WROCLAW CITY GUIDE

Well, what do we have here? I will tell you what, it's finally time for my guide to Wroclaw! It has only taken me two months to actually post it but I didn't want to miss out on sharing this little gem of  trip with ya'll.

After a super hectic nine months of day to day life with a little human, we were desperate for a break. And although, I dreamed of a sunny Greece holiday, I knew that with Hendrix still being quite young, it just wasn't going to work for us. It is fair to say that the trip was somewhat spontaneous (a large Merlot certainly influenced this) and a little thought went into the trip as I booked the flights after browsing the Ryanair website for about 25 minutes. And although I've spent the majority of my life living in Poland, I've never been to Wroclaw so it made perfect sense to visit.

WHAT TO SEE 

There is so much to see; Wroclaw is basically architecture heaven and everything is pretty compact and walkable. We spent four days in the city and didn't cover half of what we wanted to see (this may have something to do with travelling with a baby). The Market Square is a must, we covered it on day one of our visit and oh my god is it beautiful! Full of colour, character and class.
I would also totally recommend having a stroll around the University of Wroclaw and the entire university quarters surrounded by charm-filled streets; the University building is gorgeous and dates back to 1945. It has since produced 9 Novel Prize winners and prides itself in scientific research. Imagine studying there?

There are plenty of museums that are worth a visit too - Musuem of Architecture, Wroclaw University Museum, and many many more depending on what you're into of course.Wroclaw is just a beaut place to wonder around hence why we mostly chose to walk everywhere.

WHERE TO EAT

There are tons of instagram-able lunch spots that make the perfect break spot from a busy morning of exploring the city. Revel Toast  has a great urban vibe and the food is simply delicious. Nothing fancy - just a huge range of toasties and the portions are huge! We opted for pulled pork and pastrami and of course two polish beers; after all, the beer is a must.

I did a little research prior to our visit and was keen to visit many places but travelling with a baby is slightly different than travelling solo. Although we missed out on visiting some of our desired spots, it was so lovely to be able to explore with little H.

We did stop at Steak n Roll  - another cool lunch spot on Market Square. We opted for a traditional beef burger and a Reuben Sandwich which were both delicious! Oh, and the beer of course. The best part, the bill never came in at over £30. Living the dream right?

Bulka z Maslem was on my 'to visit' list after I stumbled across it on Instagram. The decor looks incredible and so does the food so if you ever get the chance to visit, I'd say go!

WHERE TO SHOP

To be honest we didn't do that much shopping however we did visit Wroclavia on day number three. It is by far the nicest shopping gallery I have ever been to and you could easily spend an entire day there. It was difficult to stop myself from wanting to buy everything home related but of course there was no way of me bringing it all back with me.

WHERE TO STAY

Lastly, let's chat accommodation.
As we were travelling with Hendrix, it made perfect sense to go for an Air B&B allowing us to have an entire place to ourselves.
We stayed at a New York loft inspired apartment not too far from the city centre. It was quite small but certainly had everything we needed. The price point was another plus as we paid around £30 per night.

And there we have it. My super quick guide to Wroclaw. Four days and a heck load of walking and eating. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed putting this together for you and although I wish I took more photos we had a wonderful trip.

A x

NURSERY PLANS: HOW TO MAKE IT AGE APPROPRIATE AND TIMELESS

Happy Friday!

October has been super busy so far and I know it has been a while since I last shared something on here  and whilst I feel guilty for neglecting this little space, things crop up from time to time meaning you can't be as regimented as you'd like but I am back.

Anyway, as mentioned in my Nursery Inspiration post, when we moved into this house we knew that the nursery was going to be our number one priority and it is really coming together now with just some final touches to be added.  It is a pretty small space and my aim has always been to make it timeless ensuring that Hendrix can grow with it. I drafted this post a little while back and thought it is about time I share the below plans with you all as I am planning on doing a Nursery Reveal post very very soon (watch this space).

The Flooring 
As most of the house Hendrix's nursery is covered in grey carpet. I suppose it is a practical shade however, in order to add character to the space, I decided to add a central rug. My love for persian rugs doesn't fade so this was an obvious choice. It acts as a focal point in the room and adds plenty of texture. I went for something generic rather than child like which means I can repurpose and use elsewhere in the house. 

 

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Repurpose what I already have
The nursery is a pretty cosy space meaning there isn't much room for storage. I've had this HEMNES chest of drawers for a while and although it doesn't provide a hell of a lot of space, it does the job for now.
I have also moved in a retro inspired TV stand I put together a little while back (I simply added some hair pin legs onto a standard bookshelf). This sits in the corner of the room by a window and adds extra storage for Hendrix's forever growing collection of toys and books.

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Add Personality

No room is complete without art work in my opinion so I'm going to create a little gallery wall. The room is very white at the moment and we won't be painting it anytime soon. Incorporating print and texture is the easiest way to add personality to a space. At the moment, the art work is restricted to one big animal world map (which I am not entirely sure about) so an order from desenio is very much needed indeed. I will also be replacing the drawer knobs which will make the chest less IKEA like if that makes sense.

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Light it up
I am adding a personalised neon sign above the cot as it gives the space a bit of an edge and it is also the perfect opportunity to fulfill my current neon obsession. I am yet undecided about the ceiling light, I am thinking something neutral and timeless. I am slightly in love with the above anthropology shade but the price tag is sky high. I am going to DIY a much more affordable version by adding a contrast stripe to a nautral pendant- the easiest DIY project ever! What do you think? I'm also still deciding whether to go for your standard table lamp or a wall clamp style light that would attach to one of the shelves. Maybe I should purchase both?

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The Mood Board 

So that's about it.  I hope this room will last Hendrix through to his first couple of years hence why I am trying to create a space that will be easy to adapt as he grows. By choosing to use more generic furniture, the room should be simple to update by changing the artwork and soft furnishings.

The timeline? I am hoping to finish this room by the end of next month and look forward to sharing the final result with you all.

Thank you for reading,

A x

INTERIORS: NURSERY INSPIRATION

HI! Hello there.

What a fabulous time away we have had! It was so bloody lovely to get away for a few days and enjoy the glorious sunshine and some family time away from the city (let me know if you would like to see a post on travelling with a baby).

I am back and back with some exciting news - WE ARE FINALLY MOVING!!  *lots of interiors posts alert. 
I can't express how excited I am as we have outgrown our current 2 bed terrace - believe it or not but babies require A LOT of things and space.
Renting can be hard but we have discussed our options and have decided that we are not ready to step onto the property ladder just yet and would like to explore Manchester before we commit to settling in one area.

Anyway, the house move has inspired me to share some nursery inspiration as I cannot wait to finally have a finished space for Hendrix. Although he has his own room in the current property, it was never finished and I have to admit I gave up in the end as I knew we would be looking to move in the summer. H's nursery will be one of my priority rooms and I honestly cannot wait to get started on it.

For a long while I was really into very minimal decor and found myself looking at very grey, white and calm nursery spaces however, Hendrix is now 6 months old and enjoys exploring different colours and textures so I want his space to be full of both. It also gives me the perfect opportunity to go out of my comfort zone, explore different textures and just have fun decorating!

That't it, let's get onto the inspiration.

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I love this book shelves idea, you can get them from IKEA at a very affordable price. This solution makes it easy to switch them up and acts as decor. You could also use the picture ledges for prints and bits and bobs to add character. 

photo source - TANYESHA (in love with the entire blog)

I know that not everyone will be a fan but I personally love the stuffed animal head decor pieces as they are a fun way to add character to a room especially in a rented property. 

photo source: J'aurais Pu M'appeler Marcel

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Renting is restricting as there is only so much that you can do to a property depending on your landlord. Painting furniture in bold colours is a great option to add depth and colour to a room. 

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I love the simplicity of this circular shelf, I will be doing a DIY on this in the upcoming months for a fraction of the price so look out for the post guys! Also, bunting is a great way to add fun to a room and I guarantee that your baby will love it. 

I could make this post super long as I tend to get carried away when it comes to interiors especially for children. 

I hope you have enjoyed the post and hopefully I have managed to leave you feeling inspired. I will be sharing some DIY projects in the upcoming weeks so please make sure you check back.

Thank you for reading.

Love, A x

WHAT I HAVE LEARNT IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF BEING A FIRST TIME MUM

I'm back, and with yet another baby related post. Hurrah!

It feels like it's been ages since I last shared something on here so I thought I'd kick things off with a post dedicated to what I have learnt since becoming a mum.

In all honesty, it feels like I’ve barely had time to breathe lately. I am just six months into parenting and I must admit that it has been a whirlwind at a best and a hurricane at worst. Every time I gain confidence and think I have it all figured out Hendrix enters a new milestone and a new phase of difficultness begins.

1. YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING

I certainly don't class myself as a perfectionist but I have always believed in the 'tidy space, tidy mind' approach and have really struggled with balancing everything. I spend a lot of time at home which results in major attention to detail - you know that wall you've been meaning to paint for the past two months and the upcycle project you were meant to finish early this year... We've all been there but it's important to remind yourself that it's OK if something doesn't get done.

2. IT TAKES A WHILE TO ADJUST

I really hoped to settle into motherhood quickly - you know the whole "motherhood comes naturally" bullshit... And although I am a lot more confident in my new role, I am still getting used to a lot of things and that's really OK. Mastering anything in life takes time so don't be too hard on yourself (don't I sound like a mum already?)

3. LITTLE THINGS ARE EVERYTHING

A horrendous and exhausting day can be turned around in an instant. A smile, a giggle, a funny expression. Hendrix playing with his favourite toy. Hendrix being amazed by the tiniest things. Hendrix exploring new tastes.

It is the little things that are worth every sleepless night.

Lack of time and space to carve out alone time has also made me appreciate the tiniest things - enjoying a hot cup of tea for example!!

4. EVERY STAGE HAS IT'S UPS AND DOWNS

As you enter each milestone, you will be given plenty of advice from the "know it all's" and be told to watch out for *insert something shit here* and although each stage really does have its ups and downs, each stage is also super exciting and rewarding.

*Hendrix sat up properly by himself a few weeks ago now and it was one of the best moments ever!!

5. YOUR LIFE CHANGES A LOT

I have struggled with this one a lot. I don't think you can ever prepare yourself for how much your life is going to change. Personally looking after Hendrix was the easiest task for me; it was everything else that came with it. I just didn't feel like me anymore (still experience this on bad days) and found my new role overwhelming. I suddenly had no freedom, no flexibility, no time and although we still have bad days, you adapt. Hendrix comes everywhere with me and although our outings may not be as perfect as we make them look on Instagram stories as they mostly involve sick, or a grumpy crying baby, H is always by my side bringing me so much joy on daily basis. We are best friends.

6. ANXIETY DOESN'T LAST FOREVER 

Now, this is a big one. I remember feeling extremely anxious about everything: leaving the house with H, Hendrix crying in public, getting an uber with H, having to change his nappy when out and about, is he eating enough, is he getting enough sleep, am I doing enough?
And although I still find myself worrying now and again, I've learnt to relax and not to care. People's opinions and judgements no longer matter as Hendrix is the most important thing in my life so as long as he is a content baby, I am happy.

7. THINGS TAKE TWICE AS LONG

You are no longer able to just get up and go. Leaving the house with a baby involves preparation so be prepared to be super early or super late.

8. YOU SUDDENLY BECOME MORE MATURE

Don't get me wrong. I still have immature moments but becoming a mum has taught me awareness. It has also taught me not to put up with bullshit.

Your daily life and interests change and you will find yourself connecting with different people. I find myself sympathizing with strangers and their daily struggles and celebrating other mums triumphs. I definitely understand the amount of juggling it takes to build and maintain a household.

9. MULTITASKING BECOMES SECOND NATURE

There's nothing to add to this one. You gradually become a master of multitasking.

10. IT GETS EASIER!!

Now, this one is especially aimed at all the new mums that are finding themselves crying in bed or the shower simply because they feel exhausted and totally overwhelmed. We have all been there and trust me I never thought I would say this but it really does get easier. With time you learn to understand your baby and as they develop, a lot changes.

The first six months of being a mum have been harder than I ever expected but also a lot more emotionally rewarding than I prepared myself for. The time has flown by and motherhood has taught me a lot already and I am sure it will continue to test my patience for many years to come.

The love that you feel for your baby is out of this world and it grows every single day so just hang on in there.

I hope you've enjoyed reading and I would love to hear what you have learnt as a parent?

Love,

A x

MANCHESTER GUIDE: THE BLEND BY CHIVAS REGAL

Today I wanted to finally introduce you to what I hope will become a successful series of a mini Manchester Guide; it is something I've wanted to put together for a while now. Since moving to Manchester, I have fallen in love with the city more than ever; it has so much to offer so I thought I would share some of my picks so that this guide can become your go-to, should you ever visit the city.

So, the first gem that I would like to introduce you to is The Loft - home to a luxury whisky school. The blend was brought to Manchester by a luxury whisky brand Chivas Regal following a series of pop-ups around London. I hadn't heard of the Loft before and nervously booked the experience as a birthday surprise and I must admit I was pretty impressed!!





What to expect? The room looks like a classroom filled with rows of desks, where you get to learn all about the history and origins of single and malt whiskies. The art of blending costs just £15 and includes a complimentary Chivas cocktail (it is all about the Colony) which is pretty damn good. If that wasn't enough, you also get to take home your very own blended whisky.

I have to be honest and admit that I have never had much of an interest in whisky or the whisky world however, I found the experience informative and rather entertaining. The one hour session started off with a talk by a Chivas expert followed by guided tasting and a lesson on craftsmanship of master blending.

The blending - you are given five bottles of whiskies with flavours ranging from floral, citrus, fruity, creamy and smokey which can all go into your final blend in whatever proportions you like. Before playing around with measures and creating your unique blend you get the chance to sample each one while the expert explains the different flavour profiles and character notes.

















Lastly, I have to mention the amazing space and talk a little interiors. The Loft has a very industrial vibe and is filled with many 'on trend' pieces. I am a huge fan of the neutral colour palette, the choice of flooring and the gold accents. My favourite must be the scaffolding board shelving which although seems to make an appearance in every other entertaining space makes a great focal point. I also adore the retro gold shelving system. The use of furniture is very clever as it divides the entire space into multiple areas each serving their purpose. When can I move in?

Regardless of your existing knowledge of whisky, I would highly recommend The Blend at only £15 per person it is worth every penny.

And there we have gem number one; hope you've enjoyed.

A x