Academy awards 2012

There are just so many nudes and whites this year on the red carpet! How many of these will become inspirations for wedding dresses this year?

From left to right:
Cameron Diaz in Gucci
Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab
Louise Roe in Black Halo
Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward
Kelly Ripa in Carolina Herrera
Rooney Mara in Givenchy
Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji
Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford
Shailene Woodley in Valentino Couture

I am also liking these red carpet choices:

Esperanza Spalding





Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive





Stacy Keibler in Marchesa





Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood






Not so loving





As Edith Head quotes,"

Your dresses should be tight enough to show you are a woman and loose enough to show you're a lady"

I don't think Sandra Bullock got the ratios of that one right this year either.

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Preferred wedding montage songs

I found some Matt Hires amongst my music collection and it took me back to some wedding planning memory lanes. We used two songs for the two montages I put together for our wedding. The songs were dictated by S because he reckons he's got better music taste between the two of us. Tis true, my loves are a bit more indie.

We went with Bruno Mars' Count on Me and Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat's Lucky (Songs which are really apt for our relationship of course).


But if I had my way, it'd have been either Matt Hires' You are the One

Or Corrine Bailey Rae's Like a Star

Or a really old one that I always dreamt of using:  Lea Salonga and Brad Kane's We Could be in Love

Baby shower

There are just so many Dragon babies due this year! I went to a baby shower on Saturday and it was loads of fun and very very well organised. I just couldn't help wanting to share the cutesy pics I took.

Aren't these the cutest lanterns you've ever saw?

The best parties always have cupcakes. And these were baby cakes



Learning how to swaddle a baby



Our little handmade take home goodie. *Swoon*



Bellabox February

I alluded to this before, but Mr. HEA had been generous this year and gave me a teaser as a birthday present and paid for a 3 month subscription without actually even knowing what this was about. *Bless*

I received this later than others I beleive but it was just in time for my birthday nonetheless.

 I think it might be a Valentine's day edition with the flowers and the choccies. Too bad we don't have a bathtub, I would have loved to throw these soap rose petals into the water with me for a realxing soak. They smelt really nice of a sandalwood tinge and was the first whiff you get from the box when you open it up. It's an innovative product, Star & Rose Confetti Soap Roses at $25.95 for a box of 12 (4 different colours).

The other delights I have in the box were Sasy N Savy Citrus Hand Cream, Bloom organic Hand & Body Wash, Chocolate Hearts from the Chocolate Box, Sparoma Shimmer Wrap with Jasmine (which I gleefully spread on my arms and legs for an extra glow on my tanned skin on my birthday. It was neither a silky texture nor unpleasant at all, and had a really subtle glistening effect, but the jasmine scent lingered all day long and might not be a great idea if jasmine makes you heady), and a full sized B by Bloom Collecta Eyeshadow Duo (I hadn't worn blue eyeshadow since my teenage years, but promptly gave these a spin on my birthday)

It was a rather icy blue and I quite liked it for the Friday, but I am probably going to get through the brown a lot quicker. The application was easy and the colour lasted all day and did not rub off or smudge within my crease which is good. I couldn't help but keep thinking I was much like the nomadic beauties on Fendi's Fall 2012 show.

Borrowed from Vogue: Photographed by Evan Sung

Thoroughly spoilt

I have had the best birthday this Friday gone past. It is late and I am tired but I feel like if I go to bed, this beautiful day will end and so I must write it all down so that I can at least dream about it.
I started the day thinking oh my I have some fine lines now. Where I once thought I was invincible and didn't care about the biggest beauty faux pas of rubbing my eyes excessively, I am now paying for it. So I took action and got myself an early bday present from Strawberry net (actually my bellabox which arrived the day before would have been the first part of my bday pressies, but we'll start here). Chanel for my peepers!

Can't complain if you can get Chanel for under fifty bucks!
I got to work and saw this taped on my monitor:

And this on my desk:

Well this was all good so far but i wasnt expecting more, cause we all already had cake on thursday:

And lunch on Tuesday at Fratelli fresh:

But then my manager walks in with this!

At this point I was so flabbergasted. My team has really gone overboard already. But i read through my fifteen emails and one of it was from the mailroom saying i've got a delivery to pick up:

They also got me yummy edible blooms. Whee!
So after hugging and kissing and telling everyone about my other pressie from S being:

And being really excited over the chatter, Pete from concierge calls up for me to come down and sign for these:

I had to choke back a tear at this card:

Who'd knew that S could be even more sweet and romantic after we got married?

Sighs... If only this day wouldn't end. We went on to musashi for dinner before the show and I will blog about it another time, I absolutely loved it and am sure my thoughts on it would be another whole post.
But throughout all this, I had been getting messages and what's apps from friends and family, not thinking I needed to check FB. When I finally did, I grew weak at the knees; so humbled and overwhelmed... I had 59 posts on my FB timeline today. And America just got up, so I think there could be just a couple more. Truly truly blessed birthday and very very spoilt.
Having this today, and sharing my edible pressies with everyone, I sigh with contentment and know that even if next year's isn't as fabulous, my memories of today will suffice.
Celebrating with today's sweet:

Tropical themed wedding Part Deux

Yes you have seen this one before but I bought earrings for it today!

 Tada!

I love popping into Colette everynow and then for quick jewellery fixes. I also picked up this short scarlett exquisite stone necklace to go with my shoes that I plan to wear for my birthday tomorrow. I am pairing it with my new Cue top and a black skirt, thus the need for a burst of colour in accessorizing.

Also within my shopping haul today, Victoria's basement now sell a range of Martha Stewart's Arts and Crafts which would have been helpful during my wedding planning...anyways, S and I had always wanted a pendant light for our dining space, but couldn't commit to which one, so today I found this robin egg blue solution:

 Zooming in on the lone rose from the garden that I saved from the thunderstorms

Wee! Happy Birthday to me!!! And my Blog! It was one year old on the 16th of February but I didn't check it until today. Ah well... good to see it's still going strong!

A tropical themed wedding

I have a formal wedding reception to attend and the theme has been set to be tropical. I am not the best at deciphering dress codes, but we have been told bright colours were in order.

Short of running out to buy a brand new bright orange halter neck maxi-dress from Sheike (I saw it over the weekend) that I am not sure I'd ever wear again...I am at ends on what I should be wearing to this wedding.

Last night, after a long agonizing over my wardrobe, I thought this might kind of work.





It's an assymetrical dress made out of chiffon. I bought it from a small boutique from when I went to Melbourne over NYE. I thought the black and gold long necklace might go well with it.





The gold accents on these sandals would then match that on the necklace.





And I'd wear these gold bangles too.

Haven't decided on earrings yet as I don't have any nice gold ones. I am not even sure if I should wear chunky ones or drop earrings considering I already have a long necklace.

Ah well, I still have the week to find something...


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Macronage

I have always had a passion for these delightful French pastries called Macarons. Two years ago I read an article that they were taking over from cupcakes. And I was an avid believer of that.

I had been given Macarons for my birthday (albeit a little crushed):



And we had gotten them on weekends with our coffees:




Even had one on Vday that has just gone by:



These chewy melt in the mouth delights are just divine! I have had many failed attempts at trying to make these.

This isnt a post on how fabulous my homemade Macarons were or how easy they are to make once you know how.

Cause I am far from successful yet. I had tried the French method twice previously but wasn't successful enough. Largely because I think I never knew how long to whip the eggs for so I never got to the stiff peaks stage.

I bought a candy thermometer last week to try out the Italian method. And I was scared of the boiling sugar syrup at first, but I made it through unscarred thank God. Still, I don't think I am quite there yet, but here are some shots of my attempt at some strawberry and chocolate ganache Macarons:








As you can see here, I should have given these babies a few more folds before piping the lot, but I was so terrified of over folding that I went with this. It made it easier for an amateur like me to pipe them out anyways.





And these were them after baking in the oven. So here's my thoughts on what went wrong.

1) I should bake them for a lower heat for a little longer than the prescribed fifteen minutes.

2) I should have had the patience to age the eggs and then wait for the shell to form. I just wanted to go to bed! It was two am when I finished these little divas! I should also start a little earlier in the day next time instead of doing it after dinner.

3) I should really get kitchen scales and do this with some real accuracy. And whilst at that i should buy proper baking trays that will conduct heat better to my little babies.

Well, they didnt look perfect but they still tasted yummy!





I will keep trying.

On other note, S went to get photos developed for our Kate Spade photo frame that we had gotten from work as our wedding gift.

Tada! Proudly now displayed on our glass console in the hallway:







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Modern Rococo?

I lament the fact that our house is detached in many ways. There is no fluidity in the place as we brought together two homes into the one. And both our previous apartments have been modern, whereelse our new little cottage just exudes character that we cannot capture enough of inside. No lovely oak furniture, no upholstered comfy chair, no antiquity to show off the gracefully aged space.

But you should see for yourself:

I present, the Lounge which has modernity:

I have also exhibited the hallway previously, which tries hard with its Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Armchair, but isn't quite there yet. The other more Barouqe adornments in there that I *heart* are:

But, there is solace to be had...

I am smitten with the decor range that symbolises our era I believe. Acrylic furniture that evoke the classic lines of older-days luxury, but are so sharply modern that it is unmistakably a new millenium space. I believe it is said that these pieces will tie in the new with the old boujois and create that congruence that we lack.

My wishlist:



The Pedrali Pasha armchair



Ferruccio Laviani Bourgie Lamp

I am not sure it is quite the name for it but I beleive I have a flavour for somewhat of the Modern Rococo. Not too OTT as we don't want a stark contrast within the space, but enough to keep the luxury alive along with the practicalities of the space.