We're Really Doing It

Image: We're Really Doing It

Jeff and Heath are two mates who have just spent 53 days riding their bicycles from LA to New York City.

Funnily enough, they don't even really like riding a bike but decided to embark on this adventure simply to "do something really random and new."

"For some people their biggest fear is leading a boring life (including me and lots of others I know), so they end up making certain decisions based solely on the fact that they don't want to miss out. There will always be a part of me that just wants to say yes to anything that sounds crazy, so that what I did," explains Jeff.

While their cross-country trip has now finished, it's worth spending a bit of time looking through their blog. Not only is it a damn good read, it's also a reminder that there are two types of people in this world - doers and watchers.

The Design Files Calendar

I'm finding myself wishing away these last days of 2010, just so I can put my 2011 Design Files Neighbourhood Calendar to use!

Illustrated by some of Australia's finest illustrators, it features twelve of the loveliest neighbourhoods from Melbourne and beyond. And if that wasn't enough, it doesn't get much sunnier and joyful than the special orange fluro ink that's been used throughout and powder-coated yellow wire binding.

Yes sirree - this is twelve months of perfection!

Au $30, available online from Lamington Drive.

Five Alive Friday

Image: We Heart It

Are we there yet? Let these five links help you tread water and look busy until 5pm rolls around!

1. Ah...'aint geek love grand! Check out the guy that proposed to his girlfriend via an 11 hour treasure hunt using a custom-built iPhone app.
2. You can get your first look at the Karl Lagerfeld shot 2011 Pirelli calender over here.
3. Believe me when I say - these images of machines laying brickwork like carpet will blow your mind!
4. So you think that all personalised Christmas cards are oh-so-daggy. Well, you obviously haven't seen these ones by Pinhole Press. (It's just a mighty big shame that they don't yet ship to Australia. Boo hoo!)
5. Is this the most embarrassing dad in the world?!

Interview: Brow Queen, Sharon-Lee Clarke

My brow pin-up gal - Camilla Belle!

Image: Elle

Eyebrows are proof that it's always the little things that count. When they are shaped well they'll frame and illuminate your eyes and contour your cheekbones - in fact, to say they're a surgery-free facelift is no understatement. But when bad brows, happen to good girls, not only are they awfully distracting, but they can make you look older, and your eyes appear puffy and tired.

With more than twenty years experience creating brows that wow, Sharon-Lee Clarke is known as Australia's original and leading eyebrow artist. Her eyebrow ethos? Using a wax and tweeze method, Sharon-Lee shapes brows to suit each individual face rather than surrender to the latest trend.

Recently I caught up with Sharon-Lee to find out about all things brow related and what makes this tweezer artist tick....

Sharon-Lee Clarke

My interest in brows started...with my own and then those of my friends and family (all of which were guinea pigs for me whilst I was training). Beyond that it just became the very first feature I noticed on everyone and I developed a very critical eye for them.

I’d love to shape the brows of... oh sooooo many! Julia Roberts, Guy Sebastian, Julian McMahon and Oprah.

My most memorable job was... there have been so many. Rob Lowe was exciting purely because I had a crush on him as a teenager (who didn’t?!). Meryl Streep is just lovely as were Paul and Linda Hogan.

A well-shaped brow will... make or break a look. On a bad hair day you can throw your hair back into a pony tail. Bad brows remain bad brows. A fabulous brow pushes the focus onto your eyes. Brows should never be the standout feature of a face.

The most common brow blunder that I see is... hands down, over plucking.

I’m always being asked... make me look like Megan Fox! It’s amazing how many women come in with clippings of her.

Sharon-Lee's newly opened Emporium where you can enjoy the full gamut of indulgent beauty treatements including, brow shaping, lash tinting and extensions, manicures and pedicures - all with a glass of Champagne in hand no less!

My hidden talent is... cooking.

My beauty philosophy is....keep it simple. Source the right products and the right specialists in each field (facials-hair-nails-tanning-massages) that you can consistently rely on.

My ultimate luxury is...a massage. I just don’t do them enough. I keep promising I’ll make the time to take one weekly but I just don’t do it....maybe next year.

On my bedside table you’ll find... fresh flowers, a book or two I threaten to read but never do, a water decanter and a glass of wine – and the remote.

I’m happiest when... I’m working or in the kitchen.

My golden rule is...stress is the enemy. Laugh – a lot.

Emporium

1 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW

T: (02) 9360 5124

Sharon-Lee also regularly has pop-up brow salons in other states. Call (02) 9360 5124 to find out when the next one will be near you.

Art by Nick Cave

Image: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

Don't get me wrong, I love being a mumma. But without a doubt the most tedious part of any day is the dinner/bath/story/bed witching hour. To short circuit going completely loopy, the rugrat and I have introduced a circuit breaker - while the bath is running, we look up different songs on YouTube. We have a little dance, a bit of a sing, bang out a beat on the desk, and all of a sudden witching hour isn't nearly as bad.

Monday night, we chased down a bit of Curtis Mayfield. And last night he sat mesmerised on my knee as I showed him The Ship Song and Into my Arms by Nick Cave.

After I put him into bed, I continued fossicking around online for all things Nick Cave. While I've always known Cave is an amazing songwriter, musician and performer, I discovered that he has another string to his bow - artist. His pieces tend to fall into two categories that most of us are curious about - the sacred and profane.

I guess witching hour is good for something after all...

The Happy Town Menagerie from Lorena Siminovich

Images: The Curiosity Shoppe

As soon as I clapped eyes on the happy little chappies - and chapettes - of the Happy Town Menagerie, my heart began to sing!

Bright. Uplifting. Joyful. Each hand-turned piece is made from reclaimed wood and finished with orange oil by artist/illustrator/designer Lorena Siminovich.

Oh, happy day!

From US $140; available online from The Curiosity Shoppe.

Beyonce vs Alessandra Ambrosio for Vogue Nippon

Images: theJJB

Vogue Nippon have released two very similar covers for their December edition. One features Beyonce while the other has supermodel, Alessandra Ambrosio on it. But riddle me this - have they actually morphed Beyonce's head onto Alessandra's body?

Take another look, and you be the judge...

Five Alive Friday

Image: Design for Mankind

Good morning! And a very happy Five Alive Friday to you...

1. Vintage packaging, like this Magic Brain Calculator, never fails to amuse!
2. Alexander McQueen's legacy is alive and well thanks to these Fluttering Spring Shoes.
3. Dad used to always come through the door on Friday with some fresh flowers for Mum. So, I thought it only appropriate to share some fresh flowers...of a different type!
4. If you want to buy the things Carey Mulligan or the Olsens do, then Google's Boutiques.com will be right up your alley.
5. Check out the cover shot that made Kelly Osbourne cry.

Float On

Images: Maia Flore

These dreamy images by Maia Flore made me stop in my tracks. They also reminded me of this quote:

When the tides of life turn against you

And the current upsets your boat,

Don't waste those tears on what might have been,

Just lie on your back and float.

I hope you float on through your Thursday...

Stop Press! New Full Finish Lipstick Shades from Benefit Cosmetics

Psst! Listen in. There's nothing like the inside word to get you ahead of the pack...

Rumour is fact that Benefit Cosmetics are set to launch nine creamy new shades in their iconic Full-Finish Lipstick. This little tit bit is so hot of the press that they won't be instore until 20 November 2010.

Riffing on this season's return to ladylike glamour, Full-Finish Lipstick will give your look the perfect, polished pop.

With each shade of these shades being ultra wearable, they won't remain a secret for long. Consider yourself warned!

AU $34; for stockists call (02) 8353 5000

Love It or Loathe It: The Turban

Turbans are B-A-C-K! The first time I spotted the return of this retro head wear, was when Kate Moss showed up at the Met 2009 Gala in one.

Image: Who's Jack

Since then, turbans have made an appearance in Sex and The City 2 and been spotted on the likes of Ashely Olsen, Salma Hayek and Kourtney Kardashian.

Image: Rising Water Entertainment

Image: Rising Water Entertainment

Image: Style News

They also featured prominently at New York's recent Spring 11 Fashion Week, with Jason Wu styling his collection with black and cobalt turbans and celebrity stylist, June Ambrose, wearing a different turban every day of that week.

Image: BellaSugar

Wearing a turban takes a truck-load of confidence. You have to truly believe in this look and commit to it to carry it off. So, while I love admiring this trend from afar, I'm not convinced I'll be giving it a run.

What's your take on this trend? Are you ready to get turban-charged?

Love It or Loathe It: The Turban
Love It Loathe It
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New Kids Range from Out of Print

Image: Out of Print

Dressing a bambino is not as easy as you think. You have to sort through a lot of naff-felt-teddy-bear-on-skis-appliques, to get to the good stuff! And some of the best threads I've come across in awhile is this kid's range from Out of Print.

Celebrating the world's great stories through fashion, this range features iconic and often out of print book covers. Some are classics and some are just curious enough to to make a great t-shirt.

And if you're that way inclined, you and your mini me can dress like twins as Out of Print also have a bang-on adults range!

From US$22; available online from Out of Print.

Video Killed My Favourite Song

Video: YouTube

Today I'm in go-slow-mode after a last hoorah for one of my dearest friends who is about to get hitched. Instead of efficiently getting through my 'to do' list, I've managed to do a whole lot of nothing other than having a chuckle at this and watch some video clips.

In fact, the sum of today's efforts is to decide that a video clip can make or break a song for me. Take Rock It from Little Red. When I heard this track on the radio, I fell head over heels for it. But after sitting through 3:29 minutes of cringe-inducing cheese the magic has gone. Forever.

Which of your fave songs has been ruined by a sub par clip?

Borne Naked Winners

Please make some noise for the two winners of the Borne Naked giveaway!

The first winner is Jess.

And the second winner is Lisa Roy.

A big heartfelt thanks to everyone who entered and became a Checks and Spots follower. Stay tuned for the next giveaway!

Five Alive Friday

Image: Share Some Candy

One of my favourite poets, Robert Frost, once said, "The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts the moment you get up and doesn't stop until you get into the office." So, if you're trying to cruise on through to the weekend in neutral - here's five links to pass the time while you zone out! Enjoy...

1. This video of a New Orleans amusement park that never reopened after Hurricane Katrina is as haunting as you'd expect.
2. Great design. Even better concept. I Can't Find My Phone is a genius website that will call you when your mobile goes missing.
3. There's no question, running a marathon takes an incredible amount of preparation. Check out this amazing insight into what five top athletes from last weekend's New York Marathon had as their pre-race meal.
4. There's nothing worse than overselling a laugh - but this video of 25 years of Oprah yelling out celebrities names had me doubled over!
5. Heading to IKEA this weekend? Then you might like to hit up mykea - a niffty little site that makes your IKEA furniture more beautiful, unique and personal.

P.S. Don't forget that you have until midnight Sunday to enter this week's giveaway!