{two beautiful things : breakfast & romance}

"Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze."

~ Elinor Glyn.

A New Week.. and Late Weekend Links

When the 'Happy Weekend' links don't arrive until Monday, you know its been a good weekend. Its been one of those special ones you know that you're going to look back on and smile in the years to come; live music and gin, gorgeous restaurants and a pub in the afternoon, lie-in's til noon complete with breakfast in bed and a healthy dose of lying with entwined limbs, candles and a glass of wine or two...

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend and we're all starting the week as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I am...

Monday, Monday.. and Late Weekend Links

My name is Rachel, and I'm a bad blogger. Hope you didn't miss me too much, last week was just a haze of craziness and deadlines, awkward situations and a heavy and unwelcome dose of cold. Not ideal blogging situations. Hope your week was better than mine, but a Friday night date-night with flowers and plenty of champagne, Saturday afternoon brunch followed by a crazy night out with my favourite ladies (one of whom was dressed as a pumpkin.. no, really) and a lazy Sunday in bed with more food and films than you can imagine has me in a far better state of mind this morning...

Inspired Interior: Eco Chic

My somewhat unhealthy obsession with this glamorous Arkansas space, which interior designers Chris & Anne Laidler call home, is sort of justified with the fact the building materials & furtnire were all sourced locally or made domestically. Items that they didn't need were donated to Habitat for Humanity. The results? A home that is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum-certified yet still looks stylish. Obsessed.

My Happy List { № 2 } : Morning Cuddles

. . . there are few greater pleasures in life than snuggling up on a weekend morning with the boy, the pooch and your first cup of coffee. Just lying there, nowhere to be, nothing to do but relax and enjoy eachothers company in the morning sunlight from the comfort of crisp white sheets. Perfection. rachel xo

Lately: Via Instagram | A Catch Up...

Its been an awfully long time since my last, Lately: via Instagram post, I'm not as Instagram obsessed as alot of you ladies so it takes some time to compose a full post! This could be due to my loyaly to my old faithful Blackberry so I only take photos through the social network on my iPod or iPad, which often get left behind when packing the Mulberry for the day...

my favorite body cream from Laura Mercier, it literally smells like lemon curd  |  obsessed with summer berries, I cannot stop eating them

a very exciting new foundation, 'Parure de Lumière'' by Guerlain was kindly sent to me, I cannot wait to try! watch this space.. | the best latte ever

a peek of a hot Sunday afternoon outfit; cream Topshop boutique mini dress, Steve Madden studded sandals, Chanel bag and Hermès collier de chien bracelet | shower gel samples from the body shop, perfect for my imminent Thailand trip! 

My Happy List { № 1 } : The First Coffee

. . . The other week, stressed out beyond comprehension & working sixty hours per week, I realised how important it is to appreciate the things in life that make you happy - no matter how big or small they may be. Mini-pleasures. The first cup of coffee of the morning; a hot, strong, steaming cup served from a beautiful French press into a (always) white mug is always a glorious start to the day, no matter what else you have planned. Inexpensive glamour, the small luxuries in life allow you to live it up for a matter of pence. rachel xo

Happy Weekend: Fun at Breakfast Time

Weekends should be all about fun, no? Especially extra-long, bank holiday weekends! I'm starting this three-day weekend with a leisurely breakfast in bed (as per...) complete with homemade juice, pancakes, fruit and a few sugar treats, while trying not to think about squeezing into a bikini in seventeen little days...

Happy Weekend: Refreshing Hints of Cream & Green

What could be better than a three day working week? Thank you, Queen Liz! Feeling like I haven't set foot in the office and finally free from gum-clearing antibiotics, this weekend isn't going to be a quiet one...

Happy Weekend: Saturday Brunch

My favourite start to the weekend is without doubt, Saturday brunch. Croissants, home-made granola & yogurt, waffles & pancakes with plenty of hot coffee & freshly squeezed juice tends to start the weekend off on a perfectly (the champagne is optional). One day - my breakfast table will exactly resemble the beautiful marble affair above...

Two Beautiful Things: Monday Morning Coffee

Is there any better way to start the working week than with a large French press full of hot, strong coffee? My breakfast, however, was more of a rushed bowl of Special K rather than my favourite home made cranberry granola...

After the luxurious quiteness and rest of the weekend my blackberry is already buzzing with phonecalls, meeting arrangements, emails - yet this morning its accompanied by the (literally) buzzing security alarm in my office which has given up the ghost over the weekend and is sounding every two minutes. I await the alarm contractor with a pounding headache.

Have a better Monday than me, and a great week...

Rachel x

Happy Weekend...

... This weekend is to be spent the way all weekends should be! After just three days back at work I've managed to secure a bonus Saturday off. After a leisurely lie in enjoying a breakfast of coffee, fresh juice and pancakes in bed prepared by the boyfriend I look forward to; a long walk along to the beach with the pooch, a relaxed Saturday night snug on the sofa with mindless prime-time TV & Sunday brunch with the girls.

What have you sall arranged for this weekend? Enjoy the time off & breathe in those final magical little moments before the start of a new week...

Rachel x