March is always a month that comes around so super quick! I never usually get to see Reece at this time of the year, because he was at college the past couple of years and it just made more sense for him to visit me during his Easter break than to take time off, so in the four years of us being together, we have only spent my birthday together once! It was so nice to be able to spend it with him this year and we planned to go away for a couple of night to our new favourite city, Edinburgh. We've been before just for the day, and we've both fallen in love with the city. It's so gorgeous, so architecturally stunning, there is plenty to see and do and so many nice places to eat!
My parents drove us up instead of us getting the train as I had found a discount village just a little outside of Edinburgh and my parents wanted to visit there too. The discount village is in a place called Livingston. There are two huge shopping centres, one a discount centre with so many stores inside like Ted Baker, Levis, GAP and so many more! Myself and Reece spent so long in the discount centre that we barely had any time in the other shopping centre, which had stores like Disney and New Look.
I managed to pick myself up a new Ted Baker purse!
Pictured - Cecilie Pearl Bobble Ted Baker purse in pink
Pictured - Cecilie Pearl Bobble Ted Baker purse in pink
Pictured - Cecilie Pearl Bobble Ted Baker purse in pink
I have been wanting to get myself a new purse for a while, as I have a Ted Baker one that I bought from Depop a few years back, but after using it nearly every day for about 3 years, the clasp isn't as strong as it used to be and it was very marked and looking old. I knew I wanted another Ted Baker as I really like the layout inside, I like that you have plenty of space for your cards, space for coins and also somewhere for notes and receipts. I managed to pick up this purse for only £50, when the recommended retail price is £80.
I also picked up a really nice Levis t-shirt!
Pictured - Levi's ringer logo t-shirt
Reece has been into Levi's for a while, but I never tend to go for designer clothes as being totally honest, their sizing's are always far too small for me! This is a men's t-shirt though, and I have plenty of room, in it which I like! Reece and I both got this t-shirt, so we've agreed that when we're together we will not be wearing them at the same time!
After we were finished in Livingston, my parents took us to our hotel. We booked to stay at the Apex Grassmarket hotel. It's quite funny that we decided to stay here, as last time we were in Edinburgh we walked past this hotel and Reece commented on how nice it looked. We booked a superior room, so we had a view of Edinburgh Castle, which was really nice!
Pictured - Bathroom in the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Pictured - Bathroom in the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Pictured - Bedroom in the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Pictured - Bedroom in the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Pictured - Bedroom in the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Pictured - View from the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
Pictured - View from the Superior Room at Apex Grassmarket Hotel
We could not fault this hotel at all! It was super clean, we had plenty of coffee and tea making facilities in our room, they left us books to look at for ideas of what to do and where to eat during our time in Edinburgh. The hotel also had a pool and sauna which we used the two nights we were there and they were really nice too. I wanted to take photos, and even though we were the only ones in the area I still felt weird taking photos so I didn't.
We liked this hotel that much that we've both agreed that if we were to stay in Edinburgh again, which we for sure will be, we won't even look at other places to stay, we will just book here again!
After checking in to our hotel we went out for a wander around Edinburgh and decided to go to Zizzi's for some food as we had barely eaten all day!
Pictured - Passion Fruit Punch mocktails
Pictured - Food at Zizzis
Pictured - Playfair Steps
Picutred - Edinburgh
Pictured - Princes Street Gardens
The food at Zizzis was so good! Neither of us had ate here before as there isn't one in Carlisle and we never really stop at eat while we're in Belfast. We will definitely be visiting a Zizzis again as we were both very pleased with our meals!
One our one and only full day in Edinburgh, we decided to visit the National Museum of Scotland. We'd meant to go here before, but with such little time the past times we have visited Edinburgh, I'm glad we left it till this visit as we were there for hours and hours! This museum definitely needs a day to see, there is so much! I took so many photos while we were here but I'm just going to share some of my favourites!
Warning - some of the following photos contain bones and taxidermy. Please do not continue reading if you are sensitive to photos of bones and taxidermy.
We spent so long in the museum that when we got out, we were starving and our feet were aching! We went to Pizza Express for food, and I forgot to take photos I was that hungry. We went back to our hotel and went for a swim and then went up to bed for the night.
On our last day in Edinburgh, we wandered around the shops and I picked up a few more bits and bobs!
Pictured - Levi's ringer tee and original logo tee
I was so pleased with the quality of the t-shirt I picked up in Livingston, that when we visited the Levi's store I couldn't help myself and picked up these two t-shirts too!
Pictured - Patches from Levi's and Pie in the Sky
While we were in Levi's, I also grabbed some patches from there. They sell so many it took me forever to decide which ones I wanted. We also popped into Pie in the Sky a really cute shop on Cockburn Street in the old town and I grabbed a couple in there. As we were walking back to our hotel I spied another shop which had patches and grabbed the Eleven, Hogwarts Crest and the Jack Skellington ones.
Pictured - Harry Potter earrings and Alice in Wonderland pin badges from Primark
We also nipped into Primark on Princes Street purely so I could look for these two items, so I was really pleased that I managed to pick them up! My local Primark very rarely has items like this, so I really wanted to pop into the one in Edinburgh to see if they had them.
We also took a wander to this one small street that is packed with designer shops, just to have a quick look around. I didn't even enter any of the shops, I knew for a fact I would be looked down upon as I was carrying a Primark bag.
Pictured - Coach
Pictured - Mulberry
Pictured - Tommy Hilfiger
Then we went to Bella Italia for some food before we went home. Again, we were so hungry I forgot to snap a photo, but we both had Carbonara and I'm sure everybody knows what that looks like! What I did snap a photo of, was my pudding! I ordered Fragmenti, which is small churros with strawberries, marshmallows and brownie bits and a pot of chocolate sauce to dip in!
Pictured - Fragmenti at Bella Italia
We then went and grabbed a coffee in Starbucks and headed for our train home. I was quite sad to be leaving Edinburgh, not only because it's nice for myself and Reece to get away, but because I really do love the city so much!
The next two days were spent in bed, watching Black Mirror and eating junk. I really love these kinds of days, but we did really need to get out the house! The day before Reece went home we went into town for a coffee.
Pictured - Lattes at John Watts
Pictured - Scone at John Watts
We have an award winning coffee shop here in Carlisle that I was quite embarrassed to say that I'd never visited before! We both ordered a latte each and I grabbed a scone as I was starving! Both were very nice!
We then popped into a few vintage shops in Carlisle, which is one of my favourite things to do! Reece likes to look through the records and see if he can pick up any bargains and I love to look at the nik naks and vintage clothes.
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
Pictured - Warwick Bazaar
I really enjoyed this visit! It was so nice to spend my birthday with Reece and to get away to Edinburgh. The next time I see Reece will be May and we're hoping to go to Paris, so I'm very excited to write about that trip!
**
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, it is very appreciated! Make sure to follow so you can see the next time I post! ♥ xo
**Disclaimer: All views, opinions and photos are my own.**