A Curious Paper Breakfast

Images from Alexis Facca 

Every morning, my usual routine is to write a blog post with a French press of coffee by my side and then go and get myself some breakfast before I head out the door. I normally also have to ignore the squeeling meows of my cat wanting to be let into the bedroom to sit on my husband. I really love breakfast- it is by far my favourite meal of the day (weekend brunches and breakfasts are the best!). How cool is this paper breakfast by Alexis Facca? I really love the tomatoes for some reason (and I wish I could eat chocolate and doughnuts for breakfast every day!). You can check out some great prints by Alexis in her shop, Paper Donut.

Paris in Colour

Images here c/o Paris 1914

Not that I need too much encouragement, but this time of year and the gloomy, wet, cold January days have me thinking about booking holidays, trips and all manner of exciting things. Well things that are more exciting than January, anyway. Paris is always high on my list- I just can never get enough of that city! (As you probably know, this blog borders on an I Love Paris! blog a lot of the time).

I came across these incredible colour photographs of Paris from the early 1900s, taken by Auguste and Louis Lumière who patented the early method of colour photography, Autochrome Lumière,  Somehow, seeing things in colour makes the past seem so much more real (I hope it's not just me!). I love seeing all of the bright colours and bustling life. I think they're absolutely fascinating, especially looking at the scenes that have barely changed. Now I just need to book that Eurostar ticket..

Happy Sunday

 

Happy Sunday! I just love Sunday mornings, especially when there is amazing tennis on! (Go Murray!). But I love them anyway- lazy breakfasts are always a highlight. How has your weekend been so far? Mine has been pretty good- tennis, reflexology and we're going to go and see Lincoln later (can't wait!).

 

Here are some fun links for a happy Sunday- cute ponies, coffee and a scanned kitten included.

Scottish ponies wearing jumpers. Jumpers!

Beautiful street art.

This is a super cute photo- a cat on a scanner.

A lovely gold leaf ring.

Do you really love coffee? I do. Visit here!

A tiny, triangular cabin. Awesome.

 

What would you wear to an interview with Anna Wintour?

 

I really, really love these amazing photos of Wales.

 

These people love Sundays too.

More Love Letters, Please.

Images from More Love Letters

When was the last time you got a genuine, hand written love letter? Can you even remember? There is nothing more exciting and smile inducing than getting a hand written letter through the post. Getting a hand written love letter is even better, but probably pretty rare (unless you're that Juliet).

I love handwritten notes. I leave them for people all the time- on scraps of paper, receipts, Post-Its in the office. Even a note from my colleague today saying 'I owe you one red bush tea bag' made my day- because it was handwritten, accompanied by a drawing of a tea bag.

That's why I love the project More Love Letters so much. Existing purely to send handwritten love letters to people that need one and ask for one, the project is absolutely fantastic. If you want to get involved and send out some lovely love letters into the world, you can find out more here. There is also a fantastic TED talk by founder Hannah Brencher which I really recommend. (I could write a love letter to TED talks, actually).

Would you consider sending some love letters? What would you write to a complete stranger? I love the examples on the site- more laughter, more sunshine, more fun.

Paper Subway

Images from Upon A Fold

When my husband and I went to New York in the summer, we had what I refer to now as the 'subway incident'. We were separated by a (very quick) sliding door on the carriage and off he went to our destination, with me standing on the platform. Only I hadn't really been paying attention so I didn't know where the next destination was. I dutifully got off at the next station, only to find that hewas not there. Panic ensued (I was sleep deprived, wihtout a map and starting to feel like I was in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, although not as calm as Kevin). A sweaty, argumentative half hour followed (NYC in August!), trying to get in touch with the text messages delayed from going up and down to the subway stations. Obviously we got back together at the corner of some street and all was happily ever after (after the argument that ensued stomping through the streets). But lesson learned- pay attention to where you're supposed to be going.

I don't blame the subway though. (I blame my husband. Joke!). I love public transport! So these paper subways from Upon A Fold are totally up my street. And bonus- you won't get lost in the process!

Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday! We are having a truly lazy snowy weekend here- hot drinks, hot food and films all the way. It's sometimes nice to be forced to stay in and just do nothing. As I type, more snow is starting to fall, so I think the snow induced laziness will continue. Hope you're having a good weekend! If you're trapped in like us, check out these fun links from around the web this week- skinny jeans, heart rings, fancy wellies and free downloads included.

Do you love skinny jeans?

Could (or would you want to) buy only British just for one year?

This painting makes me want to go on a road trip immediately!

It's bad for you and I constantly try and give it up. But Diet Coke turns 30 this year!

A really useful photography cheat sheet.

I have never heard anything as ridiculous as this.

I want to buy this ring as a Valentine's present for myself.

Some fancy wellies (perfect for snowy, slushy weather!).

Some beautiful desktops for you to download.

Twins

Images from Julie de Waroquier

 

It's Friday! It looks as though the weather forecast was actually correct- we're getting a lot of snow here today and over the weekend, which means a snow day for me today and lots of snow days ahead for my new red patent wellies. I am really happy to be getting back into the Friday Photography feature- there are so many amazing photographers out there. Have you seen this Chimeras project? It is a series of portraits by photographer Julie de Waroquierof twins from all ages and all backgrounds. I find it really fascinating. As Julie says, there is something quite magical about twins.

Film Pictograms

Images from Viktor Hertz

Brrr, it's cold! And it's only going to get colder in my part of the world apparently- lots of snow is forecast for the weekend. Annoying as that is, I hope it will mean good things like lots of time inside catching up on various films and reading books. I am really into catching up on old, classic films lately (I am slowly working my way through the Audrey Hepburn collection). Do you love catching up on classic films?

As I am in such a film watching mood, I really love these pictograms of film posters from Viktor Hertz. I love the simple yet totally spot on representation of each one, brilliant!



Feathers, A Lion And A Bear

Images from Ana Teresa Barboza

 

Wow it's a freezing cold Wednesday here (minus 8 apparently)! I am drinking hot tea around the clock at work (and I don't like tea that much), wearing double socks and having to defrost my car door just to open it every morning (that is a particularly great start to every day). How is the weather for everyone else?

 

This cold weather totally makes me want to stay inside in cosy pyjamas and look at lovely things on the internet all day. Fantastic, gorgeous things like these works of art from Ana Teresa Barboza. Her work combines textiles and drawings to create these stunning pieces. The embroidery detail is absolutely incredible- I especially love the feathers. Some people are so talented!

Happy Sunday

Image from Alec Soth

Happy Sunday! This morning I woke up at 5.30am, so I just got up. It's really strange to be up that early on a Sunday for no reason, but, fortified with hot coffee, I loved being able to watch the world around me wake up. It's frosty and slighly snowy here- winter has finally arrived! Snow always makes me want to be trapped in a warm, isolated cabin with a woodburner, a stack of books and magazines and lots of blankets. I can dream!

 

Hope you're all having a great weekend- here are some lovely links.

Totally dreamy lookbook video from Cardigan New York

This is an amazing photo stream full of beautiful polaroids!

A beautiful nectarine cake

This is a really amazing project- a church covered in graffiti

I love this photo of a moment captured on the tube

Cats by Andy Warhol

A interesting (honestly!) look at the world's best metro systems

A private moon

This cocktail looks so delicious

Tube At 150

Images from Stickers on the Central Line

Today is the London Tube's 150th birthday! Whenever I visit London, I love using the tube (I realise that I am regular visitor but not a regular commuter, so my opinion might be different to people that have to use it every day!). I am always fascinated by the people watching, the line interchanges and just the general business and buzz of the place. It's pretty different from anything in my home town! What are your experiences of the tube? Do you love or hate it?

To celebrate, I wanted to post about these fantastic guerilla stickers that have been popping up on the central line. I really love the reserved seat sticker in particular. It would certainly add a bit of sophistication to a regular journey!

Feathers

Images from Anna Tovar

 

I am seeing feathers everywhere lately. They are on the ground, stuck in the windscreen wipers on my car, in beautiful art prints and on clothes and jewellery. I actually bought my friend a lovely silver feather necklace before she went travelling that I wish I kept for myself now (joke!). I really love the simplicity and beauty of a single feather. Artist Anna Tovar has created these beautiful feather prints in simple block colours. I really love them. Nature creates the most amazing shapes and silhouettes.

Total Cat Lady

 Images from Teaspoon Studio and here.

How is it the first Monday in January already?! I have to admit, although I am usually an earlybird, getting up for work this morning was tough! How is your week looking? I reckon I will just be happy to get up on the alarm this week. It is good to be back in a proper routine though!

I am a total cat lady. We have two and my family have always had cats. Cats make even a gloomy, wet, cold Monday in January bearable (most of the time!). I can't resist cat prints and vintage cat photos. Although I really don't think either of my two would be happy being put on the end of a lead...

Woah, 2013.

So, it's 2013. How did that happen? I realise I am pretty behind on the whole new year/ resolutions thing, but I have been enjoying some fantastic time off work and that means I have also been enjoying some fantastic time away from the internet. Sometimes you need that break.

Anyway, so 2012 was a pretty awesome year. I went to Paris, New York and London and so any year that involves all that is definitely pretty good! With regards to my 2012 goals, some I achieved (see: seeing friends, making an effort to visit more of the UK and carry on blogging and learning more about photography). Some I didn't, like learning to knit. I just do not understand it. Also, visiting the amazing places above pretty much battered my save, save, save goal.

So, on to 2013. This year I am 30. Woah. So, I have lots of plans that I am really determined to see through to completion. I have all the usual goals of everyone else including be healthy, more active, save money blah blah, but the below are also my top goals! Some fun, some harder, some totally frivolous. What are your aims for the year ahead?

Image from here

 

This might seem a frivolous resolution, but it's also pretty easy to accomplish. I want to wear red lipstick more often. I love it but I am lazy and quite self conscious about it. Mastering red lipstick seems like a fun thing to get right.

Image from Jennifer Allevato

 

I want to continue learning more about and getting better at my passions- marketing, travelling to cities, photography, starting a business. Learning never gets old.

Image from here

 

I am guilty of always looking forward to the next big thing. The next trip, night out, big occasion etc. So, I want to specifically focus on enjoying the small stuff each day and investing in these moments. I want to spend time and money on the small, every day things. Stuff like investing in great coffee, super music, fun lunches with friends and the petrol money needed to get to the beach.

 

Image from Anney Hall

 

Stop procrastinating. Seriously I am the best procrastinator in the world.  I always have been. I love putting stuff off until that stressful, panic, crazy filled deadline. Well, I don't really. It drives me mad so I really want to change this (let's ignore the fact that this post was supposed to be up yesterday).

 

 Image from Calm Gallery

 

Continue to be more creative. Things like learning more about photography, trying out a new recipe, taking a sketchbook everywhere, drawing on an envelope before I send it. Just the little, creative stuff that adds the colour into life. I might even try knitting again.

 

Image from Time Out

 

Pizza is my all time favourite food. Luckily it's my husband's too. A great margherita and a good glass of red wine and I am in heaven. We went on Scott's Pizza Tour and it was amazing. So, I want to learn to make amazing pizza at home. Well, as well as I can without a 100 year massive pizza oven in my house.