We launched the Christmas mini issue of Snippets this week with the adorable Twinkie Chan on the cover. She also shared a how-to for crocheting a super cute lollipop brooch.

It’s been another busy week, mostly filled with xmas shopping, movies, eating in diners and pub quizzes. We’ve been going to a pub quiz at Gordon Ramsay’s pub in Chiswick with Ben and Dave. It costs £2 to enter but they give you lots of little snacks from the kitchen – we had pumpkin soup, scrambled egg with truffle on toast, pork pies (not me) and really tasty mince pies. Our name this week was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Fire Hydrant, which we felt was nice and topical. We’ve been spending a lot of time over West recently, on the previous Sunday, we were at a mini Christmas for Mel at Ben & Dave’s with mulled wine, yummy food and generic presents to open.

I’ve fallen in love with Forever 21 - they make such nice clothes and our first order arrived this week. I got a couple of dresses, skirts, belts, a pair of boots and Tom got lots of cool t-shirts. I can’t wait to go on a spending spree in the shop when I get to New York.

On Wednesday we went for a feast at The Diner, complete with hard shakes and Tennessee Toffee Pie for dessert. Afterwards we went to see a midnight movie and Tom lost his wallet but I found it again, after a steward let me back in and we hunted for it in the dark. Speaking of diners, we have our American rail trip all booked for February. We start off in New York for a week, take the train down the east coast (we get beds and our meals on the train) to New Orleans, where we meet up with Emma and Raven for Mardis Gras. It’s going to be so much fun!

At the start of the year, Tom set himself the mission of going to the end of every tube line on the underground map and he only has a couple left to do, so I’ve been keeping him company. Lynz has lent me her Twilight book, so I’ve been reading that.

I’ve also spent a lot of the week wrapping presents, writing cards and doing some Christmas crafting. I can’t post most of the things I’ve made until after xmas, but I did make some geeky Gameboy keyrings, which I think are safe to show off now.

On Friday, we signed up to the DVD store at Maida Vale (the same one Kate Moss goes to, I’ll have you know) and had a girly movie night in with Emma. We watched St. Trinian’s, which is an odd film, and Josie & The Pussycats – I’d forgotten how awesome that film is!

When we got Tom’s pick of film home, we noticed someone had scribbled “worst film ever” on the DVD. We’ve still to watch it to find out.

On Saturday, we ran in to a Santa convention at Trafalgar Square, where there must have been a thousand people in Santa Claus outfits – apparently they were trying to raise awareness of Christmas. They all seemed quite drunk and were handing out chocolates and sweets to everyone.

Tiffany are sponsoring the ice skating at Somerset House, so they have a huge Christmas tree covered in Tiffany charms.

They also had a tuck shop inside a Tiffany box, where you could buy sweets and jewellery.

Tom bought me a cupcake, though I would have settled for a key necklace or this ring.

We had dinner at the Eagle Bar Diner and then went to see Law Abiding Citizen at the big Odeon in Leicester Square. We had went to see a movie a month ago, which had really bad sound, so we were given complementary tickets. Our seats would normally have cost £20 each, because we were in the Royal Circle, which is where all the stars sit during premiers and they had awesome leopard skin seats. That reminds me, Tom’s boss Malcolm had his moustache shaved off by Hugh Grant last week.

This morning we had breakfast at Fifteen. I highly recommend scrambled eggs & mushroom on toast with a side of baked beans and a tasty smoothie.

Afterwards I had a haircut at Taylor Taylor. This time I was at their Commercial Street shop, which is so pretty. Upstairs is all fairytale with chandeliers and stuffed animals for Christmas and downstairs is like a dungeon. They give you special Christmas cocktails, tasty coffee and a head massage before your chop.

I’m going to have to get use to having much shorter hair, but I think I’ll treat myself to some ear muffs to keep warm.

That was a super long post, I’ll update more regularly from now on.

TFL are running a competition to find a new moquette design for the Piccadilly line. The winner will get £5000 and their design rolled out on all the Piccadilly line tubes. The internet broke today, so I decided to work on a design to enter. The first one is mine and the second two are Tom’s.

After handing the designs in, we rewarded ourselves with tube line smoothies at the transport museum.

I went for the Hammersmith & City line and Tom went for District. We’ve been listening to a new radio show called Undone, which is about a girl who moves to London to be a journalist and discovers a hidden upside-down world called Undone, and it’s really good.

It’s London fashion week this week and I’ve just received my pass, no idea what I’ll be off to see though! Anyone going to anything good?

Yesterday  we dropped Wendy off at Little Venice, so that she could take the boat to Camden, and went for breakfast. The friendly man from Warwick Avenue had written…

“Good morning folks,

It’s Friday, no longer any reason to get out of bed – thank goodness!

Have a lazy weekend.”

… on the service information board. He’s my hero.

We dropped Wendy and her very large bags off at the Eurostar for Paris.

I got a very cute zipper rosette brooch from Accessorize. I really should have made one myself but I couldn’t resist buying it there and then.

In the evening we went to Clare and Jo’s leaving party, which had turned in to a “may be leaving” party, so I’ll be happy if we get to keep them. The party was at Zigfrid in Hoxton, which had terrible customer service and an awesome broken mirrored walls, which made it feel like you were in a forrest.

I forgot to blog about it, but we adopted an unwanted palm tree on our way home the other night. I really like it and wonder how big it will grow?!

When your carriage of the tube empties, apart from you, it becomes the signing carriage, so sing a tune at the top of your lungs!

My parents left on Sunday, so my Grandma and Grandpa came to stay with us in the mews for a few days, before flying home to Canada. We travelled all over London, showing them the sights.

We went for smoothies at the London Transport Museum. I tried the Central Line, which was full of berries and tasted very nice – nothing like you’d imagine the actual line to taste. Next time I’m going to try a Hammersmith & City.

I’d spotted a very cute bread bin in the guesthouse where my Grandparent’s were staying, and the lady told me that she got hers in Primrose Hill, so we headed up there yesterday and got a red one for the mews.

For my birthday, my Nana got me an awesome eyeshadow set. It comes with a compact and a huge selection of shades, so that you can pick the one you want and throw it in your bag. It’s such a clever idea.

My Grandparents flew back to Canada this morning, so we’re all on our own today for the first time in weeks. Wendy is coming to stay tomorrow though, so that should be fun!

Over the past week, we’ve been sending notes back and forth with our neighbour, Diana. She asked us to keep an eye on her house, while she’s away working on a TV series. Her cards have photos of the costumes she’s made on and they’re quite impressive.  Also, I woke up to Chanel goodies in the mail, which Emma had kindly sent from the office.

Last night was the launch of Ballad Of… Magazine. It’s quite a cool arty magazine, which strangely had an article written by someone Tom use to work with at Avalanche.

Afterwards, Raven took us to her favorite Vietnamese restaurant for noodles.

Ordering was tricky while drunk, but I ended up with seafood fried noodles.

On the way home, the friendly man at Warwick Avenue tube had written a nice little note on the service information board.

Maida Vale tube station has been turned in to a garden. They had been asking people to donate their unwanted plants, so that they could win the best tube station award, and I think they’re on to a winner. On the topic of gardens, our hanging baskets have started to bloom.

I interviewed the awesome Gala Darling for the new issue of Snippets, which is almost complete and should be out soon. I’ve been listening to calming sounds of the ocean on my iPhone to help me sleep, but every now and again there’s a loud wave crashing on the rocks, which wakes me up.

Duncan came to visit for a night this week and we got to introduce him to most of our neighbours. Also, we finally made it to London Stone (it’s only open in the week because it’s in the City). It has awesome tacky gothic decor and is filled with business men. We had two of the Seven Deadly Sin Cocktails – Sloth & Envy.

Tom got me some early birthday presents, including this awesome mini sewing box and a London Roller Girl’s roller skate necklace from Tatty Devine. I’m secretly hoping someone buys my a real pair.

Today we went on an impromptu trip to Ealing Broadway, where Tom’s Dad was born. But, not before picking up some delicious macaroons from Laduree. The licorice and pistachio ones are sooooooo good.

The tube driver let me stand in his booth while going through a tunnel, it was a bit creepy and dark up front, but kind of cosy too.

We went for a drink in a pub that had a wall covered in records, which reminded me of Tom’s old bedroom (though that was covered in floppy disks) and Avalancherecord store in Edinburgh.

Cut Out + Keep reached 20,000 members this week and the awesome Vinnie made us a custom CO+K period chart, which members will be able to download in the upcoming issue of Snippets. It’s the coolest thing ever!

It’s been another busy week and now that the tube strikes are on, we’ve been spending more time in Maida Vale and around the mews. I made this clay salt and pepper pot set for my Dad’s birthday, because he really liked the set they had in Fifteen. Yesterday, Sean came round to work from the mews and, in the evening, we headed for dinner at the 02 centre and invited the neighbour’s, Barney and Charles round for drinks.

Tom ordered himself an awesome Vivienne Westwood, Do It Yourself Manifesto top and a pretty Nymph’s skirt for me, I love it so much.

Things making me happy today include another service information sign at Warwick Avenue tube station (that man is my hero, he is so happy, no matter what day it is) and that Aqua (my favorite band from childhood) have reformed and have a new video. I’ve emailed Lene to see if we can get em in Snippets.

It’s been another awesome and very busy few days. My parents left at the weekend, but my uncle is staying until the end of the week.

Yesterday we hit up Blue Monday at Yo Sushi! with Tony, where we had way too many plates, and then went for a few drinks afterwards. It turns out that he had been given a Blue Peter badge when he was younger and didn’t realize the magic powers it holds. I want to buy it off him.

The friendly man at Warwick Avenue station had written “Monday’s are like the wind to sailing, better behind you” on the service information board. I love that man, he is always really happy and says hello.

Today I went for lunch with my high school friend, Lynsey at Little Venice. She’s just moved to London, so it’s all new and exciting for her. We had a great time catching up and gossiping about school. I also had the yummiest drink in Starbucks. Tom met up with us after work and he had been given a huge computer monitor.

On the walk home we passed by the BBC Maida Vale studios, where lots of paparazzi had gathered. I asked them who they were waiting for and it was Eminem.

We were planning to go to a movie tonight but while waiting at the bus stop, we met up with our neighbors, Dan & Martina (from Dragonette), who were going to see our other neighbor, King Charles play a gig at the Social. It was really coincidental because we had already been invited to that gig to see Shaun (from Drowned In Sound)’s girlfriend Catherine AD play. We ended up tagging along and really enjoying it (check out Charle’s video above).

Afterwards we had dinner at a cool restaurant called Vapiano, which was like a futuristic cantina. As you go in, each person is given a card and you beep it at the counter as you order your food and at the bar as you order your drink. You pay as you leave by beeping your card. 

Tom ordered a pizza, which takes a while to prepare, so he was given a machine which would buzz when it was ready.

The chefs ask you lots of questions, so that they can make your meal exactly the way you like it. I had a really tasty funghi pasta, which was cooked to perfection.

The tables even have herbs growing fresh, so that you can tear some off and sprinkle it on your meal.