Monthly Archives: August 2012
Union jack cake
The Great British Bake-Off started its second season earlier this month and the above union jack battenburg cake has been making the rounds on the British baking (and cooking TV) blogs. I bet this cake is delish with a cup of tea!
If you’re interested in making this at home, the recipe is here, courtesy of the BBC.
I’ll see you back here on Monday!
London in wood
I don’t know what I love more – the above London map done in wood by Neighborwoods or the tagline of Neighborwoods (“Your hood etched in wood.”) $64 for an 11 1/2″ by 14 1/4″ piece and they’re based in New York.
Pedoscope, anyone?
See the above contraption? What do you suppose it is? Any guesses?
Well, would you put your foot in it?
My MIL recently told us that this was an actual devise used in shoe stores to provide an X-ray of one’s foot – and indeed to check to see if there was enough room for toes inside a shoe. I kid you not.
Not sure what was wrong with the method of just pushing on one’s toes through the shoe to gauge, but yes. These were used instead. Apparently, they were known as pedoscopes and were popular in the U.K. through the mid-1970s. I’ve never seen one, never heard of one, but my MIL has reported that my husband’s foot was pedoscoped back in the day!
Wikipedia also reports that they were also used in the U.S. from the 1920s through the 1950s until they were outlawed (probably due to all the pesky radiation! What a buzzkill!).
The Holy Grail of British jeans
Rachel Weisz in MiH Breathless jeans
I have been a fan of Hudson jeans for about a year now. I bought a pair at last year’s Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale and loved the fit (yay for a petite cut!) and for the little union jack on the bum.
But lately, I’ve ben searching for that elusive jean – something petite again, but also skinny without being too skinny, straight and fitted just so. Not too tight on the ankle, but not too loose. The answer might be in the form of the British brand MiH and their Breathless jean. I was flipping through the August issue of Glamour and lo and behold, the dream jean was there: “Something slim-fitting but not too tight, spiffy enough for Saturday night but also perfect for a casual brunch” and there were photos of Rachel Weisz, Rosie Huntington Whiteley and Elizabeth Hurley sporting the look.
Have you ever tried MiH? Is it all that and a bag of chips (or should I say crisps)? Inquiring minds want to know (I want to know!).
Fall line at Mini Boden
Sniff, sniff. Can you smell that? I think fall is nigh! (Or should I say autumn?) (And should I say near?) š
Mini Boden’s fall line is exquisite, playful and gorgeous, with a British nod to style. I particularly love the cosy gilet, the duffle coat and the Westminster Printed Skirt. Lush!
Viva Las Vegas
So apparently what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – unless you’re Prince Harry and someone commemorates the occasion on film. I’m ashamed for him. Couldn’t he have just hung out in the buffet at Bellagio? Maybe caught Celine Dion in concert? And checked out the beautiful pool and cabanas at the Palms (and then regretted eating so much at the buffet)? That’s how I roll when I’m in Vegas.
At any rate, it could be worse. At least Prince Harry still has all his teeth. Do you want to send Buckingham Palace a copy of “The Hangover” or should I?
Scotch! For your nails!
Have you heard about Scotch nail polish (translation: nail varnish), a non-toxic, eco-friendly line of colors with names like Loch Ness Mystery, Black Tartan and Highland Mist? Even cooler? The bottles are fashioned after whiskey bottles. Love it! (Oh yeah, and they’re based here in the U.S. but available in the U.K. and quite a few other countries globally!)
Epic tea time with Alan Rickman
When it’s tea time for Alan Rickman, clearly he means business. Watch him make a cuppa in super slo-mo and then watch the drama that ensues. It is a “Portrait in Dramatic Time” by David Michalek.
I’m still not sure what it’s all about, Alfie, but Alan Rickman can make walking down the street into an art form. I should know. While working in London’s Notting Hill in 2000, there was a period of time where I would frequently see Professor Snape himself in the morning on my way to work. I would walk on one side of the street (Westbourne Grove), he would walk on the other, always looking down, serious, purposeful on his way to get a cup of coffee.
I never stopped him. I would never dare interrupt his morning routine. One morning, I spotted him inside a Caffe Nero, having a cuppa with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (AKA Maid Marian from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) and the scene was near perfection.
Don’t stop me now
Have you seen Team GB lip sync to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”? It was produced by Adidas and released last week.
Well, now, it seems that the concept wasn’t exactly original. The Paralympics GB team released its own viral video, back in April, to the same fantastic song.
I suppose imitation is the highest form of flattery…
Best GIFs of the London Olympics
China’s Liu Xiang hops over to the last hurdle and plants a kiss on the hurdle. Photo credit: Xinhua
I love a good GIF. It’s the reason I visit this site with bated breath each morning.
And so thanks to Buzzfeed for compiling the best 33 GIFs of the London Olympics. There is a lot here that was clearly not picked up by NBC and a good smattering of amazing, funny, moving, wonderful moments from the London Olympics.
Enjoy! And have a great weekend!
BRITRISH.COM 