so i went shopping...

Anthropologie Goes International

Anthropologie is finally doing international shipping! Yes, they'll ship to the UK. They will ship to London!This is good because I need a new purse (like a hole in the head). And some more skirts. (Because I don't have ANY of those.) And some pretty earrings, because I can never find any I like. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Although if I think positively about this, I'll probably earn some BA miles on AMEX. And at least Anthropologie hasn't decided to open a shop in London...if they did, I'd go bankrupt!

Some blogs that love Anthropologie:
Decor8
Breakfast at Anthropologie
Homebug

Eyebrow Threading

If you have eyebrows like mine--fuzzy caterpillars, that is--you can spend hours taking care of the problem yourself, or head to Apsara in London's Whitechapel for a quickie threading fix. For £6 for a reshaping, or just £5 for a neat-and-tidy, the only butterfly you'll see is you.

Apsara Herbal
259 Whitechapel Road
E1 1DB
020 7377 2004

Other bloggers who like threading...
News from London
Simplicity at its best
Beauty Baby

2008 Fabbies: Blogs about Shoes

Shoes are good. The shoe blogs out there though? Hmmm. I did a quick tour of the many Shoe nominees for the 2008 Fabbies and here are my thoughts. (Ads and affiliates are not a bad thing, by the way. I'm just really intrigued by the way bloggers these days are trying to commericalize their sites, and I'm also dying to know how it's working out for them.)

Shoe Blog: A high-fashion Shoe blog. These gals have their eyes on the runway. Great close-ups of the newest styles. Good About page. Glam and Google ads both present, as well as a number of affiliate programs. I like this blog.

Shoewawa: A pretty commerically-minded blog that focuses on mid-priced shoes. Good writing. Very frequent posts. Glam and Google ads both present.

I love shoes: All in French! But seems to focus on mid-priced and higher-priced shoes. Frequent posts. Google ads.

Grand Mademoiselle: A bloggers blog. Personal write-ups. Would love to know more about the author. No ads. I think this is my favorite, although I would love to see a more extensive About page, and some more spacing in paragraphs.

Shoe-n-Tell: Content generated by an array of writers. Seems to focus mainly on mid-priced shoes. Lots of affiliate programs, but no ad-ads per se. 

Shoebunny: A bit voyeuristic! Celebrities and their shoes and where to buy their shoes. No About page. A few affilliate programs.

Shoeflyer: I think this one is interesting in that it's a blog associated with a small chain of shoe stores! Good on them for going new media in their marketing. Good tips about taking care of your shoes. Good About page about both the shop and the writers. A clean, nice site with a personal touch. No ads.

Shoeaholics Anonymous: Fun mid-priced finds from a gal in Nebraska. Looks like there's at least one other contributor as well. Glam ads and Google ads and eBay affiliate widgets.

ShoeSense: This is a good blogger's blog, but it hasn't been updated in ages. (OK, late January, but that's too long for a blogger! Particularly one who's been nominated for a Fabbie!) No ads.

ShoeIQ: Love the "Wordless Shoe Wednesday" when they just post a photo of gorgeous shoes. Google ads and affiliate programs.

Style Bard Shoes: I like the idea of this site. The author(s) post links to shoe sales online. Glam and Google ads, as well as affiliate programs.

Lessons Learned: Not all that much different from last time around, but let me maybe mention a couple of other things. I like blogs that are personal. I like to know who the author is/authors are. If I can't find information on the author, I consider the site more a Web site than a blog.  I also like blogs that tell stories. Hmmm. Must be more conscious of good story-telling for my blog. 

Again, I can't take credit for the gorgeous photo. It's another shot by the talented jeltovski, who has his photos available on Morguefile.

Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream

I don't know what quince means. But I'm going to take some guesses...smooth...fresh...shiny (in a good way). Because that's how I look when I use this, my favorite moisturizer in the whole entire world.

£16, online at Dr. Hauschka.

Blogs that love Dr. Haushcka...
The Dream Life
Brown Bag Beauty Blog
Skin Rhythm

Labour & Wait

Everything old is new again. So it is at Labour & Wait, one of London's best and neatest little shops. Right off Brick Lane, on Cheshire Street. Step through the door AND back in time. Everything is simple and functional and gets the job done. Just like me.

Labour & Wait
18 Cheshire Street
E2 6EH
020 7729 6253

Blogs that love Labour & Wait...
Design Mom
Time Out in London
Wee Birdy

Eve Lom Special at Peter Jones

I so sometimes want to fall into bed with my face on. But that all changed when I discovered Eve Lom's cleanser. It just makes me feel so clean. It's gritty and thick and a little goes a long way.

Exclusive Offer for the Peter Jones Treatment Room from 1 February until 2 March 2008 Book a 90-minute Eve Lom Signature Facial at the Eve Lom Treatment Room in Peter Jones and receive, with every paid treatment, an Eve Lom Mini Product Set, worth £40. Appointments can be made at the Eve Lom counter in Peter Jones or by telephone on 020 7901 8021.

Blogs that love Eve Lom...
Blogdorf Goodman
Jack & Hill
Ms. New Beauty

2008 Fabbies: Blogs about Accessories

If you like things (like shopping), you will like the 2008 Fabbies and all the great shopping blogs that have been nominated. Everyone has an opinion. Here's mine on the Accessories blogs in the running. And remember...who am I to judge?

The Purse Blog: Love the banner and color scheme. Love how they call themselves delightfully shallow. Like the layout of articles and photos, although I wouldn't justify my text like that. Very professional looking and commercially-minded shopping blog. Strange that there's no "About" page. I want to know more about Megs & Vlad!

Knickers. A lingerie Weblog. Love the "work-safe" version. Great idea. Love the lingerie, but wish that the text wrapped around the images because I'm doing a lot of scrolling. Must buy new pajamas now.

In My Bag: Author has fun taste. Like the little widget at the bottom of each post, where you can "vote" on the insightfulness of comments. Would like a better About page, more consistency in image sizes and aspect ratios. This is the most "blog like" thus far.

Her Accessories: Like the punchy text. It's short and sweet and to-the-point. Like the finds and the photo sizes...nice and big and clear. The woman who writes this blog is pretty fascinating...a professional puppeteer! A slick shopping and accessories blog that's commercially minded.

Bag Bliss: Love the twinkly bits on the top nav. This is a very clean and professional site with a good About page. Like the ability to browse by manufacturer and celebrity.

HATtastic: A blog about hats! Great inspiration for Henley and Ascot. I am not buying a hat at House of Fraser this year. Wish background color was a bit livelier. This is a blog-blog.

I, Bejeweled: Firstly, I LOVE the title. Like the Tiffany-like color. Really interesting finds. Would love to see more frequent posts and know more about the author. I think this is my favorite accessories "blog blog."

Jewelry Weblog: Some good finds here. Bios of contributors are pretty interesting. Clean layout and design. Seems to be a commercially-minded group of folks.   

Lessons Learned
All these blogs seem to be a member of the Glam Network but me! Five of the eight! (The Purse Blog, Knickers, In My Bag, Her Accessories, Bag Bliss all have Glam ads. Interestingly though, they are all house Glam ads...where are the product ads? Must keep eye on this. Wonder if anyone is making any money?)   

Google Ads: Five of the eight again accessories blogs have Google Ads, although a slightly different selection. In My Bag, Her Accessories, Bag Bliss, HATtastic, Jewelry Weblog. Again, curious about who's making money off these puppies.

Although I would love to take credit for this lovely photo, I can't. It was taken by the talented jeltovski, who has his photos available on Morguefile.

Louis Vuitton Pont Neuf Bag

I am not a lady who lunches, but I'd imagine that if I were, this would be my bag. What am I saying? It is my bag. Well, one of them...

Louis Vuitton Pont Neuf
£725.
(And you're worth every penny.)
Online, at LouisVuitton.com.

Blogs that love Louis...
Fashionphile
The Bag Hag
The Purse Page

Paperchase Notebooks

Not everything in life is black and white. Sometimes, it's black and pink. (Or is it pink and black?) Either way, I can't wait to take notes. Note covers contain velvety fabrics. Lovely.

£5.25 each. At Paperchase. In all sorts of colors and styles.
http://www.paperchase.co.uk

Blogs that love Paperchase...
A Girl Must Shop
print & pattern
Retro to Go

Yauatcha Macaroons

Oh lovely yellow macaroon, you were calling me from the windows of Yauatcha on the corner of Berwick and Broadwick Streets. Buy me. Eat me. Love me.

So I did. And not just you. Your brethren too. £10 for 12. A very cheap date indeed. Are you free next Saturday?

Yauatcha
15-17 Broadwick Street
London
W1F 0DL
Tel: 020 7494 8888

Three blogs about sweets...
foodbeam
Tartelette
Milk and Cookies