Cosy Autumn Books To Read

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When Autumn rolls around, I tend to focus mainly on spooky books to read around Halloween. This year, I knew I wanted a few more cosy Autumnal reads for the new season, perfect for when the wind is howling outside and the rain is hitting the window. Here are five of my recommendations: 

The Ex Hex | Set in Graves Glen, a town reminiscent of Stars Hollow and Salem, this witchy rom-com book will get to in the Halloween spirit. Although it's got witchcraft and paranormal themes, I would say this is a great pick for Autumn as it mainly focuses on the lead up to the 31st and has some seriously cosy vibes. I loved it so much that I immediately bought the second book, The Kiss Curse and I would say that the second instalment may be even better than the first! 

When The Crow's Away | This is the second book in the 'Evenfall Witches B&B' series and I got my hands on this after failing to find the first book, In The Company of Witches. It has everything you need for a cosy Autumn read - witches, a murder mystery and a ghost! It's fun, it has loveable characters and you're taken on a journey as we try and work out who killed Mort Sweet, the local sweet shop owner who has been conversing with resident witch, Brynn Warren. Need I say more! 

Murder At The Pumpkin Pageant | Cosy murder mysteries is a genre I could do a whole post about as I absolutely love them. They've often got an engaging plot with twists and turns, whilst having a comforting atmosphere and set in a small town or village. Murder At The Pumpkin Pageant ticks all of these boxes, being set in a bakery surrounded by delicious Autumn treats and is set in the lead up to October 31st and the weeks that follow. The way the Autumn season is described in this book is the reason why it's made it's way to this list, it's so descriptive and you really feel immersed in the season. 

The Haunting of Aveline Jones | Middle grade books through Autumn and Halloween are my favourite genre of books to pick up. They're shorter than your average novel and offer up some seriously spooky tales. The Haunting of Aveline Jones is a book I've recommend before and it's cemented itself in my 'to re-read list' in Autumn. Although recommended for 9-11 year olds, it's actually the scariest book of the bunch, but still sets an cosy scene that is perfect for cuddling up with. 

The Secret Society of Irregular Witches | I feel like this book sums up everything I want from a cosy November read, so whilst I'm a little premature I do think you should add it to your late Autumn to-read list. It's got both Autumn leaves and Wintery scenes, snow and a budding romance. You follow Mika Moon, a secret witch who has spent a lot of time on her own, who has been offered a job at a mysterious House. I absolutely loved all the characters and felt like I went on a true adventure with this book. 

What cosy books would you recommend to read this Autumn? 

Cinnamon Swirl Muffin Recipe

 

Cinnamon is one of my go-to flavours when Autumn rolls around - the warming spice fills the house with a deliciously moorish scent. If you're a fan of cinnamon rolls then you'll absolutely love these muffins. With a slight crunch on top, but moist in the centre, it'll be hard to share these around with friends. 

This recipe has been adapted from the Sally's Baking Addiction recipe. Personally, I've found such a difference in switching out butter for vegetable oil when it comes to muffin recipes as the crumb is a lot lighter and I get a better rise. Usually muffin recipes call for buttermilk, sour cream or any other additional ingredient that you may not have in your kitchen, so these are super simple and a great option if you need to whip something delicious up quickly. 

Ingredients (Makes 6 large muffins) -

Muffins;

240g Plain Flour

1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder 

150g Caster Sugar

80ml Vegetable Oil

170ml Milk of Choice

1 Medium Egg

1tsp Vanilla Extract 

Cinnamon Filling;

50g Light Brown Sugar

2tsp Cinnamon 

Cinnamon Swirl Drizzle;

50g Icing Sugar 

Water

Method 

Pre-heat the oven to 180c and line a muffin tin with muffin cases. 

Mix together oil, egg and milk and mix until combined. Slowly add in sugar whilst stirring. Add in the vanilla extract. 

Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture and stir until combined. 

Mix together your light brown sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl to create the cinnamon filling. 

Scoop a tablespoon of cake mixture into a muffin case. Then sprinkle the cinnamon filling on top of the batter. Scoop another tablespoon of cake mixture and repeat again until full.  

Bake at 180c for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top. 

Leave to completely cool on a cooling rack before icing. 

Drizzle the icing on top of each muffin and leave to set - if you can wait that long. Enjoy! 

An Easy Cinnamon Bun Recipe

On a rainy Autumn afternoon, there's nothing I love more than baking a batch of fresh cinnamon buns. As the rain hits the window, I love to cosy up with a blanket and a film, but these deliciously soft (and incredibly moorish!) cinnamon buns are just the perfect addition to round off my perfect Autumnal afternoon. 

Personally I love to top my with a cream cheese frosting, but I have also used a vanilla icing glaze and they've been just as delicious - it's all down to personal preference. 

Ingredients (8 cinnamon rolls) - 

For the dough -
350g White Bread Flour
1 Egg + 1 Egg Yolk
180ml Milk
50g Caster Sugar 
7g Yeast 
55g Butter 

For the cinnamon filling -
30g Butter 
60g Light Soft Brown Sugar 
2tbsp Cinnamon 

For the vanilla icing topping - 
120g Icing Sugar
14g Butter
15ml Milk
Vanilla Extract 

Method - 

Start by melting the butter. Leave to one side.

Then heat the milk until it's lukewarm and place in a bowl with the yeast. 

Once the yeast has dissolved, add in the sugar followed by 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk. Once stirred in, add in the melted butter too and stir again.

Once combined, slowly add the flour and mix until it forms a dough. 

Place the dough on a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. 

Place in a bowl and cover with cling film. Leave it for 2 hours or until it has doubled in size. 

After it has risen, place dough on a floured surface and lightly dust your rolling pin with flour. Roll out the dough until it's in a rectangle and then spread slightly softened butter for the filling all over. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and spread that on top of the butter too. 

Slice the dough into eight equal sections. You want them to be around 1 inch wide and 15 inches long. Now roll them up starting from the bottom and seal the seam with a brush of milk.

Place your rolls into a lined and greased dish. You want to leave a space between each roll. Leave to rise for 60 minutes.  

Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees. Place the cinnamon rolls in the oven for 40 - 45 minutes or until golden brown. 

Leave to completely cool before icing with either cream cheese frosting or a vanilla glaze. 

Have you made a cinnamon rolls recipe? 

Look Fantastic The Box: August Edit

- This post is a paid collaboration with Look Fantastic - 

Beauty boxes are a great way to test out and find new products that you can add into your daily regime. In the Look Fantastic August Box there are products to pamper from head to toe, including three full size products. You can buy the Look Fantastic August box as a one off purchase for £15 or sign up for a 12 monthly subscription for £13 per month - this month's box is worth over £51!

The product I am most excited to try out is the Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask as it promises to soothe dry skin and have a cooling effect on the complexion. I've heard of Peter Thomas Roth masks before and having a deluxe size feels like the perfect way to try out it out before purchasing the full size. 

To go alongside my new face mask, the Look Fantastic August box also contains something that can help me along with my skincare routine. The So Eco Mask Applicator does exactly what it says on the tin. This silicone brush head is used to apply a face mask which therefore helps to get an even application of the face mask and makes it less messy overall. 

I'm always excited to try out new skincare products and in this months edition of the box there is a Revolution Skincare Multi Acid AHA and BHA Serum which is used in a similar way to a traditional mask. Leave it on for 10 minutes and the AHA acid consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid and fruit acids promises to help to exfoliate away any dead skin leaving your complexion feeling smoother and looking brighter. I feel like this is something I'll need to use as the weather begins to change next month. 

I feel like I've potentially found a new favourite in the Ciate Coconut Lip Oil as I've only use it a couple of times, but I can already tell the nourishing formula is a winner for me. It feels hydrating on the lips without being sticky and the glossy finish is still natural looking.

It's not just my lips that are getting hydrated, but also my body too. This time with the Rituals The Ritual of Karma Body Cream which has a delightful scent that lingers on the body, whilst the rich, but fast absorbing texture sinks in the skin leaving it feeling supple and rejuvenated. 

For the hair, Look Fantastic have put in the Bleach London Reincarnation Mask to nourish dry and damaged hair. Once again, this feels like a great size to either go away on holiday with or try out before buying the full size version. 

Have you checked out this month's Look Fantastic Box?

Early Autumn Home Decor Finds

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Whenever August rolls around, I always get a little excited about Autumn. Although I'm not quite ready to let go of the long evenings and warm, sunny days outside, I have started to look for some home decor pieces for the new season.

Picture this. The rain is pouring outside and you've got snuggled up in bed with a book or a cosy film. The perfect place to rest would be amongst a Pumpkin Duvet Cover and this one is similar to a duvet design I bought a few years back now. To match, I have been eyeing up this Pumpkin Tufted Cushion which I think is cute and lovely if you just wanted to add accents of Autumn around your house.  

If you want something spookier than this then the Dunelm Ghost Tufted Duvet Cover would be a great pick, whereas if you want something more on the Autumnal theme then this Vintage Woodland Duvet would be just as great! 

It always feels like I start Autumn shopping early, but honestly most of the time it's because the best stuff goes first and I don't want to miss out. TK Maxx and Homesense are my favourite places to shop for rare items and it's not well known that you can get pieces online delivered to you. I keep an eye on the new in halloween page and I'm hoping there will be more for the Halloween pieces released as we get further into the season.

Shopping for kitchen items is always one of my favourite things to do and George at Asda has this Pumpkin Shaped Mug and Pumpkin Shaped Teapot which I think so many people will want to get their hands on - how cute are those two together? Matalan is also another favourite place to visit in the Autumn season and this Pumpkin Mug would be a great addition to my kitchen as well. 

Have you spotted any new in Autumn home decor? 

My First Selkie Dress - First Impressions

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I feel like everyone has a brand that they've been lusting after for a while and for me, it's Selkie. Their beautiful dresses have a whimsical feel to them that really suits the aesthetic that I so often look for. Now there's no denying that they can be over the top, with their tulle material and puff style, but I think at the end of the day Selkie just want to have fun with their designs and I'm more than happy to act like a fairytale princess in them. 

Selkie dresses have been in and out of my basket and I've spent hours scouring the secondhand apps looking for their pieces to pop up. To own one finally, feels like a dream come true. When I spotted this local daisy field, I knew that I had to shoot my new Selkie Dopamine Romance Novella Dress amongst the blooming flowers - especially at sunset when it would compliment the pastel colours perfectly. 

The off the shoulder and lace detail just feel perfect for my style and in terms of photography, I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of this dress over the years - frolicking in the fallen cherry blossom or running away from a castle. I know a lot of the debate about Selkie dresses are that they're occasion dresses, but I think they've still got lots on offers for more a day to day princess wear. The Selkie Day Dresses are a great example of a more wearable style and one of them is now on the top of my wishlist for wandering about English gardens in the Summer. 

On the more extravagant side, I would love to one day own one of their gowns. The Head in The Clouds Cotton Ritz has been on my wishlist for some time, but it's really the Venus Ritz Gown that I think I'll one day own. The puff sleeves and detailing on the tulle fabric looks magical and although not practical for everyday wear, I think it's a piece that be shot in photos beautifully.

Tulle can often feel scratchy and once layered up can be hot to wear also. I was super happy to find out that neither were true with my first Selkie dress. Although the off the shoulder detailing called for a strapless bra, I never felt irritated by the dress and the elastic to keep the sleeves on my arms didn't feel too loose or too tight, meaning no marks and no slipping down. The back of the dress has a bow which you can use to synch in the waist further, but I tied it loosely as I just wanted to give the dress as an extra pretty detail.  

Of course each dress is an investment and something to be considered when purchasing. If you're looking to splurge on a Selkie dress then you can use code #pintsized for 10% off orders. 

An Ode To Son De Flor

- All products have been sent to me, but no obligation no obligation to review. This post is not sponsored. All links are affiliate links. For more info head to my disclaimer. - 

Son De Flor has been a staple in my wardrobe for over a year now and since receiving my first piece, I have grown quite the collection. It's hard to believe I've never dedicated a blog post to their dresses as I wear them so often. From butterfly sleeves to button ups, from minis to midis, I have a variety of their dresses to talk about and it's hard to know where to begin.

The Classic dresses come in a short and long sleeve version, both with a button up detail and delicate collar. The short sleeve offers the option to turn them up, to reveal the white contrasting material underneath. The Brown Checkers Mini Dress is perfect for Autumn, whilst the Marsala Red Midi Dress has been worn both at Christmas as well as Springtime amongst the flowers. 

The 'Sophie' silhouette has been a favourite of mine for some time, I have a forest green colour perfect for Autumn and Winter as well as a sunny yellow shade great for Springtime underneath the laburnum trees. As they have no buttons up the front, they're super comfortable and versatile too. 

Whilst it's a design they no longer do, I have to give a quick mention to my Nicole Midi Dress, a green wonder that makes me feel like I've stepped out of a storybook. When I first got it I was worried it was only going to only work in Autumn, but once paired with a straw hat and matching bag, I was off to frolic by the river in the Summertime too. 

On my personal wishlist, I've been looking at a 'Carmen' midi dress and come Autumn, I would love to have a black or rust brown piece in my wardrobe for all of those spooky, witchy vibes. Son De Flor have soft, comfortable linen with designs suited for a variety of outfits. I've worn them at English countryside gardens as well as hiking up hills, so to say they're versatile is an understatement. 

Son De Flor currently have Summer sale on with lots of dresses discounted from 15% to 40% off. Shop the collection here. 

Have you got a Son De Flor dress? 

Cottagecore Kitchen Finds

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One of my favourite places in my home at the moment is this corner of my kitchen. The open shelves, mason jars and trailing houseplants just make my heart sing. In the Summer, I love to whip up a fresh batch of bread or a colourful, delicious salad, so I wanted to make sure I had a kitchen that I felt comfortable being in. 

Although I love pretty pieces in the kitchen, I like them to be practical too, so my excuse for my excessive dish collection is that it helps me when baking - that's what I like to tell myself anyway. I love switching items around depending on the season, so this Urban Outfitters Sunflower Bowl is perfect for Summer, whilst this Pumpkin Dish would be great for Autumn.  

I purchased the Kilner Spice Jars a few years back now and I love the way they're displayed on my open shelves. I used a Vintage Style Label Maker to make the stickers on them and I just love that they not only look pretty, but they're practical too. 

Wild Garlic Foraging + Butter Recipe

 

When I was younger, in my primary school days, I have a vivid memory of the local woodland having a strong wild garlic scent throughout April and May. Wild garlic, also known as Ramsons, are known to be a sign of ancient woodland and not only does it smell delicious, you can actually use it in food too. 

Now, I would recommend anyone looking to pick wild garlic, to have a read up on what it looks like and where's best to forage as there are similar looking plants that can be dangerous to consume. Once you're familiar with wild garlic, then grab yourself a wicker basket and get collecting the leaves. Never dig up the actual bulbs of the garlic as they have no use in cooking and instead it'll mean the plants won't grow back the following year. 

Wild garlic can be used in basil pesto, asparagus salads or it can be used inside homemade gnocchi. One of my personal favourite recipes is wild garlic butter which I'm going to share the simple and easy recipe with you today. 

Ingredients 

300ml Double Cream

Foraged Wild Garlic

Salt 

Electric whisk or mason jar 

Method

If you're using a mason jar, you need to pour your double cream inside and get shaking. You want it to separate until you have a lump of butter and buttermilk. 

I personally use an electric whisk. Starting on a low setting, mix the double cream until it becomes thick. You want to continue past the 'whipped cream' Staes until it separates into a solid butter lump and buttermilk. You want to save the buttermilk for future use (in chocolate muffins or pancakes!). 

In a separate bowl, add a few cubes of ice to water. Add the solid butter to the water and wash until any remaining buttermilk is washed out. 

Wash and dry the foraged wild garlic leaves thoroughly. Chop them up as finely as you'd like. 

In a separate bowl add your butter and then add the chopped up wild garlic alongside salt to taste. 

If you're not shaping your butter then you can pop this into the fridge. If you want to give it shape, then I place it in cling film and then roll up it's in the shape I want. 

Enjoy! 

The Cottagecore Spring Dress Edit

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'Cottagecore' still best describes my Spring and Summer wardrobe with lots of ditsy floral prints, soft fabrics and comfortable silhouettes. I've put together a list of some of my recent favourite finds, so if you're looking for a new Summer dress, then look no further. 

I often like to do a spot of window shopping at Sezane and I came across a couple of pieces that I think would slot into my wardrobe perfectly. I can imagine frolicking around the Summer fields in the Mayla Dress with my basket bike and the Marla Dress just screams a seaside getaway.  

The gingham print is perfect for Summer and I absolutely adore my new Hill House Daphne Dress which is a beautiful lilac shade. It has flutter sleeves and a shirred back detail which are both super flattering and comfortable too! Although I definitely stick to more understated pieces, I I can't help but luster after some more beautiful dresses like the Ivy City Co Flora Dress which I I feel like I need to have an excuse to wear - I think it'd be great for a garden party. 

Below are my other top picks: 

3 Flowers To See In Bloom This April

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When Spring rolls around, I feel so lucky to live in the UK as there's so many beautiful displays of different flowers to marvel at. Throughout the Spring and Summer months, there's so many flowers to see, from bluebells to wisteria, but today I am focusing on the one's you can see in April. Whether you're planning to take a look at them this year or you're saving this post for 2024, I hope you find some floral inspiration here.

Blossom

White blossom, cherry blossom, blackthorn, hawthorn or apple, there's so many different types of blossom in the UK, it can be hard to keep track. Blossom can be seen amongst hedgerows or as beautiful trees, but all I know is a I like to soak up every second we have with them. My personal favourites are the chunky pink blossom trees as I love when the petals come fluttering down onto the ground. You can find these in pretty villages, parks and of course local gardens. Here are some places that I've seen that look spectacular: 

• Doddington House and Gardens
• The Stray, Harrogate
• Greenwich Park

Daffodils

I'm certainly cheating putting daffodils in this line up as you can usually see them from as early as the end of February right around til mid-April. I thought they had to be included in this post so you save them for next year's bloom watch. One of the first flowers to come out in Spring, these yellow flowers are often see in the English countryside in small bunches, but at stately homes and gardens, they tend to be planted in excess, so they're well worth a visit in the Springtime. Did you know that there are up to 25 different varieties of daffodils and they daffodil field can continue on blooming for decades. Below are some places to check out: 

• Waddesdon Manor
• Stourhead House and Gardens
• Wimpole Hall
• Thriplow Village
• Chatsworth House

Magnolia 

Magnolia came out in April this year, but word to the wise, it's best to keep an eye out for them in late March also. Pink and white magnolia are the most common and their bell shaped petals make for a unique display of flowers often in large trees with draped branches. Some magnolia petals are even edible (double check the ones you can eat before doing so!), tasting almost gingery and can be used for pickling. These trees can be seen all over the country for a wonderful display of colour. 

Other flowers to keep an eye out for: 

• Wood Anemone 
• Rhododendrons 
• Tulips
• Gorse
• Camelias 

Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Bun Recipe

It wouldn't be Easter weekend for me without sampling a hot cross bun and this Spring, I decided to make my own. This recipe can be adapted to including fruit like raisins or cherries instead of chocolate, but for me, I love the soft buns paired with the sweet double chocolate chips. These are super easy to make and a great baking activity to get stuck into this Easter. 

Ingredients (Makes 8):

For the buns;

450g Strong Bread Flour 

7g Fast Action Yeast

50g Golden Caster Sugar 

1tsp Cinnamon

1 Egg

50g Butter

250ml Milk of choice (I used almond milk)

25g White Chocolate Chips

25g Milk Chocolate Chips

 

For the crosses;

50g Plain Flour

1tsp Granulated Sugar 

8tbsp Water

For the glaze;

4tbsp Golden Syrup

1tbsp Water

Method

In a large bowl, mix together your strong bread flour, sugar, yeast and cinnamon. Make a well in the middle. 

Melt your butter and leave until slightly cooled. Then warm your milk until it feels lukewarm. Neither should be too hot to touch.

Pour the butter, milk and egg into the well of the dry ingredients and stir the dough with a wooden spoon until it comes together. 

Flour a surface and tip out the dough. Knead the dough for 10 minutes. Adding a little bit of flour if it gets too sticky.

Place your dough in a clean bowl and cover with a tea towel. Leave for 90 minutes or until doubled in size. 

After your dough rises, flatten out the dough slightly on a floured surface. Spread out half of your milk and white chocolate chips and then knead them in. Once incorporated, flatten out the dough again and spread the remaining chocolate chips, then knead again until they're distributed evenly.

Line a baking tray big enough for either all 8 buns or line two baking trays big enough for four buns in each. You'll be leaving the buns to rise again, so you want to make sure there's enough room. 

Divide the dough into eight equal portions and shape the dough into buns by rolling them. Leave covered for 30 minutes to rise again. 

Pre-heat your oven to 200c. 

Then mix together your flour, sugar and water mixture for the cross design. Spoon into piping bag and slowly pipe the crosses onto the top. 

Bake your buns for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top. 

Once they come out the oven, mix together the golden syrup and water for the glaze. Brush them until shiny and then leave to cool. 

Enjoy! 

Spend or Save: Beauty Edition

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I've gone from someone who has to have the latest new-in beauty products to someone who thinks a little bit more about what she's purchasing especially when it comes to makeup and skincare. Here are a few of my tips that I've used recently to help save me money when purchasing new beauty products: 

Know When To Spend or Save

This may sound a little too simple, but I've found over the years that I know which products work best on the high street and others that I would like to spend a little bit more on. If you know that high street mascaras just work for you, then that's a great way to save, whilst if you know that going high end for your foundations work best, then that'll save you money in the long run instead of shopping around the high street wasting money. I've personally found over the years that I get a lot more use out of single eyeshadow or blusher than I do a whole palette worth of them, so I tend to shop individually, saving me money (and space in the makeup bag!) in the process. 

Try Out Samples 

As someone who used to be very much of a "splurge" on beauty products kind of person, I've definitely embraced trying out samples of products before committing to the full size. This enables me to make sure that the colour suits me the best, the formula suits my skin type and that I'll actually use it enough to make it worth the money. 

Look For Discount Codes

I rarely shop online without looking for a discount code. I'll check the brands social media accounts first to see if there are any exclusive codes for that day and then I'll check out Love Discount Vouchers to make sure I'm not missing out on any deals. Even if it's 5% or 10%, it's great to save a little money when you purchase anything online. Sometimes this will include signing up to a newsletter or collecting points on a card to use later. 

Dupes

Another great way to save on your beauty products is looking for dupes. Whilst sometimes the original can be the best, there are lots of dupes out there to try first which can end up saving you a lot of money. My favourite dupes have always been the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams being a great alternative to the Jouer Long Wear Lip Crèmes, whilst the NYX Born To Glow Illuminator was once a fantastic dupe for the now discontinued, Nars Copacabana Illuminator. I've previously written about them in a past blog post of mine 'The High End Alternatives That Won't Break The Bank'. 

If you're looking for inspiration on what makeup dupes to go for then I would check out more swaps below: 

Spring Cottagecore Home Decor

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It's official - Spring is on it's way! With daffodils blooming, lambing season underway and the evenings getting lighter, I think it's safe to say that Spring is just around the corner. Along with my excitement for the return of cherry blossom and pretty dresses, I'm most delighted about the 'cottagecore' aesthetic resurgence.

I decorate my home for Autumn and Christmas, making the colder months in my home feel like a cosy haven, so when the the warmer months come back around, I like to switch out those deep, rich colours for fresher, lighters ones. The first way I've been doing that is introducing new cushions in my living room and bedroom. I'm a fan of using cushion covers as they're easy to put away and take up less space. These Dunelm Stripe Ruffle Cushion have been a welcomed addition as I have both the blue and yellow shades to add contrasting colour to my room. 

You'll all know by now the love I have for seasonal duvet covers, but after years of my La Redoute Polka Dot Duvet Cover being a favourite every Spring, I thought it was about time to pick up a new one. I found a similar duvet cover to the one I have on my bed, but in a gingham version which I think is super cute (and under £20!). 

Obviously I have a bit of an overhaul of the kitchen once a new season approaches, swapping out my Winter mugs for Spring ones on my display rack. I've also been eyeing up some new bowls, purely for aesthetic purposes. This Daisy Plate is adorable for light lunches, whilst this Strawberry Bowl would be great for snacks and nibbles. 

Maison Margiela Whispers In The Library

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If Dark Academia was a fragrance it would be Maison Margiela Whispers In The Library. Described as a 'bottled memory of paper and waxed wood', this fragrance embodies the feeling of being immersed in the pages of a book. I wasn't initially going to give this perfume a post of it's own, but after the amount of compliments I've gotten since wearing this, I thought it was only fair. 

When I first chose out this scent, I was torn between Whispers In The Library and Autumn Vibes, the latter feeling like it would suit me best purely by name alone. It was surprising to me when I finally decided on Whispers In The Library, but I couldn't deny how delicious it smelt and how beautifully it lingered on my skin - I could even smell it on my clothes several days later. 

I've owned a couple of Maison Margiela Replica fragrances before and they've never disappointed me, so although they come with a hefty price tag, I find I don't make my way through the bottle at the same speed as I do other perfumes. Like their other fragrances, they always pick the perfect name for each scent and I love that each perfume is made to replica the feeling you get from certain places and events in time.  

With both woody and vanilla notes, this perfume would be great for everyone as I think it's sits differently on the skin depending on the person. It's warming and rich without being too overpowering and the subtle sweet vanilla scent really cuts through the other notes. When it comes to perfume, they have to be long lasting to make me fall in love with them as I hate spritzing on a new perfume, only for the scent to disappear less than an hour later. This lingers for as long as you wear it and the compliments I've received has definitely been a bonus! 

Have you tried a Maison Margiela Replica perfume before?

Valentine's Day Gift Guide With Boots UK

- AD: This is a paid collaboration with Boots UK, however all thoughts are my own - 

Valentine's Day is no longer just about celebrating love between a couple because there is now Singles' Day or Galentine's Day to get stuck into, so no one is left out! If you're looking to gift yourself, a friend or a loved one a present on February 14th, discover Valentine's Day Gifts at Boots for the best inspiration. 

A fragrance is always a great present option no matter who you are gifting. Perfume is a great gift for yourself, a partner or a friend. There's lots on offer at Boots, so luckily there's something for everyone. The Versace Dylan Turquoise EDT is a new one to me, but I already know who I'm going to gift it to. The light floral scent feels like Spring in a bottle and the bottle itself is beautiful - perfect for someone who likes to display their scents on a dressing table. I think perfume is rather personal, but whenever I receive one I always feel grateful that someone has thought of me. 

If you're gifting a boyfriend, then I would also recommend a fragrance as I know how hard it can be to buy for them. With a wide range to choose from, it can be overwhelming knowing which one to buy. The Issey Miyake L'Eau d'issey is a good scent for all, whilst the Tom Ford Black Orchard is one to splurge on. 

If fragrance isn't your thing, then check out Valentine's Gifts For Him for more inspiration at Boots as they have a wide variety of grooming and lifestyle products to choose from. 

If you're shopping for Galentine's Day this year then there is a wide range of Valentine's Gifts For Her to choose from at Boots. One of my favourites is the Too Faced Double The Sex Mascara Set as it's perfect for the "one for you, one for me" presents. If you're gifting for a friend, I think this would be a great option and it's the same price for two mascaras so I think this is a no brainer. 

If you're going for a meal out with your friends then I always think it's a good idea to treat yourself to new makeup and the Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer is new to my collection - perfect for making your lips look sparkly this Valentine's Day. I chose the shade Fu$$y which is a beautiful pink shade and I would personally pair it with a champagne, sparkly eye for a full flirty look. 

A pamper and makeover on Galentine's Day is definitely up my street, a perfect way to spend time with your friends and appreciate your friendship. The Soap and Glory Glorious Discoveries will have everything you need for some TLC from head to toe, making sure you're scrubbed and moisturised. Then after you're done with prepping your body, you can finish it up with the Drunk Elephant The Littles set for your skincare routine. This set has a cleanser, moisturiser and two serums to try out, all in a miniature size which is perfect if you want to try out Drunk Elephant products without committing to their full size. 

Are you celebrating Valentine's or Galentine's Day this year? 

Winter Dark Academia Outfits

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Dark academia is a popular 'aesthetic' that draws inspiration mostly from literary works. The cable knit jumpers, checked skirt and trench coats of this style make it one of my favourite style of clothes to wear in Winter. Whilst there's no rules when it comes to clothes, the dark academia aesthetic definitely leans more towards oversized collars, plaid prints and brown muted tones. I feel like it's all about romanticising what you wear in the colder months and for me, the dark academia wardrobe feels like you've stepped out of The Secret History or Pride and Prejudice. 

A trench coat feels like a must-have and I personally love my houndstooth print similar to this Mango one as it goes with a variety of outfits, but always looks well put together. Another piece you have to have in your wardrobe is a checked skirt especially one that can be worn with a chunky cable knit jumper. 

I always scour through Etsy when looking for some unique finds and I found this Gingham Dress by a company called Literary Garments and I think it perfectly fits in this aesthetic. One of my favourite brands on Etsy is Hearts and Found and their Mary Dress in Walnut Linen looks like it'd fit in my wardrobe perfectly. 

If you want some Winter dark academia outfit inspiration then I have compiled a list of my favourite finds below: