#WeBlogMCR - The Foundation Coffee House Meet

It took me just over a year to decide that I wanted to write my own blog. I caught blog-fever whilst planning my wedding, as I devoured a wealth of wedding blogs on a daily basis. Eventually I had had enough, I wanted in. My own special little place on the internet where I was free to be creative, share things that I love and build on my passion for interiors. One particular aspect that I wasn't really expecting but has taken me pleasantly by surprise is the blogging community. There are so many lovely people, all kind and willing to help each other out. It really is fab. If you are thinking of starting a blog, my advice is do it! 

One perfect example of the blogging community at its best is #WeBlogMCR. These Manchester-based blogger events are ran by Holly (Holly Goes Lightly and Dribble) who is the loveliest hostess, she makes everybody feel welcome, sets a really relaxed vibe for the event to run by and even brings prizes! I went to the first meet up a whole year ago and attended the third meet up this past week. Last Thursday evening saw me turn up to The Foundation Coffee House on Lever Street in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. If you're around the area and in need of coffee then you should definitely try it. The staff are delightfully friendly, my first ever matcha latte was scrumptious and the interior is a complimentary mix of industrial-cool and vintage charm. 

Holly said a few welcoming words and we soon got stuck in to the far-reaching realms of blogging and all its wonders. The group comprised of fashion, beauty, health and lifestyle bloggers all happily sharing tips, troubles and goals whilst snapping pics of our location, drinks and nibbles. The Foundation Coffee House was kind enough not only to supply the space (after their usual opening hours) but also provided espresso martinis and a super healthy juice shots. Yum. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and getting to make some new blogging friends, as well as catch up with some old ones too. Make sure you scroll down and take some time to have a look at their links. Once again a massive thanks to Holly who put this all together whilst heavily pregnant! Absolute star :)

Matcha latte // espresso martini // skin juice boost

Great little styling details like the table leg and shelves

Scandi-inspired interiors

Hexagon tiles // subway tiles

Dromomania
Kat Horrocks
Oui Stephanie
Radiance Nutrition
Sarah Jane Jackson
EmmyLou Kelly Photography
SpamellaB
Smile At Style
Greedy Sisters

Claire x

Three New Houseplants

It wasn't that long ago that I said I wouldn't be buying any more living plants to adorn my house with. I'm afraid I didn't keep my word. I gave in; and I'm so glad I did because the plants look great and thankfully haven't shriveled up just yet.  My new green friends all sneaked into my shopping trolley at the supermarket and are now happily dotted around the house. I really do love seeing a bit of the outdoors inside, they make such a difference. 

My fireplace in the front room is now home to a lovely fern. I've mentioned previously that our living room is rather shady; and fortunately ferns don't mind that too much. 

Our bedroom fireplace is perfect for this little succulent fella. Unfortunately I don't know it's name - it has tiny heart-shaped leaves that grow from long stems and tumble delicately over the edge of the pot. Any guesses? 

And last but not least the bathroom window has a happy little Christmas cactus also known as Schlumbergera. Our cat Bella has taken quite a fancy to it.

Adding a little splash of green to my home has really helped set the tone for summer. How are you prepping your house for the change in season?

Claire x

Cotton vs Linen

I've recently ordered some new bedding and I opted for crisp white sheets. It's not the above cotton set from The White Company but how cute is the pom pom detailing on the edge? I'm hoping to shoot my new sheets in-situ this weekend so that I can share them with you soon. However, when I see pictures like the one above from Australian bedding brand Cultiver, I can't help let my mind wander to linen sheet heaven instead. Linen sheets look super soft and snug, even when they're creased and a little worn. They tend to verge more on the expensive side, but we spend so much time in our beds that we should at least be as comfortable as we possibly can! 

Where do you stand (or should that be lie?) Do you favour cotton or linen when it comes to your bed sheets? 

Claire x

Source 1 / 2

Received

I thought I'd quickly share a little selection of the gratefully received gifts that I found under my Christmas tree this year:

'it' by Alexa Chung so that I can channel my inner cool-girl, plus its dusky pink cover looks great on my bedside table; x2 little glass jars with birdie toppers which are super cute and will no doubt continue to pop up in my future #shelfies; the Remington Keratin Therapy Pro Dryer so I can at least try to get a little closer to the perfect blow out; Sigma Beauty Tapered Blending Brush E40 which will help me cover the dark circles as I recover from a season of overindulgence; a snuggly mink-coloured dressing gown to keep me warm through the winter nights; ESPA Body Lotion and Body Wash in a heavenly scent of Lemon, Ylang Ylang and Crushed Tonka Beans; and a galleried mirror tray to perfectly display my perfume collection. 

Huge thanks to my friends and family for my beautiful gifts :)
What lovely things did you discover in your stocking? 

Claire x

Perfume Picks

How are you getting on with your Christmas shopping? i can't quite believe that there's only one week left before the big day. I think I'm almost there. I love buying presents but I'm not such a fan of the huge crowds of people. I'm definitely more of an online shopper where possible.

One popular Christmas gift which might prove difficult to buy online is perfume. How on earth do you know whether or not it's going to smell good?! It could be very awkward to pick your cool little sister a perfume that turns out to be eau-de-grandmother. For this very reason I thought I'd share my current favourites with you.  

My dream team

Left - Acqua di Gioia, Centre back - Versace, Centre front - Bottega Veneta,
Right back - Dior Addict, Right front - Miss Dior

Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum:
I wore this perfume on my wedding day and practically everyday of my honeymoon, so as soon as I smell it's captivating aroma I'm whisked back to very fond memories. It's a gloriously feminine scent thanks to it's floral hints but it has a deeper layer that comes from it's woody notes. I love it.

Acqua di Gioia Eau de Toilette:
This is my most recent perfume purchase. I think that it's probably more suited to the summer months as it's subtle and fresh thanks to lemon, peony and cashmere accents.   

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum:
It's impossible to go wrong with a Miss Dior perfume as I've not met one person who isn't a fan. It's young and lively bouquet makes it the perfect gift for your best friend or little sister. Plus, it's bottle is super cute!

Dior Addict Eau Fraiche:
This perfume's grapefruit base is what caught my attention. It's sweet but not sickly so. It's my go-to every day scent, especially in summer. 

Versace Woman:
An evening-wear favourite for me. The scent is rich and heavy so probably not to everyone's taste. I find it to be the perfect accompaniment to a night out, whether that be dancing with my girl friends or trying a new restaurant with the husband. 

I hope you find your perfect scent! Send any perfume recommendations my way, I'm always looking to find a new favourite.

Claire x

Master Bedroom Reveal

This post has certainly been a long time coming. Our bedroom has been at this stage for a few months now and it is still by no means completely finished. However, I love it and wanted to share it as it currently is. 

We had been living with the room as it came when we bought our house coming up to five years ago. The walls were a pastel-like yellow and the beige carpet was the cheapest the vendor could get his hands on. We were using donated wardrobes, drawers and bedside tables which were all mismatched and falling apart. It was not a pleasant room to be in, never mind sleep in. You can take a peek into it's past here and here.

I managed to capture some reasonable photos the other day, thanks to a bit of good morning sunlight. I have plenty of ideas for finishing the room off properly and I know it's something that will come with time and money. I've captioned each photo with my ideas for adding to the space. Feel free to comment with your suggestions too.

This is a photo-heavy post, you have been warned ;)...  

I want to add a large table lamp to this set of drawers to add a bit 
more interest and warmth, especially through these dark winter nights.

I'm going to create a display of my perfumes on a tray atop this set of drawers. 
However, I am yet to find one which fits the bill.

This print will eventually be hung alongside a selection of prints 
in a mini gallery-style area above the chest of drawers.

I can picture a selection of vintage-style mirrors above the fireplace 
and a striking vase on the hearth with pillar candles for extra interest.

We are extremely fortunate to have a beautiful cast iron fireplace
already in-situ. My husband gave it a good clean and spruce up.

We need a rug for this large free area of floor space, perhaps a sheepskin 
or something equally as fluffy and cosy?

I love the look of crisp white bedding but I may switch it up to something 
a little more interesting in the future. New sheets are a must. I cannot wait to start accessorising with pillows and throws.

The bed will eventually be replaced with a king size ottoman bed 
with an imposing tufted headboard.

I have more vignette-style plans for the bedside drawers. 
I already know which coffee table books I want lined up on my side.

Bella loves the new bedroom and, as you can see, 
she was thrilled to make her blog post debut.

I adore having a full length mirror after suffering four years without one.

I've previously shared how happy a cocktail chair in the corner of our bedroom
would make me. I'm still hoping that my dream comes true (fingers crossed!)

There you have it. Our master bedroom in all it's glory (or almost). It is now a pleasure to be in our bedroom and we are both really happy with how it turned out. 

Do you have any tips or ideas for finishing touches? Please let me know what you think. 

Claire x

Drawers - Ikea
Jewellery box - Zara Home
Photo frames - Zara Home and Jasper Conran
Print - Nordic Design Collective
Wardrobes - Ikea
Bedding - Matalan

Bed - old
Bedside tables - Fads
Bedside lamps - Dunelm Mill
Mirror - Ikea
Curtains - Terry's Fabrics
Paint - Farrow & Ball Dove Tale and Dulux Nutmeg White

4 / One Pic Wednesday

Source

This rather perfect little picture appeared on my Pinterest home feed and I fell for it. Open shelving is something I would LOVE in my kitchen but there is abso-blummin-lutely no way I will ever bite the bullet and make the move away from cupboards. I rely far too much on my those little cupboard doors to hide away all my messy evidence. The above pic is how I would like my kitchen to look in an ideal world. We're pretty close already as we have the butcher's-block counter tops, the belfast sink and white subway tiles. I just need some traditional Falcon enamelware (and maybe some golden eggs) and we'd be all set. It's already on my #wishlist ;-)

Claire x

3 / One Pic Wednesday

Now that we've done all the major decorating and furniture building in our master bedroom (which I promise to reveal soon). I've instantly moved onto the finishing touches.  I've had my heart set on a little perfume vignette much like the one above and so I've made it my task to recreate it.  The foundation for this look is a beautiful mirrored vanity tray and so I'm currently trying to hunt one down.  I think it also gives me the perfect excuse to add to my perfume collection ;-)

Claire x

I came across this pic on Pinterest and unfortunately could not find it's original source. If you happen to know then please point me in their direction. Apologies!