Saturday in the inner city

 Styling session at Freedom with the uber-lovely super-stylish Megan Morton.

Collectibles overload at Doug Up on Bourke.

Browsing the Bromley Arcade.

Retro heaven at Mitchell Road.

How was your weekend? Over too quickly? Uh huh, me too.

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DES Awareness Week :: Ask your Mum

While this post is a departure from what I normally blog about, the topic of DES awareness is something that's close to my heart, and it's a message that needs to be heard. Today marks the beginning of DES Awareness Week, so I am speaking out.

Were you born between 1940 and 1971? If so your mother may have been prescribed DES during her pregnancy and as a result your health - and hers - may be compromised. If you have been exposed to DES (as either a mother or a child) you have an increased risk of developing certain cancers (breast, cervical and vaginal), and also reproductive problems. Males exposed in-utero to DES are also at risk of developing urogenital conditions.

I am a DES daughter.

My mother, like many others, was prescribed DES during her pregnancies to prevent miscarriage. I am infertile. I have regular specialised checks for early detection of possible cancer. I am telling you this because there are up to 740,000 Australians affected by this drug disaster, potentially 5 to 10 million in the USA, and many, many more throughout the world. Most of those people are unaware of their exposure. Governments and pharmaceutical companies don't want to know about it. There continues to be a conspiracy of silence surrounding DES... but there are groups of people around the world working hard to educate and be heard.

American screenwriter and DES advocate Caitlin McCarthy found out about her exposure in 2005 and she has a feature film entitled "Wonder Drug" currently in production. You can see Caitlin speaking about DES here (you just have to get past the ad!).

So... talk to your mother and find out if she suffered a miscarriage or pregnancy complications and was prescribed hormones or stiboestrol (another name for DES) during subsequent pregnancies. Although DES was also often given to ensure a 'healthy pregnancy' even if there were no complications. (It has since been proven that DES actually had no positive benefits at all.) If you can't ask your mum your own health history may offer clues. Do some research. Have a specialist check up.

In Australia there is a group called DES Action which has a blog with information and a listing of DES-knowledgable healthcare providers. Carol Devine runs DES Action Australia and works tirelessly for the cause. There are action groups all over the world - if you can't find one in your country I'm sure Carol can help you locate one. You can find DES Action USA here with a wealth of information.

This is a great post to read on The Huffington Post: One of America's Deepest, Darkest Family Secrets: The DES Drug Disaster

Ask your mum. Spread the word. Don't let the cover up continue.

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Inspiration :: March Magazine

It seems like every week there is a new e-mag popping up. The ones I've seen all look pretty fab, and I love the idea of people taking the initiative to self-publish an online magazine.

March is a new-to-me e-mag that features Grace from Design*Sponge on the front of the current issue. I read about March on Design*Sponge and thought it was worth taking a look as it stands apart from all the interiors-focussed titles. There are articles about Grace and other professional bloggers and well as features on many other women running successful businesses. I haven't read all of March yet, but at a glance it looks like the content is very inspirational and definitely worth checking out. The current issue features "technology-inspired but not jargon-embedded stories", like Grace's success with 'new' media and technology.

I hope you're week's going along nicely... here we are at Wednesday already! Apologies for my absence this week - I'm madly working away here.

Oh and pop over and take a look at Grace's new blog design if you haven't already. It's understated and gorgeous.
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UGUiSU

Hello, would you like to visit a great online shop with me? UGUiSU is chock full of lovely Japanese goodies and I'm trying to resist a shopping spree there (they ship worldwide).

Love, love, loving these beautiful pleated and crumpled Eco-Bags. Stylish. Tick. Functional. Tick. And green. Tick.

I just have to have some of these lovely paper napkins.

Naturally UGUiSU stocks a big range of Japanese masking tape: wide and thin, patterned and plain, in packs and single rolls. And if you use your tape for gift wrapping you can also get some stunning wrapping and origami paper to compliment it.

There's lots to love at UGUiSU. 

All images from UGUiSU

How beautiful and simple is the apple and pear card?

With the Aussie dollar so strong now it's hard to resist shopping online.... but I must. I just bought a pair of boots and a pair of shoes! Ooops.

Enjoy your weekend. I hope you get to do something you really want to, whether it's having a big night out or a quiet night in, being surrounded by lots of family and friends or chillaxin' on your own. Whatever it is, enjoy! See you Monday.

x
Lisa

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Elkhorn

I've been meaning to blog about Elkhorn since I bought one of their gorgeous tangerine feather cushions last year. I know, the number of cushions I have is an ongoing joke amongst my friends... they realise that I'm a bit obsessed with them.

Too many cushions?! In my defence, this is a very cheap affordable lounge and it's not that comfortable, so I tell myself the cushions are a necessity.

Image Source: Elkhorn
I love the extra detail of the white feathers on the back of the cushion. It's the little things...

Image Source: Elkhorn. Photos: Jillian Leiboff
Aren't the colours in the scarf delicious!

Elkhorn silk screened homewares are the work of Monique who lives on the NSW Central Coast. Monique's diverse past working life includes graphic design, horticulture and fashion retail... which all seem to have had an influence on what she is creating for Elkhorn. Her products feature beautiful colour palettes and natural fibres which are allowed to take centre stage with Monique's pared back aesthetic.

I'm disappointed that I missed Finders Keepers last weekend (we were suffering from bad colds and just couldn't drag ourselves out) because I would have loved to see all the Elkhorn goodies. You can find them in the Elkhorn Etsy shop and see more of Elkhorn on their blog.
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