Airport Surroundings is a single from the recent Loney Dear album Dear John, directed by Marcus Söderlund.
Hailing from Sweden, Loney Dear (aka Emil Svanängen) possesses a melodic voice that’s one part sweetly Beck and one part charred – like E of The Eels. I enjoyed this clip, I am always partial to a bit of driving around fast in a music video, but the real winner is the song.
Put it on your stereo, turn up the volume and go for a drive at night. That’s what I’ll be doing – someone has lent me a car for the weekend! Time to hit the road.
“Local lad Dan Nagels has just graced us with his new collection” says Wellington’s Madam Fancy Pants. Lucky them! It looks cute, featuring stirling silver party favourites like popcorn and chippies.
Do you obsessively record and share your vacations? Something to think about. I take a lot less photos these days, as opposed to when I had a point & shoot. Live in the now!
The name Chaos & Harmony for a shoe brand is fitting… Looking at the shoes causes emotional chaos, making my heart is scream “I WANT THOSE BOOTS NOW”! Thus harmony is not achieved until purchase of said shoes.
I need a new pair of shoes and looking through the Chaos & Harmony Winter 09 collection was a difficult task. I haven’t made my mind up yet but I’ve narrowed it down one of each – a flat, a medium heel and a boot! Deadly.
Rita Pump:
Talullah Pump:
Rumor Boot:
What I really like about Chaos & Harmony, is the balance of tough and feminine every design expresses. Not too sweet, not too sexy. Just right. The brand is also based out of the sunny Bay of Plenty, which makes me smile – a good local shoemaker is hard to find! Now, which pair?
So, you spend a lot of money (or in my case, cry and get your housemate to claim it on his insurance) on a nice shiny new camera. It’s awesome, it might just be love. It’s the perfect accessory.
But you stick with the giant branded strap – the one loudly proclaiming your membership to the NIKON or CANON tribe. How bland. Why not something a little bit more individual? Something that makes it personal. Oh, cute camera straps – where art thou? I investigated:
1. Photojojo sells bright seat belt camera straps – saving lives and cameras, which are your life. Win.
3. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Sugar Pop Designs (also on Etsy) create covers for your existing strap. For an extra couple of dollars you can even get a pouch for that pesky lens cap. I love this idea, you could one day have an entire collection of complementary straps!
4.Souldier up-cycles seat belts too, combining them with retro fabrics to make some sweet straps – there’s quite a few masculine choices:
5. “I think these straps are elegant and rugged all at once. Bob H.” Bob’s talking about Gordy’s camera straps and he’s right on the money. These are the camera straps Monocle fans would snap up; think naturally tough leather, waxed thread and solid construction. They’re beautiful too.
Don’t want to buy a new strap? My other ideas include: pillaging a retro camera for its superior strap, making your own and re-purposing a guitar strap!
Have I convinced you yet? Want another upside? As well as looking cute and fabulously individual, when the day comes that you misplace your camera – and the party host/bartender/bus driver asks – “Well what did it look like?”
Instead of saying “silver” (yeah helpful), you can describe the luminosity of the polka dots, the gentle embossing on the damask. Then you’re saying it is my camera, and it is special to me! Really helpful, non?
I think these straps are elegant and rugged all at once. Bob H.
“I write because I have an innate need to write! I write because I can’t do normal work like other people. I write because I want to read books like the ones I write. I write because I am angry at all of you, angry at everyone. I write because I love sitting in a room all day writing. I write because I can partake in real life only by changing it. I write because I want others, all of us, the whole world, to know what sort of life we lived, and continue to live. I write because I love the smell of paper, pen and ink. I write because I believe in literature, in the art of the novel, more than I believe in anything else. I write because it is a habit, a passion. I write because I am afraid of being forgotten. I write because I like the glory and interest that writing brings. I write to be alone. Perhaps I write because I hope to understand why I am so very, very angry at all of you. I write because I like to be read. I write because once I have begun a novel, an essay, a page, I want to finish it. I write because everyone expects me to write. I write because I have a childish belief in the immortality of libraries. I write because it is exciting to turn all of life’s beauties and riches into words. I write not to tell a story, but to compose a story. I write because I wish to escape from the foreboding that there is a place I must go but – just as in a dream – I can’t quite get there. I write to be happy.”
- Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature 2006 (excerpt from The Australian Financial Review Friday Dec 16 2006).
Catching up with my BFF Laza on a multitude of projects. A luxurious Harry Potter viewing with the lovely Sarah. MGMT with my friend Thriller. Wearing my favourite flouncy skirt. Wine. Waffles. Whales. It was a good week.
As promised, I’m back in the camera swing of things. It feels good to be recording life visually again. My question for you this week is – what’s the best photo you’ve taken this year? Your favourite 2009 snap so far. Think about it and then share a link with us. I’d love to see your flicks!
Let down your hair, let down your hair! Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
I’m not cutting my hair until January. At least. I want long locks, I want braids, I want hair blowing in the breeze. I’ve had extensions before but they’re not for summer. Trust me on that one. So growing it is… It’s finally down to my shoulders, after being chopped off in January.
Flowing locks please. By Christmas, if not for Christmas.
Twas a perfect sunny day – smack in the middle of winter. Considering the month, what more could you hope for? How about going to the beach and watching whales! I spend half my time at a little place called Omaha, and for the last few days there has been a Southern Right whale mother and calf hanging about the bay.
This afternoon I strolled down to the beach and watched the little-big-family frolic for a few of hours – they were hanging out just off shore. There was lots of wave slapping and sunbathing on their behalf. Um so, this is what I wore when I was watching those gorgeous creatures. I had the hugest grin – marine animals for life!
+ Twin Rivers zip up jumper
+ Merino turtleneck (it’s sunny but not that warm!)
+ Cotton peasant skirt of unknown origin with glitter embellishments
+ Dotti black leggings
+ Vintage lace up boots
No whale photos sorry. If only I was in a boat, sigh. In any case, I consider myself seriously lucky to live such in a beautiful place, plus I had an icecream! Yup, a brilliant way to spend a Sunday. I hope your weekend was just as swell.
I found this Better Homes and Gardens magazine while fossicking in some old boxes at my parents’ house. It’s the August 1982 edition!
Summer fruit puff recipe! Redecorating a 50’s house for the 80’s! Oh yeahhhh. It’s a real retro goodie.
In this one magazine, there’s an astounding 24 pages of full colour cigarette adverts, plus the the back cover. That’s out of 143 pages total. Shocker! The ‘death of print’ and recession aside, could you even begin to imagine that in a modern magazine?
I scanned this Parliament Lights ad to share:
Benefit driven drivel, with a condescending tone. I’m not too sure why, but I am really attracted to this style of excessively persuasive communication. It’s very satisfying to write.
In fact… here’s a fictitious radio ad I wrote for a competition. Entitled, “Smoother & More Satisfying”, please imagine this being read by a 1960’s era male announcer, with formal enunciation:
“We know it’s hard keeping up appearances in today’s fast paced society… but the reward is worth it! What you need in your life is a mild good tasting cigarette, like Durrys Slims Extra Mild.
Smoother than a fine whiskey, more satisfying than cheap sex. For added vigour, to forge your path to victory – do try Durrys Slims Extra Mild cigarettes today. For all of life’s thrilling moments… with Durrys, you have no worries!
‘Mad Men. Sundays 8.40pm. It’s on Prime.’”
Hee! I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that smoking is for idiots who want nasty wrinkles and foul breath. Mwah!
I went to see MGMT play last night, the last of three Auckland shows. Finally, live in front of my very own eyes (gratuitous picsof meat the concert). The concert itself was so-so… there was some interesting Tropicana infused instrumentals. But when the boys from New York played their single Kids, they killed it. Amazing. Yeah, I was that giddy girl squirming behind you and singing along.
The video is brilliant too – it moves from a ‘real’ exploration of a child’s imaginary monsters to an acid inspired animation. I really like it. Especially the TV shows… Scary stuff.
Travelindependent.info – the most useful site for budget travel/backpacking planning. I’ve got a little travel itch that needs scratching and this is helping me plan – what to pack, what to budget, where to go. Global, indie advice. Loves it!
Susie Bubble knows Bad Taste is Better Than No Taste – a rounds up some swoon-worthy rings. I know a few of you will want them on your fingers immediately.
Writer’s Routines, useful reading if you’re tying to develop your own creative habits. There’s no whiskey in mine yet, but there may yet be room for a signature beverage.
Artificial Owl – abandoned man made places – like the Igloo Hotel. How cool is that? (Don’t slap me, no pun intended.)
Random.org did its thing and chose a winner… Congratulations Sarah! You said:
Recently though, my boyfriend and I stayed at The Standard in downtown LA, which (while not that new or boutique) had fantastic personality. The rooftop bar with pool was very entertaining for people watching, and there was a really cool lobby shop where, after getting drunk by the pool each day, I would realise I desperately needed some new ironic sunglasses or a set of pencils with the Standard logo on them.
Despite neither being near LA or drunk at this moment – I think I need those pencils too! Thank you for entering everybody. Sarah, I’ve emailed you & your book will be with you soon!
First I confessed my Girl Blog Crushes to the world (obviously you need to read this list if you haven’t already – amazing ladies). Now it’s time for the guys:
SETH GODIN – If you’re not reading this, why not? Seth Godin’s marketing ideas and thoughts about changing the world are invaluable, whether you’re in the industry or not.
VERSION 3 – Duncan serves up regular doses of fresh music and things he loves about Auckland in a super enthusiastic way. He is also excellent company if you’re trapped in a van for hours driving around the UK. Reading Version 3 makes me want to explore personally uncharted worlds – like dodgy food courts and drum & bass!
WORKING TOWARDS – Photos, art, Japan. Good. I like to dip in and out of this beautifully designed blog.
THE LESS PERMANENT – Pete’s job is to interview your favourite musicians and assure us that they’re really nice people. Usually this would incite major jealously, but he’s a lovely kid so one can’t be too mean… go read his work.
HARD NEWS – Auckland’s Russell Brown dishes up media and news commentary. Usually reasonable, always clever and often funny.
LÉON – Fashion, food and solid life advice – more what could you want? I adore this blog.
JAKE DAVIS – a film and music video director with dope style. From tennis inspiration, to facial hair, his style musings are spot on.
Making this list makes me see I don’t actually read that many blogs by dudes, personal or otherwise. This must change! In the interest of gender equality, care to share some of your favourite blogs from the male point of view? Please chip in!
