Lunch with the Hens!

This week I had the most delicious & fun meal at Riverford Field Kitchen set in the heart of Guy Watson's award winning, organic, Riverford Farm! My experience got me thinking how it would make an amazing destination for a hen party lunch or dinner with your bestest girls...!

After driving through the rural Devon country lanes and a short walk down a pretty garden path I reached an attractive barn-like building (modern but rustic!) which is the Field Kitchen.

The courtyard outside has the most peaceful and calming feel about it, filled with olive trees, fresh herbs and pots of oversized daisy plants! It was the perfect place to enjoy a few chilled glasses of white wine in the last of the evening sun before we were asked to take a seat inside at the long wooden tables & benches. (Everyone sits together which is half the fun!) You'll love the vases of wild flowers that are dotted all along the tables! The freshest organic produce is served in big platters and bowls for everyone to dig into and share. We had the tastiest anti pasti to start, followed by five imaginative vegetable dishes & a meat or vegetarian option. It's so comforting knowing the food you are eating has grown in the fields around you and photography on the walls of Riverford's prize produce also reminds you where you are! The Field Kitchen lay on an absolute feast - although there's loads of it, it's super healthy, well apart from the choice of about 8 home made deserts which you are invited to come up and choose between from the open plan kitchen! I had a hard job deciding between the sticky toffee pudding, organic strawberry pavlova & lemon curd tart! All looked divine! I must also mention that you can take a stroll around the farm to see all the fruit and veg growing. They even lend you an MP3 player with a guided tour to listen to, a map & wellies!

Perfect for a girly day out in the countryside if you fancy something completely different!

 

 

 

 

The Bridal Box

Helen from The Bridal Box in Torquay asked me to write a piece to feature on her blog about my wedding planning experience - A brides eye view of wedding planning!

I hope my words go some way towards giving some of Helen's beautiful brides-to-be a few hints and tips!

I've recently been intrigued what the latest trends are in the world of wedding dresses and what's changed since I was shopping in 2010! Helen has kindly agreed to share with me some of the most popular and sought after styles from her findings in the store! More on this to come soon!

To go pro or DIY?

At first I was 100% set on having my wedding day makeup done professionally and booked in for a trial and the big day itself. I've never been a full face of makeup kind of girl & wasn't really practiced in the art, so I was convinced using a professional makeup artist was the way to go. To help decide on colours I brought along a swatch of my dress fabric (a pale ivory) and described the colours in my bouquet which was made up of white & cream peonies & roses. I also had a lot of soft grey featuring in the colour scheme of the wedding so we decided to try out a smokey grey eye and also a more neutral brown eye, both with individual lash extensions. My base was the usual liquid foundation plus powder & blusher, topped off with a raspberry red gloss on my lips. I decided to go home fully made up to make a decision infront of  my own bedroom mirror and to see what my fiancé thought of the two eye colour looks! My now husband was incredibly diplomatic and didn't really comment - he let me come to my own conclusion that I really didn't look like myself! I still can't pinpoint exactly what it was that didn't seem right but none the less I made the decision there and then to do my own make up even though it would mean investing in about £100 worth of new make up (but I figured at least I'd have a make up bag stuffed full of goodies for my honeymoon!)

So the research began for my W-day make up! I'd heard that the US brand bare Minerals is amazing for those who aren't huge fans of heavy foundations and after a trial at a local department store I was completely sold! I loved the flawless yet natural coverage it gives and as it's a powder-like formula of finely crushed minerals it's so easy to apply, with no risk of tide marks on the jaw line! It's free of preservatives, oils, waxes, talc, fragrance, fillers & binders so totally skin-healthy! For anyone interested, bare Minerals have a 'Get Started' kit which includes all the basics you'll need; Prime Time primer which provides a velvety smooth base, two shades of foundation for Summer & Winter, concealer, Warmth - which makes skin look radiant & glowing, Mineral Veil - which gives skin a flawless finish & a cluster of brushes! The kit even includes a DVD to show you how, as all those little pots can be a little daunting at first! The bare Minerals store attendant threw in a sample tube of eye shadow primer and a pretty pink blusher so that was my base all sorted! Relief!

I also treated myself to a Lancôme Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara  for extra long lashes but decided to stick with my trusty, signature grey eyeliner and eye shadow so I felt happy I looked like myself! As a finishing touch I wore  M.A.C.'s Pink Lemonade Lip Glass, a lovely coral pink which looks great with a light tan.

I'd definitely recommend a professional makeup trial if you're not sure which route to go down, but plan this in as early as possible. It's probably best not to have it 2 weeks before your wedding date as I did, just incase you need to rethink things!  It's advisable only to commit to the trial initially. I felt terrible telling the makeup artist at such a late stage that I didn't need her for my big day as she had already turned down several other brides who shared the same wedding date. Nevertheless I felt happy with my decision to do my own makeup, even though it meant a few practice runs at home and carried a little more responsibility on my own part to get it right on the big day itself! I guess it's a case of figuring out how you feel your best. Some girls I know have been thrilled to bits with their professional makeup whereas others have chosen to do their own or have asked a friend for help. Rumour has it even the Duchess of Cambridge did her own wedding day makeup after some tuition beforehand with London based bridal makeup artist Arabella Preston! Ultimately you need to stay true to who you are, so have fun trying out different looks and you're bound to settle on what makes you feel confident and your most beautiful. x