Music Tuesday - cd buying

{illustration by Betsy Walton}

So I took advantage of Borders discount coupons over the weekend and purchased:

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga and

Cat Power - The Greatest

I had never heard anything by Cat Power but I had read a few good things about her on various blogs and when I saw this post by Decor8 on the art of Betsy Walton and I explored further, I found this great illustration she did of Cat Power which influenced my purchase of the cd as I had to find out more! And I love what I have heard so far.

Bright Eyes too. That goes without saying.

And thus marks my one hundredth post. Woohoo! Who would have thought?

Ciao for now x

10 reasons to love the weekend

1. Borders 40% discount coupons for books, cds & dvds arriving by email Friday afternoon.
2. Friday night shopping at Borders purchasing:
- new Domino magazine
- Sublime Stitching book. Cute pattern overload. Can't wait to start getting crafty
- Wagamama cookbook. Mmmm, me love me some wagamama. I heard a rumour that it is opening in Christchurch. I hope, I hope it becomes a reality. And soon.
- a couple of cds (see Music Tuesday post for more info)
3. Celebrating my God-daughter's 13th birthday. 13! Go Liv! Olivia is a fabulous dancer and when I spied the first series of the tv version of Fame I instantly thought what a great present it would make. Then I saw that it was made in 1982. Could it be that the tv show I loved as a child is really 25 years old?! I decided that it maight not be as cool now as it was then. Well to a 13 year old anyway. I have faith that I will still love it though. So I settled on a new 'retro' tee shirt of Flashdance instead. She loved it.
4. Lying in bed late Friday night watching Rove's special from New York. Love Rove. Janeane Garofalo was on it. Love her too but man she has become skinny! I didn't realise she had so many tattoos.
5. Going to visit a friend's new house. Gorgeous! I want one of those fancy ice making fridges!
6. Finally finding time to visit my beauty therapist. It's amazing how a brow shape and lash tint can make you feel a million bucks. Thanks Trace!
7. Experiencing the BEST hot chocolate ever. A glass of hot milk and a shot glass of chocolate chips. Deeee-lish. Unfortunately I didn't take my camera!
8. Finally going to see Paris Je T'aime with Andrea. It's true. I love Paris and I loved this movie.
9. A little Harry reading. And I mean a little! I really need to dedicate some serious Harry time to get this finished!
10. A quiet lazy Sunday.
Hope your weekend was just as sweet!

Jeremy Cole lights

{shoot}

{bud}

{blossom}

{multi}

I adore these lightshades by New Zealand designer Jeremy Cole. These shades are from the Aloe range which is inspired by the agave plant which I also love. So organic, textural and raw. Yet also, so cosy looking.

Music Tuesday

Have tickets, will rock.
Not too much happening here. It's freezing, so I am going to bed to read Harry potter.
Rock 'n' roll.

Chapter One

New Harry Potter book.

New merino & possum arm warmers

A cold weekend so no guilt about staying indoors.

Happy & content.

Friday dinner date

Woohoo! It's Friday! I for one, am very excited that today starts with F-R-I.
Just a short post today because I am just off to work and tonight I have a dinner date with these two charming boys. How could I resist? Just so you know, these are the beautiful twin boys who belong to a close friend of mine. And today just happens to be their 7 month birthday. So happy 7 months Ravie and Fenn! You've come a long way babies!
So happy Friday to you all. And happy weekend. And to any Harry Potter fans out there, it's just one more sleep!
x

Definitely smokin'!

{image from Skull Candy}

Let's face it, as much as we love our iPods, the ear buds really aren't all that. And so I stayed loyal to the apple ear buds until they finally went kaput. Since I discovered Skull Candy though, the loyalty is over and I am a groupie to a brand spanking new set of smokin buds. Noise reduction! I didn't know I could be this happy. Can't wait to test them out on an air plane when I usually have to turn my iPod up full volume just so I can hear over the engine. Oh yeah I will probably go prematurely deaf but ah well.

So do they live up to their smokin' name? Definitely!

Wishing I were...

{image from Signature Prints}

...in Sydney so I could go to this fantastic sale at Signature Prints. It's a little depressing that I am on the mailing list but cannot partake in the buying frenzy! Anyone based in Sydney who wants to go shopping for me??

As a VIP friend of Signature Prints, we would like to invite you to attend our sale this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We hope you can join us.

Authentic, handprinted, 1950's vintage wallpapers and friezes in original condition featuring designs from various Art Deco and Art Nouveau libraries. From $50.00 (usually not sold)

Florence Broadhurst wallpaper remnants - $20.00 each (not usually sold) featuring countless designs and colourways. Come and find favourites such as Japanese Floral and The Cranes, or less seen Florence Broadhurst geometric, floral and tapestry designs.

Florence Broadhurst Fabric Remnants
Usually $143.00 per metre now $40.00 per metre

Florence Broadhurst Ottomans
were $420.00 now $240.00

Florence Broadhurst Throw Rugs
were $420.00 now $240.00

Florence Broadhurst lamp shades in varying sizes - from ceiling shades, to table lamps.
Reduced by 50%

Florence Broadhurst Fabric Art
was $300.00 now $150.00

Florence Broadhurst Cushions
were $88.00 now $44.00

Music Tuesday

Right now I adore this song. Not only the sickly sweet tune and lyrics that are so easy to sing along to but Gwen looks absolutely stunning in this video. Hey, but when does she look anything but stunning? It's very Marilyn Monroe-esque but somehow I think Gwen does a better job. Oh yeah I am going out on a limb here by being this vocal!
It's the hair do! I would kill to have a hair do like that rather than my 'in a rush so no time to wash the hair, scraped back in a pony tail do a la today' look.
And the eye make up. All this and she gets to be married to Mr Gavin Rossdale. I'm not usually this gushy. But sigh!

Something special!

The good mail Gods have definitely been smiling down on me because when I arrived home today my first Etsy purchase was waiting for me.

I'm so glad I made the decision to purchase these cards from Alyson because:

1. She is very talented

2. I love stationery and was not disappointed by these cards

3. The packaging was delightful

4. Alyson is a lovely blogging friend

I even got a little notepad and Alyson's favourite recipe. I adore these recipe cards Alyson, you should definitely sell these too. Thank you so much!

Now I just have to decide when to use them. I just want to keep them for myself! Check out this fab Etsy store here.

So spoilt!

My good friend Leanne has come back to Christchurch after a 3 month stint in Sydney.

We share a lot of the same interests: design, colour, stationery, fabric, movies etc.
I was totally overwhelmed when Leanne presented me with a bag of goodies on Friday.
Wow! It was overflowing with the best of the best. Kikki K stationery and the sweetest post its; Paper Couture gift tags, postcards and note cards; Little chocolate hearts and chocolate slabs from Haigh's and a recipe to make Chocolate & Raspberry muffins; gorgeous wrapping paper I might use to cover a notebook; a beautiful black & white photography book on Sydney; adorable ribbons and a folder full of business cards, maps, flyers and even an article on Sydney based blogs!

I admit, I was in a bit of a grump before Leanne gave me this bag of treasures so it really lifted my spirits.
I was like a little kid at Christmas time devouring it all ten times over and more.
What really touched me the most though, was that Leanne had been collecting things for me the whole time she had been away. Made me feel very special. She knows me well, this is just the kind of present I go ga ga over. Especially a great collection of business cards!
Thank you Leanne! I love love love it all x

Crafty & Proud

This book is on my 'to buy' list.

Danielle's work has been featured in a lot of magazines - In Style, Marie Claire, Living etc, Vogue...

And she has worked for Topshop. Enough said. My mind is made up. This lady is crafty & cool.

To be able to make a career out of your favourite past time sounds like bliss don't you think?

Music Tuesday - Live Earth

So who watched Live Earth? I managed to miss alot of the performances I really wanted to see. Bloc Party, Crowded House and Terra Naomi.
I've been a Terra Naomi fan for a while now, somehow stumbling upon her video posts on you tube. And her blog. She is amazing. I was so thrilled for her to play at such a big gig.
So I missed it on the day but thank goodness for you tube. This is great. I had to share. She is exactly the kind of rock chick I wish I were. And such a great rock chick outfit.

I did happen to see Linken Park though who I thought were brilliant!
Ok. Short and sweet. Happy Tuesday to you all.

Perfect parcel & perfect parcel timing

Today I received my parcel from Kara for the favourite things swap. It was the most perfect timing because I have had the day off work sick in bed with the flu. It was just the pick me up I needed. Thank you Kara! I love it all! And thank you for Kelly for organising such a successful swap.

Here's a breakdown of my loot:

Heartburn by Nora Ephron which I can't wait to read

the most gorgeous smelling soap

an equally gorgeous smelling candle

some great local magazines. Love this special touch.

all tied up with a delightful polka dot ribbon!

I felt bad because I was a day late in posting my parcel to Kara and I was in such a rush that I didn't really wrap anything! Kara, I do hope you like your parcel and that it arrives with you real soon!

So apart from a weekend of sniffling, sleeping and being in a daze (oh yeah it's all about the glamour here), I have been catching up on the podcasts from the Hamish & Andy show. If you want to laugh out loud, then download these now. These guys are brilliant!

Night night x

all the sevens

and the magazine winner is....

...Alyson! Woohoo!

Since I thought this was quite fun and I felt bad that I couldn't give you all a magazine, well I thought I would. In a little bit anyway.

I drew all the names out of the box in this order:

1. Alyson

2. Robin

3. Laura

4. Andrea

5. Ali

6. Jamie Anne

So what I am proposing is that Alyson gets the first magazine and over the next few months (my budget may be limited to one a month) I will send magazines out to all of you in the above order.

What do you think?

Alyson, you are getting Shop Til You Drop which is a very fine magazine and the current issue even has some menswear in it so you can share with dlb! But I was thinking that I probably won't send this magazine to all of you. My top 3 Australian magazines (in no order of preference) are:

Shop Til You Drop

Inside Out

Frankie

so Robin, Laura, Andrea, Ali & Jamie Anne you can let me know which one you would like and in due course you shall find one turn up one day this year in your letter box. Alyson are you ok to get Shop Til You Drop?

I am very loyal to NZ, but alas, I do prefer these Australian magazines just in case any of you were wondering!

And Maria, you were not forgotten. I am going to send you a special care package.

Thank you all for being loyal readers to my little blog! Love you long time x

Music Tuesday - more tour news (and just a little ranting)

{gig tickets from London}

I heard some good news today. Snow Patrol are coming to Christchurch. Hurrah! And every ticket sold gets a free copy of their new album. Double hurrah!

But good news came with bad news. I also heard that Ryan Adams is playing in Auckland August 16. Bad news because he is playing in Auckland and I am in Christchurch. Grrr, hardly anyone comes to Chch. And travelling to Auckland means getting time off work, expensive flights etc etc. Gutted. So you can see why Snow Patrol coming to Christchurch is a big deal. (Actually Guns 'n' Roses are playing tonight, so some bands do make it here).

I'm also missing out on:

Gwen Stefani - July 26

Bloc Party - August 8

The Cure - August 14

I miss my London days when the pick of the gigs were at my fingertips. Sigh...

On another note, if you are ever curious about the meaning of a song have a look here. It's pretty cool.

Ok, that's me for today. Over and out.

Just for some Monday fun...

Shop Til You Drop is one of my favourite Australian magazines. Somehow I ended up with 2 copies of the June 2007 issue (which is the current one in NZ). So I thought I would do a little something fun and give my extra copy away.

All you have to do is leave a comment for this post and you are in the draw! Easy peasy. I will draw a name out of a hat (or a bowl, or something similar...) on Thursday around 6pm NZ time so make sure you have commented by then if you want to be in.

Something cheery for a Monday.

Have a good one!