2012 in a Nutshell

2012 has been busy, hectic, slow, sad, emotional, time consuming and at times, great fun.. but to be honest, I am pleased to see it draw to a close and a fresh year begin.

There have been some amazing highlights in 2012 :

Keep Calm & Ceilidh On – our first Solo Fashion Show Inclusion with the SPL Players & the fabulous Lauren Quinn..

Another successful RunRevLive (through storms, bad weather and in fact the tail end of a Tornado and a full 3 days power cut!!)..

VIP @ The Scottish Fashion Awards..

Rewind Scotland 2012 – Glamping, VIP & Meeting the Celebs.. Plus Susie!

Edinburgh International Fashion festival – Front Row + Stunning Shows from Bebaroque, Pam Hogg & meeting the beautiful Christina Borcher – My new style crush <3 !!

On stage with Piff The Magic Dragon & Mr Piffles as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival..

Not only *meeting* David Hasselhoff, but DANCING ON STAGE with him as part of his act – “You Can Leave Your Hat On” – will never be the same again

Our very first Stockfest..

The Lilies & Dreams Boutique 2nd Birthday..

And to bring it to a close the Stockbridge Animal Parade: Scottie Dogs!

Lunchtime Show on Castle FM

Piff & Mr Piffles.. oh and Me & My Toast

THE HOFF!!!

Keep Calm & Ceilidh On

Scottish Fashion Awards

Squirrel & I Meet Caroline Borcher

Rewind VIP

Sus & I @ Rewind 2012

A damp TASTE & Lloyd Grossman

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Stockfest Edinburgh Evening News Front Page!

I am not going to dwell or recap on the not so great parts.. there’s really no need. they have already been packed away into the memories for another day box and hopefully will stay there as requested.

All there is now to say is I had a great Hogmanay & Happy New Year – Welcome to 2013 – A year that I hope promises to live up to all it has to offer, in all parts of my life  xx

Keep Calm and Ceilidh On

Keep Calm and Ceilidh On

I’m super pleased that Lilies & Dreams is participating in this years Charity Fashion Show as organised by the wonderful Lauren Quinn!

Saturday 12th May from 7pm – At a mere £15 / Ticket for a Fashion Show, Raffle & Ceilidh – How can you resist?

See you there! xx

Sunday Sparkles – A Precursor to Valentines

Sunday 5th February sees the first Lilies & Dreams Boutique Shopping event of 2012..

Sunday Sparkles isn’t just about Relaxing Sundays.. Hanging Out with Friends or even Fashion.. It’s a lifestyle choice in combining them all!

Lilies & Dreams and Those Were The Days Vintage Boutique are throwing open their doors in the name of Love.. Love for everything they home in their bespoke style boutiques. Whether your search is for a Dress, Coat, Handbag or Scarf.. Shop with confidence in knowing you will have an Individual Purchase.

.. And to compliment your unique shopping experience, RBFY Studio are here to pamper and indulge you, offering their expert assistance in Make-Up with their exclusive BECCA Range.

So please join us for Fashion, Sparkles, Shopping Discounts and more.. and Psst.. Don’t forget to bring your friends xx

2011 in a Nutshell!

I can not believe August was my last Blog Post – awful right? Yes!

When I say so much has happened, I am trying to think of where to begin. There has been the loss of longterm friendship, the mourning that accompanies and the excitement of discovering new friendships too. The first Birthday of my wonderful Handbag Boutique and coverage in some major publications, as well as online recognition and inclusion in The Secret Arcade, as championed by the V&A.

A new Voice Over roll for me in now being the Voice of Co-Operative Magazine and some amazing new Charity Work in the Voice of LendWithcare.org – a revolutionary way to help underprivileged countries and budding entrepreneurs realise their dreams. One I believe in so much, I’ve already helped 2 people realise their dreams with donations in 2011.

Ooo.. ‘The Passport Incident’ en route to Dolce Chantilly, Paris – where I dropped the damned thing on the Eurostar and was stuck in an amazing 4* Hotel for an extra night.. *sigh* Hardship   (Someone had very kindly  handed it in but I had to wait to get it back from Lost Property).

October brought a Working Week in Las Vegas, again care of the wonderful Dolce Group & Juliette Knowles’ amazing Hospitality! Staying at Encore @ The Wynn, MrJoJo hopped along to carry bags and have the days sunning himself with beers by the pool, whilst I made all manner of new contacts in the name of Conference & Events Management @ IMEX America.

MrJoJo & I both having Birthdays. A fabulous trip to London – including Pret-A-Portea @ The Berkeley Hotel, a wander through the Harrods Christmas Displays and a wonderful Fairground Evening @ Hyde Parks Winter Wonderland. How to top it? Well the icing was the new Postmodernism Exhibit at the V&A Museum after a wonderful brunch in Mayfair!

Family Christmas, in a very different way to previous years, but a great (boozy) time was had by all.

And to top it all off Hogmanay with friends. You’ve never quite experienced New year’s eve until your experienced a typical Hogmanay in Scotland. House Party, Lock In, House Party, Home at 5:30am – what more could you want??

So there we are.. a super fast catch up on the balance of my 2011. What of 2012? Well that’s a new set of a resolutions and a whole new Blogpost..

Lilies & Dreams Boutique Update

So.. I wouldn’t usually post so directly about my own Boutique (well I would of course) but it’s been a subject heavy and in the forefront of my mind.

We opened in October 2010 after a whirlwind set up (we only received the keys 2 weeks before) and its been equally as much a hurricane ever since. Now we’re coming towards our first Birthday, the Anniversary of our Flagship Boutique, I begin to think on all that has passed and all that lies ahead.

I would like to do more.. but there are always limitations and it seems Time is the greatest.

Expanding is always a dream, but don’t worry, i shan’t be running now that I’ve only learnt to crawl, I shall stay comfortably at this pace, working out each step as I go, until I find that new line of comfort, to which I break a jog.

Sorry – I’ve just realised I am not saying much, but I am still thinking a lot.. I’ve sent a good few emails and made some phone calls too.. so lets wait for the responses before I start talking about it again, maybe best?

Taste, Charity, Tenerife & Rewind 80′s Stylie!

So July has been a hugely busy month – I am taking 10 minutes to type it out as otherwise I might not believe everything we’ve been up to thus far!

How sad is it that I even need to confer with my diary, just to ensure it’s all happened in July? So here we go..

Taste Festival – Edinburgh @ The Meadows – Saturday 2nd July – Super Boozey and a million crowns left over. Kudos to No12 for the VIP tent.

Duck Race Day – Ballie Bar Stockbridge – Sunday 3rd July – Fabulous year raised over £3.8k for Lifecare & St Columba’s Hospice. Not to smished this year – that’s a first, but it was gloriously hot and I stayed off the Rioja Blanco.

Tenerife Mini-Break – Tuesday 5th to Sunday 10th July – Just me & Mr JoJo. Boozey sun down time.. Whales, Monkies and Giant Tortoises.

The Flea Market @ Drill Hall Arts Cafe, Out of the Blue – Saturday 16th July – Sold off all our unwanted Boutique Furniture & Nic-Naks. Amazing Sandwiches & Super comfy chair.

Those Were the Days Official Opening Night – St Stephen Street, Stockbridge – Thursday 21st July – WOWIE! That was an Alcoholic one! Plenty of lovely people turned up (and some mad cow) Total Shopping Extravaganza as Lilies & Dreams co-hosted. Thanks Claire

Bark in the Park - Inverlieth Park, Edinburgh – Sunday 24th July – Tio-Pepe, under the supervision of Mr JoJo & I, completed the sponsored walk to raise money for St Columba’s Hospice. Go Tio! Still not too late to reward him for his hard work:

Rewind Scotland – 80′s Festival @ Scone Palace, Perthshire – Friday 29th July to Monday 1st August – Squrt (www.cloud-houses.co.uk). Kaz & Dave. Party Box (Pink Pino-Griglio). Wander & Fairground Rides. Gin Breakfast + Bacon Rolls. More Wander. Bands.  Afternoon Disco Nap. Go West. Bananarama. More Bands & Artists. Tony Hadley / Rick Astley. Passout. No Booze Breakfast. Party Box #2. Champagne Tent. More Wander. Healthy Food = Rubbish, so Pizza. Fishy Pedicure. More Booze. Kim Wilde. Toyah. karaoke Tent = Madonna Material Girl. Cringe. More Dancing Around. More Bands & Booze. Passout. Wake Up dying with bruises everywhere, lost half our memory (and still my voice which we lost on Saturday). Brilliant!

Phew! Add into that the 2 businesses to run, keeping house, MrJoJo & RatDog inline. 3 Nail Appointments (RBFY) 1x facial (ESPA @ Harvey Nichols) 5 trips to Doggie  Daycare. 1 Trip to Grooming Marvelous (RatDog) and all the other catching with friends etc, I’d say no wonder I’m shattered going into August. And lets face it, with the Fringe Festival, several Trade SHows and a buying trip ahead, July is looking Tame by comparison!

New Stock.. Steamline Luggage

Yay! I love it when the deliveries arrive. Well, I don’t always love the mess and the packaging, but the goodies inside FAR outweigh that!!

We’ve just unpacked, priced and displayed our new collection from Steamline Luggage. For those of you that haven’t encountered Steamline, they are fabulous pieces of crafted beauty, set to reflect the style of a bygone day, with all the practical requirements (like wheels & strap) discreetly included. Each piece has a hard frame covered either fully in leather or a complimenting, durable & natural fabric with corresponding leather trim.

I have owned the larger Stowaway Suitcase from The Explorer range since our very first delivery, back in 2008. I LOVE IT!!

The Explorer Carry On & Stowaway Suitcase

Sadly The Explorer is out of stock until (hopefully) the Autumn.. but do not be too disheartened, we have The Editor..

The Editor Chocolate Carry On & Stowaway

The Producer..

 

The Producer Steamline Luggage in Navy

and The Aviator..

The Aviator Steamline Luggage Range in Brown

 

Each collection offers their own distinctive charm and appeal, it’s hard not find the right range or even individual piece to compliment your wardrobe and own sense of style.

 

All of the above are available at Lilies & Dreams in Stockbridge, Edinburgh – Or via the Lilies & Dreams Online Boutique – with prices ranging from £90 for an individual piece, through to £305 for a Luggage Set.