Project 365: The last few weeks

N and I are very close to finishing university for this year, so we've had our heads down a lot these past few weeks to meet our final deadlines. We have however found the time to pop out a couple of times each week which has been most welcome, and I ended last week with a really lovely couple of days visiting my dad in Wiltshire.

Monday 9th May :: Feeling refreshed after my birthday weekend (which feels like so long ago now!), I was in the mood to get things done. By lunch time I'd ticked a handful of household 'to-dos' off my list, and rewarded myself with an iced coffee and a slice of banana bread. Whilst enjoying a quiet moment I looked over to the flowers mum had sent me the week before and was ever so pleasantly surprised to see that the lily buds which had been closed before had opened up into big, beautiful, bright yellow blooms.

Tuesday 10th May :: After the glorious sunshine over the weekend Tuesday was considerably gloomier, but my spirits were far from dampened with an afternoon of strolling around town and a hair appointment to look forward to. Every time I've walked past Mooch since moving here I've ogled its decor (and gotten serious bike-envy), and I must have said to Nick countless times how I ought to book myself an appointment. I finally followed through on my word, and one haircut later I can safely (and happily!) say I made the right choice. I'm so happy with my new cut, and will certainly be paying another visit when it needs a freshen-up!

Wednesday 11th May :: Wednesdays always seem to be a quiet day for N and I, and last Wednesday was no exception. After a morning spent blogging (when I uploaded one of my favourite posts yet - click here if you missed it!), I made a little lunch platter and settled down to do some blog-reading before heading into uni to work on a group presentation.

Thursday 12th May :: On my way back from uni on Thursday afternoon, I wandered down to one of my favourite little shops to pick up some fresh brown sourdough for lunch, and before heading home I stopped at Nordic Coffee Collective to grab some coffees for N and I. With delicious coffee, an ever-tempting selection of pastries and sweet treats (the cinnamon buns are quite simply dreamy), and gorgeous Scandinavian-style interiors, NCC is perhaps my dream coffee shop, and I thoroughly recommend paying a visit if you're ever nearby.

Friday 13th May :: On Friday afternoon I popped into town once more to pick up some fruit and veg, and I took my camera along to help boost my confidence taking photos in public. Even after all these years of taking photos I still get a little shy when I take my camera out, so I've made a pact with myself to start taking it out more often to get more comfortable with it, and so far, so good!

Saturday 14th May :: Last Saturday started wonderfully slowly. N and I slept in a little, then I made my way downstairs to cook us each a bowl of porridge, complete with raisins, sliced banana, maple syrup and chia seeds. I then spent a little time going over my to-do list for the weekend, wearing these ridiculously soft tracksuit bottoms which I'd treated myself to the day before having had my eye on them for months. It's safe to say I have absolutely no regrets in buying them, and as long as the temperature stays low enough I will be wearing these 24/7 for the foreseeable future.

Sunday 15th May :: Having sort of had my Sunday on Saturday, I spent most of Sunday writing essays and working on another upcoming uni presentation. N was in the same boat, so we sat side-by-side at our desks and worked the day away, stopping in the evening to eat dinner and watch a few episodes of Wet, Hot American Summer (simply because we're both rather big fans of Paul Rudd).

Monday 16th May :: Monday was another life-admin day, broken up by a trip into town to pop a few bits in the post and run a few other errands.

Tuesday 17th May :: After a couple of hours at uni I was up until quite late finishing an essay, which I celebrated finishing with a little G&T (served in a mason jar, because I am all for the cocktails-in-jars trend).

Wednesday 18th May :: On Wednesday afternoon I caught the train over to Swindon to spend the rest of the week at my Dad's. Lucky enough to grab a window seat, I spent the final half hour of my journey admiring a view of misty green hills and vibrant mustard fields against an ominous stormy sky, passing through patches of rain before emerging into blue skies and sunshine.

Thursday 19th May :: You might remember back in March I mentioned that I would be seeing my sister later this year for something exciting, and on Thursday that something finally came around. My dad had managed to get tickets for him, my step-mum, my sister and I to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, so on Thursday morning the four of us were up nice and early to get our glad-rags on and catch the train into London. After stopping for lunch at Paddington station we made our way towards the palace, and felt ever so fancy among the crowd of fascinators, suits and Spring dresses. Once we got to the gates and handed over our tickets, we walked through the palace itself to reach the gardens at the back, which were simply breathtaking; perfectly mowed lawns (of course) surrounded by beautiful autumnal-hued trees, with a pretty little lake at the bottom. Ever cautious of our heels dipping into the grass we teetered over to the tea tent and stacked our plates with cakes and tea (as if the whole thing wasn't quite 'British' enough) and waited for the Queen herself to arrive, before having a little explore of the grounds and soaking in the atmosphere. The party came to a close around six, when we then we made our way over to Trafalgar Square for an absolutely delicious dinner at Thai Square. I highly recommend the aubergine with basil dish - perfectly soft aubergine, succulent oyster mushrooms and the occasional hit of aniseed from the basil - divine!

Friday 20th May :: Having come home late the night before, Friday got off to a slow start, but in the afternoon Dad and I popped out to pick up some fresh bread for the weekend and stop for a coffee, which I'm sure you know is a favourite past-time of mine. We also headed over to one of the lakes not far from my dad's village, where we saw the fluffiest little flock of goslings with their mothers down by the water, sweet enough to melt anyone's heart.

Saturday 21st May :: My visit to my Dad's was short but sweet, and on Saturday afternoon I caught the train back over to Brighton, arriving in time to spend a few hours catching up with N before we made dinner and settled down for the evening.

Sunday 22nd May :: Last Sunday N and I had another of our usual quiet days in, starting with breakfast in bed (porridge for N, avocado toast for me), followed by assignments and catching up on housework. I have to admit I'm very much enjoying being able to hang our washing up outside at the moment. There's something very soothing about slowing down for ten minutes or so and breathing in some fresh air, not to mention how much fresher it makes your clothes smell! Come the evening I spent a little longer than usual on dinner, and put together a hearty meal of Linda McCartney vegetarian pies (my absolute favourite veggie pies), sweet potato mash, stuffing, an abundance of veg and of course, gravy.

I'm sorry this post is a little short on pictures - I do promise to get the hang of this soon! It won't be long now until I head home for the summer and I'm very much looking forward to having more time to invest in this space again, and I'm hoping that by the time university comes around in September I will be well and truly in the swing of things.

What have you been up to these past few weeks? I'd love to know!

Saying goodbye to my teenage years

Sunday saw me enter my twentieth year, and although not one of the 'big' birthdays like your eighteenth or your twenty-first, your twentieth birthday does signify the end of your teenage years, and I think that's certainly worth note. N and I spent the day in the most perfect way possible, with brunch, a wander through the woods, a picnic, and of course, much, much photo taking.

In the morning, partly from excitement and partly from the cold I've been well and truly struck down by for the past week (Strepsils and tissues have been my best friends lately), I woke up at a less than sociable hour, and unable to sleep spent a couple of hours catching up on Instagram and deliberating over the breakfast menu at Six, where we would be heading later on. N woke up around eight, and after a slightly sleepy rendition of 'Happy Birthday', he popped into the next room to bring my presents through. I was lucky enough to receive some really lovely and thoughtful gifts from my loved ones, including a beautiful photo album from my mum, which I plan to add to every month, the rucksack I've had my eye on for a while now from N's parents, and a gorgeous 'sentence a day' journal from N himself.

We then spent a little time just sitting in bed, and as a pre-brunch snack I had a slice of the banana bread I'd made the night before topped with some creamy cashew butter, accompanied by a fresh espresso. Then, after showering, popping on some comfy, sunshine-appropriate clothes and some low-maintenance makeup (for me, anyway!), N and I caught the bus over to Hove for brunch. By a wide-open window perfect for people watching, we sat down for a delightful brunch of sourdough toast topped with houmous, avocado, roasted tomatoes, portobello mushroom and a hash brown, with organic beans on the side and an egg and bacon for N. To drink, we both ordered water and orange juice, and I ordered an almond mylk flat white, too.

Then, with full bellies, we meandered our way back through the centre of town, stopping at M&S to pick up some picnic supplies, which we then packed up and took to Stanmer Park, in the north of Brighton. As we drove away from the city our surroundings grew ever greener, and with the windows down and some sunny-weather music playing (Day Wave is my go-to at the moment), it got us both in the perfect mood for a couple of hours of exploring the park. When we swung into the car park, we were met with families and groups of friends set up with barbecues and tents, and seemingly endless hills of the greenest grass rolling off into the distance. Spending most of our time in the heart of the city, it was so refreshing to be surrounded by such an open landscape and to breathe in fresh countryside air - I truly believe it's one of the most relaxing things on this earth, and that time spent in nature can do wonders for your wellbeing.

Equipped with snacks, drinks and of course, my camera, we climbed a small hill to reach the forest, which we wandered through until we found a clearing in which we could set down our bags and set up for lunch. N had prepared himself a sandwich in a fresh baguette, and I had brought a little spread of houmous, vegetable tortilla chips, veg sticks, sea salt and black pepper cashews, and falafel. Oh, and we had a bottle of raspberry lemonade and a punnet of strawberries to share, too.

Upon finishing our lunch, I spotted a path through the trees behind us through which a sea of bluebells, which I had been most excited to see, peaked through. I eagerly led N along the path, camera in hand, and immediately began snapping away. There's something so magical about the way the bluebells cover the entire forest floor and create a cloud of the most beautiful hue that weaves its way between the trees.

Before heading home we made our way back towards the green hills where we started, where we sat for a while just basking in the sun and taking a few more photos. Then, we popped back in the car and made our way home, and while N caught up on some uni work, I made a few family phone calls to catch up and say my thank-yous. To end the day, we ordered Wagamama for dinner, which we ate in bed while we watched the BAFTAs.

I don't think the day could have been any better, and it's a day I'm going to treasure for a very long time. Over these past few days I've been taking the time to set my intentions for the years to come, and I'm hoping to make them my best years yet by keeping my mind and heart open, looking for the good in every one and every thing, focusing on my passions and ambitions, and continuing to focus on providing love and support for my loved ones.

I hope you've all enjoyed this gloriously sunny weekend, and I'll catch up with you again soon.

Project 365: Hello, Spring

All over the country this last week, I'm sure a great many of us have been rejoicing the consistent Spring weather we've finally been having. The sun has been coming out more and more, and over the last few days the temperature has really picked up, too, just in time for my birthday on Sunday! But, before the birthday excitement was a couple of weeks of uni work, lazy afternoons and general day-to-day life stuff.

Monday 25th April :: Does anyone else actually kind of enjoy those busy, life-admin days? There's something about pottering away and ticking off all those little jobs that have been sat on your to-do list I find strangely gratifying, and I always find that by the end of the day it feels like I really have my life together. Monday was one of those days, with a trip into town to take a new passport photo (which is going to be stuck with me for the next ten years, eek) and pop a few things in the post, followed by an afternoon of uni reading and note-taking. The first episode of the new season of Game of Thrones went live on Monday, so in the evening N and I snuggled up in bed to watch it, full of anticipation after the many cliff-hangers season five left us on last year. Before that, though, I stumbled across this article by Helen Russell, author of 'The Year of Living Danishly' (which has been at the top of my wish list for a couple of months now and may well have made its way into my Amazon basket later that night), that I wanted to share with you. The article is a little insight into the basis of Helen's book, and it introduces why Denmark is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, and how we can follow in its residents' footsteps and live a little more Danishly ourselves, no matter where in the world we are. A must-read for anyone who is in need of a little life inspiration, or anyone who is just as fascinated by all things Scandinavian as I am.

Tuesday 26th April :: After an afternoon at uni, N and I popped into town to run a few errands and despite the biting cold wind, I was glad to head out and get some fresh air. Plus, getting a bit chilly only made the pizza and wine we had when we came home all the sweeter.

Wednesday 27th April :: N and I were both home on Wednesday, and as a result of feeling rather sleepy I spent much of the day in bed, catching up on blogs and getting ideas for my how to spend my birthday the following weekend!

Thursday 28th April :: My usual Thursday lecture was cancelled last week, so I spent the day working from bed (which I know they always tell you not to do, but who can resist the comfort?), before popping into town to pick up my birthday present from my Mum. I also picked up a bottle of Fevertree whilst I was out, and when I came back N and I settled down with a G&T each and watched Batman Begins.

Friday 29th April :: I definitely had that "TGIF" feeling on Friday and it kept a real spring in my step throughout my afternoon at uni. Even better was coming home to a warm bowl of leftover soup and some fresh bread - the perfect quick and easy, but ever so comforting and delicious, lunch.

Saturday 30th April :: Saturday was a rather quiet day at home, spent with films on TV,  a stack of magazines to hand, and a list of housework to do. The weather had also really started to pick up and it was even warm enough to open the windows, which let the wonderfully fresh Spring air flow throughout the house.

Sunday 1st May :: I can't believe it's May! I'm sure most blog posts you will have read recently will make some exclamation about how quickly the year is going, but it really is going so quickly. N and I popped out late in the afternoon to stretch our legs and pick up a few things, and on the way I snapped these gorgeously sunny yellow blooms.

Monday 2nd May :: Monday was just a normal day of work, which began with a slow morning and a delicious breakfast of coconut milk porridge with caramelised banana and maple syrup. N and I had originally planned to spend the evening in and watch Game of Thrones, but we ended up making last-minute plans (which is almost unheard of for us!) to go out for a drink. Being a bank holiday not many places were open late, but the trusty Hobgoblin was open late enough, so we settled down on one of the big sofas, with a G&T for me and an ale for N.

Tuesday 3rd May :: I was up nice and early on Tuesday morning, and after the bank holiday weekend I was in a serious "get stuff done" mood, so I set myself up with a fresh espresso after breakfast, which I enjoyed in bed while the bright morning sun shone through the window. I find simple, quiet moments like this so valuable in that they help me gather my thoughts and think over my plans, and they create a bit of inner stillness that I can return to again and again throughout the day.

Wednesday 4th May :: If I'm completely honest, I didn't actually make a note of what we did on Wednesday, which in hindsight I'm a little annoyed with myself about - but hey, lessons learned, right? I do however remember that with it being May the fourth, we did have Star Wars on throughout the day, which I had never actually seen before this point but ended up liking far more than I'd imagined I would!

Thursday 5th May :: I started to feel the beginnings of a cold on Thursday, so after a couple of hours at uni I settled down to catch up on vlogs and read a couple of chapters of The Year of Living Danishly, which I'm loving just as much as I thought I would. Come the evening I was feeling really rather run-down, so when N came home in the evening we decided to use some Deliveroo credit we'd saved up and ordered from our favourite curry place, Chilli Pickle (which I thoroughly recommend visiting if you're ever in Brighton). N opted for a mild chicken curry while I went for a delightful green, coconut-based garden vegetable curry, and we both had pilau rice and potato bhajis, too. It was just the little pick-me-up I needed, and I feel like the spices really did my throat some good. If you've yet to use Deliveroo, I have some great news! If you sign up using my link, you can receive £5 credit towards your first order - simply click here, sign up, and place an order (you're welcome!).

Friday 6th May :: The cold that had been lurking around on Thursday was in full-swing by Friday morning, and despite my best efforts I couldn't make it through my lecture, so I headed home early to crawl back into bed with hot lemon and honey water and plenty of tissues. I'll admit I was feeling a tad sorry for myself, but I very quickly forgot all about that when I answered a knock at the door early in the evening and was met by a beautiful bunch of flowers, sent by surprise by my lovely mum as a happy birthday/feel better soon gift. There are few better feelings than being surprised with fresh blooms, and I love how much life they can bring to your home, too. This bunch has taken pride of place in front of the old fireplace in our room, and I can't get enough of these sweet little yellow flowers, which look just perfect nestled in amongst the rich green leaves and ivory petals.

Saturday 7th May :: N and I both have uni deadlines approaching, so Saturday was another working-from-bed day. To stop ourselves from getting cabin fever, though, we popped out in the afternoon to pick up a few bits, including supplies for the picnic we would be going on the following day for my birthday! I also spent some time in the evening baking myself a birthday banana bread, which over the last few years has become something of a tradition. I used this recipe from Simple Veganista, and I'm delighted to say it turned out wonderfully, and goes incredibly well with a dollop of cashew butter or some coconut milk ice-cream.

I'm going to be writing up a separate post about my birthday this week, which I'm so excited to share with you. I've also set myself a little goal to really keep on top of taking photos every day from now on, so every future update should be full to the brim.

I hope you've had a wonderful couple of weeks and that you've had the chance to enjoy the weather, or at least to stay nice and cool indoors if you're not such a fan! And keep your eyes out for that birthday post - expect lots of pictures...

Best bits :: April

Today I'm starting a new series, Best Bits. I'd been thinking about starting monthly favourites, but given that there are some months where I simply don't try or discover any new products, I didn't want to start it only to find there were months I didn't have anything to talk about! So instead I'm starting Best Bits, which rather than focusing solely on products is also going to focus on the places, moments, blog posts etc. that make each month great. So to kick things of, here are the best bits of April!

Brighter evenings :: Although we haven't been seeing as much Spring-like weather as we might expect this month (although we are forecast a very warm and sunny weekend!), we've certainly been seeing lighter evenings, and I've been loving going downstairs to cook dinner to find that the sun is still shining in through the kitchen window.

Slow mornings :: N and I have been waking up at quite a reasonable time most mornings lately, and I've been really cherishing having the time to pad downstairs to cook us both a warming bowl of porridge while N makes coffee, then being able to slip back into bed for a slow couple of hours of coffee sipping and looking around online before getting on with our day.

Light-wash skinny jeans :: When my beloved Zara jeans started to sag, I decided to venture out of my black/navy super-skinny comfort zone and go for something a little lighter and looser, in the form of these distressed skinny jeans from Next, and I'm ever so glad I did. Aside from being super soft, comfy and flattering - which I believe any good pair of jeans should be - they've added a new lease of life to my wardrobe and a Spring-like freshness to my day-to-day outfits (they pair especially well with a striped tee and my white low-top Converse).

The Simple Things magazine :: I first discovered The Simple Things last month whilst in the supermarket, and although I'm not normally a big magazine reader, The Simple Things is so up my street I couldn't not pick up a copy. As the name suggests, it's all about simple living, and every article implores you to slow down a little, appreciate the small things and make time to indulge your creativity. The May issue has also just come out, so I may well have to go and pick up another copy for those lazy Spring afternoons nestled on the sofa with the windows open and a cup of coffee to hand.

Loving Earth raw chocolate :: When I saw that Australian brand Loving Earth had finally come to the UK after months of me wishing they would, I made a little late-night order and have been obsessed ever since! Top of my to-try list was the salted caramel raw chocolate, and it certainly didn't disappoint. Made from cacao butter, coconut nectar, cashews, coconut and pink lake salt, this golden bar has the texture of creamy raw chocolate but tastes more like a fudge, and is so incredibly more-ish. I have however just run out, so my Planet Organic basket is currently full to the brim, ready to stock up again.

Hurraw! raw lip balms :: I've sworn by Lush's Lip Service lip balm for the last couple of years, but when my last pot ran out I wanted to try a vegan alternative. After hearing good things about Hurraw! from my mum a few months back, I decided to order a couple from Naturisimo to try, opting for almond for day-to-day use and the night treatment for, well, night-time. So far I'm really impressed! They smell beautiful, they keep my lips nice and soft, and I love that they're natural, raw and vegan, too.

What were the best bits of April for you?

Ladies, let's talk organic

This is a post I've been thinking about writing for a while now, but I'd always been a little hesitant for fear that it might seem out of place or not go down as well as I might like. However, I really felt this was something I wanted to talk about and something women should feel comfortable and confident talking about as a whole, so I decided to ignore my fears and get writing. With that said, let's get into it...

Ladies, we all know what happens to our bodies every month, and when 'that time' comes around most of us just go through the same routine, often using the same products. But when was the last time, if ever, you actually stopped to think about those products, and the impact they might be having on your body? It makes sense that if we're going to be using something for almost a week of every month, particularly in such a delicate and sensitive area, that we should care about what exactly we're using. Sadly, however, unless we look for it, we're often not given all the information and aren't fully aware of the options we have, and as a result a lot of women don't realise the chemicals and synthetic materials they're exposing their bodies to each month.

The vast majority of tampons, pads etc. are made from a mix of synthetic materials such as viscose and rayon, and cotton which is often treated with chemical pesticides, fertilisers and bleaches. Some also contain synthetic fragrances and dyes, too. All of this can lead to irritation, inflammation and discomfort, affect your hormones, and may even be carcinogenic - in other words, these are not the sort of things we ought to be putting near or in our bodies, especially for prolonged periods of time.

Already conscious of the skincare products I use and the food I eat, it made sense that I should be just as conscious of the feminine products I was using, too, so after doing some research I made the switch to TOTM's organic products (although I recently also picked up some of Natracare's products, just out of interest). I'll admit that I was a little worried about how the absorbency might be affected given that I was used to synthetic materials which are generally more absorbent than their natural counterparts, but a few months in I have absolutely no regrets in making the switch. The difference in absorbency is only slight and I find that the products I use now are much more comfortable, and it feels really good knowing that every month I am making a conscious decision to use products that won't harm my body or the planet.

Whether you're interested in organic products or not, I cannot recommend at least looking into this enough. This is something I feel not nearly enough women know about, and I hope that in writing this post I can at least raise awareness among you, my readers, and that in turn you will be able to spread the message to the women in your lives, too.  Our bodies are precious things and we need to look after them, and by opening up a discussion about this I hope that more of us will have the information we need to be able to choose to give our bodies the best.

If you want to read more about why we should be using organic sanitary products, TOTM have a great little article and video here, which should tell you everything you need to know.