Archive for April, 2010
High Tea Party and the Jane McGrath Foundation- the ultimate girls day out!
Each year the wonderfully girly event of the High Tea Party takes place in luxury hotels around Australia with all the trimmings that a girl could want for a fantastically pretty and whimsical day.
Not only do guests enjoy a traditional high tea, but they also get pampered with beauty treatments, a fashion show and Portobello Road Market-type shopping.
To top it off, this year the McGrath Foundation has been chosen as the charity partner of the High Tea Party meaning that $5 from every ticket sold will go to the McGrath Foundation.
I’ve been a supporter of the McGrath Foundation since it began, as while I’m extremely lucky to have never had anyone close to me get Breast Cancer, it doesn’t take a genius to understand the importance of Breast Care Nurses and the positive impact they can have on the lives of those affected by Breast Cancer.
It also helps that the McGrath Foundation always have really awesome fundraising initiatives that you can’t help but want to be a part of .
In 2010 the High Tea Party will be held in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide with dates spreading from June to October.
The fashion side of the events will see a collaboration with Anthea Crawford which means a showing of their 2010 Winter collection as well as the opportunity to have one-on-one styling sessions with Anthea Crawford‘s styling experts.
Other partners include Green & Black’s organic chocolate (ohhhh yeah), Lipton, VS Sassoon, Bare Minerals, Galliano, Nair, Gwinganna Retreat and Lastminute.com.au who will be on hand to give you tips, tricks and workshops in their dedicated areas.
These events always sell out, so get your girls together and book now!
The High Tea Party will be taking place on the following dates at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm each day with interactive experiences and markets from 9am-6pm.
5-6 June 2010- The Stamford Plaza, BRISBANE (Love this hotel)
17-18 July 2010- The Hotel Windsor, MELBOURNE
4 September 2010- The Stamford Grand, ADELAIDE
8-9 October 2010- The Westin, SYDNEY
Tickets cost $95 and include high tea, all complimentary services, a gift bag and $5 donation to the McGrath Foundation!
To purchase tickets or for further information, head to www.thehighteaparty.com.au
Mother’s Day Giveaway- French Navy Stationary
Have you bought your mum (or Mom for all you American/Filipino readers) her Mother’s Day present yet? Is it even Mother’s Day in the US/Philipines? Am I asking too many confusing questions for this time of the day?!
Well, look. I’m not here to make life more difficult. And neither are the lovely people over at French Navy. Which is why we’re giving away a gorgeous set of cards just in time for Mother’s Day.
You may remember when I posted about these cards way back when my blog started. It was only five months ago so it should be really fresh, but click here for the link in case you’re not familiar.
To be honest with you, my thoughts on this brand have actually changed. I used to love it. I really did. But now I am obsessed by it! I’ve been using mine alot lately and I’ve been stalking their site www.frenchnavy.com.au to get some more.
At the moment I’m undecided between Stiletto, Pirouette, It’s a girl thing and Rock-a-bye, baby. I know the last one is a ‘baby’ themed card, but I think it’s so pretty.
Fortunately, for one of you lucky readers, you will soon be in the same predicament as me. For when you win my Mother’s Day giveaway, you will be given the prize of one set of cards with the design of your choosing.
So, what’ll it be? Fancy a heart design to write letters to your love? Would you like to get in early for Christmas? Or maybe you like something neutral like the dog or bird?
Whichever it may be, mosey on over to www.frenchnavy.com.au have a look at the generous selection and then pop back here to tell me what your favourite design is to be in the running to win one of these gorgeous sets.
Don’t forget to become a fan of theirs on facebook, too. Click!
For those of you who just. want. it. right. now. you can buy from French Navy online and they will deliver them to you beautifully packaged.
This giveaway ends on the 3rd of May so that the cards arrive well in time for Mother’s Day. That is if you decide you want to give them away afterall…
That means you only have a week to enter- so get commenting. Good luck, everyone!
An army of cuteness!
Cocktail Couture- Sex and the City 2 meets SKKY Vodka
I must say, I think Sex and the City really did big things for the Cocktail. The notion of having a girls night out and drinking Cosmos really surged after we saw the fabulous lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda in which they were doing the same thing.
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Glamorous girl (based on Carrie)
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Busy Beauty (based on Miranda)
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Fabulous Flirt (based on Samantha)
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Pretty Princess (based on Charlotte)
Squeeze and drop lemon squeeze into a cocktail shaker with SKKY Vodka and lemon lime soda. Fill cocktail shaker with ice and stir. Strain into a tall Collins glass with fresh ice. Float red wine over the top of the drink as a garnish. Serve with a skinny black straw.-
Mr New York (based on Big)
Kim Kardashian launches the MOTOBLUR for Optus
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG.
This morning I met Kim Kardashian.
Let me tell you how this all went down.
My friend Angie and I decided to meet before 6am, grab a coffee, and then head down to the George Street Optus store to wait in line to see Kim at her 9am store appearance.
We were the second pair there. I sent this pic to her via Twitter to let her know we had been waiting in pitch black, freezing cold conditions just to see her. Guilt trip? Not at all.
A few more people trickled in over the next few hours. By 9am, an insane (that’s actually a pretty good word to describe some of the people there) crowd had turned up to see her.
We were told by this point we would not all get to meet her and a raffle ticket system was established. The ten people picked out of a hat (a glittery one, at that) would get to come inside the store to have a 2 minute chat, a professional photo and receive a signed picture of Kim.
Out of the hundreds of people there, that was a slim chance.
Around 10am, Kim came out from the back to talk to the press about the MOTOBLUR. We frantically took pics from outside and a few nutcases screamed unnecessarily.
After about 15 minutes, Kim came outside into the little barricaded area for people to take photos, attempt to get photos with her and try and have a chat.
OK- WHY do people think it’s ok to swamp someone? She is a person. A small person at that. The crowd was unbelievable and I wouldn’t be surprised it she never came back to Australia because of it. I was getting crushed and I was one of the, if not the biggest person in the section of the crowd I was in.
I was so annoyed that people who turned up at 8:30, 9, 9:30 just drifted into the front of the crowd and got to have pictures. I’m a pretty placid person who isn’t into pushing people but either way I wouldn’t have been able to get a good picture.
I managed to get one of Angie- It’s kind of funny, but it gives you an idea of how ridiculous it was.
So it got too insane for Kim to be outside and she went back in. This was when they called the raffle. I think the first ticket drawn was rigged (rightfully so) and it was Ashleigh, the girl who got their first. The next nine people called were just people who had rocked up later and were around the corner. This was pretty unfair in my opinion, but what could I do?
All those winners had gone inside and it was a bit of an anticlimax. Noone budged and I was starting to get shitty thinking what a waste it was to get up that early for pretty much nothing. THEN security came outside and said to my friend “Kim has specifically requested to see you and your friend” and Angie went to grab me but some absolutely awful excuse for a human being linked arms with her and got taken in. Keep in mind, this girl got there at about 8:30am and kept talking about how she was there at 5am.
No, you weren’t. I have a photo of the line and you’re way back in it. There is a special place in hell for you, my dear.
So Angie and the girl get taken inside with Angie screaming “SHE’S NOT MY FRIEEEEEEEND! My friend is the one with the boooooooow!!!!”
I was left outside close to tears. Today was a particularly bad day for my arthritis (being so freezing cold at 4am when I woke up) and physical pain doesn’t usually make me cry, but it was all too much and I was so upset.
I hung out the front in the mob for a few more minutes and next thing Angie comes bounding up to the door with one of the Optus reps and they tell security Kim has asked for me to come inside.
OMFG.
Apparently, once inside, Angie kept telling the Optus people that the girl who blew in with her wasn’t her friend but they pretty much said “too bad”, in nicer words. Angie then yelled out to Kim the same thing and that her real friend was the one with the big bow and Kim went up to the Optus staff and said to come and get me.
A-MA-ZING.
As a result, I look horrendous in all the pics. I had to run in there and I was trembling. I look like a stunned mullet in 75% of the pics and in the others I look like a stalker who finally got to meet her idol. Trust me, I’m not that bad I just couldn’t control the muscles in my face. I couldn’t smile or do anything I just had this blank look on my face with really vacant yet somehow crazy eyes.
I’m hoping, praying that somewhere out there there is a decent shot of me with Kim.
After the group shots, we were allowed two minutes chatting with Kim and a professional photo plus a signed postcard.
I thanked Kim profusely for letting me sneak in. She said “You’ve got a great friend” and then I stupidly rambled about how it was so cold outside waiting for her at 6am. I finally composed myself and was like, “Ok, I have a blog named A Fatal Attraction To Cuteness and I’d love to know what your most favourite cute thing in the entire world is?”
Kim- “Well, I have these flanalette pyjamas which I think are really cute. All my friends tease me about them though.”
Marlo- “hehe What’s printed on them?”
Kim- “Hearts….and igloos. All sorts of things. They’re so snuggly, though. I think they’re cute.”
Marlo- “That is cute.”
Then we said our goodbyes and I left.
She’s so, so, so stunning. You can’t even imagine. She looks like perfection. She’s alot taller than I thought she would be. I mean, she had very high heels on, but I thought she’d be really short.
She’s also alot skinnier than I imagined. In photos and on TV she looks really curvy. Like, if she were a road she’d have one of those squiggly arrow signs in front of her, but she’s just got a normal, healthy, petite body. Sort of like Lara Bingle.
I’m not sure what labels she was wearing, but she had on a stripey shift dress with a black leather belt and a gorgeous sheer, silk jacket with sharp shoulders which she does so well.
I checked out the MOTOBLUR phone afterwards, too. It’s pretty good if you love being on the net. It has unlimited Twitter, Facebook and YouTube capabilities and certain plans offer unlimited SMS. It’s got a qwerty keyboard with decent-sized keys and a nice, sleek touch screen.
I’m currently on a really good plan, but it’s definitely something I’d consider when my plan runs out in a couple of months.
Someone with sexy legs…
I think you can tell by my pictures that my legs aren’t my greatest asset, but I freakin’ love these leggings. They created a stir when they were previewed at the David Jones Winter showings and I’ve been on the lookout since.
In the meantime, they were worn by Cheryl Cole in that ridiculous excuse for a ‘song’ Three Words’ video clip and it made me want them even more.
Seriously, I would love to wear the Sass & Bide body suit and leggings out with just a pair of black pumps and futuristic hair. Incredible.
Here they are modelled by the stunningly beautiful Annika Kaban (on www.mycatwalk.com.au) and they look absolutely gorgeous on her.
So, who has long, toned legs and a spare $890 to buy these puppies? Let me live vicariously through you!
Sass & Bide ‘The Bullet’ leggings available through http://www.mycatwalk.com.au/ for AU$890.
The Etchibald’s
For a few years now it’s become a tradition for my parents and I to go and see the Archibald prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and then go for a nice lunch somewhere.
Last year, a few months after it opened, Etch became our choice of place to eat at since it was in convenient proximity to the Art Gallery and there’s easy parking.
So of course I’ve come up with a clever merging of words to call this outing- The Etchibald’s.
HIGH-larious, is it not?
Moving on.
As far as the Archibald’s go, this year I was pretty underwhelmed. Usually I come away with a clear favourite with many in close second, but this year I kind of struggled just to choose a portrait to vote for in the People’s Choice.
I settled in the Portrait of Glenn A. Baker. Mostly because it’s the kind of picture, even without knowing the man, I wouldn’t mind having hung up in my house. Plus I really like the guy. I’d love to sit down with him and see who knows more about Mariah Carey…
Pics of paintings from www.thearchibaldprize.com.au
Lydia Jewels on tour with Kelly Clarkson
In some very exciting local news, American Idol superstar Kelly Clarkson has requested one of my favourite Aussie designers, Lydia Jewels to help complete her look on her Australian tour beginning tomorrow night!
Already spotted on stars such as our own Jessica Mauboy, Melanie Griffiths’ daughter, Dakota Johnson and Underbelly’s Cheree Cassidy, a selection of Lydia Jewels have been requested by Kelly to wear in a series of concerts in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Let’s hope that the pieces she requested are all she ever wanted because her life would suck without them.
Here’s what Kelly has requested and might have on tomorrow night
Borne Naked- Don’t be caught naked again.
How annoying is it when you change handbags and you realise you’ve left your fave lip gloss, your house keys, or worse- tampons in another bag?
This happens to me more often than not and it’s stressful and annoying. The amount of times I’ve had to come home from work in the city just to pick up something I’d left in a handbag from the day before is countless and absolutely infuriating.
So, for those of you who haven’t jumped on the Borne-wagon (see what I did there? eh? eh?), it’s time you got a Borne Naked handbag liner. Simply put your handbag belongings inside the liner as opposed to inside the bag, and when it’s time to swap just change the clear liner over to the next bag.
You don’t even need to put all your handbag contents in the liner, just those things that you know you’re going to be pissed off if you don’t have them on you.
The Borne Naked handbag liners come in three different sizes, Small, Medium and Large, depending on how much of your life you carry around with you.
And to get you started, there are also packs dedicated to the traveller, the Everyday Girl, the Party Girl, the Beach Girl and the Mum which include a liner plus essentials (for example the Everyday Girl’s Pack has Moxie tampons, nail file, mini Listerine, Bastiste Dry Shampoo, Lanolips lip gloss and Mini Rexona deoderant. To name a few). Is it bad I want to have a baby just so I can buy the Mum’s pack? Hmmm probably, but it’s so adorable!
Speaking of mums, just in time for Mother’s Day there have been two new packs released. The Indulgent pack and the mini Indulgent pack. They feature a liner (medium size for indulgent and small for mini indulgent pack) and are packed with luscious and decadent treats from MOR, Begenki and Narcisco Rodriguez. The Indulgent pack also includes some yummy Nougat Limar which recently showed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
So at $55 (with over $75 value) for the Mini Indulgent Pack and $75 (with $130 value) for the Indulgent Pack these are the perfect gift for your mum or why not even treat yourself?
And hey, just because the packaging is girly, doesn’t mean that boys don’t have bags and belongings too. Once that Cardboard wrapper comes off…it’s anyone’s game!
This is especially true for travelling. I see so many men carry around man-bags (“It’s not a man-bag, it’s a satchel“) but this number increases when they travel. It would be handy for anyone to have their important things in the liner and then just have your water bottle, jumper, etc on the outside.
I’d probably suggest the small size for men, though, as they obviously don’t carry around as much as us girls!
On an average day I’m likely to have wallet, keys, phone, diary, notebook (an actual notebook, not the movie. I know I’m into girly things, but geez, I’m not that bad!) lipstick, lipgloss and sunnies. I managed to fit all of these in my medium sized liner.
The indulgent range is only available for a limited time, and with Mother’s Day creeping up on us at only a few weekends away you should snap one up soon!
The entire Borne Naked range can be viewed and purchased at www.bornenaked.com or the lists of stockists available on their site.
National Compliments Day
Thursday the 16th of April is National Compliments Day- an initiative started by Girlfriend magazine where basically, people ‘pay it foward’ and give out compliments to their friends, family or strangers in order to promote a happy and positive vibe amongst everyone.
I LOVE this idea. Although there is another National Compliments Day (January 24th) already, it was started in 1998 and I’d say the majority of Girlfriend readers weren’t born then so what’s the problem in having two of them?! Spread the love, peeps.
When I used to work in retail I picked up the confidence to just go up to random people and tell them I loved their dress/bag/shoes/hair colour etc. I was never one of those people who would lie and say stuff just because our training manual said so, and like my apologies, my compliments are always 100% genuine.
National Compliments day 2010 is run in conjunction with Headspace- a website and organisation that focuses on Mental Health issues and adolescents and also this year clothing chain Supre have come on board to help raise funds for this important plight.
Supre are selling much-coveted oversized t-shirts designed by Girlfriend reader, Brigitte Duckworth. The cute tee features a smiley face made up of lots of complimentary words and phrases, with ‘A smile says a thousand words’ beneath it. It’s only $25 and $2 from every sale goes towards Headspace.
Oversized t-shirts are great because they’re transeasonal, comfy and can be layered so easily. Also, they suit everyone!
Grab yours at Supre stores or on their website here. They come in size XXS-L and come in white and peach.
And don’t forget to spend your Friday spreading the cheer! What harm can come from telling someone they look pretty or you like the way they’re dressed? My theory is- and sorry it’s a little morbid- but you never know when someone might be feeling so invisible they’re on their way home to kill themselves…you could change someone’s life, or save it, just by noticing them. I know it seems far-fetched but like I said- it can’t hurt.
For more information take a look at Headspace, Girlfriend or Supre
Picture from Headspace
