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Lily Vanilli Bakery miso butterscotch toasted peanut and chocolate tarts

Lily Vanilli, a dreamy bakery in London

Around London, Food and Drink Gratsiela

Tucked away in a little brick courtyard on Ezra Street, just off the hustle and bustle of Columbia Road, lies Lily Vanilli, one of the daintiest little bakery gems in town. This captivating little spot could easily go unnoticed if it wasn’t for the hundreds of recommendation lists it keeps on popping up on. This, of course, was more than enough to make me stop by after a busy Sunday morning battling the crowds on Columbia Road Flower Market in search of the perfect pot plant and seasonal blooms. Any excuse for a slice of cake and a cuppa…

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Cherry blossom at Broadway Market, London

A guide to Broadway Market in Hackney, London

Around London, Food and Drink Gratsiela

There are so many hidden treasures in London that I love, all of which cater to a variety of budgets, especially when the food and drink department is involved. Whether you’re after the ultimate afternoon tea room (the oh-so amazing Sketch or even classier Fortnum & Mason) or suddenly decide that you fancy waffles on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower (did anyone say Duck&Waffle?), I can guarantee you will find something in London.

Being the food market lover that I am, I tend to be drawn to foodie hideaways and pop-ups that scream local and deliciousness all over (my guide to best food markets in New York says it all). The beautiful Camden Market, Borough Market and Brick Lane Market, although a favourite pit stop to many, are some of the most publicised markets in every London guide there is which, in return, has made them incredibly touristy and busy. A much less crowded but still trendy and buzzing hot spot is Hackney’s Broadway Market. Let’s get straight to the facts – this charming and vibrant market is a tricky one to resist if you’re after some locally sourced goods, delicious food, sustainable/vintage clothing and artsy books and homeware.

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Patty and Bun Smokey Robinson burger

Patty and Bun, out of this world burgers in London | REVIEW

Around London, Food and Drink Gratsiela

Sam and I have been on a mission to find the best burgers in London. Although we’re yet to sample all of the big smoke’s grilled delicacies (no pun intended), it’s safe to say we’ve been to a fair few places that have significantly won a place in our hearts. Truth is, I’m not a big fan of fast food chains and try to go for more quality, free-range, locally sourced and sustainable options.

Patty and Bun wasn’t somewhere we were new to, but who wants to resist yet another visit to a mouth-watering menu boosting some serious burger choices? Not me, that’s for sure! Hear me out – their organic gourmet patties are quite something.

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Terracotta Warriors - Terracotta Army, Liverpool

Visiting the Terracotta Army exhibition in Liverpool | REVIEW

Travel, UK Destinations Gratsiela

More than half a century since its accidental discovery, the Terracotta Army is still one of the most important archaeological findings in history. And I am not surprised at all. Who would’ve thought that there was a hidden 76m tall underground tomb in a remote area of China? Sounds bonkers, right? Unsurprisingly, visiting the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor has always been on my travel bucket list. I often find myself astonished at this wonder. How is it possible to build an underground city filled with thousands of warriors to serve and protect the self-proclaimed First Emperor of China in his afterlife? The perseverance of humankind never ceases to amaze me.

Naturally, when I learnt that the World Museum in Liverpool was temporarily exhibiting part of of the collection of this archaeological complex, I immediately had to add it to my Liverpool itinerary.

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Sunshine Blogger Award

Sunshine Blogger Award

Life, Lifestyle Gratsiela

I recently got some wonderful news while wandering around the medieval streets of beautiful Prague. I’d been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award not once, not twice but actually THREE times! Woah! I was so thrilled to find that the lovely Emma (Forever Lost in Travel), Dani (Life in Traveling Chucks) and Aimsy (Aimsy’s Antics) had all nominated me. Thank you so much girls, I feel beyond happy and lucky to receive such support from the blogging community and have my baby blog recognised!

For those not familiar with it, the Sunshine Blogger Award recognises the creativity, joy and positivity of inspirational bloggers. You can imagine how good it feels to know your hard work has paid off!

The Sunshine Blogger Award rules

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog
  • Answer 11 questions the blogger has asked you
  • Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and ask them 11 new questions
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post

As I’ve been asked 33 questions, and some of them were pretty similar, I’ve selected 11 in order to avoid repetition, shorten this post and make it much more enjoyable for you.

Ok let’s do this!

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Sky Pod, Sky Garden

Sky Garden, the best free views of London

Around London, Food and Drink, London, Travel Gratsiela

London’s architectural diversity has always fascinated me. The more I walk these old streets and get to know the city, the more I realise how differently shaped the British capital is. Throughout history, London has faced the need to rebuild from scratch after several catastrophic destructions and the transformation brought by the economic and social evolution. The Great Fire of 1666, historical wars and the Industrial Revolution, to name a few, have defined London’s skyline. As a result, a mix of architectural styles have become inextricably intertwined. You can see buildings ranging from historical architectural styles (Victorian, Baroque, Edwardian) to innovative modern buildings (Brutalist, Skyscrapers). All in the same place!

Now, what if I told you, you can admire London’s most iconic buildings, parks and the River Thames from above? And even better, that you can do so for FREE? Our latest adventure took us to the top of 20 Fenchurch St. where the magnificent Sky Garden rewarded us with the most incredible views over the city.

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Banana and oat pancakes

How to Make: Healthy Banana and Oat Pancake Recipe

Food and Drink, In the Kitchen Gratsiela

Pancakes are absolutely delicious. But let’s face it, they aren’t exactly the ideal breakfast choice for a nutritious diet. For those of us with a sweet tooth but a healthy mind, trying to incorporate sugary satisfying yet wholesome foods into our meals can be quite tricky. Pancake recipes in particular tend to be heavy and full of unhealthy fats from full-fat dairy and sugars. Inevitably after consuming such an indulgent meal, our bodies respond with a chaotic drop in our blood sugar, thus leaving us sluggish, sleepy and tired. Not the best way to treat our bodies, right?

After a lot of research and trials, we are currently loving this low-calorie banana and oat pancake recipe. It is flourless and dairy-free, containing only natural fruit sugars and a small touch of either maple syrup or honey. It is also such an easy pancake recipe that you will find yourself cooking it over and over again!
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