Happy New Year!

 

Bring on 2011!

Sponsor Spotlight - Scrapbook Society

I'm dropping in again today to introduce you to one of my endlessly patient sponsors, Krystina Montemurro of Scrapbook Society. Krystina has been paper crafting for 10 years and now chronicles her love of scrapbooking and photography on Scrapbook Society. She also runs lollipops cards, a beautiful Etsy store full of 'sweet like candy' cards and stationery.

In amongst all the cuteness are her crowd favourites, playdate cards - they're like business cards for kids! I can absolutely picture my little nephew strolling around the park and handing these out to all the cute girls - such a heartbreaker!

In the new year (eek, officially two days away!) Scrapbook Society will be undergoing a name change to fit under the lollipops banner, so keep an eye out for all things lollipops! In the meantime, feel free to stop by Scrapbook Society and enjoy Krystina's photography, designs, ideas, cookie-related ramblings and musings of being a desperate housewife to a surfer guy (some ladies have all the luck!)

Thank you again to Krystina for all your support in 2010!


xx Kit

The Wright Stuff - Christmas at Falling Water

There's nothing like a bit of edible architecture to get you in the Christmas spirit! This amazing 'Christmas at Falling Water' marvel is a delicious gingerbread version of the Frank Lloyd Wright classic.

Made by Melodie and Brenton over at Garden Melodies, this ArchiTreat took around 12 hours to design and over 40 hours to build and decorate! I estimate it would take me about 12 minutes and 40 seconds to demolish, om nom nom!

Have a wander over to Garden Melodies for more fun facts about this good lookin' gingerbread house, plus the recipe if you feel like creating your own stylishly tasty abode.

So...who's going to take on a Gehry masterpiece? Gingerbread Guggenheim, anyone?

xx Kit

P.S. If Mr. Unreliable Santa is reading this, the Falling Water LEGO Set is still on my wish list. January Christmas presents are also more than welcome.

Wednesday Wisdom - Thinking of Christmas

Christmas waves a magic wand 
over this world, and behold, 

everything is softer and more beautiful.

- Norman Vincent Peale

I will honor Christmas in my heart, 

and try to keep it all the year.  

- Charles Dickens

It is Christmas in the heart 

that puts Christmas in the air.  

-W.T. Ellis

Annnnd one more for good measure, though as someone who wasn't able to make it home to be with my family this holiday season, it's a little bittersweet (but still funny and true!)

Christmas is a time 

when you get homesick -

even when you're home.

- Carol Nelson

[Photography by jojobatanesi , penny-layne and amarand]

Happy Holidays!

A little late (as always) but nevertheless, I'd like to wish everyone all the best for a relaxed and wonderful holiday season!

I'll be a busy little bee for what remains of the year, but I'll try to pop in before 2011 strikes to share a few thoughts on the year that was...

Until then, stay safe!

xx Kit

Happy (Crappy) Snaps

A few little happy snaps of the gifts I'm currently wrapping, courtesy of my beaten up old iPhone. 2011 will be the year that I upgrade to a real camera, oh yes, yes it will. (Recommendations welcome!)

As for the presents...quite a few this Christmas are to me, from me! I'm seriously considering signing some of the cards with a paw print. My cat has impeccable taste, she definitely would have chosen some of these if she had opposable thumbs and/or access to money. Without doubt.

[ Eiffel Tower Earrings from ASOS.com * ]
[ For moi, oui oui! And now only £4.00 too! ]

[ Cloud Brooch from Mein Design ]

[ An early present from Singapore from Mr. Unreliable ]

[ Owl Pillow Set and Owl Earrings from Urban Outfitters ]

[For my best friend...still unwrapped and unsent, oops!]

[ Tea Necklace from Equip ]

[ From the cat, to me - oh Soda, you shouldn't have! ]

Only 2 more sleeps! Hope you're rocking the Christmas Zen like me this year!

xx Kit

*After developing an unhealthy obsession with ASOS, I've decided to bring them on board as an affiliate. In other words, the two ASOS links in the post above are affiliate links, and if you just so happen to click on them and go grab some goodies for yourself, I'll get a small commission...and one small step closer to finally buying a proper camera so I can provide you with more original content than ever before - everybody wins!

The White Couch of Doom

A little while ago (okay, a long while ago) I put together this concept for my living room. Inspired by the colours of my then tiny, harmless kitten, I drew upon her grey, white and apricot shades and put together a palette that's a little bit feminine, but not so much so that Mr. Unreliable would flip out. This scheme also works in with my apartment's grey/beige greige carpet and silver/grey/beigey-brown fittings.

The problem, in case it's not already glaringly obvious, is The White Couch of Doom.

Let me say that again.

The White Couch of Doooooooooooooooooooooooom.

Sadly, it's the only item from that image that I actually own. I bought it pre-kitten (and pre-reality) and I love it...but it doesn't stay white for long. Removable covers are all well and good, except that I'm the only one who ever cleans them and they need to be cleaned at least fortnightly. Mr. Unreliable not only makes most of the mess, but he also promised me (when he chose the white cover!) that he would help keep it clean, including never putting his feet on the couch. Never. He broke that last promise within half an hour of getting TWCoD home.

So now I have a dilemma. 

Being the consummate party animal, I asked for a rug for my birthday. Yes, a rug. That rug. The one in the picture there, under the Impossibly Pristine White Couch On Which Unicorns Drink Fairy Dust Martinis.

The issue is that the whole palette has been (foolishly) built around The White Couch of Doom. It provides balance, contrast, lightness. If When I finally get jack of grubby footprints and grey cat hair coating the couch and give in to buying a dark grey cover (like I should have from the outset!) then the whole dynamic changes, the whole palette becomes darker and less vibrant.

So, impeccably stylish readers. What say you?

xx Kit

P.S. Have any lovely Australian readers come across the pictured coffee table (or similar) anywhere? I've only been keeping a casual eye out, but I haven't seen anything even vaguely resembling that design...and I must have it, I must!

Snowed Under

Figuratively speaking.

(But I'm still totally Zen about it!)


[Photography by Ginsui-rin]

Christmas Zen

If, like me, you've made the mistake of venturing into any form of shopping centre or store within the last few weeks, then you probably need a little bit of calm and relaxation. Remember those?

Despite my rookie errors however, my Christmas shopping is complete and I've come out the other side of some seriously crazed crowds (swarms?) feeling surprisingly Zen about the week ahead. Perhaps this is what it feels like to be organised? Obviously it's an unfamiliar sensation for me, I've never been this organised in my life, but if this whole peace and contentedness is related, I think I might just keep it up in 2011.

Happy (Zen) Monday!

xx Kit

[Photography by leonard-ART]

Happy Frursday!

I have a little shindig on tomorrow so I may not make it home in time and/or in any state to do a post...and you know by the name of the blog that I'm not organised enough to schedule that kind of stuff in advance. So as I'm treating today as my official Friday (aka Frursday) I'm going to start pondering the weekend a little early.

I've decided that my weekend is going to look like this. I might even make some origami cranes just to complete the effect. Instead of a book filled with just boring words (I kid!) I'm instead going to be poring over the pretty pages of my newly acquired Frankie Spaces magazine/book mook (boogazine just doesn't have the same ring to it) allllll weekend long. I may also take a quick break to try out my new Matryoshka measuring cups! Not to bake or actually do anything productive, just to measure stuff. Yeah. Anyhoo.

These new goodies came to me from the lovely Sammie via the Aussie Vogue Forums annual Kris Kringle. 101 'Voguettes' took part this year, and it's so uplifting to read through the 'received' thread and see all the excitement and thankfulness. The spending limit it relatively small (even though I KNOW Sammie spoilt me!) but the reward is so much bigger than the gift. Woo, Christmas cheer! And not the "OMFGINEEDTOBUY8000CHRISTMASPRESENTSAT11:59PMONCHRISTMASEVE-GETTHEFECKOUTTAMYWAY" kind of Christmas cheer.

Indeed.

On that note... I might just see you back here before Monday, but just in case, have a stellar weekend!

xx Kit

P.S. Another huuuuge thank you to Bec for organising the Vogue Kris Kringle once again - she does an amazing job every year. Hopefully her KK spoilt her rotten (muhahaha, it was meeee, and I did!)

P.P.S. Look at Sammie's beautiful wrapping! I should have put these presents under the tree for at least a few days, but I took one look at them and just had to know what was inside. So pretty!

[Photography by Liis Klammer], my cruddy iPhone, and Sammie]

Wednesday Wisdom - Dream By Day

Those who dream by day

are cognizant of many things

which escape those who dream

only by night.

- Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849), "Eleonora"

[Photography by MyWonderlandAsylum]

An Unreliable Christmas

Living up to my name as I so often do of late, here are finally a few images of my own little slice of Christmas cheer...and only two weeks after I first decked the halls!

I'm working towards a white and silver theme, but this year the red and blue just had to stay (mainly because I couldn't find any kitty-proof white or silver baubles, even when I started searching months ago!) Next year, my pretties...next year.

xx Kit

P.S. The Ultimate Indulgence competition has now closed, thank you so much to everyone who entered! Hopefully I'll be sharing some good news with one of you very soon!

P.P.S....

Bah, humbug!

xx Soda

Not-Enough-Caffeine-In-The-World Monday

Today was a Red Bull kind of Monday. The kind where, after far too short a weekend, I wanted to be juuuuust about anywhere except where I actually was, and even normal coffee wasn't quite enough to get me through the day. Needless to say, there was a little daydreaming and a lot of clock-watching.

Isn't that what Monday's are for?

xx Kit

P.S. My Christmas-y Friday post didn't publish, but it's probably for the best. I was so tired when I wrote it (and I'm still so tired now) that I have absolutely no idea what I was on about. Let's try that again tomorrow, shall we?

P.P.S. Aussie readers, tomorrow is the last day of the Ultimate Indulgence contest - you have until midday (Australian daylight savings time!) to go in the running for $1000 just in time for Christmas, so be creative and get in quick!

[Photography by Vinyl-Disco and nombril7]

Tea Break

There's one small downside to being so blissfully busy - I'm exhausted! I was too busy today to even grab a coffee or tea (I know, outrageous!) and it's now 8.30pm, the sun has only just gone down and I'm seriously ready for bed.

Let's hope tomorrow is a little less hectic...and/or a lot more caffeinated!

Back with a little Christmas cheer tomorrow, but until then, bonne nuit!

xx Kit

[Photography by loLO-o and Zaratops]

Wednesday Wisdom - Time

The time you enjoy wasting

is not wasted time.

- Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

[Photography by marielliott and 8o-clock]

Seasonally Subtle - Stylish Christmas Decorations

As someone who's not into tinsel or anything overtly Christmas-themed (apart from my Christmas tree, of course!) I'm really enjoying the Christmas decoration posts over at The Style Files.

So much prettiness, without being over the top. But on that note...

Last Friday I made the mistake of ducking into one of those Christmas warehouses, and let's just say that my search for some plain white and/or silver baubles is ongoing. I don't even know how a warehouse full of flashing lights and multi-coloured decorations is even capable of being so depressing, but sure enough...

On the bright side, however, I did pick up this little beauty for the grand total of $3. It's so glittery and over the top that I just had to have it. It now keeps watch over my dark little hallway, observing the comings and goings of my noisy upstairs neighbours in all its obnoxiously sparkly glory.

Yes, that's right 3am Madonna-cranking neighbours, GlitterBow is Watching! *insert ominous laughter here*

xx Kit

P.S. This is what happens when I try to function with no caffeine. My apologies.

Rue Awakening

If you're like me and you've had your head in the proverbial sand for the last few months, you may not have heard about Rue yet, so allow me introduce you to the coolest new kid on the block.

Rue is a completely free and ridiculously good looking online magazine filled to the brim with beautiful people, places and things, and only two issues in it has already established a wide and devoted audience - it's not difficult to see why.

Co-founded by Crystal of Plush Palate and Anne of The City Sage, Rue is "fueled by [a] mission to bring the inclusive nature of blogging to a magazine," and flicking through the pages and seeing so many familiar names and faces, it's obvious that Rue has been welcomed with open (virtual) arms...and rightfully so.

With an eclectic mix of styles, price points and people, this is an amazing online resource for all things interiors. Despite the American focus (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and my already heavily burdened credit cards, I suspect Rue is going to become a reliable staple in my decorPorn diet.

Rock on, Rue!