As part of Relaxation August I decided I needed to give my body a bit of a break from the usual stress that I put it through. And a part of that has been giving up coffee, for now at least.  This is a VERY BIG DEAL for me. I LOVE coffee, and I love it in it’s pure, unadulterated creamy black goodness. No sugar, no milk, just me and a thick black creme.  So going cold turkey from this nectar hasn’t been easy.  Still, given the amount of time and money we put into all these ‘anti-stress’ skin care remedies I thought it was about time to address one of the causes and not just deal with the symptoms.  So for August I have given up coffee.

I may be aiming to give my body a bit of a break, but I can’t go from hard core coffee to only spring water,  so tea has once again been my saviour.  I already have a fairly extensive tea collection, (although not as huge as some of you I hear) but when trying to give something up I find it helps to have something else to obsess about. Hence, finding new varieties and new ways to drink my tea.

This morning’s tea – White Tea with Rose in my good old 1970’s Finnish enamel tea pot. Nothing fancy, just keeping it simple and delicious!

One of my favourite local tea houses is Serenity Tea House out in Boxhill, Melbourne. It isn’t the easiest place to find, but when you do it is like stumbling into a hidden Alladins cave of tea wonderland. Their tea comes from Taiwan somewhere high up in the mountains, as I learnt when the proprietor told me wonderful stories about the growing area and collection methods.  She sat me down with a gorgeous yellow, traditional tea set and we talked and drank tea for over an hour, uninterrupted.  It was clear that tea was her passion, not just her day job, as I learnt so much not just about the tea itself, but all the nuances of each tea set. The different clays that help to absorb the flavour, the scent cups used for capturing the fragrance of the tea allowing you to drink in the experience on a different level.  The process of drinking tea became so much more than I was expecting from a visit to a local tea store.

Of course it wouldn’t be a tea odyssey without a visit to T2, once a smaller concern and fast becoming a Goliath of the tea world here in Australia. I’ve had my regular favourites from here, The Vanilla, The White Tea, The Gen Mai Sen Cha; but I wanted to try something different.  T2 is the perfect place to explore by yourself if you want to be left alone with your thoughts, or if you need help there is always some at hand. The girls there were very helpful walking me through my coffee free options, as I wanted to try and choose teas that also had a low to nil caffeine content to aid this relaxation plan.  I found myself stocking up on even more tea accoutrements; pot sized infusers, strainers, pots sized for one. Walking out with only one small box of tea from here is a surprisingly difficult exercise in self restraint.

They have a great website, which as I’ve just discovered, does online Tea dating! They match your personality to tea choices, which I tried and the selection came out bang on for those I just adore. I’m also rather partial to their fancy china selection from the super fancy bone china right through to the unbreakable enamel ware.  But then, once you start looking it is possible to spend all your pocket money in one fell swoop.

The stunning deco lines of the Avanti tea pot is something worthy of coveting.

If you’re looking for a brilliant and inexpensive tea shopping option, head down to your local Chinatown or Asian grocer. Not only will you find more tea varieties than you could poke a stick at, you can also find some gorgeous tea pots and cups for only a couple of dollars each.  One of my favourite tea pots is a $4 pot from one of these stores. It has lasted me so well, even though it has had a few minor accidents, it is still going strong and used for tea every day.. and even occasionally as a vase! As far as tea selection goes, it is a little more tricky if you can’t read the languages the packaging is written in, but that is half the adventure! Another great thing about tea found in Asian grocery stores is that it quite often comes in very pretty re-usable tins and other containers. So you don’t have to fork out extra cash to keep your tea fresh and you can create your own special collection of canisters as you try each new variety. Oh, and my other cracking find in these stores has been the humble thermos. Perfect for on the road, keeping at your desk or even behind the shop counter for sneaky sips.  You can get some excellent basic models for $10 in these stores and even some more beautiful versions like this one if you’re lucky.

So far, the lack of coffee is proving to be a good thing.  It did take a few days to get past the nasty headache stage, but with the aid of some White Tea and Rose brewed with a teaspoon of delicious honey, it is proving to be just the tonic that my stress levels and my skin needed.

Where do you shop for your tea? Do you have any secret tea addictions? Confess all!

This week’s nails.

Yes, my nail art has been getting progressively more intense of late which surprises me as I’ve never been a fan of traditional nail art. You know the kind, airbrushed palm trees applied by a suburban nail salon – it just isn’t my thing.  But my trip to Japan in late ‘08 opened my eyes to the wonders of full deco style, Japanese nail art and a whole new level of craziness ensued.

At first I thought I’d be destined to forever look and not touch, or perhaps only get the chance to wear them on a special occasion.  Lately, though, all my experimenting has paid off and I can now wear something this OTT without any dramas and they last up to three weeks!  Of course, all this be-dazzled fun has lead to numerous stares, smiles and of course questions.

Who does your nails?

I do.  I have had some great support and advice though from friends like Violet Le Beaux and her nail adventures ( she makes awesome sets of these for Etsy if you don’t feel up to it yourself), as well as brilliant inspiration from forums like this.

I can’t afford the time or the cost to have them done in a salon every week, so this is the best solution for my lifestyle.

Are they real?

No, they are stick on acrylics.  This means that I can make several sets of different styles all at once, like a craft project to wear later.

How long do they stay on?

Generally, with a bit of care, they will last 2-3 weeks.  Occasionally one will pop off but I carry glue in my makeup bag for emergency touch ups. The glue I use is “Fingrs” with the red top, they say it is professional strength.

Do they damage your natural nails?

To a degree. Just like applied acrylics or gels, they leave the natural nail softer underneath.  It pays to remove them and give them time to breathe between sets to ensure that the nail beds stay healthy.

How do you get them off?

I don’t use any chemicals like acetone to remove them, simply warm water.  I soak my hands in a bowl for 10-15 minutes and the water gets in and separates the glue, then I can just peel them straight off!  This also means that washing dishes and activities like that should always be done with gloves to extend their life.

How do you do anything with nails like that? I couldn’t possibly do anything!

You’d be surprised just how much I can do.  Washing, cleaning, washing dogs, typing, playing with kids, crafting, cooking, threading needles…. just about everything! The only tricky thing is stuff like trying to peel stickers and do up fiddly little buttons.  The trick is all in the length you choose which is why for me, I generally choose the short sqaure length and only have long ovals for particular occasions.  I do get a few more typos wearing these nails, but nothing too serious.

But what about all the bling, does it stay on?

Pretty much. I may loose a diamante or two in three weeks, but overall they are great.  It is all in how well they are applied and how long you let them dry.  I apply the decorations with superglue, give everything a finishing lacquer coat and let them dry for at least 24 hours.

Where do you get your ideas?

From that dangerous place called my brain! Seriously, sometimes I know exactly the result I want, other times I start with a colour or mood in mind and spend a few hours in front of the T.V painting one by one as ideas strike.

Are they expensive?

Not at all. A box of 200 nails is available at Priceline for $14.95.  I tend to buy $3 polishes with the odd fancy $20 bottle thrown in. Diamantes, pearls etc I get from various craft supply stores, eBay, even the Reject shop.  So each set comes out at only a few dollars if that.  Pretty great for a three week manicure!

So, that should just about cover it, but if you have any more questions please feel free to ask away in the comments.

If this has inspired you to give it a go, check out these blogs for loads more information, polish reviews and great colour ideas.

Nixxy’s Nails

You’ve Got Nail

Sterling Nails

Never Too Much Glitter

I’ve been asked the question recently about where to buy vintage in Singapore? I haven’t had the opportunity to do a totally exhaustive investigation, but when I get the chance to spend a week or two doing nothing but visit Singapore’s vintage scene, you’ll be the first to know!

In the meantime I thought I’d let you know about two favorites that I actually have had a chance to visit.

First up.. Dust Bunny Vintage.

I came across Dust Bunny when hunting online for some examples of good quality vintage bags.  I was so impressed with their range and variety as well aas the calibre of what they had.  I was thrilled last week to receive an email telling me that they have just revamped not only their online store but their real world store too, and now have over 700 sq feet full of vintage dresses, hats, shoes, bags and jewelry! That is a lot of vintage!  Not only do they have so much stock that you’ll need to spend the day there and take a packed lunch,but they even offer inhouse alterations and customisations.  So no more buying something that just ends up living in your project pile for a year. If you’re looking for great iconic 1970’s, a bit of Philip Lim or Alexander Wang, then this is the place to be.

They can be found at :

• Blk 112 #01-203 Bukit Purmei Road, Singapore 090112

As I wandered through Haji Lane (a must do expereince for tourists in Singapore I’m told), I came across a delightful little store where a ginger cat wandered around my feet and another snoozed on the window sill. It was calm, light and airy; something not often associated with vintage stores, but in the case of Dulcet Fig they have the perfect mix of old and new.  Everything is well displayed and can be clearly seen, so no digging around is necessary.  They carry both their own Dulcet Fig label as well as a selection of vintage. The vintage pieces consist mainly of cute little 1970’s frocks and a good range of accessories.

Dulcet Fig can be found at 41 Haji Lane, Singapore

If you have any favorite vintage stores in Singapore you’d like to recomend, then please leave me a comment. But they must actually carry vintage to make it onto my list, not just second hand or vintage inspired.  If I get a good enough list together then perhaps there may be another investigative trip on the horizon sometime soon!

What are your experiences with vitnage in Singapore? Can you find what you want or if you’re a real vintage lover like me, do you simply look online for everything you need?

I’ve been having the best time these holidays. I’ve had Mr. SKM all to myself for a little while so we’ve been attempting to get out together a little bit more.  People often ask me whether Mr. SKM is also into all things vintage and retro, but I have to admit that I am alone on that island in this household. Even so, there are a few things we have in common. Our love of Sci Fi T.V, Kung Fu action movies and EATING! I’m no brilliant cook and as he tells me since I started blogging, I spend even less time in the kitchen, but still I love food. Now, I’m not going all ‘Food Blogger’ on you, but I’ve been asked to occasionally share snippets of what I’m doing in what I’m wearing, so here goes.

Last night we went on a bit of a date night to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie (which as an aside was crackingly good!) and proceeded it with a bit of a ‘pot luck’ dinner.  By that I don’t mean a 1970’s style dinner where everyone shows up to your house in lounge pajamas with a casserole, but the type of dinner you haven’t booked and don’t know where to go until something just jumps out at you. And what jumped out to us was Kam Fook at Westfield Doncaster.

Right off the bat I loved the decor and the pretty pretty crockery. It suited my Princess mood perfectly.

And then I see Princess Tofu on the menu! Oh this is going to be a good night!

Sheer heaven on a plate! By FAR the best Salt and Pepper squid I have ever eaten. I believe you can tell the measure of a Chinese restaurant by the standard of their Salt and Pepper Squid and the calibre of their dumplings. Kam Fook – you win for me.

Ironically, even though I live in the Antipodes I still bought a bottle of water from… Antipodes?! After the trials of the Christmas and New Year party season I am trying to be good to my body but still trick it into thinking that I am having something special, hence the bottled sparkling water.

Can’t you just taste it?

Santa came a little early for me this year, in the form of a stunning and much coveted new suitcase! I am feeling like a bone fide celebrity traveling with this beautiful lady holding all my treasures.

I came across Hideo Wakamatsu quite by accident and loved them so much I promptly contacted their Australian supplier to find out more about the brand.  Little did I know at the time that Hideo Wakamatsu had such a distinguished design history.

“Born in Tokyo, Japan, Hideo Wakamatsu showed a natural flair and passion for design. Through his formative years, his family’s business was lauded as Japan’s
premier luggage artisans. To this very day, their Randoseru schoolcase is considered a national treasure and is still adopted by Japanese school children and fashion gurus alike.”

Hideo Wakamatsu designs not only very practical luggage, but very very beautiful pieces, which is why I fell in love with them so quickly. It seems I am not alone in this feeling, which is the story behind how they made their way to Australian shores.  I spoke to the Australian distributor to find out just how these Japanese beauties came to be in my town.

” I got involved with the brand when I was traveling in London. I was on a bus when a cow print suitcase in a shop window caught my eye.  I couldn’t get this bright, happy print out of my mind, and so when I returned home, I looked for the suitcase online hoping to purchase one.  I found out that the products were not available in Australia, and so contacted the designer for the rights to bring the products into Australia and New Zealand.” … the rest is history.

I love it when people find something they love so much they just have to share it with others – hence this post!

As you can imagine the Sakura print (or Cherry Blossom) was my immediate favorite and I just had to have one to replace my current case.  I’ve been struggling with a large two wheeled suitcase for some time now, and while it is still relatively new, it just doesn’t handle the rigors of my travel. One of the major problems with the old one being that it weighs 7kg when empty so it meant I could bring less shopping home! The two wheel problem meant that I have had some very undignified moments struggling to get my very full suitcase over curbs, ending up stuck in a Tokyo down pour being soaked to the skin while I cursed my way to a taxi rank. Not very glamorous I can assure you.

So here is why I love my Hideo Wakamatsu Sakura case.  It has four, smooth inline wheels that mean not matter how full my case is, I can roll it with ease even in my towering heels. It is a light weight but tough hard shell case that stops my hats from being crushed and rain from soaking through. It has a secure and tight locking system with no zips to break or snag, just a combination to remember so don’t try and unpack if you’ve had too many airport cocktails!  It has HANGERS inside! Not just a suit section, but actual hangers that I can hang things on in the case and then remove to hang in the wardrobe wherever I go. I particularly love this feature as it makes me think of the old fashioned steamer trunk and instantly evokes promises of a great adventure.

And last but not least – the print. You will never get your luggage mixed up with anyone else’s because not only can you choose one of their amazing prints, but you can make your own on the Easel range of cases!

The Hideo Wakamatsu range runs from modern to traditional; even designing luggage that would not look out of place in the hands of Katherine Hepburn in the African Queen or perhaps on the dressing table in Elvis’ Blue Hawaii. Check out the gorgeous leopard print beauty case!

Oh they are just so good! In fact, I should very much like to extend to a whole collection and add this gorgeous Sakura Beauty Case. Considering I am planning another trip to Japan in 2010, it may be just the ticket!  You can find them online or at Flight 101 and R.G Madden for real world browsing.