Must read :: Adore Home

Hi lovelies! The new Feb/March issue of Adore Home went live today and not only is packed with some really gorgeous features, like fabulously colourful home of Alice Stephenson, I also happen to be on the Blog Loving pages sharing a few favourites!

Editor of Adore, Loni Parker, has grand plans to launch the Adore Home book later this year but needs our help to raise the money to fund the project.

There are fun perks attached to donating like being invited to the launch party and receiving free copies of the book, so its worth hopping on over to find out how you can help. 

Read the full issue of Adore Home here.

Rachel xo

Thoughts for a new week

Happy Monday lovelies! 

It's been raining here the past few days and with an extra long weekend thanks to 

Australia Day, I'm making the most of it by finally getting to read Grace Coddington's memoir. Have you read it? I have heard so many good things + I'm not surprised given the sheer talent of this woman.

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week!

Rachel xo

Image credit

Celebrating Australian Style

Today in Australia we are celebrating our national day of pride so I thought it would be fitting to honor a few super-cool Aussies who are doing us proud overseas.

{Miranda Kerr} 

Supermodel, Victoria's Secret Angel, author, cosmetic queen and arguably one of Australia's most famous exports; Miranda is also a stylish Mama to baby Flynn. It's no surprise really she is one of the most photographed women in the world.

{Jessica Hart}

Jess Hart, also a Victoria's Secret Angel who now calls NYC home, has graced many a glossy cover and modelled for coveted brands including Guess, Esprit and H&M.

{Naomi Watts}

Since scoring her big break in 2001 with Mulholland Drive, Naomi has enjoyed a successul career in Hollywood appearing in numerous films including 21 Grams, King Kong and The International. 

Now receiving critical acclaim for her role in The Impossible, Watts has just been nominated for her second Oscar Award. This year she will also star in the much anticipated movie, Diana, playing the role of the iconic late British Princess.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend loves; and to all of my Aussie friends, Happy Australia Day!

Rachel xo

Image credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Everyday luxuries

I love being able to treat myself to little luxuries everyday. Of course it is always lovely to indulge in more extravagant luxuries from time to time, but its also nice to be able to treat yourself daily and relish in these small moments of pleasure.

Here are a few of my favourite ways to bring luxury to the everyday...

{one} Spritzing myself with my favourite perfume

{two} Writing notes and to-do's in pretty notebooks

{three} Adding a hint of sparkle with statement necklace

{four} Having fresh flowers at home 

{five} Wearing a glamorous pair of heels

What are your favourite way to treat yourself to a little luxury everyday?

Rachel xo

Image credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Thoughts for a new week :: living an adventurous life

Reading this quote made me think about the journey of life that we are on and the amazing people we get to meet along the way. 

Of course we have some people who remain constants in our life, while others we may only know for a short time can have a profound impact on our life's adventure; sometimes helping to define who we are, or rather, who we want to be.

Through travelling, my working career and even past relationships, I have met many people who have in some way, left an imprint on me and my journey. Looking back on these 'adventures' I always smile with the knowledge that I was lucky enough to have them in my life, even if only for a moment.

It's these memories that remind us not only how far we have come on our incredible life adventure, but also that there are many more adventures waiting for us; its just up to us how we choose to live them.

Rachel xo


credits : image // quote

Colour crush :: blue brights

1. La Perla two-piece // 2. J Crew pumps // 3. Zimmerman tank // 4. Cutler + Gross sunglasses // 5. Elva Fields necklace // 6. Marc Jacobs iPad case 7. YSL tote // 8. Sass + Bide pants

I don't think I will get sick of blue brights anytime soon. I was lucky to pick up these fabulous silk pants on sale at Sass and Bide last week and I honestly cannot get enough of this vividness of this colour.

I'm now tossing up getting these J Crew pumps; finding it hard to resist this fun iPad case; and this Zimmerman tank, which also happens to be on sale! 

Happy Thursday loves!

Rachel xo

Katie Holmes for Bobbi Brown...+ a style comeback?

Following months of speculation Bobbi Brown have confirmed Katie Holmes as their new face, and after seeing the first glimpse of their 2013 Spring campaign I have to say that I am impressed. 

I've been secretly hoping that since Katie's split from Tom she was going to step back in the limelight again and I'm taking this announcement as a sign she is doing exactly that. 

Katie's style has evolved over the years and it wasn't so long ago that we all were taking fashion notes - remember it was Katie who made the whole boyfriend jeans trend cool?

I thought I'd take a look back at some of Ms Holme's looks, and in the meantime I will be eagerly anticipating her fashion comeback.

Are you a fan of Katie's style?

Rachel xo

Image credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 

2013 Golden Globes :: red carpet style

I always look forward to awards season; a definite highlight on the fashion calendar with this year being no exception. I thought there was a lot of glamour on the red carpet this year, plus a few well taken risks, like Lucy Liu wearing the much debated couture gown from Caroline Herrera's Spring Collection. 

Here were my top 5 favourite looks....

Jennifer Lawrence was full of glamour wearing a strapless Dior gown with a metallic belt + clutch.

Anne Hathaway looked incredibly elegant in her white beaded Chanel gown.

I loved Marion Cotillard's bold choice of an orange Dior dress.

I haven't been able to stop admiring the beautiful Carolina Herrera gown worn by Lucy Liu; how incredible is that fabric?

Emily Blunt made a fabulous statement in her cut-out Michael Kors dress.

Who wore your favourite look of the evening?


Rachel xo


Image via: the Huffington Post

Monday thoughts :: creating a life you love

The best part about starting a new year is having that wonderful feeling that everything is a fresh start, like the pages of an unwritten book filled with opportunity for you to design the kind of life that you have fallen in love with.

I read this quote by Zig Zigler the other day and have since pinned it to my desk so I can reference it often, which then got me thinking about the things we need to do everyday in order to create our dream life.

Of course to create a life you love takes work, and because we simply cannot do everything we need to prioritise and make sure we are only doing things each day that will lead us to the path that we so desire.

Here are 5 tangible things to practice everyday that will keep you on track for creating your dream life…

# 1. Turn your dreams into actionable steps. 

The quote "a dream without a goal is a wish" springs to mind here. By creating goals you are giving yourself a deadline for when you need to achieve them by. Hold yourself accountable for your goals; keep track of your progress and then reward yourself when you reach important milestones.

# 2. Take a few small steps everyday.

Having big goals and dreams is great, but often when we create these seemingly out of reach goals, we get so overwhelmed with how unattainable they are that we give up before we even start. By breaking your goals down into small bite sized chunks you will then be able to tackle each of the smaller goals, working your way up to the overarching goal you want to achieve. 

# 3. Exercise rock solid self control.

No one said creating the life you want would be easy; it takes hard work and loads of self discipline. My goal of running in the City to Surf this year (a 14km fun run in Sydney) seems a bit of a stretch right now, but I'm making the effort to fit in runs each week so I can build up to this distance. I'm aiming to extend my run by 1km each week (at the moment I can only run about 5km comfortably). I have until August so a while to go yet, but I know that I need to make the commitment and be disciplined now, so by the time August rolls around I'll be ready to go.

# 4. Mind your thoughts and your words.

Gandhi's wise words could not be more true. Practicing the art of positive thoughts and banishing negative self talk will keep you in a positive mindset. Keep a set of affirmations in your diary; stuck to your mirror; or as a screen saver - and look at them often. Practice this often enough and you will notice the belief and confidence in yourself grow. Be inspired by this TED talk Julie from Beautiful You gave recently to see how big an impact negative thoughts can have on your daily life and how they stop you from realising your potential.

# 5. Keep going until you're an expert. Then keep going.

Never give up. Keep going. Make the commitment to yourself that no matter how hard things get and how impossible they seem that you will keep on keeping on. Remember that 80's song 'The Going Gets Tough'? Yeah, well the tough also get going. Make everything you do count and you will reap the rewards, and the life you imagined will be there waiting for you.

Read more Inspired Life posts here.

Rachel xo


Image credits: Free People Spring 2013 via 

Loving right now :: jumpsuits

With summer in full swing here I've been looking for a chic alternative to harem pants and maxi dresses, that is also comfortable...Enter jumpsuits. I'd never really considered them up until now, but I do love that they can be worn with flats or heels and easily styled by adding a belt and a statement necklace. 

Here are my top 3 picks...

1. Halston Heritage // 2. Charlie Jade // 3. Parker

What do you think of jumpsuits?

Rachel xo

Image credits: 1 | 2 | 3

Welcome, 2013

Happy New Year loves! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday with your nearest and dearest. I worked mostly through the break except for the public holidays but I managed to escape down to the south coast to visit my sister who has just moved down there. It is such a beautiful corner of the world and it was lovely to get out of the city, if only for a few days!

The start of the year is not only a time for new beginnings but also reflecting on the year that was. Looking back, 2012 was one of the most challenging years I've ever had. Life threw a curve ball when my marriage ended, but I managed to keep myself busy to get though it, and worked on redefining the direction my life was headed in. Which, if I am being completely honest, is still somewhat of a work in progress, but I am trying to focus on the journey rather than the destination. 

Aside from that obvious downer, the year was also filled with many highlights, like being featured in Style at Home's Bloggers Budget Decorating Ideas article; being named by Mashable as one of their top 20 Pinterest accounts to follow; being featured in MTV Bloggers by day, Pinners by night article; having my first article published in online magazine, Latitude; spending a month travelling and meeting long time blog friends Lisa and Caterina; plus joining the Life in Style team as a blog contributor.

When I look back at the goals I made for 2012, my plans for the year got swayed and I didn't end up achieving all that I hoped to. But if there is one thing I have learnt this past year, it is to see at this as an opportunity for what is yet to come, knowing that sometimes the best made plans don't aways turn out the way you expected.

With the new year upon us its time for a fresh start and I feel that so much opportunity awaits. I don't have a long list of goals, but rather a few things I hope to achieve that I thought I'd share with you...

Be Adventurous. By this I mean trying new things and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. This year I will train to run for 2 fun runs: the City to Surf in August and the Blackmores Running Festival in September. I want to see more of the world. A month trekking in India and Nepal is still high on my list, but l also need to decide if I will take the leap and live overseas, which is something that I have always wanted to do. Now that I am single it seems like there is nothing holding me back.

Simplify + find balance. This post on slow blogging really resonated with me because lately I have been feeling overwhelmed about having to stick to a regular blog schedule and trying to fit this in around a hectic work schedule, seeing friends and getting enough exercise and sleep. Things have been a bit unbalanced as a result, which has taken the joy out of blogging for me and I have often thought about stopping. But the truth is I love blogging and I love the friends I have made in the blogging community, so I won't be stopping, I will just be doing things a bit differently from now on.

Be who I am. Being single, after a long term relationship and a marriage, I am on the path to rediscovering who I am; what it is I truly want and where I want to be. Yes, this is a journey, but I plan to have fun along the way! 

I want to also take a moment to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to visit this little blog. It warms my heart to know that I have created a space on the internet that I hope serves as a lovely escape for you to enjoy those small moments of pleasure in your daily life.

Here's to an amazing year ahead,

Much love,

Rachel xo

P.S Congratulations to Helen, the lucky winner of the Vision Direct Giveaway! You will be receiving an email soon :)

Image credits: 1 | 2 {unknown} | 3 | 4