Five Friday Favourites

It's that time again! Here's what's made me smile this week.

My friend Melissa's incredibly pretty fluoro pink nails wrapped around a refreshing minty beverage.

Heat Magazine, Wine and Pizza, need I say more?

This little fella just melts my heart, and I'm dog-sitting all weekend - yesssss!!

You cannot have failed to notice that all the shops have gone into Summer Sale. Bad for your bank account, amazing for your wardrobe!

I'm totally hooked on The Apprentice. I watch it every year and this series/season has not failed to disappoint. My money's on Francesca or Neil to win and Leah surely has to go next....

Happy Friday Everyone! Enjoy your weekend x

Life | About the boy....

Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I came home last night to find these beauties waiting for me.....stunning, right?

This past week has been filled with self-doubt, a mini 30 year old crisis, if you like. To know that you have someone by your side that is happy to spend hours listening to all the crazy thoughts in your head, and then have them still think you're the bee's knees is just the sweetest thing ever.

Girls, I've struck gold.

The ones you can always rely on.....

My life has changed a lot over the last 12 months.....but if there's one thing a girl can always rely on, it's her friends. You know? The ones that come into your life and are there for you no matter what? The ones that love you, simply for being you?

I had the best time this bank holiday weekend. I got to catch-up with two of my favourite people, George and Athena. We don't get to see each other often, but when we do, we just pick up exactly where we left off. And this weekend was no exception.

George flew in from Zurich on Friday night, and we all headed back to mine where I whipped up a quick greek-inspired supper for us.

It was then out to The Botanist to have a couple of Birthday Prosecco's with my friend Sharon.

The next morning we woke up and walked along the river in the sunshine to Lockside for the most amazing Brunch.

Anything that involves poached eggs and smoked salmon is always a winner in my book.

After brunch we went to Clifton Village and had a wander around. Before too long we made a little tea-stop,  and the cupcakes looked so good it would have been rude not to.

Do the girls look better with 'taches?

In the afternoon we went to The Lido for a bit of a pampering session. We relaxed in the sunshine in the hot tub, and George drank her body weight in tea before we all went for our treatments. My massage was amazing, so relaxing. I think I definitely had a little snooze!

This is us, post chill -  all glowy!

Sunday morning was 10k day!! My friend Fi joined us at the start line. I was a bundle of nervous energy!

Post-run, we made it!! And treated ourselves to coffee to keep warm!

My time, a new PB!!

Our post 10k treat!! A full on BBQ Banquet cooked by Tia and Rob, quite simply THE BEST. The food was amazing.

We all needed a little snooze in the sunshine to digest......

......and then we got straight on to the Hendricks and Tonic with Frozen Cucumber. So refreshing on Summers Day.

Dan's Mum iced me a little cake to celebrate my 10k success!!

Monday was a little challenging..... due to the copious amounts of Prosecco and Gin. The perfect hangover cure? Pink Lemonade in the sunshine with Dan.

Oh and GBK! Their onion rings are off the scale good.

The perfect end to a perfect weekend x

The Big 3-0

So here's the deal, last June I turned 30. There was no massive party or fan fare.....I just wasn't in the right place. And also, maybe I'm actually a bit of an introvert - the thought of being centre of attention makes me feel excited and sick at the same time, but mostly sick!

Sometimes this blogging world is scary - for me it's an online journal where I get to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. I started blogging when I hit a low in 2012. I love to write and felt that it was somewhere to be positive about the future. I still feel the same way about it, just maybe it's time to get real. I don't want this blog to solely be a "highlight reel" of my life. Although I am a very lucky girl, and I have a great time, but it's not always the way it may seem. We've all had, and are maybe going through, our fair share of tough times.

Recently I've had a few girlfriends tell me about friends who are going through heartbreak-hell, and for similar reasons to where I've come from. I'm not sure if it's the timing but it's made me look at my life and realise that everything really does happen for a reason, although it may not feel like it in that moment.

On my 30th Birthday I was full of confusion, my life didn't look like what it was "supposed" to look like. Wasn't I supposed to be married (or at the very least engaged) with a wonderful career and children on the horizon?! I was nowhere near any of these, and when you hit a milestone the realisation of where you are in life comes and slaps you full-force in the face.

Source: lollipops.bigcartel.com via Ali on Pinterest

If you're turning 30 this year, just be kind to yourself. Maybe your life doesn't look like everything you imagined it would but I bet you it will all turn out exactly as it's meant to. You will look back on this time and think "Oh....that's why".

For me, my 30th year has represented some highs and lows, but it has mostly been a year of acceptance.

Source: google.com via Ali on Pinterest

And this is quite simply the best piece of advice ever, you never get to be 30 again - enjoy it!!

Source: inspiredjoyfulchaos.tumblr.com via Ali on Pinterest

Let's see what the last few months of being 30 brings, eh? x

This weekend I......

On Friday night I met up with Jenna and Mel for dinner and wine at Brace and Browns. I can always tell when I've had too much to drink because I forget to take photo's...so annoying! We had a great night though, the tapas there is amazing and the weather was warm enough to sit outside (under the heaters) whilst we put the world to rights.

Saturday morning Dan made me breakfast to cure my "wineache" (a Mel phrase that describes the pain of too much wine). He makes the BEST breakfasts, and we had this out on the balcony in the morning sunshine.

Yes! It was actually sunny in Bristol this weekend!

Lunch consisted of cookies, apple pies, flapjacks and sunglasses (all that chocolate is leftover from Easter) at Tia's. We also played with the Shellac kit I posted about here, so it was semi-productive.

I then went for a little wander around Clifton Village, it was such a beautiful day and it's the perfect place to just mooch around.

In the evening Dan and I headed over to my brothers for dinner. He was cooking up an Eastern Mediterranean inspired storm of lamb and grilled aubergines, followed by fresh mint tea and baklava. Seriously good!

On Sunday we went for a little stroll in the countryside near Castle Combe.

We played pooh-sticks and paddled in the stream.

We then wandered through the grounds of the beautiful Manor House.

Before a spot of lunch at The Castle Inn.

I went for a Ploughman's and a half of cider, it just felt right.

When we got home we chilled on the sofa with tea and cake (bought from an honesty stall in Castle Combe) and watched the Disney version of Robin Hood - bliss!

Whilst I was messing around on Pinterest I saw this:

I couldn't agree more!

This weekend I.......

I've had a lovely weekend, again! Although I feel like I've eaten a mountain of food! This is what I got up to:

Friday night we met some friends in The Lion for the most tasty burgers (I went for the New Yorker-Emmental, pastrami and gherkins, so damn good) and wine. The perfect way to finish off the working week.

Saturday morning I was up early and drove to Bath to have my hair done at Melanie Giles. I love that place, I really should find somewhere in Bristol, but the girls that do my hair at Melanie Giles are great! I went a little shorter and blonder for summer and really like it.

I then raced back to Bristol to meet my friend Annie (and her 14 week baby Ralph) for lunch, we went to Pizza Express and I had what I ALWAYS have, a Padana Romana pizza, and literally inhaled it.

Dan had asked me earlier in the week if I was free on Saturday afternoon for a surprise at the harbourside. After lunch I found out what the surprise was - a bungee jump!! There was no way on this planet I was jumping off a crane with a piece of elastic attached to my feet but I was happy to support my adrenaline junkie. He did amazingly well, I went up in the crane with him and can't believe he just chucked himself off the edge so happily! Euuughhh, the thought of it makes me want to be sick.

Sunday morning I played with my home Shellac kit (tried a French Manicure) practice definitely makes perfect, and popped to Cabot Circus to pick up a couple of online clothing orders. Then onto Quinton House for the most amazing Sunday Roast I have had in a loooong time, I ate so much!!

Sunday night rounded things off nicely just chilling on the sofa and watching the closing round of The Masters with my boy.

This week I am hitting the gym-BIG time!!

P.S. Dan gave me this Hello Kitty hat, LOVE!