6 things I’m grateful for this July 

At the beginning of this month, I cried that I was going to have a lockdown birthday like the (not so) secret brat that I am. As soon as I’d uttered the words “I just want to be in Paris” I  mentally told myself to shut TF up. In the grand scheme of things, a lockdown birthday is not the worst thing in the world. 

So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to jot down some of the things that have made me happy this month… 

1. New house who dis?

As those who follow me on the gram will already know, amongst the chaos of Corona we decided to leave London and relocate to Tunbridge Wells. After spending 3 months in the countryside surrounded by green it wasn’t appealing thinking about moving back into a pokey one bed in Peckham. To be honest I’d had my eye on Twells for a while and it’s so nice that my mum can now just pop round for a cup of tea (wander around Homesense).

As much as I loved Peckham I’m much happier in the gorgeous house we’ve moved into and I can’t wait to start creating some more home content. Particular love for the gorgeous candle, diffuser, and wax melts sent from Naturally Essential Candles which couldn’t have arrived at a better time with the move. Their candles smell like an absolute dream, if you haven’t checked out their range go and do so immediately!  

2. Ooh Kent friend

If you don’t get the above reference we can’t hang out. Everyone we’ve met locally is so nice and will stop for a chat, wave, smile, say good morning. Genuinely thought that being mates with your neighbours was a total myth but we’ve felt so welcome, which is handy when you’ve just moved to a new area and know precisely no-one. We lived in our Peckham flat for 2 years and the most we got was the odd hello or whinge about Bear! Plus it’s nice that our new neighbours don’t get raided at 3 am for drugs. Only joking, (I’m not).  

3. Can I take your order please madam?

I have waited for what seems like a lifetime to hear the following phrases… Would you like more cheese? Some more rosé? The dessert menu? Being able to go out for a meal I haven’t cooked is one of my favourite pastimes, and let’s face it I’m much better at eating than cooking anyway. Enjoying a meal in a restaurant or a cider in a beer garden feels like such a big treat now and I can’t wait to be able to go on another little dog-friendly staycation or meal out with little Beezle. 

4. Brands on fleek 

Can we bring “on fleek” back? It’s so nostalgic. During meltdown #8496 about not achieving anything and having no purpose; it actually occurred to me that I had done a few things in lockdown. 10k on Insta, started learning Italian, began a Marketing course, nailed a few TikTok dances, learned to run (I still hate it) moved house oh, and worked with some preeeeetty cool brands. 

I got to work with Daisy London again – some of you might remember I worked with them last year on an earring collab. This year they sent me a gorgeous necklace of my choice and I again chose from the Estee Lalonde collection – can I just be her? I’m actually obsessed with her whole range. The necklace in the photos is the Octagonal Necklace 18Ct Gold Plate (£139) and yes it really does go with everything. 

Speaking of great brands I’ve also been sent some pieces from Sacet which are so unusual. I’ve been loving mixing my jewellery up lately and wearing silver and gold together – I’ve come so far from my pandora rope bracelet phase! 

The pieces I chose from Sacet were the Wave Large Hoop earrings in gold (£142)  and the Marque plain infinity bangle in silver (£214). These go perfectly with my two-toned metal watch and I love the shape of the earrings which I’ve been styling alongside a smaller hoop. Another thing I liked about Sacet is their mission to make jewellery more sustainable by using 100% recycled metals and ethically grown diamonds. 

5. I’ve totally got this work from home malarkey down

I can’t even remember what it’s like to sit in an office all day. Trailing around One New Change every lunchtime buying another unnecessary outfit to go with my £7 skinny chai latte with extra cinnamon and goji berry flakes. Nothing saves money like being anti-social! 

I actually really enjoy working from my kitchen table, listening to music, working out at lunch, and being able to write a blog with Bear sitting on my lap. The flexibility is so good and my mental health is so much better for it. Which is something I’m super surprised by, as when lockdown started I was not thrilled with the idea of change!

6. Charity shops are open again

I’m not even joking when I say I was looking forward to going to charity shops much more than the pub. I have bought bits and pieces during lockdown but have definitely cut down on the amount I’m buying and in turn being more aware where I’m buying from. Less fast fashion, more statement pieces that I’ll wear again and again. e.g my lemon yellow Marella blazer below that I got for a bargain £8. 

I’ve written about sustainable fashion previously but shopping for the house is a new one for me. Since moving to the new place I have been obsessed with finding cute little quirky pieces of furniture in antique shops, charity shops, and FB marketplace is just a dream.

Personally I’d rather a house filled with furniture with a story rather than a drag and drop IKEA showroom. But I do really need to start measuring what I buy, we’ve had a few hairy incidences with large lamps, tiny chairs, and a mirror that was much more luck than judgment! 

Plus to add to this little lot I’ve booked The Ivy for my birthday (of course I have) which I absolutely can’t wait for. Anyway enough of me rambling – what are you guys grateful for this month? xo

*AD – PR Products. The necklace featured was gifted from Daisy London, the earrings and bangle featured were gifted from Sacet  and the candle and diffuser included in this post were gifted by Naturally Essential Candles but all opinions are my own