There's a reason why the phrase Mothers Ruin comes into play after a hard day with a small new person, and when F was tiny my news feed was full of the cry for glasses of wine or gin to numb the sleepless nights and long days.
A sophisticated Gin & Tonic was my tipple of choice in my mid-twenties and after arming myself with a concoction of celebratory cocktails and fun nights out, the classic G&T is making a come back in my house and gracing the drinks trolley at my Christmas parties.
So I'm excited to share with you the perfect gift for gin lovers in your life with this beautiful Gintuition Set. I love the presentation box that contains three glasses; a classic highball, anon-trend copa stem and the always stylish martini cocktail, which will have you feeling all James Bond.
Endorsed by makers of premium mixers Fever –Tree, the set comes with an expert guide to each glass with mixing tips and gin cocktail recipes. Making it the ultimate accessory to your gin loving nights and if you want to switch it up why not try a winter version using Sloe Gin?
What's your favourite tipple? Do you find yourself reaching for the glass when the little ones are asleep?
A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to spend a night at the newly reopened luxury Kings Head Hotel, proudly situated in the beautiful market town of Cirencester and snuggled in the heart of the Cotswold's, this beautifully restored and elegant hotel offers sanctuary from the daily bustle and a space to escape and clear your mind, replenishing both body and soul.
On arrival we were shown through the elegant reception and up to our suite 101 on the first floor. I love staying in hotels and never tire of the excitement of stepping into a beautifully designed room and the Kings Head certainly didn't disappoint, with each of the 45 rooms being uniquely created by Calico Interiors. Not only was the room spacious and light with the perfect addition of gin & tonic to welcome us, but the attention to detail surpassed my expectations. From the four poster bed, large circular mirrors, wardrobe area, grey subway tiled bathroom, stand alone bathtub and industrial wooden side table, the room was a beautiful mix of old meets new and the bed was dreamy to sink into.
The bar and restaurant were equally well designed with flagstone floors, dark interior walls punctuated with copper and gallery walls. There was a huge log fire ready to be lit on colder months and the menu introduced us to a new style of Robatayaki dining, which uses the Japanese technique of grilling food over hot coals to seal in the flavour. Each dish is presented as a small bite so you can order a few plates from each section of the menu allowing you to get a full range of the flavours on offer. The dishes were beautifully presented, delicious and the colours were leapt off the plate.
We rounded of dinner with a few mystery cocktails created by the barman, this orange creation had Iron Brew as its secret ingredient and was super tasty, oh and this flaming Mojito was fab! I love the atmosphere at night, a mix of hotel guests and locals all coming together to enjoy a drink in the beautifully designed bar which stay open until midnight.
After the most restful sleep with no small person to wake us at the crack of dawn, we took our time getting dressed using the Nespresso machine to give us our caffeine kick before heading down for breakfast. There was a huge selection of continental meats, cheeses and cereals as well as a cooked menu, I wolfed down the Eggs Florentine and Paul was pleased with the Gluten free option and the service was impeccable.
After a tour around the rest of the tardis like hotel, which houses a huge selection of rooms available for hire from private dining in the wine cellar, beautiful ballroom hall for weddings and the underground vaulted room – fab for private parties – I returned to the room to pack and take a sneak peek at the bridal suite with free standing copper bath *swoon* and take a mental note of the afternoon tea's – my excuse to return soon!
The Kings Head has been lovingly restored and is the perfect getaway from life and enjoy luxury design in the Cotswold's, and I would recommend anyone to book a night as a treat. Room prices range from £120 to £450 for an evening although prices change depending on season and the hotel often runs supper clubs and events for those not wanting to stay but experience a touch of luxury.
*We received a complimentary stay, treatment and meals as part of this review. All words and opinions are 100% my own.
Ok so let me start off with the glaringly obvious fact that this beauty of an aperitif drink is in fact Italian and not German – Italy my apologies – in fact Italy has been all over this drink since 1919 proving they know how to have a good time. However it wasn't until I visited Berlin earlier in the year that I was introduced to Aperol Spritz, a refreshing cocktail with its bright orange glow and unusual taste which hasn't been changed since it was first bottled, well if ain't broke don't fix it right?
It seems that us Brits are a bit slow on the uptake and while this has been a huge hit in Europe and a staple drink on almost every menu, it's only recently become on trend in the UK and so it should! Super easy to make with three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperol and one part soda water served with ice and a slice of orange it's a fun drink to share with friends and for me takes me back to Berlin nights and a buzz in the air.
So when Aperol sent over a bottle of the good stuff to try out at home I couldn't resist sharing a glass with my friend, who being from Munich knows the drinks oh so well. There really is nothing better than hanging out with friends and sharing a glass while having a good chat, especially with a drink that look this fun. Now that I've got a taste for this Italian cocktail I can't wait to serve it with summer salads and enjoy the warm evenings outdoors.
Have you every tried an Aperol Spritz?
* I was sent a bottle of Aperol to try at home. All words and thoughts are my own and thanks for providing a fun moment with my friend. Please drink responsibly.
Yep it's Monday. The day which makes most people sigh as they leave the fun of the weekend behind them and head into work for the week. Before I started blogging/freelancing I used to get that sinking feeling on the walk to work, already planning what fun I could have come Friday. So I started a little tradition at home, for those Mondays that were particularly hard to get into I would celebrate the start of the week with Mojito Monday.
When Paul and I travelled to Rome – pre-child – we really got into our mojito vibe, having fun exploring the city by day and partying by night. So I thought we'd bring a little holiday fun home with us and indulge with a cocktail now and again in the comfort of our flat. So when I saw thebar.com had created fun and easy Shake-Up summer cocktail videos I knew it would be fun to get involved and enjoy a mojito Monday at home. Normally we use a white rum to create our cocktail but we followed the 'No Problemo Mojito' video and tried Captain Morgan's Spice Rum to give it a touch of summer.
To make your own Mojito Monday at home you'll need:
• Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
• Ice Cubes and Crushed Ice
• Fresh Mint
• Soda Water
• Limes
• Caster Sugar
• First you need to slap the mint to release the flavour ad add to your glass
• Add two parts rum and the juice of half a lime per glass.
• Next add two spoons of Caster sugar to give it a sweet zing.
• Fill your glass with ice and two parts soda water, mix well and enjoy!
The recipe is super easy to follow and we made our cocktails straight into a glass rather than jug, which we'd normally do on a weekend or when drinking with friends, but as we have a four year old to wake us up early o'clock we limit ourselves to one cocktail each on a weeknight. As Paul is travelling to Budapest today we made ours last night but I might sneak a cheeky one in tonight to ease myself into my solo parenting week.
If you want to create your own Mojito Monday a home then you can watch the video below to see how the cocktail crashers create the perfect summer drink or head over to thebar.com for more cocktail ideas.
Do you have a favourite cocktail? I'd love to see what you come up with by tagging images with #letscocktail on twitter or Instagram.
Before the days of evening lock down – a.k.a F's bedtime – one of my favourite pastimes was meeting up with friends and heading out into the night for an evening of carefree fun and a lie in the next day. When I lived in London I was a social butterfly and could be found out most nights sipping cocktails, out dancing, attending art openings or meeting friends for tasty bites to eat.
When I moved to Bristol I was a little worried that it wouldn't live up to my London night life and all the exciting venues the capital had to offer but I was soon proved wrong. There are so many things going on whether it's a music gig, pop up restaurant, art exhibition opening, outdoor cinema, secret dinner club, outdoor ski discos, underground bars or even hanging out by the harbour side as the sun goes down.
Long gone are the days I can head out at the drop of a hat and I often miss the spontaneous meet ups with friends, nowadays there's a minimum of five days planning and organising childcare before I can step outside, I think we're the only parents I know that don't use a paid babysitter, relying on my folks coming over from Wales or the kindness of good friends to step in. It's really made me appreciate the little things, like walking to meet friends when the sun is low and the light lingers in a certain way, where I suddenly feel a buzz of excitement in the air.
Some of my favourite underground haunts in Bristol are Hausbar, Milk Thistle and the Red Light. There's something quite exciting about seeking a secret sign or symbol to an entrance way, ringing a doorbell and hoping you've got the right place, only to have a thick curtain pulled back and someone lead the way to cool interiors and cocktails.
The next few weeks are looking pretty busy and I'll be spending quite a bit of time in London over the next month, I'm really looking forward to catching up with friends and discovering some cool places, like this amazing pink dining room, this fun detective agency or eating blind folded.
How often do you get to go out on an evening? Do you use a babysitter? I'd love to hear how you balance your social life with motherhood, and if you know any cool places to try in London then please send me some tips! x
Now that the clocks have leaped forward and we can officially welcome spring, my thoughts are turning to lighter evenings and enjoying a cheeky cocktail with friends. Nothing can beat sitting out in the early evening, people watching and catching up with the girls, while sipping a refreshing drink.
As Paul works away a lot, heading out in the evening isn't always an option for me and most weekdays I find myself on lock down when the clock strikes 6pm. However that's not to stop me having friends over once the boy is in bed, and with this LSA Bar Punch Jug Set I can make sure that I have enough drinks to go around.
I love LSA, for those who aren't familiar with them, they are one of the leading international glassware designers providing their stylish products for some of the most cool and prestigious hotels and home around the country. I was excited to test out a new refreshing cocktail, Cranberry Tart Punch.
You'll need:
• 1 bottle of sparkling white wine or champagne if you're feeling fancy.
• 500ml of cranberry juice.
• One lime.
• Ice with a variety of berries to garnish.
To make:
• Add your wine/champagne into the jug, add the cranberry juice and stir gently.
• pour your cocktail into each glass and garnish with berry ice and a squeaze of lime.
To celebrate the arrival of spring, I'm teaming up with the UK's premier online interior store Occa-Home to offer you the chance to win this beautiful LSA Bar Punch Jug Set and entertain your friends in style. For your chance to win a set of this stylish LSA Punch Set which retails at £75 all you have to do is enter any/all of the options below for your chance to win. Good luck. x
*Giveaway will run for two weeks and the winner will be drawn by random using rafflecopter on the 13th April. All entries will be verified. Prize will include one set LSA Bar Punch Jug Set worth the value of £75. This is not exchangeable. By entering you are signing up to the Wild & Grizzly E-newsletter. Open worldwide.
A sophisticated Gin & Tonic was my tipple of choice in my mid-twenties and after arming myself with a concoction of celebratory cocktails and fun nights out, the classic G&T is making a come back in my house and gracing the drinks trolley at my Christmas parties.
