Exploring Europe: Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava was just a stop over. A city that broke up the journey between Austria and Hungary. Yet it ended up being my favourite city of the trip and I feel head over heels. I'd expected endless gangs of English lads on a stag do, a grimy place I'd come to associate with drunken louts and quite frankly, nothing special. But it was beautiful, charming and absolutely stunning. A place I urge everyone to visit immediately for a weekend break.

With a population of only 450,000, it felt almost like we had the city to ourselves. To be honest, you could probably see all the sights within 3 hours but the beauty in the place are the winding lanes where you can get lost. It's such a fantastic place to sit back, order a drink and simply watch the world go by. The Old Town is gorgeous. A bustling hub of wine bars, shabby chic interior shops and cute little cafes. It felt authentic and a world away from home. Which is exactly what I look for when I leave the green and pleasant land behind.

Steeped in history, the city offers a sobering reminder of the communist era. From the soviet style buildings in the new town to the Russian war memorial high up on a hill. It's so hard to imagine Slovakia only became its own country in 1993 after it spilt from Czechoslovakia. It feels like the city has always been so thriving and so full of life. I honestly can't rave about the city enough.

It's already on my list to return and I'm hoping that it will be very soon. The Christmas markets in the old town sound like the perfect time to visit. Look out for a food and city guide coming soon plus the most fantastic hotel!

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How to travel Europe on a budget

It's no secret that I love going on holiday. I often have people telling me I must be made of money, it's not normal to go on holiday more than once a year or that I should really save the money. But to be honest I don't ever spend that much money going away. Well if you forget last New Years Eve when I had my annual holiday friends come round and we got extremely drunk and thought it was a good idea to book ourselves into five star hotels for our two week Eastern European trip this August... I had a whale of a time but I'm still paying dearly for it now! We are so lucky to live in such a diverse and cultural rich continent so here are my top tips for seeing Europe on the cheap - yet without having to slum it.

Don't be fussy

I have such an urge to see every city and town in the world so I plan one holiday a year to tick something off my bucket list. Then for mini trips I simply book whatever is the cheapest flight. If you don't have a city in mind, I tend to go on Ryanair Farefinder. This way I've managed to bag trips to Cologne and Derry both for under £20 return! Simply select your nearest airport, click to go anywhere and set the budget to under £20 to see what comes up. You do have to be quite spontaneous but you can book quite far in advance too. I booked my trip to Derry in January last week! Be adventurous and go somewhere you never thought you would!

Go out of season

For our big holiday I have to go during school holidays as my best friend is a teacher. So selfish eh? But I try to go early spring or in the winter for my mini breaks. You'll find cheaper flights and accommodation as well as beating those pesky tourist crowds.

Rent an apartment

I am a huge fan of Air BnB, having used it numerous amounts of time. I just love staying in someone's house in a local neighbourhood and feeling like it's my city for a few days. The hosts have always been charming and so helpful. You can find some great deals and it really does help to keep accommodation costs to a minimum. Make sure you have a proper scroll through the apartments to ensure you get the best deal - don't just look at the first couple of pages. If you really want to save some cash, have a browse of the rooms in someone's house as they are even cheaper still.

Go midweek 

I know some people want to maximise their holiday and go Friday to Monday for a weekend break but this is often when flights are expensive. Obviously if you book far enough in advance they can be cheap but that involves serious organisation. At the minute I'm favouring a break from Wednesday till Saturday. That way you have the rest of the weekend to recover as there's nothing I hate more than going into work the day after a holiday. I need time to readjust to my surroundings! We always take a three night/four day city break. I like to have a couple of days hardcore sightseeing then a day just mooching around without any plans - that way you get a real feel for the city and see how the locals live. My favourite times in London have been spent aimlessly wandering around!

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Restaurant review: Snaps & Rye, Ladbrooke Grove, west London

Three months later and I'm still going on about my trip to Copenhagen so when Hannah suggested we try out the Danish restaurant Snaps & Rye, I was more than game. Based in Ladbrooke Grove, the restaurant specialises in brunch and lunch but does a set dinner tasting menu from Thursday to Sunday. Priced at £35, it included four courses and changes weekly with a choice of meat or fish. Nice and intimate, the restaurant is full of Scandic-chic interiors. Hairpin chairs, maps of Copenhagen and a sleek neutral colour scheme. The perfect place to whittle away a few hours enjoying good food and company.

This time we started with a bite-size treat of what I believe to be smoked haddock on a piece of rye bread. Not pictured because it was soon wolfed down! Rich and flavoursome, a great introduction to what was to come. The first course was deep fried egg on a bed of green beans and pickled mushrooms, topped with parmesan cheese shavings and a sprinkle of watercress. With a perfectly cooked yoke, the dish was simplicity at its best. It was so well put together and was a joy to eat.

Next up was smoked duck paired with artichoke, apple, red cabbage and rye. Delightfully fatty, the duck was tender and intensely flavoured. The crunchy red cabbage salad seemed to be the perfect accompaniment. For the main, I opted for the flash-fried smoked eel in cider, mustard, kartoffel and a ham crisp. The spicy mustard sauce was delicious and the eel was deliciously juicy. Such a great dish, one I would never have put together but one that I couldn't get enough of. Finally for dessert it was a divine rich, gooey chocolate brownie topped with yogurt and berry compote.

Snaps & Rye was one of the best places I've eaten at in months - I can't sing its praises enough. The food was incredible, the portions were generous and the staff were very friendly. I couldn't fault the food and it was such great value. I love the fact they change their menu weekly so I can't wait to go back and try some other dishes. The brunch menu is calling my name!

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Exploring London: Broadway Market, Hackney, east London

Surprisingly I'd never made it down to Broadway Market despite east London being the part of town I  most frequent when I'm not at work. Then it's west all the way! As a self-confessed foodie, it had been on my list for a very long time and I'd been desperate to pay it a visit. Sadly I didn't think it through and went for brunch beforehand so I couldn't fit in anything else. But I did buy my boyfriend some beef jerky as a present and he proclaimed it the best he'd ever had! So make a beeline for that stall if you're a fan!

It is a food paradise in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Hackney. Stalls upon stalls of fresh produce and street food every corner. You'll find popular London favourites such as Meringue Girls, Le Swine and Nonna's Gelato. There's also a huge variety of shops, delis, pubs and restaurants either side of the market so you definitely won't be going hungry. My list was growing longer the further I walked down - so many I want to visit!

If you've got a full belly like i did, there also endless vintage clothing at pretty decent prices to rummage through and stalls selling quirky little interior knick knacks. It's the type of place you can spend hours soaking up the atmosphere. Be warned, it does get extremely busy. We got there around lunchtime and it was heaving so go a little earlier to beat the crowds. I've heard it opens at 9am! I'll see you there...

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OOTD: Smart casual

Outfit:
Burgundy silky blazer: Topshop (similar)
Black tunic: ASOS (similar)
Black skinny jeans: New Look
Grey suede court shoes: H&M (similar)

So we've now hit Autumn eh? How the hell has that rolled around - wasn't it Christmas like a few weeks ago?! Gone are the bare legs and sleeveless dresses. I always find this time of year so difficult to dress for. I don't want to get into wearing tights too early yet I don't want to freeze to death either as the temperature has definitely been dropping. So skinny jeans and a blazer will be my go-to outfit to suck it up! Despite my boyfriend commenting I looked liked a middle aged woman off to a christening, I actually really liked this outfit. I felt well put together and maybe a little bit trendy too. It's been a while since I've felt like that!

This weekend will be consisting of a monster viewing of houses - it's finally time to take the plunge and become an adult. I've got a night out in north London tonight for a friends birthday with tomorrow consisting of being lazy and attempting something from my old friend Mary Berry. Who said I don't live a rock and roll lifestyle?!

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Restaurant review: The Happenstance, St Paul's, London

I love wandering around the city but it's very rare that I actually go out in the city. I always seem to stick to the outskirts - namely east London. But when The Happenstance got in touch to see if I fancied sampling their cocktail and lunch menu, I decided to break the habit. The restaurant is located a stone throw away from St Paul's Cathedral and once you're inside it doesn't feel like you're in the city at all. If I'm perfectly honest, the reason I stay away from the city is because of the certain types of people who tend to venture in those places. But on a Sunday afternoon, it was a pleasure to be in the centre of London. My mum and I had such a wonderful afternoon at The Happenstance and got on the tube home with big smiles on our faces. We're still talking about how insanely good the cocktails were.

To get things started we both decided to pursue the cocktail menu. I opted for a Goldfish in a Bag as I'm a sucker for a novelty cocktail. On the rocks, the cocktail consisted of Tanqueray Gin, Hanger One Vodka, tonic and rosemary - delicious. Just the right strength, it was refreshing and seriously addictive. My mum, after much deliberation, decided on the London Spritz. Served in a wine glass, this fruity drink consisted of Tanqueray Gin, cucumber, elderflower, apple, mint and soda. Once again, a good solid choice. So far so good!

When it came to ordering my food, I decided in a second that I definitely had to try the chorizo scotch egg with a smoked paprika mayonnaise. They arrived warm with a perfectly runny yolk and a subtle kick thanks to the spicy sausage. My mum opted for the crispy squid which I definitely stole! It felt light but with a good crunch - no chewy squid rings here! By the time the starters were scoffed it was time for another cocktail to sample! As a massive gingerbread fan, I decided to order the Gingerbread Man. Served in a martini glass with a sugared rim, it consisted of vodka, gingerbread syrup, lime and apricot. Pure Christmas in a glass - so sweet but with a hint of spice. The Tiki Punch was on the cards for my mum. She's a massive fan of sugary sweet coconut cocktails so it was right up her street. Coconut-washed Barcardi rum, banana liquor, pineapple, lime and stout. If mine was Christmas, this one was 30 degrees on a Caribbean beach without a care in the world. Delicious!

Then it was on to the mains! Butternut squash and cheese are pretty much my two favourite things so I just had to have this creamy risotto. Topped with chunks of pillow soft butternut squash, flavoursome bay leaves and creamy mascarpone, it hit the spot. Filling, comforting and addictive. The roast beef got very high praise indeed from my mum who claimed it was the best beef she had tasted. We certainly can't cook beef like that in the Warner household!

Taking one for the team we pushed ourselves to order dessert. Creme Brûlée and pecan pie were the finishing touches. Good solid choices that complimented the meal well. We waddled back to the tube very happy women indeed.

Thanks for making our Sunday The Happenstance!

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The must-see attractions in Prague

Petrin Hill

I'm a sucker for a good view point and had read Petrin Hill offered the best view in the city. Take the funicular to the top like we did or have a leisurely stroll. Keep in mind - it's pretty steep! Once you get to the top make sure you pay a trip to the observation tower. Modelled on the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, it was built in 1861. You'll have to suffer 299 steps before you reach the top but the view is absolutely stunning. Miles and miles of pretty terracotta roofs and every recognisable landmark will be in your sights. Make sure you have a wander around once you make your way down - it's a great place to bring a picnic.

City art

One of my favourite things to do in Prague was to wander around. There so many things on every corner so one of the best things is to just keep an eye out. Head to John Lennon Wall to see some street art. People have left so many messages and it's a really cool place. The giant metal babies are quite famous in the city. They crawl up the TV tower but you'll also find some in Kampa Park. They are meant to represent the communist era, unable to reach adulthood, stifled by totalitarian rule. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is very moving and worth seeking out. Located on the edge of Petrin Hill, it was unveiled 12 years after the fall of communism.

Charles Bridge
My best tip would be to cross the Charles Bridge early in the morning so that you beat the huge crowds. Crossing the Vltava River, construction of the bridge was started in 1357 and was finished in the beginning of the 15th Century. Decorated with numerous black statues on either side, most of them in Baroque-style. It's also lovely to cross when the sun sets to see the city sparkling in the darkness.

Old Town
Again the old town is full of tourists so it's best to start your exploring as early as possible. The early bird catches the world. Its here that the atmospheric clock lives. This is a little underwhelming but it's worth seeing it as it's such a famous part of the city. It chimes on the hour and people start crowding round about 15 minutes before. The old town square is such a hub of activity and a great place to people watch.

Castle district
The castle district consists of Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane and St George's Basilica. We paid to get in and see all these buildings but if I'm perfectly honest, I'm not sure it was worth the dosh. It's much nicer to just wander around the outside of the complex. As a Brit, I think we're pretty spoilt with castles in this country and Prague just didn't live up to the expectations. But definitely trek up to the hill and marvel at the architecture.

Pedalos on the River
Due to peer pressure from my friends, we decided to do this on the whim and it was one of my favourite afternoons. We hired a pedalo for an hour and laughed non-stop. It was pretty scary when we got a little too close to the weir but we made it back in one piece. It's a really fun way to spend an hour.

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Entertaining with LSA International

One of my favourite things to do is eat and entertain so when LSA International got in touch and kindly offered to send me a few things from their collection at Amara, my eyes lit up. They're currently celebrating their 50th birthday. Working in interiors I often come across their products and they always seem so classic and of high quality. I certainly wasn't disappointed when they arrived. They definitely helped me become the hostess with the mostess! I decided to host a little wine and cheese night to give them their first outing.

One of the first things needed were some champagne glasses. What is a gathering without some bubbles? Reminding me of The Great Gatsby, the handmade glasses are gorgeous. They're the perfect party centrepiece. With wine you always need some cheese right? Which makes this cheeseboard an essential! This quaint little cheeseboard has a hand-blown dome on an oak paddle base, making it perfect for an intimate dinner party. Finally I was gifted the water and wine carafe set. Once again the glass mouth-blown and nestled on a wooden base.  It's the little finishing touches like these pieces that really make a gathering. I adore glassware at the moment, it just seems so timeless which is what you really want when you buy investment pieces. The collection isn't cheap but you really do get what you pay for. I don't mind splashing out on pieces that I know are going to stand the test of time.

Thanks so much to LSA International for helping me put my hostess skills to the test. They got the thumbs up!

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