70s Autumnal Birthday Swag

There seemed to be a theme running through the wonderful gifts my family and friends gave me for my birthday. Pumpkin orange, black, gold, and brown?

Someone must have anticipated yesterday's 70s post or know how excited I am for this autumn!

Camera pendant from my friend Nathalie. Prefect for my love of vintage cameras.

A cosy pumpkin colored slouchy jumper from my Mom.

 

Dachshund pendant by Daniela Sigurd from Kevin. I spotted it at the Thames festival, Kevin took note then ordered it from the website. SO happy he remembered and now I have this cute little guy in my life.

The black cloche hat from my birthday pinterest wish list.

A nice grey-brown cardigan from my Mom again. (Though it looks more grey here)

My £3.50 birthday present to myself: a cute bird to-go porcelain coffee cup from Wilkinsons.

Apparently I am really drawn to these 70s/Halloween-y autumn colors this season (or they are drawn to me).


What colors are you really digging now?

Timeline of a Birthday Weekend in London

FRIDAY NIGHT-
Glam Factory at the National Portrait Gallery with friends followed by dinner at a Portuguese cafe Canela. Then off to Victoria for some beers with more friends.

Cakes and Carbs at Canela

SATURDAY-
Veg around at home watching the Importance of Being Earnest. Inspired, decide to ditch the plans for Italian to eat at Oscar Wilde's former haunt, Kettners.

Kettners, a British institution

Barely make the reservation, but still have enough time to soak in the historic ambiance. Indulge in some cheesecake while pretending Oscar is sipping some absinthe in the corner and Bing Crosby is crooning at the bar.

After dinner surprise with Priscilla Queen of the Desert tickets. Hilarious and almost as much fun as a real drag show in the beautiful (but way too hot- I think I went through menopause in the second act) Palace Theatre.

Remember going out to clubs all night for birthdays? This time wander the streets of Leicester Square to get Honeydew Bubble Tea and Passion Fruit popping boba from Bubbleology.

SUNDAY-
Wake up to a delicious birthday treat of Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from Hummingbird Bakery (from my Birthday list).

After opening presents, take a ridiculous bus journey (curse you TFL!) to see the first Renegade Craft Fair in the UK in Brick Lane.

Check out all the cute hip craft stands and find this gem:

Viva Las Vegas by Patrick Edgely

A print by Patrick Edgely with Viva Las Vegas on it. For people who got married in the Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel? YES, PLEASE! 

Shopping for crafts can make you hungry. Conveniently the Sunday Up Market on Brick Lane is downstairs, so pick up some dumplings.

Maybe the vintage start to the weekend is to blame, but the urge to get 'Chips' served in newsprint from a retro Fish & Chip shop strikes, so its good Poppies is on the way back from Brick Lane.

SUNDAY NIGHT-
Return home to west London exhausted. Cancel the plans for dinner and drinks in Fulham in favor of Mexican delivery from Tacuba and the Red Riding Hood dvd.

While Amanda Seyfried may disappoint, pulled pork nachos never do and it is the perfect way to unwind after a great weekend.


Hope you had a good weekend too!

Two.Seven

October 2009

Two years ago today I touched down in Heathrow to join my new husband in the UK.

.

Seven years ago today I turned twenty, I hadn't been outside of North America, was just starting my second year of University and still dating my high school sweetheart.

One of my oldest friend's sent me a birthday card that said: "this is the decade that we will travel the world, discover our dreams, meet our husbands..."

.

Today my friend has lived in two countries and just settled into her new married life in Washington, DC. I turned a weekend European vacation into a romance of a lifetime.

Here's to anniversaries, birthdays and psychic best friends.

gpoyWTF? High-Waisted Wide-legged jean nightmare

Where I post unflattering photos of myself for your viewing pleasure.

So over on my previous blog platform Tumblr, there is a "Gratuitous Photo of Yourself Wednesdays" or gpoyw. Well I was going to add this little number to it, with what I wore, but this photo turned out to be more of a gpoyWhat The Fug?

Wearing: H&M jeans (original color on right), Silence + Noise tee, Topman cardi (formally my husbands),
Bandalino ballet flats, awkward pose by Danielle

I purchased these H&M high-waisted wide leg jeans on super sale (£7) for a 1940s themed party where I planned on doing a "hello, sailor" themed outfit. While I ended up going a different route with the fancy dress, I decided to try to get my seven quid out of these jeans.

And I CANNOT figure out how to wear them. I have wide hips but a flatter stomach so I get weird creepy-old-man bunching in the crotch (cue Curb Your Enthusiasm episode)and my hips push out my jeans which is extra unflattering on the legs.

The light color doesn't do much for this look, so I was thinking of dyeing them a darker blue to maybe slim down the leg area (as seen on right).

What do you think of this type of jeans? Universally fugly mom jeans, or is there a way to wear this look and be above an XXSmall? I hate wasting £7.

*UPDATED: Remembered the 70s trick of sewing in the crotch tight and to aid the fit and fight the buldging, next time I take out my machine I am going to tailoring town on these! With an adjusted fit, and using Belle's advice of using structured tops, it just might work- and for the meantime- it can be my inside jeans / sailor girl costume.

Birthday Wish Lists on Pinterest

Pinterest Birthday Wish list

My husband is refusing to getting me a puppy (again) and is stuck on what to gift me for my birthday next weekend. Neither subtle nor very obvious hints make an impact on him, so Pinterest has been a saving grace this birthday-through-holiday season.

The above is a sampling from my Pinterest birthday list. Clockwise from left:

• ASOS Dress
• Hummingbird Bakery Pumpkin Whoopie Pie
• ASOS Dolce Vita Patent Leather loafers
• NARS lipgloss in Striptease
• Balenciaga Paris perfume
• Hand knit socks from Milleta's Etsy
• Zara Plaited Leather Shopper
• ASOS 'vintage' watch
• Butter nail polish in Wallis (sold out but a girl can dream)

I unintentionally picked out a lot of soft and cozy colors- I am so ready for fall weather! There is also some yummy chocolate, winter accessories, and a few other bits on the list. Check it out here.

Do you use Pinterest for wish lists? What is on your wish list now?

Gratitude

Well it is been a WEEK. Crazy work schedules, busy nights, stomach bugs and insect-bugs in our drains (yuck). I feel behind and so tired. As I keep on glancing at the gorgeous autumn day outside and my sick husband inside, I keep on thinking "Why us this week? We were supposed to be out enjoying the beautiful weather not laid up on the couch/ fighting off drain flys".

So I sat down and watched my favorite YouTube motivator Marie Forleo talk about what to do when life hands you a 'shit sandwich':

And then I remember gratitude and everything I have to be thankful for in my life.

This week has brought something to be extra grateful- New Orleans fashion blogger Kim from SassyUptownChic has awarded me with a Leibster blog award!

An award given to bloggers with less than 200 followers in order to help them
connect with more people.

I am so happy that this blog has opened up a chance to get to know more awesome bloggers like Kim in just a few weeks. I can't thank her enough for her comments & tweets and of course nominating me for this award!

I'd like to pay it forward and nominate some of my favorite blogs:

• Faithful Luxe- new UK fashion blog, with hot runway to real world fashion finds
• Miss Raj- an blogger with epically inspirational posts
• Sybil Virgo-UK fashion blog with great takes on the catwalk shows
• The 25 Year old Liz- tumblr friend turned blogger buddy chronicling a year of her life
• to ELLE and Back- Louisa blogging about London life & a fellow Starbucks Pumpkin Spice lover

Thanks again to Kim for brightening my week and please show her some love over on SassyUptownChic!




The award suggests *Post the image on your Blog, *Choose five bloggers you want to give it to & comment on a post letting them know you have chosen them, *Show thanks to the person who gave you the award by linking it back to them.