This Week the Mice Have Mostly Been...

Why do weeks when you're on holiday fly by? This week has whizzed past in a blur of gelato, limoncello, shopping and sister time... So much fun all packed into a few short days. In fact, this week the Mice have mostly been too busy to blog... gasp!

Over the next couple of weeks we'll be blogging about all the cocktails sipped, the dinners gobbled and maybe even the dancing on the tables... Oh and did we mention the shopping?! Right now we need to go and attempt to cram all those purchases into two very teeny suitcases - normal service resumes next week!

Happy Friday!
x
The Mice

Lazydays: Luxe Junking in Hong Kong

If your idea of the perfect afternoon out on the South China Sea is downing jugs of lukewarm seabreeze before being pushed overboard by a pack of beery boys, you should probably stop reading now.

Still here? Excellent, the Mice have a little secret to let you into…

May we introduce Lazydays, a brand new boat charter company offering super luxe junking. Think swapping the usual paint-stripper vodka and limp, reheated lasagna for champagne, gourmet food and chocolate dipped-strawberries. Less ageing, clunky boat with peeling paint and sweaty plastic seating, more sleek, opulent yacht complete with air conditioned cabin and beanbag loungers. At last a junk trip worthy of your brand new, teeny Melissa Odabash bikini and Miu Miu shades (or a junk that will make your H&M lookalikes look even more like the real thing...).

Tirelessly at your service, HK Mouse headed out for a spin around the Southside of the island earlier this month to road test the Lazydays service on your behalf (it's a tough job but someone has to do it...). 

Arriving at Aberdeen Boat Club, hot and bothered after a hasty getaway from the office, the day's stresses and strains ebbed away as we stepped aboard the boat and were welcomed by the crew with flutes of icy cold champagne. Cruising out of the marina, chinking our glasses and watching the sun set was definitely one of those pinch yourself moments when you're enormously thankful for living in Hong Kong. Slinking upstairs (you can't help but slink on this purring beauty of a boat) we sunk onto the cushioned deck for a champagne fuelled catch-up while we cruised out to South Bay.

As the stars began to stud the indigo sky we anchored just offshore, suddenly realising that with all the gossiping, we'd worked up some serious appetites. Luckily a feast was being laid out for us below deck. 

Slinking back down the stairs, we piled our plates with homemade feta and spinach filo pastry pie, lemon pepper chicken goujons, rosemary and sea salt potato wedges and Parma ham wrapped asparagus. This is restaurant class food prepared with love and care. We ate until we could eat no more and then went back for second helpings. 

Tummies full to bursting, we nestled into beanbag loungers sighing contentedly as jugs of strawberry mojitos magically appeared. As the strains of the Backstreet Boys began to drift out of the Bose sound system (got to love some old school tunes) trays of white chocolate dipped strawberries and squares of dark chocolate brownies were whisked out. We wondered whether there was any possible way that the evening could be improved. At this point a pink t-shirt clad army of masseurs began to circulate giving us each heavenly mini massages - total, unadulterated junk utopia.

As if starlit champagne, a gourmet supper and being massaged into blissed-out nirvana wasn't enough, we also had nutritionist extraordinaire, Lisa Werner, on board with us for the evening. As we nibbled on the last of the strawberries and finished our cocktails, Lisa spoke to us about ways to eat more smartly in Hong Kong. In short, she reiterated what we all know too well, that eating healthily here is hard. She suggested that we pick our food battles (organic v locally grown for example) and where possible try to eat ingredients in their most natural form watching out for hidden bad things (sugar, preservatives, colouring etc). Lisa then patiently answered all our questions before handing out little recipe books full of fab ideas for healthy but delicious meals, think: lemon, basil & honey bruschetta - yum!

Running almost an hour over our allotted docking time, we regretfully anchored back at Aberdeen, very much loathed to leave such luxury. On the way home, we all agreed that Lazydays had turned us into Suri Cruise - from here on in we'll be demanding five star, full on diva-princess treatment at all times or at least when we're bobbing out on the South China Sea.

Lazydays

Various packages available, hop on over to www.lazydays.com.hk to book now!

On the 3BM iPod: Wall

Love at first listen doesn't happen very often but wow, our latest music obsession had us at Hello...

Image by Jacqui Sadler via: www.facebook.com/wall100

A little bit Lykke Li, a little bit Bat for Lashes, a lot amazing, we defy you not to fall head over heels for Wall after just one listen. Don't just take our word for it though, plug your earphones into your laptop, turn the volume up and prepare to be blown away...

Love Shopping, Love the environment...Lost Property of London!

My mission down Oxford Street goes like this - Zara, Urban Outfitters, Topshop and H&M, usually finding ten things more than I can afford and then spending a couple of weeks lusting after what I've left behind ... until I go back and snap them up! However, of late I have been left feeling distinctly underwhelmed. I hate finding too much I can't afford but it's even worse when you can find nothing at all!! This all explains why my beady mouse eyes are constantly peeled for recommendations of new brands, quirky labels, pop-up stores, collaborations, really anything a little bit different!

New Designer alert my blog friends - I introduce to you Lost property of London! This is by no means a new brand, it has actually been around since 2009 when the amazing Katy Bell made her first prototype. LPoL brings us Luxury Eco-friendly accessories with a huge side of shabby-chic cool. Katy graduated from St Martins, went to work for a design studio and a set designer, all before LPoL was born, so she knows exactly what she's doing!

Image via, http://now-here-this.timeout.com

The beauty of the brand is that every design is made using recycled materials and as many handmade techniques humanly possible to cut out polluting processes. Katy has created such a unique trademark style for LPoL that you would recognise it instantly, the consistent use of hessian sacks reclaimed from London coffee houses, off set by beautiful ditsy printed linings and touches of soft grained leather rescued from London's textile factories; the result ... a perfect balance of luxe and cool! How can anybody object to you helping the environment through shopping?!?!

My favourites from the range have to be:

The rough round the edges Roxwell, perfect to chuck all the daily 'essentials' into...

Image via www.lostpropertyoflondon.com, Roxwell £110

The Appleby - dress up or dress down, it works both ways...

Image via www.lostpropertyoflondon.com, Appleby £120

Not just a brand for the girls either, why not snap up a Miles bag for your boyfriend / husband - manly yet stylish ... win win!!

Image via www.lostpropertyoflondon.com, Miles £300

But number one on my lust-list has to go to the Wilson purse - I heart the vibrant jewel blue colour, butter soft leather and contrast gold zip ... Mini Mouse's Heaven!!!

Not only are we hooked, but it seems most of the fashion haunts are as well, LPoL over the years have been featured in all of 3BM's favourites from Vogue, Elle, Grazia, The Telegraph, stocked by urban outfitters and most impressively collaborated with Liberty. Impressive or what?! Check out the website here and let the eco-friendly lusting begin!

Colour Me Good...

Who remembers spending hours of their childhood colouring in with Crayola covered hands? Us Robinson girls do. We used to camp out in the front room, felt tips at the ready and silently colour in with one rule and one rule only ... you must keep within the lines! Colouring in is most definitely an art and one I would happily still practice despite being in my late 20s - if only I didn't have a job ... it sucks to be grown-up!

Well I have colouring news to put a smile on your faces - Mel Elliott owner of I Love Mel specialises in producing and selling colouring books for grown-ups! Just because we now spend our pocket money paying off our mortgage, can control our bladders and no longer wear our hair in ribbon-tied pigtails, it doesn't mean we're not entitled to a bit of light relief. 

Starting with our 3BM favourite, get ready to swoon over the beautiful and talented 'Drive' sensation, Ryan Gosling. A 15-page colouring book that will have you entertained day and night...!

Image via eonline.com

If RG doesn't float your boat then there are other options, including an 18-page sketch book of the supermodel Kate Moss... 

Other favourites include...

Colour Me Good 90s which sums up why the 90s were totally rad from US TV Sitcom 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air' to Spice Girls' girl power to the alcopop craze over Hooch...

Colour Me Good 80s collates everything we heart about this era from 'Jim'll Fix It' making dreams come true to Mr Frosty to Reebok high-tops... 

Colour Me Good London covers everything we love about this city including Boris Johnson looking throughly bored carrying out his Mayor duties to our famous black cabs to 10 Downing Street... 

All colouring books are priced at £7.50 - a snip in my opinion and can be purchased online here.

Mel has also jumped on the back of the Olympic craze and sketched out Brits gold medalist heros Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis. Visitors to the site can simply download the drawings and print them out to colour in for free - a gift from Mel to Great Britain to celebrate our success, nice touch eh?! We salute you Mel!

Top of the Tees....

If you hadn't guessed already, 3BM heart fashion...we love to pore over pictures from the shows identifying all the new tends hot off the press and then plot what styles suit us! However as much as we love fashion, I can't say I am the most dedicated when it comes to uncomfortable trends! I didn't jump aboard the trend train when wet-look leggings hit (I am proud of this one!!!)...

Image via www.sugarscape.com

Super duper short hot pants - you can't sit down or you have muffin tops on your legs, even if you are a piece of toned muscle like Rhi Rhi you end up looking like thunder thighs and when you walk there is most definitely a ripple effect....

Image via www.stylebistro.com

Cut out swim suits...breathe in, make slow fluid movements, use tit-tape everywhere...not everyone can pull one off like Mirander Kerr! The concept is hot, in real-life...hard work and not fun!

Image via http://ru-crazy.com

This surely confirms the belief that 'Fashion is Pain'...but it doesn't have to be! Leave those trends to the super-natural skinny celebrities of the world who have PTs, nutritionists and chefs on hand; and we'll take the laid back uber cool ones - thank you very much!

Here's a goody to sign up for...easy, comfy, minimal thought but high impact....Statement Tees! 

It won't date (you probably already have some stuffed at the back of your wardrobe), can be worn with SO many combinations on the bottom half and gives a spruce-up to old outfits in a second! Dress down with skinnies and shorts, or dress up with leather pencil skirts or chunky high heels! 

If that wasn't easy enough I have even found the best of the best for you, these hot tees are just a click away.....

Markus Lupfer

Image via http://markuslupfer.myshopify.com, £170

Lulu & Co

Image via www.asos.com, £130

Simon Farrar

Image via www.asos.com, £55

Zoe Karssen

http://sandbox.zoekarssenshop.nl, €70

Local Celebrity,

Image via www.asos.com, £40

Mary Katranzou

Image via www.net-a-porter.com, £255

Wildfox

Image via www.wildfoxcouture.co.uk, £162

Aimee by People Tree,

Image via www.asos.com, £30

Fairground,

Image via www.asos.com, £75

Simon Farrar,

Image via www.asos.com, £55

3.1 Phillip Lim,

Image via www.matchesfashion.co.uk, £160

3BM Style Crush: Chiara Ferrangi

Dear Diary,

I have a major crush … her name is Chiara Ferragni and she is quite possibly the most fashionable 24 year old on the planet! Not only is she beautiful and has a wardrobe to die for but she’s also a bright cookie studying law in Milan – some people are blessed with all the best genes – no fair! When she’s not studying and strutting her stylish stuff, she writing her street style blog, The Blonde Salad. Is there nothing this girl can’t do?

Word of warning before I gush any further ... where Chiara is involved, prepare to be hooked IMMEDIATELY! Her blog gives readers a daily glimpse into her wonderfully shiny world, everything from what she's wearing, where she's traveling, projects she's working on to the latest style press she's received. I have happily spent hour after hour scrolling through her many looks, every one of them effortlessly chic and fabulously on-trend may I add. Her Chanel bag collection will have you screaming out 'I hate her' and 'I love her' in quick succession and the designer shoes she owns will rock your world and have your toes curling with envy!

Get lost in a few of my fav looks of hers below...

All images via www.theblondesalad.com

Get your Chiara fix by visiting her 'The Blonde Salad' blog here, following her on Twitter here, keeping up to date with her on Facebook here and learning about her great loves in life via Pinterest here. Wow I sound like one hell of a class A stalker don't i? I'm not going to deny it, she is my latest fashion obsession, soon to be yours too...!

This Week the Mice Have Mostly Been...

What a week...5995 miles from Hong Kong to London have been travelled, an early morning mouse reunion took place that only dogs could hear, espresso martinis were drunk like there's no tomorrow and a year of gossip was caught up on at high speed!! AND that was just Wednesday for you...!!

You guessed it HK Mouse is back, so far she has only graced London with her presence for 24 hours as she is now living it up in Italy ... you may have seen her smoasting on Twitter yesterday...

"Rose o'clock on the Amalfi Coast..."

BUT she'll be back with us next week for full on 3BM celebrations and adventures and I for one cannot wait! We have some serious cocktails to consume, pop-up restaurants to visit and amazing blogs to write...eeeeeekk!!

When we haven't been jumping up and down with sister glee or talking at the speed of light, the mice have mostly been....

Over excitedly plotting our first 3BM reunion - tick, next up the Bank holiday weekend - in progress, and the final challenge - scheduling in as many of London's newbies possible, to convince HK mouse to come on home to blighty!

A long weekend is very much in need and it is finally here, tonight as you walk out of the office you need to take a moment ... the equivalent of two Saturdays - when it is ok to have no responsibilties, lose yourself in the weekend bliss and be out as late as you please with not an ounce of guilt! And the best bit ... three sleep ins and no Sunday bluesssss...(Monday blues don't count!) 

So what are you going to do to fill yours...'Do the Lobster Dance' at The Disappearing Dining Club, Salsa your Sunday away at The Notting Hill Carnival, party Shoreditch style courtesy of The Book Club at Bookstock 2012 street party or give your festival get-up one final outing at SW4 ... whatever you choose we are spoilt for choice in London! Us Mice haven't even got our final plans in place but I can assure you it will include plenty of sleep, G&T's, fun, dancing and most probably Whole Foods!!

Beautifying over Prosecco at the media unveiling of Miracle Skin Transformer, a New York skincare range spreading its wings to London.

We tried and tested the eight product collection ranging from a no fuss tinted face moisturiser to everyday balm to a lavish night cream, all with price points ranging from £18 to £56. Middle mouse's favourite was the Triple Action Night Treatment which surprise surprise was at the top end of the price scale - what can we say, she has expensive taste! Although £56, for a cracking night moisturiser that's pretty darn good in our beauty books! The thing that we loved about it most was its texture - light, hydrating and not remotely greasy, surpassing all the typical traits of heavy night creams. I was a huge fan of the Heal Everyday Balm which follows the same concept as Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream. A balm that solves all your problems - sunburn, irritation, chapped skin and can be used everywhere. It smells yummy too and it has a magical ingredient - Manuka Honey, it'll have all the boys buzzing after you!

The brains behind the brand is New Zealander Sarah McNamara, she's seriously fabulous and lovely with it! We were the last ones to leave because she was chatting away, plying us with prosecco and discussing Prince Harry's latest Vegas antics! However, fun aside, she knows her stuff having worked for L-Oreal, Elizabeth Arden and Unilever over the years. Since then having seen a gap in the market for a premium yet affordable skin care brand, Miracle Skin Transformer was born. 

The range is currently available in the US from Sephora and Bergdorf Goodman but come September, us Brits can get our hands on the products from www.miracleskintransformer.com, Selfridges from November and hopefully Space NK early next year ... not long to wait now ladies!

P.S If you're wondering what the delectable rose in the below picture is all about ... well, Sarah presented us each with one at the event and asked us 'do you accept this rose?' Batchelor style - love it!

Hitting up one of London's new kids on the block for the already mentioned 3BM reunion, Caravan Kings Cross! I have wanted to visit ever since I laid my eyes on the Brunch menu and specifically the coconut bread, lemon curd cream cheese and strawberries - WOW!!! (I still haven't tried this weep weep, but only an excuse to revisit.)

It has been on my mental 'Place to visit' list ever since, however the Exmouth Market location (which is quite a walk from the tube) never seemed to conviently fall into my plans. That is until I read that a new branch had opened in Kings Cross. Instantly venue number one to take Natalie on her first night was decided - easy peasy! 

The restaurant is a little hard to find, only about five minutes from St.Pancras situated in an old grain store - cue exposed brick walls, pipe works and huge industrial windows - I loved it! The staff couldn't have been more helpful or friendly, the cocktails were divine (you HAVE to have an espresso martini) and the food was so delicious we ordered enough for the whole of Animals of Farthing Wood and more! 

Highlights have to be, the Blue cheese, figs and truffle oil, New potatoes, duck egg, peas and mint and the pièce de résistance was the Butterscotch and Caramel pot with salted shortbread - OMG delish!!! You simply have to taste to believe the heaven!

Two cocktails each, wine, enough food to feed a country and a pudding to share came to £40 each - naughty HK mouse paid the bill before we could get our paws on it, however we'll get her back next week and hopefully it'll be another gem for you all to add to your London book of treats!

Enjoy the long weekend ahead London people!

Much love,

The Mice x

Get Your Kicks From Customised Converse...

STUDS, STUDS and more STUDS is what it's all about right now. From layered gold and silver spike bangles, to embellished bags and purses...everyone is rocking a hint of this trend in some shape or form. For me, it has to be said that  studded trainers float my little mouse boat. I'm not really a trainer kinda gal but my arm can be twisted when it comes to Converse as you can easily dress them up or down. And thanks to Il Matease Lab my Converse love has soared to cloud 9. I stumbled across this site last week and have since visited daily to lust after the oh-so-fierce custom made studded trainers. Just like a kid in a candy shop - every style and colour imaginable and all priced reasonably considering these bad boys are bespoke and frankly fabulously!

High kick your way to high-top heaven with our 3BM pick of the best studded trainers around. Starting with my favs from Il Matease Lab's customised collection...

Stand out from the crowd with these colour popping Fluo Converse, 159 euros

Stomp around in these rock chic Oro Gold Converse, 149 euros

Embrace your inner stud-muffin with these ankle studded Converse, 129 euros

Grunge up and get nasty with these skull stud Converse, 159 euros

All images above via www.ilmalteselab.com

If you're flush this month and can afford to flash the cash, check out 3BM's blow-the-budget options...

Miu Miu glitter and stud trainers, £295

Christian Louboutin studded hi-top sneakers, £525

Gienchi high tops, £230

In the words of Nancy Sinatra ... 'These boots are made for walkin and that's just what they'll do, one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you. Are you ready boots? Start walkin' ... take it away Nance!