Lifestyle: Afternoon Tea at Jameson's

Khaki Jumper: Primark
Grey Wrap Knit Skirt: Warehouse
Pink Suede Tasseled Loafers: River Island
Alexa Satchel Bag: Mulberry
Rose Gold & Mink Watch: Olivia Burton

In case you didn't know I've got a lotta love for Sheffield. It's my hometown with the perfect blend of city sights and countryside cool, it's the place where I ticked off a whole load of important lifetime goals and it's where I met the love of my life (at Leadmill in case you were wondering) so when the team at Travelodge* got in touch asking me to share my favourite place in Sheffield I was ready to shout my love from the rooftops. On a side note did you know Sheffield recently won a Trip Advisor award for the Best Value City Break? I literally feel like a proud parent.

Now there's a ton of independents that get my vote in Sheffield (I need to compile a guide pronto) but one new favourite is Jameson's Cafe & Tea Rooms. Last Tuesday I treated my mum to the splendid afternoon tea and it certainly didn't disappoint. Walking into Jameson's is like stepping back in time, the male waiters don black bow ties and a pianist plays sweet melodies but don't be fooled into thinking this place is stuffy and not for you. The staff are welcoming and the vibe is incredibly relaxed. After selecting our teas, posh pops, scones (yes there's more than just fruit and plain on offer) and our cakes (the selection is endless) we enjoyed a lovely catch up with a teething Sadie in tow, just look at her little red cheeks! The sandwiches were on point but the real show stoppers were the sweet treats, my chocolate and orange scone smothered in lemon curd was a force to be reckoned with and my slice of lemon drizzle and gin cake was something else. Are you wiping away drool too?

With Sadie throwing in the teething ring we took our leftovers home via a trip to Swallows and Damsons, a dreamy florist just a stones throw from Jameson's where I picked up this seriously Autumnal bouquet and another succulent. Yes another one. If pretty blooms are your bag then you must check out their Instagram pronto, get ready to swoon. 

Sheffield you beauty.

Does this sound like your perfect Tuesday? Where do you love to visit in Sheffield?

*In collaboration with Travelodge.

The Last 3 Things

I wish I could remember which magazine I first saw this feature in, it was one of my favourites to read every month. Basically whenever said magazine interviewed celebrities or prominent fashionistas they'd ask, 'What were the last three things you put on your debit card?' Sadly this feature vanished so I thought it might be a nice addition to the Cagney and Lace family, after all who doesn't want to know the last three things I bought?

Topshop Marble Ring - Topshop have recently updated their jewellery packaging and I couldn't be happier. Goodbye black shiny packaging that every high street retailer has and say hello to chic grey card. When I recently visited my local store I couldn't take my eyes off this yellow gold and marble number, looks much more expensive than it's £8 price tag no?

Fleur de Force Glam Guide - Fleur was one of the first YouTubers I really got into and she's still one I love to watch today so I had to get my mitts on her first book, power to the bloggers and vloggers. While the content may be fairly basic for a fashion and beauty obsessive like me the book is beautifully put together with out of this world illustrations and there's a super useful section about blogging and YouTube which details all the equipment Fleur uses. A truly lovely purchase.

Primark Necklaces - Yes you heard me right, Primark. I haven't popped into Primark for ages but after a sneaky peek with my girl Letta I came out with these two beauties at a respectable £6 and £8 each. I love the simplicity of the gold and navy bar necklace and while I'm not a lover of diamante (I think I might wear this necklace the other way round) the mix of pastels and navy has me excited for Spring.

What do you make of my last three things? Have you been snapping up fresh Spring pieces?

Don't Step On My Blue Suede Boots

Black Beanie: Topshop
Leopard Print Coat: H&M
Berry Double Layer Jumper: Topshop
Tartan Scarf: Primark
Leigh Skinny Jeans: Topshop
Black Panther Bag: Angel Jackson
Lolly Dawson Chelsea Boots: c/o Clarks*

Well how did a ten day blogging hiatus even happen? I could use the old 'life' excuse but if I'm completely honest I've been struggling with bloggers block. Usually the words just come to me but a lately I've found myself staring at my MacBook in deep thought and ya'll know life's too short for that business. It's good to be back.

This weekend has been a real babe, with Craig off work Saturday and Sunday *does happy dance* we decided to take full advantage of the situation and head to Liverpool to start our Christmas shopping. I swear this is the latest I've ever started my shopping but I'm proud to say we managed to blitz almost half of our to buy for list in just a few hours, praise must go to John Lewis Liverpool One - what that store doesn't have isn't worth buying! We rounded off our shopping sesh with a trip to Il Forno as recommended by Abigail, not only does that gal have a lovely blog but boy can she suggest a restaurant. Authentic Italian restaurants are really hard to come by in Sheffield but Il Forno is something else, the decor has a really old school 1920s meets present day vibe and the food was out of this world. A must visit if you ever find yourself in Liverpool.

This morning we headed over to Moose Coffee, somewhere which was getting some real Internet love - there was even a Breakfast Club style queue outside! Instead of hovering around in the cold waiting for our table we headed off for a cheeky photo shoot, doesn't the grand green door make the most perfect backdrop? With a fierce coastal breeze in Liverpool I got myself well and truly wrapped up, it's all about those layers (anyone else thinking of Shrek?) A special mention has got to my new chelsea boots - they fit like a dream, are beyond comfortable and are pretty snazzy in their inky blue suede. Don't you think? Clarks even have 20% off all full price styles now, a cheeky Chrismas gift from you to you? So how was Moose Coffee? Worth the wait. I attempted to devour the Burrito State of Mind and Craig consumed Eggs Benedict with a side of chipolatas, no joke.

What have you been up to this weekend? Hope you haven't missed me too much.

*The Chelsea Boots were kindly sent to me by Clarks.

Lifestyle: The Story Of Our Home

2013 was a special year, after months and months of saving Craig and I bought our first house, dating back to 1825 our cottage is something a bit special (if I do say so myself). It used to be a bakery and after that it was turned into three individual cottages before it became the house we own today.

Walking in for the first time as home owners was the most daunting thing and I think we both thought what have we done, we knew we had a project on our hands as the last owner had let things go but I don't think we realised quite how much work there'd be. Just over a year on and I think we're finally getting somewhere, the upstairs is almost complete and the downstairs, well it's looking better.

Welcome to The Cottage...

There's no set style in our home, it's a case of what we like goes - eclectic I think they call it. I adore fresh flowers in my Rob Ryan vase, who wouldn't want to bring the outside in?

You'll have to excuse our almost complete surround but I just had to share our new log burner with you. Craig lovingly crafted our hearth, tiled it and made our fireplace, he's a handy one. Anyone who knows me well knows just how much I love candles, my current burner is Jo Malones Blackberry and Bay, just beaut.

I'm a bit of a magpie when it comes to photo frames, so long as it's eye catching it's a winner in my books. An awesome housewarming gift was our Scrabble inspired art (thanks Lauren, Matt and Freddie) and can you believe that sepia photograph used to be our house? My how things have changed.

A new addition to our soon to be painted shelves is this ceramic ridge vase from Country Baskets*. I can't fault its original shape and I thoroughly enjoy the subtle fawn meets grey shade. This vase wouldn't look out of place in the home department of M&S or Next yet it costs less than £5 (no joke). 

While our sofas aren't the ones we want forever (thanks ma and pa for the loan) our selection of cushions and cosy throw help to make them a little more us. No your eyes don't deceive you, that is a bear in our living room, Bernie was a birthday present for my twenty fifth and while some might find it crazy he certainly makes a reliable foot stool/emergency seat. 

One amazing feature of our home is our double French doors going from the living room into the garden. Craig is rather green fingered as has single handedly transformed our green space into something pretty and sorta self sufficient - we grow our own apples, rhubarb and berries (two types) don't you know and don't get me started on our selection of herbs.

Working in the tile industry it'd be criminal to still have the bathroom we had when we first moved in, I'm talking apricot walls and a grotty lockable first aid cabinet - I think you'll agree this one is a huge improvement and our bath is my absolute fave.

Just like my wardrobe our home is filled with a high low mix, some pieces have been investments while others have been purse friendly. In our guest bedroom is Ikea bedding, a Primark and a Selfridges cushion plus our wooden Buddha which we picked up on a holiday to Kos, where we vowed to put it in our first home together. The chandelier light fitting below was picked up from Dunelm Mill for just £20.

My dressing table from Feather & Black is one of my favourite pieces in our bedroom although I can assure you it's not always this tidy.

While our home doesn't look exactly as we'd like it to yet (it doesn't help that I'm one messy individual to live with and hoard everything) our renovations are one true labour of love and both C and I have plenty of ideas as to how the finished product will be. Most importantly it'll be cosy, inviting and us, exactly what a home should be.

Have you enjoyed having a glimpse of our home? What's the story behind your home?

Read more inspirational home stories or submit your own here.*

*Vase kindly sent to me by Country Baskets. 
Content sponsored by Hillarys Blinds, all thoughts and opinions my own.

Palm Trees, Birkenstocks & Bicycles

Palm Tree Print Jumpsuit: Primark
Tortoiseshell Sunglasses: Topshop
Friendship Bracelet: Accessorize
Silver Birkenstock Style Sandals: Dorothy Perkins
Stressed White Clutch: Zara

If you'd of told me I'd ever be seen wearing Birkenstock style sandals I'd of laughed in your face, well my how times have changed... On Tuesday I caught up with my closest and dearest friend Gemma who suggested we pop into Dorothy Perkins for a perusal of their basics. Now Dorothy Perkins isn't a shop I usually have a gander in but I quickly began to wonder why as we stepped in, I found so many different pieces calling my name and a plethora of prints that had Hannah written all over them. Then I spotted these mat silver Birkenstock style sandals, in the sale for just £8 and I had to give them a try. The ugly shoe/pool slider trend is all over the high street now and as on the fence as I've been about the whole charade I must confess to enjoying these sandals, a lot.

A constant theme in my Sunday outfit posts is Primark attire, I promise I don't plan it this way and I do buy clothes from other stores! This jumpsuit tickled my fancy after spotting it on Carolines blog, anything that babe wears quickly finds it way onto my wish list. Fact. Don't you think this looks way fancier than it's £15 price tag? Jumpsuits are quickly filling up my wardrobe and with good reason, who doesn't want an outfit you can just add shoes to and dash out the door in?

I'm devastated to wave goodbye to this weekend, it's been an absolute blast. Friday evening saw me pay a visit to my hairdressing fave where my hair magically got a little blonder, I absolutely love it and I'm thrilled with the results (even if I was there for three and a half hours!) On Saturday I caught up with my Space NK lovin' pal Claire and we visited our mecca to stock up on skincare goodies. Saturday eve became a burger devouring date night and today we've been watching the Tour De France in the Yorkshire countryside, I don't think I've ever seen so many people in lycra in my life.

Has your weekend been the bomb? What do you make of my blonde locks?

According To French Folklore

Lilac & Leather Trim Jacket: Sandro
Tortoiseshell Sunglasses: Topshop
Vibrant Folklore Print Dress: Primark
Cut Out Boots: Topshop
Alexa Bag: Mulberry
Friendship Bracelet: Accessorize

Wouldn't that just be the perfect beginning to an epic French love story? I'm talking paperback not movie, although that may come from the success of the paperback, European love stories are always a winner. Day dreaming aside it's evident I'm becoming that girl who can't just walk past Primark without popping in to hunt for blogger buys, my desired item on this trip was Jens palm print skirt which sadly was only available in 18 and 20s in my local store *sobs*. This is where I say I turned on my heel and left on a mission failed downer but oh no, this folky inspired dress caught my eye and as they say, the rest is a history. I've aspired to be the purveyor of a breezy, floaty, smock style dress for quite some time but usually struggle to find one that doesn't make me look the size of a house, thankfully this one does not, in face it fits pretty spot on. 

So what do you team with a vibrant patterned dress? A lilac Sandro jacket that's what, since first appearing on Cagney and Lace my jacket has been a tad camera shy but it was worth the wait right? An absolute find in Bicester Village it wasn't the cheapest of buys but it's one of those that'll stick around in my wardrobe forever, allowing me to pretend I'm effortlessly Parisian. Along with my look-more-beaten-up-than-they-are cut out boots this was the dreamiest of ensembles for a relaxed Sunday potter and longer than long dog walk where the sun played hide and seek with the clouds and the slightest breeze allowed my dress to shimmy all on it's own, told you it was a breezy one. Sunday wouldn't be Sunday without our regular stop at Costa for iced lattes which are slurped away in the Botanical Gardens along with some form of snackage, we shared a pulled pork ciabatta effort this time round (just in case you were wondering) before reclining in our garden, me on the new love seat and the boyf mastering the BBQ. Summer evenings, you're the bomb.

What are your weekend traditions? Do you ever find yourself on the hunt for blogger items?

Primark Purchases

So the time has come for the ol' blogger fave, it's only a long over due Primark haul. Remember when I said I've been boosting the economy and shopping up a storm? Well here are my more reasonably priced buys and boy is there a few, Primark is somewhere you can find oodles and other times leave empty handed but on two recent trips (told you I've been spendy) it's been oodles all the way. PS - Even though it may not seem like it, I do own an iron.

Longline kimono's are all over right now but as a trend piece I didn't want to spend a fortune, say hello to my white and blue paisley find which I couldn't refuse at £8.

My blog room is still in progress after having work completed in our living room, let's just say a lot of items are on vacay in the blog room. When it's finally finished these cushions will be a nice decorative touch (£4 for the chevron print & £6 for the wordy one). Who can leave Primark without buying socks? Not me, a steal at £3.50 for five pairs.

So my collection of striped breton tees didn't really need an addition but these things happen and if you could feel how soft this boyfriend style tee is, you'd understand. Especially at £4.

I've been debating a full (ish) midi skirt for a while but finding one that doesn't make my hips look huge is no easy task, enter this white option with a faint gingham print. In the fitting room I played 'make an outfit' with this oversized pink knit (see me wearing the navy here) and it was magic. Even more so when I reached the till and little miss midi was now £5 instead of £12. What. A. Bargain.

Monochrome is a one way road to chic so as a patterned kinda gal this necklace screams paired down to me (yes really). A serious budget find at £4.

This jumper was the reason for my trip to Primark. After spotting this on Patricia I had to get my mitts on one which FYI is so similar to ones in Topshop but at a fraction of the price (just £14). I love the oversized fit mixed with the short sleeves and would have happily snapped up the rose colour too but sadly my size wasn't available.

Have you been picking things up in Primark? What do you make of my choices?

Weekend Dressing

Black Leather Jacket: Zara
Relaxed Fit Navy Jumper: Primark
Gold Feather Necklace: Alex Monroe
Alexa Bag: Mulberry
Braid Print Trousers: Whistles
Monti Cut Out Boots: Topshop

This weekend has passed by in a whirlwind of shopping, errand running and catching up with loved ones. Craigs currently away on my brothers stag do cue me spending more than I should, dining like a queen and taking Kez on many a walk in an attempt to redeem my eating habits. Fingers crossed that logic has paid off eh? In terms of weather the weekend has been expressing two key emotions, one of joyous sun and heat and the other intense misery in the form of mass down pour (hence my slightly frizzy waves in these snaps). Oh England you're a temperamental thing.

You know when you buy new garms and all you want to do is pull all the tags off and wear everything together at once? Well this is exactly what's going down here. My oversized navy jumper was a real find in Primark, it's the softest knit ever and perfection for this in between weather we seem to be experiencing right now. Another newb and wardrobe love are these loose fit patterned trousers which are basically a grown up pair of pyjama bottoms from my fave store Whistles, if I could only ever buy from one store I'd be happy if it was here. I've got serious love for their on point Spring Summer collection. Remember how I complained that I was lacking in the footwear department? Well no more, this week I've picked up two pairs to add to my collection. After spotting these boots on Tabitha's blog a while ago I've been subconsciously thinking about them ever since. Seeing just two pairs left in my local Topshop was clearly a sign from the fashion gods and off to the till I went. Great for the English Summertime these cut out style boots will look amazing with jeans, dresses and even shorts, not too shabby for £46. In non-fash news how have I just discovered Lady Danger? Late. To. The. Party.

I never advocate wishing your life away but I'm already giddy for this coming weekend, it's my future sister in laws hen party and we're off to Brighton. Hello sun, sea and giggles!

Have you had a grand weekend? What do you wear for Summer showers?

Comfort Zone Dressing

Cream Duster Jacket: H&M
Floral Blouse: Primark
Distressed Maysa Jeans: Topshop
Studded Ankle Boots: Zara
Orange Satchel: Topshop 

Sometimes you find an item you love and can't stop wearing it, case in point? These distressed skinnys from Whistles. They're not only a great fit but the perfect thing to throw on when you haven't a scooby doo what to wear but still want to look effortless and, can I say cool? It's all about the ripped skinny jean this Spring Summer, they just look so now and fresh non? Although I clearly need to mix up my wardrobe and step away from the familiar, I've worn these very skinnys a whopping three times on ze blog (find the other looks here and here). Two items that haven't been seen around this neck of the woods before are my floral blouse and cream duster coat. Duster coats are big news right now and I fell in love with this one on my trip to Bath, are you shocked to hear this minimalistic beaut is from H&M? A longer length coat can be daunting to style so ease yourself in by wearing a cigarette pant or skinny jean a la moi.

Last but by no means least is my incredibly well priced floral blouse from the land of bargains, Primark. Primark is the ultimate hit and miss store but after a rather successful trip earlier this week I may have picked up enough for a haul so keep your eyes on Cagney and Lace. This weekend has flashed by as I've been running errands, catching up with my nearest and dearest and attending my god sons first birthday party, the cake was absolutely delectable and the little man enjoyed it too. Did I forget to mention I've done some more shopping? A rather spendy two piece was one of my first buys thanks to all the store discounts this weekend. I'd like to say I stopped there but it'd be a lie, let's just say a few online orders are winging their way to me #excited. Life has felt super chaotic this week but I'm hoping this coming week is going to be more relaxed so I can get back to regularly posting. I'm feeling inspired.

Do you sometimes find yourself stuck in your comfort zone? What do you make of duster coats?