Author: girlintheprettydress

Introducing Indi

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Last weekend we had another uncommonly good burst of sunshine, so I decided to put my previous troubles with self-shooting behind me and photograph a post on my new ASOS Tall shorts. Unfortunately Indi had other ideas.

I’ve introduced my dogs once before on the blog but Indi is not the sort of girl who likes to be outshone – so after my last post she took matters into her own paws.

You would never know it but Indi is actually a senior citizen. The problem is, in her head she’s still 10 months old, rather than 10 years. We called her Indi after Indiana Jones, and she likes to live up to her name. 

Top: F&F (similar here)
Shorts: ASOS Tall (exact ones here)
Shoes: Primark
Sunglasses: Accessorize

I Love Lucy

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This little lady belongs to a friend of ours and recently came to spend her holidays with us. She’s a golden retriever and she’s super cute.

With the heatwave the UK has had this week, we’ve had to keep the dogs inside or in the shade most days so that they don’t over heat. So when evening rolled around the other day, we headed out into the sunset to let Lucy stretch her legs. This dress is perfect for a summer evening stroll.

Dress: Therapy at House of Fraser (similar here)
Sandals: F&F (exact ones here)
Sunglasses: F&F

Pictures by: Rachel Orritt

Thank you to Lucy’s owner for kindly allowing me to use her in these photos.

Positive Vibes

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1. I just booked tickets for what looks like the most fun art exhibit ever.

2. Read Richard Branson’s Top 10 Quotes on Dreams for some instant get-up-and-go

3. Getting giddy at the thought of a pizza box that turns into a movie projector

4. This is a beautiful combination of fashion illustration and photography

5. I’m already addicted to this song – and it’s not even released in the UK yet!

Summer Shopping: Beach Towels

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I can’t say I’ve ever really shopped for a beach towel before. The last one I had was bought at the last-minute without much consideration. It was going to get covered in sand anyway, so what did it matter what it looked like? Right?

I have never been more wrong. When I looked at my trusty old towel the other day it occurred to me that it might not see me through another summer. So I started looking online for other options – and a whole new world of shopping opened up to me.

Tall tip: Beach towels come in different lengths (who knew?) so it’s worth checking the item description. The longest one I found was the Sunnylife towel (via ASOS) which is a lengthy 175cm.

Row 1: John Lewis Basics / Sunnylife Stripe / Next / John Lewis Beach Hut
Row 2: Seafolly / Biba / Ralph Lauren
Row 3: Next Exotic Floral / Accessorize Floral Union Jack / Accessorize Vintage
Row 4: Linea Polka Dot / George Anchor
Row 5: Linea Flamingo Stripe / George Ice Lollies / John Lewis Flamingoes

Positive Vibes

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1. Be inspired by this wonderful and moving article on a woman’s weight.

2. This Game of Thrones musical-mockumentary for Red Nose Day is hilarious.

3. Apparently there are 4 simple steps that will unlock the secret to happiness…

4. … but if I were you I’d just watch this video of adorable puppies going for a swim.

5. Finally, if you live in the UK, and grew up in the nineties, you must be just as excited as I am to hear about The Crystal Maze making a comeback.

Something for the Weekend: Cocktails In The City

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Cocktails in the City is a new pop-up event which brings together the best cocktail makers in your area. A few weeks ago I went along to their Manchester night at the AMC Warehouse. The organisers mix spectacular drinks with amazing street food vendors and a fab DJ – basically it has all the ingredients for a brilliant night out!

Their next event is in London on 18th and 19th of July (they also have one in Edinburgh toward the end of October) and you can book tickets here. If you are in the city you need to go. 

Additional info: My ticket cost £10 which included entry and 1 drink token. You can buy additional tokens once inside for £6 each.

Professional Photo by Cocktails in the City

Positive Vibes

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1. Some brilliant British humour from Piff The Magic Dragon.

2. Listen to Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Biscuits’ for an instant pick-me-up.

3. Do your bit for the environment and help reduce over-fishing by using this app when you go shopping.

4. Be inspired by the courageous tale of Arthur the stray dog.

5. If you’re a cat-owner, this is the next item of clothing you need to buy.

Vienna: Schonbrunn Palace

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This is my final post on Vienna, but I saved the best for last. We were staying a little way out from the city centre, but the upside to this was that we were within walking distance of the Schonbrunn Palace. This was formerly the summer palace of the royal family but is now a museum and park. The park and gardens are free to visit – but there is an entry charge for the rooms inside the palace as well as some other parts of the grounds, including a zoo.

I’ve never seen anything like this before. The gardens took hours to explore and there were surprises round every corner, but the palace itself completely took my breath away. We loved it so much that on our last day when we had a couple of hours spare before we had to be at the airport, we went back for more. 

I wanted to experience a classical concert whilst I was in Vienna so I opted to go to one of the nightly concerts held at the Schonbrunn in the Orangerie – where Mozart himself once performed. It was a little pricey, but an unforgettable experience.

Cream Top: Zara
Cream Shorts: Warehouse
Navy Playsuit: Vaudeville and Burlesque via Urban Outfitters
Sunglasses: F&F
Shoes: Primark
Bag: Jane Shilton at TK Maxx

Vienna: A Walk Around Town

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There is so much to see in Vienna that we could never have hoped to fit it all in with just 4 days there. So here are a few snapshots of things we saw while walking around town. We took in the up-market shopping district (where I did much window-gazing), followed by some beautiful gardens. Then the Rathaus (town hall), the Austrian Parliament building and the slightly controversial Liberation Monument. We tried to fit in the Belvedere as well, but sadly ran out of time.

After all that walking we were pretty hungry so we headed to Cafe Diglas for dinner. Tucked away down a side street near to Stephansdom it wasn’t as busy as other eateries, but I would definitely recommend a visit. The cafe dates back to the fifties and we noticed many locals visiting for a slice of cake and a natter. We ate traditional Austrian dishes and relaxed while the pianist played some of my favourite songs. (One thing to note if you are lucky enough to visit – they don’t take card payments, only cash.)

Top: F&F (previously seen here)
Vest: Primark
Shorts: ASOS Tall
Sunglasses F&F

(Side note: Any photos of me were very kindly taken by my lovely travel-buddy.)

Vienna: Stephansdom and Sacher Torte

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There are many, many delicious cakes on offer in Vienna. However, I was most looking forward to trying Sacher Torte – which was invented in the city.

Sacher Torte is a chocolate cake made to a secret recipe and sandwiched using apricot jam. As a girl who has eaten a LOT of chocolate cake over the years, I’d say this is definitely worth the hype.

After exploring Stephansdom (and a nearby bavarian market) we headed to The Hotel Sacher to try out Austria’s most famous cake in the place where it was first conceived.