And just like that there's another new month and update - I feel as though this year is really flying by and I'm not at all ready. August has been a really lovely month, we've had a lot of fun and our little girl turned one too. It feels as though I've blinked and her first year with us has flown by but oh what a wonderful year it has been.
Other than getting the birthday party ready we've enjoyed the sun, eaten out, celebrated other birthdays and started to get the four-year-old ready for school - he starts in just a few days.
I've somehow managed to pull together five happy things, I had so many to choose from as it has been such a great month but I whittled it down. Let's have a nose...
She's one!
We celebrated the youngest turning one at the end of August with a garden party with friends and family followed by a little family thing on her actual day. Beautiful weather meant we could go ahead with organising something in the garden so we had a child's soft play set up along with plenty of food and delicious cake.
But oh boy are birthday parties exhausting - and this is just the beginning for us ha! It was such a wonderful day, she had a really lovely time and received some lovely presents. I still can't believe she's one though.
Family BBQ Fun
August also saw us have a big family bbq, something we haven't done in the longest time. The weather was hot, hot, hot but my cousin had set up wonderful shade areas and pulled out alllll the toys for the children. It was such a wonderful afternoon, I'm not sure the four-year-old wanted to leave the play area!
Matilda's Afternoon Tea
I spent a dreamy Sunday in the next forest with a friend at New Park Manor one weekend. We spent the morning in the spa, the swimming pool was a dream in the 30-degree heat! Following our spa morning, we enjoyed the hotel's latest afternoon tea offering which was Matilda themed. Based on Roald Dahl's much-loved book there was a delicious banana loaf, newt juice and of course a huge slab of chocolate cake. It was a really wonderful way to spend a Sunday.
An Evening of French Wine
I've reviewed Porter's Charcuterie here before, it is one of my favourite places to eat in Southampton so I couldn't wait to spend a wine-tasting evening with them. The theme for August was French wine and each course was paired with a complimenting dish such as camembert, escargot and of course a charcuterie board. For wine, we enjoyed Chablis, Rock Angel Rose, Domaine du Gour and a Sauternes dessert wine - a thoroughly enjoyable experience and one I'd love to do again.
Sail away with me
Okay so I didn't get to sail away but I did get to spend a super fun day with Princess Cruises. They have just launched an exclusive theatre production on to two of their ships called Spotlight Bar - a fun, modern production that is going to be a hit with all, it's such a cool new angle for Princess and I can't wait to hear what people think when they get a chance to see it. After the show, we were able to explore the ship and grab a bit to eat and we had the perfect weather for it - I can't wait to take the children away on a cruise one day soon.
How was your month? I'd love to know what you were up to in August!
