Dorset Flower Festival with some Mint Velvet and Mulberry for good measure ...

 

What a fantastic weekend with the weather!  I hope you enjoyed yours - did you get out and about in the sunshine?

We've had the pleasure of meeting some more lovely people in our new village, as 'we' hosted a Flower Festival.  I say 'we' meaning the wider village of Tolpuddle which we are loving being a part of.

Embracing village life is especially important to me.  I've dreamt of living in such a pretty location for a  long time now, my archive of Country Homes and Interiors and Country Living magazines span years worth of collecting, even back when we lived in Hackney in London.  Personally I like to feel part of a small community and being a keen horse rider the countryside really does feed my soul. 

    

I was therefore delighted to be invited to do some baking for the cream teas yesterday afternoon - so the pressure was on to produce some good (non rock cake like) scones.

 

There!  You can spot mine on the top tier of the cake stand being dished out by my neighbor Claire.

Of course Luca was chief taster and 'scone watcher'.  Sat here on his tiger saying 'mmmm cake' whilst making sure they didn't burn! 

Saturday was hot hot hot, we had a meander up the country lanes with Alfie and then onto the Church to view and photograph the flower displays and quilts.  I look like I am HUGELY overdressed to walk the dog lol!  I suppose I am a bit, but I was taking pictures for the Parish Magazine and any excuse to dress up for the occasion does not go unmissed in my book ;-)

Outfit - 
Polka Dot Jeans- Mint Velvet   £35.00 in the sale now a few sizes left
Lace Blouse - H&M - in store now
Blazer - Mulberry - a golden oldie
Shoes - Hush - these orange ones were from last summer but some new pretty colours are available now.  
Sunglasses - Burberry - more golden oldies

Yesterday was spent baking, baking, baking in the morning and then sitting back and enjoying the cream teas in the afternoon.  Afternoon tea was served in the local Manor House.  The owners were extremely hospitable, opening up their home and gardens to the village and visitors alike. It's such a beautiful property, set in the most stunning location behind our village church.  Dating back to the time of the English Civil War, it's home to one of those gardens were you could while away many hours.  I got chatting to the young man whose parents inherited the house and he was telling me some interesting tales about where he used to make dens as a child!  You could imagine it to be a real secret garden for children to play in. Luca certainly enjoyed it, you can just about make our him running off into the distance!

I managed to snap some lovely pictures, anybody who is interested in floral displays and gardening please check back later in the week for more - until then happy Monday xxx

      

'Re-discovered' Ralph Lauren Wedges courtesy of TK Maxx and some SUNSHINE!

I promised some more outfit posts so here we go!

The order of the day is sending out some positive sunshine-y expectations with a summery outfit and ... legs!  Albeit slightly pasty.  I really ought to make more of my Scouse roots and hit a bottle of fake tan.

Slightly off topic but do you live near any funnily named tanning salons?  Liverpool could very well be the Queen of the Sunbeds and we have a whole smorgasbord of names - Tanerife being one of my personal favorites followed by Tantastic :-)

Luca and I are off to the beach today for a picnic - a lovely little spot in between Bournemouth and Sandbanks.

Positive vibes a plenty I have also been spurred on by the lovely Claire at Another New Day -Taking A Chance In Life.  I am trying to make a vain attempt to curb my ridiculous spending.  In fact I am not trying, I have to.  We have recently moved to Dorset from Lancashire and although a beautiful move our living costs have just gone sky high.  Coupled with the fact that I am only working part time at the moment and that my spending has in the past been totally out of control I need to reign myself in.

I was hugely inspired yesterday reading Claire's page about being thrifty, she is managing to look after a family of five and we are really only two and half (a 22 month old is sort of a half at the moment) so I am sure there are lots of places I can cut back.

Starting today then even though I 'never have anything to wear', what I really mean is I don't have anything as new or expensive these days to wear, but I do still have some lovely things that can be re-cycled.  

With these warm weather vibes in place I've picked out a little vintage looking sun dress I picked up at River Island last summer and paired it with a pair of Ralph Lauren (from TK Maxx) wedges .  These are so cute they have pretty little raffia flowers and a peep toe, which I'm not sure if my photo does them justice.  These have been in my wardrobe at least 4 years and never been worn!  Mostly because I have been working from home, had a baby etc etc and become lazy about wearing heels, coupled with being based in the North of England until 8 weeks ago and not really seeing any sunshine during that time.  I've kept the jewellery to a minimum as I don't want to lose anything in the sand.  

I am also trying to be less of a luddite when it comes to technology, this is my first attempt at a picture via my phone rather than my beloved camera.  

There you go- I have killed THREE birds with one stone this morning.  A bit of technology, some clothes/outfit re-cycling and a home made picnic (I will have to drag myself sobbing past M&S on my way to the beach).

Hope you all have a warm day - are you off anywhere nice in the sunshine and have you picked out a sunny outfit?

xxx      
  

  

Dorset Knob Throwing!

I bet that caught your attention!

 (Outfit - Jumper and Scarf Hush, Jeans Zara, Converse Trainers, Michael Kors Watch, Chanel Sunnies)

So my latest Blogging absence has been whilst we packed up and moved down to beautiful Dorset.

Chris' family are based in Dorchester and I studied and lived in Bournemouth for seven years, albeit 20 years ago now.  It's where I met Chris and where we came back to get married, hence  we are not totally unfamiliar with the area.

We have found a pretty little village in between Poole and Dorchester, so of course both Alfie and Luca are loving the country life, the new garden and the myriad of country lanes to stroll down.

Hailing from Liverpool and with an inherent Scouse sense of humor, my eyes have been constantly drawn towards posters dotted around here and there advertising the ... 'Dorset Knob Festival''.  In fact I nearly crashed the car laughing the first time I spotted them.

For those not in the know, it turns out a knob in these parts is a little savoury biscuit made by the Moore's family for the past 100 years or so.  These little knobs (fnar fnar) have formed the basis of a pretty fun annual food festival which has been hosted in the village of Cattistock for the past six years.

Of course we had to go and see what it was all about on Sunday and what a fantastic day we had.  The weather was beautiful, there was lots of amazing stalls promoting local Dorset produce, much traditional Cyder drunk and a little knob throwing for good measure.  

This is taken very seriously by a handful of participants who compete for the title of Champion Knob Thrower! The event has it's own set of rules one of which I broke - over arm throwing not allowed - once a cheat always a cheat and all that:-)

The few blog posts I have managed more recently have had an emphasis on clothes and fashion so for those readers who are interested my outfit was mostly made up of cute Hush purchases.  I am wondering if their clothes have ever been worn to throw knobs before ? :-)    

Although I've been somewhat absent in the posting department, I have been dipping my toe in and trying to read your blogs when I can.  I've been loving following some of your daily outfit posts and thought I would join in again.  This used to be something I did quite regularly then I started to feel a bit old and decrepit so I stopped.  

I stopped because I started to feel like a bit of a dweeb, because Chris and I would fall out over his (lack of) photographic skills. Me always ending up with my chin sticking out or my eyes closed.  Him telling me to stop sticking my chin out and closing my eyes :-)  I was also running my own business and trying to resist the urge to shop, as well as having the baby and becoming a walking eye bag.
   
But I've missed it, so I'm taking it upon myself to join in the fun once again.  This was a Saturday outfit.

 (Outfit - Cardigan Aubin and Wills, polka dot chiffon vest - old, gray skinnies - Topshop, belt - in the sale now at Gap, Wedges - Hush, statement necklace - Monsoon)

xxx

Beach Basics

Beach Basics by dolliedaydream featuring zara tops

Zara top
zara.com

Dorothy Perkins denim shorts
dorothyperkins.com

EVENDON
$28 - joulesusa.com

BEACH BAG
$31 - joules.com

Just when you think Spring is on it's way ...

it snows! 

Feeling a bit of a plonker having just ordered a fuchsia, batwing jumper, silk shorts and a pair of CORK WEDGES!!!

Not sure what I was thinking or where I thought I was living - somewhere in my much sunnier and warmer mind obviously.

Miami Beach Meets Laduree Pastels

Until late yesterday afternoon we still had snow on the ground.

Are you seeing any signs of early spring yet?  I am craving some warm weather and lighter days now. I bought some pretty ranunculas (one of my favorite flowers) to cheer up the living room and their pretty pastel colours set me thinking about spring time colours and lighter wear clothes.

I've bought some pretty winter cardigans and jumpers from Wrap London in the past and am always a little in love each time their latest collection catalogue hits my door mat.

The spring collection is no exception.  Think Miami beach side homes meets Laduree pastel macarons, dusky pinks, soft lilacs, pistachio mint and white with a sprinkling of lace and broderie anglaise thrown in for good measure.

The turquoise Braxton skinny jeans and lilac short sleeved jumper are definitely going onto my wish list. 

Adding to the equation that Bomber jackets seem like they are going to be big news this spring/summer, I think that gorgeous satin one will be finding it's way into my wardrobe before very long!    

High Street Steal Tapestry Jumper

And why shouldn't we mere mortals be able to look fantastic in a high street steal cosy jumper?

I pinned this rather fabulous if heftily priced tapestry rose printed Dolce and Gabbana number to my Winter Pinterest Board a few months ago.  It was available from luxury online retailer My Theresa and if my memory serves me right retailed at around £550.00 ... gulp.

As we remain feeling rather frosty in the far reaches of Lancashire, I've been on the look out for either some warm knitwear sale bargains or some new transitional winter to spring jumpers.  Whilst on the hunt I've just spotted a very similar piece from Zara - although I think I am more of the mutton age now to pull off the look with shorts!