Smiley face

Yep. I don't need to say much in this post. I went shopping on my lunch break yesterday and this is the result. I bought these Mimi Loves Jimi shoes with the intention of wearing them to my friends wedding in April (it's beachside, so they are appropriate...kind of), but I am definitely wearing them in beforehand (um, today actually). Aren't they pretty? Don't they look like the plastic shoes you had for your barbie as a kid? The only way they could possibly be any more barbie-ish is if they were candy pink, but I definitely remember my Totally Hair Barbie having shoes this colour to match her green/blue/aqua/turquoise tie-dye dress (I had the brunette and my sister had the blonde with the pink dress). Funny the things we remember.

Price: On Sale! Woohoo! $50
From: General Pants
Why you need them: Party shoes!

I also grabbed another ring, because goodness knows I don't have enough cocktail rings already. Thing is, they just keep getting bigger and bigger. I'm not lying when I say this latest one takes up half my hand. Not exactly practical, but few of my purchases ever are. Do you think it's too much?

Price: $23
From: Diva
Why you need it: Just in case you end up in a dark alley, you are amply equipped to knock the crap out of the dude who tries to steal your purse. Sure beats pepper spray.

Stats amazing!

In my Real Life Day Job I am a research nerd. “But Elise”, I hear you thinking, “You are far too cool and awesome to be a research nerd. Don’t they wear glasses and carry calculators?” Yes, it’s true. I do wear glasses and carry a calculator, but I’m also busting stereotypes by wearing blue nail polish and a bold red lip (although not together, cos it kind of clashes).

Imagine my delight then, when a press release came through that was full of stats and graphs. I gobbled that shiz up like it was going out of style, carefully evaluating the sample sizes, time periods and any potential weighting factors. Probably not how the poor PR imagined her press release would be received, but combining my love of statistics with my love of beauty was just so exciting!

Sample sizes aside, I can confidently say I endorse the results because I have seen them for myself. On myself. That is to say, everything these results proved, I have also proven because rosehip oil is just that darn good.

Yes, I’m on my rosehip oil soapbox again. When Trilogy tell you that their clinical studies show rosehip oil improves the colour of scars by up to 41% and improves the visible area of stretch marks by up to 43%, you can catch me nodding along sagely. Having the DD’s that I do, I know all about stretch marks. I have been using rosehip oil on my décolletage, and not only is my skin softer and smoother, but the stretchies are definitely fading. This is Very Good News.

Also very good news is how cheap rosehip oil is. I really don’t understand how every woman worth her fine lines and wrinkles doesn’t have a bottle on her bathroom sink. Don’t make me come over there!

Price: $20 for 20mL, $35 for 45mL (go for the big bottle...more cost efficient)
From: Myer, Priceline and some chemists and health food stores
Why you need it: Fine line, wrinkles, dry skin, scars, stretch marks...the list goes on

Picture credit: trilogyproducts.com

5N5D - Day Five

Thursday = another dull day in the office, with a trip to the gym thrown in for good measure.

Today’s nails were Meet Me On The Star Ferry – the metallic violet colour I said I wasn’t so sure about earlier in the week. When I first painted it on I had two thoughts: 1 – it felt like a night time, going out polish and 2 – if I had to describe my friend Amy in a nail polish colour (for some really odd reason), this would be it. The colour is a violet shimmer with a plum/brown base. It’s a really unusual colour, with micro flecks of blue, green and red that the photo below has sort of captured. I can’t decide if I like it or not, but as Kat pointed out to me today, I have just had 5 different colours on my nails in 5 days and I could be colour-weary.

Outfit: Black tee, sand silk balloon pants and the excellent bangle stack my sister bought me year before last.

Ease of matching nails to outfit: Pretty easy. As long as you stick with darks and/or neutrals you should be sweet. Probably wouldn’t match your fluoro green day-glo mini-dress, but if that’s what you’re wearing then we need to talk.

Number of compliments: 4 (I count Kat’s compliment as 2 since it was very enthusiastic)

Likelyhood to wear again: 4/5. I am starting to come around to this colour and I will definitely give it another go in the near future. In fact, now that 5 nails in 5 days is over, I might just leave this on for a few more days.

With flash

Without flash

As with the gold, you can see there is a bit of a difference under different lights - the flash picks up more of the micro flecks.

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So that's the last of 5 Nails in 5 Days. All of the colours I tried are from the OPI Hong Kong Collection, which hits counters next week ($19.95/bottle). My favourite is definitely the blue, but it was really cool to step outside my usual colour palette and try some new and different shades. I went through a lot of cotton pads and nail polish remover, but, all things considered, my cuticles are still in reasonable condition (thank you, OPI Avoplex cuticle oil).

What do you think? Did you enjoy sharing my colour journey? Do you have some fashion tips you can offer? Are you going for Tsonga or Federer?

5N5D - Day Four

Day Four: Wednesday

Wednesday = back in the office, lunch with a friend and then an ice-cream date with another friend (is there any better kind of date? The answer is no).

Today’s nails were Suzi Says Feng Shui – think smurf blue. As an aside, I only just learnt who this famous Suzi is and why she has so many colours named after her (Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees, Crepes Suzi-ette, Suzi Loves Sydney, Suzi Says Da! etc etc). Turns out Suzi is Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Executive VP & Artistic Director of OPI Products Inc. This is the awesome chick who single-handedly creates every OPI Nail Lacquer shade based on each season’s fashion & beauty forecasts and then names them after herself. Can I have her job?!

Outfit: Sheer black and white top (with black bra, just FYI), camel blazer, jeans and some silverware on the wrist. Earlier in the day it had been my black leather skirt, but I changed it up quickly before my ice-cream date.

Ease of matching nails to outfit: You would think it was hard, but these nails are such a statement piece (statement pieces?) that I found I could wear them with almost anything (and I did try on a few outfits this morning because I was being indecisive).

Number of compliments: 7

Likelyhood to wear again: 5/5. I am desperately in love with this colour (and not just because of the compliments). I smiled every time I looked at my fingers.

5N5D - Day Three

Day Three: Tuesday

Tuesday = Australia Day! Can I just say how awesome it is when Monday feels like Friday and you get to sleep in on a Tuesday. Australia Day was all about swimming, going to the park and throwing some snags on the barbie (actually, we threw chicken on the barbie – don’t hold it against me). Relaxing++.

Today’s nails were Bling Dynasty – a beautiful metallic gold colour. In my opinion, it is almost like a cross between the bronze Charmed By A Snake and yellow gold Curry Up Don’t Be Late from the India collection (I have been accused of being a walking OPI dictionary on more than one occasion). This baby is a classic, true gold. It painted on well, with two coats giving sufficient coverage. I will say though that metallic nail polish is just that bit trickier to get off because of the glittery pigments. Requires extra elbow grease.

Outfit: Vintage green embroidered dress with the same belt as Sunday

Ease of matching nails to outfit: Surprisingly easy. It probably helped that it was a ‘casual day’, but the gold was like a neutral on steroids. It should be noted that the outfit being green and gold was completely unintentional.

Number of compliments: 3

Likelyhood to wear again: 3/5. A bit of sparkle never hurt anyone.

With flash

Without flash

As you can see, the colour looks slightly different under lights. And I just look crazy.

Happy 'Straya Day!

Just a quick snap of the changeover between yesterdays green and todays gold. Aren't I clever? Ha!

Now get off the interwebs and go enjoy a cold beer, you silly thing!

5N5D - Day Two

Monday = in the office. Our office isn’t corporate (thank goodness) but we do have to dress professionally because we have meetings with all sorts of advertising and editorial people all day. Plus working in mag-land where you are surrounded by glamorous mag hags means you try just that little bit harder in the morning (well, some days I do – did I today? You be the judge).

Today’s nails were Jade Is The New Black – the dark jade green colour, which is a much darker alternative to the Chanel jade green everyone went gaga over last year. It painted on reasonably well; decent coverage in 2 coats, but I would recommend 3 really thin coats for total opacity.

Outfit: Black dress, studded belt, black flats, silver bangle, super-frizzy humidity hair.

Ease of matching nails to outfit: Yikes! After much deliberation, I had to go with basic black. It might be alright with casual gear (I was thinking denim shorts and a couple of layers of singlets would be kickin’) but creating a "take me seriously" look was a little tricky.

Number of compliments: 0.5 (my chiropractor commented on them, but it was more an observation than a compliment)

Likelyhood to wear again: 1/5. I might put it on again in a weeks time to give it a second chance, but I felt like it was missing a bit of personality.


I call this pose "post-groceries-pre-dinner-tired&frizzy". I could definitely give Derek Zoolander a run for his money.

5N5D - Day One

Day One: Sunday

I hadn’t decided whether I was going to do this as Mon-Fri or Sun-Thurs, but since I post in the AM, the most obvious was Sun-Thurs and post the previous days outfits. Is that cool with you? Good. Glad you agreed.

Sunday = birthday brunch for Mama-bear and Toy Story double movie feature (highly recommended). The brief was comfort and style since I was out in public, but also walking to and from Fox Studios and the weather was a bit, hmm, shall we say confused? Steamy and grey. Pleasant.

Today’s nails were Chop-Sticking To My Story – the caramel/burnt orange colour, which is a rather sophisticated deep tan once it is on the nail. It painted on well; excellent coverage in 2 coats.

Outfit: Navy maxi, white singlet, denim jacket, new tan belt I bought in Melbourne, favourite Zoe Mou wooden necklace (side note: can someone teach me how to say Zoe Mou? I get comments on this necklace all the time and I feel like a right pork-chop that I can’t pronounce the brand name!)

Ease of matching nails to outfit: I was concerned at first, but this colour lends itself well to neutrals.

Number of compliments: 3

Likelyhood to wear again: 3.5/5


I have just realised how badly I need someone to teach me how to pose for photos. This is awkward.

5 nails in 5 days

Another video? And on a Sunday?

Why yes, yes it is another video AND I am oddly posting on a Sunday. Get amongst it, people.



While you're busy relaxing on this beautiful day-of-sun, I'm frantically painting my nails and wondering WTF I am going to wear. I consider myself rather sartorially challenged, so this should be amusing. Be sure to tune in this week to see how I go.

PS - Today I am going to see Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3D. Oh my gosh, I feel like a kid at Christmas!

PS - Speaking of WTF, my wonderful friend who is a kindergarten teacher and Assistant Principal (so important!) gave me the most awesome office supply ever last week. A WTF? stamp. That's right; everything that lands on my desk now gets a WTF? stamp.

PS - Happy Birthday Mama-bear xx

I'm late...I'm late...for a very important date...

Actually, you're not late (yet), but you don't want to be for this one!

I have been hannnnnnnging out for Alice in Wonderland, which hits cinemas in March. Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter? Ingenious! Matt Lucas as TweedleDee and TweedleDum? Superb! Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen? Could there be anyone more appropriate?! It's going to be a visual Tim-Burton-style feast, and I can't wait to gobble it all up.

Chances are, when I go to see it I will be wearing one of the nail polishes from the OPI Alice in Wonderland collection. Those clever cookies have captured the essence of what I think this movie will be like, and bottled it all up so I can take it home. Cheers, OPI. There are four colours in the collection and they are pure, unadulterated FUN. No room for mistakes here, we're painting these roses red, baby!

Absolutely Alice is an amazing blue glitter with fine gold flecks through it - perfectly captures Alice in her blue dress and blonde hair.
Thanks So Muchness is a berry red metallic shimmer which is highly pearlized and absolutely delicious.
Mad As A Hatter is partying like it's 1999 - total glitter confetti fun!
Off With Her Red is probably the most grown up and mature of the polishes, in a beautiful creamy tomato red. Definitely the sensible alternative, with potential to be a cult red.

As you can see, there is a lot of personality packed into such a small capsule collection. My hit pick? Mad As A Hatter. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you are too old for glitter nail polish. Put it on and go dancing - this polish is made for fun!

Price: $19.95
From: David Jones - hits counters this Sunday (Jan 24)
Why you need it: Treat yourself to an unbirthday present! And if I can't convince you, then soak up the beautiful advertorial image - simple, but so inviting. I want to paint my walls the beautiful aqua background colour but, uh, my landlords might not like that so much.

Picture credit: OPI

It's game, set and match with the Flip

I went down to the Australian Open earlier in the week and, being the spoilt little blogger that I am, I got to take a new Flip Video Mino HD camera with me to try and capture some of the action. Dude, I was SO impressed!

It's the size of a mobile phone (not as wide as my Nokia E71, but a bit fatter), so it easily slips into your pocket or handbag, it's light as a feather and all you have to do is flick the power button on the side and you are ready to roll. Add to that one-touch HD record, instant playback & delete, and a rechargeable battery and it practically looks after itself. Little to no effort required - just point and shoot.

It has 60 minutes worth of 'tape' and when you're ready to upload you just flip open the top and the usb pops out. The pop open usb is the single defining feature that sold this gadget to my little sister. Once you're connected to the computer, you can upload directly to myspace and youtube (how very Gen Y) and it comes with software so you can snap photos from your vids and turn your footage into movies.

I have to say, out of all the features, I was most impressed with the quality. On the little screen it might not seem like much, but the footage is crystal clear and sharp when you get it on the PC (that's probably the HD). I got my very clever cookie friend Kat to cut a few little bits of what I taped into a short video (please don't judge me for looking so crap - holy amazeballs I was cold and had been rained on!!) - let me know what you think!



Price: $299
From: Check the Flip website for stockists
Why you need it: To capture high quality video of life's important moments (like Rafael Nadal's tooshie)

My hair is too Rootalicious for you baby

Have you ever found that miracle product that seemed to work so perfectly the first time you used it that you figured it must have been a fluke? “Nothing is this good”, you think, “must have been a lucky day. I’m sure it won’t erase my dark circles/slim my waist/turn water into wine like this next time”. But you do try it again next time and it does work again. And again. And then you start to believe that this miracle product is the stars aligning and bringing you a product that will change your life in such a revolutionary way that you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

Hold on to your banana-phones people...I have found my miracle product. Yes, it’s a big call, but I am totally 100% prepared to stand by this. It might not be your miracle product (they are unique to everyone, like belly buttons) but it has changed my life. Indulge me for a moment while I spout more hyperbole to illustrate my point.

To say I have fine, limp hair is an understatement. It’s a combination of good genes and never knowing how to control it (I’m guilty of being very liberal with product, which just makes it more limp). I tried O&M Rootalicious root lift mousse and it’s idiot-proof for heavy-handed applicators with fine hair (OMG! That’s me!). Rootalicious! Could there be a cooler name for a product? I give it a 9.5/10 for awesome name-ness. The only way it could have gotten a 10 is if it was called super-happy-fun-times-rootalicious, but that’s because I have a predilection for Japanese pop-culture.

So, awesome name, awesome bronze packaging AND it actually works. All true. Rootalicious adds volume to the roots by forming an invisible barrier around the roots and lifting them up, like little scaffolds supporting the foundations. You can also run it through the hair, like I do, to give your hair all over fullness. Pleasant side effect – it seems to stop my hair getting oily at the roots on the second day after a wash. Built in dry shampoo? You tell me.

I reckon you should give it a go. It might not change your life, but it will certainly give you full hair.

Price: $29.95
From: Selected salons, Adorebeauty
Why you need it: Full, fat hair that smells good (that would be the Kakadu Plum, Lilly Pilly and Quandong). PLUS you’ll feel good about using it because O&M products are Sulfate, Paraben, MIT, Proplene Glycol, Phthalates and Triclosan free. They are nasty so you totally don’t want them in your hair.

Picture credit: originalmineral.com