11.09.2011

Today is my birthday, I am now 25 years old! I was never one for birthdays but even more so now. The world is in mourning for the terrible terrorist attack on the twin towers and all of the people who lost their lives 10 years ago today. I too join them, it's so sad but also important that we remember it. I really feel for all those who lost loved ones :( The footage from the days events always leaves me feeling in shock, I don't think anyone will ever be able to watch it without being in disbelief.

On a lighter note, I got driving lessons for my birthday, which is fantastic :) When I lived in the city I never bothered learning to drive as I would get the subway everywhere but now I live out in the country it's important that I can drive. I also have a car sitting waiting to be driven!! Well, it's Russell's car but I am sure we can share it, haha!

Besides my driving lessons, my favourite present has been my Hummingbird Bakery, Cake Day's book. It's amazing! For anyone who has never heard of the Hummingbird Bakery - then shame on you! Only joking, it is a London based bakery where they bake the most delicious and adventurous cakes known to man, I suggest you order yourself a red velvet cupcake and enjoy the ride to Heaven :)

I love baking but I am not very good at it yet so I thought I would start from basics - Vanilla Cupcakes. Astonishingly, they were a success! Much to my own amazement, I would have to say my electronic hand mixer made all the difference. Lesson learned - there is no point in baking if you do not have the necessary tools. Enjoy the pictures!

Let England Shake

Hi! Last week I had the pleasure of going to see PJ Harvey at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow and needless to say, it was amazing! I have been a fan of PJ for a long time, she was a big influence for me when I was growing up as a teenager (oh the angst!) and it was so exciting to actually see her play live. The venue was excellent, it was a bit strange that it was a seated gig but it was quite nice. I think as I get older the more I appreciate such things, how boring! If you haven't already, make sure to listen to Let England Shake, her latest album. My favourite song from it is The Last Living Rose. For old times sake I have also put a link to one of my teenage songs of choice, Good Fortune... it's such a feel good song!

Oh and how could I forget, PJ was wearing a dress designed by Ann Demeulemeester, it was a long sleeved black dress with a leather band which resembled a corset, paired with a feather headband (which I am thinking about reconstructing myself, thoughts?!) It really fitted in with the mood of her album and the atmosphere of the gig, which at points was quite haunting.

My lovely friend Nicola managed to get us tickets for the 5th row, so apologies for the poor picture quality. I felt silly taking pictures when we were so close, it almost felt like an invasion of privacy but it's all good.

Going to gigs was something I used to do every month when I was younger, I'm not sure if I've become more picky or just too busy but these days it seems to be a once in a blue moon thing, which is a shame as I always really enjoy it. C'est la vie!

I'm Back!

Hello! Long time, no blog. I took some time out for moving, decorating and lots of work. It feels like time to come back though, it's been too long! Summer has been and gone in a flash. A couple of days of sunshine and now on to months of pouring rain and lots of wind. Fun times, haha. Anyway, here are a couple of Hipstamatic pictures of my Summer... If you have an iPhone, download Instagram, it's amazing (add me, my name is coconuttycream)

Royal Summer

Royal Summer by coconuttycream featuring tea dresses

Topshop

I was in Topshop a couple of weeks ago and I seen their range of Summer flyer's, I loveeee the design and colours so much. They're so vibrant but quite trippy and they reminds me of a hippy Summer of love type of thing. I think I am going to take up some corporate identity again, I am definitely inspired!

 

This Week With Kirsty

Hi everyone, hope you have all had a good week. Things have finally settled down with the flat and now we can start to enjoy it! Here are some pictures of my week and what I've been up to.

That's right, it went from sunshine to snow in the space of two days, what can I say... Scottish weather. We had some Krispy Creme doughnuts mmmmm! A friend brought them back from England as we don't have a Krispy Creme here :( Apparently there will be one soon though. Just what I need, haha!

Sunday Splash

Hey! Sunday Splash wil be a new feature on my blog as you may have guessed... every Sunday. There's always things we all want and can never afford or may not be worth the money but there's nothing better than having a window shop online with a cup of tea and a cupcake. So here's my Sunday Splash (in my very rich dreams!)

 

Hornbill Jug - £175

Ribbon Drum Shade - £70

Cath Kidston Rose Cake Tins - £25

Sagaform Retro Storage Jar - £21.75

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La Voliere Pendant Lamp - £359

Orla Kiely Pear Cushion - £52

Trim Phone - £28

Cape Sunrise

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been so long, March has been a very busy month for me. In between packing, cleaning, moving, cleaning more, painting, unpacking, DIY and countless trips to Ikea we have finally settled in our new home. That's right, I'm officially a homeowner! 

 

And it's great! I will post a few pictures soon of my new place and the decor I have chosen. Our living room has ended up with a 70's feel to it and I am really struggling to find some 70's inspired curtains. I had tried all of the fabric shops in Glasgow I knew along with John Lewis etc.. and still nothing. My friend Fiona recently introduced me to an amazing website you should all check out. It's called Emma Loves Retro, I have ordered curtain samples for a 70's pattern that I love. I'm so excited, I just hope they live up to my high expectations. Here is what the pattern should look like...

 

If the print is what I want I will be ordering the fabric and Fiona and I are going to give making curtains a go (arghh, haha!) I bought a sewing machine a couple of moths ago but I don't really know how to use it so hopefully Fiona can keep me right. On my mission for the perfect fabric I got sent a couple of different ones that companies thought would fit my 70's theme, here they are...

I think they all could of fitted to and extent but they just weren't the right colours. I am thinking about ordering the pink and purple fabric on the left hand side though, to make some cushions for my spare room. I guess that's on the bottom of my 'to do' list for now though.

Please recommend any fabric websites you have come across and enjoyed, it'd me much appreciated. Hope you are all well!

Coffee & Cake

 

Before we moved out of Glasgow a couple of weeks ago we decided to go out for some coffee and cake. We found a little bistro / french restaurant on Byres Road. i can't find it online and I can't remember the name of it, not a great start, huh? Anyway, it was rather nice and I especially loved the yellow ceiling, so pretty. I thought I'd share it with you all :)

Vintage Floral Range - M&S

  

I am loving Marks & Spencer's new floral range. Kirstie Allsopp has also launched a range to go along with it. I used to really like Kirstie Allsopp, I love her style and her Home Made Home programme but recently I have gone off her. I think she falsifies how 'easy' and 'cheap' it is to pick up second hand items and make them your own. Second hand items are almost as expensive as new products and in order to reupholster a chair etc.. it cost a LOT of money. Unless of course you have a friend who specialises in that trade but how many of us have access to these people? *Sigh*

How Much Does My Face Cost?

Hello! I seen this blog title over at Belle of the Blush and I thought it was an interesting concept, how much do we spend on our everyday make up? On one hand it should be a lot as, if you're going to wear the make up everyday then you want it to be the best of the best but on the other hand should we even be spending anything on make up never mind, wearing it every day?

My Face by coconuttycream on Polyvore.com

Onto the damage...

Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation - £20.00
Urban Decay Brow Box (in Brown Sugar) - £16.00
MAC Lipstick (in Creme Cup) - £13.50
E.L.F. Bronzer (in Golden) - £3.50
Urban Decay Eye Shadow (in Toasted) - £13.00
Urban Decay Big Fatty Waterproof Mascara (in Black) - £15.00
Urban Decay Primer Potion (in Sin) - £12.00
Benefit Blusher (in Dandelion) - £23.50
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil (in Zero) - £12.00

Total = £128.50

Ouch!!! I shall never moan about being skint, ever again!

Gilbert & George

Rainbow Road

Hello! I was in Manchester last week for a couple of days with a couple of friends. We managed to get a table reserved for Sweet Mandarin, the restaurant that won Gordon Ramsay's F Word award for the best Chinese! Needless to say, it was delicious. I had the satay chicken skewers to start with and the Original General Tse's sweet & sour chicken.

After dinner we headed to a small bar called Socio Rehab, little did I know that they do amazing cocktails! Literally any cocktail you could dream up - they make it! I went for the Rainbow Road which they describe as a 'tango fruity disco' haha, right up my street! My two friends went for ice cream cocktails which looked amazing. I wish we got to see more of Manchester but it wasn't a leisure trip unfortunately, but I'll definitely go back.

High Tea

Hello! Hope February has been kind to you all, it has been to me so far. I have been very busy at work with a new project but it's been great and it's made time pass by very fast, which is a good thing! Only 8 days to go until our big move! We haven't packed a thing but I am sure it will be fine...

This month I have been out and about a lot, maybe too much in fact. My friend Nicola & I went to see Black Swan at the cinema last week. I was really looking forward to it but it wasn't quite what I expected. I liked it but I hated the really dark scenes with the blood / nails, eughhhh! However the make up and outfits were amazing.

We also went for afternoon tea at Ingram Wynd in Merchant City. I lived in Merchant City for a year but Ingram Wynd wasn't built yet (probably for the best, considering I have a thing for cakes and everything Victorian) Anyway, it's a Victorian restaurant and they also do a lovely afternoon tea. We got a 3 tier lunch - the first tier had a mixture sandwiches (smoked salmon, ham and cucumber and tomato and ham) the second tier had mini cakes such as chocolate eclairs and pastries filled with strawberry cream and the third tier had home made scones with cranberry jam and cream, yum.

It was delicious and such a pretty place, I recommend if you're in the area to go! I will definitely be back for dinner at some point. I love the tea cups, how cute!! Has anyone ever been to Fifi & Ally's  before? There's one in Princes Square but there has been a queue every time I have went along. It looks really nice but last time I checked it was quite expensive. If you've ever been let me know if it's worth going to or not. I am always on the look out for nice places to have tea and cakes. 

I am very excited about moving, time has gone in s fast I almost feel unprepared for the move. Russell and I have different tastes in art so we have agreed we can have a wall each in the hall of the new flat. I am far too excited about this and I have decided I am going to go with the theme of an old fashioned collage. I want to have lots of small different prints in different frames. I ordered this print by Eleni Kalorkoti, I love her illustrations. It got delivered the other day and I am really pleased with it. It will go nice with my mix and match theme. I was tempted to purchase more but I don't want to get to carried away too soon. Anyway, I hope you are all well and I look forward to reading about all of your adventures!

Kate Spade

Kate Spade by coconuttycream featuring metal earrings

Favourite Patterns

 

 Orla Kiely - Acorn

 

Orla Kiely - Multi Stem Print

Cath Kidston - Spray Flowers

 Cath Kidston - Rose