Throwback: Harry Potter Studio Tour

Today we're having a bit of a throwback moment; 26th October 2014 is the date in question. I went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford and couldn't let it go without dropping a photo-diary style blog post about it. It was so hard not to include a million pictures in this post, so here's a slightly more narrowed down version...

 



 

 

 

I would highly recommend a visit here if you like Harry Potter, its such a fun day out for all ages.

 

See you in the next one ♥

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February Catch Up & Blog News!

Hello! Whilst February marked the end of a pretty horrendous exam period, it also brought with it a good chunk of happy days. I’ve had a busy old month so I’ll get you up to speed. (Also, check out some blog-related news at the end of this post!)

London and back, London and back, London and back. That’s basically been February. But all for good reasons, the main one being to go back to Move It, which I wrote a huge post about last year which you can peak at here if you wish. The highlight was taking a jive class with Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara, two professional dancers from Strictly Come Dancing, who I luckily get to see quite often at various dance-y events throughout the year. Taking classes with professionals is such a good experience, and I learnt so much in that 45 minutes. I managed to get a photo with Aljaz who I’m always a complete mess when I talk to because he is that good looking. Like you can barely look him in the face. And he is one of the nicest people ever. I can dream…

 

We also had brunch at the Riding House Café in Fitzrovia which is a relatively new discovery for me and I love it. Avocadoes on toast with a Tricycle Juice (I’m slightly panicking as I’ve just checked the menu online and this doesn’t seem to exist anymore…don’t quite know how I’m going to get over that…). The place has a really cool vibe, and if you can look past the odd stuffed squirrel or pigeon scattered around the place, I would highly recommend a visit!

Other London ventures included a visit to the O2 Arena to see the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour, a particularly long, sweaty tube journey to Notting Hill to see Mel and Sue being filmed, various trips to Whole Foods and an almost embarrassingly exciting visit to the London Transport Museum to satisfy my inner London transport nerd. We had a delicious lunch at Bill’s on Wellington Street, and tried a new technique – order lots of starters and sides and end up with possibly one of the best meals you’ve ever had. It was a success. Oh and I got papped again when I was with Lisa…and cropped out, again ;) (can I make cr-apped a thing?! #crapped). I also met Nick Grimshaw near Oxford Street!

That's my collar on the left haha

Back up North, I made a trip to Space NK in Nottingham for the #BeautyChatLIVE event hosted by Lily and Anna, and it was a good’un. A really fun, chatty question and answer sesh, plenty of time for mingling with other bloggers and a goody bag to end all good bags. All that with champagne and macaroons? Yes please.

 

The month of February also hosted a chilly walk round Chatsworth estate, my 20^th birthday and the British Indoor Athletics Championships. February might be the shortest month, but its been a very busy one! Now, March, lets do this!

 

Blog News! I’m treating February as a kind of re-launch for this blog. The design has had a complete over-haul which I’m still working on and I’ve decided on a new upload schedule: Tuesdays and Fridays.

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Padstow Perfection

I'm currently sat trying to narrow down my top 5 favourite places in the world. Can you tell its revision season? Anyway, its a bloomin tough choice, but the nominations would definitely include: My house (not that its a particularly exciting house, but its home), Wengen in Switzerland, the Isle of Wight, London (sometimes, depending on my mood) and Cornwall.

 

I know, I'm not exactly being ambitious with this list; 4 out of 5 are here in England. But in all honestly, I love it here. That's not to say there aren't lots of totally amazing places abroad. If I was to make the list a top 10, things might be very different, but I just love England.

 

I'm gonna cheat a bit here. I think I could probably name about 6 different places in Cornwall that would single-handedly make the cut of my top 5. So for now, i'll just pick one - Padstow. I've mentioned it before in my Cornish Delights post, so i'll not drag on about it. Instead, here are some photos from when I went with my family in January. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My recommendations of places to visit would be: 

• Rojano's Italian. My favourite Italian restaurant ever to exist. I'm actually pretty basic with my order here - plain spaghetti with parmesan cheese, but my goodness, its the best spaghetti and cheese you will ever experience. (Story: I had this dish the first time we ate here a few years back because I had an upset stomach so wanted something plain. Its kind of tradition. Plain, but tradition. And so, SO good.)
• Pucelli's Italian. Stunning panoramic views over the harbour and across the estuary to Rock. Delicious food, relaxed atmosphere, lovely!
• Rick Stein's various foody places. Its almost impossible to come to Padstow without stumbling across a Stein find. For perfect, classic fish and chips, head down to Stein's Fish and Chips on Riverside. There's also The Seafood if you want a nice sit down meal (see my Cornish Delights post), or to his shop Stein's on Middle Street if its gifts you're after.
• The Beach. Sometimes a visit here is forced upon you if the tide is low, and the ferry back to rock departs from the sandy shores of the estuary rather than the Harbour's slipway. But if you come prepared, it can be nice to spend a couple of hours here, just sat. Its not usually too busy either.
• Stroll round the shops. In the Summer months the shops can be unbearably crowded, but if you get there early enough, there are plenty of gems to be found.
• Get a Pasty! Even if you don't like them. Just buy one and have a bite. There are so many pasty shops around the harbour, all offering fresh, traditional pasties. You can go Cornish, Veggie or even banana and Nutella. So. Many. Options.

 

Its so perfectly twee without being sickly sweet, bustling without being claustrophobic, and exciting whilst still being chilled. I ♥ it.

Where's your favourite place in the world?

 

(I'm now thinking of lots more places I wish i'd included in my top 5. Ow man.)

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Christmas, New Year and Back to Blogging

Hi! Long time no see! I'll admit I've majorly slacked in the blogging department over the last few weeks. I blame Christmas, exams, holidays and just general drama. BUT, after a little break I am fully ready to get back into the swing of it.

 

 

Here's a few little things:

1. For 2015, I'm aiming to post once a week, but if particularly exciting things happen then off-schedule posts will no doubt make an appearance. Follow me on BlogLovin to keep updated :)
2. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Is it still acceptable to say that nineteen days into January? Whilst the snow led to a rather dramatic night on Boxing Day (went to see a pantomime, it snowed, couldn't get home, stayed in a hotel etc etc) the festive period was a pretty good one. Food, family, Cornwall, food.
3. Exams are happening. No-one likes them. Me included. January revision is always more of a struggle. Not only do you have the usual post-Christmas blues to deal with, but its dark, cold and the inability to reach your desk over your festive belly. (Just me?) Summer exams all the way. Kind of.
4. Here are some pictures I took over Christmas and down in Cornwall. Next week I'm going to do a separate post on one particular day there, but for now...

 

 

 

I promise to try and make the next post more interesting! How was your Christmas?

 

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