is it hot in here?

if fernando torres was running towards me like this...

... I really wouldn't say no... *drooool*

my buddy Jimmy

once in a while, i stumble upon something which hasn't really peaked my interest in the past and suddenly, as though someone has just flicked the switch, i loooove it. most times it's within reach, sometimes it's just a little stretch (like the soon-to-be-mine Rado), but sometimes, like right now, it's a wee bit beyond my current budget.

today, i spent a lazy afternoon surfing the website of none other than the. most. amazing. shoe. designer. in. the. world. Mr Jimmy Choo. Whyyyy did I do that?? I've just made my life so painful, knowing that his shoes start from £300 (probably on sale!). Realistically, sure I could treat myself to a pair, but which one? The torture of choice would be too much to bear. I want at least 3 pairs that I can see. Or maybe 4. Or more.

Dammit.

A little fact that made my buddy Jimmy appeal more to me is that he's a little (albeit filthy rich) Malaysian man! Now seriously y'all, who woulda ever thought a Malaysian man could have so much style!

pay day

i *heart* pay day...

revival of the breakunch

Once upon a time, a smart cookie, one who did not major in english, came up with the ingenious idea of a breakunch ~ that is, the meal between breakfast and lunch *duH* This smart cookie is Mel C (sadly, no longer an avid blogger).

Each weekend, Mel C and friends would venture out in search of culinary delights to tentalise the breakfast belly, and unashamingly she would Take Photos Of Her Food - which apparently is a nono in the whiteman's world, but we can be friends!

Well, our foodie passions have now joined forces and we've reinstated the breakunch, starting today at The Providores Tapa Room, Marylebone High Street.










[Hot-smoked salmon, two poached eggs and spinach on walnut toast with yuzu hollandaise and French toast stuffed with banana and pecans with grilled smoked streaky bacon and vanilla verjus syrup]










[Kiwifruit, grape, melon, Jackfruit and pineapple fruit salad with vanilla poached figs and the french toast sans bacon]

The verdict? After a 15 minute wait to be seated in this rather bustling restaurant, the food was above average, but definitely not orgasmic. The fancy eggs benedict could have done with some smoked salmon as opposed to what turned out to be cooked salmon; the french toast was mouth wateringly yum, packed with banana and pecan as promised, with just the right amount of syrup; and the fruit salad, while receiving a neutral response from others, rated highly with me because, man, do I miss jackfruit!

Doing the Karen Cheng

So I’ve been known to take a photo of myself now and then, mostly reverse shots, and a handful with the assistance of some reflective surface. Panu hates this. He usually rolls his eyes, oooozing thoughts of “you are so vain” without actually saying it. Oh wait, actually no, he does tell me I’m vain. Well, my reason is that if I purely took photos of scenery, there would be no proof I was actually there! Right?

Anyway, I digress.

What I didn’t realise is that I am not alone in my vanity! There are in fact much worse cases than me! Karen Cheng has turned the art of self photography not only into a hobby but created a bona fide following, and a Facebook group – a collection of photos that showcase a multitude of ideas, fashion and artistic flair!

Karen I think you should copyright the term “Doing the Karen Cheng” because it is going to make you money one day!

sex and the city

Where do I start? I watched Sex and the City days ago but it’s taken me this long to gather my thoughts about it. Not just because I want to be careful to not reveal the plot for anybody, but also because the movie stirred in me so many feelings that I can’t really put my finger on what or why, but all I know is that I loved it.

I don’t think I’ve cried this much in a movie since Mufasa died in The Lion King (ok, honestly, you all cried too) and we’re not just talking about damp eyes. We’re talking free flow, so much so that I had to go incognito (bless the big sunnies!) all the way home from Wimbledon because I was pretty much wearing my mascara on my face. Incidentally, my pea-sized bladder almost caused me to miss the most heartbreaking moment in the movie, but thanks also to my profound skill at speed-peeing, the moment was saved.

The movie is filled with moments ~ moments that identify with every woman out there (hence the show’s mind numbing success), moments that we have loved for the better part of 10 years. The characters feel familiar, and it goes without saying that the fashion is phenomenal. To me there is one particular moment, or storyline rather, which hit home and brought back some truly buried emotions. I love a movie that can do this – to make us laugh, to be scandalous, to make us fashion envious… and at the same time to show us that even people who live in dream worlds are only humans.

One more thing though, was there actually enough sex in the movie?

a good Sunday

its 8.45pm and I am sitting here sat-is-fied. it's been one of those days where you actually look at life and realise it's not always big and scary. there are days when you do feel blessed and actually happy to be breathing the air around you, albeit London air... but! today is not about whinging.

we got up at 9am, surprisingly fit and fighting after several tequila shots and cocktails at Tammy & Owen's farewell last night. the sun was shining (no I'm not being a comedian) and it was warm. I realise that when I say "warm" these days, I could be referring to all of 18 degrees... but today was 26. 26! tanktop, skirt and flipflops on, we headed out for breakfast at Paul. After a chausson pommes and tea, Panu headed home to study and I headed off on the big Handbag Hunt.

Handbags. those who know me know I've never really been into handbags. I use something that looks ok to me, is practical and not too pricey. My heart never skipped a beat at the first sight of the latest LV, for example, and I sure never missed any sleep over not having one. But recent days have had me thinking that as I creep up on the big three-oh, do I need a more serious handbag?

well, the short answer is yes. and it doesn't help that since being in London, I've suffered from handbag envy at the mercy of my friends who have been to Italy and come back with beautiful arm candy (not of the male variety). I'm still waiting for my own trip to the land of gorgeous handbags to commit to something uber stylish, so in the mean time I decided to hit Selfridges & Co and buy myself a beautiful but afforable handbag.

My new baby? a DKNY Town & Country Shoulder Tote. OoOoooo I loooove it!

and what else could possibly make my day better? how about a pair of shoes! *nod nod* meandering around Topshop supposedly looking for a belt, i accidentally wandered into the Shoe Lounge and *oops* bought a new pair of the cutest Mary Janes. Basking in the glow of my new accessories, i then accidentally fell into Nails Inc. and into a pedicure *double oops!*

shopping is hard work. 2pm and I am starving! but oh, how uncool to dine alone. With one phone call, my well behaved boyfriend is once again at my side, enjoying lunch on Carnaby Street's C'est Ici, where I had the most delicious smoothie ever ~ Melon Elixir ~ who knows what's in it... who cares??

after lunch I was genuinely tired, so we wandered home slowly... for a siesta.

who could complain?