Hello 2019
I'm writing this on the first Saturday of 2019. It's bitterly cold outside, so I've got the fan-heater running as I type. The constant whir of its motor muffles the sound of Sigur Rós playing from my new Echo Dot on the floor below. The light in our attic-office is...
A Family-Friendly Mini Guide to Koh Samui
Our trip to Koh Samui, Thailand, in July had a rocky beginning. The Malaysia Airlines flight from Heathrow was initially delayed and then cancelled due to technical difficulties. After spending the night in an airport hotel, we woke early for round two, battling...
How to Take Time Off When You’re Self-Employed
I know how hard it is to take time off when you’re self-employed, but I believe it’s vital if you want to build a business that’s sustainable. Assuming everything goes according to plan, by the time this post publishes, I’ll be lounging on a beach in Thailand. As I...
5 Things I’ve Gained From Co-Mentoring
For the last 18 months, I’ve been meeting with my friend and fellow freelancer, Charlie Swift, for regular co-mentoring sessions. Establishing such a supportive, nurturing relationship with another business owner is one of the best things I’ve ever done and it’s...
Our Summer Bucket List 2018
I love a summer bucket list. I try to write one every year. Sometimes they make it on to the blog, but more often than not they linger in a notebook or on a piece of paper pinned to the fridge. Making plans and setting goals for the summer isn't about putting pressure...
How to Delegate Like a Pro
As a business owner who serves other small businesses, I’ve come to appreciate the power and importance of learning how to delegate. Not only have I needed to outsource things myself, but a large proportion of my income relies on other people choosing to delegate...
5 Family Friendly Things To Do In Bristol
I may not blog about them as much as I’d like to, but weekends are still sacred in the Love Audrey household. I like a lazy Sunday as much as the next person, but I also enjoy plotting and planning a packed day out. After four and half years living in the city, we’ve...
Seeking and Doing the Work You Love
I never thought I’d miss the formal management reviews I was forced to endure when I worked in retail, but I do. Sometimes external expectations, accountability and encouragement are nice things to have at your disposal. Being my own boss means it’s up to me to review...
In Defense of Rest
I’d been planning to write about rest for a long time. Not about briefly slowing down after a busy season, or occasional moments of downtime in an otherwise hectic schedule, but about small, significant ways to make life more restful in general. I thought I had a lot...
A Love Letter to Lunch Breaks
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome {CFS} I was diagnosed with in 2016 prompted an array of lifestyle changes. To aid my recovery, everything from my morning routine to the food I eat has been overhauled and transformed. One of the simplest, but most effective things I’ve...
3 Things I’ve Learned About Launching a New Website
Not only is this the first blog post I’ve published since the end of January, it’s the first post to appear on my shiny new website. Welcome! Have a look around, settle in and get comfy. I suspect the main thing you’ll notice is that Love Audrey is no longer ‘just a...
Hello 2018
I've been writing a version of this post every January since 2010. Sometimes, I sit down at my laptop knowing exactly what to say about the previous year, but occasionally I struggle to find the words. Here goes nothing... 2017 was much kinder to me and my family than...
Home Comforts – New Bedding For Jesse’s Bright, Colourful Bedroom
We finished decorating Jesse's bedroom almost exactly four years ago. Although his door *still* needs a lick of paint, it's always felt like a room that's 'done', especially in comparison to the rest of the first floor. As such, I haven't really had the urge to tweak...
Taking Stock in November
Hey Internet, long time no speak! So long in fact, I haven't shared any photos from our summer holiday in Dorset, hence the very out-of-season image accompanying this post. I didn't intend to take a two month break from blogging, but I guess that's just the way life...
Current Obsessions {Summer}
August might not feel that summery right now, but I'm still in complete denial about the impending arrival of autumn. Pretending it isn't right around the corner is the only way I can calm the usual feelings of dread that start to surface around this time of year. My...
My weekend has mainly been spent…
Waking up earlier than I would have liked. The children are away in Cornwall for nine days, so I could have had a lie-in. Curse my internal body clock! Sipping tea on the sofa and enjoying the sound of silence. Jumping in the shower. Pulling on skinny jeans and my...
Our Amsterdam Adventure – A Day Trip to Zaanse Schans
By far my favourite experience during our stay in Amsterdam was our day trip to Zaanse Schans, a neighbourhood in Zaandam filled with beautiful historic windmills and houses. Just a short train ride from Amsterdam Centraal Station, we completely fell in love with the...
Our Amsterdam Adventure – Seeing The Sights
We crammed so much in during our time in Amsterdam, I hardly know where to begin. After the drama of our arrival, we woke up on Monday morning raring to go. Museumplein and a Cruise We kicked things off by walking to Museumplein, a public space that's home to three...
Our Amsterdam Adventure – An Airbnb Disaster and Arriving In Oud-West
After a slew of technological setbacks {the details of which I won't bore you with}, I'm finally ready to share details of our recent trip to Amsterdam. In short, we had an amazing time. Despite its somewhat sordid reputation, the city has so much to offer in terms of...
My weekend has mainly been spent…
Waking up before everybody else. Creeping down to the kitchen for a cup of tea. Soaking up the silence. Greeting Mr L.A. and Jesse when they finally joined me downstairs. Making a batch of Nigella's Everyday Brownies. Grabbing a quick breakfast. Jumping in the shower....
1. Finally, some Franky weathe
That’s it,
No trip to
Very li
