What a lovely birthday...

Due to a combination of internet troubles, lack of time and, of course, celebrations to organise, there is no recap post this week (and the reason I have been slack in replying to comments - will get onto this asap). Cue the violins. But on a happier note, it's my 19th birthday today (today being the 4th of June here in Australia, so technically, internationally I'm still a hell-raising 18 year old) and what better present than a blog award! And what better way to celebrate than by sharing said award.

Amazing and gorgeous LyddieGal over at Chic on the Cheap has honoured me with the Blog Love Award, and it's definitely a fun one. Thank you, sweetie.

For this, each recipient designs their award to pass on. And so as a tribute to my favourite book, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (I wasn't overly impressed with Kubrik's film adaptation, but he did give little Lolita some very cool, and now iconic, heart-shaped sunglasses) this is the award that I managed to put together.

Passing awards on is always a difficult task, as I never have the time or space to share them with every blogger that I feel deserves the recognition. Considering this award is about blog love I am passing it on to every follower of the robins, even those who may become followers after I've published this post - you lovely people always make my day (if you visit/comment often but are not a follower - consider yourself a recipient also of course). Again, I'm not copping out, I just don't have the time or room to fit so many of you into this post. So receive and share away, gorgeous ones! I look forward to seeing your creations in due time...

Romany

[photo courtesy of nachtkabarett.com]

Love actually is all around...

...and what better way to spread that love than with an award?
Unfortunately, the break is still not over. But I'm getting closer and closer to ironing out all of the issues (one of them being figuring out how to print screen on this new-fangled piece of technology that is my brand new laptop), and should be up and running soon. A quick update though: I got a job! It's only a few days a week, but hey it's better than nothing, eh? So that will only slightly eat into my designated blogging time when I'm back to routine. But for now, it's time to spread that aforementioned L.O.V.E...

Some time ago, I received an award from the lovely LyddieGal over at Chic on the Cheap.

The rules...

1. Link to the person that gave you the award.

2. Pass the award on to however many bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.

3. Contact the blogs and let them know they have won.

4. State seven things about yourself.

Gosh I don't even know that I could state 7 things, I'm really not that interesting.
1. I am listening to Playground Love, by Air (my favourite band) right now.
2. I'm obsessive about brushing my teeth before leaving the house and before going to bed.
3. My mother was studying naturopathy some years ago, and since then our entire stash of hair and beauty (as well as cleaning) products has been over-turned and we're pretty much all-natural in every area now. As annoying as it was, I think we've really benefited from the change, health-wise.
4. I have acting aspirations, and my ultimate director to work with would undoubtedly be David Lynch. If only I could have somehow been involved with his previous works, already...
5. I have been going to my orthodontist since I was a little baby. I don't know anyone who has had more dental work than I have (though I'm sure, somewhere in the world, there would be someone).
6. I'm not big on epic concerts, but I was devastated when the Spice Girls never made it to Australia for their reunion.
7. Almost everything in my possession at the moment is broken or destroyed in some way, including my shoes, my bag, several t-shirts and pairs of pants, my lamp, both bedroom cupboards, my gumboots, my favourite necklace and much more.

And recently I also received an award from the gorgeous Little Bear Stories.

And so I have decided to pass these awards (take your pick of which one you'd prefer, or accept both) onto...

The Dusk Zone
The Vintage Obsession
caitlin and megan
Emily Viveur
JoellenLove
The Twenty Something Diaries
Trop Rouge
coco+kelley
The Drifter and the Gypsy

And of course, thank you to everyone who comments, follows or even visits the robins you have no idea how much I appreciate your support. And I shall see you all soon when I have fully returned from my break.

Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon
Love Actually, 2003

Goodbye, for now!

Romany

[photo courtesy of whatsontv.co.uk]

The Curve

Jayne Mansfield
Cannes Film Festival, 1964

Jayne was certainly no stranger to drawing attention to herself. But honestly, who wouldn't, with looks like that? Jayne Mansfield may not be as well-known as her "rivals" (Mansfield is sometimes described as being a "poor man's Marilyn Monroe"), but she's certainly one of my all-time favourite icons - always more than happy to celebrate her enviable figure.
"I like being a pin-up girl. There's nothing wrong with it."
Jayne Mansfield. No Jayne, there certainly isn't.

I received an award from the lovely LyddieGal over at Chic on the Cheap a couple of weeks ago, and am finally getting to post about it.

The rules...
share 10 things about yourself.

Here goes...
1. I am 5'10" (maybe taller) and have been tall for my age my entire life. This means I often get the "oh you're tall - can you please reach up and get that for me?" treatment. I don't mind helping, but it gets a bit old after a while.
2. I have incredibly inconsistent tastes (and thoughts and feelings). One day I like one thing, then the next day, sometimes even later the same day, I swing completely the opposite way and can't understand liking the first thing in the first place.
3. Over-confident people intimidate the hell out of me.
4. When I was younger, I got bitten on the nose by a chicken. I've been hostile towards them ever since.
5. I am a pescetarian.
6. I have developed a skill for reading body language over the years. I have a particular talent for guessing who people secretly harbour feelings for (which has been uncannily accurate in recent years).
7. I find reading books, even magazines sometimes, incredibly stressful. Leftover guilt from my final year of high school - if it wasn't study related, I couldn't enjoy it. As a result, I don't read much which is a shame because there are so many books I would love to read.
8. I have a real problem with people who are pretentious or judgemental when it comes to music taste. I've been surrounded by people like this for too long, and now I have no tolerance for their lack of tolerance (haha).
9. I'm incredibly picky when it comes to bags and shoes (which is probably why I am still yet to find a replacement for my gigantic tote that I used for school). You will never find me to be one of those women with endless rows of bags and shoes in her closet, as I doubt I could ever find that many that I like.
10. I like having an uncommon name. I have been told that it makes me sound like a variety of things, from a fairytale character to a "space-travelling freedom fighter".

And so I've decided that instead of passing this award on traditionally, I would love it if anyone who is reading this considers them-self tagged. I'm not copping out, but I just think this is a great way to get to know a blogger, so anyone who wants to do this consider yourself officially a recipient of the award.

Romany

[photos courtesy of nickgilmartin.wordpress.com]

Spotlight...Camilla Åkrans

There's not a whole hell of a lot to be found about Camilla Åkrans in terms of biography or information, out there. Which, in a way, is great because a little mystery never hurt anybody.

The Swedish star photographer Camilla Åkrans is one of the biggest names when fashion houses are picking a photographer to shoot their ad campaigns. 33 year old Camilla Akrans has done several big ad campaigns and she has also won the prestigious Best Photographer Award at the ELLE awards, 2006.

This is about as much as I got. I did, however, find an interview with Åkrans during which she had some interesting things to say about her beautiful, beautiful work.

Vogue China

Numéro

Numéro

Vogue Germany

Vogue Germany

"It's about trying to tell a story and to tell the model what kind of character she is while she is doing it, why she does it, instead of just telling her to do it. That's why I like to work with models that are interested in a kind of acting...
...if you don't get the connection with the model, then it's less successful."

Man About Town

Man About Town

New York Times

New York Times

Numéro

"[Photography is] like any artist: either you like to do it and you should do what you like to do and if no one else likes it, screw them, and if they do it's fantastic. I don't think you should change or try to do different stuff just to please the market, because in the end then maybe you don't like what you do and there's not point in doing it."

Pure inspiration...

I received this award from the gorgeous I'm Heraid over at Poorly Fashioned.

The rules...
1. Pass the award to 12 others.
2. Link the chosen ones within your post, and inform them in a comment.
3. Share the love and the link to the person who gave it to you.

I'm incredibly short on time, so instead of 12 I'm going to link only 4 (forgive me).
I pass the torch on to...
Style On Track
Cafe Fashionista
Chai, Cinnamon and Couture
Welcome to Fashion Court...The Verdict Is In

More awards tomorrow!

Romany

[photos courtesy of lundlund.com]

The Curve

Kim Kardashian
vacationing in Miami, Florida

When it comes to modern-day curves, it's pretty hard to go past ol' Kimmy K. Say what you want about her tv show, her style, her past mistakes (*cough*sex tape*cough*), her friends, her personality, her increasingly plastic-looking face (Kim, honestly, you're too young for surgery) - but it simply can't be denied that Kim has a fabulous body. And she worked hard for it. She may have her insecurities, but it's clear Kim is content with how she looks. And who wouldn't be?
"If Paris Hilton thinks my butt looks gross I really don't care. At least I have a butt."
Kim Kardashian.

On another note, I received an award from the gorgeous Pippa over at Clashing Time.

The rules...
1. pass it on to 6 others.
2. let them know so they can post the same.

And so I pass the torch onto...
A Red Lipstick
Fashion Unplug
Daydream In Blue
Audrey Allure
tweet
Simply Luxurious

Enjoy lovelies!

Romany

[photos courtesy of celebrity-gossip.net]

The Curve

Nouka
photographed by David Lynch for Fetish, 2007

I think from now on, it would be more fitting to celebrate diversity rather than just one body ideal. While The Curve will probably still prominently feature just that, curves (being a curvy girl myself, I'm naturally drawn to this body shape also, and feel the need to celebrate it as a means of self-reasurrance), all body types are welcome from now! I'd like to draw attention to a wonderful comment left by Death Wears Diamond Jewellery on the weekly recap post, who loved 'that they are pushing the 'diverse' body image thing instead of the 'real women have curves' angle. which i hate. real women can be stick thin too'. This is so incredibly true, the fashion industry seems to be caught up with either pushing the 'unrealistic' stick thin body type, or the 'realistic' curvy type. In actual reality, these are both 'real' figures, as well as many more out there, because every body is different. It should be about acceptance. I know the industry has a long way to go, but it does seem like they're making positive steps forward, these days. Let's hope that continues...

Before I share my exciting news, I'd just like to take a moment to expand on the tiny little note I wrote about the movie Remember Me in the recap. I managed to see this last week, and I honestly have not been able to stop thinking about it since. I'm not going to bother retyping the synopsis because, to be honest, the less you know about the movie going in, the better. Steer clear of reviews, they will most likely be full of information you don't want to know until you find it out for yourself in the cinema. Go in blind - no information, no expectations. Anyone with the view that this is some sort of extension of Twilight just because of Robert Pattinson's leading role, couldn't be more mistaken. This is an emotionally intense romantic drama, that stays with you long after you leave the cinema. There is hardly a weak performance from any member of the cast, especially from Pattinson who really shows his remarkable potential in this role.
While I'm reluctant to say much about the content, I will say this: the romance is not the sole focus of the story, it's really more of a character study, and I think it would be a real shame if the film didn't reach its full intended audience, including the male demographic, simply because they thought it would be a chick flick. The movie is not perfect. Movies rarely are. But it is definitely well-worth seeing, as the message is profound and will leave you thinking.

And to end this rather randomly focused post, I have received my first award, from the gorgeous Trop Rouge.

The rules...
1. post the logo on my blog.
2. pass it on to 15 other blogs.

And so I pass the torch onto...
Aus Style
Eight
Fashion Lolita
Lolita
Miss Whoever You Are
Stole My Name
The Photodiarist
Pomegranate and Patchouli
With a Wink and a Smile
Bruises
Dolly Daydreams Dress Domicile
Death Wears Diamond Jewellery
Chic on the Cheap
Fashion in My Eyes
Fashionaina

Enjoy to all those listed, and I'm so sorry to all those who I couldn't tag.
Once again, thank you to all of you who comment and/or follow or even just visit the robins. I can't even tell you how much I appreciate it.

Romany

[photo courtesy of wallpaper.com]