Vegan Chickpea Bowl | AKA The Post I Realised I Could Never Be A Food Blogger

Does me saying 'screw it' and just using an exceptionally mediocre photo after what feels like a million and one attempts make this post ironic or an ode to the majesty that is true food bloggers, or just a slightly rambling, self-detracting post with average, seemingly iPhone standard photography?

Before I started writing this post, I never truly realised just how impossibly difficult food photography really is. What I think looks all instagrammable on my plate suddenly looks like my cat vommed on my plate on my camera. Texture and colours may as well not be a thing, and I should probs kiss goodbye to the notion that I have some semblance of presentation skills.

I think the main issue is that rather than wanting to photograph it, I kinda want to inhale it when it's all hot and smelling awesome. Soz, I'm sacrificing lots of nice pictures for my tummy.

But this taste pretty awesome, work for a student budget, and are super healthy in my humble 'I study history not nutrition but I like food bloggers' opinion.

Monthly Challenges | February

With all of the New Year's resolutions flying about, I've decided to try giving myself monthly resolutions. Year long goals can seem intimidating and unattainable, but having five smaller goals to achieve in four weeks seems like a fun way to challenge myself and really push myself to make the most out of every month. I want put myself out of my comfort zone as much as I can, and having smaller aims seems like a realistic way to achieve this.

Plus, I love a good list. You may have noticed that from reading this blog and seeing the many list orientated posts...

(Before you think, 'is one of her resolutions really taking selfies?!', no, it's not. I'm just a little bit obsessed with these sunglasses and that seemed a reason as good as any to use this photo)

Holiday Snapshots | A Mini Guide

Ah England, you were doing so well with the weather, and now you're back your glorious, soggy, unpredictable self. I won't become one of those British stereotypes and moan too much, but real talk, weather if you could make your mind up and be consistent that would be fab okay?

It's been two weeks since I got back from holiday, and I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed being home, I've felt like my holiday's been extended. I've been outside topping up my tan, having BBQs, going to a pirate themed mini golf (the little kid in me was jumping for joy), exploring London some more, and just generally making the most of my surroundings.

But the wanderlust in me is strong, and to curb it somewhat I've put together my highlights of a few places I've visited, to relive some experiences.

Cannes

OOTD and Valencia

Ah Valencia. Where do I begin?

Before leaving for the cruise, all I knew about Valencia was that there were oranges there and that it was in Spain. Yay for my geography skills and general knowledge. 

But oh hot damn this city is way more than oranges, it quickly became my favourite place we'd visited.

Foodie Loves | The Breakfast Club

After not posting anything food related for aaaaages I'm suddenly hitting you with two in a row.

But hey ho I don't care gimme all the food.

My photos album on my phone from the last few weeks is basically a 50-50 split of food/drink pictures and drunken selfies. And whilst the later might be more amusing for you to see, I think the former are more aesthetically pleasing.

Because lets be honest, I'm not going to be worrying about lighting or angles or making something look pretty when oooh free prosecco I need to put that on my snapchat story.

Birthday Trip | Galvin at Windows

When it comes to birthdays, I'm literally such a little kid. Like I've been looking forward to it for weeeeks, anyone who's met me is fully aware that yes it is my birthday and yes I will be 19 and yes I am super excited about it.

And boy it has been a good few days. Why have a birthday when you can have multiple days? I like doing things with all my groups of friends so that yay more celebrations and excuses to eat cake and drink too much prosecco and dance like no ones watching because HEY DID YOU KNOW IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.

It's The Little Things In Life

So many things that make people happy are really personal to them, and although holidays, days out and grand gestures are all amazing and lovely and should never be overstated, today I stopped to think about how it's the small things that really brighten my day.

I thought I'd compile a list of things that made me smile, in the hopes that it might make you realise how wonderful every day can be, even if it's not something huge and out of the ordinary.

(Lol I sound so optimistic and like I live in happy clappy land, but in reality two hours ago I was on FaceTime moaning to my best friend about how shit I felt. And it was after I hung up on her, and had spoken to my mum that I realised I felt a million times better, and that it's the people I love which make my life, and how I don't appreciate them enough.)

So without further ado, or inane ramblings which I wouldn't blame you for skim reading over, here is my list of things which make me smile.

1. Visiting or calling to a best friend or family member

A Slight Lifestyle Change | Plus Avocado Brownie Recipe

I can hardly believe how long it's been since I last uploaded, two months is ridiculous!

In this time, my life seems to have changed so much in so many ways. I've got a job, found a house in London, lost and gained friends, finished my first year of university... It's crazy how everything seems to happen at once!

I lost a bit of motivation to blog, and have been so busy with revision that by the time I finished working, the idea of writing another word seemed impossible. But recently I've got into a whole new productive and positive outlook, and I'm so ready to be updating my blog regularly. The prospect of a summer in London, and travelling is super exciting, and I finally have a new camera to document it all properly.

What to do with 48 hours in Copenhagen

I can practically see the tumbleweed rolling across my blog, I know... it's been far too long once more since I've done a post. This one has turned out to be both picture and word heavy, so hopefully evens it out a bit. (Pls) Uni has been so manic recently, but I've finished lectures for the year which is just the strangest feeling. Cue manic revision time but also more chances for blogging yay!

Of course it hasn't been all work and no play, apart from making the most of what London has to offer, I've also been checking out another European city, the beautiful Copenhagen.

Monthly Misses | January

I approached January with the attitude of simply getting through it, since everyone knows it's probably the least exciting month of the year. But I've been so pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it's actually been I thought I'd do a round up of all I'm going to miss about it. I'm thinking about doing this every month- hopefully not another resolution I'll end up breaking!

(Genuinely don't think I've ever made it more than a few weeks into my resolutions- I'm blaming early Easter for the abundance of Creme Eggs screwing with my healthy eating...)

1. Brunch at The Black Penny

Tips for a Successful Dinner Party

I can hardly believe how long it's been since I've posted, the Christmas party season has definitely been occupying a lot of my time! But my favourite kind of parties are the ones where you can actually sit down and have a good catch up with old friends, rather than screaming "SO HOW'S UNI" in a crowded club.

I held my first dinner party before Christmas and it was such a lovely evening I thought I'd share some tips and maybe some inspiration of you're thinking of holding a get together!

Decorating

Since I held it during the festive season, some of the decorations won't be relevant all year, but most of them work all year round!

1.) My essential for brightening up a table (quite literally!) is candles. Lots and lots of candles. They can transform your setting from drab to magical, and create a soft, magical glow in the room. Get cute jam jars, tea light holders or lanterns, the more mismatched the better, and dot them around the table and the room.

2.) To add some interest on the table I put a small amount of confetti and some Quality Street, which added a nice pop of colour against my charcoal tablecloth.

3.) Get the nicest glasses, cutlery and crockery you have out! I'm a sucker for these, and there's some really beautiful designs out. Since it likely won't be a crazy party, there's less anxiety about things getting broken, and they really look special on the table.

4.) I put place names on the table and these are something you can definitely play around with! I'm not the most creative person but it's fun finding your place and seeing who you're next to. 

Foodie Loves | Chez Antoinette

Another food post... what is coming over me? I just couldn't not share this little gem I found in Covent Garden.

Tucked away in the lower ground of the Market Place in the Covent Garden is Chez Antoinette, a beautiful little French eatery. Inside it has a cute, vintage vibe that makes you feel immediately at home.

Foodie Loves | The Chelsea Ivy Garden

I love uni, but sometimes a little bit of home is what you need to get you feeling ready for the week ahead, and for me nothing beats a visit from my mumma. (And no that's not just because of the free lunch, I promise...)

Sloane Square and King's Road is one of my favourite areas of London for a mooch around, plus all the Christmas lights were up making me feel all festive! After trekking round Zara and all browsing through all the shops, I was definitely in need of a pick me up, and that was definitely what I got at The Chelsea Ivy Garden!

Alternative Ways To Spend A Day | London

After finishing uni one day, I popped my headphones on a went for a wander to try and get to know London better, and maybe uncover some gems. It's one of my favourite things to do, as you get to know where you're studying better, and it's a fun way to get some exercise (which I needed after I discovered Snog...)

How To Live The High Life For Less | London

I like the good life, who doesn't?! But rather than being Blair Waldorf, an Upper East Side Manhattanite (I miss Gossip Girl...), I'm a slightly broke student in London. Sigh.

But there's always ways around this, and recently I've been living it up for less, so I thought I'd share some of these ways.

1. Competitions

I know it sounds cliche and unrealistic, but recently when I was watching TV one evening, I thought I may as well give some competitions a go- someone's got to win, right?! And for one of them, it actually was me!

Day Tripping | Edinburgh

This summer I seem to have got around the country a lot, and recently I went to stay with my grandmother in Cumbria. It was so lovely and peaceful- this was the main source of traffic we came across! I've spent almost every summer here since I was a child and it is a place firmly entrenched in my heart, it feels like a whole world away from the bustle of London and I always leave with a sense of peace.