The High Line, NYC

The High Line, wearing: COS shirt, Equipment  sweater, Acne jeans, Prada boots, Margaret Howell tote

Our first week in New York was spent doing all the touristy things, visiting all the attractions. I'm one of those people who loathes being in crowded places so we made the effort of waking up bright and early every morning just so we can beat the swarms of tourists. I think it paid off. I love the feeling of having an open space all to myself to enjoy. I can't think of anything worse than taking a photo with other holiday makers being in frame.  

 

New York, New York

An obligatory touristy shot of Central Park from Top of the Rock. 

New York, you either love it or you love it. A city that never sleeps or slows down to catch a breath. I can almost hear the endless car horns, the occasional sirens and the distant murmur of construction work just by looking at this photo. 

New York for me, was love at first sight. I was lucky enough to be on the right side of the plane as we approached the airport for landing. From way way up above, the city mass was so small but boy was it already an impressive sight. 

 

somewhere out there..

nature > human 

I have no other words to describe how small and vulnerable I felt, standing there in amongst these thick woods admiring its grace and unwavering beauty. 

Current mood (feat. West Elm Acrylic Tray)

Beige//Grey//Black//Green

I was sent this West Elm Acrylic Tray to style a few weeks ago and finally managed to get a chance to do a quick snap of  it this afternoon. Ideally, I would have liked to frame this shot a bit better but I'm kind of running a bit behind schedule today (make that everyday!).

The tray has a simple and minimalist design and it's clean lines fits perfectly with my style aesthetics. Today I'm using it as a display tray to showcase my current mood -- a neutral palette. This palette has easily become my absolute favourite to work with. So calming and still, it's almost zen-like. 

Products, in no particular order:

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser: Shower time luxury. I don't use this everyday but on days when I need the extra pick me up, this is my shower gel of choice. It has a delicate, sweet rosy scent that's so soothing, especially after a long day at work. 

Tea Forte Tea: Have you ever seen teabags any cuter than Tea Forte?! My husband and I used these in our 'thank you' giftboxes for the guests at our wedding anniversary a couple of years back. For those of you in Australia, you can order Tea Forte from www.teaforte.com.au

Anne Leibovtiz At Work: What can I say, this lady is genius behind the camera. She's one of my all time favourite photographers. Another favourite of mine is Tim Walker. Both very different in style but both create equally inspiring work.

Fujifilm X100: An oldie but still a goodie. Although, I haven't been using it all that much recently. My eyes have been glued to the back of my dslr.

Byredo Gypsy Water: Perfect in every way. Love the scent and the package design. Minimalism at its best! I wear Gypsy Water mostly on cooler days. My favourite Byredo scent is still Blanche followed closely by La Tulipe.

Magaret Howell: I did a bit of damage to my wallet when I was in Japan. Everything in the boutique was just oh so perfect!

Mixed Rice: We consume a lot of rice at my home and lately we've adopted a healthier approach by adding half a cup wild mixed rice and grains to one cup jasmine rice. 

MT Washi Tape: Addicted!!! 





 

winter essentials

As my work schedule's becoming busier and busier, I rarely have time to work on personal project, like this one. I've been meaning to create a winter moodboard with all my favourite Winter items since before the start of Winter! My poor blog has been neglected for far too long. I've never been a great blogger and for that, I must apologise! I'm aiming to update the blog more often with my personal work however if you want to see what I'm up to on most days, jump over to my Instagram feed -- it's where I live! Anyway, without getting too sidetracked, here are some of my Winter Essential items.
 

First up is my rather scratched and beaten up oxfords by Prada. I always include an item (or two) 'borrowed from the boy' in my daily outfit ensemble. Outfits that are overly feminine look terrible on me so I tend to juxtapose it with a bit of masculine.  I've had these oxfords for just over 3 years but they remain the favorite pair I own. Contrary to Dieppa Restrepo oxfords, these never once gave me blisters!

Secondly, Baies candle by Diptyque. Always a favourite of mine and the only candle that I've repurchased time after time. It's a soft, delicate floral scent that always puts me in a relaxing mood. Lazy Sunday mornings with Baies candle and a good book (or magazines) in hand, is the perfect way to spend my wintery day.

My Chery Jacket by Moncler has received so much wear this Winter. It's not exactly the cheapest down jacket but based on a cost per wear calculation, I think the jacket has become my best investment. Plus, it'll come super handy for when I'm in New York later in the year (November!).

My trusty Rag & Bone knitted beanie has been with me through thick and thin! I've even lost it for a few hours thinking I'll never see it again. I hate losing things. Anything! Needless to say, those few hours felt like absolute torture. I love the way it fits on me. It's slouchy without appearing oversize. The perfect beanie!

Leather leggings by Helmut Lang. Need I say more? Buttery leather goodness right here.

Number six for Winter Essential is tea. Can't get enough of it. Not only does tea have health benefits, including antioxidants, it's deliciously soothing to drink. I'm quite a tea fanatic and will go through great lengths to acquire beautiful, quality tea. My current favourites are The White Wolf by Bellocq and Le Hammeau, also by Bellocq.

And lastly, I've included Luxe cityguides New York seeing that I will be in New York for their Winter too. Still making decisions on accommodation at the moment. Seeing that I will be in the city for 2 weeks, my first option was to check out Airbnb however I've yet to come across anything aesthetically pleasing to fit my price bracket. Decisions, decisions...
 

Fleeting thoughts...

“Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Innarah Skincare Review

Innarah Skincare

I was sent a few products from Innarah a couple of months back and I have been using their products in conjunction with my current skincare regime. I'm so in love with the smooth velvety texture of the Treatment Creme - a little goes a long way! I liken this product to La Mer Moisturising Creme which has been a staple in my skincare regime for many, many years. And for the first time, there's a close contender! Another two of my favourites from this range is the Treatment Serum and Oxygenated Moisture Oil. These two bottles are like liquid gold for my dry and sensitive skin! I use them at night, alternating between the two and have noticed a significant change in the overall clarity of my skin. It's a boost of hydration that my skin craves for every now and then. 

With the colder months approaching, I'm glad to have included these Innarah products as part of my skincare rotation and if you're keen to find out more information about these products, please visit their website. 

 

Autumn

Oh these pretty Autumn colours make me weak at the knees. Today was unusually warm for an Autumn's day. In fact this whole week has been pleasantly warmer than usual. It's hard to believe Winter is just around the corner.

I'll miss these sun drenched days...

It's one of those days...

...meh!

pretty little things

Japanese Breakfast, Hoshinoya Kyoto.

I had about 5 minutes to set up these plates before we literally inhaled everything on the table (plus a hot pot, not pictured). 

Breakfast was very elaborate, very pretty and so darn delicious!  

Zen Living Part One

Hoshinoya, Kyoto wearing: Borsalino Fedora | Isabel Marant blouse | Acne Studios Jeans |

I sat on the window sill and admired the stillness in front of me. The quietness was deafening at times. Occasionally, I'm comforted by the soft rattling of the Scenic Train that passes by on the other side of Ooi River. The train always stops for the tourists onboard to take a glimpse of Hoshinoya. I imagine this place would be just as spectacular in appearance from the other side of the river as it was for me, enjoying it from the inside. Their faces all blurred from the distance but I didn't mind, I took a few snaps of them taking snaps of us. I'm sure they were as delighted to see us as we were to see them...

 

Barely-there Makeup Essentials

Bathroom swoon at The Blackwood in Sassafras.

The Daily Essentials.

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the essentials: Becca Soft Tone Blush in Whisp | Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed | Diorshow Mascara | Shiseido The Makeup Mascara Base | Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Brun -Teak | NARS Eye Shadow in Bali | Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner | Becca Eye Tint in Gilt | Becca Boudoir Skin Mineral Foundation in Bloom | Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealor in 4 | Becca Luminous skin color in Cashmere |

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Here's a post I've been meaning do to but just haven't got around doing—makeup essentials. I've never been much of a makeup junkie. Skincare on the otherhand, is another story I'll leave for another day. Like most things in my life, I like to keep everything simple and fairly minimal, makeup included. I'm a huge Becca fan! My favourite product from their range would have to be their tinted moisturiser, which I use as a base. It has a sheer to light coverage and gives the skin with a healthy, natural glow. I also love using this product on it’s own!  

Here are my favourite items used to achieve a ‘no makeup’ face. I don’t like to look overly made up but ironically, making it look like you're not wearing makeup when you actually are is hard work! Sometimes I'll add in a little eye shadow to give my eyes a little more definition but for the most part, I prefer my everyday make up to look fresh and barely there.

Black and gold with soul

When I cook, I look forward to what the final dish will look like rather than what it tastes like. Isn't that kind of ridiculous?! Luckily, I always follow recipes without skipping steps so there's little that can go wrong with the taste, right? 

KATIE MARX- Flower Forager Workshop

It was love at first sight. 

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to attend Katie Marx's Flower Forager Workshop held at the beautiful Dumbo Feather HQ in St Kilda. 
 
Looking at these photos makes me feel like I'm on a flower high- all over again!
 
 (Photos taken with X100)

My first arrangement! Looked easy when Katie and Phil were demonstrating the dos and don'ts to the group. It really isn't as easy as it looks.  

My second floral arrangement- yellow and purple themed.