One of my favourite thing to do when visiting Paris, is have coffee and Patisserie at Laduree. We have been visiting laduree for probably around 15 years, and it has remained (despite becoming increasingly popular, especially tourists) a firm favourite. 

No matter how busy it continues to get, we will always go back. Firstly, its just too pretty not to. Secondly, it hold lots of sentimental value for us. And thirdly, who makes macrons this well and this fresh? 

I first came to know about Laduree, on our very first trip to the city. I kept on seeing these ladies walking around with gorgeous pistachio green paper carrier bags with gold writing on them   

I was determined to find out where this shop was. At this point I didn't even know what it sold, but I knew that if the carrier bags alone were so cute the things they sold must be even cuter. When we finally tracked the place down I was absolutely delighted that it was the prettiest patisserie I had ever seen... with cakes that are too cute to eat.   

And so our love affair (my husband is also a fan) with Laduree began. We go every time we visit Paris. We even had our wedding cake and favours from here. And on our first wedding anniversary, my husband had a miniature replica version delivered to our hotel in Paris. 

Laduree also reminds me of my favourite movie Marie Antoinette, by Sofia Coppola. There is something about the pastel,  sugar coated styling of this movie that makes me want to watch it over and over.

My advice, always try and request a table upstairs no matter which Laduree you visit. It always quieter and always cuter up there believe it or not. The Laduree on the Champs-Élysées has the most beautiful restaurant of them all, while downstairs tends to be super busy with tourists.   

They have even started to open up Laduree Patisseries all over the world. There is a super cute one in covent garden -London and we recently went to one in Abu Dhabi...

They also sell the most beautiful candles that smell divine and look super cute. They come in so may fragrances, some of them smell of the actual pastries and cakes. One of my favourites is the orange blossom... Incredible. I think I have over 20 of these candles i'm so obsessed with them. I display them in my dressing room all lined up and covered with glass belle jars 

Are you a fan of pretty French patisseries?

​Belle 

When it comes to organising parties, it can be quite stressful. Which is my more people are opting to have close knit gatherings of their closest friends at home instead. 

​When it comes to weddings, they can seem like some of the most expensive events on the plant, and whilst they certainly can be pricey if you allow them to be, they don’t have to be at all,

When you are looking for things to do and see in Paris, Montmarte will undoubtedly be high on your search.

Celebrating your birthday can often be one of the things that you look forward to in the year. It is the one day that you can demand that it is all about you, how great is that? However, not many people throw parties these days unless it is a milestone birthday, and there is something wrong with that. Who says you can’t have a party and celebrate in style? With that in mind, here are some of the ways that you can throw the ultimate birthday party, either for yourself, a friend or a loved one.

Think about the theme

Birthday parties can be as flamboyant or as low key as you want them to be, and whatever way you want to go, having a theme can help create the perfect set up. Your theme could be color focused, or it could be something a little unique or different. Perhaps sourcing films as inspiration, songs or decades, for example. There are so many ways that you can enhance a birthday party, that you will can go all out, even if you are celebrating at home or in a specific location.

Add a touch of fun

Some people assume that a party is just a party with food, drink and a lovely mix of people, but you can also add different elements to it as well. People nowadays consider entertainment as a big party of party planning. One popular choice is a photo booth, and you can be a little more creative by choose a specific backdrop from companies like The Backdrop Lab. This could help you choose something that goes with your theme. Other things to consider might be a DJ or even a band or singer, a magician, or if children are attending someone to help keep them occupied so they adults can let their hair down a little.

Parties are about food and drink

There is no denying that a big focus surrounding parties is the food and drink element, and you can be a simple or as over the top as you want to be for a Birthday. Maybe you want a signature drink that is associated with the birthday celebrator, so that everyone receives a drink upon arrival. Maybe the food can work alongside the theme. The last thing you want is to not have enough food or drink for your guests, so make sure you plan ahead.

Consider the guest list

Who attends the party is a very important aspect, after all, you want the right mix of people, the right amount of people, and you also want people to enjoy themselves and have fun. This is why it is important to consider who you invite and who you don’t.

Plan early

Finally, make sure you plan early for parties. Getting the invitations out sooner rather than later so you can work out numbers, and then also enable you to plan and book certain aspects of it before missing out. Parties can also have a financial aspect so you need to give yourself enough time to budget and save for it.

Let’s hope doing these things helps you to celebrate a birthday in style in the future.

So many of our style and fashion choices hinges on picking the right things. From the right jewelry to the right fragrance, to the right hairstyle. And when we work hard at perfect in our style, what can knock us for six is if everything we have chosen is not particularly ethical. Some people don't care, but if you want to have a stylish wardrobe and you need to know that everything you've purchased has come from somewhere with basic human values, some people wonder if it's possible to buy something stylish and ethical at the same time. So let's have a look at what you what you could do...

Purchasing From The Ethical Labels
Once upon a time, ethical labels only did a handful of clothes, and they weren't particularly flattering. But now, there are more brands out there pushing the ethical aspect. In addition to this, there are online marketplaces that can help steer you in the right direction, such as Sustainable Fashion. And don't forget the right apps. The Good On You app rates the mainstream clothing brands based on the publicly available information.  

Choosing Ethical Jewelry
The same applies to jewelry, but with jewelry, it's a little bit more difficult to find if the jewelry has been sourced ethically. While there are more publicized aspects of ethical jewelry, especially the movie Blood Diamond that highlighted the issue of “conflict” diamonds, what you can do is go to the supplier and really quiz them on their knowledge. Sometimes it's straightforward, but there are times we'll have to do a little bit more digging. https://yourdiamondguru.com/reviews/blue-nile/ provides some detailed information about the Blue Nile brand, meaning that you can make your own decisions before you venture into the store. But there are numerous ethical jewelry brands that flaunt the sustainable approach. Alighieri, Tuza, and Wald Berlin being three of many out there.

Making The Most Of What You've Got
A lot of people decide to throw their clothes out as soon as a hole is found. Instead, if you're looking to be more sustainable and ethical, get into the habit of mending your clothes. You'd be surprised as to how much of a movement this is, especially when you look at websites like https://visiblemending.com/ that are pushing this sustainable lifestyle. The fact is, most clothing issues are easily fixed. But we choose to throw clothes out quickly and without thought, primarily because this gives us the opportunity to buy some new clothes. But, it's not just about hanging onto your old clothes so you can get as much life out of them, you can start to alter your wardrobe by making some changes to the existing items you've got.

Being stylish is hard work. Being ethical is even harder. To ensure that you've got a wardrobe of stylish yet ethical choices, it can be a long journey to get there. It's about finding the right suppliers, but it's also about taking the initiative yourself. It is possible to be stylish these days, and it's most definitely possible to be ethical.

I have wanted to visit the Ritz Paris for afternoon tea for quite some time now, so I was delighted when my husband surprised me with a reservation for my birthday. If you have followed me for a while now, you'll know that not only am I obsessed with Afternoon tea but with my favourite city too, Paris! 

When you're planning a wedding on a small budget, so many little things have to go by the wayside, mainly guests. But, there's a way around this, for those that you can't justify coming for the whole day, you can just invite them to the evening bit. And for many, this is really where the wedding gets going! After all, this is when the father of the bride let his hair down and really shakes his money maker on the dance floor, and the alcohol has loosened a few lips (in more ways than one)!  But what can you do to ensure that you've got an evening party that caters for everyone?

Making Your Evening Guests Feel Welcome
The evening guests can feel like a bit of an afterthought, so it's important to get them up to speed by providing the drinks, and maybe a buffet, so they can fill their boots! Also, remember to have a collection of favors for them as well. Just because they are only coming to the evening, they still want to be a part of your big day, and they've made the effort for you.

Save Some Of The Special Bits Of The Day For The Evening
Traditionally, the first dance doesn't happen until the evening, but if you've got a tight schedule, and it was originally planned to be early on in the day, you can't let your evening guests feel left out. Because if this is the case, then they will feel like they're turning up to a party, rather than a special day. The same goes with the cutting of the cake as some couples do it before they sit down for dinner, but if you've got a lot of people turning up for the evening, it's better for you to save it until everybody can see.

Keep Everyone Fed
Arguably, the most important part of the evening! You need to remember that those who have come for the evening may not have had a meal earlier on in the day. At the same time, you have to ensure that the guests that have been with you all day are well fed as well! It's a very difficult balance to tread, especially if the wedding meal was massive in the first place! A buffet or a roast can keep all guests happy and within budget!

Don't Forget The Kids!
We can underestimate keeping children entertained, and while there are so many unique wedding entertainment ideas for your big day, if you've got children running around, you may want to consider a children's entertainer, or some form of evening childcare so the parents can let their hair down without having to keep one eye on the kids at all times.

While the most important part of the day occurs early on you still need to make sure the whole day is special for everyone, regardless of the time they turn up. The evening party can lag because people are tired, but on the other hand, this could be where people start to find their feet! Make it count!

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We started my Birthday celebrations a week early in Paris this year (meaning I totally had a birthday week) It made sense to stop off in Paris on our way home from Vietnam rather than coming home for a week only to fly out again... especially after being away from home for so long already

When my husband asked me where id like to go for my Birthday without hesitation I said Paris. Id been craving my Paris fix for a while now (we try too visit every year) and its still my favourite city in the whole world (read my other posts about Paris here and here)

We started the celebrations at my Favourite hotel The plaza athenee. The restaurant here is quite simply (in my opinion, and i'm sure many others)  the most beautiful in Paris. We visited a few times for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it absolutely is the most amazing experience.   

Breakfast here is the ultimate fabulous treat. Its like eating breakfast on a sumptuous fluffy sparkly cloud, while angels pour you coffee. No exaggeration. 

Now lets talk about petit dejunner. You are presented with the most decadent cake stand filled with pastries so incredible they come with their own little booklet. 

Whilst they were all beyond epic, my absolute favorite was the kouglof, an alsacian specialty.  The most moist brioche iv ever tasted, with an amazing blossom scent. 

And then there was the pain perdu. I have literally never tasted french toast like this. It was soft, fluffy and moist and melted in the mouth.  ​

Its quite simply the most fabulous breakfast in Paris. Plaza athenee i'll be back soon 

Your wedding is certainly an important time in your life, but it’s also one that can soon spiral out of control cost wise if you’re not careful. Weddings are now a multi-billion (and growing) per year industry just in the US alone, so you can probably not even begin to imagine just how much they’re costing on a global scale.

That being said, there are plenty of ways to have a great wedding and not have to go massively over budget. In fact, you can still have the wedding you dreamt of without having to sacrifice and without having to go bankrupt or re-mortgage your home just to have the wedding you want, so in this post we’re going to share with you how to do just that.

Cut the guest list:

When it comes to weddings, the food and catering is usually one of the biggest costs, so it makes sense that in order to keep those costs as low as possible that you get a bit conservative with your guest list. This certainly doesn’t mean that you have to give up on inviting people that you really want to have at your wedding, but it’s just about not allowing yourself to be backed into a corner and having to pay for meals for people who you don’t even know or distant relatives who you haven’t seen since you were a baby.

Family members can start behaving especially weird when it comes to weddings and start thinking that they have a say in who gets invited, when really they don’t, and if they get offended then so be it, because you shouldn’t have to bend over backwards to please others or give into their demands on your special day.

Call in favors:

If you’re getting married and you’re looking for some ways to not pay crazy amounts for things like your wedding cake and even the decor, then maybe now is a good time to consider who you know that could possibly help you out. This isn’t asking anyone to work for free - you should never do that, but if you know someone for example, who can get a special deal on things like wholesale tablecloths from Richard Haworth because they have a contact there, or someone who’s just starting their cake design business, then you could reach out to see if they’d consider working on your wedding and maybe offering you a special deal. It’s a win-win situation, because you’re getting a good deal from someone you trust, are getting quality work, and they’re going to get more exposure.

Buy second-hand:

Wedding clothing such as dresses, accessories and suits are also one of the biggest costs that couples end up paying for, and they really can be quite crazy when you think of the fact that you’re only wearing them for a few hours, so it’s always a good idea to consider buying second hand outfits that you’ll get for a fraction of the price, but that are still great quality.