Monthly Archives: October 2016

Stylist Live event

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I recently went to a fashion event in London that my sister was able to get free tickets to. The event was called Stylist Live in relation to the fashion magazine that circulates around the UK. The event was a chance to see new up and coming products, have make overs and attend workshops and talks by industry leaders.

On arrival we saw the sparkling, gold display that marked the entrance.

Stylist display

Inside we were able to grab a fancy drink and have fun in the magazine cover style photo booths.

Walking around the many stalls we saw lots of unique products as well as interesting gift ideas for Christmas such as personalised baubles and lipsticks to natural based candles and soaps.

It wasn’t all about buying though, there were lots of workshops running throughout the day that you could attend and learn from. Lots were popular and booked up in advance but we did have a go at painting a clutch bag, which was fun. There were also relaxing spaces around the arena for colouring giants walls and print outs or to take photos against fancy backdrops.

It was a fun evening where we were able to see lots of interesting products, try free samples and have makeovers. I’m sure others enjoyed it as much as we did and maybe we’ll attend again next year.

Discovering street art

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What I love about London is how things are always changing and developing making walks around the city interesting and varied. One of the things that I particularly keep an eye out for is street art. There’s always a splash of colour or a cheeky face peeking out from just about anywhere. One talented artist whose work I’m quite fond of is Nathan Bowen and he seems to be quite busy leaving his mark in various places.

Nathan Bowen Art

I also see a number of Stickmen (by Stik) popping up which I also really like and I thought the chicken were good fun too by Holly Frean.

I always like coming across artwork that makes me think of something in a new perspective or just brings a smile to my face. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled and hopefully will share more creative street art as I chance upon them.

Rochester Castle

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I visited Rochester in Kent recently with family on an afternoon out. On arrival we decided to have a look around and came across the grand looking Cathedral which is the second oldest in England.

Inside there were lots of pretty stain glass windows and statues as well as other historical artifacts and features.

After looking around we turned towards Rochester Castle, which was built in the 1080s and still looked like it was standing strong despite being a ruin.

The castle stands on large grounds where lots of families were having picnics, playing games and just enjoying the good view and weather. Inside the castle you could the large building blocks that made it, giving an indication of just how old it was. I can imagine it must have been cold and dark in the evenings and difficult to get around with its steep, narrow, spiral staircases, and long hallways.

As we carefully climbed the staircases we reached the roof and could see a lovely view of River Medway on one side and walking around to the other, Rochester Cathedral which sits across from the castle.

It didn’t take us too long to see the whole castle as there weren’t any rooms, mostly corridors and landings from one staircase to another but it let us imagine what it would have looked like when it was in use. It was a nice afternoon out and we enjoyed experiencing and learning about something new.

Let them eat cake

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I went to a cake show in London this weekend with my sister and niece. I’m not much of a baker but I wanted to see all the creative designs that would be on show, and eat some delicious cake of course. And I can honestly say that I wasn’t disappointed! There were some amazing cakes, as well as other seriously delicious looking treats that were enough to make my mouth water.

On arrival we were greeted with the huge, happy face of Roald Dahl’s BFG made entirely of sugar, with great colour and detail.

Sugar BFG

There were cooking classes going on with famous tv chefs as well as general sessions to help create treats from well known brands, We didn’t join any of these sessions, preferring to take a look around the stalls. There was almost everything you could think of related to desserts on offer; from cake embellishments and tools, to edible buys like cupcakes, macaroons, meringues and pastries.

I thought some of the cakes on display were great and you could see a lot of time and effort went into making them. Available were kits and tips on how to make and decorate them as well as demonstrations. The biscuit Eiffel Tower was impressive as was the level of detail that seemed to go into some of the sugar craft pieces.

As we wandered we tried some samples and brought some tasty goodies, trying not to get carried away and buying one of everything. We also boarded a red double decker bus set out for afternoon tea.

There was also a cake and cupcake competition that the public could vote for so we walked the aisles wowed by the entries. The theme was myths, legends and fairy tales and there were some great creations. I think my favourites were the Frog Prince, the pretty peacock cupcakes and Disney cake.

After spending most of the afternoon and too much money we headed home with delicious goods, dead batteries and weary but happy smiles. It was a great show and there was something for everyone, avid bakers or not.

Ramsgate, Kent

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I’ve really wanted to go to the coast this Summer; I find that being by the sea relaxes and refreshes me and as we had a few hot days ahead I thought I’d take my chance. I decided on going to Ramsgate in Kent as it had a sandy beach instead of pebbly and I was curious as to what else was in the area as I’d never been before. On the day it turned out to be the hottest day of the year which made for an amazing, bright view.

On arrival I came across yachts and other boats in the harbour, sitting in the sparkling blue sea.

Nearby was the Maritime Museum, which housed lots of artifacts from the area as well as objects from World War Two. I wanted to go down into the well known Ramsgate war tunnels but unfortunately they were closed for the day.

I had some lunch (chips, and an ice slushi obviously) then headed to the beach. The view really was beautiful and calming, and blues like the sea, endless.

After paddling in the cold water and watching the waves for a while I brushed off the sand and headed back to the train station. On route I came across some colourful artwork.

I also passed a computer games museum which was closed, but walked around the courtyard of a church and a park which had these creative wood statues.

It was a really hot, sunny and relaxing day out and although there wasn’t loads to do, it was enough for a day trip. And the coast as always was soothing for my heart and soul as well as my eyes. It gave me time to think and to just switch off, and on the train home I visualised the beautiful sky and sea, hoping it isn’t too long before I see such a view again.

Sea view