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The day I fell in love with Paleokastritsa…

On By louiseIn Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It was a little after eight A M when we set off on our adventure to explore the island of Corfu. It was already well into the late twenties, and I knew that it would be a scorcher of a day, miles away from our non-existent summer in grey London. 

I’ve always had a warm place in my heart for the Greek islands, blessed with the purest beauty and with welcoming locals they are such a lovely setting for a summer holiday in the Mediterranean and although I had my reservations about Corfu being spoilt by copious amounts of tourists, lads holidays and girls get togethers, I know that there is beauty in every place. You just sometimes have to look for it.

When I had been planning our Greek escape, a word that had been thrown around casually was Paleokastritsa. It was mentioned so casually that it didn’t ignite any particular curiosity in me and I didn’t research what exactly it was. Either way it was on our agenda for a visit and I was so very surprised by our discovery. In many ways I am glad that I didn’t research Paleokastritsa as I got to experience that raw, organic emotion that can only be felt when faced with something so breathtakingly unexpectedly beautiful and whilst photographs really don’t do the place justice, the incredible surprise from my own naivety was simply wonderful. 

As we climbed down the mountain, twisting and turning along the narrowest of roads, passing gorgeous bays basked in brilliant sunshine with a sea so turquoise that you questioned if you had even really seen the colour turqouise before, we were met with a crystal clear sea, a beautiful beach and the perfect place to explore.

Sure it was busy, but there was still plenty of space for us and I couldn’t believe that this was my life and this place was real. This incredible experience of visiting such a magnificent place and being able to just simply enjoy it was divine. I was instantly in love.

It was around lunch time when we arrived and we were both starving. We had been recommended a beach front restaurant called Vrachos and decided to stroll right on over for some delicious Greek food surrounded by stunning scenery. We had a massive meat feast and some courgette cakes that were truly scrumptious and I would highly recommend Vrachos as a place to eat if you are in the area.

Soon after it was time to explore and we went for a paddle in the sea. I was sad that we hadn’t brought swimwear with us, but was determined not to miss out on the pure waters, so waded in as deep as my short shorts would allow. Luckily this was enough for us to explore a cave and climb some rocks.

I loved looking at all of the fish dancing around my feet and watching crabs scurry past. I can’t express how clear the water is, it’s like a sheet of the clearest ice and simply incredible (Did I mention I was in love?!). 

There are two bays in Paleokastritsa that are perfect for swimming, going on a boat ride or simply sunning yourself as well as cute restaurants and shops. It’s got such a quaint, organic feel to it. I felt super relaxed there and loved the laid back atmosphere. It doesn’t need anything fancy, it simply speaks for itself, demanding you to embrace the harshness of the jagged coastline and become mesmerised by the lush waters. Forcing you to enjoy this special place on our magical planet.

Soon it was time for us to head on back to our hotel, but I knew that this first time wouldn’t be the last time I would step here.

So two days later we hired a perhaps slightly dodgy quad bike, filled a backpack with everything you need for a swim at the beach and drove for almost an hour, weaving up and down mountains, having close calls with coaches that are probably a little oversized for this island and having a massive petrol panic after almost running out and there not being a station in sight, before we were once again united with the ultimate gem on the Emerald Isle of Corfu.

I was so thrilled to be able to swim in the beautiful waters and be back at such an awesome place. I loved cooling off and living in a summer holiday dream. I’m so glad that we managed to go back.

In case you couldn’t tell, I would highly recommend visiting this magnificent spot that stole a piece of my heart the moment I set eyes on it. It takes a lot for me to really love a place, I lust after many places around the globe, but love is hard to come by and I’m so glad we visited Paleokastritsa.

Also, shout out to my husband for his patience and taking lots of photos for this little space on the Internet. Here’s a shot of him wading through the water before stepping on a sea urchin so I could have cave and rock photos – it’s not all glamour!

Have you visited Paleokastritsa? Has anywhere stolen your heart?

L x

17 Things to do in Corfu…

On By louiseIn Travel, Uncategorized3 Comments

Summer holiday season is in full swing and it appears that all of my social media feeds consist of people scantily clad and enjoying their holidays. Europe is an amazing place to explore in the summer, with perfect weather spread across the Mediterranean and culture to absorb. The Greek islands hold such a special place in my heart for summer holiday adventures and their natural beauty is unrivalled. I’ve been blown away on each visit. This year we decided to hit up Corfu for the first time and see what this delightful island in the sunshine has to offer. Here are seventeen things to do whilst on holiday in Corfu…
1. Visit Aqualand 

A great way to cool off in the scorching sunshine that us Brits simply aren’t used to is to visit popular water park Aqualand. It’s a great day out for everyone young and old with slides and pools galore. Just make sure you are liberal with the old sunscreen and top up regularly because scorched salmon is not a good look on anyone.


2. Stroll along the Canal D’Amor

The Canal D’Amor is absolutely stunning with incredible cliff top views and gorgeous little caves to swim through. Located to the North of the island, you could easily spend the day taking in their beauty whilst having a swim.

3. Have a lazy day by the pool

Something I was looking forward to doing was taking some time out to just relax by the pool. To do nothing except catch up with a good book, ice cold drink in hand, reeling in the sun’s sumptuous rays. We are all so busy, swept up in modern day life that it’s easy to overlook ourselves and it’s important to switch off from time to time and just be. So grab a book and a sun lounger!

4. Hit up the bars

There are some lovely little bars dotted around all over Corfu. Many with stunning coastal views. Serving nice cold drinks and offering free wifi, it’s a great way to kick start your holiday in the sun.

5. Have an evening walk through the villages

The Greek architecture is so, so cute with lovely painted Mediterranean houses and vibrant flowers outside. It’s great to explore on foot and embrace the lifestyle.
6. Visit Mouse Island and Corfu airport

Mouse island lays in shadow of flights taking off and landing at Corfu airport. It’s such a sweet little island, offering amazing views and general cuteness. You can take a little boat ride across or see it from above, complete with views of the planes taking off and landing. 

7. Stop for an ice cream

There are some lovely places to stop for an ice cream all over Corfu. From authentic Gelataria’s to home made ice cream, there’s a flavour for everyone! 

8. Visit Achillion Palace

Home to Empress Elisabeth, also known as Sisi, Achillion Palace is a must visit if you are after a bit of culture. It’s opulence rivals stately homes owned by the National Trust and the gardens are nothing short of beautiful.

9. Spend the day in Paleokastritsa 

My absolute favourite discovery whilst in Corfu was Paleokastritsa. Perhaps it’s the beauty, maybe it’s the vibes, either way it stole my heart from the moment I arrived. I fell so in love with the place that I insisted that we went back for a second visit. There is so much to do and it’s beauty is literally breath taking.

10. Have a slap up Greek meal

I absolutely adore stuffing my face with Greek food and when I was presented with this platter of an amazingly marinated meat feast with a side of courgette cakes, I knew that I had arrived at the Golden Gates of food heaven.

11. Explore the jagged rocks and coastline

I loved exploring the coast and wading through the sea to climb large rocks. There’s something about being surrounded by such a vast display of natural beauty that puts everything into perspective and I loved it.


12. Visit the Monastery

There’s a lovely Monastery near picture perfect Paleokastritsa and it is definitely worth a visit. Just remember to cover up and be respectful.

13. Go to Bella Vista

If postcard views is what you are after then Bella Vista is your place. The views will blow your mind and there’s a traditional village to explore too as well as lots of restaurants, all with that awesome view.

14. Hire a quad bike and go on a beach crawl

One of my absolute highlights of our trip was cruising along on a quad bike, up and down mountains, stopping at dreamy beaches and generally just getting under the skin of this emerald island.

15. Go on a boat ride

There are so many cruises on offer in Corfu from visits to other islands, caves and general stop and swimsin pretty locations. It’s such a lovely thing to do and a great way to cool off!

16. Visit Albania

Something that we didn’t actually do but toyed with the idea of was taking a ferry across to Albania. It’s so, so close to Corfu and gets another country ticked off of your list. So why not hop on a ferry and get exploring!

17. Spend a day shopping and exploring the town


There are some wonderful shops all selling locally produced products from ceramics, paintings, olive oil and wooden things such as pots and photo frames. We loved exploring the different shops and wandering around the town.
So there you have it, some ideas of things to do in Corfu.
Have you visited Corfu? What did you do?

L x

Tenerife Travel…

On By louiseIn Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

A couple of years ago my then fiancé/now hubby and I took a little Spring trip to Tenerife. I was really excited to go because I had heard such lovely things about the Canary Islands and plus Tenerife was where all of the cool kids at school went on holiday when I was probably exploring Somerset. It always seemed like such an exotic location and the epitome of fun, so let’s just say my hopes were set quite high for our trip.

We booked a hotel to the North of the island and right on the beach. The weather was a complete dream for the duration of our trip – sunshine and in the high twenties. It gave us that little bit of sunshine and warmth that is so desperately craved after a British winter.

On one of the days we walked to a lido that was not only absolutely gorgeous, but also not too busy. It wasn’t expensive either and had lovely saltwater pools. Honestly looking at these pictures makes me want to take another trip, that lido was super lush.

Where we stayed was relatively quiet because the main hub of action tends to be in Los Christianos. We weren’t too fussed about not being where it all goes down because in all honesty it was a holiday for us to just enjoy each other’s company and have a relatively simple trip.

Having said that it is impossible for us to have a lazy stay by the hotel and pool holiday because I’m just programmed to explore, so every day we went for mammoth walks along cliff tops and charcoal coloured beaches, embracing the volcanic charm of the island. The Spanish atmosphere consuming us as we grazed on tapas and attempted to practice our very limited Spanish vocabulary.

The coastline was dramatic and endearing, forgiving and natural. A complete contrast to London life and nine to fives.

I’m always happiest when I’m at the beach, any beach. There’s just something about the crashing of the sea meeting the land that soothes my soul and reminds me of just how my life really is just a drop in the ocean. The purity of the beach informing us that our world is huge and full of natural beauty.

On our walks we stumbled across marinas, cute little shops and lots of geckos receiving the warmth from the sunshine. I loved looking at their different patterns and colours. I’m always so intrigued by wildlife and adore looking out for local creatures whilst on our travels.

On one of the days we visited Loro Parque which is basically a zoo. Of course my upmost preference is to see animals wild and free, but I like to see what conservation work is being done in zoos around the globe and often they might have a species that I haven’t encountered before. At Loro Parque they have Orcas. Admittedly in the past I have been excited to see Orcas that are in captivity. When I was a child we visited SeaWorld and I absolutely loved the Shamu Stadium. It’s only when you reach adulthood that you fully understand just how intellectual these creatures are and how they really are meant to be wild and free, living their lives as we live ours. The only restraints being imposed by their own cultures and beliefs. Not controlled and demanded to perform by humans. I am so, so glad that people are finally seeing where these magnificent creatures belong and hopefully this will now spell the end for Orca captivity.

Overall we had such a lovely time exploring Tenerife. I loved the beaches, the sunshine and the atmosphere. I’m intrigued to see how the other Canary Islands compare because I am still yet to visit the others.

I think Tenerife is quite affordable to travel to from the UK and pretty much has something for everyone. There are party hotspots, quiet parts, gorgeous beaches, water sports and family activities all on offer.

It’s also generally quite pretty too!

Have you visited Tenerife or any of the Canary Islands? 
L x

My favourite places to shop online…

On By louiseIn Fashion, Lifestyle, UncategorizedLeave a comment

  
Okay, I’ll admit it. I am head over heels in love with online shopping. I may even go so far as to say that I am slightly addicted to it. I adore the convenience, the fact that it’s open all hours and there is such a vast array of choice. Everything is readily available at the touch of a button, gifts, electronics, clothing. It’s all there in Internet glory, gasping to be bought. I think it’s amazing that I can have an idea about something, track it down and have it on its’ way within a few minutes. Oh what a time to be alive! No car park/finding the item in your size malarkey, it’s all there right at your fingertips. Another huge bonus is that you can see if they have your size as opposed to rummaging through rails before chasing down a shop assistant.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love an actual trip to the shops and sometimes you really just have to see the item in the flesh before committing to it. Not to mention it is sometimes nice to have a wander too. We particularly like doing this in the cold, grey months as shopping centres provide a haven from winter.

I now present to you my favourite online shops!

1. Oliver Bonas

They also have actual shops, but I adore perusing their online catalog. They have gorgeous items of home wear and also lovely clothing too.

2. Kate Spade

I’ve been a fan of Kate Spade for a couple of years now. I love the playful and fun style and am yet to find another designer who ticks the same boxes for me as Kate Spade does. I adore everything from the homewear to the handbags and drag my poor hubby into every single Kate Spade shop we pass by. 

3. Hush

I love the classic style of this company. Most of their products are simple, yet absolutely gorgeous. Think monochrome strappy tops and effortless dresses. I love the quality and the versatility of their items although they can be a bit on the pricey side.

4. Amazon

Let’s be honest here, who doesn’t love themselves a bit of Amazon?! You can find pretty much everything on here from cookware to gadgets as well as a vast array of books – hurrah!

4. Topshop

I love this place. Like literally love it. I like the affordability, the statement pieces and how you can have fun and push boundaries with their fashion. 

5. Asos

The best thing about Asos is the amount of choice. So many brands, so many items. I think it is literally impossible not to find anything to fall in love with on this site. Impossible. 

6. Jack Wills

I’m a bit of a Jack Wills junkie. Again it’s the quality and staple pieces that draw me in. I love the different prints they have for dresses and their preppy, feminine style. 

7. Cath Kidston

Great for cute homewear pieces and little gifts for friends, Cath Kidston has been a favourite of mine for years. Where else can you get such wonderful prints?!

So there you have it, some of my favourite places to splash the cash.

I’m off to check out the summer sales!

Where are your favourite places to shop?

L x

What I wore in Munich…

On By louiseIn Fashion, Travel, Uncategorized2 Comments

It’s been a while since the south of England has been blessed with sunshine and warmth. If we’re honest it’s barely tippled over twenty degrees and we are in the height of summer. For summer lovers such as myself this has been a huge disappointment. I spent the grey months of winter dreaming of summer days in flip flops and sundresses and have been most unimpressed with 2016’s offerings. Without meaning to moan (and sound ridiculously superficial) I’ve been so upset that I haven’t been able to don on my careless summer outfits that match my carefree summer attitude. I have also purchased a few nice items that I just haven’t been able to wear without risk of hyperthermia. That’s why I was extra excited when I saw that the weather forecast for our long weekend in Munich was sumptuous sunshine and buckets of warmth. Finally a chance to parade around in my new purchases and feel the sunshine kissing my skin. Hurrah! I realise just how melodramatic this all sounds but honestly I feel so upset when I’m faced with grey skies day after day. I’m just the kinda girl who needs a little sunshine in her life!

I love to explore a new place by foot because I find that you can really get a feel for it and absorb the little details. The architecture, the atmosphere, the ambience. I find that if I’m in a taxi or train the moment just whizzes by and I miss out on the beautiful ordinary things that are being offered. With all of this in mind I knew that I needed to pack clothes that would keep me cool and be super comfy.

On the first day of our German adventure I wore a black Playsuit from Urban Outfitters. I am such a fan of playsuits because they can be dressed up or down, look gorgeous, come in a variety of styles and are so comfortable. What more could you ask for from summer attire? 

This Playsuit in particular is absolutely beautiful with its swishy skirt and amazing backless look. The fabric is really soft and light too. I think I fell in love the second I saw it. I teamed it with a black pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers and black sandals I picked up last year in Tesco although these were quickly ditched when we went for a paddle in the river. 

On the first day we mostly just explored the city on foot, embracing bicycle loving Munich and activating Holiday Mode. It’s funny how you don’t realise just how much you need a break until you escape from everyday life and I very much enjoyed not following a routine. We danced along the river, stopping for a paddle amongst sun worshippers before sinking off for a delicious burrito at a cute restaurant nearby. I loved walking the streets, letting the cream and terracotta buildings soothe my soul before stopping for an ice cream and hotel snacks. German supermarkets are amazing for stocking up on tasty chocolate (hi there, Merci!). The evening was devilishly beautiful, lit by the sun setting, the warm air preventing us from wearing a jacket and eventually we retired to our hotel room. 

I was torn between a trip to the zoo or Neuschwanstein Castle on our second day, but opted for the zoo because whilst I adore the warm weather, travelling for four hours in thirty-six degree heat isn’t my idea of a fun Saturday. I was disappointed not to see the magnificent castle that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, but I left part of my heart in Munich, so I know we will go again some day.

Being such big fans of walking, we decided to walk to Hellabrun Zoo, a mere hour away from our hotel room. The weather was dreamy once again and I had the chance to wear this wondrous floral number from Urban Outfitters. This dress is really unique, I’ve seen a lot of dresses in my years on this planet, but I am yet to find a dress that even comes close to this beauty. The devil really is in the detail with its backless approach, sweet cut, button detailing and layered skirt it is literally like heaven sent down a little package of dress perfection and that’s before I’ve even touched on the summery floral print (a girl’s dream!).

Needless to say from the moment I slipped this dress on my body I knew that it was a dress I would love for the whole summer. A dress that I don’t even care if I’m seen wearing millions of times because it really is just that brilliant. Oh and another thing… You don’t even need to iron it after washing (I did mention it was a girl’s dream, right?!).

The dress and I stumbled upon the cutest little market I have ever seen. Bursting with local produce and a flower stall that could have held my attention for days, I wondered how easy it would be to just stay in that city forever although with an amazing dog and a mortgage back home, I quickly realised living in Munich is a pipe dream. That and my German sucks. So we continued on with our plan of visiting the zoo.
Soon enough it was time for a spot of lunch and we visited an Italian restaurant that was really authentic. The food tasted how I imagine winning the lottery feels. It was absolutely divine.

Once we were stuffed with gorgeous food, we continued our walk and had a wonderful trip to the zoo.


Sadly it doesn’t seem like summer will appear over London anytime soon, so I think I will have to wait until our next adventure to wear these outfits again, but at least we had Munich.

Have you visited Munich before? What are your favourite summer fashion picks?

L x

The Second Love of my Life by Victoria Walters…

On By louiseIn Books, Lifestyle, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The Second Love of my Life is the debut novel from the lovely Victoria Walters. 

It follows the story of artist Rose who is trying to rebuild her life in fictional seaside town Talting after losing her husband at a young age in a terrible accident. Rose is such a likeable character who has been through so much, but still has such a big heart. It was interesting to start in the middle of a really glum time for Rose. Often stories start with upmost equilibrium followed by tragedy. I quite liked that we arrived in the middle of such a major part of Rose’s life.

 Like all good stories, the journey is bumpy and like all good chick lit novels, slightly predictable. I really enjoyed Victoria’s writing style as it was so easy to enjoy no matter what sort of day you’ve had. It’s the type of story that you can take on your commute or on holiday. 

Of course, given the nature of the storyline there is the occasional sad part, but on the whole this book is uplifting and full of hope. Sometimes you just need a bit of simple chick lit in your life and The Second Love of my Life ticks all of the boxes. Rumour has it it’s only 99p at the moment for the kindle edition too. Bargain!

Best bits:

  • The development of the story between Rob and Rose
  • The light tone of the story
  • The creation of Talting

Worst bits:

  • Predictable in places
  • It felt a little drawn out around the middle of the story and full on towards the end 

Read it if:

You love a good chick lit story that is heartwarming and a little bit different.

Have you read The Second Love of my Life?

What books are on your list to read this summer?

L x

Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, exploring the Disneyworld Waterparks…

On By louiseIn Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My first taster of a Disney water park came when I was a child and had been whisked away during the holidays to ‘do Disney’. I was so excited because visiting Disneyworld is a dream come true at any age, but especially as a child when Belle is your heroine and Scar is your mortal enemy. From the moment I was told we were going I could not wait. Although, I’m certain that I wasn’t entirely sure what ‘Disneyworld’ was exactly. Was it a castle? Was it where all of the characters from my childhood existed? Was it the flying Dumbos and a parade? I wasn’t quite sure, but one thing I was sure of was that I needed to experience it. 

Once we had arrived and visited a couple of the parks, it was quite clear that it really was a world of Disney. So much to explore, so many famous faces to meet and two incredible water parks. I absolutely adored all of the parks, but the water parks were firmly cemented in my memory. Right up there with the castle and the giant Epcot golf ball was the shipwreck of Typhoon Lagoon saved in my memory of childhood highlights for eternity. I think it’s because we don’t have anything like it here in London that made me love the water parks so much. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t prefer them over Magic Kingdom, but I loved my days there all the same. That’s why I wanted to make sure we visited both Disney water parks when we visited Disneyworld last April. That and I wanted to get my money’s worth after paying almost £1000 in tickets alone!

The first of the water parks we snuck in a few days into our trip. For some unknown reason we opted to hit up Blizzard Beach first and I couldn’t wait to park myself in a doughnut and roll around the lazy river whilst devouring that gorgeous Floridian sunshine, so as soon as we arrived we whipped off our clothes and got straight in (well, we actually waited for our pals to arrive and messed around in the wave pool for a bit first, but you get the picture). I had forgotten just how much fun water parks are and we had an absolute blast racing down water slides and floating around in various inflatable objects. I think in every adult there is a little bit of fun and Disney sure know how to encourage you to unleash it.

The second water park that we visited was Typhoon Lagoon, the one that made it into my childhood memory favourites list. I’ve got to admit I was a bit worried about a couple of things. Firstly that my memory had let me down and it would actually be a bit pants and secondly that because we had such a blast at Blizzard Beach, our expectations were high and we ran the risk of being disappointed. Let me assure you that was not the case and we had an even better time at Typhoon Lagoon! Who knew?!

There are so many good things about Typhoon Lagoon, from its epic wave pool with the sound of the water crashing echoing across the park like a roar from an angry T-Rex, down to the water Rollercoaster where you choose between the route of ‘Coconut Crusher’ or ‘Pineapple Plunger’ (the banana one was closed). They also have a huge drop slide (which apparently includes some sort of colonic irrigation which nobody tells you about, but gave our husbands quite a treat when they took on the slide) and a snorkelling pool where you can swim amongst a variety of fish. Typhoon Lagoon has it all. 

Both parks are great for a bit of fun and relaxation in the sunshine. We loved them so much and will definitely hit them up the next time we are in Florida.

Have you visited the Disney Water parks?

L x

Disney’s Animal Kingdom…

On By louiseIn Travel, Uncategorized3 Comments

I was super excited to be hitting up Animal Kingdom during our trip to Florida. The most recent addition to the phenomenal Disneyworld parks, Animal Kingdom combines Disney, rides and er, animals.

Being such a fan of both Disney and animals, I couldn’t wait to see how the two would be combined to make a theme park. Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed and had such a magical day at Animal Kingdom.

When we arrived at the park we were greeted with your usual Disney vibes and enveloped in a sumptuous haven that felt as if we had been transported to far away lands. It is such a tranquil park and we loved all of the greenery around.

We had a walk, watching gorgeous creatures in their immaculate enclosures. I much prefer seeing animals wild and free, but I know that Disney do a lot of conservation work and actually have quite a few rescue animals that wouldn’t otherwise have survived in their natural habitat.

It was such a beautiful day in the Floridian sunshine. If I could bottle up weather and keep it with me for eternity, I would choose the sunshine that blankets Florida. It is totally gorgeous.

It wouldn’t be a trip to a Disney park without sampling some of the main attractions. A huge attraction both figuratively and literally to Animal Kingdom is the coaster Everest. Now I have been known to be quite a wimp when it comes to fast rides. Hey, I’ve even ditched people right after we’ve been strapped in. I think these days I’ve desensitised myself a little and I’m getting much braver. So I decided that I would conquer my coaster fear and hit up Everest. Don’t get me wrong it’s not a completely terrifying ride, but it’s a bit fast and goes backwards in the dark, which is something I haven’t exactly been welcoming to in the past. We met up with some of our friends in Florida and decided to co-ordinate our fast passes so that we could ride Everest together. I was a bit apprehensive during the climb at the start, but I absolutely loved it and I think that it is now up there with my favourite rides of all time (number one being the Cars ride at Disneyland California – it’s off the hook!). I love this photo of the six of us on Everest. I find it especially entertaining that I’m reaching out to my poor friend Kate for support!

I actually went on all of the rides at the Animal Kingdom and had such a fun day. Although I wasn’t too thrilled with this Dinosaur ride – my face is completely mortified!


To be fair, the kid at the front wasn’t feeling it either!

I would definitely recommend the rapids too. It’s similar to the Rapids at Disney in California, but only has one drop and isn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing.


We all throughly enjoyed walking around the park, admiring the various creatures that call Animal Kingdom home and trying to dry off after being drenched on the rapid ride.

Another highlight was the safari. It was amazing and really well done. The attention to detail is fabulous and we really did feel like we were on an African adventure.

Overall, we had a great day at Animal Kingdom. I think it’s definitely worth a visit. Make sure you take advantage of the fast pass system and factor in time to just enjoy the park. It’s super relaxing and absolutely gorge!

Have you visited Animal Kingdom?

L x

Me Before You…

On By louiseIn Books, Lifestyle, Uncategorized3 Comments


Aah… Jojo Moyes. What a complete legend. Her writing style is brilliant, telling a story so well that you aren’t even aware it’s a story. Her writing flows and is something you can read anywhere from the train home to the poolside in an exotic location. 

I read Me Before You at a time when I hadn’t read anything that had excited me for a while. I wanted something to wrap me up in a story so gripping that I couldn’t put it down and thankfully, this is just what it did. I love how I was unsure of the ending right up until the end, how believable the story is, how wonderful the characters are (even Will Traynor), and just how beautifully written it is. That is why it remains one of my favourite books of all time. I love that it’s gritty and not your average chick lit. I love that it’s absolutely hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time. I love how it tackles a massive issue that is a bit of a taboo. Anyway, in case you haven’t guessed, I’m a huge fan. That is why I was super excited when I heard that Me Before You was being turned into a movie. It’s always a bit of a gamble when a book that you love is turned into a motion picture, but I was excited all the same. Even if I did have to wait a couple of years! 

A couple of months ago the trailer was released, and it was everything that I was hoping for. A great cast and beautifully shot. It made me even more excited for the movie, so I was super glad when it finally came out last week and I could drag my husband along on Saturday. I wasn’t sure if he would like it as he is such an action movie boy, but he rocked up with me anyway and I was pleasantly surprised when he said that he enjoyed it much more than he thought he would. Hurrah! 

Starring Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones fame, the screenplay was written by Jojo Moyes and I think that’s why it has retained so much accuracy and remained true to the book. The cast are fabulous and have really succeeded in embracing the characters. The funny parts were absolutely hilarious on screen, it was like the scenes had leapt out of the book with added detail. Patrick’s facial expressions were the best. The sad parts were terribly moving, literally all I could hear around me were tissues ruffling and noses snorting. Overall I was very impressed with how the movie has turned out, such accuracy and detail with a wonderful cast. I would highly recommend a watch, even if you haven’t already read the book.

Now I just need to read After You, to see how the story continues!


Have you read the book or seen the movie?

L x

Visiting Disneyworld’s Hollywood Studios…

On By louiseIn Travel, UncategorizedLeave a comment


I absolutely adore visiting the Disney Parks. They are always so beautifully presented, with attention to detail being key. When you visit a Disney Park, they envelope you and take you away from everyday life and into a place riddled with positivity and fun. I think it’s impossible to have a bad day at Disney, even if it’s raining. Once when we were in Paris, I only went on one ride the whole day and still had an awesome time. Speaking of Paris, I love their Walt Disney Studio Park, and was really intrigued to see how it compared to Disneyworld’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando. I hadn’t visited Disneyworld for a few years and my memory of the park was quite hazy, so I was super excited to head back as an adult and see if it exceeded my childhood memories. Sadly, it did not and I was actually quite disappointed by this park. Sure, there’s a cool Star Wars show and the Hollywood Tower of Terror, but there isn’t much beyond that and I did feel quite disappointed. Let’s not get too bogged down because it is still an incredible park that superceeds your average theme park – it is Disney after all. I just felt that in terms of what the other parks have to offer, it is a bit of a let down. I must point out though that it is currently undergoing a massive overhaul and I’m pretty sure that a piece of Star Wars heaven will be born there within the next couple of years. 


I felt that an afternoon spent there was certainly appropriate and there wasn’t really a need to visit over a couple of days. My husband adores the Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster, which resides at this park and it is also home to the iconic Star Tours which is also in the Paris park. Toy Story Mania is also based here and that ride is super fun and worth a go. There is also a ride called ‘The Great Movie Ride’, which is honestly one of the most bizarre rides that I have ever been on. It’s super odd and I think I spent a lot of the time with my nose scrunched up and generally a bit confused. 

I think I was so disappointed by this park because the one in Paris is tonnes better, with more rides and thrilling shows. I was expecting it to be so much greater as it is Disneyworld, which is supposed to be the Creme de la Creme of Disney and well, it just didn’t excite me much.

I think that you should definitely go and it’s going to be amazing once all of the construction work is done, but don’t plan on spending too much time there as I’m pretty sure you’ll run out of things to do once you’ve done the big rides.

Have you visited Hollywood Studios? Did it live up to your expectations?
L x