• Lifestyle

    My cousin went to Rome – why I’m jealous

    A few months ago I found out my favourite cousin went to Rome. I’m going to tell you why I got jealous & what I plan to do to change it. It’s not all bad, honest!

    When I found out that my cousin (unnamed) went to Rome, I got excited and started sending her cool phases in Italian that I thought would be useful. I thought she would tell me all about the tourist attractions and where to or not go!

    Although she was polite when we spoke next she didn’t tell me anything about her travels… I started to get jealous. Why couldn’t I go instead? I’m the one who has been learning Italian right? shouldn’t I go? (damn expired not-used passport!).

    This is when I realised that everyone around me is doing whatever they like! Whether it be children, marriage, moving in together or just travelling the world. And I am stuck in a rut where I haven’t done anything spectacular in, well, EVER.

    I started to think to myself… what is on MY bucket list? what do I want to do with my life? Why have I never been travelling? I finally came up with ideas which I thought about before

    let me know what your plans are for the next 10 more years …also can you recommend some interesting places in Italy & Sicily to write about – not the usual: Veneto, Florenza, Napoli o Roma!
  • Lifestyle

    The Seasons: Summer, Spring, Fall & Winter.

    The Autumn traditionally falls over the months of September to November. It is the lead up to the Winter, which is normally over the Christmas & New Year period but the weather in the UK is unpredictable – sometimes it isn’t what you expect at all… 

    Sometimes we have sunny weather in Autumn and sometimes it rains or snows. You have to be on your guard all year round and keep up with the weather reports too. I personally love to look at the snow but have trouble getting around in that weather. My favourite two seasons are definitely the more open seasons that are neither too hot or cold. I love Autumn & Spring. When the trees change colour and the weather is easy going. 

    I hope in 2019 to document some of the seasonal changes on my new Canon “Bridge” Camera. I hope to show you the extremes of the weather (if I can). In 2018, we had extremely heavy snow in Winter & an extreme heat wave in Summer, so I look forward to seeing what the next year seasons will give us.

    This summer I managed to make the most of it & go to quite a few events, mainly local, with friends & family. I managed to go to 2 food festivals (one was too hot & too crowded to stay long) and I also managed to get a cracking summer tan (with sun lotion) from my own garden. I love summer as it is the time of the year where everything is fun and there is no school (some also have time off work too).

    My main concern in the fall weather is the rain and cold. I hate rain as someone with curly hair, all it does is frizz which makes styling impossible. However, it can also be the same in humidity. On the plus side, I love wearing sweatpants & big knits, which is what fall weather’s all about. 

    What is your favourite season? Do you prefer the warmer or colder weather? What is your go-to Autumn/Fall outfit? Tell me in the comments below!

  • Lifestyle

    28 Tips & advice, at 28 years old (in 2018)

    This is my list of what I have learnt via tips & advice for my younger self… I hope you like it!

    1. Always be yourself
    2. Keep real friends close
    3. Don’t always trust everyone
    4. Family cannot be replaced
    5. Learn to cook at a young age
    6. Social Media is a bloody lie!
    7. 18-25 are your best years, Enjoy it
    8. Don’t try to grow up too soon
    9. Kids are not necessary to have a fulfilling life (until you have them)
    10. Get a Netflix or a Now TV subscription
    11. Always rewatch old Movies & TV shows
    12. Don’t rely on a partner, You don’t need one
    13. Don’t break the rules, Honestly, it’s not worth it.
    14. Pets are 100% better than children
    15. Love & Respect those who do to you
    16. Swearing doesn’t make you intelligent
    17. Sundays are designed to relax all day
    18. Sweatpants and joggers are the new leggings
    19. Try College & Uni but it might not be for you
    20. Always have manners when addressing people
    21. Gin & Bingo are actually cool, Honest!
    22. Life goes on, with or without you
    23. Drunk nights out are irreplaceable
    24. The top 5 friends you have are irreplaceable
    25. You don’t NEED a partner until you find the 1.
    26. Your parents know best, believe me, they do!
    27. Always take in the scenery, or it might be gone
    28. Don’t always buy expensive stuff (unless it’s Nike)

    Are there any other tips you would recommend to your younger self?
    Do you agree with any of these tips advised? Let me know in the comments!

  • Blogging,  Food & Drink

    My journey with food, & beyond.

    I have been musing about what to add on my blog and I thought why not Food & Drink? Let me take you on a journey as to why I love this topic so much…

    Lovely steak at Brewers Fayre

    When I was a child I loved going out to places and loved to eat a lot. A favourite place I used to love in Cardiff Bay was a fish and chip restaurant centred next to Techniquest. It was a lovely place and it had some memories I will treasure forever of going there with my dearly beloved nan.

    Scroll on to 2000s, I was an anti-food snob and barely ate anything but ready meals and the so. There was a period of time that during my teens I just wanted to eat & go out. I didn’t appreciate either my mother’s home cooking or where we went to eat, I had no idea about money or what food costs.

    Since 2015, I have started to really enjoy tasty food. Yes I have gained weight (about a stone… or two) but it can’t put a price on the happiness I feel when presented with a tasty meal. I have, in the last few years, tried a few different areas, and other places such as Cardiff & small vintage inns or local pubs & restaurants nearby.

    I have found some unique menus with options including fish, meat, pasta & salad. Although I am not a vegetarian I am going to pledge to look at 1 vegetarian for every 4 meat dishes on my blog. I will be showing you the dishes that I love. I would not describe myself as a critic but more a lover of food.

    Mom’s homemade spaghetti bolognese

    Please join me on this new journey where I will show you both new & old places to eat in South Wales (UK). I’m sure many people have heard of places like Toby Carvery & Jamie’s Italian but I want to show you places that many don’t know even exist. Join me & fall in love with food again! To collaborate or for sponsored posts click here.

    Please Note: 
Images are my own - share only with my permission. ©WBooksnThoughts.
  • Lifestyle

    Top 5 things to buy for Halloween

    This is a post with my top 5 things to buy for Halloween. This is a yearly event on the 31st of October which celebrates all things spooky. I reckon with these 5 items you can’t go wrong. I have included options for people with and without children (example. +18s only events).

    Pumpkin & spooky food

    A Punkin and other spooky items such as apples are important things to buy over the Halloween period. It gets you in the right mood and atmosphere. All ages can enjoy bobbing for apples as a game or carving pumpkins with the kids. Don’t forget the Brain (fruit) Jelly and other things that are in shops specifically for scaring friends & family.

    Spooky Outfit

    Without an outfit on Halloween, you are ruining the mood of the evening. Even if you are not trick or treating it is an essential idea to dress up as when the children come knocking your door they will have a surprise and gives them more to enjoy when you are in character. You have so many outfits from the tradition witches (for females) and many other choices from films like Ghostbusters & Beetlejuice.

    Horror movies or Netflix films

    If you are planning on staying in over Halloween, I would recommend you buy, rent a few horror movies or go on your TV planner and see what films are on to watch. This gives the Halloween vibes whilst staying at home. You can enjoy this with friends or a young family.

    Spooky Alcohol (Adults only)

    I think as adults we have all heard of alcoholic jelly. This would be perfect for an 18s+ party. it is still in the spirit of Halloween with spooky music & spooky shots of brains & blood. It brings the holiday spirit to those who as adults may not have had before or because they might not have kids. if you don’t have children, even if you do a party on the weekend with friends would be an awesome way to enjoy the holidays. Don’t get too drunk by having too many bloody marys or spooky shots though!

    Lots & Lots of Sweets (for kids!)

    What would Halloween be without SWEETS? This is essential as the whole idea of Halloween is to impress the children with outfits and going trick-or-treating for an hour. If children turn up at your door you want to be armed with lots of sweets for them to grab (politely) as they will most likely be expecting them when you answer.

    What are your top things for Halloween? Are you expecting to be at an over 18s event or will you be with the kids hustling early at night for candy? Do you have anything I’ve missed in this list? Let me know in the comments

  • Lifestyle

    Halloween 2018

    So it’s that time again where we all get dressed up and spooky. This is my opinion on Halloween.

    When I was a child I used to love the dressing up & Trick or Treating with family members. I remember one too many times I was dressed in a bin liner (I’m not a cheap inspo honestly) as a witch, with the hat & broomstick! I loved it even though it didn’t cost much and I only visited a few houses. This whole routine went on for a good ten years and I don’t remember if I even enjoyed it toward the end.

    I firmly believe that Halloween is for the children, even in this day and age. It is a way to escape reality and have fun (and of course gather sweeties from the neighbours!).

    In the last decade since turning 18 I have turned off Halloween, at first because I thought it was too childish for me but mainly because I just don’t like it. However, I do still answer the door (sometimes) when I know it is the youngsters calling for their sweets.

    These days you see Halloween being hyped on the TV with spooky films (which are my guilty pleasure, Hocus Pocus come at me please!) and adverts for all sorts of outfits online & in shops. The shops become saturated with spooky films, novels & outfits for the occasion.

    “Is Halloween suitable for Adults?”

    I’m sure many adults will scream but I’m a parent and I join in with my children, No I don’t mean you. I mean us childless 20 something year-olds who have in my opinion no place in Halloween. The only way I see us being involved include the word clubbing or going to pubs dressed in our favourite outfit and have one too many shots at the bar while dancing to Thriller and the Rocky Horror Show theme song.

    I have a specific event where I wore a witches cheap outfit from a cheap shop, it itched all night and my friend had a crying fit & a screaming match with me – this wasn’t a good year. Another me & my best friend just got drunk. You see where I’m going with adults and Halloween = drunk nights out.

    All in all, I’m sure Halloween is an event which takes you out of normal life & gives you one night where you can just go out and explore your inner child, which is what it’s all about, I guess.

    To all you adults out there, with or without children, have a blast. Go have fun – maybe get drunk? who knows. Or eat too many sweets, waiting for the door to knock while watching cheesy horror movies!