{take me away : the caribbean islands}

By the time you read this, I'll probably be en-route to our romantic Caribbean break the boy and I have been planning for a little while - the product of what's kept me going through a particularly shit few weeks. I'll be mostly lying under the hot sun all loub-ed up with coconut oil drinking endless mojitos and gin & tonics. See you in a few weeks - and try not to miss me too much, rachelle xo

Lately: Via Instagram | A Catch Up...

Its been an awfully long time since my last, Lately: via Instagram post, I'm not as Instagram obsessed as alot of you ladies so it takes some time to compose a full post! This could be due to my loyaly to my old faithful Blackberry so I only take photos through the social network on my iPod or iPad, which often get left behind when packing the Mulberry for the day...

my favorite body cream from Laura Mercier, it literally smells like lemon curd  |  obsessed with summer berries, I cannot stop eating them

a very exciting new foundation, 'Parure de Lumière'' by Guerlain was kindly sent to me, I cannot wait to try! watch this space.. | the best latte ever

a peek of a hot Sunday afternoon outfit; cream Topshop boutique mini dress, Steve Madden studded sandals, Chanel bag and Hermès collier de chien bracelet | shower gel samples from the body shop, perfect for my imminent Thailand trip! 

Table for Two: Ginger, Basil & Grapefruit Spritzer

Another Sunday afternoon, another summer cocktail. Just as it should be. I adore the sharpness of basil that sort of lingers within you, this balance of the basil and ginger soda with an added citrus kick from the grapefruit juice is beyond refreshing.

y o u ' l l  n e e d  . . .

75g butter, softened

2 large grapefruit

2 cups of ice

3 cans of ginger soda

a handful of fresh basil

1/4 cup of basil simple syrup (easily made the same way all simple syrup is, but with the addition of chopped basil, not forgetting to strain before leaving to cool)

1 bottle of champagne or white wine

A Guide To: Building a Bar

Little is more chic than having friends over for cocktails. For some, including me, the idea of building a bar a home was somewhat intimidating, being so unsure of where to start. Recently, with the help of the boy and a load of girlfriends who love alcohol from mojitos to martinis, I've grown my collection from a trusty, dusty bottle of vodka on standby for friends popping in, to a small bar.

Table for Two: Peach Collins

One of our go-to recipes for summer evening cocktails is the incredibly sweet and simple Peach Collins. A play on the traditional Tom Collins, this drink calls for only a few ingredients and takes just seconds to prepare.

 y o u ' l l  n e e d  . . .

• 1/4 Cup of Simple Syrup
• 1/4 Cup of Lemon Juice
• 1/2 Cup of Chopped Ripe Peaches
• 1/2 Cup of Peach Flavoured Vodka
• 1/2 Cup of Soda Water (or Lemonade if you like it super-sweet)
• 2 x Peach Slices

Lately: Via Instagram | My Birthday

I was lucky enough to have the most fabulous birthday weekend! Alongside my favourite perfume, caramel cupcakes, 'the worlds best "Chase" vodka', and a handful of make up products I'd my eye on for a while I was completley spoilt with a new laptop and a Mulberry Daria purse!

My Mum made me a chocolate & cream cake (which tastes alot better than the instagram picture makes it look!), my friend made me a four layer raspberry sponge cake alongside those ten cupcakes & chocolates - I'm sure to be piling on the pounds as I work my way through that lot! For the party the boy & I made Strawberry Mojotos and good 'ol cosmopolitans for the arrival of our guests in unfortunatley rather garish green jugs as some unbeknown monster (ahem, my Aunt) borrowed the decent glassware... 

I had an amazing weekend & feel truly blessed with all of my friends & family, thank you to everyone for th birthday wishes.

Rachel x

Table for Two: Strawberry Mojitos

 Everyone loves a mojito. I've tried countless concoctions of weird and wonderful mojito flavours, but for a fail-safe rum hit, strawberry is always a winner. Luckily, its also incredibly easy to make and perfect for summer evenings.

45g Simple Sugar Syrup

3 Fresh Strawberries

4 or 5 Fresh Spearmint Sprigs

Soda Water

1/2 Lime

60ml Light Rum

In a chilled, medium sized glass, muddle the sugar syrup, strawberries and mint leaves together with the back of a spoon or muddler, making sure the strawberries and mint leaves are crushed well. Squeeze the juice from the lime into the glass, and stir well. Fill the glass with plenty of ice and top up with soda water. Garnish with mint sprigs or strawberry slices.

Its as easy as that, ladies. Enjoy one this fine Saturday evening!

Rachel x

Happy Weekend: May Day

Happy May Day... There is only one thing better than the weekend, a three day weekend! This extended break from the insanity of 9 to 8's, pilates classes and the associated pain in muscles you forget exist has encouraged a laid back weekend of family meals, luxuriously late lie-ins, shopping trips and a night on the razz with the better half.. An excellent night with a mix of French 75's, Apple & Pear Martinis to treble Bombay Sapphire & lemonades to a trip to the golden arches on the way home.. Always Classy!

The rest of today is to be spent mostly in bed complaining of a champagne hangover, with a trip to Waitrose & Zara for a new pair of troos I've been eyeing up for the last few weeks...

How have you spent your bank holidays?

Rachel x