by Mollie Millington | Apr 5, 2021 | product review, water sports
Even though I miss the four proper seasons I grew up with, the lack of snow in London means you can still play outside in the winter. Whether it is running, cycling, swimming, or paddleboarding, if you can brave the wet and cold, you can get outside. The pandemic put a wrench in things this winter, but lockdown regulations are finally lifting. Open water swimming is allowed, we can meet in groups of six for a run or cycle, and we can go a little bit farther from home now (but not too far).
Winter water sports are a bit more complicated because you want to stay warm (and dry) as much as possible. This means you need to pack a few extra bits to make it more enjoyable. Here are a few things I have found to be very useful to help me stay warm (and happy). Let me know in the comment below if you would add anything.
During
Lifestraw GO water bottle* (freshwater only) – Even though it it cold and you might not be sweating, you need to stay hydrated. The Lifestraw filters will remove up to 99% of the nasties in the water. You don’t need to carry extra water with you. It is only able to work with fresh water though, not salt.
Swimming booties and gloves (optional) – My feet and hands always get cold. Walking into the water to mount my board and small splashes will keep getting my feet wet, so I recommend wearing neoprene boots or socks. I used my open water swimming socks, however these are not durable enough for rough terrain. Your hands might also get wet, so neoprene gloves might be important. If you wear gloves, make sure you have a grip texture on them so keep your hands on the paddle.
Neoprene clothes – What you wear on the board will depend on the weather, if you tend to feel hot or cold, if you think you will fall in the water, how long will you be paddling for, etc. I like the Mountain Warehouse women’s full wetsuit*. The knees are reinforced and there is a small pocket for key. The pattern is a contour design with different thickness fabrics on different parts of the body.
Some people prefer to wear neoprene trousers instead and a warm top with a breathable waterproof jacket. It might be trial and error the first few times you go out in colder weather. If you don’t wear a wetsuit, go for layers to help regulate your body temperatures.
Waterproof bag – The Aquapac Debbie waterproof bag* is perfect for a wallet, keys, and anything else you want to keep dry. You can wear it around your waist or as a crossbody bag. I fell in the water wearing it once and can assure you that everything stayed dry. You just need to ensure you close it properly. It is also great at keeping items sand-free.
Warm hat (optional) – Much like the clothes you are wearing, a warm hat might help you stay warm or make you overheat.
After
Changing robe – I am so lucky that James surprised me a Red Paddle changing robe for my birthday in February. For those not in the know, it is a large fleece lined jacket that you can change under. Not only will it keep you warm on land, but it will also give a warm and discreet place to change out of wet clothes.
Towel – You never know when/if you will fall in, so keep a towel on hand. At least you can dry off your feet or board with it.
Dry clothes to change in – Again, you never know what will happen, to you or someone you have met on the water. Keep a dry set of clothes handy. Hyperthermia is no joke.
Reusable coffee cup and flask of hot drink (optional) – Something to warm you up right away might be a big comfort when you get back to shore.
Hot water bottle (optional) – This might not be necessary if you don’t feel the cold much or if the sun is shining. Depending on how long your journey is to get home or if you have a car, you might find the water bottle too heavy to carry around.
This list might not have missed a few things depending on where you live. I encourage you to do more research and ask your local SUP club. Go Paddling is a wonderful resource for those in UK. Learn new skills by taking a paddling course through Paddles Up Training. Don’t let the weather keep you stuck at home. Preparation is key. Aim to keep warm and dry as best as you can.
Share your winter SUP essentials in the comments below!
Items marked with a * were graciously given me to review. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 11, 2021 | health, product review
This post contains photos of my ears and the wax. If that grosses you out, you might want to avoid the lower half of this post.
When I was in kindergarten, my parents had my hearing check because I was loud. At the time, my hearing was fine. I did need to go to my paediatrician a few times though to have ear wax removed though as I grew up. I remember it performed using a water pick of some sort and the wax looked like chocolate chips. Over the years, and especially since moving to the UK, I have struggled to hear people in pubs or while at work (where there are lots of pumps running in the background). I even went to my doctor to ask about a hearing test because I was tired of asking people to repeat themselves. He looked in my ears and said there was too much wax to request a test. Unless I had the wax removed, he would not refer me. I tried to remember to add olive oil drops into my ears daily, but kept forgetting. There never seems a good time to lay down without risking oil stains on my pillowcase.
The overproduction of ear wax seems to run in my family. My grandfather had this issue too and once he got hearing aids, it became more of a problem. I now know not to stick anything sharper than my elbow into my ear, but I also admit that in college I used cotton buds (Q-tips for you Americans) to clean out my ears daily. I don’t use anything now to clean my ears aside from warm water in the shower. Last summer, when I was swimming on a weekly basis, I was worried that I would get water caught in my ear behind the wax. This had happened years ago and was not very pleasant. But I lucked out this time.
With the Covid-19 situation, doctor offices are reluctant to see someone in person if the situation is not critical. I completely understand this. Since the first UK lockdown in March 2020, I have had one telephone appointment for my skin condition and had to text over a photo, but any concerns about the ear would probably have to be in person.
When I heard about Auris Ear Care, I knew this was the perfect solution for me and my ear wax issues. Auris Ear Care is a mobile ear cleaning clinic that not only removes wax, but foreign objects too. So if your kid gets something lodged in their ear, you don’t need to go to the emergency room to have it removed. You can have it done in the comfort of your own home. The Auris Ear Care ear, nose, and throat doctor also offer ear infection treatments, prescribe medication for it, and take microbiological ear swabs if needed.
Scheduling the appointment was very simple and I was given an appointment within 24 hours. This may have been to my geographic location as Dr. Rampuri was in East London the following day. He even called to say he was running ahead of schedule and could come by earlier. That worked out perfectly for me because I was working from home and had two meetings scheduled after my appointment was due to end. Dr. Rampuri arrived wearing a mask and gloves. My husband and I decided to also wear masks because we would be in close proximity to Dr. Rampuri and didn’t want to risk Covid spread (I wipes all used surfaces and doorknobs after Dr. Rampuri left). A small table and cleaning station was quickly set up before we reviewed my medical history. I signed a release form (there is less than 5% risk of something going wrong) and then it was time to look in my ears. Dr. Rampuri didn’t even need an otoscope to confirm they were full of wax.
This little machine allows for the microsuction of the ear wax and is much safer that other methods, such as candling, syringing, or irrigation. Dr. Rampuri tested the suction on my cheek first so I could because acclimatized to the feeling. It didn’t feel very strong against my skin, but in my ear I could feel and hear the wax slowly being pulled away from the ear canal. The procedure didn’t hurt, just felt a bit weird (because how often have you had suction in your ear canal?).
The above is what was lodged in my right ear. My left ear had a little bit less. Each ear only took a few minutes to clean out. Most of Auris Ear Care appointments take 20 minutes or less in total. Dr. Rampuri suggests that everyone should have their ears examined on a yearly basis. I am going to try to keep up an olive oil regime of 1-2 drops on a weekly basis to try to keep things a bit more clear in there. While he was at the house, Dr. Rampuri suggested looking at James’ ears. Apparently, some people get so used to having wax blockage, they don’t even notice the difference after a while. Of course, James’ ears had a normal amount of wax and didn’t need any suction. I will always be the odd one.
Sadly, I don’t think my hearing had dramatically improved since having all the wax removed. Therefore, I have a hearing test scheduled on Tuesday. Both Auris Ear Care at-home visits and hearing tests in general are still allowed under current UK lockdown rules as as essential appointments because ear problems can cause pain and dizziness.
Overall, I was very impressed with the Auris Ear Care at-home service. Dr. Rampuri and the team were very attentive and knowledgeable. I tend to prefer at-home treatments (like the IV Doc and Urban Massage) if possible as it takes the stress away from travelling to and from the office. My only constructive feedback is that Dr. Rampuri didn’t offer to take off his shoes or have overshoes to cover them up when he entered my home. While my house is full of dirt from muddy dog paws, other clients may have been concerned because it has snowed that day. James didn’t think it was a concern so not everybody may mind.
How often do you clean your ears? Would you prefer to have an at-home treatment for something like this or go to an office?
Thanks to Auris Ear Care for the complimentary service. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Jan 13, 2021 | clothes, product review
Am I the only one out there with an several drawers full of activewear? One drawer is all short sleeve tops (and is currently bursting open), another is half full of leggings and shorts (the rest is jeans) and then long sleeve tops are in my closet. I am not sure how I came up with this system but it seems to work for me. While I don’t think I need any more workout clothes, I do love technical kit that performs well. I tend to overheat easily meaning that my clothes need to keep me cool. I am also always cold, so the fabric needs to wick away moisture. We also try to wear our clothes at least twice to reduce the environmental impact of so much laundry which means it the material is anti-stink, that is an added bonus!
MyProtein got in touch a little while back about their new Power Ultra range. This line is designed to be moisture wicking and quick drying with light, soft fabrics that are also squat proof. I asked to try the Women’s Power Ultra Sports Bra in Midnight/Jade. Because I have a large chest and primarily do high impact sports, I am always wary of trying out different bras than the ones I know work for me. But I also always envy all the pretty sports bras with loads of fancy woven straps. The Power Ultra Sports Bra was promising. The straps are wide and therefore supportive. As soon as I unwrapped the bra, I took it out for a 5K and pleasantly surprised at how supportive it was. The bra also has removable pads should you want to be more modest in chilly temps or want to fill out your figure. The bra didn’t seem to be as supportive after a wash (line dry) but I adjusted the straps and that seemed to help. The straps can also be worn as a racerback, which makes it much more versatile.
For the Power Ultra Leggings, I thought I would mix it up with a different colour than black. The Galaxy/Lime is a great colour but not so great for muddy running. The fabric is smooth and very flattering. There is a high waist with a large pocket in the back of the waist band. The sides of the leggings also have the cutout detail to help regulate body temperature. I have really enjoyed running in mine but have stuck to the pavement to avoid getting them too dirty.
I have also worn these around the house and underneath rain pants on dog walks. They are super stretchy and comfortable. I can also confirm that they are squat proof.
This is the first time I have tried clothing from MyProtein and I am impressed with these two items. To be honest, I didn’t realize they had such a large clothing range. I hope they continue to develop their line to be put through its paces, not just worn for school drop offs and coffee runs. It needs to be able to perform. Eventually, I will be ready to get the leggings a bit muddy but for now I am enjoying them looking brand new (I put rain pants on right after we took this photo).
What kind of features do you look for in your activewear? Will you wear cotton or do you stick with technical fabrics? Let me know in the comments below.
Items were kindly gifted to me by MyProtein. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Oct 6, 2020 | product review, travel
Traveling is one of my passions and sadly, the pandemic has limited that in 2020 to England. This actually wasn’t so bad as there are many places in the United Kingdom I haven’t been yet. Starting in October, I am going to be sharing a few of my favourite trips from the last few years, along with ideas on how to stay active when visiting these places. Most of the activities I have tried myself, so I can give you a fair review, but others will be things I have heard of or wanted to try but didn’t get a chance to. Of course, if you can suggest anything in the local area, please leave a comment to let others know.
To kick off these #traveltuesday posts, I will start with our most recent trip to Oxfordshire for our tenth anniversary. James was away with friends on a walking trip when he spotted Mollie’s Motel and Diner in Buckland. Why is this so cool? First, it is spelled like my name. Second, it is an American-style diner and I am American (in case you didn’t know). Third, there are many waterways nearby where we could stand up paddleboard (SUP). Finally, we wouldn’t have Maple with us so we were bound to get a good night’s sleep.
After dropping Maple off at the kennel, James drove us in the hired car to the motel. It was about two hours from Chingford in Friday afternoon traffic. It was the first time we stayed in a hotel since the pandemic began. We wore our masks when entering and the clerk had one on too. The lobby is referred to as the General Store and there was a selection of American candies, other foods, drinks, and complimentary filtered coffee. There was some Mollie’s merchandise available too but nothing I couldn’t leave without sadly (please stock t-shirts and magnets!). The hotel clerk let us know that due to Covid-19, our room would not be tidied every day but that was fine by us. The room was basic with a huge bed, large rain shower (no tub) and small table with chairs. All very modern and clean. I think the rate was £66/night so a very good bargain for a weekend away (yes, we paid for it). The location is off of a busy motorway, so not great if you wanted to head out for a run without having to drive anywhere. I did pack my trainers, but didn’t make it out from the hotel on foot.
After we dropped off our luggage, we headed over to Mollie’s Diner. They were only taking bookings, and the hotel kindly shifted our reservation 30 minutes later as we were running late due to traffic. The menu had several American classics, like milkshakes, burgers, and all day breakfast. I knew we would be eating out a lot that weekend so had a chicken Caesar salad, milkshake, and sweet potato fries. James had a burger and apple crumble. We were back Sunday morning before we headed home for waffles, French toast, and avocado on toast.
Saturday morning we got up early and drove to Lechlade-On-Thames for paddle boarding. I brought my inflatable board from Two Bare Feet (gifted last summer) and James hired a board from Cotswold Canoe Hire (who also have canoes and swan boats). There was a small car park and a nearby area for me to launch my board. While I have enjoyed many SUP sessions in the London Royal Docks, this summer, I have been able to explore more English waterways, such as in Flatford Mill and Saltford (near Bristol/Bath). James and I went an hour upstream, enjoying the views of greenery around us. We headed back to the hire venue but found going the same direction as the current was much quicker so then went a little bit passed our starting point. On the way back, James also bumped into my board as I tried to fix my ponytail, knocking me into the water (apparently after a slow motion wobble). He says he didn’t mean it, but didn’t apologize until much later.
After paddle boarding, we enjoyed a picnic on the bank with an artisan cheese and wine basket from Prestige Hampers.* It included a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white; three packs of oatcakes; three different chesses; a jar of ploughman’s pickle. I packed our tin mugs although we didn’t end up opening the bottles of wine because James had to drive and it was only midday. We did enjoy the food that came in the hamper (along with grapes, pork pies, and Tolberone that we had picked up in the morning) to make it a filling meal. Even though I was soaking wet, it was nice to sit by the water’s edge and enjoy the views. The white wine was enjoyed on Sunday night when we got home and the red we have saved for an upcoming lamb stew. There are lots of areas to row, paddle, and even wild swim in Oxfordshire, as we saw driving to and from the hotel. Most had wide open green fields that are perfect for picnicking too. I did think about packing the hamper on the board but knew it wouldn’t be waterproof. Plus, if it landed in the water when I fell in, it probably would have ruined the rest of the day (I tend to get hangry if I am not fed at regular intervals).
After a quick shower back at the hotel, we drove to Uffington White Horse, part of the National Trust, for a walk along the hill top. This park is also part of the Race To the Stones route if you are in to running long distances. It was super windy but very interesting to walk amongst ruins from the Bronze Age. Sadly, we discovered from neither the castle ruins nor Dragon Hill could you get a good look at the horse. Perhaps there is a hot air balloon ride or helicopter tour that would provide more impressive view (check Groupon people!) although also be a bit more expensive that paying to park. If you enjoy walking and hikes, Oxfordshire includes portions of the Cotswolds, Chiltern Hills, and North Wessex Downs (all areas of outstanding natural beauty).
While we didn’t get a chance to try this, Oxford University is famous for its rowing team (especially when competing against Cambridge) and punting. There are many places to hired boats for punting in Oxford itself along the River Cherwell. As a last resort, Bicester Village is also found in Oxfordshire and offers luxurious outlet shopping close to London.
Where is your favourite place to explore in Oxfordshire? Where should we go on our anniversary next year?
Thanks to Prestige Hampers for the complimentary feast. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 30, 2020 | health, product review
It has been over six months since the UK went into total lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We seemed to have come out the other side with restrictions loosening over the summer. However over the last few weeks, new local measures have been but into place around the UK as the data implies we are at the start of a second peak.
I have been fortunate to have felt physically well during all this. We think James had Covid-19 in May, but both his test (through NHS) and mine (thanks to work) were negative. He was in bed for two weeks (although no fever or cough) which was extremely unusual as he rarely gets sick. Back then, little was known about the immunity that having Covid-19 gave you. Even now, there isn’t much data. There is a man in Hong Kong that tested positive for Covid-19 four months after his initial positive test. This is worrisome for those relying on a vaccine to make the world return to normal. Will a vaccine need to be annual, like the flu shot? But that is an entirely different post for another day.
If you contract Covid-19, your body should elicit a immune response in which B-cells are produced to identify the virus and destroy it. Having an antibody test is a way to see if you have these protector cells available. Cerascreen contacted me to try out their at home antibody test for Covid-19. You may remember I did another at home test for food interolerance back in February. The general collection technique was the same. Prick your finger, drip blood into a tube and send off for analysis.
The Cerascreen test kits were in high demand when I ordered mine in June so it took a week for it to arrive. You want to collect your blood sample on Monday or Tuesday morning and post the same day so the sample can swiftly arrive at the testing centre. No refrigeration is needed. The next step is just wait for an email saying you results are available on their website. You can then log in and download your seven page report. It provided a lot of information about how to interpret the results and what to do if you are still feeling ill.
Antibody tests have two measures that indicate how reliable a test is- sensitivity and specificity. In this case, sensitivity means the test will detect everyone who has the antibodies and give a positive result. Specificity means how many false positives it will detect. At the start of the pandemic, Roche antibody tests were known as the gold standard of antibody testing (specificity greater than 99.8% and sensitivity of 100% (14 Days post-PCR confirmation). Unfortunately, many companies came out with kits of varying quality and their customers were scammed out of money. The Cerascreen kit has a sensitivity of 97.4-100%. and specificity of 98.9-99.2%.
As I mentioned before, we were convinced that James has the virus, even though his (traditional) test result and mine were both negative. We continued to share a bed while he was sick and have always had separate bath towels. He said he made an extra effort to wash his hands well while sick too. One of the frustrating things about Covid-19 is how people can be asymptomatic and therefore vectors of the disease. Also, symptoms can be delayed. James’s GP said that depending on when you obtain a sample (day 3 of symptoms versus day 5) can also influence the test results.
It took about a week for my results to arrive via email. My antibody test was negative, meaning that I had not had Covid-19 at the time I took the test in June. I was partially surprised because I don’t have a great immune system (pneumonia, chicken pox, glandular fever, blood clot, etc). I thought for sure if James had it, I would have too (even though this would have meant that I was asymptomatic).
Why would you want an antibody test? Some people might want peace of mind that they have already had the virus and therefore can’t infect anyone when visiting loved ones or their colleagues. Perhaps they would decline a vaccination if there was a vaccine shortage if they tested positive for antibodies. There is no way of knowing when a person had Covid-19 though from the antibody test. Whether you test positive or negative for antibodies, you should still take precautions such as wearing a face covering, using hand sanitizer and social distancing as it is still unclear how long the antibodies will last for. It also puts people at ease to see others taking the same precautions. By making it the social norm, we can make these practices more commonplace.
I feel very fortunate to have been healthy so far in 2020 and am grateful for this. Please take care of yourself and loved ones as we continue to navigate through this global crisis.
Learn more about antibody testing over on the NHS website.
Cerascreen kindly gifted me the Covid-19 antibody test. All opinions are honest and my own. The Cerascreen Covid-19 kit is now on offer for 5% off. The price includes shipping, analysis and test report.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 18, 2020 | family, product review
On the home page of my website is my mission statement that I want to teach clients to balance work, life, fitness, food and fun. This is something I work on too so I thought I would share a bit of my regular life in today’s post rather than the fitness side.
At the end of August, I shared in an Instagram post I would be going alcohol free in September and October to help my marathon training and to hopefully reduce excess calories. In order to make it achievable (hurray for SMART goals), I gave myself two times when I could drink within that timespan. The first was my 10th wedding anniversary in September and the other was my husband’s 40th birthday in October. Being British, drinking is a big part of his culture (not to say it isn’t in America, but I do think we tend to favour eating over drinking in most celebrations). I would always choose dessert over a drink anyways so I didn’t think the challenge would be too hard. Although I am discovering the late summer weather is making it quite tough to stick to my word!
James and I were married on a Friday afternoon in Upstate New York in 2010. Our 10th anniversary was a Thursday night in early September. I had run home from work and James had gone on a bike ride with some friends that afternoon. We didn’t do presents or cards that morning because I am usually headed out the door by the time James is getting up. For the last 10 years (much to James’ chagrin), we have been inspired by the anniversary themes when choosing gifts. I told him this is the last year we have to do presents. We have learned that these forced gifts don’t always work out. Here are a few examples:
1st anniversary is traditionally paper– James tried to purchase a Liberty voucher for me because it was my new favourite shop in London. Unfortunately their vouchers were coins! I did end up with a lovely necklace though.
6th anniversary is iron- James and I are both avid readers and apparently not very creative. We order the same iron bookmark from the same Etsy shop with slightly different inscriptions. The ironic part is that neither of us ever use them because they are too bulky and heavy.
Tenth anniversary is tin and this was so tricky! Most of the gifts I could find were lovey-dovey tin signs covered in hearts, which is not our style at all. Another popular option seemed to be tins of mints or tea, which was a little under my budget. We tend to be practical so when James suggested he get me something not made of tin, I was a little relieved! It definitely took some of the pressure off.
What did we end up giving each other? I got James:
Personalized tin enamel mugs for camping. These I found on Not on The High Street. There was one flaw I noticed then I opened them up. James has always been Mr. Millington and then became Dr. Millington in 2007. It felt a little silly to have his establishment date of 2010 but when paired with mine, it looks cute. To make these mugs more accessible for camping and hiking, I added on carbineers to clip to rucksacks or picnic blankets.
Custom framed artwork from Etsy. What did couples do before Etsy? To keep with the theme of 10 and the fact that James loves maps, I chose a mountain landscape from the DreamSeizeCherish Etsy shop with different destinations we have travelled together over the years. It was easy to order, and when placed in a wooden frame (I could not find a tin one!) it will look great on our wall. To make it more personalized, I changed the lovey example quote to one from Winnie the Pooh (Tao of Pooh is one of James’ favourite books).
Personalized champagne bottle.* This got the best reaction from James of them all. He is incredibly hard to buy for because he is practical, picky with clothes, and can really get himself anything that he really wants. When Say it With Champers reached out to me, I thought this would be a fabulous idea. At the time, we weren’t exactly sure how we would be celebrating so I figured it would be a nice treat with dinner if we ate at home or if we went away for the weekend (and we could use our tin mugs!). The bottle quickly arrived after I approved the design proof. The bottle was inserted into an inflated bottle case and then in a cardboard box. It fit perfectly so I just put a bow on the box rather than waste wrapping paper (we like to be environmentally friendly when possible). With a large clumsy puppy tearing around, I didn’t want to risk the bottle breaking if I put it in a gift bag.
As soon as James opened it, he laughed. I had sent a selection of photos of the two of us and Say it With Champers were quick to respond and advise which would look best on the bottle. Apparently they made the right choice! Because of the personalized labels, there wasn’t much space on the label to learn about the champagne itself. The label indicated it was Brut so we knew it would be dry rather than sweet. According to Say it With Champers website, their champagne is either sourced from Philizot & Fils or produced by their own family in Festigny, both in Champagne regions of France. I think we Philizot & Fils and we loved the taste, easily finishing bottle with our dinner that evening. The empty bottle is now placed prominently on our dining room shelf.
James got me:
A ginormous bouquet of flowers. It is quite rare that I receive cut flowers. James feels they are not sustainable and therefore prefers to gift potted plants. On our recent camping trip, we bought a very nice (small) vase and I think he had hoped to put these flowers in the vase. James admits he “might have gotten carried away” when we realized all of our vases (we have three) are small. Even after cutting the flowers down, they ended up going in the dog toy storage container. The lilies are still blooming and looking fresh. Flowers are something I tend to go to for self care so it has been lovely having them around the house. Luckily, Maple has only knocked them over once.
Vouchers for driving lessons. During lockdown, I struggled to take my inflatable stand up paddleboard to the Royal Docks. The kit is very heavy and I technically wasn’t supposed to be on the Tube. Also, I think James would appreciate a back up driver when we are trips and he wants to head to the pub. I am a mediocre driver in the US, where the roads are wide and straight. I dread to think hope I will do on London’s streets. Stay tuned as I am sure I will share my adventures on Instagram.
A car shaped cookie cutter. He tried to get some tin in there. We are fairly certain it is not tin though. You may not know that I love to bake (yes, I don’t just eat raw cookie dough). I have a fairly large collection of cookie cutters and would make them more often if I had a large table or counter to roll the dough out on. As a Christmas tradition, we always make a variety of cookies, including cut outs.
If you ask me, I think we ended our anniversary gift giving on a high note with this year’s gifts. I don’t want to say we are settled into married life, but we know each other well enough to get practical gifts (our flat is too small for more crap) but can still surprise each other too. I put a lot of time and effort into this last anniversary gift and now need to start over for his 40th birthday next month. A personalized bottle of champagne might be a good start.
Come back next week to read about our active staycation in Oxfordshire where Mollie’s Motel and Diner was our base.
We look so young!
Thanks to Say it With Champers for the complimentary bottle. All opinions are honest and our own.
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