*Eames and stripes, via Tapet Cafe via House of Bliss via Oh Joy*

*Pets, via Fresh Collective via Chaotic Division via Now and Then via Xote*

*Cubes, via KamKam via Sub-Studio*

*Ears, via Minakaniwalls via Reelinki*

*Buttoned starch, via Emsedge*

*Electric wool, via Emsedge*

*Lost wading, via Pakayla Biehn via Daydream Lily*

*Yellow beam, via Tina Hellberg via From Scandinavia With Love*

*Blush, via Park & Cube via Wear Color*

*Feline fripperies, via Cherry Blossom Girl*

*Burning colours, via Zilverblauw*

*Dots and spots, via objects of desire via Omuus via Reelinki*

*Care package, via Oh Hello Friend*

*Clipboards, via Jans Dotter via DesignSponge*

It’s been a busy old week, what with work events and a trip to the BFI on Wednesday to see Eraserhead with fellow David Lynch fans Kate, Tom, Dan and Joe, then a weekend of fun with Laura, kicking off with a delightful champagne afternoon tea at One Aldwych Hotel (more on that later). The night spiralled from there into knocking back shots of tequila (chase by red wine or chocolate orange segments *shudders*) with her neighbours while playing Scattergories. I should warn you that just writing “Carole” for an athlete’s name is a seemingly unacceptable answer.

Crashing at Laura, Nick and Kam’s place all weekend, we lounged about watching movies, before heading out to Shoreditch for Silver and Robin’s birthday shindig last night. Just as we were leaving Chiswick, the snow started to fall…and got increasingly heavier. So much so that when we left the pub at midnight, London resembled St Petersburg from last year. Luckily we got back to west London a-ok, though had a good 30-minute wait for a taxi at Hammersmith, which then refused to drop us at their door. Thankfully the pizza delivery guy wasn’t quite as fearful…

The other weekend, my fashion journalist pal Laura asked for a hand with taking some outfit pics for her blog, as her boyfriend just doesn’t have the patience. You can’t blame him! However, I was only too happy to help, particularly as she was travelling to me for a day o’ fun in my local Brockwell Park, and she could act as my excuse to buy a lamington from Blackbird Bakery down the road.

While she somehow cajoled me into stepping in front of the camera (more on that later, once I finish editing the photos), I felt far more comfortable behind the camera, shooting her dress fluttering in the late-afternoon sun, or dodging passing cars as I sought that perfect shot.

You can check out her post on the first outfit here, and on the second outfit (shot closer to Brixton, against a gritty “urban” brick wall) over here, to find out where each item originated from. But if you’d rather know about the actual kit used during these “photo shoots” (god I feel like such a wanker writing that), it was just my Canon 500D with EF 50 mm f/1.8 II lens, with editing done in Photoshop.

The full photo-set is over on Flickr too, if you’re really getting into all of this.

Not that I plan on giving up my incessant combing of the wild web’s fringes for a weekly shot of favourite picks. Oh no, good sir:

*Trees and prints, via @IFeelSmug via Hello Future House*

*For Keeps, via Shana Murray via Design Sponge*

*Geometrics and puffballs, via Plenty of Colour via Omuus via Reelinki via Analog Dialog*

*French alps, via Seventy Tree*

*Raw bunting, via Victoria Hudgins via Decor8*

*Piece by piece, via Pep Ventosa via Leesa Weesa*

*Heart-shaped patch, via Cherry Blossom Girl*

*Gazing at the birds, via Sadie’s Wardrobe*

*Spoon of beets, via Bleubird Vintage*

*Solange, via Oyster Mag via Wear Color*

*Bathing walrus, via Hindsvik At Home via What Katie Does*

*Twin lives, via Silent Sundays via Daydream Lily*

*Pink tips, via Leesa Weesa*

*Pink on pink, via Freunde von Freunden via Decor8*

*Hiding in the sun, via Aly Mitton via Daydream Lily*

*Floating, via Abraxas Rex via Pennyweight via The Aviary*

Last week I finally got around to starting on the Twin Peaks box-set. I’ve wanted to watch it for so long, and having finished season one of The Killing (the, erm, Americanese version, after Jim cocked up our Amazon order), we finally got our chance. The following night, Tuesday, I saw The Artist with Kate and Libby — definitely recommended. Though I should warn you that a severe case of 1920s-hairdo-desire will likely strike soon after.

Wednesday I worked from home and had a pretty crazy afternoon of meetings — all very inspirational and creative, though. My favourite kind. That night I had a drink with my pal Jane, then dinner with Petah, Guy and Petah’s parents at lovely Mildred’s. The following night it was work drinks, and while I woke up the next morning feeling a little rough for wear, I ploughed back into the cocktails that night at Veranda, a Caribbean restaurant in Brixton that my mate Tash was reviewing for Brixton Blog. I won’t spoil her review, but the food and service was incredible, and finding out at the end of the meal that it was all on the house was just the icing on top. We checked out the newish Electric Social afterwards, which had a great atmosphere and stunning cocktails. I must return soon!

Saturday, Jim and I had a meeting about mortgages and the like, which was rather scary business. The good news is we can afford to keep hold of our current flat and rent it out, plus buy the three bed house-of-dreams we put an offer in on last week, but we’ve got some thinking to do, as it’ll mean seriously curbing our lifestyle to, erm, pay for it all. I managed to forget all that scary grown-up stuff as soon as I hotfooted it over to Kate’s new Penge Palace (just 14 minutes, door to door!) in the arvo with Libby, for lasange and a gossip, before we bussed over to East Dulwich’s EDT for Heidi and Dikki’s engagement drinks.

Today I’ve come back to earth with a strong thud, as it’s tax return time. Duh-duh-duhhhhhh.

Continuing with the theme of trying something new each week: I said yes to everything offered.

I think that’s normal for any job though; the further you move up the ladder, the less you get to do what you actually, you know, want to do. Though I must say, I’m really enjoying the creative process of working to briefs, and the adrenaline rush of helping pull off ideas. Not to mention meeting new people, especially if it involves visiting offices as stunning as Ogilvy’s Canary Wharf branch, which I saw yesterday.

As a technology journalist, you’d think I really love gadgets. And I do! When they work properly, anyway. But over the last several years, I’ve become so concerned of my place in the chain, as an enabler for people who don’t really need to waste a tonne of money upgrading. Not to mention the effect of my job on this fine planet we live on — I’m racked with guilt about the landfill issue. Plus, seeing another effing tablet every week really makes you resent the process of churn. So when I see tech that impresses me, it’s like a sledgehammer to my esophagus.

Anyway! I’m digressing. What I wanted to write about was how enthused I felt after a meeting at Ogilvy yesterday, to check out their new digital labs. It’s very rare where I see tech I haven’t seen / heard of before, but Nicole and Will have done a great job of curating some impressive technologies around mind-control; augmented reality and the like; all of which other arms of the advertising agency are using in their Mad Men-style creative briefs.

The best thing though? Their office. These two pics I surreptitiously shot while my colleague was putting his jacket on only show the downstairs lobby, but oh, how I wish I could’ve shot some upstairs on their actual floor. I’m such a sucker for Ercol and Eames.

The man who practically reinvented Ikea’s image with his geometrical product shoots has done it again, only this time swapping the ingredients for the actual vessels in his latest product showcase.

Swede Carl Kleiner’s photos are utterly mesmerising, and at the risk of upsetting the larger design blogger community, these latest pics are even better than his work for the Ikea recipe book Homemade Is Best. Which layout is your favourite?

*Soft-focus bowl, via Le Dans La*

*Raspberry apples, via Zac Fashion via Miss Christina S via Creature Comforts*

*Ladder storage, via isabel asha penzlien via DesignSponge via Sunny’s Blog via Hello Future House*

*Coral and lime, via Diane Bergeron via Design Files*

*Pull back, via Sunken Treasure*

*Purple pouffes, via Husohem via Design Attractor*

*Clemence, via Need Supply via Kate Spade*

Apart from many late nights in the office last week, I also did the following: celebrated my 26th birthday. Had a great dinner with Gemma and Darika. Went out for an amazing night in Brixton with Jim, Tasha, Clare and Salome, where we ended up gatecrashing some guy’s birthday party, and danced really ironically to bad house music. Fooled around with Laura all day Sunday, posing like the blogger-twats we are in Brockwell Park. (More on that later!)

Continuing with the theme of trying something new each week: took the private listening mode off Spotify, so I would be forced to be more careful about listening to the same playlists day in and day out.

As is my weekly wont, see below for some of the images that have inspired me through my online travels, and underneath, a little look at last week’s travels, for posterity’s sake. If not for my own memory’s sake.

*Rainclouds and neon, via Zilverblauw*

*Loafers and stripes, via Veronica Loves Archie*

*Contrast mugs, via Common Kitchen via Little Green Shed*

*Bare bulbs and neon, via Owi via Analog Dialog*

*Ruined chintz, via The Selby via Mint*

*Pastels and pez, via Le Dans La*

*Letterpress handkerchiefs, via MinkLetterpress via Mint*

*Salmon canopies, via Yiu Yu Hoi via Leesa Weesa*

*Liberty kids, via Liberty*

*Pinecones and ephemera, via Paper Is Lovely*

*Flora nook, via Alvhem Makleri via Jenny Vorwaller via Oh Joy*

*Clouds and lace, via Klara Bothén via DesignSponge*

*Diamonds in the rug, via Hay via Decor8*

Last week was all Vegas, baby. After arriving on the Saturday, I ploughed head-first into conferences, meetings and briefings all week, with my wisest move perhaps choosing to walk the 30 or so minutes from the strip to the convention centre instead of queuing for the god-awful bus each day. That definitely helped balance out the sweet potato fries and marshmallow maple dip (yes really) I had one night. Ok, two nights.

It wasn’t all work, though. There was many a late night, and even one night without a spot of sleep — how rock ‘n roll am I? (She says, listening to Nick Drake.) There’s only so much one can do of Vegas however, so after winning $160 on the blackjack tables; meeting up with the US Gizmodo crew in a limo; throwing pieces of toast at work-mates at 9am after a night out, and having a suite party with Sofia Coppola’s champagne (not all on the same night, you understand…), it was time to hightail it back home on Virgin flight 44 on Saturday. Thank goodness CES is but once a year…

Vegas is a real mish-mash of other cities — seen here is the Paris hotel

Every year, the world’s tech press ravages Las Vegas like a virus. No hotel, bar or convention centre is left untouched from the masses of nerds that assemble to see the following year’s gadgets get unveiled.

It’s my fifth time out in Vegas for CES, but I still walk around like it’s my first time, marvelling at how big everything is, and saying things like “oh wow, they built that hotel really fast!” and “my god, I’m dying for something not deep-fried!” It’s the kind of city you feel like you know really well, yet because it’s constantly redressing itself and evolving, you can never truly know it. It’s a special kind of beast.

Back to the reason I’m out here, it’s rather funny seeing companies try and outdo each other not just with their products, but the conferences they put on. So far Sony has wheeled out Will Smith to shill TVs for them, and Panasonic threw some big bucks at Justin Timberlake so he would make an appearance onstage. Later this week, Justin Bieber’s meant to be unveiling a personal entertainment robot (yes, really) and Snooki from Jersey Shore is apparently announcing a new audio range. A company even brought a live kangaroo on stage with them for some reason-or-other.

Thankfully it’s not all work work work. Long hours are spent at the bar, or walking up and down the strip between hotels. I plan on doing a bit of shopping later this week before flying back on Saturday (Bloomingdales and Kate Spade better re-stock their shelves in preparation, is all I’m sayin’), and enjoy Jim’s and my lovely suite at The Palazzo hotel, which is one of the newer and fancier hotels on the strip. As much as us tech journos like to moan about CES, I’m feeling very grateful to be here again.

Eating in Vegas is one of my favourite activities. This Italian meal at D.O.C.G at The Cosmopolitan was pretty healthy, but since then I’ve managed to check off pizza and a burger on the To Do list.

The Bellagio’s infamous fountains, which are synchronised to a different song every hour. We were lucky enough to see them dance around to Elton John’s Your Song on Saturday night. Bonus info: Jim and I met in The Bellagio’s baccarat room five years ago this week (aww).

One of the newest hotels, The Cosmopolitan, is probably one of the gaudiest too.

…I do like the lights here, though.

The Cosmopolitan has a pop-up wedding chapel called iDo, which is designed to look like an Apple Store. Check out more pics and info on it here.

iDo from outside.

Some of the views from our suite window, with one of The Palazzo’s seven pools seen there.

The Palazzo’s suites ain’t half bad, right?

A gorgeous sunset, glimpsed from our suite window. Doesn’t Donald Trump’s hotel look nice bathed in orange rays?

*Bed and bunting, via Le Dans La*

*Bunting and bag, via Seventy Tree*

*Blanket and pastries, via Holly Berry via Ermie via Wear Color*

*Spring awakening, via Hello Neest*

*Jumper, via Simple Village Girl*

*Yellow line, via Pikkuvarpunen via DesignLoveFest*

*Wrapping, via Aviary Studio*

*Dots, via Yayoi Kusama via This Is Colossal via Raneytown*

*Scarf dress, via Style Bubble via Wear Color*

*Tiles, via My Damn Blog*

*Shades and skies, via My Damn Blog*

*Presents, via Kate Spade*

*Colour blocking, via Kate Spade*

*Blue cells, via Shurka via Just a Temporary Stay via Indie Paradise via Leesa Weesa*

*Marbled, via ABC Home via DesignSponge*

*Monday* The last day of holiday before work, booooo. I got my hair done, and met Gemma for a drink and gossip.
*Tuesday* Back to work and perpetual busy-ness, though I did make a really nice quinoa meal for dinner.
*Wednesday* I made this black bean soup for dinner, mmm.
*Thursday* My cousin Andrew returned from Berlin, so we took him to Wahaca for dinner, and stopped off at Scoop for icecream on the way home.
*Friday* My last night in London, and last night with Andrew, so we watched lots of the American Food Network channel to prepare my stomach for the forthcoming Vegas delights.
*Saturday* Flew to Las Vegas! For work unfortunately, but nevertheless, Vegas! It’s my fifth time out here, but I still love it. I checked out new hotel The Cosmopolitan for dinner, and stumbled across a pop-up wedding chapel called iDo, designed to look like an Apple Store.
*Sunday* Jim flew in on Sunday, so I checked out of The Mirage and into swish newbie The Palazzo, where we have the most gorgeous suite. I was going to go downtown with a bunch of friends, but we decided to stay in and order room service instead (while sharing a bottle of Sofia Coppola’s champagne, which is actually pretty nice!)

Inspired by Francis, this year I’m also going to list one new thing I did each week. So, for the first week of 2012, I made every meal that we consumed at home, entirely from scratch.