Outfit of the day: White on white

All pictures lovingly reported from Instagram and Pinterest (more fun stuff there so follow me on Pinterest too!)

Simply beautiful....Rothko

Untitled, 1953

                                

This is the first Rothko I ever saw at the Art Institute in Chicago......I was captured by it simplicity, yet its great depth and intensity.....

Mark....you the man!!!!

Here are some of my favorites from his collection of work.....I love the colors and the emotion they seem to inspire.

                                 

                

                                     

                    

              

                         

A snowballs chance...a must read for my fellow nurses!

Shortly after arriving here in New Zealand (NZ) I made an attempt to expedite the process of finding out whether or not I could work here by reaching out to the NZSA (New Zealand Society of Anesthesiologists) via email some time ago.  In response, I got not one, but two emails.  One of them was from the president.  “That’s very nice of him to respond personally,” I thought.  He invited me to call him over the weekend to discuss any questions I had.  Very optimistically I dialed his phone number and had high hopes that this could be a connection that could be helpful as I learned how to navigate this new healthcare system. 

The conversation lasted about 20 minutes, but within the first few minutes on that given Sunday, my optimism was dashed upon the rocky shores of this man’s ideas about doctors, nurses, CRNA’s, and the general state of NZ healthcare.  He shared with great pride that he had essentially bankrupted his society to prevent CRNA’s from working here in NZ. He told the story of how he had hired a former prime minister turned lawyer (who he smugly compared to Bill Clinton).   With the help of this “celebrity attorney” these doctors have halted the development of the CRNA role in this country (for now anyway).

The rest of the conversation is really not worth relaying to you. I was angry at the time but now I just feel sorry for him.  He was a doctor who chose to live and practice in fear and an archaic ignorance that nurses were his competitors not his colleagues. This fear that someone was “out to get his job.”  Did he really think that this is what inpsired nurses to get a higher education?   That this is why nurses dedicated themselves to an incredibly rigorous education program where they were held to some of the highest standards in medicine? I think not, but this is not a point worth arguing with someone whose mind is closed.  Closed by the same fear and ignorance that halt progress and patient care advances in healthcare.   

I believe that as a nurse, patient care is first and foremost for the patient.  I believe that care should be based on research and facts not fear, that optimal outcomes are seen when we (MD's and RN's) work together as a team not against one another.  I know that myself and each of us as nurses have dedicated the skills and intellect we have to be used in the service of others, without ego or arrogance.  I believe that CRNA’s would be an asset to the healthcare system here in NZ. CRNA’s could practice in rural areas where doctors often left without anesthesia providers.  Small numbers of advanced practicing nurses are working hard and already positively influencing patient outcomes here in NZ!

As the conversation was reaching it's somewhat painful conclusion, I learned that 350 anesthesiologists are trained in NZ annually-most go to Australia to practice.   This year that door to Australia will close and these new doctors may need to find jobs here in NZ.  Due to this fact, I was told (the final condescension), “You have a snowballs chance in hell of working in anesthesia here in NZ” end quote…..followed by, ”But I like "Yankee’s" and that’s why I am spending my time on the phone on my day off talking to you.” This “Yankee” comment was preceded briefly by critical pontification about US culture, WWII involvement, and politics that verged on the comical…..but I digress (ignorance is not worth sharing but it feels good to vent about!).  A snowballs chance? What he failed to learn about me (amongst other things) was that the only snowballs I know go by the names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…. 

(For those of you who don't know the story Shad, Mesh and Ab were thrown into a very large furnace BUT didn't die, burn, melt or even smell like smoke when they came out...Old Testament, book of Daniel.).  What do you want to bet they were nurses ;) 

I heart Bill!!!

It's winter here...it rains a lot.....good excuse to watch a lot of movies....

Recently, I watched the documentary about Bill Cunningham. Bill Cunningham New York, directed by Richard Press is an intimate portrait of a man who is somewhat of an enigma. 

This documentary is an intimate portrait of Bill Cunningham, the New York Times photographer who for forty years has been riding around New York City on his bicycle, documenting fashion trends on the street by day and New York's social scene at night for his columns in the Sunday Times. Known and beloved by most New Yorkers, and with an international following in the paper and on-line. Bill is a man no one has known alot about, even those who have worked with him for decades. Intensely private, and with an aversion to any kind of recognition he is simple and very complex at the same time.

Anna Wintour has one of the opening lines of the film (of course), and very simply states,  “We get dressed for Bill….”   

On the streets of NYC he captures the fashion around town…real people, real style statements.  Part of his philosophy (in his own words) is,  “It's all about the clothes!”

Bill's smile is instantly endearing and sweet and that same spirit comes across in the way he photographs people.  His intention is always to compliment, never criticize his subjects.

                                               

"Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life." Well said Bill, well said.......keep up the good work!

48 hours in Sydney.....

Sydney + me + 48 hours...ready, set go! 

SHOPPING: Dropped my bag off at the hotel then made a bee-line to the shopping center on Pitt Street.  It's so exciting all the stores...I was tired and wanted to get a coffee but found Chanel instead. The shopping endorphins kept me buzzing until dinner......

FOOD: Apollo is where we went. It's in Potts Point which is a seedy neighbourhood that has cleaned itself up a bit and is now home to many culinary treats.   There is still a bar called the Opium Den across the street, a wink if anything to the very recent past and the vices this area catered to. 

After one visit this is already a go-to, must-do, spot for me.   The space is as warm and inviting as the food.  The service here is outstanding without taking itself too seriously.  The "Tara" for a starter followed by lamb shoulders (fall off the bone tender), sauteed greens, and chat potatoes: boiled, then roasted then smashed and fried, oh my!  The atmosphere is full of subtle flavours-Apollo is the kind of greek that sneaks up behind you and pinches you on the bottom rather than smacking you on the back.  

SHOPPING: Wednesday I killed it at Hugo Boss for the hubbie. Then I found the One Teaspoon shop (insert the hallelujah chorus), Zara, Zimmerman, Chanel, and  Louboutin to name a few.  Everyone was having sales and I mean everyone! Overall I enjoyed a day of fabulous shopping......

FOOD: We walked down what looked like a dead-end alley.  Then just when I was about to say "where the hell are we?" to the was the small square sign.....an invitation to something really special.  The simplicity of the interior was simple, yet welcoming.   A unique combination of concrete and mood lighting not to mention a huge grafiti lobster you can see through the back windows.  This restaraunt takes fresh from the garden and creates italian inspired dishes....like the pickled vegetables we started with.   I love all things pickled and this was no exception.  The chef has a penchant for pickling and there is a display of her handiwork on a long shelf above the kitchen (a thing of true beauty).  A Risotto cake followed beautifully adorned with caper flowers and roasted cherry tomatoes, little slivers of pickled onion and a hint of chili.  The pork and veal mini MEATBALLS served on top of creamy polenta for our main course were AMAZEBALLS (can I say that) lol.  I am so glad that we found this spot!   

48 hours of shopping and food....now what's wrong with that's ;) 

A side note: For me I fell that experiencing  a city through it's food reveals a side of it's character.  There is an old adage "The way to man's heart is through his stomach" and perhaps this could be said with a twist that "the way to the heart of a great city is through it's food." Know the food, know the place....I will stick to this reasoning if for no other reason than to justify eating my way through the places I visit. Bon Appetit! 

Mirlo Jewelry, another exciting discovery!!

I have not been able to stop browsing this website since I discovered it.  This jewelry is edgy yet delicate and refined, on trend yet timeless.  What a great combination for every day go-to pieces! This line of jewelry will compliment any look, day or night.
This stunningly simple and elegant jewelry line was started by two long-time frineds Katherine Kim and Grace.  Each piece is lovingly handcrafted in New York City.

One of the many things I love about jewelry is it's ability enhance fashion, compliment it, and even transform it.  This subtle yet strong jewelry line will do just that....not with a bold shout (think Big chunky bib necklace) but more of a whisper.....

 
 

 
The handcuff bracelet is one of my favorites from the Classic Collection.  You can even have them engraved, which I think is a super cute way to personalize this piece. My anniversary is coming up so I better start dropping some hints ;)


Check out their website here ASAP: Mirlo Jewelry


*all photos and bio information were lovingly borrowed from the MIRLO website

Style crush.....the chapeau master Nick Fouquet

This man is a true artisan, his hats are crafted by hand and each has it's own style and personality.  If his hats could speak I feel like they would each tell a story.  Somehow they seem to have lived a life, some grand adventure, and once they are ready to belong to someone they find their way to Nick's magic hat shop. 

A matchstick is one of the details he often uses.....love this!

                                                   

This of course is not the reality, but as I look at the hats in his collections I enjoy creating tales full of wanderlust, wonder with a little danger thrown in.  I look at one and I know it existed in the wild west, while another was on a chimney sweeps' cranium while he walked the dirty streets of 19th century London.

                                                       

After traveling all over the world (including New Zealand) he settled in Venice Beach and started making hats.  Each hat is hand crafted with Beaver fur felt from Tennessee. 

                                                     

       

                                                            

Nick Fouquet.........hat maker, genius, artist, story teller.  Someday I hope to visit his little magic shop in Venice Beach and meet the hat who's story will live on with me.....

check out his website: http://www.nickfouquet.com/#!home/c24vq

Peach and Lily: new skin care products....so exciting!!!!!

In case you didn't know, Korean skin products are in vogue....don't believe me? Google search this phrase and a multitude of articles will appear before you to read. There's a plethora of product lines to explore that have been used for quite some time by Korean woman and are now becoming available to the rest of the world.

                               

Peach and Lily is a website I discovered with a great range of products.  I'm always to striving to get that milky, glowy, even complexion.  No wrinkles yet (knock on wood) but I do have sensitive skin and am constantly working on even tone and pigment.  So I was very excited to find this site with an array of products that seemed made just for me! Yeah! I love skin care products, shopping for them, trying them, and seeing if the results are what were promised. They emailed me to say they could ship to NZ for a small fee and it arrived in about 5 days (awesome)!!!

For my first order I tried: 

1. Cremorlab snow falls water full serum:  This ultra-hydrating serum is formulated with Cremorlab's proprietary T.E.N. water and edelweiss extract to leave dry skin soothed, comfortable and optimally hydrated. Also contains hyaluronic acid, marine collagen and other herbal extracts to revitalize and reneergize tired, saggy skin. 

2. be the skin toner: A toner that balances the skin's pH level with all-natural ingredients including antioxidant rich green tea. Bestselling product that consumers rave about for transforming dull skin to a radiant glow. Ideal for all skin types. 

The aromatica packets are free samples  (yeah!) that were included along with a hand written thank-you note.  I love that, it feels so special when someone takes the time to handwrite a note to you.  :)

All the products come with English labels for those of us who need them (Thank you for that).  I layered the toner under the serum per the instructions.  They both smell divine and make my skin feel hydrated and well, wonderful.  My skin had a glowy, dewy look after one application, so I'm already a fan! 

Do yourself a favor check out this website, right now: http://www.peachandlily.com

The prices are great, the service impeccable, the shipping is fast and the products are fab!!  Winning!!  Peach and Lily you have a loyal customer in this girl gone kiwi.......

Stop, Drop (everything) and Roll to the Gorjana 48-hour Sale!!

Stop everything you are doing and click on this link:  

http://www.gorjana-griffin.com/gorjana/48-hour-sale.html

For 2 days only gorjana has 80% selected items, that's right, 80% off!!!!! 

Here are a few of my top picks that are too cute and beyond a bargain.......

Perry ring, Buckley stud earrings, Honeycomb hoop earrings, Carmel drop necklace 

Bacara plate necklace, Python collar, Skye necklace, Bristol large link necklace, Blake gem large necklace

Well, now that you know I have done my good deed for the day and I have some shopping to do...happy hunting!!!!

19 reasons why breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

I just read this article from the Huffington Post, thanks to Refinery 29 on Facebook. Three degrees of separation perhaps but it is worth clicking on this link: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5418578

to read through.  

With 19 different options you can transform your (my) morning routine.  I tend to get into food routines and make the same things over and over.  But not anymore! These are delicious, healthy options to shake up your (my) mornings and keep you (me) feeling full, longer.  You and me and me and you, let's get excited about breakfast again!!! 

What recipes do you love in the morning? Share in the comments below :)