Starla(dear).

this week.

2011-05-02T21:43:00.007+01:00

The three day week - I don't know if I could do it all the time as I actually quite like working and having a routine, but it was very good having a three day week due to the mega bank holiday weekends.
Having a tidy flat - we've had a bit of a spring clean and the flat is looking really great. I love it when everything looks fresh and tidy and there isn't any clutter.
Kick Ass - we finally got this on DVD (and I got IDed in the process - rather embarrassing!) and we were not disappointed. Hit Girl is my new hero. Cardy bought me the graphic novel for Christmas so it's my current bedtime reading.
My friend's roller derby blog - she's working on a book and has started a blog telling the story of her trials and tribulations as a trainee roller girl. Well worth a read!
Fire and Stone in Covent Garden - Peking duck pizza, need I say more?

desktop1.

2011-04-24T23:32:00.004+01:00

As I mentioned in my last 'this week.', I have recently become slightly obsessed with the Candybar application for Mac. It has transformed my pretty but also mildly generic desktop into this vision of beauty -

(Click for a huge version)

I'm going to be creating a post with links to the various icon packs, but for now I'm just going to enjoy the pretty.

this week.

2011-04-23T20:20:00.004+01:00

The return of Doctor Who - tonight saw the return of the almighty Doctor and his three companions (yay for Rory the Roman!) and what a start to the new series it was. I can see that I'm going to spend a lot of time heroically hiding behind a cushion on Saturday evenings for the next few weeks...
Rearranging the bookcase - now that Neko and Blythe have arrived (squee!) I've had to make some more room on our already very busy bookcase. I ended up taking everything off, giving it a good dust and then got to have fun putting everything back. I can't really rearrange the furniture in this place so it's a good substitute!
Candybar - I recently discovered that there is a fun programme that allows you to change the dock icons on a Mac, so I'm now rocking the most amazing dock set up ever. I have ice lollies, bananas, cake, mushrooms... it's all going on!
Indeepop - when I found out about Candybar I went on the hunt for gloriously crazy icons and I came across this gem.
Thunderstorms - we had our first storm of the year this evening and I'm still smiling like a loon. I love thunder and lightning!

this week.

2011-03-27T23:19:00.004+01:00

Spring flowers - colour seems have to exploded all over London over the last week. I'm lucky to work over the road from a gated garden and the daffodils are amazing. The flower beds on the way to the supermarket are awash with colour too. Glorious!
New arrivals - one of my friends has just had her first baby girl. I'm so happy for her, it feels like she's been pregnant forever! She's gone for a Space Invaders themed nursery - that's all kinds of awesome.
My spring coat - I've put my winter coat away for the time being and have broken out my spring coat, complete with gingham and embroidered flowers.
Waking up to sunshine - it definitely makes the mornings easier!
Cardy, for buying the Nintendo 3DS - perhaps the best moment this week. When I got home on Friday Cardy came into the living room with a HMV bag and I couldn't help but do a happy dance. Not only did he get it in Aqua Blue (which is gorgeous!) but he also bought the version of Nintendogs that I'd been eyeing up.

japan day.

2011-03-19T23:10:00.005Z

When Cardy suggested that we have our own little 'Japan Day' I thought it was a fantastic idea. The theory was that as well as donating some money to the relief fund at the Japan Centre on Regent Street we would, in our own small way, be contributing to the Japanese economy.

We started the day with lunch at Wagamama. I realise that Wagamama isn't actually a Japanese-owned company but we do love the food. I think we need to try to find an authentic Japanese restaurant in London, I'm sure there are plenty about. I've even heard we have one in Brixton! Anyway, I had the duck gyoza and ginger chicken udon with plum wine and Cardy had the mushroom and asparagus gyoza and chicken katsu curry with green tea. Delicious!

About a minute's walk from Wagamama is Japan Centre, perhaps one of my favourite food related stores in the city. We now have a stock pike of Pocky and other sweet goodies as well as rice seasoning for onigiri. I also bought a bento box with chopsticks and some cute little animal bento picks. I'm going to have to find some recipes for bento and give it a go!

Our day also included trying out the new Nintendo 3DS (I think we're going to put in a preorder tomorrow - eek!), buying a new anime DVD, Paprika (brilliant but somewhat confusing, just like all good anime should be) and searching gaming shops for the newly released Okamiden. Unfortunately it only looks like it's available online, so I'll have to have a nosey.

All in all a very good day. I think we should do it more often.

this week.

2011-03-19T22:41:00.007Z

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - it's so nice to see something that you loved so dearly as a child being given a good treatment when it's rebooted years later. I haven't quite forgiven them for what they did to Polly Pocket (she's meant to fit in your pocket - POCKET!) so I was overjoyed to see My Little Pony being turned into something fun and exciting that adults seem to enjoy as well as the target audience.
Japan Day - I really loved Cardy's suggestion to have a Japan Day. Lovely food was eaten, yummy/cute things were bought and a very good if somewhat confusing anime was watched.
The Nintendo 3DS - I got to have a play on one of these beauties today and OH MY WORD it is spectacular! I think that tomorrow Cardy and I are going to be trawling the internet to find the best offer and then put in a pre-order. Squee!
The free SXSW FreePak from Hipstamatic - I love it when Hipstamatic release free sets, especially when a new lens is involved. The new SXSW pack including the Tejas lens is full of fun.
Flowers by Sweet Female Attitude - we did this in choir this week and it sounded amazing! I've had it in my head all weekend.

mlp:fim = ftw.

2011-03-15T22:55:00.010Z

First things first, I feel no shame in what I am about to write. That's right, Dad. And don't try to tell me that it's a complete shock.

I love the My Little Pony reboot.

There, I said it. Now for some gloriously cutsie images.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has been created by Lauren Faust, the brains behind The Powerpuff Girls. Faust has successfully managed to break away from making the cartoon a twenty minute toy commercial filled with overly delicate pink ponies. What we now have is a proper cartoon with well written multi-dimensional characters. Faust explains her motivation on Ms Magazine Blog:
I have been a lifelong feminist, and as an artist working in the animation industry for more than 16 years I have striven to do right by women and girls in the animated projects I have been part of. I try to bring sincerity and depth to the female characters I’ve animated and have fought in development and story meetings to make female characters more than just the typical girlfriend, Mom or sex symbol. I’ve even fought to see that there was more than just one girl character in whatever project I was working on. Sometimes I swayed my coworkers (often it was easy, to their credit) and sometimes I lost. My goal, as an artist and as a storyteller, was to one day have a show of my own for and about girls.
...
There are lots of different ways to be a girl. You can be sweet and shy, or bold and physical. You can be silly and friendly, or reserved and studious. You can be strong and hard working, or artistic and beautiful. This show is wonderfully free of “token girl” syndrome, so there is no pressure to shove all the ideals of what we want our daughters to be into one package. There is a diversity of personalities, ambitions, talents, strengths and even flaws in our characters–it’s not an army of cookie-cutter nice-girls or cookie-cutter beauty queens like you see in most shows for girls.
The result is a cartoon that has a large online following, even among adult men (hilarious and awesome at the same time). There are ponies with character flaws. There is peril, albeit mild. But most of all there is a product that those 90s children like me can look at and say 'yeah, they did that proud'.

And of course there is Derpy Hooves.

I rest my case.

this week.

2011-03-13T17:39:00.003Z

Hearing survival stories from Friday's earthquake in Japan - I'd been nervously waiting to hear whether people I know via the internet were safe and it sounds like everyone is accounted for. I still can't get over how terrible it all is. My thoughts are with all those people who have been affected.
Pancakes for breakfast - we decided to use the last of our eggs and made pancakes for lunch today. Pancakes + lemon juice + sugar = amazing.
Later sunsets - it's such a treat to be able to leave work and it still be light outside.
My new shortcut to work - not only does it take me past some very beautiful houses but it also shaves at least five minutes off my journey.
Homemade soup - we've been cooking up huge batches of vegetable soup to go in the freezer. Gorgeous with some hot buttery toast.

chick kicks.

2011-03-13T15:16:00.015Z

I have a real soft spot for films that feature really strong women kicking arse so it may not come as a surprise to hear that I am extremely excited about the release of two films due to hit our cinemas this spring.

Watch the trailer and visit the official site.

I've been hyped up about Sucker Punch since I first heard about it last summer. I'll be the first to admit that it looks completely mad but in this case I think that's a good thing. The director has described the film as being 'Alice in Wonderland with machine guns' which reveals the main theme of the story. Set in the 1950s it tells the story of Babydoll, a young girl who is placed in a mental institution by her step-father a number of years after the death of her mother. Here she discovers the power of her imagination and her ability to blur the line between her dreams and reality. Along with four other girls she explores the boundaries of time and space while on the search for five items that will set them free. As the trailer shows, along the way they have to battle dragons, samurai, steampunk Nazis, gangsters and robots. All in all, it looks pretty epic. They're going to be showing the film at IMAX theatres - I think I may have to twist Cardy's arm!

Watch the trailer and visit the official site.

I only heard about Hanna today but oh my WORD I can't wait for it to come out. It looks like Kill Bill meets Leon. Not as obviously fantastical as Sucker Punch, Hanna tells the story of a young girl raised by her ex-CIA agent father in the depths of wild Finland. She has been raised to be the perfect assassin and lives by the mantra 'adapt or die', her only knowledge of the outside world coming from her father's outdated encyclopaedia and a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales. The film sees her being sent on her ultimate mission which sees her crossing continents and having to confront one of her father's old colleagues. From what I've seen from the trailer, the film is cleverly peppered with references to dark fairy stories with two really strong female leads. Just my cup of tea.

keep safe japan.

2011-03-11T21:14:00.007Z

I was all fired up to catch up on my 'this week' posts today, but now it seems sort of trivial.

We woke today to hear the tragic news about the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and I've been checking out the newsfeed as much as I could.

Thankfully all those people I know through the internet are safe and well but I know that we are going to be seeing many pictures of grief and sorrow over the next few days.

I will be keeping Japan and its people in my thoughts.

this week.

2011-02-18T22:10:00.000Z

Looklet.com - I've never quite grown out of that girlish love of paper dolls so when I heard about Looklet.com I was THERE. Created in association with Vogue and featuring fashion from real designers it is every little girl's dream wardrobe simulator.
Skating at Earl's Court - as there was a bout on Saturday we had our training session at Earl's Court. The floor is concrete and a bit lumpy but it was so much fun! I couldn't really walk for three days, but there you go, that's derby love for you.
Valentine's Day - Cardy and I aren't hugely into Valentine's but we do exchange cards. I was also treated to a post-training back rub. He's a good'un.
Cardy's ever increasing Japanese game collection - Cardy has recently got a Sega Saturn and Dreamcast and he's been buying Japanese video games from eBay. I'm eyeing up ChuChu Rocket! - oh the excitement!
Late night noodles - I don't usually like to eat too late but on Saturday I really needed some food before going to bed so it was noodles in teriyaki sauce the rescue. Delicious!

this week.

2011-02-11T21:37:00.002Z

Meeting up with old friends - I met up with a friend from uni on Sunday and a day of window shopping, Wagamama and gossip over Starbucks was had. It's always great when you meet up with someone you haven't seen for a while and you pick up the conversation like you'd only seen each other the day before.
Japanese pickles - Cardy is torturing me by keeping a jar of red pickled veg in the fridge. I fear I may wake up on the kitchen floor one morning with the stuff smeared all over my face.
South Park - thank you Viva for your week night showings of this fantastic cartoon. Cartman truly is a legend.
Wearing PJs during the day - I was meant to have a girly day with a friend on Monday but she was 'more snot than human' (her words, not mine) so we had to cancel. I therefore spend the day in the flat, wearing pyjamas and eating pasta. Happy times.
Creating palettes on Colour Lovers - so far I've been a watcher more than a do-er, but I've tried my hand at making some palettes and I've really enjoying it. Sometimes it's very frustrating, other times it just clicks.

Firefly - Cardy fancied watching some Indiana Jones last week but we don't have any of the films on DVD. I suggested that Captain Mal might be a good substitute and so began a week of watching Firefly over dinner. Although I won't deny that it would be nicer to have more episodes of this amazing show I'm sort of glad that they cut it in its prime. Now it will have the tragic luxury afforded to those beautiful people who die young - it will be forever brilliant.
Training so hard I have to sleep afterwards - exercise induced slumber is pretty wonderful.
Super Mario Bros. - I don't want to sound like I'm full of myself, but myself and Cardy do rather rock when it comes to playing video games together. We manage to reach a level of Ultimate Zen Coupleness which allows us to become this perfectly in tune gaming machine. And when we don't do too well we find it absolutely hilarious. We're therefore greatly appreciating the experience that Super Mario Bros. offers.
My new bag - I'm a bit gutted in that the custom bag that I'd ordered hasn't ever materialised, but I decided that rather than sit around a mope I should do something more productive about it. So I went out and bought a new one. From Desigual. Any excuse really. Needless to say it's a dream and I'm still not over the novelty of actually being able to fit my stuff in my handbag.
I Love Katamari on iPhone - absolute glee! Portable Katamari = ultimate love.

this week.

2011-01-28T19:05:00.000Z

The return of Being Human - myself and Cardy are both happy to see Series Three of Being Human on BBC3. A werewolf, vampire and ghost sharing a flat? Yes please!
Choir - one word. Madonna. My WORD I am looking forward to our concert!
My new haircut - I've got my Louise Brookes bob back and I'm loving it. I'm not having to sweep the hair out of my eyes anymore and it looks so glossy.
Nakd's 'Cocoa and Orange' bar - I decided to try this out as an 'on the Tube' snack on my late nights this week. It's delicious and strangely filling. Definitely going to become a firm favourite.
Cardy's bolognese - last weekend Cardy cooked up some bolognese for the freezer which we cracked into on Tuesday night. While it was defrosting he told me that he hadn't even tasted it. He didn't have to worry, it was brilliant, especially with garlic bread.

Skinny jeans - roller derby is excellent. I can buy skinny jeans! And I don't look like a beast!
Glee - namely the Britney Spears episode. 'I petted a snake'. Good for you Britt!
Desigual's new collection - especially this top and this skirt. I'm already saving my pennies.
Paramore - after last week's Glee I tracked down the original 'The Only Exception' and found Paramore's fantastic music video. I won't lie, I've been doing my usual trick of having my iPod on repeat.
The 'just ordered new dolls' feeling - I finally ordered my Luka and Chloe. Now the waiting game starts! I don't mind the long production time, I've got so much to organise before they get here.

this week.

2011-01-14T22:26:00.001Z

The first thunderstorm of the year - the sky exploded earlier today. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain. Love it.
Lunabee Art - I recently received a Quee figure from Lunabee. I'm definitely going to have to add more of her pieces to my collection in the future!
Finding a choir - on Thursday I went along to my first choir practice in ages with an old school friend. Having been used to singing church music it was certainly different! We sang the theme from Flash Gordon and are preparing an Erasure medley.
Rediscovering an old wardrobe staple - I found a Laura Ashley jumper in my wardrobe that I'd completely forgotten about. Purple, pink, green and brown stripes. Gorgeous!
Mild weather - as much as I love the cosiness that winter can bring, I am looking forward to Spring.

bamboo fun.

2011-01-09T21:57:00.008Z

I've been having a lot of fun playing with Cardy's Christmas present this week. I don't claim to be an artist, but after a bit of experimentation I feel that my pen control is getting better.

I'm lucky that the Mac App Store opened this week - I downloaded Sketchbook Pro and have been merrily messing about with the different brushes. I'm in love - I'm especially taken with how realistic the pencil looks.

Cardy has treated himself to a programme called Manga Studio 4 - I'm excited to see what he's going to come up with!

this week.

2011-01-07T18:16:00.000Z

Living with Cardy - yesterday marked a year since myself and Cardy loved in together. I remember people telling me how hard it was adjusting to living with someone and how I should prepare myself for endless arguments, but I'm delighted to be able to say that their warnings weren't necessary.
Feeling productive - I know it may sound a little masochistic, but I've actually really enjoyed going back to work after having time off over Christmas and New Year. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I'm a morning person but I do really like getting up, going to work and coming home in the evening feeling like I've achieved something. I find it quite hard to get motivated when I'm at home on a dull and dim day, I think I'm solar powered.
Our John Lewis bed linen - shortly before I moved out my mum bought me a set of bed linen from John Lewis that she knew I was rather fond of. We put them on the bed for the first time the other day and oh my WORD I'm in heaven!
The Mac App Store - downloadable applications for Mac? Yes please! Very exciting.
Cardy's Wacom tablet - I bought Cardy a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet for Christmas and seeing as he's such a lovely boyfriend he's been letting me have a go. I downloaded Sketchbook Pro from the new Mac App Store and although I'n not the greatest artist I can't deny that I've had an awful lot of fun!

creating.

2011-01-03T22:24:00.002Z

Well I said told myself that I had to make more time for writing this year so I made a start today. As well as being treated to a bit of a make over, my Carnaby Street mini site now has the beginnings of an introduction page. I'm hoping to be able to order Neko and Blythe in about four month's time - very exciting! Between this and doing a truck load of ironing today I feel like I've had a productive start to the month.

my milk toof.

2011-01-01T22:10:00.009Z

One of my resolutions for 2011 is to try my hand at photostories. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to use yet, most probably my LittleFee dolls as they are small and easy to pose, but I'm slightly irked that I don't have any in-scale props for them.

It got me thinking about one of my favourite photostory blogs, My Milk Toof. It's the work of Inhae Lee, a Korean artist living in California. Whilst taking an employment break having just left a job in the video game industry she happened upon the term 'milk tooth' and the idea blossomed. She created two little teeth, ickle and Lardee, who are inquisitive, just a little bit naughty but completely loveable.

Inhae has created around five different models for both characters in order to be able to show them with different facial expressions. She's also created tiny props for them to use, although the teeth are shown to be very small in relation to their environment. It's this attention to detail combined with the gorgeous quality of her photos that make this blog a true gem. I heartily suggest that you keep an eye on this one over the coming year. I can't chose a favourite story - go read them all!

All images used belong to Inhae Lee.

resolutions.

2011-01-01T21:42:00.005Z

I don't usually like to make resolutions as I only feel guilty when I break/don't achieve them, but I'm feeling rather positive about this year. This is what I'm hoping to achieve over the next twelve months:

pass my roller derby minimum skills test
pick up my DSLR camera more and not just to take photos of dolls
start writing again
actually pick up my guitar instead of just using it as an ornament
develop my professional knowledge at work
continue to save up for a mortgage
save up and buy Neko and Blythe
try my hand at photostories
finish my Project 365

this year.

2010-12-31T19:16:00.001Z

This will be the year that...

Cardy and I finally moved in together and have had a glorious twelve months in our cosy flat in Brixton
I 'found my tribe' and 'became my own hero' by taking up roller derby (hey, don't judge me for the Whip It references!)
I made some amazing friends who can get away with knocking me on my bum
I finally listened to my mother and applied for a job in HR - I should've taken her advice sooner
Cardy and I experienced the Star Wars Lego explosion
I remembered how great it is talking to my dad about inane crap on the phone
I realised that I'm made of tougher stuff than I thought
I found that I rock a fringe and therefore found my perfect hairstyle
I discovered that I can actually bake stuff
I grew up and got a phone on contract

Bring on 2011!

this week.

2010-12-31T18:57:00.004Z

Hairy Growler Jewellery - Cardy bought me some gorgeous jewellery from the Hairy Growler for Christmas. I love it so so much, especially the lock and key necklace. Cardy is most definitely in my good books.
Follow the White Rabbit on Etsy - I've been admiring Follow the White Rabbit's plush deer on Etsy for some time so I was overjoyed when Cardy bought me one for Christmas. I'm now the proud owner of Blueberry Ice. So cute!
Mario Kart on Nintendo Wii - the parents bought this for myself and Cardy for Christmas. Not only do I love it because it's Mario, I also love it because I won a race!
Christmas in general - I had a really good one this year. I got to spend it with my family plus Cardy, his dad and his sister. We ate good food, exchanged lots of lovely gifts and watched Doctor Who. Bliss.
Staying in for New Year's Eve - myself and Cardy don't really go out so we didn't see the point in going out on the one night of the year when everything costs more and you can't actually move. So we've had a Chinese takeaway, watched plenty of Futurama and will spend the evening on the sofa.

style9.

2010-12-30T18:56:00.001Z

I figured that it was time for another template, a warm rich one to welcome in the new year.

Many thanks to pinkpretty for this gorgeous 2011 palette.

christmas.

2010-12-25T21:17:00.002Z

A huge Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day. Mine has been spent in the company of my loved ones, I've eaten loads of beautiful food and received gorgeous gifts. All in all a perfect day.

this week.

2010-12-24T20:47:00.004Z

Urban Decay's Preen Shadow Box - the three of us in the office decided that we would do a 'not so secret Santa' for Christmas. My gift was Urban Decay's Preen Shadow Box. I really love the peacock hues so it's going to get a lot of use.
My MacBook case - I finally had an excuse to use my MacBook case from Kitsch Confection on Etsy. I love the matching pouch for the power lead!
Stollen - I had my first taste of stollen this week. Marzipan goodness!
My work colleagues - everyone has been so happy and generous this week. They've really made the run up to Christmas special.
Going to my parents for Christmas - I travelled up to Cambridgeshire today to spend Christmas with my parents. Cardy and his sister have gone to their dad's and will be coming over tomorrow morning. Very exciting!

this week.

2010-12-17T22:35:00.002Z

Launceston Place - I've never done fine dining before, so going to Launceston Place this week with some girls from work was a real experience. I'm not usually good at trying new food but each of the courses I ate were things I hadn't eaten before. And the port... oh, the port. I'm already looking forward to next year's Christmas treat!
Paperchase's Christmas cards - their selection of wrapping paper is pretty dire this year but they have a rocking choice of cards. I am especially fond of the Eskimo card set - nothing says Merry Christmas! like a smiling narwal.
Wrapping presents - there is nothing that gets me in the mood for Christmas quite like wrapping presents. As most of my presents are already at my parents' house I haven't had much of an opportunity to get wrapping, so Christmas Eve is going to be busy!
My job - I don't think I've really felt this happy when it comes to my work life. I'm really loving working in HR (this is where I hear my Mum shouting 'I told you so!' from a few counties away) and the people I work with are so supportive and nurturing. There's even the possibility for post-grad study if and when I feel ready for it. Exciting! I passed my probation period on Monday so I'm now officially permanent. Hurrah!
Getting dressed up - I have a gorgeous silk dress from Monsoon that I don't really get to wear that often, maybe once a year if that. So going to a fancy restaurant this week was the perfect excuse to give it an airing. Just a shame that the only shoes I have to go with it stripped the skin off the top of my feet - no skating for me this week!