Jazz Matazz

Saw some lovely Jazz last night at The Canteen in Montpelier. Can't wait for the weekend, London here I come!

Drinks With Georgia

Had some lovely chats with my friend Georgia at No. 1 Harbourside last night.

Things I Love Right Now

1) Statement necklaces with sheer blouses. 2) Sixties black eyeliner and top knots. 3) High waisted flared trousers and red lipstick.

Funhouse

I know it's kind of tacky but I love my new Funhouse tee!

The Star And Dove - A Shining Light When It Comes To A Fantastic Sunday Roast

This Sunday we really fancied a roast. We also wanted to try somewhere new, diverting from our usual favourites, The Grain Barge and Spotted Cow (which I must say, do do a splendid roast). After some speedy Internet searching to the sound of two grumbling tummies, I quickly decided upon The Star and Dove which had some pretty good reviews on Trip Advisor, some claiming they did the best Sunday Roast in Bristol. These glowing reviews guided us towards Totterdown and the said pub. As soon as you enter, the rustic, homely traditional feel of a warm and welcoming pub awaits you. With a load of independent guest ales (which is always a guaranteed winner for us), friendly staff and an unexpected, contemporary twist on the regular Roast Menu we knew immediately, that we had made a great choice. I had the vegetarian choice, baby vegetables, with crispy barley balls and a beetroot and gin gravy-like sauce. Chris had the beef which came with a yummy looking homemade Yorkshire pudding and carrot and hibbus(?) oil puree which seemed to go down fantastically. Both were served with the most colourful array of seasonal vegetables I have ever seen and the roast potatoes were outstanding. Another fabulous find, this city never ceases to amaze me!

A Fairly Productive Weekend

This weekend. I was proud of my recycling efforts - using old tin cans as flower pots. I aim to have a whole windowsill full soon! I cleaned the flat, top to bottom (getting a little bored along the way). Chris was given some amazing custom (moulded to his own ears) earphones worth a whopping £700. And, finally I have begun the planning of a very exciting project!

A Very Colourful Evening With The Lady Boys Of Bangkok

Every couple of months, we have a work night out. This week we assembled together in Bristol Castle Gardens eagerly anticipating a night with The Lady Boys Of Bangkok. What a show; so vibrant, colourful and funny, and the lady boys, simply stunning!

London and the Licensing awards

I had a lovely day in London with one of my colleagues Tracey on Thursday this week. The weather may have been glum outside but we excitedly gaggled our way all the way into London, ready to be judges for the Licensing Awards. This is basically a day of going round looking at new product coming to market which features licensed designs (think Ghostbusters, Batman, Hello Kitty etc.) and voting for your favourite pieces. It is a really fun day out and is great as an inspirational buying trip too, gaining info about prospective new suppliers and knowing that you have your finger on the pulse with all things new in the licensing world. One of my hot tips is the new Hello Kitty and Liberty collaboration, which will soon be available to buy on home wares and beauty products. They were beautiful!

Big Bows

I love big bows, whether they are on walls, in hair, on dresses or tying up pretty presents. In my opinion, the bigger the better! When dad slipped this old family picture in with my post of my grandfather and his sisters, I squealed in delight at their most amazing accessories.

The Milk Thistle

I cannot praise this place highly enough, the Milk Thistle in Bristol is one of the most amazing bars I think I have ever been to. The eclectic decor, which included highlights such as huge moose heads, an old battered piano, aged wooden panelling, chintzy, tasselled lampshades and quirky paintings all added to the special and unique feel of this drinking den. From the outside, you would have no idea what lay behind the large, shiny black doors, the building having characteristics of a high end solicitors office or town hall. A hidden sanctuary where you need to knock on the doors to be let in. Expecting a slightly pretentious air to greet us, we were welcomed warmly and shown the way to the bar where a friendly table service awaited us. The cocktail menu had been pasted into old tattered, vintage books and our table was a big old drum surrounded by art deco easy chairs and an impressive flower arrangement in the grand fireplace alongside. The cocktails were sensational!

 

 

 

Real Talent

Just got back from The Bath Spa Fashion Show. I was absolutely blown away and this is certainly now an annual fixture in my calendar. I don't think we were really meant to take pictures, but I had to sneak a little one in which gives a glimpse of the amazing collection from Chloe Jones who won both the Gold and Best Womenswear Awards at the Graduate Fashion Week Awards Gala in London last week.

Bath Spa Fashion Show

I'm so excited about this. Going to see the Bath Spa Fashion Show tonight x

House Of Hackney, Magical Interiors

I find The Trend Boutique website a great source of inspiration. On my last visit I came across this amazing home furnishings company, House of Hackney.

Launched in London in April 2011, House of Hackney is a new luxe wallpaper, bed linen and home furnishings label which reworks the concept of traditional British home wares for a new generation.

With a humorous, fun twist, House of Hackney rework classic British styling to create contemporary stylish, quirky home-wares which are impressively all designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom (except the bed linen which is made in Italy, the best linen factory in the world no less!).

The inaugural collections Dalston Rose, Queen Bee and Hackney Empire are inspired by Victorian Hackney in modern times. Grungy chintzed florals on wallpaper and monogrammed bed linen are ombre’d  and antiqued  in Dalston Rose; Queen Bee is a luxe trompe l’oeil and Hackney Empire sees animalistic debauchery with parrots and cranes, bush babies playing the accordion , badgers drinking cocktails, sloths smoking a hookah and a frog in bowler hat. Wallpaper, bed linen, fine bone china, lampshades and mirrors sit alongside trophy pieces of furniture such as hand carved beds, Victorian conversation chairs, love seats and chaise longues in the eponymous prints.

The photographs of their latest collections are just magical.

Brunch

What a great start to the day!

Work, work, work...

Working again in the studio. Busy, busy busy...

When you don't have a garden...

Since living with Chris, I have really grown accustomed to a house full of plants. We have herbs, tomatoes, salad, chillies and all sorts on the go right now. Our flat is quite bijou and we are really starting to feel like we could do with a garden or outside space. Also for sitting in, reading books or al fresco dining in the Summer. However, it can work really well bringing the outside in and love these creative, fun ideas as a solution.

Tandoori Salmon

So it's time to be healthy! After year of indulging, I've been eating lots of salads and fresh vegetables, this Tandoori salmon with roasted peppers, tomato and onion salsa and salad was pretty yummy and nice and good for me too!

 

One25

It's been a mad couple of weeks for various reasons and this week's Apprentice style challenge only added to the craziness. It was for a great cause, a local charity in Bristol called one25 which helps to rehabilitate sex workers, providing them with a friendly place to collect their thoughts and seek device with the aim of getting them off the streets and on the right path. We met up at 9am and separated into teams, the aim of the day being to raise as much money as possible for the charity, though auction prize and cash donations. We had a great response and raised over £11k for the charity in one day between 8 people.