Lost in thought

I thought it was time to drop in and say a quick hello, for the past several months I have been away in wedding la la land... planning, creating & dreaming wedding; which btw exudes more energy then one ever thought! I think working full time with big hours may hinder to aid in energy depletion.

Countdown is now officially on, 7 weeks to go & still plenty to do. A series of spontaneous excitement outbursts and to much procrastinating is consuming my existance.. this bride to be is happy we are on the home stretch cause I'm missing normal life conversation haha. Saying that I'm truly excited & can't wait to marry my prince charming.. Or should I say my batman (inside joke) <3. I feel incredibly lucky to find my  true love and even more lucky he feels the same.. For this reason all my stress disappears and once again reminds me to enjoy & rejoice in how amazing our day will be!

It all seems to be falling into place nicely and im lookimg forward to blogging about the big day, the journey and all the pretty little things that make a vintage ethereal wedding...

Till then I'll see you in bits and pieces

xo

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diamond in the rough

BEBE SYDNEY

Recently i bought my first BEBE Sydney dress from fashion boutique 'Principessa' in Fortitude Valley, where i met Rocco the lovely shop owner. I have been longing to buy one for awhile...

I wasn't initially going in to buy a dress as it was only that morning when i was at 'Always Habit' a fashion & suits shop for men with my fiancee who was trying on suits for our wedding, we met the adorable Chantelle who invited us to her & fashion partner Samantha's upcoming fashion launch for their label 'Ash to Gold'. So when my eyes gazed upon this gorgeous antique gold/champagne sequined 'diamond in the rough' dress i instantly fell in love & to my delight it was designed by fashion label BEBE Sydney. Rocco must have seen my enthusiasm as he instantly whisked me off to the changing rooms, and from there on it was a winner!

I had so much fun at the 'Ash to Gold' fashion launch, hanging out with my good friend Desiree (best makeup artist ever) & my fiancee, chatting and sitting front row at the runway show sipping on champagne in the Rainbow Booth at the whimsical Cloudland Bar . Through out the evening i was shocked at how many people complimented me on my outfit.. thinking maybe i should wear this dress more often hah :-) i may have not taken many photos of the night but i thoroughly enjoyed the show, dinner in Chinatown and all the lovely compliments :-).

I'd like to say thank you to Chantelle for inviting me to the her fashion launch, thank you to Rocco for encouraging me to try the dress on & thank you BEBE Sydney  for designing such a gorgeous dress!!

music makes me reminisce

lost in thought

out of the blue music hit me in a way i didn't imagine possible, a thought i never thought about. this music floods my head with past memories... never felt so nostalgic; time passed by.

yes I am happy but there's a part of me that wishes I could just float back to those rock n roll times & soak up that feeling of eternal youth!

a day of solitude with old school music is required for this 27 year old muse.

music holds onto memories that those forget about...

journey of a vintage wedding..

bride story

'Ivy & Aster'

'Ivy & Aster'

When i first started my journey as a bride to be i thought it would be easy to plan a wedding, easy because I've been a production manager for a photography studio, a photography assistant for many weddings & a makeup artist for 10 years..  but Brisbane has me worried. why, well finding a vintage wedding dress that has a simple whimsical feel about it was actually alot harder than i first anticipated. 

I didn't find the 'ONE' in Brisbane. Instead i found the dress of my dreams at Victorian bridal boutique  'The Bridal Atelier'. After searching for months & visiting countless bridal boutiques across Brisbane I was left disappointed, as nothing made me feel like i found the one..

So when i stumbled across the lovely Victorian bridal boutique i was instantly relieved!  Erin is so lovely,  & i couldn't believe it when she told me she could source the dress of my dreams from the American Label 'Ivy & Aster', who in my opinion makes the most beautiful wedding dresses I've ever seen!  

'Little Gray Station'

I sit here & wonder if the year is going extra fast because in 6 months the big day will be here. Now finally hitting me that its closer then it appears..

I'm over joyed to be getting married to the man who i adore & love so much. I feel fairly organised but i know what it takes to plan a wedding, let alone a wedding with a understated vintage theme.. perhaps a little too much.


Lucky I have an amazing vintage inspired wedding stylist Judi from 'Little Gray Station' to make my dreams reality! Meaning i don't have to spend countless hours & nights searching online sites like Etsy & Ebay for vintage inspired props & decorations (i cant help myself to still look though). Any other day I enjoy looking for unique vintage items but to complete a wedding for guests up to a 100 its a bit manic & time consuming.

When i'm out & about in Brisbane looking for inspirational bits & pieces i'd say i spend most of my time in the vintage precinct Paddington (Retro Metro, Ra Ra Superstar, Karen Willis Holmes) & Ann Street in Fortitude Valley (Babushka Ballerina, Hoe Boutique, Akira, Principessa) i'm constantly revisiting all the fashion & vintage boutiques around these areas.

Did i mention that the talented fashion & wedding photographer Nat from 'Milque Photography' will be capturing all the special moments of the big day, & with all the beautiful vintage inspired styling from Judi, my enchanting dress from Ivy & Aster, & i'm marrying the man of my dreams... i feel pretty excited right now even though i know we have lots to still do!!!

A big thank you to my maid of honor, bridesmaids, MUM & Judi from 'Little Gray Station' for making this journey a fun & memorable one!! xo

My search for flowers & cakes are in the next chapter of my 'bride story' :-)

'muse' moves on for now...

Busy girl

A big warm shout out to my beautiful dear friend Kylie Balint. I  thank her for all her energy & support with kicking off serenemuse blog. 

My lovely girl is off studying hard with her new adventure 'Event Management', working full-time, & of course is my full-time maid of honor :-)

But she wont be far away & i'm sure she will be back as a guest writer for serenemuse one of these days soon... forever a serenemuse!

love you kylie-muse

♥ 

a very vintage wedding fair

wedding inspiration

a very vintage wedding fair 

Sitting around daydreaming about my inspirational day at 'a very vintage wedding fair' bleeding heart, Brisbane today. Speaking with vintage enthusiasts, like Judi from 'little gray station', Stephanie from 'the forever dress' Maudie's Millinery, Kim from 'hermias wishes', & the talented Jennifer Gilford... How could I not be re-inspired about my vintage wedding theme!

Meeting these amazing people have made it oh so easy for me to get the vintage inspired wedding of my dreams :) thanks girls!

Oh and a special thank you to my handsome fiancée for waiting several hours for me at the fair while I bath myself in vintage inspiration!

♥   

Check out these gorgeous vintage inspired businesses

little gray station 

jennifer girlford designs 

the forever dress 

maudies millinery 

hermias wishes

♥   

serenemuse giveaway...

ok muses, it's time for our very first serenemuse giveaway!

Would you like to score yourself a gorgeous pair of vintage inspired sterling silver stud earrings with Swarovski Crystals??

Simply follow our blog & leave a comment on your favourite serenemuse post before 30 April 2012 for your chance to win these stunning earrings worth $89.

The winner will be selected at random and will be announced on the serenemuse facebook page.

Stay tuned for more giveaways in the near future!

♥  

It's Valentine's Day again & we want to know how you're celebrating? Whether you're sharing the day with your partner or a bunch of friends.. sharing the love is what it should be about! 

My fiancee & I usually don't buy gifts but we do treat ourselves to a yummy dinner.. this year we are heading to The London Club at Tenneriffe in Brisbane. Every year we like to try somewhere new.. so we're looking forward to checking this rustic looking restaurant out! Time to eat a 3 course meal with no cleaning up afterwards :-)

We wish you a very happy Valentine's Day & remember to share the love! xo

Wish Giveaway alert!

Wishes do come true..

Imagine mingling with fashion editors for a day & topping it off with Wish garments from the 2012 winter range for you & a friend... Well Wish have launched yet another amazing giveaway & this time you can WIN this fabulous 'day in the life of' a fashion muse invitation.. so hurry up and enter below!!!

Enter here:

WISH GIVEAWAY
xo Love xo

We love Frankii online xo

Check out Frankii Online facebook page, LIKE, post on wall ' I LOVE FRANKII ONLINE ' & you could win their amazing giveaway..

Good Luck xo

Frankii Online

Inspiration...

Rachel Montgomery

♥ Fashion & Beauty Makeup Artist ♥

The beautiful Rachel Montgomery

If you havent heard of Rachel Montgomery before... I suggest you go & check out her amazing portfolio!!

This talented woman is an inspirational icon for up & coming makeup artists (like me), & also an inspiration for girls who just adore the realms of makeup, beauty & fashion! There's not a day that goes by I don't look at Rachel's website... every-time I look at her portfolio I remember why I love makeup & what it stands for!!

New fashion campaign by Wish... love much ♥ ♥ ♥

If you have been reading SereneMuse blog you might notice Rachel's name & work pop up throughout the blog.. what can I say, shes a superstar! 

I also love that Rachel works closely with the stunning fashion brand Wish with their fashion campaigns; if you haven't noticed the trend from previous posts.. I love love love Wish!

Well I could go on & on about Rachel's amazing work & kind heart, but I think you should go visit her website, & take a look at her portfolio for yourself so you can see just how incredibly talented & beautiful she is!!  

  

A quick snip it of Rachel's portfolio ♥

 

Rachel Montgomery 

thank you for sharing your 

talent with the world! 

 ♥

Sunburn Remedies

SereneMuse were lucky enough to celebrate the new year in beautiful Bondi. Soaking up all the sun rays  at the iconic beach, you can expect to get burnt, no matter how much sunscreen you apply. So here are a few remedies, tried & tested by us, to help sooth your burning skin.

Aloe Vera

We all know nothing beats pure aloe from an aloe vera plant, but if you haven't got one of those handy you can purchase many aloe based gels, sprays or creams to act as an anti-inflammatory.

Lavender Oil

A few teaspoons added to a base oil (such as Almond oil) will become a restorative moisturiser... and leave you smelling like a goddess!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is great for sunscreen - either take the capsules or add the contents of the capsules to your moisturiser - it really does work!! This powerful little vitamin also helps heal burnt lips; take with lysine tablets.

Rolled Oats

Mix some rolled oats with cold water. Make into a paste and apply to skin. Leave for 5mins then gently blot off. This remedy is especially good for those who suffer from dermatitis or have sensative skin.

Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise!

Replace lost fluids by applying moisturiser several times a day.

So go on get out there and enjoy the outdoors...but remember drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen, wear a smile & enjoy life!

♥



Wish 'Shangri La' Competition

 WHO'S THAT GIRL? 

 

One of our most loved fashion brands have put together an amazing 'supermodel' like gift package competition... do you want to know what it feels like to be a supermodel? Well my friend, this competition will blow your fashion & beauty conscious mind!! 

 The new face of Wish Winter Fashion  2012 will be, for the second time in her modeling career, the face of the 'Aussie' fashion brand. Wish are giving you the chance to win their 'Shangri La' competition, & all you have to do is guess the correct supermodels name!  Check out the full competition details on the Wish website for hints on who the supermodel is. 

What you win: Jet-set away & live it up for 2 nights at Sydney's top hotel 'Shangri La',  $1000 to spend on Wish Winter Fashion & indulge your-self with the most intense supermodel beauty gift package ever!! Gift package includes products from these dazzling beauty brands  ...

 

Original & Mineral hair treatment & gift Set

Non artificial, no ammonia haircare products that help you free your hair from stress & restore it to its natural beauty. O&M products will inspire you to live naturally & feel amazing about your healthy, clean & vibrant hair! O&M says call time on chemical overload. Check out their website & blog for all their haircare secrets. 

 

Nvey Eco pure organic make-up gift set 

I've only just been introduced to this makeup brand and I'm already in love. Good for your skin and good for the environment, free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, talc, sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) & is NOT tested on animals ♥

I cant wait to get my hands on their full organic range! Curious? check out their website or enter this competition :-)

Vani-T sunless tan treatment at Dr Naomi

This gift package is amazing! As a tan (sunless tan) fanatic I absolutely adore Vani-T fake tans. Natural oils, high in vitamins, & organic ingredients with no parabens, sulphates, talc, artificial colours, & they DON'T test on animals, oh & their packaging is 100% recycable.. voted number one fake tan with celebrities! If you haven't already tried Vani-T's sunless tans, I highly recommend you do. Full range on their website.

 ☆ Now that's what you call a green-based tan!

Make-Up by Rachel Montgomery 

Two sets of Lash Republic Parisian Romance Signature Collection Lashes

These amazing lashes will not only enhance your natural eyelashes but add volume & lengthen your look, bringing out your inner goddess...perfect for a holiday to Sydney, or where ever your heart takes you!

Lash Republic by Milan & Co is an online luxury brand where you can buy high quality, light weight & beautifully designed false eyelashes. Deemed by leading make-up artists (such as my favourite make-up artist Rachel Montgomery) as their favourite custom designed false eyelashes ever! 

Check out the Lash Republic website for all their unique eyelash styles.

This competition is bound to make you feel relaxed & well pampered; with breathtaking beauty gifts, $1000 spending money on Wish winter fashion & a 2 night stay at Sydney's top hotel 'Shangri La'...how could you not be smiling til your cheeks hurt!?

TO ENTER, CLICK HERE. 

SIMPLY GUESS WHICH PREVIOUSWISH MODEL IS BACK FOR WINTER 2012!!

♥

What to do when you've been naughty

So, the holidays are over and you've eaten and drank too much, stayed out too late and generally over-done it in so many ways that can leave you looking and feeling more ugly step-sister then Cinderella.

Beat the bloat. Drink a cup of herbal tea each morning and night, and sip on water throughout the day to minimize bloat. Dandelion root tea is especially good for flushing out your system. Minimise your salt intake; when you're having decadent meals, stay away from sodium for the rest of the day. It's also a good idea to steer clear of carbonated beverages - even diet ones! The chemicals make you retain fluid and can increase your craving for sweets.

Cut out a few things. If you pass up candy, for example, you could save at least 300 calories a day; white bread, up to 1,000 calories a day; red meat, 200 calories a day; and cheese, several hundred calories in one sitting.

Skipping meals is bad for you! Don't fast all day in anticipation of a giant feast, or think you're losing weight by doing so. You'll be so hungry by the time you get to dinner that you're likely to eat twice what you might if you ate right all day. It also slows your metabilism down therefore increasing the amount of fat stored.

Set a goal. Eat healthy for a solid week right after the holidays, and then keep it going for as long as you can after that. Some juice cleanses are a good weight loss tool - but not the ones that leave you famished or fad detox diets (such as the lemon one we've all heard of; which has been deemed by nutritionists as one of the worst detox diets currently on the market). Fad diets will leave you feeling lethargic. A good cleanse SereneMuse recommends is BluePrint Cleanse, as it provides adequate calories. The safest bet however, is to stick with small portions of whole grains, lean protein, raw vegetables and healthy fats like those in avocado and almonds.  An amazing breakfast to kick start your metabolism and boost your energy everyday is eggs with one yolk and dried oregano, spinach, or basil for flavour.

xo