Pass It Forward: 3 Pragmatic Bloggers

I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to Susie of Susie So So for the Liebster Award but most importantly, for the heartwarming words that had me alternating between laughing uncontrollably and wiping a tear or two away.

In a parallel universe, I strut down New Bond St with grace and confidence in my 4 inch Louboutins while swinging an Hermes Kelly and wearing a figure hugging Victoria Beckham dress. My hair is freshly blown dry at a salon and my face is beautifully made up. Yeah, I am day-dreaming alright. The reality couldn't be further from the truth.  In my current universe (one must always be optimistic about positive changes in our lives), I'm in my t-shirt, jeans, Isabel Marant jacket (my only claim to fame) and comfy wedge sneakers while chasing Lil L and lugging bags of groceries as she zig-zagged down the street at an astounding pace. My only consolation is that I have only a couple of tiny instead of  palm sized food stains on my shirt.

While I often gaze with deep longing at glamorous photos of model like bloggers, the ones that I can relate to the most would be those who have a practical and sensible approach to fashion but stylish nonetheless. Many of us do not have a deep pocket nor make expensive purchases every week. I love seeing old clothes being recycled again and again and learning how to make it work with other pieces in the wardrobe. These 3 bloggers exemplify a more minimalist approach to dressing.




Sonia of Sonia Deli

Sonia is a stunning beauty based in London with alluring doe like eyes and those high cheekbones which are only seen on models. Oh wait! She does look like a model. She's a Portuguese transplant living in London. I guess you could say that birds of a feather flock together as we seem to have rather similar taste in clothes. As you've guessed it, she's a huge fan of French brands like A.P.C, Isabel Marant and Vanessa Bruno. I admire her relaxed yet chic approach. Her blog doesn't just concentrate on fashion but also include travel and food. Since I've yet to master the art of wearing heels, I turn to her blog for ideas as Sonia is a fan of comfortable shoes.





Melody of Chicology

Tall, slim and innately elegant, Melody has a way of turning simple and affordable clothes into an expensive looking outfit. She lives in Singapore and her clothes reflect the climate there. Melody's a lady after my own heart as she tends to invest in her bags and shoes. Check out her incredible Hermes and Chanel collection! She's a huge fan of Ferragamo shoes which I'd previously thought were old fashion but she has since rekindled my love for the brand. Although you wouldn't know it from her figure but she's a mom and a very well dressed mom at that.




Aissa of The Chic Pragmatist

 

I adore the name of the blog. How appropriate! Aissa is based in Paris. I admire those who can write and speak two languages fluently. Her outfits are chic, never contrived and comfortable. One of my favorite things to do in Paris is to sit at a cafe and people watch. I love how the Parisians put their outfits together. The majority of ladies there understand their body shape and lifestyle and would follow a trend if it flatters them. Aissa is adept at mixing High St clothes such as Gap, H&M, New Look or Uniqlo with Isabel Marant, Balenciaga or Lanvin.

Much ado about Cornwall

Thank you all for the compliments regarding the photos. The credit has to go to the hubby and Lil L for patiently standing around in the cold with strong wind whipping their coats about and trying to amuse themselves while I scoured each location for the "best light". I'm sorry I haven't had the chance to reply to some of your questions individually. I was numb with shock when a friend told me yesterday that the new school term will begin next Wednesday, not Monday as I'd assumed it to be. We moms love our kids without a doubt but that doesn't mean we haven't entertained the thought of locking our precious little darlings in a room and throwing the key away.





On our way to Cornwall, we passed Devon and decided to make a quick stop at its capital, Exeter for a  look around. Like most English cities, there's a massive Cathedral smacked right in the middle of the town center. As it was explained to me by an English friend of mine, a town, no matter its size or population can qualify as a city if there's a Cathedral.

I hate to say this but it looks like many other ancient cities here in England but charming and elegant nonetheless. We had the most ghastly breakfast by the quay. To add insult to injury, we'd also paid a small fortune for the privilege of having soggy mushrooms, overcooked poached eggs, the most disgusting grilled tomatoes.






 









Mousehole, despite its interesting name, is pronounced as Mow-zel. The tiny fishing village is remarkably beautiful with stone houses and colorful shutters. It actually reminds me of some of the villages in France. We took a chance and drove through itty bitty lanes to find a park. It's a popular destination for tourists and traffic can become rather bottle neck around the harbor. I'd highly recommend not driving a van or SUV if you want to navigate around the country roads of Cornwall.

We dropped in at a local restaurant that had plenty of stickers pasted on the glass door to advertise the fact that they were recommended by Michelin Guide. It must be the chef's off day but the food paled in comparison to Rhubarb at St Ives.




Mount St Michael can be easily compared to Mont St Michel of France. We didn't manage to make it there but I've been told that it's a marvelous place to visit.




Sennen Cove is a short drive from St Ives and a popular spot for those who enjoy surfing. The long stretch of sandy beach is ideal for the kids but watch out during the summer months, particularly if you're planning to head out early because every man and his dog along with his wife and kids will be there too.





As a parting note, here are two photos of St Ives again. I'd overheard a couple of ladies boasting that they managed to catch 15 crabs with a small cage and rope. There were mussels abound during low tide too. Ideally, I'd love to have a rented a small flat or apartment. It's wonderful to eat out but after 2 days of restaurant hopping, we missed a home cooked meal. Thank you for reading!

St Ives, Cornwall

Abandoned tin mine

Patchwork fields

To all those who live in the UK, I hope you had a great long weekend!

Cornwall. I must've heard the name mentioned thousands of times by my friends. Most were incredulous that I haven't seen it. The word is uttered in a reverential manner akin to a tone used to describe heaven on earth. Cornwall county is seeped in myths, ghosts and pirates that combed the secluded coves centuries ago. Legend stated that the ancient town of Tintagel was in fact, Camelot and the birthplace of King Arthur.

Tin mining was once a vital part of Cornwall's thriving economy up until the 19th century. Abandoned tin mines, now lying in ruins and forgotten, can be found dotted throughout the region. There's a local saying that "a mine is a hole anywhere in the world with a Cornishman at the bottom of it".  Suffice to say that most miners in the world probably have a Cornish forefather.

The Cornish language is almost unintelligible to my untrained ears. It's heavily influenced by Gallic, Celtic and Breton (Brittany) and sounds nothing like English with its lilting tones and the rolling of the tongue.

It was a long drive from Hampshire, approximately 7 hours with a couple of pit stops along the way. I was stupid enough to succumb to Lil L's pleas and downloaded her picks which included her favorite 9 year old gospel singer, Rhema Marvanne and Taylor Swift hits. The 5 songs were played repeatedly for the entire 7 hours with both the hubs and Lil L  belting out the songs which inevitably ended up into a who's the loudest in the car contest. I wonder if the CIA would consider a loan of these two individuals to perform an audio torture if they have trouble extracting a confession from their prisoners. For free.

 

Porthminster beach

The Harbor

The Harbor

Lighthouse at The Harbor

We drove past picturesque rolling hills with vivid green patchwork pastures, bales of hay laid hither and thither in the fields and the winding and narrow country roads with charming thatched cottages on either side. St Ives is an idyllic seaside town which was once an artists' colony due to the beautifully diffused light, azure waters and equally blue skies. The heaving crowds and packed cobbled lanes could not detract the town from its beauty.

Porthminster Beach

Near Porthgwidden Beach

The Cornish Deli: Crab sandwich

The Cornish Deli: Brie and jelly salad with Rose

Moist foccacia with shortcrust pork pie

Rhubarb cafe: Seabass with new potatoes, samphire, capers and beans

Cornish mussels with creamy white wine sauce and crusty bread

There's no shortage of incredible bistros, delis and restaurants. We popped into Rhubarbs and had fresh crab sandwiches and salad. The next night, we checked out Rhubarbs cafe and had one of our best meals in Cornwall. Very reasonably priced and exquisite food.

We met delightful locals who were happy to stop for a chat and enjoyed the fantastic hospitality from the owners of No8 Windsor Terrace Bed and Breakfast. We were approached by a elderly gentleman who was elated to find someone using the same clunky Canon 400D camera. It turned out that he was an old classmate of Ringo Starr, the drummer for the Beatles.

A plaque that says it all

Up next, a quick tour around Cornwall!

Pass It Forward: 3 Shutterbugs

I'm always drawn to beautifully composed images. I've been a shutterbug for a decade now. I was delighted to discover several women in the blogosphere who are just as excited about photography as I am. It's a pleasure to not talk about gadgets for a change and our discussions are often concentrated on creating images that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also ones that evoke emotions.



Malou of 33 Avenue

My pint sized friend, Malou is not only a stylish mom, she's also photography enthusiast who can often be found with her Leica slung across her body while carrying a Birkin. We met via our love for Hermes bags years ago and now tries to catch up whenever she's in London. She currently resides in Zurich but this nomadic lady has lived in various countries and speaks 5 languages. I guess she can add French to the list as she has just returned from a 3 month stint in Paris. She has my admiration for embarking on her remarkable journey to live her dream in Paris along with her toddler.





QY of Q9Y8

QY is another lady who is afflicted with the Hermes addiction. Isn't it interesting how our love for designer bags can engage a huge international community of women from all corners of the world? It was QY who first taught me to photograph still outfit pictures. She's a young mom of 1 who works in the I.T industry. She originally came from China but has lived in Germany for many years now.





Grace of A Life Unhurried

Let's talk about 2 degrees of separation here. I live in a small town with a population of 50 000 on a lucky day. What are the odds of finding a fellow immigrant, blogger and shutterbug who literally lives a mere 5 minute stroll from my place? In fact, it was Grace who found me through another friend, Alice Gao of Lingered Upon  whom I featured back in July. Grace is a Filipina Canadian who has settled down in England along with her husband. She's a food lover. Her blog is packed with incredibly healthy recipes and stunning photographs, a feast for the eyes and tummy.

Guest Post: A Touch of Whimsy

Laura and I have a tendency to email each other with photos of anything that strikes our fancy. The list gets kind of long but thankfully, we have a relatively healthy dose of self restraint in us to whittle it down to a manageable number. Laura needs little introduction seeing that she was quite a hit the last time she posted here. So take it away, Laura....!

I think it was the year I turned 28 or 29 that I decided to focus on building a grown-up wardrobe of classics that would work for years to come. It’s been about 10 years now and I can honestly say I’ve done pretty well with this. Let’s see...investment trench coat, check. Repetto ballet flats, check. Striped Breton tops, check. A capsule collection of “forever” handbags, check. A good denim and knitwear wardrobe, a leather moto jacket, a few quality blazers, a couple of delectable jewelry treasures...... Well, you get the idea. 

I love what I’ve chosen. Really. These pieces have held up amazingly well and seem to take on the subtle changes I’ve made to my overall look throughout the years with brilliance. They just fit right in. So why did I poke my head into my closet a few months ago, head tilted, nose wrinkled, and feel that something was just....missing?

Photo credit: Oceana's Sea Change. Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Alhambra Butterfly Ring & Earclips Ensemble

It hit me one day when I was ignoring the laundry and innocently perusing the Van Cleef and Arpels website. I stumbled across this Alhambra turquoise butterfly ring. Bad idea.

Photo credit: Think Is Cool

Then, I just happened to walk by a Prada window display similar to this one while in New York last spring.

Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats Photo credit: VaVaVoom

And this shot of Alexa Chung in a red showstopper dress and Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats has been seriously haunting me.

Now, what do a turquoise butterfly, Flame-covered Prada finery and black flats with cat faces on them have in common?  Whimsy. Playfulness. Umm....fun?  Exactly what was missing from my closet. For me, it’s not about overly cutesy stuff or Carrie Bradshaw tutus or head-to-toe irreverence or outlandish Lady Gaga costumes. It’s that little spark of unexpected. That sprinkle of insouciance added to an otherwise simple, classic look. And it’s not always about spending a bundle to get there.  Wardrobe whimsy can be had on a budget as long as the pieces are well thought out, of good quality and used sparingly. 

Here are a few goodies I’ve recently mixed into my Classics Hall of Fame:

This J.Crew Heartthrob blouse was affordable and adds a smile to a date night outfit. Sometimes, I hide it under a black pullover or blazer and let just a bit of the collar or cuff poke out. They’re also doing a heart sweater right now and I have it on order - grab it now if you want it. These babies sell out!

Jennifer Meyer Arrow Pendant Necklace

My husband surprised me with this dainty Jennifer Meyer gold arrow charm. I find that this tiny amount of edge keeps a black turtleneck or Equipment silk blouse from looking too, well, buttoned up!

Marc by Marc Jacobs navy finch dress

When I saw this Marc by Marc Jacobs navy finch dress online, I all but raced over to my friendly neighborhood department store to swoop it up. I love the feel and fit and you can’t even tell that I’m sporting little birds unless you’re right up close.

Photo credit: Cartier

And what about some things still on my whimsy wish list? Well, buried deep within the hollowed caverns of my dreams lies this piece. The Cartier gold Panthere ring. It’s fierce, it’s fabulous. I can picture it now - dark denim, my new Rag and Bone black blazer with leather lapels (cough, timeless) worn over a long, thin, loose white tee. And this Panthere ring perched upon my right hand. Now that is what I call fun.

How about you? Do you like to work in a little whimsy from time to time?

3 Ways to Wear Sweatpants

Outfit: Alexander Wang trackpants (similar here or here), The Kooples sneakers ((Isabel Marant Bobby Sneakers here), Etoile Isabel Marant military jacket (similar here), Uniqlo t-shirt.

I wrote about the current sweatpants "trend" a few months back (here). I use the word trend loosely  because I've been wearing sweatpants for decades. The tapered and slimline cut is definitely more palatable to the eye in order to avoid the "I'm heading out to the gym" or "I'm a total slob" look. Especially when I haven't stepped into a gym for years. Actually, I lied. In a moment of madness, fueled by the excitement from the incredibly exciting Olympic Taekwondo matches, I made it to 2 classes before injuring my groin ligament and have been hobbling since. Splits schmits....!

On a side note, I've introduced my Mini Me to the world of sweatpants. I found these brushed cotton sweats from Petit Bateau at 75% off. I know....I know...... Mom wants to dress daughter like herself. Now, it has come back to bite me in the youknowwhere. To my dismay, she has decided to ditch all her pretty dresses in favor of her new favorite sweatpants. Le sigh......

Outfit: The Kooples sweatpants (similar here or here), Etoile Isabel Marant Kady jacket, Alexander Wang t-shirt, ankle boots (Isabel Marant Dicker boots here)

I've got plenty of excuses lined up for wearing sweats. Cue whiny voice........ (it's the result of hanging around with too many 6 year olds).

1) It's the summer holidays. The weather sucks and I can't be arsed to dress up. That's 3 in a row. See? I can't count before my 2nd cup of coffee.
2) I work from home so dressing up can be a little pointless at times. Besides, I nearly gave the postie a mini heart attack when I opened the door in my ghastly velour Juicy Couture tracksuit. Best not to ask the color if you're on meds. I don't want to be responsible for you keeling over in shock.
3) We're traveling quite a bit over the summer months and I can't bear the thought of the waistband digging into my jelly belly.
4) I no longer have to unbutton my jeans when I gorge on a meal. The elastic band rocks.

Alexander Wang trackpants (similar here or here), Etoile Isabel Marant Momo jacket, Uniqlo t-shirt and ankle boots (Isabel Marant Dicker boots here)

As you can see, I'm channeling the Kate Moss' effortless chic style (otherwise known as putting on any clothes that's within arm's reach) complete with that nonchalant attitude she's famous for (being thick skinned enough to look decidedly disheveled out of sheer laziness to dress oneself) and deliberate messy hairstyle (aka can't be....you guessed it....arsed to brush my hair).

So what do you think about the sweatpants trend? Yay or nay?

Pass It Forward: 3 Aussie Bloggers

You know what they say about sibling rivalry? You bicker and fight because you're too similar. It's like the Malaysians and the Singaporeans, the British and the French or the Aussies and the Kiwis. Seeing I have plenty of close friends covering all the countries above, it's fun to nudge and poke at them just to get a reaction.

Just so you know, my dear Aussie friends, it's fush and chups, not feeeesh and cheeeeps, Tanya not Ten-yeah. The hubs grew up in Seeeeedney and finally lost his Aussie (Aussie Aussie, Oy Oy Oy) accent while living in NZ and the Lil L thinks the Wiggles boys (dear Lord, those men prancing around in colored tees drive me bonkers) are the bee's knees and some of my closest friends are Aussies, the country is close to my heart.



Vanisha of Vanisha's Life

Vanisha originally came from Fiji but settled down in Australia and is currently working on her PhD at Australian National University.  This gorgeous academic's huge heart belies her diminutive size (she clocks in at under 90 pounds). What do I love about Vanisha? Her forthright manner and compassion shine through her posts. There's no artifice nor superficial fluff. What you see is what you get.



Trishie of Under Lock and Key

Trishie is a youthful lady in her early 30s from Sydney. She has a romantic soul and is a domestic goddess at heart. She's probably shaking her head at my words (sorry!). Her weekly recipes have me drooling. Her blog is best avoided during mealtimes lest I gnaw on the laptop. Her lifestyle blog covers a multitude of topics which appeals to someone like me who has a short attention span. She has a weakness for dainty crockery and natural skincare.





Stephanie of Absolutely Fuzzy

Stephanie is a fellow Malaysian who immigrated to Australia many years ago. She's a Sydneysider these days. Being a tomboy at heart, I can easily relate to her rocker chic and slightly avant-garde style. Her outfits are always unfussy, edgy and functional.  Stephanie is a graphic designer which is rather unsurprising considering how professional her blog looks.

Isle of Wight

Shanklin Beach

Shanklin beach overlooking the mainland

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments in the previous post. I've always been camera shy but what a wonderful welcome! The compliments had been walking around on cloud nine the entire day!

The weather was glorious throughout out short stay on the Isle of Wight. The English weather is a little like the Russian roulette. You just never know when you're going to be drenched by yet another downpour. I took the advice of a B&B owner and booked the trip via Raileasy instead of buying the train/ferry separately. The island is a mere 20 minute ferry ride from the mainland which is a handy getaway for many mainlanders during the summer months.

The Isle of Wight was Queen Victoria's favorite vacation spot but became her permanent residence after the death of Prince Albert. Since this is the UK we're talking about, there were plenty of thousand year old churches and castle ruins to be seen. Having seen plenty of the two, I decided to spend the 3 days wandering aimlessly through the different towns to get a feel for the place instead.

Church at Godshill

Sundial at Godshill with thatched cottages in the background

If there's one thing that Shanklin and Godshill are famous for, it'd be these charming English thatched cottages. These thatched roofs as I'm told need to be replaced once every 10 years or so but are thick enough to be a good sound barrier.

Cowes is the place to go for anyone who's obsessed about yachting. In fact, the little town held the world's first regatta and the original America's Cup before they lost it permanently to the Americans. The stores that lined the High street sell all sorts of sailing paraphernalia that will certainly satisfy any yachting enthusiasts. Cowes was bustling with tourists on the day we were there. There were bands playing, yachts racing across the finishing line and shops doing a roaring business.

How could we leave the place without sampling two of the most iconic British fares? The Victorian sponge and fish and chips.