Mexicana floral

Over the last couple of weeks I've felt a little bit dull in the outfit department. No amount of accessorising with jewellery or scarves could help. I looked deep into the soul of my wardrobe to try and understand what it might be that was holding me back from colourful happiness and there it was, how could I have overlooked it?! I needed a new bag.

Fashionistas are often categorised into two departments, bags and shoes and I have, without a shadow of doubt, always been a bag girl. Since I was old enough to walk I have carted some form of bag around with me, I actually feel naked and vulnerable when I don't have one. As ridiculous as it sounds, as bag to me is like a limb. It's most likely related to a sense of security. Having all the bits and pieces in a bag with me at all times makes me feel that I am prepared and ready to tackle any scenario. The contents of my bag don't really make me more prepared for, say being ship-wrecked or helping me deal with some unexpected injury. It does however offer me a sense of increased confidence in the urban jungle but more on that in another 'what I have in my bag' style post. Today is all about the embroidered floral, real leather, embellished clutch which has just arrived in my life.

I'd obviously decided that I needed something bright and eye catching but didn't want a block colour as number one, I already have a couple and number two, it wouldn't have the impact and effect which I was ultimately missing. So after a few hours (yes hours, bags are important)  of scouring websites I finally came across this baby! A clutch was not something which I thought that I would ever settle on. As you can imagine I cart a lot of un-necessary nonsense around with me and generally choose a cross body or shoulder bag. Not only are they generally larger, they are perfect for maximising efficiency, particularly when living in a country which nearly always requires an umbrella to be up. Anyway, I decided to take a bit of a risk and threw caution to the wind....purchased.

The bag is made of beautiful soft leather and is A5 size. There is intricate embroidery on the front alongside some pretty trims, sequins and studs. I love the colour bright pinky orangey tone against the green and cream. It's not a tacky piece, although if they had added any more embellishment it might have gone down that route. It reminds me slightly of the SS13 Dolce and Gabanna bag with the men's faces and their small straw circular bag.

 

Today I decided to trial out my new friend and have a stroll around town. To begin with I was really fidgety, I just didn't know whether it was best held under my arm, in one hand, against my body or away from. I've seen so many pictures of elegant girls with clutches but they aren't walking or moving. After dropping off a piece at the dry cleaner I headed into town. I came to the conclusion that when you're only holding the clutch there are no problems, otherwise issues arise. It is incredibly comfortable to hold onto and there is obviously no shoulder pain. The only problem which might arise is the contents. From now on I will have to only carry miniature versions of everything and be concise with my packing. Life transformation? I think so!

Pat-a-cake pat-a-cake

This is a bit of a delayed post but I feel that it is still relevant as there will probably never be a time in my life when I'm not a massive fan of cakes!
I have recently discovered Edinburgh's Sicilian bakery which is one of the city's culinary gems. I received a selection of creamy, fruit laden cakes as an Easter gift which were a refreshing alternative to chocolate bunnies and eggs. They are wonderfully decorated and are perfectly stylish edible treat for a special occasion.

 

Next cakes to be consumed were some fairy cakes as made by yours truly! I experimented with these by hiding mini creme eggs in the middle which melted slightly while baking. The chocolate hardened slightly inside and I probably could have followed a recipe to ensure gooeyness but sometimes it's better to freestyle. I love neon and candy colours so was delighted to find the sugar topping in Waitrose (they have an amazing baking section).

 

Following on with the Easter theme are these creations made and designed by my sister Heather. The biscuits were like Faberge eggs, art in themselves. They were as delicious as they were creative though I did feel a little bit sad eating them.

Last but not least was an indulgent treat from Earthy Foods, an organic supermarket with a relaxing cafe offering yummy, nutritious salads and lunches as well as indulgent cakes, loaves and biscuits. I enjoyed an individual beetroot and chocolate cake with coconut icing. I would love to try making a beetroot cake, the texture is fudgey and a lot lighter than other chocolate options. This mini loaf cake was the perfect treat for a quiet afternoon, accompanied by coffee and a book!

Fancy feathers

I love a beauty buy and am really taken in by lipstick colours and nail polishes. I find that make up is a great way to update a look for the new season if you don't want to spend on clothes and nail art is certainly having its moment.


I was ecstatic to come across the new nails inc feather range, using tiny coloured strands to look like the quills of feathers. I love birds and cant resist a fluffy feather print. the packaging is very pretty and would look great on a dressing table. Colours are named after British cities and work really nicely with the existing nails inc range.

I've discovered that peaches and orangey tones of make up work well for my pale skin tone and fair hair and have been using peachy blushers and lip colours for about a year now so the sky blue and peach colour way was an obvious choice, it just so happens to be named Edinburgh too!

The best way to wear this polish is either to use it on top of a base colour such as a nude, peach and light blue or to build it up through two or more layers. The Edinburgh colour way looks great with gold jewellery and is a great option if adding a bit more oomph to a denim based outfit.

This is a good quality, fun product which is a welcome new addition to a saturated nail beauty market. I do think I was quite taken in by the girly marketing and the idea of incorporating birds and feathers into my look but I guess that's what the brand have set out to achieve.

Funfair lights

Having my sister Sally in town last Friday could only mean one thing, ART TIMES! As a creative herself (standard family trait) she was keen to visit the Fruitmarket Gallery's latest exhibition by Massimo Bartolini. It certainly didn't fail to impress.

Walking into the exhibition I was hit with excitement from the overlapping wooden slats covered with large coloured bulbs in a darkened room, conjuring images of  traditional gypsy caravans and fairground rides. Titled 'the street below' and based on Sicily street celebrations, the lights faded in and out and reminded me of the see through lego which you can get and other early 90s toys.

Upstairs, the exhibition had a lighter and more natural contrast. Materials included clay, marble and paper with light colours of greys and shade of white. The room was filled with a variety of quite amusing objects and images, my favourite being a marble chair with a jaggy teasel placed on the seat. The exhibition was quite beautiful and the art merged nicely together.

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White and gold - whold

The sun may be shining but it is definitely chilly outside. I know this having just spent an hour lounging in the meadows with grazia and coffee, trying not to let my teeth chatter too loudly or spill said coffee by clutching it too tightly to absorb the hear.

Todays weather has taught me a lesson which I had temporarily forgot, it is only warm enough for summer dressing in May. I therefore have to re-model my fashion options over the next few weeks. My favourite way to freshen up my winter clothes to blend with Spring sunshine had always been by accessorising.

My choice today was a combination of white and gold which is pretty obvious from the title. White is a huge a
trend for SS13, with brands including Celine, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein and Philip Lim using it as a focal point of their collections. I wasn't ready to make the jump into pure crisp white just yet, although I do have some treats lurking in my wardrobe for when the day arrives....

Sunny spells

Much like everyone else in Scotland I was overjoyed to wake up to some long-awaited sun streaming through the window on Saturday, what perfect conditions for day-tripping! What better place to go than seawards...

After much deliberation we settled on North Queensferry and hopped on a train to a picturesque town filled with all things coastal! The 15 minute journey was made even better by the discovery of some One Direction lovehearts in the depths of my pocket, I love a retro sweet and the excitement of turning over these babys to discover a themed message, the 'I LOVE HARRY' was probably my favourite!

Fortunately I had popped to H+M the previous day and purchased a delightful selection of Spring-appropriate pieces including this crisp white loose knit sweater (available in other colours) which  at £19.99 may well become my fail-safe SS13 update knit. I paired my latest buy with fuchsia topshop jeans and a denim blue and pink floral soft scarf (never know when the weather might change). I really enjoyed wearing this outfit as it was the first time this year that I had chosen bright, fresh items which felt appropriate and seasonal. You can't beat that first days of Spring feeling which allows you to dress in an entirely different and exciting way following months of grey and black. It's not quite time to get the legs out yet....

 

 

 After arriving in North Queensferry and reading all of the signs I had a quick photoshoot on the 'beach' and collected some big scallop shells. We strolled across the bridge, with breathtaking scenery on either side, I couldn't look down which was fine as the view straight ahead was incredibly glorious in the sunshine. A relaxing few drinks and some chili crackers (can't resist these) in the Hawes Inn  on the other side in South Queensferry finished off the afternoon perfectly.

One of the best aspects of living in Edinburgh is definitely the surrounding area. It's unusual to live in a city and be so close to the coast and countryside. The first day of Spring was well spent, here's to many more sunny afternoons in bright Spring/Summer fashion....

 

Blondie recipe

Some of the lucky people who sampled my blondies have suggested that I post the recipe, so here it is....

Ingredients
125g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
100g butter at room temp (and a little extra for greasing)
150g crunchy peanut butter or cashew nut butter
175g light brown sugar
1 egg beaten
1 tsp vanilla essence
75g white chocolate chopped up

Rosie's blondies
1. Preheat oven to 170•/gas mark 3.
Grease a square baking tin and line with baking paper.
2. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a small bowl.
3. In a separate large bowl cream the butter and peanut/cashew butter until super soft! Add the sugar, egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Add the flour and baking powder combo and then the chopped chocolate to make a doughy texture.
5. Pour the dough into the square tin a d bake for around 25-30 minutes until its golden brown and nearly firm in the centre.
6. Leave to cool in the tin, remove and cut into squares for yourself or to share...YUMMERS!

Happy love day!

I might not have spent v-day with my beau but I still made sure I indulged with sweet treats and little treats - vogue and chocolate brownies!
Hearts are so pretty and they don't need to be kept for valentines day. Here are a few of my favs...
xxx

Do you know the muffin man?

I'm not sure whether it's the chilly weather but I've been on a major carb offensive this week. Bread, potatoes, pasta, I even combined them into one dish, the shame!
So my craving over the last few days has been for savoury muffins, a snack I made a couple of years ago and absolutely loved. Having scoured Pinterest for some inspiration I decided on a sundried tomato, basil and goats cheese option.

I find the Pinterest food category slightly frustrating as the majority of recipes are American and use cups, I need to invest in some pretty Anthropologie measures as there is an array of indulgent foodie treats. In the meantime I googled recipes and discovered 'Domestic Sluttery' full of fabulous tips and recipes. The recipe Hazel gives is a basic, add what you like, style direction. I might attempt a fig and goats cheese combination or vegetarian bacon and Brie.
You can check out the recipe here

http://www.domesticsluttery.com/2012/02/baking-for-beginners-goats-cheese-sun.html?showComment=1360262950161&m=1

And this is an image of what I will be enjoying over the next few days....