July 2012

It is such a pleasure to work with an organisation like Blue Illusion. In fact there is no other organisation like Blue Illusion, they stand alone in their generous contributions to our community for more than 15 years. There is a real sense of wanting to do something good to help important causes in Australia and overseas. This is a significant and strong part of the company ethos. Cool Australia works to make life easier for teachers and assist them bring sustainability education into the classroom. We are very proud to be working with Blue Illusion to support our expanding program.

Please join us at your local Blue Illusion boutique this Thursday, 2 August 2012 for a great event supporting education for young Australians for a sustainable future!

The Cool Australia Story

In everything Cool Australia does, we believe in thinking creatively. We believe in making information accessible to everyone. We do this by delivering resources for free and making them simple and easy to use. Oh and we just happen to provide great environmental education. Watch this video to learn more about us:

It's no secret I'm obsessed with all things French!  So it was only natural that I would take my passion one step further and learn the language too!

This year I started taking classes at the Alliance Française in St Kilda - it's a fantastic association, dedicated to French language and culture. While the Alliance Française de Melbourne is the oldest of the 33 Alliances in Australia, it is also one of the oldest in the world and has it's own French culture centre.

Some of my workbooks, things I've collected on my travels and French guides to get ideas on where to visit on my next trip. You'll find some of these books in our boutiques or online here.

In addition to taking classes, I've been able to go another step further by immersing myself in the cultural activities on offer at the Alliance: There's The French Film Festival, cooking classes, art exhibitions, book clubs and so much more.  It really is an amazing and fulfilling experience - so much so, it was the inspiration and location for the latest Blue Illusion catalogue.

For further information about classes offered at the Alliance Française, visit their website here.

Stay tuned for my next blog with a behind-the-scenes look from the photoshoot on location at the Alliance Française de Melbourne!

It's almost that time of year again - the 14th July is the day the French celebrate Bastille Day each year! Also known as "La Fête Nationale", Bastille Day symbolises the overthrow of the monarchy and the beginning of a new French Republic.

It's a public holiday in France, and the perfect excuse for all Francophiles to join in and celebrate French culture!





Help us celebrate all things French at Blue Illusion this Saturday on Bastille Day!
Every boutique will be serving French treats and refreshments as well as supporting two important causes - details below:

Hope to see you there!

Donna Guest

Félicitations Ladurée pour votre 150 ème anniversaire!

My favourite Parisian maison du macaron, is celebrating it's 150th year! And they're doing it style by renewing its famous Parisian macaron and creating a delicious, surprising new recipe for the “Incroyables”, paying tribute to Ladurée first macaron and to the delicious flavour of almonds.

And if that's not enough to get your taste buds excited, then this will - they are releasing special limited-edition boxes of its confections every month this year - they are little pieces of artwork in themselves.

Learn more about Ladurée here, and if you're lucky enough to be in Paris soon, visit their new pop-up store in the Carrousel du Louvre:
Ladurée Carrousel du Louvre
99 rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris