Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards 2009

Are you a creative type? It doesn’t matter which discipline – graphic design, music, film, animation, fashion (just to name a few) – there is a competition out there just for you. The Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards (or SOYA) are now open for applications.

SOYA, now in its sixth year, aims to reward and recognise young creative Australians with emerging talent by offering them $70,000 in grants, flights and prizes and an internship with established leaders in the field. For the fashion category – that means designers in the field of clothing, jewellery, shoes, couture, hats and fabric – the 2009 mentor is Zimmerman.

With past winners in the fashion category including Akina, Friedrich Gray and ANT!PODiUM, you will be in excellent company should your entry most impress the judges. Kate Vandermeer of http://www.ispystyle.net/ is the Fashion Category Producer for SOYA, and recommends you get your entries in soon, as they close on July 31st.

Check out http://www.soya.com.au/ to see all available categories (there are 7, $10,000 each!) and submit online. You must be an Australian resident aged 30 or under, and are encouraged to submit some info on stockists, media coverage, participation in events or shows and any study you have undertaken to give the team at SOYA as much detail as possible on how you’ve done the background work to build your business or label.

You are welcome to submit to as many categories as you like to increase your chances at winning the cash and mentorship. And really, why wouldn’t you? Time is of the essence and this is the chance of a lifetime. Submissions are closing soon so get to the website for all the t’s and c’s, get your folio together and enter now.

Melbourne Winter - Sunshine and Snow!

Melbourne today is aiming for a top temperature of 11 degrees. That's it. E-L-E-V-E-N!

The sun might be out now, but this morning the suburbs were covered with a light dusting of snow, and Connex goers had real reason to complain about the delays and cold. Being one of those who catches public transport on days like today, I would like to start by saying that Connex don't do a bad job most of the time. But when they do it wrong, they do it very wrong.

While waiting between East Richmond and Burnley this morning (15 minutes, signal failure), I was pondering where I would rather be and what I would rather be doing. Bed was of course number 1 on my list, followed closely by Hot Chocolate in front of a fire.

But since work calls once again, I now find myself several hours later still wishing I was in bed or in front of a fire. Next best thing? Sharing todays recipe and fab find with you.

Keep those toes warm on wintery Melbourne days with these Whooga Boots!


http://www.whoogaau.com.au/ugg-au.asp?p=Product&r=pro-920034
Arn't they just divine? Your feet will feel like they never got out of bed. And just to turn up the temperature in here a little more, a recipe for the best hot chocolate going...



HOT CHOCOLATE

1L (4 cups) milk
100g good-quality dark chocolate, finely chopped
Marshmallows, to serve

Place the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside for 1 minute.
Place 20g of the chocolate in each of four heatproof serving glasses. Pour the hot milk over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate melts and is smooth. Top with marshmallows and sprinkle with the remaining chocolate.

Enjoy and Stay Warm!!

Thanks to taste.com.au for recipes

Food and Fashion Meet

So it has come to my attention over recent weeks that I like food. I know this because I also like fashion, and a lot of my fashion is becoming decidedly tighter over the past cooler months.

Welcome one and all to my fashion and food blog. A recipe and the outfit you should cook it in. Or serve it in. Or eat it in. Whatever takes your fancy!

I'm going to start with something really easy and really yummy.

Peanut Butter and Choc Chip Cookies
1 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Dark Choc Chips
1 tsp bi-carb soda
1 egg, lightly beaten

Mix the Peaunut Butter, Brown Sugar and bicarb soda. Add the egg, and finally the choc chips. The mix will be very sticky! Use a teaspoon to create balls, put these on a greased baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in a 180 degree over for 8-10 mins until slightly browned.

Warning - these cookies are addictive!!! The batter tastes like the inside of peanut butter m and m's, while the cookies are just divine yummy!

And of course, while baking, your fashion accessory de jour should be your apron! Saves getting cookie on couture, and has the ability to make you look like you stepped off the film set of Pleasantville

Try these 50s insprired retro aprons from Bunny Maxwell...



http://www.bunnymaxwell.com/kikiapkidigl.html
Very sweet, and they have matching gloves!





Bring out your inner Betty Crocker (or Martha Stewart...) and have some fun in the kitchen (wearing couture of course!)

Thanks to taste.com.au for recipes