Hen weekend in the Peak District

At the risk of sounding ridiculously girly, it's such a blooming honour when one of your best friends asks you to be her bridesmaid and I couldn't think of anything lovelier than being by my best one's side when she marries her favourite gent later this year.

Em and I have been riding high on dress shopping, prosecco quaffing and wedding chatting ever since. But there's one thing that I couldn't share with the bride-to-be… HER HEN DO!

With brilliant fellow 'maids Roz and Hari, we set about planning a weekend away that Em would hopefully love. Which meant we wanted to find somewhere 'cosy', possibly historical, fill it with her best ladies and make sure not one single peen-shaped item got through the doors.

I'd used Sykes Cottages for a couple of previous staycations so thought I'd have a browse on their website (which, btw, is super easy to use). Sykes came up with the goods once again and we found loads of lovely-looking potentials for our house party.

But it was Winster Hall in the Peak District that nailed it. JUST LOOK AT IT!

5 dairy-free super smoothies to drink this week

Juices are all that. Like the new girl who starts in sixth form and suddenly all. the. boys. 

Well move over newbie… The smoothie is back. (At least, it is in my house). I've been rediscovering this breakfast treat thanks to the shiny new blender I got for Christmas, which I love a bit too much. 

I'm currently cutting down on dairy so I've been trying out combinations with coconut water instead of milk, though you can use actual water if you want. I'm also throwing in more veg than fruit because sugar's such a drama queen. 

Turns out smoothies are a quick, easy breakfast and a great way to take on a shit ton of nutrients at the start of the day. You're welcome, body!

Here are my five current favourites.

Adjusting

I've been absent without leave for a while now. Well, that's not strictly true because I did actually give myself the leave. So I've been more A than AWOL.

Sometimes life deals you a difficult hand and mine decided to throw a major spanner in the works at the end of last year.

My family and I lost the brightest star. It was very sudden and very sad.

The next thing we know we're being swept along with a list of Things To Do When Somebody Dies.

We decided to plan a party to celebrate his life.

And what a life! Spent loving, laughing, taking chances, helping, inspiring, doing, seeing, creating, being.

And what a party! Happy memories, new stories, old faces and an overwhelming sense of love and support.

But now the gatherings have been and gone and I can't help wondering, what next? Because we're still reeling, still feeling bruised.

One thing's for sure, our shining star wouldn't have wanted any moping. He'd want happiness and a glass of wine or two.

And so I've put together a new list…

To Do

Be brave
Take chances
Grab life by the blooming balls!
(Dont shirk on apéritifs)

Dirty blondies recipe

I took delivery of some organic cacao nibs the other day. They're roasted cacao beans - the raw ingredient used to make chocolate - and have a similar taste but with about a trillion more health benefits.

A chance to do some healthy cooking! 

Only… it's the wints and my last healthy bake-fest involving pulverised bananas produced some pretty grim, fun-free flapjacks.

So I decided to use the cacao nibs to add a healthy pep to what is otherwise a ridiculously non-good-for-you recipe.

I used Good Housekeeping's blondie recipe as a base and made a few alterations, cutting their sugar measurements to skinny things down a bit and adding cacao nibs instead of white chocolate chips.

I give you my dirty blondies!