Here it is~ another weekend another list full of sunshine and potential.

I’ve been having a very productive week, knuckling down and getting to some of those jobs that always seem to reside on the bottom of the To Do list, never making their way up.  But with the combination of school holidays and Spring time sunshine, I’m feeling like a clean slate and some fun and games.

Paperwork fun – Doing a bit of old fashioned scrap booking, (not the fancy kind), and getting all the girls birthday cards, art work and certificates into books.

Painting- I scored some bargain shelves at a discount store today that are exactly what I’ve been searching eBay for! So a lick of paint and a handy Dad will see them attached to the walls and filled with pretty things in no time.

Reading – I’ve bought some fabulous new books over the last few months,but have been so busy I haven’t taken any time out to read them!  Some are sadly still in their plastic wrapping since their early July purchase! I’m particularly excited to break the wrapping on Madeline St John’s work The Woman in Black.

Experimenting – I’ve found some cool new makeup tutorials that I’m dying to try out and see if they are a look that works for me.  They appear to be much more work than my usual day to day look, but I’m willing to give it a go in the name of beauty and science.  All those successful looks will be translated next week for your viewing pleasure.

Gardening – My poor garden is looking seriously neglected, so much so that I thought it time to call in the professional.  But with quotes for gardeners coming in at up to $55 per hour (!) I think I’ll be pulling on the gumboots and tackling it myself. Wish me luck and a spider free task.

…And TALKING LIKE A PIRATE for International Talk Like a Pirate Day today! Why? Why Not!… Now I’m off to bedazzle myself an eye patch.

Links à la Mode : September 17th

• 39th and Broadway – Designing Divisions
• Anywhere but here – Inspired by: Elton John
• awakened aesthetic – I Got Tatted!
• Denim Debutante – Denim Store Review: ECBC (and Giveaway!)
• Denimaniac – Interview | Philip Goss for Ijin Material
• dramatis personae – South African Street Style
• Fashion Pulse Daily – Blogging Live from Vivienne Tam S/S 2010
• FashionHippo – Best Fall 2009 Top Trends: Draped, Ruffled, One Shoulder and More
• girl friday – DIY Leather Necklace I’ve been thinking about…
• HiFashion – Successful Online Shopping
• Individual Chic – 7 simple steps when shopping for swimwear
• Oranges and Apples – Diversity in fashion and style for all ages
• Rags to Reverie – Give Me A Hint!
• Retro Chick – Make Do and Mend
• Style Symmetry – Symmetry Seven ~ Doe Deere
• sweetarchivia – The Lighter Side of Olive Skin Tones
• THE COVETED – Backstage and on the runways at Matthew Ames SS10
• The Demoiselles – Body Type? What Body Type?
• The Greyest Ghost – The Day I Met Gwen Stefani…Twice
• The Sideshow Scrapbook – have to have……….Knuckle duster clutch
• Think Thru Fashion – One Scarf, Tied 5 Different Ways

This weekend is less about an ‘end’ than about new beginnings – the first weekend in Spring! I realize that not all of you will be on the threshold to floaty frocks and morning mimosas, but this is one of the few times a year when even though our seasons don’t align, our weather is still strikingly similar.  So as I begin to think about all the things I plan for this first Spring Weekend, perhaps we can translate them into their Autumn equivalents too?

Spring Clean Your Space – I’ve had the painting team in today transforming my walls into a retro candy coloured delight, which begs for a change in accessories.  This is a job that works equally well for Spring or Autumn, just stick to your theme.  Amongst other things I’ll be:

• changing over photos
• floral arrangements
• throw pillows
• rotating art work
• recreating all my little shelf displays

Spring Cleaning my virtual world. Don’t neglect your virtual space and set aside some time for…

• Answering outstanding emails
• Fixing up an effective To Do List you can sync with your phone ( this is a big one for me!)
• Organise your photo files so you can find things in a hurry
• Get rid of any unused or unattended social networking sites or other membership platforms you have let slide by the wayside – decide which work best, which are really duplicating content to the same audience, and those that are just ineffective in their reach.

image via lunaticax on Flickr

Having some Fashionable Fun. With Melbourne Spring Fashion week in full swing here, there are more events on the calendar than you can poke a handcrafted, silver topped stick at! If you don’t have any fashion events in your own town to head to, create an adventure for yourself. Head to a market, a car boot sale, a thrift store. Get out your pencils and sit down to draw up your dream designs or failing that, make an old fashioned collage of inspirations for the new season.

I’m looking forward to spending Saturday in at the World Wild Market again and catching up on all things fashionably alternative!

Father’s Day!! Yes, I know you’ve already had it in the States and elsewhere across the globe, but here in Australia Father’s Day will be marked this Sunday 6th September. Think of something fun to do with your Dad or the Father figure in your life. Get creative and think of experiences you can give, rather than just those things that fit in pretty paper.

• Cook breakfast and make it as decadent as possible – I hear Dad’s like pancake stacks with bacon and maple syrup, along with coffee – the Irish kind.
• Fix something – usually fix it stuff is Dad territory,so find something within your area of talent and fix it for him. Perhaps he needs a wardrobe reorganisation, all his shoes shined, some instruction on how to effectively and painlessly pluck his eyebrows! (tip – use teething gel on them.)
• Create something – plant a tree to watch it grow as your relationship matures, DIY a Daddy’s Little Girl t-shirt, make him a mix-tape of nostalgic tunes from his party days.

So there you have it. What else can you add to the list?

This Sunday is my birthday! Yay! If you couldn’t tell by now I love birthday’s- they are yet another reason to go all out and dress up.  But before you think I’ll spend the weekend lazing around having my grapes peeled, I’ll tell you about the fun I have planned.

Party – A small family gathering this weekend as a prelude to a bigger bash a little later on when  Spring gives us proper party weather.

Spa – How can a girl have a birthday that doesn’t include a facial? That’s certainly not the way we do it around here! Birthday’s must come with at least one massage and one facial to help you deal with the influx of cake.

Projects – You didn’t think I’d skip a project just because it is my birthday? This weekend sees me getting one step closer to retro-fitting my kitchen with the introduction of a beautiful late 1950’s hexagonal table setting. It is a blue marble laminate with chocolate coloured chairs in the most incredible condition.  So I’ll be having fun ’staging’ my kitchen to make it just a little dreamier, and finally picking out the paint chips that will match the setting.

Reading – I’ve been so enjoying all the fabulous new blogs popping up of late. So much eye candy! And whilst I read, I’ll be making notes to introduce you to my picks of the best and brightest. I am particularly happy to see so many more Australians taking the journey to blog land.

image via Retro Renovation

I hope your weekend is shaping up to be a fun one too.

And as for me… all birthday shipments of vintage pretties are most welcome!

You know how sometimes you are happy and then something happens that makes you even more happy than usual? This was one of those weeks – thanks to you my fabulous readers! I wanted to begin this weekend post by saying a big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to read, comment, email, tweet etc… yesterdays post. It is in moments like these that I appreciate you, my readers, even more.  The fact that you have come along on this great ol’ blog ride with me as it has developed into something that is about more than just what to wear, but the how’s, why’s and where for’s.  I love that we have created a community that can share our different perspectives on being and our experiences in life, all being drawn together by our common love of style.

Because yesterday’s post attracted so many well written and deeply thought out comments, it seems inadequate of me to answer you all in short sentences in the comments section. Thus I will craft more responses in the form of further posts on my thoughts on Life, The Universe and Everything! This will not take over from all the usual life, style, outfits and vintage posts; but I will create a little corner for more depth and discussion, as that is what gives meaning to the rest of it.

And so, on with the weekend!

The 24th is my little Miss One’s second birthday, which means yet another round of cake, pinkness, balloons and craziness. Last night was spent indulging in chocolate cake and several rounds of “Happy Birthday”, which is sure to continue well into the weekend. I asked her to pose for an incognito birthday photo for you, which results in peering into the camera looking for said audience. Behold Miss Big Eyes! Yes, she really does look like a doll.

This weekend I am also off to the Baby and Kids Market on Sunday.  It is a great way of recycling your good baby and children’s wear, being environmentally responsible and saving some cash all at the same time! So it means that this weekend will see me fully ensconced in baby land, whether that be partying, playing, boxing up or selling – the things that is – NOT the babies!

And it wouldn’t be a weekend without a few….

Links à la Mode

• A Typical Atypical: A look at the unexpected fashion gems on offer at this year’s new designers exhibition in London – cut-out dresses, paper-like jewelry and more!
• Bonne-Vie: Pincurl project – experimenting with glamorous retro style techniques to create a saucy updo!
• Confessions of a Fashion Editor: Polling for the next Vogue Cover Girl – Bonnie Wright’s first fashion shoot.
• Denimaniac: Camo’s SS 2010 “Horses” collection and thoughts of Meryl Streep…
• Dramatis Personae: Celebrating a two year anniversary with a great giveaway – $50 gift card to BeautyTicket.com!
• Duper: Interview with Raoul Keil, founder of NINETEEN74 and Schon! Magazine.
• Fashion Cents: How to get glam for a movie date so that there is real life lights, camera, action!
• Fashion is My Crush: It’s a mosh pit: A studded DIY belt, some jellies from the kids section at Payless and some concrete comfort.
• Fashion Pulse Daily: Hand-picked favorite looks from 10 of the Paris Couture collections.
• Fasshonaburu:Finding a new hair dresser and how to break up with your old one.
• Idiosyncratic Style: A design board of inspiring comparisons of cool sorbet treats and summer fashion choices.
• Retro Chick: Sunglasses to flatter your face.
• Shop Diary: Cozy up with a snood for fall and how to improvise in these recessionary times.
• Style Symmetry: Interview with Cammila of Dressed Up Like a Lady.
• The Coveted: Turning Red, How to go monochromatic…
• The Musings of Ondo Lady: A look at Style Sample Magazine – featuring articles about a wide variety of bloggers across the world.
• Unfunded: Drooling over the sexy styles of Brandon Boyd and Robert Pattinson.
• V is for Olive: Inspired by a road trip through the American West – taking color palette ideas from nature and applying them to your own summer wardrobe.
• WorkChic: Teamed with Polyvore to show examples of a blouse makeover by style and your office type.

Enjoy my Friends!

*Edit – this was to be posted at the beginning of the weekend, but due to a hosting change over.. then falling down the stairs… I’m a little late this weekend! And yes, I’ m still in one piece. *

This weekend sees no rest for the wicked, so I must have been very, very bad.  Well, I don’t know if that is necessarily true, but either way I am working my little socks off before I take a well earned break and head off next week to Koh Samui! But more on that later.  You’ll know by now that I have many irons in the fire when it comes to finding ways to pay off my shoe bills, and it can take some juggling skills to make it all happen. Anyway, in amongst that circus act (man, what is with all these metaphors today!) My brain has been overflowing with ideas for you as a result of your participation in my poll.   So while I continue this productive streak, I will give you some of my best suggestions for a relaxing weekend.  Just have one on my behalf!

Stretch

Get into some Yoga.  You could either go the whole hog with the gear, the mat and the class; or just stretch in your pajamas to a DVD on the living room floor.  Either way, your body and your mind will thank you.

Drink

I don’t mean the kind that will undo all that good stretching work! Set yourself a goal to drink two litres of water each day of the weekend.  If you are in a warm climate try having still water with slices of lemon in it, or for a refreshing change, add slices of cucumber instead.  For those of you looking to warm the cockles of your heart here in the southern hemisphere, try a steaming hot pot on Gen Mai Sen Cha – Japanese green roasted rice tea. Yum!

Rub

Enlist the help of a significant other, flat mate, professional or just a useful house cat and get someone to rub your back. It doesn’t have to be a full on therapeutic experience, but just another way to remind your body how much you love it.

Dance

I’ve been having my own nostalgic tributes to Michael Jackson all week, even if that is just dancing in my chair whilst I type.  Now is the perfect time to break out your back catalogue of tracks and have a private moment, moonwalking in your underwear.

Plan

Plan to start your week at a running pace.  Pack a healthy lunch on Sunday night, put out a thermos to make your own coffee or hot chocolate for the day, tidy your handbag and make sure you have everything you need and nothing you don’t!

Links a La Mode

Work Chic: – We show how you can incorporate vintage dresses into your work attire with our new video style series!