All posts by Lar

19 March 2012

London: Spitalfields Market

I’ve always wanted to go to a market in London: inexpensive-ish clothes, food, books and odds and ends all thrown together sounds like heaven, doesn’t it?

We spent most of our time around North London this trip, so Spitalfields Market was in my sights. I thought I was sniffing out a non-touristy part of London, but apart from this neighborhood becoming trendy of late, there has been a market at this location since the 1600s. So I’m about 400 years behind the times, but no matter. Chinese steamed buns taste delicious either way:

Just look at all this marvelousness! There are stalls of all kinds: indie seamstresses hawking their wares, vintage Penguin paperbacks, bowler hats, leather goods. The stall on the left (below) sells garlands for your hair so you can get your boho look down; pastries galore to the right:

Oh the food! Apart from the steamed buns, Matt and I consumed roughly three lunches in the span of three hours. We went to Leon (post upcoming) and fell in love with a stall called Rainforest Creations. Everything is raw and mostly sprouted. I know, I know, sounds terrible. I would have whole-heartedly agreed with you three months ago, but even though it doesn’t win you over with words like “butter” and “bacon,” I swear it is delicious. It was fresh and wonderful (who knew raw food could have so many flavors apart from “green” and “greener”?) and the colors are just amazing. We loved it so much we went back for seconds and bought thirds for dinner:

Still attempting to be a conscientious consumer on all fronts, I went easy on the buying: tricky thing when everything is fairly cheap and shiny (bit like a magpie, I am). I bought a summer striped dress for Cath (said it was made in England, so hopefully no sweatshop labor or labour) and an old Penguin edition of Gigi (when we were little, Cath and I wanted to be Leslie Caron’s Gigi. We had very little understanding of what a mistress/kept lady was, but it seemed to involve pretty dresses and walking around Paris. Done!).

I also got this sweater. It’s a brighter pink than this photo lets on.

And that was Spitalfields! Next London trip I hope to hit up another market. I don’t understand why we don’t have something similar in Atlanta. I mean, these British markets started outside and if they can have something outside in the rain and the cold, Atlanta can do it in the heat and humidity, right?

Update: Matt just pointed out this amazing blog to me called Spitalfields Life. I’m just dipping my toe in, but it looks to be amazing and is written daily by a Gentle Author. So even if you don’t have a London trip on the horizon, take a look at this blog to feel like you have your own Brick Lane tour guide.

—-

Dear Cath,

You would looooove Spitalfields and the whole east London vibe in general. It is pretty different from where we stayed in the past. Wouldn’t it be awesome if Decatur had something similar? I know there was that artist market, but it was missing the food and the vintage wares.

August seems much to far away.

LOVE,

Lar

Category: General AsianCajuns Info, Lar's Style
7 Comments
15 March 2012

London Love


(Above: me stomping around close to our flat in Islington wearing my Eugenia Kim hat, old pleather jacket, canvas tote, Madewell jeans and Hunter Boots)

Cath and I are nutty about London: the history, the Englishyness and the non-Englishyness (so diverse!), the food, the book shops, the shop shops, the old mixed with the new. . . we love it to bits and pieces. Last week when I visited for the first time in eight years, I really, really missed not having Cath there with me. So this post is a bit selfish (or twin-ish): a way to bring Cath with me on my trip!

“Licking the windows” (faire du lèche-vitrine = window shopping). Thrifitng and marketing abounds in London. So even if you don’t have gobs of money to spend you can do more than window lick:

I stopped by Fortnum and Mason to drool over their champagne and caviar picnic hampers and feel poor (cheapest thing was a £13 tin of tea – lordy!). Kate Middleton and the Queen were here just a week ahead of me. Our experiences differed slightly (I was shocked when no one offered me a free hamper!):

Even though it’s an incredibly congested city, the air quality (as far as cities go) is marvelous in London. Could it be the congestion fees, public transport and biker-friendly ways? I would be terrified to bike in London traffic, but almost convinced if I could lock my bike to one of these planters:

My highlight to the trip (apart from seeing old friends) was going to the super-hyped David Hockney exhibit at the Royal Academy. After hearing so many amazing things about it I thought it couldn’t be all that wonderful. Holy schmoly wholy, it was! Amazing fantasticness! I’d go so far to say it was the best exhibit I’ve ever seen (and I’m quite the museum-goer). The show was £14 which seemed steep until I saw it. Now I would gladly pay that daily to go back again and again:

London has amazing fast food, and I don’t mean hamburgers and pizza. Matt and I could easily stick to our vegetarian/gluten-free routine while going to a fast food chains around the city! This photo is from Itsu, but we also ate delicious healthy things at Leon and Pret A Manger:

Freshly juiced apple, lime and mint at Leon:

On our way to Spitalfields Market (upcoming post all about that glorious place!):

Have you guys been to London before? Where are your favorite places? Does it rank as one of your favorite cities? I love every big city I’ve been to (SF, NYC, DC, Chicago, Madrid, Paris, Rome, etc.), but London takes the (tea)cake for me!

—–

Dear Cath,

London (just like Edinburgh) does not feel whole without you. Everything we saw I tried to catalog in my head and tell you about — this blog post works much better than my old noggin.

Hope you had fun in class yesterday! See you on skype soon!

xoxoxox,

Lar

Category: General AsianCajuns Info, Lar's Style
14 Comments
13 March 2012

Train Travel: Edinburgh to London

Chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga. . . the Orient Express, the Trans Siberian, Harry Potter! Aren’t trains just so romantic? Maybe it’s just being a car-centric American, but train travel seems so marvelous. It’s the stuff off cinematic fog-filled farewells, rolling green countryside, and ladies with fur stoles drinking tea in the dining car. (Can you tell most of my knowledge comes from BBC period dramas and old black and whites).

I’ve been on a few trains in my day (mostly around Spain, Scotland and Eastern Europe), and no one runs alongside them waving hankies any more and everything is sort of gray plastic and fabric on the inside (no more polished wood and white linen table cloths). Still, there is something marvelous about them. Sitting snugly while the countryside and cities sweep by.

We took the train down from Edinburgh to London last weekend. Here’s a bit what that journey looked like:

Edinburgh’s Waverly Station:

That’s the Scottish National Gallery looking all neo-classical in the background:

Southern Scotland whizzing by:

Train necessities: freshly baked bread, Scottish butter, and dominos:

Newcastle through my smudgy window:

The sun came out around York (just look at them clouds! Ahh to be in England!):

Still on the fence about all my fashion dribble, so in the meantime here is a tilted photo of what I wore to train travel:


Really old pleather Express jacket • Madewell Skinnies • Hunter Boots (on sale now at Shopbop!) • Zucca canvas tote via a Japanese fashion mag

Have you guys been on any train trips? Any romantic hanky waving moments? Cath and I had one our senior year in high school when studying abroad in Spain. Our Spanish families came to say good bye to us and there was much crying and cheek kissing. I think everyone should have a misty-eyed goodbye at a train station at least once in their lives.

—-

Dear Cath,

Remember when we left A Coruña years and years ago? I loved that sleeper train! I even loved the non-fancy trains we took around Scotland — just watching the landscape change.

I have more posties coming up about my London trip so I can show you a bit of what we did — so not the same as you being there!

xoxoxox,

Lar

 

 

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
6 Comments
11 March 2012

Holi Moly!


(Above: Matt showing you how to get rose-colored glasses).

I’ve always wanted to visit India for Holi, the festival of Colours celebrated at the end of winter in India. Throwing colorful powder around, eating delicious Indian food, and dancing sounds like a brilliant combination. Lucky for Matt and me we didn’t even need to get on a plane to celebrate our first Holi. Holi came to us in Edinburgh.

Our beautiful friend Nutan (remember her and her Bollywood Coffee Box?) threw a Holi party for us. The party was open to any Edinburgher who wanted to be covered in colorful powder by Nutan, willing to dance on the sidewalk by her coffee and curry stand during rush hour, and can’t get enough of her delicious food and generous spirit.

(Below: Matt gets powdered by Nutan)

Nutan explained to all of us that the powder is not just a way to welcome spring (or commemorate Lord Krishna teasing his consort Rahda), but also a way to equalize everyone. It doesn’t matter what caste or class you come from or what gender you are. Everyone comes together on the street looking the same (in my case, that meant Oompa Loompa) and celebrates. Don’t you wish we did that at least once a year here in the west?

Want more Holi? Look at these gorgeous photos from The Boston Globe’s Big Picture.

Thank you, Nutan, for such a wonderful night!

Readers, have you celebrated Holi before? I’d love to hear your stories!

—-

Dear Cath,

I sooo wish you and Troy had been there! You would have had so much fun! The color powder kind of acted like booze usually does. Once you were all powdered and looking ridiculous you couldn’t not dance in the street because you figured you already looked strange to most passer-bys.

I don’t remember ever hearing about local Holi celebrations in Atlanta. Maybe at the Hindu temple in Gwinnett?

Miss you so much!

Love,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh
14 Comments
1 March 2012

To Fashion or Not to Fashion


(Black and white photo = broody, thinky, rambly post ahead).

Roughly a year ago I started getting rid of a lot of my clothes. I had been feeling a little weighed down by the number of shoes, bangles, earrings, blouses I had and rarely wore. It wasn’t excessive. I’d say it was the average amount of stuff that most of us have who are at least slightly interested in fashion/style (and can afford to be).

I gave a bunch of my stuff to Cath, went to a couple of clothing swaps, sent things to charity shops, etc. I knew I’d be moving and thought it would be a great time to start with a clean slate.

By the time I made it to Scotland in September, all of my clothes fit into one large duffel bag. I had this idea that this “clean slate” (aka extremely paired-down wardrobe) would give me the chance to really think about things (warning: long-winded rambling about to ensue.). Could I live with less stuff? How important are clothes and outfits and trends to me? Did I really want to be a fashion blogger?

Cath and I rarely talk about just clothes and fashion on AsianCajuns, but when I do, I feel kind of fraudulent. I like using clothes/attire as a way of expression, but I feel a bit stuck. I don’t feel the urge to shop at the places I can afford (H&M, Zara, Primark, Target, etc.) because I’m still struggling over the ethics of fast fashion. And the fashion world that I can’t afford, seems a little silly to me sometimes. I’ve always been inspired by the gorgeous craftsmanship and creativity that goes into high fashion, but my brain struggles with cost and importance of it. The artistry and creative expression will always be necessary, but the price, turnover and regurgitation of trends seem unnecessary and out of touch.

There are charity shops, Etsy designers, and independent boutiques to shop at when I do want to consume (nom nom nomm). But there’s still the tricky balance of buying less and having less in general.

In conclusion: I’m in a muddle!

While I try to figure this out, I hope you’ll continue to be inspired by Cath’s wardrobe and our adventures around Atlanta/Decatur and Edinburgh! I’ll try to keep most of my ramblings to myself and just share any light-bulb moments I have. In the meantime, thanks for your generous patience, readers!

xoxox,

Lar

Category: Lar's Style
24 Comments
26 February 2012

Cath’s House vs. Lar’s Flat

Cath and I have lived apart now for five months (minus our holiday stent in Paris), and I really, really, really don’t like it. Really, really, really. Six reallys. And it’s more of a hate rather than a dislike. I really(x 6) hate it.

We are obviously separate people living separate lives, but I’m not entirely sure I can deal with that. When we lived in Atlanta we didn’t see each other daily, but knowing that I could drop everything and be by Cath’s side in five minutes or less was key. Now I can drop everything and be by Cath’s side in 10 hours (if I had gobs of moola and no lay overs). I feel like I’ve adjusted to living abroad in every way except for that.

I really don’t feel quite whole being so far from her — it’s just one of those twin things. So in order to banish that feeling of half-ish-ness, I like looking at what her home looks like and to see what she’s up to (thank you, blog). So these photos aren’t meant to be a comparison, just a peak at how small the differences are between us each day — it makes those 10 hours distance feel more like five minutes.

—-

Dear Cath,

Miss you as per usual and can’t wait for our Skype date!

xoxox,

Lar

p.s. When are you moving here?

Category: Cath's Style, General AsianCajuns Info, Lar's Style
11 Comments
23 February 2012

A Sheepie Sunday

So I thought since Cath told you about her Sunday in Decatur a post ago, I would tell you about mine across the pond. For one, I put on a dress! I haven’t worn one of these in roughly five months because they expose the legs too the wily Scottish wind (how is this the country where men decided to wear skirts sans knickers?!).

What did I get all dressed up fer, you ask? To walk two blocks from our flat, buy some delicious German bread from Konditormeister Falko, and come back home. 20 minutes later I was back in my sweats another tres chic outfit. We then proceeded to eat butter, jam and bread for the next hour (my first slices of bread since I started that diet thingy). My, it was delicious!

This is what it looked like on our two block walk (blue sky!):

We spent the rest of the afternoon reading, and I started a mini art project (I’m calling it Sheep in Party Hats. because, you know, the world needs more sheep in funny attire):

The scuba dress I donned to buy bread is from Primark — a shopping trip that happened in December, before I let my guilty conscience get the better of me. The dress and belt were only £17 -ish, so you can see why it will be a hard vice to back away from. I did get this ring on Friday that’s from a fair trade shop called One World Shop to make up for my sinful shopping:

So not a particularly productive Sunday, but isn’t that how they should be? What did you guys get up to? Any lazy plans for this weekend?

Oh and thank you for the sweet comments about our wedding! xoxox

—

Hi Cath!

How was your midterm?! It sometimes boggles my mind that we’ve been out of undergrad for so long. “Midterm” sounds like something 21 year olds worry about. Are they easier at 28?

It’s been so warm here (mid 50s!) that sometimes I keep the window open all afternoon! Lovely!

Miss you so much!

Love,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
8 Comments
22 February 2012

We’re In Atlanta Weddings Magazine!

I hope you guys don’t mind some personal horn-tooting, but remember that teeny weeny wedding we had last year? Well it’s in the Spring/Summer issue of Atlanta Wedding Magazine! Woohoo! Yippeee! Huzzah!

I feel like I hit the jack-pot in Atlanta wedding vendors: they all listened to the vision I had and helped make it happen in three months. And the queen of all the vendors was without a doubt my lovely wedding photographer, and now wonderful friend, Aharon Hill (all these photos in this post are swiped from Aharon’s blog). I stumbled on her  just googling Atlanta Wedding Photographers, and feel so incredibly lucky!

It’s kind of ironic to have our teeny wedding mentioned anywhere because I still kind of feel like The Anti-Bride. Matt and my mom had to convince me not to elope. I’ve just never been a big wedding person. Getting to be with this wonderful human being (hi, Matteo) for as long as I’m here . words can’t express that euphoria! The hype of a super big party with a super expensive dress . eh.

Once I was convinced I should at least have a mini-ceremony for immediate family, I thought “okay, I’ll treat this like a styling job.” And I knew that if I was going to put the creative effort in, I wanted it captured on film. I spent the majority of my budget on photography and flowers, and the rest was three months of DIY blood, sweat and tears (wrapping all those books in white paper!). I had major help from my family and friends, Candler Park Flowers, Red Queen Tarts, Tinsel and Twine and of course Aharon Hill. Et voila, dream mini-wedding!

If you guys want to read more about all my wedding stuffs: click here (or under Categories, Lar’s Wedding Stuffs).
Engagement photos: click here.
Wedding photos: click here.

The wedding was also mentioned on Style Me Pretty here and here and the engagement was mentioned on Wedding Chicks here.

Okay, done with the horn-tooting, I promise!

P.S. Local Atlantans, definitely pick up a copy of Atlanta Weddings Magazine if you can (Barnes and Noble carries it). The cover shoot was styled by the uber-talented Ginny Branch. And if you are Top Chef fans, Kevin Gillespie’s wedding is shown on the pages right after mine. You go, peachy city!

—-

Dear Cath,

Sorry if you feel bludgeoned over the head with all this wedding stuffs again. Thank you for searching hi and low for a copy of the mag for us!

Good luck on your midterm today!

Muchos LOVES,

Lar

Category: Lar's Style, Lar's Wedding Stuffs
15 Comments
16 February 2012

Bollywood Coffee Box

Want to know an Edinburgh secret? This place — this little defunct police box masquerading as a coffee stand — has some of the best curries and samosas Matt and I have ever tasted. The Bollywood Coffee Box has only been in Edinburgh for about as long as Matt and I have been here (six months — blimey, how time flies!). I figure that’s the only way there isn’t a massive line here every single day: it’s still an undiscovered gem.

Shamefully Matt and I walked by it for months always thinking “we should try some chai or one of her chickpea curries,” and then scurrying past to the warmth of our flat. Four months of wasted time and deprived taste buds tsk, tsk.

And it’s not just the delicious food that comes out of the Bollywood Coffee Box that makes visiting a delight, it’s the proprietor. Nutan is one of the sweetest, warmest people I’ve met in Edinburgh. Every time Matt and I visit, we’re left feeling lighter and happier. Oh and did I mention her fullsized curries (with saffron basmati rice) are only £3. Happy belly and happy mind for about $5!!! Deal of the century!

For those of you in Edinburgh, here are the details:
Where: Right off the Links where Bruntsfield Place and Bruntsfield Terrace meet
When: Every day, usually 11 am to 8 pm
What: Coffee, chai, snacks, curries (vegetarian and meat), samosas, pakoras, parathas

For those of you not in Edinburgh, when you come to visit, this is where we’ll take you for your first meal (so you don’t have to drink our green juice).

This is what we eat when we go to Nutan’s:

You hungry, yet? Whatchu waitin’ for? Get your bollywood booties over this way! Nutan will welcome you with the best smile in the world:

For any Dr. Who fans out there, Nutan really does own the TARDIS. I mean how else can you explain how she makes all these delicious foods in a space smaller than most people’s closets? Not possible! It would only make since that she’s the Doctor and instead of a sonic screwdriver she has a sonic spoon.

P.S. Is she not wearing the most perfect sweatshirt ever? This was not planned — just one of those serendipitous things that happen when the stars align.

—-

Dear Cath,

I can’t believe we discovered the Bollywood Coffee Box just two weeks after you guys left – argh! I know you aren’t the biggest curry fan, but I think you would love this. I can’t wait to introduce you and Troy the next time you are in town (August?! I hopes, I hopes!).

Love and Curry!

Lar

p.s. She was playing the Lagaan soundtrack the last time we were there! Though Nutan admitted to not loving the movie because there’s too much cricket in it. Another meeting of the minds.

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
19 Comments
13 February 2012

Guilty Conscience

I thought I was doing really well. I’ve been good about eating super healthy (still mainly gluten free and all vegan) and shopping at local shops for food. I’m trying to learn how to meditate and incorporate more yoga throughout the week. Matt and I have cut down our T.V. watching and actually sit around the table for dinner and talk. We eat sprouted mung beans and organic carrots when we can afford it. I was feeling all very back-patty.

And then.

I got this comment from some anonymous person in the previous post (Weekend Wear for Cold Climates):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/23/primark.children

Just a little link that I originally ignored because I thought it was spam (ahem,  Anonymous) and because I didn’t want to read about child labor and slums (such a downer for a Saturday night — feel free to cringe). I assume Anonymous linked it because I mentioned I got my Regata Gala sweatshirt from Primark.

For those of you stateside, Primark is like H&M and Target had a baby and then sold that baby for cheaper than Walmart prices. When Matt and I first wandered into Primark here in Edinburgh, our eyes lit up. We could actually afford fun, frivolous things again. What with traveling and trying to save for the future — again more back-patty action — we/I can’t really afford trips to Top Shop and Zara (£40/$63 for a blouse, no thank you!). At Primark we can buy fuzzy hot water bottles, armloads of clothes, cute necklaces, socks, scarves, pillows and belts for only £40. Heaven!

Now at the back of my mind I did have that niggly sensation (aka guilty conscience) because I knew if I was buying a necklace for £1, someone on the other end wasn’t making very much money. I’ve had the niggles when shopping at other places (Forever 21, H&M, Target, Walmart, etc.), but the sensation is never so great that I couldn’t tamp it down with. buying more cute stuff! For instance, this weekend Matt and I needed a pick-me up and we decided to just have a looksee at Primark. You can see what I bought here:

See that expression smiley with a twinge of guilt: Tank and hair feathers from Primark • Skinnies from Madewell (now I’m questioning you too, Madwell! Read here about their social responsibility) • Hunter Boots (how do you treat your rubber workers, Hunter? The only info I could find was that all Hunters used to be made in Scotland, originally Edinburgh –woohoo!– but they had to move shop overseas in 2008 due to financial pressure — bummer).

Two out of three ethically-made pieces here! June Shin necklace (jeweler based out of Atlanta, Georgia) • Snoozer Loser quarter-holder necklace (independent online boutique based out of New York) • Primark feather hair thingie (errr)

I went to upload these photos into an AsianCajun post about Edinburgh and springtime (it would have been a lot less wordy — sorry!), and that’s when I saw Anonymous’ link. Niggly turned into full on face-punch. Dang it! So I did a bit of (internet) research. It is true that since 2008, Primark has tried to stop child labor at their supplier’s factories in Bangladesh and India. But since then, very little has been done to change the terrible circumstances of a vast number of people working in the garment industry — all so I can buy a cute tank for £2.

I know other retailers are culpable, and probably the best bet for not buying something that supports subsistent living conditions for thousands is by visiting your local charity shop and thrift stores. For staples like tees and good fitting jeans and work clothes, I’m going to find companies that have invested in fair trade principles.

How about you? Do you guys have any great tips on where to shop (and not spend an arm and a leg) on ethically made clothing? Do you even care about this or does it just make you tired — another thing to do better! (I know that’s how I feel, but I really will attempt to adjust my shopping habits). Do leave comments about this! I’d love to hear tips on how to be a more conscientious consumer and if you guys struggle with this too.

Eeesh! That’s a lot for a Monday isn’t it? How ’bout some pretty crocuses to leave you feeling happy after all that serious talk:

p.s. I know this issue is much bigger and more complex than I covered in this single blog post. Please feel free to just add to the conversation in the comments below. I’ve been reading War of Want’s Love Fashion Hate Sweatshop campaign, and they suggest that you shouldn’t boycott your favorite high street stores because that means loss of jobs for those on the other end (already making too little to live on). Instead, they suggest you campaign for workers’ rights. Read more about how to do that here.

—-

Dear Kitcath,

Sorry to be so wordy lately! I really did just want to write a post about springtime in Edinburgh, and just couldn’t!

I’m looking up some good places in the UK to shop that won’t leave me with a guilty conscience. I feel like Decatur has so many great places: Mingei, Evolve Boutique, Green Mosaics, etc. I need to find the Edinburgh equivalents!

Love and Happy Monday!

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
28 Comments