This Slow, Cosy Life: A Week of Cakes, Courgettes & Intense Emotions

Hello in the last moments of July. I have so much to tell you! Life has been chaotic, busy, emotional, beautiful, happy and everything else in between.

The first week in our new home, my mum’s birthday, a rare date night, the beginning of the school holidays… all of those soothed by peaceful walks in the Somerset countryside, working in the garden and quiet moments like right now.

I sit at the table, writing this post, a candle lit, wrapped in a sweater, with the evening wind blowing behind the closed patio doors. This cosy little life is everything I want and I’m so glad I’ve found a group of wonderful women who share this feeling (so I don’t feel like the strange one haha!).

Let’s begin with my garden… I know it’s not good to brag, but hey! Look at my courgettes! My garden is doing amazing. We have an abundance of courgettes (some in funny shapes), tomatoes (still green, though), lots of basil (I definitely planted too much, lol) and my beloved pumpkins are also starting to take shape.

What a joy it is to collect courgettes (or zucchinis for my American readers) on a rainy day, into a cute basket in your back garden. 100/10, wholeheartedly recommended.

Our "Farmhouse" Almond and Apple candle is just the perfect kitchen companion this time of year

Big Tuna, is that you?! Well, Jimbo (I hope you’re all getting The Office references) has grown up and definitely manned up 😄 I have a soft spot for a good action movie or TV show. You know, the old-fashioned kind where a hero with a dark, difficult past saves the world and wins the heart of a hot chick… and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan DELIVERS.

I won’t give you any spoilers here (and please don’t give me any either, we’re only halfway through season one) but it’s the story of Suleiman’s wife that really moved me. I understand her. I would have done the same.

How scary is it to think that someone you love and trust can change? That your husband’s political views or hobbies can slowly radicalise over the years without you noticing.. and then suddenly you realise he’s no longer the man you loved and trusted?

Speaking of manning up… As a first-time homeowner, my husband has officially joined the middle-aged dad DIY club. He now takes regular trips to building supply shops and has a cupboard full of tools, screws and mysterious cables.

I LOVE this version of Andrei. It takes a 30+ years old woman to truly appreciate the charm of a man who can fix things 😄

Where is Andrei?

The intense stare, the rubbing of his hands…
I hope your husband looks at you the way my husband looks at the electrical supplies❤️

Now that the school holidays have started, Rosa is coming with us everywhere and eagerly getting involved in work tasks. Will she join me in YR Studio’s social media one day? Will she have her own YouTube channel?

I’m so excited to see what the future holds for this little sparkle of mine ✨

Forever unpacking packing supplies :). This is the part of the business you don’t really think about when you decide you’re just going to make and sell cosy candles.

Adult-sized bags of packing peanuts and pallets of boxes somehow didn’t cross my mind back in 2018 lol!

My mum Elżbieta (or Lisa for short) is currently visiting. She was tripping to come see the new house - she is so excited and happy for us.

It was also her birthday, so Andrei cooked carbonara (pasta is her absolute favourite), and I baked a cake. A simple sponge cake with layers of Nutella and cream. As per tradition, my sponge turned out a little wobbly… Sponge is one of those recipes I keep baking and never get quite right... It really is the bane of my baking life. But at least it tasted good:)

This week, we spent an entire day in the Cotswolds. Those of you who watch my YouTube channel might have noticed it’s become a bit of a recurring thing: when Mum is visiting, we manage to take a day off - not just from the business, but from parenthood too and go on a little day trip.

No surprise here, I chose the beautiful Cotswolds. My husband was chuffed, as we managed to book a table at his favourite burger place - Smiths of Bourton in Bourton on the Water and omgggg… it was as good as ever.

I wish we lived closer... Actually, it’s probably for the best we don’t live too close, lol

Since it’s a popular tourist town and some of you might be visiting, I thought I’d let you know what we ordered! We both had the Mr P burger and shared the Loaded Truffle Shuffle Fries and Buffalo Chicken Tenders. The portions are massive and the staff are super friendly.

I really love it there and just to be clear, this isn’t sponsored, not a PR, AD, gifted or anything like that. We’re just happy customers!

On another note… we had such a wonderful day. I love being a mum, daughter and business owner but I truly cherish those rare moments when I can just be his girl.

No policing bedtimes, updating stock or editing videos. Just Andrei and me, holding hands, talking about life while admiring the Cotswold stone and pretty cottage gardens.

We arrived in Bourton for our dinner a little too early, so we went for a walk to St Lawrence Church and ended up sitting on a bench in the little walled area of the graveyard. The air was warm and smelled of grass. The churchyard was completely empty and Andrei and I just sat there, talking about what the future might hold for us and how we’ll face anything that comes our way together.

I didn’t take a single photo or video, but the memory of that Summer evening in the churchyard is one of those I’ll cherish forever.

Uhh, I got emotional! But here’s the latest from the Somerset Levels. I still can’t believe all this surrounds our village and that we can walk to the open fields in just minutes.

Thank you for reading and for your orders - I love seeing all the cosy candles and home decoration leaving the studio!

I hope to see you on the blog this Sunday for our Autumn Countdown series.

Adriana x