Coachella 2012 Fashion

I am busy (frantic!) today, packing, sorting, folding, washing, cooking, preparing for the big trip. James and I leave tomorrow on our escapade to LA and Coachella Festival Weekend 2. Weekend 1 of the festival has just finished and if any of you caught some of the photos or youtube footage, you will know how amazing it all looked. I was literally squealing like a girl when I saw snippets of some of the acts I will be seeing this weekend.


Unfortunately the timing isn't fantastic. Abi has been sick but is almost back to her normal self. Then this morning at 3am, Teddy woke barking like a seal. I will whisk him to see a Dr today and hope the verdict isn't too serious. I know he will be in good hands with my parents for the next week but I still feel guilty for leaving them both, not being 100% well.


The weather last weekend was apparently unseasonable for Palm Springs. Rain, overcast and cool. It did fine up by the end of the Sunday which is good. Forecast weather for next weekend includes a 37'c Sunday. Considering we had such a mild summer in Sydney, I will probably melt. I'm still torn about what to wear, to ensure I'm comfortable and attempt to look alittle stylish. So I'm throwing in everything. Shorts, skirts, jeans, dresses and I'll hope for the best.


In the meantime, check out some of the Coachella fashion from 2012 Weekend 1. All photos by Mr Newton via Harpers Bazaar website.

Currently - The March '12 Edition

Where have I been lately, you ask? I'm here. I've started 2012 with a huge shift in the way I live my life. I am super active, exercise every day, visit the gym at least 5 times a week and prepare healthy, fresh meals for the family. I am seeking help for my anxiety. I am seeing old friends, making new ones and ditching the toxic ones. I was so sick of the way I was living my life, so I changed it. You can find out more by reading below;


Current Book
Michelle Bridges 'Crunch Time' cookbook.


Current Playlist

• Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf. This song is quite annoying but it pumps me up at the gym. 
• Florence and The Machine - Shake It Out (Benny Benassi remix) I love Flo's original but this is tres awesome for the gym. I usually play this on the drive to the gym.
• Above and Beyond - Sun & Moon. Another gym song. I love the uplifting trance, don't I! One thing about working out at the gym, it has re-ignited my love for dance music. 
• Ben Lee - Kids (Originally by MGMT). This song isn't new but it's an amazing cover. 
• Lily Allen - Womanizer (Originally by Britney Spears). Again, not new but a truly awesome cover. I love Lily, I've seen her perform twice and she is sublime live.
• The Temper Trap - Rabbit Hole. They are back with a new single and I love it. 
• The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling. HUGE BK fan here. This is one of my favourites on the newish album. Cannot wait to see them live in 3 weeks at Coachella.
• Boy & Bear - Walking On A Dream (Originally by Empire of the Sun). B&B are growing on me. They sound very similar to Mumford & Sons. This cover revives a great song and gives it a mellow twist.
• Bluejuice - Video Games. Lexi at PMM has superb music taste because she loves this as much as I do. I love Bluejuice, great Australian band and while I'm still not decided on Lana Del Rey, this cover is fantastic!
• Bluejuice - Act Your Age. While you're checking out Bluejuice, listen this super fun song of theirs.

Current Colour

Green for Edward's eyes. Yellow for sunshine. White for foggy autumn mornings.

Current Food

Rocket/spinach salads. Curries and stir-frys. Wraps. Protein Shakes. Fresh juice.

Current Favourite Show

Mad Men is BACK, finally! The 2 hour opening episode last week was fantastic. The Biggest Loser and Curb Your Enthusiasm are also being watched. Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey are starting again soon too.

Current Movie

• Moneyball with Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill was surprisingly great. Brad Pitt looked hotter than ever, and I loved the story for all its highs and lows, maybe because of my love for baseball. 
• The Descendants was really different. George Clooney played a clueless father being cheated on by his wife. Tragedy strikes the family and the story was quite intense and emotional. Some of the scenes were pretty raw. Filmed in Hawaii, the landscape of this film is out of this world.
• I saw Twilight Breaking Dawn Pt 1 with my sister at the movies but I watched it again with its release onto DVD 2 weeks ago. I liked the books a few years ago but feel I have outgrown the whole story. I guess I feel obligated to see out the movies. The soundtracks for these movies are always stellar.

Current Wish List

• Overcome immediate stress and anxiety
• Dumplings at Din Tai Fung
• Good weather for Easter

Current Triumphs

• Am now exercising every day of the week with only 1 rest day.
• Have lost a mammoth 9.6 kilos in 7 weeks and 31 cms from my body. 
• Actively seeing a new therapist who I feel comfortable and confident with.
• Feeling fitter and healthier than I have in years. 

Current Abigail

Abi is 3 one day, 13 the next. She seems to be growing up right in front of my eyes. Her days are spent at swimming lessons, pre-school, the park, the cubby house in the yard and playing with her brother. She is now swimming unassisted and diving/jumping into the pool. She loves her weekly swim class. Her swim teacher also teaches my kickboxing class and Abi likes knowing we have a 'teacher' in common. Things have calmed down at pre-school and she has made some new friends. Her favourite things at the moment include Shrek, talking about the Easter Show, painting, drawing outside, riding her scooter, playing educational games on my Mac, and helping her brother learn to walk.

Enjoying a milkshake at the gym after swimming lessons.

Helping to feed her brother dinner.

Current Edward

Ted turned 1 a few weeks ago and we celebrated with a small party of family and friends. He seemed to enjoy every minute of it. He is *almost* walking. He cruises around furniture but doesn't have the confidence to let go which is fine. He loves bathtime, going for walks in the double pram, cars, trucks, watching planes and music. I'm still breastfeeding him although I think I will wean him soon. He loves to eat and drink and play with his food. His hair is long but I'm not sure if I want to cut it yet. He is a little prince, we adore him more and more every day.

Trying his first corn on the cob and loving it!

His first taste of egg. Wasn't 100% keen on it yet.

Current Celeb Crush

Brad. Just getting better with age.

Current #1 Blessing

I am blessed that my husband can work from home as often as he wants. This means, with a little organising and scheduling, that I can go leave the kids with him while I workout. We go on family walks every few days and overall, he is less stressed than when he commuted to the office. Our family is in a really good place right now.

My boys...

Current Excitement

• The countdown is on. Less than 3 weeks till Coachella Festival. I still can't believe I'm going. 
• Easter is next week. I will definitely be treating myself with some chocolate goodness. All things in moderation is best. 

Current App

Nike GPS run tracker. I use this on my daily walks around my suburb. I have used many exercise apps but I find this app has the most accurate GSP signal. It shows you where you walked the slowest, how hard you walked and overall calories burned too.

Bon Iver Live

In late November, I purchased tickets to see Bon Iver at the Sydney Opera House. I cried tears of happiness when those sweet tickets arrived in the post and I tucked them away safely until that special day.

That special day came yesterday. I have been excited about this show for so long, that I was actually nervous on the drive into the city last night. Would the show be all I wanted it to be? Would they sing my favourite songs? 

After a pre-show drink at Opera Bar, we hurried over to the Concert Hall and took our seats.

What transpired for the next hour and 45 minutes was nothing short of miraculous. I started crying about 13 seconds into the first song. I couldn't hold in my feelings any longer.

The setlist was absolutely perfect. A mix of old and new. The crowd and myself were in awe, respectful and enchanted by what we were all witnessing. If I had to pick a favourite track, then Perth, Beth / Rest, Towers, Calgary, Blood Bank, The Wolves [Act I & II], Creature Fear and Re: Stacks would have to top the list. 

Tears flowed as my heart swelled with love as every song seemed better than the last.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you will know that music is a passion of mine. Almost gospel like. It's my religion. It's all around me, always. In the car, on my ipod at the gym, when I blog, in my house, always on.

When I got in the car and digested what I had witnessed, I realised that I had just seen the best show of my life. It was utter perfection. And best of all? I am blessed enough to be seeing Bon Iver again in 4 weeks at Coachella Festival. 

If you haven't already heard the brilliant Bon Iver, I highly recommend that this video below be the first taste of their talent. 

The latest act to record a unique set are Bon Iver who recorded their set recently at Air Studios, February 2012 in London.

Speaking about the simply shot but stunning session, the filmmakers behind, artists Iain Forsythand Jane Pollard it told Q: "Sometimes the simplest ideas really are the best - two remarkable musicians [Justin Vernon and Sean Carey] in one of the best recording studios in the world, both playing incredible Steinway pianos. No jiggery-pokery was needed, we just captured what happened in that special moment."

Tag. You're It!

How hilarious is this pic!

Have you checked out Amelia aka Mama Museli Bar? She is pretty amazing. I love her blog and photos on instagram. We love the same music, the same movies. This is someone I would love to meet IRL. Remember the movie The Net? With Sandra Bullock? I remember seeing the acronym  "IRL" in that movie and thinking what the hell is that, IRL? In real life. A little geek reference there for you.

Anyway, Amelia tagged me with a set of questions, so here we go.

Describe yourself in 7 words:

Happy. Anxious. Perfectionist. Organiser. Critical. Funny. Pro-active.

What keeps you up at night?

My phobias. Someone will break into my house. Then Abi wanders into our room for a "cuddle" at 3am. And then Edward cries out at 5am needing a new nappy and a feed.

Who would you like to be?

Happy and anxiety free. Fearless. Living in the alps, with a good school nearby. My kids happy and healthy. Always finding new ways to love my husband and myself. Yeah, that sounds great!

What are you wearing right now?

A black and grey Bonds dress. It's what I call a house dress. I put it on the moment I get home from being out. It's cotton and comfortable.

What scares you?

Terminal illness. Death. Failure. Not being able to shed my extra weight.

What are the best and worst things about blogging? 

Best: The amazing community. The ability to connect with other people that you might not even know existed. To share in people's joy. To be inspired by parenting, cooking, travel, photography and general way of life.

Worst: Judgement. The feeling that you're not enough. Jealousy. 

What was the latest website you visited?

Virgin Active - booking classes for the week

Facebook

asos.com

What is the one thing you would like to change about yourself?

Let go of the fear and anxiety. Embrace the calm. Say no to people. 

Slanket?

Would I ever wear one? No. But is there a place for them? Possibly. If I lived somewhere super cold then I could foresee a slanket being part of my life. 

Tell us something about the person who tagged you?

Amelia is sweet and hilarious and someone I can really relate too. Her strength and courage inspires me.

The fun part continues. Now I get to tag 5 bloggers so they in turn can share 10 things about themselves. 

I tag:

Corinne from Daze of my Life

Lexi from Pottymouthmama

Court/Ballet Flats from Not My Only Shoes

Julie from Mama of 2 Boys

Amanda from Homely One

Triple J Hottest 100 2011

I did a post last year about the Top 10. I didn't listen this Australia Day but when I heard the results, I was pretty surprised. What do you think of the top 10? Any of your favourites in there?


# 10

Hilltop Hoods - I Love It {Featuring Sia}

My review: I cannot stand Hilltop Hoods. End of story.


# 9

The Jezabels - Endless Summer

My review: I adore this song, this band, the lead singer. Was ecstatic to see them in the Top 10. Well deserved.


# 8

360 - Boys Like You {Featuring Gossling}

My review: Yuck. I can barely listen to 8 seconds of this song before clicking X.


# 7

San Cisco - Awkward

My review: Local Perth band San Cisco are pretty new to the scene but this song is pretty cute. Another hipster band, who I wonder if they will last the distance. I do love the female drummer though!


# 6

Lana Del Rey - Video Games

My review: It's still early days for LDR. I feel sorry for all the negative media coverage she is getting. Too big, too soon? Time will tell. This song was released in late October and STILL made the Top 10, so she definitely has a huge fan base in Australia. UPDATE: She has just announced that she is cancelling her upcoming Australian tour and all other future tours.


# 5

M83 - Midnight City

My review: I have been a huge fan of M83 for years. The hipster kids really jumped all over this single and its appearance in the top 10 didn't surprise me. I recommend listening to the WHOLE album though, it's musical genius. One of the best opening songs from a new album in a long time.


# 4

Boy & Bear - Feeding Line

My review: Sydneysiders Boy & Bear have had a huge year. Winning 5 Aria's in 2011, they had 3 songs in the Top 100. I should like them, but for some reason I'm undecided. This song is happy and harmonious though.


# 3

Matt Corby - Brother

My review: Holy mother of God. This song is brilliant. Corby was the runner-up in Australian Idol 2007 and was blessed he didn't win, considering so many people have gone onto sweet NOTHING after winning Idol. This song was written about an argument he had with a friend. The emotion and lyrics are amazing. Plus he is pretty easy on the eye, which helps. This is dreamy. I love it.


# 2

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy

My review: The filmclip is hilarious. A struggling actor who was supposed to be an extra ended up being the star of the clip. The song? Amazing. I love The Black Keys, I highly recommend you check out their albums. They are performing at Coachella in April, and I am so.freaking.excited!


# 1

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know {Featuring Kimbra}

My review: Obviously the biggest song of 2011 took poll position. I love the song, the film clip, the artist. Gotye's songs have appeared in the Top 100 before and I'm sure they will again. But I'd appreciate the radio stations removing this song from their playlist. Time to move onwards and upward.

Currently - The Summer '12 Edition

Summer in Sydney? Hardly. I can count on one hand, the days of sunshine and temps over 30'c. This has been the coldest summer since the 1960's. While the rest of Australia has battled heat waves, flooding, cyclones, fires and storms, Sydney has been wet and humid and drab. It's so sad and miserable. 

So I'm declaring summer over. With only 3 weeks till Autumn arrives, I am looking forward to the change in seasons. 

Current Book
Donna Hay magazines, Michelle Bridges 'Crunch Time' cookbook and Bill Granger 'Basics'.


Current Playlist

• Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness. This song is so fitting for our drab weather. Love her or hate her (and there are alot of haters!) her voice is haunting and beautiful at once.
• Bon Iver - Michicant. I've proclaimed my love for Bon Iver many times. This song is so beautiful. I am counting down the weeks till their show at the Opera House. 
• Givers - Up, Up, Up. This song is adorable. Listen now!
• Active Child - Hanging On. A dreampop chillwave song if I've ever heard one. This is so lovely.
• The Joy Formidable - Whirring. Cute as a button, this Welsh band have a distinct indie/alt sound. This reminds me of watching Recovery on ABC as a teenager.
• Yuck - Get Away. These Brit rock lads sound like 90's rockers Sonic Youth. Great track.
• Florence and The Machine - Take Care (Drake cover)
• M83 - Wait. One of my favourite songs from the new album, this is dreamy.
• M83 - Midnight City (Live in Sydney at Laneway Festival). I was there, and this was brilliant. AND I get to see them again at Coachella in 10 weeks!

Current Colour

Grey for clouds. Green for my lawn which is growing at Olympic speeds. Red for the gym.

Current Drink

Water. Up n Go Vive. Coffee. But I'm dreaming about mexican beer that I'll be drinking whilst in LA.

Current Food

Yoghurt. Cereal. Buffalo Mozzarella. Tuna salad. Dumplings. Noodles. Chicken schnitzel. Fresh rolls.

Current Favourite Show

Gossip Girl, Wife Swap, One Born Every Minute, Spicks and Specks and Modern Family.

Current Wish List

* Faster metabolism

* Edward's teething pain to subside

* Sunshine

* Lunch at Cafe Sopra

Current Triumphs

* Went to the gym EVERY day last week except Friday. Did 2 x spin classes.

* Have lost nearly 3kgs since 'Operation Get Fit' began.

* Booked in to see a new therapist to get some advice about my anxiety. This is a BIG deal for me & I'm excited and relieved.

Current Abigail

She had a rough week last week at Pre-School. Her little friend was absent both days so she was a little lonely. And a boy with behavioural issues was bullying her all day last Wednesday. She came home with some red marks on her and I discussed with her teacher. Apparently this boy hits several children and requires 1-on-1 attention so hopefully things will calm down soon. At the moment, she loves Shrek, Toy Story books, saladas for lunch, and had the best time with her Aunty and her boyfriend who babysit the kids on Sunday. 

Current Edward

The little man is teething at the moment. Which is hellish. Lots of tears, pulling of the ears, irritability and general sookiness. He eats MORE than his older sister and devours whole sandwiches, pasta, meatloaf, spag bol, and veggies. He loves bathtime, clapping, playing with Abi's toys like Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and going in the car. 

Current Celeb Crush

Clooney. Getting better with age.

Current #1 Blessing

Edward and Abi are my blessings each and every month. But over the summer especially. Spending so much time together over the Xmas/holiday period makes me realise how truly blessed I am. Here they are, playing in the playroom together.

Current Excitement

* Going to the beach house next weekend for some R&R. Hoping for some sunshine too.

* Going to the gym with a friend. It's much easier going to a class when you have company. Thanks Leesh!

* Edward's 1st Birthday in 1 month which is going to be vintage circus themed.

Current App

Calorie King. Now I think twice before hitting the pantry. Did you know a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 852 calories?! Oh the humanity! 

Coachella 2011 Fashion

Coachella has the rep for being many things. Hippy, boho, folky, pop and more. And some of the fashion seen at the festival looks pretty rad to me.

Check out some of last year's threads. Only 10 weeks to go!

All images via refinery29