Reasons...

10 wonderful things that made me smile this week.....



1. The smell of the rain and watching it pour from the grey sky while sat warm inside! I really love the fresh summery smell.

2. My painted jug arrived from the pottery cafe. Finally! It may look hideous but add some flowers and it looks alright?!

3. Bargain costume jewelry from Zara to add a bit of sparkle to my outfits.

4. Lazy days reading my new book from Phillipa Gregory. I'm broke from my recent holiday to Thailand but still forked out the money to buy her new novel The White Princess.

5.  Did I mention Thailand. The memories of my sleepy days lounging in hammocks on the beach makes me smile for sure!

6. Maroon 5's song - Love somebody on repeat on youtube. That man does something to me...Hot hot as always Mr Levine.

7. Marmite and cheese toasties - say no more.

8. Picking wild blackberries along the Thames - freebies always tend to make me smile :)

9. H&M! Shock. Horror. I love H&M. They have some awesome staples right now. What's a girl supposed to do when tops are £7.99 looking very Boden-esq? 

10. This quote.

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Smelling the Roses

I have always loved living on the Thames, but sunny days like this, where I can leave my front door and arrive at Hampton Court in just under two hours, makes me feel a lucky girl indeed. 

Hampton Court famous for Henry VIII's Royal abode is strikingly beautiful. The red bricks against the blue sky greeted me after walking alongside the palaces long walls for almost an hour. It took my breathe away.

It has been a place I've been eager to visit for a while after becoming head over heels in love with Phillipa Gregory and her novels on woman from our past. My latest obsession is the cousins war she writes about and portrayed so well in The White Queen shown on BBC at the moment! Her novels are so addictive, you really have to pick up one today if you haven't given her a go yet! I thought after reading all about Henry's grandparents/parents in the Kingsmaker I might get something out of visiting Hampton. I was a wee bit disappointed on that front. It's very gimmicky and basic information supplied but still its an amazing place to while away an afternoon....

Chatting with Francesca and picking fresh blackberries along the way..

And finally arriving to this! Told you...striking.

Being a cafe/cake reviewer I have to admit without too much guilt that one of the main reasons for my visit to these historical places is the fab cafes they give us! They never disappoint and leave me in a state of confusion over what to actually buy.

So after meandering through the roses, we gravitated to the cafe. Naturally.

I went for a prawn baguette and I NEVER eat prawns.It just looked that good. Francesca opted for a salad/vegetable combo with smoked salmon. There was a creamy chicken and sweet potato stew that will be my reason to return here. The tickets to get into the palace are pricey at £17 so I wouldn't do that again but I will definitely visit Hampton Court just for the cafe and beautiful rose garden.

So my post title is smelling the roses. I don't think I've ever smelt roses before?! Why, I don't know! Or maybe they've never smelt this good! I couldn't stop smelling all the different roses as we passed. 

Oh the Dahlia's! I swear by it that will be my daughter's name. 

Hampton Court is for the history buffs, the foodies, the plant lovers and the people out there that just want to be surrounded by beauty! It's a place for all types and ages so why don't you plan your visit while the sun is still out for us all. Apparently they nuture the oldest vines in the UK on their grounds that grows dessert grapes every September. I'd say that would be a good time to visit so you can smell the roses while eating the sweet grapes of the palace.

Have a fun Bank holiday my lovelies! Look forward to hearing about what you get up to :)

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Bakehouse

This week I met with my cousin in St Albans for a rendevouz at the locals favourite lunch venue; Bakehouse. It was so great to see her after all these years, we agreed on something crazy like 8 years to have passed without seeing each other! But with uni/work/relationships and not living that close it just happens I suppose. Saying that, nothings changed. She's just as I remember her. Utterly gorgeous, inside and out. Growing up she was my big cousin who I went all dreamy whenever she came to visit! She was uber cool, leggy with long blonde hair and was the kind of teenager I wanted to be when I grew up! We met, we chatted, planned future meet ups and I realised I was right to be all starry eyed all those years ago because she is a lovely sweet hearted girl who I am lucky to have back in my life.

So moving on. Bakehouse, tucked away a little, not far from the Cathedral is a down to earth cafe with homely bakes, gourmet type salads and really friendly staff. That to me is a major plus point visiting cafes or anywhere to be honest, as it does add that little touch to your day when you've had some good banter/chatter with a stranger. Don't you think? 

 There were lots of yummy treats to chose from and it was then I regretted arriving early and conveniently making it in time for the early bird specials!

I would recommend this place for a lunch date before going to a sunbathe in the cathedral gardens. That's what I did :) St Albans is a lovely historical town and is one of those places you say to yourself - I want to live here! I do say that a lot so maybe don't take my word for it! Maybe you should go and see for yourself!

Have a good a weekend. Be safe, laugh lots, and tell someone special to you that you love and appreciate them for all that they are and all that they do for you.

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Courgette and Lime Cake

Ah living the domesticated life today! I've accomplished the basics that people do all the time but for me today has been a massively productive one. For starters I finally got round to a good bake. Back on it :) This is no picture for pinterest but I have had 3 people say how delicious this cake is :).

 I would love to take all the credit but it was from Katie over at Katie's Kitchen journal. She's so talented and loves to bake with vegetables just like me! So if you would like the recipe please click here. It is fluffy and moist and she gives you a recipe that works fuss free. Oh one tip - do not scrimp and buy a cheaper version of Philadelphia. Pays off to buy the real thing. 

It was just nice to spend a day at home. I visited Anne my neighbour and she let me rummage her herb garden. Great for my next bake that's in the pipeline - Lavender and Orange cake :) I also spent some quality time with my feline besties curled up watching the thunderstorm today watching a gazillion episodes of Desperate housewives. That not so productive I admit. But I do love these kind of days. 

What have you been up to of late? Have you any nice summer bakes for me to try? Any lavender recipes you have I would love for you to send my way!

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Mad Hatters Tea Party

So, I have to tell you firstly, how happy I was meeting these beautiful bloggers in the flesh! I have been reading their blogs for a few months now so it was ace to actually sit down with them and have a good old gossip about tea/cake/love and life! We had arranged it a while back and so I was worried that life might do its thing and get in the way. But we all amazingly pulled it off and enjoyed the most playful afternoon tea at The Sanderson in the most glorious weather! Result. 

Meet the ladies 

Ibbs, Emily, Katie B, Caroline, Katie M 

They are all just as lovely as they appear on their blogs. Yep. Get yourself over to their blogs (after reading mine!) and follow their lifestyle/baking blogs to show them some love.

The Mad Hatters theme taken from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland was evident from the china, cakes and even the staff! We had an awesome waiter who was a tad bit eccentric. Check him out...

Tea was very delicate. We opted for all flavours as we couldn't chose despite trying. The Sanderson offered Rhubarb and Custard (my fav), Mint chocolate, Strawberry and cream and Apple pie. Do you understand where our dilemma was now?

Cakes were worth every bite. We had strawberries and cream mushroom marshmellows (yum), melting mango cheesecake (yummier), green tea and white chocolate mouse in a popping candy chocolate cup (yummier than yummier). I was dead impressed with how everything was flavoursome and creamy but you never felt like you could say no to another :) 

The famous 'Drink Me' portion. I have seen this for a number of years now in photographs of the afternoon tea and finally managed to get a taste. It was split into different creamy and citrusy flavours which meant you had to drink really slowly to be able to taste them all. 

After deciding somehow that we'd had enough cake for one afternoon we read our individual riddles wrapped around our napkins which we all thought was really sweet. Mine read At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they? Err I seem to have forgotten the answer to this? Anyone want to guess? I think the answer is Stars!?

Here we are...

Thanks for coming! See you soon for the next meet up soon I hope.

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Birthday at the Bingham

It's been way too long. I lurrv blogging so much but I think I've been a tad bit busy with work/social and being seriously ill ( I have been so contagious recently! ) to put TLC into a post. I never want to feel as if blogging is a chore so I never force myself to start writing, I do it when I want to! That way it stays a hobby and not another pressure on top of lifes others! Know what I mean?! Anyway enough waffle about that, I want to share some birthday snaps with you. It was such a special day that would not have been that way without friends. Here's to friends, old and new who go out of their way to make you feel a million dollars :) 

My 7am surprise! From my wonderful housemate - she'd hidden my cards all week, baked a cake and even made my favourite breakfast for me! Such a cutie.

Another shock was a huge bunch of flowers delivered by a uni friend on the day. It was then I realised it was my first bunch anyone had ever sent me. It was so lovely of her.

The Bingham 

It was such a treat to eat at The Bingham and lived up to expectations ladies! I mean, this is a place I would want to get married at it's that lush. The service - amazing. The food - beautifully presented. The weather - HOT HOT HOT! We actually
kind of melted away on that balcony. 

If you fancy something fancy on the Thames with stunning views - this is your place. The menu will not disappoint and you will be bowled over by the waiters attention to making your visit a pleasant one. They are also a boutique B&B listed on Mrs and Mrs Smith.

Hair done, Jamie Oliver's and wine with friends made my birthday so much fun! But there was one thing missing.....Ma Famillia! They arrived the next day for some dossing around Ham time. My family seemed to love Ham which was nice. We took little Wills on his first ferry rid and just meandered around until the heat wore as all out (excuse the bed hair and hungover look!)

Birthdays can be a downer when your're single but thank god for the people in my life that rallied around to make it one of the best birthdays yet. MWAH!

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