My New Fave Magnets

The best tool I have come across in a while - is www.mattfacer.com/fridge an application that lets you send friends and family a magnet message in those cute retro alphabets!

Just drag your letters across and enter their email, then imagine the smile on their face - easy!

So I sent my first fridge message to my boyfriend - (Above) - My favourite quote from The Notebook, of course, and went all girly mushy when I got a reply a day later.... aaaaaw

Sometimes its the silly little things in life that make you smile. I certainly recommend it!

xx

The sweetest smell

When the boyf and I stayed with my family in LA last month, after 12 days my Cousin came into our room, took a deep breath, smiled and says 'man, it smells of England in here'.

Rather hesitatantly I asked what exactly 'England' smelled like (please don't say booze, fags, beef and tea) but she paused and said.....

'Soap. Soap and Primroses'.

I thought that was super sweet.

So what did California smell like to our English noses?

'Oranges. Oranges and freshly mown grass.'

What does your part of the world smell like?

xx

Images: We heart it / Smitten photography via weheartit

Making a CAMEO appearance

One thing I wish I had done is get my silhouette portait done which was on offer at Disneyland in California. I love this kind of art and the pretty frames they come in, but alas the queue was too long - but since I returned to the UK cameo designs are appearing everywhere I look!

I'm taking it as a sign and adding some of these cherry pickings to my Christmas List....

Topshop Cameo Skirt

Etsy - Custom silhouette pendant

Etsy - Custom family Portraits

Etsy - Freehand leaf silhouette art

Etsy - Personalised pillow cases

Etsy - Custom portrait with graphic ornate frame

Lulu Guiness - Cameo Umbrella

Etsy - Portrait collection of plates

One for the weekend - can you see the man in these coffee beans?

I was sent this in an email this week - and it's seriously crazy!!

Look at the image above - and I promise this is true - there is a man amidst those coffee beans.

Once you spot him you be like ' oh yeaaaaahhhh???!!!!' and realise how obvious he was, but your brain will not let you find him easily - it's bizarre. Apparently...

Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people.

If you find the man between 3 seconds - 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally.

If you find the man between 1 minute - 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein.

If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!!!

And, yes, the man is really there!!!

Have a good weekend

xx

(ps - I don't know where this mail originated , so haven't credited it - if ya know, gimmee' a shout y'all!)

The Phantom Returns

I heard today that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written a sequel to the brilliant Phantom of The Opera.

It is set in New York in 1907 - 10 years on from where the last play finished, following the life of the Phantom and his continuing love for Christine.

It is called 'Love Never Dies' and shows in London from March 2010.

I am a huge fan of Phantom - the music, the passion, the storyline, the stage and screen versions take my breath away.

I wonder how the sequel will turn out, considering Phantom is the biggest selling West End show of all time. But Lloyd Webber is a genius so if anyone can do it, I guess he can?!!

We shall have to see.....

Christine: "But his voice filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound. In that night there was music in my mind. And through music my soul began to soar! And I heard as I'd never heard before."
Raoul: "What you heard was a dream and nothing more."
Christine: "Yet in his eyes, all the sadness of the world. Those pleading eyes, that both threaten and adore..."

Anthropolgie, how I love thee, let me count the ways...

Whilst in America I totally fell in love with the store Anthropologie - I had seen it online and on various blogs but being in the shops themselves are such a delight.

On my last day in LA I approached the counter to purchase my final treasured find from my new fave shop, with a sad little face, when I was told by the lovely sales assistant that their first store is opening in London next month!!!

woo0 hooooooo (cue Chandler Bing style victory dance)

Here are some of my absolute fave offerings in the meantime - are you a fan too?!

Three-Star Apron

Paint by Numbers Dessert Plate

Carrowmore Cape

Open Wing Heels

Flamenco Shower Curtain

Cirrus Duvet

Aged Zinnia Knob

'Til next month Anthropologie !!

xx

English Girl in LA Part 2

3. A dream come true – a trip to Disneyland.

As a Disney princess enthusiast in my childhood, I always dreamed of visiting the land of fantasy, so at last my hunger for fairytale thrills was satisfied. The atmosphere was awesome, plus Sleeping Beauty told me I was pretty so she is now on my Christmas card list.

4. Who can resist a celebrity wax work, eh!?

With my other half having never visited a Madame Tussauds (whaaaaat!!???) I dragged him out of the blistering Hollywood Heat and into a world of clever celebrity imitation. Well it’s the closest I will get to Brad Pitt any time soon.

5. Born to Shop

I cannot tell a lie, the shopping in LA is supreme. The Grove was delightful, the farmers market smelled divine, Hello Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and my new fave Anthropologie. Adore Bettie Page, Forever 21, American Eagle, and oh my….the Vintage stores, antique stores, even the tacky souvenir shops have a charm of their own!

6. Let’s go Universal

Universal studios gave me an interesting insight behind the scenes of some of my fave movies. Seeing the sets and learning the tricks of the trade was so fun, I was proud to be a snap happy tourist! Though I do NOT recommend the house of horrors. I am still trying to get over it. No, seriously.

See you next year LA! xx

English Girl in LA Part 1

It's official. 12 days in Los Angeles is just not enough!

I loved it. I loved the weather, the friendly people, the pretty houses, the boutiques, the sunsets and the bars. I stayed with family I had never met and had an absolute blast - it was hard to return to the UK!

So what where the best bits?!! Where to start....

1. Take me to the Ball Game

My first ever Baseball game, I watched the LA Angels at their incredible stadium, complete with Friday night fireworks to end the night with a bang. The atmosphere was amazing and I finally learnt the rules whilst sipping on a beer and chomping on a hot dog.

2. Cupcake Heaven


A visit to the oh-so-delicious Yummy Cupcakes on Magnolia Blvd, Burbank. Mouth watering cinnamon, vanilla, red velvet, peanut, chocolate - the list goes on. The box was big. They didn't last long.

3. That's Hollywood


The star lined streets, vintage stores, tattoo parlours, fictional characters and famous faces were just like I imagined, having only ever seen it on TV. Placing my hands in Marilyn Monroe's imprints made me smile and even the crazy folk on the corners were inspirational!

xx