happiest birthday, pumpkin soups and dog dreaming

We celebrated Dave's birthday with the traditional birthday apple pie (recipe here), a birthday party at the Clapton Hart with our friends and Dave's brother Adrian who's birthday is on the same day.
Thanks everyone for joining in, it was such a good night.

After all the celebrations our week was filled with real Autumn treats like pumpkin soup, hot-water bottles and ice cream in bed, as well as plenty of work.
Now Dave is off one week to Portland for business, which probably means even more ice cream in bed for me.
And while I am actually focusing on my career, I can't stop myself from watching dog videos, checking out different breeds on my phone while waiting for the bus and day dreaming about dogs.
I grew up with dogs and before I came to London a few years ago I have never lived without one.
I know long term we will get a dog, but I also know too well, how much time you need to invest when getting a puppy to train it well. We won't rush it, but a girl can dream...

Celebrations, Autumn walks and Design

This weekend was full of celebration time. 
The best news of the week and reason for extra celebrations was that Dave got a fantastic design job confirmed for Sydney! I am so excited and happy, it's just the best start!
It was his birthday too, and we will fill you in soon with a birthday party post.
I took him out for a big Autumn walk along the river and across Tower Bridge to the Design Museum. We got some great inspiration.
It was exciting to wear my new Autumn wardrobe out, and enjoying the chillier weather.
It just felt so good to be outdoors.
I got a new lightweight burgundy coat, a gorgeous birdie print (head-) scarf and a tan leather bag all sponsored by the Swedish clothing company Ellos, which are just perfect for this season.
Now that Dave's job is confirmed we are now busy planning my freelance career: Updating my Portfolio, working on new business cards, organizing photo shoots.
There is plenty to do. Fingers crossed things will fall into place for me as well.
Ideas keep buzzing through my head, there is so much I want to realize and am looking forward to start working in Sydney.
Every day I am falling more and more in love with this man, planning everything that lays ahead of us, brings us even closer together. Nothing makes me happier then working on creative projects together.

Guiness cake, folk music and tea cups

The week started with an amazing little event put on by the lovely owners of the wonderful Storm In A Teacup vintage boutique. They made yummy Guinness cake and served drinks in beautiful teacups, while they had amazing musicians at guests. I am so in love with the interior of the shop.
I joined with my friend to hear the talented and inspiring Sam Lee, sing his folk songs, and telling stories. It was a nice little getaway from the usual fashion week events. 
The coziness that this time of year brings with it is so beautiful.
Please excuse the blurriness and quality of these photos, I will try and perfect my photography skills
in low light.

This week has been busy, filled with preparations and makeup for exciting photo shoots and more prep for the move.
We took photos of our room, which will be missed.
We finished clearing out and made plenty of space for all new to come.
Thanks to Skype, I spoke to Dave every day and he had a very great time on his business trip to Sydney. He came back today with so many good news, and great job opportunities.
Fingers crossed. We are so excited. A few weeks of Fall and we will be back into Spring.
A little wardrobe challenge. It's getting cold over here.
Candles & tea time, snuggle-blanket-on-the-couch-time, colourful tights time, noodle soup time,
pumpkin time, socks in bed time, pretty leaves time, scarf time...
What do you like about Autumn?

brixton village vs chili & cornbread home cooking challenge

Appreciating how lucky we are to call this great city our home for some time,
there are still places we haven't explored yet, so we made a list to make sure we will
visit most of them. Being tourists in our own city to see more.
It's easy to fall into your daily routines and sticking around your own neighborhood,
especially when you are working a lot and lived in a city a couple of years.
It's important to see everything with fresh eyes from time to time and to step out.

We explored the Brixton Village where you can find  the best pizza in the whole of London at Franco Manca.
It's all organic sour dough pizza, you have to try! We loved the atmosphere in the night markets,
and beside tasting the most delicious pizza ever, we saw so many places around there, that we would like to try.
We found an not spectacular looking gelato place for desert, which had the best ice cream I have had in London. Laboratoria Artigianale del Buon Gelato, or LAB G , where Giovanni Giovinazzo makes best ice creams outside of Italy.
We will be back. 

At home we have been cooking with friends, a way too big vegetarian chili with homemade cornbread.
A papaya salad, fresh salsa and guacamole and tortilla chips as side and a lime/kiwi cheesecake for desert.
I am still stuffed, days later!
Our friend Sadie, doesn't like cooking but somehow managed this challenge and served us this most amazing dinner. The cornbread turned into floor-bread when she dropped the burned loaf but the taste was incredible. Thanks Sadie.
Oh yes, we will miss our friends and this house!

Dave just took off for a weeks business trip to Sydney taking an extra suitcase of things already down there. A very lucky coincidence.
I guess I am subconsciously more stressed about the move than I would like to admit , cause I have had real trouble sleeping this week, which made every day a bit of a struggle.  
Some yoga and no coffee this week will fix me hopefully.

markets, stuff & dreaming of bikes

Summer hit London last minute. While everyone is getting in Autumn mood, the sun made a surprise visit. Dave has been strolling around markets, while I have been working the whole weekend.
I caught the sun for an hour at lunch break at least. And while I had some amazing creative makeup jobs this week, he bought plenty of fresh fruit and was preparing a picnic in the park, for me after work. What would I do without this man?
Dave took all these colourful photos as well, around our neighborhood.
Isn't that yellow bike just perfection? We are dreaming about bike rides in Sydney over here,
already checking out routes and gear that we are planning to get.
We haven't been riding bikes in London but we really want to start it down in Sydney.
I  am so excited. Do you ride a bike?