A little help from my friends?

After spending countless hours researching how to transfer my blog to Blogger I’ve on the verge of giving up. Those who know me know that I’d rather poke a fork in my eye than do research about technology. I found out that while it is possible (through a convoluted method) to transfer the text of my posts, I will have to upload and insert all the photos manually. I’m not sure I have the stamina for that.

Alternatively, I can try to make this blog more user-friendly. Can you do me a favor and send me an email or leave  a comment letting me know 1) how you prefer to ‘follow’ blogs i.e., Bloglovin, Blogger, Facebook, etc. and 2) what you don’t like about the way my blog works (or doesn’t, as the case may be)?

To catch up on this past weekend -- A. and I went to a vintage market at Spitalfields, where the prices on clothing were too high for my wallet. 

A. did pick up this Hornsea mug designed by John Clappison and now is on a mission to find more from this series.

At the Brick Lane vintage market, I found the seller who I had bought my Biba-esque Wallis jacket from and bought a 1970s dress that I wore to lunch on Sunday.

1970s-does-1940s dress with sweetheart neckline and peplum,
Brick Lane vintage market. 1970s-does-1920s tapestry bag from the
Rock and Roll Yard Sale. Antique glass bead/pendant necklace I’ve
owned for decades. Ceramic and glass bead bracelet, made by me in
the 1990s. Purple tights, Sainsbury’s. Shoes, thrifted and painted by me.

Jewelry up close. Shortly after buying the dress, I found this Style pattern from 1974 that is slightly similar in style but with an empire waist instead of a peplum.

On Sunday, we went to the Sunday Roast at The Smithfield Tavern, a veggie pub nearby. In the States, we don’t do ‘Sunday Roast,’ so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Smithfield does two vegan roasts. 

Stuffed aubergine with puy lentils, roasted tomatoes and herbs with trimmings. Stuffed butternut squash with quinoa, macadamia nuts and red onions with trimmings.It was my first Yorkshire pudding which seemed to be the British equivalent of what we call ‘biscuits’ in the U.S. – basically something to sop up gravy.

We were so stuffed from lunch that A. made a simple tofu scramble for dinner. It tasted as good as it looks.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on how I can make my blog more user-friendly. Thanks in advance!

These boots were made for walking

Given that it has been cold and rainy in what is supposed to be summer here in the U.K., I was able to wear my new red boots straight away -- walking for about 6-7 hours -- and they were very comfortable.

Top half too awful to show. Cotton patchwork wrap skirt sold by a non-profit that trained former sex workers to sew, bought at a fair trade bazaar ages ago, $15; purple tights from Sainsbury’s supermarket in the U.K. at a price far cheaper than I could get them in the U.S.; bag made by me.The boots first day out included a visit to the Geffrye Museum in Shoreditch.  The building was originally an almshouse in the 18th century and now houses decorative arts in period room settings. It was a nice day so we spent more time in the walled herb garden behind the museum than in the museum.

Sweet woodruff, Galium odoratumLamb's ear, Stachys byzantinaSheep and lambs rescued by Farm Sanctuary Funhouse NYC stretch ultra suede dress, $6.99, Goodwill; Cha Cha Vente shirred sleeve and waist blouse, $4.49, Goodwill; Fleur boots, Vegetarian Shoes, gift.And worn again the next day, when A. and I had dinner at the veggie, organic, Italian restaurant, Amico Bio near the old Smithfield Meat Market.

Ironically, there are two of my favourite London veggie restaurants a stone’s throw from the old Smithfield Meat Market. In addition to Amico Bio, there’s The Smithfield Tavern, a pub with a veggie menu.

Harkening back to its meaty days, the exterior has golden cow heads on either side of the sign. The interior has the dark and cosy ambiance with deep red walls and vintage photos and prints. Animal-friendly sentiments are written on chalkboards throughout. In a 6 week period, A. and I ate there 4 times. 

The first time we had the Portobello burgers (with the arms of my 1970s yellow floral Adrienne Vittadini t-shirt in the background).

Then we had the lunch buffet (all-you-can-eat for £6.95) special featured for National Vegetarian week.

Gee, this post sort of meandered. Feel free to leave comments on anything from red boots (do you have some, want some?) to your favorite veggie restaurant (anywhere, as who knows where I'll travel to).