Vintage style Nike

Grace Gordon

Beautifully designed and made in Britain by the talented Grace Gordon. I really could have every single one of her gorgeous bags. My favourites are the Emma backpack and the Lucy cross-body. If I start hinting to the husband now, I'm sure he may get the hint by our first wedding anniversary in October - won't he?!

Ettinger

I'm on the look out for a new zip around large purse and have come across these super Bridle Hide purses from Ettinger. Wow. I love the yellow interior detailing. So many colours to choose from!

Demelza Lightfoot Photography

We are so lucky to have a talented photographer as a friend who took our amazing wedding photographs. Demelza Lightfoot takes relaxed, reportage style wedding photographs. It was so much fun having a giggle with her and we are incredibly happy with our piccies! Dee is now taking bookins for 2016, so if you like what you see and are getting hitched, give her a tinkle.

A successful wedding cake

It was a bit of a stress locating the cake topper. Finally, thanks to the Royal Mail Twitter team, it was found in the collection office in Peckham. So the day before the wedding, I collected it - phew! I think it looked really impressive atop the cake. My dots are a bit squiffy - but I'm no expert confectioner! It tasted amazing - the best boozy fruit cake ever (thanks Dad) and the icing was delicious (thanks Mum).

Cafe du Cycliste Part II

Oh Cafe du Cycliste, why do you do this to me?! The lovely people at Cafe have brought out a new winter jacket for men and women. The Heidi Winter Jacket for cold weather riding is windproof and uses a polyester micro face to wick any any unwanted moisture. It's got a stylish padded front and two large cargo pockets at the back. It's super.

Toastie Cycling

Oh the cold and the freezing rain has come. But I have no fear, I know my head and ears will be toastie warm with my new (ish) Rapha goodies. I splashed out on the Women's Winter Hat and also the Merino Drawcord Hat, which I use as a traditional snood. The winter hat is lined with Merino so you don't get a sweaty head, which helps with maintaining the hairstyle!

Stitch-Mi-Lane

I've stumbled across a new website called Stitch-Mi-Lane, which has a lovely selection of knitted cycling goods including jerseys, hats and home accessories. The design brains behind it is Stephanie Drake, a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. My favourite item is the Flamme Rouge Jersey and I shall be hoping Father Christmas leaves this under the tree for me.

Grenson

The Grenson Ella Boot has been on my radar for some time now. It is a classic wing tip derby boot made from full grain calf leather. I can smell the plush leather from here. Want and Need.

Cafe du Cycliste

As the morning commute to work is beginning to get a little colder, it's time to bring out my lovely Cafe du Cycliste purchases from the spring. The Yolande Merino Jersey complete with resplendent pink elbow patches coupled with the Madeleine Windproof Gilet ensure that I will be toasty and snazzy. Cafe du Cyclist is on the pricey side. It's worth it. It's made well and manages to that keep you cool and warm and dry all at the same time. I bought the pair as a bundle for a super 15% off.

Fun Cake Toppers

I have made our two tier fruit wedding cake myself. Gulp. The first three stages are complete: baking, boozing and marzipanning. So far so good. Next up icing. Gulp. I've found this marvellous cake topper online from Silhouette Weddings. I've ordered it in silver and large enough to go over the full diameter of the top tier - in case it looks like an incompetent baker has baked our cake.

Rapha

I have kept an eye on Rapha for a while now, most of the time deciding that it's just a little too expensive for me - however lovely. My dear brother got me a gift voucher for my birthday which I promptly spent on buying the Lightweight Bomber Jacket in Navy. It's lovely. Don't you agree?

Big Cup Little Cup

The dear old Bodum cafetieres are gathering dust. Our new Nespresso machine is simply magic. Pop in a capsule, or two for our favourite Americano and ta da. Done. Less washing up as well.

We quickly ran out of Nespresso capsules and looked around for other makers and came across Big Cup Little Cup. We ordered the Discovery Starter Pack and are currently trying out 8 different blends (that's 200 capsules!). Favourites so far are:

Millers Yard and Highwire have also just won some awards at the Great Taste Awards 2014. Well done the clever people at Big Cup Little Cup.

Sweet things

Amelia Rope creates not only fantastic tasting chocolate but it is the best dressed chocolate I have ever seen with bars wrapped in sophisticated foil. The individual squares almost look to good to eat. Almost.

 

We've been looking for some sweet favours for the 'ol wedding and have come across Ilze's Chocolat. Her honeycomb dipped in dark chocolate is glorious and just might be gracing the plates of our wedding guests. They also create chocolate and you can select individual chocs to fill up a gift box and I did this for my Pop and he thoroughly enjoyed them all.

NW3 Otto Boots

Super excited about a recent sales purchase of mine - these wonderful NW3 Otto Boots. When the only size available is your size, you know that is fate. Cannot wait to pick them up from the store tomorrow.

Hilary Grant

Recently, I have been using Twitter - looking at who like minded people follow - to come across new and talented designers in fashion and also graphic design.

Last night, one of the best I found was Hilary Grant - a luxury Scottish knitwear label.

Some of my favourites from their collection are:

Autumn shopping delights

A few things to add to my autumn wardrobe (after a couple of pay days).

Hobbs Aveen dress

Bertie Tatler boots

Whistles Knit sleeve quilt jacket

My new Beau

So it turns out, turning 31 years young, doesn't feel that great. In fact, it feels worse that 30. You turn 30, you say I'm 30. Turn 31 and all of a sudden you're in your early thirties, which sounds infinitely worse.

Upside to the day was my brand new Mimi Berry Beau bag. I have lusted after this lovely bag for over a year and a half. Finally it was in the sale and in the price range of my lovely parents, brother and of course Mr M.

Pebeta Teta

Maria Zwierzynski Sudak, creator of Pebeta Teta, began designing her imaginative pieces around three years ago. Some are made of black acrylic, some faux leather - all look fantastic!

This is her Spring necklace from her Four Seasons Line.

EMU

Having a small garden means having small garden furniture but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. We've just bought some from EMU, an Italian manufacturer in the business for 60 odd years.

The tables and chairs are from the Arc en Ciel range - available in a wide range of colours for mix and matching - (ignore the revolting concrete please!). We got our set from John Lewis.