tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50138395275644486482024-03-05T18:26:03.689+00:00seeking clothes to heal a broken heartCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-12334583750715472262011-09-19T22:17:00.000+01:002011-09-19T22:17:03.785+01:00Beautiful SuitingHaving just been promoted at work, I've got quite into Power Dressing... Having never been a fan of black, I'm now in love with it for its air of professional cool and power.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cap Sleeve Waist Pleat & Bow Stretch Dress" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31t19zyfHVL._SX182_SH35_.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This new M&S dress is my new favourite... Flattering, appropriate, and washable! The holy grail of work dresses!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Though I am now partial to a bit of black, you can't do without colour... And what is more Colourful than a berry red wool suit?!?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImxwWlBgkKXQ2FdeY-c4KC9eehulHyYP4FEXtchP9IggDGhB8CN7TrqzLbsKLH3IPa8zoYBqd-Aw8xpPaAaGwUYa0aCbNSw-ryhwkyJ6jbdBfrtLRBBpZ8LS5K97gO0_KTbv-JgGweoo/s1600/redsuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImxwWlBgkKXQ2FdeY-c4KC9eehulHyYP4FEXtchP9IggDGhB8CN7TrqzLbsKLH3IPa8zoYBqd-Aw8xpPaAaGwUYa0aCbNSw-ryhwkyJ6jbdBfrtLRBBpZ8LS5K97gO0_KTbv-JgGweoo/s320/redsuit.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The skirt especially is easy to wear, warm and incredibly nice on. The wool doesn't crease, and the lining doesn't get staticky with opaques!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the footwear?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">How about some gorgeous black suede heels, with cute triangular straps?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Autograph Suede Wide Fit Court Shoes with Insolia®" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TJqydDtVL._SX182_SH35_.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm such a twenty-something middle-ager, but I'm ADORING M&S this season! =D =D =D </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-83083276949420168082011-07-09T15:19:00.000+01:002011-07-09T15:19:46.149+01:00Life Imitating ArtLately I've been thinking about Art... It has been a while since I have spent a few hours in a museum, whiling away a few hours staring at beautiful combinations of colour and line. A couple of friends of mine are fantastic artists... One, a professional comedian, is an obvious suspect - always dressed flamboyantly. He accepts commissions to design stamps in Spain, and discusses constructing sculptures out of my hair. (Don't worry, I have no intention of cutting my Pride and Joy for Art's sake!) He introduced me, a long time ago now, to the art of Rinaldo, Ergisto and Cyrus Cuneo: Californian artists of the early 20th century. (A great Youtube view of California Artists with the Auction Network starts with <a href="http://youtu.be/eHoA45LFFWc">Bonhams and Butterfields (Fine Art) #1</a> - I'm loving the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Keith_(artist)">William Keith</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Charlton_Fortune">E Charlton Fortune</a>'s works.)<br />
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<img alt="the-farm-rinaldo-cuneo-oil-on-canvas-c-1930" src="http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/the-farm-rinaldo-cuneo-oil-on-canvas-c-1930.jpg" /><br />
<i>Rinaldo Cuneo - The Farm - c.1930</i><br />
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<i><img alt="storm-mountains-rinaldo-cuneo-oil-on-canvas-c-1930" src="http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/storm-mountains-rinaldo-cuneo-oil-on-canvas-c-1930.jpg" /></i><br />
<i>Rinaldo Cuneo - Storm Mountains - c.1930</i><br />
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Rinaldo Cuneo (1877-1933), "The Painter of San Francisco", started his adult life in the Navy, followed by artistic training in San Francisco under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Putnam">Arthur Putnum</a>, working alongside Ralph Stockpole and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_Dixon">Maynard Dixon</a>. He went to England and became a fellow of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and later studied under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Abbott_McNeill_Whistler">Whistler</a>. I love Tonalism in general, but I think his works are truly beautiful. Such a shame that he struggled to market them in his lifetime due to the advent of the Great Depression!<br />
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His youngest brother, Ernisto Cuneo, studied under John Sloan, and was an officer of the Kit Kat Club, an organisation that raised funds for art scholarships in early 19th Century New York. He specialised mostly in nudes and figurative drawings, and abandoned his art work to work in Real Estate...<br />
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<i><img alt="nude-model-kit-kat-club-new-york-egisto-cuneo-oil-1920" src="http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/nude-model-kit-kat-club-new-york-egisto-cuneo-oil-1920.jpg" /></i><br />
<i>Ernisto Cuneo - Nude Model, Kit Kat Club New York - 1920</i><br />
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Cyrus Cuneo also studied under Whistler, and settled in England, becoming a celebrated illustrator for London News and war artist, as well as becoming a Fellow of the Royal Academy. In my opinion, his war art is some of the most affecting I know, from a genre full of heart-rending material... The pictures below are prime examples of the genre, and particularly the top one, feels like it could be happening in Afghanistan right now! Such is the nature of warfare I suppose.<br />
<i><img alt="Cuneo Cyrus - British Pilot Destroys Fourteen Ammunition Trucks with a Single Bomb" src="http://www.poster.net/cuneo-cyrus/cuneo-cyrus-british-pilot-destroys-fourteen-ammunition-trucks-with-a-single-bomb-1236484.jpg" /></i><br />
<i>Cyrus Cuneo - British Pilot Destroys Fourteen Ammunition Trucks with a Single Bomb - c.1915</i><br />
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<i><img src="http://media.artfinder.com/works/r/bal/2/4/0/358042_full_522x719.jpg" /></i><br />
<i>Cyrus Cuneo - An encounter between Turkish and Italian Troops - 1911</i><br />
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What do you guys think? Have you had much experience with the Californian Painters? What do you think of the Auction Network programme? I'm interested to hear your views...<br />
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XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-59961470358300337292011-05-10T21:45:00.001+01:002011-05-10T21:47:43.824+01:00Got to Love Sunshine!<div style="text-align: justify;">Today was so beautiful and warm! A great day for getting out and about as part of <a href="http://www.mylivingstreets.org.uk/index/index">Walk to Work Week</a>! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLwKRCkl315W6OgG53EfLkjfh_0UBU7lqDiLDleO720sE2_WHta4WjtKTpua4pyzwItsozB_IDcIp0LNqJO9KdVMtrwycDo1OEH5AwhRi44vYijtVCPJMNP9ZR2xeb-Y2hWxyapSsteg/s1600/wtww_2011_graphic+%25281%2529.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a great / hilarious website, where everyone taking part from all over the UK gets to log their miles walked over the week, and learn things like how many Muffins they've burnt off, or how many times they've walked to John O' Groats from Lands End!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RkjJzzK_QI-gZHbjkPDJKAwL8IATYjzFTRegDcmDK-5f1VwWzOeXIVLojQ7G8hyphenhyphen1DLtVuZDLidJeP0FprV6F2EQnI3o3MKrITAY5ILjsdjn1g3I1bRUcAzL70nhwcecqRAb5ZZ29BJI/s1600/your+stats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RkjJzzK_QI-gZHbjkPDJKAwL8IATYjzFTRegDcmDK-5f1VwWzOeXIVLojQ7G8hyphenhyphen1DLtVuZDLidJeP0FprV6F2EQnI3o3MKrITAY5ILjsdjn1g3I1bRUcAzL70nhwcecqRAb5ZZ29BJI/s400/your+stats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've got really into this, unsurprisingly, and am getting out every chance I get... I walk to work every day anyway, but as <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/cassie-and-david/">Boy and I</a> are doing a <a href="http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1571">26 mile-in-a-day hike</a> in September for the Alzheimer's Society, I thought now would be a good excuse to start getting into good habits before we have to get training properly!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, this evening, we wandered out over some fields at the back of our estate, and walked off our nommy stir-fry dinner! =D</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWaMQeGUPBpISa3HnHd8yGwm_DWsuNS-LrfpwR0gMSNPKOi1IX6ccTr7E_wy9kfJdfV9F5M5HETanxhKmaiKGTSKuo1UvR6RkJiwrpH7KDdiYPzF2G87AHonEKgPk1MlIUJyfRMiRIMk/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWaMQeGUPBpISa3HnHd8yGwm_DWsuNS-LrfpwR0gMSNPKOi1IX6ccTr7E_wy9kfJdfV9F5M5HETanxhKmaiKGTSKuo1UvR6RkJiwrpH7KDdiYPzF2G87AHonEKgPk1MlIUJyfRMiRIMk/s320/IMG_1201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Considering we did a bit of scrambling up banks and through nettles, I was wearing TOTALLY non-practical outfit...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sliiiiightly unflattering shorts, (okay, make that Very unflattering shorts...) and a cropped floral / hippy patterned shirt (from Oxfam). I wore these with walking shoes and a big red vintage coat. HOT!!! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuMJNupU500DQDP7wJ3rwg7OxduUScb4obdaAwIGpMsAu05FXAL9h8bTu9fmDy9rkD0UIyR0UwcNIZqovzp_TboyNXX0WU3UiFZyTCMfadxCdpOMaJusjAfUvkl-AyYbrbfezTfVJa4Y/s1600/IMG_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuMJNupU500DQDP7wJ3rwg7OxduUScb4obdaAwIGpMsAu05FXAL9h8bTu9fmDy9rkD0UIyR0UwcNIZqovzp_TboyNXX0WU3UiFZyTCMfadxCdpOMaJusjAfUvkl-AyYbrbfezTfVJa4Y/s320/IMG_1203.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The boys were certainly amused by the flash of midriff! Normally never happens! =D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those shorts in a slightly more flattering pose, but with a less cute top (Gap tank top from yeeears ago) can be glimpsed again, if you're willing to put yourself through it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvawdS21JUokRLKtHATI3mnoNaTTho6xIZvFX7pR3jVURbrPKlWXtw9s5qQp2dT9OwePlTARF6qP59uMuLts_5TQoxno6D6C4eDL7Xc2LMMzDxSzpC7WMdXXDuRYjQFiE4kMwgm2Q0Yns/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvawdS21JUokRLKtHATI3mnoNaTTho6xIZvFX7pR3jVURbrPKlWXtw9s5qQp2dT9OwePlTARF6qP59uMuLts_5TQoxno6D6C4eDL7Xc2LMMzDxSzpC7WMdXXDuRYjQFiE4kMwgm2Q0Yns/s320/IMG_1187.JPG" width="202" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Not sure what I think of the shorts... They're from the Each charity shop again, and shorts are useful in summer. Hmmmmm. To keep, or not to keep, that is the question!!!! Thoughts anyone?</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-68108581328424889142011-05-07T16:27:00.000+01:002011-05-07T16:27:44.724+01:00Getting Back In The Swing<div style="text-align: justify;">As mentioned in my last post, the camera's back, if not quite up to previous standards of photography...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been so warm lately, my outfits are swinging from spring to summer and back again on the occassional day of rain. Summery thingshave been sorely lacking in my Cambridge wardrobe since the whole "grown-up life" began, so starting to collect some flimsy things to wear in the warmer weather, so my few bits from my "previous" (i.e. unencumbered by work dress codes) life aren't worn out!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYbM6PMkSrmCF476py_Dy5LdGZJz6-qGCxXoyXmvkpsbwDvZznZPcs9VPCpdmWGNgG1zBdNwBx4ZWy3Dg-iVYJZ_jDMlhMPFrpGKF0oNyPuXE1bBWjZ8s8EfWLgyaTJDviRmJBKaWGxg/s1600/purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYbM6PMkSrmCF476py_Dy5LdGZJz6-qGCxXoyXmvkpsbwDvZznZPcs9VPCpdmWGNgG1zBdNwBx4ZWy3Dg-iVYJZ_jDMlhMPFrpGKF0oNyPuXE1bBWjZ8s8EfWLgyaTJDviRmJBKaWGxg/s320/purple.jpg" width="161" /> </a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">PLEASE excuse the moody expression... I'd just got the camera working, and tried so many times to get it to capture my new *bright* dress, but it was refusing to play ball. Trust the only remotely decent photo to be of me looking Massively Grumpy!!! Also, sorry for lack of anything other than dress. (I'll probably try some different belt options with this soon.) Haven't quite worked out where to pose yet! The dress is actually a size 20 tunic top with ties that you can use to pull in the "dress" massively at the back... I got it, as usual, from a charity shop. We have a massive <a href="http://www.each.org.uk/">East Anglia Childrens' Hospice</a> shop next to our local coop. Yay Saturday charity-plus-grocery shopping!!! =D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here we have a slightly different outfit... My work outfit from the other day! After days of blindingly-hot sunniness, we woke up to gray, and threatening rain this morning. So I paired a knit tank with a long skirt. Under my lovely warm coat and black cashmere cardie it was warm enough (if slightly nippy) to walk to work in, and cool enough to keep me from sweating buckets / keeling over / getting a migraine in our boiling-whatever-the-weather office! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbPFQ49c4K0ZWB2AIfjSGdcQxSGm5k44wqSirEjIjTZh25SrYL3I6pF9MhymkPNf00xVFNWwWKG83E_DgosxlYNYgnvHNq1HRgYTfYNQcV5F7BbYa-A4aueX7WCYIZbwsk5yXP6FMFZ8/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbPFQ49c4K0ZWB2AIfjSGdcQxSGm5k44wqSirEjIjTZh25SrYL3I6pF9MhymkPNf00xVFNWwWKG83E_DgosxlYNYgnvHNq1HRgYTfYNQcV5F7BbYa-A4aueX7WCYIZbwsk5yXP6FMFZ8/s400/IMG_1173.JPG" width="257" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I wasn't expecting this outfit to garner much attention, but it got several favourable comments today! Odd what people love! I wasn't sure if the length of the skirt plus the high neck was a bit matronly, but I think the bare legs and the high high black suede-and-snake pumps lifted it out of the no-go area into rather a nice outfit! (If I do say so myself.) The components are a <a href="http://www.johnsmedley.com/uk/womens/classic/basic-staples/sail.html">John Smedley black knit tank</a>, M&S via Oxfam charity shop floral skirt and <a href="http://www.jaeger.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1013&productid=460021A&productvarid=460021A-00100-L&refpage=1288&pagesize=12&productpage=1&viewall=false">Jaeger enamel buckle criss-cross leather belt</a>, plus old Kate Kuba shoes (not pictured).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Apologies for the bare feet. My left foot looks a bit mottled, and my right foot has disappeared completely into the duvet / mattress quicksand! Trust me, I was wearing hot shoes, but I kicked them off as my right foot got a bit chewed up on the 50 minute (there and back) walk, so I was eager to get them off once I was in the house, and didn't want to wear them to jump on our clean duvet! I think for the moment this will be my pose of choice, so shoes might not feature very often... Oops. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">How's everyone else doing with the can't-make-its-mind-up weather?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Xxxc</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-90453895129858987542011-05-05T21:01:00.001+01:002011-05-05T21:05:50.381+01:00NomnomnomAfter my picture-free carrot cake post the other week, I thought I'd go one better with the lemon-y cake-of-awesomeness Boy and I cooked up for his parental visit the other week. <br />
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Okay, so I've finally got my camera up and running... So these pictures aren't exactly of the standard those of you who've been reading for a while came to expect when T-B was around, but they're from the heart!!! ;-D<br />
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This is me, post-cake baking, quite proud of the cake, but not wanting to show Quite how proud...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJjhPVbMWY_F_QtzrAaU4yNJqLdey3VsE9y2qw83ENEfYSHdJM6xeMDgUAUeLD25xU3zlXM0jiDbXUzYQbmX6lEY9cZ3M2_jd9Yi47pyi_tKlVOc-UB4PQY2C93c2igEAFmA3Ito98u0/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJjhPVbMWY_F_QtzrAaU4yNJqLdey3VsE9y2qw83ENEfYSHdJM6xeMDgUAUeLD25xU3zlXM0jiDbXUzYQbmX6lEY9cZ3M2_jd9Yi47pyi_tKlVOc-UB4PQY2C93c2igEAFmA3Ito98u0/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><br />
I'm wearing my absolutely AWESOME "Domestic Goddess" Grumpy Cat apron I bought in York at <a href="http://www.thecatgallery.co.uk/index.html">The Cat Gallery</a> - they don't have it online, but I've found it <a href="http://www.madaboutcats.com/products.php?itemCategory=Cat+Apron">here</a>. (Scroll down a bit.) Not sure why I was wearing my denim shirt with my black and cream print romper. So Not A Match... But I suspect I grabbed the shirt in an "I'M FECKING FREEZING" moment, with little bother made to style!<br />
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And here are "My Boys". The most important one is holding the cake. ;-D But given I live with my Boyfriend *and* my Best Mate, they're both quite important! (In case you hadn't worked it out, the former is in the foreground, the latter reaching for something on top of the fridge in the background.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYXRbW-Gv_nGc5TIbDPQgED6vrPzGfZYEODNwHP-yyHRw5alKxenU9E0VSXiRB-NlwQk1JNwGc0-nQ8ik3i3EUBVhqvjvd5_k9jDblPcpDg5s92yJeziSvcGvPIflOW8_gQHDtAc2SAA/s1600/black+and+white+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYXRbW-Gv_nGc5TIbDPQgED6vrPzGfZYEODNwHP-yyHRw5alKxenU9E0VSXiRB-NlwQk1JNwGc0-nQ8ik3i3EUBVhqvjvd5_k9jDblPcpDg5s92yJeziSvcGvPIflOW8_gQHDtAc2SAA/s320/black+and+white+boys.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Got to love Boy's Major Unimpressed Face...<br />
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I'm probably going to get in Major trouble for putting this photo up! (Particularly since his hair is slightly floofy. He doesn't think it's a good look. Oops!)<br />
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And, a Big Slice of the cake in question... Who'd'a thunk it was mostly courgette!!! =D It was pretty darn awesome too, if I do say so myself! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4UgANfkdGWd0c9zlE_svC6sKPPmbwojXcbmiW7HZqYFvLD8B5b1qT4XNBXjNafOcy1pti0bDeG0Mm-UYfSArLQpJwABnlXru39Fq7PSXOXXS-0dwBion3RxABLPECepObSBXmDc5UBU/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4UgANfkdGWd0c9zlE_svC6sKPPmbwojXcbmiW7HZqYFvLD8B5b1qT4XNBXjNafOcy1pti0bDeG0Mm-UYfSArLQpJwABnlXru39Fq7PSXOXXS-0dwBion3RxABLPECepObSBXmDc5UBU/s320/IMG_1115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The recipe is mostly courgette, rice flour, ground almonds and a lot of lemon zest. The jam is strawberry, and the icing is pretty much just soy-margerine, icing sugar and lemon juice. Note the layer of icing in the middle... Boy is a HUGE fan of the trad. Victoria Sponge. This recipe is again from <a href="http://www.kitchlit.com/cookbooks/baking/red-velvet-chocolate-heartache/392">Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache</a>, my absolutely favourite recipe book of all time! =D <br />
<br />
What have you guys been baking lately?<br />
<br />
I've had a break since these, but am quite tempted to do some Brownies this weekend... Nomnomnom!<br />
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XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-54695851080150644162011-04-24T18:24:00.000+01:002011-04-24T18:24:56.672+01:00Judge a Book by its Cover.<div style="text-align: justify;">Articles bemoaning the end of the physical book shop sadden me... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can't describe the feelings that well up when I am in a book shop, from <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/">Waterstones</a> to the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jul/01/bestbookshops4">rows of antique book stores opposite the British Museum</a>, or the light, airy confines of the <a href="http://www.lrbshop.co.uk/">London Review of Books </a>shop, or the dark pannelled <a href="http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/">Daunt's</a> on Marylebone High Street. I just love trailing my fingers across spines old and new, picking things out, excited about the journey ahead.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My favourite book shop of all is<a href="http://www.johnsandoe.com/"> John Sandoe's</a>, just off the King's Road, where I remember a very deep, involved conversation with one of the proprietors about the relative charms of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_%28novels%29">Jennings</a> books. I was a fan of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennings-Little-Hut-Anthony-Buckeridge/dp/0755113675">Jennings' Little Hut</a>, whereas he liked <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/According-Jennings-Anthony-Buckeridge/dp/0755101650">According to Jennings</a> best of all... I must have only been about ten, but that conversation, standing in the shadow of bookcases so tall you feel dwarfed, with all that black wood and the slick, colourful spines, will stay with me forever. The time taken by someone who could have chatted to my parents, rather than me, in an effort to make a sale, will forever be treasured, and that is just one of a thousand moments I've had in that shop that remind me that selling books is more than just about ease and low price. (Hello Amazon!) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Okay, so sometimes it is... When I need a book for book group, which I don't particularly fancy, and know will probably go charity-shop-wards soon enough, or if I am getting an excruciatingly expensive employment law book that's £50+ in <a href="http://www.hammickslegal.com/live/">Hammicks Legal Bookshop</a> ( - not that I don't love it, but god, the prices are EYE WATERING!!!) and it's £12 on Amazon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I still want the little stores to be there. The ones that present me with the greatest adventures you can have in your own head. I love finding treasure, from the day Claire talked me into buying <a href="http://www.kitchlit.com/cookbooks/baking/red-velvet-chocolate-heartache/392">Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache</a> in an anonymous Waterstones, to the expedition where I asked Karen in John Sandoe's for a recommendation of some unusual books to read on a plane; coming out with Richard Russo's <a href="http://www.thenewcanon.com/empire_falls.html">Empire Falls</a> and Margaret Atwood's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/may/10/bookerprize2003.bookerprize">Oryx and Crake</a>. Empire Falls remains to this day one of my personal high points of literature, and represents a great achievement for me. It was the first book - aside from one of the trashy romance novels, literally Mills and Boon stylee, that got me through two years of ilness (and still do get me through the bad patches of depression and panic I am still occassionally plagued with), that I read from cover to cover when I recovered from a debilitating and incredibly confidence sapping health issue that kept my teenage self from getting up, going to school, and having a normal life for far too long. The concentration it took to read that book was something I did not think I could do, but thanks to Karen, and to an amazingly rich tapestry of words, I found the experiences I had been sorely missing during my "lost" months of ilness, and gained back a small ounce of confidence in my own ability to bounce back. That tiny achievement in the scheme of things still keeps me going today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I digress.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When you're in a book shop, how do you choose the book? I tend to go for a cross between an analysis of whether or not I have heard of the author, whether I like the title and the cover, (nothing pink or curly or too fussy thank you!!!) and whether it feels right in my hand. I like little slips of books, and massive doorstops too. I hate a book to be too large or chunky to hold, though if it is large in size, let it be easily opened - and kept - at the right page... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of my favourite "come to me" books I've encountered lately have been:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://www.cb-smith.com/index.php?/about/">Coralie Bickford-Smith</a> designed Penguin Classics... Particularly The Hound of the Baskervilles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimooZUY760kFymCraV6icr-wjD9XlHGXy33qaaBkU24G7Xs9b8xLTjG4JRYJ0eu1ngwo-G_Jd2Gq1Cn73AChurmT0SVPd4BTjjiu5MCTT1U8hufO5Y6fzxNn155I84n0R68OZZhK90nbc/s1600/books1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimooZUY760kFymCraV6icr-wjD9XlHGXy33qaaBkU24G7Xs9b8xLTjG4JRYJ0eu1ngwo-G_Jd2Gq1Cn73AChurmT0SVPd4BTjjiu5MCTT1U8hufO5Y6fzxNn155I84n0R68OZZhK90nbc/s320/books1.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seriously... How awesome are all the bugs? I'm not the world's biggest Sherlock Holmes fan, though Benedict Cumberbatch did do an awesome turn... But this book, with all its Antipodium tones really ticks the book buying box for me. Judging a book by its cover? Oh yes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlFjjfye7up0fsn0fVomqqiyNlwWCyKYojNp4AGC5qa48jjmjgYG_q0JUcksiaI1dQ3drbMMDJL-FSpYI9GGv6WiWoZYrz5I9KWPLgCFO79rfhBb5jgAPp7oucJ5CfsSHv5rWcuyvrcA/s1600/antipodium1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlFjjfye7up0fsn0fVomqqiyNlwWCyKYojNp4AGC5qa48jjmjgYG_q0JUcksiaI1dQ3drbMMDJL-FSpYI9GGv6WiWoZYrz5I9KWPLgCFO79rfhBb5jgAPp7oucJ5CfsSHv5rWcuyvrcA/s320/antipodium1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I so want this skirt... But that book is the Next Best Thing!!! =D (Photo from <a href="http://cupcakesfortheeyes.blogspot.com/2010/09/antipodium-ss-2011.html">Cupcakes For The Eyes</a>)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This Jane Eyre edition is also stunning. I think it really evokes the atmosphere of the book, and as I take great pride in choosing to own the editions of books I think are the best representation of the words inside, I'd buy this over other editions any day...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzuLEGwuL5QiGPh-fwyUoekhgBl9y0DltPN9HeTrChWXnbbuWdFlqI0jKrWJrRuFl32iCjIloOo2JbUqD1ZY3L02JAsNxjEmhzCYz67r_9O3DpuzC8Arm4jYc_W2e-3x75vSZpq33uOM/s1600/Jane+Eyre+cover+by+Petra+B%25C3%25B6rner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzuLEGwuL5QiGPh-fwyUoekhgBl9y0DltPN9HeTrChWXnbbuWdFlqI0jKrWJrRuFl32iCjIloOo2JbUqD1ZY3L02JAsNxjEmhzCYz67r_9O3DpuzC8Arm4jYc_W2e-3x75vSZpq33uOM/s320/Jane+Eyre+cover+by+Petra+B%25C3%25B6rner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The cover art is by <a href="http://petraborner.com/">Petra Börner</a>. I think her work is generally pretty awesome...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCZfOUKsW-TGwGnrd4lxrJWijgTKFebb6xM8809osCV-Lh4p76V7KkQPISu2oOhXEBWM3-ACdtbDT9_dJOOilQdMLnIynQePYGsL1KbbbegFG4aplvEDS1MwR7OlWBA3__3kFumoWeQo/s1600/editorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCZfOUKsW-TGwGnrd4lxrJWijgTKFebb6xM8809osCV-Lh4p76V7KkQPISu2oOhXEBWM3-ACdtbDT9_dJOOilQdMLnIynQePYGsL1KbbbegFG4aplvEDS1MwR7OlWBA3__3kFumoWeQo/s200/editorial.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO16TkAasdyC_XdNCSpXrEgC3C-zWDSJE4iYZVGwQ9SMvRvCCwvZDro9XueyEjPhhWOuZtOKeeAq-33ETWN3qUfU6O0Cj7T6J1rm7KcNRc95pZqIAYZVhe387G2PdmSsOOTtVMxLD8tQ/s1600/fashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcO16TkAasdyC_XdNCSpXrEgC3C-zWDSJE4iYZVGwQ9SMvRvCCwvZDro9XueyEjPhhWOuZtOKeeAq-33ETWN3qUfU6O0Cj7T6J1rm7KcNRc95pZqIAYZVhe387G2PdmSsOOTtVMxLD8tQ/s200/fashion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What about The Long Song by Andrea Levy?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qfv_C1ggjycWUQz5M5YO9y5mI7kgV5V1oP3XVDS6wgM1aCuEvNyorcg9UTzQwf4fS7Tl4a8KiAh_2dFrzPOWwO_7S3uA480o_LhDLjLH5peNSGHk5f5TEFRHwsJGP7J_emgrzmejZbE/s1600/The+Long+Song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qfv_C1ggjycWUQz5M5YO9y5mI7kgV5V1oP3XVDS6wgM1aCuEvNyorcg9UTzQwf4fS7Tl4a8KiAh_2dFrzPOWwO_7S3uA480o_LhDLjLH5peNSGHk5f5TEFRHwsJGP7J_emgrzmejZbE/s320/The+Long+Song.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I just LOVE the colours of this book, shortlisted for last year's <a href="http://www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/thisyear/shortlist">Man Booker Prize</a>. Take Andrea Levy's name, add a story about Jamaican Plantation life - my mother spent a while in Jamaica in the 70s, and its culture and history fascinate me - and put a kick ass cover on the front, and I'm SOLD!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What about you guys? Any stories to tell, or books that just took your breath away?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope you're all having a truly lovely long Easter weekend!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-87783196056098260222011-04-22T21:18:00.000+01:002011-04-22T21:18:43.993+01:00My New Best Friend.Evening!<br />
<br />
Decision made.<br />
<br />
I've decided I need to broaden out this blog a bit. Just churning out fashion titbits isn't doing it for me anymore, as it really just brings home quite how limited my capacity to run this blog on clothes alone is. My beloved photographer is miles away, my own camera is just a tad shoddy, and I'm too busy to spend all my free time researching my fashion loves. Not only that, but to be honest, my miniscule salary doesn't really cover much more than minimal spending on clothes, and so I need to focus on other things for a while...<br />
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That's not to say I'm not going to blog about fashion anymore, I will be doing that, but I will also be doing posts on theatre, film, travel, work, play and, my favourite of all, food... In particular, on that last score, the wonders of healthy home cooking, and the trials of being a celiac who can't eat dairy or potato either!<br />
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It's been a very long road for me to come to accept how my body needs to be treated, not feeding it things that make it run slower, or cause me pain. Instead, I have had to find alternatives that fit in with all aspects of my life, and make it easier to keep up with the hectic pace of 21st Century 20-Something living! I've been helped with that to a large extent by my awesome boy who makes sure that I don't just eat hummus and rice cakes 10 times a day. He's very into three square meals, and has been nudging me to keep me from using my old food-as-punishment device I used to give in to most of the time. The one where I'd make myself sick eating things I knew would degrade my intestines, give me headaches, and blow out my stomach to three times the size it should have been. For this, and a million other things, I'm so grateful.<br />
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Anyway, moving on from the mushy stuff... Hope anyone who already reads my blatherings here will stick with me. Hopefully there's plenty still out there to inspire me. It just won't necessarily be fashion, at least not every day...<br />
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Off I go to eat some gluten-and-potato-free toast (trust me - hard to find!!!) and hazelnut butter... Nomnomnom.<br />
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G'night.<br />
<br />
XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-20386662614880684372011-04-20T17:13:00.001+01:002011-04-20T17:14:15.871+01:00You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine...Ah, Sunshine... Nature's best medicine. And today I'm home early from work so can ENJOY it! (Admittedly because I had such bad back pain I couldn't stick the rest of the day in front of a computer and I have plenty of stored up flexi time to use... Bah.)<br />
<br />
So here I am, basking in the sun, with my work suit airing on the line, in a white strappy top, green denim skirt and bare feet, feeling on top of the world.<br />
<br />
Since I'm still sans camera, here's what I would be wearing if I was wearing clothes that are still in the shops: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9u29bkfdsHQ0EOfIr5e6-1mIZFKivL0d6_oS5Z7wyfZgy6BDavfM_neMxEWZwK_o5WwqxJARTVFyU7Zf4YZ0tTVIBm5U-njiIO1Enh8tA5Iep9PthJvhHYUpz0F00Scda0ze2udtes/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOy9u29bkfdsHQ0EOfIr5e6-1mIZFKivL0d6_oS5Z7wyfZgy6BDavfM_neMxEWZwK_o5WwqxJARTVFyU7Zf4YZ0tTVIBm5U-njiIO1Enh8tA5Iep9PthJvhHYUpz0F00Scda0ze2udtes/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.stylebop.com/">Splendid White Ribbed Strap Top</a>, <a href="http://www.ysl.com/">YSL Green Denim Mini</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Seiko Gold Watch</a>, <a href="http://www.theoutnet.com/">Lanvin Leather Heels</a>, <a href="http://www.zappos.com/betsey-johnson-womens-necklaces%7E2">Betsey Johnson Bee Necklace</a>, <a href="http://www.zappos.com/badgley-mischka-womens-handbags%7E4">Badgley Mischka Bag</a><br />
<br />
I actually really really really want that necklace... I'm always strangely attracted to things with bugs on, and that is JUST TOO CUTE! =D<br />
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Hope you're all enjoying the sun... I'm off to make a cocoa-banana-almond smoothie. Nomnomnom.<br />
<br />
XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-86858711914652467932011-04-03T18:37:00.000+01:002011-04-03T18:37:31.857+01:00Is it odd...That I have a bit of a thing for Laura Ashley?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG6056142/Laura-Ashley-florals-celebrated-in-new-book.html"><img src="http://ris.fashion.telegraph.co.uk/RichImageService.svc/imagecontent/1/TMG6056142/m/laura-ashley3_1465398a.jpg" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture from the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laura-Ashley-Martin-Wood/dp/0711228973/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1301851280&sr=8-3">book</a> on Laura Ashley by Martin Wood</span><br />
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Not the new stuff - I don't really like the layout of their stores... - but the old stuff, and the ideas that are conjured up by my experiences of the brand. I have vivid memories of a wall in one of the sixth form classrooms at my school covered with a display on the History of Fashion. A page from a magazine had been cut out and stuck to the top right hand corner, showing a girl in a Laura Ashley sun dress, wandering through long grass. I wish I could find that image now... It has stayed with me for more than 5 years, and will continue to feature in my thoughts on summer dressing and florals for a long time to come!<br />
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These <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/may/01/laura-ashley-daughter-photographs">photos by Jane Ashley</a> for example... There was an exhibition a year-ish back at the <a href="http://www.ardenandanstruther.com/">Arden and Anstruther Gallery</a> in West Sussex. I really wish I'd been able to go, as even the images I can find on the internet show a wide variety of styles, but a beautiful, consistent aesthetic. <br />
<br />
<img alt="laura ashley" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/4/28/1272455127002/laura-ashley-006.jpg" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/">The Guardian</a> by Jane Ashley</span><br />
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<img alt="Episode image for 17/05/2010" height="223" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/images/episode/b00sbvvr_303_170.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image from the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sbvvr">BBC website</a> by Jane Ashley</span><br />
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<img alt="janeashley2.jpg" src="http://www.ardenandanstruther.com/database/photo/jane/janeashley2.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image from <a href="http://www.ardenandanstruther.com/database/news.php?lng=en">Arden and Anstruther Gallery</a> by Jane Ashley</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
I also adore the fabric patterns that have surfaced... A couple of my favourites are these:<br />
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<a href="http://hirigalzkar.wordpress.com/2010/05/"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSuh6SVGv9kP-kfq92NQcuiYBGOoEzUfNBk6KhkoyUt21coor90" /></a> <a href="http://www.theukhighstreet.com/"><img src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQNFar52tS61-trNQvefCz1QMAlrp_dTVctf9-sX_h_JMAhXEtb" /></a><br />
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What do you guys think? I'm really really really tempted to buy the Martin Wood book...<br />
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XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-60708014155031354732011-03-22T21:15:00.000+00:002011-03-22T21:15:45.403+00:00How I love...<div style="text-align: justify;">... PRESENT HUNTING!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who doesn't?!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shopping, with a slightly larger budget than usual, trying to find the perfect thing. At the moment, I'm trying to find something from my old roommate. She's not the girliest, but has converted to jewellery relatively recently. So, I'm trying to find her something trad-jewellery-ish. Thoughts?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">How about the classic <a href="http://www.stepheneinhorn.co.uk/charm_bracelet.asp">charm bracelet</a>? Everyone's gotta have one, and I rather like the bar detailing on this one.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxyTartWFVH6BCAwGxbIcmQxjanV-NZJ3RGXSwmaixmZ_cOErck0VkV3VqJbOEm8pCH8LSzSkHYGVFxDoui3RmqLBftOq8oxpcaMaKof_gjV1K2gFw5zb-hyKrFIWouXBqhO3KKiiKAo/s1600/charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxyTartWFVH6BCAwGxbIcmQxjanV-NZJ3RGXSwmaixmZ_cOErck0VkV3VqJbOEm8pCH8LSzSkHYGVFxDoui3RmqLBftOq8oxpcaMaKof_gjV1K2gFw5zb-hyKrFIWouXBqhO3KKiiKAo/s200/charm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Or these lovely<a href="http://www.halcyondays.co.uk/Shop.aspx?cat=147"> porcelain bangles</a>? (I am a sucker for porcelain plus jewellery!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Beach Treasures Bangle" src="http://www.halcyondays.co.uk/Cache/9B63077D-0672-442F-9959-4BC6A5ABD894_198_90.jpg" /><img alt="Peacock Bangle" src="http://www.halcyondays.co.uk/Cache/D6E708BC-406F-468C-B606-6D3F4EBB8AC9_198_90.jpg" /><img alt="Seafan Coral Bangle" src="http://www.halcyondays.co.uk/Cache/147ED863-AE9E-4282-BAB3-4F74B4ACDE99_198_90.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Or this extremely cute <a href="http://shanalogic.com/item.php?item_id=3238&category_id=126">dinosaur necklace</a>?</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxyTartWFVH6BCAwGxbIcmQxjanV-NZJ3RGXSwmaixmZ_cOErck0VkV3VqJbOEm8pCH8LSzSkHYGVFxDoui3RmqLBftOq8oxpcaMaKof_gjV1K2gFw5zb-hyKrFIWouXBqhO3KKiiKAo/s1600/charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxyTartWFVH6BCAwGxbIcmQxjanV-NZJ3RGXSwmaixmZ_cOErck0VkV3VqJbOEm8pCH8LSzSkHYGVFxDoui3RmqLBftOq8oxpcaMaKof_gjV1K2gFw5zb-hyKrFIWouXBqhO3KKiiKAo/s1600/charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="'The Original Vegetarian' Dinosaur Necklace" height="200" src="https://shanalogic.com/item_images/large/4974_chem_dinosaur_full.jpg" width="197" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Or these lovely little <a href="http://shanalogic.com/item.php?item_id=3427&category_id=126">earrings</a>?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Flower Blossom Earrings" height="200" src="https://shanalogic.com/item_images/large/7089_luc_blossom_full.jpg" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">OH GOOD GOD, NO, IT HAS TO BE...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><img alt="Microscope Necklace" src="http://shanalogic.com/item_images/small/4594_gra_microscope_tmb.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://shanalogic.com/item.php?item_id=2887&category_id=126">A MICROSCOPE NECKLACE</a>!!! =D Okay, so this is probably only the perfect present for the Organic Chemistry PhD student... (Which my friend is, by the way!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Oh, how I do love present shopping!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-91694503686739112522011-03-21T19:45:00.000+00:002011-03-21T19:45:07.658+00:00Shirtless.As Springtime appears to be inching into our midst, I have to contend with cool walks to work and a boiling office once I get there... The time for light jumpers is passed, and it has to be light tops and cardies. Unfortunately I have very little in that area, aside from a few dry clean only shirts, and some vintage finds. Thus, I am on a hunt, people! For reasonably priced, okay, make that low priced, tops that are suitable for a relatively-smart-workwear office.<br />
<br />
Today I had a mildly successful charity shop hunt, which unearthed a white cropped broderie anglaise top that might fit with high waisted skirts and trousers, and a black silk shirt for potential work use... Can't wait to play, particularly with the black shirt, next week!<br />
<br />
What are people thinking about TopShop for workwear at the mo? I bought their mint green short sleeve, voluminous, slightly sheer shirt, which I wear tucked in with grey trousers and a shell pink cardie and white boots. Sheer? you may ask, but I have only had compliments on it at the office...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2209190&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=mint&pageSize=20"><img alt="Photo 1 of Mint Tab Button Short Sleeve Shirt" height="200" src="http://media.topshop.com/wcsstore/TopShop/images/catalog/13G97YMNT_small.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
<br />
Tempted to invest in another couple of their shirts...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2144952&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208524&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=200"><img alt="Photo 1 of Sleevless Copped Tab Shirt" src="http://media.topshop.com/wcsstore/TopShop/images/catalog/13R09YTOB_small.jpg" /></a> or <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2260084&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208524&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=200"><img alt="Photo 1 of Pale Blue Crop Tab Sleeve Shirt" src="http://media.topshop.com/wcsstore/TopShop/images/catalog/13R09YPBL_small.jpg" /></a><br />
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Do you think buying the same thing in different colours is a good way to go? Or is too similar every day a bit unoriginal? Or is the fact that it's workwear mean being original isn't top of the agenda...?<br />
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The thing about these is, I know they fit. If I weren't so worried about fit, I'd go for this shirt at Rokit...<br />
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<a href="http://www.rokit.co.uk/product.php?product_id=XSLVBLSPLN004"><img height="320" src="http://www.rokit.co.uk/sites/rokitv1.4/productimages/398x410/XSLVBLSPLN004.jpg" width="174" /></a><br />
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Sigh. Only 2 days to pay day! Then, I might manage a shirt or two... I just feel like such a scruff with my endless cycle of slightly tired outfits. I really do hate feeling Blah, even if it is "just" the office.<br />
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For a quick overview, my office is very female dominated, with no clear dress code. It's pretty hierarchical to be honest. The men are all at officer level (middle rank) and wear suits and ties. The women at manager level (top rank) are all similarly smart, wearing suits and classy dresses. The female officers tend to go for more of a top and skirt approach, with the assistants generally bringing up the rear in - for the most part - generally scruffy workwear. It was the oddest thing for me, starting 6 months ago, to find that people think it's acceptable to turn up to work in clothes I wouldn't even wear on a scruffy-day on the weekend. Okay, so I probably sound mean, but I happen to feel that at work, you should dress for the job you want in the long run, not for the job you have. In an office where the majority are at least well-dressed enough to hold a meeting with a client, I think it's bad form for the assistants to turn up looking like they don't bother, or don't notice, that we work in a professional environment.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I have a few days where I wear a pretty skirt, or a sheer shirt (with cami, obviously), i.e. clothes probably too frivolous for, say, a lawyers' office, but generally, I try to present a professional image. Amusingly enough, of the six of us at assistant level, three of us take the dress-for-the-job-you-want route, with three taking the other, and guess what...? The two groups sit together on different "pods". Groupthink mayhaps?<br />
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What do you guys think of this? Is it important to you to project a professional image at work, or are you more about comfort?<br />
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XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-77878370074498187452011-03-17T22:07:00.001+00:002011-03-17T22:07:00.362+00:00If only I was older and wiser...I'd maybe be able to act on some of my fantasy wishlists!<br />
<br />
Today, I've been yearning for Jonathon Saunders' acid brights, up now on Net-A-Porter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAeJVXNcs5loAfImdSYdfdkmy6oqspPoG7lT3ZerZLi1taS6U3HxoNbT_k-Lt4I_egrTzsRN1CyFE4tFWbkf5R1Rf0lpRJKHc7yNNhaBejrSwAFJ4pyXuLEXypCgEzvsiOaN3PRZvgXI/s1600/Recently+Updated8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAeJVXNcs5loAfImdSYdfdkmy6oqspPoG7lT3ZerZLi1taS6U3HxoNbT_k-Lt4I_egrTzsRN1CyFE4tFWbkf5R1Rf0lpRJKHc7yNNhaBejrSwAFJ4pyXuLEXypCgEzvsiOaN3PRZvgXI/s640/Recently+Updated8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Quite bright, I must admit... But I feel that it would be suitable for the spring days ahead!<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/111714">Jonathon Saunders dress</a>, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/112497">Crumpet cardigan</a>, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/98554">Proenza Schouler bag</a>, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/111662">Aurelie Biderman bracelet</a>, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/106883">Marc by Marc Jacobs bracelet</a>, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/106928">Lanvin brooch</a>, <a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/97140">Lanvin ballet pumps</a>)<br />
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Ah to be able to afford even just one of these cute things!<br />
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XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-5461374176687975612011-03-16T20:00:00.001+00:002011-03-16T20:00:00.655+00:00Having Hair...I've been musing a lot about my hair lately.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sfcYPq6yPvD6-bfA5Lq1dbJZjCKU6gEsXRglw48YHrv27zqZaJqEF1_sjEQ3cIhHgeCBPdLDsBW9ESeWD3jkH9c5dBheoYvoGwUz3hUdEpgmcnUnXgv3Kms7cc-lODCdjFhuy5jtvPQ/s1600/DSC_0024.NEF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sfcYPq6yPvD6-bfA5Lq1dbJZjCKU6gEsXRglw48YHrv27zqZaJqEF1_sjEQ3cIhHgeCBPdLDsBW9ESeWD3jkH9c5dBheoYvoGwUz3hUdEpgmcnUnXgv3Kms7cc-lODCdjFhuy5jtvPQ/s400/DSC_0024.NEF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I'm relatively low maintenance about the shiny brown mane sprouting from the top of my head, but I often wonder whether paying more attention to it might reap more rewards.<br />
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I get it cut about every 5 months - I'm lazy and I still go to my hairdressers in London that I've been to since I was teeny-tiny.<br />
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<img src="http://statics.192.com/estreet/fullsize/1323/10004143.jpg" /><br />
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Thus, it doesn't happen as often as it should. Otherwise, I rarely blow dry my hair - maybe once a month?! Though it goes in waves. Sometimes I'll use my hairdryer every day for a week, then it'll sit gathering dust in the corner of the living room for months at a time... Naturally dried, my hair is mostly straight, but with a frizzy, curliness to the back. It's usually bouncy enough, and I tend to throw the front section around, and side part it roughly.<br />
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Since starting work full time, I've got used to also sticking mousse in my hair, as I air dry it while I walk the twenty minutes down the road to my office. Doing anything complicated with my hair before I drag myself out of the house would significantly reduce the amount of sleep time I get. And I do love my sleep time!<br />
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I tend to use Lee Stafford's <a href="http://www.leestafford.com/uk/products/product.php?pi=5">Ddouble Blow Volumising Mousse</a>, though it is supposed to be used in tandem with hairdrying... I find it easy to use, and good at taming some of the frizz.<br />
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<img alt="Ddouble Blow Volumizing Mousse Photograph" src="http://www.leestafford.com/img/prod/ind/5.jpg" /><br />
However, I have been finding lately, that it is prone to making the roots of my hair a little lank.<br />
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I have also used the hairspray from the same range, but I find that that is too solid-making. If I ever remembered while I was in Boots, I think I'd probably invest in some Elnett hairspray, though I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to associate it with anything other than afternoons spent playing with my Gran's heated hair curler set, when I was sub-ten!<br />
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Otherwise, I always use a mixture of <a href="http://www.redken.com/international/">Redken</a> and <a href="http://www.aussiehair.com/">Aussie</a>. I have used Redken since forever, as it's bought by my parents from our salon. I used to use their conditioner, but my hair has always needed intensive taming, and I started using Aussie 3 Minute Miracle (Luscious Long) about two or three years ago to supplement, and then replace the Redken. I've tried replacing the shampoo, as Redken is rather expensive, but I have to admit, I've never been able to find better... A few times, I've replaced Aussie with my housemate's Head and Shoulders conditioner, which worked rather well. Odd thing, that premium shampoo seems worth its weight, while I think you can generally get away with spending less on conditioner, and still having awesome hair. (Not that I think my hair is awesome, but it does have its' moments!)<br />
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Oooooh! On an Aussie related note, I managed to completely bugger up posting about their Christmas Fete in London... Crappy of me. I took Claire (the wonderful, sadly departed from blogging, A View From Here writer-turned-lawyer...) and we had a wonderful time sampling spicy prawns, sugared almonds, mulled wine and taking silly photos!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinltGKvDBYKYo15l9V556E16WUv45sC1n7vUOP7g_27FC9vQ76HAbgGZS-bOJivEP13Pr3aCDH1Qvx8iZbBW7xzYtL0dBUSM49Qg0Sb3ngXpuFPugr58A0ep7LTRKcKq63f8gNYUTUEog/s1600/aussie+booth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinltGKvDBYKYo15l9V556E16WUv45sC1n7vUOP7g_27FC9vQ76HAbgGZS-bOJivEP13Pr3aCDH1Qvx8iZbBW7xzYtL0dBUSM49Qg0Sb3ngXpuFPugr58A0ep7LTRKcKq63f8gNYUTUEog/s320/aussie+booth1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QWu3dQ3Nk9hE3Th2MEP6KlvayAlmHlD688SAhXfWCSCkXt2D0F_P5T5y7mw2N68p2CKoxCoBI8lMo9mFrSVRRQA4k7koEvM0cx3GMQ_lIMys2Qn3kd65zW3INvYTLIoeo4A10yuFXkg/s1600/aussie+booth2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QWu3dQ3Nk9hE3Th2MEP6KlvayAlmHlD688SAhXfWCSCkXt2D0F_P5T5y7mw2N68p2CKoxCoBI8lMo9mFrSVRRQA4k7koEvM0cx3GMQ_lIMys2Qn3kd65zW3INvYTLIoeo4A10yuFXkg/s320/aussie+booth2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Disclaimer: the rather weird makeup was Not My Fault! Never tell a makeup artist to do "Anything" while in a darkened room, and without knowing whether they have an instinct for what colours suit people... Oops!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Right... Off to find food!<br />
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Night night.<br />
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XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-71726090042604122182011-03-15T21:04:00.000+00:002011-03-15T21:04:00.556+00:00Shades of GreySo, I've always been a fan of grey... I have grey jeans, grey cashmere jumpers, grey socks, grey coats, but NOT ENOUGH GREY DRESSES!!! (Or shoes.)<br />
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Oh <a href="http://www.asos.com/Ymc/Ymc-Button-Up-Smock-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1508895&cid=6930&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=-1&sort=-1&clr=Indigo%2fCream">YMC Button Up Smock Dress</a>, where have you beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen all my life?!?!?!<br />
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<img alt="Image 1 of YMC Button Up Smock Dress" height="320" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/5/9/8/8/1508895/indigocream/image1xl.jpg" width="250" /><br />
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Probably worn with these <a href="http://www.asos.com/Finsk/Finsk-Wooden-Wedge-Ankle-Boot/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1204087&cid=4172&Rf-200=16&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=LightGreyBlack">Finsk Wooden Wedge Ankle Boots</a>...<br />
<img alt="Image 1 of Finsk Wooden Wedge Ankle Boot" height="320" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/7/8/0/4/1204087/lightgreyblack/image1xl.jpg" width="250" /><br />
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And how cute are these little Paul Smith <a href="http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/shop/paul-smith-womens-shoes-407/paul-smith-womens-shoes-jackie-shoe-sdlp-257g-buc-676/product.html">Jackie</a> shoes??? Got to love the pop of orange! I own so few flat shoes, due to a shin splint / ankle problem that confines me to heels (Oh woe!) but I think I could make an exception for these in Fantasy-Shopping-Land!<br />
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<img alt="sdlp-257g-buc-676" src="http://static.paulsmith.co.uk/images/width348/sdlp-257g-buc-676-69146.jpg" /><br />
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Definitely the thing to wear with this awesome <a href="http://www.asos.com/See-By-Chloe/See-By-Chloe-Donkey-Print-Openback-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1508324&cid=6932&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Mauve">See By Chloe</a> little jersey piece! (Okay, Admission Time: my other grey dress is my corset print SBC dress <a href="http://clothestohealabrokenheart.blogspot.com/2009/04/escaping-madhouse.html">featured here</a>... Oops! =D)<br />
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<img alt="Image 4 of See by Chloe Donkey Print Openback Dress" height="320" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/4/2/3/8/1508324/image4xl.jpg" width="250" /><br />
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Seriously... I want a donkey.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdh8Tus6si5zonvvjrqkJaC1olEHZPEv74K51V1YfBB_znUoAkrKemiQxpcT9GnNHNtF08JZ3OEdVvDPa7pOVANEGNXtM1uU9Eihkv9nwn6lsIhJhaEgo97lGWfEiXQTojDNqOVeIjoTv/s320/donkey-ears.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
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from<a href="http://inkyfool.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> inkyfool.blogspot</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Night night!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-19550467777017638852011-03-14T20:00:00.000+00:002011-03-14T20:00:08.629+00:00Can I...?!An addition to yesterday's post...<br />
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<img alt="Emma Ball - Barley Farm - Cake Tins" src="http://www.thepresentseason.co.uk/ekmps/shops/presentseason/images/emma-ball-barley-farm-set-cake-storage-tins-488-p[ekm]225x300[ekm].jpg" /><br />
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Seriously... Most <a href="http://www.thepresentseason.co.uk/emma-ball-barley-farm-set-cake-storage-tins-488-p.asp">awesome cake tins</a> EVER?!?!?!<br />
<br />
XxxcCassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-2566375927992386942011-03-13T19:32:00.000+00:002011-03-13T19:32:19.448+00:00Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!!!So, in an effort to be prouctive this weekend, Boy and I made CARROT CAKE!!! No camera, so no photos, but here's a pic off ze interwebs to get your mouth watering...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="265" src="http://www.caketodays.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/carrot-cake10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://www.caketodays.com/fruit-cakes/carrot-cake-10/">caketodays.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
It is awesome, though as the cooking instructions say cook for an hour - rather than the 12 - 20 minute in the oven cakes I normally do, I think I might cook it for less time next time we make it, to compare consistency...<br />
<br />
As I'm celiac, and dairy and potato free, cake is always something we make at home. This one was a ground almond and rice flour base, with an egg and muscovado sugar binding agent. (We used dark muscovado instead of light - which is what the recipe called for.) The fruit / veg elements were lots of carrot - obv - and a zested and squeezed orange, plus sultanas, vanilla essence, baking powder, cinnamon and toasted pecans and hazelnuts. (We added hazelnuts, as we didn't have enough pecans, and I think it made the cake more awesome!) For frosting, we didn't use the cream cheese version in the recipe, but I mixed random amounts of soy butter and icing sugar, with a few drops of warm water, vanilla essence, cinnamon and zest and a bit of juice of a lemon. Nomnomnom.<br />
<br />
If anyone wants the actual recipe, it's in the AMAZING book <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/22/zoe-williams-vegetable-cakes">Red Velvet and Chocolate Heartache</a>. I do so love that book. The Chocolate Full Stops are my go-to cakes - particularly in muffin form. Everyone loves them, though opinion is divided over whether it's the book-recommended Coffee icing or my own Cinnamon-Choco-Vanilla-Buttercream on top that makes the best experience. I've also had successes with the Christmas Cupcakes as gifts for the festive season (though some of the ingredients are an arse to find), and Orange Squash Cupcakes, which were loved at a lunch party. The Blondie is scrummy though we substitute Dark Chocolate for White and Blueberries for Raspberries. Courgette and Camomile Cupcakes are a particular favourite of my Mother's... My Dad prefers the American Vanilla Cupcakes. The Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cupcakes, while not my favourite, were very much enjoyed as an after exams reward, and I swear it was feeding Banana and Sticky Toffee Cake to my friend's long-time crush that brought them together at last... The Coconut, Lime and Blueberry slice recipe convinced our Chinese Geology PhD housemate that I was a gift sent from heaven last year, and the Rosewater Fairy Cakes were rather guiltily enjoyed by all when I took them to work while I was interning in the fashion press office a couple of years ago.<br />
<br />
So all in all, £12 well-spent... (It was on offer in Waterstones at the time - it's £20 RRP - and I'd say it was worth that too!)<br />
<br />
So how can I spin cake into fashion???<br />
<br />
Well, I'm rather in love with all the carrot-cake colours out there in stores, so here's a selection of my favourite you-could-almost-eat-them pieces...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://media.topshop.com/wcsstore/TopShop/images/catalog/32U01YTAN_large.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2281342&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208522&parent_categoryId=203984&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=20"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Topshop Unique</span></a> Woven Wedge Sandals</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image 1 of TBA Organza Ballerina Print Skirt" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/7/0/3/1/1451307/print/image1xl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.asos.com/Tba/Tba-Organza-Ballerina-Print-Skirt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1451307&cid=6936&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=-1&sort=-1&clr=Print"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">TBA</span></a> Organza Ballerina Print Skirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://www.whistles.co.uk/pws/client/images/catalogue/products/141dk63539/fullscreen/141dk63539_fr.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="160" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/product/Whistles//Cobra-Print-Pleated-Dress/903000056258"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Whistles</span></a> Cobra Print Dress<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://media.topshop.com/wcsstore/TopShop/images/catalog/23C21YPUT_large.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="133" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2207121&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208525&parent_categoryId=203984&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=200"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Topshop</span></a> Knitted Contrast Trim Top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm seriously contemplating hunting out those shoes, though Topshop shoes have never fitted my horrendously-hard-to-find-comfy-shoes-for feet... And the TBA skirt is top of my purchase-when-I-have money list. I have their mushroom skirt from last season, so I'm hoping it might be equally reduced in a sale at the end of this season!<div><br />
</div><div>Hmmmmm. All this writing has made me hungry. MORE CAKE TIME!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Xxxc<br />
<div><br />
</div></div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-75881834042048784282010-12-24T16:25:00.000+00:002010-12-24T16:25:36.737+00:00Home for the Winter<div style="text-align: justify;">Apologies all for the hiatus, I managed to get myself rather ill and confused for a few weeks. Cue Boy rigging up laptops so I can watch Star Trek Voyager from the (extremely hot) bath, and cooking me nothing but grilled chicken and baked eggs for a week - my body basically couldn't digest anything except light protein, and I got sick of bacon with my eggs by day two...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://img4.myrecipes.com/i/recipes/ck/07/12/baked-eggs-ck-1687642-l.jpg" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But now I'm home in London, exhausted from a hard, and at times unsatisfactory, month at work, missing Boy, but glad to be without cares for a week or so.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Any recommendations for things to keep myself occupied with? All I can think of is sinking into a good book - most likely E.M. Forster - I'm obsessed lately, particularly with the <a href="http://www.thebookseller.com/news/128627-hs-to-reissue-em-forster.html.rss">new Hodder & Staughton editions</a>... And watching lots of old films! I'm also rather enamoured with the idea of the V&A after Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway. After several months of starving myself of clothes-related treats, I've splashed out in the Christmas sales! Not sure whether I'll keep them once they arrive from ASOS and Urban Outfitters, but I'm hopeful...</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">First up: <a href="http://www.asos.com//Camilla-Norrback/Camilla-Norrback-Dorothy-Squirrel-Print-Blouse/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1327156">Camilla Norrback Dorothy Squirrel Print Blouse</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image 1 of Camilla Norrback Dorothy Squirrel Print Blouse" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/6/5/1/7/1327156/brownprint/image1xl.jpg" width="311" /><img alt="Image 3 of Camilla Norrback Dorothy Squirrel Print Blouse" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/6/5/1/7/1327156/image3xl.jpg" width="311" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Second splurge: <a href="http://www.asos.com//Tba/Tba-Mushroom-Print-Silk-Skirt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1233192">TBA Mushroom Print Silk Skirt</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image 1 of TBA Mushroom Print Silk Skirt" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/y/7/31/1233192/ivorymushroom/image1xl.jpg" width="312" /><img alt="Image 3 of TBA Mushroom Print Silk Skirt" height="400" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/y/7/31/1233192/image3xl.jpg" width="312" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And finally... The jumper I've been lusting after for MONTHS (though in a different colour):</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/stine-goya-snake-plait-jumper/invt/5114466980110/">Stine Goya Snake Plait Jumper</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/content/ebiz/urbanoutfitters/invt/5114466980110/5114466980110_White_m1.jpg" /> <img src="http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/content/ebiz/urbanoutfitters/invt/5114466980110/5114466980110_White_m2.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ooops!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've now got to go on an economy drive for the rest of the month! ;]</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Though I'm so close to cashing in in the Mulberry online sale... (I haven't got the Bayswater yet. Thinking about it for birthday cash usage.) The <a href="http://www.mulberry.com/#/storefront/c5902/5246/category/">Leah Messenger</a> and the <a href="http://www.mulberry.com/#/storefront/c5902/4309/category/">Hayden Tote</a> are calling my name!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is anyone else using the Christmas Sales as an excuse to treat themselves this year? =D </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Xxxc </div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-14473275779911288502010-11-21T18:47:00.001+00:002010-11-22T18:35:03.839+00:00Another pair!So last weekend another pair of jeans arrived! Just before we went on holiday... Awesome timing!<br />
<br />
This time, a yummy pair of <a href="http://www.box-clothing.co.uk/womens-2/jeans-trousers-37/denim-jeans-50/firetrap-womens-jagger-bleacher-216175.htm">thin grey stretch denim</a> from Firetrap on <a href="http://www.box-clothing.co.uk/firetrap-1.phtml">Box-Clothing.co.uk</a>, that I was kindly sent as part of a promotion. The 501s are great basics, but I have to admit, the boyfriend prefers these... They do make me feel like I should own a leather jacket and heels with spikes on them!<br />
<br />
If I could, I'd do it like this...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ81AzZ7x0fOJYEkqvt3V82qY3FYghKmPUVtwiiwlCGHDooKRE8wibtrNfme_Zxp7nIY0vucS2Y1ZQTT06YBnsYuZSLqrxIqXDmlYDEvykU4XZI53QrOPPIUKeCdQb8K2eGg1YzAlJMxM/s1600/jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ81AzZ7x0fOJYEkqvt3V82qY3FYghKmPUVtwiiwlCGHDooKRE8wibtrNfme_Zxp7nIY0vucS2Y1ZQTT06YBnsYuZSLqrxIqXDmlYDEvykU4XZI53QrOPPIUKeCdQb8K2eGg1YzAlJMxM/s200/jeans.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/94332"><img alt="Alexander McQueen " height="200" src="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/94332/94332_in_l.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/94332">Alexander McQueen Leather Belt</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Christian Louboutin " height="200" src="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/94578/94578_in_l.jpg" width="133" /></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/94578">Christian Louboutin Boots</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">+</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Helmut Lang " height="200" src="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/104146/104146_in_l.jpg" width="133" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/104146">Helmut Lang Vest</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_TiZcdXW7mjKB7Of2oO9GWLILs8nQsnYGoSskpt2eMQugMSNNINEWLuMVkgOpOpoboyqbfSX_gy3vPmCES8Gj6aHmZELHrSM_pIPPqI-S6lXYsXgS1d4lD0fheo4xd5-ScKSTawCieA/s1600/Dries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_TiZcdXW7mjKB7Of2oO9GWLILs8nQsnYGoSskpt2eMQugMSNNINEWLuMVkgOpOpoboyqbfSX_gy3vPmCES8Gj6aHmZELHrSM_pIPPqI-S6lXYsXgS1d4lD0fheo4xd5-ScKSTawCieA/s200/Dries.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brownsfashion.com/product/designers/index/women/dries_van_noten/013O12530009.htm">Dries Van Noten blazer</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, so it's not a leather jacket but...</div><br />
<span class="viewimages" onclick="document.getElementById('zoom_image_id').value='76721';changeImg(preloaded_image_objects[0].src);changeBigImg('/womens-2/jeans-trousers-37/denim-jeans-50/firetrap-womens-jagger-bleacher-216175-76721_zoom.jpg');changePopLink(76721, 216175);" style="cursor: pointer;">Anyway. Back to the jeans... They're nicely clingy, and don't create too much of a muffin top (- always a problem for me)! They do slip down slightly at the back, but this is mostly due to me being a weird size, having to wear a 30 inch waist even though most of me is skinnier than that... (Damn thighs! ;])</span><br />
<br />
<span class="viewimages" onclick="document.getElementById('zoom_image_id').value='76721';changeImg(preloaded_image_objects[0].src);changeBigImg('/womens-2/jeans-trousers-37/denim-jeans-50/firetrap-womens-jagger-bleacher-216175-76721_zoom.jpg');changePopLink(76721, 216175);" style="cursor: pointer;">Still want to try the Levis Curve-ID tho! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="viewimages" onclick="document.getElementById('zoom_image_id').value='76721';changeImg(preloaded_image_objects[0].src);changeBigImg('/womens-2/jeans-trousers-37/denim-jeans-50/firetrap-womens-jagger-bleacher-216175-76721_zoom.jpg');changePopLink(76721, 216175);" style="cursor: pointer;">No pics at the mo, as still no camera, but I promise an outfit post soon!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="viewimages" onclick="document.getElementById('zoom_image_id').value='76721';changeImg(preloaded_image_objects[0].src);changeBigImg('/womens-2/jeans-trousers-37/denim-jeans-50/firetrap-womens-jagger-bleacher-216175-76721_zoom.jpg');changePopLink(76721, 216175);" style="cursor: pointer;">Xxxc</span>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-87430291990914535522010-11-10T22:16:00.000+00:002010-11-10T22:16:23.090+00:00Denim Chitchat.<div style="text-align: justify;">So today I <i>finally</i> bought a new pair of jeans... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been wandering around for months in a far-too-large pair from TopShop I bought to go to Stockholm with - they had to be big to fit my oh-so-very-sexy thermals underneath! But not such a good look to rock around town, I can tell you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'd been resisting buying any more denim, but with a looming "long weekend" on the Kent coast with Boy, I took the plunge today, and spent far-too-long in Peter Jones "contemporary-casual" section. (It's actually a John Lewis, it's slightly posher than normal as it's on the end of the King's Road, and has a different name...)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, to cut a long and boring story short, I ended up getting a standard pair of Levi 501s, which I'm surprised at as they've never suited me in the past. But hey, bodies change, right!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">No pics tho, as I am currently without camera. Bugger! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apparently women try on at least 10 pairs of jeans before buying one... I can definitely relate to that. The damn things never fit properly. Even these give me slight muffin top. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also contemplated <a href="http://www.nydj.com/">Not Your Daughter's Jeans</a> - in which I was an 8!!! HAHAHA!!! It's the extra 2% lycra I reckon... Normal jeans have abut 2% but apparently these have 4%. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, I didn't quite have the £130 to spend. Plus, the name slightly put me off! They are really good for flattening the tummy though. If you are looking for basic, straight or bootcut jeans with a high waist that doesn't cut into you try them... I'd <i>possibly</i> have bought them if I'd had the cash, I think.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My only slight annoyance though was that I had been thinking of looking up <a href="http://explore.levi.com/news/levis-curve-id/">Levi's Curve ID</a> jeans... You know the ones that are fit according to shape?? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://stylefrizz.com/img/levis-curve-id-jeans.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There's been chatter about them lately, and I'd really like to try them. Has anyone gone there yet? Interested to know if you guys think they're as "revolutionary" as the various press bits and pieces make out...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-15158029488172572412010-11-07T12:04:00.000+00:002010-11-07T12:04:38.088+00:00Winter Nights...Is it just me who's become obsessed with Pyjamas?<br />
<br />
Okay... Probably...<br />
<br />
I've bought several F+F at Tesco pairs of jammie bottoms lately. All for lazy Sunday mornings in bed!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-woven-pyjama-bottoms/invt/cc021034/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-nightwear"><img alt="F&F Woven pyjama bottoms" height="200" src="http://www.clothingattesco.com/content/ebiz/clothingattesco/invt/cc021034/cc021034_m.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-pyjama-bottoms/invt/cc022222/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-nightwear"><img alt="F&F Pyjama bottoms" height="200" src="http://www.clothingattesco.com/content/ebiz/clothingattesco/invt/cc022222/cc022222_m.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-pyjama-bottoms/invt/cc022223/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-nightwear"><img alt="F&F Pyjama bottoms" height="200" src="http://www.clothingattesco.com/content/ebiz/clothingattesco/invt/cc022223/cc022223_m.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-pyjama-bottoms/invt/cc022223/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-nightwear"></a>I'm short on tops, but I figure I can collect some more. I bought this one with the red tartan pair:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-pyjama-top/invt/cc022216/?bklist=&htxt=CqRsbJu/utV8PO2VUe7M5tbw0eF0%2BgiZGsyhRiL/A7J/D5ckTwx4gGk9NGxRQ2HoBcTxJmxJa8Ar%0AIS49VztZhg%3D%3D"><img alt="F&F Pyjama top" height="200" src="http://www.clothingattesco.com/content/ebiz/clothingattesco/invt/cc022216/cc022216_m.jpg" width="200" /></a> - plain but useful!<br />
<a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-pyjama-bottoms/invt/cc022222/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-nightwear"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.clothingattesco.com/womenswear/f+f-woven-pyjama-bottoms/invt/cc021034/&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-nightwear"></a><br />
<br />
I'm okay being alone in my obsession!<br />
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'Cos that means all the more snuggly cotton for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!<br />
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I just want MORE!!! =D<br />
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<a href="http://www.hush-uk.com/nightwear/pyjamas/dahlia-pant-set.html">Dahlia Pant Set</a> from Hush<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://www.hush-uk.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/a/pan12-win-01_6.jpg" width="244" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.pjheaven.co.uk/acatalog/PJ_Heaven___Cotton_Flannel_PJ_s___Pull_Ons.html">Bunny Rabbit pyjamas</a> from PJ Heaven<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://www.pjheaven.co.uk/acatalog/Rabbits.jpg" width="230" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=1952357&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208533&parent_categoryId=203984&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=20">Hedgehog print pyjamas </a>from Topshop<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GGp09EPiWjQs_tRYmQ2F6tW6xIqsDimVx1beYIiJmL97B6ZOVvd5Ug-AkHBmU-R7wFtLUlnoyB2crAQ45TkKLQjiwgfukCPo0dcNzM7y5xgWQvuBEKlkXHarLXOrFg7bKQjxVZRIHD4/s1600/pjs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GGp09EPiWjQs_tRYmQ2F6tW6xIqsDimVx1beYIiJmL97B6ZOVvd5Ug-AkHBmU-R7wFtLUlnoyB2crAQ45TkKLQjiwgfukCPo0dcNzM7y5xgWQvuBEKlkXHarLXOrFg7bKQjxVZRIHD4/s320/pjs.jpg" width="116" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.idlewildlondon.com/pyjamas/wildflower_pyjamas.html">Wild Flower Pyjamas</a> from Cyberjammies at Idlewild<br />
<img alt="Wildflower Pyjamas" height="320" src="http://www.idlewildlondon.com/user/products/CKWildflower350.jpg" width="255" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.very.co.uk/me-to-you-leopard-print-pyjamas/767785914.prd?browseToken=/b/1729/s/bestsellers,0/r/100&trail=1589-1729&prdToken=/p/prod4745194-sku7215283">Me to You Bear Leopard Print PJs</a> from Very.co.uk<br />
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<img src="http://images.littlewoods.com/is/image/Littlewoods/A012P_SP700_27_DA024?$prodDetailMain$" /><br />
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Sigh.<br />
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And what about footwear?! I'm a sucker for fluffy things.<br />
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Step up... The ULTIMATE.<br />
<img height="200" src="http://debenhams.scene7.com/is/image/Debenhams/20080829_042010553586?resMode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&rgn=0,0,900,900&scl=2.34375&id=2JwSMLK_-c1QKxOddySYIF" width="200" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_042010553586_-1">Debenhams fluffy booties</a><br />
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All for curling up in front of the metaphorical roaring fire and preparing for Christmas... YAY!<br />
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<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/392185586_e91cd0906b.jpg" />Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-44904834317538300362010-11-06T14:57:00.000+00:002010-11-06T14:57:57.657+00:00Pondering Investments...<div style="text-align: justify;">In our house, one thing that often comes up is whether saving or spending is a better idea... While I like saving, and do so regularly, my best friend is a spend-now-save-later type who doesn't always understand why I like to save a third of my (not substantial) monthly income rather than spending it on going out and items that I have a momentary yen for.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I may be a fashion blogger, with a wardrobe obsession that many think must equate to a large number of clothes, but really, I don't spend on new things very often. I tend to enjoy "rediscovering" my own wardrobe... And my mother's wardrobe... And my grandmother's wardrobe...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tend to spurt buy charity shop bits and pieces when I'm feeling in the mood for the buyer's high, but my internet shopping habit often leads to spending more on returning items than those I keep! My boyfriend finds this slightly odd, but - thank goodness - puts up with it...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My style is more dependent on treating life like one play after another that requires sets of costumes, than on fashion trends - though I do enjoy fashion week's spectacles, and take note and inspiration from the stories they tell and the ways other people interpret them... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img height="239" src="http://bob.seldo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/dog-costume-knight.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am also an inveterate magazine buyer, though once again, it's the stories spun, and the interplay of colour and light an texture that attract me, not the "current"ness of an outfit. Not that being fashionable is something I look down on. On the contrary, I wish I could make my costuming a little more directional sometimes! ;]</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For me to actually buy something new, physically in person, it is usually presaged by at least a week, up to a couple of months, of musing and mulling over any gap in my wardrobe and debating quite how much I love, and would wear, an instant style crush... Case in point: <a href="http://www.asos.com/Sophie-Hulme/Sophie-Hulme-For-Asos-Pigeon-Cardigan/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1274988&cid=6934&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Blue">Sophie Hulme for ASOS Pigeon cardigan</a>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="Image 1 of Sophie Hulme for ASOS Pigeon Cardigan" height="320" src="http://images.asos.com/inv/media/8/8/9/4/1274988/blue/image1xl.jpg" width="250" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shopping when I'm in the mood, but I do tend to go through quite a guilt complex process with buying things for my wardrobe. It often equates to it being easier to not buy something than go through the annoyance of beating myself up for it after and have to spend time returning a week or so later.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Odd huh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, at the moment, I'm battling with a conundrum. Do I save my savings from the past couple of months, or do I spend on one thing I've been yearning for for a while now...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/77014/Style.aspx">Mulberry Bayswater bag</a>, in yummy chocolate brown, that will enable me to abandon the less-than-chic tote bags I relied on throughout university and that still do for day-to-day when a smaller handbag just isn't practical...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img height="320" src="http://s7v1.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/230593952?$fash_product$" width="320" /> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been thinking about it for ages, and I think that after Christmas, I might just about be ready to take the plunge. But is it worth the uncomfortable feeling I'll get having spent the money I'd been putting aside for my own security?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">What do you guys think?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-42159161688817450082010-10-31T22:15:00.001+00:002010-11-06T14:18:52.325+00:00Weekend of WeekendsEvening!<br />
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So I'm currently relaxing in bed after a lovely Sunday, waiting for my boyfriend to realise it's bedtime... =D I have to get up at 7am these days, so it's getting ready for bed-time at half ten. Who'd'a'thunk-it?!?!<br />
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</div><div>What have you guys been up to this weekend?</div><div><br />
</div><div>I managed to make a trip back to London on Friday night with Boy, and had a lovely, relaxing time there, 'til we headed back this afternoon. My parents are in Jamaica for two weeks, so I had promised to pop back and visit the cat, and dragged Boy along so he could come with me to have lunch with my Godfather...</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, after a late night on Friday, we got up early on Saturday to head to Blackheath for lunch at Cafe Rouge, which had a excellent "gluten free" menu (yay Celiac), and were happy to also remove any traces of potato and lactose from my food! (My stomach basically hates me...) It was a lovely meal, and two of my favourite people got on very well!</div><div><br />
</div><div>We then spent the rest of the afternoon visiting <a href="http://www.blackheath-gallery.co.uk/">Blackheath Gallery</a> and at the funfair on the Heath. Boy won me a big cuddly leopard at the shooting range (and got rather a fan club of gun obsessed, small boys). </div><div><br />
</div><div>Then we headed to the Southbank for dinner and an amazing film at the BFI - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Happened_One_Night">It Happened One Night</a>... 1934, Clark Gable falling in love with Claudette Colbert. Amaze!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I particularly loved the fact that they fell in love with each others' brains as well as being attracted to each other... Oh, for that quality in a mainstream rom com of this decade! </div><div><br />
</div><div>Colbert wore some absolutely gorgeous clothes, particularly an awesome white silk pyjama jumpsuit in the first scene... And then she promptly dives into the sea in it to escape her father! =D I can't find an image of it via google though, so I'll have to give you one of her in his pyjamas instead!!! Images from <a href="http://www.matttrailer.com/it_happened_one_night_1934">http://www.matttrailer.com/it_happened_one_night_1934</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><img src="http://www.mattfind.com/12345673215-3-2-3_img/movie/b/b/v/it_happened_one_night_1934_500x408_521554.jpg" /></div><div><br />
</div><div>I've never been a particular fan of thirties fashion, but I'm kinda rethinking that view now... I mean, how cute is her hat?!?!</div><div><br />
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</div><div>Brilliant film. AND Boy enjoyed it as much as I did!</div><div><br />
</div><div>So after that, we had a lazy Sunday morning, which involved not getting up 'til gone 11, eating a massive brunch, and then driving back to Cambridge - after saying a tearful goodbye to the cat!</div><div><br />
</div><div>The rest of the day has been spent watching Glee, reading Vogue and painting my nails... Ah bliss. Oh, and I cooked dinner and did the laundry. Hmmmm. I'm an adult now. How dull! ;] </div><div><br />
</div><div>Work tomorrow!!! G'night!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-181779724496657862010-10-28T18:34:00.005+01:002010-10-28T20:08:01.231+01:00Resurrection Mark Ten ZillionIt's once again been a while since I touched this blog, and every time I get pulled back to it I wonder why I left it, whether I'll really be able to get going again, whether I really want to... But this blog has kept me going through some rough patches, and I just can't seem to let go of it.<br />
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So today, I'm turning over a new leaf. As I said, it's been a while, and quite a bit has changed. I'm no longer a student, no longer struggling to get through a depressive fog day to day, and I'm happily settled in a relationship, house, job etc.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/1477263188_0c8305442a_b.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My wardrobe has, I must admit, changed focus...</div><br />
My weekend clothes are mostly the old favourites: a couple of Etsy and charity shop dress finds, an old pair of far too big jeans, some moth-bitten jumpers. All things I find comfort in. Because now weekends are about running around, doing errands, and spending time relaxing. Mainly as I'm still living in Cambridge, but a little further out than I used to be. Thus, I wander around the house with a book, while one of the boys builds something in the back garden, and the other programmes some "useful" thing on their laptop. Ah life.<br />
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My sartorial comfort zone now lies in my work wear. Having never before been chic and pared down, I have moved a little more into my mother's style of dressing. Simple jumpers with smart trousers, plus a few silky, smart dresses which share a teensy whisper of my previous life with my new one... <br />
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I have been converted to a well cut pair of trousers, and have three pairs from <a href="http://www.jaeger.co.uk/">Jaeger</a> on endless cycle. I definitely need more. Jaeger trousers always fit me, and are always the right length... Yum. <br />
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And I have become obsessed by knitwear. Particularly, <a href="http://www.johnsmedley.com/womens/womens-sweaters/geranium.html">John Smedley Geranium scoop neck sweaters</a> and <a href="http://www.npeal.com/categories/sweaters/products/v-neck-sweater">N Peal cashmere V necks</a> which I have been scooping up at <a href="http://www.cocosa.com/">Cocosa</a>'s rather excellent sale prices. (John Smedley stuff is currently on sale on <a href="http://www.brandalley.co.uk/">Brand Alley</a>, but I hate their delivery policies - it takes far, far too long, so I'm passing on the "vibrant pink" jumper... Sob!)<br />
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Oh, and then there's my irrational, crazy, head-over-heels crush in the rather lovely oversized <a href="http://www.asos.com/Stine-Goya/Stine-Goya-Snake-Rope-Jumper/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1290449&cid=6934&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Grey+Melange">Stine Goya oversized grey jumper</a> that I know, unfortunately, that I'll never own, no matter how long I yearn... Sad times. Seriously though... HOW HOT IS THIS ENSEMBLE?!?!?!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.style.com/blogs/stylefile/wp-content/uploads/stine-goya-fall-2010-1.jpg" /></div><br />
And then, there is my winter coat... It is my belief that an awesome winter coat is the foundation of a good day at work. Walking along in the morning, striding out against the biting wind, my coat protects me, it shelters me, and, catching a glimpse of myself in the window of the shops I pass, it surrounds me in a slightly princessy, slightly businesslike, slightly mysterious cocoon of mink softness... Paul Costelloe is the make, bought a few years ago in a sale in Peter Jones, the King's Road branch of John Lewis. And I adore it. It's got cute details like the double rows of stitching and the bracelet cuffs. The lining is secure and silky, and it still looks beautiful despite a few winters' hard wear. <br />
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Last year, I flirted with a gorgeous furry thing, that still makes my heart beat just a little bit faster when I wear it out, but it's always this one I come back to for warmth and great lines when it's really getting chilly. So now, I'm thinking about the next one. Paul Costelloe has made a couple of my mother's winter coats, so I now they last and keep their fit as she's had both of hers for years. So now I'm coveting one of their long riding coats like <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/134308/Style.aspx">this one</a>... (Though I have to say, on both <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/">John Lewis</a> and <a href="http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/">House of Fraser</a>'s websites, they look really scruffy and crumpled! Ick.)<br />
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I guess I'll have to wait for the sales again though... Sigh.</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-52410922731875191502010-05-30T17:40:00.003+01:002010-05-30T17:54:34.091+01:00Picnic<div>Hey all,<div><br /></div><div>Just dropping in quickly to apologise for hiatus from blog revival - I've been pretty ill for the past fortnight and it shows no signs of going away... Sucky, but as soon as it does, I'll be outside for some outfit fun. Promise!</div><div><br /></div><div>Until then, there's an outfit I particularly love that I wore on a day when I was feeling less crappy last weekend... It was gloriously sunny and my parents and a family friend came up for a picnic with boy and I. It was a beautiful day, and not only was the company and weather awesome but I was just a bit in love with my outfit - a new vintage dress I'm a bit gone over, and a hat I've had for years and just don't wear enough... These are family photos so the outfit details aren't excellent, but hope you like!!!</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaWVjoCPACFtNiCOpPRvl72ZMd1nEPFNpsXqIlGCl8_w2YU9lGQniMzCi0zsrJgu2rAIQUrKy6QfAt1RdXTtwy3dN71_GGDSwvdZrEL-qXzRhOJK3lWdtJXkj51g6_sM3VpkAfOzFGe8/s1600/28428_1301970514898_1399503341_30728144_7704924_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaWVjoCPACFtNiCOpPRvl72ZMd1nEPFNpsXqIlGCl8_w2YU9lGQniMzCi0zsrJgu2rAIQUrKy6QfAt1RdXTtwy3dN71_GGDSwvdZrEL-qXzRhOJK3lWdtJXkj51g6_sM3VpkAfOzFGe8/s400/28428_1301970514898_1399503341_30728144_7704924_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477106622169727842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQLrStfHEC3U9dpU0vSRJdzUd8iVgohY6uBA0P4E_qIC2gHqh_PVyg2NImTpRRU6F46eBznas6dsivj2DIAhgIZ6ODCwwtNfQTCc-GNvMGJ4szQpIcDa9h7Pv-SThARgBSQGiPZ6seBE/s1600/28428_1301970114888_1399503341_30728138_138221_n+(1).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 113px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQLrStfHEC3U9dpU0vSRJdzUd8iVgohY6uBA0P4E_qIC2gHqh_PVyg2NImTpRRU6F46eBznas6dsivj2DIAhgIZ6ODCwwtNfQTCc-GNvMGJ4szQpIcDa9h7Pv-SThARgBSQGiPZ6seBE/s400/28428_1301970114888_1399503341_30728138_138221_n+(1).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477106619258644338" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Vintage dress from </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jessjamesjake"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">JessJamesJake </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on Etsy, vintage bag, M&S sandals, vintage hat, Primark sunglasses)</span><br /><div><br /></div><div>Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013839527564448648.post-62889554890219820592010-05-21T22:40:00.004+01:002010-05-21T23:18:07.152+01:00Suuuuuuuuunshine on a rainy day!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmYoyL8XVSEuyRDqbtOgbfA6JMBbHItEOAZytY-lh3jXN13FmrKusDNsUvZGSzE-VPpGyytd50LURjJ8sMGP2JzsjAchUER7B9m_2rYQ-v6xsLdordxQKSvKoNSCmlpOqWWFfp7b2_Fs/s1600/DSC_0122.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsjR2pEcgaE8uUrkPh0SKGEfcmxmwhILk8XkAvjwwo7oBUo3L2c15FxkIPz_Zi_7RWrmEnrJZnvvsnqZrXBiI-mCgSk3RN9U-28rIacSMdEGVU554ji3QXL2lxvPFp7vOZ2xVSIOsPgE/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg"></a>So last weekend was a London one, as I mentioned in my last post. (Gosh, almost a week ago. Oops!)<div><br /></div><div>Of course, I had to see T-B and his lovely missus. They had just got back from Mexico, and apparently had a craving for burgers. So we headed from Sarf Laahndan to Soho for lunch! (I would like to point out that, due to gluten / dairy / potato issues I had a squash and goats cheese salad... Nomnomnom. They had biiiiiiig burgers though...) And of course, we did photoshoot-ness. YAY!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>- Moi in the burger joint...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsjR2pEcgaE8uUrkPh0SKGEfcmxmwhILk8XkAvjwwo7oBUo3L2c15FxkIPz_Zi_7RWrmEnrJZnvvsnqZrXBiI-mCgSk3RN9U-28rIacSMdEGVU554ji3QXL2lxvPFp7vOZ2xVSIOsPgE/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsjR2pEcgaE8uUrkPh0SKGEfcmxmwhILk8XkAvjwwo7oBUo3L2c15FxkIPz_Zi_7RWrmEnrJZnvvsnqZrXBiI-mCgSk3RN9U-28rIacSMdEGVU554ji3QXL2lxvPFp7vOZ2xVSIOsPgE/s400/DSC_0019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473843679106414466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a>- Sheltering from the London-rain under a rather dysfunctional umbrella...</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPiIILd-w5rgbl8xSVdv9wxqCjTl0sT2sy8bOcpU7biLQu-40vuD2TlvrUtGQQgeO_hCoCsfPFzf7UZdKAq768jgBiE7WqIKJOkdDKSKSV3irYm-OOzmp0kVhZodA6fuPR_lbgzbvjZM/s1600/DSC_0075.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPiIILd-w5rgbl8xSVdv9wxqCjTl0sT2sy8bOcpU7biLQu-40vuD2TlvrUtGQQgeO_hCoCsfPFzf7UZdKAq768jgBiE7WqIKJOkdDKSKSV3irYm-OOzmp0kVhZodA6fuPR_lbgzbvjZM/s400/DSC_0075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473843677769173394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a>- Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiindy!!!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECX2Tjnk5pcYiXoKoITosy0QvcAkml9QnALnJ9OFasjtKbaBp8ovu_UG0RsmZddg2VNF49EGDAIv7R7I38JZ_p4_t2AIiE9uLzO2pKS9kRk7gtAIBfYwmz1VCkMA2gbY9cboeU5-Egsc/s1600/DSC_0132.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECX2Tjnk5pcYiXoKoITosy0QvcAkml9QnALnJ9OFasjtKbaBp8ovu_UG0RsmZddg2VNF49EGDAIv7R7I38JZ_p4_t2AIiE9uLzO2pKS9kRk7gtAIBfYwmz1VCkMA2gbY9cboeU5-Egsc/s400/DSC_0132.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473843666645239458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a>- Giggle. Standard.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPbnCUYMoc4wjGEhJclzdAahSWJBz3n9HvspSfnuGVUA6q8JmAuBBOHmZ3iDa_8hqA0G_vl38Js2XIQjvCkqhUB_YWymY25lmwT0VicSTCm_NOe71E34nkTfUWJtMiemvqFzz_rgUjrg/s1600/DSC_0135.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPbnCUYMoc4wjGEhJclzdAahSWJBz3n9HvspSfnuGVUA6q8JmAuBBOHmZ3iDa_8hqA0G_vl38Js2XIQjvCkqhUB_YWymY25lmwT0VicSTCm_NOe71E34nkTfUWJtMiemvqFzz_rgUjrg/s400/DSC_0135.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473843660711211346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>- Ooooh, and look at this lovely necklace that Becks has... It's from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MIXKO">Mixco</a> on Etsy. IWANTONE!!! :</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmYoyL8XVSEuyRDqbtOgbfA6JMBbHItEOAZytY-lh3jXN13FmrKusDNsUvZGSzE-VPpGyytd50LURjJ8sMGP2JzsjAchUER7B9m_2rYQ-v6xsLdordxQKSvKoNSCmlpOqWWFfp7b2_Fs/s400/DSC_0122.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473844737662156834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">And how awesome are <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/7677289/Elephant-art-displayed-in-London.html">the elephants</a> appearing around London at the moment?! Street art for a charitable cause? WIN! I love this one in Covent Garden... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>It was a lovely day, despite the rain... Home is such a sanctuary for me. London makes my heart beat faster and calms me down all at once. Yay for graduating and moving back! (Well, ish... More to come on that conundrum.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhooooo... In this photoshoot, I was wearing a vintage floral dress from Etsy (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/putonthatdress">putonthatdress</a>), vintage yellow slouchy cardigan also from Etsy (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/joyelizabethG">joyelizabethG</a>), a vintage white leather bag (from Topshop's Peekaboo vintage concession), Jonathon Aston white lace tights, black Converse and a fabric and button brooch I made myself... Oh, and the watch is a <a href="http://shop.lego.com/ByCategory/Leaf.aspx?cn=404&d=292">Lego Star Wars one</a> with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo lego men on (- now sold out but they have some cool new ones in... I quite like the C 3PO one). Hehe! Funsies.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hmmmmm. Quite sleepy now, and I haven't finished my dinner yet, so I should probably get to that before boy grumps because I haven't eaten all the yummy food he made me... Night all!</div><div><br /></div><div>Xxxc</div>Cassiopeiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08486538663742244698noreply@blogger.com3