Yet another annual recurrence, feathered products are flying into the shops, reminding those of us with festival tickets to start shopping for them, stat, and encouraging those of us without to go ahead and pretend we're attending anyway.

There's something refeshingly free-spirited and bohemian about feathers, whether hung from a delicate necklace or tucked into a trilby, they're a sure winner when it comes to summer fashion. But how can we inject some feathered fun into our wardrobes without resembling a primped up paraqueet?

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise.

The key to this trend is simplicity. The smallest tuft of feathers here or a hint of a print there can speak volumes, and with that in mind here are three different ways to encorporate some feathery frongs into this seasons closet.

It's fair to say that the Midlands' reputation isn't exactly on top form. From week to week we become the fattest, unhealthiest, most unintelligent area in Europe, and with a regularly mocked accent to boot.

Well dear readers, it's time to set the record straight. As a proud West-Midland dweller with an unashamedly Blackcountry twang, I'd like to share some of the things that the Midlands does have to offer should you ever get the chance to visit. And no, I'm not talking kebab shops and dingy pubs as many people would like to presume, instead I'll be bringing offerings of vintage boutiques, tea-shops and one of the largest shopping centres in Britain.

ScaryCanary

When I decided to focus this post on the Midlands, this recently opened boutique was the first little gem to pop into my head. Located in Stourbridge, this vintage treasure chest holds an impressive volume of retro garments. Although it's only been there a couple of years, the shop has really taken off and has set up a successful website [click!] where you can give in to temptation and purchase online! Though I must urge you to go and have a wander round if you do get the chance- it's that rare type of shop that you can comfortably lose yourself in, and the friendly staff are more than happy to oblige.

7 Victoria Passage
Stourbirdge
West Midlands
DY8 1DP

Opening Times
Monday - Friday 10am - 5.30pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday Closed

Me Me Me!

As much as I'd love to see some fellow bloggers in my home town, this isn't a reference to visiting me, rather it's the name of a clothing boutique just around the corner :) This tiny shop may not be quite the treasure chest that Scary Canary is, but it's certainly worth a visit. Stocking more mainstream and up-to-date labels, MeMeMe! has provided me with some lovely bargains in the past, and always has a great sale rack that you should definitely make your first port of call. The prom dresses in the window can sometimes be a bit garish, [think toned down gypsy wedding] but don't let that put you off - go in, have a wonder, and you'll probably be surprised at what you find.

40 Market Street

Kingswinford

DY6 9LB

Jilly's Coffee Shop

If you're in Kingswinford anyways, and all that browsing is helping to work up an appetite, make sure you pop into Jilly's for a bite to eat. Freshly made sandwiches, baguettes and Panini's are definitely worth your attention, but the home-made cakes are the main attraction. Baked by Jilly herself these sweet treats are a must. Just. Yum.

Merry Hill

If you visited the West Midlands for one reason, this place is probably it. Like an indoor highstreet this shopping mall is the third largest in the UK, hosting over 200 of our favourite mainstream stores. Although it isn't quite the quirky treasure chest of the above boutiques, you'd be mad not to have a quick drive over to this Westfield centre which, it seems, makes leaving without a purchase impossible. I've spent many a Saturday morning wandering around and miraculously wind up buying something...usually a Primark bargain but still!

Since Westfield took over a few years ago, the centre has been expanding and recently added a food court that seems to be reproducing restaurants and takeaway counters at a rate of knots. If you're after a one stop visit, Merry Hill has everything, just beware of the busy weekend crowds!

Brierley Hill

West Midlands

DY5 1QX

And here ends my whistlestop tour of the West Midlands. Hopefully you'll be tempted to come visit, and try out some of the bostin' ** shops we've got to offer!

** "Adj. Great, good, enjoyable. [W. Midlands use]"

I'm afraid that's not a typo, i genuinely believe 2011 will be full of the stuff. And not the flaky metal-mould you find on your bike after it was left in the rain [sob!], no I'm talking colour. Deep, burnt-orange, glorious colour. Whether it's the colour of your clothes or even your hair, rust is definitely a must this year!

The highstreet is already full of rust coloured gems, so I thought I'd share my pick of the crop with you :)

clothes.

Cobweb top~Miss Selfridge // Pintuck Dress~Miss Selfridge // Leather Portfolio Clutch~ASOS

Crepe Cape Tunic // Oversized Epaulette Mac~ASOS // Tiered Mini-skirt~Miss Selfridge

Rust Plain Cape Tee~Miss Selfridge // Seedbead Multirow Necklace~Topshop // Pleated Wideleg Trousers~Topshop

hair.

Some celeb inspiration!

Oh how I've been longing for those rusty coloured locks. Sadly, I'mma have to wait til this dye's faded before trying it, but for those of you thinking about taking the plunge make sure you check out MessyCarla's tips on red-hair upkeep: it's a go-to guide for any hair colour fans!

Her video is [here], and her wonderful blog is [here] ~ many thanks to her for letting me include this!

So, there you have it. May your year be healthy, happy, and wonderfully rusty.

Just take a tip from me and don't leave your bike out!

xxx

Ever since I was little, I've found the Christmas season utterly magical. I remember being awestruck by the twinkling lights and tinsel adorning shop windows, and listening out earnestly for the bells on Santa's sleigh. Now, at 20, the only bells I'm likely to hear at this time of year are last orders at the pub, but I still find time to get into the festive spirit. I thought I'd share some of my favourite things about Christmas with you. If you're a fellow festive-lover like me, hopefully you can remind yourselves why Christmas is so darn good, and if you're a Scrooge? Well. You won't be by the end of this post ;)

The Grub

I couldn't even save this til last. It's just a given. Christmas IS food. We all sit down for dinner on Christmas day knowing full well that by the time we've finished our meal, we probably won't be able to move. Or at a stretch we'll be able to roll ourselves to the sofa.

It's that one time of year when eating yourself into a food induced coma is not only socially acceptable but expected. One more roast potato? No I coul.....oh alright then. No mince pie for me tha....gosh they look scrumptious, thanks! Oh how these phrases are all too familiar. Bring on the Rennies.

The Drinks

They've become quite the cliche, but there's certainly something irresistible about those wonderful festive brews in our favourite cafes. Always tasty and served with a little flourish of chocolate sauce or sprinkles, those Christmas drinks are flying into the clutches of every cafe queen out there. You'll spot her this season, trust me. Suited and booted and holding the most important accessory of all...that red cup.

And to those who still insist on demanding an extra-hot, super-skinny, no-whip, peppermint mocha, hold the peppermint, I say one thing.

Bah Humbug!

Advent Calendars

I can think of no other month where it's perfectly acceptable to eat chocolate every day, first thing in a morning, in your pyjamas. Oh it's doable alright, just not generally the norm. At Christmas though? Anything goes!

And y'know, waiting up til 00:01 just to eat the next one is perfectly acceptable too. Just, maybe don't tell anyone. Or blog about it...

Family

Mum panicking over the over-done turkey, Nan and Granddad falling asleep in front of the afternoon's film, and Dad fiddling about with the latest gadget/toy that needs building. And probably rebuilding. Beautiful ain't it? As much as we groan at these yearly happenings, what would Christmas really be without them?!

It's this talk of family that brings me to my cause for christmas this year. Not long ago, my Christmas day would be built around our visits to grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends. Now, sadly, a lot of older family members have passed away and it's my gramps who I'm going to be dedicating this cause to. He died of Alzheimers Disease, and frankly, I can't bear the thought of him not being able to recall all of those memories which the rest of us held so dear. If I were to choose just one charity to encourage others to learn about and support this Christmas it would definitely be the Alzheimers Society. Living with the disease is hard. Caring for someone with the disease can be even harder, and this charity ignores neither. They fund fantastic care for those suffering the symptoms, and also provide support for the family and carers who have had to learn to deal with losing a family member to dementia.

So please, this Christmas remember how imporant those memories are. Whether it's mum burning the Christmas pud, or Nan having a bit too much to drink, make sure they're all part of a very memorable, very merry Christmas.

I can hardly believe it's November already. After a good couple of months complaining how ridiculous it is that supermarkets are selling all things festive, it's suddenly perfectly acceptable, expected even to be finishing off the Christmas shopping. Panic! I for one am an awful present buyer. Making decisions for myself is a difficult enough task; trying to predict the perfect gift for a friend is subsequently impossible. What I have learnt over the years though, is that there are two gifts that will always be welcomed (not chucked to the back of the wardrobe like that inevitable pair of socks. Again), namely food and photos. Food because, well, we just don't get enough of the stuff at Christmas evidently, and photos because they can be universally appropriate; boy/girl/young/old/human/alien...you get the jist.

But even with these specifics in mind, I can often get into a frenzied panic where shopping malls are concerned, and will no doubt end up leaving with a headache, less money than I started, yet none of the presents I set out for.

If this sounds all too familiar then it may be time to get those creative juices going, break out the recipe books and Blu-Tac and follow the simple guides below for two cheap and cheerful Christmas pressies.

Cookie Jar.

Cookie? Great. Cookie Jar? Ten times greater. What better present to give than the promise of freshly home baked cookies? This fab idea from Bakerella is so easy, looks great, and doesn't even require any baking. The idea is, you buy a bell jar (really cheap from Wilkinsons!) layer it up with some pretty ingredients and give it as a gift- all they have to do is pour into a bowl, add butter and egg and bake. Perfect!

1 1/3 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Layer them up, starting with the flour, then sugar, m+m's (or other sweets!), chocolate chips, oats and nuts. Then simply jot the following steps on a cute christmas tag, tie it to the jar and voila... the perfect present for foodies!

Just stir in an egg, 1/2 cup of butter and a drop or two of vanilla essence. Bake at 180 degrees C (Gas mark 4) for 10 minutes for the perfectly chewy cookie!

Memory Board

This photo collage is the perfect gift for friends and gives you the chance to remind them of all the great (and undoubtedly embarrassing) times you've had together. The best thing is you can easily make this for about a fiver - ideal for those of us on a strict budget this winter!

First thing's first....the photos. I don't know about anyone else, but I can spend literally hours pouring over old photos; from the nostalgic to the down right shameful, there's no better way to remind yourself of some great memories. The difficult part here is choosing which one's to print off, but once you've whittled it down, there's no need to fret about expensive printing prices - this link will take you directly to Snapfish's 99p page. It's pretty self explanatory - your first forty prints are free and you just have to pay a measly 99p delivery charge. Win!

Link of Joy

Next step is buying a frame big enough to fit all those hugely embarrassing moments in. I found the best range is Wilkinson's and this one is only £4.05! All that's left to do is stick the photos to the backing paper (you'll need to play around with the layout a little) and Bob's your uncle. Present number two done, and for just over £5.

Here's one I made earlier.... (yep. it really had to be done!)

So there's a couple of DIY ideas to get you into the festive spirit of giving without breaking the bank. And, if all else fails, there's always socks!

Once again I was stumped when I heard this month’s theme was inspiration. Obviously we’re all inspired; by different things and at different times in our lives, but I just couldn’t draw on anything which I truly had a connection with – that made me feel immediately ready to face the world. As with most bloggers, I figured this was just another brief case of writers block and decided to chill out, stick some music on and hope to god that I’d think of something. And so it struck me. That one thing that somehow manages to inspire even the most insignificant of actions was music. What do I do if I’m feeling stressed, tired or anxious? Stick on the old I-tunes. What if I’m struggling to keep up a pace at the gym? Whip the Mp3 player out. And at the end of the day when I’m just too tired to even think about tomorrow? Radio 1 sees me through. It made me realise how important music is to my life, and without it I doubt I’d be inspired to do very much at all. So, I’ve decided to put together a little playlist of all those artists, songs and albums that I turn to in times of need...who knows – maybe they’ll inspire you too?!

To write essays to... Friendly Fires (Self Titled Album)

To walk to... X + Y: Coldplay (Album)

To run to...Bohemian Rhapsody: Queen (Single, and believe me the temptation to sing along is overwhelming)

To cry to... Wild Horses: Natasha Beddingfield (Single)

To chill to... Fenech Soler (Self Titled Album)

To laugh to... F.U. :Cee-lo Green (Single)

To drive to... Move on up [extended version]: Curtis Mayfield (Single)

To confess my undying love to... Because of the times: Kings of Leon (Album)

To get my gameface on to... Good girl gone bad: Rihanna (Album)

To dance to... Oh My Gosh: Usher (Single)

To be my favourite song forever and always... Sleeping Satellite: Tamsin Archer (Single)

So there's the soundtrack to my life. Random, wrong, but so very, very me. Enjoy!

The month of all things shiny, new and a little bit scary, September always promises to surprise us in the most unexpected of ways. For me, September usually involves a complicated cocktail of panic and terror; that distant inkling that a new term of deadlines, essays and other academic monstrosities is looming never fails to turn me into a blubbering mess. And yet, once that first day (which, let’s admit is utter hell) is out of the way things always seem better. I’m not suggesting it’s a cosy month full of rainbows and sugar canes, hell no. But there are definitely some things about September that take off that nervy edge and help you relax. Much like a rum and coke in front of a blissfully trashy episode of America’s Next Top Model. Yum.

5 reasons to embrace September!

Layers

With September comes late summer sun and early bites of winter. It’s a confusing month and, where fashion’s concerned naturally confusion = layers. I for one am a layer junkie. It can be blazing outside and I’ll still be inclined to add an extra top or, if the heat really is unbearable [i.e. that one day where our wonderful country teases us with 25 degrees before snatching it back up for next year. Boo.] I’ll want to wear enough jewellery to adorn a small family. This year it’s all about Camel. Not Alice [sadly. She’s been constricted to primary school coach journeys] but rather that wonderful butterscotch colour that is washing over the high street. I for one have already grabbed a couple of Camel creations to layer up with. An oversized poncho from H+M

And a long woolly jumper from Primark.

I may end up looking more desert animal than camel-chic but at least I’ll be cosy in my layered luxury!

The X-Factor

Aaaah what a wonderful guilty pleasure to enjoy as we try and ignore the prematurely darkening nights. Clearly, someone realised that our quota of seeing people make unbelievable fools out of themselves isn’t dented enough over the summer months and lo, The X-factor was born. That or Simon Cowell’s need for an ego [or economical] boost of course. God love him. September always provides us with the most entertaining portions of The X-factor where the good one’s make you slightly suicidal for all their oh-so-modest talent and the bad one’s are just, well... bad. This year already we’ve witnessed auto-tuning controversy, Abbey ‘she-punched-her-in-the-face’ Johnston, and fears over contestant’s mental health. Well, we didn’t really need an expert to tell us that now did we?

Oooh pens!

So I’m a stationary freak. As soon as September’s rolled around, I can’t help but launch myself into the nearest WHSmiths and gather up as many folders, pens and notebooks as my spindly arms will carry. Not before I’ve spent the best part of thirty minutes decided between “Blossom” or “Starburst” or whatever other sickly sweet names they come up with. Unfortunately though, what ‘Smiths boasts in choice, it lacks in poor-student-in-need-of-cheap-essentials-ness. After replacing the million dollar diaries [okay, not quite but relatively as extortionate] I left my stationary haven in a haze of disappointment and somehow found myself in Wilkinson’s where, believe it or not they’ve got a stash of cheap and cheerful stationary treasures. I grabbed this diary yesterday for £1.97 [you know it’s bad when you relish that three pence saving!].

It’s got fairly cheap paper but I fell in love with the pattern – they’ve got a whole range in it, I nearly squealed with excitement. See? Freak.

Routine

Wake up. Think about getting dressed. Watch TV. Think about really getting dressed. Eat. Think about definitely, 100% getting dressed now. Distract oneself with more TV. This is more or less how my weeks have drifted by. And I’m far from proud. Routine is my friend, LivingTV is not. As much as we all dread the menace of early morning wake up calls and late night coursework panics, at the very least it gives us something to work around [not towards of course, that would be a step too far :P]. Embrace would be a strong word, but I’m sure I can muster a teency bit of enthusiasm for a new term of days which are actually distinguishable from each other rather than living in what feels like one hugely elastic Sunday. Bye bye pyjamas, hello 8am.

The beginning of an end

For the most part we tend to see September as a new beginning in itself, a fresh start. For me and fellow blogger Maria though, as soon as September has rolled around, we will be nearing the end of our first year of blogging on Frills ‘n’ Spills. And what an awesome first year it’s been. We’ve experienced the ups and downs of blogging, from supportive followers to fun outings, from BlogSpot woes to negative comments, but what’s been made clear to us is that far from being an isolated hobby, blogging is a community. Moreso a place to escape to than an action to endure. It’s where I now feel comfortable, and not only has it reaffirmed my love of writing and photography but it’s also inspired my dissertation this year. I’m probably in way over my head, but in all honesty I can think of nothing more enjoyable than getting to write about, and explore even more deeply the blogosphere and all of its wonderful inhabitants. For all your support guys, thank- you so much. Here’s to another happy year, with plenty of new beginnings!

Okay okay, I'll admit that this month's topic threw me a little. I mean to me, fairytales evoke thoughts of childhood; of dressing up, of bedtime stories, of having an unlimited imagination. But now, well...now things are different; we grow up, we experience the big bad world and I suppose fairytales just don't have much of a place anymore. Well that's where I was wrong. Okay, so we might not be willing to don a pair of fairy wings anymore, but what better way to pay homage to your inner child than to recreate fairytales on your nails?! Now I'm not pretending to be a nail artist, or even remotely good at this sort of thing; my lack of patience or unsteady hands tend to get the better of me, but this time I managed to design some cute nails based on some of my favourite fairytales :D

You don't need any fancy nail art pens, in fact the stuff I used is almost definitely lying in a drawer somewhere at home: all you need is a safety pin, a kirby grip and LOTS of nail varnishes!

First I painted on the base colours; it's good to go for something that'll contrast with your design. If you're planning to do the same thing as I did then you'll need [from little finger to thumb] a pale blue [this one was a DIY job], a pale yellow [17; sherbet lemon], a peachy pink [17; pink lemonade], a mint green [Barry M; Mint Green], and a navy blue [Barry M; Navy].

Make sure these are completely before you paint on the designs as they can often smudge/stick if you paint the designs on while they're tacky.

NAIL 1: ALICE IN WONDERLAND

There's a cheats way to draw hearts which I found out about recently; for this you'll need the kirby grip which should be bent out of shape as in the picture waaay above. Brush some red paint on the tip and you're ready to go! Now, the cheat's method is to dot two blobs of varnish juuust separate from each other; these will form the top of your heart. Then, simply use the same kirby grip to drag each blob down to the same point. Simples.

NAIL 2: GINGERBREAD MAN!

Well...actually this isn't really a favourite of mine but I couldn't resist having such a cute character on my nails...PLUS he's much easier to draw [and a liiittle bit cuter] than Beauty's Beast which would have to be my favourite story!

Again, just use the kirby grip to dot on a blob of brown [technical language here, of course] for his head, then from the base just drag out two arms and two legs. Easy Peasy. Let him dry properly before dotting on any features.

NAIL 3: MAGIC WAND

A common feature in many fairytales, I couldn't let this one slip by!

This time I used the safety pin for a finer point; simply dip into a dark colour for the stick and roll across your nail from base to tip. Then wipe the point clean, dip in some yellow [or any other wand-worthy shade!] and create a star by simply touching the point of the pin to your nail five times; each creating a point of the star.

NAIL 4: THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

I used the kirby grip for this one again, and used a similar technique as with the heart. Only this time you drag each dot out to form an 'M' shape and then join them at the bottom with a smile to form a kiss. Mwah!

NAIL 5: WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

Again, not strictly a fairytale, but certainly a song that's become an institution in itself...literally! [It's the one Disney use on their DVD intro].

To create this starry night, use the same technique as for the wand [i.e. with the safety pin] and, once dry go over it with some glitter. A perfect fairytale ending!

Here are the designs on paper in case you want a closer look [yes, I drew them on an envelope - there was no proper paper around, sorryy!!]

Now, to find my fairytale prince...hmmm. Something tells me it's the Fairy Godmother's day off.