A BUMP, BLESSING & THE BEST OF NOVEMBER...

Hello loves! Hope you're all having a terrific week! Halfway there and not long til the weekend!

So who's that girl above? She doesn't look anything like her character in Gossip girl, that's for sure! This has to be Leighton Meester's most daring editorial shoot ever for Flaunt Magazine and she looks like she's having fun with it! I barely recognise her with her wig & especially when flanked by semi-naked hot men! For the entire editorial, please check it out here.

See: If you haven't seen it already Skyfall is a must and another must-see on my list is Silver Lining's Playbook with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. I've just heard too many darn good things about this film and can't believe I haven't had my hit of Mr. Cooper yet.

Read: Before I go to Sleep by S.J. Watson. I bought this for my BFF after reading reviews on amazon and she recently lent it to me... all I can say is i'm a third of a way through it & it is just soooo good! If you love a good thriller, this is it! Here's the back snippet:

"Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight.

And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life."

 

Shop: SuiteBlanco aka Blanco. This Spanish brand is slowly taking the world by storm. Currently, there are stores across 15 countries, (they had better make a start in UK & USA) but their online shop sells pretty much all the key pieces you'll want at bargainous prices.

Blanco reminds me of Zara, but definitely for a slightly younger clientele, with beautiful design at great prices. You can't really argue with that. In Greece, this brand is definitely a close contender to major high street brands.

I'm loving their Night Collection, especially this sheer chain shirt below  - €25.99 & stunning bling!

 Their Fall collection is just as yummy! Me wants it all!!!

Make/Craftista: X-mas is coming!!! Eeek! I just love a pretty centerpiece, and a collection and mixture of baubles is not only easy, it's an eye-catching & beautiful presentation to make in no time.

I love all these chain and woven thread necklaces and when I spotted this DIY post from Honestly WTF featuring Stripes and Sequins, I knew this would also make a fab little X-mas pressie for friends.

A rather large majority of my friends have just had babies this year and so I thought I'd customise some fun babygro's for their little ones! If you're a fan of apple products, like some of my friends are, you'll love this.
Here's one I made on the weekend using T-shirt transfers - I used HP Iron-on T-shirt transfers - you can buy these at your local photography store, Jessops, or most stationary stores. I printed my template out (refer to link below) on an inkjet printer, which is in reverse, cut out around the apple logo and separately around the wording and place strategically across the babygro or t-shirt. Iron the transfer on and wait 5 minutes for it to cool down before using a pair of tweezers to peel it off. Et voila!

If you wish to make you own, you can download my pre-made template for both iPoop & iPeed here for FREE.

Finally... I've mentioned a few times that I feel super blessed at the moment & also pretty much grateful for everything in my life... here's why!

Yay!!! Mr. Perseus and I are expecting our first little one, we are both ridiculously loca loca ecstatic at the moment and words cannot express how happy we are at the moment. I don't want to go into too much detail, but I've had a rather traumatic couple of years, hence the special blessing!

I hope you're all having a super week, thanks for stopping by and your continuous support!

x.o.x.o

Summer Loving: Perfect Picnics

I simply adore picnics, it doesn't matter whether you're on a mini stretch of desserted beach or in the hustle & bustle of a busy Park, it's company, the weather, music, games and food that makes a perfect lazy summer afternoon. I still haven't found the perfect patch of grass to have a gathering here, but I can only swoon at some of these images here for now.

 images above via H&M Home (for real as in H&M fashion retailer!)

What kind of picnic are you going for? Matchbook Magazine (which I just cannot get enough of by the way) has all the info you'll need!

Nothing makes a picnic more perfect than good food, I'm a total foodie so the more the better, but it has to be a darn good mix of things, from sweet to savoury, know what I mean? Depending on what kind of picnic you're hosting, make sure you've packed the right kinds of food and drink - humble food or luxe picnic style?

FIGS AND ROCKET IN PROSCIUTTO - Via Telegraph UK

I've included this because i'm nutso about figs!

"These little bundles of salad don't need dressing so they won't go soggy on the journey. They are good for keeping hunger pangs at bay while the rest of the picnic is being unpacked.
Makes 8

• 2 figs, quartered
• 8 slices of prosciutto
• A bunch of wild rocket (or a bagful)

Take a fig quarter and a few leaves of rocket and wrap them up (like a bunch of flowers) in a piece of prosciutto. Repeat with the rest of the figs."

SUMMER COCKTAILS

1. Little Rose Spring Cocktail via Martha Stewart 

2. Lavender Mojito via Sugar and Charm 

3. Grapefruit Mojito via Martha Stewart 

4. Lime Sorbet Margaritas via Real Simple 

5. Blood orange Margarita via White on Rice

 via Erineverafter

Not a fan of running around with a frisbee or games? Chill out with a good read... Here are just a few brilliant light reads! Enjoy! 

 

Are you all set?

 image via here

Have a fantastic weekend loves! New readers thank you for stopping by & my blogger buds - Big fat Greek style love & sunshine to ya!

x.o.x.o

Super Stylish Reads: Perfect Christmas Gifts

I was recently asked what which book I'd love most for Christmas by Vanessa of Decadance for Divas and my mind just went completely blank... All I remembered was 'Thank God for Amazon wishlists'! That's where I save all the buys I want for a rainy day. All the above are via Amazon UK.

From top left-right:
Gucci: The Making of £29. YSL £20. True British: Alice Temperley £22.62
100 years of fashion Illustration £16.10. Tom Ford: 10 Years £45. Carine Roitfeld, Irreverent £42
Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Accessorizing £12. Glamour, Making it Modern £17. Interiors Now V.2 £18

Anyhow, in answer to her question, I'd love Pictures by Tim Walker. If you don't know who he is, eeeeek! This guy is such an amazing genius of a photographer who literally creates visually mind blowing dreamscapes and imaginative modern photography. I've featured his amazing work in the 'I heart Vogue UK: The December issues' previously here, his 'Greatest show on earth' editorial was epic. He did an brilliant editorial for Vogue Italia in October here and also as usual he is Vogue UK's pick for the December Issue 2011, titled An Awfully Big Adventure. Can you tell I like his work much?

See?, highly imaginative, beautiful photography at it's best!

I've heard great things about Carine Roitfelds book, Irreverent (currently sold out on Amazon UK), which just sounds fascinating to me. This woman has worked 15 years as a stylist for French Elle, been a consultant & muse to the likes of Tom Ford at Gucci & YSL for around 6 years, plus 10 years of which she was editor-in-chief for French Vogue, where she did some magnificent things! Definitely a force not to be reckoned with!

The making of Gucci book is one super stylish read for the coffee table, I love a bit of Fashion History, which this luxe label has plenty.

One of my fave UK designers has to be Alice Temperley, I love her feminine, bohemian and glamourous designs plus her cool attitude towards life and fashion. She always looks like she's having fun too. It's hard to believe she's been on the industry for 10 years now, True British: Alice Tempereley is so on my wish list for now!

I also included 100 years of Fashion Illustration as a super stylish read - I could look at someone else's doodles all day long. My other huge crush is to do with Interior & Styling, love Jonathan Adlers work and again I could never get bored of looking at other peoples interiors and styling.

What reads do you currently have on your X-mas wish-list?

images above via Amazon.co.uk, Tim Walker Photography, Alice Temperley

Summer Reading - Need your help!

Ok, kittens, before I get trigger finger happy at Amazon and hit 'add to basket' at every book that has been rated 4/5 stars upward, I think some brilliant book recommendations are in order! What are you reading this summer? Do you have any all-time faves or even classics I ought to know about, please do share luvvies.

Penguin classic with a make over - I wouldn't mind getting my mitts on these coralie bickford-smith versions via amazon UK/US

I tend to get through everything from crime thrillers to chick lits in no time and have recently been recommended 'Learn Greek in 25 years: A Crash course for the lunguistically challenged' by Brian Church. Why? You may probably ask would I even wanna read this, I should be relatively fluent in Greek by now, it has almost been close to 3 years of living here, right?
I still keep calm and carry on with my embarrassing Greek linguistic mishaps and really ought to make more of an effort to learn more vocab/grammar etc, I do love a challenge. Oh, and i've heard it's hilarious, I think i'll like that.

You see, someone recently reminded me of the dangers of the Greek lingo and how easy it is to make a simple mistake, from a change of a few letters/or additional ones/tone/incorrect pronunciation and be able to make a complete fool of yourself at the same time. Remember my 'i'll have a salad of boy's' incident at a restaurant? Well, I am forever grateful, that I have never said 'katourizo - I'm peeing' when I actually meant 'katharizo - I'm cleaning'... (Sorrryyyyy, this was too funny not to share poptart). If you really wanna know who's been making me laugh out loud, check out 'It's all Greek to Me'.

My last hit of books which friends and family lent and picked up for me are:

Ant Egg Soup: The adventures of a food tourist in Laos by Natacha Du Pont Du Bie - An amazing book if you love food, especially Laotian cuisine. This took me back to the days when I travelled around S.E Asia and experienced the time of my life.

Luxury by Jessica Ruston - a brilliant scandalous chick-lit read. Seriously there are so many twists and turns, I totally devoured this book, what a page turner and fun read.

One Day by David Nicholls - I'm pretty sure most of you have either read this or will be reading this. I loved this wonderful book, the best awesome bizarre love story since 'The Time traveller's wife'. I'm just not sure i'll be able to watch the movie though. Let's hope it stays true to the book. Love Anne Hathaway...but not so sure about the accent.

Gunns Golden Rules: Lifes little lessons in making it work. I love this man and this book, there are little snippets of advice about life, love, celebrities, the fashion world, family and how to be your own person - with 18 rules, this book shows you how you can succeed in life - whilst being nice/polite.

Secrets of Stylists: An insider's guide to Styling the Stars by Sasha Charnin Morrison - The title says it all, it's a fun style book. Particularly helpful if you want to work in fashion/styling.

Books I want:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey - I've heard this is quite funny

Images via:Lonny, Live Creating Yourself, A Brit Greek

B if for Beauty, Bags, Books & Bulk Buy

I had this postcard from oooh, 10, maybe 12 yrs ago, but it was my ethos back then!

I think i may have helped boost the British economy with my recent trip home to see my folks and a few girlies who have just got engaged - congrats you guys!!! I seriously went all out and bought some bits back that i knew i couldn't get over here. A cheetah doesn't really change it's spots and some old habits die hard when it comes to beauty buys (from Boots). Some of the below (i say some because i have got an insane amount of stuff) are just what i live religiously by, although the Organic Surge Cleanser & Soap & Glory Flake me away is a new thang to try out- they have this other stuff called Sugar Spa scrub which is awesome!

From top left:

• This is a global product which i swear by and have done for 15 yrs+, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula just smells yummy and helps with the dry bits.
  
• The Sanctuary - Body Moisture Spray - divine smell and softens the skin straightaway, it's a total SOS in a bottle.
• Clarins One step cleanser - Love this & the half oil mix - helps leave the skin soft in the harsher drier, colder months (i was running out so picked up another bottle at Duty free). This is yet another wonderful smelling product which cleanses properly and gets rid of a hard nights out eye make up!
• Organic Surge Daily Care face wash - new yet to try out!
• Comme Des Garcons 2 perfume - How can i explain this - It's an incredible smell, people glide over to you and ask what you're wearing nearly all the time! It's one of my all time favourite scents but i alternate a lot depending on mood.
• Soap & Glory Flake me away - spa body polish - gotta get my pins scrubbed up for summertime show! The little pot is a travel sized body butter - v handy!
• Dr. Nick Lowe Super Charged SPF15 Day cream - 1st time buy, but it is good stuff.
• Simple Range of products - Night cream & Day cream are awesome because they always have no perfume, no colour and are great for sensitive skin. Oh and they're totally bank & budget friendly too!
  

Moving on, here's a tiny sneak peak of what i've picked up on my recent trip. More snapshots to follow! Believe me when i say there's more goodness to show! You may be aware of my love for bib style necklaces, the denim one above was a cheap and cheerful buy.

B is definitely for Bulk buy - why buy one when you can get 2 pairs of cute floral sequin flats?

Was having a Sex & The City moment - oversized clutch/across the body bag, nuff said!

Easy going vest top with decorative stitch detail on the back-cute eh?

B is for Books

I love books, call me a geek if you want to, but having come close to running out of reading material i ordered via Amazon for these little purchases. Yes, there are a few Greek books there, only the GCSE (aimed at 15/16 yr olds) book is based on the ancient language and is rather difficult and so outta my intellectual league - bedtime reading anyone?
Seriously there comes a time when after a girls gotta improve on grammar rather than 'Butcher the Greek language' as Fashion Butter calls it! I have been here for just over a year now and am as fluent as one can be, actually i'm fluent in the language of the Collins and Lonely Planet guide phrase books! Greek is such a beautifully rich and grand language that i want to be able to progress, advance and learn more - it's such a difficult language but i'm slowly getting there.

I'll mention the Girl with the Dragon tattoo, because everyone on the tube and trains were sucked into their own little worlds reading this book. It's been a while since i got into a good book.