BY PAUL, YOU'VE DONE IT!

Never been a fan of Paul Smith really, until the black toothbrush of my 90's dreams! (I was really depressing at 14). It's 5 whole pounds! Should I get one, and just like use it once a week, with a back-up from Boot's for the rest of the week? lol I'm not kidding!

HERE'S SOME OTHER STUFF I DIDN'T MIND ON THE WEBSITE, WITH A FANTASTIC MOUTH-FOAMING PINK AND BLUE FINALE:

I can see Liya Kibede strutting this. I would, if I didn't have too much hips.

OH GOD...Item of the Day, you think? EFF YEAH!

Kakkooii Means COOL!

This is the most BADASS picture EVER! Thank you, Face Hunter, for showing me that guys in London exist like this, look as fucking cool as this, in statement gold shoes, and have their coats billowing with just the right amount of evil gusty wind, and yet still have adorable babies to make bottles for. I wonder what he looks like in the comfort of his home. I wonder how I can meet him and be his friend. ITEM OF THE DAY!

SHOPPING BAN UPDATE

HEY EVERYONE, look at these kirei (beautiful/pretty in Japanese)Doc Martens that I can't buy. My awesome Elle Daily Buy Facebook Application says they're around £99 but this website has them for £60. Weird, but a good weird. Spring is cominggggg!Also, I think I will have to cheat with this Lenten Shopping ban thing because, on the Facebook Marketplace, this guy is offering brand new GHD hair straighteners for £75 each! DO YOU KNOW HOW HOLISTIC A GHD STRAIGHTENER IS WITH YOUR HAIR? My stylist, back when I could afford him, in Fulham, swears by them and they are originally priced at £120. ALSO, this guy has 5 of them, so...if you're in London and you want one, he says he'll sell all of them for 70 each if I find people for the other 4. They're brand new too. Get back to me people or snooze and lose.

*PHEW* Had to get all that out before bed because I've been feeling guilty about not posting any Japanese Phrase of the Day or Item of the Day recently, which should be daily. I'm kind of OCD about my blog. OKAY! G'NITE!

ITEM OF THE DAY

Something terrible just happened. I finished the entire DVD series of My So Called Life. It was better than I expected, better than I remembered, better than anything on TV anymore. And there was WAY too much plaid.

The IOTD is plaid, because for me, it is not yet over-plaid (get it?). You know how some girls get really embarassed when they spot another girl wearing what they're wearing? Well, this weekend I went to Walkabout with some friends in the above outfit. Although there was a girl in an awesome over-sized blue plaid one she wore as a dress, I bumped into a GUY at the bar wearing my shirt. I don't get embarassed by those things. We just laughed and high-fived each other. Now being caught in the same thing as a guy makes me OFFICIALLY AWESOME! I just wish I had gotten a pic of the two of us together.

If you have 9 minutes to spare, here's a clip from an episode of My So Called Life. See if you can spot the plaid. What's funny is...this is JUST A CLIP and the number of plaid sightings in this clip is consistent throughout the entire show!

THE PASSION OF A THOUSAND PASSION FRUITS!

*Isn't that the loveliest thing you've ever heard? It is my friend Sian's Facebook status update. Sian has the passion of a thousand passion fruits!

* Jiinzu o kaitai. Translation: I want to buy jeans. Actually, I want to buy ANYTHING, because I can't. I am only 2 weeks in with my Lenten shopping ban (40 days). It all ends March 23rd. That's before Spring Break, right? RIGHT?! In case you didn't catch it, that was also your Japanese Phrase of the Day (object + o kaitai = I want to buy (object). Love it or leave it.

* Have you chosen yet? Your book, I mean. You know, for World Book Day. 6th of March. World Book Day traditionally took place on 23 April (Shakespeare's birthday and St George's Day). From 2001 this was changed to the first Thursday in March to avoid clashes with Easter holidays and allow schools to take part. If you haven't yet chosen, and can't choose, I found this really cool website that challenges to find the right book for you. Check it out. There are actual metres where you can click on the level of funny/sad, safe/disturbing, easy/demanding, short/long, you would like in your book.

I've actually chosen to read lots of Hanif Kureishi, as he is my author of choice at the mo, so I ordered, and just received, two of his books 'Midnight All Day' and 'Love in a Blue Time' from Amazon; which is also great because I've chosen to do my Editorial Analysis Essay on his story Four Blue Chairs. I STRESS, READ IT! Or, find your own book on that link up there. What will you be reading? SEND ME COMMENTS! I like.

* ITEM OF THE DAY (Yes, I'm doing everything on one ridiculously long post, because I can, and I really hated being absent but I was fulfilling my yogi duties).

These, I found bookmarked on my laptop from maybe a year ago; the GeeWaWa Hip distressed leather boots in silver. Order them from zappos now for the reduced price of $178 (was $223.95). Smitten.

* BJORK IN APRIL! Are you going? You are?! Oh, fab! Get me tickets. Let's go together. It's just a 72 bus ride away from my flat, in Hammersmith. What is so funny about my Lenten shopping ban, is that I can't tell whether or not I can buy these tickets for a show in April, LONG AFTER my ban has been lifted. You understand the urgency of buying concert tickets months beforehand, right? So, would that be cheating?

* BIG UP TO MY TRINI SALLY! My girl is now officially blogging on her intern escapades at Teen Vogue. Aint she cute? She doesn't like the picture, but we should all let her know how adorable we think she is.P.S. WOW! I just saw that Jazzi is 18. Totally hasn't registered, and never will. She is at least 22 to me.

* Yesterday, my wee little Sony Vaio TR3A Series Notebook nearly died. If you don't know what it's like to have an electronic friend's life flash before your very eyes, I want everyone reading this to take a moment and JUST THINK about what your life would be like if we were still in a world where we had to put pen to paper and shell out 3,000 word literary essays, could not read or write cool blogs like this, or communicate with the world at large by picking at a keyboard. Yes, we are all considerably lazier because of it, but can we really live without computers? Do you know how valuable Skype is to an International student? *Sigh* That really shook me.

* I'm a Neo Polyvorist, by the way. Did you know? If you missed out on my Greenery set, which you shouldn't have, because it's the post right under this one, then, as soon as the bloody website is done with its conveniently scheduled maintenance at this hour, I will post another set I did one 6AM on things my future NYC loft will be wearing. I hope my future husband is a blog reader.

* Diesel likes quirky cool advertising. The last set of ads they did were 'Global Warming Ready'. Now there are these interesting Live Fast ones. You know that phrase "Live Fast, Die Young"? Well, I think this is sort of a secret gesture/message to us. Diesel scares me. They like telling us we're going to die soon. And that last ad reminds me of the ever-lovely and all stitched up Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas; also a very gloomy subject (but at least it's in a fun way.)

* You know that Mika song 'Big Girl'(You Are Beautiful)? And how they had that great video shoot in London with all those curvaceous beautiful women (who weren't really all that big, a mon avie) dancing around him in fabulous shiny get-ups? Well, I started making small talk with my new co-workers at the bikram yoga centre, and, my new friend there, from Canada, is a West End theatre actress, currently casting for High School Musical and Hairspray and the like. She's done some other great shows I sadly can't remember. She also told me, she was in that video! AND DON'T YOU JUST HATE IT WHEN YOU INSTANTLY RECOGNIZE THE FACE UPON HEARING THAT? YOU JUST CLICK? It really was her! I remember! Here she is on set in the orange glittery dress. Although she's not that big anymore and the yoga is making her lose weight (5 lbs in 2 weeks!). SO EXCITING! Maybe I should start looking into theatre shows now...*cough*DISCOUNTS*cough*

* Speaking of yoga, I just want to point out how proud I am of yesterday's class. I got a REALLY deep energizing stretch and executed fabulous pro-level postures, ESPECIALLY my Dandayamana-Janushirasana pose. I actually gasped in the middle of performing it because my head had finally touched my knee lol.

*PHEW! I think I'll leave it at that for now, don't ya think that should last you guys for a while? My work here is done. Have a great Thursday everyone.

ITEM OF THE DAY

SUMMER, HERE I COME!

These are from ASOS for £25

ITEM OF THE DAY

Doko e ikimasu ka? (Where are you going?) Well, it certainly won't be to Topshop because I am ON A BAN FROM SHOPPING FOR LENT! The many regrets in my life! I am ABSOLUTELY SMITTEN over these Johnathan Saunders dresses; luckily not £75 smitten.

See how I skilfully added in the japanese phrase of the day? *chuckles*

ITEM OF THE DAY

'Friends' is one of my highest ranking labels on this blog so far. And I hope you know I don't mean that pathetic little American show that had everyone transfixed at one point; except me.

It's just really invaluable to have a true friendship, even if it's just in the singular. And I don't mean the friend that is willing to blow all her money (which is actually her parents') on cocktails for you in one night, then hold your hair up as you let it rip over the toilet after the boozing. Those are acquaintances. As The Lonely Londoner, I can seriously say it's been tough making 'friends'. I mean, the one major friend I made out here became my love interest, then my overseas boyfriend (he was an exchange student), then my ex. Yes, we are still exceptionally close, but...what about a friend in London?

I think I realised I can barely count any on one hand. Maybe that's why I've been ditching the house parties before midnight, passing on the 'take shots every time someone says the word'fuck' kinda thing, and delving deep into my work, befriending Angela Chase on My So Called Life, and most of all, blogging. I don't think it makes me pathetic, I think it just makes modern 'people-meeting' pathetic.

The last episode of MSCL that I watched, ep. 10, was where Rayanne decided to throw a huge birthday bash with the money her runaway father had sent her. She, of course, as troubled as she already is, got majorly boozed and smashed off of a bad mix of alcohol and ecstasy. By the time her mother came home to shut everything down and yell at her, then stomp off again, she was on the verge of passing out. Rickie is the epitome of care and dedication by friend; plus he wears an amazing band captain jacket. I completely broke down watching him protect this girl. It wasn't only episode 10, but all the ones that preceded it. Rickie is my ultimate friend. If I run out of eyeliner, I'm set. He'd be waiting in front of the girls' bathroom mirror for me, teasing his curled hair and telling me how beautiful I was, with or without the liner. So watching him shudder with tears as he slapped his best friend's pallid face, really got to me. He says this one great line, talking to Angela's mom in the hospital (she came to the rescue): "Has there ever been someone....? Did you ever try to protect someone..SO MUCH..that it, like...hurt?"*starts crying*

Okay okay, I am way too melodramatic about this show. But like they all say, you really had to have seen it. My point is, value your real friends and really be there for them. I won't call any names, but no matter how much I've stuck it out for this one person, they keep failing me. I've been asking people for help about it. She completely disregarded our plans this weekend..twice! And still hasn't made an effort to talk about it. I'm just...this close, yuh know? *sigh* That is why, the IOTD is a real friend.

ITEM OF THE DAY

OKAY! This is really risky. I know the outfit is complete balls but I just really adore this scarf. You know how I feel about Tie Dye/Dip Dye, seeing as I wrote an entire article on it a few posts back and instructions on how to do it. In the words of Juno, this scarf is totally boss! It reminds me of a pale pink and black sheer one my mother has and refuses to hand down to me because she has finally realised that whatever I like, she should too!

ITEM OF THE DAY

The Sartorialist just lost his Blackberry down an elevator shaft and my cousin Becks got her beautiful dripping black touch screen dunked into a glass of red wine on a night out. Not to mention, I recently had to lie my way through two extra weeks of staying in California with a friend by telling my mother that my phone suddenly stopped working, and that I may need a new one (Second semester in London is doing just fine, Mum. Don't you worry about me. Doing just fine! Email me!) The latter is besides the point, however. Frankly, I'm happy with my phone, it's one of the slimmest of the slim, which makes it great for clutches...and getting easily lost in my over-sized bags, and it's a great shade of fuschia. All I need to be able to do is CONTACT. But if you don't like your phone or you're very electronics saavy, and you know that the iPhone is up to no good, then there's THIS ONE!

Touch sensitive music keys on screen when in music mode

Compatible with Windows Media Player 11

USB 2.0 for fast transfers and data access

25MB user memory

Innovative CrystalTalk Technology for better calling clarity

Mesmerizingly cool borderless display screen

2 megapixel multi-shot camera with landscape viewfinder

Video capture and playback

Airplane Mode

Just the right shade of metallic pink (or purple, or black)

ITEM OF THE DAY

I would play carnival if you could buy the pieces of the costume separately, because all I want for Carnival is this...

ITEM OF THE DAY

For a measly (and I stress 'measly') 300 odd dollars, these OMG L.A.M.B. Oxford Pumps can be yours. Which brings me to my question. Anyone got a spare $300?

ITEM OF THE DAY

Here it is, my IOTD. I will never get tired of Wagamama's Amai Udon. Stopped off for some this evening in Wimbledon, which I thoroughly enjoyed with a Tiger beer. Try it sometime!

ITEM OF THE DAY

I have to remind myself that it's ITEM of the day, not ITEMS. That means I can't post pictures of Luelle Bartley's entire fashion range for Spring/Summer 2008.

BUT I can post bits and pieces of it every day for my IOTD post. I'm just that head over heels about it. I'm even trying to get tickets to her show at London Fashion Week on February 14th, since Valentine's is pretty much out of my picture this year, as my picture only has me in it and no longer a boyfriend. But my contact is NOT RETURNING MY EMAILS!

Nonetheless, the item of the day is a pair of geeky glasses by Luella. I want My Big Fat Geek Reading Gear too!

ITEM OF THE DAY

Because I've had a really dull day with nothing but a Writing Conexts lecture and 2 hours at the gym, I'm going to have to say that the item of the day is the Sylvia Plath poem that we had to analyze today in class called 'Lady Lazarus'. I love it! I LOVE SYLVIA'S MOROSITY! Have a morbid day everyone!

Lady Lazarus

I have done it again.
One year in every ten
I manage it----

A sort of walking miracle, my skin
Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
My right foot

A paperweight,
My face a featureless, fine
Jew linen.

Peel off the napkin
O my enemy.
Do I terrify?----

The nose, the eye pits, the full set of teeth?
The sour breath
Will vanish in a day.

Soon, soon the flesh
The grave cave ate will be
At home on me

And I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat I have nine times to die.

This is Number Three.
What a trash
To annihilate each decade.

What a million filaments.
The peanut-crunching crowd
Shoves in to see

Them unwrap me hand and foot
The big strip tease.
Gentlemen, ladies

These are my hands
My knees.
I may be skin and bone,

Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
The first time it happened I was ten.
It was an accident.

The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut

As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

Dying
Is an art, like everything else,
I do it exceptionally well.

I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've a call.

It's easy enough to do it in a cell.
It's easy enough to do it and stay put.
It's the theatrical

Comeback in broad day
To the same place, the same face, the same brute
Amused shout:

'A miracle!'
That knocks me out.
There is a charge

For the eyeing of my scars, there is a charge
For the hearing of my heart----
It really goes.

And there is a charge, a very large charge
For a word or a touch
Or a bit of blood

Or a piece of my hair or my clothes.
So, so, Herr Doktor.
So, Herr Enemy.

I am your opus,
I am your valuable,
The pure gold baby

That melts to a shriek.
I turn and burn.
Do not think I underestimate your great concern.

Ash, ash ---
You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there----

A cake of soap,
A wedding ring,
A gold filling.

Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.

Out of the ash I
rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.

ITEM OF THE DAY

ITEM OF THE DAY is this genius(!!!) mobile ring by Sylvia Goldberger. You can adjust the pieces to suit you. "Wings" slide to the left and right so that you can re-arrange the surface design to suit your style. Personally I'm not too fond of the rest of her collection, but here's where you can check it out http://www.goldberger.at/

ITEM OF THE DAY

I pretty much missed the day! I did try to prod the bus driver on when it was nearing 11:30pm so I could get home just in time. Didn't quite make it. Here is the item of the day regardless. Diane Kruger's animal print shoes, worn at a recent Christian Dior fashion show. I am currently unable to find out who they are by and how much, but we can't afford it anyway! If you know, feel free to comment. There's always the taking out a loan option :)

ITEM OF THE DAY

Heart-shaped sunglasses à la Lolita. Maybe I have a thing for red sunglasses right now. Maybe you should too. These are available at retrorebels.com for £7 or, for all you lucky Americans, $9 at Fred Flare.