Liberty Print Claire Aude Print Tana Lawn Weekend Wash Bag

This gorgeous Liberty Print Weekend Wash Bag is ideal for Summer Holidays. I popped in suncream, aftersun and as there was more room a hair care product and my cooling mist from Avene.

Roomy, light, protective and see through. I found the wash bag indispensable and with its Claire Aude Print in Tana Lawn floral design, pretty to leave in the bathroom too.

Liberty Print Claire Aude Print Tana Lawn Weekend Wash Bag from Liberty London costs £45

*PR Sample

GUESS Eyewear Spring / Summer 2013 Collection

GUESS has long been one of my favourite fashion brands. Claudia Schiffer brought the brand to my attention way back in the early 90's when she starred in those stunning black and white ad campaigns making me a loyal customer ever since. I love the stores, the clothing (which is a perfect mix of cool and glitz) and their advertising campaigns with no trip to America complete without a spending spree in one of their shops.

What really gets me excited however are their fabulous accessories - the watches, the bags, purses, belts and of course sunglasses. Over the years I have had them all...

The Eyewear for this Spring/Summer is no exception. Below I have selected my favourites from the collection but I do suggest a visit to the stores as there is so much more to choose from for both men and women and in a wide selection of styles to suit all face shapes.

£70 - Available in Shiny Gold Metal with Tortoise Tips/Brown Gradient Lens or  Shiny Gunmetal Metal with Black Tips/Grey Lens (pictured)

£65 Butterfly Shape Frames. 

Available in

Black/Grey Gradient Lens 
Pearl/Brown to Rose Gradient Lens (pictured)
Purple/Purple Gradient Lens 
Tortoise/Brown Gradient Lens

£90 - Available in Black/Grey Gradient Lens or Tortoise/Brown Gradient Lens (pictured)

£95 - Petite Rectangular Frame - Available in Black/Grey Gradient Lens (pictured), Tortoise/Brown Gradient Lens and Blush/Brown Gradient Lens (which are just gorgeous, I NEED these!)

Available from GUESS stores in the UK

Superdry Beauty and Makeup - New Launch

Launching in just a few days time... February 2013 the Superdry Beauty Collection.

When I think of Superdry I think of David Beckham - He put this brand on the map after being pictured wearing the clothing. I have to confess though it was my husband who mentioned this fact to me outside the Superdry store, well you couldn't get me in quick enough!

Now, I have seen pretty much the whole beauty collection and it stays true to the Superdry design style and branding.The details are spot on. From the cardboard outer packaging, neon brights, to its flashes of metal and of course the Japanese influence. A perfect fit in fact.

The range is comprehensive, with a whole host of items, everything from polishes to eye liners, handcreams, lipsticks, bronzer, tweezers, mirrors and more.

When I was introduced to the collection back in November I was particularly drawn to the fab neon wipe clean make up bags (£10).

I was recently sent a few items from the range to try out

Superdry Peppermint LipFix £6

Yummy mint scent the clear lipfix soothes and protects dry chapped lips. This has gone straight into my handbag. I love the squeezy metal tube and it leaves lips looking so glossy.

Also comes in Watermelon and Coconut flavours.

Superdry Professional Eyeshadow Powder Rose Colour £8

Powder Rose is a very light shimmer shadow that works well as an all over eye brightener, however I find it personally to be too subtle for my skin. It blends really well as it is has a really soft and smooth consistency.

(see swatches at the end)

Superdry LipGlaze £7.50 Rose Pink and Sweet Peach

I love the LipGlazes, these are my stand out products from what I was sent. Similar to Stila Lip Glaze. These are so handy and easy to apply. With a delicious vanilla scent and a brush applicator, I cannot rave about them enough. Incredibly glossy (for a glass like finish) with the teeniest of shimmer to enhance your pout they are brilliant.

Swatches of LipGlaze and Eye Shadow 

Superdry Beauty in stores February 2013

Christmas Gift Idea - Alice Tait Map Of London Print

This Illustrated Map Of London by artist and illustrator Alice Tait caught my eye when it popped into my inbox, I think it would make a fab Christmas gift for someone.

The map contains sketches of some of London’s best-known landmarks and attractions, including Notting Hill, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, London Zoo, Buckingham Palace, The London Eye, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, The Gherkin and Brick Lane, as well as the River Thames.

The picture is litho printed on thick watercolour style A3 paper (42cm X 29.7cm) and is supplied unframed. The print will be hand signed by Alice herself, and if you wish you can request for it to be personalised.

The Alice Tait Illustrated London Map costs £21.50 and includes free delivery. Available from www.notonthehighstreet.com/alicetaitshop

Royal Albert China Afternoon Teas Tour Spitalfields

I posted about the Royal Albert China Afternoon Tea Tours and as you know how much I love afternoon tea and gorgeous china, I couldn't resist popping down to attend the event, meet a friend and enjoy complimentary tea, cakes and macaroons all in the delightful setting of Spitalfields market.

Absolutely loved the tour bus - so very cute and ideal for weddings don't you think?

I was very lucky to be given a teacup and saucer in Polka Rose print to take away with me (this is pictured  at the top with the macaroons inside).

Royal Albert do such a fabulous range of teaware and other accessories,  I cannot wait to add to my collection!

Visit www.royalalbert.com to see the entire range.

Royal Albert China Vintage Themed Afternoon Tea Event Tomorrow in London!

Royal Albert china, is hosting a free vintage themed afternoon tea event in Old Spitalfields Market (E1 6EW) on Friday 5 October, from 11am – 5pm. The floral print tea van will be popping up to serve free afternoon tea, macaroons and cakes to all those who attend, with themed costumes and props available for those who feel inspired by the occasion and would like to dress up and get polaroid photos to take away with them too.

Plus anyone who comes along will have the chance to tweet a picture of themselves at the event and be entered into a draw to win their very own tea set worth over £150.

Head down for a little autumnal afternoon tea!

Check out the photos here: www.flickr.com/photos/ralondonteas  or follow them on twitter  www.twitter.com/ralondonteas

It all looks so pretty :-)

Just look at how gorgeous the tea sets are too, I am in afternoon tea heaven!

Guest Post - Afternoon Tea and Vintage Inspired Homewares

Today I am handing over the reigns to my lovely School friend Carol, a fellow afternoon tea lover. She is also a very talented lady who makes pretty Vintage-inspired, handmade designed products for the home.

Like many of the women I know, I love afternoon tea. I love the prettiness, the tradition and the fact that, for many of us, it’s a rare chance to take time out of a busy schedule to meet with friends, spoil ourselves and do something refined and relaxing.

It’s believed that credit for this ritual goes to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. Apparently, in the early 19th century, evening meals in grand houses were served late in the evening. In an effort to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, Anna began ordering tea, bread and butter and cakes to be served, to stave off the hunger pangs. The idea soon caught on in drawing rooms up and down the country. What better excuse to invite your elegant friends to put on their best hat, and visit for cake and gossip?

Apart from a love of afternoon tea and pretty frocks, I don’t have a lot in common with 19th century aristocrats (more’s the pity). However, like the ladies of the time, I do like to sew. That, plus a minor obsession with retro fabrics and vintage china, meant that it was probably only a matter of time until I began making vintage-inspired homewares. It started with tea cosies, then matching tea towels, and suddenly I was creating one-off, handmade pieces that were reminiscent of the classic kitchens of the 1950s. Baby blues and pretty pinks, polka dots and ginghams and florals.

There’s something special to me about taking the time to warm a teapot, to put the milk in a pretty jug; cutting the crusts off the sandwiches and arranging cakes on a cake-stand; putting a cosy over the teapot and waiting until it’s brewed just right. Our lives are so busy that we often don’t get chance to indulge in frivolous rituals, to make things pretty, or to take our time. But somehow, since Anna first devised it, the custom of afternoon tea has survived.

So I keep making pretty, retro tea cosies and tea towels and, as I don’t believe coffee-drinkers should be excluded, I’ve started doing cafetiere cosies too. I like to think that I am sharing that moment in someone’s life; that few minutes of “me” time, when they stop their day and put the kettle on. I like to think that Anna would approve.

If you’d like to see more of my work, please visit me at www.etsy.com/shop/CreatedbyCarolUK or www.facebook.com/CreatedByCarolUK

As my grandfather would have said, “If in doubt, brew up”. I’m off for a cuppa.

Carol x

Debenhams Home Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection

I recently attended a press preview of the Debenhams Home A/W 2012 Collection. I love home accessories so it was a really nice to see what is upcoming in the store.

Below are the items that particularly caught my eye, these will freshen up and brighten up rooms.

Rocha. John Rocha - Tealight Tree £38

Grey Rose by Jane Packer - Orange Ranunculus in Square Vase £18

Flowers are a great way of bringing colour into a home and these ones require no looking after..

Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson


Pink Butterfly Cushion £18
Yellow Peacock Cushion £25
Birdcage Mirror £40
Cushion £28


The afternoon tea lover in me couldn't resist these cute kitchen items

At home with Ashley Thomas 


Cake Stand £25
Mixing Bowls £18 each
Tins (set of 3) £15
Tins (set of 2) £15

Debenhams Heart Bowl £25

All pics courtesy of Debenhams.