Possibly the best coverline I have ever read

I had heard murmurs about this one, but, not until I saw it for myself did I actually believe it.

On the front page of The Daily Telegraph today the coverline read this: ‘This is one bash that Corey didn’t organise’.

Pure gold I tell you. I know you probably don’t care too much about what this lame 16 year old is up to this week. So if you want to know exactly what happened then you can find out by clicking here.

Otherwise I’ll chat to you tomorrow.

Peace out,

Girl Next Door xox

Blatant promo

Promos for my fave sites, on-the-minute updates for my beloved readers - however you want to look at it these websites will have you click-happy before you can say World Wide Web!

If you love magazines then you'll absolutely LOVE this blog. Readers of Girl Next Door meet Girl With a Satchel.
The reason I am pointing you into the direction of this blog is that I have just realised that I am on this blog pretty much every single day of the week. It's just so damn addictive!



Erica, a Sydney based (soon to be Brisbane based) writer gives us her take on what the glossies are up to each month. Including all the info you need to know about magazines around the world and more; it'll have you blowing off your usual mag purchase and spending your spare change on a bag o' lollies instead!

If you're after an entertaining and honest opinion on your fave mag then head straight to Girl With a Satchel. Us Girls have got to stick together!

Another one of my faves...
beautyheaven.com.au
These chicks know everything there is to know about beauty and much, much more! An online magazine with a difference! Beautyheaven is more of a community than an online magazine.



They want to keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest to hit the beauty shelves, events - such as product launches and tips and tricks that will keep you busy for hours on end! Don't miss the daily Editor's Update with Ed, Tracey - a very enjoyable and informative read! Check it out now by clicking here.

What websites are you hearting right now? Any blogs you are obsessed with? I'd love to know about them!

Peace out,

Girl Next Door xox

The biggest day of my year……so far

Before I begin I have to tell you that I am still getting over this massive day! Luckily the next one is (app.) 365 days away!

I’ll take you through the motions and hopefully get you as excited as I was from start to finish.

Thursday afternoon: Jumped out the office and skipped all the way to the bus stop singing along to any possible band that could be playing the following day. Grinspoon, Rage Against the Machine, Faker, Uncle were blasting out of my I-pod like I hadn’t heard them in years.
I pounced into my lounge room just as my boyfriend had started to compile the CD for our bus ride into Homebush. After dancing round the lounge room for about 2 hours I decided it was time to get my outfit together and eat something – get some good nutrients for the day ahead.

Thursday night: as I lay in bed tossing and turning for most of the night I was finding it really hard to sleep. It was a very still and humid night but all I could think about was the morning. When it finally was morning I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I made it through the night and it was time to party and boogie on down to my favourite bands. Big time.

Friday morning: Another long trip to the BDO – not because Homebush is a long way from the Northern Beaches, but because our bus didn’t seem to like us and broke down half way there (see below pic). After waiting an hour and a half for another one to turn up; we were on our way!



Faker was blasting through the main stage as we rocked up. And let me tell you it was definitely worth the 4 months, long night sleep and broken down bus ride wait. They rocked out the stage and before I could text ‘wher r u’ to my boyfriend the next band was on its way.



Most of the day was spent walking round trying to find people (which is one of the downers of going somewhere like BDO) coz when you try and find someone it’s usually when your fave band is playing! Doh!

Friday afternoon: Grinspoon were by far the BEST performance of the day (nothing short of their usual performances.) Utterly amazing. Phil was doing his thing and getting the crowd going with one hit after the next, Hard Act To Follow, Sweet As Sugar – OMG I could listen to Grinspoon all day! They were shortly followed by Hilltop Hoods and then the next act I saw was Rage Against The Machine – the last act and one of the best. By this time the stadium was full of people rocking out to the sounds of this once in a lifetime opportunity!

All in all a really fun day – it wasn’t my faveourite Big Day Out but was still up there! The only let down was when we found out that Bjork – (who is that chick anyways?) had pulled out at the very last minute. Such bad form, if you ask me. As a result of this the other acts were switched round and we didn’t really know when what band was on.

Phew!

Did I mention I’ve got Good Vibes in a couple of weeks? Festival season is officially on!

Peace out,

Girl Next Door xox

Snack time, anyone?

Girl Next Door loves nothing more than a yummy snack that she (as someone who is allergic to virtually everything) can enjoy and tell everyone she knows about!

Today I was lucky enough to try the very delicious and very enjoyable range of Whole Kids Certified Organic products. I have seen these in the supermarket both at Coles (health food section) and Macro and I have to say I have always skipped straight past them because of the fact that the brand is aimed towards children. But as it happens this range is seriously yummy and definitely not just for kids - I have already eaten two packets of the Organic Sultanas and 2 packets of the Organic Popcorn in Sea Salt flavour and Manuka Honey flavour (perfect when you need a little sugar hit to get you through the afternoon!).



This stuff tastes so good and the best thing about it is it’s just so good for you at the same time! With no artificial flavours, colourings, additives or preservatives it’s no wonder my face doesn’t go puffy as it does with regular sultanas and other snacks with foreign ingredients.
The popcorn is just so moreish and all products are certified organic which helps you do your bit for the environment! Warning: You can’t stop at one packet of any of their products!
Then there’s the Organic Corn Chips which come in two flavours - original and cheese. I’ll be using the original ones tonight to use on my home-made nachos! As for the cheese flavour my work colleagues seemed to demolish theirs and gave me their thumbs up!
Overall a very light and enjoyable snacking range with cute-as packaging that will keep you satisfied til your next meal. Pick these guys up at your local supermarket in the snack aisle or if you want to check out the rest of their range head to their website by clicking here. You can also order in bulk online.

Peace out,

Girl Next Door xox

P.S Big Day Out details to come.

Be the Queen of Fashion with to-your-door unique vintage threads

We all know how much I love a good bargain and a unique one at that. There’s nothing worse than purchasing a gorgeous piece of clothing or accessory and then wearing it out one night only to find that five of your friends own exactly the same thing. Sound more than familiar? Do I have the party for you!

Ever been to a make-up party? Bessemer party (or sat in on one of your mum’s)?
How about hosting your own vintage party? Introducing Vintage Queen: Mobile Vintage Fashion Service. You and your friends can enjoy a canapé and shop til you drop – in your own loungeroom! You don’t pay for Vintage Queen to come to your house. You only pay for what you buy. Talk about value for money!

This month Vintage Queen has a special offer as well! If you book a vintage party before February, every host will receive a FREE piece of vintage jewellery! It doesn’t get any better than this girls! So grab your friends, some spare cash and a dozen pink cupcakes and get in contact with Vintage Queen!
In the meantime Girl Next Door caught up with Nadine, one of the masterminds behind this new and exclusive brand.

GND: So, how did you come up with the idea for Vintage Queen?
N: Vanessa (the other mastermind behind V.Q) and I met at the beginning of 2007 at uni. We discovered we were both lovers of the vintage world. We were always cutting our lectures to go op-shopping and we both love the fashion industry, so we decided we could make something of it.

GND: How did the name Vintage Queen come about?
N: The name Vintage Queen to us stands out and acknowledges status. We wanted to be unique and the best at what we do, Vintage Queen represents that.
Vintage Queen is not only a service but can also be a learning experience for people as they become interested in vintage trends. We wanted to extend our services and style tips to those wanting to experience something a little different! It was a concept we just adopted over time which eventually became a reality.

GND: Where do you purchase the vintage finds?
N: We look at ‘finding’ as bit of an adventure, at the moment it’s still locally based but we're hoping to start venturing out to other states and definitely overseas.

GND: What is your vision for the next 12 months for Vintage Queen?
N: To keep up-to-date with on-season collections and trends, to start discovering vintage treasures in other states and last but not least to hold vintage parties regularly.

GND: How do I host my own party?
N: Bookings can be made through our myspace or our email address
Myspace: www.myspace.com/vintagequeen_
Email: vintagequeen1@yahoo.com.au

Peace out,

Girl Next Door xox

Pretty, happy, fun things…

We interrupt this blog for an important announcement...
May Heath Ledger rest in peace. Some people don’t think they belong in this world, it doesn’t matter how much they are loved or adored something inside them tells them they’re not mean’t to be here. It just goes to show that money does not buy happiness. Although the cause of Ledger’s death is not known as of yet there is a lot of speculation. I am not going to go into that today. If you want to see the full story about Ledger then check out CNN for breaking news updates.

In other news the sun is finally shining in Sydney and the birds are chirping tunes that Mika is only capable of belting out!
It’s a new day and a day where anything can happen. You could get a new job, your best friend could get engaged, your boss could be turning 30 tomorrow (yes, that’s my boss!). There are so many beautiful things in this world but sometimes we just need to be reminded of them. You know what a lot of mine are, you’ve forgotten? O OK, I’ll refresh your memory - my family, my boyfriend, my friends, my pink teddy, my passion for life and my work, fluffy animals, steaming hot bubble baths, strawberries and cream, mangos, Sara Lee French Vanilla ice cream, warm sunny days, pink sunsets, sunrises over the ocean, compliments, BIG DAY OUT – ooh and my Disney Couture bracelet - I could go on forever!
But enough about me - What do you love about your life? What is beautiful to you? I’d love to hear all your stories. They’ll brighten up my day x 10,00000!!

Peace Out,

Girl Next Door xox

One of the reasons I live for January’s in Oz...

...used to be the weather - but since that has gone out the window, I’ve had to resort to the next best thing...FESTIVALS!
But, Big Day Out is the one that I plan my entire year around.
As the festival I live for is only sleeps away (5 to be exact) I have decided to take you through a couple of Big Day’s that I have experienced already.

The first year I went to Big Day Out(January 2005) I was a little sceptical. Having only been to one festival before (Homebake, December 2004) I was even a little scared. My friends had told me that BDO was so much bigger (and better) than Homebake as there was so much more room, a hell of a lot more people and a much broader array of bands/DJ’s. The first (of many BDO’s to come) was one of the best days of my life! Bands, DJ’s, friends, fun, fun, fun!
Big Day Out # 2: January 2006. This was the first time I’d gone to BDO with my boyfriend and it was his first time at BDO. I popped his bubble and escorted him through the whole day and guess what? He loved it so much he went back year (2007: see next photo) after year (2008: Photo TBC) with me.

If you hadn’t realised already; I am addicted! Last year, I added Good Vibes to the mix and this year I'll be adding one more to my list; V Festival. So, what is it that I love so much about festivals? Truthfully?
It’s an experience.

The bands and DJ’s, they’re definitely part of the reason I love it but they’re not everything. It’s the amount of excitement that builds months, weeks and days before the actual day. When our friends hire out an entire bus to get us from our sheltered Northern Beaches suburbs to the other side of Sydney, the pumping music, the adrenalin rushing through us and then, finally we're there. The sun is shining and the bands are playing off in the distance. Awaiting our arrival.

Wow, the excitement is killing me now!

Damn, I’ve still gotta get through 5 sleeps....

Watch this space for fresh and exciting photos from Big Day Out 2008.

Peace Out,

Girl Next Door xox

Celebrity Baby Boom…….the new black?

The latest must-have accessory to hit the streets of Hollywood sounds a little something like this, ‘Goo-goo ga-ga, Mommy.’

Don’t worry I haven’t been admitted into rehab but have just realised how ‘cool’ it is right now to be pregnant and famous in Hollywood. I hate admitting this but I’m one of those people who watches my fave celebrities every move (I’m talking Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, Jessica Alba), When I see a photo of them in a magazine and they’ve been to, let’s just say a music festival dressed in some hotted up attire I find myself picking out my outfit for Big Day Out and trying to match up my entire ensemble to one of the before mentioned celebs.
Nicole Richie has a Disney Couture Alice in Wonderland wrap around bracelet, so I wanted a Disney Couture Alice in Wonderland wrap around bracelet. Jessica Simpson’s clip-in Hairdo hair extensions? Yep, I’ve had two of them. And now it seems as if the whole of Hollywood have taken a leaf out of my book and copied eachother. First it was Nicole’s announcement of her pregnancy, then there was Christina’s not-so-public announcement of her pregnancy. Next up to the pedistool was Jessica Alba, Nicole Kidman and now Britney Spear’s younger sister Jamie-Lynn has joined the crowd. I think we have officially found the generation that would do anything because someone else did it first (i.e if a celebrity told you to jump off the Harbour Bridge, you probably would). Have celebrities just made it cool for us to be pregnant at 20-something? Not that it's a bad thing in any shape or form. If I do have children myself I would prefer it to be when I'm in my 20's. Do you think that celebrities try and set examples for their younger fans? Do you ever do something just because a celeb has done it first? Do celebrities really shape how we think and feel about a situation this big? Leave me a commment and let me know your thoughts!

Peace Out,

Girl Next Door xox

P.S Picture (right) of Jessica Alba is hardly a bump but first emerging pictures (she's due in April).

P.P.S My Congrats go out to Nicole Richie and Joel Madden for the birth of their baby girl, named Harlow Winter and Christina Aguilera and her hubby Jordan Bratman for the birth of their baby son, named Max Liron Bratman - Liron is Hebrew for 'my song' (typical) or 'my joy' (don't even try and act suprised!). Once again the celebs have made us gag in the naming of their children. I guess we should just be glad there's no Banana's in there? Way too many a's and n's in that one ; )

How did we ever live without the WWW?

Seriously.
Let’s just all stop what we're doing and think for a minute how much The World Wide Web has changed society.
We have access to paying bills, online shopping, our fave magazines, news, weather, booking flights, booking accommodation, job searching, writing to loved ones who we never have time to see (or live O.S), share photos and might I add we can utilise these things ANYWHERE in the entire world. I mean, do we even need to leave our desks anymore? We have everything at our fingertips, why the heck would we have to?
Most of my day is spent surfing the internet (for work related reasons of course) with the occasional Poke or Superpoke to one or five of my friends.

This brings me to my first point - trends and how fast they are formed on the internet. They are formed so quickly that we can barely keep up with them. One minute it’s the invasion of-our-lives Myspace - where everyone wanted to show everyone else how creative they could make their ‘page’. Bulletins were being posted every 5 minutes with anything from quizzes, new photos to RIP messages from people who have lost loved ones. The sharing of our personal lives phenomenon had begun and shortly after everyone had got into the groove of their Myspace page; along came Facebook, which spread quicker than you can say ‘What’s your Myspace address?’

Friends from primary, high school, even that guy you pashed and you only realised it was him when he ticked how he knew you (‘We hooked up and it was the best I’ve ever had’) hhmmmmm.

Facebook is now the official site for young singles or non-singles who want to keep in contact with their current group of friends or catch up with old ones. There’s a group for just about everything you can possibly imagine, my current faves are ‘I still love Britney Spears’ and ‘addicted to magazines’ not only do these groups tell everyone what you do and don’t believe in but they give you the freedom to ‘say’ whatever you want, so even if your boyfriend doesn’t want to talk about Britney’s latest hospitalisation you still have someone to ‘talk’ about it with! I’d even go as far as saying that Facebook almost makes you feel like a celebrity with all the posting of your photos and happenings in your life! Pure Gold!

But, as much as I do think these sites are borderline invasion-of-privacy they are actually quite fun (and if you’ve got a spare 5 minutes at work you don’t have to stare into space at a blank screen). As long as we stay ‘friendly’ and tasteful and don’t start delving into eachother’s lives too much – keep the private stuff for the home videos people!

Enjoy your weekend,

Girl Next Door xx

What I learn’t in 2007

It may have passed us by in the blink of an eye (no rhyme intended) but 2007 was definitely a year I learn’t a hell of alot. I did complete 3 feature writing courses and learn’t about my writing style and how clear, concise copy should be written. How to grab my reader’s attention in the first sentence, which, hopefully I grasped onto with flying colours and you’re currently still reading this post.

Lesson number one: Being happy is the most important thing in life. If you’re not happy then where does that leave you? Unhappy, which then leads to depressed, unmotivated and uninspired. These things are a major part of my life and affect how I act as a person, how I think, how I interact with people and the situations I find myself in. When I decided I needed a change and left my dream magazine job I made a hop, skip and a jump into the radio corner of the media arena, once there though, I found out what unhappy was. Coming home most days of the week, upset and angry, it took me 3 months to realise the pain I was feeling was actually not normal. It had to end just as soon as it had begun. So I gave my week’s notice and was outta there before you could say ‘Next!’. Then, out of the blue I landed a job back in the magazine arena - coincidence? I think not!

Lesson number two: It’s OK to step out of your comfort zone. Waking up, going to work, having lunch, coming home, having dinner, going to sleep and then it happens all over again. The same routine everyday……. But who’s saying it has to be the same routine everyday? There’s no bible with my life planned out, each chapter mapping out every, single day of my life. I can take charge of any situation and do whatever I want! If I want to live overseas I will! If I want to eat that chocolate bar I will! If I want those Bettina Liano jeans then I’ll damn-well have them!

Lesson number three: It’s OK to trust someone even if you don’t understand them. Trying to decipher every problem I have (and everyone else’s) gets me wondering (as you know). I worry about everyone I know and love, especially my family and if they’re upset I am upset x 10,000. I’m sure this is the same for everyone, I try to understand situations even if they don’t involve me. But, sometimes it’s best just to let the people involved trust their instincts and work it out for themselves.

So, I guess all these lessons make me a little wiser for 2008?

2008 will be a year of many more lessons learn't I can feel it in my bones! Do you think everyone learns new things each year?
What do you think Britney learn’t?
Definitely not to look after her kids or herself, that’s for sure. But I have faith and feel that she will pull herself together this year, learning from her mistakes. What about The Spice Girls? They learn’t that friendship really does never end and no matter what happened in the past you can always amend any broken bonds with a zig-a-zig-ahh!

Here's to a year of lessons learn't and shared!
Girl Next Door x

P.S Drop me a line and let me know what lessons you learn't in 2007? Maybe you taught someone you know a lesson they'll never forget? I'd love to hear from you!

Just another day in paradise....

High-rise buildings overlooking half-mile beaches with more palm trees than 'NO VACANCY' signs, sand as white as coconut cream and nothing to think about but what I’m going to have for dinner. Sounds like a recipe for an amazing week away, but why is it that even the simplest of holidays are put to the test?

I am currently sitting on the balcony of the apartment that my boyfriend and I have worked our entire year to get to. Down below me is a very enticing pool and spa that I have used all of once in the week I’ve been here. It seems that as soon as I jetted away from my sunny, calm, beachside town I call home in Sydney that’s exactly where I left the sun, the calm beaches – and the perfect temp.
Arriving at The Gold Coast Airport I was greeted with a fresh spray of rain, it passed before I could get upset but as soon as I was on my transferring bus the rain was back in full-force (did I mention there were gale forced winds? No?), but alas my dreams of sunburn’t skin and long days spent washing away the sand from my feet were shattered, “Seems you’ve all flown right into a cyclone,” said the bus driver. And let me tell you he was not wrong.

I know it’s really bad to let weather affect my moods for my holiday - the one that I’d worked so hard to get to but it’s just such a downer. Especially when I know back at my beachside town there are beautiful 35^C days calling my name.
So, as I sit here on my balcony wondering what the rest of my week away is going to bring me (apart from soggy clothes and frizzy hair) and stare out into the cloudy sky that is slowly turning to a dark shade of grey I wonder (and start to realise) what exactly are the key ingredients for the perfect holiday? Is it in fact all to do with the weather? Do our moods effect how we spend our time and well if the weather’s crap, everything’s crap and let’s just hate the world coz it’s all crap? Or do the perfect ingredients start with whom you’re spending your time with? Does it really matter what you’re doing, where you are and what drink you’re holding in your hand? Well duh - Of course not!

It’s all about who you’re with!

Who makes you smile and wipes the tears from your eyes? I bet whoever just sprung to your mind has nothing to do with the weather…...

So if you’ll excuse me; it’s time for me to go back inside and make the most of who’s in there.

Peace Out,

Girl Next Door xx

P.S Happy New Year Bloggettes. Don’t worry Thoughts will be bigger and better than ever in 2008 so stay tuned!