Overnight oats are a breakfast revelation. They’ve been on my morning menu ever since I discovered them a few years back. One serving: 3 heaped tbsp oats, cover with plant milk (i like unsweetened almond), place in fridge overnight and top with fruit, nuts, a dusting of cinnamon, drizzle of agave and a sprinkling of shredded coconut. Obsessed.
I’ve been very quiet of late on this little space of mine. I obviously needed a time out. Call it quiet time. Sometimes our minds need quieting – I know mine does – but in this age of constant sharing and over-sharing (ahem, reluctantly raises hand) we can forget to take time out of the chaos. Just to ‘be’, y’know?
In real life I’ve actually been pretty busy – with some exciting developments professionally speaking. We’re even allowing ourselves to take a much needed holiday this coming weekend ….off to France we go! Calvacade, woodland walks and baguettes. Bliss.
I can’t get enough of Toast clothing right now. They have another incredible sale in full swing at the moment (13th-17th May so you’d better get your skates on if you want to nab a bargain) and I couldn’t resist buying myself these super summery stripey culottes …now, if only we get the weather so I can actually wear the blighters! Obsessed.
Being away from my own blog doesn’t mean I haven’t been on others. I love getting inspiration from my favourite go-to websites (Calivintage, Avant Blargh, Oh So Lovely Vintage to name but a few) so I was ecstatic when A Beautiful Mess announced their incredible new photo app. Truth be told i’ve never bought an app in my life but as soon as I witnessed the greatness happening on instagram(obsessed) I knew I had to have a piece of the action. Unfortunately it may mean another impromptu hiatus from the blog whilst I ‘messify’ all my photos ….I feel an(other) obsession comin’ on, eek!
Sleep is one of my favourite pastimes – duvet and bed (oh memoryfoam, how I love thee!) equals happiness in my world. Is it possible to be both a morning person and love a good lie in? What I snooze in is just as important as what I snooze on, and this cute and colourful Zandra Rhodes flower print cover helps me sleep that little bit sounder. You could say i’m…..obsessed?
I must be the last blogger on the planet to do one of these posts. I haven’t been avoiding it but to be honest it never really crossed my mind to open up my own bag to the viewing public. For some reason though, the other day (specifically, yesterday), I came home from meeting my friend, emptied the contents of my vintage bargain bucket satchel on the bed and took some snaps of the contents.
The colour co-ordination aspect surprised even myself – I clearly like red! I can also verify that nothing here has been planted, it really is what I had in my purse…..the paperclips are there because they come in very handy. In fact I was using them as makeshift clamps for a shoot I was on a while back. See? Handy.
I’m never without a pack of tissues and this Russian Doll clad pack are just too cute, I couldn’t resist buying them. Ditto lipbalms/sticks. I feel ever so slightly vulnerable if I don’t have a bright lippy on me – you know, for those unexpected moments when you need to add a little glam. I actually use the pots of colour for my cheeks, they are great blusher substitutes and blend really nicely. Lipbalm – well, who doesn’t have one of those in their bag?!
My iphone is my life. Yes, I am a self confessed addict when it comes to all things Apple and indeed all things social media – just try and take my instagram offa me and you’ll see what happens! Oh, and my Peter Jensen print screen saver is an instagram pic I took at my very first London Fashion Week (Feb 2012, in case you’re wondering) – it was the wallpaper in the cafe, tres cool, no?
I’m kinda old school when it comes to my money storage. I like coin purses for my change and a small wallet for my paper money and cards. What can I say, it works for me and I’m not sure I could go back to a gigantic all encompassing purse come wallet come brick in my bag. I have ‘em, I just choose not to use ‘em.
My keyrings are an accumulation of memories. I’ve always wanted a Citroen Dolly so my Husband bought me a mini one in the meantime – unfortunately it’s lost almost all its wheels and headlights now but I’ll probably still be using it when it’s just a carcass. The Cath Kidston dotty keyring was a gift and I bought ‘The Cat in the Hat’ one when I was at Universal Studios in Florida.
Obviously I would be in serious trouble without my spectacles. I swap and change the styles but I would be lost without a pair in my bag. And the teabag? Well, being vegan I err on the side of caution, which means carrying random food/drink items with me just in case I find myself in a situation where there are no eating or drinking options for me to partake in. Therefore, I can whip out my green tea (or whatever else I happen to have on me at the time) and be, y’know, social. This particular tea is a longtime favourite of mine and it’s comforting just knowing it’s close by should I fancy an impromptu sup.
what’s in my ‘vintage’ bag…..kleenex tissues/Jackson’s of Piccadilly Green Tea with Lemon/Inika creme colour for lips and cheeks/Lavera Lipbalm/Barry M ’Lip Paint’ lipstick/Assortment of Keyrings/Specsavers Glasses ‘Bunty’/iphone/paper clips from The Works/fabric wallet/coin purse
When you live in the UK you just have deal with the temperamental weather, rise above it and try to keep your spirits up without letting it impact your style decisions too much. That’s not to say it doesn’t – nothing irritates me more than when I plan an outfit in my head only to wake up to a dreary wet day that does nothing but dash your best laid outfit plans. Damn you British weather, damn you!
Obviously this vintage trench is a lifesaver in such situations but when it comes to headwear it’s getting to that stage in the season where I just want toss my winter hats and a. let my hair flow freely or b. wrap a pretty scarf around my noggin’. Unfortunately, it’s not quite au natural time just yet (thank you April showers!) so instead I opted for a scarf, tied in a somewhat seventies fashion.
Whilst I lean mostly towards 60′s fashion I must say I’ve become more and more drawn to the style of the 1970′s – or perhaps I’m just reverting to my teenage ways. My style icons back then were Jodie Foster in Freaky Friday, Anna Chlumsky in My Girl and pretty much every cast member in Dazed and Confused (and I’m including the male cast members too – soooo many great tees!).
This outfit here, however, is very loosely influenced by the well known style fest that is Jaws….that’s right, Jaws. Not only is it a favourite film of mine (by the way, did you know I am a horror fanatic?) but I’ve always loved the clothing featured throughout especially Ellen Brody’s ensembles.
Good screen shots of that movie are few and far between on the net – well, none that illustrate the kinds of gettup’s I’m referring to – so you’ll just have to go and re-watch it to see what I mean.
Whoever said the seventies was the decade taste forgot needs a good hiding. I for one love those gaudy prints, bizarro fabrics, crazy collars and uber wide flares – wasn’t this the era that cemented the socks and sandals combo as a serious fashion choice? If all that constitutes bad taste then bring it on by the bucketload and count me in for I plan to be a unashamed serial seventies offender for a very long time to come.
what i’m wearing…vintage mac/dannimac…scarf/vintage…bag/vintage…rust cord flares/anthropologie…denim shirt/zara…black top and boots/h&m…
Um, cutest highlighter pens ever? I love these little guys, they really brighten up my desk:)
I’ve not been instagramming as much as I’d like recently because my iphone camera is playing silly buggers – more than a little annoying, I may even be experiencing instagram withdrawal symptoms! It’s mainly the focus that is shot and Hubby has bought a replacement one, which he intends to fix soon, so until then I’ll make do with these slightly grainy offerings….
Breakfast might be my favourite meal of the day – I say might because I have a soft spot for lunch and dinner too;) If I eat badly (or not at all ) in the mornings it messes with my day big time. It might mean leaving myself with a ridiculous amount of time in the am but I’d much rather wake up early and ease myself into the day ahead than rush out the door in a blind panic.
Are words even necessary? This is my idea of heaven, pure and simple. Oh Cornwall, how I love thee!
Diana Dors. What a legend…..and apparently a fan of The First and Last in Sennen, who knew?!
Ah, the elevator shot! I love this vintage top I recently found in a charity shop, it was a real find. The neon running through it is so ‘now ‘too, some might think I was attempting to jump on board some kind of fashion trend….but you know me better than that;)
Would ya look at these! Hilda Maha wonders….beyond fabulous in every way. If I were to choose one pair of summer shoes these would be them. Just wow.
The boy. My boy:) Taken prior to the arrival of his new iphone, which couldn’t have come soon enough because this Samsung was the cause of many a mobile induced tantrum.
Willows – don’t you just love ‘em? This is a walk near our flat, which also houses an animal sanctuary of sorts. There are deer, peacocks, goats and a whole host of lovelies. A much needed place of calm in a City of chaos.
I spend a lot of time fantasizing about our life in Cornwall. There was very little I didn’t love about living in that glorious part of the world and even though London is special too I can’t help but think the lifestyle I now crave isn’t a city one. I own a surfboard goddmammit and I want to use the damn thing!
It’s true to say you can get lost in a city, especially London. I know I’ve had many moments when I don’t have a second to catch my breath nevermind focus on what it is I want out of life – because surely there’s more to it than climbing the career ladder?
Luckily my Husband feels the same way and we have a sort of loose plan to make sure we’re out of the big smoke and back down to Cornish lands as soon as we possibly can. That is, when we’ve done a little of what we came back here to achieve, made a bit of money (chance would be a fine thing) and purged all those city vices out of our system – we’re getting there, very slowly and not always surely but we’re definitely trying.
So when Seasalt sent me a delightfully nautical and oh so Cornish parcel a few weekends ago it got me thinking again about everything we’re missing by being here. It was like a little taste of home (I might be Irish but Cornwall is my spiritual home) and the perfect antedote to my current situation, which mostly involves high fashion, not much of which is attainable to me or even terribly appealing.
Because as much as I love fashion, and there are many designers and brands I admire and, yes, even obsess about (I’m looking at you Margaret Howell), the clothing I feel most comfortable in is well designed casual clobber. Give me jeans over a fancy schmancy dress any day of the week. Pea green jeans with just the right amount of stretch and high enough so that not even a peep of panty is on show? Even better.
Seriously though, what is with the low slung style that is so popular nowadays?! I’m sure those girls spend half the day hoicking their jeans up lest they end up round their ankles. Let it be known that knick knicks are a no no. These jeans, on the other hand, are just the right side of fashionable without being on the wrong side of trendy. Already they have become my ‘go-to’ trousers because they go with just about anything (blouses, sweaters, t-shirts) and are smart enough even for the office.
I couldn’t resist pairing them with a breton style t-shirt for this semi-impromptu shoot, just to make the whole thing uber Cornish….um, whilst standing in one of Charlton House‘s many grand rooms. The bag was sheer coincidence. I had used it to pack my costumes for the short film we are currently shooting, so thought I’d throw it in for good measure. And the scarf? Well, it’s just perfect, how could I not?!
This is exactly the kind of outfit I would wear when I lived in Penzance but is a super City look too. I think stripes and jeans are just a classic ensemble wherever you are. I am so delighted with these trousers, I can’t thank Seasalt enough for kindly sending me a pair – as they say in Liverpool, ‘i’m made up’.
what i’m wearing….pea green ‘cliff’ trousers c/o Seasalt….bag/scarf also Seasalt….breton top/h&m….red sweater/gap….brogues/m&co….headscarf/tabio….leopard print socks/primark
Here’s something I discovered today. People look at you differently when you wear an eye catching hat. Seriously. This floppy green vintage hat turned quite a few heads this afternoon and in all honesty it was quite disconcerting. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many smiles, nods, quiet complimentary whispers, ‘pardon me’s’ and general courtesy – and this is London!
Strolling through Greenwich, I felt like a million dollars. This might just be my accidental equivalent of power dressing…..seventies style. I found myself walking with confidence, holding my head a little higher and feeling more glamorous than usual. The last one was new one on me because I rarely (if ever) feel glamorous. And all because of a hat I found in a bargain bucket for two pounds.
The hilarious thing is I was only dressing like this for a *project we’re working on and had it been a normal Saturday I wouldn’t have dreamed of donning such mammoth headwear.
*Hubby and I are currently making a little film – it’s a sort of ‘through the ages’ type affair, which requires me to dress in various styles (yes, I am in my element!). Today was, of course, seventies shoot day, so that is the real reason for my full on attire.
Obviously I always knew clothes had the power to change how you feel about yourself, this outfit just merely reminded me. But I think I needed reminding because I’ve been going through one of those ‘blah’ periods. Look, I know it’s only a hat – and not an outrageous one at that – but it’s a departure from my usual style, which made it seem more daring.
After we finished with our little shoot we took ourselves to a recent discovery that is quickly becoming an obsession…..our local pie and mash shop. The pie and mash is served with a sauce called liquor (we were assured it’s vegan), which sounds vile but is actually heavenly, and lucky for us our local shop offers a vegan pie option. Music to my ears yo! It’s pretty old school in there so I blended right in – my hat even matched the tiles, hehe.
So. Now I know exactly what to do when I’m feeling a bit crappy – simply pop on a floppy seventies hat, hit the streets of Greenwich and proudly stroll through the market after feeding on pie and mash. Forget therapy; it seems what you put on your head has a positive affect on what goes on in it. Innit?!
what i’m wearing….trench coat/vintage dannimac….rust cord flares/anthropologie….scarf/vintage….hat and bag/both vintage from clocktower market….boots/vintage bally (pregan) from ebay
instagram , outfits , PeaSoupWears , personal , sustainability , Vegan , Vegan Fashion , vintage
Instagram Moments
It’s been a while since I did one of these posts so I felt like one was definitely due. I’m still stir crazy about instagram so here’s a weeks worth of my filtertastic pics….. 
I have a thing for all things nautical so when this parcel came in the post I was just a wee bit ecstatic to find the gorgeously tissue wrapped gift adorned with these super cute anchor stickers. Seasalt sure do know how to make a girl happy! 
The lift at work has become the perfect place for me to take full length outfit shots without having to trouble my poor Hubbie. I was definitely channelling my inner Land Girl that day. Love a good headscarf, me.
New York Fashion week is underway and London Fashion Week is scarily close. I think I have things just about under control at work (crosses fingers and toes) and I’m really excited about this season – my third fashion week, yikes! In particular, I am chomping at the bit to witness this incredible retrospective catwalk show featuring the designs of Mary Quant, Ossie Clark and Vivienne Westwood to name but a few. Stellar stuff!
If you were curious as to what was in the pretty anchor clad parcel above, it was these gorgeous turn up pea green jeans. Seasalt is one of my favourite brands and these fit like a dream. I’ll be doing a more in depth fashion post dedicated to these lovely trews over the weekend.
There I go again, taking pictures of myself in the FT lifts! It was a leopard print kind of day - any excuse to wear this jumper, it is the comfiest thing I own. I wish Zara made them in other colours/prints, I would stock up for sure. Sadly I have never seen another one exactly like this style. The skirt is vintage and I paired the whole outfit with ma black sparkly brogues. Ta da!
Oh my, this dinner was go-od. Vegan shrimp and grits isn’t exactly a staple round here but I have made it a few times. It’s such a satisfying dish with plenty of spice. I think a few more tweaks and we’ll have a monster vegan hit on our hands.
I couldn’t believe how many people stopped to compliment on my shirt today, it went down an absolute treat. This is one of my go to outfits – what you can’t see are my indigo flares, which keep it just the right side of casual. It’s practical, comfortable and smart, so perfect for the office.
I am addicted to this tea right now. Licorice and peppermint are a match made in herbal tea heaven. Just the right amount of sweetness that really hits the spot mid afternoon. I also like it after dinner. And mid morning. Okay, so it’s good anytime of the day. Pukka are my favourite tea brand, the flavours are quite intense but super delicious. Plus the boxes are pretty – ah, such a sucker for packaging!
This is actually what I wore last Friday and granted it’s bright with a captial B. Most people tend to dress down on Friday – it seems to be a thing in offices. I find it a little odd but that’s just me. It also makes me want to ramp it up a bit just to go against the grain….maybe I went too far this time?!
….and that was my week. Hello weekend, I’m ready for ya!
Let’s be honest, dressing for the snow can be a bit of a bitch, particularly when you take into consideration the different stages – light drift, heavy fall, dangerously icy. In my opinion it’s the most difficult weather in which to remain even moderately stylish. Layers are really your only option but I try to keep it as pared down as I possibly can, as I loathe feeling too trussed up.
So when Sunday brought snow with it, I decided to opt for something other than the jeans and jumper I was tempted to throw on (we all have those days!) and instead wear a little vintage skirt that only gets a very rare outing. It’s covered in very long limbed people and reminds me of the Roksanda Ilincic SS 13 collection.
Obviously I’m not entirely mental (skirts in the snow?) and my 200 denier tights kept my legs from turning into blocks of ice, as well as the uber long socks that were a Christmas gift from my Mother – at full length they almost reach my thighs!
Then there’s the green coat. A mainstay of my wardrobe, this green coat has been with me from my University days (i.e. a loooooong time) and even though I don’t wear it very often I like to keep it around in case of whims like these. I love the shade and shape, and it’s amazingly warm, which is kind of a bonus when you’re in the middle of a mild snow storm.
Finally we come to the perennial question of ‘what the heck do I wear on my feet in the snow?!!!’. The answer to which I will always say boots, wellies or, if you are very sensible, those hiking shoe thingy ma jigs – my Husband is one such sensible bod and he rarely falls in the snow/ice. Whilst I do possess a rather wonderful pair of wellies from Seasalt, they are blue and covered in costume clad swimmers, which I thought would be a clash too far for the outfit. Luckily for me, my Sister now lives with us (yay for combined wardrobes!) so I was able to nab her classic black ‘rainboots’ whilst she was out of town – she can’t say nuffin’ because she’s been wearing my purple coat, ha!
Oh, and how could I almost forget to mention my bag…..my new vintage acquisition that cost me a mere two pounds. The bargain mistress continues her reign.
what i’m wearing….coat/topshop….skirt/vintage….sweater/pull and bear….scarf/steven madden(tkmaxx)….hat/forever 21….tights/tabio….socks/avoca….bag/vintage(clocktower market)….mustard gloves/h&m…wellies/borrowed from my Sister, ahem!
I’ve been itching to blog all week. But not about food or clothes. What I want to thrash out on this here space ‘o mine is the fact that I can be a total and utter social nit wit. That is, in many situations that involve, let’s say, other people, I turn into a rambling, babbling, bumbling mess. Or the opposite. Painfully self aware and unable to breathe let alone speak.
Not being able to say what I really mean and articulate myself in the way I know I’m capable of, I find myself, quite honestly floundering and feeling like a fish out of water. Large groups terrify me and even though I’m better one on one, with certain people I am, what can only be described as, a marginal social mess. Filling space with utter crap or stuck for even a single word to offer. Take your pick, I can play both roles with aplomb.
On many levels I consider myself a social pariah and whilst this may not be immediately obvious, if you look a little closer, you’ll soon see how blatantly obvious it is. As an actor I’m reasonably skilled at masking these glaring insecurities but deep down is a girl teetering between excrutiating insecurity and a quiet but shakeable confidence. How so? Well, let’s take a quick look at the details.
Social ineptitude is usually down to feelings of inferiority or thereabouts. We all have a desire to be liked and accepted and in that respect I am no different to everyone else. One of the reasons I keep this blog is a way of forcing myself to be more daring in my self expression. This is the way I would like to be seen but I know it’s not the whole truth.
With my closest friends, I can, of course, totally be myself – mainly silly, chatty, even loud. But only a small group of people ever get to see the whole me (you know who you are!) and I’d like that not to be the case. I want others to know my funny side, my sometimes quick witted humour and my intelligent discussion but I struggle so badly to bring this person out when I most need her.
Instead, I find myself either grasping for words, terrified to utter a word (lest I embarrass myself for life) and with a ‘rabbit in the headlights’ expression on my face. Or! Talking for England and Ireland combined. Talking sheer nonsense I hasten to add – on reflection this probably explains my love for improv…
I really could shake myself sometimes because I know only too well that I am my own worst enemy and this awkwardness needs to be put to bed for good. Determined to lose those ridiculous (and they are ridiculous!) insecurities forever, I am setting out to be more forthcoming and less fearful of being disliked. I mean, if you don’t let people in a little they’ll never have a chance to make their mind up anyway!
So, here I am, open and willing to make a go of it. I’m putting it all up for judgement, critique and we’ll see whether I can use it to my advantage. No doubt I’ll always have a quiet side (who doesn’t?) but I am not going to allow social situations to overwhelm me. And if you don’t like what you see, then I guess we were just not meant to be friends.
All pictures taken from my Instagram account, which you can follow here, should you so wish.
Bread , Breakfast , Desserts/Sweets/Baking , dinner , Mexican , outfits , PeaSoupWears , personal , Starters/Sauces/Dips , Vegan , Vegan Fashion , vegan recipes , vintage
Food and Fashion Highlights 2012
Can you believe today is officially the last day of Christmas. We’ve eeked it out to the bitter end but will reluctantly be taking down the tree and decorations today. Whilst I’m sad to say goodbye to a wonderful holiday I am excited about what the future holds so it seems only too appropriate to look back on what has been another fun year in blogging terms, as well as a pretty eventful year professionally also – I’m one step closer to a full time job in fashion with my new placement at the Financial Times starting next week:)
On the personal front, it’s all about making our flat more ‘us’, saving money so that we might be able to put a deposit down on a property at some point soon and just generally relishing every minute with my Husband and Family because really, when it comes down to it, that’s what makes me happy. Forget burning ambitions and dreams of a successful career, Family and home life will always be my priority. That doesn’t mean I won’t be making music(getting back into my violin playings kids!), learning to dance(laban here I come….) and sharpening my acting skills(i’m thinking a masterclass in method?!) because that’s all happening too. But you can only do those things if you have your priorities straight and I think for once I can safely say I do.
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