Am I a narcissist?

I was on the bus a few weeks ago and was listening to a middle aged couple talk about the yoof of today and how awfully narcissistic my generation are. It's all selfies and social media. We only think about ourselves and how we're too busy being vain to be of any use to anyone. We validate our lives by how others perceive us.

It got me thinking. I've been taking pictures of my mug for the internet for the past seven years. Shamelessly posting it all over social media and writing about my favourite clothes and make up. Put a camera in front of me and I'll happily strike a pose - so long as I get to take 76563543 pictures so I can choose the most flattering. So why exactly do I post pictures of myself on the internet for everyone to see?

Of course it's nice to hear people tell you like they like your outfit you've spent a good hour deciding to wear and when you hit 50 likes on that cake you've spent a whole morning slaving over on Instagram. It does give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside. But this isn't how I validate my life. I promise.

I've always been the one to take lots of pictures even back in the days when it was cool to take a disposable camera out to a Saturday night out in a grimy, sticky-floored club. So why change the habit of a lifetime? I post pictures on my blog and social media because I love to keep an online diary of what I've been getting up to. It's so easy to forget those little moments in life as you get bogged down with the mundane. I scroll back through my Instagram and blog with a smile on my face, remembering all the dreamy holidays, fun days out with friends and ridiculous outfits I once thought looked stylish. It's a way of hoarding my memories.

So no, I wouldn't class myself as a narcissist. Where's my iPhone? I need to take a picture of my face thanks.

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A catch up: November 2017

Booking city breaks
We had planned to opt for a city break in the UK to celebrate our anniversary in January with Manchester and Liverpool being top of our list. But when I started looking into it, train prices were terrifying. Seriously what is up with the trains in this country? I decided to have a browse to see what Ryanair was offering and after scrolling past about 5 different Polish cities (I won't be back for at least five years), I stumbled across Bordeaux. The rest is history and now we're proud owners of £20 flights to France. We're looking forward to three days of stuffing our face with cheese, gorging on fresh seafood, eating too many croissants and drinking the delicious local wine. It's not a massive city and I have a few things on my list that I definitely want to see. But I am always on the look out for any recommendations - has anyone ever visited?

House gossip
The house is going full steam ahead right now and really starting to come together. The kitchen is looking lush and I couldn't be more in love with it. It's slowly becoming the kitchen of my dreams and I never realised just how excited I would be over a butler sink and a range cooker. We've got the worktops being cut at the weekend and hopefully the electrician coming in to finish off the electric then we can start tiling the walls. I already know that it's going to be my favourite room in the house.

Feeling festive
Blame it on working ten years in retail and hospitality but I'm not that much of a Christmas fan and only really start to get excited about a week before at the prospect of eating cheese and drinking too much gin. But this year it hit November 1st and suddenly I couldn't contain my excitement. Now I have my own house to decorate, my excitment is in overdrive. I'm feeling the most festive I've ever been and am LOVING it. Although my Christmas bauble habit is slightly getting out of control...

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Five things I've learnt about myself whilst renovating a house

1. I am very impatient
I don't like waiting for things and get frustrated when things don't happened immediately. I'm impulsive and quite demanding if I'm honest. This has not been a straight forward process at all. It's a long seven months and it's probably going to be a long next couple of years.

2. My dad is my hero
I always knew I'd lucked out in the dad department but I don't think I fully appreciated just how amazing he is until we got this house. My dad is a roofer who works six days a week doing a pretty manual job, yet he still finds the time to come round every single day and do something to help. Even if it's just to fit a lightbulb. We really couldn't have done this without his knowledge, guidance and help. He's fitting our kitchen as we speak! He's been putting his heart and soul into our house to make sure it's everything we've dreamed of.

3. Compromise is extremely hard
Only child over here! I don't think I realised just how much I want to have my own way. If I'm honest, Connor is pretty easy going and usually just says yes because he'll do anything for an easy life. But the little rascal has not just said yes to this house. He's been putting his foot down quite often when I tell him of yet another wild idea, namely that knocking an entire wall down is a ridiculously expensive idea. And spending £800 on Farrow & Ball paint for the downstairs is insane. And refusing to pay tens of thousands of pounds so we can have a log burner. But I did get my butler sink, my range cooker, oak worktops and real wood flooring so I suppose he's not all bad!

4. I am absolutely ready to move out
If I'm honest I only really started saving for a house because I felt like it was time for me to start doing it. I've always liked the idea of moving out but I've never been in any rush. I have a pretty cushy lifestyle at home. I pay minimal housekeeping so my disposable income is pretty generous in letting me have multiple holidays a year, fill my wardrobe with ASOS and enjoy going on a new adventure each weekend. But now? I am so ready to move out and make a home on my own. I'm looking forward to having my own space and have the option of sitting on my sofa in my pants, surrounded by Dominos and watching repeats of Peaky Blinders with no one telling me I can't do that. It looks like I've finally grown up!

5. Resentment is very real
I never wanted to buy a house at home in Essex. I have a there hour round trip commute into work each day. While I'm just 30 minutes away from Liverpool Street on the train, it just so happens that I work in Notting Hill which is probably one of the further away points of London from my home. It really is just one of those things but it doesn't make the commute any easier to deal with. It's hard. Really hard. I leave the house at 7.15 and tend to get home between 7.30-8pm. Connor works in Cambridge which is 30 minutes straight down the M11 and he's usually home about 5pm - on a good day. Moving to London just wouldn't make much sense and his job means he moves locations about every three years and could be literally anywhere in the country. And it's silly to pay London prices when you're not working in the city. I know all of this and I understand all of this. But it doesn't mean that I didn't really resent buying a house in Essex. I found the perfect flat in Mile End on the Roman Road that I was desperate to view and it would cut my commute down to just 20 minutes. All I ever wanted is to live in the city. But it's just never materialised. In fact, it's only the last couple of weeks as I've seen the house become more like a home that the feeling has subsided.

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Why do I keep blogging when I'm never going to make a 'success' out of it?

Blogs are full of posts about how to make money, increase your follower count and turn blogging into your full time job. I have no desire - or even the ability - to turn my blog into my job nor do I make much money. As for my followers? They steadily go up but I'm no where near in line with the big guns considering I've been blogging for the past seven years. Sometimes it seems like fun has been taken out of the blogging community as people get obsessed with numbers and making dollars. That it's only worth keeping up a blog if you're going to make it into a business.

So where do I keep plugging away, updating this little space on the internet? The simple fact is I enjoy it and I'm not quite sure what I would do if it no longer existed. It's been part of basically my entire adult life from the tender age of 21. I've documented my university degree, my first job in journalism, my first house and endless trips all over the world. 

We all measure success in different ways. Obviously compared to the blogging greats, this blog is a mere minion. But to me? Every new follower, every page view and every comment is a success. I often think the blogging boat I originally clambered on to has long sailed as the industry evolves into something I barely recognise. I keep blogging because it's something to look back on. It gives me the excuse to try new things and see new places. I wouldn't have done half of the things in my life if I didn't have this blog. It's all too easy to get caught up in mundane details of life and enter your very own groundhog day. Sleep, work, repeat. Simply this blog encourages me to make the most out of life, to push me into doing things and get out of my comfort zone as cheesy as that may sound. That is what encourages me to keep blogging even though I'm never going to become 'internet-famous'. But I'm internet famous for my mum so that's what counts eh?!

Why do you keep blogging? 

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A catch up: October 2017

House news
I hope you're not bored of hearing about that house because I still have so much to talk about. It's now been nearly eight months since we had the keys and we're at the stage of being about to have sleepovers at the weekend. Can I get a hell yeah? HELL YEAH! The bedroom is done bar the floor which can't be done until we can afford to buy a new boiler next summer. Why are those darn things so expensive?! The kitchen is painted and the tiles are laid on the floor. Next the cupboards and the worktops are due to be fitted. Then we can order the fridge so we can actually keep food in the house. Revolutionary! I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to have my very own Belfast sink. It will be glorious! Yes, I've now reached the age where I get excited over a sink. Is this what your late twenties are all about?

Learning to say no
This house business has been tough on my finances. In fact it's been something I have really struggled - and am still struggling - with. I like to go out with friends, stuff my fat face and update my wardrobe frequently. But my disposable income had dropped dramatically. I know it's all for a good cause but sometimes I can't help but feel a bit bitter and resentful towards the house. But then I visit and realise just how silly I'm being and how incredible it is to say that I'm a homeowner. I've been making a really conscious decision to scale things back. I'm only saying yes to doing things a couple of times a month, starting to clear through the sheer amount of junk I own to make some extra money and trying to spend more time locally rather than running off to London every chance I get. It's still very much a work in process. And very hard work.

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A catch up: August 2017

House renovations
It's hard to believe that we've had the keys to our home for five months and sometimes it feels like we're making absolutely no progress. But then I glance back at pictures and realise just how far we've come. The living room is now plastered and painted with the wooden floor already laid - our sofa is coming in September. Then we can start making it feel like a home. In one room at least! My dad and boyfriend have insulated the ceiling and laid the plasterboard  so I'm hoping to order our kitchen within a couple of weeks. Sometimes I think I made an awful mistake buying a house that needed so much work doing to it but then when I see it start coming together and think it's the best thing I've ever done. Even if my bank account doesn't agree... Such a rollercoaster!

New hair
I'm growing my hair at the moment as hoping to donate it to charity. So as a result it's been in a bit of a state but Rush* offered to help me tidy it up a bit. I only had a small amount cut off the ends and my fringe tidied up but it's made a world of difference. It looks a lot healthier already and seems to be growing even more if that's possible! Rush always has such great customer service and it's a pleasure to go and have my hair cut. They even curled my hair as I mentioned I was going to a party in the evening. It's the little touches that really make an experience enjoyable.

Weddings and weekends away
September is gearing up to be a very busy month. I'll be travelling down to Cardiff for Gem's wedding then on the following weekend we also have a wedding in London where we will be enjoying a little staycation. God bless those three day weeks eh? I've got a lunch date at Hannah's too look forward to and going wedding dress shopping with my sister-in-law. One of my friend's is also due to welcome our first baby into the group. I don't feel old enough for that! It's a good job I'm staying in for the rest of August!

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Not fitting into the blogging world - and why it's ok

It's hard to believe I've been writing my thoughts down on this little space the internet for the past seven years. And what a seven years that has been. I've made friends for life and had some incredible opportunities. All down to being bored once evening in 2010 at my boyfriends house while he was watching the football.

There has also been some incredible changes in the blogging world over the past seven years. We've gone from taking photos in our bedrooms with a camera balancing on a few books on a shelf to carefully curated photoshoots that wouldn't look out of place in a glossy monthly magazine. Somewhere along the way I've forgotten how to keep up. When I first started I seemed to fit into the crazy world. We were all young girls who had found this outlet and thrived on each other's successes. We went to the same events, we worked with the same brands and became each other's cheerleaders, religiously commenting on posts.

Now the blogging world has evolved so much I almost don't recognise it - it has taken on a life of its own. It's now a full time job filled with girls completely kicking arse. And now it's become somewhere where I don't have a place. Somewhere where I feel slightly irrelevant. My blog isn't really anything. My photography isn't going to set the world alight. I don't have an amazing fashion eye to shoot magazine worthy campaigns. I'm still awkwardly posting looking at my feet. I'm no longer top of brands lists to collaborate with. Sometimes I feel like I should just call it a day. Maybe deep down I just don't want to work at it. Maybe this is why I sometimes I feel so disconnected from the blogging world.

But then I look at seven years worth of posts and I feel proud. Proud that I've managed to keep this going for most of my adult life. Proud that so many brilliant brands have thought my blog was worthy of a collaboration. Proud that over the years my content has consistently got better even if it isn't up there with the best. Proud that people still read my words I pour into this space. Proud that this blog has become an extension of who I am. It's simply something that I don't think I could ever give up. So really it's ok I don't fit into the blogging world.

Sometimes not fitting in is the most fun of all.

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2017 goals - six months on

So somehow we're halfway through 2017 so I thought it'd be a good idea to have a look at how I'm getting on achieving - or not achieving - my goals.

1. Read more books
Well so far I have read three books which isn't hitting my target of once a month but is already better than last year. So i'm kinda bossing this right? I'm still taking those naps but have been trying to make them less frequent. Trying being the operative word here. But so far I have finished the third Game of Thrones book which took an age, A Tree In Brooklyn about a girl coming of age in Brooklyn obviously and the Miniaturist which I'm not quite sure I enjoyed. At the minute I'm reading The Night Manager which took a while to get on board with. But now I'm halfway through it's becoming a lot more enjoyable and making me wish I was a spy. I reckon I'm on course for 5 books which won't be too shabby. I've got a lot of train journeys coming up for my Poland trip so hoping to immerse myself into a book or two then.

2. See the world
This one I feel like I'm hitting. I've been lucky enough to go on a trip to Paris and Marseille with a trip to Poland coming up n July. I've also got a trip to Cardiff for Gem's wedding in September and spent a wonderful four days in Northern Ireland in January. There is also talk of a possible Disneyland Paris trip in the pipeworts for December. I've never been to France so much! I knew this wasn't going to be the year for any big trips because of our house so I'm pretty happy to have squeezed in as many as I have.

3. Look after myself from the inside out
Well I started off strong then began to falter... I have been making the conscious decision to try and be more active. I've spent lunchtimes going for little walks to try and get to my 10k steps each day. I've also been struggling up those tube escalators with lots of huffing and puffing. But my diet is still absolutely appalling. Still struggling to get this bit under control thanks to my lazy bones nature. It feels like a double edge sword as I'm so tired so literally don't give my diet any thought but so sluggish because my diet is pretty bad. Woe is me eh?

5. Pay off my credit card
Well this definitely isn't going to happen. Especially as I booked flights to New York in March. However, it's starting to bother me a bit now as it's so annoying to be paying so much off each month. So I'm hoping at least half of it will be paid off by Christmas. Who knows if this is wishful thinking!

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Three of my favourite candles at the moment

Since buying my own house I've become obsessed with candles. I feel they really help to create a warm, welcoming home and find them so relaxing flickering away after a long day at work. Here are three of favourite candles at the moment...

1. Roam by 42 Pressed*
Named after my favourite city in the world, this 100% natural soy wax candle was made for me! Boasting spicy black pepper, floral lavindin, woody oak moss and musky labdanum, it has a really rich and warming aroma. It's powerful yet not too over bearing.

2. Alchemy and Thistle*
The amber vintage-style glass immediately caught my eye and then I smelt it and fell hook, line and sinker. Made from eco-friendly soya wax, the rich aroma of zesty bergamot and warming frankincense circles the room. It helps to create such a cosy atmosphere and really evokes feelings of autumn. Despite being in spring, it's still a little chilly so the candle is still burning bright.

3. Scandinavisk
Keen to embrace all aspects of Scandinavian culture, I had to add one of these candles to my collection. - how pretty is that glass jar? I opted for Island Solitude which promised to evoke images of Scandinavian islands with subtle notes of driftwood, hardy rose, white flowers and green leaves. It smells beautifully light and fresh, making it perfect for the warmer months.

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April 2017: a life update

So nearly at the end of yet another month. Gosh this year is just zooming past isn't it? I quite enjoyed the chatty update of my March post so thought I'd carry on. It feels a bit like how blogging used to be when I first fell in love with it.

It's been nearly a month since we got the keys to our house and it looks like a tornado has swirled though it. We discovered that everything looked a little make-do and nothing has really been completed of that a high standard so we had a lot more work to do than we originally though. So off we went ripping the house apart! We took down a stud wall, blocked and unblocked a couple of doors, ripped up the floors and stripped the wallpaper of the rooms. We're concentrating on the living and dining room at the minute to get it into shape and leaving the rest of the house to fend for itself! It's slowly getting there with a plumber and electrician coming today to do some bits before a plasterer in three weeks. I lol at that girl who thought back in October when her offer was accepted that she could give it a lick of paint and move straight in...

I'm also on countdown to my trip the French Rivera next month. Hannah, Sarah, Michelle and I are off to Elodie's neck of the woods for a weekend away. We'll be spending a day in Marseille before heading down to her coastal town for a couple of days of relaxing on a beach, drinking too much rose and going into a cheese coma. Who knew those strangers behind a computer screen could be so much fun?

Politics seems to have got itself all in a tizzy again following the announcement of a general election on June 8. The time when I start deleted people of Facebook because they don't agree with my views. This loony, raging leftie is only half-joking... Seriously though, this election is so incredibly important and perhaps the most important election I will have voted in. Please register to vote before May 22. Brexit is something that will change the history of our country and it needs to be approached in the right way with a level head. It will not only affect us but generations to come. We need a strong government to guide us through these rocky waters. I'm not here to tell you who to vote for as I believe everyone should do their research and vote for who they believe is the right person. But please do your research and really look into what each party represents. I know for me, one of the most things I'm most passionate about is safeguarding the NHS. My mum  and friends work for the NHS and I have family members who simply wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for that health service. It's such a precious thing and we are so lucky to have it. It's not perfect by any means but it deserves to given the chance to grow and flourish. Another thing on my list is education. I'm a firm believer in the fact that everyone should be given the right to the same level of education regardless of their background. The wealthy shouldn't have more privilege simply because of circumstance. My best friend is a state school primary teacher and I hear about the daily struggles she goes through to help her children achieve their potential. It's so, so hard without the resources that she desperately needs. She really is an angel. Four million children live in poverty which is astonishing for a country such as the UK. This really isn't good enough.

So, make sure you tick a box on June 8!

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Creating the perfect nook for blogging

It's hard to believe I've been blogging since 2010. Something I started in my boyfriend house because I was bored he was watching Man Utd on the telly has somehow snowballed into this. I honestly can't imagine my life without it but as I've got older, finished university and started my career, it's becoming harder and harder to make time for it. So I like I create a little blogging nook once a week to help to get focus and write without any distractions. Here are a few tips that help me settle down to business...

As much as I love lounging in bed, I find it doesn't really make me productive when I'm trying to work so I make myself a little work station. First things first is to make sure there is enough light coming in. My room is pretty dark so this white colour changing desk lamp from Omrod* is perfect. It also has a built-in USB charging port for my phone and is dimmable via touch control.

I also like to treat myself to a fresh bunch of flowers to brighten the area up. Tulips seem to be my bloom of choice at the minute - don't they look beautiful in this ceramic jug from Amara*? My favourite travel books provide a constant source of inspiration and these cactus candles from Pimark add a cute kitcsh element. Finally a picture of the BFF and I that makes me smile every time I catch a glimpse at it. I find it's always the little things that encourage your motivation.

How do you keep productive when you're writing blog posts?

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The perfect Easter spread for a gathering

Since I've bought my own house my interiors obsession has gotten out of control. Luckily Amara has helped me to fund this interiors obsession with this selection of gorgeous ceramics. I can't wait to have the house in shape to invite people round for dinner parties, drinks and afternoon tea. Any excuse to put on a spread. What better excuse to put on a spread than Easter weekend?

So in keeping with tradition, I attempted my very first roast leg of lamb but with a Greek twist. After scouring Good Food for a suitable recipe - all my cookbooks are in storage ready for the move! - I came across the perfect recipe and decided to serve it with a simple Greek salad and rosemary mini roasties. To help keep with the spring theme I treated myself to bunch of tulips in this pretty white and blue patterned jug*. I much prefer the rustic, country look of putting flowers in a jug to a glass vase - I just think it feels more homely and this jug couldn't be more perfect.

Easter is often a time where it's a whirlwind of people coming and going and the urgently of being in certain places at the right time. So because of this you need something delicious yet something that is really simple to cook. This roast lamb is perfect because you marinate it then stick it in the oven in an oven proof dish - like this yellow patterned one* - surrounded by some herby potatoes before sitting back and letting it cook. The tasty oregano, garlic and olive oil sauce scored into the lamb really helped to keep the meat juicy and flavoursome.

As the weather is usually starting to pick up by Easter, it means meals start to get a little bit lighter and salads start to take centre stage. Served in this green pattern terracotta bowl*, a Greek Salad was the perfect accompaniment to the lamb. Vine cherry tomatoes, cucumber cubes, slices of red onion, a handful of black olives, a handful of sun-dried tomatoes were tossed in a glug of olive oil and dried oregano. A generous sprinkling of salty feta cheese was the finishing touch. There's just something about lamb and Greek flavours that goes so well don't you think?

For those who prefer their roast meat with a bit of a sauce, this simple concoction of a tin of chopped tomatoes and black olives warmed in a saucepan is great. It feels fresh and keeps in with theme thanks to the typically Greek ingredients. I served it on these cute colourful tapas dishes* to match the gorgeous summery plates*. Isn't there just something about this collection that screams warm weather?

What are your favourite recipes for Easter?

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Five things I've learnt since buying a house

We've only had the keys to our house less than two weeks but it feels like we've always owned it. We've not moved in yet and probably won't for a few months as it needs a fair bit of work to spruce it up. But here are some things I've learnt since we excitedly picked up the keys to our house. And sat on the floor surrounded by the smell of cat wee eating fish and chips...

1. It's never quite how you remember
We went to see our house twice before we got the keys yet by the time we walked through those doors I had completely forgotten what it looked it. It seemed smaller than what I remembered. But after that first shock of walking through the door of a home you now own, it's hard to imagine never not owning it. The feeling is probably one of the greatest ones in the world.

2. It's a marathon not a sprint
I'm very impatient by nature so it's very hard that my house is currently looking like a Pinterest wet dream. We knew it needed a far bit of work when we bought it but when I realised that it wasn't going to be looking pristine in a week, it was hard. It's pretty frustrating that it's not looking exactly how I want it to be. But I want to do it right. I don't want to just buy things to 'make do', I'd rather go without for a few months to save up for the things I really want. So I'm just going to suck it up and deal with bare floorboards and paintless walls for a little while longer.

3. Compromising is hard
I have all these bright ideas in my head and thanks to my only child syndrome, I'm pretty prone to wanting my own way. Compromising isn't one of my strongest traits. But I'm learning. We just don't have the budget to have all these things I've envisioned. I'm beginning to hate the 'B' word...  Instead of having Farrow & Ball paint all over the house, we've comprised on using it on the feature walls we have planned and Dulux white paint everywhere else. It's the little things like that help to keep the costs down yet still allow you to have what you really want.

4. Reality is very different
You never really know what you buy because it's so hard to really inspect a house when its filled with furniture. You can't really go to someone else's house and start moving things in order to get a good look. Unless of course, you fancy a bop on the nose. We brought this house thinking we had a year to try and get it to what we wanted while living there. It turned out that it was just a bit of a bodge job. The skirting boards were different sizes, the kitchen had seen better days, the bathroom is grotty and the floorboards are uneven. In a way it's a blessing because it means we HAVE to get it sorted now rather than make do.

5. Money gets swallowed up
£3,000 sounds like a lot of money until you take into consideration how much paint costs, plasterers cost, flooring costs and furniture costs. Spoiler. It isn't a lot of money. AT ALL. We're going to concentrate on getting the house in a decent shape rather than think about furniture. So it looks like we will be sitting on camping chairs in the living room until the summer. But all part of the fun eh?

Despite everything, it really is the best thing I have done. I still can't quite get over the fact I now own a house. A HOUSE. I've never adulted so hard...

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Three tips for throwing a summer party on a budget

Although we currently don't have any wallpaper on the walls, no flooring on the floor and walls missing from our house, we're hoping that we might find the time to throw a little party in the summer to help celebrate becoming homeowners and the fact the boyfriend finally catches up with me and turns 28. We'd love to throw a party in a gorgeous venue in London - a great venue finding service such a Venueseeker offers lots of inspiration and a big variety of venues - but we're on a budget so are having it at home. Here are three tips on how to throw a party without spending an absolute fortune:

Look for deals
Catering can soon add up so keep an eye out for special offers in supermarkets. Some venues also let you do your own catering which is a great way to keep costs down too. There's often deals on alcohol to be had and BOGOF offers on food. A BBQ is a great stress-free way to host a party. There's no slaving over a hot stove for hours, trying to get the timings right. As soon as the summer comes, supermarkets offer great deals on meat.

Become creative
Pinterest is a dream for inspiration - you will get lost for hours upon end. Become an expert at DIY and make all your own decorations. It's a great way to stop costs spiralling out of control and to add your own little stamp to the party. Pick up supplies from craft shops, charity shops and pound shops.

Make your own
You pay a premium for the ease of pre-packaged food so making it your yourself can sometimes cost half the price. Make your own salads, sandwiches and nibbles. If your cupboards are anything like mine, they're already filled with every type of spice you can imagine so use them to create your own rubs for the meats.

Do you have any tips on how to throw a summer party on a budget?

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My gin collection

This past year I have developed an obsession with gin. A BIG obsession. I've been trying to build up my gin collection ready for the big move as I'm desperate to have a gin bar in my dining room. Who needs to buy a sofa when you can have a bar right? Don't you think these gorgeous Kate Spade tumblers* would look perfect on display? I'm on the look out for some more glassware, gin and bar accessories so let me know if you have seen anything nice! This is the gin I've added to my collection so far...

Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle
Exclusive to Marks & Spencer, this citrus gin is delicious. Paired with a bitter lemon tonic or simple slimline tonic, you get bursts of juniper and sweetness with every sip. It makes such a nice change from other gins. Make sure you pour easy on the tonic for the flavour to really shine through.

Sipsmith
This is my all-time favourite - I look for it in every city I go too. I was pleased as pinch to find it in Derry. Made near my work in Chiswick, west London, it always remind me of home and the city I love.  It's an uncomplicated gin without any unusual botanicals that really stand out. Why go all fancy when you can do it this well? It's just a good, solid, fresh gin that is brilliantly smooth  on its own or paired with a tonic.

Ophir
Boasting spices of cardamon, coriander and black pepper, it's a gin that packed full of flavour and offers something a little different. I find the taste too strong in a normal g+t but it perfect in a gin cocktail. It's makes a great gin version of a Bloody Mary.

Two birds
Produced in Leicestershire, this gin only uses five different botanicals. Proving that sometimes simple is best. It has a good strong finish and only needs a little tonic to get the full flavour. Better still, try it neat to appreciate the creaminess. But I love it paired with a ribbon of cucumber and slimline tonic.

Caorunn
I have such a soft spot for Scottish gins and this one gets a thumbs up from me. I love the unusual suggestion of using red apple as a garnish which helps to bring out the blush apple flavours in what is quite a subtle gin. No overpowering notes here. Another gin that only uses five local foraged botanicals, it's made in a small batch and offers memories of the Scottish Highlands - immediately transporting me back.

Do you have any gin suggestions for me?

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Four things I did to have a social life while saving for a house deposit

One of the things I didn't want to happen when I started to save for a house deposit was to be stuck indoors for a year. I love going out, seeing things and eating things and wasn't quite ready to have all that taken away from me. After all, you're only young once right?! So I decided to try and strike a balance between still living life to full and putting away a large chunk of my wages each month. These are a few things that I find helped out a lot...

1. Cineworld unlimited card
This cinema card has been a lifesaver. It costs £17.40 and works out to be a great deal. Cinema tickets are around £9 now in our area and you only have to go twice to get your money back. It also offers 10% off Cineworld snacks and drinks - going up to 25% after the first year - alongside the same discount at Pizza Hut, Chiqutos and Frankie & Bennys. When you're sick of staring at the four walls, it offers great respite and helps you lose yourself for a few hours. We find ourselves seeing films we would never have dreamt of going to see which is a brilliant way to broaden our film knowledge. I really couldn't recommend the card enough.

2. Find free things
We're lucky that we live quite close to London and its filled with endless free museums, exhibitions and just a joy to walk around. I'm sure other big cities in the UK offer free events too. Yes you have to buy a train ticket or pay for petrol to drive there but it doesn't work out much in the grand scheme of things. You get out the house and still have a fun day out with a bit of culture thrown in too. We've spent hours gawking in museums and walked around London admiring the beautiful architecture for hours. When you get peckish, refer to tip number 4!

3. Bring the party to yours (or a friends!)
Instead of going out at the weekend, organise a night in all together. We had a cracking gin night a few weeks ago. Each person bought along a gin, mixer and garnish and when we got a bit peckish we ordered in a cheap pizza. It was one of the best nights I've had for a long time and we were in bed by midnight. You don't have to stay out all hours to have a fun night! Turns out sharing seven bottles of gin makes you sleepy... It wasn't ridiculously cheap but a hell of a lot cheaper than going out for drinks in London. It was great to have a catch up and proved when you're surrounded by good friends, you can really be anyway and it doesn't matter. You don't have to pay through the nose to have a good time.

4. Learn to be savvy when eating out
It's not secret that I love to stuff my face but eating out isn't too purse-friendly. Luckily now there ae endless deals to be had. Keep an eye out for soft launches for new restaurants- this website is great - as they often offer 50% off. Alternatively, many chains now do vouchers. Pizza Express and Prezzo always have pretty decent deals.

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How to have a chilled Friday evening indoors

I don't know about you but I really dislike going out on a Friday night and try to arrange my weekend socialising to start on a Saturday night. After the working week all I want do is come home, put some comfy clothes on - some Jack Wills Joggers would be perfect -  and chill out in my own head with maybe some pizza thrown in for some good measure. So here are my tried and tested ways to have a chilled out Friday night indoors. Staying in is the new going out don't you know?

Switching off
Your brain is pretty frazzled after a long week at work and what it doesn't need is to work overtime on a Friday night. So I tend to do something that completely allows my mind to wander elsewhere, to forget about what has happened over the last five days. I find a trashy film, a documentary you've seen before or a riveting book can help take you unwind.

Good food
After trying to eat healthily all week, Friday is the day that I come home from work and go for the comfort food. Something that's still wholesome and quick to make but like a hug in a bowl. Thai green Curry, Spaghetti Bolognese or chicken fajitas are my go-to meals. I find standing in the kitchen making something delicious is a great way to switch off too as all I can think about is how amazing it will be when I finally get to eat!

Leaving the inter webs alone
I know this is easier said than done but I spend my whole life on the internet - both at work and at home - so on a Friday night I'm feeling a little burnt out. I'm so tired from the working week that the last thing I want to is to spend hours scrolling social media and writing up blog posts. So unless I have something urgent to do, once it gets to 8pm I log out of the internet life and start living in the present. It also helps you get a decent night sleep which is always a bonus.


What is your perfect chilled out Friday evening like?

This post was written in collaboration 

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March 2017: a life update

It's only the beginning of March and its already been a bit of a whirlwind. I'm so excited to officially say that we now own a house. An actual house with two bedrooms and a garden. We exchanged early last week and have a competition date of 16th March. Nine days... Sometimes I feel like I have to pinch myself as it doesn't quite seem real. Although we'd been saving for a while, it still felt like an unattainable goal. But it's been achieved! After ten years my boyfriend and I have decided its time to be adults and live together. It could be the beginning of the end haha.  There's a little bit of work to be done, mainly painting, plastering and flooring, so we won't be moving in straight away. But the keys will be ours on the 16th so we can come and go as we want. I can't wait to light the open fire and start creating my gin bar! We want to completely changed everything but are just going to stick to the living room and dining room this year. We still want to have a bit of a social life so are going to take things slowly.

Would anyone be interested in a little post about how we managed to save for a deposit? Just a lowdown on how we managed to do without sacrificing absolutely everything we enjoyed.

We also finally booked our two week summer holiday to Poland. Flights were a little more expensive than we really wanted to pay but we lucked out on accommodation for just over £100 and we're staying with my friend's family for a little bit of the trip too. I have a feeling this holiday will be a welcomed distraction from when renovating the house becomes just a little too much...

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My goals for 2017

A little late but here are a few goals I've set myself to meet in 2017. I might meet them or I might not. Who knows? But it's always nice to have them written down.

1. Read more books
I have a nearly three hour commute to work every day and mostly I just spend it snoozing. But as much as I value those shut eye moments, I really could be doing something a bit more productive and I think this is probably why I'm not sleeping too well at night. My reading is definitely slacking which is ridiculous as there really is nothing more than I love doing than poking my nose in a book. I'm going to make it my mission to read at least 10 new books this year. Working out at less than one a month, there's not reason why I shouldn't achieve this!

2. See the world
Following on from last year, I once again want to continue the momentum. I have a few getaways already planned for this year and couldn't be happier to once again be focusing on Europe. My travel plans are kicking off this weekend in Paris.

3. Look after myself from the inside out
I'm notoriously bad at looking after myself. My diet is absolutely awful. I have too many late nights than I care to remember. Exercise is never at the forefront of my mind. I feel sluggish and tired all the time. So I'm going to start making little changes. Stop wiling away pointless hours on my phone or laptop at night. Grab those much needed early nights during the week. Start eating a proper dinner every night. I get home between 7.30 and 8 each night and slaving away in front of the oven is the last thing on my mind so I quite often just skip dinner and jump into bed. Introduce so much more fruit and veg into my diet. I'm never going to be a gym bunny but I can start talking the stars instead of a lift and go on regular walks to get my heart rate rising.

4. Pay off my credit card
As we count down to moving into our first house, I've suddenly realise that money for a while will be tight as we get used to being homeowners. Say whaaaat?! I'm pretty frivolous with money as you can probably tell by my ASOS addiction and tendency to always leave the country. My credit card bill isn't unmanageable and I'm not really that fussed about it. But it would be nice to be debt free as we move into our new home. If only so we can put a sofa on the credit card. I can't be sitting on fold up camping chairs for the rest of my life...

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Why I'm not worried about getting older

Next week I turn 28 and am only two years off 30. As everyone keeps telling me as if with that it brings with it impending doom. But if I'm really honest, I'm actually quite enjoying getting older. Even with the unwanted extra weight I'm carrying that's easy to put on but hard to get off, the dark circles that no concealer is covering up, and the wrinkles that still stay after I finish laughing, I'm more content then I have ever been with my lot in life.

I look back at pictures of myself at 21 green with envy, wishing I could have the willpower and the metabolism to look like that again. That's lasts for all of 30 seconds before I realise I wouldn't go back to that age in a heartbeat. I spent my late teens and early twenties crippled with self doubt. I was self-conscious and constantly worried. Worried about pleasing people. Worried about living in the big bad world. Worried about not achieving what society dictates.

But with every pound gained and every laughter wrinkle, it reminds me of all the fun times I've had. And they're much more important to me than worrying about my appearance. Sure I'd love to look better but I'm enjoying life. As cheesy as it sounds,  I'm enjoying life more as I get older. I almost can't wait to see what the next year brings. My body may be 28 but deep down I'm still that eager 18 year old girl. Just a lot more sassy and wiser. How can I not want that?

I have so much to look forward to as I'm getting older and I can afford to do so much more. The older I'm getting, the more I'm ticking off those dreams that as a youngster, I never really thought I would achieve. I'm so much more settled in my career, working in a job I love and earning a wage that allows me to fulfil some of my greatest passions. I'm genuinely happy and as of this moment, I honestly wouldn't change a thing. It's taken me a long time and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to this point in my life.

I'm able to travel the world and realise my teenage dreams, buy the designer handbags I've always dreamed off, treat those who have always had my back and as of March, buy an actual house. How could I dread getting older when I'm able to do all of this?

Bring. It. On.

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