Make someone's day

With these DIY Christmas Cards ! I made these to send back to some friends I made during my last trip to Japan. Aren't I the sweetest? ;)

 So why not send some love back to those around you? All you need is some card (preferably in Christmas colours- Red, Green and White)

Basic card making equipment: Glue, cutting matt, scissors, box cutter, foam tape (<< the best scrapbooking item invented, it elevates your pictures giving them WOW effect ), lead pencil and a hole puncher.

Add some extra bit's and bob's for decoration.

For this just use the festive colours red and green for the background before sticking on (with foam tape) a golden reindeer. I also put a strip of silver along the top of my card as I will use this silver paper as a continuous theme in all my cards. 

Mr Snowman was a bit more fiddly. Choose a nice background (mine has snowflakes!) Then use white paper for snow, covering about 1/3 of the card. Then build your snowman with two circles, one slightly smaller than the other. I used a hole puncher to get perfect circles to use as eyes and mouth. For some extra oomph give him a top hat and scarf. Don't want him getting cold in the snow do we?

For this appearance of chrismas stocking's I used a background that resembled wallpaper, as if they were hanging in a room. I ripped white paper to give the appearance of fluffy wool around the top and used foam tape under the 1st and 3rd one.

This one is probably harder to recreate as I had paper with the alphabet printed on so all I had to do was cut out the letters. I holepunched a hole on either side at the top of the card to thread the string through and... 

VOILA! Some cards filled with love to send to all the people you cherish, (or one's you want big pressies from! )


xx Kiki


"Christmas is the time to enjoy the gift of giving"

A tree in the middle of the mall ..

They are coming, the big brands are finally arriving in Australia! A local shopping hub has just gone through massive restorations; putting glass roofing, walls and doors; as well as implanting a massive tree into the centre of the building. Yes, undercover! You may just be able to see it behind me through the doors ...


Anyway along with the new look brands like MIMCO, SASS AND BIDE, CK JEANS, VERONIKA MAINE and *drumroll* ZARA!! This shopping mega store has finally landed in my sleepy hometown and I couldn't be happier. No more expensive than locals Bardot and Dotti, it had some real gems. Unfortunately, my love is not unique, and much of the stock had been sold out :'( They had these stunning leather-look pants, but there was only one pair left, and, alas, they were not in my size. 


This is a quick outfit post (my first, i think!) and the dress is DIY. So proud I actually finished one of my projects !


xx Kiki

Currently digging the Arctic Monkeys, songs like 'Fluorescent Adolescent', 'Mardy Bum' and 'I bet you look good on the dancefloor' are superb !

" Why can't we just laugh and joke around 
Remember cuddles in the kitchen ? " Mardy Bum, The Arctic Monkeys 

Bookworm

 I love the smell of an old bookstore, and the yellow'd pages. Being an avid classic reader, I hate that publishers now love to cover books in identical covers. Sure, it may look good on the shelf, but it sucks out the character of the books causing them to blend into one another. Nowadays, instead of Border's comfy chairs and Dymock's serene bliss I venture into the cluttered almost magical world of second-hand bookstores. I seriously suggest this to any avid reader, usually dirt-cheap (although this depends on the store) you can find books with truly art worthy covers and beautifully printed pages. 


However, today's store was an expensive one :'( I just managed to buy Charles Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities and a collection of short stories by Edgar Allen Poe  with the $30 gift voucher I had. My old English teacher really got me into some amazing authors, like Poe, Steinbeck, Orwell and Ellison. The tales are often short, but very thought-provoking. 


And the dictionaries? I bought both for $5 at a library book sale!? They are 1964 edition's and even contain chapters on French, Latin, Yiddish, Italian and German containing basic words and pronunciation. What really got me was the term Funk and Wagnalls. I cannot say that without giggling !

Until next time,
xx Kiki

" For the love of God, Montresor !"

          "Yes," I said, " for the love of God !" - The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe

I Like Pie !

The other day I came into a couple dozen lemons, and when god gives you lemons you make a lemon tart !

 Not sure if you will be able to read the tiny font, but this is the recipe I used.

My awesome dough making skills ..

Ended up with so much dough I decided to make some cookies, needless to say they did taste a bit funny as it was for a tart base making it a bit crumbly and dry :( Can you see the musical shapes though? How cool are those cookie cutters !!

So many lemons, no wonder I'm a sourer/sower (?) puss ..

TA-DAH! Trust me, the photo looks a little funny, but it tasted superb.

I love lemon tarts, but the full on flavour means you can only have a little bit before it becomes overpowering. Would love to know your favourite desserts!

Xx Kiki

"Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first.  ~Ernestine Ulmer"

Make-Up Bonanza

 No Kidding, just the other night I was trawling through countless ebay pages trying to find some (cheap), quality brand make-up. In the end I didn't order anything as I am still slightly weary of buying online, but fate was kind enough to grant me this! My friend and I were taking a stroll down the main street and the chemist was having a massive sale! Yipeee

So I bought the whole lot for $40, which is a bit over what I intended, but I just tell myself that it's an early Christmas present. In my house we buy our own Christmas presents (ofcourse dad supplies the money!) it's actually really good, as my dad really has no idea what to me anymore. So unfortunately I can't provide any reviews as I have wrapped these and put them under the christmas tree in wait for Christmas morning, but I did open the concealer. My mum said that if you have red cheeks ( me!) then you should apply green concealer, until the other day I didn't even know they sold it in green! But hey, i found some and it does work wonders. Definitely recommend if you have overly red cheeks or get easily flushed. When applied alone it looks a bit odd, like a white-out on the face, but once you put foundation on top you get a beautiful finish.

Also bought some jewellery at a little store in a side street. Cross's are definitely this season's must have jewellery piece and I love the little bunny ring!!  So Cute and each piece was only $5!

xx Kiki

"Meeting's in the desert,

we want him to hear about, but I guess it's too late now .." - Slow Club, Two Cousins

Big Day Out 2012

Today I got a very special letter in the postbox, my BDO ticket!!

One month late, and missing a few acts; it hasn't been the smoothest festival roll-out. Ahh, but I don't care anymore .. In early February I get to bask in the glory of Kimbra, Foster the People, Architecture in Helsinki, Nero and Girl Talk and Best Coast !! It will also be my first festival. I know, I know I'm a late bloomer. I went to my first concert in April, it was THE WOMBATS, my long time crushes since before I was even a teenager!

And this post has made me realise I have not done have as much ranting about this music on this blog as I do in real life. So I'm going to start. And I should let you know I am a MASSIVE Triple J supporter. Don't dis it. Just don't.

Top 5 Tantalising Tunes of the Week:

Loon Lake- Bad to Me

Spankrock- Car Song

Ball Park Music - All I Want is You

Club Feet- Last Words

Matt Corby- Brother

These are all highly biased and sway towards the indie and dance side of the music scene ;)

Happy Listening !

xx Kiki

"Somebody call out to your brother, He's calling out your name..

You couldn't help out your neighbour, you couldn't say it to his face." Matt Corby- Brother

Shoe or Bag Person?

I was, until just recently, a bag person. But lately I've become addicted to SHOE SHOPPING!!

My new quest is to find the perfect summer shoes, preferably wedges, in a nice neutral colour. So far these are my fav's:

The first pair is from Bett's and the rest are from Wittner. What do you think? Or could you suggest any brands I should look out for?

After my browsing through Wittner's awe-inspiring collection of shoes I also stumbled across these. Not really for Summer, but I want them anyway! Don't you think that the wooden heels look a bit like those JC's that are getting around? Maybe, just a bit ..

Xx Kiki

 

"Always wear expensive shoes. People notice."- Brian Koslow

Lazy Sunday's ..

 Some fried squid and a japanese magazine, could life be any sweeter? This is how I spent my weekend, lying about in the front yard eating and reading. Jealous? hehe

Also snagged myself this cute, and suprisingly strong, bag with my mag. Seriously, the goodies (called Fukubukuro in japanese), that you get with the fashion mags in Japan are amaaaazing. I wish it was like that here instead of lamo, cheap sunnies and vouchers to stores I never visit ! 

 However, it also came with this... So the shampoo's not lame, cause I will probably use it, but what's up with all the useless cardboard packaging. All that for 3 packets of hair cair!? You Crazy.

Also picked this up from Sportsgirl when I went to the city yesterday. Love their fancy brochures. I'm easily amused, just give me some pretty pictures and I will be content. Loving' the resort turn everything in fashion is taking too bad I have like no colour in my wardrobe. *Sigh* Anyway, it came with some pretty cool poster's. Here's the online version, I wanted to add the link to the phone versions, but I think they may have taken it down already ;( 

On that devastating bombshell,
xx Kiki 

Anyone get the Top Gear reference? teehee*

Just 2 words...

... as to why I will never be able to become a fashion designer,

Alexander McQueen.

 He set the benchmark so high I can't even see it anymore. The real king of design, definitely one of my idols. Seems rather late to say it now, but the British museum did a showcase on some of his most defining moments (in clothing) a couple of months back. Ofcourse I could never be there to see it with my own eye's, but thanks to that crazy thing called the internet I get to drool over these pictures and imagine what could've been...

Xx Kiki

Even his name oozes cool ! McQueen? Seriously and what am I left with.. nothing! NOTHING.

Fringe, how I missed Thee

The inspirational photo that inspired me to grow out my fringe...

Too bad that inspiration is now running thin. 2 years, and I haven't touched my bangs, but the time has come when I can't take it anymore.  Ahh sweet fringe, I can hear you calling my name, come to me~~ oh fringe~~

Mmm.. nice fringe !

or maybe do it Asian Style ?

Or girl-crush, Daisy Lowe,

(the same haircut is about as close as I'll ever get to her *sigh*)

xx Kiki

"The future depends on what you do in present" - Ghandi

So Goddamn Ordinary

 Sorry for the lack of make-up!, I find I am average in all aspects. I'm of average height, average weight and average looks. I don't have a big nose, but neither do I have a petite, fairy nose. Not to say I'm not happy where I am! but I think I need to start braving the realms of make-up and go for POP LIPS or something to stop me from being so Goddamn Ordinary.
These are clothes from a recent vintage trip to the local second-hand shop. I managed to nab a stripe x black dress (Ladahk), floral jumpsuit (gawky! but I've always wanted one), a cut-out floral dress, Navajo Back Pack and a Fringe LBD (no photo, as the camera died on me :/ )

Also got to go the beach yesterday! I love my hair after it's been to the beach. Usually I have really oily hair, but the salt water cleans it all up (for a little while at least!) Sometimes I have to except how lucky I am to have the beach just 20minutes away, whereas some never even see the sea. My mum lived in a land locked prefecture in Japan and only went to the beach twice in her entire childhood. Scary Stuff.

Hope your enjoying your week!
Xx kiki

" We got sick of all the people, So we moved into the ocean instead"

-Mr Polite, The Jungle Giants

A Fetish for Glossy Pages

 

 

 

Can you believe it!? These are just a selection of the magazines I've bought in the past two months. Clearly I have a bit of an addiction... But it's so nice to look at the pages and mark what you are going to buy. Even though I never actually buy anything I get quite a bit of satisfaction just 'pretending' I will. However, I do think I need to tone it down a bit as I now tend to buy two magazines in one hit, and at $8.50 a copy it can end up being quite pricey. I also buy japanese magazines (zashi- in japanese) which can fetch between $10-$30 a copy, Guilty Pleasure? I think yes.

xx Kiki
PS since these photos were taken I've also procured the December Issue of Shop, and Harpers Bazaar (though this one IS a subscription)

Wallpaper says a lot.

Wallpaper says a lot about your personality. Gawd! I must say I dislike those sayings, talking to someone says a lot about their personality, not their clothes, looks or reading style. Anyway, going off topic here. Just thought I'd post my current background. NONE of the pictures are mine, and I acknowledge each photo and their respective owners (but I'm not going to write it because that would take forever :\) But I DID compile the images together, that counts for something right?

Xxkiki

"But the sad thing about the good times

 is you only know them when they

wash away"- Barcelona, Tinpan Orange

Blogger Spotlight: Rookie

 DIY on Detachable Collars, Like the one in the above photo!

So not quite blogger spotlight, but spotlight nontheless, today I want to draw your attention to Rookie. A magazine with a BIG DIFFERENCE. It is online (read FREE), posts every weekday (that's five times a week), three times a day (that's 60 articles a month!). Of course what would you expect from the teenage girl everyone hates for being so Goddamn Amazing', yes, Tavi Gevinson. Just in case you aren't already suffering envy over this girls life here's a quick lowdown(read it really fast for effect): started her blog, Style Rookie when she was 11, soon got picked up by the media, got an article in the New York Times, then in Teen Vogue, then French Vogue, then got snapped front row at some of the most famous fashion shows, and has just graced her first cover for French Magazine, L'officiel. Oh yeah, and she's only 15! Okay, so I'll leave you to cry in the corner, thank me later.

Some troubled kisses,
Xx Kiki

"

Tavi described herself as a ...“12 year old garden gnome with the brain of a wind-up monkey, posture of a crotchety old hag, stare-down skills of a zombie, haircut of a little boy, and tact of Larry David”. She even has a sense of dry humour! Grrr