Week in Pictures - A Sussex Beach

I love the beach. Sussex beaches are not like the beautiful sandy beaches of Cornwall, they are stoney, seaweedy and a little bit grey but to me they are the best. I lived a couple of miles from this beach when I was little and we used to go all year round. In the summer we would go for picnics after school, scoffing sandy sandwiches and slurping sticky lemonade, and come Winter time I would ride my horse on the beach, jumping the breakwaters and galloping along the sand in the frosty morning light.
So last week we went back to my parents for a huge roast and a brisk walk along said beach. It was freezing but both babies loved the "big water" and it made me realise how lucky I was to grow up there. This Summer we will most definitely be going back far more often....

Week in Pictures - Borough Market

We love Borough Market, especially my husband who is a huge foodie and wants to try everything new on offer. It is a shame the traders don't love it anymore though (too focused on tourists and not enough on wholesale apparently) but for us that's a bonus as it means there are tasters galore.
We always make the same compulsory food spots, the famous chorizo bap, a coffee from Monmouth, a fat sausage roll, a toasted cheese sandwich and then some form of chocolate goodness. And we always leave laden with goodies and delicious (but very expensive) produce for our dinner.

Borough is not the most relaxing place on a Saturday as the crowds are immense, (it is a little less crowded on a Friday) and really not a great idea with buggies. So be prepared for a few elbow barges, but once you have filled your tummies a stroll along the South Bank is a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle and the craziness of the market.

Week in Pictures - Olympics 2012

We were lucky enough to catch the Olympic torch being run though Guildford High Street the day before the little man arrived, and this weekend were even luckier to go to Eton Dorney, with the little man in tow, and witness Team GB win two golds and a silver in the rowing. Even someone as unsporty as me (bar horse riding and rugby of course) I have loved every minute of London's 2012 Olympics. From the awe inspiring Opening Ceremony to the Double trap shooting, which was surprisingly riveting. The atmosphere at Eton Dorney was incredible, in true British style we all sat in the pouring rain with soggy bottoms giggling at how awful the weather was, then the sun came out in all its glory to shine on our winning GB Team as the 20,000 strong crowd belted out the National anthem. Glorious!

Vive La France!

I am an eternal Francophile and I seem to be surrounded by all things French at the moment, whetting mon petite French appetite. First up is Rachel Khoo's new cooking show The Little Paris Kitchen on BBC2 (see above). An amazing Amelie-style whirl of red lipstick, cardigans and plaits, cooking up delicious French classics with a modern British twist. Her lemon and respberry madeleines are next on my to cook list.

Then there's the much blogged-about book 'French Children Don't Throw Food' by Pamela Druckerman, a hilarious insight into how to have the perfect behaved child who eats and doesn't speak unless it's spoken to, yes please! I loved 'French Women Don't get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure' by Mireille Guiliano so I was always going to love this book, which is in the same vein of basic common sense i.e. don't let them snack on loads of bread before dinner and letting them entertain themselves. A refreshing and funny guide to parenting after reading all of Sargeant Major Gina Ford's books.

For French beauty products, both Lisa Eldridge blog here and Gwyneth Paltrow GOOP newsletter here (I heart GOOP!) have also just published their French Pharmacy favouritess, the hit Bioderma Crealine H2O makeup remover being the top of their must-have lists. I also highly recommend Nuxe's famous dry oil, and Caudalie with their amazing botanical antioxidant, anti-ageing grape skincare, both available in SpaceNK.


My other little French treats include Diptyque candles, I very indulgently try to have one burning every night and I received two for my birthday which was a huge treat. Along with the compulsory box of French macarons, my absolute favourite pick me up. I adore them so much we decided to have a Laduree macaron tower instead of a wedding cake, all pillowy and sweet flavoured with pistachio and orange blossom. Truly heaven.

Honey and I are spending a few night in Paris in June with some international family members, where I'm hoping to indulge my love of France and stock up on lots of goodies, particularly Chanel and Isabel Marant! I had a stay in the amazing Hotel Costes for my 21st birthday, and I am going to head straight back there for a cocktail or two to reminisce. I will obviously blog about it nearer the time, in the meantime vive la France!

Week in Pictures - A weekend away....

For hubby's birthday I treated him to a cheeky weekend spa break in the glorious Bailiffscourt, West Sussex. We love having a night off every now and again to remind you who you are and get away from the everyday stresses and routines. Plus we didn't have mobile phone reception so we really were totally left in peace, heaven. Both grannies babysat a very wilful Honey, so we could chillax knowing she was in good hands.
Bailiffscourt is a medieval manor house 5 minutes from my mummy's house in beautiful Arundel, right on the South coast and a short walk to the beach. There is a rose-clad courtyard in the Summer, and crackling open fires to snuggle up to in the Winter. The spa too is just heavenly, indoor and outdoor pool, plus outdoor hot tub we wallowed in for a good hour, and a great array of treatments, including pregnancy massages. The food was completely indulgent, modern English, and we had an incredible breakfast (my favourite meal if the day). The only thing we found was that time just went way too quickly!

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