Happy Easter...

Hope you're all having a wonderful Easter sunday - Matt and I spent the weekend back at home in the country, we took a drive out this afternoon cruising through little villages, stopping off to take silly photos (Matt got me to "pretend" to fall in a river, this photo did not make the final cut much to his disapointment) and checking out the views.  The photo above is of the Black Mountains in the distance taken close to my family home, crazy to see the snow still on the tops of the mountains so close to April. I was just thinking it takes quick snaps like this to make me realise how lucky I am to have been brought up in such a beautiful place. Feeling thankful.

How have you guys spent your Easter? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx

What's on my coffee table?

To kick off my life in a small apartment series I thought I'd show you guys my coffee table - well, make shift coffee table and what lives on top of it. It may give you a little inspiration about how to use things that aren't necessarily meant to be used a coffee tables. Take a look...

I found this chest hidden away in a charity shop last summer and bought it for a measly £3. It sat at the bottom of my old bedroom for a while, but now stands as mine and Matts coffee table. I think it's really important when living in a small space that any large furniture has some sort of storage use, otherwise it just wastes space. Luckily for us, we can fit a tonne in here and it's super lightweight to move about if we get bored of it.

On top I don't keep too much, just in case I need to grab anything out from the chest. I love having books around the house, so my favourite two of the moment always sit on top at arms reach. Next is my  tin, this was the packaging from my dads aftershave, I popped a few tee lights in from IKEA and it now  it's become a cute little home for them. Lastly sit my smudge sticks from Toast and tooth picks from Morocco, I popped them in this vintage glass bowl to add a bit of girliness for those times when Matts feet are propped up on top when playing FIFA.

What are your coffee top essentials? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx

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Fur coat at the beach..

It's been a bit of a hectic week, Matt and I have moved into our new flat, so lots of moving and shaking has been occurring. To get a bit of fresh air and to give our legs a stretch we headed down to Llantwit Major beach. Even though it's March, here in Wales it's still bloody cold, so I wrapped myself up in my mums fur coat (we've done a bit of a coat swapsie) and braced myself for the bitter coastal wind.

There's definitely something about going to the beach on a cold day, everything seems so dramatic, the waves crashing and the wind belting across the sand. It's so atmospheric.

Hope you've all had a brilliant weekend, 

Harri 

xxx

An easter gift idea...

With Easter weekend just over a week away I thought I'd share with you a little idea for an alternative gift for the celebrations. This gift idea makes for a great token gesture if your going over to someones house for Easter or if you want to give a friend or family member something other than a great big calorific chocolate egg. Take a look...

I picked up this clippy jar from IKEA - they're super cheap, getting slightly more expensive depending on size, so pick a size that suits what you'd like to put in it. To go inside the jar I found these crafting tapes at The Range and thought they'd make a perfect little gift for Easter, as they're pretty and fun to play around with. I especially love the travel themed set, will definitely be popping back to get some for myself.

To add a sprinkle of Easter I picked up these colourful mini eggs from the supermarket, they were really affordable and make the perfect base to place the crafting tapes on top padding the gift out a bit and making it a little more festive.

After you've added all your goodies seal the jar up then add a tag to write a message on and you're good to go. So, just a really simple idea that can be adapted to any occasion, just switch up what's inside. 

What are you guys doing for Easter? Do you have any gift ideas? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx

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Inspire me...

I'm currently sat in the living room with my boyfriend all consumed in the Rugby (anyone not from the UK it's England vs. Wales... apparently it's a big game) so I took to my laptop and surrounded myself with magazines seeking inspiration for our new flat. We're taking the big leap from bunking up in my student digs and migrating to a swish new pad - It might not be my dream New York loft apartment, but it's spacious and light, a good space to try and work my magic with.

Ever since we've had the get-go on the flat, I've been saving pictures of the Internet and constantly flicking through the piles of housey magazines at home. I thought I'd share with you some of my inspiration.

We want a look that's both aesthetically pleasing, but also cosy and livable. I love layering textures and earthy, natural colours, so lots of different fabrics and textiles to achieve this affect. Over the last couple of months I've collected quite a few bits from vintage and thrift stores,  I can't wait to finally make a feature out of these, piling up my many books and hanging some of the lovely vintage prints that I've bought.

I'm planning a little series to feature on my blog called "Life in a small apartment" - It will document my quest of achieving the look I desire on a students budget, in a small space. Expect DIY's, charity shop finds and making use of space and storage - Can't wait to get started!

Where do you guys like to shop for home wear? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx

Jean-Jacques Sempé Journal

A lot of you mentioned in my last post that you like to carry journals or notebooks around with you too. I have always loved getting new stationary, maybe it's embedded from my school days - when September came around it always meant a trip to WHSmiths to get a new set on pens, pencils and notebooks to start the school year. As I've got older, my love of stationary has grown, I have countless notebooks that I don't dare to write in as they're just too lovely. I thought I'd share with you one of my favourites, a journal illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempé. Enjoy!

This is actually a travel journal, each of the sweet illustrations are holiday themed and there's paper pouches throughout that you can place tickets or photos from your trip. I absolutely love the variation of paper the journal has, there's lined, gridded and blank, which makes it perfect for sketching and doodling. I think this would make a lovely present for anyone you know that has a summer holiday coming up, it's something they can keep and look back over.

Which are your favourite journals or notebooks? I'd love to know...

Harri

xxx

Have a rummage in my bag...

As I'm nearing the big two hundred followers mark I thought I'd let you know a little more about myself - what better way to do this than a rummage around my bag. I've seen a few of these kinda' posts before on blogs and You tube before, I find them so interesting to see what bits and pieces people lug around with them day to day. Enjoy!

Bag - Zara

1. My notebook - This comes with my everywhere, it holds my lecture notes and to do lists

2. Pens - I use art liners or my Parker fountain pen

3.  My phone - It's an Iphone 5 if you're wondering.

4. Vaseline

5. Umbrella - A necessity living in Wales

6. To do lists - Forever making them

7. An empty REAL crisp packet - My absolute favourite

8. My purse - Home to lots of receipts and Boots vouchers

9. Real techniques buffing brush

10. Maybeline fit me powder

11. A comb

12. Bobby Brown lipstick 

13. Matt's memory stick - I've lost mine!

14. 16 English pence 

What things do you guys carry around with you? Do you have any bag necessities? I'd love to know...

Harri

xxx

MUJI log fire candle...

I thought I'd share with you today one of my greatest loves - Candles. Yessiree, I'm one of those annoying individuals that has to smell every candle on the shelf, whether I'm in Sainsbury's or Jo Malone, it just has to be done. I guess I associate smells with memories and times in my life and I'm a great believer in aromatherapy, I think a scent can really change the mood in a room, or of a person.

I found this "log fire" scented candle in MUJI. Now, it won't be to everybody's taste, but if you're after something a little different, take a look...

For a start I love the packaging with anything from MUJI, it's uncomplicated and it's cool. Secondly, the candle itself is lovely, the smell is really refreshing, with a hint of pine trees and smokiness to it, I can imagine Canada smelling something like this.

If you're in to sweet, candy store scents, this may not be for you, as it's almost quite masculine. I think this scent definitely has a time and a place, it would be perfect in a kitchen or the reception room as it's welcoming and not too over powering. I'll leave the link to the MUJI website here as they have lots of unusual scents and they only cost a mere £3.50.

What's your favourite candle? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx

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Witley Court...

Today truly felt like there was an essence of Spring in the air - beautiful clear blue skies with a gentle breeze.  Miracle weather like this doesn't visit my part of the world on a regular basis, so Matt and I headed of to British heritage site Witley Court to welcome Spring time along.

Set in the Worcestershire countryside, Witley Court was sadly ruined by a fire in 1937, it's now left for the public to visit as a part of the English Heritage group. We wondered around the ruins and imagined the banquets and the parties that were held by the families of the British regency in what was once such a magnificent building.

How did you guys spend your weekend? I'd love to know...

Harri 

xxx