Escape to the country: A Londoner's dream weekend away in Wales

After 14 years of living it large in London, I have finally figured out that the key to continually loving this city is leaving often, as often as possible in fact. That may be why so many of you have country homes. You escape to blissful silence and regain some sense of normal in the world and then return to the hustle and bustle of the city with renewed spirit and wonderment. Last month, I met a cottage that confirmed that this was the way forward. Mr. FFG and I found a fabulous place via Sugar and Loaf,  a website that specialises in hiring out private cottages in Wales. I say a "fabulous place", but really I should call it a "famous place" as I knew all about the property before I read a single word on the site.

If you're a fan of the show Grand Designs, you are in for a real treat here. Years ago an episode aired that showcased the most optimistic new homeowners rebuilding an old stone cottage atop a mountain in the Black Mountains in Wales. Against impossible odds, they created the most beautiful family home and went on to expand on the property in years to come. And recently they've opened up said cottage, now named Points Cottage, for folks wishing to experience the beauty of the site. Nothing prepares you, in fact, for the magnificence that awaits you on the mountain. You'll need a 4x4 to reach the top of this rather intense climb (a mile towards the sky), but not to worry as the lovely owners can loan you a proper vehicle for the weekend or you can simply bring your own. If you've been jonesing to test out your new Range Rover on rough terrain, you'll be in heaven. But, more on that later. The climb up the mountain seems laborious at first, but it all becomes worth it the moment you step out of the vehicle to discover a vista that stretches seven counties, on a clear day. And that's just starting with the view, which, admittedly, is a draw in itself to spending a long weekend here.

The cottage itself is truly a throw back in time. Imagine exposed stone, large oak beams and an enormous family room fire place. You can clearly see how such a space, which has been in the owner's families for generations, has changed over the years, but has also been lovingly restored to honour its history. The kitchen, not surprisingly, is truly the heart of this home. Our first night in the cottage, I sat in the corner of the kitchen, in a most comfortable oversized chair with a view of the night sky, and watched as Mr. FFG prepared a beautiful meal. I was cuddled up, tea in hand and cashmere socks on feet as this beautiful man prepared a meal Gordon Ramsey would rate highly. The cottage comes fully equipped with everything you would need to prepare any sort of cuisine. While you do need to bring your own food for your stay, the hosts provide a rather decadent array of treats for your arrival. There are gin and tonics waiting in the fridge, alongside a jug of milk and some butter. There's a freshly baked Victoria Sponge cake calling to you from the counter, sitting next to a basket of eggs, which have been collected from the hens that roost just 100 feet from the cottage's front door. There's even a cupboard full of miscellaneous things you may have forgotten on your trip up, including hot chocolate!

The two bedrooms upstairs offer complete comfort for sleeping and the bathroom is large enough to accommodate two couples in the house without feeling cramped. You will be sung to sleep as you listen to the Welsh mountain winds sweep over and around the house and you'll awake in the morning to a beautiful and delicate fog clearing from your bedroom window, set to reveal the view that brought you here in the first place.

Over the course of our three days in residence, we spent only one indoors with bad weather. Our days were mostly spent exploring in and around the cottage. There are several famous foodie establishments just a short drive from the cottage's entrance and there are lovely villages, surrounding the landscape, the are begging for exploration. However, there is just as much to do without ever leaving the property by car.  The walks to be had up into the mountains will leave you feeling fit as a fiddle and full of love for the beautiful countryside that surrounds you. But, should you be met with bad weather during your stay, you will find that the cottage provides the backdrop for the perfect duvet day. On our one rainy day we lit the fire, cozied up with blankets, poured some wine and played Scrabble until our brains were fried. It only seemed appropriate to then put on the Grand Designs DVD, which they keep in Points Cottage, to truly appreciate the space that we were calling home.

This was a weekend to remember and Points Cottage is most definitely a property I would recommend to anyone in search of a weekend delight away from the crazy town we call London. Fire up the 4x4, pack a case of wine and some culinary delights and lose yourself in the freshest of air with a view that will haunt you, and call you back, for some time to come.

Points Cottage is available to rent on Sugar and Loaf, for a stay from 2 to 14 days. Get in there, folks.

Fashion Foie Gras stayed as a guest for 3 nights at Points Cottage in the Black Mountains, Wales. 

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Style Update: Autumnal Bliss

If it seems like I'm hanging onto that dear pumpkin for dear live in all pictures herewith, it's because I most certainly am. This is my favorite time of year not only because of the crisp and chilly weather but also because of the food. Big surprise there, right? All foods become about comfort and every other recipe seems to call for pumpkin. Hello, baked bliss. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin .... ok, I'm starting to sound like the pumpkin version of Bubba Gump Shrimp, I'll stop now. The point I'm trying to make is that pumpkins may get their big debut on Halloween, but they truly are an all season staple. Whether you are setting out for a pumpkin latte or just keeping your front porch in an autumnal spirit, this is the "fruit" (yes, I looked that up) that keeps on giving. 

What I'm Wearing:

ASOS Co-Ordinates Sweater and Skirt, ASOS Scarf (similar), Wellies

(PS. More on the location of this shoot coming on the blog tomorrow...)

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How to choose decorations for a cozy bedroom

Everybody knows that the bedroom is a special area of ​​relaxation and comfort at home. Comfort in the bedroom depends on many things, the color of the walls and ceilings in the bedroom is no less important than the details of decoration and bedding.

When making a bedroom people often do not consider many essential things that affect the whole mood of the room. For example, decorations. You may choose nice wall colors, but some drawing can improve the whole look!

What are the colors that are the most preferred ones for the picture above the bed?

You can select the picture that will reflect the color of your bedroom, or add a small splash of bright color in the dark corner. Paintings of contrast color will suit well the linens of the same or similar colors.

Decorative pillows

The pillow is the universal interior detail that is both bright accent and functional thing. Pillows are divided into those that are designed only for sleep, and those that are only for decoration. Both subspecies have the right to be present in your bedroom. There are several ways of placing pillows, choosing suitable order, you can purchase these accessories in soft colors and their right amount.

Little pillows in the bedroom also can carry the functional load. For example, it is very comfortable to sit on the bed with a pillow behind your back and to read a book. And if the decorative pillows are bought to be used for these purposes, it is important to provide that pillowcase downside should be made of fabric, cloth-like bed linen. This decision will make the evening-reading-book more enjoyable because a pillowcase is always made of fabric, which is a nice touch to the skin.

Color of bedroom linen

When making a bedroom and choosing the colors of linen, highlight a few basic colors that are dominant in the bedroom: the wallpaper, curtains, furniture, flooring, etc. Ideally, they are in harmony with each other, creating a cozy and quiet room to rest and sleep.

Light colors are better suited for a small space, as they make the room visually larger. Humans  reaction on specific color is determined by personals national origin, cultural traditions, age, gender. "Warmer" colors are considered to be red, yellow and orange, they stimulate, excite and cause an active response. Shady green and blue tones relax and calm down the nervous system.

If you have already decided, what accessories you want to place in your bedroom, check their prices on Jiji before buying! There are a lot of ways to buy even more pieces for the same amount of money! Decor accessories for sale on Jiji!

Aquariums

Do not place fragile accessories in the bedroom. The only exception is the aquarium. Fishes and the night illumination will create a mystical atmosphere in the room and will help to sleep better.

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Outfit du Jour: My go-to holiday skirt!

Shop The Look:

Marina Rinaldi Fringed Tube Skirt, Uniqlo Sweater, Fendi Clutch, Aquazzura Heels

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Style Update: Country Roaming in Wales

An exciting, non fashion related update, folks: a UK driver's license is officially in the works. Don't get me started on the fact that I have to retake every test even though I've been driving in the USA since I was 16. Frustrating to say the least. But, once said license comes through you will be seeing a lot more country pictures, like the ones you see here now. These are just the beginning and they are in part thanks to a rather lovely and obliging boyfriend who plays chauffeur on the weekends and knows how to throw around a camera. Wait a second, does that make him an "instagram husband?" Eek.

If it seems as if my smile is a little more natural and my general "atmosphere" is more pleasant, it would be because I am no where near a city. I am in the country, in Wales, where the air is fresh and I am surrounded by people who acknowledge your presence, instead of the usual London game of doing anything to avoid making eye contact. What is that, people? Say hello in the morning. Would a "good morning" kill you?

Anywho, here are a few pics from our first day in Wales. There's a lot more to follow here, including a new discovery of the most fabulous cottage that we came across on Sugar & Loaf rentals. Check this site out if you've had enough of the city and need to escape to the country right now. It's ace. 

What I'm Wearing:

Marina Rinaldi Coat, H&M Sweater, Marks & Spencer Skirt, Ralph Lauren Tote, Raybans

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Beauty Brand to Know Now: Allies of Skin

I have friends in high places in this crazy industry we call "beauty." Wait a second, rereading that I see that it makes me sound pretentious and idiotic, but I promise it's worth me putting my arse on the line to prove a point and it goes a little something like this. When a friend, who sits high atop said beauty world, hands me a trio of products and says, "this is your sleep in a bottle, thank me later," I naturally take note. I then go home, read as much as I can about said product and put the regime into action. Now, the trio in question is from the brand Allies of Skin, a newbie on the block that's already causing quite the hoopla and the trio is called the 24/7 kit. And guess what? That's all the brand has to offer. They haven't launched with a product range of 73, just three. Well, I shouldn't say "just three" as, truth be known, I haven't trialled a product packing this much punch in a while.

Before we get into what Allies of Skin's 24/7 Kit is all about, let's talk about background here. It won't take long as the brand is pretty new to the world, and brand new to the UK (sold on Cult Beauty at the moment). The brand's founder, Singaporean Nicolas Travis, wanted to create a regime that was fast, effortless and allows for us to get all the benefits that a normal 10 to 14 step programme would provide in just three steps.

Now, I'm not the only one going mad for these products. Allies of Skin's press book already reads like a who's who of beauty writers singing its praises. So really I'm writing this on the off chance that you haven't been picking up your Sunday Supplements or flipping through the online pages of WWD. 

Now, here's the skinny. Like I mentioned before, Allies of Skin 24/7 Kit contains three products. The first, and probably the one getting the most attention at the moment is the Molecular Saviour Toner Mist. This is what I like to think of as the backbone for the collection. You apply the spray to the face and neck before using either of the accompanying masks. The Molecular Saviour Toner sounds as intense as the name suggests. It works to calm, nourish, invigorate, kill bacteria, battle blemishes, and, well, basically it does everything but brush your teeth. Not only do you use it before and after the other two steps in the programme, you can also use the spray throughout the course of the day to top up on moisture and to create that lovely glow we all seem to lose by the tenth minute we're on the tube in the morning. 

The next two steps are all about face mask. What? You thought masks were just for nighttime? Think again, sister. Allies of Skin's 24/7 Kit includes the Overnight Mask and a All-Day Mask. The All-Day Mask is your fountain of youth for skin that is radiant and dewy all day long. It also acts as a warrior against daily pollution -  a must if you are a Londoner. Then you have you Overnight Mask. This is sleep in a bottle. The Overnight Mask works hard during those 8 hours of shut-eye. And if you aren't lucky enough to get a full 8 hours, it more or less makes your skin looks like Sleeping Beauty's. 

My first impression on this whole collection is this: "Whoa, momma." As you guys know, I am pretty religious about always using one serum as part of my daily routine and I've thrown it to the side for this trial. I've been using it for ten days now and my skin does feel much more subtle and does look dewy indeed. Embarrassingly, I got asked yesterday if I was pregnant. Apparently I have a glow about me. I joked and replied, "well I have recently incorporated the work of a younger man into my life." Naturally, I was referring to the Allies of Skin founder and his products. Sheesh, remove your mind from the gutter, won't you?

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Style Update: The Notting Hill Colour Wall

I have this love affair going on with this particular wall. I can't walk past it, to get coffee, without stopping and taking some sort of picture. Pretty sure I'm averaging two shoots a year here, but then again so is everyone else. This wall has become prime real estate in the neighbourhood. If Kate Hudson isn't there, some other celeb will be. If it isn't occupied by school girls having fun with selfies, it's being used as a shoot location for a local accessories company. Basically, I'm saying this is "The Wall" if you are looking for colour in Notting Hill. There's no denying it. And so, yes, I'm playing into the pack. But I like to think Mademoiselle Robot I am starting shooting our selfies here long before the masses. Time to hunt for something new. For now, however, I'm turning the colour wheel once again. 

What I'm Wearing:

Marks & Spencer Jacket, Boden Dress, ASOS Shoes

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Style Updating: Fringing from chambray to suede

There I was, just minding my own business and picking up a present for a friend when I spotted a most unlikely love, a dress I'd never in a million years suspect myself loving. Full disclosure here, my first thoughts when I saw this dress were of Little House on the Prairie. Remember Laura Ingall and the pinafore dresses she used to wear? For some reason, that's where my mind went and where my mind goes my Amex follows. The dress came home with me and the rest is history. It's part of my layering squad now for the winter months. But, just before the cold winds blow, here's how I wear it in the last days of warmth. 

Wearing:

Debenhams Chambray Dress, Boden Leopard Crossbody Bag, Next Fringe Boots (similar)

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