#AtoZChallenge / Birthday Montage

Next year, the Boy has a big birthday coming up. A big birthday literally a week before we get married! YIPES! Because I wanted him to feel special, this year I planned a birthday weekend extravaganza! From Thursday to Saturday last week I packed as much fun in as possible so that when next year comes around, he won't feel left out. 

It started out on Thursday. I took him out for a big meal at our favourite restaurant Yukti. Then on Friday I took him out for dinner again. This time to Puschka. I knew he'd wanted to go there for ages, and wanted to spoil him rotten (the food there is so fancy!) After the meal, we met up with a big group of friends and headed out in to town for some birthday drinks. Then on Saturday, after breakfast at Frankie & Benny's, we headed down to Lush Spa Liverpool for some well-deserved pampering. Boyfriend had The Spell and I went for the Validation Facial. 

It was a hectic weekend, but I wanted to show him just how much he means to me, and everyone around him. This time next year might get a bit mad, and I wanted Boyfriend to have ample solo time in the spotlight! 

Where Have I Been?! (Life Catch Up)

Oh. My. Goodness! 

I cannot even believe how sparse my poor little blog looks right now. I am one very guilty blog Mama. 

If you follow me here or on my other social media channels regularly then you will know that blogging and vlogging didn't really happen a whole lot in December and January. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I didn't want to keep up-to-date, but it was one of those situations where life took over and had other plans for me. 

In mid-December, things got really, really busy. The Boy and I went away with my mother, father and sister-in-law for a weekend in Snowdon. It was a very welcome break for us all, and I really enjoyed being in the middle of nowhere and with my Northern family. We barely had any phone signal or internet connection and we all were able to disconnect from the rest of the world and spend some really great quality time together. 

Then, the run up to Christmas really begun. From being out in Manchester for Boyfriend's work Christmas party to then heading to Sherwood Forest Center Parcs, we barely stopped. Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year, and spending it in one of my favourite places, with my favourite people was really special. We dressed the tree, enjoyed lots of yummy food, drank some good wine, went on Winter-y walks, and took time to wind down. Over the week I battled a horrendously annoying dry cough that appeared out of nowhere, but even that couldn't dampen my festive spirits. 

Fast forward to New Year's Eve and we were back home and off out again to see in 2015 with my Northern Family. Within a hop, skip and a jump of time it was my birthday! On 9th January 2015 I turned the grand old age of 28. I still can't believe how fast all that time has gone. It honestly just seems like a big ol' blur. 

My birthday this year was probably one of the best I've ever had. On my actual birthday Boyfriend arranged a dinner out at TGI Fridays for us and two sets of our friends. And it was just wonderful. My cough had come back in the days leading up to my birthday and I had been feeling really down in the dumps and very sorry by myself. By the time my birthday came, I was ready for a party. 

The following weekend I planned for a giant girlie get together for my friends. With the wedding countdown well and truly started (1 year 59 days and counting,) it's really important that I try and get everyone together as much as possible. On the big day it's going to be really tricky to spend lots of time with all your guests, so by knowing my friends have all met before, and are ready to meet me on the dance floor in the evening means that everyone will always have a face they know. 

The night started at one of my favourite ever restaurants - Yukti . The food was phenomenal as always, and we were well and truly looked after by the staff, who greeted us all and treated us like friends rather than diners. We then headed out in to town and danced the night away at PopWorld until we were ready to drop. 

Now that we are in February, things are slowly starting to ease off and I'm having more time to get back in to the swing of blogging, vlogging and looking after my little creative outlets. I'm going to be treating February like January and will try to double up on posts to make up for all the ones that I had planned out, but that never came to fruition. 

Talk to me everyone. How was your New Year? Any news you'd like to share? 

Ginger's Jollies: Yukti

I have been wanting to write up this food review ever since I first stepped foot inside Yukti, but decided to wait until I had been back at least once. I am a first impressions kinda girl, and I go on my first instincts a lot. But when it comes to food, I don't take it lightly. I need to be seriously impressed before I decide if a food experience is worth writing about.

So. With three trips so far this year under my belt, I am ready to get started. 

For the longest time since I moved up to Liverpool, the space where Yukti resides has been empty. It was merely a shell of a building, and it always made me feel really sad to drive past it and see it looking so melancholic. I always looked at it and thought, "that'd be a great site for a restaurant." 

And then, Yukti opened last year, and you can imagine how intrigued I was. Especially because my favourite Indian restaurant in the area had closed down months previously. 

But it wasn't until just before my birthday at the start of the year that me, Boyfriend and MG finally went to investigate. 

It was the décor that instantly drew me in. As soon as you enter the main dining space, you are transported out of Liverpool and in to a world of mystery, spices, and luxe. The lights are toned down, creating an immediate sense of comfort and intimacy. Flickering tealights are placed on each table, and ornate fixtures and pictures decorate the walls. The floor space is big, but not overwhelming. Tables are spaced a good distance apart from each other (so there is no risk of unsuspectingly tripping over somebody's chair leg.) And there is a separate section dedicated to booths for those who are looking for a more private dining experience. 

But what made me smile the most, is the one glass panel attached to the wall that separates the main floor from the booths. The one constant reminder of where you are and that combines beautiful Indian cuisine and exotic décor with part of Liverpool's history: a glass painting of John Lennon. It's done subtly and in keeping with the calm tone of the restaurant, and helps combine two cultures together in a seamless way. 

So. To the food. 

The first time we went to Yukti, it was on a whim and we had no idea what to expect. I was thinking along the lines of amazing-quality Indian comfort food, lovingly dished on to a plate and ready to warm me up on a cold Winter's night. So you can imagine my surprise (and utter delight) when all the food came out dressed on the plates like this: 

I mean. How gorgeous does it look? I am literally starting to dribble looking at the photos right now. To have something so beautiful placed in front of you just makes you smile inside. Especially when the portions are a great size too. The dishes were appetisingly dressed, but definitely not minuscule. 

In the three times I've been to Yukti in the past 2 months, I've had quite a variety of dishes. So instead of focusing on a few, I'll do an overall description of my food experience. 

YUM.

I'm telling you that out of al the dishes I have sampled (and I've insisted on trying mouthfuls of everyone else's food at the table,) everything has been 100% delicious!

The breads have been thick and warm....the starters innovative.....and the main courses absolutely burst with flavour. All the portions are a good size, but not overwhelming. There is not one thing that I look back on and think, "oh no, I couldn't order that again." 

Boyfriend (who is just as much of a Foodie as me) even said that he thought it:

 "wasn't just one of the best Indian cuisine restaurants in Liverpool, but one of the best restaurants in Liverpool full stop."

Yukti is honestly one of the best Indian cuisine restaurants I have ever been to. The food is entirely affordable, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the staff are genuinely so helpful and so friendly that you feel more like you've gone to a restaurant that's been there for years rather than one that is relatively recently opened. When we went back the second and third time, as soon as we walked through the door we were greeted with smiles and conversation. Considering how many people must eat there each wee, the fact that the staff remember you makes you feel even more welcome and valued as customers. 

And did I mention this happens after the main course?

Magic hand towels! 
(Not marshmallows as Boyfriend & I thought they were at first!)

If you live in the Liverpool area and haven't been to Yukti yet, I highly recommend that you give it a visit. Dining at Yukti isn't just about a meal, it's about an experience.

Have you been to Yukti yet? What did you think?

For more information, go to: 

http://www.yukti.co.uk