The Dream of The Dolphin.

This Earth Day don't sit around and do nothing to help change the environment. Do something!

Wait, don't get up. Stay right here. Because I found seven ways you can help out Mother Earth from right where you are: online on your laptop. And you don't even have to go outside! That's right. No one said the words lazy and worthless are two words that always have to go together. Let's be lazy and proactive! It can happen!

But don't thank me yet. After the jump, check out these handy ways to help out on Earth Day and see if you want to help. All it takes to participate is a few handy clicks!

1. Plant a Tree: You probably can't see a tree from where you're sitting, but that doesn't matter. Plant a tree with the power of technology. Why not? It only costs a dollar, can help relieve all that guilt you have from being stuck in front of the computer all day, and it helps the environment.

2. Go Vegetarian: You're not going anywhere, so why not spend some time online reading about the benefits of going veg instead of playing Farmville on Facebook? Going vegetarian can help our planet, and while you're doing nothing, you might as well read up on it.

3. Download Earth-Friendly iPhone Apps: If you're sitting there loving the internet and technology, you probably have an iPhone. And that means you can download some free apps so you find out more about what's good for the environment right from your cell! If it's free and you can brag to your mates about how you're contributing to save the environment, then why not?

4. Buy Florescent Bulbs: I know it seems like a small step. But think about how many lights you use at night. Florescent bulbs save you money as well as saving the world. It's a little change, but an easy one. So order yourself some new ones and start changing things.

5. Watch Environmentally-Centered Documentaries Online: You can watch them on NetFlix if you've got it. Watching these free movies is not only entertaining, you might just learn something new about our planet. You'll gain some new insight on subjects right from your computer.

6. Figure Out Your Local Market: Check out your local farmer's markets and what's in season. When you're finally ready to get off the couch, you'll know exactly where you're going. Shopping local is a great way to support your community and the planet.

7. Turn off your computer when you're done: Or donate it to charity. Because let's be honest; you should feel pretty bad about being so lazy. Either way, I hope to have inspired you in this post and wanted to throw that option out there just in case.

Whatever you do, celebrate Earth Day by doing something. Small or large, it doesn't matter. Let's just do it, even if it's just from our computer. Life is too short, so let's start living.

In every colour there's the light, In every stone sleeps a crystal. Remember the shaman, when he used to say: "man is the dream of the dolphin" - Enigma.

T.N.T For The Brain.

Since my flight got cancelled this morning I decided to go out for some retail therapy. Sadness makes me want to buy, I can't help it. I was looking forward to waking up to my mum's freshly made turkish boreks along with her cheerful voice yelling Burçeeeeeeee. Oh well, I shall impatiently wait another ten days.


Shopping is my favourite thing to do. I'm actually really good at it, I can do it for several hours, for several days. I should really be a personal shopper.. ha. One would think working in retail should put you off shopping since I'm around clothes all day every day... wrong. It does the opposite, I find myself hiding clothes in a little corner I cannot even say, waiting for it to go on sale and buying it at the perfect moment. Ouchy! So the question is; does retail therapy really work? For me, yes.

After a long and productive day in the city I came home with this (and an empty wallet)...

Like most of you, I have my favourite brands. They have been very good to me and keep me very happy. Here they are;

Burberry: In England if you wear a fake Burberry bag you will be called a 'chav' so if you don't want to be insulted please do not walk around the shopping centre with a fake burb, it is wrong. I love this brand but hate the prices.

Tarina Tarantino: I discovered this talented woman five years ago when my ex flat mate received an exclusive invite to her trunk show in Melrose. I stole her invite and attended, I do not regret this, It was amazing to meet the pink lady. Since then I have been obsessed with her jewelry, and once you check her out you will be too. Her 'Barbie' and 'I Love You' collection can also be found in my jewelry box.

Anthropologie: I adore anthropologie, the clothes are great and the decor is fabulous. Whenever I look at their website I am so inspired. I also love Urban Outfitters and Free People. They are all amazing artistic stores, and go figure, they are all owned by the same company. In spring, a young man's fancy turns to love, a woman's turns to Anthropologie. Anthropologie's aesthetic, like Ralph Lauren's, embodies a lifestyle, a very particular free-spirited, bohemian existence in which coffee served in vibrant latte bowls and sumptuously embroidered bed linens figure prominently. This is surely where the French film heroine Amelie would have shopped and definitely the place to hear the soundtrack.

Betsey Johnson: Those of you that know me know that I am a tad bit obsessed with her designs. Especially her shoes and bags and dresses... and everything else. Quirky, spontaneous, and innovative are three words that sum up this line.

I like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my wardrobe.

Knocking On Forbidden Doors.

It's day four since Eyjafjallajokul erupted (can't even pronounce the bloody word). I feel really sorry for all those passengers waiting to get home to London and other cities around Europe, I am one of them. Just when things couldn't get any worse, Iceland decided to give us a bit of an excitement. Currently on the phone (duration; 01:34:28) with Virgin Atlantic, can't think of a better way to spend my Sunday evening. Might as well multi task while patiently waiting, ey?!


It's been a very long and draining fortnight. When one door closes, the rest slam in your face. It's definitely not fun but now that I look back it's definitely very funny. I put myself in really stupid situations, I suppose I'm that kind of person that learns the hard way, the really hard way.


On a positive note, I had a brilliant birthday. I actually don't remember anything, that's how fantastic it was. Cheers to my mate Brooke for throwing it, I'm so chuffed about growing older (or up). Twenty five is a big deal for me. I made a list about how great it is to turn 25, because I love making lists and ticking them off, sort of like my life really.

1. 25 is a solid number. Not a wimpy one like 23 or 13 or any number with the number 3 in it. 3’s just seem a bit flimsy to me. I don’t think a 3 could hold up well in a fight, or in court, or when left out of the fridge for too long. 25 though, you don’t wanna mess with 25. 25 is grounded, it’s a solid unit… 1/2 of some things and 1/4 of some others. And it just might know jiu-jitsu… you can never be too sure.

2. I can finally rent a car, and it was just the perfect timing since my car got impounded. Plus I think my car insurance goes down now, because apparently I’m a much better driver today than I was a week ago. MAGICAL!

3. After 25 years, I really feel the most like myself that I’ve ever felt. In secondary school I was a collage of things I thought I should be or was expected to be. In Uni I was trying with everything in me to be everyone except who I truly was. But now, I’ve given in and made friends with my quirks, let my inner desires and dreams go free, and allowed myself to not be a cookie cutter copy of what I thought was good. Hello sweet liberation!

4. This past year brought so much growth into my life. Personally, spiritually, emotionally, I'm more open minded than I've ever been and trust me I am very open minded.

5. I’ve decided that it’s okay to be quirky (and by quirky I mean crazy). Drew usually describes me as “having the crazies” and it’s true. I’m a bit crazy some of the time. But, as much as it can be annoying to those that are the closest to me, it’s also what makes me incredibly sensitive to situations, empathetic, a dreamer, and a perfectionist. I doubt I’d have been able to accomplish half the things that we have without a bit of quirky driving the bus sometimes.

6. It is a milestone birthday.

7. At 25, it’s perfectly reasonable to spend money on nice furniture, to enjoy reading about real estate, and to maybe upgrade to first class every now and then. At 25 I shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting the sofa from Anthropologie instead of the one from Ikea or Target. (Ramon noodles excluded. Because if you chop up fresh veggies it totally counts as a legitimate dinner!)

8. The desire to buy, fix up, and redecorate an older, charming, cottage-y house has overcome me. This may be due to my addiction to blogs like Young House Love and Design Sponge.

9. I am not everything to everyone. I shouldn’t be. I cannot be.

10. I am ___________ enough.

11. I’m not giving up my juvenile viewing habits of watching Team America over and over again to make sure I memorize every funny quote. 

12. More spending on face creams, not exactly sure if that's a good thing but anyway.

13. At 25 I feel less awkward about my love for kitchens, cross-stitching, baking, food blogs, Williams-Sonoma and other traditionally granny-like things.

14. At 25 I’ve learned that a well-placed swear word is not necessarily showing a lack of vocabulary, but is showing an astute linguistic knowledge that sometimes situations can only be described as sh*tty, I can still be a lady.

15.  Things feel eerily similar to how they did when I was 24, except that now the square root of me is 5.

16. I was able to celebrate my birthday with a fantastic group of people. I am very lucky to have such inspirational mates. 

17. I feel very much like a citizen of the world which I LOVE. I feel like the world is my home. And I pretty much sound like a hippy.... Oh well.

18. I understand why investing in good shoes and good sheets and good tires is important and worthwhile.

19. I’m much less ashamed now than I used to be about the fact that I love to read mum blogs and daydream about my future children. Hey I’m 25 now, It’s legitimate planning at this point.

20. I can run farther than I think (i mean, i did run a marathon), work harder than I think, be more creative than I think, push through longer than I think and love deeper than I think. It’s mind of matter 90% of the time.

21. At 25 I understand that you can really never have too many pairs of shoes and perfumes.

22. I don't have to wait for Father Christmas to bring me a wii, I can get it myself.

23.  I’m not so sure about the turning 26 thing. 6’s are just as bad as 3’s in my mind. It’s just a double 3.

24. Luckily, 25 is still young enough to get overly excited about Christmas trees, ice cream, fireworks, and new Disney films.

25. So far I’m quarter-life crisis free. Someone knock on wood for me before I start knocking on forbidden doors.

Second Chapter.

If I could live any celebrities life, I would definitely live as Posh Spice. When I was a child my dad bought me a christmas album of the famous British pop group Spice Girls. I remember that christmas in 1996 when I was just eleven, I did not leave my parents bedroom (since they had a massive mirror) as I was consumed with singing along to their songs with my mums hairbrush in my hand pretending to be Victoria. I cherished that album and sang 'Say you'll be there' over and over again. At that time if you didn't own their album you just weren't considered 'hip'. They were the biggest thing in Britian after The Beatles. At secondary school we even had some of our year mates performing as them during our drama lessons and morning assembly's, I was very jealous that I wasn't in the group, gobsmacked that I couldn't be on stage with them. Having said that, I felt sort of 'cool' being raised just down the road from her and the fact that we were both Aries.

My obsession didn't last very long, I started growing up and listening to 'grown up' stuff until one day Victoria made a comeback, this was her second chapter and this time she wasn't going anywhere.

Victoria has been better recognized as an international style icon rather than a music artist. She started her line dVb that includes shoes, denim sunnies and fragrances (I own most of them and absolutely love them). While there is absolutely no doubt that her designer clothing collection has attracted the attention of stars far and wide and was embraced by fashionistas both sides of the pond at New York Fashion Week, I don’t think Giorgio Armani is quaking in his boots just yet. It would appear that Posh is not content with dressing the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez and Demi Moore and has now set her sights on someone with a considerably greater deal of influence.

Yes, fashion followers, it’s true, Victoria wants her next celebrity fan to be none other than Michelle Obama. "I would love to dress Mrs Obama," she told Fox News. While the first lady can certainly be commended for her style choices from time to time, I’m not too sure she’d look all that comfortable in one of Victoria’s slinky designer dresses. I can just imagine it now, Victoria and Michelle having a good old chinwag in the White House about fashion, while David and Barack thrash out the political issues of the day. Er... perhaps not.

   

I remember someone once said to me 'the key to success; think yiddish, dress british'.

You have to remember that when you are a performer you become a celebrity, but you are not saving lives. It's not that important - Victoria Beckham.

Goodbye Milky Way.

Since we are on the topic of female singer/songwriters I came across this voice just yesterday while watching a Lincoln car advert. Her voice was so mesmerizing that I went straight to my iPhone and googled 'lincoln car ad, female voice, milky way' and the search kindly returned her name... Sia.  

Has it seriously taken me this long to know of her existence? Am I even supposed to like music that are on commercials? But blimey, you can't help it if a tune is this catchy. Sia's cover of The Church's 1988 classic ''Under The Milkyway'' manages to put a new spin on an old favourite. Consider this tune Zero 7'd.

Smitten with her voice? Her single ''Breathe Me'' with its forlorn piano, reminds me of a more heartbreaking version of a Coldplay song with Sia cooly and sweetly singing over sweeping orchestral beats. So moving it brings tears to the eye. She has created a masterpiece.

I implore you, if you like your folk a little more substantial and your melodies simple but effective, you will love her music and cherish it like a new born child. If you're still unsure, check her out live beforehand (she'll be performing at Coachella on 04/17). Either way, don't be fooled, Sia doesn't just stop at Zero 7.


''Ouch, I have lost myself again. Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found''

The Voice of Enigma.

Every once in a while an artist appears with a depth of songwriting rarely seen or heard nowadays. Tina Dico is one such artist. Talented is an understatement for this woman who for many years has had a huge following in her native country, Denmark. In this age of pop stars who refer to themselves as "Artists", it is refreshing to listen to someone who is, in fact, a real artist. Tina's sultry vocals, melodic compositions and insightful, expressive lyrics, full of imagery, metafor and emotion, combine to make her one of those singer/songwriters who only come along once in a generation. Joni Mitchell is cited as one of her influences, and I recall thinking to myself, after listening to Tina's EP, "Far", that there was something of Joni there. No, it's a different sound from Joni, but that combination of jazz/folk/rock melodies and lyrics that reach into the depths of your soul and pull forth feelings that you thought you had lost forever (or maybe never knew you had) create a similar feeling.

Tina Dico's music is passionate, insightful and simply beautiful. Her album landed on my lap while attending Musexpo in '07. She is an incredible live artist often playing solo with her acoustic guitar. I have had the pleasure of seeing her live twice at The Roxy and Largo. Her aura is hauntingly lovely.

Here are my three favourite singles of all time.

''He took me back to where he lives, we had a drink and made attempts to conversate, but none of us felt much like talking about the lives that we were there to escape''.



''Poison racing through my veins, a sordid pull to the insane, a constant gravity to change and I don't know where to go''.



''I have lost it once before, I've pulled myself up from the floor and I am looking for a reason to stay standing. But sometimes it's just too much or not enough or something else, It's so much bigger than my head, it's too demanding''


Tina writes all her music and lyrics. She has a great command of the English language in poetry, which is amazing considering her native tongue. Her british accent is also adorable, since she's spent many years in London. Dico touches on all sorts of topics; of course there are songs of love won and lost (some very sensual). There's also a lot of treatment of personal history using some powerful imagery, but without being clinical or academic at all. She's also not afraid to tackle the more nebulous subjects either; the word choice is so well balanced: "You don't touch the magic / the magic touches you" being one example. She also touches on the inspirational, and does it well: "It's too late to be perfect / And it's not like we haven't tried / It's hard but it's worth it / Every time we get it right", and even the semi-comical in the song "Head Shop".


She has written three EPs on the road creating a trilogy on the way. A fine trilogy too, not overproduced as so many artists are these days, instead relying on superb songwriting, poignant lyrics and strong vocals to get the story across. If you like female singer/songwriters this is one artist you do not want to pass up on. Check out her albums 'In The Red' and 'Count To Ten'... brilliant.


Her latest album represents life. It is a beginning, a detour and an open ending.

Smell of Desire.

Do you recognize yourself in these situations?

• In the last few years you've never been away from your home or your office any further than 5 miles. The most enjoyable experience you've had for 2010? Bowling with the office mates.
• You've just signed your divorce papers or you've just moved out of your partner's apartment.
• You look like a ghost - you've never been under the sun in the last 2 years.

Is that you looking pasty white? You are in serious need of a holiday. What? You don't want to? Oh c'mon.


Admit it, you've been working too hard. In fact, when people ask you how's life, all you can talk about is work. Before you sleep, you think about work. Dedication to work isn't bad, but too much of anything is a recipe for disaster. As much as possible, it's recommended to take a break once in a while. Too much stress at work can lead to heart related problems, ergo, it can be deadly. For people who are about to reach the point of burn out, or hate their job, a holiday can do a whole lotta good: realize the important things in life, renew your love for your work - see it in a whole new light.

I like to go on a lot of getaways, as much as I can, whenever I can. So last week I decided it was time to revisit my favourite place in California... Santa Barbara. If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right. Splurge on a top-notch hotel. Explore the city, get relaxing spa treatments, and sleep in. You will definitely come home with a new perspective. Make sure to go during off-season, which means no stress-inducing crowds. Take walks along the shore, browse antique shops and eat lots of seafood. 


After discovering Bacara a few years back, there is nowhere else I will stay.  On the bluffs and beaches of the central California coast lies a resort of stunning natural beauty and relaxed luxury, like an intimate Mediterranean village. Bacara sprawls over 78 pristine beachfront acres nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains. The resorts terra cotta tile roofs covered archways and wooden trellises lend it the understated relaxed appeal of a true classic California resort. Their attention to the most minute detail and their warm discreet service all evoke the gentility and glamour of the golden age of Hollywood. This is the essence of Bacara- elegance, understatement, complete serenity.

Every now and then go away and have a little relaxation. To remain constantly at work will diminish your judgment. Go some distance away, because work will be in perspective and a lack of harmony is more readily seen - Leonardo DaVinci.