Confetti

It would appear that life has taken hold again and kept me from blogging, not that I regret not writing. My new day job has kept the creative side of my brain busy for the last few months, and sometimes it is nice to experience new things and embark on new adventures without knowing they have to be captured digitally. Nonetheless, this is a very belated post on my friend Chris' marriage to his childhood sweetheart Laura.

Set in the heart of Lancashire, The Gibbon Bridge hotel is as picturesque as you might imagine. Lush greens, stunning mountainous surroundings, and a charming bandstand where the ceremony took place. We arrived in the afternoon, just in time for the rain to clear and the sun to shine and after a few glasses of wine, settled outside to watch the ceremony unfold. From a delicious meal to heart-warming speeches, a quirky photo booth, a few too many glasses of champagne and a fantastic band - it was a beautiful wedding. The best part is that I was reunited with my best friends for the first time in around four years - my friend Rachel and her boyfriend Amir even travelled from Singapore to take part in the celebrations. A truly unforgettable day and evening. Congratulations Chris and Laura.

New Look Lust List: Summer Days

I'm a big fan of New Look. While it isn't top-end high street style, it always seems better quality than anything I purchase from dear old Primarche. As its mid-season, they've gone and bought out a great new line of stuff for fashion bargainers to enjoy. So, I've gone and created a top outfit for say, a lovely summer barbecue, picnic in the park or cocktails in the local beer garden.

I love a good floral dress. I'm sorry - I've been wearing them since I discovered bold patterns circa 2006 and I don't think I'll ever change. This lovely tunic dress is bold enough to allow you to stand out, while remaining flattering - so you'll be able to have a few packets of salt n' vinegar in the beer garden without looking like you swelled up in the heat. 

I'd much rather sandals or boots than heels any day, but especially if it is sweltering and I've had a few beverages. I really like these Tan Gladiators- they look so comfy! They're also on sale for £11 at the moment, so I'd snap them up quick!

I have a bit of a thing about red bags. I also have a bit of a thing about satchels. Which is why I'm a little bit in love with this burgundy offering that looks much more expensive than it is. The ideal size to fit your phone, keys, purse, lip balm and sun cream in - what more do you need? 

I know, it all seems a bit silly to take a jacket while the sun is out. However, come 10pm when the light has begun to wane and you're caught in a freak summer storm, you'll thank your lucky stars that you've taken this leather jacket with you. 

 What is on your summer lust list? 

London Zoo

A few weeks ago, I took a Monday off work and we took a trip to London Zoo. The older I get, the more I love attractions like this- anywhere I can walk around with my camera whilst learning new things makes me happy. The location of the zoo itself is something I love, too. In the heart of Camden, it is next to a beautiful canal frequented by dog walkers, joggers and old-fashioned canal boats. Proof that the city of London is much greener than you think. 

We were lucky enough to visit on the hottest day of the year. The weather was glorious and although it was a week day, the attraction was full of children on school outings. Watching the penguins swim around in the sunshine was one of the highlights and they attracted quite a crowd at feeding time. The zoo takes almost a full day to get around. We selected our favourite bits- namely the penguins, tigers, giraffes and monkeys, and spent longer in these sections. The gorillas will always be my favourite- their human-like interaction is wonderful to watch. The butterfly house is somewhere I like to visit, too. There is something quite relaxing about being somewhere that butterflies are fluttering around you.  

After leaving the zoo, we decided to get the tube down to the South Bank and take a Thames Clipper up to London Bridge. The boat ride is surprisingly cheap and gives you a great view of the city. We followed this with a walk across London Bridge before getting the train back to our small town.

Utopia Spa at Alexander House Hotel

I have had a busy busy few weeks and they are only set to get busier! The week before last saw me celebrate my 23rd (eek!) birthday. Although the day itself was spent at work, I had a wonderful meal with my family afterwards and spent the next day with my Mum at Alexander House Hotel at their relaxing Utopia Spa. Having never experienced a spa day, it was as good as I had imagined.

The entrance to the hotel itself is pretty impressive. Located on the border between Sussex and Surrey, the manor house is set amongst 120 acres of beautiful countryside. The long drive up to the hotel allows you to take in the views from the surrounding areas and if truth be told, also makes you feel like you're at the beginning of something special. 

On entering the spa, we were given our robes and itinerary for the day as well as a two-course lunch menu to choose from. Although Utopia does not boast an extensive menu, there were a few good choices. Admittedly, the portions were small and the food was healthy- but this is a spa day, after all! I went for the asparagus salad for starter, followed by a delicious turkey burger with salad for my main course. 

After the greetings and welcomes were out of the way, we swiftly changed into our swimwear and made our way to the spa areas. Utopia boasts a large domed-shaped therapy pool, heated indoor swimming pool and two hot tubs- one indoor and one set outside in the spa garden. As well as this, they have a steam room and sauna. The area is enhanced by mood lighting and sun loungers dotted around the outside with a selection of glossy magazines perched beside them. If I'm honest, whilst a lot of people seemed to be relaxing on the loungers with their books, it isn't something we used- we were far too busy exploring everything else Utopia had to offer!

The therapy pool is a large hot-tub style pool with six seperate areas containing different water jets to target different areas of your body. My personal favourite was the large powerful jet that targeted your back muscles- slightly painful but oh so worth it for the feeling afterwards. The outdoor hot tub was as fantastic as promised. Situated just outside in the Spa Garden, we were lucky enough for the sun to come out- laying in a hot tub with the sun on you is probably the most relaxing experience ever. 

Although the facilities were brilliant, it was the treatments that made our spa day so wonderful. I had chosen to have a Hot Oil Massage and a Repose Aromatherapy Facial whilst my Mum had chosen a Mud Detox and Reflexology session. Feedback for all treatments was very good. Mum loved the relaxation of the reflexology session as well as the diagnosis they gave you at the end. Her mud wrap was lovely, and she was treated to a head and scalp massage as well as a full body massage. 

The hot oil massage I recieved was a real treat. Drizzled with hot oil, I was given a full body massage and head massage before being wrapped with towels. The facial was my highlight of the day- the aromatherapy fragrances and oils that were used made the experience very relaxing and left my skin feeling and looking fantastic. The beautician who treated my skin also advised me to use a serum daily and my skin has improved dramatically because of it. 

All in all, a day at Utopia Spa was fantastic and a great way to celebrate my birthday. Now all I need to do is marry a rich man and I'll be there every week! 

Disclaimer: All pictures are credit to Alexander House Hotel. We took advantage of the great Spa Treats offer that Alexander House Hotel is currently advertising. For more information, follow the link. 

Because We Can- Bon Jovi plays Manchester

June is setting itself up to be a busy month for gigs. Perhaps it has something to do with last year's rainy Isle Of Wight festival, but this year we have decided to attend individual gigs that just happened to be all in the same month!

Last weekend's cracker was to see Bon Jovi at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. Liam has been a fan since he can remember whilst I've only been introduced in the last few years. Still, I can never pass up an opportunity for decent live music and so we decided to make a wonderful weekend of it in Manchester.

 The train to Manchester from London is just over 2 hours. I know, I sound like an advert for Network Rail but I was truly impressed at just how easy it was to get from the middle of Sussex to the big bad northern city in just a few hours. We stayed at a Novotel on Dickinson street, about ten minutes walk from Picadilly station and a few minutes walk from St Peter's Square tram stop. We obviously have a bit of a thing for the Novotel chain- we've stayed in the Times Square in New York as well as the Docklands in London, but they never fail to impress. Lovely rooms, superb breakfast in bed, well situated and even letting us take a sneaky McDonalds back at 12.30am- Novotel, we love you.


The ride to the Etihad was an easy one, although a little packed. Apparently the busiest weekend we could have rocked up to Manchester, as well as the Bon Jovi gig there was a Rod Stewart concert at the MEN and Parklife festival in Heaton Park. This explains not only the crowds, but also the extreme amount of double denim and bum cheeks poking out of hot pants that we witnessed.

The Etihad itself is an impressive stadium. We were fortunate enough to actually have some sunshine on the Saturday evening which meant that it didn't begin to get cold until the late hours of the night. Nothing matches listening to excellent live music in the open air.

Bon Jovi were fantastic, also. I wouldn't have described myself as a Bon Jovi fan prior to the gig, but seeing them live has left me with a new-found respect for them. Anyone over the age of thirty five who can still sing like is worthy of my praise. They completed a set that ran just under three hours, pausing momentarily just so Jon could change his jacket and wipe the sweat off his face. The best songs of the night in my opinion was 80's classic Bad Medicine as well as the wonderful rendition of Robbie Williams Let Me Entertain You- a brave choice, but a good one.





Actually, I forgot just how much I love Manchester. Somehow, I think we'll be purchasing more train tickets to the North in the future. Watch out, Novotel, we're coming to get you.

The Shadow of the Wind

Due to Mum having a week off and the sun finally making an appearance, this week is actually shaping up to be pretty fantastic. Beginning the week with afternoon tea yesterday was certainly a highlight- and things got better today as I spent the afternoon soaking up the sun with my favourite book. With the promise of my first ever manicure on Thursday afternoon as well as drinks with one of my best friends on Friday night, I almost feel like I'm having a holiday at home this week!

A graduate of English Literature and a keen reader from an early age, I often have a book on the go. Ask me my top favourite books and you'd be suprised at an eclectic mix- from angst-ridden Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar to Frank McCourt's beautiful Angela's Ashes. Still, The Shadow of the Wind is still the best book I've ever read. First recommended to me when I was sixteen, I bought the book for a friend's birthday (with her being a book lover too) and forgot all about it. It would take me another three years to acquire my own copy and read it from cover to cover- and I haven't looked back since. Beautiful, tragic, heart-felt and full of mystery and intrigue, it is a book for everyone. I also love that it is set in Barcelona- the description of the spanish landscape combined with the fact it is beautifully written means it will stay on my bookshelf forever.

 Blue skies...