Listen to this: Far East Movement Part 2.

My musically inclined (and super talented) friend DT played me the new Far East Movement last night. It's incredible. Lots of collaborations, lots of amazing. I'm pretty sure that Like a G6 was just the beginning of something amazing...



"Tryin' to stay off that TMZ" --  we're clearly dealing with the same issues.

What do you think? Going to get the album?

GUEST BLOGGER: Gesundheit!

Today's GUEST BLOGGER is Merry from Makeup By Merry.

Is it THAT time of the year already? In the Philippines, we call it the “ber” season (“brrrr” because of the cooler temps and the start of the months ending in –ber).  I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to Summer yet. It was an awesome sunshine-filled season this year, and if I could live in Summer all year long, I would!  But I must admit, watching the beautiful changing of the leaves in Toronto, and getting into my Fall knits and boots have gotten me in the mood for the cooler season.

I was just getting into the swing of it all when I found myself in a jammed TTC bus surrounded by lovely people who:

a) Didn’t think anyone would mind if they sneezed or coughed in their hair or faces .

b) Didn’t think anyone would notice that they coughed into their hand (instead of their sleeve).

c) Didn’t know/care that sneezing/coughing  viral mucus into the air would cause millions of droplets to land and consequently spread their cold to others.

Who doesn’t know how cold viruses are spread? Seriously? SERIOUSLY. 

I have been feeling a bit blah lately. And just like that, I now have the sniffles. Just. Like. That... 

Since there’s no actual cure for Rhinovirus (a cold) – I know I just have to do my best to deal with it and try not to spread it to others at home and/or at work. I could think of worse things that could happen, but when you’re a makeup artist (/language Instructor/sales associate) facing your clients with a cold is just perfect. (Insert sarcasm font).

So, before it’s too late for me to give you a few tips on how to help prevent catching the common cold, here are a few pointers:

·       Wash your hands  with hand soap frequently. No, splashing your hands with water for a second DOESN’T count. Grab a couple of paper towels and set aside. Soap up and rub hands, back of hands, fingers and finger tips together as you silently (optional) sing the Alphabet from A-Z, before rinsing,  and use a tissue paper to turn off the faucet. Then dry your hands with the other piece of paper towel and dispose.

·       Carry some Hand Sanitizer with you. There are some really neat (and cute) purse-sized bottles that can be attached to your purse and or key chains like the ones from Purell and Bath & Body.

 Holders are only $1 and hand sanitizers $2-3 each!

·      DO bring some soft 2-3 ply tissues and use and dispose of them properly. DON’T leave used tissues    lying around.

·      DO sneeze into your sleeve if or when you can’t get your tissue out on time to protect others from showering in your mucus droplets!

·          

       DO invest in a purse hanger ($1-12 each) to prevent “Bagteria” by not placing your purse down on the  floor (in washrooms, in the office, on the floor of the car etc) anywhere and everywhere you go and then bringing the purse back onto your desk, home - onto your sofa or kitchen counter! Treat your purse the same way as your shoes and leave it at the door or on a hook whenever possible. Studies show that women can pick up nasty harmful bacteria (salmonella, e-coli etc) on their purses. I got my first purse hanger from Brazil from a close friend, but I’ve since seen a few other really fashionable ones in Indigo/Chapters, and at the purse section at The Bay. They make good gift and giveaway ideas too!).

·       Stay healthy: Exercise and a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water is key. If you’re already feeling a bit under the weather – Nip it in the bud and hit it with everything you have! Natural antioxidants can be found in food like: berries, guava, oranges, mangos, garlic, broccoli... and a drop of Oregano oil under the tongue once a day can help boost your immune system.

·    Don’t forget your Vitamins!  I also take Echinacea tablets known for its immune boosting properties daily as a natural supplement. Remember to consult your Doctor before taking any new medication or supplements!).

Invest in a Neti Pot (nasal bidet). An ancient Ayurvedic  nasal and sinus irrigation device. It sounds strange but it really doesn’t hurt and only takes a couple of minutes to gently lean forward and flush out your nasal passages of dust, pollen, mucus etc..using a small pot with a spout. I bought mine for under $20 from Shoppers. You fill it with 8ml with water to make a saline solution with some pre sachet mixture of sodium bicarbonate and pH balanced sodium chloride.

·    And if you still end up with a cold and need to look your best... Keep makeup light and remember to moisturize skin and lips well.  

A   Yellow-based concealer like this one from Tarte cosmetics, said to help de-puff and brighten under eye  circles, to banish dark circles and redness around the nose, set with translucent setting powder, groomed brows (instant face lift) and a coat or two of mascara, crème blush to add a healthy glow on the cheeks and pop of color on the lips (even if you’re not usually a lips girl) can help brighten up the face and draw

attention from watery sunken or in my case, puffy eyes.  Try Stilla’s multi purpose compact or NARS multiple sticks!

... *sighhhhhhh* 

Stay Healthy and Gorgeous. I gotta go wash my hands again and go to bed

– Merry (makeupbymerry.com)

Stylings of S is always looking for fresh perspectives. If you want to contribute contact S!

In A Galaxy Far Far Away...

Perhaps it's just me, but lately I've found quite a bit of Star Wars things popping up around the internet.

Like this video:


Then Vanity Fair did a great piece on behind the scenes photos, too! Check those here.

And if you haven't yet, check out NecessaryCool.com where I guest blogged about a fantastic R2D2 inspired swimsuit.

Am I missing something? What's with all the Star Wars references?

GUEST BLOGGER: GREEN UP HALLOWE'EN!

Bio: Shondra Walker is the author of Walk With Me; a blog that provides a glimpse into her life, along with parenting tips, recipes, and green living ideas. Just a few years ago, she was living the college life. She never thought about cooking or raising kids. Now, she is married to the coolest guy she knows and learning to be a wife and mom. Join her at:walkwithmeblog.com or follow her on Twitter at: @Shondra_W

Green Up Halloween

I can hardly believe that Halloween is less than a week away. It seems like just yesterday I was looking forward to the beginning of summer.  Halloween can be a lot of fun. Parties, trick or treating, chocolate, and costumes are just a few of the highlights. But with a lot of fun comes a lot of waste.

Photo Courtesy of flickr user PT

Check out these stats:

-According to the US Census, 36 million children between the ages of 5-14 were expected to trick-or-treat in 2009. 

 -111.3 million houses and apartments served as potential stops for trick-or-treaters. 

 -931 million pounds of pumpkins were produced in 2009 in the United States alone, with Illinois leading the pack and producing 429 million pounds. 

-In 2008, there were 1,317 manufacturing businesses which produced chocolate and cocoa products. 

-On average, each American consumed a whopping total of 24.3 pounds of candy in 2008.

All of that Halloween candy, jack-o-lanterns, and costumes produce a lot of waste, including wrappers, party decorations, costumes, and jack-o-lanterns that are left to rot on porches long after the festivities have ended. 

Do you want to do your part to lower the negative environmental impact caused on Halloween? 

Photo Courtesy of flickr user J Clark

Here are a few tips to reduce your Halloween waste:

1). Do not buy one-time use Halloween decorations. Buy decorations that you can keep and use year after year.  In addition to reducing waste, you'll save money. When you become tired of your current decorations, see if family and friends want to swap decorations.  And if you are having a party, use reusable plates and silverware.  Have friends toss their plates in the dishwasher instead of the trash. 

2). Ditch the car. Choose to walk the neighborhood instead of driving all over town to trick-or-treat. If your neighborhood isn't conducive to trick-or-treating (or all the good candy is across town), drive the car to one spot, park it, and then walk. 

3). Choose candy wrapped in paper instead of plastic. Eliminating the amount of plastic being used will go a long way in lowering the environmental impact that happens on Halloween night. 

4). Use reusable canvas bags. Instead of giving your kids plastic pumpkins to gather their candy, use a reusable bag. Canvas bags can be purchased at art stores and then decorated.  Those cheap baskets usually break anyway.

5).  Reuse or repurpose costumes. Instead of buying a costume or making a new one from scratch, see if your child can reuse a costume (perhaps their older brother's) or repurpose it. 

These are just a few actions we can take to green up Halloween. I'd love to hear what suggestions you have! 

From the Inspiration Files

My Inspiration Files appear to have a common theme: lots of white with pops of colour! This weeks inspiration doesn't seem to stray much from that, either! 

Do you have any sites you frequent for inspiration?

As per usual, I have no idea where I collected these images from. Please let me know if they are yours so I can link back or give credit where credit is due! 

Listen to this: MSTRKRFT

I have very few regrets in life, but missing out on MSTRKRFT play in Byron Bay is one of them. A few of my Icelandic friends we're going and for some (now unknown) reason, I didn't go. Bad call on my part.

Prior to the invite, one of the guys filled my external drive with more music than any iPod I own could handle... Including this song:

It resonated with me at the time. And for some reason it makes me happy and sort of sad all at the same time. Fantastic song, even better lyrics and a great video, too! You can watch it here (it's been disabled for posting).

Anything amazing on your playlist that should be apart of "Listen to this:________"?

Just In Time For Hallowe'en

As per usual I am unprepared for Hallowe'en! Last year I went as a flapper girl (costume decision was made about 20 minutes prior to leaving for a house party in Surfers), the year before that I went as Marilyn Monroe and previous to that... I can't even remember! This year, I'm thinking Where's Waldo(ette). Striped red and white shirt, glasses. I can do that! 

So today I got in the hallowe'en spirit and instead of going pink and red for my nails- I opted OPI Ink! It's blue, purple and a pink sparkle!

A little darker than I would normally opt for, but it's pretty, eh?

This colour also really reminds me of the new M.A.C Villians line. It's fantastic and limited edition so I recommend you get to either The Bay or a M.A.C store ASAP before it's gone... forever.  

For my Canadian readers (and those that have been to this glorious country), you'll know these delicious doughnuts. Sprinkle HALLOWE'EN doughnuts!

Can't wait to see the inventive costumes this year. People never fail to amaze me! What are you going to be? 

Song of the day

New jam:

Hey Four Eyes!

I don't wear my glasses nearly as often as I should (which is when I'm on the computer or watching TV or other activities that strain my eyes...) so I've decided that I'm going to rock the glasses far more often.

Tiger glasses... geeky or cool?

Update: This is far more accurate...

In a Willy Wonka Life

Willy Wonka (found here )

For once in (what feels like) a super long time, I have Friday off! Let me tell you: I love Fridays off! In fact, back when I was at home, prior to Europe/ Australia, No Work Fridays were all the rage with me and my friend NL. Back then I was also working Monday-Thursday full time and getting paid for a full weeks work...

But I digress. Fridays off leaves time for catching up with fellow non-career working friends. A Starbucks chat with SB, seeing some television shows I've missed over the last few weeks and the chance to see what's happening on Facebook/ Twitter. It's the last bit that lead me to this fantastic article posted to AK's Twitter page: "Willy Wonka Chewing Gum becomes a Reality". A three course meal in the form of gum. Sounds pretty disgusting, doesn't it?

Hmm...The new fad diet? A delicious way to enjoy all your favourite foods in one go? Will you try it?

I think I'll pass (I say this now, but I'm pretty sure I passed on lots of things including Facebook, but alas...)

This whole "work" thing...

I'm rethinking this whole work thing. Perhaps I'm more suited to a life spent beachside. 

Bondi beachside it is...

Listen to this: Far East Movement

I'm sure this song is so last month... but I still like it.



Anyone else? Just me?

Twitter. #blogchat. You.

Amazing photo found here 

Sometimes I stumble upon some interesting things online--facts, stories, ideas... These are the main reason I love Twitter. Say what you will about the microblogging site-- it does actually provide information more pertinent than, say, "Eating grilled cheese and watching tv" (because what you're eating is so very important to us all). Don't get me wrong, I'm sure at some point I've posted my delicious meal of the day, in fact, I've blogged about some of my favourite meals- but what I'm getting at is that Twitter is a great outlet for real information.

My fellow bloggers may (or may not) know about #blogchat-- a Sunday evening chat via Twitter that brings together a massive amount of bloggers from all over the world responding to, or answering questions posted by other Tweeters-- all surrounding a main topic.  This evenings overall topic was "creating compelling content in blogs".

In this crazy 20 posts every few seconds hashtag frenzy, some interesting things came up...

Like a study on Social media and narcissism in young people. (hmm I have a personal blog...)

And did you know Pharrell Williams has a blog for young people called Kidult ? I didn't either.... now you know!

If you have any interest in blogging or just want to attempt to read about 5,000 tweets in a few hours- hop on Twitter!

#blogchat on Twitter happens every Sunday at 10pm (my time) and it's a wealth of blogging information (the brainchild of Mack Collier ) and anyone is invite to join, read, respond, read the transcript .

Will anyone be joining in next week?

Where did that week go?

This photo is completely unrelated. I found it today in my iPhoto and I really liked it. 

I blinked and the week went by. Wasn't it Sunday a few days ago? I sort of hate when that happens... It makes me want to be doing something much more productive with my time. Challenging work, perhaps?

Anyway, I've decided to start volunteering again. I've typically done some sort of volunteering-- in Australia it was with The Argus - an online photojournalsim paper run by the super talented students at Griffith University in the Gold Coast. The site is definitely worth a look!

This week it is for a St. Joe's Veterans Fundraiser. Workin' the bidding items table-- oh yeahh! It's something and perhaps it will line me up with some of the right people. I'd like a real job soon, please.

What do you do with your spare time?