A Few of My Favourite Things: January

So blog post ideas have been lacking recently, probably due to the fact that final year project mindset has kicked in so that's all I can think about at the moment. Plus I seem to be spending all day everyday in the laboratory which makes it hard to find the time to write a blog post.

So I thought I would round off, in my opinion, the worst month of the year with the things I've been loving!

Here goes...

1. Lidl Nutrimixer

Yes that's right, it's from Lidl and it only costs £30. I can't compare it to the Nutribullet or other higher priced machines, but from using this, it is amazing! I only use it occasionally for making soups, baking and attempting to be healthy by making smoothies, and it does the job perfectly. If you don't want to spend a fortune on expensive makes, this does the same job for half the price and is perfect if you are like me and will only use it occasionally.

2. 24 Hours in A&E

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a doctor but have never had the courage to apply to it. By watching this programme, it feeds my obsession with medicine and genuinely engrosses me on what actually happens in A&E. No one wants to end up there, so the people you see on here display their raw emotion when a loved one is sick, and it really puts your life into perspective. It makes me realise that this could happen to anyone, and you really never know what's around the corner. That's why I try and live by the motto, live every day like it's your last. It's hard, but watching this programme reiterates why it can be important.

3. Crumpets with Jam and Peanut Butter

Another breakfast discovery, in a previous post I discovered jam and peanut butter on toast, but it just got a whole lot better when spread on crumpets. Top tip, microwave your crumpets before toasting to make it fluffy!

4. Lighter evenings

As soon as Christmas is over, my next time of year to look forward to is Spring. I love seeing the nature bloom and as the evenings stay light for a tiny bit longer each day, it is so nice start to see flowers start to blossom and the sun staying out for longer. I notice a massive difference in my mood as well.

5. Metcalfe's Rice Cakes

Wow, these are amazing as a snack, and so filling! Plus, they're sort of healthy! But I love dark chocolate, so these layered rice cakes are the perfect little sweet treat. The only downside, they're pretty pricey!

6. Uniqlo Disney Collection

How amazing is this Disney collection? I've never bought anything from Uniqlo before but as soon as I saw their collection of Disney sweaters, that soon changed. They aren't pricey at only £20, and they have the perfect choice of cosy sweats to wear on any occasion. I went for the navy blue one, but they have a good choice of colours and styles including hoodies, sweatpants and t-shirts. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/feature/uq/disney-magicforall/women/

7. Benefit Porefessional Primer Balm

I don't usually join the hype for high end, expensive facial creams and primers, in fact the most expensive skincare product I own is a Mac primer, but I received this in the Benefit beauty advent calendar and boy does it do wonders. I'm not sure if it is actually doing what it says in the fact that I don't tend to address the issue of pores and blackheads (too many better things to think about), but I love the way this feels so silky and smooth, the way a primer should feel! I apply this before any make-up and it means that applying foundation and concealer feels so much easier to blend in than my usual moisturiser. It's also nude in colour which means it kind of acts as a tinted moisturiser as well, so spending £25 on a primer, tinted moisturiser and something that's gonna minimise the appearance of pores is not too bad!

Review: Nutrition Mixer

I have to say, I'm quite hard to please. And when it comes to spending money, I don't like to be ripped off.

So I've had my eye on the Nutribullet for a long time, ever since it came out.

I've also been consumed with jealousy when coming across people's instagram pictures of delicious, colourful looking smoothies that people create using these blending machines.

I realised it was time to invest in one when I really fancied a bowl of warm, homemade soup that wasn't straight from a tin. This was impossible to make without some sort of blender, so when I heard that Lidl were creating the Nutrition Mixer for only £29.99, I took the chance and purchased my own.

At around £80, the NutriBullet is £50 more expensive than the Nutrition Mixer, which both do the same job.

So, armed with my blender and an collection of recipes I had been saving up, I got straight to work making that bowl of soup.

I chose to make a simple, yet satisfying butternut squash soup.
When it got to the blender step, I filled up the beaker, flipped it over and began pureeing it.

The Verdict:

I was amazed! 

Not only is it super fast, it whizzes everything into a smooth puree within seconds! Yes it's loud, which I expected, but the results blew me away and I could finally enjoy that fresh bowl of homemade soup I had been craving for ages.

Now I cannot compare this to the NutriBullet because I've never used the NutriBullet. But I can review Lidl's Nutrition Mixer and I have to say, I'm impressed! I certainly do not feel like I'm being ripped off.

 I cannot wait till summer to try fresh smoothies, and I've already planned a Mexican night where I will use the machine to make homemade guacamole.

So if you are looking for something cheap, good value for money and does a fine job of blending, then definitely consider this model! I guess what they say is true, good things come to those who wait! I'm certainly glad I waited until a cheaper model came out than jumping straight on the bandwagon and buying the NutriBullet.

Battle of the Christmas Drinks

This post is about Christmas drinks! Yes I know what you're thinking, Christmas has been and gone, but I started this around 2 months ago. I wanted to try as many Christmas themed drinks as possible, and only managed about 5 but I have included my thoughts on the most popular flavours:


So I just tried the famous  Gingerbread Latte from Costa, which is one of their festive special edition drinks and my first ever holiday drink!

Yup, I've never tried any Starbucks, Costa, Pret, even McDonalds festive drinks ever! Call me crazy because it was the biggest mistake of my life!

So I had an epiphany, why not try as many festive themed drinks as possible and review them all? At first this sounded like a good idea, who wouldn't want to gorge calorific, sugary drinks and call it research?!

Then I realised how bad they were for you, so for 'research' purposes (and so I don't get diabetes), I will be trying the skimmed/non-fat sugar free versions. Also, these things aren't cheap and due to being so busy, I only got around to trying ones from Costa and Starbucks.

Disclaimer:
This is my personal opinion and taste, which differs from every single other person, so just because I don't like something doesn't mean you will too!

Up first is...

1. Costa Coffee Gingerbread Latte 

Well, this was delicious in every sense. I had it with no whip because I hate the stuff, but as soon as I took one sip of this I was succumbed to that warm, festive feeling. The gingerbread is prominent throughout the whole drink, not just the first few sips. It also meant I could enjoy a coffee without the need for sugar because the sweetness finishes it off nicely. If you are a fan of gingerbread, this is the drink for you. It was sensational! Extra points for the cute cup designs as well.

2. Costa Coffee Caramel Fudge Hot Chocolate

Admittedly I tried a sample of this as I'm not a big fan of hot chocolate, but nevertheless it was nice. I failed to taste the difference from normal hot chocolate's though, which made me question why it was a festive drink if there was nothing festive about it. It was pretty sweet, too much so that a full size drink would have been too much for me. Last year I believe they had a chocolate orange drink which they never bought back this year, to many peoples anger, and I couldn't help but feel this would have been better than the fudge version this year.

3. Starbucks Toffee Nut Latte 

Well this surprised me. I expected it to taste like a generic toffee latte, but the nutty flavour really stands out. I'm not the biggest fan of nuts (no pun intended), but this adds to the whole drink. It's subtle enough to not overpower the sweet toffee syrup in the milk, yet it adds a nice festive touch. I found myself wanting another one straight after. Again, I went for no whip but it was still really nice and I would definitely recommend trying it! I would even go to say that it is worth the more expensive price than the other coffee chains, just because it is quite a unique flavour.

4. Costa Coffee Black Forest Hot Chocolate

Another sample I tried, but I was remarkably surprised by this drink. The cherry flavour really is prominent in this drink and compliments the chocolate well. It really is like drinking a Black forest gateau. So if this is one of your favourite desserts, then this drink is the one for you!

5. Salted Caramel Cappuccino (Costa)

A cappuccino is by far my favourite coffee drink so I was very excited to try this. I love salted caramel as well, and when I received the drink it was topped with gold chocolate! How cool is that?! So when I took a sip of this I was a little disappointed. I could taste the caramel, but no salt. It tasted like a regular cappuccino but with a pump of caramel syrup. It did redeem itself with the gold chocolate though!

6. Starbucks Gingerbread Latte

So my last taste test was the Gingerbread Latte from the American chain, so I could do the ultimate comparison between Costa and Starbucks. I have to say, this was good, but Costa ever so slightly won in the taste test. In fairness, they do taste pretty similar so it was hard to distinguish which one was better, but maybe Costa had that little extra drip of syrup.

So that's all I managed this Christmas because these drinks ain't cheap!
My favourite and winner of this experiment has to be Costa's Gingerbread Latte, just because I love ginger and the cute cups made it slightly better than Starbucks!
However, it is followed closely by the Toffee Nut Latte which was unique and still just as delicious.

Hope you enjoyed this experiment, I know I have! Now it's time for a sugar detox as I wallow in post Christmas depression. See you next year!

A weekend in Disneyland Paris

Having worked for Disney this summer and enjoying the perks of free entry into the parks, I decided to help alleviate my post disney depression with a Christmassy trip to Disneyland Paris.

I last visited around 7 years ago so this trip was planned with my friend who hasn't been since she was young, and nothing beats seeing the face of someone when they see the castle for the first time!

Day 1

We started the trip on a cold Friday, arriving at the Hotel Cheyenne. I've stayed in this hotel before and had good experience's from it, but it's basically a budget Disney hotel within walking distance to the parks (around 20 mins), and with a Western/cowboy theme.

The room consisted of a double bed with bunk beds, obviously being aimed at kids. The theming of the room was nice but it is the outdoor theming that makes this hotel! As you walk through the surroundings you really feel like you are in a western village! It really is perfect for kids and not badly priced either.

We hit the Disneyland Park straight away. Thankfully it was empty and we waited no more than 5-10 minutes for any ride. We literally went on everything and pretty much covered all the rides in one afternoon. Our favourite rides were Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Buzz lightyear! 

Buzz Lightyears Lazer blast

Fantasyland

One disappointment was that Big Thunder Mountain and It's A Small World were closed! Two of the classic disney rides and we couldn't ride them but if you go, make sure you pay these a visit.

For dinner, we exited the park and wandered into the Disney Village, which is full of restaurants and shops just outside of the parks. We went to Annette's Diner, an American themed restaurant that do the best burgers ever! Thoroughly recommended and very yummy!

We also headed to the Sport's Bar for cocktails which are a little pricey but hey, it's Disney!

Day 2

We were up early for our second day and after filling our bellies with french croissants from the hotels complementary breakfast.

We ventured into the Walt Disney Studio's Park for our second day. Our first ride; Rock N Rollercoaster! This is a high speed roller coaster that rides to the sounds of Aerosmith and really is so much fun! We enjoyed this so much that we ended up going on it three times!

Another favourite of mine is Tower of Terror, but this is not for the faint hearted! Other rides we tried were Crush's Coaster, which was an unexpected surprise that we actually really enjoyed. 

The new Ratatouille ride is definitely worth going on as it uses really clever cutting edge technology that makes you feel like a rat.

One thing I preferred from this park was the theming. Just wandering around makes you feel like you are in movie sets and it really is from the clever work of Disney Imagineers. If you have time, have a look at all the little details of this park. 

For dinner we went to the Rainforest Cafe , also in the Disney Village, which is pretty much the same as the others located around the world. We treated ourselves to some yummy cocktails before heading to the Disneyland Park to catch the Disney Dreams fireworks and to also get a look at the Christmas lights all lit up. It added the perfect festive touch to the holidays!

Disney Dreams

Day 3

Today was spent watching the shows and parades. One we enjoyed the most was the Frozen Sing-a-long which is perfect for kids (and adults) that are obsessed with the film. 

We caught the Christmas Parade which features an appearance from Santa himself and we also watched Micky and Minnie turning on the Christmas Lights. The addition of fake snow makes its really Christmassy and is the perfect touch!

There is also a night time parade which is great to watch when it's dark and gives you the opportunity to see more of your favourite characters, but it was a little cold waiting for them to arrive.

Our evening meal was in the one and only Cafe Mickey, which is a character dining restaurant where Mickey and his friends come round to you table and gives you the opportunity to take pictures. It's a little pricey and the food isn't great, but you are paying for the experience which you can't get elsewhere.

Day 4

Our last day was spent shopping in the Disney Village and have a last minute wander in the parks. Our hotel let us leave luggage in storage so if you have a later train you can still enjoy your last day in the parks before heading back.

If you think this is Walt Disney World, it's not. It's smaller and different in it's own unique way. One disappointment for me was the lack of magic the staff had. WDW really has the best people working there and they make the experience ten times better!

Disneyland Paris is great for a little holiday or detour from Paris and for getting a disney fix. When it gets it right, it's an amazing place and you are guaranteed to feel like a kid again, but if I had to choose, a trip to WDW would always come in first place. Don't let that put you off as a kid will always feel special no matter which Disney park they visit, and there is nothing better than seeing their face light up at the sight of the castle!

A Visit to Winchester Christmas Market

Another Christmas market that's worth a visit, this time it's in Winchester!

This is a quaint city that is trendy yet historical at the same time, and by the cathedral are little market huts where you can browse the gifts and do a little spot of Christmas shopping.

The best way to visit the market is by going into the city via the Park and Ride. This way you get dropped off right at the beginning of the market.

If you've ever seen the film 'The Holiday', the part where Cameron Diaz is shopping in the local village in Surrey, this is what Winchester reminded me of!

The lights were magical as Christmas lights usually are, and there was a cute ice rink in the centre of the market that was on the grounds of the Cathedral.

You could find all sorts of unique gifts, from super cosy scarfs to scented candles and bath bombs.

One part I did love was watching the brass band play traditional Christmas carol songs in front of the Christmas tree. It bought back so many nostalgic feelings of when I was in Christmas carol concerts in primary school.

Me and my dad couldn't resist helping ourselves to a cup of hot mulled cider. This was delicious and definitely my drink of choice this Christmas.

I finally got to try a Bratwurst German sausage as well, which is basically a giant hot dog. They seem to appear at every Christmas market though so I felt that I needed to try one for myself.

To end the festive day, I treated myself to a Greggs Christmas tree cookie, which was so cute!

Winchester is the perfect place to visit if you are down by the south coast in the UK even without the Christmas market, so make sure it's on your bucket list!

A few of my favourite things: December Edition

Goodbye November, Hello December!

I hope you are counting down the days till Santa arrives by opening each window of your advent calendar, I sure am!

As we are officially in the festive season, I thought I'd share with you my favourite festive things.

Christmas Lights

There is something so magical about Christmas lights, and seeing the streets filled with sparkling lights in all different colours just makes me feel so happy! I'm loving the array of different themes in London, as well as the bright and colourful Christmas tress that are dotted around.

Brighton Lanes

Advent Calendars

Nothing counts down to Christmas better than chocolate. This year I've gone for Mars, and I just love the little treat I can have each day! I've also invested in a beauty advent calendar from Benefit, although it's only a 12 day one so will have to wait a little longer before I can open that!

Mulled Cider

I love the traditional mulled wine but I decided to try something different this year, and I had a taste of Rekorderlig mulled cider. It was heaven! It's like having the perks of a summer cider drink but in winter and its warm so it makes you feel all cosy.

Festive Drinks

I won't go into too much detail about the holiday themed drinks from many high street coffee stores, but these are A-mazing!! So good that they will feature in a review post of their own, in which I'm taste testing all of them! Some of the cup designs are awesome as well.

Christmas Jumpers

I bought one from Primark last year and let me tell you, it is the warmest jumper I own! I'm practically living in it all the time and it saves me having to put my heating on. I'm especially loving the disney collaboration in Primark; two of my favourite things together!

Amazon Prime

Ok so not Christmassy as such but you can watch Christmas films on it so it is kinda related! As I'm a student, I get a free Amazon Prime account, which has so many benefits such as free next day delivery on selected items, plus the use of streaming music from their spotify-like service and movies from their netflix-like streaming site. This is fab for me as I hate paying subscription fees and can't afford it at the moment, but here I've been able to listen to the latest albums such as One Direction and Little Mix, as well as catching up on my favourite films and TV series. I've been loving Grey's Anatomy which has been a long time favourite, and I've just started rewatching The Hills! Also, they have their own series such as The Man in the High Garden. Very recommended!

Let me know if you have any favourite things about Christmas!

A Guide to Christmas Shopping in London

Christmas shopping can the stressful, especially if you are visiting the capital to bag some bargains.

London transforms into a magical place at Christmas. Like any other city, the lights go up, the Christmas trees get decorated and the shops go overboard with promotions and discounts. It can also transform into one of the busiest places where you feel like you are cattle being herded into a tiny confined space.

I decided to go and see the Christmas lights (and shops) myself, before the busy crowds hit one of the busiest shopping streets in the UK. It was the emptiest I've seen it in a long time, which gave me the idea that it would be really handy to combine a miniature guide to the main shopping destinations in London, and also the places to go to see the best decorations.

I started off in Covent Garden which was going with a sweet mistletoe theme.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is the place to go for seeing the pretty decorations whilst having a stroll around. It is always scattered with street performers to entertain and provide a break for the shoppers, plus there is a vast array of food places which make it the perfect place for a bite to eat. My recommendations are Shake Shack for your American burger fix or the famous paella which they cook in huge dishes in the courtyard of Covent Garden. Many other coffee chains and restaurants are dotted around the area as well for a nice break.

The shops here are quite specific, with a lot of high designer brands such as Chanel, Burberry and Mac owning stores here. No high street shops so for something special, this is the place to go.

My next location was Leicester Square, which is almost always busy. If you are not bothered about seeing the square, avoid! Take a detour through China town which is just off the side roads, and you can experience some oriental cuisine.

They had a Christmas set up going on, although I didn't have time to look closely. It resembled Christmas market huts. Various restaurants and bars are located around here, however there is a lack of shops so it's quite nice to walk through on your way to the big shops. One highlight though is the M&M store though! Overpriced but fun to look around, and the personalised M&Ms make great gifts!

The next stop is Piccadilly Circus, I couldn't help but have a look around Whole Foods market. Another American import, they have the best deli area for a bite to eat. You can have anything from pizza to curries, and you know it will all be fresh. I had a quick look at their Christmas selection, which is really good for those with allergies and food intolerances, but overpriced otherwise. Shops around here aren't high in numbers but do include Boots, souvenir shops and lots of restaurants.

This will be packed with tourists, but it is the start of Regent Street which has an array of shops like Hamley's, Banana Republic, Mango, Michael Kors and many other upmarket brands. The Christmas lights always have a theme every year and make a great photo when lit up.

One place you must visit is Carnaby Street. It's tucked away on a side street from Regent Street, but the decorations are always so pretty and there are a section of popular shops and restaurants there. It tends to be a nice break from the busy regent street, and I use it to make my way to Oxford Street whilst avoiding the crowds on Regent Street.

Carnaby Street

The famous department store Liberty's is found here, which you should definitely visit if it's your first time in London. Its history is really nice to see when you look around, and again it offers unique gifts.

I finally reached Oxford Street, which was busy as you can probably guess. This is the place with the big stores. The Topshop is really good, with three floors of clothes and even a brow bar and Bleach salon. Urban Outfitters is also a good store to visit. As you travel further along the road, many big chains pop up like Forever 21, Boots, Zara, H&M, M&S, John Lewis and the famous Selfridges. Plenty of choice for any type of Christmas present. For cheap clothes and accessories, visit the famous Primark. Be warned, you will get hot and flustered here as it is very hard to manoeuvre around the crowds, and is almost always full of tourists.

Oxford Street

My favourite store here is Pull and Bear, a clothes shop that has a unique style and is relatively inexpensive and I really recommend having a look in.

There are plenty of food and drink places. Ben's Cookies is situated on the street and they honestly do the best cookies I've ever tasted. Seriously, when you eat them they are still warm! My top tip is to explore down the side streets if you are looking for a bite to eat, as they are busier nearer the main street, and get emptier the further away you go.

The lights are always so pretty here as well, with the big stores lighting up the entire exterior of the buildings.

Food Recommendation:

I went to Tortilla for the first time, a Mexican burrito place that resembles Chipotle. I've always wanted to try Tortilla, so when I stumbled across it I thought I would give it a try.

I went for the naked burrito bowl, with lots of Guac!

It's really good value for money and the food is delicious. You can eat in as well so if you are looking for a filling meal that is quick and cheap, give this a try!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is the ultimate festive place to visit in the run up to Christmas.

Traditional German huts line the pavements selling goods that range from decorative candle holders to Christmas smelling bath bombs.

Since I first visited this place 5 years ago, it has expanded so much. Walking around this place takes a good 2 hours if you wanted to have a look at everything.

Sweet stalls

Fridays evenings and weekends are the peak times, so expect heavy crowds and feeling like cattle. It is very hard to look at everything when there are so many people packed into confined spaces. Also, look out for other members of your party!

I arrived early Thursday evening, just as it was getting dark and the lights were turning on, and walked straight in. It was so much more pleasant being able to look at all the stalls. My favourite was the cupcake shaped bath bombs that smelt absolutely amazing!

Food and drink places are plentiful here. You can try everything from a German hot dog, donuts, pretzels, crepes, churros, waffles, sweets, burgers, mac n cheese, fries... the list could go on!

Apple and Cinnamon Crepe

Various sit in bars are scattered around where you can enjoy a hot drink or my favourite, a cup of mulled wine whilst sitting around a fire. They also have live music which is the perfect chance to have a little rest. 

Enjoying mulled wine by the fire

The stalls and food here are overpriced as you would expect, but it's perfect as a weekend treat and really gets you in a festive mood.

You can upgrade your experience by booking tickets online to ice skate, or visit the ice bar.

Ice Rink

If that's not your thing, you can test you fear factor by going on the many funfair style rides. I recommend the fun houses as they are good value for the amount you pay to go on them. Some rides were asking for nearly 10 tokens (equivalent to £10) for one ride!

Fun House

I definitely recommend having a look around this place. In the run up to Christmas, it's the perfect place to grab some unique gifts, just be warned about the crowds! If you can visit off peak, do it!