A Vintage New Years Eve

Images from LIFE found on Flickr

New Years Eve! What are your plans? I'm not traditionally a huge fan of the night really- Christmas is over and it means back to work and gloomy January. But I have decided that 2012 will be a year of good change, so I am looking forward to it for once! It will still be pretty chilled though- a movie and dinner I reckon for me and my husband. I love New Years Day, so I always want to be fully alert for that ;) Look out for my goals/ challenges list for the New Year!

I love these vintage New Years Eve party photographs from 1956 though. The fashion and the glamour! Love it. Does anybody have a glamorous party like this to go to?

December Beach

Today my Dad and I drove 3 hours away to go and visit a friend in the Lake District. It was a great day and the drive was totally worth it as I got to go to the beach! I LOVE beaches in winter.

We went to a local town and enjoyed some great views!

And then we browsed some lovely shops.

It was a great day! I 100% recommend going to a beach in winter.

My Christmas Present

Image found here

For our Christmas presents this year, my husband and I decided that we will have a little break to Paris in February. We went in May and I really wanted to go back in winter (any excuse!). We're really lucky as we can just get the Eurostar from London, so it's only a couple of hours away. I really love the fact that we gave each other an experience.

I am so excited already! I love this vintage photo from Flickr. It's a total 60's, Pan Am vibe. In my dreams, this is what I look like walking around Paris (the reality might be quite different!).

Let's Hide Away This Week

Image from Design Sponge

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I certainly did! Lots of food, fun, gifts and more food. Good times.

I love the few days after Christmas- time to chill out, relax and think about the year ahead. I wish I had a cosy little fort like this great Valentine's fort, although there is the danger that I wouldn't leave it for a few days. It looks SO cosy.

I hope you have a great week ahead!

I really like Christmas...

I really love Christmas. This video and song by Tim Minchin completely sums up Christmas for me- it's a really nice watch.

Have a happy Christmas Eve!

For me, a Christmas tree is about..

I love all Christmas trees. But for me, they are a collection of memories and unique ornaments passed down and built up year on year. The snowman you made when you were five goes next to the vintage bauble from your Grandparents. I think the best trees are hapharzadly decorated with ornaments you reach out each year with 'Oh do you remember this one?!'.

Birthday Cake

It was my birthday yesterday! I love this festive week. My husband made me this delicious cake- it's a Guiness chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting- my absolute favourite!

Closet Visit

Images from Closet Visit Photography by Jeana Sohn

I love this visit to the closet of owner of Painted Bird, Sunny Walker. I love looking into real people's homes and this is a great extension of that! The photography of Jeana Sohn is fantastic. Closet Visit is a totally addicting site, so only go there if you actually have time to spare, else you will be running for the train to work before you know it.

Ooh, Artemis Leatherware

Images and products from Artemis Leatherware

When I was about 8 years old, we went on holiday to Italy. My mom bought a leather purse that she had specially made and that was really expensive for us at the time. We spent a lot of time in that leather shop choosing the right colour and style. I loved the smell and the craft, I can still remember it all now. I will never forget my mom's reaction at seeing her purse- true love! So ever since that day, I love leather. I love good quality, well cut leather.

Artemis Leatherware is a gorgeous shop! I love the natural colourings of the leather and the classic styles. Go and visit the shop here.

It's Christmas, Don't You Know?

Photography from Kris Atomic

There has been a serious lack of Christmas on my blog. Which is odd, because my house looks like Santa's grotto- presents strewn about to be wrapped, sellotape on the floor, wrapping paper wherever you look. My cats have knocked my baubles off the tree and they're scattered everywhere. I spent yesterday watching truly naff  TV Christmas films like Mrs Miracle. I'm even going to make mince pies today (well put jarred mincemeat in pastry).

So, I thought it's about time I put some Christmas on here. I love these photographs from UK designer Kris Atomic. They remind me that I need to buy crackers! Check out her work and buy it from her shop.

Christmas Crunch

I thought I would share a quick recipe today- Poppy and Sesame Seed Crackers. They're really easy to make, taste delicious, are a great addition to a cheese board and also make a great little handmade gift.

Ingredients: 1 cup of plain flour, 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds, 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon of cold butter, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, milk to bind the dough (about 6 tablespoons).

Method: Mix the flour, sugar and salt together and add the butter. Mix together with fingertips until all of the butter is incorporated. Then add the milk until the dough forms a solid ball. Add the seeds and roll out. Cut into squares.

Bake for about 30 minutes at 240 degrees until lightly browned and crunchy.

Leave to cool and then eat! I recommend them with lots of cheese, personally. Stilton or a blue cheese, preferably!

Poster Shirt

Images and t shirts from The Poster List

First it was a dreamy, summer lookbook and now it's t shirts. Clearly, I am particularly seasonally appropriate at the moment for Christmas in the UK!

But I really wanted to share these t shirts from The Poster List. I really love the designs and colours used- really fun and totally like wearing a poster. And if you layer them with a nice wooly jumper, you'll be fine!

Inject Some Sunshine

Images from Silent Sundays

It's Saturday! I am avoiding the shops and staying in with Christmas films- after a rather heavy week of Christmas partying that's what I need to do! The weather in the UK has taken a decidedly cold, festive turn this week. My car windscreen has been iced over each morning and my hands are permanently in gloves. Perfect timing for some festive spirit, but it is cold!

So, I love the lookbook of  Silent Sundays- an injection of pure sunshine and something completely different to the festive frost. Silent Sundays is an online store selling new and vintage finds from around the world. I love the dreamy, summer vibe. Totally seasonally inappropriate I know, but not in Australia!

A Leather Cat

Images from Clever Nettle

Products from Ann-Ya

As a self confessed cat lover, I love these leather products from Ann-Ya. Gorgeous products, blog and style on Clever Nettle.

Kari Herer Natural Photography

Images and artwork by Kari Herer

Happy Friday! I am super tired and super excited as it's my last day in the office before Christmas! Do you have any plans for the weekend? I intend to do as little as possible as I can get away with at this time of year!

I am really enjoying my Friday Photography feature- I am loving checking out different photographers each week. I love this natural, clean photography by Kari Herer. I really like the different natural elements and textures- I think they're really interesting. Check out and buy prints of the photographs in Kari's Etsy Shop.

Hang Out With The Locals

Images from The Locals

I love checking out real people's apartments. The Locals is a perfect website to do this! I have to say, I have no idea what the content says as it's in a language I do not understand at all- but this makes it almost more interesting. I can purely focus on the images and the great design ideas.

I love the stacked frames in this apartment and the neutral decor- totally my style.

Awesome Illustration from Depeapa

Images from Depeapa

I cannot believe that it is Thursday already! That means my work Christmas party tonight and only one day left in the office before my Christmas break (I saved all of my holiday). Christmas is only a few days away!

Verónica de Arriba is an illustrator living in Granada, Spain. And I love her work! I think the top print is quite subtly festive! You can check you more here and buy awesome things from her Etsy shop.

Anna Emilia I Love Your Style!

Images from Anna Emilia

I love these paintings by Anna Emilia. They have a lovely muted, natural quality about them. Greys can be very pretty and calming, rather than depressing and I think that is captured perfectly.

Check out and buy the paintings from Anna's shop here.