Author Archives: Christina

The 1980s Peace Movement

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My new job is at a peace building NGO, and I am really enjoying it so far. We have a reference library full of everything you’d want to know about peace. This library includes the book Peace Snapped by Rupert Hopkins that is full of photographs he took of peace movements in the UK from December 1982 to September 1986. There are so many photos I wanted to share, as Hopkins manages to capture the personalities in his subjects as well as get across their activism, but for now here are a few of my favourite snaps:



Visit Rupert’s website here.

Have a good weekend! xoxo

My Current Favourite Things part 2

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Apologies for not posting as often. I just started a new job(!) and the first week has been pretty tiring, but I am really enjoying it there so far.

Anyway, besides working, these are some things I currently love. ♥

♥ The book Just Kids by Patti Smith. I devoured it last weekend and am praising it from the rooftops. Why didn’t I read this book earlier?? It’s such a good read and I got all nostalgic for New York.
♥ Iced frappe lattes at Caffe Nero. Honestly, now that it has gotten slightly cooler in London I’m not drinking them as often, but I sped through that Caffe Nero gift card that I got for my birthday!
♥ My painting class!! Yes, I have been taking a painting class at The Art Academy. I’m almost half-way through the course and really enjoying it. I’m convinced that my paintings in the next weeks will be much better than my current work – but these are some peppers I painted a couple weeks ago. Behold:




♥ The blog The Near-Sighted Owl. I love her writing and really love the design. Even though I’m not plus-sized, I love the body acceptance that just radiates from this fat-positive place.
♥ I also really love reading The Dainty Squid. I think almost all my London friends read her blog, but still posting it here as I am a huge fan of the pupdates and bunday (posts on her puppy and bunnies).
♥ Having high tea in Highgate with friends, and this photo I took of them.


So proud of the bovine milk jug!

♥ Daniel’s photo of the half-moon he took out of our window last night.
♥ Melanie K’s article on the Curious art installment at West Norwood Cemetery at Wild Culture magazine It’s very informative!
♥ and lastly, something to cheer you up…..The Pet Collective’s parody of Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop”…Maltey Cyrus’ “We Can Bark”. It doesn’t hurt that my childhood dog looked exactly like the star of this video (sans the green paws). I dare you not to laugh:

If for some reason you can’t see the video, it’s here.

Happy Weekend!!

Space is Ace

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Saturday night was the launch party of Space is Ace at the music venue Power Lunches, run by artists Melanie K, Marta Santuccio, Louise Beer and Lauren Franklin. The event itself was very unique – a installation of art, music and even edible planets(!), all representing space and the universe. Emma Jane Falconer provided the promo artwork and DJ’ed all night, while Sam Battle and his chiptune friend Shirobon provided some really catchy tunes on their synths, while dressed up in tinfoil and binbags! Unfortunately it was too dark for me to take photos of this performance, but it was my highlight of the night! And of course, before leaving I bought one of Emma’s posters, because they’re awesome.



Poster by Emma Jane Falconer

& my photos..


Did I mention everyone got a free zine?


Melanie with some of her work.


The edible planets!


with some friends at the event


the table decorations

They are planning another Space is Ace event for sometime in September, so keep in the loop by liking their Facebook page! xoxo

Miss Van Spotting

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Miss Van is arguably my favourite street artist. I discovered her work online years ago when I was still living in Minneapolis, and became such a fan that when I was in Barcelona last year I wandered around determined to find some of her work. She’s famous enough in Barcelona that you can buy Miss Van postcards in souvenir shops, but sadly, I never came across any of her works on the street. As a small compensation, I bought one of those fake street art canvases depicting one of her paintings from Spitialfields Market, but still had never seen her art in person.

So imagine my surprise when leaving the office yesterday when I came across a huge Miss Van mural right in front of me!! It really brightened my day.



I hope it stays there for a long time. ♥

For more art and exhibition info, visit her site. xoxox

Why I Like My Birthday

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My birthday cake from last year


In a few days it’ll be my 33rd birthday. While it’s common to complain about getting older (I’m no stranger to complain about aging, and had a major freak out when I turned 23 as I was getting…old?), I try my best to embrace getting older and my birthday every year. This is why:

1) I’m still here. Obviously, a birthday just means that you are older. Growing up with a mom who has always suffered with serious health issues, I saw her embrace and be proud of her birthday every year because, Hey! She’s still here! She’s made it! When I was a kid my dad also had health issues while suffering with cancer and he made it too! Then there’s my health issues that almost killed me as a teenager and I fought through that to be here today. I cannot deny that growing up surrounded by health issues and positive attitude towards getting older has had an effect on me.

2) I get to be around and thank my loved ones. The birthday is the epitome of selfishness – I get the gifts, I blow out the candles, etc….but I really like spending birthdays with my husband, close friends and if possible, family and also making the day about them. They enhance my life and a birthday is a celebration of life, so it all makes sense to me.

3) I’m more comfortable with myself. It’s true that as you get older, you are more confidient and you stop caring what others think.

4) I get to have a birthday! In some parts of the world, people don’t acknowledge their birthdays because it’s a luxury. They are more focused on surviving than anything else. It’s a privilege to have a birthday.

5) I’ll be the age that’s the title of one of my favourite Smashing Pumpkins songs! OK, that’s a little thing, but it’s still a perk.



The Shoreditch Sisters at the Anti-FGM Event in Trafalgar Square

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“According to the most recent estimates, 66,000 women and girls have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in England and Wales, while 24,000 girls under the age of 11 are at risk of undergoing it. However, despite the fact that FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, there has never been a single prosecution.”

– Human Rights NGO, Equality Now.

Yesterday I was a part of the Shoreditch Sisters’ Anti-FGM event in Trafalgar Square, and overall, it was an incredible experience. I made some appropriate cupcakes for the event to promote anti-FGM. I got a few compliments on them! 🙂 During the event, Channel 4 and Sky News were filming us, and Channel 4 also did some close-ups of my cupcakes! The human rights orgs, VSO and Equality Now, also joined us. There were only a handful of us Shoreditch Sisters, but we were all really involved. Before this, I don’t think I would’ve ever had the courage to walk around offering pro-vagina cupcakes to members of the public, but I have now! I really think it was important to promote that the Anti-FGM Bill that went into effect in the UK in 2003 hasn’t changed the fact that nobody has been prosecuted for this crime. Something needs to be done about this issue, so I wanted to do my part.

Here are a few photos:


mine are at the front, with other anti-FGM treats made by other Shoreditch Sisters



Whether it’s for book club, craft nights or campaigns (probably all 3) I really want to be more involved with the Shoreditch Sisters as I think they are a great women’s organisation. Find out more information here.

EDIT: And please sign the petition to end FGM in the UK here.