Somehow, I doubt old Women’s Weekly magazines would’ve made for quite the same effect. *Matthew Cusick via Boston via Gizmodo*

Unfortunately the matte polish chips after a day’s wear so likely isn’t the best quality, but the hue is terrific. As for the other items I bought, well…I couldn’t possibly say as some of them are gifts! *Sephora*

*Two lemons, via Le Dans La*

*Anglepoise business, via Kontor Kontor via Present & Correct*

*Printshop, via Cargo Collective via Present & Correct*

*Loose dots, via Courveture via All the Mountains*

*Spanish mountains, via Lomography via Lomography*

*Dusky, via Rumid via From Scandinavia*

*Felt baskets, via Alder & Co via Design Sponge*

*Crumbling walls, via Aura via Design Traveller*

*Wolf walls, via Ava Roth via Design Sponge*

*Tiled nest, via Alvhem via Emma’s Designblogg*

*Zebra canoe, via Carrie Schneider via Mint*

*Knitted pink, via Raww via High Snobette*

*Coloured heads, via Colored Mondays via For Like Ever via Kate Spade*

*Four views, via Skazia via Lomography*

Last Monday was a bank holiday, and while it seems an age ago, it was a pretty dreamy day of getting my hair done (cut ‘n highlights, as per forever) and then doing some mighty fine relaxin’ back at the ranch. Wednesday night, I took Petah to see Friends (the cool Brooklyn band, not reruns of the TV show) at the Scala, and considering we’d only heard the three-or-so songs they’ve released so far, the whole 45-minute set was pretty mind-blowing. Samantha Urbani must be the nicest woman in the music bizness. Definitely want to be her friend, etc etc etc.

Racking my brain, I don’t think anything else happened during the week, save for a nice long weekend “oop narth” (Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumbria, to be exact). Jim and I tootled up there Friday morning in style (first class; thanks East Coast Railways for your tremendous half-price sales) and enjoyed running around the town’s many walls (built to keep those pesky Scots out), and even made the trip out to Lindisfarne (aka the Holy Island) for a day’s poking around the monastery ruins and castle. After a mammoth Scottish breakfast prepared by our lovely B&B hosts (I can’t wait until I retire and can tour the world’s B&Bs), we whizzed back to London town on the train again.

Charlotte Olympia is one of my favourite British designers (ever since I clocked those yellow robots in the Lancashirean lass’ SS11 collection, I was smitten), but given her dresses start at around £300, it’s not likely I’ll be buying from her mainline collection anytime soon. (Unless I find it in a sale! Haven’t had any luck so far, mind.)

And so, that’s why I’m so pleased she’s done a UK collection with Anthropologie, following her successful debut with their US side. They’re only stocking the Katydid poplin jumpsuit (above, £128); Katydid poplin crops (£98); Hummingbird poplin skirt (£88); Donkey silk shift-dress (above, £158) and the Juggling Figures silk blouse (£98) at the moment, but I’m eagerly anticipating the next items from the collection dropping at some point too.

These are my favourites:

…But you can check out the rest over on her blog. On a little side-note, I just love that she moved her business to the Isle of Wight and works with her brother, plus employs lots of local talent. Little details, like the easy and luxurious shapes of the clothes, plus penguins and other oceanic patterns, are a natural nod to her IoW landscape — not to mention her history working with none other than Luella Bartley. (I’m still sobbing about the closure of her label, to this day.) *Charlotte Taylor*

You know you’re eager to stay at a hotel when you check out of an already-plush-enough pre-paid hotel a day early when on a work trip, and willingly cough up your own cash for a stay at an alternative nest only 20 minutes’ walk away.

But since I first saw flashes of photos from the original Ace Hotel in Seattle across US blogs and sites all those years ago, I’ve wanted to rest my head on their crisp white pillows.

Opened in 1999 in the well-situated Belltown, the 28 rooms (all of which are pet-friendly!) kind of have a luxe grown-up hostel feel to them, which really reminded me of our stay in San Francisco’s Hotel des Arts (which is in desperate need of a new website, looking at it again). Ace now has branches in New York, Portland and Palm Springs, which have become somewhat of a parody thanks to the hipster clientele that apparently visits them.

Not that my stay involved awkward shuffles past cooler-than-thou receptionists or guests. In fact, everyone was overwhelmingly friendly and nice, especially the kind Bostonian chap on reception who gave me a free upgrade from the standard room (ie, without a private bathroom, which cost around $109 / £70 a night) to a deluxe room (with a bathroom, which come in at $199 / £125).

Downstairs, Cyclops Cafe (could also do with a site redesign) serves up a brilliant breakfast bap and other American diner-style foodstuffs, in its really fun, cool decor. I didn’t get the chance to visit the Panther Room bar next door, but I heard good things about that too.

The basin next to the bed was a little odd, but quite a fun addition to the utilitarian design. As you can see, my APC overnight bag is still getting a lot of use!

Around the corner, Rudy’s Barbershop (now THEY have a great website) has supplied Ace with some in-shower treats.

Snappin’ my reflection in the bathroom mirror. As you do when you’re a pretentious blogger, I hear.

The aircon was on for the duration of my stay, as Seattle had a mini-heatwave the weekend after the meetings I flew out to the Washington state city for.

The reception area has an amazing collection of curios, plus a terrarium.

Utilitarian water, for thirsty tourist troops.

You know a hotel is popular when it sells its own line of branded accessories. (Take a peep on Ace’s site for more, including its collaboration with the Impossible Project.)

***Bonus photos of the Cyclops Cafe downstairs!***

My immensely-funny colleague Gareth, who joined me for lunch the day he flew back to London.

Mmm, scrambled eggs and red peppers in a bap, with potato wedges. And Gosling’s ginger beer!

I’m not one for high street collaborations (who wants to be seen wearing something Kate Moss “designed”?) but given I had never heard of the three European fashion bloggers (The Blonde Salad, Style Scrapbook and Fashion Squad) who form design collective Werelse which just dropped a capsule collection all over Mango’s shelves, I thought I was safe.

Really though, who could resist the charms of this neon yellow handbag? Especially given it was only £70. My heart is also panging for the matching neon heels since I bought the bag a few weeks ago, but I’m going to resist. Promise. *Werelse, and Mango*

It’s tough work living with such a killjoy, sometimes.

*Swimming birds, via Japanese prints via Present & Correct*

*Layers a-blowing, via Nastyaraj via English Muse*

*Block heels, via Angelica Blick via What Do I Wear via VLA*

*Rude lady, via Lee Olivira via Wear Color*

*Jaffa, via 21 Arrondissement via Wear Color*

*Miu Miu tones, via Vogue via Rita Jardon via Wear Color*

*Diamond clutch, via Style Crusader*

*Leaves and red stems, via Kate Spade*

*Moomin hugs, via Le Panier de Pique-Nique*

*Floral and ketchup, via Tuula via Wear Color*

*8-Bit florals, via Lana via Lost In Fiber via Rita Jardon via Wear Color*

*Rainbow hairband, via Maddinka via Wear Color*

*Wired background, via Bienenkieste via Wear Color*

*Pelican herd, via Live and Learn Yo via Peonies, Peals & Promises via Kate Spade*

*Diving in, via Cherry Blossom Girl*

*Fuschia PS1, via Fashion Squad via Wear Color*

*Blue skies and mugs, via Le Panier de Pique-Nique*

*Spring greens, via Caroline Gomez via French by Design via Analog Dialog*

Last week was crazy-busy work-wise, but very fulfilling. I kind of felt like a real journalist at times! Then there was a brief catch-up with Gemma on Monday as I raided her wardrobe for a dress for the Cannes Film Festival later this month; a half-price facial on Wednesday (love Wahanda), followed by a New Order gig that night (really amazing actually — was half-expecting them to be awful without Hooky, but Jim, Salome, Clare, Jeff, Andy and I had a great time) and the Samsung Galaxy S III event Thursday night, which was a dream thanks to getting the news under embargo. What a luxury, to be able to watch a conference without frantically typing!

Friday was a day of kings, kick-started with a Nokia media breakfast at Bill’s in Covent Garden, then cocktails at Christopher’s and a gin-fulled Mishkin’s dinner with Laura and Ricky. Thennnn I traipsed over to Popstarz to meet some work-mates (Basil, his brother Emile, Stuart, Hans and Claire) for a few hours’ dancing…

Feeling spritely on Saturday despite the late night, Jim and I checked out the midcentury furniture fair Modern Movements at our Brockwell Lido. Sunday we headed over to Stratford City’s Westfield to get a few bits and bobs for Jim (including some Reiss mint trousers and a pair of Kooples lace-up shoes — couldn’t believe he willingly bought something so expensive), and unsurprisingly I fell into a Cos k-hole and only emerged after about an hour… That night, last night, we cooked up a pea and mint soup and baked haddock and black pepper storm. A perfect weekend, especially given today was a bank holiday, too.

A ’50s yard-stick bought for a tenner, and my new Abercrombie & Fitch sou’wester.

I could write one of these posts every day of the week, but particularly after the lovely Saturday morning we had in our little neighbourhood today.

After rolling home just as the birds were beginning to chirp (one of those rare nights, believe me),  I surprised myself with an early morning start — perhaps my subconscious remembered that it was the first day of the annual Modern Movements fair, which sees a dozen or so mid-century antiques dealers’ stalls spring up around the art deco Brockwell Lido a few minutes’ walk from our flat.

There may’ve been a real reason for that sou’wester jacket (unlike previous years’ fairs), which was sad for the dealers eager to sell their lovely ’50s and ’60s furniture, but Jim and I still had fun poking around the wares. I picked up a ’50s yard stick for a tenner for Jim, and he bought a ’50s wooden boat (I should’ve really used the yard stick to measure the length of the boat for this post), which we got for a song for £25. (Here’s hoping we can fit it into our suitcase on our next flight back to Australia, for a present for my boat-mad dad. Mum and Lisa, you can keep a secret, can’t you?)

While we were browsing, we caught sight of local celebrity Jay Rayner, and I caught up with Dan from Modernish, a stall-holder I first met at the West Norwood Feast last year when Linsey and I (and again, with Kate and I) sold vintage clothes there alongside his lovely finds. Then along came George from Luna Cinema (formerly known as Nomad Cinema, the travelling cinema company that pops up around the country with big screens and classic films), alerting us to an upcoming screening of Anchorman at Brockwell Lido. Considering we had such a great time at last year’s Life Aquatic and Casablanca, we’ll definitely be going. And you should too!

Halloumi burger and fries at the Lido Cafe.

Afterwards, we had to stop at the cafe by the water, Lido Cafe, for some hugely-earned lunch. It’s tough work ogling bits of furniture. The food and service, as ever, was lovely, and on the way out one of our fellow friendly Herne Hillians enquired about my Kate Spade glasses — it seems to happen regularly down at the cafe, that someone will ask about something I’m wearing. Nowhere else, mind. *sobs*

Pea and mint soup with mini croque monsieur.

On our walk around the Hill’s various real estate agents (we’re still looking) we saw one of the nice Lomography ladies who also lives locally, and a couple other familiar faces too.

Is it all too obvious I adore our ‘hood?

A ’50s wooden boat, bought for £25.

Playing with an old doll’s house, like the child I am.

A flash of nail colour, for Laura LaRue. Please excuse the lack of make-up!

And lo! My recent favourite sightings from around ‘tinterweb below, and underneath that, some ramblings about what I’ve been up to this past fortnight.

*Hard back, via Le Dans La*

*Woven armoury, via Garance Dore via Gin and Milk via English Muse*

*Post-its, via Susanna Vento via From Scandinavia With Love*

*Black Smeg, via Fashion For Home via Interiors Porn*

*Moscow mail, via Present & Correct*

*Candy coated time, via Cherry Blossom Girl*

*Patterned tab, via The Hungry Workshop via The Design Files via The Aviary*

*Boxed dreams, via Susanna Vento via From Scandinavia With Love*

*Osmosis, Andrea Dusk via 13 Little Secrets via Et Horn av Eden via Veronica Loves Archie*

*Trees and trunks, via Heidi Lender via Reelinki*

*Bowl hats, via Susanna Vento via From Scandinavia With Love*

*White rabbit, via See Scotty via What Katie Does*

Snippets of my social diary, so I can gaze back at this blawg when I’m 92 and nod my head sagely because I simply can’t believe I forgot about that one time I…

With el husbundo in Milan for their annual furniture fair, and then the Cotswolds for a Mini Roadster thing, I felt rather guilty leaving poor Effie-cat by herself, as I hopped over to Seattle for five days for a work trip. But you can hardly blame me for wanting to check out the birthplace of grunge (well, Nirvana) and coffee (well, Starbucks), not to mention hearing what HTC had to say for themselves.

It was a great city, perfectly accessible by foot (though I did catch a bus at one point!), and thankfully the rainclouds parted in time for the weekend, so I had two days of beautiful sunrays creeping across my skin. More on Seattle later, in a dedicated post, of course.

Hightailing it back to the office “fresh” off a nine hour flight wasn’t the best ending I could’ve hoped for, but that’s life, I suppose. A few unremarkable days later, and I was participating in Friday night Shoreditch highjinks with Kam and Petah, at various boozing establishments including the Mayor of Scaredy Cat.

I’d like to blame the lingering jetlag on my 13-hour lie-in on Saturday, but that’s probably fibbing. Nonetheless, it was a slovenly day of watching Roman Holiday in bed on the iPad, as I fiddled about with my blog. 7pm saw me dragging on my jeans though, to head over to Brixton Village for an okonomiyaki at Okan (which I was crushing-upon only last month), and then onto the newly-opened Market House pub in Brixton, which felt more like a club at one point. Jim, Tasha, Salome, Otis and his new boyfriend Seb kept me laughing all night long, as did the various random locals we met / danced with. I love how friendly and engaging Brixtonians are — it’s like there’s this unwritten law that you must share your lipstick with a girl in the loos (then she must invite you and your mates to hop across to another pub nearby with them), or you must promise to dance every Saturday night away with the drunk Asian girl at the same spot every week.

Sunday — today — saw the inaugural meeting of the School For Teen Girls Who Can’t Self-Esteem So Good (that’s, err, a working title thanks to Iso), which was set up by Iso, Sarah and a few others with the aim of mentoring teenage girls (and hopefully, at a later date, boys) and improving their self-confidence and other things. We’re very much in the planning stage, but today, 11 enthused 20-and-30-something girls met and sketched out what promises to be something really inspiring and exciting for all. If you fancy being involved in some way, shape or form, definitely get in touch with one of us.