last days

Summer. That time of year that we all wait for, long for, yearn for, is almost over. Course, living in the UK, it never really feels like it begun (minus the two-day heat waves). But still, there were some lovely days spent doing lovely things, summery things like reading in the park, sipping ice coffees while strolling through Soho... I even went rowing! Well, I sat in a row boat while someone else rowed...turns out I cannot row, my coordination just simply isn't effective enough for proper oar maneuvering. And now September is 'round the corner and I'm left wondering, 'Is it really time to say so long sweet summer'?

country mouse

Today, I was dressed, and felt a little bit like the country mouse in the city, a bit overwhelmed with annoying transportation, overcrowding, pricey fare and the muggy city air. And then I came home, to my little nook in the city, visited the little window box on the balcony, where our vine has started to flower, thought of my home home in the woods and felt a little bit better.



Now you must know that a town mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. The town mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said, "I cannot understand, cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life." No sooner said than done: The two mice set off for the town and arrived at the town mouse's residence late at night.

"You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite town mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining room. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice. Suddenly they heard growling and barking.

"What is that?" said the country mouse.

"It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other.

"Only," said the country mouse, "I do not like that music at my dinner!" Just at that moment the door flew open; in came two huge mastiffs; and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.

"Good-bye, cousin," said the country mouse.

"What! Going so soon?" said the other.

"Yes," he replied. "Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear."

Summer Satchel

Have you ever had one of those nights where you are online-window-shopping, i.e. adding things into your cart just for the pure pleasure of imagining that you can buy said things, and you are kind of bleary-eyed and all of a sudden find yourself clicking check-out, and then typing in your credit card number and in this automaton state, clicking place order, only to wake up the next morning and realize that you just bought a cart-load of shit you don't need, can't afford and probably don't actually want? Anyone?

Well, this happened very recently on a cybertrip to Topshop.com, where I ended up buying three shirts and a bag without really thinking about it. Buyer's remorse was immediate. But then I received the items. I quickly dismissed the shirts as too expensive for the quality (which I probably already knew) and they are ready to be returned, but the bag. Oh the bag. It's a satchel actually, which is something that has been on my wish list for, oh I dunno, FOREVER. I've been scouring local vintage haunts for ages to no avail, either the ones I found were too big, too small, not the right colour brown...can't complain when you are as picky as I am. Buying this bag on a whim, I fully expected to return it, but now cannot take it off. So, it's not brown, but grey is one of my favorite colours and it is just the right size to sling all my crap around all summer long. I have a love/hate relationship with Topshop, in terms of price, quality and the way they lure me in, but this bag is pure love.

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!]

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.

Death in a pretty dress

So I ventured outside today for a change of scenery. Of course, change of scenery requires change of clothes. And though my life currently consists of wearing a rotating wardrobe of pajama pants and is horribly consumed by reading, when going outside I choose to be horribly consumed by reading in a pretty dress. Ignore the glasses.




It's okay, I'll be alright....just four more finals to go, and then homeward bound to Massachusetts for a couple weeks, followed by a jaunt to the south of France at the beginning of June. Just 12 more days. 12, 12, 12. Shoot me, please.

Funny Face

Blech, I may be the most awkward photo poser ever. I actually am pretty terrible at forced photos, which I suppose is ironic since I submit myself to it on a fairly regular basis. But whenever there are those pictures with a whole bunch of people standing and smiling together, I am always the one with the too-wide-how-long-do-i-have-to-grin grin. Woe is me.

This is that skirt, based on an APC skirt, that my mom made me a while back. I wear it too often, but I love it so much. I have more projects for her when I get home...maybe I should just learn how to sew? Nah, having things mom-made is so much better plus I am a disaster at all things crafty.

My life revolves around you

I know that I talk about the weather a lot, but that's because it pretty much dictates my life: when I go outside, what I wear, my mood...Weather.com should be my homepage. It's not. But it should be. Today's forecast was rainy and warm, while I wanted to avoid the rain, I had to leave the house for errands and so with that mixed bag I threw on my first bare legged outfit of the season, but with boots and jacket to protect from the rain. And sunglasses in case the sun peaks out. I was well prepared as it both rained and was sunny, simultaneously windy and chilly in the morning and warm and sunny in the afternoon. Living in London, I just have to accept that my purse is my mini-closet and layers come on and off throughout the day. But hey, no tights!

Cousin It in Knee socks

My bangs are out of control. But I am absolutely terrible at trimming them, and so I let them grow until my vision is almost obscured...then I take my scissors to them haphazardly, but only enough so I can see (for fear too short, too crooked will be the result of any further cutting). Which means that in a week, I will be visually-impaired again.

Oh, and by the by, I finally made it outside of my apartment this week, only to be greeted with gray, cold and rain. I refused to wear tights though, not in mid-April! So knee socks, which I've owned for quite some time, but never wear, were my only option. One small step towards bare legs...

sometimes Bullets are all that will do

This outfit incorporates all of my favorite things at the moment, to be told in bullet form to avoid run-on sentences (I'm feeling a bit long-winded today, and apologize in advance):

• My white rabbit brooch: nicknamed so because it reminds of the White Rabbit, who constantly has to check the time, and while my boyfriend has his signature pocket watch, I have my brooch.
  
• My new secondhand striped dress: my newest etsy purchase acquired from one of the loveliest sellers out there, Harbour District Vintage
  
• My secondhand Laredos that have been patiently waiting in a box back in Massachusetts since I bought them in February off of eBay for $10. It took me a while to convince my mother to send heavy boots all the way to London (something the seller would not do) but she caved and even threw in a whole ziploc bag of Splenda (my white stuff). I've been wearing them nonstop since getting them last week. (ps. I have to thank one of my favorite bloggers, Ringo, for posting on her own search for Justin Roper boots a bit ago...I only had an idea of what I wanted but didn't know any brands to search for, and had been constantly searching for "toe-fringe boots", which didn't end up too well. A week after her post, I found my boots! Although I didn't end up with Justins, I am very happy with my find)
• Last but not least, my floppy hat! Something that I wear constantly inside, a little too afraid to wear outside, but venture outside I did (if only for a moment, the wind, made it impossible to wear).
  

Phew! That was quite the outfit round-up! A little exhausting (and exhaustive) but there you go...