Creepiosity

Creepiosity is a laugh-out-loud (because it's so true!) book I've just stumbled across. From guys with beards but no mustaches, to animal mascots who want you to eat their kind and little kids with old-people names, this is a brilliant chronicle of 100 unintentionally creepy things we've all experienced. You can even get in on the action and submit your own curiosities via the companion web site!

AU $13.41; available online at The Book Depository

Five Alive Friday

Image: Design You Trust

While I might be no good with numbers, I am good with time wasting arithmetic that will get you a little bit closer to 5pm and the weekend!

1. Soap + flakes = genius
2. Diptyque x French artists Kuntzel + Deygas = Valentine's Day perfection
3. Last night - text messages = hilarious
4. Sandra Reynolds + budget food blog ÷ dole bludger uproar = the artful bludger
5. Detroit + urban decay = haunting

Closet Visit

Images: Closet Visit

Closet Visit is my latest voyeuristic obsession. Thanks to artist, Jeana Sohon, you can take a peak inside the closets of some of LA's most creative, inspiring and stylish women - and not feel like a peeping tom! In many ways, Closest Visit is to wardrobes what The Selby is to homes.

Oh, happy snooping!

Are Doritros Being Offensive?

Doritos have just given a sneak peak at two commercials they'll be running during next month's Super Bowl. Both ads have a gay-theme and are bound to stir up debate regarding whether they are humorous or homophobic.

What do you think? Are we all getting a bit too precious? Or are commercials like this offensive in their judgemental tone and reinforcement of negative stereotypes?

Found via.

Granny Tunes

Images: Greece is for Lovers

In the perfect collusion of high tech meets handmade, Greece is for Lovers have released a crochet sleeve to soften up your ipod's hard beats. Inspired by the traditional craft of Greek lace making, these ipod cases are all form, and not a lot of function - which just the way I like things!

€55.00; available online from Greece is for Lovers.

Five Alive Friday

Images: Share Some Candy

Friday already? How did that happen?! I'm looking forward to a weekend of sunshine, champagne and friends. Whatever you have planned, here's five links to get you there.

1. Speaking of bubbles, seeing is believing when it comes to the bottle designs for Zarb champagne.
2. Here's the Selby's round up of his favourite shots from 2010.
3. Paris Hilton circa 2004 was the first person I remember doing the 'awkward lean' when faced with a camera. Since then, it seems everyone is busting it out. So much so, there's now a whole site devoted to the awkward lean!
4. While the colours and prints featured in Missoni's Spring 11 campaign remind me of Cliff Huxtable, the video for this collection is well worth a squiz - for the the simple fact it features the whole Missoni family and was shot by Juergen Teller. Love it!
5. Strongman band-aids make me want to sustain an injury!

Miranda Kerr and Motherhood as a Competitive Sport

Image: Kora Organics

To announce the birth of her son, Miranda Kerr took to Facebook and posted:

We have a beautiful little boy named Flynn. He was born on the 6th of Jan and I gave birth to him naturally; without any pain medication...

While the dawn of any new life is a time of undeniable joy, I found Miranda's statement deflating. When did motherhood become such a competitive sport?

"Oh, you were in labour for 8 hours and wussed out with an epidural?"

"Well, I laboured for 5 days...AND did it drug free....AND had a 10 pound heffer at the end of it!"

From your experiences in labour, it only escalates and becomes a whirlwind of smug one-up-manship as your performance as a mother is critiqued.

"Oh, you make junior's spag bol with a premade sauce?"

"Surely you know organic is best? The only ingredients I ever use are grown in our garden without the use of nasty chemicals and in sync with lunar patterns. And as for my pasta recipe - well, it was created by one of the worlds best Michelin chefs. Might I also add, I always perform triple back flips while preparing it to keep the rugrat entertained."

The way mums talk to each other and the loaded comments (like Miranda's) that ping-pong so freely about is doing nothing for 'the sisterhood'. We ought to measure our worth by our own accomplishments - not against others.

What are your experiences of motherhood as a competitive sport?

365 Self Portraits by Alex Stoddard

Images: The Freak Show

I can never get enough of the absurd and downright usual. Which is why Alex Stoddard's photographs made me stop in my tracks.

His recent 365 day project where Alex took a self portrait every day day for a year, is an example of pure, boundless creativity and breathtaking composition. And at only 17 years of age, Alex is definitely one to watch.

Found via.

Trend Spotter: Golden Globes 2011

More casual than the Oscars, fashion and makeup at the Golden Globes tends to play ahead on the style curve. Here's a wrap-up of four key trends that I spotted on yesterday's red carpet.

The Long and Short of It

Images: Style.com

If ever you needed proof that long-sleeved gowns aren't just for the mother-of-the-bride, Anne Hathaway's Armani Prive dress is it. Leading the charge of covered up beauties, Anne's dress was at once of-the-moment and also Dynasty retro-esque.

It's Easy Being Green

Images: Style.com

This year, the red carpet was a sea of emerald green. Even Angelina ditched her usual sombre uniform of black on black, for a long, lean, green Versace number.

Going Nude

Images: Vogue

From Eva to Halle, most of the A-list ditched a classic red lip for 'barely there' nude hues. Pairing natural lip colours with luminous skin; a hint of blush and sultry, smoky eyes resulted in a more understated look than is usually spotted during award's season.

The Big Bang Theory

Images: Vogue

Getting a head start on 2011's hair cut du jour was Sandra Bullock and Olivia Wilde. Sporting blunt, eyebrow grazing fringes (or depending on where you're from - bangs!) they made a strong, sophisticated statement.

What did you think of this year's Golden Globes? What were the red carpet hits and misses?

Spying on Kate Moss for Balmain

Video: YouTube

When Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot Balmain's Fall/Winter campaign, they set up four hidden cameras to capture Kate' Moss' expert posing. The footage was then edited by Jo Ratcliffe who drew inspiration from Disney, Arthur Rackham, Willo and the Wisp, and Tim Burton and added a haunting soundtrack courtesy of Antony and the Johnsons. A little bit surreal, a little bit fantastical, this is the perfect distraction for Monday's return to reality. Enjoy!

Five Alive Friday

Images: The Australian

Australia has been facing some very dark days. There have been many times that tears have prickled my eyes as I watched and heard about about the floods ravaging Queensland.

This week, the normally flippant and irreverent Five Alive Friday feels so inappropriate. Instead, I'd like to share five links that relate to the unfathomable reality that is facing so many. Please feel free to share in the comments links to articles and commentary you have found - or more importantly links to organisations we can support in their support of those affected.

1. If you only visit one link this week, please make it the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal and make a donation. You can also donate in person at most banks, or do like we did, and make a contribution when visiting our local Woolworth's supermarket. Every cent counts.
2. QLD Premier, Anna Bligh, has been all strength and certainty. A true (and to many, a surprising) leader during this time. Here's a great opinion piece about how her sense of being 'real' sets her apart from the cliched Julia Gillard.
3. I found the story of 13 year old, Jordan Rice, absolutely heartbreaking.
4. How's this for a sign of the times - there's now an app that provides links to helpful services; ABC podcasts and up-to-the-minute information about weather warnings, road closures and power outages.
5. Shop for QLD with jewellery designer and celebrity favourite, Samantha Wills. For the next few days, she's donating $20 from every selected piece that she sells online. During this time Samantha hopes to raise $30,000.

Fine Cell Work

Image: Fast Co Design

You know the saying, 'A stitch in time, saves nine,' well if Fine Cell Work have anything to do with it, it will soon become, 'A stitch in time, to pay for your crime!'

This improbable charity, teaches needlepoint to British inmates. The prisoners do the work while they are locked in their cells and get to keep 30% of the profits from each piece that they sell. Fascinatingly, 80 per cent of Fine Cell Work's stitchers are men.

It gives a whole new meaning to chain(stitch) gangs, don't you think?!

Jewellery by Deirdre

Believe me when I say - you need to know about a girl called Deirdre. Working predominately with ceramics, Deirdre creates cosmic jewelry that is based on straight lines and triangles.

Geometry had never looked so good!

Contact deirdrehoban@hotmail.com for stockists and further details.

Let It Go

Image: 3 times 1

So, today is day 11 of 2011. How are your new year's resolutions, goals and intentions going?

Last year, I carefully planned five big and ambitious 'things' I wanted to achieve. This year though, I'm taking a different approach. I just have one attitude that I want to underpin each moment of every day.

My focus for 2001 is to - let it go.

Let go of the nervous energy...the need to keep all the balls perfectly in the air...the desire for control...and wasted time worrying about things that haven't happened yet.

By letting go, my days have a better flow. I find these words center and ground me. They keep me in the moment and are already making a difference.

In fact, this is one new year's resolution that I'll be sticking like glue to!

Have you given 2011 a focus? What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?

These Are The Days

Image: Garance Dore

Well, hello there! After the most delicious of interludes I'm back...

The boys and I filled our days with:

• Nectarines and plums.
• A few blissful days at the farm for table tennis tournaments in the shearing shed, pavlova and swinging in the hammock on the veranda.
• Devouring Portia de Rossi's candid book, The Unbearable Lightness.
• Mornings spent splashing at the beach or losing ourselves in the magic of the Children's Garden.
• Being reminded that all that glitters isn't gold, after a bitterly disappointing meal at The Newmarket.
• Discovering new finds - like Capocchi - to add to our roll call of stores that deliver the unexpected and eclectic as we embark on the mother of all renovations!
• Dancing to this.

So, what have you been up to? Did you manage to have a break and a moment to regroup? Did you go away or just indulge in the sweetness of doing nothing?