The Shore Currently: Oh, August!

August felt like another long month but in contrast to July, it was a very good month.

GO

August got me wanderlusting in France and Netherlands. A much deserved break with blue skies, beaches, boats… and rosé!

Matchy matchy with the matelyas at Kon Tiki in Saint-Tropez

Cannes can do!

Checking out small towns in Provence

Lake life in Gorges du Verdon

Dutch architecture in Amsterdam

Can’t wait to plan some trips for Autumn!

EAT

I’ve eaten rather well at the start of this month and my belly can’t be happier! Lots of fresh seafood, healthy dishes and good Summer-body ready stuff.

Highlights include:

This amazing steamed seabass from Royal China in Fulham

This lovely watermelon and feta salad from Casita Andina…

Awesome beach-side seafood from Saint-Tropez…

Two-star Michelin desserts from La Palme d’Or in Cannes…

And good ol’ sushi from DSTRKT.

And then somewhere after France, my cravings started gearing towards food that your doctor would warn your cholesterol about…

I tried to stick healthy. So when I had brunch with Emma and Angie at Ham Yard Hotel I had avo on rye… but I just couldn’t help but have sausages on the side!

And then some to die for Asian at C&R and Golden Dragon (which I think serves some of the nicest lauriat food in Chinatown).

And then my friend R, mummy to my godson E, cooked this awesome Filo barbecue with grilled milkfish, pork belly, prawns, chicken adobo, ensalata, skinless longganisa, green mangoes and shrimp paste… OH MY GOSH… GOODBYE DIET!

I’m not even gonna tell you about Amsterdam, where I had the best burger and hotdog meals I’ve had in years. (Oh, but maybe later…)

DRINK

I’ve started coffee mornings en route to work with my colleague Z at our local Starbucks. Despite us getting the same drinks everyday and telling them our proper names, they never get it right.

My Cote D’Azure trip got me drinking really yummy local rosé wine ala piscine, but I’ve started appreciating margaritas again after a few at the Ritz in Cannes.

August marked an end of an era, because my favourite bar in town, LAB, has finally closed. This photo was taken during closing night, where old bartenders, DJs, regulars - who’ve become friends through the years - all went for a good run of cocktails. And of course, porn star martinis.

LOVE

My friends have kept me super sane this month. From lovely overseas trips to spontaneous karaoke school nights, to catch up brunches to barbecues filled with these lovely people… my heart is defo full!

Also… how cute are these kids? My godson E is growing up to quickly and K’s little baby girl is such a sweety too! There’s a love story in the making here, folks.

BEAUTY

Gotta love some French pharmacie goodies! I’ve started using Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse multi-purpose dry oil at night and in the past three weeks I’ve seen an improvement to my skin’s suppleness. I’ve also started using their DD Creme, which is such an amazing product. I’m not too keen on foundation, so I like how this tinted moisturiser gives me enough coverage to look naturally… glowy. La Roche Posay’s Hydraphase Intense Serum has also doing wonders to my skin, particularly after hours under the sun.

WATCH

I’ve not actually seen any interesting films nor TV shows in August (SHOCK!) but then in my head I thought… wow… I must’ve been that hyperactive.

But… I felt like a culture vulture this month as we visited a few museums, particularly in Netherlands. Rembrandt’s The Night Watch is something I’ve always wanted to see again so it was good to view it at the Rijksmuseum. I also enjoyed an audio guided tour at Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam.

LISTEN

I'll make a living, trying to get away 
10, 000 fathoms, under a tidal wave 
It can never pull me away 
Underwater time is standing still 
You're the treasure, dive down deeper

CLICK

Maggie’s Top 10 Miami Restaurant recommendations.
Tamsin’s Lecce trip
Jaime’s gentle reminder for errbody to be kind to themselves.
Angie’s post on her travel style.
Katy’s very honest post on her blog awards nominations.
Miho’s Amalfi Coast picture-perfect blog post.

My August was sun-soaked, snap-happy, and sausage legs-happy. I hope you all had an amazing month. Bring on Autumn!

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