Playing Mermaid with Sand Dollar Swim

I recently discovered an awesome swimwear range based in the UK and Molly has gone dotty for them.  The founder, Maureen Dolan, saw that there was a gap in the market to design and make stylish UV swimwear for little ones, and in 2013, Sand Dollar Swim was born! I'm quite in love with the label and wish I could get a matching swimsuit in my own size! Not only would I be wearing it to the beach, but how perfect would it be for festivals!?!

I was pleasantly surprised when Molly picked this swimsuit. She is loopy for pink at the moment and usually the only reason why she picks something, but this swimsuit is a magnificent aqua green (HOORAH!) with a small touch of pink. The suit is a little large (age 5-6) on her, but come Summer I think it will be perfect. Molly likes to spend a lot of time in and out of the water when we spend days at the beach, so making sure sun lotion is topped up can be difficult (especially when she's so engrossed in playing). It's peace of mind knowing that she will be getting extra UV protection from her swimsuit and the fabric is also breathable and fast drying, ensuring minimal discomfort.

 

It was too much of a cold, wet day to go to the beach, so instead Molly wanted to dress up as a mermaid. It's one of the reasons she loves her new swimsuit. The aqua green sparkly fabric is just perfect for an aspiring mermaid and luckily I had some shimmery lime green fabric in my stash to use for a tail. Add lots of glitter and we had ourselves a little mermaid!

So not only is this a fabulous swimsuit for days at the pool or beach, it also provides plenty of inspiration and creativeness for our little ones during playtime :) That gets a big thumbs up from me!

Big love,

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Orla Kiely SS15

I've been lusting over Orla Kiely's SS15 collection of late. Obviously trying to escape Winter by dreaming of Spring/Summer! The colours, textures and 1960s influences remind me of Wes Anderson's beautiful film, Moonrise Kingdom. I love how Kiely's iconic flowers can be found somewhere in the prints or shoes. Not only that, the shoes shown are a peek into Kiely's third collaboration with Clarks (which will also be released in the Spring) and it's just wonderful! I've got my eye on several pairs ;)

Better start saving then!

Big love,

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Lingerie Shopping at House of Fraser

On a recent visit to House of Fraser I was pleasantly surprised with their lingerie department. They have a great choice of designers to choose from including all time favourites: Agent Provocateur, Elle Macpherson, Calvin Klein and even Mary Portas & Kinky Knickers. Amongst these are  also collections from lesser known designers like Japanese brand, Wacoal, and this is where I found this beautiful set. 

I've grown to love simplicity the older I've got and this basic design from Wacoal's 'B'temp'd Lace Kiss' range falls into that category perfectly. The bralette and bikini style knickers are incredibly comfortable and tasteful. I also love the dreamy lace in it's pretty pastel hues, making it perfect for bridal underwear. The lace gives just enough stretch and is SO soft to the skin (mega points!!). The waistband on the knickers are just the right height to cover my caesarian scar, which has become another priority since I had Molly. The price was pretty light on the pocket too, costing less than £25!!!

I highly recommend you try this style of bra. I used to wear padded and under wired bras all the time and now find they can be incredibly uncomfortable after long periods. The bralette feels surprisingly supportive and looks exquisite styled underneath sheer blouses.

What kind of underwear do you prefer: are you a bralette or padded kind of gal or do you prefer thongs to big pants? Love to hear your thoughts!

Big love,

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BEAUTY: Retro hair on a bad hair day

Howdy peeps, and welcome to my first attempt at vlogging! Having made videos in the past, I was in two minds about dabbling in 'talkies' and the experience has definitely been a learning curve, with lots of cussing and tears when editing wasn't going my way. But I did it! WHOOP WHOOP!

In this little tutorial I show you a quick and easy way to style retro bangs and also how to tie a headscarf in true Rosie the Riveter style. It's a perfect up-do when your having a bad hair day. 

If you have any questions please comment below. 

Big love!

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COMPETITION: Win a necklace from Modern Vintage Style

We've collaborated with the wonderful Modern Vintage Style to bring you this fabulous competition. We are giving away a beautiful Purple Quartz Pendant Necklace to one lucky reader!

To enter simply use the Rafflecopter app and visit Modern Vintage Style's online shop and tell us which is your favourite item. Tell us your answer by commenting below. You can also earn extra entries, so there's a good chance of winning! 

Competition will be running from 13th Nov 2014 - Sunday 23rd Nov 2014. 

I will be announcing the winner shortly after the competition ends. 

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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WHAT I WORE: Quartz Crystals & DIY Creations

WHAT I WORE:

DRESS > MADE BY MOI

NECKLACE > MODERN VINTAGE STYLE

ANKLE BOOTS > NEW LOOK

As regular readers will know, I just love to sew. Not long ago I found some great vintage patterns at a car-boot sale. It was the perfect excuse to use some vintage fabric I had squirreled away and just a day later I'd completed making this 1960s style dress! What do you think?

I, personally, love how it's turned out! It's proof that with the right pattern and fabric, you can recreate certain vintage fashion in no time at all, and it was much more thrifty than shopping on the high street. The only thing I would change is to make the sleeves more bell shaped, but apart from that, it's perfect and I feel very proud wearing it.

I kept my styling simple for this OOTD by pairing the dress with some thick black tights, lace-up ankle boots and a beautiful purple quartz pendant necklace from Modern Vintage Style. My hair was put up in a messy beehive, a huge change for me as I usually hide behind a hat or just leave it down.

If you don't know them, you should absolutely check out Modern Vintage Style. They have a beautiful collection of antique and handmade jewellery, perfect for any vintage/jewellery lover. And watch this space if that purple quartz necklace has caught your eye. We will be giving one lucky reader the chance to win it! More details on that will be coming very soon.

What have you been making lately?

Big love!

 




P.S Don't forget to vote for Hooting Miss Owl in the #UKBA15. Find out how you can help us get through to the next round here

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UK BLOG AWARDS 2015: Vote for Hooting Miss Owl!

I'm very happy to announce that Hooting Miss Owl has been entered into the UK Blog Awards 2015! We've been nominated for two categories; Lifestyle and Retail & Fashion. This is a fantastic opportunity for the blog but it won't be easy. There are two phases we need to get through and the first one is something you can help us with.... public voting!

Public voting is from Monday 10th Nov 2014 - Monday 1st Dec 2014. All you need to do is click on one or both of the links below, where you will be redirected to a voting page. I would really appreciate your support if you can make the time to do so. It only takes a moment and if we get enough votes we move into the next phase... judging from the industry experts!   

Retail & Fashion Category                                                                Lifestyle Category

Please share with your friends and thank you in advance!

Big love,

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KATIE JONES: Granny Takes a Trip SS15

I love Katie Jones! She is a woman after my own heart. Her skill of combining crocheting and fashion is truly mesmerizing, always causing my heart to skip a beat. I was first introduced to Jones at Brighton Fashion Week's Zeitgeist show in 2013.  Her Slab City collection (read what I thought about the show in this feature I wrote for Pretty Litter Mag) stood out and I fell in love straight away. 

I've been following her since and she hasn't disappointed. Her stunning new collection, Granny Takes a Trip, takes inspiration from childhood visits to the Brighton seaside. Jones, combines colours from memories of eating ice cream, visiting the pier, carousel and Pavilion with this fabulous crochet ensemble. The craftsmanship she displays is of artisan quality and I just want to fill my wardrobe with each and every piece.

Which is your favourite item?

Big love,

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