Here before you know it.

Sod it, the festive season is going to arrive before we know it, even though we have a year to prepare and the shops bamboozle us with holiday things from September onwards, it still seems to come as a surprise on December the 19th when I still haven't got all the food decorations and gifts that I need. I just can't wait any longer to post about these lovely bells, candles and garlands from Toast house and home not so seasonal really in colours of peeling gold, terracotta and brown paper I think they have year round appeal.

Beautiful

Adore the beautiful catalogue from Toast's new mens collection.

So many reasons to stay home

It's dark early, it's chilly, blankets are looking very appealing right now, and I expect I will be spending the evenings of the next few months snuggled in Pyjamas. The best sleepwear is in Toast's new house and home collection. To me it's like cosy poetry. Faded floral silk trousers, velvet lined slippers, alpaca slouchy cardigans, aran hand knitted socks, tapestry print nighties and the jewel in the crown a damson coloured silk velvet gown.

Haunting blues

Thursday. A quick walk to town for white cotton thread to finish some garlands that have been patiently waiting on my work table, turned into the unexpected treat of coffee with a friend. The sun even showed up for the afternoon.

I came home to find an eagerly awaited parcel, then sat down with a cool drink, flicked through the new Toast catalogue and ate my lunch. The cover is beautiful haunting blues and mauves, all the colours of my dried Hydrangeas. Things are looking up.

Velvet lined

Still waited with bated breath to receive my hold in the hands copy of the Toast Autumn/Winter catalogue. But for now I will have to pour over the images online. I am thinking this new season would be even better with some princess worthy velvet lined gold leather slippers?

Thanks for wishing me better, the body ache and shivers have gone and now I am just left with a very sore throat. I better go get ready to try and speak to a doctor, the saga of trying to get a appointment or just past the engaged tone, to confirm what you sadly already know (septic tonsillitis) begins.

Get on over to Toast and fall in love with velvet hangers, chunky handknit throws, beeswax candles and organic marmalades.

All images Toast

a good dress is best

Thanks for your comments and sharing all your lovely memories with me about your grandpa's. I loved reading each and every one.

So, the Toast outfit has been and gone straight back. Oh how I wanted it to look good. Trousers were a bizarre fit. (I was warned by a fellow blogger) and the tunic was just okay. But I am not in love so back it goes.

Elsewhere on my blog travels I caught a glimpse of the new Designers Guild collection (sorry can't remember where). Thus inspiring these two outfit combo's. You know how I love a good dress.
No weird twisted baggy seated pants in sight. : )

All items from Toast and Jigsaw.

Friday tomorrow yay!

lets go exploring

Another little flurry of beautiful items have been added to the Toast collection. I'm thinking this red and blue outfit would be perfect for exploring a pretty greek island on a blazing hot summers day.

After too many visits to the Toast site I have been continually bewitched by this shirt dress and trouser combination. I am confessing to a splurge. It should arrive any day now. If the husband is reading. . . I got free P&P, 10 % off and free returns. I bet he is hoping it doesn't fit!

Fun and games

I have been tagged by Holly and Nina and though I don't always acknowledge a tagging (sorry!), this sounded kind of fun. so here we go.

PICTURE
I love this image by Tim Walker.
Hopefully when we own a little cottage we can have
a midnight picnic and watch old
movies projected on the side of our home.

POEM
I Meant To Do My Work Today.
by Richard Le Gallienne

I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand
So what could I do but laugh and go?

SONG
Isn't this a lovely day to be caught in the rain.
sung by Fred Astaire.
Once on a boat trip in Lille it started to delicately
rain. Afterwards as we got walking back through the old streets
we got caught in a terrific storm and were soaked through.

QUOTE
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
Anais Nin

ITEM OF CLOTHING
Toast zissou tunic dress.

PLACE
Claude Monet's garden at Giverny.

DISNEY PRINCESS
It has to be strong willed, independent. . . . Ariel.


If you want to join in. No pressure. . . . I tag . . . .Piia, Sam, Vera, Louise, Denise, Katie plus anyone else who wants to share.

House and Home

Toast must have heard that I was growing weary of being bundled up and watching day time TV, as just after my last post, their new House and Home catalogue dropped into my inbox. Hooray!

Collecting shells

Okay, I know its been a bit fashion heavy round here lately, but with a new season creeping up on us I have been getting so excited about outfit possibilities. So of course when I received my Toast spring collection alert I was off.

A cosy cardigan for breezy beach walks and the perfect basket bag to hold a collection of found shells. I am hoping to go on this walk with the husband when he gets back. Only one more day to wait.

All images Toast

before I go

Happy Saturday. I love love love this. from toast.

Cosied

Thanks for all your well wishes for my mum. I think we might be more angry than her! Us girls are very protective. So, mum has her car back and is just waiting for new keys to be made. No sign of the handbag but that was kind of expected. Money, keys, bank cards, are all replaceable, but its the sentimental things that can't be replaced. That's what is really upsetting when something like this happens. Anyway enough about those selfish idiots. My sisters and I shall try and make sure that mum has a new set of things to treasure.
My day was brightened when I got home from work by a surprise waiting on the door mat and in my inbox. The christmas catalogue from Toast, such warming images in here. They have cosied me up a little as the wind and hail batters my victorian walls and I try to sew a few things. Maybe if I'm good santa will put some of these beautiful padded hangers in my stocking?

Its officially Autumn, Toast says so.

What a great day. Toast launched their Autumn Winter house and home collection today, I know I don't even have to tell you that I love it all. Cosy socks, sparkly cushions, faded florals all to be enjoyed amidst the gentle flicker of bee's wax candles. I'm already there.

My Toast

Back again (see below) with my dream capsule collection from the new Toast catalogue x x x

Autumn winds and other stories

I know I have not been around so much this last week, but another first day at new job today. I have been mentally preparing (or ignoring and hiding from the fact until this very morning at seven AM!) Don't know why I do that? I seem to remember telling you this last time. I guess there's no point getting worked up with ifs this and ifs that though.

Anyway had a fun weekend. Saturday we saw loads of our friends. Bar hopped a little. Sunday we remembered that its much safer to stay indoors. Baked a delicious cottage pie and set up camp on the couch to eat it. Bliss.

So, the pictures. All from the new Toast catalogue called Autumn winds and other stories. Just what I love to find on my doormat when I get in from work. Now I will wait with anticipation for the home catalogue to accompany it and plan my Autumn everything. Bring on the log fires.

Carry on camping

The new house and home range from Toast is out now and as usual I'm in love with it all! I have always loathed camping but they make it look so beautiful I just want to pack up my portable stove and head out to a field. Just in case I get cold feet on the outside living idea, with all these products I could make a great camp in my bedroom just like when I was a kid! There is a fabulous basketry and bags section too, I think someone better put my visa in a locked box. (again)

All images from Toast

Plumo

Arrived home to find my new Plumo catalogue waiting on the doormat. So many pretty things in here, all their clothes have that little extra detail be it stitching or cut, these clothes aren't cheap but they are good quality pieces to add to your wardrobe, mixing the dresses with cheeper knitwear or inexpensive shoes, like these canvas pumps from Toast.co.uk can make an outfit a little more economical! But if its not clothing or lovely jewellery you are after step right up and start poking around the living section where you will find the delicate glass jars (above) perfect for serving jam or butter and these gorgeous bird canvases.
Better get back to reality and the apple pie that needs cooking, hope you find something you like over at Plumo

Timeless capsule

Late at night, just got in from a friends house and checking my messages, my favorite email of the season has arrived from Toast! Never too late in the day to embark on a spot of virtual shopping, (Dean if you are reading get your wallet ready!!) So here's my dream capsule wardrobe from their new spring 2008 collection. I really love their clothes as they are classic designs that don't pigeon hole you into a specific time or era.
Well thats my thousand spent, and I didn't even make it to the House and Home section yet. Guess I'll wait till they have a promotional discount. Anyhow better clean off the day old mascara which is hurting my sleepy eyes.

Images from Toast.