It’s a perfectly pleasant Sunday on the second long-weekend we’ve had in a row in now [in New Zealand], and I’m just head out for an hour+ of hot yoga. These are my favourite links of the week – I hope at least one of them tickles your fancy!

Oh, and check out the rest of these images for Vogue Latin America shot in a SUPERMARKET. The glamour of Jablonski is such a sharp contrast to the mundaneness of the supermarket that its almost ridiculous (in a good way!).

• I love this DIY chalkboard serving platter. So cute!
• This article on becoming a better public speaker is worth a read - being able to speak with confidence is so important regardless of what it is you ‘do’!
• If you’ve got a thing for to-do list software then you should check out this list of 20 of the best online to do list apps.
• 5 tips for great outdoor photography.
• Hopefully you won’t ever need this, but in the case that you do Vahni has written an excellent guide on how to deal with plagiarism online.
• I love this idea of setting mini ‘monthly goals’ throughout the year – and creating a visual reminder as to what those goals are.
• In reality, every one is a bit weird!
• Apparently, morning people may be more creative in the afternoon (that’s me!)
• I feel in love with this awesome post about the power of one / focusing on THE ONE thing you want/need to accomplish and putting all of your energy into it. A timely reminder!
• If you ever needed a reminder about why putting in that *extra 10%* is worth it - this it it!
• This one is for those working in client service agencies (like advertising) - What it Takes to be a Brilliant Suit from the Ogilvy Masterclass at Cannes Lions 2011

Enjoy your weekend!

I’m not sure how or why but this editorial for Harper’s Bazaar is epitomizes how I feel right now (in a good way!). That out of the way – I’ve been debating all day whether or not I’d post Link Love this week. I wasn’t the most productive this weekend, and wrote off all Sunday catching up on the sleep I missed out on thanks to Saturday night’s party (still – it was loads of fun!). As you can see, I’ve decided to go with it. Mainly because this week’s goodies are super-inspiring and I don’t want to wait another week to share.

• This post from Nubby Twiglet (dated December) popped up in Google Reader earlier this week for some reason. I’m glad I did because we can always use a bit of encouragement to do what we love.
• Marcella weighs in on the topic of wardrobe essentials. Check it out because she nailed it. ;>
• 12 things they don’t teach you about creativity in school. This is so good!
• 12 must be this week’s magic number because here’s 12 ways to a better blog (and YOU) in 2012 via Grit & Glamour
• Fashionably Marketing rounded up the best fashion videos of 2011. My favourites are Dior (that’s a pinball machine I’d like to play) and Kate Spade’s (cute!) videos.
• Style inspiration: Pretty-pastel things you could be wearing.
• How to deal with clutter – all your de-cluttering questions answered.
• This is a neat post on keeping your financials in order.
• Because I believe in self-creation…
• This stop-motion video titled ‘The Joy of Books’ is nothing short of amazing. Just watch it – you’ll see!

• You will crack up at this. Maybe she’s born with it? No… I’m pretty sure its Fotoshop!

That’s all x

One week into 2012 already! How have you spent it? I’ve got a few things to check off my to-do list before I go back to work on Monday, but otherwise I’ve done a good job at setting the tone for 2012: Crafted beauty, creativity and organisation – with plenty of relaxation and time spent with good people. Here are a few links to keep you entertained this weekend.

• How cool are these portrait photographs of Erika Labanauskaite by Matjaz Ocko (pictured above). The colours are stunning, just wait until you see the blue lipstick.
• Are you setting blogging goals this year? Here are 7 tips that might help!
• 12 tips for revitalizing your blog in 2012 – I need to get on to #6 (and tidy up my sidebar!)
• This is a fantastic interview with M.A.C makeup artist Amber D on the NZ Fashion Festival campaign images.
• The interior of this McDonalds in France was designed by Paris-based designer Patrick Norguet, and it is incredible!
• We all have subjective wisdom that we can pass on. This project takes that idea in asking design graduates to pass on their advice and inspiration to first-year students through a series of posters.
• Inside Coco Chanel’s apartment.
• These landscapes carved out of books are incredible.
• Rachel Hills on what a ‘beautiful life’ means to her.
• This article pretty much proves that its the photographer – NOT the camera – that makes the photos! I really recommend this one if you’ve ever had camera-envy. If nothing, it’ll inspire you to learn more about composition and really USING the functions your camera has to offer.
• The High Low writes about fashion’s 5 big ‘winners’ of social media last year.

Enjoy your weekend!

I love these images of Naomi Preizler as a 20′s movie-vixen shot at the Plaza Hotel. They hit my sweet spot for vintage hotel-glamour. I’ve rounded up plenty of link love goodness this week too – enjoy behind the cut!

• Can you trust the editorial integrity of style bloggers? This is becoming a question that is asked more and more often – it’s also (loosly) what I’m researching and writing about over the next couple of months!
• Stuck for post ideas? Here are 32 of the most popular blog post ideas from the Blog Stylist!
• Also from the Blog Stylist – how to create a Google + page for your blog. It’s on my to-do list (ya’ know… just to check it out).
• I love this DIY leather bag.
• Final Fashion talks about the downside of being an ‘insider’ fashion blogger versus her new-found status as an outsider. This is such a good read.
• Fast Company asked some of the world’s most creative advertising agencies to re-brand baby girls. The first is my favorite.
• If Comic Sans were to write a letter to the world at large, it would probably look something like this…
• Apparently ‘elite achievers’ live surprisingly relaxed live in comparison to  just ‘high achievers/achievers’. Their secret? Scheduled deliberate practice and doing ‘hard work’ as opposed to ‘hard to do work.’ Read the full article here - it’s fascinating!
• These are  a collection of the best Tumblr blogs for designers.
• H&M admitted to using Photoshop to add the heads of real-girls to the fake bodies of plastic mannequins. Have they gone too far?
• I have a newfound respect for Andy Torres after listening to her Ted x AmsterdamWomen2011 talk. Watch it!

Have a fabulous weekend!

This week was a good one in a sense of getting into my own groove, and spending loads of time with friends. A couple of dinners, shopping trips, drinks, yoga, and surprise parties made this week particularly memorable. I also shopped up quite a bit on Revolve and Solestruck. My fingers are crossed that my orders arrive next week – be prepared for a show and tell!

• Google is shutting down Friend Connect for non-Blogger blogs. Argh!
• Creative, personalized, and well-designed beautiful sales receipts. I wouldn’t throw one of these away in a hurry!
• Forever Amber is my new favorite. I recommend her rants on vanity sizing and hemlines.
• Seth Goden on preparing for the breakthrough/calamity.
• Luxury brands have a love/hate relationship with digital marketing, but this info-graphic illustrates how luxury brands are negotiating the exclusivity of being a luxury brand with the all-inclusive nature of the web.
• On that note – check out Dior’s take on social gaming. This is pretty neat!
• I like this article on the celebrity ‘It’ girl.
• This recipe makes me want to try making (and tasting) eggnogg for the first time in my life.
• Nubby’s office tour has me inspired to keep working on my own workspace.
• Tumblr’s Fashion Director has left the company after massive conflicts with brands and agencies. Tumblr has been accused of playing ‘favourites’ with particular brands/bloggers in the past and it looks like its catching up with them.
• Because I can never resist these: 20 Signs Your A Real Fashion Blogger.
• I was linked to this very inspiring Ted Talk by Sheryl Sandberg on why we have too few women leaders. She is brilliant and I totally recommend sit down and listen up for her 15 minutes!
• Little Printer is totally cute. He lives in your home and brings you news, puzzles, and gossip from your friends online to together to create your own mini-newspaper. I want one!

Have a fabulous weekend!

I have taken a hiatus in the last couple of months – my last couple of months of  University. Sometimes you do need to (temporarily!) cut back on a few things in order to focus on your top priorities – and perhaps more importantly to prevent yourself from burning out entirely! I’m pleased to say that it is almost over and I’m finally finding time again to blog. Please do stick around because I promise things are going to get a bit more interesting (!), starting with Link Love for the week that was…

• Solestruck is having a pretty sweet Black Friday sale. You can get 30% off all sale stock on Friday, 40% on Saturday and 50% on Sunday to Monday. I’m currently eyeing up a cute pair of Rachel Comey heels and hoping they will still be around by Sunday!
• Here are 50 ways to show gratitude to the people in your life (in fact, there is plenty more on Tiny Buddha.com that is worthwhile browsing through).
• This is an interesting Forbes article on why millennial women are burning out at work before 30.
• People were lining up to buy Versace for H&M up to 20 hours ahead of the collection’s 8am launch the next morning. I’ve never lined up to go shopping before the store has opened, have you?
• Do you have a hangover cure? This sounds totally legit!
• How to source good quality free images for your blog.
• An excellent tip for talking to total strangers at parties – the comments are good too!
• Already Pretty puts into words what I’ve always suspected about shoes and how they can make an outfit.
• A timely guide from IFB on writing gift guides.
• Nubia asked the question “how far is too far with the ‘courtesy of’” in regards to bloggers that are gifted clothes/etc for free on IFB and it has sparked up an interesting little debate!

Have a fabulous weekend!

I’ve caught Rugby World Cup fever

. It’s hard to avoid if you’re living in New Zealand. You should have seen the chaos in the city last Friday night on the Opening of the Rugby World Cup. It was incredible! I promise that’s the last of the Rugby talk. You might have noticed I’ve changed things up around here – I felt that my blog’s layout was in dire need of a refresher. I hope that you like it!

And now, here are some links to keep you busy this weekend…

• 33 ways to stay creative. These are cute & simple.
• Nubby answers: How do I get my blog noticed?
• There are two places I want to live in temporarily – Stockholm, and New York City. Here’s what one girl learned living in the later for 5 years.
• Missed IFBCon and what to know what went on? Well, check out this round up of coverage of the event.
• Blog tips: How to write a great DIY post.
• Bree launched an incredible resource for bloggers called ‘Bloggers Domain – the A-Z of Blog Resources and Tools’, here’s what she had to say about it. Alternatively, click here to check it out for yourself!
• Do luxury fashion brands need to wake up to their ethical and environmental responsibilities?
• Is digital killing the luxury brand?

Digital is democratizing; it’s about accessibility. The brand image for high-end fashion is all about inaccessibility: Keep the masses out so that the people who can afford to buy their way in feel they’re exceptional.

• Fashion week’s split personality  loosely comments on the line between old/new and those that have to be there versus those that want  to be there.
• Gossip Girl is launching a clothing line inspired by the show.
• I’ve been obsessed with PepperPlate all week. It’s a web-based app that enables you to store recipes, create meal plans and add needed items to your shopping list from one location. Plus, its iPhone app means you can have it with you when your shopping and cooking. Truly awesome!
• Looking for some new blogs (in totally different genres) to check out? Try this ‘top 10′ list of inspiring female bloggers.

Have a fabulous weekend!

This Luisa Spagnoli ‘Luxury in the City’ campaign encapsulates so much of what I love in editorial. I love muted colours, city scapes, and glamourous women. This particular campaign was shot in London, which is high on my list of cities to visit right now…

Onto the goodness… Here’s what’s good in fashion, blogging & the web:

This Week in Fashion & Blogging…

• Blog tweaks from Independent Fashion Bloggers: 10 WordPress plugins I can’t live without.
• Also from IFB, How to Keep Perspective, Avoid Jealousy and Stay Thankful
• Richel Pipp’s guide to walking in high heels is great.
• Fashionably Marketing.me interviewed the DKNY PR girl on how she manages social media, PR and marketing with such grace and style.
• To promote jeans, the GAP is launching a food truck?!
• Bree from The Blog Stylist live blogged her way through the Australian blogging conference Blogopolis, bringing two us all the juice from the experts. She followed up by impressing us with just how much traffic live blogging can generate.
• How to keep your inbox tidy. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve on this topic that I will definitely share with you soon!
• Christian Louboutin’s request for an injunction to stop sales of red-soled shoes made by Yves Saint Laurent has been denied by the judge considering the case.
• An ode to American spelling. I TOTALLY AGREE!
• Vahni on the perks & pitfalls of product placement. A good read.
• Business of Fashion interviewed Dolce and Gabbana on their digital strategy. This is a great interview, and they come across as both incredibly intelligent and savvy:

Have a fabulous weekend!

Arghhh!!! I can’t believe my own inability to WRITE something lately. With school and work both full on, my inbox is bursting at the seams and worse, my blog is being completely neglected! I’m sorry, I’m here!

Aside from just being insanely pre-occupied, I’ve been going through a number of big changes. In addition to becoming a blonde, I’ve completely switched to Apple after acquiring a MacBook pro (thanks to my awesome employers!) and an iPhone. I’ve also bought myself a BMW 318ti which is proving itself to be much more of a pleasure to drive…

Let’s get onto the goodness. Here’s what I’ve found interesting this week in fashion, blogging & the web:

This Week in Fashion & Blogging…

• If you’re into New Zealand fashion then you NEED TO SIGN UP for Shop What’s New. They’re launching in the next month or so and from what I gather are going to aggregate a lot of stuff from popular kiwi designers. Just to sweeten the deal, by signing up you could win a $500 shopping voucher.
• Vogue’s Influencer Networker has kicked up quite a storm this month, I liked hearing Ashe’s thoughts on the matter. You might also like her post last week on ‘what makes a blogger influential anyway?‘.
• I’d be interested in reading Yuli Ziv’s book, ‘Blogging Your Way to the Front Row’. Gala has posted an excerpt in the form of her interview with Ziv (featured in the book) which has added to my fire of curiosity.
• Kikki K stationary is a dream for any stationary addict and productivity geek. Her latest catalogue features themed workspaces. I wish that my workspace looked as beautiful one of these!
• This is an interesting way to think about being a well known blogger: Forget about getting everyone to like you.
• The Manual Photography cheat sheet is useful if you keep forgetting what all of buttons on your camera do.
• Make up organisation. Enough said.
• Nubby Twiglet is one of my favourite bloggers, so I was happy to stumble onto this China Shop interview with her.
• Don’t tell me you’re busy! (okay, this struck a cord!)
• Have you ever thought about business cards for your blog? Here’s what you need to know.
• This is the perfect post to end on: The reality of blogging and working a full time job.

Have a fabulous weekend!

In this week’s fashion & blogging must click list are tips for falling in love with your blog all over again, the reality of Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw and Google’s interview with one of my favourites: Tina Fey.

This Week in Fashion & Blogging…

• The top 10 best outfits in Disney films. I also loved Ariel’s makeshift dress out of a sail, who knew other people did too?!
• I commend this: Carrie Bradshaw math. The verdict? Carrie Bradshaw is either a) lying or b) in a hell of a lot of debt.
• Opera went out with a few wonderful words (there’s a video!):

Your platform is wherever you are, with your own reach however small or large that reach is. Wherever you are, that is your platform, your stage, your circle of influence. That is your talk show and that is where your power lies.

• 7 tips for falling in love with your blog all over again. I like #4: Write your manifesto. Now… what would your manifesto look like?
• More from Copyblogger, how to captivate new readers in 5 minutes or less. I want to do all of this!
• How do you protect your blog? This is important, guys!
• Gala Darling was on TVNZ’s Sunday last weekend. It was a very interesting little story, and all around inspiring. Gala is still very much a kiwi and I think that’s why I like her.
• Are YSL’s designer cigarettes clever or disturbing? I find it inherently odd to see something that’s so gross dressed up as something so beautiful.
• I want this app so much I’d buy an iPhone for it. You use it to take individual photos of your clothes and shoes, and it helps you organize, sort through ‘em and find something to wear. Genius!
• Another thought provoking piece from Issac, are New Zealand designers giving value for money? Read the comments too. I must admit I have been disappointed before by shoddy New Zealand designer clothing.
• I love Tina Fey:

This Week, Offline:

As the semester comes to an end, so do the number of assignment due dates and the intensity of the work… but I’m officially counting down because come the holidays I’m off on another adventure! I’ve started finalizing travel plans this week, and so I suppose that makes it official: I’m going to Sweden for 3 weeks in June/July! It’ll be my second stint of international travel… and when I consider that my first stint was Washington DC & New York City just a few months ago I definitely feel privileged!

Have a fabulous weekend!