Bumpkin Betty

[BETTY'S ADVENTURES] Cocktail Masterclass with The Millennium Hotel...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:36:00 +0000

I don't often go out to events on a Monday night, Mondays are generally spent moaning about the fact that the weekend is over, hazily trying to get myself back into working week mode and then heading home for an early night in the hope that Tuesday will somehow be easier to handle.

However this week I made an exception and not only headed to an event on a Monday but headed to an event that involved alcohol. I was invited to a cocktail masterclass at The Millennium Hotel in Mayfair with around twenty other fashion, lifestyle and events bloggers and as I'm partial to the odd cocktail or two it seemed too good an opportunity to turn down.

I've tried my hand at making cocktails before of course (haven't we all?) There was an infamous Mojito in the early hours of Hogmanay 2012 which may go down in history as the worst drink ever made, I've been the instigator of a few cocktail competitions at parties over the years which always end badly and I've even got my own cocktail shaker and mixer at home... But I've never actually learned the art of cocktail making properly.

When I arrived at The Millennium Hotel I was shown into the lounge area of the Hotel's main restaurant, Avista, where our name tags had been laid out on tables to ensure we were all sitting in teams of people we hadn't met before. I was teamed up with the lovely Sharon from I eat Fashion, Gemma from Gemsies and Ashanti from Adorn Girl (who I know pretty well but is always a hoot!).

There was time to mingle and chat over a couple of glasses of champs, an elder flower version which was extremely moreish, and partake in some fun games to get us all laughing, including having to sketch our best version of a cow and find out what it said about us. Mine looked like some sort of amalgamation of horse, cow, donkey and The Devil so I wasn't sure I wanted to know what that meant.

We were then given a tour of the prestigious Hotel and shown some of their top suites, which during the Olympics were going for around £2000 a night, sheesh! If you are lucky enough to find yourself staying in one of the Hotel's top floor rooms then you will be privy to a gorgeous view overlooking the whole of London and the lovely Grosvener Square Gardens on your doorstep.

Once we had been suitably wowed it was time for the main event and after a short lesson on the history of cocktails we took mixology into our own hands, each getting to make our own Mojito as part of a team challenge. A few things I learned; Only muddle the limes and sugar together but never the mint as you will bruise it and ruin the flavour. Instead simply clap the mint between your hands once and add in before your alcohol. Traditionally Mojitos should be served with gold rum rather than dark or white and finally you should never give me the option of free pouring. Case in point my Mojito ended up basically being a glass of rum with a touch of ice!Clearly my lack of knowledge previously was what attributed to Mojitos being so bad in the past.

I'd only just finished marveling at my finished Mojito when the mixologists started a little Cosmo challenge of their own. Another lesson; lighting orange peel will produce a flame and release the flavour in your drink. Amazing to watch the pros do it but I fear the results may not be quite as suave should I try it after a few drinks.

Before I knew it I had two delicious cocktails in my hand and found myself having a thoroughly enjoyable Monday evening, no moaning involved! Who knew?

Thanks to The Millennium Hotel for a fun evening and great to see all of these lovely ladies; Lucie, Mona, Hayley, Saira, Joanna, and Fei.

You can find out more about the Hotel and the cocktail classes here.
Millennium Hotel London Mayfair
44 Grosvenor Square
Mayfair
London
W1K 2HP

BB
xxx

[BETTY BAKES] Weekend Brunch...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:49:00 +0000

Boy it's been a long time since I did a baking post and boy have I missed it. I love to bake- it's my relaxation, my stress relief and always gets my creative juices flowing.

The problem is that lately I've been busy, and perhaps a tad lazy too. When I bake I like to schedule time to do so - one of the reasons I love baking as opposed to cooking is because I can take my time doing it. I don't have the pressure of timings and organisation and making sure everything is ready at exactly the same time. When I bake, it's usually just for me and GB or occasionally to take around to a friends, so there is no pressure. I can prepare things beforehand, do one step at a time, stop to watch a bit of telly, do some work and go back to it, even finish off the icing/decoration/ finishing touches at midnight when I get home from the pub if I please.

But recently every time I've thought about baking I've felt compelled to come up with something new and creative and unique. Something that I haven't baked before, that would be a challenge and ultimately something that would make a great blog post. When it comes down to the actual doing, and I realise there's nothing in the cupboards and the ingredients I need are too obscure to find in the local green grocer across the road and I only have an hour to spare before I need to get back to work/ go out for a run / curl my hair ahead of that event tonight, somehow it loses it's magic a little and I put it off yet again.

But this weekend I thought 'to hell with it!'. Forget about trying to be creative and unique and blog worthy and just bake the things you want to eat... simple!

So this Saturday after a much needed long lie I got up an made a hearty weekend brunch. GB wanted savoury, I was craving sweet, so instead I rolled up my sleeves, made them both and invited friends round to help us eat it all!

So my latest baking post might not be anything you haven't seen before, these dishes have certainly been made and consumed by me on multiple occasions, but that doesn't make them any less tasty and hopefully... any less blog worthy! Enjoy...

The Savoury - Sweet Chilli and Tomato Sausages, Scrambled Eggs and English Muffins

Ok perhaps saying I 'baked' this is a little strong, essentially I bought it from the supermarket and cooked it but still... If you are looking for a tasty sausage alternative, these were from Tesco's finest range and were super tasty. Scrambled eggs are never my forte but I'm slowly getting better and I always feel a little bit posher if I eat this type of food with an English muffin (or better yet, a brioche) than with toast.

The Sweet - Homemade Stacked Blueberry Pancakes with Fruit and Maple Syrup!

Pancakes are pretty much the easiest and tastiest thing you can make on a morning, and you will probably find you have all of the ingredients in the fridge already. This time I decided to add some (giant) blueberries to the mix which did taste delicious as they go all gooey and burst open when you eat. I kept it classic with strawberries and blueberries piled on top smothered in maple syrup but take the blueberries out and add some crispy bacon if you prefer your stack American style.

Here's how they are done...

Ingredients... (makes about 8 med sized pancakes)
250g Self Raising Flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
300ml milk (600 if you prefer yours thin)
2 tablespoons of caster sugar

approx 200g blueberries
approx 200g of strawberries

Method...
1. Weigh out all of your pancake mix ingredients and place in a large bowl
2. Mix together briskly until mixture is combined (don't beat too much as you don't want to lose all of the air)
3. Place half of your blueberries into the mix and stir in
4. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and place a large spoonful/ladelful of mix into the pan allowing it to flow to the edges of the pan depending on how big and/ or thick you want your pancakes
5. Wait for small bubbles to appear in the mix and then flip the pancake over, cook on the other side until both are golden brown
6. Place in a teatowel or in a low heated oven to keep warm while you repeat the process with the rest of the mixture. (you should get about 8 pancakes)
7. While still warm pile on the rest of your blueberries and some chopped strawberries and then pour over maple syrup as desired.
8. Dig in and enjoy!

Mmm... If only I could eat this for brekkie every morning!

BB
xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Gestuz Leather Jacket from Buy My Wardrobe...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 11 May 2013 09:30:00 +0000

I know what you are thinking... the girl who always said 'I'll never be a style blogger' and 'you won't see my face appearing on the blog' is now showing her face in nearly every post and is turning all style blogger on you! Every time I do a post such as this where it seems to be all about me (ha) I feel that I need to justify it. To explain that I just had a really great outfit to show you or wanted to tell you about my recent purchases in the most effective way. However the truth is, the more I do outfit posts the more I enjoy them. When I started this blog it wasn't in the least bit about me or about what I looked like and even after I eventually lost my anonymity the thought of putting myself out there with all my flaws for the world to see was a very scary prospect.

But I've come to realise that putting yourself out there for all to see and having the confidence to say 'This is me, this is my style' is actually the most rewarding thing you can do. Yes there will always be others who look taller and thinner and shinier in their photos than you, but the point of your post is to show how you wear the clothes, to give your perspective on a specific item/shop or outfit and to tell your story. I'm definitely no model and I'm definitely no style super blogger but yes I love fashion, I buy a lot of clothes and it's rather fun to share the madness that is my wardrobe with you all. It turns out that as long as you have fun with it and don't take yourself too seriously, this posing on the internet malarkey can be rather fun (a secret that other bloggers have been privy to a lot longer than me apparently!)

These pics were taken last Sunday on the bank holiday weekend and to correct my earlier statement I think you will agree that I'm most definitely not the star of the show here... so before I start talking about the outfit I'd like to take a minute to introduce you to Tito - the adorable french bulldog which we had the pleasure of looking after for the weekend. Sunday was balmy but not sunny so for Tito's morning (wear him out so he sleeps all day) walk in the park I took the opportunity to wear my new Gestuz leather jacket, which was purchased from Sandra at Buy My Wardrobe, for the first time.

Despite the fact that I look like Michael Jackson, (or Sporty Spice - whichever you prefer?) I enjoy these new jeans from River Island. I picked them up as part of my Beyonce outfit (yes I did see Queen Bey in the flesh and yes I think she approved) and have been wearing them ever since. That white stripe down either leg is actually a clever thinning tool. When standing properly (which I am not doing in these photos) it gives the impression that your legs stop where the white stripe starts making them appear a good few inches slimmer than they actually are! (something my curvy legs are grateful for) They also sit high waisted which means I can indulge the fash pack's favourite trend right now - the half tuck!

My Gestuz leather jacket is fast becoming my favourite ever jacket. It's so soft and comfortable and goes with so much. I also get a sense of confidence the minute I put it on, I think it's the biker look, it brings out a (Sasha) fierce edge I never really knew existed within me... and I like it! You can read more about where and when I bought it in my previous post.

Betty Wears...

Gestuz leather jacket (from Buy My Wardrobe)

Stripe jeans - River Island

Printed T-shirt - Monki

Metallic flats - ASOS

Necklace - & Other Stories

Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters (old)

I hope you all had a great bank holiday! Personally I'm missing having this little fella around already...

A special thanks to Tito for being so patient and posing for the photos when all he really wanted to do was run around the park and pee on lamp posts.

BB
xxx

[BETTY SHOPS] Buy My Wardrobe Take 3...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:22:00 +0000

I first discovered Buy My Wardrobe about a year or so ago, I’m not sure how exactly, or why but one thing is for sure, I’m super glad I did.

I went along to one of their events in Notting Hill with a few friends expecting a simple vintage clothing market with a few stalls of second hand clothing to rake through. Instead what we got was an upmarket shopping event complete with champagne, cocktails, free massages and an amazing array of good quality pre loved designer clothing. The premise behind their shindigs is to create a fashionable space where savvy shoppers can raid the wardrobes of some serious fashion addicts, stylists and bloggers incorporated into a fun day out. That first time I managed to pick up a red DKNY cape coat, a Twenty8Twelve dress, and a vintage cardi, all of which I've most definitely got my cost per wear from since. You can read my full post from that visit here but suffice to say ever since then I've been hooked. The launch of their online marketplace recently has been both delightful and dangerous and I now find myself on there nearly every day.

There are a few reasons why I'm such a fan. I love vintage, I'm dedicated to trying to build up my collection of designer clothing at the moment and I'm a sucker for a bargain so getting good quality designer pieces at half the price definitely appeals.

A couple of weekends ago I visited my third Buy My Wardrobe event with some friends and I have to admit it was the biggest and best one I've been to so far. Incredibly it was their 20th event birthday ('where exactly was I for the first 17?' was my first question and 'how can I avoid bankrupting myself?' my second)

Held at the incredible Kensington Roof Gardens, this one definitely set out to celebrate in style. There were more sellers than ever before and rails rammed full of Burberry, Christopher Kane and Chanel as well as a blogger section, this time with rails from Poppy Dinsey of WIWT, Monica Wellburn of The Elgin Avenue and Sandra Hagelstam from 5 Inch and Up.

The venue was incredible and luckily it was a beautiful sunny day so we could enjoy the Moroccan themed garden area and imagine for just a second that we were sunning ourselves abroad while taking advantage of the tasty cocktails and outdoor barbecue on offer.

I have to say that previously at these events I haven't been the most frugal person around. Not to say that any of my purchases haven't been worth it, but this time to avoid previously mentioned bankruptcy, I decided to go with more of a purpose in mind.

I've been looking for a good quality black leather jacket for a while now, ever since my beloved Whistles biker was massacred in a pub one night to which it has never really recovered. I have both a brown and a grey but no black, which in my opinion is quite frankly a necessity in any girls wardrobe.

So I set myself a budget of £150 which I told myself I would only go up to should I see something I really liked and I took up the leather jacket mission, promising I would try really hard not to be tempted off course by anything else.

Of course the minute I arrived I failed in my mission completely (it really wasn't hard believe me) and was immediately drawn to a gorgeous navy Acne hooded Mac at £200 (well if you are going to go over budget for anything surely it has got to be Acne) but unfortunately (or fortunately perhaps) it would have been the perfect jacket for an extremely tall, extremely slim individual with the pizzazz to carry it off but as it was just didn't look quite right on me. Whew!

I then spotted an amazing black leather Christopher Kane biker with an embroidered design on the back which although utterly fabulous, at £400 was more than double my budget and just couldn't be justified. After nearly being swayed away from my mission by some Grenson brogues, a Jason Wu dress and numerous to die for heels I found myself back on track when I reached the rail of the Sandra from 5 inch and Up. I was immediately salivating over a totally crazy, yet totally amazing Bowie esque silver metallic Style Stalker jacket but eventually talked some sense into myself and settled on this equally amazing, yet more wearable Gestuz number. Although it's not entirely black, I adore it. The leather is so soft, the quality perfect and the mix of colours make it really unique.

I had a good natter with Sandra, who was utterly lovely and really pleased to see her jacket go to a good home (I promised her I'd blog about it so that's coming soon). She assured me it had hardly ever been worn so despite the fact that I went to the top of my budget, I'm so pleased with my purchase - a true investment I'm sure you will agree.

After one last scout around to torture myself I grabbed my friends and ran before I could spend any more money and we ducked around the corner to a cosy Italian to indulge in the type of calorific delights which can only be consumed after a large amount of money has been spent and nerves need to be calmed.

If you like the look of these designer bargains, head over to the Buy My Wardrobe site to see more and prepare to become an addict. Keep an eye out for the next (21st!!) event too as it's such a fun day out.

BB
xxx

[BETTY SNAPS] A Lazy Girls Guide to Blogging... April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:01:00 +0000

Another month behind us... whew! The next few are set to be pretty busy for me but more on that to come. For now though here's a look at some of what I got up to in April...

Posing in my new favourite dress from Georgia Hardinge for River Island, finally getting to enjoy some rays and spend time with the new superbike.

Press day flowers, mixing my metallics, celebrations, days out in the sunshine.

Visiting A Very Curious Wedding Fair with friends, and then the following week visiting the 20th Buy My Wardrobe event (blog post coming soon), mastering the art of the half tuck.

Light skies in the evening, Sunday runs in the sunshine, an extra addition to the family for a few days, shiny shoes in the shadows, raspberry tarts and outfit planning ahead of the Beyonce concert! (oh yaaas!)

How was your April? If you are not already, follow me on instagram for all of my updates!

BB
xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Dark Nails for Spring...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:51:00 +0000

I've been meaning to blog about my Ciate Velvet manicure ever since I got it as Christmas present last year. Yes I realise that was now five months ago, but truth be told it's taken me that long to master the process. (I now know it's a tap not a shake, which has changed the results entirely)

But despite the fact that the sun is now finally shining, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it another go as I'm rather a fan of mixing things up and wearing dark nails for Spring. I like the contrast of pastel shades and all white outfits with gothic dark accessories and nails.

The velvet manicure gives a soft matte finish reminiscent of... um... velvet (funnily enough). It's not the easiest technique to master and can get a little messy but the finished result is pretty cool.

Here's how it's done...

1. Apply a simple base coat. I use Rimmel 5 in 1 nail treat.

2. Apply a first coat of the Ciate paint pot in 3am girl to all of your nails.

3. One nail at a time apply a second coat of the nail polish and while still wet sprinkle a generous amount of the crushed velvet over the nail covering it fully and using the plastic tray to capture the excess. Top tip - don't just shake the velvet over, give the bottom of the container a good tap and don't be afraid to pile plenty on.

4. Using the little black brush, sweep the excess velvet off your nail and allow it to settle in.

5. Repeat the process for each nail and leave to dry.

6. Behold your matte velvet nails!

Teamed with my white blazer and monochrome bag, it's the perfect Spring outfit!

Have you tried the velvet manicure? how did yours turn out? You can see the results of my Ciate caviar manicure here.

BB
xxx

[BETTY MEETS] Nines Vintage...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:49:00 +0000

I've always been a fan of vintage shopping, favouring the idea that I might find a little gem that no-one else has. But like everything in life I feel that to be a true vintage shopper you need be dedicated to it. It takes time and effort, research and most importantly passion. You need to know your Notting Hill boutique from your Brick Lane stall, you need to learn which of those car boots and flea markets are the ones worth getting up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning for and you need to be willing to rake through rails and rails of rif raf on the off chance that you might just find that one hidden wonder.

A few years ago when I first moved to London, this was me. Compared to Scotland, which I had been scouring for years, London was like an untapped shopping emporium to me and every available moment I had I would be raking through market stalls and basement stores.

But while my love for vintage clothing remains, my dedication to the art has waned. I've got older and busier and spare time is a friend that sadly I've drifted apart from. But as part of my 'buy less, buy well' resolution this year I'm determined to resurrect my love of vintage and start to once again collect some truly special pieces that one day I can hopefully pass on to my kids.

That love/hate relationship I have with a little thing called the internet has proven advantageous once again, and as the trend for online shopping grows ever bigger there are now more and more shopping sites dedicated to vintage and pre-loved clothing.

One such site and my latest discovery in the online vintage world is Nines Vintage. A wonderfully curated site which takes all of the hassle out of vintage shopping. Claire Walsh, the clever soul behind it all does all the hard work for us, scouring markets and shops around the globe to handpick the best designer vintage pieces and offer them to us for very reasonable prices. No more early mornings spent raking through rails of endless stained shirts and ripped dresses, for Nines Vintage only sells items which are in tip top condition, have true vintage value and are from great quality fashion houses.

As the first in a new interview series on the blog, I caught up with Claire, the sites founder, to find out more...

Some of my favourite pieces available on the Nines Vintage boutique at the moment.

1. Versace Jeans Couture Rare jeans and jacket £398, 2. Versace Versus The One Jacket £92, 3. Pierre Cardin tortoiseshell glasses £47, 4. Jean Paul Gaultier sunglasses £215, 5. Moschino Jeans tartan dress £74, 6. Gianni Versace mini backpack £172, 7. Nicole Fahri knee high boots £115, 8. Lanvin Paris sweater £350

Claire Walsh, Founder of new online vintage boutique Nines Vintage...

For those who aren't yet aware of Nines Vintage, tell us a bit more about the store and concept?

Nines Vintage is a vintage designer clothing website offering unique and unusual pieces and high-end brands, all in top condition. It’s important to me that each item is in excellent condition and every single item is handpicked and vetted personally.

What inspired you to set up the site? Have you always been interested in vintage clothing?

Style has always been very important to me. I have always tried to steer away from the norm and one of the first ways that I began to find my individual style was with vintage clothing. I think it’s very important to be aware of trends but in my opinion, if you want to be truly fashionable, you need to mix things up, experiment and have knowledge of fashion history. Fashion history is the foundation of style.

You offer a great variety of designer vintage items on the site, where do you source your products and how do you select the pieces to sell?

The clothes stocked on Nines Vintage are sourced from all over the world, from so many different places. I love scouring flea markets, auctions, charity shops and such like to find gems, which takes a lot of time and patience, not to mention a keen eye. There is also a function on the site to sell your clothes through us; this is a great way for you to make sure that your gems find a good home.

Are there any designers you especially look out for when sourcing items?

I focus on French and Italian couture brands like Lanvin, Chanel, Moschino, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Hermes and Versace… the list goes on.

Do you have a favourite place or store to shop vintage from?

Growing up, Beyond Retro was always a staple for me. They have great price points (which is unusual nowadays) and such an incredible amount of stuff – I would spend hours in there with my friends trying pieces on. I love the fancy dress element of vintage, mixing it up and just having fun with it.

Nowadays the term 'vintage' tends to get overused. How would you define a true vintage item?

If you had asked me this question a few years ago, I would have started an hour long angry rant about my disgust for the misuse of the word vintage… It still annoys me when I see someone wearing a cheap high-street t-shirt with fake holes in and ‘distressed’ areas or a little paint splatter with the word ‘vintage’ across the chest. But as far as I’m concerned, I’m more interested in focusing on inspiring fashion and REAL vintage. In my opinion, vintage is nostalgia. It is iconic style reminiscent of an era or some point in history.

There are now a lot of sites offering pre loved and designer vintage fashions, what makes Nines Vintage different?

There are other sites that sell vintage clothes but what makes Nines Vintage different is our unparalleled quality of product and unique service. When you shop with us, you are not just buying any old second hand item. Each item is handpicked by me and every single item represents Nines - I wouldn't sell anything that I wouldn't wear myself.

When you buy from Nines Vintage, each item is delicately wrapped, boxed and packaged to the highest standard. When I first started the business, one of the most important things to me was to create a service which parallels the experience of buying the designer item new and that’s what I've served to do. I would like to think that Nines Vintage is totally original in that we aim higher, to create a truly special vintage shopping experience.

You say on the site that if there is a particular item your customers are looking for that isn't available you can find it for them. How does this service work?

We've all been in that situation where there’s one special item that you have yearned for for so long. You've seen it in a magazine or on the internet somewhere and you wait in the hope that one day you will come across it and maybe one day, you will! But if you’re impatient like me and you need a solution ASAP then all you have to do is email us a description of this item, with a picture or item number, and we will add it to our database. As we are constantly searching for unique designer pieces, if this special item shows up, we can get straight in contact with you. Even if you’re not completely specific about what you want, just get in touch and we will see how we can help.

Finally tell us about your own personal style? Do you wear vintage clothing yourself?

I’m a big believer in mixing things up. I don’t like to pigeon hole myself and refuse to resign myself to any one particular style. I wear vintage, new, designer and high-street and usually all at once. My favourite items of clothing right now are my Canada Goose tremblant hoodie, which is 96% windproof (lol), my 80’s Escada jacket with an icy penguin covered landscape pattern, 90’s Versace jeans and my black Airmax 90s.

If like me you love vintage clothing but struggle to find the time to do the scouring, check out Nines Vintage for Lanvin, Versace, Lacroix and much more.

Big thank you to Claire for taking the time to be my first interviewee for the site!

xxx

[BETTY'S ADVENTURES] A Most Curious Wedding Fair...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:12:00 +0000

No don't worry dear readers, you haven't missed anything (I know I've been a bit slow on the blogging this week but you'd surely have heard about that!), it's not me who's getting married but I am once again (twice again in fact) on bridesmaid duty so am finding myself in the throws of all things wedding lately.

This weekend along with my two brides, I visited A Most Curious Wedding Fair in Brick Lane's Truman Brewery. For anyone who is planning a wedding I would highly recommend the pastime that is visiting wedding fairs. I'm not even a bride and I find them utterly delightful days out and have managed to purchase something at the only two I've ever been to (It's slowly becoming apparent that I could literally shop anywhere!). If you are not familiar with the protocol let me talk you through it... First up there's lots of pretty things to look at and secondly lots of lovely people to talk you through said pretty things, all of whom are genuinely glad to be there and love talking all things Wedding! Then there is the (small) bonus that it's generally a man free zone allowing you all to really go crazy with the 'When I get married...' talk that would scare even the most loyal groom to be away. There's music, tea and cake (of course), flowers, dresses upon dresses upon dresses, usually a slightly cheesy but enjoyable catwalk show and if you are lucky... auditions for 'Don't Tell The Bride'. Yup I told you, this is THE new way to spend a Saturday.

This East London offering had all of the above and more and was like a Tardis once you got in (bigger on the inside non Dr Who fans). Every time we thought we had seen it all, there would be another room to explore around the corner.

I have to say I don't envy those trying to organise a wedding, despite the fact that it will probably be THE best event you will ever organise, it is also an absolute minefield - where do you even begin? Having spent a few hours within the wedding fair I was flaberghasted at just how many wonderfully creative people there are out there just waiting to make wonderfully creative things for your wedding. By the end of the day I was full to the brim of ideas and inspiration and had declared that I wanted it all. Every single part of it. And I'm not even getting married... yes I'll repeat that last bit, I'm not even getting married. I'm not even engaged and after one visit to a wedding fair I would happily have signed on the dotted line to every one of these wonderful people. (I have a problem)

I've tried very hard to narrow down everything I saw to give any wedding planners out there a manageable little round up of my favourite things in the hope it might inspire! Here goes...

The Videographer - Emmelie Eriksson

Most people I know don't tend to go for Videos at their weddings. I think there a slight fear that you may see yourself afterwards and be too critical, but a good wedding videographer captures all those special little moments from the day that the photos can't and the ones that will go by in such a blur you'll forget they even happened. A good wedding videographer will make your video encompasse all of the beauty and happiness of your day and give you something that in twenty years time you will look back at and treasure. I don't know for sure but I have a feeling that Emmelie Eriksson is one such good wedding videographer. The video she kindly showed us was so stunning that not one of us could bring ourselves to leave her stand until we had watched it all of the way through, oohing and aahing and awwing along the way. She had transformed a seemingly normal couple into film stars and it was captivating. Check out her website and I defy you to watch Zeph and Jemima without shedding a little tear.

The Couture Wedding Gown - Federica Bruno

Of course, having your own custom made bespoke gown isn't going to come cheap but if you are looking for something truly unique and one of a kind I loved the theatrics of these gowns from occasion wear designer Federica Bruno. So delicately made with lots of tiny intricate detailing, I was even drawn to the gypsy wedding style princess frock which was quite simply spectacular, even if not at all my style.

The Accessories - Comeuppance

There were a lot of jewellery and hair accessories stands and sometimes it was hard to distinguish, but both my friend and I were drawn to Comeuppance for the gorgeous delicate beaded hairpieces and ribbon belts on show, perfect for those wanting to add a little something to a classic dress. They make a range of bespoke handcrafted headpieces and accessories as well as lovely laser cut bunting and table decorations - very cute!

The photographer - Karolina Paczkowska

Again there were numerous wedding photographers at the event but my favourite was Polish photographer Karolina Paczkowska (bit of a mouthful) as her photographs were completely different from anyone else's there. I'll let you into a little secret here... I despise traditional wedding photography. I just can't deal with those generic pictures of wedding shoes perched on a tree (someone please tell me what that is all about?) and cheesy 'look into my eyes' moments. I don't meant to sound judgmental (I'm by no means an expert) but they just don't seem real to me. I really liked Karolina's work because her tagline was 'I shoot what I see'. I love that idea - don't come to me with cheesy poses and well thought out plans, just let me shoot what happens on your day. Simple. Plus her photos were a riot, perhaps she just likes photographing unusual folks and crazy brides but the artistic pics of brides smoking in their dresses and giggling at the table had me sold.

Setting the Scene - The Scene Setters

Talking of photography, I do love a good a photobooth at a wedding. After a few drinks there is nothing posed about those that's for sure, and the best thing? Everyone looks good in a black and white photobooth pic, it's impossible not to! Props company Scene Setters not only offer photobooths but signage, giant letters and other such fun stuff that you may require to jazz things up a bit!

The Cakes - Emily Harmston Bespoke Cakes

Edible flower displays... well that takes some skill for sure. We were drawn to this stand not only for it's beautiful displays of course, Emily was handing out samples of her chocolate cake. yup enough said. Something that looks this good could be forgiven for only tasting ok-ish, but Emily's tasted devine... I had to go back for seconds, sorry.

And finally for the risk takers - Don't Tell the Bride

Personally I couldn't think of anything worse than letting GB organise our wedding, not that I think he would do a bad job, just because I'm such a total control freak that I couldn't handle not knowing any single part of it. Plus I think having just written this post it's rather evident that I might actually enjoy organising a wedding! But I am dying for someone I know to enter this, if you are a brave bride and don't mind potentially having to wear a horrific dress (got to be the hardest part) you can apply at dttb@applyfortheshow.com

The Best of the rest...

As well as seeing all of these amazing things the day was also made even more special for me as I got to meet one of my favourite designers, Corrie Nielson, who was showing some of her amazing gowns from the very show I had been to a few seasons ago. After a good old natter with her she was kind enough to show me her all over sequined embroidered dress from her recent AW13 show - absolutely stunning!

If you are organising a wedding I hope I've given you some fuel for thought.

BB
xxx

[BETTY SHOPS] How to wear Dungarees...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:51:00 +0000

Every season at least one fashion trend comes along which is what I like to refer to as a marmite trend. It sets about dividing the fashion nation into clear cut camps of either 'hell yeah' or 'no way, hosey'.

Last summer it was the wedge trainer, loved by many, feared by many more. However the sheer weight of that trend has meant that even the haters have now had to cave and accept its residence in shoe history. It's now less of a marmite and more of a common strawberry jam (not everyone's favourite but no one can argue with it being on the shelves).

This summer said marmite divider is the dungaree. Yes folks hold on to your stick of Hubba Bubba as that 90s classic, a favourite of the likes of Clarissa and N Sync, is back!

If that previous sentence just made you take a sharp intake of breath and utter the words 'no, please no' then you can throw some of your blame towards Alexa Chung, who with her waif like figure and boyish charm has been rocking the trend for many years, once again conning the average public into believing they too can dress like a 10 yr old boy and look effortlessly cool at the same time. (FYI most of us can't!)

Under normal circumstances with a trend as hit and miss as this I would be tempted to say avoid avoid avoid unless you are:
a. Extremely young
b. extremely skinny
Or c. Have that East London kooky hipster vibe nailed

But... Yes there is a but... The fashion world has taken this trend and run with it and there are some options out there which are less Alexa Chung and more Diane Kruger (I'm talking grown up glamour in case you were wondering). So if you're old enough to remember 90s fashion in a way that you were hoping to forget, don't despair just yet. As they say its not what you wear, it's how you wear it so I've picked three of my favourite styles on the high street and shown you how to wear them in a way that won't make you look like your channeling the Disney Club.

Look 1 - Leather... (Inspired by Philip Lim and Miroslava Duma)

Dungarees: Whistles £395 1. Zoe Karssen Bat sweater £95 2. Topshop white stilettos £58 3. New Balance Trainers £60 4. Anton Heunis necklace £210 5. Kzeniya Hologram clutch £180

In my opinion the absolute chicest way to wear your dungarees is to go hell for leather, as there is nothing 90s about the leather versions. The Whistles pair have my vote but Zara also do a slightly more affordable version. I'd keep it simple with monochrome seperates and statement accessories. Seeing as white stilettos are having a moment, this pair from Topshop would go wonderfully, however if you want to get the true fashpack look, team yours with New Balance Trainers.

Look 2 - Pinafore... (Inspired by Millie Mackintosh)

Dungarees: Warehouse £55 1. Zara top £19.99 2. Senso wedges £135 3. Office Clog Heels £68 4. Moxham Anubis necklace £135 5. Dune Chain bag £69

I am obsessed with Millie Mackintosh's style and have been ever since I joined Pose. Her new style site has some gorgeous photos of her looking (hazy overlay effect) gorgeous. When I saw this pinafore style dungaree (Ok it may be more a playsuit and I may be cheating slightly) I loved the playful look. At the risk of stealing her style completely I am sticking with her amazing Senso wedges, but these chunky Office ones (in another of her style posts) would look equally good. Mixing it up slightly I like the idea of adding a bright print underneath the black and the Moxham necklace was made for dungaree loving!

Look 3 - Classic... (Inspired By Tuula Vintage)

Dungarees: Topshop £55 1. Zara star print blouse £25.99 2. Valentino Rockstud Heels £600 3. Zara printed Heels £69.99 4. Zara messenger bag £19.99 5. Zara fishbone necklace £15.99

In my opinion if you are going to go for the classic denim look, you should just GO for it! As in the full 90s brigade - long, rolled up bottoms, faded knees and buckle straps. But instead of the backwards cap and converse, make them 2013 ready with a pair of standout heels in a bright colour or print. Of course I had to add the Valentino kitten heels in as they are AH-MAY-ZING but I also think these printed numbers from Zara would look hot. I've kept the rest simple and this truly fashionista worthy look wouldn't be complete without an underarm bag.

So will you be braving the dungaree brigade this Summer? How would you wear yours?

Me? Well I'm on the fence with this one. One the one hand I'm a lover as I really want to wear the trend (street style photography has a lot to answer for) but on the other had I'm a hater as I'm just not site I can... (Just like the boyfriend jean I fear my hips might not like this one)

But I'm keeping an open mind as there may still be a style out there for me and if so i'll be going for the sophisticated simplicity of look one with a touch of added quirk a la look three.

BB
xxx

[BETTY REVEWS] A Mad Hatters Tea Party at The Sanderson, London

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:09:00 +0000

Ever since I was a little girl I have always loved the idea of afternoon tea. For me as a child it wasn't seen as the posh high society affair that the conotations nowadays suggest, but instead a warm, friendly, unpretencious family get together that would happen irregularly on a Sunday if we were good. Growing up in Scotland I remember it as High Tea, which I guess was a little different given that it involved a meal as well as tea and cakes. It was essentially an early dinner, a pre theatre if you will, which Hotels would offer in the late afternoon, early evening slot before their a la carte menu would begin, and it was pretty much my favourite way to dine for the majority of my childhood.

I can remember it clear as day as every time I would order the same. There would always be gammon steak and pineapple with sides of fries and greens (which I most probably didn't eat) before the tiered tray of cakes was brought out to two giddy kids and accompanied by a mug of milky tea. I'd usually start with a small scone and jam before moving to something sweet and Scottish such a millionaire shortbread or chocolate tiffin. Looking back on it now, it was probably just a cheaper option for the Hotel to get out of offering a dessert but to me at the time it was divine. Apart from the fact that I've always been a sweet tooth, I think it was the variety that appealed. The many choices that that tiered tray offered and the excitement over where to start and what to choose first.

Since then, the act of getting together with loved ones on a late afternoon for a cup of tea and a cake has remained one of my favourite things to do, always rekindling that memory and bringing about warm happy feelings. However, although tea and cake is called for often, it's usually consumed at a local cosy cafe or in a friends living room after a heavy night, PJ's on and chick flick playing. Surprisingly, I've never ventured to one of the Afternoon Tea offerings put on by many of London's finest Hotels.

Why? For a few reasons really...
1. They are usually a rather expensive way to spend an afternoon and seem to call for a special occasion that I never get around to organising.
2. They usually warrant an equally expensive dress to go along with (no PJ's allowed) and a dapper man in a dinner suit on your arm.
3. I guess I always feel a bit unworthy of the posh service and silverwear which would be accompanying my scone and jam and somehow it doesn't seem to match up with the fun memories of my childhood.

However when I heard about the Mad Hatters Tea at the Sanderson Hotel, designed to be a quirky alternative to the usual dining experience, fueling your imagine as well as your tastebuds, I knew that this was the type of fuzzy memory inducing experience I had been waiting for, and I really really wanted to go! On my birthday weekend a few weeks ago, my wishes came true and myself and GB scrubbed ourselves up and got ready to tumble down the rabbit hole...

The Setting...

Inkeeping with the magical theme, the day we visited The Sanderson was a freaky March snow day in London which saw thick and soft clumps of snow falling down on us as we made our way there. Once inside of course it was beautiful and the heated indoor courtyard area offered the most wonderful clear view of the white piling up outside.

The Sanderson has a clever way of offering everything that a five star luxury Hotel should offer, while still remaining humble to appeal to the everyday Joe who just wants to pop in for a drink. It avoids that stiff pretencious aura that so many other luxury Hotels abide by, in favour of a welcoming hello, friendly service and smiling staff. Upon entering there is none of that awkward silence that usually has me panicking about whether my high street outfit will have me thrown out immediately and brandished as a fraud, instead there is a happy chatter of a busy bar and restaurant and plenty of people waiting to take your coat and give you a helping hand.

The Afternoon Tea...

Alice in Wonderland used to scare me a little as a child, but now that I'm older I think I can appreciate how wonderful a story it really is. There is something special about being able to escape from daily life for a few hours and delve into a magical land full of colour, excitement and temptations and this afternoon tea does just that. In collaboration with design collective Luna & Curious, this mixture of bespoke carnival crockery and eyecatching baked goods makes for a curious and curiouser day out!

As we sat down, we were met with a delightful table setting complete with plates which match up to tell a story, a menu inside a vintage book and sugar cubes offered from a singing box. First came a large dose of tea served in smiling teapots to warm us up from the snow outside. But this being of the mad hatters variety, the tea served is not just any tea, choose from rhubarb and custard, apple pie, strawberry tart and mint choc chipvarieties.

As it was my birthday (and that special occasion I had been waiting for) we also sampled some beverages of the alcoholic variety (which definitely wasn't part of my childhood memory) as the afternoon tea comes with an optional glass of champagne add on and a variety of suitably mad cocktails, which as I found out through my daquiri were nothing short of strong!

When that all important tiered tray arrived in front of us it was certainly something to behold and offered much more variety than I can ever remember in my Scottish version. Starting at the bottom there was a plate of savoury goodies such as cucumber and chive cream cheese wrapped in a spinach bread, savoury scones and garlic butter and miniature quiches, all washed down with a small 'drink me' bottle of frothy mango panacotta.

Two tiers of sweet treats then awaited us, all of which had a hidden surprise or unexpected tale to tease the tastebuds. Dark chocolate cups filled with lime mousse seemed harmless enough until the dose of popping candy in the middle took it's effect and an innocent cheesecake was made even more delectable when cut open to reveal an oozing mango sauce. Victoria sponges were transformed into ticking clocks and marshmallows into mushrooms, finished off with a garden of tasty carrots hidden at the top.

The Verdict...

The Madhatters Tea party at The Sanderson isn't like any other afternoon tea you may have tried, it's fun and quirky and designed with everyone in mind from families, to tourists to those who want a posh day out for that special occasion. While they don't allow fancy dress or PJ's, it is considerably less formal than many other London Hotel offerings and there was no need to feel wary of talking too loud or using the wrong cutlery as the atmosphere was friendly and warm and the staff incredibly helpful.

At £35 (£45 for the Champagne version) it's also considerably cheaper than a lot of afternoon tea packages in London, and while not exactly a dirt cheap way to spend an afternoon, not beyond consideration if you have cause for celebration or a friend to treat.

Even for a true sweet tooth like me, I did find myself craving a little more of the savoury dishes (perhaps because they were so tasty) so do prepare yourself to leave with a sugar rush should you indulge in the way I did, but hey since when is a sugar rush a bad thing?

BB
xxx

The Sanderson London
50 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NJ
Tel: 0207 7300 1400

To find out more about the Mad Hatters Tea Party or to make a reservation visit the website here

*Please note, I was treated to Afternoon Tea by The Sanderson in order to write this review, however the opinions expressed are all my own.*

[BETTY'S ADVENTURES] Red Hair, Blue Bikes and Sunshine... (Finally!)

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:47:00 +0000

Is anyone else bored of Winter? I'm bored of Winter weather, I'm bored of finding new combinations of the same Winter outfits, I'm bored of blogging those same Winter outfits and I'm bored of blogging about being bored of Winter... just bored. Bored, bored,bored.

Yesterday nearly broke me once and for all... The sun came out in the morning and I thought perhaps, just maybe, Mr Weatherman had got the message and given us all a break. I put on a cute outfit (including my new suede boots and sans jacket) and stepped out, armed with my camera and a smile, for what I hoped would be a lovely day out with GB.

Then the dark clouds approached and the rain started... it started the minute we stepped out the door and just didn't stop. The day out was ruined, my new shoes were ruined, any hope of nice sunny photographs were definitely ruined (nowhere looks good in the rain) and the smile on my face was gone. After hiding in a cosy pub waiting in hope for the rain to let up, we eventually gave up and returned home defeated, depressed and having missed 'Dr Who'.

So you can imagine my sheer joy this morning when I awoke to the sun shining in my window and realised the weather gods had answered my prayers! This time I wasn't taking any chances and despite the fact I had a mountain of work to do, wasn't willing to wait for a repeat of yesterday so was up and out the door with my camera, my Pashley and a reasonably summery outfit.

I've been waiting for the right moment (and weather) to show you all my beautiful new Super Bike, a blue Pashley Poppy, as it would have been rude to picture it in anything other than sunshine. But finally here it is in all its glory, isn't it a dream? You may remember as part of my birthday wishlist I was hopefully dreaming of finding a near to new Pashley for a second hand price? Well would you believe it but that actually happened!! This beaut had been ridden a mere three times before getting taken home by me and is in perfect condition.

This morning I took her (I think this Super Bike has to be a her as she is so puurrty) and although hills are still a challenge, she makes cycling a dream. She also clashes sweetly with my new hair! Little hair update: as you can see my colour is fading fast, it's been less than a month but I'm already considering going back to the hairdressers to have it redone. If anyone has any tips for me on how to keep the colour for longer I'd love to hear from you.

Its now lunchtime and the sun is still out (hurrah) so I'm off for another day out with GB in the hope we can override yesterday's disaster.

Hope you are all having an enjoyable Sunday in the sunshine!

BB xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Georgia Hardinge for River Island

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:46:00 +0000

Just a couple of days after posting about my new posing addiction, here I am doing an outfit post... What has happened to me?

Well this is a special occasion folks and one which I felt it would be rude not to post and pose about. And sing and dance about for that matter as I've been waiting for this occasion ever since the beginning of the year!

No it's not my birthday, anniversary or even my blogiversary that has caused such anticipation and celebration, it is something better... The special occasion I speak of is of course the arrival of the Georgia Hardinge for River Island collection, and the frenzied celebration is for the fact that I am now the proud owner of two gorgeous pieces!

I've been a fan of Georgia's ever since seeing her designs for the first time back at LFW AW11 when she showed at the Fashion Scout venue. I fell in love with her dark yet beautiful prints then and loved her mix of edgy cuts with feminine figure hugging shapes. A couple of seasons later I then had the pleasure of meeting her at her stand in the exhibition where I got to have a good ol' natter with her about her then floaty sheer summer dresses and skirts before going to see her beautiful fashion film.

This LFW season when her River Island collaboration was announced and a suave soriee put on to present her incredible fashion film I definitely wasn't missing it, and I can honestly say I've been on tenterhooks ever since to see the collection in person.

I'm not always an avid fan of designers doing collaborations on the high street, I understand why they do it and when it's successful, it's usually really successful and of course I enjoy the affordable price tags and my chance to buy into a designer I love but wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. But they can also be very hit and miss. It has to be the right designer with the right high street store, the right time, the right press, the right launch, and the right collection...and if not executed correctly can end up being all a bit of an anticlimax. For example I LOVE Giles as a designer but I really wasn't sure if New Look was the right fit for him. Making pieces accessible for a young teenage audience while still retaining your designer brand values is no mean feat and I applaud him for doing so but for me it just took a bit of the exclusivity away from the brand and I felt meant it lost it's edge. Even from the numerous designer collaborations from H&M, which have been undoubtedly successful, only a few have really captured my heart.

But for some reason I never had any trepidation over this particular team up. From the moment I first heard about it, I just knew it would be great because it just works. River Island have always had that slightly edgier feel compared to many of their high street counterparts and their Design Forum, which last season saw a range from William Tempest, is helping to secure them as the real fashion addicts favourite. Georgia Hardinge is the perfect fit really, known and loved by press and industry, she makes this capsule collection a real hot talking point, yet she is new enough to the general public for it to be a real success in opening up her brand to a new audience. And if there was ever any doubt as to whether this collection would be a hit or miss, there really needn't have been. As soon as I cast eyes on the first piece, after waiting excitedly at my desk for both pay day and my lunch break to come on Friday, I was more than impressed. Why? Because it is unequivocally Georgia's designs. She has stayed completely true to her design ethic and you really do feel like you are getting your hands on one of her designs. The 14 piece collection is super cool, super wearable and best of all super affordable.

I snapped up the stand out neoprene structured dress (no longer online but try in store), which is one of the most expensive pieces in the collection at £80 but really is so amazing I couldn't resist, and also the white shirt with printed collar because the fit is great and it really is so difficult to find a good white shirt these days.

The dress is definitely now one of the coolest things I own, and despite my original reservations regarding the stiff inner structure, is actually surprisingly comfortable to wear. I am slightly concerned about how to go about keeping the structure intact as after just one wear I already feel as if I've bent it out of shape. I think the key is to have a keen and willing ~~slave~~ boyfriend with you at all times to pick things up for you and ensure that you never have to bend.

Seeing as since I've dyed my hair, I have been pretty much living in monochrome, the colourings of the skeletal like print are perfect for me and when the sun came out this weekend I couldn't wait to style it up.

I've styled it two ways, both casual and dressy, and although I prefer the dressy look teamed with my Zara monochrome heels and new clutch, I like the fact that for such a statement dress, it can be easily dressed down with my scruffy converse and an old leather jacket to make it more day appropriate. This is how I wore it out on Saturday and although attempting to sit and bend garnered me a few curious looks, on the whole it was received well for a afternoon in the pub.

For Day...

For Night...

You can shop the whole collection, which also includes shoes and bags, in River Island stores and online now and if I were you I'd move fast as I predict a sell out. I'm already trying to talk myself out of going back for the gorgeous maxi dress as I think it would be such a beautiful Summer dress but my bank balance is telling me otherwise.

Here's my picks from the collection and if you haven't yet seen the fashion film you can watch below.

1. Maxi Dress £70, 2. Clutch bag £60, 3, Shirt £40, 4. Top £35, 5. Maxi Skirt £60, 6. Top £35, 7. Leggings £30, 8. Platform Shoes £50

BB
xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Hey Poser!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:18:00 +0000

Another day, another social media platform. I've recently joined Pose, the Instagram for fashion lovers, and its pretty damn addictive. Not only can you share your outfits, accessories and new purchases but you can also tag them to tell others where they are from and in some cases you can even shop the items straight from the pics!

Although I'm always partial to finding a new social community to share on, my addiction of this particular one has surprised me more than most. I'm not actually that keen on taking photos of myself you see and that's the main premise behind Pose. I'm slowly learning to embrace the selfie on the blog because its nice to be able to document my outfits every so often in an outfit post or a getting dressed with a gif feature, but none of that came easy believe me, so the idea of an app dedicated purely to posing scared the bejesus out of me.

My first thought when a fellow blogger raved about it was 'hell no!'. Putting photos of me and only me onto a worldwide social media platform was more than I thought I could handle. It's already cringe worthy enough having GB's friends or my parents work colleagues 'like' one of my outfit photos on Facebook or Instagram. It can be hard work keeping the lines between blogger life and real life separate sometimes. Taking photos of yourself in clothes to put on the internet may be perfectly normal behaviour in the blogger world, but in real life to those who don't understand it all the process probably does come across as a teency bit full of yourself.

But therein lies the beauty of Pose, because it is essentially a community made up entirely of people with a like minded view of outfit posing. There is no judgement, no 'look at her, what a poser' as you are supposed to pose. Everyone alongside you is just as much of a poser as you are, and you are all in it together. And although granted there are a large amount of ridiculously beautiful people who look fabulous in everything, there are also a large amount of normal people like me and you who are just happy sharing their outfits. And searching through them all is seriously addictive...

If your partial to a spot of posing yourself (or even if you are a complete novice like me) come and join me on Pose and let's all be full of ourselves together!

You can follow me on Pose here, and while you are at it you may also want to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest!

BB
xxx

[BETTY SNAPS] A Lazy Girls Guide To Blogging... March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:19:00 +0000

I've been rather lazy with my blogging over the last week or so... so lazy in fact that I haven't even posted my Lazy Girls Guide until the 4th of April!! I hate making excuses but sometimes life just takes over and that's exactly whats been happening lately. That big project I was talking about last month is now one step closer to being finalised and I can hopefully reveal all very soon.

For now though let's take a look back at March (always a favourite of mine)...

My month got off to a great start with a lovely visit from my parents, a trip to Belgium and lots fun times in London doing touristy things like a tour of the National theatre, photography exhibitions, trips to The Tate Modern and stopping off for coffee in refurbished toliets. (seriously fun new coffee shop in Great Titchfield Street if you are wondering)

Styling up my Red Nose Day tee in time for Comic Relief and visiting the new & Other Stories shop on Regent street for some pre birthday treats!

I decided on a new look ahead of my 28th year and after four hours, a large whack of money and a lot of deep breathing, I turned from brunette to what I am now referring to as Irn Bru hair!

Then came my birthday! Yay! All my wishlists came true and I recieved lots of lovely presents from friends, boyfriends and loved ones! Yay again!

I enjoyed an amazing birthday meal at Bumpkin which included the best Mac n Cheese ever!!

Then I spanned my birthday out for a whole week (of course!) and visited The Sanderson London for a Mad Hatters Tea Party (review coming soon) before spending an evening in 1940s Casblanca...

My month ended with a long weekend in Scotland and my friends beautiful wedding, before I knew it April was upon me and it's set to be a buuuuussssssy one so I'll see you on the other side!

Hope you had a fabulous March! Follow me on Instagram to see all my pics!

BB
xxx

[BETTY REVIEWS] Future Cinema... Here's Looking at You Kid!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:49:00 +0000

Last week during my week long birthday celebrations I went to one super fun event.

At the grand old age of 28 I guess the idea of my usual birthday night out with friends at a bar/ pub/ club just didn't hold the same excitement and I was hankering for something a little bit different. I stumbled across experimental cinema company, Future Cinema by accident really. After chatting to Alex ahead of her Shawshank redemption experience, and reading Carina's post about Casablanca I was sold.

I have to admit before going any further that before attending this event I hadn't actually seen the film Casablanca (I know shocking right) but I love film, I love theatre and I love the act of dressing up, especially in vintage clothing so I knew this one was for me. Then all that was left was to persuade GB to don a trilby and a bow tie on a Friday night and accompany me to ~~Limehouse~~ Morocco for a night of drinking and dancing in 1940s war time Casablanca before trying to secure our way across the border to America.

Never before have I been to such a well oiled event. From the minute you click buy on the website you are immediately transported back in time and fully immersed in the film you have chosen to be a part of. Details as to what your getting yourself into are scarce, you rely on the whispers of word of mouth and hope that you can make sense of the clues in time for your visit.

Once making our declarations we were issued with our identity papers and told to await further communication. I became Golden Seleznyova from Slovenia, I was single but accompanied by one Napoleone Buccho from Hungary (who ended up abandoning me to join the Hungarian resistance before we were reunited on the dancefloor once the fighting was over).

Getting past the French Police was no mean feat but luckily we had a friend on the inside who kept us well informed on what to wear (1940s get up) what to bring (jewels to barter with) and who to trust (wear a ring on the fifth finger of your left hand to show your allegiance to the resistance).

Once frisked for our papers and questioned for our intentions we were allowed in to 'Ricks Cafe Amercain' and greeted by a room full of 1940s extravagance. Rick took to the piano, cabaret dancers to dance-floor and an array of musical entertainment to the stage. We settled down at a table with a Casablancan Martini before dining at the Blue Parrot Cafe an trying our luck at the Casino. Napoleone got lucky and won big but unfortunately squandered it all on the black market later on.

The evening was nothing short of eventful with fights breaking out on the dance-floor, the Nazis turning up to spoil the fun and shots being fired during a resistance plot but the drama died down in time for us to enjoy the black and white classic for the first (but not the last) time with a bag of popcorn and a vintage setting.

After classic lines such as 'Of all the gin joints in all the world, she had to walk into mine' were unanimously uttered we saw out the night on the dance-floor before meeting an ally and securing our exit visas.

And just like that we were off, leaving Ricks behind and making our way back to 2013...

But for me and Future Cinema- 'I think this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship'

BB
xxx

*Casablanca's run has now ended but keep an eye on the Future Cinema website and Facebook page for updates of the next experience!

[BETTY REVIEWS] Bumpkin Restaurant, London

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:08:00 +0000

*Warning - This review may come across as overly gushy, but I promise you I speak only the truth. In Bumpkin, I have found a true friend. *

Before I had even walked through the doors of Bumpkin, I knew I was going to like the place. Why? Well for starters they have a really great name! (sorry, couldn't resist) Also everyone I spoke to from the team prior to my visit was super friendly, extremely helpful and seemed genuinely glad that I had shown an interest in trying their grub. (If the staff believe in their work, you know it's something special) But as well as that I loved the fact that they stand for all things British. They offer a seasonal British menu with all of their ingredients sourced from local farms, ensuring they are ethically produced, sustainable and the best of the best. (Something even some of the top restaurants in London can't boast)

The Setting...

Last week for my birthday dinner, myself and GB headed out of our comfort zone and got on the tube in the opposite direction from our usual haunts, to visit the brands first and longest running establishment in Notting Hill. Opened in 2006, Bumpkin's Notting Hill branch sits neatly on the corner of Westbourne Park Road and Ledbury Road, meaning it's near enough to the fun of Portobello Market to make a day of it, but also far enough that it offers a bit of relaxation away from the hustle and bustle. On a sunny afternoon I could imagine sitting outside and enjoying a glass of (their individually picked and entirely sustainable) wine would be utterly divine but seeing as Narnia's arctic winds were afoot on the night we visited, we were more than happy to stay indoors within the cosy townhouse that is home to the four floor restaurant. Yes I did say four floors! Didn't expect that from a traditional British family restaurant? No me neither, but it turns out Bumpkin isn't anywhere near your average restaurant.

Two separate dining rooms on the first and second floor mean the restaurant can seat up to 90 people for dinner at any one time, then on top of that there is a private dining space on the third floor, named The Queens Room due to it's regal interiors and tribute to HRH herself via a giant framed painting. Our lovely waitress Renata told us they even had a surprise visit from Wills and Kate over Christmas in this room (Well if it has the Royal seal of approval...). The top floor is where things get interesting... Bumpkin has a stylish Attic room, complete with it's own bar, DJ booth and room for up to 30 seated and 60 standing, making it the perfect setting to hire out for an event or party. The Attic plays host to regular (wait for it) cabaret nights, live music performances and art exhibitions! I told you, not your average restaurant.

As soon as you walk into Bumpkin, you feel immediately at home. The restaurant has a lovely relaxed atmosphere, warm and unpretencious yet full of character. An open plan kitchen and bar area keep things interesting, comfy seats and low lighting keep things cosy and the country manor style decor and greenery everywhere keep things suitably British. They even had a talented pianist, Massimo playing the likes of Elton John's Your song (my favourite) live on the piano during our meal.

What We Ate...

For me the enjoyment of eating out, isn't necessarily all about the food. A relaxed setting, good company, friendly service and that feeling of leaving your worries behind for a few hours are all things that if done right can make a good restaurant into a great one. If I was marking Bumpkin on those things alone, it would already have top marks. But the fact that their food was also incredible firmly turned this new find from a great restaurant into a amazing one for me!

We started off sampling some of Bumpkin's specially selected English sparkling wine before being brought a bottle of one of their sustainable whites. They take great pride in choosing wines which have been produced using sustainable, organic or bio-dynamic practices. Our white had been produced free of weed killers and pesticides, conserving as much water as possible and using as little fuel and electricity as possible. Pretty impressive compared to our usual Chardonnays! To read more about their different types of wine see here.

For starter we shared a carmelised red onion tartlet with gruyere cheese and topped with pieces of deep fried sage. The tartlet was a crumbly shortcrust pastry and the mix of flavours was amazing, GB was especially intrigued by the deep frying of sage which made it crisp and flavoursome (no batter involved).

For mains it was a difficult choice as the menu offered so many great British options. At Bumpkin, the menu is seasonal so depending on when you go you can expect different ingredients to coincide with what our British farms are producing. Our menu included everything from classics such as fish and chips, pork belly and steaks to specials such as duck and ox cheek. Eventually I settled for a pork chop, which came with an apple and parsnip cider glazed tartlet which was delicious. Different from the starter, the tartlet was light and flaky and the topping was the perfect sweet against the strong flavours of the thick cut of pork. GB went for the confit of Duck which was on special, served with red cabbage and celeriac puree.

My favourite part of the menu though had to be the sides. I may never have mentioned it on the blog before but ever since I was a little girl I have had a serious love affair with macaroni cheese. My mum makes the meanest cheese sauce and if I was on death row, there would be no contest for what my last supper would be. Generally you never see mac and cheese on a posh restaurant menu, I guess it's a little too 'safe' an option for most, and the restaurants who do offer it are generally more of the pub grub variety and more often than not don't do it very well. But it is a classic British dish, and when I saw it on Bumpkin's menu as a side, I couldn't think of anything more perfect. Amongst all of the amazing cuts of meat and fish dishes on the menu, you probably wouldn't ever choose it as a main but as a side you can still sample some of that cheesy goodness without feeling that you have missed out. After I had told our waitress Renata about my mac and cheese obsession, how despite the fact that I should really have vegetables with my pork but I simply couldn't leave without trying it (and she had managed to remain ever the professional and not even laugh at me), she kindly offered to bring us mac and cheese and roasted veg just to make sure I got my green intake, plus some creamy mash for GB.

Now I have sampled many a variety of mac and cheese over the years, I make it myself pretty much on a weekly basis and have experimented with many different versions but still to this day nothing beats my Mum's. So if ever you were to come up against a picky mac and cheese customer, it would be me.

But last Tuesday evening, at around 20.00 hours, my Mum's mac and cheese met it's match as Bumpkin brought me a little pan of the most amazing cheesy goodness I have ever tasted (sorry Mum) and for my last supper I'm requesting they order it in all the way from Notting Hill. Expect to see me back every Sunday lunchtime from now on just to order a giant plate of this.

After this my tummy was extremely happy and I couldn't think of any way Bumpkin could get any better, that was until they brought out a dark chocolate, cherry and salted caramel mousse for dessert, complete with birthday candle and a restaurant full rendition of Happy Birthday!

The Verdict...

It would be very easy, considering the care and detail that goes into creating the dishes, for Bumpkin to be over priced, pretencious and not offer anything further than they needed to. But instead the restaurant stands up proud in what it offers and goes the extra mile at every opportunity to ensure they are always creating and doing something new and different. Great food, not unfriendly prices, and never comprimising on quality are just a few of the things that make Bumpkin really stand out against the rest.

For the whole of March, you can dine at Bumpkin Notting Hill with 50% off Monday to Thursday so to try that mac and cheese out for yourself get yourself down there. You can see a full list of the events and offers on the website.

Big thank you to Bumpkin for a great birthday night out and special thanks to Kelly Sue for being so helpful and to Renata for being the most friendly and well informed waitress we could have asked for.

BB
xxx

Bumpkin, Notting Hill
209 Westbourne Park Road, London, W11 1EA
Closest Tube: Notting Hill Gate or Westbourne Park
0207 243 9818
For reservations contact: bnhreservations@bumpkinuk.com

*Please note, I was treated to a meal at Bumpkin in order to write this review, however the opinions expressed are most definitely my own.*

[BETTY TRAVELS] Belgium - London Photo Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:06:00 +0000

Last week I spent some time with my family in both London and across the channel in Belgium. My parents were visiting and with a few days off work (which is always a luxury) we spent a weekend with my brother in Brussels and a few days together in London.

Unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side and it was fiercely cold, foggy and rainy (with even a touch of snow on the final day in Brussels) so the opportunities for indulging in some scenic photo taking were few and far between.

Saving our fingers and toes from the oncoming frostbite, we decided to forgo long days of sightseeing in favour of catching up with each other over good food, good music and a few (Belgian) beers. And so I've decided to let my photos do the same, creating a collage like diary of what I've got up to!

Foggy days in Dendermonde which called for lunch in cosy pubs and orchestra concerts then back to London for visits to The Tate Modern, backstage tours of the national and trips to the theatre!

BB
Xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Changing Faces...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:01:00 +0000

Almost 6months after I first started talking about joining the ginger brigade, I've only gone and done it!

I've been holding off, favouring my darker shade in Winter and adamant for a new look come Spring, so with my birthday around the corner and a bit of birthday dosh in the bank I thought I'd treat myself to a new look.

I guess I hadn't really prepared myself for how much of a new look this colour would give me.

I popped along to Toni and Guy this morning thinking I would just have a little tint (and imagining that as per usual my hair wouldn't take the colour too well) get the cut tidied up and be out within the hour... Em no. Two and a half hours later I waltzed out with bright orange hair, a new cut and a worried expression. It's different all right. It's a lot brighter than I had anticipated for, a lot more brassy than I had expected and it makes me look completely different.

But thankfully it is growing on me. It's amazing how much of a shock a change in your appearance such as this can have on you. I've dyed my hair every colour under the sun in the past using various home colourants but this was definitely the most shocking. I think the hairdressers heart skipped a beat when she saw my face after the towel was removed. In future I must remind myself to wait until its dry before casting any judgement. I ended up having to have my base colour lightened first as I'd had it dip dyed about a year ago which I think has played a big part in how bright it now looks. Despite many hairdressers around me fussing and preening and telling me how great it looked, in those first ten minutes all that was going through my head was 'F**k! sh*t! what the hell have I done?? and why have I massacred my hair voluntarily??!?' I know its only hair but I was utterly panic stricken. Once it was dry that panic had been mildly reduced to worry and by the time I was leaving the shop it was only a small niggle of 'Does it suit me? Is it me? And most importantly what will I wear now?' I'd stupidly worn a bright pink jumper to the hairdresser forgetting that this would be a complete clash with my new hair so as soon as I was out I dashed straight to H&M (always important to look at it in a different mirror and under a different light) and grabbed as many black, white and silver items as I could carry and ran into the changing room to examine myself in detail. As soon as I tried on this metallic silver top I knew everything would be ok. I guess change is always difficult to get used to, even more so when its on the top of your head. The friendly folks at Toni and Guy have promised that if I'm still not sure once the weekend is past I can go back on Monday and have a toner put in free of charge which will dull it down a bit.

But now that I've had a couple of hours to get used to the new person looking back at me in the mirror I think I quite like her. It's going to take a bit of adjustment for sure, mostly in the wardrobe department (I definitely can't wear as much pink anymore!) but it's going to be fun to play with some new looks. I'm assured that it will fade fast and become duller after a few washes but for now I'm going to enjoy my full on Florence!

BB
Xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Red Nose Day Style...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:07:00 +0000

Better Late than never, here I am styling up my Stella McCartney Tee for Red Nose Day today all in aid of Comic Relief. Now in it's 25th year Comic Relief is a charity cause to be reckoned with (I can remember when it was simply a dress down day at school and a chance to pay a £1 for a plastic nose) and there are now so many more ways to get involved and donate. As I write this I'm watching the awesome Davina McCall announce that the figure raised is already over 54 million... which is quite frankly astounding.

A few years ago when Stella McCartney first started designing a range of T-shirts for Red Nose Day I picked up a Madonna one which I still own (who says Charity tees are bad quality?) and since then these fun fashion items have been my favourite way to give something back to the cause. This year the blogging community had played an especially big part in raising awareness of the tees and encouraging people to buy, championed by the lovely Laetitia of Mademoiselle Robot and supported by the likes of Carrie, Olivia, and Sarah.

You can still purchase a tee on the TK Maxx website (although you need to be quick as they are going fast) for a mere £9.99 a pop with £5 going to the charity, and if you want to make your donation go even further you can also get involved with the social media iniaitive TK Maxx are hosting - 50 WAYS TO WEAR IT. Download the app from the TK Maxx Facebook page or iTunes and upload a pic of yourself to the site, tagging #RND or #RNDtee when you do. For every picture uploaded TK Maxx will donate a further £1 to the charity!

I love all of the tees this year but my favourites have to be the Beatles and Marilyn Monroe designs. Unfortunately my local TK Maxx was sold out of these by the time I found a minute to make my way there so instead I had to settle for the Tommy Cooper one but I was happy to join in no matter what.

I styled mine with my Designed By Miss Selfridge skirt, Zara red studded heels and a simple black blazer along with my new & Other Stories orange book clutch, extremely messy hair and a slick of red lipstick (exactly how Fridays should be).

I'll be looking out for all of your friendly faces on the app!

BB
xxx

[FELLOW BETTY'S] Cake Cake Cake!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:54:00 +0000

Image from What Katie Ate

As my job continues to take me further and further down the digital rabbit hole that is today's form of communication, I find myself needing to constantly keep up to date with the ever growing blogging community. As a result I'm forever researching and updating my blogger lists and relish the chance to discover a new and exciting read. Nowadays for me it's not all about fashion, which say five years ago it would have been. As blogging becomes a larger phenomenon the clear dividing lines of interest become more blurred. You may focus on fashion but still talk about food, what was born as purely a style blog may now also take in travel and beauty, and I want to know about them all!

So I'm starting a new feature to highlight some of my favourite reads and discoveries from all spectrums of the blogging world. Some I've loved since my blogging adventure began, some I've only just discovered, but all are worth a moment of your time.

First up I'm indulging myself with new baking portals and foodie diaries to keep my ideas ticking along while the time needed for such luxuries in my own life seems harder and harder to find.

Enjoy!

1. What Katie Ate...
When I first discovered this glorious frenzy of food and photography, I thought perhaps it was from the same Katie of 'What Katie wore' fame, now swapping her love of vintage clothes to a love of cakes and bakes. But as it turns out there is more than one Katie in the world and this particular Katie (Katie Quinn Davies), who hails from Sydney Australia, is not only a great cook but a professional photographer and her blog is something to behold.

2. Pastry Affair...
I heart the idea behind this blog. A girl who was studying to become an astroparticle physicist and found herself embroiled in an affair with pastry making just to keep her sanity during such a serious career path. Again the photography is mouthwatering and the recipes include everything from breakfast breads and poached eggs to the sweet S'more cupcakes and Harry Potter Cockroach clusters. (yes really!)

3. The Boy who Bakes...
Written by previous 'The Great British Bake Off' winner Edd Kimber, this blog is both endearing and interesting. It would be easy for someone of his now success to end up with an overly corporate website full of press photographs and recipes written by others which are too difficult to attempt, however Edd's blog still reads like a personal diary of what he loves - macarons, brownies and tarts. He has two books out which document some of his favourite recipes, 'The Boy who Bakes' and 'Say it with Cake' but the blog remains a great pitstop for a quick sweet treat.

4. Sweetapolita...
Expect an overload of sugary pastel colours and too pretty for words three tiered cakes the minute you fall upon this site. If you are more a traditional baker this one might not be for you, but seeing as I marvel at anything that can look that pretty and still be edible, I'm addicted. As well as recipes, the author Rosie offers tips and tricks for the perfect icing (or frosting as the Canadian calls it), how to's on those tricky professional details I always wondered how to do and tutorials on pretty much everything you ever needed to know about baking.

5. American Cupcake Abroad...
Exactly what the title suggests... an American girl who has found herself in London working as an accountant and bakes cupcakes in her spare time. If you are more into your Hummingbird's and your Lola's then this blog is a must... every possible type of topping for a cupcake can be found here.

6. Nosh with me...
Love the American style candy treats? This blog is full of them from doughnuts to s'more cakes to salted caramel and is written in a friendly and unpretentious way.

7. Cream Puffs In Venice...
If anyone knows their good indulgent food, it's the Italians. This blog is written by a girl who comes from a large Italian family and has grown up watching her relatives create wonderful homecooked meals. It must have rubbed off as now Ivonne, despite living in Canada, continues to indulge her love of Italian food. Both sweet and savoury, the recipe list reads like the best Italian restaurant you could imagine.

8. Joy The Baker...
She is Joy and she is a self taught baker, simple as that. Everything from bread (gluten free included) to breakfasts to cookies to cakes to chocolate... need I say more.

Now just to find the time to make all of these delicious things...

BB
xxx

[BETTY SHOPS] & Other Stories...

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 09:05:00 +0000

Just a quick one from me as I'm heading off to Belgium this weekend for a little trip with the family so might not get much time to blog over the next few days.

But I just wanted to tell you about my visit to the new 'big sister of H&M' shop & Other Stories which opened yesterday on Regent Street, and for the record is AH-MAY-ZING!

Despite its rather difficult to get your tongue around name, which while wonderfully whimsical doesn't really lend itself well to today's networked nation (try getting a twitter hashtag from that), the store is everything I had hoped it would be and more.

I spent the best part of my hour lunch break yesterday drooling over all of the gorgeous Summery separates and to die for accessories before realising there was a whole second floor which I hadn't even ventured to yet. As soon as I walked in, I immediately felt like it was Summer and I also immediately convinced myself that I was in fact a six foot Scandanavian beauty who could carry off all of these beautiful things. It's not as cheap as H&M but perhaps a bit edgier too and not quite as expensive as Cos. (perhaps it's the middle sister)

The interesting things to take note of are the collaborations, up and coming Scandanavian designers and bag makers ensure pieces that are that little bit different, the beauty section in the middle of the store is something to behold and personally I could have bought every bag/purse/leather iPad case on that second floor.

After my initial frenzy of wanting to buy EVERYTHING I settled in this gorgeous orange leather clutch, designer by bag designer Claire Vivier, which comes complete with notepad inside (I am dreaming of sitting in cafes in Belgium just sketching and taking notes like a proper artiste) and this cool silver ring.

It was also a nice surprise when I got to the till and everything was cheaper than I thought, seeing as I was looking at the Euro price by accident. And they threw in a free lipgloss to celebrate the launch too! Can the H&M group do no wrong?

Go check it out and (try to) tweet me to let me know what you think!

BB
xxx

[BETTY'S SHOPS] Birthday Wishlist 2013... A New Superbike!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

You may remember this post a few months ago where I said a sad farewell to my beloved pink superbike. Well now I have decided that the time has come for the gap that this has left in my life to be filled and for me to find a new Superbike! Yes it has taken me an extremely long time to fill said gap and yes the fat on my ass needs someone to blame, but it was Winter and no-one buys a bike in Winter and no one sells a bike in Winter.

People do buy and sell bikes in Spring however and I've been getting extremely excited recently at the prospect of purchasing a new one. I don't know if it's just my imagination or because I have bikes on the brain but ever since that little bit of sun hit last weekend I feel as the streets have once again been lined with keen cyclers and I'm itching to get back on the saddle and join them.

I'm pretty particular about the type of bicycle I want to purchase this time. (I've had my top three listed ever since my last superbike conked out) I'm not adverse to buying second hand at all but I want something in good condition that can last me a few years and not need many repairs. I'm sticking to a town bike because their pretty and I love them but this time I am putting 'must have gears' as a requirement so as to handle those pesky hills. I've been scouring the world wide web and am pleased to say that there seems to be quite a few on sale at the moment so I'm just keeping my eyes peeled for a bargain and hopefully before long I'll be riding around with a new partner in crime, the wind blowing in my hair and the fat on my ass slowly disappearing.

Here's my top four...

The Dream - Pashley Poppy £450 Evans

In a dream world, if money were no object I'd be taking myself off to the nearest Cycle shop and coming home with the ultimate in town bikes, The Pashley. The Poppy comes in blush pink and pwder blue and is simply adorable. I check gumtree on a daily basis in the hopes that some poor schmuck won't know their value and accidentally sell one for £100... it hasn't happened yet but you never know!

The Likely Suspect - Bronx Metropole in Red £290 Velo Vitality

This is most probably the bike I'm going to realistically come home with should I decide to buy new. I love the red colour and the trendy basketed style is fab. Bronx are good bikes and ride well so I shouldn't have too many problems and it can take on those hills easily.

The Vintage Style - Dawes Duchess Plum £249 Bikes Direct

If you are looking for a vintage looking town bike but don't want one that's going to fall apart immediately then the Dawes could be for you. It looks real classic, especially in this plum colour, and isn't crazy expensive. I've seen a few of these on eBay and Gumtree so if I can't find a Poppy or a Metropole I'd happily settle for one of these.

The Surprise hit - Bobbin Brownie Blue £365 Evans

I wasn't too aware of this model until I saw one listed on eBay and looked into it. I'm surprisingly taken by the design and love the preppy blue colour. It's pretty pricey so I wouldn't choose it brand new but having seen one go for a manageable sum on eBay it's now been added to my search list. Should one come along again at a good price I might be tempted.

If you know anything about bicycles and want to throw some advice my way on other styles i should be choosing/ avoiding please feel free to do so... any help is much appreciated!

I'll be sure to post about superbike numero duo when he joins the family!

BB
xxx

[BETTY WEARS] Getting Dressed with a GIF - Shiny Happy Things!

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:30:00 +0000

Betty Wears: River Island Polkadot skirt, H&M blouse, jumper and boots, Zatchels bag, Revlon lipstick in 663 Va Va Violet

Since the 1st of March hit, I can literally feel the happiness levels of everyone around me go up. We are through that Winter 'I can't get up in the mornings it's so dark' slog and have successfully reached the Spring 'It's light in the morning and I feel sprightly' fun.

Personally March is one of my favourite month's and this year is no different, I've got my birthday celebrations to look forward to in a couple of weeks, my parents are coming to visit this weekend and I've got a little trip to Belgium planned. Not forgetting the Easter bank holiday too of course!

My excitable temperament is also shining through in my outfit choices so I thought it was high time for another Getting Dressed with a Gif feature.

This outfit makes no sense. It's a mismatch. Too many colours, patterns, trends and textures thrown together in one unrelated jumble... yet it makes me happy! Why? Because it's a mismatch. A mismatch of everything I love - polkadots, neon, and shine, all thrown together in one wonderfully unrelated jumble.

This new space age jumper from H&M has been such a great buy. I LOVE it, it's comfy and cool and makes me feel super eighties-tastic when I wear it (especially when teamed with a high ponytail). My silver holographic boots are the latest addition to my shiny shoes collection - I am addicted, like seriously ADD-ICT-ED. (No really, if anyone knows of a support group I could join I'd be really grateful) and my neon pink Zatchels bag makes me feel like a kid again. Wooo-eeee!

Sometimes fashion doesn't need to make sense, it just needs to make us happy!

BB
xxx

[BETTY SHOPS] Birthday Wishlist 2013... A Keep Me Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

No not that kind of ring... jeez I'd have to be a bit brazen to put that on the blog.

As part of my 'buy less but buy quality' resolution I'm vowing to stop buying so much throwaway costume jewellery and start investing in some 'keep me' pieces. As much as I love fashion, I have to admit I'm rather useless when it comes to jewellery. I always tend to think of the clothes first and then pick up some cheap jewellery last minute to compliment the outfit, usually only wearing it that once and then throwing it in a box and forgetting about it. I have a few H&M statement necklaces which despite the price tags have actually lasted me well but other than that I rarely wear the same item twice.

Rings in particular are something I'm a complete liability with. I have had countless rings over the years and I lose them all. Only a few weeks ago at fashion week I lost the one 'keep me' ring I owned, my YSL arty. Some lucky bugger who ventured into the Somerset House loos after me probably had a great day when they found it sitting at the sinks. I on the other hand couldn't even be annoyed with myself as it's happened so many times before.

But I'm determined to change my ways and build myself a collection of forever rings which I can wear everyday and love. I adore Maria Francesca Pepe's designs (3 and 4) and the fact that they are slightly more affordable than so many of the rest makes them even more desirable. It's no secret that I've been coveting an Anton Heunis necklace for-ever but this ring (10) is now also firmly on my wishlist. Noemi Klien is a new discovery of mine after seeing this ribcage design (6) on the always well adorned hand of Charlie May, her pieces are available on Bengt and are all absolutely stunning.

Here's my top ten to start my forever collection...

1. Astley Clarke hematite ring £125 My-Wardrobe, 2. Zoe & Morgan Love Lasso ring £99, 3. Maria Francesca Pepe gold stud ring £85 Amazon, 4. Maria Francesca Pepe Silver stud ring £47 My-Wardrobe, 5. Monica Vinader Mini Luna ring £80, 6. Noemi Klien Ribcage ring £215 Bengt, 7. DJ by Dominic Jones ring £65 My-Wardrobe, 8. Katie Rowland Ishtar ring £90, 9. Edie Borgo gold hinged ring £220 Net-a-Porter, 10. Anton Heunis Cluster ring £100 My-Wardrobe

See my first birthday wishlist, a perspex clutch, here.

BB
xxx

[BETTY SNAPS] A Lazy Girls Guide to Blogging... February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Jaclyn Craig) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 15:03:00 +0000

It's March!! This make me happy... one because it's the month of my birthday and when I can allow myself a few treats, two because it's the month my parents are coming to visit and three because there is now light at the end of the Winter tunnel. March is officially the start of Spring and the route to Summer! Hurrah!

But before I get too caught up in the March buzz, let's take a look at the month that was February. Yes the one that went by in such a blur, I barely had time to celebrate it's arrival.

It was of course a month consumed by Fashion week - the planning, the ticket requesting, the attending and the writing. But as well as that there was a lovely little weekend trip to Chichester with GB, Pancake Day and Valentines Day (both celebrated with food), and of course... the day all my dreams came true when I managed to purchase Beyonce Tickets!! (all hail Queen Bey!)

Here's my month in pics...

Cute cafes and retro restaurants during our trip to Chichester, practicing on the cobbled streets in my new Zara heels, organising my schedule and making use of our new blackboard for lists I can't avoid, Pancake Day!

Valentines treats with my new cakepop machine, cute cards and lovely gifts.

Recieving a POP phone to review, the fashion week prep begins with ticket organisation, outfit planning and press pass collecting.

And it begins. Outfit documentation, Zoe Jordan on the catwalk, Daks and Day 2 jewels.

Peacocking at it's best at Somerset House, girls on bikes at Bolzoni & Walsh, holographic details, Orla Kiely office, dinner at Meat Liquor with fashion week friends, space age for day 3.

Joining the beanie brigade on day 3, Jena Theo 90s platforms. Sophia Webster Unicorns, Tahir Sultan invite, Orla Kiely retro notes, Day 4 details.

At the new Look Refuel lounge, trying bubble tea, Christopher Waller at Fashion Scout, Daks details, running off to fuel my JW Anderson need, Day 5 shoes.

Getting Beyonce Tickets!!!, celebrating the end of fashion week with movie nights in and cupcake treats, visiting my first vintage wedding fayre with my newly engaged friend!

Hope you had a great month!

BB
xxx