iPhone Pics - July & August 2012

Another double month round-up of iPhone pictures, (as I cheated with iPhone posts on London through Instagram and HP Studio Tour through Instagram throughout the months)...

1. The Olympic rings on the Tyne Bridge; 2. Kitsch Fondant Fancies; 3. French Soda from M&S; 4. New-old vintage dress; 5. What I wore; 6, 7, 8. Early coffee meeting at Cafe Royal with a friend. 9. Shellac manicure.

1. Flamingo lipstick by Tom Ford; 2, 3, 4. An afternoon spent at Jesmond Dene House; 5, 6. Drinks afterwards at Hotel du Vin; 7. A bread board at Lola Jean's in Tynemouth; 8. A mess hanging on the back of my dressing room door; 9. Birthday mini ice-cream cups courtesy of Haagen-Dazs

1. Pralines & Cream - my favourite Haagen-Dazs flavour; 2. Cakes at Cafe Royal; 3. A country lane in Newcastle; 4. Not a Genuine Ginger (I suited the moustache a little too well I think); 5. Beetroot & Goats Cheese Salad at The Angel Inn in Corbridge; 6. Pretty things on my dressing table; 7. Krispy Kreme Doughnut; 8. Windsor Castle; 9. Cat-eye sunglasses

1. Map of Windsor Castle; 2, 3, 4. Latte in the sun at The Black Horse at Beamish; 5. New shoes; 6. New buys from RE in Corbridge; 7. Hat boxes from M&S to match my bedding; 8. A morning cup of tea from Graze; 9. New Sonia Rykiel scarf from Zalando

Take 10 - Sugarhill Boutique

This month's Take10 challenge arrives to us from Sugarhill Boutique's Pokerface range. I chose the dress (always a dress!) and styled it simply with an old trilby hat and black tights to balance out and my newest Chie Mihara court shoes, the coral skin texture of these shoes complimenting the tones in the dress. This month we also have a new member to the group following Jen's sad departure, a big welcome to Mel of Media Marmalade. Check out how the rest of the group styled their piece...

Olivia (What Olivia Did) ~ Fritha (Fish Tank Fashion) ~ Sherin (Hi-Fashion) ~ Ellie (Pretty Much Penniless) ~ Vicki (Magpie Girl) ~ Sarah (We Shop) ~ Harriet (Where's Harriet) ~ Lucy (Snippets of Shiny Thoughts) ~ Mel (Media Marmalade)

Wearing: Sugarhill Pokerface Dress ~ Chia Mihara Shoes via Spartoo ~ Top Shop Trilby (old) ~ Tabio 110d Tights ~ Chanel Nail Enamel ~ Guerlain Lipstick

Autumn Wishlist

The weather has definitely taken a turn in an autumnal direction this weekend. Finally, I can start to get excited for my most favourite season. Cosy nights in, drinking hot tea and eating comfort food. Halloween, Guy Fawkes and Christmas just around the corner. Lots of cosy clothes for layering in comforting fabrics of cashmere and soft wool. Craft projects put off, soon to be begun again. 

It seemed only fitting to start thinking about the pieces I would like to add to my wardrobe this season. I dream of a whole rainbow of pure silk blouses (if my bank account allows) and a warm woolen sweater to wear over the top of them. I don't think you can beat M&S for their affordable cashmere, I already have a couple of the cardigans and one sweater and am just waiting for my size to reappear in the black cardigan. I have just bought the Autograph joggers and although I wasn't sure how they would be when I ordered them, I can't praise them enough, my legs feel enveloped in cotton wool when I wear them.

Next on my immediate list is another pair of Ugg boots. Love them or hate them (I'm in the latter category), you can't beat them for the best warm comfort possible for your feet. In the winter I end up wearing them constantly, even if just too and from work (where I change into something different for the office). I have them for years and as my third pair are starting to look a little shabby, it is finally time for a new pair. I have my eye on the grey suede boots from Ugg, my next buy from Spartoo instead of my usual shoe shopping.

It goes without saying, that a new winter coat is a must. As is a simple skirt and selection of new dresses to wear throughout the autumn/winter seasons. And a new lipstick in a classic shade of red. All finished off with the cosy warm scents of the new Chanel Coco Noir spicy perfume and for my home, I will buy again the Tuberose fragranced candle by Diptyque.

What do you have on your Autumn/Winter Wishlist?

Boutique by Jaeger mini dress (5) / Aubin Wills blouse (1) / By Malene Birger ruffle top (12), £185 / L'Agence silk shirt, £160 (13) / Cardigan (10) / Orla Kiely velvet coat (3) / Orla Kiely a line skirt (11) / Aubin will (2) / Autograph Pure Cashmere Drawstring Joggers - Marks & Spencer (14) / Boots (9) / Fragrance (6) / Tubéreuse Scented Candle 190g, Diptyque (8) / Angold Shirt (4)

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Windsor Castle

A couple of weekends ago, my friend and I headed south. The first part of the trip was a visit to Windsor Castle. As a lover of old buildings, I found the structure so impressive and this time we took the time to use the audio guides, so slowly walked around stopping to listen to the relevant history at each stop point. It was a glorious sunny day, perfect for some outside photographs. But as you would imagine, no photography allowed inside. My favourite parts were the dolls house room and the photography exhibition, which housed some beautiful photographs of our Queen taken over the years, the late 1950's being the best era in my opinion. 

Wearing: ASOS Lace Dress ~ Chanel Handbag & Shoes ~ Ebay Cat-Eye Sunglasses  ~ Tabio 11d Tights    

(Photo of me by Natalie)

SAMPAR So Much to Dew Midnight Mask

The So Much to Dew Midnight Mask is the first nighttime mask to dermoregulate skin hydration and restore its ideal moisture levels, offering the face both comfort and vitality, starting from the first night. The skin is replenished and full of life with a younger appearance.

Proven immediate efficiency: 36% increase of the skin's moisturisation 30 minutes after the first application; 9 out of 10 find their skin more comfortable upon waking; 8 out of 10 remark that their skin is more moisturised and softer; 7 out of 10 find their skin firmer

Following on from my last very successful SAMPAR beauty review (it has to be one of the most searched for posts on my blog!), I was kindly offered to try out another product from the range, this time the So Much to Dew Midnight Mask. The packaging is the first thing I look at when choosing beauty products and this has to be one of my absolute favourites to date, the French city graphics in pastel shades of pink and white are pretty perfect for a girly Francophile like me. The quality of the packaging is amazing and in this case the brush applicator makes the mask experience all the more luxurious. I love this product just as much as the Glamour Shot Eyes. A fabulous treatment which absolutely fulfills what it sets out to do. 

The Midnight Mask is used after thorough cleansing of the face and neck at night, using the brush applicator to smooth on a small amount of the product, applying a thin layer to the entire face. The mask is then left on over night and washed off the next morning. The mask does indeed work immediately, you can feel the benefits of smooth skin upon wakening. I'm already sold, I just now need to try more of the range.

The product launches in September - you can buy it here. 

New In

Latest buys from this month's Spartoo shoe shop... Suede platform sandals from House of Harlow 1960 and some rather unusual coral skin court shoes by Chie Mihara. Coming up in outfit posts very soon.

Gibside Hall

Gibside Hall in the North East of England is definitely becoming one of my favourite National Trust properties. Only my second visit, the last time I didn't get chance to have a good look around the grounds. And as it happens I didn't again this time, as a picnic was about all we ended up doing. So I need to pay it another visit very soon, autumn will be a good time I think when the colours are at their best. All summer I have been waiting for a good warm and sunny day to land on a weekend when I am off work. All of the good weather we have had so far I haven't been able to enjoy as I have been travelling away from home. And sometimes all I want to enjoy it, is a short drive somewhere local so I can relax, take my time and enjoy the weather. So yesterday when I saw the forecast to be looking favourable, I gathered some picnic essentials and drove to Gibside Hall. The day started warm but cloudy but then turned into long periods of sunshine, a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Wearing: Zara dress ~ Top Shop shoes ~ Sonia Rykiel gold studded bag ~ Emma Jane Baskets straw basket ~ Local shop straw hat ~ Ebay cat-eye sunglasses (Pictures of me by Ian)