Pizza Fridays @ Sweet Thursday, De Beauvoir Town

Since it's a gloomy Monday today in London, I'm going to ignore this and focus instead on my favorite day of the week: Friday. On most some Fridays, you'll find me in a pizza joint that's named after my second-favorite day of the week, Thursday (naturally, since it's the precursor to Friday).

Sweet Thursday in De Beauvoir Town (that funny little place situated smack dab in between the boroughs of Hackney and Islington with pretty houses and a random - but very good - cafes) makes delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas in their wood-fired oven. It also has a pretty impressive little wine shop at the front to boot, where you can easily pick up an excellent bottle of champagne or wine for the next social gathering you're off to (we bought a bottle of Pol Roger to bring to a friend's house).

I love the laid-back feel of the restaurant, which makes it the go-to choice for Friday evenings for me and other local De Beauvoirites. Cutlery and napkins are provided at the table in a cleaned-out Italian tomato can and a Diet Coke bottle has been reinvented as a chilli oil dispenser. Clever and fun, with a bit of whimsy added in - just the way I like it.

It's family and dog-friendly, which means it's probably not the best place to have a quiet heart-to-heart, but it also means that it's really inclusive, friendly, and just generally nice to be in. Heart-to-hearts are a little too intense for Friday nights anyway.

But most of all, I love their pizzas. This is the one I order every time: the Salsiccia.

Topped with fennel sausage, broccoli, chillies, mozzarella, and cream (the parmesan shavings were picked off of John's plate and added to my own since he's not a fan of cheese - loser, I mean, poor lactose-intolerant man), this pizza is a plate of cheesy, sausage-y, broccoli-y goodness. It's also huge, which means I have to take half of it home every time I go. I've tried other dishes, but always return to the Salsiccia. John usually orders the Crudo: prosciutto crudo, rocket, tomato mozzarella, and parmesan. He likes his flavors light and simple; I like mine loud and bold.

It's a bit of a trek for anyone who doesn't live in the immediate area. Lots of buses get close, though. The closest Overground station is probably Haggerston, but if you're in the area, it's worth a try. Order the Salsiccia and a glass of red. They'll help put the world to rights.

House Prices In London

Hey there. Can we talk about house prices in London for a sec? Yeah? Okay, cool.

WHAT THE £$%& IS UP WITH THE HOUSE PRICES IN LONDON????!!!! I'm sorry, did I say house? Hollow laugh. I meant house prices but I kind of lump apartments into that too.

You see, I'm at that age. You know, the age where, if you're a woman, you're typically asked the extremely intrusive/rude/insensitive/generally-stupid-thing-to-ask question of, "So! Are you planning to have kids? Do you want to have kids? When will you have kids? Are you trying to get pregnant? Are you pregnant now? Really? Why not?" And then after that, or before that, you're asked, "So! Are you looking to buy a house? Are you trying to get on the 'property ladder'? *wink wink jostle jostle* It's like, sooooooo hard, isn't it? Do you have a deposit saved up? How much have you saved up? Where are you looking? Why aren't you looking?" These questions make me want to cover my eyes with my sleeve and run away and/or puke. Instead, I smile like a glassy-eyed robot and say things like, "Yes, yes, no. I mean, yes, but no. I mean, sure, yes, someday, but no, but yes."

And ... breathe.

Okay, so can we really talk about house prices in London? They are insane. Insane. We have officially missed the boat on nearly every "up and coming area" in Zone 2 and are now looking more at areas in Zones 3-4, with train lines. For example, most of the 2.5-bed flats in Hackney we looked at (around 700 sq. ft. or so) started at - started at - around £575,000. And that's just the asking price, so by the time they sell, they're likely to go a couple £10k over that. Yeah, definitely missed that one. Oh, I know, I'll look in East Greenwich. There are houses there - actual houses. Put a bid in. Put a "best and final" bid in at nearly £50k over the asking price. GET OUTBID BY SEVEN OTHER BIDDERS. Yours is the lowest. YOU LOSE. (The "you" is "me", in case you're wondering).

So today I present to you ... *drumroll please* ... properties we COULD purchase elsewhere in the world with our London budget. Yes, you heard right. When I was home with John last summer, we stopped for a bathroom break at a gas station. When I got in the car, my mom tossed a couple of property brochures at us through the backseat. "Just have a look," she said brightly. "Just for fun!"

Readers, I wish I never picked up that damned brochure.

On the first page, I saw a rather attractive 4-bed/3-bath house situated a few miles outside of Seattle at around the same price as the flats we'd been looking at in Bow and Hackney. It also came with its own airplane hanger and private runway. I'm not even kidding.

For the price of a London flat (under 1,000 sq ft) in our budget, we could buy ...

This 11-bedroom mansion house in Brechin, Scotland.

It only comes with a COURTYARD, EDWARDIAN CAST IRON FIREPLACES, and A WALLED GARDEN. YOU KNOW, NO BIG DEAL.

In Seattle, we can buy this waterfront home with, oh, a "180-degree unobstructed view of the Puget Sound and Vashon Island":

It's a 4-bed/2.5 bath that's a 20-minute drive to downtown Seattle. Plus, I could stuff my parents in there if I wanted to since it comes with a "mother-in-law" basement. Here in London, I could maybe stick them in a potting shed the size of a Honeybucket (that's a "port-a-loo" for you British folk).

What's that wet stuff on my cheeks? Am I ... crying? Oh yes, I'm crying at this beautiful view that I'll never have. Plus that rug.

I'm thisclose to moving back to Washington. Or Brechin, Scotland.

Image reproduced from Savills and Zillow

Easter in Amsterdam

Happy belated Easter! How was your weekend? Full of Easter egg hunts and family time, I hope!

John and I were in Amsterdam this weekend. His dad's partner, Nicole, has a flat with a gorgeous canal view in the Jordaan district, so they generously let us stay there free of charge while they were holidaying in Spain - how lucky are we?!

We've been totally spoiled this month with all our weekend excursions. I know that it seems like I'm often jetting off to places, but it's one of the (few) upsides of John's insanely busy work travel schedule: we either end up booking weekends away to coincide with his meetings abroad later in the week, or we use up the air miles he's earned, which is super helpful.

The first time I went to Amsterdam was around seven years ago. We were also staying in Andrew and Nicole's flat then, but I got really sick and had to sit the rest of the trip out, which was a bummer. It was also really cold and windy when we were there, so we didn't get to enjoy the city very much.

This time, though, we had fabulous weather. I woke up on Saturday morning with a view of the water glittering on the canal and boats sailing past. People on the ground floor flats would sit on their window sills eating a bowl of cereal and families were having brunch on the sidewalk at little wooden tables. People left their apartment doors and windows open just to chill out and read the paper. It was so cool and relaxed!

 

One thing I wasn't able to fully appreciate during my last visit to Amsterdam is just how picturesque the streets are - the sun really brings it out. Though we visited the city center as well, we mostly hung out in the Jordaan, which had lots of pretty door fronts, hip cafes and sweet boutiques, and a really vibrant feel to it. We ate ice cream and strolled along the canals, visiting the Flower Market in Singel and people watching.

On our first night after we arrived, I had a real craving for Thai food and was getting "hangrier" by the minute (that's "angry" + "hungry") because I was bad and didn't listen to John when he told me to eat a bigger lunch at home before we got on our flight! After the Thai restaurant I found was fully booked, I nearly lost it - before we stumbled upon a smaller but equally popular restaurant. It sounds ridiculous to have pad thai straight after arriving in Amsterdam, but I'm a strong believer in doing and eating what you feel like doing and eating - versus what the guide books tell you what you should be doing and eating. If that means Japanese food in Italy, that's okay too! In my books, at least.

The next evening however, we walked past a restaurant in the Jordaan called Fraiche, which looked quirky and interesting. We booked a table and I'm so glad we did!

John had a humorously named stout called "Panty" (I hate ales and stouts so I refrained from sampling this tasty brew, but I'll take his word for it):

I ordered a lobster and ox-cheek raviolo as a starter and it was delicious:

 

We stayed for a few hours and reminisced about all the city-breaks we've been fortunate enough to take so far. Since Amsterdam is only a 40-45 minute plane ride away (depending on which airport you depart from/fly into), it seems like such a no-brainer for a weekend getaway! It's also fantastic for art lovers, as there are galleries at every turn and plenty of art museums as well, which we didn't manage to visit on this trip.

Our flight on Sunday didn't leave until 7:30 pm, so we slept in and spent the day simply wandering again, which was lovely. At my request, we took a canal sightseeing cruise mid-afternoon. I normally stay away from overly "touristy" activities like river cruises because they can be oversubscribed and a little too intense for me, but I thought that it would be a great way to see the city and explore the canal system. We learned a few facts about the historical parts of Amsterdam, but mostly it was just nice to be on the water when the sun was out. All the locals were sitting on the water's edge (as pictured above) with a drink in hand and a smile on their faces. It was just perfect.

Have you been to Amsterdam? What did you like most about it? If not, would you consider going?

Happy travels. :)

An Exciting, Limited Time Offer From Petit Bateau and Vente-Privee!

I've mentioned before about how much I love French retailer Petit Bateau's adorable but chic line of clothes for babies and children, so I was thrilled when they invited me to their South Molton Street store yesterday to have a look at their new Spring/Summer collection for women (seriously, I don't have to consider wedging myself into another toddler dress again because I love it so much - they now make it in my size! Amaze.) and to tell me about the amazing offer they're about to run with online sale site, Vente-Privee.

From 6 a.m. next Tuesday, April 22nd, if you sign up to join Vente-Privee for free, you'll be able to purchase a Rosedeal voucher for £25, which will give you a value of £50 to spend online at Petit Bateau's e-boutique. C'est magnifique, non? The voucher is for a limited time only and expires on the 18th of May, so set a reminder!

It's a great way to shop for yourself any babies that might be due in the next few months as Petit Bateau have a delightful range of clothing and accessories for newborns and toddlers - it's probably the first brand I turn to when purchasing a gift for expectant (or new!) parents. In fact, we just bought some teeny tiny bodysuits for Joe and Jodi's little one, who is due to arrive any minute now!

And although the store stocks plenty of pink and blue options, I especially love Petit Bateau's range of non-gendered baby-wear in light grey and black stripes, plus lots of white (though I do often how practical white is for babies!). The cotton they use is so unbelievably soft and perfect for a baby's sensitive skin.

As we sipped pink champagne and nibbled on Laduree macarons at the in-store event last evening, I tried to contain my excitement at the new women's collection. As someone who loves her stripes and lives in Breton tees all the time, I couldn't help but gravitate towards the Breton tops and bottoms, which have been reinvented into tanks with gold button details, dresses, shorts, and more. If you're looking for *the* Breton tee to see you through spring and summer, then I highly recommend investing in one from Petit Bateau, which you can easily do by taking advantage of the Vente-Privee Rosedeal voucher. The sleeves actually reach your wrist (whereas most other Breton tees are only a flimsy three-quarter length sleeve) so you can roll them up or push them down and the cotton is thicker and heavier - perfect for UK weather.

The collection is small but challenging to pick from as there are so many wonderful pieces for daily wear! I finally settled on a simple, roomy-fit Breton tee with bright blue stripes which I'll probably live in all summer long. Though I do feel that I also now need it in green, yellow, and navy. Plus the long-sleeved versions as well, of course. And maybe that floral dress pictured above. Slight problem.

If your spring wardrobe is in need of a spruce up, don't forget to log on to Vente-Privee on Tuesday morning for this fabulous deal.

The Rosedeal voucher is valid from 22nd April to 18th May 2014 on the Petit Bateau website only and is available to purchase from the Vente-Privee website (free membership required) from 6 a.m. on 22nd April.

I was hosted as a guest by Petit Bateau. All opinions are my own.

My Hidden Gem: Bodysgallen Hall, Llandudno, Wales

The folks over at Look Insurance have launched an interactive map of "hidden gems" across the UK and asked me to contribute (see here)! It's a great idea; particularly for those who are looking for something a little more off-the-beaten-path. And although this isn't entirely hidden, it's certainly one of my favorite places in the world: Bodysgallen Hall in Llandudno, north Wales.

The Lowdown

At first glance, it's like every other historic house that's been turned into an award-winning hotel: acres of beautiful landscaped gardens and grand, sweeping views of Snowdonia. But to me, it's so, so much more.

After all, it's where John and I spent our first weekend as a married couple after we eloped (yes, eloped!) to Llandudno two years ago. The Hall played a pivotal roll in making our wedding day absolutely perfect and since then, it's held a very special place in my heart.

Built in the 17th century (but with a 13th century tower that was once used as a lookout for the soldiers serving the English kings of Conwy - for all you history buffs), the Hall is now comprised of 15 bedrooms in the main house and 16 other cottage suites on the grounds.

The Cottages (eeee!)

John and I first stayed in the Gingerbread House (I adore that name! Can you tell?) about four years ago and fell in love with the cottage, the Hall, and its romantic grounds, which consists of both landscaped gardens and a woodland park where you can easily go for a dusk stroll (me) or enjoy a morning run (John).

Though it's a bit of a trek, you can also walk from the hotel to the small seaside town of Llandudno (where we were married) and Conwy Castle, which is really fun to explore. Or, if you're in the need of pampering, the hotel also has a small but fabulous spa, which is well equipped with a pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. I had a positively amazing Indian head massage there during our first visit and didn't want to leave!

The sweet little cottage that we were staying in was so fun to be in, we decided to order room service every night and watch TV together, snuggled up on the couch, until the early morning hours before taking a walk through the woodlands.

The Main Hall

Having a drink in the hotel bar or dinner in the main dining room is like stepping back in time: a grandfather clock chimes at each hour (or so I remember), there's a separate library for reading the paper or catching up on a favorite book, and the bar is stocked with a venerable list of whiskeys and spirits (but likewise, they won't blink if you ask for a Diet Coke with ice).

Afternoon tea is taken in the oak-paneled drawing room, where you're served wherever you'd like to be seated: whether that's next to the fireplace or next to one of the beautiful stone mullioned windows (I seriously don't even know what "mullioned" means, but I can tell you that the windows are exquisite). Fun fact: afternoon tea at Bodysgallen includes bara brith - a Welsh fruitcake, as well as traditional scones, finger sandwiches, and other sweet cakes.

And - you'll either hate this or love it - the Dining Room has a dress code. As you can tell, I happen to love this. I think dressing up for dinner (on occasion!) is so civilized and often necessary. Plus, it's fun! And the dress code isn't anything too stuffy or crazy - they simply ask you to refrain from wearing trainers (sneakers) or tracksuits (sweats) to dinner. Who shows up to a nice restaurant wearing sweats anyway?! Though I spoke before of over-indulging in the room service menu, I've eaten at both the main Dining Room and the less formal 1620 Bistro, which is equally delicious.

Service From a Bygone Era

But what I haven't mentioned, and what has probably been the most important aspect of my stays at Bodysgallen Hall, is how incredibly wonderful the staff is. From our very first visit, it was clear that we were by far the youngest guests at the historic mansion - but we received the same respectful and polite service as every other guest staying at the house that weekend (unlike other establishments we've been to and won't be returning to any time soon).

Our wedding day was made perfect by the hotel manager and staff, who did everything they could to make it special. We were greeted upon our arrival by the hotel manager, who ensured that we had our favorite Gingerbread House for our stay (as I had requested) and had champagne and a hand-written note waiting for us ahead of our arrival. I had asked the hotel if I could "borrow" a small bouquet of flowers from their grounds to take with me to the Conwy Registrar's Office for our ceremony and they had their florist prepare a bespoke bouquet for me, which was absolutely beautiful and which I still have!

On the morning of our ceremony, I was getting ready alone in the cottage, putting on my dress and doing my hair and makeup, when I heard a knock on the door: it was one of the porters, who handed me a gift-wrapped box from Links of London containing a pair of pearl earrings that John had arranged to be delivered to me that morning while he went for a run. So sweet!

Though our stay that weekend was incredibly short, I'll never forget how kindly we were treated. And when I squeeze my eyes shut to travel to one of my few "happy places" in the world, Bodysgallen Hall is always on the list.

This is my hidden gem, and one that I think you should definitely visit.

All photos courtesy of the Bodysgallen Hall website.

My Favorite Japanese Restaurant in London: Zen Mondo @ Upper Street, Islington

One of my newest favorite restaurants is not a Michelin-starred, frequently reviewed, gastronomic paradise with a 3-month waiting list, but rather a small, unassuming Japanese restaurant called Zen Mondo - located at a blink-and-you'll-miss-it location on Angel's Upper Street.

Being from the Pacific Northwest where Japanese restaurants are held to a very, very high standard, I'm always dubious about the Japanese restaurants in London. If they're not extremely overpriced or actually Korean-owned - which is totally fine, but obviously not authentic - then they use less-than-fresh ingredients, which makes me lose my appetite as soon as I see the raw tuna bleeding into the rice surrounding my maki roll (obviously traumatized by that experience at a different Japanese eatery in Angel). Sometimes, I just want home-cooked Japanese dishes with clean flavors and a simple menu, like my favorite family-owned Japanese restaurant back home.

So I was skeptical to say the least when we walked past Zen Mondo and peered at their menu from the sidewalk, which proudly advertised the claim that they are the "only restaurant in the area that has as Japanese owner and chefs". After a few moments of indecision, we decided to give it a whirl and I am so glad that we did.

The menu at Zen Mondo, while not extensive, focuses on a few delicious, but simple, home-cooked Japanese dishes such as udon (with a choice of white or buck-wheat noodles), sukiyaki nabe (hot pot), tonkotsu, tempura, and of course, sushi and sashimi. For those dining between 6-7:30 p.m. the restaurant also offers a four course pre-theatre menu for around £15, which includes an amouse bouche that's specially prepared by the chef according to the fresh ingredients of the day, a starter, a main, and a choice of two (yes, two!) desserts. Absolutely bargain-ous.

Though it was our second visit to Zen Mondo last night, John and I still went for the set menu, though subsequently had a severe case of food envy when the table next to ours had their seafood nabe served in a beautiful stone pot bubbling with hot broth. Sigh.

To start, we both had the salmon and tuna nigiri (which was melt-in-the-mouth divine). For our main courses, John had the (lightly) fried chicken with a cabbage salad dressed with a light soy and ginger dressing and I had the grilled mackerel in miso with cooked daikon - a type of radish that is commonly used in Asian cooking (and one that I really miss the taste of!). Both dishes were served with two bowls of white, slightly sticky rice.

When I taste the food at Zen Mondo, it reminds me of home - though the flavors and ingredients of Japanese cuisine are different to Chinese cooking, the style of cooking is similar to my mom's healthy and delicious dishes. The experience of eating at Zen Mondo is similar to dining in someone's kitchen, rather than at a restaurant. The flavors are very clean and the ingredients taste fresh and healthy. Seasoning is hardly ever more than a dash of soy, miso, and ginger - and yet, not one dish tastes the same.

And finally for dessert, John had green tea ice cream and chocolate cake, while I chose green tea ice cream (I had serious food envy when John ordered it last time!) and a lychee granita. So delicious and the perfect way to end a perfect Sunday dinner.

If you're around Islington, I'd highly recommend dropping in to Zen Mondo for lunch or dinner. The staff is particularly lovely and the environment, as John described it, is like "an oasis of calm" away from the rabble of busy Upper Street.

On our next visit, we're steering clear of the set menu and ordering a blow-out sushi feast. We think.

Cherry Blossom Jackpot

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I'm really happy because it's a four-day week this week AND next week, due to the Easter Bank Holiday. We're spoiled by the number of Bank Holidays we have in the UK in the spring and summer, with two in May and one more in August. We're off to Amsterdam this weekend but until then, I'm enjoying the sunshine in London and the spring blooms.

I've been so jealous of everyone's gorgeous photos of pink cherry blossom trees on Instagram and was getting grumpier by the second that I hadn't seen any good ones in Islington yet (Hackney had loads when we ran up to London Fields this weekend - well, John ran, I jogged breathlessly behind him like a retired donkey).

But when we were looking at some potential houses this weekend (didn't see any we liked, btw) in Greenwich, I hit the cherry blossom jackpot.

Pink confetti everywhere! Unfortunately, every photo I took of the actual trees was marred by cars and buildings in the background, so I gave up and just started snapping away at the beautiful pink collection of petals that fell onto the sidewalks. Most homeowners had jaw-droppingly gorgeous rose bushes that were also in bloom in shades like bright pink or vibrant red, which made for a lovely contrast with the pale pink blossom petals.

I love cherry blossom trees because they remind me of the one we have at the end of our driveway in Washington. Each spring, the breeze would cause the petals to drop and make a beautiful array of confetti on the gravel, welcoming me home from school every afternoon.

I know that spring in London can also bring on unwanted pests like clothes moths and hayfever, but at the same time, it's lovely just to look up and see these beautiful pink clouds of blossoms slowly shedding their petals.

Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber "A Tale of Two Cellos" @ Rhinegold LIVE, Conway Hall

Last week, I was really spoiled: on Tuesday, I saw Joshua Bell and Murray Perahia perform at The Royal Festival Hall with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields as part of Sir Neville Marriner's 90th birthday celebrations and on Thursday, I had the great privilege of seeing two of my favorite cellists, Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber, give an intimate recital at Conway Hall as part of Rhinegold LIVE's free (yes, I said free!) concert series.

Though I was super excited to go to both concerts, one of the downsides of living in London is that these kinds of occurrences no longer faze me. Oh, another concert with a world-famous pianist? Wait, how far is it from work? A ten-minute walk? Okay, I guess I'll buy a ticket. In contrast, these sorts of opportunities in Seattle are really once-in-a-lifetime chances. I've mentioned it before on this blog, but tickets for the arts tend to be super expensive in the US and you don't get very many big names passing through often. It's great because it means you'll be supporting local artists (and there are some fantastic ones, sure), but it can also be quite limiting.

But as a further encouragement for me to attend more concerts in London, Rhinegold Publishing has recently launched Rhinegold LIVE: a new series of free, "rush-hour" concerts taking place at Conway Hall (just a stone's throw away from my office) with an informal Q&A session at the end with the artists and a complimentary drinks reception before. Oh so civilized and oh so amazing in every way possible. They intend to organize six concerts throughout the year featuring a range of musicians: from those who are world-famous to those who are just starting out in their careers. Each artist will be hand-picked by an editor of a Rhinegold Publishing magazine. All events are ticketed, but they're easy to book (though you'll need to be quick!) via an online form on Rhinegold's website.

I first saw Julian Lloyd Webber in concert when he performed a fantastic solo recital at Cadogan Hall four years ago. My mom was over for her first visit to London and I bought tickets purely based on the fact that she had just accompanied one of the pieces on the program, Fauré's beautiful but haunting Elegie. I remember being completely captivated by his performance and simultaneously grateful for his informative commentary on each piece, which he gave from the stage.

His performance at Conway Hall, with his wife (and equally accomplished cellist) Jiaxin and the brilliant accompanist Pam Chowhan, was equally good. More than good - it was wonderful. The program consisted of pieces from the Lloyd Webbers' latest album: a collection of cello duets arranged by Julian Lloyd Webber himself. It features pieces arranged for two cellos such as Shostakovich's Prelude from 'The Gadfly' as well as compositions by Quilter, Purcell, Rachmaninov, Rubenstein, and Piazzolla.

I'm very rarely moved to tears by music, but the Prelude from 'The Gadfly' was absolutely sublime, as was Piazzolla's 'The Little Beggar Boy (Chiquilin de Bachin)'. The performance, which lasted for approximately an hour with a Q&A at the end with the musicians, seemed to fly by. I glanced at the faces of a few other audience members during the concert and their expressions seemed to reflect my thoughts: that we were all very privileged that evening to witness such a rare and special performance. A good dose of humor was injected into the concert as well, with the Lloyd Webbers trading instruments at one point, and then feigning sleep during a particularly lulling adaptation of Pärt's Estonian Lullaby.

Afterward, I ordered the Tale of Two Cellos CD on Amazon and had it shipped to my mom, purchasing the MP3 version on my phone for myself. Again, I rarely do this after a performance, but I loved the pieces too much not to! I'd highly encourage you to buy it as well.

There's nothing like hearing classical music performed live (though John may beg to differ, as I once caught him quietly extracting a copy of The Economist from his bag and slowly turning the pages when I took him to see Emanuel Ax perform) and I hope that this concert series will encourage those who might not necessarily attend classical music concerts for various reasons (e.g. being put off by ticket prices, being intimidated by a large concert hall environment, etc.) to give it a try. Having said that, I hope that throughout the year, Rhinegold LIVE will advertise this series more widely and to as large an audience as possible. I only heard about it through a co-worker who happened to know one of the editors at Rhinegold Publishing.

During the Q&A session, Julian Lloyd Webber made a brief reference to the music education reform that is desperately needed in this country, which I (along with many others) enthusiastically applauded. I know how important my musical upbringing has played in my life today. I'm so lucky to enjoy classical music concerts and to continue to play with a fantastic London orchestra (albeit on a non-professional basis) because of this. I strongly believe that all children should have access to free music lessons at an early age as part of their school curriculum and that this should continue throughout their entire educational career. Although the music education program that we have in the US could always be improved, I will be forever grateful to have had that opportunity to pick up a violin, a viola, and a cello for the first time when I was in the fifth grade, which led me to later becoming the concertmistress of my high school, then university, symphony orchestras.

Delicious Dips

I am the worst for eating healthily. The worst! I snack constantly; I eat out too much; I have a sweet tooth; I don't eat enough fruits and vegetables ... the list goes on and on. I know I need to watch what I eat a lot more than I do, especially since my family has a history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

I'm actually getting a little better at snacking on things like nuts and raisins at work versus cookies and other sweet things. Recently, I made a fantastic discovery at the Sainsbury's near my office: their beetroot and sesame dip. I bet this is super unhealthy as well, but dunking a Ryvita multi-seed flatbread thin into this divine dip is the tastiest mid-morning snack. For me, the fact that it's a savory versus sweet snack is already a huge improvement.

Do you get the munchies throughout the day? What do you snack on at work?

Books I Bought This Week

It's FRIDAY. How in the world did that happen?

This week, I bought two books. Two whole books! Since I work in book publishing, you'd think that I'm a book-buying addict; that I visit bookshops in my spare time and attend all sorts of bookish events; that I read non-stop no matter what method of transport I'm on ... WRONG.

I'm an imposter, a fraud. All the books on my shelf were those that I had acquired for free during my Penguin Books days and, while you couldn't tear me away from books as a child, you'll be hard-pressed to find me reading one today. I joined one bookclub, which quickly dissolved, then joined another, which also eventually petered out ... you get the picture.

Don't get me wrong - obviously, I love books! It's just hard to find a) a good book and b) time to read it properly. My life is full of constant interruptions (and I don't even have children!), distractions, and noise. My idea of a treat is shutting myself in a bedroom with lots of natural light, snuggling down into the covers, and having a good 2-hour chunk of time to read a book ... after which I fall asleep for a long, luxurious nap. Maybe this weekend.

Anyway.

This week, a co-worker forwarded a link to the Telegraph's recent review of Rebecca Tuite's book, Seven Sisters Style and I bought it - right then and there.

As a Seven Sisters alum, how could I resist? ICYDK, the "Seven Sisters" refers to the seven, (majority) women-only liberal arts colleges that were founded to provide educational opportunities for women around the same time that the Ivy League colleges were founded. These are: Mount Holyoke (my alma mater!), Vassar (now co-ed), Wellesley, Smith (boo!!! No, just kidding, Smithies!), Radcliffe (now a part of Harvard and therefore co-ed), Bryn Mawr, and Barnard.

Back in Small Town, USA, where I'm from, the idea of attending a women's college seemed as alien as ... oh, I don't know ... moving to London, England, perhaps. This book is an in-depth look at how the "all-American preppy look" was developed and fostered at the Seven Sisters colleges. If anything, it provides a fascinating glimpse of the styles that evolved from these single-sex educational institutions, which then went on to influence Hollywood and inspire American designers such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

Of course, the Seven Sisters students were much more elegant than we were back then: yes, some of us wore popped collars on campus, with a single strand of pearls and that unmistakeable Tiffany's chain-link, heart-charm bracelet given to girls on their 16th birthday. Those who studied abroad in Europe came back as proud owners of large Longchamp Le Pliage totes, which they used to stuff papers and books in until the corners frayed. But others fell into the "sloppy dressing" category because ... who cared? Some of us also wore pajamas and sweats to lectures, lab, lunch, the library, exams, etc.

I fell in between these two camps. I was still developing my personal "style" while at Mount Holyoke, and was just as quick to pluck a scarf from the "free bin" in the laundry room of Buckland and fashion it around my head as a bandana, as I was to get my initials monogrammed on an L.L. Bean canvas tote bag and proudly carry it around campus (until I realized I looked like an idiot, which only took about two weeks).

Regardless of how I dressed, or how my classmates dressed, Seven Sisters Style is a wonderful read, and one that I know I'll continue to dip in and out of as my reunion years come and go.

The second book I purchased was not for myself, but for my Dad, who is a huge fan of Fabrice Moireau's beautiful watercolors, which appear in a series of "sketchbooks" published by Editions Didier Millet.

This one, Rooftops of Paris, was initially hard to find: I could only locate a copy for over £400 on Amazon! Luckily, I'd been in touch with the Sales Director of EDM before, so I emailed him and he kindly told me that it'd be in stock again soon for a much more reasonable price.

The rooftops of Paris are extraordinary. I think that Paris has the most romantic cityscape in the world and that its rooftops are the key to this.

Rooftops of Paris arrived today and, while extracting it from the packaging, I thought to myself, "Why don't I have this book?" So I'll be getting this for myself, as well as the rest in Fabrice Moireau's sketchbook series (he's done Venice and Paris, to name a few), because they are - simply put - beautiful books.

One thing I've realized is that I'm surrounded by beautiful books every day, and yet I never think to stop and enjoy them myself. If I worked in any other industry, I'd probably appreciate them even more. So I'm resolving to stop taking books for granted and perhaps even allocate a bit of my clothing budget to some gorgeous coffee table tomes.

I mean, I'll try. I said "perhaps", after all ...

Style Tip: New Season, New (Secondhand!) Wardrobe

So! My lovely friend Ruth (who lived in London but has now moved back to NYC, boo hoo) reads this blog and is always asking me to write a style post. I think she's just humoring me, but nevertheless, I'm flattered, though I'd probably lose 75% of the 25 followers I have if I ever started featuring photos of myself in a random assortment of outfits.

But Ruth's request is also timely, as I was recently contacted by French clothing company, La Redoute, to take part in their "Secrets To French Style" campaign by sharing my (cringe) "style tip". Intrigued? Well then, on y va!

So my "style tip" is ... (drumroll, please) ... how to get a completely new season wardrobe on a budget. Like, a real budget. A budget that students and people who work in publishing (ahem, me) can adhere to. Not the type of budget that appears in glossy magazines that says, "Look! Our best finds under £250!" No. Just, no. My best find is more like, under £25.

Case in point, pictured above (from front to back):

* 3/4-length sleeve white dress with ribbon sash and embroidered bow by Sandro - £25 from Bang! Bang! Clothing Exchange on Drury Lane

* Black and white striped illusion shift dress by Zara - £11.20 (including postage) from eBay

* Mint green and light grey tank dress by COS - £17.99 (including postage) from eBay

* Graphic print shift dress by COS - £18.99 (including postage) from eBay

Like many some women my age, I get an itch to completely overhaul my wardrobe as soon as the first hint of spring is in the air or when the first autumn leaf begins to change color. I'm fickle; I get bored easily, and I constantly like to change what I'm wearing. But the truth is, I don't get paid enough to support my habit, so I've adjusted the way I buy my clothes instead. For me, scouring secondhand consignment shops and eBay for brands I wouldn't normally be able to afford has become a past-time (or as John might see it, an addiction - oops). I'd say that approximately 20% of my wardrobe is sourced from eBay or another secondhand shop.

When I saw this sweet Sandro dress on the rails of Bang! Bang! on Drury Lane, I couldn't resist trying it on. We'd just received an invitation for a summer garden party in June, and I could imagine myself wearing this dress with raffia-heeled wedges and bright accessories. I love the sweet applique bow on the front and the ruffled detail on the shoulders, which is girly, but also subtle enough to be relatively grown-up. 

As for the striped illusion Zara dress, I'd admired it on the Zara website for months last summer, then resisted buying it in store because I didn't need another monochrome dress in my wardrobe. But when it came up on eBay (past season clothes always make their way on to eBay - you just have to be patient!), it was a snip at £7.50 or whatever my final bid was and one that I absolutely loved when I tried it on at home. Its black illusion panels are super flattering and I like that you can wear it with flats for a casual look or heels for going out.

I've recently become a huge fan of COS, though it's slightly trickier to buy online because the sizing and fit is inconsistent. I needed to add a splash of color to my mostly black, white, and grey palette, so I opted for the dresses above on eBay, which I can wear to work and when I'm chilling out.

I'm super discerning when it comes to buying secondhand clothing on eBay - as in, I have rules For brands like ASOS, Zara, Topshop, or Warehouse, I never bid above £10 (unless it's a new item with tags). For brands like COS, for example, I'll allow myself a budget of £20 (before postage). I'm reluctant to purchase from sellers who have a low rating. Anything that's below 100% makes me nervous, and I check out previous buyers' feedback to see what's been said. I stay away from items that have stains (they may never come out) or bobbling (I don't want it to look worn before I've had a chance to wear it!).

Similar rules apply to consignment store shopping. Consignment shops are also great for revamping a wardrobe, especially if they carry high-end designer labels, such as DvF, Marni, Marc Jacobs, Acne, or Rag & Bone. Plus, their stock always changes, so it's a bit like finding hidden treasure when you find something amazing!

Et voila - my style tip for spring. Happy trawling!