Chanel ... or Pilgrim?

These Chanel Camellia rings surely tick all the boxes for inclusion in Pretty Shiny Sparkly - the glossy finish (complete with famous interlocking 'C's) on the Chanel signature Camellia flower certainly grabbed my attention when I saw them in Harper's Bazaar today.

However, if (like me) a Chanel purchase is not something you'd make on the spur of the moment, how about these Pilgrim rings instead? Almost as pretty and a fraction of the price, Pilgrim jewellery is available in Ireland from their shop in the Dundrum Town Centre in Dublin and from branches of Avoca and Kilkenny.

Pretty Ballerinas Summer 2008

It may still look like winter outside, but March is only around the corner and thoughts of new Spring/Summer fashion are on my mind. Perfect timing, then, for the launch of the Pretty Ballerinas Summer 2008 collection! The collection includes a rainbow of bright, summery colours and various finishes, from shiny patent to edgy snake-print, with prices ranging from 99 Euros for this stripy fabric finish pair to 169 Euros for this white patent pair with silver buckle.

I have my eye on the super-summery yellow patent pair above, but am hard-pressed to choose between those and the turquoise and green colours in the same style. Maybe I'll just order all three and take advantage of the refunded postage costs for customers who order three pairs or more before the end of the month...

Pretty Ballerinas shoes can be ordered through their website and are also available from Arnotts in Dublin.

More pretty sights from Powerscourt

While I wait for inspiration to strike on what to write about next, I thought I'd go back to my Powerscourt photos. These pretty gates lead into the walled gardens, which date back to the 1700s:



I love the elaborate vine detail and gold-painted leaves:



The garden wasn't in full bloom when I visited, so I am looking forward to returning to see the roses later in the year.