Stylish Blogger

Just before Christmas I was awarded this little treat: the Stylish Blogger award from the lovely Melynda over at a life less ordinary. I love Melynda's blog and her few sentence blogging style. Sometimes I wish I could keep things down to a few sentences, but alas when I start writing I can never seem to stop! I think this is only my 2nd award in my blogging history so it's pretty special - thanks muchly Melynda!


So here are the rules...
To accept this award, I:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award.


Seven things about me...

1. I love the colour pink - despite some thinking I like black because my wardrobe is a sea of black.

2. I love camping and the outdoors - even though my blog is a bit prissy, I do like to rough it sometimes!

3. I LOVE animals - it's at the point where I can't watch a movie with animals in it (because something bad always happens to them and I cry) and where I've named the local stray dogs!

4. I want to try and save the world - hence the whole 'living in Nepal' thing.

5. I'm half Filipino, half German but was born in Melbourne, Australia - and proud of it!

6. I got married at 22 - that's young isn't it?!

7. I hate jelly - and basically any food of the same consistency! The way it wobbles and shakes....yuck!

Now 15 great blog finds...

1. Lyla Loves Fashion

2. Hello Catherine!

3. Goodnight, dear void.

4. Allister Bee

5. Green tea and red nails

6. Princess in the desert

7. She wore it well

8. The Camilleon

9. The Swede Records

10. What Katie Ate

11. Mila's Daydreams

12. Willow ships

13. Walk the sand

14. ...Sending Postcards

15. Wanderlust for a Glutton

I'm sorry I haven't contacted the new Stylish bloggers...will get onto that soon! I have 2 giant suitcases to currently pack! :S

Read more...

Blog Overload

Lately I've been so overwhelmed by the blogging world and it's lack of boundaries and endless possibilities. I think that's why I've been a bit stumped to blog lately because I see so many people doing such cool and unique things that I wonder what the heck am I doing! My stuff doesn't belong on the web compared to that amazing/creative/stylish/colourful/hand drawn/inspiring blog! So I've gone back to the beginning and the reason as to why I started blogging in the first place: as an escape and outlet from moving from Australia to a little country called Nepal.

Here is some link love of some of the blogs I've been reading lately. No reason for me to keep these lovely things to myself!

Also, I just got a cold and I'm going to Thailand on Sunday. Boo boo, hoo. :-( So I'm drinking crazy amounts of lemon tea!

• Some Kind of Style
  
• Travel in Style
• Green Tea and Red Nails
• Pandora
  
• My Marrakesh
• Passport Glamour
  
• Bikini's and Passports
• All the Pretty Birds
• This is Glamorous
• Hello Catherine!
• The Swede Records

Enjoy!

Read more...

My first blog Award!

I am very honored to receive my first blog award from the lovely lady over at Some Kind of Style. What makes the occassion all the more special is that it was also her first blog awarding for the category of 'Best of Fashion'. It truly has started my August on a good note :) Thank you so much! You can check out the other winners by visiting her blog here or by clicking the photo! xx

Read more...

Happy Weekend!

I think I have left you with enough travel related info this week, so no need for a travel feature Friday! I'm so happy its July and half my work load is finished with coz now I can relax! What are you lovelies up to this weekend? Tomorrow I'm going to visit a school and orphanage just outside of Kathmandu and hopefully play some games with some kidlets! Should be fun!

Happy weekend xx

{pic via cellardoor mag}

Read more...

Gotta Keep Reading

On my '100 things to do and get done' list (mentioned here), I've written that I have to read a book a month for 12 months. The reason why I did that was so that I would get back into the habit of reading, and hopefully after the 2 years I will continue to do it for the rest of my life (ideally)! The books in the photo (don't mind my cat in the background there), are all the books I have finished for the 6 months of this year. I started in January by reading Breakfast at Tiffany's and have now just finished my sixth book, Princess by Jean Sasson.

Well, I am a quarter of the way there to ticking number #11 off my list! Any reading suggestions for the next 6 months?

Read more...

Afternoon Delight // Curves are Back

This new Volkswagen commercial made me laugh last night...

One day, I will own a VW Beetle :)

Read more...

This is what's in my handbag

What's in yours?
EDIT: Just looking at the photo again made me realise how corporate everything in my bag looks! I'd just like to say that I didn't take out all the odd hair bands, tissues (clean!), paperclips and spare coins that are sitting in the bottom of my bag! Ha!

Clockwise from top left:
iPod nano 8gb
Canon Ixus 6.5mp camera
Nivea creme
Blackberry Curve 8520
Topshop business card holder
Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume
Lucas Pawpaw Ointment
Lancôme Juicy Tubes in Peach
Black Notebook
kikki.K. 2010 Diary
Witchery black patent leather wallet
Mimco Under the Radar handbag

Read more...

That magical number - 10,000

Oh lala! I checked my sitemeter today and noticed that I have had over 10,000 views on my blog! I cannot believe I missed such a momentous number because as of now it's on 10,688 views in about 7 months which is pretty cool for something I was sure would just be seen by me, myself, and well... I!

So.....let's celebrate! Cupcake? Pink balloon anyone? Pretty photographs?Images via weheartit

Read more...

French Grazia

How funny is this publicity stunt by French Grazia Magazine? They brought pug-dog balloons to Paris Fashion Week to obtain l'attention! The Cool Hunter says it's referring to the chi-chi practice of carrying a lap-dog to such events. So random! And as always, the French girls look so chic doing it!via The Cool Hunter

Read more...

On Top of the World for a Cause

Something a little bit different today...

I'm going to the foot of the tallest mountain in the world.

Just saying that scares me! In two weeks time, me and a group of friends will start trekking to Everest Base Camp for charity. We've been buying all our sleeping bags and down jackets (because it's going to be FREEZING!), and have been talking to lots of people for advice so that we can maximize our chances of reaching Base Camp (it's a pretty strenuous walk, lots of people get altitude sickness or food poisoning and never even make the end of the track).

I have to admit, I have been training very hard so I'll be the tail on the end of the group, but thank the Lord for wonderful porters and Sherpas who will be helping me carry my bag (and possibly me by the end of it!).

What is this all for you may ask? Well it's for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) who are working here in Nepal. By doing this trek we hope to raise money and awareness for a project to train women with leadership skills so they can be able to improve the world they live in. Pretty worthy cause I think, girl power! But seriously, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and they really need all the help they can get so hence this little adventure to Everest! We've called our campaign, Move Mountains, because that's what we're trying to do. It's a very fitting name don't you think?

Anyways, I'm babbling too much. Help the women of Nepal out and check out my personal fundraising site here and donate if you can :)

Read more...

What's on my mind

Can you guess what has been on my mind this past weekend? I just finished reading 'Almost French' by Sarah Turnbull about life in Paris. It was such an eye opener and has mentally prepared me for France and French people. Then, while reading it, I subconsciously began planning outfits to wear in Paris...and we haven't even booked flights yet!

I am such a forward thinker...

Read more...

It's a thing called Spring

We are currently in that 3 months of the year where my optimism is at it's peak. Pessimism is squashed to the ground and I think I can do everything and be anything I want to be. The skies the limit! All of a sudden everything has turned into technicolor, just like when Dorothy landed in Oz (I always thought the TV wasn't working properly when they were in Kansas). I feel like the world is a great place where nothing can go wrong (ignorance or short term naiveté kicking in?!). All of this because of a thing called, Spring.

The sun is always shining and people being to spill out onto the streets (most of which are doing a lot of exercise!). Is it the flowers blossoming? The pollen in the air? I don't know, but whatever it is, without Spring life would be like a long gray winter of hibernation.

I think a really great way to celebrate Spring would be with these Miu Miu-Cork and Leather Wedge Sandals. Hrmm, a great way to celebrate I think!!

Happy Weekend :)

Read more...

Move over Miranda!

I have a new favourite model. My personal hype about Miranda Kerr has died down and I've found a new model I love in town (sorry I just can't help to rhyme once I've started!). I love Jessica Hart! I love that she grew up in Melbourne and has a gap between her front teeth. She oozes Australian beach culture and just seems like a down to earth person, especially on her blog. It seems to be a common thing for models at the moment to release fashion lines, and I'm not super into the whole punk-rock-grunge-street thing, but I think Miss Hart has a good thing going on with General Pants. Smart lady! Anyways, I like her. She's cool (and not just because she's a Hart and my maiden surname is Hartmann, although that does give her extra cred!).By the way, FYI, my sister's-in-law went to school with Alyssa Sutherland who is now Australia's current/next big thing. Watch her!

Read more...

French Obsession

Ever since I was in early highschool, I've always wanted to go to Paris. This obsession heightened when Joey from Dawson's Creek wanted to go too (Everyone told me I looked like her, so I kind of took it as a sign!). I calmed myself down on the subject through my latter years of highschool and as I went into college. But alas, it's resurfaced. This year I'm going to France even if I go by myself (Sorry husband!)! So I guess this year is going to be the obsession of all things Frcnch. Lucky there are many blogs to be inspired by. So this is your official warning, just in case you become overwhelmed on all the French posts :)

Read more...

One Year & Lotsa Love

My oh my, how time flies :)

Happy one year wedding anniversary my darling husband! I look forward to many more years of friendship, fun and adventure with you! xx

Read more...

Orange Penguins

So while I was in Australia, I had a list of not only things to by, but books to read. I realised it's time to 'culture' myself and read some classics, and am now truly obsessed with the Orange Penguin Paperback Classics.

Since living in Nepal I have developed lots of spare time and my new favourite thing to do is read. I think in 2009 I read more books than ever before. I even re-read books that I never read properly during high school because I 'had' to.

So here is me with my first classic that I finished in about a day. Such an easy read, Breakfast At Tiffany's totally stunned me. Here I was thinking it would be a cute and funny book that would possibly mention a bit more about Tiffany's, but alas it didn't and lucky that I now know the real story...

Any recommendations for what to read next from the Penguin classics?

Read more...

Meet Tavi

pic via all the pretty birds

She's so mini but yet has more personality (and possibly more style and fashion knowledge) than five 20-something year olds put together. She's only 13 years old and has a fashion blog called Style Rookie and is pretty much the biggest thing to hit the fashion blog world.

Meet Tavi.

She describes herself on her blog as:
Tiny 13 year old dork that sits inside all day wearing awkward jackets and pretty hats. Scatters black petals on Rei Kawakubo's doorsteps and serenades her in rap. Rather cynical and cute as a drained rat. In a sewer. Farting. And spitting out guts.

She was 'reporting' live from the runways of New York Fashion Week, posting up pics on her blog from her, ahem, front row seat (!!) including very quirky and excited comments.

Tavi really does put a smile on my dial. Seriously, you should follow her blog...like now! She definitely turns a bad day around.

*sigh* I wish I was 13 again...

via sportsgirl

Tavi with Mr. Alexander Wang himself at NY Fashion Week

via Huffington Post
Tavi with Laia and Elizabeth at the Patrik Ervell Spring/Summer 2010 Presentation
via Huffington Post

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/17/tavi-gevinson-13-year-old_n_287269.html

Read more...

Doha, Qatar

As of tomorrow I will be in that picture. I will be in a shopping mall that has a canal running through it, replicated to be like Venice...but in the Middle East. I think I'm most excited about the shopping mall part.

But my wonderful holiday has finally come and my husband and I will spend 5 days in Qatar and 3 days in Oman (which I hear is absolutely beautiful). Some may never even heard of these places, so I'm excited about something slightly more exotic. Oh, and did I mention that I'm excited about shopping?

Hopefully that Middle Eastern sun will cool down for us and we won't get swept by a sandstorm. Fingers crossed.

Beryl xo

p.s. Not to worry I've scheduled some posts for the next week so please make sure you drop by, so my blog won't get lonely without me!

Read more...

Nepal Fashion Week

Not sure if I shared with you that I actually pulled out of Nepal Fashion Week. I think it freaked me out that I had to learn the 'catwalk' in one week and couldn't even devote any proper time to it coz of my day job. But alas, I still did the Fashion Week photoshoot and below is the final product that was in Nepal's english newspaper and on a couple of billboards around Kathmandu, but I just thought I'd share it with you all just in case you were interested!
I'm not the biggest fan of the photo. I really think they could've chose better but ahh well!

Read more...

Bleh!

That was how I felt when I got out of bed. Bleh bleh bleh. Strong headache and a blocked nose. Hello cold! I thought I had it under control, but here it is rearing it's ugly head (sorry for the bad visuals!).

Then, to step up the bleh-ness of my day, here is a story that may brighten yours...

I'm not sure if any of you knew this, but I live in Nepal. Nepal is a third world country. Which is the reason I am here - to help the Nepali people learn about hygiene, reproductive health, economic development and other complicated things that we westerners claim to already have in practice. So today as I was walking to my place of work a van drives past and out comes, what appears to be, a mouthful of water (I don't want to imagine what else it could be). And where do you suppose it lands? Oh yes! You got it! All over ME! Words cannot express how frustrated, angry and PISSED off I felt. When I got to work I attempted to wipe myself down, but the YUK-NESS was irremovable. Everyone spits here, it's the grossest thing ever - so don't go barefoot when you come to Nepal. You might catch all sorts of nasty things. Anyway, the words 'one way ticket back to Australia' having been mulling in my mind...

In other news, a few images came to my attention and have made my day mildly better:

One is a photo by Mr. Sartorialist in NYC - loving the casual look and the stripey skirt. I see this whole boyfriend shirt thing is coming back in and I'm not sure how my husband is going to react to seeing me go through his wardrobe...And one of the shows I have been eagerly awaiting from the runways of New York, is Alexander Wang's Spring/Summer 2010. Here are a few of my faves:

pics via grazia

Read more...