Mata Hari

Mata Hari (real name: Margaretha Geertruida "Grietje" Zelle) was a controversial exotic dancer and courtesan in Paris during the early 20th century. In 1917 she was executed by firing squad on charges of espionage.

The original femme fatale.

Burgerburgerburgerburger!Doyadoyadoyadoya?!

I will let How I Met Your Mother speak for me:

Lily: This burger is so good, its like Christmas in my mouth. Meat Christmas.

Ted: Its like an angel from heaven landed in the kitchen of McClaren's... where the chef killed it and ran it through the meat grinder.

Barney: I love this burger so much I want to sew my ass shut.

That messy, burnt-onion version above is mine (I got a smokin' new camera for my birthday!), but for a more attractive version and the life changing recipe go here to The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

What I've been absorbing lately

Three I forgot to add earlier:

Test Post

Just attempting to outsmart Blogger's ridiculous photo sizing limits.

Chose a random Hedi Slimane to experiment with. I love this girl's look. This is the kind of outfit that I'll always want to be in during the summertime - men's tee and denim shorts. The addition of statement jewellery and stripes is wonderful.

Signorina Maria Spelterini

Maria Spelterini was the first and last woman to cross the Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

In 1876, aged 23, Spelterini crossed the waterfalls four times, completing her first trip on the 8th. 133 years ago today...I wonder if anyone's commemorating it for her.

On the 12th she crossed wearing peach baskets on her feet.

On the 19th she crossed blindfolded and on the 22nd she did it again - with her wrists and ankles manacled.

Blue here is a shell for you, Inside you'll hear a sigh, A foggy lullaby

All three of these wooed me immediately. Seems I have a weakness for blue and white floral corsets.

1. Topshop 2. Peter Jensen 3. French Connection

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Wouldn't it be...nicer..

photo credits for the two swimwear posts: adorevintage.com, ifitshipitshere.com, brianakira.files.wordpress.com, dailymail.co.uk, drx.typepad.com, entertainment.howitworks.com, hrc.utexas.edu, opendemocracy.net, mos.totalfilm.com, howstuffworks.com, life magazine and a blog whose name i can't remember at all - so sorry. not intentionally stealing photos :(

Wouldn't it be nice...

Right now I'm counting the seconds between the lightning and the thunder. The aim of the game here is escapism, folks...so now seems like a good time to muse over some pretty swim suits and all the places I'd like to wear these vintage beauties!

More to come. I can never seem to do anything in half measures when it comes to my own dilettante sort of "researching"...