Temporary Secretary

Over the past year I've put together quite a few fashion spreads for Fused and Area including a selection of purse friendly suggestions for the annual student guide and more recently (but not yet published) a colourful autumn spread. Fused and Area are independent magazines and as such I like to include a mixture of well known brands and lesser known gems. One such gem that I have used in several recent spreads is Temporary Secretary.

Sarah Wong founded the brand in 2008 and it's gone from strength to strength with fabulous designs and a great blog. In fact, she recently won the A/W 11 Look Magazine's Blog Competition - congratulations! In all honesty though, I think she shines when she gives the reader an insight into her life...particularly her adorable posts with the lovely cat Oscar.

Brand wise she is always a pleasure to work with, ready to help and with lovely pictures of her quirky and kitsch handmade jewellery. I can't wait to get my hands on some of her latest pieces... particularly her laser cut wood range and typewriter rings. I love the bright red tab key, I think I'll have to get that and a letter. Thankfully, it'll be Christmas before we know it. This year I am definitely making a list.

Images from the Temporary Secretary blog and website.

Blog Reading List

Ok so this is maybe a bit of a cop out post, after all I'm directing you to other blogs which is probably not what I should even be doing, but over the last 6 months I have discovered some gems. Some have hundreds of fans some but a few and I think we should share the love...so give them a go if they're your thing and if you like it make sure to leave a comment to give them a nice little boost. Everyone likes to know their writing is less interesting than the newspaper your fish and chips are wrapped in. (Please note if your chippy still puts your fish in newspaper now might be the time to find a new one.) Let me know what you think and feel free to suggest some blogs that you love.

The Blog Experiment:
Caleb Shreves writes some hilariously random stories as well as imaginary fun stuff are sure to keep you going on a regular basis.

Obnoxious Owl:
Warning: Owl is crude, blunt and often illustrates her posts with pornography. If this isn't your thing (or you are under age) please don't look. However, if a bit of crudeness is right up your street check her out. Her advice posts, particularly to men, are what almost every other women thinks but doesn't say.

Hyperbole and a Half:
This is a much loved blog and I'm sure you'll see why. Brilliantly funny anecdotes are paired with fantastically naive illustrations.

Ms. Fitz:
I discovered Ms. Fitz through a very tedious link. Her mother is my step father's step sister (I think that's right...). Needless to say this isn't what kept me interested (she doesn't even know the tedious link) what did is that she is fantastic. Check out some of the shoots she has styled and the accessories she has created. Brilliantly innovative. Oh, and if you like Obnoxious Owl this is the lady you need to thank as she introduced me to that blog. Thanks Ms. Fitz.

Plenty More Fish Out of Water:
Fishy is taking a break at the moment to write a book, which will be fantastically amusing if his blog is anything to go by, but read through his archives. His dating stories are fantastic. If you want something updated a bit more regularly try Tales From the Morning After, which is also great.

The Art of Being Perfect:
I cannot bake to save my life but this blog makes me wish I could. The pictures have me drooling and all I want to do is try the recipes. Sadly I don't even own flour. Maybe one of you can make the most of this blog. Particularly if you live in Brighton as the blogger runs her own cupcake company called Buttercream Bakery.

Scott Schuman: Visual Life with Intel

Scott Schuman, the photographer whose blog The Sartorialist is iconic, has worked with Intel (a clever technological link, with Intel allowing The Sartorialist's work to continue effectively) to produce this insightful film on visual life.  Is is especially relevant when you take into consideration the highly digital age we live in and how that has effected him.  He is in his own way a trend forecaster.  He spies these people and their style is seen and emulated by people across the world.  It is great that he recognises this sharing, commenting and adaptation.  The fact that digitial opens the world to us.

Empty-headed Critisim

Yesterday, after having a very bad morning, some lovely fellow decided to tell me that this "site" is full of "empty-headed b******s" and that the site name is very apt.  So not only criticism me but my readers as well.  I have had other comments that disagree with my opinions and calling me names for them but never have these people given their name.  Whilst people have always put their names when saying anything nice "Anonymous" is clearly the alias for when people want to be nasty.  It amuses me that this comment came on the article Guardian Soulmates and Short Men (I have now deleted it) as I can only assume he is an online dater that has been shunned by some women for being short.  I was merely stating a strange fact of nature, not saying that you will never find love.

You know what my Granny always says: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything nice at all."  My dad on the other hand just says: "Karma is a bitch so you don't need to be." Everyone likes a rant but blogs  are to allow anyone to put across their opinion.  If you disagree then put that across in an amiable way or keep your mouth shut and stop reading!  This isn't just me suffering though, it's wonderful bloggers like Liberty London Girl.  She calls these horrible people blog trolls.

Image from home.comcast.net

This blog is called First Class Ramblings.  Yes, the name is apt, because I will ramble about whatever holds my interest at the time.  It is not "empty-headed", I'm awell educated, but we don't all have to be pompous and self-righteous all the time now do we.

Dating Diaries

For the past four years my love life has pretty much only included one person, with others thrown in to our mix not really lasting very well.  That's why it's unlikely you'll hear of any wonderful/horrendous first dates.  In fact, my latest date was with that very same boy...we went to Ironbridge, saw the bridge, discussed the newleyweds having their pictures taken, had some food and went home.  Not exactly blogworthy.

It is probably for this reason that I find dating blogs so amusing.  They are popping up everywhere.  If not dating, at least love/relationship based.  From Kissed Lots of Frogs and Notes from the Dating Trenches to The Loves and Life of a London Girl and Tales from the Tower women are blogging about their exposing their love highs and woes left right and centre.  I'm not sure I could expose myself so publically...I have tried to be all honest and diary-like on my blog before but it just feels a bit odd dealing with certain subjects.

I suppose some people gain solice in having others going through similar things there, or in the fact that they don't have similar disasters.  Really though, the most interesting dating blog I have stumbled upon so far is Plenty More Fish Out of Water.  Fishy's dating diary is not only honest and amusing but is even more poigniant because it's written by a man.  Believe me, if you worried that girls were the only ones you're wrong.  Filled with confessions, planning and rejections it is pure dating blog gold. 

Whoever the student is that lives in his building should be concerned...her rather large chest has apparently intruged him so much he's checking her mail for information.