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Tik Tok “Girl Dinner”, The Newt, Ben Pentreath and more on weekend meanderings.
WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Good morning friends, happy Saturday! It’s time for weekend meandering with Kim and Juliet, our weekly series where we share all of the things that piqued our interest and caught our eye over the past week.
Is it just me or is any else tired? No, not from the news or the upcoming presidential election. I’ve been fatigued by that for years. It’s like a broken record and nothing changes. I digress. The dog days of summer have sapped my energy. I’m tired all of the time lately. Have you been feeling worn out and tired from the heat to? Hopefully cooler weather is on the horizon or at least a little rain?
Today on weekend meandering I am sharing a new Tik Tok craze, “Girl Dinner”, the Newt, English designer Ben Pentreath and lots more.
Grab a coffee, tea or chocolate and let’s get to it.
The Newt
Guys, add The Newt to your list of places to visit when next in the UK. This gorgeous hotel is 2 hours from London and is a treat not only for people who are booked to stay but also garden visitors. You can even book a day trip where you travel from Paddington station by train, spend the day and then travel back to London.
They offer bee safaris, 30 acres of gardens and orchards with 500 varieties of apples, wine, honey and cider tastings, a deer park, garden storytelling, a Roman villa and spa treatments, wild swimming ponds, a farm shop, bakery and butcher, an ice cream parlor, and a colony of crested newts which the hotel is named after. These are just a few of the things to keep you busy. Should you grow tired of this amazing place you can visit Stonehenge which is 40 minutes away.
Did I mention there are three restaurants? The Botanical Rooms in the main hotel, the Garden Café and Kitchen in The Farmyard. The restaurants serve home grown produce from the kitchen gardens, honey from the bees and cider from the orchards.
Opened in 2019, The Newt has 40 rooms between the Hadspen House, a restored 17th century manor, and the Farmyard, a collection of former dairy buildings. Owned by Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos(former editor of Elle Decoration South Africa), Roos is also the designer of the hotel. This amazing place is one to add to your bucket list.
More About The Newt
Read the story behind The Newt for more insight into the house, gardens and decor.
A review of The Newt by Moss Living
One to Follow~Ben Pentreath
Ben Pentreath is one of my all time favorite designers and apparently Princess Kates’ too. He also has an architectural firm and a shop. His design is traditional English with a modern sensibility and a layered, colorful, collected style. This arts and crafts house is a stunner, especially the blue kitchen!
Ben has a blog that you can follow to keep track of his store, designs and more. Or you can follow on Instagram and see a more intimate look at his home(s) and gardens.
Or purchase his book English Houses.
Tik Tok “Girl Dinner”
I don’t know about you but my idea of dinner is completely different than my husbands. He grew up eating meat, potatoes, vegetables, etc. I did as well but my tastes have changed and I have a very limited palette. I didn’t eat meat for 30 years and have never eaten anything that lives in water. I still don’t eat any seafood but will eat some red meat, so basically dinner at my house is a challenge every day. Let’s just say we do not see eye to eye on what makes a good dinner.
I prefer to eat something that is easy to make and comforting. Chicken and sweet potatoes is one of my go to meals, cauliflower steaks is another. My husband likes something a little more hearty. What about you? What do you like to eat for dinner?
What is a “Girl Dinner”?
One of the latest Tik Tok crazes, is the “girl dinner.” Have you heard of it? The Girl dinner trend started when Olivia Maher, posted a video on TikTok of a medieval-peasant-inspired meal that she called “girl dinner.” It was basically a glass of wine, some nice cheese, crusty bread and some grapes. Since then many others have jumped on the bandwagon sharing their versions of quick, easy meals and over 534 million people have views them.
Like EVERYTHING else in the world there is controversy about this trend, some say it leads to restrictive eating others called it a mouse snack and many others loved it.
I am not sure that was the original intention, other than something quick and convent. I also think it was simply to highlight the difference between the way men and women find comfort in food. My friend Helen likes to eat a big bowl of popcorn for dinner when her husband is out of town or a bowl of cereal. I like to eat something simple, the less cooking the better. Both my husband and my friends think dinner is meat, a starch and vegetables and it needs to be hot.
Personally, I love the idea of “girls dinner” an assortment of no cook foods or leftovers that taste good and nourish your body and spirit. What about you? You can easily make it healthier by adding hard cooked eggs, hummus, avocado, nuts and even a drizzle of olive oil.
5 “Girl Dinners” I could eat every day.
Rotisserie chicken salad with pickled onions and corn.
Juliets’ mini charcuterie boards would make the perfect “girl diner.”
Doesn’t this plowman’s lunch look like a great dinner too?
Leftover Steak and burrata crostini.
Mediterranean cheese and veggie board.
There are infinite combinations of meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables that could be combined to make a delicious and healthy dinner to graze and enjoy.
If you like charcuterie and grazing boards you might like this cookbook of small plates and meandering meals.
National Lipstick Day
Did you know that it is National Lipstick Day? Me either, but it is. I’m curious, how many tubes of lipstick do you have in your make-up bag and drawer? And how many do you actually use?
I’ll go first, I have around 15 and I typically gravitate to 2-3. Although I think a red lip is beautiful I tend to go for more muted pink tones and nude for a natural look.
WEEKEND LINKS & INTERESTING ARTICLES
This article is frightening, Live long and flounder: An aging expert on the looming crisis of our longer lifespans
Why America Stopped Building Swimming Pools
A reminder of what really happens to the clothes that you donate.
Is It Really Hotter Now Than Any Time in 100,000 Years?
If you loved your Barbie dream house check out these amazing doll houses.
Stop trying to have the perfect vacation. You’re ruining everyone else’s.
Is There Anything to the Panic Over Ultraprocessed Foods?
The 15 Best Paris Terraces for Lingering Outdoors
8 Things Introverts Do That Seem Weird to Others (But Are Not)
Fascinating podcasts for Barbie lovers.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT~ON THE BLOG THIS WEEK
This week I shared World on Fire, a WWII miniseries, a book for Francophiles and lots more on Monday Musings including Fall Finds from Pottery Barn.
You can read more about the book, the mini series and the Fall Finds in the post.
Blueberry Swirl Bundt Cake was on the menu and the blog this week! This bundt cake is easy to make and is a delicious addition to brunch or served as dessert.
It was officially Christmas in July this week and I shared the easiest DIY pinecone wreath EVER. You only need 2 things to make it. Anyone, even craft challenged people like me can make it and I did. In fact I have made several over the last 2 years. All the details are in the post just in case you want to make your own.
Friday Favorites featured lots of great recipes(including this Mediterranean Orzo salad, books, fashion finds and more.
Outfit Details dress//sandals//tote//glasses//perfume
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I hope that you enjoyed Tik Tok “Girls Dinner”, The Newt and Ben Pentreath today on weekend meanderings. What do you think of “girls dinner”? How do you like the Newt? Would you visit there?
Have a wonderful weekend, stay cool and be safe. Make sure to hydrate.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
Don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
This post contains affiliate links if you make a purchase from a link on the blog I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Shopping Break
Barbie Pink Finds
Anthr0~Pre-Fall
Nordstrom-last week of the sale
H&M
kim says
Hi Elizabeth! You always share some wonderful place to put on my bucket list. I would love to get to the Newt. I hear you and get sick of summer myself and when the weather gets unbearable, I need a break and try and go somewhere for a few days. Do you have any getaways on the horizon?
Ha! The dinner issue.. Well Max would like meat and starch, but I don’t really make that.. maybe once or twice in winter. We eat a lot of beans and chicken and fish. I don’t do red meat. Many of our meals are salads with proteins and some are thrown together things with what is left in the fridge.. Like omelets or egg burritos or sandwiches. We are pretty simple. I could live on the girl’s food! All those look so good.
I love your bundt cake and the pasta salad. Going to go pin those!
Hope you have a good weekend. We are FINALLY getting some cool weather again and I am going to work in the yard. xo
Elizabeth says
Kim,
Dinners are so funny for men and women. Honestly I am lazy when I cook for myself and therefore gravitate to easy no work meals. I only started to eat red meat after 30 years because my hair was falling out and I was not getting enough protein. It is still a very limited part of my diet but I will admit that I do love a hamburger once in awhile and I like meat pasta sauces.
We are getting some things done in the house because in September my 96 year old mother in law is coming to stay/live for 3 months.
Have a wonderful week Kim!
xo
Juliet says
Well, the Newt looks just amazing! I’m going to need about a year long U.K. vacation to get around to all these wonderful country house hotels you share with us. Ben is a new one to me … I’ll follow immediately! And I probably need his book, right?! As for the girls lunch … I’m all for it and love to create a plate of grazing foods for a meal. My husband’s easy that way and when he’s home he’s happy with whatever I put in front of him whether its meat and potatoes (my personal favorite!) or something lighter. Thanks for sharing my mini-charcuterie … they do make a good, and hearty, lunch or dinner. I haven’t gotten the boards out this year but you’ve inspired me to create something new, light and fun instead of the dreadful Lean Cuisine’s I often resort to when I’m on my own. I’m sure you are exhausted from the terrible heat that has dragged on in so many places around the country. Heatwaves wear me out too … and I’m so grateful we haven’t had any extended periods of heat. Yet. Hope you find a way to stay cool, and relaxed this weekend, Elizabeth. xo
Elizabeth says
Juliet,
Of all of the country houses I have featured The Newt might just be may favorite! It is such an interesting place!
You made me laugh when you said that your husband is happy with whatever you make. I am sure that your delicious home cooking is a delicious change from eating while traveling all of the time.
Get your boards out! Maybe that could be your dinner from now on instead of a Ean Cuisine!
Thankfully today we got rain for 20 minutes! It cooled off a little but it will be hot again tomorrow.
Take care Juliet.
Have a wonderful night.
xo
William Kendall says
Heat does tire me out.
Francesca B says
Lovely post thank you Elizabeth!
Elizabeth says
Thank you so much Frances! Have a wonderful week.
Mary Ann Pickett says
It’s so hot here, too, Elizabeth. But we have still been going to the beach for a quick dip every day. SO many great recipes. Love this post.
Elizabeth says
Mary Ann,
I am sure that the ocean is lovely. I loved it when we lived there.
Have a wonderful week!