WITHIN THE CITY

Hello everyone!!! It's lovely to finally be back, and blogging again!! I decided to hold back on posting whilst I was away so I could do a summary post afterward, so I could really reflect on how amazing my trip was. Four weeks away was bliss and it was lovely to spend ample time with my family, but now I'm back I can get back to blogging!!

What I love about being in Africa is the change of culture, there are so many things to do of which are both different and similar to home, but being in another country just makes everything so much more intriguing! From weddings to jazz shows, sushi to mocktails I had fun from start to finish, making the best of memories with my larger than life family.

One thing I just adore about going on holiday is the change of scenery, sunshine almost all day every day made for amazing photos, really beautiful places that just made me appreciate Uganda so much more, it truly is an extraordinary country!! I tried to take as many pictures as I could, capturing all the moments that I knew I'd want to keep with me forever (believe me, there were very many of those).

I went on holiday with the plan that each week I'd want to do at least one thing that was really fun and interesting and I'm glad to say that we really did!!

Here are some of the highlights from each week:

WEEK ONE: my first week was concluded with my uncle's amazing wedding, it was nice to get dressed up and go on a long road trip to the venue where we had delicious food and beautiful scenery.

WEEK TWO: this was a big family outing, one of my favourite things to do when I'm with them! We all pile into cars and mess about, sing songs and make up stories as we travel to our desination which this time round, was the wildlife centre. I love animals and it was nice to see them in enclosures that were big and spacious, and as close as possible to their natural habitats. After a nature lesson it was off to a cafe for a big lunch.

WEEK THREE: this was a week of great food and amazing music, we were able to visit an authentic Japanese restaurant where I had some deliciously indulgent sushi. And of course being the big children that we are we got a little creative with our plates and cutlery (we apologise to the restaurant). The Jazz show was also great, lots of classics songs were given some interesting renditions and the atmosphere was electric! By the end of the night we'd all had a a little shimmy.

WEEK FOUR: This was the saddest week as it was full of goodbyes however we did try to make the most out of it by spending time together! I also made sure that I had one of my favourite treats for the last time, frozen yoghurt. I honestly can't get enough of the stuff over there! As the week drew to a close it was time to think about the journey home, four weeks spent in bliss were truly over!

Until next time, Uganda!!

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Hello everyone! My summer holidays have officially begun, as I'm writing this I'm actually on a plane feeling slightly guilty about not giving you guys a post last week (I'm sorry, last minute packing is so hectic in my house!!) but I'm hoping that being abroad will give me lots of inspiration for blogging. Unfortunately in not sure how predictable my wifi will be so my ability to provide you all with posts depends on how the router is feeling (I promise I'll treat it nicely).

As a person who has gone on many holidays I've learnt to be tactical with my packing- at least as tactical as I can be, taking 15 different outfits for a 3 day holiday is tactical right?- trying my best to take as little as I can but also making sure I take exactly what I need because you are going to be away from home and you do want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible! I thought I'd do a summer holiday essentials just to share some of the things I can't live without!

1) Electricals

This is pretty much a given, whether it be your phone, laptop or tablet all of us want to make sure we have a means to connect with the rest of the world whilst tucked away on an island, sharing snaps and typical holiday statuses like the tourists we are. Also don't forget chargers and always check whether the country you're going to have the same plugs as you may need an adapter.

2) Clothes

Now this is the point where things get difficult. Not only do you have 101 things you want to wear abroad that you don't get to at home (shout out to British weather) but around summer time the sales are at an all time high and all you want to do is buy every item of clothing that you make eye contact with. So now you find yourself in a situation where you have to play favourites with your clothes, the best thing to do is first sort your clothes into actual outfits so you know you won't be looking for those shorts that go with that top. Next is get rid of outfits that are just that bit too similar, you want your photos to double as a look book therefore they should be as different as possible!

3) Toiletries/Health

Make sure you have enough of everything!! Maybe even spares because the worst thing is running out and having to go out and look for more. Make sure you also have sun cream and take any medication you could need so you have it on hand!

4) Entertainment

Take a good book along with you when travelling, just to have something to do if you have a rogue day stuck at 'home'. A good playlist is also essential, make sure you've chosen the music you want to have with you for the duration of your trip well!

5) Comfortable shoes

This is probably one of the most important essentials, something that can really ruin a holiday is having shoes that aren't comfortable, the likelihood is you'll be exploring a lot and the last thing you need is to be coping with blisters. Trainers are always a great option!!

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It's hard to believe June is coming to a speedy end and that summer really is among us now (summer by British standard that is)! I realised I hadn't done a favourites post in so long and personally I think summer is one of the best seasons to get into new things and just let loose a little bit and enjoy life. So I've decided to share a few things that I've really been loving this month (and will probalby continue to love for the next few months!).

Clothes

Something about a new season always makes me want to shop!! This spring/summer I've been in love with everything floral and bright, tops shorts and play suits.

This top I picked up from H&M, what mainly drew it to me was the collar, it's very pretty and the colours are so flattering, paired with some jeans or shorts it'll hopefully make a very lovely outfit!

One thing I had been seriously lacking in my wardrobe were flowy simplistic tops, ones I could wear casually but also look a bit dressed up at the same time. This Hollister top has a lovely pattern but also the strap design at the back is really cute!!

A much more simple crop top this is, from Topshop, the main reason I'd wanted to buy it was I had a pair of shorts that were missing the perfect top. This, this is it. Again with cute straps I love the colour and way it fits. Plus it was on sale!!

I bought these shorts at the end of last summer from H&M and have waited through Autumn, Winter and spring to actually get to wear them. The wait was so worth it though as I'm in love with them, you can wear them with a variety of different tops too which is great but I normally pair them with a yellow top from River Island.

Again on sale, this dress caught my eye immediately, it's quite petite and very flowy, and it has triangles cut out at the middle to make it more sophisticated. It reminded me of the dresses I used to wear when I was little just a bit more grown up, and the patterns just scream summer!

Something I've really gotten into are playsuits, this one I've had in my wardrobe and this season it just feels like the perfect outfit! It has a ruffly top so it almost seems like a co-ord, it's insanely comfortable as well I could honestly sleep in it!!

Another playsuit from ASOS, this one has more of a 'dressy' material and the straps are really simple but subtly pretty, the minty background is such a lovely fresh colour and the birds are adorable!!

Based on the colour alone these are such beautiful shoes, the simplicity of them means you can wear them with so many outfits. I'd been lacking in the sandal department so these were a definite must!

These I love and always have loved, the cutest pair of sandals I own, Topshop thank you for making these! The black and white soles in contrast with the blue straps really make them stand out, a statement shoe for sure!!

Music

Music wise, I've branched out a bit and listened to artists that I hadn't really paid much attention to in the past. Find my June Favourites playlist here on YouTube!

Now that exams are over I can really focus on what I do best, watching TV shows for hours on end. I've unfortunately finished most the series I'd been watching so I decided to start watching Once Upon a Time again. I can easily say it's just as good the second time around!

Books

One book that I have literally been reading for months (due to poor time management, thank you Internet..) is Eleanor and Park. Although it's taken me so long to read, I really have enjoyed it, it's a simple book, real life and what it's really like to be a teenager facing body issues and love, it's a book that we can all relate to!

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One thing I love about living in the city is having endless places to explore and visit, all of which are very simple to get to and not too expensive. You can never say you've 'seen it all' and people are constantly recommending new places which means I'm constantly having amazing new experiences!

This weekend my friend had a birthday so four of us decided to take a trip up to the Hard Rock Cafe for a late lunch. We were lucky to have pre booked because the queued wait is about an hour or so! Following a speedy entrance we were handed menus and then came the 'difficult' part, making an actual decision as to what I wanted to eat. I ordered a drink first which hands down is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever had to drink- the strawberry and basil lemonade- it really hit the spot, perfectly refreshing! After deliberation yet again, I finally made my mind up and asked the lovely waiter for a hickory smoked pulled pork sandwich, which came with a side of beans, coleslaw and seasoned chips. Honestly it tasted amazing, and paired with my new favourite drink (which I'm so obsessed with I might have to try and replicate it) I was beyond satisfied. Unfortunately my childlike appetite meant I had no room for dessert but maybe another time? (Definitely another time.)

After the meal we had a little while left before I had to go home so we went gallivanting, taking in the sun and enjoying our surroundings and each other's company. I love the city so much, one of my favourite things to do is to just walk aimlessly around!

The outing was well needed, much enjoyed and the Hard Rock Cafe was delightful!

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We all know the oh-so catchy song but the question is, do you like piña coladas? And if you do I have the perfect recipe for the perfect summer drink which I stumbled upon completely on accident (A+ for creativity in the kitchen goes to Neona). I've made this drink now a whopping two times- yeah I know how it sounds but just trust me one this one!- and both times took about 5 minutes to make so it's quick simple and customisable (especially for you who prefer some alcohol!)

Ingredients (feeds about 4 people!)

-1 pineapple

-2 tbsp coconut cream

-1-2 tbsp caster sugar plus extra for the rim of the glass

-Some lemon juice to taste and for the rim of the glass (depending on how tart you like your drinks I'd go for maybe half a lemon to a whole lemon)

-1 cup of ice

-Depending on how fancy you're feeling a slice of lemon to decorate

Method

1) Place the pineapple, coconut cream, sugar, lemon juice and ice into a blender

2) Blend

3) Give it a taste to see whether it's how you like it and adjust accordingly if need be (this would be the time to add any alcohol!)

4) Wet the edge of a glass with some lemon juice and rim the glass with the leftover sugar (the easiest way is to put the sugar on a plate and coat it that way!)

5) Stating the obvious here but pour the drink into the glass and decorate with the lemon slice

6) Voila! Enjoy your drink on a lovely hot summer's day

Honestly this is so simple, the ingredients are cheap, easy to find and all you have to do is throw them into a blender! Delicious and virtually no effort at all!

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Once again I've decided to treat myself with a spot of baking, something I do on a regular basis but every now and again I go for something really indulgent and so wrong but oh so good. This time around I was craving a chewy brownie, soft in the middle but crispy around the edges. Something I also love is loaf cakes, the shape just makes what would be an ordinary bake so much better and honestly I can't begin to tell you why. So I thought to myself, why not combine the two and have a brownie loaf? All the goodness of a brownie but in a cuboid- what more could a girl ask for?

I found an amazing recipe for 'Ooey Gooey Fudge Brownies' by Erin on a website called Brownie Bites which will now be my go to recipe for brownies as they were so good! I followed the recipe word for word apart from using a loaf tin instead of a square baking tin. Of course this meant the baking time was a bit askew, so bake them for the time stated, stick a knife in to see if they're not runny in the middle (there will be batter on your knife when you pull it out but as long as it's not as liquid as when you put the batter in the that's supposed to happen!) and if they have a perfect crust on top and a gooey centre then you're all set to take it out of the oven. The next part requires so much self control- I mean like 5 year old on Christmas morning self control. You must wait until the tin is cool before taking the brownie out due to the fact it is so gooey half of it will literally remain in the tin if you don't do exactly what I've said (and if you're wondering yes I speak from experience).

After an agonising wait all that's left to do is slice and eat up! There's nothing like the contempt of biting into something that's chewy, gooey and crunchy all at the same time!

Enjoy enjoy enjoy and let me know what you think if you do give them a go!!

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Hello everyone! I am so sorry for the delay, the latter end of last week was just so stressful I just wasn't able to write a post of good enough standard. I'm also back to school now and it's exam season so I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to manage my time effectively but I guess I'll just have to work with it!

So as some of you may know if you follow me on Twitter, just over a week ago I took a three day trip to Denmark. The back story as to 'why Denmark?' Is a long one which I've been through many a time so I'm not going to do that again. Anyway so the long awaited Tuesday 5th of April arrived and I excitedly got up at the crack of dawn to meet three of my best friends whom I'd be travelling to meet up with best(est) friend number four. The journey to the airport was quick enough, we checked in (it was quite strange doing all this for the first time without an adult!) then had breakfast, shopped a bit before it was time to board. I'll skip the plane journey, it was standard, an hour and a half or so was all it took to get us onto Danish soil. Fast forward we met up with my best friend and her mum and started off to her house. The rest of that evening was nice and chilled, we took a walk to the local shop to buy a few things and then spent the night playing cards against humanity.

The next day was by far my favourite, we got the chance to spend a couple of hours doing various (challenging and strenuous) tree climbing activities which is something I'd never experienced before and did enjoy! There were varied heights you could climb at and we worked through them all (although I found I'd developed a minor fear of heights at the 20m mark and dropped out of the very last course). We got to spend the night in a cabin, just us five cooking and cleaning for ourselves- the epitome of freedom right? Highlight of that evening was having a prank pulled on us which resulted in a very loud scream and my life flashing before my eyes. The rest of the night passed without any more terror (thank God) and due to irresponsibly sleeping at 6am we woke up at 11am. Fuelled on five hours sleep we gave the cabin a clean and had pancakes for breakfast. Back 'home' we showered and packed up all our things- I couldn't believe it was almost over already!- and headed off to the mall to ramble and pick up a few things before dinner at Restaurant Flammen which was amazing!!

The drive to the airport was nice and long, it kind of felt like a mini road trip with that "nothing ahead but the open road" feeling. Obviously the airport getting closer and closer and I realised the trip we'd been planning for months was coming to an end. At the airport, fooseball and trying to get to the front of the boarding queue was what the next hour or so consisted of. Then it was the plane journey back where us girls gossiped from take off to landing, taking a few cheeky pictures of the boys which I won't include as I value my life quite a bit. Getting home was nice for one reason only- my bed. Other than that I could honestly have had a few more days over there in Denmark, it was the nicest thing to just come away from school work and spend some time with best friends and making amazing memories.