DIY Scented Candle

I *adore* good quality scented candles. I particularly like Diptyque, Frederic Malle and Rituals. The former two are particularly expensive and rarely go on sale. In an effort to recreate the same effect without denting my bank account too much, I decided to give it a go myself. Credit also goes to my friend Ellie for sowing the seed idea in my little head. Making your own scented candles is so easy and here is how you do it.

You will need the following:

• Wax (use leftover bits of old candles or soy wax as I did)
• Wick set (as in the picture)
• Essential oils or fragrance oils of your choice. I used 2 tbsp of vanilla oil for one regular size jam jar
• A jam jar. I used an old Bonne Maman one from my mother-in-law as we don't buy that much jam.
• A cheapie/old saucepan for melting your wax
• A large pan for boiling water and seating your saucepan in. Alternatively, just use a double boiler.
• An old wooden spoon for stirring

Method:

Melt the wax using the double boiler arrangement. Do not heat the wax directly as it is flammable. Soy wax is great and melts easily. It feels better than ordinary parrafin wax.

Thread the wick through the base plate and tie a knot at one end to secure the wick. Place this carefully in the center of the candle. Retain a length of wick equivalent to about 1.5 times the depth of the jar. Once the wax has melted, add the scented oil and pour the wax mixture into the jam jar. It will take a couple of hours to cool and solidify.

After a couple of hours, break the surface of the candle with a chopstick. You will notice gaps underneath formed by air bubbles.  Add a little more wax to top up the jar ( or just skip this and light the candle till the surface re-settles).  Once the candle is properly cooled and solidified, trim the wick ( to the depth of the jar but not too short) and burn the candle.

I've been extremely pleased by my little candle which I think is just as good as the posh ones! And, it has no nasties in it.  I've accessorized my DIY candle with seasonal flower arrangements in mini Bonne Maman jam jars (that I politely asked to take away after a brekkie at the Birmingham Malmaison).

 I'd definitely recommend making your own candles; so satisfying. Let me know if you do give it a go and how you got on.  Ann x

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Coastal Chic

Back in 2010, the Dutch brand Spikers En Spijkers launched their SS11 collection with a nautical theme. I was smitten by some of the pieces there and watched with patience for my favourites to finally go on sale. I was particularly in love with this chic over-sized boat dress and watched it closely in the sales. Eventually one day, it reduced from its £250ish price tag to £27 in a 24 hour flash sale. I knew it was destined to be mine and at the right price. Who cares if it is a few seasons old?

The dress is really light and easy to wear  with a lovely origami style collar that makes it quite special. I like accessorising it with some of my favourite vintage style brooches and a pair of pointy silver pumps. I also dress it down sometimes with a pair of Keds. I'm all for versatile clothing. Besides, with all the warm weather recently, this dress has been an absolute blessing. Isn't it marvellous that we've actually had a summer this year (even it doesn't stay for much longer...) ?

Whilst we were back in Italy (Pizzo), and in between marathon coffee and gelato sessions at Enrico's, Ed took a few outfit shots of me by the Tyrrhenian sea. What better place to model my favourite boat dress?!

Do you stalk sales the way I do too? Or am I the only sales geek out there? ( I hope not ;) ) Ann x


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Celebrating British & Quirky

July has been a great month by British standards. Firstly, we've had the most glorious weather (we will not complain about the heat!). Glorious weather also means an abundance of summertime bounty; all kinds of wonderful fruit and berries (unlike last year where our strawberry patch was drowned out). Then, we witnessed the action-packed sessions at Wimbledon and the Henley Regatta followed by the first British victory at Wimbledon in 70 years. To coincide with all this, my friend Shan gifted me a fabulous Union Jack sequined clutch for my birthday. It was as if the stars were beckoning me to write about about all things wonderfully British.

For me, the highlights of July included my first trip to Wimbledon (long hours of queuing after work on Day 1), truly indulging in summertime fashion (something I'd almost forgotten), making classic English desserts with a twist (Rhubarb Eton Mess with Edible Flowers) and shed loads of jam, making the most of the long daylight and lovely weekends with family and friends, spending time on our less than glorious allotment, wonderful fog-less views of London from my desk whilst down there and last but not the least, making the most of the best clothes dryer in the world-fresh air! I cannot describe how happy I am when I am able to do a pile of washing and then watch it air outside and dry almost instantly!

I've packed and vacuum bagged my winter wardrobe (jumpers included) and am feeling really good about it. My outfits of choice for this season include white cotton and linen dresses, mini maxi dresses and pretty sandals. I am particularly chuffed with my linen dress from Comptoirs Des Cotonniers via the trusty vente-privee.com; it is just right for long hot days at work or play. I'm also pleased to have brought out my little Manolo Blahniks (thrifted via eBay on a dark winter's day). Now don't quote me on this but apparently Carrie Bradshaw wore this same style of Manolos in the first season of Sex and the City.

Anyway, I'll love you and leave you with some of my views our own City on a gorgeous summers day. What have you enjoyed doing most this month? I'm all ears. Ann x

Wearing: Joules silk scarf as headband, Comptoirs Des Cotonniers dress, Moschino shades, Manolo Blahnik , Next clutch

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Fiddly but Fun: DIY Mosaic Art

Back in Monreale, we discovered a quaint craft shop behind the cathedral. The place, mosaico arte ed artigianato, specialised in making beautiful mosaics. I loved every bit of the shop. Whilst the mosaics were masterpieces in their own right and varied in price, I fancied giving it a go myself. I found a few bits of DIY kit from the shop and ventured into making my own pretty ( but imperfect) mosaic art. If I can do it , so can you! Here is what you need...


Kit:
A small picture frame (charity shops are a good place to find them)
Polymer clay or similar for the base
Bits of ceramic for the mosaic
Some bog standard glue
A pair of small tweezers and a toothpick for positioning the ceramics
A design of choice

Method:

Fill the inside of the picture frame with a thin (50mm max) layer of clay. Spread a layer of glue thinly over this base. Position your ceramics into a pattern of your choice on a sheet of paper. I wanted to replicate one of the flower pot designs from the shop in Monreale so bought bits to suit.

Now, slowly move these bits onto the clay base using the tweezers. Once you are happy with your pattern, push the ceramic bits ever so slightly into the clay so they are firmly in place.

 Fill any gaps with glitter glue or coloured filler of your choice. You masterpiece is complete!

 

The tricky bit in all this is actually getting the pattern to work neatly. Smaller your pattern, the more fiddly it gets. Mine was tiny so it did get a little tricky at times. Nevertheless, this is a really easy, quick and fun DIY project. You could also mosaic your plat pots, picture frames ( borders), etc. Let me know if you give it a go. Ann x

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A Quirky Lifestyle's First Blog Giveaway!

The great thing about being part of the blogosphere is that you meet some truly inspiring people. Becky and Graham are one such couple. They run a very popular and really cool travel blog called GlobalGrasshopper which has tons of riveting travel tales and tips. More recently, they launched an online shop called Lo-Fi Nomad specialising in decorative home and travel accessories using a lot of their own photography. I am really pleased to be collaborating with the duo for my blog's very first giveaway. The winner gets to choose absolutely any one product from the site, totally free!

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is comment on the post below telling us your favourite travel destination and why. 

The giveaway closes on July 27th at midnight (UK BST) and a winner will be chosen at random. 

Commenting is really easy and you don't need to sign-up etc.  Just your name, comment and some way of contacting you will do! Good luck!!! Ann x

This giveaway is now closed and the winner is Desiree!


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Travelling in Style: Packing Essentials

Everything we could could be so much more enjoyable if we injected some style into it. That could be said about packing too. We tend to be on the go a lot; weekends away to see family or friends, work related travel or just the little or long breaks we choose to take. Some of these jaunts can sometimes be tiring/uninspiring which I felt the need to remedy. I found that a few smile inducing happy travel accessories are just what were needed. Here are some of my favourite travel essentials and packing tips

Luggage: I usually have a little holdall ready with a few essentials should yet another last minute over-nighter come my way. My Aquamarine Longchamp Le Pliage holdall is lightweight, sturdy, happy coloured and chic. My matching Longchamp Le Pliage tote is yet another travel essential; lightweight, waterproof and spacious. Should the travel related stay be more than a couple of days, I bring out my beautiful Antler Purelite four wheeler suitcases in blue. They even have little covers to protect them from scratches which they are so prone to. For bargains on Longchamp, keep an eye out on the Selfridges and Harrods sale or investigate buying in France. For great deals on Antler, I'd recommend Achica and Brandalley.

Travel Documents: Quirky travel wallets and passports covers are an absolute must in my world. I adore the Penguin series travel pouch and passport covers. That said, I recommend buying them on Amazon rather than the Penguin site as the customer service from the latter was pretty shocking.

Reading: I love reading Vogue but as there aren't usually many hours in my day for light reading, I carry them on my journeys. National Geographic Traveller is another travel favourite. I've recently started collecting Vogues from around the world and whilst travelling, they add an interesting dimension to my reading experience. I promise a post on my Vogue collection very soon.

Make-up: Its nice to keep a pretty face whilst travelling. My coccinelle make-up case is filled with a handful of essentials to keep me looking presentable: a Janeke gold brush, Chanel lipstick, Burts Bees Rhubarb Lip Shine and Maybelline Colossal Kajal amongst other things. To find a similiar make-up case, I'd recommed the Coccinelle in Bicester village.

Toiletries: I tend to use up any travel toiletries sets that were gifted during the course of the year on these aforementioned trips. A set of clear plastic bottles from Boots filled with my current favourite shower gels and shampoo are the other alternatives. Heroes in my toiletry bag include Avene Thermal Spring Water to keep me cool on balmy days, Rituals Gingko's Secret Hand Cream, La Roche Posay Anthelios Sunscreen to keep me from burning ( yes I'm brown and I still burn!) and Neal's Yard Lemon and Coriander organic deodorant.

Other Essentials: I always keep a travel checklist to plan each trip in detail. That way, I avoid forgetting anything important and subsequently spending over the odds at a later stage. My beautiful Kate Spade wallet is filled with every variety of card imaginable; frequent traveller cards, international credit cards, store cards to collect points on every purchase etc. My recent luxe edition to my travel pack is a gorgeous Smythson notebook that says 'dance like no one is watching'; how could I not succumb?! I like carrying little notebooks at all times to keep my thoughts organized and balance my many to-do lists.For the best deals on Smythson, check out the Heathrow airport store during sale season or Bicester Village.

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There's a Party in Palermo

I won't deny that there is a certain roughness to Palermo. As we walked out of Palermo Central Station, I was already in caution mode and clutching my handbag tightly. Pubescent teenagers were out on their Saturday night beat and some of them looked decidedly dodgy. However, like most good things, once you give it the benefit of doubt, it quickly proffers up one of the coolest travel experiences you will ever have.

Thanks to the unreliability of Sicilian public transport, we got into Palermo later in the evening than what we would have liked. We were ravenous and I was keen on exploring the Palermitan street food markets around Mercado Vucchiria. Whilst heading towards the food market through Via Roma we found little hubs of activity around the side streets. One such exploration led to the discovery of a rather cool nightlife arrangement.  Not far from Vucchiria is a little area surrounded by five or so market stalls where vendors sold panelle, frittula, stigioloa and other deep fried Palermitan food. There were a few rundown looking bars around these stalls that served dirt cheap alcohol. You really can't complain when its €1 for a large pint of beer!

 

We eventually strolled down to Vucchhria which had pubs and cafes with yet another interesting arrangement. You paid a flat fee for a glass of beer or cocktail (€6) and you could eat as much snacky food as you like: pasta salads, couscous, an assortment of Sicilian fast food, you get the picture. We'd already eaten to our fill at the street food stalls so we didn't take full advantage of what was on offer. Nevertheless, it was interesting to sit down and watch the locals enjoy their version of a night out. Age didn't seem to matter and people socialized in ways unlike what you would see in the UK. And whilst it was all very relaxed and civilized, there was a real buzz about the place. That night out in Palermo was possibly one of the most interesting nightlife experience I've had. I think Ed would concur.

As we had very little time in Palermo, we needed to carefully think though our exploration strategy. We decided to do a little walking tour of Palermo's historic centre in the morning and then head to nearby Monreale later. Just as we started our walk, we came across a tourist couple whizzing past in horse and carriage. Intrigued, I asked a horse & carriage rider nearby for the price. It was €85 in the brochure but as we werent really bothered, he offerd an hours tour for €30 total. It seemed a no-brainer offer especially as he also offered to drop us off at the Monreale bus stop. We had a lovely and relaxed tour of the Palermo's finest offerings including the city's famous cathedral, Teatro Politeama, a quick glimpse of the Arab Norman church, Teatro Massimo. I loved taking in  the beautiful baroque architecture and the cosmopolitan offerings on every street.

After a quick tour of Monreale, we were back in Palermo for a more relaxed exploration of the city's culture. We watched the locals join in a church procession for the feast of St. Francis and I explored the little Italian boutiques and stocked up on fabulous yet inexpensive little treats at Kiko Milano. Eventually, we found a little Trattoria to wind down with some simple Sicilian dinner and wine.

Have you been to Palermo? And, are there any other cities you've enjoyed exploring? Ann x

 Wearing: H&M Garden Collection dress (old), Givenchy sunglasses and hat from a little shop in Taormina.

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Photography by Edward Chandler

The French Influence

It started around my birthday, this French inspiration. At first it was the desire to focus on French cooking (encouraged largely by the husband) and a gift of  Larousse Gastronomique. I then dug out my favourite Diptyque candles from the sales last year and our house has been filled with a glorious Freesia scent most evenings. Slowly but surely my summer appears to be very much influenced by the French lifestyle. I bought multiple issues of French Vogue whilst holidaying on the continent and enjoyed brief spells of escapism, dreaming of Paris, Grasse and Nice.
For a bit of Parisian chic, I've also been using my sturdy Longchamp tote and holdall an awful lot this summer. Be it weekends away, work related stay and to maintain the style quotient on rainy English days, my Longchamp Le Pliage has been a godsend. Indulging in French goodness doesn't always come cheap so for a bit of fashion inspiration I've been eyeing up the cheap and cheerful Bonprix. Their cute Breton jumpers, bohemian floral dresses and scarves are perfect for summer days. As advised by Madame De la Fresange, I like dress up those blue jean days with bejewelled and ultra-pretty bright sandals and Bon Prix have some pretty cute ones. And, to finish my outfits, I spritz a little Hermes Un Jardin En Mediterranee which automatically lifts my spirits and mentally transports me to the orchards of Provence.

What are your favourite French style products? Ann x

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Fashionable Travel Treasures: White Summer Dresses

 

I'm sat in my floaty white cotton summer dress, not complaining about the sweltering heat, because I am grateful. After the long lack of summer, the sunshine makes for a pleasant change. Summer days call for floaty, dainty, light cotton dresses. They complement the sunshine whilst allowing your skin to breathe. And they make you feel fabulous. Over the years, I've picked out a few unique and precious white dresses. But perhaps my favourite summer dress was from a tiny little shop run by a Tamilian in Singapore's Chinatown. A rather cosmopolitan dress I suppose!

The dress cost me 10 Singapore Dollars and has survived a multitude of adventures over the years. It has beautiful french knot rose embroidery in a lovely shade of peach. When I was little, my mother embroidered my little dresses using the very same style so there is something nostalgic about this dress. It is of a simple peasant style that adds to its charm. And, I may have said this before, it is my happy dress and makes me feel fab.

 

I style the dress with a pair of pastel heels and a Longchamp Le Pliage tote if I am headed to anything work related. On the other hand, if I am lounging around making the most of summer, you will find me wearing it with a straw hat and a pair of simple yet elegant strappy sandals. Toes painted in summery shades are also mandatory. If the weather is looking unpredictable, a vintage tan leather jacket is a handy accessory. Somehow, wearing this dress is usually accompanied by a feast of fresh strawberries, either from out allotment or from a local market.

What are your favourite summer styles? I'm all ears for style inspiration. Ann x

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Photography by Edward Chandler
 

Meet Tamara of Tamara Tobias

I've been meaning to start an interview series on the blog for a while now and I am both pleased and  honoured to have the lovely London scarf designer Tamara Fowler for the very first one. Tamara graduated with a degree in fashion design from Central Saint Martins and has since worked with some of the best talent in the industry. The Tamara Tobias brand is all about luxurious textures and stunning prints. Her hydrangea and bouquet scarves in particular had me in complete swoon mode. To get know the brains behind these truly stunning creations, I had a little virtual chit chat with Tamara. Read it all here....

I'd love to know what inspired you to start your gorgeous boutique..

Passion for print and design and my own love of accessories is what inspired me to start Tamara Tobias. I always knew that I wanted to run my own successful business that stood out in the market and provide other women with joy and a sense of luxury. Being a devoted scarf fan myself, I felt that this interest was where I wanted to build a brand from and showcase my designs online to a wide network of equally keen scarf fans!

Where do you get your style inspiration from?

Everywhere! My inspiration for our first collection came from photographs that I had taken in so many places. I am always inspired by beautiful things that can range from simple, everyday objects to wonderful, unique finds that I believe will end up looking amazing when printed digitally onto any fabric. 

Which are your favourite pieces from your collection?

My favourite pieces are the 'Bouquet' scarf, as this design was inspired by my own wedding bouquet and therefore always brings back very happy memories for me when I wear it or see someone else wearing it and I also love the 'Hydrangea' scarf, as it fun and bold and looks great in the sunshine!

If you were to give the readers of 'A Quirky Lifestyle' one piece of style advice, what would that be??

As all good style-savvy individuals know, scarves complete an outfit and are the ‘must – have’ accessory for feeling fabulous.

Tamara Tobias scarves are available on her website and come in a  variety of fabrics ranging from 100% silk to cashmere mix with prices ranging from £60-£120. So, if you are looking for that extra oomph in your wardrobe or just a bit loveliness in your life, you should definitely check out a Tamara Tobias creation. They are blooming gorgeous! 

Have a lovely weekend you guys! Ann x

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Pretty Tasty Bows : Easy Farfalloni Recipe

Some time ago, I had to whip up an quick yet tasty meal for friends visiting for lunch. To my rescue came some lovely farfalloni, a gift from a friend,  that were so pretty that I hadn't had to heart to cook for a while. I won't ramble on anymore and here is the quick recipe

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:
250g farfallonni pasta
2 courgettes
2 carrots
1 clove of garlic
1 onion
15o ml double cream
Salt, pepper, fresh basil and olive oil to taste
Parmesan shavings

Method:

Cook the pasta in a pan with some salt and a drop of olive oil. Prepare the courgettes and carrots by using a peeler rather than chopping. Chop the onion into long strips. Heat the oil in a pan and add crushed garlic and chopped onions. After a couple of minutes, add the other vegetables, chopped basil and sautee for about ten minutes. Add the cooked pasta and double cream. Add salt and pepper to taste and its ready to serve!

Let me know if you give this recipe a go, I'd love to know how you got on. Ann x

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