These food sculptures by Brock Davis are seriously incredible!

Some genius has combined two of my favourite things: cats and sushi, to create… cats on sushi! No, seriously, how cute is this!

Gatsby fever is everywhere! Sadly, in New Zealand we have to wait until mid-June for it to be released. Sob! It doesn’t stop me falling in love with this Great Gatsby tote bag though!

This book teaches you how to make dessert – fine art style! Want!

A ferret yawning is quite probably the cutest thing you’ll see all day! Just look at that lil’ whiskery face.. Aw!

I really love this simple floral wallet by 10 Deep! Aint it pretty?

The Wisteria Tunnel at Kawaachi Fuji Gardens truly looks like the most beautiful place on earth, don’t you think?

This jacket by Modcloth has the best detail. Let’s be honest – it’s purr-fect!

As a blogger it’s pretty much standard to have a camera waved in your face. Hey, I’m not complaining. Admittedly  I’m a bit of a show-off (!) so I simply don’t mind one little bit. Over my blogging, err, career (is that what you call it?!) I’ve developed a bit of a fondness towards being behind the lens too. It certainly helps when you’re taught by a guy who’s a photographer by trade, oooh yeah! But for those times where I can’t be the one taking the photos, there’s always this cute camera top by Yumi! It was perfect for this casual little spot of downtime we had, where we explored the sweetest little craft store, and even a couple of Wellington bookshops too. I pulled my hair into my go-to style; an extra high ponytail – aka, the only way to cope with the notoriously windy weather. Oh, and did I mention that we stopped for an ice cream too? Mmm, now that’s my kind of day!

Camera Sweater – Zalando / Shorts – Ark / Bag – Chicwish / Cat Flats – Chicwish

1. Bats All, Folks Skirt / 2. Long Time No Seagull Skirt

It’s happened. I’ve become a ‘skirt person’. Sure, it would decide to happen right when I move to one of the windiest cities in the world, but hey, that’s fine. I think I love ‘em so much purely based on the amazing prints and patterns they come in. My ol’ favourite, shorts, can look a bit odd sometimes when they’re too pattern-y, but somehow skirts pull it off. Just take a look at this curated list of some of my faves. There’s one for every occasion, don’t you think?

3. The Spin You’re In Skirt / 4. On the Wings of Doves Skirt

5. Home Sweet Helm Skirt / 6. Crumpet Solo Skirt

7. Arthro-mod Skirt / 8. Go Your Throne Way Skirt

I’ve loved Anna J‘s art for years – ever since she kindly did a sketch of a fox for me (thanks Anna!) The one above is one of my favourites of her artworks; isn’t it adorable?! She’s a talented lady from New Zealand, and is hugely passionate about animals, and is even a foster parent for greyhounds. Seriously, she’s the best!

This dark knight bookshelf is one of the coolest things I’ve seen… ever! It’s sadly been sold out for quite some time, but a girl can dream, eh?

A blogger I have long admired; Ale, has released her first ever clothing collection – Rosaspina Vintage Handmade. As beautiful as the clothing pieces are, I also adore the story behind the collection. Ale designed the clothing, her mother sewed them, and the fabric is from the 1950s and 1960s and was generously donated by Ale’s grandmother. It’s such an incredible labour of love, and the results truly couldn’t be more beautiful!

These macaron boxes are adorable, no? I definitely need to get a-hold of a couple of them, just to keep my jewellery collection in check!

These photographs of Iris Egbers for Harper’s Bazaar Hong Kong are beautiful! My want/need to visit the Eiffel tower in person has just amplified by a million percent..!

Architect Moon Hoon designs the most incredible buildings. Ever. The Panorama House (my favourite!) has an actual slide in the library. Yep. I think all my childhood fantasies have come true at once. P.s. You can see more photos of the house over here!

I injured my foot a few weeks ago, so have been wearing sneakers fairly often. I’d love any single one of these colourful pairs by Vans. Or just all of them? A rainbow shoe closet would be rather fun, don’t you think?

Sticking googly eyes on things is fun! This is our breakfast table that I snapped on my Instagram earlier in the week.

This bicycle print top by Modcloth has me swooning! I’m hoping for a warm weekend so I can cycle around the ocean front with my guy – and if I owned this top it would be even more fun. ♥

Hearts: I love you! No, really, I’m definitely a ‘print’ girl and hearts are one of my go-to patterns. I played a fun game of matchy-matchy today and paired these pretty tights with this dress that you might have spied in my last post. The best thing about wearing hearts on your knees is just how many stares you receive! Really! I was asked five times (!) whether they were really tattoos or tights. Honestly, I’m not quite sure how they didn’t notice, as I had about eight ladders running up each leg by the time it was mid-afternoon. Yep, I’m quite the pro at wearing tights – can’t you tell!

Dress – Krisp / Tights – Chicwish / Silver brogues – Le Bunny Bleu / Belt – Yumi

Not gonna lie – I’m pretty darn excited about sharing this outfit post! A couple of months ago now, I was contacted by one of my favourite shoe brands in the world; Swedish Hasbeens, asking if I’d like to style a pair from their latest collection. Err, yes please In fact, I think I was barely even able to wait a full five minutes before I emailed my response. And so here we are..! I chose the beautiful zip-up Emy boots and have been wearing them virtually non-stop. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so excited for cooler weather! I styled them with a backless blouse, a pinafore, and my favourite hairdo; Heidi braids!

Sunglasses – Chicwish / Pinafore – Boohoo / Pan collar blouse – Room31 / Dog bag – Pepa Loves / Clog boots – Swedish Hasbeens

Ever seen something (non food related, of course!) that looks SO good that you could eat it? Well, if not, prepare to feast your eyes upon this delicious selection of clothing that will have you daydreaming all day long about ice cream adventures. Err, Jo, where exactly would I wear them?! (I can hear you asking already!) Fear not, I’ve done the work for you, and dreamt up the perfect scenarios to go along with these mouth-watering goodies. First up is the Sundae Dressed Sweater, which you can see above. Yum!

1. Milkshake, Rattle, and Roll Dress / 2. Ten Out of Utensils Necklace / 3. Tied with a Bow Belt in Rose Quartz / 4. Artist in Residential Flat in Pastel

Outfit One: Date Night.

There’s no denying it; dates are scary, nerve-wracking, exciting, worrying – yep, all of the above. It always helps to have your outfit planned beforehand – and this one is the sweetest. Pastel colours will show off your girly side, and the cute accessories are the perfect accent! Oh, and if he asks you to choose the location – please please please ask for a ice cream bar.Yum!

1. Tread Delightfully Socks / 2. You Cone Do It Dress / 3. Oopsy Tasty Spatula / 4. Ice Cream Sit-Witch Pillow

Outfit Two: A cosy day at home

A cosy day at home. Who doesn’t love ‘em?! Personally, I like setting my time aside for some good ol’ internet browsing, a spot of baking, and just general all-round lounging. Clearly, home days are all about comfort. That’s why, along with this sugary sweet outfit, I showed off a few homeware goodies. Including this adorable ice cream sandwich pillow. Want want want!

How gorgeous is this photo shoot of Tina Yi in the January 2013 issue of Vogue China! Can anyone point me in the general direction of a rainbow flower field, please?

Err, bicycle taxidermy. Need I say more?

Never before have I wanted a dress so badly in my life! Skeleton print and glow-in-the-dark? Yes yes yes! I am so sad that this has sold out. I will be anxiously refreshing the page until it’s back in stock! 

Barnaby thought these were a bit creepy – but I fell in love with each and every one of these painted buildings! (He’s probably just worried that I’d do it to our future house… which I totally would!) Which one is your favourite?

I swear it is impossible to feel glum when you’re wearing heart print! I wore this dress a couple of days ago when I was going to a big meeting. I was super nervous!

Not that it’ll happen anytime soon, but I am severely lusting over a classic quilted Chanel designer handbag – like this one from Cruise Fashion. I wish!

These Hello Sunshine flats are some of the sweetest shoes I’ve ever seen! Luckily, they just so happen to be on their way to my mailbox..! ; )

Carey Mulligan’s spread for Harper’s Bazaar is seriously gorgeous! I love Carey. She seems like such a sweet person!

A speaker picnic blanket sounds like the best thing in the world. Now, if only New Zealand wasn’t going into winter! Oh well, even more reason to be excited for  spring, I suppose!

Meow! Oh hi. Ready to meet my new favourite thing? My sweet guy, Barnaby, kindly gifted me this cat bag for my 24th birthday last week. (Clearly my 24 years have meant I’ve matured a bunch… or not!) Seriously though, I love this bag. I’ll be honest – I knew exactly what he had gotten me for my birthday, and have been waiting ever-so impatiently for the big day to roll around. To make things even harder, he stored it so obviously in his wardrobe – making the temptation even more difficult..! I can rest easy now though – it’s mine, all mine!

We took the bag out for a spin, and I was delighted with how many young children pointed and gazed at it longingly. (Good taste, kids!) I paired it with a oxblood coloured pinafore and spotted top – both by Ark Clothing. The flower crown is one of my most recent craft endeavours. I’ve constructed oodles of flower crowns in the past (like these ones, or even this flower crown) but this is my favourite by far. Somethin’ about wearing flowers on your head seems to brighten any day, don’t you think?

Cat bag – birthday gift / Flower crown – handmade by me / Pinafore – Ark / Dotted t-shirt – Ark / Spotted Tights – TightsPlease / Flats – Bait Footwear

Have you ever wondered exactly how to do 1960s makeup? I’ll admit – I have! Something about that sweep of dark eye makeup set against a seemingly bare backdrop does it for me. I’ve already mentioned my love of Brigette Bardot, not to mention my massive girl crush on the equally stylish Edie Sedgwick and Anna Karina. Sure, I adore their style, their hair, and their all-round 60s general wonderful-ness, but that makeup. Oh yes!

The best thing about 1960s makeup is that it isn’t tricky at all. No, really. I am definitely no makeup expert, let alone makeup mediocre-ist (it’s a word, right?!) It is a super simple process, made daunting by just how fantastic and awe-inspiring the end result is. So I was beyond excited when Maybelline New York asked to team up to create a step-by-step guide on how to do 1960s makeup Enjoy…!

1. The Base.

The first step for creating a 1960s look is to create the base. You’re aiming for a very matte look, which I achieved by using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation in Nude (NZ$29.99). I have quite troublesome skin – super sensitive, partially dry in some places (no matter how much moisturiser I use!), oily in others, so I often struggle with finding a good ol’ foundation. Luckily, I found that this foundation gave an incredibly smooth and even texture – something you learn to appreciate when your skin is having one of those days. I’ve already mentioned that I am no makeup pro, but I loved the finish this left on my skin. I applied it all over my face and partially onto my neck through gently dabbing with my fingertips.

2. The Eyes: Part One.

Oh, the eyes! This is the most important part of recreating a 60s look. Start by applying a small amount of white eyeshadow to the inner corner of your eyelids. I used Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in ‘Too Cool’ (NZ$13.99). It might seem quite a bizarre spot to apply makeup to (in Barnaby’s own words – “Jo, I think you forgot to do the rest of your eye!”) but trust me on this one. Adding a pale colour to your inner eye will make your eyes look SO much bigger! I hate to use the ol’ cliche – but it really will make your eyes pop.

3. The Eyes: Part Two.

Next, you’ll need your liquid eyeliner. Now, let me start on this. I love liquid liner. I used to struggle immensely with it. It would take about half an hour to do only one eye – and even then I’d be struggling between using three different liner pencils. It was getting to the point where I was convinced that my eyes were funny shaped and just not meant for the world of liquid eyeliner..! Boy, was I wrong. It turned out I simply hadn’t discovered the applicator that was for me. Cue Eye Studio Hyper Glossy Liquid Liner (NZ$19.99). I have never had such prevision in my LIFE! I’ve whittled down my application time to two minutes – oh, and that includes both eyes too! Now I have a free twenty-eight minutes to do whatever I please, how about that?!

Use your liquid liner and apply it all over your top lid. At the edges be sure to add that infamous cat-eye flick. I find it’s easiest to do it in one quick motion, then thicken it up by going over it a couple of times. Oh, and always double check that your eyes are looking even!

4. The Eyes: Part Three.

Now, I’ll add my mascara. I’m using my go-to mascara; the Volum’ Express ‘The Colossal’ Cat Eyes Mascara (NZ$23.99). The extra special thing about this magic wand, is the bend. If you’re not a fan of curling your lashes (I’m not!) then this will be your best friend. Wiggle it quickly from side to side as you apply as this will stop it from clumping.

5. The Eyes: Part Four.

The very last step of creating 1960s eyes is with eyeshadow. I used a tiny dab of black eyeshadow from my Amethyst Smokes set (NZ$15.99). Apply a small amount under the outside corners of each eye to make them look even more smokey and seductive.

6. The brows.

This is probably my favourite part of doing my makeup. Sure, this may be largely due to my troublesome brows (I highly recommend not falling off bikes onto your face when you’re a kid – those scars can be nasty!) so I adore tidying up my eyebrows. I used the Master Shape Brow Pencil (NZ$18.99) in blonde. Start by combing your eyebrows upwards using the grooming brush. Use your pencil to apply small, quick strokes all over your brows, paying special attention to filling in the gaps. Use your brush again to blend the colour in slightly.

7. The Blush.

Are you ready to learn all you need to know about blush? Okay, ready, here goes… Smile! No, seriously, this is your biggest tip! Smiling will allow the apply of your cheeks to really shine through. I used blush in Fit Me Blush in Medium Nude (NZ$19.99) and applied it directly to my cheeks – smiling all the while, of course! Apply the blush slightly over your cheekbones and use your fingers to blend it in slightly.

8. The Lipstick.

This is the final part of creating a 1960s makeup look..! Remember, it’s all about the eyes, so you want to keep the rest of your face as non-distracting as possible. I used a pale colour called Color Sensational Lipstick in Pink Sand (NZ$20.99). I usually find it slightly daunting to branch away from my favourite scarlet lippy – but I think I’ve found a new go-to! Pink Sand has an extra sparkly effect – which meant that Barnaby nicknamed me ‘disco lips’ for the afternoon. Fine by me! Oh, and the other fantastic thing about it? It smells (and slightly tastes) of vanilla. I won’t lie, I spent mot of the day licking my lips to get a hint of the taste. Yummy!

So there you have it! Take a peek below to see my full 1060s makeup look. I finished it off by teasing my hair into a slight beehive – well, just because..! I hope you have fun following along, and be sure to email me any photos of you recreating the look. I’d simply love to see them!