Instagram post 2191330333998626248_3273331858 Gifted| Do you have a morning ritual?
When it comes to getting out of bed and helping me look like I’m one of the living, there are certain things I always rely on.
First is my @lumie.lights alarm clock. They’re not cheap but this has been a life saver for me. Granted, I’m not jumping out of bed, so excites to get to work but the gradual build in gentle light helps my body feel less attacked by that awful iPhone alarm and I’m often awake before it reaches full intensity!
The second is a cup of tea. I very rarely skip my morning cuppa. I wake up, make it and pop back into bed for 20 minutes just adjusted and preparing myself mentally for the day ahead. Plus look at memes of course.
The last thing is a good under eye brightener. I’ve been really loving the Flawless Eye Retouch from @transformulas to help me look fresh in the morning. Not too thick or matte, simply paint under the eye and blend. The light reflective particles instantly smooth and conceal to make my eyes look brighter but in a really natural way. I’m not about that heavy cakey makeup look and this is just amazing.
What’s your morning routine?
Instagram post 2189180982895414005_3273331858 Hello 1st of December, I’m ready for you!
Today is tree day. We’re having a big cooked breakfast, opening our advent calendars and decorating our new house for our first Christmas which I’m very excited about. Then to finish, a big roast dinner. The perfect Sunday!!
Also big big shout out to @lifeofpingkan and @hyphyhip. I just love doing photoshoots with these two. I only have to mention an idea I have and they help me execute it and photograph it better than I even imagined it! 💋
Instagram post 2187707010173471285_3273331858 TGIF! So excited for this weekend because it’s the 1st of December and you know what that means?!? Christmas Tree!!!! Have you put yours up yet or are you go for this Sunday too? 
Tonight I’m having a chilled one. Anyone else wake up and already look forward to getting home and doing nothing? It’s my absolute fave. Top choices are reading a book or I’m already on the fifth season of Bones and loving it!
Instagram post 2185528045044400754_3273331858 Bold Lips! 💋
I am a peachy nude girl through and through but there’s something about this @fentybeauty lipstick in Clapback that makes me feel kickass! It’s a rich navy blue and it’s the only non-conventional lip colour I’ve ever bought. Something about the shade and finish called to me the second I saw it! Never mind the Fenty Mattemoiselle lipsticks feel great on. Not a touch of dryness and the colour is beyond pigmented. 
Haven’t quite been daring enough to wear it outside yet though even though I’ve had it for a year though... whoops.
What’s the boldest lip colour you’ll wear?!
Instagram post 2167408175811453203_3273331858 Gifted| It’s the 1st of November and to me that means it’s the start of the festive season. Ok I’m not talking get the tree up and lights everywhere but little bits of fun and magic every day are a must for me this month. I’m talking mince pies, lots of chocolate, Greggs festive bakes 😋 and @pret Christmas sandwiches (I’m sooooo ready). Plus it’s time to get out the winter cosy pyjamas and relax in festive bubble baths. Which brings me on to one of my favourite bath products, the @lush Snow Fairy Bubble Wand! For starters it’s pink so it’s a win and I love how easy it is to swish round in the water creating swirls of sparkly pink bubbles, all with that classic Snow Fairy scent.
Instagram post 2166668354130372191_3273331858 Happy Halloween!!! 🎃🕸🍬👻🤡
What are your plans for this evening? Party? Trick or Treating? Or hiding away?! I’ve got my pumpkin carved (on the instastory) and my buckets of sweets ready! This year I’ve got skittles and of course the classic haribo packs. I wanted mini smarties but couldn’t find them anywhere! I’m not a big fan of sugary sweets like Swizzels so always get something I would actually eat. After all, a fair few packets will need to be tested by me for research purposes! 
What’s your favourite Halloween sweet treat? Any you really hate? Parma Violets = blerghhhh 🎃🕸🍬👻🤡
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city break guide to Berlin, Eastside Gallery, Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany
October 29, 2018 Secret Rendezvous

City Guide – Berlin

Eastside Gallery, Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany. Wearing black and white striped top from Jaeger and yellow and black striped trousers from Topshop

Where to Stay?

When it comes to staying in Berlin, it can be hard to know which area to choose, if you’re not familiar with the city. Mitte, meaning literally middle is the centre of Berlin and where you’ll find most of Berlin’s famous tourist attractions. There are many hotels and places to stay here if you want to be close but just a short train west past the Tiergarten and you’ll end up in Breitscheidplatz, a major public square. Together with the Kurfurstendamn Boulevard, it actually marks the centre of former West Berlin and the present day modern city west.

I stayed in this part of the city on a previous trip to Berlin and was very happy to go back again. Those of you who like the hustle and bustle of a lively city but with a more relaxed, contemporary vibe, this is the place for you. Home to Germany’s first concept mall, Bikini Berlin, there’s loads of boutiques, flagship stores and restaurants.

This visit I stayed at the Steigenberger Hotel, just round the corner from Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church located in Breitscheidplatz. Super comfortable beds, great amenities and surprisingly quiet considering the central location, I had a fantastic stay. If you were worried about being far from your tourist hot spots, there’s no reason to be as you’re just a couple minutes walk from Zoologischer Garten station. When in Berlin, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn are the only way to travel. Trains to all the places you could want to visit, every few minutes, you can cross the whole city in no time at all. Plus for the duration of your stay, the Steigenberger Hotel provide a travel card free of charge, which is valid on all public transport.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany
Berliner Dom, Berlin Cathedral, Berlin, Germany
  • In Charlottenburg Palace gardens in mustard Marks & Spencer top and Nasty Gal polka dot satin trousers, Berlin, Germany.
  • Belvedere tea house in Charlottenburg Palace gardens, Berlin, Germany
  • In Charlottenburg Palace gardens in mustard Marks & Spencer top and Nasty Gal polka dot satin trousers, Berlin, Germany.
memorial to the murdered jews of Europe, Berlin, Germany

What to do?

Staying in the west of Berlin places you in the perfect position to easily visit several must-see destinations. The beautiful Charlottenburg palace with it’s grand baroque and rococo design is the perfect way to spend a morning. The palace gardens are just as spectacular, where you can stroll through the woodlands and visit the mausoleum, belvedere and pavillion.

If parks are your thing, then pack a picnic and head over to Potsdam to see the Sanssouci Park. The summer home of the former King of Prussia, the whole park is straight out of a fairytale. Magnificent palaces and lavishly decorated pavillions, amongst the golden leaves of autumn it really is something quite magical.

Back over to Mitte and you must see the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), where you can go all the way to the top for a 360° panoramic view of the city. You also can’t visit Berlin without a trip to Museum Island. A short walk from Alexander Platz station in Mitte, there are five world-class museums and galleries filled with sculptures and paintings from the neoclassical period as well as modernist art.

If you still haven’t had your fix of museums make a visit to the Computerspielemuseum top of your to-do list. Interactive museums aren’t just for kids you know, although this one will take you back to your childhood. Hop off the U-Bahn at Weberwiese and let the games begin. Covering six decades of gaming history, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a museum. As well as an arcade and giant joystick to play Pac-Man, you can also bust some moves on the dance mat and try out games on a virtual reality headset.

Finish off with a photo by the Brandenburg Gate and a cheeky pitstop to Brammibal’s donuts two minutes away and you can watch the sunset over the Reichstag from the Tiergarten.

However, the main thing to do and possibly my favourite is to eat!

the Chinese House in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
  • Belvedere tea house in Charlottenburg Palace gardens, Berlin, Germany
  • Belvedere in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
Painter outside the Chinese House in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
Outside Brammibal's donuts in Berlin, Germany. Wearing black and white striped top from Jaeger and yellow and black striped trousers from Topshop

Where to eat?

I don’t know about you but I find locating decent restaurants a stressful activity when I go on holiday. A quick stroll round Mitte and apart from the usual Italian restaurants and burger joints, there wasn’t anything I couldn’t get at home. I want to be able to enjoy exciting food and something a little different. To make sure we spent our time seeing the sights and not storming round hangry, I sought out a selection of restaurants beforehand and let me tell you, they did not disappoint.

Who doesn’t love brunch? How about brunch that is served 24 hours, 7 days a week?! Sounds crazy I know but if you’re going to do brunch then you want it done properly and Benedict are brunch royalty. It may exude a fun, easy-going atmosphere but Benedict take brunch very seriously. Perfectly poached eggs, creamy avocados, fluffy pancakes and more all finished off with mimosa, it’s a great way to start your day, whenever that may be!

You can’t visit Berlin without getting a kebab. It’s like the law and I dare you to try one from Vöner and not enjoy it. Situated in the former East Berlin district of Friedrichshain, this little cafe sells the most incredible seitan kebabs with a choice of sauces (I definitely recommend the knoblauch, so much garlic goodness). Served with crunchy fresh salad all wrapped up in the fluffiest bread with a crisp crust, they are simply irresistible. We’d have visited every day if we had the time, although we did mange two stops out of the four day trip, they were that good. Huge portions too, enough to set you up for the afternoon, night or simply as an extra midnight snack. I would!

In fact, the borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is the perfect place to dine. Don’t be fooled by the slightly dilapidated surroundings just outside Ostkreuz station, as it’s just a short walk until you’re met with an absolute foodie heaven. Contemporary wine bars, coffee and cocktail cafes and restaurants of all cuisines. My particular favourite was Glory Duck, fragrant dumpling soup and sizzling, crispy duck that’s making my mouth water just writing about it. They even do mock duck versions, so veggies and vegans don’t miss out on the glory.

If you’re after the ultimate meal then you must visit Kopps in east Mitte. A fine dining experience like no other, you really have to go big or go home and get the seven-course menu. Each dish is a combination of locally sourced vegetables that have been put together in ways you’ve never tasted before. Each dish was an incredible mix of textures and tastes that blew my mind. Somehow, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the next course would prove you wrong. It was a fantastic evening and one I will remember forever.

Benedict restaurant in Berlin, Germany
  • Eastside Gallery, Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany. Wearing black and white striped top from Jaeger and yellow and black striped trousers from Topshop
  • Strolling down to Charlottenburg Palace in mustard Marks & Spencer top and Nasty Gal polka dot satin trousers, Berlin, Germany.
Monkey Island t-shirt and Nasty Gal brown and white polka dot skirt in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany

What to wear?

Comfortable shoes. That’s the most important thing in Berlin. When it comes to city breaks, this one certainly isn’t easy on the old tootsies. I made sure to only pack flats, with basic pumps and loafers carrying me round the whole city. Looser fabrics also work perfectly to keep you comfortable whilst you wander and my trusty Olympus Pen camera bag was ideal for me to carry everything I needed and keep my hands free to hold donuts.

I feel like Berlin has a very unique punk vibe when it comes to fashion. I’m usually a bit scared to wear anything out of my comfort zone at home but with an almost 80s vibe, Berlin is the perfect place to go bold with colours and patterns. Contrasting colours and opposing stripes, polka dot skirts and video game tops, it was nice to be daring but still me. 

Berlin is the ideal city for a quick getaway. To me, it’s is the epitome of cool and a place that contains an exciting mix of old and new. Steeped in history, there’s so much to see and do you’ll always want to go back. It’s a city I feel safe in, day or night and the people are incredibly friendly. It’s not a cheap place to stay but you certainly get your money’s worth, especially when it comes to the food. What I would do for a kebab right now! Think I need to book my next flight already, see you there?!  B x

p.s check out my IGTV video for behind the scenes footage of my trip to Berlin. 

Eastside Gallery, Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany. Wearing black and white striped top from Jaeger and yellow and black striped trousers from Topshop
Bread selection in in Benedict restaurant, Berlin, Germany
Pergamon museum, Berlin, Germany
Berliner Dom, Berlin Cathedral, Berlin, Germany
Poached egg on avocado in in Benedict restaurant, Berlin, Germany
Biscuits in Benedict restaurant, Berlin, Germany
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany
Art in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz
Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
the Chinese House in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, Germany
Kopps vegan fine dining restaurant in Berlin, Germany
memorial to the murdered jews of Europe, Berlin, Germany
Eastside Gallery, Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany. Wearing black and white striped top from Jaeger and yellow and black striped trousers from Topshop
Oranges in Benedict restaurant, Berlin, Germany
Art in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz
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Comments

  1. Sarah Adams says

    October 29, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    It looks like you had such an amazing time! You’re making me want to book a holiday SO BAD! x

    Reply
  2. Jess want says

    October 29, 2018 at 9:15 pm

    Oh wow it looks beautiful. I would love to go and visit hopefully soon x

    Reply
  3. Nikki says

    October 29, 2018 at 11:56 pm

    Argh you’re making me wanna book some serious travel time in asap! Beautiful photos, I’ve never been to Berlin. Considering it now!

    xx

    Lovelaughslipstick ♥

    Reply
  4. Laura Owen says

    October 30, 2018 at 7:12 am

    This post is just absolutely beautiful, the photos are gorgeous! I would love to go to Berlin, I have heard so many good things about it.

    Reply
  5. Mel says

    October 30, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    Such a great and informative post.
    I love your photos. It’s a place that is definitely on my bucket list.

    http://littlemissmelanie.com

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    October 30, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    Ah all of this makes me want to get back to Berlin SO bad! I went for the first time last year and loved every second of it! There’s so much to do and so many amazing bars and restaurants, I could go back several times and still miss something! One thing I am gutted I missed was Charlottenburg Palace, it looks like such an exquisite place, it’s first on the list if I ever get the chance to go back! Also, amazing pictures! <3

    Sarah 🙂
    Saloca in Wonderland

    Reply
  7. Alice Spake says

    October 31, 2018 at 10:20 pm

    I’d love to visit Berlin! On the list for sure xx

    Reply
  8. Alicia says

    November 2, 2018 at 6:31 pm

    I loved this post so much! I really want to visit berlin that food looked so tasty!

    Alicia Xo

    Reply
  9. Lady Writes says

    November 4, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    I’ve always wanted to see the Berlin wall. Love your city guide and the pics are wonderful x

    Reply
  10. Lady Writes says

    November 4, 2018 at 12:53 pm

    I’ve always wanted to visit the Berlin wall – lovely pics x

    Reply
  11. Katie says

    November 5, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    I’ve always wanted to visit Berlin, it looks like such an interesting place to visit! Maybe one day!

    Katie x

    Reply
  12. bethan shufflebotham says

    November 18, 2018 at 11:16 pm

    I loved Berlin when i went a few years back! I would go back in a heartbeat! love your photos in this post!

    Reply
  13. Millie says

    July 29, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    Your photos look fantastic and I can unfortunately relate to the walking around looking for a place to eat getting hangry! Thanks for sharing this post and your experience in Berlin! 🙂

    Reply
    • A love affair with Beauty says

      August 4, 2019 at 7:47 am

      Thank you! Oh yes, hanger is honestly my worst trait when I’m on holiday haha, so I do try and scout out a few places before I travel anywhere. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with getting off at Ostkreuz station for restaurants, there’s loads of them right out the station. Hope you have a fantastic trip! x

      Reply
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