10 THINGS TO DO ON YOUR RAINY WEEKEND

The rainy weather can scare off the happiest of moods. Here is some ideas on how to brighten your rainy weekend. 

1. Get your pamper on. I’m talking the full mani + pedi, hair mask, face mask and exfoliate. No pamper session is complete without a robe and some tea. 
2. Clean out your closet. Make some bags to donate all the clothes you don’t wear anymore and to make room for some new season pieces. 
3. Now you have all this spare room no better time to do a pinch of online shopping and fill that space with with new season pieces. 
4. Do a Lonely Planet stalk. Nothing better then day dreaming about all the amazing places you can go to. Paris, Morocco, LA, India, Bora Bora and more. Also a great time to plan your next holiday. 
5. Yoga. No better way to make yourself feel great then to do a little workout. Not only is Yoga super good for you but we all love that little nap at the end. I mean meditation. 
6. Get baking. Not only do you get to experiment with somethings you’ve never had the chance to make before but you have a delicious treat to reward yourself with at the end. Oh and you get to lick the bowl. don’t forget that part. 
7. It might be an obvious one but, the cinema. In addition to seeing Finding Dory (or whatever else) think of the popcorn, choc tops and frozen coke. mmmm. 
8. Check out GOMA and all the amazing exhibits on at any given time. It’s also nice and warm in there. 
9. Binge watch the new season of Orange is the new Black because watching a full season in one day is the only way to live. 
10. Practice making cocktail with your friends. They don’t have to taste good as long as they are insta worthy. 

Binge Eating Can Be Your Friend

It’s getting to that time of the year, where the mornings are colder and we find our selves walking in the dark by 5pm. Our biggest enemy though is the constant need to splurge on food and impulsively snack (and not on the good kind). Whether it’s a comfort thing or just boredom and eating is the only way to cure it, we always find ourselves looking at the carrot sticks but reaching for the chocolate bar. If you find yourself feeling the need to fill the empty pit in your stomach of hear it working over time, here are few helpful hints.

Switch lollies for fruit for a natural burst of sugar

You can't go wrong with dark chocolate 

Popcorn is a good source of vitamin B and wholegrain

Peanuts may contain fat but are also rich in antioxidants, Vitamin E, Copper and Vitamin B3 

Swap out ice tea and juice with fruit scented tea and lemon water 

Boho Festival Camping

Festival season is well under way and that means camping! It usually is a very unfashionable time that involves a lot of mud, dirt and mess! Well we have decided this year we are going to dress up our campsites boho style and here are some tip we have for you to do the same. Bring some fake plants to add life, colourful rugs and sheets to hang up, lots and lots of cute cushions and pillows, candles and then finally good vibes.

Mirander’s Post Met Gala Detox

It’s tough stuff being a celebrity, the constant flights, parties, travelling and no one does a post-party rejuvenation like Mirander Kerr. After stepping on the red carpet in a structural Louis Vuitton ensemble and posing for cameras all night, she headed back for some much needed sleep and a morning jump-start routine with healthy eating, meditation and a quick in-room blood pumping workout all before catching a flight back to LA. When it comes to looking your best the day after a big party, Mirander is your girl!

Travel Like a Fashion It Girl!

Are you tired of being jealous of IT girls travelling the world and doing it in style? Well we surely are and that's why we have put together a list to help you travel like you fav Instagram girls! So firstly, pack lightly!! Easier said then done but this is a must. We're all guilty of sneaking a few extra pieces into our suitcases at the last minute… but ladies, the secret here is to take as little as possible. Next is to plan your outfits out, coming up with outfit combinations is also a great way to pack lighter yay! Finally, don't forget to bring accessories, your go-to beauty products and your fav three pairs of shoes. Now you are set to take on the world!

Healthy Winter Eating

Winter is fast approaching and with it comes the dread of putting on the winter weight with comfort eating and little exercise. Although the range of seasonal food is fewer in the winter months here are five tips to kicking those winter cravings and enjoy the food you love

1.     Make the switch from white carbohydrates to wholemeal and wholegrain alternatives

2.     Drink plenty of water during the winter months as air-conditioning and heating can be dehydrating!

3.     One of the best ways to keep healthy this winter is to pack your meals full of protein

4.     Eat your 2 & 5. Most of your diet should consist of fruit and vegetables as they are a good source of important minerals and vitamins

5.     Start your dinner with a bowl of low-calorie soup to help manage your weight and keep warm this winter

Bedroom #inspo

We have some adorable ways to make perfect use of your bedroom space. From the cutest bedspreads to hanging fairy lights! Adding a beautiful white canopy above your bed will make you feel like you're sleeping in the clouds! Here are some bedroom #inspo we just can't get enough of.

Secret Easter Long Weekend Locations

It's Easter time and that means long weekend!!!! What better way to spend this time then with a secret getaway. We are talking going high up into the mountains and finding a magical treehouse to spend the whole weekend at relaxing.  Here are some secret locations we are dying to get to this weekend.

Our love for indoor plants continues...

We have already blogged about how much we are loving indoor plants but lets be real, plants are so hard to grow! We have decided to help you girls out by putting together a list of the perfect plants to grow indoors.

1. Pothos- Hands down the prettiest plant. Requires no effort at all, simply keep in water and they will grow like crazy. They also make for perfect hanging plants.

2. Fiddle Leaf Fig- These guys have so much character and bring life to any room. Also another great bonus is that they only need water when they are looking dry yay!

3. Rubber Plant- Now this is our kind of plant, they only need water for half the year. Also terracotta pots work so well with showing off the plants glossy green leaves, really makes them POP!

4. Succulents- Require no effort at all and are almost impossible to kill. Such an adorable plant we really can't get enough of them. 

Setting Fitness Goals

We all want that perfect body but can’t decide weather to watch the next episode of our favourite TV series or hit the gym. Hitting the gym and getting fit doesn’t need to be a daunting task that requires Arnold Schwarzenegger motivation speeches to get into gear. Here are a few helpful tips to help burn those calories and work towards a healthier you!

Tip 1: Find a gym buddy

There is nothing more helpful than having a friend beside you trying to achieve the same goals. So next time you’re heading to the gym grab a friend 

Tip 2: Mix it up with cardio

People believe the only way to shed the kilos is running for miles until you pass out; next time you’re wanting to engage in cardio, mix it up with mountain climbs, runs along the beach or dancing. 

Tip 3: Everything’s good in moderation

Just because you want to get fit, doesn’t mean you have to cut out all the good things in life. Anything in moderation is good for you so don’t put away the chocolate bars and sweet just yet 

Creating the perfect food platter

Seriously delicious (and totally instagrammable) platters are the coolest things right now and we have all the juicy secrets to becoming the ultimate platter queen. This is a great idea to bring some fun to any afternoon event whether it is a cute picnic with your closest girlfriends to bringing some life to your work functions. The trick is to get as creative as possible don't stick to just the basic cheese and crackers add some flowers and feathers to the board, decorate it like crazy! We guarantee you this will be a whole lot of delicious fun!

Shopping List:

• Cheese cheese cheese- find a variety of cheeses that not only taste different but also don't look alike!!
• Delicious colourful dips
• Crackers
• Fruits- Strawberries, grapes, figs, blueberries and passion fruit
• Nuts- we go nuts for cashews and almonds!
• Anything yummy and colourful!

Time to decorate:

• Locate a huge wooden board to place all your goodies onto.
• Make it look as organic as possible! This will help you achieve that earthy fresh look that all great platters have.
• Throw those plastic containers away and find some cute and colourful bowls to hold all your goodies in.
• Pick some fresh flowers from the garden to decorate, find a gorgeous blanket to place your platter on and get those phones of ready to Instagram!  

Time to add some life to your bedroom!

Because we are so obsessed with Pinterest we can't stop pinning photos of plants therefore it's time to revamp our bedrooms...with plants! Bright vibrant fun feels are what we are about this season. From macrame hanging plants to gorgeous potted succulents we have you covered!

Broderie, crochet and lace: How to!

Chic and romantic, sweet and feminine are the perfect words to describe this seasons favourite fabric! A fusion of broderie anglaise, crochet and lace have taken over the runway, and are spreading through the streets this summer. With the flowy and flattering silhouettes, it is time to embrace this trend, and re work it to suit you own individual style! Here are our best tips:

1.     Pair a basic top for a new element of sophistication to this summer look. Accompanied by a block heel, and you’re ready to go. 

2.    Tone down the flowy top with a slim fitted bottom. White pants or denim shorts are the perfect staple pieces to tie in your look.

3.     If dressing bold is your go-to, then don’t hold back with head to toe broderie. Neutral accessories are perfect to compliment this statement outfit.

A few pieces from our Girl & the Sun range suit this trend perfectly! 

Holy grail of tanning

We all know that there is a widespread belief that self-tan products make you look orange! Now by no means are we suggesting that none of them ever will make you appear in this way, BUT by choosing self-tanners suitable for your skin tones, and using correct application techniques your fears of looking like an oompa loompa will no longer exist!

Our sunless tanning winners are:

1. Bondi Sands Self Tanning foam – the perfect lightweight tan, enriched with aloe vera and coconut
2.  Loving Tan 2HR express tanning mousse – For us time poor individuals, this tan applies smoothly and dries quickly, developing in only 2 hours!
3. St Tropez Self tan bronzing mousse – For a long lasting, smooth tan, designed to appear 2-3 shades darker than your natural tone
4. Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel – Ideal if you desire a subtle golden colour! This product is non-oily and quick drying.

Entering into the summer months we all want that summer, flawless glow, without having to lie out in the sun for hours or appearing like a streaky mess. For best results here are a few tips on how to tan like an expert:

1. Exfoliate and shave before you let self-tanner anywhere near your body. Use a mild exfoliant to make sure you're sloughing off your dead skin cells before the self-tanner goes on. 
2. Stand between two mirrors to apply the self-tanner, so you can see exactly what you're doing. 
3. Be extra mindful of the knees, hands, elbows, feet, ankles and face. These are the areas where self-tanning mistakes show up most. Use a minimal amount of tanning lotion in these areas, and consider wearing latex gloves or a tanning mitt to apply it. 
4. Once you've applied your self-tanner, keeping your skin hydrated is the key to making it last. Apply lotion daily. 

How Carrie Bradshaw changed fashion

Can you believe it’s been 17 years since Sex and the City first aired on our televisions? As inspiration to thousands and thousands of women around the world, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha and Carrie paved the way to a fashion revolution. 

Sex and the City was one of the first shows to portray women in their own form. Feminine, masculine, sexy, fun – you name it, they did it!

Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker was paramount in starting multiple fashion crazes around the world. Carrie’s fashion boundaries were limitless and some of her outfits definitely made you cringe, yet with her quirky sense of fashion and her obsession with shoes she always pulled it off and her sense of style became a huge feature of the series!

Here are some of our very favourite Carrie Bradshaw trends which the fashion world ate up:

THE FAMOUS NAME PLATE NECKLACE

OVERSIZE FLOWER BROOCHES SEASON

VINTAGE FUR OVERLOAD

TWO WORDS: MANOLO BLAHNI

CROP TOPS

How to keep the inspiration in your busy life!

Sometimes we feel as if the hustle and bustle of work, university, school or day-to-day humdrum activities squeeze the creativity and colour out of our daily lives. Do not fret, my little blog-lovers, for there are a few simple ways to remind you that the world is big and there are so many things to love about it!

Watch the Sunset or Sunrise

That large, glowing orb up in the sky is the same Sun referenced in every work of literature, every motion picture, and every song – ever. If this doesn’t make you think about how old the earth and the sun and the moon are and revel in awe, then the sheer beauty of the colours bouncing off earth’s atmosphere during these times every day should be enough to invigorate your senses and give you daily motivation. Catch the sunrise to set you in motion, or sunset to unwind from your day - you won’t regret it.

Take a few minutes out of each day to do something creative

You don’t need to be an artist to express yourself. Feeling angry? Throw some red paint on a piece of paper. Enjoying the way the flowers outside have bloomed? Take a few photographs of them. Feeling experimental? Open up a how-to YouTube video and learn an instrument. You will feel more excited if you dedicate time each day to being a bit creative.

Exercise

We’ve all heard it before, many times – exercise makes you happier, it invigorates your mind. But it wouldn’t be so prevalent if it weren’t TRUE! Even just 20 minutes of exercise in the morning will set you up mentally (as well as physically) to get your tasks done each day – with a smile on your face. So get out there! Run, jump, Zumba… whatever you like.

Focus any excess spare time on doing something you love

Whether it is knitting, drawing, hula hooping, watching theatre productions or playing guitar, make sure you leave time each day for something that you love to do. This is your life, and you need to take inspiration from anything you enjoy. 

Studio Agency Fashion Night

On Thursday the 8th of October, Studio Agency along with Mura Boutique presented the Spring/Summer collections to a gorgeous crowd of fashionistas.

It was a beautiful, balmy night at the Limes Hotel Rooftop Bar; the music was pumping and excitement was in the air as guests began to arrive.

The event begun at 6pm and guests were greeted with awesome VIP goodie bags valued at $99. The gift bags were stocked with amazing treats including herbal tea from @yourtea , coffee scrub from @mrbeanbody, coconut tanning oil from @boco.bodyand lip gloss from @klaracosmetics, Byron Bay Cookies and vouchers from Cherry Blooms and Mura Boutique.

All guests received a delicious cocktail upon arrival and had access to a bar tab throughout the evening.

The fashion show began at 7pm and showcased pieces from Toby Heart Ginger, Love Indie, Girl and the Sun and Mura Boutique.

The models looked beautiful and the show received a fantastic applause. 

We are so thankful to have such an amazing team here at Studio Agency and along with the beautiful girls at Mura Boutique the evening was a great success!

Contouring for beginners - Guiding us to that Kim K flawless skin

Most of our favourite celebs have personal makeup up artists to paint on flawless skin on the daily, it's jealousy inducing and generally just rude to look that good going to morning brunch with the girl squad. 

We’ve thrown together a few of our favourite tips and products to help us keep up!

Contouring a face enhances the natural features. Dark colours re-define natural shadows under the cheek / jaw bones while lighter colours rest on top of the structures we want to push forward, like the check / brow bones. While daunting, if done correcting a perfect contour can slice into the natural face, slimming and making your check bones Angelina-esq.

The easiest method is to powder contour on top of our normal foundation. Dark warm tones for the shadows we want to create, and light shimmery colours for the highlights. Most counter makeup brands can hook you up with a single powder palette and brush to get you started. 

Youtube tutorials are amazing to help fill in some blanks and help get you on your way to Angelina cheek fantasy. 

The harder, more Kim K method is to cream contour. Using creams, rather then powders, makeup artists blend foundation colours on the face to achieve their contour, and then redefine further with powders. Its cheating really.

The Friendship Date

I love my friends.

I also love going on dates.

It seems that in past a ‘date’ has only been reserved for romantic interests; only if you want to kiss someone is it acceptable to light some candles, cook them some dinner and finish the night with some star gazing.

I provoke this age-old notion with a WHY?

Whether I am single or in a relationship, my friends are and always will be one of the most important features of my life. So if I want to show them a little lovin’ of the friendship variety, and also am in the mood for a night of food, conversation and star gazing, than goddamn I am going to take my friend on a friendship date. 

But wait, you say, is a friendship date only limited to a night time dinner?

No! I exclaim. A friendship date can range from a totally casual friendship hang at the beach to a full-blown air-balloon sunrise. So to give you some inspiration for you and your bestie, here is a list of our top 10 friendship date ideas.

1.     Simple home cooked meal

Possibly followed by a chick flick and some cheeky dessert… 

2.    Picnic at a scenic lookout

Marvel at the beauty of the earth with good food and great company

3.     Café hopping

Try that café you’ve been talking about going to for so long – then try another! Spend the time with your friend catching up on more than just the basics. 

4.     Drive in movies

Popcorn, chocolate pyjamas in public…. Need I say more?

5.  Beach set up

Okay, so maybe it won’t look quite as spectacular as this – but all you need is a towel, a hat and a book to spend a beautiful day with a beautiful friend.