New Beginnings

The next three months will be big for us as we'll be welcoming our second baby, and buying our very first house.  For the last six years we've lived above our work, our current home being a 600 year old dark and 'quirky' flat.  I've grown to love it, but for a while now we've dreamt of somewhere with some outdoor space and the countryside on our doorstep.  So we're trading in city-centre living for a small rural village, and a bit of separation from work.  I'm so excited to live in a new build, with floors and walls that are level and even a garden for the kids to play in (and maybe to host a BBQ or two as well!).

I'm currently loving soft grey-blues and whites, so when the boys gifted me this vase and candle for Mother's Day I was over the moon; I just can't wait to style our new house, to choose every piece of furniture, accessory and wall colour to create a home that is truly ours.  It feels like a dream come true and I'm looking forward to sharing it on here.

READ MORE »

Brockhole Garden Stroll & Lakeland Cruise

It's been a while since I last posted on here, a few weeks off quickly turned into a few months!  It became difficult to juggle real life and online life, and ultimately real life won.  So this blog is back but with a new name and a new look in the hope of simplifying my site and its intent, without the added pressure to do collaborations or to post each week and so on.  I just want to use this as a place where I can share the places I love, the food I enjoy and the pictures I'm proud of.

Today I thought I'd share a summer trip.

Summer in the North of England doesn't exactly mean sunshine, but it's fun nonetheless.  A few weeks ago the boys and I met some friends for a day out at Brockhole, in The Lake District.  The rain threatened all day but surprisingly we stayed dry, if not a little chilly!

Brockhole is a manor house turned Lake District Visitor Centre with over 30 acres of grounds that run right down to the shore of Lake Windermere.   We used to come here all the time when I was young, so it's always wonderful to bring Noah here to make some more happy memories with him too. With an adventure playground, a tree-top assault course, horse riding and boat hire to entertain the kids, as well as some beautiful gardens to stroll around, it's one of our favourite places to visit.

Brockhole

After a play on the park we strolled down to the lake to catch a boat cruise.  We took the Red Cruise, which goes from Bowness to Brockhole to Ambleside and back to Bowness.  You can jump on and off the boats at any of these stops throughout the day, or stay on for the full 70 minute ride.  If you want to beat the queues then Brockhole is definitely the best place to catch the boat - there's plenty of parking and no crowds to fight through, whereas Bowness can be utter chaos during the tourist season!

The Low Wood Hotel

Ambleside

Bowness

Lake Windermere is over 10 miles long, so these cruises are the perfect way to see all of the stunning scenery that surround it.  At each stop you can hop off to find a range of cafe's, pubs and shops.  If you stop in Ambleside, it's an absolute must to treat yourself to Chocolate Dip ice-cream! 

You might have heard that recently the area has flooded, leaving around 60,000 of us without power for days.  Many homes and businesses were affected, especially around the Lake District, with small communities like Ullswater becoming isolated.  I don't want to post pictures of the destruction, but rather of the beauty before the flood and which can still be enjoyed now the water has receded.  Don't let it put you off visiting!  The Lake District can be wild, and the weather can be unpredictable, but the community is wonderful and the area is beautiful beyond compare.

READ MORE »

That Summer Feeling

I just love summer time here in England.  The trees, the grass and the flowers all seem to burst into life overnight, and suddenly everywhere you look your view is filled with a hundred different colours; green branches hang over the roads while white flowers peek out between old stone walls, with churchyards and fields covered with a carpet of multicoloured wildflowers.

After weeks of rain, with the odd sunny day in-between, summer has finally decided to make an appearance here.  The boys and I have been making the most of it by spending as much time as we can out in the countryside, surrounded by fields and lakes, driving down winding country lanes, drinking lots of ice-cold elderflower cordial and hopping from one country cafe to the next.

I took my camera along one one such outing and can't wait to share the pictures, it was such an idyllic place.

For now, how a wonderful week ahead x

READ MORE »

Peonies and Pimms

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I love a good wedding.  Last weekend it was my cousin's wedding in Leeds.  Our whole family went over there for a couple of nights - we took over the hotel and just had an amazing time.   I was so happy to be a bridesmaid; in the morning we all had our hair and make-up done in the Bridal Suite, stared (a lot) at Samantha's Jimmy Choo's and of course that beautiful dress.

The ceremony was at St John the Baptist in Adel, which was so incredibly beautiful.  Samantha had a gorgeous bouquet of peonies, stocks and roses, whilst we all carried a small hand-tied bouquet of baby's breath - my favourite!  

A cute vintage bus brought guests from the Church to the reception venue in the centre of the city, The Leeds Club.  We were treated to canapés, pimms and champagne, and a gorgeous three-course meal. The tables were decorated beautifully with olive trees and tea-lights, with handwritten favours for everyone.  

Everything was absolutely beautiful, I mean, just look at those flowers! We toasted the happy couple and celebrated well into the night.

Congratulations Sam and Henry! Thank-you for a beautiful day x

READ MORE »