DIY Knitted Scarf

Learn to knit DIY knitted scarf
Learn to knit DIY knitted scarf
Learn to knit DIY knitted scarf
Learn to knit DIY knitted scarf
Learn to knit DIY knitted scarf
Scarf – Homemade with DEBBIE BLISS WOOL, Leather jacket – ASOS (old), Dungarees – ZARA, Denim shirt – TOPSHOP (old), Shoes – DR MARTENS
Location: Carrer de la Diputació, Barcelona

Introducing my favourite accessory this season, my DIY kintted scarf. A few Christmases ago – in fact the Christmas just before I started this blog – my grandma gave me a beautiful jumper that she had knitted for me from denim wool. I was so impressed so I decided to re-learn how to knit and started with this scarf. Of course life happened, summers passed where I forgot about my knitting and then finally last April I finished it, so this is the first winter of wearing it! It is made from lovely soft DEBBIE BLISS CASHMERINO ARAN wool and the cream colour means it goes with pretty much anything. I can’t recommend this wool enough, the peacefulness of knitting and how great it feels to produce something to this quality!

Now –  what shall my next knitting project be?

Je vous présente mon accessoire préféré du moment qui est l’écharpe que j’ai tricoté. Il y a quelques Noel – en fait, le Noel avant que j’ai commencé ce blog – ma grand-mère m’a donné un pull qu’elle a tricoté de la laine en jean. J’étais si impressionnée que j’ai décidé de me réapprendre comment tricoter et j’ai commencé avec cette écharpe. Bien-sûr qu’elle m’a pris beaucoup de temps parce que…la vie…les étés sont passés où j’ai oublié de tricoter mais enfin en avril, je l’ai finie. Donc, ceux-ci est le premier hiver que je peux porter cette écharpe! Je l’ai faite en laine de DEBBIE BLISS qui est super douce et la couleur crème va avec presque tout! Je vous conseille tellement cette marque de laine, je vous dis que tricoter est vraiment calmant et comment on se sent super d’avoir produire quelque chose de cette qualité!

Alors, que tricote-je maintenant?

Izzie x




Vegetarian Sweet Potato & Ginger Soup Recipe

Vegetarian sweet potato and ginger soup recipe
I just love soup. It is the perfect winter warmer for both lunch and dinner and even better if it is homemade. I made this soup up a few years ago now and even Lewis with his ‘soup-is-alright’ attitude loves it! It is super (souper) easy and cheap so let’s get cooking!
What you need…
– 1 large sweet potato
– 2 large potatoes
– Half a red pepper
– 2 carrots
– 1 onion
– 1 clove of garlic
– 2 tsp of grated ginger
– 1 vegetable stock cube
– Olive oil
– Crème fraîche (optional)
Vegetarian sweet potato and ginger soup recipe
What you do…

1. Fry finely chopped onion in olive oil. After a few minutes add chopped garlic, grated ginger and red pepper. Cook until soft on a medium heat. 
2. Add cubed sweet potato and potatoes and sliced carrots; stir. 
3. Pour in enough boiling water to cover all the ingredients and chuck in a vegetable stock cube.
4. Bring to the boil and then reduce to simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are very soft and almost breaking up.
5. If you have an electric hand whisk, blitz the soup to taste. I prefer leaving a few surprise chunks of potato in there. Otherwise you can use a potato masher to smooth those ingredients out into a nice chunky soup texture. 
6. (Optional – stir in a couple of tablespoons of crème fraîche) Season to taste and serve with crusty bread, homemade croutons or… a cactus!
7. Enjoy!
I would love to know if you try this recipe and what you think! Either in a comment on here or on any of my social media channels which you can find just below <3
Izzie x

How To Pack For A Weekend City Break

I am off to Paris at the weekend for a catch up with friends and hopefully enough mulled wine and pretty lights to come back feeling all warm and festive. For the fashion conscious among us, packing for such a weekend city break can be challenging. Even if it’s just for two or three days, you want to look fabulous – especially in Paris! – but hand luggage restrictions and critical looks from boyfriends/girlfriends mean that we must pack sensibly! So here are some of my top tips of how to pack for a weekend city break.

What and how to pack for a weekend city break
Burberry trench coat – KILO SHOP, Trainers – Converse via ASOS, Bag – CATH KIDSTON (old)

PLANNING
I always like to find out a bit about the general style of a city when planning what to take on a city break. This may sound silly because your style in your style but it’s always nice to not stand out like a sour thumb tourist. Take Paris, for example, I know that the style is quite minimal there which is actually perfect for city break packing as I’ll explain below, and people actually do wear a lot of stripes there so don’t be shy – throw your favourite mariniere in your bag.

What and how to pack for a weekend city break
Denim Skirt – URBAN OUTFITTERS, Jeans – MONKI, Striped polo neck – second hand, Black polo neck – H&M, Backpack – FJALLRAVEN KANKEN

THE BASICS
The trick to weekend packing is flexibility. You need to have a few basic items in your case that you can mix and match and also jazz up with accessories – more on that below. I would suggest taking a trusty pair of black skinnies and a button down denim skirt, my recent Black Friday purchase. Neutral colours are perfect for mix/match dressing so in true keeping with my current polo neck obsession, I have chosen this black cropped one from H&M that goes with everything and a striped one to get that French look. A pair of comfy shoes or trainers are a must for city break exploring and my choice is almost always my high top black Converse. They are comfy for during the day but classic enough to wear with a smart-ish outfit for dinner or drinks. It’s all about flexibility.

What and how to pack for a weekend city break
White blouse – KILO SHOP (similar via ASOS), Suede waistcoat – second hand, Suede boots – River Island via ASOS, Hat – KILO SHOP, Gold necklace – second hand, Choker – ASOS (sold out), Scarf – KILO SHOP

THE EXTRAS
On top of basic pieces you will need some extra bits to really personalise your outfits. The most space saving way to do this when travelling is with accessories. A hat, whether it be this baker boy hat or large fedora, instantly adds oomph to a look and it doesn’t even need to take up valuable suitcase space! Just wear it travelling, which is also a solution for bed hair if your flight is too early to sort out your mop. Otherwise statement chokers or patterned scarves are great accessories for the neutral palate of your basics. And make sure you bring a more dressed up piece like this gorgeous white blouse or a nice dress. Then you just need to save space in your suitcase for shopping, especially if, like me, Paris is your destination!

I hope you find this little guide useful! I am certainly going to be following some of my own pointers when packing for Paris this weekend. I have a post scheduled for while I’m away but make sure to follow me on INSTAGRAM for travel updates and look out for a kind of Paris photo diary/weekend in Paris post next week!

Izzie x



Tapestry Coat With Faux Fur

AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
Suede ankle boots
AW15 trends tapestry coat with faux fur
Jacket – KILO SHOP, Polo neck – H&M, Skirt – KILO SHOP, Boots – RIVER ISLAND via ASOS
Location: Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya, Barcelona

Right. I am very excited that I finally get to share this tapestry coat with faux fur trimmings with you and talk about its awesomeness! If you follow me on INSTAGRAM (shameless plug, #soznotsoz), then you will have seen glimpses of this beauty but now you get to see it in all its glory. 
This was my last vintage purchase from Paris before I moved to Barcelona and I am so glad I squeezed and squeezed it into my suitcase. I just love the tapestry pattern, festive gold and red colours and of course, the red faux fur collar and cuffs are just the perfect trimmings! Hitting two AW15 trends in one, bam! Of course, such a jacket does all the talking so I’m just wearing a simple high neck top, my suede button down skirt and my lurrverly new suede booties.  
What do you think?
ENFIN. Ça me plaît trop que je peux vous montrer et en parler de cette veste magnifique de tapisserie avec des détails de fausse fourrure! Si vous me suivez sur INSTAGRAM, vous aurez déjà vu des petites étincelles de cette belle veste mais maintenant vous pouvez la voir en toute!
Celle-ci était mon dernier achat vintage à Paris avant de déménager à Barcelone et je suis trop contente que j’ai serré ma valise avec elle là dedans. J’aime trop le motif du style tapisserie, les couleurs festives doré et rouge et, bien sûr, le col et les poignets en fausse fourrure rouge sont parfaits! Voilà deux tendances automne-hiver 15 en une veste, OUI. Il faut mettre rien de spécial avec cette veste du coup je l’ai porté cette fois avec un top noir, ma jupe en daim boutonné et mes nouvelles bottes en daim magnifiiiiiques.
Que pensez-vous?
Izzie x

Christmas Gift Ideas: The Blogger

Olympus Pen Camera – via AMAZON
2016 Diary – PAPERCHASE
Mermaid Phone Case – Skinny Dip via ASOS
Weekend Bag – LONGCHAMP
#Girlboss by Sophie Amoruso – via AMAZON
For the final instalment of my Christmas Gift Ideas series, I just had to do a special one dedicated to all you blogger friends/family/colleagues out there. It cannot be a blogger essentials list without the Olympus Pen – the ultimate blogger camera, which I will definitely be buying with the help of some Christmas/birthday money come the new year. It is great because it’s super small, takes amazing photos, connects to wifi and has a flip down screen for those essential selfies.
Blogging take a lot of time, preparation, planning and motivation so as a blogger you need a way of organising yourself. Between this jazzy Paperchase diary, The Bloggers Planner notebook and the #Girlboss book for motivation, you will be on the right track to success. 
Even if you are not a travel blogger specifically, blogging will involve some travelling so it is important to have some decent luggage. This Longchamp bag is the perfect size for weekend trips and it’s a classic. And finally, all bloggers like a novelty phone case, am I right?
I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas Gifts Series! Check out The Fashionista PART ONE & PART TWO, THE HOME BIRD and THE TRAVELLER just below. Now I actually have to start making decisions and buying…!
Izzie x


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