Instagrammble Food in New York

 

If you haven't guessed already, or if you don't follow me on Instagram- I am a food orientated person. Some eat to live, others live to eat. I woud definitely say I am more the latter. So obviously, since I've been away, I've wanted to go and find some super cute cafes and restaurants which deliver on the food front and I have found a few! Some of these are typical Instagram hotspots, and others are less so but no matter where you go, you'll be sure to find some super delicious and good looking food! 

What are you thinking?

The way you think, and your overall attitude can have a huge effect on a lot of what you do. Some may think that the two aren't connected, but I can assure you that they are. 

3 Books every Millennial Should Read

I am a book person. I know not every person is, especially in our generation, but I wanted to talk to you about three books I've read recently. The three books I feel every Millenial should read.

Cuban Lookbook

The Summer Trench

*Not my photo- taken from Jack Wills' 'How to style a trench coat' campaign 

I know when you think of trench coats, you probably think of cool Autumn days, but if you live in the UK, you will know that the Great British summer isn't always so great, so we need a lightweight coat or jacket to wear in all weather. 

The Morning Rush

I don't know about you, but some days I just seem to run out of time, especially when I have a busy day and planned to wash my hair- typical. So I stand there looking in the mirror at the greasy hair I have to work with for the day. And if I have just enough time to wash it, I seem to run out of time to dry it quickly while looking good! 

Although I'm not one of those people who spends half an hour in the shower, I do like to make sure I take the time to care for my skin, so I normally exfoliate with a good scrub and then follow with a moisturising body wash. But, as you can imagine, on busy days, I don't have the time to do this! So, why not combine the two?! You can so easily make any body wash into an exfoliator with some good exfoliating mitts*. These lovely pink ones from Soap & Glory are perfect as they're just like a glove and lathers the product really well. I find a lot of mitts don't give me the level of scrub I want, but these bad boys are fab at giving yourself a super deep scrub. 

So this definitely saves me time in the morning! 

Okay, say I have a morning where my hair is a bit of a grease bomb. I have two options: quick wash (if I have time) or dry shampoo (if I don't). 

say it's the latter, I need a heavy duty dry shampoo, but I don't want to be left with the talc look! oh, the struggle... But Soap & Glory have now come out with this fab new one, which smells amazing might I add, that leaves your hair looking as good as new! They also have a travel size so you can pop it in your bag for top ups throughout the day, yay! 

If I decide to risk it (for a chocolate biscuit...?) and wash my hair, I want to be able to get changed without getting my clothes wet and for my hair to dry quickly. There has been a time when I've desperately tried to get my top on with a towel on my head- it doesn't seem to work! But Soap & Glory kindly sent over their hair turban, it's the perfect size to keep your hair up and ring out the water, while you can get dressed and do your makeup. It helps to speed up drying (as I like to dry it naturally), then all I need to do is turn up the heating in my car for a bit and tah dah! 

And there we have it, how I can get myself sorted quickly in the morning, with the help from Soap & Glory. Although this post is supported by Soap & Glory, all opinions are my own and honest. 

*This post contains gifted content. This post is also supported by Soap & Glory, but all opinions are my own and are competely honest x

The Year Of Hygge

2016 brought some big changes, and along with it some big realisations. And like every new year, like many other people, I like to sit down and write out some goals. This may be study wise, for me to have a goal to try and get a 2:1 on my assignments. This might be for my blog and to continue to grow and flourish, hopefully with the help and support of all of you. But I think one I want to focus on here mainly, at the moment, is to be more focused on togetherness and appreciating the small things in life, as well as the big- of course. 

I came across this wonderful little book called 'The Little Book of Hygge', by Meik Wilking from The Happiness Research Institute. 

It made me realise that I think all of us can sometimes get caught up in daily life and everything feels so rushed that we sometimes forget how nice it is to curl up on the sofa together, with cups of tea chatting away. This is why I want to make 2017 the year of 'Hygge'. 

Hygge is a Danish word, or idea, that is all about being cosy, calm, and making the most of the simple things. It's been said to translate to "cosiness of the soul", "taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things" and "cosy togetherness". 

Now don't think I'm going to become a hermit for the next year and not leave my house- that's not what Hygge is about. It's all about being comfortable. Both with yourself and others. This can be done through hot bubble baths, being in your cosy lounge wear or even giving people hugs. I am a very cuddly person, so that isn't hard for me! But, in this wonderful little book, there's even a chapter about 'Hygge outside the home'. It talks about how there can be something very comforting about going for a morning stroll around the park, while you're all wrapped up in you cosy jumpers and scarves. I want to try and make time for that; once a day, even if it's only for 20 minutes, get out the house and go for a walk. Have some thinking time. 

It also talks about being present in the moment. This is something I'm often worried I don't do enough. By having my life on my laptop, be it for school work or blogging, and always having my phone so close to hand, I feel like I often miss opportunities to be fully present. This is why I'm going to make such a conscious effort to allow time without all this technology and get to basics. 

I know I may have just splurged all my thoughts, and they may not be cohesive, but here are my goals for 2017!

- To be in the moment

- To make the most of the simple pleasures in life 

- To make time for those simple pleasures and the people I love

Happy New Year to you. I hope my splurge has given you some ideas of some goals you could make for yourself. Let 2017 be the year of Hygge, I feel it might do us all a little good.

Goodbye '16, Hello '17

  

 

 

 

 When I look back on 2016, it feels like a blink but a lifetime all in one. It's gone so quickly that I find it hard to believe that it really is coming to an end. It's definitely been a whirlwind of a year with a lot happening and changing. 

I turned 18 at the beginning of the year (I quite literally mean the beginning, the 3rd)! When I think back to that, it does feel like almost a year ago, yet it doesn't at the same time. If that makes any sense at all!? 

I took some big exams, which I'm glad are over and done with, I will admit! I travelled to some beautiful places and took the leap of going away to university which has to lead me to meeting some people I honestly think I will be friends with for many years to come. And I look forward to making many more memories with them.

We can't forget, of course, that a mere 7 months ago all of this started- how crazy is that! It amazes me how much it's grown in such a short amount of time. I'm so excited about what's to come in the new year and I so glad you're all coming on this journey with me. 

We also can't forget the many who will not be welcoming in the new year with us, I think it's safe to say that this year has been particularly bad in that sense. 

But, on the outlook, 2017 promises to be a very exciting year with many exciting adventures. I hope it is for you too. 

So I think all that is left to say is, goodbye 2016. Welcome, 2017- Happy New Year! 

Lots of love, 

Festive de-stress | The Christmas Edit

It's coming to that point in the year when we're all beginning to feel a little stressed and uptight: coursework deadlines coming up, work is getting more stressful the closer we get to Christmas and maybe the idea of having to start Christmas shopping is just adding to the mound of other things you need to do. I often find that this time of year adds to my decreasing mood and lack of calm as you wake up in the dark, go to work and come home in the dark. This seems to be all that happens for three months straight. 

Don't get me wrong- I LOVE Christmas. It is my favourite time of year. The month or so beforehand, however, I find very stressful. 

In light of this, I thought I would do a little post about how I like to de-stress during this time of year. 

I think my number one favourite thing to de-stress is having a lovely, warm bubble bath. Especially an hour or so before I go to bed. There's something so comforting about laying there and just letting all your aching muscles relax. I think my favourite thing to put into my baths is Lush's bubble bar in 'The Comforter'. This is unlikely to be a surprise to many of you as I have mentioned this left right and centre. And let me tell you, there is a reason it is called "the comforter"! It creates the most perfect bubbles and the scent is just something else.

Sadly, since being at university, I haven't been able to have baths as often as I would like, but thankfully Lush has come to my rescue and has bottled the infamous bubble bar up into a wonderful shower gel. The smell alone is enough to relax me! 

I guess I find giving myself a little pamper in general is a great way to destress, especially when it comes to my skin. When I get stressed, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this, my skin shows it by breaking out. So I like to treat myself to an at-home facial. You can make it extra special by applying it and going for a long hot bath with candles!

Although I read for a degree, I find there's something extremely relaxing about being curled up on the sofa, with a cup of tea and a blanket, reading a good book. It allows you to zone out of everyday life and be taken somewhere else, even if it is just for a little while. Sometimes I find that there are some books I could read three, maybe four times and never get bored. If you find a book you truly love, you'll end up just wanting to read it to enjoy the writing, not just the story. And I think there's something very lovely and comforting about that. 

One of my ALL TIME favourite activities, let alone destressers, is baking. I've created a little bit of a reputation in my flat and back home for being a bit baking crazy. You can normally find me on a Sunday afternoon in the kitchen making some form of cake or sweet treat. I love baking at any time of the year, but Christmas is the perfect time. You have all your family and friends round (which give you an even better reason to get your pinny on) but it means you can bring out all the festive recipes and treats! 

I seem to find this relaxing as it makes me concentrate on something that isn't work, meaning that I can have an hour or so away from my books to focus on something else. Not only will I go back to my work with a fresh mind, but will also go back with a piece of yumminess (often used as bribery- I am a firm believer in that!). 

When I'm stressed, and I'm sure a lot of you are the same, I find I get so tired but can't seem to fall asleep easily- which adds to the stress! A little tip I have picked up, and one I have always been fond of is listening to rain or waves while I'm trying to sleep. It's a proven tactic, as the sounds prove to be very soothing and somewhat comforting when you're all snuggled up, warm, in bed. Maybe next time you're struggling to sleep- try downloading a playlist (or I use the app Rain Rain) and set a timer for half an hour to 45 minutes. I am sure by the time the timer runs out you will be well and truly on your way to a good nights sleep.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading this and have gained some new ideas of how to de-stress, particularly for the coming month. As always, please feel free to contact me and let me know how you like to de-stress, I always love hearing from you!x

How I stay Organised

Many of you may not know that I am dyspraxic and dyslexic, meaning that I have to try really hard to stay organised. Although we only found out that I was dyslexic a couple of years ago I've been able to form tactics to help when it comes to staying on top of things, and these are some of them!

First and most importantly is my diary. I guess this is something that I've got off my mum, as she too likes to use a diary to write everything in. My diary contains my life, quite literally, and I'm not sure what I would do without it. I always make sure to write down any appointments, meetings or deadlines in there so I can keep track of what every day brings. It's also the perfect size to fit into my handbag so I can always jot something in if it were to pop up while I'm out (as I am more than likely to forget about it by the time I get home). To me, this is a MUST HAVE to help me stay organised. 

Continuing with this idea is my wall calendar. There's something about being able to see my whole year that I find really helpful. Although I love using my diary for everyday and weekly use, I often find it harder to visualise how far away things like deadlines are. By having it on the wall, and by ticking off each day, I find it helps to keep me focused and on track so I don't miss a thing!

I also have a 'weekly schedule' on my pin board so I know what lectures I have and when. This helps me to make sure I'm packing everything I need for the day in my bag. I know we all got these timetables in our school diaries and I know we all disliked them a little at the time, but since leaving school- I can't be without one! Go figure!

One of THE most useful tips I have ever been told was: make a to-do list. My dad has always told me that he makes a list every single day and has always told me when I'm feeling a little overwhelmed to "make a list and attack it". These are words I now live by, and I'm not entirely sure how well organised or put together I would be without this brilliant piece of advice. Although some people find it overwhelming to see everything you have to do on one big list, I find it helps to focus my mind on the task at hand. 

I guess, sort of following along a similar thought, is making sure you're prepared. By this, I mean having things like paper clips, a stapler (and staples...) and folders and dividers and all of that. Over the past couple of years I have grown a love for (pretty) stationary and, as a consequence, I find I don't mind doing tasks like filing (as boring as it is) as I love being able to use my cute little bits! Places like paperchase are great for this sort of thing, so go have a look in the January sales!

These are just a few of the strategies I find help me most to stay organised, and I hope that this has helped you all in some shape or form! Let me know what you like to do to stay organised, I'm always open to new ideas. x

60 hours in Paris | The Paris Edit

There is a reason Paris is one of the most beloved cities in the world. There is some sort of energy that emits that makes you feel like everything in the world is wonderful. It's lovely to see that, even though they have faced some hard times recently, the city is quite possibly more loved than ever and I for one will say that I will definitely be visiting again.

There are of course, a few things you just HAVE to do while you're in Paris, be it for a long or short amount of time.

Obviously there are the very well known sites you just need to see. First being the Eiffel Tower. But, if

you look at the queues, you can be queuing for two hours or more. So, I would highly suggest booking it in advance, there are loads of tour sites where you can buy fast track tickets up the tower, which trust me you will want to do!

We went through a tour company called Get Your Guide, and were able to get a river cruise along the Seine, which was really lovely. It was nice to be able to sit down and relax while we watch Paris go by, and were able to see parts which we wouldn't have seen otherwise- so for me, this is a must (but a less well known one).

Next is Le Louvre. Trust me when I say that this stunning museum really does live up to its name. Being the biggest art museum in the world, it really does need a whole day dedicated to going round it. My boyfriend and I got there 15 minutes before it opened (which I would suggest to anyone else planning to visit) as it does get very busy during the afternoons. It took us 4 hours to go round two of the three sides of the museum, so like I said- it really does need a whole day. At only 15 euros per adult, I really think this is amazing value for such a huge attraction.

What I would also highly recommend would be to do the side where the Mona Lisa is. She is on the top floor, and most people work their way from the bottom to the top- as most of us would. BUT, she is such a huge attraction I would really suggest you get to the top and see her FIRST, as this will mean you will miss most of the crowds as you go down and they come up!

Another sight which also lives up to its massive name is the Arc de Triomph. In many photos, you don't really think it's going to be as big as it is, but trust me when I say it really is massive. When you first get to the area you would notice that it's in the middle of a VERY busy roundabout, and will probably freak out thinking how on earth you're supposed to get to it. We soon realised that there are two underground walk ways on either side of the arc, one of which being on the Champs Elysees. If you want to go up the arc, be warned that queues can be long, and will offer a similar view to that of the Eiffel Tower, but by all means go for it if you have the time to spare (sadly we didn't). Another sight which both of us loved was Notre Dame. Again, because we were there for such a short amount of time, we didn't have enough time to stand in the (very long) queue, but were able to sit and watch the world go by, while admiring the beauty of the cathedral at this adorable cafe just across the way- if you have been in, or plan to go in, please let me know what it is like so I can go in next time!

Paris is considered to be one of, if not THE, fashion capital of the world- so obviously you sort of need to go look around some shops. I have to admit, James (my boyfriend) and I, didn't really look round many, until our last day. We were sat in a cute little cafe down the rod we were staying at and noticed a few shops around the are. Me being the way I am, I was curious and wanted to look inside- but it didn't seem that special. The shop was called La Bon Marche- some of you may have heard of it? Some may have not- It's a HUGE designer department store. How did I not know about this until 2 hours before we were leaving?! I would definitely recommend looking around here, even if you don't plan on buying anything, purely because it's so incredible just to walk around! The best way I could describe it would be like a French Selfridges- but even prettier! 

Not only is France known for its fashion, but world renowned for its incredible food and patisseries. When it comes to bistros and restaurants, the biggest tip I could give anyone is to eat where the locals eat. It will be a lot cheaper than some of the tourist traps around, and will clearly have good food if the locals go there! 

We were very lucky with where our hotel was, as it was situated on the Rue de Bac, in the heart of Saint Germain. Saint Germain is well known within Paris for having some of the best places to eat in the city, so go ave a wonder down there. You are likely to come across what I will be now classifying as my favourite patisserie, only a short walk away from the main road- Eric Kayser. They're cakes are simply gorgeous, in every way possible, so i would highly recommending making the trip down the Rue de Bac to find it. 

Speaking of cakes... you can't go to Paris without trying some of the incredible macaroons. Trust me, they won't be hard to find! If you are flying from Orly, then you will find many a bakery and patisserie in the terminal, one of which is the highly sort after Laudree! So make sure you go and try them, they are expensive (at 17 euros for 6) but it really is worth it. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my little weekend away, as much as I have enjoyed writing about it! Paris is such a special place, so if you ever get the opportunity to go, please do not pass it up. 


 As always, I love hearing from you guys so let me know what you think or if there's anything you would suggest I see for the next time I go (there WILL be a next time!), much love. x