches female cancer patients beauty tips to look better and feel good about how they look during chemotherapy and radiation treatments."

More info here.

Look Good...Feel Better

Crystal clear...

Crystal Renn is a well known plus-size model who is eloquent and confident...but it was a long and painful journey to where she is today...but she's not afraid to talk about...and she wants to share her story with the millions of women who have travelled (and are traveling) along a similar path...

"Crystal was just 14, a gorgeous five-foot-nine size 12 being raised by her grandmother in Mississippi, when a scout promised her fame and fortune if she would just perform him the small favor of losing half her body weight. She did this with the single-minded focus that she later used to become maybe the first plus-sizer to be viewed as a “real” model. She recently chatted with Vice about eating disorders, divorce, yoga, and how to change the fashion industry.

Vice: You were very complimentary to Kate Moss in your book, but what did you think of her recent comment that “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”?

Crystal Renn: [laughs] It’s really funny that you mention that. I was just talking about it yesterday. I actually love her as a model. However, that comment really disturbed me. I don’t know if she thought about what she was saying and the effect that it would have on all the people who look up to her. I mean, how many people look up to Kate Moss? She is an icon, and for an icon to say such a thing can be quite devastating to the younger fans.

Some of the stories in the book were really upsetting for me to read, even though I worked at magazines and I know what goes on. I just can’t believe how terribly you were treated as a straight-size model. That story about how you were sent home from a catalog shoot in Chicago because you were “too fat.” That’s awful. I can’t believe anyone would treat another human being that way.

I have to say that I don’t run into many people who are capable of such disgusting behavior, but this particular person was one of them. I had just turned 17 at the time. After the client told me, “You’re fat,” I went and ate all the tacos and all the meat at the catering table and was like, “Thanks for the food,” and walked out.

Have you thought about working with any eating-disorder advocacy groups?

It’s something that I feel extremely passionate about. I think that women wake up every day and find it very difficult to look in the mirror. Self-hatred and lack of confidence are holding women back in this country, and it’s really a shame. I know, I’ve been there. Seven years ago, no matter who you were walking down the street—fat, thin, or in the middle—I hated you, because I hated myself. So I definitely want to help women overcome this. I tell my story, and I hope people can relate to it. If I can be more of a fighter for the cause, more of a warrior, I would like to take it as far as I can, possibly take it from interviews to public speaking, which in the past, believe it or not, has been a fear of mine. I think that’s the next step, even though public speaking, with the podium on the stage and all, is nerve-racking.

There’s one theory that dieting actually causes anorexia, and my impression from your book is that you didn’t have a body-image problem before you met the scout and he told you to lose weight.

You’re right. I will say that basically I had a traumatic thing happening to me for a couple of years before I had the eating disorder. And then I definitely have the OCD thing and perfectionist tendencies. If you take that, and you have a couple of bad years, and then a scout comes and tells you that you will be a supermodel if you lose weight, that you’ll be able to leave this small town and see the world, that you’ll be able to afford the education that you want, it’s like pulling the trigger. I was like, OK, if I lose weight I’ll be able to do everything.

I’m finding out more and more how to control my control issues, in a way. I’ve noticed that taking up hobbies like the piano and trying to be perfect at something else is really helpful. If I’m ever feeling anxiety, which I am totally prone to, I’ll go play the piano for a few hours. "

Buy her book here.  I've added it to my wishlist...

An inspiration, no?

 

Interview: Vice

Images: Crystalrenn.com

Be a do-gooder...

I want 50 like-minded peeps to pledge with me...turn your lights off and make a stand...

Click on the little doo-hickey up there...

Images: www.earthhour.org.za

You're a professional...?

Listen kids, there's something that's been bugging me for a while.  I've left it and ignored it but it's just become too much of an epidemic to put aside any longer...

Professional (as per the Oxford dictionary)

"adjective: 1 relating to or belonging to a profession. 2 engaged in an activity as a paid occupation rather than as an amateur. 3 worthy of or appropriate to a professional person; competent.

noun: 1 a professional person. 2 a person having impressive competence in a particular activity."

It has become frightening how many people out there are using this word to describe themselves...and yet they have nothing to back it up.

Perhaps it is more relevant in smaller towns as there is a lack of choice, but surely you can tell the difference between someone who knows what they're talking about and someone hoodwinking you out of your money? 

Here are some tips to spot one

...non-stop talking about what's "trending" (fucking shoot me right now), they never let you finish a sentence and they shoot down all your suggestions...only to be replaced by their opinions.  They also talk loud, are over affectionate and usually have a vapid, glazed look in their eyes.

It's usually the "subjective" professions that get nailed by these scammers... makeup artists, stylists, photographers...

Smudging last seasons eye shadow on a model wannabe is not makeup.

Dressing someone in things that no person would wear is not styling...it's a lack of knowledge.  Fashion, is not styling...yes, I know, shocking...

Owning a camera does not make you a photographer.  Likewise, excessive photoshop does not make you creative...it makes you lazy and uninspired.

So few people are actually educated or skilled in the tecnicalities of these craft to identify a bad job when it smacks them in the face. And it smacks, hard.

The market becomes saturated and clients obviously look for the "best deal" which results in them bending over the table requesting vaseline.  However, the other side of the coin applies...higher rates do not always ensure quality or craftmanship...

It is great to see the natural talent online in the form a few fashion bloggers...some people have an eye for fashion, photography and styling...others (see: 99%) just have the broadband for self promotion.  It's so disheartening to the real professionals to see clients getting screwed by the fakes but I suppose it eventually works out...

...the fakes only really last a season or two because, despite the protests to the contrary, they have no fucking clue what's on trend.

{editor's note: Huffy is not refering to those bloggers who upload pics of their own outfits. Individual creativity and style is the concrete of society and should be celebrated.  She refers soley to those homeys who charge clients for bad work...and call it style/makeup/photography.}

LINK LOVE ~ Ginta Lapina by Sølve Sundsbø for Vogue Italia March 2010...

Love.

Images: Fashion Gone Rogue

Makeup Monday: Viktorija Bowers...

I can't quite recall how I stumbled upon Viktorija's work but I'm so glad I did. She has a profile on facebook and she recently started a blog and since "getting to know her" online, I really feel like I've found a kindred spirit in the industry.

We all know it's hard to start up and make a name for yourself...It's even harder doing this with dignity and kindness, but Viktorija seems to have done just that.

She works (not exclusively) with her boyfriend, Michael, who also has an amazing eye for the beautiful and obscure.  Their teamwork and mutual passion for what they (and the other) do is an inspiration.

It makes me want to get out there and do it!

"Ok so little bit about us. I saw his work on the internet 9 years ago and was moved with his artsy black and white photographs, so I contacted him for testing.

When we met for coffee to discuss our shooting together it was love at first site….rest is history. We really grew and developed together as artists. He had a big part in my aesthetic and shaping my course as a makeup artist.

Michael is amazing painter, so he comes from that angle (he also taught me to oil paint, which helped in my make up).

In turn I helped him to refine his angles and aesthetic of shooting as well; I art directed many of the shoots he did and we through time just became the same organism. Our teamwork is seamless and when we work together it is like one person breathing; we do not fight and bicker.

He taught me to speak “photographer” (that is what we call that jumble mess language that is locked up in their heads) and in turn I taught him how to communicate with the rest of the team. To explain to the hairstylist, makeup and models what he wants from them.

We are still learning so much from each other."

City Magazine - USA

City Magazine - USA

Makeup magazine - Italy

Highlights Magazine - Australia / International

City Magazine - USA

Gloss Magazine - Europe

Soma Magazine - USA

You can see his work at http://www.michaeldavidadams.com/

You can see her work at http://www.viktorijabowers.com/

Oscars...

I tried to think of a witty title but the funny eludes me...Maybe because I was so desperately bored and somewhat shocked by the "fashion" at the Oscars...

Again I resort to using "finger motion" when describing the fashion...how sad....how uninspiring...how trivial...

The Good...as it gets...

Elizabeth Banks

No eternal beauty by any means, but she showed up a lot of bigger names by her simple, yet elegant style.

Helen Mirren

Again, Dame Mirren is a feature on the good side of this blog. Damn, I wanna age like this woman.

Kate Beckinsale

As seen on the Vanity Fair after party red carpet. I want to be you. Or with you. I would deviate my entire sexual compass to be near you.

Kate Bosworth

I'm not usually a fan. Other than the fact the chick can't act, she has too much style and dated Orlando. We all know I was gonna hit that.  Then Kate stepped in.

Katy Perry

I am developing something of a girl crush for this sexy lady. I love the way this dress fits her body. A lot of other celebs could take notes...was it just me or did a lot of dresses seem a little stretched?

Kristen Stewart

You can do it. We have proof. No excuses anymore.

Natalie Portman

As ever, the epitome of elegance and grace...with just enough sauciness...

Rachael McAdams

She seemed a little bummed to be there, but maybe she was just as disappointed in the (wait for it) "fashion" around her as I was? She did look ravishing however, as usual.

The I'm-not-sure-but-might-like-it...

Sandra Bullock

Vera Farmiga

I'm not sure if I like these dresses or if I was just so tired of wishing and hoping for a "fashion" miracle with these two...Too many almosts...Just gonna bump them onto the list.

Side note, I did really like their makeup and am so glad they finally took my advice and fired their previous MUA's.

The Ugly...in a ha-ha-your-mom-dressed-you-in-the-dark way

Anna Kendrick

I like the top half but it all goes badly awry from there. Also, the colour makes her look like a corpse.

Cameron Diaz

How to look like a 50 year old mother of the bride...dressed up as lamb. Siss.

Carey Mulligan

You're pretty. You have the whole elfin, waif thing going for you. What's up with the high cut dress fronts? What's up with the heavy materials and thickening silhouettes?

Charlize Theron

Boobs. Booooobs. Matric dance dress. Boooobs. Weird train. Boooobs.

Diane Kruger

It looks like Bjork's swan dress up-chucked on our poor Diane. Brave Diane. Shame Diane.

Jennifer Lopez

Hahahahahahaa. It looks like she was having a good ol' time rolling around in bubble wrap and then realised she was late. Pop. Pop. At least she should keep entertained during the event. Pop. Pop

Kate Winslet

You, my dear, should not be here. And yet, here we are....discussing your matric dance dress that makes you look like a man.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Usually I get your over-the-top outfits. Not this time, my dear, not this time. You look like a box, with a crown on top.

Zoe Saldana

The rancid mould grew steadily up her leg, engulfing the last shimmer of hope. Little did the falsely smiling actress know that this would be her last public outing before the cocoon consumed her.

Over and above these specific comments, I must add that I was sorely disappointed with the lack of toning going on in Tinsel Town. Way too many starlets had flabby arms and un-toned legs. As for the excess of over-the-dress back fat...go up a size bitches. No one wants to see your back cleavage.

Calm before the storm...

Other than trying to overcome Manflu (I finally understand it guys!), this weekend was chill. Bourne and I visited friends for lunch on Saturday and it was one of the nicest afternoons I've had in a while.  You know when it just feels so relaxed and inviting even though you've only just met everyone? I'm the type of person who gets shy when meeting new people and the thought of trying to remember names and job titles gets my pulse racing.

So it was nice to meet a group of people who were chilled and keen for a laugh and some conversation. I tend to hang out with a younger crew and it was very cool to chat to people on the same wavelength.  Also, the lady of the house is definitely the hostess with the mostess!

The only other time I managed to pry myself away from the couch and Benylin-for-flu was to watch Alice in Wonderland (3D) on Sunday. Fuckin fabulous. More on that later...much much more.

So I figured, what with the Oscars tonight and the obvious fact that there will be much celeb trashing and tantrum throwing tomorrow, I'd like to offer these pretty pics as a pre-peace offering.

Enjoy.

I want to be everyone of these ladies...too much of lazy awesomeness...

Images: Mystopmotionlife FFFFound (my picture blog soulmate)