Hart of Dixie - the outfits.

Did anyone catch episodes 2 and 3 of Hart of Dixie? I'm a little bit behind and need to catch up but I've been hearing lots of positive reviews from other people. Mainly though, everyone just loves Rachel Bilson and who can blame them?

Her style in the show is perfect and I'm as much of a fan of her outfits in Hart of Dixie as I am in real life. She can pull off the polished, pretty look but looks equally as gorgeous in casual jeans and a t shirt.

Here are a few of my favourite looks. I'm in love with the red shirt/black blazer combo. It's a great colour for dark hair but one I think I would be too scared to wear. Similarly I love the red trousers which I imagine are tricky for the average person to pull off but when you've got pins like those (and a fabulous coat) it is much easier.

The middle outfit above is probably the outfit I like the most of the ones I have seen so far. The colours are wearable and I love the smartness of the top and blazer. Also, everyone loves a bag you can fit a boat load of stuff into!

Are you a fan of Rachel or indeed Zoe Hart?

My name in lights.

I was so happy on Friday evening to discover that one of my cross stitch projects (this one here) made it into the new issue of Cross Stitcher magazine. I emailed them a few weeks ago thinking they probably wouldn't pick me but it was worth a shot. Then hey presto, I get a tweet from a fellow blogger who had received their issue asking if it was me.

My issue arrived yesterday and I got to see it for myself. It's rather exciting. Perhaps this is my 15 minutes of fame?! ;)

It's a really good issue but oh boy, next month looks like a cracker. I better clear some space in my schedule!

I am working on my own designs at the moment and I can't wait to share them with you. They're all rather silly and tongue-in-cheek but I'm also working on a design for my Sister so I'm hoping to have a few finished designs stitched up very soon. A mixture of silly and sensible I suppose.

P.S. If you haven't voted for a blog(s) in the Cosmo Awards 2012 yet you must! Give your favourite read the chance to be nominated for an award. Oh and if your favourite is me then I love you and you can vote for me in the Best Lifestyle blog category. Thank you!

Las Vegas: part 5 - the wedding (& some photos of the ceremony).

The last time I was a bridesmaid I was about 7 years old and I definitely don't remember being nervous in any way, shape or form. Fast forward a few 20 years and I was incredibly nervous to be a bridesmaid again for my Sister. I think Adele found it quite funny that I was so scared!

The wedding itself took place at 5pm but getting ready was an all day event starting off with some pampering in the morning and a hair appointment for an up-do. My Sister wanted me to have a french pleat which is very simple and sophisticated. It looked great with the clips that Jonathan's Sister had kindly offered to lend me. The clips were perfect and the hairdresser ended up using all three, so my hair looked very fancy indeed.

My dress was from a bridal store owned by a friend of the Grooms Mum and my shoes were Vivienne Westwood Anglomania/Melissa heels. I thought I may wear them for my own wedding as they're so pretty but oh no, no, no. They win the prize for the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever worn and my right foot has the marks to prove it. Such a shame! They are very beautiful though and always get so many compliments when people see them.

Walking through the hotel with my Sister in her wedding dress and the rest of us in our wedding attire while people go about their normal business (i.e. gambling and such) was such a unique experience. My Sister was congratulated and cheered/clapped as we made our way down through the Bellagio towards the terrace.

The ceremony itself was really beautiful, with the bride, groom, best man, best woman (me!) and parents on the lower part of the terrace and all of the friends/family watching from the balcony section just above. As the happy couple had their first kiss as husband and wife the fountains began in the background and it was wonderful.

We stayed on the terrace for photos, champagne and cake before we climbed aboard our party bus for a trip to the sign! This was a chance for the speeches to take place and oh my, we were in fits of giggles. The speech by the best man was particularly funny.

We had dinner at Mon Ami Gabi where the food was out of this world. We had our own section at one end of the restuarant as there were quite a few of us.  There were some cute touches like the place settings and the two caricature artists who drew caricatures for all of the guests. Jonathan and I were very impressed by this idea (we might steal it for our wedding!) and were very pleased to get caricatures to display in our home. I'll share some photos of the meal onwards soon, once they're ready.

After lots of lovely food, drink and chatter we made our way back to the Bellagio where the guests made their way to bed after a wonderful day.

Congratulations Adele and Steve! x

Just Pugs.

My Cornishware collection (& a new addition!)

I have been a fan of Cornishware products for a while but it was only after my parents bought Jonathan a Cornishware teapot the Christmas before last that our obsession really began. My aim is to fill our kitchen (and house - hello toothbrush holder!) with lots of blue and white striped goodness.

We received a few more items last Christmas from generous family members and, more recently, I was sent an item of Cornishware from the people themselves which I was ever so happy about.

As well as the teapot we have 2 mugs which we would like to expand into a full set, a little pot which is empty at the moment but has plans to be for sugar, and a garlic keeper which is my favourite piece that we have. Our newest addition, which I picked from the online store, is the tea caddy.

We love our new tea caddy as it is huge and holds lots of teabags (which is a good job as we get through quite a lot!) At £30 it does seem more expensive than run of the mill teabag storage but you know you're getting good quality items that are going to stand the test of time.

Do you own any Cornishware or do you know much about the company?

Cornish Kitchen Ware was first produced in 1926 by T.G.Green & Co in Church Gresley, Derbyshire, a county famed for its pottery. The range’s special characteristic came from the lathe-turning process, which cut clean bands through its beautiful blue slip to show the white clay beneath. It was apparently this that inspired the name, since it reminded one T.G.Green & Co. employee of the clear blues and white-tipped waves of Cornwall.

Our collection is going to be an ongoing project but next on our wishlist is the utensils jar. I'd also like to build up a collection of plates and bowls, as well as more mugs. Eventually I'd like us to redo our kitchen with a total 'country kitchen' theme but one thing at a time ay :)

If you'd like to have a look for yourself the link to their online store is here. They're also on Twitter and Facebook if you want to keep up to date with their news and hear of any giveaways.

Maloles.

I think I have a problem and it comes in the form of an obsession with pumps. As you know I'm an ambassador for Sarenza which has led me to become a pump fiend, well and truly. I have a pair for every occasion (and then some) but every now and again I find new styles that set my heart a flutter. Enter Maloles...

Who are Maloles I hear you say? 

Maloles Miracosta is the favoured designer of fans of luxury pumps, wedge sandals and feminine heels who don't take themselves too seriously. The Spanish-born designer, previously a fashion writer for Elle and Vogue, took the plunge and launched her very own brand of shoes in Paris in 2004. The 'Zoé' pump has been a must-have piece for all self-respecting shoe-aholics since 2005. Maloles introduces humour into her designs while paying unerring attention to even the tiniest of details. All her shoes are manufactured in Alicante, Spain, and sold in high-class boutiques in London, New York and Paris. Six thousand pairs were sold in the summer of 2006 alone — making Maloles a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world.

After admiring Maloles shoes from afar I recently took the plunge and ordered the Zoe pumps in taupe. I really wanted the yellow pair which weren't available in my size at the time, but I'm really glad I got the taupe colour as they go with pretty much every kind of outfit and I know I will get a lot of wear out of them. They are really comfortable, a great fit and I love the quirky addition of the ribbon.

I love discovering new brands especially when they make such wonderful shoes. I would happily wear every single pair of their pumps but here are my top picks:

 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

I love the Blanche pumps but there is just one pair left in stock and I don't think I could squeeze my size 7 feet into a 3. If only! The multicoloured Blanche pumps are a tad flamboyant but I love them.

Have any of the above taken your fancy?

I'd love to stay and chat...

When I saw this pattern on Etsy I knew I had to make it to hang somewhere in our hallway. It is so simple but brilliant. I can't decide whether to frame it or buy a smaller embroidery hoop and hang it with some ribbon. Decisions decisions...

I'm working on some designs of my own at the moment. I'll share them with you when they're ready!

(taken with Instagram)

Las Vegas: part 4 - helicopter over the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam & Vegas strip.

On our last full day in Vegas we booked to go on a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and the strip. It almost didn't happen as Jonathan is scared of heights and has never been on a helicopter before but he overcame his fears and off we went!

It was a little pricey as helicopter trips tend to be but it was definitely worth it. We didn't want to miss out on seeing the Grand Canyon just incase we never go back to this neck of the woods, and the other types of tours didn't appeal to us (e.g. going there on a coach: 11 hours +!)

We were picked up from our hotel at 12noon and taken to the Maverick helicopter base where we had a very short wait before our pilot called our group. Our pilot was great and made us all feel very safe and welcome on board. As I was the smallest I got to sit up front next to him on the first leg of the journey and it was fascinating to watch him start things up and take us up into the air!

It was such a great experience, especially going over the Grand Canyon. What we saw was so incredible and so vast, and we got quite low and near to the rocks (or so it felt) which I'm not sure Jonathan was too keen on. He looked a bit peaky at this point!

After a stop in the middle of nowhere to refuel (both the helicopter and ourselves with water - it was 100degrees outside!) we headed back to base. It was surreal seeing the landscape go from miles and miles of nothing to a sudden burst of weird and wonderful hotels on the horizon. Flying over the strip was incredible, giving us the chance to see all of the sights of Vegas from the air. We flew close to the Stratosphere hotel which we would be eating at later that evening.

What a great experience!