Tuesday 28 April 2015

THE PERFECT BREAK





Check out that Granola


















A relaxing weekend break cannot be beaten and the Lake District is always one of my favourite destinations.  We drove up to the Lakes on Thursday and arrived in 20 degree sunshine and clear skys.  The weather was typically mixed over the next few days with a few incredible ones and a few with those famous showers.

We stayed in the Luxury Windermere Suites which were beautiful and right in the centre of Windermere.  The Suites are spacious with great facilities including a fantastic breakfast, Jacuzzi bath, bathroom TV, walk-in shower, walk-in wardrobe and our Suite had a lovely secluded patio to enjoy the sunshine.  We booked 'Ambleside' which was one of eight Suites in the Hotel, all named after local towns.  The large patio doors let in the beautiful morning sunshine and the heated floors are a real winner with tired feet after a long walk.

The breakfast menu has everything you could wish for on it with options from fresh fruit, granola, smoked salmon, eggs benedict and the local Full English.  You can choose what time time you would like it and it gets delivered to your room, in our case through a breakfast hatch.  You can then enjoy it outside, at the pretty table in your room or in bed!

Windermere town is just 2 minutes from where we stayed and the larger Bowness-On-Windermere is around 10 minutes walk down to the harbour.  Windermere is a pretty town with independent Coffee Shops, Interiors Shops and a great choice of Restaurants including the brilliant Porto which was recommended by the Hotel.  This was easily my favourite meal of the weekend with a small, beautiful Dining Room and a really exquisite menu.  Ensure you book this one to avoid disappointment.  We started with the Arancini Risotto balls with poached pear and toasted walnuts and the Lamb Koftas with pickled cucumber which were incredibly presented and tasted even better.  We then indulged in the Pan Seared Fillet of Loch Duart Salmon with a Lobster bisque and the melt in your mouth Pork Belly.  Dessert had to be the Porto Chocolate Orange!  

Our weekend in the lakes involved more than just drinking too much wine.  We took out a boat on Lake Windermere one morning which in 10 miles long so has plenty to explore.  At around £20 for 2 people I'd highly recommend this.  We took the Ferry over to the West side of the lake and did a long, beautiful walk though woodlands and alongside stone walls and wild flowers.  It was pretty fresh that day so I was glad of my new Mountain Warehouse Stalactite warmstretch top.  Check out the hidden away National Trust Cafe for a really decent cup of freshly brewed coffee and some homemade flapjack.  

We drove up to the Kirkstone Pass which is the Lake District's highest pass with views over the valley.  The road has a gradient of 1 in 4 - steep!  There is the Kirkstone Pass Inn at the top which is perfect for a Shandy. 

If you didn't have enough of a reason to book the Windermere Suites also has links to the Beautiful Macdonald Spa besides the Harbour which gives residents free access to the Spa during your stay.  Just a 10 minute walk and you can lounge besides the Luxury indoor pool with views over the coast or enjoy the Steam Room, Sauna and Ice Room.  What better way to treat yourself?






















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Monday 27 April 2015

ETSY LOVES





Whether it's for interiors or fashion my latest crush is Etsy.  It took me a while to get into as it is vast and can throw up 101 things that are not to your taste.  But trust me it's worth conquering that fear to unlock a world of beautiful homeware, fashion, jewellery and presents.  It will quickly turn into your favourite boutique.  I recommend using a computer rather than your phone to start and set up a profile so you can add your favourite shops and designers as you discover them.  Follow people whos style you like and you will quickly end up with great pieces all in one place.







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HAMBURG











The city of Hamburg isn’t somewhere I would have put on my list to visit, however after a trip last week I highly recommend you do.  Germany’s second largest City and biggest Port is filled with Luxury shopping, outdoor cafes and the smell of fresh pretzels. 

The flight from Gatwick takes just over an hour to Hamburg and with no luggage in the hold you can be off and out of the airport in 10 minutes.  There is a quick train into the City Centre or a short cream cab journey will take you there. 

Once there you could spend all day just sat in Cafes by the canals drinking cold wine in the warm sunshine.  Hamburg is referred to as ‘Venice of the North’ due to the amount of beautiful Canals and Waterways that flow through the city.  Fit in a visit to the incredibly ornate Town Hall built in 1886 while you are there.  The beautiful building towers over the City with the sunlight bouncing off its turquoise roof.  Currywurst is the food of choice.  I have no idea why a frankfurter sausage in curry sauce with fries tastes so good… but it does!


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Friday 17 April 2015

BOTTLE IT UP


Last week the beautiful Swedish hair brand Sachajuan kindly sent me over some products to try.  Sachajuan began in 1997 when Sacha Mitic and Juan Rosenlind started up their hair salon in Stockholm and shortly after their success they branched into products to get the same look at home.  I was keen to try their Normal Shampoo and the Dry Conditioner to give my hair a boost now Spring has arrived.  The products not only look beautiful in the bathroom, but gave my locks a real shine that they hadn't had in some time.  The unisex scent means that you don't have to have several different brands cluttering up the shower too.





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Tuesday 14 April 2015

TREAT ME TO SUMMER





Ok, so Summer's here.  Coachella is on, the sun is out and I haven't worn boots for quite a few weeks.  These leather flatbed wedges are the perfect ankle book substitute, being incredibly comfy and going with every outfit.  They even come in a perfect rich tan colour-way. At the moment I am adoring them with a dark denim mini with a ripped edge and a hippy Chloe-style cream blouse. Just add large round sunglasses and you're good to go.



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Monday 13 April 2015

VINTAGE SUEDE
















What better place to take a morning stroll than alongside this rather dilapidated McDougall's Flour Mill near my home in East Sussex.  This place has fascinated me for years and I have dreamt many times of owning it and restoring it to its original glory.  The Mill was built around 1900s and has been falling down ever since.  The Mill is now on the market however due to it's size and the several acres it comes with it is on for several million.

Suede coat and Ralph Lauren lace dress both vintage



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