Thursday 30 September 2010

Duvet Day


Well it's misty and murky here and we are all poorly sick!
To add to it Luke is away so I have declared today a duvet day! No school, no pre-school and no rushing around just dvds, blankets and cups of tea. I'm going to use the opportunity to find a holiday for next easter and also to catch up on my favourite blogs, hmm makes me feel better already! Have a good Thursday xx

Image via weheartit

Saturday 25 September 2010

Lazy Weekends


I LOVE Saturday mornings, no crazy getting-ready-for-school hustle and bustle, uniform hunting, lunchbox making and rush rush rushing!

The boys still get up early but I let them play in their pjs for most of the morning while I enjoy snuggling up on the sofa with a steaming cup of tea, my laptop and cookery programme on the tv. The most enjoyable factor is that there is nowhere I need to be - bliss! Then I eventually get ready and actually have time to think about what I'm going to wear and even do my hair! Saturday mornings, I adore you x

How do you celebrate the beginning of the weekend? x

Friday 24 September 2010

Chapel Down Vineyard & Restaurant

I am very lucky to live just over 10 miles away from Chapel Down Vineyard, the most successful vineyard in England, producing gorgeous wines here in Kent.








A well known and local chef, Richard Phillips opened a restaurant here a few years back but we had never got around to trying it out - until last Saturday and all I can say is wow! It was gorgeous, gorgeous setting and THE most amazing food - and wine of course!
I had a lobster terrine to start and Luke had potted salmon, both lovely but the real star of the show was the main course - rib of beef for two with dauphinoise potatoes. Oh my lord I think it was the best thing I'd ever eaten! Then we had mini house desserts on a plate to share which were divine and included my favourite - souffle. Finally, we had a local cheese board. I nearly had to waddle out. Oh and the wine was amazing, I never dreamed English wine would taste that good!

Needless to say we have wangled the father-in-law to babysit this Saturday night and I think you can guess where we're going...! What are you up to this weekend? Make sure you eat, drink and be merry too! x

Images courtesy of Chapel Down and Flickr

Thursday 23 September 2010

I'm in love...

...with this dream holiday villa in Nice...

Exterior

View


Fire Pit Area



Sitting Room (check out that view of Nice!)

One of the bedrooms


An Ensuite


One of the terraces *sigh*!


Outdoor Dining Area


View from Pool at Night
This luxury villa is located in a private and gated community in Nice and sleeps 6/7 lucky people. It has 4 bedrooms with breathtaking views of the sea from almost all rooms. Newly renovated, this villa is a heaven for outdoor living and relaxation. It includes a private and professional landscaped garden with century old olive trees, including a fire pit, a pizza oven, a BBQ area, a boule court, as well as a heated infinity pool and spa.
It is located 10 min drive to beaches, restaurant and shops. Just outside the gated community is a big recreational park with panoramic views over Nice and old olive trees everywhere and is a 5 minute drive to Nice town centre. Yes I'm sold! Not suitable for under 5's? Oh well - see you in a week kiddies! Only kidding, I'll keep on dreaming - for now... x

This villa can be found available for holiday rentals here

Saturday 18 September 2010

Inspiration - Jessica Thomas Design

 While having a read of the wonderfully uplifting blog House of Turquoise, I came across Erin's post featuring the turquoise rooms of Jessica Thomas. I instantly recognised a few of the shots which have come up again and again in blogland, especially the hallway with that gorgeous wallpaper! So I went over to Jessica's website and found more inspirational roomsets in her portfolio...









Her style is definitely right up my alley! What I think I love most is the way she layers the room with pretty vignettes and objects trouve, bringing interest and character to a room. Do you agree or do you think minimal is best? What style sums you up?
Have a great weekend x

Images courtesy of Jessica Thomas Design

Friday 17 September 2010

Happy Friday! And Oversized Accessories...

Happy Friday one and all! I'm feeling a little bit more alive today, although still procrastinating like crazy and Jack is snottier than ever! So we haven't ventured far today and I have been having a re-jig of our pictures, frames and accessories and am much happier with the outcome. I received my order from Melody Maison (more on them below) and was very happy with my new white etched metal tray (for the little table in the loo), pretty seaside picture (for the kitchen/diner) and memo board (again for the kitchen/diner).

I LOVE Fridays because it is fish & chip night in our village. Basically a van comes round and everyone queues up for their weekly fish and chips and it is The Best - no grease - just good old fashioned fish and chips - yum! How do you celebrate the beginning of the weekend?

On a completely different note, I keep coming across oversized everyday objects on my favourite sites, which would be major focal points and definite talking points! Not sure how the scissors would go down with two under-six's in my house but we'll overlook that minor point! Oh, or the candelabra! Damn those  pesky kids!

Have a great weekend xx











Scissors, Pencil Sharpener, Alarm Clock - all Graham & Green; Candelabra - Melody Maison

Thursday 16 September 2010

Loving the premier issue of Rue...

I've just skimmed through all the pretty pictures and am looking forward to having a good read with a glass of wine once the kiddies are in bed! Looking gorgeous though!
Not been about much this week as Jack and I have rotten colds and inspiration and imagination has been zapped from me as has any energy for well...anything! But hoping to resume normal service as of tomorrow, until then - happy reading xxx

Thursday 9 September 2010

I'm in love...

...With The Grove.







The love affair started about 18 months ago when Luke whisked us away there for a wonderful 24 hour break. The hotel is in Hertfordshire which is an hour or so's drive away from us around the lovely (ahem) M25.

Ever since, whenever it is rainy and miserable outside I think 'I wish I was at The Grove..' (and dream of the lovely spa, amazing treatments, cosy cream teas and lovely log fires in the Stables, the golf club restaurant, where they do gorgeous food) and whenever it is sunny I think 'I wish I was at The Grove..' (and dream of the Walled Garden, the heated pool, the man-made beach and the stunning grounds). The Spa is stunning and the pool is stylishly tiled in black slate. The whole place has been styled really well. The potting shed (a games, cafe type conservatory) has a real bohemian vibe (they also do cookery and flower arranging lessons there at certain times during the year). The Lounge room has dark painted walls and elaborate occasional furniture and sumptuous sofas, the perfect place for a pre-dinner cocktail or two.

They have an amazing kids club, with a whole dedicated, OFSTED inspected, building of their own (enabling mums and dads to get some time to enjoy a meal or the spa), the food is amazing and oh how I am envious of those lucky people who get married there!  One thing that does make up for that though is the fact that I saw the gorgeous David Beckham there last year, hanging his jeans out on his balcony - swoon! x

I do have more photos of our own that I've been trying to upload but blogger seems to be a bit temperamental so for now I leave you with photos from The Grove's website.

Sunday 5 September 2010

Make Your Own Coastal Inspired Picture Gallery



Loving this from Ideal Home and you can download them free to print out at home! Happy days! I definitely have a bare corner in my kitchen that would heart these and the 'Are we there yet?' sums up my Joe in one sentence!
Hope you're having a good weekend xx

Friday 3 September 2010

Happy Friday and wallpaper inspiration

This pretty wallpaper is inspiring me today, it's fun yet grown up and I love this colourway as I have always been a sucker for blue and white...

The Collette Wallpaper from the Nora Collection, Sandberg
It is a very happy friday here as the sun is finally out, (now Joe is back at school) the house is looking good and Jackson and I have just got the brownies out of the oven mmmm...
We have my brother's four children coming over tonight and then I'm out with friends on Saturday night so busy busy busy.
We have also been on the search for a new addition to the family... a British Blue shorthaired cat. They are adorable and I think (fingers crossed) we've found one so we shall see what the weekend brings! What are you up to? xx

Image courtesy of Tangletree Interiors

Thursday 2 September 2010

New Season, New Wardrobe!

As August was such a drab month here, I am completely ready for Autumn. Yesterday, while getting Joe's last minute back to school pieces I 'accidentally' stumbled into Whistles and Zara and found myself purchasing some key pieces to put some life back into my wardrobe for the coming months:

A gorgeous metallic jumper from Whistles...


And a silky shirt from Zara...



I also want to go back and get this blouse from Zara:


... As well as this lovely chunky cardi with black velvet belt...



Lovely Autumn cosiness. Now you can bet we will get an Indian Summer!!

Images courtesy of Whistles and Zara