australia day.

Hi everyone,

I know I'm late in terms of posting up a post about Australia Day, but I've been at work for the last few days and all these issues with staffing,leasing, training, organising a holiday for my sister in Japan and all sorts of other things, have kept me up into the early hours of the morning, but away from my blog and photos.

So, I hope everyone did have an awesome Australia Day! For the past few years on Australia day, I have been at the Big Day Out's here in Sydney, this year, the line up didn't really appeal to me at all and on top of that I had to work as well. It was pretty hot this time round, 40 degrees hot in fact, so at least it was nice to stay indoors under nice cool airconditioning.

Rick and I just ended up staying at home (like the old couple we are)with some beer and a nice pesto platter. Pesto platters are so easy to make and good enough to eat. As we were driving home from the shops with all the pesto goodies, the sunset was just too nice to pass up for a photos shoot.

I've been wanting to do more "outfit posts" but kinda never really had the time to do them properly. I always wanted to wear this outfit with a green space as the background.

(Top: Forcast, Skirt: revival, shoes: topshop, ring: vivienne westwood, bag: vintage gift from housemate James)

I tried editing the photos a little just to play around with photoshop effects and lighting but wasn't sure how it turned out, as I'm currently writing and editing this post on my crappy, decade old, LCD monitor. So let me know how they all look on your computers and maybe give me some feedback on what looks good and doesn't?

I also apologise in advance for the close up of my hideously, chipped and ungroomed nails. I have been dying to get them done, but just have not had the chance to yet.

X

where the city meets the sea.

Sundays usually is a very unproductive day for me, especially when it is beach weather. It took Rick and I a bit longer to get to the beach today as he and his mates had to fix the boat before we could go. I took this spare time to play around with my dslr and take some self portrait shots using my new canon wireless remote.

I'd love to learn how to take some more full body portrait photos but have not yet mastered the art of posing =)
My facial expressions always turn out too tense and my body always look too rigid. It's usually all my candid shots that turn out the best, but then those ones are the ones where you can't really see my outfit properly. Any tips from all you other lovely fashion bloggers on how to pose and take lovely outfit photos would be greatly appreciated. =)





I'm actually wearing a DIY shirt created and modified by my new singer sewing machine my housemate bought me for Xmas. I must say my sewing skills are really really rusty at the moment, but I have set up little projects for me to do this year, which will hopefully lead to something.

Rick recently purchased a new sony DSLR, with really fast shutter speed and has an incredible panoramic function.



I must say he has taken to the art of photography quite naturally. He has a great eye for shots with great composition and has always been able to pick out the best type of lighting for a shot. The sunset at the bay near my house is a real spectacular view and so today we decided to take Xavy down to the park for a bit of exercise and take some photos.
The result: I think it turned out pretty great!









I have a really bad scratch from Xavy the last time we took him for a walk and he gave me a rope burn. I actually had to photoshop it out on one of the photos. I'm just hoping now that it won't scar too badly.

Rick's finally going sky diving tomorrow (my Xmas present to him), after weeks of postponing due to bad weather. Hopefully with that will come some more photos and an outfit post too!
Until then, goodnight everyone.
X

xavier.

Just a quick one as I haven't posted for so long.

I've been so immersed into reading up on photography and really trying to understand my dslr lately. I find that I have learnt a lot and have definitely improved my photography. I took some candid photos the other night of my handsomely, cute dog (excuse me being biased): Xavier.

Xavier is a 2 year old Japanese Spitz with a great temperament,very friendly, hyperactive and cheeky. He will chew everything and anything you give him,can stand on his back to feet and paw you, just like a prey mantis. He is disobedient but royal and has an addiction to playing with socks.

we said goodbye under city lights.

It's nearly 1am and I still have to fold the washing, go to bed and then get up to go to work in a few hours. But I have a massive stomach ache, probably caused by some bad food I ate today. So I'm here typing up a blog post clutching at a hot water bottle and chatting to friends.

I posted my first lookbook look just then! Milestone! I've had an lookbook account for a while now, but have never been brave enough to post photos? But this is a new year and so much is different this year than it was last year. So I've gotta take the leap and start somewhere right?

I wore this outfit the other night when we took Rick's mum out for dinner at Darling Harbour. She was going back home to QLD and it was out little farewell dinner for her. We took her to Criniti's, an Italian restaurant in Harbourside, with awesome food and great views. The pesto entree was amazing and unexpectedly massive in proportion that we were pretty much stuffed by the time out mains came out. The woodfire pizza there is amazing, and according to Rick (who's a massive pizza enthusiast) it is the best pizza he has had in Sydney.

After dinner we went and sat by the water taking photos of my outfit for my blog. Rick just bought a new camera, and so it was good practice for him to take some photos for me, while I practiced posing for the camera. The result were the following pictures. I can officially say that this is my first outfit post!

(Top: Cotton On Body, Gold Skirt: Revival, Lace Clutch: Dangerfield, Wedges: Matiko, Ring: Vivienne Westwood)

We had a pretty good time, shame we had to say goodbye, because this really means that the holidays are over! =(
Rick's mum bought me a rose and other flowers to say thanks for having her in Sydney. It was such a lovely gesture and the rose was so beautifully wrapped. Chloe, one of the girls from work, also came to visit the other day. She'd been away in Switzerland for the past 6 months because her grandmother was ill. She bought me back a tonne of Swiss and German chocolate! I just couldn't resist taking photos of the flowers and chocolate.

James (my housemate) will be home in a few hours too! I'm excited about to hear about his travels and all the things he's seen and done. To me he's been a major part of inspiring me in a lot of things I do. Can't wait till I get to catch up with him.

Oh and one last thing, Congratulations Rick on getting your visa. It's totally hard for me, knowing that you'll definitely be going, but I'm so happy for you, because this is what you wanted for so long. I love you and will support you completely with everything! X

westfield, pitt st mall.

Today I finally had a chance to go see the new westfield shopping centre in sydney city, pitt st mall.
I've heard rather mixed reviews on the building and was eager to see it from an architecture student's perspective.

I have to say the shops are what definitely makes the building, not so much the design of the building. For me, the building itself was rather clustered, made no spatial sense and looked like they just dumped as many shops randomly on one floor. The designs of the individual shops however were very, how should I put it architecturally couture?

I wish I had photos to show you some of the amazing facades some of the shops had. The Oneteaspoon store was one standout. The facade was made out of cast iron, laser cut, with a skull lace, which was very decoratively ornate. Another standout store was Christian Louboutin. Their facade had blocks of wooden cubes that were engraved or laser cuts of images and the Louboutin Logo. The Nespresso Cafe (done by dad) was also quiet impressive. Sportsgirl was located on the main strip of Pitt St Mall, but I thought their facade design was rather impressive. It looked like a shattered mirror but used 2 different materials with 3 different functionalities. For example, some shards were solid white, while others were mirrors and the others were hollow and meant that passer bys were able to look through into the store. I think that this gave the store a subtleness in terms of how they approached the entrance. They created a boundary but visually its still connected to the store? I know actually know if that made any sense at all...hahaha....

Speaking of Christian Louboutin, I know I'm probably a few seasons behind but I am absolutely in love with his Peep Toe Button Up Ankle Boots. I could only find a decent picture of it online in the flannel material but I really really really really want them in leather. RRP = 1400, so fat chance I'll be getting them soon and will probably have to just lust at them from a distance....

I am also so totally and eagerly anticipating the opening of Zara!!!!

Rick also found that 100 Market Street, had a rope facade, where real rope was actually weaved into the front of the building. It was also covered with a coating, I guess to prevent it from rotting.

I also found a piece from recreationalbotique's collection for a steal of a price. Check out their cool trinkets at http://recreationalboutique.com

happy new year.

One of my new year's resolutions this year is to make sure I keep this blog updated with what it was originally meant for. (ie. diary, fashion and architecture). Seeing as I'm here only 2 days into the new year, I'm thinking I've done well, so far into just one of my resolutions.

Last year came and went so quickly and left me feeling that I've accomplished nothing. I had a great year with my family, things worked out with work and uni, and I spent an amazing year of love and fun and sentimentality with Rick. But in terms of accomplishments to furthering myself in terms of creativity, it was lacking at the most.

This year I'm determined to change all of that. And with the help and support and plenty of encouragement from family and friends I'm sure this sudden enthusiasim definately sought through to the end of the year.
I'm determined to buckle down and finish all the unfinished.
I'm determined to look into new creative endeavours of every single aspect.
Now after that self determination and motivational speech....

I had a pretty hectic week leading up to new years, so it was a massive relief when Rick and I decided just to spend it ourselves at home, away from crowds and people. I rushed to the shops after work and made an amazing pesto platter with pickled vegetables, cheese, wine, cocktails, bread, dips and plenty of candles. I must admit the fireworks this year were pretty impressive and the City of Sydney did an amazing job this year.

The weather was so amazing for new year's day that we decided to drive up north to Palm Beach and go surfing and relax on the beach. We took the remaining of our pesto platter from the night before and headed out to Palm Beach.

The vingette photos are actually from my new Samsung camera. It creates amazing prints and you don't need to be a pro at photoshop to be able to get some amazing shots that need to be edited on the computer.

(Bikini: Zimmerman, Sunglasses: Perv)

The sun was pretty strong and even the sand we were walking on was too hot with havi's on. We headed home early and hung out at the pool downstairs and sunbaked on the decks with a bottle of wine.

So I hope you all had a happy and safe new year and I look forward to sharing with you guys a lot of things this year.