Wickedly Easy (and Stylish) Halloween Baking

For someone who claims to love celebrating anything and everything, I've left it pretty late to cover something Halloween-related on my blog!  Though, I like to think I've made up for it with this spooky post stuffed with bronze pumpkins and not-so-scary bats.  I love Halloween, it's basically an excuse to dress up in something skimpy and eat a ton of food shaped like ghosts and ghouls. So, for all those finding themselves regretting shunning Halloween until the last minute, I've whipped up something scandalously sweet, surprisingly stylish and yet wickedly easy to make in your kitchen as a nod to the holiday...

Beauty Edit: October Favourites

With so many gorgeous beauty releases lately stepping onto the scene, I dread to think the damage I'll do in the lead-up to the festive season!  However this month has told quite a different story, I haven't tried many new products and instead found myself with just a handful of standout favourites.  In hindsight, I've been subconsciously reaching for products that aim to preserve healthy-looking skin, rather than glitzing it up with smokey eyes and a swimming pool of highlighter.  I'm saving that for December...

15 UK Lifestyle Subscription Boxes

Within the world of blogging, subscription boxes are firmly at the top of the 'lust list' along with dreamy eye palettes and rose gold stationery.  However, step outside of that and it's surprising how many people are taken aback by the suggestion of a box of goodies arriving at your door every month - uh, or quarterly, bi-annually etc.  Anyway, after yet another encounter with someone who hadn't been introduced to the concept, I did a little exploring and put together 15 of the most impressive lifestyle subscription boxes available in the UK that I could find!  Better yet, I've cherry-picked various options for both men and women falling under the category of 'lifestyle' including food, beauty and more...

Autumn Layering: Playing with Textures

The words 'biker' and 'furry' don't exactly go hand in hand, however there was something about this long-sleeved furry biker jacket by Lost Ink that stole my heart at first glance!  I mentioned this cosy piece after first being introduced to Lost Ink, and one month later I've given in to temptation and added it to my wardrobe.  I suppose I decided that yes I do want to look like a teddy bear, and that I don't really mind the occasional stranger stroking my (furry) arm in appreciation.  I'm not willing to stop there though, tactile by nature, I've been looking at ways of bringing velvet, leather or suede into the look as well...

Berkeley Castle

While staying at Tortworth Court Hotel earlier this month I came across a leaflet for Berkeley Castle, along with about twenty others I plan on working my way through!  As the time spent in the Cotswolds was fairly last-minute, no plans had actually been made for the second day (besides rolling out of bed and into a chair to enjoy a cooked breakfast).  So, a decision was made to embark on the 15 minute journey from the hotel to Gloucestershire's Berkeley Castle, a grade I listed building that's been home to the Berkeley Family for 850 years...

Out With The Old, In With The New

As many people have said before, this time of year offers a fresh perspective.  I still haven't quite worked out why that's the case (any ideas?), and yet here I am revisiting and tweaking most things in some way.  One of those 'things' is my wardrobe.  Last season's wardrobe changeover was fairly straight forward, however this Autumn I'm looking at so many of my clothes and wondering why on earth I've held onto them!  As I said, fresh perspective.  And the timing couldn't have been better, as Boohoo offered to help me declutter through their current partnering with selected charities; giving second life to old clothing by donating, and trying out a new style.  Out with the old, in with the new!

Passionata DJ Event

See that look of concentration?  Well, that was me last night attempting to move one track into the next.  Move?  Merge?  Fade?  I don't even know, but I loved every second of Passionata's DJ event.  To celebrate the brand's new season theme of music, I was invited along to their showroom to check out the new collection, get fitted and have a mini DJ class.  DJ class?  This was a whole new experience and one I hadn't guessed I'd try in my lifetime, though a handful of marshmallows later (and sure, a glass or two of prosecco), and I was up and raring to go!

Tortworth Court Hotel

City breaks aside, when staying out 'in the sticks' I've always been attracted to more flamboyant architecture.  Dramatic buildings, grand buildings, striking buildings.  All the buildings!  Nothing has changed, in fact I have a feeling it's only going to intensify over time - at least while hotels such as Tortworth Court sit happily on the map.  As I showed via Insta Stories earlier this week, I spent some time in the Cotswolds, staying over at this stunning Victorian Gothic mansion.  It was all very last minute, but isn't that how most of the best trips start?!

Places To Go, People To Meet

Earlier this week, I was waiting for a train to come in when I overheard a guy asking a woman out.  Honestly, their conversation was probably one of the sweetest I've ever heard.  Ever.  Sure, trains/tubes have a pretty bad rep when it comes to approaching strangers, but their little shared moment reminded me of how platforms aren't totally off limits when it comes to meeting people. So, to go hand-in-hand with Joe Browns' latest focus on travel, I considered what it'd be like to wait on a platform without looking grumpy whilst munching through a pack of Minstrels...

DIY Autumn Wreath

As a general rule, I'm pretty good at staying true to my word and doing what I say I'll do.  However, in the case of putting together a wreath for Autumn, it's been a long time coming.  And I mean a long time.  It was around this time last year I considered designing a wreath rich with colour for Autumn - though better late than never, right?  Sure, wreaths are most commonly associated with the festive season, but bringing the craft into another season can't hurt!  For those also wanting to create something warm and colourful to hang on their front door (like a big enthusiastic wave that says 'Hey! I'll celebrate anything!), I've put together a 20 minute Autumn wreath DIY.