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Never ever did I think face masks would be an necessity accessory for Spring Summer 2020 when I was buying stock for the boutique last Summer.

But it is and although theres a debate on whether or not you should be wearing one I for sure will be wearing a mask when I’m back at work.  I feel its an added precaution for my customers and also for myself.

Over the weekend I searched online for some non surgical masks that suit my style.  From beautiful Liberty prints to animal prints there’s plenty to choose from. A lot of the companies were giving back too, you could choose to purchase masks to be sent on to frontline workers, make a donation, a few of the companies I bought from, a donation was made to the NHS. If I’m going to be wearing a mask 6 days a week, I will need a few.  The ones I have chosen below are either cotton, linen or silk and are all hand wash only.

The 1st one I purchased was from a company called Wolford, they are now stocked in Pampas Glasgow, they can be found on Instagram at pampasglasgow. This was the most expensive one at £30.  96233_8222

I found this one on Instagram, it was a sponsored Ad, the company is called Style Cheat  They were sold out of most styles but there was an option to add your email address to be notified when new stock came in.  I ordered the top cheetah print at £9.99IMG_3128_1800x1800

CottonpolisTrading on Etsy £7

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OlioOfOxney on Etsy £6.95

Mizgeorge on Etsy £13 – The one has an adjustable toggle on the back

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And finally another Esty seller EvieLaLuveLungerie £8.50

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I’m glad that companies have evolved to start making prettier masks, not just for vanity , wearing a face mask can be daunting. As I said at the beginning, this is just an added precaution I will still be washing and sanitising my hands as well as social distancing.  I will be wearing a mask when helping customers in the boutique, when I’m out shopping and if I need to go on public transport.

Are you / will you be wearing a mask?

Chat soon & take care

Marlene x

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Lounge wear  – I’m obsessed, I can’t keep my clothes on! Literally as soon as I’m through the door, its strip off and into something comfortable.  I cant sit around the house in jeans those who do I salute you.

Now I confess I used to change into my pyjamas but I found it made me lazy.  I would have dinner then lounge on the sofa in front of the TV all night. (I do love nice pyjamas, I will save that for another post.)  I invested in some nice comfortable lounge wear so that I’m comfortable but also feel nice. I can’t do hoodies, they remind me of being a teenager

I order these from here in mint, who knows how long they will stay clean with the dogs jumping up but I fancied some Spring colours.

Zara are killing it with stylish joggers, I’m on the wait list for this pair– seriously how nice is this outfit! Yes it’s quite Winter (y) but I love it and you could switch it up with some nice trainers and a T Shirt or this light grey knit  – which I’ve ordered and in mint too!5536100802_1_1_1

Instead of a hoodie, it’s it’s a bit chilly,  wear a shirt usually a fitted denim shirt left open over a vest.

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Zara  £12.99

 

Chat soon

Marlene x

 

 

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Hi Everyone, hope your week is off to a good start and you’ve stayed safe during storm Ciara.  With Valentines Day this week, I thought I would share some idea’s for your loved one.  Falling on a Friday I’ve include some weekend plans. Some prefer to go on a date rather than a flowers and chocolates so I’ve mixed it up a bit.

Romantic Dinner with overnight stay

Our favourite place to go just now is the Oak Tree in Balmaha.  I wrote a post about it last week here. I love the drive out to Balmaha and its location right on Loch Lomond.  The food is fantastic, it’s pub food with a bit extra, they don’t take bookings but the wait isn’t usually that long. Request a seat next to the fire if you can.  We always do. You can include an overnight stay in the Inn or in one the the beautiful cottages.  Rates start at £110. A romantic stroll a long the bonny banks before dinner, definite browny points!

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The Blair Tavern our local favourite, famous for it’s delicious steaks, cosy romantic setting with a country feel.  The food here is locally sourced. Choose from the light-bite menu or go the full hog, the sticky toffee pudding is something else…..

 

Coffee and a good walk

Put your phones away, grab the dogs (if you have them) this a great option to get outdoors and have a good catch up.  I think you talk a lot more when your out walking & the fresh air makes always feel good. Theres so much to see on our doorstep, Ayrshire is a great place to live and we have some great walks.  I love a wonder round Culzean Castle or Dundonald Castle stopping in at GRO on the way home for a coffee and usually one of their fabulous cakes.  Lochwinnoch has some great walks, short walk pathways or you can be away for the day.  Grab a coffee and a cake at the Wee Coffee Caravan or enjoy a meal at the Loch House on your way home.

Beige Forest Fashion Photo Collage

Cinema Date and Dinner

I’m a bit late to the party here but a customer in the shop was telling me about the 4DX viewings, I’d never heard of it. If you haven’t either it enhances the special effects, you feel the wind, water, smells and your seat moves!! This is available in Cineworld in Glasgow.  I think this would be good for a first date to break the ice.  Closer to home is Oscars, a cosy cinema with the restaurant in the same location.  They serve good food and great cocktails.

Gifts

I thought I would include a few gift idea’s, usually we make a point of spending the weekend together but seeing as Im getting ditched for the fishing, Alex take your pick of the ladies gift ideas!!

For Him

 

See you Thursday

Marlene x

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17 years since our first date………. I believe in celebrating the small stuff and any excuse to be taken out for dinner!!

We’re incredibly lucky to live where we do, just over an hours drive and wer’e on the shores of Loch Lomond.  It was a rare day without the dogs, Alex took them a good walk in the morning so they were quiet happy snoozing the rest of the afternoon until we were home and it was their dinner time.

Being dog free we headed for Loch Lomond Shores for a browse in Jenners, its a while since I’ve been there. A browse it was for me anyway, I’m trying not to buy just for the sake of it.  I did see a fabulous faux furleopard print full length coat, I daren’t try it on because I new what would happen.  It was the dream but I have one, although its not faux fur also my mum bought me an Alice Temperley leopard print coat for my birthday in August when we were in London in January.  Ages away I know but it was a steal and I will have a new coat for Autumn this year.

Alex did treat me to 4 new mugs for the house, stags in the highlands, they are beautiful.  I find stags majestic, the house is becoming a bit of a shrine to them.  I need to stop buying anything with a stag on it!!  Alex got a few jumpers in the sale too.  By this time we were hungry so back to the car and we drove round the other side of the loch to Balmaha.

Now this wee place is something else, a tiny village  sitting at the bottom of the Conic Hill with a few cottages, B & B’s and the Oak Tree Inn & The Village Shop next to St Mocha’s coffee shop and ice cream parlour but there’s something about it. It’s a place I would love a wee holiday cottage.

The Oak Tree Inn sits just off the lochside, built with slate from the local quarry, modern and stylish but sits perfectly within the village.

At Christmas they wrap the building and the big oak tree in a big red bow, a huge Christmas tree stands proud at the front door and the garlands round the entrance were beautiful.  Theses photos were from our New Year’s Day walk.

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We sat next to the tree with coffee and cake
Tom Weir Garden

You can choose to eat in the conservatory or the fire side bar, we opted for the bar with roaring fire, there was a wait but only about 10 minutes and Ken our waiter got us a great seat near the fire. It’s fascinating room with plenty to see, old grandfather clocks, tools and swords from years back hanging on the walls along with stuffed animals.

The menu always has plenty to choose from. We both choose creamy garlic mushroom on ciabatta bread to start, it was delicious the sauce was perfection.  My plate was empty before Alex!!  For our mains we both choose Creamy Chicken and Leek Pie, potatoes and veg.  The veg was a mixture of cabbage and big chunks of turnip, it was Burns weekend along with carrots and broccoli and pea’s.  Again absolutely delicious.  By this time I was stuffed and left some potatoes, by what I mean stuffed, I needed to leave room for pudding!.  A scrumptious trio of cheseecakes, banoffee, chocolate and raspberry with 2 scoops of ice-cream coffee and raspberry.  It hit the spot!  Alex had sticky toffee pudding.

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Not the best photo 🙂 but I thought Id show you what I was wearing  Coat – Old Boohoo, Faux fur Scarf –Joules  Boots – Dubarry Bag was my Christmas present from Alex. I love it Strathberry

Time to head home driving back through the picturesque villages of Balmaha and Drymen, dreaming of owning a wee place around here, totally stuffed, the button undone on my jeans because I though I was going to burst but it was worth it!! It was home, make up off ,skin care done, pyjamas on ready for Call The Midwife.  A great Sunday.

Chat soon

Marlene

 

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Hi hope your well.  Thursday again and I’m back with a fashion post this week Im chatting about the chunky platform trainer.  Praise the lord, shoes that are not only stylish, comfortable but make your legs look longer.

The Chunky trainer, is going nowhere.  Hanging around for another season.  After the Balenciaga launch last year the trend filtered onto the high street towards the end of last season. I wasn’t to keen on them but I had pre-ordered them for the boutique. Slowly they began to grow on me.  I did treat myself to this pair, now in the half price sale.

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Another design arrived this week and came straight home with me too, how can you resist leopard print & glitter !!

IMG-4120 Different ways to style them.  The gorgeous Emma Hill styling them up with a midi skirt and chunky jumper.  Also with jeans and a trench coat – more on them later, trench or macs are going to huge this Spring Summer, watch them filter into your favourite  stores soon.

 

Emma Hill
Emma Hill

Dressing down trousers and a blazer or sports luxe!

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Are you a fan of the chunky trainer? Let me know in the comments below.

Chat soon

Marlene x