Mini Homeware Haul🏠

Now I am not yet a homeowner, but I have a theory that if I can pre-buy some homeware things before I move I can focus on spending money on moving and larger home pieces like sofas and furniture. I've gathered a few bits over the past couple of months so I thought I'd share them with you because I'm really happy with them.

The first thing I picked up was a essential for me and I thought about them so much I had to buy them. This white 12 piece marble effect dinner set* from Next was the thing that got be planning ahead. I'm obsessed with marble and thought this was still fairly neutral for any place I might move into.



The second purchase was also from Next on the marble and copper theme. These marble effect staking mugs *were just up my street so I had to pick them up, with being stacking I thought they would be space saving being only 19cm tall. They're also dishwasher proof so handy even though they have metallic writing on them.



The next thing I picked up wasn't the cheapest but it was an investment I thought worthwhile. I picked up two West Elm Hex side tables (antique brass) from John Lewis as ex-display models at £127 each. I thought these would be perfect side tables for a bedroom, I use one as a bedside table in my bedroom at the moment and its the perfect size. I'm really carful as to what I put on it because of being solid marble topped but she's a beauty.



I'm planning on repainting my bedroom grey and pink so when  I saw these towels in Matalan I picked them up because they were super cute and such a good price. I got the hand towel and bath sheet size of the striped embroidered border towels and the hand towel sized 100% cotton pink geometric towel. They're super soft and under £10 so couldn't go wrong with these!



The last thing I got was definitely an investment at over £200 but this particular Cream KitchenAid was reduced to clear at John Lewis with over £100 off. The offer was too good to miss so it came home with me. I think these are just such handy and timeless kitchen appliances to have so the investment was worth while.



What were the homeware pieces you first picked up? I'm curious to know!

*Affiliate links

Lush Halloween 2018 🎃

I'm in full autumn mode now September is here and that can only mean one thing; Lush Halloween us back! They brought back the goods from previous seasons with some extra new products which I couldn't wait to get my hands on! They brought back Bewitched (Post from last year here), Sparkling Pumpkin (Review here) and Monsters Ball (Review here). The new treats I picked up were Ectoplasm Jelly Bomb, Eyeball Bath Bomb and Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb.



Ectoplasm Jelly Bath Bomb is the image of Halloween with the bright colours and little ghosty friend adorning the top. With gooey jelly forming after it fizzes away its the perfect way to get in the Halloween spirit. Along with the uplifting tangerine, grapefruit and restorative litsea cubeba oil create a refreshing and rejuvenating feel. This is definitely the most aesthetically pleasing bath colour of the three I got this year.



Blink and you'll miss it this ghoulish Eyeball Bath Bomb is a surprisingly floral fizzes. With Brazilian Orange oil, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang and Lavender oil leave the bath perfect for unwinding your senses and uplifting your mood. Fizzing around the tub it creates a orangey pumpkin colour. If you  prefer soothing and calming floral baths than this will be the Halloween bath for you!



This is a classic to the Halloween Lush I have not tried until now; the Lord Of Misrule Bath Bomb. This bath bomb features a spicy herbal blend of patchouli, vanilla absolute and black pepper oil along with a crackling surprise of popping candy to get the season going. Changing from a green to a rich win-coloured centre, inspired by the ruler of the pagan Feast of Fools its the best way to start your festivities. This is a good one to warm up with in the colder months with its warm and comforting fragrance.

What are your favourite products from the Lush Halloween range? I wish I'd picked up the Ghost In The Dark soap because the cute little guy glows in the dark!🎃👻👁

Mini Autumnal Pumpkin Pies 🎃

With autumn coming up I decided it was time to get baking ready for the cosy weather. After really liking the flavour of the pumpkin cupcakes I made previously on my blog I thought I would try to make mini pumpkin pies.  Every recipe I look at was rather different so I decided to mesh together a couple of recipes I had seen.

Ingredients:

• 400g Ready Made Pastry
• 250g Canned Pumpkin 
• 1 Large Egg
• 40g Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2tsp Fresh Nutmeg
• 1/2tsp Cinnamon
• 140ml Double Cream

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
2. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use a round cutter to cut circles larger than the dimension of the holes in a 12 hole deep muffin tin (we use a 9 inch cutter) Gently place the cut out pastry round onto the hole in the tin and press into the shape (using a spare ball of pastry works really well for this) Repeat until all 12 holes in the muffin tin are lined with pastry. Chill until required.
3. Whisk the egg gently in a large bowl and set aside.
4. Combine the cream, spices and muscovado sugar into a saucepan and heat until just simmering, stirring all the time. Pour the cream mixture over the eggs and whisk well until blended. Stir in the pumpkin purée until well combined. Transfer to a jug before pouring the filling into your mini pastry cases.
5. Place into the oven for 10 minutes.
6. Once the pies are in the oven use any leftover pastry to cut out any desired pattern for the top of the pies (I used little acorn cutters)  Once the pies have cooked for 8 minutes the top should be set enough to hold the weight of the pastry leaf cut out. Place this on top of the pies (I also egg washed the top to get them nice and golden) and quickly place back into the oven. Cook for a further 18 minutes before removing from the oven.

This was my first attempt at ever making pumpkin pie so they look a little rustic but they taste delicious! Other recipes finished them off with cream cheese but I liked the little pastry acorns! Let me know if you give them a go!

John Lewis & Partners Womenswear Rejuvenation

As you may have seen this week John Lewis has relaunched as John Lewis and Partners. With the launch they have rejuvenated their core womenswear brand, in the words of Partner & Design manager of Womenswear and Accessories Iain Ewing "Designed entirely in-house, our autumn collection reflects a new style philosophy. There are no fashion gimmicks here- Just brilliant modern pieces that work together and work with your existing wardrobe." The idea behind the new brand is a whole new philosophy on how to style and wear your wardrobe. 



The teams have designed 300 versatile pieces to style effortlessly into the new season and beyond. Every item has been carefully designed in-house to slot seamlessly into your existing wardrobe. With an emphasis on clean lines and easy silhouettes, there’s something for everybody. And not forgetting colour: a vividly broad spectrum, from neutral camels to popping pinks.

The Personal stylist's best-kept-secret is all about celebrating your own aesthetic rather than a one-outfit-suits-all approach. "It's about breaking down a look into three elements: your basic, an accent and a finishing touch," (Jo Bennet, Partner & Head of Buying, Womenswear). You can see this demonstrated on Lauren (Right) and Hattie (Left) the glamorous models show how you can put bold colours together to make really wearable looks. Lauren is wearing the Sky Blue Double Faced Collar Coat (25587101), Oyster Cashmere Chunky Rib Knit Sweater (66082201), Cobalt Blue Wide Leg Wool Culottes (66037301), Snake Leather Bianca Stiletto Open Court Shoes (14250901) and the Smoke Blue Lena Leather Circle Mini Cross Body Bag (40040307). Hattie is modelling the Raspberry Pink Double Faced Collar Coat (25587201), Dark Yellow Skinny Rib Crew Neck Sweater (66060532), Bright Green Wide Leg Wool Culottes (66037321), Orange Suede Amy Open Back Court Shoes (14250801), Electric Blue Ellis Leather Mini Backpack (40045101), Bright Pink Cashmere Scarf (40794114) and the Red and Gold Hexagon Necklace (42159827).



Of course, the discerning commitment to quality that John Lewis & Partners is renowned for is present throughout. From the impeccable trousers to beautifully crafted coats, the teams have worked tirelessly to ensure the perfect fit, from sizes 8 through to 20. And long-standing relationships with suppliers and manufacturers mean that everything is brought to life with a high level of craftsmanship.



Many of the garments are made of cotton in the collection and the sales of these help support the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). The BCI exists to make cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sectors future.  



The same also goes for the quality of the cashmere John Lewis uses. Primarily sourced from China and Mongolia where the conditions on the high Mongolian plateau are just right for the particular types of goats from which the cashmere fibre is collected. Using the longest, finest cashmere fibres, the specialist cashmere spinners use their extensive expertise to twist a finer, softer, and more rounded yarn. These fibres are also likely to pill less, and any pilling that may occur form longer, thinner bobbles which are easy to remove by hand or with a cashmere comb. The core styles are machine washable whereas the heavier gauge, loftier styles are hand wash due to the knit construction. 


As for the accessories they were also designed in collaboration with the clothing design teams to create pieces that tie an outfit together, whether you want a contrasting pop of colour or go fully tonal. The handbags have a modular concept with purses that connect to the bags so yet another opportunity to add more colour to your wardrobe. The handbags are also all made from Leather, along with the purses and card holders. The new shoe collections are also predominantly made from Italian leather and come in a variety of styles to take your style from day to night, so many occasions can be covered with the shoe range which are really classic and stylish but have the options of many colours to still add that pop to your outfit. 



That's my little roundup of the new and improved John Lewis & Partners Collection. What do you think? Let me know which your favourite colours are!

Madewell Comes To Cambridge

A new brand is on the scene fresh from the USA. Madewell is a womenswear brand from the partner company J Crew Clothing. Madewell is designed to be effortlessly cool and unexpected, a collection of essentials for your every day. The pieces are designed to be mixed and matched, from the perfect dress to versatile denim to a classic tee. All made to feel like you've worn and loved them for years. It also ranges in size from a XXS to XL so it good for people of all sizes and 23" to 32" waist for their denim. The denim also features Magic Pockets in front that offer an extra layer of holds-you-in sorcery for the slimmest, smoothest look yet.

Of course the first thing I did when we got it in store was to pick up the Patch Pocket Pullover Sweater in Arctic Ice ( John Lewis product code 81967004),  made from a soft cotton rich yarn, this relaxed knit is easy to wear with its boxy fit and high low hem. It is finished with ribbed trims and front patch pockets for a touch of detail. I paired it with my Levi 721s, grey vans and my new Kate Spade Hayes Street Sam Suede Grab Bag in Sienna (John Lewis product code 40613414) (isn't she a beauty!😍)



In 2006 J.Crew Group Inc. introduced Madewell, as a modern-day interpretation of an American denim label founded in 1937. Targeting women ages 18 to 40. Madewell has a flagship store in New York City and 17 other stores nationwide, but is now available online on John Lewis.com and in store at John Lewis White City and Cambridge. Here is some of the highlights from the Cambridge branch!



What do you think of the new Madewell collections? Could this be a new favourite brand for you? Let me know! xox

Braids and Blooms Workshop 🌸

Last week I attended the lovely Becca (@braidsandbloons_) ran a fabulous workshop in a dreamy bakery in Knebworth. Becca is queen of braids and the perfect girlie instagram posts so this workshop was the perfect opportunity to learn her go to plait techniques and floral inspiration. Held at the new high tea room out the back of Sugar Boutique on Station Road, Knebworth.

We started off with learning your standard dutch and French braids, then moved in to fishtail and reverse fishtail. Safe to say I have a lot of practice required! Though learning on someone else's head is easier than your own! I also got to try out the Invisiboble's* for the first time, which made practising the plaits over and over super easy without ripping out my hair!



The ladies over at Batiste had also supplied some of their new fragrances of their dry shampoos and plumping powders. I have to say I think the Rose Gold* one had to be my favourite, with a fresh and fruity scent.



When we were all plaited-out it was time for our delicious afternoon tea made by the lovely people at the Sugar Boutique. From mini club sandwiches to tiny toffee  and strawberry pavlovas and of course tea and scones, this afternoon treat was beautiful and super tasty.



After we were refuelled we then were taught how to make flower crowns by The Ivy Florist. I could quite happily do this everyday it was super relaxing and getting to take our own little crowns home was really nice. Made from wax flower, spray roses, gypsophila and what I think is tree fern.



Once we had completed our flower crowns we headed outside to try and get a iconic Braids and Blooms Instagram post, posing with a bouquet also from the Ivy Florist, which was so so beautiful.


This workshop was so girlie and fun, I wish I could do it all again. She also gifted us super cute goodie bags with Tangle Teezers*, Mini Batiste*, Invisibobbles*, notebook from Tillyanna, the bow in my hair from Rose and Guy, floral print from Bella Casa, Lee Stafford hair products, Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser*,  leather keyring from Red Meg, and a Pink Grapefruit and Vanilla wax melt by Wax Melts by Francesca. I can't wait to use all these goodies! It was also really nice to meet a few friendly faces from Instagram in person, and hopefully we can all plait properly by the next time we all meet again!

Go send Becca some love for putting on this fab workshop and keep an eye out for her next one!💕

*Affiliate links

Amsterdam Adventure day 3 & 4 🇳🇱

If you've seen last weeks post you would have seen day 1 & 2 of my Amsterdam adventure, so if you haven't checked that part out I would read that before this one! By day three we were pretty museumed out, so decided to just stick with the one! We headed out early to the Museum of Handbags and Purses.Located in Amsterdam's historic central canal belt, the museum's collection includes over 5,000 items dating back to the sixteenth-century. One of only three museums across the globe specialising in this field, it houses the world's largest collection of bags and purses. 



I found the history behind handbags and purses super interesting to see how they developed over time to how they are now. In retrospect I would have gotten the audio guide to really explain what I was viewing going through the museum. I also would have to try out their High Tea in these beautiful room overlooking the canals.

Our lunch plans consisted of what is possibly the most instagrammable cafe I have ever been to called Pluk. Just a scenic walk from the Museum of Handbags and Purses we decided to route via Anne Franks house to take a look from the outside (tickets were already sold out two months before we went!) and then through the floating flower market to get to our final destination of Pluk. 



I have to admit I did take a horrendous amount of photos in Pluk but it was just so beautiful I wanted to capture its pure glory from every angle. I will admit its not the most budget friendly cafe but it is worth the price! I had the balanced breakfast of a croissant, mermaid/unicorn doughnut and a Tony Chocoloney (hot chocolate) which came with a tiny stroopwafel. If I could live in this cafe I so would, they also sell super cute homey bits and gifts which were also super cute. Make this a go to cafe stop on your Amsterdam trip!     




After our brunch we wandered around central station and the areas round it to see more of the streets and canals. We then headed back to the hotel to freshen up and went out to Festival Treck food festival in Amstelpark. We arrived at the park quite early and saw a super cute little train that takes you round the park for the bargain price of €2.50 which took 15 minutes but was a nice way to see round the large park. 



It was hard to decide what to have with so many different food options from all sorts of cuisines to pick from. I started with a chicken pesto pasta from a van serving antipasti and pasta and then moved onto an amazing what can only think of as a steak bavette type dish which was super delicious.  But trying to decide on dessert was really hard but went for churros with milk chocolate sauce.  

 

After our food we had a strawberry daiquiri and listened to some of the live music they had performing just by the main cocktail station. It was a super relaxed evening of good food and entertainment so if you are in Amsterdam next time its held I would really recommend heading there for some food!



On our last day we didn't have a lot of time before we had to head for the airport so we headed to central station after checking out of the Student Hotel. With typical flight delays we headed for a Vapiano's for lunch, before taking the train to the airport where we sat for hourrrss waiting for our flight. 



Have you been to Amsterdam or is it on your bucket list? Let me know if you have any future recommendations if I venture back!