Name Change

Since launching Champagne & Chandeliers just under four months ago, I have been debating changing the name.  What can I say, I get bored easily.   Well, I finally got around to doing it and effective immediately, Champagne & Chandeliers is christened See You Anon!   Check out the new site and well, see you anon.



Threads



I love Matches online fashion. 

I did some virtual "window" shopping this morning and found my "I wish" outfit for today. 

1. McQueen stained glass dress

2.  Joseph Coat

3. Eddie Borgo, Pave cone earings

4. Eddie Borgo, Perscan buckle bracelet

5. Chloe Paraty

6. Charlotte Olympia

7. Aamaya by Priyanke

p.s. It's Thursdsay - just two more working days before the weekend will be upon us! Hang in there.

xo

Kulchi

Well, Jones The Grocer on Moncur Street, Woollahra has shut its doors for those of you who care.  I don't fit into that category.  In fact, I'm excited to see that a new homewares store is opening in its place, just around the corner from home.  Kulchi (translation: "Everything" in Arabic) sells everything Moroccan.  The owner is Australian and sources her carpets, rugs and other homewares from Morocco.  I can't wait for Kulchi's doors to open.   In the meantime, check these pieces out.

Love this carpet

Tuareg Mat

Love

Handira Wedding Blanket

Need this African stool

In the market for a pom pom blanket

Hammam Bath Towel

Word On My Street

We had a Council clean up this weekend.   The pavements were filled with the usual variety of chairs, mattresses and other household bits and pieces.  Treasures people once loved enough to buy and keep in their homes, were now nothing but trash tossed out on the street.  

I've always been a bit skeptical of the "scouring the pavements for trash/treasure" activity loved by more people than I care to imagine.    I'm still very much of the view that if someone is giving something away, there is something wrong with it.     This all started when we planned a little neighbourhood get together this weekend.  It had a BYOC (bring your own chair) theme, which had to be sourced from the Council clean up.  It turned into a funny exercise and became quite competitive (who could find the finest chair/stool etc...).

The Boyfriend managed to find himself a Ligna chair (made in Czechoslovakia).   Quite a find as I understand they can retail for a few hundred dollars.  I'm now in two minds on whether (using discretion, judgment and moderation of course) you may be forgiven for finding yourself a treasure on the pavement.

Have you or would you pick something up "curbside" during Council clean up?  I'd love to hear the best thing you've found.

Meet Ligna!  The new addition to our furniture family.



Happy Monday

I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ME,

I DON’T THINK ABOUT YOU AT ALL

­­­_______

Coco Chanel

This week's mantra!
Happy Monday.
xo

Happy Friday



It's Friday. Thank F*ck!  The weekend is here and it's a blank canvas.  LOVE! 

Here are 5 things you need to know before you hit the weekend.  Have a good one and paint it wild!
xx

Isabel Marant

1. I love Isabel Marant and I love H&M.  Oxymoron collaboration? 

I want.

Alexa Chung

2. Alexa Chung's new book "IT".

Lagerfeld

3. Love Lagerfeld and want him on my thigh.  Don't you?

Lang Leav

4.  Sydney based and brilliant.  

I have loved her work for years and need to get my fingers on her new book

Love & Misadventure.

It's All About ME

5.  I love these pillows. 

A Secret Park

When was the last time you took yourself to the park? Not your dog or your kids etc... yourself?   About a month ago, after dinner and drinks, The Boyfriend and I stumbled across a cute little park in Paddington on our walk home.   It has become my favourite urban space.  It's fun hopping on the swing and just flying back and forth through the air.  I highly recommend it. 

xo

Hammock Life



I love hammocks.   They conjure up images of luxury, warm summer days sipping on cocktails and deserted islands (blame Gilligan).  When we were in Mexico last year, The Boyfriend and I had a hammock on our "must buy" list.  Unfortunately, due to The Boyfriend being hell bent on buying 6 bottles of the local tequila, I ultimately put my tanned foot down and said "no" to the hammock, due to the sheer weight of it.  But, I'm still up for a hammock.   Would you trade 6 bottles of tequila for a hammock? 

The Edit



I love The Edit, Net - A - Porter's weekly online mag.  I particularly loved last week's publication. 

It's all about Mario Testino and travel (two of my favourite topics).

My Top 5

1. Gorgeous clutches by Mario for Mario's Peruvian not for profit MATE

2. I am obsessed with "In Flight" style - I love these tips

3. I want to go to Peru - NOW.  Mario's motherland travel tips

4. OMG this sounds amazing. Must buy!

4. Meet Mario, what a Legend

Words

   

GOOD THINGS

COME TO THOSE

WHO WAIT

GOOD THINGS

COME TO

THOSE WHO WORK THEIR

ASSES OFF AND

NEVER GIVE UP



This week's mantra...

Happy Monday!

x

Nutella Dip

Decided to give baking a miss this Sunday.   Instead, check out this delicious dip. 

Two ingredients : Nutella (1/2 cup) & plain Greek yoghurt (1 cup) & stir.    Serve it up with freshly cut fruit!   Yum.

The Fine Print: Farmer's Union Greek Style is the best yoghurt!

Four Things

1. Exquisite Corpse

Who doesn’t love a beaded skull.  

You can also get a giraffe skull which is HOT!

2. Mostra Black

A project in Sao Paulo where a space was built for an imaginary resident “Mr Black”.    

Mr Black sounds super cool – he is a young professional, art collector, passionate about music. 

A real citizen of the world. 

3.    Paris Journal

In the Paris vs New York debate, I’m definitely on team New York.

However, this new little app that takes you around Parisian neighbourhoods is super cool.  

4.   We Think Alone  

Subscribe (I just did) and you will receive private emails written by celebrities & others

(before this project kicked off) in your inbox from 1 July.  



Queen-E's Birthday Long Weekend

It's Queen-E's Birthday this weekend, which means we all get a long weekend!    I'm not getting into the Republican vs Monarchist debate.   All I know is that I'm looking forward to a sleep in and a day of slothing around on Monday.  Yay to Queen-E.  Enjoy your long weekend! 

___________________________________________________________________________



Man Rings

I don't like a man with rings.  There, I said it.  Maybe it's odd?    I'm of the view that jewellery and bling should be left to the ladies and men should spend their cash on buying such bling for women.  Thoughts?  Ok, Liberace got away with it - but he was a super cool musician and besides, he looked good in furs.  Johnny Depp and Pacino can do no wrong in my little black book, so they can wear as many rings as they like.  But, the every day man - well, I'm out!  It's a total turn off for me.   What do you think?   Do you like a man throwing himself a finger party?

________________________________________________________________________________

Trans-Seasonal Fashion

I love everything Emerson Fry.  Maybe it's because it's a New York label and I'm biased because I'm obsessed with New York?   Emerson Fry's new Spring/Summer 2013 collection hit my inbox yesterday and it's gorgeous - I had to share it.   Despite being five days into winter in Sydney, I don't believe in fashion limitations (or limitations more generally) and we shouldn't wait another three months to wear these gorgeous pieces.    You can easily pair any of these Spring/Summer numbers with a winter coat, some stockings and boots and you're away. 



The fine print
- one - Safari Dress
- two  - Suede Runners
- three - Ribbons Blouse
- four -  Ivory T Dress
- five - BIB Shirt Dress



Futon Hell

"I'm in the market for a futon" - words I'm not fond of uttering.  "I think we have to go to Ikea" - words I'm even less fond of uttering. 

The thought of trekking out to the black hole (aka Ikea) to buy, of all things, a futon makes me feel like a drink!   I threw my first (and what I thought @ the time would be my last) futon away seven years ago when I moved from Melbourne to Sydney.  Now, I'm entertaining the idea of bringing another futon into my life.  I just don't think I'm ready.  But, Mother is coming to Sydney @ the end of August, and after seven years I figure I should make an effort and deck out the spare room for her with some sort of "bed".   We need spare room space for every day living so an oppressive bed in the spare room is out of the question.  A futon is the answer at this stage (Mother will not sleep on a li-lo air mattress - would she?).   Do you have a futon in your life?  Did you?  Can you recommend one that is aesthetically pleasing and comfortable?  This is what I am stuck with otherwise - Ikea hell.   At the very least, which is the least ugly?



1. Bedding Lovas

2. Karlaby/Karlskoga (honestly where do they get these names)

3. Kivik

4. Karlstad

5. Bedding Lovas (does this little number come in any other colour?)

6. Tidafors (now I'm getting desparate)

________________________________________________________________________________

The most ridiculous thing...

that has been said to me in the last seven days ...

Naturally, in response, I pulled out my virtual dick and slapped this person silly!

Converted Warehouse Amaze

Costis Psychas.  Had not heard of him until now. He is a Santorini Hotelier.   I admire his ambition, bravery and sense of adventure (renovating a house which was half under water).   I love his Santorini home (specifically on Therassia), incorporating traditional, functional pieces and using local craftspeople to build and decorate his home.  LOVE!  I could easily jump into these pictures and comfortably fall into life here.  Check it out - it's inspiring.   Shame on me - I have been to Greece a thousand times and never to Santorini.    I'm hopping into my travel machine as you read and heading straight to Santorini to this place for an ouzo by the sea.  I plan on staying there all day! 

Pure comfort & beauty


Where I'd rather be

Now THIS is a converted warehouse

Circa 1860 - former pumice stone warehouse

Shower bliss

I love a good arch

I will have a bottle of wine here one day

Devine

Bangkok Travel Notes

Winter has hit Sydney.  Day 3 and it is colder, wetter and windier than usual, although it is a beautiful sunny Monday morning so far.  Over the wet, cold weekend we just had I started to think about recent summer holidays.   Earlier this year, I surprised The Boyfriend by taking him on a four day long weekend to Bangkok for his birthday.  He still randomly mentions how crazy it was that we took off for Bangkok at the last minute.  It was a fun long weekend in a City we love.   Here are the highlights and some tips.

Street Food

An absolute must.   Bangkok has great street food.  Noodles, fruit, desserts, fried bugs... It is colourful and delicious (I haven't been brave enough to try the bugs).   The Boyfriend obsessively eats fruit from the street vendors every time we go to Bangkok.    My rule is: if it smells/tastes wrong just stop eating it and take a Travelan and a shot of Scotch.

The beautiful thing is that you don't have to search for good street food.  It's all over Bangkok.



Night Markets

One of the things that keeps bringing us back to Bangkok is the energy this City has.  It truly is a Cities that doesn't sleep.  It's colourful, loud and alive 24/7.   The night markets are an absolute must experience, for the food, the annoying crowds, the dodgy fake handbags, shoes and clothes and for all your other every day useless clutter.   Then, head to one of the many bars for a much deserved drink!



Sky Bars

I love sky bars.   I seek out sky bars in every City I go to.  I was told the Sky Bar @ the Lebua was a must see in Bangkok.  So, we headed over to Riverside and caught the lift up to level 63.  No doubt about it, the bar is decked out beautifully and the view is second to none.   The Dome backdrop is spectacular.  Put it on your "to do" list in Bangkok.   Personally, for me whilst it is a must do/see, it had more of an observation deck vibe rather than a bar atmosphere.   Oh, and there's a dress code so don't turn up looking like you just fell out of bed. 

Bangkok after dark...

View from the Sky Bar @ Lebua

 View from the Sky Bar @ Lebua

Red Sky Bar (55 floors up) is a great sky bar.  Personally, I prefer it to Sky Bar @ Lebua.  The cocktails are delicious and the atmosphere is great, with a live Jazz band playing.  Oh, and the view is really amazing.  

Food

I love Thai food.  The Boyfriend and I ate non-stop for four days.  Our favourite food was without doubt found at street vendors throughout Bangkok. Soi 3 on Sukhumvit had this little restaurant/food vendor with delicious food.   I can't remember the name (did it have one?) but it's about 20 metres from the corner and on the right handside.  For the best noodle soup, we found the same street vendor we went to in 2010 - he is on Sukhumvit, just before you hit Soi 2.   It was quite an adventure finding him after 3 years - but he was loyally in the same spot. 

Best Ice Cream

I am a sucker for ice cream.  I found Ete in Bangkok.  It is d-licious.   Best way to cool down from the Bangkok heat (before you down a Singha).  I found it at Silom Complex Shopping Centre.  Vanilla bean and Nutella flavours - I'm still craving it.



Combi Van Cocktail Bars

Honestly, you haven't experienced Bangkok until you have yourself some drinks at a Combi Van cocktail bar.  What better way to enjoy a drink than on a table and chairs curbside with your cocktails served straight up out of the back of a Combi Van.  This is one we found in Soi 11 off  Sukhumvit. 

 Our energetic, over-enthusiastic Combi Van waiter

The Fine Print

# Getting There - We flew Thai Airways (despite promising myself I wouldn't do it after the last trip.  Flying Thai is always an average experience but it was the most efficient way of getting there).

# Getting Around - Catch the Sky Train from the airport to your hotel - it's faster than a taxi and like the speed of light compared to a Tuk Tuk.  The traffic in Bangkok is chaos most of the time so use the BTS Sky Train to get around - it's clean, convenient, fast and punctual.  



# Sleep - Dream Hotel (Sukhumvit).  This place was surprisingly good and the breakfast (hot & cold) was yum.   The Boyfriend and I prefer boutique hotels in Bangkok - they're more flexible.   It's clean and in a great location on Sukhumvit - close to the sky train, Terminal 21 and the buzz.  It has a rooftop pool area with a bar as well. 

# Shop - You can spend all day every day just shopping in Bangkok and miss out on the buzz of the City streets.   My favourites are:

1. Terminal 21 (Sukhumvit) - a maze of little boutiques including local Thai designers, with each level of the shopping centre themed a different City (Paris, London etc); and

2. Siam Centre - Level 3 (Siam).  This level is filled with Thai designer boutiques.  So funky and fun.  I could have spent all day up here. 

3. MBK - I'm not a fan of this place but The Boyfriend manages to get tailor made jeans for work for around $15 each time so it's worth a mention. 

# Homebound - do not bother buying alcohol at Bangkok Airport if you're heading back to Australia.  If you're carrying it, they will take it from you before you board the flight.  We were told it's an Australian Gvt requirement. 



Words


Words of wisdom for this week.  There is something in this that resonates. 
Not telling you which parts! 
Happy Monday! 

______________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Bake

It's the second day of winter.  It's cold and it's raining hard.  I've got the fluffy slippers and the warm PJs on.  If I baked, I would spend this rainy Sunday afternoon baking this rainbow cheescake.   It's the only rainbow in sight from the looks of the weather out there.     Get the recipe here and start baking rainbows.



Friday Files & The Lui Bar

Last week (after a day of meetings) I had cocktails at The Lui Bar with a friend.   It's on the 55th Level of the Rialto buildling in Melbourne.  For me, it's a cross between Le Bain (Meat Packing District, NYC), Red Sky Bar (Bangkok) and The Roosevelt (Potts Point, Sydney).    I loved the old school decor against the backdrop of the Melbourne sky.  Oh, and they make really great cocktails!

Love the elegance of the silver tray featuring as the table top

(must try this @ home).

Delicious Manhattan!!

A few hours and a few cocktails later...

**



Bits & Pieces from around the www this week:

# Shoe Obsession - must buy this book

# Soapy heirlooms

# Cat ring love

# Idiot

# Finders Keepers (design and art market - Sydney)

# Go Gatsby - have a cocktail

# Why cats paint (what?)

# Super cute lollipop case

Romantic Moment #1

Ok, this may sound odd, but about four days ago The Boyfriend put my hair up in a ponytail.   There was good reason.   I had been to the hairdresser earlier in the day and I was in the process of washing the dishes, when my hair kept crawling irritatingly on my face (I'd had my curly hair blow dryed straight).   I asked The Boyfriend to find one of my hair ties (that took much  longer than I would have liked) and to put my hair up and out of my face.   Why am I telling you this?   Because it was, strangely, a very sexy and romantic moment - for me anyway.   I've never had a guy put my hair in a ponytail (except my hairdresser of course).     Perhaps it was sexy and romantic because The Boyfriend was struggling and asserting "I've never done this before..." in response to my impatient berating.

I've casually found excuses over the last few days to ask The Boyfriend to do it again (assume this is how a fetish starts) and he has kindly indulged me in this odd behaviour.    I find it particularly sexy when he tries very hard to get my crazy curls to submit and be as neat as possible in the ponytail. 

I can strongly recommend that you ask your significant other to put your hair in a ponytail.   Give it a go - I'm interested to know if anyone else finds it sexy and romantic.   Or is it just me? 



Speaking of romance, you have to check this out - hilarious.  

Art Underfoot

I am currently obsessing over tiles.  I must say I can only ever recall seeing "play it safe" tiles in my previous homes and the homes of my friends and family.   Tiles create personality and atmosphere in a space and I vote for more people to experiment with tiles in their homes.  Here are some of my favourites.