A game of anywhere but here…

With the Olympics starting tomorrow, the city is beyond chaotic. There are hoards of people everywhere, traffic doesn’t move and just leaving the house has become a bit of a logistical nightmare. Yes, this is a moan, and I know it’s good for the economy and the city and I should be happy about it and blah blah blah but I just wish I was enjoying it from a distance! To ease the stresses and strains, I thought we could go on a little virtual trip to Paris. Here’s what I am thinking…

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Tip Top Topiary!

We all know how a pretty bunch of brightly coloured flowers can transform a room/garden, but I think that a touch of greenery can have an equal effect – particularly the greenery of a sophisticated topiary plant. I have a couple of these beauties in my garden (not quite sure how I have managed to keep them alive but they are still going strong) but I have never really thought of using them inside. After putting together this collection of topiary plants, both indoors and outdoors, I feel the need to go straight to the garden centre and buy them out!

What’s your verdict? Do you like them indoors or do you think they should be kept in the garden?

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Once in a lifetime…

I’m not going to bombard you with millions of photos from our wedding as it wasn’t an elaborate affair with photographers, florists, caters…. or even people! For various complicated reasons, we wanted to keep it small (just us and Jordan’s aunt and uncle as witnesses) and it was mostly a secret! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried that we made the wrong choice by going it alone. Would we be lonely? Would we be sad? Would our families be upset? Since my mom died a few years ago and my relationship with my dad is strained at the best of times, I also worried how emotional the day would be without parents to guide me through it. Jordan and I talked all of these worries to death, but in the end we decided it was the best choice for us. I know this might sound like a cliché but our day was everything I hoped it would be. The focus was solely on us and the huge commitment we were finally making to each other. It was an emotional day, but emotional for the right reasons (well apart from my minor hair meltdown – the hair that you see in these pictures is mostly the work of my wonderful husband who stepped in to help me tame my thick, uncooperative hair and prevent a nervous breakdown).

A big thank you to Jordan’s aunt and uncle for sharing our day, making it all the more special for us and for seeing us through our journey to adulthood.

All images via Wishful Thinking

That’s an idea?

Have you seen Southern Living’s 2012 Idea House yet? No? Well go and get yourself a cup of coffee and make yourself comfortable! This restored farmhouse in Senoia, Georgia is all about layers, soothing colour palettes and beautiful furniture (check out this link to see a video of the farmhouse before the restoration, it kept me captivated all of yesterday morning)!  If you love the Shaker-style kitchen units as much as I do, you might love them even more to know that they (along with the appliances and some furniture) are all from Ikea! I also have to mention how much I adore the harmonious and consistent  colour palettes used throughout – downstairs is decorated with calming neutrals of whites and beiges whereas upstairs soft blues and greys have been introduced. The master suite is my favourite room (although I can’t say I am a fan of dead animal heads in the bedroom), the colour of the tufted bed is to die for – and along with the red stripes, it’s a near perfect combination!

Did you like the Southern Living 2012 Idea House? If so, do you have any favourite rooms/features?

All images via Southern Living

My Travelling Shorts…

Sporting them in Venice

And again in Portugal

Oh yes, in Kefalonia too…

And Zante…

And lastly in the Maldives of course!

Heard of the travelling pants? Well I have a pair of travelling shorts. They are my absolute favourites and I came to realise that I wear them practically every time we go on holiday (I actually asked Jordan not to get a shot of my shorts in the Maldives because it’s starting to look like I have no clothes… he did it anyway)! I’m not sure what their appeal is really, I mean they aren’t particularly attractive, they are faded and have a button missing on the bum but they are comfy, go with most things and I love them. But sadly, I think their glory days might be over and I’ll have to part with my khaki beauties for a newer model. Here’s some of the inspiration that has me swooning!

Do you have a favourite item of clothing that you wear everywhere?

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