Give Me a Break

Images: Mental Floss

Anger Release Machine

I couldn't be happier to see the back of this week. Yes siree, it's been one of those times when a Venting Machine wouldn't have gone astray. Simply insert a coin into Ronnie Yarisal and Katja Kublitz's Anger Release Machine and let the satisfying crash of fine china soothe your troubles. Bang. Crash. Smash. I'm feeling better already!

Found via.

Everything Old is New Again

Images: Re:Collection

Re:Collection

You can search high and low, but sometimes the inspiration you're chasing is in your own backyard. One site keeping it local, is Re:Collection. This online archive of Australian graphic design from 1960-1980 well and truly covers off the three i's - inspiring, intriguing and influential. What more could you want?

Know All

Image: Leo Reynolds

100 Things We Didn't Know Last Year

There's nothing like being prepared. Which is why I'm studying the BBC's list of 100 Things We Didn't Know Last Year.

After all, you never know when there will be an uncomfortable silence you need to fill. Or if your 15 seconds of fame might just include a game show. Or failing that, when you'll need to come across as a smart arse. Yup. There's nothing like being prepared!

Happy Little Vegemite

Image: deviantART

Vegemite Queen

Happy Australia day to you and you and you!

How are you planning on celebrating all things Aussie? Are you throwing a shrimp on the barbie and washing it down with a Foster's? Getting about in a Chesty Bonds? Proudly exposing your Southern Cross tattoo? Or how about picking up the perfect toast to Strayla - this Vegemite on canvas print by Steph Chard?

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi! Oi! Oi!

US$ 12; available online from Etsy.

Push Your Ideas

Video: You Tube

It's hard to believe Monday is here again. Before you rush headlong into your day, take just one minute to watch this clip for the Rethink Scholarship and let it set the tone for the week ahead...

Dream. Create. Inspire.

The Great Reveal?

Video: You Tube

A Banksy Film

You've got to hand it to him. Banksy is the world's most (in)famous street artist, and yet he has also managed to remain completely anonymous. But is all that about to change?

Tonight, Banksy's first film Exit Through the Gift Shop will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The guerrilla pseudo-documentary is narrated by fellow Brit, Rhys Ifans, and features for the first ever time Banksy speaking to camera. It's doubtful the elusive artist will be sans disguise - and that's just the way I like it. There's nothing better than a good tease!

Heads Up

Image: Letter Heady

Letterheady

Elvis makes me ridiculously giddy. Which is why I'm in raptures over the discovery of his...wait for it...letterhead.

Letterheady is a new site that pays homage to the not-so-humble letterheads of the rich and famous. You'll find the likes of Harry Houdini, The Doors and Adolf Hitler on there. Now, that's a mixed bag if I ever saw one!

Legs Eleven

Images: Les Queues de Sardines

Stockings and Tights by Les Queues de Sardines

Give a leg up for these super cute, limited edition stockings and tights from Les Queues de Sardines. Screen-printed by hand, they are the perfect reason to get your pins out - or distract attention from a bad case of cankles!

Available from these stockists.

Green With Envy

Images: Deezen

Shenzhen Penthouse by Design Systems

I'm not sure who ol' Harry is, but our lawn is as dry as him. Which is why I've got serious grass envy at the sight of this penthouse in Shenzhen, China. Hong Kong based studio, Design Systems, have just completed renovations on this apartment, including the addition of an undulating lawn on the terrace.

I rather fancy the idea of having a rolling green lawn on my doorstep, so I can channel Julie Andrews and frolic about. But Stage 3A water restrictions bring me back to earth with a thud...

Found via.

Believe It Or Not?

Image: MatthewG15

Meet Matthew. With a pair of Wayfarers tattooed on his face, he must surely be Ray-Ban's #1 fan.

Video: You Tube

Or is he? This human billboard might actually be part of nifty viral campaign. If it turns out that Matthew isn't legit, I don't think it matters one iota. This campaign has got everyone talking. Mission accomplished Ray-Ban.

What do you think - hoax or the real thing? More pictures can be found over here.

Brrrrrrr!

Image: Laura Wesson

Reknit It

Excuse me, but what's with Melbourne's weather?! One minute I'm swimming in a pool of sweat, and the next I'm digging out my winter woolies and fending off hail the size of watermelons.

The silver lining of this cold snap is that Reknit It is now relevant to all us Southern Hemisphere folk. Every month, Haik's mum, takes your old knitted garments and turns them into something new, unique and useful. For January, she's turning old sweaters into scarves. And next month? Well, that's up to you! Vote online and help decide whether Haik's mum reknits beanies, iPod cases, cut-off gloves or socks in February.

US $30; available online at Reknit It

On Yer Bike!

Image: rhcramer

The Humble Vintage

From the Genius-Ideas-That-I-Wish-I-Had-Thought-Of file comes The Humble Vintage. For just 30 bucks per day, this mob hires out vintage bikes for you to cruise around Melbourne on. Pick up points can be found in the CBD and on both sides of the Yarra, in Fitzroy and St. Kilda.

But wait there's more! You'll also get a helmet, lock, lights and custom map and guide of bike worthy destinations. Can't beat that value! In fact, it's almost enough to make me get back on a bike, even though I haven't ridden one since The Garage Door incident of '88. Don't ask...

Judge a Book by its Cover

Image: Harlequin

The Vintage Collection from Mills & Boon

Be still, my beating heart! Sure, many publishing houses have re-released their classics over the last few years, but this gorgeously retro boxed set from Mills & Boon is seriously making me swoon.

Maybe it's the fact that they remind me of my beautiful nanny, June, who always had a Mills & Boon on the go. Or maybe it's the original 50's covers featuring classic titles like Virgin with Butterflies or Pardon My Body! Either way, The Vintage Collection had me at hello!

Au$ 24.95; available online from Mills & Boon.

Curves Ahead

Image: Marie Claire

The other day I got stuck in a queue next to a newsstand featuring J-Hawk's cover for Marie Claire, and at the risk of jumping on the bandwagon, here's my two bobs worth - this cover and the concept behind it offends me. Who are they try to kid? How can this image of a super model/super-stunning-freak-of-nature baring all possibly be a 'celebration of the female body in all its beauty and magnificance'? If this is as real as we can get, then we've got a long way to go.

Images: V Magazine

If Marie Claire wants a lesson in how to genuinely embrace real women looking...well, real...they should take a leaf out of V Magazine. Their recent Curves Ahead editorial is the bomb(shell)!

The Simple Pursuit of Happiness

Image: Virgin Honey

Don't get me wrong, I think I'm a happy person. But this weekend made me even happier than usual. It was the synchronicity of lots of little things...a swim in the ocean...rosé and deliciously salty school prawns...dancing...sleeping between crisp hotel sheets...discovering new things about an old friend...that added up to a sea of bliss.

And it seems this happiness is destined to roll into the coming weeks. You see, I just stumbled across a list of 50 Steps to Simple Happiness and have decided to attempt all of them - well, the ones that don't require me to physically be in New York!

Want to join me in the simple pursuit of happiness?

Lights Out

Images: Pam Sattler

Neon Boneyard

It's terribly narcissistic, but I've always fancied the idea of my name up in lights. How mortifying though if your sign were to end up in the Neon Boneyard! Found just outside of Vegas, this is one graveyard I wouldn't mind spending some time in.

Perfect Ten

Images: We are Handsome

Swimwear by We are Handsome

Today is going to be perfect for a bit of beach action. And these bathers by We are Handsome are seriously the most perfect swimwear I've laid eyes on. Each piece is made by hand and the designs are limited edition.

There's only one thing left to say, really - perfecto!

The Collector

Images: A Collection A Day, 2010

A Collection A Day, 2010

Not sure about you, but this year I didn't make any resolutions. Lisa Congdon on the other hand, has made a very big and very public promise for 2010. She's set herself the task of photographing, drawing (and occasionally painting) a collection from her home or studio on every day of this year.

As Lisa's lovely site has become my first port of call each morning, I hope that from an entirely selfish point of view, this is one resolution she keeps!