THE CHURCH

LINKS OF LONDON

Today I got a invite to the Links of London sale starting on June 17th. Last year for Christmas my Dad bought me the Sweetie Bracelet and Steve bought me a wellie boot and a C charm for it. Here are a few more charms I would like to add.

SUMMER SULTAN BALL

BEE

"Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway."
– Mary Kay Ash

FRIDAY DANCE WITH TUNES OF GLASTONBURY

TO SPRAY TAN OR NOT TO SRAY TAN

I went to get a mani & pedi for the Sultan Summer Ball this weekend and ended up getting talked into my first ever spray tan. I was terrified all the way down stairs wondering if I would have to get completely undressed for this stranger and show her every nook and cranny on my body, I did! She stood there, told me to get undressed, and didn't even leave the room. I guess if she was going to see my bits what does leaving the room matter. It was cold and I was shaking. I'm not sure if I was shaking because of the cold spray or embarrassment of being in my birthday suit! I've come out looking tan for the first time in my life I have color but haven't decided if I like it yet. I love my milky white skin and waiting for my freckles to join in the summer for hope that I could pass it off as my tan.

SWEET TOOTH

I have a sweet tooth today and fancied making something special for dessert tonight so I went to All Recipes and found this Banana Cake recipe. B cake 


  Ingredients   

• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 1/8 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
•  
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extractDirections 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.
4. For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

NOTICE OF MARRIAGE

Today we gave our notice of  marriage at the Frome Registers Office. In 16 days we will have our marriage license and will be able to marry in the UK this August. Steve took me for a celebratory coffee after we had our interview. It was a very exciting day and a lovely morning for a drive up to Frome. I hope the weather is this fabulous on our wedding day.

57 days! xoxo

THE WORLD'S GREATEST TENNIS TOURNAMENT

We won't get a chance to attend Wimbledon this year because of the wedding but next year I will be there with bells on! Time to brush up on my tennis, the Gillespie family loves tennis. I've picked up the Daily Mail's ultimate 8 page guide on Wimbledon to get me started. Steve will be impressed! ;)  We are heading to Orchardleigh this afternoon for a food tasting so I woke up early this morning and had an extra long gym session. We are also meeting with the registrar. In England you must live in the town you want to marry in for 7 days before the wedding, "take up residency" sounds like a nice pre-wedding-moon!

Happy tennis watching, Go Murray!! xoxo

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY WALKER

One of my favorite memories of my Dad and I when I was growing up was him taking us all out to Sydney. We would stroll and look at the boats he planned to buy for retirement, go crabbing off the pier or go to the Nursery and always end the day at the Sydney bakery for a Vanilla Slice. Mmmmm! Happy Father's Day Dad! xoxo

MY TOP 10 CAKE TOPPERS

I'm not sure about a cake topper yet but today I went looking and these are my favorites. The picture of the vintage cake topper brought back a memory of seeing my Mom & Dad's cake topper, I wonder if it's still around? The Lobster (Connor says crabs) cake topper is so sweet, did you know lobster's stay together forever? All of these reminded me of something sweet. Loving Life Being Christy xoxo

MADEMOISELLE BAGATELLE

Mademoiselle Bagatelle what a amazing Friday find! I've also found some fabulous clutches on Monsoon
Check out this Wimbledon clutch my favorite!

WINDEMERE- MACDONALD OLD ENGLAND HOTEL AND SPA

After a wonderful weekend away, I decided to go up North again with my Love to Windermere. He had business in Barrow and I stayed in Bowness and lunched with Ailsa and Jack before heading to the Macdonald Spa to have a much-needed relaxing afternoon of treatments. After a busy weekend partying with my girls Steve suggested, The Spa Day, which included a body exfoliation, massage and facial. It felt like a mini honeymoon! To end an already perfect day I met up with Anna, Clair & Grace for a drink at the Garden Terrace before heading out for a lovely meal at Lucy's Restaurant. It was so nice to be able to see my friends so soon after leaving them on Sunday. Connor is coming this weekend and I am so excited to watch the England game with him.     Go England!

A TANGLE OF QUAINT COBBLED STREETS

I'm back from my hen weekend away in ..... YORK!

A tangle of quaint cobbled streets this town is romantic, historical and a architectural gem. What is there to do in York? Lots!  The Train Museum, The Viking Centre, York Minister, Floodlit evening cruises, The York Dungeon, York Castle and so much more.

The little boutiques, atmospheric nightlife along the river Ouse, York Racecourse & of course my beautiful friends made this trip one of my favourites!

There are many women getting married this year and they all seemed to be in York for the races and nights out this weekend. It was fun seeing the crazy outfits on everyone. I even came home with a few reminders.  Clair made everyone a gift bag with essentials of a hen weekend, juice boxes for the next morning, self-tan, chocolate, facemask, poppers & most importantly, every bag had a mini bottle of champagne!

We are having a brilliant start to summer and although we travelled North this weekend the sun still came out to play!

GETTING MY CLUCK ON

The angels of the north have planned a secret hen weekend away for me. We are leaving at 11:00 today and I can't wait to see the girls & finally find out where we end up, they have kept it under wraps for months. I'm pretty sure it will include lots of laughter and champagne!!!  I had such a great time on my Canadian hen night and I'm looking forward to take two. I've been told to bring my party hat, fascinator & fancy dress.Sounds amazing! xo


PS. GO ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

THE CAKE WALK

I've looked at many cakes and this beautiful cake from John Lewis is the one. Mmmm I can't wait to taste it
& stuff it in Steve's mouth. ha, ha!

TIME TO FIND MY RHYTHM

.

We had our first dance lesson with Bee last night and it went well, even though I stepped on Steve's toes more than once. I have the moves down for the first part but I'm already starting to feel fear. What was I thinking!. I can only hope, with many more practices and a very understanding fiancé, that we will be confident enough in the dance not to want to run to the nearest exit when it comes time for us to dance the first time as a married couple. Oh and I got to break in my new Steve Madden's!

WIDGETS

I'm so excited to be able to add widgets to my blog....

FLOWER GIRL FABULOUS