This is a corner of my dining room. I don't have a lot of storage space so everything I use has to be pleasing to look at as it is all on display. These shelves were an Ebay find which I just gave a coat of Farrow and Ball Pointing. Most of the things on the shelves were flea market finds. The Cath Kidston plates were a bargain in the sale.
I just collect pretty things to use and don't mind about them matching - I love ecclectic.

I bought this outfit for the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations. I saw this in a shop window and thought I would pop in, a couple of days later, and try it on. It was perfect for what I wanted. But, as you might guess, every single one had gone apart from the one in the window; obviously everyone had the same idea. There were none left anywhere in the area or online. I didn't have a Plan B of what to wear at the party.
About a week later I just happened to be passing the store again and something made me go in. There it was - at the back of the counter! Someone had just brought it back. I went straight to the changing rooms with it and it felt like it was made for me. Fate!

 Although the Jubilee celebrations have been and gone, it will soon be the London Olympics! The Olympic torch relay will be passing our door in a few days. The whole village is planning activities to mark the occasion. So, the dress will be coming out again for the street party.


Flag print maxi dress - Next
Ballet pumps, sunglasses - H&M
Necklace - Republic
Bracelet - Topshop
Bag - New Look

This is the outfit I wore for a dinner date with a friend. This dress has been in my wardrobe for a while (another of my lace favourites). I think it's got something of a sixties feel about it; maybe it's the length.



Dress - Topshop
Shoes - Miss Selfridge
Bag - New Look
Sunglasses - Primark
Bracelet - H&M
Rings - H&M, Topshop, Primark

This set of Molton Brown hand wash and hand lotion is a lovely present from family. I love it. It is the kind of luxury treat that I wouldn't normally buy for myself. I wouldn't be surprised if people buy these as presents and end up keeping them for themselves.

It was Friday and I just wanted to curl up on the sofa, put on a DVD and eat something wicked. These are new so I thought that they had to be worth a try. As you would expect, the Haagan-Dazs ice-cream was delicious. Then, as you dig deeper you taste the chocolate brownie. Finally, in the middle, you reach a tasty chocolate sauce centre. Perfect.

I love birthdays! My lovely girls bought me these killer heels from Kurt Geiger. I was so surprised because they were just what I was looking for. I have wanted a pair of gorgeous black shoes for ages but, because it is summer, all I could find were peep toes. You would think, with the heel being so high, that they would not be comfortable - but they are! And so glamourous. The shiny heels are like mirrors.
Now I can start to look for an outfit that will do justice to these lovelies.

S got the recipes here:
Eggs benedict - here for food and here for egg poaching trick
Strawberry smoothie

You will need:

• Wooden drawers (Ikea ones would be fine)
• pictures cut out of paper (any will do but I used one that already had a 'scrapbook' look) 
• water-based primer (optional but may produce better results)
• paint (I used Farrow & Ball 'Pointing')
• water based satin varnish 
• raw umber powder pigment or raw umber artist's acrylic paint (optional if you want an aged look - I didn't this time)
• paper towel 
• sandpaper (wet and dry causes fewer bits)
• soft cloth

What you do:

1. Wash off any grease from the drawers.
2. Sand all the surfaces to smooth them and to provide a key for the paint. 
3. Apply two coats of white water based primer paint, very lightly sanding after each one.
4. Apply two coats of  paint in the colour of your choice (I used some left over from painting my dining room).
5. Cut out, arrange and glue your pictures onto the drawers, taking care to make sure there are no air bubbles. I tried to plan out what was going where so that I had a slightly different look to the drawer fronts from the sides.The pictures can overlap and probably often look best if they do.  At this stage, after they have dried, you can spray the pictures with fixative to prevent the cut-outs from bubbling - I didn't.
6. If you wish to give it an antique look, mix three parts raw umber pigment with one part white primer paint mixed with eight parts water. Brush this onto the drawers and quickly wipe it off with paper towel, before it dries, leaving the paint in the crevices and brush marks. As I say, I chose not to do that this time, as the oil based varnish gives a slightly yellow, aged hue as it is. 
7. Brush on at least four coats, I used seven, of water-based satin varnish, brushing in different directions each coat, sanding lightly between each to remove bumps.
8. After wiping to remove dust, finish with two coats of polyurethane matt varnish to seal the drawers.
9. For the handles I used buttons sewn through the holes onto little buttons inside each drawer.

I had friends for dinner and fancied something a little funky. I thought I'd try to recreate my favourite cocktail as a dessert. I love mojitos, and the mint in the garden had grown just enough. I found this recipe for mojito and pina colada cheesecake cocktails and you can see the results. Mind you, trying to get two sparklers to light without getting third degree burns, was a bit of a challenge!

I still can't get used to having my photo taken, especially in public.
I am wearing:
Skirt and jumper - Zara
Bag, bracelet, ring, necklace, hair accessory - H&M
Sandals - Topshop
Watch - River Island

Yey! Sun at last. Time to work the wardrobe and bring out the summer dresses for work. They have been waiting in the wardrobe for too long. I was drawn to the eye-catching lace detail around the waist of this dress. I just had to have it.

What I really want, to finish off this look and other outfits, is a pair of coral shoes. Any ideas?

I am wearing:
Dress, leggings, bag, ring - Topshop
Cardigan and earrings - Primark
Shoes - New Look
Necklace - Republic
Watch - Urban Outfitters
Ring, bracelet and sunglasses - H&M