Organised Family Fun

Currently writing this with paint splattered in my hair while I get back to feeling anxious about visitors.

We must have started decorating again!

Seriously, if anyone ever tells you to paint that awkward (super-tall) bit of wall above your stairs, just get a man in. I know it's defeatist and lazy but that's where DIY painting gets really hard, even with a tall boyfriend tiptoeing on a too short ladder, I'll tell you though, for our landing, one-coat paint has been our SAVIOUR! - even if a lot of it is my hair right now.


So, I'll be taking you back to a slightly less stressful time a couple of weekends ago, when I felt happy to have guests and actually pretty dang house-proud for the first time since we moved here.

My family on both sides is pretty big, and, particularly on my Dad's side, we're a lot closer than most. I think having my Gran as such a strong matriarch really helps this. My cousins and I used to go on holidays together but as we've grown up this is an aspect that's fallen by the wayside a bit. As a bonding exercise, I thought a girly weekend would be fun, and a nice way to show them my new home.











We had a nice afternoon of fruit picking at Millets Farm, defiantly sat in the less than sunny garden to enjoy Pimm's and a tasty dinner of vegetarian chilli before putting on facemasks and watching 10 Things I Hate About You. We rounded up the evening with The Babadook (which in hindsight should really have been Bend It Like Beckham but there's always next time).



[Because it didn't go on Facebook... ;)]

It was so nice to host guests after such a long time and not have to think about decorating or cardboard, plus, have you seen my main guest bedroom? It's the coolest.

I hope this is the first of many weekends we have like this, family is so, so important and I think it's especially important to take advantage of those bonds if you've got them, there's always time for a catch up. I'm already looking forward to seeing the girls again for my family housewarming at the end of next month, better get down to more painting, right?

Weekend Cures.

After a heavy Saturday night out I think few things can cure what ails you than a bit of raspberry picking followed by a Sunday roast. Cobbs, I don't think you'll ever let me down ♥

:: Have you entered my giveaway to win tickets to the Royal Berkshire County Show on the 20th September? ::

End of Season.

Our 'Pick Your Own' at Cobbs Farm Shop has now run out of everything, but their autumn raspberries are thriving and we took full advantage of this last Sunday. It's a little ridiculous that it's August and Moon and I were bundled up like it was autumn but it's appropriate for autumn fruit, I guess.


I'm never really sure what to do with raspberries and usually just end up eating them as they are, very easy when they're this good. I'm determined that if we're able to go back before the season is out that I find at least a few fun raspberry recipes beforehand.

These were far more reasonably priced than I had been expecting, under £2 for more than we really needed, a much better deal than the pre-picked £3.50 packs they were selling in the farm shop and much more fun too!












I personally can't wait for blackberry-picking season to get into full-swing, it's so nice to be able to eat seasonally and ever so slightly more rewarding when it's free.

What I Wore :: PYO

As if it's been nearly a year since I last shared an outfit... I don't have any excuses, maybe it's a self-conscious thing - I've become a bit chunkier than I'm comfortable with over the last year, or I've just been busy taking photographs of other things. Either way, I was pretty pleased with what I put together last Saturday and when given the chance to pose amongst the (delicious) strawberries, it just felt right, you know?

I even have bare legs, which is almost unheard of for me, particularly given that it was a mostly overcast day, what can I say, I'm just hella pleased with dat Portugal tan.


Top:: H&M
Skirt:: Vintage
Necklace:: H&M
Brooch:: Vintage
Belt:: ASOS
Sandals:: Office

This might be one of favourite most recent outfits and I feel like it's definitely going to be making an appearance a few more times before summer is out.






These sandals are my new favourites along with a pair of fake Birkenstocks I picked up at the same time. It's such a treat to get a pair of shoes that don't need any wearing in.




I know I've gushed about Cobbs a few times on here now but I just really like it, as a shop, as a restaurant, as a pick your own. Those were the best strawberries I've had in a while. I'm kind of sad that our homegrown strawberries are just as delicious but oh so tiny but we do have a much better crop than last year so I can at least be happy about that.