Monday 31 October 2011

Happy Halloween...Eat, Drink & Be Scary!


"Eye of newt, and toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog, adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, lizard's leg, and owlet's wing.  For a charm of powerful trouble, like a hell-broth boil and bubble." William Shakespeare

 
Any excuse for a bow! (carved by Mr ETM)

 
Chanel Pumpkin - tres chic! (as seen on Harper's Bazaar Arabia page)

 
Halloween Sylvanian Family style (children of the 1980's will appreciate this pic!)


 
Ring Master Taylor
  
miaow!


 
I loved my top hat...want to wear it every day!
   
Makeup courtesy of MAC @ Harvey Nichols Leeds


 
Witch Pumpkin (my work competition attempt last year)

 
I'm not very good at the scary Halloween costume thing am I!
   
Mr ETM however is!

  
black lace + contact lenses = trick or treat time

  
Harlow Pumpkin (carved by Mr ETM)


Love Hearts Halloween (carved by Mr ETM)

The clever and creative folks at Refinery29 designed some fabulous pumpkins this year, these are my favourite ones....


 Louis Vuitton pumpkin
 PUMP-kin
 Miu Miu inspired
 Stud-kin

They're pretty darn fab arent they - time to up my game next year and try and get my creative cap on and get out the glitter glue!

Looking forward to this Halloween evening......
** the lounge filled with tea lights and pumpkins
** blankets and plumped up cushions on the sofa
** scary dvd (Wolfman)
** hotel chocolat boo! choccy treats (courtesy of the lovely Jennifer Knowlson)
** M&S halloween popcorn 
** jug of blood (aka cherry juice!)
** switch off the lights and quick, jump onto the sofa and snuggle with Mr ETM before the bogeyman gets me!!! 

Happy Halloween my lovely made-ons.  Whatever you are doing this evening, have fun and stay safe...no tricks - just treats xxx


P.S - how gosh darn cute and funny is this halloween costume!  Why carry a Chanel bag when you can be a Chanel bag :-)




Wednesday 26 October 2011

See It, Want It, Buy It!

Loving this Miss Selfridge dress (£65) It has a real ballerina / Black Swan feel to it.  I'm thinking wear with black biker boots and bed head hair for a groupie / rock chick look.

Free Next Day Delivery at http://www.missselfridge.com/ on orders over £40 before 6pm today - enter the code NDDOCT at the checkout


Tuesday 25 October 2011

Tuesday's Top Four....Faux Furs


Winter is approaching thick and fast, which means time to snuggle up with a little (faux) fur number.  The highstreet has finally sorted itself out and found faux fur pieces that don't make you look like a scraggy cat, or molt everytime you walk, leaving a trial of wirey fur in your trail (so not a good look).  Instead they are sophisticated, luxe, soft and very strokeable; with pieces out there to suit every budget. 

Here are four of my favourites currently on the rails this week.

Animal Print Faux Fur Collar £13 Topshop
I love this little shrug, it makes me feel very Christmasey (new word for you there!).  I can imagine a sophisticated New Yorker wearing this down 5th Avenue.  This would be a lovely item to wear with a party dress, or at a winter wedding.  And at £13 this is a real Topshop bargain.
Longline Chevron Gilet £75 Topshop
This light grey snuggle fest is sooo Kim Kardashian.  Think cream blouse, skinny jeans, knee high boots and a floppy felt hat and you've nailed the perfect Saturday shopping trip in winter look.
Orange Jacket with Fur Hood £34.99 Zara
(available in ages 6 months to 3 years)
Just imagine your little pumpkin all snuggled up in this jacket - how adorable would they look!  This is a fabulous coat, with plenty of detailing - piping, buttons and buckles (very Stella McCartney Kids) 



Long, knitted waistcoat with faux fur front panels and brown belt H&M £19.99
This is currently the favourite item in my wardrobe, I really like the length and colour and the softness of the fur.  I keep finding myself stroking my chest (note to self, must try not to do this whilst walking round Sainsburys!) This is a great item if you want to try out the fur look, but don't want to invest a lot of money in it.

Play with texture and have fun with your wardrobe by rocking some fur this winter (faux only of course, leave the minks with the skin on their backs please - P.Diddy I'm talking to you!)

Monday 24 October 2011

Life Is Sweet

Today I am mostly loving Dessert Bars!  What a genius, gorgeous idea for a party or wedding.
Dessert Bars are basically a selection of cakes and desserts based around a theme or colour, usually made up of mini / bite sized cream cakes, buns and puds.

I discovered this fabulous company on the internet and have seen their creations in some of my bridal magazines - Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach.  I was drawn to them for their amazing displays and their style - "combining a love of fashion with delicious cupcakes" - exactly my sort of people.



Their head chef / baker is described "Like Coco Chanel is to quilted handbags… Stephanie Franz is to all things sweet!" - Love That!!

Check out some of their mouthwatering Dessert Bars and sweet treats below......
(warning the following images may induce a severe case of mouthwatering!)













Sadly for my UK readers this fab company is based in America (sad face), but please do visit their website for inspiration and ideas for your upcoming wedding or party.  Even if you have no party to plan, I urge you to check out their site for no other reason that to just tease your tatebuds by reading through their menus!

Cupcake flavours include - Love Spell, Glitz & Glamour, Lady In Red, Tuxedo and Coco Chic - j'adore this fusion of fashion and food. 

For those of you trying to watch your figure before the inevitable Christmas blow out, they have created Bikini Cupcakes - all under 100 calories (genius!)


All I want for Christmas......

OM actual G how amazeballs are the folks at Selfridges!  Loving their luxury advent calendar and crackers filled with Lancome, Kiehls, Giorgio Armani and Shu Uemara goodies - you can keep your chocolate santas and keyrings I want me some lipgloss and hand cream this year!!!
Advent Calendar £80


Lancome Crackers £38
Available at www.Selfridges.com now

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer is sadly close to my heart.  I lost my mum to the disease when I was 13 years old. As a result of this I am a firm believer in the importance of being breast aware.  Checking your breasts regularly and knowing your body can save your life.

Every year 50,000 people in th UK alone are diagnosed with breast cancer, that is one person every 10 minutes.  Don't live your life thinking it will happen to someone else or seeing it as a disease that occurs in later life - sadly it can happen to anyone at anytime.  I urge you to check your breasts on a monthly basis.  Here's what to look and feel for:

Changes in size or shape.
Changes in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling.
Inverted nipple.
A lump or thickening of breast tissue.
Redness or a rash on the skin/around the nipple.
Discharge from one or both nipples.
Constant pain in breast or armpit.
Swelling in armpit/around collarbone.


Please don't be afraid or embarassed to go to your doctor if you think something might be wrong, or if you just want some guidance on checking your breasts.  Be Brave, Be Strong, And Go - don't leave it and hope it will go away, because it won't.  You are master of your own destiny.  A woman is like a teabag...you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water - you are stronger and braver than you might realise. 

Breast Cancer Care is a wonderful charity full of helpful advice and support please visit their website http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ 

This month is breast cancer awareness month, so get out there, shop and show your support....because one day, you or your loved one may need it.


Wristbands from Dorothy Perkins £2 (all proceeds go to Breast Cancer Care).  Why not buy one for your best mate too - everyone loves a frienship bracelet!

For all you bakers out there Le Creuset's specially designed Strawberry Tea Collection is a must, it's a 10 piece special limited edition set (£1.25 from the sale of each item will be donated to Breast Cancer Care). 
My favourites are the cream and sugar set (£29) and jam jar, complete with spoon (£20). 

Spruce up your kitchenware for a good cause.
Available from www.lecreuset.co.uk  

In need of an excuse to eat chocolate? ... it's for charity, so would be rude not to, right?
58p each, with 5p donated to Breast Cancer Care, available at Asda

Elemis Think Pink Beauty Kit £29.90 Available at spas, department stores and online at www.timetospa.co.uk
Includes -
30ml marine cream in limited edition pink jar
15ml liftiing neck and bust treatment cream in a pink "boob tube"
50ml shower cream
patent pink cube cosmetic bag

“My cancer scare changed my life.  I'm grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life.”  Olivia Newton-John

“The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart.”  Nikolai Lenin
“The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.”  C.C. Scott
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“Once you choose hope, anything's possible.” Christopher Reeve

Sparkle - this one's for you xx

Our beloved bunny, Sparkle passed away this weekend.  So I thought that I would write a post in her honour dedicated to all things rabbit...... 
 
Princess Sparkle: January 2007 - October 2011 


Love this novelty iphone 4 cover - Hugh Hefner would be proud!
£2.99 from ebay


 Pink swarovski crystal rabbit ring...very Alice In Wonderland!  This little beauty would add some sparkle and fun
to your winter wardrobe
£11.99 ebay


 Salt n Pepper Grinders - these cute kitchen gadgets are guaranteed to make you smile.  They are easy to use - gring by squeezinf the ears together and refill through the tail!
£16 Sainsbury's 
  Adorable leather shoes with a Rabbit (spot the fluffy tail!) and Carrot by Star Child.  These lovely shoes slip on and, thanks to their elasticated ankles, stay on!  Ideal gift from a god parent or aunty
£17 notonthehighstreet.com


 This is kitsch personified and I love it!  Decorative vintage plate with transferred and hand painted skipping "lovely" bunny
£22.77 The Storybook Rabbit @ etsy.co.uk





“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.....Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." 
The Velveteen Rabbit