Catch ups with friends are so important aren’t they? There are so many things I love about friendships. I wanted to go somewhere nice for brunch with the bestie in London town so we could have a really nice catch up. Ali and me get to see each other every couple of months. We consider ourselves to be old-fashioned friends as we still love our phone-calls. We speak every week, so time in-between meet ups doesn’t feel that long. Meeting in central London works for us as we both live at the opposite ends of London suburbs. Our little daughters were busy enjoying daddy-time last Saturday so we headed to Jackson & Rye in Soho for a well-overdue brunch. Here’s seven things we loved about our morning at Jackson & Rye… Continue reading
Category: Out & About
Daddy Cool series – Interview with DJ Rod ‘Spin Doctor’ Gilmore
Anyone fancy a cup of hip hop? I’m sure there are lots of us who have a favourite hip hop tune, whether it’s a well known track from the charts or something from the 80s or 90s. You may have heard one of my favourite hip hop party tracks on my Celebrating #BML16 playlist. I’m definitely more of a 90s hip hop mummy. Big Munch makes me proud when she rocks her high tops. Me and Mr H came across the happy hip hop nights Doctor’s Orders years ago. We even made it to one on the weekend of our wedding. Doctor’s Orders was set up by Rod ‘Spin Doctor’ Gilmore. Here’s what he had to say about London, love and being a daddy to Lucky Things blog… Continue reading
Lucky Things Out and About: Off to the Museum of Childhood…
Museum of Childhood – fun for grown-ups too!
Well Big Munch is now 3 so for I promised to have a mummy day with her to celebrate her birthday the other month. It was an exciting day out as she got to take mummy’s choo-choo train into work so she could first check out my desk and say a little hello to my workmates. We then headed to the beautiful Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green for the rest of the day. I’d been meaning to take her for ages and secretly knew I’d really love it too. It’s just one tube stop from Liverpool Street station but we jumped on the bus so we could tick another mode of transport off our list. Continue reading
Lucky Things London: The Haberdashery, Crouch End
Hello, how are you doing? What a great sunny day to catch up with an old friend over brunch. We managed to enjoy our meet up before the monsoon appeared! This morning we were on the lookout for somewhere to eat (carbs, protein and avocado please) and somewhere we could enjoy the summery breeze. Being inside wasn’t going to cut it. After thinking of two places we then headed to my friend’s first recommendation The Haberdashery. This cool cafe is based on Middle Lane in Crouch End. There are so many places to eat Crouch End way but this place is now appearing in my top five. Continue reading
Lucky Things will be at BritMums Live 2016 (me-treat time)
Hello Lucky Things crew. So I’m getting ready to head off to BritMums Live 2016 at the end of June. You may be wondering what is this and where am I going? Well, it’s one of the UK’s biggest conferences for the blogging community. There will be about 500 bloggers mingling and chatting away with lots of cool workshops to check out during the day. It also rounds off with the Brilliance in Blogging Awards ceremony (one day….).
It’s also a real me-treat for me as I get to spend a whole day meeting fun people and learning more about how I can make Lucky Things great for my followers. Love the fact I’m getting to invest in myself a bit, my blog skills and Lucky Things. Plus, it’s at one of my favourite venues The Brewery in London. I helped out with a leadership course at The Brewery when I was bumped up with Toddler Munch so although I won’t know anyone (yet) it’s cool I’ll be heading back to a familiar place.
BritMums wanted to give us bloggers the chance to introduce ourselves online before the event where we have to answer 7 questions. Funny as usually I’m asking others 7 questions to answer for Lucky Things posts. So here’s my intro for the I’m going to #BML16 linky (it’s like a collection of different blog posts all in one place). Continue reading
Lucky Things Art: Let Our Children Play – The story of artist Anna Laurini for Lucky Things blog
Hello Lucky Things. Well, one of the best things about having a blog is getting to approach talented people and asking them about what inspires them. So on my blog wish list for 2016, I wanted to feature the artist Anna Laurini. You may have spotted her work on Lucky Things via Instagram. We were supposed to grab a coffee back in December but Anna was getting busy with end of year commissions from clients. What a great way for Anna to end 2015.
Fun at the Flower Cafe by artist Takashi Murakami, Tokyo
2015 ended with an amazing time seeing family in Melbourne and 2016 kicked off with a very content welcome to the beautiful city of Tokyo. We know we’re lucky things being able to travel across the world and especially with the little ones. More blog posts to follow on how to make long haul work for you and the little ones plus blog features on exploring Melbourne, Singapore and Tokyo.
The other day we explored a city within a city with the little ones, heading to Ropponghi Hills in Tokyo.After 17 years of design, construction extraordinaire Minoru Miro opened this urban abyss in 2003. Miro Tower’s 54 floors reach up into the sky overlooking the stores and eateries below.
Staying on ground level to start off with we popped along to Hills Cafe Space, which is currently decorated by Takashi Murakami and just about covered floor to ceiling with his happy flowers.
He has even helped to design the menu and the cafe’s flowery interior is around until 31 January 2016. 
Murakami’s cartoon characters also hang from the ceiling. Each play an important part in their team as they complete their mission. Their cute biographies are dotted around the cafe so you can learn about their different personalities. I loved the sound of Myan Myan. She’s into yoga and apologises if she seems distracted at times, she’s just meditating! Baby Munch loved watching these characters twirl around and around on the ceiling.Toddler Munch couldn’t believe her eyes when she woke up from her buggy nap to a chilled bunny floating in the air.
The menu was great. Good portions for a fun cafe. Super kiddy friendly and also catered for colleagues catch ups. Whilst I went for some fried chicken (could have been viewed as either fancier KFC or just Japanese katsu style) Mr H went for the tuna salad and melba toast.
All in all a happy pit stop before we headed to the Mori Museum to browse Takashi Murakami’s incredible exhibition The 500 Arhats. His mate Pharrell flew over to Tokyo to check it out before the official opening.We don’t blame you for doing that Pharrell as we all loved gazing at his incredible muriels. Beautiful colours and details were super cool. Surely this Murakami must be inspiring some of the world’s street artists.
Watch out for the next blog post on his amazing collection of shiny work and intricate lengthy muriels. Happy like the flowers to have discovered Murakami’s work…enjoy lucky things during your January.
#takashimurakami #ropponghihillstokyo #flowerpower #luckythinguk #hillscafespacetokyo
Love foodie treats? Check out the Christmas Pop-Up store by Kitchen Table Projects
Great Portland Street happens to be one of my special streets especially when I’m out and about with Lil’ M in the buggy. I love it as it’s a quieter London street and there are some lovely cafes and stores appearing. The street also happens to be the new home of our innovative IVF clinic CRGH. It was nice strolling down Great Portland Street the other week and coming across the new Christmas Pop-Up Store, beautifully presented and full of Christmas and everyday foodie treats. It’s also somewhere nice to hang out as they serve hot drinks. I popped my head in and met Andrea Farias, the marketing manager for the store set up by Kitchen Table Projects.
How did the idea of the Christmas Pop Up shop come about? What’s Kitchen Table Projects all about?
Kitchen Table Projects connects food artisans who are just getting started in the industry with people who want to find new and interesting food. During the summertime, we ran a 3 month programme for startup food brands called the Artisan Springboard where we helped 11 food producers get started in the industry. As part of that programme, we had a pop-up shop in Old Street Station.
Christmas is the most important season of the year for food, so for this pop-up we wanted to bring all of these amazing independent brands to the shopping capital of London, the West End. We want to encourage people to try something new and different this Christmas and support artisans with unique products.
What do you love about running the Christmas Pop Up shop on Great Portland Street? Why should people pop by the shop?
All of our products are made with love by people who really care about making great food and putting a smile on your face. Every product has an interesting story behind it. I love sharing these unique products and stories with our customers. In the run up to Christmas, we are hosting 3 weekends of Meet the Makers events to give these producers a chance to sample their products in store and tell people about what makes them really special. This is the perfect time to do your foodie Christmas shopping and try before you buy! You can find more information about the events here.
What are the top treats for children and grown-ups/parents that can be found in the Christmas Pop-Up shop?
For children:
– Mighty Fine Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Bars
– Strawberry & Mint Cordial by Edward’s Cordial
– Moose Maple Butter
For adults
– Beetroot & Ginger Muesli by Primrose’s Kitchen
– Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
– Wicked & Wonderful Champagne Truffles
How else can people buy the products if they’re not able to come down to Great Portland Street?
Our Great Portland St shop is just a pop-up- we’re only here until Christmas! We’re currently looking for a permanent home so keep an eye out for our new shop opening early next year.
What’s your advice for other peeps who want to set up their own business? Any challenges you managed to juggle ok?
You don’t have to do it alone. There are so many support networks for entrepreneurs, you need to get out there, meet people and make new connections. Always get advice from people who have done it before.
What’s your top tip for juggling work/a business and a busy life?
Never work at home! If you need to work outside of office hours go to a cafe or library. Home should be a work free zone.
What’s your one top tip for organising a special Christmas celebration?
Plan and send invitations as soon as possible. People are always really busy around that time so make sure they save the date in their calendars early. Pre-order any special food or items you might need to make sure you have them on the day and there are no surprises.
What is your favourite Christmas memory growing up?
My uncle dressed as Santa Claus!
What’s your favourite motto that keeps you going when things are a bit rough and tough?
Failure doesn’t exist- it’s just a learning experience!
What are your 3 lucky things?
Going for long walks around London, lemon curd yoghurt (it’s so indulgent and I love it!) and seeing friends who are far away.
Browse more treats and events at http://kitchentableprojects.com
#kitchtablepro #glpLondon
Photos by Jason Spoor from White Fox Studios, published with permission from Kitchen Table Projects.
Brunch love at Foxcroft &Ginger, Berwick Street,London
Introducing the Cruffin….half croissant half muffin.Genius.Brunch wouldn’t be the same without a sweet treat right? We headed to Soho’s Foxcroft & Ginger on Berwick Street the other week. I first spotted this place behind the Berwick Street market stalls. Foxcroft & Ginger is pretty unique as it has its own on-site bakery. When you pop downstairs you’ll see the bakery in full effect. The Berwick Street bakery stocks the pastries and cakes for other branches around London (there’s also one in Whitechapel and Dalston). If you get there after 12pm the lunch menu is pretty good too.
www.foxcroftandginger.co.uk
Cruffin city. Chocolate custard, salted caramel or vanilla custard? 
Tea leaves by Chash (coffee beans by The Roasting Company) 
Pretty poached eggs with lavender infused pancetta.
No reservations but definitely worth popping in for a table. Enjoy the brunch love.
#foxanginger #berwickstreet
Liberty window dreaming…
Every Christmas me and one of my best friends meet up for our annual tradition in town. Checking out the Liberty store and it’s Christmas flair followed by some good food. So much to look at, so many cute details. These window dressers are super talented, check out their work full of lucky things…
Bath tub of treats… 
Gifts for the kiddies and grown-ups! 
Toddler and little people essentials – knitted giraffe with his leopard print rucksack.
The red window. Phone home… 
The silver window with metallic Adidas and token monochrome badger!
Bold lighting making each window look super cosy.
Poodle and rabbit keeping an eye on homeware window. 
Pink tea time…
More from the pink window…
Love this hat for a little person.
Enjoy spotting lucky things…Liberty department store, Regent Street. Entrance is on Great Marlborough Street. Nearest tube Oxford Circus.
#libertystore #libertylondon
We then popped along to Foxcroft & Ginger on Berwick Street for brunch.