Sunday 27 October 2013

It's my birthday!

Well not really...it was actually on Friday but because I was on 12 hour hospital shifts on Friday and Saturday I decided to postpone my celebrations until today. 

Luckily though my mentor let me away early on Friday so I got to spend a few hours with my parents and open cards and presents before I had to go to bed again.

Today though I went for a family lunch with my parents, brother, and sister in law. 

We went to the Mussel and Steak Bar in Edinburgh. It was the first time I had been there (everyone else had) and it was fantastic! Great service and great food.

I had a salmon and haddock terrine to start, followed by chicken breast with a roasted pumpkin, sundried tomato and Parmesan salad, and vanilla creme brûlée with a coconut biscotti to finish. Yummy!

If you are ever in Edinburgh you have to go for a meal :)

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Interior Inspiration : My Story

My taste in interiors has varied a lot over the years.  During my 'rocker' phase when I was 16 I didn't really have much taste for interiors unless it was dark...but to be honest most of my walls were covered with posters and there was a path through the mess from my door to my bed. Thankfully, I quickly switched from this upon my discovery of shabby chic (I don't do changes by half!).  

I moved out of my parents house into a flat with a friend for a year and when I returned home I was in the smallest bedroom in the house as my older brother had moved into the larger bedroom.  I decided that because I wasn't really able to decorate my bedroom in the flat, I was going all out shabby chic.  I had a white wooden floor, blue and pink floral bedsheets, pale blue walls (much to my mothers delight...makes a change from blood red and purple), and white furniture.  It was a bit of a squeeze fitting in my double bed and all the furniture but we managed...my room never really got much tidier.  After 2 years of being in the tiniest coldest bedroom (we had to remove the radiator to fit everything in) my brother bought a flat with his fiance and flew the nest.  

This was very much the moment I caught the interiors bug.  

I had asked my parents to share the small room if they wanted to make it an office with sofa bed like when I was living in the flat as long as I could have a shoe wall...miraculously they said I could have the room to myself, cue squeals of delight that went on for days.  

The planning for how I wanted my rooms (squeal) to look began near enough the very same day.  I decided that I would turn the small bedroom into my closet and the larger room would be my bedroom.  I think I was most excited about the prospect of having a desk again for the first time since I was about 17.

The Saturday my brother moved out was very emotional.  My mum cried while I very excitedly starting packing up everything he had left and dismantling the furniture as soon as we waved him off.  My father very kindly took a week off work to help me decorate my rooms.

The large room went from this


To this



I moved my furniture around about a year ago but it's just got back to this arrangement.  I'm getting a new bedside table soon and will be doing a lot of organising and accessorizing so I'll have a details post in a few weeks.

The small room now looks like this
It's the epitome of girlie!

Next week I'll be doing a post all about my dream interiors and what my home must haves are.

Monday 21 October 2013

Unboxing : October Birchbox


So today I received my first ever Birchbox.  I've already been getting the Glossybox for a few months but a university friend had been raving about the Birchbox so decided to give it a whirl and already know that I've not been let down.

In case you don't know about Birchbox, it's a really great concept.  I pay £13 each month and receive 4 or 5 luxury brand products either in sample or full size.  The Glossybox is the same but you only get 4 products and they are high street and niche brands.

The packaging from Birchbox is a lot simpler which I like (although the patterned Glossyboxes are beautiful) and the products are in a little drawstring bag within the box.


I'm really excited to try all the products and I'll be posting a review on my YouTube channel in a few weeks.


Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser 

Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant 

KMS Silk Sheen Styling Creme 

 The Balm Staniac Lip and Cheek Tint in Beauty Queen

Egyptian Magic Skin Cream 

Dr Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips

I also got a gel eye mask which is currently chilling out in my fridge.  
Because I signed up as a new subscriber in September, I'm also waiting on a special gift which will hopefully be arriving soon!

You can visit the Birchbox website here

Saturday 19 October 2013

SPRING TRIP : Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Thought I'd share some pictures from my amazing trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Spring 2013.  My cousins live in Al Ain so my younger cousin and I popped over for a visit.  Hopefully I'll make it back soon because it was so gorgeous!

Feeding giraffes at Al Ain zoo 

We stayed in the Yas Viceroy Hotel when we stayed in Abu Dhabi and my room overlooked the Formula 1 track.  I was overjoyed by this because I'm a HUGE F1 fan! 

Me and my younger cousin shared this beautiful room 

Me with two of my cousins before going out for dinner 

Chandelier in the hotel restaurant

 Me and my younger cousin with the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory

The Ferrari World theme park is unbelievable!

Friday 18 October 2013

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First Blog Post!

Hi everyone!

So I've decided to start a blog to run alongside my youtube channel.  I'll be featuring beauty, fashion and interiors that excite and inspire me.

I'm from Edinburgh so I'll probably throw in a bit of touristy stuff at some point.

Hope you enjoy reading.

Gillian.
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