The Gardens at Chartwell

Well, you know us, we're suckers for a day out in a beautiful garden. Kent turns out to be nicknamed "the garden of England" and oh my, it just keeps surprising us with amazing place after amazing place.
This time we went to Chartwell to visit Churchill's home - except we didn't, we just stayed out in the gardens. The house will be for another time when it's not just us and the toddler. Anyway, the gardens were plenty enough for a first visit, as you can see from the pictures.
The place oozes tranquility and love of nature with several spots where you can just sit down and take in the beauty of the place, play in little wooden huts made of pallets, branches and twigs or just take a moment to stop and smell the peonies. How can anyone honestly resist?
The grounds are absolutely enormous and it's an ideal place to bring a picnic another time (note to self- make that patchwork picnic blanket already!). And man, I long for one of those really big trees with a sturdy swing like the ones we tried, it was just pure happiness. Can't wait to go back another time.

my little Dolce Vita box

May's installment of My Little Box arrived sooner than any other before, and what a great, GREAT box it is this month! The Italian Dolce Vita theme is just perfect to put you in the mood for a mini break, and it was filled with fantastic giveaways. I had the chance to spend a few romantic days in Rome about five years ago, and for me nothing says Italy like a good pizza or plate of pasta. I took some of my inspiration for this shoot from My Little World magazine, where my favourite pasta revealed that I was a "free spirit" with "wild, crazy ways". My husband completely lacked second-degree humour when I told him about my pasta psychology, but that's men for you, isn't it?
Anyway, let's have a look at May's offerings. 

First of all the beauty goodies are perfect for the season. I could not resist trying the perfume straight away, La fille de l'air by Courreges. It's summery, fresh and actually quite easy to get used to, even for someone like me who hates changes in any shape or form. Then we have a green tea and jasmine body oil by Baija (never heard of them before, I'll confess), which I also tried and it's lovely. Somehow its smell tranported me back to long-gone summer days of my teenagehood, not sure why or where, I can't pinpoint it. Finally, a genius idea from My Little Beauty, an "illuminating moisturiser for legs" to get them ready for summer. Such a nice idea!

Now onto the best. The first lifestyle goody was a turban - to be worn a few different ways according to how you feel I guess. Ideas kindly suggested at the back. Turbans aren't quite my thing, but I did get one from Liberty's at Christmas, and will give this one a good go too. In any case, it's a pretty thing in a pretty box, what's not to like? But the best, best thing was the ring. I've read a few comments on IG about people loving it, and it's true, you cannot not like it, it's gorgeous! Shaped in a golden leaf it's an adorable accessory for all seasons, but comes just the week the Cannes festival started - I wonder if the team that put the box together had that in mind? Anyway, I wore mine the very first day and got people in work asking me about it straight away. It's definitely a hit here!

Overall the packaging was fab again this month, right down to every little detail, I love how neat and cute everything looks. What a surprise to find the Cherry Blossom Girl on the front cover too, I've been one of her followers for years now, and it's nice to see her doing a different kind of modelling! So, on the whole it's been another fab box, super worth it.
Did you like yours?

my little flower book

Once again today, in the nick of time before the May box arrives, here is my monthly Little Box post. I absolutely adored it, right up my street, and so fitting with the season.
Our own garden is blooming at the moment, it's been such a transformation over the past couple of weeks, and we feel really blessed to finally be able to enjoy the sunshine without having to pack a bag and treck to the local park. Anyway, back to our flower book.

 So April was all about flowers. First of all the box wasn't really a box, but rather a "book" - snazzy for hiding tiny secrets in your bookshelf. The colour scheme was lovely, all in oranges and greens.
So, on to goodies.
Lifestyle goodies truly felt like a treat this time, with a mini appartment garden to grow on your windowsill (I've put mine in the bathroom). I thought this was such a lovely idea, and with no need for a big open space to use it, it's perfect for everyone. Next came another great treat from a collaboration with Balzac Paris, the superb lingerie bag. I'll be honest with you, I never had the need for one of those before but I can see myself using it on one of our upcoming trips very soon. Even more pleasing, its colous perfectly match a new pair of underwear I bought in France last month!

Beatuty goodies were a genuine surprise, as they are most months. If you know my instagram account, you will surely know I have a thing for peonies, my favourite flower. So finding a peony shower gel by L'Occitane was fab, I felt like it was made just for me!  Then we had a nail varnish, the first one ever since I started my subscription. I haven't tried it yet, but il looks like a good shade, I had a similar one from Mavala before. And finally, MyLittle Beauty's product is a Rosee du Matin. Again, this is perfectly in line with the monthly theme, right down to the packaging.
I am so, so happy with this month's, well it's last month's in reality, Little Box, I can't wait for the new one to arrive.  And I will try to post about it sooner than 4 weeks late! In the meantime, enjoy your flowers wherever you are.