Things of beauty...

Thankfully it's Friday! This week has seen a flurry of appointments for me; taking me from one thing to the next, the week has flown by. It seems the more time I have, the more I fill it. It was my husband's birthday mid-week and poor thing had to leave the house at 5.30am to go to London, so no traditional family birthday-present-unwrapping for him. The children missed him completely and he's been away since. Looking forward to his homecoming later and a night out with friends. I am much in need of some friend time; I feel I am literally submerged in domestics at the moment. Yet again I realise afresh how much work full time motherhood is. Maybe a relaxed latte with work colleagues seems rather enticing afterall ;-)

The poignancy of blogging struck me this week when I saw that one of my first ever followers, Vibeke has very sadly passed away. Even in the short time I have written my blog, I have made genuine friends and as the months passed I noticed Vibeke was commenting less, posting rarely. It's always such a shock to read bad news on a blog; it's with such sadness as I absorb the passing of blogging friends. It feels like we've lost one of our own. I know there are many that remember Lisa in the same way.

And so to things of beauty...an autumnal feel as the season finally turns for good. I had the Rayburn fire lit this week so the kitchen is now toasty for the puppy. He seems quite pleased. Have a lovely weekend...

...an arch-browed Kate Moss, photograph by Mario Testino for UK Vogue

I'm really feeling this at the moment - I have some old friends who I feel I have not seen lately...we have scheduled a date in November!

chairs that I love....via molin y molinette

photograph by aaron delesie

photograph by trevor hoehne

LOVE the boats....photograph by Simon Brown

'...wrapped up with string, these are a few of my favourite things!' Boo has been singing this for her play audition...

via inspired joyful chaos

...ohh Olivia P...would you mind being me for a day, so I could be you?

order makes me happy...jars via 79 ideas

I get my longed-for nights out this weekend...

two of them! 

On with the heels and dress!

Things of beauty...and a long, warm weekend...

Here again...another Friday list of prettiness; whatever might have taken my fancy this week. Today heralds the start of the Easter weekend, which to me means family and quieter times, seeing friends, resting up. Of course I couldn't not mention the weather which, as I look out today, is shaping up to be a beautiful sunny day. Maybe a late beach visit this afternoon? Cook fish on the barbecue?

I've been trying to just take some time of late, to work through chores more mindfully, to concentrate on the task in hand rather than just muddle through. I need to get more centred on what I am doing. I need to keep my nostalgia in check, as much as I love it, looking back all the time is counter-productive. Time to look forward and to plan...

by Ruche

via small acorns

via house beautiful

via sarah klassen haute design from the shabby chic home

She'll always have one of the nicest smiles...

Jennifer Aniston via eva breath

via here

I want these shorts...

via joules

Naomi Campbell in American Vogue March 1988 by Elle von Unwerth via modern hepburn

Kate Moss via luxist

via 79 ideas from runaway coast

via trishyrose by Chanel

country living

It's all about positive thinking...

I completely fall for these pretty papers...I buy far too much writing paper and then don't correspond with people the old fashioned way...

via ruby press via 100 layer cake

These always make me think of my friend Simone, whose birthday is this weekend...mwah!

via trishyrose

Have a wonderful, restful, thoughtful weekend...

LBD...

There is something about this time of year that gets me all-a-flutter about the party season. And I turn to the quintessential little black dress. Is this iconic item of clothing a must in every woman's wardrobe? I love the drama of it, captured in these wonderful images of some of my favourite ladies. It's no wonder we feel we fall short when compared to media images - so much beauty it makes my heart hurt.

Kate Moss

...lace dress by Prada...

Emily Blunt getting the accessories right...

Gisele in Harper's Bazaar

Kate Hudson

by Olivia Graham

Anne Hathaway

Penelope Cruz...can't even see the dress but you know it's going to be black and little...

Olivia P

Gwyneth Paltrow

Helena Christensen

Angelina Jolie

Or break tradition and go tuxedo like Kirsten Scott-Thomas...

Things of beauty...a distraction

Ouch. I am trying to take my mind off tooth ache...another visit to the dentist today...another procedure...now the numbness has worn off I have the insistent throb back. Grrrr. From the sublime to the ridiculous, I also had a gorgeous, lovely, utterly relaxing two hour massage/reflexology combo this morning! It feels like that was a lifetime ago but while it lasted...it was divine.

So some things of beauty to look at. A random selection today to match my head space.

I love this image - so decadent, of course I lounge around like this all the time! This is what I should have done today after my massage...

A Portuguese door...how I love them. We will go in August for three weeks!! Counting the days until some proper relaxation.

 I have shoe envy...and a June wedding for which I need to find footwear...

'Mother and Daughter' by Jessie Wilcox Smith. My daughter Boo has been an utter sweetheart today, helping with chores as I have a bad tooth.

Love Lady's Mantle...the green sprig...

Kate Moss with plaits...how I wish I could create this sort of do...

Likewise this french plait...I just can't do them! Let alone to tie in ribbons...

I fell in love with these whilst passing through Copenhagen airport - great shops - they are Stelton special edition with Paul Smith. They are a Danish icon - normally they have a black handle, so this is positively avant-garde!

White picket fence Danish-style...this house is on the lake where my Aunt and Uncle live. I hope the owners don't mind that I 'borrowed' a photo...

I took this photo yesterday when I took the children to West Dean, a beautiful place near here where they had this spring display. So, so pretty...