Link Love #9

Apparently, the world wastes 18,000 tonnes of pumpkins every year after Halloween, so I'm feeling pretty chuffed that I managed to use mine (sans strange carved face of an emoji) as a prop in quite a few blog photos. Waste not, want not, as they say!

1. So there's a town in the Netherlands with no roads and it sounds totally balling {via Sunday Chapter}


2. The world's most beautiful books to showcase on your bookshelf. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but unf {via Apartment Therapy}


3. Ten villages to visit in Portgual {via Hand Luggage Only}


4. This recipe for peanut butter, banana and honey granola is speaking to me on a spiritual level {via Two Peas and Their Pod}


5. How to use coffee grounds around the house - kinda wanna put them in my hair now... {via Pure Wow}


6. In honour of Prince Harry's thirtieth birthday, here's thirty reasons why he's the best royal {via Town and Country}


7. A quick fix for removing dark stubborn nail polish stains - I definitely need to remember this {via Pure Wow}


8. How to function at work when you've got almost no sleep {via Inc}


9. Seventeen men reveal what makes them cry. This is actually kind of moving {via Cosmopolitan}


10. Thirty times Harry Potter actually accurately described adolescence. In between all the wizarding badassery, obvs {via Refinery29}

Keep it real, homies.

~ Eleanor xo

The Strangest Things About Staying in a Hotel

So I stayed in a hotel a few weekends ago (how quickly time doth fly), and as this is something I don't often do, I'm always surprised by how strange the concept really is. I mean, in what universe is it the done thing to fall asleep with a breakfast menu right next to your head? And why does the window only open to about a centimetre wide when there's clearly more chance of me suffocating to death through lack of fresh air than there is of me trying to jump out of it? But let us observe...

1. Someone makes your bed for you
Obviously, we all semi make our beds before the maids arrive because we cannot bare the thought of them thinking we're complete slobs.

2. Sometimes you get free toiletries
One hotel I stayed at had The White Company toiletries in the bathroom. Obviously, I stashed them ALL.

3. Having a key card to open your door
I never allow myself to be chief key-card guardian as I'm petrified I'll lose it. Oh real keys, where for art thou?

4. Feeling like the security surrounding keeping the tiny kettle attached to your room is greater than any kind of security the hotel has for its guests

5. Having a kettle in your room, full stop
People would think you a bit odd if you kept a kettle in your room at home (and frankly, rather lazy), but in a hotel? Why, it's expected! It wouldn't shock me if people demanded refunds on rooms that came sans-kettle.

6. Everything is labelled
The windows, the doors, the pillows, the soap, the TV, everything! It's like the owners think you're an alien from another planet who doesn't quite know what a pillow does.

7. Sometimes you get toilet roll with a pointed tip
Hats off to the people trying to make me feel hella fancy when I'm doing my business.

8. Being offered a 'turn down'
TURN DOWN FOR WHAT *do do do dooo*. There's nothing odder than a man turning up at your door asking what time you'd like to be turned down. When this happened to me, I didn't actually know what it was so I just said "umm, about seven-thirty?".

9. Getting bathroom envy
It doesn't matter where you go, you will always wish the bathroom you find was your own. Unless of course, it's gross.

10. There are never ever any plug sockets
Why are there only ever two plug sockets in your hotel room when you have seventy-five gadgets to charge? And why are they always in the most unhelpful of places? It's like they want to force you to talk to the person you're with, or alternatively, remind you how alone you are.

And don't even get me started on the incredibly awkward foxtrot that is, room service. Yikes.
~ Eleanor xo

October Favourites

I cannot tell you how difficult it was not to fill this post with foliage related favourites. BECAUSE THE LEAVES. THE LEAVES FALLING LIKE FEATHERS FROM THE TREES, LANDING SOFTLY NEXT TO THE CONKERS AND TURNING THE GREY PAVEMENT INTO A SEA OF GOLD, RED AND ORANGE. #MAGICAL. I genuinely don't understand how anyone can dislike this time of year. {Ed's note: Correction, when I find a mountain of leaves in my car foot-well, then I start to dislike this time of year...}

But let's get down to biz; besides fiery red leaves, I've been loving:

1. Montezuma's Dark Chocolate GIANT Buttons
   I was sceptical when I first opened the packet, as I usually am with chocolate I've not tried before, because I'm like, totally normal... *ehem*. But holy mother of all that is green and edible, these buttons are a SENSATION (picture me yelling that while setting off a confetti canon and doing jazz hands while a banner reading "WINNER" unravels down from the ceiling). Obviously, sorta pricey (£2.99 for 180g) but because they're made from fair trade dark chocolate, you cannot scoff them in one go in fear of poisoning yourself, so they last ages! Genius!


2. Pull and Bear knee high boots
   It's boot weather, y'all! (In case that wasn't already obvious). On a cold, rainy day, you can't beat slipping your feet into a pair of knee high boots, full well knowing that your socks have pandas printed on them and you've got a meeting to attend with someone important. No one need ever know, except you. It's thrilling! (And they're comfy and keep the rain out, but that's irrelevant).


3. Apple and Elderflower candle from The Eval Candle Company
   Controversial, I know. Who do I think I am burning a floral Spring-like scented candle in the depths of dreary afternoons and foggy mornings?! Maybe this is my midlife crisis. Not the point. I just really love how light and uplifting this candle smells; it's the perfect morning scent and it's strong enough to fill my room (but doesn't make me want to choke to death). I am also a longtime enthusiast of candles housed in tins - I just love them.


4. The Muppets TV Show
   For some ridiculous reason, the new Muppets show has been crucified by critics and I have never disagreed with something so strongly. Well, almost never. This show has me in stitches every single week - whether it's now the highlight of my Wednesday, I couldn't possibly say. (It totally is). I love that ABC have given the Muppets a chance to revive themselves and kick it up a notch to harmless adult entertainment - it's worked really well and it's seriously funny. 


5. Laura Ashley Fresh Linen and Jasmine body wash
   I know, it sounds like a totally strange mix of ingredients (I kind of think maybe this was created by a happy accident - like when Jackson and Oliver created Cheese Jerky in that Hannah Montana episode). Either way, this smells so unbelievably clean that I might as well have bundled myself into the washing machine and set myself to a thirty-degree spin cycle (because I care about the environment - wash at 30, kids!). 

Get those Catherine Wheels at the ready, amigos! It's time for remember remember the fifth of November!

~ Eleanor xo