FONDUE NIGHTS AT TWO BELLY CHEESE & BEER SHOP

It's not often I rave about food on here but when it's oh so right it's hard not to share! Now we're firmly past Veganary and cheese is back on the menu, I can't wait to tell you about Two Belly Cheese & Beer shop in Bristol. A few weeks back I went along to a fondue night full of all the deliciousness that follows to sample the evening events hosted at Two Belly, a new on the scene shop/eateries/event space ran by wife and husband duo, Lara and Dominic, who are on a mission to empower people with exciting cheeses and beers from around the world. I mean who could say no to that right?

Upping sticks from London, this dynamic pair have followed their passion and turned their vision into reality, serving up carefully curated pairings of cheese and beer to the vibrant city of Bristol and it hasn't gone unnoticed.

The minimalist Two Belly shop has gone beyond the normal store set up with its fun taster evening events challenging you to explore your taste buds. The long shared table transformed to an evening dining experience introducing the Beer & Cheese Flight £10.50 pp followed by Fondue with accompanying UK cured meats, sourdough bread and fermented pickles amongst a few of treats for dipping. 

The opening Cheese & Beer flight took me by surprise, the delicate pairing was nothing short of genius and me, who is normally not a beer drinker, was very pleasantly surprised at the tasty combinations:

Mad Hatter Brewing, Tzatziki Sour - Kirkham's Lancashire cheese, a raw Cow's Milk Hard cheese

Braybrooke, Session Lager - Innes Log, a Raw Goat's Milk cheese. 

Moor, Dark alliance, Coffee Stout paired with Beenleigh Blue, a Sheep's Blue cheese. 

The whole evening was an absolute delight, and dining in the shop after trading hours allows you to feel like you are in the midst of a personal dining experience with the 'chefs' themselves. Lara and Dominic were on hand to answer any and all questions about the cheese and beer, as well as their passion and background before launching Two Belly.

I love any meal that brings people together over a table and the Two Belly Fondue Nights are a far cry from the nostalgic scenes of the '70s, intead they have created an almost fine dining experience where you can bond over a melting pot of delicious cheese. 

*Two Belly invited me to attend their Fondue Night without any obligation to review the event. However I'm very happy to share my thoughts from the evening as the food and whole experience was delightful and hope you enjoy it too. 

A NIGHT AT BRISTOL ZOO & OUTDOOR CINEMA!

We have long been fans of Bristol Zoo gardens, mainly because it was life line when I had an active toddler, what with the secure playground, endless  wildlife and a big green space to picnic with friends. We were firm members until the kiddo started school and we found it tricky to squeeze in a visit in our over-scheduled weekends. So when the lovely #BlogClub got together a group of bloggers for a night at Bristol Zoo as part of their Friday Twilight event, Felix was the first to say yes!

MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO IN BRISTOL // CITY GUIDE

It seems like a lifetime ago now that we left the dizzy heights of London for a different pace of life in the South West but oh Bristol you are a city that captured my heart and now the longest place I've lived! *eek* There are so many things to do in Bristol that it never really feels like ten years have passed.

From the twinkling harbourside and maritime history to the rows of candy coloured houses, vibrant creative quarters and wealth of foodie delights to discover, there is so much this city has to offer! I was super excited to be asked to collaborate on a mini film with the lovely Victoria from Bridges and Balloons and Expedia to showcase some of my favourite things to do in Bristol and give you an insight as to why we chose to make this our home.

THINGS TO DO IN BRISTOL

BODEN SPRING BLOOMS TOUR IN BRISTOL

If you're a Boden fan girl then you may have noticed a big green bus making its way around various cities last week over on their social media! Yes the Boden Spring Blooms tour with Bloom & Wild hit the streets of Bristol last Friday and I couldn't miss a chance to say hey to the lovely Boden peeps and Bristol bloggers, while checking out a few select pieces from their Spring collection.

Did I mention the amazing green double decker bus?! Yes parked in the heart of the city centre Boden has teamed up with beautiful concept florist, Bloom & Wild, to create a flower workshop on the lower deck while transforming the top deck into a mini Boden showroom, complete with changing room.

SLOW DAYS, EMU AUSTRALIA BOOTS AND MAMA STYLE

Over the last few weekends we've really been enjoying slow days pottering around the city, hanging out with friends, trying out new places to eat and generally having fun. As the weather is still proving to be quite unpredictable I've been switching between trainers and these spring boot c/o Emu Australia – totally crushing on these – and maybe the occasional sandal and naked toes! The silvery metallic finish looks really cool with a pair of skinnies and because they are so lightweight and breathable, they make for a perfect boot that can be enjoyed all year round. So when we headed down to North Street I decided to team them up with my leopard print jacket and sunnies for a bit of fun mama style.

The other week we decided to check out the new-top-us, Pizza Workshop, and a new coffee pit stop for me. Both Paul and F are huge pizza fan's so we thought it would be fun to sit out on the street front channelling some Brooklyn vibes in this small but perfectly formed restaurant/pizza bar, which oozes cool with its striking geometric stools, minimalist interior, delicious sourdough pizza and gluten free bases *win*.  

Typically we didn't manage to snap many pics inside as we were to busy enjoying our slices! They were delicious and it's definitely a place I'd recommend for families, as F loved the colouring in menu and the service was super friendly and quick. Afterwards I grabbed a quick flat white from Tincan Coffee and wandered around taking in some pretty blossoms before heading back up to our neck of the woods. We even took a blanket on the Downs for a bit of R&R. 

The kiddo, as per usual, had boundless energy and was very excited to try out his new Cheetah Sneakers c/o Emu Australia, which of course can make him run faster ;) They are so super cute with the little face on the front and I even caught him chatting to them about a race. It makes me feel quite nostalgic seeing him wear such a iconic Australian brand as I spent the first few years of my life growing up in Perth, and even though this is a far cry from Oz, it feels like I'm somehow giving him a little connection to my childhood.

This boy surprises me everyday with his kind nature, inquisitive mind and boundless energy, he really makes my heart swell with pride. As the weather has been so unpredictable I've been carrying around this Pac-a-mac c/o Muddy Puddles for any sudden downpours, plus he looks super cute in this raindrop jacket.



This weekend is going to be filled with more slow days, a school friends birthday party for F and a Eurovision party for us big kids ;) and fingers crossed there might even be sun!

What are you up to this weekend? 

BLOGGER MEET UP AND A CLIFTON COLOUR PHOTO WALK

The great thing about the blogging world is the wonderful community of creatives that you can share your passion with, and yesterday I did just that. The lovely Laura from Cardboard Cities recently got in touch suggesting it could be fun to host a photo walk in Bristol. As I'm always up for fun, I immediately said I would help out and we pulled together a date and released it on twitter. The next day I was both equally surprised and thrilled to see that in less than 24 hours all the spots had been filled and we officially had a photo walk to plan!
Yesterday our plan came together and we met up with a fab bunch of ladies who had travelled from Wales, Bristol and Oxford to join in, and the weather could not have been more perfect. For those who aren't familiar with the concept of photo walk, it's pretty much what it says on the tin. 

We planned a rough route with some visually appealing destination points along the way and made some goodie bags filled with confetti, heart balloons, street chalks and other small pieces to have fun with. It was great to see everyone take photos, be inspired and network, and it's always great way to finally meet up with virtual friends in real life!



We created a #cliftonphotowalk hashtag for Instagram and twitter so people could see what we were up to and most of the ladies were sharing their day on snapchat too. We spent a good four hours out and about, and the kiddo even joined us for ice cream towards the end. Here are some of my favourite Instagram pics from the day.

Top left: Lucy from Capture By Lucy / Top right: Natasha from Candy Pop / Bottom left: Laura from Cardboard Cities / Bottom Right: Gemma from Hello it's Gemma

You can check out more images from everyone's Instagram feed here: Being Little / Cardboard Cities / Candy Pop / Capture By Lucy  / Golden Pulse / Hello It's Gemma  / Mermaid Gossip / Oyster & Pearl / Oxford Rosie /  Tigerlilly Quinn oh and me Wild & Grizzly

Go check out their feeds and follow them, they're a great bunch of ladies. We're hoping to do another one, as we didn't expect it to be so popular and we'll hopefully try a new location in Bristol to discover some hidden gems. If you're interested in coming along do let me know and Laura and I can send you an email when it the date is released. It would be lovely to see you there!

A MINI CELEBRATION WITH RAMEN AT WAGAMAMA

Hanging out as a family in Bristol is ace as the city has so much to offer, with beautiful parks, cool kid hang outs and places to eat, it's no wonder F loves spending his time exploring with us at the weekends. We tend to have our weekday routines down to a T, what with F being at school, but last week we decided to break the rules and head out for a mini celebration with Ramen at Wagamamas as a treat.

F has settled into school brilliantly, and although there have been a few hiccups, we are so proud of him and how happy he seems. So when he received a certificate and award in school assembly, follwoed by a glowing parents evening, I wanted to take him out for a special dinner date and show him how proud we are of him. Just like me, F loves noodles and rice, if you ask him what he wants for tea it tends to be these dishes so when I realised that Wagamama was celebrating 20 years of Ramen, I knew it would be the perfect spot for dinner and he was thrilled when he realised where we heading.

F was bowled over that he got to have dinner out on a week night and excitedly got changed out of his school uniform for 'grown up dinner' and chatted all the way there. I tend to prefer the layout of a wagamama compared to normal restaurants, it feels cosy, friendly and a I like sharing long tables as I think it sets a good example to children, plus F love the special chopsticks!

We got cosy and ordered some dishes while F coloured in the kids activity menu, he decided to have the Chicken Katsu curry while I opted for the Chilli Chicken Ramen a.k.a full nutrition in a bowl and Paul tried a gluten free dish. It was delicious as always and I'm excited to see they've added two new Ramen dishes on to their menu, especially the seafood ramen!

After we filled our tummies with delicious food and admired F's paperwork, he tucked into ice cream and told us all about his day at school, while we sat back and looked on at this little wonder. It's so easy for life to rush by and miss how extraordinary it is, these little people learning and growing, and thinking what it might be like sitting at a table with him at eight or twelve, or perhaps meeting him for lunch at 22 *gulp*.  I always wonder what he might be like when he grows up, but on nights like this I'm just feel grateful to watch his little face at five, content and happy, and excited by his special night out. 

For anyone wanting to have a fun and easy dinner with little ones, I would definitely recommend heading to Wagamamas, not only do I love their dishes but it's great knowing the food comes out as soon as it's ready, so hungry tummies get fed quick!

*We were invited to dinner c/o Wagamama's but would happily eat there any night of the week as we truly love the food. All words and opinions are 100% my own. 

MY MOTHERS DAY STYLE

Whoop it's officially the weekend and that means a day of dedicated fun and pampering is just around the corner for us mamas, or at the very least a nice card and a bunch of blooms *hint hint ;) 

If there's any excuse to get dressed up and have fun then I'm ya girl. So I thought it would be fun to put together a little 'Pretty in Pink' inspired Mother's day style with some cute 'n' cool gifts that complete the look...oh and did I mention helium balloons? Nothing spreads happiness like giant balloons, I've had so many people smiling and asking what I was celebrating while out with these.

I got this skirt in the winter sale at New Look and loved how different it was to anything else I owned, it's quite unlike me as I often don't go for the girly look but I though t it would be great for spring, this one is also cute. I paired it with this fun pink Jewel top that I made – post to come on that one – and this sweet denim jacket, as denim everything seems to be on trend at the moment and looks set to last until summer.

Last week I went along to the Pandora event in London with some fab mama's to celebrate Mother's Day early, I got a sneak peek at their new Essence range and swooned over the collection, each charm unique with an inscribed value. I was drawn to Intuition as I tend to use mine for everything, but I also liked Positivity, Love, Joy and Faith. I love how intricate the charm is but how simple the bracelet looks, isn't it cute!

Also these London Retro sunglasses c/o Glasses Direct are perfect for spring and you can choose the frames online with your prescription and they'll be delivered straight to your door, hassle free *win*. Oh an London Retro has teamed up with jewellery designer Nicholas King to produce a limited edition range of statement eye wear to support the eye care charity Orbis – pioneers in global eye health – with all profits being donated to the Charity. So guilt free shopping ;)



I've been dying for an excuse to take pics in front of these pillars with their bright pops of colours, and even though I got some weird looks and beeping horns when taking the pics under a bypass, I had so much fun running around with a giant X and O balloon – A.K.A hugs and kisses – and acting like a kid again, oh and these fun stickers from the Line Camera app are ace!


I've ordered my own mama *mum look away* a Big Fat Box of goodies full of beautiful photo's of precious moments for her to keep at home, isn't the box gorgeous! Also she's going to love this Wensley Woven Scarf from Joules, plus it's in the sale if you want to get in your mama's good books for less!


What plans do you have for Mother's Day? Whatever it is I hope you get a lie in, a hand made card and treat like a king ;) Have a fabulous one!

Lori x

*Thanks to Pandora for gifting me this gorgeous bracelet.

A FESTIVE WEEKEND IN BRISTOL WITH KIDS

Are you feeling festive yet? It's been a little quiet over here as December proves to be a busy month for us, and with clashing schedules I've been determined to make the run up to Christmas as special as possible for the kiddo. So on Saturday we decided to stay local and enjoy a festive weekend in Bristol with the boy. 

Every year, outdoor ice skating is high up on F's wish list – skating wobbling around the rink holding hands while squealing with delight – making it a perfect excuse to visit Bristol Harbourside for a Christmassy outdoor adventure and to check out the local Christmas Market.

As we wandered around the stalls before lunch, F took the time to enjoy the live music and show us his moves much to our entertainment. I love local markets, independent artisans selling their wares and a mix of fragrent spices and homemade mince pies, the sound of Christmas cheer. I was even able to pick up a few stocking fillers *yay*.

A FUN DAY OUT IN BRISTOL FOR KIDS

One of the great things about Bristol is there is always something to do with little ones, whether they're teeny tiny and you're looking for that all important coffee pit stop, signing up to baby classes – such as Music with Mummy, Gymboree and Baby French which were some of F's favourites –  hanging out at the many parks and playgrounds the city has to offer or checking out some of the fab visitor attractions. The options are endless and it's certainly a city that provides fun at every stage of family life.

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A PERFECT HABOURSIDE PICNIC

As we're on Chicken Pox lock down I thought it would be nice to look back at last week when we decided to make the most of the morning sun and head out for an impromptu harbourside picnic. F loves the water and watching the boats go by, and I'm always up for eating alfresco, plus there's some picturesque walks down through Clifon Wood to the floating harbour. I hastily packed up some things from the fridge and headed out with Paul and an excited F in tow. 

Loaded down with an over sized scarf, baguette, cheese, strawberries and olives as well as some little cakes and a cheeky bottle of Lindemans Rose, we made our way to the end Bellevue Crescent and down the 106 steps past Worlds End Cottage. I love this little narrow passageway, it's full of charm with crumbling stone walls and overgrown wild flowers pushing their way through the brickwork.

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