Cheer Up Chump!

Cheer Up Chump!

It has not been the merriest of times recently. The weather, the news and life in general seems lacking in lust despite. Spring having apparently arrived (AHAHAHAHA) there are still arbitrary snow drifts- bullshit and general misery and taking place in and around London.

In light of this darkness I would like to make a poor attempt to boost spirits by listing a few of my favourite things.

1. Chai Latte's- I love them! Warm, sweet and little spicy! They make a pretty foolproof remedy for any bad, cold or tiring day life hurls at you.
2. Dancing- classes and night clubs are great and stuff. However the dancing I'm specifically referring to is the dancing you do alone in your room. Better still if you are in your favourite underwear and throwing hazardous shapes to the Vengaboys. Go ahead- freak the f*** out!
3. Youtube! Sometimes you don't have time to watch TV but want a quick bite to take your mind off of the possible brain numbing pain of your existence. My favourite channels are-

• Jenna Marbles- Musings of a mildly aggressive, moderately unstable and thoroughly modern girl who tells it like it is. Very popular and very funny if you like that sort of thing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp-AxFdUe4A
  
  
• 'Your Grammar Sucks' from Jack's Films. Jack is a brave soul showcases the very worst of online grammar in a one man extravaganza. This is the only situation in which reading YouTube comments can possibly be a positive experience... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV6zKxM8Lw8
• Team Four Star- Pretty much for children of the nineties and anime fans. Heard of DragonBallZ? Good watch the abridged series- it's perfect. It not, umm- don't bother. Sorry no number one.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBm_2IUn4MU&list=UUsvazPPlhZlch0-Z3wPByeg&index=80

• The Fine Bros- Particularly 'Kids React' which is pretty much like that new show Goggle Box but with kids- apply same logic for  'Teens React' etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeGe7lVrXb0

There are loads more things I wanted to include but considering Easter's forecast, it looks like I'll have plenty more opportunities to list all the things that make life a little less like an endless Siberian tundra littered, with broken dreams. A desolate plain in which the only non-frozen water are the tears of disappointment shed by our shattered souls.

Have a nice day! x

Food I made!

I started cooking again. It's been a while. Life has been topsy turvy for a little while. I'm hoping for a fast improvement.

Anywho, here's some pictures of stuff I did recently and not so recently. I'm going to try to work out more. That's what they all say right? Well 2013 hasn't provided the suddenly inspired boost of life change that I wanted. It's not that 2013 has been disappointing but I always naively throw my heart into New Years. Then when that doesn't work I jump onto Chinese New Year and hope that it will give the whole new start thing another surge of hopefulness. But hope runs thin when it's cold and miserable. I want to try again and I will.

Listening to music helps. I got Jake Bugg's album and also a The Black Album by Metallica. I love the song 'The Unforgiven', it's melancholic, pessimistic and passionate. I like stuff like that. Riffs that punch you in the gut and melodies that give you that knot in your throat just before you burst into tears. Weird and mildly masochistic maybe but it's just the way I feel. That will be the song of the day. I think this is going to be a running thing. Song of the day. I know enough music for it to last for a few decades without repeating itself.

But yeah, this was supposed to be a foody entry...

Okay well I had a lot of cranberries so I mage ham salad with olives and feta with cranberries. And then cranberries and plum for dessert. It was a bit tart but sort of healthy.

This was delicious! It was lamb chops and an avocado salad with feta, olives, red peppers, mixed leaf salad and shredded carrot. It was a Friday night and I wanted a treat. The Pinot Grigio topped it off. I know that you're supposed to have red wine with red meat. But SUCK IT! I enjoyed my dinner!

You may have guessed the common theme is salad.

Well that's all I really have to say.

Bye!

4 'o clock

4 'o clock by tasha-dujifou-dujon featuring black tights

Long sleeve dress
romwe.com

Black tight
newlook.com

Sergio Rossi lace up boots
stylebop.com

Lanvin jewelry
$1,645 - farfetch.com

Lipstick
barneys.com

Face makeup
$12 - sleekmakeup.com

Christian Dior fragrance
nordstrom.com

Laura Mercier beauty product
nordstrom.com

Visual Merchandising

When I was in my early teens I always used to enjoy using online doll-makers like Elouai.com and Dollzmania.com. I loved being inspired by music and creating a character who I felt encapsulated it. Almost a decade later and nothing has changed. Sometimes the loser in me misses doll-makers, piecing together clothing to create a narrative; an attitude; a persona.

Luckily for me I'm still able to express this when I dress myself. Even though I can play with ways to reinvent myself, I cannot be satisfied. No matter how loved a canvas I am, or how much I adore  my wardrobe it will always have it's limits. Recently I even asked for visual merchandising training at work. If I can have a creative input in the company, I will start enjoying work like I did when I first started. But even that has it's limits.

That's when I discovered polyvore.com. Okay, okay, I know I wam so late, just like I was with lookbook.nu. I know it existed but I never imagined it would be so simple. Lookbook.nu is a wonderful sight but I don't have the equipment to be successful on it- or indeed remotely successful.

I've started putting together sets inspired by music. One of my favourite sets is called 'Camomile Tea'. It uses pastel pink and mint green and was inspire by a song by Perfume called 'Communication'- very bouncy and sweet.

Camomile Tea by tasha-dujifou-dujon featuring knee socks

Dorothy Perkins mint shirt
$45 - dorothyperkins.com

Knee socks
$8.50 - nordstrom.com

Mini skirt
£12 - desireclothing.co.uk

Cotton socks
$6 - topshop.com

Cocktail shoes
£25 - desireclothing.co.uk

Leather shoulder handbag
$495 - jildorshoes.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs oversized jewelry
$184 - mytheresa.com

Sterling silver jewelry
$30 - etsy.com

Vintage Hydrangea Silk Flower Arrangement
$205 - silkflowers.net

This collection was inspired by the song 'Henrietta' by the Fratelli's. I love rockabilly/vintage and try to emulate it quite a lot.

Henrietta Cookie Dough by tasha-dujifou-dujon featuring hair pins accessories

Swing dress
75 AUD - inspiredinsanity.com.au

Charlotte Russe high heel pumps
$33 - charlotterusse.com

Chanel leather handbag
£1,950 - farfetch.com

Yves Saint Laurent chain jewelry
$348 - net-a-porter.com

Hair pins accessory
$10 - etsy.com

J.Crew plastic sunglasses
$98 - jcrew.com

Lip gloss
$21 - redstripeclothing.com

Kelly Brook has a beautiful collection exclusive to New Look that uses a lot of 1950's pin up glamour. That's why I included her as the model


One of the most fun sets to create was based on the main character from Park Chan Wook's 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance' called Lee Geum Ja.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (spring) by tasha-dujifou-dujon featuring leather shoulder handbags

Ellison slimming dress
$120 - coast-stores.com

Burberry double breasted trench coat
£995 - net-a-porter.com

Christian louboutin pumps
$845 - christianlouboutin.com

Proenza Schouler leather shoulder handbag
$1,695 - kirnazabete.com

Flower earrings
$17 - shopruche.com

SELECTED wool scarve
€20 - bestseller.com

Crystal Garden Wish Flower
$14 - urbanoutfitters.com

Areaware Bull Box
$49 - yliving.com

She's so apathetic and aloof. While I'm at it I suggest you check that out too. Be prepared to cry!


I feel I've segued enough for one day.

Until next time...