Girl's Fashion Gifts for Under $10

Kmart clearance, striped and buttoned slippers for under $10, I love slippers!

Market find: mirrored bag with embroidery, $8

This singlet top came free with a magazine, I added the iron on dragonfly.


Tie Dyed singlet, E Shed Markets Fremantle $6

Kmart singlet/sleepwear clearance item, embellished with iron transfer and small gems.

Bleach Stamped Paper

Bleach Stamped Paper.....



I took a frond off the fern in the back yard, dipped it in a shallow tray of bleach and pressed it onto sheets of paper.... fun and the results are quite striking.



A bit of a smelly job though! I had to air the kitchen off afterwards and of course you must wear old clothes in case you get any drips on you....



But an easy task. If you have childeren you might prefer the traditional washable paint option rather than bleach, I can't say I blame you :)

Perfume, Parfum

I've wanted to do a special on perfumes so here it is..... a list of favourites with a description to help you select your perfect perfume.

The Best of Budget Friendly Perfumes

Panache One of my old favourites. No heavy fragrance here, just a simple, clean, fresh scent like you have just stepped out of the shower and your skin is soapy. This scent is great in any season.

Esprit "Life" The groovy, uplifting striped bottles are of youthful and fun appearance and have a fragrance to match. This is my favourite in Spring, and suits sporting, and flirty girls.

Elizabeth Arden "Green Tea" Absolutely my favourite refreshing summer perfume that is not too heavy in the heat. Of course, green tea is very hip right now and this perfume suits both the young, sporty girl and the classic, elegant woman.

"Mystique" I'm unsure as to whether this one is still available but I fell in love with its jagged little blue bottle in the mid 90's. It has a myserious, exotic feel to it and suits the dramatic girl, all year round.

"Red Door" This has never been my taste but it is a perenniel favourite in stores and suits a sophisticated woman, I think this fragrance is best in Autumn.

Revlon "Love Her Madly" This is one of the best affordable fragrances and is so feminine, I love it!

If You're Going To Splash Out...

I love Issy Miyake fragrances.

Vera Wang does classic, feminine beauty and suits most seasons.

CK One universally successful, though it reminds me of spiced vodka.

Davidoff "Cool Water Woman" absoulutely fabulous in summer!

Tommy Hilfiger "True Star" a winner all year round.

Caring For Your Fragrance

Perfumes are almost living things - they need to be looked after because they are not static, they are subject to change due to their chemical composition.

Firstly if you you keep your perfume with the lid off, you risk losing some of its intensity as the fragrance difuses in the room. It also changes scent over time due to exposure to the air.

You should keep the bottles out of direct sunlight. I once lost a perfume because I kept it on the top shelf of my wardrobe, it was far too hot in summer and it was sour smelling when I opened it.

Finally, they don't live forever - really beyond two years you can consider yourself lucky if you don't notice a change in the perfume. Don't buy bottles too far ahead of when you expect to be using them (my bottle that was ruined was my replacement ready for when I ran out.... it was stored too long in the wrong conditions).

Smell Beautiful, Feel Divine!

Nanna's Necklace

After my Nanna died, my mum brought home a few small trinkets for me that have been completely loved and treasured, but left unworn, as I didn't feel that I could live up to Nanna and felt unworthy of wearing them. Over the years things have changed, and I have felt more and more like the person I am supposed to be, and that would make Nanna proud.

So one day I dug out the little pendant on this necklace. It came to me on its own, just a heart shaped filagree pendant with an oval with handpainted rose in the palest and most delicate design. Feeling creative I selected a gold chain from my craft supplies, and then attached the additional coloured beads in two shades of rose, with gold and green seed beads of glass to set the whole thing off.

Having had a rough night, a tough night on my heart and emotions, I have sought comfort in this and other pleasing things and have decided to share my necklace with you. You can easily breathe new life into your own little treasures so they take a form you can carry with you on special days. Sorry my photos aren't up to scratch I have taken so many and they all look terrible, so these are sadly, the best I can do.

And from the Little Words of Sunshine department: "Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restless... sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying 'you are accepted'..." Paul Johannes Tillich.

Tokens Of Appreciation Make the World Go Round

This is my new mission, to spread love and gratitude through all the lands....

It is called, Tokens Of Appreciation Make The World Go Round!

Tokens Of Appreciation Make The World Go Round!

I am making some tokens of appreciation and sending them in sets to my friends, who can then divide them up and send or give them to the people they appreciate, and so my readers here do not miss out I have made the virtual tokens (above) because you make my life so much more enjoyable, and I appreciate you.

I want as many people as possible to express appreciation to someone, and as many people to feel that they are loved, and valued in this world.

If you run out of tokens, or are so inclined, you can make your own, but remember to label them somewhere 'Tokens Of Appreciation Make The World Go Round' so that the mission spreads by word of mouth. Please keep in mind I would like them all to be structurally the same, so make your circles 10cm in diameter. It is also a good idea to make them plain on the back to allow dedications to be written on them. At the very least the person who receives them would like to know who each one came from.

I have made over 150 and decorated them in 2 days, and have sent them out in batches of 10 or 20 to special friends.

I would love for schools, craft groups, or individual crafters to make tokens if they wish, keeping to the original plan.

"We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence, and its only end", Benjamin Disraeli.

Missy Etiquette Q & A

Missy Etiquette answers gift and giving related questions as they are sent in via comment, email, or in person, as is the case with this question by a friend of mine.



How can I decline a gift?



The answer is that it depends on the reason why you wish to decline or refuse a gift.



If you consider the girft to be an inappropriate token, or it is inappropriate for the giver to have gifted you anything at all (perhaps an exlover while you are married etc), then you should rely on simple honesty.



"I'm sorry I can't accept this gift" would be a start. If questioned why, you need to follow up with any of the following as appropriate....



"because it is too extravagant and I am concerned for your finances/well being"



"because the gift is offensive to me" (perhaps something that offends your religion or dignity, is racist or immoral....)



"it is inappropriate for you to give me a gift"



"I am not comfortable receiving it".





That should cover the possible reasons you wish to decline a gift. Don't refuse a gift out of spite or grudge (for instance you don't like your sister in law who is the giver) and only stick to the basic truth.



I hope this helps.



Future Q's for Missy E are welcome.

Photos From Inner Child Day

photo of my toys, and photo of me with my childhood bestie, Hayley at her 21st Birthday.

What a fright! But who says spa days have to be dull and quiet, mine are a scream....

32 years old and no sign of inner child decay, yay, I am alive and well, are you?