A bit of high fashion for Friday…

It's not often I do high fashion here on Wishful Thinking. I guess I just don't like being able to look and not buy! But every now and then a big designer catches my eye and I hope and pray that aspects of the pie-in-the-sky pieces will eventually filter down to the likes of H&M or Topshop. I didn't really follow the various fashion weeks closely (I knew bloggers out there would keep me updated anyway) but I did have a browse through Style.com and stopped dead in my tracks when I came across the spring line from Naeem Kahn. Now we all know how much I am longing for spring, and these pieces couldn't be more fresh and vibrant. I think there is a little something in here for everyone. It was hands-down my favourite show! What do you think? Are you a fan?

Happy weekend all!

All images via Style.com

The Ultimate Bake Off!

I am in a bit of a pickle. In an effort to make work a little less stressful and a little more fun, our office is having a bake-off. The entrance fee is £5 and the winner takes all. Serious stuff obviously. I am in it to win it, but there is one big problem…. I am the World’s Crappest Baker. Everything I have ever baked has either flopped, dried out, turned a funny colour, or in the case of the infamous microwave cake – exploded. We’ve had a couple of bakers strut their stuff already, and the level of genius is worryingly high. Pinterest has been a tremendous help but I am appealing to all you super women/men out there: do you have a baking crowd pleaser that someone of my…ehem… skill could bake? If so, please please help me out with a recipe?

Here are the contenders so far:

Coconut Cloud Cake

Via Lilac and Grey

Chocolate Swirled Peanut Butter Blast Cake (I especially love the ‘blast’)

Via Pinterest

Dulce de Leche Cake

Via Royal Coconut

Chocolate Graham Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow

Via Tendercrumb

John’s Three-Layer Apple Cake

Via Martha Stewart

Ultimate Coconut Cake

Via Martha Stewart

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

via Lark and Linen Blog

Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake

Via Easybaked.net

Streusel Topped French Toast Cupcakes with Buttercream

via Bakingdom.com

Mint Oreo Cupcakes

via Lemonademakinmamma.com

Textured bedding…

I really can’t afford to be anything more than frugal with my purchases around the home, but I recently held my breath, closed my eyes, swallowed the lump in my throat and bought some expensive but beautiful bed linen. It was literally life changing! One problem: it creases so badly/easily that you wonder how they ever got it to look smooth (even after ironing). Now call me crazy but I believe life is too short for 2 things: 1. making your own pasta/pastry and 2. ironing your bedding. The solution? To buy textured bedding or comforters to hide the creases (like a dirty little secret). Here’s what I have been pinning for bedding inspiration lately:

Click on the image to go to its source.

Sunday at the Deer Park…

On Sunday, we woke up to clear skies and bright sunshine for the first time in what feels like months. When you live in England, you have to capitalise on these days as you never know when they will return, so we hopped in Delilah and zoomed off to Knole Park in Kent. Unfortunately, the spectacular house is closed until spring but the surrounding park was open for us to explore – it is home to an ancient herd of deer (apparently brought in by kings of old to hunt) and is one of the few deer parks to have survived over the past 500 years! We tried to get up close to the bambis but they were wise to our stealth approach and rudely trotted away before we got to them. The park is breathtakingly beautiful and we had a really relaxing day out in the brisk fresh air. It is only a short drive from London so if you are in the area, it is well worth the visit!

 

All images via Wishful Thinking

Victorian Splendour!

It’s Monday which means it’s time to covet thy neighbour’s house (one of my all-time favourite activities)! It’s really hard to believe that this grand Victorian house in south west Scotland, once boasted an avocado bathroom suite, bright red carpets and horrid orange varnish on all the woodwork. After a major renovation project (costing just under £100,000), the owners have managed to inject so much light, character and warmth into each room. My favourite feature has got to be the low hanging pendants which create cosy, intimate areas. I also really love the little breakfast nook complete with original servants’ bells which they found hidden under layers of paint and badly stained tongue-and-groove panelling!

Images found here