For as long as I can remember I have wanted to visit the witchery for Halloween. Finally I got the chance and I grabbed it with both hands. Not only had I not been to the witchery by the castle but I had never been to Edinburgh.  So it was about time I rectified both points 

I thought id share what some of my purchases from my recent girls trip to NYC. I personally love reading blog post like this and find them quite informative so I figured why not pay froward too.

There was so much shopping on this trip as it was all girls and i'm not gonna lie... it was like herding kittens at times with each of us running off into our favorite stores. We all definitely loved a beauty store so we spent lots of time discovering goodies.

First stop was Ricky's NYC 
Here I picked up a bottle of Lanza healing silver shampoo on recommendation from the owner. Here's hoping it lives up to its billing! Iv tried quite a few silver shampoos so this is a new one for me, and will hopefully help keep the dreaded blonde brassiness at bay. 

I picked up these No-Crease Bow Clips. The idea behind these apparently came from watching makeup artists use pieces of paper in between the blades of a hair clip to prevent creases and dents in models' hair. They remove the need for paper at all, and what's left is gorgeous hair just as you've styled it. Iv looked for these everywhere in the UK and couldn't find them so i was delighted when I spotted them. 
I also picked up some wunderbrow, after a friend recommended it and I am loving it so far. It really helps to thicken the brows naturally and fill in any gaps. Its also wonderful at taming any unruly hairs and lasts a couple of days. 

Next we went to my absolute favorite, Sephora.  I don't know a girl who doesn't love Sephora, it is the absolute holy grail of beauty stores and any opportunity to shop in one and im there...

Iv used the beauty blender before (which I love) but my sister was raving about the real techniques blender so I had to give it a shot. I also found this super handy case to keep it clean and stop it messing up my make up bag. What a cool and totally necessary invention.  

I purchased from a new brand to me, Sol De Janeiro. The Ipanema sunset glow oil looked too gorgeous to miss out on. And smell's incredible too. Now I have it home i'm an even bigger fan and intend to wear this on all of my beach holidays and the whole of next summer (if I haven't used it all before than) 
Two Tarte palettes (Tarlette in bloom and Tartlette toasted) also made their way into my shopping bag... The colors are both so perfect for autumn and just really spoke to me. As I haven't tried Tarte before I thought it was about time. 

I also picked up a replacement Amore Pacific color control cushion compact. I first purchased this when I visited San Francisco a couple of years ago and have been a massive fa ever since. Its a light to medium coverage base with SPF 50 which is so hard to find, and can be worn alone for a natural look or under foundation to create the prefect base for your foundation. I'm actually in love with this product and fully recommend to anyone. 

Finally we went to the american drugs store Duane Reade Walgreens. Here I totally stocked up on Ardell demi wispies and lash glue. I used them all the time and they are so much cheaper to buy in the states it was smart to stock up on them, right? 

I had also heard that ​physicians formula butter bronzer was incredible so I picked on up along with the butter highlighter and shimmer strips eye shadow. I love all three items, but a special mention to the bronzer which absolutely glides onto the skin, and looks so lovely and natural on. I'm so pleased I picked it up. Oh and did I mention it smells of coconut...

If you are making a trip to the US, I definitely recommend picking up some of these treats. I have been so pleased with them

Belle
​Xx

This year for Halloween, Iv stepped up my game decoration wise. After all why not make the most out of a celebration. I decided to create a a white and gold flower garland for the fireplace in the entrance to our home. 

I took white roses and hydrangeas and placed in floral foam draped across the fireplace. I than added some white and gold pumpkins ( regular orange ones spray painted) to add the Halloween element along with large church candles placed in clear vases. Finally a little dried eucalyptus which I spray painted gold added to the front and there you have it. It was super easy and quick to do and I think it adds a nice bit of drama to our hallway. 

I hope you like it?

Belle 
Xx

We have lived between Spain and Gibraltar for coming up to three years now, and I'll be honest (and a little embarrassed) to tell you and tell you that Iv only just managed to make the trip to Zahara de los atunes

My friends are absolutely shocked by this fact, as its a real favourite place for more or less everyone who lives in this area. About a 30 Minute drive from Tarifa (a super cute beach town, I wrote about it here)

In fact, my lovely friend Anna was so dismayed that I was missing out on the whole Zahara vibe that she scheduled in a Friday lunch date.  Aren't friends just the best!?

Zahara is more of a fishing village, much smaller than Tarifa. Smaller but perfectly formed, in that rustic, understated bohemian Spanish way that I have come to adore. ​

There is so much creativity and ingenuity... 

She showed me a little favourite place of hers...  21 restaurant . Tucked away through one of the little streets, its the kind of place you need to know someone who knows about it. Hooray for Anna ( who has kindly taken up the position of Spanish life guide to me)

Its probably one of Zahara's fancier restaurants...But still bohemian and charming.  

We took a table outside, nibbled on the freshest just out of the oven warm bread (is there anything better?)  and caught up on some good old gossip while we waited for our lunch 

I started with the baked brie which was incredible, Followed by the freshest monk fish ever. Zahara is actually known for its fish, as you would expect from a fishing village. And i'm told the tuna here is out of this world!

Next time I visit ill be sure to show you the beach which is spectacular!

I definitely recommend grabbing a dinner or lunch at 21 if your visiting Zahara, you wont be disappointed 

Xoxo
Belle 

I Love to celebrate all of the seasonal events and Halloween is no exception. Last year while I was visiting London, I popped by Peggy Porschen (take a look, here)for some tea and Inspiration and fell in love with the pastel Halloween theme. So I decided why not create my own version. 
I invited a couple of my favourite (but camera shy) girlfriends around to enjoy a pre Halloween warm up for an evening of dinner and gossip. 

I did have to laugh when I was styling and shooting this because it was so hot in Spain this day, and in no way autumnal feeling...#spanishproblems 

The pumpkins were regular faux orange ones which I spray painted pink, white or gold along with the dried eucalyptus on the place settings (I can re use this for Christmas) 

Its so lovely to create magical evenings for your friends don't you think?  

Belle
Xx 

If your one of my regular readers, you'll know all about my Annual Summer party. 

The hubb's and I decided to take a road trip (we love a good road trip) from our home in Spain to Portugal. Just couple of hours on the road and we can officially be on Portuguese soil, seems like an adventure begging to be taken. After s couple of days in Lisbon, we headed back on ourselves.

First stop on the way was Sagres, or the end of the world as its otherwise known

I have to admit, I was blown away with the incredibly dramatic landscape. Dramatic cliffs, whirling winds and raging seas. Its an intense place

Intense, and oh so beautiful. Its quite hard to put the impact of Sagres into words, but its a place i'm very glad iv seen.

From Sagres we drove up to Lagos where I finally set my eyes on some of the Portuguese id been desperate to see. It is so interesting to see how the styling changes from Spanish into Portuguese... like two cousins. So  similar yet so different  

It was quite the whistle stop tour as we had so may towns we wanted to stop into, before arriving at Lisbon and Sintra. So much so that the towns started to merge beautifully into one. From Lagos we stopped at Faro and Silves

Last on this leg of the whilst stop tour was Silves. 

Where I met the pink tiled house of my dreams and discovered that the Portuguese have a very creative way of making their electricity boxes stand out. Its funny what random things stand out of a trip!   

The streets were virtually empty as the clever Portuguese wouldn’t dare be out in such heat

I have really enjoyed sharing our road trip with you, it was one of our funnest trips yet. Now to plan the one...

​Belle
Xx

Breakfasts at Tivoli Palacio de Seteais are a wonderful thing, so much so I wanted to share our last one with you. Firstly, breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. 

​Probably because I rarely have breakfast as i'm normally too busy, so when I do its usually while i'm on vacation and can really luxuriate over it.
On our last day, we took one final walk around the hotel, and gardens trying to preserve the memory of such a lovely place.

We couldn't go all the way to Sintra, not to explore some of the fairy tale wonders that make it such a unique and enchanting place. First on my list was The Quinta da Regaleira.  

​Quinta da Regaleira is a beautiful 20th century residence, situated in the town of Sintra. The grand house is split over five floors and has an amazing  ornate gothic façade, but the real attraction is to the rear with the enchanting gardens. 

Like something out of a fairy tale, with moss covered stone tunnels you could easily get lost for hours and hours discovering all of its magical nooks. The gardens were styled to represent ancient secret orders, with hidden tunnels and concealed symbolism.

It manages to be incredibly intricate and detailed but expansive at the same time. You can actually visit the house, but we choose to make the most of the stunning gardens and save the inside for a re visit. 

​Everywhere you turn, there is some super cute little turret hidden in the woodland. All that's missing is the fairy's. I mean obviously they are there, but they only come out at night

As if you needed even more reasons to visit Sintra...

Belle 
Xx