A few weeks ago my husband and I had just returned from our honeymoon and were having serious post wedding blues. For almost two years we had lived in a bubble of excitement, planning our special day and amazing honeymoon. After returning from our honeymoon, “normal” life resumed. We were no longer worrying about where to seat guests, nor were we researching the best hotels in San Francisco. Everything felt a bit flat. It was during this dull normality that a conversation took place in which we decided to take a trip to Blackpool. I used to go every October half term as a child and absolutely adored our seaside autumnal getaway. It was always so lovely to spend the week with my little family, braving the northern coastal winds to witness the annual Blackpool illuminations. Phil announced that he had never been before, to which I decided he had to go. I mean who can live a life without seeing an illuminated Noddy in a British seaside town?! It was decided that we would go on our only free weekend in October. The illuminations are only on for a few weeks, and if you are going to drive for four hours to Blackpool, it might as well be when the illuminations are on, so you can get the full experience.

We set off straight after work on a Friday evening. We were so lucky to have an amazing drive there, Phil driving whilst I sang along to Taylor Swift in the passenger seat, no traffic in sight. 

I had chosen a little B&B near the tower as we were only going for the weekend and I wanted us to be near everything. The B&B was so cute and delightfully British. We awoke to a mammoth fry up on both days. I normally shovel a pain au chocolat into my mouth whilst simultaneously sipping on a smoothie, so a large breakfast was a welcome change. 

Saturday was our main day in Blackpool and I wanted to both reminisce and show Phil what Blackpool is about, so straight after Breakfast we hit up the Tower.

  
 
I had pre booked our tickets online as it’s actually quite expensive to just rock up.

Visiting the Tower as an adult was very different to my trips as a child. For a start, I wasn’t desperate to dive into Jungle Jims upon arrival, not to mention the makeover the Tower has had since being taken over by the Merlin Group. We were going to go straight to the top, but after a couple of flights of stairs on a full stomach, we decided that the ballroom was the perfect place to start our Tower adventure.

   
   
The Ballroom is by far my favourite thing about Blackpool Tower. With such intricate detailing and a chilled out atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a piece of cake and a break. I loved watching people dancing, embracing the moment and letting the music carry their bodies. Maybe it’s the history or maybe it’s the fact they sell cake, but one thing is for sure, there’s a little bit of magic that can be found in the Ballroom of Blackpool Tower.

Our next stop was the “Blackpool Eye”. This was a new experience for me as often when I visited, the top was closed due to bad weather. I did make it up a couple of times though. It has been completely renovated since I last stepped up to the top of the Tower.  

    
 
They now have a really cool glass floor. My poor husband is absolutely terrified of heights and couldn’t even look at me on the glass whilst I happily danced about above the promenade. 

There are some lovely views across Blackpool and the Pennines, so I would recommend clambering to the top if you get a chance.

We also visited the circus, which has been going for over thirty years. The circus is really fun and one of the best that I have seen (although I am hardly a circus connoisseur). My favourite part of this circus is the water pool at the end. Because it is a static circus, it is able to have a remarkable pool which is filled as the floor lowers for the finale. I watched this as a child and it fascinated me just as much then as it does now. I would highly recommend incorporating a trip to the circus if you are planning on visiting Blackpool.

We also had a look around the Town Centre, and walked along the sea front. I would be lying if I said that Blackpool holds the key to enchantment and glamour like London does. The reality is that it is a seaside town that has been really affected by the rise in affordability of holidays abroad. What Blackpool is and will always remain is a little a piece of British seaside history. It’s a classic northern trip to the seaside with arcades and souvenir shops lining the promenade. The town centre boasts high street shops such as Topshop, Waterstones and Primark (which came in especially handy for an emergency pair of earmuffs to protect my little ears from the chills of the coastal wind). 

   
    
    
   
After stopping at Harry Ramsdens for a late lunch, we went for a lovely stroll along the seafront. I’ve always adored a beach and Blackpool actually has a really lovely British beach, complete with families playing and the noise from the sea gulls. There’s just something about the sea meeting the land that warms my heart. I think it’s the natural purity of the environment. Aside from the piers, it’s relatively natural. I love how powerful the sea is. Full of life and uncontrollable. When we no longer crave the delights of London, I know that we will reside in a seaside town.

When darkness falls, the lights are illuminated in Blackpool. They are usually switched on just after 6pm and stay alight until midnight. So after a trip to Pizza Express, we embarked on our illuminated journey.

   
   
As a child we used to stay in the North Shore, usually renting a place for the week away from the rowdiness of the town. This would mean that we would end up near Bispham where the large light displays are in full bloom. On this occasion, we stayed near the Tower, and decided to walk along the coastline, pointing out the changes in the lights. They start off as string lights, not too dissimilar to what you would see in most major towns around Christmas. The large displays in Bispham are remarkable and unlike anything you would see anywhere else. As a child, these light displays were amazing. They may as well have been all of my hopes and dreams displayed in lights along the promenade. I remember there used to be a large Postman Pat display which I adored. One year, we were lucky enough to stay opposite the three little pigs display and I remember watching it from the living room window. It was all very exciting. This year there are a range of displays including Doctor Who and Basil Brush. There are also a couple of displays from my childhood. The teddy bears picnic display has been there every year. As a complete newcomer to the Blackpool illuminations scene, Phil found the experience enlightening. He couldn’t work out the reasons behind it and why it’s not on over Christmas. I think it’s just become a tradition and the lights aren’t themed for Christmas. They have their own unique entity. 

   
   
Another one of Blackpool’s charms is the trams. They run along the sea front and even have a special train tram and boat tram all lit up for the illuminations tour. We decided not to use the tram and just enjoy the walk. Which actually turned into a thirteen mile stroll resulting in us getting back really late and through the centre of the town near midnight *insert monkey covering eyes emoji here*. I think that walking through the town centre sober and late on a Saturday night is not for the faint hearted. You will witness an array of uncouth behaviour and general rowdiness. Still, at least they were having a good time.

So, which display was my favourite I hear you cry? I loved the hula girls because of its Hawaiin vibe, the haunted house because it played MJ’s Thriller and the Alice in Wonderland display for its magical garden and attention to detail.

   
 
It was soon time to say goodbye to the seaside and endure the drive home (another couple of hours of me singing along to Tay Tay). Would I visit Blackpool again? Absolutely. It’s a real gem of a place if you look underneath it’s scruffy exterior. Plus it holds so many memories for me. Do I think you should go if you haven’t before? Absolutely. Go during the illuminations, stay in a B&B and take ear muffs. There’s lots to do there and as long as you let your inhibitions go, you’ll have a great time.

L x

It’s no secret that I am not a fan of the ‘darker months’. The late autumn, entirety of winter and even early spring are all on my hitlist. Although with my only options being to get on with it or immigrate, I pretty much have to embrace them. 

The way I have learnt to cope with the impending feeling of doom that comes with the cooler months is to seek out their individual charms. In October you can hear the crunching of leaves during your early morning walk. Watch the squirrels hunting for supplies to carry them through the challenging times ahead and even carve a pumpkin if you fancy. In November you are shaken alive by the roar from the fireworks, forcing even the biggest of pessimists to look into the sky in awe of the fire glitter. Then there’s December. What a beauty of a month. Almost everybody is riddled with festive cheer. The days are short (the shortest in fact), nights are long and filled with festive tunes. Holiday mode is in full swing and you can’t do anything without being reminded of the jubilant day. Seriously, even turning on the telly will result in the great man in red invading your home and spreading the love. Without a doubt,  the best part of December is the food. Oh, the abundance, the acceptance of over indulging. The fact that every friend/relative you visit has copious amounts of chocolate. It’s just marvellous. Coupled with two bank holidays, December really helps dull the wintry pain. My birthday is in January and usually by this time I have found the cold, miserable winter far too much and we jet off somewhere to numb the pain. The air is cool and crisp. Your commute is that bit longer with precious minutes in the warmth of your bed snatched away by icy footpaths and car windscreens. The fashion is great though, you can pile on the layers without anyone noticing the few pounds you have put on through festive indulgence. February is the month of love and also feels as though you are coming to the end of winter pain. Spring is within arms reach with longer days and warmer temperatures, providing a wealth of optimism.

  
As soon as the cooler evenings sweep in, I am whipping out my favourite scented candles. I love having candles dotted around our home for many reasons. Firstly it makes me feel all warm inside. It may sound a bit nuts, but psychologically I find watching the tiny flame lower itself further down the wick and surrounding itself in scented gooey-ness makes me instantly feel warmer after coming in from the cool evenings. We are lucky to have a real fireplace and this obviously has the same effect only on a much larger scale as the heat emitted is actually beneficial as opposed to relatively artificial. I love snuggling on the couch in candlelight. It just feels right. The other thing that I adore is of course the delicious aroma that fills the room from a beautiful scented candle. I hate to be a snob, but I really do feel like you get what you pay for when it comes to candles. There are so many on the market, all different shapes, scents and sizes. For me, the shape or size doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I’m all about the smell. I like the air to become completely smothered in the wonderful perfume scent that comes from a good candle. I feel it completes our home and makes being at home just feel extra nice. There’s nothing more relaxing than being all snuggled in a dressing gown watching telly by candlelight. It’s my favourite thing about the cooler months. 

Jo Malone create the most beautiful scented candles. They ooze luxury and sophistication. Being in the presence of a Jo Malone candle is how I imagine heaven would smell. The quality is divine and there is such an extensive variety of scents to choose from that even the most fussy can find a happy medium. The candles are always perfectly presented and are simply classic, designed to fit in with even the sharpest of interior design. The only downside is the price. This paradigm of a luxury candle certainly comes with a price tag that doesn’t fit with everybody’s budget, with prices for a luxury candle coming in at two hundred and eighty pounds. Never fear, you can get your hands on a home candle for a mere forty two pounds. They do last well and the amazing scents that Jo Malone are reknowned for completely fill any space that they are placed in to, not to mention how gorgeous they look generally, so it’s up to you if you have the cash to invest.

  
Relatively new to the market, Heir and Grace certainly provide competition for the luxury candle makers. With their classic design and sumptuous scents, they really are the Kate Middleton of the candle world. Hand made and poured in Windsor, they always arrive beautifully packaged with a palatial charm. What I adore the most about Heir and Grace candles is that they feel so organic. You can instantly tell that they haven’t been mass manufactured using ghastly chemicals. They have been crafted with love and passion. They have grown their collection of scents and whichever scent you choose will certainly fill your home with air that isn’t remotely artificial. It’s pure, elegant. Perfect for cosy nights in or even dinner parties. How much would such an opulent candle set you back? Well, a home candle costs thirty six pounds. Whilst there are a lot of other, less expensive brands on the market, Heir and Grace candles come with a story. You aren’t simply paying for a little scented flame in your home. You are paying for a loving creation with a rich, well thought out scent. 

  
I first laid eyes on a Bath and Bodyworks candle whilst shopping in New York. They are an American brand that I am desperate to move to the United Kingdom. Even if they only open one shop that happens to be eight hours away from home, I’ll be happy to travel. I just adore their products so much. They stock the most unique scents from candles to hand sanitizers and are wonderful. Unfortunately, they don’t ship to the UK, so getting your hands on one of their delightful candles can prove quite tricky. They stock a variety of sizes, from mini travel candles that are a few dollars, right up to my favourite three wick candles, which come in at twenty two dollars. They offer excellent value for money and the three wick candles last for quite a while. Whilst their design isn’t as classic as the luxury candles, they are still lovely and aren’t unsightly if left out. Their scents are far more fun than any other company I am aware of and you can certainly find a candle for everyone from Gran to your best friend. Plus, if you find a scent you love, you can indulge in bath products to car air fresheners. 

  
Ah, Yankee Candle. Where do I start? They have become so iconic over the last few years and have really made an impact this side of the pond. The design of their jars is often mimicked, although the product usually in these imitations pales in comparison to Yankee. With an extensive selection of scents to choose from, as well as many other products such as wax melts and tea lights, they really appeal to the mass market. Yankee are really great at embracing the holidays. There is pretty much a scent for every occasion. We were even given a ‘wedding day’ jar as a gift on our wedding day. That’s the other thing about Yankee, they make wonderful gifts. They aren’t too cheap and they aren’t too expensive like their luxury competitors. They do a lovely job of filling the home with a nice scent. They aren’t as classically designed as the far pricier luxury brands, and come in a vast array of colours, some of which aren’t to everybody’s interior taste. Coming in at a couple of pounds for a small candle up to twenty two pounds for a large jar, they are great value. If the jars aren’t up to your taste, they also make pillar candles and have some other, classic designs.

So that’s how I intend to spend the cool evenings, snuggled up and surrounded by my favourite scents. Who needs to leave the house anyway?!

L x

You may have felt the colours of Autumn come creeping in over the past couple of weeks. Slowly the evenings are duller, darker and cooler. The mornings are met with vibrant green grass covered in morning dew. The car windows are no longer vividly transparent, with the signs of the cool night clouding the view. The flowers are no longer quite so voluptuous and singing a warm and bright song. Darker shades of green are in their place, with these greens slowly turning to beautiful rusty colours before carpeting the ground. Spiders are in complete abundance, constructing their webs wherever they see fit (including across footpaths and covering gates!). Gone are the floaty dresses and straw hats of summer. To be replaced by autumnal attire.
Summer has always been my favourite season. I’m in love with the longer days and adore feeling the sun’s warmth settle on my skin.  The careless attitude of just running out of the door in sandals without a care in the world. The gorgeous pub gardens and evening sunshine snatching. I love it all. With this in mind it may surprise you to learn that when it comes to fashion, I love what autumn brings. The berry colours, the cute knits and even the coats. Oh, how I’m a sucker for a coat. I have acquired quite a few over the years because for me a coat or a jacket is the main outfit when you are outside. You could be wearing a gorgeous dress fresh off of the runway, but when outside the part of your outfit the world sees is your coat. It will be with you on cool, crisp icy mornings and rainy afternoons. It will be there if snow falls overnight. That’s why I believe that you should have a variety of coats. A coat for every occasion. This leads me nicely on to my wonderful new addition – my stone coloured Mac from Jack Wills. I have a complete love affair with Jack Wills and am probably sporting something from their collection most days. I have never been over struck on macs as they are a sort of in-between coat. Too hot for summer, not hot enough for winter. However, when I laid eyes on this beauty, it was quite clear to me that my life has been incomplete without it. I dreamt of autumnal morning walks, evening dinner date trips and even April showers, all with this beautiful Mac on my back.

  
They also make a pink version, although I feel that is best suited for springtime. Unless you are Elle from Legally Blonde. In which case, go right ahead. 

The cut is just perfect and the beautiful stone colour sets the perfect tone for almost all autumnal outfits.

  
 
I took this coat for a sunny afternoon Sunday walk through the woods. We have my Mum’s dog, Elizabelle, staying for the weekend. Elizabelle was quite keen to creep in on my shots. She’s quite cute though, so I’ll let her off.

  
We’ve been having some absolutely glorious weather recently, so I could get away with a simple striped boat neck top from Uniqlo and black jeans, also from Uniqlo. 

  
I first laid eyes on a Uniqlo store a few years ago when one opened up in Uxbridge. It wasn’t there for too long and I sort of forgot about the brand (sorry!). When I was looking for some leggings a couple of years ago, a friend mentioned Uniqlo had some good quality pairs. I hit up their Oxford Street store and voila! I was hooked. They make some lovely casual items, perfect for layering or lazy Sunday’s. Simple, affordable and good quality. They are a bit of a go to place for basics now.

To complete my OOTD, I slipped on my trusty black Moroccan crochet Toms. I am such a huge fan of Toms, as is my husband. We both live in them during the warmer months.

  
I bought this pair around three years ago from Office. They were £46 and have definitely reduced their cost per wear to a minuscule amount. I have a cream pair too and frequently skip between the two pairs depending on what I’m wearing. They are just so super comfy and go with everything!

  
 
We all thoroughly enjoyed our woodland stroll and now feel as though we have earnt a hearty dinner and chocolate gateau. Sunday’s are for over indulgence – right?!

L x

We were fortunate enough to spend a week in Hawaii whilst on our honeymoon. We stayed in Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. I have wanted to visit Hawaii since I was a small girl growing up in the nineties after my Great Aunt and Uncle went. They bought me back a cute pineapple necklace, t shirt and bag. I absolutely adored their gifts and I think I still have them kicking about somewhere today! 

When Phil and I first started talking about our wedding and honeymoon as teenage dreamers about nine years ago, I mentioned how much I would love to go to Hawaii. It’s quite a long journey and when you add up the flights from London and the hotel etc, it’s actually quite an expensive trip. Weddings in themselves are quite expensive, so I’m very grateful that we managed to go. 

We actually landed up flying there from Las Vegas as we planned a West Coast tour of the United States. The flight was around six hours. I didn’t realise quite how far Hawaii is. I’ve always thought that it’s just off of the West Coast, which it is in theory. It’s also only 7-8 hours from Japan and Australia. There were a lot of Japanese tourists and I only saw a British family once during our stay. It was in Hawaii that I felt furthest away from home (obviously I was, but you know!).

When we arrived, I imagined it would be like an unspoilt deserted island with little wooden shacks and people walking around in Hawaiin shirts with flowers adorning their necks whilst sipping on coconuts. The reality is that Waikiki is actually quite built up (although there are plenty of fun shirt wearers). The beach has a backdrop of skyscrapers and concrete engulfs the coastline. You can still see the rainforest if you look behind the man made jungle though. Despite the human invasion, Waikiki is still absolutely beautiful. Nobody can deny that the beaches are incredible and the sea is so clear that you feel as though you could be in an Evian advert. As much as I was initially disappointed to see such huge buildings towering over our idyllic honeymoon setting, it was actually okay. It was better than okay. It was incredibly convenient. You see Waikiki’s beauty hasn’t been killed off by homosapien invasion. Waikiki is very much alive. We struggled terribly with jet lag whilst away. We were barely used to being eight hours behind the UK when we thrusted ourselves to Hawaii, throwing us a further three hours behind what we were almost used to. This meant that our timing was a bit odd and we would be very awake quite early or quite awake very late. This doesn’t matter in Waikiki Beach. You can go out early in the morning, indulge in an early morning Starbucks treat and be greeted with people, with life. Likewise, the shops and restaurants are buzzing into the late hours. You want a new outfit at 9pm? Not a problem. Dinner at 10? That’s okay too. Eighty percent of Hawaii’s population reside in Honolulu. That coupled with the huge amount of tourists means that the sky scrapers are a necessity in ensuring that needs are met. I totally get that. Plus, if you do fancy a more laid back, untouched approach to your trip, you can always go for a little drive where you will be met with tiny villages and miles of agriculture. 

    
 
We used our time in Hawaii to relax and just enjoy each other’s company. Our entire trip had been meticulously planned almost down to the minute and so it was nice to explore at a leisurely pace and just embrace what Honolulu has to offer. We did book our shark swim before we set off though, as I wanted to research the company we were choosing and secure a slot as in the height of summer things can get pretty booked up. We opted for North Shore Shark tours who are an established company with lots of experience. This was very important to me if I was going to throw my body into shark infested waters. Especially as I am not the strongest of swimmers and am certain I cannot out swim a shark back to the boat. I used trusty Trip Advisor to source out the companies with the best reviews. I would highly recommend checking anywhere you aren’t sure about on Trip Advisor as it is so easy to use and provides a wealth of information. 

Hurricane Guillermo was expected to touch down whilst we were in Honolulu and also on our shark swim day! News reports of how awful the hurricane was going to be were in full swing and I was a little terrified. I even thought about stocking up on necessities such as Pain au Chocolat and M&Ms (as long as you have chocolate everything is fine right?!). Fortunately the hurricane didn’t live up to the forecasters expectations and turned out to actually be a short rain shower in the morning. Not too dissimilar to often rainy London. This thrilled us as we could continue enjoying our adventure and our shark tour was scheduled for the next morning. We organised transport through the shark tour which made our journey there really easy and pleasant. We were picked up from the Hyatt Regency with a couple of other thrill seekers. One of the other passengers was a lovely girl from Brisbane who it turned out I had quite a bit in common with. We had a natter in the car and before long it was time for our encounter with sea predators. We were warned to take anti sickness tablets beforehand, which is something I never normally do before boarding a boat. I am very lucky that I don’t suffer from motion sickness (a fact I once bragged about over dinner, citing that my brain was ‘too intelligent’ before somebody pointed out I was holding my knife upside down – awks!), so I’m not used to popping pills. Poor Phil often feels seasick when we are on a boating adventure, sadly even a couple of the pharmacy’s finest anti sickness tablets didn’t help him out. The sea was particularly choppy the morning of our swim thanks to cheeky Guillermo which resulted in poor Phil feeling particularly poorly. That didn’t stop us though as we still readily hopped into the shark and whale infested waters upon command (second group!). We were all quite jovial on the ride out, peering over the side to spot our new oceanic friends.  

 
Pre swim selfie!

At first our only worry was the temperature of the water. We were four miles off of the coastline and although on land it was a delightful thirty two degrees, I was rather concerned that the water would not reflect that and would leave me regretting wearing a couple of pieces of minuscule fabric instead of a wet suit. I needn’t have worried though as the water was absolutely gorgeous. It may surprise you that I wasn’t scared of going into the cage and being surrounded by fishy friends. I did have a moment when I saw a few over the side of the boat though and it all felt very real. We were in the cage for around twenty minutes, dipping underwater to spectate the wonderful Galapago Sharks. It was incredible to see them in their natural habitat. It was such a beautiful experience watching these creatures swim wild and free in the ocean. I did spend a lot of our experience being battered against the cage as the sea was so excitable. This was the most terrifying part of the whole trip. A few times one of my limbs would be forced out of the cage through the (rather large) bars. I’m not going to lie, this did freak me out a little and I decided to hang out near the ladder so that there was more of a barrier for my poor limbs. Obviously I’m not a sharks natural choice of food, but if it’s hungry and my leg is hanging out… Well let’s just say that’s a risk I didn’t fancy taking. We were so lucky to have such an amazing shark encounter, there were so many swimming around us of all shapes and sizes. It was truly incredible. Soon our time was up and we were reeled back in and onto the boat and driven back to Waikiki with our GoPro footage and our new memory. I have put a video up on my channel of our swim. Excuse the rough edit – I was jet lagged and in a hurry! You can check it out here. 

   
   
I loved the Hawaiian lifestyle and vibe. It was great to see people enjoying being outdoors so much. Hawaii also has a thriving wildlife which is just fantastic. We loved shopping. Everywhere from market stalls with local produce to high end designer shops. Waikiki has it all. Before long we were hopping on a plane to Los Angeles, leaving the chilled out vibe behind us. We have vowed to return to Hawaii, although we will spend more time there and hit up the other islands as we have heard that they are just perfect.

Until next time Hawaii x

   
    
   

So as the title suggests, I am back from my blogging hiatus!

I decided to take a break from blogging for a bit because I had so much going on that I just felt like I didn’t have time to squeeze it all in. It wasn’t even a conscious decision as such, it just happened. I was super busy planning our wedding and honeymoon as well as juggling the usual tasks that life throws at us and I just couldn’t give my blog the attention that it deserved. 

So it’s been quite a few months since I last posted and this year has been a bit mad in all honesty. 

We started the year with a trip to Pisa to celebrate my birthday (another year closer to my bus pass!). We had a lovely time and enjoyed exploring Pisa and Florence. We even managed to squeeze in a beach trip on my actual birthday, although I can assure you this isn’t something to be terribly envious when your birthday is in January! 

 
Unfortunately the day after we arrived home my Grandad was taken into hospital. This isn’t a topic that I normally discuss publicly, but it has had a huge impact on our lives and the biggest change started in January when his illness progressed. He has been quite unwell for the past couple of years and it had been incredibly difficult for us all. He has always been a close friend and has literally been such an amazing Grandad. Our bond is very strong and I owe a lot of who I am and what I’ve achieved down to him. He has really taken care of us all and is our family rock. Especially as I haven’t seen my Father since I was eight. This year has been the hardest in terms of watching him deteriorate. We are slowly losing him to the grips of terminal illness and it really is the most painful thing. I am normally so upbeat and positive, but this year has certainly challenged that. I don’t want to go into too much detail because what he is going through is nothing short of cruel and torturous and he deserves his dignity and respect. Fortunately we have come together as a family and are supporting both him and each other.   

It’s not all doom and gloom though as we’ve had plenty of highs this year. We decided to have a joint hen/stag do in Paris. We had a delightful time exploring the city and going to Disneyland. I also enjoyed stuffing my face with Pain au Chocolat and macaroons!

   
    
    
    
 
Before we knew it, it was time for the event of the year – our wedding!

It was so much fun and I literally had the best day. It was so wonderful for us to be surrounded by such brilliant people. We had a beautiful day filled with love and our favourite people. It did rain, which I was devastated about at first (I woke Phil up the day before with my uncontrollable sobbing!), but in the end it was fine. I think it actually made the day complete as a true British wedding! 

    
    
   
Then of course we had our amazing honeymoon, which we dragged out over a few weeks. We travelled to Las Vegas, Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco before heading back to Vegas. We had the best time filled with amazing adventures. If I could relive it all over again I would in a heartbeat.

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
   
    
    
    
    
    
 
Of course all good things must come to an end and we have been well and truly catapulted back into normal life. Of course I have no wedding to plan now, so we have decided to embark on our next adventure… Buying a bigger house. This absolutely terrifies me as it was hard enough when we bought our current place, now I will be managing the sale of our current home and the purchase of our new one. It’s such a stressful event and in all honesty I am not looking forward to the weeks of chasing solicitors etc! Still it’s pretty exciting all the same.

Watch this space!

Okay, so it’s no secret that I am head over heels in love with stuffing my face with scrumptious (if not naughty) food.

I am quite open to trying new things and in all honesty, there isn’t much that I won’t eat (except fish.. it rarely goes anywhere near my mouth!). The cooler, miserable weather makes me feel like hibernating. Or at least comfort eating to take the edge off of the cold days and dark evenings (who needs a bikini bod in wintry England anyway?! it’s all about layers and baggy clothes, darling!). So I thought that I would put together my top five places to go for a decent dessert. Some are nationwide and some are more local to me.

1. Crepe Affaire

I absolutely adore this place and my favourite branch has got to be the one in Westfield London. It’s such a great location as with so many fabulous restaurants nearby, it’s a perfect plan to stuff your face initially somewhere else and then mooch around the shops before hitting up Crepe Affaire for dessert. It’s open quite late and is inside the shopping centre. Perfect for avoiding a rainy evening in London. I usually opt for a Belgian milk chocolate crepe with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. Totes delish, They also run a loyalty scheme, so you can have a treat for free Hurrah!

2. Indulge dessert lounge

207 Marsh Road, Pinner, HA5 5NE

Indulge is located in Pinner and is a great place to go for a cheeky sweet treat. They have a large selection of cakes, ice cream, waffles and milkshakes. They have recently extended their premises to accommodate more customers. Yippee!

It is open from mid morning until late, so you can pretty much pop in anytime. The thing that I like about this place is that you can easily meet a friend here for a quick catch up  and still have a treat. I usually opt for a crepe, but their waffles and milkshakes are most divine too!

There are lots of dessert lounges popping up at the moment, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for local ones.

3. Auntie Anne’s 

Whenever I pass an Auntie Anne’s, the gentle waft of their scrumptious pretzels consumes me and I am rarely able to pass one without stopping and grabbing either vanilla stix or a chocolate sugar pretzel. Auntie Anne’s is often near a shopping precinct, so it’s a brilliant idea to stop and grab one whilst out shopping (it also provides an energy boost, resulting in more shopping stamina!)

Auntie Anne’s have also started a loyalty scheme, so you can be rewarded with free pretzels – result!

4. Restaurants that are a pub or feel like a pub

Okay, so as someone with a terribly sweet tooth, when we are in a pub or a pub style restaurant (think Harvester, Beefeater etc), one of the first questions I ask is do they have a dessert menu? Most often, they do and it’s absolutely lovely. You will often find crumbles, cakes and my personal fave, ice cream sundaes. You can’t beat a chocolate brownie ice cream sundae and most of the pub restaurants have a nice selection, so defo check them out!

5. Ask Italian

When Phil and I visited Italy last year, we were disappointed by the desserts on offer. Wherever we went, we would sample the most delicious pizza, risotto, bolognese… followed by a rubbish tasting cake. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all bad – the gelato was obviously delightful, but overall disappointment. Ask Itailian on the other hand serve not only yummy Italian food, but also great desserts to match. I can recommend their chocolate sharing platter (although I think the portion size needs addressing!) and the profiteroles (they are literally the best I have ever had. Ever).Next time you are enjoying the delights of Ask, save room for dessert!

I could list off many other places to go for a naughty treat, but these are my current top five.

Right, I’m off to grab some and Ben & Jerry’s from the freezer!

L x

So I recently read a ’25 facts about me’ blog post and thought that I would be give it a go. Even if it is slightly self indulgent!

1. I love food. No, really love food. I love trying new foods, enjoying past favourites and generally stuffing my face. If I am going out for the day, one of my first thoughts is always ‘What will I eat for lunch/dinner/snacks?’ or ‘Where can I get a nice meal near…’

2. I love animals. I find them absolutely fascinating and generally wonderful. I saw a cat pressing the doorbell to be let in the other day. It was brilliant!

3. I’m really close to my Grandad. I spent a lot of time with him when I was younger. We even lived with him until I was almost five. He’s amazing.

4. I’m a complete germaphobe. It’s become much more apparent over the last five years or so, but I’ve never liked being dirty. When I was little, the nursery used to complain to my Mum that I demanded to be changed if I got anything on my clothes (diva!). It’s much more complex nowadays, I won’t touch handrails on the tube or toilet door handles etc and I must anti bac my hands well over twenty times a day.

5. I love clothes. I’m not exactly what I would refer to as a fashionista or anything, but I love fun, fast fashion. I love seeing what’s new and pushes boundaries. I adore how you can express yourself freely by choosing what you wear and experimenting. Also, once I like it, I like it and I’m going to wear it. As everybody found out when I chose to wear a sari to my cousin’s traditional Christian wedding when I was six. No stopping me.

6. I’m a telly addict. Especially trash tv. Reality shows like Teen Mom and Big Brother are my guilty pleasures. I also adore much more credible shows like Game of Thrones, but slap some trash on and I’m in my element.

7. I have middle aged/old lady hobbies such as gardening and sewing. Haven’t quite crossed into knitting (yet!).

8. I’m at my worst when I am tired or hungry. If I’m both, probably best not to talk to me.

9. I have night terrors and frequently terrify Phil by sitting up in bed choking and screaming about a coin I’ve swallowed or a huge spider.

10. I love travelling. My most favourite thing ever is travelling to parts of the world I haven’t seen before (or have, but love, like Florida). I love researching into things to do/see/experience. I like to embrace different cultures and learn from them.

11. I always snuggle with a blanket. Even in summer. Always. I especially love snuggling on the couch watching telly.

12. I hate going to the supermarket to do a food shop. I find it terribly laborious. That’s why I always do our food shopping online, much easier!

13. I love going to the theatre. We try and go quite regularly and I just enjoy everything – the atmosphere, the talent, the ice cream during the interval. Everything.

14. I’m not a girly girl when it comes to footwear. I go from Uggs in winter, to Toms in spring to sandals/flip flops in summer and repeat the footwear cycle.

15. I like vintage shopping. I love how you can find hidden gems that are unique. There are lots of lovely vintage shops in Brighton.

16. I hate rain. And general cold weather. I feel as though I was born to live in closer proximity to the equator than I currently do.

17. I love singing along to songs in the car. Yes, this makes me particularly annoying to travel with.

18. I’m not fond of the band Queen. This often makes people recoil in horror. Whilst I can appreciate their iconic talent, it’s getting a bit boring now.

19. I love, love, love, love, love, Bath & Bodyworks products. So much so, that I now refuse to use any other hand sanitizer/hand soap/candle/body wash.

20. I hate spilling things. I just find it terribly annoying as I probably spilt it because I was in a rush and wasn’t being careful. Then I’ve got more work to do!

21. I fall asleep watching tv all the time. I’m often woken by Phil startling me and sending me to bed.

22. The inside of my car is always messy. With a dog and lots of people in and out of it, it probably stays clean for two days after I’ve had it cleaned. Worth it.

23. I love cosy nights in and lazy mornings. I adore curling up on the sofa with ice cream, the dog and my love. Especially in the colder months.

24. I’m a fair weather outdoor lover. On a lovely day I think the best place to be is outside, soaking up vitamin D and nature. I love the fresh air, the feel of grass and the beauty of flowers. Love.

25. I’m a vlogger. A few weeks ago I started vlogging as a way to document life. Things that will be forgotten in a few days remain remembered and shared. I was inspired by my friend Nichola, although her vlogging is in a completely different style to mine. I like viewers to experience life as I see it and feel as though they can relate. I can’t imagine not vlogging now!

So there you have it. A self indulgent blog post featuring twenty five facts about me. HA.

I kicked off this week by meeting my friend Debbie for a quick drink (it had to be quick as I had double booked myself with Ocado – oops!) and delivering a HUGE pumpkin. Debbie’s uncle grows enormous vegetables on his allotment and enters them into competitions. The pumpkin had won a prize in a competition in Harrow and was being donated to a local school for their harvest festival. I think that the pumpkin weighed around 50kg, but luckily two caretakers did all of the lifting for us as I am pretty weedy when it comes to upper body strength! The school were very grateful to receive such a gift.

I also went and checked out Watsky at Scala in London on Wednesday. He is one of Phil’s favourite artists, but his songs are quite fun. He also writes a lot of poetry which is quite moving. Having not seen Watsky live before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of energy he gave. There is no doubt about it, the guy is talented. The crowd were electric and I noticed that his fans generally don’t think that he is ‘alright’, they think he is amazing. I felt like I was amongst a cult. All in all, it was a fun evening.

We are making progress on the wedding planning front too… I went wedding dress shopping with my Mum!

We went to a shop in Northolt called Bridal Affairs. They were absolutely fabulous. The staff were friendly and really helpful. There was no pressure either, which was great as it is such a big decision to make. I had actually been taking it quite lightly, but people pointed out that everyone will be looking at the dress and it will be in all of my photographs and memories of our big day. Now I am definitely making sure that it is ‘the one’. Unfortunately, neither of the dresses that I tried on were perfect for me, but it has helped me realise what will be perfect even more.

For a start, I do not want a huge dress. The dresses were so difficult to walk in and I was constantly paranoid about treading on it, thus resulting in either falling flat on my face, or ripping the dress, revealing my nudeness to the world. They were really heavy too and I felt that I resembled a bride from ‘Big Fat Gypsy Weddings’. No thank you to wedding night back ache and sore hips. So basically, I have realised that I am really fussy and practical. The search continues…

We also had our first proper rehearsal for the first dance last night with Alex and Nick. It went really well and I think that we have made great progress. Looking forward to bringing Kim and Simon in next time!

Today we found Phil’s wedding ring and so we snapped it up. I am so pleased to have that one checked off of the list. Slowly, but surely, everything is starting to come together.

I spent some time with Grandad this week, looking through old photographs. We both enjoy reminiscing, so expect more of these throwback photographs in future blogs!

I love these two photographs. Such a nice one of Mum and I. The one with Grandad is completely typical of how he was when I was younger, always playing with me and having adventures. I am so lucky to have him in my life.

In other news, I woke up on Tuesday with a sore ankle. I am not sure what happened exactly, but I think I have strained the medial part. I’ve got it all strapped up and am trying not to over exert myself. Hopefully it will be normal again in a couple of days!

I’m now going to stuff myself with Ben & Jerry’s whilst watching trash tv. Enjoy your weekend!

L x

Okay, so another week has passed and it has been quite a busy one.

I went for a lovely lunch at Ask Italian in Northwood with my Mum last week. I’m not sure why we never go there as it is mighty delicious! Mum had a divine pork dish whilst I opted for a risotto. Both were scrumptious (I made sure Mum shared some of her pork after eyeing it up on her plate!) and we had a chocolate sharing platter for dessert. My only criticism being that I could have happily eaten the entire sharing platter myself, but in all honesty it’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth.

We also popped over to Cook. They sell the most delicious ready meals that taste home cooked. It has become my ‘go to’ place if I’m in a hurry or feel lazy about cooking. I particularly enjoy their Chicken Korma – yummy!

Whilst we were in there, a lady recognised Mum as a childhood playmate. They haven’t seen each other for over twenty years. It was so nice to see the excitement in their eyes after rediscovering each other.

That’s the thing these days, we are so lucky to have social media, email and mobile phones to stay in touch with each other. I think it’s so easy to forget that it required a lot more effort a few years ago!

Phil and I have also been going to the gym. It feels really good to squeeze in a work out in the evening. Even if it is only for half an hour or an hour. Whilst I was on the treadmill, I noticed an error in the spelling of ‘elapsed’. It’s going to irritate me every time I go there now!

Last Thursday saw the opening of Topshop in Watford. I received an email saying that it will be opening at 10am and as a person who quite enjoys shopping, I decided to pop along with my friend Adele. We were quite early so decided to have a look around first before bracing ourselves for the shiny new Topshop. When we returned just before 10am, there was a crowd of around fifty people and a lady outside telling everybody that they weren’t ready. It was pretty disappointing and reflected badly on the brand in my opinion. Adele and I still had a nice time though and I snapped up a dress to wear to baby Archie’s christening next month.

We also went and had lunch at Ed’s Easy Diner. I love it there as I am all over American Diners. I also adore the music that they play and if you are lucky enough to be sat at a table with a jukebox, you can even choose your own track!

The other good thing about our trip to Ed’s was that I had a 50% off voucher emailed to me, so we ate for half the price. Bargain!

On Saturday we took a trip into Maida Vale to meet my friend Alex for lunch. It was lovely to see her and check out her swanky West London pad. We went to a place called Raouls and I had a duck dish that was wonderful.

Yesterday was the last day of summer I believe and what better way to end the season of warmth than a trip to Thorpe Park. I hadn’t been since I was a small girl with a fear of rides. The last time I went, I only went on the tea cups, so I was a bit apprehensive about the thrill factor of the rides. I needn’t have worried though as there really is something for everyone. I also think that I am a bit braver now. Especially as I even went on Logger’s Leap. Although, I did pull a face like this:

I honestly think that this is the single most grotesque photograph of myself ever taken. And now it resides in my living room.

We went with our friends (who are much braver than I am!) Sarah, Matt, Nick and Alex. It was nice to hang out with couples. I have been with Phil for almost ten years and it is only recently that the majority of our friends have coupled up. It’s great because now we can all have fun together.

Here are a few snaps from our day!

I have also been Vlogging and you can find my Vlog on Thorpe Park here:

We were thrilled last week when finally (after months of nurturing), we saw our first flower on one of our Black-Eyed Susan plants!

I also visited my Grandad last week which was so nice. Whilst I was there, I found this gem from sports day in the mid nineties:

I don’t think I have changed very much, although thankfully I have ditched the cycle shorts.

Until next time…

L x

So I’ll just say it… I’m a TV junkie and I cannot resist watching Big Brother.

I know it’s trash. I know I really shouldn’t watch it, but I just can’t help myself.

Naturally, my urge to watch Big Brother extends to Celebrity Big Brother too, and in case you hadn’t heard, it was the CBB final on Friday night.

Gary Busey was crowned the winner of this summer’s CBB. Not going to lie, I’ve been a bit disappointed with the line up and wasn’t particularly bothered who actually won (despite being an avid B*Witched fan when I was thirteen). It wasn’t that I disliked the people this season, just didn’t feel like I was bothered by any of them.

Another show that I have been enjoying consuming recently is the return of Wentworth Prison. I really think that this drama is fabulous, although dark at times. Really enjoying season 2. Check it out if you haven’t already but be warned it’s not light hearted.

So, you’ve probably realised by now that I am a bit of a foodie and this week has been no exception on the face stuffing front.

I met up with two friends who I used to work with for lunch during the week and we went to the Harvester. It was so wonderful to see them both, especially as I hadn’t seen one of them for around eighteen months! It’s strange how life just gets in the way sometimes and before you know it a year has passed. Really glad that we managed to squeeze in a catch up.

I also met with my friend Adele on Friday. We went shopping and chatted about wedding things and life generally. We decided to hit up Wagamama in Watford. I really like Wagamama because you know exactly what you are going to get and it’s very reasonably priced too. Unfortunately, the service was a bit slow when we went and we waited ages for our drinks and had to chase it up which was a bit disappointing. We also waited fifteen minutes for the bill before going over to the till and paying.

It’s always a bit funny when you go to Wagamama’s because you can never tell who you are going to be sat next to and ultimately you are often in amongst strangers. Phil and I had a similar experience when we were in Florida and we went to a Japanese Steak House in Cocoa Beach. It was one of those restaurants where they cook the food at your table and the chef generally does a few tricks. Anyway, we were sat amongst a family of about ten who were out celebrating a birthday. I felt really sorry for them having us two English intruders sat with them during their special meal.

Whilst we are on the subject of food, there is a company called Cook who make really delicious prepared meals. We are fortunate to have one of their shops in Northwood and when I am feeling lazy or have little time to cook, I really enjoy a Chicken Korma from Cook. Check them out!

Continuing the food theme, Phil and I tried out Five Guys in Uxbridge yesterday. Not going to lie, I was a little disappointed. Sure, the food was nice, but I just feel like the Five Guys experience is lacking some va va voom!

So from food to fashion, and the Altuzarra for Target collection launched today. There are a few lovely pieces. I particularly like the Orchid print sweatshirt, Embroidered jersey sweater and the Orchid maxi dress. The only thing I find really frustrating about the ‘For Target’ collections is that in the states, an item may be $70, but other here it’s £70… not a fair conversion, just like Apple products…

In other news, I have started vlogging. Not for any reason in particular aside from I thought that it might be fun. You can check it out here: http://youtu.be/bEKhnHJ2Avw

I’ve made a bit of progress with wedding planning and purchased a few cute bits from Hobbycraft on Friday, including a wedding magazine!

Looking forward to having a nosey and gaining some inspiration.

We also took Holly to the vets yesterday to have her nails clipped and a lump on her neck checked. They are really good in Medivet Pinner and they treat Holly really well. Holly was quite good having her nails done this time. She is always so terribly wriggly, but this time was a little more settled and they managed to clip her nails with only Phil holding her. They also had a grope and are quite sure that Holly just has a fatty lump which is common in dogs, so brilliant news!

Phil and I had our hair cut yesterday. I hadn’t had my hair cut for almost a year because I am growing it, but realised I was looking decidedly more and more unkempt. It feels so lush now though. I love that feeling of a fresh hair cut where it all just feels nice. The hairdresser used one of the GHD hairdryers which I have decided are amazing and I think I will invest in one once my trusty Lee Stafford hairdryer gives up.

Finally, we decided to have a BBQ last night as the weather has been so mild recently. It was really nice to see Alex and Nick and spend the evening outside. I really love the warmer months when it is comfortable to be outside in the open. I doubt that we will have many evenings like that now that October is fast approaching.

I will leave you with a picture of Holly being adorable this morning.

L x