But not a s much as Sharon Perkins from Beaut Vintage…

I noticed Sharon’s website Beaut Vintage when she dropped by to comment on Laura E’s most recent post. I liked the site so much that I asked her to share a little bit about herself, her love of vintage dresses and her gorgeous vintage fashion website. Here’s what she had to say…

My passion for vintage

For as long as I can remember I have always had a passion for vintage – long before it was deemed cool – and before uncool was cool, growing up in the 80s I loved nothing more than to play in the dressing up box that was my mothers wardrobe.

60’s dresses & micro minis, 70’s ethnic tunics & slogan T’s -she had the most amazing clothes coveted from her years spent in London.

Growing up in Ireland there were very few ‘vintage’ shops around however plenty of markets – my nan used to bring me to these hidden away places in the city where the floors would be piled high with clothes and shoes, where it was every woman for herself!

I can only compare it to being a spectator at a shark feeding frenzy…grannys battling it out literally nose-diving into piles of garments in the quest for the ultimate find…I guess it instilled my love (and game) of the treasure hunt!

Collecting vintage has always been to me what favourite hobbies are to others, I love that these clothes & accessories have a history, a story and act as a cultural expression of a time gone by.

Being a hoarder I literally had and still have tons of pieces accumulated over the years.

My first dabble with selling vintage began as a subsidy whilst studying -I practically paid my way through Art College by selling in markets in Dublin, Ireland.

In my working life from event production to retail management I continued to collect & sell vintage. I knew this was what I wanted to do full time, this led to my sister and I setting up Irelands first vintage online store in 2006 which became and continues to be a great success!

Having lived in Melbourne previously I was eager to return and to provide and bring my love of vintage fashion to the virtual dressing up table.

Creating your own signature look

Mass market fashion has never really appealed to me, I love providing vintage as an alternative choice for women where they can create their own signature look with one off pieces that will always be in style as opposed to the latest fashion trend.

It has taken nine months (yep it’s a baby) to get Beaut Vintage off the ground and has been a lot of hard albeit enjoyable work!

At Beaut Vintage women can avail of collections sourced from right across the globe each piece being handpicked on exclusivity, quality and beauty.

SPECIAL OFFER: Sharon is generously offering Gorgeous Things readers a 25% discount – just use the code GORG25 when you order

I’m a firm believer in sustainable fashion and also offer a revamped range-one off pieces that have been reworked from ‘daggy to darling’ with a contemporary twist!

There is so much to love about vintage for me it ticks all the boxes: authentic, unique, beautifully crafted, eco-friendly and great value for money.

I hope I can provide a great service to the gorgeous women of Australia for many years to come!

Don’t forget Sharon’s special 25% discount for Gorgeous Things readers – use the discount code GORG25 at the check out to recieve your discount.

♥ ♥ ♥ I want this one >>> my favourite party dress on Beaut Vintage

BROWSE around Beaut Vintage and if you find something you like – take advantage of our exclusive saving.

Or leave Sharon a little message below if you like her clothes and the website – I’m sure she’d love to know what you think!

So it was really no surprise when a chance meeting led me to Nikki Durkin, founder of the soon to be launched fashion swapping website 99 Dresses – Your Infinite Wardrobe of Free Fashion

I’ve got nothing to wear

If you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear, this site could really help you to get your fix of something new without the credit card binge, hangover.

There’s two things that you really need to know about 99 Dresses

1. Nikki’s idea for sharing and swapping clothes with friends and beyond through a website is exactly what I want. I’ve been to a few clothing swap parties which were great. You get to expand your wardrobe without reaching for your wallet. The problem is – there’s never one on 2 days before an event that I need a new dress for! Nikki has solved that problem for me by taking the concept online.

2. Nikki only left High School last year! She’s now in her first year at university. Even though I don’t want to make too much of her age, as I don’t really believe that it’s relevant if you have a brilliant idea and the gumption to pull it off. I find her idea and passion for pursuing it, more inspiring than her age. But hell yeah – she’s only 18!

   

Re-use, re-duce, re-cycle & save!

99 Dresses fits perfectly with the Gorgeous Things mantra of looking fabulous and feeling great naturally and I’m seeing it as a sustainable choice for expanding your wardrobe and getting rid of clothing that you no longer want, need or even fit into.

The site launches in a couple of weeks but check out what’s been happening on Facebook on the Anyone Want Free Clothes page.

And sign up to be one of the first to start swapping clothes – for FREE! Go to 99 Dresses to Sign Up

I’d be keeping a very close eye on this website…

Thanks to the dearly departed founder of The Body Shop, Anita Roddick  I now know better. There’s absolutely no point in chopping up a hemp rope and trying to smoke it, the level of THC in Industrial Hemp or as it’s known to those adept with a trowel, Cannabis Sativa, wouldn’t be enough to give you even the mildest buzz.

So, what’s the benefits for our planet and people in cultivating hemp for it’s fibre and oil?

Here’s what Hemp can do!

Tony Budden of ’Hemporium’ [ http://www.hemporium.com/ ] a South African company that specializes in the multifarious products that can be made from hemp, talks about the environmental, nutritional, industrial, social and spiritual benefits of using hemp to provide us with almost all of our everyday products. These range from biodegradable plastics, non toxic detergents, composites that are stronger than steel yet lighter, finest quality paper, foods, textiles and many more.

He explains how the crop is a natural pest deterrent and requires no pesticides and very little fertilizer (natural please) and touches on the fascinating history of the plant revealing many important truths of our day. A must see for people who care about the planet and want to live as harmlessly as possible! More about the history and benefits of hemp here >>

We’ve talked about organic cotton and bamboo here before so I thought it was about time we brought you a round up what’s going on in the world of hemp – things just seem to be getting more and more interesting, and way more fashionable.

Hemp Fashion

HoodLamb

Hemp with attitude!

Just love that they’ve teamed up with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to produce a range of Hemp Ts, tanks and hoodies so you can show your support for the Sea Sheperd’s anti-whaling and other worthwhile campaigns.

If you’re looking to buy HoodLamb clothing in Australia, I’d suggest giving Richie at the Gnostic Hemporium a call or drop in next time you’re up on the Central Coast. He’s got a great range of fashionable hemp, organic cotton and bamboo clothing as well as other cool stuff. I love his shop, it’s like walking into a festival.

About HoodLamb’s collaboration with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Sea Shepherd takes a direct approach to enforcing the international ban on killing whales which the Japanese Whalers illegally ignore every year. These whalers continue to kill whales under the false guise of “Research.” However, the Sea Shepherd’s direct approach has stopped approx. 60% of the whaling and taken t he profits from these whalers. Hemp HoodLamb® has outfitted the officers of Sea Shepherd in custom arctic canno HoodLamb® jackets for their 2010 arctic campaign which can be seen on the tv-show ‘Whale Wars’ which shows on both Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel. Read more here >>

Hemp in Skincare

One look at the About Us page here on our blog or on the Gorgeous Things website and you can’t help but notice my reason for starting this nearly four years ago was to share the holistic way I’d discovered to deal with my own eczema.

Hemp Oil is a fantastic Anti-Inflammatory, so added to skincare or even taken internally it can work wonders on eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and any other immune response skin condition.

The range from Hemp Hemp Hooray! caught my eye recently. We all know what a sucker I am for great packaging…but only when it’s backed up by a great product inside! Tick, and double tick for this superb range.

The founder of Hemp Hemp Hooray!, Teresa McDowell has a blog that I’d recommend checking out if you’d like to get to know this proudly Aussie, growing company a little better before handing over your hard earned dollars. Actually, I’m going to give her a call this week, maybe she’d like have a chat?

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- Want to know how to get luscious locks without all the chemical nasties?

- Maybe you have sensitive skin that reacts to conventional beauty products?

- Or, perhaps you want to know how to bring your abundant inner beauty to the outside?

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Here’s 32 Tips & Tricks to do all of that & much more!

DOWNLOAD NOW – PDF (500kb)
32 Natural Beauty Tips & Tricks from Gorgeous Things

Hey there pretty lady! While you’re here – why not join the Gorgeous Things Facebook page and mailing list for regular NEW TIPS & TRICKS

http://www.sustainablehouseday.com/

160 amazing homes are being opened to the public to inspire and motivate us all to think sustainability and energy efficiency. Just go along for a mooch around – I’m going to.

Thanks to our gorgeous friends at Eco Voice for the reminder of this great event – we love their newsletter. Check it out for great tips and eco friendly events, products and services.

http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-66/eco-news-6.php

My name is Megan, and I am really excited about joining Lesley-Ann and the Gorgeous Things Team.  I am a proud little Aussie, Occupational Therapist, student, wife, yoga devotee, healthy living junkie (with the odd glass of Sauv Blanc for good measure),  and hopefully in the not too distant future, mother. I have recently moved to California, and whilst soaking up the sunshine and studying for my Masters in Occupational Therapy, I look forward to spreading the word about the fabulous products and lifestyle education Gorgeous Things supports.  I also look forward sharing some of my experiences from the other side of the pond.

I have decided to start off with something I believe strongly in, though am not always the best at committing to…A Regular Meditation Practice.  When practiced consistently, the benefits definitely do exist.  Whether it is establishing a personal practice independently or through group sitting, it can be simpler than you think.  The hardest part is starting and discovering what works best for you, and that can also be the ‘fun’ part.

Whenever life gets busy it seems to be harder to maintain a practice even though it is the time we need it the most.

The benefits of meditation can include:

• Improved sleep, and possibly need for less sleep
• Improved concentration
• More general peace in daily life and a more positive outlook
• A calmer way of dealing with challenging and stressful situations. Problem solving becomes easier
• Meditation enables a higher state of alertness and consciousness

The last can often be the most surprising for us, when you first see yourself NOT explode at the sign of trouble. Phew what a relief!

It’s not how or where you meditate that matters so much, as there’s no rule, it’s a personal practice.  It is consistency that makes the biggest difference. As with anything establishing a routine leads to real behavior change.  They say it takes 21 days to make lasting change to a person’s behavior.  And that’s where it’s often easy for sabotage creep in.

As I continue on my journey with the Gorgeous Things team by my side I will commit to 1 month of consistent daily practice in the morning, including at least once a week attending a community sit through the Zen Buddhist Centre.  I will also explore other styles in more depth for readers of Gorgeous Things, to look at the foundation and benefits of each.   As this experience is very personal I will also try to provide some objective perspectives on this process

Your Environment

It is important to find the right environment for meditation.  A comfortable corner of the bedroom seated on a large floor cushion may work for some, or sitting in a chair may work for others.  Eyes closed or open? Music or silence? Visualization or empty mind.

Remember Meditation practice does not need to be associated with a particular religion and it may take a while to establish the style that works best for you.  Explore and try different styles.  Many beginners classes are offered on a low cost, donation only basis or for free, and you may need to try a particular style a few times to establish if it is or isn’t working for you.  Linking with a group may be intimidating so there are many websites and resources available that may help you start your journey.

Some I have encountered are:

www.project-meditation.org
www.how-to-meditate.org

These two sites are comprehensive and provide some free instructions on meditation both recorded and written.

Group sittings and resources:

www.dhamma.org universal
www.meditateinsydney.org sydney
www.spiritrock.org san francisco

Stayed tuned for Part 2 of Megan’s empowering Meditation Exploration

Applications for the first ever Australian School for Social Entrepreneurs close on Monday August 3rd – if you’ve got a fabulous idea to help make the world a better place then what are you waiting for!

The school has been running in the UK since 1997 and for the first time – the course is available here in Australia. Very exciting – check it out…

www.sse.org.au

From the School for Social Entrepreneurs website:

“The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia is excited to announce the launch of its first School in Sydney in 2009. Based on the highly successful SSE program in the UK which has been operating for 10 years, the new Sydney School will provide Australian social entrepreneurs with invaluable learning and skills development opportunities as well as link them into a global community of inspirational social entrepreneurs.”

History of the School for Social Entrepreneurs

“The school was founded in 1997 by Michael Young (Lord Young of Dartington), a social innovator who’d previously launched the Consumers’ Association, the Open University and around 40 other organisations.

Following successful Millennium Awards programmes around the UK, the SSE expanded outside its base in Bethnal Green, London, and the network of SSEs around the UK continues to grow. Over 400 SSE Fellows have completed programmes around the country.”

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When I tell people I grow Orchids, they usually give me a bit of a weird look. As my dear friend Nell would say, it’s my ‘nerd sport.’

Orchids are likely to be considered the domain of retired Bank Managers and other such types who have the time and inclination to put the effort that’s thought needed to successfully grow these notoriously fickle plants. I have a slightly more relaxed attitude to my Orchids, and as you can see…they too produce divine blooms.

It got me to thinking that my approach to Orchid growing could really be a metaphor for my approach to life – that’s of course only when, I remember not to ‘over-analyse’ and resist my urge to ‘push things along’ a bit too much. The best outcomes do tend to materialise when I just ‘let things be.’

As the heading would suggest, I don’t really spend that much time fussing over my Orchids. I just allow them to ‘do their thing’, while I do mine. They get watered when it rains, and perhaps once a week when it doesn’t. I buy Orchid potting mix that contains a slow release fertiliser so I don’t need to ‘feed’ them. I re-pot them about once every 2-3 years so that they have room to grow. And, I keep them in a spot that gives them a bit of morning sun, which they seem to like.

I’m not suggesting that ‘ambivalence’ is the way to get the best results in life or Orchid growing, but once you’ve put the solid foundations down in either pursuit, it’s often best to resist the urge to push things along in the hope of getting enhanced results.

I bought my first Orchid when I moved into my first ‘share-house’ at 19 years old. Fifteen years later, I have 11 pots of Orchids; ten of those have come from that one original plant from all those years ago. Not bad going by anyone’s standards!