It was June in my Instagram

These last months have flown, literally, while they haven't entirely been the best months of my life (yes it's not all pink and happiness like one could be led to believe by blogland) I did experience some lovely moments and did some fun stuff. An Instagram recap is always a fun and pretty trip to memory lane. Are you on Instagram? Have you tried the new video feature? What is your opinion? If you want to follow me around London and Barcelona, you can do so here. 

My friend David got married in a beautiful day wedding in Barcelona, the pink peonies were on bloom 

Amber organised a super friendly evening with lots of ladies, each of us brought something cheesy or chocolatey, and amber made her incredibly yummy Slutty brownies.

I tried some new beauty products and really liked them, protecting and taking care of your skin is a must 

My friend Eli has the most gorgeous little bar corner in her Barcelona apartment, LUST!

I ate lobster and sipped cocktails at the One New Change rooftop with gorgeous views of St Paul's

Daisy got married too, her hen was a the Tom Aitkien's restaurant inside Somerset House, the sticky toffee pudding was beyond this world! A radiant bride!

I also cooked the most (I'm biased yes but oh so yum!) delicious risotto ever! Also perfect for vegetarians. 

I went to a work event at Sushi Samba, incredible London views and the tallest balcony of London apparently, the food wasn't bad either!

I started a new blog series, each week I will show you something new I have cooked and share the recipe and my two cents. This pasta dish will be up next week. 

I also did a bit of sales shopping, I think I'll wear this Whistles scarf a lot and couldn't resist this dress in this beautiful turquoise colour. 

I don't want to lose you: Update your reader

Right, so this is no fun post my friends. yesterday Emily reminded me that I had to do one of these #notthatfunposts but #ohsonecessary. Ok, so what am I talking about?  If you read your blogs through Google Reader you probably know that Google is shouting it down on the 1st of July, which means you will lose all those blogs you read daily. 

If you used it, this is obviously annoying.

So if you want to keep reading A Diary of Lovely (and I hope you do) go ahead and change your reader. Some are here and you can also find out more on Cassie's blog here (thanks Emily!)

My two cents: you can follow A Diary of Lovely on Bloglovin which is very clean, streamlined and easy to use. 

BLOGLOVIN

Follow A Diary of Lovely HERE

You can also import all your current reads with a few clicks here

FEEDLY

You can also use Feedly and import all your reads too (1 click and it works, I just did it!) To add A diary of Lovely to your Feedly subscriptions just click here

GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT

You can of course still follow through Google Friend Connect (on the Side bar) which is unrelated to your  Google Reader and read the blogs you follow on your Reading List on your Blogger homepage (this only works for Blogger users)

OTHERS

You can also follow me on Facebook (which I use a lot to follow my fave blogs)

Instagram (for a daily dose of what I get up to)

Pinterest (for all around inspiration that we all love)

Twitter 

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WHAT A BORING POST! tomorrow more loveliness xx

A Deulonder kitchen

While I'm not a massive cook, hence the challenge I told you about yesterday, I love kitchens and my dream is to one day have a massive kitchen with lots of space to cook and entertain. And lots of space to store everything a good kitchen and a good cook needs. Enter Deulonder in Barcelona and Madrid and these ladies design the most fantastic kitchens ever, they also do laundry room and incredible pantries. I was under the impression that I had told you about them before but my search widget tells me otherwise. No matter what look at this stunning kitchen, modern, yet elegant, very glamorous and very functional at the same time. The eat-in are is cozy but can also accommodate a bit of a more formal affair if necessary. What can I say, I'm in love people... with a kitchen! 

PS: this is the space they designed for Casa Decor in Madrid, that´s a kitchen/pantry/laundry room and everything else is b**shit!

Make it: Oeufs en Cocotte

I have decide to start a new weekly series called Make it. The point of it is to cook one dish and share it with you. Why? Because I'm not that good of a cook and I want to improve so I'm going to challenge myself. I will make recipes that I have seen on Pinterest or other bloggers have shared, photograph it and give you my two cents and final verdict. I have also created a board on Pinterest where I will pin the recipes I will make. Hope you like it and hopefully you will let me know commenting what you think. Wish me luck! 
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The other day I click something and got myself on Alex Loves, Alex is a super well known London based blogger and always showcases the best fashion, food and anything lifestyle and on trend. I looked around a bit more as it had been a while since I had visited and found a recipe I really really fancied: Oeufs en Cocotte. 

Printable recipe here

I gathered my ingredients for two.
 4 organic eggs, 1 large leek, 1 big portobello mushroom, spanish chorizo and some bread and off I went to make brunch/lunch on Saturday.

The recipe is super easy, I mostly followed Alex's recipe but also checked other Oeufs en Cocotte recipes on Pinterest too see what others do (some put the ramekins on a pan with water in the oven so wanted to check what was best, at the end I didn't).

How to: It's super easy: Warm up the over on 200º, chop all your ingredients (minus the eggs of course!), fry softly (no oil, butter needed and the chorizo has enough oil in its own). Once cooked divide into your cocottes (or ramekins) and crack 1 (or 2 eggs if you fancy and your mini cocotte is big enough) and put it in the oven for 10-12 minutes (if you want your eggs well done leave it 3 more minutes). Salt and pepper and enjoy with warm bread. 
Verdict: YUM! here is what is left at the end!

Printable recipe here

Sunday Outfit

Hello lovelies and happy Monday, this weekend, I can proudly say that I did not leave the house at all but was quite productive. I did a lot of cleaning, clothing sorting and photographed a lot of clothes that are now waiting for a new owner, if you are curious check out my Tictail store (if you prefer to deal with me directly just email me and tell me you are interested in buying something). I uploaded lots of new stuff from Zara, Anthropologie, Paul & Joe, Burberry, Topshop and lots more, and everything is in fantastic condition (some even NWT!). So ho ahead and have a look. 

I also cooked a bit and had a thought about a new weekly series on the blog about cooking and recipes. I'll tell you more mid week, I'm really hoping you will like it as much as I do!

PS: While I did not venture it out, I did go downstairs and had these pics taken, this is what I would wear for a casual night out, a relaxed date or a night with the girls!

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Jeans: Zara | Shoes: Vassilis Zoulias |  Top: Sita Murt (very old but I love this from the same designer) | Clutch: L.K. Bennett c/o Sarenza

My Ideal Bathroom challenge, with C.P.Hart

 Some time ago the lovely people at C.P.Hart, the bespoke bathroom retailers, got in touch and challenged me to create a Pinterest board of what my ideal bathroom would be. I went ahead and checked what they offered, they have pretty much anything ones heart can wish, from very modern bathrooms to a more elegant and classic offering (that's the way I took by the way). 
I was inspired by the many gorgeous bathrooms I have seen on Pinterest lately, I love the idea of a free standing bath and an independent shower, preferably with a little seat and an incredibly powerful shower head to allow me to fully relax after a long day at work, blissful?

C.P.Hart has created some incredibly gorgeous bathrooms in the many years they have been trading, while creating my perfect one I loved perusing their portfolio of bathroom design ideas. It's always good to have professionals guide your through what can be done and what can´t. I was inspired by the many bathrooms with claw bath tubes I have seen.

The way I saw it, is that I wanted something that I would feel very comfortable, very at ease and at the time something incredibly classic and elegant, something I couldn't get bored after a couple of years. And I think with C.P.Hart it's difficult not to achieve just that. 

It would either be a cool wallpaper, but most likely I would go for a subway/metro tile, I love the industrial look which at the same time is very atemporal and eclectic.
My board will be checked out by C.P. Hart and hopefully they will like it as much as I. I will keep you posted, meanwhile, what do you think? What is your dream bathroom?

Via: 1|2|3

*This is a sponsored post by C.P Hart as part of their  Design your Perfect  Bathroom campaign. All views are my own however and I only work with brands that I  like their offering

A recipe: Risotto

On Friday last week I made a risotto, I love risotto, comfort food but it usually never makes me want to fall flat afterwards. I make several variations of the same basic recipe, some times it's a mushrooms and bacon affair or a all mushrooms one. I have also tried an asparagus and cherry tomatoes version, which is not my favourite I must admit. The roasted butternut squash was also a good pick. 

Anyway, last Friday I made an Asparagus and Green Beans risotto, and here is the recipe ( I would have loved to have more pictures but unfortunately this recipe post wasn't planned, so only this little Instagram one is available, but trust me, it's worth it!)

Asparagus and Green Beans risotto

Arborrio Rice 

2 packs of thin asparagus

1 pack of green beans

1 glass of white wine

1.5 litre of chicken broth (I use these Knorr cubes, has to be warmish)

Butter

Grated parmiggiano cheese

Let's make it!

There are several steps. It's a super easy, and yummy, recipe but these need to be done. 

Warm some water wit 1 (or 2 to make it tastier) chicken cubes. Keep them warm. 

Blanch your green beans. How? I use this method and works wonders. Set them aside. When done I cut them in half and let them rest. 

To make the rice: In a large saucepan, I use my 24 Le Creuset casserole but you can use anything big enough, warm 3 spoons of olive oil. When hot, throw in the rice (I used about 400 gr for 2 but it's quite a lot) make sure it is well coated with the oil. When you cant see the oil anymore (1 min more or less) throw in the wine and stir well to boil the rice with the wine. When the rice has taken in all the liquid, start slowly throwing in the broth in batches while stirring all the time. Medium/low(ish) heat. It's therapeutic... kind of... It takes between 20 minutes and half an hour, I would taste it and make sure it's not getting overcooked. The rice should be soft and yet crunchy when bitten. 

While doing this and keep filling the rice with the broth and keep stirring, juggle it all and warm some olive oil in a pan and throw in the asparagus (that you will have previously washed and cut in little pieces). Cook them thoroughly, don't burn them though. At  the very end, when they were done and the pan was still warm and at a very very low temperature I threw in the beans to warm them up a tad bit. 

While the rice is still on the hob, throw in your greens and stir, on very very low heat, throw in a bit of butter, 1 table spoon or a bit more if you want it creamy. Stir in well and let it melt nicely, yum...! Take it out of the heat and stir in the grated cheese until it melts too. Let it cool a wee bit, and serve warm. 

YUM my friends, it was by far my fave risotto!

Seche Vite

Last week I bought what I thought everybody had already or at least what everybody knew about. I bought a bottle of Seche Vite, a fast drying nail top coat. Turns out that some of my friends didn't know about it, and so I thought I had to tell you all about it in case you too don't know about this GREAT product. Yes, I'm all over it, it's that good. This little bottle will make painting your nails a pleasure, a real pleasure, you know when you have to wait, and wait and wait? no more! paint them, seche vite them (yep a new verb creation), and go to bed, literally, your nail WON'T get ruined! If you are in the UK, Amazon has it half price, so get it now. 

Sunday Outfit

Yesterday I went to the weeding of the nicest ever lady. Daisy is bright, smart, caring and the most gorgeous friend ever. I wish her and Vince incredible happiness in their next chapter together and want to send a massive thanks from here for treating us all to a wonderful wedding! I was originally planning to wear my red Coast dress but with the weather in London not being all that good I decided to go for a VERY very old silk long sleeve little number from LK Bennett. I paired it with my (again!) very very old Massimo Dutti peep toes and my black clutch from Coast. What I loved most in this outfit is that while everything was quite old, it still looked fresh and on trend. A good silk dress is definitely a winner in my cards! PS: I so need some sun time, yikes! did you see my pasty legs? 

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Dress: LK Bennett ¦ Shoes: Massimo Dutti ¦ Clutch: Coast ¦ 
Nails: Mavala Los Angeles
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I haven't been a very consistent blogger lately and I apologise, life is still a bit up in the air  and while I would love to get back to normal, regular blogging, some days it is just not possible, inspiration doesn't always come when you want it, right? WIll do my best though!  thanks for putting up with me! xoxo

Lately obsessed with...

This week I have been day dreaming of warmer days, Barcelona over the weekend was just perfect. Not too hot not too cold. And today's obsessions are all summer staples. I pinned this cheeky bikini from Oysho a while back, the color is very summery and the ruffle detail adds the flirty and girly element, and it has the perfect coverage. Plus if you are in the UK the sale HAS JUST STARTED!

I also adore their beach towels

I love the laced Bensimon plimsoles. Quintessentially french, they are cool, comfortable and won't let you down. I chose a bit of an edgier design but love it love it LOVE it.  I got mine at Sarenza here but can get yours here, here and here.

This one is not a new one but is one I really fell all over when I saw. It's the photography prints of incredible aquatic scenery by Aquabumps. Australian beauty at its best. 

You? What are you loving right now?

The best asparagus recipe

Since the day I pinned the image of these asparagus I have made this recipe at least 5-6 times, and every single time I love it to bits. I was never a massive fan of greens (I know, shame on me!) and while I did eat asparagus occasionally they weren't my fave... I found them a bit... meh, if you know what I mean? I then came across this pin from Once Upon a Chef and decided to give it a go. And let me tell you, it's going to be the one recipe I will be doing over and over for years to come. These grilled asparagus with feta and lemon zest are the most scrumplicious side ever, and I'm sure it can be eaten as a yummy lone salad too. Give it a go, the recipe is here. Come and tell me what you think!

Contagious happiness

Happy Monday lovelies! I hope you have enjoyed the weekend. Me, I had a lovely one, on Friday I boarded a plane and flew back home for the wedding of a long long time friend from school. If happiness is contagious, this couple is the one to be near to, radiance and happiness was all over this gorgeous couple and this fabulous wedding. 

The party venue itself is gorgeous and the decoration was also stunning, with pink peonies, green and white hydrangeas and pink small roses. I loved the seating plan of cards tucked between lots and lots of small vases with fresh blooms. A gorgeous and super elegant way to display your guests names. 

Being a day wedding I decided to wear something cheerful, I chose a cherry coloured dress form Coast and paired it with black accessories. I wanted to wear a colourful headpiece but didn't find anything I loved and at the end I picked a black small fascinator/hat and a black clutch. I had never done my makeup professionally before and it was refreshing to have someone do it so nicely.

My gorgeous friend Eli and I at the venue. How stunning does she look in her emerald dress?