Another year, another mini weekend trip to London. 
When we were looking at ideas on where to go on holidays before the end of the year, a few places came up but we could not make up our mind on just one. 
So, we decided to split our time between two instead: starting with a weekend in London to catch up with friends we had not seen in a while and finishing with a visit to another European destination with a Christmas theme in mind (if you follow me on Instagram at @cremedecitron , you probably already know which city we picked).

For now, let’s talk about this lovely weekend in London filled with good times with friends and wonderful food. 

​Do you sometimes go on holidays or a long weekend away with a huge to do list of things to do and see, where to eat and drink, where to shop etc.? To do list as in you absolutely have to have done all of this before the holidays or weekend is over? 
If you are planning on waking up and getting out of the hotel/B&B/apartment where you are staying as soon as possible and focusing on making sure you tick everything off the list by the end of the holidays, the following probably will not suit your perfect type of holidays.

Because as much as I like to keep a handy list of museums, sights, restaurants, cafes, book shops and design shops, if I have not visited, seen, eaten and bought everything on it, it will not be the end of the world. It might even be the perfect excuse to plan to visit the town/city/country again.
The reason is that lately, I have enjoyed a slower pace on holidays and weekends away, especially when I really needed it. I might have had my eyes on a specific cafe that I read reviews about but on the way there, something more interesting would come up.
​An impromptu stop for a hot chocolate and pastries instead? A sign for a museum that was not even mentioned in guide books but looks intriguing enough for you to pay it a visit?A hidden design/book/clothes shop that looks wonderful and sells all the things you like? Just go for it!

Slow holidays and weekends away also mean that you get to take the time to observe your surroundings, appreciate the little things you would not have otherwise even noticed. 
I could really go on about it but I am sure you get the idea. So for now, how about I take you on a mini virtual tour of our latest slow weekend away?

Bonjour and happy Saturday!
​How was your week? Mine was spent with a box of tissues on one side and a mug of hot water with lemon and honey on the other. I declare the season of colds and soups officially on!
I still managed to get some work done though and repotted a few indoor plants (it was badly needed!). As usual, I also collected a few interesting things to share with you today.
Have a lovely weekend!

Another trip abroad, another suitcase filled with the lovely things we brought back.
Traveling abroad is always the occasion to get a few things that will remind us of our trip after we are back home. Most times, they are edible things that will last a couple of weeks and sometimes it could be something such as a loaf of bread and fresh pastries from a local bakery picked up right before heading to the airport. Those are perfect to have the next day as a mini extension to our holiday time.

A trip to France is always the occasion to fill the suitcase with delicious things. I sometimes even get a variety of cheeses and charcuterie vacuum-packed but we skipped it on this occasion since we were staying at a hotel for the last bit of the trip. Here is a selection of what we brought back from la Belle France this time:

Bonjour and happy Saturday! 
How was your week? Are you starting to settle into Autumn and its cosy weekends (or Spring and its warmer days suited for picnics and drinks in the sunshine if you are on the other side of the world)?
Just when I started to fluff my warm jumpers this week, warmer days made an appearance. I guess this is what we call Indian Summer, those unexpected warm days when the weather has been much cooler for the past two weeks. It is certainly dark much earlier in the evening too but with just enough light left for us to observe a little bat fluttering between our building and the trees this week (it's my first time spotting one in Dublin city!).

​I have a few interesting things for you to read or listen to with your breakfast/brunch so here we are. Have a lovely weekend!

Autumn is here and I could not be happier! 
If there is a season I really enjoy and look forward to every year, it is this one. I eagerly look at the weeks passing by during the Summer until we reach 21st September (which I still consider the first day of Autumn) and I can exclaim: hurray for the cosy season of warm jumpers, delicious pumpkin soups, blackberry picking, walks on crunchy leaves, apple desserts and all of the vibrant yellow, orange and red colours everywhere!

This is the season where I feel I can slow down a bit and enjoy everyday's little things until the rush of Christmas hits us (I have nothing against Christmas by the way; I quite enjoy it but it just goes a bit too fast for me). This does not mean I take a three-months holiday obviously but the idea is to make things nice and cosy enough to appreciate at the end of work days and weekends. 

So how do I go about planning the next three months and getting ready for this beautiful season? Here are a few of my tips (and you do not have to go along with it, this is just a starting point to then make your own Autumn plans):