Summer officially started this week and my insta feed is looking decidedly blue! 

Marbella 

Arabella & Isla

Picnic by the lake

Mint Maxi by Massimo Dutti

Ireland, you beauty!

quoteoftheday!

The end of June can only signal one thing.... sale shopping! This is my favourite time to pick up work basics and classic pieces like black suit trousers, tailored coats , blouses and new shoes! The ZARA sale started today but be quick to get all the good deals! I have already picked up baby girl clothes as well as some new khaki jeans and blouses! Oh and a bargain pair of gold leather sandals for 14euro! I have the nude version that I wear so much and cost 69e so it was simply too good of a deal! 



Happy Sale Shopping!

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Strawberry Avocado Caprese Salad

Summers are made for salads but sometimes they can get so boring and I don't like it when salads are basically just a bowl of flavourless leaves! This light and fresh salad is ideal, you can also change it up to add peaches & plums, pop it into your lunch box and you are good to go! 

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar / Balsamic Glaze to decorate 
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup halved mini mozzarella balls
• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and diced
• 1/3 cup loosely packed basil, chopped
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• Pink salt and freshly ground black pepper

Puerto Banus, Marbella – it's known as the playground for the rich and famous and is a favourite summer holiday and party hotspot of Arabian princes and celebrities. Top that off with a rare European micro-climate means that it's hot for an impressive 300 days of the year, and a long list of beach bars and clubs to rival some of Europe's most prestigious party spots and it's easy to see why Marbella attracts the crowd that it does. Situated about 40 minutes drive west of Malaga airport, it is a very popular resort in Andalusia. The short flight time was one of the main factors we decided on holidaying here with our very young family. Although now popular due to the large influx of 'reality tv' celebrities, Marbella was always a fabulous haven for the super wealthy- including Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, who used to frequent the luxurious Marbella Club Hotel.

We stayed in a beautiful villa resort close to Puerto Banus, far enough to avoid the party madness but 5/10 minute walk for easy access with a double buggy. In Puerto Banus, we enjoyed some of the best food we have ever eaten; thats quite a bold statement considering we are both foodies, but some of the Thai and Italian food we ate here was just perfection. There are 3 Michelin star restaurants here so you are definitely spoiled for choice. 

Our girls had the time of their lives enjoying plenty of pool time and long lazy ice-cream walks where we stopped off at the incredible El Corte Ingles daily to drool at the designer pieces and also a cheeky starbucks! 

Marbella is laid backed central and couldn't have suited us more. We enjoyed long lazy cocktail lunches overlooking the incredible views along the harbour and long evening strolls along the vast promenade. Marbella boasts 23km of sandy beaches and they are all immaculately kept with great facilities. 

The beaches are heaven, I would recommend 'Plaza Beach' for a quiet chilled out vibe.  Obviously , with young children, the party beaches, like 'Nikki Beach' were a no-go and I couldn't have been happier about that. Holidays for me are about family time, relaxation and food!

Overall, Marbella is not exactly renowned as a 'family resort' but during our visit, we noticed countless couples with young families just like us. Part of the huge attraction is the short flight time, 300 days per year of sunshine and of course similar food/drinks to home. 

We will definitely return!

Flights via Dublin - Malaga Link!

The sun is setting on our gorgeous sun-drenched bank holiday weekend and what better way to spend it than a family picnic at this gorgeous lakeshore. Rain is expected later this week so bye bye Summer ! (for now)

I am loving my tweed shorts at the moment, I have already worn them loads. They are very much Isabel Marant inspired, I like them paired with a casual blouse such as this COS one, for a more day to day casual look.  

SHOP THIS POST 

Shorts // Blouse // Sandals 

Ireland is enjoying a mini heatwave at the moment and everything looks so much greener and lush. So when the sun comes out so does this mint Massimo Dutti maxi dress. Light and breezy, its the perfect addition to a summer wardrobe. 

Dress Massimo Dutti / Sunglasses Rayban / Watch Olivia Burton / Sandals Zara

This year is flying by, how is it June already? This week, a blogpost titled 'Things to do in June' popped up on my Bloglovin' feed and I thought it was really inspiring! Everyone should have some sort of bucket list and I've picked the best ones below...

 1. Go On A Road Trip With Your Best Friend

Grab your best friend and your car and go on a road trip together. It doesn't matter if you have a few hours or a weekend. It's a great experience to explore places that are close to where you live, but you haven't been there before. Ireland is full of amazing gems and especially when the sun is out, everywhere looks so beautiful.

 2. Pick Fresh Strawberries From A Field

If you never picked strawberries yourself it's time to change this fact. There are farms everywhere to do this. Eating a strawberry straight from the plant is nothing compared to the strawberries you buy at supermarkets. And if we already picked them, try a new recipe.

These are our favorites lately

• Roasted Strawberry Shortcakes with Basil Cream via JoyTheBaker  
• Rhubarb, Strawberry and Almond Pie via ABeautifulMess 
• Gluten-free Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Bars via MinimalistBaker

 3. Have A Garden-Brunch-Party With Your Girls Crew

This is one of my favourites and something my friends and I do quite regularly, albeit , inside (!). The perfect thing to do on a warm sunday? Have a brunch-party in your garden. Just invite your girls, prepare a lot of food (fruits, veggies, granola, homemade bread, pancakes, couscous salad, champagne,...)

 4. Go For A Morning Run

There is nothing like sunshine to make you jump out of bed energised and we all know how beneficial it is for you . Definitely one of the best ways to start you day is to go on a morning run. What a great feeling to move your body while everyone else is still sleeping! Warm up with the sun slowly rising and breathe the fresh air. If you never overcame your laziness to stay in your warm bed before, do it! It's so worth it.

 5. Treat Yourself To A Huge Flower Bouquet

No one is surprising with with flowers lately? Stop waiting for it and buy yourself a beautiful bouquet on the farmers market. Place them on your dining table or workspace to make yourself happy. As its peony season, nothing will make you happier than a bunch of pink peonies on your dining table.

 6. Go Hiking For A Whole Day

Hiking is the perfect activity to calm down our busy minds. Doesn't that sound like a dream? Forget about your to-do list, grab a friend, a backpack and a map and start walking. And then just enjoy talking to your hiking buddy and embrace the nature around you. 

 7. Discover A New Coffee Shop

One of our favourite pastimes- Who likes coffee shops? Hands up. We agree, a coffee shop is the perfect place to study or work, to hang out with friends or to just grab your skinny decaf latte on the go. Ireland is full of cute coffee shops with amazing desserts to go.

8. Try A New Ice-Cream Flavour 

The perfect month of the year to have ice-cream? Definitely June! Our favorite flavours lately? Organic rhubarb and lemon-basil.

 9. Read At Least One Book

This is something I am really slack on but I keep seeing some great books on the bestseller lists so now is the time, Reading is one of the things I enjoy doing but still never spend enough time actually doing it. That's why I set is as my goal to read at least one book in June.

10. Visit A Farmers Market To Buy Loads Of Veggies

The perfect thing to do on a sunny Saturday morning? Take a bag and stroll over the farmers market. Buy fresh veggies, seasonal fruit, grab a coffee and croissant, enjoy the busy yet relaxed atmosphere and get inspired for new recipes. 

 11. Make A Swing For Your Home

Wouldn't it be amazing to have a swing in your apartment/home? The only thing you need to make one is a plank with four holes in it and a thick rope. This is definitely something I intend to do in my new home!

12. Take The Bike Instead Of The Car

There are numerous reasons why you should leave the car at home and take your bike instead. To mention a few, it's good for the environment, even better for your bikini body and will help you be less stressed about the traffic. My mint bike is calling out to me!

 13. Visit A New City

What about a spontaneous trip to explore a city you've never been to before? Here are some guides to places I like.

• Venezia via SincerelyJules
• Granada via FreePeople
• Berlin via DesignSponge

Find the full post HERE!