My Imaginary Shop – Spring Edition

I can’t be sure due to the intermittent drizzle and cold, but I think spring is finally here. The roads are lined with bursts of daffodils, Mini Eggs are adorning the shelves and those glorious May bank holidays are almost upon us.  When spring hits London the pubs suddenly overflow into the street as sleeves are rolled up – with sickly sweet cider leaving rings on the tables and reddened noses trudging back to the office a little bit slower than usual. Trips to the countryside are no longer weighed down with winter warms but optimistically met with t shirts and flip flops. The promise of summer is oh so close and I cannot wait.

To welcome spring properly is to introduce colour and life, to relegate the heavy woollen jumpers back into storage and undergo the cathartic spring clean. This year I pledge to rid my flat of the many unused towels, old uni books and outdated phone chargers using Buy Me Once’s ‘Things I Don’t Need’ (post on this to follow). I will only bring in what I need and love, and get rid of drawer-filling, once-a-year clutter.

To help you purge for spring and fill your space with freshness and life, my imaginary shop would be stocked with unorganised succulents, kitschy flamingo cocktail sticks and strings of festoon lights.

1. The Rurbanite: Living in the Country without Leaving the City A follow up to her ever-popular Girl’s Guide to Growing Your Own, Alex Mitchell is back to show us busy city dwellers how to introduce a bit of rural charm into our lives.
2. Muji Storage What organised home is complete without Muji’s now iconic plastic storage boxes? Somehow they’ve managed to make the most boring thing on earth into a organisational staple, adorning the offices and drawers of designers and creatives everywhere.
3. Harry Brompton’s Ice Tea I was thrilled to discover this in Waitrose the other day. I’m secretly a bit jealous of the idea of big Southern summer with jugs of ice cool tea, huge dishes of shrimp and corn and outdoorsy fun. I love the old school bottles too!
4. Urban Cinemas – Okay so it might be hard to squeeze a drive in cinema into my little shop, but I love the idea of pop up cinemas. I had a trip to Waterstones (Tottenham Court Road) the other day and they had filled their basement with candles and wine for regular screenings. Check some more out here – Rooftop Film Club, Film 4 Summer Films at Somerset House, Where Is the Nomad.
5. Elle Fit Active – Get Bendy Refreshingly non-smug for a gorgeous fitness blogger, Elle is a longterm sufferer from scoliosis and found yoga as a way to manage her pain. Now on a certified yoga teacher, she has released a series of easy to follow guides to get you bendy, split and inverted so that you can show off your handstands in the park.

My Imaginary Shop – Aaand Breathe Edition

One of the hardest things in everyday life can be finding the off switch on your working life and taking some time for yourself. Even when I’m at home I find it so hard to ignore emails popping up on my phone, which leads to needless worry in my supposed ‘me’ time. When emails are available at our fingertips every second of the day it turns a 9-5 into a 24/7. If you’ve had a particularly crazy week it can be so difficult to switch off that you end up carrying your work home and worrying about that email/client/meeting long into the evening. Long hours and the constant worry of job security can eat away at the precious time you need AND deserve to keep for yourself.

If the thought of deleting your gmail app makes you palms sweat, there are plenty of other ways to help you unwind. Give yourself some slack – if you’re having the week from hell it’s okay to give the gym a miss, to skip the home-cooked meal, or turn down those drinks. Don’t beat yourself up about it, use that time for you and you’ll feel better for it. Find your own happiness routine, whether it’s venting to your friends, leaning on a partner, or having some alone time. Personally, I find it impossible to think about work if I’m in the tub with an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, or cooking my favourite meal. As much as I wish I could find my happy place at the gym, realistically it’s in a glass of wine…but each to their own.

I think in my shop I’d have to have a night dedicated to this, maybe my ‘Unwind from the Grind’ night…too sexual? Anyway, we’d close the shop down, open a few bottles of wine and have some circle time.

Until then, here are my favourites for when I’m in desperate need of some me time.

1. The Grey Area – Yoga Mat Much nicer than staring at a plain grey matt, The Grey Area asked seven (reflecting the body’s chakras, obvi) artists to design a yoga mat for this collection. 
2. Prestat – Chocolate Boxes Now that your chakras are well and truly balanced, you probably deserve some chocolate. These beautifully presented chocolates are available in a delectable variety of flavour combinations. 
3. Sad and Useless – Colouring Book for Grown Ups Sometimes you need mindfulness and tranquility, and sometimes you need to hate the world a bit and let out some frustration. Channel your anger into creativity with these hilarious doodles.
4. Chapel Down – English Sparkling Wine England and wine are hardly synonymous with each other, especially with the amount of new breweries popping up we’re usually considered a beer country, until now. Chapel Down is created using classic Champagne variety grapes grown in Kent and is a frontrunner in the growing popularity of homegrown wines.
5. Neals Yard Remedies – Aromatic Massage Oil Okay so I cheated a little, you may need someone else for this one, but it will be oh-so worth it. Stored in their iconic blue bottles, this heady lavender scent puts your mind and muscles at ease.

 

My Imaginary Shop – The Bathtime Edition

Unfortunately life often gets in the way and you forget to take a step back and make some time for yourself. The bath time routine is a time to ignore your emails, light your favourite scent, sink back and relax. I know some people that only take baths once a year (they’re not too smelly, they just prefer the speed of showers) and funnily enough they tend to be workaholics who are usually glued to their Blackberry’s. I love the luxury of bath time, even in my one bed flat where all 5ft3 of me has to squeeze into my tiny tub. I go all out; soothing music, bubble bath, candles – even if it’s the middle of the day.

I implore you to switch off just for an hour and take this time for yourself. If (like me) you sometimes struggle to leave work at work and find your thoughts drifting back to spreadsheets and clients, try finding a new podcast to distract yourself. I love the soothing ritual of Radio 4’s Desert Island Disks, the toe-curlingly relatable Mortified and hanging out with the charming Alie and Georgia with their Slumber Party.

Bath time would have a dedicated corner in my imaginary shop, probably an old dresser adorned with lights and seaside paraphernalia, apothecary jars askew and handmade bars of soap piled high.

So lie back, close your eyes, and sink into the bubbles with my top 5 bathtime picks.

1. L:A Bruket – Bath Salt L:A Bruket uses a variety of ingredients inspired by the land and sea, drawing from the healing power of sea salt which is popular in Sweden. Their simple yet trendsetting packaging looks so beautiful in a clean, bright bathroom.
2. Skandinavisk – Ro Scented Candle While we’re talking Scandinavia (and everyone is), it’s hard to ignore this newly iconic brand popping up lately. The company was actually started by two English chaps and is widely available across the UK. Skandinavisk adopts the soft tones and clean lines of Scandi design, paired with the nature-inspired notes.
3. Sorbet LTD – Hammam Towels Bringing a bit of Turkey to your bathroom, Sorbet offers a rainbow of this classic design. Surprisingly absorbent given their lightweight fabric, Hamman towels will become a staple. Use as a towel, blanket, sarong, even a tablecloth. Be sure to check out their Bamboo blend towels, the bamboo cotton giving it an extra softness.
4. Derek Rose – Pyjama’s Confession time – I’ve been put on a pyjama ban. I have an absurd amount of matching sets. Silk, tartan, striped…you name it, I’ve got it. But just because I’m on a ban doesn’t mean I can’t look. I’ve fallen in love with these pure cotton Derek Rose pyjama’s, available for both men and women. If you’re after something a bit cheaper, Cyber Jammies do some great alternatives. Make sure you pop your pj’s on a radiator or wrapped around a hot water bottle for the ultimate post bath time snugness.
5. Baileys Home – Bath Tray Not longer just for your nan, bath tray’s have had a stylish revival and are a welcome additional to your tub. These are available everywhere in a range of different styles, some even have a designated wine holder.

Note – All images are taken from the given websites

Eating Edinburgh

It was about this time last year that I first visited Edinburgh as a voluntary adult rather than a resistant tween sulking about having to spend my new years eve with family *ugh*. I was actually born in Edinburgh but I’ve only visited it sporadically as I’ve always been based around London. I think in some ways it was a hinderance having family there as we were less inclined to explore, a bit like my tragic lack of exploration of the main London landmarks.

I didn’t really know what to expect from the food in Scotland. I once walked in on my dad drunk on Burn’s night, screaming poetry and stabbing a haggis, that’s about as far as I got. A fantastic list of high end restaurants have popped up over the last 10 years, from Kitching to Kitchen, Mark Greenaway and Ondine’s. I went in with a huge list of well-known, pricey places I’d read about (thanks Telegraph), but this was quickly abandoned once I realised how many little gems this beautiful city has to offer. Here are my top 5 picks of lesser-known restaurants in the heart of the old town.

 1. Monteith’s

Monteith’s is so tucked away you’d be forgiven for missing it, was it not for the impressive arch of twinkling branches that mark the entrance, reminiscent of those you find on the path to Arthur’s Seat. To me, this is the perfect menu. Meals we know and love, reimagined and reinterpreted to something new. You can taste the care that’s taken in their sourcing of fish and meat, using a family butchers that dates back to the 1800s.

2. The Devil’s Advocate

A recurring theme in Edinburgh’s Old Town seems to be stone-fronted restaurants and bars tucked away down alleyways, missable were it not for their candle filled windows and quaint little signs. The Danish concept ‘hygge’ springs to mind; a word that encompasses everything that is cosy and comforting. The Devil’s Advocate epitomises this. Not only is it the perfect rainy evening hideaway, the food is fantastic. But what has stuck with me the most are the cocktails, particularly a tea soda, ginger and gin concoction that I’m dying to recreate.

Baked cod, carrot puree, heritage beetroot savoy & bacon crisp – For the grand total of £13

3. Bramble Bar

Although not technically in the Old Town, this deserves a special place on my list. After sinking a few tea soda cocktails at Devil’s Advocate I gave the waitress a grilling about where we could go for a drink. She mentioned a little bar just off Thistle Street, noticeable only if you look out for the small patch of astroturf outside. We walked past it twice and were about to give up when we finally spotted a tiny sign mounted outside (clue – look out for the dry cleaners). On a wet weekday on the wrong side of spring, Bramble was bustling with laughter and the sounds of records. The barmen were so friendly and seemed to genuinely love what they were doing. The menu is as exciting as it is unique – check out their salted caramel green tea vodka.

4. Mosque Kitchen

Mosque Kitchen was an old favourite of my mum’s, who went to the beautiful Edinburgh University in the late 80s. Almost 30 years later and students can still fill up their plates with £5 curries today. Whilst the website may boast ‘if you need a romantic getaway, Mosque Kitchen is for you’, this is not the case. What it can offer is a paper plate and plastic cutlery, heaving with authentic, cheap, delicious curries. The are no frills here and that’s just how I like my curry. Make sure you find a good space in the corner for a nap afterwards.

5. Wings

Whilst not the most culinarily diverse, sometimes you just need a big ol’ bowl of chicken wings. And that’s exactly what you’ll find here – over 60 varieties of wings; smothered, fried, dry. Wings is a treasure chest of Atari’s and Nintendo’s and movie paraphernalia with themed tables (we got the pin up table). Try their Wall of Flame challenge if you think you can handle it.

If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then heart of the city is in my stomach. That doesn’t make any sense, but it sounds pretty poetic if you ask me. Food definitely plays a huge part in my memories of a city, and I’m so glad to have found some new favourites in a city I’ve neglected. If you ever find yourself in Edinburgh, do yourself a favour and bypass The Elephant Room for Lucano’s, get gruesome in the Pathology museum, sink a white chocolate hot chocolate at Mary’s Milk Bar, and find your own ‘hygge’.

My Imaginary Shop – The Sunday Morning Edition

Sometimes you stumble upon a little shop or cafe filled with so much goodness you can’t help but envy the owners. I fantasise about owning a little shop filled with treasures, probably on a windy seaside town, and we’d have an old cat called Harold or something. I know what you’re thinking – we’re on to a money maker here.

But life of course gets in the way and we can’t all be Skandi furniture designers, so I make do with Pinterest boards full of candle holders and prints, and my little shop stays firmly in my head. Until now. Welcome to my imaginary shop.

I was thinking about everything that would fill my shelves, and actually I thought the best way to present this would be in themed collections. So today are my lazy Sunday morning must-haves. My favourite Sunday’s begin slowly and sleepily, leaving my sacred bed only for more tea and croissants. In an ideal world my french doors would be wide open letting in a pool of sunlight, with my light, white linen curtains rippling in the breeze. Unfortunately I live in a flat in North London, so I usually open my curtains to the sight of my neighbours multipack of Lonsdale briefs hanging on the clothes line.

Anyway, here is my list of ingredients for a perfect sunday morning.

1. In Bed Store – Linen Sheets I’ve long coveted these classic, crisp linen sheets. Available in muted seaside tones, they look as good rumpled as they do made.
2. The White Company – Cashmere Bed Socks These were one of my favourite Christmas presents last year, and one of the few times I wear pink. I feel like a queen when I wriggle my toes into these.
3. Chemex – Three Cup Classic I’m not a big coffee drinker. I’d struggle to tell you the difference between a brewed and instant coffee. But who could say no to this gorgeous, simplistic coffeemaker?

   

   This image is taken from http://www.brewingbobby.com

4. Stack – Independent Magazines Some say that magazines and newspapers are dying out, but others think that the surge in technology of the last decade will make way for a renaissance in traditional forms of entertainment. I’m gunning for the later. These magazines are beautifully and thoughtfully crafted; they belong in your Sunday morning.

   

   This image is taken from http://www.gottakeepmovin.com

5. Maison Margiela – Replica Fragrance Aptly named ‘Lazy Sunday Morning’, this fragrance describes itself as soft skin and bed linen. I love MM’s ‘olfactive notes’ which describes the scents at each tone.