Delighted to discover that my 2024 #bedtimeroutine is trending on TikTok with the young folk, or so I read somewhere online this morning… Earlier and earlier to bed for me – sometimes I’m even off by a mind-boggling 10pm, and yes I’ve had a Drowsy sleep mask for over a year now! – with at least a 90 minute prep time which for me now includes half an hour stretching or even an actual yoga session (I bit the bullet and signed up to @inversioness and haven’t looked back!); foot massage with Botanicls Foot Rescue Balm (much better than either a cream or an oil) with some reflexology points worked ..read more

Hello hello and welcome back! Here we are again after a bit of a blog hiatus but the time is right to step back in with a whole load of useful tips and tricks for the new updated OM System OM-5 compact digital camera which was released last year. And yes you’ve got it, OM System is the new incarnation of the much-loved Olympus brand, now with a simpler naming system for all the different camera models, which some will be relieved to hear… I’ve been a diehard Pen user for years now as you will probably know but I’ve opened the door to the OM-5 and found it has quite happily claimed its place a ..read more

A mini glamping getaway to a converted Leyland horse lorry at Alexander House, Perthshire replete with roll-top bath and outdoor hot tub proved the perfect breath of fresh air before we hunker down for a wintry Highland Christmas season… An hour’s drive from Edinburgh you’ll find the tucked away Alexander House – a glamping  and self-catering holiday house site (dog-friendly too!) all set up with yurts, converted lorries and hot tubs for an easy family break in perfectly presented cosy conditions. We drove down from the central Highlands, an easy mooch along the A9, stopping in Perth – ju ..read more

It’s been a while! But no time like the present to be back with a little round-up of some great new natural beauty products I’ve been trialling and I’m particularly excited to share these as the packaging really ticks the sustainability box – I love seeing small new brands coming forward with great new ideas and alternatives to single use plastic and conventional materials… Shampoo Bars Shampoo bars (above right) are taking centre stage at the moment as they make so much more sense when it comes to reducing waste, and I am loving these beautifully shaped creations from Solidamie – each bar rep ..read more

As the incessant grey and rain of the last week finally lifts country wide and we all jump for joy in the wake of the super flower moon… (Above clockwise: Kitty Clogs, Gepard knit pattern, Francesca Dot birth flower pendant) I find myself obsessively checking on my sweetpeas (grown from seed, fingers crossed!) planting a clematis climber, tending young lettuces and agonising over whether I overpruned the buddleia! So much time outside has given rise to the need for useful gardening shoes – for now I’m fully invested in a pair of steel toe-capped Amblers (still havering on the Crocs!) but I’ve ..read more

Without a doubt it’s a baptism of fire, albeit in a gentle green sort of way, when you plant your first round of plants … Bought from a beautiful Highland plant nursery and a few weeks later they’ve been munched by the neighbouring sheep that are still managing to negotiate their way into the garden by way of old fencing that needs re-doing and the occasional left open gate, not me I promise. Or is it the roaming deer at night or perhaps the gorgeously large hare who makes the twice daily trip through your garden, only ever munching grass while you’re watching… slowly we are learning! And the ..read more

Dresses are fully on the Spring/Summer agenda and we’re being spoilt for choice! Sellout collections from H&M with their new Meadows designs and M&S x Ghost have gone down a treat but highstreet aside… Sustainable Summer Dresses There are so many gorgeous small brands with a focus on sustainable manufacturing – turn to Hesper Fox for stunning linen design, Beaumont Organic for beautiful organic fabrics and Johanna Sands for handmade limited edition and one-off pieces. I’ve also got my eye on Tallulah & Hope for glamorous summer wear and Albaray  (the sunflower midi dress pictu ..read more

Forever in search of the perfect night’s sleep, my journey continues and this time the focus is on the perfect pillow – by the very people who created the first memory foam bedding, TEMPUR… AD | Created in collaboration with TEMPUR Curious to find out more – TEMPUR’s memory foam is developed from the pressure-relieving material created by NASA in the 1960s to absorb G-force pressure during space flight! – I booked in a phone call consultation at Westfield Stratford. The secret? Billions of ultra-sensitive open cells that exist between a solid and liquid state to create a fluid and spring-like ..read more

This week while the weather flip flops around I’ve been focusing on small home improvements – from masking-taping up the kitchen door in preparation for painting to getting in some cushions and rugs to spruce up our converted steading living space… I’ve always found cushions particularly hard to choose – too bright is just not my thing, but neither is too plain. So I found the perfect in-between and not too expensive solution over at Dunelm, these kilm cushions have a nice worn-in feel about them already and then I splashed out on a special hand-quilted velvet one from The Small Home. Job don ..read more

The sun is out and shining once again and the outdoors is calling! Floral dresses and chunky sandals seem the obvious go to, as does decorating the inside of your house to match the new vibes…  My obsession with the Dr Martens gladiator sandals has rolled over to this year – I just loooove them and they will go perfectly with any spring dress. Here I admit my weakness for a spring dress pick-me-up and there are so many about. I think it’s about knowing what suits you. For me a relaxed open neckline (like this one) suits me best – high up collars just make me look and feel too stuffy. I a ..read more