Roses are red

Abandoning woolen gloves and home knitted scarves always feels like the beginning of someone good, something new. Walking out without my coat on, makes me feel a bit like a butterfly, crawling out of a cocoon of sensible clothing. (Even if the sun isn't shining!) Out with the layers of jumpers that no longer make my heart sing quite like delicate summer clothing, and in with the prettiest of dresses. And this dress is one of the prettiest I own. It swishes when I walk, making me want to twirl around all day, like I did when I was a little girl. If twirling around was an occupation, it would surely be my dream job! I've teamed it with new Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, the bargain of the year at £6.90, a far cry from the three figure price in store! And a beautiful rose flower crown, which I won as part of a giveaway by the beautiful Bethan, from the Pale Female. Hearing that I won made my day! Bethan made the crown herself - she's a very clever girl! I really love it, and know I will be wearing it a lot. The box the gifts arrived in, has now become my cats new playhouse, pixie couldn't wait to jump in as soon as I was opening it up! So thank you very much Bethan, from me and two furballs! It's been great watching them running around excited over it, especially when I've not been feeling too good recently. There's nothing like a mad cat to make you feel better! Well maybe a new dress, ay?!

My earrings are also new, from the lovely Viktorija at Andsmile. I bought a lucky dip bag from her a few weeks ago and cheekily asked if it was possible to have the swallow earrings, which match my necklace. It was a very lucky bag indeed, as Viktoria agreed to send these beautiful birdies along with so many other beautiful things. 

Dress - Asos £32.50

 Shoes - Salvatore Ferragamo - Charity shop £6.90

Flower crown - Bethan at Pale Female

Earrings - Andsmile £7

I hope everyone's having a lovely weekend, and spoiling your mums and grandmas! I've just had afternoon tea with my Mum and Grandma, which was delicious!

Happy Sunday!

Emma Xx

Jaclyn from Teacups and Cake

This is my first ever guest post on Emma's Looking Glass, and I think it's only right to have a fellow blogger who also enjoys the finer things in life, I'm talking about tea, cake, the gilmore girls, fashion and Ryan Reynolds of course! Introducing the lovely Jaclyn from Teacups and cakes. 

J

1. Tell me about your blog 'teacups and cake??'

   Teacups and Cake has grown and changed with me over the past seven years. It is my little place on the internet where I share my thoughts, ideas and inspiration. Right now that means lots of baked goods, clothes and tea.

2. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

   I love having a place to share my thoughts and a creative outlet. The thing that I really like about blogging is connecting with other bloggers. The community and friendships that developed during my first few years of blogging is what helped me to fall in love with it. I hope to continue to connect with other bloggers. 

3. Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration for posts from all different places. Other blogs, Pinterest and Instagram are at the top of the list right now. 

4. What blog is your favourite to follow?

This is such a tough question. I love different blogs for different reasons. Right now one blog that I am really loving is Just a Trace. She is a fellow Canadian blogger and super funny.

 5. What is your favourite place to visit and why? 

This is probably a cliche but NYC. I have been a couple of times now and each trip was so different. There is still so much of the city that I haven't explored. I think its a place I could visit over and over again and never get bored.

6. What is you're favourite thing to bake?

Cupcakes are probably one of my favourite things. There are just so many different flavour combinations to choose from. I love experimenting with different cakes and fillings. However, I am always looking for the next challenge. Whether its macaroons or croissants. 

7. What is you're favourite food?

I love anything chocolate. The more chocolate the better.

8. What is you're favourite item of clothing?

This is a tough one. It tends to change with the seasons. During the winter a I love a cozy sweater or scarf. In the summer I am all for dresses and skirts. Jeans tend to remain a staple all year round and I go through phases where different ones are my favourite. I do love my slipper socks that my grandmother knit for me this past Christmas I tend to wear them around the house on a daily basis.

9. Who is the most inspirational person in you're life?

My parents. I look up to them and I am always looking to them for advice. 

10. You started a 25 before 25 list on you're blog, are you enjoying it? What have you achieved so far?

I am a goal setter, so it seemed fitting to start my own 25 by 25 list. There are a lot of items on there that I am working towards or need to complete before I can accomplish other things on the list (graduation being the biggest obstacle at the moment). I am just started a Cake Decorating class this month which I am really excited about. I am working on reading the Jane Austin novels. So far I have made macaroons and gone to a sporting event. I am really enjoying checking the items off of the list. I just need Sex and the City to be on Netlfix so I can cross that one off. Haha.

11. Apart from The Gilmore girls (who are both amazing!) which fictional character would you most like to be?

I would love to be Sandra Bullock's character in the proposal. She is a high powered successful book editor with a killer wardrobe (those shoes!) and she gets to marry Ryan Reynolds. I would be content with being her.

If you want to see more from Jacyln, head over to teacups and cakes. www.teacupsandcake.blogspot.ca

Emma Xx

Strawberry Hill Outfit

 

 

Floral crown - Primark £2.50

Dress - Miss Selfridge - thrift £6

Shoes - Dune - thrift £15

This is the outfit I wore last weekend when I went exploring Strawberry Hill House. The sun was out and it felt more spring-like than it has so far this year, something that makes me very happy! I wore a dress I've had for years now, I love the 70's feel to it, even though it's not actually vintage. I also wore one of my floral crowns, all winter I've been wanting to wear flowers in my hair again, but to me, it doesn't seem right when the trees are bare and there's not a single flower to be seen. I think I will be wearing foral crowns a lot now that spring is on it's way!

Emma Xx

Strawberry Hill House

 Yesterday, my mum and I set out into the glorious sunshine with Angus and Julia Stone playing in our car. I seem to go the whole winter without listening to their music, but as soon as the sun is out, so is the music that reminds me of summer. We took the short trip to Twickenham, to visit a house which I can only describe as a fairy princess castle. Stawberry Hill. I've only ever visited once before, the house has been undergoing restoration and only been open for a few years. Yesterday we signed up to see rooms normally closed to the public. The house is decorated in a gothic but very esentric style, which is what you would expect from a man who used to wear a wooden cravat! That man was Horace Walpole and he created the house in the 18th century.

I took loads of photos while I was there, something else that's great about this place, they don't mind you taking photos at all. In fact, I was told to take as many as I want! It would be a fantastic setting for a dramatic photoshoot. The photos that I took were mostly of details, carvings, wall paper, etc. I regret that I didn't take any more photos of the house from the outside on the beautiful blue sky background, then I could show you just how much this house looks like a castle out of a fairytale. The strawberry Hill wedsite has a great photo here. I did also take outfit photos - which I will add to another post.

I really enjoyed my day out and the promise of spring in the air.  I hope you enjoyed my photos, I'll be posting my outfit of the day very soon too. Have you visited Strawberry Hill? Or another house that looks like it came straight out of a fairytale? I'd love links if you have any!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend,

Emma Xx