Christmas is just 8 weeks away! Really. It kinda snuck up on me too so I've started making my lists. Checking them twice if you will. And I've started thinking about what kind of presents those on my list would like. Sometimes that's the hardest part. So while I've been shopping around for my gifts this year, I thought I might share a thing or two with you.


Burts Bees: Sweet Kiss $24.95

Benefit: High Flyin Glosses $49

For the little lady in your life, this luscious range of 6 ultra plush lip glosses feature a silky formula that drenches your lips in luxurious moisture and colour. This limited edition gift pack includes CORALista in sheer coral, Dallas in dusty rose, Bella Bamba in sheer bright watermelon, Hoola in shimmering golden nude, Sugarbomb in shimmering pinky nude and Dandelion in soft pearly pink. Perfect for little sister, cousin, bestie or just to spoil yourself!


Stars & Swallows: Don Featherstone Lawn Flamingoes $55

Bluebird Retro Rags: Men's Shirts $74

The online store has HEAPS of designs to choose from (and not just men's either ladies!) but I've hand picked these two as some of my faves. The Steady Clothing Sun Records tee features an old school cool design with a manly, vintage feel about it while the Piston Apparel Shakespeare County Raceway tee is sure to be popular with the rev heads. These regular fit, 100% cotton, pre-shrunk, double needle, top stitched shirts are great for dad, brother, uncle, cousin - any stylish gent really!

 

Tattooed Zombie Accessories: Novelty Pack $92

Ideal for the man in your life, a stocking stuffer or that ever-awkward secret santa, this collection of manly must-have's and novelties is the answer to your gift giving prayers. Pack includes Tiki Hut Tin Sign, Art Print, 4 x Pin Up Postcards, Monster Hold Uppercut Deluxe Pomade, Delinquents Switchblade Comb, Macho Tissues: XL, XStrong Tissues for Manly Men & Juvenile Delinquent Mints.

 

 Bexterity Pin Up Photography: Pin Up Photoshoot $495

Perfect for splashing out and really spoiling yourself or a very special lady in your life, be transformed into a pin up for the day. Including hair and make up, clothing and accessories, a number of scene changes, your choice of 6 edited images and 6 6x4" prints. Every woman should experience this at least once in her life and the amazing images that you'll come away with are just part of the experience, it's the memories you create and the amazing surge of confidence that comes with it that will have you walking on air for weeks.

Now I have a proposal for you. How would you like to have half your Christmas shopping done without braving the crowds of the shopping centres or spending a cent? Well you can because I'm giving all of the above away!

That's right, you can WIN:

♥ Burts Bees Sweet Kiss Gift Pack

♥ Benefit High Flyin' Glosses
♥ Stars & Swallows Pair of Original Don Featherstone Lawn Flamingos
♥ Bluebird Retro Rags Men's Shirts
♥ Tattooed Zombie Accessories Novelty Pack
♥ $100 Bexterity Pin Up Photography Gift Voucher for new Brisbane studio opening in Jan 

THAT'S A WHOPPING $400 WORTH OF PRIZES!

 

Just leave a comment telling me:

What's at the top of your Christmas list?

You can also share this link for an extra entry,
just make sure you tag me so I can enter you twice!

Entries open til midnight 13 November 2012. Overseas entries welcome however must cover postage if drawn. Winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Winner will have 48 hours to respond otherwise another winner will be drawn.

A big thank you to all the above businesses for gifting me these prizes to give away. Tiny Tim loves you.

After the heaviness of Friday's post, I'd like to lighten the mood around here with a bit of fun and frivolity. Thankfully on Friday night I had tickets to Fright Night at Movie World to cheer me up and cheer me up it did! Just for the month of October, Friday and Saturday nights at Movie World were transformed into a zombie-infested underworld spectacular of misty horror and some of the best rides by night.

 

For a mere $30 entry we enjoyed 5 hours of frightening fun on some of the park's most popular rides as well as the addition of horror mazes and ghoulish shows. Apparently the night opens with a pack of zombies flash mobbing to Thriller but unfortunately due to traffic we were a little too late for that. Still, we had bought our tickets online so we strolled right through the gates and straight into another world of vampire burlesque babes, shooting flames and more smoke machines than a B-grade horror movie.

We went straight onto the Batwing Spaceshot which shoots you 100m straight into the air pulling about 4.5Gs before a negative descent that has your heart (and quite possibly some of your intestines) in your throat. OMG this was terrifying and SO MUCH FUN! Although apparently I sounded like a winded walrus as we went up? At the top I let out a tiny little peep before talking myself off the ledge like a crazy lady by repeating over and over 'look at the pretty lights look at the pretty lights'. I love me a thrill ride, but that doesn't mean I'm brave about it!

Next it was off to the first two mazes, The Walking Dead which was a playground of zombies, dead bodies and an infestation of epic proportions. It wasn't particularly scary but the make up and sets were pretty impressive and there were a couple of surprises. This one was lots of fun! Next it was onto The Film Vault where all the darkest movie characters were brought to life. I just happened to be the lucky lady who got to lead our group through this one. IT WAS THE SCARIEST ONE THERE!! Now I'm a horror movie fiend and I don't scare so easily but the atmosphere and affects created in this maze turned me into tourettes lady.

 

Basically this maze consisted of metal fencing, smoke and strobe lighting with some well made up characters. Sounds simple but the route was so twisty and turny and between the smoke and the strobe lighting it was VERY disorientating. It felt like I was walking on a treadmill because I was walking but felt like I wasn't actually going anywhere. You could barely see anything in front of you and practically had to feel your way around the walls to have any idea where you needed to be going. And then of course, around every corner lurked Freddy, Jason, Here's Johnny, Mr Scream, The Girl From The Ring...all kinds of nightmarish characters. It seems my battle cry is SH!TF*CK! Such a warrior.

After that we headed to the Superman Escape which took a bit over an hour to get on thanks to its popularity and huge line up. It's FAST so the ride itself if pretty short but AMAZING fun and definitely worth the wait. You're on the metropolis subway when an earthquake strikes so Superman comes to your rescue...by launching you into the sky from 0 to 100km/ph in 2 seconds flat. Pulling 4.2Gs up vertical climbs, down weightless drops and head spinning twists and turns. Yeah, thanks Superman. Be prepared to say WOAH! a lot and turn to rubber once you get off. Also, your cheeks will probably hurt from grinning so much. SO MUCH FUN!

Unfortunately the rides closed earlier than the other attractions so I didn't get to go on The Green Lantern or Arkham Asylum like I wanted to but considering we weren't really there for the rides that are available all the time, it wasn't so bad. We then set off for the Psycho 3D maze and, the one I'd really been waiting for, the Hillbilly Slasher maze. The Psycho 3D maze wasn't particularly scary either but it was very cool. Picture pitch black corridors which zig zag, covered in neon paint splatters and some rather horrific looking skulls, psycho clown faces and ghouls which literally come out of the walls at you. A pretty simple concept, the 3D aspect of it was very cool.
The Hillbilly Slasher maze was pretty cool I guess, but not as good as I was hoping. Although something tells me I've seen too many Rob Zombie movies and my expectations were possibly a bit too high. It was a lot of fun though, the sets were quite authentic and cool and a lot of the characters inside were quite entertaining. We even saw a few who looked like some of our friends! HAH. The line for this one was quite long which also detracted from the experience a little.

It’s with a heavy heart that I write this post. There’s really no point in beating around the bush so I’ll just get to the point.

I will no longer be fundraising for the Bloggers to Borneo trip in May.

Unfortunately, I do not satisfy the requirements of the Office of Fair Trading to receive a fundraising sanction and therefore it is illegal for me to fundraise without one. It is also illegal for The Orangutan Project to assist me in fundraising for my trip in anyway.

Therefore, I am left with no choice but to withdraw my fundraising efforts.

It is very disappointing for me however I am extremely humbled by the support and enthusiasm I have already received from so many people. To know that you all believed in me and this cause so passionately is truly heartening.

I have to admit, I feel a little silly and certainly a bit embarrassed that I didn’t do enough of my ‘homework’ before I started planning and promoting my fundraising efforts. Had I been a little wiser and more patient about the process, I could have avoided all of this by realising my roadblock before going so public.

However, I consider this a BIG lesson learned.

I am a very passionate and enthusiastic person by nature and when I decide to put my mind to something, I’m very gung ho about turning that idea into an action. I now realise that in future I need to do more research before committing to things and especially, before I allow others to get involved.

I have already received a $100 donation from Robot Productions, a $50 donation from Stars & Swallows, a $50 donation from Friends of Rock ‘n’ Roll George and a $20 donation from Natatree.

 

I am so very grateful to all the above businesses, blogs and individuals for their show of support however I will be refunding your donations.

The one positive that I am holding on to is that no matter what, you and I can still help the orangutans which was, of course, what I wanted to support so badly in the first place. You can still donate to The Orangutan Project via their official site and all donations will go directly to helping the orangutans. 

I sincerely apologise to anyone this has caused an inconvenience to, and to everyone who has supported me so far.

I hope you understand how sorry, disappointed and humbled I am and will forgive me anyway.

*Please Note: As per the PayPal guidelines (who I had been receiving donations through) I have taken all other references to my fundraising efforts off the site.*

Last week I mentioned that the Melbourne Cup and Spring Racing season was right around the corner. And it is! So I figured it was time I got my butt into gear and started thinking about my frock. And where else would I go shopping to find said frock but Your One Stop Pin Up Shop. The name says it all really and after being privileged enough to attend the grand opening, I couldn't wait to get back into that darling little space and feast my eyes on the buffet of stunning outfits the knowledgable shop assistants are always putting together so well.

 

As soon as I walked through the door I saw the Bobbie Lee dress and just knew it had to be mine. It's simply stunning and really could not be any more perfect for the occasion. The halter top is comfortable and a great way to show a bit of skin in the spring sunshine but is modest enough to wear to work or strut your stuff on the turf. The print is also exceptionally cute, featuring cherries, strawberries and colourful little pansies that just scream spring.

Teamed with the pink bow belt, the pop of colour is just enough to make the outfit a showstopper and the matching pretty in pink double layer petticoat fills the skirt out to perfection. I felt like a princess in this outfit and the beautiful crystal vintage look earrings and the sweet as pie baby deer pearl necklace were the finishing touches that tie the whole outfit together.

 

Talk about fashions on the field, this outfit is sure to attract attention wherever you go! The best part is, worn without the petticoat and some cute flats, the outfit is also ideal for picnicing by the river and enjoying for the rest of spring and into summer. Simply gorgeous!

Hell Bunny - Bobbie Lee Swing Dress $89.95

Double Layer Petticoat - Pink $89.95

Patent Bow Belt - Pink $19.95

Pearl Cameo Necklace - Baby Deer $9.95

Vintage Bead Earrings - Pink $10.00

All thanks to Your One Stop Pin Up Shop

 

Hair flower and shoes, old faithfuls of mine

Your eyebrows play a big part in shaping your face and in the world of Rockabilly and Pin Up, good brows are a highly coveted commodity. See a picture of a gal with great brows and no doubt there will be ladies in the comments section below swooning over them. I can't quite explain it, it's just the way it goes. I myself have been searching for the ideal brow product to give me a great result while still looking fairly natural. I tried everything from powders to pencils and used brands ranging from the likes of Bloom and even MAC. But I've managed to narrow it down to these two.

Created by Chicago make up artist Jessica Sawicki, Bomber Betty offers handmade mineral cosmetics which are natural, paraben-free and cruelty-free. Offering everything from foundation and concealer to mascara, eyeshadow, liner, blush, lip sticks, glosses and more, the line has recently undergone a make over to feature the artwork of Hannah Aitchison, famous Chicago tattoo artist and veteran of the LA Ink series.

BEFORE & AFTER: Brow Wow! in Cindy - $20

The Bomber Betty Brow Wow! is a little pot of wonder. The cream to powder finish means that it goes on easily and is long wearing without that 'painted on' look. The product comes in 6 shades for a perfect match and comes with a double ended applicator brush for quick and easy application. The mascara end combs your brows before and after application to get the perfect shape while the angled brush end is easy to manoeuvre and places the product exactly where you want it so there's no mess and no mistakes. The finish is a little heavier so would be best for full face make up or night time application and the brush could be of a little better quality however it comes free with the product so there's little to complain about. Overall, the product was a great match with my hair, a pleasure to use and gave a great result. I will definitely continue to use it.

It's already well documented how much I love Benefit and their Brow Bars are probably a great place to start if you're new to the world of brow-scaping. I'm also a complete sucker for their cute packaging and the wording that they use to market their products, well they had me at hello.

 BEFORE & AFTER: Brow Zings in Light $55

The Benefit Brow Zings is a complete brow shaping kit that comes with everything you need for precise arching and application. It comes in 3 shades, light, medium and dark, and contains a soft pigmented wax to shape your brow and arch, a complementing powder to fill and set your brows, a pair of mini-tweezers for any tidying required, a hard angle wax applicator brush and a soft brush for powder blending. The convenient little compact also has a mirror which is handy for on-the-go application or any little touch ups. The wax helps to keep your brows in place while the powder gives a nice, light, natural finish. The teeny tiny applicators are also ideal for getting the perfect shape. Everything about this product is easy and convenient, the only thing I feel is missing is a brow comb for that perfect, neat finish. Otherwise, I absolutely love this product and would use it everyday.

 

I was hoping to be able to choose a favourite out of these products to recommend to you but I really can't choose. I love them both for different reasons and would use Benefit daily and keep the Bomber Betty for night time application, full face make up and photoshoots. But they will both continue to get a work out. Best of all, they will both last for ages!

My final word of advice when it comes to brows? Remember, they're sisters not twins! They don't have to be EXACTLY the same or completely symmetrical because neither is your face. Yes, it's true, I'm sorry. Stick to your natural shape to enhance what you've got and you won't end up looking surprised, angry or crazy. You'll just have beautiful brows that enhance your eyes and bring your whole face to life.

On Saturday I was privileged enough to attend the illustrious day of birth celebrations of one of my most favourite human beings in the universe. 'The Blonde' also known as the Hi Fallutin Mz Vicki transformed the Scarborough Bowls Club into The Greasy Spoon Diner for a night of honky tonkin’ gear jammin’ semi rockin’ fun for her truck stop themed 40th. There were all manner of hilarious and equally as creative outfits including me as a mechanic, the gender bending 'truck stop hooker' costume and more. For all the shenanigans I could tell you, I'll stick with these for the sake of some reputations. As they say, a picture says a thousand words...

I have been thinking about getting an 'old car' for a while but my financial situation just didn't permit me to. Things have been looking up in the finance department lately and I was hoping that maybe I'd have my dream baby by next year. However, since then I've decided to go to the US, am trying for the Borneo trip and plan to attend Chopped in Melbourne next year so it's looking far more likely that it won't happen until 2014.

 

So, instead of mourning the delay of my dream car I decided today to drool over her instead and I thought I'd share it with you all as well.

I can just see me rolling up in this!

Look at that damn fine rear end!

She'll definitely be black and I want a sexy red interior!

She'll stay cool, even when I give her a bit of a spurt.

Isn't she just screaming 'take me for a spin'?

What do you think? Is she 'me'?

I don't know about you but since all the fun, outfits, cars, shopping and rockin tunes of GreazeFest back in August...I've been craving another BIG rockabilly gig. Something to tide me over until the party season at the end of the year. A chance to get dressed up and rock out.

 

Well the wait is over on Sunday November 4!

From high noon til 6pm we're taking over the Acacia Ridge Hotel for an afternoon of hot rods, rockabilly music, pin ups, artists, hair stylists and markets with the BrisVegas Kustom Kulture Karnival.

 

We're welcoming some big names with this one including The Go Getters from Sweden, Charlie Hightone from Spain as well as local favourites Dan & The Dualtones,  West Texas Crude, The Jim Rockfords and DJ Swingabilly Ray.

 

The huge venue features live bands and dancing on the downstairs level, an indoor market village, air conditioned and licensed upstairs level, a breezy outdoor balcony overlooking the hot rod display, a lowbrow artist retro den on the downstairs level and a tasty bistro.

 

There'll be a hot rod show featuring Australian and American pre-1970, Hot Rods, Rat Rods, Led Sleds, Muscle Cars, Customs, Vintage Motorbikes, Bobbers, Lowrider Cycles and more. Better yet, the event is ASRF approved ( Travel Permit  #ASRF TC 265-03-2012)!

 

Festival favourite Mimsy's Trailer Trash Tattoo will be there on the day for tat zaps in her beautiful caravan and we'll also be joined by sharp shearin’ barber, Almon Loos from Los Angeles California. He'll be showing off his barbering skills on his first ever visit downunder. He also fronts rockabilly band Almon Loos & The Hoop & Hollers and will performing a special set of rock’n’roll antics on stage.

Ah the wonders of modern technology. Where would we be without social media? My social calendar would be in disarray, far flung friends would be hard to keep up with and fantastic fashion discoveries would be in the hands of the fashion gods. But thanks to Instagram I found a fantastic dress!

I saw it and instantly fell in love. It reminded me of a Mexican blanket. Too cool! I asked the wearer where she got it, expecting some lucky eBay find or perhaps even a homemade number. Not so, readily available at a major department store and at a bargain price!

Meet my Mexican blanket dress...

Dress - K-Mart Size 12 $15

Belt - Old Faithful (can't remember where from or how much)

Shoes - Payless Size 6 $15 (part of a 2 for $30 deal)

Rita Maxi - A Little Bird Told Me $99.95