I have spent the better part of my life marking my birthdays with low key celebrations at home. I was born on my dad’s birthday and so said celebrations were often a joint affair. Since I lost my father almost two years ago, I have basically practiced birthday avoidance. Last year I had our family on a 10 hour flight to Paris on my birthday and this year I had planned on having us all on a flight home from London on August 12. But my husband and two daughters are smarter than me, and they love me too (this makes me the luckiest woman alive), and so they put their collective feet down and insisted this birthday be feted with a proper amount of pomp and circumstance. Instead of flying home, we stayed in London, ate lovely meals at beautiful restaurants, strolled through Hampstead Heath and in the end, they took me to Harrods and coerced me (I’m not very good at spending money on myself) into choosing the clutch of my dreams. This classic monogram Saint Laurent in black grain de poudre textured leather was it. No contest. Then of course I had to parade it around the streets of Chelsea. Best. Birthday. Ever.

With love,

Amanda

More to love… Zara Frilled Faux Leather Top; Frame Le Skinny in Black;  Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre Clutch

When my husband and I began planning our trip to London we envisioned grey skies, frequent rain falls and the wardrobe to match. What we got instead were uncharacteristically sunny days, warm weather and an opportunity to wear our cool summer weight cottons. Not that I’m complaining. I was very happy to wear this Zara top, made from a crisp men’s shirting fabric, and a pair of distressed white jeans (also Zara). I felt right at home on the chic streets of London in this easy breezy ensemble. My hubby snapped these pics outside our Chelsea flat (love saying that!). Props to him, and to our new favorite city.

With love,

Amanda

More to love… Zara Poplin Frill Blouse; Frame Denim Distressed White Jeans

Ever since I was a little girl in Toronto watching James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small and various other windswept British TV shows and films, I have dreamt of riding horses across the English countryside. When I was 13 years old I began taking riding lessons, and collecting equine holiday catalogues, with my eyes ever fixed on that dreamy Jane Austen-fueled mark. Over the years I’ve had the good luck to ride horses in France, Sweden, Switzerland and, of course, Canada and here in the good old U.S. of A. Then this summer, when my husband decided he was long overdue for a first trip to London, I decided it was my chance to live this long-held dream! The stage was set by the Four Seasons Hampshire, a picturesque location I chose after reading a compelling post from Damsel in Dior. Suited up in my breeches and boots (can we talk about how chic riding clothes are??) I set out on a cool August morning to live the dream. Forthwith, photographic evidence of my windswept English equestrian moment. We trotted, we cantered, we galloped through the fields. It. Was. Everything.

With love,

Amanda

My mount was a lovely little Arabian mix named El Nino, and we got to know each other in the ring before setting out onto the 500 acre grounds.