Joie de Vivre - A mini guide - Day 2 - all the Ms, Montmatre, Marais and 1st ever escargots!

A little know fact is that in 2005 I studied in Melbourne as part of my University media course. Living with new people from many different countries, Australia, France, America, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Colombia. The lucky thing for me is that lots of the people I've met, I'm still friends with 8 years later!

Including my beautiful French friend and her hubby who runs Cantine California (www.cantinecalifornia.com)  who live in old gay Paris and who I now get to see every 6 months! More on this later!

With time off on a Friday evening, I braved the crazy Parisian snow in a taxi to head to the North of Paris, to Montmatre, near the Sacre Couer (must see for a tourist). After abandoning the taxi at the bottom of rue de Trois Freres, I met my friends in La Famille. A super cool restaurant/come bar with a crazy mojito menu! I had the Framboise Menthe Poivre - or in English, Raspberry, mint & chilli. Sounds strange but it was lush! Its in the detail at La Famille, the drinks were served with dry ice and a mint flavoured sweety teddy. I also tried the Peche, Gingerembre - Peach and Ginger beer which came avec flying saucers! I could not choose between the two.

Vive le Paris Mini Guide! Day One - Tour de Eiffel, Bastille & The Islands

Paris, the city of romance, Fashion capital of the world, known for Le Tour de France and amazing food and wine.

Le Tour de Eiffel - View from Trocadero

Due to my job, this was my third visit to Paris in a year, for an international exhibition. Lucky for me we do get some free time in the late afternoon and evenings to explore what is fast becoming one of my favourite cities.

A Fancy Pants Double Trip to Hakkasan, London

My now London lovelies were the instigators for my first trip to Hakkasan this weekend as I headed on down to Landan Town for a girly catch up and festive time with friends I used to work with.

I read a bit about it prior to our trip at the weekend and knew it was a bit of a celebrity haunt too, so I was intrigued as to what was in store.

We booked the "modern Chinese" Mayfair restaurant as a pre Christmas treat  for five of us and met in the bar. Three of our friends had already arrived and were sampling the cocktail menu. I had the Kumquatcha, a Kumquat based drink with rum and fizz, whilst my friends had various lovely drinks, a Strawberry and Ginger Bellini and Black Forest Martini to name a few.

Kumquatcha - Hakkasan

Wild at Heart at Bestival...

Sooo as Bestival announce their theme for 2013 as HMS Bestival to mark their 10 year celebrations, let me tell you a little about my experience at the festival on the Isle of Wight...

With Glastonbury taking a break this year to sort the farm out, I was looking for a festival equally as exciting to take my fancy this summer and Bestival happened to crop up. It was on the Isle of Wight, bonus! And the fancy dress theme was Wildlife, even better.

Buenos Aires, where even the dogs are attractive!

Well I have nicked the name of this post from the title of my Facebook album as it's so true!

Buenos Aires is a very very cool city. After visiting in July to meet my Aussie friends for two weeks, it's quickly become one of my favourite cities. Its very creative, with a massive cafe culture, restaurants a plenty, busy bars and clubs that you don't leave until 8am!

With two of my best friends headed off in that direction I decided to pull together some recommendations in a primarily picture based post of the crazy city of BA, Argentina.


The winter view from our apartment in Palermo, Soho

Well Bloo88 Me!

Bloo 88, in the heart of Sheffield, has sat under several different names including Rise and other alter egos, however it's main feature has always been that of its stonebaked pizzas and toasty atmosphere.

After recently being renovated (it's over 100 years old) we've started heading here for their delicious 2-4-1 pizza offer, available every single night of the week.

Stonebake Oven