In Jubliee Gardens

Stockbridge Market opens for business

Stockbridge Market opened for business today in Jubilee Gardens.

Open from 10am – 5pm every Sunday, the market aims to get bigger and better, encouraging locals to do their shopping there. If the market is a success, it will also be open on Thursday evenings from 3pm – 8pm.

There was a good selection of producers today including a fish stall, meat stalls, jams, baked goods amongst many others.

Artisan Roast had a cute corner where you could buy one of their excellent coffees accompanied by a slice of Cake (from North Berwick).

Stoats had a stall selling their excellent porridge oats and bars and also in attendance was Real Foods and Ziggy’s Really Good Food (vegetarian specialists).

We were pretty impressed at the selection for this inaugural event and there was certainly enough choice to buy Sunday lunch and dinner and into the start of the week.

Not just food

A handful of stalls selling soap, cashmere gifts, jewellery and handbags complete the market and judging by the amount of people in attendance around 12noon – the market is going to be very popular!

Suitable for disabled? Yes, on ground level with ample room around the stalls.

Artisan Roast

Liddlesdale Selection

Freshly baked bread

Jams and chutneys

One of the cake stalls

Fish and seafood

A selection of mushrooms

Stafford Street

By Victoria Bamber

Variety, they say is the ‘spice of life’ an expression overused yet completely justified, especially where Edinburgh is concerned. Catering for every need and requirement, the shopping scene within the city is broad and varied, ranging from the arcades and department stores of Princes Street to the individual corners of dusty bookshops in the city’s Old Town.

One shop which appears to have struck an undeniable balance between the two is Studio One, located on Stafford Street in Edinburgh’s West End. Unobtrusive and discrete, Studio One manages to convey an air of mystery and excitement before entering, helped enormously by the shops’ positioning in a series of basements underneath a row of Georgian townhouses.

Due to the enormous range of items on offer, it’s near impossible to pinpoint a particular category which the shop can slot into, yet the eclectic mix of products is a large contributor to the overall charm and intrigue, which has given Studio One such a positive reputation city wide.  Selling a variety of books, jewellery, toys, bath products, furniture and kitchen equipment (to name but a few) the surprisingly roomy shop manages to blend together an interesting and unusual array of products from both individual designers and larger manufacturers.

One of the reasons why Studio One is perhaps so appealing is the unique way in which the shop manages to transform ‘everyday’ items found around the home. Spatulas, toasters, bookmarks and bubble bath become instant attractions, whilst marbles and wooden spinning tops from childhood modernise old, but still favourable classics. (Thankfully patient staff members don’t seem to mind too much if the phrase ‘look with your eyes, not your hands’ is sometimes overlooked.)  Studio One also offers a different take on the high street without alienating new customers or shunning loyal visitors and unsurprisingly, many an hour can be unwittingly wiled away, with new delights and surprises displayed around every corner(s).

Due to the fact that many products are handmade, designed and created the overall prices are not too scary for the average Edinburgh customer and it’s almost guaranteed one will not leave without a little ‘something’, a positive word or a return visit in mind. Excellent for gifts or a ‘pick me up’ after a bad day at the office, Studio One manages to cater to most tastes whilst seamlessly combining colourful, exciting products in an Aladdin’s cave far too addictive to visit straight after payday.

Information Studio One, 10 Stafford Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7AU

Studio One

 

Now open

Candy Cupcake opens its doors offering more than cake

We do love a new shop in Edinburgh, especially one that sells cake and sweets!  Candy Cupcake opened its doors yesterday and we couldn’t resist paying them a visit today.

As you walk into the shop, you can’t help but squeal with delight at everything on offer.  It’s not just confectionary and cakes here, there’s cake-themed decorations, party invites and a selection of cards for all occasions.

Once you’ve walked past the pick n’ mix section, the shelves are full of retro sweets and jars of old favourites such as kola cubes and sherbet pips. A range of Stewart Tower Dairy ice cream is on offer and as you get to the counter, a selection of freshly made cupcakes awaits.

Some Highland Favours tablet was the order of the day along with some gourmet marshmallow from local company, Burgh Bakes.

As I headed out the shop, some popping candy and Love Hearts caught my eye as I returned to the counter to pay for the additional treats.

The assistants are friendly and took on board my request for Beer Pots and Chelsea Whoppers, but in the case of the latter, a supplier has got it in hand.

Well worth a visit.

Info: Candy Cupcake, 92 Marchmont Crescent, Edinburgh.  Telephone 0131 446 0907

You can also find Candy Cupcake on facebook and on twitter.

Old Town Context

Old Town Context is the sister shop of Context Interiors in Morningside.  Situated towards the top of Cockburn Street, this utterly charming shop is a wonderful independent shop to pick up a ‘little something’ or an Edinburgh souvenir. 

There’s too many things under this roof to mention individually, but we loved the posters of Edinburgh, the bottle clocks and retro food signs.  They also do a great selection of humourous brass plaques and cards for every occasion.  It really is hard to leave here without something having caught your eye. 

Make sure this place is included in your list of places to shop amongst the other increasingly-eccentric businesses Cockburn Street has to offer. 

You can find Old Town Context on facebook and buy their gifts online. 

Opening hours 

Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm   and  Sunday 11am – 5pm 

Old Town CONTEXT, 42-44 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh,  EH1 1PB 

Telephone: 0131 629 0534 

Postcards galore

Old Children’s Bookshelf, Canongate

By Victoria Bamber

“Do you see that thick, dark wood over there, backing on to the lane at the bottom of our garden? Well, listen, that’s the Enchanted Wood! We’ve had all sorts of adventures there, adventures you wouldn’t believe in your wildest dreams…”

In an unobtrusive area of The Royal Mile, there is a shop, a shop easily overlooked by many visiting Edinburgh’s Old Town. ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ is, unsurprisingly, a children’s bookshop, yet it provides its visitors with so much more than just literature.

The Old Children's Bookshelf

Tucked away on Canongate, ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ sells copies of well loved children’s books, comics, annuals and prints from the 1950s onwards. Specialising in classics – the shop includes works from Enid Blyton, A.A Milne and Beatrix Potter, many of which come complete with authentic illustrations, dust jackets and in the case of ‘Last term at Malory Towers’, a message from the original owner.

 Walking into ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ is reminiscent of walking into a library or museum as a child. The floorboards creak under your feet, you feel the need to speak in hushed tones and the shelves are filled with a rare and unusual array of novels you remember from years past – possibly owned and now misplaced or given as a gift one Christmas when you still wore your hair in plaits and left a carrot for Rudolph.

The shop itself is tiny, split into two sections – novels and annuals/prints. As one would expect, many of the books in particular are somewhat expensive (around £15/20 for a hardcover, depending on its age and condition), although considering many on offer are first editions and over 50 years old, the price isn’t horrendous – especially if buying a gift or making an investment. The prints and annuals on the other hand – including classic Beano, Dandy and Bunty comics, are within a pocket money price range, which can provide the modern reader – young or old with much entertainment and amusement when investigating the contents. King George VI commemorative stamp anyone?

The staff in ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ are also very knowledgeable and friendly – as one would expect from such a lovely business. They appear very willing to answer any questions, including daft or obscure ones, and will let you wander around the shop at your leisure without interruption. (It came as a welcome relief not to feel at all pestered or pressurised when browsing).

Overall, ‘Old Children’s Bookshelf’ was a pleasure to visit and well worth a trip back time and time again. For those who crave nostalgia, the past and an air of mystery, this shop would suit perfectly, and the atmosphere and sense of intrigue is a rare treat one would find difficult to recreate on the high street.

175 Canongate,  Edinburgh EH8 8BN   0131 558 3411

Opening hours  Mon-Fri 10.30am – 5pm, Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 11am – 4.30pm

Immaculate second hand bags, accessories and jewellery at Handbag Heaven Exchange

36 Howe Street

Love handbags and accessories?  Then head down Howe Street and into Handbag Heaven to grab yourself something fabulous amongst a wide selection.

Although everything is second hand, the bags, shoes, jewellery and purses for sale are in immaculate condition and no-one need ever know that the Mulberry on your shoulder worth over £1000 was bought for a few hundred.

Stock is constantly changing here and you can be kept up to date via photos on their facebook page.

The beauty of this place is that they will also sell unwanted accessories for you and give you a percentage of the sale (50/50 on sales under £100 and 60/40 in your favour if over £100).  If you’re feeling generous, you can also donated your unwanted items to the store and once sold, the proceeds will go to Maggie’s Centre in Edinburgh.

As we looked around the shop today, every brand was represented:  Mulberry, Stella McCartney, Prada, Hermes, Jaegar and Versace to name a few but there are also bags that are priced from £5 up making the shop suitable for all budgets.

Have a look at their website and find them on facebook.

Opening hours:  Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, closed Sunday & Monday.
Suitable for disabled?   Yes, ground level access

Update 19th February:

The new  shoe and accessory room is now open.   Approximately 50% of the shoe stock are unworn / brand new condition.  Tur collection includes Manolo Blahnik, christian louboutin, Carvela, Ralph Lauren, Prada, LK Bennett, Karen Millen, Gina, Russell & Bromley, Kurt Geiger.

New section open, image courtesy of owner

Bruntsfield Sweet shop

Sweet arrives in Bruntsfield

There’s a new sweet shop in Bruntsfield with a very apt name.

As soon as we heard it was open, we headed to Bruntsfield Place to check out the sugary option in Sweet.

As I entered the shop, my eyes scanned high and low for all my childhood favourites.  There were Wham bars, lipstick candies, flumps, kola kubes and most other  sweets you could think of.

I was ever so slightly disappointed when I visited that there were no Chelsea Whoppers, but since the weekend, the Sweet facebook page announced they now have them in stock.

*update* Kremola Fizz, the new Creamola foam is now instock. It is £1.50 for 50g in four flavours and it’s flying out the door.  It really does taste like the real thing for all those old enough to remember it the first time around!

I collected some of my favourites together and devoured them all on Saturday night with the help of the mini Spotlight members.  Parma Violets are definitely an acquired taste but the rest of the rest of the retro sweets went down a treat.

Prices are average for the goods and there are 50p lucky bags to choose from alongside the ability to fill your own little jar for £3.99.  There is also the option to buy a jar of sweets (different bags) with your own private message.

It would be really hard to walk past this place without paying it a visit and as it irons out its stock and meets various sweetie demands, will be an excellent place to stock up on sugary treats.

Sweet haul

K1 Knitting Yarns Boutique

There’s a great knitting shop in town – K1 Yarns Knitting Boutique.  Situated at the bottom of Victoria Street (89 West Bow) – this knitting boutique continues to make shopping in this area interesting.

K1 Yarns has been supplying beautiful and unusual yarns to knitters and crocheters in Scotland since 2005. Owner, Katharine Walker, is a passionate knitter and has an obsession with seeking out the most beautiful and unique yarns for knitters and crocheters who crave something different. 

Every possible colour and texture of yarn you can imagine is available as well as some materials such as Harris Tweed.

You are allowed to drop by and curl up in one of the comfy chairs and knit away.  There are also a range of classes held in the shop, suitable for a variety of standards, or try out something new. 

When we visited today, even the owner was sitting behind the till point making something cosy for the winter. 

A great place for all your knitting needs and a welcome addition to Edinburgh’s most photographed street. 

Opening hours 

Sundays and Bank Holidays: 12-5, Monday: 11-6, Tuesday: 11-6, Wednesday: 11-6, Thursday : 11-8 , Friday: 11-5, Saturday: 11-5 

Suitable for disabled?  Yes it’s on one level.

I love the great outdoors and have been lucky enough to travel the world, take part in a lot of outdoor activities such as camping and cycling, so was excited that Edinburgh was going to get its own GO Outdoors store  after seeing adverts for years for other stores on television.  Our dear friend and fundraising superwoman Lynne McNicoll even opened the store (albeit it a couple of weeks before it actually opened!)

New store at Granton

I headed down to Granton today to see all their goods under one roof.  There’s no denying that the place is large and sells a wide range of goods, but it’s not a patch on Tisos in Edinburgh.  On a positive note, the outdoors camping area is huge and has a wide selection of erected tents on display which make choosing a tent a delight.  I was accompanied by a camping expert and a cyclist today and we decided to put the staff’s knowledge to the test.  The assistant who helped us regarding a tent for a family of six, gave more than adequate advice and led us to a suitable choice and explained all the features to us in layman’s terms.

Returning to the store, we all explored at our own pace and returned to discuss our experiences with each other.

I had tried to enlist the help of one of the staff in the ladieswear section, but the three I approached were all playing with their new shiny lanyards discussing tonight’s X Factor – so much so that I had to say excuse me twice.   The clothes section is sprawled out and it’s not neccessarily easy to see everything on offer.

All the big names are there, Northface, Berghaus etc, but also some lesser known brands which is where the bargain prices come in.

For a yearly payment of £4, you can get a discount card which allows you to pay the lowest price advertised on the ticket.  The lesser-known brands were reasonably cheap, but the same prices as Trespass clothes, which I know to be of good quality.

The shoe and boot section is not clearly marked for the ladies but has a reasonable choice to choose from.  The store has two ‘walking ramps’ on which you can test out your boots, but with no socks to borrow for that impulse buy, you need to remember to take your own.  The ramps are smooth in surface, so not exactly replicating moutain paths.  I wasn’t impressed with the knowledge the assistant had when enquiring about a pair of walking boots for extreme conditions – it was more a case of seeing if they fitted and that would do.  Surely basic training shoud have covered this?

I spotted a treadmill, so assumed there would be a good selection of trainers to choose from, that you could then test out on the treadmill.  I counted eight pairs of mens running shoes on display with the others being cross trainers and one pair of ladies trainers - so Run and Become don’t need to get too worried about losing business yet!

Large display of erected tents

Next for the questioning was a suitable sleeping bag for freezing conditions in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro) taking in account weight, bulk and temperatures.  I would have been more impressed with the sales assistant if he held his hands up and said he didn’t know  what to recommend rather than saying “this one should do”.

I also enquired about a rucksack for a round the world trip and when trying on a woman’s one and declaring it seemed too short, I was willing the assistant to say try a male version (longer back piece) but he suggested I use a holdall instead!  Not exactly the advice I was looking for.

My cyclist friend was not impressed with the range of cycles, but even asking the basics about a mountain bike and its suspension was met with a blank face, although there are handy bike accessories for sale.

I know nothing about horse-riding so can’t comment on that section but there seemed to be a lot of equipment to choose from, which will be handy for riders living in Edinburgh.  Similarly, a lot of fishing gear to choose from, but I don’t believe the advice would be as good as a specialist store of which there are several in Edinburgh.

There was a climbing section with lots of ropes and kit to choose from and even a climbing wall, but it was not in use when I was there.  Other items for sale were: a good range of books and maps, compasses, travel goods, camping equipment and winter accessories.

In store climbing wall

Overall, the store sells a variety of outdoors equipement, in a huge spacious area, but the prices are not worth shouting about and if you were needing advice regarding equipment –  my experiences today tell me you wouldn’t get it.  

I have learned valuable information  from staff at Tiso’s and Blacks over the years, who also let you cram stuff into a back pack to recreate the weight that will be on your back whilst travelling and have the knowledge regarding the right footwear for hiking.

There is a seated area within the store with dispensing machines for snacks and drinks and the whole store is on one level with access ramps making it suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.

Verdict?   Large, spacious store with an average-priced range of goods for sale, but staff severely lacking in product knowledge.

We were in the store for around an hour, but the checkouts weren’t churning out the sales, and mutters of disappointment were discussed in the car park.

The Hannah Zakari shop opening on Candlemaker Row  is set to be an event not to be missed.  The independent accessories and interiors shop will be opening it’s doors from 11am until 5pm on 24th July 2010.

Eclectic Shock

At the tea party, local jewellery and bag designers Eclectic Shock and Dazed Dorothy will be running workshops, plus there will be a chance to win some special Hannah Zakari goodies.

Louise Pringle from Eclectic Shock, who is currently stocked on the online boutique www.hannahzakari.co.uk will be running workshops reviving customers own jewellery and Corinne Robinson from Dazed Dorothy will be inviting customers to bring along their favourite aged and loved leather items that they would like to see revamped or restyled.

The shop will stock many designers that will be unique to the city as well as a number of local designers. The shop fit has been designed by an up and coming designer and recent graduate of Napier University, which compliments the unique design of the shop and the work within it.

While the shop will be new, the Hannah Zakari brand established itself online six years ago, and has been featured in a wealth of publications from Vogue, Grazia to The Guardian. The shop will stock nearly the entire range of the website and the owner Rachael Lamb will introduce even more new designers, exclusive to Scotland.

Dazed Dorothy

Rachael said: “Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities in the world. The views and architecture across the city are unbeatable and it has the best atmosphere. Where else in the UK can you go shopping in a UNESCO World Heritage site?

“The thing that clinched it for me was the actual shop – it’s such a perfect space for Hannah Zakari. “It’s quirky and sweet and slightly off the beaten track! I feel really lucky to have found such a gorgeous space.”  

So what are the future plans for Hannah Zakari?

There are a number of regular workshops in the pipeline and if customers would like to see anything in particular at the shop, they can contact Rachael via her enquiries@hannahzakari.co.uk or by calling 0131 516 3264.

 Edinburgh Spotlight will be having a look in the shop on Saturday and can’t wait!

You can follow on twitter, facebook or  Hannah’s blog.  Read Creative Boom Edinburgh’s interview with Rachael Lamb.

Broughton Street branch

Vino wines has recently opened three new branches across town at Grange Loan, Comiston Road and Broughton Street (pictured).  The staff are knowlegeable and friendly, making buying wine an experience.

What I like about this branch is that they have a disabled button on the front of the shop which alerts the staff that someone needs assistance and if needed they bring out a ramp or help the customer in.

A full review will follow in due course.  You can become a fan on facebook or follow them on twitter.

Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 10pm, Sunday 12.30pm – 10pm

Recycled stationery goods

Green paper in Princes Street near to Frederick Street does exactly what is says on the tin.  Everything sold  in-store is recycled and good for the planet.  I wandered past yesterday and the 50% off signs caught my eye and everything is half price until Sunday 23rd May.  No catches, half the price of the stickers you see on the shelves. 

They have folders, notepads, diaries for 2010/11 as well as highlight markers and lever arch files.  The prices are fair anyway, but at half price, it would be wise to stock up on stationery goods this week whilst doing your bit for the planet.

Chambers Street audio visual heaven

Richer Sounds on Chambers Street has been my choice to buy television and other audio equipment over the years.  I have always found the staff helpful with the ability to explain technical terms to a lay person like me.  All my family have bought their televisions from here due to their excellent customer skills and service – with the prices being competitive. 

You can also opt for a 5 year guarantee on any television bought and if buying additional items such as DVD recorders / blue ray – there is a little room to negotiate with the sales staff to reduce the price.

I wouldn’t buy audio visual goods in Edinburgh anywhere else.

Suitable for disabled?   Yes, ground floor access to shop.

Main tourist information centre

The main Tourist Information Centre in Edinburgh sits on top of Princes Mall / Waverley Market.  Opening hours vary throughout the year, with longer opening hours in the summer to deal with the extra tourists visiting the city.  The tourist centre sells Edinburgh and Scotland related books, maps, small souvenirs and stamps.  The staff speak a number of languages as indicated on their name badges.   Free information leaflets covering Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland are available but apart from the basic ‘Welcome to Edinburgh’ leaflet, you need to request these from behind the counter, depending on your interests.  

The centre also offers accommodation booking service but charge a small fee on top of the price.  You can also buy the Edinburgh Pass here which is perfect if arriving by bus or train, but be sure to visit the Information Centre at the airport if arriving by plane as the airport bus is included in the Edinburgh Pass.
 

You may wish to have a look at out things to do section which covers all the places that the tourist information would as well. 

The staff are very helpful and the centre is completely accessible.  Be sure to pay a visit when you’re into town but we can’t promise there will be no queues like the picture denotes. 

Inside the centre

Sweet heaven in Hanover Street

I Love Candy is situated on Edinburgh’s Hanover Street and is easy to spot amongst the neighbouring shops.  They regularly change their window display to reflect the season and suggest new sweet items to buy. 

The shop is quite small but certainly takes you back to old fashioned sweetie heaven.  They sell Chelsea Whoppers, Wham bars and other childhood retro favourites – certainly something for everyone. 

I Love Candy also has a very small tea/coffee bar in the shop where you can munch on one of Lizzie’s Tea Party cupcakes, which are delicious.  You can also quench your thirst with a Slurpie. 

It’s my opinion that they don’t make sweets like they used to which is why this place is so great as they stock sweets that will evoke memories from younger years. 

Suitable for disabled?  There are a set of steps to get into the shop, so not suitable for wheelchair users and not practical with customers wanting to shop inside with buggies.

Fudge Heaven

The Fudge Kitchen is situated on the section of the Royal Mile between North Bridge and St Mary’s Street (on the right hand side as you face downhill). General opening hours are between 10am and 6pm every day, with longer opening hours in summer to make sure that everyone can have their fudge and eat it.

There are constant demonstrations of the fudge making process in the shop on two giant marble tables.  It’s really quite something to see how the fudge is made and the confectioner makes it look so effortless.  I know that if I was to try my hand at it, the floors would be covered in fudgy goodness (and not on purpose!)

Fudge demonstrations

Finishing touches

The final stage is bringing the fudge together, to resemble one long piece which will harden a little before it’s cut and left to set.  If you time your visit well (or stay to watch the whole process) then samples of the freshly made warm fudge will be offered to you. 

I watched the whole process and eagerly waited my sample and savoured the flavour as the warm vanilla fudge melted over my tongue.

The fudges come in a variety of flavours and I have tried many of them over the years.  My favourite fudge is the classic chocolate one, or perhaps it’s the banoffee bonanza flavour – or even the rum n’ raisin.  Whatever flavour you chose, I doubt you would be disappointed.

Excellent range of flavours

My eagle eye spotted a new addition to the Fudge Kitchen range on the counter – fudge sauce!  I had to pinch myself to see if I had indeed died and gone to heaven and was lucky enough to sample some of this liquid fudge.  The classic toffee sauce tasted a bit like tablet that hadn’t set yet and would be perfect drizzled over some warm bananas or as a sweet kick start to the day, spooned into porridge.

New fudge sauce

I actually came up with a few recipes with the staff member of how to try the sauce and bought one of the rich chocolate fudge sauces to dip my summer strawberries into. 

If you don’t live in Edinburgh, or have sampled it whilst you were here and wish to indugle yourself again, you can order online or perhaps there is a branch in England closer to you.  The Fudge will keep for 10 days non-refrigerated or months if frozen upon purchase.  You can even order fudge as wedding favours or business gifts.

Definitely worth a look when walking on the Royal Mile and recommended from us.  Have a look at their website, follow them on twitter and read their blog.

Chocolate fudge goodness

Suitable for disabled?  Yes shop has ground even access and you there is plenty room to watch the fudge making process.

Fudge Kitchen, High Street, Edinburgh

Lizzie's Tea Party cakes

Lizzie’s Tea Party is the wonderful creation of Lizzie Barr.  A Henry James quote from The Portrait of a Lady takes pride and place at the top of her website “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea” and I couldn’t agree more.   

I met with Lizzie one afternoon in Coffee Angel where she supplies some of her fabulous cupcakes for sale.   Lizzie comes from a hospitality and tourism background, side stepping into account management at Whitespace design agency before venturing into the world of tea and cakes full time.  She did some decorating training in London and has recently returned from a trip to New York where she investigated all things cupcake related.   

Creating the business from scratch, Lizzie provides everything you need for a tea party as well as the delicious home baked treats.  Popular with elderly people, community centres, hen parties, baby showers and general get togethers – it’s fabulous to get everything from one place.   

Lizzie’s Tea Party offers:   

• A tempting range of sandwiches and cakes, all homemade and served on fabulous cake stands
• A choice of teas and coffee
• Traditional china plates, cups, saucers, sugar bowls and milk jug
• Cutlery, napkins and table cloth
• Tea and coffee pots

Perfect presents

Lizzie also offers a fabulous selection of cupcakes available for delivery in the Edinburgh area (and further afield by arrangement).  Catering for any occasion including weddings,  Lizzie has provided cakes for launch parties, corporate events and can specifically design cakes to suit your occasion.     

The above cakes were all tried and tested and I am pleased to report they were mouthwateringly delicious.  From left to right, the peanut butter cupcakes are fast becoming a favourite of mine, but the coconut ones also went down a treat.  The yellow topped ones were lemon flavoured and were light and tangy and although not normally my flavour of choice, satisfied my palette.  The ones on the far right are classic vanilla cupcakes with different decorations on top and perfect for those who are less adventurous with flavours.  

Lizzie bakes all her cakes the night before delivery or on the morning of an event, to ensure that you receive perfectly fresh cakes.  As often as possible she also likes to hand them over herself, adding the personal touch to the service.  

Giant cupcake before icing

One of the many unique selling points of Lizzie’s Tea Party is the giant cupcakes that she bakes.  Lizzie has provided us with pictures of a giant cupcake before icing and the finished result.  As you can see, they are fabulous to look at and from having first hand experience of the taste of Lizzie’s cakes, you wont be disappointed with the quality either.   

I plan to order one of these beauties for a forthcoming family gathering and will be choosing my own text for the cake   

Lizzie’s strings to her business bow are completed with the  cupcake classes she offers.  The next available dates can be found on her website and last for 6 hours, (including light lunch) where you learn to bake and decorate cakes with Lizzie herself.  Group size is a maximum of 4 people so Lizzie can demonstrate and help you throughout the day.     

At the end of the class, you are presented with your 12 creations in a box to take home to your friends and family or devour yourself!  A fabulous way to spend a day and extra dates can be added for special occasions/private sessions.   

Finished giant cupcake

Check out Lizzie’s information and you can follow her on twitter.  Lizzie can be contacted on 07977 146035 or e-mail lizziebarr@hotmail.co.uk  

Fresh lemon cupcake

No Primark in Edinburgh

There is no Primark store in Edinburgh at present (one is in the making but council planning has yet to be sorted out), so you need to look further afield if you want to stock up with the latest low priced fashions and accessories. 

I headed over with 2 mini members of the Spotlight team who now wish to spend their pocket money on clothes.  They did a grand job of acquiring 8 t-shirts, pyjamas, shoes and accessories for under £25, making it much easier to handle when they grow out of them all in a couple of months. 

There is also a Primark in Stirling, but I find the Dunfermline one better for choice, neatness and layout.  They have a large children’s section and menswear in the basement and the ladieswear, shoes and home goods are on the ground floor. 

Easy to spend a couple of hours here, if not longer. 

How to get there 

By car and park at one of the city centre car parks (fee). 

By bus and walk a few short minutes. 

By train and a walk of 15 minutes. 

Suitable for disabled?   Yes, there is ground level access and lifts to both floors.

Massage by Knot Stressed, Onie Tibitt.

Last weekend I attended a massage taster session as part of an open day at Yoga Stable in Montgomery Street Lane (at the rear of Elm Row on the section with Valvona & Crolla).   I was made aware of this deal through the massage therapist’s twitter stream.  I booked an appointment hoping it would be a good quality session and wasn’t disappointed.

Montgomery Street Lane

Onie is well qualified in a number of massage therapies and related fields and her prices are average for Edinburgh but her quality is exceptional.  Following on from my 2010 kick to get healthy, I am also going to  be treating myself to indulgent treatments such as massage, which also benefit my health and general well-being.

The Yoga Stable and the therapy room that Onie uses has a lovely atmosphere and I was transferred to an oasis of calm in the middle of the city.  No traffic noise can be heard from the treatment room.

Onie took my medical history and then I relaxed on the massage bed as she covered me in freshly heated towels before starting.

I had a deep therapeutic massage and Onie really knows how to make someone feel good.  I have used mainly male masseurs in the past as I prefer the firmer touch, but Onie was excellent and we found a pressure that worked well for both of us.

It was only a taster session and lasted 30 minutes, but I was so impressed with her skills, that I have booked a further 2 appointments over the next month or so and look forward to a full one hour treatment which I am sure will be more beneficial.

Onie does a lot of baby-related massage therapies and pre and post natal treatments (she is a mother of two herself), but for a normal deep tissue or Indian head massage, I can personally recommended her.

All her treatments and services can be found on her web page   or you can phone her on 07717 783 230.  Knot Stressed is also on facebook

Update April 2010

I have now had two excellent full hour massages from Onie and can report that the quality is fantastic.  My only problem is finding the energy to get off the massage table when my time is up – I am so relaxed!  I have been sleeping better, far less back pain and general well being is better.  I have just booked in my mum for a massage which I have every confidence she will enjoy.

Update Autumn 2010

I am stil receiving regular massage from Onie and it was definitely my best Edinburgh discovery for 2010!  I will be asking Santa for gift vouchers for Onie as there is no better present than an hour of total relaxtion heaven, loose muscles and a good nights sleep.

Suitable for disabled?    Yes, the Yoga Stable and Onie’s room is on the ground floor, but you would have to discuss which treatments would be suitable if you couldn’t transfer to the massage table.

Waterstone’s in George Street is one of my favourite bookstores in Edinburgh.  I like the layout and have always found the people who work here really friendly.

It is staffed by a number of genuine book lovers who have an excellent knowledge of both fiction and non-fiction and an enthusiasm to rival that of any independent bookseller.

George Street Branch

Althought I love getting a bargain book on Amazon, you can’t beat the feeling of browsing a shop and reading a few pages to make sure it’s the right choice. 

Sometimes, I have come here to find a rare book and the staff have always endeavoured to locate any one I’ve been looking for.   The knowledge they have is brilliant and if Waterstone’s don’t stock or are unable to order it, then they will suggest where you might be able to buy it.  

Waterstones has put an increasing emphasis on bestsellers and promotional offers in recent years,  trying to compete with Amazon prices.  This store also includes a well stocked Scottish and Edinburgh section, containing many works by local writers, in addition to the broad range of general fiction. 

They also sell cards and moleskin products and you can of course by book vouchers which come in the form of a gift card these days.  There is a Costa Coffee shop on the premises if you wish to refresh yourself with a light snack and a drink whilst perusing your new purchase.

Suitable for disabled?   The access is on ground floor and there is a temperamental lift you are allowed to use, but the staff are more than happy to help bring any books that you require from the lower ground floor.