She was a day tripper.

Pretending to be a Liverpool fashion blogger again.

Photos by Laura.

Blue skies = boozy opportunities. As soon as the clouds cleared, Laura and I headed to Liverpool as she'd never been and I didn't need an excuse. Seemingly on a tour of its most instagrammable spots, we headed straight to Oh Me Oh My's roof garden for a gin in the sun, and one hell of a view (see the insta shot below). This place had been on my to-visit list for a bloody long time, so we took the sunny opportunity with both iphone-holding hands and got the shot in no time at all.

On the hunt for food, we next headed to instagram-famous Love Thy Neighbour on Bold Street. I headed here with Jade the last time I was in Liverpool, but knew it'd be up Laura's street because what's not to love about a living ceiling and great branding? As always, service was shocking, but at least we had something pretty to look at while we were waiting. After wandering up to the Georgian quarter (always ma fave, luv u the Quarter) and taking these photos, we headed back central and ended up at the Clubhouse for a glass of wine before catching a train back to Manchester. Not bad for a 'we'll see where this takes us' day, eh?

I definitely need to make an effort to visit more northern cities, but I just can't help heading back to Liverpool again and again. Any recommendations on where to head next? I keep fancying Leeds and York, but just got to get my act together!

What I wore.

New Look embroidered bomber jacket: £45 (similar). Asos smock dress: £36. Topshop bug embroidered boots: £30. Urban Outfitters bag: £15. Sainsbury's polo neck: c/o. Lord and Berry purple lip crayon in 'la fiesta': c/o.

What's on Insta.

'When I feel that somethin', I want to hold your hand' #liverpool #itsliverpool #pink #weekend

A post shared by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Apr 28, 2017 at 12:42pm PDT

Trying out purple lips yesterday with a crayon from @lordandberry 💜😈 (god knows what I'm meant to hashtag, but the girls at @sparklepruk sent it to me) #lordandberry #makeup #fotd

A post shared by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Apr 23, 2017 at 3:15am PDT

Forgot to take any photos today cos I was too busy catching up with @jade_fung/eating, so here's a photo from last week's trip to the 'pool #liverpool #itsliverpool #weekend #blue

A post shared by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Apr 30, 2017 at 10:15am PDT

Back with bae 💕 #liverpool #itsliverpool

A post shared by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Apr 22, 2017 at 10:21am PDT

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This French life.

Picnic perfection in an asos midi dress.

If the French are known for anything, it's their food. Of course, diets were abandoned on first mention of the word baguette, so a picnic in the grounds was one of the most anticipated parts of the entire trip. As it was bloody boiling a bit hot, I'd decided to go for an asos midi dress (meant to have a bardot neckline, but anyone else find them constantly slipping off their shoulders?) and some courts. I think I've reached that point in my sartorial life where shapeless dresses are King, and can 100% see me buying this in every colour, 'cause easy. But, as always, I'm getting a little carried away...

Our day started with a trip to the rooftop for a series of talks named "Life Lessons" with Stylist France Editor Audrey Diwan and blogger Freddie Harel. I, of course, knew Audrey's book "How to Be Parisian" from seeing it on every coffee table across the country, and I'd previously worked with Freddie on a work project, but it was amazing to see these two women so at ease at commanding a room.

We then sat in on the Stylist editorial meeting, where we had a group chat about what sort of things we'd like to see in the issue (that came out last week). As someone who's only really written for online titles before, it was interesting the see the differences between the two, and see the issue come to life via the flat layout on the easel in the corner. 

We then headed into the grounds to sample some more of that French life: cheese. Rather than the ol' buy something from M&S and then sit on the plastic bag trick I've perfected over the years, this picnic was definitely more refined. Tables guys, tables. We sat among the citronella candles accepting I was to be bitten within an inch of my life, but dampening the pain with the taste of brie. So much brie, so little time.

The afternoon was dedicated to exploring the castle and its grounds, where we headed off (covered in insect repellent) to find an old folly full of bats, before heading back to sit poolside and make the most of the sunshine. That evening we were welcomed into the chapel to watch a film, however Laura and I decided to chill on the roof terrace instead.

The next day we headed back to Nantes to catch our flight to London. Thankfully, the sun had travelled across the Channel with us, making the bump back to reality that little bit easier (to be honest, the gin and tonics probably helped with that too). Monday's inbox could wait until then, because I was too busy dreaming about the last week.

What I Wore.

Asos midi dress: £38. Public Desire Katie shoes. Urban Outfitters half moon bag: £15. Urban Outfitters sunglasses: £10 (now £6).

Where We Went.

What's On Insta.

Well, this beats my normal meal deal picnic. #thisfrenchlife #theeverydayproject #thehappynow #thisjoyfulmoment #publicdesire #pdbae

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Jun 23, 2016 at 4:50am PDT

Now I've personalised my @chambordchannel, no one'll be stealing my drink 😉 #thisfrenchlife #chambord #france

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Jun 23, 2016 at 6:14am PDT

Eating my feelings whilst checking BBC news. Making the most of this France malarkey while I can 🇫🇷 #thisfrenchlife #breakfast

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Jun 23, 2016 at 11:41pm PDT

Back in England with a bit of an EU bump. I leave the country for two days... #thisfrenchlife #abmlifeiscolorful

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Jun 24, 2016 at 7:34am PDT

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You could wait for a lifetime to spend your days in the sunshine.

Catarzi fedora hat: £25 (jeeze, they've really increased the price of these). Warehouse bardot dress: £24.  Oasis loafers: £4. Warehouse belt (I think, found it in my room one day). Marks and Spencer bag: £43. Scarf c/o Style by Portobello. 

Weekend museuming and sunshine.

As I sit here, having just uploaded the best. boomerang. ever. (if I do say so myself) looking at some very grey skies, it's making me chuckle to look at the above photos: what a difference a week makes! It wouldn't be a patriotic Great British Summer without discussing the clouds every two minutes, so I'm glad to see we can continue this tradition. Less chat about the Euros the better, however. 

Making the most of last week's sunshine, I headed along to meet Clare and Joe at the Imperial War Museum North to check out their newest exhibition: Fashion on the Ration. I hadn't been to IWM since 2003, so was well overdue a visit to the funny looking building on the other side of the river to the Lowry. It's a beautiful museum as it is (despite its subject matter), so would recommend a look round. But, if you're nearby, the Fashion on the Ration exhib is worth a look-in too, as it'll definitely make you feel #blessed after last night's asos splurge. Anyone else kinda want those undies made from a silk ex-army map? 

As I'd bought a weekend tram ticket, I asked on Twitter if anyone had any sunny Sunday recommendations for me, and Emma recommend heading to Sale before walking on to Didsbury. The one thing I've found since moving to Manchester and living a stone's throw from the city centre is that I'm constantly in the urban jungle, with little to no green space available. So, without much hesitation, I took up this suggestion, and got my weekly dose of the green stuff. Now, this comes with a warning: take suncream. Idiotic me prioritised ice cream (not really that sorry), and I'm still applying cocoa butter every day to make up for it. The walk along the Mersey to Didsbury was the perfect antidote to a long ol' week, and I think I've fallen a little in love with that part of Manchester. It's got a very village-y feel (think Wimbledon village, if you're trying to work out its vibe), and it sells parma ham paninis for £6.50.

If that's not got you sold, I made a mini-vlog of my Sunday here. Let me know if you liked it, cos I might start making these a weekly thing (when it's not raining).

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Double denim and all the frills.

Asos petite denim top: £25. Oasis Isabella jeans: £27. Adidas Spezial: £27.

Hands up if you're an old time reader round these parts? If you can remember back to my old "shove a point and shoot camera somewhere and hope for the best" time, then massive clicks to you for sticking about so long. Looking back at these photos and Manchester's intricate canal network reminds me of about three years ago during my second year at uni, when I used to wander around Liverpool and discovered the start of the Liverpool to Leeds canal route. If you'd ever told me back then that I'd end up living a little further along the route I would've raised an (untamed, forgive me) eyebrow and told you to jog on - funny how life has its little quirks, eh?

Back onto less just-had-a-coffee-and-this-is-life-now existential chat (yep, still heading to Costa to write every single blog post), hope you're all post-Easter egg coma survivor and thus eying up another. I'm heading home next week for food a TLSP gig and hospital appointment, so keep an eye on insta to check all the cute country places I'm off to, a right contrast to this super Manchester outfit (if I do say so myself). I don't feel homesick at all as I've felt like an adopted northerner ever since I got accustomed to Liverpool, but it'll be nice to head back for plenty of catch ups and a temperature a couple degrees higher than the crap we've got up here. So, see you soon London, and, in the meantime, send scarves.

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Hello from the other siiiiiide.

Roll-neck jumper, camel suedette skirt, heeled ankle boots: all c/o TU Sainsburys. Catarzi fedora hat: £25 (now on sale!). Oasis embellished leather clutch: £9, with staff discount.

Hello, 2016! I've been umm-ing and ahh-ing over whether to do a "round up of 2015" style post like I did last year, but seeing as the big one-five was actually a pretty crummy year maybe it's best to let that one lie. In short: it all started pretty well, but stress levels hit an all time high, resulting in some serious side-effects on my health (both mental and physical), and who really wants to read about that? I was determined to see in the new year with a drink in hand surrounded by plenty of people to make sure I didn't wallow about, and one stupid journey later we were toasting the first hour. Even if it's just one night, for me there's something about making sure your year starts as you mean to go on: happy, carefree, and surrounded by friends.

Back to the present, 2016's been alright so far. Made myself some cheese scones, bought a Mulberry handbag, drunk a litre of hangover cure in an hour - not much for me to complain about, my bank account however... Here's to a new year of treating yourself right, and just plain old treating yourself.

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Tongue-tied and breathless.

Warehouse leather jacket: £1, sample sale. Warehouse check shirt: £1, sample sale. Oasis Isabella jeans: £27. Hobbs boots: £40. Asos fedora hat: £25. Jaeger clutch bag: £25, Freeport Braintree (similar).

Hello, is it a mid-week post you're looking for? Regardless of the answer (or if you're reading this on Saturday), this is exactly what you've stumbled across. I'm not one for blogmas, vedj or whatever weird acronym is magicked up next, but I'm feeling blogtober and am aiming to get two posts up a week for this month only. Which either sounds:

a) lame. But then again, you're the one reading it;

b) not that much effort. You try working full-time, having a 37.5% abv social life and then touching your laptop post-collapse at home; or

c) superhuman. The one I'm going for, as I cough myself into oblivion.

Depending on the audience*, I tend to tell people I'm from Chelmsford. This is true - I do live here, sleep here, write this blog post here. But aside from vegetating in knitwear of an evening, my trips into town don't really consist of much more than heading to the station before the sun's even risen or a rare trip to the gym. To mix things up a little, my mum and I headed to Chelmsford Museum as they had an exhibition (strong word, it was a room) on about the history of swimming costumes. It's an odd little museum, featuring a lot of military history, shout outs to Marconi and some taxidermy, but there's a lot to be said for day trips that take less than half an hour to travel back from. A trip down the road calls for ultimate comfort, so I plucked my skinnies from the top of the pile and learnt a little bit more about where I live. Some people (I'm looking at you, Dickens) may have thought Chelmsford was "the dullest and most stupid spot", he might not be far wrong, but apparently Hendrix played here once, who knew? 

*Never ever tell boozed up men you're from Essex. Ever.

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