Casual Friday - Meet Lykke Li, the Swedish rockstar with all the talent

Today for Casual Friday I thought I would profile an artist I admire both for her talent but also her smoking hot style!

Anyone who can rock a hat gets my vote.

Born 1986 in Ystad, Sweden to a musician father and photographer mother she's moved around the world a bit to finally land in Brooklyn NY at age 21 to record her album. Her début Youth Novels, which is awesome, was released to the wider world around June 2008 and produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John fame (you know that 'Young Ones song'...). Her music is a cool blend of Indie rock, pop and electronic - check her out on youtube.

Her second Album Wounded Rhymes was released 2011 and named album of the year by a whole bunch of publications who know their sh*t: Rolling Stone, New York Times, Mojo (!!)
My fav song off the album is I follow Rivers. I've left it's official art house video below for your viewing pleasure.

But she doesn't just have her hands in the music pie - in 2010 she was named Levi's 'Curve ID' official face along with Pixie Geldof and in 2012 joined with Viva Model Management Agency. She's also done some acting in the Swedish Crime Film Tommy #talent

On the Cover of Mode

For Levi's Curve ID Jeans

I reckon I need to try some of these jeans, my ass defies convention.

Clearly she's been busy and she's about to be busier when her New album drops May 5th

Lykke Li - I never learn - Album Art

Have a great weekend everyone.
Stay Stylish.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Shoesday Tuesday - The week of the ten Pairs of new Shoes, damn you convenient online shopping

Shoe Fiend is back in all it's glory!

not my cat - he would NOT put up with this...

For my first Shoesday back I thought I would share with you the story of the week

I bought 10 pairs of new shoes... 

IN ONE WEEK...

 even for me I know that is bad, or good, slice it how you want ;-)

First stop: NZsale (online outlet site)

Wedge lace-up platforms and pop-art flats

How cool are these bad-boys?

Next: Brands Exclusive (similar vein to NZsale)

A pair of flats in EVERY color - courtesy of Rubi Shoes

Just cheapy little run around flats, but you can never have too many flats say I...

Case in point - check out UNDER the shoe cabinet >:D

And Lastly: The Iconic 

(classy Australian based online boutique - they just started stocking River Island!!)

Pink Laser cut pumps, Neon Yellow Point-toed pumps, cut-out detail booties
They had 30% off - couldn't resist - All 'Spurr' Brand

This pic makes my feet look tiny - I'm a UK 7 though!

I saw these and HAD TO have them... they're real toe pinchers though :'(

Brands Exclusive and NZsale are outlet sites so their shipping is anywhere up to 6 weeks for delivery - which is a drawback, BUT when you have to have the shoes, you will wait.
The Iconic however being an Aussie based site,
I thought it would be at least a few days, took only 27 hours!  
I ordered them Monday Lunch time they arrived 3pm Tuesday - now that's fassst.

Another serious drawback with online shopping is you can't try anything on.  I was worried about the pop art shoes as I usually take a size up in flats, but they've stretched nicely and are super comfy now.  The Spurr heels from the Iconic are a little higher heel arch than I usually find comfortable, but they're so GORGE I wear them and bite through the pain.

What do you think of the haul - am I a genius or a MONSTER?

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Happy Easter Peeps! Hope you didn't over-indulge ;-)

I didn't have any Easter eggs this year

but I did eat a buttload of Hot Cross buns, I'm a monster!

Do you like my festive manicure?

If you want to see more you can follow my Instagram

for constant nail art and home baking-porn!

Silly snake.

HAPPY EASTER

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Sunday Baking - Choc Drop Shortbread

Today's recipe is something I have made time and again and ALWAYS had fantastic results.  I made a cranberry almond version for Christmas presents, a cheese one for savoury kicks, I even passed it onto my sister for running club treats.  This time I added chocolate chips but you can omit these and go plain or add your own tasty flavours!

Ingredients:

130gms Butter (I grate the butter on top of the dry ingredients - makes the whole process quicker)
60 gms Sugar (powdered sugar gives a smoother result while caster gives some roughage)
130gms Flour
60gms cornflour (I use ground almonds instead but you could use rice flour too)
pinch salt
50gms each of dark choc and milk choc drops (or chopped chocolate)

Method:

Rub chilled butter into sifted dry ingredients until the consistency of fine breadcrumbs, knead to form a dough, then add any fillings you desire (dried fruit, nuts, chocolate) At this stage you can either press into a tin and prick with a fork or you can roll it into a log and cut into 5mm slices then prick with a fork.  Bake at 150 Celsius for 30 mins or until golden brown on the bottom but still pale on top (this low slow form of cooking makes the most melting delicate shortbread you have ever tasted!)

This recipe is adapted from a shortbread the gorgeous Lorraine Pascale

made on her show "Baking Made easy".

Former model and now chef - #careerenvy

Let me know if you try it/plan to try it and how your'e getting on.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.