{scrapbook: a weekend in the country}

{a few photographs of our weekends away}

. . . while evenings in the city may be spent in heels and cocktail dresses, weekends away in the country are laid-back in a quilted Barbour and a pair of wellies, and after the apple orchards and pumpkin patches, the golden fields of wheat and rustling yellow leaves, a perfect afternoon for an autumn picnic for two . . .





{p.s.} and to p, thank you for making every moment feel like a dream, and for taking the most beautiful photographs

{all images by p + this is glamorous}

It's that time....my 100th Post.....and a Giveaway!!

It's that time.....my 100th post......how fantastic!!! And the time has flown.....as all the best times do....

Inspired by my friend mimicharmante and encouraged by my friends Lori and Zi, I tentatively began my blog back in May. I liked the idea of it but hesitated because I didn't think I had enough to write about (I know.... I know....who knew I could talk so much!!).....and to be really honest I just didn't think it would be - or I would be - interesting enough.

It's hard to say now what I thought I would write about when I first started it or if I thought I would get to where I am now....and in some ways I guess that is the whole point of a blog....sometimes it just evolves and the beauty of it is that you can just follow where it takes you and choose your own direction.

I have been adamant all my life that I didn't have a creative bone in my body....both my brothers are creative, my husband can draw very well and my children seem to have an eye for art.....two things I have always wished that I could do are to be able to sing (not that my lack of ability stops me I have to say!) and to be artistic or creative.

But I have to say that producing my blog each day makes me feel creative.......from the process of putting it together, searching for and choosing images and writing about things I care about and am interested in......and that has been a fantastic thing.....quite an achievement for me since I never thought I could do it....I have surprised myself and I love it. I have realised how much I enjoy writing. It has been empowering and inspiring to have a voice and a way of expressing myself.

Discovering the blogging community has been a huge huge bonus.....people have been so enormously supportive and generous. I started writing my blog to create something for me, almost a diary really, never for one minute thinking that people around the world would read it.....and read it regularly and comment on it and say such nice things. I have met many fabulous people, people who write beautifully, who are funny, stylish and very accomplished at what they do.....it has been tremendously inspiring to read and to watch them at work. I really cannot thank you enough for reading my blog and for enjoying what I write.....and for letting me know that.

We all need people to tell us we are doing a good job or even just simply to say something kind or appreciative and some days when you're a grown up - and especially when you're a mother - that doesn't always happen......and when it does, it is just lovely....acknowledgement and recognition are everything, we all need that.

Blogging has certainly given me something in my life that I didn't know that I needed but now that I have it, I see what was missing.....does that make sense?!! Now I don't know where I would be without my blog.

I thought today I would have one image and a lot of writing......but you know me, I just couldn't do it.....a post is not a post without a dozen or so images!! I love beautiful things and love creating posts to share them with everyone.....

So.....today is a special day......and a special day needs a little fabulousness.....

What is a girl to wear....THIS is one amazing dress.....

.....but I do have a soft spot for this....

.....I wonder if she still has this....

....and if I ate only air and water for a month, I could squeeze myself into this....now all I need is a date....

.....I do have a Kiefer thing going on right now....too much of those "24" boxsets....

.....gorgeous as ever George...

....yes, it's always been you Andy....

While I ponder my choices....

.....I would like to say thank you to everyone who reads my blog....

....for their love....

.....and for their friendship....

.....it means everything....

Thank you.....as my son would say....."it makes me nice...."

It's not a celebration without a cake....and sometimes candles aren't just for birthdays....

.....a little champagne is a must....

....and to say thank you, I have a box of gifts....

.....a leather bound journal and some little things I bought in Florence last month, a porcelain "Love" mug by Jan Constantine, some very cute pink things from my friend Lucinda's shop Emporium, plus a little selection of "Britishness" and a few other bits and pieces that reflect my blog a little....

Just leave me a comment between now and Thursday, that's all.....I will mail it anywhere worldwide.....I will draw a winner this Friday September 4.

Thank you so much to everyone from the bottom of my heart.....I am having a fabulous time....

Let's Get Away From It All....

Life doesn't get any better than this....

Abso-flippin'-lutely....

Too much for a day at the beach....?


Don't be late.....the boat leaves at 9am.....

Don't tell me I'm lost.....it's beach day.....

Made it.....and exhale....

These paradise islands look so similar.....

Was it this one....?

Let's try this one....

Ah, the changing room....

Could I BE any happier....?

Ice cream? Well, it is rather hot....

Should you require a nap, please feel free....

Don't bother to dress for dinner......just throw on one of these....

Mini Moets......perfect....

Dinner.....the perfect end to the perfect day....

On duty today we have my no. 1 celebrity crush Andy Garcia**....who will be very ably assisted by....

....the rather lovely Gilles Marini .....I do love a man who can dance....

Happy Week-end.....thank you so much for reading my blog this week and thank you to everyone who has left me such wonderful responses, it been just fabulous :)

**I have always thought that Andy Garcia was my secret and that I was the only person in the world who thought he was totally delicious.....so when a friend spotted him in a magazine a couple of years ago and told me he was her Secret Celebrity Crush too, I was amazed, how could that be!!! Oh well......I guess it would be just plain greedy to keep him all to myself....

{scrapbook: a countryside picnic}

. . . spending most of our summer weekends away in the countryside, markets and antique shops on saturday mornings, leisurely dinners that last until nightfall and, most wonderfully, a summer picnic on a perfect july afternoon, deep green leaves flickering in sunlight, intermingling with battenburg lace and the scent of sweetheart roses, champagne and the glimmer of vintage cut crystal, fine floral print china and fresh strawberry tarts, and most of all, the air filled with a dreamy and magical light . . .

{p.s.} our last picnic

{images: photography by p & this is glamorous © august 2010, image five - excerpt from a quote by henry wadsworth longfellow, also used here}