Tarts & Silks

Last week, I met up with Alex... She recently moved to London but we both have had so much on that we haven't had a moment to get together. She came up with a fantastic idea - to do something really fun, out of the usual and new to the both of us - to take part in an Aerial Silk class! With the class being physically demanding and new to us both, we had to concentrate on the task in hand and forget any worries or stresses we were holding onto. We giggled, we fell and we had an absolute blast. 

For first attempt I'd say I did alright! 

Gymnasts for the day!

We finished our Aerial session with very sore hands and extremely hungry bellies! But considering it's been so long since we've caught up, we must've walked another 90 minutes consumed in conversation before we sat down for food. We walked upon a beautiful little cafe called Tart  in Clapham. Oh WOW. Trust me when I say you have to visit this place - the tarts are delicious, such friendly and helpful staff and a great little hangout. Will definitely be going back there soon!

Butternut squash and goats cheese tart with a watermelon salad

Fresh out the oven treacle tart and a raspberry brownie (we shared!)

It was such a fun day out together and I'm now considering to take part in an Aerial Silks course!! We have pledged to see each other much more now we've settled a bit - so next week we're off to see Cinderella at the cinema and for anyone that knows me, you know I can never say no to a bit of Disney!!

Jessica Xx

Baby Showers, Mother's Day & Home Visits

Oh how much I love home visits...

I've just been home to Manchester to see the family for the weekend and I had a beautiful time of course. I love home visits, I have the BEST family!! And what's exciting is I'm back again this weekend! I arrived on Friday, spent some special Mother Daughter time with my mummy, I had a scale and polish with my Aunty (and now my teeth are sparkly clean!) and watched Red Nose Day with my Mummy (lots of tears). 

My Mums bag of goodies for Mothers Day!

As my step sister is due any moment, we threw a beautiful baby shower for her on the Saturday. She's expecting her first child, a baby boy, and of course we're all very excited for another family arrival (we love babies in our family!).

Baby Shower Tea Party - Grannys teacups, saucers and side plates (so quaint and beautiful!)

I baked basic Vanilla Cupcakes for the baby shower using a recipe by Mary Berry (it never fails me). I ordered decorations from Amazon online - little sugar decorations - blue feet, teddy bears, bottles, prams and some edible sparkles! I baked them the night before and iced them on the Saturday morning. I saw this sweet idea on Pinterest to cut out a little bit of the middle of each cake and fill them with icing in the colour of the babies gender (so blue for boy). They're called gender reveal cakes - although we all knew her baby was a boy so it was no surprise, just a cute idea.

They were delicious & sparkly!

Now we just have to wait for that phone call to say she's gone into labour...we're all patiently waiting! Fingers crossed he'll arrive this weekend whilst I'm at home as Tom and I will be able to meet him!

Jessica Xx

Bruges you're beautiful!

So Tom & I have recently come home from our lovely little trip away to Bruges and I wanted to blog about this just to show you how beautiful Bruges is & hopefully to persuade you to put it on your wish list!

We found a trip on Secret Escapes and although neither of us had used the company before, we decided to give it a try and to our absolute delight, the trip was a huge success! Secret Escapes really did live up to it's luxurious promise!

He fell asleep!

When we arrived off the Eurostar we happily hopped onto a local train from Brussels to Bruge and it took about 50 minutes to get there. It was all very easy to do and considering we're now adults, I think we coped quite well with it all! Then we grabbed a taxi from the station to our hotel, which only took 5 minutes or so and once we arrived, the lengthy journey was all worth it.

We arrived at Hotel Dukes Palace and my oh my it was gorgeous! It kind of reminded Tom and I of something from Harry Potter or a fairytale with it's stunning gate and castle like building at the front of the hotel. Once checking in, we were so giddy to see our room that we didn't read any signs or follow anyones advice and we ended up stuck in the lift for about 5 minutes pressing the emergency alarm and everything! You have to press your room key against the lift button to get anywhere, we clearly missed that sign (silly us!).

The bathrobes were enormous!!

Our room was big, spacious and very well laid out. Very comfortable bed, black out curtains and a lovely mirror in the bathroom, perfect for my make up and hair in the mornings! My only disappointment was they gave us a bathroom which only contained a shower, and I love my baths (dammit!).

So whilst we were there we ate far too much food and drank far too much beer. Which is quite hilarious as I don't even typically like beer, however, the fruit beer I found was too good to miss! Extremely delicious chips (naughty) in Bruges, along with mussels, steak, waffles and hot chocolate. You have got to see the video of our hot chocolates...

Waffles & Hot Chocolate!

We will be back, definitely somewhere we would consider going back with young children for a nice break away with friendly locals and workers along with easy-going and accessible tourist attractions.

Bruges, we'll be back soon, we love you!

Jessica Xx

So I went away & now I'm back

Hello,

Sorry it's been so long, life had me all caught up & I think I gave up a little bit. Shame really as I want this blog to go places so I should really pull my socks up & give time to it. I am going to promise to myself right here right now to blog as often as possible and to make it amazing. Who wants anything less than amazing!?


So what's been going on with me since last blog post:
SO MUCH.

I have moved in with my long term boyfriend, the one I met at Uni, fell head over heels for & is now the love of my life.

I couldn't be happier with my situation. Tom & I are happy, like fairytale happy. Apart from a few normal hiccups, we're over-the-moon-reach-for-the-stars kind of happy!

I got an assistant manager job at my long standing (well 2 years) job in retail. Ok, so it's nothing special & it isn't my career, but everyone's got to start somewhere hey?! It pays the bills & I love what I sell. And for those of you ever feeling down about your situation, do what I'm doing now and promise yourself it's just a stepping stone to something even better. Be proud of where you are now and be determined to get where you want to be.

I'm 24, feeling quite 'grown up' and mature, turning 25 this year. Half of 50. WOW. Is it time for babies yet!? (hehe)

A few more members of the family have been born (nieces x3, nephew x1) and one more on the way. A couple more weddings including one this Halloween and one next summer. Some trips, travels, festivals and adventures been had and more to come.

Me & my beautiful cuz at a Yoga loving hippie festival Summer 2014

I will be blogging about my recent trips to Scotland & Bruges, along with loads more. So watch this space!! 

Jessica Xx

Irresistible

Last night I went to see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory The Musical at Drury Lane Theatre London. The reviews I had seen before going weren't too inspiring so I kind of went with a very open mind and no expectations. I can't believe it now - why would people review it badly?!?! It's seriously magically theatrically incredible!!! Everything from the chocolate fountain to the glass lift is in the production and these iconic parts of the film are done so well on stage that it makes the story come alive right in front of your eyes. I'd love to go back and see it again! Those children are very talented, and WOW Willy Wonka is a perfect casting. 

I also went to dance last night right before the theatre - little rushed, and I arrived at the theatre all sweaty and red, but hey ho I'm so glad I went! My teacher is so supportive and it makes me want to constantly better myself as a dancer. Realistically, to better myself I need to be going to a ballet class at least once a week to help my turn out and basic techniques, then to my jazz at least twice a week and then a yoga class for flexibility once a week as well as the gym twice or three times a week to do weight training. That would be ideal. BUT, work somehow loves to get in the way! URGH. Growing up, working, living in the 'real' world really does suck sometimes. It makes me really want to go back and study for a little longer!!! (hmmm...)

I'm going to a Pilates class tonight at Sweaty Betty after work which should be good. I'll miss not going to dance today - but I'll go again Thursday if I can!! Just had my bowl of goodness and now onto my morning coffee, lovely!