My D.C Travel Guide- Places to Eat

Welcome to part two of my Washington D.C. travel guides. Today we are talking food, and you guys know how much I love food! Over the three years of living around D.C. I found some really great restaurants and places to eat in and around the city, and the great thing is that a fair few have branches throughout the area so you can find one near pretty much wherever you are in DC, Maryland, or Virginia. For exact locations make sure you check the map below.

For breakfast and brunch (brunch is a huge thing on Sunday's) Founding Farmers is a great place to go with friends or family. They serve great, wholesome, good quality food; my personal favourite Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes. If you fancy a trip out to the country then head to Salamander Resort and Spa (mentioned in the last travel guide HERE) restaurant Harrimans in Middleburg, Virginia. I have only ever been for breakfast before but they offer a great dinner menu also, of course, their Triple Stack Pancakes are incredible! One of our favourite spots in Georgetown to lunch at is Nick's Riverside Grill, right on the waterfront. This place has a sports bar feel and is a great place to come on game nights. For lunch though the Chicken Wings, Crispy Calamari, and Steamed Edamame with sweet chilli are all winners. Another great spot (or so I am told) on the DC waterfront is Sequoia, the restaurant is stunning and offers great views over the river and D.C. If you want to do brunch then head down there on a Sunday, it's known to be the best in town. Clyde's is a really fun place to go fro lunch, dinner, or even brunch. They have branches all over the D.C. area and they serve great 'American' food with a twist. From Burgers to Buffalo Chicken (my favourite) to Salad's there is something for everyone. If you want to grab a lunch and run then Cava is a favourite of mine. No kidding I miss this place so much. If you love Greek/Mediterranean then this 'fast food' place is for you. My go to is a Salad Bowl with Grilled Chicken, Humous, Tzatziki and Cauliflower Quinoa. YUM. So we have come to dinner time, a real favourite of mine is Eddie V's in Tysons Corner, Virginia. If you head on the Metro to do some shopping in the area then this is the place to stay for dinner; a favourite of mine is the Truffled Macaroni and Cheese. If you want the best steak you have ever tasted then head to The Capital Grill, there are three in the area. It is pricey but for a special occasion, it is totally worth it, like seriously THE BEST STEAK EVER! If you are a Mexican lover like me then you have to head to Don Lobo's Mexican Grill in Georgetown, they serve the best Nachos outside of Mexico in my opinion. Lastly Passion Fish has two locations around the city with one in Reston, VA and Bethesda, MD. This seafood restaurant serves everything from sushi to oysters and all with the freshest fish.

So are you ready to get eating, I know I feel hungry now! Love...

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My D.C. Travel Guide- Places to See in & around the City!

Ever since moving back from D.C I thought I better do a little round up of my favourite places to visit in and around the city. Washington D.C. is a great city to visit, even though is it the Capital of the United States it is a pretty tiny city that is so easy to explore in a few days. The surrounding suburbs of Maryland and Virginia are equally as beautiful and I have my favourite gems from both states to share also. I have a lot of info to throw at you so I thought I would split it up, today we're talking about the best places to visit in and around the city.

D.C.-

Of course you have the obvious like the White House, Capitol Building, The Washington Memorial and a whole host of historical buildings but DC also hosts a range of wonderful museums. As you walk along the National Mall from Capitol Hill to the Lincoln Memorial you can take in a whole plethora of sights and pop into most of the great (and free) museums along the way including the Natural History and and American History. At the top of Capitol Hill you have a wonderful view all along the Mall which is one of my favourites. But to get the best view of the city you should probably go up the Washington Monument its self, I personally haven't done it but I wish I had. Georgetown is probably my favourite area of DC, and even though it is always chaotic, there is nowhere nicer to spend a summers day. You can go shopping down the main street (that holds one of the best Sephora's) or head down to the waterfront for a bite to eat and some serious yacht watching. If you love the great outdoors then Theodore Roosevelt Island is a really beautiful place to spend an afternoon, explore the many trails and be in awe of the river views. If you have young kids or you just an animal obsessive like me then the National Zoo is the place to go, again it has free entry and it is one of the very few zoo's that are famous for their Giant Pandas outside of China. If you visit this beautiful city during the easter time then you'll be lucky to see the wonderful Cherry Trees all along the Mall, and what a sight it is. For me though, if you can brave the cold February would be my favourite time, clear blue skies and maybe even a little snow although if you want to get into the Thanksgiving mood November is also a lovely time and you can't beat the view of the Appalachians in red as you fly into Dulles airpot.

Virginia-

I actually lived in Virginia so it is probably the area I know best. I have a ton of favourite places close and a little further away from the city that are totally worth visiting while you're there. My first would be Great Falls Park in Great Falls, VA. This national park doesn't only have wonderful woods to wonder though with tons of wildlife and a great area to picnic but the most stunning water fall. The 'Great Falls' tumble over the rocks at a breath taking speed and it was always one of my favourite places to photograph from season to season. The very moving sight of the United States National Cemetery in Arlington is a must see, it is one of the most humbling places but somewhere that I have felt is always so peaceful. If shopping is your thing then you should hop on the Metro to Tysons Corner. The two Malls there are some of the biggest in the US and have pretty much every store imaginable, from Gucci to Forever 21. If you're happy to jump in a car and head a bit further out, the town of Middleburg is beautiful. It is built like the cotswolds and is complete horse country. The small town is full of individual shops and surrounding wineries, also in the middle of town is the stunning Salamander Resort and Spa where I could totally recommend staying a night or two. The 340 acre estate houses a beautiful spa, equestrian centre and cooking studio. If you're willing to go even further and don't mind a drive of a few hours then head out to the Shenandoah National Park and specifically the Sky Line Drive for incredible mountain views and even the occasional black bear, you can also get a real feel for what the rustic Virginia is like out there.

Maryland-

My knowledge of Maryland is limited compared to that of DC and Virginia but I still have and know of a few special places that are worth visiting. If your out in the summer then a trip to the beach and arcades at Ocean City might be in order, I've never been myself but I've been warned it can get pretty busy so make sure you head out early. If you want a beach but no where near as busy then the Chesapeake Bay is ideal, there are hundreds of little beaches off the estuary from Baltimore to the ocean depending on how far out you want to go. Annapolis on the bay is an old naval city that is full of wonderful charm. The waterfront holds quaint boutiques and charming crab shacks. If you're a horse lover and don't mind travelling that little bit further then Assateague Island is the place to go. This island off the coast in the atlantic is best know for its herds of wild horses that roam the beaches, while a third of the island is classed as Virginia the majority is in Maryland and a real jewel in its crown. You can camp in the wilderness for the night or simple head over for a day trip to observe (not touch) the beautiful wild ponies. Every summer the Virginian side of the island (Chincoteague) island hold the annual pony penning day to move a number of horses to stop overcrowding, the wild pony swim is a fantastic sight to watch; hundreds of horses swimming between the islands.

Below you can check out the map which has all the places mentioned pinned on it, and make sure you come back next week to see my guide on where to eat in the area. If I've missed anything or you have some favourite spots in the DC area them please do comment them below for everyone to see.


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Welcome to the new Perfect Peonies...

You may notice a change round here, and that change would be our brand spanking new sparkling design! I thought it was time we had a little makeover and I am so happy with the results. You may have noticed my lack of posts round here lately and quite honestly I have to admit I had lost the passion to write for a little while. I found myself having a lack of ideas and just couldn't bring myself to post for the sake of it, after all I always preach only do (or write in this case) what you love and it will shine through. Hopefully with a new makeover will come a influx of inspiration. The wonderful team at Gatto were so helpful when it came to creating exactly what I wanted the website to be, and I can't recommend them enough. Saying that I am a fuss pot would be an understatement and I am a complete perfectionist, but they were so great at changing every little detail until the design was perfect. I am totally in love with it and I hope you like it too. I wanted things to be simple and most importantly easy to navigate; so I hope it is. Within the next few months I have some exciting projects including our Second Birthday, and my favourite time year that yields gift guides, along with hopefully some new videos over on my channel. I do hope you stick around and I want to thank you all for being the best readers ever. Do let me know your thoughts on the new design and if you have any requests for videos or posts. Love...

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The Most Beautiful Place on Earth: The Maldives

Long time no see! I've missed you all, but today I am back after an amazing break in the most beautiful place on earth. If you follow me on social media you may know that I have just got back from the ever so beautiful Maldives. I have taken so many wonderful snaps couldn't bear not sharing them with you all, so I thought on the blog today I'd talk you through my trip and well just share the dreamy images. Prior warning, this is packed full of images so I don't even mid if you don't read my babble, just sit back, relax and pretend you're there with me. 

 The Maldives has over a 1000 islands in total with some being totally desolate, residential, or resorts like where we stayed. With them being scattered through the Indian Ocean you fly into the main airport in the capital Male and then either travel by boat or seaplane from there. Our resort was a 40 minuet seaplane ride away and the flight in itself was an amazing experience if not a little scary. Taking off and landing on water is certainly interesting but the views you get once you are up are totally worth it. From there you can see the various atolls and the stunning turquoise hues that scatter the oceans surface.

We stayed at the wonderful Centara Resort and Spa Maldives which is set on it's own private island and our stay was just magical. From the moment we stepped back onto land we were greeted by the friendliest staff. I've stayed at a few resorts where staff can be so friendly that they get annoying or 'in your face' but this certainly wasn't the case here. The were attentive enough and very friendly without being 'pushy' and leaving you to relax on your holiday which I loved. We even got speaking to a few of the waiters at dinner and I loved hearing about where they all came from and their ideas with the Maldives being their birth home. We stayed in two beach bungalows and were very happy with our choice. The water villas are a real icon of the Maldives but as we love the beach we were over the moon with being right on it and pretty much no one else being around. September is coming to the end of the rainy season there but the weather can still be a little hit and miss, luckily we were very fortunate and only got one day of grey with the rest being uber warm and sunny. Our hotel had a stunning infinity pool but we did't use it once, simply because the ocean is so clear, warm, and  inviting. When I say pictures don't do this place justice I am not kidding, it is literally the most beautiful place I have ever been. The rooms were clean and spacious and set out over two floors with a bedroom and cloakroom upstairs and then living room and bathroom underneath with a lovely outdoor shower. It isn't exactly a 'do it all' kind of place so we spent our days in the ocean swimming, napping, or laying out in the sun and of course eating; for me it was pure paradise. 

Basically the Maldives needs to go on your bucket list right now. I know no holiday will ever compare now and I hope I can discover more islands in the future as well as returning to Centara. Yes it's a bloomin' long way to go from London, but it was so worth it. My real trip of a lifetime. Love...

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Why Social Media is Changing a Generation

Social Media is the heart of the day and age we live in and quite honestly I don't think I love it. Where are the ol' days of actually speaking to people face to face, and not knowing everything that goes on in everyones lives; you know that clearly overrated thing called privacy? So what, it's a place where we share our 'so called lives' and especially on Instagram I feel it has become oh so fake. I can't help scrolling through my feed feeling like utter crap sometimes, whether I see old friends pages or some amazing bloggers; I just can't help felling down in the dumps about myself. Will I ever live up to having that perfect feed and why is so much pressure put on me as a blogger and influencer to have a 'perfect life' on platforms like Instagram. Does everything have to be so staged, bright, and beautiful? Then I get the times when I see my peers succeeding more than me, or moving into their new beautiful home and all I can think is when will that be me, when will I really achieve something; really just one huge pity party. Don't get me wrong it has some great points, like how I get to talk to all of you; my lovely readers. I am also incredibly lucky that I have never had any real nasty comments on my posts, but people get it and that is my biggest bug bear with social media. Why do people feel the need to be so nasty, yes we all judge people and I am not saying that I don't ever think that 'maybe that lipstick doesn't look the best on you' but I wouldn't ever post a comment saying it or judging anyone in any way at all. We all decide to live our lives they way we want to and people need to respect that and keep their nasty opinions to themselves. So what has made us think that we need to be so 'perfect'? In reality nobody is so, why do we try so hard to be? I put so much pressure on myself to post enough, to make sure photo quality is good enough, to tweet enough, to show more personality, to look a certain way, but I have had enough. I think with the introduction of Instagram Stories we can finally see that everyone is real and those bloggers or YouTubers who have perfect feeds and amazing bodies are just like you and me, they wakeup with no makeup on and in reality spend most of their days at their desk too. When it comes to growing as a blogger social media is one of the biggest parts to achieving it and it is a way that just doesn't work for me. I try and get involved, I really do, from twitter chats to following new people but it just isn't for me. I have made some great friends through blogging and social media but I just can't bring myself to be that social and outgoing, it just isn't me; in reality I am a true introvert. So in conclusion is this craze taking over our lives? Are we always going to be glued to our phones like we are now or will the storm eventually pass over? While it's a great place for us bloggers it's a toxic one too, so why do we continue to share our lives. I think simply because we care about our audience and it is the most convenient and best way to reach them, so I will continue posting what I want to and what I think is beautiful, and I will continue tweeting but I am noting going to change 'me' in order to grow.

What are your feelings on social media; friend or foe? Love...

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The Best Binge Worthy TV Shows

Top-ASOS| Jeans-Topshop| Lipstick- Matte Coral Pop| Throw-Nicole Miller Home| Cushions-Minted

TV is ma thang. I have never really been a huge movie girls, I mean I like a chick-flick now and again but TV is certainly my most watched on Netflix. I have watched a ton of shows on Netflix itself and other streaming services, so I thought I would share my top 15! I won't go into to much detail as I don't want to spoil things for you, but basically grab your laptop stick on one of these shows and get bingeing.

Homeland- Is my absolute favourite show ever. It is dramatic, realistic, and totally binge worthy! The show focuses on Carrie who works for the CIA and deals with some mental health issues. The first three seasons are based on a prisoner of war who returns to the US and has been 'turned' but from there on the fell of the shows changes for the better in my opinion. Available on Netflix

The Good Wife- Follows the wife of a shamed politician as she tries to get back on her feet and back into her old profession of Law. From her marriage to her job we follow her life and the ups and downs after an affair and a fall in society. There is certainly some courtroom drama here. Available on Netflix

The Affair- Another of my favourite shows follows the out come of an affair and all the consequences it holds. From murder to money this show pretty much covers it all. What I kind of love about it is that in part you end up routing for the couple who had the affair from their respective spouses, which you wouldn't expect too. Available on Sky and to buy per season on Amazon and itunes.

Suits- This is another courtroom drama but with a bit of a younger feel compared to The Good Wife. It follows mike who ends up working for a top New York law firm illegally, as he isn't actually a qualified lawyer. The fashion in this is also top notch and Jessica along with Rachel have killer wardrobes. Available on Netflix

Downton Abbey- If you love a good period drama then this is the king of them. It still shocks me how many people tell me that they haven't seen this! It follows the life of the Crawley's and their downstairs staff in the early 20th century, through love, war, peace, and financial hardship. Available on Amazon Prime

Covert Affairs- In a way I like to think of this as a lighter less emotionally heavy version of Homeland. Annie is a kickass spy who travels the globe catching the bad guys undercover. Along the way she has may love interests but her character never looses her female lead which I love. Available on Netflix

Gossip Girl- An oldie but a goodie and certainly a classic. If you want something slightly cheesy, easy to watch, and with glitz and glamour then this is the show for you. In case you don't know the rough plot follows a bunch of rich privileged high schoolers and the gossip site who writes about their lives. XOXO Gossip Girl.  Available on Netflix

Pretty Little Liars- I am pretty new to this one and only on season 3 but I am already obsessed! It follows four friends who's friend went missing a year earlier and now they are being tormented by a mysterious 'A' for their secrets. Available on Netflix

Revenge- This is an old favourite of mine and I still love to watch it now and again. Emily's farther was framed for a crime he didn't commit by the powerful family next door. Back in the Hamptons years later she is out for revenge no matter the consequences. Available on Netflix

House of Cards- I love Robin Wright and her role of Claire in the show is one of my favourite characters ever. It follows their rise (Frank her husband, the main character) in the political chain and they are one power couple that will let nothing get in the way. I love watching mainly to just see DC, especially these days as I miss it. Available on Netflix

Reign- My inner history nerd loves this show and I think you will to. Someone once said to me it is a PG version of GoT and I totally agree except this is based on real historical characters and in a real place, even if not at all accurate. The tale follows Mary Queen of Scots and her life from French court through to her moving back to Scotland and death (well we haven't go there yet but I can hope). Available on Netflix

Tudors- This is similar to Reign but set about 30 years before hand and in England instead of France.  If you love history like me then it is certainly one to watch and well it has Henry Cavil in it so who could say no? In short it follows Henry VIII and his six wives, but don't think boring think more sexy. Available on Netflix

Line of Duty- For me this was a slow burner and it took me a while to get into it but once I did I couldn't stop watching. It follows a police corruption team and the police officers they are trying to convict. The tales are gritty drama that is tantalizing to watch. Available on Netflix

Spooks- Another oldie that I remember my parents watching when I was a child and that I now love to watch. The whole (ten I think) series are on Netflix and it is gripping. It follows a team from MI-5 as they bring down threats to the UK. Oh and Adam, well he's just dreamy. Available on Netflix

Strike Back- Is similar to Spooks and even has some of the same actors but this time the storyline follows a team of Military Intelligence officers who crack down on terrorism across the globe. It is high action which I am usually not into but it is also totally gripping and there are still hint of romance that I love. Available on Amazon Prime

So what do you love to binge watch? Let me know in the comments as I need a new show after PLL. Love...

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Beauty Expert Collection- The Rose Edition

Earlier this week I went along for a lovely lunch with the Beauty Expert Team to launch their brand new line of themed beauty bags. The first one is The Rose Edition and what a delight it is. Before I go into detail on each product I will give you a little overview of our day and what we learnt. So we headed down to the Ivy at Covent Garden to very yummy lunch and some great presentations from a few of the brands which are featured in this first bag. It was lovely to lear about their product ranges and I hope to share more of that information with you all in separate posts coming up.

The bag is completely skincare focused which I love, as you guys know I am all about the skincare. I also love that it is a bag and not a box, which means the cute case is totally reusable and the best part is that you get six, yes six full sized products.

The six full sized items in this bag come from some of the best skincare brands out there like REN, Pai, and Balance Me. For only £50 you get over £130 of value and some amazing skin and body care items. The specialty rose items have been picked for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, of course they all also offer that wonderful rose scent that is oh so feminine but not overpowering. Everything is set to hydrate, brighten, restore, and soften the skin. Ok so on to the products...

Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil- This is one of Pai's most famous products and rightly so as it is packed full of good for you, natural ingredients. They brand it as the 'ultimate skin healer and anti-ager'. The very orange oil uses not only the oil from the seed but also the fruit which contains five times the carotenoids of the seed oil alone. Applied before bed it leaves you with beautifully soft skin come morning.

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Cream- I have yet to try this as I have only had it a couple of days but I can tell you it smells amazing! The Rose Otto helps reduce the appearance of scars and broken capillaries and of course is what gives it that wonderful scent. It is said to be incredibly gentle with organic aloe and hydrating with the very clever arctic cloudberry which can hold moisture up to -40C.

REN Instant Brightening Eye Lift- This 'miracle' eye serum was based on their best selling facial beauty shot and instantly gives the eyes the only lift they will ever need. I haven't given this a go myself yet but I may rope in my wonderful mum to give it a full on test.

ARK Skincare Conditioning Oil- I love a good body oil so can't wait to give this a go and I have also loved what I have tried form ARK in the past so I have high expectations. Again it smells incredible....blah blah blah. Really you guys it all just smells the best if you are a rose lover like me. This oil can be used on the body or hair for added hydration and to revive your senses.

Monu Skin Gentle Cleanser- Monu skin is a new brand to me but I have been seriously impressed by what I have tried so far, so much so you can expect a whole post on them within the next few weeks. The gentle cleanse which is included in the bag has a lovely creamy texture and is perfect for dry or sensitive skin like mine.

Korres Japanese Rose Shower Gel- There is nothing more I love than a good smelling shower gel, I find it can really brighten your day with your morning shower.  It has wheat proteins to protect the skin and help maintain moisture levels, as well as antioxidant enzymes to enhance the immune system of the skin.

With the bag being such great value and with such amazing products, I think any rose lover will be in paradise with this. Love...

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