B R A Z E N

EYE EYE

This YSL mascara is the best I've ever tried!

I usually buy most of my make-up from Mecca Cosmetica as the service there is consistently great and they stock some of my favorite brands like Nars and Kiehl's but my mum was recently in the States and brought me back some lovely items....

I met a Japanese girl a while ago and she was the most stunning little doll I have ever seen. Her hair was always perfectly styled, her nails manicured and covered in glittery polkadots and she had gorgeous fake eyelashes with jewels and feathery tips. She looked as though she had stepped out of a Japanese cartoon, her eye's were like Sailor Moon! I asked her what her favorite make-up brand was and she told me "SHU UEMURA!". I now understand why after trying these actually effective eyelash curlers. I have never had any success with curlers in the past and thought they were a load of crock! These ones actually work and they stay curled for most of the day! I am yet to try glittery fake eyelashes but maybe I will give them a go?

BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER

I wouldn't usually rate natural, un-toasted muesli as more-ish or crave-worthy but this Brookfarm guy is to die for! I have been eating it all day long and not even feeling guilty because it is chockers full of seeds, cranberries and Byron Bay grown macadamias and isn't toasted so it is lower in fat. A far better craving than my usual love of cherry danishes!

JURGEN BABY

THE CLASH!

Clashing prints are where it's at! Play along if you dare! The latest from Missoni and Proenza Schouler resort collections...

FIFI DOES MARNI

It's our favorite fashionista bunny's birthday! Here is the cute little Fifi Lapin donning the latest from Marni in celebration. Happy birthday Fifi!

WHAT TO WEAR?

I'm simply not ready to say goodbye to winter yet. There's nothing I enjoy more than a cold winters night, walking through the city with an ice-cold nose wearing vintage furs. How could you not love climbing into bed after a nice long hot bath with your toes all wrinkly and soggy? What about soup?! There are endless winter soups to try and just not enough time!

Dear Sydney, please don't give up on winter just yet.

FRESH FETTUCINI

Usually gazing at such a perfect specimen (NB: those beautiful photos of Abby below) would deter one from eating such foods as pasta. But I have found a fine excuse to ditch my diet and eat only comfort food. Besides, it's winter!

Here is my very quick recipe for a delicious feed...

2 eschallots diced
tablespoon on extra virgin olive oil
100mls light cream or creme fraiche
3 peices of shortcut smoked bacon
3/4 cup of baby peas
some fresh herbs - thyme and rosemary for example
1 packet of fresh gluten-free fettucini (you can buy from selected green grocers, there is a great one available at Thomas Dux)

Put a pot of hot water on to boil.

Cut the smokey bacon into strips and place in heavy based pan cold. By heating the bacon from cold the fat comes out and makes the dish extra tasty as well as meaning you don't need to add much extra oil.

Pull off some of the fresh herbs and add them to the pan along with the diced eschallots.

Once the bacon and onions are caramelised add the peas and cream and simmer gently to thicken.

Place the fettucini in rapidly boiling salted water for a few minutes until al dente, then strain and mix through the sauce.

Serve with a dash of olive oil drizzled on top: 'Bellisimo'!

HEDI

NEW NORTHNORTHWEST

Landed in Incu this week!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

So I have been on a very self indulgent blogcation of late. Since graduating I went to work in New York, lost myself in Melbourne and then spent a long few weeks detoxing in the mountains of Bali. Four months later this has left me not only broke but lacking Sydney adventures to share. So - here's my best of July to hopefully get me off the hook until I find some more amazing things to do and even better places to see.

LIVING FOR LANVIN

JUST LAY DOWN AND LISTEN

Music and coffee in bed. Lazy Saturday nights under covers and Sunday mornings waking up late. Plane trips. Walking the streets. The below songs have been repeating in my ears a little too regularly. I do have to admit - I have amazing friends with amazing music taste. Every day they inspire me to listen to something new. Whether it's preparing to win pod wars, making the perfect playlist for lying around or background music for Balderdash, we're always trying to enhance our listening pleasure. Here's a playlist to old loves, new loves and good friends.

1. Soul Man - Sam & Dave
2. Every Day Is Like Sunday - The Smiths
3. Best Friend - The Drums
4. Ecstasy - jj
5. Love Train - The Ojays
6. Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana
7. I Can't Go For That - Hall & Oates
8. Angel Dust - Gill Scott Heron
9. Poison Ivy - The Paramounts
10. Blue Ridge Mountains - Fleet Foxes

NEW SENSATION

Young fresh photographers blowing my mind via Dossier.

POISON IVY

90s + thriller + Drew Barrymore = A combination that just can't go wrong. I can't believe I only just discovered Poison Ivy in the weekly section of Civic Video. Fun fact - the character Ivy was ranked #6 on the list of the top "26" bad girls of all time by Entertainment Weekly. What a babe.

YOUENI PROVIDES

Yesterday I found a true gem. South Dowling St. has never looked so wholesome. Youeni Provides is a new cafe/green grocer busting with artisan breads, fresh herbs and local produce. The food is simple and seasonal and the service good looking. Yum yum yum.

youeni Provides
379B South Dowling St. Darlinghurst
(02) 9368 0220

VALLEY OF THE DOLLS

DO IT TO ME

It takes a lot for me to comment on a particular fashion collection. However, Acne resort is just so right I can't resist. Colour block me, give me one of those fierce leather hats and life would be just sweet.

BE RIGHT BACK

SEDUCED BY STELLA

My next purchase is a set of Stella McCartney lingerie for every day of the week. I probably won't even need to leave the apartment. Just hang out in it morning, noon and night. Who said you can't have fun Monday-Friday?

MELBOURNE

If Sydney had a genetically cooler sibling, Melbourne would be it. All dark and mysterious, lulling you in with an aura that it knows something you don’t. And it does. The cafes, the bars, the galleries--it’s a breed of leisure the state of New South Wales just doesn’t do as well. I’m ashamed to admit last week was my first real trip to Melbourne where I consumed as much culture south of the border as I could.

In our whirlwind trip we spent hours at the Lost & Found Market (where we imagined what our places would look like if we could visit there every week for knick-knacks and furniture), ate amazing food everywhere from Movida to Cumulus, rode bikes to Collingwood and Fitzroy, saw exhibitions from the likes of Misha Hollenbach and Berlin duo TONK, and consumed a few too many wines at Hell’s Kitchen and stunning wine bar Von Haus.

Lounging in my hotel room reading zines by talented Melbournians, I definitely had an interstate epiphany. It’s official; I’ve been won over. Like the maze print paper lining the lift at Curtin House, Melbourne is a never-ending adventure. It’s way of life is certainly parallel to Sydney in some respect, but as a city writes it’s own cultural language. Thanks for having us Melbourne, we’ll be back soon to love you some more.

Photos by Bridget Mac