ETRE TOUCHY GLOVES...
With the 21st century has come a new and very real danger: cold fingers when using touch screen devices.
We've all been there... it's freezing and you're standing in front of the most mesmerizing scene (probably a latte or your shoes against the pavement). Desperate to take a photo but your gloves are standing in the way. No matter how hard you push, the screen of you iPhone just won't register your finger. Oh the misery. Surely it ranks up there next to world hunger and disarmament.
When I came across these gloves I thought their claim to be compatible with all touch screen devices just couldn't be true. Surely if such technology existed every glove manufacturer would have embraced it already? Not so, these guys are just ahead of the game. There are two different types available. The first doesn't have a tip on the thumb and first finger. Kind of like fingerless gloves - except they are only fingerless where it really matters, making it much easier to use finicky devices like a camera. The second, has the brand's special contactwoven fingertips - which make it possible to use touchscreen devices without any hindrance. Pretty special, eh?
Featuring: Etre touchy gloves and fivepoint gloves.
STUFFED FRENCH TOAST...
Yeah, I like fashion but I also like french toast... a lot.
Normal french toast is good but, as I discovered this morning, stuffed french toast is even better. I'd never tried it before but am now officially hooked. This version is made with a banana nut honey filling but I think a berry mixture might even be better and pack a punchier flavor. I got this recipe from Jamie Oliver (my all time favorite) but I think his portions were a little off - it claims to be for 2 servings but I was left with tons so I've amended his ingredients a bit.
Ingredients
2 bananas (peeled and sliced), 50 grams pecan nuts (chopped), 1 tablespoon honey, 4 slices of bread, 2 eggs, half a cup of milk, butter and icing sugar.
Directions
Mix the bananas, pecan nuts and honey in a bowl. Spoon out the mixture onto 2 slices of the bread, leaving a slight space around the edges. Top with the other piece of bread - to make a sandwich. Heat a frying pan over a moderate heat. Mix the eggs and milk into a bowl - pour onto a small plate. Dip both sides of the banana sandwiches in the mixture - don't get the middle wet. Melt the butter in the frying pan. Fry each sandwich until golden brown. Sprinkle with icing sugar (really that's just for looks).
Serve with orange juice, strong coffee and maple syrup for a killer combo.
THIS WEEK I LOVE...
1. Blocked denim via Cos and A Détacher. 2. Floral on floral on floral from ADAM. 3. Dreamy misty landscapes. 4. Washed out pink denim from MiH. 5. Acne accessories: the turquoise Alice shoe and clear frames. 6. Miu Miu gingham earrings. 7. Topshop's clear plastic purse. 8. Sandro.
9. One Minute by Dennis Swiatkowski - from the blog Get Your Plane Right On Time comes the incredibly succinct and effective video portrait. It's like street style but on a whole new level. The music is chilling and the characters are perfectly portrayed. Hop over and start watching.
Hope you're having a wonderful week. xx
THE FINISHED PRODUCT [CHALKBOARD PAINT DIY]...
When I first decided to do this chalkboard paint DIY I had fancy-pants plans for this platter. I imagined it laid out with an elaborate spread of exotic cheese... instead you've got a selection of my favorite sweets. Hah. My true nature is clearly being shown.
I couldn't be happier with the way the chalkboard paint turned out. It works really well, is easy to wipe off and has provided countless doodling opportunites. The milk jugs are definitely my favorite things. Since my husband likes full-fat milk and I prefer semi-skimmed we always need two different types. It's kind of annoying but now I don't mind since it means I can have two cute cartons in the fridge.
Photos include a painted platter, milk cartons, note book and home made air freshener (which was made by combining baking soda with lemon & lavender essential oil - it works a treat for zapping up nasty kitchen smells).
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January Blues
Seriously, what is it with January? I'm finding it to be the most difficult month to get through. It starts with a theatrical bang (champagne corks flying, fireworks exploding) but simmers stagnantly when resolutions prove more difficult to achieve than write and grand plans trickle out. There's still two weeks left though, maybe it will pick itself up.
Seriously, what is it with January? I'm finding it to be the most difficult month to get through. It starts with a theatrical bang (champagne corks flying, fireworks exploding) but simmers stagnantly when resolutions prove more difficult to achieve than write and grand plans trickle out. There's still two weeks left though, maybe it will pick itself up.
My wardrobe dreams have drifted to spring, pastel shades and bright acidic hues. The reality though is that my closet is filled with mostly blacks and greys. So I've brought in the big guns - the all powerful mood shifters: rainbow nails. Multi-coloured pastel nails seem the easiest way to nod to spring while staying frugal and bundled up. I also decided to pile on a selection of ridiculous things: two jackets, a leopard print clutch, studded heels and a headache inducing hat. But hey, it's Sunday... so why not.
Wearing: WalMart hat, vintage earrings, Patouf jumper, LiLiFi clutch, Moda in Pelle shoes, Gap denim jacket, Quiksilver parka and trousers.
MY GRANDMA'S [FAUX] JEWELS...
When I was back home for the holidays my mom whipped out a big cardboard box. Inside were about a hundred little plastic bags that had been carefully filled with jewelry my grandma had planned to throw away. Thankfully these little gems were rescued from spending the rest of their lives at the bottom of a rusty old bin. My favorite items are the earrings. They're all clip-ons and impossibly uncomfortable to wear. Who ever said fashion was meant to be comfy though?
Expect to see a lot more bling clipped onto my ears in the future.
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KA-POW: 3.1 PHILLIP LIM...
2012 sees the final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy and in the spirit of all things heroic it seems only right to reign in the comic book trend with a bit of covetable high fashion. Since I've never been able to master the whole invisibility thing and I only ever came close to levitation once, I'll settle on the title of costumed crime fighter. By definition this means I don't need an actual superpower... instead I can just carry around this little comic book clutch inside the clear pashli satchel and call it a day.
Plus, I'm thinking anything Ka-Pow themed could double as a Halloween costume. Am I planning too far ahead?
Featuring products from 3.1 Phillip Lim pre-fall collection. Images via Moda Operandi.
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Tricia's Varsity Jacket
'Varsity jackets are so in right now, don't you know? Hello, everyone from Alexander Wang to Proenza Schouler has shown them. Sure, they might be all over the high street but those knockoffs ain't got nothing on this little vintage one.' Err, just kidding.
'Varsity jackets are so in right now, don't you know? Hello, everyone from Alexander Wang to Proenza Schouler has shown them. Sure, they might be all over the high street but those knockoffs ain't got nothing on this little vintage one.'
Err, just kidding. When I found this little gem of a jacket crammed on a rail at an antique mall in the mid-west a couple weeks ago my family didn't even look a bit perplexed or seek an explanation. My sister did, however, suppress a gag reflex every time I insisted on putting it on. Whether that was due to her viewing me as a sartorial pariah or the jacket's musty smell, well... I'll never know.
I couldn't bare to leave this item behind so I forked out $12 and left feeling giddy with my purchase. Made from recycled wool, the fabric is so heavy and thick it'll make you sweat on even the coldest days. The hood unzips to reveal 'Tricia', the original owner at the back and the pockets are lined with white leather. It's cliche and, at the moment, a bit annoyingly trendy but I kind of love this jacket.
Wearing: thrifted varsity jacket, Banana Republic jumper, 7 for all Mankind jeans and Converse. Photos by Stephanie.
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CONFESSIONS OF A CHALKAHOLIC...
Chalkboard paint... who knew it could be so addictive?
After seeing this DIY post on Wit & Whistle I decided to try my hand at a bit of chalkboard painting. If you haven't come across the craze that is chalkboard paint just google it. Paint savvy people across the globe are covering their walls with the stuff, creating calendars, labels and even Corinthian columns. After much internal deliberation I decided my landlord would be less than thrilled to discover I turned the inside of my flat into a massive chalkboard (I'd have to scribble 'I'm sorry' over the entire thing before showing him, clearly)... so I laid off the walls and instead started covering everything else I could find.
Now, I just need to find some chalk... images of the final products will come once I do.
FLANNEL PAJAMAS...
One of the things I find most frustrating about being away from home is packing...
When I arrive at my final destination things go like this: throw open my suitcase, longingly peer through the contents and then, suddenly, start to panic. Frantically I pull everything out and, defeatedly, start to realize that something has gone horribly wrong. Why did I forget underwear? How did I only pack t-shirts and it's almost freezing outside? No coat and it's winter One pair of jeans that have coke spilt on them from the flight. My packing efforts are clearly delluded and misguided. All this to say, I was pretty excited when I received a pair of J.Crew flannel pajamas last week and discovered the top could double as a real shirt (it gave my weak holiday wardrobe a little boost). Staying in my pajamas all day suddenly became way more acceptable and I like it.
Wearing: J.Crew flannel pajama shirt, Timex Andros Watch, J Brand Bette Superflare jeans and Osprey bag from eBay Fashion Outlet.
MY LITTLE YEAR IN REVIEW...
Bizarrely, nothing quite sends me over the bliss-edge quite like a good 'Year in Review.' From Reuters to Gawker, Float Fast Hummingbird and Style.com... they all stir up warm feelings of nostalgia and make me excited for the things that are to come.
2011 was a pretty big year full of lots of changes and exciting things. Here's a little peek into a some of my favourite bits...
AMERICANA...
boots2
Envy.
It's the only word to describe how I feel about my husband's new boots. Sitting on the front porch covered in mud they're the embodiment of all things Americana. L.L.Bean never looked quite so good.
Merry Christmas!
Nothing brings out family traditions quite like Christmas. Every year, since I can remember, my family has made a birthday cake for Jesus. We light candles, sing and blow out the candles before any presents are opened. Decorating the cake was always a highly anticipated event that my sister and I would perfectly plot... now my niece and nephew take over, making a mountainous pile of icing and sprinkles in the middle. It might sound (and look) a little silly but it's the simplest and tastiest way to remember what this day is really about.
Hoping that everyone has the merriest of days! xx
Mayhem...
Talk about madness... yesterday I toppled down the stairs while holding my niece and chipped my two front teeth. Never did this song ring ever truer - it's embarrassingly ironic that I just mentioned it last week in this post. Thankfully I was able to get into the dentist today and all is back to normal. Is it just me or does everything seem to turn into slight mayhem around the holidays? I'm at my sister's house in the US and we have four little kids, six grown ups and two dogs all under one roof. It's a little wild but completely wonderful and I'm so happy to be here.
Earlier this week I came across this fisherman jumper in the men's section at J.Crew. It's definitely one-part awkward old man with the bulky fabric and all-over cable knit but I love it. I've added it to the mix of items I can't stop wearing... also included are these 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans and my trusty Topshop Ambush boots (which are sadly starting to look a little worse for wear - maybe I should declare it new boot o'clock?).
Photos by my sister Stephanie.
A homage to the mountains...
I'm a sucker for a good pair of sunglasses and ever since I first discovered Mykita I've been dreaming about their frames. The only problem is I haven't a clue which pair I'd choose if given the chance and now it's only gotten more difficult...
Recently the Berlin based brand partnered with Moncler to create the ultimate pair of slope-worthy sunglasses. They're made from a product called mylon that's been developed by Mykita through a process called selective laser sintering. It's a kind of space-agey type of manufacturing, a form of 3D printing that's currently only really being used to make prototypes. My favourite pair are the blue ones with the flat top. They might just be the perfect little motivational tool to get me out skiing this winter.
Breathe on the lenses of these bad boys and they even reveal the Mykita & Moncler logo... what's not to love?