Category Archives: Miscellaneous

16 October 2011

Alternative Apparel and a New Haircut

Last time I got my hair cut, Lar and I decided to do the twin thing and get our hair chopped the same length. It was the perfect summer cut, but now that the weather is getting a little cooler I want my hair to grow long again. So on Wednesday I had a microscopic trim and got bangs again!

See the comfy-looking scarf and hoodie I’m wearing in the photo above? Those are courtesy of Alternative Apparel. I went to their Holiday 2011 and Spring 2012 preview party at JCT Kitchen last week. Of course I wouldn’t turn down any invite to a party that promises good fashion and delicious food. What I hadn’t anticipated was all the great people I would get to meet. The Alternative Apparel reps were very friendly and I got to meet a couple of Atlanta bloggers that I’ve been wanting to get in touch with – including Jess of LadyFlashback. We’ve been blogger friends for years and although live in the same city have shamefully never meet until this party.

The Spring 2012 line (above).

It was so inspiring to see how much the Atlanta/LA-based company has evolved in just the past few years. They’ve always taken the quality of their materials very seriously, but now they’re branching out in a more feminine direction.

The fringe shawl from the spring collection and gray tank for the holiday collection both belong in my closet. So many companies brag about being fashionable and comfortable, but I think Alternative Apparel really gets it more than most.

 

I fell in love with their leather bags. I will take all of them, please!

The Alternative gang introduced us to their new magazine, Common Thread. It focuses on creative-types,  community and the people behind the brand. In the inaugural issue Young Blood Boutique, a great indie art boutique in Atlanta, is featured.

 

 


Outfit details: Alternative Apparel hoodie and scarf, Gap tank, Blank cords and AE booties.

One last word on Alternative Apparel, they’ve teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure: for every pink ribbon item you buy, 10% will go towards Susan G. Komen through the end of this year.

 

Dear Lar,

I wish you had been in town to meet LadyFlashback and to get your hands on a super soft hoodie. Also, as you know, the Decatur Craft Beer Festival was this past Saturday. It was so fun to see everyone carrying around glasses with your logo on it. People loved it on the shirts too. It was so popular, all the shirts sold out within 5 hours!

Miss you bunches! I can’t wait until you get real internets so we can video chat again!

Category: Cath's Style, Decatur/Atlanta
17 Comments
14 October 2011

Drinkypoos at Roseleaf: My Type of Pub

I’m starting to believe that the more cups of tea you drink, the more British you become. If that’s the case, I’m about 60-70 bags more British since arriving here 22 days ago. I’ve always liked tea (and love a glass of sweet tea home in Atlanta) so it’s not much of a learning curve. Cath and I were Anglophiles/Scotophiles at an early age thanks to our mom’s proclivity for watching British TV on PBS when we were growing up (if we had had cable, we would have been entirely different people).

So, even though this transition period has been hard (I had quite a mean spurt of blues last night — missing my family and friends), there are so many things that more than make up for it in this lovely country of tea and crumpets and cheery pubs!

Matt and I stumbled upon Roseleaf in Leith our first week in town. You can just make out their green pub sign behind my head in these photos:

Outfit details: Madewell jacket and jeans • thfited blouse • Frye boots • canvas tote from a Japanese mag bought in San Francisco’s Japantown

Now why was Roseleaf such a site-for-weary-traveler’s-eyes?

Well, to start, we didn’t realize it was such a popular place until we stumbled in on a Saturday afternoon and all the tables were reserved. Never fear! The very kind Scottish barman cleared a teeny table for us (below: not our teeny table):

We got to share our perfect-for-two table with a fringed lampshade lamp and these two jolly trash bin (me thinks?) salt and pepper shakers:

We started with some tea/drinky poos:

And then we had a gander at their food menu — oh my!

Can you guess what I got? (Like my subtle highlighting of the menu?) And this is what the Roseleafer looked like in person:

I promise the vegetarian haggis (lower left corner) was delicious especially mixed around with my potato pancake, egg and tomato!

Matt was slightly more reserved than I and went for the potato stack: potato pancakes, bacon, egg — also delicious (and a great suggestion for those who just had a slightly nauseated feeling when reading “vegetarian haggis”):

We no longer live just a few minutes walk from Roseleaf (huge sigh!), but I will journey out there as often as I can. Look they even bring you your bill in an old tobacco tin – loves it!

——-

Dear Kitcath,

I am enamored of your hat, and do want one very much like it. Though I’m still concerned that brimmed hats are wont to blow off heads in Edinburgh’s gales. I actually haven’t seen too many ladies with cute hats on here, and I’m guessing that’s why. Hoods, yes. Umbrellas, yes. Dapper fodoras, non. Will keep you posted.

Also, thanks for trying to cheer me up last night! I ended up going out and buying two mags: British Vogue (Rhianna cover) and a BBC Food Mag. The latter might seem like a strange choice, but I really need to start wrapping my head around British recipes. What does 400 ml of something look like?! Also, it came with a magenta spatula, so I was sold.

Miss you terribly! Will take you guys to Roseleaf when you’re here for Christmas!!! Yipppeees!

xoxoxoxoxo,

Larbar

 

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
13 Comments
13 October 2011

Back in Atlanta: My New Hat

So a new hat isn’t as exciting as a new apartment in Scotland (see Lar’s post below), but I’ll take what I can get. I’ve been trying not to spend any money on clothes to help save for my trip to Scotland in December (I can’t wait to see my sister!). However, being the self-respecting fashionista that I am, I’ll splurge every once in a while – responsibly.

I was at Tarjay the other day when this hat caught my eye. I’ve been looking for a wide-brim fedora, plus I had an American Express giftcard, which means it was FREE! That, my friends, is some satisfying accessories shopping.

Troy and I have been working late this week, which means it’s usually too dark to take outfit photos once we get home. We were trying to find the best light in the house. Not a lot of options in a 900 square foot house. There’s the living room/entry area (above) with yellow-ish lighting. Then there’s the mini-hallway (below) with not enough lighting and baseboards partially chewed on by Wheatie.

Outfit details: Tarjay hat, New York and Co. cardi, Squash Blossom top, bib necklace from some children’s store in Las Vegas, The Limited skirt, and Frye boots.

Anyone else going to the Decatur Craft Beer Festival this weekend? Lar actually did the logo for the festival this year. I love it! And she gave me the two free tickets she got for being the logo designer. Woohoo!

Thank you Lar! I’ll get you a Beer Fest tee and glass!

 

Category: Cath's Style, Decatur/Atlanta
11 Comments
11 October 2011

Our “New” Flat/Apartment

Why helloooo again, everyone! It’s so nice to hear from you guys again! Thank you, internet gods!

It seems I’m not the only one “borrowing” my neighbor’s wifi because in the evenings it slows to a crawl. So Matt bought me one of those dongle-thingies (sorry, I’m such a ludite!) and now I have not-too-slow internet without the sense of guilt. Woohoo!

Oh right, on to more interesting things — our “new” flat. I say “new” because it was built in 1896! I’ve never lived in anything so old. In fact I spent most of my life in an 1980s home, so this is pretty fantastico in my opinion. So the bathroom is a little tiny (thanks for all your tips by the way!), it certainly makes up for it in every other way.

We have tall ceilings, beautiful crown molding (drooool – my favorite!), a huge kitchen with a lovely intensely green view of our shared garden/courtyard. It’s even got this very strangely tiled fireplace either from the 30s or 80s, I can’t decide which. I also can’t decide what the owners of the flat at the time were thinking when they picked the tile (Gray, pink and gold! Winning combo every time!). It’s actually growing on me, to be honest.


ps- Doesn’t that vase thingie look suspiciously like a funerary urn? Our landlord left it, and Matt and I just worked up the courage over the weekend to peek in. No ashes! Phew! Still slightly sinister, non? I moved it into the box room (We have a box room! I feel so pre-1940s British!).

Ah, but one of the real treasures of the flat is that it’s furnished! Considering we only took clothes and toiletries with us, this is a huge relief. Instead of being stuck with loads of Ikea furniture (what I’ve lived with the past 5-10 years), we have some lovely pieces from our landlord that look like they are straight out of Jeeves and Wooster. I’m still waiting for Stephen Fry to wake us up with breakfast in bed.

We also lucked out with not having too many flights of stairs to climb at the end of the day. We are on the second floor (third floor in American speak). A few flats we looked at before finding this gem have been on the 4th/5th floor and I feel like I’m climbing Everest.

These photos were taken about an hour after we moved in, so forgive the lack of decor. I am an intense nester, so changes have happened already, and more are on their way. However, I do have a few crimps in my decor dreams:

1) Money — dang it! Why do I never seem to have enough. Plane tickets, visas, food. must you be so costly?

2) Existing decor. I didn’t show you guys the less-than-lovely purple and teal loveseats.

3) Plaster walls. I can’t really go poking lots of holes in the plaster without making much of a mess — so I’ll have to get creative with hanging implements.

4) Trying not to acquire too much. I don’t know if it’s from months of purging while I was prepping for this trip, or the fact that all I have now fits in two suitcases, but it actually makes me anxious to shop for new things. Even though we signed a year lease, I still kind of feel like I should be ready to bolt with two suitcases if need be. Weird, right? I hope I get over that soon.

5) Being clueless. In my new surrounds I have no idea where to buy my crafty basics: spray paint, masking tape, measuring tape, thrifted lamps, slipcovers (apparenty, not a popular concept over here) etc.

Okay, I’ll stop my mumblings, but I warn you that there might be future posts on my nesting habits — hope you don’t mind. I tend to get more domestic when I go through a wonky transition (like moving countries).

Happy Tuesday/Wednesday/Hump Day!!

xoxo,
Lar

Category: Edinburgh
25 Comments
10 October 2011

How to Stay Warm in Scotland

Hellooo blanket/scarf! You were made for dreary, cold weather. You are warm  and snugly around my neck or wrapped around my arms while I drink a cuppa. Scottish autumn/winter (really no difference), you have met your match!

This blanket/scarf is from Shopbop. I needed a bit of therapy after our stressful weeks of settling-in, and I did a little happy dance when I realized they would ship to my brand new Scottish flat in just a few days.

Can you tell from these pics I’m spending too much time home alone. Being a graphic designer working from home can be a bit isolating. particularly when you are wont to go spend your hard earned money on pastries, scones and tea (and maybe some clothes) whenever you step outside.


Madewell jacket • Spun scarf • thrifted purse • Blank black cords • Hunter wellies

I try to wear my blanket/scarf more responsibly when I’m out of doors (and in public). This has been my uniform since I’ve been here: layers of jackets/coats, scarf (the bigger the better), skinny pants and boots.

Once winter really hits (which we’ve been forewarned that it’s going to be a bad one), I’ll just add more layers: tights under trousers, coat on top of jackets, woolly socks under wellies.

I’m really selling you guys on the whole visit-me-in-Scotland thing, aren’t I?

—-

Dear Kitcath,

Had to include this photo for you. Can you believe it’s been seven years since we lived in this city together? It feels wrong to be in Edinburgh without you — it definitely loses much of its sparkle for me! We spent a lot of last weekend on South Clerk Street, and it makes me miss you extra mucho!

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
16 Comments
9 October 2011

Two Nations Divided by A Common Language

Hellooo Lovelies!

Well, it’s officially been 2.5 weeks since Matt and I left Atlanta. We are moved into our own flat – yippeee! We still are figuring out how to use the bus system, how to coax the lovely people at the Royal Bank of Scotland into giving us a bank account, and setting up internet in our new flat (thanks, unknowingly generous neighbor, for letting us “borrow” your wifi for the time being!).

Things have been a bit stressful during this settling-in period, and Matt and I keep thinking how hard this move would be if the native language here wasn’t English. That said, most of the time when someone says something to me with a heavy Scottish brogue or even a distinctive English accent I say, oh-so-eloquently, “Huh? Sorry, can you say that again?”

Thank goodness our English friends got us this book before we left the ATL:

And it isn’t just the language stuffs. Little things are different here. For instance.

1) Cars are teenier. Those two take up half an American parking space:

2) It’s not just a touristy ploy, the Scots do love Haggis everything (I do too, it turns out).

(Below) This was a food stall at the recent Edinburgh marathon:

 

3) Other things are smaller too. like our sink! Look how teeny. That normal sized bottle of soap tips off and falls into the sink constantly for lack of generous counter space:

 

Why such a teeny sink you wonder? Because it needs to fit in our teeny bathroom. If Matt and I are both in their at the same time, we have to queue to get out! Taking these photos I figured out a new way to wash my face (or stick my head in the sink out of despair because I can’t figure out how to maneuver out of the bathroom).

5) Another difference about this country? I tend to dress like this when I’m here. You never see me in hiking boots and a rain jacket in the ATL:

Next up! My new flat, and not just awkward bathroom pictures! Yippee! Miss you guys! I should have regularly running internet in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I’ll be slowly checking your comments and blogs with my stolen (and very slow — I’m not complaining!) wifi.

xoxoxo,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh
16 Comments
9 October 2011

The New AsianCajun Design

Hello Lovely Readers!


So we have a few kinks to work out with our new look, so excuse us while we get through the next few hours of tweaks. In the meantime, I’ll be adding some actual proper content from Scotland (finally!).
Miss you all mucho!
And a big hearty thank you to our amazing Code Monkey Chris!

xoxo,
Lar

Category: Uncategorized
15 Comments
6 October 2011

To Market To Market

It’s 1 a.m. here (6 a.m. in Scotland), I’m taking a break from working on my midterm due in a few days, but I’m happy. Why? Oh because I just happen to be eating the most delicious sorbet ever! AsianCajun readers, meet High Road Craft Ice Cream and Sorbet. High Road, meet the AsianCajun readers. I’ve already inhaled half a pint of Berries and Prosecco sorbet. It’s amazing. And I purchased it at my local grocer, Oakhurst Market.

Outfit details: DIY necklace, Derek Lam jacket from Lar, H&M skirt, Aldo shoes, Kate Spade bag and Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy four pack.

Oakhurst Market opened in the summer and it’s the type of intown grocery market you dream of having on your street corner. I feel pretty gosh darn lucky to live within a ten minute walk to this place – chock-a-block with local treats (hello High Road, Wild Heaven and Wynatte!). I ended up driving there tonight because I was coming from work and wearing heels – go ahead, judge me if you must!

I was laughing in the photo above because Troy and I had spent the previous five minutes trying to find a place in the market with enough lighting to take an outfit photo. Right before he took the photo, one of the guys working at the market walked by and said, “Pretty picture time!” or something like that and made me feel more at ease. I know I’ve been doing this style blog thing for a while, but I still feel awkward every time I have to pose for a photo.

I usually feel really self conscious taking outfit photos in a very public place. Most of my shots come out looking like this:

Luckily Troy is patient enough to put up with my antics and take photos using my not-so-great camera phone. I promise I’ll start using the better camera once I can remember to pack it with me everyday!

Do you guys remember Lar blogging about this necklace? She diy-ed it from a curtain tie and I love it. That and her Derek Lam jacket (she wore it here) are just two of the amazing things she left me as she headed off to Scotland.

Oh crap. I just dripped some sorbet on my keyboard. That’s a sure sign that I’m up way too late. I’ll leave you with these two other images from the market (and some botched outfit photo attempts) so you can get a better idea of what is offered there. For those of you who live in Atlanta, you must make a visit to Oakhurst Market! And for those of you who don’t, you can buy High Road ice cream online!


P.S.: Last night I went to the Alternative Apparel Preview Party at JCT and got to meet a few of the local style bloggers that I’ve wanted to meet for years. What a great evening. A post is coming soon!

Category: Cath's Style, Decatur/Atlanta
14 Comments
2 October 2011

Lar Moves to Scotland and I Get a(nother) Pup!

Most of you know that Lar and Matt adopted a dog, Toby, about a year ago. Well, it was more like he adopted them by coming to their back door everyday until they let him in. Of course Lar and Matt looked into taking Toby with them to Scotland but 1.) it’s crazy expensive to ship a doggie and 2.) dogs shipped to the U.K. are quarantined for six months. SIX MONTHS! So without hesitating (or checking with Troy – sorry Troy!) I offered to take Toby – a super hyper active, untrained, scared-of-everything dog. I’m crazy, but I have three things going for me:

1.) Troy is a huge dog lover and has an immense amount of patience for training Toby.
2.) Toby is the sweetest dog ever. He was clearly abused as a pup, but he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.
3.) Look at his cute face!

Welcome to the family, Toby!

The family includes me, Troy, Wheatie and Toby in a 900 square foot house. It’s pretty tight quarters, but we have a large backyard by Decatur standards and live within walking distance of a dog park.

I spent most of the weekend doing school work. I’m finding it a little difficult getting back into school. It’s been six years since I finished undergrad and I’m a little rusty. Juggling work, school, blogging and an extra dog is not turning out to be so easy. I’m trying to enjoy the few moments when I’m not working – like taking the dogs to the dog park.


Outfit details: Head scarf is a piece a fabric that Lauren gave to me, Target shirt, Blank pants and Jeffrey Campbell boots.

I love that the weather in Atlanta is finally getting cool enough to wear a sweater. There was one person at the dog park today bundled up with a coat and knitted hat in 55 degree weather – I love Southerners!

Back to the dog situation. If Troy and I weren’t already crazy enough to have two big dogs in our little house, this weekend we’re dog sitting for some friends. That’s Kubrick below. He’s pretty darn big.  Needless to say, my clothes are completely covered in dog fur and my house needs some major Fabreezing.

I just talked to Lar – she found a great Chinese restaurant in Edinburgh tonight. I think before the year is up we’ll be posting some Atlanta and Edinburgh AsianCajun city guides.

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Category: Cath's Style, Decatur/Atlanta
22 Comments
1 October 2011

Matt and Lar in Scotland

As you can see, this past week we’ve been here, Matt shaved his mustache and decided my red lipstick looks better on him. I’ve dyed my hair and decided eyebrows were unnecessary (as well as eyelids). We’ve also taken to standing on tartan ground, in front of a large rose bush. Weird things happen when you move to a different country.

Oh wait, no! That’s not us (silly, Lar)! I get so easily confused these days, what with the lingering jet lag and unexpectedly summery weather here in the UK (70s and sunny! That’s not what I signed up for when I said I would move to Scotland). In fact, these photos are about two weeks old.

My mom threw us a going-away family dinner, and of course she did it so beautifully! My mom’s tablescapes would make Martha Stewart green with envy: the intentionally weird thrifted Scottish Madame Alexander dolls, tartan table cloth, Scottish flags, gorgeous flower arrangements — all done for very little money. Martha Stewart with a heart and on a budget (and no previous jail time) — that’s my mom.

Matt’s mom made us the most delicious and beautiful apple pie!

I’ll leave you one last outfit picture of mine, standing next to my (pepper shaker) Scottie dog:

Do you like my knee-highs or do you prefer ballet flats sans the tartan? I can’t decide. My lace cuffs look like they’ve seen better days as well. At least my fanny pack/bum bag/sporran looks cute!

Seriously though, I’m sorry I don’t have actual Scotland pics to share with you at the moment. Matt and I are still living out of our suitcases in our temporary flat (thank you Airbnb and host Tommy)! We move into our very own lovely place on Tuesday! I am soooo excited! I’ll make sure to take plenty of photos of our new space. In the meantime, we’ve both been working (Matt in his new lab at Uni and me on my computer: I’ve joined that “elite” group of remotely working graphic designers), and trying not to spend money — which makes for very boring photos.

Oh here’s one I’ve been meaning to share for a while. See that suitcase there? Blue, medium to largish. That, my friends, is what I fit my entire wardrobe in: shoes and clothes. My second suitcase was reserved for toiletries, artsy stuffs, and four purses. I’m quite proud I made it over here like that. However, because of it, you might have to count on Cath for a while for the cuter outfit pics 😉

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! Tell me what you’re up to!

 

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style
4 Comments