(Something for the Weekend) Autumn Approaches

Summer is most definitely coming to an end and Autumn is approaching quickly. As I write this post, there is definitely a new chill in the air and the nights are starting to draw in earlier and earlier and this makes me just a little bit excited. 

Don't get me wrong, I love Summer and I'm sad to see it go but I also really LOVE the beautiful colours of Autumn and the crisp, yet sunny days of Winter. I cannot wait!

Another exciting element that a new season brings with it are the fashions and trends and these are a few of my favourite Autumn finds so far...

Hat: TopShop | Scarf: Levi's | Coat: Reiss | Leather Trousers: Helmut Lang | Jumper: Banjo & Matilda | Boots: TopShop

What are you most looking forward to this Autumn?

(100 Things) week five

Week 5 of the littlest things that make me the happiest...

You can see weeks 1, 2, 3 & 4 here.

What little things make you the happiest?

(Somewhere, Not Here) Santorini

If you could be somewhere, not here today, where would you be?

Image thanks to: 1 / 2

Friday.

I've totally fallen off the blogging bandwagon this week. Such is life. It's been a busy week and I can't quite believe we're at Friday again!

Thought I'd stop in to say Happy Friday and leave you with this little photograph that I snapped whilst on the beach in Australia a couple of years ago... the sunsets were some of the best I have ever seen.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday :)

Photograph taken by me in Broome, Western Australia

(design love) retro travel prints

I'm really lucky to say that my travelling, to date, has taken me extensively throughout Europe, all around Australia and to many places in North America. Suffice to say that my travelling days are definitely not over but the travelling I have done so far, definitely counts as some of the best times of my life.

These retro travel prints, designed by the Anderson Design Group, are from the collections “Art and Soul of America” and “World Travel”. They are inspired by early 19th-century travel art and I love them! As well as loving the design of each of them, I also really like the idea of having one for each of your most memorable travel destinations. 

Below are my favourites so far and I cannot wait to add to this collection :)

What is your favourite travel destination to date?

(Monday Musings) a little quote

One of my favourite bloggers quoted this only the other week and I think so important to think this about our lives on a daily basis.

I created this little reminder and I hope it helps you remember too.

Happy Monday :)

(something for the weekend) sunset

Happy Friday all!!

I'm not entirely sure where this week has gone but it seems to have flown by. I'm not complaining though, I'm thrilled that it's the weekend!

I don't have a great deal planned this weekend but tomorrow afternoon, I am meeting my girlfriends for cocktails in town and we are going to see where the evening takes us. We rarely go out drinking together anymore, so I'm really excited for a girls' night out.

I would love love love to be wearing the following when the sun goes down...

I'm absolutely loving the current leather & lace trend; and whilst all of these items are way out of my price range, I definitely intend to source highstreet versions as soon as possible.

What do you think about leather & lace?

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend :)

Image taken by me whilst en route to San Francisco

(100 things) week 4

100 Things is a weekly series where I document the little things that make me happiest. 

In an increasingly materalistic world, I think it is more important than ever to  identify the little things that you can derive happiness from on a regular basis :)

You can see weeks 1, 2 & 3 here.

What little things make you the happiest on a daily basis?

Image thanks to: 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40

(wanderlust) Tuscany, Italy

Today, I am taking you on a little imaginary trip and we are heading to the beautiful, rolling hills of Tuscany in Italy, where this little gem of a hotel is nestled amongst vineyards and history. Ever since I laid eyes on this beauty, I have been daydreaming about being there... sipping wine on the terrace, eating wonderful Italian food, swimming in the amazing infinity pool and just generally relaxing. 

Take a look for yourself, I bet you fall in love too... you're welcome ;)

I already asked the boy if we could go... he said yes! (and then I told him the price and he quickly changed his mind... oh well, my daydreams will have to do for now:)

Image thanks to Castello di Casole

(design love) Yume Ume

I came across this website the other day and I absolutely love the packaging and web design of the brand Yume-Ume. It is simple and so much fun -- just the way I think life should be. My particular favourite is the bean family -- too cute :)

Image thanks to Kelly Dorsey

(life lately) through my lens

{Road trip in California | Breakfast in San Francisco | Goodbye picture at SFO}

{Loving my new bag | Camping in beautiful Wales with a bestie :) }

{Partying in Wales | Steam Trains -- I love old fashioned things like this! | My sister and I at the Olympics}

{More Olympics & celebrating Gold! | I love this quote | Thanks to love, I've made it to Bronze in the BA Executive Club}

Just a few snaps of recent life.

Happy Monday everybody!

PS: I am over a Laura's lovely blog today, talking about my Summer favourites -- go check it out :)

a little reminder

I read this last night and it really made me think, so I wanted to share it...

What do you think? Would you prefer to capture the perfect picture or just take in the moment?

(100 things) week 3

I have loved putting this list together so far. I really do believe that it is these little things that make me the happiest...

What little things in life make you the happiest?

Image thanks to 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30

(wanderlust) London 2012

This time tomorrow, my sister and I will be London bound to watch the Freestyle Dressage at the London 2012 Olympics and I cannot wait.

Horseriding has been a passion of mine for such a long time and I absolutely love the beauty and precision of Dressage, especially at such a high level.

I've been watching the Olympics on the TV most evenings and the atmosphere looks absolutely amazing! I am so excited to be a part of such a memorable occasion :)

Do you have a favourite sport to watch at the Olympics?

PS: Check out my Workwear Wednesday post on the Style Files

(design love) Ugo Gattoni

I love design. I always have done. 

Whether it's meandering around art galleries (which I can do for hours), reading interior design magazines, coming across a well designed website/blog, amazing illustrations or photography, I am always intrigued. I think it's because I like pretty things, as most girls do. 

I studied art and design up until the age of 18 and I also have a Blue Peter badge, thanks to my creativity as a child -- something I'm particularly proud of ;) (this will only make sense to British readers of my age).

After leaving school at 18, I went on to study Marketing at university and subsequently, turned this into my career, which has continued to develop my love of creativity.

This September, I will be adding a new string to my creative bow, when I embark on a Graphic Design course. I am extremely excited about taking my career in a new and more creative direction.

Anyway, enough waffle from me for one day! Since my decision to take the Graphic Design course, I have become even more observant of (read: obsessed with!) design and I will be using this as my platform for documenting my favourite finds :)

I absolutely LOVE this illustration by French illustrator Ugo Gattoni. I have been staring at these images for ages and it is so in keeping with the Olympic buzz that is currently all around, here in the UK...

Did you spot all the famous London landmarks?

I can only dream of producing work like this one day! What an inspiration.

Image thanks to Ugo Gattoni

(life through my lens) santa barbara

I still can't believe just how beautiful Santa Barbara is. I fell in love with it as soon as we arrived and asked myself on numerous occasions why I was still living in England when I could be enjoying life by the ocean.

Everything from the amazing beaches, the palm trees, breakfast by the beach each day and the sunny, hot (but not too hot) weather -- it was perfect and I cannot wait to return. 

*Warning -- photo heavy post!*

{American style breakfast on the beach | My gorgeous sister and her boyfriend | The beautiful Courthouse Building}

{Beautiful red roofs | Palm Trees | Relaxing on the beach}

{More beaches & palm trees | Tyler and I on the beach & at the top of the Courthouse Building}

{I am happiest in his arms | At the end of the pier | Skate Park -- we don't really have these in England, so I watched for ages!}

{Beach, ocean & pier | Colourful beetles | Saltwater Taffy -- my first experience!}

{Beautiful California sunsets}

Now the battle is officially on... when/if we ever move to America, I decided that this is where I would want to live :) Tyler would prefer the mountains of Lake Tahoe.

Beach or mountains... which would you choose? 

5 years.

5 years ago today, my path crossed with his. Literally.

English girl travelling. American boy.

Romance did not blossom straight away.

But, little did I know, that this small event in my life would lead me to where I am today! If someone had told me, I wouldn't have believed them.

So, on this Sunday in August 2012, I'd like to propose a toast -- to those tiny (insignificant, one might think) events, that are actually life-changing.

ILY ;)

(something for the weekend) t shirt love

Happy Friday everyone :) I am so happy that the weekend is finally here!

This was my first full week back after my holiday, so it has been a long one and I'm looking forward to chilling out this weekend.

For this week's Something for the Weekend, I've focussed on one of my favourite looks -- skinny white jeans and a simple grey tshirt. I particularly LOVE this tee from Zoe Karssen and I think this outfit would be fab paired with these cute Tory Burch flats (which really remind me of the Chanel ones that I want but are a fraction of the cost!) or I think it would look equally as good with a pair of heels for a night out.

As soon as I laid eyes on this Jimmy Choo clutch, I just knew it had to be included -- have you been watching the olympics? I am loving it!

Wishing you all a really wonderful weekend :)

For more tshirt inspired looks, head on over to {Long Distance Loving}

(100 things) week two

Due to my holiday, week two of 100 things has been slightly delayed but, without further ado, here are the next ten little things that make me happy...

What are the little things in life that make you happy?

If you're doing a similar series, please let me know -- I'd love to see :)

Image thanks to 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

(lust list) august

This year is seriously flying by. How is it August already?! 

After putting my July Lust List together last month, I went on to save and purchase almost every item on the list; so I thought I'd do the same again this month. After all, I write a to-do list every day for work, to ensure I achieve everything I need to, so I am now applying that to things that I want in my personal life -- and this list is way more fun ;)

Jacket: Barbour | Bracelet: Tory Burch | Ankle Boots: Ash | Mini Wallet: Tory Burch | Piggy Bank: Harry Allen | Pillows: Design Darling | Gold Leaf Tray: Jayson Home

Since returning from holiday and after the terrible weather we've been having here recently, my mind is rapidly turning to Autumn, when I will be excited to wrap up warm and will no longer be disappointed with the terrible weather.

• This Barbour jacket has been on my lust list for a couple of years now and I'm hoping that this will be the year that I finally add it to my wardrobe. I love the Britishness of this brand. I also love the fact that it will keep me warm and dry, as well as a little country chic :)
• I finally purchased my long desired Tory Burch belt whilst I was in San Francisco and added this bracelet and mini wallet to my lust list at the same time... oops!
• These ankle boots look absolutely amazing on and ever since I saw this post, they went straight to the top of my lust list. I think they will be perfect for Autumn/Winter.
• I NEED this piggy bank in my life!
• These beautiful pillows would really brighten up my living room.
• And, last but not least, I already know where this tray will go & it will be perfect... I just need to order it :)

What are you lusting after this month?