Throw in the Towel

For a quick and easy bathroom refresh, I'm loving the idea of mixing and matching some new hand and bath towels. There are plenty out there to choose from so it's easy to tailor your choice to your own space and taste and find towels that compliment each other in terms of colour and print. I've whittled it down to my top three combos: 01. Jonathan Adler Arcade Orange & Grey Bath Towel, $91 - Shopstyle Australia  + Diamond Hand Towel, $18 - Cool Galah | 02. Dove Hand Towel, $35 - Ziporah + Heath Bath Towel, $29.95 - Country Road | 03. Muse Chevron Bath Towel, $34.95 - Pillow Talk + Missoni Giacomo Hand Towel, $35 - Safari Living I hope you're having a great Sunday! C x

Shop Online: Paterson and Steele

Thanks to an accidental 'stumble across' on Instagram, I found a gorgeous, brand spanking new online homewares store called Paterson and Steele. Apart from the fact that the store was devised by 'a design obsessed, self-confessed shopaholic' and 'a surf obsessed wine expert'(!), for me, what sets Paterson and Steele apart from other homewares stores is that their products have a story - they are handmade and sometimes end up going straight from an artist's studio into the store, meaning you are getting something new, original and lovingly made. They understand that a home needs soul, so they veer away from the mass produced and the ordinary. Their commitment to ethical sourcing and affordable prices is another reason to check them out, but most of all, I LOVE that they have an 'In the Doghouse' section on the site. If you are lucky enough to have a dog (a black staffy is on my 'one day' wish list!) then the Jonathon Adler collars and leashes will be right up your street! Here are six of my favourite picks from the store:

01. Dip Dyed Macrame Hanger Pink, $139 | 02. Jai Vasicek China Blue Cross, $125 | 03. Gloh Vessel Neon Pink, $35 | 04. Bone Storage Box Blue/White, $70 | 05. Algarve Cushion Natural/Neon Pink, $60 | 06. Hand Painted Antler White/Navy/Gold/Lime, $70

Plus, a pug (sadly, not for sale).  How could I go past a pug?!

All images sourced from patersonandsteele.com.au C x

Skincare 101: Soak Up the Knowledge of Caroline Hirons

Over the Christmas break I discovered Caroline Hirons and my skin is thanking me for it. If you're a beauty buff, you'll know exactly who I'm talking about. If you don't, get to know her. She's the straight-talking, no bullshit skincare ORACLE and with 17 years' experience in the beauty industry, this lady knows her stuff. You can learn more about her skincare philosophy over at her blog, carolinehirons.com, where she posts regular product reviews and useful 'cheat sheets' on a variety of skincare issues. You can also pick up some useful tips here in a recent interview she did with the Pixiwoo sisters  (these girls are make-up marvels) on their Body Talk Youtube channel. I really like the way she dismisses the concept of 'anti-ageing' and describes getting older as a privilege - wise words indeed.

Historically I've been really lazy with my skin. I'd frequently go to sleep in my make-up, I'd wash my face with shower gel, occasionally using an abrasive scrub to exfoliate, then I'd slap on some cheap moisturiser and be done with it. Now my thirties have hit, I'm taking more of an interest in keeping my skin at its best. In the words of Caroline, 'you've only got one face!' Below, I've summed up 10 key tips I've picked up from Caroline's blog:

1. Start your skincare regime on the inside by taking a regular fish oil supplement and drinking lots of water daily to ensure your skin is adequately hydrated.
2. Avoid products containing mineral oil at all costs. Mineral oil is a cheap substance that is derived from petroleum. When applied to the skin it forms a film, which does have a temporary smoothing effect, but ultimately makes absorption of active ingredients nigh on impossible. It is of no benefit to the skin whatsoever.

3. CLEANSE! Morning and night (twice at night if you've been wearing make-up and/or SPF during the day), using a non-mineral oil cleanser, obvs (sorry Eve Lom, you're out). No more sleeping with your make-up on. Ever.
4. Avoid foaming cleansers as they strip the skin. Although they tend to be marketed towards oily skin types, they actually have a counter-productive effect by over-stimulating the skin, causing it to produce even more oil. Gel or balm cleansers taken off with a wet flannel are much better.
5. Exfoliate in a liquid form. Use an exfoliating toner, rather than a scrub that contains abrasive kernals that can cause broken capillaries and over-stimulate the skin.

6. Apply eye cream before moisturiser so that it properly absorbs into your skin.  Putting it on afterwards, according to the Oracle, is like 'wearing knickers over your trousers.' Enough said.
7. Skin serums/oils are great no matter your skin type.

8. Use a separate moisturiser and SPF. According to Caroline, SPF is a dominant ingredient and if you use a moisturiser containing SPF, you won't be getting the best from your moisturiser.

9. If you would spend more on a handbag or a new pair of shoes than you would spend on your face, your priorities are wrong. Buy the best you can afford and if you can, have a few different products on rotation to mix up your routine depending on the changing needs of your skin. 

10. Last but not least (and my personal favourite), wipes are  strictly for 'fannies, festivals and flights.' Avoid! 

Who do you turn to for honest and useful skincare advice?

C

x

Supermarket Chic

I mentioned in my last post that saving more money is on my agenda for this year, but I've still got to fuel my addiction for prettying up my unit - that's non-negotiable! Rather than hitting the shops and being tempted by pricey homewares, I found inspiration in the midst of a mundane grocery shop. Here is my supermarket haul for a little home sprucing on a budget: 1. Chevron Portable Coffee Mug (Woolworths) - great for a nice cup of coffee at your desk, but even better without the lid and filled with flowers, pencils, make-up brushes or whatever else you fancy. I'm diggin these peach tulips, also picked up at the supermarket. 2. San Pellegrino Sparkling Water - this iconic bottle design  is displayed in so many stylish kitchens and bar carts I see about the web. Lovely.

3. Thankyou Hand Wash - these are a fab wallet-friendly alternative to the expensive Aesop hand washes and proceeds from this range help fund sustainable health and hygiene education programs in developing countries.

4. Limes - I never shy away from a pop of colour so a glass container full of limes adds a suitable hit of green.  Same goes for oranges or lemons; change it up!

How do you find inexpensive ways to spruce up your home?  I'd love to know!

C

x

New Year Musings

I hurtled into 2014 on an aeroplane taking me back to Australia after a cosy Christmas at home in the UK that left me suitably warm and fuzzy inside.

There was lots of this:

And lots of fuss made over these cuties:

And lots of time spent with favourite people:

What has left me even warmer is the sweltering Queensland summer I've returned to. While lolling in an undignified fashion on my sofa in the direct and constant stream of a large fan, fighting the jetlag, I did some reflecting on where I am at with things at the start of 2014.

It's been a strange couple of years up until now in which I've experienced my first bout of real anxiety - not just the usual day-to-day worries, but the kind you need to see a doctor about. Luckily I feel like the worst is behind me, and somehow I'm entering this year with a sense of contentment - something that's felt missing for a while, despite the great things I know I have in my life. I now feel more at peace with my decision to live in Australia, 10,000 miles away from my family and friends. I'm feeling so appreciative of my relationship with my partner, his family and the new friends I have made here in Aus. Yes, I want to improve on healthy eating, exercise and saving money, but I'm taking small steps in the right direction and being kinder to myself along the way. I want to pursue my love of decor by doing a short course. I want to continue to improve my photography. I want to put more of myself into this blog as a creative outlet. I want to move closer to buying my first home. But when I hear the dreaded 'should' word creep into my head I will stop and remind myself that these are things I WANT, not chores I have to complete or things I need to do to impress others. I can choose to do these things or I can choose not to do them. Either is ok.

Sometimes I like nothing more than to curl up with a cup of coffee and browse my way through all the shiny, perfectly styled blog posts out there on fashion, beauty and interiors, but I do tend to fall into the comparison trap. I see all these young, bright and enthusiastic girls who are launching creative businesses and living their passions and I feel like at 31 years old, I'm seriously lagging behind. I have an ordinary job that isn't too stressful (most of the time!) and pays the bills, but I constantly feel pressure (admittedly self-imposed) to discover my grander purpose and to be forging a career path in a field that I love. When I moved to Australia to be with my partner I left behind a teaching career that was going well. It's the most challenging thing I have ever done and the thing that I feel most proud of to date. But when the time came to leave, I was ready to go. I'd had enough. I was burned out. Since then, I've drifted on the wind and haven't really made a proactive decision on the direction I want to take next. That was over three years ago and I cringe as I think of the time flying by. The truth is, I just don't know what I really want (and don't get me started on the question of having children - way too overwhelming!).

But right now, at the start of a new year with its promise of fresh starts and unwritten stories, I finally feel like that's ok. That's allowed. It doesn't mean I am failing. It doesn't mean I have to rush to figure out the answers before it's 'too late'. It doesn't mean that I can't be content with all that I have right now. I have so much to be thankful for and I know that.

From the sea of 'inspirational' quotations that are swirling about the internet these days, I've whittled it down to three that resonate with me the most here and now:

1. 'Make no comparisons. Keep your head down and do your own thing.' - Torrie Asai

2. 'There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.' - Zora Neale Hurston

3. 'You will never have to force anything that's truly meant to be.' - Unknown

Where are you at this new year? 

C

x

Colour Popping

01. Yellow Bowl: Dreaming - Kikki K | 02. Queen of Hearts Blue Heart Vase - Love Star | 03. Into My Arms Cushion by Habitots - Hard to Find | 04. Raspberry Lacquer Box - Hello Polly | 05. Enamel Tray Cobalt - Adore Home Magazine Shop | 06. Colour Wheel Basket 004 - Fossik

It's the first day of December and I am HAPPY.  The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with the eating of the first (and always best) advent calendar chocolate and watching the boyfriend 'help' to decorate his parents' Christmas Tree (the 'help' involved haphazardly throwing tinsel at the tree, followed by artfully decorating the dog). In keeping with my mood, I'm totally loving this little collection of bright accessories. I'd keep the backdrop of the room crisp and white with neutral furniture in pale woods and greys, then sprinkle in these colourful items for a perfect pop of mood-lifting energy and fun. 

C

x