JUST A FEW THINGS TO DO IN LONDON

* Buy an Oyster card for big discount on all public transport.

* Love shopping? Take the underground to Regent (Liberty’s) and Oxford Street (flagship stores).

* Discover little boutiques, restaurants and the world famous Portebello Market in Notting Hill. Or celebrate Notting Hill carnival in August.

* If you just love the film Notting Hill go check out the bookshop at 280 Westbourne
Park Road

* For a finger licking curry check out Khan's or Masala Zone.

* Continue the evening at the theatre with last minute theatre tickets.

* Go clubbing and meet celebs at The Cuckoo Club. Budget Design Hotels bumbed into Shakira at this private member club. For delightful cocktails ask for barman Gavin Forbes. Our favourits: Little Big Yellow Pepper and Hemingway Daiquiri.

Living the London Life at umi Hotels

We’re back from London. Thé hotspot for shopping, clubbing and of course the Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Kensington Palace and all the other must-sees. The weather was fantastic: lots of sun and 30ºC. So what more do you want?

Well, spending the night in a Budget Design Hotel would be nice. We were more than welcome at umi Hotels in Bayswater check a Victorian building in a multicultural neighbourhood with great restaurants just around the corner.

Our room? Big. Stylish. With a big bed, a wardrobe big enough for our outfits, tv and internet and lots of natural light coming through the big windows. The bathroom was a bit small, but stylish. Service excellent! After a kick start breakfast in the hotel - try the salmon, eggs and cappuccino – we went exploring the neighbourhood. Want to know what we discovered? Check out the next post on London.

Can Someone Please Tell Me What This Is??

I'm hoping you smart bloggers out there can help with this small dilemma...

I've been collecting and selling hotel silver for over 12 years now and am completely stumped as to the use of this piece. It's been in my collection for many years and I plan on selling it. I love that it's from the Grand Hotel in Cannes, but what exactly is it?

This is a side view of the piece...It measures 5" in diameter (not including the handle) and 5" tall

This is a close-up of the handle that ejects the lid when pulled apart.

Inside the bowl is a spoon-like paddle that shifts across the bowl when the handle is moved. What would it be used for? Couldn't be coffee, tea or a juicer since the base has such large openings.

This is the base. It appears as if it rests on top of a glass, but again, why the large openings?

If anyone has any clue as what this piece is for, I would greatly appreciate your input!!

Thanks a bunch!

Jeweled Macarons Anyone?

The Caketress, a boutique cake company based in Canada, created an exclusive dessert bar shoot for New York-based event planner, Amy Atlas. I nearly flipped when I saw Amy's blog post this morning. {I've definitely been in "sweet tooth" land lately!}

This all grey and white chic dessert bar also included pearls and lace; lace wrapped pumpkin cupcakes, macarons, malted chocolate pearls, and licorice white cotton candy! Oh my!

Click here to read the entire post and view the rest of the photos. Divine!

credit: Taylor Jackson Photography, via Amy Atlas

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

photo: beBo

Why the random photo of a pretty staircase? Because I wanted to blog about it, but can't seem to find out who the photographer is...

Which brings me to my point. Let me preface this by saying, I'm not the "blogger police," but just wanted to post a little blogger etiquette.

I first discovered this staircase photo on We Heart It.

which led me to Tumblr, Would You Like to Swing on a Star,

which led me to The Life is a Rose,

which led me to princess-queen-v. Then nothing.

That's right. No photo credit for this lovely image.

So, what to do?

• There are all sorts of legal and copyright rules for the internet. Some of which you can read about here on this informative post.

• How many times have you read a blog with numerous images and there are absolutely no image or link credits? Frustrating? Very. I frequently find something I'd like to view or purchase with no trace of where the image originated from.
  

• When you post images that you do not own, you should always credit the photographer if you possibly can. It is their art, not yours. You should also credit the source of the information (where you found it), and any sources that they have named. So, if you found the image on another blog or website, at least credit them with a link back to their site/blog. It's only fair.
  

• An interesting quote...“Tumblr is the place where copyrights and credits go to die.” - Door Sixteen
  

• I know we bloggers frequently stumble upon random images on the internet with no credits at all. What to do then? I'm not really sure how to answer that one. Perhaps do a little more research. At the very least, make an effort to try and find the credit for it.
  

I realize that there is no way to control the vast world of the internet. It's like the Wild West. But, it sure would be nice if we try and give credit to people's images when we can. If I was a photographer, I'd certainly watermark my images!

I hope I don't sound "preachy" as I'm definitely not the authority of the blogging world. Just wanted to share some thoughts.

Other bloggers and photographers, do you have any tips to share on image etiquette or guidelines for usage?

MEETING CELEB IN CENTRAL PARK

We just have to share these pics with you of Joe Zee, creative director of ELLE magazine, in his yeti outfit. You know, him from The CITY by MTV. This is the way we met him in Central Park almost two weeks ago. Can you imagin wearing this outfit when it is 30C outside?! Joe was still smiling and took the time to chat with the girls of Budget Design Hotels. Hats off Joe!

Vincent Olinet: A World of Fantasy

Petit Gateau, 2003

Happy Monday everyone! I hope those of you in the US are enjoying the long holiday weekend.

I thought I'd start the week off with my latest obsession -- whimsical mixed media sculptures by Vincent Olinet. You may have seen my recent post featuring his floating canopy bed installation.

Je suis le gateaux de tous les francais, 2007

("I am the all-French's cake"-- made of wood, plaster, foam, sugar, resin)

Vincent Olinet lives and works in Brussels. His work has a strong sense of humor, such as increasing the size of an object to enormous.

His series of monumental cakes made of both synthetic and real confectionery, were whimsical yet told a story. A symbol of decadence, abundance and decay.

La vitrine - Exhibition view, Galerie Laurent Godin, Paris, 2007

Je vous aime tous, 2006
("I love you all"--made of wood, metal, foam, carpet, fresh flowers)

Sans titre (untitled) - 2007-2008 39 pieces in wood and metal - various dimensions

If you want to see more of Vincent Olinet's work, visit his website here, or the Laurent Godin Gallery here.

photo credits: Vincent Olinet, Laurent Godin Gallery