June 2020 – Lifestyle Notes

My top 5 travel destinations…so far

Written by Laura Davieson June 27, 2020

If there’s one thing that Lockdown has made me realise, it’s how much I love to travel and visit new places. Not just getting on an aeroplane, but driving to lovely places in the UK too. My husband is from Pembrokeshire in Wales so we’re no strangers to a 9 hour car ride.

When I finished uni I took a year out and went travelling for 6 months of it where I was lucky enough to visit Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, America and Mexico and I loved experiencing the different cultures of each place as well as learning the history.

Since then I have been lucky enough to travel for friends weddings in the States or to visit friends in Amsterdam and family in Barcelona. Obviously there are so many more places to tick off the bucket list throughout my life – I’d love to go on safari in South Africa and see the cherry blossom in Japan, maybe when the kids are a little older and we don’t have to lug a pram with us!

I’m so inspired by Courtney Adamo’s family year travelling (here’s their travel blog, Something Slower) and it’s something I dream about doing with my family one day. Taking a year to travel and see the world at a slower pace than you would if you have to cram everything into your work holiday allowance.

Anyway, after all these travels so far there are some destinations that will always stick in my mind and stand out for me as stunning locations with amazing memories and I can’t help but smile when my mind wanders there. So below are my top 5, I think i’ll do a round up of the top 5 I wish to visit soon too, so keep a lookout for that!

In no particular order…

Thailand: Bangkok was the first stop on my post uni travelling adventure and arriving on the Khao San Road was a culture shock to say the least…but it was amazing! The atmosphere, the street food, the temples, the water markets. It was incredible to see the city, then travel up to Chang Mai to visit the countryside and then down to the breathtakingly stunning islands. Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta were favourites. I loved it so much I returned with a friend the summer after I got my first job.

Binibeca in Menorca: I have only been here a couple of times but my husbands family own a house here so it’s a place he regularly visited when he was younger. A tiny fishing village, it has beautiful whitewashed cottages and a small marina to swim and moor your boat and the quaintest little centre with a few independent restaurants and bars. After going to Mallorca for quite a few years I love how opposite Menorca is and much more rustic and quiet.

New Zealand: I love how beautiful and picturesque NZ is, and I fell in love with both the North and South Island. When we were travelling we booked a NZ experience tour (we were 22!) which took us everywhere from Nelson and Queensland to Wellington, Lake Taupo and Auckland. NZ is where I did a bungee jump and skydive, which looking back I can’t believe I did and probably wouldn’t now but the whole month I was there was adrenaline fuelled. Since working as a florist in London I have met great friends originally from NZ who have now moved back so I hope to return with my family one day to visit them.

The Amalfi Coast: I have great memories of Italy growing up as I went on a few family holidays there and after a massive Pinterest binge we decided to have part of our honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast. Italian cuisine is my absolute favourite and it didn’t disappoint, along with the stunning scenery along the coast and the most amazing hotels. We stayed in Sorrento for a few days and did a boat trip to Capri and then travelled around to Amalfi where we visited Positano by boat too. I can’t wait to go back, the pasta was just out of this world.

Santorini, Greece: This was the second destination on our honeymoon and it absolutely lived up to expectations. We stayed at the Astra Suites in Imerovigli and we had breakfast each morning feeling like we really were in Paradise. The white washed houses with blue rooftops covered in Bougainvillea are simply stunning and apart from a days boating and a trip to the main town we literally spent our days in the infinity pool, reading, sipping cocktails and sun bathing. Complete bliss.

*All pictures featured were taken by me*

Jam Jar Flowers

Written by Laura Davieson June 26, 2020

I love a simple jam jar flower arrangement. When I worked at Scarlet & Violet in London we always had jam jar arrangements ready for customers to grab ‘n’ go – they make great dinner party gifts or a treat to yourself as they’re usually really reasonably priced. If you ask your local florist for a jam jar arrangement (they’ll usually have jars in stock for about £1 so they can make one up with flowers that you pick), and depending on the season they’ll usually come in under £20. In summer when florists can use more British blooms like cornflowers and scabious, a jam jar can look really abundant for not a lot of money. Obviously the more expensive stems you choose like peonies will take up more of the budget.

If you keep the jar, then its something you can refill yourself quite easily too with cuttings from the garden, and it can contain whatever you like, not necessary flowers but maybe just foliage if that’s what you’re feeling that week, A mixture of different greens against a white backdrop looks lovely and fresh.

Vases don’t have to be ornate to be effective and if you think you want to spruce the jam jar up a little then why not add different strands of coloured ribbon, or simple twine for more of a rustic feel? The humble jam jar will brighten up a dining table, mantlepiece or desk and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face when you catch a glimpse of it throughout your week.

This one below was a gift from a florist friend when she came to visit and looks beautiful filled with English Scabious, peonies, dahlias, cow parsley and fern.

Summer style inspiration

Written by Laura Davieson June 20, 2020

This summer is a bit of a funny one isn’t it? We’ve all been on lockdown in our homes and gardens and haven’t really been able to venture out too far, and it seems like most summer holidays have been postponed until next summer. With that i’ve been a bit in limbo about whether to buy anything new without that excitement of ‘going away’ and therefore justifying making a purchase! There’s also a part of me that has embraced this slower way of living and become more aware of the effect of things like fast fashion on the planet and wants to go forward being a bit more considered when it comes to buying new things.

At home i’ve been mostly getting up and dressed and doing my make-up as I find it makes me feel more put together and ready for the day, and like things are normal I suppose. Usually jeans and a t-shirt is my mum uniform and when the weather has been sunny, either a t-shirt and culottes or an easy throw-over dress for playing in the garden. Instead of buying anything specifically ‘summer’ I have invested in a few key pieces which will actually see me through most seasons. it’s a good start to become a bit more sustainable in my clothes shopping to make it a permanent change.

Here are the pieces I have bought during lockdown:

That H&M tee: I’ve seen this t-shirt on so many people via Instagram, especially the WeAreTwinset ladies, it’s a lovely thick cotton t-shirt that will become a wardrobe staple. I bought a S for tucking into jeans and a M for wearing with joggers on lazy days and I bought the sage (my new colour obsession) and grey colours. At £8.99 it was a real bargain as I find good quality t-shirts that have the perfect fit hard to come by.

Veja Esplar 3 Lock Trainers: I’ve had my eye on these trainers for a while, I was drawn to the velcro fastening as I find when I have to get out the door for the pre-school run, I can’t be faffing around with laces. I went for classic white with black hoping to wear them with dresses in the summer and jeans in the colder months. I’m annoyingly a half size which Veja don’t come in, so I sized up and am going to add an insole. I’m hoping they’re comfortable after the hefty investment.

H&M Mom High Ankle Jean: I’ve usually steered away from high waisted jeans for fear they made my hips look huge but I decided to embrace this pair as they’re not as fitted as some which I hope will even out my features. They’ve sold out of my black ones but i’ve linked the style. I find black jeans such a wardrobe staple and these are so comfortable, I instantly loved them as soon as I tried them on. I’ll wear them with tucked in t-shirts or blouses in the summer and a lovely big cashmere crew neck for winter.

Taupe Suede Arizona Birkenstock: I’ve had my eye on this fabric and colourway of the Arizona for a while now having bought the black leather about 7 years ago. They’re such a neutral shoe that will go with anything and the soft suede upper meant they were a lot easier to wear in than my black ones. I love birkenstocks with jeans or dresses in summer and when worn with jeans and cashmere socks when it starts to get a bit colder. I think i’ll be wearing this pair for years to come.

Beauty Pie Smart Powder Blush in Peachy Dreams: It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Beauty Pie having become a member a couple of years ago. Their skincare is amazing but I thought i’d update my blusher to make it feel a bit more summery and this coral does the trick. It glides on so nicely and really perks up my cheeks making me look like i’ve been away for a few days when really i’ve just been hanging at home!

A guide to house plants…

Written by Laura Davieson June 7, 2020

I always worked with freshly cut flowers while at Scarlet & Violet, selling a few succulents in pots at certain times of the year, so it wasn’t until I started working at Bunched in Leigh-on-Sea after I had a baby that I started to learn about house plants as we sold them alongside the cut flowers.

Plants have so many advantages for the home – they add an instant hit of green to brighten a space, they add oxygen to the air which helps to purify it, they need relatively little care which makes them great for busy lives and putting them in stylish pots can really finish off a room.

Below I’ve listed the 5 most popular house plants with a few key benefits to each as well as some tips for keeping them alive. I’ve had a Rubber Plant for 3 years now, and even though I feel like I neglect it, it seems to always have new shoots, so I must be doing something right…

Rubber Plant: A Rubber Plant likes to be watered about once a week with a little water (about half to a full cup depending on its size) If you keep the leaves clean with a damp cloth it helps them to absorb more sunlight. Leaving it to completely drain with water before putting it back in place will also help keep the roots healthy. This is a great plant for steadily growing in your space and choosing one with three separate shoots will help make more of an impact.

Fiddle Leaf Fig: This is the plant you see all over Instagram interiors accounts, as much as a lush Fiddle Fig can look amazing in a room, a lot of people struggle to keep them alive. They like a lot of light, so ensure you rotate it every couple of months so the plant grows equally. When the top inch of the soil feels dry, give the plant a little lukewarm water. They also like nutrient rich soil, so pop in some pant food every now and again.

Boston Fern: This lush fern has a mass of bright green foliage that looks great on a kitchen worktop or hanging in a macrame pot. They need a bit more care from us, liking to be misted with water on a daily basis (a bathroom is a great place for these beauties to thrive) but what they take from us in care they give back. This plant helps to rid the home of harmful toxins and helps to purify the air, making them great for owners with dry skin or who suffer with dry throats.

Sansevieria: This is also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue and is another great air purifier. It’s most well known for releasing oxygen at night helping to purify the air which makes them a perfect addition to a bedroom for a better nights sleep. A Sansevieria will also thrive on neglect and only needs a small amount of sunlight and the smallest amount of water, perfect for the forgetful among us!

Cheese Plant: This is an easy to grow, large-leaved plant that has characteristic splits in the leaves. They’re perfect for filling a big space, they grow quite quickly, so will usually need to be repotted every couple of years. They have thick stemmed vines so sometimes need to have a bamboo stick attached to leaves to help them stay upright. Light and watering once a week will help keep this beauty healthy.

Here are a couple of pointers to help keep houseplants alive:

Ensure the whole plant will be able to get natural light. If only part of it does, you’ll find that it starts growing towards the sunlight which could result in a wonky plant.
Most houseplants will only want a minimal amount of water once a week (apart from a Boston Fern) depending on their size. Try not to leave it longer and then compensate with a flood of water as this will result in yellow leaves and waterlogged soil.
If placing in a basket, keep the plant in it’s original pot and always remove from the basket before watering. Once watered, let it completely drain before returning to the basket.
If planting the plant into a pot, ensure that there is appropriate drainage at the bottom, such as broken pot pieces or hydrolica clay balls.
Give the leaves a dust or wipe every now and again to remove dust and ensure they’re lovely a shiny so they can absorb light properly.

I hope that was helpful!