Featured Goodness: The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

I am not sure I quite remember meeting Simone from The Bottom of the Ironing Basket. I think she may have commented on my site prompting a visit over to hers, quickly followed by a whirlwind blogger courtship before I fell head over heels for her little corner of heaven. The fact that despite having so many loyal followers and friends she still manages to come say hello to me, combined with the absolutely stunning pictures she has a knack for finding, well I am smitten with Simone. And love everything about her.

Naturally she was a perfect fit for the first Hey Gorgeous Featured Goodness post. Read on to find out more about Simone, her blog, and why she's downright fabulous and wonderful. If you don't know about her already, you'll be thankful you do now :) Simone was also gracious enough to send some of her favourite inspirational images along, like this beauty...

Name & Blog: Simone, The Bottom of the Ironing Basket

Where You're From/Where You Live: London, England

Birthday: April 23

Two Sentence Personal Summary: I am a girl who loves glamour, beauty, fashion, magazines, movies, travel and my girlfriends. And I'm a wife and a mummy!

Why Do You Blog: To create something beautiful and glamorous, to share and collect my thoughts and because I love the process of creating each blog post.

What is the Best Part About Where You Live: It's very much a family neighborhood, lots of parks and green space, great schools, fantastic friends - and I can walk everywhere, everything I need is pretty much within 5 minutes.

What Does "Goodness" Mean to You: Beauty, purity, love, kindness, wonderful and gorgeous things to look at and read about.

What is the Best Part About Your Blog: I have wonderful followers who leave me the kindest comments. I am also just very proud of how pretty it looks! This is the first time I have ever 'made' or created anything in my life and I do feel very proud of it!

Some of Simone's fave images. Simply fabulous!

What is the Best Part of Your Day: Lunch in the local woods with my son, coffee with friends, getting everything done on my to-do-list - and getting into bed a night, I love my bed!

Biggest Inspiration: My girlfriends - and anyone who has made a big change in their life simply because they knew they weren't following their heart's desire and they knew they had to at least give it a try. It takes a lot to step away from what is familar and reliable but sometimes it is the only way.

Biggest Achievement: Hopefully my children and also the next chapter of my life, whatever it may be.

Biggest Fear: Losing my children.

Biggest Love: My children.

Three Words to Describe Yourself: Loyal, kind and emotional!

Three Things You Cannot Live Without: My little family of 4, reading and conversation.

Three Things You Can't Stand: Meaness, snakes and spiders!

Favourtie Food and Drink: Really hard to choose! If it had to be one drink only, it would have to be a cup of Earl Grey tea, and for food: seafood, pasta, Cadbury's milk chocolate and fresh bread.

Favourite Place to Visit/Stay: New York City and Villefranche-Sur-Mer on the French Riveira.

{Favourite Blogs and Why}

Lou, Boos & Shoes - Great writing and gorgeous images

Let's Have a Cocktail - Very funny and sometimes very moving writing

Mimi Charmante - Beautiful photography and inspiring writing

Hey Gorgeous (awe!) I love beautiful weddingsm they make me cry every time!

Dustjacket Attic - gorgeous magazine images

Count It All Joy - family living at its funniest and most real

Dress Design & Decor - Fantastic and inspiring design, images and fashions

Most Memorable Day of Your Life: One December Sunday in Central Park, NYC, we had rented bikes and my husband proposed to me. I hadn't expected it at all and I literally felt my life change. Because of the time difference we couldn't actually call anyone until the next day but actually it was really special having the news all to ourselves for a while.

And Simone, you were a drop-dead gorgeous bride on your wedding day in October of 1998. This photo radiates everything a marriage is supposed to be and I am so thankful you sent it over to me. It was hands-down my fave out of all the lovelies you sent me:

Thank you for being a part of this series, Simone! Your such an amazing lady with a kind heart and sense of style anyone would be lucky enough to posess. For those of you who know Simone already, you know what I mean. For those of you who don't; what are you waiting for? Head on over to The Bottom of the Ironing Basket and say hello. And have one splendid Friday everyone XO