Ibiza - Weddings and Fun Times

 The last two weeks have been both immense and mental. A slightly stupid yet brilliant mix up of when we were meant to get our flight home meant an extended stay on one of my most favourite islands in Europe - Ibiza. If you've been there you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't, you are missing a trick. Don't be put off by the party culture label it's gained over the years, there are many layers to this small hedonistic island, each visit allows you to discover that bit more and fall deeper in love with it.

This visit to the island actually had a purpose - a wedding. 

After this experience I think everyone should get married abroad, it was one of the most amazing experiences and I had the most laughs I think one person can cope with.

With a catalyst of blunders, me and the hubby managed to get through our time there - he forgot his whole outfit for the wedding day (queue expensive shopping trip), missing our flight home by a day (queue major embarrassment), checking in for our flight online and using my married name instead of maiden name as per passport (queue doh!) it's amazing we made it there and back in one piece!

With a few failed shopping trips for an outfit I finally nabbed a bargain on ASOS Marketplace from a favourite vintage boutique of mine, Annie and the Mannequins (check them out here). A cute peach and white polka dot strappy number. It went down a treat. I don't know about you but I always find it tricky to get an outfit for weddings that a) i like b) don't cost the earth c) I'll wear again d) I feel comfortable in. Quite a tricky  list of requirements and looking back at some other weddings I've been too,  not sure I've manage to nail this. But this dress not only made me feel happy, I think it was perfect for a warm, sunny day.

A dressing up box made for entertainment during the night, definitely recommend these - hours of fun. Yes we are still all kids really, easily pleased!

After the fun and frolics of the wedding we got to experience seeing more of Ibiza, here are some of my fave places, both from this trip and previous ones;

Bora Bora - Playa D'en Bossa

No trip is complete without a visit to the infamous party beach. No where near as good as it used to be, it's still worth a visit, more so because of the history behind this. Once upon a time this is where party goers ventured for an upbeat day on the beach, now the tightened music laws means the party is delayed until 4pm...

Selena's Beach - South of the Island

For the older crew who once partied on Bora Bora, this up market but still with a party atmosphere and fine dining would be more up your street.

Space - Playa D'en Bossa

Are you a raver, clubber, lover of music? Space is one of the better clubs on the island, in my opinion. With its quirky outside area and different rooms, there are plenty of nooks to investigate over a few, rather expensive, cocktails.

Pacha - Ibiza Town

Not a raver per se but more of a glam pussy cat? Head to Pacha, anyone who's anyone is found here, whether you are visiting their restaurant or sitting outside watching dancers, somehow, dance in over-sized cocktails glasses, sloshing about in soapy water, this club is very pleasing on the eye.

Beach Babylon - Santa Eulalia

I just discovered this restaurant and it has gone straight to the top of my fave restaurant lists. With cool reggae beats played in the back ground, you can feast on mouth watering food whilst watching the sun set. Or grab a cocktail(obviously all these places serve drinks other than cocktails, I'm clearly obsessed) and sit on the bean bags and admire the view - idyllic!

Cafe Mambo - San Antonio

The cool kids come here to cheer the sun set. The atmosphere is sublime, you feel like you're one big happy family all sharing a special moment in life.

Ibiza Town

Filled to the brim with amazing restaurants, cool bars that line the harbour and boutique shops offer those last minute purchases should you choose to do so.

I could go on all day.....

Have you been here, where are your fave places to visit, eat, drink, dance and be merry?

Lovely Little Laundry Bag

I was itching to get my sewing machine out after watching the recent new series on the BBC, The Great British Sewing Bee. I say recent, it finished a few weeks ago now, I've just been too slow in photographing it to put on the blog to show you all. Did you watch it, I was totally hooked. I love how sewing has become 'uber cool' again. I was quite happy being a sewing nerd but now it's become mainstream again does mean fabric and haberdashery stores have been unearthed that I didn't know about before. They've become inundated by wanna be sewing enthusiasts - come join the club ladies!

Well, I have had a list of little sewing projects I wanted to do for ages but just never found the time to do them. On my list was a laundry bag and I wanted it to be practical and functional, not too girly (otherwise the husband gets grumpy - oops! ha ha!), but that still looked, well, nice. You can imagine my excitement when they covered this on The Great British Sewing Bee. I gave it a go, and do you know what, it turned out alright if I may say so myself.

I would have been even happier if I had managed to master my overlocker so I could finish the seams to a more professional standard, but no one is going to look inside, we'll hopefully not. That is another thing to add to my very long to do list!

If you want to give it a go yourself just follow this link for simple step by step instructions and you can have your very own laundry bag. I know mine is quite plain but you can definitely have more fun with the choice of colour and pattern in the fabric, even a little appliqué if you're brave enough.

Now, onto the next sewing project.....

Cheers for taking a look at my blog x

Ooh La La!

Yikes, it has been too long since my last blog. Work has been pretty mental recently, loooong hours meant I lacked the enthusiasm for doing, well, anything really for the last couple of weeks. You'll be pleased to know I'm feeling much more energised, only one more day of work before a whole 10 days off yippee!

Amongst the mayhem of work I was lucky enough to go to Paris last Friday for a creative inspiration trip, s'pose works not all bad sometimes....and it got me thinking, Parisian women are so bloody stylish. They have that effortless cool down to a tea, I don't think I saw one badly dressed person and that is quite a statement. I obviously love our very own quirky London style but I do commend the French in getting it so right. The French brands we now see infiltrating our high streets just proves that; The Kooples, Zadig & Voltaire, Sandro and Maje to name a few.

The main thing to note is that their 'high streets', if you can call them that, more like boulevards, consist of exquisite boutiques, all offering gorgeous yet different clothes. Which, to me, means women of Paris must hate to be seen in the same clothes, just speculating. With so much variety they're spoilt for choice but there is enough scope to create your own identity. Perhaps that's where we get it slightly wrong in the UK, each shopping centre is made up of the same old retailers - boring!

Plus the clothes ain't cheap, nope most come with a hefty price tag, but don't be put off, there is a reason. Quality. There are by far, fewer cheap and cheerful stores where clothes have been so mass produced that quality doesn't even factor. These ladies favour stylish, impeccable fashion.

Perhaps it's my age showing through, but I have to agree with their shopping ethic, years ago I was all about how much you could get for your money - a fast fashion lover. Now, budget providing, I like to choose clothes that feel nice to touch, that will hang right on you and look effortless.

Here are my fave picks.... 

SANDRO

 THE KOOPLES

 MAJE

ZADIG & VOLTAIRE

Ignore the scary looking model and focus on the clothes, just saying....

Paris also has some pretty interesting stores, a couple of my faves have to be Merci-Merci and L'Eclaireur, (in particular their store on rue de Sevigne). If you ever have the opportunity to go then you wont be disappointed, trust me.

Merci is a store that has everything under one roof, with de-lish home-wares, tantalizing jewellery and bags and even a cafe, well of course, it is French after all. Stunning displays in the entrance of the hall literally make you gasp. I love the warren of rooms and different ways around the store, you could get swallowed up in there for hours.

L'Eclaireur was introduced to me on a previous trip but its a store that's stuck with me ever since. The walls are made up of corrugated cardboard painted with car paint (i think, from memory) and there are hundreds of TV's within the walls throughout the store. The Pièce de résistance had to be when the store assistant flicked a switch and the wall opened up to reveal a rail of product - it was awesome!

Where are your fave cities to shop? Or which city's fashion gets your vote?

Thanks for reading my blog x

 

Fantasy Landscapes

Skirt, Tee & Denim Jkt - all Warehouse

Necklace - store in Sydney

Sandals - Vintage

I bought this skirt over a couple of months ago and have been waiting for a chance to wear it. 

Yesterday we took a walk up to Alexandra Palace (North London), which is just down the road from where we live. It has THE best panoramic view of London, you can literally see all the famous buildings, it has to be one of my fave hotspots in London to sit and drink in the sun and atmosphere. There was a festival on inside the Palace so we chilled outside listening to whichever bands were playing, watching people running around the park.

The sun didnt stay out for long so ended pretty cold in my skirt - maybe I was a bit too ambitious to wear it!! The huge grey clouds = hometime, I'm not a fan of rain but love it when the clouds form such an incredible photo, don't you think?

Hope you're all having a fab bank holiday weekend, what are you up to?

Thanks for reading my blog x