We're still a way off from finishing the new kitchen extension {I've talked previously about some of our plans for it here} but I wanted to share some photos of the building works so far and give some pointers for anyone else going through the same thing. We started this project back in December and it's amazing how quickly your brain forgets just how much progress has been made this far. I want to look back at it all, especially when it's all finished and you take for granted all the hard work it took to get there. This post may be interesting to some of you going through, or planning similar projects, but to others it probably just looks like a load of boring digger photos! It's amazing how much I've learnt about construction over the past couple of months. 

In the grand scheme of this house project, this was just a small/micro DIY makeover but a makeover nonetheless and I really love the outcome it's given.

hashtag I have this thing with coral. Shoes here, Palm Pouch, top, beach bag last season. 

We're headed to Palm Springs this morning! A trip that we booked just a week ago and quite frankly the most spontaneous, craziest thing I've ever done. I'm such a planner, most things - especially travel plans - get mapped out a year in advance so this for me was a huge departure. Ben is the opposite though and is up for anything last minute. I could think of a million sensible reasons why we should stay home and not plan a trip, especially as I haven't been feeling that great recently. But then I thought actually why not, especially after both a doctor and homeopath told me that I need to take some time to switch off and that my body has been under a lot of stress recently presenting itself as a number of health issues. Let's just go, let's make the most of life and travel before we have children and schools to worry about. And let's go and get some vitamin D!! So a call for some flights, car hire and a search on airbnb later and California here we come! It still hasn't sunk in but I'm so happy that I'm feeling better and like my old self again and up for a new adventure. Road-trip time! 

Not many photos to post here this week as most of it was covered in our Valentine's getaway and day and the rest of the time I've been finishing off work, watching the builders crane the steels into the extension {a momentous day for rvkprojecthouse, it felt like our Grand Designs moment} and packing. So back very soon, there are a couple of interior/building blog posts scheduled for whilst I'm away. Have a good weekend, R <3 xx 

p.s. I've had a couple of messages on Instagram, and even an email, recently to say that a few followers aren't happy following me because of the amount of travel my husband and I take and that I should 'get over' winter because the trips I take are more of a once in a lifetime chance for most people. I didn't know whether to respond on here or not. Of course it's OK to unfollow me or not read this blog, hell I didn't expect anyone to read this blog when I started and even now I write it more as a diary to look back on. I'd much rather that than get trolling messages and I also hope that nobody compares their life to anything that they see on Instagram or even in real life, comparison is the death of happiness. I feel incredibly grateful for so many things in life, but I don't want to feel like I can't post things that make me happy or have to justify every decision that I make to somebody that I don't even know. Should I stay at home to make somebody feel better? I would never dream of commenting on how somebody chooses to live their life. Everyone is entitled to their own little corner of the internet and I choose to fill mine with the memories and photos I want to look back upon. Travel is something that my husband and I love and prioritise, especially before we have children. A lot of the trips I go on are combined with work, which is something I've worked hard to build up. I read SUCH an interesting debate on the perception of Instagram recently on this post, it's worth a read. Have a look here if you're interested. It highlights the positives of being positive, and sharing in people's happiness together which I something I normally love about the Instagram community. 

I'm an old romantic. I love love. And fairytales and rom-coms with happy endings. I love my husband and I love hearts and pink and flowers and all that jazz. Valentine's Day isn't for everybody, and we never need an excuse to be romantic. In fact Valentine's Day and the act of forcing/expecting romance probably takes away from the very essence of old fashioned romance but equally why not celebrate the act of being in love, it's a good excuse for a bit of escapism right?  I go a bit crazy for it every year and make an occasion of it which helps to brighten February up. Some photos from this year below if you'd like to see, {and previous years here and here}. 

Happy Valentine's Day lovers. I love Valentine's Day, I mean I know so many people are a bit cynical of the whole thing, it's gone a bit commercial etc and we don't need an excuse to show romance, but what's wrong with sharing the love. With everyone, not just partners, it's just a day for a lot of love. I take it to the extreme with decorations in my lounge the weekend before but why not when it's all things pink and hearts. Anyway, I'm back! Back to blogging after a rough couple of weeks of illness both mentally and physically. I'm not quite sure whether to talk about it on here or not, it's not that I don't want to it's just I want to write up all the fun blog posts first. Like this one where we spent the weekend at the new Pig hotel in Combe. We've been long term lovers of The Pig Hotel chain {and stayed at the one in Bath here and the one on the beach for our anniversary here} but it had been a while since we'd booked a stay. I saw a winter deal for a Sunday night where we got a room with breakfast for a discounted rate and we had some vouchers to use up, bonus! So I decided that I'd treat Ben for a little Valentine's getaway and it was just what we needed and the Pig was even better than I'd remembered. Travelogue and alll the photos below.

Boy am I glad that it's Friday. This week, in fact the past couple of weeks in general, have been a struggle for me. Mentally but also physically Ben and I have been fighting off some kind of virus and felt so so exhausted. With the non-stop rainy cold wintery weather, hormones, the house/building site, some anxiety and probably a bit of SAD along with the not feeling well with tiredness/headaches all mixed in to one I haven't felt myself at all. I haven't even wanted to take photos or blog or even see family or friends {which is when you know something's wrong!}. Thankfully, over the past couple of days I feel like I've come out of the other side of it and feel so much better. I wasn't going to put anything on here about it but I was talking to a friend and I think actually we all need to realise that nearly everybody can suffer with mental health, on any scale, and really we should never ever feel ashamed to talk about it. There's always that voice saying 'but I have so much I should be happy for' or 'other people have it so much worse than me with mental health' so I shouldn't feel bad, which of course internally then makes you feel worse. I'm going to get some vitamin D supplements which should help for the rest of Winter and focus on alll the positives to which there are many. Some highlights below;

One of the things I love most about being freelance and writing this blog are the fun opportunities that it brings. No two weeks are ever the same, a lot of days are spent sitting on the sofa under my laptop but then comes along the opportunity to go and visit Fat Face HQ to meet the designers behind the collections, learn more about the company as well as get a sneak peek at the new Spring/Summer campaign. Last Thursday was such a fun day and I found it really insightful to learn more about not only fashion design but a brand that I've loved for many years.