Category: Photography
Olivia Palermo, Really? x
(Photo by Johannes Huebl/instagram)
So the lovely Olivia Palermo is to become a Missus?…One can only wonder what the wedding will be like…I’ve rather fallen for these pictures from Vogue Tumblr of Caitlin Brown’s and Lee Schwartz’s bohemian wedding taken by Cass Bird…I think they’ll be a shared sense of DNA…but who knows!
(Bridesmaid accessory to die for!)
In our dark days of gales, rain, wind and storms it makes me long for the sun..
Laters, quietly dreaming, Kate x
Secrets..
Do you know postsecret.com? It’s an online community art project where anyone can anonymously send in a postcard with a secret written on one side…which is then uploaded in all it’s gory glory. From the confessions of a disco queen to the thwarted angst of true love, each one reminds me of the Ernest Hemingway six-word novel:
For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.
The perfect illustration of how small things can have a big impact: These are subtly crafted, often poignant bubbles of true and honest humanity released onto the cyber-ether and I love them..
Laters, Kate x
A walk in the Woods..
Did you have a lovely Christmas? I hope so!
Spot my new baby..yep..a Hipsters for Sisters leopard bag as drooled over here..and I LOVE it! Versatile, accommodating and a true thrill to wear..the belt option is GENIUS…but it’s so easy to wear cross body as well…love, love, LOVE!
One happy bunny!
We spent yesterday taking the Blanket Coat for a walk, enjoying the blue skies (after all our storms) and blowing some cobwebs at Richmond Park..
You’d never guess we were still in London..
We played poo sticks (I lost).
Saw a woodpecker..
And stood under a parrot tree! (Not for too long..)
Till the dusk came down and it was time to head home..
To a roaring fire and left-over Christmas pudding…heaven!
Laters, Kate x
Eyeing London x
We headed to the South Bank on the afternoon of the big storm (the one that brought down a theatre ceiling. Allegedly. It was certainly dramatic) It was only 3.15 pm when I took these but it felt so much later…there was a distinct line between light and dark with a foreboding air.
We were there to meet up with a very dear friend and her two children..they’d come round to ours the previous day but had left a much beloved chetah behind, and as they lived in Devon it was the perfect excuse to see them again.
Y’see, we went through infertility together, holding each others hand..in fact we were a group of three strugglers….Heidi (who we were meeting) eventually had two – twins, a girl and a boy via IVF, I had my two (IVF and otherwise)..and superwoman Karen?..she adopted 4 siblings to keep them together! We will forever remain in awe of Karen.
Christmas will always be a poignant time, now and then..at the carol service I still light a special candle for those walking that horrible path. If you know someone or think you might suspect a problem – be kind to them, especially at this time of year – don’t ask..just give them an extra large glass of something and a cuddle. And if they need to escape..let them.
The heavens never opened on us..we just had the light show,
but I’ve rarely seen skies like it.
There’s also a Christmas Market at the South Bank, full of a different kind of atmosphere.
And if you haven’t sorted your centre piece for the Christmas table? How about a very large, edible gingerbread house!
Laters, Kate x
Soul Voiced Shirts x
What to get a man for Christmas? Traditional cardigan and slippers? A dressing gown?
Or something a bit more memorable?
I had a conversation with a friend last week about African shirts..she wasn’t sure about their appeal..but I think they’re incredible..
(You’ll certainly never worry about clashing patterns again!)
They’re beyond a natty ensemble, brimmed thick with amusement and verbosity. A joy trigger and a visual conversation with an unpredictability that sits seamlessly next to regular classics.
All the pictures in this post came from the same Company..the African Shirt Company who not only offer shirts at fair prices, they’re set up to help the community that makes them in Kenya.
The aim of the African Shirt Company is to improve the lives of locals living in Kasigau, Kenya by providing them with an alternative way to earn an income.
The Company also supports a reforestation project to promote environmental education and sustainable land management in the area.
Each shirt sold also means money given back to the community to buy small seedlings for the local children which are cared for and eventually planted to maintain and restore the degraded land.
An absolute win win!
..and surely that’s what a Christmas present should really be about?
Laters, Kate x
Creative Coffee.. x
Creative Coffee this week had the enticing theme of Christmas-wreath-making-whilst-drinking-mulled-wine…Let’s face it..a winning, festive, smile-inducing combination!
We all had a basic moss base to work with and oodles of luscious greenery to choose from..
Silver or white spray was an option. As was lots of other delicious bits..
I went eu naturale… ivy, eucalyptus and blue thistles..
Ta-Dah!
Laters, Kate
My Maison, Mia Casa..
On this special day when our friends across the pond are celebrating Thanksgiving, others are celebrating Hanukkah (and some are even celebrating the unique Thanukkah (not to be seen again for another 79,000 years)) I thought I’d welcome you all into my house for a few festive nibbles and a couple of glass of something cold and classy to raise a toast to everlasting joy, happiness and all that’s good with the world!
(Yep. The laundry room makes it. Just because I love organised laundry..)
With love,
Kate xxx
A Family Wonder Event x
On Saturday we had an early Christmas present..a family day out at the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park courtesy of ‘Fairy’, Bella and Charlie’s wonderful Godmother. Such a brilliant idea…memories are so much better than bits…honestly, she is the best!
We all went ice skating on the Wonderland ice rink and watched Charlie demonstrate his natural kamikaze skills..
And Bella showed her elegance. They both have regular lessons so they left us for dust.
We couldn’t have picked a better day.
Spot the extrovert.
We’d been before – 2 years ago..but this year was different. The traditional was everywhere, like this fire pit..specially designed for roasting marshmallows..how special?!
Charlie and Bella with Fairy doing just that!
Which meant there was always a sweet smell of smoke on the air mixed with mulled wine and chocolate….
Who needs to go to Germany when Germany’s in London?
Too much information..
There were also playthings for the adults..depending on how many bratwurst sausages you’d eaten..and how much you minded them repeating..
We also had a very funny trip into the freezing Magical Ice Kingdom to see the ice sculptures (NB There’s also an ice bar..cheaper than a trip to the infamous Ice Hotel)….but apologies..all my pics are blurred as I was laughing too much….at the end is an ice slide….suffice to say unless you had the right coat on (Fairy) it was more of a bottom shuffle (Husband)…
It was a delicious, delightful, delectable day to savour for a long, long time..
Kisses to our amazing Fairy! – memories are made of this.
Laters, Kate x
Autumn..
Sub-life x
I love the older generation – I’m sure it’s a genetic trait passed down from my Grandmother who collected them like a matriarchal mother hen. In her eighties she’d regularly drive (rarely getting out of second gear) other people to their adult learning classes, ‘So-and-so is in their nineties’, she’d say, incredulously, ‘And still independent!’
I don’t even avoid them in supermarket queues..like the other day when in an attempt to squeeze a few extra, precious seconds of the day I tried to do a lightening supermarket run just before school pick-up. Except the magic elongating of time never happened so by the time I reached the check-out with my full basket of stuff I hadn’t realised I’d needed it was already the witching hour of 3.15 (pick-up)…and I was third in the queue….bad, very bad. The elderly lady at the front was finishing up her purchases, bags packed, money paid which was great..except just as I thought she was all done she produced, like something from the Hobbit, this enormous, bulging plastic bag of loose change..I literally felt a hand of horror clasp my now heaving throat. She did have the grace to turn to all of us..
‘Would you mind dreadfully if I got this changed here?’
I gulped, I never, ever, EVER make a fuss…but..it wasn’t just Charlie I was due to pick up..it was his friend as well..so even with the ghost of my Grandmother wagging her finger at me…
‘I’m so sorry’ I piped up..’I’m already late for school pick-up..and I’m sure there’s a change machine round the corner at the far end?’…
‘Oh no. I tried there. It’s out of order.’
‘I’m so sorry..it’s my son and his friend..they’re only four..and in reception..and I’m already late….’
‘Oh well..you see..it’s my husband. He’s just died and this is all the change from his pockets.’
The lino floor opened up and dragged me down to hell…
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 