Won’t you have some tea?

It turns out that I’m really predictable… who on earth would have thought it?!

But the sheer volume of floral kitchen ware that I’ve been given in the past 6 months has made it painfully clear….

The tea set with the duck egg blue interior and the gold rims is the only thing I bought myself. £15 on eBay. Such a bargain. I love it to death.

The floral and gold edged cake stand = housewarming present from MummyApples.  Who knew she had taste?! She’s a good egg.

V&A cake tins = Christmas pressie from Jacq.

Blue Cath Kidston breakfast set = birthday pres from Bonk and Nick.  It comes with an egg cup and in a cute, floral lunch box which is now the prettiest first aid box ever.

Gorgeous buff and pink floral Oliver Bonas bowls (front left) from Hannah.

V&A Butterfly tea cup, saucer and side plate set = Gaëlle

This gorgeous hand-made mug  from my favourite Swede, Fia, is my new favourite for green tea. It’s huge too, so I don’t have to keep refilling.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Olly isn’t quite so enthusiastic about all of this… in fact, I think he sorely regrets moving in with me.  Too late!! And just think how awesome my next tea party is going to be?!

 

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CB @ LFW

Thank god for the fact that most fashion shows and exhibitions start late.  If that wasn’t the case, I might have ended up missing Christopher Beales “When the Crystal Crack’d”  collection.  As someone who is constantly at least 20 minutes late (I honestly don’t know how it happens… I think I’m faulty. I can’t read a map either), most of my travelling time is spent checking my watch, cursing traffic lights and having a nervous breakdown.  But all’s well ends well and I made it to the Rag Factory in Brick Lane before the doors opened. Pheeew …

After 15 years of working with some of the biggest names in the business,  Christopher Beales has managed to put together a 16 piece fashion exhibition, using a mixture of fabrics and metals, which sits on the boarder between fashion and art.

Guess, which is my favourite…? I am such a magpie.

By combining traditional clothing materials such as silks, wool and leather, with elements such as aluminium, stones and crystal, Christopher manages to toughen up what would have been an already striking and feminine collection.

Using a full spectrum of colours from dusky rose to black, as well sharp asymmetrical shapes, Christopher ensure that his designs are both contemporary and startling…  And judging by the enthusiastic and giddy reactions of the people around me, I’m not the only one who thought so.

www.christopherbeales.co.uk

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Hurry up Summer!

A few stray crocuses have sprung up on the lawn, daffodils are on sale in Sainsburys and it’s getting slowly staying lighter for longer…

Is it too early to start planning my Summer wardrobe? Bearing in mind that I never did buy a Winter wardrobe, I just wore all of my Summer stuff with Uniqlo Heat Tech underneath (they are amazing!!)…

Topshop £25

I want to wear this floral, racer-back vest with cut off denims and chunky wedges while frolicking in Primrose Hill, drinking pear cider and eating houmous and falafel.

Ahhh Summer… Start already!

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Love/Hate

Like the knuckles.

LOVE:

I spotted this in a magazine and almost died because I love it so much.  Then I spotted the price and almost died again…!

Oh my god, I might have to kill myself. It’s just that good.

I’ve had a thing for snails ever since I found a massive slug(not a snail) in my wardrobe (while living in the worst flat) that I killed with salt. My boyfriend named him Snaily Jim(even though it was a slug) and then I felt so guilty that I cried… Aaaaanyway… (!).

The necklace is part of Katie Hillier‘s Paperclips collection and features all sorts of adorableness such as bees, hedgehogs, owls… Made from precious metal and precious or semi precious stones, prices start at £295 for the budget(!) silver range and around £850 for the gold range.

HATE:

Is it just me, or does anyone else hate a curly shoe?

These pumps would be great if they didn’t curl. Eurgh.. why?!?

Curly shoes remind me of that scene in The Wizard of Oz after the ruby slippers are transferred to Dorothy and those scary legs curl up and slide under the house.  Terrifying!

Don’t believe me? Looky here (around 40 seconds in).

Flats from Topshop. £50

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Happy Val Day Sab…

If you’re reading this, then you’re probably not making the most of/being sucked into the idea of mega romance on Valentines day… and since I’m typing this, neither am I.

I’m not that bothered about chocolate (must not eat chocolate… must not eat chocolate…), flowers (carrying my birthday flowers home from work really did make me feel a bit wootzy) or champagne (Ok, that last statement is false) but I hate that I’m missing this:

http://www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk/offers/bedroom-offers/valentines-at-tigerlily/

Yes ok, perhaps a bit of a Valentine’s cheese fest, but any excuse to stay in Tigerlily. Literally. Any. Excuse.

No trip home is complete (or any good) without it!

Can I please have cloud lights at home?

Pink carpeted spiral steps and a glitter ball? Yup, I’ll have ’em.

I’m such an afternoon tea fiend…

But who doesn’t love tiny cakes?  They’re so wee that they can’t be bad for you.

The strawberries count as 1 of my 5 a day.  That’s my defence and I’m sticking to it.

The bar is so pretty that I can barely concentrate on the drinks menu!

Not quite sure what the fuzzy pink flowers are but it sets off the colour of wine perfectly… it’s all about the finishing touches.

And if the eye candy isn’t enough, they do an amazing breakfast!

You really need to go! Go Now!

www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk

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…it must be you…

How adorable is this badge from The Literary Gift Company?

A week after my birthday and I’m still being spoiled rotten by lovely friends and family.

And anyone who hasn’t read a Haruki Murakami novel should start immediately. Weird, Japanese gorgeousness ft. talking cats, crazy sheepmen, ear models, rice balls, Second World War soldiers, Johnny Walker and fish rain…  Stunning.  Stunning.  Stunning.

 

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Mad About Hugh

I love love love a shiny(or matt) manicure… although I’ve got too many nail varnishes to be able to justify having my nails done professionally very often.   And what if the colour I’ve picked when I do decide to splurge doesn’t suit me?! Browsing forever is one thing, but when under pressure, with a nail technician waiting impatiently for you to pick a colour, how do you decide?  When in doubt, I think you should just plump for the best name…

These 3 by Essie are favourites for their names alone… and luckily the colours rock too.
Clam Bake

Bahama Mama

Tart Deco

£9.50

Nails By Mail

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Happy birthday to me!

Crumbs. Getting older is a scary thing. More responsibility, a slower metabolism (please don’t slow down, please don’t slow down…) and just being generally forced to grow up. So how do you make it less terrifying? Having the best party/friends and family ever helps.  Maybe it’s old age that’s making me a bit soppy, or maybe I really do know some awesome people…

Watching Jurassic Park in a cinema with 60 of your friends is definitely the best way to start a new decade…

Followed by 12 hours in a bar filled with chums and balloons.

Eating almost a whole Red Velvet is quite fun too (Arg metabolism… please don’t slow down..! Olly botched up the icing with the cloche before I even laid eyes on it.)

And if that’s not enough, there were presents too. Quite a lot of them:

A winter birthday might mean that I’ll never be able to have a picnic birthday party but flowers like these stop me from moping too much.

I didn’t think it was possible to improve cake… but it turns out that I was wrong.

You can never have too many scarves or corsages.

How sweet is this dinosaur necklace? Hand made for me by a talented friend.

Statement rings are a welcome addition to any outfit.

In the absence of sunshine, I’m opting for chunky florals…

I hate to brag, but I’ve got a fab book shelf.

Everyone knows that getting older means getting more forgetful, so Jacq put together an album of my best bits!

My best bits include red cords and a raspberry flavoured, white chocolate mocha!

This much longed for Roberts Radio will be perfect with the blue flamingo bedroom walls that I hope to have soon!

I’ve got books on sewing, and I’ve now got a sewing machine. All I now need is a ounce of skill!

Here’s hoping that all my birthdays will be as bloody lovely as this one.

xx

 

 

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Three Small Apples at Harvey Nichols!!!

How do you know that you’ve spent too much time/money in a bar? When they name a drink after you.

Is it soft that this brought a tear to my eye?

Hello dear friend… I knew we’d meet someday.

***available at the Forth Floor bar at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh until the end of Feb***

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