Firstly, I know I was supposed to put this post up on Friday but with Wayne being off all week, well, I decided to give myself a break from the normal schedule! Sometimes your loved ones have to take priority and you want to go to the cinema or watch Harry Potter films in the middle of the day, ya know? This week should hopefully go back to the normal M-W-F routine as he’s back to work and so am I! ;)

It was our 7 year anniversary on the 2nd October so we decided to spend a few days in the lovely city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. I’d travelled there for a few days waaaaay back in 1998 (I had to recheck my dates but yes, it really was that long ago) and I admit, my memories were pretty hazy of it so it was just nice to come back and spend some time with my guy in new surroundings.

Take Me Away - A Weekend in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Castle

We stayed at The Dunstane because I just love boutique hotels and it wasn’t wildly expensive. They actually have two different buildings, both equally beautiful and old and impressive but we actually stayed across the street in the β€˜townhouse’ building which I failed to get a picture of! However, we did have a rather lovely view of the main building from across the street!

The Dunstane Hotel Edinburgh

The building we stayed was really quite lovely with card access only to guests. This made us feel a bit like we were staying in an apartment rather than a hotel.

The Dunstane entrance

It even had it’s own bar (set up on an honesty system – you take a drink, you just write down what you took and your room number – how charming, no?) and seating area with a little faux fireplace.

The-Dunstane-Townhouse

via The Dunstane

This was our room – such gorgeous cornicing, no? It wasn’t huge but actually felt quite spacious due to that amazing ceiling.

The Dunstane our room - seating area

Everything was really high quality although more contemporary than my usual tastes, it was very tastefully decorated and immaculately clean.

The Dunstane - our room's bathroo

I will say, however, that we were led to believe it was only 10 minutes to the centre of Edinburgh and while it was probably a 10 minute walk to the EDGE of Edinburgh city centre, it was easily a 30 minute walk to the castle so just bear that in mind if you are considering it! We did seriously get a work out whilst in Edinburgh as the city is quite hilly so if you’re looking for a good leg workout, a visit here is a must!

The Old Town Edinburgh

I was going to go into a lot of detail of everything we went and did but decided that would probably be very long and very boring for you so I figured I’d just hit some of the highlights of things I would recommend.

Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 1

The Whiski Rooms

On the recommendation of my friend Alex who had been there earlier in the year, we ended up at The Whiski Rooms two nights in a row because honestly, we both loved it. And yes, it proved to be quite influential in my dining room design with that gorgeous berry hue all over the walls.

Whiski Rooms Edinburgh

via The Whiski Rooms

via The Whiski Rooms

The atmosphere is great, the food is excellent and the whiskey cocktails are delicious. The haggis spring rolls, Whiski Burger and lamb were all top notch. Get a classic whiskey sour or a Monkey Kilt cocktail – it’s Monkey Shoulder whiskey with Disaronno and shaved chocolate over ice. Heaven.

Edinburgh Castle

The views from the top are really incredible over the city but with the heaving throngs of people waiting in queues to get in and the fact it would cost us Β£32 to go inside meant we didn’t bother with the paid bit – we didn’t want to waste time as it was our only full day there.

Views from Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle entrance

Edinburgh Castle front

I know that’s a bit of an #Edinburghfail but we’ve seen a lot of castles in our day so kind of knew what to expect and to be honest, we really just wanted to explore the city a bit but it’s still worth going up there and exploring the outside of it (which is free!).

Edinburgh Coach Tour (it’s the Green one)

It’s a very touristy thing to do of course but it’s a fantastic way to get to see the city in one go and then make a decision as to which parts you want to spend more time in – perfect if your time there is short. Plus, they give a running commentary about everything you’re looking at so it’s kind of nice to hear about the history of the city at the same time.

Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh

Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 8Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 9Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 10

Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh

The entire tour is around an hour but the best thing about it is that it’s a β€˜hop on and hop off’ service so if there’s something you like the look of, you simply get off the coach, explore it and then get on the next tour – they run all day long and only around 15 minutes apart so you never have to wait long before the next one. I’d highly recommend it – but dress warm as the open top gets chilly pretty quick!

The Royal Mile

If you want your fill of tartan, this is the place to be.

Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh

Lots of little Scottish shops, plenty of pubs and cafes and gorgeous old world charm. It’s central too, of course, so a good spot to start exploring from and it’s pretty close to just about everything. If you are in Edinburgh, you’ll probably end up there regardless.

Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park

I walked up Arthur’s Seat last time I was in Edinburgh and our time here was short so we didn’t end up walking to the top this time around.

Arthurs Seat

However, I can say that the views from the top of this dormant volcano are amazing – it’s one thing I do remember clearly about my trip so long ago! There’s also an ancient fort at the top which is pretty cool. So even though we didn’t get to do this on our recent trip, I still wanted to recommend it again if you are there for a few days. I told you, this city will give you a good workout!

Castle Arms Pub & Restaurant

This pub was another with a really good atmosphere. It was on Johnstone Terrace and not far at all from the Castle.

Castle Arms pub Edinburgh ceilingCastle Arms pub Edinburgh WayneCastle Arms pub Edinburgh

I loved the black ceiling and the dΓ©cor is just quite cool and cheeky. Get a couple pints of Innis & Gunn and take a load off your feet from all the walking.

Innis & Gunn Beer

Not a place but the local beer here and another recommendation from Alex which I have to concur is excellent.

Innis and Gunn pale ale

There are 3 different types as we learned – an easy drinking pale ale on draught (too easy to drink which could be dangerous), the darker, more characterful β€˜original’ (really strong at 6.6% but gorgeous) and finally, the rum finish (6.8%) which dear god, yes is a strong beer but what a lovely finish and not at all bitter like some beers can be. I’m not a huge beer drinker but I did really enjoy all of them. We picked up a few bottles at a local shop whilst in Ediburgh to take home with us but then realised we could get it at our local Sainsbury’s!! So if you are in the UK, look out for it even if you aren’t in Edinburgh because it’s just so good.

National Museum of Scotland

This is a huge 7 level museum that’s donation only for admittance.

National Museum of ScotlandNational Museum of Scotland 2

There are a dizzying array of galleries and it’s all housed in a rather impressive building. Great way to spend a few hours just exploring and learning especially if you get any rainy days on your trip. It’s also child-friendly as there are lots of interactive exhibitions.

Haggis

You can’t really go to Scotland without sampling this peppery delicacy. It’s actually incredibly tasty, just try not to think about what you’re actually eating because it’ll put you off. Wash it down with a whiskey and it’ll make all those gross thoughts go away.

Our Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth Edinburgh

If you like science, you’ll probably enjoy this as it’s an interactive experience that takes you from the Big Bang, through the Ice Age and into rainforests, volcanoes and lots more, all telling the tale of how the earth was formed. It was clearly geared more towards kids but being the science geeks that we are, we still enjoyed it and it was a nice way to kill an hour or so.

The White Hart

Not particularly atmospheric but the fact that it’s the oldest pub in Edinburgh having been there since 1516 is pretty impressive.

The White Hart Inn 2The White Hart Inn

And the emerald green, black and gold of the outside was enough to lure me inside. Expect a good mixed touristy crowd and sports on the telly.

So those are all things we did and can recommend. There were plenty of other things we didn’t get a chance to explore like the Dungeons or doing a Ghost Tour as we ran out of time. Honestly, this is a city that is meant to be leisurely explored because the architecture and history is just incredible so just give yourself a few days and get stuck in.

Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 2Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 3

Have you ever been to Edinburgh or is it on your β€˜must visit’ list? I really enjoyed our time there – I’d wished we had another full day to be honest so perhaps a follow up trip is in our future. I’d love to hear your experiences if you’ve visited Edinburgh and anything you’d recommend yourself!

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Swoon Worthy
Take Me Away - A Weekend in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Castle
The Dunstane Hotel Edinburgh
The Dunstane entrance
The-Dunstane-Townhouse
The Dunstane our room - seating area
The Dunstane - our room's bathroo
The Old Town Edinburgh
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 1
Whiski Rooms Edinburgh
via The Whiski Rooms
Views from Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle entrance
Edinburgh Castle front
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 8
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 9
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 10
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh
Arthurs Seat
Castle Arms pub Edinburgh ceiling
Castle Arms pub Edinburgh Wayne
Castle Arms pub Edinburgh
Innis and Gunn pale ale
National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland 2
Dynamic Earth Edinburgh
The White Hart Inn 2
The White Hart Inn
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 2
Take Me Away - A weekend in Edinburgh 3
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Unboxing my new card deck Daily Dose of Magic by my gorgeous bestie Victoria Jackson of @themanifestationcollective ! ✨

This is not an ad, I am just so in love with them, I wanted to share for my spiritual witchy friends out there πŸ₯°

@thoughtcatalog

#witchvibes #spiritualjourney #carddecks #magicmoments✨
Ad (Press Sample) There are few kitchen products that are considered absolute classics but there is one that I have lusted after for YEARS and that is the utterly iconic @lecreusetuk large casserole pot. 🀩

For nearly a century, Le Creuset has been trusted for its superior performance, lasting quality and iconic design and the enamelled cast iron allows incredible versatility - not only can you use it with just about any heat source (from induction, glass, electric etc), you can also do everything from stir-fry to slow cooking to baking a cake in it and more. 

So, imagine my delight when Le Creuset got in touch to ask if I'd like to shoot their brand new colourway πŸ‘ PΓͺche πŸ‘ in my kitchen. I mean, there couldn't be a more perfect colour match with that juicy coral shade which if you've followed my account for any length of time, you'll know is one of my all-time favourites (not to mention that beautiful soft gold knob! 😍). The matching petite casserole dish and mugs are the perfect companions but you could easily mix and match this colourway with Le Creuset's other designs (Might I suggest the Sea Salt, a soft blue-green which would be gorgeous with PΓͺche). This new juicy summer shade is currently available exclusively at Le Creuset Official. I'd love to know which colourway is your favourite in the range?

#lecreuset #kitchendesign #kitchenstyling #kitchinspo #victorianhome #englishhome
My little neglected makeup/dressing room has had a glow up πŸ₯°

#swoonworthy #beforeandafter #dressingroom #makeupvanity #closetgoals
My new rug can't compete with that belly.

Rug is from @laredoute_uk (not an ad) not that anyone cares πŸ˜…

#kitchendesign
I've really loved making these pretty reusable Christmas crackers! I'm still in the process of finding cute bits for filling them but they'll definitely be a centrepiece for my table this year!πŸŽ„πŸ’•

Suggestions for what to fill them with coming soon!

(By the way, I'm not a skilled seamstress so I'm sure my techniques can be improved but just sharing what worked for me πŸ€—πŸ˜…)

Let me know if this is something you'd try? ❀️

#swoonworthy #christmasdecor #christmascraft #diychristmas #diycrafts #easysewingproject
On 22 October 2022, I married my best friend! I can't believe it's been a whole year (and one day) I've been calling @2nilup my husband πŸ₯° We've been together for 15 years now and I simply can't and wouldn't want to imagine my life without him ❀️ 

#youandmeagainsttheworld #2222 

Photography: @violajayphotography 
Flowers: @primroseavenuefloral 
Dress: @camillawithlove
DIY REFILLABLE CHRISTMAS CRACKERS πŸŽ„πŸŽ‰

I've been thinking about making refillable crackers for so many years now - I just hate the waste the disposal ones create! So I'm so excited I've finally gotten around to starting this project!

I will be sharing more details on how to make them as well as ideas for what to fill them with too so stay tuned for more but in the meantime, what do you think? 

#swoonworthy #diychristmas #christmasdecor #christmascraft #easysewingproject #sustainableliving #ecofriendlyliving
Just wanted to introduce my latest plant baby in my dining room πŸͺ΄

It's from @botanique_shrewsbury and it's a Peparomia (I am probably pronouncing it wrong, I keep wanting to say
GUEST BEDROOM REVEAL 🌟

I decided on a whim, 2 weeks before we were expecting visiting family, that our guest bedroom was in desperate need of a refresh.

Well there's nothing like an impending deadline to light a πŸ”₯ under my πŸ‘ and I managed to clear out the clutter, repaint the woodwork, ceilings and walls and hang wallpaper as well as restyle the room in one week πŸ˜… (Meisha was zero help 😼)

I'm calling it Boho Vintage Victorian Grandma πŸ˜†

This wasn't sponsored in any way but the wallpaper and bedding is from @lauraashleyuk and the paint is @earthbornpaints Peach Baby - everything else I already had!

What do you think of the new look? ❀️

#bedroombeforeandafter #guestroom
#bedroommakeover
#beforeandafter
#bedroomdecor #cottagecore #vintagestyle #victorianhouse #ihavethisthingwithpink #bengalsofinstagram
πŸ”₯JOIN US ROUND THE FIRE PIT! πŸ”₯

ad | One of my favorite things to do in summer is sit around the fire pit in the evenings with a cold beer 🍻 There's just something incredibly relaxing watching those flames and embers crackle, warming yourself up and taking the edge off falling temperatures as the sun sets!

Thanks to @homefireuk they've made the whole process incredibly easy and enjoyable with their Handy Firepit Bundle which include 2 bags of kindling, 2 bags of natural firestarters and 3 large bags of kiln-dried logs πŸͺ΅ for a really great price! 

No more standing around waiting for things to light properly or billowing smoke from wet wood, everything burns beautifully! ☺️ We literally sat around this for hours as the logs last so long, long after the sun set, just chatting and enjoying ourselves! πŸ₯°πŸ»πŸ”₯

Do you love a good firepit in the summer?

#homefire #readytoburn #smokelessbyhomefire #heartofyourhome #logsbyhomefire #summerideas #firepit #gardenideas
San Sebastian photo dump - just a tiny selection πŸ˜„

We have had such a fabulous holiday to Basque Country - our first 4 days spent in the beautiful city of San Sebastian, land of pintxos, stunning architecture and some damn good wine.

#sansebastian #travelgram #photodump
A little kitchen reshuffle today so I thought I'd share πŸ₯°

It's been 4 years since we created this space and it's still one of my favourites β™₯️

#kitchendesign #kitchendecor #kitcheninspiration #kitchenideas #openshelvingkitchen #kitchenstyling
Ad 🩷 Before and after Deck makeover! 🩷

This little decked patio was looking worse for wear after a wet winter but @frenchicpaint came to the rescue with their beautiful Dusty Blush Alfresco Paint, perfect for all your outdoor projects!

The deck has been a few colours over the past few years but this is definitely the most fun and gives the whole space such a tropical vibe - even in Shrewsbury! 🏝️ πŸ¦©πŸΉπŸ˜„

The paint has incredible coverage and was so nice to use - I loved the tools they provided too, especially the oval brush which got into all the nooks and crannies easily!

Let me know what you think of the new colour! 

#frenchicpaint #beforeandafter #deckmakeover #gardeninspiration #gardeninspo #outdoorproject
So on a whim I decided to paint the bedroom pink yesterday πŸ˜…πŸ©·

This room has been neglected for so long as I've wanted to fully redecorate for about 3 years now but there are always other bigger priorities or a lack of time/energy/money so I keep putting it off πŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒπŸ™ƒ (tell me I'm not the only one) but happily this didn't cost a penny as I used what I already had although it did take me the best part of a day!

I went through my paint stash and found that I had extra @coatpaints Percy from when I did the living room early last year -- well I'm not one to let something this good go to waste (honestly this paint is absolutely wonderful to work with and has amazing coverage) and my goodness it's just so pretty in here πŸ₯° I also moved my pink curtains from my office into here and the whole room just glows!

I might actually be able to live with the mural a little longer until the room gets the attention it deserves! Let me know if you like the change β™₯️

*For those who are wondering, it used to be white walls and I had grey curtains! πŸ˜…

#swoonworthy #bedroomdecor #bedroommakeover #bedroomdesign #pinkpinkpink #pinkinteriors
A little photo dump from my recent living room shoot because I still love to dig into the details of a still photo πŸ˜„πŸ’•

#swoonworthy #swoonworthyscents #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #photodump
ad How to De-stress at Home in 6 Simple Steps 😊

April has been #stressawarenessmonth and so I've teamed up with the wonderful @frenchbedroom to share a few simple tips in creating a cosy sanctuary at home!

One of my favourite ways to add a feeling of comfort and relaxation is with glorious touchable textures and the stunning Mulberry Silk ruffled cushion from French Bedroom not only looks spectacular but feels incredible too! Pairing this with other feel-good fabrics will add depth to your design and will beg you to sink in and unwind 😍

French Bedroom are also now stocking my own home fragrance brand @swoonworthyscents candles, adding another element of calm with scent to your home. I chose No 02 Sunday Morning for my living room with rejuvenating Jasmine and refreshing pine and lemon notes πŸ₯°

Check out my latest blog post for more tips on creating a relaxing sanctuary in your home via the link in my bio!

#swoonworthy #swoonworthyscents #frenchbedroom #livingroominspo #livingroomdesign #calming #aesthetic #cottagecoreaesthetic
Who needs pancakes when you can have Lemon Drizzle Cake with Lemoncello glaze?! πŸ˜‰πŸ‹

I've had such a craving for this cake for a while so figured I'd make it today! This is a recipe from @bbcgoodfood and it's rather gorgeous πŸ₯°

#baking #lemondrizzle #lemoncake #bakewithlove #shrovetuesday
Are you lucky enough to be owned by a cat? 🐈🐾

#bengallove #bengalsofinstagram #bengalcat #bengal #catsofinstagram #catlife
Finally managed to get the gallery wall completed in our hallway!

I couldn't have been happier with @violajayphotography capturing our little intimate wedding in October and knew as soon as I saw the photos I had to print them for our home! I admit, I've never been one to hang photos but it's probably because all we ever had after 14 years together was selfies πŸ˜‚πŸ€·πŸ½β€β™€οΈ I'm so pleased we finally have some lovely shots of us together πŸ₯°

Do you have photos of you/your partner/your family up around your home?? πŸ€”

#gallerywall #autumnwedding #hallwaydesign #hallwayinspo
✨These little vintage copper pans needed some TLC! ✨

After searching for a while for vintage copper pans, I found these on eBay - they looked quite grim on the ad but I knew they could be shined up nicely! A little @barkeepersfriend later (not an ad!) and I'm loving how they look in my kitchen πŸ₯°

Let me know if you like the new addition ❀️

#kitcheninspo #kitchendesign #vintagestyle #kitchenstyling