What I'm Loving: Summer Edition

It’s been a fair few months since I posted a round-up of all the things I have been currently loving, so I thought it was about time that I rectified that situation. During the summer months when I am free from coursework and lectures, and therefore have more time to myself I feel that I really get to discover some new loves, and rediscover some old ones.

Finding a TV show these days that I haven’t already watched is quite a difficult task, however I was determined this summer to be on the hunt for a new show to binge watch. I fancied something a little bit different from the usual teen drama that I usual watch, and wanted something more in the realms of Suits – which is a show that I am also loving at the moment, and have been for the last few couple of years! I stumbled across Mad Men purely by chance, and gave the pilot a watch and from there I was sold. I love everything about this show: the 1960s glamour, the exciting setting of New York, and most of all the complicated and mysterious Don Draper. For those of you who aren't familiar with the show, Mad Men is set in an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in the 1960s and follows the tumultuous life of creative director Don Draper, and the high pressure environment of both his career and family life. As well as Don, beautifully played by Jon Hamm, there is a range of dynamic characters, including my personal favourite, Joan, who is the type of career woman I aspire to be!

Believe it or not, up until a couple of weeks ago I had never had frozen yoghurt, and now that I’ve tried it I don’t understand how I have lived so long without it! A couple of weeks ago I was on Southbank with one of my best friends and we happened upon a Snog van and after telling Jess that I had never actually had a frozen yoghurt before she insisted that it was an absolute must. Being a novice, I let Jess take the lead in constructing our masterpiece, which resulted in the original flavour of yoghurt with raspberry and fudge brownie toppings and completed with a salted caramel sauce. I can report that it was absolute delicious, and frozen yoghurt has been on my mind ever since. I also highly recommend this specific venue, just a short walk along from the London Eye on Southbank – which is a permanent favourite of mine – Snog have converted an old bus into the cutest environment to enjoy this frozen treat.

Another favourite that I am annoyed at myself for not realising sooner, and that is the wonders of H&M. Over the last couple of months I have been shopping in H&M quite a bit and every time I come out with pieces that I am so happy with, and at such affordable prices. The H&M that I have at home is massive meaning there is an amazing range of all their different departments. I love the summer ranges they have in, from really cute summery dresses and playsuits to the extensive choice of styles in their swimwear. I have always been a Topshop and Zara lover, but in recent months I have become a complete H&M convert. In the past I have often neglected H&M due to the fact that the store layout is often quite jumbled but I think that it is worth the effort of having a good look through to find the, sometimes, hidden gems

What I am loving to listen to can be summarised and explained by my ultimate favourite thing of the summer which was the festival I attended at the beginning of June. With all of my best friends from university we attended No Tomorrow Festival, and John Newman was headlining. I can honestly say that dancing and singing along to John Newman with the sun setting around me with all my best friends was one of my favourite memories from my whole year. Just as sitting on the hill with a cider in hand, sunglasses on, swaying along to James Bay was a moment I will always remember for being truly content and happy. John Newman has some amazing up tempo songs which make you want to jump along and sing at the top of your voice, and James Bay at the other end of the spectrum is so calming and comforting and his music is what I have been turning to when I want something relaxing and something to make me smile.

Overall I am very happy with the collection of shows, food, clothes and music I have loved for the last few months.  But most of all I am happy with the memories I have made, the people I have spent time with and the things that I have been planning and looking forward to in the future. Even though the weather in the UK gave up a long time ago, summer is not over yet and there is still so much more I have yet to experience and enjoy, and I can’t wait to document it all here for you and for myself.

Thank you all so much for reading, and until next time,

B xx

Because happiness is only a cupcake away...

Never have four words brought so much joy to my heart! Anyone who vaguely knows anything about me knows that when the Great British Bake Off comes back on TV, that I am back in my element!

The whole of Britain goes baking mad whenever the Bake Off is on TV, and I am no exception to that. For anyone however that doesn’t know what this series consists of, it is a reality show with 12 contestants who are all keen amateur bakers. Each week there is a different theme, ranging from cakes, biscuits, pastry, and many more wonderfully tasty treats! It truly is a wonder we don’t all launch into a 12 week long sugar induced coma....

Proof of how far the love for this show has spread was in the creation of the Great British Bake Off drinking game. With various hilarious rules such as 1 shot per blue plaster worn by an injured contestant, 2 shots for a contestant sitting and watching hopefully at the oven, and the harshest: 3 shots for a cake drop! This has gone straight on to the list of things to do whilst this series is on, as well as mastering the art of meringue.

With every series I am continually amazed by how incredible Mary Berry looks. A lady in her early 80s, she is super glamorous and super talented. She has a warm, comforting personality, and to be epitomises the perfect Grandma – only outdone by my own wonderful grandmother!

Her partner in crime Paul Hollywood is again fantastic, and I love the way they complement each other. Paul’s deathly stares and blunt comments would be absolutely terrifying as a contestant but as a viewer makes for very entertaining television.

The combination of Mary and Paul as the baking judges is amazing to watch, and to take that even further is the presenters Sue and Mel. Best friends who met at university who went onto become a comedy duo; Sue and Mel with their endless infamous sexual innuendos really are the icing on the cake – no pun intended! As much as I love them, there is a part of me that is extremely jealous as hosting a TV show with your best friend when you can try as many amazing cakes and desserts is the genuine description of my dream job.

Whilst I feel that a future career in TV presenting is probably not for me, being a contestant on the show is a legitimate dream of mine. And the pinnacle of that would be coming first in a technical challenge, or even being crowned star baker at the end of one week. However living vicariously through all of the contestants is the next best thing, and it always makes me smile how genuinely happy it makes me feel at the end of each episode when one baker is announced as star baker. Just in the same way that my heart actually aches when I see someone’s showstopper bake collapse or they've used salt instead of sugar, or the ultimate bake off disaster: the soggy bottom!

Not only did the return of the show inspire me to write this extensive review of all things bake off, it also inspired me to get my apron on and get baking myself. Given that I am trying to eat cleaner in the weeks leading up to my holiday, baking is not often conducive to this. However I was overcome with a craving for carrot cake, so I searched for a healthier alternative to this usually highly calorific classic. BBC Good Food came up trumps: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11871/low-fat-carrot-cake

The end result was super tasty and was super easy to make, a simple all in one bowl type mixture. And I would recommend this recipe if the mood for cake strikes but you want to stick to that summer body plan you promised yourself all those weeks ago!

I think this brings me to the end of my collection of all thoughts Bake Off related, so until next time, thanks for reading,

B xxx

20 Things I’ve Learnt Turning 20

Since my last post – which was back when dinosaurs were still roaming – I have turned the ripe old age of 20. Entering my third decade of life felt like a momentous milestone, and one that felt like it needed to be documented...five months after the event...

Despite my inadequacy in actually physically writing this list, it is a list that has been floating around in my head for a very long time now. Leading up to my 20^th birthday at the end of February I was surprised by how much I felt like I really had reached a significant moment, the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

Whilst there are things in my teenage years that I probably would go back and change – people who say they wouldn't are lying – I was truly amazed and almost comforted by the closure that I felt in knowing that I had had a fulfilled existence as a teenager in this world. And therefore the prospect of entering my 20s was not as terrifying as I had anticipated. This being said I am still coming to terms with the continuous realisation that I am an adult, with adult responsibilities and problems, and that Arthur can’t really be my favourite TV show anymore!

This is a list of things that I thought I would share about the life lessons and truth I have learnt and experienced in my 20 years so far. This is by no means extensive, nor does it mean that in turning 20 I have become some kind of life guru. Just that I feel slightly closer to becoming one ;)

So without further ado here are the 20 Things I've Learnt Turning 20:

Say yes to opportunities

Being hard working is not uncool

Take time for yourself

Enjoy being young

Increasing responsibility doesn't have to equal scary and boring

People won’t be in your life forever

Old friends are sometimes the best friends

People progress at different stages

Things don’t always work out how you plan, but usually do work out eventually

If something sucks it won’t last forever

There are people who you cannot get on with, and that’s okay

Nothing is worse than regrets

FOMO is real and deadly, and learning to overcome it is a true skill

Independence is a very attractive quality

Book smart is important but street smart gets you a long way too

You don’t have to wear makeup everyday

Pushing yourself is scary but the rewards are worth it

To love tea and tequila equally

Parents can be best friends

Being a teenager is amazing and you will only have the opportunity to be there once, so treasure it, it’s precious 

A few throwback photos from my birthday - firstly I took the bold move and had over 12 inches cut off my hair, a decision I couldn't have been happier about. Secondly my amazing birthday cake that my best friends surprised me with, which tasted as incredible as it looked 

As I said this list is just one girl's take, and I am fully aware that I have a lot more to learn. I am excited to be in this new chapter in my life, to see what the next decade has in store. It is crazy to think of the person I was ten years ago, and even more crazy to imagine what kind of person I will be in ten years time!

I look forward to documenting my life here, and I hope you are looking forward to sharing it with me. Thank you all for reading, and until next time,

B xx

Survival Guide for Exams

As much as I love school there is one part which severely reduces that love and that is exams. In my 19, almost 20 (aaaahhh) years of living I have been through my fair share of exams, and what is becoming increasingly obvious to me is that exams only get harder with time, not easier. It would have to be said that I do not cope that well with stress or pressure, so therefore I have to compensate for this by following a set choices in order to survive exams and the build up to them. I hope therefore that this quick overview of tips and tricks will help some of you who are also going through the inevitable stress of exams.

Schedule – the importance of scheduling your time cannot be overstated, and is something that I used to be horrendous at doing. As I have got older, and hopefully wiser, I have made scheduling my time my first priority in the lead up to an exam period. There are clearly several ways that you can do this, but how I ensure that I dedicate enough time to revision and preparation is firstly by making myself aware of all I need to know for the exams. That sounds obvious, but it is amazing how the simplest information is often what we forget. Whilst it would be optimistic to think that you could revise nine hours a day every day, this is not realistic, and it also isn’t healthy. By scheduling your time and assigning yourself specific tasks or topics for specific days, it will become much easier to balance yourself.

Balance – the work, play balance is something that I continue to struggle with, and especially when it comes to revision for exams. When all you want to do is watch that extra episode of Scandal, or go for drinks with your friends, or simply just have those few more hours in bed in morning, it is extremely difficult not to give into yourself. The way I see it is that hard work deserves rewards, so therefore if you work throughout the day, give yourself the evening to do what you want to do. Nobody can be expected to work all the time!

Discipline – the only way to manage a balance of time and a schedule is with self discipline. Particularly as I am getting older, and I don’t live at home anymore, I no longer have my parents or my teachers monitoring how much I am working. I now have to be strict with myself, and discipline myself to stick to the plans that I put in place. It sounds so cliché to say, but at the end of the day, the marks you get in your exams are as result of the work you put in. The only one who will be punished for not being disciplined is you, and for me that is what motivates me.

Motivation – when it feels like you've been reading the same paragraph for the last 2 hours, it can be difficult to stay motivated. All of my favourite ways to stay motivated involve taking a small break and taking 5 or so minutes just to chill, let my brain rest. Recently I have been watching Anna Kendrick and Jonah Hill interviews in my breaks, because they have both become two of my favourite people. Another way I love to motivate myself is by negotiating with myself, for example if I can get through this chapter, I can afford a caramel macchiato break. During exams, Starbucks becomes my best friend.

Nothing here is particularly revolutionary, or something you will never have heard before, but they are all things that help me prepare and keep calm during the hell that are exams. What I always have to keep in mind is that by over-stressing and by putting a ridiculous amount of pressure on myself, I am only hindering my own chances of doing well. To conclude, be organised, take breaks and use your own potential success as a continuous incentive!

Thank you all so much for reading, and to anyone who is taking exams at the moment or in the future, good luck!!

B xx

The New Years Post

These types of posts and videos have never appealed to me in the past because to me New Years feels like nothing more than the passing of time, just like any other day. However last night after catching up on a whole host of resolution style videos and blog posts, namely, of which Essie’s from essiebutton, I realised that using the New Year to focus some self improvement techniques in no bad thing.

In the last few months of 2014 I had already made quite a few changes in my life, and I aim to continue those into 2015. Most of these come about because of me moving into my first house without my parents, which means the cooking, cleaning, house running can no longer be left to mum and dad!

When setting these aims it was really important to me to set ones which I believe are realistic. As although it would nice to say that I was going to give up chocolate and watch less TV, it makes no sense to be to set goals which I already know I will not achieve. So instead here are my five 2015 New Year resolutions:

Eat Better – thought I would start with the most obvious, and the one that you can probably find on almost everyone’s New Year resolutions. Having said this, this year I do truly want to continue what I had started at the end of last year, which is incorporating more , fresh food into my diet and cutting back on processed, readymade meals. To me this resolution is not about not eating the things that I enjoy, like cheese, no way am I cutting out my love of brie! But what it means is that where I can eat healthier alternatives I will, for example swapping potatoes for sweet potatoes and reducing the amount of meat I eat.

Waking up Earlier – I love sleep, along with eating and Vampire Diaries, it is up there with my favourite things ever. However when I am sleeping in until mid morning, this is a result of laziness rather than a love of sleep. During the week when I have lectures and seminars to attend, I think I need to set a target of being up and out of bed by 8:30 at the latest, which compared to the time I had to get up for school should be no difficult task. By waking up earlier, it means I can actually start my day at a reasonable time rather than only being ready to face the world by lunchtime!

  

  Save then Spend – I have a very bad habit of spending money that is not necessarily always being replaced in my bank account. As in, the money going out of the account, is not the same as the money going back in on payday. I am lucky enough I have a part time job, which means I do have a cash flow coming into my bank, but that does not entitle me to spend whenever I want. So my plan for this year is to be more sensible about money, meaning during the month I spend when I need to. And then on payday at the end of the month, allowing myself to fulfil by shopaholic addiction and treating myself to a more #feelingspendy purchase.

  

Work Play Balance – this is something which I feel strongly about, and has also become increasingly difficult in recent months. For those of you who don’t know, I am currently in my second year at university, so therefore workload is fairly heavy, which results in a lot of time spent in the library. Whilst I treat my studies as my number one priority, I also know how important it is to take time to chill and distress. Whether this is taking time to myself to catch up on Pretty Little Liars, or hanging out with my friends, this is time that I have to balance out with my workload. Last year I fluctuated from one extreme to the other becoming somewhat of a hermit in my corner in the library at one point, to going out multiple times a week, so my aim for 2015 is to find a happy medium between the two.

      

Take More Chances – saying yes to things has always been a massively problem of mine whether that be because of shyness or laziness. But increasingly it is becoming more obvious to me the hundreds of opportunities and experiences you miss out on when you fail to say yes to the right things. So to conclude my resolutions for 2015, I want to, in the words of my spirit animal Taylor Swift become more Fearless.

I realise that none of these resolutions are particularly groundbreaking or revolutionary, however I do feel that with these small five guidelines in mind I can hopefully use 2015 as a year to change and improve some things about myself. And hopefully I will be able to report throughout the year and then in 2016 how successful I have been.

Thank you for reading, and Happy belated New Year!

B xx