Smaggle

In 2011 I…

* Published my 1000th blog post.

* Hit the stage in two plays, The Mall and The Christmas Monologues.

* Released my first audio book How to Be The Perfect Bridesmaid.

* Contributed to articles in Cleo Magazine and The Age.

* Celebrated 5 years with my man.

* Trained myself to run for 6 kms without stopping.

* Made my first trip to New York for fashion week and IFB.

* Styled a commercial.

* Celebrated the fourth birthday of Smaggle.

* Dragged my man to Park Street for a Cleo fashion shoot.

* Caned myself at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week reporting on 6 shows in less than 24 hours.

* Spoke about body confidence for the Equality Rights Alliance.

* Celebrated my incredibly talented and gifted niece’s first birthday.

* Talked shit on the radio as PayPal’s Online Shopping Expert.

* Donated the maximum amount of blood allowed per year, per person.

* Met some amazing bloggers including Sarah Von, Mrs Woog, Ms Critique, Esme and the Laneway, Eden, Sawhole, St Murphy, Styling You, The Blog Stylist, Hair Romance, Grit and Glamour, Susie Bubble, Wendy Brandes, The Coveted, Business Chic, Style Melbourne, Harbour Master, Tulia and Ish and Chi. Also Sassy Bella and Stuff That I Bought via Skype. Hopefully this year I will tick Fat Mum Slim off my list!

I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who has visited my little corner of the web over the past four years. I really, really appreciate your support and contributions.

If you haven’t already, please do follow me on Twitter and like me on Facebook. I have a jampacked January planned and I’d hate for you to miss any of it!

Also, please share! What did you do in 2011?

Why don’t you…?

* Slip into some delicious silk lounging pyjamas? Slather your hands and feet in thick moisturising cream and pop on some cotton socks and gloves?

* Travel with a luscious cashmere pashmina to wrap yourself in when you get cold? In canary yellow? Wear matching ballet flats?

* Put some vanilla and rose oil in your bag and dab it on your wrists and neck every few hours? Saunter around the plane smelling like cookies and Turkish delight?

* Pack cleanser, toner and face cream in a velvet drawstring bag? Give your self a mini facial in the bathroom?

* Paint your nails bright red the night before and clasp a steaming cup of green tea through out the flight? Wrap your hair in a patterned scarf, turban style?

* Take some cream parchment-esque paper and a sepia fountain pen? Write letters to your lovers? Pack envelopes and decorate them with pretty seals? Sprinkle rose petals on the inside? Have them ready to post when you arrive at the airport?

* Wear massive sunglasses and a fur coat? Pretend that you’re an obscure, fabulous actress jet setting around the globe? Spend the flight reading from film scripts and signing head shots of yourself?

* Wear brilliant gems and pearls instead of clunky metal that will aggravate the detectors? A knotted string of fresh water pearls? A turquoise ring made of jet and tourmaline beads?

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for more gorgeous tips.

This is the time of year when you will get photographed continuously. It’s also the time of year when most of us are sporting extra podge and/or sunburn. Here are a few tips that I like to keep in mind around those sneaky Chrissy morning snappers.

* Always pose. There’s nothing worse than a picture of you all hunch backed and double chinned, glugging back a cocktail with your eyes half-shut. Just be aware of cameras and simply sit up straight and smile, to avoid those photos that make you want to have your face amputated in the New Year.

* Practice your smile. I find that a huge, majorly fake smile looks the most natural on camera. It sounds stupid and I guarantee you will feel like a right arse but it works. If you look like you’re having the best time of your life no one will notice your double chin. Your dazzling smile says it all.

* For full body shots always raise your arms a little off your body. Even the slimmest of women can benefit from the Hollywood pose. One hand on hip, body twisted to the side, other arm hidden. Best way to avoid that pool-of-arm situation when your bicep is flattened against your body.

* For the family shot, always stand to the back so everyone at the front will hide you. But if your family is anything like mine they will all be scrambling for the covetable back spots. If you are one of the youngest, you will probably be forced to sit on the floor, cross-legged, which is the most universally unflattering position. The solution to this problem is to grab the nearest child (cousins are ideal) and plonk them on your lap. A decent sized toddler will cover a multitude of sins. Best case scenario is always a back row Hollywood pose though.

* Sunglasses are fantastic. I always wear sunglasses and I am usually horrified when I see photos of myself sans sunnies with all that face hanging out everywhere. Give this one a try but be warned that grandparents are usually on risky behaviour watch.

* Pose to the side. Side poses are usually the most flattering and if you sort of half hide your body behind the person standing next you, you will look tiny. You need to do this with someone who doesn’t know what you are doing though. My mother and I tousle for ages trying to shove each other to the front until we just give up and hide ourselves behind some other oblivious victim.

* Don’t slouch. Seriously, don’t.

All photos are from the Christmas section of Awkward Family Photos. My brother and I are rather renowned for ruining Christmas photos but this lot wipe the floor with us. And that includes the photos from the Christmas that we both got stung by bees and our faces swelled up to the point that my mother had to explain to shop keepers for a week that she didn’t beat us up.

Guilty weekend confession. I watched The Way We Were for the second time ever. And not because it’s a classic. Nor because it stars Barbra Streisand who amuses me endlessly because she looks like a Muppet. No my pretties I watched this movie for a far, far more stupid reason. Because there was a Sex in the City episode about it and I really needed to understand what a ‘Katie Girl’ was. But I never found out because I fell asleep half way through it… for the second time. I assume a ‘Katie Girl’ is like ‘Carrie Girl’ but whatever, the point is there are some damn fabulous style tips we should be pulling from Ms Streisand. She’s all kinds of fabulous.

Style Tips to Steal

* Lots of black eyeliner - Get out those kohl pencils and liquid eyeliners and make a proper effort to get that mod look. Smoky eyes and glossy lips are oh-so-Barbra. With lashings of saucy mascara.

* Long tapered red nails - Katie has the most amazing long red nails that are filed into a tapered oval. Stunning. Her fingers look so long and elegant. Diana Vreeland’s nails were the same. None of this short and square French crap, lets rewind a few years and bring back the screen siren red daggers of yesteryear.

* Hair that makes a statement - Whether she is embracing her curls in college, or creating structural waves, Barb’s hair looks like hair with attitude. It knows what it’s doing and what it’s trying to achieve and does it effortlessly. It’s efficient hair. Don’t let your hair ‘be’. Tell it what to do, you’re the boss baby.

* Bangles and Pins - Barbra’s choice accessories through out the movie are chunky bangles and chunky pins. They work perfectly together. Who’d of thunk it?

* Little jackets and cardigans - Perfect for in between weather, Barbra takes work outfits into the evening with little wrap cardigans  and short jackets. Much hipper than clunky jackets or long chunky cardigans. And perfect for pairing your bangles and pins with!

What do you think? Will you work a little Babs into your next outfit?

Every summer I have season envy when I cruise the winter show images and see slender Parisians in fine coats and delicious boots. I’ve been drooling over the designer shoes at FarFetch and I’ve decided…

Next winter? I want embellished booties.

Paciotti

Valentino

Valentino

Margiela

Choo

This post was brought to you in association with FarFetch.

It’s the week before Christmas and the insane crew at Mellow Yellow Productions are performing a short evening of whacky Christmas monologues. There’s $5 drinks, a shite load of cleavage and you’ll be home in your bed by 10pm. Tops.

If you would like to check out my acting chops, I’m on stage at Broken Mirror Studios in Brunswick from 12th Dec until the 17th Dec. Every night this week. 8pm. Cheap beer and wine. Boobs.

See you there.

“If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never had gotten anywhere!”

- Marilyn Monroe

According to PayPal, shit loads. Apparently over 30 million dollars will be spent online by the end of this year in Australia. That’s barmy, that is.

Why do I know this? Because I’ve been working with PayPal for over a year now as a contributing editor at Lustable and this Christmas they’ve put my online shopping addiction to good use and have taken me on as their online shopping expert for Christmas 2011.

Here’s a few recordings of interviews that I’ve done over the past few weeks. I know a few of you were disappointed that you missed the live airings and the PayPal gals were kind enough to track down recordings for me.

111128 5AA – Interview with Smaggle-1 by Smaggle

111128 6PR – Interview with Smaggle by Smaggle

111205 2UE BOSD – interview with Carly by Smaggle

Honestly, I don’t expect anyone except my mother to listen to them all, so don’t feel pressured. I start almost every sentence with ‘absolutely’ and speak at the speed of a runaway freight train, so that’s the basic gist if you don’t have the inclination to listen. Also don’t panic at the second one, I only speak for the first little bit, it’s not 38 minutes of moi.

I’ll keep you guys updated with any more interviews.

You can also find my interview updates on Twitter and Facebook.

So… how much of your Christmas shopping was done, or will be done, online this year?

Me? 100%. True story.

I used to live with one of my best mates who’s half Japanese. When we had a really big night out, she’d always make us miso soup and rice the next morning when we were hung over. If I’m feeling a bit yucky or I need a bit of a pick me up, I always reach for the miso… and tummy tamer Japanese tea.

What You Need

(feeds about four… depending on how many of them are males in their 20s)

2 zucchini, spiralised or finely chopped

2 carrots, spiralised or finely chopped

2 chicken breasts, diced

200gms of diced firm tofu

A few handfuls of sliced fresh or dried shiitake mushrooms

4 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely chopped

A few tablespoons of miso paste

A splash of peanut oil

Basmati rice to serve

Rice seasoning (available at Asian supermarkets or in the Asian section at your local supermarket)

What You Do

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan. Stir fry chicken until brown.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of miso paste. Stir fry for 1 minute.

3. Add tofu and garlic. Stir fry for 3 minutes.

4. Add all vegetables. Stir fry for three minutes.

5. Add a few cups of water. If you want it very soupy add lots, if you want it thicker and more like a stew, add less water. You can also add a few more tablespoons of miso at this stage. I’m pretty hardcore and like my miso SUPER cloudy but it might be best to start slow if you’re new to cooking with miso.

6. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

7. Serve on a bed of cooked basmati rice and sprinkle with rice seasoning.

Tips

* I bought my spiraliser here and it changed my life. I’m a huge vegetable eater and sometimes I just get totally jack of preparing them in the same way. The spiraliser makes me feel like I’m eating in a fancy pants restaurant. I also used spiralised carrots and zucchini as an alternative to pasta. Delish!

* I buy giant bags of pre-peeled garlic from the Asian supermarket. This stuff is THE SHIT. I often omit garlic from a recipe because I’m too damn lazy to peel it. I bought a bag big enough to have me in garlic until next September. I highly recommend.

* Again, because laziness dictates almost all of my food purchases, I buy those heat up rice bags from the supermarket. Yes, they are expensive compared to cooking your own rice but sometimes my time is worth more than my money. Sometimes.

* I always use basmati rice because it has a low GI and keeps you fuller for longer.

If you love the look of this recipe be sure to check out the Smaggle Food section, follow me on twitter and like me on facebook.

I’ve been hankering after a large, pencil-case type bag for ages now because I imagine I would look like this carrying it.

Well, that was the plan anyway. Once I find some white bell bottoms in my size. So imagine my delight when this gorgeous black and gold number came into my life.

Those little plastic sheets where you can slide letters and numbers to personalise your clutch, are giving me a bad case of nostalgia. It’s just like my pencil-case in primary school. The talented Zoe Kratzmann (check out her footwear. To. Die. For.) has just released this funky range of retro clutches to compliment her range of leather footwear. I adore my black and gold piece but if I was to stock up, I’d go for the saffron.

Mine came conveniently spelling out my name and I haven’t had a chance to change it. It’s a little naff for a mature women to be sporting her own moniker on her arm candy though… so may I ask you?

What would your personalised clutch say? I’m curious… and looking for lettering inspiration.

This product was offered to Smaggle for editorial consideration.