10 happy summer Maine moments

Every summer, for two weeks, I go to Maine. This is a constant in my life. Maine is my summer routine. My family has had a house on the coast since the 1920s, so I thought it was high time I passed on some juicy tidbits on what makes for happy moments while in residence. A most magnificent coastline deserves such focus. These are my top ten Maine vacation rituals. Some are mine and mine alone, others are passed down from past generations past. A few will make you hungry, but I'm hoping each and every one will convince you that a Maine getaway needs to be in your future. 

1. I wake to watch the cinematic Maine sunrise, at least once.

2. I fill the house with the sweet smell of baked goods. There is something about the mix of cinnamon and the sea air that is just too good not to be true. And what family member isn't instantly put in a better mood by starting the day with a cinnamon roll? Try this... I guarantee a good day to follow. 

3. Dressing like a local. When it comes to hanging out in the great state of Maine, I can't help but indulge my preppy New England side. The plaids, lobster prints, corals and florals all come with me in the suitcase. I'm quite certain I become a different person entirely, at least when it comes to wardrobing, for the two weeks. Happy place, happy wardrobe.

4. Lobster and clams. This has to be my favorite tradition of them all. There is something about eating lobster right on the beach that will spoil you for life. You'll never be able to eat lobster anywhere else, ever again. This is truly sea to seat, here in the great state of Maine. 

5. Visiting the Nubble Lighthouse. Rumor has it that one of the keepers had a 19 pound cat that could swim. But that's not why we visit. I'm sure the picture says it all, really. This is one of America's most beautiful vistas and certainly a picture perfect moment for all visitors to the Northeastern states. Naturally, I'm wearing boat shoes.

6. Ice Cream at the Scoop Deck. Ask any local to the Moody Beach Maine area and they'll tell you that the Scoop Deck is the ultimate in luxury living, if you're an ice cream fanatic. A word of warning... order the smallest size possible. The large, just to give you perspective, is about a gallon of ice cream in a waffle cone. Deadly but delicious. 

7. While we are on the topic of sweet stuff, let's talk Goldenrod Taffy. You think you know and love salt water taffy? You've never had anything like this before. I can't even find the words to describe the experience, so I'll say this. It's worth the pilgrimage - you have my word on that. I have never ever gone a summer without this stuff. I even had it shipped over to London once. This is crack for the sweet tooth inclined. 

8. Take a walk through Perkins Cove. I find this to be a magical little place. It's everything I believe visitors to Maine expect to see - cute Lobster roll stands, adorable nautical shops, ship tours and a magical view. 

9. House hunting. I can't help myself. There's something inside me that begs my soul to make the move to Maine. From Perkins Cove to Kennebunkport, I spend hours daydreaming about which house I'd call home in the later years of my life. I'd grow old and wrinkled by the sea and walk everyday to fetch the goodies that would eventually be the death of me - lobster with melted butter, salt water taffy and by-the-gallon ice cream cones. You must house hunt while on location. It's fun to dream and drool all at the same time.

10. Breathe and just relax. The ultimate point of a vacation is to relax, right? I find that increasingly difficult. So I actually have to remember to do this. With instagram, snapchat and every other social network demanding my time these days, it is in fact hard to remember. But, I have one relaxation rule that always works to set me up for the day. In my bedroom, I have a window seat. When I was little I used to curl up and take naps here. I was like a cat! Not so easy to do that these days, as I'm about two feet taller than I used to be when I'd do that. Today, I use the window seat for reflection. I make it my study point. I bring a self help book (go on, judge me) and I get through it on that seat. I believe it has the power to help me absorb every word and keep them on tap forever. My hint for any traveller is to find such a point of reference for each and every vacation. Find one corner that is yours and yours alone, if only for 20 minutes a day, or for an entire day. And remember, you are on vacation...

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Day Dreaming...

That time I visited the Taj Mahal.

bunny kisses
Fifi Lapin
xxx

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The Summer Beauty Edit

Skin:

Dior Diorskin Forever Everwear Primer SPF 20

Dior Diorskin Forever Fluid Foundation SPF 35 - 030 Medium beige

L’oreal Sculpting Brush

Bobbi Brown Shimmer brick compact highlighter - Pink Quartz

L’oreal Infallible sculpt contouring palette - 03 Medium Dark

Estée Lauder Perfectionist serum concealer

Givency Croisiere Healthy glow powder - 02 Douce Crosier

Givenchy Les saisons- 02 Douce saison

Dior Blush sculpt - 002 coral shape

Givenchy Prisme Libre loose powder - 01 Mousseline Pastel

Eyes:

Tom Ford Extreme Mascara - 01 Raven

Mac eyeshadows - (from top left) Coppering, Swiss Chocolate, Red Brick, Soft Brown

Givenchy Kohl Couture Waterproof

Tom Ford high definition eyeliner - 05 Slate

Eyebrows:

Mac Pro longwear waterproof brow set - Brown Ebony

Mac Veluxe brow liner - Brunette

Mac Big brow pencil - Lingering

Lips:

Tom Ford First time lipstick

Other:

Tom Ford’s Nail Lacquer in 14 Scarlet Chinois

Byerdo’s Super Cedar perfume

On the quest for a lightly covered, dewy, glowing skin. A look into what I am wearing on my skin this Summer.

It’s been a while since we took a look at my current beauty favourites, so instead of the monthly beauty review, I have moved into a seasonal routine. Not only does this work better for me who likes to see myself as a minimalist in the makeup department, but it also gives me a chance to try and test the products properly before recommending them to you.

Let’s start with the base, I’ve been using The Diorskin Everwear primer mainly for the inbuilt SPF 20 (something I have a high respect for nowadays) but also because it really keeps the foundation in place. It’s does not have a illuminating effect to it, which is something I love about the Tom Ford primer that I’ve recommended previously. It really depends what you want from your foundation. In the summer months I am looking for longevity and skin that does not need much correction or top up during the day. So, I find the Dior Forever foundation to be perfect. With a pore refining effect and a inbuilt SPF, this foundation is a bit on the ‘heavy side’ so you will not need a thick layer. On some days when I want a even more of a natural finish, I blend a bit of the primer into the foundation before applying. I’ve always preferred the use of a well covering foundation on my skin as it does not wear off during the day.

From the many pricey brushed I’ve tried, L’oreal’s new sculpting brush, is my favourite. Ideal for travel with the double brushes, but also amazing quality for it’s price. Same goes for the L’oreal Infallible sculpt contouring palette. It’s one of the best contouring duets I’ve tried, very easy to use and a perfectly balanced creamy texture without being too sticky. I’ve found the highlighter creases a bit, especially if worn under the eye area, So I recommend only using it as a highlighter, not a concealer. Also vital to not choose a colour too dark for your skin, or you might find it hard to use, mine is 03 Medium Dark. 

A surprising newcomer has been the Estée Lauder Perfectionist serum concealer, that comes with both a cream and a stick concealer. While the cream gives a lot of coverage (you only need a very small amount) the stick end works wonders on dark eye circles and has been my trusted touch up tool on the go.

As for the finish, I became familiar with Bobbi Brown's Shimmer brick compact highlighter in a pervious post and I still keep going back to it. It will last you forever and gives the perfect glow without the glitter. I finish the contouring with a few swipes of the Givenchy glow bronzers, these two products have a very similar finish and is the best way to ‘seal’ the skin after contouring. A loose powder has usually been a bit scary to me because of how thick and matte they tend to look, however the Givenchy’s loose powder has a beautiful sheerness to it, but you will not need much.

My eye routine has not changed that much, I still love the Tom Ford Extreme Mascara and Mac eyeshadows that has a slight red tint to them. For the days that I want a bit more dept to my eyes, I use Givenchy Kohl Couture or the Tom Ford high definition eyeliner for both the inner and outer lash line. As for the best eyebrow products, I still favour Mac over the many tested alternatives. I usually buy the pens in two different shades, one to fill in and other to give shape.

What else? Tom Ford has been a favourite for lip products this summer, I absolutely adore the the branding and names of the TF lips collections. The name is already convincing! For a cute, or in my opinion perfect balance of nude and pink, ‘First Time’ does the trick. On top of all this, there is a few additional beauty products that I have been favouring lately. Red nails continues it’s ongoing success in my book, Tom Ford’s Nail Lacquer in Scarlet Chinois has the prefect flirty red for the warmer months. A current favourite, without leaning too much towards orange, it nails (all puns intended) the ideal summer red lacquer. In the perfume section I am all over Byerdo’s new unisex scent - Super Cedar. Light, but not too sweet, summery but not floral, you simply have to try it!

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Get Started: tips on starting a blog, from the right technology to fighting fear

This month marks the seventh anniversary of FFG's existence. I like to think of it as lucky seven, really, as each and every day that I get to call this crazy world of mine a "job" is another day where I'm feeling pretty lucky indeed. But, as I've said before, and I'll say again and again, it's not all been smooth sailing. There have been ups and downs, crazy times and hard times. But there's a bigger story here and it's about getting started and keeping the momentum. To tell the story, and to hopefully provide some inspiration to those of you that are sitting here thinking, "how can I move forward in starting a blog or a social entity," I've teamed up with Currys PC World to share my "get started" adventure. In truth, this is a collaboration that is near and dear to my heart as I believe having the right tools can be just as important as having the guts to get going.

True story, in August 2009, I started Fashion Foie Gras with an HP laptop, from a Starbucks in Holborn, on my lunch hour. I had a full time job, was working about 12 hours a day, and had never before really taken a full lunch hour in the eight years I had been employed there. It should be said that I was a workaholic. But, the whole lunch hour phenomenon changed for me at that point, the moment I bought the URL for FFG. I was taking a pledge that the lunch hour in question would be my launchpad. And so, from that day forward, I became a regular in my local Starbucks. The baristas knew my face and my order - tall skinny latte, extra hot, two splendas, wet. So American, I know. I would come in, open my laptop, click into the free wifi and let my fingers do the walking and talking. I think on average, in the first year, I was posting something crazy like 20 news stories a day on FFG. I would sit at my desk, in my full time job, and my laptop would tease me from my bag. It was my gateway to another world and I was creating it one hour at a time, from a local coffee shop. That was the beginning and then the obsession took hold. I was creating more as I took the bus home at night after work, and even more after that as I wrote regularly until 2 or 3am every evening! My laptop was always with me and only ever closed when I was working in my full-time job. All other hours my laptop was open and in use, whether on a plane or sitting on a beach attempting a holiday. Sounds absurd right? Well, seemed it seven years ago as I wasn't sure where the one hour rendezvouses with my HP laptop would take me. 

If only I knew then what I know now... mainly that the 10,000 hour rule seems to be true. I'm sure you've heard this rule before, if you do anything for 10,000 or more hours you become an expert? Well, I'm pretty sure I racked up that many hours in the first three years of FFG's life. And after that three years I was able to take what was a dream and turn it into a full time job.

So, how did I do it? There are a few simple rules that I'll say are absolutely key in starting out as a blogger or social influencer and they go a little something like this:

• Get started. Yes, sounds basic, right? Well, this seems to be the first hurdle for absolutely everyone. I hear, "but, I don't know what to write about," or "what if people think I sound stupid?' Well, here's the great thing. No one is reading you in the beginning. You are writing into a big black open void where the readers will eventually find their way into, but for now, it's just you, your laptop and a publishing tool. You can write about absolutely anything. What do you love? Not sure, write about a bunch of things and take some time to read your own emotions as you are doing so. Are you excited? Frustrated? Trust the excited gut reaction. You'll want to write about the things you love, because this will in fact lead you to greatness. Love conquers all, and the songwriters weren't just talking about romantic love. Being online and in the spotlight will require a great deal of grit and the love of a topic will allow you to persevere through it all. Trust me.

• Embrace technology and get yourself the best tech. This is perhaps one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Make sure you have technology you can rely upon. Choose a great laptop. I still love HP and use a HP Pavilion x 360, from Currys PC World at present. HP's been good for me, what can I say? And technology has really come a long way in seven years. My entire creative process is realised, from video to photo editing, on my laptop. I use Windows 10/Microsoft Office Home 365, which helps manage my business, allowing me to keep track of finances on Excel and send invoices, etc, with Word. I also am religious about backing up - both my computer and blog, which I keep on a My Passport external hard drive. One can never be too careful and I can't stress enough that an external hard drive will become your best friend, besides your laptop. My Passport device has also become my portable inspiration. It stores all of my pictures and mood boards for design projects and can easily be accessed on the go. I like to think of it is as my portable encyclopedia of fashion.

• Throw fear out the window. I can't stress this enough, folks. Fear isn't an option. Fear of not being successful, fear of being discovered as a fraud, fear of failure in general. This isn't about anything other than pursuing a passion, so there are no wrong turns. You can only learn more about what works and what doesn't, what you love and what you loathe and finally, whether or not this is all a right fit for you at all - it isn't for everyone, but it's sure worth a try. And this leads nicely onto my next point...

• Do it for the love, not the recognition. Over the years I have met so many men and women that have jumped into the world of blogging and social influencers for one reason and one reason only - fame. You know what? Not one person I have met with this goal in mind from the start is someone who I would classify as happy or satisfied in what they do. There is always another mountain to climb, always someone that has more followers than them or has more campaigns under their hat. If you take one day at a time and be appreciative of your own talents, of your little piece that you put out into this big old world, then each day becomes a win. Don't look sideways, don't look down and don't look above. There is enough room in this world for each of us to be unique and successful, online and off. 

• Work hard. A blog or social account doesn't build itself. It requires effort and it shouldn't be easy. If it's easy, you don't want it badly enough. Sure, it may appear to get easier, but the easier it gets the harder you should be working. Trust me on this, the hard work always pays off. If you want it, it will come to you. Put in every ounce of energy you have and you will be handsomely rewarded. You are the boss here. This is your site or your account, you control how much effort goes in and I'm telling you that anything less than everything you've got will give you something that is subpar and the online world will know it. What do you have to lose in giving it your all? Time? If you're doing what you love, it won't feel like a waste of time at all? And if you're doing what you love it also won't feel like hard work at all. A little trick scenario there, eh? 

At the end of of the day, it's all about getting started and keeping it going. If you have the write attitude, the best technology to support you and a topic you love to write about, the world's your oyster.

Now, in keeping in line with the "the best technology" theme, I want to make sure that you have what you need to get started. In teaming up with Currys PC World, I've been given an opportunity to run a very special competition in which I will be giving away too top of the line laptops to readers. Watch this space as I'll be announcing the competition soon. You won't want to miss this!

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The Flamingo clutch you need in your life right now!

I feel as if this is sort of a public service announcement for those of you that are crazy about flamingos. It should be said, I am a part of that particular population. Flamingos are most definitely the hottest bird in fashion. Maybe it's the long supermodel like legs or the bright pink feathers that have us all head over heels for these lovelies. Who knows, but the trend has no end in sight.

The latest must have for flamingo fashion collectors come courtesy of a British legend - John Lewis. Yes, this flamingo clutch is a John Lewis original and it's coming to the table with a very reasonable price tag. Get thee to John Lewis immediately. This is summer fashion at it's best and most affordable.

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Happy Happy!

Woweee!! I just reached 24k followers on my Instagram page! Thank you everyone for your love. Me and Ruby are off out for some lunchtime carrot cocktails to celebrate.

bunny kisses
Fifi Lapin
xxx

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Style Update: Total Texture

I've become a student of texture over the past year. Call me obsessed but I love soft silks, sumptuous suedes and scaly snakeskin. And yes, this whole ensemble is a bit of an ode to texture, combining all of the aforementioned favourites.

What I'm wearing:

Marks & Spencer parachute dress, Marks & Spencer Suede reversible jacket, Aspinal of London clutch, Empire State Finery Necklace 

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The Dorchester launches Ice Cream Afternoon Tea

Londoners and visitors to the big smoke, get ready for afternoon tea with a summer twist. The Dorchester have once again added a bit of flare to their Afternoon Tea, launching the Ice Cream Afternoon Tea in The Promenade, and it all kicks off today! In honour of such a monumental movement, I was given a sneak peak at the goodies on offer just days before the big public reveal. Consider this your official first look. Maybe not be suitable for work... as in you'll be tempted to bail on your desk immediately and head over for a mini ice cream.

I think the pictures say so much more than words ever could, so I'll let you peruse and drool as you do. But, let me leave you with a reason to keep a heads up in a week's time. I'll be co-launching a very special competition with The Dorchester to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week. Here's a hint. Start snapping up pictures of ice cream, similar to the one I took above. It can be anywhere at anytime, just keep them at the ready for Monday afternoon, next week. 

Fashion Foie Gras was a guest of The Dorchester for tea.

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Shoe of the Month: Dior Conquest Pumps

DIOR Conquest Pumps

Available in a few last pair in black and white

H&M shirt

THE KOOPLES leather jacket

Before we dive into August, I’m going to tease educate you with a pair that truly deserves a shoe of the month feature. As already firmly stated before, Dior really did some magic this year by created these insane beautiful patent sandals right after I had already splurged on the Cruise collection’s satin boots. Although it’s not often that we talk about Dior’s shoes under specific names, these go under ‘Conquest’.

Pointy, sharp, high heels really sets my soul on fire, that you know! I’ve spent the last year hunting down the best, oversized ruffle blouses on the market without even thinking about how that idea would translate into a pair of heels. Well, now we know. It’s the shape, the platform-lacking arch and the brilliantly balanced chunky heel with the pointy toe that does it. The carefree wrap (that definitely looks more casual than it feels) finished off with a high vinyl-like shine. I’m sold, they are sold-out = These do without a doubt take the cake as the shoe of the season.

This summer has been big for Dior, especially in London, as we (finally) welcomed a significant expansion in the form of a new flagship store on Bond Street, allowing us to shop the full range of everything Dior under one roof for the first time in the UK. But in true french fashion, I shot this pair in Paris in one of Hotel Particulier’s suites, aka. My new favourite place in Paris.

Comfort: 2/5

One of my most uncomfortable pair. The straps need to be pulled very tight to not have the side straps ‘hanging’. Also the heel is made too heavy which makes walking quite difficult and painful. It’s slow-motion movement and sit down dinners with this precious pair.

Quality: 4/5 

While the patent leather is a bit more forgiving than normal leather, the heel is made of soft leather and does starch quite easily. Otherwise from that, the shoe is stunning and you can tell from miles away what there is a designer pair coming through.

Purchase price: £750 in Dior London, March 2016

Dior does not sell these online, so these are only available in the main stores and the bigger department houses like Harrods.The shoes comes in three heights, flats, a lower heel and the one featured.

Sizing: Runs true to size. In this case it’s very important to have the sizing on point as the heel is open and walking in these is already a bit challenging. Mine are a size 37, my usual size.

A special thank you to Hotel Particular Montmartre

Photos by Lasse  

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