Smith's Rosebud Salve

One of my favourite bloggers (from The Princess and the Frog Blog) wrote about Smith's Rosebud Salve a few weeks ago, and on a whim, I ordered some off Amazon to give it a go. I'd heard things about it before, with the words 'cult buy' and 'beauty classic' bandied about, but this glowing recommendation prompted me to finally go ahead with the purchase.

I paid £7.50 for it, which I suppose sounds a lot (It's cheaper in the US - $6 a tin), but I consider it totally worth it. I adore it for a number of reasons. Firstly, the tin is old fashioned and a sweet navy and white.  The texture of the salve itself is unlike anything I've tried before - I thought it might be like the rose Vaseline you can buy - but it's silky and almost gel-like, and so moisturising (and therefore non-sticky). Also, it is tinted a very transparent rosy hue, which is super pretty. Finally, it is divinely scented of roses (as one might expect)!

Try it! You will be converted. I'm not sure I will ever buy anything else...!

E xxx

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

I have just come home from watching Benjamin Francis Leftwich perform live in London. Have you heard of him? He has the most strange, wonderful voice and his songs are so beautiful.

This is the first of his songs that I heard, a couple of years ago. It reminds me of lying in the sun and having nothing to do but make daisy chains and read novels.




Isn't it a lovely, dreamy song for summer?

E xxx

P.S.  You can download or buy his album here, or most of his songs are on youtube. 'Pictures' and 'Sophie' are a couple of other favourites of mine.

Summer Straws

I was putting off studying for my next exam by idly daydreaming about the garden party I am going to host in early June, when this misery of work is (temporarily) behind me...

Now, people may laugh but I have been poring over Pippa Middleton's 'Celebrate' (I'd been hankering after it for ages and my mama bought it for me as a cheer-up/revision present!). I don't care what anyone says (people have been very scathing about it), I think it is wonderful! It's so full of thoughtful and interesting ideas, and for someone who likes to throw any kind of social gathering (be it a supper party, soiree, brunch, murder mystery dinner, drinks or afternoon tea) it just made me so excited to try out her recipes and decorating tips. I would genuinely heartily recommend it, it's such a knowledgable, wholesome and beautifully put together book.

Anyway, that is not the point of this post. Inspired by the lovely Pippa, I was looking for some old fashioned paper straws that I thought would be a nice addition to the glasses of Pimm's that people are going to be drinking at my party, and I found these:

Aren't they PERFECT? I am pretty sure my heart actually ached when I read that Terrain doesn't ship to the UK.. I don't think I will find any others as sweet as these, but I will keep looking...

E xxx

Out of Print Clothing

I know everyone's in a bit of a Gatsby fever at the moment (have you seen the new film? The combination of a) it not coming out in England til this Thursday and b) me being in the middle of exams means I won't get to see it for a while but I am very excited - I know Leo and Carey will be sensational though I've read Baz Lurhman overdoes it a bit) but I thought this t-shirt from Out of Print Clothing http://outofprintclothing.com/was rather lovely:

You can also get the classic American cover:

Both Gatsby ones come in lots of different colours! I adore this website, they have so many cute book cover tshirts and jumpers. You can shop by book title to see if your favourite is there! They also do jumpers (sweaters) and totes.

I feel like I want them all, but I especially like Charlotte's Web, Tales of the Jazz Age, and the cover of Jane Eyre, which looks like a bad romance novel! 

Which do you like? Would you wear one?

E xxx

Tall Ship

So, my mother and I ordered this print by the lovely (Canadian) Banquet Atelier & Workshop  for our kitchen. Home has recently been redone in coastal, beachy blues and whites (it is, after all, by the sea), and we thought it would be perfect for the new theme. We love its mix of tradition and freshness!

Banquet do so many beautiful prints. I would love this whale for my flat in London!

E xxx

The Book Thief

Have you read The Book Thief? I first it read years ago when it was first published in England (I remember I loved it so much I emailed the author, Markus Zusak, who replied! I was excited.). Ever since then I've recommended it to anyone who asks (and indeed, to some who don't), but I realised that I could barely remember what happened in it, apart from the basics. I only remember the feeling after I'd read it. So, I reread it today, and was struck again - perhaps even more sov- by how beautifully written and staggeringly good it is. I also wept my face off.

So, here I am, recommending it to you. It was first published in Zusak's native Australia as an adult book, and it was subsequently published in America as a children's book. Some of the themes are pretty gruelling (it is, after all, concerning Nazi Germany), but written in such a human way that they are not frightening. Still, maybe under-12s shouldn't read it...

I implore you to give it a try.

Here's the cover (picture from amazon):

Enjoy.

E xxx

Almost Easter!

Don't these look divine? I am so excited for Easter!

E xxx

P.S. Photo from Gourmet Traveller.