The Weekly Digest #27

I know, I'm sorry! Its been such a long time and you've all probably moved on by now... But alas, I have been busy reading, reading, reading - such is the life of an English student! That does mean I'll have lots of great reviews for you very soon (though not to soon as if you look at my Goodreads profile you'll see I'm currently in the middle of 21 books...).

I have for you a Weekly Digest though (or should that be monthly? Its been awhile...)

1. This fantastic reversible shopper from Marcs. It comes in number of colour combos but my pick is the classic black and cream.
2. The Coveteur's chat with the remarkable and wonderful Iris Apfel. There are many pearls of wisdom here including: "I have all of these lovely things that I've collected over the years that are just sitting there and are very hard to part with. I finally decided that it was ridiculous and that people should enjoy them." and "My father told me once not to expect anything from anybody so I wouldn't be disappointed. If somebody was nice and did nice things for me I should be overjoyed, but I shouldn't go through life expecting it, which is very good advice." 
3. Book Depository's 'Best Books Ever' list. Can't say I agreed with all of them, but you can suggest you're own. Check them out. 
4. The Royals. Mostly baby George and those ridiculous cheeks of his, and of course the Duchess. I mean could she be any more perfectly dressed? Nails it every time. 
5. The Life Picture Collection on Art.com. There really is something for everyone - from quirky images to monumental moments in history. 
6. I'm reaffirming my love for the Manrepeller with these latest gems: The 30% Theory, FODO,  and The Alarming Similarities of Lena Dunham & Kim Kardashian (I know, but read it & be amazed).
7. This stupid easy tin can DIY. You don't even need the paint to be honest! And the freezing tip is brilliant. I've started saving cans. 
8. These letter planters would make a great cheap & easy, yet impressive DIY gift. The blog Henry Happened is my new favourite thing.

The Weekly Digest #26

1. The Co autumn/winter collection. I know, so last season, but its cooling down here so I'm after inspiration. See my picks on Pinterest.
2. Blankets. Piles and piles of them! I'm so keen for cooler weather (ghost white skin doesn't agree with summer sun unfortunately). I want this one from Country Road, and these ones from Hard to Find, the In Bed Store, and Fenton & Fenton.     
3. So in a bit of shameless self promotion, I'm selling some things on Ebay! Yay! So head over, so whats there and if anything takes your fancy put in a bid! There are many bargains to be had (I'm talking 99c auctions on Isabel Marant!).
4. Gillian Jacobs' wardrobe on the Coveteur. Please can it be mine? 

The Weekly Digest #23

1. UK brand Boden for knits. Affordable & high quality, I came across them via blogger Liberty London Girl (some of my favourite finds have been from here, from clothes to books and homewares). They're having a sale, and these are sitting in my wish list: honeycomb stitch jumper in navy or silver birch, stripy stitch jumper in navy/emerald,  Chelsea jumper in navy and the Westbourne jumper in every colour. It is $20 shipping, but I've paid much worse....
2. The film Howards End is much under-appreciated. Such a cast:  Emma Thompson, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter & Anthony Hopkins. Thompson won an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA for her efforts.
3. Nigella Lawson circa 1979. It is everything. See it here. 
4. Tucker spring/summer collection. So pretty, so wearable, so needed. I feel like it was made for me. 

Book Review: Man Repeller

Man Repeller by Leandra Medine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I found out the Man Repeller was writing a book I was so excited! I love her blog, so why wouldn't I love her book? Of course, the answer to that is obvious in the 5-stars I gave it. So, if you're a fan, you won't be disappointed. Don't worry if you're not a fashion person though. There is fashion in the book, but the book isn't 'fashion-y'. Its all tld so wonderfully, you won't even care what she's writing about! A warning, it is addictive & you won't be able to put it down. I had an impressively quick turn around with this book. Its short, sweet & punchy.

Medine writes wittily, making the everyday seem extraordinary & the extraordinary seem everyday. Its a very female book (see the chapter on period panties & ensuing discussion of 'feminine mishaps'), told from a (very) female perspective. And in no way is this a bad thing. Its really part of Medine's philosophy: for women, and only women, always. We could all learn a lot from the Man Repeller's approach to life, and we'd most likely be much happier for it.

Blog Roll: Local Milk

Another food blog you ask? But once you read this one you'll find it hard not to check in to see if there is a new culinary surprise a-waiting. And surprise they are. There are flavour combinations that I'd never think of in my wildest experiments, and yet, every flavour is accessible. White peach, rose and basil (in a pie) sounds odd, but who can't access those flavours? There is no crucial ingredient you need to search far-and-wide for - this is the everyday made adventurous.

The blogger, Beth, hails from Tennessee and has an obvious passion for food. I recommend reading her 'About' page - very interesting. She says on the name and inspiration for starting a blog:

"The title {local milk} was inspired by a new found love of both raw milk and Chattanooga. Milk is that basic building block of mammalian life: our first source of nutrients as infants. Milk is our nutritional cradle, a primal food. It's creamy, porcelain, and sweet with myriad permutations: butter, cream, kefir, yogurt, ice cream, and cheeses. Chattanooga, like milk, is what I was born and raised on, and I believe it is proving that its potential for change is as abundant." 

She has a food philosophy I can identify with, and recipes I can't wait to try. There is little else I can ask for in my daily reading material!

 

Find Beth at www.localmilkblog.com or in my Blog Roll. 

Blog Roll: Liberty London Girl

Reading this blog is like taking a little step inside the fashion world. Just a little one - a taster, a teaser. Sasha Wilkins is a witty writer who doesn't feel the need to be over the top and endlessly posting about what fabulous designer piece she wore today. Its a little more intelligent than that. I liken it to reading Madison - its got fashion, food, lifestyle, design, books, travel, health and technology (plus some more). I love the diversity of it, and also how it just flows naturally.

She started her career at Conde Nast and began blogging in 2006, and LLG became her pre-occupation around 2009 after finishing as the executive style editor at The Wall Street Journal's 'WSJ' magazine. Now, she's a conbination of "writer-blogger-journalist-broadcaster-editer-stylist-brand consultant". Nice if you can get it!

And you must fllow her on twitter too - the wit continues.

Follow her through my blog roll or at http://www.libertylondongirl.com

Blog Roll: Manger

A beautiful, fashionable woman who has travelled and lived all over the world. Her cooking for friends and family inspired by a fusion of French, Anglo and Asian cuisine. Now settled in the idilic rural French countryside. Doesn't that sound like a dream come true? Well, it is for Mimi Thorisson blogger at the inspirational 'Manger'.

I am so glad that someone is living this dream, as it gives hope to all of yet to make the leap and have our own dreams come true.

But back to the food. Its delicious! How about the perfect French/English roast? With chocolate swirl meringues to finish? Or plum and fig meringue pie of you'd like something a little richer. How about a summer peach tart for afternoon tea when friends drop by? Or her Josephine Ruffle Cake when you really need to impress. You could get lost for days on this blog, emerging starving and inspired at the end.

Manger is only a recent discovery of mine, and it remains a constant inspiration as I check in everyday (sometimes more!) to see what new and exciting things are happening in the world of Medoc and Mimi Thorisson. I suggest you join me - we'll have such fun!

Mimi in her delightful French kitchen (my jealousy is becoming uncontrollable!)

Find the link to 'Manger' in my blog roll.

Blog Roll: Gluten Free Scallywag

Isn't that the sweetest blog name? I love the idea of this little gluten-free cartoonish character causing havoc in kitchens.

There are so many people with gluten intolerances (of varying degrees), and it must be hard having to be so careful all the time. And also hard trying to work out how you can change recipes to suit. This blog is an endless treasure trove of recipes fulfilling just that need. And the recipes are just mouth watering anyway! Both sweet and savoury.

This blog has been a lifesaver when I've been cooking for friends with a gluten intolerance - making life easier for me, and more exciting for them. There are many recipes I've noted just to try out myself, as being gluten-free they often lend themselves to being more wholesome in general. Case-in-point: the brown rice and chicken salad pictured below. Boring it is not!

You can find the link to the blog in my Blog Roll or at http://www.glutenfreescallywag.com/.

 

Gorgeous blogger Jas. 

Blog Roll: Always With Butter

A girl I know from my school days got me onto this blog after she found it. I am now a die hard fa!. And I'm hoping all you foodies out there will join me in appreciating just how wonderful both the food and photography is.

My favourite bit? Aside from the deliciousness of everything would be the way Julie (Marie Craig - I'd like to think she's my best friend!) sets out the recipe. Its basically a cook book online! When I find a favourite I've made a habit of copying the recipe image and one or two photos into a PDF and printing out. It's display ready! I'm also jealous of the wonderful rustic kitchenwear she appears to have. Come to think of it I'm just plain jealous of everything about her. Can we trade lives?

"I work as a baker at a  cupcakery in San Francisco, CA. I spend my days off baking, photographing, going to farms and hunting down the perfect food props."

~ J.M. Craig ~ 

Everything is just so pretty...

P.S. She's Martha Stewart approved!

You can find the link in my blog page, or at http://alwayswithbutter.blogspot.com/ 

Blog Roll: #Gnom-Gnom

Paola van der Hulst is known for her fashion blog The PvdH Journal and she's recently launched a jewellery line. I love the little insights to her creative world in Mexico (I know right! How exotic). So how excited was I when she launched her food blog #Gnom-Gnom!

Its a lip-smackingly good combination of American classics, Mexican flavours and European delights. How could that not be good? And the photography is great as well, somehow making the food look even more edible.

Her friendly style of writing from her fashion blog extends over to #Gnom-Gnom. Its like having a conversation with a friend on my 2 favourite pursuits - food and fashion. You'll find it hard not to be drawn in, and as a bonus, most of her recipes are more along the healthy route than those of most other food bloggers.

To check it out go to the link in my blog roll or http://www.gnom-gnom.com/. 

Blog Roll: 101 Cookbooks

 101 Cookbooks is the first of many inspirations for me. There are a million food blogs out there but I love this one for its honest deliciousness, seasonality and fantastic photography, but most of all I love how homemade it all looks. This is edible gourmet home cooking. Not gourmet in style, just ingredients. Totally my style. I also love it for the motivation - too many cookbooks, not enough cooking.

"101 Cookbooks started in early 2003 when I looked up at my huge cookbook collection one afternoon and realized that instead of exploring the different books in my collection - I was cooking the same recipes over and over. I seemed to buy a new cookbook every time I stepped out the front door - always with good intentions. I would regularly go through my collection of books and magazines and carefully tag each recipe that piqued my interest. I ended up with shelves full of books brimming with Post-it notes and drawers full of recipes clipped from my favorite magazines - neatly organized by course, flavor, region, or ingredient."

- Heidi Swanson -

This should be your first stop if you're looking for a cookbook thats not so generic. I've gotten many ideas for birthday presents on here as you can often be sure they won't have it, but they'll love it. Its a veritable treasure trove! 

I'd definately check this one out if you're a food fan. And if you're one of those who's not a fan of 'irregular bloggers', this ones pretty frequent.

Roasted Winter Squash Salad

Red Lentil Soup w/ Lemon

Champagne Summer Shortcake

To check out more recipes (she has a great archive - all sorted by ingredient) go to http://www.101cookbooks.com/index.html or it's at the top of my blog roll.

Blog Roll: Local is Lovely

Local is lovely. This blog is lovely! And blogger Sophie Hansen seems pretty lovely too.

It is hard not to enjoy reading about someone who is so obviously enjoying what they are doing. Even more so when you admire their approach to life. Her life is something I can only dream f now, but reading about it makes it seem ever more possible.

Hansen lives in Orange (NSW, Australia) and farms venison with her husband and children. Its idyllic to say the least. The recipes and the people she meets are inspirational, and entirely attainable. Their is plenty here that you can make your own.

So if you love local food, love farmers' markets and the philosophy that surrounds them, or you simply like reading about someone who is really enjoying life, than this is the blog for you! Even just admiring the prettiness of the blog itself is joyful!

Find the link in my blog roll or visit http://www.local-lovely.com/ 

Hansen & family.

All images via Local is Lovely. 

Blog Roll: Tuula

VINTAGE POST:

I follow a few blogs here and there (ok, so I lied, I follow a lot...). I found a new one today. And it's been some time since I've been so inspired and filled with a longing for more (and more and more and more!). Since the Sartorialist and Garance Dore found their way onto my list really. And they're pretty much the king and queen of fashion blogging - could their be a more amazing single-industry power-couple (celebrities aside).

Moving on, Tuula (the blogger is Jessica Stein) is Australian (bigger yay!) and is positively fabulous! Very much my style, so basically rather kept and proper - none of that wonderful model-of-duty-non-put-togetherness. Its very real life but just far enough away to allow for some dreaming. I definately suggest you take a look - she's got all the social media stuff so you can get a dose whatever you fancy. Follow her blog, and follow her on Instagram (@tuulavintage) for an insight into her wonderful adventures. It'll be well worth the overwhelming envy you'll feel!

And here's a little taste of what you'll get:

P.S. [19 March 2013] By now if you're into fashion I'm sure you've heard of Jessica Stein, she's been galavanting about the globe doing some wonderful things. Her blog has come leaps and bounds since I first started reading.