what's new, pussycat?

Everyone's favourite little Japanese kitty cat turned 35 the other day. Kitty White ('Hello Kitty' is just a nickname according to chief designer Yuko Yamaguchi) celebrated her party at a London bar last week, complete with models showing off some kitty garb, a Godzillla-sized plush Hello Kitty doll suspended above the runway, and roomwide projected animations - you can read Dazed Digital's full article here). Growing up I was obsessed with this little mouthless Kitty and her friends, owning just about every piece of Sanrio paraphenalia available - except for the toaster. I love that toaster (a bit more than any 25 year old should).

niotillfem

I love Sandra Beijer's (Stockholm) blog, Niotillfem. I can't understand much of what she writes (only a small portion is translated), but the beautiful pictures she takes really speak for themselves. She has an adorable bow-tie wearing boyfriend, throws some pretty fabulous parties, and makes some absolutely delicious looking food. Plus she uses a typewriter, is a fan of outdoor couches and loves scrabble - I want to be friends with her.

jacket weather

It's jacket weather now in Korea (at least for the time being), and I can't say that I'm mad about it. I love all of these!

For your viewing pleasure

get in bed

It's finally getting quite chilly in this little loft - I want a thermal onesie, like this one by Alexander Wang to keep me warm.

food porn

Kimchi + Chanel No. 5 from the Summer 2009 issue

Food writing is alive and well thanks to Gastronomica, a magazine that has, since 2001, been "renewing the connection between sensual and intellectual nourishment by offering readers a taste of passionate inquiry through scholarship, humor, fiction, poetry, and exciting visual imagery. With its diverse voices and eclectic mix of articles, Gastronomica uses food as an important source of knowledge about different cultures and societies, provoking discussion and encouraging thoughtful reflection on the history, literature, representation, and cultural impact of food." Um, amazing. At home, I was prone to poring over my mother's Bon Appetit for cooking ideas (and just to admire all of the food styling). But I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Gastronomica, as it seems to be a cultural studies/food lover's dream. I especially want the Summer 09 Issue, as I am surrounded by the Korean staple these days (and it's in a Chanel No. 5 bottle, no less!). Has anyone read this yet?

it's black, it's white

junkmail

Katie and I share many, many mutual loves - multigrain tostitos, vintage treasures, white wine - and one of our favourite past times since university days has been trading cute and quirky greeting cards with one another. From black and white quoteables to a retro Australia postcard , Katie has always managed to produce a one of a kind card for many a special (and sometimes very ordinary) occasion. So of course I thought of her immediately when I spotted these sassy cards by junkmail greetings at the Drake's Outdoor Market this past weekend. At $1 a pop I just had to snap up some of these oh so pretty prints with spiteful sayings - because you never know when you're gonna need a "Congratulations on your mediocrity" card (I feel like I should have received that after graduating with my second Arts degree).

And Katie ... obviously you should keep an eye on your mailbox in the coming weeks. xo.

bows, bows, bows

Marc Jacobs, Luella, and Blair Waldorf are all into them, along with little girls everywhere - and so am I (although, I never wear them in my hair). Luckily, Asian girls, too, are fans of this adorable accent and I've been able to find both an oh-so-pretty petit brown leather, bow-adorned purse, and an equally lovely black sparkly bow necklace since living on this side of the Pacific. Hopefully I'm not getting too old...

winona ryder

Winona Ryder is sort of amazing: she's a total 90s indie movie starlet, not to mention an inspiration to pale girls everywhere (shoplifting incident aside). I made Carlos watch Heathers a few weeks ago, which reminded me how spunky and quirky she really is (and that Veronica Sawyer is my favourite Winona character, bar none: "Heather, my love, there's a new sheriff in town"). Her earlier roles are also quite delightful: Jo March in Little Women, Charlotte Flax in Mermaids, Lelaina Pierce in Reality Bites, Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice, and a very blonde Kim in Edward Scissorhands. I like this piece in Interview Magazine where Winona talks about The Wire, Heathers, and how Holden Caulfield was her best friend:

MOOALLEM: The Catcher in the Rye comes up a lot in your old interviews. Are you still a big fan?

RYDER: I was and still am. It’s weird because when you first read that book, it’s so personal and you feel like you’re the only one who feels that way, and then you realize that everyone has had that experience with it. But Holden Caulfield was like my best friend when I was a teenager. Salinger is someone whose work I just love so much, and I totally respect how protective he has been about his privacy. My dad saved every New Yorker that J.D. Salinger ever had a story in. Actually, one thing happened . . . I’ve never actually told anyone this, but when I was 19, some, um, [pauses] my boyfriend at the time bought me at an auction a Christmas card that Salinger wrote someone in the ’50s. It was literally just like, “Merry Christmas!” But Salinger’s signature was on it. I kept the card for a few years but I felt so guilty, like he wouldn’t want me to have this, so one day I decided I was going to send it back to him. I wrote this letter, and I tried not to gush, but I was like, “Dear Mr. Salinger. I received this as a gift because I’m a big fan, but I want to return it to you because I respect your privacy.” And then, sometime later, I got a thank-you letter.

Also mentioned was the potential of turning Heathers into a TV series or a musical - how very.

"Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count."