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

Top tips for finding your destination wedding venue

Selecting an abroad destination to host your wedding is an exciting and daunting task all in one. Before deciding that I wanted to get married in a warmer climate I didn't really realise just how difficult it would be to find the right venue.

Weeks of trawling through the internet to find locations that were 1. the style I'm after and 2. within my budget felt like mission impossible after discovering venues that were just not right or hugely over-priced.

Having just returned from a short venue scouting trip with my mum and our wedding venue selected (EEEK) I think I've cracked the destination venue scouting code. If like myself you're hoping to not have to pay for a wedding planner I think these tips will help save you a lot of time (and stress!). Honestly though, who knew wedding planning could be so difficult even at the first stage.

Step 1: Select your location
This might seem like a really obvious statement but what I really mean is select an area within your location that you like. For me, I knew I wanted to get married in Italy but where exactly was the question. Once I whittled it down to Tuscany I thought surely this would narrow things down quite a bit but it turns out not really. Tuscany is such a vast region in Italy that spans miles across the country - it just wouldn't be realistic to visit venues across the entirety of it which is why I think selecting particular towns within your destination is important. Once you decide on the area you like best the whole process feels a lot less daunting.

Step 2: Choose your preferred style of venue
Again, it's all part of a process of elimination so knowing what style of venue you want can help narrow the search. In Tuscany for example, beautiful vineyards, stunning villas and elaborate castles are just some of the styles of venues on offer. Select one that suits your taste best and use this when searching.

Step 3: Search with different terms
One thing I found frustrating when looking for venues was how many websites I would find that showed beautiful pictures of venues without actually disclosing the name - useless to anyone like myself who's trying to plan on their own. The best way I managed to find venues via Google was by using more descriptive terms alongside my generic 'wedding venues in Tuscany' search. Words that suit the style of wedding your going for like 'whimsical', 'greenery', or 'sunset' helped produce different searches which were far more useful than the generic search term.

Utilising photographer blogs is also a huge help for finding venues. Simply search through local photographer websites - heading to their blog section - and you will find they share a lot more details on locations than anywhere else!

Step 4: Use social media
Social media was probably one of my biggest helps when finding venues and I used it in two ways.

The first, to see more pictures of venues I had already found. Looking through a venues social channels gives you a better visual of what it's really like than you can find on their websites.

The second is as a search tool. Head to Instagram and search through various hashtags and you'll soon find yourself stumbling across plenty of potential venues. I used hashtags such as #TuscanyWedding #MyTuscanyWedding #WeddinginTuscany, you get the gist. Once you find pictures of places you like I would then recommend looking through their checked-in pictures to see a whole bunch more. Once you have the name of the venue you like you can also use this in a hashtag search to see many more pictures!

I hope these tips help with finding the perfect destination venue for you! 

I'm planning on sharing all the deets on the venues we visited in Italy earlier this week very soon!

Until then.

xoxo

My Botox Experience: What it's really like

If you follow me on Instagram you may be aware that I recently underwent my first non-surgical cosmetic treatment at Therapie Clinic. That's right, I took the plunge and voluntarily signed myself up to get numerous needles pricked into my face in the name of all things beauty.

I knew I couldn't get botox and not share my complete and honest experience of what it's really like, especially for anyone out there that's considering the treatment. I also vlogged the experience (eeeek) so don't leave before checking that out below :)

Let's just start out by saying that I'm an absolute convert. Pre-botox I actually wasn't really sure I was ready or 'at that stage' as i didn't have deep ingrained wrinkles on my forehead however I can't believe the difference the treatment has given to my face in the most subtle way. Read on to find out why I won't be turning my back on this treatment anytime soon.

So WHY. Why botox at the tender age of 28?
Well, for me, I had considered it as something I would get for my wedding to make sure I looked and felt as flawless as I possibly could. I knew however that I would need to try it in advance to decide if I liked it or not, so now felt like the perfect time. Finally, and most importantly, fine lines and wrinkles had started to develop on my face, particularly around my eyes, and this treatment was one proven way of stopping them in their tracks.

Where did you get it done?
I headed to Therapie Clinic in Glasgow's city centre - based on St Vincent Street - and I couldn't recommend their service enough. Considering that this was my first experience of anything like this and I'm a textbook scardey cat, the therapist I worked with done wonders to put my mind at ease. Their experience and responsible approach to cosmetic treatments is exactly what you want when signing up for a treatment like this.

What was it really like?
As mentioned, I'm pretty much scared of any kind of pain. Don't even try to pinch me and expect me to not over-react about how painful it was. Seriously though, getting an ear piercing even scares me silly so the thought of getting multiple needles pricked into my head, BY CHOICE, was something I couldn't really process.

I was nervous about the treatment the entire morning leading up to my appointment. When I arrived I was sweating quite a bit and my nerves only heightened as I jumped onto the treatment bed. Thankfully the pain was not even a fraction of what I imagined it would be.

Firstly, my therapist asked me to wiggle my face around so she could establish which areas needed to be focused on before she rubbed some alcohol wipes across my head to give it a good clean. Next, she drew little white dots on the areas she was going to target and talked me over her approach to check I was happy with everything.

Now it was time for the dreaded injections.

The injection had the tiniest needle I have ever seen and the pain accurately reflected this. It basically feels like a tiny prick on your skin that stings for no more than one, maybe two seconds max. The sorest area for me was definitely around my eyes - apparently this is because the skin in this area is finer and therefore more sensitive to pain. I'd say on a level of 1-10 for pain, the forehead was around a 2 and the eyes were verging on a 4. It may even be less than that but I'll go with that to be safe.

All in all, my treatment lasted about 40 minutes with around 10 minutes of that being the actual injections. It really is a super quick and easy treatment and like myself, you can head straight back to work and get on with your day as you would normally. I had little red bumps across my head immediately after but these faded pretty quickly.

Over the next 24-48 hours it felt very obvious that I had done something to my skin. It's hard to explain but the best way I can describe it is that my forehead felt present. I was very aware that the Botox was sitting under my skin - definitely a strange feeling but thankfully this passes in a day or two.

How long does it take to kick in? 

My botox started to kick in after 3-4 days which is a little quicker than average. Generally I think this can take up to 2 weeks to fully take effect.

What are the results like? 

As expected, my head and eye area have 'frozen' to a certain degree. I say certain degree as I can still move my face as I would have before, the only difference is that my skin doesn't crinkle together and therefore doesn't wrinkle. I also look a little glowy-er which I LOVE. I mean, who doesn't want their skin glowing?! And lastly, I think my eyebrows have raised ever so slightly which makes my eyes look more awake.

All in all I'm obsessed with the results this quick and mostly painless treatment gives you. I couldn't recommend it enough and I've already convinced a few of my friends that it's something they will love.

And finally, how much does it cost? 

For three areas (forehead, frown line and around the eyes) the treatment costs £199. Definitely not a cheap treatment to get but it's absolutely worth every penny.

So there we have it - my complete botox experience. I hope you enjoyed this type of post (and my first video!), please don't hesitate to ask me any questions you have about what it's like to get botox.

Until next time....

xoxo

Hello Autumn: What's new

Hey, hi, hello! It's been a hot minute, eh? I feel like I've lost all concept of time recently. Somehow months are feeling like weeks and weeks are merging into long blurry days. Anyone else think September was the fastest month in all of history!?

I'm feeling ready to get back into all things blogging (finally!) and thought before I dived straight in I would give all you lovely readers a bit of a life update. Plus, I'm not gonna lie, myself and Victoria spent an hour last Saturday capturing some new blog pictures and I didn't really have a post in mind so here we are (hehe).

So, what's been happening since we last spoke. Lemme think.....

For starters, I've actually been spending quite a bit of time looking into wedding venues. It's been a long time coming but the wedding bug has settled in and I find myself following more and more wedding Instagram pages as the days pass. Venue hunting in a location you've never actually visited before is HARD but we're getting there. My goal is to plan a venue scouting trip in the next few months and (hopefully) book somewhere we love before March next year. That's it. The goal has been set. Better get to work...

I've attended a few fashion events over the last month and they've been the perfect way to get into the A/W mode. First up was the launch of the new Gretna Gateway Gold Membership card. If  like me you've never heard of/visited them before they're a designer outlet based in Gretna Green. Apparently the outlet is amazing for some real bargains. Victoria, Rachel and I are planning a Christmas shopping road trip here in the very near future so watch out for that post!

I also headed along to the intu Braehead A/W event. The centre set up a beautiful fashion hub (my best attempt at describing it) with the cutest blossom tree smack bang in the middle. We checked out some amazing bargains that I can't wait to update my wardrobe with. Check out my Instagram post from the event here in case you missed it.

I'm featured in this months Scottish Wedding Directory magazine and I couldn't be more excited about it. I contributed to a feature on feeling camera confident with my top tips for all brides-to-be. If you spied me in the magazine I'd love to hear about it :)

Last but not least, I tried something completely out of my comfort zone this month - botox! This was probably the most daring/edgy thing I've ever done so to say I was nervous is an absolute understatement. I don't want to go into too much detail on this yet as I'm planning on sharing a full blog post very soon but what I will say is that I'm in love with the results! I headed to Therapie Clinic for my treatment and the process from start to finish was brilliant. BUT as I said, more on that soon.

Oh, before I go, I just want to take a moment to appreciate my absolute new favourite jumper. I picked this up in H&M last week while they had 20% and have no regrets. I paired the jumper with my trusty Zara ripped jeans, Ego Gucci-inspired slip-ons and a borrowed baker hat from my sister. A really simple, easy but chic look and I love it.

Until next time.

xoxo

5 Ways to Make the Most of the Last Days of Summer

Summer is such a fun, exciting and, most importantly, social time of the year. There’s nothing better than finishing work and knowing you still have a solid three hours left of daylight to do whatever you want.

This year I wanted to ensure I was spontaneous on a sunny day, got out and experienced things I’ve never done before and really soaked up the summer activities we all love. While out enjoying a rare spot of sunshine in Mugdock Park yesterday with the puppies, I started to think about some of things I want to do before summer is over.  

Although we're edging into September there's still time to make those summer plans you've just not got round to yet as more often than not we're blessed with a spell of good weather just when we think summer is over and done with. So before I babble on any longer, here's a rundown of some of the ways I'll be lapping up the last of the summer fun. 

Go camping in the countryside

Scotland is blessed with SO many gorgeous areas and hidden spots so if you’re willing to brave the weather, grab a tent, some food and drink essentials and hit the road until you find a place to pitch up tent. I’m actually joining The Boy on his friends on my first EVER camping trip in a few weeks. The only time I’ve really camped is at a festival so I’m excited to experience the real thing.

Enjoy cocktails or coffees on a terrace

Earlier in the summer, I attended the launch of the new Hilton Garden Inn restaurant but what I wanted to focus on here is their amazing terrace area. My good friend Victoria seems to always find herself on this terrace on a sunny day and it’s the perfect spot to really enjoy a good summers day in Glasgow. Looking out onto the Clyde it’s the dream location to sip a coffee while you work (a la Victoria) or why not head over after work to enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets. 

Roast marshmallows on an indoor firepit

Now, I’ve seen this pop up on a few Itison deals and thought it looked amazing! What could be better than roasting marshamllows with your besties around an indoor firepit. Forget waiting for a dry day, Badabing in Edinburgh gives you the perfect alternative for when the Scottish weather fails you (which we all know happens more often than not). I NEED to visit here asap. Good news is there’s actually another deal on Itison right now. For just £8pp it's a bargain if you ask me. Now go, go, go.

Swim in an outdoor heated pool

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read in last month’s i-On that there was a natural outdoor swimming pool near Glasgow. Say WHAT? I’m still in shock that I’ve never heard of this before. After going through a multi-million pound re-furbishment, Gourock Pool now offers an outdoor salt pool heated to 29 degrees so you don’t even need to wait until the sun is shining. Slightly gutted though that I never realised this earlier as they run midnight swims during the summer! Imagine star-gazing, from a heated pool, in Scotland. Divine. 

Explore a nearby island

One thing I've always wanted to do is cycle around Millport and I finally have a day booked in my diary for it! After buying a voucher to hire a tandem bike for 3 hours, The Boy and I will be taking a little day trip to the nearby island in just a few weeks. I think this trip could go one of two ways – the first being a complete disaster with an unwanted rain storm, lots of moaning about who's not pulling their weight and getting lost in an unknown location. Or the second (which I've got my fingers crossed for) being a day to remember filled with funny stories, sight seeing and an obligatory pub stop or two.  I love exploring somewhere new and can't wait to tick this one off my list. 

Outfit:

Skirt – New Look

Top – Zara (old)

Jacket – Primark

Watch – Swatch Skin

Trainers – Converse
Bag - Boohoo

I hope the above inspires you to get out and make the most of the last of summer. If you have any recent discoveries or some summer traditions, please let me know... I love a good recommendation. And if all else fails, just make sure you're having as much fun as these two are this summer! 

XoXo

My Birthday Wishlist | Summer Must-haves

It’s my birthday week (yippee!). As I type this I'm currently face-masking in prep for some birthday fun over the weekend. Side note, said face mask is seaweed based and I would not recommend if you have a heightened scent of smell....

As I was saying, birthday week is in full swing and I'm beyond excited for some time off of work to spend with friends and family. In the words of Camilla (Love Island, of course), "28 and feeling great" :)

Not normally one to have a wishlist of things I would like - honestly, ask The Boy, he is normally hounding me for a wishlist of gifts. However since there was a few things I've been wanting (I blame the supposed wedding saving....) I thought it would be nice to share this with you. Think of it as a little summer inspo. 

When thinking about what I would like for my birthday I usually like to include items that I either 1. wouldn’t normally buy for myself or 2. have wanted for a looooong ass time.   

Here’s what’s on my birthday wish list this year.

1. Missoma x Lucy Williams necklace - I've seen this on everyone's neckline and I need it! I always tend to include some form of delicate, gold jewellery in my prezzie wish list and this one has taken centre stage this year.
2. Gucci belt. Well, what can I say about this item. It's been my absolute dream accessory of 2017 so far. It legit makes every outfit 100% better. I've also worn my Moschino belt to death so I think a good belt is worth every penny.
3. Tanya Burr Chasing the Sun highlighter. After watching Tanya's LA vlog when she tried out her new range I instantly needed to get my hands on the pink blush and golden/bronze shade for the eyes. I tried the testers in Superdrug and can say they're both as stunning in real life!
4. Glam Glow face mask. I'm torn between two - the Gravity Mud and the Thirsty Mud. I've been after one of these bad boys for a while after they blew up on the internet. Plus, I need to get my skin wedding ready and this may be just the trick!
5. Something a little different - I'd like to get my top ear pierced. As the biggest scaredy-cat of my friends an ear piercing is a BIG DEAL for me! I figured however with a little birthday enthusiasm it may help me get through the nerves :)
6. Embroidery Topshop bag. Ever since my friend Tender Loving Style turned up to an event with a gorgeous, bright pink bag I've been after onr that could bring a pop of colour to my normally monochrome outfits. I love the cross body of this bag and could see myself getting a lot of use out of it.
7. Black leather jacket. Generally when I tell people I've not had a black leather jacket for the last four years their jaws almost drop to the floor. It's such a staple piece for any wardrobe and I'm ready to welcome one back into my life.

I hope you enjoyed this style of post. I really enjoyed creating the artwork and think I may try and introduce more 'shopping' style posts on to the blog going forward. Let me know if there are any themes or categories you would like me to focus on..... I love a challenge :)

Have a great week!

XoXo 

My Wedding Journal: Bridal Styling Afternoon at The Corinthian

As a (relatively) new bride-to-be it was only a matter of time before 50% of conversations leaving my mouth were dresses, decor or first dance related so to control the rambling I thought I'd introduce a new feature to the blog that's exclusively related to my big day. With two years of planning (and stressing and saving *gulp*) ahead of me I thought I'd share my experiences in 'My Wedding Journal' - a feature to chat about where I've shopped, any tips and tricks I've learnt along the way and my general experience of planning a wedding.

After attending a gorgeous wedding event on Sunday and a meeting with my bridal squad in the diary for this evening, it seemed like the perfect time to start sharing my journey.

Now,the formal introduction are out of the way let's rewind back to Sunday's event now, shall we...

With a prosecco in hand, Jill and I had a nosy around some of the suppliers on show at the bridal styling event. Set against the stunning backdrop of The Corinthian Club we checked out Save the Date cards from ComBossa, stunning lace one pieces from Box of Gorgeous and delicious looking cakes from Suzanne Esper Cakes. After mingling through the vendors we took our seat to watch the girls on the catwalk showcase a stunning new accessories collection from Polly and Bella, bridesmaid outfits from House of Fraser and wedding gowns from The Bridal Garden. 

After the show we got excited over the Swarovski headpieces from Polly and Bella and took our chance to try on a few on for size. A dazzling head piece would be a nice way to switch up your wedding dress from day to night - potentially something I'll add to my outfit once I lose the veil.Dress permitting of course....

XoXo