Happy Halloween!!

I hope you have a fun day full of sweeties, costumes, and Jack-o-lanterns!!
(I have such an urge to watch Return to Oz....remember the lunchpail tree? I SO wanted one as a child...)

Bangs...or Maybe Fringe...

As I wrote before, I had a haircut last week. I opted for some bangs...but I'm not sure how I feel about them... I've also been wearing my glasses this whole time since I've had an eye problem and that is also confusing me on how I look...but I'm wondering if I shouldn't cut the fringe shorter a la Audrey Hepburn, or Audrey Tautou in 'Amelie'.

Or...I could keep them the length they are... If I were lucky and looked like Kate Moss, they could look like this...

however I'm suffering from 7th grade awkward-ness and feel as though they as looking more like Maggie Gyllenhaal's on a bad greasy day...

what does one do... just writing about this, I am boring myself...ok, no more hair thoughts...and I don't have Sheila here anymore to say (in british accent) 'Oh Zoe, do shut up, and start thinking about more important things...what will I do about MY hair?' hmmm...

Tuesday Morning Switch

Konrad arrived this morning an hour before Sheila left to fly back to the states; I've traded a mother for a brother. We went for a walk around town in hope to keep him awake and not get jetlag, however, after returning home and eating lunch, he's now "closing his eyes for 20 minutes" in the couch. I think the 20 minutes will turn into something longer...
Anyway, here are some new items on my Wish List.
This is a ring I've been eyeing for a week now from Accessorize. There is this one and one with white, instead of the turquoise. We'll see...
Next we come to some shoes from Office. I love them... I doubt any will be coming home with me (sigh of relief heard from erik in Israel...) but I do like to drool over them. I'm getting silly over the teal ones with the plastic tortoise shell heel...ack!!! need!! want!!! have to have!!!


Konrad has now discovered Primark. He bought some Pajamas and is thinking about a jacket. I still can not go in without leaving with a pair of tights (£1) or long sleeve cotton top (£2.50)...dangerous to have one so close to us...

Rainy Sunday

I woke up this morning to loud, loud, pouring rain. I have to say, waking up to rain on a sunday when you're in your cosy bed is not such a bad thing. Erik and I often hope for rainy days on weekends, so we can have an excuse to stay inside in our pajamas and watch movies. We're having Sunday roast with Lisa and Rex today which I'm very excited about. I may even wear my new boots from Clarks. With the pound going down, I thought it would be a good time to buy some comfortable boots, which they so are. Before we go to Lisa and Rex's house, we'll be meeting Lisa in town and walking around Brick Lane and Spittlefields Market. A fun day indeed...
Also, this is the ad campaign that Clarks is using now.

There is something so lovely about this outfit and photo. Unfortunately, you can't see the shoes she is wearing, (with thick textured tights) which are perfect purple double buckled wedge heels...

Findings on Friday

Today I ran some errands locally while Sheila went into town to meet a friend. I picked up some very fun things, but can't find them anywhere online so I'll have to describe them now, and then upload a photo once I'm back in Israel. I had been wanting long white gloves for a long time...however, today I settled for long satin black ones from Accessorize (where the above bracelet is from). I found a very cute red and white polka dotted lunch bag from a charity shop, Pajamas from Marks and Spencer (very cute print, green and vintage-y), a small recipe book for chutneys, and navy cotton top with a tiny collar and buttons from Topshop for £3(!!). Very exciting.
Yesterday we went to St Albans to see Sheila's cousins. One of them did all of the beautiful flowers for our wedding as she's a flower arranger. While we were there yesterday, she brought us to a wholesale flower center to stock up on somce flowers for a couple of jobs this weekend. It was great fun to see all of the rows and rows of flowers. It was also so nice to be in the country amongst sheep and fields. This trip has been nice in that, I think that I sometimes need to be 'refreshed' with family and friends and culture in new cities. It bumps up my self esteem and creativity. The downside, however, is that I'm missing erik terribly. It's strange how you can see what other people are doing in their life, career, designs, etc, and you compare yourself, or think, 'Oh, I should be doing that, I should be working late nights and making a career for myself'. Last year in the states, I did hard work, until I was a mental mess, and I hated it. I became such a stress case, and when I look back...it didn't matter at all. None of it did. What really matters are the relationships and friendships that remind you who you are...right down to the root of you. The real, true you that draws people to you no matter what.

Bollywood and Me

Today we went to see the Annie Leibowitz exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. It was incredibly good, I thoroughly enjoyed it. On our way, we walked through Trafalgar Square where there were tons of people and cameras and 3 guys singing on a platform. We assumed it was a music video in the making as they kept stopping to do more takes. Now, as I was sitting and watching the news, I found out it was the filming of a bollywood movie! How exciting!!
Today was yet another inspiring day, I feel like I'm soaking it all up and trying to figure out how to release all of this creativity when I return back to Israel...

Update in London

Oh what a great day we had!! Full of inspiration. First of all, we got a haircut...we now have a side part and slight bangs... I can't tell if I love it, or it makes me look like myself in 7th grade...we'll let Erik be the judge when we return home. After the haircut I met up with Sheila and we went to the new Saatchi Gallery, where there was an exhibition of new art from China. I was very impressed, I feel as though it's been a while since I've seen new art that I had a feeling for (this could also be because I haven't seen much...but I think perhaps there has been a lack of). I still have plans to see the Bacon and Turner Prize at the Tate, the Rothko at the Tate Modern, the Richard Serra at Gagosian Gallery, and perhaps the Gerhard Richter. Fun fun fun.

We then continued down the Kings Rd to the Cath Kidston shop where I bought a pot holder with an lovely print and a mug. Both perfect.

We then crossed the road and drooled over the prints and colors at the Designers Guild. sigh...
Afterwards we met a friend of Sheila's for lunch. She is good friends with the jewelery Designer in Residence at the V&A Museum. We met her and we able to see her studio in the museum. It was so interesting and inspiring. Afterwards, we wandered around the textile and fashion area. We were a bit too tired to see the two exhibits I had wanted to see, so I will see those next week. I then popped into the Bookthrift shop by South Kensington tueb stop and bought a great book about 1940s fashion and how the war affected it etc. I find this type of subject very interesting, especially with the times we are in; the constraints it put on fashion because of lack of materials, the fact that women had to work and not dress up, how wearing certain things showed your support, etc. I'm excited to cuddle down with this book on a rainy day (soon here I'm sure...)
Tonight we watched a facinating program on BBC2 called British Style Genuis, I think it's a series. We happened to see the one tonight about revolutionary designer, Vivienne Westwood and the talent that followed her, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. Soooo interesting! I forgot how much I love London, it's so refreshing and invigorating, I feel very much inspired by everything around. It's good to have these creative wake up calls every now and then to keep us alive and fresh.


PS Konrad bought a ticket here, spur of the moment!! He will be here next week. hurray!! Siblings Unite!

V&A Exhibits

We'll be going to the Victoria and Albert Museum this week. I'm a bit sad because I had so wanted to see the Supremes exhibit and it ended yesterday! Ah well. There is an interesting looking show called Fashion V Sport, which looks at the connection and the collaborations between fashion and sport.

There is another exhibit on now, 'Cold War Modern Design, 1945-70', which I'm also eagar to see.

Sheila had brought some of the books (see post below about orders I made) that I had ordered online (not all as they are pretty heavy) but so far I'm obsessed with Lena Corwin's book about hand printing. It's such an interesting, inspiring book; I can't wait to try out some of the techniques when I get home. Also, the coat arrived from Forever 21 and it is a perfect fit and very cute indeed. Success!

Party Dress Fun

I've been in London since Wednesday. Yesterday we had a chance to get into the city and walk around. Giggi is doing incredibly well, and next week I'm sure Sheila and I will get a chance to go to some museums.
But for now I'll leave you with some fun dresses from Monsoon. The colors right now in the store are beautifully vibrant and rich (although yes, i realise these are black and greys...).


Although this lead to a conversation between me and Sheila, her saying how she hates the color purple only then to have her eyes lead down the the scarf I was wearing which was, yes, purple. hmmmm

Back From the North...

Erik and I are back from a 4 day trip up to the north. It was amazing. We drove up the first day and on the way went hiking to a cave, saw the Rainbow Arch and the went to the Goran park to see the Monfort Castel from afar. Um...so being SO planning ahead, my camera battery died and I didn't bring my charger..ahem... But Erik took some great photos and I will get them on here eventually. For now I have a few random ones. After the park, we checked into the same zimmer in Goren that we stayed in for my birthday last year. Apparently Al Gore recently stayed there, so it's getting more popular...good thing we got in when we could...hee.

The next day we hiked from the park to the Monfort castle....down one mountain and up another...I'm not a huge hiker, but made the 2.5 hour hike that was like doing intense stair master...ugh. Afterwards we were ready to play in some tide pools 20 minutes away at the shore. The next day, we drove to the Golan Heights.

We saw the Banais Waterfall...my favorite of the WHOLE trip, a winery, the Rams Pool ( a lake created by a volcano) and then checked into our kibbutz that was situated on a stream. The next day we hiked to another waterfall and old ruins of an ancient village. In order to get to the ruins, we had to walk through an old Syrian army camp that was taken over by Israel during the war...so creepy... the building were riddled with bullet holes. We then drove home to our lovely apartment. Today, we had a day at the pool... it felt like one of the most hottest, humid days ever. Erik and I were like 2 grumpy old men, until we went swimming and then had lunch on the beach. Now I'm packing for my trip to London this afternoon. I will keep posting from there.
(argh....I'm trying to put up more photos and the internet isn't cooporating with me...so only these 3 for now...

Glitz and Glamour

I love this clutch from Accessorize. Perhaps I'll take a look at it next week... Tomorrow ( or actually now, here since it's sundown) is Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, observed by the Jewish religion by fasting and prayers. It is day where no one drives, nothing is open...I posted about it last year and how erik and I rode our bikes on the highway, which we plan to do again tomorrow. It's an amazing holiday to experience, even as an onlooker.
*Update on Giggi! She had the surgery this afternoon and is doing well! I think perhaps the good thoughts and feelings helped, and the fact that it is breast cancer awareness month. Go Giggles! I can't wait to see her next week.

Ruffles and Puffles

I love the sculptural quality of these Prada shoes from the rtw Fall 2008, very Frank Gehry. I especially the blue ones...nice enough to put on a pedestal and look at all. day. long.

A Colorful Morning...

It's looking quite different here than the east coast autumn.... we're not quite there yet.

But inside the closet we're feeling more fall-y...

Jump for Joy and Angus Young Blazers.

These Lacoste ad always make me smile.

A Walk to the Library

When I was at Skidmore College, I don't think we had one warm day...maybe one... But these boots from Camper would have been perfect for a walk to the library with this bookbag.

I love the boots so much...they also look very comfortable...maybe for christmas...we'll see. But for now, I need to get in touch with an eye doctor, something is still terribly wrong with my eyes : (

Feeling Toasty

I don't know that I've ever really looked at Toast before until an ad in Elle Decoration caught my eye. Now I'm hooked. I love the colors, the patterns, their ethical policy; but most of all, the photos and styling on the website.


A bit like a European Anthropologie with a Slavic twist (mant of the photos on the website were shot in the Carpathian Mountains).



Love it.

Especially these shoes...

Popping Print...

I love these graphics by Atelier LZC. From the top, 2 dish towels, bottom row from left, a poster and a tray. I like the layering of pattern and color, something like this would be a great way to bring color into a room. And onto more colorful graphics, I also really love these LSA International Matryoskarussian doll mugs available here. These would be perfect for a monday morning cup of coffee...

Feeling Fall-y...

I love these looks from Anthropologie. The colors, the textures, everything.

To Amazon and Back,,,

Here is the fabulous treasure trove of goodies I ordered from Amazon. From the top, left to right: 'Painting by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils and Silk Screens' by Lena Corwin, 'Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You' by Simon Doonan, 'A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart' by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes, 'Elegance: The Seeberger Brothers and the Birth of Fashion Photography' by Virginie Chardin, Xavier Demange and Sylvie Aubenas, 'Funny Face' with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, and 'Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women' by Simon Doonan. So excited!

Waiting...Patiently...

Since I'll be meeting up with Sheila in 2 weeks, I thought I'd grab the chance to order some things online and have them sent to her so she could bring them to me. I ordered these dresses above, from Forever 21. I'm a little nervous though, since I feel that the fit can sometimes be off....sometimes I'm one size and other times, that size won't even fit over my forearm...we'll see... fingers crossed. Then I saw these coats and fell in love... at first I wanted (read needed) both colors but thought I should see how the fit is...so I went with the red-orange as a trial. Will keep you updated.

Ooh! I also made an amazon trip too (the website, not the place) and will post more about that later....

Cool, Brisk, Air...

I love these coats above from J. Crew. For a tighter budget, these ones below from Forever 21 are also marvelous.

I have to say I'm torn between feeling so happy that we have the perfect weather (we were sitting by and playing in the pool yesterday with the view of the bright blue sea...) and missing the fall. We will eventually have colder weather and I'll be able to wear my winter coats, but it feels funny to be swimming and sunbathing in October. But I should shut my fat mouth because as soon as the rainy season starts, there will be a grumpy zoe that erik will have to live with. So, I will enjoy my sun!

Yes, and Yes, and Yes...

Sorry for the delay, we've had our friends from Turkey visiting. It was so great to spend time with them, relax, wine taste, swim, take trips to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. And now, again, it is just Erik and me. Tonight we're having 'date night and sushi'. If only I had one of these pairs of shoes to wear from Office. I actually will be geographically closer to these shoes in person, in about 2 weeks. My grandmother, Giggi, has gotten sick and has to have surgery next week. Sheila and I are flying out to take care of her post-op. We're sure things will be fine, but if you have any spare nice thoughts or wishes...toss them her way.