Europe Summer travel wadrobe

Dresses I'm packing includes a Cream cotton Tuscan style dress perfect for the Italian leg of the trip, Thurley dress for Polo in the Park and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Asymetrical Chiffon Maxi for Barcelona nights and a couple of beach dresses to wear around Positano and Lake Como.

 Tops include: Cotton On multicolour empire line spaghetti strap, Orange sequinned Halter top, Forever New Dusty Pink Cutout top, and a selection of fun print Tees.

 Denim bolero studded jacket, Northface hoodie, Dotti Macrame back vest.

 Sussan roll-up shorts in grey, Rip Curl beach short shorts, Linen Khaki shorts, and Supre khaki maxi skirt

Marks & Spencer bikini in black, Mis-matched Rip Curl bikini.

What else may I need for my trip? I'd have to pack a few pieces for work interviews that I may have, but those can double up as chic wear in the cities I will be visiting outside of London i.e. Milan, Madrid and Barcelona.

Trying to pack accessories that will take me from the Italian coast to High street Milan/London this summer can prove challenging, but I assembled the following (fairly similar) set on Polyvore to remind me of what to take.

Summer travel accessories by happy-e-after featuring flip flop sandals, Embellished sandals, $99 / Ballerina shoes, $44 / IPANEMA flip flop sandals, $32 / Tiffany & Co. / Kate Spade jewelry / Stone jewelry / Orange jewelry, $12 / Alexander McQueen scarve / Coach mirrored sunglasses, $175 / Paul Smith belt / Banana Republic / Longchamp Carry-On Duffel Bag



On top of that I have to bring Mr HEA his Nespresso Machine, pack cosmetics, toiletries, underwear, beach towels, Interview documents. Aaahhh!! Will I forget something?

One Day in Paris

Such a tiring day, but I'd do it again in a heart beat.

Leaving St Pancras on the Eurostar

Paree!

View from the Arc De Triomphe

You can see Paris through the clock in Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay: The house of the largest Impressionists art collection in the world

Arc de Triomphe

Headed towards espace in Louis Vuitton

Waiting for the vacuum lift that takes you to the gallery

The art being showcased at the moment at espace was an artistic journey throughout Istanbul Turkey, but I dare say the holiday began here in this oasis

Stopping for a cuppa

Gorgeous Laduree tea salon

Shopping frenzy

Swarovski Xmas at Galleries Lafayette

Bottega Venetta's pastel confectionery window display

Where all your dreams come true

If not, there's always LV toting dancing penguins

Tips for recreating this one day:

1) Taking the Eurostar from London to Paris is easy and reasonably safe as long as you keep your valuables where you can see them

2) Download the Paris Metro App and the Trip Advisor map of Paris that gives all the comments and nearest metro stops of the main attractions. Both these apps you can access reasonable amount of information without data and so it was a quite a boon when you haven't got roaming on.

3) If you take the Eurostar, you get 10% off extra on top of your Vat refund at Galleries Lafayette and two tickets for the price of one at Musee d'Orsay (Pity I only went by myself)

4) The Laduree at Rue Cambon (near Madeleine station) is less busy compared to the salon at Champ Elysees

5) Please use the tunnel at the end of Champ Elysees to get to the Arc de Triomphe. That roundabout is atrocious to cross above ground and dangerous too!

6) If planning to buy any of the Chanel classics, be prepared that you might be competing with all the other tourists that travel there for the very same reason and stock as you. (Oh yes, I bought a bag for myself by the way, thus saving myself over $1k in AUD - that's how I justify the purchase)

Outfit plans

What I am wearing to a week night wedding next week...

Outfit plans by happy-e-after featuring christian dior

Diane von Furstenberg sleeveless tie neck blouse, $285 / TIBI army coat, $265 / Ankle length skirt, $135 / ASOS pointy pumps/ Louis Vuitton clutch / Chanel black bangle / Cezanne tahitian pearl stud earrings / Miso bangle jewelry, $8.10 / Chanel lip makeup, $39 / Christian Dior perfume / Christian Dior / OPI beauty product

Am quite excited about putting together this outfit as I found this black skirt from Witchery whilst shopping at Bondi Westfield yesterday. I am waiting till the Black Book event this weekend to purchase it to get the best bang for my buck. You might want to check this out, 120 discounts, events and freebies with participating retailers for four days only. Put it in your black book.

Shopping my closet

I thought instead of buying more clothes on Shopbop or Asos, I'd first do a check through my closet to see what I do have already, half of my clothes purchased from boutiques in Malaysia.

Outfit #1: Rory Beca Sofia Lace Blazer, Zara Basics White Singlet, Glassons Grey Shorts, Novo Gladiator Sandals

Outfit #2 (All Malaysian bought): Cat Whiskers Green Lace Collared Blouse, Boutique Denim Maxi Skirt, Sheike Skinny Belt, Vincci Mint Sandals

Outfit #3: Cue Cowl-back Black Blouse, Black Sequined Skirt, Louis Vuitton Epi Electrique Iena Clutch, Charles & Keith Booties

Outfit #4: Rose Garden At the Walk Bead Embellished Collar Blouse, MNG Pencil White Skirt, Sheike Skinny Belt, Boutique Pastel Patent Peeptoes

Have thought the wadrobe through and there might just be a few things in there that I can play with to remain on trend. So I should keep saving for Europe end of the year.


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Out with the old, in with the new

I bought this Pomme vernis key pouch way back when I lived in a unit and had a swipe card to carry around. But nowadays, living in a house, I don't really need a pouch very much anymore. It was time to move on.

 It's served me well, but this Fuschia number has my attention now. My very first Prada. What have I begun?

After all, we all know the Devil wears Prada.

Ebay listings and musings of life

Shopping has no more lustre whilst I am paying off my London tickets and dreaming of Boxing Day shopping there.

We did go shopping today for a MacBook Air and so Mr. HEA will not be after me for attention for the rest of the day, I'm sure.

My OOTD: Zara Studio metallic Grey Knit, Skinny Jeans, Vincci Patent flats and Printed Nine West Scarf

Outfit I tried on at Portmans: Pastel Colour block bandeau skirt; Candy collared Silk Blouse. Matches my shoes perfectly, but I didn't like the transparency of the blouse and the way the skirt accentuated my hips.

Moving and pottering about the house has been the other main focus of the days here recently. Albeit being freezingly cold, I was able to tease some colour from the garden from the Begonia, the Geranium and the Azalea bush.

I've also put in some lavender cuttings in a pot and scattered basil, parsley and coriander seeds into the garden bed behind the kitchen despite it being absolutely the wrong season to do so. Hopefully some will germinate when Spring comes and the place has been rented out. I just know I won't be here to reap the fruits of my labour, but the tenants hopefully will appreciate it (if the seeds take off).

On other moving news, I am finally coming to my senses and letting go of some of my luxury items on Ebay. There just hasn't been as much partying going on that I require this many bags for. I also have much less space moving in with my in-laws when Mr.HEA ships out to UK. So, if you're in the market for some vintage designer clutches, check out my listings:

Louis Vuitton Pochette Marelle & the Christian Dior Saddle Clutch is up for sale at the moment. A few more things to come after that as I keep culling my wadrobe I am sure.

Saturday in Manic May

Writing this in the sun rays streaming into my writing nook, reflecting flecks of crystal light onto the wall behind the whiskey trolley that bears my Husband's antique crystal decanter, listening to the boppy strains of Bic Runga's latest album Belle while recovering from Saturday.

Aside from the routine loads of laundry I had to run yesterday morning, I pulled together a brunch pizza for my beloved which we waffled down because he's looked up The Avengers Gold Class schedule and we are aiming to make it to the 12.15pm sesh.



Tomatoes, sausage, bacon, eggs and mozarella on a pizza, If that's not the perfect cure to Hubby's Baxter Inn hangover, then what is?



Events Cinema's Gold class in Bondi Junction is quite something, walking through the frosted sliding doors to a private lounge where the fully stocked bar and cosy couches make it difficult to remind yourself that you are here to watch a movie. The Avengers is a really good movie with a great hilarious script which takes time building rapport between the characters of the movie so that you can take in the teamwork that goes into the fight scenes. Everyone performs well except for the Robin-Scherbatsky chick who really should stick to How I Met Your Mother. We laid back in our reclining couches and are brought our frozen cokes when the movie starts and it was an intimate experience with all of only thirty pax in the theatre. It almost seems rude to laugh out loud in the movie.

We went home with plenty of time for a Grocery run and a fantastic dinner. I set a lamb rack in the oven and made a few random sides based on what else was in the pantry and the Cinco de Mayo forces must have been at play because I made a salsa of sorts and a mean jalapeno mince with El Paso nacho dip unknowingly to go with the lamb. A rather beserk combination but Mr.HEA laps it up anyways.

 

Then it was time to stick on the falsies and smouldering eyes, a fresh slick of lipstick and some cute Charles & Keith black party ankle boots and head out to The Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills for some serious partying. In my hazy, tipsy stupour I remembered I hadn't taken a proper shot of my OOTD all day so I did this in the bar. Does this make me a loo blogger? Why else do they put full length mirrors in cubicles? Oh to let you check you haven't got your skirt tucked into your hose. Why else?

Rules by Mary dress, Leona Edmiston stockings, LV epi electric Iena clutch



  Hmmm... it's time now for another day and I am a little worse for wear having knocked back a few vodka cranberries last night because it was so warm in the bar. The Birthday girl wore a goegeous peplum dress which makes me make a mental note to self that I will need to check out this style on me if it is as hot as all the Mercedes Benz Fashionistas during fashion week imply. The Beresford Hotel is a place for Hawt people seriously. At least last night it appeared to be like that. Just tons of beautiful people all having a great time, present company included of course.

Oh yeah, I was meant to wrap up in the start of the last paragraph, I do ramble on. Have a great day everyone! I most certainly intend to!



On the subject of expensive scarves

I remember when I purchased the Louis Vuitton Aquarelle bandeau after an exam I hid it from S for fear of being labelled a brand - ho. Then he went on and on one day about That Scarf and how these Designers made a load of money from just one slither of material. I freaked out. S never pays attention to my accessories. How did he know I had a new bandeau on? And that it was from LV? Or how much I paid for it? Then I snap out of my reverie to hear him finish his rant, "$99 for a piece of material!" What was he talking about? I queried him cause my bandeau is definitely worth more than that. Phew, he hadn't noticed my scarf at all. He just spotted a scarf he really wanted from Ben Sherman, but gawked at That pricetag. Hmmm.... I mentally sighed in relief. My secret's safe.

But when I began covetting a Missoni scarf this year, with our new house to support and our joint bank account, I couldn't help but remember how upset S was over the $99 scarf from Ben Sherman. I never thought I'd be the proud owner of one anytime soon. That is, until I trawled Twitter one day and Mez of Domestic Divinity fame tweeted about Missoni's Oz Sale.
TaDa! Here I am rocking the Tan in this suddenly-turned-cold weather. Snug and Smug with my newest winter wadrobe addition:

Don't you just love enablers? Thanks Mez if you are reading this.

Australia day 2012

The rains cleared up today which means we still got a semi-decent public holiday. Hurrah! Determined to have a lovely day despite not having made plans, we slept in till ten and then got up to make choc chip banana bread and brunch.



We were going to go to the movies so got dressed up. I put on my new lilac Vero Moda dress that I had ordered from Asos and that just arrived in time for Australia day. Also thought it was appropriate to rock my old favorites the Reade PM, and a silver T&Co dragonfly choker (apologies you can't see the choker in this pic).













Here is a makeup pic of the choker:




Very happy to be pulling up at Bondi Junction again with S considering we had our reception there. Convinces S to go into LV with me just in case I need to show him a potential birthday pressie hint. But there wasn't anything that I must have so I left before hubby got jittery.



We didn't end up fancying anything enough to watch it so we just shopped for Groceries and came home. In true Aussie day style, we had a Barbie dinner and I made a vanilla cloves pannacotta with honey grilled figs as a refreshing cooling dessert after the barbecued chops.









Here we are infusing the mixture with cloves.













Currently curled up on the couch with S watching Nadal vs Federer with our ice cold beers and the freshly made banana bread.



Happy Australia day peeps!





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Things that I love(d)

With S gone, I got up to no good and found myself indulging in habits from days gone past. Days when I still bought designer bags and frequented The Purse Forum.

It all began when I found these shorts I hadn't worn for a while whilst wardrobe-purging. I decided to skip the elegance for one day and go casual Sunday instead.




The Cassette tape is S's hand me down iPhone cover until my bling pack arrives



 This is it: taking self outfit portraits, wearing said shorts with my puffy jacket, this used to be my look when I was pretending I was Japanese. Not really just liked their style for a few years back then.

Oh hey, you can also see my new bangs that I got for 2012!

I miss wearing my Pochette Marelle this way. Nowadays I just use it as a clutch. These days, I am more about my jewels than my bags, having gotten so much bling from the wedding. P from work is so jealous, she asks if she may convert to be Chinese so that she can get jewelry at her wedding lol!

Well, if you're interested, I am wearing my silver leaf diamond pendant from second aunty and my rings. And a super blingy BCBGMaxaria watch that I rock nowadays. Just a few things I didn't use to have back then.

Was about to hit the shops for a spot of groceries shopping when S comes home from his bucks so we go together and he drives instead of me walking to the local shops like I planned to. Mighty glad I did though cause who knew that they sell sushi now at Woolies??? I sure didn't!

Carrying it home in the car - balancing it gingerly on my thighs

 
Gave me a good excuse to rock out my Japanese cutlery. Yes I cook Jap at home enough to warrant pretty crockery.

The review: the sushi looked so good at the bar that I simply couldn't make up my mind which one to get. Eating it though, and mind you we are Japanese snobs, (we only drink green tea made in Japan) S and I could taste that the sushi had been sitting there and the rice had gone cold. The flavours are there, just not fresh-made-sushi-warm enough for our liking.

Still, now I know where to source sashimi from for the Chinese New Year dish I am making next weekend. Stay tuned! I promise pictures!

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