I'm back

After a month long sejour from blogland, I'm back.  I hadn't really intended on going off the air so to speak and don't really have a good excuse either. Perhaps I wasn't feeling very inspired or maybe I've been a bit lazy in the evenings after work.  Anyways, to settle me back into the blogging way, here's three things that are currently delighting me.


1. Fresh strawberries from our garden each morning on my muesli and yoghurt



2. The 3-d image of our future extension (more on this soon!)



3. My swarovski Havaianas (who can resist a touch of bling?)

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I'm back

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Etsy Lovin'

Here are some items I'm currently hearting on Etsy.



Cushions from alexandraferguson for our living room








Mustache cufflinks for himself from beautyspot who's based in the Ukraine






Wild side animal prints from pixiepixels for our bedroom









And this leather handbag (with tassel!) for me from Opelle based in Toronto






All above images via Etsy

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Etsy Lovin'

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A nice cup of tea and sit down

Mug and Tray by Freedom
Chocolate Brownie by me!

Sometimes, it's the little pleasures in life that bring you the most satisfaction.  I'm a tea addict and always feel like a good cuppa will go a long way towards sorting most things out!

By the way, what so you think of this little red lacquered tray I bought today?






It's from a set of five by Freedom and all for the very nice price of 69.95 NZD.




via Freedom.co.nz


I think these are going to be great for organising bit n bobs and doing little displays around the house.  It wasn't that long ago that I was lamenting the complete lack of nice trays to buy in NZ (see here) so thank you Freedom for introducing these lacquered numbers!

Another great little purchase I made lately is the ceramic owl vase.






This one is a bargain from Ezibuy (cost around 30 bucks).  I think it's very Jonathan Adler-esque!

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A nice cup of tea and sit down

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So here's what's going down...

... in the life of Stylish Irish.




I bought a cover for my Ipad.  It's pretty simple, you might even say low-key...







...and only cost 25 bucks from Typo.  I might still indulge in the Marc Jacobs one I blogged about before  but in the meantime, I'm pretty happy with this.

So, I've also come over all domestic goddess lately.




We had some beetroot from the vege patch that needed using up, so I made some Cous Cous with Roasted Vegetables at the weekend.

 









Of course I didn't think to take any pics of the finished product but it did look more or less like this (the recipe is courtesy of Kiwi cooking and lifestyle star Annbel Langbein).

Finally, look at this gorgeous book that arrived for me earlier today:







It's a late birthday gift from my honey and I love it.  Take a sneak peek inside:











Almost as good as the real thing... better in a way because I don't think I'll ever own more than 200 different hermes scarves!!

Now I'm, thinking I might need to buy a new coffee table to display my new pretty book on...

Laters!

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So here's what's going down...

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Currently Coveting...

... this bag from Gucci. 





via netaporter.com
Unfortunate isn't it that the ONLY black leather handbag out there that I like happens to be this one, which has a price tag of 3,300 pounds sterling (I fear to think what that is in NZD!).  I really like the shape, the bamboo handle, the detailing AND it's got some tassels (I'm obsessed!).  Sigh. 

Here's the description from net a porter:


Embellished with delicate gold studs and signature bamboo tassels, Gucci's black leather tote is a covetable new-season carryall. Team it with a sleek sweater and tuxedo pants for a hit of the label's understated glamour. Shown here with an Yves Saint Laurent ring and a Gucci top, pants and shoes.

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Currently Coveting...

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Marc Jacobs to the rescue?

Since my post yesterday (the one where I lamented the lack of truly delectable Ipad covers), I went on Net a Porter in one more brave attempt to find a winter coat for my new baby.  I was delighted to discover the following by Marc Jacobs, a new addition to the range available since I'd last checked on the website.










Cute, n'est ce pas? And bang on the money at approx 100 NZD.  I particularly like that it has faux fur lining to keep my little Ipad nice and snug.  Another Marc Jacobs number that caught my eye was this:


I like it for it's "Chanel-ness" and the fact that it can double as a handbag.  However, at around 700 NZD, it's a lot more than I want to spend.

This Pucci also stirred my interest though I's prefer it in a pink/orange colour scheme.


All images via netaporter
 Maybe there's hope afterall?

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Marc Jacobs to the rescue?

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DVF Ipad Cover Dilemma

I've been MIA the last few days. Family related stuff. Moving on...

Himself was most kind recently and bought me an Ipad 2 (yes, I'm spoilt - it wasn't my birthday or any other occasion). It's white of course. I don't know what Apple were up to when they didn't offer the original version in white - most odd. Anyhu, I've decided my ipad needs a stylish jacket and from my trip around the blogs, I've found that quite a few of us are rather disappointed by the offerings out there at the mo.  Made By Girl commented that the perfect Ipad case does not exist and I'm afraid I must agree.  In the end she went with the Michael Kors python number as shown below, which I think is rather nice but not quite for me.  You can read her Ipad case post here.





Above 3 images via Made By Girl
I thought I had struck gold when I saw these from DVF.  Look - there's a tassle on the zip and everything, which is a trend I'm still really into.


I particularly love the red one.


Alas, I then realised it was in fact a lap top cover for laptops up to 15" and consequently too big for my wee Ipad.  DVF does have a range of actual Ipad cases but I just can't get as enthused about any of these.  The prints (and the tassle!) on the laptop cover are so much more appealing.



What do you think?  Has anyone else had trouble choosing an Ipad cover?

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Fan-tassle-tastic!

Ok, forgive the lame post title - I couldn't help myself!  It's true though that I'm loving the whole tassle trend.

It started with the Hermes leather tassle keychain.  Look, I know I'll never pay such an horrendous amount of money for what is afterall a humble key chain but all the same, I can't help loving this for some reason.  It's just so jaunty and the colours it comes in are rather juicy (however, it doesn't come in orange for some reason, at least not on the website, and that I think is a pity).


via hermes.com
So then I came across this slouchy bag on Etsy. (By the way, brightly coloured handbags is another trend I'm keen on, particularly when the bright colours are plum, hot pink or electric blue, but that story is for another day...)



via etsy.com
The latest item on my tassle wishlist is this wallet from DVF.  Yum!



via DVF.com
This is only one of a number of different colour/print combinations available (it also comes as a lap top sleeve).  I'm most drawn to the fresian-esque black and white sploches with buttercup yellow combo, but that's not to say I would turn my nose up at any of the other designs on offer!  Definitely check them out here.


Judging by the number of tassles I saw on my recent travels in the Northern Hemisphere, it looks like this trend will be around a while longer, at least in NZ where fashion lags at least a season behind!

What do you think?  Are tassles your thing?

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Fan-tassle-tastic!

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Holiday Packing

With only 2 days to go until we embark on our month long holiday, I really need to get serious about packing.  Not a task I relish, I must admit.




For me, a good list is always the right starting point and never one keen to reinvent the wheel, I was delighted to find this nifty travel list tool on The Universal Packing List.  You input some key information about your trip like dates, max and min temperatures of where you'll be, what activities you'll be involved in etc. and an extremely comprehensive set of lists is generated for you.  Don't you love the internet?

I do wish that I had some stylish, matching luggage to carry all my gear in though.  We'll be making do with an assemblage of mismatched cases that, to be fair, have seen better days.

Even if money were no object I still don't think I'd go for a matching set of LV luggage.  It's nice and I'm sure the quality is fantastic but isn't it just a little too predictable at this stage?




This set by Globe-Trotter might do rather nicely however!
 


via pinkmemo
Apparently, Globe-Trotter is the go-to luggage for all those who are well traveled and the company's client list includes Queen Elizabeth II. 

Only thing is, I'm not sure these babies come with wheels.  While this might work ok for Lizzie, I might struggle a bit ... at least until I have my very own valet!! : ) Back to Samsonite in the meantime perhaps.

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Holiday Packing

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THE Wedding... and the Royal Hatter, Philip Treacy

Well, like most of you out there I tuned into the Royal Wedding.  I was a bit indifferent about it all in the lead up, but when the time came, I was as glued to the TV screen as anyone else.  Look, it's pretty compelling viewing isn't it what with all the grandeur, pomp and ceremony... and of course a little glamour thrown in for good measure.  Kate's dress - well it's hard to find fault with it but I was a little underwhelmed.  I think I preferred the evening version of it with the fluffy bolero.





I quite liked Pippa's bridesmaid dress though and bet that will inspire a few 'real' wedding dresses out there.




via telegraph.co.uk

There are lots and lots of blog posts at this stage discussing the wedding party's style along with that of the celebrity guests (by the way, TPT's electric blue outfit - still can't make my mind up on that).





via telegraph.co.uk

I've enjoyed looking at many of these posts and throwing in my tuppence worth via the comments box.  So I thought I'd do something a little different in my Royal Wedding post and focus on one of the key accessories of the occasion.  And as the milliner to the Royals (and to many stars) is a Stylish Irish, Mr Philip Treacy, I think this is rather fitting.






I believe Mr Treacy made 36 hats in all for various guests at Kate and Will's wedding.  Here are my five favourites:




Lady Frederick Windsor via telegraph.co.uk



Princess Marie Chantale of Greece



Zara Phillips via telegraph.co.uk



Charlene Wittstock, the fiancée of Prince Albert of Monaco via telegraph.co.uk



Miriam Gonzalez Durantez via telegraph.co.uk

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THE Wedding... and the Royal Hatter, Philip Treacy

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