Weekend Jollies

Cheers to the weekend, what are you up to? I'm gobsmacked that tomorrow is already October, but also kind of excited. Tonight we are planning to have a quick dinner somewhere cozy and then catch a movie. How about you? Wishing everyone a jolly good weekend and I'll see you back here on Tuesday morning, but in the meantime, here are a few awesome links for you to enjoy.

'20 things I've learnt in 20 years without hair'.

The joy of quiet.

This story melted my heart...

3 short London cemetery walks.

On balance and burnout...

All things low-key plants.

Amazing!

5 things to leave until Monday so you can enjoy your weekend.

The ultimate fall cleaning checklist.

Lovely.

Cats, cats, cats...

Beautiful...

Are you struggling with a funky kitchen sink smell? Here are a few nifty solutions that might help.

5 ways to wear a silk scarf.

Did you know that you can (quick) pickle anything?

The sweetest short-ish hair hairdo.

Fancy jazzing up your workout routine? Oh, try this!

And fancy a blast from the past?
- Five years ago today.
- Four years ago tomorrow.
- Three years ago today.
- Two years ago today.
- One year ago today.

P.S: How about a bit of chit-chat? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and even Pinterest.

(Photo via Farmhouse Touches)

This Week's Gems

Autumn skirt perfection...

Wow! How beautifully understated are those earrings?...

Low boots made especially for this crisp magical season ahead of us...

Aww...

Fancy a dash of London in your home?...

This set of extra skinny stacking rings is a must-have this season...

Midnight snack anyone?...

Fancy swapping your deodorant for a natural option? Those two seem awesome!...

Oh  yes!...

Fancy layering your jewelry? Try mixing this constellation trio necklace with that Linnea bar necklace - autumn uniform!...

I still have a thing for cacti-goodness...

The sweetest ribbon bracelet I have ever seen...


'All the emotions club' :)...

Know one?...

Speaking of, do you have a bearded man at home? Get him this oil, he'll love you for it:)...

Stunning...

Linen apron perfection, don't you think?...

Dearies, what caught your eye this week? Any great finds or buys?

P.S: Fancy more gems?

Nifty (All Natural) Laundry Tip

Speaking of laundry, after discovering the goodness of this all natural laundry detergent, I've been on the lookout for fabric softner alternatives. Recently I took Lesley's advice and got myself some wool dryer balls that actually soften the laundry naturally without chemicals or synthetics. But the best part is if you put a few drops of your favourite essential oil (like lavender or eucalyptus) on the balls and then throw them in the dryer, they will not only make the whole load incredibly soft, but also beautifully fragrant too. Try it!

P.S: Remember this vanilla trick?
P.P.S: Plus, this nifty all natural citrus home cleaner.

(Photo and tip by/via Lesley Graham)

Magical Fall Foliage.

If  you're not huge on autumn, this 1,401-year-old ginkgo tree might just entice you to embrace this rather magical season to the fullest.

This awesome gem is located within the walls of the Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple in the Zhongnan Mountains in China, where every single autumn, it turns bright yellow and afterwards, all its leaves fall all over the temple grounds - making the whole area look magical.

It would be so awesome to see this in person, don't you think?

P.S: Also, the broccoli tree and a chestnut tree that you can grow yourself.
P.P.S: Plus, this Easter egg beauty in Germany.

(via This Is Colossal via DailyMail)

A Nifty Trick for Fresher Tomatoes (In a Jiffy)

Where do you store your tomatoes? Me? Usually in the fridge, but according to Derek, that’s not the best idea since the cold temperatures cause them to loose flavour.

So what’s the solution? Simply dip your newly purchased tomatoes in warm water (about 125°F) before chilling them in the fridge. According to Leslie - who tried this out - this little trick will help retain flavour for much longer.

Hmm, can’t wait to try it. You?

P.S: My favourite take on Sicilian stuffed tomatoes and this:)
P.P.S:Plus, Italian simplicity.

(Tip via Food52. Photos by Adventures in Cooking and via Fit Baker)

Autumn Trend: Basket Bags

Have you heard? Baskets - no matter the size or finish - are the ‘it’ accessory this autumn. Yay, I couldn’t be happier to enjoy my summer-favourite for longer! Plus, just imagine wearing it with Jane Birkin’s signature style - jeans and a comfy top. Ah, autumn perfection! What do you think?

P.S: Also, snug belted layers to get inspired by...
P.P.S: And my ode to market baskets...

(Photos by/via Collage Vintage, Gillian Stevens, Fashion Me Now, Refinery29, Little Blonde Book, Honestly, wtf)

Autumn Home Tweak: Wellies on Display

Recently my mom sent me a photo of her newly tiled entryway. As much as I liked the new tiles, I got totally distracted by how cozy the whole space looked. After asking what her secret was, she said it's all in the detail.

For example, she never hides away her wellies (regardless of the season), just displays them as they were something more special that they are. It actually works, because looking at all those entryways above, the one thing that makes them seasonally cozy are the rain-boots.

So dig those old rubber boots out of the closet, dust them off and place them proudly somewhere near the door...and who knows, they might even come in handy next time it rains:)

P.S: And here is one more awesome home tweak that you might like.
P.P.S: Family coziness...

(Photos by/via Lunch and Latte, The Kitchn, Ingrid Weir, The Messes of Men, Style Me Pretty, Papple, The Tao of Dana and Luisa Brimble)

Stars and Zodiac Signs

Blimey, have you heard? Recently, NASA updated the astrological signs for the first time in 2,000 years which means that about 86% of us might have a different sign!

Supposedly the reason for this update is that the sky today is much different to how it was thousands of years ago. Plus, Earth's axis no longer points in the same direction making our astrological signs about a month out. Having said that, it's unlikely the new signs will actually replace the old ones as modern astrology goes by its own rules, but here is the new updated line-up if you're curious to know your true new sign:

Capricorn: Jan 20 - Feb 16
Aquarius: Feb 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11 – April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug 10
Leo: Aug 10 – Sept 16
Virgo: Sept 16 – Oct 30
Libra: Oct 30 – Nov 23
Scorpio: Nov 23 – Nov 29
Ophiuchus: Nov 29 – Dec 17
Sagittarius: Dec 17 – Jan 20

Has your sign changed? Mine didn’t, I'm still a Leo (August 11th) but my Balazs has a brand new sign now - Ophiuchus. Fascinating stuff, don’t you think?

P.S: Rainbow watching...
P.P.S: Plus, playing games with clouds.

(via Red Magazine. Photo by Geørg Wallner)

70's Wire Aviators Trend: Thumbs up or down?

Do  you wear glasses? I’ve been wearing those super nerdy-thick-black specs - that I adore - for the past couple of years. Having said that, the word is that this season all the cool girls are drawn to the 1970's wire aviators that are making a huge comeback. They are bolder, braver, and bigger yet supposedly also more flattering since they have a softer and gentler look.

What do you think? Thumbs up or down?

P.S: Remember this foxy duo?
P.P.S: New York through a lens.

(Photos by/via Who What Wear, Tommy Ton, The Fashion Cuisine, Phill Taylor, Sonya Esman, Bird On A Wire Vintage and The Sartorialist)

Hostess Gift: Scarf Wrapped Flower Bouquet

Over the past 34 years of my life I learnt one important thing: it's not the grandness of the gift that counts, it's actually the gesture and the attention to detail that makes a gift special. Personally, I find some of the simplest gifts the most memorable. A note written on a hand-picked stationary that I mentioned to like, a slice of apple pie picked up from my favourite cake shop, a lip balm because I recently said how dry my lips were, or a bunch of seasonal blooms wrapped in a way it says: 'I care'.

So, since little special gestures are a thing of mine, when I stumbled upon Victoria's idea of wrapping a flower bouquet with a simple scarf, it totally tickled my fancy. I guarantee, if you show up with a gem like that to your friend's house for dinner, the hostess will be totally chuffed that you made the effort of choosing her favourite flowers and wrapping them in such a unique way.

I can't wait to try it. You?

P.S: And two more special ways to wrap your blooms.
P.P.S: The best way to keep flowers fresh.

(Photos by Ashleigh Taylor, how-to by Sweet Emilia Jane for/via A Subtle Revelry)

Redefining happiness...

Does life get on top of you sometimes?

Uff, it's been a month of ups and downs, things that worked out great and thinks that failed miserably, tons of mishaps and buckets of laughter. During one of those somewhat failed days, when I was just about to start doubting myself, thinking that I'm doing it all wrong, I stumbled upon a quote that made it all better. Because life is not about perfection and smooth days with endless rainbows, it's about making the effort to redefine and reshape happiness, success and fulfillment in a way that works for us...

Here is the beautiful quote that cheered me up, hope it does the same for you:

'For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.'

P.S: The beauty of aging hands...
P.P.S: Plus, this sweet and clever little advice:)

(Quote by Andy Rooney via Jacqui Lewis. Photo by Freya Dowson)

Floral Pumpkin Twist

Speaking of fall, how about jazzing up your pumpkins this year with a floral design? Wow, I'm totally impressed by Lucy's creativity and skill. What a beautifully unique idea, don't you think?

P.S: Fancy more?
P.P.S: Plus, all things autumn goodness:)

(Photos by Craftberry Bush)

Giveaway Winner

Drum rolls, please! The winner of the SimaG Jewelry giveaway is Starla. Congrats!

P.S: Thank you all for playing.

Weekend Jollies.

Cheers to the (official) first autumn weekend! Any fun plans? We're going for a dinner tonight to Balazs' favorite bistro, besides that, I've just finished reading Life from Scratch and I highly recommend it, if you're looking for a great weekend read. I'll see you back here on Monday morning, stay safe and have fun.

Wow, what a beautiful space...

Don't miss our sassy necklace GIVEAWAY this week!

Steph, I'm so happy for you :)

What should you choose: time or money?

Three generations of women who worry about their weight.

'The internet thinks I'm still pregnancy.'

Eliminating the notion of happily ever after...

On loneliness...

Made me teary...

How to pick the perfect house plant.

'Facing my fear...'

Ha!

Fancy dressing up your dining room this season?

Small victories worth celebrating :)

Stop saying 'I don't know' when you do know.

A must have new cookbook! Have you got one yet?

Mary on motherhood, life, style, love and marriage :)

All you need to know about mushrooms...

Stress makes food taste bad.

And fancy a blast from the past?
- Five years ago today.
- Four years ago tomorrow.
- Three years ago today.
- Two years ago today.
- One year ago today.

P.S: How about a bit of chit-chat? Join me on Instagram, Facebook and even Pinterest.

(Photo by Kara Rosenlund)

This Week's Gems.

It's about time for a bit of coziness, don't you think?...

I just found my new pair of autumn shoes...

What a stunner!...

Mm, sounds like such a refreshing mix...

This bullet tie clip would make a fantastic gift!...

My  new favourite seasonal transition dress that you can easily wear with tights and a loose chunky cardigan...

Wow! Totally smitten with this geometric triangle necklace...

One of each, please...

With Halloween quickly approaching, those batty bat studs are a must!...

Pretty pretty planters...

A true gem for your living room wall...

Picture wearing a pair of jeans, a comfy white tee, a soft sweater and this long beaded tassel necklace - fall uniform perfection!...

Indeed :)...

Basket goodness...

The 'it' minimal and oh-so beautiful everyday earrings...

Must smell amazing...

The most adorable little tank, isn't it?...

Speaking of everyday accessories, this gold bar tube bracelet is on my wish list...

C'mon, wake up:)...

Love...

Dearies, what caught your eye this week? Any great finds or buys?

P.S: Fancy more gems?
P.P.S: Plus, don't miss the chance to win a beautiful necklace!