Weekend in São Paulo

After my first few days in São Paulo I have to agree with the New York Times when they said "It may be the ugliest, most dangerous city you’ll ever love". There have been times that have been quiet unnerving and then times where we have stumbled upon some of the most beautiful places. It really is a city of great contrasts.

None more so than on Saturday morning when we visited the downtown area of São Paulo. There is the beautiful São Paulo Cathedral (pictured below) surrounded by some of the most interesting (read: scary) characters I have ever encountered. If it wasn't for the large police presence I would have been straight back in a cab and back to the hotel!

We did find a great Brazilian place for lunch. The Brazilians love their meat and beer, as you can see by all the beer bottles lined up on the ceiling. They also had a band playing and an old member was telling us all about the music, but as he was speaking Portuguese Michael and I missed most of what he was saying. We are getting very good at the smile and nod.

After lunch, we got our skates on and headed to a nicer part of town (read: a part of town we didn't feel so vulnerable).

On Sunday we walked from our hotel to the Parque do Ibirapuera, São Paulo's Central Park. There is the Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo inside where they were showing a great Eco Living exhibition.

We got some fresh coconut water while in the park. I have gotten into coconut water back in New York but I have to say that it is nothing like the stuff you get straight out of the coconut. Delicious, refreshing and surprisingly filling.

Michael has had to go to work today (that is why we are here after all) and now I have been left to my own devices. I think I will do an outing a day to a museum and/or gallery. And I will definitely stay away from downtown!

Greetings From Sao Paulo!

I apologise if my blog is a little neglected over the next two weeks. I am currently in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Michael had to come for work, so I decided to tag along and see the sights. We arrived last night after a 9 hour flight from New York.

So far, we think it is a great city although we have only seen the smallest part. The city of Sao Paulo is overwhelming in size...

Today we walked for miles trying to find the neighbourhood called Jardim, and particularly the shopping strip, Rue Oscar Freire...

We had heard that there was a Havaiana's flagship store, so we thought we would stock up for our upcoming honeymoon....

Tomorrow we plan to do a lot more walking and maybe take in some museums. Most importantly we plan to indulge in the traditional Brazilian fare. We are starting at the top end, at Figueira Rubaiyat, a restaurant that has been built around a giant Fig tree and has come highly recommended...

I will try and post as much as I can while I am away, although the city is so big I will have to spend most of my time outside to see even a quarter of it!

Have a great weekend.

Meg's Beach House

While I am living in New York I can only dream about having space to fill and decorate how I wish. Our apartment isn't even that small by New York standards, but it certainly isn't what you would call roomy. I love looking at home interiors magazines and websites to get ideas for my future home, way down the track. While looking through the ELLE Decor website I came across this amazing Martha's Vineyard beach house owned by Meg Ryan.

Who knew that Meg Ryan would have such a covetable beach house? I especially love her bathroom pictured above. One day!

My Weekend

Here are a few snap-shots of what I got up to over the weekend in New York...

Having recently purchased Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook, My Father's Daughter, I thought I would try making the Kale Chips that I have been hearing so much about. They were delicious and dangerously moreish.

 I love having fresh flowers in the house, even more so when they smell as delicious as these lilacs do. There are so many beautiful spring flowers available at the moment I am loving mixing it up each week.

Walking around the Upper West Side over the weekend Michael and I came across four of these vehicles in a row. Shame I wasn't quick enough to snap a picture of them all before a few cabs came and blocked my shot.

Grand Central Station, how I love you so. 

I have been in Grand Central so many times but realised while in there on the weekend, that I have never taken any pictures. So, I thought I would take a few snaps so that I can cross it off my list.

A late Sunday brunch at Cookshop was the perfect remedy for cold drizzly weather. 

Come on sun, come out, come out, wherever you are.

My weekend was finished off perfectly with a trip to the cinema to see Woody Allen's new movie Midnight in Paris. I loved it! It was a great film and I can not recommend it highly enough.

Inspiration Overload

I am someone that pours through magazines, catalogues and the internet getting as much inspiration as I can for all sorts of things like my home, fashion, wedding planning etc. etc. etc. This can lead to many separate folders and earmarked pages that I never actually look at ever again.

Not any more, I have discovered Pinterest. I'll let Pinterest explain in their own words what they do:

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste.

People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things -- wedding inspiration, favorite T-shirts, DJ equipment. You name it, people are pinning it.

We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

I'm just getting started so I don't have too much to show just yet, but there are so many amazing and artistic boards that you can re-pin images from. It's full of inspiration for just about anything you can imagine. Here is a quick look at some of my pins.

Or you can check out my page here.

To sign up, all you have to do is go here and request an invite, and then start pinning. 

Colour Card

I am loving the colour combination of orange and beige at the moment. Whether it be for the home or your wardrobe this is a colour mix that works. Here is a mood board to get you inspired...

Clockwise from top left: J.Crew shorts, Lonny Magazine office space, Zara dress, Crate and Barrel dining room, West Elm bedroom, Tommy Ton image of bag, Morning's Light kitchen, and J.Crew shoes, hat and ring.

Beauty Shop Addict

I love going into beauty stores and pharmacies almost as much as I love going to Officeworks or Staples. They are the kinds of places where you are bombarded with new products that you never knew existed. You thought you had tried everything before, but no. Here in front of you is proof that actually, there is more product out there for you to try. Usually this leads to wasting $20 on a cream that makes my skin excessively greasy, but sometimes, success, a new product that has lived up to its claims.

Today I have complied a list of my favourite skin-savers and cosmetics. Some of these I have used for a long time and others are new entires to the list due to the aforementioned new product compulsion.

Top 5 Skin-Savers

1. Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel

I have been using this product for as long as I can remember. While it is not cheap it lasts forever, one pump can cover your whole face and neck. In summer I use this product on it's own with a sunscreen but in winter my skin needs more moisture so I layer a moisturiser on top.

2. Shiseido 'The Skincare' Day Moisture Protection Enriched

This product saved my skin when I first moved to New York. Going from a humid summer in Sydney to snow in New York meant that my skin had big red dry patches that were rough to touch. I tried so many moisturisers and this was the only one that calmed my skin and helped it get back to normal.

I used it again this winter and my skin didn't have any issues.

3. Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm

I have used this hand cream for years. It smells amazing and leaves my dry hands soft and moisturised. My hands can stay a little greasier than I would like but it soaks in much faster than other hand creams I've tried.

4. St. Tropez 'Everyday' Gradual Tan for Body

This is a fairly new product on my list. I needed a bit of colour to help pull me through the last few months of winter, but I didn't want to deal with a regular fake tan. This product produces a gradual, natural colour (that you can control). Plus being a lotion you can rub on as much as you like to ensure an even colour without streaks. It's the lazy girl's fake tan - and perfect for me.

5. Lucas Papaw Ointment

An oldie but a goodie. My Mum used to use this stuff on nappy rash. I use it for chapped lips, dry cuticles, minor burns, as a skin illuminator and whatever else I think of. It is always in my bag.

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Top 5 Cosmetics Must-haves

1. Bare Minerals Original SPF 15 Foundation

Truely the best foundation I have ever used. It is light, but you can build it up to the coverage you need. It balances out my combination skin, and covers my pesky blackheads (that nothing can get rid of). While it is a powder it doesn't make my skin too matte, instead it is left slightly illuminated. I love my skin when I have this foundation on.

2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20

Initially, this was an impulse buy at the counter of Sephora (one of my favourite stores in New York), now it has become part of my regular skincare routine. While I am addicted to mineral make-up (see above), when I want a little extra sun or skin protection I use this product. It's not greasy and offers a nice light coverage. Perfect for evening out my skin without looking too made up. It also leaves my skin looking dewy not greasy.

3. Diorshow Mascara

After not having used this mascara for a few years, instead buying cheaper 'drug-store' mascaras, I don't think I will give up on it again, ever. It is smooth and silky, glides onto my lashes and stays there. I have long eyelashes that are quite fine which means that if a mascara isn't right I can end up looking like I have spiders legs on my eyes. This mascara offers the perfect blend of thickening and lengthening for my eyes. I love it.

4. Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Blase Apricot

I have never had so many compliments on a lipstick colour. It is the perfect orangey/coral lip colour for spring. I have been enjoying embracing bright lipstick lately and this one is definitely a favourite. The compliments help too! 

5. Mac Fix+

This is a product that I don't use all that often, but I could never completely live without. It helps to set your make up and for me, that means my face lasts a lot longer. I use it when I am getting really dressed up to go out (say to a wedding or fancy night out) so that I know my make-up won't need touching up as the day/night wears on. It stops my face from running and helps keep shine at bay.

What are some of the beauty products you can't live without?

Day Dreaming

Here are some things that I am dreaming about this week...

Stella McCartney Dresses

PS1 Bag by Proenza Schouler

Kauai Hawaii

Khloe Kardashian's Shoe Collection

Adam Lippes's New York Dining Room

YSL Tribute Sandals

Colourful Outdoor Space

Antique Armchair

At least one of them is going to be a reality, I am honeymooning on Kauai!