Arguably the most famous prologue, and six lines that are guaranteed to make me smile, as I greet an old friend… Romeo and Juliet. Today marks 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death and on this spring day in the twenty first century I find Shakespeare and all his work as relevant and nourishing for the soul as I’m sure all those who were at the Globe Theatre in 1595 when Romeo and Juliet was first performed did.

From learning about sonnets and being encouraged to write our own in year 8, to feeling ecstatic when chosen to read out loud the part of Juliet in class in year 10 (Having gone to a Catholic convent, trust me this was a big win – thanks Miss Hopkins!) I can identify such pivotal points in my growing love for literature with Shakespeare. It was the darkness of Macbeth that convinced me to study English Literature at A-Level; I liked how it made me feel uncomfortable, how it forced me to examine such ingrained morality.

I’ve been lucky enough to watch A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre on midsummer night (yep Shakespeare geeking doesn’t get much better than that) and I’ve spent countless hours loudly debating Twelfth Night in my AS lesson with Mr Fielding – and here I am over ten years later, a mother, a blogger, a truly modern woman and yet Shakespeare has survived and in some ways surpassed pop culture to still evoke such clear and happy memories. I find myself sat watching Baz Luhrmann’s beautiful production of Romeo and Juliet for the countless time happily succumbing to the suspension of disbelief.

The Independent wrote of 60 everyday words still used today that we have Shakespeare to thank for and this proves that not even another 400 years could diminish the bard’s everlasting influence on our language, our love and our lives.

Head-butting the desk as you struggle to interpret the tragedy that is Romeo and Juliet for your English GCSE coursework – whilst perhaps not the most tantalising moment at the time; is surely a right of passage that we wouldn’t with hindsight swap for all the wine in Verona… and one I cannot wait for Boo to have the joy in discovering for herself.

To finish off with wise words from the man himself, words that were repeated to me again and again by Mrs Harrison…

“We know what we are, but know not what we may be”

William Shakespeare: the original and everlasting master of words.

With a date still not set for the big move, I’ve got plenty of time – in between living in cardboard city and panicking where we’ll hold Boo’s birthday party if we’re not moved in time – to seek plenty of interiors inspiration. This extra time has allowed me to really explore looks and styles that not only I like but will match the cottage and it’s listed status.

It’s pretty easy to transform the look of a room with paint and soft furnishings, however the biggest project for me will be the kitchen. Our current kitchen is modern and I love the simplicity and functionality that comes with that. The kitchen in the cottage has charm, a stable back door, a butler sink and country style cupboards. Replacing the kitchen is not an option, instead I need to gather inspiration on how the best kitchen design will help to transform the space and reflect our personality and lifestyle.

Harvey Jones Kitchens have an impressive kitchen showcase – I adore this pink and cream kitchen; it’s a perfect example of the sort of look I want to achieve… classic with a twist. It’s also great to see that there’s a traditional style that works well for busy family life.

I’ve promised myself that I won’t be able to make any big design decisions until we’ve moved in and have lived in the space for a while – I think it’s important to gain a sense of your surroundings and to discover how you interact with the space to truly know what you want out of it. However I suspect the kitchen revamp will involve tiling, painting, new lighting to help enhance the immense charm that is already there to create the perfect Mummy and Boo kitchen.

This is a collaborative post.

One of the greatest things about spring is it being the perfect time to start putting together your summer wardrobe; I love cracking out the off season clothing boxes that I store my summer looks in to rediscover some key styles and to figure out what pieces I want to add.

Summer footwear is no exception, I have sandals that have been doing the summer rounds for nearly ten years and come out year after year, one of these being my ever faithful Birkenstocks – after countless holidays, rainy days in the UK, pregnancy and chasing after Boo in the garden my Birkestocks gave up late last summer. So this spring it’s time to invest in another pair of the most versatile summer sandals.

I’m a big fan of the Madrid style: simple classic and goes with practically any outfit – plus the minimal strap means less chance of the zebra tan line look, trust me it’s not the most stylish of looks! I also love the endless colour options.

Red and white seem to be the strong contenders, both perfect summer shades – perfect for showing off that holiday tan!

I have a feeling that as soon as mine arrive, Boo will be angling to joining the Birkenstock club…. What’s your favourite Birkestock style?

This is collaborative post.