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yesterday turned out to be an almost perfect day; filled with friends, love, cough syrup, cake, and SNOW.

friends: the best way to go with friends is to be honest and admit it when things don’t turn out as they should for whatever reason.

love: close your eyes, and let the magic happen.

cough syrup: it seems the most reasonable approach to a sore throat. the best-spent four pounds of my life.

cake: small cranberry cakes with lovely orange and cinnamon undertones are the perfect complement to…

SNOW: two days in a row. it feels unreal for the southern girl I am. snow, period. right in the city centre, period.

I hope to be able to drop by sometime during the upcoming few days, but really, don’t expect much from me. I have the feeling that the restaurant is going to be super busy!

tags: cake, christmas, friends, london, love, night, snow.

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sometimes it’s best to put some blinkers on to only see the best in life and forget about the rest (that goes somewhere along the lines of this-sore-throat-kills-me and I-am-working-way-too-much).

so today, from the bottom of my bed, I want to share with you three funny finds I have made during the past few weeks.

one. chickpeas are shy little guys. Guillaume put some to soak in the kitchen. and at night, we wondered where that popping noise came from. we checked the kitchen only to discover the pops stopped when we got in only to start again when we had our backs turned. shy, they are indeed.

two. life always have the best surprises. I’ve just realised that something I never wished for happened anyway. and now, it just seems normal and comforting. I couldn’t be happier.

three. I can’t keep a secret. I have been trying to make the secretest presents for Guillaume’s Christmas, but everytime, I just jump on any occasion to give him some hints about what they are.

tags: christmas, holland park, london, tattoo.

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(picture by notebookdoodles)

I’m just dropping by real quick after an amazing first day of work at the Capital hotel restaurant (two michelin stars, my friends, are high maintenance) to show you my latest crush.

notebookdoodles, found via Marthe’s blog advent calendar, is a gorgeous little blog.

and yes, somewhere along the way HE became my comfort zone. I didn’t see it coming. surprise!

tags: blogs, capital hotel, illustration, love.

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after too many hours to admit it spent on the computer this morning*, I decided to make the best of this not-so-rainy off day and go for a walk (with the secret aim to find a large soft-cover squared notebook = FAIL).

but I met someone on the way. the plumpest little person, eating a peanut. he (I assume he’s a boy from all this muscle – hmmm, love handles) made my day.

now, as usual, I’m curious to know what made your monday the best day of the week?

ps. only tens days until Christmas (this also gets me super*excited).

* I have put together the sweetest blurb book for Guillaume’s Christmas. in case you want to do the same, do rush. tomorrow is the deadline for getting your book printed/sent by your door before THE day.

tags: animals, canon 400D, hyde park, london, walk.

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bow (by heidifurre), testing out the calligraphy tools (by kate), nobility (by kate), *’_'* (by .bu).

I want a tattoo: on the inner wrist, with my own handwriting, and possibly a small drawing. most definitely with a handmade feel.

does anyone have good recommendation for a tattoo parlour in London? oh please say yes.
I have been waiting for this tattoo for so long, and now I’ve found what I want to write on my skin, it is simply the right time.

tags: calligraphy, christmas, flickr, illustration, tattoo.

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I think I might have found my most favourite blog ever. deerlings. Lola knows how to make it feel right.

tags: blogs, hearts, tim walker.

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it sometimes feels weird to notice that when I want or have many things to do/make, I seem to get lost.

does this happens to you too?

here is my very own list at the moment.

one, make an embroided Christmas present for Guillaume.
two, develop an amazing caramel macaron filling.
three, paint our own version of London’s map.
four, file the paperworks.
five, make our home pretty.
six, buy a couple of Moleskine notebooks.
seven, draw the invitation for our very own Christmas special party.
eight, make some truffle cupcakes.
nine, find the perfect colouring tools.
ten, get a tattoo on my wrist.

right now, I think I might simply go for a walk. I always seem to: take lovely pictures, collect some twigs, and feel cold and happy!

tags: light garland, list, london.

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thanks for all the wishes. you are just so adorable. I wish I could all invite you here, in our small flat, and we could have tea with homemade scones and jam.

this seems highly unlikely to happen, but the least I can do is to show you our latest home improvement: a clouds polaroid heart with our much-loved Habitat analog clock + the gorgeous krakatoa poster from Elisabeth.

x fanny

tags: clock, clouds, diy, elisabeth dunker, habitat, home, illustration, london, polaroid, studio violet.

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it’s already the first of December. plus, we’ve now been in London for over two weeks.

time has flown by so quickly. I’ve had my ups and downs; no later than yesterday, but do make wishes / cross your fingers for me today, as I’m onto something new and exciting.

today from eleven am, I’ll have to convince a chef that I can be part of his team.

see you tomorrow for an update and possibly a Christmas advent drawing. x

tags: christmas, illustration, london.