Afternoon skive

If you fancy an afternoon skive and would like me to be eternally grateful then please head over to Dounlimited's facebook page and vote for this strapping triathlete (aka Mr.S&S)...

He's entered into Dounlimited's #iambecauseido competition - click here to vote

Not only does he love the challenge of triathlons, insane 24 cycle rides and marathons but he also does it to raise money, most recently for Action Medical Research. If that's not worth a vote then I don't know what is!

Have a brilliant weekend. x

Something for a Friday...

It's Friday, the end of a loooong week and it's pay day - the weather's a bit rubbish so there's no sitting outside soaking up some rays this lunch time, there's only one thing for it, hit the SALES!!!

Now I'm trying to avoid spending far too much so I won't be posting any good buys (I'll only end up getting them myself!) so I thought instead I'd post this...

Perhaps a little random, and definitely a bit pointless but, while walking to work along Bond Street and onto Regent Street I found interesting how different stores promoted their sales. From a small plaque in Burberry's window to the all singing, all dancing Gap display - It seems the high street and designer brands couldn't be more different.

Of course this has greater depths than just a window display, catering to different customers, sticking to the brand's identity, dependant on how much the brand needs the sales to be a success etc - I'm not one to say, I literally did just find it interesting.

Anyhoo - Enjoy the sales, the fact that it's payday and a Friday!!

Road watches

This weekend saw Mr. S&S undertake one of his toughest cycling challenges yet - in a team of four he took part in RIDE24, in support of Action Medical Research.

The challenge involves a relay, with each cyclist pushing the limits to notch up as many laps of Goodwood Motor Circuit as possible in one hour, before passing the batton (so to speak) onto the next - this carries on for 24 hours! If the cycling wasn't enough of a challenge, the lack of sleep, loneliness (think cycling in the dark, in the rain at 3am) and Saturday's horrendous weather certainly made this an experience never to be repeated. With nothing but your thoughts to take your mind off of the monotonous, painful task I thought a nice piece of arm candy to admire would be a welcome addition - enter the race track inspired watch.

Perhaps not technically inspired by the race track (well, not that I know of) these rubber-strapped gems are ideal for sports, without going to whole hog and investing in a far-too-technical sport-specific model...

For the boys:

Ice-Chrono - £142.50, Ice-Watch at Watch Shop

Altitude Watch - £165, Kennett

Tone-on-Tone - £34.95, O'Clock

and for the girls:

Diver watch - £184, Marc by Marc Jacobs at Shop Bop

Pink series - $89, Baby G

Do you need any more of a reason to hop on that bike?!

Cote - a lovely Friday afternoon treat...

a delicious outing with the team after a VERY manic week...

The Starbucks Experience

Those of you that have been following the blog from the beginning (all the way back in February!) will know I'm trying to cut back on the unnecessary spending - well it may not be going well in general but one place I have managed to cut down is the takeaway coffees. I haven't been in a Starbucks for a good few months, until this morning.

I finally experienced the name-writing/shouting experience brought over from America - I have to say I really quite like it! It felt far more personal than the usual 'who's got the latte?!' screech.

Another new addition not previously noted is the hand-painted Emma Bridgewater for Starbucks mugs - I love a good mug!

The Pyjama look - I've finally caved!

I know it's been around a while, and those that know me will also know how much I hated it in the first instance but I've finally caved, that's right, I know own and willingly wear a pair of pj-esque trousers...out of the house!!

Made popular by Stella McCartney for her SS12 collection, as below, and with the likes of Rihanna giving it a go the dressed down look has since spread like wildfire across the high street...

Now don't get me wrong, I know I'm coming into this one a little late, and to be honest I was more than happy to completely pass it by all together but when I stumbled across the Tribal Print Formal Jogger in Topshop I couldn't resist; these may not technically refer to the pyjama trend but it's a start...

Tribal Print Formal Joggers - £35, Topshop

I teamed mine with the VECTRA4 Slippers also from Topshop - well, they are pyjamas after all!

I am because I do - Do You?

Last week you may have see the post featuring Dounlimited - the sportswear brand have more exciting news, they have launched the 'I am because I do' campaign and you can all take part!

Fronted by marathon runner and generally all-round super fit model Nell McAndrew the campaign encourages the everyday sports person to get involved and tell the world what they do. Anyone can enter, whether you're a keen cyclist, runner, hockey player or have even just started getting active, with £250 worth of Do clothing up for grabs and the chance to be a brand ambssador there's nothing to lose. For more info on how to enter go to the facebook page here. Good Luck!

For all of you that don't fancy entering yourself but still want to support those that do you can vote for your favourite entrant here

Draw in Light

Now I'm not one for putting photos of myself or friends up on the blog but thought I'd make an exception... today my boss rocked into work wearing this gorgeous Draw in Light dress and I thought it was worth a mention - love it!

Draw in Light use free hand silk-screen techniques to create ethereal-esque, beautiful and completely individual clothing. Alex has teamed hers with Topshop ankle boots.

This little one's on my shopping list...

Crystal Pink dress - £315, Coggles.com

 

Some stockists include:

Liberty - Click here

Youngbritishdesigners.co.uk - Click here

Coggles.com - Click here

Blenheim Triathlon + Do Unlimited = motivation!

On Sunday I went to Blenheim Palace to support Mr. S&S taking part in the Blenheim Triathlon. Exercise isn't something I particularly enjoy, I regularly go to the gym and do the odd yoga session but this is purely as a means to eat more food and stay relatively fit and healthy rather than an enjoyable hobby; the thought of a gruelling wild water swim, 20k bike ride and 5k run could not seem less appealing but hey, each to their own.

So off I go to the beautiful Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire - if you're going to take part in such a baffling sport then in might as well be in surroundings like this!

While there I saw the most fascinating array of clothing and, shallow as it may be, this is really the only aspect that interests me when it comes to sport, which is why I was thrilled when I came across sports clothing brand do unlimited.

I'm hoping to go on holiday in the next month or so and the gym sessions will need to be bumped up to get beach ready - here's my inspiration...

Ladies Performance Tee - £24.99, dounlimited

Ultra Light Pro Jacket - £35, dounlimited

Light Weight Training Shorts - £23, dounlimited

Sheer Performance Logo Tights - £35 each, dounlimited

The best part is they also have lounge gear for afterward - if the reward of snuggling into a cosy hoodie isn't motivation enough then I don't know what is.

www.dounlimited.com

London Loves...The Rarekind Pop-up

Grafitti art fans my already have heard of RareKind London, the UK's first Graffiti Art Gallery, everyone else needs to know them too. 

 

Owned and run by Artist & Creative Project Manager, David Samuel, RareKind started life 11 years ago. Following the gallery’s success, David went on to launch the RareKind London Illustration Agency in 2008, representing a unique line up of artists and illustrators from a huge range of disciplines. David also produces screen prints of the artist’s work as well as project managing and curating numerous exhibitions and pop up shows.

 

Adding another, albeit temporary, string to the Rarekind bow is an exclusive, two-week only print exhibition and sale on London’s Carnaby Street featuring limited edition work from their roster of incredible artists and illustrators. 

 

With London having a moment there doesn't seem to be a better time to visit the store and explore the wonders that London grafitti art has to offer, with such gems as these it's most certainly worth braving the rain for...

All prints have been hand pulled by the RareKind Print House exclusively for this Pop-Up - prices start from just £10 - a fab opportunity to get some new art for the home without paying extortionate prices and, you never know, these could be the next Banksy, invest now. 
 

The show is running until Sunday 24th June: 34 Marshall Street, London W1F 7 EU
 

Opening times: Monday to Saturday 11am – 7pm & Sunday 12pm – 6pm

If you can't make it then fear not, visit the website here

Perfect Packaging

Packaging, no matter what is inside, can really make the difference. Whether you're opening a gorgeously wrapped gift or ordering something from ebay, the presentation really does count - first appearance is everything and all that; online shopping is no different. More often than not, goodies purchased online will arrive at your door in some form of flimsy plastic wrapping, if you're lucky it might even be shoved into a bit of cheap tissue paper, which is why I think my recent purchase from Cocosa.com is worth a mention.

Cocosa describes itself as "a luxury fashion website, selling designer clothes in time limited sales, at amazing prices" and the packaging certainly lives up to this. Even though I'd bought something discounted the item was delivered to me by courier today neatly tissue wrapped and sticker-sealed, placed in a pristine bag, tied beautifully with a bow and then inside a perfectly side cardboard box (I can't stand wasteful, oversized boxes and packaging!), even the delivery note was in it's own envelope.

I know this may seem like something so small to mention but it really did add to the whole shopping experience - the fact that the item inside wasn't quite right is of course a shame but isn't the end of the world, now don't even get me started on the apparently helpful and seamless returns process...

Hmmm, what to buy next?

Wanderlusting for London

Why is it we tend to know foreign countries and cities better than our own? I can talk you through all the main sites and back streets of Paris and map out the direct route to Pier 39 in San Fransisco but ask me where St James Park is in London and I wouldn't have had a clue until yesterday. 

Every morning I walk from Victoria station, past Buckingham Palace, through Green Park and worm my way to Newburgh Street. I knew you could see Westminster and the London Eye in the distance but that was about it - no way would I know how to get there. 

While watching the River Pageant at the weekend I found myself walking to Westminster completely by accident, much the same as how I stumbled into St. James Park while being directed around Buckingham Palace on my walk to work yesterday - I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was completely missing such a beautiful park...

I've now decided to make it my mission to explore this wonderful city - with so much to offer who knows what I'll find next.

P.S feel free to send recommendations for your London secrets/must-sees!

cog-work orange (I know, sorry!)