V-I-N-T-A-G-E, what does it spell? VINTAGE!!

So as you all know I adore vintage and sadly had to leave behind the majority of my vintage clothing, mostly because they would not be practical for London weather. The thing is I miss them so much! So seeing I am so sad and I cannot get them off my mind, I have decided to start scouting for more!

Now, I want great vintage pieces but not at ridiculous prices and I want pieces that are going to suit my lifestyle here.

Going to Camden the other I found a vintage market which was quite reasonable and had beautiful pieces - this place encouraged my wish list.

Piece 1 - Turban - any colour, just an amazing hair piece to dress up an outfit, think SJP in Sex and the City.

Piece 2 - Felt hats - camel or black or a bright colour to stand out.

Piece 3 - Long sleeve dress - any long sleeve vintage dress that sits below the knee.

Piece 4 - Flare jeans - dark, super flare jeans - check out all style blogs asap!

Piece 5 - Anything green! Pants, shift dress, tank or scarf - sorry Lou, I love green!

So now the mission begins...

Earth Hour London Twenty Eleven

To support the cause and get into the spirit we participated in Earth Hour Twenty Eleven tonight and it was the most amazing night shared with friend and fiance!
Good food and great chats - and all by candle light.
I'm glad we could have such a great night while helping out our Earth in some little way...

Oxford v Cambridge

Today was the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The tradition of the race traces back to 1829 and has been held annually since 1856. The first race started due to healthy rivalry between two mates from both universities and has continued ever since.

The boat race brings out thousands of people who sprawl out in surrounding parks, roam the streets along the embankment and drink around the wharfs.

So to get into the spirit we decided to walk to Putney and view the race. To give you a bit of background about the weather this week - yesterday was the first day I didn't wear a coat since I've been in London - today was definitely a day you needed to wear a coat! - so walking to Putney might not have been the best idea but the exercise was a must!

After we got into the swing of it and ignored that it was cold, it was quite enjoyable. We walked from the boat race starting point, Putney bridge all the way to Hammersmith bridge, which is like only a quarter of the race....we tried ok.

When we decided we had walked enough we made the journey back home and decided to watch the race on tv!

Go Oxford!

The starting point - Putney Bridge

Putney wharf

Hammersmith Bridge

marvellous day for a bike ride

So London has hit 17degrees and yesterday was the hottest day of the year - so why not celebrate with a bike ride in Hyde Park.
After we spent 30 minutes trying to work out how to rent the bikes we finally got going.

Our main intentions of this bike ride was to -
1. Enjoy the sunshine
2. Fitness
3. Gain our bearings of London Town

So we definitely enjoyed the sun (I think my jacket might have come off at one point....(shock horror, bare skin!!) Point 1 - Tick!
And we got a great leg work out, Point 2 - Tick!
But, gaining our bearings around London, well 2 out of 3 aint bad...

One week complete

First Friday night out in Oxford Circus

Barrio Central in Soho - amazing Spanish wall tiles, wicked cocktails and great tunes

Bar Italia Soho. It is like you are in Roma

Our new window to look out of everyday

what a glorious weekend

It was a glorious and sunny weekend and the Brits sure know how to make the most of it. There were bare arms, Hyde Park sun baking sessions and people soaking up the sun on their balconies. The only thing is that when the sun comes out during the day, the night time turns into zero degrees! Ouch!

how an Aussie keeps warm in London

Ok, so last night was freezing! Icy and cold and just bone chilling freezing. To any Brit this weather is quite nice, but for me I have to work out ways to keep warm. Turning my scarf into a face mask was one.

what a morning

I enjoyed waking up to this today

Day 1 - A taste of London

Del Aziz, Fullham

Hyde Park - yep it's cold here!

Buckingham Palace

just touched down in London-town

So here we are - in London-town!
Officially the adventure now begins. The start of a new English life - a life of travel, a life of of learning, a life of new and exciting things.

Our first day followed a bumpy, cold and very long plane ride where I managed to make a new friend - ok, so she was like 3 years old and didn't want to tell me her name, but a new friend nonetheless.

Once we touched down and settled in, we searched for food. The place that came to my mind was Del Aziz in Fullham, this place sells the most amazing pastries and Turkish inspired cuisine. Of course in true fashion we brought a lot of food and extra, super large coffees.
To work off all the food we ate we walked and walked for the next few hours. Our places of interest were Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace.
Hyde Park is a magical place, the grounds are eerie, yet inviting and the trees whimsical.After walking along to Buckingham Palace our tiredness had started to grow.

Our tube ride home wasn't the most successful having to switch lines quite a few times (I blame the plane ride) but finally we made it.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my first day. Thanks London!

Leaving on a jet plane

All my bags are packed,

I'm ready to go,

I'm standing here outside your door,

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye,

But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn,

The taxi's waiting, he's blowing the horn.

Already I'm so lonesome, I could cry.

So kiss me and smile for me,

Tell me that you'll wait for me,

Hold me like you'll never let me go.

Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane,

Don't know when I will be back again

Oh Babe, I hate to go....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLBKOcU6HK0

it's all starting to feel real

Sitting here on the floor of my lounge room starts to make me feel like it's all really real; like it's actually happening. You could also partly blame this on the fact that tonight is the last night in our apartment.

Apartment - I want to thank for the good times, the amazing NYE DJ parties, the BBQs on the balcony where the meat doesn't make it into the house past the swarm of boys, binary finary watching Francine sleep and for the bogan man who lives next door and smokes a pipe.
Oh the times we've shared.

now Karina, don't count your chickens before they hatch

Ok, so I haven't even left the country yet but I am getting excited by the prospects of decorating a new home.
I know I wont be able to change much in ways of furniture, but beautiful linen and towels can turn a small British sub let into a beautiful English manor.
I have been checking out Zara Home and Anthoropoligie and some of their deliciousness is below.

I am loving neutral colours with a splash of chartreuse

Must have printed bedsheets!

Vintage inspired crystal glass

Hottest print right now - Ikat!

Speechless...

Inspired by Jess B