Summer at (a) Shoreditch House

The tube has regained its festering stench of human sweat, red sunburnt shoulder straps accessorize every girl's attire, beers are acceptable at mid-day, and nights extend with no coats required. Summer has hit London, by all account for 3 days only, but that is sufficient time for all of the above.

Londoners go crazy for outside space, to place their bodies into the direction of sunlight; parks, gardens, balconies, roof terraces...we will queue for these things and sit sandwiched like sardines, still believing that our spirits are extra high because we're outside and its summer! Becky, Katherine and I balanced ourselves on our 'balconette' for a bottle of wine and a vodka spritzer. Perhaps a little less glam that the barbecued lobsters of Boundary and the swimming pool of Shoreditch House...perhaps a little more chance of falling off a roof, but equally as pleasant for an evening.

Blueberry Fairy Cakes

Yum! I made some blueberry fairy cakes the other day. I am a self-confessed terribly cook who has been known to poison the breathe unsuspecting flatmates with potent garlic rich humous, however I am a confident baker!

I used a traditional fairy cake recipe, googled from here, and spiced it up with fresh blueberries at the base and a blueberry blitzed icing topping. I am a bit of a cake connoisseur, and was thinking of starting a regular cupcake feature, in which I try and test the bakeries of London. Would this be of interest to anyone?

Christelle's New Do

On Saturday I met Christelle and did I double take when I saw her new hair style! She had text me when she had it cut but wow, I was amazed when I saw the above! Bluntly cut, the fringe circumnavigates the face, highlighting her bone structure. It is so contemporary that I felt like a dowdy aged one standing next to her with my long naturally boring brown hair. My first exclamation is that it reminds me exactly of the YSL A/W 08 styling (see picture below), a look I fell in love with but was destined to remain unacquainted with due to a round moon face with chubby cheeks.


After exclaiming my adoration for the style for several minutes, we went for a splendid mezze in a darkened tea room and enjoyed the most delicious halloumi.

Nail Girls Islington

Regular readers will have noticed that I have become something of a nail nut. Without a slick of polish on my hands I literally feel naked, ashamed and disgusted at the very sight of my own bare nails. I have a bag full of various colours and brands, and now have a new favourite to help me get my nail fix.

I was invited to the Nail Girls salon in Islington to view the new spring/summer '10 collection; the four colours above are striking in the glassy bottled flesh, and quite unlike anything I have seen within other nail brands. The salon was set up by two sisters, and excitingly they devlop the colours and formulas of the polishes themselves.

Talking to Lynda-Lousie, I was a frenzy of naily questions, and was very interested to learn that she bases the colours each season on the catwalk collections rather than observing other cosmetics brands. This way the shades are new, unique and desirable every single season. Browsing the shelves of the salon I was really impressed with the range of colours accumulated...from the palest of pink nudes, to flouro pinks, vibrant blues and shimmering metallics, every base is covered. There is even a matte collection for those who desire edgy frosted nails. The real test however, is the polish staying power. The proof of the pudding really is in the chipping. I was treated to a manicure during which I choose matte black polish. 4 days later? Perfect. Totally perfect. This is very unusual with black polish, and I am mightily impressed. I think it actually steals the non-chipping crown from OPI, and price per bottle it is less for a higher volume!