30.03.2011- My Month in Pictures: March

I always love looking at the My Week in Pictures posts which crop up on so many of my favourite blogs, so I thought I'd try something similar. Alas, my life isn't really exciting enough for a post every week (and even if it were I would probably forget my camera more often than not), so I'm going to try and put together a regular post at the end of each month to share what I've been getting up to with you. So, drum roll please, as here we have my March in pictures:

2nd March- The view from my window at sunset. I can't believe how fantastic the weather has been this month!

18th March- I ordered this top from Topshop's Unique collection, it's fast becoming a wardrobe favourite!

18th March -Picked up this lovely bag in Urban Outfitters, it very much reminds me of the Mulberry Neely (although was thankfully only a fraction of the price!)

19th March - My view of the magical moon events that took place the weekend before last.

23rd March - Taken on a break from rehearsals for our final assessment at Uni.

25th March - The lovely roses which my Mum got me to say well done for my final performance assessment last week.

30th March - The Grasshopper Pie which I made today, following the recipe from The Hummingbird Bakery: Cake Days cookery book (details to follow soon!)

What have you been up to this month? And do you like these type of posts? Would you like to see more of them in the future?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission. Images edited using Picnik.)

28.03.2011- H&M Conscious Collection

From next month, H&M stores worldwide will be showcasing the Conscious Collection, a range of clothing created from environmentally sustainable materials such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. The collection, which launches on April 14th, consists of crisp white designs with romantic detailing, and, perhaps most importantly of all, encourages you to wear your eco-friendly and sustainable fashion message on your sleeve. This collection really is the best I've seen from H&M in a long while, and is perfect for spring. Here are my picks from the range:

 

Recycled Polyester Dress, £29.99.

 Recycled Polyester Dress, £19.99.

Organic Cotton Blend Waistcoat, £9.99.

 Organic Cotton Top, £14.99.

Organic Cotton Top, £19.99.

To find out more about the collection, visit www.hmconsciouscollection.com.

What do you think of H&M's Conscious Collection? Will you be buying anything? And have you ever bought any eco-friendly fashion before?

(Image credit: H&M.)

21.03.2011- Blog Anniversaire!

I've only just realised that this month marks the second birthday of my little blog! It all started back in March 2009 with this rather uninspiring post, but hopefully since then things have improved a bit! I think this might just be the perfect excuse (not that one is ever needed) to have some cake.

This week is going to be a really busy one for me, as I've got my final practical assessment at Uni on Friday. Scary stuff, but I'm quite looking forward to it (and of course more cake will be compulsory!)

Wishing you all a wonderful week

(Image credit: Google Images.)

18.03.2011- Happy Pie-day!

I've blogged time and time again about my adoration for all things cake related, so you can imagine my excitement when got home from Uni yesterday and saw that my copy of The Hummingbird Bakery: Cake Days had been delivered. This new book is a follow up to 2009's The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, and, as well as revisiting some old favourites, features some fantastic new recipes, for sweet treats such as Whoopie Pies, cookies and muffins. There are also some very special recipes for seasonal events, such as Christmas and Easter, as well as Summer Afternoon Tea and Rainy Days- it really is a baking book for all seasons. I can't wait to try out some of the new recipes!

You can buy the book over at Amazon.

What do you think? Will you be buying this book and trying some of the recipes?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

16.03.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: Paris

Paris Fashion Week was well worth the wait and there were so many collections which really stood out. Needless to say, I found it very tricky to narrow it down to my five favourites, so as well as the collections I've chosen, honourable mentions must go to Riccardo Tisci's walk on the wild side at Givenchy and Stella's re-invention of spots and shoulders. Here are my top five from Paris:

1) Valentino

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli's presentation for Valentino was charming. With romantic maxi dresses, pleats and beautiful embellishments, this collection channelled understated elegance and femininity. The main thing I really admired about the designs shown here was how accessible they felt; even if you haven't got the budget to afford Valentino (who has?), the shapes and colours of this collection provide a slice of inspiration which I'm sure will filter down to the high street for next season. I can't wait!

2) Cacharel

 The Cacharel presentation was clean, fresh and felt really modern. The prints are amazing (I especially love the way the white print pops against the navy blue) and the crisp white on show here looks like a massive trend in the making. 

3) Lanvin

 Alber Elbaz delivered yet another lovely collection for Lanvin, complete with his now trademark asymmetric floor length gowns and bold colours. His use of floral print somehow feels really fresh, and I really like the way the motif has been used throughout the collection. 

4) Carven

The designs which Guillame Henry created for Carven were cute, feminine and sophisticated. Once again, pleats made an appearance, as did the cute collars which have become synonymous with the Carven label. 

5) Alexander McQueen

Paris wouldn't be Paris without the anticipation of a McQueen show. Sarah Burton's latest creations for the label are breathtaking and I really admire the way that she is developing the signature aesthetic created by Lee McQueen. As ever, the collection featured beautifully engineered dresses, elaborate detail and a sense of character which is quintessentially McQueen. 

So that's it until September when the SS12 presentations kick off! 

What were your favourite collections from Paris? Do you agree with my picks?

(Image credit: style.com and fashiongonerogue.)

14.03.2011- Japanese Blossom

I'm sure you've all been as shocked and moved as I have by the terrible scenes in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami which hit the east coast of the country last week. My heart really does go out to everyone caught up in the disaster. Organisations such as the British Red Cross are accepting donations to help with providing emergency medical care and supporting the communities affected by the disaster. The charity has also teamed up with LOLA's cupcakes to create a limited edition Cherry Blossom Cupcake, retailing online and in Selfridges' London Foodhall for £5 each. They are available from today, and 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the Cherry Blossom Cupcake will be donated to relief efforts in Japan.

To order, visit lolas-kitchen.co.uk.

To make a donation to the British Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org.uk.

(Image credit: Selfridges on facebook.)

10.03.2011- Spring-spiration

How lovely has it been to see the sunshine this week? Even it it's still a bit chilly outside, having light mornings and longer evenings make such a difference, I've been practically skipping out of the house! With spring well and truly on the way, I've found the perfect slice of sun-soaked inspiration in the form of this stunning shoot from the February 2011 issue of Vogue Italia:

Melissa Tammerijn photographed by Sølve Sundsbø; A Dreamy Touch, Vogue Italia February 2011. Styled by Patti Wilson.

Pretty blissful, right? The lighting is exquisite, as, of course, are the clothes (hello Valentino!) And I just love the magical forest atmosphere.

What do you think? Are you happy to see the sun again? Have you got any plans for the spring?

(Image credit: fashiongonerogue.)

07.03.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: Milan A/W 2011

Whilst the world has moved on to Paris Fashion Week, which is wrapping up this week with the final few shows (so looking forward to Chanel and McQueen!), I've fallen very behind and am only just getting round to posting my picks from Milan. I found a lot of the shows quite disappointing, wasn't a massive fan of the stars on show at Dolce and Gabbana (Chanel did it much better in Spring 2008) and couldn't get enthused by the fish-scale skirts at Prada. Oh dear! There were, however, a selection of shows which did stand out:

1) Versace

 Loving the red-carpet ready dresses and opulence.

2) Just Cavalli

We all know I'm a bit of a print obsessive, and especially love anything cute and floral. This collection from Just Cavalli was unashamedly romantic and hippie inspired, and the long lines were charming.

3) Giorgio Armani

 Exquisite tailoring and sophistication. Simple and classy, just what we've come to expect from Armani.

4) Aquilano.Rimondi

 I really liked the pops of colour which were used in this collection, from the tangerine collar on a neutral coat to the beautiful pastel blue dress. I think this collection really captured a 20's feel, from the Art-Deco lines to the drop waisted dresses. Lovely stuff!

5) Gucci

The love-affair with the 70's started by Mr. Marc Jacobs continued at Gucci, where sheer maxi dresses, bright colours and bell sleeves were in plentiful supply.

What were you favourite shows from Milan Fashion Week?

(Image credit: style.com.)

04.03.2011- Weekend Wishes

This weekend, I wish I could follow the example of Jourdan Dunn and Karmen Pedaru and lose myself Robinson Crusoe style on a desert island:

Jourdan Dunn and Karmen Pedaru for UK Vogue, March 2011, shot by Mario Testino and styled by Lucinda Chambers.

 Hurry up summer!

What are your plans for the weekend? What do you wish you could be doing?

(Image credit: NOIR FACADE- warning: the editorial contains some nudity.)

Rihanna Fashion

02.03.2011- Tea For Two

Last week, my lovely mum and I went along to The Dorchester, where we indulged in a spot of afternoon tea at their luxurious Promenade restaurant. It really was a wonderful treat, and the food was absolutely delicious. The staff were so polite and helpful, and couldn't do enough to make sure that we enjoyed every moment of our tea sitting. And, just as we were preparing to leave, Kate Moss and Jamie Hince waltzed through the restaurant (ooooh!) However, I have to admit that I found the food that we were served more exciting, especially when we were able to take home a little goody bag filled with some of the treats we were simply too full to finish.

Our table, complete with a rose floating in water and tea strainer!

The beautiful china.

Delicious finger sandwiches (left to right: Cucumber and Cream Cheese, Salmon, Chicken and Mustard, Seafood Selection and Egg Mayonnaise, all served on freshly baked bread.)

Fresh Dorchester Blend tea- which I loved (and I'm not a tea drinker!)

The mouth-watering mango foam and mousse which we were served after our sandwiches.

Mumma! (making what I think is her debut appearance on the blog!)

Me trying my best to be posh!

Freshly baked scones which were brought to the table warm and served with clotted cream and jam.

Sweet things!

Our cake stand was topped with these beautiful French pastries.

The outside of the hotel, taken as we waddled to the bus stop!

We both had a fantastic time and would certainly go to The Dorchester for their afternoon tea again. Everything about the experience, from the service, to the surroundings and, most importantly, the food was faultless. If you ever get a chance to treat yourself, then definitely do- you won't be disappointed.

To find out more about the variety of afternoon tea experiences to be enjoyed at The Dorchester, visit thedorchester.com.

Have you ever been for afternoon tea? Did you enjoy it?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, do not reproduce without permission.)