Illustration Inspiration: Antonio Lopez

We love Pinterest for giving us the means to keep an e-scrapbook of all our favourite, most inspirational, beautiful things. 

From lickable stilettos, to obscenely awesome food porn with plenty of Monday-lifting, life-affirming quotes in between. We swear our happiness has increased exponentially since we started pinning...

Quite aside from helping us create mindblowingly fabulous shopping lists, every now and then, our Pinterest feed throws up something that stops us in our tracks. Social media really is a pretty brilliant way to keep educating yourself about the things that you love which for us includes art, photography and illustration. Take for example, this week's gem of a find - fashion illustration genius, Antonio Lopez.

Karl Largerfeld said about Lopez: "In the world of illustration, his contribution is superior to the efforts of all other fashion artists of his era", we couldn't agree more Karl...

We know it's still November Father Christmas, but if you're reading this, Antonio Lopez - Fashion, Art, Sex & Disco is slap bang at the top of our Christmas list...

On the 3BM iPod: Wolf Alice

Anyone who shares a name with one of us Mice gets immediate bonus points. 

When they also just happen to be a pretty awesome new band named after a short story from one of our favourite books, the bonus points rocket into the stratosphere...

Yup, Wolf Alice have us hook, line and sinker...

Sort of like a punked up XX, Wolf Alice remind us a little of War Paint and we genuinely can't remember the last time we fell quite so hard for a new band... Take a listen and tell us you don't love them too...

Wolf Alice - 'She'

Wolf Alice - 'Fluffy'

Wolf Alice - Cover of Katy Perry's 'Roar'

5 Minutes with Rose Lloyd Owen of Peardrop

As we're sure you're aware by now, if there's one thing us Mice have a serious weakness for (other than very, very high heels...) it's good food! 

When we aren't happily munching away on something delicious, we're meticulously planning our next meal - researching restaurants, flicking through recipe books or pinning mouthwateringly amazing photos on Pinterest... 

So we were pretty excited when we heard about Peardrop - a company on a mission to brighten up Londoners' lunchtimes. No more dull sandwiches or calorie laden fast food, when the clock strikes noon, Peardrop to the rescue with delicious yet healthy packages of yumness guaranteed to give even the dreariest, al-desko lunchtime some serious sparkle... 

The girl behind this food revolution? Super-chef, Rose Lloyd Owen, who very sweetly, agreed to push aside her pans and chopping board for 5 minutes to pull up a chair and chat all things scrumptious...

Tell us a bit about Peardrop?

At my old job in a Soho talent agency, food was always a hot topic. A real bunch of foodies, we’d always be quick to try the newest restaurants and lunch spots. Apart from Leon, which I find a very inspiring brand, I grew sick of unsatisfying lunch options. It seemed so hard to find healthy, interesting lunches with a changing menu. And that was in Soho, which has a billion options … so I began to think about all the offices out of the centre of London who didn’t even have a Pret nearby.

What’s been the most challenging part of starting Peardrop? Any tips for budding entrepreneurs?

Nothing could have prepared me for the insane pressure a new business brings!

Don’t be afraid to use your contacts. Having no actual experience in the food industry, I met up with, and sought advice from, so many friends and friends of friends. And I was so surprised by how helpful and enthusiastic people were. It’s very important to take advice – Richard Branson has said that listening to others, over your own stubbornness, is key to success.

I also think it’s important to believe in your idea one billion and one percent. When you’re at your lowest ebb, exhausted after a bad week and missing the security of your office job, it’s the belief in your vision that will help you carry on.

It was my Dad who asked me to consider that with any new and innovative business idea, there’s often a reason no one else is doing it. Peardrop has changed dramatically from what it was at the outset. I think that’s really normal, so don’t be afraid if things take a different tack! You might have the loveliest of ideas and imagine how idyllic your life will be – but nothing is idyllic is when you’re up at 5am working until midnight for pittance. It sounds obvious but it needs to make you money!!

We’re also getting more and more conscious about making sure everything we do is as eco as possible, what’s Peardrop doing to help assuage our ‘save the world’ concerns?

People are slowly becoming more concerned with the environment, which is really cool, but the majority of people still don’t actually really care. It costs businesses more money and creates extra work at home.

Our packaging is all compostable – so instead of recycling it, it becomes part of the earth again. We also operate on a completely waste free basis. Every crust becomes a crouton and because our menus are ever-changing, yesterday’s excess broccoli becomes today’s soup.

Any foodie insider tips you can share with us?

My favourite London restaurant is Trullo in Islington, owned by Jordan Frieda who worked at the River Café for years. You’re getting that incredible quality of Italian food at a price you can actually afford. The beef shin ragu pappardelle – OH MY GOD.

I love Street food. If you haven’t been to Kerb ,the street food collective, you’re in for a treat. Beautiful food for a fiver that makes you feel lucky to be a Londoner. My faves are Rainbo’s gyoza, Yum Bun and the Wild Game Co. And they’ve just started a Saturday market in West London!

I’m desperate to go to The Smokehouse in Islington. I reckon smoked food is about to get really big. I’ve just discovered Smoker Bags in which you can smoke meat and veg really easily in your oven. Smoked chicken and mango salad is a classic! (and super healthy).

I also LOVE the blog - What Katie Ate, from Aussie chef and food stylist, Katie Quinn Davies.

Who features on your fantasy Peardrop dinner party invite list?

Jamie Oliver
AA Gill
Caitlin Moran
Chris Hemsworth
Russell Norman
Skye Gyngell
Tom Kerridge
Nicole Scherzinger
Alan Carr

I’m sure as hell not cooking though!

What three things could you not live without?

My vespa and good wine (not together) and cashmere (I’m very allergic to wool and a sneezing cook is not a good look!)

What next for Peardrop?

I’m planning a street food night market with lots of local Notting Hill businesses in 2014 to raise money for bipolar.

Apart from that … cookbooks, cafes, restaurants, a range of dressings, a big team of happy employees, a fleet of Electric delivery vans and bicycles, a huge sparkling kitchen with a massive vegetable and flower garden … and lots of dreaming!!

Peardrop
323b Portobello Road
London
W10 5SY

Tel: +44 788 426 3724
Email: rose@peardroplondon.com

Our H&M for Isabel Marant Story...

The countdown to the long awaiting Isabel Marant for H&M is nearly over. With the Thursday booked off work and my alarm clock set for a 6am early wake up, I snuggle down and shut my eyes. Dreaming of slouchy, thrown together Parisian chic style I sleep straight through until my alarm clock springs into life. With a hop, skip and a jump I leap out of bed... and that never happens, ask mini mouse... I whip on my pre-planned clothes, coat and bobble hat and rush out the flat door with more enthusiasm than a bat out of hell!

This is me sleeping standing up in my apartment block lifts...  

I duck and dive between the early commuters dawdling along and arrive at Knightsbridge at 7.15. I rush out of the station knowing every second counts and could cost me a space at the front of the queue. I emerge above ground expecting to see a line of committed Isabel Marant fashionistas snaking around the corner but to my delight I am greeted with around 30 people ahead of me! Superb...

I queue for around an hour before spotting the wristband people moving down the line. A very civilised way of queueing if you ask me meaning you are allotted your time slot for entry and are then allowed to escape somewhere warm until your Isabel Marant time strikes. I was lucky enough to receive the third time slot of 9.40am but was rather sad when I realised I missed out by one person for the second group. Never mind - off I took myself to warm up in Starbucks...

Heading back 20mins before my calling I entered the word of girly madness full of pushing, shoving, snatching and shoulder blocking! I queued up AGAIN and watched the shoppers in the roped off area rushing around as if they were on Supermarket Sweep - no sign of Dale Winton you'll be pleased to hear! It was rather torturous watching others grabbing things on my wish list but I kept calm and carried on mentally thinking through my plan of action once my time came. First on the shopping list were those show stopping boots. If you've been living in a cave for the last 6 months let me bring you up to speed - we're talking leather and suede fringed boots truly representative of Isabel Marant's signature style. I was also lusting after the chunky knit wool cardies and silk monochrome blouse featured everywhere...

Well I pleased to share I made it out alive... just! With only 10 minutes to shop the collection I whizzed around the fashion pen as if my life depended on it. I can report I snapped up THE boots and plenty more - check out my Pretty Women moment below laden with shopping bag after shopping bag...

For a sneak preview of all the bits I purchased check out the below shots - a tad over the top yes but what can I say, I'm a slave to Isabel...

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

After a week's break from the blog and lots of sister fun, we're back and boy do we have lots to share...!! 

We had the exciting news at the weekend that HK Mouse is staying for extra week, so after all the non-stop running around we thought what better way to recoup than a long weekend in Devon at the cottage! Rambling country walks, cosy pubs and big glasses of red by the fire...we're all squeaking with excitement at the thought!!! 

But back to what we've been up to over the past seven days... when we haven't been scurrying here, there and everywhere trying to fill every moment with tonnes of sister fun, this week the Mice have mostly been...

Searching high and low for the perfect advent calendar for HK Mouse so that she can countdown in style! I remember so clearly the excited feeling as a child to wake up each morning, open a new window and of course get a chocolate treat in return! Sadly a Cadbury's number just won't cut it anymore, the stakes are high and in order to recreate that teeny tiny Christmas-excited Mouse feeling again, it needs to be something a bit special! 

As it isn't quite December I can't reveal our final decision, however I can share with you the best of those out there that got our attention and nearly made the final cut. Go on why don't you brighten up 24 mornings of someones day....!

YOU Beauty Advent Calendar, £49.95

We had this one last year and I can safely say it's well worth the price tag, we loved opening the exciting miniatures every morning and a great way to try out new products. Filled with treats worth over £240 with the likes of Dermalogica, Neom, Steamcream and Stilla sitting behind your windows!

Boots Beauty Advent Calendar, £30 

Our favourite provider of everything beauty, Boots, has launched its first ever calendar this year and at a mere snip of a price! With promises to pamper you head to toe, expect delights from Nails Inc, Soap and Glory, Rimmel and Mavala...

Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar, £84

If you're after the ultimate queen of calendars, then this is the one for you! Filled with skincare products, makeup and fragrance - you can't really get much better than this! Selfridges have pulled out all the beauty stops and bagged miniatures from Kiehl's, YSL, Lancome and Victor & Rolf to name just a few! 

Ciaté Mini Nail Lacquer Advent Calendar, £42

HK Mouse arrived at cocktails last week with one of these beauties for us Mice at London Towers...a nail varnish a day including 19 mini paint pots, 4 textured surprises from caviar to sequins and one full size varnish as a Chrimbo Eve surprise! 

Master of Malt - Ginvent Calendar, £110

If you're after something a little bit different and want to well and truly get into the 'spirit' of Christmas...then this bad boy should tick all the boxes! A bottle of Gin a day, means Father Christmas isn't far away...!

Getting thoroughly excited that's it's only 39 sleeps until Christmas and to make this all the more exciting, the battle of the Christmas ads has finally begun. This year, like most others, the main contenders are of course John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. 

John Lewis have once again gone for the family angle with characters children will love and creating a warm and fuzzy Christmas feel for everyone else. I love Lily Allen's cover of 'Somewhere Only We Know' in the background which will no doubt steal the Christmas Number 1 spot, and the fact that it doesn't push or feature any product. Simple, effective and a low key production

Next up M&S...big names, big production and lots of Christmas product! The total opposite, but the more I see it, the more I like it. Starring Rosie Huntingly Whitely and David Gandy, with lots of snow and a magical fairytale story - a lot more adult facing and product focused, however like it or not it's definitely impactful!

For me I think John Lewis has the winning ad...I'm a sucker for a cute story and the fact that it reminds me of my childhood days watching The Animals of Farthing Wood may have given it the slight edge! 

One things for sure, you just can't beat the excitement sparked by the sight and sound of the Coca Cola lorry....

I hope you're now feeling suitably Christmassy and ready to wrap up warm for another crisp weekend ahead! That's exactly what we shall be doing with all our key country essentials at hand...cashmere tracksuit, a stack of magazines, the fire roaring and a drink in hand...

The Mice x