Weekend Adventures and a Little Shopping Trip too...

Just a quick post to share some snaps from last weekends antics.

Saturday was a beach day, because here in England any day that is remotely warm must be embraced and made as much use of. A visit to Branksome Chine and Sandbanks (yes, we went all out!), Bournemouth, to meet up with friends, make new ones, eat fish and chips on the sea front, walk along a pier before a short stay in an arcade where Tara and I were determined to win a cute blue Gorilla on one of those Claw Machines - it took a lot of patience and we ended up with a crowd of supporters, until at last what was thought to be impossible was achieved and that initial cheer of relief was followed by that smug look of 'I've just achieved my life's goal, I am now complete'.

Sunday was a shopping day. No, not for me *quick sigh of relief*, for a friend. Why spend my money when I can spend someone elses? Benefits: I didn't feel guilty at the end of the day and I'm not left in debt (round of applause please). Downfall: I didn't bring anything pretty home (umm... actually I may have done BUT it could have been worse!), and I spent the whole shopping trip asking Caroline to steer me away from Zara, Dune and Oliver Bonas. You know they're a true friend when they're still happy to talk to you after you've most likely injured them in an attempt to break out and run to all the sales.

When I said I got something - it  was really only a little thing I've had my eye on for a while. In fact, I have been walking past it everytime I visit Oliver Bonas because I couldn't quite decide what colour I wanted and I was so convinced that they wouldn't sell out I thought I'd take my time. But this weekend, I noticed they were selling out quite quickly, so I adopted that dangerous YOLO attitude again (as most people do when making decisions... Oh you don't? Just me then...) it's nothing major... 

JUST A CUTE LITTLE GLOBE. Uses: none. Practiciality: none. Excuse: .... I didn't have a globe and I saw it and I bought it? Does that count? 

This shopping trip has only made me write a fairly long list of things to get next month including:

Mac Lipstick - I haven't decided between Sweetie, FanFare or Hot Gossip

Office Shoes - Jaguars Dorsay Point

Benefit Eyeshadow - Always the Bridesmaid (Pearly Lavender) Creaseless Cream Shadow

Benefit Eyeshadow - Raincheck? (Smokey Amethyst) Longwear Powder Shadow

Oliver Bonas Photo Frames - you can never have too many pictures (or in my case, empty frames)

Theme song for the weekend - Waves, Mr Probz (Robin Shulz Remix Radio Edit)

xxx Lucy xxx

China Blue Bedroom Interior

I've been on Pinterest loads recently. Like, I'm so addicted I forgot about Instagram (which, coming from me means a lot) and I've now pulled a few friends into Pinterest too so they can become just as engrossed.

I've set up lots of Interior boards, in the hope that when I can eventually afford a nice little flat (we're thinking a loooooooong time away) I know exactly what I want. Since I was little, I've always had a very keen interest in interior - I would sit for hours looking at my Mum's interior books, and mark my favourite ideas with post it notes (all colour coordinated I'll have you know). I had a very tiny room at first, but as soon as my brothers moved out, and about time too, I jumped into the big room and 'Lucy-fied' it before they could change their mind and come back.

Their room (now mine mwahaha) is now painted white - this acts as a sort of canvas so I can use plenty of colour, patterns and print without it being too 'in ya face'. It's not too busy or eccentric ... my friends may say differently?

Though I don't want to clear my room and start all over again, I do want to make some tiny changes because I'm getting slightly bored (this is the problem of only having one room to decorate not a flat). In an ideal world I'd have more pattern and print, but in less colours - stick to a few favourites like blues and mauves... I have no idea how and when I am going to do this, so for the time being my new best friend Pinterest will have to provide me with an escape.

Pinterest is great for getting ideas for colours palettes and generic styles but it can be easy to just copy everything you see, and here is where people miss out on a fun hunt for things that make the room *insert your name here*.

So, every now and then (when I remember) I'm going to design new colour schemes, themes, or 'whats in the shop' collages to help inspire you to get your room looking lovely. And... because... if I can't buy them, I can insist someone else does...

To start, I've focused on China Blue. I found this bright and beautiful cushion in a shop, designed by Bombay Duck, and yes, I did actually gasp when I saw the colour (now starting to regret not going back for it) that I went on an online hunt to find things in this lovely shade of blue. I've fallen in love with everything I've found, especially the photo frame, cushion and bed linen. So it's only fare I share the finds:

Tempted? Links here:

Souk Embroidered Cushions Square
Square Memo Board
Astrid Chevron Photo Frame
Velvet Tub Chair
Geometric Print Duvet Cover
Wallpaper Vase
Flocked Baroque Mirror
Ornate Arch Tapestry Throw
Ombre Lace Curtains

I have a good idea of whats to come next under this new interior ideas project and I'm getting quite excited (channelling my inner geek). Until then, happy shopping.

xxx Lucy xxx