London Calling

Prepare yourselves for an overload of London vibes! Over the weekend we paid a short visit to the big smoke for an assortment of activities. We managed to do a whistle-stop tour of the city, seeing sights such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the Shard and even riding on the London Eye. Our trip also included cocktails at a awesome ice bar and being enchanted by the Harry Potter Studio Tour. It was the best weekend and I wish I could've stayed longer!

Almost immediately after hopping off the train we headed to the National History Museum. There are so many museums in London like the NHM that take free admissions, such as the Victoria & Albert and the Science Museum, so if we had had longer during our trip I would have spent hours exploring these treasure chests. However, we only had two days so I thought the NHM would be perfect as it has a bit of everything inside for everyone (and who doesn't love Dinosaurs?). The NHM is awesome for children (and big kids like myself ) as it has loads of interactive exhibitions like the animatronic T-Rex and the earthquake simulator; I recall being in awe of the museum as an eight year old. If you have not been yet, you must make a visit at some point in your lifetime.

In the afternoon we wandered through the cobbled streets and winding markets of Camden Town. This borough of London is by far one of the coolest and most interesting places I have ever been. Amazing vintage clothes, unique pieces of jewellery, talented artists and delicious street food made up the stalls of the most notorious market in England. The strangest store we entered went by the name of  Cyberdog. The only appropriate way I can think to describe this shop is My Little Pony at a rave!

In the evening we went to the most breathtaking bar ever! And it was quite literally breathtaking seeing as it was made out of ice! That's right, we went to Ice Bar London, which is absolutely incredible. It managed to transport you to somewhere in the Arctic, so that when you stepped back outside again you had completely forgotten you were in London. Bookings are £16.50, however, that does include a cocktail, so despite the expense it is worth a visit. 

The following day we strolled through the University College London campus to take some photos and then traveled to Westminster to see the sights from aboard to London Eye!

Lastly it was up to Watford to visit the magical Harry Potter Studios. The whole experience was aptly spellbinding! As soon as we walked through the doors of the Great Hall it felt as if you were a witch or wizard attending Hogwarts. You can only appreciate the level of detail that the prop designers went into for these films once you visit the studios. The endless man-hours that must have been  undertaken to bring the Harry Potter world to life is incredible. There is so much to discover about how the props and sets were created behind the scenes, so this is a number one recommendation of mine of attractions to visit in the UK! And the Butterbeer is also yummy!

So I hope you have enjoyed my London post. If you want any details on what I was wearing then please leave your queries in the comments section.

xx

I decorate my house with things you love

Although being the biggest girlie girl, I usually tend to avoid wearing such feminine shades as purple and pink. This Autumn / Winter however, I have been struggling to resist the dusty pinks and mauves that have been on trend. Most winters I dig out the preppy tartan and collared dresses and then I am set. Though I still love a bit of the Scottish print, I am really enjoying some of the more prettier items that are making up my current Winter wardrobe. 

I got this fur gilet / sleeveless blazer from Missguided about a month ago. I wasn't really getting on board with the whole sleeveless blazer craze; I still feel it is a passing trend like jelly sandals were for 2014, so I didn't see much point in investing. Despite this, faux fur never seems to be out of style during the colder months, so I felt this combination of the sleeveless blazer with a faux fur gilet was a chic compromise. I think this is a really interesting piece due to the layering effect and, although it may not be as trendy in the New Year, the item's uniqueness will urge me to continue to wear it. 

I also bought this lacy, purple dress from Missguided. This was a bit of a risk for me because before buying this dress I did not own anything purple (which is shocking considering the overflowing state of my wardrobe). The dress is a beautiful piece regardless of my initial hesitation towards it. The nude-mesh material offers a body sculpting effect and the purple lace is very feminine and elegant. You cannot really see on the photos but it also has a cut out detail on the waist which creates even more of a slimming effect. 

Fur Gilet / Sleeveless Blazer & Dress: Missguided

Boots: Vintage

Hat & Bag: Accessorize

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Step into Christmas

One of the most extravagant places to visit in the Peak District is Chatsworth House, hidden in the rolling hills of the Derbyshire Dales. I have visited many times, as I am lucky enough to have it on my doorstep and have always been in awe of the decadence of the maze of rooms within the house and the beautiful surrounding gardens. I have never, however, visited near Christmas time. What a treat it was that I got to today, as it was the winter wonderland from many of my day dreams! 

With their Wind in the Willows theme this year, it was purely enchanting to feast my eyes on the abundance of richly decorated Christmas trees and various other trimmings. I can't imagine the fun the staff must have had in embellishing the building. 

There are a lot of events to get involved with at Chatsworth this year. As you strolled through the house there were plenty of actors, taking on the roles of the characters from Wind in the Willows, so if you have children I can imagine this would be very entertaining for them. On particular evenings the Nativity is being put on in the farmyard with live animals. Unfortunately, it was not being run today when I visited, but if you check the Chatsworth website then you can find out when these are being held. 

Chatsworth is definitely worth a visit as it left me with a magical feeling and wishing that I could too turn my house into a festive grotto. It is £22 entry for adults but totally worth it for immersing yourself in the Christmas spirit.

Sorry that the photos are a little blurry! Rain and low-light is not kind to my camera.

Here is what I was wearing:

Blazer: Missguided

Scarf, Bow & Boots: River Island

Tartan Pinafore: Ark Clothing

Shirt: Zara

Handbag: New Look

All of these stars will guide us home

I don't know if anybody else has noticed but I think Christmas has suddenly hit us. Almost overnight, fairy lights have gone up, trees have appeared in windows and festive tunes are dominating the radio stations (and my Spotify account). I am not sure if this Christmas cheer is contagious but I have also seemed to have developed an addiction to mulled wine! So this weekend was spent visiting the most gleeful Christmas displays in my local area. The first stop was the Bottle Kiln, originally an estate sawmill making pit-props for the Newdigate Estate coal mines. It has now been converted into a unique and relaxing contemporary space for fine dining or browsing through a labyrinth of intircate knik-knaks. 

After that we paid a visit to my old work establishment, Reuben Shaw & Sons, which has the most merry Christmas display in the whole of Nottinghamshire! It feels more like a museum than a garden centre and has a fabulous assortment of Christmas decorations. If you are looking to indulge in some yuletide spirit then it is definitely work a visit. Once we had purchased some adorable baubles, it was up into the attic (or rather send the boyfriend up there hehe) and then lavishly trim the tree. So yes, I have definitely been infected with Christmasness. 

And what better way to spend a festive weekend than all snuggled up in a cosy jumper dress? This snugly number is from non-other than Missguided, which I managed to snap up for only £17 because of their brilliant Cyber Weekend. The chic, camel blazer is also another Missguided find which I got for a similar price - amazing considering that when this outfit is put together it looks incredibly more expensive than it is. Of course I am sporting my mustard bag again because it is my fave at the moment, but I have also whacked on some vintage knee-high boots in black to keep my legs nice and cushy. So let me know what you think of this post in the comments box :)

Jumper Dress & Blazer: Missguided

Handbag: New Look

Knee High Boots: Vintage