iPhone Pics - September 2011

I took a trip to Brighton...

And a trip to London to attend a TK Maxx event...

I ate and drank...

I wore... and admired the simple things in life...

I stopped off at the Champagne Bar in St Pancras Station...

.... before heading off to Paris on Eurostar (and continuing the French diet once home).

Some other exciting things to happen this month were...

• Being featured not once but twice in one of my favourite blogs Hjartesmil
• Featured in the Manchester Fashion Network's 10 of the Best under the category Fashion Blogs
• And being featured for the second time this year in VoucherCodes.co.uk Fashion 100: September 2011 Edition under Best Up-And-Coming UK Fashion Blogs

In My (Toiletry) Bag

So by the time you read this I will have already begun my trip to Paris, I hope to have lots of memories to share with you upon my return. In the meantime, as I was packing I decided I hadn't done an In My Bag for a while, so photographed the contents of my toiletry bag. This is my 'dry' bag, I also pack a 'wet' bag with shampoo, conditioner etc. Here I have:

Lisbeth Dahl Toiletry Bag ~ Chanel No 19 Poudré Perfume ~ Revlon Nail Enamel in One Perfect Coral ~ Christian Dior Crème Abricot ~ Top Shop Nail Wipes ~ Top Shop Face Wipes ~ Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm ~ Marvis Toothpaste & Toothbrush ~ Mini Hand Mirror & Comb

Boux Avenue

It is rare that anything exciting comes to the North East of England. But typically when it does, I have to miss it due to real life, ie working for a living. The opening of Boux Avenue in the MetroCentre, Gateshead was one such event. A beautiful lingerie store that absolutely fills a necessary gap in the lingerie world in my eyes. When in need of new underwear, I generally think M&S. Occasionally if I have a larger budget I will mail order from Agent Provocateur but alas that budget is not always readily available. When buying lingerie, I am also buying luxury and I want the pieces I choose to represent as such, in the way of plush details and feminine packaging. And so Boux Avenue fills a mid-range price gap but loses none of the luxury and feeling of decadence when buying pretty underwear.

Despite missing out on the store opening, I did manage to experience some Boux Avenue for myself at home in the way of this stunning dusky pink lingerie set and some sweet-smelling perfume products. I now can't wait to get to the store to experience it for myself, the promotional pictures look absolutely amazing. I have a friend's birthday coming up very soon and now I know exactly what I can buy her. (Boux Avenue is also available on-line here if you don't happen to have a store near to you).

Take 10 ~ Butler & Wilson at QVC

Should I wear it? Should I use it as an ornament? Or should it be in a museum? When asked to choose a ring from the very bling-tastic Butler & Wilson range at QVC for this month's Take10 challenge, I was a little undecided. I'm not really one for large glitzy cocktail rings but ended up heading in the complete opposite direction and chose something totally wild... this huge owl ring, accessorised with some favourite women's designer shoes.

See how the rest wore theirs - Susie (Take-out in Couture) ~ Sherin (Hi-Fashion)~ Ellie (Pretty Much Penniless) ~ Vicki (Magpie Girl) ~ Sarah (We Shop) ~ Harriet (Where's Harriet) ~Sabine (Psynopsis) ~ Jen (A Little Bird) ~ MJ (Dreaming Spires).

Butler & Wilson Owl Ring via QVC ~ Reiss dress (old) ~ Seven Seconds Red Booties via Zalando ~

Chanel Black Satin nail enamel ~ YSL lipstick

Food Lately

More food eaten at home lately...

Smoked salmon & cream cheese with cracked black pepper & lemon juice on Irish Soda bread with black coffee

Linguine with smoked salmon, wilted rocket leaves, lemon juice, garlic oil, chilli and parmesan

Starbucks Iced Latte (super-market bought) & Chocolate biscuits

Breakfast of granary toast with peanut butter; watermelon; granola with greek yoghurt, blueberries, raspberries & honey; black coffee

Greek honey with nuts (received as a gift from Greece)

Home-made sushi rolls with soy sauce & chilli dressing and ginger; miso soup

Chai spiced latte and Sesame snack (gift received from Greece)

Carrot & Coriander soup with parmesan and cracked black pepper; cheese tiger bread & butter

Milk lolly-pop

Activia strawberry yoghurt

Bowl of mixed fruit

Houmous with pitta bread & chilli crisps

Glass of milk with peanut butter on toasted English muffin

Quorn Fajita strips with mozarella pearls, roasted cherry tomatoes and julienne salad of carrot, cucumber, radish in rice vinegar with sesame seeds