Nicole Richie has reportedly packed her bags and moved out of the house she shares with Joel Madden.

Paris' best mate scooped up her belongings, their tiny tot Harlow and moved out of their home for one night - giving her rocker boyfriend a glimpse of life without her.

Star quotes a source as saying, “This was her way of sending Joel a message.”

The couple's arguments are said to have started at New York Fashion Week, when Nicole was angry at Joel for ditching her to go back to L.A. for a Video Music Awards party.

Adding fuel to the fire, Joel was apparently caught on camera by a friend of Nicole's flirting outrageously with Mischa Barton at the party.

Angered by what she saw, the skinny star left their family home but returned next day, no doubt to see if her absence had gone unnoticed?