Mad Hatter

I have at least three weddings in the diary already for this year. THREE. That's rather alot and I suspect there are two more in the offing. At traditional English weddings, it's a fabulous excuse to get a hat out and I am reminded how much I enjoy wearing them (or rather hiding underneath them - mine all tend towards the large side) and also the general panic about what to do with the darn things when the dancing starts later in the evening. Smart hats aside - I'm not a huge wearer of them. I have a Topshop bobble hat for chilly days and huge, black furry Cossack hat for when it properly snows. Like today.  I think it makes me look like this...

One of the goodies I received from The Boy recently was the amazing L’Wren Scott Minnie Mouse Ears from Barneys that were a jaw dropping $48 excluding postage. I do love a veil and BOY do I love Disney. I'm thinking of test running these on my birthday party evening and then judging the reaction to see if they could be wedding appropriate..

The other hat that is luring me is this gorgeous little beret with cat ears. It's sold in a variety of colours although black is the only colour I would consider and it would be so stylish and fun in the current cold snap we're having.  Clearly I've developed a thing about ears at the moment..

Palm Balm - Beauty Hero

I discovered Temple Spa beauty products through my godmother. When I say 'discovered' what I mean really is that I used to help myself liberally to them whenever I was over at her house. She used to bulk buy them in the States and I could never find them over here. All of the products are fantastic and have comedy names ('Get a Grip', 'Stubble Trouble', 'Duvet') but the one that really stopped me in my tracks (and that I demanded from Santa at Christmas) was Palm Balm.  They say it's the best hand cream you'll ever use and I have to say I agree with them. I was a huge fan of Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment for a while but this outperforms even that. A fabulous scent and incredible nourishing without being greasy, it's a winner..especially on those claw-like Winter hands that I suffer from! It's on the pricey side at £18.50 for 100ml but you need the teeniest bit so a tube will last you. My only small compliant would be that it doesn't contain an SPF but hopefully they'll get round to adding one soon. Also if you order direct from the Temple Spa website, there's a 10% off your next order at present!

Found this 50s ad for hand cream and had to include!

Clever Company, KleverCase

After posting about my delightful new purchase, the Kindle Paperwhite what feels like many moons ago in the run up to Christmas..Santa brought me a practical little something that I have been wanting to share with you. I am not a technology boffin and would happily describe myself as a bookworm/ technaphobe and several people have been dismayed when they realised I had jumped aboard the Kindle train but I can honestly say it has changed the way I read. I will always buy books, but I'll probably think more carefully about the ones I want to have on my shelves. Travelling with my virtual library is a joy and delight but how to make a lump of (albeit brilliant) technology look appealing? Well Santa knew his shizzle. He got me a Klever Case.

The Manor Bindery are located in the New Forest in Hampshire and it's been a family affair for over 35 years. You can learn all about their history here. All their cases are handmade in the UK and I have been the receiver of many compliments and admiring glances on the tube. Father Christmas brought me the Peter Pan one but I am sorely tempted to invest in the To Kill A Mockingbird number as well AND get it customised! They do a spectacular range ( including heaps of James Bond titles) and you would be well advised to check it out - beautiful and practical, the perfect gift! X