Briar Rose

White Chocolate and Raspberry Cupcakes.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:18:00 +0000

It's been a while since I last shared a recipe, but by no means have I stopped baking, so I thought it was high time I allowed you another peek into my favourite hobby. White chocolate cream cheese icing was one of those things that took me a while to figure out - I was too used to making traditional butter-cream, and wouldn't let my margarine go without a fight - however now that I've fine tuned a recipe that suits me, I could honestly eat the stuff by the bowlful. Fresh, whipped cream toppings used to be my favourite on cupcakes, but cream cheese has definitely overtaken. It's so creamy and yummy, but still fresher and lighter than stodgy butter-cream.

White chocolate and raspberry has always been a favourite combination of mine, and since it's a flavour I consider quite summery, I couldn't think of a better time to share this recipe. It's very straight forward - the most complex part is melting the chocolate!

Ingredients for 12 cupcakes -

110g/4oz self raising flour
110g/4oz caster sugar
110g/4oz margarine
2 large free range eggs
1tsp baking powder
A splash on vanilla extract
60g/2oz white chocolate

170g/6oz cream cheese
110g/4oz white chocolate
1-2tbsp icing sugar (to taste)
Raspberries to finish

Method -

Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/gas mark 3, and line a muffin tin with your choice of cupcake cases. Sieve all of the dry cake ingredients into a bowl, then add the butter, eggs and margarine. Melt the chocolate - either in a microwave or bain-marie - and add it to the mixture. Either use a mixer on full speed for a few minutes to beat the mixture until fluffy, or use a wooden spoon and do so by hand. You want to get the mixture as light as possible, in texture and colour. Dollop heaped teaspoons into the cupcake cases, and bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes, until slightly golden in colour. Leave on a wire rack to cool.

Melt the rest of the white chocolate, and add it to a medium bowl with the cream cheese. Beat them together until well combined and fairly stiff. Add icing sugar to taste (personally, I tend not to over-sweeten, but it's all down to personal preference). Once the cupcakes have cooled, spread generous spoonfuls of icing on top, and finish with a fresh raspberry. Enjoy!

Wedding Diary - Etsy Wedding Event.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:53:00 +0000

Some of you may remember that last year I started a spin-off 'Wedding Diary' blog. Originally I was planning on making it a separate venture from Briar Rose itself, however I began to realise that I'd rather just focus on the one blog, and that there was no harm in redefining Briar Rose as fashion and lifestyle. Since this blog is now far more lifestyle orientated that it was last autumn, I've decided that the 'Wedding Diary' will instead take the form of a series of posts on this blog. After all, I'm assuming that if you're a regular reader you must be somewhat interested in my life, and my wedding is unquestionably going to be a huge part of that. Besides, wedding planning ties in quite nicely with general fashion and lifestyle! Over the next few days I'll be adding a 'Wedding Diary' button so you can filter these posts.

On Saturday I met up with Steph and Chloe in London to attend the Etsy Wedding Event. Etsy has been a huge part of my wedding planning thus far - both my wedding ring and registry office dress were bought from vintage sellers - so when Steph suggested their wedding event I snapped up a ticket. They were £5 each, and included a refreshing elderflower cocktail, a goodie bag, and a number of crafting workshops. It was great value, and I would absolutely consider attending other Etsy events in the future.

None of us are what you would call competent crafters, however the workshops were all very extremely beginner friendly, and we made kissing bride and groom clothes pegs, big doily pom poms and air-dry clay decorations. I liked that it wasn't so much about individual vendors shoving their business down your throat as some of the other other wedding fairs I've attended, and despite my general DIY-aversion I came away with a few crafty ideas for my own wedding - watch this space!

After a parting Starbucks with Steph - who was off to an evening wedding reception! - Chloe and I headed over to Covent Garden for a bit of browsing. I stopped off in Lush to stock up on my favourite hair products, and Chloe took her first trip to Laduree and bought her first macarons. I treated myself to a Rose Raspberry Saint-Honorés, since it was a special occasion. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I wanted another Laduree bag to add to my collection...

Our next stop was the V&A, for a bit of lazy wandering. It was the first time I'd ever visited, and I must admit that it's an incredible place. A bit of a labyrinth, but amazing nonetheless. If anything that added to the intrigue! If I ever happen to find myself in London again with a few hours to kill, I'd definitely be inclinded to return.

Before I jumped on my train back to Bath, we treated ourselves to a McDonalds. We bonded over our shared tendency to dip our chips in our milkshakes - chocolate for Chloe, Strawberry for me - and earned a few bewildered looks from the people sat around us. As you may know, Chloe is a photographer, and she's going to be shooting my wedding alongside Lily from Red Brick Lipstick. It's going to be lovely having friends capturing our special moments instead of someone we've only talked to briefly, and I can't wait to see what magic they both create!

Happy Anniversary To Us!

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:28:00 +0000

DRESS FROM JONES & JONES | NECKLACE FROM I LOVE CRAFTY* | SHOES FROM ASOS

GRANT IS WEARING A TEE SHIRT FROM RIVER ISLAND

Today is Grant and I's fifth anniversary! I won't bore you with all the cheesy details of our relationship, so I'll just say we've known each other since we were twelve, and we've been an 'item' since we were fifteen. We've had our fair share of obstacles - including a year of being semi-long distance - however the good times have outnumbered the bad and we're now living together and happier than ever.

We celebrated this morning with a big breakfast of pancakes with ice cream, white chocolate and strawberries - which was an AMAZING combination - and this evening we're off to Bill's for dinner. We agreed against presents or anything too flashy this year, instead putting the money straight into our honeymoon fund. Nevertheless, that's not to say it's not unfolding to be a lovely day!

I'm wearing my new Jones and Jones dress that I picked up from Topshop online. I actually bought it for the Company Style Blogger Awards, but since it's a special occasion I thought I'd wear it early. It looks amazing with a short fluffy petticoat underneath - I feel a bit like a cupcake! I especially love how my new 'A Mermaid Gave Me This' necklace from I Love Crafty looks settled around the collar.

Sorry for the short-ish post, but I've got an afternoon of popcorn and films with Grant to return to. Happy Monday!

I tried to do handstands for you.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:49:00 +0000

PINAFORE FROM ARK* | SHIRT FROM UNIQLO | HAT FROM ASOS

NECKLACE FROM LITTLE NELL* | SHOES FROM TOPSHOP

Yet another pinafore outfit post! Stuck in my comfort zone? Me? Maybe a little, but can you blame me for exploiting the pinafore trend whilst it's at it's height? I like to think my wardrobe will thank me when they carry through to AW13. Even if the trend dies, that hardly means I'll stop wearing them! Their recent reappearance on the high street has been a complete revelation, and I fully intend to stock up. Where have they been all my life (or should I say, since I was in primary school)?

Yesterday I went to London to attend the Etsy wedding fair with Steph (who got engaged last weekend - big congratulations!) and Chloe. Despite not having a crafty bone in my body, we got stuck in with the worshops, making giant doily pom poms, clay hanging decorations and kissing bride and groom clothes peg favours. There were complimentary elderflower cocktails which were very refreshing - if a little potent for half nine in the morning - and not forgetting the photobooth, which we may have exploited slightly... Can you blame us? They'll forever be a novelty.

I've been so excited to share this jewellery from my new advertiser - Little Nell - with you. Penny's designs are simple, understated, and ever so pretty. We're talking stars, moons and hearts on delicate little chains, although my favourite is the pinwheel necklace I'm wearing in this outfit. I've never seen anything like it, and it's so easy to wear. Below I've included the other couple of bits she sent me, and they're equally lovely. I hope you like them as much as I do!

Window Shopping Wishlist #1

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:30:00 +0000

'WE ALL HAVE A STORY TO TELL' NECKLACE FROM MONA MARA | MARY JANE PUMPS FROM AMERICAN APPAREL

WISPA DRESS FROM MOTEL | LADUREE: SUCRE THE RECIPES | TOPSHOP LIPSTICK IN 'BRIGHTON ROCK'

This is my first wishlist post in quite some time, however due to wedding planning at the moment I have very little money to fritter away on personal indulgences, and I decided a little window shopping wishlist might be good for the soul. There are always so many pretty bits and pieces floating around at this time of year, so I though what better time to launch a wishlist feature? I'm not going to commit to it being a weekly thing, but hopefully I'll be posting one at least every fortnight.

001. When I modeled Mona Mara's debut collection, I feel in love with this scroll necklace reading 'We all have a story to tell'. In all honesty, I loved pretty much every piece - especially the cats, arrows and London skyline - however the beautiful scroll with it's truly lovely inscription was definitely my favourite. It's sweet, simple, intriguing, and it goes with pretty much everything.

002. I've always hear good things about Topshop's make up range, however I've yet to treat myself. I've become far more comfortable wearing vibrant lip shades recently, and this 'Brighton Rock' shade is perfect for summer and quite unlike anything else in my make up bag. My only concern is that it might clash with my hair...

003. 90% of the time I feel like Motel's clothes are too edgy for girlie old me to pull off, however I always keep them on my radar because every now and again a little gem like this 'Wispa' dress crops up. I've definitely caught polka dot fever this season, and everything about this dress is just right. The polka dots are neither too big nor too small, it's got a lovely full skirt, cute little sleeves, and there are cut outs in the back that make it a little edgier whilst still being undeniably sweet.

004. I love both Laduree and baking, so it should come as no surprise that their recipe book has been on my wishlist for quite some time. After all, who wouldn't want to whip up delicious Laduree treats in the comfort of their own kitchen?

005. These American Apparel shoes have been on my wishlist for a long old time, but are more than twice my general shoe budget. They're just perfect, and they'd go with everything for summer. If a pair of shoes could magically appear in my wardrobe one morning, it would be these. I like to think they'd hold up well, since everything I've ever bought from American Apparel has really stood the test of time.

LADUREE TEE SHIRTS FROM UNIQLO | INSTANT TEAS FROM WHITTARD OF CHELSEA

006. I already have one of these Laduree x Uniqlo tee shirts, however I want more. They're perfectly pretty and a really reasonable price. Is it fair to say that I'd be interested in pretty much anything if you stamped a Laduree logo on it? Probably, but I still think this collection lives up the hype. The designs are to die for, and they're far more virtuous than a sugary box of macarons (not to mention they last longer!). Now, if only they'd release some dresses, skirts and blouses...

007. I've been living off these Whittard instant teas recently. I never would have considered trying them if I hadn't been offered a free sample whilst browsing their coffee selection one day, but boy am I glad that I did! You just mix 3-4 teaspoons with water - cold or hot - for a delicious, refreshing drink. So far I've tried Lychee aand Mango (delicious) and Strawberry and Vanilla (even more delicious) - I've even made homemade ice lollies out of the latter! Above are just a selection of the summery flavours I want to try, although they all sound lovely. The fact that the pots are designed with the prettiest illustrations is just gravy.

BISCUIT CUSHIONS FROM NIKKI MCWILLIAMS | 'JUNK FOOD' NECKLACES FROM SUGAR AND VICE
'EAT ME' EARRINGS FROM JI JI KIKI | PROVENCE ROSE CUTLERY SET FROM CATH KIDSTON

008. I've been eying up the Tatty Devine Lolly Necklace for months, however the unfortunate truth is that £35 is way out of my jewelry price range. This candyfloss necklace from Sugar and Vice has a similar aesthetic, is just as cute, and less than half the price. It's downright adorable, and far friendlier on the purse strings! The pretzel necklace is from the same 'Junk Food' collection, and is equally cute. Sugar and Vice definitely know the best foodstuffs to immortalise in acrylic!

009. Speaking of mouth-watering jewelry, how sweet are these Alice in Wonderland 'Eat Me' earrings from Ji Ji Kiki? Once again, these cuties come in at an undebatably affordable price - A mere £5! They're understated enough to wear out day-to-day, but fun enough to appease a quirkier taste. Because, let's face it, Alice in Wonderland never truly goes out of style.

010. I first saw these delectable biscuit cushions a few months ago on Olivia's Instagram, and they keep coming back to tease me. I now want our sofa to look like a veritable biscuit box, piled high with these babies in different biscuit designs. The Tunnock's Tea Cake and Digestive designs are my personal favourites, however they also have custard creams, pink wafers, party rings and many, many more. Love, love, love!

011. I may be a modern woman and feminist, but I take a lot of pride in my kitchen. I love whipping up baked goodies, and my counters and cupboards are filled with pretty cake stands, mugs, and retro paraphernalia. I love our current pastel cutlery set from Tesco, however my dream cutlery comes in the form of this Prevence Rose set from Cath Kidston. The colours are lovely and fresh, and that classic Cath Kidston print is beautiful. Food just tastes better when you're using pretty cutlery!

We wrote our names down the sidewalk.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:58:00 +0000

DUNGAREES FROM ARK* | SHIRT FROM H&M | VALENTINO HEELS FROM TK MAXX*

HAT FROM ASOS | AND MARY NOAH'S ARK BRACELET FROM ARK*

I wasn't initially taken with the dungaree trend. Pinafores were wonderful, and I could even handle the shorter styles of dungarees, however the full length denim and black numbers that were popping up everywhere intimidated me. I don't have the best relationship with my legs - namely, my thighs - so generally speaking I don't think trousers suit me at all. They cling in all the wrong places and make me look completely out of proportion, not to mention that my height means most high street trousers are laughably short on me.

However, a few times a year I'll come over all brave and convince myself that it's all in my head. I'll attempt whatever legwear trend is about - last time it was printed trousers, and boy did it end badly - only to look at myself in the mirror and weep. They just don't do me any favours; at best I look like a thirty-something stay at home mum picking up her kids from school, and at worst I look positively geriatric. Generally speaking, I am not meant to wear trousers, and I feel far more comfortable in a flippy skirt or skater dress.

I was due another dabble in legwear, and this season it had to be proper dungarees. I was nervous about giving it a try, but they pleasantly surprised me. I don't rock them quite as elegantly as I've seen some bloggers do, but I don't think I look too ridiculous. To make them look a little less like something my mum would have dressed me in when I was three, I slapped on some red lipstick, turned up the ankles and popped on my chunky Valentino heels. It's definitely something I'd wear for a low-key evening out.

Have you dabbled in the dungaree trend at all? What are your thoughts?

Dolly's Tea Rooms and Wine Bar.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

I will openly admit that since I've moved to Bath - and begun to visit London more regularly - Cornwall has started to feel somewhat dull to me. I find myself slipping into the lazy mindset that all Cornwall has going for it is it's beautiful beaches, dramatic coastline and unrivaled seafood, and that quirky tea rooms and fun eateries are a treat reserved for the city.

Dolly's Tea Rooms and Wine Bar in Falmouth is proof that I'm wrong. The truth is, colourful little places like this do exist in Cornwall, you just have to hunt them down with more dedication than you would need in the city. It's also true that, because they're rarer in Cornwall, the eateries like this that do exist are far warmer and more full of character; they feel more genuine and homey than the commercial, faux-vintage places you come across in the city. Not that I don't love some of the quirky chains popping up in the cities, but they don't quite have the same magic as thoughtful, independent tea rooms and eateries.

My mum and I popped into Dolly's after hunting down fabric for my wedding tableclothes in Trago Mills (to those of you who know what Trago Mills is, I salute you!), and it was a lovely way to unwind - especially since I'm heading back up to Bath tomorrow! We drank Teapigs tea, and nibbled on chunky sandwiches filled with fresh crab and smoked salmon, and admired Hebe, the resident labrador, who was pottering around wearing a string of pearls - can you say perfect?

If you ever find yourself in Falmouth and in need of some down time and refreshments, I would highly reccomend Dolly's as a pit stop. The food is lovely, the atmosphere relaxed, and the decor is beautiful and well-thought out throughout. Since they also have cocktails on the menu (served in teapots and teacups, naturally) I'm hoping to take my bridal party as a treat before my wedding in September. I hope they all fall in love with it as much as I have!

Mermaids and Puffins.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:46:00 +0000

BLOUSE FROM PRIMARK | NECKLACE FROM LOVE HEARTS AND CROSSES

SHOES FROM TOPSHOP | SKIRT FROM VINTAGE STYLE ME*

I love a good, quirky print - I think that much goes without saying - so when the gorgeous Rhiannon from Vintage Style Me offered me one of her new 'Puffin Beach' skirts, I immediately took her up on it. I love anything vaguely aquatic or seaside-y, and this skirt is just perfect for the summer months I'll be spending down by the sea in Cornwall. The white lace trim means it looks absolutely adorable paired with light blouses, and the length is ideal for casual wear; neither too short, nor too long.

The mermaid necklace was a gift to myself from Love Hearts and Crosses. I'd be eying it up for a while, and when they announced a flash sale last week I pounced. I love mermaids - to the point where my hairstyle is influenced by a particularly well known cartoon one *cough* - so to be honest I'll jump on pretty much anything once there's a mermaid stamped on it! That said, this necklace really is lovely, and her chain is the perfect length for peeking out from underneath pretty collars.

I hope all of my UK readers have put their bank holiday weekends to good use! My dad turned fifty last week (scary!) so I've been down in Cornwall with my family celebrating. My mum bought him an incredible KitchenAid waffle maker - that I'm extremely jealous of - so we've enjoyed a number of waffle based meals. It makes the most amazing, deep waffles, and it puts the toaster ones we used to eat to shame! It's definitely an incentive to spend more time with my family - not that I need one really, they're a lovely bunch!

You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 05 May 2013 09:12:00 +0000

DRESS FROM MISS SELFRIDGE | BLAZER FROM PRIMARK | HAT FROM ASOS | SHOES FROM ASOS

University has wrapped up for me for the year, so this weekend I'm back in Cornwall with my family to celebrate my dad's fiftieth birthday. It's lovely to see everyone after a very packed few weeks, and as always it's nice to be back by the sea. If the sun stays out, we're going to go and have lunch on the beach this afternoon. I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into a proper Cornish pasty!

This is what I wore yesterday whilst traveling from Bath to Cornwall. Admittedly the heels were a questionable choice for heaving bags on and off trains, but they're only kittens so it wasn't too bad. I'm attempting (with debatable success) to train myself into wearing heels more often in day-to-day life, but we'll see how long that lasts! At least I've got used to wearing lipstick daily now - baby steps.

I picked up this dress when I was last in London. It was reduced from around about £60 to £20 in the sale, and with my student discount I bought it for £16 - one of my best bargains to date! It's extremely pretty and perfect for summer. In my last post I predicted that this blazer would become my new go-to outerwear, and I was 100% right. It goes with so much! Not too bad for £19 at Primark. I have a love-hate relationship with Primark, but I can't deny that every now and again you can unearth some gems.

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:22:00 +0000

BLOUSE FROM PRIMARK | BLAZER FROM PRIMARK | SKIRT FROM FOREVER 21

HAT FROM ASOS | NECKLACE FROM EVER OURS* | HEELS FROM ASOS

I can't the only be one who sees it; there is definitely a certain Mary Poppins vibe going on with this look! Whether it's the hat, the prim blazer, the length of the skirt, or the combination of all three, is up for debate, but I'll be up front and say that I kind of love it. I'll also be honest and admit that Mary Poppins has always been one of my unconventional style icons - in fact she's right up there with The Little Mermaid and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. I love that's she's a little eccentric and a lot ladylike.

Last night Grant and I went out for dinner, which considering our current penny-pinching to save for the wedding was quite a remarkable event - we usually opt to cook a nice meal together at home instead. However, we decided to treat ourselves, and for me it was a welcome excuse to dress up a little. I picked up the blazer and blouse last week when I was in Bristol, and I decided to take the former on its debut outing. I think it might just become my go-to outerwear for spring; it's warm, but not too stuffy. At £19 it was quite the bargain, and I'm equally pleased with the £12 blouse.

For those who haven't already seen on Facebook or Twitter, I'm having a blog sale! I'm having a massive clear out for summer and new items are being listed pretty much daily. Take a peek and hopefully you'll be able to give something a loving new home. As a final note, the Company Style Blogger Awards voting ends this week, and it would mean the world to me if you'd take a moment to vote for me in the Best Personal Style Blog catergory (page 7). You can skip other categories if needs be, and it doesn't require any personal details. Thank you!

Bath Life's Fashion Night Out.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:25:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago during Bath in Fashion, my lovely friend Georgie and I had a little adventure at Bath Life's Fashion Night Out. Since any good evening begins with tasty food, our first stop was The Cosy Club, where we filled up on yummy 'Cosy Eggs' before tackling the shops. The Cosy Club is possibly my favourite place to recharge in Bath; the decor is amazing, the food is delicious and the prices are friendly. Whether it's for breakfast, lunch, dinner or afternoon tea, it never disappoints. The fact that their brunch menu is available until 6pm just sweetens the deal - breakfast food is the best! I've already booked a table for my hen party in June.

Tummies full, we headed to The Octagon to sign up and enjoy a complimentary glass of something fizzy. Our first shop of the evening was Toast, and it was a great way to kick things off. The shop was spilling over with flowers, making the whole place smell amazing. We were made to feel very welcome with drinks, sweet treats and little posies of spring flowers. We could have milled around admiring the beautiful clothes for hours, the atmosphere was so warm and inviting.

Our next stop was Scarlet Vintage, my favourite vintage hotspot in the city. The shop was quiet, but we were made to feel welcome as we perused the gorgeous collection of clothes. There are some simply amazing pieces to be found in that little treasure trove of a shop, and for a while I did wish I didn't have a wedding to save for! I could have easily treated myself to a few vintage goodies, but I managed to resist.

The rest of our evening was spent in high street shops, browsing and generally having a lovely time. We were extremely impressed by the spread Monsoon put on; complimentary prosecco and cupcakes whilst we browsed? Yes, please!

With my uni year winding up whilst Bath in Fashion was on - hence a number of deadlines and appointments to juggle - I didn't get to enjoy as many of the events as I would have hoped. However, that said, what I did experience was really quite lovely. It made me see my city in a completely different light, and it's certainly got me looking forward to next years line up.

One fine day, you're gonna want me for your girl.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:01:00 +0000

DENIM PINAFORE FROM DAHLIA* | BLOUSE FROM PRIMARK | HAT FROM NEXT

WATCH FROM EVER OURS | BAG FROM KRISP* | SHOES FROM TOPSHOP

You may have seen on Facebook and Twitter that I'm one of Dahlia's new girlfriends - well here's my first post! I must admit, it's a little intimidating to follow in the steps of Arabella, Dunya and Olivia; they're three of my favourite bloggers, and heaven knows how I'm going to measure up to them! That said, I'm delighted to be writing this post at all. I've adored Dahlia since I first stumbled across their Foubert's Place shop last spring, and had the lovely experience of featuring in their Summer 2012 video, so being a resident blogger is pretty much a dream come true!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm well and truly on the bandwagon when it comes to the pinafore trend. I simply love it, and it's reached the point where I've got them coming out of my ears in every fabric, length and colour, however this denim Dahlia number was still firmly at the top of my wishlist. It's ever so summery, and a more stylish version of the pinafores my mum dressed me in in the nineties.

Come summer I'll be layering it over light tee shirts and retro bikinis for days at the beach, but since it's still a little chilly at the moment, today I wore it with a subtly Western inspired blouse and black tights. As if I didn't already look enough like a retro schoolgirl, I topped the outfit off with a straw boater hat. Now steer me in the direction of the nearest sweet shop!

Before I sign off, a quick wedding update! It's been a long time coming, but our save the dates are finally printed and being sent out. They were illustrated by the ever-amazing Paige, and one of the groomsmen was kind enough to help us get them printed at the shop where he works. They're everything we hoped they would be, and just a flavour of what's to come.

Changing for the better.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:41:00 +0000

Whilst my 2013 blog overhaul began last week, it's finally reached its completion, and I felt it was only right that I said a few things about it. A few people have voiced a preference for my old design, however - as much as I loved my old banner and colour scheme - I desired something more simple and striking. I wanted to breathe new life into my blog; to tighten the bolts and round off the corners. I honestly love my new design, and I think it better suits what this blog has become. When considering the fact that I'm taking my first steps into the world of freelance journalism, and the dream come true that is being shortlisted in the Company Style Blogger Awards, I want my blog to be the absolute best it can be. That means trying out new ideas, polishing things up, and - hopefully - changing for better.

Photos have always been one of the aspects at the heart of my blog, so when I decided to overhaul my design I recruited my favourite photographer and good friend, Chloe Lee, to help me take some new photos for my social media and promotion. I love working with Chloe because we're on the same wavelength, we share a similar aesthetic, and we always have a good laugh when we're together. We met up last Friday to take these photos, and all day we were laughing, pulling faces and getting ice cream/candyfloss everywhere, yet she managed to pull together a set of pretty, dreamy photos. I'll be doing a longer post about the photos once they've all been edited, but for now I'll simply say I don't know what I'd do without that girl! She finds so much joy in her craft and is so easy to work with.

In short, I hope you all like the new design and photos! A whole lot of love and time has gone into pulling everything together, and ultimately I hope it'll make reading my blog a more pleasant experience for all of you. It's the people who read my blog who've made it what it is, and you've made blogging for the past twenty months an absolute delight. I'm one very lucky blogger!

Behind the April sidebar.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:39:00 +0000

Crown & Glory.

Mod Dolly.

Kittenish Behaviour.

Adventures After Hours.

Andrea Pennington Photography.

What Rebecca Rose Knows.

Being Erica.

Would you like to see your brand/blog featured in the May ads post? Pop an email over to thebriarroseblog@gmail.com for my price list/terms and conditions. Spaces are now extremely limited, so it's first come, first served! Ads start at £6 with packages to suit every blogger and independent business. I can't wait to hear from you!

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:16:00 +0000

DRESS FROM PEPA LOVES* | HAT FROM NEXT | WATCH FROM EVER OURS | HEELS FROM H&M

How sweet is this dress? It's not often that I can wear dresses with pretty back detailing (I'll be frank and say I like being able to wear a bra!) however the knot detailing on this number starts just high enough that everything remains covered up. I love the long sleeves, slouchy waist and adorable boat print. It's extremely easy to wear and perfect for summer. I didn't want to over-style it, so I kept things simple with my boater hat, Cambridge satchel and black patent heels. There seemed to be a fun, retro feel to the outfit, so I finished it off with my cat watch and a slick of red lipstick. It's understated but quirky, and my favourite kind of outfit to wear.

I'm really excited about a project I'm working on at the moment; it's a young adult sci fi novel that I've been writing in pieces here and there, but now that uni is wrapping up for the year I've been devoting more time to it. It's quite a while since I've felt so enthusiastic about novel writing, so I'm making the most of it and spending every free moment I have putting pen to paper. I wish I had the guts to post some excerpts here, but I'm fairly self conscious when it comes to my writing, not to mention I'm not sure how sci fi would go down on a fashion and lifestyle blog! Maybe one day if I'm feeling particularly brave...

For those of you who might have missed it, I've been shortlisted in the Company Style Blogger Awards. I'm up for the Best Personal Style Blog award, so if you enjoy my outfit posts it would mean an awful lot to me if you'd spare me a vote. It's category seven, and you can skip other categories if you want to. Thank you so much!

In a beautiful pea green boat.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:29:00 +0000

DRESS FROM PEPA LOVES* | HEADBAND FROM CROWN & GLORY* | SHOES FROM TOPSHOP

Today I've got another gorgeous piece from Pepa Loves to share with you. There are some amazing prints in their SS13 collection - including anchors, cats and coffee - but since the seaside village where I spent my teenage years will always be close to my heart, this boat print is my favourite. In fact, you may remember me posting a maxi skirt last week with the same design. I can't wait to wear both pieces down the beach come summer. They're going to look perfect thrown on over my retro, high waisted bikini!

I couldn't resist pairing my dress with my new Lotta Rosie headband from Crown and Glory. I've been a fan of Sophie's Whole Lotta Rosie headbands since last summer, and her Not a Lotta Rosie headbands are equally cute, however in my opinion this new size is the perfect in-between. It's small enough to wear casually, but still big enough to make a statement. My summer wardrobe is calling for them in a rainbow of colours! Now if only my bank balance were on the same page...

My final university deadline of the year is a week today, so as you can imagine I've locked myself away with my laptop, surfacing every now and again for tea, snacks and Pinterest breaks. It feels good to be so close to wrapping up for the year, but at the same time I still feel like I've got a lot of work to do. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get there eventually. Wish me luck!

A Marie Antoinette kind of day.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:14:00 +0000

Yesterday I spent the day in London with my lovely bridesmaids Vivi, Georgie and Paige. We met up at Paddington in the early afternoon, before heading over to Covent Garden for refreshments in the form of tea and cake at my favourite place, Ladurée. It was the first time the rest of the girls had visited, so we took our time drinking cup after cup of delicate tea, and sampling the different pastries we'd all ordered. It was like a scene from Marie Antoinette, and the girls all got along better than I ever could have hoped.

As a thank you for being so supportive, I gave each of the girls a present containing some chocolates, a pair of pink heart shaped sunglasses and a name necklace from Chelsea Doll saying 'Bridesmaid' (or 'Maid of Honour' in Vivi's case!). I have a coordinating one of my own saying 'Bride', so we'll all be able to wear them to different wedding planning occasions, and the girls will be wearing theirs on the big day! I was so happy that they went down well, and we all wore them proudly for the rest of the day.

After our rather elegant tea, we headed over to Oxford Street to hunt down the last bridesmaids dress. I won't give away anything about the dress itself - that's going to be a surprise for you all in September! - but we found it in high street favourite, Topshop. We've got a full set now, and they look oh so pretty together. It's got me even more excited about the wedding itself, if such a thing were possible!

Princess Peach.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:42:00 +0000

DRESS FROM HEDONIA* | JACKET FROM ASOS | SUNGLASSES FROM ASOS

GLITTER SOCKS FROM TOPSHOP | SHOES FROM TOPSHOP

Before anything else, allow me a moment to gush - I made the shortlist for Company Style Blogger Awards 'Best Personal Style Blog'! You may know that Company has been my favourite magazine for years, and it's my dream to work for them someday, so it feels downright incredible to have been recognised by the amazing people behind the name. I couldn't stop smiling and giggling when I found out, and I'm still bouncing off the walls. In all honesty, anything that happens from this point on is just gravy, but if you'd like to show your support and vote for me you can do so here. Thank you so much to all those who do, and of course to everyone who nominated me.

Today I've got an undeniably spring-y outfit to share with you. The last time I owned a puffball dress was back in 2009, and whilst I did get a lot of wear out of it over summer, it's not a style I've gone back to in recent years. However, there was something about this Hedonia dress that really appealed to me. Whether it's the delicate, peachy floral print or the puffball itself, I can't quite pinpoint, but one thing I'm certain of it that I love it. It's summery, it's easy to wear, and it requires minimal accessories. It's ideal for smart-casual summer events, especially with this bargain of a blazer (I was after a cheap, light blazer, and came across this one on ASOS for £21 - it may just be my smartest SS buy yet!). It was also an excuse to wear my glitter socks again - they've taken the place of last years frilly ones!

My bridesmaids and I are spending today in London doing a bit of shopping and chatting about all things wedding. A couple of them are yet to meet, so it's nice for everyone to be able to get acquainted! All going well, we'll be pottering around Covent Garden, having tea at Laduree - Yes, I have a bit of an obsession - and getting a little retail therapy on Oxford Street.

Bath in Fashion SS13 Collections.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:06:00 +0000

DRESS FROM CHICWISH* | BLOUSE FROM FREE PEOPLE* | BOOTS FROM H&M

BAG FROM CHICWISH* | NECKLACE FROM EVER OURS* | HAT FROM ASOS

Yesterday was the day I'd set aside for truly throwing myself into Bath in Fashion. I went to the SS13 collections show in the afternoon - and sat in the front row for the first (and probably the last) time in my life - then spent the evening sipping bubbly and perusing through rails of gorgeous clothes for Bath Life's Fashion Night Out. Unfortunately I didn't win the Bath in Fashion Blogger Award, however Lorna of Raindrops of Sapphir e deserves a big congratulations! Fingers crossed for next year.

I had a very blue day with my fashion choices, layering my navy skater dress over a blue and white floral blouse from Free People, and finishing the look off with a blue rhinestone bib necklace. I've always loved how blues and greens look against my hair, but I can't deny that I'm having a bit of a blue moment right now. It's beginning to overwhelm every other colour in my wardrobe. Hopefully spring will rectify this as my pastels begin to reappear! That is, unless I just start wearing pastel blue, which is entirely likely...

The show was great, a real mix up of SS styles. Naturally, I picked up on all of the light, girlie, vintage-inspired pieces, and I loved the retro beehives and preppy ponytails. The models wore an array of looks from brands all over Bath, and the result was vibrant and playful. The show was divided into four segments; New York (Morning), London (Afternoon Tea), Milan (Dolce Vita) and Paris (Cocktails). As I could have predicted, the London segment was my favourite. The models wore French Connection, L.K.Bennett, Jigsaw, Hobbs, Oasis and a handful of other brands, with quirky tights and hair bows whilst twirling pretty umbrellas.

I've also got some photos to share with you from the Fashion Night out, however I've decided to put those into a separate post since this one is already fairly photo heavy. I'm sure it'll be up soon!

Imagine, just one birthday every year.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:36:00 +0000

Yesterday was Grant's birthday, and since I didn't have any university I was able to devote myself to making it a truly memorable day for him. Since we're still saving every spare penny for the wedding, it wasn't the most extravagant day, however there was good food a'plenty, lots of close friends and the sun was even nice enough to come out for us!

I woke him up with a cup of tea and a homemade birthday cake (maple and bacon flavour, I did a test run during the Easter holidays and it works). The sun was already out and we had a breakfast reservation at the fairly new Bill's on Cheap Street. Neither of us had been before, but I'd seen good things online and Grant knew of it from some of the customers at the B&B where he works. We were seated at a sunny window seat, and took a moment to absorb our colourful surroundings. I ended up ordering blueberry and buttermilk pancakes with a pink lemonade ice cream float, and Grant had eggs royale. It was all delicious, and we've already decided that we'll be returning for our anniversary in May! That said, we've yet to decide whether to have dinner, lunch, or just another yummy breakfast.

In the evening we went out for dinner at Pizza Expess with a few of our bridesmaids and groomsmen, which was really chilled and a nice pre-wedding ice breaker. I ended up sharing a bottle of wine with my friends Vivi and Georgie, and before I knew it I found myself on my first 'proper' night out since September! Generally speaking, I don't live a typical student lifestyle, but it was a great little group of people and we spent the night dancing away to cheesy music. I think it's safe to say that Grant had a very good birthday indeed!

In a world of my own.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:59:00 +0000

It's been a while since I first posted our flat tour, and since then we've picked up a selection of new bits and pieces and inevitably the place is looking a whole lot more lived in. Our general goal is stop it from feeling like a grotty student flat, and in general - unless I let my floordrobe get out of control - I like to think we achieve that. Admittedly, I probably have more of an influence than Grant does, but that's purely because I hoard stuff. Not pictured in these photos is Grant's little man-cave corner, complete with guitars and Star Wars memorabilia.

Our living area is the biggest and busiest part of the flat. Half is dominated by the dining table and our two desks - Grant's is sparse and practical, whereas mine is overflowing with knick knacks and girlie things - and the other half is our lounge, complete with sofa, fireplace and lots of shelves/books/dvds. It's our chill out space, and there are fairylights (which automatically makes it awesome).

The kitchen is a mash up of sugary pastels and vibrant retro pieces. It's the one part of the flat where I've strived to keep my clutter at bay, however our necessities are all quite fun to make up for the lack of additional curio. My favourite things are our pastel cutlery set from Tesco, my patisserie print worktop preserver that I picked up in the BHS sale, and our pastel pink tea towels from Primark.

I've tried to keep our bedroom quite serene with lots of muted pastels and candles. It's a little haven where I can unwind in the evening with a generous mug of tea and a good book. My favourite details, such as the teacup print cushion and the cottage tea light holder, are from BHS. I was never particularly interested in them until recent years, but I've definitely found some gems in their homeware department.

Whilst part of me can't wait to be out of student accommodation, I have become very fond of our flat. It's not the newest or the most well equipped (and there's a touch of damp and peeling wallpaper in places) but we've put our stamp on it, and we'll always look back at it fondly as our first home together. As far student digs go, we're very lucky!

On a different note, three days from now I'll be attending a fashion show where the Bath in Fashion Blogger Award winner will be announced! I'm feeling so nervous and excited; I've never been up for anything like this before, and I never expected anything like it to happen so early on in my blogging career. If you could spare me a vote I would be truly grateful - your support means the world to me, and I'm so grateful to have got this far. Thank you.

Mama, I don't have time for dancing.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:32:00 +0000

MAXI SKIRT FROM PEPA LOVES* | JUMPER FROM ARK* | RING FROM THE BOHEMIAN COLLECTIVE*

BASKET BAG FROM CHICWISH* | HAT FROM ASOS | BOOTS FROM H&M

I do love a good maxi skirt, and thanks to Spanish brand, Pepa Loves, I've got a lovely new boat print one for spring/summer. As much as I love maxi lengths, as a tall lady I sometimes struggle to find pieces that don't land at an awkward place just above my ankles, however this skirt is perfect - I can even get away with wearing heeled boots underneath! I usually have to wear maxi skirts somewhere on my hips for them to look right, but I've not once had to worry about shuffling this skirt down into place. It's a tall girls dream.

Today has been perfectly leisurely, so I didn't go overboard with my outfit. A cosy jumper (it's warm enough to go without a coat today - yay!), my black boater hat - to hide my heinous roots - and my fail-safe black boots. I kept my accessories toned down too; my little basket bag, and this sweet, simple above the knuckle ring from The Bohemian Collective that I found in my AX Paris Circus goodie bag. It's one of those mini trends that I hadn't given much thought to, however I decided I might as well take it for a spin and I've definitely been won over. It's a really lovely little detail, however I'm not sure whether I'd be brave enough to try more statement designs!

After a late breakfast, we pottered into town this morning to check out the Bath Artisan Market. It's Grant's birthday on Tuesday, so we fancied picking up a few treats. I found a stall selling macarons - which pretty much made my day - and bought a selection including rose and raspberry, chocolate and cointreau and bubblegum. I can't wait to get stuck in! We then made a few stops in town before settling down in a quiet corner of Starbucks with a hot drink. Pretty much my ideal Sunday.

The Bath in Fashion Blogger Award winner is being announced on Thursday, any votes would be truly appreciated!

Lips that shame the red, red rose.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:15:00 +0000

DRESS FROM WAREHOUSE* | NECKLACE FROM EVER OURS* | HAT FROM NEXT

GLITTER SOCKS FROM TOPSHOP | SHOES FROM TOPSHOP

Even if it is drizzling persistently, who says I'm not allowed to hole up inside, wearing a pretty dress and pretending it's summer? At least it's getting warmer now; anything above ten degrees and I'm satisfied, to be entirely honest. At this rate I might be able to pack my winter layers away until autumn, but no doubt my umbrella will be remaining firmly at my side.

Being back in Bath is bittersweet, especially with the constant grey outside. I miss the excitement of London; at least there's still plenty going on when the weather turns for the worst. When the weather is bad in Bath, the city just feels a bit sad, slow and sleepy. On the bright side, Bath in Fashion has kicked off! Fingers crossed it'll make this week a little more interesting. It's Grant's birthday on Tuesday, so tomorrow we're visiting the monthly artisan market to pick up a few treats.

I've got a few miscellaneous photos from London to share with you, ranging from landmarks to delicious goodies from Lola's Cupcakes. On Wednesday night I was lucky enough to attend the AX Paris Circus event - you may have noticed some of my photo booth pictures on Instagram - and it was such a fun evening. Unfortunately my photos weren't all that good, but nonetheless I'd like to say a big thank you to AX Paris and the amazing ladies at Etail for the invitation.

Ladurée Covent Garden.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:58:00 +0000

It's a little over a year since I last had afternoon tea at Ladurée Covent Garden. It was February 2012, and I was in London with my family whilst I had my reading week and my brother and sister were on half term. We were wandering around Covent Garden when I received a phone call from Company letting me know that I'd made the final twelve in their Casting Call competition, and to celebrate we decided to stop in at Ladurée. I'd only ever bought macarons to take away, so eating in was novel; a real treat. Between my excitement at the fact that I was going to be meeting the people behind my favourite magazine, and the array of sugary pastel goodies and fragrant teas on offer, I was little bit giddy. Needless to say, it was a pretty wonderful afternoon.

As with our last visit, yesterday's Ladurée stop was fairly spontaneous. My mum and sister knew that it was probably going to be their last day in London for a long time (my dad is no longer working there, so we don't have our base anymore), and as we spent our last couple of hours pottering around Covent Garden, we gazed at the charming mint green shop front and decided it would be a really lovely way to wrap things up - even though I'm hoping to visit again next weekend when my bridesmaids and I visit London for the day!

We were seated out on the balcony, where we sipped beautiful teas - I opted for their Marie Antoinette infusion - and nibbled on decadent treats. It was fairly bright outside, and with their overhead heaters keeping us toasty is was lovely to be sat in such refined surroundings, whilst still feeling immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of Covent Garden. I had the Ispahan, a macaron shell filled with rose cream, raspberries and lychees, and my mum had the Rose Ladurée Religieuses, which she proclaimed to be the 'best pastry she's ever tasted'. Mine was lovely, but I'll definitely be opting for the Religieuses next weekend.

Afternoon tea at Ladurée isn't the cheapest thing in the world, but it's not extortionate, and the experience is worth every penny. The cakes and pastries are unrivaled, they have an amazing selection of teas, and the presentation - silverware and all - is immaculate. If you've something to celebrate, or you're not in London often, I'd recommend it time and time again.

Adventure in the great wide somewhere.

noreply@blogger.com (Megan) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:54:00 +0000

DRESS FROM CHICWISH* | BLOUSE FROM EVER OURS* | HAT FROM ASOS

WATCH FROM EVER OURS | SHOES FROM TOPSHOP

I'm in London! We arrived last night and today was our first day out and about. After a slow, lazy morning we headed to Greenwich for a laid back day. I wore my new dress from Chicwish; the fabric is gorgeous and it looks lovely layered over a blouse. My wardrobe at the moment is crammed with different shades of blue - especially darker hues and navy blues. I've no idea when or why I began hoarding the colour, but whilst packing the other day I couldn't deny there was an abundance of it.

The first thing we did was stop for a late breakfast, devouring eggs benedict and stacks of pancakes. There are definitely worse ways to start the day! It was fairly cold and windy outside, so we took our sweet time, drinking cup after cup of tea and chatting away. Our main plan for the day was to visit the planetarium, so eventually we wrapped ourselves back up in our coats and pulled ourselves away from the warmth.

The walk up to the planetarium was a little windy, but I managed to avoid any embarrassing, chasing after my hat moments. After watching a show and doing a bit of exploring, we stopped for a drink in the planetarium cafe. My little sister looked after my camera for the day, getting to know it a little better after deciding she wants an SLR of her own for her birthday this year. A lot of the photos in this post are her work!

Finishing up at the planetarium, we did some general exploring around Greenwich. It's a beautiful part of the city and some of the buildings are incredibly beautiful. We popped into a few shops, and eventually wound up sat underneath an outdoor heater at a nearby bar, sipping raspberry ale. It was an ideal way to spend an afternoon - my camera shy family even let me steal a few photos of them (and aren't they an attractive bunch?).

Back at the flat we zoned out and had a few quiet hours. We had no heating last night, so most of us were too cold to sleep, and I think exhaustion just crept up on us. I made myself some chai tea, nibbled on a few macarons and leafed my way through the new Company High Street Edit. Despite feeling a little refreshed, I can't wait to get to bed.

Tomorrow I'm meeting up and shooting with Ailera Stone, a truly magical photographer who I have admired for years! I can't wait to tell you all about it. For the time being, it would be amazing if you could vote for me in the Bath in Fashion Blogger Awards, and nominate me as 'Best Personal Style Blogger' in the Company Blog Awards - thank you so much in advance!