A week in Southwold

I've not been away since 2010, not even for a weekend, and my last family holiday was in 2007; so to have 9 days away at the end of June/ beginning of July was heavenly. I'm a sucker for exploring new places and my worst idea of a holiday is one where you lay around all day every day, so this was perfect.

Colourful cottages of Southwold

We stayed in Reydon which is not even two minutes from Southwold by car and a 10/15 minute walk. I've always loved independent and individual shops, while I do love a good chain store you get something much more personal and special from independent retailers. Whether it be a bakers, butchers or cafe/restaurant you often get outstanding service and homemade quality foods that have been made with love and not thrown off a production line. 

The Olympic Torch relay

I managed to catch the torch even though we were late down there (I missed the freebies- boo!). That aside it was lovely to see everyone line the streets, and you know what I noticed? Not a single loud mouthed chav; I didn't see one for the whole holiday- what a bonus.

  Vintage excursion bus Southwold and the surrounding areas really are a treasure as you can see from this adorable bus. The pier and the beach huts make it what it is too but I unfortunately didn't get any photos of them as every time I went to, it rained! Typical.    Handmade leather diamante dog collars

If I had a female dog, that white collar would be hers. I saw so many beautifully handmade pieces that I could have bought but I wouldn't have had anywhere to put them! Some things were incredibly expensive and I saw many fab brands like Mulberry, People Tree, Barbour and Acne. Talk about lust.

Aldeburgh beach and boats  Me, my mum and dad stopped at Aldeburgh for a couple of hours; a wander along the beach, a browse around the quaint shops a, yummy coffee and mint chocolate chip ice cream tub and being hailed at by a builder later we carried on to Leiston.    Classic 'admit one' cinema tickets from 'The Last Projectionist' documentary

We went along to Leiston film theatre which is a striking independent one screen cinema-come-theatre. They had a special one off screening of a documentary called The Last Projectionist with an introduction and Q&A with the Director Tom Lawes. It was aptly shown in the regions oldest purpose built independent cinema and documents the rise and fall of the independent cinemas and the making way from 35mm film to digital during critical periods of history from the early 1900's to just last year. It takes a really unique perspective and I recommend it to anyone interested in film out there. The director-come-producer-come-coffee maker is a genuinely lovely and inspirational guy who bought the Birmingham electric cinema and restored it back to what it is today. One thing he said in the Q&A after that really struck me is how independent is making a return- we see it in vintage clothing and accessories more than ever over the past year, but now the multiplex cinemas are offering an 'independent' experience like introducing gallery viewing, a bar and 'luxury' seats. I even noticed it in a Tesco store yesterday at the meat counter where they had written their special offers all over the glass of the cabinet just like the traditional meat markets and butchers do. Off topic but something to think about.

Olympic flags                                           Dotty Blue cafe     I'll be going back again for sure- there's just so much I still need to see, do and take photos of. Undoubtedly, this is one of my favourite places and beats the like of hugely tourist-y locations like Great Yarmouth. 

So Many Eager Young Bunnies That I'd Like To Pursue

Wearing: Rabbit playsuit inc. belt from Primark

Apologies for lack of blogging, I've just got back from a week away at the quaint Suffolk seaside town of Southwold. I've not had a family holiday in 5 years and my last time away was in 2010 so it was great to visit somewhere new and have a break. 

You'll hear and see more about my time away in a further post, but at the moment I'm having a slight stress with two poorly rabbits. I was supposed to be picking them up yesterday from holiday boarding but both had developed upset stomachs- one more serious than the other. I visited them yesterday but they aren't coming home just yet as Caroline is very kindly treating them for me- it was heartbreaking to see them so quiet, lethargic and nervous; I'm not sure if they even clocked who I was. I've had good news today that the meds seem to be having a good effect and they're more lively and eating, we're just taking each day as it comes so I'm not sure when I'll have them home.

Anywho, here's an outfit from my week- a gorgeous bunny playsuit & belt from Primark. It's also got a cute peter pan collar with a gold chain connecting each tip which you can't see because of my mane.

Cat v Mouse

Many celebs have been rocking the animal inspired flats, the two particular designers I have in mind are Charlotte Olympia and Marc by Marc Jacobs (sigh!). They've been boasted on the feet of Alexa Chung, Katy Perry, Emma Watson, Beyonce and even baby Blue! 

I'm not going to lie, I would love the black Kitty flats with their gold block heel and I'd also love the studded or glitter mouse flats; but prices range from approximately £190 to £560. Squeak. So I set it upon myself to find some high street designer inspired hotties so you too can give give your feet some character!

High Street Hot Picks

Mr. Shoes, Daisy Street, ASOS & Le Bunny Bleu

Top: 1&2 @ Mr. Shoes £14.99 // 3,4,5,6,7 Daisy Street £19.99 (Red £20.99) 

Bottom: 1 @ ASOS £50 // 2&3 @ Le Bunny Bleu £45

Similarly to the actual Kitty flats, the Mr Shoes and Daisy Street pairs are faux suede/velvet with the adorable embroidered feline face and sticky-uppy ears. Mr. Shoes are renowned for their fabulous designer inspired shoes at affordable prices and they've outdone themselves with these flats, £14.99! My toes tingle excitedly at the thought.

I couldn't find any mousey pairs but I found the cute cartoon-esque leopard flats and of course the AMAZING Bunny Motive Flats at Le Bunny Bleu (I had to bring in bunnies somewhere). If you get there in time they are offering a 20% off those little beauties. 

Which are your favourites?

Patriotic Picks

With the Queens 60th Jubilee round the corner, Euro 2012 in 9 days, The Olympics in 58 days and our shambles at the Eurovision song contest - I've been looking at all things patriotic!

The weather is either too hot or too cold, we complain, we complain about complaining, we have scripted reality TV (need I say anymore on that matter?!), we queue, we are too polite or too rude and we become overly patriotic only when it matters. But, it's ours - would I change it? Probably not.

1. Yumi £40 // 2. River Island £30 // 3. Ju ju Jelly at Mr Shoes £21.99 // 4. Kath Kidston at Asos £16 // 5. Mr Shoes £19.99 // 6. Next £18 // 7. Dorothy Perkins £16 // 8. Topshop £34 // 9. River Island £15

With patriotism you can be overt or covert. We don't always want to look like Joey from Friends in his giant plush union jack hat. I'll admit... I bought one when I was 12 on a trip to Alton Towers. 

Let it be known

I love the Yumi and River Island jubilee inspired dresses! Pop on a cute summer dress adorned with red busses, telephone boxes, teacups and teapots, taxis, umbrellas, crowns, english roses, flags and bunting. 

It wouldn't be Great Britain without the Union Jack so a t-shirt bearing the symbol is a classic and hugely versatile.

Celebrate the past and classic designs with Next and The Olympic Museum who combined to create a collection of tops inspired by artwork and photos of past olympics. A look to the past and classic adverts are a sure winner.

Let's keep it simple

Finish a look by going British with a pair of classic Brogues or a cute mini union jack heart necklace by Cath Kidston. 

Want something casual?  Scarf prints are hot this season and this scarf print crown tee is perfect if you don't want to look too in your face- I love the simplicity of the design. 

Swans are protected by the crown so take a unique twist on the Jubilee with this swan motif skirt from Topshop.

Jelly shoes! These cuties by Ju Ju Jellies remind me of all my childhood summers! Holidays were spent on the UK coast wearing the same pair; just a few sizes smaller.

Jeepers Creepers!

I don't find Creepers the most attractive shoes out there, I think they're far too gothic for me.

And admittedly, when I first saw flatforms I was sceptical (just as I was with the Slipper shoes) they looked far too clompy and like what I used to wear when I was doing my spice girls imitation when I was 7! But recently, I've seen some really gorgeous ones and I thought I'd share.

Izzel tassle brogue loafer creepers £29.99

These fab Loafer style flatforms/creepers are courtesy of Mr Shoes. They come in five great colours so you're spoilt for choice. I'm stuck between the black and the mustard.

1. Asos Vienna £40 Asos 2. Zeya suede £26.99 Missguided 3. Asos Verity Mary Jane £30 Asos 4. Asos Varsity £40 Asos 5. London Rebel Leopard £34.99 New Look 6. Asos Vera Pointed £40 Asos 7. Asos Vera Pointed £40 Asos 8. Monumental £45 Office 9. Monumental £45 Office

I really love the style of numbers 6 and 7, the sole is quite a bit bigger than the others and the suede follows throughout, they do them in a gorgeous black too and I'm tempted to buy! Any discount codes hanging about?

Wedding Guest

I've never been to a wedding before! Shocker right? At least I'm not in the group of 'Always a bridesmaid, never a bride' so that's a plus. 

My cousin is getting married this May which is pretty exciting! We aren't really close and my family have not seen theirs for a good few years, so it'll be great to see them, and what better way than over a Spring wedding?

I've made a, er, 'short' list of dresses I love. If I could have every one then that would be great, but I don't have a fairy Gok mother. 

Top: 1. Love at Asos.com £50  2. Oasis at very.co.uk £55  3. AX Paris £25 4. Love at Asos.com £48

Bottom: 1. Oasis £60  2. Asos.com £60  3. Asos.com £50

Top: 1. Fever £59.99  2. Oasis £50  3. Dorothy Perkins £39.50

Bottom: 1. Fever £64.99  2. Darling at very.co.uk £45   3. Asos.com £45  4. Fever £59.99

I'm enjoying flirty and romantic dresses and I think all of these dresses incorporate this in a beautifully light and summery way, but I'm going to have to painfully narrow down my choices soon. 

Living in a Fantasy...

... don't even know reality

Above: The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl and Just My Luck

Masquerade balls, in my imagination and media interpretation, exude glamour, secrecy and seduction. It seems each book I read or each film or TV series I watch feature at least one of these; all the more making me yearn to attend one.

This Wednesday I have an excuse to dress up masquerade stylee for the first time as my photography group are having fun dress up evening where we will be the main models. Of course, this isn't the said scenario I had imagined above, yet it'll do for now.

Here are a selection of some of my favourite masks, quite a theme going on with the golds, blacks and nudes. 

1. Etsy partymask $76 USD approx £49.25 // 2. Just Posh Masks £35 // 3. Bluemoon Venice €55 // 4. Samantha Peach £39.99 // 5. Venice Masked Ball £7.99 // 6. Bluemoon Venice £23.50 // 7. Bluemoon Venice €16 // 8. ebay venice2802 // 9. ebay partymask £6.95

I settled on buying number 9, partly because it was the only one that would really go with my dress, but mainly because it was only £6.95, number five had sadly sold out and the rest were way out of my budget just for a bit of fun. A real masquerade bash would of course have me reconsider my options. 

I ordered it today and it was despatched right away hopefully in time for Wednesday. Tomorrow I'll pop into Boots to have a good look at the Revlon colourburst and matte lipsticks to find a gorgeous vivd red. They have an offer on at the moment- two Revlon products for £10- and what's annoying is that I have £9.97 in Boots advantage card points and, unless they've changed it recently, I won't be able to mix cash with points.