On A Side Note...

With so many thoughts and so little time to put together comprehensive posts, I've decided to compile a list of things floating around in my head this week...

SPEAK CHIC
We lust after them, we fantasize about owning them and we spend hours pairing them with the perfect outfit in our imagination. They are, of course the designer items that most of us will probably never own.

Despite that reality, my friends and I frequently compare low budget items to pieces we've seen on the catwalk and in doing so, have more than likely pronounced some names horribly wrong. I blame it on exotic European languages that although look fairly straight forward to pronounce, are far from being phonetically correct.

Enter the smart phone app Speak Chic. You may not be able to afford the latest pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, but for $1.99 you can at least say the brand name with the confidence of someone who has a wardrobe full of them. The app spells out each label phonetically, while a voice-over pronounces it with the right inflections and accent.

Trust me, It'll be the hottest fashion accessory this summer!

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TWITTER ME LATER

I wish I could get into Twitter. I love a good gossip magazine, I'm a frequent follower of celebrity shenanigans and I'm already a regular user of Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. So I've been asking myself "why can't someone who's never without their phone get excited about Twitter?" Maybe I just don't have the time to update tweets and therefore find no sense in signing up to view other peoples? Anyway, part of me is glad I haven't been sucked into the vortex of yet another time-wasting social media campaign. But, these may end up being famous last words...

 

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TATTOO SLEEVES- FAD or FASHION?

I've never been a big fan of tattoos. Maybe my attitude towards permanent ink stems from my parents strong disapproval and having their opinions in my ear for my entire life? I'm not the type to say "Ï'd never get a tattoo" but over the past couple of years, it seems as though they are not just becoming more acceptable, but they're also becoming cool.

With shows like Jersey Shore splashed across our screens and more and more celebrities and sports stars getting needle work, it's not surprising that young people are looking up to their idols and getting inspired.

With more and more people regretting their tattoo choices and opting for expensive laser removal procedures, I have no doubt that it's an industry on the rise and one which will be worth millions within the next few years. Hmm...maybe I should start investing...?

[ Australian Football Player, Dane Swan ]



[ Chris Anderson ]



[ David Beckham ]



[ X Factor Australia judges, Guy Sebastian and Ronan Keating ]

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NEW TUNES

She's one of my all time favourites and I'm waiting in anticipation for Alicia Key's new album "Girl on Fire" to drop. However, I'm still undecided on whether or not I like the single, Girl on Fire featuring Nikki Minaj? I think the two artists are a winning combo, but for some reason I just don't think there is enough synergy between the two styles. Maybe it's just one of those tracks that grows on you with time...?

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MICRO LOANS

I first heard about micro-loans while watching a story on an Australian current affairs program. I had heard about the scheme before from the likes of Oprah, but it wasn't until today that I decided to give back to the international community and help change someone else's life.

Here's an excerpt from The Project

"The statistics on global poverty make for sobering reading. 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty - two-thirds of them in the Asia-Pacific region.

Fortunately these days, help in lifting individuals out of poverty is within reach of all of us. Through organisations like Kiva and the Australian-based Good Return over 1 million people have made micro-credit loans to third-world businesses.
Micro-credit was invented by Muhammad Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank. He refers to micro-credit as “trust-based banking”, but with almost 99% of micro-credit loans through Kiva repaid in full, it seems the trust is well placed."

Isabelle Sehoue is a middle aged woman from the small African nation of Benin. Just like anywhere in the world, all women like to get their hair done and Isabelle, a hairdresser by trade, has seen the potential to start up a business in her town which will in turn help support her family. For most women in her situation, it's a lack of seed money that prevents her from getting her business off the ground. I am proud to be a part of a life changing venture in Isabelle and her family's life.

Sometimes, we all forget just how fortunate we are. It's all about maintaining perspective and doing what you can to help make the world a better place. My small donation has helped in a big way.