Tuesday 27 March 2012

Hacked?

Hi everyone. I think my blog has been hacked. Many of my old posts are being reposted. I'm not quite sure why. Please hang in there while I work it out.

Saturday 24 March 2012

I'm Taking a Break - I'll Be Back Soon

I just wanted to tell you all that I'll be taking a break from blogging for a couple of weeks.  I have absolutely no time to blog at the moment. I will return with a bang on the 7th of April. Until then I hope you all have a fabulous month. See you soon.
Xoxoxo
Isabella
Photo from http://womenonthefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/BloggingBreak.jpg

Friday 16 March 2012

Inspired by.....The Help


I know, I know! I haven’t blogged for ages. I feel ever so guilty, honest! It just kept slipping off the end of my to do list. But forget that and let’s get onto The Help. 

The Help is one of my favorite films.  The acting is really great, the plot is compelling and interesting and it informs people of the whole total gist of the time.
I was shocked at my own naivety. I had thought of the fifties as a time of swing dresses, brownies and happy housemothers. I had, in fact, completely looked past the sexism and racism of the time.

The plot of the help is really quite good. It moves at a nice pace without dragging. It starts when Skeeter, a smart, journalist that has little interest in marriage, decides to write a book from the point of view of the help. The women that raise white children. 

This is quite a difficult task of Skeeter’s ‘friend’ Hilly is very against the whole book. Hilly is the equivalent of the villain of the film. She’s an evil racist woman.   

My only criticism for the film is that it ends on a limb. I wish they would just make it a tad longer. Then again, when it comes to films, I like them to really finish it. I like to know exactly what happens. I don’t like any loose bits. That’s just me.

Overall, the film will make you laugh and cry and smile. I give it 9/10. 


The only good thing about Hilly is what she wears. Oh, I utterly adore her dresses. Of course, you are not meant one on their fashion and I totally acknowledge her horrible character but how could I not do a feature on her fashion? 

So, Hilly seems to have an oath to printed swing dresses. She wears florals and apricot print (yes, she wears a dress with apricots on it). She wears her red hair in a big bun. She looks sophisticated. She looks fab.  

So, I like the fashion in The Help very much. So I made a little polyvore collage for it. I tried to find dresses that put a bit of a modern spin on the 50’s.


Another thing I noticed about The Help is the food they eat.  It seems like traditional American diner food. Fried chicken seems to be a feature as does…. chocolate pie and pie that isn’t so chocolatey.

Minny’s Chocolate Pie (no, not THAT one) 

Minny’s Fried Chicken

Have a lovely day, it’s a rainy Saturday in Sydney. Depressing much.
Xoxoxox
Isabella 

Wednesday 7 March 2012

A mixed bag - Lana Del Rey, Polka Dot Earrings and Picnics!


New section alert! Say hello to a mixed bag. A mixed bag is a collection of mini articles, recipes, links, photos and videos. It’s a mega post and will happen monthly!

Short n Sweet Album Review – Born to die
I did a feature on Lana Del Rey a couple of weeks ago. I told you I was very excited for her new album and believe me I was.
When it came out I was a little disappointed.
It’s very repetitive. There aren’t really any amazing songs apart from the ones that came out before the album. I mean the songs are pleasant to listen to but they aren’t as good as expected. I give it 3/5.

Amourx
These earrings are as cute as a button!


Let’s Picnic from Eat Drink Chic
I love these let’s picnic invites by Amy Moss. They are pretty and free to print!
A collection of beautiful photographs by MOI

I love this collection of retro style photography


Challenges!
It’s good to give us a little challenge. They can help us put a new perspective on the world and make a positive change for our world and life.  Try and do one this week and see how you feel. Rejuvinated? Happy? Crazy?
-      - Plant a veggie garden
-       -Go for a week without internet
-       -Wear a colour you wouldn’t usually wear (yellow anyone?)
-       -Eat a tofu burger
-       -Run 5km
-       -Do not drive your car for a month


I only just discovered this. It’s really interesting. It makes me feel like a bit of a bimbo because she is so insightful but that is far from the point.   

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening
Coco Chanel

This pintrest page is mouthwatering.  

Don't worry everyone I'm not one of those crazy, anorexic weight loss fanatics. However, I found this article really interesting and I think it would be a really good way to live. 

Movie of the month - The Help (more to come later in the week) 

Have a lovely day! 
Xoxoxoxoxox 
Isabella 



Monday 5 March 2012

Icing, Sprinkles and Vanilla: The World of Cupcakes

Cupcakes from Friday! 



Oh, how I love cupcakes. They are handy. They can be eaten in two bites. They taste amazing and most importantly they are a delight to make.  I think cupcakes are the food I cook the most often. I love to decorate them and I enjoy both eating and making them.

Cupcakes are loved all around the world. Cupcakeries are everywhere and in LA and NYC they are (wait for it) even setting up cupcake ATMs. (Oh my goodness) 

My absolute favourite cupcake recipe is one from David Herbert’s Complete Perfect Recipes. It’s very simple and the end result is delicious.  We often flavour them with lemon or coconut as well 


Cupcakes can be used to send a lovely message and can help you be creative and have fun.

5 Things You Should Do This Year Involving Cupcakes
1.  Give a batch to a friend
2. Decorate them with some children (when I say this I mean decorate the cupcakes and let children help you do this, I don’t mean kill children and put them on the cupcakes)
3.  Have a cupcake decorating party (Sometimes being childish is magnificent!)
4. Invent your own cupcake flavour
5. Decorate cupcakes with friends 

Ways to decorate your cupcakes
-       Write things on the top in writing icing
-       Place a single sugar flower on the top
-       Put edible glitter on top  
-       Sprinkles!
-       Silver balls

Happy baking
Xoxoxoxoxo
Isabella 

Thursday 1 March 2012

When You Feel Like You Are One Of THOSE People. Alternate Title: A Beginner's Guide to Fashion

Sometimes you feel like your fashion is failing. You have no idea what you’re doing and EVERYONE seems to look so much better than you.  You feel ugly. You feel horrid. You feel as if you may as well write ‘I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT MY FASHION!’ on your forehead.
It doesn't get much more unfashionable than that


Well, start by realizing what you are doing wrong. Here’s a list of my 7 Worst Fashion Pairing Mistakes taken from my Inspired by... Sydney CBD.


1. Sneakers and Jeans 

My least favourite fashion pairing mistake. EVER. Ok, converse don't count but your running shoes. Egggghhhhhhh. It looks so awkward and well, just plain awful. You may as well write 'I DON"T CARE ABOUT FASHION' on your forehead.


2. Ugg Boots and Skirts (or even worse Dresses)
I don't really like Ugg Boots at all but they can look ok with jeans. With a skirt they are just hideous.


3. Socks (especially white ones) with sandals or thongs
If there is something that screams OLD it's this. Even if you were wearing the prettiest top and the best jeans the outfit would still be unbearable to look at if you wore sandals and socks.


4. Leather Boots and shorts
Boots are for winter, shorts are for summer. Pairing them doesn't make sense. Don't do it!


5. Spots and thick stripes
Print vomit. Colour vomit. It makes me want to vomit. Way too much (thin subtle stripes can look ok).

6. Hoodies and Dresses
A combination of formal and casual can look really good and REALLY BAD. This is an instance were it looks REALLY BAD.

7. Heels and trackies

That just completely stupid, why did I even list that
 If you feel you are doing any of these things stop!

The next thing to do is to buy some new clothes. Try the following stores

If you are 14-29
If you are 30-49
If you are 40-50
If you are 50+ 
All AGES


Remember this simple piece of information. Cream. Goes. With. Pretty. Much. Everything.

Look around at other outfits you like. Try and recreate the. There’s nothing wrong with stealing good ideas once in a while. 

Have a lovely weekend!
Stay happyily fabulous 
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo 
Isabella 

Photo from http://www.maskworld.com/pix/costumes/large/91099-urlauber-fat-suit-tourist-fat-suit.jpg