Thursday, April 15, 2010

Clone Zone - Nicole Ritchie and her Mini-Me - Harlow Winter Kate Madden

Like mother, like daughter - we just had to share this image of Nicole Ritchie as a little girl (at left with her mum) and then today with her own beautiful little ballerina girl, Harlow Winter Kate Madden. The resemblance is amazing. Harlow is one of our favourite little princesses - isn't she cute : )

Honor Marie rugged up in Baby Gap Parka

As we are coming into our southern hemisphere winter, I couldn't resist showing this gorgeous Baby Gap Cargo Parka in Cactus colourway, as seen on Honor Marie Warren back in January. Teamed with jeans and her favourite Sweet Shoe's Sweet Jane's in Metallic Silver, along with her yummy mummy Jessica Alba, isn't she delightful!

The Nanny Diaries - big girl Suri steps out without Mummy or Daddy in JCrew

Can you believe little Suri Cruise will be 4 on Sunday? She looks all grown up on an outing with her nanny (no sign of Mummy Holmes or Daddy Cruise) in NYC earlier this week. Wearing two cute clips in her now very long hair and black ballet flats with socks, Suri is wearing a pretty little JCrew crewcuts Cozy Cotton Tunic Dress in Bright Coral and she is clutching a Webkinz Virtual Velvety Elephant Pet Plush toy - isn't he cute? We found him available online at www.bbtoystore.com or LB Toys website. Thanks to Suri Cruise Clothes Blog for the outfit reference : )

Lester Lampert Absolutely Precious Collection

Last January I referenced another blog and identified the gorgeous hand carved baby shoe charm bracelet that Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt gave to Brad's mother with their children's names sculptured (and not engraved) into the soles as being from Aaron Basha. Though the Aaron Basha charm bracelet is simply stunning, one of my readers (thanks Monica!) has advised me that the actual bracelet given to Mrs Pitt was from Chicago jewellery designer Lester Lampert's Absolutely Precious collection. The difference being that the names are carved in the sole and not simply engraved. You can see the Lester Lampert designs at his website here. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Dannii Minogue - Who Magazine's Most Beautiful - capturing the beauty of a first time pregnancy. Just come back & see me when you are up to #3...

Back in the mid-eighties, every Aussie teenage girl wanted to be Dannii Minogue.

With her big 80's teased hair, funky 80's fashions, singing and dancing up a storm on a Saturday night on Young Talent Time - who didn't want to be Dannii? My sister and I would copy the hair and fashion and sing along with the songs. When Dannii got a perm, we got a perm. If Dannii teased her fringe, we teased our fringes. If Dannii wore a braid, we wore a braid. Why, if Dannii jumped off the Harbour Bridge we would probably have given that a go too.

So now in my late thirties I find myself pregnant at the same time as Dannii - pretty much due around the same time. However, as I sit in my jim jams, feeling bloated & exhausted with bags under my eyes, I am a far cry from emulating 2010 Dannii, even if I tried. Voted this week as Who Magazine's Most Beautiful, deservedly so, Dannii is a perfect poster girl for how attractive a pregnant woman can be - even with the help of a stylist, a bit of lippie and a beautiful dress. Regardless, she looks absolutely fantastic. But then, all first time mum's are beautiful - they have that "glow" you always hear about in pregnancy books. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing - and don't get me wrong, take away all the yucky stuff, I love being pregnant - however I would like to see if Dannii feels just as beautiful after a couple of pregnancies. I must admit, the novelty does tend to wear off just a little. Let me elaborate....

Given that it is her first child (oh, and the fact that she is a super hot pop star!), she has the edge over me anyway because she only has herself to consider, and I do recall when I was pregnant with Gigi that I was all about pedicures and manicures and coffee with friends and running my own business - because it was all about me. I can say that unashamedly because it was fun having everyone make a big fuss over you. I bought all the pretty over sized clothes and dresses, had my hair done and wore lots of makeup. Hubby and I even went on one of those so called babymoons - a weekend away just for the parents-to-be, lots of pampering and massages and good food and quality couple time. Enjoy it while you can, I say, because the second time around, people are less fussed because they figure you have been there, done that, plus you have a cute little toddler to chase around after and it is all about them now. I had sold my business and was alot more casual in my approach to pregnancy - still wore the pretty, billowy dresses and wore a little bit of makeup but did less of the mummy pampering - had the odd pedicure and wore my hair in a ponytail 80% of the time because a trip to the hairdresser with a two year old was all too hard. As for a weekend away, meh, who had the time or the energy or the inclination.

Now I am heading towards the business end of pregnancy number 3 and it's basically just going through the motions this time around. I have a signature pair of loose, stretchy pants, several plain, longline tee shirts in bigger sizes, a range of scarves and a couple of layered cardis and that is pretty much it for me. I am down to a smidge of foundation (mainly to cover and fill wrinkles), but having said that, I always wear blush and lipstick as a rule. Depending on time or if I am in the mood to be bothered, all my other makeup is simply gathering dust in the cupboard. I went for a hair cut the other day and my hairdresser was shocked at how long it was - and funny, I can't remember when I last had a hair cut. You see, this time around we are talking ponytail 99% of the time..

Now don't get me wrong, frock me up, shave my legs, do my hair and makeup and send me to a ball and I would guarantee you I would have a good time and I would have that "pregnancy glow" but for now, I am more than happy to curl up on the lounge with my little chickadees, who love mummy just as she is, and leave the glamour shots to Dannii. But seriously, congratulations Dannii - you have worked hard and I am really happy that you will get to experience motherhood as it is really the best thing in the world and I am sure you will look just as fabulous next time around x

gigi + lulu Stylista - introducing - Bonpoint Flowered & YAM for 12-18 year old mademoiselles

This would have to be one of my favourite floral prints from Bonpoint - their Flowered story, with contrasting darker and lighter prints.

I am also a fan of Bonpoint's YAM collection for 12-18 year olds - my favourite look is No 9 - the Enora dress with matching cardi in ochre. Tres chic!

gigi + lulu Stylista - Down Under Designers - baobab Autumn/Winter 2010

I am an Aussie mum who is proud to support our local children's and babywear designers so I have started a new section in my gigi + lulu - Stylista section to highlight some of our best local talent and I am calling it Down Under Designers. Starting today, one of my new faves - baobab

I am loving the baobab Autumn/Winter 2010 collection for little chickadees - our faves:
  1. baobab "My Purple Heart" Lilac Heart Dress
  2. baobab Blue Stripe Baby Dress
  3. baobab "Fly, fly, butterfly..." Butterfly Envelope T
Available online or in various boutiques Australia-wide - and featured in Shop 4 Kids Magazine February issue - I love the prints and coordinating colours - definitely worth a look : )

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from my family to yours x x x x x
PS: Gigi & Lulu love bunnies (and we see LOTS of them on our farm!) so here are some lovely Easter images, including these adorable bunny slippers, similar to the piggy slippers we saw Suri in this week on Suri Cruise Clothes blog (thanks Natalia x)
PPS: If you want some children's Easter books inspiration, I did a feature last year of my Top 10 Favourite Children's Easter Story Books - check it out here : )

Harlow Winter Kate Madden - Tu-Tu Cutie in Gymboree

We love Harlow Winter Kate Madden and she looks as adorable as ever in her tutu and baby ballet shoes while out in LA with her mummy, Nicole Ritchie. Topped with a Gymboree Two Button Flower Cardi, you can find a great range of baby ballet shoes by Baby Bloch online at Tiny People. I have talked about tutus and pettiskirts by Kaiya Eve in an earlier post but you must check out their Rainbow Pettiskirt for a copycat of Harlow's lovely multi coloured tutu. Just TU-TU CUTE!
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