OUTFIT: FANCY FLORALS

A few weeks ago I went to try out the new (amazing!) afternoon tea at one of Edinburgh's fanciest venues, The Signet Library. I'll blog about the afternoon tea in more detail soon (because seriously, it was so so so good), but I also wanted to share what I wore that day.

Dress - JOY
Bee hairclips - Crown & Glory

I got this dress in JOY last year, and I love it! JOY are really great if you're curvy like me, most of their dresses are super flattering and cut in at the waist. They tend to be on the pricier end of my budget (most JOY dresses are around £40-£60), but they often have bargains in their sales, and do good freebies if you spend over a certain amount.

Dress - JOY
Polka dot blazer - Urban Outfitters
Satchel - The Leather Satchel Co
Shoes - New Look 

I paired it with my favourite blazer, a light polka dot one, which I got ages ago from Urban Outfitters, and teal shoes which pick out the colour of flowers from the dress. It's a little bit too short to wear without tights (although that might just be me!), but I like that it brings a summery vibe to cooler days.

EDINBURGH COLLEGE HAIR & BEAUTY ACADEMY

I would never have thought to go to a college or uni to get a spa treatment (surely they only happen in fancy hotels and salons, right?), but I was invited along to the Edinburgh College Hair & Beauty Academy, and I was super excited to see what it would be like.

The spa is one of  the UK's first eco-friendly college salons, and it's run in partnership with Wella (for the hair treatments) and Elemis (for the beauty treatments).

I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find the salon within the college (I had visions of wandering halls packed with students), but I was just being daft - as soon as you enter the (super slick) college building, the Hair and Beauty Academy is straight in front of you. The salon is industry-standard, which means it feels exactly like a fancy spa, with soft music, lovely scents, and really friendly staff (the students) who get you settled in. 

I was booked in for a 60 minute Elemis facial (which costs £25 - what a bargain!), and it was such a treat. I don't have much bother with my skin, apart from it getting a bit dry, so after a brief consultation with my therapist, she started the seriously relaxing treatment, and I did my best not to fall asleep!

After my facial was finished and I was feeling suitably cleansed and relaxed, I was invited to try out their flotation therapy bed. This is a dry floatation bed (so you stay fully clothed), which gives you a sensation of weightlessness to allow total mind and body relaxation. It's a bit of a bizarre experience at first, but it's so relaxing, and was a really nice end to my treatments. You can book this as a separate treatment, or combine it with a massage or body wrap.

My skin felt amazing afterwards and I was so impressed with the quality of the salon, the treatments and the service - and it is so cheap compared to other city salons! You can take a look at the price list here, and if you fancy a treatment, the spa is open on Tuesday and Thursdays, 5pm - 7.30pm (making it perfect for a post-work treat!).

HOW TO: SUMMER COCKTAIL

It's a bit of a blogger cliché to fawn over pretty pink cocktails in repurposed glassware, but a few recent cocktail-bar catchups with my Scottish blogger pals has tipped me right back into the sugary sweet world of martini's and margaritas!

Inspired by travel company Hayes and Jarvis' recent survey of the UK's favourite cocktails (the piña colada was, surprisingly, number one!), I thought I'd share a recipe for one of my favourite cocktails. This is a summery, fruity treat (and it also looks super cute served in a mini milk bottle).

This is a really easy recipe (mainly because I don't have any fancy measuring equipment!). All you need is:

2 shots of vodka

Handful of fresh strawberries

Handful of fresh raspberries

Two mint leaves

Couple of frozen pineapple pieces

A big splash of pineapple juice

Put everything in a blender (I used my nutribullet) and mix until the frozen fruit is all broken up.

Garnish with a strawberry and a sprig of mint. Stripy straws and cute mini flowers are not necessary, but they do make for a good instagram! Enjoy!

HOLIDAY WISHLIST

It's summer! As you read this, I'll be sunning myself up in Croatia (aka doing my best not to burn in Europe's sunniest country!). I'm usually a big fan of doing a pre-holiday splurge but due to a lack of time, cash, and the fact I'm only taking hand luggge with me, this time I've got to stick to summer holiday wishlisting.

1. I realise they're not the most fashionable footwear around, but there's a reason they are so popular - Birkenstock sandals are the comfiest holiday shoes around, and are ace if you want to do a bit of adventuring and rock scrambling. This pair from Jones Bootmaker are also in my current favourite colour!

2. I admit that this is completely unneccessary, but LOOK AT IT. Of course you need a red glitter balloon clutch in your life! Perfect for picnics in the park, and late summer date nights.

3. Sunglasses ain't just for summer, they're for life (but summer is a good chance to stock up on them, when there's loads in the shop!). You can't go wrong with a pair of aviator retro sunglasses like these (and there's absolutely loads of bargains in the ASOS sunglasses shop!). I'm also tempted to recommend this pair but they'd be a wee bit harder to pull off!

4. Great for cooler evenings, or cloudy days when the British summer is being particularly troublesome. I love the print on this botanical shirt, and the bow is super cute!

5. Sunshiney days are the best excuse to wear a flower crown, and you can't go to a festival without one! As you may know, I've been loving Crown & Glory this year, and I currently have my eye on their beautiful meadow crown.

6. I am a big fan of Bravissimo (although I wish they were a little cheaper!), and this Minnie swimsuit is absolutely adorable!

PET PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

You might have seen my recent post, introducing you to my newest furry friend - Soba the hedgehog! It's been a fun couple of months getting used to my spiky flatmate and learning how to look after a hedgehog. They are very shy pets, so it's still a bit of a journey in convincing Soba that he is not my next meal, but we're getting there, and he is still one of the most adorable creatures to walk the earth.

Pets at Home also noticed how cute he is, and got in touch to ask me to share some of my pet photography tips. Now, I'm going to state very clearly that I am an absolute photography amateur - so this post isn't meant to be a lecture that I'm not qualified to make! Instead it's just ten super easy tips that I've picked up in my years of pet ownership. And it's an overload of Soba photos! (a Sobaload, if you will).

1. Use natural light

Flash drains everybody out, and it's no different for animals, plus some scaredy pets will be frightened by bright flashes. Try to take your pictures during the day, either outside or next to a big window, where you can take advantage of natural light. 

2. Go down to their level

It makes a big difference to your photos if you lower your camera to your pet's eye level. Hedgehogs are spiky balls from above, but have super fluffy bellies and the tiniest of feet, that you can only see from below. With big pets, don't be afraid to crouch or lie on the floor, and with little pets, just put them on a table or shelf to make your life easier.

3. Adjust your camera settings

Most pets are probably braver than Soba, but to my baby hedgehog, the sound of the camera lens shutting is the most TERRIFYING noise in the world. To stop him freaking out and balling up at every photo, I had to adjust my settings, so the shutter speed was faster, and all camera noises were turned off. Burst mode (where your camera takes a continous set of photos for as long as you hold down the button) is also really good for capturing speedy pets! 

4. Be creative with settings and props 

Mix it up! Give your pet some things to play with or interact with during your photoshoot, and change your backgrounds - take your pet outside or to different spots in your house, or use fabrics to create different backgrounds for small pet photos. 

5. Show their personality

Soba's main love in life is food, and licking anything he can get his paws on, so I love this stupidly cheeky photo of him licking his lips and looking at a mealworm! Think about your pet's personality, or little quirks, and how you can capture that moment. 

6. Make sure they are comfortable

Animals will be happier if they've been exercised, fed, watered, and aren't made to pose for too long. Hedgehogs are naturally nocturnal creatures, so whenever I wake Soba up during the day, he's pretty sleepy and grumpy for the first ten minutes, but after he's been to his litter tray and had a bit of food, he's a lot friendlier and much more keen to explore. If I am waking him up, I don't keep him up for long, and I make sure he's got a sleeping bag nearby to crawl into, if he wants. 

 7. Show interesting details 

Close up shots are really interesting, and easy to do, whether you're using a 'proper' camera or a smartphone. Pick out details that you might miss in a full-body shot (like Soba's massive ears!) and make that the focus of your photo. 

8. Bribe them with treats 

Even the most stubborn pet can be won over by food. Soba will not answer his name or do anything on cue, but he will follow the scent of a mealworm anywhere. Holding up treats as you take photos, is also a good way to get their attention, so they don't wander off.

9. Be patient

Whether you've got a pet that's well-trained, or a pet that's impossible to train (hi hedgehogs!), you've got to be relaxed and very patient. Your pet will pick up your vibe if you're frustrated, and it's not their fault - they don't know what you're doing! It's meant to be fun, so don't stress, and don't take it too seriously.

10. Know when to stop

And with that said, it's always good to stop a little bit early, rather than pushing on and winding you and your pet up. If you've got a perfect picture in mind, but you just can't get the angle, reward your pet for being a good sport, and try again another day.