A 2016 Review: Top 6 Travel Destinations

2016 has been a great year for travel, I have been lucky enough to tick off some of my dream destinations from my bucket list and shared some of the most amazing views with the ones I love. With the year coming to an end I thought I'd share some of my favourite travel moments with you and reasons why I loved them.

DIY | New Years Eve Ombre Garland

Happy New Year guys!

With the festive season over, it's time to get your party frocks on, raise a glass with loved ones and see the New Year in in style. 2016 has been some year and I think we are all ready for a fresh start, so to celebrate a new beginning I thought I'd show you a little DIY party decoration that's perfect for any New Years Eve get together.

Spreading the Cheer & Tips for Staying Stress Free this Festive Season

With only a week until Christmas, I thought I'd surprise my mum with some early festive treats thanks to the lovely people at Cotton Traders. They challenged me to spread some festive cheer this year as part of their 'Making Christmas Warmer' campaign' and I thought it was the perfect chance to spoil her for all her hard work helping me settle in my new house this year. Christmas is such a busy time, it can be easy to forget the special moments and people that do so much for you. This year I want to spread the good vibes and treasure those little things, scroll down to see how Cotton Traders helped me spread the cheer and some tips for a stress free Christmas.

Travel | A night at citizenM Bankside, London

 Last weekend I headed to London for a little festive getaway with Tom. We were lucky enough to stay a night in the stylish CitizenM Bankside hotel near London Bridge, read my thoughts on our stay and see what we got up to here...

Crochyay Subscription Box Review

 My favourite craft has long been crochet so when I discovered Crochyay Boxes, a  subscription service full of crochet goodies I just had to order one for my own. By signing up to receive a Crochyay Box every month you will be in for some crochet treats from fellow makers and crafters such as patterns, tools and ideas. 

Here's a sneak peek inside November's Crochyay Box.

Crochet | Corner to Corner Blanket Part 2 | Decreasing & Finishing

 After starting my blanket and enjoying watching it grow, it was soon time to start decreasing. This is the good thing about the corner to corner blanket, it will always be a perfect square as you work 'corner to corner'. I started to decrease when my blanket measured 100cm across, follow along as I show you how I finished my project. I learnt this stitch watching Bella Coco's video which you can find here, to see how I started my blanket check out my last post Corner to Corner Blanket part1 | Casting On and Increasing.

Crochet | Corner to Corner Blanket Part 1 | Casting on & Increasing

I love starting a new project in the winter time. 

There's something satisfying about snuggling up in front of the fire after a long day with a new ball of wool and crocheting your troubles away. I have wanted to make a blanket for a while so set myself the challenge of making my first corner to corner blanket using these amazing ombre yarns from Bella Coco Store. If you haven't already, check out Bella Coco for these bundle packs, they are perfect for blankets or throws and come in a range of colour and tones.

DIY | Pin Cushion Kit & Win With The Treasured

So the count down to Christmas has begun and I am feeling pretty unorganised with gifts for friends and family (someone please send help)!

I love giving thoughtful or handmade presents and have found the perfect combination of both with these make-your-own craft kits. Not only are they super cute but are the perfect gift for a craft loving friend.

I have teamed up with the online gift store The Treasured to offer you the chance to win a DIY Doughnut Pin Cushion craft kit from The Make Arcade this festive season. Scroll down to see what's inside the kit & more details on how to enter.

Small Business Saturday | Reasons to Shop Local this Christmas

We have all heard of Black Friday & Cyber Monday but there's one day I'll be marking on my calendar this year for many more reasons than just the chance to grab a bargain, Small Business Saturday. I have always been a big supporter of handmade products and independent sellers so when Fundera asked me to show my support for Small Business Saturday and buy locally this Christmas, I jumped at the chance to share my favourite local shops.

Lifestyle | Bella Coco: How To Crochet eBook Review

Once in a while I come across a blog that really inspires me and over the past few years Bella Coco has continued to be one of my favourites. 

Sarah-Jayne is the lovely lady behind Bella Coco, not only does she manage her blog, regularly posting about interiors, weddings and craft, she also runs a successful YouTube channel teaching crocheting and has opened BellaCoco Store selling yarn and crochet supplies. I often head to her blog to learn a new crochet stitch or technique, knowing her tutorials will be modern and easy to understand. So when I heard Sarah Jayne was bringing out her first eBook How To Crochet: A Handy Reference Guide I jumped at the chance to review it.

DIY | Embroidered Bomber Jacket Tutorial

 Anyone else loving the embroidered trend? 

Whether it's jackets, shoes or bodies, this oriental detailing is everywhere. Good news is it's so easy to make your own unique version of the popular high street ones for a fraction of the cost. 
Here's how I made my own embroidered bomber jacket.

DIY | Copper Plant Pot & Tips for Repotting Plants

I have recently become a little obsessed with plants and really want to fill my home with lots of greenery. I think house plants bring so much colour and life into a house making it feel more homely. Having not know much about plants and after telling my friend that I didn't think my plants were growing much she suggested they might need re-potting. So instead of just buying a new pot I thought I would DIY one to fit in with my spare room decor and give my plants some space to grow.

Travel | A Stay at Berlin i31 Hotel

I love traveling and one of the things I like most about getting away is the little touch of luxury you get when you check into a hotel for the first time. 

DIY | Arm Knitted Cosy Chunky Blanket

Hello November. 
I can finally start getting excited about winter now that November has arrived. Who doesn't love cosy nights by the fire, wrapping up warm and frosty walks in the park?! And with it comes the chance to create some seasonal DIY's.
 I've been dreaming of oversized blankets for a while now, having been inspired by Pinterest-worthy interiors filled with chunky knitted throws, so I decided to have a go at making my own.

Travel | Munich Photo Diary and Tips for What to See and Do

 Earlier this month I was lucky enough to travel back to one of my favourite European cities, Munich. It was completely different to my last visit a few years ago, mainly because it was more of a family visit this time but also what we did. Munich is such a varied city, you can go over and over again and do something different each time. 

Lifestyle | Breakfast at Billy Bob's Ice Cream Parlor

 If you can't have ice cream for breakfast on your birthday, when can you eh? 

So I turned 26 a few weeks ago and to celebrate never growing up I took the day off work to eat ice cream and open presents. I had wanted to check Billy Bob's out for a while but heard it was super busy at weekends so a mid week visit on my birthday was the perfect excuse. Billy Bob's Parlor is a 50's style diner on a large farm in the beautiful countryside of North Yorkshire.

DIY | Metallic Painted Pumpkins for Halloween | Tutorial

 With October flying by already, I thought it was about time I got my Halloween DIY on! 

I have been pinning, searching and Instagram-stalking decorated pumpkins around this time each year but never got the chance to give it a go myself. With buying my own house I feel I can go all out Halloween crazy this year, starting with these super easy DIY pumpkin decorations. Metallic has been everywhere from interiors to fashion this year and is one of my favourite trends, so I thought it only fitting to add a little shine to these seasonal fruits with some bronze and copper. Read on to found out how I made my DIY metallic decorated pumpkins.

Lifestyle | Updating An Old Wardrobe Favourite for Winter

Although I love shopping and buying new items for the coming seasons, I also hate letting go of things I really love. Once in a while I find myself getting emotionally attached to items in my wardrobe that, although a little worn, are still my favourites. My Olivia Burton watch is one of those items. I have had it for a couple of years now, after treating myself to it with my very first wage. I noticed a few weeks ago that my watch had been lovingly worn so many times that the strap was becoming discoloured. Instead of going out to buy another watch altogether, I decided to reorder a new strap to bring a lease of life to this little chap. 

DIY | Glitter Star Boot Tutorial | How To

 To me, October means getting out the cosy scarves, oversized jumpers and winter boots ready for the cooler weather. I cleared out my summer clothes last week and made room in my wardrobe for my winter outfits, among the old favourites I get out every year were my favourite Topshop boots. They are super versatile and have seen me through a couple of winters, but I noticed they were looking a little tired this year. I decided to jazz them up for this coming season and jump on board the 70's trend by doing a little DIY on them. 

 Here's how I revamped my old black boots into glitter embellished 70's style boots.

Lifestyle | Inside Papergang Subscription box

Last week, I got an early birthday present when this months box of goodies from Papergang popped through my letterbox. I thought it would be nice to show you inside this one as it has been a while since I posted about my very first box. As usual the outer packaging is just as fun and colourful as the contents and I couldn't wait to see what was inside the dreamy ombre wrapping.

Travel | A Weekend in Newcastle

Despite only living a mere two hours away, Newcastle is one city I've never had the pleasure of visiting before and with 2016 being the year of the staycation I thought it was about time I checked it out. My mum had offered to take me away for my birthday and with plenty of shops, sights and night life I thought Newcastle would be a great little trip.

Here's what we got up to and a few little tips if you are thinking of visiting this iconic Northern city too...

My Makes | Handmade Bridesmaid Dresses

DIY | Colourful Crocheted Bunting

 Whenever I head back to my mum's house I always find myself rumaging in her craft room  for new patterns and yarns to take home and create. She never fails to inspire me to get making. So when I stopped by a few weeks ago for a Sunday roast (why do parents' roasts always taste better?), I spotted a pattern for some crocheted bunting and had to give it a go. 

The pattern was in Simply Crochet (issue 45), a magazine that is great for beginner crocheters. Their designs are always really easy to follow and there is a range of levels and projects to get involved with. The bunting is made up of granny square triangles using double knit yarn, I followed the pattern but added my own twist and steps in certain areas, so here's how I made this crocheted bunting...

Lifestyle | Autumn Bucket List GOMO

So you have all heard of FOMO (fear of missing out) well this autumn say hey to GOMO (go out more often)! Eventbrite have challenged me to write an autumn bucket list to encourage everyone to GOMO this coming season! Check out their event planning tool here...

I am always up for experiencing something new and making memories, so here are my suggestions for making sure this autumn is one to remember!

DIY | Hen Party Idea & Craft Kit

It's wedding season and with that comes celebrations, parties and the much loved hen do's. 

Recently I hosted a hen party for an old school friend who is due to get married in September. Instead of your traditional night on the town, champagne headache, struggling to walk in heels kinda hen party we decided to throw her a chilled, girly, sunday afternoon  party. Myself and the girls each took responsibility to organise a different activity for the day and yep you guessed it I chose to do a crafty one! Woop!

As it is festival season too, I thought it would be fun for everyone to make a floral headband each. As well as being an easy, laid back activity which we could all do whilst having a chat, the girls would also be able to take their creations home and wear them. 

The perfect group craft activity!

Here's how I made the DIY hen party activity... 

DIY | Circle Choker Necklace Tutorial

Chokers have become a bit of a throwback accessory this year, and I must admit I love them! They instantly give any outfit a 90's vibe whist being really easy to wear. It's simple to make your own as well, great news if you need an outfit update fast. 

Here's how I made a DIY circle pendant choker....

Lifestyle | Breakfast at Evelyn's Cafe in Manchester

If there's one meal I wouldn't dream of missing, it's breakfast!

  It's by far my favourite and I love finding new places to eat and experience it, so when we stumbled upon Evelyn's cafe one rainy Sunday morning I was in my element.

DIY | Celebration Keepsake Necklace Tutorial

Whether it's a wedding gift or graduation present you are looking for this easy DIY is the perfect keepsake to commemorate that special occasion this summer. 

Here's how I made my DIY champagne cork celebration necklace...

PaperGang Subscription Box Review | June

Who doesn't love that feeling of writing in a new notebook for the first time; crisp white pages, a full flowing pen & endless ideas filling your head! I am a self confessed stationary geek, so when I heard about PaperGang, a monthly stationary subscription box from Ohh Deer, I had to sign up!

DIY | Chanel Bag Flower Pot Tutorial

I am always keeping hold of pretty bags I pick up whilst shopping, some of them are just too cute to throw away. So thought I'd show you a little DIY that's a perfect way to reuse those old gift bags aswell displaying your favourite flowers. 

Fancy making a flower pot out of your favourite brands shopping bag?

Here's how to make my easy DIY flower holder tutorial...

Macrame Necklace Workshop with Wool and the Gang

Last week I headed to Manchester one night after work to learn to macrame with Wool And The Gang. 

Travel | 5 Things To Do in Koh Samui

Earlier this month I jetted off on my summer holidays to the tropical island of Koh Samui in Thailand. When we first decided to go to Thailand I knew I wanted to experience the more laid-back, scenic side of the country rather than the busy, city life that areas like Bangkok offer. Koh Samui is the perfect mix of relaxed island life, scenic beaches and market towns with a lot to see and do. It is also within a short boat ride to the neighboring islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, which makes it a good base for first time visitors like us, as we could have a taste of Thailand without travelling too much. 

Our hotel was in Cheong Mon, which is a quiet market town on the north east side of the island, with a beautiful beach at the heart. From here we explored the island over two weeks, so if you are thinking of visiting, here are my top 5 recommendations to see and do around Koh Samui.

DIY | Crocheted Camera Strap Tutorial

As I am off on my travels this week, I wanted to make something that is not only practical but stylish too and this chunky camera strap is the perfect travelling companion. Not only does it keep my camera safe and at hand ready for those spur of the moment shots but it doubles up as a bright colour pop necklace too.

If you fancy making a strap like mine keep reading to see how I made this diy crochet camera strap...

Recipe | Gluten Free, No Sugar Rhubarb Crumble

Last weekend some lovely old people from down the road gave us some fresh rhubarb from their allotment as a trade for some old slabs Tom had dug up from our garden. I have never actually tasted rhubarb, let alone made anything using it, so felt a little overwhelmed. Despite that I did a little research on how to cook rhubarb and decided to go with a yummy, comforting rhubarb crumble of my own creation.

As you might know I like my puddings to be healthy and nutritious as well as tasty. Luckily rhubarb is super sweet so I didn't need much help in that department, I decided to boil it up using honey and lemon as a natural replacement to sugar and I got the idea for the topping from Mind, Body, Green but gave it a little twist. Butter is a big feature in traditional crumbles, to make it healthier I have replaced butter with coconut oil and flour with ground almonds which are naturally gluten free.

So here's how I made my healthy rhubarb crumble...

DIY | Customised Patch Denim Jacket

 The fashion world is having a bit of a flashback to the 90's recently and my favourite trend is the use of patches and pins to customise outfits. Found on anything from jackets to crop tops, retro patches are everywhere and are a super fun way to liven up old clothes. The good news is that it's so easy & quick to do at home, all you need is an iron. 

I love this DIY as you can choose patches that suit your style and personality, there's so many out there to choose from. I bought mine from Etsy, Ohh Deer, and a local haberdashery. Most patches are iron on and come with ready applied adhesive on the back, but it's best to double check before hand.

Here's my tips & tricks for applying patches and creating your own DIY customised jacket...

 

5 of My Favourite Healthy Cookbooks

Although I have always enjoyed eating good food and living a healthy lifestyle, I have found since moving into my own house I have started to get into cooking a lot more and have been really enjoying it. I love the creativity that comes with making your own meal from scratch and its even better when I know what goes into it is good for me. 

I have picked up quite a few amazing recipe books over the past few years after being recommended by friends. I tend to look for books focusing on nutrition and health rather than diet or low fat as I like the idea of getting as much natural, wellbeing from food that in turn makes your body feel better rather than starving or dieting. All these books are filled with delicious tasty recipes that are filled with goodness, and that's why I love using them everyday. So if like me you love healthy eating and are looking for something new read on to see my top 5 healthy recipe book recommendations...

10 Quotes That Will Make You Want to Travel NOW

It's just under two weeks until I set off an exciting new adventure to the other side of the world, so I thought I'd share a little travel inspiration with you guys. 

 Sources: Pinterest

Interiors | How To Create A Photo Wall | Tips & Tricks

Photo and prints are my favourite things to have in the house, they can instantly add character, interest and depth to a blank interior or wall. By combining both in a gallery wall you can create a unique focus point in any room. 

DIY | Customised Crochet Trimmed Bikini Tutorial

Summer is just around the corner and if you are lucky enough to be jetting off somewhere gloriously hot this month you'll probably already be thinking about swimwear. There's so much choice out there, but one trend I have spotted that sums up summer for me is the crochet trimmed bikini. With its colourful and fun edging this style oozes holiday vibes. 

Good news is it's super easy to make your own version at a fraction of the cost! So why not upcycle an old bikini and add a little festival chic to your swimwear this summer with my easy step by step...

Style | The Wide-legged Jumpsuit

 I haven't posted a outfit of the day on the blog in a while, so I thought it would make a nice change to talk about one of my favourite spring pieces at the moment, the jumpsuit.

 

DIY | Shibori Cushion with Pom Pom Trim (Quick Zip Method)

Last week I wrote a post about my first experiment with shirbori dying, I loved the results so much that I decided to turn the fabric into a cushion for my spare room. 

I am obsessed with the Moroccan tile trend in interiors, seen everywhere from Homesense to Zara Home this summer, and this cushion fits in perfectly with the rich indigo colour pallets on the high street. The best bit is that this cushion is homemade at a fraction of the cost of the big brand names and really fun to make! 

Here's how I made my cushion using a quick zip method, which is super easy if you are a beginner at sewing or just a little impatient like me! You can use any patterned fabric for this or if you missed my shibori tie dying tutorial check it out here.

Interiors | Spring Updates Homesense Haul

 I recently popped into my local HomeSense store in the Trafford Center and loved their new home wear ranges for spring/summer so much, I just had to pick some bits up.

DIY | How To Shibori Dye | Itajime

Last week I tried my hand at shibori dying for the first time!

 This is a really easy way to dye your own fabric and create unique patterns and prints at home. After signing up to become a We Make Collective member, I followed one of their easy step by step guides on Shibori dying to create this unique square, geometic design that I later made into a cushion. The technique I used was called Itajime but you can create any pattern you like using a variety of techniques, check out Honestly WTF for more info on different ways to dye fabric. 

See how I did it below and follow along if you want to have a go at shibori dying too...

Recipe | Banana & Berry Smoothie Bowl

  

Social media has been taken over by a new trend in healthy eating and a super Instagram worthy dish...

Move over avocado on toast, say hello to the smoothie bowl! 

We have all seen these colourful bowls of fruit filling up our feeds, but are they any good?

Lifestyle | Breakfast at Keelham Farm Shop

 As you might know I love a good breakfast, especially when the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. 

Earlier this month I headed to Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton for a fresh breakfast and some grocery shopping. 

Although starting off as a humble farm, Keelham has grown to become a no ordinary farm shop, it now offers breakfast in it's quirky cafe as well as boasting a huge barn fully stocked with local and fresh ingredients. 

DIY | How To Crochet Top Tutorial

Crochet still remains a big trend this summer and in celebration of this month's Coachella Festival I am going to show you how to make your own crochet crop top!

 So whether you are heading to a festival or jetting of to the beach why not stand out from the crowd and make your own unique crochet garm this summer?! 

Follow my easy & quick tutorial to learn how...

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

 Eating healthy doesn't have to cost a fortune. 

There's a common misconception that to be healthy you need to spend an arm and a leg but with a little planning and  by choosing what you buy carefully its easy to eat well without over spending.

 I have learnt alot about living on a budget since moving from my parents into my own home and along the way have picked up a few tricks that make eating healthy easier and cheaper. Read on the find out my top tips..

Travel | 4 Alternative Places to Shop in Dublin

 

Love a quirky, individual design shop as much as I do? 

Dublin is full of them, and that's one of the reasons I fell in love with this Irish city when we visited a few weeks back.

Wandering around we stumbled across so many unique shops tucked away down unassuming side streets, I wish we could have stayed longer as I am sure there.s more to discover. Here are the ones we found and loved....

Spring Wardrobe Updates | Off The Shoulder Top tutorial (No Sew)

An off the shoulder top is this season's must have fashion piece to be seen in. I made this simple, white version from an old shirt Tom no longer wore. 

If you fancy a little DIY this weekend follow these easy steps to make your own...

3 Healthy Snack Ideas to Try Today

 Hands up if you have over dosed on chocolate over Easter? 

If like me you want to kick start the healthy eating again after an indulgent bank holiday weekend, I have some great ideas for snacks that are easy to make and super healthy.