OOTD: floral dress

Outfit:
Floral skate dress: F&F (similar)
Burgundy leather ankle boots: Next (similar)
Grey and burgundy ombre coat: ASOS (similar)
Poppy red lily bag: Mulberry

Is there a bigger London cliche than red double deckers and the backdrop of Trafalgar Square? Nothing quite like catching the beauty of London when the sun starts to goes down and the city glows. Last month I treated myself to a few things from F&F for work. The supermarket chain always comes up trumps. This in between seasons is making me feel a bit of frump. I'm not quite sure what to wear and my wardrobe is uninspiring. I just wanted a few bits and pieces that I could throw on and look pretty decent. Yet still look presentable for an office despite not having put too much brainpower into choosing the outfit. This 5.30am alarm calls tends to decrease your ability to do much thinking in the morning.

Next week is yet again pretty jam packed but after a few weeks taking it easy I'm looking forward to getting out and about. Seeing things, eating things and doing things. I'm on countdown to a weekend in Leamington Spa at Sarah's with all my favourite blogger girls. A weekend of wine and cake is just what's needed to bring April in with a bang.

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Exploring Cologne: Places to eat

Spending four days in Cologne meant that we literally ate our way around the city. We sampled traditional dishes as well as international cuisines. I think working in London has turned me into a massive food snob and I struggle to find food that hits my high standards. But Cologne did well. It's not the best food I've ever tasted but it hit the spot and I don't think we had a dud meal. So where did we stuff our fat faces?!

Beruit
I had wanted to try Lebanese food for a while but just never got round to it. When we found that a restaurant in the top 20 on TripAdviser was just a five minute walk from our hotel, it was fate that we finally got a chance to sample the cuisine. Tucked away down a side street, this unassuming restaurant doesn't really look much from the outside and it's tiny. It was packed but luckily we soon found a table. As complete novices we had no idea what to order so we opted for the sample menu which consisted of different hot and cold meze to start, lamb skewers with flatbreads and a milky pudding for dessert. It was such a feast - so much so we had to leave at 8.30 to have a lay down at the hotel. Definitely somewhere to put top of your list if you ever make it to Cologne.

Brauhaus Sunner Im Walfisch
After googling the best pork knuckle in the city, the dish at this beer hall was in 4th or 5th place. It was a stones throw away from our hotel so it won. The atmosphere was buzzing with locals and tourists enjoying themselves. We didn't even need to look at the menu, already knowing exactly what we wanted to order. The gigantic tender pork knuckle came with creamy mash potato, thick sweet gravy and a mountain of sauerkraut. The meat fell off the bone and the crackling was perfection. Definitely somewhere to go for a quick casual dinner or lunch.

Fruh Am Dom

For our first meal in the city I was determined to hunt down some traditional German grub. We opted for the nearest beerhall we could find in our Lonely Planet bible. What a good choice it was. This no nonsense, no frills restaurant was the perfect place to have our foodie introduction to Cologne. Although the waiter misheard my boyfriend's order and brought him the wrong food. But being the Brits we are, we never complained and it turned out to be a great alternative - he was glad of the mix up! The food's never going to win any gourmet prizes but it's comfort food at it's finest. 

Burgerlich
I'm a sucker for a gimmick and a sucker for a burger. So when I came across a restaurant on my research where you can order on a pop up touch screen, I was sold. I popped it on my list of paces to try if we were ever in that area. After a mammoth day of walking, it turned out we were in the area so decided it was worth a sort. While its not the best burger I've ever eaten, it was a solid 7. The very sweet brioche bun soaked up the medium patty, beef tomato, gooey American cheese and crispy bacon to a tee. The shoestring fries were incredibly addictive and the chilli mayo was a thing of beauty.

La Bodega Tapas Bar
This tapas bar was once again on our list of places to go if we were in the area. We'd had a few beers in a beer hall nearby and decided to opt for a late dinner. After grabbing one of the last tables in the restaurant we set about trying to recreate what we ate in Barcelona. Now it wasn't quite the same as the Catalan city but it was pretty good. We ordered a selection of cream cheese stuffed peppers, a platter of cured meats, spicy patatas bravas and Spanish omelette. I'm still dreaming about those stuffed peppers now.

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Review: Foxlow, Clerkenwell, London

Before our day of exploring South London we needed to have a suitably filling brunch to warm us up for the day. Enter Foxlow. This modern European restaurant is owned by the same guys as Hawksmoor. Billed as a casual neighbourhood restaurant, it has a cracking cocktail list and prides itself on good quality produce. After sampling the brunch menu, I cannot wait to try their Sunday lunch. It looks absolutely divine on their Instagram!

After much deliberation I opted for the avocado and feta on sourdough toast topped with two poached eggs. And because this seemed way too healthy for a Saturday morning I ordered a side of bacon. Bacon makes everything better. The salty chunks of feta were the ideal partner to the creamy avocado. The perfectly poached eggs had a brilliantly orange runny yolk - something so simple yet so hard to achieve. I had seriously food envy when Lily's Moroccan eggs appeared - definitely the first thing I'm ordering next time I pop in! Hannah's mac and cheese was also a winner. The crispy breadcrumb layer added a satisfying crunch to the gooey cheesy pasta. I may have helped myself to a fair few forkfuls.

All in all Foxlow is a great option for brunch in the city. Prices are reasonable, the food is prompt and delicious and the waiting staff are attentive. It's not mega cheap but prices won't make your eyes water either. I loved the laid back vibe and the fact that we could take our time - we had a lot of catching up to do! I'll definitely be back soon to sample those Moroccan eggs...

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Exploring Europe: Day two in Cologne, Germany

Day two saw us up bright and early with lots of fit in. After stuffing ourselves silly with a heavy breakfast of cheese, ham and bread at Hotel Lyskirchen, we set off for a day of culture. The first stop was the sports museum before heading over to former Gestapo prison. The insight into the minds of the nazi secret police was truly a harrowing experience.

I'm planning to do a more thorough recap of the best places to visit in Cologne so keep a look out!

After leaving the former prison we decided to take a stroll over the famous love lock bridge to help clear our heads and ponder on what we had witnessed. The main aim was to cross the other side to get the lift up to the top of the Cologne Triangle for what was promised to offer a superb view of the city. It certainly didn't disappoint and was overmuch worth the few euros it cost. In fact I'd recommend it over the view from the cathedral if you haven't got time to do both.

After a long day of walking we decided to opt for a nap - something that is always essential on a city break - and a dinner close by. After a little research of the best pork knuckles in town, we settled upon the Brauhaus Sunner to sample the German delicacy. It was a very good shout. The beer hall made me feel like I was in Game of Thrones - I was expected Tyrion to appear at any moment. The atmosphere was buzzing and the portions were massive. We left with full bellies and ready for day three after lusting over the cathedral showing off in the dark.

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Recipe: Prawn pad thai

Borderfields got in touch and asked me to put together a recipe using one of their oils. I racked my brains and decided to make something from one of my favourite cuisines. The garlic infused oil was the perfect accompaniment to use in a pad Thai. The flavour really came out in the vegetables and added a tasty spice to the dish. It would be great to add a subtle twang to a curry too.

This recipe was adapted from Fay Makes It Easy. Such a good book and all the recipes are so simple!

Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 tbsp of Borderfields garlic infused oil*
1/2 pack of flat pad thai noodles
1/2 bag of beansprouts
1 pack of tenderstem broccoli
2 mini pak choi
Half a pack of spring onions
1 pack of king prawns
1 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
A handful of coriander
A sprinkling of chopped salted peanuts (optional)

Method:
1. Chop the spring onions and broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Shred the park choi.

2. Heat up the garlic oil in a wok and then add all the vegetables including the bean sprouts too. Cook for around 2-3 minutes.

3. Add the prawns and cook through.

4. Cook the noodles according to the packet instruction.

5. Add the soy sauce and fish oil to the dish. Give it a good stir.

6. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them in cold water and then add to the wok. Mix everything together.

7. Divide between two bowls. Sprinkle on the chopped coriander and some chopped peanuts if you wish - then tuck in!

As always I'd love to know if you made this, please do tweet me!

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Exploring Europe: Day one in Cologne, Germany

Last October I stumbled across £20 flights on Ryanair to Cologne. This German city wasn't really on my radar but I was desperate to visit Germany again so I snapped them up. After all, the flights cost the same as my weekly bus ticket to work. How could I say no to that? I never realised that Ryanair offered £20 flights to so many different places. A whole new world has opened up to me and boy am I going to take advantage in the future. So what did I get up to in Cologne?

We arrived around midday and after checking in Hotel Lyskirchen, headed towards the towering cathedral. What a beauty it was. As someone who isn't religious at all, I have a fascination with places of worship. They're unbelievably stunning, peaceful and just have me in awe. Cologne Cathedral was no different. I couldn't get over the sheer size and the detailing in every corner of the building. A sucker for a view, we decided to climb the 509 steps to the very top. A quarter way up we were regretting it but I'm so glad we powered on as we were rewarded with the most beautiful view over the city. One that made us feel on top of the world.

After all that walking our tummies started to rumble and after a quick look in our guide book, we opted for a quick lunch in the Fruh Am Dom beer hall. This was by far my favourite beer we had the whole trip. Most beer halls use different breweries so you'll get to try a lot. I opted for a classic pork schnitzel with a mountain of chips for my first German meal. Just what I needed to start the holiday with a bang. Waiters keep piling you with beer as soon as your glass is empty. Simply place your beer mat on top of the glass once you've decided you've had enough.

After our meal we headed back to the hotel for a quick nap before heading out to a Lebanese restaurant called Beirut for dinner. This unassuming little restaurant tucked down a side street was the perfect dinner for our first night in the city. After stuffing ourselves silly on meze we retired to the room for an early night for yet more exploring the next day.

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OOTD: Palm print shirt

Outfit:

Black coat with a fur collar: Zara (similar)

Green palm print shirt: Topshop

Ankle grazer skinny jeans: F&F (Similar)

Burgundy leather ankle boots: Next (similar)

Poppy red Lily: Mulberry

Since getting back from Cologne last weekend it's all been a bit of a whirlwind. For some reason everything has seem to come at once and it's been manic. I feel like I haven't stopped. I think the earliest I got home last week was just before nine pm. But amongst the frantic running around, there was some amazing news thrown in there. From the 1st April I am no longer freelancing but a full time employee. I'll be a member of the Homes & Property team at the Evening Standard, somewhere I've been freelancing since November last year. It's made me week that it's finally official. I genuinely enjoy going into work every day and am so pleased that I can carry on! Obviously lots of celebrating was done with a cider, ramen and fried chicken. As all good things should be celebrated!

After being on a saving mission for February, come March payday I went a little crazy and treated myself to a few things. Two things being these skinny jeans and this palm print shirt. I just felt like I needed a complete refresh and more casual clothes in my wardrobe. You can never have too many pairs of jeans right? Of all places, Tesco do the jeans that fit me to a tee. They're high waisted, don't sag and don't cost the earth. Perfect right?

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Three top tips for a girls night in

Let's face it, nothing beats a cosy night in with your favourite girl or two putting the world to rights, scoffing endless snacks and lusting over Ryan Gosling, wondering when on earth he is going to ask you out. All fun girly nights have three main ingredients. Include these and you'll end up having the best night in. I promise.

1. Pampering
I love a good pampering session but due to a busy life, I rarely make time. Something I need to work better on! But a girls night provides the perfect excuse while giving you a chance to natter. I'm loving sheet masks at the minute - thanks for introducing me Michelle! - and they really do work their magic. Worth it too for the comedy factor of having it on your face and pretending to be a ghost. Just me then... So pull together your favourite nail polishes, moisturisers and face masks to give each other some much needed TLC.

2. Food
Food is probably the most important aspect of any meet up or any occasion really. But pigging out doesn't always have to mean shoving a 20 inch pizza, a bowl of nachos and 25 chicken wings down your throat in less than ten minutes. Luckily Go Ahead!* have the perfect snacks that allow you to indulge but feel a little less guilty too. My favourite are the cookie bites - especially the sweet white chocolate and raspberry nibbles. They're the perfect treat to make sure you indulge your sweet tooth and less than 100 calories. Perfection right?!  The crispy fruity yogurt breaks also get a massive thumbs up for me. I'll be making any excuse to eat these!

3. Films
Finally you need films. But not just any old films. Films that make you cry with laughter, smile until your face hurts and make your heart swell. So obviously any films with Ryan Gosling in. Light-hearted, funny films that you don't have to concentrate too hard on. Because let's face it, you'll be doing a hell of a lot of chatting throughout. If only to discuss THAT scene in The Notebook...

What are your top tips for a girls night in?

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