Honey I'm home!

Recently I got asked why people blogged.

I didn't know the answer. But then I got thinking about why I started blogging, aside from it being confirmation to my mum that I was still alive.

The truth is I love writing. It's possibly one of the nerdiest and uncool things to say, but I love words, I love using lots of words, and I love using them all the time. And when I moved to the city eighteen months ago there were a lot of things I didn't know. I didn't know you weren't supposed to shot the champagne in a pornstar martini, I didn't know that you had to stand on the right of elevators, and I didn't know Tinder was a thing. (I still don't think it is but hey, you can't argue with the masses). But I did know I wanted to move to London and I wanted to document every moment of it.

So I've promised I'm going to blog every day. Ok, maybe not every day, but as much as I can. And not just about the wonderful places I haunt, but the discoveries I make along the way.

So let me catch you up on the last month…

I packed up my bags and left London for festive frolics back in the country. And my was it good to be home. Aside from the eating and drinking, and there was plenty of that to be done, the season was filled with log fires, lights and laughter. The perfect winter combination.

As well as Christmas and New Years, the Holtham family celebrated another festivity, Emily's 21st. Laden with bottle upon bottle of champagne, we were joined by 60 friends and family for a heavy evening of celebration and reminiscing. It is so crazy to think that sib is now a grown up (sort of). But what better way to toast this than with endless wine and Alan in a teal bow tie. 

This is a new face I've started pulling. It says, "please don't take my wine".

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Brunching at Laduree

I had to double check I hadn't yet done a post just like this one. And I couldn't believe it when I hadn't. Laduree has actually come up in a number of my posts (including post fashion week treats and our break in Paris) but is yet to have it's own spotlight.

So here it is.

It's the last time Jack, Gem, Fi and I were to be together for a month, and I'm going to miss them incredibly. But what better way to say our final goodbye than a trip to Laduree. The four of us first bonded over our common love of tea (and gin) when we first met over a year ago, and since I introduced my beloveds to the Paris-based Macaroon boutique, its sort of become a regular haunt.

There are now four boutiques across London, and several more in Paris, but Covent Garden is my absolute favourite. The downstairs take-out space is small, but the stairs lead up to a platformed boudoir-esque lounge, with an outdoor terrace looking out over the Piazza. While it was too cold to sit out, we would normally favour snuggling under our favourite table outdoors with a view over the street performers.

In the morning, they have a breakfast and brunch menu, which changes at 11.30, to something with a few more substantial options, perfect for those of us who were ready for lunch. I however, immediately flicked to my favourite page, Patisseries. I normally order one of two things. The Ispahan macaroon, or Les Mini Macaroon Glaces. But I was feeling particularly adventurous. So I combined the two and chose the Ispahan Glaces, a combination of the Rose petal and raspberry macaroon flavours, but served with Lychee, whipped cream and sorbet. I also chose my favourite Laduree tipple, the Iced Tea Laduree style. I'm still yet to find out what it is. All I know is it's simply divine. 

I couldn't resist a few more Laduree snaps, the infamous Ispahan (above) and a decadent brunch at Laduree Champs-Elysees, Paris

Settling into our favourite spot on the terrace for more iced tea and Mini Macaroons (below), and take two (bottom) when Anastasia came to town.

For Parisienne chic and an even chicer menu, Laduree is an absolute must, and the best thing? They have an online shop now too. So you don't even have to be in London (or Paris for that matter) to enjoy them!

Shop Laduree online here http://fabricantdedouceurs.laduree.com/en_fr/boutique

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Christmas Lights at Oxford Street

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? No, it's not.

I know this because last week Jack and I went to see the lights turned on at Oxford Street. And when that happens, you know the festive season is truly here.

So we wrapped up warm and headed down to an incredibly busy Oxford Street. We hadn't booked tickets (you need tickets to stand in the road, who knew?) so were directed to a screen at the side of the makeshift stage outside Selfridges to watch the action.

Crammed in against everyone around us with about an inch of breathing space we patiently waited for the festivities to begin while catching up on all the gossip from the night before.

We waited.


And waited.


And waited some more.

And almost an hour later than planned, the stage lit up. The whole thing lasted about 45 minutes, with performances from Connor Maynard, James Arthur and Jessie J, before finally the baubles/snowballs strung above London's most famous street were lit.

Even though it probably wasn't as good as Robbie last year (I'm partial because I love Robbie) it is still one of my favourite parts of welcoming in Christmas. 

And all the excitement had made Jack and I that hungry that we couldn't even manage to wait until we got to the Haagen Dazs, so when we spotted a Byron on the way, we couldn't resist. 

Girl vs Food began once again... and food definitely won!!

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