LottiLovesLondon

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Some of this months thoughts and inspirations....

June

Right now, I am slightly obsessed with Karena & Katrina from Tone it up. When I say slightly, I actually mean outrageously girl crush style obsessed. Their workouts are super easy to follow and I just love dreaming about soon becoming a beach babe like them :) I've read the stories on the blog. It's going to be me on there I swear it.

Peony season is upon us! I love seeing the pink ruffles spilling out of my local flower shops at the moment. I might have to pick up some this weekend. Another plan on the agenda is to get all creative in the kitchen and bring some of these pretty peach ice lollies to my first summer BBQ!

Summer travels....never far my thoughts. Dreaming of salty hair, sandy toes and a copious amounts of cocktails to fill long sunny days. This summer I'm exploring the west coast of Croatia! I've never been which makes it all the more exciting. Any places you advise I must see?

Style

This summer I am sticking to chic cool tones of white & grey with maybe a pop of colour added here and there, like this fuschia jumper. I am also loving Mint this month. A statement piece like these will add vavavooom to a wedding outfit don't you think!?

Hair

Ok leaving my hair to 'breathe' has reached boiling point. I try to be a good girl and listen to mama's advice. But hell, my hair needs some cutting and dying. Stress and I suppose trying to fight nature by becoming a brunette last did not do my poor hair any good. With months of 'breathing' I feel my hair can take on some highlights. So June is all about a re vamp. My appointment is all booked for pay day! I am thinking a short tossled do with highlights. By the end of June I will be feeling fit and healthy and hopefully have a barnet to be proud of. Who else is digging orange? Trust me, add some orange to your makeup pallette now that we are all verging on being tanned goddesses. It will surprise you how it changes your mood.

Cafe crush

Cafe research has lead me to Hally's in Parsons green. The place looks uber comfy with its Californian inspired interiors and feel. Very much looking forward to taking my camera over to her place this weekend. Watch this space.....a review coming shortly!

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Orange Pekoe

Well hello there! It's definately been more than a while! I have excuses...I've been travelling the globe and bumped into Matt Bomer on the streets of Paris. We've been in this crazy whirlwind romance since which can only likened to a story from a novel that has a grey tie on the front page! Okay maybe not, maybe this is my current fantasy. My real excuses are quite lame; laptop broke, attempts to save, focus on the day job. I'm pretty sure I'm not forgivable now.

Anyway, despite lame reason numero one still being the case, I still want to share the places I visit across London. They are too good to not share! 

So my tea room that has got me back into blogging is orange pekoe. It was meant to be. A random sunny afternoon, I couldn't decide where to go so I thought I'd hop on the train and make up my mind while I'm on it! Spontaneous eh?! I pulled up to Barnes which is still a little unfamilar to me despite living in this neck of the woods for a few years now. A kind lady directed from the streets on how to get to the high street and gushed I had to walk along the river to her favourite coffee shop. I thanked her and told her I had read up on the place in one of my many tearoom books. I had no idea it was only a hop skip and a walk along the river away :) 

Once I found the place I was greeted by the friendly owner. He took one look at me and my samsung camera clicking away and said 'hey there girl, are you thinking of setting up a rival coffee shop?' Ahhhh one day I will you know. Not seeming to believe me he offered me his favourite ethopian coffee and a ridiculously indulgent cake to sit in the sun with. Happy Easter to moi!

Many tea options for my next visit.

Barnes is such a beautiful part of South London. Picturesque green and pond, boutiques, charity shops you know you will find some whistles number in, and row upon row of cottages adorned with roses. I'd recommend a picnic on the green opposite the pond, followed by a mooch down the high street towards the river. Head right along the thames to another cute hub of shops where Orange pekoe is nestled! For food you will have to try The White Hart looking over the river. I didn't have the time and was way too full up on chocolate genache so do tell me if you make it there!

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A few Devon snaps

Sometimes we fool ourselves thinking we are up to date and connected with the people we were once close to due to facebook and all our social media sites but there is nothing like a proper catch up (face to face!) over long walks, pub lunches and numerous cuppa's! That's why I decided to jump on a train Devon bound to catch up with old chums C&C. Oh and not forgetting the cutie pie Eleanor who has grown into a little strong minded person! How time flies. One thing that hasn't changed is our love for afternoon tea, so the first thing we did was head over to a cute village called Burford for cream tea at The copper kettle.

Burford is your classic english village and made me realise that it's been way too long since I had dragged myself away from the smoke. We roamed in and out trinket shops and museums until we found thee pub with thee pie! Wow this pie was immense. I can still taste it now. It was so lovely to get a decent Sunday lunch though. I really cant seem to find a decent Sunday roast in London! Please share if you have...

Picnics in Exmoor watching little Ellie splash around in the lake is what its all about! Bless her she hated us for dunking her in but soon got used to it! Have you been to Exmoor? Its something about the rugged natural beauty to the place that brings you straight back down to earth. It was so peaceful. After my trip to Thailand, Devon with its cosy pubs and wholesome food nursed me and my dodgy tummy back to life :)

Well a trip to Devon is not complete without 'real devon icecream' from Tiverton. Butterscotch too - nom nom.

If it's been too long since you picked up the phone to your school friends as you're 'busy', or made that long train journey to your grand parents who live in the outer Hebrides. Suck it up and go and see them. Make memories. Make a surprise visit?

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Petersham Nurseries

Petersham Nurseries, a short walk away from Richmond Hill is an enchanting shabby chic retreat from the bustling town life of Richmond. Tucked away, it feels like you have discovered a hidden treasure as you walk through the wooden gates and towards the glasshouses crammed full of vintage finds, mismatched furniture and dahlias in every shade!

The nursery is abundant with so many varieties of plants and herbs, planted in terracotta pots to wheelbarrows. Chose from lavender, hydrangeas, orange trees and many more plants many which are propagated on site!

After taking a gazillion photos I headed to the gorgeous cafe/teahouse. The mouthwatering ingredients are produced in the walled garden at the nursery so you know you'll be eating fresh and scrumptious food here! Salads with butternut squash, bacon and gorgonzola and huge cakes that look so picture perfect you don't want to eat it. You could just come for a coffee but guaranteed you wont make it out of the serving shed without a tray full of mains, puddings and some hot beverage.

You can also dine here at the Michelin restaurant. For my budget at the moment, it's a wee bit pricey but I did manage to have a sneaky peak at some diners plates as I passed and turned green with envy! I'm sure they light up the glasshouse with fairy lights in the evening. Surrounded by the plants I couldn't think of a more romantic date!! If you want to take your loved one for a special meal somewhere a little bit different from your average chains then book a table here! For details and menu's click here.

One hour later, one slab of black forest cake gobbled up I was ready to head to the antique shop! The shop is full of glass, chandeliers, mirrors with price tags for the rich and famous so head to the garden shop if you wanted to pick up something from nurseries to take home with you. I bought some hand soap as I find it virtually impossible to come away from here empty handed!