Sunday Carbooting

After a fantastic evening with friends, a trip to a local carboot sale on a Sunday morning seemed like a great way to blow out the cobwebs and fight off any hangover that might be looming. I'd never been to this one in Edinburgh, in fact it's been rather a while since I braved a carboot sale {the last experience was rather chilly and rather early in the morning for a weekend, though I was on the other side of the table}.

Armed with a partner in crime, I set off on a wander round what turned out to be a rather large and fruitful carboot sale. I love picking through the bric a brac - trying to pick out the hidden treasures from the junk {of which there was plenty}. I managed to come across a few gems and I could easily have spent hours pouring over the boxes of old postcards and stalls of chinaware.

Want to see what I did pick up?

A small, etched glass bowl that I thought might be perfect for housing cotton wool in my bathroom or holding jewellery that I fling off at night {despite my good intentions}:

A little silver effect shaker that I thought would be perfect for storing icing sugar for baking {which I haven't done in far too long}:

A bag of mixed stamps that I thought would be perfect for some decoupaging. I loved the colours in this bag in particular.

This sweet white milk jug which reminded me of the Jonathon Adler ceramic ware that I luuurve. It maybe is a bit of overkill in terms of the number and size of dots, but I thought it would be sweet for a posy of flowers on a bedside table.

This slightly beat up but awesome vintage Schweppes soda stream. I've seen loads of these floating in various blog posts but I've never found one that has been in my budget in real life. It needs a bit of a polish but I reckon it'll make a great addition to our kitchen.

A couple of vintage postcards - from Paris and Newcastle, both places with plenty of meaning for me. I loved the sweet sentiments on the back and could've spent hours pouring over the hundreds available.

And lastly, I had been keeping my eyes peeled for a set of china tea cups but had so far failed to find any that were up to my {clearly exacting} standards. These beauties are a very pale green with gold detailing. They're really quite tiny, more like an espresso cup, so I thought I might have a pop at making some scented candles as gifts for some of the lovely ladies in my life. The guy sold me the set of 6 for a tenner - absolute bargain! Aren't they pretty?

And finally, because the weather has been quite frankly bizarre today, so cold and wet, I thought I'd share these wonderful photos from a date Sandy and I went on the other night. The weather was cool but lovely and bright, and walking through the blossoms was just too tempting to not photograph. Can't wait to have my phone fixed so I can stop pinching the boy's! You have to agree though, Edinburgh is berluddy lovely. I forget sometimes, what a beautiful city we live in.

Apparently there is a flea market setting up in Leith - now that is exciting!

What do you think of my little haul? Any carboot sale recommendations that are worth a visit?

Love B

x

Bieber fever?

I don't really get this. The hysteria, the screaming, the obsession...But then perhaps a 24year old is not really the market that Justin Bieber was looking to break.

Then I heard this....

Awkward rapping aside {totally unnecessary, Justin} I really rather like it. I'm pretty sure it's because it reminds me rather a lot of this...

WHICH I STILL LOVE. STILL. Years after it was released. Pretty sure I still know most of the words too.

Maybe they'll make a Belieber out of me after all...

Happy, Happy Friday. Ready for the weekend? I am.

Love B x

Studying...

Going back to university in September, to do a course that I know will demand my time and attention, has my head whirring. I'm already excited at beginning my qualification but, admist the practicalities and concerns about reading lists and assignments, I do let my mind wander to what a perfect little study space would look like. Perhaps...

Top//Eero Saarinen Saarinen Executive Armchair with Metal Legs//Decker Bookshelf//

Jo Malone™ White Jasmine & Mint Scented Home Candle//JOHN DERIAN COMPANY, INC. Paris Paperweight//Printer's Keyhole Desk//Square Wire Basket//Type 1228 Desk Lamp Anglepoise//Monsoon Pasadena Address book//Regency Grey Cushion//Penguin Books 8 x 8 Print//Purist Bird Vases - Vases & Plant Pots - Home Accessories

Though I do feel that if I were to do something so unashamedly feminine, it would have to balanced by something unashamedly manly. Like mahogany panels, cigars and a chesterfield sofa kind of manly....


Love B x

I don't like Mondays...

{here}

This photo made my heart sing. Seen in sequence, this little guy just seems to be having the best time. But right now, early on a Monday? I don't half share the feeling of just wanting to stick my head back where I can't hear the call of another working week.

Love B x

Lengthy Birthday Celebrations

Before I start prattling on, it is ridiculously important that I point out the other birthday girl. My lovely Mum. I love that our birthdays are close enough to celebrate together.




I've been waiting to share snippets of my birthday with you until all the festivities were over. I sometimes alwys joke about a 'birthday week' but I really was lucky enough to celebrate over 3 nights with family, friends and a special someone. Talk about being spoilt!!!






My family came up for the day and night so, having treated myself to a massage and a facial in the morning, we kicked off the birthday celebrations with cupcakes and a pot of tea. Fast forward some lovely, thoughtful presents, a glass of wine, and a bottle of fizz later with my cousin and the boy, we were off to start our evening at the Canny Man. I've mentioned this place before, we popped in for a drink on my cousin's birthday, and we were keen to show my boyfriend and my dad it. Filled to the rafters with all manner of paraphernalia (skis as coat hooks, old wine orders, grandfather clocks...) and just oozing charm and quirkiness, the evening was off to a flying start. We ate at a restaurant called Angels with Bagpipes on the mile. I have to be honest, I've been before and loved the food. This time however, though the scallop starter was delicious, the rabbit main course was rather lack lustre. Regardless, it was a great evening. We rounded it off watching Sandy play on the Mile. He had to work so couldn't make dinner but I was so glad he was part of the night. Nothing like being serenaded in a busy pub by your gorgeous, talented boyfriend!!!

{the rest of family Stamp}

The next night was another dinner, just the two of us. We started with cocktails at a little bar called Dragonfly. Another quirky Edinburgh establishment, it's probably one of the nicest in that area of town. We moved quickly on to an understated little place on the Canongate - Wedgewood - and had the most delicious meal. Want to see?

'deciding time' of champagne and amuse bouche whilst you make up your mind. I wish I'd taken a photo - ours were salmon, dill and potato, a beetroot velutte {how do you spell that?!} with truffle oil and something with pulled pork.

Pigeon, haggis neeps and tatties and a lobster thermidor creme brûlée to start...

Followed by crusted mutton with goats cheese dauphinoise potatoes and nettle sauce or wild Scottish deer and venison haggis...

Wrapped up by an incredible cheese board. I am a cheese fiend (to the despair of my waist line) so I loved reading the accompanying explanation of the different cheeses, their origins, textures and flavours.

Nom Nom Nom. I felt a bit of a plum taking sneaky photos on my iPhone but I had to share! It was all delicious and so understated too. None of the pretentiousness that you might expect with food of that standard. I practically had to be rolled home {though I'm sure the bottle of red we split didn't help with that!}



Finally celebrations with friends. Always joyous, there was plenty of food and drink and good company. All the main ingredients for a good night!

The night started off so civilised: Chocolate cake, party hats and moustache straws galore...































And it ended? With me perhaps having a little too much fun..














Yes. That is me hoisting my friend on my shoulders. And that is also me wearing a stranger's scooby doo costume. Oh yes, that's me too diving infront of other people's photos like a complete attention floozy. That's what birthdays are for, right?






What a wonderful, wonderful birthday. I feel like such a lucky girl to have such wonderful nearest and dearest. Without being too schmaltzy, it was the perfect way to turn 24. I can not wait to see what this year has in store!




And on that note. No more birthday chat because I fear, I rapidly became a Birthday bore.

Love B x

Le moustache...

These provided plenty of entertainment when we had friends round the other weekend.

They were incredibly easy to make - I used these templates from here to sketch moustaches on the back of some cheap black card and then used my first moustaches as my template for the rest. Once you've cut them out, all you need is a hole punch that is the same size as your straws. Slide a straw through each moustache and you're ready to go! Want to see the results? They're particularly fetching...

Love B x

Just a thought..

I had the best time belatedly celebrating with some of my favourite people last night. I am incredibly lucky to have such thoughtful, lovely friends. We drank more than we ought to, ate cheese and chocolate fondues and laughed a ridiculous amount. It was, in short, berluddy brilliant. These people are such a varied mix but they all know me so well and are all such brilliant company. Their generousity stunned me last night - they brought unexpected, thoughtful gifts that were so perfectly me. I feel thoroughly spoilt this birthday. I really have been.

I'm not going to be all sentimental but they really are wonderful. Having people like them - aswell as Sandy and my family - around me, really makes incredibly happy and, to repeat myself, a very lucky individual.

{Emma Bridgewater cake tin filled with lovely crafty and baking goodies, anthropologie initial mugs, Sophie Dahl's cookbook, a beautiful key bottle opener and a lovely cake stand}

{the remains of an incredibly delicious chocolate baked for me by Sandy. Cake means a lot to me so this is kind of a big deal}

{and his sweet generosity didn't stop with a cake...it's purdy}

{it's a freaking laminator! And it's miiiiiiiine. I am going to have SO much fun with this. When I say my friends know me so well, I wasn't kidding}

{beautiful top from my sister. SO perfectly me}

{pretty dress from ma and pa}

{incredible chiffon snake print trousers from my Aunty. These are stunning}

{b-e-a-utiful suede jacket from mum and dad}

Lucky. Lucky. Lucky.

Love B x