Pastel Dots

Stalking a site I love (Concrete and Honey) I found these gorgeous pastel garland of dots.  So pretty and such a simple idea, but I think it is all in the colour palette.

They are sewn together, which again is so simple but inspired.  The blogger obviously has much more of a love affair with her sewing machine then I do (I do try though).

Hence our theme today - pastel dots:

Shoes - how I love you.  They really do make me happy....

Sweet.  The covering of this very ordinary chair has given it new life.

These little gift boxes go perfectly with the chair!

Gorgeous little covered pins from Paper Pumpkin

Rabbit and The Duck always line their gorgeous little clutches and wallets with a polka dot print. 

Polka Dots are always alluring.

Happy Shopping 

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

Old Yella

I grew up with my mum saying "Not many people can wear yellow" which I took to the bank until I was about 25 and starting experiencing the joy of wearing a bright happy colour like yellow.  I am now a huge convert and wear it all the time in various shades.  It hangs on my walls and accessorizes with my wardrobe.

Lets walk the yellow brick .... blog.

Kindle or Kobo case from Ambette at www.shimi.com.au  .  You won't lose this in your bag.

Oh I do love this look - except I think the boobs need to be better protected...

Cute, simple and funky, from Urban Attitude

I would possibly wear pants with this one..  But it is gorgeous top, great with jeans.

Jadore this top from Bumblesea

Love these shoes - and check out this blog - very stylish.

In these cold months where fashion seems to revolve around black add a splash of yellow to your wardrobe.

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

Sheertastic

I don't know what it is about Jennifer Aniston, but she is fresh and fun and charming, and I love her style.

I thought she looked fantastic and summery in this white skirt and grey tank top:

Until I saw this photo:

 No matter how yogatastic your body is, sheer white is not the best look unless you are in bikinis at the beach.  The actual cut of the skirt with the t-bone sandals and tight singlet is an absolute winner, but lets rethink the fabric.

We are all guilty of this I am sure.  White is such an inviting colour but leaves little to the imagination, but I guess Jen has done enough photos shots with little on that it is no real surprise anyway.

So when can we get away with sheer fashion?


Sheer Scarves - GOOD :

Sheer Pants - BAD :

Now home decor is one place where sheer generally doesn't equate to tacky.

These sheer curtains are gorgeous.  I love light curtains rather then have dark curtains.  They make a room feel bigger and fresher. 

This is a really interesting idea.  Clear chairs covered with sheer white fabric. 

Happy shopping

Jen and Row 

www.shimi.com.au

An Important Message

A really important and fantastic blog post from Table Tonic  -  please read and take action!

http://tabletonic.blogspot.com/2011/07/important-email-worth-sharing.html

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

Newsprint

I am loving the new season of The Block, and how great that we can watch it every night.  Firm follower of Amie and Katrina and the moment, but my kids love Josh and Jenna, or Thoth and Thenna and my four year old calls them.


I must admit I loved that Josh and Jenna used the old newspaper sheets in their last room.  I love recycling old products into artwork and this was a really easy way to bring some life and personality into the room.


Newsprint is a great way to bring personality into any accessory of home decor item not only because of the great Black and White contrast but you can present ideas, dates and topics within your art of accessory.  What better way to express yourself.

As always, we love this Travel Phone Pouch from Rabbit and The Duck.  I love the flashes of red in it.

Love, love, love these quirky little studs.

Of course you don't have to be confined to just black and white - take this card from Otis Pepper.  Very creative.

And of course - we love recycling at Shimi.  These recycled pencils are very cute.

Happy Shopping

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

The Travel Journal

I just visited my best friend in hospital last night to meet her newborn son.  Even though I have a 4 months old myself, I was instantly clucky again - newborns are just the sweetest thing on earth.

I love her story though.  At 34 El got married last year and promptly told everyone at the wedding reception that it was time for her husband to get to work and get her pregnant.  We all laughed thinking that they would enjoy their honeymoon and try for a baby later in the year.  Not the case, El had morning sickness for the majority of their European holiday.

It is really not fun being sick whilst on holidays no matter how happy about being sick you are.  I had an infected wisdom tooth on one holiday and was so dosed up with pain killers I didn't know where I was and promptly left my husband's work camera (it was digital and this was when digital was just new and nobody could afford one) in the hire care.  My husband had to make a mad dash off the plane to retrieve it.  All I could do it look at him when he arrived back on the plane and say "OK, let me have it".  I let him rant and rave for a few minutes and then feel asleep.  The painkillers had their use!

Do you have a great travel story?  So our theme today is travel.  We have just included the gorgeous Rabbit and The Duck Travel Journal Wallet on www.shimi.com.au (at the top).

We have found some gorgeous Travel Inspired fashion, decor and craft.

This pillow case from My Bearded Pigeon is bright and fun.  Great as a featured cushion.

These envelopes are from Caffeinated Prints.  I never receive mail via the post anymore.  How special would it be to receive a letter with this as the envelope?

Another great way to use old maps is for wrapping paper.  Love this display from Kikki K.

So of course we need to look at real Travel Journals.  This one is from Odds N Blobs.

Love this little Caravan Travel Journal from Tamptation also.

Happy Travels

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au

A Tropical Wedding

I have a wedding to go to in Fiji at the end of the year and I am very exciting.  Mainly because I love a wedding, but Fiji is pretty high on the excitement gauge as well.

Not sure what our beautiful bride will be wearing but I have no doubt she will look gorgeous.  I guess the groom will as well, but really, it's all about the bride isn't it.  The dress can sometimes be the easy part, it's everything else that goes along with the dress that takes up the head space.

(This lovely headdress is from Petal and Thorn)

I was not your typical bride.  Yep, I had the white dress and the flowers and my father walked me down the isle, but my mum had to literally force me into a bridal boutique to choose a dress and the flowers... well I asked the florist what they thought, first suggestion, yep that sounds fine.  It was a low key wedding, 45 people, no bridesmaid or groomsman and it was a really special day.  I think it was simple and elegant, just as I wanted.  If I did it again - all exactly the same, except I would wear my hair down.  And maybe I would not invite the older woman (who shall remain nameless)  who got shamelessly drunk and attempted to get down on the dance floor with my poor 18 year old cousin.  Not pretty.

And that is the problem with weddings isn't it?  This is a day that will be high on the memory list for the rest of your life, so you have to get it right.  You don't want to look back in 10 years and cringe at the dress you chose.  A tropical wedding is always safe though I think as the theme never gets old - tropical equals (to me), happy, pretty and joyous.

We have found a few lovely things that suit our idea of tropical weddings .....

This is a Tropical Coconut Pavlova Cake.  Just gorgeous and elegant still keeping with the tropical theme.

So elegant 

What a sweet idea

The Hibiscus Flower - so tropical. 

Now as a guest, what am I going to wear.  Not only do I have myself to dress, but three kids and a husband.  Oh well, I'll worry about myself first huh!

I am loving this Aryn K dress

Or maybe I should build my wardrobe around my clutch

Or around the shoes

It is quite nice shopping for summer things in winter...

Ok, so I can't resist having a look for my daughter

Oh, this little dress is delightful.  Not overly formal but with a cute pair of sandals and a pretty headband I think she will pass with flying colours.

This is handmade from Sweetie Pie Designs.

Well I think the search for Miss 7s dress is done, but still nothing for me.  Oh well.  Any suggestions??

And tell us, what would you do different if you had your wedding again?

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

Oh Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town

I'm such a sucker for a Kenny Rogers song and this is coming from a Country Music fledgling.  But from a young age my aunt and uncle listened to him and I feel in love.  Kenny and Dolly, a match made in heaven.  Although have you seen Kenny's face lift?  He looks constantly surprised those sleepy eyes he used to sport are gone :(

Anyway, July is imminent and the birth stone is Ruby.  Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.  Put it in your wardrobe for goodness sake!  Red is the bomb for me.  I don't do red lipstick... but I wish I could.  So I supplement my wardrobe with lots of red pieces, especially tops and shoes.  Accessories in red definitely work well as you can still keep the demure classic look but funk it up a bit with a great bangle or bag.

Her is what we have found:

Of course from Shimi

A little Max and Cleo of the shoulder number.

Soft and casual, love the look of this Mango Skirt.

Had to add this one as well.  A little more formal but no less versatile is this Mango Red Skirt.

How cute is this.  Wouldn't you feel like you were in an old 50s movie wandering along with this on your shoulder.  Of course to get the full effect you would need to walk around with this facing your audience, but all in the name of fashion.  From Umbrellas 4 Life.

Yum.  Makes me want to find a huge juicy red apple and crunch it.  Actually that is my greatest memory of Sesame Street from my childhood.  Grover I think had a skit where he crunched into a huge ruby red apple and to this day I still think of Grover when I eat a red apple.  My first crush....

This one is from Rabbit and The Duck

Another Rabbit and The Duck.  Very Retro.

Wow - love this cocktail ring.  Makes me want to eat a boiled lolly.  From Studio Leanne.

Jen and Row

www.shimi.com.au

Seriously -Who Wears These

Yes, I like the idea of legs that go forever as much as the next person.  I love the idea of being the cool stylish mum that drops the kids to school dressed in my skinny jeans and higher then high heels (I would potentially pop on a top as well... sort of a fashion rule for me - go out fully clothed).  However beautiful these shoes are, they will be pretty limited in their outings if they lived in my wardrobe.

So last week I meet a couple of girlfriends, one heavily pregnant the other with a 8 week old and me with a 12 week old.  I braved it and popped on a pair of high wedges.  I then proceeded to walk around the shopping centre where we meet and feel of my wedges not once, not twice, not thrice but four times.  Highly embarrassing.  At least I had undies on I guess.  So I left the shopping centre not feeling cool and stylish, but feeling like a clumsy frump.

I think it is best to leave my heels for nights out at a lovely restaurant where I will be sitting for the majority of the evening.

These ballet flats are more my style

Just to end on a high note - look at these beauties, comfort and style all wrapped up in a piece of chain and a couple of nails.   Great for a trip to the park with the kids, or just a casual day around the house......  if you are a member of the Jersey Shore Crew and your name is Bubbles.

Jen and Row
www.shimi.com.au