Big Ben

London Trip

December 09, 2016

Last Sunday I turned the ripe old age of 22. Old I know. I can't stop singing Taylor Swift's '22' in my head. For my birthday, my boyfriend took me on a two day trip to London. I was so excited as I had only been to London once to look around art galleries whilst I was studying my A levels. I've never had the chance to be one of those annoying tourists who wants to do anything and everything whilst in London. 

We got the train from Newcastle at midday. Our train was of course cancelled (no surprise there), so we had to hop on another one but luckily trains to King's Cross are pretty often although it did mean standing up for an hour on the train due to the lack of seats. What a great start to the journey but things could only go up from here!

We got into London just before 4pm and somehow managed to figure out the tube to get to our hotel which was in Kensington (posh I know, perhaps too posh for me). Our hotel was just a standard hotel, all we wanted was a shower to wash in and a bed to sleep in and this hotel was in the perfect location at just a 5 minute walk to Earl's Court tube station. I wish the tube existed up here in Newcastle, I could not believe how fast you could travel from one location to another. 

After settling in, we got the tube to Oxford Circus which literally took 10 minutes. It was around 6pm at this time which of course is rush hour and wow both the tube and Oxford Street were packed! After figuring out our way onto Oxford Street, we met my boyfriend's brother who took us for food and mojitos at a burrito bar situated on a side street just off Oxford Street. Damn they were some good mojitos!

After catching up on a long 9 months of not seeing his brother, we decided to head off to Hyde Park where Winter Wonderland was. I had heard about it but I didn't know too much about it and I am so glad we went. It was spectacular. It was full of people of all ages and had something for everyone to do. We grabbed ourselves a hot chocolate which was one of the best hot chocolates I have ever had.

There was too much to take in and it was closing in an hour so we just had a slow wander around to take in the whole atmosphere including the smells and sights. It really was the scent of Christmas. We immediately made the decision to come back tomorrow at an earlier time so we had more time to browse. We then stumbled across a bratwurst stall where my boyfriend and his brother grabbed themselves one. How they were hungry after those burritos I do not know! But they did look and smell amazing!

10pm came and we decided to head back to the hotel and depart ways with his brother as we were so tired from travelling. In addition, we had a busy day planned for the next day so an early night was definitely on the cards. 

The next day we were up, checked out of the hotel and at Waterloo tube station for quarter past 10. That is early for us. My boyfriend had organised tickets for us to go on the London Eye, visit Sea Life and take a trip to Madame Tussaud's. Whilst collecting the tickets, we had a glimpse of Big Ben, Westminster and the London Eye in daylight knowing that we were going to come back later once it was dark to go on the London Eye.



We first visited Sea Life where we saw an array of fish, sharks and jellyfish. I always get amazed at what can actually be found in the ocean and how magical and totally different ocean life is compared to life on land. 

We then got the tube to Madame Tussaud's which was fantastic. Some of the models were unbelievably lifelike, some not so much. I'll let you decide on that! Johnny Depp was the most realistic look-a-like in my eyes.






We then headed to the London Eye which we had timed perfectly to get on just as it started to go dark. The views of surrounding London were unbelievable and I would go on it again in a heartbeat. Big Ben, The Shard and Westminster were all lit up and it was so mesmerising. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.





We then had a walk past Big Ben and Westminster to Hyde Park where we again visited Winter Wonderland. We had a couple of hours here before having to get the train back to Newcastle. This time me and my boyfriend both had a bratwurst from the Bavarian village which was unreal. Yummy food along with the whole atmosphere and live entertainment was such a fun experience. I then had a mulled wine and my boyfriend had a hot apple cider. Both were scrummy. And to finish it off, we had some churros which were dripping in melted chocolate. They were divine and I wished there were more! After looking around, we noticed an ice skating rink which we were far too full to do so ended up looking at all the theme park attractions and the Christmas stalls. 





Unfortunately, 8pm came and it was time to get the tube back to King's Cross. Winter Wonderland truly is wonderful and I would urge anyone to go if you get the chance, I will certainly be going back next year!

9pm and the train arrived to take us home which took 3 and a half hours. This time the train wasn't cancelled which meant we sat down for the whole journey which was a good job! we had been on our feet for 11 hours with heavy rucksacks and boy we were tired. We slept the whole train ride home!

London at Christmas time was unreal and I would recommend you visit there. I think it might turn into a yearly thing with me and my boyfriend because we both loved it so much. It was the perfect birthday treat.

Have you been to London at Christmas time? If so, what would you recommend to do in London at Christmas if I visit again next year? Let me know in the comments below.

Best of wishes.

adult

What I Miss About Being a Student

November 24, 2016

After graduating in July, I officially am no longer a student. And haven't been for the past 4 months. It sucks. I miss the learning, the writing and of course the partying; I even miss the stress not to mention the array of student discounts you can get and getting away with the excuse of being lazy because you are a student. 


I have been in education since I began nursery which was a lifetime ago. I didn't take any gap years or breaks throughout my education and since 2010 when I first started my GCSEs, I have been an extremely academic girl always putting my work before anything. All my hard work and sacrifice for my GCSEs and A Levels paid off and I made it onto the course and the University that I really wanted to attend.

University life was amazing. Endless partying, meeting new people and learning new things; it was a real learning curve and helped to bring out a new confidence within myself which I lacked throughout school. Although there was a number of tired and endless nights and the fact that I probably cried myself a mini river throughout my time at University, I wouldn't change it for the world. Except for Harvard referencing. I despised that.             

After graduating and entering the big scary adult world that we live in, you begin to realise how much you took student life for granted. Having to get up to go to work instead of learning about a passion of yours is quite tiring which is why I am currently looking to further my academic career as I am currently applying for Masters courses. I have basically learnt that since graduation, a profession in my degree area is much easier to get with a Masters. Also since graduating, I feel like my intelligence is slowly but surely depleting. I hope I'm not the only one who feels like this! I am used to being force fed tonnes of information everyday but now the only information I get is from the news. I think I need to get back to reading books and articles on my subject area again. 


I can't wait to finish my Masters application, hopefully be accepted and start learning again! A year out of studying is too long for me and I can't wait to call myself a student once again. If you're currently a student, make the most of it!

Are you a graduate who misses being a student? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes. 

Christmas

My Christmas Haul so Far (Part I)

November 18, 2016

Although Christmas is over a month away, it is never too early to begin buying items for Christmas. I have bought a couple of presents so far but my main focus at the minute is the decorations for the house. This is my third Christmas with my boyfriend but it is the first Christmas that I will actually be spending with my boyfriend and I can't wait! It is also the first Christmas where we actually have a house to ourselves so lots of new decorations are needed to make our own little Christmas. We started buying these a couple of weeks ago as I believe in buying decorations and spreading the cost over a few weeks. Early is better than late!

So far, we have bought decorations for the tree although we don't actually have a Christmas tree! We have probably done it the wrong way round but we visited the Christmas floor of Fenwicks in Newcastle and got the Christmas bug for decoration buying. That is where it all began. We decided on a red, gold and green theme as we believe these are the true colours of the festive season and decorations of these colours can be found everywhere!

Selection of 55 differently sized baubles of green, red and gold colour from Wilkinsons - £10

Skiing reindeer from Marks and Spencer - £5

Skiing girl from Tiger - £2

Christmas stockings with initials from Fenwicks - £4 each

Robin from Fenwicks - £2.50

Hedgehog from Fenwicks - £5

Robin on a postbox from Fenwicks - £4.50

Santa tree topper from Asda - £3
I cannot wait to add lights and other decorations to this collection but I think I need to actually get searching for a tree first!

Do you have any unique Christmas decorations? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

banana

Homemade Banana Bread Packed with Protein

November 17, 2016

Wanting a sweet snack without any artificial sugar and packed full of protein? You've come to the right place. This deliciously soft and fluffy banana bread is the perfect snack for you and it can be made and baked in under an hour.


What you need:
 - 4 mashed bananas
 - 1 cup of oats
 - 1 cup of plain flour
 - 4 scoops of banana protein powder
 - 6 egg whites
 - 5 teaspoons of apple sauce
 - 10 teaspoons of sweetener
 - 2 teaspoons of baking soda
 - 2 teaspoons of chia seeds

First set your oven to 190 degrees Celsius.

Mash up 4 bananas (the riper the better!)

Add all the dry ingredients (excluding the chia seeds) to the mashed banana and mix.

Then add the remaining ingredients (still excluding the chis seeds) and mix thoroughly.

When completely mixed, pour the mixture into a loaf tin.

Then sprinkle the chia seeds onto the top of the mixture.

Bake for 40 minutes, ensuring that when a knife is inserted into the middle of the loaf, it comes out clean and without any unbaked mixture.

Allow to fully cool then tuck in!


What are your thoughts on this recipe? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

breakfast

Porridge and Why You Should Eat It Daily

November 14, 2016

Happy Monday morning! It's the start of a new week and there's not a better way to start the week than with a healthy breakfast. And a coffee of course. Porridge. The first thing I used to think when I saw or heard the word 'porridge' was a bland, cement-like and just very boring food. But porridge isn't boring and is the perfect breakfast or snack for these cold winter months.


 Porridge on it's own is I openly admit very boring and is more like a chore to eat rather than an enjoyment. Food is there to enjoy and porridge can be yummy believe it or not!
An excellent quality about porridge is that it compliments a variety of foods ranging from fruit to nuts, seeds to nut butters, sauces to syrups and even chocolate!

My favourite toppings include:
 - Peanut butter
 - Chia seeds
 - Goji berries
 - Cacao powder
 - Golden syrup
 - Linseed
 - Nicecream
 - Frozen mixed berries
 - Sunflower seeds
 - Pumpkin seeds
 - Banana
 - Chocolate
 - Jam
 - Desiccated coconut

I love a different combination of these toppings so my breakfast always tastes different but my key ingredient is cacao powder. It makes eating porridge so much more easier and it tastes amazing along with any of the other toppings listed above.

Porridge

 So why is porridge so good you may ask? The fact that you can make porridge in just two minutes in a microwave means there is no excuse for not having the time to make it. And the health benefits of porridge make it one of the top food staples to eat.

Oats are the predominant ingredient in porridge and have many health benefits. Oats are packed full of minerals, vitamins and fibre along with evidence of lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure. They also release energy slowly giving you the feeling of being fuller for longer. Oats contain vitamin A which reduce the risk of chronic disease as free-radicals are destroyed by this vitamin. Iron is also found in porridge which helps transport oxygen to red blood cells around the body. Making porridge with milk, which is what I prefer to water, also means calcium will be found in this breakfast which is involved in hormone secretion, muscle function as well as the strengthening of bones.

So involve porridge in your daily diet as either your breakfast or for a snack and reap the benefits! Experiment with toppings until you find your perfect combination and enjoy!

What are your favourite toppings? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

Game of Thrones

My Top 3 TV Shows on NowTV

November 09, 2016

This time of year is definitely made for Netflix and chill or in my case NowTV and chill. I have been subscribed to both Netflix and NowTV and I find that NowTV is so much better. What an unpopular opinion. Sorry Netflix. Struggling for something to watch? Here are my three favourite shows to watch on NowTV and why you should watch them.
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is undoubtedly my favourite ever TV series to watch. Constant drama and bursting at the seams with amazing story lines, what's not to love? A medical drama based on the fictional lives of doctors, residents, attendings and interns, you get to see a real insight into how stressful but rewarding becoming and being a doctor is. As if training to be a doctor isn't hard enough, throw in romance, death, betrayal and deceit and you have a real drama on your hands. Well done to the series creator Shonda Rhimes; Grey's Anatomy is highly addictive and I am sure I'm not the only one who thinks this.

Scandal
Another amazing series by Shonda Rhimes, Scandal, just like the name, is absolutely scandalous. Although it did take me a while to get into it, I am so glad I persevered with it. It is a political thriller surrounding a crisis management firm as well as the President and his associates. The main character, Olivia Pope, is the leader of the crisis management firm and is a previous employee for the President and as if this doesn't create enough political drama, there is an ongoing strange, and often romantic, relationship between Olivia and the President, although the President is married with children! Along with assassinations, suicides, kidnapping, affairs and the back stories of the main characters, Scandal really is a truly amazing watch.

Game of Thrones
If you haven't heard of Game of Thrones then where have you been for the last few years? Based on the kingdoms that make up Westeros, the Iron Throne is up for grabs. The nine noble houses are at war at who should be on the Iron Throne, therefore King, and be in control of Westeros. Along with the war and political confusion, an ancient force is awakening which is a threat to everyone. AND people from another dynasty are planning to take back their homeland. Whilst all his is happening, there are lots of other important story lines involving corruption, dragons, other mythical beings and relationships. So much drama! It will truly shock you!

What are your favourite TV shows? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

adult

Stuck in a Rut

November 02, 2016

Up until recently, I have began to feel extremely lethargic. Colder and darker mornings make it even harder for my snuggled self to get out of my toasty warm bed everyday and it means lots and lots of coffee but over the last few days I have had an epiphany; I need to cease the day! And sooner, rather than later.

Coffee

The constant cycle of me going to work (a lot recently although I am only part-time) then coming home to apply to new jobs which will utilise my degree has made me feel stuck in the same routine. But after chatting to my boyfriend about our future prospects, this should hopefully all change next summer. 

After extensive searching, we have both found masters courses in the same city that we are really passionate about studying meaning the possibility of moving to Leeds to study which is scary and a little bit sad, is also exciting and life-changing. 

Because of me feeling so lazy, I have also taken a step back from blogging but I am now refreshed and ready to post more content than ever! I have such an exciting couple of months ahead - the perfect way to end this amazing yet somehow rocky year. 

I have also been more demotivated than ever to work out even though we have bought gym equipment for the house. This needs to change as I know once I get back into it, I will love it just like I used to, especially with Christmas just around the corner where my calorie intake is going to be significantly larger than normal!

Hopefully things are now beginning to look up for me but I am still really disheartened about not being able to find a job related to my degree since graduating 4 months ago. I think I have to accept that these things take time and I am determined more than ever to find one to pass over the next few months allowing me chance to experience a professional workplace in my field before moving onto hopefully studying my masters degree. Yay.

P.S, the holidays are coming and I am so excited for Christmas this year!

Have you been feeling sluggish lately? How do you overcome feeling lazy? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

foodreview

Zapatista Burrito Bar: Review

October 12, 2016

I am such a foodie. Like a HUGE foodie and Mexican food is one of my absolute favourites. Zapatista, Newcastle's first burrito bar is one of my favourite places to eat. With one restaurant situated just off Northumberland street, the main shopping street in the city centre, and the other near Central Station, you are never too far away from a Zapatista when you are in the centre of Newcastle.


There aren't many Mexican inspired restaurants in Newcastle. There is Chiquitos in the Metrocentre in Gateshead but I don't always want to travel all the way there and Las Iguanas which I openly admit that I have never eaten at so Zapatista is the Mexican for me. A quirky and colourful environment with Mexican-inspired music playing in the background, Zapatista is such a warm, comforting and welcoming place.

From fajitas to tacos, burritos to nachos, quesadillas to chilli and a salad bowl, it has every Mexican staple you could ask for. In a Subway-esque way of serving, you first choose what type of food you would like from the above list before choosing either white or red rice. I am sure the red rice is a new addition as I have visited many times before and for the first time got asked if I would like red or white rice yesterday evening, an investigation into this red rice is needed!

You then either choose mild or spicy beans. My boyfriend says the spicy beans are ridiculously hot so I have never tried them and always opt for the mild beans. Next is the choice of filling. If you're a meat lover, there is a choice of chicken, beef, shredded pork and chilli con carne. For you vegans and vegetarians, there is a sweet potato chilli option and a few of these options are gluten free. They also sometimes offer a special filling which includes chorizo for example.

You then have a choice of 5 salsas ranging from mild to hot to very hot and a choice of either cheese or sour cream. Next is where you can totally personalise it. If you're really hungry, you can have extra filling for a small fee. Ranging from 30p to 70p you can choose from a range of extras to truly personalise your food to your taste including guacamole, jalapenos, onions and peppers,

To truly complete this Mexican dinner, there are a choice of Mexican-inspired drinks including Corona, Desperados, margaritas, tequila, Mexican sangria and jarritos or there is a choice of soft drinks, fruit juice, hot drinks and water.


I have been many times over the last couple of years trying a range of combinations but my absolute favouirte is a burrito with white rice, mild beans, beef filling, pico de gallo salsa, sour cream and lettuce. It is an absolute dream and with it being a moderately healthy fast food option, you can't go wrong!

What will be your combination? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

goals

October Goals

October 09, 2016



One of the best ways to complete tasks is to visually set goals by writing them down. Setting monthly goals is completely achievable. Even with any potential obstacles which may get in the way, a month is plenty enough time to find a solution. So here are my goals for October.

Drink more water. I definitely do not drink enough and with winter on the way, hydration is essential to prevent dry skin and lips in the upcoming winter months.

Start going to bed at a reasonable time. More sleep means a happier me.

Watch or read about the news everyday. There are some days where I completely forget to watch or read any sort of news. How shocking.

Go for a run. This is going to be the hardest goal for me to achieve. I'm more of a weights girl than a cardio girl but I think I need some cardiovascular exercise in my life but with the days being colder and shorter, the struggle is real.

Read a book. I am currently reading Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde which I probably read twice a week which is not enough in my opinion. This is only a short book so there is no reason why I cannot finish this book before the month is out.

Find some new blogs to follow. With me being new to the blogging world, I want to follow as many blogs as I can as I love reading blogs and it is such an amazing way to gain some inspiration for my own posts.

Start Christmas shopping. Yes I know I said the C word but I am so unorganised when it comes to Christmas and end up buying everyone's Christmas presents in one shopping trip at the last minute. This year I want to start shopping this month and be completely finished by the end of November. Ultimate goals.

This is a rather short but achievable list and I am so determined to tick them off this month. What goals do you have for this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Best of wishes.

Autumn

Autumn

October 05, 2016

Autumn. Love it or hate it, summer is over and autumn is officially here. I love autumn. No longer do I have the fear of sweating as soon as I step out of the door but I am instead welcomed with a lovely fresh and crisp chill in the air. How refreshing. I love everything about autumn: the colours, the fashion, the glorious food and even the annual events of autumn. And not to forget the introduction of Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte. Yum.


Full of oranges, yellows and golds with fallen and trodden on leaves and the smells of home-cooked comfort food in the air, how can you not like autumn? Along with wonderful sunrises and beautiful sunsets and it being the season of Bonfire night and Halloween, autumn is certainly a unique season.

Soups, stews, casseroles and pies, autumn is the season of food in my opinion! Home-cooked, wholesome food which provides a feeling of warmth, comfort, fullness and happiness, what more could you ask for?


And to hide my often rather full and round belly are the clothes. It is the season for layers: think woolly jumpers, scarves and those thick winter coats, you can eat as much as you want and no one will ever know!

So get on a onesie, grab yourself a hot drink, make up a hot water bottle and cosy up with a blanket in front of the TV ready for these dark and cold winter nights, I couldn't think of anything better!

Feel free to comment below!

Best of wishes.