Cosy couples getaway

Every once and a while, city life can get a bit much and if, you're anything like me, you’ll crave some fresh, countryside air. Living in Glasgow, it’s easy to forget just how fortunate we are in terms of geography (yes, geography). The capital and one of the best cities in the world is just 50 miles away.  One of the most romantic places in the UK, the Lake District, can be reached in under two hours.  And one of the world’s most beautiful Loch’s (and my happy place) can be discovered in just an hour’s drive. It’s time to make the most of having access to so many fabulous destinations so to kick it off, last month, Liam and I took up the offer to visit a quaint hotel perched on the edge of Loch Lomond, in the charming little town of St Fillan’s.

A BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN DAY

On route to St Fillan’s it was clear we’d struck the weather jackpot. The sun was splitting in the sky and the temperatures had reached above 15 degrees – it was perfect. On arrival to The Four Seasons, we were greeted with a warm welcome, but what I was most impressed with was just how welcome our little pug, Indie. We’ve taken Indie to a few hotels in the past but I can say without doubt that the staff at The Four Seasons took doggy welcomes to the next level. We were informed that our little baby could even join us for dinner AND breakfast. If you’ve got a dog of your own, you’ll appreciate how rare this is!

A PERFECT SUNSET

All checked in, we decided to head straight out and explore St Fillan’s while the sun was still shining bright.  We never actually made it into the little town but instead stuck to the loch edge, exploring forest walks, stumbling across tree swings and stopping to take pictures. Lots of pictures!

With the sun beginning to dip, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for dinner. Putting my makeup on in front of our HUGE window that looked directly onto the loch, I noticed the sun setting behind the hills quicker than I expected. I grabbed Liam, Indie and the camera and we headed down to the little dock and captured some of my favourite pictures of recent. You honestly can’t beat a sunset picture!

TASTING THE GRUB

Dinner time now and we were suitably starving and ready to stuff our faces! We’d read a little about the Tarken Bar & Bistro on Tripadvisor before we headed up so knew were in for some good food. For starters, we shared the Chicken and Haggis Croquettes. I’m not one to choose haggis but these were actually super tast. For mains, we chowed down the Traditional Burger in a Brioche Bun with double (or was it triple) cooked chips. TAST-Y. With little room left to spare but just enough, we ordered some desert and by desert, I mean cheese and crackers for me (LOL) and cheesecake for Liam. Full to the brim and a little tipsy from prosecco, we called it a night and headed back to our room.

Unfortunately, we had plans the next afternoon so couldn’t stay around to enjoy more of the area but we did have time to enjoy breakfast (yes, more food) before we departed and a brisk walk in the foggy weather. Again, breakfast was super tasty and set us up for the day ahead.

One thing I truly loved about St Fillan’s was how laid back the community was. Walking Indie down the road at 9am felt more like 6am with not a soul in sight and just the occasional car passing by. The Four Seasons echoes just that feeling with cosy fireplaces and the cutest library nook that would be the ideal spot to get lost in a book.

If you’re looking for a cosy, welcoming and homely place to stay with unbeatable views of Loch Lomond, The Four Seasons is just the place. I could only imagine how beautiful this place would be in the winter and would make a great Christmas getaway.

Thanks again to the staff at The Four Seasons for inviting us to stay and experience the beautiful St Fillan’s. We hope to be back one day soon.

xoxo

Falling in and out of love

I 'm gonna make a presumption and say the above heading has you questioning an uncertain love and whether or not I'm going through a rocky pre-marital stage of my relationship. Well folks, I'm happy to report that I'm not. And this blog post actually has nothing to do with the love of my relationship (phew). What I do want to talk about though is my love/hate relationship with Instagram at the moment.

I'm sure you're probably well aware of the sticky topic of Instagram's algorithm. Whether you've experienced its annoyance first hand or have seen other Instagrammers that you follow complain about it on their channel - you know something is going on and the majority rules: Not in Favour! I can now say that I'm joining this group of frustrated Instagrammers.

If you follow me on the photo sharing app you'll know that I have a modest following. For me, Instagram has never been just about the numbers but of course, creating content and getting acknowledgement via kind comments for something you've worked hard on is super rewarding. Nowadays though, you could post one really kick-ass image that's taken time and consideration, vs a lack-lustre 2-minute snap from your phone and get more engagement on the latter. Despite how much I love to capture creative imagery and (what I hope is) interesting content, the exposure you get on your work does have an impact on your motivation, whether I like it or not.

I  don't want to ramble on about what Instagram is or isn't doing but I wanted to put my thoughts down on keyboard and ask, do you still enjoy my content? I guess nowadays it's hard to know what people like and don't like so please, please, please, share your thoughts. I'll always stay true to my own style but it would be great to know what type of things you like seeing and reading.

From my side, I want to share a lot more wedding content - we're on the nine month countdown now...eek! I also always love to show fashion-led posts and despite a near non-existent clothes shopping budget atm, I'll try my best to keep this up. I'd also like to dip my toes into more emotional/real blog posts - it's one category I've typically stayed away from in the past but love to read other peoples. And finally, experiencing life and sharing those happy little moments in the best way I possibly can!

If you've made it to the end of this post - thank you! This post is a little different to what I've written in the past and am happy to step out of my comfort zone.

I hope this is the start of more regular posting here on The Girl with the Big Hair and you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Until next time.

xoxo

I've found "The One"

The deed is done.

The dress that I’ll walk down the aisle in come next July has been purchased and I can’t quite believe it myself. Only a few days ago, I thought about writing this blog post but with a completely different angle in mind. Having ventured out on my first day of dress shopping with my full bridal squad (sans one) I was ready to declare that my wedding shopping experience had ‘just begun’. Little did I know at that point that my dress was waiting for me in somewhat of a familiar setting, ready to purchase just a few days later.  Oh, how quickly things can change.

So, before I get onto the juicy stuff let me rewind it here a little for you, going back to my first day of dress shopping with the girls and my mum last weekend.

With the date in the diary for a few weeks, I made sure to make most of having (almost) everyone with me. I scheduled four appointments 1. Anne Priscilla 2. Susanne Christyne 3. June Bride 4. Melle Cloche with just enough time in the middle to cheers with a prosecco and grab a bite to eat.

Here’s a rundown of my experience with each.

1. Anne Priscilla

-       The staff in the store were incredibly welcoming, helpful and seemed to really listen to what I was looking for. They let us have fun – asking each of the girls to choose one dress for me to try on. My stylist also picked out a few crackers and it was her choice that was the front-runner for me. At the end of the day, the Watters gown that I tried on in Anne Priscilla was current front runner.

      2. Susanne Christyne

-       If I’m honest, we weren’t overly impressed with the experience at Susanne Christyne. Although the girl who worked there was very friendly, the dresses she pulled for me to try on were completely wrong, despite showing images of what I liked. Having only tried on two gowns, we decided this store wasn’t for me and didn’t want to waste the girls time so politely departed.  I do think however if you have a set visual in your mind of the style of dress you’re looking for and you can’t find it – this shop may be for you. Customised dresses are their thing. It just so happens I didn’t know what I was looking for at that time.

      3. June Bride

-        I’m very familiar with this store after my sister found her gown here back in 2013. Since we last visited the store has had a revamp and looks great. As soon as I walked into the store I was excitedly impressed by the styles of dresses they had on display. Although I didn’t find the one for me I’d highly recommend June Brides for the girl who’s looking for something modern with ‘glam’ in mind. 

      4. Melle Cloche

     Last but not least was Melle Cloche. Funny story, I actually pass by this store every day on my way in to work but up until this point I hadn’t taken much notice of the stock they had on display. On first impressions it looks like a relatively small shop but don’t be deceived – they have a really lovely space downstairs that’s perfect for a catwalk show.

After the day ended, knowing that I probably hadn’t found ‘the one’ just yet made me feel a little deflated. It’s silly really – I actually had a feeling before the day even started that I wouldn’t find my dress – but knowing that this was true made me feel a little disheartened. Essentially, what I’m trying to say is don’t feel stupid for feeling sad if you don’t find your dress right away – it’s natural.

Fast forward a few days to when I received multiple text messages from my cousin Naomi telling me that I MUST attend the Martina Liana trunk show that was running at Eleganza that weekend. After popping in store for her own dress fitting, my cousin got a sneak peek of the dresses that would be on display and was in complete awe. After seeing a 4-second Snapchat of what the gowns looked like I too was in awe and before I knew it, I was booked in for 9:15am that Saturday. The excitement was real and immediately had the feeling that I was going to find my gown.

A trunk show event offers a completely different experience to a normal shopping day at a bridal store. I’m going to save the details of this for my next blog post as I fear this post will be ten pages long otherwise so do stick around 😊

But my dress, let’s talk about that. Like most other brides, I’d like to keep the detail of this to a minimum as, let’s face it, it takes away some of the excitement of a bride walking down the aisle. What I will say though is that my dress isn’t super-fitted, or big and puffy – it’s somewhere in between. It fits absolutely perfectly with my venue and is romantic, whimsical and effortless. I think it’s the perfect balance between being sweet and under-stated sexy but I’ll let you guys be the judge come next July. It’s also not too heavy which is ideal for an abroad wedding. I hope that gives you a little feel of what I’ve went for 😊

Although I left with just one dress, every single one I tried on was absolutely stunning and I’m the designers new big fan. As Anna, the store manager at Eleganza said, “She just knows what a girl wants,” and I couldn’t agree more.

xoxo

My Guide to Getting in the Festive Spirit

Temperatures have dropped, I'm layering my clothes like Joey when he wears all of Chandlers clothes at once and I'm reaching for teas and coffees more than I ever have done. I think we can officially say farewell to Autumn and hello to Winter!

Although come January I'll be cursing the Scottish weather and a life of living in constant darkness, I'm always pretty happy with the change of season at this side of the year. I mean, who doesn't want to have a day slobbing on the couch, eating chocolate and cheese without feeling guilty. And those twinkly lights that are starting to appear around the city just wouldn't be as magical if weren't for the dark nights. So, in a long winded way I'm basically trying to say that I'm happy to see winter roll in (for the time being!).

The lead up to Christmas is absolutely one of my most favourite times of the year but each year I regret the things I never got to do. It's a busy few weeks and before you know it you're packing away the Christmas decos for another year. This year I pledge to make my plans happen. And one way of putting the pressure on myself is by writing it out here in a blog post for all to see. So, I present to you, my personal guide to getting into the festive spirit. May it bring some inspiration to you at this festive time of the year or at the very least give me the drive to get my own list checked off.

Watch the Christmas lights switch on
If you're not feeling in the Christmas spirit you better believe that attending one of the light switch on events will get you ready for December 25th. I LOVE the Glasgow Christmas light switch on at George Square but the tickets are in high demand and unfortunately this year I've missed out. BUT I'm not going to let that stop me. If like me you never got your hands on tickets you can still enjoy the switch on / fireworks and general atmosphere from the side lines. I admit, it's not quite as thrilling standing at the edge of the square but it's worth it to experience the switch on. You could also head to one of the surrounding restaurant / bars and enjoy the switch on from indoors with a drink in hand. The switch on is from 5pm on Sunday 19th November.

Princes Square also put on a pretty spectacular switch on and this year they have enchanting live music accompanying various performances including magic and glass orb juggling (ooh!). The switch on is from 5:30pm on Thursday 16th November. 

Host a girls night with mulled wine and cheese 
There's nothing better than inviting your girl friends round for a few festive drinks. I have so many ideas when it comes to hosting party's (thank you Pinterest!) and love the planning and preparation for something like this. From making your own festive snacks and drinks to planning festive games and creating the perfect Christmas playlist. You can create a theme or dress code - Strictly Sparkles if you're wanting to go fancy or Christmas jumpers / PJs if you're planning a chilled night. You can also introduce a Secret Santa gifting into the night or why not create your own party favors for your guests - something simple like one of the ideas here.

Christmas shopping roadtrip
The shops are full of Christmas buzz at this time of the year and are an assured way of getting you chanting 'Santa Claus is coming to town....'. Why not make a real experience of your Christmas shopping trip this year. Grab your girlfriends, jump in the car and head to somewhere completely new to find gifts for your loved ones. That's exactly what I'll be doing this weekend with Victoria and Rachel as we head to Gretna Gateway!

Christmas movie marathon 
Needs no explanation. Get a fresh pair of PJs on, line up your favourite Christmas movies, light a festive candle and pour yourself a spiced tea. Don't forget to buy in your supply of snacks to ensure you don't need to leave the couch all day! Well, apart from making yourself a batch of fresh cookies! Days like these are also the perfect time to write out your Christmas cards. Or if you're brave .... make your own!

Get in the mood at the markets
At the heart of every great city is a Christmas market come December. Glaswegians are spoiled for choice with two Christmas markets to choose from. Wrap up warm and have a wander around the stalls sampling the delicious food and drink.

Christmas wreath making
I attended one of Lorraine Wood's wreath making workshops last year and had the best time! It's certainly no easy task but Lorraine is a brilliant teacher who can show even the clumsiest of hands how to create a masterpiece for their font door. This is the perfect activity to spend some quality time with your mum or gran!

I hope the above gives you some inspiration and ideas of ways to get into the festive spirit. I'm always on the look out for unique ideas and things to do so if you know of anything I must try, please let me know!

xoxo

Brunching, Burgers and Blogger Events - October in pictures

I'm not going to lie, when Tuesday marked the beginning of a new month and more specifically the end of October, I was relieved! Last month there were so many highs and lows that I was simply  emotionally exhausted. Feeling ready for a fresh start - November was my saviour.

I don't want to look back and remember the crappy times so thought I would round-up the highlights of my month - and let me tell you, there was plenty of them!

I started off the month with a delicious champagne brunch at Cote Brasserie. After heading along to their 1st birthday celebration a few weeks before, myself, Victoria and Rachel headed back for more brunch and bubbles. I really love this spot for a lazy weekend brunch. The menu is delicious and really affordable! Plus there's a lovely relaxed ambience and pretty interiors - what more could you want. Definitely one of my top recommendations for weekend brunch.

Next up, was our engagement party! We had the best night with our nearest and dearest and were completely spoiled by everyone who came along.

Location - the party was held at Loks Bar and Kitchen in Shawlands - I'd highly recommend this spot for anyone planning a party in Glasgow. It's modern, right next to a train station and the staff are super helpful and friendly.
Cake - we (finally) managed to get the perfect cake from @MeganRoooney (Insta). I knew what I wanted and she completely nailed it. It was almost too good to eat. Almost!
Dress - I picked up this gorgeous white dress from Missguided's premium collection. I purchased it when there was 20% off the website so it was really affordable and I totally loved wearing it! I also had my make-up done by my talented little cousin, Naomi. She's amazing - check out her page here.

Two events in the one night - Specsavers #LoveGlasses Press Show and the Glasgow Therapie Clinic launch.

Held at BoConcept, we checked out the new glasses collection at Specsavers. There were a lot of nice brands on show, food from Martha's, a braid bar from Blow and a candy cart - I'm sure you can guess where I was at. Now I really need to get my eyes checked. It's only been, what, 15 years or so?!

Victoria and I then popped into Therapie Clinic on St Vincent St. They specialise in laser hair removal - something I've never tried (and not sure I'd be brave enough to!). They also offer facials though and sell a bunch of brands I've never tried before but look great. We actually got a sample of Image Skincare Vital C in our goody bag which I'm really excited to try out as I've heard a lot of good things about this brand.

Finally, although not technically within the month of October, this week we were invited along to the launch of Gourmet Burger Kitchen at Glasgow Fort. I never been to a GBK before but the food was de-lish! It's like a Nandos in that you need to go up to the cashier to order but everything we tried was spot on. Especially those cheesy truffle fries......

XoXo

Tenerife Style Diary

Waow. It has been a while, hasn't it? Or perhaps you've been soaking up every last bit of summer just like me and time has somehow disappeared in the blink of an eye. Either way, I'm back after a solid six weeks off from the blog. I've got A BUNCH of pictures, stories, and favourites that I can't wait to share with you so lets kick it off with my holiday outfits round-up.

It's been a short three (and a bit) weeks since I returned from our holiday in Tenerife and the tan in my skin has almost faded completely. In our nine days away, we made the most of days by the pool, eating until our hearts were content and some solid R&R time. A few of my favourite memories include sunset watching while sipping on prosecco, visits to the oh-so-popular Siam water park and Loro Parque, and my first volcano visit to Mount Teide - more on that later.

On today's post I thought I would share my holiday style diary. I had a tight holiday wardrobe budget so tried my best to buy sensibly and only purchase items that I could also wear day-to-day in sunny Scotland. So, white summer dresses and tropical print two pieces were a no-no. Instead I opted for silky camis, denim skirts, metallic bodies and pink shimmery culottes (which FYI I'm so excited to style up for A/W).

A Primark silk cami paired with this beaut denim skirt from River Island - thanks sis. 

My trusty lace black top from Zara (sold out) with a bodycon skirt and Moschino belt.

A ribbed long sleeved bodycon dress with high neck (similar here) paired with my strappy Topshop heels. 

A oldie but a goldie racer back crop from the Nicole Sherzinger x Missguided range (circa 2014) with the ripped denim skirt. 

A gorgeous metallic silver body from Zara paired with a black bodycon skirt also from Zara (similar here) complete with my my new Missguided heels - which FYI have gone missing... come back!

I've loved looking back on all of my holiday pictures and can't wait to share a few more next time.

XoXo