I heart photo booths

Although my wedding was nearly two months ago now, I still get very excited when I see a great wedding idea.

In the early stages of planning the wedding I fell in love with the idea having a photo booth, I had grand visions of all our friends dressed up in top hats and feather boas posing away all night. It is a great way to get your guests up (and laughing) and it also means you can build up your own photo album of guest pictures.

Unfortunately for us it came down to issues of cost and time, so we didn’t go ahead with the idea (we hired a magician to entertain guests instead – which was a real hit!) but if you’d like to pinch the idea feel free.

What’s got this idea back on my mind is one of my favourite wedding product websites, www.pinkfrosting.com.au, has just released a new product perfect for the DIY photo booth (pictured), which has got me all excited about the idea again. You can now go online and order your own customised backdrop. Presto! Instant photo booth for your friends to pose in front of.

The designs run from traditional to OTT fun, and you get to customise them with your own colours, names and wedding date. You could then use a cheap digital camera on a tripod or provide the guests with disposable cameras to snap away.

Or if you’d like that touch of kitsch you can only get from a genuine old school photo booth – check out www.pushthebuttonphotobooths.com.au or www.perthphotobooths.com.au for two options for hire right here in Perth.

Oh and I suppose you could use the idea for a birthday or anniversary as well…

Women’s secret travel business

We’ve all heard of secret women’s business but who knew Aussie women also have secret travel habits? According to lastminute.com.au, who conducted a survey of more than 800 female travelers, there are some very interesting trends to how women travel.

• For many Aussie women on holidays, mixing with the locals is as important as sightseeing, with 40% of women admitting to having a holiday fling.
• Whilst the majority of these romances fizzled out with the last holiday sunset, more than 10% developed a serious relationship with their holiday honey.
• Of the women lucky enough to score a holiday romance, 15% ended up marrying their holiday hottie, with half of them having children!
• The number one place for women to meet their far-flung fling is over drinks, with one in three holiday romances start at a pub or bar.
• The GFC has encouraged women to use their money wisely with 50% of the ladies finance their trips upfront with hard-earned savings.
• 72% of Aussie women say that travel is an important part of their lives, with almost half asserting that travel is “very important to crucial”.
• A third of women say they travel to experience the world, and one in four want to take a break from their hectic lives for some R&R.
• 15% say they travel to escape mundane reality and embark on an adventure, whilst 10% travel to visit friends and family.

lastminute.com.au spokesperson Mia Carter also says: “Nine out of 10 Aussie women book their domestic holidays online, and just over one in two book their international travel online, and we expect this figure to just keep increasing.

Experience museum week

I am always one to promote a good event and I think the opportunity to promote WA’s museums and other cultural locations one too good to pass up. Today officially heralds the start of Museum and Gallery Week 2010 and the WA museum’s and galleries are definitely getting involved.

International Museum Day began in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Since then it has grown in popularity around the world.  In 2009, it experienced record participation of almost 20,000 museums, who organized activities in more than 90 countries. 
 
Running from May 15 to May 23, Museums Australia WA executive officer Jane King says the week is a good opportunity for WA galleries, museums and cultural centres to talk about what they have on offer. 


“This annual week-long celebration, encompassing International Museum Day, provides the opportunity for Western Australian museums and galleries to showcase their collections and stories to the public while taking part in the global celebration of International Museum Day,” she says.

New ideas in the kitchen

Need some inspiration in the kitchen? I know I do! The June issue of Super Food Ideas has just hit the shelves. At just $2.95 it's a bargain buy I just can't pass up. If you want to save yourself the walk to the newsagents, you can find out the highlights from this issue below.

Freeze ‘n’ easy: Easy recipes you can freeze for another day.

THE MAIN MEAL: Try a meal with less meat! You can save money and help your health by adding more vegies to your diet and even do your bit for the planet.

COOK LIKE A CHEF: Everyone wants to be able to master some new techniques in the kitchen to improve their skills and impress family and friends and this new feature is here to help. This issue it’s four restaurant-style potato dishes with insider tips to teach you how.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: :ittle cooks doing big things Teach kids they can make nachos from scratch – not from jars – the finished result is a healthier version of this family favourite. And stock up the freezer with after-school snacks for hungry kids to feed themselves.

SWEET TALK: Just desserts cook some amazing desserts to keep in the freezer so it’s stocked to satisfy the family’s sweet tooth or to pull out for entertaining at a moments notice.

New Home Beautiful on sale

I am something of a magazine junkie and having edited a homes magazine myself, I definitely have a soft spot for some of the more beautiful magazines on the shelves. So I will definitely keep all my WAstyle readers out there updated on when new mags hit the shelves. Today it is the new issue of Home Beautiful & some of the top stories are listed below...

BONUS BATHROOM SPECIAL
Bid your bathroom blues adieu with the inspirational 34-page guide to creating your dream bathroom.

MILAN INTERNATIONAL FURNITURE FAIR
Direct from Italy, Home Beautiful brings you a trend report from the 2010 Milan International Furniture Fair.

TAKE THE FLOOR
Carpet forms the style foundation of your space and this month Home Beautiful offers a comprehensive selection of cosy carpet schemes.

WINTER WARMERS
Welcome back winter with comfort food for body and soul. Think steaming soups, rich roasts and yummy crumbles - delectable winter classics with a modern twist.

OUR HOMES
This month Home Beautiful brings you 60 pages of  heart-warming homes, each with their own unique appeal. We visit a light and bright Queenslander characterised by classic design, head southwards to Melbourne for a charming Victorian cottage and pop into a stylish 1970s bungalow perched on the sun-kissed vineyards of South Africa.

Robin Hood on the red carpet

Although Robin Hood and his merry men are normally more at home in the depths of the forrest than the red carpet, there is no doubt the stars of the film know how to rock the paparazzi. Check out these pics from Robin Hood's photo call and red carpet premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. How fantastic is Cate’s frock?

Real women for Bobbi Brown

I am a big advocate of advertising campaigns and magazines that feature ‘real women’. Yes I know that in many cases these businesses may only do so for the publicity it gains them – but hey, I like to think the best in everyone. I also think real women campaigns give women a more realistic image to aspire too.

So what do you think of this new campaign from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics? Labelled Pretty Powerful the campaign claims to feature photos and videos of “real women” or “Friends of Bobbi.”

The PR spiel says Bobbi herself is inspired by the women in her life so created this campaign with a three day shoot featuring her friends and staff. To see some of the videos check out www.BobbiBrownCosmetics.com/PrettyPowerful.com.

Bobbi Brown products are available in selected David Jones and Myer stores.

Nightmare on Elm Street? No way!

I have to say it is one of the perks of working in the media that I get invited to a lot of movie preview screenings. I am a movie buff through and through and I love getting to see films before I hear too many things about them in the media and either already know what to expect or have unrealistic expectations.

That said, when I received the invitation for this film this week, my first thought was unequivocally that there was no way I was going to see this film. I would rather run down St Georges Terrace in my pyjamas than go to see this movie. I am just not good at scary movies and I will never understand the appeal of paying good money to scare myself witless. A Nightmare on Elm Street? There will certainly be nightmares on my street if I saw this one.

What about everyone else. What kind of movies do you love or hate?

Obsessed with IKEA

I have joined the many millions of people around the world who are obsessed with IKEA. I love the new store they opened at Innaloo, it is like a wonderland of amazing things all designed to make our house and life a better place. The fact that each item may take a full Saturday just to unpack and put together often doesn't even factor in to my buying decisions.

I went there on the Easter long weekend and it was a good think we didn't have a lot of time (car breakdown - long story) to shop or I think I would have brought home half the store instead of just the chest of drawers I went there to get. As it was I also 'had to have' a heap of other drawer related accessories like handy organiser inserts to go into the drawers to keep my underwear in all near little compartments. Oh - and we didn't end up buying the drawers we went there for that were on sale, but a completely different set. You will have to agree these are pretty stylish though.

So what about everyone else? Am I alone in my IKEA obsession or is there some other kind of homewares that sends you weak at the knees?

New nature range for bubs

I am a big fan of natural products. We are exposed to enough hazardous chemicals in our every day lives without purposefully rubbing even more of them onto our skin. But what about kids? 

I am not a mum myself, but if I was I think I'd be even more concerned about what was in the products I was using and it seems like I am not the only one. I was interested to hear the story of a mum who is now marketing her own range of natural skincare for babies released around Australia this month.

Nature Within is a range of unscented, natural, organic skin care specifically developed for a baby’s sensitive skin and new to the market this month. Nature Within was created by Gold Coast based mother of two, Nadine Hall. Both Nadine’s children suffered with eczema and when looking for baby products tailored to sensitive skin she noticed that most contained essential oils or synthetic fragrances, which can irritate a baby’s delicate skin. 

So, as a qualified aromatherapist and certified infant massage instructor, she decided to set about developing an organic skincare brand made using pure, simplified ingredients, just for babies. After three years of research and product development and working in conjunction with a cosmetic chemist, the Nature Within brand was born.  

Childless - not by choice

With the prevalence of childlessness rising rapidly, most of us know at least one person who is childless - not by choice.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about a quarter of women in their reproductive years are never likely to have children; and by 2011, couples without children are projected to outnumber those with children. When you consider these alarming statistics, it comes as no surprise that Australia’s birth rates are also at all an all-time low but what is the reasoning?

Is it due to a decline of social pressures to settle down and have children, failure of fertility treatment, underlying medical reasons or simply not meeting the right partner? These untold stories are the focus of the new book, An Inconceivable Notion, edited by Justine Davies.

Last chance for Queen Mary 2

Queen Mary 2’s history-making visit to Perth in March this year as the biggest ship to ever visit the WA capital has sparked interest for the megaliner’s return to Fremantle next year. 

Bigger than 25,000 African male elephants and towering 23 storeys, the grand, 3000-passenger Queen Mary 2 boasts 13 bars, 10 restaurants, five pools, an 8000-book library, the first planetarium at sea and a grand ballroom.

If you've ever wanted to cruise from Africa to Perth, 2011 is your year with the 12 night voyage taking bookings now. Until May 14, 2010, Cruise Express is offering cabins on Queen Mary 2 for her encore visit to Western Australia available from $3339 per person, twin-share, departing Cape Town February 5, 2011, and arriving in Fremantle on February 17 after visiting Durban and exotic Mauritius.

Contact Cruise Express on 1300 766 537, email cruiseexpress@travelations.com.au or visit www.cruiseexpress.com.au

The new handbag essential

Have you ever had an urgent nail emergency or discovered an eyebrow hair gone rogue without a tweezer in sight? Well Wenger thinks they have the answer with the woman's equivalent of the Swisse Army Kife.

Stylish and petite enough to fit in a clutch at under 7cm, the Wenger Nail Clip 580, is the ideal expanding ‘survival’ tool you can pull out of your handbag in one fell swoop.

Iron Man 2 tops box office

I have to admit Iron Man didn't really rock my world, although I did see it on a plane, but perhaps I am alone in that. Certainly the box office results for Iron Man 2 suggest I may be. 

In it's opening day at the Australian box office the movie took $1.81 million making it the biggest opening day so far in 2010 and the biggest ever opening day for a Marvel film.

The first Iron Man took $1.16 million in its opening day and went on to make $20 million at the Australian box office and more than $572 million world wide. 

The film is definitely not short on start power with the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow as well as the additions of Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson.

Donna Hay does it again

If you're anything like me the idea of cooking for a group sends cold shivers down my spine. Yes, I admit I am a decent cook - when I have the time but catering for a group just seems a bit too much to tackle.

I guess Donna Hay felt the same (or her friends do) because she published a cookbook guaranteed to save reluctant entertainers like me. Check out the new softcover version of Instant Entertaining, released just in time for mothers day (coincidence? I think not!). RRP $39.99

Wishing you were here?

Can you believe Club Med has just turned 60? What started out in the 50s with tents and huts is now synonomous with luxury - think butler services, luxurious suites, incredible views & pina coladas.

I have to say receiving these images by email did make me have a 'wishing I was here' moment - from the lounges alongside sun-drenched pools to the roaring fireplace in the snow-covered chalet. Any of these places would suit me fine. Oh well, will satisfy myself with wishing Club Med a happy birthday and making myself a cocktail. Mojito anyone?

Mmmm... choc tops

It wasn't long ago that it seemed the humble choc bomb was on the chopping block so I am a little unreasonably excited that Event Cinemas have not only saved the Choc Bomb they are running a competition to choose their next 'designer choc top flavour'.

Obviously I am not alone in my enthusiasm for the humble cinematic snack as more than 10,000 people entered the "This is my Choc Top" competition. Now it is up to us to choose the winner from the three short-listed entries. Rainbow Rockstar is rainbow ice-cream with mini marshmallow, Cofeecrunch uses coffee ice-cream mixed with chocolate biscuits and caramel ripples while the Triple Choc Tango is choc fudge ice-cream teamed with choc chips and white chocolate ripples.

Prince of Persia - are we excited yet?

Before you dismiss Prince of Persia out of hand, I must tell you this movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal getting hot and sweaty in the desert wearing chainmail and not much else. Got your attention now? Great. For those readers as old as me, you may or not remember Prince of Persia as a video game, where gamers had to try and surmount a range of 'princelike challenges'.

Despite the fact Persia actually doesn't exist any more, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films are about to bring us the new film Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Described in the press release as: "Truly an out of this world and engaging tale filled with amazing gravity-defying stunts" this film release May 27.

Check out the trailer showing the story of the film here or the stunts reel here and let WAstyle readers know what you think. Trash or treasure?

Are you a celebrity stalker?

I use the word stalker quite loosely here (really I do) but I sometimes wonder if living in the media-soaked environment we do that living in WA - a state completely berefit of local celebrities of any kind - when we leave our sheltered home we turn into feindish celebrity stalkers. Or maybe that's just me. Please tell me I am not alone?

I recently returned from a trip to New York and now I intend to shamelessly name drop all the celebrities I had the pleasure to stalk see from a safe and respectful distance. The first and definitely the best on my list was Scarlett Johansson. I had the great pleasure of seeing Scarlett Jo and Liev Schreiber in their final Broadway preformance of A View From The Bridge. This show was absolutely fantastic. It was also an experience in itself to hang around at the 'stage door' outside the cinema for the celebrities to emerge.

When in Rome

There is something just irresistible to me about a romcom (romantic comedy for those uninitiated of you out there). Granted, some of them can be done badly - but rarely do they fail to fill their role as light entertainment guaranteed to put a smile on your face as you leave the cinema.

There is no doubt When in Rome fits the bill. I saw the preview of this last week and if anything, this is better than most films in this category. It has some really genuine laugh out loud moments, the story has a few original spots and it has the handsome Josh Duhamal (Fergie's husband) to ensure your eyes stay on the screen. Even my husband was moderately entertained. 

I think I was also especially interested in this film as I was actually in Rome myself in the Easter week and New York the week after so seeing these two cities on film, was really interesting. 

A great movie for a lighthearted girls night or to take your mum.