A Big Thanks...

[Update:] I just received another lovely award...from Michiko of Things of Beauty, a truly inspired, informative, beautiful blog out of Japan. It is such an honor -- thank you for thinking of me! Nice Blog Award Rules: 1.) Recipients of the award are asked to link to the nice person that gave them the award. 2.) Link to as many other blogs as they want to give the award to and write a motivation for the person. 3.) Must also make sure that they let the bloggers who won know about the award. Since I just tagged 1o for the previous award, I'm going to be lazy and tag just a few non-fashion related blogs...there are so many good ones, this is always hard!!

♥ Mad Vortex -- This blog features vintage advertisements and hilarious commentary. It makes me laugh out loud every time I read it!
♥ Peculiar Beauty -- The name says it all; everything from bizarre fashion and diet trends of bygone eras to strange vintage magazine images.
♥ Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood -- This site celebrates the women immortalized on canvas by members of the Victorian Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and associated artists.
♥ Wicked Halo -- A collection of the odd and the beautiful, with an emphasis on art and photography.


Awwwwww...I think the universe (or at least the lovely Ana) could sense I was feeling a bit down and decided to perk me up by bestowing the "Your Blog is Fabulous" award onto me! What an honor...and she included me among some great company. Ana is one of the hardest working ladies in the blogosphere, and her passion really shows! If you don't already know her, check out her blog On Dressing Up. But, be warned, you will be jealous of her array of sundresses and sandals (she is located in warm, sunny New Zealand!). I am passing this award onto ten other deserving blogs that I have grown fond of as of late...Cheers!!

♥ Spokes'n'Daggers -- Spokes 'n' Daggers is a combined blog of two friends, Gaby & Jane, who love to share their creations, interesting finds and day to day life.

♥ Greetz from Tiz -- An Italo-belgian girl with the great passion for chocolate, shopping in Maastricht, staring at the sea from her balcony, and dancing jive to the music of the '40-'50's.

♥ Anmutig -- Nadine from Stuttgart, Germany; Anmutig is her little sketchbook for interesting fashion and design finds.

♥ Tea Time -- Her other blog, Art Deco, has been one of my favorites for ages. This one is specifically devoted to East Asian beauty.

♥ Lady Lavona's Cabinet of Curiosities -- Beautiful and macabre; the perfect combo, if you ask me!

♥ Nubby Twiglet -- Stunning design and graphics, great shoes, and excellent blogging tips...all in one place!

♥ Violet Voice -- An always dreamy, sensual, and eclectic mix of images.

♥ Dramatis Personae -- Ashe Mischief hopes to recognize her loves of fashion, the arts, and living, in a most theatrical way.

♥ Childhood Flames -- One of the most popular personal style blogs out there and for good reason: Camille has an avant-garde style few can rival.

♥ Couture Allure Vintage -- A blog for lovers of vintage clothing and fashion, where you can learn about vintage styles, designers, and design concepts through photos from the past.

A Link to Remember...

I was honored and practically speechless when I saw that the amazingly talented Betsy over at From Betsy with Love [truly one of my favorite blogs!] featured me, along with some other excellent bloggers, on her Weekend Links. This euphoria will definitely tide me over for a bit...

Notice how Betsy makes these incredible collages? Kinda makes my blog look insanely glamorous! Well, off to study Victorian literature...

Rihanna in bikini for GQ Magazine Mexico

Check out these pictures from Rihanna in GQ Magazine

Mongolia Naadam Festival

The Naadam Festival is the major Mongolian holiday and a wonderful time to experience the culture and people of this amazing land. The festival has its roots in the nomad wedding assemblies and hunting extravaganzas of the Mongol Army. The opening ceremony features marches and music from soldiers, monks and athletes before the real fun begins! In the Naadam Stadium the three sporting passions of Mongolians, horse racing, wrestling and archery, are played out over 2 days. But if you don’t want to watch sport all the time, there’s plenty to see and do outside – food, music, crafts or just people watching.

New Rihanna songs

2008 was a succesful year for singer and fashion icon of the year Rihanna. After such success many would think that Rihanna would take a break before releasing a new album. But this Barbados beauty doesn't feel this way and seems unstoppable. With a plan to release her fourth album in March/April 2009 this is what Rihanna has to say about her upcoming album:

“I’m currently working on record number four and I’m having so much fun. I’m having so many new experiences and meeting so many new people, it’s amazing. I want this album to head in the same direction as Good Girl Gone Bad but with even more edge. The tracks will be less R&B influenced and will have a feel closer to that of, “Disturbia”, “Shut Up & Drive” and “Breakin’ Dishes”.

Although March/April may seem for away for the fans, some of Rihanna's tracks have already leaked on the internet. Check out her new sounds.

Rihanna - I'm Back



Rihanna ft Akon - Emergencee Room


Rihanna - Sexuality
Some fans have alreay mistaken Rihanna for Prince, because according to them their might be a 'physical resemblance'. With this track I have to say that Rihanna incorporated a style and some beats that is reminiscent of the old Prince songs. But that is as far as the resemblance goes.


Rihanna - Give it


Rihanna - Bitch I'm Special


For more on Rihanna visit
Fashion Trend: (Colored) pantyhoses
Get the look: Rihanna
Best Music Videos of 2008
Fashion Icon of the Year: Rihanna
Rihanna at Star Academy
Fashion Trend: Colored Jeans

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Godfather of Urban Fashion Karl Kani celebrates 20 years with The SOURCE

Being the first clothing brand ever to use Hip Hop artists in their campaigns KARL KANI became synonymous with Hip Hop. KARL KANI (est. 1989) a.k.a "the Godfather of Urban Fashion" joins forces with THE SOURCE (EST 1988) a.k.a "the Hip Hop Bible" celebrating 20 years of Hip Hop Culture and Urban Fashion.

To celebrate this anniversary Karl Kani together with the Source has organized a contest based on the four elements of Hip Hop. You can Win VIP tickets to the KARL KANI 20 YEARS celebration party in Las Vegas!
In collaboration with The SOURCE ,KARL KANI is organizing a special KARL KANI 20 YEARS event in the USA (Las Vegas)– planned in August 2009

THIS COULD BE YOUR BIG BREAK!

http://www.youtube.com/KarlKani20Years

All you need to do is post a video on YouTube with the title Karl Kani celebrates 20years with The SOURCE, showing your Hip Hop skills (MC, DJ, B-BOY, GRAFFITI)
In March 2009 we will select 4 winners from the top 20 best viewed and the top 20 best rated videos on youtube; one from each of the 4 original elements of Hip Hop (MC, DJ, B-BOY, GRAFFITI)

GRAND PRIZES:
• VIP tickets for you and a friend to this historical celebration event, including travel and hotel expenses.
• A meet and greet with KARL KANI himself and many other international celebrities and media.
• A Karl Kani party outfit for you and a friend
• A year subscription to the Source, a.k.a the hip hop bible

Furthermore each winner from the 4 original elements of hip hop will get an additional price:
• MC : a 20 years of Hip Hop Music package & 3 months music rotation on karlkani.com
• Graffiti: 20 spray cans
• DJ: customized Karl Kani DJ case
• B-Boy: customized Karl Kani Ghetto blaster.

Spread the word!

For more info go to www.karlkani.com

Carnaval

A carnival parade is a public celebration, combining some elements of a circus and public street party, generally during the Carnival Season. The Carnival Season is a holiday period during the two weeks before the traditional Christian fast of Lent. The origin of the name "Carnival" is unclear as there are two theories. The most commonly known theory states that the name comes from the Italian carne- or carnovale, from Latin carnem (meat) + levare (lighten or raise), literally "to remove the meat" or "stop eating meat". The other theory states that it originates from the Latin carrus navalis, which was some kind of Greek cart carrying a statue of a god in a religious procession at the annual festivities in honour of the god Apollo. Most commonly the season began on Septuagesima Sunday, the third from the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, but in some places it started as early as Twelfth Night, continuing until Lent. This period of celebration and partying had its origin in the need to use up all remaining meat and animal products such as eggs and butter before the fasting season. The celebration of Carnival ends on "Mardi Gras" (French for "Fat Tuesday", meaning Shrove Tuesday), the day before Ash Wednesday, when the rigours of Lent's 40 days of fasting and sacrifice begin. It sometimes lasts until Piñata Weekend, the first Saturday and Sunday of Lent.