Frills 'n' Spills

The quiet was just what I needed and it gave me space (and time) to gather my thoughts. It was an unusual respite from the toils of daily life but a welcome one and I actually found it quite inspiring. 

Where do you go for peace and quiet? Do you have any unusual inspirations?

I have barely stopped using this clutch bag since I got it but I have managed to tear myself away from it for one photo! This blouse has popped up in both summer and winter outfits and is definitely one of the most worn items in my wardrobe, it's perfect for adding just a dash of colour...

Another Topshop sale necklace! I love Topshop jewellery but would never pay full price for it, the quality is just not worth it...

I really need to experiment more with my hair as I'm sure you're fed up of seeing the same old curls by now... any suggestions to get me started?

My favourite part of the whole outfit though has to be these shoes. They were a bargain in the M&S sale and as they came with comfort insoles [hallelujah!] fitted, it meant I could add a bit of pizazz without ripping my feet  apart and I could walk in them! *heavenly chorus* 

Do you prefer the trousers for day or night? How could I style my hair differently?

The thing is, I probably already have too many shoes but there is always room for one more pair and when they look this good, I'd definitely make room! Looking through at the pairs I have shortlisted, you can spot a clear theme....

Who knew there were so many gorgeous red shoes?!

I think though, if I had to choose my favourite pair, it would be these...

...not for me but my lovely boyfriend Mark who does so much for me and the blog and who desperately needs a new pair of shoes!

Go on Sarenza, help a girl out? 


Which shoes do you like best? Have you used Sarenza before?

I have been searching for the perfect pair of black trousers for a while now and Topshop came up trumps with this pair in the sale. I met up with the lovely Hattie for lunch and a catch-up and I blame her completely for my sale purchases! ;) I was a little unsure of the length of the trousers when I tried them on in-store but once I got home and was able to try them with suitable shoes I was sold...

 I felt quite elegant in this and the trousers definitely lent an edge of class to an extremely comfortable outfit... I wore this for a chilled out Saturday before I glammed up the trousers for an evening at the pub (post to follow!)

I have always been a bit wary of collars but the beautiful pearl detail of this convinced me to try it out, I felt like a complete blogger stereotype though!

You may recognise this bag from this post, from someone who doesn't like clutch bags, I sure have worn them a lot recently!

Peachy make-up and wind-blown curls. My hair looks surprisingly ginger here! 

It was so nice to see Hattie again, I love meeting up with other bloggers and we ate, talked and shopped, the perfect combination!  

Do you have a perfect pair of black trousers? Have you met up with other bloggers?

In our family, food is king. We have always had fantastic home-cooked meals and I can guarantee that no shop/restaurant food will be anywhere near as good as any made by my mum or grandma. They both seem to have a magic touch with pastry (I think it's their cold hands that make the difference) but I am definitely queen of eating it ;) Apologies for the phone photos but I had to snap these pictures before they all got snaffled! 

Mini apple tarts are always a winner in the Fallon household!

Golden syrup topped with the excess pastry and sprinkled with cornflakes to make an extra gooey treacle tart...

Food is more fun in minature form and these tiny quiche Lorraines are no different! Just add ham and cheese to some beaten eggs and pour into the pastry cases...

My personal favourite: goats cheese tartlets with caramelised red onion. Literally heaven in a pastry case. To caramelise the onion I used half a red onion, a teaspoonful of sugar and a splash of balsamic vinegar and simmered on a low heat until the sugar started to go brown. The perfect accompaniment to any kind of cheese and possible present for foodie relatives or friends...

What would you make with pastry? Do you prefer homemade or restaurant food?