Turning 27

A few iPhone pictures from a birthday weekend of cake, cake and more cake. With a few glasses of wine thrown in too.

A picture popped up on my Facebook memories from six years ago at a party showing a fresh-faced
smiling 21-year-old. 27 seemed like an absolute age away to that youngster but here we are. 27 years old. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not where I thought I would be at 27 when I was that girl about to finish her Journalism degree. I had a naive mind brimming with wild ideas. But I've achieved things that that 21 one-year-old never thought she would. I've been places she'd only dreamed of. I've got to hang out with childhood idols - 911 definitely got my bodyshakin'. I've worked for publications that would have made her pinch herself. I've finally gotten the Mulberry handbags she obsessively stalked online.

With age comes contentment and I feel pretty content with my lot. I'm not a massive high achiever but I've worked hard to get to where I am. I've had quite a few hiccups along the way - especially last year - but then so does everyone. Life doesn't always follow a script. It chews you up and spits you out but the most important thing is you get back on your feet.

The older I've become the more I feel like I've grown more of a voice and the ability to do what is right for me. I've learnt to say no, go with my gut instinct and admit that things aren't ok so I don't suffer in silence. I've surrounded myself with people who just get me and allow me to thrive. I've learnt to appreciate the little things in life and despite what my ASOS account may say, I know deep down it isn't the material things that make me happy. The happiness comes from the people you surround yourself by and the love you show yourself. I am so grateful to live in this big, beautiful, crazy world and I can't wait to explore it more. I may not have wisdom yet but that's overrated right? Who wants to grown old sensibly anyhow?

Come on 27, let's make this year count. I have a good feeling. Even if it does mean I'm officially in my late twenties.

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3 places in London to go for a quick lunch

Sometimes when you're dashing around London trying to fit in anything and everything, you don't always want somewhere to have a leisurely lunch. Places to see people! But that chicken ceasar baguette from Pret can only be eaten so many times. So here are three quick, cool and tasty independent eateries that are perfect to fill your belly before you soak up even more sights and run those errands. 

1. Banh Mi Bay
Vietnamese is one of my favourite cuisines. It's a fairly new one to me but I love how fresh, flavoursome and interesting it is. Hannah introduced me to Banh Mi Bay which specialises in the Banh Mi Baguettes. You can choose from a traditional roll or a french baguette before picking your filling - warm or cold. I opted for the warm spiced pork - what a good shout that was! For just a fiver, the Vietnamese roll comes bursting at the seams with pork, oodles of pickled shredded carrots, fresh cucumber and fiery chilli. Keep in mind it's not for the lighthearted! It's a great choice to a takeaway and they have three outposts dotted around central London.

2. Sampa
I stumbled into this Brazilian coffee shop by chance when I decided to shelter from the rain in Leather lane. Offering a delectable choice of sweet treats from slabs of red velvet cake to fruit custard tart to gooey chocolate brownies, it's the perfect place to get a sugar rush. I loved the industrial vibe with green succulents, rough wooden tables and mix-matched collages on the wall. It has the cool East London hipster vibe down to a tee - in central London. I spent a good few hours stuffing my face with cake with I blogged and didn't feel rushed at all by the staff.

3. Peyton and Byrne
I touched on this in a post last week but I couldn't leave it out! Again it offers fantastic sweet treats, healthy salads, decedent hot chocolates and scrumptious sandwiches. There really is something for everyone in this joint. Thanks to its central location in Covent Garden, it's in the middle of all the action. I personally recommend the roasted vegetable, pesto and mozzarella ciabatta. Perfection!

Do you have any suggestions for a quick bite to eat?

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Recipe: Fruity breakfast bars

Breakfast is the most important meal of a day but so easily missed. A quick slice of buttery toast, a flaky croissant from the coffee shop or a plastic bowl of cereal hurriedly eaten on the train are often the choice for busy commuters. But you can be healthy and still eat something substantial on the go. Flahavan's challenged me to #betteryourbreakfast and put together something a little different for the morning. Make these simple fruity breakfast bars on a Sunday night and you'll have something tasty and filling for the rest of the week.

Ingredients:
50g desiccated coconut
250g Flahavan's Irish Porridge Oats Multi Seed*
100g chopped dates
1 can of condensed milk
125g mixed nuts
75g apricots

Method:
1. Warm the condensed milk in a large pan. Pre-heat the oven at 130 degree - adjust if you're using a fan oven.

2. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl before pouring in the milk. Give a good sure to ensure everything is coated.

3. Line a 9x13 inch pan with greased parchment paper before pouring on the mixture. Make sure it's all evenly spread and pat it down with a spatula.

4. Pop in the oven for around 30 minutes or so. Keeping checking them as some ovens cook quicker or slower.

5. Leave in the dish for around 15 minutes.

6. Cut into 16 chunky slices and let them cool down completely. Store them in a cake tin to help keep them fresh.

As always please do send me a tweet if you make them, I'd love to know!

Inspiration for the recipe taken from Queen Nigella!

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OOTD: Chunky roll neck jumper

Outfit:

Khaki trench coat: Primark (similar)

Two tone chunky knit roll neck jumper: New Look

Navy soft touch skinny jeans: ASDA* (similar)

Two tone brown and black heeled leather boots: TK Maxx (similar)

Poppy red medium lily: Mulberry

I took fashion advice from Hannah Gale and went on the hunt before Christmas for some long-line chunky knit roll neck jumpers. The girl has a cracking collection. I eventually came across some on New Look that tickled my fancy - this two tone jumper was one of two that I ordered. Now I want to order all the chunky knits in the world. They're cosy, easy to throw on and allow you to still feel put together yet as comfortable as wearing your jammies outdoors. Win win situation all round. Now when is payday so I can buy more?

Ah Neals Yard - an Instagram wet dream eh? I met up with Lily and Sarah whilst dragging along my RL friend for a brunch date at Dishoom and a bit of Shakespeare culture with Dame Judi Dench in A Winter's Tale. You should have seen my best friends gobsmacked face when we all whipped out our cameras to photograph our breakfast. The girl didn't know what had hit her! A Winter's Tale was fun. I didn't really have a clue what was going on for the first 20 minutes and really should have done prior research. But by the second act I was laughing at the jokes and it was a pleasure to see Dame Judi in action. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday I tell thee. 

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Review: Peyton and Byrne, Covent Garden

Last week I met Sarah for lunch in Covent Garden with the intention of stuffing our faces in a new Nordic joint. But alas it didn't officially open until the next day so Peyton and Byrne was plan B. But we didn't settle as it was an excellent choice!

Peyton and Byrne is situated in the heart of the bustling Covent Garden, right next to the theatre showing the Lion King. Serving a variety of temping baked treats, squishy, overflowing sandwiches, savoury warm salads and luxurious hot drinks, it's the perfect haven from the busy streets. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for - everything we tried was delicious. They certainly don't scrimp on the sandwich fillings!

After much deliberation, I opted for the mozzarella, pesto and roasted vegetable seeded ciabatta and a miniature lemon drizzle cake. The sandwich was absolutely delicious! Filled with huge chunks of flavoursome roasted corvette, aubergines and peppers, topped with slabs of creamy mozzarella, drizzled with a generous helping of pesto and sprinkled with peppery rocket, it was a force to be reckoned with! One of my favourite combinations in a sandwich.

I finished off with a tasty lemon drizzle cake. With just the right amount of zing and a generous topping of citrus icing, it was the perfect sweet treat to finish off a great lunch. Although I couldn't resist eyeing up Sarah's hot chocolate....

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5 cities on my bucket list

I'm a fickle person and admit my list of places to visit changes weekly. At this rate I'll never visit them all! But these five have been in my top five for years - it's about time I crossed them off right?

Credit: @Retinaipadwalls via Pinterest

1. San Francisco
The beautiful United States of America. This country is my soul sister. I love everything about the brash, intrusive, mind-boggling country. San Francisco has been top of my places to visit for years and years. Right up there with NYC. I crossed NYC off in 2014 and hopefully it won't be long before this is crossed off either. I've seen so many pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge that I almost feel like I've been already. I want to soak up the history of Alcatraz, marvel at the multi-colured houses, scoff all the Dim Sum in the world's oldest Chinatown, not so elegantly cycle along the famous bridge, eat seafood at Fisherman's Wharf and hop on a historic cable car. One day!

Credit: Yakubanto via pinterest 

2. Dubai
That skyline! *insert heart eye emoji here* No one quite does a skyline like Dubai right? The slick and stylish city is just calling my name. I don't think there will be anywhere quite like it on earth. It  knows exactly how to put on a show! I want to gawp at the incredible light laser show at Burj Khalifa, go for an almighty champagne brunch,  head out to Palm Islands, spend all my hard-earned cash in the Dubai mall and see the stunning Jumeriah Mosque.

Credit: Amongraf blog via Pinterest

3. Florence
I still can't believe I've made it to nearly 27 and not yet made it to Italy. In particular, the gorgeous city of Florence. The city oozes history from it's pores and being the history buff I am, I'm desperate to soak it up like a sponge. The terracotta tiled houses, the role Tuscan countryside and delicious Italian dishes are all aspects I'm dying to experience for myself. Gazing at the city below from the top of the II Duomo De Firenze is top of my list. I wouldn't mind giving old 'David' a visit either! I feel Florence will be the perfect trip to pop my Italian cherry.

Credit: Chris Heijams via Pinterest

4. Marrakech
The rich colours, the overwhelming smells, the intense bartering and the stunning mosques all make this African city high on my bucket list. I've never been to Africa and Morocco is a mere hours away - not much further than Spain. I'd love to stay in a cosy Riad, get lost in the narrow alleyways, spend a fortune in the souks, book myself on a Moroccan cookery lesson, relax at a hammam and drink a cocktail on a rooftop terrace whilst gazing down at the city below. Why am I not on a plane there now?!

Credit: Instagram via Buzzfeed via Pinterest

5. Miami
I'm having a lot of trouble trying to persuade my holiday gang to visit Miami so this might be a bad boy to visit on my own. I've heard such mixed reviews of the city. Some have loved it yet others think it's awful. Guess I'll have to find out for myself! I think I've perhaps watched a little too many Spring Break themed films but I'm desperate to party in this Florida city.  Yep, that's basically what the main aim of my trip would be. Party like there's no tomorrow, eat all the food and soak up the vitamin D whilst lounging on the beach. Makings of a perfect trip away huh?


I have credited the pictures the best I can. All taken from Pinterest. If the image is yours and you'd like me to take it down, then please get in touch.

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A Mulberry handbag treat

Last weekend I did something pretty reckless. I treated myself to a new Mulberry handbag. It was completely on the whim as I wasn't really looking for a new designer bag. I had some Christmas money, early birthday money for my parents and a £2 money box a quarter full so I only ended up paying £41 out of my own money. So really it was practically free. Or something like that! I'd wandered into the shop in Covent Garden and saw my dream bag in the sale so decided to go for it. I haven't regretted it since. The Kitchenaid food blender I was saving up for will have to be bought later on in the year!

I have such a thing for red accessories and have lusted over a Mulberry Lily for a few years. I treated myself to a Bayswater when I got my first freelance gig three years ago so had been eyeing up a new bag. But I thought I had a lot more saving to do. My upcoming 27th birthday seemed like the perfect excuse to just go for it! I absolutely adore it. It's a fantastic size, such a vibrant colour and so versatile. There's just something about the Mulberry brand that sucker punches me. No one else comes close.

Isn't Lily such a beauty?!

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My goals to achieve in 2016

Looking back at 2015 life goals, I haven't really done very well. But I tried so that's the main thing right? Sometimes we can't achieve everything we set out to do in 12 months. So what do I plan on doing in 2016?

1. See even more of the world
I want to carry on with where I left off in 2015. It was such an incredible year for travel. If I'm honest, I think that will always be my number one priority. This year I have booked in Cologne, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest - ticking off four new countries along the way. I'm most excited about four days in Budapest, a city that I've long lusted over. I won't be leaving Europe this year as not having a full time job puts paid to that. But Europe is such a vibrant, colourful and diverse continent that I don't feel like I've drawn the short straw at all.

2. Put more of my passion into this blog
So last year was suppose to be the year that i really make something of this blog. Well it didn't take off like I wanted it too. But I think I'm ok about that. I had some incredible opportunities and worked with some cracking brands last year because of this little space on the internet. This year I only want to put out content that I truly feel passionate about. Even if that means just posting once a week. It's going to be quality over quantity. I'm a little guilty of panicking and publishing something that I'm not quite confident with because I FEEL like I need to get something out there. I'm still going to post a variety of content and concentrate a lot more on the foodie aspect. Father Christmas aka the boyfriend very generously gifted me an Olympus Pen for Christmas so I'm hoping the quality of my photos will improve tenfold.

3. Spend more time with those I've known the longest
I am absolutely terrible at keeping in touch. Send me a text and I'll jump at the chance to meet up but I hardly ever make the first move. It's just because I get so caught up in my everyday life and completely forget to make time. I feel like I'm constantly moving at 100mph. So this year I'm going to make the effort. Be the person who suggests lunch, be the person who goes and stays with an old friend for the weekend and be that person who sends a text out of the blue to let someone know they're thinking of them.

4.  Look after my skin
I've never really had problems with my skin but this year, lord it's been a right old state. Despite spending a fortune on lotions and potions, I tend to use them for a few weeks then get lazy. Sleeping in make up, not cleansing my face and using make up wipes are all sins I've been guilty off this year. So i'm going to try and get back into a routine. Use the clay masks, the sheet masks and the facial oils and get my face under control!

5. Learn to have more self-confidence
This old chestnut eh? This year my confidence in myself seems to have hit rock bottom. It's resulted in lots of comfort eating, not taking care of myself and generally moping around like a big old wallower. So this year I'm going to try and take back a little control. Think of all the good things rather than dwell on the things that make me unhappy. Which in turn will help me become a right sassy chick ready to take on the world and show it exactly what I can offer. I'm fed up of feeling unhappy in myself.

New year, new start right?

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Review: Egg Break, Notting Hill, West London

I've been working West for nearly two months and it's a part of town I'm not too familiar with. So when Hannah suggested we meet Lily for dinner in Notting Hill to try a new restaurant on her list, I didn't argue. It was about time I started to explore the area!

Enter Egg Break. Egg Break is a newish venture by Soho House that specialises in eggs. Funny that. It's taking a break for a while but will be back in business in February. Keep an eye out for the re-launch.

First things first. The service was pretty poor. They look an age to take our order despite us three being the only people in the restaurant bar a table of one. Our cocktail order was delivered after our food arrived once we had prompted our waiter. We complained about the service charged added on at the end because we didn't think the meal deserved it. In their defence, they look it off without any complaints but never really apologised for the poor service. Enough of the negativity, did we enjoy the food?

Yes we did. Very much so. Just as well really otherwise it may have been a disaster. I opted for the juicy pork belly, a flavoursome fennel sausage, spicy sriarcha mayo and peppery rocket in a soft, sturdy bun. All topped with a perfectly cooked fried egg. The runny yolk effortlessly melted into the spicy mayo, helping to create a fusion of flavours. For the sides, Hannah and I were greedy little piglets and opted from the creamy avocado topped with sea salt  - how can something so simple be so tasty?! - and crunchy miniature hash browns. I'm still dreaming about those hash browns.

Would I go back? Yes, I'd love to try their breakfast. Sometimes service can be a little hit and miss and hopefully by February they will have nipped this in the bud.

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