Category: summer
Into the Blue x
You’ll find these dresses in my dreams…
Mine’s the chair on the left…
Laters, Kate x
MiH Magic x
MiH, the original British jean brand have brought out their easy wear, always stare SS15 Collection.
With their love of denim and lashings of groovy inspiration, their designs are classic, pragmatic, clever and very independent.
You really sense it’s an high energy, slow process with thought and quality poured in.
They catch the nostalgic vibe of pre-mass market, when things were built to last and gently soften in the sun, improving with age and use.
To be worn collecting sea-shells on a sandy beach..or blinged up with statement jewellery at a posh party in London.
They work.
Wholesome, exhilarating food for the eyes, I can eat it all standing up…and always want more.
Laters, Kate x
Hot Fuzz x
Karen Walker has managed to capture the sex-factor in her new campaign..with a dog. A dog called Toast with a strong sense of self who doesn’t let anyone walk over her, but is more than happy to throw us a bone..
Sassy and sweet, flashing the flesh and dealing with aplomb with this meaty dish..
Like Karen Walker’s previous campaigns, it’s humourous, cheeky and rather wonderful, with just the perfect combination of wit and gristle.
The glasses aren’t bad either…
Laters, Kate x
Hey, Goodlooking..
Chloe SS15: If the seventies are being re-invented for Summer 2015, then the detail is in the pockets..large, luscious and lovely..
Groovy threads to hang loose and take you to the maxi..
Far out ‘n’ foxy..
Dream on, cool beans with peace, love and harmony..
Catch you on the flipside for a boogie..
Laters, Kate x
Pretty in Pink x
Spotted: Fabulous piece of walking art on Rita Ora.
Tracked down: To House of Holland SS15
Dreaming: Of tropical paradises, sun, sea and..sand.
Thinking: Are they crochet flowers? And could I do this??
Laters, Kate x
Dolce and Delicious x
I have a sentimental weakness for the advertising campaigns of Dolce & Gabbana and the way they always manage to capture charisma, lust and a sense of humour, all tied up with the rich heat of the mediterranean – much needed in these bone-chilling, frosty days of January (there’s even a rumour of snow today..)
There’s a tangy taste of the world, new and old (which is probably best not analysed too closely..who knew that Sicily was so rich in the tradition of Flamenco?) But the silhouettes are delicious..
However, the true stars of the show are the Nonnas, even modelling pop socks that steal the limelight..
Bright eyed, worldly-wise..and having the time of their lives..I bet they could cook a up mean pasta..
I want to be there. Like now.
Laters, Kate x
Stellar Star x
When was the last time you saw something so smart it made your head spin?
Stella Jean as that rare ability to turn what we would look at and think is promisingly awful and turn it into proud peacocks of the fashion world.
Each looks is a wonder, with the clever use of stripes pulling it all together like the ribbons on a babies bonnet.
Stella Jean is prepared to do things that could completely trip her up…but instead she reaches that heady sweet spot of awe.
Just stunning.
(All photos from Style.com)
Each item is a wonder and a rich blast of laughter laden exotic air…
Laters, Kate x
Crystal Palace x
One of the best children’s day outs in South London is a trip to Crystal Palace..the train comes straight into the park, there are full sized dinosaurs (promise) a farm (open 12-4, closed wednesdays (made that mistake before..)) a playground..and a maze..and what’s more, it’s all free. There’s even a greasy spoon cafe for lunch…we went there with friends yesterday to find, much to our surprise, there was even more…the council had set up an adventure playground including zorbing..and that was free too!..happy days!
There was hula-hooping…
Hoppers..
Giant garden games..
Stilts..
Animals the kid were allowed to stroke and hold..
Including some pretty exotic ones!
Charlie on the wrecking ball..
And to finish off, glitter tattoos and badge making..
It really was a perfect day!
Laters, Kate x
Part 2: Lefkada x
We left Spetses and started our epic journey to Lefkada..it’s almost impossible to capture the sense of height from photos, but this was the gorgeous spot half-way to Korinth that we stopped at for lunch.
We then drove through all manner of road works to Patras and the new (for me) and incredibly beautiful bridge that now spans across the sea in place of the Rio Antirrio (always remind me of something out of Narnia) ferry. It was after that we hit the real problems – we were a bit too reliant on our sat-nav who we’d inadvertently set to ‘Poros – Cephalonia’ instead of ‘Poros-Lefkada’..it kept trying to take us back to Patras to catch the ferry….Not good. After purchasing a paper map we got stuck behind all the lorries offloading from Patras…and Charlie made us pull over for his epic wee..and we had to watch as all the juggernauts we’d painstakingly overtaken noisily pass us again…it still pains me..
But it was worth it. Even if, according to Bella, there were 42 bends down to our resort! Lefkada is mountainous!
The view from where we had breakfast every morning.
We’d buy freshly baked pain au chocolat’s, croissants, cheese pies, apple pies or (my weakness) doughnuts from the attached supermarket, then bring them through to the taverna where they would provide plates and hot coffee. Poros Beach Camping, where we stayed, is a family run affair – one sister running the accommodation, another the supermarket, brother the taverna and mama the cook. Pretty perfect..
It was a beautiful beach – very different from Spetses..the stones were much whiter and there was dramatic, flowing purple seaweed to snorkel round, but always the crystal clear water.
Hiring a boat – just out from the main town of Nidri there are 6 islands to visit..
This is Scorpios..the infamous private island of the late Aristotle Onassis..now it belongs to a Russian Oligarch. We were checked out by bodyguards on a speedboat..we gave them a wave and blew them a kiss..amazing place, but what a price to pay..
The island that caught my attention was Megalonissi..sleepy, off the beaten track..we stopped for lunch.
This part of Greece is definitely cooler..there’s even grass!
(The only picture of me in the whole holiday!)(and taken by accident)
(That, and a hand..)
The pool..we’d spend the morning here before having lunch with Costa at his taverna on the site.
Part of the huge success of this holiday was the fact it was the first one where both children could swim…as a parent it meant we could finally relax.
Bella was even good enough to take sea urchin diving on the rocks..a huge joy for me.
And the towels? They were a huge success!
In the evening, after siesta we’d head to the beach for my favourite time of the day..the 5-8 pink light slot..
Skimming stones..
Jumping on Daddy..
Bliss. Then we’d find another taverna for supper.. my favourite had tables with little oil lamps on the beach. Why don’t we use oil lamps any more?!
The morning we left a huge storm moved in..
Making it the coolest, best incentive to leave on another epic drive to Athens airport..
But it will remain a holiday that will live long in the memory…
Laters, Kate x
Oh The Joys of the Summer Hols… x
- You’re watching a film, OK it’s Disney..but actually you’re involved in the story (sad but true)..at the crucial scene (long-lost Anastasia being re-introduced to her frail Grandmother..a real tear jerker. Promise)…there’s always a ‘Mum, mum, I need to tell you something RIGHT NOW.’ Without fail. Truth be told, happens in all programmes..sport – just as they come to the finishing line, the news..the weather! They announce the weather you’ve waited 30 minutes to hear so you can plan the next day – picnic? no picnic?….’Mum, MUM!…’
- This also relates to map-reading or any activity that requires your immediate attention…..major road junction and need to hear the sat nav? or need to talk to husband because not trusting the stat nav?… ‘Mum, MUM, MUUUUM!’…
- The phone..Mum talking on phone means I must talk to her extra loudly SO SHE CAN HEAR ME.
- ‘Please guys I need 30 minutes undisturbed’ equals at least six interruptions. Because each one was only a small one…because they didn’t want to interrupt you…
- The call of ‘Mum, MUM!’ from another floor followed by silence…that chick-like cry translates to ‘Drop-everything-you’re-doing-even-if-it’s-saving-the-world-because-I-need-you-to-do-something-really-insignificant-because-if-it-was-important-I- would-actually-bother-to-come-and-find-you’.
- The other much heard cry: ‘Mum-MUM-I-need-a-wee NOW!’…guaranteed on a motorway but the worst time so far…Eight hours into a drive on Greek roads at 37 degrees of heat, crawling along on single track, snaking, moutainous road with a stream of lorries which we’d slowly and painfully over-taken without being killed. We pulled over and had to watch as each and everyone passed us again..I cried. And Charlie was given an empty bottle for the rest of the journey..
- The ground-hog-day morning call of ‘Please can everyone have their shoes on and teeth brushed and everything ready so we can go as soon as I’ve finished this’. You finish tidying the house, sorting the washing, putting the washing machine on, cleaning the fridge (delete/add as appropriate)..and nothing’s happened. And now you’ll be late…
- You’re always late.
- The ground-hog-moment of reminding them to say please and thank you on loop throughout the day. Like hitting you’re head against a permanent wall. You can remember the date of your birthdays but this is too hard?? It’s the mum equivalent of chinese water torture. Results in No.15.
- I say ‘Please can you turn your ipod down’ and I get ‘Well that’s it..I’m just going to throw it in the bin and then you’ll be sorry’. Like doh? Results in no.15.
- The more bored they get, the less I want to do with them, the less they are capable of doing except whining at me for being bored…and then I spout all the cliches: ‘In my day…’
- Then you book them on a camp or tennis club..and it’s ‘We don’t want to go because we want to stay with you..’ Why???
- The longer you take to cook their breakfast/lunch/supper the less it will be appreciated. And cooking three meals a day stinks. Results in no.15…for me..
- So you have a picnic and where ever you are, whatever you’re doing, you’ll be handed all the rubbish as if you’re one giant dustbin. Even if you’re driving. Or getting ready to pilot a rocket to the moon..silently, the used lolly wrapper/empty drink carton, sandwich foil are passed over to you… Do I have ‘I am really a bin’ written in permanent ink on my forehead? Results in no.15..
- I tell them a certain behaviour will result in a consequence. They never believe I’ll carry it through. But I do every time..and they’re still shocked. Like??
- Because of no.15 the consequence usually means we don’t do something nice that gets us out of the house….which means no.11 kicks in…and I’m bored too.
- Asking something to be done requires the order in triplicate. And then no.15 kicks in, followed by no.16. And then no.18
- The longer the school holidays last, the more I find my brain shrinks (see no.1)
- And then they’ll disappear and play beautifully together..
- Except the more fun they have…. the greater the mess…
- Till it reaches a tipping point of hysterical proportions and you say ‘This will all end in tears’. And it does…
5 weeks down, three more to go….
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 