Love, Life and a Double Latte

Loft love

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:21:00 +0000

My obsession with lofts continues! This place all looks so homely and so chic. It must have been so tempting to stick with a neutral palette, but the burst of red and the icy blue walls look fantastic. I feel quite inspired!

(Photos fromLiving Etc)

Winter woolly hats

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:12:00 +0000

The snow has been falling very thick and very fast here in London! It really is soooo beautiful outside and I've never seen Londoners looking so friendly and happy on a Monday morning! Because all the trains and buses have grinded to a halt, the streets are filled with families and couples out sledging and building giant snowmen in their gardens :) Still, it is absolutely freezing so I'm taking inspiration from the way these girls are stylishly sporting their toasty woolly hats!

(Photos via Style and the City, Vogue UK and Just Jared)

P.S. I found out that I got the job!!

Dream hair

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Seeing this photo on Altamira is once again making me seriously consider going for a thick blunt fringe. Even though hairdresers persist in advising me to resist the bangs (my face is a wee bit too round!), I still find myself wanting to take the plunge! These are some photos of girls with my dream hair cut - don't they all look amazing?!

(Photos by Altamira, The Sartorialist , Le Blog de Betty and Jak & Jill)

Alice in Wonderland at the Met Bar

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:51:00 +0000

What a genius theme for a party?! Guests were greeted at the door by a white rabbit, clocks were hanging off tree branches and drinks were "Raspberry Tarts" that guests drank out of glass teacups. Sounds like so much fun!

(Via Urban Junkies, photos by Diamond Rogers)

I've been tagged!

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:24:00 +0000

I've been tagged by the lovely Nicki Jane of The Cherry Blog to:

* Go to the fourth folder where you keep your photographs
* Choose the fourth picture
* Explain it.

Rather predictably, the photo was stolen from a street style blog (I'm unashamedly addicted!!), Style and the City. At first I saved the picture just because I thought her outfit was cute (I love the huge bow on her top, the wide brimmed hat and the ballet pumps), but, to be honest, the reason I've kept this image is that whenever I look at it, it reminds me of that excitement I get in the pit of my stomach before heading off to some new, exciting destination. The sunglasses and ticket (to who knows where?) held jauntily in one hand, the pile of suitcases in the other - it makes me wish for my next trip and that makes me smile :)

So, I now tag the following four bloggers!

* Style Pill
* Bel's Fish Bowl
* Little Girl Lost in London
* A Pretty Pill

Kanye's crew

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Check out Kanye and his colourful crew at Paris Fashion Week!

(Photo by Jak & Jill)

Angelic watercolours

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:42:00 +0000

These washed out shades of peach, grey and white complement each other so beautifully don't you think? And on a rather damp winter afternoon, they make me remember that spring is only a hop, skip and a jump away!

Hope you all have a great weekend! Any fun plans?

(Photos via Moodboard, Olivia Graham and Style.com)

To dry for

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:52:00 +0000

I love these humorous and sweet tea towels from website To Dry For - how can I not when I know they're going to make me actually want to clean up?!! Plus I reckon I now have parts of birthday presents for pretty much all the family. Ah, maybe I really will be more organised in 2009 ;)

For my Dad who never stops inspiring me through his determination to keep learning:

Because pregnancy surely is a time when you can munch on freshly baked cupcakes without guilt, this is one for my lovely sister:
Only an avid reader of Agatha Christie can appreciate this one quite like my mum:

To congratulate the boy's admirable recycling:

My other sister and her fiancé have been doing up a magnificant old house, so to celebrate their first new home, this one has to be for them:

And finally, from me to me because of my recent obsession with all things Parisian:

(Final photo via Desire to Inspire)

A shot of pink

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:21:00 +0000

I'm not feeling very sparky today. I'd put it down to post-weekend blues but then I read this post on Coco's Tea Party. I think those psychologists might be onto something! So I thought I'd post about something that would make me smile. Amazing how just posting these pictures of interiors with the shots of fuschia pink has cheered me up!

I love the way the pink pops against the white and granite surfaces...

(Photos via The Selby, Desire to Inspire and Living Etc)

Plan for Paris: Ladurée

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:04:00 +0000

I have about a month to go until I head to Paris so I thought I'd start to post about the places that I'm dying to visit while I'm there. Number one place on my list has to be the infamous Ladurée.

About four years ago, my friend and I headed off on a last minute trip to Paris. We truly had the best weekend away. Lots of amazing food, fantastic bars and the best markets (I'm yet to find anywhere else where you can get a pair of vintage leather boots for 5 Euros!) But the highlight was stumbling across a tea salon called Ladurée in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district. We were completely entranced by the beauty and glamour of the rooms...

...as well as by the pastries, macaroons and teas (of course!) I always promised myself that I would go back there and repeat that experience.

(All photos from www.laduree.fr)

H&M Home

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:36:00 +0000

I know its already done the rounds on the blogs but I'm so excited about H&M's new home range that I had to post some of these promotional pictures. It will be available in some countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands) in Feb - sadly there aren't any dates for when or if it will be rolled out elsewhere but fingers crossed that if it does well, it will soon be with us!

(Photos via Nitro:licious)

By the way, thank you all sooo much for your kind words of encouragement! The interviewers were lovely people, which always makes such a difference. Thinking back, I probably gabbled on for a bit too long but hey ho, what's done is done - all I need to do now is wait for the call!

Divine Idyll

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:10:00 +0000

I have my interview tomorrow morning and then another one set for Thursday first thing, so in an attempt to achieve some Zen-like calm, I thought I'd post pictures from this lovely shoot in French Glamour.

I was convinced that I'd just gained insight into an idyllic day in the life of Johnny and Vanessa, but they're actually doubles (you can tell more with the Vanessa double I think) but still, the spread represents such a laid-back, beautiful lifestyle that it makes me sigh when I look at them...

(Photographs from French Glamour, via Flora's Box)

Three of the best: Golden Globes

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:53:00 +0000

My eyes were immediately drawn to that amazing turquoise necklace. And, of course, the white dress looks stunning against her golden skin. I think what makes it for me though is the fact that she looks as though she's having so much fun!

Because I just love that print, that cut and all things Lanvin.

This truly is my dream dress. That colour looks fantastic on her.

(Photos via Glamour.com and WWD)

What to wear?

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:11:00 +0000

A call came through yesterday to say that I have an interview for next week!

I've been searching through some of the street style blogs to get some inspiration for what to wear. I've always worked in dress down work environments so find choosing an outfit for interviews really tough. Too often, I end up looking overly corporate which just makes me feel uncomfortable. I really like what the girl in the photo above is wearing. I already have my interview failsafe black dress that comes down to the knee but like the idea of wearing it with a black blazer (with the pushed up sleeves of course!), brown belt and the heeled brogues.

What do you think? Interview appropriate? Any suggestions more than welcome!!

(Photo by Altamira)

Workspace

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:03:00 +0000

So this is my first week without a job and its actually pretty exciting! I completely expected to be a bag of nerves but I actually feel calm and, already, much much happier. The one snag I do have though, is adjusting to working from home. Hunching over my laptop on the sofa for hours on end is a killer for my back, and I keep getting distracted by all the magazines piled on my coffee table. I love these home office spaces - my flat's tiny so these actually seem achievable. I also like the idea of having a big inspiration board/wall to throw up things/people/quotes that will keep my motivation on work and away from the remote...

(Photo 1 from Design*Sponge, photo 2 from The Selby)

Fancy a snooze?

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Wow, such a gorgeous room! I keep tearing out photos of bedrooms as I've never loved the way that mine is decorated. Too white and not enough warmth I think. This bed looks so comfy I want to jump right on in, and of course, I love the bare brick walls. I always love bare brick walls.

Oh and can't forget the little blue retro fan. Very cute.

P.S. Tons of other great food/fashion/interior photos on Trevor Dixon's website.

(Photo by Trevor Dixon, via Desire to Inspire)

A little magic

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Usually at this time of year I just want to completely forget about dressing up and get back to "normal" dressing, i.e. no party dresses and certainly no heels. But this year, I feel like I want to keep a bit of that sparkle! I'm not sure if that's because I'm being inspired by so many of the amazing style blogs out there or if I want to keep a little of the excitement of Christmas and the New Year going for just a smiggin' longer?

This photo by Garance Doré has been sitting in my inspiration file for a while now, but stumbling across it again reminded me of why I love her sequin jacket. You can embrace all things wintery with the browns and the greys but then the sparkle adds a little magic to the proceedings! I love it!

Parisian pad

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:49:00 +0000

I'm literally counting the weeks until I go to Paris to celebrate my 30th in February! My lovely parents are treating the family (plus the various boyfriends and husbands) to a weekend there plus a visit to the Moulin Rouge. Am feeling rather spoilt and more than a little excited! Prepare yourselves for more than a few Parisian themed posts from me over the next few months. Check out this gorgeous Parisian apartment from The Selby . Oh to have that view over the rooftops! Its wetting my appetite for all things Français.

Oh Oscar!

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Hope you all have a fantastic 2009!!!! What resolutions are you making? I've decided to keep mine nice and simple for a change. Every year I write a ridiculously long list of all the things I want to achieve and tick off maybe a few of the more frivolous and fun things and let the more important ones slide, so 2009's resolution is just going to be focused on getting fit and healthy. I swear that one has been on my list for the last ten years!

How gorgeous is this Oscar de la Renta dress? I wish I had seen this post earlier. It went for £104 on ebay which is an absolute steal! To be fair, I'm a couple of sizes away from a UK size 8 but how motivating would it be to have this dress hanging on your wardrobe?!

Nearly there!!

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:34:00 +0000

How quickly has this year gone? I cannot believe we're so close to 2009! Before I head out, I just wanted to wish you all a fantastic evening tonight and, of course, a very happy and fun-packed 2009!!

xxxx

(Photo by Nicholas Moore)

Merry Christmas!!

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:19:00 +0000

Have a fantastic Christmas!! I'll be heading back home tomorrow to spend mine with my parents and two sisters to eat and, probably, drink way too much! I can't wait!

(Fun photo by Chris Craymer)

New year, new career

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:08:00 +0000

Sorry for the radio silence over the last few days. I stopped the months of umm'ing and ahh'ing and finally made the decision to leave my job. It was such a tough decision to make, especially given the whole economic climate, but too many late nights and weekends spent working replaced seeing the people that make my life so much fun and that kind of lifestyle just wasn't making me happy. Am just hoping that this will be one of those brave, bold moves that I can look back on and smile about! At the moment though, I can't decide if I'm excited or a bag of nerves!! At least I have Christmas and lots of mulled wine to focus on for the next week or so!!!!

(Picture by Chris Craymer)

Dream accessories

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:29:00 +0000

Oh to own this fringe bag and the Louboutins! Completely and utterly out of my price range but a girl can dream, especially this close to Christmas...

(Photo by Jak and Jill)

Ian Stevenson

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:57:00 +0000

These illustrations by Ian Stevenson made me chuckle!

(Via Creative Review)

Caped Crusader!

noreply@blogger.com (LJ) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:50:00 +0000

I love capes! Wearing one is like throwing a warm blanket around your shoulders. Doesn't Betty look cute in hers?!

(Photos by Olivia Graham for UK Glamour and from Le Blog de Betty)