Before I start this post, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement about our upcoming life changes. You have no idea how much it means to me. And for those of you in the NYC area, I can’t wait to meet you! Thanks again, xo Kylie

We’re gradually going through all of our drawers and closets, discarding or donating things that will not make the move to New York. Even though I have never been a big make-up or skincare girl, I have still managed to collect bottles and bottles of lotions that honestly should have been tossed months ago. But this year I have made a conscious effort to look after my skin (I’m getting older!) and have narrowed down my must-have list:

Now I promise you that YonKa did not ask or pay me for praising their products today. I find that YonKa’s botannical and essential oils skincare line not only smells heavenly but is very gentle on my skin. And if Jessica Alba uses it, then it’s going in my bag! I would give anything to have her glowy skin.

1. Lait Nettoyant Cleanser — Very mild and milky. The added bonus is that it contains eye make-up remover.

2. Pamplemousse Moisturizer — I switch between the oily or dry skin versions depending on the season.

3. Alpha Contour Eye & Lip Cream — Applying eye cream has become part of my daily ritual because I started to notice little lines around my eyes.

4. Alpha Complex Gel — This is part of my new anti-aging experiment. I rotate between my moisturizer and this gel every 28 days.

5. Ti-Silc SPF 45 Sunblock — While my foundation does have some sun protection I do not wear it every day. Instead I have forced myself to get into the habit of applying a thin layer of sunblock on my face in the mornings even if I don’t think I’ll spend any time outside.

6. Napoleon Perdis Lip Service — I do not like to wear lipstick and asked my make-up artist to recommend an alternative on my wedding day. So she applied Lip Service under a sheer coat of gloss and I couldn’t have been happier. Plus the menthol helps to plump up your lips!

7. MAC Technakohl Eyeliner — Pencil shavings are messy so that’s why I love MAC’s mechanical pencil. It’s very smooth too.

8. MAC Plush Lash Mascara — My sister is a converted Plush Lash Lover. I described how to apply it here.

9. OPI Bubble Bath Nail Polish — This is a new addition to my make-up bag. I envy Giada de Laurentiis’s nails every time I watch Everyday Italian. When Paloma of La Dolce Vita sourced her nail polish I ran straight over to Ulta to pick up a bottle. This unoffensive and delicate color makes my nails look pretty and clean. Thanks, Paloma!

What’s in your bag? I have various eye shadows that I like to play with but the only thing that’s really missing is a bronzer. Do you have any recommendations?

Image credits: Dermstore, Napoleon Perdis, MAC, & Amazon.com

Dear Readers,

I have been anxiously waiting to tell you all about our news but needed to get a few things in place beforehand. Our big news is that we are moving to New York in just under a month. This has actually happened incredibly quickly so I do not believe I have fully processed the situation. We of course had to think about our finances because New York is considerably more expensive, sell our house in this challenging market, discuss our baby timeline since I am 28 years old and about to make a significant career change, and figure out whether we could actually brave the cold (we’re both piping hot weather people). But now that all of the above have been resolved we can move onward and upward!

What prompted this move is the decision for both my husband and I to pursue our dreams. We’re at the point in our lives where the timing just seems right to “go for it.” I have been accepted into the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) where I will be getting my MFA in Interior Design and my husband, Jon, is following his passion by breaking into the software industry. After my three-year masters program, exposure to the design world in NYC, and opportunities with what sounds like a great alumni network, I will hopefully be 100% prepared for what I have always wanted to do. And who knows, perhaps my Double Take feature may become even more detailed after taking a set design class!

We’re excited, nervous, and anxious all at the same time as we will have to make some significant changes and sacrifices e.g. squeezing into a tiny 1-bedroom apartment from a 4-bedroom house. I do like change but it always takes me awhile to adjust to new surroundings. And quite frankly, New York scares me a little. Jon says I have to toughen up But I could not ask for a more wonderful, loving, and supportive husband who is always reminding me that it’s all about the journey and that we’re in this together.

If you have any advice about living in Manhattan then we’re all ears. For starters, we’re deciding on an area to live. Our dog, Aura, is a huge factor in this decision so we’d like to be close to Central Park plus it makes more sense for the proximity of school and work. Overall we prefer the neighborhood feel of the Upper West Side but we may get a little more room on the Upper East Side.
Opinions are very welcome — Upper West Side or Upper East Side? Also, it looks like we have secured a rental real estate agent to work with but please let us know if you can recommend anyone.

Things around here won’t change too much except that I will be sharing our experiences of living in New York and design school. I hope you’ll all come along for ride!

xo, Kylie

Image credits: Richard’s Flickr, NYC Tourist, and Milton Glaser Works via M.A. Belle

Despite his troubled times in the later years of his life, Michael Jackson was undoubtedly a pioneer in his field and talented to the bone. His music and dancing captured the hearts of many people across the world, including the tubby 2-year-old Kylie who used to bob up and down to his music in Australia. Last night I watched his music videos on YouTube and around the web for two hours straight and all of these memories came flooding back. Everyone has an MJ story of some sort and I thought I’d share mine.

Do you remember how scary his Thriller music video was to you as a kid? It still freaked me out last night. Our neighbors in Sydney in the 1980s had this awesome hi-fi system (before the home theater system truly existed) and they would play Thriller all of time. Oh, the chills! My sister and two of the kids next door would perform little concerts and pretend we had thousands of fans in the audience. I was always a back-up singer with a hairbrush or white-out bottle as my microphone. Unfortunately I never got the “good” brush because I was the smallest kid. Also I couldn’t ever be in the den (where we rehearsed) alone when Thriller was playing nor could I look at MJ’s poster because I felt like his eyes followed me. But oh man, I loved his music.

My love for MJ’s music continued to grow and I even got to go to one of his concerts as a 16-year-old. I dragged two of my friends to his concert one night early. We sat down in our seats, 20 rows from the front, then were told to leave because we came on the wrong night. That’s just how excited I was to see him!

Music really brings worlds together and I know MJ’s talent will be missed. Man In The Mirror will always be one of my favorite songs but I also loved I’ll Be There, Billie Jean, The Way You Make Me Feel, and Will You Be There. Do you have a favorite song or MJ story?

Image credits: The talented Richard E. Aaron

Congratulations, Evie! I seriously wish I could wear your Tolani scarf this summer.

Thank you to everyone for entering our Tolani scarf giveaway. It was so, so, so lovely to hear from all of you, including some readers that I had not heard from before. You all make this whole blogging experience so much fun for me so thanks for taking a few minutes out of your day to swing by this little corner of the world.

This month’s Traditional Home features an absolutely heavenly kitchen designed by residential designer Molly Frey. What makes this even more special is that Molly’s attention to detail can be enjoyed together with her mother, as this vacation home in Naples, Florida, belongs to her parents. Can you imagine eating granola, scones, peaches, and berries for breakfast at the farmhouse table? I can!

I have always loved open shelves in kitchens for displaying a few beautiful objects as well as how easy it would be to quickly grab a plate for my macaroni & cheese as it comes out of the oven. Molly Frey even mentioned her use of open shelves throughout her design projects in an article in Boston Globe as well as on her blog. Her Tribeca mesh-mounted petite brick backsplash also caught my eye, which can be found at Walker Zanger. And to top off this heavenly kitchen, Molly Frey even designed a butler’s pantry!

I thought I’d finish this post with two front doors that I found in Frey’s portfolio. What a way to be welcomed home.

Image credits: Traditional Home (photographs by Michael Partenio) & Molly Frey Design

Whether you are enjoying the last few spring blooms or already feel like you are into the full swing of summer (just like here in Houston), I do wish you all have lovely weekend. I found these photos of Grace Kelly and thought they would be a beautiful way to transition us all into a new season.

From spring to summer the colors in the images change from a pretty pink in the spring to a more vibrant coral in the summer, while spring pastel greens are replaced by a summer deep blue all on a bed of cream and sand. Oh beautiful, beautiful Grace…

See you next week and don’t forget to enter our Tolani scarf giveaway!

Image credits: Ultimate Graphics & Tom Palumbo

The lovely ladies over at ChickDowntown have graciously offered all Bandelle readers a chance to win a Tolani Scarf (details below). When they asked me to pick a scarf for the giveaway, I could not resist the colors of Tolani’s Grey & Pink Floral scarf (retail price: $85.00). ChickDowntown describes it as, “overblown fantasy florals spin out of control, a cascade of rich color played out across a semi-sheer, ultra-fine wool scarf, a dramatic accent to enliven day or evening ensembles.”

It’s a perfect accessory for the “in-between weather” or when it’s blazing hot outside, like it is now in Houston, and you need a little extra warmth to shield you from the air conditioning. I get chills from the AC! This is probably how I would wear my Tolani scarf…

From day to night I would swap out my ballet flats for a pair of killer pumps. I always carry a jacket or wrap of some sort just in case there is a breeze. Also I would pull a color from the scarf as inspiration for a summer tank top to pair with my white jeans (loving these Free People Fashion skinny jeans). Here are some of the colors that I picked out from the scarf. What do you think?

Now all you have to do to enter is simply leave a comment with your name and e-mail address by Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at midnight (CST). We promise not to use your e-mail address for any other purpose besides notifying you if you are the winner. No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Sorry, as directed by our sponsor, only US residents are allowed to enter. The winner will be selected at random using Random.org.

Good luck!

I have received a few e-mails and comments about the heels. They are Brian Atwood’s Marielle satin pumps. Remember, if you would like to enter the contest, please leave your name and e-mail address.

I love my Mum. Whenever I go home to Australia she always has the cupboards full of my favorite treats (Tim Tams, Tubes, Milo, Burger Rings, hummus and tzatziki with pita bread, chalk lollies, fresh scones with jam and cream…the list goes on…) and saves things for me such as recipes and magazines that she knows I will like. This time it was the May issue of Home Beautiful. I haven’t looked through this magazine in years. Instead I always ask Mum to bring a copy of Real Living and Donna Hay in her suit case when she visits. But next time can you please pack Home Beautiful too?

The May Home Beautiful featured the house of Danish furniture importer Mette Fog. Her relaxed living room is a perfect blend of oriental pieces, country-chic, and her love of “glittery and sparkly things, hence the chandeliers.” Her purple and yellow color palette on a bed of soft white makes me feel so incredibly girly.

The dress wallpaper scrolls in the dining room and hallway also add to the femininity of Fog’s home. These are from Deborah Bowness‘ hand printed wallpaper collection

And I love her wallpapered feature wall behind the bed. Mette selected the Nordic Leaves wallpaper in Birch Leaves by Helene Blanche. It’s a clever substitute for a headboard!

Thanks, Mum, for always knowing what I like.

Image credits: Home Beautiful

After seeing a snippet of the Ivy in Elle Magazine last year, I added it to my To Do list for a future Sydney trip, which happened to be this most recent one. Luckily my long-time girlfriends selected it as our catch-up spot so I not only had the best company but also a chance to ogle the design and décor of this pool house and bar. It reminded me a little of the Viceroy in Palm Springs, with a vintage Kelly Wearstler-esque glam vibe. But I think now we’ll have to watch out for the designers of Hecker Phelan & Guthrie, who hail from Richmond, Victoria. When I grow up I would like to be half as talented as these designers, just by seeing the Ivy in person and browsing through their portfolio.

These bespoke Chesterfields are the perfect spot to lounge while chatting with your friends, that is if you go there on any other night than Friday or Saturday. It’s a little noisy and would probably look even better in the daylight.

A glass of wine in the Ash Street cellar is also a good option.

We had some outrageously expensive hors d’oeuvres in the lounge but would have preferred to eat dinner in the Mad Cow Restaurant or in Sushi Choo, which is the home of a sushi train. My sister loooooves sushi trains!

To quote Tim Gunn, the zebra carpet in the ballroom is, “a lot of look.” But somehow it works!

This was one of my favorite rooms at The Ivy. I loved the bamboo chairs and black cabinets behind the bar.

Unfortunately it rained that night so we did not get to see the outdoor dance floor in action, which is supposedly right next to the Terrace. I would love to sip some lemonade there, perhaps on a summer week day evening when it’s not so crowded.

Image credits: Hecker Phelan & Guthrie

We made it here to Sydney after a relatively uneventful flight. Unfortunately Jon and I had separate seats on the 14 hour Qantas journey but we discovered that you can actually chat with each other on your personal screens, similar to Instant Messaging between seats. Jon wasn’t quite as enthralled, especially when I interrupted his movies. However any activities that make the time pass by faster are always welcome!

Every time we visit Sydney we always lust over the area called Paddington. Filled with terrace houses, boutiques, and tree-lined streets, it provides the perfect neighborhood feel while only being 7 minutes from the city center. And whenever we spend some time in this sought after area, I always hop onto the Domain Real Estate site just to check what is on the market (while hiding the price, of course). Look at this beauty…

In this case, we’re safe to judge a book by its cover because the interior of this 1890s Victorian terrace is just as exquisite as the facade.

The tri-level home was meticulously renovated yet it still maintains its historical character. The sun-filled master looks like a relaxing retreat whereas the sleek, modernized kitchen is perfect for entertaining. Did you notice the paper notes chandelier? Perhaps it’s the Zettle’Z Chandelier from designer Ingo Maurer.

How about a dining table surrounded by Louis Ghost Chairs? What a perfect blend of contemporary furnishings with a more traditional color scheme and wall coverings.

I would love to wake up to morning coffee on the verandah just outside the master bedroom.

And that coffee would be enjoyed after a night of poolside entertaining by a 17m heated pool. The downstairs living area is wrapped in floor to ceiling bi-folding glass doors, a fairly common element in these Paddington terrace houses. Perhaps this is what attracts me most to the houses in the area as there is a seamless transition between your living room or kitchen and the additional outdoor “room.” Ahh, a girl can dream…

Just in case you’re interested, you can view the full listing here. I’ll be back with more Sydney sites soon.

Image credits: Domain