Venice

Travelling to Venice has always attracted me. From what I had heard, it’s a magical city full of history and enchantment. I was told by a friend that its impossible to plan anything, so for someone like me – a person who needs a detailed intinerary for each adventure. I found this daunting.

Now I have returned I understand what she means. It is difficult to plan, and some of my most treasured memories from the trip are composed of ‘getting lost in Venice’. But for those of us who need structure, I thought I’d make a list of some of my personal ‘must see’ attractions.

 

View from the Accademia bridge

St Marks Square.

This is a pretty obvious first point but I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful it is. Throughout our trip we ended up walking every morning to the square from our hotel. We went in February time, which meant it flooded every morning, but this truly adds to the beauty and the surrealist qualities of the area. The basilica is wonderful, truly a work of art. I would highly recommend booking a tour through Veneto-inside. Our tour guide was clearly very passionate and her enthusiasm was shared amongst our group. Food and drink can be quite expensive (it’s a very high tourist area), but if you’re willing to walk a little further through the ‘maze-like’ alleys, you can come across far cheaper and often more authentic venetian bakeries or restaurants. St Marks square is also home to a wide range of shops that are impossible to resist.

St Mark's Square

Murano/Burano/Torcello.

I was really interested to see the other islands in Venice. Allilaguna provides a service that gives you the chance to visit all three islands in one day. Our first stop was Murano; we were given special access into a traditional glass blowing workshop with the opportunity to observe vases and statues being made. As a fan of anything artistic, I felt the whole process was brilliant. It was fascinating to watch such an old process still being used. After watching the demonstration we walked into the showroom and were able to see or purchase a range of products that were created using the methods.

The next stop on the tour was Burano, an island famous for its brightly coloured houses, which used to help fisherman or sailors to identify their own from sea. On each island you are allowed 40 minutes to explore the island, which was perfect for photographs and to learn about the traditional lace making history of the island.

Torcello was the final stop. The island is completely dreamlike; with a population of less than 30 it’s incredibly quiet. We visited a small church, the Church of Santa Fosca; it was so peaceful and relaxing. The whole island is. It’s definitely well worth a visit.

Gondola Rides.

Unfortunately, we waited until our last day to go for a gondola ride and of course, it was pouring with rain. That didn’t stop me though! This was something I was desperate to do. The prices of Gondolas seem to start at around €80 (considering you pay for the boat, not per person) but with the private companies there is definitely room to haggle down. If anything, I think the rain added to the experience. Yes we were sat in the freezing cold, wet and huddled together. But the rain had cleared the alleyways of people so everything was still and calm. It really is a magical way to view Venice.

Mask Shopping

There are a lot of street sellers in Venice, it does become difficult to find the real masks from the rubbish. Underneath our hotel, away from the square and the key tourist points, was a man who owned the most beautiful shop I’ve seen. ‘Macia de Color’ is home to some of the most beautiful hand crafted masks where you can watch them being constructed. The owner is more than helpful and incredibly friendly. He showed me how the masks were made and how important the quality of his material is. Every single mask is truly incredible. They extensively vary in price but its absolutely worth paying that little bit more to own something that’s captures so much of Venetian culture.

handmade mask from 'Macia de Color'

Of course there are many other attractions and ways to spend your time in Venice. As my friend said, it’s easy to emerse yourself and take on activities as they come to you, rather than go searching. Venice is a city full of culture and life; it certainly was one of the most inspirational places I have visited.

Barcelona

Until this year, I had only been out of the country on three occasions and they weren't very far. So the fact I'm spending a significant portion of this year travelling is quite a nerve-racking prospect! I expect it'll make me so much more independent and I cant wait for all the experiences. My first trip was quite close to home, I didn't want to experience a really long flight when I'm just not use to travelling. The first destinations on the travel bucket list were none other than Barcelona and Sitges. We decided to go during September so we could experience the hot summer weather but at the off peak prices. The city was also widely free from floods of tourists as well which is a bonus.

Day 1 - La Boqueria

On the first day we visited La Boqueria in the Ramblas which was only a 10 minute walk from our hotel. It was a completely surreal experience, absolutely every manor of things was available to purchase. Everything from a whole pigs head, to seafood to weird meat that I could even name. There were all types of sweets and spices, even ostrich eggs were being sold. It was so strange, It was mesmerising the amount of people shopping. Possibly my favourite part was one stall that was completely covered in these dried chilli's. They were so brightly coloured and looked beautiful, it was amazing how many types were up for sale! Sadly photography was prohibited at this stall so I cant show everyone how incredible it was! I did manage to take a picture of these sweets however, there were so many crazy designs, I just loved how intricate they are.

Day 2 - Sagrada Famillia 

The must see attraction of Barcelona. I cant even begin to put into words how spectacular this masterpiece is. It began its construction in 1886 and should be finished in 2026, I cant wait to go back then and see it without all the scaffolding. The building is so detailed and spiritual, it reminds me of a fairy tale. It was completely surreal and magical, I felt truly enlightened. I would also recommend if you are going to visit the Sagrada Famillia you should book tickets to avoid the queues. When I went it was absolutely packed so I would dread to think what it's like in the summer! The tour (provided by them) was also really informative and captivating. Couldn't recommend this landmark enough!

Day 2 - Park Guell

We were so inspired by visiting the Sagrada Famillia we decided to walk to the top of Barcelona and visit Guadi's other works at the Park Guell. Upon arriving you are immediately greeted with wacky mosaic buildings that are also so reminiscent of fairy tales, one of which particularly reminded me of the gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel. Since we were on a very tight budget we decided to not pay for tickets but leisurely stroll around the rest of the park. It resembles a crumbling old temple which is really interesting and unusual to explore, the musicians and artists also fitted the ambiance and atmosphere perfectly. The view from the top of the park was also incredible, you can see right to the port. It truly is breathtaking.

Day 3 - Camp Nou.

The one drawback of travelling with a boy! Of course we had to visit the Barcelona football stadium. I'm really not into football but this was actually a really lovely day out. I wasn't really that interested in the museum bit but I took some lovely pictures to make my younger brother jealous. The actual stadium was breathtaking. We got to appreciate it on all different levels; where the fans would watch, where the commentators would watch and where the managers would watch. It really was magnificent how big the capacity of the venue was. I was surprised about how much I did actually enjoy myself and would definitely recommend it.

Day 4 - Quimet and Quimet

Obviously we didn't spend the whole day at this restaurant (we actually spent the day reclining on Barcelonetta beach). Quimet and Quimet was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Tucked away in a far quieter part of the city we actually discovered this through tripadvisor as we found deciding where to eat somewhat overwhelming. This restaurant is not your usual situation, there are no tables or chairs, you lean on the counters at the side whilst you enjoy your food. Its worth pointing out that this restaurant is tiny and gets crazy packed. The ceilings are really tall and stacked with possibly every type of wine in the world. The tapas we chose were a selection of bread, Iberian pork cheek, salted tuna and king prawns. It was fantastic, all the food is prepared and made in front of you so what you see is what you get. The quality of the food is also brilliant and it was really good value for money. It was my best meal in Barcelona by far! Unfortunately as they are such a small business they don't have a website, but the size of the restaurant means they don't take bookings! arrive early to ensure a spot!

The rest of the holiday - Sitges.
From when we booked this, we had always planned Sitges to be a place where we could relax and sleep on the beach. It delivered this perfectly. We stayed in a hotel that was right on the harbour (port Sitges resort) and a two minute walk from a small but beautiful beach. Between them was a strip of the most incredible restaurants and bars, all which had lit up cabanas to eat outside in. The beach was brilliant, it was luscious gold sand and I went swimming in the sea every day. The weather was incredibly hot also which was a bonus! Sitges as a town is very picturesque and was lovely to stroll along on a cooler afternoon. Its such a charming town and everyone was so friendly towards us.

I have had so many amazing experiences over my time in Spain and I definitely will be going back someday. I've learnt lots about myself and cant wait for my next set of travel plans.

Burn 1 pound of fat

On Pinterest I found this image that contained the following text:
'1 pound of fat is 3,500 calories. If you want to loose 1 pound of fat in one week, you have to burn/ remove 500 calories a day.'

I'm not really a fan of the word "remove" as I believe that weight loss should be through only healthy measures, but I guess if that's 500 calories worth of sugar and rubbish then it supposedly wouldn't hurt! To me burning 500 calories a day sounds like a winning formula. I want to inspire people with this method and give everyone some pointers on quick exercises they can do to achieve this goal. Naturally, I want to suggest fun inexpensive workouts and exercise that can be completed at home. This is what I found, an idea for each day of the week:

Hula Hooping:
Hula hooping for an hour can burn up to 600 calories. They are so inexpensive to buy from Asda/Tesco or any high street toy shop. As an added bonus, a weighted hula hoop is ideal to tone your stomach as well. I find hula hooping very effective as you can completely forget your doing it, if you put a film on whilst you're exercising or watch the latest catch up telly, the time flies past.

Skipping:
Skipping for an hour can burn up to 660 calories a minute. Again they are very cheap to get hold of and widespread. Skipping is also incredibly beneficial for improving your coordination and alignment, so its an all round good activity. It's something that can be done inside in front of the telly (if you have the space) or outside where you can enjoy the fresh air.

Television:
I found this workout on shake-your-body.blogspot.com via Pinterest where somebody has constructed a completely genius plan. The idea is that doing this quick workout burns 100 calories: 40 jumping jacks, 20 crunches, 20 squats and 10 push ups. But as pointed out by this clever person, there are 5 ad breaks in an hour long television program. This short workout should only take you a few minutes so its perfect to do in between. Then you will have burnt a collective of 500 calories.

Zumba class:
Every gym tends to hold a Zumba class, or if you're not a member google the nearest ones surrounding you (lots of village/town halls hold them). An hour long class burns 500 calories if you give it your all. It can feel a bit silly at first, particularly if you're similar to me and incredibly self conscious. But I just roped in one of my best friends who made it a lot easier, and to be honest you look far more stupid if you're not joining in. Its such a fun way to have a laugh with your friends but also shift those 500 calories.

Bike-riding:
This is particularly fabulous if you live in the countryside. An hour of moderate bike riding burns 500 calories. I cant really comment on anything too specific regarding the word 'moderate', but you could always invest in a pedometer if you wanted to be very thorough. Bike-riding is always really fun when you have company as well, time goes by a lot faster if you're able to chat whilst doing it! Just be sure to check the pace you're cycling at doesn't suffer as a result!

Running up stairs:
Slightly embarrassing, so I'd suggest doing it home alone. But 45 mins of running up and down stairs burns 500 calories. A completely free method that works very effectively.

Rollerblading:

Time to dig out the trainers!

I used to Rollerblade so much when I was younger, so of course I was to young to appreciate the exercise value. Rollerblading for 1 hour burns your last 500 calories. I think the best part of this is that so many sports halls and clubs hold roller-discos (google to find your closest), so like zumba, you can rope in all your friends as you have fun and exercise in a loud and party environment.


Above I've listed 7 options that you could choose, by completing all of them you will have burned 1 pound of fat in just one week. Personally, I think they are such fun and fantastic ways to stay fit and healthy but methods that also keep you captivated along the way. Hope everyone enjoys!

Lavender Oil

Results, work stress, money problems. Life can be so stressful and difficult sometimes. There are of course ways to fix things but the anxiety and pain can really be left behind. 

A few months ago I made a post about the Neal's yard bath salts. Since using them I've discovered the amazing benefits of lavender essential oil. It's really widespread and you can get a bottle at almost any health shop. But be cautious to make sure it's the 100% pure oil, it lasts longer and is far better for you. On average it costs round about the figure of £5 but it of course varies. 

The great thing about essential oil is that it has all the healing and relaxation properties. But it can be used in such a vast range of ways. You can add several drops to warm bath water for a full relaxation detox or massage it in to an aching body part. A few drops of oil can be added to a facial steamer to revive a blocked nose or again for the calming benefits. When I am really under pressure and unsettled I like to put a sprinkle of oil on my bed pillow before I'm about to go to sleep. It helps me really relax and fall a asleep despite whatever nerve-racking experiences are in store for me the next day. 

I've been doing some further research on more alternative benefits of lavender oil. Interestingly I found that it has some antiseptic and anti-inflamitory properties which can be used to relieve things like bug bites. Research also indicated that lavender has the ability to settle nausea, headaches and upset stomachs. Of course I can't take responsibility for any of these "claims" or however people choose to take this information. But for me lavender oil works incredibly well as a natural remedy! And I would urge anyone to pop down to boots and get their hands on bottle. 

For more information on health benefits of lavender. Head over to this website:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265922.php

Moroccan Oil

I would say that my hair is probably one of the most noticeable features about me. I have really long curly/wavy blonde hair, which is incredibly thick and all natural. As it is such a prominent aspect of me. I really try to keep it looking its best!

The best way I know of to do this, is after washing/conditioning apply Moroccan oil hair treatment. Either by using it to scrunch for curls or brush it through for straighter effects, the results leave you with a luxuriously moisturised head of hair. The beautiful shine created makes any persons hair type look healthy, cared for and nourished. It executes a salon quality performance and really adds the finishing touches to any 'do'.


Amazon sells Moroccan oil for the cheapest I've seen it. At £30.45 it seems alarmingly expensive, but a 100ml bottle lasts me on average 3/4 of a year (if not more). You only need a pea-sized amount of the oil each time you use it (for me I use two pumps of the nozzle). So although it is quite pricey, you do get your money worth in the time this product lasts for and the results of it are outstanding.

I couldn't express enough how incredible this product makes your hair look and feel. As I mentioned you can buy it at Amazon for the cheapest (or the cheapest I've found so far). The website link is just below:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MoroccanOil-Treatment-Hair-Types-100ml/dp/B001AO0WCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405881906&sr=8-1&keywords=moroccan+oil

Neal's Yard Remedies bath salts

Exam period has just finished so I've been in desperate need of ways to relax. At the end of the day I like to take time to have a bath, particularly with Neal's Yard lavender bath salts to really relax. 

The bath salts are made from all natural products and are not tested on animals which is an added bonus.  A handful of these beautifully scented bath salts can really create the perfect chilled environment to wind down in. Your skin is also left feeling really moisturised and hydrated. 

As well as relieving stress lavender also posses a variety of other health benefits. These include antiseptic properties and the ability to relieve headaches to name a few. 

Waitrose price this at £15.50 which may seem relatively expensive. Considering the size of the pot and the amount you use each go it's well worth the money. It's an absolutely incredible buy!

Soap and Glory Body Scrub

Soap and Glory's 'Scrub 'em and leave 'em body buff' is possibly one of the best bath products any girl or woman can own. Soap and Glory have combined their 'mist you madly's' fragrance with the most appealing and beautiful pink scrub thats very gritty but filled with moisturiser that leaves your skin feeling beautiful and polished.

Ive been using this as a means to get rid of stretch marks on my legs, so as i've only started using it I cant really comment on the effectiveness. But after using it my skin feels so soft and hydrated, and thats before using any bio oil. The fragrance includes scents of bergamot, blackcurrant, Magnolia, Fressia, Vanilla and Musk which make a really lovely summery combination. Priced at £8 its definitely worth the investment. I also bought some of boots exfoliating gloves for a couple of pounds. They are very coarse and really ensure the exfoliator is being used to its full potential.

I would highly recommend anyone to visit Boots and purchase this luxuriously creamy exfoliator.
http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory-Scrub-Em-and-Leave-Em%C2%99-Body-Buff-300ml_999405/

Fake Bake Beyond Bronze

I'm not a person that goes for regular spray-on-tans or anything, but I do think in the summer months a little fake tan on the legs goes a long way to complete an outfit.

I've used Fake Bake before but I've only received it as a present. Its fairly expensive (but well worth it) so this time I had to opt for the cheapest type. I chose 'Beyond Bronze self tan lotion' as I didn't want something that was wash off. I like building up a more natural tan rather than having to go through the process of putting it on each time I go out.

'Beyond Bronze' is more expensively priced at £18.50 but it's really worth spending a little more. Its not tinted orange like the typical high street brands of self-tan, its actually a normal brown colour. It comes out quite thickly which I feel is a bit of a heavy colour for my skin. Therefore I tend to dampen my mitt before applying to make it thinner and spread easier.

You need to apply a coat everyday (preferably at night time so your skin is most absorbent) and then once a week when you've reached the desired shade. When you shower for the first time it does look like a lot comes off but if anything I think it makes the brown colour intensify.

I would highly recommend Fake Bake 'Beyond Bronze' to anybody. Follow the link to buy some:
http://www.boots.com/en/Beyond-Bronze-Self-Tan-Lotion-148ml_1039804/

No7 foundation

Its no secret that in the past I've had to deal with bad spot/acne problems. So when I was younger I would desperately cover myself in thick foundation in an attempt to hide it which in turn, made things a lot worse. When my treatment started working I completely stopped wearing foundation as I really didn't want any dirt or impurities touching it. I took a really long break from it.

However, recently I began to really miss the idea of flawless skin for those special occasions. With this in mind and no idea which brand to buy I headed on down to Boots. I really love all No7 make up, so this was my first choice. They have also developed a machine which resembles a photographers light meter to match the colour of your skin with their foundation. It makes it so much easier than rubbing lots of different patch tests on your forearm and getting the wrong result. Being very fair I was matched with one of the lightest shades. There are so many variations to opt for regarding style of foundation but I chose the Stay Perfect type, this happened to be the cheapest at £14.50 as well.

The Foundation is lovely, it's is incredibly light and refreshing to wear which makes a change from the usual brands. Its thick enough to cover any imperfections of the face but not so much that it wont blend or become obvious. Personally, I only wear it across my T-zone and then across my cheeks but you can really get away with it as the colour is so evenly matched to your skin when you buy it. Another desirable factor is the SPF15. I hate going out and wearing sun tan lotion on my face as it gives it the odd shiny quality. But when I wear this I know i will have some form of protection. The foundation claims to last 24 hours, it does do this but you might need a couple of top ups throughout the day.

No7 Stay Perfect foundation is really brilliant. Its been so perfect in showing me that all foundation isn't bad, particularly as I've been using it for a while and there's been no obvious effect on my skin. I would highly recommend this to anybody.

Victoria Sponge

I am a really big fan of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' so I absolutely adore anything that relates to afternoon tea. I love all the various different aspects, from the china used to the food presented. One of the cakes I always associated with this is the classic Victoria Sponge.

I think there has recently been a revival in interest for this traditional cake as I seem to find variations wherever I go. With this in mind and the recent summery weather, I thought I'd have a go at making one for my Mum's birthday.

There is a recipe in 'The River Cottage Family Cookbook' by Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall and Fizz Carr which I have used a couple of times before. It really is a fantastic recipe and makes the most delicious sponge for your cake. I would highly recommend purchasing a copy of this book.

Polly's Pantry Cake Stand

As well as making a cake for my Mum, I also needed to get her a present. I wanted something to relate to the cake so I thought a cake stand would be a fabulous idea. She used to collect the Royal Albert English Roses china so I did have a look on their website, but this was a lot more expensive than I had thought. They also don't actually sell the big cake stands, just the tiered afternoon tea ones so I couldn't do it anyway.

After shopping around I came to the conclusion that cake stands were far far more expensive than i had originally anticipated. I eventually found some that were affordable in John Lewis. There was one particular design that really caught my eye. It was from the range Polly's pantry. It was really sweet and delicately decorated with little hearts and small blue chickens. I thought this would suit my mum as its endearing and not too serious. Priced at £24 it was perfect.

I really went for it on the cake as well. I embraced the messy and rustic look and lavished plenty of cream and jam to sandwich in the middle. After I sprinkled sifted icing sugar over the top to complete the look. In my opinion it was an incredibly successful cake!

Carluccio's

When I was younger, my mum and I used to have a tradition of visiting Windsor to go shopping at the start of each term holiday. My mum was always keen to get going as soon as possible which meant we would always stop for breakfast or cakes at Carluccio's. For the first time in ages I went back today. 

Carluccio's is a chain of restaurants that serves the most incredible Italian meals. It also has a lovely shop section of which I would highly recommend. The chocolate meringues and brownies you can buy are delicious!  True to nature we were at Windsor by 10.30 so we went to the restaurant for breakfast. There is a large array of options on the menu, including Italian takes on full English or my old favourite the Italian bread tin (a selection of breads and pastries). This restaurant serves the most delicious coffee as well. I normally have the drink 'bicerin' which is a cup with a shot of espresso and two accompanying jugs, one filled with cream and the other filled with the most luxurious melted chocolate. You then assemble it yourself to taste. However as I haven't been in such a long time, I completely forgot they served this so I chose a latte which was equally delightful. 

As I mentioned, they have a wonderful array of choices on their menu, it is slightly eggy if I must admit so probably not the best for anybody who doesn't like it. They had my favourite eggs Benedict but I was tempted by the Uova E Pancetta (In English that's eggs and pancetta on toast). So a little different but by not to much. 

The service was incredibly prompt and I quickly received my order. The presentation of the meal was outstanding and the eggs/pancetta were perfectly cooked (you are offered the standard choice of how you'd like them). The bread was also incredibly delicious, it tasted similar to ciabatta and rather than butter I think olive oil might have been used. Whatever the combination was, it was perfect! For £6.85 it could easily be the best 'value for money' meal I've ever had.

I couldn't recommend this wonderful restaurant enough, and would urge absolutely anybody to visit the website and see if there is a Carluccio's restaurant near them!

http://www.carluccios.com/uk

Summer Workout

Like every other girl or woman out there, a few months ago I joined the gym to tone up for the bikini season. Each time I re-join the gym I always use the same routine. It's the perfect mix of toning and calorie burning. 

So my usual routine which I try my absolute best to stick to is;
- 10 mins on the cross trainer to warm up on a cross country setting. 
-45 mins on the treadmill 
- 30 squats
- 30 lunges 
- 20 sit ups 
- then any muscle things that focus on the body part I'm not a fan of

Looking at this is probably quite over whelming so with the squats and other exercise build up in sets of ten. The 45 mins on the treadmill is actually a lot easier than it sounds. I first found this routine on pinterest and I've been using it since. It burns crazy amounts of calories and you really can last this long. It's a really good routine to follow for any ability. Ive attached the link, its brilliant because you can save the photograph of the routine straight to your phone and read straight of the routine as you do it. Couldn't recommend this enough!

http://www.blogilates.com/blog/2012/10/13/treadmill-shredmill-workout/

Red Velvet Cake

I'm one of those people who unfortunately suffers from exam stress and anxiety. So with my first exam looming, this has been an incredibly draining and tough week. To cheer me up and help me relax, my boyfriend took me to my favourite cafe which I've written about before, Fego. 

Although it was tempting to order a full lunch once we got there, we only wanted to stay for coffee. It's not really clear what they have on offer as there is no cake/pastry menu, everything is freshly baked. But after querying what was available with the friendly staff this problem was soon resolved. A lot of their pastries and cakes were nearly gone but I chose to have red velvet cake and a latte. Fego has an offer on which a slice of cake and a large coffee can cost you £4.95, so it's reasonable value for money. 

Having never tried red velvet cake, I was unsure of what was in it and what makes it red. I recently read online that it was Victoria sponge with red food colouring in the mix so I was slightly sceptical. Apparently it contains beetroot juice and a sweetened cream cheese filling. I think the waitress could tell I was unsure of these obscure ingredients as she assured me the taste was not overpowering, but I thought for the value i'd give it a go. 

The cake was very generously portioned and beautifully presented. The plate and cake was sprinkled with icing sugar and alongside was a plump strawberry and mint leaves to decorate. The cake itself was perfectly moist and incredibly luxurious. The beetroot juice couldn't be tasted at all, the waitress explained it's not so much for the flavour but for the delightfully vibrant red of the cake. The sweetened cream cheese also was exquisite and matched the filling of the cake perfectly. It was so enjoyable. For quite an odd mix of ingredients it really was lovely.

Not only would I urge you to visit Fego and indulge on this treat for yourself, but I will also be researching recipes to make this myself. It would be great to make for someone as an alternative twist on birthday cake. I absolutely could not recommend it highly enough.

Fairy Lights

My taste in style has always been slightly alternative and this is becoming increasingly reflective in the decoration of my bedroom. I really love anything that's slightly bohemian or has a memorable story behind it. To name a few aspects, I have lucky elephant charms from Camden market, varieties of candles and incense and beautifully coloured dream catchers hung above my bed. Most recently I decided to twist fairy lights around my bed.

I knew fairy lights were relatively expensive so it did take a bit of shopping around. I found these beautiful rose fairy lights in Cargo home shop for £6 a box (I bought two as i wanted them round all of my bed and not just the top). These were also ideal as they went perfectly with the colour of my walls and duvet. They make the room look really magical and add a perfect relaxing light if you're tucked up in bed watching films. I love them!

The Giggling Squid

I needed a restaurant to visit for a celebratory meal with my boyfriend. With this in mind we didn't want to go to our normal favourites, Pizza Express or Zizzi's. We wanted somewhere relatively fancy but a place that wouldn't break the bank. 'The Giggling Squid' had recently opened nearby but I hadn't had the opportunity to go, this was the perfect chance.

Upon arriving we were greeted by friendly staff and were seated very quickly, although the group in front of us seemed to have a problem with a large booking being forgotten. The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely; the cosy lighting, laughter and chatter filled the building but it wasn't crowded. You could be perfectly separate from everyone.

We spent a lot of time hovering over what to choose. I was really torn but eventually I selected 'Thai Duck Spring Rolls' to start and the 'Salt and Pepper Squid' with a portion of sticky rice as my main meal. I tend to stick to what I know at restaurants but these were two of my favourite dishes anyway! The drinks came very quickly, the service was very sharp and attentive but friendly. You're also constantly being provided with free refills of tap water which is great, particularly if you're being impressive and ordering something incredibly spicy. My starter was lovely, it was so flavoursome and delicious. The portion was very generous as well which made it incredible value for money. Now, for the main course. I've had this dish at several restaurants before and in the honest truth I can admit this was the best I'd ever had. This is listed as a starter on the menu but as I ordered it as my main course I think I was generously given a few more pieces than normal. The combination of the chilli's and spring onions gave a spicy but not overwhelming taste, the addition of this to the crispy texture of the fried squid gave the most exquisite meal possible. It was honestly one of the best Thai meals I've experienced.

The bill at the end of the night was reasonable. For two drinks, two starters and two main meals the price came to around £44, a service charge is also added on. But for the quality of the food, the delightful and welcoming atmosphere and the very friendly staff made it worth every penny. I will definitely return to 'The Giggling Squid' at some point, and maybe even try something I'm not familiar with! I couldn't recommend this restaurant enough.

Find the phone number and menus on the website:
http://www.gigglingsquid.com/

Nivea Face Wash

Ive always struggled with really sore and spotty skin. I eventually ended up going to the doctors about it, but prior to that I'd tried every over the counter method there was on offer. I had extensive collections of blemish remover, treatment facial washes, daily scrubs and cleanser and toner. I even tried natural remedies like tea tree oil, lemon juice and ice cubes (which work if you have one or two spots). So after all these various efforts I went to the doctors and was prescribed a course of medication for it.

Now my skin has completely changed, its pretty much clear. But I am definitely not taking it for granted. I want to keep my skin as soft and clean as possible so it never goes back to what it was. It completely destroyed my confidence. A few months ago I vowed to get in a daily routine with washing and cleansing my face. I went to Boots and there were so very many different variations. I opted for Nivea's 2 in 1 cleanser and toner face wash and Nivea's moisturiser. I was a bit sceptical as I'd had so many problems with these sorts of things in the past.

Firstly the face wash makes your skin feel so clean and beautiful. I use it at night and it's so simple and refreshing to applicate. It feels very clean and different but also very light and gentle to your skin. The moisturiser in contrast is very thick and luxurious. It can look a bit scary as it does turn your skin very white. However this doesn't matter much as I would recommend a night time application (your skin is most absorbent at this time). It's incredibly hydrating and gentle to sensitive skin. Its also amazing value for money. I've been using it for a couple of months now and it barely looks like any is missing from the pot. When waking up in the morning my skin always feels so soft and healthy that I barely wear foundation anymore. I couldn't recommend these two products enough!

Jam tart recipe

Everyone seems to be trying to create the best recipes for puddings and treats by opting for the most complicated ideas. Jam tarts are so simple and delicious, but you can also make them easily with young children and get really creative.

All you need to make the tarts is Jam and pastry (you can make it even more impressive by home-making the both of these). Roll out the pastry and using a large tea cup, press out circles of pastry (you want to save a small amount of to decorate). After doing so heavily grease a tart tin and put in the pastry, put a spoonful of whatever Jam takes your fancy in the centre. You can then choose what you would like to decorate. In-line with my favourite story 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', I normally cut out small hearts and place them on top. Put them in the oven at 180 degrees and check on them after 12 mins, they vary on how thick your pastry is. Leave to cool for a bit and enjoy warm!

Alice in Wonderland - Margaret Tarrant

I am completely in love with 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. I am fascinated and completely obsessed with anything related to the story. About a year ago, I started collecting various different editions of the book (versions with different illustrations for example). As a student I don't have a lot of money for this so I have to keep looking in charity shops, but this actually makes it more fun. There's no better feeling than uncovering an edition you didn't even know existed and a book that's had a history to it.

Today I visited Oxfam books and was lucky enough to spot in the window display a really old looking 'Alice in Wonderland' book. It only contains the first part of the story and not 'Through the looking glass' but it's still lovely. It contains 24 coloured plates illustrated by Margaret W Tarrant. Unfortunately I can't find a publishing date, I've done some research and between 1916-1928 seems fitting but I can't be exactly sure. One of the main reasons I love collecting these is because I love drawing and copying the illustration as a means of relaxation. So this book is going to be absolutely perfect for that!

Blueberry Muffins

They're pretty simple but still one of my favourite cakes:

Ingredients:
60g Butter
142g Plain Flour
50g Sugar
1tsp Baking Powder
Sprinkle of salt
120ml Milk
1 small egg
Vanilla extract
50g Blueberries, Washed(you can really put how many you want in)

This makes about 6 muffins

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and set aside. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees and put the cases in the tin.

2. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, egg and vanilla extract with a fork. Beat until thoroughly blended.

4. Add the butter, the milk mixture and the blueberries to the flour and mix.

5. Put even amounts in the cases set out. Then sprinkle sugar over the top of each.

6. Bake until golden and risen for 18-20 mins and then enjoy them hot or cold!

Chocolate torte

So I was asked to make two deserts for my mum's dinner party, I decided to make a chocolate torte. I haven't made a torte before but as I love cooking I thought i'd give it a go. The recipe I used can be found on:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2602542/Food-Dark-chocolate-Easter-torte.html

I made a couple of changes along the way; using Kahlua rather than rum to really coordinate with the chocolate taste. Also the glaze isn't very runny, in fact mine completely hardened (which actually tasted lovely in contrast to the soft torte), so I would suggest adding something to the chocolate if you're insistent on it being drippy. For my decoration on top, I simply shaved milk chocolate.