I'm Back!

Well we have thoroughly enjoyed our break in the sunshine with the family. Great company, lots of sun and relaxation, an abundance of amazing food and wine and many many happy memories to cherish.

We have had...

lots of quality family time,

wonderful Mr and Mrs time,

visited some stunning places,

steeped ourselves in history at Santa Barbara Castle - Alicante,

oohed and aahed over old town Spain,

tasted the most delicious ice cream - twice!

gorged on amazing Pescado Frito at the beach,

giggled like school children over this sign,

and seen stunning sunsets with our gorgeous family.

Oh and we have had some very memorable moments to say the least - hee hee those who were there know what I mean! ;o) sshhh! Look forward to doing all again next year! xxx

I feel thoroughly refreshed and well relaxed. Mind I can't believe there was a little heat wave in the UK while we were away. We have returned to having to wear jumpers and popping the heating on again! Some June this is hey!?

Image via All Spun Out 365

I hope you enjoyed my fantastic guest bloggers as much as I did. I've got plenty new books on my wish list thanks, have a yearning to visit my sister and family in Paris and am very touched by my mum's lovely post all about MOI! - hee hee it's fab to be called sexy at 40 even if it is by your mummy!

For those who are celebrating, I hope you enjoy the Jubilee long weekend! Off for some Pimms and scones, tata!

Jo Malone special-edition crown via Fashion Magazine

Sara xx

Multitasking Mums

 Sara has jetted off to the sun and given me free rein to write a post in her absence. My name is Di Overton and I am the Mother of Sara the author of this blog. I feel a bit like a burglar coming in here and posting just what I like. I am hugely proud of my daughter and as a professional blogger myself I truly respect what she has created here.

 I can't say it was easy persuading her to write a blog but now she has started there is no stopping her. Apart from running her own business - Rituals Beauty (oh how I love having a daughter that is a beautician) she like many other women has to juggle all the other things in life like

 Housework

 Cooking

 Gardening (well neither her or I are any good at this one)

 Fixing stuff

 Washing and ironing

 Scheduling both her business and personal life

 Writing her blog and keeping accounts

 Recording little Billy's progress in life

 Shopping

Keeping fit and yet she still manages to look sexy. Well done Sara.

All these fabulous images are by the hugely talented photographer Heidi Lender. Her project about Mothers is called - She Can Leap Tall Buildings

Guest Post - Charlotte Roll

Today I would like to welcome my next guest post - written by my little sister Charlotte writer of The Paupers Kitchen blog; who is lucky enough to live in Paris! She has a major passion for food and boy can she cook! Her blog has the most delicious recipes and fascinating musings. You may even be lucky enough to try some of our gorgeous family dishes.

What with me, our mum and my sis it seems blogging is well and truly in the genes! I'm sure she will make you as jealous as I am reading this post! Hope you enjoy.

A Rosbif in Frogland

It has been a long and turbulent love story between us Brits and the French. Most of the English find the French arrogant and too proud. I've been living in France for the last eight years, so they must be doing something right for a Brit born and raised to stay their side of the Channel.

The French themselves are indeed arrogant and too proud, but once you dig a bit further they can be a warm people. They have a right to be proud too. Their health and social care is amazing, they have 5 weeks holiday a year, 10 days of which you have to take by law during the summer months! But the best thing the French have to be proud of is their food.

They have such a respect for anything and everything edible it can be quite breath taking. I'm not talking about the Cordon Bleu part of French cuisine, but the everyday stuff. I can spend hours in a French supermarket.

The array of fresh fruits and vegetables, all loose and so you can choose the best.

The cheese counters are to die for.

The fish counters are always beautifully presented.

The bread aisle smells heavenly.

Lest we forget the wine section. Take a look at those prices, no wonder the French gulp the stuff down as if it were water!

The supermarkets even hold mini festivals called Foires, in the entrance of the supermarket where they pay particular attention to a certain product. The most appreciated is of course the Foire aux Vins (the Wine Festival). The French come in their thousands to pick up a good deal on the crème de la crème of French wine (and of course have a little taste).

However, even though these huge hypermarkets are everywhere and offer extremely competitive prices, all French towns, however small, have

a bakers

a butchers

a grocery store

and a bar tabac.

The French love nothing more than coming out on an evening, usually around 6.30pm, picking up a freshly cooked baguette, popping in for their meat for that evening's dinner, swinging by the grocery store for a bottle of wine to go with it all and last stop at the bar for a packet of Gauloises and an aperitif before heading home to some good wholesome home cooking.

Another thing I take my hat off to French for is their food legislation regarding regional specialities. Cognac can only come from Cognac, as Champagne can only come from Champagne. Coulommiers cheese is from.....you guessed it Coulommiers. This protects the regions' own creations and means that there can be no inferior quality products trying to pass themselves off as the original. So look out for the AOC logo.

Last, but by no means least, the markets. Now these are the real gems of French cuisine. Nearly all French towns have a weekly farmers market. The best thing about the French markets is the stall holders will always let you taste before you buy. They are confident with their produce that they are sure once you have that slice of cheese or cured ham you just can't resist.

So there you have it. The reason I've stayed so long. Bon Apetit and Cheers everyone!

All images via Carrefour and Leclerc

Guest Post - Carly-Ann Clements

Today I would like to welcome my first guest post - hope you enjoy!

Image via Etsy

Carly is a writer and social media type known mainly for her blog, Thoughts in Little Boxes.

As a bit of a jack of all trades, her blog covers a number of topics offering something for everyone. If you can't find a topic on the blog, then there's no doubt you'll find an external blog that she writes for covering it. Today her guest post covers one such topic:

BOOKS

I am a complete bookworm. You would have thought that that would have be evident after studying literature for many years but it wasn't until after I stopped analysing texts that I really started appreciating them. A few years on from studying and I'm known to take a longer route home so that I have extra time to read. I'm happy going for a meal on my own with a good book in tow. I have even stayed up all night to finish a book with work the next day. I read everything from graphic novels to Greek mythology, young adult fiction to thrillers, chick-lit to non-fiction. Everything has its time and place and with that in mind I'm going to share some of my favourite summer reads with you.

Though good literature can be enjoyed at any time, I always think that the right environment will enhance your experience. My list will feature a wide range of books that I feel benefit from a bit of sunshine, relaxation and a dedicated stint of reading time. So if you're planning a beach holiday or just sitting in your back garden this summer, pick up one of these books and lose yourself in the pages.

Marching Powder - Rusty Young

Marching Powder is a true crime novel about an Englishman named Thomas McFadden who is sent  to a Bolivian prison for drug trafficking. It's an amazing insight into the bizarre world of San Pedro Prison where inmates either live like kings or run the risk of being killed in their sleep; they even do guided tours for visitors within the prison walls. Rusty Young documents the stories Thomas told him during visitations to the prison - some will show the pure elation Thomas experienced, some will chill you to the bone but all of them are unbelievable. The book isn't for the faint of heart but worth every second you dedicate to it. If you're usually a thriller or crime reader, give this a go, if you just like non-fiction you really won't regret reading it.

One Day - David Nicholls

This book exploded into the public eye as soon as it was published but many are yet to read it. The book takes place on the 15th July every year for twenty years following the story of Emma and Dexter after they meet on the night of their graduation in 1988. We follow them through their uncertain relationship and often troubled lives on a scale unlike any other. This book is mesmerising and written in a way I've never really come across before. The fragments of time we experience with the characters is enough to really understand them and by the end you feel as though you know them as well as you know your friends. It's a book that you can return to time and time again and I often find myself reaching for it and reading my favourite passage for no particular reason. It's a book you want to throw yourself into head first so make sure you have a clear schedule when you start to read it.

I Heart New York - Lindsey Kelk

I secretly love chick-lit. After a dark and serious read there's nothing better than whipping out a light-hearted, comical book to wipe away any dark emotions. I Heart New York is about a woman called Angela who finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her at her best friend's wedding. With little more than the clothes on her back, Angela decides to leave her woes behind by escaping England and jetting of to NYC. A first person narrative that shows all the gritty, embarrassing details of a clumsy girl trying her luck in a new situation and all the problems that ensue. What's better than being in a foreign land than reading about someone else in a foreign land making all the social faux pas you can imagine?

Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami

Haruki Muakami is one of my favourite authors but his books aren't for everyone. Kafka on the Shore is one of his best known novels. It's a duel narrative following a young man called Tamura as he runs away from home at fifteen and the slightly more surreal Nakata who is a tracker of lost cats. A truly bizarre and wonderful novel that stays with you long after reading it but be warned… there are some disturbing images that may upset some readers. It is one of the few books I have read and honestly had no idea where it would lead and a great introduction to the world of Murakami and something for those who love the bizarre and wonderful.

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead

If you loved Twilight then why not give these books a go. A series of Young Adult Fantasy fiction following Rose, a young vampire guardian in training and her best friend and vampire princess, Lissa. The first book in a series of seven takes the reader deep into the world of vampires, forbidden love, ruthless social scenes and terrifying rituals. It's a really easy read that sweeps you along leaving you wanting more. A great book for those times you just want to escape the real world and embrace a bit of fantasy.


If none of these books take your fancy but you can't decide what to take on holiday then I recommend sticking to books that are bright and cheerful to go along with the relaxed, sunny, summery vibe. I also recommend reading the first 5 pages of a selection of books to see how you connect with them - nothing worse than lugging a paperback halfway around the world and realising that you don't like it. And lastly, never read anything that feels like a chore. Reading is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable so don't try to read War and Peace if you look at it and feel your heart sink.

All the books I've read on holiday have made the memories of my travels even more vivid. I hope your next summer read does the same for you.


You can also follow Carly on Facebook and Twitter @woshixiongmao 

My Guests Are on Their Way!

Just a quick post, I am taking a break in the sun for a couple of weeks...

Hee hee I wish! Image via Modern Luxury Homes

and handing over to some fantastic fellow bloggers who will be popping by to say 'Hi'. Keep your eyes peeled! 

Image via Pinterest

See you in a couple of weeks, until then I'll leave you in their capable hands. Hope you enjoy!

Sara x