Yorkshire Three Peaks Valleys Walk

Posted in Travel.

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On Saturday I walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

… The Valleys, not the mountains.

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One of my 30 Before 30 goals was to do a big walk, so a few months ago I signed up for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Valleys walk organised by Heart Research UK. It’s a guided 16 mile walk around the bottom of the Yorkshire Three Peaks – Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent – and an easier version of going up-and-over the peaks themselves (which is a 26 mile, 12-hour challenge!). So at 6.30am on a grey Saturday morning, along with my friends Laura and Clare, I set off for the starting point.

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After parking up and registering at the Heart Research tent, we joined the rest of the walkers and set off at 9.15am. It was a mixed ability group with people of all ages and fitness levels, with our guides leading the way at a brisk pace. The first 5 miles was reasonably challenging as we climbed uphill over rocky ground, but after the first checkpoint things evened out and it was nice to just amble along without much effort for a while.

I had high hopes for the weather clearing up, but sadly grey clouds hung over us for the whole 16 miles and we didn’t get a glimpse of the amazing views beyond the mist. It also rained. A lot. Despite the weather, there was still loads to see while walking – cute cows with their calves, lambs frolicking together, gorgeous houses nestled into the hillside and beautiful meadows full of buttercups.

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After our lunch stop we decided the guided walk was moving a little too slowly for us, so armed with our instructions and a vague idea of where we were heading, we split away from the group and carried on alone. We could walk at a faster pace and spread out a little more, which meant we blasted the last 6 miles quickly and soon rounded in on the finish point, a little stiff but pretty elated.

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The Valleys walk was a great introduction to the Yorkshire Three Peaks area and a really easy way to take on a long distance without the added challenge of tough hills. I’m notoriously bad at hills (when walking, running and cycling) but after doing the Valleys challenge I think I could tackle at least one of the peaks and work my way up to taking on all three.

Fingers crossed for sunshine next time, though!

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Smashed Avocado and Feta on Toast

Posted in Food.

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I’d like to introduce you to The World’s Greatest Snack (TM). After discovering this delicious combination a few weeks ago, I’ve basically eaten nothing else. It’s amazing for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I’d eat it all day, every day if that wasn’t a bit weird and obsessive.

This isn’t a recipe as such, because this is obviously just delicious stuff on toast. But I have perfected the method, so here it is – avocado, feta and tomatoes on toast with Sriracha hot sauce.

You’ll need:

– 2 ripe avocados
– Half a lemon
– A handful of cherry tomatoes
– 2 slices of wholemeal bread
– Feta cheese
– Sriracha hot sauce
– Salt and pepper

The method:

Slice your avocados in half, remove the stone and peel away the skin, then ‘smash’ them in a bowl. I think the term ‘smashed avocados’ is possibly the most obnoxious phrase in food but that’s basically what you’re doing – keeping some big bits rather than mashing it all into a paste. You want a bit of bite! Squeeze in the lemon juice and season.

Toast your bread. While that’s happening, slice your tomatoes and crumble some feta.

When the toast is done, smother it with smashed avocado, add the sliced tomatoes and top with feta. The finishing touch and the thing that makes it all come to life is the Sriracha – drizzle on to your heart’s content, sit back and enjoy.

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OMG I want to eat this right now. 

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So I’ve Got A Thing For Flowers…

Posted in Home.

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I have a real ‘thing’ about flowers. Not quite an Elton John-level ‘thing’, but a thing nonetheless. A preoccupation, some might say. Possibly a mild obsession.

Either way, I bloody love a good bouquet. Something that’s new to me, however, is the flower delivery* movement.

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When the lovely folks at Blossoming Gifts offered to send me some of their beautiful blooms – through the post – I jumped at the chance to try some ‘online flowers‘*. There’s something about having flowers actually delivered to your house that feels so totally luxurious… like you’re the kind of person who floats about in silk negliges and drinks flat whites, or something.

I chose the Hydrangea and Rose bouquet and it arrived the next day, all safely packaged in a very big box with a special water pad (which Rob referred to as a nappy) to keep it hydrated.

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The bouquet is truly beautiful – the hydrangeas are a really rich shade of blue, offset perfectly by those creamy roses and the sprigs of greenery. I’m kinda into flower arranging so enjoyed playing around with the placement a bit before sitting the vase on my dressing table and admiring my handiwork.

Sadly the hydrangeas didn’t last that long – after a few days they were on the turn and a week later they’re completely gone. The rest of the bouquet is still going strong, however… maybe hydrangeas just have a shorter shelf life.

Although ordering flowers online isn’t something I’ll do on the regular, it’s a pretty glorious way to treat yo’self (or a friend). Especially when the discount code BGIFTS33 will get you 33% off everything but the Flowers by Post range on Blossoming Gifts… these pretty peonies (OMG peony season, amirite?) are next on my list!

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The Classic Breton Stripe Top

Posted in Daily Outfits, Fashion.

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Oh, I do love a proper Breton stripe. It’s surprisingly hard to find the perfect Breton – they’re often ill-fitting, with stripes that are either too wide or too thin, or a colour scheme that strays too far from the original navy-on-white. It’s a real Goldilocks situation, let me tell you.

But, I’m committed to the Breton lifestyle and I’ve been searching for ‘the one’ for quite a while. During my long and intensive search, I’ve discovered many things about the Breton stripe – did you know it originated in 19th Century France as a uniform for the French Navy in Brittany, as the distinctive stripe made it easy to spot men who had fallen overboard? Well, there you go.

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I’m no French seaman, but I imagine this top will soon become my official uniform. It’s the ‘Sailor Shirt’ from Seasalt Cornwall, a brand that’s totally new to me but appeals to my cottage-by-the-sea side. A side I’m fully ready to embrace, I should add.

There are a few things I look for in a Breton top – a soft cotton, loose fit, long sleeves and a white and black/navy colourway. What can I say, I’m a traditionalist. The Seasalt Sailor Shirt is 100% organic cotton with a relaxed fit, boat neck and no 3/4 length sleeves in sight – I think we’re on to a winner!

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Breton top, c/o Seasalt Cornwall | Skirt, Miss Selfridge | Backpack, Michael Kors | Espadrilles, c/o Seasalt Cornwall | Necklace, Topshop | Sunglasses, Miu Miu

I wore my Breton with a cute A-line denim skirt and equally adorable espadrilles, also from Seasalt. Tomorrow I might wear it with wide-legged culottes, and it’s the perfect partner to some loose Boyfriend jeans for a weekend brunch date. Forget crochet bikinis and fringed suede waistcoats – this is all I’ll be wearing for summer.

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Tattoo Number Two

Posted in Fashion, Travel.

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I got my first tattoo last year and since then, I’ve become obsessed. There’s something very addictive about ‘collecting’ permanent pieces of art on your body, and good tattoo work is just that – art.

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I got my second tattoo while in Paris last month. The artist who did my first tattoo, Rebecca Vincent, was doing a guest spot at Chez Mémé studio in the city, so Rob and I stopped by. The studio is absolutely beautiful, with Scandi-style mismatched vintage furniture and dark wood. It had a really homely feel and was far less intimidating than other studios I’ve been in, which makes a huge difference when you’re slightly nervous! We were welcomed inside, asked to remove our shoes (all the artists wore adorable slippers in the studio) then taken upstairs for tattoo time!

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My design is based on the buttonholes Rob and his groomsmen wore at our wedding. I love Rebecca’s floral work and knew I wanted a posy of flowers, and the connection to our wedding just gives it a little more meaning. I love tattoos with stories behind them but more and more I appreciate them as beautiful creations in their own right. If something looks delightful and brings you endless joy, why shoehorn a story around it? That’ll be my approach for the next one, anyway…!

Tattoo number two hurt quite a bit but it was all over in about 20 minutes and I just love it. It’s delicate and pretty and the placement is perfect for showing off in a scoop back top or off-the-shoulder dress. It healed like a dream and I’ve been getting it out at every opportunity. J’adore!

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