It's A Danielle Life

Road Trip To Winchester Christmas Market with @AvivaUK #Sponsored #AD

Hand’s up who has visit a Christmas market on their Christmas wishlist? There’s just something so magical about wandering around those cute chalet-stalls picking up decorations, presents and of course yummy food. If you ever loose me just find me at the churros stall!!! This year we decided to make a weekend of it and considered taking the car across the channel to Europe, but with time ticking…

This year, I’ve either really wore him down or my husband is totally feeling in the Christmas spirit as he let me go and get not one, but two Christmas trees this year on December 2, yep, you read that right, we went and picked out our wonder trees this weekend, and it was glorious, and a little rainy, but hey, who cares about rain when you get to string lights, place baubles and sing Christmas tunes while you decorate. 

I’ve always had this Americanised view of Christmas, I think it is all those festive flicks I love watching, and I love how in the movies they always go to a Christmas tree farm, trek into a huge woods to find the perfect tree and then cut it down themselves. So, of course, I’ve wanted that, the joy of finding that one perfect tree, or in our case, two, drinking hot chocolate and then lugging it back to the car, while the snow falls. OK, I know,  I totally live in a fantasy world.

Over the years I’ve investigated getting our own Christmas tree plot in Scotland, yep that’s a thing, but it really is a long drive to cut down a tree each year, but moving to Kent has meant we are quite close to a number of Christmas tree farms, and this year I found Sussex Trees Northdown Plantation in East Sussex, which has over 40,000 trees growing on site that you can pick your own, and even cut it down if you want. 

This place was magical, so many gorgeous trees, and it was so nice to have Falcon in tow to make it a proper family outing, even if he was more interested in everyone else looking for their trees to pose for a picture or two, so no family portrait for us. OK, so there wasn’t snow, instead we had very British rain, and it wasn’t a forest, more like lines and lines of trees, but it was so much fun, and the smell was amazing, the mud not so much, but hey nothing gets in the way of Christmas joy. 

It was also perfect heading home with the Christmas tunes blaring, that Michael Bublé really knows how to get everyone feeling festive. I promise a proper reveal our of trees next week, I’m planning a Northern Lights inspired tree for our snug, as our big present this year is going to be a telescope, so I thought it was fitting, so think blues, white, silver and lots of nordic touches. While our second tree, which is heading to our bedroom, is going to be a little bit more fun, I think I’m going to fill it with our favourites and memories, as I really do have a story behind most of our decorations and it makes me so happy each festive season recalling that joy.

Have you got your Christmas tree up and decorated yet? 

Testing the 30mm Macro lens

I also used the opportunity, that gorgeous backdrop, as an excuse to do my very best, most awkward outfit posing, to test out the M.Zuiko 30mm f.3.5 Marco lens that Olympus kindly gifted me to help with my photography. This lens is great for portraits as well as capturing those detailed close-ups such as jewellery (which I will share with you in another blog post), cute shoefies or even a bunch of flowers.

I’ve been looking for a macro lens to shoot close up for a while and I just adore the soft bokeh, sharp image quality and how compact it is – my only tip would be when doing super close up, use a tripod and put the shutter release on self-timer or use the remote function in the app – to avoid shaking the camera when you press the button. 

I got a lot of response to my review of this lens on Instagram stories, FYI follow me here, and I’m trying to think about how to do more photography tips on here, but until then, for getting the most out of the 30mm lens and your Olympus Pen you have to check out Stylonylon, Julia is an amazing photographer and really knows her stuff and this blog is perfect to find out more about what you can achieve with the lens. 

If you like the look of this 30mm lens and have been thinking about investing in an Olympus Pen, the new Olympus E-PL9, has a great offer on until the end of December that you can claim a free 30mm f3.5 lens worth £249, which is an amazing deal, as it is a great addition to the 14-42mm kit lens.

My Christmas Tree Outfit: Trespass – Belted Trench (c/o) // Matalan – Green Stripe Jeans // Primark – Green Stripe Long Sleeve Top and Red Scarf // Keds – Snow Boots (c/o) // Bill Skinner – Necklace // Gap – Red Hat // Rayban – Specs // Olympus E-Pl8 Camera // M.Zuiko 30mm f.3.5 Marco lens (c/o) //

Fashionista Barbie uses affiliate links. Read the disclaimer for more info.

The Dreamy @Cath_Kidston x Bambi Collection - Buy It Now!!! #DisneyXCathKidston #Bambi

Hand’s up who is excited about the next Disney x Cath Kidston collaboration, featuring Bambi and his friends, Thumper the rabbit and Flower the skunk? If you squealed just a little, or in my case a lot, you are going to want to keep reading as I have the cutest pieces from the Bambi collection that launches tonight, November 30 at 7pm, for those with an early access code. Oh, and I’ve been told…

There is a long-standing tradition of royal wedding gowns going on display and I was lucky enough to get a press preview to the A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex exhibition, to see Meghan’s timeless Givenchy Couture gown up close in the castle’s Grand Reception Room, the very room where the Queen hosted an afternoon reception for the 600 wedding guests, including George Clooney, Oprah and the Beckhams, following the St George’s Chapel wedding ceremony.

The exhibition is part of the official tour around Windsor Castle and takes you through a number of incredible state rooms, the chandeliers are gorgeous, including where the official wedding pictures were taken, and I wouldn’t normally recommend an audio guide, I normally love just roaming around an exhibition, but this one is extra special as there is an exclusive interview with Harry and Meghan on planning the Royal Wedding, why she went for the wedding dress she did, details about the veil, as well as their meeting with the Queen to choose a headpiece, which Meghan describes in the audio recording as a “completely surreal day”.

The diamond and platinum bandeau tiara that Meghan wore, on loan from the Queen, is on public display for the first time as part of the exhibition, along with the bride’s incredibly crafted five metre-long veil, embroidered with flora from all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, as well as two of Meghan’s favourite flowers, the wintersweet flower, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage where she and Prince Harry live, and the California poppy from her home state in the US.

Of her “dream” wedding dress, the duchess said in the exhibition commentary: “I had a very clear vision of what I wanted for the day, and what I wanted the dress to look like.”

Adding that she knew she wanted her gown to have a “timeless, classic feeling” with a bateau neckline and cropped sleeves, as well as wedding dress that respected the environment of the chapel by being “modest”.

Inside the A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex exhibition at Windsor Castle

The Duchess’ wedding gown really is gorgeous, even more beautiful up close and you can really see the luminosity and pristine white finish of the double-bonded silk cady fabric, which was created exclusively for the royal wedding gown, as well as the elegance of the simple architectural design, which was achieved using just six placed seams, as well as the shape of the neckline, and the floating hemline.

Alongside the Duchess’ wedding gown is the Duke’s Household Cavalry frockcoat uniform made by Savile Row tailors, Dege and Skinner, which features a single-breasted blue doeskin jacket with intricate figured braiding of the Regimental pattern on the stand-up collar and sleeves, and was chosen by the Duke as it is one of his favourites.

You can also see the two adorable outfits as worn by Prince George and Princess Charlotte, with George’s pageboy look being a miniature version of Harry’s, while Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, also designed by Clare Waight Keller, features short puff sleeves and a double silk ribbon at the waist, and is alongside her white leather shoes by Aquazurra, embroidered with her initials and the wedding date.

If like me you loved the Royal Wedding, gorgeous wedding dresses, and the regal beauty of a castle, you will love a trip to Windsor to see this exhibition. Just trust me, get the audio guide, and make sure you book as the queues for entry are always long. 

Will you be going to see the Royal Wedding exhibition at Windsor Castle? 

      ‘A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ is part of a visit to Windsor Castle until January 6, 2019 and will then be shown at the Palace of Holyroodhouse from June 14 to October 6 October, 2019.

I’ve always felt that Nabil brought something new to the fashion scene, his designs have always had a regal quality about them, and for spring/summer 2019 he was inspired by Queen Elizabeth I’s 1588 Tilbury Speech, which she delivered ahead of the attempted invasion of England by the Spanish Armada, with the words printed not only on the beautiful collection, the cape dress is divine, but also on the model’s faces for a truly creative presentation. 

What I love about Nabil, other than the fact he probably loves tulle as much as me, his collection featured a 40-metre long tulle cloak that cascaded down the steps of the library, he has a way of making Elizabethan principles of design, such as the powerful silhouettes, the use of pleats and dramatic construction from the soft silk tulle ruffles to the stiff and starched on the front of the shirtdresses, and the regal drama of the floor-grazing cape-like semi-sheer organza dresses, contemporary, modern and wearable.

For a debut presentation it was beautifully constructed, filled with gorgeous designs, I adore the dramatic flowing cloak-like dresses featuring digitised images of the Queen, alongside royal insignias, historical cartography and hymn sheets, a great venue, marking the first time a designer had showcased at the British Library, and most of all it left me wanting more.

I’m excited to see what the future brings for Nabil Nayal, especially as the designer was named as one of the winners of the prestigious British Fashion Council Fashion Trust Grant, a charitable initiative that offers the eight selected designs a share of grants totalling £380,000 to build up their labels into global brands.

Have you discovered the Elizabethan beauty of Nabil Nayal?

I’m a huge fan of Markus Lupfer, not only is he one of my favourite shows at London Fashion Week – I do adore a well styled presentation, I love his cheeky humour that comes across in his slogan jumpers and T-shirts, as well as his love of making something very dressy like sequins actually casual and the way he makes me want to embrace the lady within.

Yep, sequins aren’t just for Christmas, this spring/summer collection shows that they are beautiful any time of the year, and I just love how the sorbet sequins have been layered underneath sheer printed slip dresses to give added depth to the lightweight layers, and for that truly breezy by the ocean kind of look, there was tulle, flowing over the dresses and wrapped around the sandals for a fun, airy take on party dressing. 

Everything about this collection from the colours, oh the colours were perfection from the pink to the lavender hues, to the ditsy floral prints, the pleated detailing, the glistening of the sequins, the embellishments and lace trims – this was an elegant take on summer and I can’t wait to get dressed up in sequins for a day at the beach. 

If the clothing wasn’t enough, once again Markus went totally cool for his modern sunglasses, which had a beautiful angled design, and were seen in smoky brown, jet black and putty pink colours. Put me down for one of each please!!!

Seriously, how dreamy is this spring/summer 2019 collection from Markus Lupfer? Which is your favourite piece? 

Statement Knits

I love, love, love a statement knit. I generally don’t think you can have too many jumpers, they are great to wear with jeans, skirts, over dresses as well as layered over shirts and even layered under cardigans, like I have done here. For me, this autumn, there are a few things I’m looking for when buying a statement knit – it has to be something bold, whether that’s a rainbow stripe, which is so on-trend, a vibrant block colour like red or orange, or have a cool slogan, as I do love a slogan. 

This New Look ‘c’est la vie’ slogan jumper, ticks more than one box for me, it has the quirky slogan, added bonus that it is in a fun handwritten style, it has the rainbow stripe, plus it is black, means it will be very versatile. It will look as good dressed up with this skirt as it will with black straight leg jeans and biker boots, and I can’t wait to style it up. 

My Autumn Style: New Look – ‘c’est la vie’ Slogan Jumper // Quiz – Black Satin Pleated Zig Zag Skirt (c/o) // Quiz – Black Chunky Heel Hiker Boots (c/o) // Primark – Red Cardigan // 

Hiking Boots

I’m a huge boots fan, especially in the autumn, and I’m so happy about the hiking boot trend that hit the catwalks of Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Proenza Schouler, as not only are these the autumnal answer to the summer ugly sneaker trend, but they are functional and so comfortable to wear. Things to consider with this utilitarian style, chunkier the better, use the hiking boots to toughen up your look, like I have with my high-shine pleated skirt, or how about a floral slip dress or a soft jumper dress for a full-on casual look. Want to soften up your hiking boots change out your laces for ribbon for a fun and quirky look. 

High-Shine Trend

One of my favourite trends this autumn has to be high-shine, whether you fancy patent or a satin shimmer there are so many options, and I found this beauty of a skirt on Quiz, my go to place for going out dresses, and I was obsessed. Not only does it shimmer perfectly, whether worn casually for a day in the Cotswolds or a night on the town, but it has a beautiful zig-zag design to the pleated skirt that really adds an extra dimension to the satin midi that I just adore. Shiny materials can be a little scary, they cling in all the wrong places, but find a style that you like, such as a pleated midi and you can make the trend work for you, and this skirt will definitely be one I wear in years to come. Dress it up with sequins and strappy heels, or dress for winter with knitted tights, or even layer under a sheer tulle dress for a truly magical textural affair. The styling possibilities are endless – but I do think it will make a great alternative to wearing a dress to the Christmas party. 

What pieces are you adding to your autumn wardrobe? 

Like seriously, how cool is this cute look, so good that I literally want to take a bite out of the apple print!!! See what I did there!!! So of course after receiving these gorgeous pieces I had to drag my husband an hour in the car, in the rain, to a farm where you can pick your own apples. It was hilarious, the rain was coming down hard, everyone else around us was wearing sensible clothes and shoes, and there I’m dressed up like an apple, and you know what I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

I’m not the easiest person to please when shooting, I generally hate all pictures of myself, but these were literally taken in less than 5 minutes, as we didn’t just have to contend with the rain, but also the fact that the farm, even though it said on its website it was open all day was shutting in 5 minutes. After an hour-long drive I wasn’t going to miss out – so we quickly snapped, quickly picked and ran off back to the car with a basket full of delicious apples and some cool pictures for the blog. 

There’s something about a Cath Kidston print that just makes me happy, and the button spot is one of my favourites and I’ve loved how they’ve revamped it for every Disney collaboration. My favourite piece has to be the cross body bag, I love a good bag, and this one is similar to my Mickey Mouse camera bag, and not only is the print adorable, I love the apple detailing on the strap – such a nice touch and a great price at £60.

There are also some cute red glittery apple accessories including a wristlet bag and a coin purse, and I can’t think I need them both, fingers crossed my husband doesn’t read this blog, as I know what he will say, I definitely don’t need them, but I want them. 

As well as the button spot, Snow White makes a cameo in Cath Kidston’s signature Wellesley Blossom print to create the ‘Scattered Blossom’ which sees Snow White, apple in hand, amongst the wild flowers and birds. It is so beautiful and it features across fashion, sleepwear, accessories and homeware. My top pick has to be the Scattered Blossom Denim Skirt, which I also have to style up, as well as the Snow White Sweatshirt, which would look good worn together. 

For a full look at my favourite Snow White pieces scroll to the bottom, but be warned it is very cute and magical you might want it all.

Are you a fan of the Disney x Cath Kidston collaborations? 

My Style: Disney x Cath Kidston – Snow White Apples and Little Spot Dress (Sold out online) (c/o) // Disney x Cath Kidston – Snow White Apples and Little Spot Cross Bag (c/o) // Disney x Cath Kidston – Snow White Little Scattered Blossom Folded Card Purse with Coin Slot (c/o) // Primark – thin Black Belt // Topshop – Red Shoes (super old) // 

**Thanks to Cath Kidston for sending me these Snow White goodies**

Jacques’ Bar – The Hoxton, Paris

It seemed only right to include the cocktail bar at The Hoxton, we had cocktails here a number of times, we really enjoyed the intimate feel to Jacques’ Bar, as well as the decor, which really is an Instagrammer’s dream with its Moroccan inspired vibe teamed with a speakeasy feel and a little English eccentricity that you expect from The Hoxton group with the divine floral wallpaper. All the decor elements shouldn’t work together but they just do and it makes a fabulous place to have a cocktail or two. 

Named after Jacques Majorelle, the French artist who lived in Marrakech, the Jacques’ Bar is discretely tucked away within the hotel (you will need to pass through the courtyard and up the stairs at the back near reception), which I loved, especially as one night we had the mixologists to ourselves, which meant we literally had them creating cocktails based on what we liked, for instance I asked for something fruity and I got this tropical dream of a cocktail. Don’t worry they also do the classics as well.

One tip, opt for something on the rocks, just so you can see them work their artistry with a large slab of ice to create round and even diamond shaped cubes for the drinks – it is mesmerising to watch. 

Jacques’ Bar at The Hoxton, 30-32 Rue du Sentier, 75002 Paris // Open: Sun-Wed, 6pm-2am; Thu-Sat, 6pm-2am

The Shed – Rooftop Bar at Hotel des Grands Boulevards

With the weather being glorious finding a great rooftop bar is needed, and a rarity in Paris, so The Shed on the 4th floor of the Hotel des Grands Boulevards is just what you need after a day of sightseeing. Nestled away from the noise of the boulevard, the terrace comes complete with a garden shed-turned-bar, hence the name, and offers the hotel’s signature cocktails and homemade cold brew coffee that have become a huge draw for The Shell Bar on the ground floor.

We had to try the cold brew cocktails as the mixologist was raving about them, we enjoy it but did find it very much an acquired taste, while the favourite had to be the Old Cuban, a fruity rum-based cocktail, while I would also suggest the No Shed, aka alcoholic-free Clear Water, which is a cucumber juice, honey, fresh basil, lime juice, charcoal and smoked salt.

It isn’t the biggest place, so be prepared to squeeze in, but when the sun is shining it really is a lovely spot to relax and just enjoy the music and cocktails. 

Hotel des Grands Boulevards, 17 Boulevard Poissonniere, Paris 75002 // Open: The Shed Bar (rooftop) 18:00-23:00 every day – while the weather is nice; The Shell Bar: 18:00-02:00 (closed in August)

**Disclosure – I was gifted two cocktails here – but as always, if I didn’t enjoy myself I wouldn’t share.**

Skyline Bar at Melia La Défense

If you’ve seen Paris from the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and Tour Montparnasse, then you have to go up to the 19th floor of Melia Paris La Defense to its Skyline Bar, as the view really is breathtaking. You can sit inside, where there are large booths alongside floor-to-ceiling windows, but the best spot has to be outside where you can relax looking out across Paris as the sun sets.

As well as a large range of cocktails, the bar also offers Spanish-inspired sharing plates, which makes it a great place to come with friends, so you can enjoy great drink and food while enjoying the tunes from the bar’s resident DJs. Just don’t forget to book to reserve a table with a view.

Don’t be scared off by how far this bar looks from the centre of Paris, the hotel is literally located on top of metro stop, Esplanade de la Défense on Line 1, which stops on Champs-Elysees avenue, Porte Maillot Palais des Congrès, the Tuilleries and the Louvre. From the Hoxton, Paris, where we were staying it took less than half an hour with an easy change. 

Melia La Défense, 3, Boulevard de Neuilly, 92400 Courbevoie – Paris // Open: 5pm to 1am every day.

**Disclosure – I was gifted cocktails and sharing plates – but as always, if I didn’t enjoy myself I wouldn’t share.**

Where are your favourite cocktail spots in Paris? 

Headed by top Isralien chefs behind the Machne-Yehuda restaurant in East Jerusalem and The Palomar in London – Assaf Granit and Uri Navon, Balagan, a hebrew name meaning ‘joyful bazaar’, is something very different from the other very French restaurants in the area, it has a playful atmosphere, which you get the best view of if you sit at the bar overlooking the open kitchen, we were mesmerised watching the chefs put together ever bit of our meal, as well as getting prangs of food envy when we saw them preparing the dishes we didn’t go for. 

At lunchtime, Balagan has two menu options, a starter plus main course or main course and dessert for 24 euros, or the full deal, starter, main and dessert for 29 euros, trust me, whichever one you go for make sure it includes dessert as even though I enjoyed every single moment of our very lazy, long lunch, the memory of the dessert stayed with me the whole trip. 

My other tip is to order the Frenavon Bread to nibble on while you wait for your starters. I saw this being eaten on another table and the waitress instantly said to me, “you need to try, it will change your life” and she wasn’t wrong, the Moroccan-style bread, which is served warm straight from the oven, is delicious with the dreamiest Tahini dip.  

Balagan – Starter

There were three options for starter, the salmon, which we didn’t go for, the veggie option, the Zucchini Hash Brown, courgette to us Brits, which I went for, and then the Brushetta Roastbeef that my husband nearly ate before I go a picture of, as he was that excited to try it after watching it being carefully placed on the plate. 

Let’s start with the Zucchini Hash Brown, served with parmesan and green tzatziki, as it was so delicious and fresh, with a spicy kick and something a little different for a vegetarian dish. This dish kind of sums up Balagan, they’ve found a refreshing way to transform what could have been a dry, boring dish, and anywhere else it probably would, into an exciting start to a meal. 

My husband went for the Brushetta Roastbeef, which came with a serving of bone marrow that he absolutely loved saying it was succulent and came away from the bone perfectly. He said it was one of the tastiest starters he has had in a long time, which is high praise as it really is difficult to please. 

Balagan – Main Course

I was excited about the mains, I’d seen the Galil Style Linguine come out a few times and each time it looked amazing, and it didn’t disappoint. I love pasta, but normally I cover it in a rich tomato sauce, this was buttery, and gorgeous, which tasted even better with the sweet-tart flavour of the  sun-dried tomatoes. The portion was also just right for a three-course meal at lunch. 

My husband went again for the meat option, this time the Boucher’s Cut served with potatoes and vegetables, which he said was cooked to perfection, he had asked for medium-rare, and he said it was delicious. But he did look a little jealous when he saw someone order the Sea Bass Shakshuka, which seemed to be one of the most popular mains.

Balagan – Dessert

For most meals out it is the dessert I get most excited about, I have a sweet tooth, but after such delicious starters and mains I was worried I wasn’t going to have room, well that was until I tasted my Jerusalem Cheese Cake, which is a speciality here at Balagan and was recommended to me by one of the chefs as his favourite on the menu. 

The strawberry topped cheese cake, presented in a cute jar, is creamy and light, and when you get a spoon full complete with the gingerbread biscuit base it really does melt in the mouth. I love cheesecake, but this wasn’t like any cheesecake I’d ever tried before, it was out of this world. 

My husband took the advice of the waitress and went for her favourite the Tahini Ice Cream, which he said was much lighter than normal ice-cream, perfect for the hot summer’s day we visited to restaurant on, and was the perfect dessert to end the meal, and the wafer has a caramel crisp about it.

Would I eat at Balagan again? 

Definitely, I loved that we were greeted like family, the staff from the chefs to the waiters were attentive, knowledgeable about the menu and inviting, which isn’t always the case when you eat in Paris. Time seemed to stop, my husband and I had the best two-hour lunch, munching our way through delicious course, after delicious course, and my husband is a hard man to please and he loved every bite. 

It was fun sitting at the bar, we really enjoyed chatting with the kitchen staff, and I would recommend it if there is just the two of you, but for larger groups there are some intimate booths and long tables. I would recommend booking as it was even busy at lunch, I can only imagine dinner is even more sought-after.

I also loved the all-blue and brass decor from the talented Dorothée Meilichzon, who has designed the interiors for other Experimental Group locations including the Hotel Grands Boulevards in Paris and the Henrietta hotel in London. 

If you leave Balagan without a smile on your face and feeling very full, you’ve done it wrong. I loved the friendly atmosphere, the innovative menu and the very instagrammable decor, and it was even fun helping the chef get his shot for his own Instagram of a new dish he was working on, as once you start eating here you instantly feel part of the Balagan family and I will be coming back here next time I’m in Paris. 

Balagan, 9 Rue d’Alger, Paris. 

**I was a guest of the Balagan, but as always my thoughts are my own – if I didn’t enjoy I wouldn’t share it**

Paris feels so much longer than a month ago, I really should make more of an effort to go more often, especially as it is so easy now I’m based in Kent. Enough of my holiday blues, let’s get back to discussing stripes, is there ever a chance that you can ever have too many stripy tops and jumpers? I resisted for many years, I was convinced that a Breton top didn’t suit me, I’m not entirely sure why, I was probably just wearing a size too small. But I’ve made it my mission in life to find the cutest stripy tops and I love this little beauty from Joanie, which is another amazing discovery, I just love its quirky, vintage vibe. 

I wore this look out to dinner one night, my husband laughed, but after a few cocktails, I think he warmed up to Hennie and he even took some great shots, earning him lots of husband points!!!

I think this was one of my favourite looks from the trip as it was so me, comfortable-chic, I adore this red lace skirt, a bargain a snapped up in the Asos sale for less than £10 a couple of years ago, and I wore my go-to block heels, which are so needed to navigate Parisian streets, and the colour pops just went so well with the Joanie jumper.

Have you discovered Joanie’s cute jumpers? 

My Parisian Style: Joanie Clothing – Henrietta Chicken Intarsia Stripe Jumper **Fyi, Hennie is in the sale** (c/o) // Asos – Red Lace Skirt // Clarks – Black Shoes (c/o) // Kit Heath – Earrings (c/o John Lewis) // 

Shot at The Hoxton, Paris, where we stayed and I promise there will be a review up next week – just bookmark the Travel section. 

The Aspinall Giraffe Collection is limited-edition, so get in there quick, as not only are they super pretty – just look at that dreamy Rothschild Giraffe print, an amazing 20 percent from every bag sold will be donated to The Aspinall Foundation, so your bag addiction can help save animals like these cuties, which are actually the world’s most endangered giraffe, the Rothschild Giraffe. I do love fashion with a heart!

There are four styles in the capsule collection, The Traveller, The Tiny, The 11 inch Satchel and The Backpack, which all come in two spilt leather colourways, a gorgeous neutral sand shade, perfect for those safari vibes, and a vibrant deep burnt red hue, brandy, a gorgeous colour that will see you through autumn. I love them both. 

If I could only have one, it would have to be the Traveller Bag with Side Pockets in the sand and giraffe haircalf colourway, as this is a dreamy bag in a very different colour for me, and my rule when getting anything new it has to be something I don’t already have, as the amount of things I used to buy that was nearly identical is unbelievable.

If you are getting one, don’t forget the personalisation option, I did it for my Mum’s birthday present and she loved it, just makes your bag more personal – the only disappointing this that they don’t have a giraffe symbol to emboss!

Shop the Cambridge Satchel Company Aspinall Giraffe Collection

[show_boutique_widget id=”745588″]

The Aspinall Giraffe Collection ranges in price from £65 for The Tiny to £195 for the backpack. 

Which Cambridge Satchel Giraffe do you want to add to your wardrobe?

[Pics: Cambridge Satchel Company]

We’re lucky, the master bedroom is quite big, it has lots of gorgeous natural light as it has windows on both sides of the room, and it has some stunning features like the old beams and fireplace. So there was lots to work with, however, the way it had been decorated before with a dull beige colour on the walls and a horrid carpet – it wasn’t inviting to relax in, neither mind getting a decent night’s sleep, so it really did feel like we had to start from scratch. 

First thing was deciding on colours, over the years at other houses we have had blue, yellow and even white as the main colours in our bedroom, this time we wanted something a little different, a little bolder and more fun, while still working with the old features of the house, and that’s when we decided we wanted a tropical paradise feel to the room – and that all really started with that vibrant feature wall colour we fell in love with and the stunning palm leaf posters on Desenio. 

Tropical Bedroom & Desenio Wall Gallery

Artwork really makes a difference to any room, before, our bedroom didn’t have anything up on the wall, not even a mirror, which just sat against the wall on the floor, as we never got round to it as we didn’t see the point until we had chance to revamp it all. But it is surprising how much of an impact a gallery wall can make, and I’m in love with how the Desenio palm leaf series of posters look on the Proud Peacock green wall. 

The palm leaf prints we chose really have everything we were looking for, bold silhouettes, a pop of pink, as I love pink with green, as well as a tropical vibe, and I think they look so good grouped together like this. I went for a large print, two mediums and a small as I didn’t want the gallery wall to take up all the room on the feature wall above the fireplace, as I still wanted the bold colour we love to shine through as well. That’s what I find a gallery wall is about creating a balance, not just in the picture choice but also sizing and layout. 

For the bed wall we decided to keep the tropical feel going with a softer palm tree print, as well as the quirky typeface prints with Good Morning and Good Night. The difference of just adding seven pictures up is unbelievable and all for under £150 pounds, including the frames, which are also from Desenio and I love them – super lightweight and perfect for framing the posters. 

**Desenio Discount Code**

I’m a huge fan of Desenio artwork, I love a gallery wall (see my tips here on creating your own) and I love the choice of posters – this Scandi website has everything you could possible want and lots of inspiration to help you group the right posters together. So, I have teamed up with Desenio to offer all my readers a discount to transform your own home:

The code “fashionistabarbieuk” gives 25% off posters* at Desenio between August 28 – 30, 2018.  *Except for frames and  handpicked-/collaboration posters.

Desenio artwork: Palm Exposure Poster // Palm Leaves Exposure Poster // Ficus Exposure Poster // Plant Exposure Poster // A Palm Tree Dream Poster // Morning Poster // Night Poster // 

Bedroom – Sanded Floor & Wall Colours

The biggest change in the bedroom and the most expensive was the floor, bringing it back to its former glory. We didn’t do this ourselves we got the professionals in as we also had the snug, my office, and one of the guest rooms (full reveals of each room to come) done so it turned out to be a big job. Our house is quite old as well as being a listed building so we want to ensure that it is restore to the best of our ability and the floors needed a lot of work – but so worth it as look how beautiful this floor looks now. 

When it had carpet down it felt small, now the golden hue of the floor really adds character as well as space to the room and looks beautiful against the statement wall and white furniture, I like the contrast of the old with the modern tropical touches.

For the walls we worked around the Dulux Feature Wall Proud Peacock green hue, which was one of five colours we tested, but it won out as I really thought it added a serene but colourful touch to the bedroom, and it worked perfectly with all the white woodwork. The main walls are Dulux Once Polished Pebble, a really lovely light grey that has a shimmer to it in person that looks great with the white furniture we already had and the new grey bed we had ordered.

Bedroom – Plants, Plants and More Plants

You can’t have a tropical themed bedroom without plants, and I don’t think any bedroom is complete without plants, and it was lovely picking out some of my favourites including the Monstera Deliciosa aka Swiss Cheese plant, it is a beauty and I’ve put him a lovely pot stand that I picked up at TK Maxx for less than £20. I love TK Maxx for plant pots and stands, the only thing is you have to buy when you see as you can never tell how long they will be available for. 

I’ve also added smaller plants dotted around the bedroom on our bedside tables and top of the larger chest of drawers. But what I love about plants is it is always a work in progress, adding to the botanical vibe takes time and I can’t wait to add more.

As well as real plants I’ve become a lover of great quality fakes, I’ve got a whole blog post coming on this in the next few weeks, but I found this grass variety fake at TK Maxx with the stand for £14.99 and I couldn’t say no, I just wish I had bought the second one I’d saw for the guest room. 

Bedroom – White Furniture & Grey Bed

We were lucky with our white furniture as we had it all when we moved in – it is the Hemnes collection – we have the 8 Drawers, the 3 Drawers and the 2 Drawers, which we use as bedside tables. The only thing we changed was the bed, I’ve been looking for a grey bed with storage underneath for a while, we had a faux leather one before and Falcon as a puppy had nibbled all the corners so it had to be replaced anyway. I found one I loved for £1,500 and I nearly cried – just for the bed that’s crazy money – and then by sheer luck I found this one for just over £200 on a bed outlet website, which is part of Dunelm. So, when you’ve found the bed style you want google it, you never know you might find a near identical one for a fraction of the price.

Bedroom – Tropical Duvet

The last final touch of any bedroom is the duvet cover and I found the perfect one in Sainsbury’s, the Palm House Leaf Butterfly Print, which was apparently inspired by Miami, so perfect for our tropical theme. There are a lot of palm leaf duvet covers, I know that Primark has one and Aldi did one, so hunt around for the one that works for you. I went for this one as it had more white space on than the others, plus I liked the pink butterfly touches and the fact it is reversible as it has a light green print on the back. 

What do you think of my tropical themed bedroom makeover? 

This post was written in collaboration with Desenio but all images and opinions are my own and I chose each and every print that graces my bedroom wall and love them!

I’m a huge fan of old buildings, I seriously think I was an architect in a previous life, and I adore The Hoxton, Paris hotel hotel building, which occupies a 18th century hôtel particulier building (aka a grand mansion to us English folks) set around two picturesque courtyards built by architect Nicolas d’Orbay for Etienne Rivié, which then became a clothing factory, before finally a hotel, and thank god it did as it really makes a wonderful vacation spot. 

The first thing that hits you when you arrive is all the cool kids hanging out in the stunning courtyard, who don’t even stray from their conversations to see you weaving through and struggling on the cobbles with your suitcase, it is like in a way that you are invisible, the second thing is the decor, as you would expect from The Hoxton it is super cool and stylish, which perfectly fits with the historical elements of the building such as the two 300-year-old spiral staircases in both the lobby and bar.

The Hoxton, Paris – The Rooms

The hotel is classed as boutique, but it still has 172 guestrooms, and four different options – Shoebox, Cosy, Roomy and Biggy – so something for all budgets. Traveling light or solo for one night then Shoebox will probably work out well. For a nice size without costing the earth and not stepping on your partners toes then go for the Cosy, which is what we stayed in, perfectly sized and actually probably larger than most hotel rooms in Paris. Looking for more floor space or a terrace then you need the Roomy, and for the ultimate indulgence, the Biggy, just make sure you ask for one with a roll-top bathtub to get the full luxury stay. 

I was impressed with the Cosy, I loved the industrial-kitsch decor with its woven metal partitions that reminded me of New York industrial loft, retro phone and radio, rustic bedside tables, 50s Lampe Gras lamps and leather straps holding up the headboard. The bathroom was just as nice, a large walk-in shower, white subway tiles and copper taps, shower head and light fittings – basically the bathroom of my dreams, minus the bath, and it also had the dreamiest toiletries by Bl_nk, which sadly didn’t come in stealable miniature sizes!

The Hoxton, Paris – Interior

Basically, this is the hotel not just for hipsters but also interior lovers, I loved the decor so much that I’m thinking of doing an interior ‘get the look’ blog in the future, I’m already scouting out the pieces I loved from the marble top tables in the lounge to the rustic leather and pink velvet armchairs, the gorgeous blue sofa in the lobby, the checker grid duvet, the copper caged lights, the blue velvet bar stools, and the over-the-top full length gold-rimmed mirror.

The interior flair wasn’t just reserved for the rooms, the whole of The Hoxton, Paris is beautifully decked out with fittings and furnishings from France’s most-loved designers, including Jean Prouvé and Mathieu Matégo. If you don’t already have a Pinterest board dedicated to hotel furnishing ideas, staying here will certainly get you pinning. 

The Hoxton, Paris – Food & Drink

The Hoxton, Paris has so many options for food and drink, from the urban-infused brassiere, Rivié, will sprawls across the courtyards and indoors that offers all-day French-inspired dishes along some Hoxton comfort food classics, trust me you need to try the mac and cheese and truffle fries. Outside is nice, but I just adored the interiors inside from the velvet bar stools to the cosy sofas. Then for the evening you need to check out the exotic, intimate Moroccan inspired Jacques’ Bar for a cocktail, top tip ask one of the mixologists to whip you something different up, and then there is Planche, the Hoxton’s wine bar just off the courtyard. 

If you fancy instead to party in your room, just head down to the lobby and check out the Hox Shop, where you can get beers, wines and a range of snacks at high-street prices to fill your fridge up with!

One other thing I need to mention about The Hoxton, Paris’ food options is that it offers a Breakfast Bag with every stay, which means that each morning hanging on the hook outside your door is a bag containing a banana, an orange juice and a yoghurt and granola pot, and it is super scrummy and so needed before heading out to see the sights of Paris. So, I wouldn’t call it enough not to have breakfast, but definitely enough to get you until brunch becomes an option, which FYI, the Hoxton also does amazing pancakes. 

Overall, if you are looking for an Instagrammable hotel, The Hoxton, Paris offers you that and so much more. It is also well located, just a short and very pretty 20 minute walk to the Louvre and the streets filled with designer shops. The rooms are comfortable, quirky and come with a tea making facilities – I do love a hotel that provides me with tea in the room. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, with the receptionist helping us out when we checked in with cocktail recommendations (which I promise to share in another blog post). Another plus point, this is a hotel with really good Wi-Fi, and you say you don’t care until it’s really crap and it means you can share all your pretty travel piccies. 

Most of all I just really loved the homely vibe, whether that was snuggling in bed watching TV, having cocktails downstairs, or meeting up with friends in the courtyard and chatting for hours, the atmosphere at the Hoxton is a big draw for the hotel. I love The Hoxton in London, now in Paris – I need to check off Amsterdam and New York before I can safely call this the coolest hotel chain to stay at. 

The Hoxton Paris, 30-32 Rue du Sentier, 75002 Paris, France.

If like me you are nervous about buying something online like a mattress that you haven’t had a snooze on first, don’t worry as Leesa have an amazing 100-night risk-free trial, and I’m telling you they do that as they know once you lie down on its soft premium foam you’ll never look back. Plus, it has a 10-year warranty, and I love that for every 10 mattresses sold it donates one to charity and they have a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant one tree for every mattress they sell. I’m all for supporting companies who give back.

So, what makes the Leesa mattress so special, soft and a dreamy night’s sleep? It’s all in its three premium foam layers, which have been designed for cooling, body contouring and pressure relief. When I first lied on the mattress I was worried it was a little too soft, we’ve always had firmer mattress before, but there something so comforting about sinking into the memory foam that instantly calms, while still feeling very supported, it doesn’t sag like other cheaper memory foam mattresses we’ve had in the past.

I’m a really fussy sleeper, I fidget a lot to get comfortable, but after a few nights of sleep on this new mattress my husband commented on how I’m been much calmer I had been and that I was falling a sleep quicker, and I have to admit I was waking up feeling more refreshed. I also started trialling the Leesa mattress at the peak of the heatwave, where sleep was really hard to come by, but it gave it a great comparison with the old mattress, which didn’t have a cooling Avena top foam layer, which Leesa states provides airflow for a cooler night’s sleep and I can confirm I definitely slept better on it, and I also found that I wasn’t overheating as much as before.

Being a fidgeter, I also need a mattress that works with me, so whether I’m lying on my back, stomach or side, or even squished into the tiniest ball, which happens more regularly than I’d like to admit, as well as working for my husband, a hard challenge, but we both love how the Leesa adapts around us, and how it doesn’t sag in the middle. The amount of mattresses we’ve slept on where I’ve ended up rolling into the middle is unbelievable. Best of all I’ve never felt such relief waking up to no shoulder or hip pain, it really has been amazing. 

Sleeping well on the Leesa Mattress

The last test for any mattress is whether it gets Falcon approval, as we generally have a Welsh Springer Spaniel who loves to sleep with us taking over the bottom of the bed, and I can confirm he is a huge fan – he even couldn’t resist photobombing my shoot of the mattress. Leesa if you are reading maybe you need to invest in dog beds so I don’t need to share mine!!! But seriously how pretty does he look with the Leesa stripes, which also go beautiful with our new bed, and I promise a full bedroom reveal blog is coming next week. 

When you get your new mattress, check the condition of your old one, you might not want it but if it still has a fire label attached and is in good condition you’ll be able to find a local charity, who will generally collection it free of charge as a furniture donation. I didn’t have to with our old one, we moved it into one of the spare rooms, but I’ve done that previously and it really saves it from going to the tip before its time. If  your old mattress is not able to be donated, all local councils offer a recycling service for old mattresses, ours is £30, and means you don’t have to struggle squeezing it into your car.

What else can I say, I’ve slept on this mattress for the past month and I’m a huge fan, I’ve really been sleeping better, I ache less and I haven’t been fidgeting as much, which my husband is very happy about, so, I can’t recommend the Leesa mattress enough. Prices start at £399 for a UK single up to £769 for a UK super king. For reference I have a UK king. They also do EU sizes, which are slightly larger than the UK. 

If you are looking to change your mattress, I have a nice treat for you – £100 off your very own Leesa mattress. All you need to do is use code FASHIONISTABARBIE at checkout. Happy sleeping!

Have you considered changing to the Leesa mattress?

**Sponsored Post: written in collaboration with Leesa Mattress, who gifted me the product. All opinions are my own.**