this week.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. The Mac App Store - downloadable applications for Mac? Yes please! Very exciting.
5. 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!

this week.

1. Cinnamon and Nutella cake - I found this recipe in a book that my mother sent me to London with and my second attempt to cook it this week has been a great success. I baked yesterday morning as my parents were coming for lunch before we had a day out in London and it went down a treat.
2. Winter weather - I will be the first to admit to being cold, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm complaining. I'm quite small so I do feel the chill quite easily, but I actually prefer the winter to the summer months. I like coming in from the cold and sitting beside a radiator or curling up in a blanket with the laptop warming my legs and a cup of hot chocolate on the go. And you can't really snuggle that much when it's stifling hot.
3. Dressing up my dolls - I had the day off today and decided that it would be silly to go outside when I didn't really have to. My girls have matching underwear sets so they've been lounging around in them since January. As the weather has turned I thought it was time for them to wear something a bit more substantial. They look good in anything since they're thin and have legs that go on forever, so it's fun to play with different styles.
4. Liberty's Christmas Shop - I adore Liberty in general. There's just something about it, a combination of the rich woodwork and the elaborate displays. So going to their Christmas Shop with my parents yesterday was a trip well made. More fairylights than you could shake a stick at, cheery Christmas music and the decorations on offer were beautiful.
5. The new series of Peep Show - it started tonight and it looks like it's going to be a good 'un!

1. Kensington and Chelsea's Christmas decorations - I have never seen such pretty decorations. They've attached little Christmas trees to the top of the lampposts and iridescent stars have been suspended above the streets, casting purple and green reflections on the white buildings. Even the shops have put up their own beautiful displays. Beautiful.
2. The 'local' - the girls took me to the local pub for lunch today and we ate toasties in front of a proper fire. We all felt a bit drowsy when we got back to the office.
3. Desigual's 'MULA' jacket - so cute! I especially like the star detail on the collar and the asymmetrical buttons. And at 30% it's almost a bargain...
4. Homemade flapjacks - I did some baking on Monday and it seems have gone down well with Cardy. If anything the flapjacks have got better since I made them. Yummy!
5. My new bag from Sakura Urban - I've been a huge fan of Sakura Urban on Etsy for a long time and I'm so happy to finally own a piece of her work. She's going to be making me a bigger bag for everyday, but I am really enjoying my small poppy bag. The quality of just astonishing.

date night.

I was sent on a course this afternoon and was told to make the most of it and enjoy having an early finish. Once the course was over I rang Cardy who had just left his office. While he Tubed it over to London Bridge I went to my favourite German deli to stock up on condiments.

When Cardy arrived we headed over to Wagamama at Clink Street. I love that place, in the summer it feels open and airy, yet in the winter the yellow brick exudes warmth and comfort. Having indulged ourselves on katsu curry (me) and chu chee curry (him), we trundled home, smug with the knowledge that we didn't have to cook anything when we got there. I love spontaneous dinners.

this week.

1. My hair stylist - I'm extremely fussy when it comes to my hair. I've had some really awful cuts in my time, so when I moved to London I felt extremely anxious about trying a salon that I trusted enough to be let loose with a pair of scissors. Well, my hours of Google searching paid off and I'm now sporting what may become my signature look, a Louise Brooks style bob.
2. Miss Violet Lace on Etsy - I won't lie, as much as I love my natural dark brown locks I do on occasion wish that I had gone crazy with colour in my student years. Nowadays I wouldn't even consider colouring my hair as not only does the thought of coating my head in peroxide make me panic, but I don't think they would quite appreciate it at work. So I think that one day I may have to treat myself to one of Miss Violet Lace's fun wigs. You're never too old to play dress up!
3. My new winter clothes - although we're currently experiencing an odd warm spell, it has felt like winter is definitely on its way. I had found what looked like the ideal candidate for a winter coat on the Laura Ashley site, but when I tried it on it didn't feel like it was going to keep my very warm. In the end I decided to check out my favourite label and trotted off to Desigual. I bought myself a gorgeous thick coat and a cozy polo neck jumper, one that doesn't make my neck itch. My word I love that shop!
4. Discovering new blogs - A Beautiful Mess and The Dainty Squid to be precise. Wholesome crafty goodness with a smattering of cute interiors, yummy recipes and adorable cats thrown in.
5. Having time off work - I am loving my new job, but I have really enjoyed having two days off to recharge my batteries. It's always good to chill.

peacock.

Last month my lovely Mother came down to London so we could have a girly day out. My Father was also in London on business, so we met up with him after we'd eaten lunch. That morning myself and Mum had found the most spectacular coat in my favourite shop, Desigual. Seeing as I'm such a fantastic daughter and all, they decided to treat me (thank you so much, if you're reading! I love you both to bits). Now I just need to wait for it to get cold enough to wear it!

This afternoon I decided to take some shots of the different textures and fabrics going on in this masterpiece. I did take more, but my Photoshop couldn't quite cope with the pretty.

You can see more shots on my Flickr.

tourist.

On Friday I had a wander round central London with my camera. It was the first time I've had the chance just to walk, without wanting to go into shops and without feeling guilty about holding friends up while I pause to snap a scene. It was a glorious day - the sun was shining and it was warm, but not too warm.

I always forget just how much I love Trafalgar Square. I love watching the tourists' faces - they have this expression of wonder. I like to go there in the summer and sit downwind of the fountains. The spray is so soothing.

The set can be found on my Flickr.

spring.

The clocks went forward today signalling the beginning of a long awaited spring. There is a tree across the road from our flat that is sporting a fresh new blanket of soft pink blossom. When I turn the lights off as I leave the office at the end of the day I'm not longer plunged into darkness.

Life is most certainly sweet.

I'm loving living in London. I'm loving living with Cardy. I'm loving our flat and my job and lounging around at the weekends.

The light in our living room is astonishing - I'm looking forward to getting snap happy over the impending Easter holiday. I love the creamy tones in this photo of Svetlana. I never thought I would be able to take such good photos of my beauty white girls.

winter.

Winter is in full swing. I don't think I've ever seen this much snow in one season. I feel quite torn with regards to the white stuff; the child in me is in heaven, but the adult in me sees it as a great inconvenience.

I'm moving out tomorrow. I've moved out before when I was a student, but this feels different. Myself and Cardy are finally going to be living together in London and I couldn't be happier.

birthday.

It was my birthday on Sunday. I meant to write a blog to mark the occasion, but I was so caught up in enjoying myself that the thought fluttered out of my mind like a slightly dizzy butterfly with mild amnesia. Not that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting such a creature.

To anyone else it probably looked like a pretty unimpressive day. We had a deliciously lazy morning which included opening cards and presents in bed. Cardy bought me a Moon Jar and the most exciting necklace that managed to combine two of my favourite things; graphic novels and Lego. My parents had given me my gifts before I left; an amazing pair of metallic blue DMs and an oddly cute Ice Bat plush.

After watching some Derren Brown on 4oD (my current poison) we got reasonably glammed up and headed out for my birthday treat - dinner at Wagamamas. In order to make sure we had worked up a sufficient appetite we went for a leisurely stroll along the south bank, stopping on occasion to bask in the period charm of the Globe or stare in awe at the industrial presence that is the Tate Modern (and so I could hoist up the damned tights that I had to wear in order to give my glorious purple skirt a public airing - I do try to be lady-like).

I ordered a glass of ginger beer, a chicken katsu curry and an extra portion of red pickles. Bloody brilliant. Cardy finds it amusing that I always go for the same thing, but I love it so very much! We returned home full of sticky rice and noodles and continued the Japanese theme by watching Spirited Away, then went to bed and played 'I Spy' in the dark until we fell asleep.

All in all, a brilliant birthday and a fantastic start to my 23rd year!