Picture magic

With much more time on my hands this holiday season- with no job after coming home from my trip- i've tried my hand at a few more creative ventures to make up for the fact that i don't have a lot of money for Christmas presents.

And in the process i've found a new love: printing photographs!

My year 12 photography class was my favourite subject at school, especially watching the pictures come to life in the development baths.

While this isn't quite the same thing, being able to have prints blossom at home makes me quite excited.

Above are the photos taken at my boyfriend's nephews christening, which is doubling as a present for his mum.

The mystery of the bedside table

Just some snap shots of my bedside table...for some reason I find it really interesting to see what a person keeps a close range.

Above includes my overseas ring collection that i made a concious effort to improve while on the move...as well as the skull money box I picked up from my favourite store of-which-you-couldnt-leave-without-buying-something, Urban Outfitters. My friend Sarah and I share a weird fascination for skull motifs...i put it down to us being goths in a past life.

And yes that is a stack of Lauren Conrad's books...i've been much of a fan but do love a bit of light reading <3

Stylin' ladies

When it comes to celebrity style there's only a couple that constantly get my undivided attention for their ability to get it right 99% of the time...everyone has an off day once in a while

To me, Sienna Miller chic, elegant and modern femininity...i find her style accessible and fresh and she's not afraid to try something a bit out there, whether it be bold prints or sequinned snake-skinned pants.

She is part of the reason I started buying pants that weren't jeans, even those in a patterned, relaxed fit that would almost pass at pjs...

I have also had a thing for her hair...for I too have quite fine hair, if not a bit curlier, and love the way hers never looks too fussy or too 'done'.

This 'do' from Alfie was attempted many a time when I also had a fringe.

My other love, like many out there, is the impeccable stylings of Diane Kruger...who is the antithesis of boring, safe German stereotype.

Her knowledge of what suits her body type and colouring has her looking like a knock-out every time she steps out the door...and her ability to pull off risk-taking choices keeps her one step in front of everyone else.

The fact that she apparently doesn't have a stylist shows she does her research and isn't lazily relying on someone else to do all the hard work for her...plus being besties with Karl wouldn't hurt!

(images care of Google)

Is buying presents being productive?

Christmas arrived on the Peninsula today as mum and I finally got into the spirit of things decorating and wrapping to my hearts content.

We found these fantastic little Chinese take-away containers to act as nest eggs for the work xmas presents...

And we finally got our tree, a real one thank goodness, and now the living room is filled with that tantalisingly delicious pine aroma that takes me back to childhood

Old and New

When I first discovered blogs there wasn't nearly the abundance there is today...and it was because of a sweet french lady that I fell in love with blogs

To me, Garance Dore still produces some of the most dreamy and aspirational photographs on the web, her supposed innocence and eye for beauty and light makes the women she photographs seem like the kind of girls you either want to be or want to be friends with.

I've always been in awe of people who have that natural artistic talent, so the fact she also has this raw artistic talent as well makes me want to sit her down and tell me about her wonderful life!

My latest blog crush is that of Oracle Fox, a divine Australian girl who has the ability to make boho cool and pair things like motorcycle tees and studs without looking like she just stepped out of an Ed Hardy ad. She also seems to have an incredible jewellery collection...oh my!

Oh Xmas tree

(I apologise for the blurry pics- my camera was having trouble capturing the lights)

My mum is perhaps the most creative person i know

This year, her spin on our xmas tree (downstairs, my sister demands a real one upstairs) is this fantastic fairy-light masterpiece

It's angelic

Pink in the sky with diamonds

Some post-storm sky, just outside my window...incredible colours!