Happiness- A Destination or Emotion?

While watching an episode of One Tree Hill a while ago, I found myself having to press the pause button after one of the characters spoke about an interesting theory which transcends beyond the realm of TV. The episode explored the question “what comes next?” after one major chapter of your life ends and a new one begins. Where do we go from there?

"Happiness is not a destination. It is a mood, it is not permanent. It comes and goes and if people thought that way then maybe people would find happiness more often.

People get lost when they think of happiness as a destination. We're always thinking that some day we'll be happy. We will get that car or that job or that person in our lives that will fix everything. But happiness is a mood. And it's a condition not a destination. It's like being tired or hungry. It's not permanent. It comes and goes and that's okay. And I feel like if people thought of it that way, they'd find happiness more often."

After thinking about the theory, I now wonder if most of us look at happiness the wrong way. Do the majority see happiness as a destination? Happiness is an aspiration we all work towards, with the line of thought generally being “if I work hard and live with integrity, happiness will surely follow”.

But what if we instead looked at happiness more as an emotion? Would we seek it in a different way, or change our expectations?

While thinking I came to realise that I, like most of us fall in and out of happiness countless times every day. Sure, the kind of happiness we're all searching for is a little more withstanding, but nothing lasts forever and specific levels of happiness certainly don't. So if happiness was an emotion, like feeling hungry or sad, then maybe things would make more sense and we wouldn’t go around feeling disappointed when things turn a little crappy every now and then.

I know for me, happiness comes in a million different forms. Blogging makes me happy, as do chocolate, flowers and hearing a toddler laugh. Sure there are things that make me happier for longer and more consistent periods of time, like having a job I love and being in love, but it's the little things, the mundane things that occur unexpectedly every day that sometimes feel the best.

If I'm being honest, so many areas of my life make me feel like I'm lost in a maze, going around and round in circles with no clear end in sight, but then I'll look at the biggest part of my personal happiness- my sisters, family and friends and I realise that they're the one consistent part of my world that brings true happiness. The rest is just a bonus! 

For The Ladies...

For all those times when you're in need of a smile...

Enjoy! 

I've Got A Crush...



[ ...on when masculine meets feminine ]



[ ...on walls of art ]

[ ...on beautiful coffee table books ]



[ ...on a little bit of lace ]



[ ...on new Hollywood glamour ]

[ ...on unexpected beauty ]



[...on never having enough gold ]



[...on the Eames chair I will one day own ]



[...and on the leopard print shoes I already have in my wardrobe ]

 

The Wise Say It Well...

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best"

YouTube Magic

They've been going around the Internet for days now and have become so popular that clips of their performances are all over YouTube's homepage. So what is it about 2 little girls in pink tutus that have caused such a stir? If you don't already know, click below to find out...
(*performance starts at 3mins25secs)

Sometimes I wonder where we'd be without the invention of YouTube and other similar entertainment mediums? Shows like Ellen for one would be without countless hours of Internet-based content and little 8-year-old girls like Sophie would still be singing into hairbrushes in front of their bedroom mirrors. Justin Beiber would be your average teenage boy and we as consumers would probably find ourselves with a lot more time on our hands to do the more 'important' things in life.

YouTube has launched careers, escalated business profit margins and essentially provided a medium whereby anyone and everyone has the potential to become a star. Today it seems that your average 15 minutes of fame is more like 15 seconds, but even that seems to be an appealing prospect for thousands, if not millions of people who have created a videos and posted their finest (or most embarrassing) moments.

YouTube is in many respects an extension of the reality-TV epidemic and if nothing else, it provides a free platform for ordinary people with exceptional talents to showcase them to the world. Just like many aspiring music artists before her, I have no doubt that we have not yet seen the end of Miss Sophie, with her big voice and even bigger personality. Watch out world- a new YouTube diva has just been born!

Bloom-ing Amazing...

It was a cosy night-in a couple of months ago, when my cousin and I sat down next to an open fire and watched Jeff Leathams TCL hit Flowers Uncut.

It was the first time I’d seen the show, but my cousin, who is in her own right an incredibly talented florist, was excited to show me the unique style and endless possibilities when your budget is limitless.

Leatham’s show documents his team’s journey, as they add colour and floral finishes to world-class events worthy of royalty. From Paris’ Palace of Versailles to the luxurious Four Seasons George V Hotel, Leatham’s style is the perfect mix of simplicity, beauty and elegance as he combines clean finishes with solid blocks of colour.

While trawling through his website, I was literally tied up for hours flicking through his portfolio in amazement. Although his repertoire essentially consists of only using 5-6 different varieties of flowers, he is able to constantly arrange them in a way which brings individuality to each event. Here is a small collection of some of his most beautiful designs and while I tried incredibly hard to cull, I'm sure you'll soon understand my dilemma...



[ Eva Longoria-Parker's Wedding]



[ Flavio Briatore]

[ Suzy Menkes and Wynn Opening Gala ]

[ Aspen Wedding ]

[ Newport Beach Wedding ]

[ Dom Perignon ]

Post-It Perfection...

Who would have thought that such a breath-taking display of creativity could all stem from the humble Post-It note?

Each time I watch this clip I can't help but notice different patterns and designs, as I struggle to fathom the countless hours which went into creating such a spectacle. 

One of the reasons I love this clip is because from the moment I watched it, I was instantly transported back to a small town I visited in Italy, called Verona. Aside from being home to a replica of the Colosseum, it's also where the balcony made famous by Romeo and Juliet resides.

Every day, hundreds of people visit the courtyard where the balcony and a much-loved statue of Juliet can be found. As seen in the pictures I took below, the walls of the courtyard entrance are covered in messages, pledges and love notes from people seeking luck in love.

Speed Dating Uncovered...

As a singleton for the majority of my adult life, I've always been intrigued with the complexities and etiquette of Speed Dating. Armed with my close friend, (who on the night was referred to numerous times as my "wingman"), I decided to take the plunge and tick off number 9 on my list of 25 Things To Do Before I'm 25.

In the days leading up to my first Speed Dating experience, I found the reactions of my friends and colleagues fascinating when I mentioned how I would be spending my Friday night. Most were a little stunned at my attempt to do something so taboo, while others laughed in disbelief or contrastingly sat in anticipation for more details. Regardless of their reactions however, very few of them were willing to put their hand up and come along.

My mentality leading into this social experiment was simple. I would consider myself a 'normal', creative, interesting young woman with plenty to offer a partner...I just happened to be single. In my mind, it didn't seem unrealistic to assume that I'd surely meet other young men, who for whatever reason were single too. I hadn't thought that was too much to expect, right?

Apparently, I was wrong!

Friday night rolled around and I had picked up my wingman on my way into the city. When we arrived, we were confronted by a rather sterile space with sparse seating and dim lighting. The host sat us down at our own tables and offered us champagne. I'm not a big drinker, but at the time, a glass of whatever was on offer would have gone down perfectly. As potential dates came streaming in, I felt like a preened puppy on display at a local dog show. I suppose everyone was looking for that instant connection with someone before the 8 minute speed dates commenced, but instead all I found myself doing was glancing over at my friend who amusingly had "get me the hell out of here" written all over her face. Her sudden lack of enthusiasm was somewhat amusing.

However, I was determined to have a good (and at the very least interesting) time, so I threw all my preconceived ideas out the window and went into each date open minded. If there weren't any emotional or romantic connections, I figured there was the potential for a friendship or two?

The group of men were diverse to say the least. There was a landscaper, a physiotherapist, an IT consultant, an advertising project officer, a music teacher and an unemployed driving instructor.

Heading into my first 8 minutes with bachelor number 1, I tried to steer clear from having a set approach to each date, but to rather let things happen as naturally as possible, like a normal conversation I'd have with the guy who makes my coffee in the morning or packs my groceries at the supermarket. I didn't want to feel like I was interviewing the guy and I didn't want him to feel like he was being interrogated. However, I soon realised that when you're sitting a foot away from a person who's giving you one-word answers and isn't initiating any conversation, that's a hard rule to stick to!

My personality and the skills I've learnt through life experiences and employment opportunities have made it easy for me to converse with most people, irrespective of where they're from or what they do. In the realm of Speed Dating, it was like I had a full house and I knew I was going to win! Unfortunately, some of the men I met looked like they had lost the hand before even sitting down at the table.

1 glass of champagne, 3 canapes and 8 dates later, we handed in our 'interested or not' cards to the host and awaited to hear contact from potential matches over the following days. Desperate for a debrief, my friend and I avoided further awkwardness and left shortly after the formalities concluded.

It's unfortunate that I didn't have a more positive experience Speed Dating, because I'd love to be in the position where I could confidently say to other single friends "go for it, it's a fun night and you never know what could happen?". I suppose I can still say that, but I truly believe the success of an event like Speed Dating is heavily based on finding the right night for you. Being able to identify the 'type' of person you're looking for and pick an appropriate night to accommodate your interests, is going to significantly increase your chances of finding a match.

Call me crazy, but if someone invited me to another Speed Dating night, I think I'd probably accept. Speed Dating provided me with the opportunity to meet and talk to people I would never interact with in my usual circle of friends. Sometimes when you've exhausted your option in an environment which is familiar and safe, throwing yourself into something new can surprisingly bring unexpected results. Or, at the very least provide you with a great story to share at your next dinner party!

Don't Settle...

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."  

The September Issue

After months of hearing reviews about Vogue's documentary The September Issue, directed by R.J Cutler, I finally managed to sit down and indulged in a little in fashion education of my own.

The film follows Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of US Vogue magazine and her editorial team as they work towards creating their annual and highly anticipated September issue.With a single nod of her head, Wintour has the ability to make or break a new designers career or alternatively have the world stop and take notice. If you make it into Vogue, you've made it in fashion and the September issue is the piste de resistance, weighing almost as much as a telephone book.

For years Wintour was seen as a poker faced fashion magnate, who's look was never complete without a fringed bob, floral dress and over sized shades. Then Hollywood made The Devil Wears Prada, a film in which Wintour was the inspiration for Meryl Streep's character, Miranda Priestly. The Devil Wears Prada, as expected, is heavily embellished and over exaggerates the relentless and unrealistic demands of Wintours perceived persona. However, I found relief in discovering that Wintour is far from the monster she's made out to be but rather a smart, savvy and incredibly respected business woman who has excelled at her job for over 20 years. The September Issue reinforces the fact that to survive in a cut-throat industry such as fashion, where one day you're in and then next you're out, you have no choice but to play hard-ball or go home.

Watching Wintour as she tours design studios, critiquing as she goes, it becomes quite clear just how influential her opinion is. When she asks the chief designer at Yves St. Laurent where the colour was in his Winter collection, he tries to pass off a dark green as "emerald", while Prada's pieces were considered "too heavy". Needless to say, Wintour was not impressed and both fashion houses returned to their sketch pads.

"Fashion is a religion.

Vogue is the bible."
- Anna Wintour

Without a doubt though, the documentary is lifted by Vogue Creative Director, Grace Coddington who contradicts every expectation you'd have of someone who works in fashion. Fiery red hair, sans make-up, flat sandals and a frumpy black dress is Grace's signature look, but it's her impeccable eye for editorial spreads and artistic vision which is sheer brilliance. Coddington creates while Wintour edits and it's their constant daily tussles over the right balance of art and commerce which has made Vogue the institution it's been for over 2 decades.

[Wintour and Coddington at Paris Fashion Week 2008]

In a world which millions of fashionistas would die to have access to, Wintour's daughter, Bee Shaffer, a law student is candid about her inability to understand the obsession her mother and much of the world has with fashion. To her, clothes are a necessity of life, rather than being a motivation for life. It's a reality which at times is uncomfortable to watch but provides an intriguing balance to a rather superficial world.

[Wintour and Shaffer]

For me, the value of this documentary is how it validates fashion as art and the sheer beauty of whats  being created by Coddington. Women don't buy Vogue to dress like the models, they buy it for fashion inspiration and an indulgence into a world that most of us will never experience. Couture is impractical but Vogue provides insight into the fairytale world of fashions most cutting edge and at times, bazaar creations. In my opinion, anyone that's expecting more of a fashion magazine is asking to be disappointed. However, this documentary for me, did not disappoint and anyone with a slight interest in fashion or editorial magazines for that matter, should check it out.