29.05

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Happy Sunday, my friends! Today I’m so excited to be sharing with you an interview with the lovely Laura, of lifestyle blog Loved by Laura! Getting to do these interviews is always something I look forward to- it’s such a treat getting to find out more about the author behind the blog I’ve been getting to know over the course of each month! And Laura’s blog is such a fab one- so charming and fun and varied in its content, you’re going to just love it! So, enough from me. Let me introduce you to Loved by Laura!

1. Will you tell us a little about how you got started writing Loved by Laura?

A year before I started my blog I took the decision to change careers so as to get a better work life balance. I’d been used to working regular 12 hour days so it felt like a luxury when I suddenly had downtime for myself. I didn’t want to waste it or take it for granted, so I learned how to cook, took up running and rediscovered my love of photography. I started to share my recipes and reviews on Facebook with photos and little stories. After a while I felt like I had much more to say and needed my own space to put it all, so Loved By Laura was born!

2. How would you sum up your blog, in just 3 words?

Life, Love, Food!

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3. How has your blog evolved over the years since you began writing it? Anything you’ve found especially great about being a blogger, or anything especially challenging?

When I started my blog I mainly wrote about recipes and beauty. My recipe posts have evolved and I’m a lot more experimental with food combinations and flavours these days. I love a good mashup, my favourite of which is probably making duffins (doughnut muffins).

Over time I realised that I enjoy finding quirky, fun things to do too and I really enjoy sharing the experiences with my readers and giving them a behind the scenes look. I’ve covered everything from going to bartending school to fashion shoots and champagne bath pop ups in the city!

That’s the great thing about blogging, it’s opened up a whole world of new opportunities. If you told me two years ago that I’d be jumping on a train after work to head to London for a cookery class or to go to do a photoshoot with Joe Browns for their Christmas campaign I’d never have believed you!

The challenging part about blogging for me is simply fitting everything in. I still love my full time job and run my blog in my spare time… I just wish that every week had an extra 7 days so that I could have my cake and eat it.

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4. Would you share with us three of your favourite posts, and tell us why they’re particular favourites?

I wrote a post called the Shy Girl’s Guide to Attending Events to provide some support and encouragement to others by sharing my own personal experiences. I was incredibly shy when I started my blog but over time pushing outside of my comfort zone and opening myself up to new experiences has really helped me to live life more fully.

There’s nothing worse than feeling like you can’t say yes to something that you really want to do because you put a load of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in the way. 99% of the time if you put yourself out there, you’ll look back afterwards and wonder what on earth made you so nervous in the first place. I want to encourage people to venture out of their comfort zones and try new things as it’s so rewarding.  

One of my favourite experiences was attending a Caribbean cookery class with Levi Roots a few months back. I couldn’t wait to get back home and write about it. I took about a million photos whilst I was there too which is pretty standard for any Loved By Laura post! 

Back in February N and I celebrated our Wedding Anniversary by making a blanket fort. I was a bit scared to publish it on the blog for fear of it all coming across a bit cheesy (which of course it was) but we were pretty damn proud of our fort building skills and for me personally it was just such a lovely post to write and capture the memory of.

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5. Tell us, what’re the very best things about living in Cambridgeshire? Any top tips for visitors to the county? :)

Well apart from being a lot cheaper to live in than London and yet only 50 minutes away by train (!) my favourite thing about Cambridgeshire is that it’s so diverse.

I live in a small, peaceful village where I can go for a run in the morning and watch the sun rise over the fields, but cities like Peterborough and Cambridge are a short drive away.

In Summer head to Ferry Meadows for a stroll and a picnic by the lake. N and I love to go kayaking at their Watersports Centre. The annual Beer Festival on Peterborough Embankment is well worth a visit – it’s a huge event each year. It goes without saying that you must try punting in Cambridge at least once in your life!

6. Fashion is a topic that crops up a lot on Loved by Laura! What’s on your ‘to buy’ list, for the summer season ahead?

I adore the whole nautical look with navy and white breton stripes, straw hats and a splash of red. I’ve been eyeing this prom dress from Warehouse  which has my name all over it!

I’m also on the lookout for my next pair of comfortable summer wedges to get me through the season. They’re perfect for adding a bit of height and elongating your legs when you’re wearing pretty summer dresses or shorts without making your feet want to cry.

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7. If you could snap your fingers and suddenly become master of any particular skill or talent, what skill would you choose? (Mine would be gardening, for sure!)

I wish I was more of a hands on crafty/DIY type person. What I wouldn’t give to be able to alter my own clothes and knock up furniture for the house!

8. And finally, it’s our old favourite Desert Island Discs! If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring along for the ride? You can bring two albums/CDs, two books, two films, ingredients to make a meal, and one luxury item!

Album: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence and Kasabian – Kasabian. One makes me feel like a Hollywood Starlet and the other a happy festival goer.

Books: I’d choose any one from the Game of Thrones series (but preferably the last as yet unwritten one so that I can find out how it all ends!) and Shantaram which is probably the most beautiful epic tale I’ve ever read.

I’d take the ingredients for a nice white wine risotto. Not only do I love making it so it’d pass the time, but it’s such a nice comforting food to each too.

For my luxury item I’d take a fully equipped yacht.

…What do you mean that’s cheating?

Okay, I’d take my blender to whip up some delicious tropical smoothies!

** Thanks so much for such interesting answers, lovely Laura! Pop over to Loved by Laura and say hello, and don’t forget to follow along via Bloglovin‘, too! **

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27.05

Cider-with-Rosie-advertisers

It’s time again for me to share with you a round up of all the wonderful blogs that’ve been hanging out in my sidebar this month! It’s always fun to get to recommend new blogs, and especially fun to find a new favourite! So without further ado- let’s get to it. Make yourself a cuppa (iced coffee for me, please and thank you) and have a little read of the lovely blogs linked below!

Loved by Laura
It’s so lovely to had have Loved by Laura in the top spot here on CwR throughout May, after having got to know her blog over the past few months. It’s such a fab one! Laura’s blog is a lifestyle one, centring around personal style, food, travel, and so much more besides! This month, Laura’s shared her three favourite smoothie bowl recipes (how delicious does a strawberries and cream smoothie bowl sound?!), spent an evening sampling cocktails (I’m green with envy!), and shared with us a few of her current go-to spring outfits. All of Laura’s posts are so lovely to read, and I find myself drawn back to her blog time and again. I’m certain you’ll love it as much as I do!
Favourite post of the past month? 3 Easy Recipes for Healthy Smoothie Bowls.

The Dubai Diaries
Rachel’s blog is such a fascinating one, and I’m so glad I’ve had chance to get to know it over the past couple of months! The Dubai Diaries, as you might’ve guessed, is an internationally-based blog, and on it Rachel documents her life flying around the world as a flight attendant with Emirates Airlines! It’s so fun getting to follow along with Rachel’s travels, and to get an insight into her lifestyle. In May, Rachel’s shared posts from Portugal, Dubai, and the Philippines! All of Rachel’s travel photos are just gorgeous, and her posts make such inspirational reading. In fact, they always leave me desperate to book our next holiday!
Favourite post of the past month? Taal Volcano, Philippines.

Silverspoon London
From one jet-setting blog, to another! Silverspoon London focuses on all things travel (amongst other things), but from a luxury angle. On her blog, Angie shares regular posts from her travels to beautiful hotels in even more beautiful parts of the world, alongside reviews and recommendations for where to dine out both at home in London, and abroad. This month, Angie’s posts have come from Provence and Pisa, and she’s reviewed a selection of London’s finest restaurants. You must go and check out her thoughts on the ‘chef’s selection’ meal she enjoyed at Tokimeite- it looks like the most delicious Japanese feast imaginable! A blog to add to your reading list, right away…
Favourite post of the past month? A Taste of Tradition at Tokimeite.

Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes
And last but most certainly not least, we have the lovely Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes! Kelly is a New Zealander now based in Bedfordshire, and blogs about the things that fill her life with happiness on Around the World in 80 Pairs of Shoes. Things like exploring the countryside and villages around her home area, searching out the very best gluten free cakes, sweet treats, and afternoon teas on the market, and shoes, of course! Kelly’s on a mission right now to visit all 48 English counties (the most recently visit was to Shropshire!), and I think that’s such a fun way to explore the country! If effortlessly charming lifestyle blog are your cup of tea (a cup of tea with a side of gluten free cake, to boot) then this one’s for you!
Favourite post of the past month? Exploring Ironbridge, Shropshire.

Another blog to add to your reading list!
Slummy Single Mummy || Favourite post? An honest post about chocolate brownies and self control.

If you’d like to see your own blog featured here on Cider with Rosie, click through to the Sponsor page to snap up an advert! It’d be a pleasure to have you here :)

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24.05

Cider-with-Rosie-everyday-nude-makeup-tutorial-cover

P I N K ,   G R E Y ,   +   N U D E

I had a question pop up via my Instagram recently about how I do my makeup, and it got me thinking about the fact that I’ve never actually shared a tutorial for my everyday, so-routine-I-could-do-it-half-asleep, makeup look!

That’s probably, I guess, down to the fact that it’s taken me a little while (easily a good couple of years!) to work out exactly how I like my makeup to look on a day to day basis. I still do tend to fiddle around with it fairly regularly (some days I’ll swap in liquid liner instead of a shadow line, other days I I fancy a bold lip), but this is the base look I come back to time and again.

It’s a pretty muted, natural look, with softly defined eyes (using a charcoal grey shadow for liner, in place of pencil or liquid), a subtle contoured cheek, and peachy pink blush and lips.

Here’s the how-to! >>

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01. Apply your favourite base- right now I’m using Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, and a beauty blender-type sponge for a flawlessly light and natural finish. Add concealer beneath the eyes and to any blemishes.

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02. Sweep a light, creamy toned shadow over the whole of your eyelid, and up onto the brow bone.

03. Work a light grey shadow into the outer corner and crease of your eye socket, blending it in with the base colour.

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04. Using a fine brush, carefully line the top of your eye using a charcoal grey shadow, and then use the flat of the brush to smudge a little along your lower lash line too.

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05. Blend a rosy pink blusher into the apples of your cheeks- I love Benefit Bella Bamba for its gold highlighting qualities, but since it’s been discontinued, plan on buying Nars Orgasm soon as an alternative.

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06. Using a large fluffy brush, sweep bronzer down from your temples through to the contour of your cheeks. Blend well, so as not to create a strongly contoured look- I went a little darker than normal here for the sake of the photos, but usually like the bronzer to be super pared back and subtle!

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07. Use a peachy pink liner or matte lip crayon to line the lips, and then go over with your favourite nude-toned lipstick. This Max Factor has been my favourite since last summer- and it’s on its last legs, now!

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And that’s it, the finished look! If you recreate it (and I’d love to see photos, if you give it a go!) I hope you love it as much as I do.

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21.05

Kings-Road-Juice-Bar

I just read this list back after finishing writing all ten points, and realised that they’re all pretty much baby or food related. What can I say, I guess those two things are just the main sources of happiness in my life right now! This week I’ve probably been more hungry than I ever have been before in my life, so it does make sense. Breakfast is on my mind as a fall asleep at night, snacktime comes at any hour of the day (make that ‘many hours of the day’), and I’m so hungry by the time I’m cooking dinner each evening it’s all I can do not to dive into the fridge every five seconds for something to graze on until Jason gets home. Speaking of which, it’s time for me to head to the kitchen…

1. Going on a mini baby-shopping spree in London in the middle of the week! It’s all too easily to fill a basket until it’s overflowing with tiny sleep suits and mini leggings…

2. Discovering the magic of the Beauty Blender (one of those fancy foundation sponges). It gave me easily the most natural looking face of makeup I’ve ever done, I totally love it!

3. Dinner out at Byron with Jason on Thursday evening. We’re all about the milkshakes, fries, onion rings, and that epic Caesar salad Byron seem to do so well! (I’m SO hungry right now, and just typing this has made my belly ache…)

4. The sight of so many tomatoes growing fat and green on the plant in our garden…

5. A slice of chocolate and salted caramel cake from the bakery in our local Waitrose. It was GLORIOUS.

6. Girl chat over milkshakes with Tania and Freya on Wednesday. Always leaves me with an aching belly from so much laughter, and aching teeth from those ultra rich milkshakes…

7. The baby in my belly that always seems to wriggle extra hard when he or she can hear Jason talking. Makes my heart ache with love <3

8. Grapefruit! Pineapple! Mango! Basically all the fruit, because you know how obsessed I am right now. (Honestly, if we don’t have at least two grapefruits in the fruit bowl at any one time, I start panicking…)

9. The new pink cushion on our bed. It’s so pretty and girly in our all grey and white bedroom, it makes me happy every time I look at it!

10. Watching Elsie chase a butterfly whilst out on a walk last Sunday! She’s so cute, it’s kind of ridiculous.

What’s made you happy this week? :)

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