Dressed to impress

Some of the following stars may not have won anything, or indeed been up for anything to begin with. But their outfits in itself is something they should be tremendously proud of. These are some of the dresses that to put it bluntly, would kill to have tucked away in my closet.

I'm still really undecided about Lily Collins dress. I love it. But I hate it. The shape is amazing and looks just as amazing on her but there's something iffy about the colour.

Although I'm not a huge fan of Miley Cyrus you can't deny she looks amazing. There's always something about the 20s glamour that ticks all my boxes and when it's a .... gown that makes it faultless.

Rooney Mara worked it in Givenchy. Many people don't agree with me but there's something alluring about her overall look. Divine.

It's probably pretty obvious that I have a bit of a girl crush on Emma Stone. The fact that she is both stunningly gorgeous and has a brilliant sense of humour makes her almost impossible to hate. And in this Giambattista Valli gown you almost want to hate her for looking so good!

The awards nights really are my favourite events of the year, and who watches the actual awards, it's all about the red carpet!!

Fresh start

So I haven't posted something substantial for a little while, and really it has everything to do with my re-entering into education. As some of you may know I took a year off and worked/travelled my way through the 12 months, but now that all those 'fun times' are over I have to get serious. This year (and last week to be specific) marked the start of my Journalism degree at University.

Basically it's a fresh start; new people, teachers, knowledge and a whole new playground for me to explore. I'll keep you posted in-between assignments, homework and cafe investigating. Hopefully I manage time!

Lately I've been hunting for a cute journal to write in and I think I've found it.

Isn't this just THE most amazing journal? Yes, it's quite simple. But also ridiculously cheap, so if you want one just head onto the online store etsy, I'm sure you've all heard of it. It's handmade as well, as if it needed to get better!

She makes wonders

"It was cold, winter morning. I observed through the window how she got out of the cab. I opened the door and for the first time I saw her gentle eyesight - eyes cold as they were a frozen ocean. Then I allowed her sleepy body to lay down on my bed.

Through the lens I followed her sad dreams. I can`t speak to You with words yet, so allow me to tell about myself on these photos, on which I`ve enchanted this little, sad girl, who is within You (and is the reflection of myself - our trembling hands, eyes, seared from light, wet with tears, and mutilated bodies)"

These are the stunningly beautiful photos and words of Laura Makabresku. I came across Laura's blog which is what started me with my obsession with her. On her blog she has her daily musings, artworks and tales of her wondrous life.

They make my world go round

Having something to love is a wonderful feeling, and I've found it in these five things.

1. The always wonderful and perfect Zooey Deschanel in New Girl. I can't explain how much I love this show, I pretty much live for Sunday night at 8pm. She makes me laugh, she's gorgeous and is a complete and utter goofball, what else need I say?

2. The images that my wonderful Diana f+ creates. If you haven't ventured into the world of lomography images I suggest you do. The overexposed images taken by the somewhat plasticky camera came out magical and not of this world.

3. Floral carpet, floral dresses, floral shoes, floral everything I love it! My friends often refer to floral as the "grandma trend" but they just don't understand. Floral is amazing and it makes me feel amazing as well.

4. My mouth is overcome with saliva just looking at the delicious chai latte that rests before you. Being unaccustomed (and never really wanting to become accustomed) to coffee I had to seek an alternative from the childish hot chocolate that I usually ordered. I'd heard of chai's before and ventured to my nearest supermarket and picked up some tea bags, although I'll tell you this now the loose stuff is far far better. I was immediately in love with it's mouth watering blend of spices and have now become a chai addict.

5. Ryan Gosling will always be a big love for me. Ever since The Notebook where he swept Rachel McAdam's off her feet I think he earned a place in girls hearts worldwide. His acting ability is incredibly versatile and just as amazing. Lately I've been having somewhat of a Gosling movie marathon which is easily the reason behind my re-ignited feelings.

This life

Lately I can't help but think of what I want to accomplish, before I'm 21, before I'm 35 and before I inevitably die. This picture mightn't be a "bucket list" of sorts but it captures what life itself is. And how to live it. I personally think that life should't be something you're advised on how to do, it just happens. Whether you marry early, or never marry at all or if you became ridiculously famous it should be of your subconscious doing.

Also this photo is just too cute that I had to share it with you all.

Keep dreaming x

Happy V-Day

"Love is everywhere"

To those, like me, who don't have a Valentine I just want to say: Happy Valentines Day.

And just because there isn't someone there for you on this day doesn't mean there won't be someone in the future.

Love you.

x

Days like these

Even with the gloomy weather and occasional drizzle the crowds were still pumping through the gates and crowding the trams. Offering a great array of bands, live entertainment, freebies and food there isn't any wonder for the reasons behind the festivals popularity.

This for me was my first St.Kilda festival event and from it I've learnt that St.Kilda really knows how it's done. There's no other backdrop like theirs; whether it be luna park, the vast stretch of sand or numerous palm tree silhouettes anywhere you look is somewhere worth looking.

As for the bands I still can't believe all the talent I witnessed for the mere price of a train ticket, a fraction of what I normally spend at other festivals. My day started off watching the ferociously growing band Stonefield. The young girls with their long flowing locks certainly give you a bit of a shock when they open their mouths and the strong rasping vocals come crawling out. Standing out against their fellow up-and-comers Stonefield's musical style is that of 80's rock band, but with woman thrashing their heads and strumming their guitars.

Owl Eyes was my next venture and boy did this little lady entertain! On the slightly lower O'Donnel Garden stage and the tiny frame of Brooke Addamo ( Owl Eyes front woman) it made it even harder to get visibility of her magic at work. I deeply considered this point whilst listening to her soft, perfectly pitched vocals and decided that no, you don't need to see her face. Her voice casts the perfect image. This however doesn't mean I didn't see her because I did. The fact that she kept on going whilst the rain showed it's presence won a lot of brownie points with me as well.

Whilst admiring the wonderfully scenery that is St.Kilda beach I overhead the amazing beats of Big Scary. A band that I hadn't been acquainted with before but have now, thanks to the St.Kilda festival, made space for on my ipod.

Way back when at a fashion show long, long ago there was a band that followed up the beautiful flowy dresses. That band was Alpine. With the two eccentric lead singers and their harmonic duets together I was mesmerised. They quickly became heavily featured on my '25 most played' playlist and I worked my butt off introducing them to all my friends and sharing their wonder. Since then they are almost a household name, and their amazing live performance at St.Kilda festival will only assure them of this. Watching them, slightly in awe, I couldn't help but feel proud knowing that I'd discovered them early on. And that when they sung their older songs; 'Heartlove', 'Icypole' and 'Too Safe' I was right there singing with them. Of course when their most recent and highly popular song 'Hands' pumped out of the speakers the crowd did the same, and no doubt felt just as proud of their lyric abilities. It's easy to say that these guys are a band I am going to stick with, I am at times get into hardcore fanship but who doesn't with a band they love? And isn't it after all the very reason they do what they do.

The stunning sunset over the main stage and St.Kilda beach.

We all love Eleanor

Eleanor Hardwick is more than just a talented little lady, since the age of twelve she has been snapping images that encapulate magic and wonder. She has a keen eye for the composition of an image and this fact has clearly been recognised. Eleanor has taken photos for numerous magazines; British Vogue, Puella, harper's bazaar and Rookie magazine just to name a few. So if these images look familar, you've probably seen them scattered through the glossy pages of the high end fashion magazines. Check out more of her work here.

Your Guide To Survival

With this year's festival season heating up I thought I'd share my past experiences and advice with you. Having been to 5 festivals now, I'm not exactly a veteran at the art of 'festival going' but I'd still like to consider myself not far off. So for all of you who haven't been, or just haven't got the hang of it yet, here's some wisdom to action at your next festival.

It's important to do a bit of pre-festival research. Know the bands and the lineup and for the ones you're going to see learn the words to their song. This is something you can't lip sync your way out of, so get onto it. Managing to get a ticket to begin with can be a bit tricky, with a lot of festivals selling out in a few minutes. I haven't to this day missed out but I become a bit mental come ticket release time. Make sure that your computer is fully functioning and isn't likely to crash on you as soon as you click 'buy tickets.' It may sound excessive but I've usually had my computer and laptop going, just in case. check that you have all the information to fill the form out in front of you. Lastly, if you do miss out on the first release, they usually have a second release during the morning and a ballot you can enter. To get there try to avoid driving, finding a park will be near impossible. If you are catching public transport, know the times and where to go. Or if in doubt follow the mob of decked out festival-goers.

On the day, dress to impress but also for convenience. I always try to wear strong comfy ankle boots, to help cushion that foot-stomping moment that is destined to happen. Wearing thongs will leave you in immense pain. Also wearing something with pockets is a wise idea, you can stuff any invaluable things in there, old tickets, set list, the map you name it and it saves bag space too, which is always a plus. Now this isn't a necessity but I have a thing for hats, mainly because I always end up getting my scalp burnt. But if you can manage a hair-do to prevent this, I advise you do so.

I think the worst thing people can do is bring big, heavy, bulky bags that they have to lug around everywhere and get in the way of getting close to the action. Boys this is where you are lucky. I like to bring a small cute bag that can fit the festival essentials, which are;

1. Drink bottle - keep in mind they won't let you in with one that is full with the lid open. So either opt for an empty drink bottle or buy a new one and don't touch it until you're inside!

2. Small handy tube of sunscreen that will save your life.

3. Disposable camera - it's not the end of the world if this beauty gets broken or lost and the photos turn out pretty cool.

4. Your I.D/Ticket

5. Cash - Try to accommodate for the very expensive food and merchandise.

6. A pen for marking all the bands you want to see on the set list.

7. Your phone, obviously.

The main thing to remember is stay hydrated! You never realise how much fluids you lose when you're sweating it out to your fave band. And no one wants to be the girl that fainted during Foster the Peoples set. Getting enough sleep beforehand is also a biggie, because it is a long intense day. Take breaks when there's no one you want to see and have some food. But steer clear of the nachos, I have never had a good lot to this day. And if a guy offers to put you on his shoulders, take it, it's a godsend and you feel king of the world.

But most of all enjoy it, make the most of it because you will remember it for a long time.

For more tips and pointers there should always be some on your festivals home page.

She's so fine

Whenever I see a picture of Freja Beha I always think, how gorgeous does she want to get? She almost reminds me of a taller, slightly gaunter Rachel McAdams.

And whenever I see her awkward skinny legs, it makes me feel that much better about my own shape-less legs.

These images are of Freja's Free People lookbook photoshoot. Which she is stunning in.

Big Sweltering Day Out

[image from my "fortune cookie" camera]

There’s something about Big Day Out in Melbourne that brings
the hot weather, and this year was no exception. With approximately 42,000
festival goers all sweating it out BDO went off with a bang, as it usually
does.

This year’s festival marked the 20th anniversary
for Big Day Out and also a jump in ticket prices, but still an amazing line up
with heaps of diversity. Some highlights of the star studded line up were; My
Chemical Romance, Kimbra, Kanye West, Art vs Science, Foster the People, The
Living End and a non musical talent – Tony Hawke.

Given last year’s temperatures Big Day Out has altered
several factors in their layout scheme, more water sprinklers were added for
cooling delight and all but the two major stages were under shelter, protecting
your delicate skin from those lethal UV rays. Sunscreen was on hot demand and
as was the free slurpies, where the queue never seemed to dwindle.

[Kimbra rocking the Green stage, take40.com]

As for the music, the first band I saw was the Kentucky band
Cage the Elephant. From the first song this band went insane. I’d only known
one of their songs, “Shake me down” but the rest of their songs got me going as
well. It could be said that the lead singer was ‘slightly intoxicated’ but
weren’t we all, either from a natural high or something more man-made? Through
the whole set, front man Matthew Schultz, danced and jolted around, crowd
surfed, walked over the crowd and really put his all into the music. The sweat
was dripping down on us all but that didn’t change the fact that this was a
great band.

Next off the barracks was a slightly tamer band, Best Coast.
Also American this one woman fronted band eased the souls of all the fans, and
even cracked a few jokes to alleviate the sticky crowd. The Vaccines followed
close behind and with their catchy, dare I say pop-ish, tunes had the sea of
people in a fit of enjoyment. The Jezabels also was on my watch list and were a
soothing change to the heavy base and screaming that vibrated through the
tents.

[the sweaty throng of people, take40.com]

At the suns peak The Living End approached the stage and
virtually set it on fire. They had the crowd in the palms of their hands,
filling the whole of the Orange and Blue stage section and then some. For their
more well known tracks, “Prisoner of Society” and “West end riot” the ground
was literally rocking with the mass of people in a trance to the beat. The
Cello player was even so daring as to prop himself on his cello, which sent the
crowd roaring once again. Out of all the bands I’d say that The Living End
worked the crowd the best, knowing what to do and when to do it, even at one
point using the remaining Australia Day pride and singing, “Waltzing Matilda.”
Which if you’re not Australian is an Aussie hit.

To finish my night off I saw my almost favourite band of all
time, Foster the People. With their numerous chart-toppers their set went off.
Not a soul under the tent wasn’t dancing and singing and if there was someone
that wasn’t they were taking a breather from the oven like surroundings. “Call
it what you want” had the crowd shouting their hearts out. Foster squeezed the
life out of their hit “Pumped up Kicks” adding solos and dance tunes to really
set the crowd off. This was their final song, and the obvious choice, everyone
left the stage on a high, sweaty but in utter bliss.

It’s hard to compare previous Big Day Out’s to
each other, and this being my third year I consider this the best. My first was
amazing as it still had the excitement of my first festival, but this one has
been full of many unforgettable moments and amazing performances. So if you’re
going to pick a festival that you want to have a good time at, I say pick Big
Day Out.

A trip down Hosier Lane.

These pictures are a result of a little outing I had in Melbourne today. With a close friend and (my not so professional) camera we headed off to a laneway called Hosier Lane. For those of you who don't know Melbourne well this is a lovely little spot filled with street art, or as some call it Graffiti. Aside from the actual defacing of the works it's a great spot to get some amazing pictures and a tourist hotspot.