What's been going down.

1. A brilliant new event in Newcastle, which takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of the month. Amazing local food, drinks and music...I give you The Boiler Shop Steamer / 2. Sea salt soap at RE:found Objects in Corbridge / 3. Gifts from America / 4. One of my best evening's I've had in a long while...The Grazer's Supperclub at the Ouse Street Arts Club. Can't wait for the next one! / 5. Espresso martinis from Ouseburn Coffee Company / 6. Retriever doing their thing at The Cluny / 7. Dirty Beaches! / 8. New beauty treats / 9. Cocktails at Toon favourite, Alvinos.

1. Food with Mama and Papa Barnes at Lola Jeans in Tynemouth / 2. A favourite shop of mine in Tynemouth, Boys Like Dolls - a fantastic selection of vintage fashion and homeware pieces / 3. Celebrating my Mama Barnes' 60th birthday in Newcastle / 4. Food heaven courtesy of The Broad Chare / 5, 6, 7. Celebrating the wedding of Beth and Hal at Shortflatt Tower in Belsay. Hands down the best wedding I've been to - filled with so much love, happiness and great memories. Check out their utterly brilliant first dance. / 8. Homemade burger and chips / 9. Nadine Shah being rad.

1. Green goodness to help me get over a horrible cold / 2. Mum's 60th birthday party with the whole family. This amazing cake was made by Becky - check her out if you need some sweet treats for any occassion / 3. Checking out new Tynemouth cafe, Dil & The Bear - I can highly recommend their chorizo homemade baked beans and array of smoothies / 4. Have you seen this bird? / 5. Payday treats from ASOS - the perfect lightweight summertime jacket / 6. Sydney Hale Company candles - a treat for the nose / 7. A summertime essential. Coconut ice cream from Di Meo's, Whitley Bay / 8. Mojito time! / 9. Beautiful King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth. So lucky that this is 10 minute stroll from my flat.

Urban Night Feast, Newcastle

Last night, Joe and myself headed off to Urban Night Feast, to sample the delights of some of the North East's finest street food vendors. Having heard brilliant things from the event on Thursday and Friday nights, I couldn't wait to dig in to some of the goodies on offer. 

UNF was held in the beautiful Stephenson Centre, an amazing industrial space behind Newcastle's Central Station. We arrived just before the night kicked-off, and my god, I'm glad we did as soon there was a hefty queue of hungry punters forming outside.

We kicked off proceedings with a pint from local ale-crafters, Wylam Brewery - Writer's Block for me and Red Kite for Joe.

Next we headed to the stall run by the brilliant team from, Broad Chare, one of my most favourite places to eat in Newcastle. We grabbed ourselves a Scotch Egg, beef and Newcastle Brown Ale pie and a pork pie with homemade piccalilli. I can't say enough good things about these 3 dishes - the scotch egg in particular was perfection. Warm and just runny enough in the middle. Delicious.

Next we sampled delicious salt and pepper squid from local fish supplier/seaside mecca, Latimers. The squid was cooked in front of us and was out of this world - perfectly cooked.

We stayed for a couple of beverages to soak up the atmosphere, and on the way out stopped at Riley's Fish Shack, from our local Tynemouth, for a fishy treat - and we weren't disappointed. We both had the Mackerel wrap - the fish and the flat bread were cooked right in front of us and I can honestly say it is one of the best things I have ever tasted. I can't wait to catch these guys at the Whitley Bay St Nicholas Festival and Tynemouth Christmas Fayre over the next couple of months. Follow them on Twitter to find out which foodie event they'll be at next - @rileysfishshack

The organisers of UNF really did a great job and the venue was absolutely packed. The vendors were a good mix of established North East chefs/restaurants and passionate new North East producers, all set against a fantastic backdrop with brilliant tunes to match - we heart CoolAid Events.
Same again next year please guys.

All these things that I've done.

Life has been hectic recently. I haven't had time to think let alone to blog! This is me getting back on the horse. Here's how life has looked recently.

Clockwise from top right: Taken on our first night in the flat, this is our beautiful fireplace in the master bedroom / Emma Bridgewater Diamond Jubillee napkins at my Mama's for Jubilee tea / first day in my new job / One of our brilliant house warming presents, a Crystal Head Vodka bottle. We daren't open it!

Clockwise from top left: Gnaw dark chocolate from lovely Park View Kitchen in Whitley Bay / Finally framed, my Prefab77 Always in England print up in pride of place / Pret coffee / Breaking out the spotty trousers for a friend's birthday.

Clockwise from top left: Matching bling / New Stelton coffee press from the parents for our flat / the prettiest street in Tynemouth / Buying coffee from local artisan roastery, the Ouseburn Coffee Company. I can't recommend their Foundry No.1 and Coffee Johnny blends enough.

Clockwise from top right: brilliant laser-cut wooden business cards for new Newcastle eatery, Ernest / my favourite lip balm / new wine-coloured studded flats / Baby Angels with Guns ll preview night at fantastic local space, The Pure Gallery. We bought the Day of the Dead print!

Clockwise from top right: Testing out beauty products / a cycle up the coast with Joe / local ice-cream at Tynemouth market / another one of my favourite prints finally framed and up. It's all about The North.

Clockwise from top right: a reminder at Jesmond Metro station / the best kind of post, paper samples from GF Smith / celebrating my brother Adam's 30th birthday / finishing the Great North 10K in 58:16! Please excuse the ridiculous make-up free face.

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Normal posting duties to resume this week!