Category Archives: Finds

Hen Heaven

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*First of all, Jess, if you are reading this, avert your eyes!

In just 7 weeks, I am hosting the hen do for Jess, my best friend, ahead of her end of August wedding. After the incredible hen do she planned for me, along with my other bridesmaids Laura and my sister, I’m feeling the pressure a little bit and also super excited.

The location is set (and shall remain a secret,) accommodation booked and a variety of activities lined up. Now all that remains to plan are the obligatory hen games every hen should be subjected to. I know they’re cliched and cheesy, but they’re also a great way for a group of ladies who don’t necessarily know each other to break the ice and possibly find out more than they ever wanted to know about each other. ;)

I remember one such game at my hen do where each lady was given a banana, a piece of string and a balloon. (You can see where this is going…) The banana’s were suspended by the string around each participants waist and the object of the game was for them to get themselves and their balloon from the one side of the room to the other using only their banana – hands were tied behind their backs. Cue much laughter, admiration over other competitors ‘bananas’ and a whole lot of thrusting hilarity. I should add this all took place thankfully in the privacy of the rented house we stayed in!

I can’t think of a better place then here to find some new ideas for hen party games to break the ice with – from your own hen party, or perhaps one you organised or attended. I’d be so grateful if you could leave me a comment with some suggestions of games you and the hen have enjoyed over the years and so I can steal them come July!

Thanks in advance readers – you’re all superstars :)

Love,
Rebecca
xo

*Image above from Bridesmaids the movie – possibly one of the funniest films I have ever seen. Have you seen it? Did you like it?

Monday Must Have: StyleUp Daily

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When it comes to styling myself, I draw a lot of inspiration from the blogs that I read; some fashion and some lifestyle orientated. That’s what motivates me to share my own outfits, because I enjoy seeing other peoples. I tend to read a specific style of blog though which doesn’t leave me with much variation in the fashion inspiration I’m seeing. I also find it limiting when people have a strong personal sense of style, as I may love their outfits most of the time but I don’t want to look like an identikit copy nor do I own their wardrobe! If only there was someone to trawl the internet looking for outfit inspiration for me. Well it turns out there is!

A while ago I found StyleUp via an interview with its founder, Kendall Herbst. I clicked through and discovered what the site was all about. Sign up, and Monday to Friday you receive a shot of outfit inspiration (in the form of a street style snap of bloggers, celebrities and normal people wearing a great outfit) to give you ideas for what to wear that day. Each outfit is chosen to suit the weather in your location, so no breezy LA outfits to frustrate me in rainy Manchester! The idea is that it encourages you to think again about what you have in your wardrobe already and reinterpret according to current trends.

It’s a clever idea and I can’t imagine the work that must have gone into creating it. When you sign up the site asks you a couple of short questions about how you describe your style and gives you some outfit pairs to choose between, then the info you have given helps them decide which inspiration shot you receive each day. Your personal settings are further honed as you use the service, as you can feedback each day on whether you like the outfit or not, which in turn influences your emails in future.

The site extends to a community which I haven’t tapped into yet where your comments on your daily StyleUp‘s go and other users can agree or not, plus you can upload your own outfits for opinions.

I’m loving it, hence me sharing here. So far 70-80% of the images I have been sent have been a hit and whilst I don’t use it to get dressed in the morning, the inspiration stays with me when I’m outfit planning for a getaway, event or just the weekend.

Give it a go guys – I think you’ll love it!

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Colour Covet: Pastel Pretties

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Right now, I am all about Pastel and it’s particularly seasonally appropriate with Easter coming up… always a pastel pretty affair. Fortunately so many of my favourite things are currently being released in a pastel edition and I’ve rounded up pastels for every aspect of your life today.

 
Are you embracing pastels this spring?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

The Big Spring List…

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Last autumn, I created a list of thing I wanted to do in the coming months and I think it helped me embrace the season and make the most of all the joy it brings, so I decided to make it a bi-annual event and write a spring list too.

I think everybody loves spring. It’s a close call which season is my favourite if I’m honest but as winter is definitely my least favourite there’s something joyous about emerging into longer days, spring sunshine, bright colours and lighter food. Join in by making your list in the comments section below and just for fun go back and see if you managed any of your planned Autumn escapades.

Here’s a list of the things I’ll be trying to squeeze in this spring…

  1. Take a trip to the seaside and walk in the wind on the beach.
  2. Go daffodil spotting on a long walk.
  3. Eat spring lamb in a gastro pub somewhere pretty.
  4. Celebrate Easter with chocolate recipes and mini-eggs.
  5. Get back to regular exercise as the nights get lighter and start running again.
  6. Tidy up and re-arrange the back garden to make it ready for al fresco dining.
  7. Start growing seeds for the allotment.
  8. Take a trip to London to catch up with blog buddies and friends.
  9. Remember what the sun feels like on my skin.
  10. Plan a weekend away for one of the May bank holiday weekends.

Now it’s your turn…

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Spread the Valentine’s Love…

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Valentine’s day is a little bit like Marmite. People either love it or hate it but that appears to be a uniquely British attitude propagated by a combination of stiff upper lip and abject scorn at those who want to wear their hearts on their sleeves. I definitely fall into the love it camp, although only when it’s done the right way. I don’t believe in celebrating your relationship once a year but everyday. I can take or leave the over priced restaurant tables and tacky black and red V-day paraphernalia, but for once I think our friends across the pond have got it right and I love the idea of celebrating all of those people you love and telling them so. My Mum often sends me parcels for Valentines day with cute presents and notes. I think it’s a shame we don’t embrace that side of it more.

Should the fancy take you, I’ve been collecting a selection of treats and DIY’s to inspire you. Even if you don’t make them, they’re pretty sweet for a Monday :)


Date Night Valentine Arrows // Valentines garland mailer DIY // DIY Heart gift wrap // Rock Sugar Cookies // Heart topped fruit tart // Sweet Pea Valentine gifts // Heart Tree installation // Chocolate Pomegranate tart // Make heart shaped cinnamon rolls // Pink lemonade cake.

So, now it’s over to you. Do you celebrate V-day with your beloved, or less traditionally with family and friends? I’d love to hear what you’re doing and if you’ve made anything. For us this year it’ll be some QT at home with M&S food ;)

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Some Fabulous for your Friday

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I’m doing a whole lot of reasearch right now on different projects I’m planning and I’ve seen some beautiful things I wanted to share with you all. So here’s some fabulous for your friday. Fabulous finds from around the web…

Flower on wall Giclee Art Print, Silso on Etsy

Bright Pastel Ceramics from Mia Blanche (via Decor8)

Bathroom by Greg Natale (via Oh Joy)

Donna Karen pre-fall ’13

Julia Childs quote chalkboard print, via Lily and Val on Etsy

Your Friday Food: Chocolate cake glazed donut holes, via How Sweet it is

Love,
Rebecca
xo

#JanuaryJoy – Make something crafty

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Today’s post has been somewhat thwarted by the weather. Each #JanuaryJoy prompt was designed to get me to tackle some of the things I love spending time on but so often get overlooked for life’s mundane tasks. With all good intentions I had my craft supplies at the ready this weekend then was unable to get outside due to snow to do my spray painting and start today’s crafty experiment. But I thought I would share what I was planning anyway and make some suggestions for what you might embark upon.


Image Credit: Up in the Air Somewhere

If you have ever been on Pinterest, you must have seen this beautiful handmade gold stripe tray. Made by ceramics design store Up in the Air Somewhere on Etsy, it satisfies all my design lust and current love affair with rich glamorous gold. So I decided I would make my own.

Initially I planned to buy some clay and make its exact likeness, but not only is that time consuming, but it is also ripping off somebody else’s design. Whilst somebody may choose to do that in the privacy of their own home, I don’t want to encourage it here. I also wanted to keep the cost down, or I may as well buy the coveted ceramic tray, so I bought a simple (purple incidentally,) rectangular tray with handles cut out of the sides from Home Sense, (very similar in shape to this one.) I have worked with gold leaf before, so have a bit of a head start as it can be fiddly, but my plan is to spray paint the tray high gloss white and then tape on the striped pattern and gold leaf the exposed surface on the base of the tray’s interior before removing the tape to expose the pattern and sealing with a varnish.

If you fancy doing the same thing, a quick scout around the internet found me several tutorials of how other people have interpreted the design:

1. This one uses high shine gold tape to get the same effect
2. Use liquid leaf on a ceramic tray for an easy way of getting the glow of gold leaf.
3. The easiest way would be to use spray on gold paint like this (also simpler) design.
4. Or if you’re feeling wild, how about an animal print look?

Do you need a craft project?

Tell me, what will you be turning your hand to this January for a hit of creativity? Inspire me readers!

Love,
Rebecca
xo

PS, I’m also planning on making initialed or monogrammed thank you cards with my embossing tool. :)

The Perfect Party: Florence Finds for Reverie

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I absolutely love entertaining and this year Pete and I are hosting a New Years Eve party. I’m getting really excited about setting the scene, creating signature cocktails and feasting with all my friends.


Image credits: Invites, Paperless Post // Balloons // Cocktail // Table decor // Party Hats

Yesterday I shared my top 5 tips for festive entertaining with Reverie Magazine’s blog. Head on over to read about my ideas and pick up some tips of your own for the perfect party, whether it’s Christmas Eve drinks, Boxing day brunch or a full on shindig to welcome in 2013.

Are you all still with me or has everyone tuned out for Christmas already?! Drop me a comment if you are hosting a party this festive season and let me know your plans…

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Florence’s Gift Guide #5: Beautiful Books

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It’s official. I’m a book addict, but my favourites to receive as gifts are cookery and interiors books, the kind of coffee table beauties that are full of gorgeous imagery and inspiration. As many of these books are cheaply available online for around the £10 mark, I decided to forgoe a stocking filler gift guide and round up my favourite recipe and decor books that I’ll be giving and would like to receive this Christmas.

For Foodies…

  • I’m ALWAYS looking for recipe books that lean towards sharing food. I love having friends over but rarely make fussy food prefering big plate options, and one pot solutions that everyone can dig into. Jerusalem by Yottam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi looks like just such a book and is causing a real stir in the Christmas market this year so it’s on my lust-list.
  • I only discovered the Great British Bake Off this season and got totally addicted. Everyone loves Mary but it’s Paul’s critique and exacting standards that made me want this book. Paul Hollywood, How to Bake
  • I spotted this book on the shelf in the Bertinet Bakery in Bath. I mean, how could you not notice that stunning front cover image? I suspect this would be of the variety of cookery books that I buy mainly for the beautiful imagery, however there are many recipes that look do-able for the keen baker or wannabe pastry chef. Pastry, Richard Bertinet
  • If you’re a regular in the food section at book stores you might have seen Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros, an equally stunning book to this more recent release. I hesitated to buy her books before, fearing I wouldn’t want to attempt the recipes, instead just staring at the pictures, however this book focuses on Italian food – my favourite. Tessa now lives in Tuscany so my mouth waters at even the thought of what this book may contain and it’s more than pretty enough to display too. Limoncello and Linen Water by Tessa Kiros.
  • Lastly, not pretty (what happened with this cover I don’t know as the styling of his books is usually fantastic,) and rather omnipresent this Christmas is Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s 15-Minute Meals. I have several Jamie Oliver books and they are without doubt the most relied upon and turned to books in my kitchen. For that reason this has to be a no brainer. Although I’ve heard 15 minutes is more than optimistic for some of the recipes and omits time-consuming prep, I know it would contain recipes that would become staples in my home.

For interiors addicts…

  • First up, Decorate Workshop: A Creative 8 Step Process for Transforming Your Home by Holly Becker. Holly’s second book, this one rather than telling you what to put in your decor projects, advises on how to approach re-decorating and designing your home. Many people struggle to translate inspiration into an actual room and this book shows you how.
  • American Modern, Thomas O’Brien. This book isn’t one you’ll find on the bestseller lists, but it was given to me by a friend and remains my favourite interiors book. With a thorough insight into many American homes in their entirety, I am always inspired when I flick through it’s pages.
  • Another older choice but still relevant, Domino: the Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy, is perfect for the coffee table but full of inspiration. I bought a special edition Domino magazine whilst away and just loved the approach to design, decor and styling so have renewed interest in this book which is on this years Christmas list :)
  • If you have a friend who has just bought their first home or is in the midst of renovation project, Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love: is a great book. Full of DIY ideas from super bloggers Sherry and John Petersik who have documented their own renovations on the synonymous blog.

Readers, I would love for you to share any thoughts on my selection – do you own any of these books and are they a good gift choice or do you have any other suggestions to add to my list? Are you also coveting any of them?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Florence’s Gift Guide #4: Every difficult to buy for man you know…

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This morning it’s the big kahuna. Gifts for men. I think it’s safe to say that every man in the history of the universe suddenly turns into a nightmare to buy for from the age of 15. They either buy what they want as soon as they want it, leaving you nothing to spoil him with, or they simply ‘don’t want anything at all’ leaving you in a quandary.

Here are a few ideas, from stocking fillers to larger presents that will hopefully at least inspire you if not solve your problems…

Did I do well readers?

Please share your best picks for men and triumphs in the gift buying stakes this Christmas!

Love,
Rebecca
xo

More 2012 Gift Guides