3 places to go in London that you've not yet heard of

Pictured: Petersham Nurseries

Just to clarify, the fact that they all begin with the letter P was completely unintentional, but a cool coincidence nonetheless! 

I once read somewhere that London is the perfect mix between New York and Paris. I am not sure if I 100% agree with that romanticised statement but the thing with all of those three cities is that you have to really delve into the internet to get the best out of them, and even then your stumbled-upon artsy coffee shop is probably filled with photographing tourists. Scouring the internet can really be a full-time job so I have done that for you, and present to you three new P-places that you should visit now.

1. POP Bakery

The craze for cake pops may have died down a little bit but I mean who can really say that they don't find the idea of a beautifully iced cake on a stick appealing? At the pop bakery (who by the way bespokely designed cake pops for Vogue), you can sit in with a large cup of tea and paint your own cake pops for just £15. They also stock beautiful party props and stationery by local London designers.

The Pop Bakery
348 Kilburn Lane
W9 3EF
London, UK
02089607018
clare@popbakery.co.uk

2. Petersham Nurseries

Petersham Nurseries is an internationally acclaimed garden centre. They house a beautiful little gift shop where you can source antiques and a glasshouse restaurant serving seasonal Italian food and homemade cakes. They also host regular unique events, upcoming ones include growing and arranging your own wedding bouquet, a Thai cookery course, a wild food walk and a 'magical evening'.

Petersham Nurseries
Church Lane (signed posted 'St Peter's Church')
Off Petersham Road
Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7AB
020 8940 5230
info@petershamnurseries.com

3. Pidgin

I am pretty sure I am one of the most indecisive people you will ever meet when it comes to food. My problem is there is nothing I won't eat. I am the least fussy eater you will ever meet and despite being every one of my friend's mother's favourite children to have over for dinner when I was younger, I am now the bane of my boyfriend's life when it comes to going out for dinner. London has brought me and you (if you are like me) the perfect solution. Pidgin does not give you a choice, instead it provides you with an unchangeable (except for dietary requirements) four-course menu. The food is modern and fresh, as are is the simple grey industrial interior. For only £35, you get more than value for your money and the accompanying weekly-changing drinks menu is reasonable too. This week's menu includes: bone marrow with chickpea, sourdough and pickled sea aster, kataifi (sweet Greek pastry) with fermented honey, anise ice cream, beetroot and sorrel and a spicy black pepper and grapefruit G&T. 

Pidgin
52 Wilton Way
London
E8 1BG
020 7254 8311
info@pidginlondon.com

ARW x

The Weekly Happy Edit

Have you ever flicked through the Daily Mail app or switched on Sky news and thought oh my god when will they put on some good news?!

Well your wish is my command, you can now hop over here once a week for the weekly happy edit of the 5 things that you need to know that week.

1. Happy Birthday Queen Liz!

So yesterday the Queen's real 90th birthday, which makes her the world's oldest reigning monarch. I say real because she has two. Her official birthday is in June. This is due to the volatile English weather. Traditionally, any monarch with a birthday in cold or wet English months gets another one during the Summer in the hope of a sunny parade. So, it might be a bit chilly today but get whip out your chunky heels and Summer florals for street parties and BBQs June 11th.
(I mean... my birthday is in March, do I get another one?)

2. Celebrity Babies

In a matter of days, we have learned of the pregnancies of Blake Lively, Megan Fox, Ellie Kemper and Eva Mendes. They also join the likes of Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, Hilaria Baldwin and Olivia Wilde who are also currently preggers. Do I sense the next generation of the Gigi, Kendall, Taylor, Cara tribe?!

3. Happy Earth Day!

I also came across 5 reasons to be happy this earth day. China are finally cleaning up their act, they have agreed to sign something or other that means they will reduce emissions and have sent ambitious targets for reductions in the coming years woo hoo! Electric cars are becoming the new cool thing, they are sexier, sleeker than ever and we all should want one. The world invested twice as much in sustainable energy this year and Solar energy has gotten way cheaper! Finally, 195 countries have signed the Paris Agreement to fight pollution. So, it really is a happy earth day.

4. Dementia is on the decline

Just before we release Vogue's annual ageless style issue, we learn that a recent study that evaluated temporal trends from the Framingham Heart Study found that the incidence of dementia had declined over the past 4 decades - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/dementia/incidence-dementia-declining#sthash.vqnLZNj5.dpuf.

5. Uber is making it easier for deaf drivers to work for them

My favourite taxi company, has now risen even higher in my books. They have joined up with Communication Service for the Deaf to make it easier for deaf drivers to communicate with passengers and use the app. They are really leading the way in helping to equalise job opportunities for people with any sort of disability. 

A week of healthy office lunches

I have a confession. I never, ever make and bring lunch to work. I have another confession. I am terrible at Maths. I am of the opinion that these two statements are directly related. This is because when I employed the help of my not-so-mathematically challenged colleague, I worked out just how much my daily lunch splurges were costing me. The grand total was around £2600 yearly. Not to mention all the calories I must be gorging on every single day!

Here is how we worked it out for the skeptics. 

Average daily lunch/ breafast/ snack spend: £10 

Average weekly spend: £50 

Average monthly spend: £200

Average yearly spend: £2600 

Which in normal people terms equals most of this:

LUX hotel, Maldives, Private Pool Villa, £690 per night

Larson & Jennings, £225

Chritian Louboutin, £575

YSL, £1350

The problem is I just want to be lazy when I get in and whats-more I hate whatever lunch I do bring in. So, I challenged myself to a week (well, everyone needs a Friday treat) of healthy and easy work lunches. Here is how it went. 

Monday

Feta, cucumber, avocado and edamame bean salad with feta and simple dressing. Gluten-free pita chips with taramasalata 

Tuesday

Lean turkey slices with cherry tomatoes and cheddar, cucumber snacks. Hummus and pretzels, berries and protein flapjack.

Wednesday

Leftovers: quinoa and currant salad with a butternut squash and broccoli salad (tomatoes and avo in for good measure). Sour cream and onion corncakes, pear slices and shortbread. 

Thursday 

More leftover quinoa with spinach, sweetcorn and feta. Hummus crisps and homemade cinnamon balls with blueberries.

Fri-YAY

Okay well not quite a week...

Comment below with any tips you have to help me continue with this healthy habit!

ARW x

Expert Honeymoon Advice: Where to Wear, Where

PARA-PARADISE- SIX SENSES PHU QUOC:

Renowned for its white-sand beaches and contrasting tropical greenery, Phu Quoc, which lies off the south coast of Vietnam is a number one 'go to' honeymoon destination if you're looking for complete relaxation. 

By far the most luxurious hotspot is the Six Senses, Con Dao, Spa hotel located on the island’s untouched archipelago. Each private ocean front deluxe villa is equipped with an aquamarine infinity pool and will set you back around £485 per night. 

A playful print or bright block colour bikini would look amazing against bronzed, glowing skin and the blissful castaway terrain. Throw on a white crochet kaftan from Anna Kosturova to complete the look. 

WHEN TO VISIT:  

April - June 

MUST HAVE ITEM: 

This fun carnival-esque straw tote is perfect for taking your belongings poolside.

Mara Hoffman, £222

Aranaz, £230

Helen Kaminski, Sefra Hat, £19

Thalia, Ancient Greek Sandals, £125

European Elegance- Casa Privata- Positano

Casa Privata really is an Amalfi Coast gem. Family-run Ca Pa (as it's commonly known) offers honeymooners rustic charm, elegance and privacy at an affordable price, within easy reach of nearby, bustling Positano and Capri. 

Heidi Klein espadrilles are perfect for walking down to the sunbathing platform where the rocky coastline meets the shore. Embrace Italian simplicity by wearing blues and whites. Trend setters will love Lisa Marie Fernandez’s new range. 

WHEN TO VISIT: 

Mid- September

MUST HAVE ITEM:

Sensi Studio’s panama hat collection will help protect you from the warm Mediterranean sun whilst looking fresh and chic.

Razi bikini swimwear, £170

Lisa-Marie Fernandez, £275

Sensi Studios, £95

Heidi Klein, £110

Kayu, St Tropez Tote, £95

ADVENTURE- Little Kuala- Namibia

For the more adventurous couple, Namibia offers one of the world’s most unique wildlife safari experiences. Stay at Little Kuala, a luxury desert retreat situated in the stunningly remote Kuala Wilderness Reserve, close to the Sossusvlei dunes.

Accommodation comprises of just 11 “kulalas”; each are beautifully decorated and house a private plunge pool and rooftop star bed, perfect for stargazing.

Dodo Bar Or’s floaty Dalal Dress makes the ideal paring for sun kissed skin and a nonchalant attitude. Given the hessian surroundings, metallic, clay and tribal print swimsuits are a must.

WHEN TO VISIT: 

May - October (Dry Season)

MUST HAVE ITEM:

These slip on Cronus sandals by Zeus and Dione offer desert practicality without compromising on style. 

Zeuz & Dion, Cronus, £190

Melissa Odabash, Jemima, £112

Dodo Bar Or, Dalal dress, £175

Truss, Woven Bag, £120

Zeus & Dion, £125

Chloe Mcdonald is a former Brides Magazine girl, a budding wedding planner and avid traveller. Her favourite holiday destination is Ithaca because it is remote, peaceful and hosts a crystal blue sea. Here she give us her lowdown on where to go and what to wear when you're there. 

How to decorate a cake in 2 minutes

I love baking. I love making cakes. I make them for friend's birthdays, celebrations and on random rainy Tuesdays. The only problem is, I mix, I taste, I weigh, I bake, I make icing and then... I'm totally and utterly bored and over it. Over the years, I have created my own and stolen some ideas to make things a little easier for myself. So I've pulled these together and this guide is for people who are like me, a little bit restless but love to make things look beautiful!

Cheat option A: The Fruity Fan

This option is great for things like cheesecake or tarts. It is probably the easiest out of the three options. It can range from tumbling a punnet of blueberries on top of a cheesecake to something like the below. All I did was slice some strawberries, randomly arrange the fruit in the middle and dot the raspberries around the outside. 

Cheat option B: The Chocolate Fence 

In terms of this option, the 'fence' around the outside can be anything from kitkats, matchsticks to chocolate fingers. I think it is best for a two-tiered cake as the kitkats are big enough to accommodate quite a height. The easiest thing to do is to pour in something like m&ms, smarties or skittles but it would be just as easy to add fruit- or try out some intricate design! 

Cheat option C: The Almond Flowers

This idea was given to me by Lorraine Pascale (former supermodel) in one of her growing collection of cookbooks of which I am a huge fan. It is a lot easier than it looks and I think the result is very impressive. This probably best for a flatter cake or torte. All you need to do is elegantly place raspberries and then use almond flakes stuck in (pointy side up) to create the illusion of petals.

Enjoy lazybugs! 

ARW x