Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!! I’m super excited about 2011 for some reason. It has been feeling for the last half of 2010 that things are going to be on the up next year with far less fails and far less dramas. Don’t know why I think this, it’s not like I’ve taken to hanging out with Gypsies on my vacation, it’s just a feeling.

Anyway, I did have big plans for tonight until 24 hours ago. Big plans for someone with two children on a babysitter impossible night, involves hanging at a friends house and watching fireworks and being poked into consciousness at around 6am by said children. Anyway, when that riveting plan went belly up I was a little sulky, knowing all the great things I could have been doing and all the parties my friends are playing at. But really, it is just another night and it is all about what you make of it. So I decided to give myself a good kick in the pants and make my New Years start the right way; with friends, food and shopping!

We all slept in then got fancy before heading off to breakfast as a family. Instead of our usual go-to of Eggs Benedict, I decided to shake it up a bit and find somewhere we could all indulge our culinary cravings, even the kids. So it was off to Box Hill for traditional Chinese breakfast of congee and steamed pork buns! For two small girls you’d think they’d died and gone to heaven such is the reaction to a meal like that. As for me, I am very (very) partial to a tasty congee, so I was grinning from ear to ear.

Then it was off for a spot of indulgent post-Christmas sale shopping and a few treats each, before heading to lunch with fabulous friends. Here is where I’ll let my pictures tell the story…

It is really hot today… 40 degrees celsius, thats 105 for you Northern hemisphere people. That explains the ‘white out’ in this pic. The sun is so strong and bleaching it is hard to look anywhere, especially when it keeps hitting back at you from the pavement.

We went and met up with my long lost buddy Violet ( I say this because we’ve both been working so hard we’ve only seen each other on Twitter these last few months!!)

How amazing is her hair?! She not only styled it herself but did the incredible colour too!

Lunching with other bloggers will always mean one thing…. photos!

Yes, we are both photographing our lunch.

A spot of shopping lead to the following for my afternoons entertainment.

I picked up the ‘new’ (read October issue now imported) of Vivi to read in the shade on this hot afternoon.

Laying around in the near dark with fans going and reading all about cute Korean spring looks.

And I did buy one other little treat to add to my ever growing vanity collection. Not only cute and practical, but exactly what you need in this weather.

Anna Sui blotting paper in the trademark gloss black case! I’ve been collecting this whole series piece by piece and nearly have a full set now. So pretty!

And that’s it… so far.  I’m heading off to get started on part two of my day. This is the bit that involves Margaritas, foot massages and movies. Now THAT is how you spend an evening celebrating the year!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Hi everyone! Now that the holiday’s are well and truly here I wanted to take a moment out to thank you all for the support and friendship over this last year.  I’ve found some of the most marvellous friends ever through writing this blog, and I cannot begin to tell you just how much that has enriched my life. In fact, this Christmas, (although spent in the most low key way to date) has actually been the one most filled with family and friends for me. Though we are spread all over the country and the world, I am infinitely grateful for the technology that allows us all to spend time together in spirit, and the instantaneous way we can tell each other just how much love is happening at a simple click.

I know there are many who see the best way to show holiday sentiment is with old fashioned pen and ink, and while that is lovely, I know that for so many it just can’t be done. In fact I probably only have postal addresses for about 10% of my friends! But what has warmed my heart so much this year is knowing that people are thinking of you, in the very moment it is happening. While I’m getting up to cook my toast, my phone beeps with a lovely message from a friend in the UK as they SMS me a little poem over their egg nog. A speaker phone call from my bestie as she heads off in a grass skirt to her families ‘Hawaiian” Christmas party in the pouring rain, makes me feel that I am truly spending the day with all the people I love.

I realise this is all sounding rather sentimental, but I’ve come over that way in the last week. I think that the second half of this year had become such a blur of work and commitments for me, that I really didn’t have time to stop and smell the roses… and I miss those quiet moments.

This is likely to be the precursor to all sorts of New Year’s resolutions, but either way, it has stopped me in my tracks to think about just how amazing friends are. That no matter where we are, no matter the usual conventions, taking time to send me a funny drunken text on Christmas night in the midst of familial obligations, are the things that bring us closer and make it feel all the more like having a great big family that ‘gets’ you.

And that brings me to my other point, all of you. Over the year I have received so many emails of thanks and support that have just blown me away. I know I sometimes get disheartened by how infrequently people comment when I consider the number of people reading, but then I think about all the other ways you find me and we get to have that conversation.  The whole reason I first started writing this blog was in an attempt to take down some of the walls the exist between us. To start a conversation that uplifts, challenges and brings like minded people together. Because that is what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to be an island in suburbia forever fending of the sideways looks you attract when you are anything but the norm. I wanted to find a way to speak louder, listen wider and be inspired each day. And that is the Christmas gift you’ve given me; the simple fact that you are there and that we have these chats. That we can make each others daily experience a better one simply by having someone to share it with.

So thank you… and Happy Holidays!

I have never in my life to date been this disorganised at Christmas. This year I have been so swamped in the lead up that I haven’t even bought half the gifts let alone cleaned my house. So, just like many of you, I need a good and quick solution to this dilemma, but I don’t want to make it a half arsed one.  Instead I called on the many creative friends I have around the traps with various online stores, to give me a list of their businesses that provide gift vouchers for their stellar wares. Instant Style – Instant Gift!

Moxie Minx – Vintage inspired fashion for modern day pin ups.

They currently have DISCOUNTED gift vouchers available!

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Peta Pledger – Melbourne based vintage inspired fashion. Ready to Wear or Made to Measure!

Peta has a gorgeous range of pins and accessories too – mine are in the mail right now!

Email Peta for gift vouchers – peta@petapledger.com

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Helen Mc Lean Pin Up Photography

You’ll remember Helen’s amazing shots she took for me earlier this year, what a gift idea!

Helen has gift vouchers for shoots starting at $100 right here.

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Chickabilly Accessories

Handmade bags and accessories for little Rockabilly chickadees with gift vouchers on DISCOUNT SALE now!

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Sandra V

Located both online and real world in Melbourne, Sandra V has it covered for Guys and Gals.

Gift vouchers available here!

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MisKonduct Klothing

Has gift vouchers starting at $25!

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Poppet

Vintage, handmade and crafts – all locally made in Melbourne

Gift vouchers from $50.

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PRESS TONE Music

Local and International 50′s style music (there is A LOT of this at my house)

In true low tech retro style, I can’t link you to this one but Call Dingo ph: 0419352175 to order any amount of voucher.

Trust me, if you want to win brownie points with any hard to buy for, this is the one!

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Circa Vintage Clothing

Yes, you can buy vouchers in store from CIRCA, but for quickest delivery you can call them and have something emailed out!

PH: 03 9419 8899.

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Dolly Q

Gift vouchers available for any amount that can be express posted out OR e-vouchers emailed!

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Samantha Sultana

Stunning couture accessories and sleepwear that are the cream of the crop.

Gift vouchers available immediately in her Etsy shop.

Okay, now it is time I hurried up and made this house look a bit more Santa ready. At the moment there are a few OH&S issues that means he might not be bringing me any presents if I don’t get my act together! See you Christmas Eve all organised, calm and egg nogged up!

** For more Christmas inspiration, head on over to Lustable and check out my Dreamy Sleepscape finds!**

The last few weeks have been a couple of the biggest and busiest I’ve had in a very long time. December is flying past in a blur and I’m only just today beginning to think about Christmas. I’m kind of surprised my body has managed to keep up the pace what with all the working, partying and coming in at dawn.. eehemmm..

I’ve posted a few shots on Twitter as the week progressed but I’ve put together a selection of my favourite pics from the last week to give you a glimpse into the goings on.

We kicked off last Thursday with opening night for The Ultimate Rock n Roll Jam Session in Melbourne with a seriously fun photo shoot and the cover of MX!

Ezra Lee and I looking all 50′s glam.

The wonderful Helen McLean came along and took some great shots of the morning too.

There was a whole lot of larkin’ around going on with the boys, (sorry Dave, I couldn’t resist) as they jostled for position over who was going to get to drive the Cadillac. (That would be none of them!) But we managed to stop traffic quite effectively that morning, and one poor punter even went totally upside down crashing into a park bench as he couldn’t take his eyes of the scene!

Even though I was running around like a crazy person, Mr SKM and the rest of my family still managed to come and see the show on opening night. How’s this for an iPhone photo of Mr SKM and I? I’m so impressed by the quality of these.

Fashion note: Mr SKM’s shirt is from Route 66 and my dress is an original 1950′s sequinned wiggled dress! It even has a matching jacket to go with it. Sigh…

An after show Christmas party saw me faffing around with some $2 shop holly to fashion into a last minute headdress backstage.

Lipstick note: I know you’ll ask so, this lipstick is a super cheap $3 one found at Priceline; “Poppy” by Savvy DB.

Then this Friday was an even bigger night again as we had a short spot on the 7pm Project, 50′s Friday to run and then get off to see The Reverend Horton Heat concert too!

I must have had about 30 or more dancers out on the pavement as well as all the boys and my lovely pinup girls. We made quite a sight outside the theatre!

Some of my lovely friends who helped out on 50′s Friday, Katie Cupcake, Nada and Miss Meg.

Friday night’s outfit was a special custom made dress from Something Else Clothing and it is simply divine! A scarlet red cotton sateen that fits like a glove.

Can I keep it? Please?

Then after all these evening shenanigans I headed off to see The Reverend Horton Heat at Billboard with friends and another very special ‘Flame’ dress from Something Else Clothing made just for the occasion!

It has been an absolute whirlwind and and absolute blast these last few weeks, so I am very ready for  great big Christmas nap. Bring on the pudding and the brandy!

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On the scale of cool things to do, yesterday ranked right up there for me. I was privileged to spend a little time chatting with Jim Heath aka The Reverend Horton Heat as he and the band kick off their Australian tour.  After twenty five years in the music industry, The Rev (as they have affectionately become known) are claimed by many a music fan as one of their own. Psychobilly, Rockabilly, Hillbilly, Country… no one can agree where to pinpoint their sound, and this is but a part of their incredible appeal.

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Their latest album, Laughin’  & Crying With The Reverend Horton Heat, has become one of my regular pre-party albums. With some of the funniest lyrics you’ve ever heard, combined with a cracking pace and instantly recognisable guitar riffs; this is one album that burns itself into your brain and will give you a case of the D.T’s when it’s not on hand.  But ‘Laughin & Crying” is only part of the story when it comes to this tour.

Jim and his crew bring a red hot serving of slappin base, driving rhythm, and iconic vocals, leaving no doubt that these guys are every bit the legend that proceeds them. The evening covers highlights from their best of the best, ensuring that every moment is a hero moment; each punters grin wider than the next. And while you may think its all high octane, The Rev have a nack for picking just the right pace that even saw a little slow dancing by the bar and snogging in the corner. Frankly, it’s a bloody great night out with your mates, boots on and beer in hand. And if you don’t already know the words to each and every song, your trigger finger will be itching to hit up iTunes before you even make it back to the car.

DO NOT miss this one while they are here in Australia. I for one will be back at Billboard in Melbourne this Friday to see them again in true Texan style.

Tour dates and tickets details for The Reverend Horton Heat in Australia, can all be found here – along with the limited edition Tour Wine!

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And yes, here’s what you’ve been waiting for… a look at my audience with Jim “The Reverend Horton Heat” Heath!

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