miss b loves.......Paris Street Style

One of the things I enjoy about Paris is sitting outside a pavement café people-watching or rather admiring Parisian ladies with that 'je ne sais quoi' style .....those outfits that look effortlessly stylish .... I know that's a bit of a cliché but it's true.....they manage to look as if they haven't tried too hard yet they look so polished....chic, classic but with a modern twist.

Imagine my delight when I unwrapped this lovely gift 'Paris Street Style - A Guide to Effortless Chic' (by Isabelle Thomas and Frédérique Veysset), which was bought for me in Anthropologie, New York.

The Eiffel Tower heel immediately caught my eye! A book cover says a great deal about a book...I knew I was going to enjoy it....... 

This is not just a list of what to wear and what to avoid. Of course they include suggestions about the essential items we should have in the wardrobe but there are many tips on how to add a little originality. The book also encourages us to look again at old favourites in our wardrobe in order to add our own personal style to today's looks.

I  like the way the book features photos of people from the streets of Paris, as well as fashion icons, wearing a mix of high street and designer and there's a range of ages too. 

miss b loves...The Glass House Café Bar, Stydd Gardens and a Roman village

Last Sunday, a twenty minute drive from home took us to The Glass House Café Bar & Tea Room at Stydd Gardens in the beautiful Ribble Valley. 

The café is housed in a bright airy space..... a glasshouse! There's an eclectic mix of lovely shabby chic furniture ....... 

...... and an abundance of lush exotic plants which creates a very special, tranquil oasis....

Passion fruit flower

There are so many cute and quirky details......
  

These tiered cake stands were for sale too!

miss b loves ......the Metropole Hotel Hanoi, Vietnam

  

One of the highlights of our recent visit to Vietnam was The Metropole Hanoi, a very special hotel with a rich and fascinating history. It opened in 1901 as the Grand Hotel Metropole Hanoi and was built in the French colonial style with a striking white façade and green shutters.  

No wonder it's such a popular spot for brides to pose for photos! 

Its pretty, lush gardens are a tranquil oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city....

Located in Hanoi's French Quarter, near to the Opera House, this legendary hotel has welcomed many entertainers, writers and Heads of State and during the seventies several Embassies including the Australian and Italian Embassies were based there.

miss b loves ........a little corner of Arabia in the North of England!

When we brought back this Arabic lamp from Dubai, I immediatly thought about creating a little Arabic-inspired area on our patio.....

We bought the lantern from one of my favourite interiors stores, Marina Home and I spotted the votives in our local Tesco Homeplus which surprises everyone as they assume they're from Dubai too!

Cushions from the textile souk in Dubai - I just couldn't resist the camel! 

The orange cushion on the left with the pretty embroidery and tiny mirrors caught my eye too....

...and these colourful coasters from the souk too......

More purple and orange in the garden ........

We've had more impromptu barbecues in the last two weeks than in the last two years!

Chicken Tikka Skewers are always a favourite .... recipe here

We even had breakfast outdoors .......now that really is a treat in this part of the world!

The sun has continued to shine well into the evening at the top of the garden ......a more minimalist look here.......

A good spot to enjoy a G&T made with Bombay Sapphire East .....a variation of the regular Bombay Sapphire Gin ... a bit more exotic as it's infused with Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorns in addition to the original ten botanicals ......... 

The lantern and votives were birthday gifts from friends.

Finally, after a few wet summers, we are able to enjoy a real summer with clear blue skies and amazing temperatures for the North of England ........sunloungers, flip flops.... it's almost like being on holiday! 

I'm not a beer drinker but we've just discovered Tequieros, a blond beer with a hint of Tequila and lime, made in France - so refreshing in the heat and I actually enjoyed it! 

Sadly, while writing this post, the lovely weather has taken a turn for the worse and the rain is here ........ let's hope the sunshine returns soon!

Next post... Vietnam, The Metropole Hanoi - our special hotel with a very interesting past! 

miss b loves ..........Hanoi, Vietnam (Part 2)

During our stay in Hanoi, we were constantly amazed by the volume of traffic, mainly scooters and it's not uncommon to see three people on one scooter .......

 and often a family of four ......

The Temple of Literature, a 1000 year old national treasure and Vietnam's oldest university, is a tranquil place away from the noise of scooter horns...... 

Beautiful manicured lawns, lotus ponds and courtyards........

The 82 steles which sit on stone turtles are carved with the names of students who were awarded doctorates from 1442 to 1779. 
In Vietnamese culture, the turtle is a symbol of longevity.

Outside another cyclo ..... ready for the next tourists to come along......

Our next stop was a short walk just around the corner ...... Craft Link, a non profit-making shop selling high quality textiles and supporting craft workers in rural Vietnam. How could I resist these pretty silk purses, a perfect size for clutch bags!

The brown one for me and two cute gifts