Our First Trip To Oxford - Seeing The Sights, The Best Meal At Mowgli & Staying In A Prison!

 2 weeks ago George and I had 2 nights in Oxford for our latest UK staycation (I think staycation technically means staying in your own city but I'm going with it) and to be honest I'm still quite sad that it's over! I had planned on sharing this post last week but with the UK going crazy again, my mental health was not at its best and I felt very much like I did in March when all of 'this' started. Who knows what's to come next but whatever happens, I'm glad we've been able to have a little bit of freedom recently and our trip to Oxford is one I'll look back on and smile.I didn't know a huge deal about Oxford and what it had to offer before going but I'm honestly already wanting to book another trip. As soon as we arrived, I was just in awe of how beautiful the city is. Before we properly got to exploring we checked in at our hotel which was the Malmaison Oxford, a former prison which now has 95 converted rooms. I'm weirdly fascinated by prisons, don't ask why cos I don't know but because of that, the Malmaison is a hotel I'd wanted to stay in for years. It was incredibly cool to walk through and know you're genuinely in a prison but in the rooms, you'd have no idea! I loved the industrial style design of the room and the view out of the window was just stunning. It's not a hotel I'd necessarily rush to stay in again just yet for a normal stay just because a lot of it is about the actual experience of staying in a prison and obviously we've done that now and explored it all but for a special occasion in the future, I'd definitely consider it.After checking in we headed to Cafe Loco which I'd seen recommended a few times whilst researching the places to visit in Oxford. It was really big and spacious so felt really safe and the cake there was honestly one of the best I've ever had. You also get the most stunning views.After a short walk we then found some of the main attractions, Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Bodleian Library and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. I can't get over Radcliffe Camera, it's just amazing to look at but the whole area is so picturesque. I've seen these places on TV in so many shows before but I never thought they'd be quite so beautiful up close. The weather was perfect too (I mean maybe a bit too hot) so the sun was shining the whole time we were there.That evening we had booked a table at Mowgli and it was an absolute taste sensation. I honestly think it's one of the best restaurants we've ever been too. It was really reasonably priced, the decor is just gorgeous and the cocktails were lovely. We had a variety of small dishes to share but my favourite would have to be the Himalayan Cheese Toast. It was so good we ordered seconds and it will 100% be the first thing I order next time. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Tea Steeped Chickpeas which I'm going to have to try and re-create at home. Just the most heavenly meal.The next morning started off with brunch at The Breakfast Club. Hash browns and fried bread are life, you can't tell me otherwise. We then headed to the Covered Market which was full of independent shops and cafes. A really unique place that I'd love to spend more time at next time. We also managed to fit in a second visit to the University Church of St Mary the Virgin but this time we actually went in and looked round. I didn't take any photos as it didn't feel appropriate but inside was really beautiful. You can climb to the top for apparently the best views of the city which I was so tempted by but it was sweltering and I genuinely feared I would pass out. Something to do next time though, hopefully when it's much cooler.

Later that afternoon we booked for the tour of the Oxford Castle and Prison. Not all of it has been converted into a hotel so there's still a lot that's been kept as it was and there are tours there each day. It was so interesting to find out more about the prison and our tour guide was really funny. We were only in a small group which made it much better and we got plenty of time to explore ourselves at the end. I could definitely see us going again one day as there's so much to take in.For our final night we had a lovely meat at Ask Italian then headed back to the hotel to pack and get ready to leave the next morning. We had 2 nights in Oxford and we did get to see so much as everything is quite close-by to one another but I'd have loved an extra night. There's still so much on our list to see so I guess it just means we'll have to go back one day? As much as I absolutely loved it in Summer, it was so hot and I am not a Summer girl AT ALL. I think next time we'd plan to go later in Autumn or maybe even near Christmas when the markets are on? Either way it's a fantastic city and I really do miss it already.

Have you ever been to Oxford?

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My Milkybar Brownies Recipe

I'm sure we all knew it wouldn't be too long before another brownie recipe didn't we? I don't often reach for white chocolate over something like Cadbury but there's just something about Milkybar. I made Milkybar cookie slices not too long ago and they're something I can't wait to make again soon! I don't often see Milkybar in brownies, it seems more of a blondie chocolate but I had a clear idea in my mind of how I wanted them to be and I'm so happy with how they turned out! Here's how to make delicious Milkybar brownies.

Ingredients:

100g butter

200g golden caster sugar

200g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

100g plain flour

200g of Milkybar, broken into chunks (I got 2 big bars)

212g of Milkybar buttons (large bag)

Method:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees (160 fan) and grease and line a large square baking tin
2. Break up one bar of Milkybar and cut into smaller chunks then set aside whilst you make the batter
3. Put your butter and sugar into a large saucepan and warm over a medium heat until the butter has melted and the sugar has started to dissolve
4. Take your saucepan off the heat and add in your broken up dark chocolate, mix until the chocolate has melted and combined
5. Add in your vanilla extract and mix again
6. Crack in your 2 eggs and whisk the batter with an electric whisk until you have a thick & glossy mixture
7. Next, sift in your plain flour and stir until everything is fully combined
8. Add in your broken up Milkybar chunks along with about 160g of Milkybar buttons and give it one final mix
9. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared tin and pop into the oven for 45 minutes
10. When the brownies are cooked, leave to cool in the tin
11. Once cool, remove from the tin before melting 50g of Milkybar buttons
12. Drizzle the melted Milkybar over the top then top with a chunk of Milkybar. Cut into 9 large squares or if you'd prefer, 12 smaller ones. As you can see I experimented a little with the topping but next time I think I'd just top each brownie with chunks of Milkybar instead!

These brownies were super sweet so be prepared if you make them they're full on but god so worth it if you're a fan of white chocolate. The brownie itself is the perfect mix between cakey and gooey if I do say so myself and delicious either warm or cold. These will last 4-5 days if stored correctly (I recommend keeping them in a tupperware or the fridge).

What's your favourite kind of brownie?

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Is Food and Other Loves Coming To An End?

 After blogging for over 6 years now, I've recently found myself wondering how much longer I'm likely to be doing this for. I started Food and Other Loves when I'd just decided to leave uni, I'd been diagnosed with anxiety and my life was generally in a bit of a mess. I wasn't very happy and needed something to distract me. I never knew how much I'd grow to love blogging and I'm so thankful I opened blogger that one random day in 2014 and just started writing (no matter how awful those older posts are) but now I'm almost 26 (not coping well with that tbh) and my life is completely different. I'm just not sure if I feel the same love for it that I used to?I'm not even really sure why I'm sharing all of this and I'm sure it's likely a lot people won't be interested but it felt right to be a bit more open and talk about how I'm genuinely feeling. I'm sure all bloggers have had up and down moments and I know I won't be the only one that's felt like giving up with it entirely but something feels different this time. That's not to say I'm quitting blogging tomorrow and that's it forever but I am going to be treating my blog a little differently I think.

I've always shared what I personally want to share and I'd never post something just for the sake of it but it easy to get sucked into the feeling of 'everyone else is posting this, this and this so maybe I should too?'. It's easy to compare your content to others and worry yours isn't good enough or isn't offering something. Over the last year or so though I really have just posted for me and I'd like to think now that the people that read and comment and follow on social media still would no matter how my content may change. I've gone back to basics and shared lots of recipes, especially baking ones because that's one thing that brings me pure joy and I've also shared lots of book content because there isn't much that makes me happier than getting lost in a good book. I've shared quite a few posts about our puppy Bear since we brought him home because he really is my absolute world and I've spoken about my love for travel lots recently too, so many things that might not be for everyone but the things that I genuinely love writing about and isn't that why I started this blog in the first place? Whilst I am still very much a small blogger in comparison to many, I never went into this expecting people to actually read my posts and I never expected to form working relationships with brands but with that comes a lot of pressure. Pressure to be posting regularly, pressure to be sharing what you think people want to read, pressure to constantly up your game, pressure to have the most creative photography. And the pressure takes away the fun of blogging for me.

I just feel that I've reached a point with blogging now where it's gradually winding down and I'm okay with that. I'm still going to share books I'm passionate about, I'm still going to share my recipes for bakes I think people would like to try, I'm still going to share more personal lifestyle posts when it feels right but I'm not going to push myself to keep up anymore. That goes for Instagram too. I FEEL FREE. I know that's dramatic but I shared on Twitter last week how I'd removed lots of inactive followers so my following has dropped quite considerably but I honestly don't mind. I've stopped sharing photos because I think they'll do well (beauty flatlays, I hate you and will no longer force myself to take them when others can do them far better than me) and I've stopped worrying about writing captions that will get people's attention. If I want to share a picture from a recent trip why shouldn't I? If I want to share a cute picture of Bear why can't I? So many photos I've chosen not to share because personal ones never do as well in terms of engagement (for me) but I don't want to worry about that anymore. That's absolutely no disrespect to those that do think about the numbers and who do really work hard on their Instagram, I totally support you and will still be there liking and commenting but I'm taking my account in a different direction and that's okay. Social media was having a huge impact on my mental health and I already feel tons better for taking some control back.

I'm launching something new next month (all being well) that I'm really hoping will be the start of something amazing and for now that's my main focus. 2020 has been pretty horrific but I think it's taught me a lot. I'm no longer comfortable sitting back and not voicing my opinion on things when something isn't right (as you may have seen on Twitter recently, sorry not sorry). I'm no longer going to feel like I have to be doing what other people are just to fit in somewhere I don't even want to be! And I'm going to do what truly makes me happy. Life is too short not to! 

For now I'll still be blogging and to be honest there probably won't be much that changes! You might not even notice much of a difference on Instagram if you follow me over there but this just felt like something I needed to get out. Maybe it won't have come across right and it is pretty much one big ramble but I wanted to say it and I feel better for it.

Can anyone relate to what I'm talking about? Do you ever feel like this with blogging?

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So Lucky By Dawn O'Porter Book Review

I've reviewed quite a variety of books recently from thrillers that will grip you from the very start like The Perfect Couple to romances that will have you longing for the festive season like A Perfect Paris Christmas. So Lucky by Dawn O'Porter, one of my latest reads, is quite different from both of those and for a number of reasons I devoured it in a matter of hours!

'Beth shows that women really can have it all. Ruby lives life by her own rules. And then there's Lauren, living the dream. But. Beth hasn't had sex in a year. Ruby feels like she's failing. Lauren's happiness is fake news. And it takes just one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out. Is anyone's life as perfect as it looks?'

My Review

I love how daring Dawn has been with So Lucky. This book tackles so many issues that women have to deal with every single day and because of that so much of the book is relatable. On the surface it looks like all of these women have their lives together but the reality is they're all struggling in one way or another and I'm sure we can all relate to feeling like we have to put on a front at times for other people, whether it be family members, friends or even those who follow us online.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Ruby, Beth and Lauren. Sometimes with books like this it can get a little confusing keeping track of who's who but I didn't have that problem with So Lucky. Almost instantly I was hooked and genuinely interested in each character. Ruby is struggling with her three year old daughter Bonnie whilst dealing with a physical condition that really affects her self-esteem. I found Ruby's chapters in particular to be really raw and honest and I just wanted to give her a hug! New mother Beth is also struggling but for different reasons. Her husband won't go near her now she's had a baby, though as we delve deeper, there's clearly lots of unresolved problems in their marriage which leaves her struggling to resist temptation. I felt for Beth so much throughout the book as her husband Michael was just awful! I was waiting for the moment that she realises she's worth so much more. And then there's Lauren, about to marry the love of her life with the whole world waiting in suspense. We mainly get Lauren's chapters in the form of Instagram posts, which highlighted just how toxic social media be. What looks like the happiest time of someone's life, could actually be the worst. I won't spoil what happens though as it's just pure drama and it's one you'd definitely want to read yourself!

This book is brutally honest and gritty and Dawn hasn't sugar-coated anything. It touches upon body image, mental health issues, feminism and more and each subject is handled perfectly in my opinion. Dawn has got it spot on with just how judgemental society has become with many women now feeling pressure in every area of their lives. Whilst each woman was dealing with different issues, it was great to see them finally come together towards the end in a moment of #girlpower and all of them move forward with their lives in a different light to the one they started in.

Whilst So Lucky was far deeper than I expected it to be, it's also extremely funny and incredibly powerful in a number of ways. I could have never predicted that I'd love it as much as I did. It proved that no one's life is as perfect as it looks at times and really made me think about social media and the impact it can have on ourselves and those around us. 

I can't wait to read more from Dawn O'Porter and I've heard great things about The Cows so I think that has to be next on my list!

Have you read anything by Dawn O'Porter?

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A Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot Book Review*

I received a copy to review but all opinions are my own*
I'm sure I'm not the only one on a countdown to Christmas. 2020 has been a year we won't ever forget but I think I'm ready to say goodbye to it now. I'm currently in full on Autumn mode and before we know it the festive adverts will start, the Christmas markets will be here and I'll be having many a movie night wrapped in blankets watching Love Actually and Bridget Jones! Around this time of year there's nothing I love more than to get stuck into a festive romantic read and that's exactly what The Perfect Paris Christmas by Mandy Baggot is. 

'United in grief. Pushed apart by tragedy. Keeley Andrews knows more than anyone that you only live once. So when she receives an invitiation to spend two weeks in Paris, all expenses paid, she jumps at the chance. Ethan Bouchard has had the worst eighteen months of his life. He's ready to give up on everything, including his hotel chain. So when he meets Keeley, it simply isn't the right time. As Keeley and Ethan continue to bump into each other on the romantic Parisian streets, they can't help but wonder whether this is fate telling them to let go of the past and leap into the future...'

My Review

I have to start with the fact that I absolutely loved the main character Keeley. How much can one person deal with at one time?! Having lost her sister the previous year and now facing health problems of her own, she's not got it easy but add to that, she has to try and come to terms with the fact her friend is dying too. I couldn't help but feel for her and I just hoped that as the story progressed, she'd get her happy ending. It's not often you find a character that has gone through so much. Ethan too having lost someone recently is suffering and it was clear they were exactly what the other person needed. Their romance may have been a slow burn, but it was definitely sweet and I really did get so invested in all of the characters as the book went on.

Whilst romance obviously plays a big part in this, I liked that so much of it was about the characters pushing through their tragedies and seeing life in a new light. I think we can all agree that 2020 has put things into perspective and made us realise just how much we can take for granted. Whilst it may be different circumstances to the characters in this book, it's definitely very easy to relate to the 'live life to the fullest' message now.

One thing I really enjoyed throughout this is the feeling of being back in Paris. Mandy has captured the essence of the city perfectly and I could picture everything so clearly. It took me back to George and I's honeymoon a few years ago and now I'm longing for another trip, definitely at Christmas time too!

A final thing to mention is that I loved the relationships between so many of the characters in this. Yes, it's primarily a romance but I adored the friendships and I also really enjoyed the first meeting between Keeley and Silvie early on in the book. It felt really raw and believable and I just enjoyed getting to know all of the characters rather than just a select few.

If you're looking for a book that's sure to get you in the festive spirit early, then A Perfect Paris Christmas is the one for you!

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5 Staycations On My UK Travel Bucket List

Now life seems to be getting back to some normality, I've been making plans for the rest of 2020 and beyond. Whilst I mentioned in my city break bucket list recently that I had high hopes to get a holiday abroad in later in the year, as time goes on and with the rules changing on quarantine pretty much every week, it just doesn't feel like the right time. I'm sure for most people having to unexpectedly quarantine for 2 weeks on arrival back at home isn't ideal anyway but with my anxiety, that's just not something I could deal with, especially when we have Bear to think about. The worry would personally take away the enjoyment of the holiday so we've decided on a few UK breaks instead. I think it's easy to forget sometimes just how much the UK has to offer so now I'm finding myself wanting to go everywhere! George and I have already had a night away in York which was lovely and felt very safe and we're now planning various other trips too so I thought I'd share some of the places in the UK I'd love to visit over the next few years.

Oxford

First on my UK bucket list is Oxford and it's actually the city we're off to next. It just looks absolutely stunning. We've booked the most beautiful hotel which I've wanted to stay in for years and we already have so much planned. One of the things I really want to do is visit the Oxford Prison Museum, I'm oddly fascinated by prisons, weird I know. I also really want to climb to the top of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin which is apparently the place to go for the best views of the city and I definitely want to tick off a few Harry Potter locations! I honestly can't wait for a few days of sightseeing, cocktails and some good food.

Bath

Bath is one of those places I think would be gorgeous all year round but something about Christmas time there calls out to me. It's so picturesque and I just can't wait to be there one day, taking it all in. At the top of my list for Bath is The Roman Baths and a visit to the Thermae Bath Spa would be cool too as it's not anything like we've done before. I also like the look of Pulteney Bridge, the Royal Crescent and of course Bath Abbey.

Lincoln

It wasn't until a few days after George and I spoke and did some research on places we wanted to go that I realised we'd completely missed out Lincoln. I'm so glad it popped into my head as it's another city that looks gorgeous and it's a bit like York in that it's not too far away from us so we could just go for the night or even the day if we didn't feel like stopping. I'm really keen to spend some time at Lincoln Castle so we can do the Medieval Wall Walk and visit the Victorian Prison. I also definitely want to see Steep Hill and visit some cute shops and tea rooms! 

Whitby

Last year we had a weekend break in Whitby and it makes me smile every time I think about it. It was our first holiday with Bear and he just had the best time. We ate so much fish and chips and ice cream, spent loads of time at the beach and just had a lovely few days exploring. It was really special and I'm desperate to go again, hopefully next year. Whilst going abroad is always fun, there's just something nice about a caravan holiday isn't there? I love it! I always feel so happy when I'm at the seaside and I think Bear does too.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh has been on my bucket list for ages and this Christmas we're finally going! It's going to be a long car journey so I'll be taking ALL the snacks, will be stocked up with books and I'm deffo taking a cosy blanket with me. Like Bath, I'm sure it's beautiful no matter what time of year you go but it's always stood out to me as a place to go at Christmas. The photos I've seen of the Christmas market look insane, though I suppose it might be scaled down and scattered throughout the city this year instead but I'm sure it will be just as magical. I definitely want to visit Edinburgh castle aswell, Victoria Street and Dean Village, just to name a few places on our very long list.

So that wraps up my current UK travel bucket list. We already have a few breaks booked but I'm hoping to get more ticked off over the next few years! Please let me know if you have any recommendations for Oxford or Edinburgh to add to my list.

What's at the top of your UK bucket list?

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My September To-Do List

It's been a while since I last shared a monthly to-do list but as September nears the start of my favourite season and really the time I start getting organised and excited for the best time of the year (yes I am thinking about Christmas already) this seemed like a good time to share some of the things I'm hoping to get done this month!

Perfect At Least 2 Brownie Recipes

I know I talk about brownies A LOT on my blog and there doesn't often seem to be a month where I don't share at least one new variety but that's just because they're not only one of my favourite things to eat, but also one of my faves to bake. I feel like I've got a basic brownie recipe down now after many attempts and I finally feel ready to do something with that. Whether it's selling online or going to markets, I'm doing all I can at the moment to make sure that one day, hopefully in the not too distant future, that can become a reality. I've been making my Bourbon Biscuit brownies a lot recently and salted caramel and they're good to go but I still need to really perfect a few others and work on some new presentation ideas. This month I want to make and perfect at least 2 more of my recipes but if I can get more in that would be perfect!

Get Ahead With Blog Posts

I often find I have weeks where I write a ton of blog posts and I can get those all scheduled and ready to go and then all of a sudden I have nothing because I've not kept up with it. I've been feeling really motivated with blogging recently which has meant I've genuinely wanted to write most days so this month I just want to keep that up and make sure I've ideally always got content ready to go. I've got loads of ideas for some new content as we head into Autumn and I've got quite a few books I want to review after a great reading month in August so hopefully I can keep up the momentum.

Be More Active On Instagram

With Instagram, similar to my blog, I find I have weeks where I've got tons of photos I want to share and I'm quite active most of the week and then other times I don't upload for weeks and pretty much disappear. Does anyone else do that? Sometimes I just feel I have nothing interesting to share and I find it quite easy with Instagram to just think who actually cares? It's one platform I find I really do worry about what others think and I'm forever questioning myself which can take the enjoyment out of it. Recently I've been uploading a little more, on my grid and on stories and I'd love to keep that up this month. My followers have been stagnant for I don't even know how long now but generally I just want to be a bit more active on there regardless.

De-Clutter & Charity Shop My Things

It doesn't seem that long ago that I last did a big de-clutter but somehow things have built up again and there's now so much that can go to a charity shop that's just in the way. I always take bags of books every few months as I just don't have the room for all of the ones I get through and not long ago I took a massive bag of clothes too so I'm planning on doing that again this month. I think it's finally time to part with the clothes that are hanging in my wardrobe that I either don't like anymore, don't fit or don't suit me. I also need to de-clutter our kitchen cupboards and get rid of loads of mugs that are just taking up space.

Bring Out The Autumnal Decor

I could have got out the pumpkins and Autumnal candles before now but I've somehow managed to restrain myself. Now September is here, I'm going full out for Autumn. I just can't wait for it to start going dark early, to bring out the cosy blankets and beautiful cinnamon scented candles and for there to be a chill in the air again. Ahhhh it's just the best.

Get Prepared For Our Next Trip

Last month George and I had a night in York and it was just so lovely to do something normal again. Whilst I had high hopes we'd still get abroad this year, in the end a few things just made me too anxious and we have Bear to think about too so it just didn't feel right. I have my fingers crossed for next year. We've decided on a few UK breaks instead so we're off to Oxford for a few nights later this month. I like to get sorted early so I need to make some lists, start packing and get the flat in order before we go.

What's on your September to-do list?

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3 Photos I Loved In August

Last month I shared 3 of my favourite photos from July and I loved writing that post so I'm doing one for August too. I'm not sure I'll do them every single month but now life is slowly (in a way) getting back to normal, we're doing a lot more and it's a nice way of looking back on the previous month. Despite it being absolutely BOILING at the start of August which I was definitely not a fan of, it was a great month and one thing I always enjoy about August is that it's one step closer to Autumn. It's when I really get my countdown on for all things Halloween & Christmas so I always feel a bit brighter when it comes around. Anyway, here's 3 photos I loved in August!

A Night In York

Last month George and I had our first little UK break since lockdown & I can't quite find words for how good it was to be doing something like we used to again & to have time just us two. We chose York as it's still quite close to home and it's the perfect city for sightseeing. Every corner you turn there's cute cobbled streets, quirky tearooms and beautiful shops and come rain or shine, it's always absolutely stunning. We had a gorgeous afternoon walking around the city then in the evening we had a meal at Cosy Club which is one of our faves. Basically drowned myself in cheese. Just perfect and exactly what we needed.

An Afternoon In Castleton

Castleton is one of my favourite places to go with George and Bear. It's such a cute village and exactly the sort of place I imagined being able to take our dogs one day before we got Bear. It's the perfect place for a long walk so Bear always comes back absolutely shattered and we go to the nicest little cafe every time. It always feels like a proper day out and no matter the weather, it's just beautiful. When we went earlier this year it was snowing so that was an experience and this time it pretty much chucked it down with rain most of the afternoon but we all still had such a lovely time. Just look how pretty it is!

One For Me Please?!

I think they'll be a picture of Bear every time I do one of these posts! As always there's loads of pictures of him I could have picked but I love this one from our trip to Castleton. He loves any sort of human food and is always sitting patiently hoping he'll get some so of course he was holding out for some ice cream whilst we were in the queue. He's so cheeky but so adorable. I'm not gonna lie, he's going through a phase at the moment of borking, stealing clothes and just generally acting like a 6 month old again. Some days have been hard but he's beyond worth it.

And that wraps up 3 photos I loved in August! I can't believe we're in September already but so incredibly excited about it. Autumn is coming and I'm ready for it.

Are you looking forward to Autumn?

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