Princess Chelsea: The Cigarette Duet

I’ve listened to this song on repeat about 10 times already this morning and by the time of posting this it would probably have doubled.

The track is by a New Zealand artist named Princess Chelsea and is based on a real life conversation with her boyfriend. If only all my conversations could be turned into cute poppy songs!

Listen to more of her fairytale inspired tracks here.

Madonna Inn

Excuse me while I just lose it here a little bit. I was reading the blog Milk Teeths and found this amazing post about Madonna Inn on the central coast of California. It features 100 rooms each completely different and who all scream vintage, tacky, and really, really awesome. Perfect if you've ever wanted to be a 50's housewife, demanding diva, porn star or a character in a 70's sitcom. I'm not too sure about this room though.

See the full images of all the rooms here. Go nuts kids, go nuts.

March Challenge: Do Something Different Pt 3

This is my final post that wraps up the March challenge to do something different everyday....

Day 15: Messaged my cousin living in Zambia to see how he was

Day 16: Started #cosmofashionfriday at work to show off what the team is wearing each week

Day 17: Lunch at a new place- Ayam Goreng 99 in Kensington- it's amazing!

Day 18: I've always wanted a corset and I finally bought one!

Day 19: Took a different escalator out of the train station (too packed- now I know!)
Day 20: Ate capsicum and artichoke at Felix.
Day 21: Did a nude photoshoot at work cause they had people cancel at the last minute. Not as weird as you 'd think and way more fun.

Day 22: Went to yoga, in a church, with a dj. Then danced to God is a Dj an Smack My Bitch Up.
Day 23: Went to Bingo for the first time- stressful but very fun.
Day 24: Styled a 50's pin-up shoot
Day 25: Downloaded a new supercute photo app called Tappi Snap
Day 26: Started wearing new glasses
Day 27: Went to see a SDC show and invited Emily. Finally had dinner at Cafe Sopra too!
Day 28: Started watching Toddlers an Tiaras. Can't. Look. Away.
Day 29: Went to Duke for dinner (wasn't too impressed...)

Day 30: Went to the fancy opening of the new club Marquee at Star City and walked the purple carpet.
Day 31: Did a solar plate print class- fun but really, really tiring

And so kids, that was March. How quickly time goes! Can you believe we're almost mid-year?

Hope everyone else who took on the challenge got through it. Head over to Laura's post as she wraps up some of the final thoughts of everyone who got involved. Until the next challenge friends!

Introducing Miss Dolly Tofu*

If you follow me on instagram (if not look for jodeska) then you've probably already seen these shots. These are a few images from a 1950's pin-up shoot that I styled and helped concept last week which was loads of fun and extremely exhausting. Can't wait to see the final shots- some of which I may have also made an appearance in!

On a side note, this lovely miss is still looking for a stage name. The brief is something cute, food related and use the initials DT. Any suggestions?

Print Clash by Westfields

When you work in advertising it immediately makes you cynical of most campaigns. It also means you notice and not notice a hell of a lot of ads. Does that make any sense? Probably not.

My point is- hey look at this awesome Westfields video! Despite there being a total of 2 out of all three comments saying how annoying this is I really like it. Cute music and pretty visuals. I bet it's already stuck in your head. *clap clap* for a pre-roll on YouTube not being totally annoying. Too bad their YouTube page is confusing and trying to do to much- do you agree?

Ended advertising nerd rant here.

March Challenge: Do Something Different Pt 2

 

Hey kids do you notice something different? Yep- those there are INSTAGRAM photos. Now I have an iPhone I'm all over it. Speaking of being all over it, here's the next update for the March Challenge!

• Day 8: Went to the Belvoir Theatre for the first time & saw Babyteeth (amazing play, see it if you can)
• Day 9: Ventured out of the city bubble to Rozelle for Art Month Sydney 
• Day 10: Had lunch at The Australian on a weekend (I've only been there on weekdays) so Laura could try crocodile and kangaroo.
• Day 11: Wore a new dress and headpiece
• Day 12: Let myself love 21 Jump Street
• Day 13: Instead of playing it safe ordered the tender steak, cheddar cheese & smokey bacon pie at The Pie Tin. And it was scarily delicious.
• Day 14: Wore the panda socks my friend Jo gave me

Hope everyone going well. If you want a stickybeak at what others have been up to check out Laura's post over here.

Chairlift : Amanaemonesia

Karaoke, dancing and lyrca. This video (and song) by Chairlift was always destined for awesomeness.

March Challenge: Do Something Different Pt 1

There are a few March challenges going around. I wonder why that is- perhaps everyone has finally settled into the new year but still have some new year cheer left?

The one I'm doing at the moment is simple: do something different every day.

What I love about it is that it's an open challenge- this means it can be anything from trying a new dish to listening to new music to a new hair do.

So far I have:

• Day 1: Used Photoshop for the first time (I'd been avoiding it til now!)
• Day 2: Saw American Pie the Reunion- I would never usually attend such cheese
• Day 3: Bought an iPhone
• Day 4: Looked up and listened to a new artist- lovely stuff- Michael Kiwanuka
• Day 5: Chose the vegetarian lasagne
• Day 6: Went to a new restaurant- Sake- yum yum yum. Highly recommended!
• Day 7: Tried the newly renovated Forresters for the first time. I'm bummed they've gotten rid of the $5 steak but the new menu makes you forget it even existed.

You can check other other bloggers who are doing the challenge by checking out the #differentmarch tag on social media or through our Half/Half page. It's not too late!

Image by See Hear Say

Mikko Kuorinki: Wall Piece With 200 Letters

Love this changing artwork where each week artist Mikko Kuorinki formed new words from the silly, to sweet to serious. We come into contact with probably thousands of words each day but it's interesting to see such a simple project like this make you actually stop think about them even for second.

I really like this because despite some of the words being deep universal thoughts, it feels like they wouldn't have any other place to exist. See more of the collection here.

via Curious Constellation

Nathan & Tabitha Get Married

Remember my friends Nathan & Tabitha who had the amazing engagement? Well, not surprisingly they also had an amazing wedding.

I could mention the fact that they had it at The Vanguard (a live music venue), got a communist-type logo make of their faces (they've been living in Hanoi so it's kinda appropriate) or got their friend to dress up like a priest and marry them with song lyrics - but for me it really doesn't get any better then simply walking to the wedding venue through Newtown and meeting people and taking photos along the way.

Having people think her and her bridesmaid Beth were having a lesbian wedding was just a bonus.

Love the fun fun outfits and all the other amazing details. Check them all out over at her hilarious blog The City That Never Sleeps In. I still can't get over her gorgeous DIY flowers!

Headpieces by Arturo Rios

My headpiece obsession continues with these gorgeous creations by designer Arturo Rios. I want the giant bows!

Check out more of his collection here, or you can buy them directly from Etsy.

Chromatics: Lady

I haven't hyperventilated over a new single for a long time but OH MY GOD CHROMATICS HAS A NEW SINGLE!

Them, along with label mates Glass Candy have amazing sound and style that I could only describe as the perfect soundtrack to if you had a dream about having a crazy night out, meeting the love of your life and driving around at 4am in the morning. Oh, it would also all be in soft focus.

Now excuse me while I go plan a crazy night out and organise a car for 4am in the morning...

Sydney Dance Company has a Tumblr!

One of my favourite things to do in Sydney is heading along to see a performance by Sydney Dance Company.

Everything about it is captivating and beautiful and if you've ever seen or heard Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela speak then you can't help but get caught up in his passion (he is also incredibly funny).

Despite jumping onboard wholeheartedly with social media lately (I even attended a preview for bloggers last year) but it's still pretty amazing that they have started a tumblr! So far it's filled with gorgeous behind the scenes photos and compliments all their other communications perfectly in my books. Here's hoping for lots of updates and more beautiful images like these.

If you're interested be sure to check out their teaser for their upcoming show 2 One Another which explores human relationships and interactions. If the show is half as revealing and honest as the trailer it's sure to be amazing. Check it out here.

Made In Japan : What It Is

I first saw Sydney indie group Made In Japan a couple of years ago when they played as hip hop duo Horrorshow's band at the Oxford Art Factory. I thought to myself "hey there's an Asian guy in that band!".

Since then they've released a awesome couple of tracks (though I don't think officially) and been the soundtrack to my leaving Australia-to-live-in-Vietnam-the-first-time-leaving-do.

Their latest clip for their single "What It Is" features everything that makes Sydney amazing- the harbour, the weather, GoodGod, the inner west. Watermelons even.

Head over to JJJ to download some of their tracks or even better they're playing where it all began on the 25th February to launch their new album Sights & Sounds. Buy tickets here. I'll be there with dancing shoes on!

Love Ever After by Lauren Fleishman

If you're someone like me who breaks into a smile whenever you see old people holding hands or giving each other a peck, then you'll love this project called Love Ever After by New York photographer Lauren Fleishman. 

The series captures couples who have been together for over 50 years and was inspired by a love letter she had found from her grandfather to her grandmother. My favourite part about it (besides the photos of course) are the quotes from the couples.

"You really don't think about getting older. First of all, you're aging together and when you see a person constantly you don't notice big changes. Like you don't notice, oh you're getting a little wrinkle here and tomorrow you say oh it's a little deeper. No those are things that just happen. You dont pay attention to those things. You dont realize it.. really . You dont realize that you're.. I mean I'm not thinking everyday, oh my husbands 83 years old he's gonna be 84. Oh my goodness, I'm married to an old man. And I hope he feels that way too."  Angie Terranova, Staten Island, New York.

You can see more from this gorgeous project at her site here or contribute to the project over at Kickstarter.

Hope you have a lovely money-making-commercial-holiday-but-not-really-a-holiday tomorrow. It really is a silly day but I won't be able to resist dressing up in pink/red anyway!