The Love list

As I've mentioned in some of my recent posts I've been spending a lot of time on Pinterest of late. 

I've always been a fan of scrapbooking and I guess websites like Pinterest are only the natural online progression of this interest. I find inspiration for so many areas of my life on this site it's unreal - but I do sometimes find it difficult to actually put anything that I've found to good use. Because of this I've decided to start up the Love List again, a regular post where I can have the chance to show you what I've been finding, what I've been loving and what I've actually been doing lately.

So lets get started with...The Spiralizer
Hold the phone: this kitchen utensil has CHANGED MY LIFE. 
That's right, capitals.

Although this piece of equipment takes up a ginormous amount of room in the kitchen cupboard, it is so so worth it. I've used it at least once a week since I bought it and my daily intake of vegetables has definitely increased, which can only be a good thing.

LOTD
There's been a severe lack of outfit posts on the blog of late but now that Zsa Zsa and I don't work together, I am yet to find a suitable alternative photographer to take my look of the day images. Zsa and I have some dates planned specifically for this purpose but it's not really the same to not have my lunchtime companion for a wander in the city. I can't wait to get some of my latest ensembles up on the blog so watch this space.

Honeymooning
Naturally, I've found myself thinking a lot lately about honeymoon destinations over recent weeks. After extensive research, I've sort of got my heart set on Burma. Only problem is, we're getting married in rainy season so we may have to settle for a mini-moon followed by the actual honeymoon later in the year. That is, if I can persuade The Boy that this is the honeymoon he wants too!

Hen Do (Not Hen Don't)
I've also been busy hen do planning with the girls (naturally, I already have a plan) which will obviously include some sort of fancy dress. Not sure on the theme yet but some form of Romy and Michelle/Clueless/Desperately Seeking Susan fashion mash up would be amazing. Fancy dress doesn't have to be tacky, throw in a spot of planning and some creativity and it can actually be great fun.

So there you have it, lots of daydreaming and planning and some real, live cooking! Who would have thought it, there is life outside of the realms of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The Love list: What a girl* wants

My thirtieth birthday is drawing near and I'm being nagged on an almost daily basis by various friends and relatives with the question "what do you want for your birthday?".

The honest truth is I really don't know. Now that I work full time I tend to buy myself the things that I want as and when I save up enough money to afford them so, really, I want for nothing. I'm trying to not really spend, am saving for a both a house deposit and a holiday so basically I'm trying to think through my purchases and not be too impulsive with my shopping.

That being said...there's always the odd treat that catches my eye, so here's what I'm loving lately for all you wonderful people considering buying me something - however, your presence alone at my birthday celebrations is enough of a treat for me.

1. Jewellery
I'm 29 and I'm still wearing costume jewellery. The one piece that I own that doesn't turn my skin green is my watch which The Boy bought me for Christmas and I know I'll cherish and wear forever.

I've been after a pair of gold studs for a while now to replace the pair I wear currently but other than that I like my jewellery to be a little bit different. Not your usual Elizabeth Duke affair.

Here are some of the items I've currently got my eye on.

 Hammered ring - Monica Vinader £50 and  Rio bracelets - Monica Vinader £130 each

I'd love to start collecting jewellery by Monica Vinader and stacking rings and bracelets like these.

2. Grown up pyjamas

 Satin Pyjamas - Victoria's Secret $69.50

I feel like maybe it might be time to throw out the Primark thermal numbers I seem to have lived in since my student years and invest in some real, bonafide grown up pyjamas. These ones come in a variety of patterns and colours.

3. New kicks
I'm on a bit of a health kick at the mo so have been going out running, hitting the bike and just generally trying to get myself moving so I've naturally been leaning more towards gym kit than high fashion items. I've been lusting after some Nike Free Runs for a while now and have finally decided on this pair, perfect not only for a work out but also for the walk home.

Nike Free Run+ 5.0 - £80

4. Perfume
Following being told on a recent night out that my perfume looks like a bottle of Blue Nun (thanks Dan) I've decided that it might be time to change things up a little. One perfume that I've always liked but never really been able to justify buying is J'adore by Dior.

J'adore by Dior - £56 for 50ml

5. Books

My flat is piled high with books covering almost every genre but two more that I'd love to add to my collection are two books by Tim Walker - Story Teller and Pictures, and Grace by Grace Coddington.

 All available on Amazon

So there you have it, all the things I'm currently lusting after but can't really justify treating myself to at the moment, just in case anybody is feeling generous.

*woman

The Love List

It's been a while since I've written a Love List so thought it was about time I shared some of the bits and pieces I've been lusting after lately.

As some of you may know, I start a new job this week (eeeeeek!) so, as usual, I've become obsessed with finding the perfect workwear. I think for me, this summer will be all about accessories - the perfect way to easily (and cheaply) update my already bulging wardrobe. I love the chunky gold rings, below, and an oversize clutch bag is definitely my holdall of choice.

Image from Breakfast at Zara's

 Image from Lucky Mag

Image from (leopard) l'extravagance

 

After all, a spot of neon or a touch of leopard print never did anyone any harm. 

 

I'm also lusting after this top from H&M (and the model's hair) which will be perfect for work during the summer months.

 

 Image from H&M

The warmer weather also has me attempting to eat healthier and be a bit more experimental in what we have for dinner every night. Pinterest and Good Food are my usual sources of inspiration - here's some of the dishes I'm planning on making over the coming months.

Pasta - Image Tartine and and Apron Strings

Ice Lollies - Image from Endless Simmer

Salad - Image from IOWA Girl Eats

Mmmmmm, salad with avocado, my absolute favourite meal.

The love list (salad edition)

As the nights draw in it's tempting to stock up on carb-heavy comfort food but following on from my Half-Marathon training I'm keen to start up a (more) healthy eating plan and have been scouring Pinterest and stocking up on recipe books at the library for inspiration. I'm thinking salads mostly but before you start (and by you I obviously mean The Boy) salads don't need to be boring. Before winter truly sets in and nothing but soup or stew will do to warm the cockles I'm thinking about giving these a go.

  Image taken from Jan-Leasure

I love olives so this Mediterranean Greek Salad is right up my street. Greek salads can be really fattening but as long as you use low fat feta cheese and a low fat dressing (if you use one at all) they can still be a healthy option.

If you're looking for a salad that is detoxing as well as healthy, it's worth trying the Detox Salad by Queen of Quinoa. It's packed full of delicious ingredients and is both gluten-free and suitable for vegans.

Image taken from Queen of Quinoa

 Image taken from Whole Living

Cobb salad is one of my all-time faves (particularly the one served at the Diner) but it has the potential to be calorific - Cheese? Avocado? Bacon? The one shown above makes some minor substitutions to lessen the calories but not the taste. I'll definitely be giving it a try.

I love zucchini, particularly when it's sliced thinly like in the Ribbon Salad shown below, I don't know why it just seems to taste better!

Image taken from Proud Italian Cook

My pre-Christmas detox will probably need to involve a variety of salads for both lunch and dinner in order to see some results. To try and keep things interesting I'm going to start up my week in photos again to encourage me to put some variety on my plate, and hit the market every weekend to pick up some seasonal fruit and veg to mix things up. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

What are your favourite Winter salads?

The Love list

It has been months since I have a written a love list and I'm not really sure why. I've been on Pinterest and Bloglovin almost daily but haven't actually compiled anything for you guys to see what I've been loving - so now's the time!

As much as I've been dieting in preparation for the Half Marathon, I also seem to have been eating a lot of cake lately (mostly due to all the weddings!), couple this with The Great British Bake Off being back on our TV screens and I am in baked goods heaven! Having made Banana Bread for Zsa Zsa's last day at work on Tuesday I am back in a baking mood and have been relying heavily on Pinterest for ideas for the next recipe - one of the dishes that's currently on my radar is this delicious looking Lemon and Blueberry Loaf.

 Image from Erica's Sweet Tooth

I always love Sydney's style over on The Daybook but I fell head over heels when I saw her rocking this little ensemble - the balance and the shapes are just PERFECT, I'm definitely going to have a go at creating something similar.

Image from The Daybook

I can't wait to dig out my knitwear as the weather gets colder. Lily over on LLYMLRS has got me dying to try out some statement necklaces (like the one below) with a chunky knit jumper and my leather jacket - come on Winter!

 Image from LLYMLRS

As much as I've been loving the warmer weather and all the summery weddings I've been going to I must admit I cannot wait for the colder evenings to arrive so I can cuddle up on the sofa with The Boy, go for drinks in the local pub with our best friends and spend Sunday mornings going for long wintery walks along the river. And make these amazing sounding dark chocolate chip and sea salt cookies from A Beautiful Mess - perfect with a cold glass of milk or a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

                                                       Image from A Beautiful Mess

Finally, for all you Mums and Dads out there, I find Pinterest to be a never-ending source for amazing projects and perfect ideas for helping the kids get creative, whilst saving you money along the way. I absolutely adore this simple idea to create a Barbie house using ring binders of all things (if only my Mum had known about this when I was growing up, it would have halted many a tantrum).

Instructions to make the Barbie House can be found here.

The Love list

As much as I've been rambling on of late about my fondness for France, I must say I do love holidaying in England. It must be something to do with the years of summer holidays I spent traveling around Brewery's and craft shops with my family that has me yearning for a British escape (well that and reading the Famous Five and Swallows and Amazons when I was a kid). There's just something about the British seaside and English country villages that will forever hold a place in my heart. 

I've spent many a week in the past wandering around the Isle of Wight with both friends and family and I really want to go again this year. Usually I try and stay in one of the many amazing places owned by Vintage Vacations, like the Shack.

The Shack is an amazing two bedroom cabin looking out onto a wild flower meadow and a secluded cove and beach. In a word, it's magical, and the perfect place for a weekend away. One of the reasons I love staying at the Shack so much is because it's different. It manages to transport you back to a time when you didn't need to worry about charging your phone, because you didn't even have a phone. Bliss

Claire over at Jazzpad is the one who has reignited my passion for holidaying in the UK and also has me desperate to stay at the beautiful Orchard Carriage in Somerset. It looks amazing and, like all that the Shack has to offer, would be the perfect place for a holiday where you can truly relax and unwind. 

You can find Orchard Carriage and many other amazing places to stay over on Canopy and Stars, a great website showcasing unusual retreats in the UK, France, Spain and Portugal. I'm loving The Chapel in Shropshire (hint, hint).

The Love List

I've come to the conclusion recently that I own far too much "stuff". This is something that I guess I've always known but lately, as I stuff another Ikea bag under the bed, I've realised that I can no longer even see the wood for the trees (or, amazing pair of wedges hidden under an old jumper - you get the picture). Therefore I have started what shall become known as The Big Wardrobe Clearout 2012 (not surprisingly Zsa already wants to stay over and help me with this). It's time to cut the crap and actually appreciate some of the truly timeless pieces I've bought over the years. Currently The Boy and I rent but when we have a place of our own I'd love to have a walk in wardrobe (and yes, I'm aware this will probably never happen but hey, a girl can dream right?) so I've been scouring the internet for storage solutions and Carolina Engman over at Fashion Squad has me mesmerized by her shoe storage. 

I mean, wow. Why can't my bedroom be like this? As far as I can see she's simply used Billy bookcases from Ikea which is such an accessible (and cheap) way to create a Hollywood wardrobe on a budget. Bravo Carolina, bravo.

Image by Fashion Squad

Katy over at Rotten Otters Thoughts has also got me thinking of new ways to store my make-up. I've been considering buying some of the clear perspex drawers that every make-up blogger seems to have but I'm worried that I'll get them really dirty REALLY quickly and would rather have something that's easier to clean. Therefore I'm planning on following Katy's lead (sorry Dad, this means another trip to Ikea) and pick up a Helmer drawer unit with some Antonius drawer inserts. Nice and organised and not offensive to the eye.

Image by Katy at Rotten Otters Thoughts

Also, in an effort to curb my frivolous spending altogether, I stumbled across this insightful blog by Jeff Atwood entitled Buying Happiness. This blog post focuses around how: "if you're fortunate enough to have a good income, how you spend your money has a strong influence on how happy – or unhappy – it will make you feel". 

Read it. And weep.

The Love List

The weather has been really getting me down lately (this morning on my trip to the market I'm pretty sure I experienced all four seasons in the space of an hour) and this has led to me feeling "stuck in a rut" with my wardrobe. I find myself dieing to put on my summer sandals and dresses but whenever I do I'm left resembling a pack horse, usually carrying an umbrella, some spare shoes and a jacket "just in case" the heavens (inevitably) open. As usual, I'm relying on some of my favourite blogs for inspiration. One that never fails to reignite my passion for all things fashion is Style Scrapbook. Andy has such a strong sense of her own style and I must say, I love her look. Here's some of my favourites of Andy's looks from the month of May.

All images by Style Scrapbook

Andy even owns the Zara shirt that I've been lusting after for weeks (and this week finally bought). Can't wait to wear it with a pair of black trousers with a paper-bag waist and *shock horror* no jacket!

All this time stuck indoors due to the weather has got me thinking (yet again) about redecorating. I have a minor obsession with photo frames (there's just something about surrounding yourself with images of the ones you love that can't help but lift your mood) and this image (taken from The Decorista) have me wanting to rush out and buy even more. I love the look of a white wall with different sized frames grouped together. I can't wait until The Boy and I have a real place all of our own so I can let my imagination run wild (you can't tell can you?).

Image from The Decorista

Recently, Tamara over at Glam and Glitter 4ever has had me a) wishing I was on holiday, and b) heading to the gym pronto (I need her beach body ASAP). Seriously, it makes me sick that it's possible to look that good! That being said, I love Tamara's blog, she dresses really well and her blog always makes me want to step up my game in the style stakes - check it out if you love all things fashion.

 Image by Glam and Glitter 4ever

As you know, this week I've been off work work and although I've been attempting to be healthy I am looking forward to the return of healthy eating next week when things get back to normal. I have generally been attempting a mix of weight watchers and elements of The Londoner's Anti-diet with little success (again, next week it's ALL GO) and am dieing to try her Skinny Shrimp Bowls, as they look delish and are super healthy.

 Image by The Londoner

You may get the impression that I'm thinking a lot about the way I look lately, and you'd be right. With Summer supposedly here, a marathon to run in a few months and many a wedding approaching, I want to get fit and feel good. Not that I don't feel good already. Having lost three and a half stone I'm pretty happy as I am, but I want to tone up and feel confident (even when wearing *gulp* a swimsuit). I am currently on my seventh day of the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred - watch this space to see how I get on!

The Love List

I've been talking a lot lately about getting back into some of my favourite childhood hobbies, one of which being drawing. When I was younger I used to draw before breakfast, easily cracking out a few designs before I'd even woken up properly but as I've got older, weeks go by without me even opening my sketch pad. This needs to change; I need to get my creative mojo back. Caroline over at Fashion Squad has also been doing some drawing lately and has inspired me to hit an art shop and pick up some new pens and art supplies.

I'm also desperate to try out making some of these DIY studded shoes (by Laura over at That's So Yesterday) as they look amazing and seem relatively easy to do. This is something that I've always wanted to try out but I'm yet to find the perfect stud or even the perfect shoe - I'm going to keep my eye out at the carboot sale for some shoes to attempt this look with.

Reading  A Beautiful Mess every evening before I fall asleep keeps me inspired right through into the following day, as not only do I simply love their blog but their craft and DIY posts usually end up being both beautiful and ingenious. I was so inspired by their song lyric wall art project to make The Boy a piece of art for part of his birthday present (see below), which I'm pretty pleased with I'm not going to lie. I always find that making something as a gift is always so much more personal than simply popping to shops and buying the obligatory smellies gift set.