Tuesday, 24 August 2021
Etsy Autumn Shops To Check Out
Wednesday, 18 August 2021
24 Hours In Cambridge: What To Do and See
The Main Sights To See
It goes without saying that there are lots of iconic sights to see in Cambridge, but luckily the city isn't too bad to walk around and you can see a lot of them in a short period of time. Trinity Lane was my first port of call in the early morning as there were minimal crowds. On the whole, I would say that in the Summer, the best time to truly appreciate Cambridge would be after the shops have shut in the evening or before they've opened in the morning.
Despite the colleges being shut at the moment, that didn't stop me from ticking off Newton's Tree and the Mathematical Bridge. We watched as the punters went by underneath us, some being braver than others at manoeuvring the boat themselves. Something I wish we had gotten around to doing, which may be more suited to those doing 48 hours in the city, would be to explore the Cambridge Backs. This is an area that allows you to see all the picturesque colleges from behind and get some of the prettiest snaps.
- King's College
- Fitzwilliam Museum
- St John's College
- Newton's Apple Tree
- Trinity Lane
- Bridge of Sighs
The Little Corners
The small streets are my personal favourite as they're somewhere you can slip down when you want some peace and quiet. The Haunted Bookshop, situated down St Edwards Passage is a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Some other favourites of mine were the St. Botolph's Church which has a charming door and Portugal Place, for some beautiful houses.
- Sentate Hall Passage
- Orchard Street
- Portugal Place
- St Edwards Passage
- Check out all the churches!
The Shops + Food
We didn't have a lot of time to sample all of the food Cambridge had to offer, but there's a few windows we peeked into and some more that we got recommend that I thought I would add to the list here to inspire you. Fitzbillies was a shop that had a huge line outside and the Chelsea Buns in the window looked absolutely delicious - I want to go back purely to try out all the bakeries!
After looking at several ice cream parlours, we finally settled on going to Jack's Gelato which also had a queue outside which can only be a good thing. I went for the controversial combination of salted caramel and mint choc chip, but the soft, moorish ice cream was a perfect companion as we pondered through the streets.
As for shopping, I personally don't go to cities to go shopping, but I did come to Cambridge a lot when I was younger to explore the Grafton and The Grand Arcade which is full of all the shops you may desire. Below are some other restaurants to check out:
- Old Bicycle Shop
- Bridges Coffee Shop
- Bread and Meat
- Pint Shop
Thursday, 5 August 2021
Early Autumn Decor Finds
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I think it goes without saying that Autumn is my favourite time of the year. Just the thought of crunchy leaves and chunky jumpers fills my heart with joy, but I'm aware August may still be a little too early to get excited. That being said, Autumn decor tends to come and go quite quickly especially in the UK, so I have put together some of my favourite finds.
Etsy is my go-to shop when I'm looking for unique pieces for the new season. They have a lot on there to choose from, but I know it can be hard to narrow it down to the best bits. This Rattan Pumpkin Fairy House is super similar to my mushroom bag, but with an Autumnal twist - I think this is great if you're more into the "farmhouse" decor. Keeping with the pumpkin theme, I also found these Miniature Pumpkin Spiced Candles which are undeniably adorable and this Hey There Pumpkin Doormat which I'm tempted to pick up for myself.
I went to Homesense and picked up lots of items over the past few weeks, but it's hard to link to exactly where I got it from. I found this Autumn Wreath which is super similar to the one I've got and I can't wait to either hang it on my front door or somewhere around the house. Another thing I'm excited to decorate with is my Autumn Leaf Garland which I've had for several years now and it always makes an appearance - it's just the perfect way to bring the outdoors inside.
I'm always searching my local supermarkets for some new bits as I find that they can have some hidden gems. I actually just got this new Woodland Bedding which I think is a great fit for the transitional period between Summer and Autumn, plus the reversible design is always a bonus.
In terms of mugs, my cupboard is now overflowing with them and although I've put myself on a slight ban of buying anymore, it hasn't stopped me from window shopping. I think this Pumpkin Shaped Mug is absolutely perfect and almost exactly like the one I enjoy drinking from come September.