Last night I enjoyed the company of two new girlfriends and it was just a wonderful reminder to say yes.  It’s funny as we get older often we don’t meet so many new people so heading out the door it felt a little like a first date… My nerves were unfounded and the food (Italian by an Italian!) and the company were just perfect.  I look forward to the next time.  It’s so easy to forget to take time to meet new people and experience new things because we get caught up with work or whatever gets in the way of life (is there anything other than work?).  So the next time something comes up – say yes.

The look today is the second I shot for Daniel, this time with the gorgeous Tocano boot.  An easy, laid back, spring look with 2 of my favourites – the loose mint shirt and the leather short.  Both pieces are so comfortable and seem easy and chic both at once – my favourite kind!

Happy weekend.x

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shirt – Twist & Tango (last worn here)
leather short – Theory (love this colour for summer)
tocano boot – c/o Daniel
glasses – Mango, necklace – Oasis
watch – Michael Kors, bracelet – Warehouse 

leather leash – vintage Oakberry
coat – model’s own c/o Infindigo 

Signs of summer are beginning to creep into the Instagram feed… with bare arms outdoors and 2013’s first alfresco Friday night drink and afternoon river paddles.  Also thrown in are some snaps from a new menu tasting at the Hilton’s Morblas (thanks for letting me taste my weight in your delicious steak) and yesterday’s shoot at the bluebellgray dream home – interior inspiration to the max.  Made me wonder if I should spend a bit more time on the space I eat, sleep and most often work in…

I don’t often do candy girly colours but it seems my nails have somewhat dictated my fashion choices.  Whilst I have enjoyed my neon tips these last few days, it’s limiting when it gets in my head that neon is a faux-pas with so many outfits (dangerous 80’s territory rule out wedge sneakers amongst other things).  That being said, I enjoyed this look, save the obvious jumper over playsuit bathroom break troubles, but now my fluoro coral-codings have been exhausted.  Time for a changeroo.

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knit & playsuit – Mango (last worn here & here)
shoe – Aldo
glasses – Mango
watch – Calvin Klein, bracelet – Reiss
bag – Becksondergaard, charm – Thai market

leash – Ancol, coat – model’s own c/o Infindigo 

Been having a lot of fun with the Asos Bikini Mixer this week.  It’s a little like one of those old school books little girls had where you could mix and match what the girl wore by flipping the pages.  Just like that except she’s hot and semi-naked…

My ‘bootylicious’ (erm) recommendation was for the 50’s halter top and the loopside pant – I switched the colours up to white and, you guessed it, stripes.  So now I’m just on the fence a little on whether to bite the financial bullet on this, which is undoubtedly holiday perfect ,or whether to go for the completely tanning unfriendly, but very cool, high necked, long sleeved bikini…

Which would you go for?  Or have you seen some other incredible bikini that you would like to share with me?  Please…

Friday night drinks alfresco with my boys – doesn’t get much better than that in my books!  The universe soon evened things up with a day of torrential downpour on Saturday though…

Still really loving this front split skirt and ventured well outwith my age appropriate boundaries to have a half hearted play with the cropped tee.  What do you think?

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tee – New Look (similar here)
skirt – Asos (last worn here)
boot – Zara (last worn here)
necklace – Stella & Dot, watch – Calvin Klein
rings – Boticca
leather belt – H&M

leash – Ancol, coat – model’s own c/o Infindigo 

Bermudas are in (I’m saying so).  And I’m happy.  They’re not a skirt and they’re not shorts as such because they’re long but the bermuda does share the best qualities of both – the universally flattering length coupled with the ability to cartwheel, should you wish, without the fear of exposing.  Win win.

Happy Friday everyone – go buy bermudas.x

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tee – Primark
short – Zara
sandal – Zara (love these)
glasses – Mango, necklace – Stella & Dot
leather bag – Autograph @ M&S
blazer – H&M

leash – Ancol, coat – model’s own c/o Infindigo 

I actually love this little collection of rings I’ve been cultivating over the last month.  It started with the tiny heart, a birthday gift, and shortly after her I ordered the slim set of 4 from Boticca.  In fact I ordered the wrong sizes (I intended one for each finger) but I found myself with a tiny halfway ring which I love even more.

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heart ring – Chupi
slim gold rings – Peggy Li via Boticca

It probably goes without saying that these are my shoes of the moment.  The shape is beautiful and the colour makes them pretty much a shiny extension of my actual leg (read lengthening) and to top it off, purely on a practical note, they’re wipeable (I do have a dog and he does tread on my toes).  I’ve already worn them so many ways, this was prob my fav, and I’m sure there will be plenty more to come but this look today, a classic day to night look, is one I styled specially for Daniel’s emailer which you can check out here.  I was so excited yesterday to find that dropping into my inbox!

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coat – M&S (similar here)
shirt – Zara (budget here, blow the budget here)
skinny pant – H&M (like these)
ardell court shoe – Daniel
glasses – Mango, necklace – gift from a friend
watch – Calvin Klein
clutch – Kurt Geiger (similar here)

coat – model’s own c/o Infindigo 

So the trouble with having a sore throat is the medicine.  Gallons of icecream.  That’s not necessarily a problem except that, with 6 weeks to go, it’s wreaking havoc with Operation Beach Body.

But then… lightbulb moment – I remembered about this little gem.  Icecream but not as you know it.  It’s bananas.  No really, bananas.  And that’s it.

I went kinda tropical but you can go pure banana, or add in a generous scoop of peanut butter, or try a swirl of honey or really anything you fancy.

You know what?  If you did a taste test you’d know which was the imposter but this is also the absolute best way to eat bananas and bananas are very, very good for you.

Skinny banana chococonut icecream
(serves 6)

8 ripe bananas
1 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder

Directions

Peel and chop the bananas and pop them in a sealed tub in the freezer for around 2-3 hours.

Scoop the frozen banana pieces into a food processor and blend.  You’ll prob need to stop and scrape quite a few times but persevere because eventually you’ll get iced banana grit followed by rich creamy banana smoosh.  Add your cocoa and blend, then remove the blades and stir in the toasted coconut.

Place the mixture into a loaf pan or icecream tin (who has one of those really?) because I think the metal cools better and helps the icecream to freeze.

You’ll have to leave it alone now for at least 3 hours.  Ideally 5.  Or maybe the next day.

When you’re ready simply scoop that guilt free deliciousness into cones or cups and enjoy.  Feel smug.  Post photos to all your social media channels and tell everyone you’re just enjoying one of your 5 a day – really.

Feeling somewhat under the weather with a pretty severe case of the sniffles coupled with the irritation of sporadic half-hearted nosebleeds.  So jeans and a tee are feeling pretty comfortable right now and the suede biker has become my second skin.  But hold the casual horses, fashion event to attend… add the fanny pack (still love the fact that I even own one) and heels.  Done.

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suede biker – Mango (similar here)
splash tee – Eco Boutique c/o Rtister  (last worn here)
jean – Forever21 (last worn here)
ardell court shoe – Daniel (first worn here)
necklace – Claires
bag – Becksondergaard (similar here)