Borne Naked Handbag Challenge

Throw a challenge my way, and I'll have a crack at it - particularly one that is called Borne Naked! Sounds risque, huh?! Actually, it is more a case of being risky. You see, it necessitated me diving into the black hole that is my handbag and giving it a good ol' fashioned sort out. Fancy seeing the results?

Welcome to the jungle! This is my handbag in all it's 'Before' glory. I'm the first to admit, that the bigger the bag, the more crap I'll stuff into it. In fact, the husband has put a boycott on fishing anything out of my bag as he thinks you need a miners hat to find anything in there!

Want to get up close and personal? This is the contents of my bag. When I laid everything out it struck me that the things in my bag reveal all the balls I juggle - there is stuff for work, stuff for Junior and a few extra bits and bobs to keep me looking presentable as I run around like a mad woman!

Remember how I said recently that I always have a few bags on the go and am forever transferring all my stuff between them? Well it looks like the handbag goddess' were listening because a Borne Naked Handbag Liner recently arrived in the mail.

This nifty little bag is designed to organise and de-clutter your handbag. It also makes transferring essentials from bag to bag a cinch....so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Voila! Who would have thought that all my stuff would fit so easily into one Handbag Liner?

And here's the 'After' shot! With everything in it's place, I'm all sorted and ready for when my next nappy bag/shopping bag/night bag changeover strikes.

Do you have everything including the kitchen sink in your handbag? What's the strangest thing you tote around?!

From $24.96; available online from Borne Naked.

Five Alive Friday

Image: Rock Outure

The sun has got his hat on in Melbourne - for today at least! - so we're starting the weekend early and heading off to have a paddle at the beach. If your weekend is still a few hours away, here are a five links to tide you over. Enjoy!

1. Rock Outure is my new favourite fashion blog simply because Friederich Herman's fashion illustrations are pure genius.
2. Heading to Spring Carnival? Here's six hat hair tricks you'll love!
3. If ever you needed proof that it's the little details that count, the accessories from Fendi's SS11 collection is it. Especially the glasses, which I'm particularly obsessed with!
4. I've been umming and ahhing about whether I should get this 1950s reproduction radio. What do you think?
5. Riddle me this - when it comes to this vase, where do the flowers start and the vase end?

From Paris with Paco Park Love!

Paco Park is one label that's marching to it's own beat. With tribal accents, immaculate tailoring and quirky details, their capsule collection of unisex blazers is quickly making a name for itself.

Check out my interview with Marianne Diaz, the creative whiz behind the label, for Broadsheet.

Geninne's Painted Rocks

Images: Geninne's Art Blog

When I was five I had a pet rock.

It was a lump of a thing and not nearly as pretty as Geninne's painted rocks.

Sigh. It seems you're never too old for a rock to rock your world!

US $45; available from Geninne's Etsy Store.

Ps: Make sure you stop by and visit Geninne's blog - it will make your day. I promise!

Norway's Turf Roofs

Images: Amusing Planet

While the intention is purely practical, there is something about the grass roofs of Norway that remind me of a fairy-tale fantasy.

For hundreds of years now, many houses in Norway have installed turf roofs to provide good insulation and help stabilise the home under its weight. It kind of makes the recent trend in vertical living gardens look old hat, don't you think it?!

Found via.

Can You Guess What This Is?

Humour me a little and let's play a game together. See this beautiful teardrop - what do you think it is?

Images: José de la O

Pardon, did I hear you say an Anti-Fly Sphere? How on earth did you know that it was inspired by traditional Mexican ingenuity which refracts water so that colour and movements are amplified and blowies scared away?

Well, aren't you a smarty pants!

To purchase, email info@josedelao.info

Five Alive Friday

Image: We Heart It

Almost there! Here are five links to give the weekend a hurry along...

1. Peeping Tom Paper sounds oh-so-suss, but it's one of the most visually inspirational sites you can lay your peepers on!
2. M.I.A brings controversy to the red carpet (Again!)
3. With the return of all things 80's, slap bands were bound to make an appearance. Check out these Slap Bracelet Watches.
4. Cadbury have released two nail polish shades - Vanilla and Chocolate. It's a shame the shade name refers to the colour and not the flavour!
5. I'm pretty much smitten with anything Anthony and the Johnsons do - especially the 144 page art book that accompanies the release of their latest album, Swanlights.

Style Me Romy

Images: Style Me Romy

Oh yes, you can most definitely Style Me Romy!

This little gem of a blog is written by Australian stylist, Romy Frydman, who's worked with a constellation of stars such Miranda Kerr, Anne Hathaway and Miranda Otto and labels ranging from Country Road to Willow.

Over at Style Me Romy, Romy shares tips and tricks of the trade that she has picked up from stylists, models, makeup artists and photographers. She also gives an insiders look behind the smoke and mirrors of the fashion industry - and who'd turn their nose up at an opportunity to see that?!

Interior Textiles from Sixhands

Images: Cool Hunting

I've got to give a big high five to Sixhands!

This Australian studio blends fashion with interiors for a free-spirited range of printed textiles, wallpapers, and most recently an interior collection that includes rugs, cushions, lampshades and canvases. And if their bold designs aren't enough to send you to seventh heaven, Sixhands only uses the latest technologies and environmental sounds production processes.

Yup, you've got to hand it to Sixhands - they've got it nailed!

It's Easy Being Green: How to Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

Two things happened recently that led me down a path I haven't ventured before:

1. I'm certainly no domestic goddess, but our house pleaded with me for a spring clean - the type that's seen me fossicking in every cupboard and cleaning every nook and cranny.
2. I've become passionate about reducing my family's exposure to unnecessary and harmful chemicals.

So, with a bee in my bonnet about changing the way I've always done things, I began reading about making my own green cleaning products. Here are three that have been working overtime in our household:

All-Purpose Surface Spray

Since we met, this little baby and I have been joint at the hip! Simply combine 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of bi-carb soda, 10 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil (or any other citrus Essential Oil you have handy) and put into a clean spray bottle. Shake well and away you go!

Glass Cleaner

For squeaky clean windows mix together 1/3 cup vinegar with 2/3 cup water and put into a spray bottle.

Oven Cleaner

Take one whiff of a traditional oven cleaner, and if you're still conscious, it's pretty obvious that it does you no good! For a non-toxic version, sprinkle bi-carb soda on the greasy spots in your oven, spray with vinegar and wipe. Too easy!

What do you use to clean your place? Any green or natural tips you can share?

Chloé Ad Features YSL Belt

Image: Fashion Magazine

Doh! The campaign for Chloé's newest fragrance, Love, has everyone talking - but for all the wrong reasons.

Shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, it features supermodel Raquel Zimmermann decked out in head to toe Chloé...oh, except for a belt by Yves Saint Laurent. And to make matters worse these ads are featured on gargantuan billboards, making it one boo boo that's hard to miss!

Five Alive Friday

Image: DETHJUNKIE*

Toot! Toot! All aboard Five Alive Friday...

1. Look out! I have a new dangerous addiction scouring decadestwo.1, the online home of vintage couture emporium, Decades.
2. Susan A Barnett likes taking it from behind - photos that is! In her latest portrait series, Not In Your Face, she snaps all her subjects entirely from behind.
3. Yes is definitely more fun than no, particularly over at one of the best lifestyle blogs going around, Yes and Yes.
4. Over the last few days, news has been dominated by the Chilean mine rescue. One angle not being widely reported though is that Oakley has exploited this event as a marketing tool. Check out The High Low's fascinating take on this.
5. What's not to love about Banksy directing The Simpsons' opening sequence?!

Perez Hilton Turns Over a New Leaf

Video: YouTube

There's no doubting it, Perez Hilton has built his celeb gossip brand on snarky commentary and bullying. But, if his latest YouTube video is anything to go by, he is changing his name-calling ways and taking a more friendly approach.

While Perez certainly looks sincere in his desire to 'be the change he hopes to see in the world', I have a niggling feeling that this change will also be good for business. Keeping the sass but making it more vanilla, will increase opportunities to monetise his content. In fact, historically big brands have been wary of advertising on his site due to the unpredictable and caustic content.

What's your take on Perez's new chapter?

Guest Blog: Nat from Precinkt

There's nothing like the inside word to make all the difference when visiting an unfamiliar stomping ground - especially when that 'word' is bang-on in terms of style, taste and hidden gems that are off the beaten track.

One of the savviest ways to discover a new location, is via Precinkt. Run but the ever-delightful Nat, this astute site serves up the places you need to stop by in precinkts all around Australia (and soon the world - nothing like a plan for global domination I say!).

With a well-honed eye for style and substance, Nat is also the perfect guest blogger. Here she shares three of the best coffee spots in sunny Brisbane. Take it away Nat!

Three of the Best: Coffee Spots in Brisbane

Image: Precinkt

Flamingo Cafe

Chicky-babe Christina has the magic touch when it comes to cafes. This time it’s the ever so daggy Flamingo Cafe. Be ready for a home-made sausage roll, a meatball sanger with crisps and just a little bit of cheeky banter. In amongst the ugly beauty of The Valley, Flamingo is a great place to visit with light-hearted friends or those that need to be.

5B Winn Street, Fortitude Valley.

Image: Precinkt

Bunker

It is what it is. A purpose built bunker that became a well-worn car port and is now home to a leafy hole-in-the-wall coffee joint. The Fourex Brewery looms in the background but it’s great coffee that the people want and Bunker delivers. The combination of a groovy location and respectful baristas is unique and unbeatable.

21 Railway Terrace, Milton.

Image: Precinkt

Dudley Street Espresso and Collectables

These boys were the first in Brisbane to tastefully mix great coffee with quirky collectables. When you enter Dudley St Espresso you immediately feel warm and welcomed. There’s no fuss here – simple wholesome delicious snacks coupled with amazing coffee. The cafe sits next to a strip of shops that offer vintage clothing, comics, antiques and graffiti supplies. Worth a visit!

494 Ipswich Rd Annerley, Brisbane.

Thanks Nat!!

Pencil vs Camera

Images: Like Cool

Fancy a little playfulness on your Tuesday morning? Enter Belgian artist, Ben Heine, and his Pencil vs Camera series.

By repurposing photographs with sketches, Heine creates a slice of magic that could just as easily been called Imagination vs Reality.

So simple. So entertaining!