Street Art Inspiration

After seeing so much street art in Melbourne, I've decided to post some photographs taken on my travels of  my favourite murals, stencils and generally amazing wall pieces. I have to say that I don't think any city can compete against Berlin's phenomenal underground art scene and I think I may dedicate a  future post to my favourite city and everything that makes it tick.

The following pictures are just a handful of my collection, so there may be another street inspiration post in the future!

Which is your favourite?

Barcelona, 2009

Barcelona, 2009

Berlin, 2009

Berlin, 2009

Berlin, 2009

Berlin, 2009

Brooklyn, New York, 2009

Lagos, Portugal, 2009

Melbourne, 2011

Melbourne, 2011

Melbourne, 2011

Berlin, 2009

So it's been a while...

Noosaaaaaah

Yes. It’s been a couple of months since I’ve written a post but in my defence life has really gotten in the way! Namely, Christmas, New Years, and a visit from the boy.

Seen as he came all the way from the UK and we only had 2 weeks together I felt that I needed to take the time to show off my Country and give him a few great reasons to come back – other than me of course.  

So, here’s a quick run down of how I made him fall in love with Australia:

1. I debuted Betty on Main Beach at Noosa – the boy was an instant fan and I felt like a 1950s siren. Double win.

2. I took him to Australia Zoo and forced him to get his photo taken with an array of Australian fauna including Kangaroos and a Koala. He liked the furry cuteness but not the smell. I like feeding Kangaroos and patting Koalas too = another double win.

This is a pic of a little Koala we saw in the Wildlife Hospital. What a cutie!

3. Remember this Motel dress? I posted about it in November? Well I bought it at Youth Culture at Noosa with The Boy’s nod of approval. He appears to be one of many males who find this dress alluring as I have since learnt. Get yourself some Motel in that wardrobe ladies!

This is me a wearing it. Pretty don't you think? You can only really see the top but still..

4. I introduced him to my friends with casual beers at Archive, in West End, Brisbane. Australia beer boutique with a library theme? Puuuurfect for an English literature major.

5. We spent a few romantic days and nights holed up in a luxurious hotel in the city centre. Nice girls never kiss and tell.

6. We went to MELBOURNE to visit one of our best friends! Good coffee, icecream, shops, bars, loads of amazing street art as you can see below…everyone loves Melbourne. The Boy wanted to move there.

 

Flinder's Street Station

Notice anything weird in this picture?

Union Lane

 7. We drove along the Great Ocean Road and had a picnic on the beach at Lorne with two of our friends/housemates from Canada. Our roadtrip = good tunes, beers in the backseat (but none consumed by the driver) and a fun time had by all. The boy bought Percy Pigs for car trip consumption and we got to snuggle and snooze in the back seat on the way home.

It's Love...

Just one of the many stunning views along the Great Ocean Road

8. We went shopping on Chapel St and I bought these AH-MAZ-ING shoes. I like, The Boy likes.

Thank you Wittner!

9. We went dancing and drinking at Cookie on Swanston St in Melbourne and I wore my new Motel Dress. The boy said I looked ‘well fit’ and we snogged, amongst the crowds on the rooftop bar, overlooking the city.

10. I got him addicted to this…and he is moving here in June!

I have to say that my Grandmother was right. Absence does make the heart grow fonder, and love can conquer anything - especially a minor thing like living on opposite sides of the planet in different time zones...

Until next time xo

What a Betty...

Like many women, I love summer.  Every year it swings around bringing with it many of my favourite things: long days, tropical fruit, music festivals, the chance to wear Barbie coloured nail polish just that little bit longer, golden tans, icecream and party season (Christmas, New Years and then my Birthday = cocktail dresses galore!). 

Albeit, with the good there sometimes comes bad and there are also a few things I dislike about summer. Humidity – the enemy of nice hair and shine-free faces, occasional sunburn and the annual summer swimsuit search.

This is a hunt dreaded by women everywhere. I mean let’s be honest, who wants to expose their pale winter skin and those few extra kilos in an unflattering store mirror when they’re surrounded by pictures of Jessica Hart and Jennifer Hawkins flaunting their tanned thighs and toned butts. Really, can you think of anything worse?

Miss Universe and Miss Model-of-the-moment staring back at me while I struggle to fit my DDs into a bikini is not my favoured activity (and for that matter designers please take note – girls with boobs wear bikinis too and a C cup masquerading as a DD is a swimsuit FAIL).

This year however, I surprised myself with a mostly pain free tog-shopping excursion. I magically seem to have detoured past the usual routine of crying over my muffin top in the fitting room and I found a swimsuit that I feel comfortable in – and would you believe sexy – when I put it on!

It’s a MIRACLE I hear you cry..and yes you better believe it because it’s true. 

If you read any women’s magazines you should know that nautical is once again ‘in’ right now (I personally feel that it is pretty much never ‘out’ though). One pieces are also rivalling bikinis in sales…and my new swimsuit, well she ticks both of these boxes. I’m going to call her Betty.

Betty's on the far right

Totally foxy no?

Back view (I wish my arse looked like that!

Betty is pretty damn fabulous don't you think?! When I put her on I feel like a 1950’s pin-up girl flirting with wealthy playboys and soaking up the sunshine on the French Riviera (which incidentally is her real name). She’s cut like a siren, hugging my curves, placing emphasis on the good and drawing attention away from the bad. You could say, we are a match made in swimsuit heaven.

I plan on wearing her with a tan, loose beachy waves (provided humidity decides not to join my beach party), a little sarong for some Car to beach modesty, and my good old Havianas. Bring on summer I say! Hmmm if only I could get away with a red lip and wined eyeliner at the beach…

K

I can Ikea

Yesterday I bought some new furniture for my room from IKEA; the land of meatballs, picture frames and yellow and blue t-shirts amongst you know, all that furniture.

Behold new shelves storing my shit:

Hedwig guarding my Harry Potter Books from Dementors.

Banksy and Andy...yeah I love em

Photos, postcards and art.

So as you can see this weekend has been productive! There's still a bit to do but things are shaping up rather nicely. Oh and I also saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. AWESOME! I can not wait for the next installment!!

Bed time now.
xo K

Roses are red...and pink and purple and gold

The weather here has been soo lovely lately that it's as if Spring doesn't want to leave. These are some of the roses from my Dad's garden that have been brightening up my desk. Enjoy :-)

Sooo pretty - Mauve and Just Joey

Just Joey and Candy Stripe (I think)

Mr Lincoln?

Just so you know: their perfume is as amazing as they look.

xx K

It's how I roll...

So it's the weekend update, starting with Friday night.

Philadelphia Grand Jury – affectionately known to fans as the Philly J’s – played the Hi-fi Bar in Brisbane on Friday night (supported by The Howls). This was my maiden voyage to this great Brisbane venue as it opened just before I went travelling and I can honestly say it was an interesting night.

Vinyl Bar

Sweaty, sweaty man

The décor of Vinyl (the front bar) on Boundary St reminded me of raiding my parent’s liquor cabinet as a teenager. The bar set up was reminiscent of the 1970’s with the dark wood panels and mirrors encasing gin and whiskey and old records lining the walls (just like Mum and Dad’s classic ‘Cabinet of magic’). Thanks to Movember, the place was also peppered with indie boys sporting moustaches adding to the whole 70s feel.

 

I do love me an indie boy*. 

Boy T is an Indie boy of the very finest calibre. In fact my indie boy description is pretty much just a description of him (and some of the other delicious eye candy at the Hi-Fi Bar on Friday night of course). But anyway, back to the case at hand; the Philly J’s. They were freakin’ awesome and despite some douchebag spilling his entire drink on my cute black and gold Primarni flats I still had a totally rad time.

I wore a simple navy and grey dress accessorised with a leopard print head band, a truckload of black eyeliner and let’s not forget my adorable Primark shoes that got drenched in beer.

Lead Singer of Philly J's

The sighting of an evil ex-boyfriend quite nearly ruined the night but thankfully a kick arse performance from the band, a tasty Carlsberg and some eye-fucking madness with a couple of indie boys redeemed the evening. My girlfriends and I met the band after the show too. You know, it’s just how we roll. 

Saturday is an entirely different story filled with tapas and cocktails at Bread and Butter on the Gold Coast, my very first (champagne fuelled) limo ride and just a few hours sleep after hitting Coolangatta's Never Land. Boys with full-sleeve tattoos and tanned girls wearing the best in body-con dominated the scene and the vodka tasted toxic. But it was still a great night out to celebrate my friend's Dirty 30!

Fooling around with the Limo

*My definition of an Indie Boy: generally wears skinny jeans with a cool t shirt or a flannel, sometimes seen sporting a man-igan or square rimmed glasses with a tousled yet trendy haircut. Into great music, fashion, a bit of art, culture and travel. Intelligent enough to have a decent conversation and damn damn sexy too! Not to be confused with Emo Boys. N.B. dyed black hair, too much eyeliner and a sad face are NOT ATTRACTIVE! Some good examples of hot indie boys: The Kooks and the Drums!

That's all for tonight. I'm going to bed to dream of hot Indie boys...or maybe just one in particular.

xx K

Can you be in love with a dress?

Last night I did a little online shopping at my old favourite ASOS and bought the dress that will hopefully serve as the centre of my party outfit on New Year's Eve...that is unless I fall in love with another one in the post Christmas sales (highly likely). Anyway, I won't keep you waiting long it's the Motel 'Wanda' dress in leopard.

I personally feel that this dress is pretty much my best discovery since finding white chocolate covered Oreos in Greece. Yup it's that good. I plan on wearing it with insanely high black pumps or a pair of cute Primark flats depending on how the evening works out. I'm already looking forward to wow-ing the boy T with it.

And just think of the possibilities after NYE...music festivals with a straw trilby and gladitators, to the office with a blazer, opaques and ballet flats. Really, if you can find a leopard print dress that as adorable and versatile as this I applaud you. Of course you could just go and buy it too. I won't mind. It's only natural to be obsessed with leopard print and to want to look modestly sexy (i.e. not like a tart). And it's such a good price! Really, thanks to its designs, quality and pricepoint Motel is fast becoming one of my favourite brands. I would wear pretty much everything on their website if I could afford it all but I will also freely admit that some of their designs may be a little too short/tight/unsuited for my figure.

Four totally different yet equally lust-worthy pieces you might like...

1. First date perfection. Understated and cute but still a whole lotta sassy.

2. Hot outfit to wear to a festival/gig or simply out with the girls.

3. The perfect outfit for when you know you're going to see that ass called you're ex-boyfriend.

4. Relaxed and polished for a weekend full of pretty much anything: brunches, BBQs, shopping, drinks at your local, seeing a movie with friends - anything!

1

2

3

4

And that my friends is all for this evening. I am off to shop the Urban Outfitters website now. I mean erm write a new budget.

K