'A Trophy' from Tobias Cummings

Image: Michael Bainbridge

I'm a little bit old school. I don't download music, as I much prefer to hold a CD. Plus, you miss out on the personality of an album - its cover art and booklet - when you download.

Anyway, the newest CD that's been added to my collection is a little treasure called A Trophy by Melbourne singer/songwriter Tobias Cummings.

Something of a master storyteller, Cummings also has the vocal chops to make A Trophy one of the most sweetly crafted albums I've come across in a long time.

Graceful. Haunting. Intimate. It's under my skin.

Tobias Cummings plays at The Birmingham tonight, and The Workers Club tomorrow night.

Video: YouTube

Get Mouthy with Lazy Oaf

Images: Kingdom of Style

Did you know...

Being told to shut up while wearing one of these Lazy Oaf tops is actually a compliment?!

From £35.00; available online from Lazy Oaf.

P.S. Don't forget to enter my super duper giveaway!

Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!

This could be yours!

The contents of my bag before...

And after!

Remember how the other week I gave my handbag a makeover? Well, Borne Naked have sent me two medium bag liners to giveaway to you. Hoorah!

This nifty little bag is designed to organise and de-clutter your handbag. It also makes transferring essentials from bag to bag a cinch.

For your chance to win a medium Borne Naked liner valued at AU$ 29.95:

1. If you're not already, become a Checks and Spots follower by signing up on the right-of-screen; and
2. Leave a comment below.

Entries are open to all and close at midnight Sunday 14 November 2010 (AEDT). I'll then draw two winners randomly.

What are you waiting for?!

Five Alive Friday

Image: We Heart It

This way please, to Five Alive Friday....

1. Paris Versus New York is a witty visual tally of two cities.
2. How old is Cher these days? Well, it certainly looks like she's turned back time for the latest cover of Vanity Fair. She looks a.m.a.z.i.n.g!
3. Seeing is believing. Check out Michael Wolf's photographic series of Chinese knock-off-artists next to their masterpieces.
4. In case you were wondering, Monday is apparently the most popular day to break up. Well, that's according to data mined from Facebook.
5. As we have just replanted our veggie patch for the coming summer months, I've been eyeing of these Antique Spoon Garden Markers.

The Hyena and Other Men

Images: Pieter Hugo

Sometimes you are reminded that the world is a much bigger place than the small blip your life occupies. Take these phenomenal images by Pieter Hugo for example.

Living in Nigeria's shantytowns, the 'Hyena Men' are a group of itinerant minstrels, performers who use the animals to entertain crowds and sell traditional medicines. This is a practice that has been passed down for generations and isn't nearly as seedy as the Western myth surrounding these men - that they are drug dealers, bank robbers or bodyguards who use them for protection.

"The spectacle caused by this group walking down busy market streets was overwhelming...I realised that what I found fascinating was the hybridisation of the urban and the wild, and the paradoxical relationship the handlers have with their animals - sometimes doting and affectionate, sometimes brutal and cruel," writes Hugo.

Is it just me, or do you also find these images uncomfortably compelling?

Where to Eat, Shop and Drink in Bali

While you weren't looking, the husband and I snuck off to Bali for a sweet moment together. The shopping and eating destinations that I've written about previously are still firing. But this trip I found a few more gems to add to the list...

Sip

Cocoon Beach Club is a relative newcomer that is already making ripples. Chic. Sophisticated. Exotic. Cocoon is everything it's iconically seedy neighbour - Double Six - is not! It's also the perfect spot to relax on one of the lounges, lychee martini in hand, and watch the lapping Indian Ocean. Heaven! (No. 66, Jl Double Six, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 731 266)

Nosh

While it's a high-class problem to have, one frustrating part of our trip was not having enough time to eat at all the spots we wanted to! Here are two new, and very worthwhile, places that we did visit:

Sea Circus - With one of the quirkiest and original fit-outs I've seen in a long time, Sea Circus has casual fine dining nailed. In fact, with Chef, Stuart Marsden (ex Cecconi's and Longrain, Melbourne) as your ringmaster, you know you're in good hands. (22 Jl Laksmana, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 738 667 )

The Beach House - If you're in Bali for a Sunday night, you'd be mad not to make the effort to head down to The Beach House at Echo Beach (Canggu). It's a 30 minute cab ride from Seminyak, but once you get there you'll feel like you've walked into this ad. Make sure you get there for sunset and then stick around for live music and a hot coal barbecue. The best spot to sit is outside, looking out to the ocean, so make sure you arrive early to grab a spot - or better yet, call ahead and book a table. (Jalan Pura Batu Mejan, Canggu . Tel: +62 361 7474 604)

Shopping

This trip I didn't spend much time shopping. Instead I hit up a few choice spots for multiple purchases:

I went a little bit crazy in Lulu Yasmine and picked up quite a few pretty, floaty frocks for the coming season of weddings, parties...anything! (No. 100x Jl. Laksmana, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 736 763)

Biasa Bali is a mecca of colour blocking that stays just the right side of edgy yet relaxed 'holiday wear'. I bought some great basics here and also a few bags for good measure! (No. 36 Jl Raya, Seminyak. Te: +62 361 730 308)

Known for its simple yet impeccably embellished pieces, Magali Pascal, is as iconic in Bali as it is in Paris. While it isn't all that cheap compared to other shops in Bali, I did pick up one item that I never thought I'd own - a jumpsuit! (No. 65B Jl. Raya, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 732 132)

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.