Top from River Island, skirt from French Connection, boots from Schuh, umbrella from Accessorize
I bought this green silky top a few years ago. I usually pair it with skinny jeans and heels but today I decided to put it with boots and an umbrella instead! And because it was so rainy and grey, I put on my favourite multicoloured scarf.
Jacket from Topshop, scarf and bag from Warehouse, skirt from French Connection, boots from Schuh
I moved to Edinburgh in February and I visited for the first time in October last year, so this is my first time seeing the city in the spring. Right now there are flowers lining Princes Street and the adjacent Gardens. The cherry blossoms are wonderful, and on sunny days the street is full of tourists taking photos. Since I still feel like a tourist most of the time, I thought I would join in.
I purchased this cardigan on a trip to New York, where I fell in love with its unusual neckline and buttoning straight away. I wanted it to be the main focus of this outfit, so I teamed it with a fitted black skirt and a black tank top, then added my black and turquoise ring with matches the cardigan perfectly. Gold and mother of pearl earrings finished off the look. These pictures were taken on Princes Street next to the Princes Street Gardens where the gorgeous cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
Cardigan from Joseph A, tank top from H&M, skirt from Vero Moda, boots from Schuh
Close up of the cardigan: I love the neckline and the buttons
Vanessa Carlton is one of my favourite musicians. I still listen to her album Heroes and Thieves, released in 2007, repeatedly and the songs have become like family to me. If I'm feeling sad or scared, Heroes And Thieves makes me feel better. When Rabbits On The Run was released last year I was very excited, and the album more than lived up to my expectations. It has a magical, dreamy sound, with incredible songs such as I Don't Want To Be A Bride, Dear California, Get Good and Carousel (below).
The songs are woven with beautiful lyrics like 'It's hard to know what's good for you, I know she let you down, but the fever breaks when it's too much to take, so you can put your weapons down' (Carousel), 'Don't need no golden ring, it'd be no match for the love you bring, from London to Tennessee, we could catch a train to another life, on a whim under the moonlight, I promise you, will you promise me?' (I Don't Want To Be A Bride) and 'Are the echoes coming back to you, is wisdom seeing patterns on a loop, like a blanket around you, you were weaving colours, when I saw you, put your velvet on in moonlight, or have you lost your constellation eyes?' (Get Good).
Rabbits On The Run is definitely worth a listen, as is Heroes And Thieves.
This dress once belonged to my sister. She has passed down many lovely items of clothing to me over the years, and this is one of my favourites. I always feel very ladylike when I wear it, hence the addition of pearls. Usually I would dress it up with a pair of patent leather kitten heels but unfortunately they are currently not in my possession, so instead I dressed it down with my slightly beaten up red ballet pumps which are much more suitable for walking around on cobbles all day anyway!
I have always loved perfume. As a little girl I enjoyed making my own perfumes and potions, and as I got older I developed a liking for scents such as Angel by Thierry Mugler and Ghost, and wore them religiously. Perfumes that I have worn evoke a multitude of memories, and therefore become very special to me.
Today, I have a variety of favourite perfumes. Over the years my tastes have changed, but these are the ones that I still can't get enough of. I recently discovered that most of my favourite perfumes are at least partially vanilla or musk based. Obviously I have had a perfume 'type' for many years, and I hadn't even realised!
pureDKNY Scent Spray, whose signature is a drop of vanilla in water, is simply divine. I don't think any other perfume I've worn has ever attracted so many compliments.
Apothia Velvet Rope Eau de Parfum is 'inspired by an icy cold, dry vanilla martini spiked with absolute jasmine and a twist of grapefruit. Pure white musk heats up the background of this super-sexy scent.' It really is a super-sexy perfume. I usually save it for dates with that special someone.
Body Shop Vanilla Eau de Toilette is a very sweet perfume and I find that it lingers exceptionally well. It also has notes of coconut, which I love. I've been wearing it for years, and it brings back lots of good memories.
Love, Chloé Eau de Parfum is my newest favourite, bought for me by my sister for my last birthday. I fell in love with it immediately: it is a very ladylike perfume which leaves in its wake a gorgeous, powdery scent which is at once flowery and musky.
Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum is definitely one of my signature scents. I love its extremely floral scent. I started wearing it at the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I think it will always carry memories of that time and remind me of how I have changed and grown since then.
Givenchy Ange ou Démon Eau de Parfum is a an oriental floral, and a perfume I have worn for many years. It is a heady and seductive scent, and it reminds me of hot summer holidays and nights out.
The lake at Inverleith Park is one of my favourite places to go. Complete with (slightly frightening) swans, you can see the city in the background and on hot days, the lake is surrounded by people sunbathing. Even when the weather isn't so nice there is sure to be someone about: a toddler wrapped up in a scarf, gloves and hat feeding the birds with his or her parents, joggers, or people out walking their dogs. The park has a lovely community feel.
This tiny plastic Dalek sits on the chest of drawers beside my bed. He is very important to me, and he hasn't tried to exterminate me. Yet.
This pretty paperweight is from Venice. My sister gave it to me before I had been to Venice, and now it reminds me of three very special holidays in one of my favourite cities.
I found this beautiful little dog brooch in an old wooden box that belonged to my great aunt.
This old pill box is tiny and tarnished, and it's one of my favourite keepsakes.
This milk carton keyring is from the Yummy Breakfast Keychain set at Kidrobot. Half the fun is that you never know which one you're going to get! I can't bring myself to use this one: it's just too cute. The website is full of yummy things like a plush pizza slice and a plush ice cream sandwich!
Baked apples. Hot from the oven, filled with raisins and swimming in a sea of honey. Scraping out every last bit of the soft apple-y goodness with a spoon. One of the most simple yet satisfying desserts possible, baked apples taste far more luxurious than they sound. Perfect after a long or stressful day, I think they are best eaten while snuggled up in bed, watching something funny on TV.
Ingredients:
2 baking apples
I tbsp honey
Raisins
2 knobs of butter
1 tsp cinnamon
Pre-heat the oven to 160 centigrade. Wash and core the apples. Run a knife around the apples just above the middle to prevent splitting.
Mix the honey, cinnamon and raisins together in a bowl. The above measurements are just a rough guide. I like to drown the raisins in honey and cinnamon; you may be more reserved.
Place in a shallow dish and fill with the honey, cinnamon and raisin mix.
Place a knob of butter on top of the filling on both apples. Pour some cold water into the bottom of the dish around the apples, and bake for 1 hour, until soft.
Serve with a sprinkling of brown sugar and cream. Or custard. Or clotted cream. Or ice cream for that matter.
Wrapped up in my winter coat from Topshop: There's still a chill in the air. My bag is from Warehouse
Pretty spring flowers in the Chinese Hillside
Cardigan and shoes from Topshop; skirt and tank top from H&M
Flowers from the Rockery
Pearls and rings were my grandmothers, nails are Dior in Tuxedo
Whitebells in the Fairy Wood
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh are definitely worth a trip. Free to enter, the gardens are expansive and the famous rhododendrons are just coming into bloom. My favourite parts are the Chinese Hillside, the Rock Garden and the Fairy Wood which has sweet little doors hidden in the trees and shrubs. The Glasshouses are also worth a visit, although you do have to pay to go in.
I have difficult feet. My inherited bunions mean that I have to be careful which shoes I buy, and I tend to live in flats when I can get away with it (when it's not freezing cold or raining that is), or boots. I love heels, but I only wear them when I'm going out, because I don't want my bunions to get worse. I do love heels though, and for the summer I want to find a pretty shoe with a wedge that I can wear during the day (and that I can afford!). Below are the current contenders.
H&M
I love these wedges from H&M in green, although I'm not so keen on the cork style wedge. At £14.99 they really are a steal, and they come in white, black, light brown and pink too.
I prefer the woven style in these lemon New Look wedges, and they are a nice low height for walking around outside on a sunny day. At a stillvery low price of £19.99, these are also a good bargain. They also come in turquoise. New Look Parallel Wedge in Yellow £19.99
Topshop
These Topshop beauties are rather more expensive at £40.00, but I love the mint colour and they are 100 percent leather. The apricot and navy blue versions are also nice.
I also like the shape of this beige wedge from Urban Outfitters, and the elasticated slingback. These are £38.00 and also available in black, but I like the neutral beige as it could be worn with a multitude of summer outfits.
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