pass the love on.

• this is a sponsored post, but all opinions & photos are mine! •

'tis the season to spread love and kindness! 

How do you let your loved ones know that you care? Are you a big gesture kind of person, or a day to day little things lover? 

tote bag essentials.

Coffee cup | Notebook | Pen | Tote Bag | Earphones | So sad today | She must be mad

What do you carry around on a daily basis? 

My essentials seem to change over time, other than the usual wallet and keys. In the past year I've fallen fully back in love with reading, writing, and music. I often find that when I'm stressed and anxious, these things fall by the wayside, and little pleasures become secondary to just trying to keep on top of basic daily tasks. 

finding calm at christmas.

• this is a sponsored post, however all words & views are my own •

It's the most wonderful time of the year - when your diary starts filling up at an alarming rate, you're panicking about seeing everyone, and trying to fit in present buying, wrapping, and generally being the best, most organised, and kindest person you can be. 

But are you remembering to be kind to yourself?

thank you, dear body.

Thank you, dear body, with all your limbs and ligaments and lines, I love you. You have done so well. 

ottolenghi fig & yogurt cake.

Kindness, giving, sharing.. some of the things that food represents for me, as well as simply enjoying the tastes and smells. 

welcoming colour into my life.

Photos by Jack Fairey

Lately, my eyes have been awakened by COLOUR.

six years here.

I almost didn't write this post. "No one else cares," I thought.

But then I looked up, and the sky was on fire again, and I felt so thankful for this place, for this home, for the people in my life.

upside down plum and olive oil cake.

What is it about this time of year that gets me baking? Is it the cooler temperatures, wanting to hibernate, or the fact that Bake Off is back on our screens? I don't know, but I'm really enjoying it, in case you couldn't tell.

Last week, I finally baked The Mother Cooker's chocolate banana bread, after dreaming of it for weeks, if not months.

This week, I decided to bake something seasonal, after coming home from work to a lovely piece of cake from Joanna. The plums in that were so delicious, I had to try making something with them!

the workbench ring making workshop.

Back in July, I was lucky enough to be invited along to one of The Workbench's Bristol workshops! They run ring making workshops in London & various other places around the country, as well as selling their kits online. 

I was very excited about this, as I've always wanted to give jewellery making a go.

dark chocolate chunk banana bread : the mother cooker.

This morning I woke up with the urge to bake. 

After a little chat with Gem and a hunt for ripe bananas, I decided I could finally make her chocolate banana bread that I've been lusting after for a very long time. 

ivory & lapis lazuli.

Over the past couple of years I've been getting into jewellery a lot more - especially the last few months. I've discovered some brands that I really love, and am enjoying finding more statement or unusual pieces which still fit with my love for simple aesthetics. 

discovering better sleep with leesa.

• this mattress was sent to me for review by Leesa & contains affiliate links, but all views are my own! •

A lot can happen in a bed - first kisses, break ups, falling in love, finding inspiration, crying, and millions of tiny things in between. It's where I do my most important thinking, my most important work. It's where I drink my cup of tea in the morning, and where I hide away from the world. My bed has always been my safe place, my haven, and it felt like time to make it a better place to rest my head at night. 

become a cadbury inventor!

• this is a sponsored post •

I've had a lifelong love affair with chocolate, and have always been especially fond of Cadbury Dairy Milk. It's so smooth and sweet, and there's something so nostalgic and exciting about that shiny purple packaging.. it's not only the nation's favourite chocolate, it's mine too! 

My favourite Cadbury Dairy Milk bars are the original and Whole Nut, and now I have the chance to design my very own bar, as do you! Read on for details..

down by the turquoise sea.

Oh how I want to be..

what does success look like?

AT WORK AT MON POTE.

What does success look like to you?

It's different for us all, can change throughout your life, and isn't necessarily an end point.

dinner at tare.

If you live in Bristol and you like food, chances are you have a list longer than your arm of places you want to try out. I certainly do. One of those places for us was Tare, so I took Sam for a belated birthday treat a couple of weeks ago.

hunting for hidden gems at tk maxx!

• this post is sponsored, but all opinions are my own! •

You might've seen last week, that I was lucky enough to be one of the first people through the doors of the brand new TK Maxx store in Bristol! Armed with a gift card, I headed in for a good old rummage to see what goodies I could pick up! I may have been in there for at least two hours..

one night in a plankbridge shepherd's hut.

• stay in the hut gifted by Plankbridge, but all views are my own! •

Last week, we pootled an hour and a half down from Bristol, to the peaceful Dorset countryside. We were promised a relaxing night away in a cute shepherd's hut; a digital detox away from everything - and it did not disappoint. 

dinner at box-e.

We are totally spoilt in Bristol with wonderful places to eat and drink. I go out quite a lot - I think it's my favourite hobby - but realised I haven't shared many of my favourites over here much recently! It's time to rectify that, starting with the amazing Box-E. 

It took me a while to actually get there, after drooling over photos on their (and everyone else's) Instagram. There was something about it - I couldn't put my finger on it. I think it was the simplicity of it all. The heart of it was simply a passion for food. 

Oh, and the pannacotta. 

in my skin.

• in collaboration with UKLingerie • 

I've had a tumultuous relationship with my body. I verge between love and hate what feels like hourly. I resent it, I marvel at it, I can't bear to look at it, I can't get enough. I never know where I stand with myself.

I've talked before about my ongoing self esteem journey, and accepting the way I look is a huge part of that. I'm not there yet. Sometimes I think I'm doing okay, that I like myself; sometimes I don't. But there are ways that I can help myself feel better.

30.

JUMPSUIT

Today I woke up 30, and I feel damn good about it.

The sun is sneaking in through the cracks in my windows, I'm comfortable, I'm happy with my life and myself, and everyone has told me being in your 30s is great. 

When you've lived with a chronic illness & bouts of depression and anxiety, there are some dark days - ones you truly believe you won't be around much longer. Because of this, I never really plan ahead, never think of the future, just try and make do with now. 

But gradually, along the way, I've built up this little life I love. I've filled it with nice things, experiences, and people. I use my creativity, I'm making money, I'm learning to be kinder - to myself, and in turn, others. I'm starting to think of the future. 

I'm not going to make any huge plans, as we all know life doesn't always take the route you want it to, but saving for someday and dreaming of making my world even lovelier are taking more of a front seat.


It may sound super cheesy, but I honestly feel like this is a new chapter. I'm feeling stronger in myself, comfortable in my body, and happy with pretty much everything. I'm content! And that is good enough for me!

Today I'm really appreciating my life, and all that has come with it. Today I'm truly celebrating turning 30. 

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cabot circus art of style & style seeker.

This past weekend saw the Art of Style event at Cabot Circus.

cabot circus - art of style event.

Sometimes I wonder how we shopped in Bristol before Cabot Circus was finished - it's a one-stop destination for all your high street needs - and next week, it's the location for a brilliant brand new fashion & beauty event, with free makeovers, catwalks, competitions and more! 

be kind.

• weekday cashmere beanie

• uniqlo u jacket

• onr shop tote bag

• cos jeans

• COS SHOES
photo by jack fairey

You can do all things with kindness, but you don't have to do all things.

One of the most important things I've learnt in life is the importance of kindness. I think this is something instilled in me from my mum - I can't imagine her ever being mean! - and it has become more and more important to me as I've got older. 

yoga brunch club.

PHOTOS BY KASIA KILISZEK

I've been meaning to attend since June, but for one reason or another I could never make it. Fate finally aligned last week, and I made my way to The Forge for my first Yoga Brunch Club experience.

win a free dinner at Bill's!

What's better than a midweek dinner out..? When it's free! 

trying to love herself.

This is a girl who's trying to love herself.

I'm slowly learning that a soft stomach doesn't make me less worthy of adoration; a hair out of place won't matter in the long run; making mistakes doesn't make you a bad person; all humans are fallible; my scars don't make me unlovable. I've been loved for years despite and for all these "flaws", just not by the most important person - me.

I always see each "imperfection" as another reason why people shouldn't like me, when in other people I see them as interesting, relatable, and endearing. We are all so different that there's no point in comparing one another. I know this deep down.

I'm hoping this is the turning point that it feels like. I'm hoping this is me laying the foundations to build a loving relationship with myself. It's time to be a friend.

Spring is coming, and I will bloom.

I posted this photo to Instagram a couple of weeks ago, with the words above.

I was really nervous to share it. I very nearly didn't. I turned off all my notifications as soon as I hit "share" - scared of any backlash or controversy it might cause.

a cosy cabin in the cotswolds.

With this winter dragging on (and set to get colder!) it can be tempting to leave the country for warmer weather. But instead of escaping the temperatures, why not embrace the season with a cosy getaway in the UK? 

if your year has already turned to shit.

I've been feeling all sorts of guilt over the past week.

This isn't a new feeling for me - I seem to spend my life feeling guilty about what I haven't done, what I'm not, what I've eaten, what I said etc. - but I've felt it more so lately.

With the start of a new year comes an overwhelming amount of promise. You're going to be a better person, work harder, look better, learn something new, and everything else. 2018 is going to be YOUR year, the year you really sort shit out.

But then, a few days in, the hype dies down, and everything feels sort of.... shit.

2018.

Cheers to 2018, and all the adventures it will surely bring.