saturday goodies

Woke up early this morning to a completely blue sky - a rare thing in February in London. Although feeling a bit under the weather, I was determined to shirk academic responsibility, ignore my sniffly nose and fuzzy head and go outside. So I went for a stroll to buy stamps, which led to a tube ride, which led to another stroll which lead to cupcakes. What can I say...it was a happy accident? Anyway, when in the convenience store to get stamps, I spied the new Lula (issue #10) which I didn't even know was out, as well as Apartmento issue #4. Those being quickly snapped up, my fuzzy head began to feel fuzzier and so I headed home. Now I lay in bed, a little worse for wear, prepared to nap. But when I awake, I'll have a Red Velvet cupcake and some good reading to keep me company as I battle what feels like the beginnings of the flu. Work will have to wait until tomorrow. Happy Saturday!

ps. The cupcakes are from Hummingbird bakery. They just opened a branch in Soho which is very good in terms of accessibility (no longer a 35 minute trip for cupcakes!) but very bad in terms of health. Today, we got Red Velvet (a classic) and Malt Chocolate, which has Maltesers on top, making it ten times more appealing since they are my absolute favorite. It's almost too good to be true... I want to savour this moment.

It's Cold...

so cold that my flight back to London was canceled. C'est la effin' vie.

small comforts

I think I might be under house arrest. Informally, of course, but the combination of fucking cold rainy weather and the burden of deadlines has made venturing outside a rare occasion. But there are little things, small indulgences that are getting me through the increasingly shorter days. I'll make it through by staring idly at my new you-study-so-hard-you-deserve-them boots, consuming dubious amounts of coffee and homemade fudge (that travelled all the way across the Atlantic just for me), and adding some Christmas cheer to the house in the form of a mini poinsettia, the lovely poisonous plant of the holiday season. No cabin fever here...as long as I don't confuse the flower for the fudge, I'll be all set.

By the Sea, part deux

Another round of photos from me holiday...

Spent the majority of the time in Nice, reading and sunning on its pebbled shores, and during the evenings getting lost (actually) in the Old City, with its tiny winding streets, and tall beige buildings. It was ridiculously picturesque and only slightly frustrating. And the food, oh my goodness, the food. I don't think I have ever eaten that much pasta in my life, and I love pasta. I didn't realize that there would be so much Italian food, but I guess it used to be under Roman influence and didn't actually become a part of France until the late 19th century. I loved Nice so much, and definitely could have a little beachside apartment there one day. Hmmm.

We also had a couple of day trips to Monaco, to see how the rich live and Cannes, to see where the rich play and show their films. Both were beautiful but Monaco was a bit expensive and Cannes was a bit windy and not too different from Nice. Still, I am happy to have seen both and I can now check them off my list. Nice is still my favorite of all though, perhaps because that's where we came upon a really really freakin' gigantic palm tree. The tallest that I ever did stand beside and that was pretty darn cool.

By the Sea, part one

Here are some photos from Marseilles, where we spent the first couples days of our trip. We had a (cheap!) hotel with an amazing view of the sea, and spent our time there mostly wandering through the Vieux Port and oohing at the ridiculously blue sea. We took a ferry to the Chateau D'If, where part of Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo is set. It's kind of funny to visit an actual historical site because of fictional characters, but at least it gets people going there, I guess. I love history, majored in it in university, and so love visiting old forts/prisons/castles, etc merely for the fact that there is so much history within the walls. It blows my mind to think of all the events that have occurred in the past all leading to what is going on now....Anyway, all geekiness aside, it was fun start to the trip. I'll post a few more photos tomorrow of Nice, Cannes and Monaco, the other places my fella and I visited.

goodbye home

I found this shirt the day before I left London, and bought it on a whim solely because of the colour - it's kind of like that Rachel Comey tank that I was coveting (though mine photographs less yellow and more green than it actually is) plus it's slightly oversized so drapes wonderfully. The perfect comfy tee for a 7 hour flight.As for this hat...I bought it when I lived on Chappaquiddick (Martha's Vineyard) the summer after my senior year of college (2007). It was quite pricey, a real Panama hat made in Panama, but worth it because once I bought it, I didn't take it off the rest of the summer. When I got back from the island, I was moving to London, so left it home in my closet, where it has been sadly waiting, losing its shape, to be worn again. I think I'll be taking it back with me though my suitcase is already stuffed to the brim.
Today is one of those days where you wish time would stand still. The weather is perfect, and being home amongst the woods and the quiet, everything feels so serene. I can walk around outside barefoot and fancy-free. So while I should be packing, I prefer to sit on our porch swing and just listen to the quiet surroundings that I will soon be leaving. Goodbye home, I shall miss you.

[Sidenote: Within the next few days I'll be flying back to London, then taking the train to Marseilles and won't be back until June 9th, so the blog will be lying dormant until then. À bientôt!]

10 Again

So, in the last week that I've been home I have been taken for a 16 year old about, oh, 7 or 8 times. Which is quite usual, seven years off, but usual. Indeed, it's not as bad as the time when I went to Chili's with my family, and at the time my younger sister was 9 and I was 20, (note the 11 year difference, accidents happen, lalala), and the waitress asked if we would like two children menus...as in children menus that are intended for 12 and under. Uh, no thanks.

Anyway, today was another dreary wet day in Mass (must the rain follow me?), so there wasn't much else to do other than indulge in childish activities. For me that meant gorging on donuts and coffee while making friendship bracelets...er, but selfishly not for friends, but for myself. Or maybe not so selfish since I haven't done such a thing since I was a wee lass and there was a lot of cursing, mistakes and deknotting involved...many hours, a dozen powdered donuts and many Law and Order episodes later...I completed two whole bracelets, one thin and one not-so-thin. Woo hoo. They will now be permanently afixed to my wrist as proud badges of honor...though I suppose this will only encourage rather than dissuade the age-guessing. Alas, alack, I guess my inner child shall have to shine through a little longer.






Ps. See the ring on my middle finger? Got that in Maine at a Native American Jewelry Store. I loved the design so much and got it despite the fact that it is of Kokopelli, whom I was told, is a god of fertility and music. I choose to focus on the latter.

State of Maine

My weekend in Maine was a tad chilly and cloudy with a little bit of rain but still a jolly ol' time. While whale watching, kayaking and sailing were all on the 'to-do' list, my ever disorganized family didn't get around to any of it and spent most of the time exploring the Acadia National Park, eating tons of blueberry-filled foods and enjoying the sea air. The salty smell of the ocean is perhaps one of my favorite smells in the whole wide world. Although the water was too cold to go in to, and the sun refused to shine, it was still a lovely family getaway, with only a little bit of bickering, lots of seafood and gorgeous surroundings.

"i'm twenty-three now but will i live to see twenty-four, the way things is going, i dunno"

This is what 23 looks like:

Yesterday was my birthday. The big 2-3. I spent it studying, woot. So it wasn't a very exciting day, but I did get surprised with the best cake ever:

Red Velvet!!! I died a little bit inside with every bite. And that's a good thing.

And now back to studying. Boo.

Flowers & Pineapple

This was sitting on my kitchen table today and I had the urge to snap it. I bought a pineapple recently in celebration of the sunny weather we've been having. Now time to chop it.

jaunting down the road

I was in New York last weekend to visit friends. I ate loads, saw Harry Potter's dinky and got lost in Brooklyn. 'Twas fun. Except for the getting lost which was ridiculously frustrating. Going back to London on Saturday...maybe then, I'll be a good little blogger once more.

Meatballs & Polar Bears

It's my reading week (fall break), meaning I should be reading and writing up a storm. Rather, I decided that it was imperative that I reorganize my closet (sort of) and had to get to Ikea to buy a) a clothing rack, b) my new favorite lamp, the LJUSÅS SALBO and c) the warmest blanket that will not leave my side this winter. (oh and tea light candles).

It was a Scandinavian day to say the least... not only because of the delish Swedish meatballs and diy furniture but also...


Although I returned that Peter Jensen fox sweater, I managed to find a more suitable replacement, at a (slightly) more affordable price tag from the Danish designer. I have been wearing this sweater for like 4 days in a row. While the fox sweater holds a special place in my heart, I knew deep down that it fit me funny and was slightly off, and was an unwise (i.e. "daniela, you could not afford it why did you buy it") purchase...but now my mild depression over the lack of an animal-sweater has been tempered. It shall be an heirloom. So I declare it, so it shall be.

I heart you Scandinavia for yummy food, assemble-able furniture and cozy knits. (And so much more...)

Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig.

I'm going home today. Home being a little yellow house in a little town a little ways away from Boston. Three weeks of sun (please!), mosquitos (oof!) and mom's cooking (yum!). Course, before actually being home, I have to travel to get there. This involves an hour tube ride to Heathrow, 2 hours at the dreaded airport (where I am currently typing) and then getting on a plane for 7 hours. Fun.

Generally, when traveling, my "airplane clothes" consist of a lot of dresses and a lot of american apparel, for the sheer comfort of their clothes. This time however, I am jumping off the plane and going straight to a fancy dinner since my grandma also is in town...so, I had to skip the formula and try to tackle the task of wearing something comfy, yet would make me look impossible fresh after hours on a plane.

My solution:

1. Comfort & prettiness: a flowy, non -constricting dress. Slip on boots, to make security a tad easier.2. Knee socks, so that when I get on the plane and the cold inevitably sets in, I can merely pull 'em up to keep me warm. When I arrive in 80 degree Boston, down again they go.


3. Scarf and cardigan, again to battle the cold plane and yet easily removable to put in my carry-on when necessary.
4. Last, but certainly not least: the two most essential things. I could never get on a plane without my passport, and more importantly, chapstick!


And, coincidentally, my plane is now boarding, so cheerio!