a spot of shopping...

So yes. I went to Topshop. I visited Zara. I went into a strange shop called Joy! and found some pretty items. I dropped into TK Maxx and wandered through Primark. Is it sad if whenever travelling to the UK the shops excite me just a touch? No? Excellent.
These sandals are happily kicking back in my wardrobe (although in charcoal, in case anyone is wondering. Important detail) after being allowed approximately 20 minutes in Edinburgh Topshop. I know. 20 minutes? Madness.
And as Duty Free shopping is a somewhat distressing place for me now, especially when leaving bonny Scotland, I tend to feel strangely compelled to 'treat' myself. Don't worry, I'm having it looked into. But I went for "Dragon". It didn't make me miss the boy any less, but I do now have shiny nails, as bright as the sun!

The food was also exciting. I do like my food. I ate exorbitant amounts of fresh raspberries from the surrounding farms. I just missed brambling season (shambles*), but did get to pick a few wild berries, which was absurdly exciting. Especially when out at dusk, wandering through forests while the sun is setting. The sunsets were incredible. So pretty! There were loads of strawberries too. Berry good. Ha! Get it? It's like very good. But with berry. Because we were talking about berries. But you got that.

I also feel it is my duty to introduce you to potato waffles. Apparently everywhere but Australia, they just may be one of my new favourite foods ever. EVER. Like a hash brown, but so much better. AND you just pop them in the toaster! Food genius! Although the food that trumps them all will always and forever be Marks and Spencer chocolate cake mini rolls. I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you haven't tried one of these, you haven't lived.

So yes. I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'll get gloriously fat. Although with the berries in there it's obviously a balanced diet. There's still hope yet!

Many more things to share yet...but just a snippet of my wee adventure!

* dedicated to the always lovely Chirsty, who stayed lovely, even when smelling of creosote x

107 ways to say 'I love you'...

Brought to us by Women's Day, August 1968, special Love Issue.

I won't lie. There are some brilliant ideas here.

• Get him a goldfish and name it after him.
• Stop reading this page and stare at him, hard.
• Say "Good morning" first.
• Write him a letter and tell him you wish some of your joint love could be put in a tiny time capsule so people would know about it years from now.
• Put your chair next to his favourite reading chair (even if it does mess up the furniture arrangement).
• Get him a long shoehorn and some new shoe laces.
• Put two "I love you" notes in his socks.
• Think of a country outing to go on together. And dot on freckles if you're not lucky enough to have your own.
• Call his mother again.
• Keep his cologne in the fridge. He'll love the fresh electric shock of pre-chilled cologne.
• Hum "Silent Night" while he dozes of to sleep.
• Put a fresh carnation in his lapel.
• Pat him on the head for his business efforts. Let him know you know it's tough.
• Greet him at the door wearing a false moustache. He'll think you're a nut but probably kiss you anyway.
• Visit your local lingerie lair and fetch something fetching.
• Buy him an interesting tie.
• Wrap a flower chain around the banister heading upstairs.
• Learn how to make fried bananas without destroying them. It takes a lot of light handed practice.
• Call him "Sweet Pea".
• Get a set of matching shower caps.
• Buy him new underwear. Let him know you care about his comfort 24 hours a day.
• Pat him on the head some more.
• Tickle his toes.
• Find out how to say "I love you" in Chinese and make him a chop suey dinner.
• Call him "Adonis" at the breakfast table.

And OH how I wish I had time to write some more...

thinking about you

image via weheartit

once upon a time...part 3...

once upon a time a young lass escaped to the land of william wallace and seagulls the size of small sheep. hounded by exhaustion and stress balls the last thing she expected to stumble across was a love story one could only imagine happened in fairy tales. but stumble across love she did, and it has been an adventure that will go down in the history books somewhere under the headings 'simply lovely' and 'better than anything the girl could have ever imagined'. if such headings existed.
this boy that stole her heart had not only followed the girl to the royal mile and big ben, but he'd sat in a tin bird (rather uncomfortably) and eaten strange white fruit with black seeds in it just to see her in the land of giant red rocks and dusty desert plains.
now it was the girls turn to head back to the land of wild moors and loch ness monsters, and spend some time highland dancing. kidding. not that she can't flail her limbs about with the best of them. but that's a story for another time.
the boy looked after the girl smashingly. they went on adventures you might only hear about in books of olde, travelling to buckie to get a fishing net from stormy pete, early morning international deliveries accompanied by the most beautiful sunrises, and exciting treks to such exotic places such as tesco and topshop. the boy even surprised the girl with a holiday to the land of green and clover. although no leprechauns were spotted, the girl bestowed upon the lucky boy some tin whistle tunes at the magnificent giants causeway, which was a special moment for them both. they travelled to the land of cricket and corgi's and had a splendid time meeting friends, making friends, and eating tea and toast on quite the regular basis. even though the girl was encouraged to spit out the window when crossing the border, it was quite clear the boy had had a smashingly good time too.
but once again, this adventure had to end. the magnificent craggy green hills dotted with fluffy white sheep, antique centres, cheaper than chips sweeties, the bright night skies and the delicious lemon marmalade will keep. the haggis pastries may not, but the girl will get by.
there was another soggy farewell at the place where they check suitcases and then lose them (indeed). the girl needs to remember not to wear mascara on such occasions. or make sure it's waterproof. my gosh. and so the girl will begin a new countdown which will end when the boy arrives on these sandy shores once more. and although not wishing time away, will wish with all her heart, fingers and toes, that he gets here soon.
very soon.

xx

wishing to be...elsewhere x

I'm back! I'm jetlag-y and suitcase-less and when waking up at 3am somewhat confused as to the exact location I am in. But I'm back nonetheless, and owe you an apology for the lack of posting! I was all very much distracted by the loveliness of my Scottish adventure (which I will share a little with you tomorrow), but promise to fill this page with prettiness and whimsy once more! In a much more regular fashion! I know, you're relieved. It must have been worrying for you.

So I send you much love, and will very much look forward to sharing part 4 of once upon a time...
xx

image via weheartit

Guest Blog :: To market we go!

Hello lovelies! For all the fabulous people of Melbourne, greetings! There's so much going on there at the moment. If you're pondering what to do, I'd highly recommend a trip to the Melbourne International Film Festival. Make sure you support our talented Aussie film makers. Love what they're up to.

In other news... spring feels like it's just around the corner...exciting! And also exciting... The Finders Keepers Markets are on in Melbourne for the very first time! So pencil in the dates in your diary for 9th & 10th October. I know there will be lots of lovely things to look at!!

Happy Wednesday!

Luce

xx

image via weheartit

dreading saying goodbye...

image via us vogue

Guest Blog :: Max = photography goodness

Wedding bliss

+

breath takingly beautiful bride

+

dashing groom

+

fabulous ferris wheel

+

photography fun

=

stunning wedding pics...

...by the all too clever max wanger.

xxxx

Pretty...

It's breezy here.
I like it.


image via weheartit

more things to love about scotland...

Because there will always be more...

1. Shortbread
2. Beautiful gardens filled with roses and begonias and poppies and lupins and foxgloves...
3. Tea and digestives
4. The words 'bonny' and 'daft' being used with high frequency, and everything being 'pure dead brilliant'
5. £1 for a GIANT tray of fresh Scottish raspberries that can be eaten messily by the handful
6. Biscuit tins in every single house hold filled with chocolate and biscuit-y goodness
7. Shortbread!
8. Big yellow number plates
9. Electric showers
10. Peppers, squash, and courgettes. Obviously being capsicums, pumpkins and zucchinis. Obviously.
11. SHORTBREAD!

image via weheartit

Guest Blog :: Cute as a button!

just gorgeous!!

xxx

image via flickr

Best chocolate bar ever...

We should petition to have these brought to Australia. Seriously.

Mouseketeer...

Last time I was at the top of the Opera House in my spandex and heels I forgot my Mickey Mouse ears.
Darn.
I guess there's always next time...

image via harpers

Friday (because it's almost the weekend) beauty post!

Do you know what would make me feel pretty today? To pretend I was 8 years old, and running faster than my legs could carry me through a field of wildflowers growing taller than my streaming blonde hair. To play in the mud until it gets dark and my feet are so cold they'll tingle when I hop in the bath. To let my mum braid my hair not caring what it looks like but thankful it's out of the way. To make bouquets with fallen leaves and cakes with sand and water. To go on a hike through the backyard forest and climb trees and discover birds nests. Scrambling. Scrambling would make me feel pretty today.

image via keithpitts