Where to start?! Firstly belated Happy New Year (we’re way beyond Christmas wishes!)… I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing break, and are refreshed and ready for everything that 2013 will bring. It was an incredibly hectic end of the year for us, as Tom and I finally got the keys to our very own home! I’m so excited. It’s something we’ve been dreaming about for so long, to have a place to put down some roots and to make our own; it’s in a tiny Hertfordshire village with a real sense of community that we can’t wait to become part of.

{image via flickr}

Not our house, obvs. I just have a Nancy Meyers fixation.

So the first thing we did was whitewash 90% of the house (no more MAGNOLIA… best. feeling. ever) and rip up the old carpet, so it has that ‘new’ smell rather than the feeling that you’re living in someone else’s home. I’m looking forward to updating you with the progress of our new digs once we start to get furniture in – one of my goals for 2013 (if I call them resolutions, they’re more likely to fail) is to make this blog more personal by featuring more photographs taken by me and fewer credited images.

Speaking of my blog, the redesign I’ve been wanting to do for months has been delayed by house-buying shenanigans, but it’s definitely going to happen as soon as I get ensconced in my new home office… seeing as that is the only place that I’m going to be able to sit, since our sofa is taking 6 looong weeks to arrive. She is pretty special though and will be well worth the wait. I’m also excited to show you our wedding photos (which captured the day so perfectly, thanks to the amazing Jodie Chapman) when the blog is all shiny and new.

Finally, I’ve made the decision to just stick with a lifestyle blog rather than starting a wedding one as well – I don’t want to sacrifice the time and effort that goes into blogging on a regular basis (which I will be doing again!) by stretching myself across two blogs. Especially since I also have a new day job to get stuck into as well – I’m going to be writing full-time and I feel incredibly lucky to have finally found a job doing exactly what I love. More details will no doubt follow.

So there you have it, my friends, a long overdue update! I just wanted to let you know what’s in store for {what you fancy} this year, to thank you for sticking with me and for your continued patience. This blogging community has become such a big part of my life, and I wouldn’t be without it. Lots of love and stay tuned!

I’m a huge fan of a gift list, but like the never-ending Halloween celebrations, I’ve felt a bit inundated this season. So instead of telling you that your mum would probably quite fancy some Cath Kidston hand cream and your brother could probably do with a comedy moustache mug, I’m going to post an addition to my ‘Currently Craving’ series (previously seen here, here, here, here & here). These are items that I’m lusting after, and if you happen to have the same taste as me (geometric prints, why can’t I quit you?) then boom! I hope I’ve given you some ideas of how to spend that Christmas cheque from Great Aunt Doris in the New Year. Also, apologies for the erratic blogging schedule at the moment, I’ll be able to update you on behind-the-scenes-goings-on very soon. Exciting times, my friends.


{1. Oliver Bonas Kelly clutch – £29 / 2. Oliver Bonas Miss Etoile ceramic gold striped plate – £15 / 3. CoupleHome ikat cushion cover – £16 / 4. SheInside geometric sweater – $43.28 / 5. J.Crew Wild Side wide bangle – £56.27 / 6. John Lewis Biggins drinks trolley – £599 / 7. Tory Burch leather riding boots – £425 / 8. Plumo Supernova wrap – £75 / 9. Design Darling aqua trellis tray – $40 / 10. Anthropologie New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in Europe – £24.99}

For Christmas, what do you give the person who has everything? Easy… something that couldn’t possibly be for anyone but them. Enter Pattern & Press. Not only do they specialise in personalising gifts and homeware, they do it in the most beautiful way – their touch is subtle and understated, and shows someone that you’re willing to go the extra mile when choosing their present. I love their gold-rimmed tumblers (not least because they could have been made for my husband and I…E&T), and how perfect is the monogrammed luggage label for the frequent flyer? So if you’re struggling to think of what to get that particularly particular family member or friend that everyone always has, then I would recommend hopping over to P&P’s online store. Also worth remembering that P&P aren’t just for Christmas, so if you’re stuck for wedding or birthday gift ideas, this gem of a company could be your new best friend.

{all products available at Pattern & Press}

Not only does Collette Dinnigan make great clothes, she also makes great homes. Seriously great homes. This particular house in Paddington, Sydney, which Collette has now sold (why would you? Why?), is a stunningly restored sandstone residence built in the 1880s, but brought beautifully into the 21st century with its clean lines and elegant living spaces. The front porch and the fact that the whole house is simply flooded with light would have been enough to sell it to me, however it’s the kitchen that steals the show. I wouldn’t change a single thing. If I were lucky to live somewhere as out-of-this-world as this, I think I would just spend the whole time declaring, à la Carrie Bradshaw in Heaven on Fifth, “Hello, I live here!”

{images via Updated Home}

I’ve always been in awe of people who can take a good photo, it must be such a satisfying talent to have. If I’m able to make a New Year’s resolution this early on (the Christmas Bublé has already had an airing, so as far as I’m concerned it’s festive full steam ahead), it’s to learn the art of photography and how to edit images. One man whose talent knows no bounds is Max Wanger who, as well as lifestyle and fashion photos, takes some breathtaking reportage wedding shots. Not that I should really call them ‘shots’… ‘artwork’ is far more apt. One technique that Max is especially skilled at is his use of negative space. The subject takes up a minute part of the overall image, which makes for some truly beautiful and dramatic results. I’m particularly in love with the first picture, so the fact that it’s available from his online store makes me extremely happy. What are your thoughts on negative space in photography?

{images via Max Wanger}