Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Tale as Old as Time Afternoon Tea



Tale as old as time, true as it can be! Yes, a Beauty and the Beast afternoon tea actually exists and I am living for it. A while back my bestie and I traveled to London and I am just now getting to writing a bunch on content on what we did and saw while we were there! As you may know I studied abroad in London so London holds a really special place in my heart. It is my favorite city in the world and I never get tired of it, and always miss it. 

One of the magical things we did while in London in October was attend an afternoon tea at the Kensington House in South Kensington. The hotel was super close to our hotel so it was the perfect location. While I was studying abroad I actually walked past the hotel and thought it looked so gorgeous, but never went inside. Let me say it did not disappoint!


The lobby feels super intimate and they have a little cafe with big cozy chairs. For afternoon tea we headed to the back of the lobby to the greeter. We waited for a few minutes in the little cafe area then were shown our table. 



The tea included so much food and of course tea. If you aren't a tea person you could swap tea for a hot chocolate or even a fountain drink. But, the food was delicious! It was a mixture of traditional afternoon tea bits like sandwiches along with some treats and pastries. 


The best part was everything was themed Beauty and the Beast! Complete with a Cogsworth clock little dessert and an enchanted rose like clear jelly. 




To say the tea was Instagram-worthy is an understatement. It was a Beauty and the Beast fan's dream! Just goes to show you don't have to be in Disney to find some Disney magic. 




I hope you enjoyed these snapshots from my afternoon tea! Sadly, the tea has been discontinued by the hotel. But, be on the lookout in case they every bring it back. If you ever find yourself in London I highly recommend doing an afternoon tea one day. You're bound to love it! 
XOXO 
Miranda
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Monday, February 11, 2019

Purple Trail Planner Review


If you know me then you know I LOVE planners. Planing and planners is a major hobby of mine. It's my way of crafting and being creative but also helping with my organization. I worked with Purple Trail to customize a planner to review. 

I ended up with a daily planner that has a place to schedule your morning, afternoon, and evening. It also has a spot for to-dos as well as a don't forget column! If daily planners aren't for you they also have weekly planner options as well. Not only can you pick between daily or weekly, you can also select how many months are included in your planner, plus the size. To make a planner for easy travel I chose the smaller size. But, if you plan on keeping your planner on your desk or have a bigger bag you could go with the larger size.


I've found that this system really keeps me organized as a work planner. The structure allows me to map out appointments and to-do's based on when they are happening/ when I want to get them done. Then I have a running total of my to-dos on the side column. If you have a busy schedule I think this planner set up would do wonders for you. 

The best part about Purple Trail is that you can totally customize your planner and other stationery goods. I opted for this cute marble patterned cover, but there are so many others to choose from! From photos, monograms, to colors you can really create something that is unique to you.

 What is your go-to planner style? I love weekly and daily set ups! Let me know in the comments. 
XOXO 
Miranda

This post was sponsored by Purple Trail. Purple Trail sent me complimentary product in exchange for review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to brands like Purple Trail for supporting Sew Cute Style! 
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Friday, February 8, 2019

Valentine's Date Ideas

It's time for Valentine's Day folks! Which means you can break the boring just dinner date cycle this year. I've put together a few fun date ideas for you to do with your boo....

Movie Night In | I'm sorry but nothing beats a lazy night in, even on Valentine's Day. Complete your movie night in with a new movie from Red Box or another rental service. Set up a bunch of blankets and pillows to create a cozy setting. Don't forget some candles and fresh flowers for added romance. Oh la la! Obviously, you can't forget the snacks. Create a spread of chocolate covered strawberries, popcorn, and candy to complete your movie viewing. If you want to be super extra, get a projection screen and project your movie onto a wall in your place. 

Dinner and a Show | Mix up a normal dinner and go to a show afterwards. Whether you find a concert, play, musical, or even going to a movie at the theater adding a show to your date adds an extra element to your evening. 

Ice Skating | If you don't live in Chicago where it is -100000 degrees outside try going ice skating with your sweetie! I always love ice skating with my boyfriend. It's a fun different activity that gets you moving but can also be romantic. Be sure to pack gloves and hats to stay warm. 

Pamper Night | Okay, as much as guys won't admit it, everyone loves to get pampered. Bust out some face masks, smoothies, and moisturizers to get your skin and mind refreshed.  For an extra fun element wear little cucumber slices on your eyes, because why not? 

Cook a Gourmet Meal | Skip the restaurant and build your meal together! Get a nice cut of meat and prepare sides and appetizers to go along with it. It will be a fun activity to do together, plus you'll have an amazing meal afterwards. Try a new recipe or opt for a meal box like Hello Fresh to make things easier. Complete your tablescape with a fun table cloth, fresh flowers, and candles to make things extra special. 

And for my single ladies, you can do any of these with your Galentine's too. Valentine's Day single actually kind of rocks. Plus you can be the first to get to Target to get the candle on sale!! Let me know your Valentine's Day plans in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda
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Monday, February 4, 2019

Easy Valentine's Day Gifts


bottle of alcohol or wine | Valentine's Day candy
monogrammed tray | restaurant gift card

Valentine's Day gifts can be tricky sometimes. But, I wanted to create a simple list of gifts that would work for your boyfriend, girlfriend, whoever! They are super simple and easy and will making gifting for your loves that much easier. 

First, let's talk about treats, drinks, and food. I mean who doesn't love getting food? No one. Valentine's Day can be as simple as a little box of chocolates from Target. It doesn't need to be anything crazy! But, if you do want something a little more unique try Sugarfina for some fun candy boxes, a cupcake or pastry from a local bakery or a place like Sprinkles Cupcakes, or even a bottle of their favorite wine or liquor. Another food option is a gift card to their favorite restaurant! There is nothing like the gift of food. 

Next up, personalized gifts. Mark and Graham has some really cool options like monogrammed wine glasses, trays, or leather accessories. All these options are neutral and come in different color and customization options. 

For a more personal gift I love going to Image 3D to create custom viewers. You can create your own slides with photos of your sweetie, family, or gal pals. I've given a new slide to my boyfriend for different occasions and I've had great experience with the site! Plus it is a super cool and unique gift that no one else will have. I'm personally a sucker for a good photo, so Frame Bridge is also a good option to create customized gifts. They are having some deals for Valentine's Day right now so it's a great time to buy! Use think link to get 15% off your purchase! 

What are your go-to Valentine's Day gifts? Let me know in the comments! At the end of the day Valentine's Day is to show your love to your loved ones. Don't stress about gifts! As long as it comes from the heart that's all that matters. 
XOXO 
Miranda
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Friday, February 1, 2019

My Current Netflix Favorites


I am the first to admit that I am a Netflix binging queen. There is nothing better than a good night in watching Netflix until midnight. Since I've been traveling so often I've been able to watch a lot of Netflix shows on the plane and at night while relaxing at the hotel. So, I wanted to share a few of my current favorites that I have watched to add onto your watch list! Most of these I will say are crime related. I'm not sure why but crime documentaries or shows are really interesting to me. Fair warning some of these are kind of creepy so watch alone with caution! 

The Ted Bundy Tapes | It seems like everyone in their brother is talking about this documentary series. I have to say I didn't know much about Ted Bundy prior to this show. He was a very interesting and manipulative man. I 100% recommend this documentary to really get an idea of how this serial killer came to be. Especially with the new movie with Zac Efron coming out getting the background info is super helpful!

The Innocent Man | Another great crime documentary is The Innocent Man. If you are a fan of Making a Murderer I think you would really enjoy this series! It follows two different cases that have men who say they are innocent of the crimes charged against him. I won't share any spoilers but, things get very interesting! 

You | Holy moly this show as addicting! My boyfriend and I finished this show in basically less then 24 hours. So addicting, suspenseful, and interesting. Also, makes you realize how much we document on our lives on social media and how easily someone could stalk you. Made me never want to check in somewhere again. 

The Assassination of Gianni Versace | One of my favorite shows from last year. Darren Criss has an amazing performance and really captures the character that Andrew was. The show has gone on to win a ton of awards this season and I see why. So well done and an interesting back story into the murder of Versace. 

7 Days Out | On a lighter note 7 Days Out is a fun documentary series showcasing major events and the 7 days leading up to them. My favorites included 7 days before the Westminster Dog Show, Chanel couture show, and the Kentucky Derby. I skipped some of the episodes, but there were some really cool events highlighted in the series.

The Staircase | Sorry not sorry another crime documentary series. Everyone was talking about The Staircase a while back and I was late to the party. This is another very interesting story with a lot of turns and twists. 

Abducted in Plain Sight | No one has really talked about this crime documentary, but it is a chilling one. Essentially a girl gets abducted by her neighbor who their family was very close too. I won't give too much away, but the story is crazy to say the least. 

What are your current favorite Netflix shows? Let me know in the comments! 
XOXO 
Miranda
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