Saint Caffe the Independent Coffee shop!!

I absolutely adore this independent coffee shop!! They have the best coffees and service around, thank god because I was giving up for my quest for perfect coffee!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Birmingham-United-Kingdom/Saint-Caffe/159378133120

No.1 Holiday for 2010

Wooohoooo flight to Athens BOOKED!! : ) now let the researching and "holiday clothes shopping" begin! : )

Travel Destination Wish List.

Here is a checklist of all the places I would love to visit in the world : )

1. Nice Cote d'azur
2. Santorini
3. Monaco
4. Athens 30.04.10
5. Egypt
6. Honk Kong
7. California
8. Maldives
9. Fiji
10. New York (I've already been before but it was just a day trip during my stay in DC)
11. Tokyo
12. Whitsundays, Australia

To be continued...

If you guys have been to any of these places and got some tips or recommendations please tell me about it! : )

I gots the holiday feeling!

With the sun rays shining all day long it has certainly given me the holiday bug and it got me thinking about the places I would love to see in the world and all the places I've already had the pleasure to visit : )

For the past 2 years we've been barely able to travel because of the new business but we were still fortunate enough to do a few weekend breaks in Europe.

Last year I took Geoff to Paris for the first time. I have been visiting Paris with my family since I could walk and got to the point where I really didn't want to ever go back but seeing as Geoff has never been before I thought.. why not? After our first trip, we loved it so much we went back 3 times last year! However this year Im thinking its time to expand our travels and so i've been looking at all the places we might be able to visit with our strict schedule *boo*.

So i've been trawling the internet for possible destinations, we wanted to go somewhere hot, sunny with lots of tourist things to do and as my bf said "no shopping". Ideally we wanted a beach holiday but... so far I haven't been able to find an ideal destination. Finally we decided on visiting Athens. I've ALWAYS wanted to visit Greece because growing up I was really fascinated about the Greek mythology. Im just hoping that 3 days will be doable!

Hoping to book out tickets sometime this week!! : )

Shoooooooooooooooooes

During my last trip to London I did a mini shopping spree... well I only had a few measly hours on saturday to do some shopping which were all spent in Topshop 0 : ) (and I did myself proud) I could be in there for hours and hours I loooooooooooove that shop (Oxford St. branch).

People may say oh its too mainstream and everbody comes out looking the same but personally I think Topshop offers an incredible variety of clothing & accessories that its all down to how YOU put them together. I don't necessarily wear Topshop head to toe but its a great place for affordable clothes with a huuuuuge selection of style (in their flagship store that is). Their prices are so reasonable that I don't feel guilty if I've fallen out of love with them and end up giving them to charity. Its almost like disposable fashion, my taste changes regularly and Topshop makes it affordable enough for me to dress how I feel. But saying that I do own pieces (both from Topshop and designer names) for years & years so they're not all disposable.

Enough of the rambling, I left Topshop with bags of new dresses, spring/summery tops, skirts and a pair of boots. Now this is probably the first time in about 6 years i've bought shoes from Topshop. Im quite picky when it comes to the quality of shoes but seeing as they were so adorable for spring I couldn't resist!

But those weren't the only shoes I bought.... the following day I was in Chanel and I've always wanted a pair of ballerina flats from them but never plucked up the courage to buy one. I think I first fell in love with Chanel flats back in 2006 browsing in the Barcelona Chanel boutique and came across the baby pink cambon flats. It was love at first sight and I was 20 back then and I my dress sense was very girly and cute so they were perfect. But they never had my size and they quickly sold out and went out of season : (

However, the flats I bought are sooo beautiful! They may be simple but to me its classic and very very chic. May I present Ms Coco Bally...

What I love about these flats is that its not just any old white being used... its a shimmery pearly metallic white! oooohhh aaahhhhhh. It was either this color or a beige one with a black toe however the beige color wasn't available in metallic and when I tried them on they looked rather "old" on me 0_o However when I wore these metallic ones on, I looooved them, they are so so cute!! I would probably wear this mainly with crops, shorts or dresses and no jeans just bc I wan't to avoid any color transfer onto these flats. What makes it more impractical is that I would only wear them on dry days. BOO : ( My bf joked that I should just put them on display.. and look at them. >_> Hence why he was sent out to wander the other shops whilst I shopped in Chanel! ^_^

Here are both of my new shoes...

With the sun beaming the past few days I have that summer feeling!! : D

P.S. I never did buy the Alma Rose in FLorentin at Louis Vuitton, I saw it in person and eeeurgh it really wasn't me. It is cute though but too plastic-y looking and the pink was more pink than I thought it would be. If others had it I would still admire it but certainly not for me. I was sooo gutted but relieved for my bank account!.... sooo My fingers are still itching for a new bag! : )

x

Maxi Craze

Last week I finally confirmed and booked my space for a hen weekend in Barcelona!! So after the excitement of penciling Barcelona into my diary I started to browse through the internet for some dresses/outfits I could bring with.. initially the browsing was just for ideas *coughs*. If my bf is reading this... I know... I do have a ton of dresses BUT this is a weekend away in BARCELONA for a HEN NIGHT(S)!! This deserves new outfits! : )

So for the past few summers i've had a thing for maxi dresses but i've never found any that I particularly like not only that but bc im so leggy I don't like maxi dresses that comes above my ankles (boo) but... I did come across some and not only did I come away with 1 maxi dress I came away with 3! ^_^

So here are my possible "day time" outfits for Barcelona I won't be wearing all 3 Maxis bc I wanna mix it up by wearing shorts or above the knee dresses.

So here is dress 1:

I particularly like this dress bc it feels tribal bc of the beaded details but what really sold it to me were the turquoise beads used and the fabric used. The fabric makes it look floaty and not so body hugging, a casual dressy day time maxi. But this dress hasn't made it to the Barcelona Short list!

Dress 2:

Another black maxi dress... actually all three of them are black : ) I would've gone for any other colour if they were available but sadly they weren't but I still like black dresses regardless. This is simple and a dress I could wear without getting bored bc of the colour. Which is one of my problem, if the colours I pick are too "bright" "dull" or outrageous then I tend to get bored or go off them very quickly. Anyhoo I picked this dress bc it was so simple, effortless and elegant which is perfect for accessorising without feeling like Im going OTT.

What I also like about this dress is that the boob area comes padded and thats when I instantly clicked "add to basket" 0 : ) Reasons why I love it padded is that i'm not very blessed in the boob department, it was either legs or boobs and God decided to give me the legs and so I would've warn a bikini underneath but bc it's already padded now I dont have to! Not only that but when its scorching hot outside wearing less layers is always ideal! : )

This dress is on my shortlist for Barcelona.

Dress 3:

Ok so another simple black maxi dress and this is the most simple out of the 3. I like this dress bc it's something I could easily throw on without any thought or effort required. This dress reminds me of a lazy summers sunday taking a stroll in the park (or in my case... around the city centre, a poo thing about living right in the city!), shopping for groceries or just having brunch with the family. This is certainly a dress that doesn't look its trying too hard and perfectly casual!.

This dress is padded in the booby area (bonus) and it did come in white. However, I didn't opt for white and it looks rather transparent and well I don't fancy the sun shining and revealing my panties to the world!

Since this dress is so similar to Dress 2 this won't be going onto the Barcelona shortlist either!

So here are my 3 new maxi dresses and i'll see if I still like it as much when I receive them!

x

London weekend - Saturday 20.02.10

Last weekend my boyfriend and I took a long overdue trip to london, aaahhhh how I miss the bright lights, busyness and the london smog!

So after arriving in london later than we had planned our first stop was to get some food! I had fancied something american and I had wanted a nice "brunch" kinda menu and so we narrowed down to two restaurants to go to, either Smiths of Smithfield or Automat. We haven't been to either of them and so picked Automat as it was on Dover st just down the road from Bond st! *wink wink* When we finally found Automat hidden amongst the buildings my butt had already given up and fallen asleep : ( but managed to wake it up again at the sight of food! : )

On entering Automat the atmosphere was buzzing and crowded with young random mixes of people. The decor reminded me of an old italian american diner and the music was exaclty what I had imagined being in an american diner.

Since we arrived at 4pm the brunch menu had just ended, but I wasn't bothered as I didn't mind choosing from their normal menu. The menu itself was small and simple which is perfect for the settings it was in. This made it easy to choose from and to the point really.

On the menu they had a mac n cheese, my bf isn't a big fan of cheese and so didn't want to pick this dish and I didn;t want it purely as a main either. I was torn between having the automat burger, chicken burger or mac n cheese. I eventually chose the chicken burger as I NEVER pick chicken burgers and my bf chose the Automat burger so well..... I could steal some of his!

The burgers came and my chicken burger was not what I had expected it to be. The chicken itself was flattened out like a pancake and at first bite had an unusual smell to it and it wasn't good either. The chicken was really artificial tasting and I could see that chicken burgers weren't their best seller. So I took a few bites and didn't want to finish the rest of it. It just didn't taste that nice but my bf's burger was really good although it lacked some salad and the tomato that was put inside was wafer thin so it wasn't even worth putting it in!

so after lunch we headed over to Bond st. first stop... CHANEL : D It was after 5pm and still busy! There was soooo many pretty goodies but no bag that caught my eye but I did leave with something... (something i'll reveal in my next post)

My Boxwood Cafe outfit

Then after shopping we went for dinner at Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood cafe which we first went to during it's opening week and thought that the food was much better this time round but the service was incredible the first time we went. We would certainly come back here again as we had a great time.

My starters

My Main Course

My dessert.

After we left Boxwood Cafe we headed back to our hotel and was bumped to Executive and so our room was huuuuuuge with an amazing view of the big ben and the river thames.

And this was just saturday!

xxx

A list of things I must do before....

Here is my checklist of all the things I want to do in my life : ) and this checklist is made as a reminder for myself to make sure that these will be done!

• Learn to play the piano.
• Do Yoga
• Snowboarding
• Give blood
• Become an organ donor Done 22.01.10
• Set up a charity for children in poverty particularly in Vietnam, China and then the world! : D

To make a start.... I'm about to look online to register to become an organ donor and then look for a piano tutor.

This list will continually be updated : )

New Year Part 2

HAPPY NEW YEAR and I hope the year of the Tiger brings lots of joy & happiness to everyone!!

Here is a snapshot of my New Year look!

Today was such a great day, lunch with my parents and the boyfriend then off to shopping with my mother! PERFECTION!!

Everywhere was completely busy and it was great to see non-oriental people coming out to celebrate the new year and getting into the festive spirit!

There were lion dancing, opera singing and lots and lotsa food!!

This guy from the lion dance....

Still freaks me out at the age of 24!! *shudders* When he came quite close to me I felt all my suppressed childhood fears surfacing!

So to cheer myself up I ran off to the shops.... and left with the following goodies..

Hair clips and makeup! I also bought a really cute frilly skirt but didn't bother taking a photo of that but what Nars and Mac stuff did I buy?

Then after shopping I went to visit family for more food! : )

So all in all a great New Years day.... I just realised I haven't uttered a word about Valentines Day but that is bc my boyfriend doesn't celebrate Valentines Day... the whole "commercial".. "no one dictates to me blah blah blah" reasonings. However... we are having our own Valentines Day next weekend and we'll be going to London to spend the weekend and have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz Hotel!! whooooohoooo I can't wait!!

The battle between the two siblings!

Soooo... I was casually browsing on the Louis Vuitton website.. and its not a website I commonly browse so I don't know what has gotten into me! But came across another new bag... well it may have been showcasing on the website but I've actually only just noticed it!

But anyhoo.. this bag that I picked (the bag on the left called Brea MM) is also in Florantin and yes, I seem to be loving this color tone atm and since this bag has appeared I am rather torn! My heart was originally set on the Alma on the right hand side... but... iono... this Brea has gotten me all confused!

Im working out the pros & cons to see which one I actually "want" more. So... pro - I do love the zippy kinda bags for that extra security feeling rather than it being exposed so both are ideal... but Brea also comes with a strap - pro.. which I occasionally use and comes in handy when my hands are full!

Pro - I feel that the alma is more classy and "longer lasting" - I get bored very easily.. and so the Alma may be the kind of bag that I would continually wear and pass on to my daughter.

Con - The handles on the Alma... it looks so chunky and... plasticy??

Con - The handles on the Brea is actually the only thing putting me off from choosing this bag... it looks kinda flimsy (even though I know its durable) and kinda cheapy looking but same goes with the Alma handle too?

Ahhh I can't win with either handles, but its the color tone & size of the bags that keeps my heart fluttering!

oh and one final big con! Even though I love love love the color... how practical is this color? Will it scratch, fade or mark easlily?? How will this color do maintaining??

Im quite careful with my bags anyways.. but I do own a white leather Marc Jacobs bag which looks like it's had better days and is in need of a spa day, oh and I own a pink tone mui mui and beige mui mui bag... and they've darkened on the corners... but the beige mui mui is in some sort of soft leathery suede s that doesn't help... but my light beige Chanel GST looks as good as new even though thats one years old so... maybe... owning a florantin Louis Vuitton won't be so difficult to maintain either?

Which one to choose????

Well... I have until next weekend to decide as next weekend I shall be going to london to celebrate our own little valentines day and so I intend to do a little retail therapy! I wonder which one I end up coming home with.. an even bigger suprise would be if I don't come home with Ms Louis Vuitton but Ms Chanel instead!.... I wish!!

Until next weekend... you'll all get to see which one I decide on!

Korean Circle Lense

Just bought some korean circle lenses! I haven't worn colored contact lenses in many years although I do wear clear contact lenses just bc I am almost blind without them or my glasses! Pretty excited about how these circle lenses will look!

I may post some pictures once I receive them and give my two cents just bc I am rather fussy with the type of contact lenses I wear! : )

31.01.10

My 31.01.10 outfit. Perfect for sunday errands and grocery shopping with my bf!

I also wore my Sheepskin boots for extra warmth and comfort, I wouldn't know what to do without them in this weather!!

30.01.10 outfit!

My saturday 30.01.10 outfit for our group trip to Bath!

The forecast was to be a cold day so I knew to wrap up warm! : )

With my other half!

2010 wishlist...

The 2010 wishlist continues!!

• Louis Vuitton - Alma PM In Rose Florentin
  
• Christian Louboutin - No Privé 120 patent slingbacks in Nude
• Panasonic Eyelash Curler
• Ultimate Holy Grail Chanel Reissue in White with black HW *nosebleeds
• Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF20
• Shu Uemura - Loose face powder
• Laura Mercier - Foundation Primer
• Nars - Blusher in Orgasm
• Mac - Eye Kohl in Smoulder
• Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
• Black ankle boots.
• Grey summery ankle boots
• Light denim vintage shirt.

and it's still only January....

Makeup Brushes

I was only looking but I just purchased a Professional 24 piece makeup brush set including a belt.. which I wont ever use but to store the brushes in, eeeeeek!

Well... I had planned on buying some new brushes since im kinda new to this makeup thing and only have the very very basics. So when I worked it out buying individually, the 24 piece brush set actually worked out to be a big saver and the reviews on these brushes we're great which came from a top makeup artist I like to follow! Thats my reasoning behind this big purchase anyways... and the same line i'll use when my other half spots the new brushes!.. Let's hope he doesn't read this entry 0 : )

I've only just ordered them and now I can't wait for the mail man to deliver it!

Pictures will be posted as soon as I receive them!

Wish List 2010

Here is my ever growing Wishlist 2010! The list seems to be growing daily too 0_0

• Louis Vuitton - Alma PM In Rose Florentin
  
• Christian Louboutin - No Privé 120 patent slingbacks in Nude
• Panasonic Eyelash Curler
• Ultimate Holy Grail Chanel Reissue in White with black HW *nosebleeds*

To Be Continued...

Random Vaseline Rave!

Vaseline... one of the many things I won't live without and who knew I would even blog about it! The other day I was clearing and re-arranging items in my makeup box and came to realize that I own... 4 vaseline pots!! That is kinda crazy but its one of those things that no girl should live without!

Im a girl who was taught by my beautiful mother to always moisturize and included in this moisturizing regime were my lips and tbh nothing plumps and rehydrates my lips better than a layer of vaseline. Not only that but Vaseline is soooo cheap too!

Anyhoo during the weekend I was "browsing" through the drugstore and came across this little edition.

This is perfect for any vaseline junkie like me, not only does is soften and rehydrate my lips but it comes with a pinky rosy colour so no need to apply any lippy for a touch of colour afterwards leaving my lips au natural!

So that brings my Vaseline count to 5 : )

Presenting Miss B!

This is a very late christmas present post but I'm going to write about it anyways! So this christmas I have either been very good or my other half has decided to finally give me a present *sniggers* and this is what my santa gave me.....

I never imagined myself to own a Balenciaga bag, but over a period of time I noticed that each time I walked passed the Balenciaga display I found myself poking and prodding the bags out of curiousity and where did this curiousity lead me to...? ..... the checkout counter of course 0 : )

But deciding which color to take home was not easy, the gray was second in line, so was that deep purple, the bubblegum pink, that ruby red or that eye-catching green! But... I played it safe and decided on the black which I don't regret at all since it goes with everything!

When I arrived home and took Miss B out of her bed I couldn't believe how soft the leather was!! I literally couldn't stop touching and stroking the leather. I even made my other half have a feel of the leather too! >_<>

What I also love about this bag is that, this bag is not too small nor gigantic. I need a size where it can fit my large wallet, makeup purse, mobile, sometimes digi cam and my other bits & bobs and this can fit all that AND MORE! Also, this bag is practical AND it's one of those bags that you can just swing around and abuse. Not that I intend to put this bag on the floor (thats a BIG no no for me) but its not a bag thats incredibly delicate like my Chanels.

Another bonus about this Bal is that it is soooo versatile, this suits so many different styles and moods. The Bal suits my edgy biker "chic" look which teams really well with my biker boyfriend on my other arm *blushes* or when I feel girlie and wear my blazer and denim shorts. See it is so easy to wear!

Who knew I'd become a Bal Girl!

What ever happened to that program Dirty Sexy Money.. Not like I watch it.. but it kinda just disappeared?

Currently going through a crazy makeup phase!!! Sadly I don't have the time to play around with it : (

This spring I will be mostly loving the pastel grays and the nude colors! mmmmm : )

mmmmmm Vuitton!

Last night I was browsing through the internet killing time and innocently enough landed on the louis vuitton website. Now, personally I am not really a louis vuitton kinda girl... I do like their bags and accessories and I even own a few bc their designs are timeless and classic however no louis vuitton has ever caught my attention until last night!

Which vuitton was it that caught my eye??? The... Alma PM in Rose Florentin!

*sighs* have you ever seen something sooooo pretty??? <3

The colour is stunning, pearly tones and not screaming LV!! The design and shape is classic and certainly not an IT bag. The size is perfect as I'm an in betweener, I don't like my handbags too small or too big and this fits right bang in the middle.. aaahhh..... this Alma in Rose Florentin is oh so dreamy!

I must say, I feel that I have been behaving quite well for the past few months no impulse splurges and certainly no Chanels in sight! But this.... this alma could put a stop to my good behavior!

Although no handbag has gotten my heart fluttering like this Alma, strangely.. I feel like i'm cheating on my beloved Chanel but I have a feeling that this Louis Vuitton is a one off! : )

We'll be visiting London mid Feb for our own little valentines day, fingers crossed I come back with Alma Rose <3

To Be Continued....