i've got shopping fever

the one thing that is wonderful about london is boutique shopping. malls are an absolute minimum here. there are few in canary wharf (which is more like the city of Toronto than London) and one being built in White City (far west...). With all the boutiques, you can really get some more unique pieces that are not worn by everyone walking down oxford street. I'm in love with one such boutique called 'Fever' that is literally 30 seconds away from my door. Their styles are a bit older but with plenty of funkiness to throw around. Perfect work apparel! While almost everything in Sloane Square makes me go shopping crazy... Hoss Intropia really takes the cake. Considered a designer in Spain - their stuff is more high-end street (see Banana Republic or Club Monaco) than something from Selfridges (holt renfrew but crazier). I'm addicted to their cardigans. silk cotton mix is amazing. (below - a fever skirt i've been eyeing for a while, and the cutest sundress from Hoss..... a bit out of season though now)

a little something extra

a new trend is apparently starting to sweep across london. bottled water. HA! The trick is this isn't just any bottled water, it's bottled tap water called London Biotopes. That's rest, they fill it up and sell it back to you. Except, they do a few experiments, run a few tests and actually tell you what's in your water - everything makes it's way back. Working in the City means my water could have a few extra doses of caffeine and a class a narcotic. since I don't drink coffee or do anything extra, maybe the water is what's helping me stay peppy in the afternoon. Wanna get 'up the duff', head to Golders Green where birth control is at a minimum.

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the ways I miss Canada......

coming up to one year overseas and eight months since I was last in Canada and I'm pining away for many-a-thing. Some material, some people and some scenery.

1. the one time i love ontario is the fall. i could definitely leave all the other seasons but the gatineaus in the fall are stunning. i miss red, orange and yellow.
2. the mountains of bc. need I say more.
3. sun. it's been grey since I returned from Switzerland. Even four days of grey (but no rain) and no change gets me down.
4. joe fresh. club monaco. banana republic sales and affordable matt and nat. paying £100 for a $100 bag is not the right decision. (see below for coveted bag and coveted joe fresh outfit)
5. family and friends. ones that have known me for years. not just months. it is good here, it's just not the network that you build up after living in a place for years. and i had no school to immediately introduce to tons of people my age from all backgrounds. i miss that.
6. hershey chocolate sauce. don't ask - it's like my canadian peanut butter.
7. access to lululemon and other sports/hiking attire at my fingertips
8. a house perfectly decorated and feels like a home. I hate not having things on a wall. it's so bland and empty. and I desperately miss colour. and affordable rent.
9. going outside in baggy jeans and a tee and apparently being well dressed.
10. a relatively absent class system. don't knock canada till you've come here.... i've never met judgers that really go above and beyond any reasonable thought.

the fall trends - it's getting colder in London

while trends are clearly more global, I've noticed some key trends upcoming for the London scene. As I still look slightly out of place (perhaps it's my accent that gives me away)... I really need to pick up this stuff to integrate myself completely! first post - accessories, second post - clothes

scarves are so hot this year (same with hansel)
I have an addiction to pashimas (so good for travel!) but desperately want to pick up a few morroccan style scarves - I like this one from urban outfitters - and a good price too. In wistful dreaming land I'd have a grey or light brown leather jacket to go with it!

ruffles and chains
in purses (or wallets back in canada) or your handbag. I really like this chunky one in brown - if i can find it grey I'm set..... I'm headed to shoreditch to find something similar in the vintage stores - I'll let you know if that pans out. the fedora
I'm not sure if I can jump on this trend. but I've seen it everywhere. and it's better than the bowler hat which is trying to make a comeback.

coloured tights
I know that this has made the leap everywhere but there is no way I can get away with coloured tights at work. I'm far more keen on diamond patterned ones instead.

boots and booties - flat or heeled
topshop is great for shoes - real leather and relatively affordable prices (as long as you don't convert it back to cdn). I'm in love with this flat tan boots. a good chunky sweater, my orla kiely bag and some jeans - i've got my weekend outfit until late november.

continued.... the clothes trends

and more that I want/need to round up the right type of wardrobe that lets me blend in perfectly. really here it's all about the right blend of accessories....... but I still love a good outfit...

plaid tops
i have my one for gap (blues and browns with ruffles (another key trend)) and a black plaid dress, but I really want this one too! anthropologie ships to the UK now.. an early thanksgiving present perhaps?

purple
i've embraced this like no tomorrow. attempted colour palette at work this fall is cobalt, light grey, charcoal and purple. maybe a bit of winter white and baby blue thrown in. I need to pick up more pants, skirts, dresses and button downs. my pipe dream purple - this dress by temperley.....

the work dress
the combo work dress is key - at least for me. and this is very appropriate for wear I work. I would definitely add a skinny belt with some colour. perhaps teal? like the one I'm coveting from J.Crew .....
and just because I love it
copenhagen designers like day birger et mikkleson, by malene birger and bruun's bazzar...
my fav thing at the moment by malene (left).... and one on sale....(right).. perhaps my first foray into buying from net-a-porter will happen on saturday.

Jungfrau, Switzerland

Sunday was the best day by far. I've seen a glacier in Alaska and definitely gone over the Rockies(by plane) and hiked to one of the top mountains in Romania but Switzerland has got everyone beat. It's different than the Rockies - far more scraggly rather than one large mountain after the other. I also noticed the change in air. I had the worst pressure on my lungs for about an hour and what would have been a 45 minute jaunt on a glacial ridge turned into 1.5 ardorous journey with very lagging legs and the slowness that could rival a turtle!But the view and just the sheer nature of it was worth it all. And yes, all these are originial photos. Go being home early on Monday so L2 could upload them all!

Bern, Switzerland

Bern is the capital of Switzerland because Zurich and Geneva couldn't agree so they picked the middle city. It's not the shocking that's how most capital cities are decided. However, Bern is a UNESCO world heritage site in its own right and was founded in 1141 (redone in 1400 something due to a fire). The place is just stunning and very apropo of what I thought a swiss town/city would look like.Bern is bear in german apparently and the reason for the name of the city was the founder hunted a bear in that spot and decide to create a city too. Unfortunately this means that Bern has a very strange pit where they keep two brown bears (that are not Swiss) and due to moral complaints from tourists and locals alike, are creating an actual habitat for them. They definitely looked happier than bears in a zoo, but I can't wait for them to have their new digs!

Bern, Jungfrau, Switzerland

back from Switzerland and pining away for mountains. You never realize what you truly miss until you get a taste. I miss mountains. Real mountains - ones that you hike for hours and are nowhere near the top. I fell in love with Switzerland - it seems each place I go to - I love it a bit more than the last. Though I'll admit that Romania and Switzerland are tied at the present time. L2 and I left very early on Friday morning and had a bit of a interesting experience with Swiss Air. Needless to say we actually budged through a queue when there was no need and I spent the rest of the morning laughing as L2 slept.


Got into Basel and picked up my brother and his partner. Oh was it lovely to see them! After a bit of misdirection, we made it the right way and headed to Bern. Loved the capital and its quaint history and attitude.

Saturday was the mission and we spent a whooping 45 minute drive getting to Grindelwald. Switzerland from the North to the South is really not that big.
After several stops at a single cafe, a very long rainy hike and delicious dinner we got an early night because of the next day's mission.


Sunday was amazing - spent eight hours on a glacier (known for the nudes that were expressing the fragility of humans and glaciers) and fell in love despite one third of the oxygen going to my brain (or maybe that's why!). Had loads of hot chocolate and such great food.



For next year - skiing in Geneva?

tomorrow: escape

leaving from the city airport tomorrow. I've tested Stanstead, Heathrow and Gatwick so far. I really only had City and Luton to go. I'm very skeptical of Luton so I doubt I will go unless it is the ONLY possible way. Apparently City is a breeze and so much closer to us (equal I guess to Gatwick but still). I'm headed for some fresh air........ I couldn't need it more! I've not packed yet but have thought of everything I need to bring, printed out airline and car hire details and I'm definitely ready to leave London! Hoping to bring back more sketches to add to our tourist collection (sketch of a vernacular, sketch of traditional Swiss building) a few pashimas, a great italian leather pair of shoes and maybe a little chocolate.

Have a great weekend - I'll be back next Tuesday. Until then enjoy this very 80s shot of London City airport. Water is definitely used here! Image via

olympic flare

I'm still so keen on the olympic games. I did get behind some of London's champs including rebecca adlington (RA for dame indeed!) and a few of the rowers and cyclists. However I am still depressed that I haven't been able to watch any coverage on our trampolinists, despartie's dive and ian miller (at all). Apparently once GB is out - they won't even show it on the overall coverage (even just to say who won in the sport). it's been very frustrating.
Until then I'm headed to the V&A and picking up this poster in lieu of my upcoming trip to Switzerland and well because i love the snow and sun contrast, the very subtle swiss cross in the corner and because I desperately want to ski in St. Moritz.Image via

forever 27

a new exhibition opened recently in Camden. Always the artsy area - it now has a gallery that has iconic images of artists who died at 27 including one of the originial roling stones, jimi hendrix, kurt cobain, jim morrison and janis joplin. BBC did a little feature on it as well talking about how it's not a cool thing or something that should be struck as unusual for so many infamous artists to die so young. Besides Kurt - most of those people were experimenting when there was no limit/no knowledge. What else could we have expected? Perhaps i'll drag L2 there in september. the b/w photos look gorgeous if a little overused.

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lacking the packing skills

I always wait till the last minute to pack. When moving to London - I had to wait until we had moved into L2 parent's house to pack my clothes. Needless to say, things were stuffed, I brought stuff over that really wasn't necessary and L2 had to bring another suitcase when he visited in October. Planning for Romania was relatively easy as I didn't feel like I really needed to have good fashion. I had seen the styles of Eastern Europe. I can compete any day with stuff I wore in 1999. However, Switzerland concerns me. I've gone with a colour scheme of cream, green and black. I still want some gladiator flats (despite the fact that they shorten my legs) and shorts (despite the fact that no other europeans wear them) are on the list because of practicality reasons. The gladiator flats will help me fit in, but the shorts --- I fear they will be my downfall...........

At least I represent with my canadiana luggage. L2 and I are packing in one side a piece (in the smaller version than this). I've also picked up travel size everything. ... though it doesn't match - I fell in love with this luggage tag too. It also feels a bit canadiana with the deer - maybe I should get it as a gift for one of my many visitors? Image via

ooo. bliss.

Living so far away from my family and my adopted family meant this year's celebrations were pretty minimal. I've never had huge celebrations for my b-day. In fact I remember when I was 11, my friends and I realized I had not had a birthday party with school friends (ever.). So I had a surprise party hosted by my best friend E on a random date in June. It was her first foray into birthday party planning. Little did she know she would have it as a job for six years.

I wanted my day to be small and pretty calm. I'm already not the biggest fan of lots of noise. So L2 made me a day of suprises. First - buttermilk pancakes. Second - a massage at Bliss Spa (thank you levesque family!), Third - picnic at Hyde Park looking onto the water. Fourth - magmums at the Serpentine. Fifth - watching of Wall-E with a friend. Sixth - It was topped off excellently by having my favourite cake (mom's choco cake), we had friends come over, ate loads of garlic bread, pasta and cake with wine and I acted like I was Marie Antoinette. It was a great day filled with pastries and other delicious food. I couldn't have asked it any other way!

This was the closest version I could find!

vegas, gambling and always the trophy wife

Casino always reminds me of two things. Why I could never live in Vegas, and why I'm very glad I'm not married to the mob. Both are easy things to avoid.

L2 and I went to see the flick last night at the Frijj festival for free. While a bit grungy and I felt a shade uncomfortable wearing work clothes (thank goodness for no jewellery), the theatre was a good joint to host the gritty movie. Another bonus - no excessively long ads or trailers before the movie which is unbelievably painful here. One commercial I've watched literally lasted just under 5 minutes. It really adds some serious time to a film that is long already if you have half an hour of filler beforehand. Despite the delayed start, this movie was actually done by 11.30 pm. Just in enough time to ride the tube home.

missed jaws in the theatres?

Despite London being the second most expensive city to live in the world (thank you to Moscow who took the top spot), there are a lot of free things to do around here. One example is L2 and my attempt to watch Casino tonight in a movie theatre. Part of the Frijj Festival, Odeon and Cinieplex play older movies all around London and surrounding area on Thursdays and Saturday nights from mid-August to mid-September. Other movies on the list are Snatch, Jaws, Scarface, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, etc. (so generally movies that you might want a little extra sound on)

Unfortunately due to their extremely freaky poster campaign (and website) I thought the buses were just advertising another horrible horror movie. Check out the website to see the little girl rocking - that's what is everywhere! It took until Monday for my curiousity to peak and then I found out the real meaning behind it. I'm not sure if it was a good campaign or not. I guess I'll find out tonight when I try to get tickets.

my weekend round up

Perhaps it is easier to do these weekend round-ups. A few fellow bloggers have been doing them quite consistently and I really enjoy them. I feel much more a part of their blog and get more a sense of who they are off the computer. As well, I feel like I'm back in Canada.

I'm still waiting for the Oxford photos to be uploaded on the computer (hence the delay of a weekend-round up). However, with no upload in sight ------ I'll just write it out. (That is also where the pic of my new Orla bag is)

Friday - exhausted and so frustrated at my bank (they screwed me over again....) I came home and watched Rescue Dawn. Not a bad movie, but definitely not worth all the critical hype.
Saturday - plans were ruined with the huge downfall. It rained. And RAINED. Considering it hadn't really poured in a while - I was taken a bit aback and decided to retreat to the local Starbucks with a friend for several hours. Afterwards, I convinced myself and L2 that we really did need to leave the house again and met up with a friend in Covent Garden (she had a visitor). I forgot that tourists stun gun that area and its hard to find a table anywhere. That was unpleasant.
Sunday - getting out of the city meant a daytrip to Oxford. We left a bit late and got quite stressed... thankfully we made it on the train with less than one second to spare. No joke - the doors closed as L2 got in. That was a bit fine. Despite the cold, Oxford was gorgeous and we tried our hand at punting. Well L2 did - I sat like a princess enjoying the gardens and river.

Now back in London and counting down the days till quarter of a century and Switzerland!

8.8.8 is lucky for me

in the spirit of 8.8.8 last friday, I got a lottery ticket. Yes I know - no one wins anything in the lottery especially when it's already considered a super lucky day with a rollover (so loads of people). But... I won £10. So now I believe.....

What couldn't you buy at Harrods?

In 1969, you were able to purchase LIONS in the London Harrods pet department. It was legal. No, not a lion stuffed animal. A real lion cub. Thankfully, some of the animals were rescued in the seventies from their basement abodes. The lion below made it from a Chelsea basement back to a Kenyan reserve.
You could also purchase a puma, giraffe, zebra or cheetah until the late 1970s.

Dr. Who and the Bard

I have not yet become accustomed to the Dr. Who phenomenon. There is this one guy who can travel between worlds and have worlds collide with his.... and people here love it. The Christmas special with Kylie Minogue (don't get me started) was the highest viewed TV episode in England.

Now he's playing Hamlet. Apparently throngs of fans have descended in Stratford to watch him be upstaged by Patrick Stewart. That I want to see.

apparently the atlantic affects chocolate

Everyone knows Cadburys. But in England, they really take it to another level. The chocolate here is so much better. I have yet to discover why or how - but needless to say I'm enjoying it. Perhaps the colonies are not the worth the higher calibre of chocolate than Euro trash. There are so many things I miss in Canada regarding food. I have now found something I'll miss when I finally return.

Airline bad karma was due

With all my flying I've been relatively lucky. Despite some long delays, an incident with a stewardess and a door, and some 'almost-lands' I've never had that many issues with airlines. Since I've been flying before I was one, this is pretty good. However, the last two months with airlines have been interesting.

• Not my fault - issues with KLM. They double charged me, my bank wouldn't put a hold on my money and needless to say it was 10 days of painful calling, arguing and no resolutions.
• Clearly my fault - instead of booking the evening flight (like I thought I did), I booked the morning on our flight back from Switzerland. So instead of having a full day in Lucerne in Switzerland, all nice and relaxing, L2 and I will be doing a mad dash to the Basel Airport on the bank holiday. Apologies brother. I've never kicked myself so hard.

GB, Beijing and at loss on who to cheer for

As tomorrow launches the Summer 2008 Olympics in Bejing, I've been getting ready for the ever-gruesome hours to watch my favourite sports. However, watching the Olympics in a different country has brought up some questions. As GB specializes in completely different sports than Canada (Boxing, Cycling, triathlon) - will they play the sports that get so much coverage on the CBC?

I think I will get far too much coverage on equestrian events and very little on trampolining. I also doubt that BMX coverage will make it high on the BBC priority. Maybe BBC 11.......

Also - what will I feel when England wins? I doubt I will be able to achieve so much emotion around 'God Save the Queen'. The title has too many things I disagree with. But at least I know most of the words. I can't imagine my feelings if I was in Japan.

But, in the spirit of a new country and adopting new patriotic spirit - I have a few GB athletes that I will cheer on. One being Tom Daley, a diver and 14 years of age who looks about eight. He clearly makes me feel like I did nothing in my teenage years. I doubt I'm the only one.

Tomorrow two weeks of competition starts - is there anyone you are cheering for?

another bbc addiction

This weekend I got a new addiction. As you would have guessed - it's all about the BBC again.If you haven't seen BBC's Planet Earth - rent it, borrow it - watch it online - do anything to get it. The footage is incredible (they had no budget......)- it's not your run-of-the-mill nature documentry. It's almost always nothing you've seen before.

While I think caves frighten me even more - I feel much better informed.

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oh orla

Obviously there are loads of benefits to living in London. A main one (for me) is the fashion. So many different designers that we don't have access to in Canada. One (a new love) is Orla Kiely for bags and accessories. And this weekend I caved and bought a huge green bag in her traditional print. A Londoner, Orla's main shop is in Covent Garden amongst multiple cobblestoned streets. No Oxford Street here! The majority of her bags are waterproof and so light.. (a suprisingly hard thing to find).

The shop people were also helpful, sweet and generally out of your way. Boutique shopping is the way to go in London or else you might want to bring over more Canadians to train the English on customer service.

A picture will be posted soon - I couldn't find any on the internet.

another word for green space

they say the pasture is always greener on the other side. That is now very true and my love for North London. L2 and I headed up to Hampstead Heath on Sunday (despite the grey clouds) and I fell in love with the one bit of nature in London.

While we have our commons, our parks, and our very beautiful gardens - the heath is a huge space where you really don't feel like you're in London. Once and a while you catch a glimpse of the city.. (the gherkin) or the huge tv tower. Besides that - you have ponds, trees and bogs for 'miles'. Between the Heath and Primrose Hill - I think I know our next neighbourhood.

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