… I clapped eyes on a stud muffin! And he’s made me happy every day since that day – it’s an incredible talent! Happy anniversary Bubba – you’re the man of my dreams xxx
30 before 30
The Theme
Here’s a small sample of my inspiration board for my 30th birthday party… I guess the theme is a little confused, but I’ve tried to combine my all favorite things! I am obsessed with all things Southern: fried chicken, gerkins, apple pie, corn on the cob, chips n dips – that rough-around-the-edges, laid back feeling (I’m using Fresa’s in Austin and this amazing book as my food inspiration!). I am also a big fan of retro candy – I made a trip to this amazing candy mecca in St Christophers Place called Mrs Kibbles Olde Sweet Shoppe and picked up all those childhood favs – flying saucers, dolly mixtures, bon bons, cola bottles… There’ll be a delicious candy bar complete with donuts – another American influence. I’m also setting up a bar with two large drink decanters serving up G&T, Pimms with bowls of fruit, red & white wine, and prosecco…
Our garden will have a very bohemian vibe, adorned with candles and lights. As for the music – my taste is definitely eclectic! As an 80′s kid of parents who love their music, I tap my foot to everything from 50′s, 60′s 70′s, 80′s 90′s and naughties! So my playlist is a mash-up of everything and will definitely get people moving!
The party isn’t for another 4 weeks but since we’ll be in the States right up until the last week I needed to get myself organised! I’ve pretty much got everything sorted – all I need to do is pull it all together!
Bring It On!
Well I must say, this really did sneak up on me! It was January before it really dawned on me that this would be the year I turn 30. My feelings towards 30 are split down the middle – part of me feels nervous about age and getting older, but the other more rational side of me feels excited about what’s to come, about being more comfortable and confident in my skin. I’ve decided to take 30 on the chin – bring it on!
Ouchy!
It’s been one week and three days since the treadmill did something very mean to my foot… Happily jogging along, picturing myself sashaying around New York and Austin in a flowing maxi, looking cool. But no, my exercise plan and any thoughts about looking super fabulous on my 30th have gone out of the window! … OK, I’m being a little dramatic, but that’s what over a week of hobbling, stomach churning painkillers and a stinking cold does to you! All is not quite so bad though – the sun has finally made an appearance and we saw a whopping 19 degrees yesterday! And in one week and five days we’ll be flying away for a much needed break – I’m so so excited!
I’ve got my holiday sound track playing on Spotify, all my little last minute beauty treatments booked (including a trip to Strip Chelsea to try out their eye lash extensions!), and hopefully…. hopefully…. I’m on my way to being prepared for my 30th birthday party which I’m holding five days after we get home. Oooo there’s lots going on over the next month! Party planning always sounds fun, however unless you’re a Camille Styles type, the ideas and creativity need a little nudge to help their flow! Thank goodness for Pinterest – what did we do before it existed?!
Has anyone tried barefoot running trainers? I think my trainers are to blame for my injury so would love to hear if anyone has any recommendations (any excuse to go shopping!).
Sunday Suppers
In just under 3 weeks we’ll be heading back over to the States for a break and I’m so excited! First stop with be New York, then we’ll pop down to Austin for a few days and then back over to New York where I’ll be turning 30! We’ve had a really long, cold and overcast winter here in the UK, and I’ve been hiding in my unflattering puffer jacket since… I can’t even remember. But I figured the weather will improve and with a holiday on the horizon the layers of clothing will inevitably become fewer, so I decided to join the gym. On freezing cold nights after work I’ve felt it so hard to motivate myself to go… But 9 times out of 10 I’d drag myself there and have been dating the treadmill for 2 months now. It was going well until Friday night (yes, I was one of the losers at the gym on a Friday night whilst everyone else was out!). On Friday night I was happily jogging along, when out of nowhere my ankle gave way. There was no styling it out, the belt was still running below me and I was scrambling to find the ‘STOP’ button, trying hard not to roll right off the back of the darn machine. Stupidly I thought I could just shake it off (so dumb) and get right back on. Such a mistake. I’m now lame, our romantic walk in Richmond Park was aborted yesterday, and Mike will have to piggy back me out today if we want to make the most of the sun!
In light of the fact I cannot go to the gym today, my mind immediately wanders to food and what yumminess we can cook up on this lovely Sunday. Below is some feel-good food inspiration to get your tummy rumbling.
Have a super Sunday and make the most of this gorgeous sunshine!
(Images)
March – in pictures
Me again. I did just say I’d post the pictures up from last weekend next week, but the last month has been so exciting that I thought I’d give you a little run down now before we get too far into April. Here goes!
St Pancras Clock Tower on Airb&b
There you go! Welcome to April – this month we’re travelling back over to New York and we’re also swinging by Austin – so exciting! This is the last month of my 20′s – better make it a good’en!
Lately
Oh, hi! Hope you all had a great Easter break. Four days off – bliss huh?!
I’m slowly emerging from hibernation – the sun is beginning to play by the rules of Spring, it’s still horribly cold and it was snowing again yesterday, but here we are in April and things are starting to look up. Things have been very busy my end and I’ve been putting myself under pressure to go to the gym at every idle moment I have. Running on a treadmill is far too boring for words, so as soon as the temperature gets into double digits I’ll be in the park inflicting my ruby red face on passers by!
NYLON Black Book is taking shape, which is really exciting! I can’t wait for it to launch!
In other news, I’m turning 30 in four weeks. I’m aware of how ridiculous it sounds, but I’m so uncomfortably aware of this birthday. I don’t remember feeling this way when I left my teens. To soften the blow I’m throwing a party – which involves a lot of hard work! I’ve built a “30th” pin board on Pinterest, naturally. There are so many little details I’d like to include – I know that what really matters is food, music and good company, so I guess the little things are for me really… I’m hoping my girl friends will notice them – and if the guys are happy with their beer and food that’s cool with me! Thankfully the school we live in has amazing ceiling height and space and we are lucky to have a garden.
Although I’ve been very quiet on the blog, I’ve made up for it on Twitter…. If you don’t follow you won’t know all the exciting things I’ve discovered in London recently! Last weekend Mike treated me to a night in St Pancras Clock Tower – SO cool! It’s available to rent on AirB&B.com. I had no idea the St Pancras Hotel was so amazing inside! The whole area has undergone a major redevelopment, restoring original features and sympathetically combining them with modern twists like the curved, tent-like ceiling. Before it’s redevelopment Kings Cross was a bit drab – somewhere I’d run through to catch the train up to my family home. But now it looks incredible! The hotel is beautiful and so grand, and the private apartments are lavish on a whole different scale. The Clock Tower we stayed in was bought for around £10m – ‘gulp!’
I shall post some pictures up during the week but now I’m going to find The Boy for a cosy night of fajitas and a movie – peeerfect! (And not at all Eastery but we don’t care!)
Consider yourselves caught up 
Hot New Guides
There are stacks of positives to developing your dream and working hard towards making it a reality… not least the research that goes into it’s content – especially when that research involves scouring the streets of London and New York for restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars that fit the NYLON Black Book criteria! Thankfully there are a few amazing guides popping up in book stores at the moment, each filled with gems which could potentially be featured on NBB… Here are a couple of my current favourites —>
There are of course drawbacks to trying to make your dream a reality. I thought the hardest part was over when I realised what it was I wanted to create… But I’ve since discovered that after my thoughts became clear, I then had to make it a reality – I mean, actually create.it – which is a much harder and bigger challenge than I ever imagined! But I’m determined because I know (and hope!) it will be really useful when it’s published!
If Carling Made Offices…
Could this be the coolest office you ever did see?!
Ubiquitous have designed a space that’s not like any office I’ve seen before – they’ve shifted the boundaries of ordinary office design, creating somewhere grown-up and inspiring. All the reclaimed materials are right up my alley – I love it! And what’s more – they’re based in Manchester in the UK.
Check out their website here: The Ubiquitous Manufacturing Company
(pictures all from Ubiquitous)
