tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41577750542416121812024-02-24T15:20:32.096+00:00BROOMFIEA blog by a girl who loves fashion, beauty, travel and chemistry.Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-62263555476643949452019-04-14T10:59:00.000+01:002019-04-14T10:59:19.900+01:00TRAVEL // Visiting New York (with an iPhone) #3<br />
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Hello everyone!</div>
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Here we finally are, the final post (for a while) on my trip to New York. I can't believe it was 6 weeks ago - time has flown! Can I be back now please? </div>
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Anyway, the last day of a trip is always the most awkward. You look at your list of what you wanted to do and realise you won't get it all done. You have to get back to your hotel to pick up luggage and make it to the airport. Even though our flight didn't leave until 11 I still felt really restricted as to what we could do because we had to be back at the hotel for 6ish to get our flight. In the end we managed to see plenty on our last day, and we didn't miss too much off our list either - so yay.</div>
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We started the morning with bagels at Best Bagel & Coffee by Penn station. It gets 4.6/5 on google reviews and I could understand why. It was our cheapest breakfast of the trip and so, so good. We had blueberry bagels with PB&J and I'm drooling thinking about them now. It was crazy and I had no idea what was going on but that sweet, sweet bagel was worth it.</div>
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We then got lost on our way back to Brooklyn but eventually made our way to the Staten Island Ferry. We couldn't do a trip and not see the Statue of Liberty but we also didn't have the time to take a 2-3 hour expensive excursion. Instead we hopped on the FREE ferry (you literally just walk on it's weird) and got to see Lady Liberty herself without spending a penny. Sure, you don't get the closest or longest view but it satisfied my need for seeing a massive statue of a woman in a fantastic dress.</div>
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A short walk from the ferry station is Wall Street so we had a quick stop off for ice cream from Milk and a coffee to warm up our cold, cold hands. I had to try some kind of instagrammable food and considering how close it was (even though it was -2 degrees) ice cream had to be it. They make the ice cream from cereal milk which was odd, but surprisingly enjoyable. I bet it's 100 times better when my hands aren't freezing though. Oh, and Wall Street was cool too. We were walking around at lunch time and got caught in the hustle and bustle of everyone trying to get their lunch and definitely got the feels.</div>
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Next on my list was Grand Central Station and it did not disappoint. I have never seen such a beautiful station and would be lying if I didn't admit we spent about 45 minutes wandering around. I got lost a few times because there are so many different hallways but it felt amazing to be looking over that station, hearing Gossip Girl make a mean comment about me last being seen at Grand Central Station.</div>
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We then made our way back towards the hotel and midtown. Neither of us had done any shopping so we popped into a massive comic book shop and Macy's to take advantage of the sales. I found a few of the other hotels I'd looked at booking and now know where I'll be staying if I go again (Moxy is looking likely unless I stay in an entirely different area). It was nice to just relax a little bit more and do what I do best - shop. We then had an early dinner before we went to collect our luggage at Tick Tock diner attached to the Wyndham hotel and had a massive plate of food before we went home. The food was really good and they also have a little hidden bar downstairs which I was desperate to go to but we ran out of time. I just want to drink a cocktail in a vault okay?</div>
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And just like that, our few days in New York were over. It was a whirlwind tour and exhausting but worth it. We saw so much, but missed much more and I wish I could go back asap. Whilst I was kind of underwhelmed as soon as I got back from my trip, now I've had a few weeks for it to settle in I miss it like crazy. It was busy, kind of dirty and expensive as hell but man, did I enjoy my time.</div>
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So that's it for my New York posts for now. Have you been to any of these places or have any tips? Let me know!</div>
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Rachael </div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-57305459595439333152019-03-24T10:51:00.000+00:002019-03-24T10:51:24.632+00:00TRAVEL // Visiting New York (with an iPhone) #2<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there,</div>
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I'm back with more photos from New York! It's now 1 month since I flew out and wow, that month has flown! I'm not sure how March is flying by but it's petrifying. I want to be walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, eating Shake Shack and trying not to get run over again please? A quick recap - I went to New York for 3 nights with no cameras other than my iPhone and instax mini. Would I regret it? No. Cameras are bulky and my phone is bulky enough thanks.</div>
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After an exhausting first day around Central Park, Times Square and Fifth Avenue I decided we needed to venture further afield for day two. We essentially had all day to see as much as we could before going to the theatre in the evening. We started early by getting the subway to Chelsea Market for breakfast, coffee and a little wander around the High Line. </div>
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We went early in the morning for breakfast but I bet Chelsea Market is amazing for lunch. There were so many places but the majority looked closed and it was actually super quiet when we were there. We went to Sarabeth's for some breakfast as it looked like the busiest place there and we weren't disappointed. I had the churro waffles with the yummiest cinnamon caramel sauce and Jack had a turkey sandwich for those GAINS. The food was super yummy and pretty reasonable for New York so I get why we had to queue a little bit.</div>
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Just outside Chelsea Market is a Starbucks Reserve roastery. I'd seen <a href="https://emmavictoriastokes.com/">Emma Victoria Stokes </a>go a few days earlier and it looked like heaven so couldn't miss it. It was copper everywhere, the smell of fresh coffee and even a few cheeky samples of baked goods. I wanted a surprising amount of merch (including a $21 copper R keyring) but I'm not paying more than $5 for a key ring. They get scratched and I'm not even sorry. After a quick coffee break we walked along a bit of the High Line to get a slightly elevated view of the area and walk towards the Flat Iron building. </div>
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On the way to the flat Iron building we popped into Forbidden Planet. Considering I was expecting Jack to wait in Glossier for an hour, the least I could do was go into a comic book store. It is way, way, way smaller than the one in London which surprised me but we still spent a LONG time in there. We also bumped into an actual celebrity (Dan Fogler from Fantastic Beasts, The Goldbergs and also comic book writing) which was pretty exciting. About a 5 minute walk away was the Flat Iron building which was covered in scaffolding but still a feat to see. Getting the entire building in a photo was almost impossible - how do people do it?! It was then time to get the subway down to Brooklyn for the most exciting thing of the day - crossing the Brooklyn Bridge!!</div>
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Finally, after days of waiting I got my first Shake Shack. I've wanted to visit for ages and never had the chance in London so I made sure I got to go in New York. The bacon cheese fries were to die for and the burger was pretty good too. I'm craving those fries so much right now. </div>
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Finally, my inner teenager was screaming because I got to cross the Brooklyn Bridge! It was freezing cold, super windy and not pleasant but it was okay because it's the Brooklyn Bridge. Originally I didn't plan on crossing the entire thing because I wanted to save some time but once I start crossing a bridge I DO NOT STOP. My photos from this part of the trip are probably my favourites. I'm surprised just how well my iPhone camera worked for these shots. Who needs a DSLR when you have portrait mode eh?</div>
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Fortunately on the other end of the Brooklyn Bridge is the World Trade Center. We walked around the memorial which was a sobering sight before warming up in the Occulus full of shops we definitely have in the UK. That ceiling though - If I could get one in my flat I would.</div>
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Back on the subway and we made our way to the Glossier store. It was on the way to the hotel - kind of - so it was a no brainer really. Prices weren't much cheaper than in the UK (especially on first orders) but I was glad I could see the shades and get opinions from the staff. I got a highlighter, boy brow and balm dot com and I am LOVING them. We then were seriously running out of time so ran into the Canal Street Market for some dinner that wasn't burgers and fries. Jack got ramen and I got a duck wrap and there was so much flavour I couldn't finish it. Now, that's a feat.</div>
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Lastly, we came back to Times Square and Broadway to see Avenue Q. I wasn't so impressed by Times Square at night - I preferred it much more first thing in the morning. Having people shouting at me for not acknowledging them talking to me as I'm walking down the street isn't my idea of fun. First thing in the morning when the sun is shining, no one else is around and it feels like the billboards are there just for you - that is infinitely better in my opinion. I digress - Avenue Q was fantastic. After getting a free seat upgrade we were right up the front and it didn't disappoint. It is off-broadway now but it meant tickets were cheaper and we didn't have to wait in super long lines for discounted tickets. We paid $50 for stalls seats and I have no regrets. It might be an old show but the main messages still ring true and I'll always recommend it to anyone who asks.</div>
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<br />Alright - so that's the breakdown of my second day in New York. I got a lot done, got very cold but had a great day. </div>
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Have you been to any of these places? Let me know!<br /><br />Rachael</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-10222543369408305892019-03-10T11:41:00.000+00:002019-03-10T11:41:41.362+00:00TRAVEL // Visiting New York (with an iPhone) #1<br />
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Hello everybody!</div>
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A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to visit New York for the first time. It was last minute and I just found a good deal so booked it. Even on the plane I didn't feel like it had sunk in that I was finally visiting the city I dreamed of seeing as a kid. If I'm honest, now that I have been and come back it still hasn't sunk in. Weird huh? </div>
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Anyway, with the cold weather and massive number of steps I was expecting to do I decided to leave my DSLR at home. It's pretty old now (probably close to 10 years) so whilst it works well it is big, bulky and a pain to lug around. Following a few discussions with lovely people on twitter, I was convinced that a DSLR isn't really necessary and with my new-ish XR I walked out of my flat and left my fully charged on my desk and didn't go back for it. </div>
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So, we landed in New York at 4:30 pm and had made it across to Manhattan by 6:30 to book into our hotel - Doubletree by Hilton Times Square West. Unfortunately, we were messed around at check in and made to wait over 90 minutes for our key because at 7pm our room still hadn't been finished and they asked us to wait 'seconds' which turned into over an hour. We got a free drink and breakfast for the inconvenience but we essentially lost the first night of our trip as a result. Instead, we got a pizza from the place next door (which was very good) and went to bed. It meant we could wake up early the next morning and hopefully see more than we would otherwise. Still very disappointing though.<br />
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One good thing about the hotel was the location - It is opposite Port Authority Bus Station, less than 10 minutes from Penn Station and less than 10 minutes from Times Square so really central and perfect for travelling all over the city. The first morning we had a quick breakfast at the hotel (it was free) before walking through Times Square and towards Central Park. I'll be honest, I really enjoyed Times Square first thing in the morning (9-ish). I could walk freely, no one was in the way and I could get some lovely photos. The billboards are impressive and and I love how all of the signs are so fancy but I am happy if I get the chance to go back I can stay in a different part of the city far from the hustle and bustle and closer to great food.</div>
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After a wander around a couple of the shops (I love Old Navy okay) we started walking towards Central Park. We were interested in the ice skating, and of course walking around Central Park, so tried to find an efficient way there whilst seeing some things along the way - we failed on both accounts.</div>
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Before I went I was obsessed with going ice skating in Central Park because I was told it is really something special. The rink is massive but it costs round $25 a person which seemed like a bit much for me. It would have been enjoyable but $50 for an hour of ice skating? It seemed a bit steep. Fortunately walking around Central Park is free and we spent about 3 hours wandering around and finding some of those iconic spots. We came across one of the information desks and I'm so glad we visited it. We got a map and were told the best way to see some of the most memorable spots. We'd have just wandered aimlessly and missed so much otherwise so I'd really recommend getting a little help if you're on a time push.</div>
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Thankfully the park was essentially empty because it was so cold outside (felt like -1) so we didn't have to deal with too many people getting in our way. We found the Alice in Wonderland statue, that fountain and lake, some gorgeous steps (which I immediately recognised once I watched Isn't It Beautiful on Netflix - would recommend) and the walkway covered in trees that I bet would be stunning in Spring once all the leaves are back. I bet Central Park is beautiful when it's a bit warmer outside and there is so much I missed - I'll have to go back!</div>
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Our plan at that point was to go get some Broadway Tickets so had to head back to Broadway. We got to the box office to find that the website had lied and there were no shows that day so rush tickets could not be bought. In the end we got some tickets for the next day with quite a hefty discount (50%!) so it wasn't all so bad. It was then time for some lunch and a coffee at Frission Espresso. They had amazing reviews and it didn't disappoint. The latte art was great and food not too bad either. It's a really small place and full of locals so we knew we were onto a winner there. 10/10 would recommend.</div>
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From back where we started, we then wandered towards The Rockerfeller Center to visit Top of the Rock. I had looked at getting the CityPass and in the end, the only tourist attraction we definitely wanted to do was Top of the Rock. I wanted to do others but we were around for such a short time, we'd have found it difficult to fit even 3 things in alongside everything else I wanted to do. I almost went ice skating again managed to avoid it - just. The building is stunning inside with plenty of shops, marble floors and gold accents. I didn't want to leave. Tickets were just under $40 on the day which I thought was reasonable considering how well organised the entire operation was. I went from buying a ticket to being in the museum in less than 5 minutes. I love efficiency - and pay money for it.</div>
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The views were absolutely stunning and it was great to have the Empire State Building in the photos (rather than going to the pricier building itself). It was really fun to point out buildings I knew, take typical touristy photos and get a panoramic view. We were lucky the skies were clear - it had been threatening to snow all day but held off.</div>
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Considering I have a shopping addiction it would have been criminal for me to visit New York and not visit those famous department stores that are always mentioned in TV and films. Wandering down 5th and Madison avenues was crazy. I loved Saks, was very disappointed with Barneys and got loads of unusual Lindt flavours because they have about 30 varieties. Blueberry is the best. </div>
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We then went home for a nap - we'd done 20,000 steps at this point and thought we'd go back to the hotel and get ready to go out for a nice meal. Open Table allowed us to book at table at Hard Rock Cafe - which Jack had never visited before - so we didn't have to wait. We could have gone to somewhere a bit fancier but considering the price of food (and it being our first real night) I wanted to make sure we'd get good food at a reasonable price. I also wanted a Hard Rock glass - let's be honest. </div>
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As expected, the music was great, the food was good and the cocktails were strong. These were actually the only drinks we had during our trip because everything was so expensive and we had so much we wanted to do that getting hungover wasn't an option. I got to wear this gorgeous F&F dress (which I ordered through Next! Hello free next day delivery!) and feel fancy for an evening. </div>
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We finally made it back to our hotel at about 11pm and went straight to bed ready for an even busier day after. I feel like we saw a lot in one day - and definitely spent a lot of money - but it was worth it. I was also incredibly impressed with the photos came out on my phone. It was much easier to just snap a quick shot then lug around my DSLR - that's for sure!<br /></div>
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So that's a not-so-quick round up of my first day in New York. Have you been to any of these places or plan on seeing them soon? Let me know!</div>
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Rachael</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-11175465976428650082019-02-10T11:19:00.001+00:002019-02-10T12:04:07.875+00:00TRAVEL // A day in Frankfurt<br />
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Hello there!</div>
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It has been a busy couple of weeks and I've finally found some time to post again. Hurrah! I was lucky enough to visit Germany for a conference on topics that were incredibly relevant to my research and as if by luck - flights meant I got an extra day in Frankfurt. I only had a few hours, but it gave me a taste of the city for sure. </div>
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We got on a train from Kaiserslautern to Frankfurt which took about 90 minutes. It rained the entire way their and, I'll be honest, I was worried we'd just be downing the entire afternoon and have a soggy plane ride home. Fortunately within 30 minutes of us getting to Frankfurt Main the rain stopped and we were happy to walk around for a while.</div>
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I was in desperate need of coffee and pretty buildings so we walked about 20 minutes to <span style="color: #212121; font-weight: lighter;">Römerberg - a market square of gorgeous buildings. There are a few coffee shops filled with delicious pastries and cake and somehow I managed to not pick up one. Once the </span><span style="color: #212121;">caffeine</span><span style="color: #212121; font-weight: lighter;"> had reached my system, it was time to find a museum to wander around as the weather was less than appealing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">If you know me, you'll know if I find a bridge I'm going to cross it. I found a bridge, I crossed it, I found a museum on the other side. Happy accident. It also gave some lovely views of the city (another personal favourite of mine).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">Quite a few museums in Frankfurt are on one street and we struggled to decide which one to go to. I ended up visiting the the Weltkulturen Museum and seeing their exhibition on aging. It was really interactive with videos to watch, music to listen to, poems on the side of every doorway and even a Nintendo Switch with Super Mario. I spent around 2 hours and enjoyed it more than I thought possible. I almost came away with a tote bag I liked it so much.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">After all this walking (over bridges) it was time for food and decided on Good Guys. It looked beautiful on the outside and had a lunch deal including a cheeseburger, fries and drink for 11 euros. The service was good, the food was amazing, the price was fantastic and I couldn't stop taking photos. If you're ever in Frankfurt I would definitely recommend it. There is a reason it has an almost 5 star review on Google and Trip Advisor!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;"><br />Finally it was time to head to the airport (via Uber because it was somehow cheaper than the train), get some expensive German Haribo that I didn't eat all in one day and fly back to the UK. I'm so glad I got to spend the day wandering around a new city. Frankurt wasn't exactly top of my list of places to visit but there is more than enough to do over a weekend if you like food, shopping and museums (so many museums!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #212121;">Have you been to Frankfurt? Have you got any tips on where to go? Let me know!</span></div>
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Rachael </div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-44823085944331206162019-01-27T10:30:00.000+00:002019-01-27T10:30:20.888+00:00TRAVEL // A stroll around Bath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello there!</div>
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Another weekend - another post! Last weekend I decided to take a stroll around the city whilst the weather held out. It was very cold and I didn't stay out for as long as I'd liked but it was lovely to have a nice (and free!) touristy walk around. Spoiler alert - I've got no photos of the Abbey, The Circus or the Royal Crescent. Think of this of inspiration on where to go if you want to avoid the super busy, touristy spots. </div>
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When I visit a new place I always take advantage of a sign. Always. The black and gold ones throughout town are pretty iconic and on a range of gorgeous backgrounds. For one away from the crowds, wander around Milsom Street. I've lived in Bath and still get lost around there. </div>
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If you walk slightly down the hill, you'll reach Pulteney Bridge which is full of shops, cafes and beautiful views. If you want a cake and gorgeous views stopping into the Bridge Coffee is a must. Every time I walk past I want to stop but there is never a table. You've got to admit, the cakes and pastries do look amazing. </div>
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Of course, if you're walking past the bridge, you might as well walk along the water for some slightly different views rather then paying to get into the park. Fun fact - you can actually do paddleboarding around Bath in the summer and it's on my must-do list!</div>
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The Corridor is a walkway through to lots of independent shops and coffee shops to browse and stop at. It also keeps the rain off your head if it's pouring and forgot your umbrella. A few of my favourites around is the Bertinet Bakery for pastries to go, Good Day Cafe for instaworthy pictures and Ben's cookies if you can't get enough of that gooey, cookie goodness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCE-niCalejV2_49yKgoUmKsvlUsNp5IUZ4lvtToIFyFq0wde3hbr0uBiKFZYgfWKgUvRIyFJS82Ax1peoxU9ZwymckHb8uLTwOj_xyDQHj1FTTqoIGO0bRtTI2nRcyUr9p_yahIh9135T/s1600/50628555_294388051277680_6123458745058983936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCE-niCalejV2_49yKgoUmKsvlUsNp5IUZ4lvtToIFyFq0wde3hbr0uBiKFZYgfWKgUvRIyFJS82Ax1peoxU9ZwymckHb8uLTwOj_xyDQHj1FTTqoIGO0bRtTI2nRcyUr9p_yahIh9135T/s1600/50628555_294388051277680_6123458745058983936_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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Another street to wander down if you want some classic Bath architecture is Great Pulteney Street. I love the style of the buildings here and it's not too busy on a Sunday afternoon if you want a plain-ish backdrop for a photo. Big front doors, iron gates and within walking distance of a warm pub? What could be better?</div>
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So that's a quick list of some less pictured places around Bath. Really - no Abbey or Royal Crescent in sight!</div>
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Have you been to Bath and found a must-do photo location? Let me know!</div>
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Rachael</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-35942124449208343442019-01-20T10:20:00.001+00:002019-01-20T10:20:08.762+00:00LIFESTYLE // Current obsessions # 1<br />
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Two weeks in a row? I've really uploaded two posts in two weeks? I'm astonished. Whilst listening to a Body Balance playlist (71 to be precise) I thought I'd share a few of my obsessions over the past few weeks. Body Balance should be on here but I haven't done any this week and doubt I'll do any tomorrow because this week I have definitely slipped off the 'healthy choices' wagon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhbdc7FFzBF7LOEhZFF7SD9Mi9fw1uALwJKP7ghJQxAtTU45Te39fhhk8zvwu_Dn7fVnEHBOT4erjQ5uLwgQ_1IoQuJ6k3E6RgJ3WYpwhYk88kFyKUKlt3IgKKxLjZT1rBN2s1hN0zlwF/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhbdc7FFzBF7LOEhZFF7SD9Mi9fw1uALwJKP7ghJQxAtTU45Te39fhhk8zvwu_Dn7fVnEHBOT4erjQ5uLwgQ_1IoQuJ6k3E6RgJ3WYpwhYk88kFyKUKlt3IgKKxLjZT1rBN2s1hN0zlwF/s1600/me.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><b>Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (pink pepper and mint)</b><br />
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I'm really lazy when it comes to skincare. It's one of those things I know I should do but when I've overslept or am really tired, it's the first thing to go. Having a 5 stage skincare routine is incredibly overwhelming so I stick to a 3 step process which can be shortened to just 1 in a crunch. I've tried pretty much all of the different C&P scents and this one is top of the list for me. It's calming but energising and smells a little bit like Christmas - but not enough to make it a December only product. I'll be incredibly sad when this bottle runs out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1iOaGDFmWAmiJ5u7nHQ9MhTqMKAQ9Ir33kcNIBurv_OlzLDs-5ilAdVvKvnvM89rqM1xeUk4ww98YgJzjZDmQ4eYeker75xtK62J0unNY96vvINpMz8JY3vAEvXZct7nQfTcE9NcvDYC/s1600/cleanse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1iOaGDFmWAmiJ5u7nHQ9MhTqMKAQ9Ir33kcNIBurv_OlzLDs-5ilAdVvKvnvM89rqM1xeUk4ww98YgJzjZDmQ4eYeker75xtK62J0unNY96vvINpMz8JY3vAEvXZct7nQfTcE9NcvDYC/s1600/cleanse.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep1-scroobiuspip">Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster</a></b><br />
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2018 was the year I tried to get into podcasts. I absolutely adore My Dad Wrote a Porno but with that coming to an end I really struggled to find another podcast I enjoyed listening to. I like things that are funny, not particularly realistic and attacking me through my bluetooth headphones telling me I need x in savings and 3 side hustles. Off Menu came to my rescue with their rambling about their favourite meal, criticism of the podcast structure and random stories that are nothing to do with food. I wish there were more episodes and I didn't have to wait an entire week for the next one!<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finishing-Touches-hilarious-author-Little-ebook/dp/B073PWH5L4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547979300&sr=8-1&keywords=the+finishing+touches+hester+browne">The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne</a> (currently 99p on Kindle!)</b><br />
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Hester Browne is probably one of my favourite authors and she never does any wrong in my opinion. Her books are funny, full of romance, realistic protagonists and well known landmarks that really absorb you into the middle of the story. I bought the book about a year ago when it was on offer and never got around to reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am glad it was my first book of 2019.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.marksandspencer.com/leighton-denny-small-crystal-nail-file/p/p22183088?prevPage=plp">Leighton Denny crystal nail file</a></b><br />
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This is one of those items I always admired and never purchased. I finally got the file for Christmas and love it. It's very precise and easy to use even for a girl who is awful at filing nails. You can use it both forward and backward so I find it a lot less awkward. I have a feeling I'm not going to stop painting my nails now I can shape them well.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Kors-Women-Savannah-Satchel/dp/B07B8TSZML">Michael Kors Savannah Satchel</a><br />
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Last on my list is another Christmas present in the form of a handbag. My parents picked it up for me whilst they were in the States and I adore it! It fits so much in but isn't too bulky. It's my go-to bag at the weekend, especially if I'm going to be doing a lot of waiting around as it fits everything from my iPad, books and a bottle of water. I'm undecided whether to take it to a conference I'm at later in the month but it feels wrong to go without my precious monogrammed satchel?!<br />
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Well, who'd have thought I could keep that relatively concise after last week? What are you enjoying this week? Let me know!</div>
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Rachael</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-14580005902320596572019-01-12T09:00:00.000+00:002019-01-12T09:00:10.657+00:00LIFESTYLE // A 2018 Roundup and those dreaded resolutions<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi there!</div>
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The amount of times I have sat at this keyboard thinking 'today is the day I'll write a new blog post' is not endless but if I had £1 for every time it happened I'd probably have a new pair of shoes.</div>
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However, like anything, I'm going to take it slow for the time being rather than going in all guns blazing. I'll be honest, I thought I'd go to the gym three times this week but after a harder than expected Boxercise class (also known as Fight Club - but I wasn't told I couldn't talk about it) I'm now shuffling around like a penguin and couldn't even make it down the stairs. So, for this reason alone - I'm not going to be a lean, mean, constantly writing machine throwing out posts like confetti. We'll ignore the lean bit.</div>
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If I focus again, what did I even do in 2018? I remember it started off fantastically well and tailed off into a nightmare from September onward when the 3rd year of my PhD hit (but we'll get onto that later).<br />
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<b>January: </b>It started off with my first academic conference where I gave a keynote talk in some sassy boots that jingled when I walked. After my first year where I had seen people travelling near and far to present their work I was super excited to finally do the same. Few things are more motivating than talking to other academics who are interested and provide useful feedback on your work. I'm pretty sure I ran back to the lab after that.</div>
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<b>February:</b> The month of luurve. Celebrating both Valentines Day AND my anniversary makes for a potentially expensive month. However, I'm never going to day no to a fancy meal out or a trip somewhere. We spent the weekend in London drinking cocktails, eating food and seeing shows. I finally got to see The Phantom of The Opera after almost 15 years of wanting to see it and definitely didn't cry (I did). </div>
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<b>March:</b> March was the month of snow. Even when it was snowing outside I was managing to get my butt to the gym 2-3 times a week and I was loving it. I didn't love that the back door of my old flat didn't seal and I had massive piles of snow in the kitchen. That was not my idea of fun. March did end with a trip to Reading to see a friend though which was infinitely more fun. </div>
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<b>April: </b>On the first of April I decided I wanted Timbits so I hopped on the train to Cardiff just to go to Tim Hortons. Okay, that's a lie. I went to the passport office in Newport and jumped on the train from Newport to Cardiff just to get Timbits. They didn't disappoint. I also FINALLY got to go to the WB Harry Potter Studio Tour with an old friend from my year abroad. It was so much better than I expected and now I want to go at Christmas too. Oh, and another conference! </div>
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<b>May:</b> At the beginning of the month I somehow found first class train tickets to Norwich for under £60 so traveled back to the place I did my UG to see some friends who had moved back to the fine city. I had waffles, rum and dog walks and it was bliss. I'll be honest though - I definitely prefer Bath to Norwich #sorrynotsorry.</div>
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<b>June:</b> June was a VERY busy month indeed. The month started with the 3 Minute Thesis competition final! I somehow condensed my research so well into 3 minutes I bagged a place in the final. I may not have won, but I had fun doing it. Later in the month I had two conferences in one week and then went on holiday to Lanzarote. Travelling to 4 places in 5 days is exhausting but a week on the beach definitely made up for it. I'll be honest, I'm already looking at booking a summer holiday because I need the beach back asap.</div>
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<b>July:</b> After losing 2 weeks of June to conferences and holidays I had to actually do some work. I am doing a PhD after all. I went to the cinema because they had air con, did more yoga than ever and celebrated a friend's wedding by having our own party and live streaming the ceremony. I made half of a wedding cake for the occasion and it was only majorly over baked.</div>
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<b>August: </b>The most exciting thing about August was moving into a new flat with my boyfriend! We managed to nab the last flat in a gorgeous building that has double glazing, wooden floors and heating that actually works. Believe me, that's an achievement in Bath. Now all I do is spend money on the flat (and buying baskets) because I'm so happy with the space I live in. I also went to a family wedding which was beautiful and super fun and meant I could wear a sparkly dress.</div>
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<b>September: </b>Back to work I went. My working hours went from 9-5:30 to more like 8:30-7:30 which was an absolute killer. I'll be honest, it stayed that way until November. I did have the most amazing Thai food in Bristol to make up for it through. Almost. </div>
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<b>October: </b>Work, work, work, work, work, work. I lie, I did a surprising amount of not-work too including a trip to <a href="http://thefromeindependent.org.uk/">Frome Independent Market</a> and frequenting wine bars. I also went to my first pageant to support my brother's girlfriend and even got on the catwalk myself. No idea how that happened but now we are here. </div>
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<b>November:</b> My birthday month - yay! I somehow managed to turn my birthday into a 2 week affair this year without even trying. I went home for the weekend, spent a couple of days in London and had a fantastic time. After all the long days I was working I needed it. The highlight was probably seeing <a href="https://www.theplaythatgoeswrong.com/">The Play That Goes Wrong</a> which had me crying with laughter. I would 100% recommend if you want to see a show in London that isn't a musical. I laugh thinking about it now! The month ended with a trip to <a href="https://www.iguanas.co.uk/">Las Iguanas</a> to try the new (very yummy) menu and see the beautiful refurb on the Bath branch followed by a visit from my best friend Amber. We wandered around the Christmas market, drank a few too many cocktails and stumbled across the cutest, most instagrammable coffee shop in Bath -<a href="https://www.gooddaycoffee.co.uk/"> Good Day Cafe</a>. </div>
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<b>December: </b>Let's be honest - as soon as December 1st hits it is officially Christmas time in my brain. I tried to get so much work done but everything failed on me at the last hurdle. At least to make up for it I had plenty of Christmas parties, lots of dressing up and presents to wrap. I spent Christmas with my boyfriend's family which was lovely followed by a second celebration back at home with my family. I finished off the year with friends in London drinking gin, playing games and watching Netflix which is exactly how I want to spend it every year now.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that's my 2018 wrapped up in a neat little bow but what did I learn from this?</span></div>
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<i>1. Yoga is great but Body Balance is better. I miss those 7 am classes on a Tuesday and wish I was closer to the gym. I'm doing it at home now to make up for it but it's not quite working.</i><br />
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<i>2. I had a lot of fun last year even though it felt like I did nothing at first. Now, if I could continue to have fun and have chemistry that did what I asked it my year would be 11/10</i><br />
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<i>3. My favourite months were those where I saw friends I hardly see. I tried to see as many people as possible but work can get in the way. </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So for this year what am I planning to improve? I'll call them resolutions because even if I don't - realistically they're still resolutions. However, I'm keeping it simple this year.</span></div>
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<b>1. Keep active:</b> I enjoy it. I need to make time for it. End of.<br />
<b>2. Take breaks:</b> Everyone needs them. I'm more productive when I have them. It's simple maths really.<br />
<b>3. Be more consistent:</b> whether that be with my work, Instagram, blogging or catching up with friends. If I can gradually introduce all of this into a routine, maybe it'll be easier to fit in everything I want to do.<br />
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Welcome back to long post central and a massive thanks to those of you who stuck it out to the end! I'd now finish off this post with a catchy statement like 'I'm back bishes' a la Belinda Blinked but instead I'll ask a question or two:<br />
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What did you get up to last year? Do you refuse to make New Year resolutions? Let me know!</div>
<br />Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-16445953281430905442018-02-26T21:58:00.000+00:002018-02-26T22:04:42.845+00:00TRAVEL // A weekend in London #1<br />
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Hello there!</div>
Aren't long weekends just the best? I mean seriously THE BEST. Better than the fact that Krispy Kreme now do doughnut holes (which are just American Timbits and only come in one flavour so are not the same). I booked last Friday off and got the train down to London with bae for our anniversary. We originally wanted to go abroad but somehow 2018 has been going so quickly it was as if we blinked and then OH WOW our anniversary is in 2 weeks.<br />
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So, we booked a beautiful hotel with good transport links and hopped on a train (because yay the environment) and wandered around the capital spending money like we had it. Unfortunately, I'm just a PhD student and he acts part time so we have decided to not leave the house for the next month. It was totally worth it though.<br />
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I booked us a two night stay in Leman Locke, an aparthotel seconds away from Aldgate and Aldgate East stations. It is the perfect place to stay if you are in London for an extended period of time because you have everything you need to get yourself through. From a kitchen stocked with utensils and washer/dryer to a beautiful baby pink sofa with extra large TV that allows you to stream from your phone - you will not want to leave! We ended up not leaving until gone 11am because we were just too darn comfy living the life of luxury.<br />
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The bathroom was bigger than my kitchen in my flat and came with some adorable salted caramel scented luxuries if you forgot your toiletries. They smelt amazing but they didn't condition my hair too well - I was glad to get back to my super hydrating conditioner. You also get a Locke box in the kitchen full of T2 tea and coffee (with some milk in the fridge) so you don't need to amble to your closest Tesco first thing if you need that caffeine. Mind you, the local Tesco Express really isn't far.<br />
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We turned up early afternoon and were lucky enough to check in right away with a couple of vouchers for cocktails in hand (yay for anniversary treats!). Our room was on the 9th floor which gave us a nice view over the city. I bet the view is even better on a higher floor and would love to get a sky room if I have the opportunity to stay again. After a quick sit down on the sofa I didn't want to leave, we headed towards West London to the land of the theatre (e.g. Covent Garden and Shaftesbury Avenue).<br />
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Covent Garden is one of my favourite places in London. I love a market and high end shopping so you really get the best of both worlds here. It may be quieter during the week but the weekend vibe is much better in my opinion. There are more performers to enjoy and it's the kind of place that just feels better when it is busier. We stopped at a nearby Byron Burger for a late lunch because hangry Rachael is not a happy Rachael and were pleasently surprised. I'm a GBK girl through and through but I will not turn my nose up at a burger, fries and drink for £10 - especially in London!<br />
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After getting fed and watered we did some more wandering, taking the obligatory photo on the flowery benches and by the wall of luuuurve. I almost got a mug in Sass and Belle but the adult in me decided to be good and save that money for something better - like a cocktail or brunch.<br />
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It was cold, and neither of us really had enough layers to keep us warm so I sought out the doughnut place taking Instagram by storm. Yes, I mean Doughnut Time. We walked through Chinatown on a mission to get me a Notorious P.I.G. and it did not disappoint. It was massive, pink, sweet and covered in Percy Pigs. We took cover in the Theatre Cafe because yep - it was seriously freezing and they sold hot drinks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSEr7XrnkHnRhXrpGQEK4AGHG0jzGjXN-GXekQJ149bZWoHmZrP1NEUEcndPOCLE4A-MXrjPSjJPV3WOM-bacDZtRYm5x_kebhwNzLAkAxrJGgHCXta1SNpPcvI_QKNzI_zAcnANKe_Jz/s1600/39608360315_3fca8c5c10_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSEr7XrnkHnRhXrpGQEK4AGHG0jzGjXN-GXekQJ149bZWoHmZrP1NEUEcndPOCLE4A-MXrjPSjJPV3WOM-bacDZtRYm5x_kebhwNzLAkAxrJGgHCXta1SNpPcvI_QKNzI_zAcnANKe_Jz/s1600/39608360315_3fca8c5c10_k.jpg" /></a>I had never heard of the Theatre Cafe but it is 100% worth a visit if you are a fan of musicals. The walls are adorned with signed posters and old props. They play musical soundtracks non-stop and the toilet has a backstage mirror so bright I felt like I was a leading lady and not a girl being judged for spending 5 minutes in a public toilet. We also took advantage of their ticket booth and got last minute tickets to Phantom of the Opera for £33. The staff were lovely, really helpful and knew their stuff when it came to the shows currently in the West End.<br />
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After we warmed our hands up with a hot drink, we took the tube over to Southbank to wander around Tate Modern. On Friday and Saturday nights they are open till 10pm and serve drinks with surprisingly reasonable prices. It was a really chilled atmosphere (excluding the lifts) and made me realise I need to visit more often. We only really wandered around floor 4 where we found some Andy Warhol, Picasso and magnets that made me feel funny. The exhibit full of lights is definitely worth a visit for sure.<br />
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Oh, and don't forget to visit the viewing platform on level 10! I didn't even realise it existed and after a lot of waiting for a lift we made it up. The view over the city at night was beautiful but it was so cold and windy we made it back to the bar in no time. That wind was vicious!<br />
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After a drink, we wandered back to the hotel and jumped straight into the super warm, cosy bed. We managed to do over 17,000 steps and spent more than 2 hours on a train so some rest was definitely needed. At least we could go to bed happy that it was a day well spent.<br />
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Have you been anywhere I've mentioned so far? What's your favourite place to visit in London. Let me know?</div>
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Rachael</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-78899229640210007242018-02-18T09:00:00.000+00:002018-02-18T09:00:12.392+00:00LIFESTYLE // Does it make me a bad person?<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there! </div>
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Over the past few weeks I have felt judged. I don't just mean on my work, or on what I'm wearing but for some of the most insignificant things I do. Sure, displaying the highlights of my life on social media is calling for people to have opinions on my choices but it isn't confined to the internet. So, I've decided to list a few things I've been moaned at about recently because, if I'm being honest, it's making me feel like a bad person.</div>
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<b>1. Not watching my bank account like a hawk</b></div>
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<i>Context:</i> I recently changed gas and electricity suppliers and my switch over got messed up. This meant that I was paying 2 electricity bills for a few months and I didn't notice. It wasn't until this week I noticed and it all got sorted. I have been rightly told that if I paid more attention to my bank statement (which is all online because YAY THE ENVIRONMENT) I could have picked this up sooner. Yes, it's true but I'm pretty sure this isn't on the same scale as murdering a kitten.</div>
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<b>2. Not watching or reading the news enough</b></div>
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I get it, the news is important. I wish I was more up to date on Brexit or the Olympics so I could do better in the occasional pub quiz but those extra 10 minutes in bed > 10 minutes of BBC news. Radio 1 will have to do for now.</div>
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<b>3. Leaving a plate in my room for one too many days</b></div>
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I'm a grown adult-ish. If I don't want to do my washing up because I've lifted too many weights I shouldn't have to (assuming it isn't in any communal area and annoying other people). I know that the sooner I wash my cutlery the easier it is to wash. I also know that the more sleep I have the less grumpy I'll be in the morning. Just saying.</div>
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<b>4. Celebrating Valentines Day</b></div>
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This is a big one. It seemed like everyone and their Nan was dissing Valentines day this year. It was all about Galentines (which was not a thing when I was very, very single and spent every V-day baking cookies and singing Taylor Swift to my cat) and if you even had the audacity to celebrate a day with your partner you were some capitalist drone who was rubbing your relationship in everyone's faces as if they were a cat who just peed on the floor. Yes, I know it's a holiday to increase greeting card sales. Yes, I know if I go out the night before I can get a cheaper meal. Yes, I know that it is the same as any other day of the year. However, maybe I also want my boyfriend to turn up at my door with roses and take me away on a fun filled evening where I get to wear a cute dress and parade my love around for everyone to see. Sorry not sorry.</div>
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<b>5. Preferring to watch mindless TV shows and movies rather than documentaries or 'serious' TV</b></div>
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I work a long day (well, ish). I do a lot of reading and a lot of thinking. When I get in at 7pm at night, the last thing I want to do is watch something I need to think about. I've been thinking all day! All I want is something I can half pay attention to whilst scrolling through Instagram with reckless abandon. I don't want to look at my phone and have 3 characters with long names dead and no idea what happened. </div>
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<b>6. On that note, preferring to read comedy/chick lit</b></div>
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Same point, new media. I don't want to think about what I'm reading too hard. Yes, history, current events and politics are interesting but I'd rather laugh out loud at someone breaking up their sister's wedding because she is about to make a huge mistake in marrying that guy she just met. Some day I'll know how to make a difference but at the moment I'd rather not send myself into a tornado of guilt and worry (I'm already bad enough as it is).</div>
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<b>7. Buying something frivolous from the Lush Christmas sale</b></div>
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Specific I know (could also be related to any frivolous spend such as mugs) but I'm a sucker for the Lush sale. I bought one thing this year - the Snow Fairy massage bar - which is super moisturizing and covers me in blue glitter. Yes, I have far better things to spend my money on but maybe I want to sparkle like Edward Cullen and smell like bubblegum. Is that okay?</div>
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So these are just a few things I have been judged for recently. Sure, I know these aren't potentially the best habits but the way people talk to me about them makes me feel like I'm a failure at life/very bad person /need to get my act together. Have you had the same experience? Let me know!</div>
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Rachael</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-32498057387882493892018-02-10T17:44:00.001+00:002018-02-11T09:21:12.154+00:00LIFESTYLE // A beginner's guide to Les Mills Body Pump (from an absolute beginner)<br />
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Hi there!</div>
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If you've been following me on<a href="http://www.instagram.com/broomfie_"> instagram </a>you might have noticed me going on (and on and on) about my escapades at the gym. I've started doing two classes a week, one of them being Body Pump. I've decided that this time round on my trip to being healthier I'm avoiding high impact cardio and trying to give low impact high rep a go. I've also been told by everyone and their gran that I need to try weightlifting. I didn't want to pay extortionate amounts of money for a personal trainer and so went for the next best thing - a weight lifting class. Here we are now, 3 weeks later, writing a post on my experience (spoiler alert - it's good!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekqv4G9m3bg0Iqnc0qHMgZcj1ZMx2tL2j1Z7XG-TL0U2ig4kXFZbF0YKE1z39Rdv3FEJmyGuELCNkRi47z1B2hDjecdCSmB5OebyX36q134CW9hL_mHtSVZN4yH0XScDC7UcHKL4HXpZv/s1600/27999348_10156164783887704_1338293826_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekqv4G9m3bg0Iqnc0qHMgZcj1ZMx2tL2j1Z7XG-TL0U2ig4kXFZbF0YKE1z39Rdv3FEJmyGuELCNkRi47z1B2hDjecdCSmB5OebyX36q134CW9hL_mHtSVZN4yH0XScDC7UcHKL4HXpZv/s1600/27999348_10156164783887704_1338293826_o.jpg" /></a></div>
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Body Pump is an hour long weightlifting class focused on low weights and high reps. I read somewhere that you can do something like 700 reps in a class (which seems a lot and I don't have any reliable sources for this!) so it is definitely a workout. The class systematically works through your entire body from arms, to chest, back, legs and core. The instructor shows you technique you need before each track before playing loud, high energy music to guide you and hide your screams (well my screams).<br />
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Before each class you need to get a step, bar, range of weights (and clips) and a mat. It seems very overwhelming but I'm sure the instructor will show you exactly what you need. I went for the lowest possible weight (1.25 kg on each side of the bar) and didn't budge from that in my first week and would 100% recommend that. I'd suggest trying to finish the class rather than work with high weight and not do half of the exercises. I get a much greater sense of accomplishment knowing I've kept up than increased my weight.<br />
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So, what do you need to know if you are starting Body Pump for the first time?<br />
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1. <b>It's not as scary as it looks. </b>The weights are light and you can stop as much as you want.<br />
2. <b>People will be working with more weight than you.</b> That's 100% okay! You do not want to push it to hard, injure yourself, and never go back.<br />
3. <b>Technique is very important </b>- probably more so than the weight you are lifting. Bad technique = more likely to injure yourself.<br />
4. <b>It will take some time to increase your weights.</b> I'm trying after 3 weeks to increase the weight on certain tracks I find easy. If I can't complete the track, I'm not upping the weight!<br />
5.<b> It's surprisingly fun.</b> I would not have thought I'd have found an hour of picking things up and putting them down enjoyable but I kind of do. Sure, I ache after but I'm already feeling stronger (and I love that feeling).<br />
6. <b>You're going to ache but it's okay.</b> It means you're improving! Sure, if it hasn't gone after a couple of days, maybe go see someone about that. But if those muscles ache, you know you've worked them.<br />
7. <b>Make sure you stretch between tracks and stay for the final stretch</b>. It really is essential! Don't be tempted to skip it and get home 5 minutes earlier.<br />
8. <b>Drink lots and lots</b>. My instructor tells us every other track to get a drink because thirsty muscles are tired muscles. I find it helps me a lot!<br />
9. <b>Wear clothes you are comfortable in</b>. I tend to wear tight but thick sports leggings and an oversized top. There are loads of squats and lunges so you may want to check that your clothes are squat proof.<br />
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So, that is a quick post on Body Pump (<a href="https://www.lesmills.com/find-a-class/">find one near you here</a>!). I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to workout classes and find Les Mills classes are the only ones I manage to stick to. The mix of music to distract me and constant movement makes it slightly more bearable. I think it's a simple way to learn a little bit of weight lifting technique, introduce you to something different and give results pretty quickly. I'm already seeing muscles in my arm I hadn't had before!<br />
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Have you ever tried Les Mills classes? Which ones do you enjoy? Let me know!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Rachael</div>
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<br />Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-5182444400852601512018-02-04T15:14:00.000+00:002018-02-04T15:14:53.784+00:00TRAVEL // How to spend a day in Bath<div style="text-align: center;">
Hiya!</div>
It is no secret that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in England (just see my <a href="http://www.instagram.com/broomfie_">insta </a>okay?). It is a super popular tourist destination that draws people all year round. Not a day goes by that I do not walk past a tourist or 10 walking slowly through the city center whilst I'm rushing to the bus stop because I slept through my alarm for 45 minutes. So, I thought I'd give a list of places you can visit if you ever make your way west.<br />
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<b>1. Visit the Roman Baths</b></div>
I'm not sure how you can go to Bath and not visit the baths. I mean, you could but how could you come to a place called Bath and not visit the massive bath? Really? Anyway, the Roman Baths are right in the center of town (opposite Primark lol) and are a must see if you like history and weird coloured water. I take all of my friends who come to visit and they all enjoy it. I'd suggest it being the first thing you do one morning because the queues get long. Sunday morning as soon as they open has been the best time for me - super quiet and you won't get loads of strangers in your photos!<br />
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<b>2. Pulteney Bridge</b><br />
You might recognise Pulteney and the Weir from the movies. That's right - it was in the recent-ish Les Miserables film! You can go into the park for a small fee if you like but I think you actually get a better photo standing on North Parade. It's not really a thing to do - but a photo you do not want to miss.<br />
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<b>3. Get brunch</b><br />
Take it from me - Bath loves brunch. There are loads of places to choose from and the food is always so good! A few of my faves are <a href="https://bills-website.co.uk/restaurants/bath/">Bill's</a> on Cheap Street, <a href="http://hall-woodhousebath.co.uk/">Hall and Woodhouse</a> on Old King Street and <a href="http://www.bostonteaparty.co.uk/our_cafes/alfred-street.php">Boston Tea Party</a> (Alfred St. is bigger but Kingsmead square is closer to town). All three restaurants I have mentioned are beautiful but I'd definitely book a table in advance if you've got your head set on pancakes.<br />
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<b>4. Take a wander through The Circus, Royal Crescent and Royal Victoria Park</b><br />
This is very convenient if you have gone to brunch at either Hall and Woodhouse or Boston Tea Party as they are incredibly close. The Circus is a beautiful circle of terraced houses and flats and is on the way to the Royal Crescent (a must see). You have a beautiful view of Bath from the crescent and you can even relax in the park if you've had a bit of a food coma. There is a mini golf course in Victoria Park and they sometimes have fairgrounds and outdoor cinemas so it is 100% worth a visit if something is on!<br />
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<b>5. Erm....shop?</b><br />
Bath has a LOT of shops. From all the high street chains to beautiful independent stores, there is no shortage of windows to browse. You can get so many unique, one of a kind pieces in the independent shops that a worth the extra for sure.<br />
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<b>6. Visit the fashion museum</b><br />
Yes, you heard right - the Fashion museum! You can get a joined Baths/Fashion museum ticket if you want (just saying). The museum is in The Assembly rooms - which is also worth a visit because the rooms are beautiful - and has a few exhibits to see. Currently there is fashion through the ages where you see the development of fashion over the years (SO interesting). There is also an exhibit dedicated entirely to lace which I spend too much time in. The best bit? They have period clothing for you to try on including bonnets and corsets in a really wide range of sizes! It's worth going just to try the dresses on tbh.<br />
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<b>7. Visit Alexandra Park</b><br />
Okay, this one isn't for the faint hearted. You've got to hike up a massive hill to get there (bring drinks and snacks) but if you do, you'll have an amazing view over the city. For those who aren't afraid to climb, you won't regret it at all. Grab a drink from a local coffee shop (Society has great coffee) and a slice of cake to treat yourself once you make it to the top.<br />
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<b>8. Pop into Bath Abbey</b><br />
I couldn't finish this post without mentioning the Abbey. It is absolutely stunning and open to visitors a lot of the time. You can wander around, admire the stained glass windows and enjoy the quiet. You'll just be in awe of the beauty.<br />
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<b>9. Visit a local pub</b><br />
Bath is known for its ales and the west country for it's cider so you know you'll find a good beverage. There are loads of pubs and some even have their own breweries to tour. There is lots on offer that you probably will struggle to find anywhere else so you could at least try one. If you don't like beer, don't worry. There are loads of cocktail bars too and I've not been to a bar that doesn't sell cocktails yet. You'll find something I'm sure.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed this compilation of stuff to do in Bath. I'd say places to visit but a lot revolve around food (priorities!). Bath is beautiful, super chilled and beautiful to wander around. Obviously this isn't an extensive list but will get you started for sure!</div>
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Have you been to Bath and have any more suggestions? Are you visiting any time soon? Let me know!</div>
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Rachael</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-49561149937515917302018-01-29T20:12:00.000+00:002018-01-29T20:22:46.540+00:00LIFESTYLE \\ January Favourites<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there!</div>
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For the 74th time I am writing to say 'I AM BACK AGAIN PLEASE GIVE MY BLOG LOVE' because we all know that for things to grow you have to give it time and love etc. etc. etc. Well, as it turns out I have learned that I can't even keep a succulent alive (let alone a blog) but have decided to try again in spite of my better knowledge.</div>
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Anyway, I thought I'd start it off simply by showing you all a few of my favourite beauty and lifestyle bits from this month. It has been horrifically cold, windy and wet in Bath and these little bits and pieces have made my month just that little bit brighter.<br />
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I'm going to start with a few beauty bits because who doesn't like to hear a quick beauty review? First up is my current fave foundation by <a href="https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/the-ordinary-serum-foundation.html">The Ordinary</a>. I managed to get the serum foundation (1.0 P) from ASOS for a whole £5.40 and for the price it is a fantastic foundation. It's lightweight, a good shade for me and even better - very cheap! It's not my favourite ever foundation but I'll definitely buy another bottle.</div>
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I finally got the opportunity to try <a href="http://www.boots.com/benefit-rollerlash-mascara-10191229">Roller Lash</a> by Benefit. This got such a huge reputation from bloggers as being an amazing mascara and finally I'm able to chip in. It is a fantastic lengthening mascara - and pretty good at curling my lashes too. Again, it's not my favourite ever mascara but it definitely is not the worst I've ever tried. I love the lengthening but it also makes my lashes quite clumpy (and sorry I'm not about that clump life). </div>
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Next up on the Benefit train is my staple Gimme Brow. There was a major QC issue and this is my last bottle so I put myself off using it so I could make it last forever. I tried a few other products in the range but gave in and went back to basics. It is just so simple to use and makes my brows look better but not overdone at all. Does anyone have any suggestions on similar products that will not break the bank? Please and thank you!</div>
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I've tried my hardest to go back to wearing lipstick as much as I can. It used to be a staple that I never left the house without and for the past year or so I have neglected my ever-growing collection. For my birthday I was lucky enough to get 6 mini MAC lipsticks including a gorgeous orange-red called High Society (can't find a full size!). I've always wanted an orange-red lipstick but because I'm quite cool toned they never look right. For some reason High Society actually looks great - I'm definitely a warm lipstick convert!<br />
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Lastly on the beauty train is the <a href="http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_121055100299_-1">La Nuit Tresor by Lancome</a>. This was a gift for Christmas and, whilst I wouldn't have even thought to smell it myself, am so glad I got this one! It's pretty dark and musky ut when applied minimally it can 100% be used as a day perfume. I wore it for 2 days and had 5 people ask me what my new scent was and tell me it was gorgeous. 10/10 would recommend.<br />
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Lastly, I had to bring your attention to my <a href="https://typo.com/UK/2018-pvc-diary/142024-03.html?dwvar_142024-03_color=142024-03&cgid=&originalPid=142024-03#q=diary&lang=en_GB&start=8">glitter diary</a> from Typo. Typo are my favourite Australian stationery brand (think Paperchase but cheaper!) and I started jumping up and down in the street when I saw that a store popped up in Bath. I got this (somewhat basic) planner for £4 in the sale and not only does it help me plan things, it also looks fantastic in flat lays. If you haven't looked already, check out Typo unless you want to keep a healthy bank balance.<br />
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So these are a few of my favourites this month! It's pretty beauty focused but when I got so many goodies for Christmas I couldn't help it!<br />
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What have you been loving recently? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!<br />
<br />
Rachael </div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-52577446560669711992017-02-26T19:07:00.000+00:002017-02-26T19:07:35.226+00:00Travel // 10 Things to do at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there!</div>
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Somehow 6 months have passed and I have not posted any photos from my trip to Florida last September. I wont lie, I was most excited about getting to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter again as it had expanded since I'd been last. I thought I'd share a few pointers as to what should and should not be done - specifically focused on the Harry Potter sections at the park. Universal Studios is my favourite theme park to visit in Florida (even if they are changing it beyond recognition!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvrPzfMJK6k7kDarweVFDRlZqthtJ_7bhaOAf8JIW_tR81ZuMtb1Jxcae_rVlHOyF6g7h8oqX0bRqHsy-Pbl7r7-Js-WFue2lNUCVVfhNSSvsERvwsAuEdnug9uGFT_L9EjxjvjplNnBk/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvrPzfMJK6k7kDarweVFDRlZqthtJ_7bhaOAf8JIW_tR81ZuMtb1Jxcae_rVlHOyF6g7h8oqX0bRqHsy-Pbl7r7-Js-WFue2lNUCVVfhNSSvsERvwsAuEdnug9uGFT_L9EjxjvjplNnBk/s640/IMG_2085.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>1. Get there early</i></b></div>
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That sounds obvious but seriously, get there early! I was fortunate to go early-mid September so the park was never particularly busy but, of course, as the day continued the park did get busier. I tried to take the majority of my photos first thing in the morning before it got rammed with tourists. It means you have fewer people in your photos and fewer people gawking at you pretending to be scared by a dragon - it just makes sense.</div>
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<b><i>2. Whilst you're there early - get the rides done too</i></b>.</div>
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The queues for the rides can get crazy. The first time I went (4 years ago now? Oh my) there was a 300 minute wait for one ride and it go to the point where I just had to wait in it. The queues are slightly shorter in the morning I have found but it can help to download the Universal Studios app to keep an eye on what wait times are like.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqb_bZYT1Ix0Y_wX6viTfTYXy4tGn6q5WM9HePCnOcjj4PtvnkTfxcPPts6vPAFjfWPUaxJWcYjdiFPTLuOC-KT1pque-pqrOea18Rd8r9Gh9kyxJoA5KCig4LEofnKUFsZuAcOZ8F2TX/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqb_bZYT1Ix0Y_wX6viTfTYXy4tGn6q5WM9HePCnOcjj4PtvnkTfxcPPts6vPAFjfWPUaxJWcYjdiFPTLuOC-KT1pque-pqrOea18Rd8r9Gh9kyxJoA5KCig4LEofnKUFsZuAcOZ8F2TX/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b><i>3. Don't rush through the waiting areas</i></b></div>
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Specifically in WW, they have put so much effort into the queue decor. There is plenty to look at if you do have to wait but even if you don't - walk through it slowly to see as much as possible. If it's quiet, the staff will let you go into the queue just to have a look around and come back out again. Escape from Gringotts is my absolute favourite - it really looks exactly like the film!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoJq2C37cpAw9H08WctM4raYFew7j4m4cG9p1ZrgVvWkDiDBpCmnx9xAgXoxCKdmZIK-kfTBDIl7hic2k5fw9nKxgEpG35BLYdI5iEuzjiBd-OZyk4nXvEcevZw0T2OCY0KlbX0CFlBv0/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoJq2C37cpAw9H08WctM4raYFew7j4m4cG9p1ZrgVvWkDiDBpCmnx9xAgXoxCKdmZIK-kfTBDIl7hic2k5fw9nKxgEpG35BLYdI5iEuzjiBd-OZyk4nXvEcevZw0T2OCY0KlbX0CFlBv0/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b><i>4. Try frozen butterbeer (and get the souvenir cup)</i></b></div>
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Frozen Butterbeer is seriously yummy, sweet and - importantly - cold! It's pretty hot in Florida a lot of the time and the frozen butterbeer is a mix of of hydration and dessert. The souvenir cup does cost quite a bit more but it's pretty sturdy and makes a fantastic pen pot. </div>
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<b><i>5. Go on the Hogwarts Express in both directions</i></b></div>
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The Hogwarts Express is a train (okay more like a tram) that transports you between the parks. It is a different ride depending on your direction and really, really well done. Note: you need a park hopper ticket to go on it and they will not let you on without that. You can upgrade there and then but it is quite a hefty price. I understand that you are literally paying however much to literally go on one single ride but it really is a must (for me at least).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxNgbZlJZlCvWzGr8EwnttK7CDSBiIiIGjkrvFYVQ_ZYVTx-a7gLrUmY-1Nua8gmTarXNncGwhSZVp_ayzJgciJ57NiA4Qnpinf0MKiZk3mmSReIoyly5K4R5HXSABnP44p9p1mxd8SLk/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxNgbZlJZlCvWzGr8EwnttK7CDSBiIiIGjkrvFYVQ_ZYVTx-a7gLrUmY-1Nua8gmTarXNncGwhSZVp_ayzJgciJ57NiA4Qnpinf0MKiZk3mmSReIoyly5K4R5HXSABnP44p9p1mxd8SLk/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b><i>6. Really have a look in the shops</i></b></div>
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No, this doesn't mean the merchandise, but the actual shops themselves. There is so much detail in them all, from the costumes for the staff to the ceilings. You can also try on the robes, take a cheeky snap and then put it back on rack like nothing happened.</div>
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<b><i>7. Get a wand</i></b></div>
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I haven't gotten a wand before, and never saw a reason to get one. Come on, what 20-something needs a fancy stick in her room? Well, now I wish I had gotten one because they are interactive within the park! There are weird metal things randomly placed around the parks with instructions of spells and when you use the wand they happen! I'll 100% get a wand if I go back in the near future.</div>
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<b><i>8. Don't eat in the restaurants</i></b></div>
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Controversial I know! I personally am not a fan of the food on offer in WW. If I remember correctly, it was very expensive (compared to other places in the park) and unnecessarily fancy for a theme park. Do go in them for a drink or dessert though - they are great to look at!</div>
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<b><i>9. Don't forget about the shows</i></b></div>
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There are a couple of shows to be seen that are 15 mins max. The costumes are absolutely fab and watching them is just another added bonus. I'm pretty sure their times are written in the map and the app so keep an eye out. Oh, and keep an eye on the dragon on top of Gringotts.</div>
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<b><i>10. Don't forget about the rest of the park!</i></b></div>
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I know Harry Potter is amazing and it's so easy to spend all of your time in the WW and never leave but go see everything else. There are some fantastic shows, great rides and characters to meet! </div>
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These are just a few tips on what to and not do if you are lucky enough to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As cliche as it sounds, it really is magical. I have such a great time when I go and always notice new things. It's well worth a visit.</div>
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Have you ever been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios? Any tips? Let me know!</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-10848037568943689292017-02-19T19:45:00.000+00:002017-02-19T19:45:33.284+00:00Lifestyle // I've been gone for a while haven't I?<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there.</div>
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2017 has been crazy hasn't it? I was just sitting here in a hotel, watching The Big Bang Theory re-runs and thought 'my God - when was the last time I wrote a blog post?' It shocked me to see that it was as far back as last summer (insert shocked cat emoji here) and I felt more than a little disappointed in myself for ignoring my blog for so long. I used to put so much effort into posting regularly, taking hundreds of photos a week and engaging with other bloggers most days. However, recently I've been focused on running experiments, drinking too much coffee and watching too much Netflix. Oops.</div>
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So, I've decided to start posting again. I've updated my blog layout a little bit. I've got a few posts written and ready to upload. I've properly scheduled blog post writing in hopes I'll keep this up. We'll see - but I'm being optimistic (it's the way I get through most weeks these days.</div>
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<b>So, where have I been? </b></div>
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I moved to Bath and started my PhD! That was a pretty big change. I'm living in possibly the nicest apartment I'll ever live in, forcing myself to get into work before 9am and trying to do as much as I possibly can whilst I have the time to. Sure, some nights I sit in bed watching Netflix and eating salted caramel ice cream (I'm addicted). Other nights I'm in the pub drinking cocktails with great names and playing Jenga. </div>
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I'm absolutely loving doing a PhD so far. Every single day feels like a roller coaster but you cannot beat that feeling when your experiment goes right and does exactly what you want it to and you finally make that one step forward. Sure, I've definitely made more steps backward than forward but I have 2 and a half more years left. I think I'm fine. </div>
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<b>I set myself a few goals at the beginning of the year - like I could help myself.</b></div>
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1. Live a healthier lifestyle</div>
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2. Do more things that scare me</div>
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3. Spend more time with friends and family</div>
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Whilst eating more healthily has been a bit of a bust, I have tried to exercise more. I've started to learn ballroom and latin dance and it is an absolute hoot. It's harder than it looks to follow but when it works...well it works! Honestly, it's the best thing. I come home from class with my feet feeling like they're going to fall off (dancing in heels is pain) but it is so worth it. </div>
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If I tried to write down all of the things that scared me I'd be all day. However, I'm now demonstrating in the undergraduate labs and attempting to teach them good lab habits (and not introducing air into their air sensitive reactions). I'm doing that whole meeting new people thing which is great. I'm also trying to spend less money on clothing and oh my it is so difficult.</div>
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Spending more time with friends has made my 2017 great so far. I've already had so many great memories and we're less than 2 months in. Sure, I wish I could see my family more but I have moved to the opposite side of the country after all.</div>
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So, if you cannot tell, I have been pretty darn busy since I posted last. I've met countless new people, seen plenty of new cities and been able to experience so many other things that I keep having to pinch myself.</div>
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<b>Well, let's hope that 2017 continues in this way. But hopefully, I'm back for good!</b></div>
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How have you been doing? Are there any posts from me that you've missed? Let me know!</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-50858681883414407912016-08-02T09:00:00.000+01:002016-08-18T19:24:13.490+01:00LIFESTYLE // Quotebook are bae*<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Honest to god I was using the word 'bae' ironically. Okay, maybe I wasn't. In 2017 it will not even matter so let's just move past that.</div>
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Anyway, the lovelies over at Quotebooks (check their Etsy store out <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/QuotebookStationery?ref=hdr_shop_menu">here</a>) got in touch and asked me a very serious question: what would I write in one of their notebooks? Naturally, with me starting a PhD and all, I decided that I would save them for that and keep one by my side at all times. You never know when you're going to have that eureka moment right?</div>
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So, me being me, I had a look with the intention of getting one book. I ended up buying two. With them being such a reasonable price and so individual I just couldn't help myself #workinggalproblems. I chose the 'science notes, bitch' book purely for academic reasons but I also loved the quote 'turn fear of the unknown into curiosity' and so that jumped right into my basket too because I apparently have no self control.</div>
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The books came in a perfectly suitable box, little thank you note and even a pencil! It's such a lovely touch that I didn't expect at all. The book covers are made of quite thick, pastel coloured card which are so insta ready it's crazy. The paper is also crazy thick and good quality. I doubt there will be any pen showing through to the other side, that's for sure!</div>
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The books only come in a lined version and the lines are a little dark for my liking but they look far too cute on my desk. I'm finding it so difficult to not open these bad boys up and start making lots of lists but I'm trying to have some control...honest!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and do you want to save 15% off your order with Quotebooks? Just use the promo code <i>RACHAELROCKS</i> and enjoy these adorable, totally insta worthy notebooks.</span></div>
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Have you heard of Quotebooks? Are you addicted to cute stationery like me? Let me know!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Items in this post were offered with discount but all views are honest and my own.</span></div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-29696316026608344612016-07-28T16:26:00.000+01:002016-07-28T16:26:17.843+01:00LIFESTYLE // I GRADUATED<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there!</div>
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Apologies for being quiet for the past week or so. Life has been super hectic and, finally, I graduated! I had spent so much time looking for the perfect dress and shoes and all of a sudden I was walking across a stage, trying not to fall over or cry. When they say that graduation really is a great day I was a bit sceptical but, honestly, I had the best time! It was nice to get dressed up, be the centre of attention for a while, and be given limitless free Prosecco and Pimms.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I ended up getting my dress from Coast at Simply Be. With the bright blue gown and green sash it was easier said than done to get a dress that would match (especially above a size 16). However, when I saw this one I knew it was the one. I definitely had a Say Yes to the (graduation) dress moment and I am not ashamed to say so. I paired them with some River Island sandals which were both gorgeous to look at and that perfect height so I was not afraid of falling over.</span></div>
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On the Thursday my family drove up and we went out for dinner. After drinks at The Lamb's Inn (and their cute cat) we went to The Library for the biggest meal I have ever eaten. The steak was amazing, the ribs even better and I did not even touch the mini burgers. Did I regret ordering such a big meal? Just a little. I wore a shift dress from the New Look sale with my new Topshop pointed pumps. I have got to admit, they were a match made in heaven!<br />
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So, all in all, it was a lovely day full of friends, family and photographs. It's such a bittersweet feeling to walk across that stage with a certificate saying that your 4 years of hard work was completely worth it. I'm both happy and sad to leave Norwich and the comfort of knowing everyone and the area. However, I am so super duper excited to move to Bath and get started on something new.</div>
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I was (fortunate?) enough to have my graduation and grad ball on the same evening. Being awake from 5:30 and not getting to bed until 4:30 the next morning was not ideal but I did have fun. I spent the night twirling away in my River Island black lace dress. It is a perfect dress that I bet looks good on anyone. It's really well made, super flattering and I bet I'll be getting a lot of wear out of it this summer.</div>
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So, to conclude, I graduated with a first class Masters in Chemistry. I had a lot of fun doing it. I cannot wait to get started on something new. If you get the opportunity to go to a graduation, just do it. I can promise you'll have plenty of fun!</div>
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Have you graduated this year? Did you have fun? Let me know!</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-46328861543265593962016-07-19T09:00:00.000+01:002016-07-19T09:00:04.944+01:00FASHION // WISHING I WAS JAMES BAY<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey there!</div>
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Last weekend I decided it was a fantastic day to go to London. The sun was shining, trains were running almost on time and I wanted to search for a specific dress in River Island (that didn't work out too well). Anyway, who better to spend time with on a Sunday than my chem bestie Sam and like the babe he is, he took some outfit photos for me! We strolled through the streets just off of Oxford St. and found some pretty houses that I could pose in front of and *hopefully* avoid strangers who would inevitably judge me.</div>
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So, short story: met up with Sam, acted like complete losers, got amazing pizza, shopped, took photos.<br />
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I originally got this hat about 2 months ago from H&M. I have been looking for a wool hat for about 2 years now and never found one which was <i>1. a reasonable price</i> or <i>2. actually suited my massive face and double chin</i>. Every time I would go shopping I'd put on another few hats and my housemate would go crazy and it was an unbreakable cycle. However, one fateful day this hat was sitting alone and priceless on a fixture. It looked great, fitted perfectly and only came up at £6 on the till after student discount. It was obviously meant to happen!</div>
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I have been buying absolutely everything in sight recently and it's not a good thing. My <a href="http://www.asos.com/asos-curve/asos-curve-denim-a-line-mini-skirt-in-washed-black/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6174668&clr=Black&SearchQuery=curve+denim+skirt&pgesize=10&pge=0&totalstyles=10&gridsize=3&gridrow=3&gridcolumn=1">denim skirt </a>was just £12 in the ASOS sale and <a href="http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&langId=-1&productId=25247814&Ntt=tuxedo+dress&pageSize=20&defaultGridLayout=3&Nty=1&CE3_ENDECA_PRODUCT_ROLLUP_ENABLED=N&productOnlyCount=1&catalogId=33053&Dy=1&DM_PersistentCookieCreated=true&pageNum=1&productIdentifierproduct=product&x=0&y=0&storeId=12552&qubitRefinements=siteId%3DDorothyPerkinsUK">dress/jacket</a> just £22 from Dorothy Perkins. We cannot ignore the beautiful pointed leather pumps from the Topshop sale that somehow go with everything. Lastly, the look was finished off with my <a href="https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/en-gb/satchels/the-15-inch-classic-satchel/SAT151005BNH10101.html">15 inch Cambridge Satchel Company satchel</a>. It's perfect for a day in London. I managed to fit a book, my DSLR, purse, phone and instax mini 8 in there. Crazy right?</div>
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I totally understand why James Bay wears hats like these. I mean, look how great they photograph from the back? Whenever I have it on I feel like I have moved up 3 chic levels - even if it's just with jeans and a jumper. It has got to be one of my favourite buys of the year.</div>
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Have you got a really fun hat that you love? Have you been shopping the sales? Let me know!</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-7295192295988294232016-07-13T14:01:00.003+01:002016-07-13T14:01:54.983+01:00LIFESTYLE // I'm graduating!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I just thought I'd write a little post to exclaim my excitement that I will be graduating this summer. Even better, I'm graduating with a first class honours MChem (in Chemistry obv) and I could not be happier right now unless I had an unlimited budget to spend on ASOS.</div>
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All in all, it looks like all of the hard work over the past 4 years has been completely worth it. All of the late nights, early mornings, packets of biscuits, trees worth of paper, NMR tubes broken, meltdowns followed by an entire tub of ice cream and weeks spent in the library were for something. I have come from pretty poor A Level results to PhD candidate in just 4 years and it feels absolutely fantastic to prove everyone who said I couldn't do it wrong.</div>
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Remember, you can do absolutely anything if you put your mind to it. It will not always be easy, but it'll be worth it. You might need some help (I sure did) but if you persevere for long enough and really want it, you can do it. I had to ignore a lot of people to get where I am now. I had a lot of people telling me I shouldn't and couldn't study chemistry but here we are and I could not be happier about it.</div>
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A lot can happen in 4 years. If you had told me on my first day of university that I would move to one of the most beautiful cities in the UK for grad school I'd have probably spat my drink out at you. I'm not entirely sure how I got into this position but it's exactly where I want to be right now. I'm even more excited to see what happens next. If it's any more than half as exciting as the past 4 years I know I'll be in for an interesting ride.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">So remember, you can do it, listen to your gut and know when to ignore everyone else.</span></i></div>
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Now it's time to go drink more Prosecco (I've already spent the past week celebrating but I'm going to go celebrate some more okay? Please don't judge me).</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-75611487201963783832016-07-08T09:00:00.000+01:002016-07-08T09:00:40.390+01:00LIFESTYLE // Paper Princess (The Royals Book 1) by Erin Watt<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there!</div>
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Now that the weather has gotten significantly worse over the past few weeks, I have gotten myself back into reading. It's something about rain clouds that makes me want to snuggle up on the sofa with a good book and cup of coffee. This week I had a browse on Amazon in search for my next read. I don't like to spend too much on a book because they generally last me no longer than 48 hours and for £3.49 (more than I wanted to spend but hey!) I picked up the first book in The Royals series by Erin Watt (who appears to be a pen name for two authors who write together it seems...)</div>
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The main reason I picked up this book was a review I read on goodreads. It was something along the lines of 'DO NOT READ THIS BOOK YET BUT WAIT A MONTH. I FINISHED IT IN 24 H AND NOW HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE MONTH FOR THE SEQUEL AND CANNOT DEAL I NEED IT NOW' or something like that. I sat there thinking they were exaggerating and as it turns out, they were not. I sincerely apologise to that reviewer for thinking them to be lying scumbag because I am now sitting here like GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOK NOW PLEASE and it's not an attractive look on me.</div>
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The book is about a girl called Ella who ends up being forced to live with a stranger and his family (who are connected very tentitively to her but I won't reveal that because spoilers). They are willing to give her whatever she wants and needs with the only catch being that she cannot leave. I know, suspicious right? As it turns out, this guy's sons are complete pieces of work and put her through hell for reasons I will not tell. Does she get through it? You'll have to read to find out.</div>
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I had never heard if Erin Watt beforehand but I loved this book. It's an easy YA read but definitely for more mature readers (e.g. 17/18+). It's pretty graphic and I was a little shocked every time a saucy scene would turn up. Maybe I'm a bit of a prude but no-matter how many reviews I read that called it 'sexy' I didn't expect what I read!</div>
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Sauciness aside, I really enjoyed this book. It was a very easy read. I started very late on Monday and was finished by late Tuesday even though I was at work. The characters are interesting. The plot moves very quickly. The book is pretty darn hard to put down. It's pretty much your tough-girl forced into prep school but it's edgy and that gets a thumbs up from me. I'm sitting here and just keep thinking that I really have no idea what is going on. There are so many unanswered questions and I'm hoping the next book is going to delve a little further into everything and that this book was written simply to scratch the surface. I guess I'll find out in a month!</div>
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Do you want an easy read which will entertain you and keep you turning the page? Okay then, this is for you. Do you want a book with substance that will become a cult read for years to come? Yeah, don't bother. I enjoyed this book far more than I expected. In the words of Miranda's mother, this book was SUCH FUN.</div>
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Have you read this book? What did you think? What are you reading this summer? Let me know!</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-65689821695293198812016-07-04T09:00:00.000+01:002016-07-04T09:00:00.756+01:00BEAUTY // The summer beauty haul<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello there!</div>
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Is it just me, or when the sun is shining (or not shining 6 out 7 days) it becomes increasingly tempting to buy more make up? I have gone a little crazy these past few weeks with my beauty buys but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I liked every piece I purchased. With new products being released and a need for my make up to last an 8.5 hour shift/graduation I haven't been afraid to get a few high end bits. Just a note - when you get paid weekly 'pay day treats' cost far more than they should. I need to cut down on those.</div>
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The first item that started off my continual beauty haul was Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation. I posted a review <a href="http://broomfie.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/beauty-estee-lauder-double-wear.html">here </a>and I'm still in love with it. I managd to get the B. Beauty foundation brush on offer and it's not doing too badly for a cheap brush. I won't lie though - I am missing my beauty blender! I also finally picked up a new liquid eye liner. This is my second Soap and Glory Supercat eyeliner pen and I still adore it. It's really dark black, easy to apply and lasts for ages. It doesn't smudge anywhere near as much as more expensive eyeliner pens I have tried and is my favourite budget buy for sure.</div>
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When a girl sees a NYX cosmetics stand, can one just leave and not browse just a little? I picked up a couple of the jumbo eye pencils in Milk and Yoghurt. Milk is a pure white which I intend on using as an eyeshadow base in hopes of getting more intense colours. Yoghurt is a light pinky gold and perfect for those days when you want something on your eyes but are in a bit of a rush. Neither last particularly long on my oily eyelids but they are an absolute dream to apply. </div>
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Last up is the travel size of Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer potion. I got the anti-aging formula because, whilst I do not have dry eyelids, the corners of my eyes get seriously dry and red. So far I have worn it every day for work and my eye make up is looking much better at the end of a shift. It just makes the eyeshadow stick like I have never seen before. I'm not bothered about spending £10 every other month if my eyeshadow is going to stay put like it does with this magical potion.</div>
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Have you been treating yourself to some new beauty bits recently? Have you tried any of these? Let me know!</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-62321863177245684422016-06-27T09:00:00.000+01:002016-06-27T09:00:01.595+01:00BEAUTY // Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (1C0 Shell)<br />
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I feel like the last person jumping onto this bandwagon but yes - I finally bought Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation. My skin has changed dramatically in the past few years and, whilst it was the worst foundation possible for me 4 years ago, I have found now that it is exactly what I need. It's strange how that happens right? Way back when (ahem, a month ago) I got the trial size of both the original and light formulas and decided that they both had to be mine. Of course, I'm a poor student who doesn't start any graduate work for a few months so I just bought the original (#priorities). Don't worry, there's a comparison post to come!</div>
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My skin nowadays has a few blemishes and red patches, is sensitive as you can make it, dry and pretty darn pale. Because of all of these points, I was sure that Double Wear wasn't for me. I heard that it's favourite thing was to cling to dry patches and that's the last thing I wanted. However, with my bae (Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish that is....) my dry patches are pretty much non-existent. Fortunately, even with the few I have left this doesn't cling too bad. It's wonderful!</div>
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If you have been under a rock for the past few years, Double Wear is a high coverage foundation that claims 15 hours of wear. It also has SPF 10 which is fabulous in the summer when we don't know if it'll rain or the sun will shine. I was attracted to the product due to the sheer range of shades they offer. My current foundation was doing that weird oxidising/turning orange thing and it was annoying me to no end. I went to my local Estee Lauder counter, got match tested using a fancy computer thing and they said that 1C0 Shell was the shade for me and MY GOD IT IS. I have never had a foundation that I feel matches my skin so much. It was exactly what I have been looking for (over the past 5 years or so).</div>
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I have applied it with both a brush and RT beauty blender. I prefer the more airbrushed look I get with the sponge but the advisor at EL said not to use one because the foundation dries so quickly that it just gets stuck in the sponge and it's wasteful. I'm using a brush to apply it with and, whilst it's so goddamn time consuming, it's worth it for the coverage I get. I can either apply it really lightly or add lots of thin layers if I need more. In all honesty, I don't think I have ever done more than one layer.</div>
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I only have two problems with this foundation (which is rare - I never have just two problems). The first is that there is no pump. I waste SO much foundation and I am worried this bottle won't last me 1 month, let alone the 4 I usually get out of a high-street bottle. Does anyone know of any specific pump I can buy from elsewhere that will help me out? My second problem is purely the price. I paid £27 for the bottle and, whilst it's a very good foundation, the thought of forking out £30 every other month for foundation makes my eyes water. I also want to treat myself to the illuminating primer but then we're at £60 every two months and come on, this girl has got to eat!</div>
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To sum this up, I really love this foundation. It's everything I need and more. I have used my fair share of high street foundations and they just do not compare. I can put this on at 9am before work and it will still be there after an 8.5 hour shift. I'm so happy it's in my life but I think I'm going to have to start putting money aside every week if I'm going to let my addiction continue.</div>
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Have you got Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation? What are your thoughts? Let me know!</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-79969559977344569512016-06-24T19:51:00.000+01:002016-06-24T21:04:50.342+01:00LIFESTYLE // So we're out<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's it. The votes have been counted and the UK wants to leave the EU.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Honestly, and personally, I am very upset with this result. I went out and voted. I talked to customers and colleagues at work. I was tweeting about it quite a lot in hopes that it would reach even a few more people. I did all I could and evidently that was not enough. I am worried about my future. I am worried for the future of my friends. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about this now. We live in a democracy and the votes have been cast. There is a petition </span><a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215" style="text-align: justify;">here</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> which you can join (arguing for a 2nd referendum where a majority will equal 60% unless 75% of the population vote) which I feel are fair terms. Is it fair to hold a second referendum? Perhaps not. However, with a campaign which I felt was very rushed and did not give any certain fact maybe it is required. It was very irresponsible for the referendum to have been announced but we're here now so I guess we'd best deal with it.</span></div>
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I didn't make it particularly secret that I didn't think our issues are with the EU. We have a government that is flawed. We have a government who are not working for the youth because we are not a majority when voting is concerned. The number of elderly outnumber those of us under 25 in the polls. Why would they focus on us? Instead, they introduced tuition fees (Labour did that fyi - the conservatives only increased them) and they said they were going to build us affordable housing which hasn't surfaced. As millennials, we have higher costs of living, increasingly raising rent and highly educated individuals forced into redundancy or failing to secure a stable job. We have a government who are not working for the generation who are going to make the future bright. That's just not right.</div>
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I am shocked that so many have put faith in so few people who have previously not given me any reason to trust them. However, people can vote however they wish. If they feel that we will do better without the EU, who are a thorn in our side at times, then that's great. I personally do not have that optimism. I have benefited from the EU whilst many I have spoken to have not. Consequently, they wanted to vote leave. People have the right to choose what they think will benefit them. However, what benefits one person does not benefit another and this is a problem with democracy itself. The UK government do not seem to concern themselves with the bigger picture, but with small changes they can make in their 4 years of leadership. The EU took full control from a government who I didn't trust. They kept our government just that little bit more honest (in my opinion of course).</div>
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I am not happy with the majority being by just 4%. I do not feel that is representative. For me, on a day to day basis, that is a rounding error. I think for such a big decision the majority should have been bigger. Remain were the minority but we are almost the same size as the group who wanted to leave. As a result WE need to make sure that OUR GOVERNMENT take our views into account. We may be a minority but we are by no means a small minority and so we need to be represented just as much as those who wanted to leave. However, for this to take place we may have to fight. We may have to actually get involved and *shudder* be interested in politics.</div>
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At the end of the day, I do not feel like I was educated enough to make this decision. I have been looking up this, that and everything over the past few weeks and I did not feel like I had enough information to make a definite decision. Was it educated? Somewhat, yes. However, I am not an expert. I very much doubt the average UK citizen put as much thought and research into it as I did. There will be some that did more. There will be some that did less. What can we conclude from this? We as a public were probably not well educated on the facts and instead were voting based on very emotive issues. Politicians were exploiting our fears and as a result we've ended up with a greedy, knee jerk reaction.</div>
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There is one thing that I am happy about. We have had an amazing voting turn out of 72% and that is fantastic. We need to keep this up. If anything (I'm paraphrasing my friend Emma here but I wholeheartedly agree with her) this will hopefully shock the population out of the political apathy that has been felt for my entire life.</div>
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This is our country. This is our future. We need to get involved. We need to know the facts. We need to make sure our government are working for <i style="font-weight: bold;">US (not the United States but us as a population)</i>. We are the ones that keep and will continue to keep this country moving. Our views need to be heard.</div>
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We're here now. It looks like we're leaving the EU. We need to stop hating on each other (it's happening from both sides - you cannot blame one ideology). We now need to be a united country working together to keep it running. All we can do is make the most of a bad situation. It's unfortunate that this referendum has brought out so much hatred and discrimination but hopefully we can teach each other wider views and work together so that we do come out a more dynamic country. We deserve to be a force to be reckoned with.</div>
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Also, if one more person tells me to 'get over it' I may have to take up some sort of martial arts. This decision should not have been taken lightly and directly affects my future, the stability of my country and my career. Sorry for having an interest in things that directly affect me mate. </div>
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I'm hoping I was wrong. I'm hoping those who voted to leave know something I don't. I really hope that the economy does pick up like they tell us it will. Either way there was going to be depression but I'm shocked it was so big, so soon. I am honestly a little more than scared for my future and, whilst we could have been in the same position we had decided to stay, we're here now. We need to pull together and stay united as a country. It's flawed, but it's the best we can do.</div>
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What have your thoughts been on the referendum? Are you now more inclined to stay involved in politics? Should we all be keeping quiet now? Am I overreacting? Let me know!</div>
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*mic drop*</div>
Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-2546102120153655722016-06-21T09:00:00.000+01:002016-06-21T09:00:33.381+01:00LIFESTYLE // I'm trying to make better choices<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hello there!</div>
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I currently write this as a sweaty mess after one hell of a body combat class. Is it just me or is it quite satisfying to sit in a puddle of your own sweat like YES, I EARNED THIS I WILL SIT IN IT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT GETS DISGUSTING before eventually realizing that was a massive mistake and scorning yourself for not showering earlier? Anyway, I thought it was time for a change and so I have decided to up the amount of exercise I'm doing, cut down on junk food and increase the amount of fruit and veg. It's as easy as that right?<br />
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Well, it's not as easy as that but I finally think I have my family on board with it all. We're getting less take-away (although I had both fish and chips AND TGIs last week - oops) and there are healthier snacks in the house to hopefully tempt me away from this biscuits. I became such a slob during exam season - like everyone - and I thought 'hey, if I can get into a good habit during the summer when I only have work to worry about, maybe it'll stick for the next academic year?'</div>
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So that's what I'm doing.</div>
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Let's just say I do not have the most developed taste buds and finding healthy, filling food that I enjoy is not easy. However, I'm gradually trying to increase the amount of healthy bits, reduce portion sizes and cut down on the number of pizzas and other glorious fried foods I'm eating. I'm trying to drink more water, decrease the glasses of fizzy drinks (low calorie or not) and reduce my intake of gluten because whilst I am not intolerant I eat far too much of it. I'm talking to you cheese toasties.</div>
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My aim is to exercise for 30-60 minutes, 4-5 times a week. I'm doing pretty well with that, whether it be a run or body balance session before work. I'll be honest, I haven't gone for a run in a week. We all know I'm not the smallest Shiela and it's such high impact on my body I'm thinking it may be worth doing other cardio instead to start off with. I currently subscribe to <a href="https://www.lesmillsondemand.com/">Les Mills on Demand</a> and it is my favourite thing. They have lots of exercise videos ready to watch on your laptop, tablet or TV and it costs £9.99 a month. I know it sounds pricey but when I'm using it 3-5 days a week (as I have been doing for the past month) it's not that bad at all considering their classes are generally £5+ at a gym.</div>
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I've done Body Balance and Body Combat classes at the gym before and absolutely love them. For anyone interested, Body Balance is a mix of tai chi, yoga and pilates which acts to strengthen the body and increase mobility and flexibility. All exercises are accompanied with chart music we'll all recognize and it's a lot more interesting than your usual yoga class. Online there are plenty of 30 minute classes and a few 60 minute ones too. However, if you want to get the most recent release, I suggest joining a class at a gym near you. </div>
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Body Combat is a high intensity cardio class (but isn't quite HIIT) which is a mix of martial arts to pumping and thumping music (honest to god, the Pirates of the Caribbean music was in one release I have done!). It's a lot of punching the air and kicking an imaginary component and if you are in the right frame of mind does wonders to work out aggression. If you're unfit I suggest going for the 30 minute classes first because I have almost thrown up multiple times from the 60 minute classes (they are hard okay!!) but as far as a cardio class they are really fun and you do not stop moving. I have been putting off high-intensity cardio for a few weeks because of work but from now on I'm going to keep up with the Body Combat and give the HIIT a try. I am petrified to say the least but I only have to do it once-twice a week right?</div>
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Just to note, <b>this isn't a sponsored post at all</b>. I just wanted to let you guys know about the service because I am using it on a daily basis and it is currently my favourite thing right now. I do want to mention that I went to classes at my local gym before I started doing classes online and so I could jump right in. If you haven't done any of the classes before, I suggest looking at the relevant how-to videos which show you all of the moves you'll need to know/watch the class first.</div>
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I thought if I wrote this up it would help this change stick. We'll see what happens there. If you do want to try out Les Mills On Demand they do give you a 10 day free trial which may be worth taking out if you want to get some good workouts but don't want to leave the house.</div>
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Do you have any tips? Have you used Les Mills on Demand or done any of their classes? Let me know!</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-6738340616134786612016-06-16T09:00:00.000+01:002016-06-16T09:00:00.877+01:00LIFESTYLE // My Bullet Journal 2.0<div style="text-align: center;">
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I started a bullet journal at the beginning of the academic year and in just 2 weeks saw a serious increase in productivity. I then got to the end of my book, got a beautiful standard style journal, and it just didn't work for me. No matter how beautiful my planner was, it just didn't suit my needs in the way that my bullet journal did. All over my Instagram and Twitter I saw multiple bloggers had turned to the Bullet Journal using a <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEUCHTTURM1917-344792-Notebook-numbered-emerald/dp/B00FWRVVFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464185294&sr=8-1&keywords=leuchtturm+1917">Leuchttum 1917 </a> notebook and I got seriously inspired to start by BuJo up again. I have been using it solidly for a month now and I thought I'd share with you guys how I set up my layouts and my opinions between the minimalist and more creative layouts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXdHYHiTOXtxM_K_9Huh7sLLoNn7OFT_R0XHlkH5yuQYYRHZZtiXPk3ms1_zsBJz0H-muXzAfNI_Axz_ag0it7ryY7K-TWUm5tQozphs5jpQ11La7Y_GJn-AnYW3LarIYKtMNRI5c0VGs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-14+at+8.51.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXdHYHiTOXtxM_K_9Huh7sLLoNn7OFT_R0XHlkH5yuQYYRHZZtiXPk3ms1_zsBJz0H-muXzAfNI_Axz_ag0it7ryY7K-TWUm5tQozphs5jpQ11La7Y_GJn-AnYW3LarIYKtMNRI5c0VGs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-14+at+8.51.12+PM.png" /></a></div>
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So, the first major change I made was changing from lined to dotted pages. The Leuchtturm dotted books aren't the cheapest in the world but they come in such lovely colours. I ended up buying the turquoise which is a beautiful colour. I really wanted the berry or the emerald but with neither being in stock either on Amazon or in Jarrolds with the dotted pages, I had to make a compromise somewhere! The notebook has off white, numbered pages with faint dots. I quite like the quality of the paper although I do wish it was a little thicker. Something that no-one has noted (as far as I have seen) is that the Staedtler fine liners do show through the pages a bit but I'm used to that now so it's fine. Just be a little prepared for that! Anyway, the paper is a nice colour, the pages are all numbered and there is even a contents page at the beginning so you can keep up to date with where you are. I also like that there are two bookmarks included which makes it easy to find the layout you are currently using alongside another, such as my weekly and monthly planners.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSdaXHA_Ld1cNU-XIhBhnsjGLBI4BYnY_XWZPHOrsreQVekfHd6DXtLH4QaNPgFBDd-u1Pu6wel8379NIta0ZjCKRWk3E-v6NVrDAac7y_JWztgUKjvSGfqh4ZJvQAjFVFKsiWRr995dV/s1600/IMG_0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSdaXHA_Ld1cNU-XIhBhnsjGLBI4BYnY_XWZPHOrsreQVekfHd6DXtLH4QaNPgFBDd-u1Pu6wel8379NIta0ZjCKRWk3E-v6NVrDAac7y_JWztgUKjvSGfqh4ZJvQAjFVFKsiWRr995dV/s1600/IMG_0653.JPG" /></a></div>
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As far as choosing a book for my BuJo, I doubt I will shift from the Leuchtturm now I have had one. They are pricey but they seem hardwearing so far and the dotted pages are my favourite thing. The dots make it so easy to draw out boxes and lines for calendars and weekly planners without a ruler. I'm tempted to try a grid instead but we'll see. I like the clean layout of the dots okay?</div>
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As you can see, I love having a contents page. I have highlighted pages that aren't time specific but for the majority of the pages that wasn't necessary. It may seem a little frivolous to have a contents page but it's a nice touch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1wuw6ANDmjFW18ODit45cEavCIHMLX8NWLXTMl-PxUXEAjJ4__R1syLXfToryHqzM63F7U7PenAjP8DSxMPnbfJJWL82tWp0Y6fxul40-SYjpKHItQ-G7AQxJZ4PX251UgegOvKj38qh/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1wuw6ANDmjFW18ODit45cEavCIHMLX8NWLXTMl-PxUXEAjJ4__R1syLXfToryHqzM63F7U7PenAjP8DSxMPnbfJJWL82tWp0Y6fxul40-SYjpKHItQ-G7AQxJZ4PX251UgegOvKj38qh/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" /></a></div>
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The beginning of my bullet journal has my key, favourite quotes page and wish list. These pages are constantly being updated by me so it's really helpful to have them early on. Whilst I initially wanted these pages to be more like doodle-pages, they are still handy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtHoJiqiDkliy-AgU1HCodU4ERjN8ewH6dt7-EnOE0edLIdIJgeXyKv24Em5T5naV8T5qKDj-LNVo8wGYm2goOa2rw4870vHQiCSTVNKtC1_hFNxlWNTqN_4wNKqP1QHKxHsB0X_1d2eA/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtHoJiqiDkliy-AgU1HCodU4ERjN8ewH6dt7-EnOE0edLIdIJgeXyKv24Em5T5naV8T5qKDj-LNVo8wGYm2goOa2rw4870vHQiCSTVNKtC1_hFNxlWNTqN_4wNKqP1QHKxHsB0X_1d2eA/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" /></a></div>
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Next up, I have my three month plan. Alongside completing my UG degree, I had a lot of deadlines April-June and so this page was a life saver. It feels good to have things written down in advance so I don't forget them. I would have completely forgotten to hand in my 2nd year coursework had I not written it down back in April.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mG9kuD-oSeJyXoDzuroBRy_is8s6itGqLAFxgEWq3_Fa0Em6CTsliGSH6bkuInTYGAtrK9bqZjbq75Dz_e4B78gEwYb1F2ynrGP3iLrQ7TVM2_PGjatuK-bjydUcdocPndT2bdmcg_VJ/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mG9kuD-oSeJyXoDzuroBRy_is8s6itGqLAFxgEWq3_Fa0Em6CTsliGSH6bkuInTYGAtrK9bqZjbq75Dz_e4B78gEwYb1F2ynrGP3iLrQ7TVM2_PGjatuK-bjydUcdocPndT2bdmcg_VJ/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" /></a></div>
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At the beginning of a month I have a monthly calendar. The way I draw it means there is lots of room around for random notes or specific titles. For May I had deadlines and goals but now that the academic year is over I'll probably change that to goals and something to do with exercise (ha! We'll see!). Following the calendar, I have a brain dump page. They are genuinely my favourite pages because I literally write anything and everything on them. Sometimes I get given deadlines three-four weeks in advance and with no journal layout drawn up I need somewhere to put that deadline - aka the brain dump!</div>
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My week view has been continually evolving in the 6 weeks I have had this journal. I like having a weekly view for the super important things. I am really trying to increase my water intake and so having a water table seemed like the simplest option. I have also started Slim fast and so having a small food table makes it easy to see what I am eating/drinking and stops me snacking purely because I cannot fit it in the table. My newest introduction is the Instagram and workout tables. I'm trying to post on Instagram every day and work out three times a week and I'm hoping that by having a specific table for it I'll be more motivated. We'll see.</div>
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My day to day view is pretty similar week to week but I like drawing different layouts inspired by Pinterest. I love playing around with different colours and borders and think for an academic journal 2 pages per week is perfect. My little calendar in the bottom right corner is super handy too. Who wants to turn a page they don't have to turn? I know, ultimate laziness. I have Saturday and Sunday as a single page and generally it just turns into a massive list. At the moment that's all I need and so it will stay. What I love about this style of journal is that I can easily change it when I need to. Sure, it's more effort than a pre-printed journal but I can change it to what I need (and you can put a high price to that apparently!)</div>
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There are quite a few pages I want to add to my journal in due time such as a Chemistry constants page, songs from Spotify list and, when I start working properly, a savings/outgoings page. I have recently have added a running schedule page at the back so that it's not in the way. It means I can go to it and stop if needs be without messing up the order I have so far. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi311QPErzHdgIap6sRweyyDEzxvlCxvOc4sD_tNjlui487jJmeNSJK2A7fBrFsx_317g3EyhqeRrsafA74mFL_kVYBH1DZ9cfW8HW0Bzj9U3kG3IWSvVK-TympciKb9VSUvSSrhTSNrYPt/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi311QPErzHdgIap6sRweyyDEzxvlCxvOc4sD_tNjlui487jJmeNSJK2A7fBrFsx_317g3EyhqeRrsafA74mFL_kVYBH1DZ9cfW8HW0Bzj9U3kG3IWSvVK-TympciKb9VSUvSSrhTSNrYPt/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" /></a></div>
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So that was a longer than expected peek at my new Bullet Journal. I really like the artier style in comparison to my previous minimalist attempt. It's nice to just spend an evening drawing up layouts, planning my week and covering every page in washi tape. It takes significantly longer than just owning a notebook and writing endless lists but it's almost a hobby. It's certainly making me feel more creative.</div>
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Have you got a bullet journal? What are your favourite layouts? Let me know!</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157775054241612181.post-9310081139478326032016-06-13T09:00:00.000+01:002016-06-13T09:00:10.030+01:00FASHION // The wedding guest edit<br />
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Hey there!</div>
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Is it just me or is everyone getting engaged or married right now? I'm loving the abundance of happy couples filling my social media and, although I'm not fortunate enough to be invited to a wedding this year, I know a fair few that have. I've had multiple people ask me for advice regarding what to wear to a wedding this summer and I thought it was worth doing a post on it. I think the high street has so many options for every budget and there is no reason to not feel your best on your friend/families big day. Just make sure you don't outshine the bride okay?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgjEma1KcN7kqGwPfvaEIe4IyHizAiC-lejtWR5j6dbRAFV7Sb4u1yhTbGhl3R-VWe92_odSf2bJyqN0n5nosteZVE0o7W03x9VDsK8DNV7jndO8_amOBqmOd-MA91YpAoBlu_YVESMvw/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgjEma1KcN7kqGwPfvaEIe4IyHizAiC-lejtWR5j6dbRAFV7Sb4u1yhTbGhl3R-VWe92_odSf2bJyqN0n5nosteZVE0o7W03x9VDsK8DNV7jndO8_amOBqmOd-MA91YpAoBlu_YVESMvw/s1600/Slide1.JPG" /></a></div>
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There are just a few rules that I think people should follow when it comes to wedding guest outfits. Firstly, <b>do not wear a plain white dress</b>! It's the bride's special day and she deserves to be the only one in a big white dress. I also think that black should be avoided. Yes, it hides a multitude of sins and is super chic but navy will do the trick and you will not look like you're going to a funeral. However, I do not think there is a problem with monochrome, especially if it's a floral or stripe. This striped offering from <a href="http://www.coast-stores.com/p/evie-stripe-bandeau-dress/1611289?locale=en">Coast</a> is a little on the pricey side but perfect if you're close to the wedding party and will be there all day. It's formal, but flirty, and will hide that food baby after a 3 course meal and nibbles all evening.</div>
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Continuing on with the striped theme is this <a href="http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/stripe-wrap-slip-dress-5504987?bi=101&ps=20">Topshop wrap dress</a>. You want to steer clear from casual fabrics like jersey, which is the fabric about 99% of wrap dresses are made in this season. If you can find a wrap dress - hello super chic neck line - in a crisp cotton or at least sturdier material, then go for it! I love how this one can be dressed up with a white blazer and heels for the wedding but easily paired with a leather jacket and heeled boots for the weekend. </div>
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Topshop continued to give me beautiful wedding guest offerings in the form of this <a href="http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/pleated-wrap-midi-dress-5617401?bi=0&ps=20">pleated wrap dress</a> in a pretty metallic pink. It's more suited to those guests to the evening reception only but is family friendly, party ready and again, totally re-wearable for a night out on the town. </div>
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Last up here is this floral crop top dress from <a href="http://www.next.co.uk/g313002s1#963000">Next</a>. I think weddings are a perfect excuse to wear a floral print (brownie points if it's a little abstract). I like the two-piece look from this dress and the swing style is uber flattering on most body types too.You'll be ready to dance the night away whether the sun shines or rain pours.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECA-gkQgukWV-dluX0webdF9lXWpmsPeIip0hocYxkRDEHDoWk2NTzZHVYHngdgcruBR3nI50AoZS8EV6gjUJ7FJ8LDoHP2a0embXtsLVK-ek9ZzXvJaAT-LVanbo7nABerFn3GmO1CLS/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECA-gkQgukWV-dluX0webdF9lXWpmsPeIip0hocYxkRDEHDoWk2NTzZHVYHngdgcruBR3nI50AoZS8EV6gjUJ7FJ8LDoHP2a0embXtsLVK-ek9ZzXvJaAT-LVanbo7nABerFn3GmO1CLS/s1600/Slide2.JPG" /></a></div>
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Next up are 4 dresses from ASOS (aka the holy grail for occassion dresses with unlimited next day delivery with Premium and an amazing returns policy). Like I've already said, if you stick with formal fabrics, structures, florals or pastels you cannot go wrong. Whilst I wouldn't wear a <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Double-Layer-Textured-Wiggle-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6718162&cid=8799&Rf-300=1946,1970&sh=0&pge=2&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Nude&totalstyles=2118&gridsize=3">pale pink wiggle dress</a> to work, it is perfect for a summer wedding. It's too workwear for you to get confused for a bridesmaid (another big no-no in my opinion!). If you must wear a white dress, make sure you've got a big floral print, adorable neckline and shorter hem. This <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Scallop-Neck-Skater-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6351185&cid=8799&Rf-300=1946,1970&sh=0&pge=5&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Cream&totalstyles=2118&gridsize=3">bardot neckline midi</a> is perfectly feminine, flattering and right on trend. </div>
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I personally love lace at a wedding. It's a fabric that is generally considered too much for day to day wear and, whilst white lace is a big no-no, why not experiment with different colours. I love pink as a wedding guest colour (unless the bridesmaids are in pink of course) and this <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Premium-Ladder-and-Guipre-Lace-Hem-Midi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6228806&cid=8799&Rf-300=1946,1970&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Pink&totalstyles=2101&gridsize=3">midi</a> is the dress of dreams. Whilst it's seriously conservative from afar, the little cut outs give it that little bit of an edge. I absolutely love it paired with the silver heels pictured. Lastly is this <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Lace-Hitchcock-Midi-Pencil-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6406197&cid=8799&Rf-300=1946,1970&sh=0&pge=8&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Green&totalstyles=2103&gridsize=3">gorgeous green offering</a> with a plunging neckline and layered skirt. It's not for the faint-hearted but the structured style had me swooning. The colour is to die for and the length is my favourite for sure. </div>
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These are just a few of my favourite dresses for this year's summer weddings. I hope if nothing else these have given you some inspiration if you're looking! </div>
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Have you got any weddings to go to this year? What are you planning to wear? Let me know!</div>
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Broomfie_http://www.blogger.com/profile/00266917278997295618noreply@blogger.com6