Tombstones and Tears

I'm currently clearing away all the remnants from when I had my accessories label and came across a pure blast from the past! Painted onto a hand-bleached piece of denim from an old College assignment, it was a quote from an old forgotten friend back when I was in my early 20s.

Instantly, I had a mental flashback to the last Summer I had spent living in New York; I was only 3 months away from officially moving to live in London. I had a mini crew - bonded by our love of bands like Weezer, Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional. I was the oldest but I didn't care, we all liked the same bands and went to the same gigs. His name was Andy. He was Jewish. He had a large kitchen and lived in the Upper East Side, at the time attending the same prestigious High School as the boys in The Strokes. I remember him being cocky, arrogant and in love with one of my best friends. 

Being 16, a virgin and a boy had its downers and to express it, he embraced living and breathing "emo" wholeheartedly. And although at the time could of been easily pushed aside, what with his awkward teenage embodiment, (well he was 16) it's funny how now he's the one person I would give anything to know "where he is now?". 

Unrequited love was the subject of the day, the month, the 2 short years he was in my social circle, to the one day he spouted: "Fuck hearts and flowers, love is tombstones and tears!". So bloody Emo. I loved it then, I love it to this day!

We kept in contact for about another year or so after I moved to London. My favourite memory of me touching down in New York and meeting to go see Ash in town.

Sadly, I have no idea where he is now, but I'd like to bank on a few ideas.

1/ He's slimmed down and is now a sexy, lanky hipster
2/ He's still living in New York.
3/ He's found true love.

Gabba Gabba Hey!

I often chat to one of my best friends from back home, let's call her K. for short. We're either tweeting, skyping, emailing each other pretty much daily, but we instant message on gmail probably the most.

Working in eCom, I'm pretty much logged into my emails all day everyday. And I recently realised that Gmail stores all chat conversations (bad idea Google!) but then I thought let me share some of the 'gems' of us waxing lyrical during the ol' 9 to 5. I call them 'gems' as that's what me and my partner call it when we say shit that's uber comical…we're 'spitting gems' as we say. Anyway enjoy!

Gabbing about job interviews...
Me: Hows the job search going hon?
‪K:‬i think it went well but i can tell its not for me and the dude can tell that i wont take the job lol..came there without a care in the world. the massage room looked like a damn dungeon
‪Me‬: HAH. dungeon.
I think there's an element to the 'not-a-care-in-the-world' attitude...i like to adopt that otherwise i get too nervous
‪K‬: YEEEESSS
it was the best job interview ever
‪Me‬: so if you go in there all cool and calm, you'll be better
‪K‬: i was so relaxed
‪Me‬: might as well been stoned. Did you slink in? or walk in?

--- --- ---

Gabbing about plain randomness…
‪Me‬: oh i just phoned Utah...loooved the guy on the phone
his Mid Western accent made me swoon
his name is Jordan
‪K: i bet hes balding
‪Me‬: LOL LOL
not expecting that...

--- --- ---

Old School

Went good ol' fashioned book shopping yesterday and it was rather nostalgic. I realised I missed it! Back in the early 00's when I was still living in New York and still a Fashion Design student, it wasn't out of place to find me perusing the neat aisles of Borders, Barnes & Noble and my favourite of book haunts, the basement of the Virgin store in Times Square where they had all their music and movie publications. I loved it! I bought a lot of screenplays back then and one of my most expensive of music books was a bio on a then unheard of band (by States-standards), Supergrass!

So you can imagine, it was super nice to thumb through pages again yesterday if only to relive my days as a spunky art student and if only to come across books titled, "I Can Help You" and "Boredom - A Lively History". In the end I picked up these 2 books...

...which was put into a Christmas-themed shopping bag - being the end of Feb it provided much amusement on the walk home.

Pinterest

Lately, I've been utterly falling in love with Pinterest! As social media goes, it's not the most social but none of that matters, Pinterest taps into the one important part of my personality - the creative part! It takes a snapshot of what I see, inspirations, and basically cool shit that I find on the web and easily organises it onto mood boards. It's the perfect "social" MEDIA platform.

The designer in me seeks inspiration I can later tap into, while my lust for shopping is satiated by all the products that I am currently bookmarking to my 'Wish List' board. Oh my credit card is turning over in my wallet as I type.

A few of my latest pins...straight from Pinterest folks,

Source: fuckyeah-dyedhair.tumblr.com via Jennie on Pinterest

Source: buzzfeed.com via Jennie on Pinterest

Source: dickfacedamour.tumblr.com via Jennie on Pinterest

Other things I am loving this week...
1/ Office's new digital magazine: The editorial is just fabulous, the current issue is all about music just in time to get us excited about festival-season.

2/ OOH YEA...Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy: If for the only reason to watch it, the opening song is totally iPod worthy. But seriously, Episode 2's tutting-mountains was just pure genius! (It goes without saying though, we miss you dearly Julian Barratt!)

3/ Skrillex. I tried to describe his music to someone recently and I'm like, "It's just noise, it's all noise..." but he strings together the best noises! Worth a listen kids.

Confessions of a Shoreditch Girl (Version 2)

Well, it's been 2 years but I have decided to start up my blog again. I've put up a snazzy header, reconditioned from a flyer I designed for my friend Sophia, and updated the old black/white/pink decor. So what's new? Still a girl living in Shoreditch - or to be exact around the corner from Shoreditch, I'm technically in Hoxton now. Confessions of a Hoxton Girl, I quite like that.

Cocomo, Old Street

It's Friday night and one of my friends is leaving London tomorrow so we're here at Cocomo to celebrate and commiserate.

It's £4 happy hour cocktails until 8pm on weekdays so we start the night here. Where the girls lack cocktail-mixing finesse, the overall place makes up for it!

It's smaller and cozier than most bars in the area and we love the rich vintage red and gold interior. We sit along the wall that's lined with half moon benches to create a somewhat intimate affair. Downstairs feels like walking into a 70's makeout party in your mate's basement, it's dark, it's cosy...

Loos are down in the lower level too so the pedestrian traffic should stop anyone up to anything no good. Cocomo offers up this space free to hire! Well recommended as it is a good sized venue for you and your 50 or so Facebook mates.

A DJ comes on some time around 7pm to start spinning some tunes. It's the usual pumping dance or house depending on whose playing.

We didn't eat here this night, but I have done in the past. Hummus, toasted paninis, English tea.. however with so many other good cheap eats in the area, I'd give Cocomo a miss, unless you like your lunch served with free ambience on the side.

Between 8pm and 10pm, it never really got very full, which is good because when it's quiet, it's the perfect place, when it's full, it's too claustrophobic! Most chill outside because of the good weather and for the social smoking. We end the night here fairly early to make it to Electricity Showrooms just around the corner for a lit-up dance floor boogie. Bring it on!

Info:

Cocomo

323 Old Street

London

EC1V 9LE

KOKO

It's Friday evening, let's jump on the Northern Line at Old Street tube station and head to Camden High Street, on the way to my favorite of all time venues - KOKO!

Whether it's for bands, birthdays, or Halloween fun, this venue hasn't let me down, even the cranberry vodka tastes sweeter here!

Ornate balcanies, red painted walls, and stairs stairs stairs! There are many levels in this fantastic place so knowing where your friends are is a must! My favorite spot to lounge is on the 2nd mezzanine - lined with plush sofas that overlook the whole of the 1st mezzanine, dancefloor, and stage! There's even a bar on every level so you don't go dry for very long.

The Chartshow Live is taped here and where I got to see Ladyhawke, Chris Cornell, and White Lies for free a few weeks back. The dancefloor is not so big that it feels like an arena and is fairly itimate.

Tonight was a Cage the Elephant gig. Their live show by far tops their CD - this band belongs on a stage. Will let the photos do the talking now...




We didnt stay for the club night which starts immediately after the band put down their instruments but it's a worthy 5 hours of indie and rock and pop tunes.

Here's a tip: Use the loo at the top level of the venue. Offers an almost no-queue system at dizzying heights! Careful walking back down though!

Contact Info:
Koko
1A Camden High Street
London
NW1 7JE