Tag: Travel

Pistachio & Pickle Dairy: Discovering a Hidden Gem

Posted in london, Out In London, WineTagged , , , , Leave a comment

I’m back with another fantastic find, this time near Angel station! A charming little corner that feels like a hidden village is just steps away, nestled in Islington’s Camden Passage. I met a friend there to explore the antiques market, wander around, and find a cosy spot for a glass of wine.

Guess what? We stumbled upon the cutest artisan cheese shop! It sells an amazing selection of cheeses, crackers, and chutneys. Despite its small size, this place offers incredible cheeseboards and specials with rotating selections. We opted for the cheeseboard for one, along with the brie & grape toast, which was insanely good, full of texture and flavour.

You know what to expect with a cheeseboard, but this one was exceptional. The cheeses, crackers, and accompaniments were all delicious, and the wine pairing was perfect. I honestly can’t recall the specific wine we had; we simply asked the guy for a recommendation, and it was spot on.

The star of the show was definitely the brie and grape toast. I highly recommend trying it if you’re in the area, or even making a trip specifically for it.

Both my friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our cheese and wine date. I would happily return anytime soon. Although I don’t live nearby, I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area—even just to pick up some cheese.

Thanks for reading! To see more of my day-to-day adventures, follow me on Instagram. See you in my next post! Bye!

Key Points:

  • Location: Camden Passage, Islington, near Angel Station.
  • Highlight: Artisan cheese shop with award-winning cheeses.
  • Must-Try: Brie and grape toast.
  • Atmosphere: Cute, charming, and village-like.
  • Recommendation: Perfect for a cheese and wine date with your bestie

Visit their insta to find out more about them.

All the best,
Justina

Where to go for the Best Italian in Chiswick

Posted in london, Out In London, Review, TravelTagged , , , , Leave a comment
Eating Giant Tiramisu at Tarantella, Chiswick

Tarantella on Elliot Road in Chiswick London, is an authentic family-run restaurant, serving Pugliese cuisine.

I went there twice already and have a table booked for my next visit.
I have an unpopular admission: I am not the biggest fan of pasta; in general, I could live without it. But guess what I order every time I visit Tarantella? Pasta! It’s so good it’s making me change my mind!

They also make amazing pizza and of course, anything seafood is to die for.

They are known for their viral Giant Tiramisu, and I was lucky to try it just the other day, as soon as they launch it (I joined their new menu photoshoot!), and it was so good! The Dubai Chocolate is such an interesting twist for a tiramisu, and I loved it, almost as much as the original. If you go to try it – note that the Giant Tiramisu (any flavour) is a pre-order only dish, so make sure to confirm it at least a day before you visit.

Dubai chocolate giant tiramisu

A great little trattoria in one of the most charming neighbourhoods in London, Tarantella is worth the visit!

Visit their website here, to see more information: www.latarantella.co.uk
or give them a follow on Instagram: @tarantella_chiswick

Thanks for reading, see you in my next post!

Ciao a tutti!
Justina

Life-Enhancing Favorites | Aug 2024

Posted in favorites, Healthy eating, Holidays, lifestyleTagged , , , , , Leave a comment

Some links in this blog post are affiliate.

Hello, lovelies!
Welcome to a world of life-enhancing favourites! In this blog post, I’m excited to share some of the top additions to my daily routine that have brought value, convenience, and sustainability to my life. From nourishing bone broth to eco-friendly laundry options and personalized vitamins, these recommendations aim to inspire a healthier, more conscious lifestyle. Join me as we explore these exciting discoveries and embrace positive changes together.

One of my favourite additions to my diet is an old all-time favourite superfood that recently made its way back to popularity, bone broth. I buy it from Freja Foods. I chose it because it’s made from 100% natural ingredients, responsibly sourced and for all the information they provide, like the nutritional values. It’s easy to order, really delicious and offers quite a few options to choose from, different packages and subscriptions. Currently, you can get 20% off with the code SUMMERSALE20.
My go-to is the beef broth for its high protein and collagen content, providing great value for money. I usually enjoy it instead of tea or coffee, but it’s versatile for use in recipes and even smoothies.

Another fantastic find that has become a beauty favourite for me is Trust Deodorant. It offers long-lasting odour prevention that can last up to 3 to 6 days and is aluminium-free. This deodorant remains effective even after showering and swimming and is perfect for travel with its compact size. And it might seem that it’s a little pricey but it’s really not as it last 2-3 months!

Mixing in a home management topic, laundry, I would love to recommend trying out laundry detergent strip sheets as an eco-friendly and versatile option. They are convenient and great for travel too as they will not ruin your close like spilled detergent or popped detergent capsules. These strips are easy to use for both hand and machine washing, take much less space on the shelves, and eliminate the need for bulky plastic bottles, or gel pods, minimizing plastic use in your daily life. My favourites are these two:
Good Clean Stuff and The Lab Co.

When it comes to vitamins, it can be challenging to find trustworthy products. For a personalized approach, I highly recommend trying Vitl.com, a subscription service that tailors a set of vitamins based on your lifestyle and needs, and even offers blood and DNA Nutrition tests to determine a bit of more science-based advice. It’s convenient and packaged for each day so you don’t need to worry about drinking a double portion by accident.

In skincare, I would like to talk about something for travellers or anyone looking to hydrate and protect their skin on the go, a Hypochlorous spray. It can be a useful addition to your skincare routine. It helps hydrate and protect the skin from bacteria. For someone who gets spots quite regularly, this has been a big favourite to prevent them.

Lastly, a fun lifestyle recommendation is Too Good To Go app, a platform that allows you to rescue surplus food from local businesses at a discounted price. It’s a great way to try out new foods, reduce food waste and be more environmentally conscious. By using this service, you can explore various locations offering all kinds of foods from bread and pastries to health stores, and organic stores, or grab comfort foods like pizza or burritos, and contribute to reducing food waste in your community.

I hope you find these recommendations helpful! If you try any of them out please share your feedback, I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments. See you in the next post!

Day Trip To Margate

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Need a day away from London? How about going to the seaside? Yes, I mean in winter months too.
It takes just over an hour to get to London and it’s such a charming town, full of small boutique shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes.

Have you been to Margate? It has excellent weather and even in winter, if the sun is shining, you can sit and have a pint on a pier whilst watching a killer sunset.

Before the sunset, there is plenty of things to do and see too!

Once in Margate, I would head straight to get some fresh seafood, oysters, prawns, crabs and much more to choose from at @manningsseafoodmargate

It’s located just in front of @TurnerContemporary where you can now see Sonia Boyce’s exhibition Feeling Her Way, which won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2022. It’s there until the beginning of May.

Next, head for a stroll around visiting small antique shops, galleries and local producers’ pop-ups (for example @haeckels are from Margate and use seaweed picked there by hand as the base for all of their products. Their store is truly an interesting experience and well worth checking out)

Margate also has a very unique place, Shell Grotto!


Its ornate shell-lined passages and mosaic chamber almost feel magical. Strong energies for sure and if it was my guess, it was built for Pagan/Norse gods worship but no one really knows so your guess is as good as mine😄
@shellgrotto

Hope you left some time to go and for a true seaside tradition- fish and chips! For probably the absolute best around, head to @nazarfishandchips or, if you are a little pressed by time and want to stay closer to the port, to Peter’s Fish Factory Margate (12 The Parade, Margate CT9 1EZ) – both places served amazing fish and chips! I tried them both and would go to both again any day! Btw Peter’s has a lovely seating area with beautiful views.

Right, time for sunset watching and a pint at the end of the pier. Any of the harbour arm places will do but we went to the one at the very end, the lighthouse bar.

Feeling like having another drink, @xylobrew is the spot! This microbrewery also had sunset views, and is the perfect place to spend a chilly evening. They are favourited by locals and always have a dog or two visit with their hoomans.

Hope you try out Margate and enjoy your time there!

I am planning my next trip there in a couple of months, maybe I will discover some new great spots to share with you!

Travel Hack – Comfort Accessories

Posted in destinations, Holidays, Tips, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , Leave a comment

Happy New Year, everyone!
If there’s one thing I wish for you this year is to travel more, to travel better and more comfortably. So I thought I’m going to share with you one of my favourite travel hack I can’t imagine travelling without. Inflatable travel accessories.

I wanted to see about upgrading my inflatable travel pillow since I plan to spend a lot of time on the go this year. When I bought mine, it was one of a very few available options. Now, you can choose from so many and at very affordable prices. Perhaps you fancy upgrading yours to a better one too?

Have you heard of inflatable travel accessories before? I am yet to see people using them and often get curious looks when I take mine out.

(Please note these links are affiliate.)

This is the one I’ve been using and can highly recommend:

CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)

Since I compiled a list, I thought why not share it with you and perhaps help you with your future travels too! These are especially handy for longer trips when you are sure to have a nap or want to get as much sleep as possible to arrive at your destination fresh. Not just for red-eye flights, it’s great for road trips, train travel, camping and any other situation where a bit of convenience can make a world of difference. Especially if you’re travelling on a budget.

Some of these pillows look really interesting as an option for a comfortable sleep. Let me know what you think about them if you try any of them out. I wonder if should I get one of these for myself?

CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)
CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)
CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)

Some of the pillows are similar to mine. I highly recommend one of these instead of foam neck pillows because it just makes so much sense. It takes little space to store in your bag and you can quickly inflate it once you settle in your seat. Most of them also have the option to remove the cover, wash it and use it again. It is more hygienic and can help protect your skin from getting spots during travel.

CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)
CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)

There are also a few beautiful options. I would choose comfort over aesthetics in the case of travel, even though it doesn’t hurt when the item can win at both! However, if aesthetics are more important to you – that’s okay, especially for shorter trips. My favourite I this one:

CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)

While I was looking into inflatable neck pillows, I noticed some of these inflatable footstools. Wow, what an idea, especially for long-haul trips. Take a look at these, they can be a great option to add to your carry-on bag to ensure that your trip is more comfortable. I’ve never seen anyone using one of these or have heard of it before this research, perhaps I should try. What do you think?

CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)
CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)
CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)

If you have kids, or if you know a family that loves to travel and has kids, and you’re looking for a creative gift idea, I think one of these would be a winning pick.

CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)
CHECK IT OUT HERE
(Image from Amazon listing)

You know how sometimes you expected just to go on a shopping website and get something you are already using? But once you start, you go into a deep dive research of all the options out there. I shared some of the findings with you here. I hope at least one will be useful for you and you will give it a shot.

If you get one of the upgraded versions, please do let me know how that works for you!

If you have any travel hacks that you love using, why not share them? Please comment below or send a message by the contact page. I would love to hear and discover something new to try out!

All the best,
Justina

How To Spend One Day In London

Posted in Holidays, london, Out In London, TravelTagged , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I find it wonderful to have visitors and get a chance to be a tourist in London. It’s so easy to get into a routine and stop exploring. When someone visits me, I ask for my guests’ preferences, what they would like to see. Every time I realise how much London has to offer and how difficult it is to plan out a day’s route that would include a variety of activities, would be interesting and cover as much as possible must-sees in the least amount of time possible.

I am no expert guide but I have a few places I love revisiting and showing to people out of town. Last week I had my cousins visiting for a couple of days but they only had half a day for sightseeing and we made the best of it. Our plan included:

  1. Oxford Circus, Soho, China Town
  2. The National Gallery, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Square
  3. Trafalgar Square
  4. St James’s Park
  5. Buckingham Palace
  6. Hard Rock Cafe

Our time was limited so we couldn’t add much more, and we do enjoy walking around taking our time and getting a few pictures. I will add a few recommendations on what else to see around these locations for those that have more time to explore.

    1.  We had breakfast at home and headed straight to Soho, on our way passing Oxford Circus, and China Town because our plan was to treat ourselves for brunch – Bubblewrap Waffles.
      bubblewrap
      I do recommend to consider having your breakfast in one of many cute cafes in Soho, perhaps visit a few shops on Regent or/and Oxford streets and then head to China town for this delicious treat to make it a full morning in Soho.

 

    1. From there we headed to The National Gallery. On your way, you can pass Leicester square and having the time, treat your kids, or the kid inside you, to a visit to the M&Ms store as well as LEGO store. Keep in mind these are very busy and your visit can be prolonged by waiting in queues, especially LEGO store which usually has quite a queue to get inside even when the weather is not too nice. Just a few minutes walk away is Piccadilly Circus which is one of London’s most popular tourist destinations, home to the iconic Piccadilly screens and the statue of Eros.How much time you will spend in The National Gallery will depend on how much of it you will want to see,  typically people spend up to 2.5 hours here but if you just want to see the highlights to save time, I would say 1hour would be plenty. Next to The National Gallery is the National Portrait Gallery where a visit usually takes up to 2 hours.
    2. After the visit to the museums, take a bit of time to check out Trafalgar Square and possibly take a few pictures of the fountain with the National Gallery in the background or with the famous statues of four lions, surrounding Nelson’s Column.trafalgar-sq-3

 

    1.  Next destination, St James’s Park. On your way, you pass Admiralty Arch which is just 2 mins away from the Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately, due to road works, it was mostly covered but I’m sure they will wrap up soon so future visitors can enjoy this majestic landmark. Close by you have a number of museums & galleries to check out if you have the time, however, we continued down The Mall towards St Jame’s park, briefly stopping in the square in front of the Household Cavalry Museum, to take a few very Instagram friendly pictures with a bit of London Eye peeking behind the museum.
      pink-fur-coat-16
      pink-fur-7

      From here, you have an option to do a little 1hour detour to see the Horse Guards, Downing Street, London Eye, Big Ben, Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.

      Then have a stroll in the beautiful St James’s Park where you can expect to see many different birds (check Duck Island), feed squirrels and parrots. Must spot to visit is the Blue Bridge, offering spectacular views across St James’s Park Lake to Buckingham Palace to the west and Horse Guards Parade, Big Ben and the London Eye towards the east.

      We were there just as the sun started to set and it was so very beautiful.

    2. Another must-see on our list was the Buckingham Palace, a sight to pass by or depending on visit’s timing & season, visitors can tour the palace’s opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard.palace

 

  1. The last item on our list was dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe as per the request of one of my guests. We chose the original venue, standing on Old Park Lane since June 14th 1971. On our way there we passed Green Park and Wellington Arch. As it was already quite late and we were super hungry after all the walking, we didn’t visit Hyde Park which is just there, and it’s a beautiful place to visit if you have the time! 

    As an alternative, you can choose to pass on dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and head towards Knightsbridge and have your pick of upscale restaurants or go for a visit to Harrods where you can do some shopping and choose from many dining options. 

Thank you for reading and if you are planning a trip to London, I hope it helped! What would be your favourites to see on this route? Should I do more posts like this with different sights?

Love,
Hewnly

Follow me on Instagram for more adventures!

 

10 Reasons Why Travelling is Good for You

Posted in destinations, Food For Thought, Holidays, Lifestyle Design, TravelTagged , , , , , , 2 Comments

In the cover picture, I am in front of the Met in New York, a place I wish to return one day to explore it more! It has always been my dream to travel the world. Why Travelling is Good for You? Here are 10 reasons:

  1. You Learn About Yourself
    💭 “A long stretch of road can teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet .” Patrick Rothfuss
  2. You Improve Your Mind
    💭 “If you allow it, travel has the ability to expand your mind in a way you never realized was possible,” Trusted Travel Girl, Valerie Wilson.
  3.  It Strengthens Relationships 
    💭“The shared experience of travel brings people together. A family getaway, a romantic trip, or long weekend with the girls or guys can strengthen important bonds.” Betsy Goldberg

  4. Boosts happiness and satisfaction
    💭 “According to a Cornell University study, the anticipation of a trip can increase your happiness substantially, even more than the anticipation of acquiring something tangible, like a new car.” Riyaz Babu Shaik from Medium.com

  5. It Puts Life in Perspective
    💭 “Traveling to other countries, particularly those in the developing world, can be a big wake up call and put your own life in perspective. Things that you may take for granted, like having running hot water, modern appliances and the opportunity to study and get a well-paid job at the end of it are not available to everyone, purely because of where they were born. You’ll probably come away with a new appreciation for everything you have and the opportunities that life throws your way.”  buildabroad.org10-Reasons-Why-Travelling
  6. You Get More Social
    💭 “It’s sink or swim on the road. You either get better at making friends or you end up alone, crying each night into a pillow. You learn to make friends out of strangers and get more comfortable talking to new people.” Nomadic Matt
  7. You Won’t Regret You Didn’t Do Something or Never Visited a You Always Dreamed to See
     💭 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” Mark Twain
  8.  It’s an Investment in Yourself
    💭 “The money you spend on travel, is an investment in yourself. Travel doesn’t make you feel as bad for spending money.”
  9. It Increases Your Mental Wellbeing
    💭 “Travelling more is likely to have a tremendous impact on your mental well-being, especially if you’re no used to going out of your comfort zone.” The Claimcompass Blog
  10.  You’ll Have Incredible Adventures (and Stories to Tell)
    💭 “Whatever your initial expectations and travel plans are, it’s more than likely that you’ll have incredible adventures along the way that not even J.K. Rowling could write the script for. Sometimes it’s everyday encounters that dish up unimaginable experiences, or wild side trips that you take on a whim, but chances are you’ll be going home with a few tales to tell.” buildabroad.org

Which one is your favourite?

This year I made a promise to myself to go away as much as possible. And I did so – visitng Denmark, USA, France, Romania, Germany, Netherlands and Lithuania (a few times as my family lives there) this year. Might not seem like a lot to some but it felt to me like I’m always going somewhere! I loved it and I hope the next year will be just as eventful. Please visit my Instagram to see the visual diary of my travels. And my recent post about where to go for a great cocktail in Amsterdam.

What are your dream places to visit?

Love,
Justina

Airplane Essentials: 12 Items to Make Your Trip More Enjoyable

Posted in Holidays, Tips, TravelTagged , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Travel can be exhausting and packing a few essentials to make it more enjoyable and provide a little bit of comfort can make it so much more enjoyable. Everyone that travels a lot have a sort of check list while they prepare for a trip. Mine is below and I do hope you find it usefull:

1 Travel Pillow 
I use this inflatable one which is a real lifesaver. It also is so easy to fit into your carry-on and to keep it clean – you can remove the outer layer and wash it after each trip.

2.  A collapsable water bottle
Hydration, hydration, hydration!

3.  Antibacterial wipes
One of the most usefll things ever  – always good to keep it around!

4. A Travel Organiser
Keep all the important documents safe and in one compact place

5. A Sleep Kit
Travel can be exhausting and while you are flying it’s great to have a good rest and be fresh to carry on

6. A Lip Balm
The dry cabin air is hard for your skin, have a good moisturing lip balm with you to keep you lips nourished.

7. Some Entertainment
I always have a good book to help me pass the time. Amazon kindle is a great solution where you can keep a bunch of the book and read the one that takes your fancy.

8. A portable battery charger
I tried so many of portable chargers until I found this one – your phone will never die on you again!

9. A pair of soft, thick socks
A cosy pair of socks really, really makes plane travel soo much more comfortable

10. A toothbrush and toothpaste / mint or gum
Nothing than a bad breath, right?

11. Vitamin C
Keep your immune system strong, especially on holidays!

12. Scarf
Cabins might get very cold and a soft cosy scarf will keep you warm and happy you brought it on board

 

Do you have any other essentials you take with you while you travel?

Love,
Hewnly

18 Best Travel Quotes to Inspire Your Wanderlust

Posted in destinations, Food For Thought, Holidays, Inspiration, TravelTagged , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Travel. Inspiration. Adventure.

Who doesn’t love travel quotes?! I don’t know about you, but I love them. The other thing that I love is photography. This post is a collection of 18 of my favourite inspirational travel quotes as well as a few pictures I’ve taken on my adventures.

Ready for a little wanderlust-inspiring pick me up?

#1   “Please be a traveller, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.” -Andrew Zimmern

#2    “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” -Miriam Beard

#3    “Everything I was I carry with me. Everything I will be lies waiting on the road ahead.” -Ma Jian

#4     “Not all those who wander are lost.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

best-travel-quotes-3

#5    “We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.” -Ray Bradbury

#6    “The only thing that you can carry with you on your travels is your heart. Fill your heart with good things and good things will follow you for the rest of your life.” -Unknown

#7    “All you need to know is that it’s possible.” -Wolf, an Appalachian Trail Hiker

#8    “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain

#9    “I’ll look back on this and smile because it was life and I decided to live it.”

best-travel-quotes

#10    “Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul.” -Jaime Lyn

#11    “If happiness is the goal – and it should be, then adventures should be top priority.” -Richard Branson

#12    “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” -Jawaharial Nehru

#13    “Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell not stuff to show.”

#14    “Go, fly, roam, travel, voyage, explore, journey, discover, adventure.”

best-travel-quotes-4

#15    “You can shake the sand from your shoes, but it will never leave your soul.”

#16    “The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”

#17    “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” -Eugene Fodor

#18    “People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.” -Edmund Hillary

What are your favourite quotes? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,
Hewnly

 

London’s best cafés: My Place, Soho

Posted in destinations, favorites, Out In London, ReviewTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Sharing a wonderful review on one of my absolute favourite spots in London.

Dear Anna Bonet (the author of the thamesideliving.com), I could not agree more!

 

Thameside Living's avatar

If my world revolves around anything, it’s probably coffee. So not only do I take assessing the cafés of London very seriously, but it’s also something that’s very safe in my hands.

Of all those I’ve been to so far (new ones pop up faster than I can say macchiato), My Place, on Berwick St in Soho, comes out very near the top.

When a colleague recommended it to me a few months ago on the basis that it’s where she goes to write her novel, I knew it must be good. It did not disappoint, and, since my first visit I’ve been back so many times that the staff are starting to greet me by name – something I haven’t experienced since living in a village in Wales.

Note that although the vibe is 100% cute coffee shop, they also serve lunch and dinner. However, while the food is…

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