Wednesday Diary

I’ve been watching: The Boss. Saturday was such a gloomy, miserable day. Honey and I abandoned our walk in the park 20 minutes in because sheets of rain were making us both too freezing and soaked. I really don’t like days with no light at all so I gave up Saturday afternoon to watching silly films and The Boss with Melissa McCarthy made us laugh out loud (not Honey.. Mr BBB!). It’s a typically weak plot (failed business women enlists help of single mom to create new business = great success, etc) but all the fun and perfect for perking up a dismal day (probably not for kids unless they’re older).

I’ve been making: Carrot & Parsnip Soup. There’s not really a full recipe for this because it’s so basic. You fry some chopped onion (I prefer butter for soup but oil is fine), when it goes clear, add some chunks of chopped parsnip (one large or two small), same of carrot (two medium) and a (medium) potato. Let them sweat a bit in the pan together before adding a pint of stock (chicken or veg is okay). Let it simmer away tilt the veggies are soft and then blend. Add a bit of salt to this to take the edge of the sweetness of the parsnip and pepper to taste. You can freeze this so if you double up you can be organised.

I’ve been collecting: Cup Clingers. You might well ask. I discovered cup clingers at Hyper Japan last year and fell in love with them. If you’re looking for a purpose or point to them – neither exist! I just find them fun. Some of the most difficult to find are the Osaka Oba-chans. My understanding is that Osaka Oba-chans are kick-ass ladies who love bright clothes and are full of opinion that they don’t mind sharing! My friend Nic found these in Tokyo for me and I’m obsessed! I’m back at Hyper Japan next week, so maybe I’ll find more.

 

I’ve been coveting: Carvella Wine Patent Boots. I wear a lot of black, especially trousers (basically when I die bury me with my 195 pairs of black trousers) and these have enough depth of colour – kind of oxblood – with a sleek gold heel that I think they’d be a great contrast without going too off palette. I love patent anyway and opportunities for patent are limited, so I’ve got my eye on these for Black Friday. I think I could even walk in them! They’re £165 HERE.

I’ve been partying: All of my beauty life I’ve wanted to go to the COPRA ball. COPRA stands for Cosmetic and Perfumery Retailers Association and it’s legendary for its swathes of sequins. In other words, very glam. So, finally I got to go with Lynne and Amanda from Skinbrands – this year it had a 1920’s theme and oh my… the dresses. I don’t wear dresses often but that night I had proper evening dress envy! They have a bumper raffle (think Chanel and Chloe handbag type prizes) and raise absolutely thousands for Look Good Feel Better. It was as much fun as I’d been led to believe it would be and a chocolate jaffa pudding at dinner was the icing on the cake! I saw all sorts of people that I don’t see as often as I’d like. I even won a prize in the raffle (but it was a beauty product prize so I gave it away).

I’ve discovered: Kura Skymning. Yeah, you can forget Hygge – Kura Skymning is much more fun and explained to me by my Swedish friend Kiki while we had an outdoor dinner in the middle of London. To roughly translate – it’s the idea of huddling at dusk in the time before sunset where you purposefully chill out in complete comfort, either alone or with someone, to watch the day end. Kiki explained it as mindfulness from 100 years ago – a time to read a fairytale book, light a fire or a candle or just be still and peaceful. I think the softest, snuggliest blanket you can find is required (above, cashmere throw from TKMaxx).