Bolton. You'll love this.

We have a serious issue with commercial toys, that, all though get loads of hype as being educational and all child-development etc etc etc are mass manufactured, probably plastic-toxic and offensive to the eye.

So much more fun for children to learn via simple organic doing... being outside, learning on the go, choosing the things that they are interested in to develop their little personalities. Like Otto Komei... the three year old who saw the choppers being done up and decided that was his thing - leading to the build of The Rocking Horse by German designer Felix Götze.

So f-ing cool - THIS is the type of toy that kids should have! Something tells us little Cass the dude would love this piece of hard wear...

Cass. The Dude.

MoHo plays you silly

Some afternoon fun-times-tunes to play you silly. Its like a mixed bag of lollies... just keeps on giving and giving and giving.... mmm

Hot Chip - Transmission (Joy Division Cover) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FWJFBcDiWg
This track just wreaks of fun. Think roof top bbq, sunset, sweet drinks, sexy boys and girls, secret smiles...

Tesla Boy - Spirit of the Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b7cj4zWiyo
Fruity cocktails with the ladies, Sunday night at twilight, pretty dresses, sky high heels, raspberry nails, salty breeze ruffling through the crowd... its a sexy story.

Sam Sparro - Pocket (The Presets Radio Mix) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prRFhulvJkA
A little bit more dance on than the original, but perfect for an afternoon stuck in the office, when you're ready to play, but no avenues to do it...

Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (GRUM Remix) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q78riJfXyU
The dance floor heat - the lights - the base..."I close my eyes on the dance floor, I forget about you, I lose myself in flashing colors, Ive gotta see it through"

Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clY2RAgXpM0
Reminds us of long summer Field Day's 04... bikini clad bodies reclining in the sun on the balconies overlooking Whale beach, ice cubes being handed around and mango juice being licked off pretty brown chins.

Who's really looking for love?

A little star who began showcasing his tagging talents at the age of 12, INSA became a boy wonder to the commercial set circa-2000.

Influenced by pop culture, society and "shiny stuff", INSA is well known for his fetish-styled work that started with tagging his name in heels, and has since translated to dominating whole walls, cars and canvas' in a mass of shoes, legs and bottoms.

Taking the shoe fetish in a new direction, INSA most recent lock-in is with Nike Sportswear to push the boundaries for the launch of the new 2009 Air Maxims. Craftily done, INSA shleped East London paining 35 frames in 7 days, showcasing the evolution of the ’87 Air Max 1 until today's little lush... all were then photographed and animated to create one sole installation piece.

Opening on July 17th at the Nike 1948 store in London, the exhi "Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places" will feature large scale mixed media, canvas, photography and prints (as well as some siiiiick shoes). If you can, get down there. Pretty darn cool, cats. (Nike 1948, 1948 Arches 477-478, Batman’s Row, Shoreditch, London, EC2 3HH)

Lady is a Vamp

Feeling pretty damn lovely today - the sun is shining, pretty florals are making a perky appearance, summer songs on the play list including Lily, Passion Pit and Lady Sov plus these little peaches - La Roux... loving flame-haired Ellie Jackson so much and the album cover shoot is fierce.

El's has told many a mag that she doesn't see herself as a pop darling, even though this electro duo have been hotting up the charts for a while now. We love the sensibility that surrounds her take on the industry... success doesn't make you cool, it just means that people share your vision - which is much more important and rewarding.

Just like Katie Gibb before her, Ellie is fast to flag that the La Roux weren't born into their sound. Its been years in the making for her and co-writer/co-producer Ben Langmaid to find a happy place... starting with a not-quite acoustic sound, grown from organic folk roots, a break to cool things off and refresh, and then the evolution to where we place them now.

If you haven't bought this one - get onto it. You won't be disappointed.

Best Foot Forward

Mixing things up slightly - the usual Boho/Hobo looks is taking a waiver in favour of Chloe-esque, hard-edge chic. Taking lots of influence from the beautiful Marianne Faithfull and Lykke Li - the lady with the front bun.

If there is one pair of shoes that speaks volumes to current styling its Alain Quilici's buckle strap platform sandals. The soft leather works with soft floaty fibres, and just enough hardware to be rock. Cant deal with studs anymore so this is the perfect compromise. Sure they cost €325.00 (AUD $572 approx)... but so worth it.

P-P-P-Purchase here.

For the love of Linda

Once upon a time, after watching a filthy filthy movie (that was disturbingly graphic) on the fast food industry in America, the notion of vegetarianism popped up.

For over 12 months, friends over dined on nutritious black lentil dahls, amazing ginger and garlic stir fried greens, chickpea and zucchini curries and sweet potato, chili mushroom and houloumi wraps. Slowly, due to fine dining experiences meat made its way back onto the menu, but, in keeping with some of the principles of being vego, ensuring that the produce being eaten included the ethical treatment of animals became an essential.

Lately however, we've been doing our bit to make a simple contribution to the world and have stopped eating meat on Mondays. Supported by amazing people like Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Richard Branson, Bryan Adams, Chris Martin, Moby, Yoko, Siouxsie Sioux and Twiggy, supporting Meat Free Mondays is an easy way to help the world by reducing global CO2 emissions, slowing the rate of climate change and protecting the environment.

Research done by the UK’s Food Climate Research Network suggests that food production from farm to fork is responsible for between 20-30 percent of global green house gas emissions. Livestock production is responsible for around half of these emissions. This means, the more meat we produce and eat, the bigger our carbon footprint.

By making a simple change in the way you eat - for just one day a week - you join a global phenomenon that's world changing, good for you and also good for the planet.

Get involved - sign up, and receive a recipe each week from our icon du jour Linda McCartney. Its not that hard... In the words of Sir Richard Branson - "I love eating meat. But I love our planet even more." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02bawEDh-JQ

Dropped like its HOT

Ed Banger’s Feadz has dropped a hot new EP... The Parisian masterminds new release (some seriously twisted rap ‘n’ electro) is entitled “P*N*M*B” and we love that he recommends www.maddecent.com (Diplo’s label site)! BOOM!*

If you're in London get down to ED BANGER 6(1/2) BIRTHDAY Bash... with Busy P, DJ Mehdi, Feadz, Sebastian and DJ sets from Mystery Jets, Friendly Fires and O Children.

The Coronet Theatre - 28 New Kent Road, London SE1 6JT.
Friday July 10 (9pm-5am)
Tickets available at Rough Trade East, Pure Groove, Stargreen and Phonica

*Just a little sumthin sumthin for a Friday arvo smile JD. The competition is ON!

Jewels Delicious

Looking for something wonderful for a pretty little peach, who has it all. With the spend and spend attitude most people work too, it can often be hard to find something that is perfect and spech, and unseen, and unowned.

Try these on for size... perfect gift for a GF (especially if you're unsure whether you're loved up or not) or for a bestie (who needs a little reminder how wonderful they really are).

Emily Elizabeth Jewelry Matte Fern Leaf Bangle
Two garlands of yellow gold plated brass fern leaves wrapped around a wire bracelet

Emily Elizabeth Jewelry Have Them Follow You Necklace
Three yellow gold plated copper birds chase a fourth bird around a yellow gold plated brass rolo chain.

Three Sisters Cassy Necklace
Sterling silver dappled disc, hand stamped with one name (up to 10 letters long)

Three Sisters QT Necklace
Charmingly beachy. Two sterling silver dappled discs, hand stamped with up to eight letters combined with a small sterling silver seashell and vintage red coral.

MoHo ♥ Jessie Hart

Pretty Lady. Summer Song. Island dreams. Feels a little MoHo to us. Jessie Hart for Seafolly.

Paper Treats

The fastest way to cheer up a little bunny is to offer them a gift straight from the heart. A handwritten note is like a smile on paper - the chance to share a little piece of you with the receiver, to give a part of your soul and love to someone special.

Its so important to get the card right... cheesy Hallmarks are as offensive to receive as they are to look at (stock shots... pft!), and they show no thought or feeling. Try one of these O-CHECKS on someone spech, it will mean so much more. We die on Spring Bird x

Just a little bit harder...

Imagine, lying under the smooth shade of a bougainvillea, the licks of a warm salty breeze, the quiet tap of waves against a wooden jetty, the heady feeling of summer. Imagine, Maça Kizi. (Kesireburnu Mevkii, Türkbükü, In Turkbuku. Phone, 0252/377-6272).

Located in Turkbuku (half-hour drive from Bodrum) Maça Kizi is named after proprietor Sahir Erozan’s mother Ayla, who is the originator of the super chic (and much followed) pontoon beach club concept...rather than lying in the sand, Maça Kizi will have you lushing on lounges placed in order along terraces carved into the steep hillside.

Views that stretch for miles, the architecture is loosely Mediterranean, the rooms are clean, serene, sparse. Meals are served on long dining tables on the deck. Maça Kizi is heaven / paradise / the ultimate.

Catalunya Nourishment

The art of simple living is no longer the notion of hippy ideologists, rather, a social phenomenon that we bow too. We live in exciting times; a place where we are confronted by the challenge to run (and win) the race, or, to focus on simple treasures, open yourself to the energy and the vibrancy of life.

Catalunya (NE Spain) is one of Spain’s most exciting, energetic autonomies. A creativity buzzes throughout the region. Catalunya embodies a wild charm, a passion and an area of the world truly in love with life. It has produced some of the most interesting and inventive architecture - Gaudí's colorful and widely excessive structures - art - Picasso, Miró, Dali - and food...Ferran Adrià.

elBulli is a pilgrimage site. Overlooking the Cala Monjoi bay, in Roses on the Costa Brava, the restaurant opens its doors from April until September (only) and reservations are accepted on one single day in October of the previous year. The restaurant accommodates only 8,000 diners a season but gets hit with more than two million requests.

To understand why this amazing restaurant drives food harder than anywhere else in the world, its important to understand the synthesis of elBulli cuisine... we've cut it down to a top few points that summaries the fusion of food and life below...

1. Cooking is a language through which all the following properties may be expressed: harmony, creativity, happiness, beauty, poetry, complexity, magic, humour, provocation and culture.

9. The information given off by a dish is enjoyed through the senses; it is also enjoyed and interpreted by reflection.

12. Creation involves teamwork.

18. There are two main paths towards attaining harmony of products and flavours: through memory, or through new combinations.

19. A culinary language is being created which is becoming more and more ordered, that on some occasions establishes a relationship with the world and language of art.

23. Knowledge and/or collaboration with experts from different fields (gastronomic culture, history, industrial design, etc.,) is essential for progress in cooking.

Niguiri de navajas con spray de jengibre (Razor-shell Clam Sushi with Ginger Spray)

Sopa de letras (Alphabet Soup)

Piruleta de chocolate blanco y candy de limón y café (Lollipop of White Chocolate, Lemon and Coffee)

Sandy

While we're dreaming of summer... (lilos, slushy cocktails, summer days, smell of suncream, bikinis, tanned up, late arvo cocktails, outdoor bbq's, sand stuck to your toes, thongs, singlet dresses, mango's, beach hair, smiles, New Years!, new sunnies, beautiful photos, blue skies, warm breeze...) we're lushing on Kirrilly Johnston's Spring Summer 09/10 collection which is kind of helping the transition. So close (yet so far!)

An Asian Day Terry Richardson

You wont be able to tell from "these" shots, but Yasumasa 'Yone'hara seriously rivals Terry as a creep photographer who managed to capture sleaze with ease in a very sweetly proactive way, breaching the gap between porn and commercialism.

Fearless to admit that he is all about the girls, Yone recently teamed up with Fafi to launch a special limited edition Lomo which we f-ing died for.

And, as a compliment to his February 09 "QUOLOMO YONE" exhibition (supported by Dazed and Confused, Japan*) Yonehara and QUOLOMO launched a bilingual site acting as an online exhibition and web retail space. Co-branded "QUOLOMO YONE" t-shirts also sold out, but you can suss them on eBay global.

*Link to the UK Dazed digital space here.... you might remember from early post that this little pup is Jefferson Hack's baby.