Foodie Finds | August

If you enjoy your grub like me, then trying somewhere new for breakfast, lunch or dinner will bring a lot of happy smiles to your face. Despite my best efforts, I find I’m a creature of habit when it comes to eating out and often book into the restaurants I know and love all too often. In a bid to spread my wings, I introduced the Foodie Finds feature on my blog a few months back and I’m finally back with a few new discoveries.

Mono - South Bridge, Edinburgh

When you look at the website for Mono, it reads, ‘Progressive Italian Dining’ and that’s exactly what you’re served. Inside, the restaurant is very minimalistic, with a nod to Scandi style interiors featuring a quaint fireplace, wood floors, tables and chairs, and modern lighting. 

After missing Mono’s bloggers banquet a few weeks before, I was kindly invited to try out their Apertivi menu on a date that suited. When we arrived, my friend Tessa and I were greeted with a warm welcome from staff before being shown to our table.

So, what’s their Appretivi menu I hear you ask. Essentially, it’s their early evening menu that runs from 5-6.30pm and offers a pre-starter with a house spritz followed by three courses from a selective menu.

We started off our meal with a selection of delicious breads with oil and a few bite-sized canapes, otherwise known as ‘stuzzichini. In all honesty I didn’t know what to expect and these snazzy little pre-starters put the bar high for the rest of the meal. 

Following our bread and stuzzichini, we were served our first (or Primi) course. Both Tessa and I went for the baked ricotta with pine nuts, peppers, aubergine, olives and tomato. Again, what was served took me by surprise but in the best possible way. After the first curious mouthful we scoffed down the rest.

Course two, I went for the Dry Aged Beef Ox Cheek with kohlrabi, cauliflower, hazelnut and sea truffle and Tessa tried the Octopus Alla Piastra with courgette, spring onion and curried butter. Again, we both really enjoyed our choices and each were cooked to perfection.

We finished off with dessert - I went for the cherry and chocolate and if I’m honest, regretted my choice. I think I realised I’m not really a fan of cherry however I’m sure the desert would be enjoyed by anyone that does. Tessa rated her Caramelised Peach, (almond milk, peach sorbet with Amaretti biscuits) as the best course out of the lot and I was envious to say the least!

Overall, we really enjoyed trying something completely different. Each course was presented beautifully and at the end of the meal we felt satisfied but not over-full (as I often find I do). I’d really recommend giving Mono a try if you’re in Edinburgh. The restaurant also offers a regular A La Carte menu, Lunch Menu and rather exciting Tasting Menu which looks ideal for a special occasion. You can view all of the menus on their website here.

Mozza – Renfield Street, Glasgow

Sticking with Italian cuisine, another new try for me this month was Mozza in Glasgow. Last week, the girls and I headed here to celebrate the exciting news of Rachel’s engagement (eek!). Side note – check out her beautiful ring here.

Now back to Mozza - the restaurant is conveniently located a few minutes-walk from Glasgow Central station…the ideal spot for some Friday night grub, pre-cocktails.

Inside, you’ll find a nice big space with the name Mozza in lights on the wall. From the menu you can choose one of 13 different styles of neopolitan pizza. I went for number five which was a spicy tomato-based pizza with mozzarella, spicy salami, ricotta cheese, black pepper, basil and oil. It was super tasty and actually really reminded me of Peasano's pizza (which I'm guessing are also Neopolitan?). 

The prices are extremely reasonable too with pizzas starting from just £5 with the priciest at £9 – bargain! I didn’t try any of the sides or desserts so can’t comment on them, but I did try some of their white wine which went perfectly with my pizza.

I’ll definitely be heading back to Mozza and would highly recommend for all of you pizza lovers out there.

Thanks again to Mono for inviting us along to try out their food!

Until next time.

XoXo

My Wedding Journal: Bridal Styling Afternoon at The Corinthian

As a (relatively) new bride-to-be it was only a matter of time before 50% of conversations leaving my mouth were dresses, decor or first dance related so to control the rambling I thought I'd introduce a new feature to the blog that's exclusively related to my big day. With two years of planning (and stressing and saving *gulp*) ahead of me I thought I'd share my experiences in 'My Wedding Journal' - a feature to chat about where I've shopped, any tips and tricks I've learnt along the way and my general experience of planning a wedding.

After attending a gorgeous wedding event on Sunday and a meeting with my bridal squad in the diary for this evening, it seemed like the perfect time to start sharing my journey.

Now,the formal introduction are out of the way let's rewind back to Sunday's event now, shall we...

With a prosecco in hand, Jill and I had a nosy around some of the suppliers on show at the bridal styling event. Set against the stunning backdrop of The Corinthian Club we checked out Save the Date cards from ComBossa, stunning lace one pieces from Box of Gorgeous and delicious looking cakes from Suzanne Esper Cakes. After mingling through the vendors we took our seat to watch the girls on the catwalk showcase a stunning new accessories collection from Polly and Bella, bridesmaid outfits from House of Fraser and wedding gowns from The Bridal Garden. 

After the show we got excited over the Swarovski headpieces from Polly and Bella and took our chance to try on a few on for size. A dazzling head piece would be a nice way to switch up your wedding dress from day to night - potentially something I'll add to my outfit once I lose the veil.Dress permitting of course....

XoXo

We're getting a puppy!

Now that I've finally said (or typed) it out loud it seems all the more real.

It's official, the fiance and I are making the next step in our life together and getting a puppy. On Sunday past, we made the long ass drive down to Manchester to pick out our new baby - a little black pug (eeeeeek!). I'm a whole bag of emotions just at the thought of it. Excitement, nerves and utterly smitten are just a few of the feelings in there.

'So, how did I decide to get a puppy?' you may be asking yourself. Well, my friends let me tell you. This was not a spontaneous decision and in my opinion never should be. We've actually been speaking about potentially getting a puppy for around two years now with the plans to get one for Christmas 2016. Up until about two months ago I didn't actually know if our wishes would become reality but after the surprise proposal in October it felt more right than ever. With a wedding in the works and a very scary savings plan kicking off in January (*gulp* - my wardrobe will never forgive me) it was perfect timing. Now that spending money will be at a minimum, weekends in the park with our puppy sounds like the perfect trade. Don't you agree?

I had the luxury of getting to visit her again this weekend as, wait for it,.... one of my friends has bought one of her brothers!! I'm so excited that we'll have siblings that will always be able to see each other. Puppy training classes will now be all the more fun.

We pick up our little lady on the 17th of December so we have four weeks to get ready for her. A bed, leash, collar, bowls, a blanket, toys, insurance and a cute outfit (of course) are on the shopping list. I can't wait until the moment we're driving back to Glasgow with her on my lap! I'm considering vlogging the whole experience (yep, I said it. VLOGGING) so let me know if you would like to see this.

I'm so excited for this next chapter of our lives. I know it's not going to be easy and adjusting our life to fit in a dog will be a challenge but I'm ready for it.

XoXo

Brunching, Burgers and Blogger Events - October in pictures

I'm not going to lie, when Tuesday marked the beginning of a new month and more specifically the end of October, I was relieved! Last month there were so many highs and lows that I was simply  emotionally exhausted. Feeling ready for a fresh start - November was my saviour.

I don't want to look back and remember the crappy times so thought I would round-up the highlights of my month - and let me tell you, there was plenty of them!

I started off the month with a delicious champagne brunch at Cote Brasserie. After heading along to their 1st birthday celebration a few weeks before, myself, Victoria and Rachel headed back for more brunch and bubbles. I really love this spot for a lazy weekend brunch. The menu is delicious and really affordable! Plus there's a lovely relaxed ambience and pretty interiors - what more could you want. Definitely one of my top recommendations for weekend brunch.

Next up, was our engagement party! We had the best night with our nearest and dearest and were completely spoiled by everyone who came along.

Location - the party was held at Loks Bar and Kitchen in Shawlands - I'd highly recommend this spot for anyone planning a party in Glasgow. It's modern, right next to a train station and the staff are super helpful and friendly.
Cake - we (finally) managed to get the perfect cake from @MeganRoooney (Insta). I knew what I wanted and she completely nailed it. It was almost too good to eat. Almost!
Dress - I picked up this gorgeous white dress from Missguided's premium collection. I purchased it when there was 20% off the website so it was really affordable and I totally loved wearing it! I also had my make-up done by my talented little cousin, Naomi. She's amazing - check out her page here.

Two events in the one night - Specsavers #LoveGlasses Press Show and the Glasgow Therapie Clinic launch.

Held at BoConcept, we checked out the new glasses collection at Specsavers. There were a lot of nice brands on show, food from Martha's, a braid bar from Blow and a candy cart - I'm sure you can guess where I was at. Now I really need to get my eyes checked. It's only been, what, 15 years or so?!

Victoria and I then popped into Therapie Clinic on St Vincent St. They specialise in laser hair removal - something I've never tried (and not sure I'd be brave enough to!). They also offer facials though and sell a bunch of brands I've never tried before but look great. We actually got a sample of Image Skincare Vital C in our goody bag which I'm really excited to try out as I've heard a lot of good things about this brand.

Finally, although not technically within the month of October, this week we were invited along to the launch of Gourmet Burger Kitchen at Glasgow Fort. I never been to a GBK before but the food was de-lish! It's like a Nandos in that you need to go up to the cashier to order but everything we tried was spot on. Especially those cheesy truffle fries......

XoXo

Festive Photo Diary

With the new year bells set to ring in just over 24 hours I thought I would take the opportunity to share a bunch of festive snaps from my iPhone before Christmas becomes a distant memory of 2015. I can't believe we have only one day left of this year but before completely moving on from all things red, sparkly and good enough to eat (quite literally), I thought I would share just a few of my favourite photo moments from my best month of the year!  

 1. I was invited along to a winter skincare workshop at Kiehls on the 1st of December to hear all about their hero products and best sellers. We left with this lovely goody bag to try out a few of their products which included the cutest mini candy cane I ever did see.

1. Decorating our Christmas tree - of course, a Christmas jumper and festive tea was essential. 

2. Festive choc chip cookies - if you want to know how I baked these check out this blog post. 

3. Enjoying some wine after successfully decorating our first Christmas tree together. It's so pretty and I don't think I can face taking it down in the new year! 

4. Some festive nail painting. I always need a little sparkle on my nails in December.

1. Work Christmas party outfit. I picked up this two piece from Missguided in the sale for a bargain £16. The shape was really flattering and despite being bodycon it was incredibly comfy #bonus!

1. A quick flatlay of my outfit. Shoes are Public Desire and handbag is from Love FRMS. The handbag is a bang on copy of the velvet Chanel handbag and I'm in love! 

2. One of my favourite nights of the festive season - visiting the Christmas markets and people watching at George Square. If you're needing to get into the festive spirit this is by far the best way to do it and is a must every year for me!

3. Enjoying breakfast with Santa. 

4. My holiday nails - matt burgundy with plenty of sparkle. Two weeks on and I've not lost one single diamanté - very impressed!

1. This year's Christmas wrapping. I lurrrrve brown paper with ribbon and accessories, I think it's just so chic and pretty! 

1. Another festive night on the town going for dinner followed by cocktails in Anchor Line. I really like Anchor Line - the interior reminds me of a New York bar or something so if you wanna transport yourself to the big apple head there. 

2. Prosecco, prosecco and more prosecco. 

3. A last minute Primark purchase. This dress was only £7! It's super cosy and was perfect for our annual ice-skating trip to George Square on Christmas Eve. 

4. George Square at Christmas is my absolute favourite!

 1. A lovely gift just in time for Christmas from Kiehls. They've collaborated with Tinie Tempah to bring a limited edition bottle of their ultra facial cream to support MTV's Staying Alive Foundation. For each bottle sold, they will be donating £2 to support the foundation against aids. It's a great cause and the product is also fantastic.

1. Every year my sister and I get matching PJs to wear on Christmas Eve. Silky PJs are our fave and this set from Boohoo was perfect! Plus my adorable little brother showing off his new Christmas PJs. 

2 & 3. Enjoying a brisk walk in the sunshine in Edinburgh. Sunny days have been few and far between this winter so I grabbed the chance for a ten minute walk outside!

4. Christmas Day OOTD. I wore a black Primark velvet skirt with a cropped black Topshop vest with a little fur shawl for added Christmas glamour.  

1. And finally, a festive night in with my girlfriends called for some pretty prosecco cocktails. I found this recipe on Pinterest and it was definitely a hit. Just prosecco a dash of cranberry juice, a few raspberries and mint leaves and you're done. Think I'll be re-making these to ring in the bells tomorrow!

I hope you liked my Christmas photo diary. I'm so gutted Christmas is over for another year but I guess that's the beauty of it and what makes it so special every year. Thankfully I have some pretty exciting plans for the new year to avoid those pesky January blues. After a short week back at work I'll be jetting off to Dubai and Thailand for two weeks of sun, sand and sea with my bestie! Only 10 days to go!!

Happy New Year when it comes!

XoXo

Christmas gift for the cookie lover

Anyone that knows me knows that cookies are high on the list of things that make me happy. If I'm craving something sweet, give me a cookie. If I'm having a bad day, give me a cookie. If you want to be my friend, give me a cookie and we'll be friends for life. So yeah, cookies are pretty great in my eyes, so I thought I would bake some for the festive season. These little festive cookies make the perfect gift and the fact that they're home-made makes for extra brownie points.

For me, when it comes to gifts it's all in the presentation so I decided to wrap these delicious gooey cookies in a little red ribbon and voila, a Christmas treat your friends will love you for.

For my cookies I pretty much followed Tanya Burr's cookie recipe without the cocoa powder. I did have one trial and error though. Let's just say, my perfectly cut star cookies came out the oven looking almost unrecognisable. So a little tip from a dear friend of mine is to cut the cookies once they've been in the oven. That way you can gift cookies in a festive shape that someone might actually recognise..

So for this recipe you will need:

• 200g butter
• 300g caster sugar
• 1 large egg
• 275g self-raising flour
• A big bar of Dairymilk chocolate 
• A big bar of white chocolate Milkybar

To make the cookies:

• Heat the oven to 200 degrees celsius
• Cream together the butter and sugar
• Crack in the egg
• Stir in all the dry ingredients
• Add in all of the chocolate - at first I simply broke the chocolate in squares but I would advise actually cutting this in half again 
• Butter a baking tray
• Spread a thick layer of the cookie mix over the baking tray
• Cook in the oven for 8-10 minutes
• Once cooled slightly use your cookie cutter of choice and get those cookie shapes. Be careful here as you don't want to ruin the shape 

 

As you can see I only ended up using the star cookie cutter as the reindeer was just too small and we lost a few legs on the ones we did try!

I hope this give you a little bit of Christmas baking inspiration!

XoXo