Lazy Girls Guide to Lazy Days

Lazy days... we all need them once in a while.

And whilst I probably give myself too many, nothing beats waking up and deciding to stay in bed or at home for the entire day.

There is nothing to feel guilty about, I actually think it's beneficial for the mind to take some time away from the stress of daily life.

Whether it be to catch up on emails, study, work on assignments or even online shopping, you can still be productive without moving from your bed.

And when the weather outside looks like a scene from a disaster movie, there is all the more reason to stay inside.

Here is my guide to lazy day essentials:

1. Dressing Gown

It's got to be worn. Mine is from primary and is the fluffiest thing I've ever bought. Not only is it cosy, it's also cute with little bear ears. The hood goes up every time. Good for saving those pennies on the heating bill as it will keep you warm at the sam time.

2. Cup of Tea

So this does require effort to go to the kitchen and make one, but it's worth it after you've got back into bed and settle down to whatever you were doing whilst taking sips of any warming drink you prefer.

3. Laptop

In the old days, this wasn't an option, but now you can practically work from bed with your laptop and still get everything done. I sometimes find that I
m most productive when I'm most comfortable, and sitting in bed is way more comfortable than at a desk. Its great for catching up on TV, listening to music or picking out your next outfit online.

4. Chocolate

This is the one time you can indulge in chocolate by yourself (unless you are having a joint lazy day) and not have anyone judge you for eating the entire bar (yes this is acceptable). Go on, be a slob for once, no one's watching!

5. Notebook

For some reason, all my creative and wonderful ideas pop into my head whilst I'm in the most comfortable position in the world. By having a notebook by your side, you can jot them down for later instead of having to move from the bed.

6. Charger

Make sure you have this because when the time comes where your phone or laptop is about to die, the last thing you want to do is move.

If you are reading this thinking you cannot remember the last time you had a lazy day, treat yourself to one! Even a lazy hour is beneficial and some me time is good for the mind. Shut out the world outside and give yourself time to be lazy once in a while.

Right, I'm going back to the bed now (I never left)

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 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!

A few of my favourite things...

Another day, another blog post!

This time I am going to share with you what I have been loving recently!

1. Breakfast

I love breakfast, I think it is actually my favourite meal of the day as you can have savoury, sweet, a bit of both and endless possibilities for breakfast. That includes cake as well! I go through phases of having the same breakfast everyday, then going of it for a few weeks then craving it again. At the moment I'm obsessed with toast topped with crunchy peanut butter and jam! Basically peanut butter and jelly! It's amazing and the flavours just go so well together! Simple, yet so delicious.

2. Christmas Songs

I walk to uni everyday and listen to my iPod, but recently I've added every kind of Christmas song I had in my iTunes. These are all I listen to at the moment. As you can probably tell, I am and have been feeling very festive since September really, so I am savouring every moment I can listen to Christmas songs. It really puts me in the festive mood and makes me feel warm and fuzzy! Michael Buble will forever be my favourite.

3. Imperial Leather Fruit Salad Shower Cream

This smells amazing! It's like being transported back to my childhood where I used to get fruit salad sweets in my pick n mix. Plus it was on offer for only £1!

4. Miniature Mince Pies

These are amazing because you can have your daily fix of mince pie goodness without the excess of sugar and calories. Mince pies are not the healthiest things in the world but I still crave one everyday. Now I can have these up until Christmas and still eat other chocolate as well (oh yes, priorities!)

5. Cosying up in winter coats

The weather has actually been quite mild for November but that hasn't stopped me from wearing my hat, scarf, gloves and thick winter coat everyday. Even if it does mean I turn up to lectures sweating from all the layers, I still love the cosiness you feel from wrapping up!

6. Baking

I've been making up for the lack of baking I did this summer by taking every spare moment I have to experiment with new recipes. In fact, I made another blog (which you can visit here... ) that is solely for my baking recipes! Recently I've baked brownies, raw millionaires shortbread, cheese biscuits and apple and cinnamon fairy cakes. I can't wait to start festive baking as well!

Apple and Cinnamon Fairy Cakes

7. Glittery Nail Polish

Nothing screams Christmas than wearing the most sparkling nail polish you can find. I've recently been wearing all sorts of colours as the base coat and layering the glitter over, and it looks so cool! My favourite so far is wearing black and layering with gold glitter.






8. London

I love London anytime of the year but seeing it at Christmas with all the lights on is so magical! When I went recently it was freezing which just made it so much better, as I was able to snuggle in my cosy hat and walk around the markets looking at all the festive gifts!

Portobello Road Market

BBC Good Food Show

Last weekend I got the chance to go to the BBC Good Food Show as well as the Bakes and Cakes show.

Now these are two of my favourite things: Baking and Food.

So as I arrived in Olympia in London, I was immediately greeted to free samples of kinder chocolates! From then on, I knew I was going to enjoy this!

The Good Food show has a huge variety a stalls, selling everything from local food to the latest culinary products. The main motto of this event is try before you buy! There was no need for lunch as I filled my stomach up on everything from fudge, chocolate to curry and falafel. Don't forget the vast array of wine, beer and cider to sample as well!

Of course these food stalls are selling there products, many of which aren't easily available in supermarkets. Also, they are all of high quality and are not excessively priced which means you are getting your moneys worth.


Unfortunately I was too full to fit anything in, but the things that caught my eye were the homemade sausage rolls which looked amazing, as well as the unique flavours of fudge. Also, in the smaller yet still amazing cakes and bakes section, there were so many delicious cake stands selling everything from giant donuts, cupcakes to macarons. Think borough food market but all sweet things!

The ticket also included a chance to watch many well known TV foodies participate in cooking demonstrations and interview panels. It gives you the chance to find out their tips and tricks, as well as gaining an insight into their favourite foods and how they got into cooking/baking.

Of course, the main man of the show was Paul Hollywood, who showed us how to bake bread and make a chocolate and cherry roulade in the supertheatre. I believe Mary Berry was there on the other days it was on, so if you are a fan of the Great British Bake Off, this is definitely the event to attend!

If you are a foodie, this is the place to go and I highly recommend it. I love baking so this was the part I enjoyed the most, seeing all the decorated cakes that looked like pieces of art! It also gives you the chance to receive so many discounts on baking equipment and accessories from independent brands as well as bigger companies like Lakeland.

You could easily spend the whole day here and it was a really valuable experience for anyone who has a passion for cooking or baking. The BBC also hosts a winter and festive show, as well as various other themed ones around the country. And best of all, they are great value for money.

Feeling Festive

Welcome to Christmas!

As the evenings get darker and Halloween has passed, we have now officially entered the countdown to Christmas (in my eyes)!

Yes, I am one of those people who is obsessed with Christmas and gets ridiculously excited over anything christmassy.
Last year I had all the christmas spirit sucked out of me, and I was miserable and a bit down over Christmas.

This year, I refuse to let that happen, and I will saviour every last detail.

Christmas candle from Primark

Since being away all summer, I have missed all things British, and nothing sums up being British than a traditional Christmas day spent with your family eating too much, drinking too much and watching too much TV.

As we are in November, I thought it would be acceptable to post my Christmas bucket list now, and then I can slowly tick them off as we progress through to Christmas Day.
This is the ultimate guide to get yourself to feel more christmassy, and if this doesn't work then I don't know what will!

- Get yourself a Christmas candle

A simple and cheap way to practically smell Christmas. This year, I've chosen a Cinnamon and Maple scented candle from Primark. At a mere £2.50, I've already got this burning and making my room smell like Christmas baking!

- Watch as many Christmas films as possible

There are the classics like Elf, The Holiday, Love Actually, Santa Clause but this year I am going to make myself watch one I've heard of but never seen, and that is It's A Wonderful Life. Grab yourself a cup of cocoa, marshmallows and all, and snuggle down on the sofa in a onesie to make yourself feel  the Christmas spirit.

- Go to a Carol Concert/Midnight Mass

I say it every year but I never go. This year I am going to force myself to wonder down to my local church and sit through a carol concert on Christmas Eve. These remind me of my primary school days when we had to participate in them, so I'm hoping it will bring a sense of nostalgia as well.

- Buy some Christmas PJ's

Again, another simple one but they have a huuuge selection in Primark, including Disney themed ones, and I will adorn these whilst baking homemade mince pies, which by the way will feature in another post of my own recipe!

- Visit a Christmassy place

Not to go shopping as this takes all the fun out of Christmas. I will be going to London and various Christmas markets as well as ice skating just to take in all the lights, and the sights and sounds. Of course, I will treat myself to Christmas food and drink, especially the mulled wine! I will also be going to DISNEYLAND PARIS the week before Christmas! I'M SOO EXCITED! What better way to feel Christmassy than to visit Disneyland!

- Buy a Christmas jumper

I will wear this everyday in the lead up to Christmas. It has the added bonus of keeping you warm and snug as well. Again, visit Primark for their amazing selection!

Last but not least, I will be buying and trying every Christmas hot drink there is, as well as all the Christmas chocolate! This is a time for indulgence, so eat till you cannot physically fit in anymore and drink till your head is spinning! You can hit the gym in January, but my philosophy is that extra bit of tub is going to make you warmer through the colder days!

My First Mince Pie of 2015!

If you're still feeling cynical, remember that this is one of the only times of the year that many people get to actually relax and see their friends and family.
So enjoy spending time with your siblings and parents, as I've realised that growing up takes the fun out of a lot of things, so it's up to you to inject some of your own effort into making it more enjoyable and memorable to you.

Oh and... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

That Sunday Post...

Ahh... there is nothing in this world that beats that chilled Sunday feeling. I love Sunday mornings. It's a chance to forget about the stress of day to day life, and to spend the last bit of the weekend doing nothing without feeling guilty.

With the changing of the clocks, I arose from my bed feeling refreshed with the extra hour of sleep, and was greeted with the autumnal sun shining through my window.

After a lazy morning spent eating breakfast in bed, it seemed only fitting to do a tiny spot of Sunday baking. Being a student at university, I don't have the luxury of being able to use my mum's range of baking equipment that she has accumulated over many years. Instead, I go back to the basics when baking at Uni.

Something I hadn't baked in a while were brownies.

Nothing beats the smell of them baking in the oven, and the first taste of warm, gooey chocolate brownies that seem to melt in your mouth.

So, armed with tesco's basic baking ingredients, I managed to create the perfect (well, to me) chocolate brownie with a hint of orange.

The orange gave it an autumnal, almost christmassy kick, as well as providing a way of using up any leftover fruit I had lying around.
Seriously, when I was baking them, the kitchen smelt like Terry's Chocolate Orange. It was the perfect addition to spice up the simplest of recipes.

Speaking of the recipe, I followed the BBC Good Food Best Ever Brownie recipe (found here), but as I'm baking I tend to meander away from the steps and add my own little additions. You can do this to, creating it to your own taste by adding nuts, raisins, more chocolate, whatever! It doesn't have to be perfect, just as long as it tastes delicious!

So, when you're feeling lazy and in need of a cosy weekend treat, give these tasty little brownies a go!

A Weekend Up North

Last weekend I had the pleasure of travelling from the South coast of England all the way up to Liverpool!

Having only ever been to the northern cities of Sheffield and Manchester, which was only to look at the universities, I have never really explored anywhere around that area.

Forgive me if Liverpool isn't North to you, but considering I'm from South East england, anywhere that far away is North to me!

I met my friend in Liverpool after a 4 hour train journey there. We stayed in the Novotel in the city centre which is a stunning hotel with the best location, and even has a pool! We managed to get a really great deal using booking.com, so check this out for the best value deals on top hotels.

 I recommend staying near the Liverpool One shopping centre, as it's right in the centre of the city and all the attractions are within walking distance.

So, the first thing to do when we arrived was to of course go explore the shopping centre! It has a fantastic array of high street shops from Primark, New Look, Topshop to the more upper end shops like Michael Kors.

That evening we headed over to the restaurants in Liverpool One, and there is a big selection to choose from, ranging from American to Thai cuisines. Most of the restaurants here were chains, which is good for quick and cheap eats. We ate at Chaophraya, a Thai restaurant where I decided to be adventurous (for me anyway) with what I was ordering and opted for duck, which is something I never usually order. It was amazing, and definitely recommended!

After we took a stroll to the Albert Dock to see it at night, as well as getting a glimpse of the Liverpool wheel at night with all the lights on, before heading to a bar for some cocktails. The bar we stumbled across was hidden down some steps on Colquitt Street, but it had the nicest cocktails, was cheap and had shots out of chocolate cups! What more could you want?! Plus it had a really nice and chilled atmosphere which was a perfect way to end our first day.

Visit Bar Bodega for great cocktails

Day 2 was full of city sightseeing. We started off in Albert Dock, having a look around the shops before going to the Beatles experience. Of course, Liverpool is famous for being the birthplace of one of the greatest bands in the world, and even if you aren't the biggest fan of the Beatles, this museum is still so interesting and not badly priced!

Luckily I was a student so I could get in for only £11 on a concession rate, but even the full price is only around £15. This includes admission to the museum with a personal headset, so you can take your own time and listen to what you're interested in. The museum took around 1 hour and a half, and was a poignant tribute to the rise of the Beatles.

The experience didn't stop there, as the ticket includes admission to another attraction over by the pier head which includes an interactive 4D show. If you have time it's worth checking out, but if you don't want to head over there then you wouldn't be missing out.

After learning about the lives of the Beatles, we headed over to where it all began, Mathews Street, to see the Cavern club where the Beatles used to play. Around there are loads of independent pubs that are perfect for that Saturday afternoon drink.

Mathews Street

We also headed up the Radio City tower to get a 360 degree view of the city. This is great on a clear day as you can see across the Mersey, and sometimes as far as Wales! Plus it was only £5 so it won't break the bank balance!

With all the walking, we headed over to Bolt street, which is filled with loads of independent cafes and restaurants, as well as the usual chains. We decided to go to Central Perk, a Friend's themed coffee shop for some coffee and cake. It's quite expensive but the theming is cool with the typical sofas plus they play friends episodes all day! I also bought a huge carrot cake which was delicious, but was way to big so I couldn't finish it all!

Liverpool Cathedral

Next stop, we wandered up to the cathedral before making our way back to the hotel for a pre dinner swim. This time we ate at Albert Dock in a really nice restaurant which I can't remember the name of! But I definitely recommend checking out the restaurants around there as there are some really nice independent ones which aren't badly priced! Plus there is a really nice atmosphere to have a walk around after all the consumption of great food.

Our Saturday ended with a night out on the town. Liverpool's nightlife is notorious for being amazing, and it certainly didn't disappoint. You will find an array of bars and clubs, all situated around Concert Square, and there is something for 18-50 year olds! Expect lots of hen and stag does though.

After a busy weekend, it was time to head back south. Liverpool is truly a great place to visit and you can explore the whole city in just a weekend. Everyone is so friendly and there are lots of things to do and see for all ages. Whether its a historical and educational visit, or a night spent dancing away, check out Liverpool!

View from the Radio Tower