Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween Musings




Happy Halloween!! I'm a weeee bit late, but better late than never, right? I just wanted to share these pics of different pumpkin displays I've been seeing all over Prague. It's so cool to see that the 'pumpkin trend' is catching on here (although I know for a fact that a lot of Czech people don't like Halloween & its 'American' connotations).
I've been into Halloween ever since my family moved to Canada when I was 11 years old (we lived in Montreal for 5 years). I loved how people went all out with their Halloween decorations - everyone just seemed so genuinely excited about this holiday. It was awesome! This year, however, I'm not really in the Halloween spirit. I'll go to one Halloween party on Saturday and, well, that about sums up my Halloween plans. A bit sad, really. I just feel like if I still lived in Canada, I'd feel way more excited... or maybe I'm just getting old(er)? Hmmm...

P.S.: Here are 3 things which made me happy last week:

1. Finding out that my super cool friend is coming to Prague soon!!!
2. Going to the midnight premiere of Skyfall. AMAZING! Daniel Craig, I love you. Judi Dench, I think I love you more!
3. Finding out about new blogs: check out my new favourites, Elephantine and A Rosie Outlook.

Oh and before I forget... soon I'll be posting something really exciting! I don't want to give away too much, so stay tuned! :)

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Stephanie Gundelach's Copenhagen Apartment

Today I am dreaming of airy and bright interiors which are filled with quirky and cool details. I guess this is quite logical - all I want to do is stay inside (it's still freezing here in Prague! I really want a REAL fireplace, thank you!). This is why I remembered stumbling upon pictures of a beautiful Copenhagen apartment a few weeks ago. The flat belongs to Danish fashion blogger Stephanie Gundelach and was featured in the October 2012 issue of Danish Elle Decoration. The place was styled by Helen Wiggers and photographed by the wonderful Line Klein. What do you think, isn't it amazing? When can I move in? :)






I think the last photo is my favourite - I'm kind of obsessed with the combination of clear furniture & wood. Clear furniture can also come in handy in smaller spaces, giving them the illusion of openness.

What do you think, could you live here?

Photos by Line Klein, from the October 2012 issue of Elle Decoration Denmark, via My Scandinavian Home

Monday, October 29, 2012

Wishfully Wearing

I wanted to do something fashion-oriented for a while so I thought why not make a little illustration mapping out what I'd love to be wearing now. The proportions are a bit off and there's some mistakes as well, but this is my first attempt, so bear with me. :) I used to draw quite a bit back in the day (I'm not that old, I swear!) and I'd like to get back into it. My biggest inspiration is Garance Doré, I love her illustrations. Let me know what you think!

1. People Tree Hedgehog Beret
5. Mulberry Alexa Bag (I wish!!)

I actually JUST bought the Vila coat and I gotta say - it's amazing! So warm! I'm super happy because it was snowing here in Prague over the weekend... And you know the old Norwegian saying (do you?): 'There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes'. Hope you have a nice Monday!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Reading List


I've already mentioned the fact that I love books in yesterday's post. Today, though, I'd like to share books which are on my reading list as well as books which I've started reading (aaaand just like that I just realized I'm reading 5 books at once! :D hopefully this post will serve as a reminder that I need to FINISH THE PILE ON THE RIGHT before starting the one on the left).

My Reading List (on the left, from the bottom):
  • 'Alone in Berlin' by Hans Fallada: After reading an interview where Angelika Taschen mentioned that this is her favourite book EVER, I really wanted to read it myself. I'm waiting for an opportune moment because it's meant to be really depressing & sad (it is no wonder given the subject is German resistance during World War II).
  • 'Kafka on the Shore' by Haruki Murakami: I always wanted to read something by Murakami, so I picked this book up. Really excited for this one, I've never read a Japanese novel. 
  • 'Let the Right One In' by John Ajvide Lindqvist: I'm dying to watch the film, but I thought I should read the book first. The story centers on the relationship between a Swedish boy and a centuries-old vampire child (safe to say, this is no Twilight). 
  • 'The Stranger's Child' by Alan Hollinghurst: Picked this one up when I was dying to read something 'new' - it was on the bestseller list and seemed interesting. I read about 2 pages and had to stop... I guess it's not my cup of tea, but I'll give it another shot at some point.
Books I've Started Reading (on the right, from the bottom):
  • 'The Last Nude' by Ellis Avery: A fictionalized account of the relationship between painter Tamara de Lempicka and her lover Rafaela. The book seemed really promising at first but now I just can't get into it anymore... 
  • 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII' by Antonia Fraser: I'm really into historical biographies by Antonia Fraser - she turns seemingly dull stories into page-turners. My favourite Antonia Fraser biography is this one
  • 'Phantom' by Jo Nesbø: This is the latest novel by Norwegian crime writer  Jo Nesbø. He's really popular here in the Czech Republic (and the rest of the world ;) so I thought I might give him a try. Almost done with this one! It was quite good too.  
  • 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' by Mark Haddon: This is a really clever and touching story of a 15-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome who tries to solve a crime involving a dead poodle. Almost done as well! Loved this one. 
  • 'Peaches for Monsieur le Curé' by Joanne Harris: As soon as this book came out, I wanted to buy it - I'm a big fan of Harris's previous novel 'The Lollipop Shoes' (the sequel to 'Chocolat', which, I admit, I never read.. I guess the Johnny Depp version was just that amazing :). Just started reading this one, so hopefully it'll be as good as her other stuff. 
OK, compiling that list took longer than I had anticipated! Hopefully I will now finish all the books on the right, reading five books at once is kind of ridiculous (plus it leads to major plot forgetfulness).
If you're wondering why all the books are in English, it's not because I have something against my mother tongue. :) I've just been reading English books for as long as I can remember (maybe that's why I have a BA degree in English & Media?). Reading English books just comes naturally to me... it feels 'right'.

I'd love to hear what others are reading right now. Do you have any book recommendations? I'm always happy to hear them (maybe that explains the huge pile of books :).

Thursday, October 25, 2012

My Ideal Bookshelf


I'm so excited for 'My Ideal Bookshelf' to come out! I found out about this new publication thanks to Swiss Miss. This book, which is illustrated by Jane Mount, showcases one hundred leading cultural figures and lets us have a peek into their bookshelves. I'm a book hoarder so this book is totally on my bday/Christmas wishlist. I'm really looking forward to reading contributions by Judd Apatow or Patti Smith (and.. James Franco, I gotta admit! :). The illustrations also look pretty awesome - check out a time lapse video of Jane Mount painting some of the books.

'My Ideal Bookshelf' comes out on November 13.

Photo from My Ideal Bookshelf, via Swiss Miss

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Stuck on the City





On Sunday I visited the Stuck on the City 'street art' exhibition at the Municipal Library of Prague. I was really excited about this exhibition because people have been raving about it and it's just been getting super good reviews. But I gotta say, I was a bit disappointed... I wasn't, for instance, aware of the fact that the exhibition constantly changes and that new artists contribute to it (this is why a few pieces were literally unfinished!). The best part was actually the kids' room, where children doodled on the walls. I wanted to share my pics though - I really like them! :)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Jen Ramos





I really love these paintings by New York-based artist Jen Ramos. I'd love to buy one when I have my own place! They're all sold out at the moment, but hopefully Jen Ramos will paint some more in the future. :) Totally my style!

Check out the artist's blog as well - really inspiring.

Photos by Cocoa & Hearts 

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Miss Fancy Pants


Love this Essie nailpolish from their Fall 2012 collection - the shade is called Miss Fancy Pants. It goes with every colour & lasts for days. I really have to stop buying nailpolish though (especially from Essie!), I'm getting way too addicted.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Moleskine Store in Prague

A few days ago I visited the Moleskine store here in Prague and I was struck by how amazing the interior design was. I had actually already visited the store when it first opened about a year ago, but I didn't get to appreciate its full glory due to the fact that the place was PACKED. But when I visited the store this week I was actually the only customer there, and apart from checking out all the new additions to the Moleskine family, I got to admire the interior.

I really love the all-white theme as well the shelves which make the notebooks look like works of art. The drawings by young Czech artist Martin Kubát also give the place more character so that it's not 'just another Moleskine store'. The place comes complete with a hipster bike but sadly the latter isn't featured in the photos below. :)

I think a lot of Czech stores - and interiors in general - could learn from this place. I feel like a lot of stores here in Prague are super impersonal but I guess people are only just beginning to realize that visiting an original and nicely decorated place will make the customers want to stay that much longer.

And yes, I did conclude my visit with a purchase of a Moleskine notebook. Oops!






Photos by Dorota Špinková for Moleskine Czech Republic: 1, 2

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Lazy Days




1. For those who come from nothing - street art here in Prague by Pasta Oner.

2. Lovely building in a narrow old street.

3. Got my business cards today! I'll be needing them for a super duper secret project I'm thinking of doing in the next couple of weeks. OK, it's not that big of a deal, but I'm excited. Stay tuned! :)

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Ezra Miller editorial

I realized I haven't blogged about anything fashion-related yet so today I'd like to share some photos from a really cool editorial from the March 2012 issue of L'Uomo Vogue. I gotta admit, I'm not only loving these photos because of the fashion (androgynous, simple, clean-cut - love it!) but also because Ezra Miller is the model. For those who haven't heard of Mr Miller yet, he's an up-and-coming actor who has recently starred in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (haven't seen it yet, but it looks pretty darn good. teenage angst? yes please!). 

I actually first saw Ezra Miller in the film 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' and if you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you do so NOW. Ezra Miller portrays a very messed up teenager (a word of warning: the ending is a real shock & quite disturbing). The film also stars Tilda Swinton as Kevin's mom, so it's pretty much a guarantee that it must be a winner. Just don't watch it in hopes of seeing a light-hearted feel good film.  

Also, one of these photos may or may not be my wallpaper at the moment. Just sayin'. 



Photos by Bjorn Iooss for L'Uomo Vogue

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Zabludowicz Collection - Sarvisalo, Finland


Thanks to this postcard, I now have another arts-related place I'm dying to visit. And it's not really a gallery or a museum...

Monday, October 15, 2012

Tom Hiddleston love

'Never, ever let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. Prove the cynics wrong. Pity them, for they have no imagination. The sky's the limit. Your sky, your limit.' 

-Tom Hiddleston

I love this quote. I mean, Tom Hiddleston said it, so it's amazing by default. :) But seriously, Tom Hiddleston isn't just one of my favourite actors... He inspires me with his positivity. He's acknowledged the fact that he's had to work hard to get where he is today and, at the same time, you can tell he's grateful for all the opportunities that have been given to him. To me, he's a true star. Oh and he loves Miss Piggy... need I say more? Love you Tom!


(Clearly my Moleskine diary loves Tom too ;).

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Hidden Treasures


After spending waaaay too much time in a bookstore today (I've got a serious book addiction... it's not even funny) I decided to walk home. The trams were way too crowded for my liking & I thought I could use the 'exercise' (ugh, I miss my Dutch bike... health benefits & convenience & coolness, all rolled into one!). On my way home I walked past a few buildings whose façades I always admire. In fact, I wanted to take a picture of said buildings quite a few times before, but I only got the chance today - I always try to carry my camera with me these days (trying to get in the professional blogger mode :). Check them out...

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Relaxing evening


 

'Mother used to say that it meant Christopher was a nice name because it was a story about being kind and helpful, but I do not want my name to mean a story about being kind and helpful. I want my name to mean me.'

-Mark Haddon, 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'

French Interior Inspiration

Today I'd like to share some pics of an apartment that I find really inspiring. I recently bought the autumn issue of Czech Elle Decoration and there were so many nice interior ideas that I seriously want my own place RIGHT. NOW. I especially liked the article which features the French designer Florence Baudoux's Parisian apartment. Check it out (apologies for the wonky scanning btw).

Friday, October 12, 2012

Swedish Music

Ha, it seems like I can't pry myself away from my new blog! :) I just have to share these 2 songs before I sign off for good today. I've been listening to these songs on repeat today.. and I'm still obsessed! I swear it's a coincidence that both artists are Swedish... seriously!



I guess I wouldn't really pass the hip(ster) test with the last one, but I don't care, I love it! Have a nice weekend! :)

Architecture on a rainy day

Hi and welcome to my new blog! I have to say that starting a new blog is both exciting and daunting. I had a few blogs in the past (including a LiveJournal... good old days! I actually really enjoyed writing in my LiveJournal, it was quite cathartic). I also had a blog as part of my Bachelor studies in Scotland (which was also pretty fun! I'll always associate this blog with my favourite professor ever :). Last year, I tried blogging again, but it felt a wee bit forced. Now I feel ready though! And I'm super excited (ugh, time to get a Thesaurus... did I mention that I feel like my English skills have been a bit lacklustre lately? Hopefully blogging will help me out in that department. Oh and did I also mention that once I start talking/writing, it's not that easy for me to stop? *blogging fail*).  Anyhoos...

To start off, I'd like to share some pics of an architecture exhibition I visited today...