Welcome to our Friend File! Here we interview some creative friends who inspire us and make the world a better place….

THOMAS IKIMI

Filmmaker

Thomas is an English / Nigerian filmmaker that is causing quite a stir in the industry these days. His first feature film, “Limbo”, which I had the pleasure of viewing for the first time the other day, is a complicated Hitchcockian story about a man’s murder and his existence after death.

To say the film is impressive is an understatement. Shot in black in white, not only was it Thomas’ first attempt at screenwriting, directing and producing, but it was so critically acclaimed it’s become readily available to rent on Netflix (5 years later no less), amongst other big-budget films worthy of viewership. Not bad for a student, who at age 22, was not even studying film.

Fast forward to 2010 and Thomas is in the middle of promoting his second movie, “Legacy”, starring Idris Elba, of HBO’s “The Wire” fame. He has just spent a year traveling to every major independent film festival where his film was nominated for an award. His film won the grand jury prize at the American Black Film Festival, and was officially selected at Little Rock, Traverse City, Glasgow, Raindance and Stockhom festivals. Needless to say it received rave reviews for it’s intensely dark narrative and originality.

Set in one room, Legacy is a psychological thriller centered around Malcolm Gray (Idris Elba), an ex-black ops soldier, who returns home after completing a mission overseas. Suffering from debilitating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Malcolm checks out of rehab and into a room in Brooklyn, intent on completing one more mission of his own. Idris is phenomenal in this gripping story of one man’s descent into the psychological darkness of lost love, hope and faith.

I first met Thomas via email over a year ago. A man of few words and even less time, this interview was difficult to say the least! But I was able to pull a few lines out of him…

M: Hey Thomas!

T: Hey. Is this for your shopping site..?

M: Yep, I interview people I find interesting. You were on my list.

T: Thanks.

M: I hear you’re finally moving to LA from London.

T: Yeah, I really need to be in LA these days to pursue further opportunities in film. It is said that for every filmmaker, to really make headway in the business, at some point you have to be in LA.

M: Are you excited..? What do you like about LA and not the UK?

T: The weather. That’s an easy question. The sun is always shining in LA. And of course, the shopping and I’m not just saying that for your site. But I am very much into gadgets and electronics. My favourite place to shop is on my laptop at home.

M: Yeah me too…I can see you’ve got your fix, iphone, ipad, about 3 international phones and a new Xbox Kinect!

T: Yep, gotta stay busy. But really what I like about what America has to offer is that the country is so diverse and full of opportunity that it is the perfect place for anyone with a dream to realise it.

M: And it’s so great that you’ve had that opportunity. I really loved your latest film. Didn’t know what to expect but I think it was a huge achievement on your end.

T: Thanks, it comes out on DVD December 28, so tell all your Lil’Shoppas to pre-order it at Walmart!

M: Certainly will…can you do autographed copies for them?

T: Ha ha…sure why not

M: Ok, I’ll be taking orders..!

ROKO MAQISA

aka DJ DEF ROK (Urban Sounds) and ZOO ROK (Electronic sounds)

I first met Roko at my sister’s wedding a few years back. Best friend to my brother-in-law, this native Fijian really knows how to work the dancefloor! Since then he’s been an avid Lil’Shoppa fan and knows all the coolest brands that hit the underground, even before me

M: Hey Roko, thanks for being such a fan! I was really impressed by your skills, the first time I saw you. I don’t think I’ve ever danced more at a wedding.

R: Yeah, I specialise in turntablism and various musical styles including Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae and House music. I play Under the name of DJ DEF ROK (Urban Sounds) and ZOO ROK (Electronic sounds). But I love all music, so I do alot of listening to it aswell.

M: That’s great, means you can be versatile too. What else are you into..?

R: I love South American food, and sports of course, like Rugby, Basketball, Football. Playing PlayStation3 especially sports games. I love buying clothes and sneakers, its a big passion of mine, I like to stay as fresh as possible.

M: Yeah, I’ve noticed that!

R: I love the U.S., For someone in the music industry, Its a very inspiring place. Everyone seems to be on there hustle and trying to get a break. My trip was amazing. I was in the U.S for a month. First L.A then drove to Las Vegas, next was Chicago and I kept the best for last New York. I did alot of shopping and my favourite urban stores were - L.A – Crooks and Castles, The Hundreds, Diamond Supply Co, Supreme, Mishka, Underfeated, L.R.G, Finish Line (shoes), Nike Town Beverly Hills. Chicago – Zara, H&M (but they were everywhere). N.Y – ALIFE NY, Billionaire Boys Club/ Ice Cream, Kid Robot, B.A.P.E, Sean John, Nike I.D, NBA Store, Champs, Lids, New Era, Ralph Lauren Polo, Old Navy (best V-Necks). For one-stop shopping, I also recommend Karmaloop.

M: Wow, you really outdid yourself. Do you shop as much in Australia.?

R: It just doesn’t compare, shopping wise Australia is so far behind, especially price wise. A pair of Nike Air-Max in Australia cost AU$220 but in the U.S you can get the same pair of shoes for US$80. The shoes are made in Asia and Australia is closer to Asia then the States, so you cant blame it on shipping costs. The mark up on clothing in Australia is unbelievable to the point where I can say we are getting ripped off.  I have stopped buying my clothes in Australia, as I can save money buying off shore and using a service like yours helps so much, as alot of the brands and stores I love don’t ship to Australia. That’s the reason why I save so much money now, and I look fresh aswell and that’s important to me.

M: Can I use you for a promo..? Seriously, people aren’t going to believe I didn’t ask you to write that! J What was the best part of your trip?

R: The part I spent in New York was my favourite. It’s just so alive and you can’t help but to get caught up in everything. From the bars to the clubs to the food and the shopping is amazing. It is the city that doesn’t sleep, that’s for sure. Where else in the world could you see so many of the biggest artists and shows on any given day of the week. I saw Talib Kweli at the Brooklyn Bowl on a Tuesday night for $5, and the next day I saw John Legend doing a sunset gig near the beach for free, amazing. You can’t beat that. My dream is to have a crack at living in New York, maybe for a couple of years and see where my road ends up.

M: Well, I’m so glad you got to have that experience, and I’m especially glad I can help you out with all your gear. Thanks Roko and best of luck..!

R: Thanks Lil’Shoppa!!

Check out some of Roko’s customised shoes from his recent trip to the USA.

LAURA RICHARDS

Primary School Teacher

I have to say that if there’s one type of people I admire most in this world, it’s teachers! They have to put up with so much for so little, but give so much in return. It’s no small wonder that Laura has been my best gal-pal for over 15 years and I’ve always cherished her incredible words of wisdom…

M: Hey Laura! Feels weird interviewing you, so I guess I better put my “actor” hat on. This is for all the other readers out there, afterall. Tell us about what you do…

L: I’m a Primary School Teacher in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. I’d also like to say I’m a frustrated artist or have an interesting side project going but at the moment I’m doing some post graduate study and working on my fitness, so life is a bit of a routine! I do love teaching though, the indescribable rewards it brings and the freedom it gives me to be myself.

M: Working with little ones, you must see a lot of life through a child’s eyes. What kind of things inspire you…?

L: I love sitting on the lounge in our tiny apartment looking out over the Sydney skyline, watching the birds and changing weather. I remain attached to visual art, I originally trained in sculpture so a piece of my heart will always remain in the art studio. I adore handmade objects, Frankie magazine, etsy, food and of course my fiancee Mark! To aim for a more sustainable lifestyle is also inspiring, and taking care of my wellbeing by practising yoga and eating right is becoming increasingly important.

M: Yes! Your fiancée! I can’t believe you’re getting married before me. I’m going to be the only spinster left on the block (not complaining btw!). It’s so exciting planning for this once in a lifetime event. How are the wedding plans going ?

L: Firstly it has been great to have more than a year to prepare for the wedding. It has allowed for plenty of research, thinking time and I haven’t encountered much competition when booking things because of my time frame – this is only starting to happen now with about 6 months to go. As far as difficulties, staying true to the fact that it is ‘our day’ while still catering to the needs of our guests is a struggle. Keeping the guest list around 50 people. The fact that everyone wants to ‘style our event’ and offer add ons, when really we just want to have a ceremony in a park then go to a restaurant. I have also encountered a limited range of, well everything, and have shopped a lot in the USA for ceremony and reception items, invites, even the gifts for the bridal party and guests, it’s just better value for money (even taking conversion and shipping into account) and there is a such a wider and more creative range of goods available.

M: Well, I’m so glad I could help you out with that. Those handmade candles you ordered from Canada were to die for! I can’t wait to see them on the table. What other things have you been buying lately..?

L: I buy all my underwear from Victoria’s Secret during sale time and I am a JCrew addict! Once you know your sizes you just can’t go wrong. The quality of both brands is yet to be found in the same price range in Australia, and I just love opening the packages once they arrive! I have never been disappointed. I also occasionally buy Gap or Old Navy, more for gym wear than anything else. I’m saving up to buy some bigger items but until then I just love scrolling through the sale pages of American brands!

M: Me too! And at the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I do really think that the value you get from here is hard to beat. I think I send you a package every month or so, so you must be really stocked up by now.

L: Yes I am! And people make alot of nice comments when I wear my JCrew stuff in particular. I love Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton but I’m lucky to make such a purchase once every year or so, I’m a particular fan of small leather goods. Banana Republic shoes are excellent quality, and I’m always salivating over the Dean & Deluca and Williams Sonoma website. When I was in New York I loved the Fishs Eddy homewares store and if I lived there I’d fill my house with that stuff!

M: Yeah, it’s a shame they don’t have an online store, but Restoration Hardware is probably the next best thing. I think if you ever gave up teaching you’d be an awesome personal shopper…

L: I do love to buy gifts, but also just to give things in general. The best thing I’ve been able to do is organize a helicopter for my friend’s wedding that delivered her to the wedding ceremony. Nothing can really beat that!

M: That’s a true friend…Not that I’m expecting that kind of generosity if my day ever comes! But what would be your ultimate gift..?

L: I would be the happy recipient of an airline ticket that would fly me business class, anywhere in the world, whenever I wanted, with no expiry, that would definitely make life more interesting!

M: Minus the kids from class, I assume…? Thanks Laura, miss you much over here! And can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle.

L: No probs! See you there!

TAMMY TU

Food Scientist and Personal Chef

I have a couple of weaknesses. One is a packet of Tim Tams (that never runs out). Another is dinner cooked by my good friend, Chef Tammy Tu. An avid food lover, she really knows how to put the meat on anyone’s bones!

M: Tammy, ever since I met you I’ve been drooling. Do you have this affect on guys too..?

T: I wish I did! Only when I serve them my food it seems. But at work, it’s all business…

M: And what do you do exactly?

T: I’m a food scientist for a frozen food company. It’s pretty cool because I get to develop interesting products. But my real passion lies in cooking.  Cooking is such a great outlet for being creative and really helps you speak from your heart and soul.  It’s just nice to see how your food can also affect people and their views on food.

M: People do have strong opinions about food, the dinner conversations at your place are always interesting. But back to the frozen ready-made food – how bad is it? Should we really be eating that stuff…?

T: You know better than to ask that! It’s not really the kind of food you want to live on forever, it’s emergency snack food. And you definitely get what you pay for, so let’s leave it at that. I’d lose my job if I said anything more!

M: Ok, you are a true professional. And as such, what is it that professional foodies like to buy?

T: There are a few staples. I can’t really live without my Shun knife and Le Creuset pot.  Also, I got All Clad pans recently and they are so easy to clean!

M: I have an All Clad kettle. It is a great brand, very durable. I don’t cook as much as I used to but I like to collect silicone products. They just feel so rubbery smooth.

T: I have Le Creuset silicone measuring cups and like them.  I’ve played around with cupcake tins and I love those silicone pot holders and gloves. Sur La Table is great for all that and certain kitchen tools.  But you want to be selective with knives. I buy my knives on-line.  You should definitely shop around at the store and then buy on-line, they have much better deals.

M: I heard a little rumour that it’s bad luck to buy someone a knife. Is that why I’m still using my crappy $5 Ikea knife block..?

T: Yes! We Vietnamese are very superstitious. You do need a new knife, but I won’t have the blood on my hands!

M: Ok, that’s a good reason  But maybe you can get me something special from one of your destination hot-spots. You seem to travel so much abroad to discover new foods, anything in America that you miss…?

T: That’s a good question.  I eat crazy and sometimes exoctic stuff so I actually miss something very simple, American Cheese.  On a cracker, melted on toast, or even better…on a burger, I crave it always!

M: And you seem to use a lot of cheese in everything. Maybe you should open up a Cheese Bar…

T: My dream is to open a lunch spot that specializes in sandwiches, potato chips, and soup.  What’s better than that for lunch? All ingredients will of course be local and seasonal. And then it can be a wine bar at night. I love wine tastings!

M: Tell me about it…it’s all we do at your dinner parties!

T: My dinner parties are too much fun.  It’s like I’m not even working. I love it when clients hire me for their birthday or special celebration, it seems much more intimate to cook for a group of 10-12 in their home. I have an ‘open’ kitchen in which they are welcomed to watch and ask questions.  It’s cool cooking in LA, lots of great farmer’s market and inspiration around, so many different cultures within the city.  You could eat authentic tacos from a truck in East LA, head to Little Saigon for Pho in the OC, then be eating Peking Duck in Monterey Park for dinner.  There is just too much variety here.

M: Yes there is. So who are you inspired or influenced by?

T: Such a cliche but I’m inspired to cook for my family and friends.  Growing up in a Vietnamese family, it was always about food.  I am so lucky my mom is a wonderful cook and tried her hand at ‘American’ food when I was young.  She cooked up a mean Tuna casserole.  She also spoiled me whenever I wanted to eat out at fancy restaurants.  My aunt made escargot when I was 10 and I was enamoured.  I love cooking for my friends even those crazy dishes I thought they’d never like, they are always supportive.

Professionally, I think Thomas Keller is fantastic.  I’ve been to the French Laundry, everyone should treat themselves to that experience.  He’s neat, detailed, and seems to always nail ingredients with the right flavors and textures.  Closer to LA, I love Suzanne Goin, she cooks seasonally and locally and very simple.  I have all their cookbooks which I highly recommend…

1. Bouchon by Thomas Keller

2. French Laundry Thomas Keller

3. Adhoc by Thomas Keller

4. Sunday Suppers by Suzanne Goin

5. Culinary Artistry by Dornenburg and Page

M: I think I read your blog every other day, you have some great recipes and how-to’s. My steak came out the best yet, thanks to your recipe.

T: I like to vent through my blog and twitter about food, travels, and just plain silliness.  http://seekingthegoodlife.blogspot.com/

M: And I also discovered The Spice Station thanks to your tweets!

T: Yes, they opened it up in the Los Angeles area and they have salts, dried herbs, and spices. I love the black salt and smoked paprika.

M: Mmmm…now I’m hungry. I’m gonna come over. Shall I bring wine..?

T: You better

M: Ok, get cookin’…!

CARLY GOMEZ

Visual Projects Manager for VANS

Carly is one of the coolest chicks I know. She has tons of shoes, works for a fashion company and gets to travel alot. What more could a girl want…? Let’s find out!

M: Carls! Everytime I see you, you’re dressed to the nines. What exactly do you do for a living..?

C: What I do is help make VANS retail stores look and stay looking pretty. Some of the more fun aspects of my job include monthly product placement within the stores, creating and setting store windows and styling mannequins. Our goal is for our customers to identify with the brand through not only our apparel and shoe lines, but also from our visuals. This includes such a wide a variety of different elements in our stores, everything from photography to custom displays, all which really help tell the story of who we are today and how we got here.

M: Sounds very creative, it must keep your juices flowing.

C: I love it. But I do have greater aspirations. I want to eventually design new store concepts both in the US and internationally. Most people don’t know, but not every design of our shoes makes it to our overseas stores. That’s why your service is so great, being able to provide VANS lovers with something different and unique that they can’t get in their own country.

M: Yes! That’s how we feel. There are just too many to get out there, I suppose. But I wonder how easy it is to keep coming up with new ideas all the time…?

C: It’s a challenging, fun, and dynamic work environment. I get to be creative and actually see my creativity come to life through different aspects of the visual elements in the stores; whether it be through merchandising or the cool displays I help put together. And I can wear some pretty dope sneakers to work every day!

M: Talk about perks! Do you get to be a guinea pig and “test” the products..? How about free stuff for our Lil’Shoppas…?

C: I actually rarely get anything for free but I do get a good discount which is cool. I love our classics line of shoes… I have a ton of vans but my favorites are my red authentics! They seem to go with everything. Everyone knows Vans for their cool shoes, but I think less people know Vans for the apparel lines, both for girls and guys. We have some pretty cool stuff and in the upcoming seasons our new styles look amazing! It’s exciting to see the direction Vans is going in and the success they have, even though the difficult economy.

M: I always wondered how big companies survived in these times. Doing apparel makes good business sense. What are some of your favourite items to wear..?

C: I love Jeans, they’re my weakness when it comes to shopping! Of course I like some variety in my life so I mix it up, but jeans are my first option everyday! Aside from my jeans, the 2 things that I would be devastated if I ever lost are my Cartier watch and my Mike & Chris leather jacket. But having said that, Gucci and Marc Jacobs are on the top of my designer list. I also really like what Elizabeth and James have out right now. But I wear everything from thrift store gems to designer.

M: In addition to the bazillion Vans you have stashed in your closet!

C: Well, the best thing about Vans is that they have a lot of different styles, so it’s a must to have a pair for every occasion. We have shoes specific to hard core skateboarders and some that target the most girly girl. But what’s

awesome about the shoes is that everyone can find something that fits into their lifestyle and look cool in them. From little kids to generations older than my parents, I think no one can go wrong rocking their Vans…

M. And no-one does!

C: Check back with me in a month – next season is too kool for skool

M: You said it! Thanks Carly! xx

STEPHEN BURKS

Owner / Designer, Readymade Projects

I first met Stephen at a party in New York about 8 years ago. He had just started up Readymade as a small design studio in Chinatown. Next thing I know, I am working as his assistant and I spend the next couple of months running errands and making cardboard models. I must say, having just graduated from university in graphic design, it was a fantastic experience to be part of his team. Awarded the 2008 Young Designer of the Year Award, Stephen’s clients range from B&B Italia, Belvedere Vodka, Missoni, Vitra, Triple Five Soul, Boffi, Cappellini, Calvin Klein and everything in between. As such, Stephen is always the life of the party, and I love it when he comes to town!

Stephen Says:

“Hey Michelle My Belle, Just returned from France. It was amazing! You really should have joined me. We had an awesome time!

M: Yeah, thanks for the invite! I had to do a little something called “work”. Speaking of which, what are you working on right now?

S: We’ve just recently been commissioned to work on a new ‘umbrella’ concept that will shatter all preconceived notions about rain coverage. Also, we’re beginning a conceptual project for Audi and various home accessory projects.

M: Yes, the brolly needs a good reinvention, it’s definitely something we can’t live without.

S: Well, right now I can’t live without the world’s best fragrances designed by a young nose out of Sweden called Byredo. www.byredo.com

M: That’s why you smell so good all the time. Must be all the name dropping. And who are you wearing right now?

S: Dries Van Noten, Jil Sander, Acne Jeans & Common Projects sneakers

M: So since you already look like you stepped off a catwalk every time I meet you at the airport,  if money was no object, what would you really buy?

S: A condo overlooking Central Park on Fifth Avenue.

M: Yeah, that would be nice! Then I could finally come stay and help you spend all your money.

S: You’re good at that, but I would have to give some away. Ever since doing the projects in South Africa I’m all about supporting Aid To Artisans www.aidtoartisans.org

M: I hadn’t heard of that organisation before you told me about them. They are really doing great things. And your projects with them are so inspiring! Where else are your favourite places to travel (apart from France without me) ?

S: Italy for the traditional culture, the design consciousness and the food. Africa for the landscape, people and craft.

M: Hopefully I can meet you there next time. If there’s one reason you should have me around it’s because I introduced you to Blu Tac.

S: I love Blu Tac!

M: I love you too Stephen. When u gonna sign my shelves..?

Read more about Stephen…

Artecnica

United States Artists.org

Brooklyn Modern

Symposiumc6

Dezeen

Design Boom

Unicahome

Top: Stephen with Michelle in West Hollywood; on the cover of Intramuros Magazine; Stephen with his Missoni Vases.

As the year is starting to draw to a very fast close, the time for holiday shopping is quickly approaching. If you haven’t started making your Christmas list yet, you must be be crazy. Why..? Because Black Friday and Cyber Monday is just around the corner!

Unless you’ve actually lived in the USA, you will be dumbfounded at all the celebrated holidays that take place at least once every 6 weeks or so. Not every holiday is a public holiday, but they all have one thing in common – a “holiday sale”.

Every major retailer likes to cash in on a long weekend when families, couples and groups of friends go on that road trip and need to purchase life’s necessities, such as a giant plasma screen at half off (because you can’t leave home without one). So in true USA tradition, the holiday period extending from Thanksgiving (Nov 25) to Christmas is the perfect time for stores to kick-off the gift-giving season.

The first major sale happens the day after Thanksgiving on November 26. This is called “Black Friday”. Although not an official holiday, many employers give the day off, allowing consumers to get a head start on their Christmas shopping and provide a time for analysts and investors to watch for signs of consumer strength or weakness. People line up before the crack of dawn at their local Walmart or other department store, waiting to stampede the door down and begin their shopping spree frenzy. And because it’s known as the BEST sale of the year, retailers keep their sale items secret until their they are published in the circulars in Thanksgiving Day newspapers, the day before.

However, if you’re like me and don’t like to get out of your pajamas, your next best bet is “Cyber Monday”. This sale is the internet shopping equivalent and takes place on the following Monday (Nov 29). I personally prefer this sale to the mayhem of the real world, as you can apply coupon codes and take advantage of free shipping for most purchases. No waiting in lines or distracting impulse buys, your only obstacle is getting up early enough to get to your computer before time, and your list, runs out.

So, if you’re inclined to do any of your holiday shopping on one of these days, be sure to keep your eyes open for speculative sales, found on pages like Black-Friday.net. Because when the doors open, virtual or otherwise, you and your credit card better be ready! And Lil’Shoppa will be standing by

There comes a time when you come of age and you realise that IKEA just doesn’t cut it, for a variety of reasons. One is that everytime you move an assembled IKEA piece, it falls apart. Two, it is almost impossible to put together an IKEA back again (without instructions) after dissassembling it. Three, you become aware that buying good-looking crappy furniture only makes you happy temporarily. And lastly, just as you outgrow your cool, but tiny, studio apartment – you realise that IKEA really is just a quick fix to all your problems in life in general.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love IKEA. Or perhaps I should say, the idea of it. My only beef is that the quality of their furniture is like a bad meat pie, filled with the scraps of third grade meat and/or wood. So when I bought my new apartment back in January, I vowed that I would at least attempt to furnish it with items that weren’t going to disintegrate when they got wet. Furniture that not only fit my budget, looked good, but also could survive a trip in a transport van without being flat-packed.

I was really happy to discover CB2 a few years ago when they opened their store in West Hollywood. Although they have a very limited selection of cool modern pieces, their prices are very competitive with that of IKEA, yet are about a hundred times better in quality. They also have pieces that are in tune with the classic Danish mid-century style synonymous with Los Angeles houses, as many homeowners choose to preserve their original splendour. Traditional accessories and homewares can also be found at Restoration Hardware, perfect for finding those essential crystal doorknobs, vintage french linen and of course, cast-resin replica deerheads.

Although I personally have a very modern taste, my new apartment does have a vintage flair – a gold-leaf crystal chandelier in the dining room, french moldings and a 60′s hexagon light fixture, for example. So I’ve been taking notes out of West Elm to learn how to mix it up to create a modern-vintage-contemporary style. On a budget, this can be particularly difficult, unless you are exeptionally talented at haggling on Craigslist. So it was a very happy surprise when I discovered my local thrift store, that has without a doubt, become my bargain hunter’s paradise.

The best part about thrift-stores is that they are everywhere, with the greatest ones happening to be outside the trendy areas. Here, you are more likely to find that original Eames chair from granny’s living room that has been completely undervalued. I have had alot of success in finding things that sometimes need a bit of a spit and polish, or light upholster. See below for pics of some amazing finds I’ve found (and their thrift-store prices!). I’ve learned that if you keep your eyes and imagination open, you really can do well in the least expected of places.

If you still are an avid IKEA fan however, you may want to checkout some blogs on IKEA hacking. These sites showcase crafty people who have transformed IKEA products to make them truly personable. Another favourite site is Apartment Therapy. Read up on how to furnish your place with great ideas on a shoestring. You will surely be inspired to bring out the best in your home!

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5282/list/DIY-Projects–9-Easy-ish–IKEA-Hacks

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com

It’s Halloween!

And while many countries don’t celebrate this “holiday”, it’s probably the USA’s biggest excuse to party. Why, you ask..? Well, unlike most holidays, this one is spent NOT with the family (unless you have kids, of course!). For most adults however, it’s all about having the perfect excuse to finally meet / attract that love interest you’ve been chasing all year, and to get away with acting like a complete fool in disguise along the way.

Halloween in Hollywood is a big deal. First, there’s all the events that go on, looking to capitalize on the whole weekend: LA Haunted Hayride, Knotts Scary Farm Haunt, Universal Studio Horror Nights to name a few. Then there are the private parties, where celebrity hosts spend literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to entertain their guests, with elaborate decorations done by movie set-designers, complete with front yard cemeteries and smoke machines. So it’s very appropriate that people take their appearances just as seriously, and spend a fortune on just the right outfit that represents their alter egos for the night.

Now, when most people think of Halloween, they think of scary. Scary ghosts, scary creatures, scary things that scare people. But as many newcomers learn after their first Halloween, the only thing that really gets people attention, is sexy! Many ladies rock up their first fabulous party in nothing short of a great Halloween outfit – Bride of Frankenstein-esque costumes that attract attention for all the wrong reasons. Sure, they definitely look like they belong in a haunted house, but as for taking home that cute guy they met at the party, you’re better off serving beer as a voluptuous Milkmaid from Trashy Lingerie.

The same goes for guys – although the allure of finding a dashingly handsome face underneath the Freddy Kruger mask is a high possiblility, the reality is most girls don’t find Freddy attractive. You’re much better off going in a costume that accentuates your alter-ego, such as Indiana Jones or another hero that girls would love to be rescued by. Because don’t forget, Halloween is the perfect excuse to play the role you’ve always wanted – just ask the 5 million actors in LA at every party you go to.

If you’re stuck for a costume this year, check out screenwriter Shane Black’s party pics for some real-life inspiration and have yourself a Happy Halloweeeen!!

It seems like it’s wedding season, having been to my second wedding in a month last weekend. And what a beautiful one it was! The lovely couple are very dear friends having met on an online dating site over three and a half years ago. Laura, a primary school teacher and Mark, a marketing director, created the perfect intimate setting for what would be a very personal and affectionate affair.

The theme of the wedding was vintage inspired, reflecting the couple’s exquisite taste for all things handcrafted with a personal touch. Married in their own neighbourhood, their inspiration came from native birds and surrounding nature; a century old fig tree in their backyard and urban simplicity from places they have visited while travelling abroad. Laura wore a dress by Aurelio Costarella, a Western Australian designer; a vintage Chanel hair-piece and gorgeous purple shoes by Spanish designer Rodo.

The ceremony took place at a little park in Potts Point, Australia, overlooking a fantastic view of Sydney harbour. The setting was casual with a romantic atmosphere, as the bride walked down an aisle of white and crimson rose petals, hedged by her 6^th grade students holding handmade decorations. A sprinkling of paper flowers adorned the park and two bales of hay at the top of the aisle made for an unusual podium.

The warm, yet cloudy sky held it’s shower for just enough time for the vows to be read and rings exchanged. The happy couple were united in front of friends and family, many of whom had travelled great distances to attend. Afterwards, the couple posed for photographs with each and every guest, before proceeding to walk to the reception, located at Omerta restaurant in Darlinghurst.

An ideal location for the intimate gathering of it’s 50 guests, I especially loved the arrangements of glass jars, casually filled with unusual flowers of crimson, green and white, and the terracotta glazed clay table numbers handmade by the bride. The gifts for the guests on every table were very personal – a handmade 2-wick candle from Montreal, with handmade terracotta keepsake. Flickering tea-light candles created warmth during the sudden storm weathering outside, and the mood was set perfectly for a menu of Italian fare, featuring  6 small plate courses and free-flowing champagne and wine.

The cake, a beautiful 3-tier personalized turquoise and chocolate brown, was thoughtfully made by a local baker, but inspired by an article on oncewed.com. This website specializes in vintage themes that showcases  people’s ideas and skills for the DIY wedding planner. After dinner service, the cake was eaten to some endearing speeches made by family members, and then in true Australian fashion, it was off to the pub across the street for the perfect ending to a perfect day. The couple set off for their honeymoon in Bali the next day and will no doubt be enjoying some well-deserved time together.

Much love and congratulations to Laura and Mark!!  May the rest of your future be as lovely as you.

Professional Photography by Caspix

There are many things to do for a bachelorette party. Having only been to a few myself, most have been pretty interesting. Probably my favourite was a life drawing class at the Artful Hen’s studio in Sydney, where we not only got to eat, drink and socialize, but do lots of perving and scribbling of a very hot  male model’s assets.  Other activities haven’t been so great and if last weekend taught me anything, when someone asks “What should we do for your Hen’s night..?” The answer should definitely not be “face-painting by a fairy”.

Now don’t get me wrong, I really like fairies. They are whimsical and entertaining and take me back to school fete days and sausage sizzles. Especially if they keep up the fairy act long enough for you to believe that they really are magical and can do magical things. Unfortunately, the fairy that turned up at our hotel room to get us in the magical mood fell short of her duties. Turning up in plain clothes and lugging a suitcase, she didn’t even have a fairy name AND asked to change in our bathroom. Luckily our bride-to-be was nowhere in sight, but for the rest of us, watching her go in there a regular person and five minutes later come out a fairy (without wings), was pretty illusion-shattering to say the least.

Things were looking up though when she proceeded to open her case and take out magic fairy face-painting stuff. We passed around the laminated brochure of painted kids pictures taken at birthday parties and petting zoos. A pirate, a pussycat, a scary clown, dolphins, bears, lions and Charlie Chaplin (or Hitler?). The designs were basic but promising. And she had been hired as a “professional”, so we could be guaranteed a fairly decent paint job. Or at least that’s what we thought.

The first victim was our lovely bride-to-be, Laura. We watched as she sat eagerly waiting for her magical transformation. “A leopard please, with the spots crawling up my neck”. We were all envious, a leopard sounded like a good choice. Then out came the paint and I almost cringed as a thick paste of yellow was spread all over Laura’s face. Surely that’s the undercoat, I thought to myself. But then a minute later, out came some black for the outlines. A few dabs here and there, some polka-dot spots on her neck, a black nose and long whiskers (because leopards are cats you know) and voila! All done. After a total of ten minutes, Laura’s masterpiece face mask looked like a combination of jaundice and the measles, with a diamante martini glass stuck on her cheek for good measure.

Fairy handed Laura the mirror, “There you are!” she beamed. Being the nicest bridezilla ever, Laura said “looks great” and then walked over to the bar to start drinking. The rest of us looked at each other nervously. Who is going next..? I hadn’t decided on my face yet and it’s not polite to jump ahead of the queue. Kat, being a brave soul, decided to be next. “I’ll have a cat please”. Another good choice, seeing as that seems to be very popular with the kids and so well-practised. But another ten minutes went by and Kat’s cat was pretty ordinary. In fact she looked so much like Laura’s leopard, they might as well have been cousins, had Laura not been diseased.

I decided to risk it all and take the plunge. I had had a few drinks by now and was feeling confident in Fairy’s abilities. “I want to be a zebra”. I know I should’ve heard the alarm bells when she said “I’ve never done that before”, but I figured she couldn’t possibly mess up black and white too badly. Unless of course, she thinks zebras are white with black stripes, which of course she did. They also apparently have big black eyes and diamantes, but who am I to argue. After ten minutes, the mirror was handed to me and I was actually pleasantly surprised. Fairy did a fairly decent job – if I was going outside to be an albino racoon.

The other two girls got their faces done and it was hard to tell what they were exactly. We all kind of looked like felines from outer-space. Fairy had finished way too early, so she sat around trying to convince us to stick all her semi-permanent glitter tattoos on our bodies. We all felt very sorry for Laura, who seemed to get the worse face mask out of all of us, so after a bit of persuading, she decided to get hers redone. Her new face came out much more articulate and co-ordinated with her outfit. Don’t know if Fairy was picking up on the “this is crappy” vibe, but all of a sudden she seemed to put a bit more effort in.

When it was time to go, Fairy then disappeared back into the bathroom to come out a real person again. At this point we were all too happy to bid her good riddance, and liquored up enough not to care (at least I was). It was time to get the night underway with our new faces on. First stop was the fabulous Japanese jazz restaurant in Surry Hills, Jazzsushi. Unfortunately, our faces didn’t really cause the kind of attention you would think though, and by the time we sat down for a drink at the Absinthe Salon a few hours later, we had slowly one by one disappeared to the bathroom and came out our regular selves, just as Fairy had done. Needless to say, our transformations were less than satisfactory, and the organiser of our group complained and was given a full refund. So a word out to all you fairies out there trying to make a buck: your day jobs are calling.

It’s not every day you get invited to a traditional Ethiopian wedding, especially if the groom is one of your best friends! Needless to say, I had been looking forward to this day since the announcement was made by my best buddy, Wondu. Ethiopian weddings are notoriously extravagant events with an average of 400 guests, symbolising the union of not just the couple’s families, but the families of those families as well. Los Angeles is home to a huge Ethiopian community, centered around “Little Ethiopia”, the central hub for authentic cuisine and shopping on Fairfax Avenue. Many times I have visited the array of restaurants with my native friends, becoming an avid fan of the delicious food and cultural heritage. The wedding reflected every aspect of tradition synonymous with Ethiopia, combined with the modern flair of Los Angeles.

The ceremony was held in an Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but it was the reception where the knot was really tied. Hosted in the Park Plaza Hotel, the ballroom with it’s low hanging crystal chandeliers was tastefully decorated  in shades of crimson, red and white. The handmade table decorations combined natural bonzai branches with tealights, dripping crystal beads and an array of fresh flowers in the colour scheme. Hundreds of candles lit the room in a romantic and dreamy atmosphere. Upon arrival in the foyer, a photobooth was set up where guests were encouraged to take photos of themselves and create a scrapbook page for the wedding album with their pictures and messages of good fortune for the happy couple.

After arriving on time to the reception (7.30pm sharp), I was later informed that the actual arrival of the bridal party usually appears up to two hours later. Sure enough, after sipping on more than one bottle of honey wine and feeling the good vibrations of the traditional African band, the bride and groom made their entrance. One thing that made this reception different is that everything is done by dancing to a traditional song. So the music starts to play and everyone gets up. In come the bridal party, 5 bridesmaids and their respective groomsmen, dancing down the aisle. Then come the happy couple, dancing all the way to their dining table, amid shouts of happiness and praise. They stop on the dancefloor in front of the table and initiate what would become the theme of the evening – dancing in a circle surrounded by guests, mosh-pit style! This goes on for about 10 mins until finally the song ends and they take their places at their table.

More wine and photo ops and then another song starts. On cue, the couple get up and start dancing down the aisle again, this time to the buffet table. The food is absolutely laden with every kind of Ethiopian cuisine, along with a few western dishes on the side. The couple then dance back to their table with their plates. One by one the tables of guests are ushered to the buffet line thereafter. Soon after eating, yet another song starts and it’s time for more dancing on the dancefloor. In lieu of speeches and longwinded wishes, the dancing continues almost endlessly, with all the guests getting up to participate. The bride and groom make a point of dancing with each and every guest, with laurels and traditional fanfare thrown into the mix. Shortly after the cake was served, unceremoniously but absolutely delicious!

Among the guests was fellow Aussie actor Julian McMahon ((Nip/Tuck) and family, with whom the bride works. The bride was absolutely stunning in a white gown with strapless beaded bustier, diamond accessories and a sequined fascinator. The bridesmaids were beautiful in crimson pink and the male participants in black. Definitely an experience of a lifetime, much love and congratulations to Wondu and Rebeka!!

Honestly when I discovered this, my first thought was “FINALLY, they have come to their senses!” The international market is huge and everyone around the world loves to buy these brands, we practically visit this store everyday. Now everyone can order from them directly.

So naturally, since we are in the business of international shipping ourselves, we decided to see how competitive we could be with their rates. I placed a dummy order from Australia for something that one of our customers ordered recently – one V-Neck top. When I went through the checkout, I was shocked. SHOCKED I TELL YOU!! The shipping for this little item alone was astronomical! Here’s the breakdown:

Top $46.20

Shipping to Australia $62.00 (wtf?!)

Total: $108.20 AUD

And it takes up to 19 days! Think I’m making it up..? Check out the screen shot below.

Now at the risk of this sounding like a blatant ploy to get you to order from us (which it is), this is what it will cost if you ordered through Lil’Shoppa:

Top: $46.20

Shipping to us: $7.00

Fee:  $7.98

Ship to you: $12.95 (6-10 days)

Total: $74.13

Plus you can order from any other store and we will combine all you items in one package and shipping will be even cheaper.

I’m just saying

Dear Kusama,

We have been alerted by the authorities that you have purchased your items with stolen credit cards. We are returning all your goods and have reported your information to the US Anti-Fraud Authorities. We will not tolerate such activity and your membership to our services has been revoked.

Regards,

Michelle.

Lil’Shoppa.

——————-

I never thought that I would have to write such emails, but it’s a sad fact here at Lil’Shoppa that some people are known to be criminals! This is probably the 6^th culprit we have caught that have bought goods here in the USA with fraudulent credit cards. So how do we know..? Sometimes it’s pretty easy, here are the clues:

1. We receive the package, take out the invoice and low and behold! The billing address is that of a USA resident, which means it makes no sense whatsoever to use our service.
2. The shipping address is different to the billing address, as in a WHOLE different country.
3. You register on our site with multiple names, aliases, email addresses.
4. You take a very long time to pay for forwarding shipping and handling fees. This is because you don’t want to pay for anything – hence the stolen credit cards.
5. You order a bunch of stuff from different places and don’t notify us by forwarding email confirmations. Why? Because you didn’t pay for it and don’t really care if things go missing. Anything that turns up and makes it through to you is a bonus.
6. You don’t follow any of our rules which makes it very difficult for us to serve you. Mostly because you are a criminal and don’t believe in rules.
7. We receive phone calls from innocent victims claiming that we ripped them off on your behalf. Usually PayPal account holders.
8. You are from a very far away land such as South East Asia or Nigeria or Pakistan and are buying up large items such as mega-sized flat screen tvs with a French credit card and want us to ship them to you by any means possible. Despite the fact it’s cheaper to buy them over there.
9. We don’t receive a response to our emails and are stuck with 100 personalised t-shirts of a picture of a guy holding a poodle with the words “World’s Greatest” printed on it. If you’re reading this – contact us! We think they spelled your name wrong.
10. We receive a returned package that went unclaimed at the shipping destination. Who orders a laptop and doesn’t pick it up? Criminals, that’s who.

While we do like to think of all our customers as valued, honest patrons, we have to be on alert to such fraudulent activities and try to take measures to prevent people from screwing it up for the rest of us.

Case in point – the email  above was to a customer who purchased 2 Ebay items – a guitar and a camera with special lenses. We received the items and sent the invoice for shipping and handling. The customer said they no longer wanted the guitar, as the shipping was too expensive. We sent the revised invoice. 2 days later, we receive a phone call from the Ebay store who sold the camera. It was bought with a credit card belonging to a very angry Irishman in Ireland who definitely did not authorize the purchase to be sent to a Kusama in Indonesia. Luckily were were able to send it back to them and return the funds  to the rightful owner of the credit card before we shipped the items.

We haven’t written an anti-fraud policy on our website mostly because we really enjoy catching people. But beware…we’re onto you if you mess with us!

Happy Shopping.

Lil’Shoppa.

We have a new Checkout System! What does this mean….?

Before our new checkout, we would receive your orders and then email you an invoice for your items and shipping charges. You would then pay on the invoice and then we would make your purchase. This was all great for everything except high-demand and sale items. Many times we would miss out on your purchases because we had to wait for your payments to be made. But not anymore!

Our new checkout system allows you to place your order, view all shipping and handling charges and make your payment IMMEDIATELY! So as soon as you hit the “submit” button, we have everything we need to buy your items instantly.

How does it calculate..? Just enter the items you’d like to buy along with their prices. Select your shipping option. We have included flat-rate boxes, which are very economical. Handling and tax is automatically calculated based on your total. Of course, since we don’t have the items at time of purchase, all shipping charges are estimates only, so there is no need to worry if you under or overpay. We still process every order personally and will credit or refund you any money due. If we can’t process your order at all (due to unavailability), you will receive a full immediate refund instantly!

See our FAQ on how to use our new system. Happy shopping!