It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

It is no longer considered glamorous to smoke. End of rant.

x

It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

It is no longer considered glamorous to smoke.

x

It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

It is no longer considered glamorous to smoke.

x

It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

It is no longer considered glamorous to smoke.

It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

It is no longer considered glamorous to smoke.

x Sianne

It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

Smoking is not longer considered glamorous.

x Sianne

Shopping online; Retro inspired nautical dress

Following on from last week's post about a cute Nautical look...

http://www.getgoretro.com/Fables/SailorPearl.htm

$115

x Sianne

It's Sunday, Stop Smoking.

Smoking is no longer glamorous?

False. She's pretty damn cute.

x

Returning home & watching a few fights..

Today is the day I return home to my Alice Springs & my darling boyfriend after a fortnight of working in Adelaide. I won't deny that I've missed him very much & despite my love of the fast-paced city, I can't wait to get on that plane!

I miss my wardrobe & my own bed & my stable Internet connection.

Also on today's agenda is a rather unique & unusual event for little old Alice - a competitive Mixed Martial Arts fight. The festivities kick off at around 5PM at the Casino with a meal & drinks (cocktails for yours truly) before the fights start up. Sixteen amateur bouts with most fighters brand new to the sport - very much looking forward to it!

That particular topic got my thinking about one of my favourite movies, Fight Club (Masterpiece of 1999), & a very awesome poster drawn by Adam Juresko, available on his Esty site.

I plan to get rather dolled up for tonight & will most certainly share any decent pictures with you next week.

Until next time,

Sianne x

Adore Midori; My first favourite drink

It's a little early to go walking around Adelaide & so I'm still holed up in my hotel room with nothing much to do except for typing... so here's my story for the morning.


Very much like my mother, one of my first favourite drinks is Midori. It's a very pretty bright, green coloured, muskmelon flavored liqueur made by Suntory. It is manufactured in Mexico, though it was originally made in Japan until 1987. 


There is a whole flavour range under the same brand but the gorgeous green stuff is simply the best.


I am, in fact, drinking a bit of it now mixed with lemon soda & orange juice.. nothing better on a Sunday morning!


Here are a few of my other favourite recipe's complete with pictures Midori World. Yes, Midori World.

Midori Illusion
Available as a pre-mix as well.

Midori 15ml
Triple Sec 15ml
Vodka 15ml
Lemon Juice 20ml
Pineapple Juice 45ml
Shake together with ice & serve!

Midori Martini
Not for the light of heart.

Midori - 15ml

Quality Gin - 45ml

Dry Vermouth - just a dash

Stir, strain & garnish. Simple.

Sex on the Beach
Not strong but very fruity & sweet.

Midori - 30ml

Vodka - 15ml

Raspberry Liquer - 15ml

Pineapple Juice - 45ml

Cranberry Juice - 45ml

Pour over ice, stir, garnish & drink.

Japanese Slipper
Often served in a Martini glass.

Midori - 30ml

Cointreau - 30ml

Lemon Juice - 30ml

Shake with ice & strain into glass.

LA Iced Tea
A close relative to my much favoured LIIT's.

Midori - 20ml

Vodka - 15ml

Gin - 15ml

White Rum - 15ml

Triple Sec - 15ml

Lime Juice - 20ml

Syrup - 10ml

You can add Tequilla if you like...

Otherwise shake with ice & serve. 

Not only is Midori amazing in any of the above form, it's also beautiful with just one mixing partner such as Cranberry Juice, Lemon Juice, Apple Juice (any juice really), Tonic Water, Champagne or over ice. 

Time for another!

x Sianne

The glamour of travel; Adelaide

This week I'm in Adelaide & very much missing my boyfriend.

I'll be home in a week & from there I can start uploading pictures again..

Yesterday I was feeling rather cold & flustered out & about amongst the crowds.. So I bought a dress. 

It's blue gingham & wonderful.

x Sianne

The racing season is upon us in Alice Springs!

Every year the Alice Springs Turf Club hosts the XXXX Cup Carnival at Pioneer Park at the foothills of the MacDonnell Ranges just a few minutes out of town. It's a big event for the Red Centre & I'm looking forward to making the most of it!


There are a few key dates in my diary over the next month; Girls Day Out, Ladies Day & Young Guns Day as well as the main XXXX Gold Cup Carnival at the very end of the month of festivities. Whether I am able to attend all of the above is a different story... but I'm certainly prepared in the dress department!

"The only decent people I ever saw at the racecourse were horses."

James Joyce.

There are a number of fashion parades & similar events to keep me occupied.. I'm in dire hopes of finding fellow dress lovers to make friends with but have been pre-warned that the standards in rural NT are not exactly as high as the Gold Coast... 


Regardless, there is a single milliner's shop in town & this week I am working on the accessories for my dresses. I have a few ideas in mind & am after a rather classic look with a few kooky touches to put my own personal stamp on the look. I'm still waiting on materials to arrive but am hoping to have pictures ready in a week or so! 

In the mean time, I have purchased some handmade accessories from a South Korean store on eBay.. they're rather cute...

Black Cameo Shoe Clips
$9.99

Victorian Cameo Brooch
$6.99

Black mini top hat w/ veil
$9.99

Clearly I wouldn't wear 2 sets of Cameo's in the one outfit.. But I wanted to have both options open.

x Sianne

This weekend I will be traveling from Alice Springs back to my hometown of the Gold Coast to visit friends and then embark on a 3000km driving journey across the country-side with my boyfriend and my Holden Barina. The trip will take us at least 2 days and I’m hoping not to have anything horrible happen to my cute little car – which has never even seen a dirt road!

Stock image of my car... Mine has a full 5 doors!

After packing many, many boxes of clothes & shoes & art before moving house & now having to bring even more household items out to Alice Springs along with my car, I’m beginning to wonder just how materialistic I am… When my house isn’t set-up ‘just so’ or organized in a way I see fit, I find that I can’t sleep properly or get settled. It seems slightly ridiculous that one girl could require so many possessions just to be content.

In my last few weeks of instability I've made a few impulse buys (mainly shoes) & also cut a short fringe or bangs back in... I think they look cute but I'd completely forgotten how high-maintenance they are!

Over the weekend at The Rock Bar, sipping a G&T.

With my boyfriend, wearing a vintage lace bolero.

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures during our journey from the Gold Coast to Alice Springs & post an update once we're safely back to civilization.

xx Sianne

Out of the slump & back on track

Hello again!

I've been in a bit of a slump for the past few weeks, mainly because I haven't a dollar to my name and therefore had a self-imposed ban on online shopping until I started work...

The good news is that I'm now working again & therefore have the right to go crazy on eBay tonight.

First of all I want to share a very cute store that I've had success with recently called Snow Outlet. This was the first dress I purchase with it's darling neckline and uber cute print.

Floral Butterfly dress
Purchased for $8.50 + $13.50P/H

The quality for $21.50 cannot be disputed, the dress is well made with a light cotton and the skirt is fully lined. I'm hoping to have at least a years worth of wear out of this one! All dresses from Snow Outlet are of course in the 'vintage style' which is their main appeal.

Here are a few of my other favourite designs - all of which are priced from $17.80 including postage via Auction & Buy it Now methods.

There is absolutely no shopping in Alice Springs, so I'm ordering the purple & black geometric dress next... very excited!

x Sianne

I must admit, I adore Mark Ryden

Ryden in his West Coast studio.

For a number of years now, I have been eagerly following the creative works of Mark Ryden. His art tickles the fancy of every surrealist lover whilst provoking argument with the use of subject matter brimming with cultural connotation.

One day I intend to start a collection of his prints.. the main issue is selecting which pieces to purchase first! Here are three of my favourites from 'The Gay 90's Show' collection...

The Grinder (#95)2010

Omnibus
2010

Incarnation (#100)

2009

.... Perhaps I will start my collection sooner rather than later. Prints are available from http://www.porterhouseart.com/ as well as selected art galleries.

x Sianne

Book release; Don't Kill the Birthday Girl! Tales of an Allergic Life

Cover of  'Don't Kill the Birthday Girl'

A few weeks ago I heard mention of a hilarious new book about food allergies & the way they affect our lives.  Don't Kill the Birthday Girl! Tales of an Allergic Life by Sandra Beasley won't be available in stores or online until July, however Beasley's website does have an official description - which sells the book to me already since, being a Coeliac, I can completely relate!

"When butter is deadly and eggs can make your throat swell shut, cupcakes and other joys of childhood are out of the question–and so Sandra’s mother used to warn guests against a toxic, frosting-tinged kiss with “Don’t kill the birthday girl!” Tackling a long-marginalized subject, this book intertwines a cultural history and sociological study of food allergies with humorous and sometimes heartbreaking real-life experience. From a short-lived gig as a restaurant reviewer to the dates that ended with trips to the emergency room, step inside the story of a modern young woman coming to terms with a potentially deadly disorder."

Beasley's book sounds both funny & relatable to all those out there will severe allergies to certain foods.

Although it's becoming more common, being a Coeliac is still widely misunderstood. I find it most difficult to explain to people just why I'm turning down the freshly baked housewarming cupcakes or the very expensive and beautifully decorated wedding cake;
"Try the cake! Just one tiny slice won't kill you!"
"It might not kill me, but I'll be off work for a week & wishing I were dead..."

I'm hoping to find witty one-liners and cute quotes when this book arrives - I'll be passing it straight on to my boyfriend so that he can understand how I feel all the time!

x Sianne

Too cute! Valentines Day cupcake bouquet

It's just 3 weeks until Valentines Day & I'm already getting rather excited... 

Check out this beautiful red rose cupcake bouquet is by L.A. Bakery, a custom company in the UK, serving Hertfordshire, London and Essex, via Flickr. 

This idea is just so cute, I might need to give it a go myself!

I found this picture on the 'Cupcakes Take The Cake' blog - check them out too!

x Sianne

Jumpsuit lovin'; Sailor Romper by Vintage Suits by Mary

An advertisement for these suits popped up on my facebook this morning... how adorable are they?!

Navy stretch twill Sailor Romper by Vintage Suits by Mary
Priced at $100AUD

Priced at $100AUD

White stretch twill Sailor Romper by Vintage Suits by Mary

Product Information
Ahoy there!  Adorable 1 piece sailor suit romper in stretch twill.
Trimmed with contrast soutache braid with stars on back collar.
Comes in Navy, Red, or White

Find them on their website...

x Sianne 

Etsy lovin'; Lovely collage paper card

Out of the woods collage card

$7.35USD from StoriesDivinations on Etsy

I just love this sweet little card from StoriesDivinations on Etsy. Here is what the artist has to say about the product.

Out of the Woods - Out of the oppressive gloom and into a place where gigantic zinnias bloom...

A very special blank 5" x 7" handcrafted and lined collage notecard with a reproduction of one of my collages made with recycled vintage illustrations and music; hand-trimmed and mounted with care (and acid-free adhesive) and wrapping around luxurious, thick stationary with four deckled edges created in Italy by Cartiere Magnani.

Last year, Cartiere Magnani celebrates its 600th birthday. Among their customers have been many of Europe's reigning families and governments. Other notable customers have included Napoleon Bonaparte, who selected the mill to produce a special watermarked paper for the announcement of his wedding with Maria Luisa D' Austria. (The original mold is still held at the mill.)

Each card is enclosed in a clear resealable packet... Lovely to frame, to give with a gift or as a gift itself...

Just so sweet & also would be a fun craft project...


Sianne x 

Indigenous Mexican art; cute new keepsake box

Indigenous Mexican art celebrates the skeleton and uses it as a regular motif. The use of skulls and skeletons in art originated before the Spanish Conquest with The Aztecs. I own a few bits and pieces of Aztec inspired art - my most recent piece being this funky little leather & wood keepsake box...

I call him 'Miguel' the styling skeleton.,

He's so adorable!

The colours are so rich and vibrant & I just adore his sweet little hat.


I purchased it from a lovely couple at a vintage sale - who had recently returned from Mexico and had decided to bring more Aztec style art to Australia. I wasn't going to tell them that the alternative scene (better not say 'rockabilly' - might offend some touchy people!) has a huge following for this style of art, especially when it comes to sugar skulls mixed with pin-up models mixed with low brow art mixed with the Southern Californian style Muscle Car scene. It's huge over here! 


Anyway, I'll surely be on the look-out for more gems like this - you just never know what you're going to find at a sale!

Until next time!


Sianne x