♥

xoxo

x Attending The Girls Night In Curvy Clothes Swap - Goodness, where should I even start?! From the beginning? ALRIGHTY!

Last Saturday the ever-divine Danimezza (pictured on the left!) hosted a Girls Night In charity event for the Cancer Council, and jeez, what a shindig it was! As Dani explains:

''A few months ago I received a letter in the mail asking me if I would like to host a Girls Night In charity event for the Cancer Council to aid research into all women's cancers, so I got thinking about what sort of event I could host, who I would invite and how I could raise funds and still have fun. I’d met up with a few plus-size bloggers in Sydney and there had been a few mentions of having too many clothes and needing to sort out our wardrobes, so I thought a Curvy Clothes Swap Party would be PERFECT. Attendees would pay a set donation amount to attend the event which would go directly to charity, we’d all get together somewhere nice and swap our clothes and accessories… too easy!''

And when the girl says ''we’ll all get together somewhere nice'', she WASN'T joking around... check out the jaw-droppingly stunning view from the event's location, The Meriton World Square Apartments! (HI, Sydney!)

Melissa from Suger Coat It was our surprise guest (she'd flown in especially from Queensland to attend!), and honestly, she was every bit as delightful as her blog's title suggests. Gorgeous? Tick! Charming? Tick!  Down-to-earth, hilarious and generally l-o-v-e-l-y? Tick, tick, TICK!

With swoon-worthy accessories in a multitude of hues, there were pieces for everyone to fall in love with! (You better believe that I nabbed those silk faux flowers on the table!)

Mid-swap shenanigans! The girls (Hayley, Liz, Caitlin, Dani, Melissa and Laura) examining the goods on offer... 

Oh look, it's Fashion Hayley! Apart from the fact that Hayley was enormously sweet, do you know how brilliant it was to have a stylist in attendance? EXTREMELY! She co-erced me into trying numerous pieces that I typically would've avoided, literally flinging dresses at me and exclaiming ''Corrine, try this! No, it's not too orange. TRY IT!'' It was terrific to have someone there hoisting me out of my sartorial safety zones!

Piiizzzaaa! (HUGE thanks to the legends at Domino's for sponsoring our dinner!)

The adorable Caitlin and I showcasing our new favourite threads. (Nice finds, hey?! The belt actually came from Hayley herself, and the dresses courtesy of the wardrobe of Gisela Ramirez!)

It was such an excellent afternoon! (In fact, the whole thing was such a success that Dani's announced the Curvy Clothes Swap is now going to be an annual affair, so if you weren't able to make it this time around, for the love of clothes, next year, COME! I'd love to see you there!)

x Other Little Things - INSANE evenings at The Forbes Hotel(um, wow. Just... wow!); so-atrocious-it's-hilarious-television (last night my almost-brother-in-law introduced me to the madness that is Millionaire Matchmaker. Have you ever seen it?! Holy heck!); Sydney's Peace Harmony restaurant on Erskine Street (seriously, don't be fooled by the hippy-dippy sounding name, their Thai food is absolutely KILLER!); re-discovering old music (The Butterfly Effect, anyone?!); Crowded House's Distant Sun (because what's not to love about the lyrics ''seven worlds will collide... whenever I'm by your side''? Not a THING!); Sydney On A Shoestring(I'm adoring this new blog!); New Zealand anticipation (Auckland folk, come December the 1st, I'm headed your way! Let's meet up!); and finally, LIFE ITSELF, in all of its nutty, beautiful and perfectly imperfect glory. It's a constantly crazy, ever-changing rollercoaster ride... and I wouldn't change a thing!

Suggestion For The Week Ahead

x Attempt to connect with (or at least, seek to find the beauty in!) someone that you're convinced you dislike. Of course, there are massive exceptions here (look, if someone's just a bit of a jerk, that's fine... leave them to be a jerk!), but how often do we meet people that we lump into ridiculous categories/assume wouldn't understand us and/or have nothing in common with us? ALL THE TIME! You certainly don't have to be friends with everyone, but if there's one lesson that I've learned in 2011, it's this: Turkish bread is FLIPPING DIFFICULT TO SLICE. Wait! That's not it. (Although, IT IS!) It's that the world is far, far more enjoyable when you resolve to enjoy the people who inhabit it. Have a conversation with somebody from another culture. Enquire about the bank teller's day. Make the effort to appreciate others; it almost always comes backs to you!

♥

Happy, happy (belated!) weekend! How was your week? It's been a while, hasn't it? A-r-g-h! (And sheesh, without wanting to smother you with mushiness or anything... I've really, REALLY missed you!)

xoxo

Now! Before anyone starts slinging tomatoes or chanting ‘’SPONSORED POST SELL-OUTS!'’, there’s four pairs of Havaianas sitting in our wardrobes, so we feel more than comfortable endorsing a product that we actually adore. (However, if you ever spy a piece on jeggings around here? LAUNCH THE VEGETABLES!) 

-

Summer’s a-coming and we're thinking of balmy nights, walks across the beach, lazing around in the sun and a spot of market shopping. Whether you’re at a music festival or catching up with your friends, get around in simple, comfortable style.

Shave those legs and bring out the thongs. Havaianas womens sandals are the summer wardrobe must-have. Go from simple to sassy, teaming your Havaianas with cut-off shorts or a floaty summer dress.

If you’re into classic colours, you can’t go past monochromes white and black. Or add a splash of colour with a musky pink or citrus yellow. Havaianas are the iconic women’s sandals - and a no-fuss summer purchase. With a thick rubber sole and comfortable strap, you’ll wear them into a favourite in no time.

Ranging from $18.00 to $98.00, you can pick up a pair of the regular Tops or a more embellished pair.

Simple AND chic - Rachel Bilson rocking a navy t-shirt dress and metallic sandals.

The iconic Tops are your basic sandal at $18.00. Try the Mint Green and Nautical Blue this season.

For a more subtle strap, invest in the Slim sandals. Starting at $24.00, you get a slim strap - and that means less of a tan line!

Will you be a bride this summer? For the modern bride, nothing says simple and romantic like a beach wedding. We’re thinking a Grecian dress, loose braid, flowers and embellished sandals. Find your perfect match with the Slim Swarovski Shine bridal sandals.

They’re the top of the range at $198.00, but totally worth it for that shiny crystal. So where can you pick up a pair or two?

You can find Havaianas at your local surf store - click here for the full list of stockists - and if you’re a Sydney local, you can pick up a pair of Havaianas from a vending machine at Chatswood Westfield in Sydney’s North. Yes, that’s right. A vending machine. And keep an eye-out in your suburb. Havaianas are due to roll out more sandal vending machines later this year.

Wherever summer takes you, make sure you’ve got the essentials.

♥

xoxo

(Didn't she do a neat-o job?! Thanks Kirstie!)

x Splendid Spring - Sure, it’s cheesier than a Margherita pizza and probably one of the most overused expressions e-v-e-r, but guess what?! In Australia, spring has sprung, and who wouldn't be ecstatic at the thought of enjoying all-day barbecues, splish-splashing around at the beach and frolicking about in ridiculous dresses in the months ahead? (Vampires?! Possibly. But not this sunshine lover!)

Can you feel it in the air?! Spring's h-h-here! 

Shells, marbles and vases galore. Welcome to my home!

x Frantically Furnishing The Apartment - With the realisation that a work experience student/intern is set to arrive at Casa De Frock & Roll in the next couple of days (OH! MY! GOODNESS!), I've been manically attempting to clean it up. My apartment building is extremely old, and currently in the process of being renovated (read: it looks dilapidated right now), so I've been snapping up Eiffel Tower prints and purchasing candles left, right and centre in a last-minute attempt to make it visitor-friendly. (The photograph above is of the living/dining area. What do you think?! CRIPES inviting people over to your home can be nervewracking!)

x Appreciating Life - My great uncle passed away and I visited a retirement village this week. Both were mindblowingly depressing occurrences, but if there's anything positive that can be derived from either of them, it's to treasure life and live it full throttle while you can. We spend nonsensical amounts of time over-analyzing the craziest of things (what, you think I don't do it too? Oh, but I DO!), when really, we should just be leaping out there and taking chances!

x Other Little Things - Atmosphere's Puppets (hip-hop so good, it should be a crime); so-awful-they're-hilarious jokes (my favourite kind! An older gentleman, after I became tangled in his dog's lead the other day: ''Oh, come on now, Pugsley. I've told you to pick up pretty girls for me before, but not like this!'' Ugh! Ugh, ugh, UGH!); seeeriously contemplating spending New Year's Eve in Krakow, only to discover that it takes 38 HOURS to fly there (honestly now, 38 hours?! That's nuts!); this pretty dress(and it's only 27 clams!); conversations about everything and nothing (again, my favourite kind!); homemade muesli; donning belts in every colour of the rainbow; and traipsing across the sand!

Suggestion For The Week Ahead

x Contemplate the above. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

♥

xoxo

P.S. UNCOOL CONFESSION ALERT! Can I let you in on a little secret? The reason that this is being delivered on a Monday - and not its usual day of Friday - is because I've been overcome with a severe bout of... BLOGGER STAGE FRIGHT!(See?! I told you it was uncool!) Although I wholeheartedly advocate sharing your work (and I do!), a downside can be that occasionally, you maaay just start picturing the people you know reading your thoughts... and be tempted to freak out. But let's not! 

''Spill a little bit of blood on the streets for love.''

Is one of my all-time favourite quotes (thanks, Atmosphere!), and it's a fairly excellent line to remember while writing/painting/singing/talking/engaging in ANYTHING, isn't it? Spill a little bit of blood/wear your heart on your sleeve in the pursuit of adventure and experiencing life. After all, what's a good story without a terrifying chapter or two?!

♥

xoxo

''On a scale of 1-10, how much of a pretentious clown would I look like if I was to LIVE BLOG from a fashion show?! (Yes, live blog! As in sitting there with my laptop, typing away, while the models strut back and forth!) I estimate about a 10, but I guess I'll know for certain soon, because that's exactly what I've been invited to do this afternoon! (Cross your fingers that I don't make too much of a ninny of myself!)''

And that's when the groaning started. GROAN! Yes, I was supposed to attend Revlon's 'Top Speed' fashion show last Saturday (and live blog from the event!), but, you know, sometimes things happen. On this particular occasion, that thing was a bus, which was conveniently inconveniently late (if I didn't live an $87 fare away from the city, I would've just jumped in a taxi), and then stuck in heavy traffic for almost thirty minutes. Lame!

When I finally arrived at the show's destination, hoping that I wouldn't have missed a thing (even though I was running supremely behind, I was still only fifteen minutes late to the event itself) the security guard outside said ''oh yeah, sure. The show's almost over, but go right in.''  My jaw dropped. ''The show's almost OVER?!'' I squeaked. ''Yeah!'' He replied. ''There's probably only two minutes left of it, but go through to the back of the hall.'' I plunged through the doors and quickly scrambled towards the entrance, but alas, the show had started. Here's what I managed to see!

Terrific turquoise and luscious lavender. The theme of the show was colour blocking, and this was one marvellous maxi-dess!

An awful quality photograph (one of these days I'll upgrade to a proper camera!), but GORGEOUS clothes.

Blurry bloggers! There was a front row section reserved especially for them (uh, us). Pretty nifty and forward thinking on the company's behalf, huh? It's interesting to see how different types of ''media'' are being embraced these days. (Can you spot Joelyne from The Sydney Girl and Anita from Love Vulcanella? I can! Nice girls.)

The final roll-out of garments. Look at those rainbow hues! Sublime, sublime, sublime.

Transport woes aside, HEY! Sydney-siders! Did you know that there'll be Revlon 'Top Speed' Glam Vans buzzing about town this week, distributing free, full-sized nail polishes and dishing out manicures? Get on down!

The Revlon Glam Vans will be located at:  

• Customs House Forecourt, Alfred Street - Friday 16 September, 4:00- 8:00pm  
• Bondi Pavilion Forecourt - Sunday 18 September, 12:00- 4:00pm  
• Cockle Bay Wharf - Friday 23 September, 5:00- 9:00pm  
• Cockle Bay Wharf - Friday 30 September, 5:00- 9:00pm

♥

xoxo

x My 24th Birthday - I TURNED 24 YESTERDAY! Pretty scary, huh?! For a girl who still feels 18 99.9% of the time, a teensy bit! (Well, until I spluttered that out loud and a guy in his sixties snorted at me ''oh, yeah. It must be sooo difficult to be in your twenties'' *insert sarcastic eye roll here*, that is. Then I just kind of felt like a jerk!)

Thai food was gobbled, an excellent day was had and I'm beginning to think that there really is some truth to the whole ''the older you get, the better you feel'' theory. (Even though I still feel 18, I know that I definitely wouldn't want to be 18 again, you know? You know!)

(Do I look any older?!)

x The Possibility Of Having An Intern - Did somebody say ''www.nervewracking.com''?! I have been, although to be honest, my immediate thoughts were actually ''but who would want to bang keys and bop along to The Village People all day with me?!'' Kirstie, a lovely-sounding lass who's currently studying journalism at a university in Sydney, has asked if she can come and do work experience with me in the next couple of weeks, and although I'm sort of panicking over the logistics of it, I'm thinking that it could be one INTERESTING opportunity! (What do you think? Should we do it? Considering that I was pestering Sam Winter to do the same thing a couple of years ago and she was totally wonderful about it, I'm leaning towards ''yes!'')

x Self-Expression & Honesty - Goodness, where should I start? I'm not sure, but can I just say that I'm always extremely, extremely impressed when somebody puts themselves out there and reveals how they feel? Seriously, it's one of my favourite things in the WORLD! (As strange as it may sound, nothing impresses me more.)

x Other Little Things - Insanely sweet blogging feedback (I met a woman today who very kindly told me that she and her daughter - shock! - loved Frock & Roll. I was so surprised and caught off guard that all I could do was thank her and run away. I'm sorry, Tamie!); receiving an e-mail from the delightful Vanessa of Nessbow(have you seen her blog? It's a treat!) which completely made my day; A Perfect Circle's 3 Libras; Shakira's Ojos Asi (namely because it's superb music to practice belly dancing to, but also for the cuter-than-cute lyrics: ''tearing down windows and doors, but I could not find eyes like yours''? Be-au-tiful! In non-musical news... WHY am I becoming such a sucker for romance in my old age? Jeez!); successful cooking experiments (I somehow managed to bake a carrot and feta lasagne on Sunday night without setting fire to the apartment. WOO!); Mona Vale Library's free wifi iniative (terrific!); really, really adorable boys who buy you birthday chocolates (thank-you!); and small, slow-spreading smiles... because sometimes, they're the ones which reveal precisely how delighted you actually are!

Suggestions For The Week Ahead

x Oh, gossip, gossip, gossip. Aren't we all occasionally the subject of it? (For the record, we are!) Just remember next time someone says something slightly shitty, though, that regardless of how irritating the situation is, you've endured FAR more than a few pesky words. This is nothing! Shrug, throw your hands up and opt to laugh over the silliness of it all. The quicker you realise how ridiculous it all is, the better you'll feel!

x Use the ''good stuff''. Don't wait for a special occasion to use your most beautiful things! Wear your most resplendent frock (or suit) to breakfast. Drag out the fancy-schmancy birthday present alcohol and swill it on an ordinary evening. Life ITSELF is a pretty darn good occasion, so celebrate it as often as you can!

♥

Happy, happy Friday! How was your week? I hope it's been an exceptional one!

xoxo

P.S. Did you know thatFrock & Roll'son Facebook? It is! Why not drop on by and say hello? I'd love to see you there!

(Image one thanks to We Heart It.) 

It compellled me to buy a turkey. Wait! No it didn't. It compelled me to create my own 'life's too short to...''list, and here it is!

Life's Too Short To... Doubt Ourselves

Ugh, but we do, don't we? We worry that we're not as intelligent/hilarious/beautiful/popular/accomplished as other people. We fret that there's something wrong with us if we feel envious/angry/anxious/depressed. (Uh, does anyone know where this ridiculous thought process originates from?!)

Allow me to share a line from one of my favourite books: ''we're all cut from the same cloth. We all experience these feelings and struggle to maintain civiity in a sometimes savage world.'' Remember that, and relish how normal and perfectly together you already ARE!

Life's Too Short To... Dream About Exploring The World

It should be seen!

It's big, it's beautiful, and it's absolutely worth living off cans of baked beans and packets of two-minute noodles for six months to do so. (Which is precisely why my kitchen cupboards are currently filled with them!)

Life's Too Short To... Waste Your Time On Fools Who Aren't Worth The Energy

Psst! Can I let you in on a little not-so-secret (and actually, one of the best lessons that I've ever learned)? People are EXCELLENT at flinging words about (''I love you!''; ''I'd love to!''), but you'll only ever really be able to gage how someone feels through their actions. That old adage ''actions speak louder than words''? It's 110% true. 

An example? Don't waste your time tearing your hair out in a frustrated attempt to understand whether a lady/gentlemen/octopus (it's possible, right?!) is genuinely interested in you. If they are, they'll demonstrate it in their behaviour (attempting to make plans with you), and not their words (''yeah... we should catch up... sometime!'')!

Life's Too Short To... Avoid Throwing Caution To The Wind

Cripes, sometimes I feel like we're all so... SCARED! It's as though we've been raised to fear making ''mistakes'', so we've become so cautious in everything that we do to avoid ''stuffing up''. What nonsense!

Life is a gift that we only have for so long before it's permanently snatched away. Make ''mistakes'' (I say ''mistakes'' because honestly, what the heck are mistakes, anyway?! They're lessons!). Twirl somebody around in the street. Whisper something to someone that you're terrified to say. (If it's not well received, you can always utter ''sorry'' afterwards!) Launch a business. (And if all turns to doom and gloom - which I'm sure it won't! - start from scratch somewhere else.) Take risks, be bold and have FUN! Life's an adventure too precious not to be filled with extraordinary tales!

♥

What's on your ''life's too short to...'' list?

xoxo

(All images thanks to We Heart It.)

Gosh, what a coincidence. ME TOO, which is precisely why I skipped along to a 'Beginner's Guide To Belly Dancing' class last Friday night!

Wearing a Tool band t-shirt (which was pretty apt, because that's exactly what I felt like!) and a maxi skirt (the website advises that participants wear a long skirt or comfortable pants for the lesson), I headed off to Sydney's Dance Central to discover how difficult it could be, and boy, did I ever. Belly dancing is tricky! Much, much more complicated than it looks! Luckily, it's also much more entertaining than it seems, and it's a surprisingly good work-out.

Pardon my cruddy phone photography (my actual camera had inconveniently ran out of batteries), and the absence of a full class. I would've LOVED to have taken a snapshot of everyone in motion, but, you know. Respecting people's privacy and all!

So, what's involved? Shimmying (swinging your hips from side to side rapidly without actually physically swinging your hips. See? Hard, huh?!), elegantly striding forwards on one foot and then stepping back while throwing your arms out, thrusting your pelvis out and then backwards, and many, many arm movements. Challenging and interesting!

The empty studio. The instructor looked at me as though I had several heads when I asked if I could take a photo of it (fair enough!) and told me that I'd have to ask the academy's management, but when I explained what I was trying to do, they kindly obliged!

♥

At $17, it was a relatively inexpensive experience, and it was definitely an enjoyable one! I'd recommend attending a class and wearing something sliiightly sexy (for the first fifteen minutes I couldn't stop giggling at myself in the mirror. I think donning something a little more... I don't know... seductive?!... would've helped me to take everything more seriously!), and opting for a class on an afternoon or Friday evening if you're feeling nervous. I picked a 5.30PM session and there were only five other girls in the class!

Have YOU ever tried belly dancing? Would you ever try belly dancing? 

xoxo

x Kayaking - Alright, so I'm probably one of the few adults (wow, did I just call myself an adult?! Weird! The idea of being grown up seems so... FOREIGN!) who hasn't been kayaking before, but I went last Friday for the first time and I-l-loved it! (And here I was wailing ''I'm going to capsize! I'll be shark bait! They can probably smell me already!'' for hours beforehand. How silly! I didn't and it was GREAT!)

Hi, I'm not in the water! (Cele-brate good times, COME ON!)

x Signing Up For Pole Dancing (Ahem!) & Belly Dancing Classes - As dramatic as it might sound, the older I get (I'm turning 24 next week!), the more determined I become to experience everything that life has to offer. I don't want to leave this earth wondering what ANYTHING is like, so in what will be the ultimate test of my co-ordination (have I mentioned that I possess the grace of a baby elephant? I do!) I've signed up for pole dancing and belly dancing classes. Terrifying! 

x Attending Revlon's 'Top Speed' Fashion Show - On a scale of 1-10, how much of a pretentious clown would I look like if I was to LIVE BLOG from a fashion show?! (Yes, live blog! As in sitting there with my laptop, typing away, while the models strut back and forth!) I estimate about a 10, but I guess I'll know for certain soon, because that's exactly what I've been invited to do this afternoon! (Cross your fingers that I don't make too much of a ninny of myself!)

x Other Little Things - Having Dani introduce me to the massively talented Gisela Ramirez, only for Gisela to say ''I know... I've seen her blog!'' (me: ''OHMYGODYOUHAAAAAAAAAAAVE?!''); Puddle Of Mudd's Spin You Around (JEEZ I love this song!); Revlon's 'Top Speed' nail enamel (not a product placement. This baby literally dries in sixty seconds!); Kathryn's fantastic advice of ''don't add lame shit to the world'' (hear, freaking hear!); and finally... I LEFT MY PART-TIME JOB AT THE TRAVEL AGENCY YESTERDAY! I'm COMPLETELY terrified (will I be destitute within a week?! What if nobody hires me again? Oh, well. Interesting reading material, here we come!), but... sometimes you have to throw yourself off a ledge to create your own safety net, don't you? Okay, that was a terrible analogy (please don't throw yourself off any ledges!), but life is similar to a magnificent swimming pool. If we don't occasionally attempt a few scary leaps and dives, where's the fun?!

Suggestions For The Week Ahead

x Arrange to meet a friend or someone that you'd like to get to know better (because isn't it a brilliant time to make the transition from wondering what someone's like to discovering what they're like? YES!) for a Midnight date. The idea? You visit a beach, park or 24 hour bar or restaurant at Midnight and just... talk! Learn about eachother! Visit a typically highly-populated area after hours and revel in the fact that there's almost nobody else there! (Would anyone in Sydney like to go on a Midnight date?)

x Share a personal project or goal (your website portfolio? Your hip-hop career?!) with someone unexpected. It can be a little nervewracking, but I guarantee that the feedback will always be interesting!

♥

Happy Friday! How was YOUR week?

xoxo