It’s been a couple of busy months here hence my radio silence on this blog…so i’m making it my mission now we’re in Lockdown 2.0 to begin regularly posting again and updating the content here.
So where have I been? Nowhere really (like everyone!) but I’ve been busy helping Charlie settle back into pre-school from September having not been for 6 months. Jack also started at nursery which was a bit of an adjustment for him having not been looked after by anyone else for so long so we had a few extra settle sessions and (fingers crossed) we’ve turned a corner. I know it’s the right thing for him, especially being able to interact with other children his age.
I also started back at work having been away for 18 months. My boss has had a baby so I have gone back to help cover her maternity leave and it’s been nice working with flowers again and having some ‘me’ time to have adult conversations and be out of the house. But as luck would have it I had only been back a month before we had to close the shop under the new Covid restrictions. As much as flowers bring so much joy, they’re not essential, so for now I’m not working for a month again. I have to say i’m already appreciating having my Saturdays back and savour them so much more now I have the boys.
So while we’re in lockdown i’m going to take the time to address some interior jobs at home like re-painting the bathroom ceiling and sorting the shelves in our bedroom. I’m also tidying the garden getting it ready for winter, planting some Spring bulbs and planning what seeds to sow come the new year.
Oh, and we’ve also put a deposit down on a puppy! I’m so excited, but also a bit tentative, having never even had a goldfish as a pet before it’s going to be quite a change for me, but one that I think will be great for our family, so stay tuned for puppy news!
I hope you’re all staying safe and well.
(Images below taken while enjoying the Autumn sunshine this weekend!)
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.
Koh Phi Phi in Thailand
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.
Menorca
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.
Queenstown NZ South Island
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.
Positano on the Amalfi Coast, Italy
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.
We’re lucky to live by the seaside, okay the Thames Estuary, but at least there’s some sand and water to paddle in! But in times like these it’s been so nice to head somewhere super early to enjoy the space before it gets too busy. The weather has been so beautiful in the last few weeks and the skies such an amazing blue so on Friday we jumped in the car early and headed for some sandcastle building at 9am!
Hopefully this is the start of a beautiful long summer where we can enjoy long lazy days by the water, either here, or down in Pembrokeshire to visit my in-laws, where there’s some epic sandy beaches to explore. Sure, it’s going to be a bit different this year if social distancing stays in force, but if the weather is this beautiful it will make the fact we can’t travel abroad for family holidays an easier pill to swallow, and what better way to support the UK economy too?!
Hello! Hope you’ve all had a great week. As i’ve been listening to the same podcasts as usual (just updated episodes) and haven’t had much time this week to watch anything new I thought I’d list the five recipes that we’ve been cooking during Lockdown instead…because my days definitely seem to be centred on mealtimes right now or baking activities with the boys. I hope these give you some inspiration too.
Banana Bread: A Corona cliche but I was a big fan of Banana bread before lockdown and even more afterwards. The perfect afternoon snack for the boys and for me. I usually make this recipe from Cookie & Kate but due to not having some of the ingredients I tried out this one from BBC Food today and it was delicious.
Soup: We’ve been having a vegetable box delivered weekly and to make sure that we don’t waste anything I usually cook a soup with what’s left at the end. I’ve found vegetable soup was a hit with everyone in my family as was the roasted tomato soup. I forgot to take any pics of these so here’s what I threw into a large saucepan with some chicken stock and then blended for both:
Tomato soup:
Roasted tomatoes (I put them on a baking tray in the oven with salt and olive oil for 15 minutes before adding to the saucepan) One carrot, one onion, a can of tinned tomatoes, chicken stock pot, oregano, boiling water.
Vegetable soup:
Half a cauliflour, one onion, four potatoes, one parsnip, one carrot and Herbs de Provence, Chicken stock pot, boiling water.
French Toast: Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day so to try and spice the weekends up a bit we’ve been making a bit more effort with weekend brekkies. This French Toast is a winner with fresh berries and maple syrup – who needs to go to their favourite spot for brunch post lockdown now? (I do!)
Chocolate Chip Cookies: I love a chocolate chip cookie. When I was at uni in Brighton my friend Lizzie and I would make a beeline for Ben’s Cookies and check when they were coming out of the oven. I’ve tried many recipes, and this one from @Theannaedit is amazing and for a tripe chocolate hazelnut hit I love these from Building Feasts. Putting the dough balls into the freezer is great for having freshly baked cookies as and when you need to pull an afternoon treat out the bag.
Scones: I’ve always thought in my head that scones were hard to make so put off baking them but with the bank holiday VE day celebrations and the street party (socially distanced) afternoon tea I thought I’d give them a shot. This recipe was so simple and easy to make that I’ve made them twice since as they’re a great snack option.
Since Lockdown happened I have been trying to make a conscious effort to exercise in the mornings before Jimmy starts working, partly to carve out some time for myself and have half an hours peace before a day with the boys, and partly to try and make changes to my body that I really want to change – after two big babies my tummy isn’t as flat as it used to be!
Before christmas I really got into Reformer Pilates classes and found these really helped my back, but without the ability to go to the studio I have got a bit more creative and self disciplined! After a few weeks attempting P.E with Joe, I started doing online Yoga classes with Annie Clarke which I do alongside some barre classes that I’ve found on YouTube and going for a run once a week.
I felt that if I really wanted to see change to my body I had to REALLY exercise and work up a sweat so I have come up with a weekly routine that I feel gets my blood pumping, makes me feel stronger and will hopefully have positive effects on my body.
I signed up to Kayla Itsines after over indulging on honeymoon five years ago and her Bikini Body Guide workouts are popular all over the world. I had great then so I have added this workout to my regime too. Here’s what my week looks like:
Monday: 28 minutes Kayla Itsines workout on the kitchen floor!
Tuesday: Barre class on YouTube – i’m really liking those from @psycleLondon.
Wednesday: Kayla Itsines workout, 28 minutes
Thursday: Yoga class with Annie Clarke of Mind Body Bowl via YouTube.
Friday: Kayla Itsines all over body workout.
Saturday: Go for a run in the morning before breakfast. Its lovely taking note of the birds singing and the blue skies and going beyond our road and the woods for once!
Sunday: Rest!
So now i’ve written it here I can’t back out of it can i?! I’m hoping that by the time we get out of lockdown it will have become a lifestyle change and something I can keep up beyond this strange time in our lives. If I can into my perfect pair of jeans and feel more confident about my new post baby body too, bonus! Fingers crossed!
Sorry this is a couple of days late, it’s been a big week in our house as Jack turned one on wednesday! I’m going to do a blog post later this week on the birthday traditions I have started to implement for the boys, but for now here’s what i’ve been listening to and watching this week:
Watching: Normal People on iPlayer: I hadn’t read the book by Sally Rooney but had seen so many people recommend this series on Instagram that I thought i’d give it a go. Well by the end of episode one I was totally hooked and carried on watching another four that evening (I went to bed at 1am and Jack decided to wake up at 1.15am, big mistake on my part) anyway I spent the rest of the weekend thinking about it and watching the remaining 7 episodes (There are 12 halh hour episodes). It was amazing, perfectly capturing how your first love never leaves you, beautifully shot and the lead characters Marianne and Connell were portrayed beautifully by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. I’m since obsessed with the story, Marianne’s wardrobe and the soundtrack. Perfect in every way.
Podcast: Second Life with Gucci Westman: I’ve been listening to this podcast for a while by Hillary Kerr, co-founder of Who, What, Wear, a website I’ve been reading since I was a fashion intern in my early twenties. Kerr interviews people that have been successful in their careers but then moved on to do something different later in life. As someone who is in a bit of an in-between stage of my career since having children, I’m finding it really useful listening to other women’s journeys. I particularly like this episode as I used to see Gucci work her make-up magic backstage when I did coverage at London Fashion Week.
Watching: Becoming with Michelle Obama on Netflix: I was a big fan of Michelle Obama’s memoir so was excited to see that Netflix were releasing a documentary style film about it. It follows Obama as she does book tours and stage shows where she’s interviewed about the book to stadium style crowds. It was fascinating to get more of an insight into the life of one of the most famous women in the world, whose husband we all wish was still in the White House.
Listening: Connell’s Playlist: I told you I was obsessed with the music from Normal Lives, and when I saw that BBC Sounds had released a ‘Marianne’s Playlist’ and a ‘Connell’s Playlist’ I was straight onto Spotify to download them. There’s some beautiful classics in there like ‘So Long, Marianne’ by Leonard Cohen and more folky tunes like ‘Fireworks’ by First Aid Kit. It’s certainly making doing household chores a bit easier.
Reading: BBC Good Food Magazine: I’ve had a subscription to Good Food for a few years now, but am finding while we’re all staying at home I’ve got even more into cooking and baking, probably because I have a bit more time. This months issue is packed with tips for recipes using store cupboard ingredients while everyone is trying to avoid going to the shops. I attempted a Sourdough starter from this issue but it did not succeed, so that’s something I’m determined to master by the end of lockdown.
I don’t know about you but I HAVE to remove my make-up, cleanse, moisturise etc etc. before I hop into bed because otherwise the guilt of what it would do to my skin if I don’t wash it properly would probably not let me sleep anyway.
Over the years i’ve tried a few different make-up removers and cleansers but I think i’ve finally found my groove and as i’m always intrigued by what products women have on their bathroom shelves (I love reading the Top Shelf features on intothegloss ), I thought i’d share mine.
When I wrote the beauty pages at ASOS Magazine I used Bioderma Micellar Water as it was on the work stations of all the make-up artists backstage (which meant seeking out all pharmacies in London that stocked French brands.) Thankfully Garnier noticed the trend and made a more accessible version both in that you can buy it easily in the UK and in price-point. So that’s what I start with. Then I second cleanse with Beauty Pie’s Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser. It starts off as a cream but as you massage it into the skin it transforms to an oil and washes off with a milky consistency.
After patting my skin dry with a towel I apply the Beauty Pie Uber Youth Super Eye Energy Peptide-Infusion Cream by dabbing a minimal amount around the eye socket and finish with either Evolve’s Daily Renew Facial Cream or Rose Hip Oil from The Ordinary. I find using the oil about twice a week, more in winter, helps to keep my skin hydrated.
I’ve actually found that the amount I spend on these products has dramatically reduced since the Dermologica days (Thanks to Beauty Pie) but the products not only work, they’re better and feel luxurious to use. Regular facials help too, if i’m lucky enough to get vouchers for birthdays!
As much as life is really strange being in lockdown for everyone, for me, with no pre-school or any of our usual classes to attend, our Monday-Friday is pretty different to usual right now. As much as i’m excited for Charlie to head back to pre-school, mainly for him as he is missing it so much, i’m also relishing these slow mornings and not having to rush around from place to place. There really are so many benefits to slowing down a bit.
One of the main things that i’m enjoying in these moments is that my husband (Jimmy) isn’t commuting into London so I have the mornings to take some time for myself before he starts work. As someone who really needed to kick start their fitness regime since the new year i’ve been making the most of YouTube and doing yoga classes with Annie Clarke and Barre classes with Psycle London. I’m particularly loving the Barre classes as there aren’t Barre classes to physically attend where I live so it’s been an opportunity to dip into it without any financial investment, and i’m hooked!
On days where I don’t take the boys for a walk (which isn’t many as treasure hunts in the woods have kinda become the focus of our mornings nowadays) i’m also trying to go for a run to get the cardiovascular fitness in and help clear my mind. The thing I love about these runs is that I can venture further than our area so it helps fight that cabin fever feeling, and I also get to see all of the blossom trees in full bloom, one of my absolute favourite times of the year. Here’s a snap of one of the trees I saw on my run this morning.
