The Anniversary

This Friday the boy and I celebrated our two year anniversary.

There is something so enjoyable about spending time with the one you love whilst having something exciting to celebrate.  An excuse to actually wear make-up, a pretty dress, heels, drink cocktails and eat your body weight in all things naughty.  I don't understand people who don't celebrate anniversaries or push Valentine's Day aside because "it's just a commercial gimmick" or "I shouldn't have to have a designated day to show my girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife that I love them" - true.  To some extent.  But what is better than having an excuse to really push the boat out and spend an entire day making each other feel special?  There is nothing I love more.

It was actually our anniversary the week before but due to our financial situation we had to postpone the celebrations (oh please, somebody find me a job!)

Because of my aforementioned unemployment (and lack of working visa) I have had a lot of time on my hands and I decided to use this time to profess my love to my love and make him a scrapbook documenting the past year we have spent together:

I also went the materialistic route (as, let's be honest - as sweet as a scrapbook is it doesn't quite hit the spot for most men) and bought my man a watch he has been lusting after:

Suunto Core All Black  

The boy did good and bought me the most beautiful pair of shoes from ZU (yes I instagrammed them, obviously!):

And a matching clutch:

We went to The Long Room for cocktails and tapas.

(Photos courtesy of The Long Room)

Although the food and cocktails were absolutely delicious (and also extremely reasonably priced [all cocktails $10 before 9pm]) we were a little disappointed as we had thought it would be more of a restaurant/wine bar atmosphere as opposed to a noisy after work bar that happened to serve food.  SHAME!!  But we enjoyed ourselves all the same.

We moved on from The Long Room to The Carlton Club (I'm not sure if this is a name I made up for the place or not as it's just what I have always called it but I think it's actually just "The Carlton") which is one of my favourite places for a relaxed night out in Melbourne.  The moment you walk up the stairs from the hustle and bustle of Bourke Street you are transported into another world.  I always feel as though I could peek out from my red velvet covered booth and spot Edie Sedgwick cavorting around the dance floor with Andy Warhol whilst The House of the Rising Sun plays in the background.  Having said that it's a sort of Factory Girl meets Quentin Tarantino vibe at times.  You notice the garish mirrors covering the patterned walls and the ever burning candles adding to the mysterious mood before you realise that you've been staring at an ostrich wearing pearls and have become jealous of the incredibly long eyelashes on the huge giraffe jutting out of the wall..  "Am I too drunk?"  You wonder.  No.  It's just The Carlton Club in all its glory.

(Courtesy of waxwaves)

(Courtesy of TimeOut)

We left The Carlton Club and decided to go to Kittens in South Melbourne (I'll let you click on that link to find out what Kittens actually is haha).  Safe to say I was the ONLY woman there wearing clothes.  We didn't stay too long as I think the boy felt a little uncomfortable with me by his side ha!  So we decided to head home via McDonald's and hop into bed with a bottle of champagne.  Happy Anniversary to us!!

It's now Monday and time for me to go back to reality and face the dreaded job hunt once again.  Who knew that it was easier to find work amidst the middle of a recession in the UK than it is Australia?!

What did you get up to this weekend?

Corfu, Greece

I have returned from my trip!!  I am so wonderfully excited to have so many new followers... hello all and thank you for taking an interest :) I will definitely check out all your blogs too!

Greece was...interesting!  The main reason for our little get away was to see some sun for a week and drink ourselves silly (but not necessarily in bars and clubs).  So we booked an all-inclusive package through 118travel.  In hindsight this was not the best move for two reasons; first, our hotel food and drinks were not particularly amazing and second, once we arrived in Greece we discovered that it was ridiculously cheap (ie. two course dinners for 7 euros, two for one cocktails everywhere, etc.) but at the time we were taking a gamble as considering Greece's current economic situation we thought prices could have gone either way.

We stayed at the Aquis Capo di Corfu.  The hotel is nice, but not a luxury resort, as it is described on their website.  One thing we couldn't understand were the rave reviews this place received on TripAdvisor.  It  is definitely a nice hotel but I have stayed in far nicer places for far less money!  It is rated very highly with everybody commenting on the quality of food and drinks etc. and I don't know if it's because I've been lucky enough to have travelled a lot, or if I just have high expectations but in all honesty the food was OK, at best good and the drinks were, sadly, awful (no... gin and lemonade does not qualify as a proper cocktail thank you very much).

Anyway, all that aside we had a fantastic trip and the scenery, fantastic weather and staff made up for everything else our hotel seemed to be lacking.

The beach at our hotel

Our view whilst eating dinner every night (above and right).

Not posers at all

Yes, I do wear SPF 50 on every holiday (except when I'm in Aus. as they only sell up to 30).  I take sun protection really seriously and wear a minimum of SPF 15 on my face, chest and hands every day (SPF 30 when I'm back in Australia EVEN during winter).  If I'm honest this is probably for 40% health reasons 60% vanity - I am petrified of getting old and wrinkly but also equally aware that these days skin cancer is rife and that a tan is not worth the severe consequences skin cancer can bring.  Don't get me wrong though... I happily sit in the sun for hours I just always do my best to keep myself lathered in suncream.

The boy being a creep

Bikinis: 

Purple:  H&M - Top @ £9.99 and Bottoms @ £7.99

Tan/Gold: Topshop - Top @ £12.00 and Bottoms @ £8.00

On one of the last days of our holiday we decide to venture out of the hotel... not just to the nearest town or bar but in true Charlotte style we took a quick trip to Albania.  The port of Saranda is only one and a half hours by boat from Corfu - who knew (I certainly didn't!)?!  This place was absolutely stunning... it reminded me a little bit of Nice - a very old town that had parts that had recently been refurbished in order to  keep up with the tourist trade and become a bit of a hotspot.  TRUST me when I say Albania is the new up-and-coming tourist destination in Europe (if it isn't already that is).  It has beautiful scenery, wonderful weather, wonderful food and is very VERY cheap.

On our way

 A view of Saranda from the boat

Arriving at the port

Being cheesy tourists 

Our wonderful lunch (you know what a foodie I am):

Caprese salad, shrimp with saganaki, tzatziki, aubergine/eggplant and pepper/capsicum with garlic and cheese, calamari

All for 20 euros including two (alcoholic) drinks each - how is that possible?!

  The unbelievable view we had during lunch

Albania is 100% top of my list for next most wanted holiday.

Anyway, that's all for now.  I hope you're all well and somewhere sunny!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I definitely don't call my Dad "Daddy" anymore but I thought it sounds a lot friendlier than Dad for a title...

I am home in Surrey for the weekend as (as the title above implies) it's my dad's birthday.  He is 61 so it wasn't a particularly huge celebration as 60 was the big landmark for my parents last year.  We had some drinks and nibbles and then headed out for a lovely, long dinner at a country pub I used to work at.

Playsuit Motel Rocks

Leggings Dylan Long Leggings @ Cotton On

Shoes Peep Toe Wedge @ Lipsy

I love this little playsuit but it really irritates me that there is no hook and eye clip at the top of the zip as the zip ends at the broadest part of my back and it constantly slides open and unzips itself!  I think I'm going to have to stitch a little hook and eye at the top there.

I have spent the rest of the weekend drinking and watching Laguna Beach with the boy (I used to be obsessed with this show and it gives me a little bit of nostalgia watching it again as I probably haven't seen an episode since about 2007). 

I must admit I'm generally addicted to television.  The shows I constantly watch are: Grey's Anatomy (absolutely hands down my favourite), 90210 (guilty pleasure - I hate Annie), The Lying Game and The Apprentice.  What do you watch?  Any guilty pleasures?

Hope you're all having a fantastic weekend!

Avocados and Love

Whilst in Melbourne I discovered an obsession for something I had not given much attention to before.... the loveable avocado.  Upon its discovery I could not believe how long I had gone without devouring this wondrous fruit.  It became a staple at breakfast time with poached eggs and marmite (do not judge me until you have tried this), a must in salads as a contrast to crispy pancetta, a favourite spread on toast with ground black pepper and a treat mashed with garlic and smothered over tortilla chips.  Is there anything the avocado cannot do?!  I think not!

And so, dear readers, I introduce to you... my FAVOURITE way to eat avocado (I have to admit I did slightly [by slightly I mean 100%] steal this idea from Richmond Hill after enjoying a delectable breakfast there PS their cheese on toast is to die for)

In order to make this delicious treat you will need the following:

1 ripe avocado
2 slices of bread of your choice (rye or wholegrain work best)
2 tomatoes
1 fresh red chilli

1 clove of garlic
feta
fresh basil
olive oil

sea salt flakes

ground black pepper

The steps to this are very simple.

1. Chop your tomatoes into slices

2. Crumble your feta and rip up your basil

3. Slice your avocado in half, de-seed it, peel it, quarter it and then slice it so you are able to fan it out

4. Toast your bread

5. Peel your garlic clove

6. Slice your chilli (de-seed it if you prefer less spice)

7. Once toasted take your bread and drizzle a little olive oil over it, then rub the garlic clove all over it.  Dispose of the garlic clove afterwards.

8. Assemble as follows:

9. Season with salt and pepper

This is literally my most favourite snack in the world and not far off the Richmond Hill one if I do say so myself!  Enjoy :)

In other news: the boy and I posted our visa application for me to become a temporary permanent resident in Australia today (I know this sounds like an oxymoron but you don't become a permanent permanent resident until you've been a temporary one for two years - weird!).  Very exciting but also slightly nerve-wracking to leave the future of our relationship (or at least the location of it) in the hands of a complete stranger!

I was feeling very down today (this dreary weather is really starting to affect my moods) and had the most wonderful surprise from my darling boy at work:

"To the most beautiful girl in the world, I love you with all my heart.. xxx"

I couldn't ask for a sweeter companion.

I hope you're all enjoying the four day week :) I know I certainly am!