I could've written this post about one week into January because, as the clock struck 12, the anxiousness and nervous anticipation had already set in. The previous decade was left behind; one of repeating education, growing up, learning about the world. A new decade was swept before us; looming with expectations, reality and HUGE life choices.
At least for me, turning 21 in 2020 means that, the next time we'll turn a decade, I'll be heading into my 30s. So, do I only have one decade to set myself up and get myself on the right track?
Of course, many would argue that life can be taken at whatever pace it needs to go and I need to be living in the present, not in the future. It is reasonable to think that way and, truth be told, I think my anxious little mind is yearning for me to think like that. But, it's easier said than done. AND, when was fighting your fear ever so bad for you after all?
Welcoming 2020 with an awkward handshake and a sheepish smile, I've managed (just about) to get to the end of January without going insane (maybe just one existential crisis later). There's nothing more empowering than that; looking back at how I felt at the start of January, I was terrified - now, though, I'm slowly but surely coming to grips with what the new decade is going to throw at me and learning that I am capable and excited to handle whatever it may be. Here's how:
G E T M O T I V A T E D
If like me, you're entering what could be some of the biggest, most impactful years of your life, this will include securing that dream career. Admittedly, that doesn't need to be done in your twenties, or in any particular decade, in fact. However, I know that I'd love to be on my career path as I leave Uni, after hearing so many horror stories about Post-Grad life; but that isn't going to find it's own way. I'm going to have to kick myself up the butt and put these actions in place. Whether that is finding out what I want to do, working hard at Uni, or experimenting across different jobs to find what I enjoy - I'm really beginning to learn that being motivated to get moving is the only way I'm going to achieve exactly what I want for my future self.
R E F L E C T
You may feel like the next decade is going to be a huge learning curve, filled to the brim with challenges and life-changing moments but, before we let ourselves get too scared by it, it's important to reflect on what we've achieved in the past decade. For me, comparing a decade of non-stop education to the upcoming decade of work, love, family, and financial changes seems somewhat unreasonable. I am, however, starting to accept that my younger self may have been equally terrified at the thought of finishing the 10s decade at University, no matter how unaware she was. The past decade for me has completely impacted who I am today and how I've grown up and there is no reason whatsoever that I, or yourself, should underestimate that. A C C E P T C H A N G E
It's hard to see years passing by you and, in some cases, it's one of the biggest causes of anxiety for some people. I know I certainly struggle with change, and I always have. I'd like to move out of the flat I live in right now; try out a more modern place in a different location so that I can dip my toe into a different pool of water, but I equally don't want to abandon the memories I've made here, nor the special little pleasure that I'd hate to part with. But, eventually, it's going to happen. Realistically, I can't stay in this flat forever. Just like how I can't study my undergraduate degree forever, nevermind relying on the student loan. It's going to change, and accepting that is going to be the biggest most admirable achievement that I can do. As we grow up and welcome new homes, new jobs, new pathways, it is most important that we aren't scared of it. If we work hard to control our lives, we can be completely in charge of what changes take place and ensure that it's the best it can be.
How do you feel about the decade ahead?
Get ready to feast your foodie eyes on the restaurants that I've been checking out over the past few weeks. In my previous post, discussing the food I ate in September, I was primarily focussing on the food scene in Newcastle but, this time, I ventured out a little so you can see a bit more of what I've been trying out.
O C T O B E R
27-10-19 - Newcastle
Pictured above, my friend and I took a trip to the Boiler Shop Emporium in late October. While I feel the Emporium Market lacked hot food offerings in general, we did get a chance to try the delicious loaded fries by Little Bao Boy. This was skinny fries topped with the most scrumptious curry sauce, spring onions, crispy onion, and sesame seeds. I did find it super salty but, still, I probably could've eaten it twice over. You could really taste the care and attention that had gone into flavouring and tenderising the meat.
After the market, we visited Horticulture. With an incredibly indulgent R Place doughnut in hand, they were kind enough to let me eat it in their 1st-floor lounge area, accompanied by one of their lovely caramel lattes. I must say, they serve up a strong latte, which is always a good thing. While I've heard mixed opinions on Horticulture, I'd definitely have a little faith and try out more of what they have to offer.
N O V E M B E R
9-11-19 - Pickles, Edinburgh
Some great food was had in November as we visited to celebrate Mum's birthday. Aside from some of the restaurants that I only consider mandatory for a visit to Edinburgh, including Dishoom, we tried 2 new places which I adored. First of all, was Pickles; a bar dedicated to great wine and fine cheese and pickle platter boards. The atmosphere inside was so warm and welcoming, in fact, I could've spent the entire evening in there if it wasn't for being in such a food coma. If you're in Edinburgh, you have to try this and experience the joy of cheeseboard-ing, but make sure you organise your time well because it really does get busy.
10-11-19 - Tani Modi, Edinburgh
The following morning, the food coma had well and truly passed and I was ready to take on breakfast. After being turned down for space in Rabble (note to self: book for breakfast there next time), we decided to move on to another one of our options - Tani Modi. Ultimately, we didn't draw the short straw at all. Again, this one has to be managed well for time because, we were lucky enough to get a seat for 4 shortly after we arrived but, while we were eating, a queue outside began to build up. The food, most importantly, was brilliant! I chose blueberry pancakes which were huge and packed full of berry compote and yoghurt; accompanied by (another) latte which this time was even stronger. I'd definitely recommend visiting Tani Modi - it has such a charm.
20-11-19 - River Beat, Gateshead
As part of a press release for their new Christmas Banquet menu, I was invited along to try some of the Asian/Thai inspired Tapas at River Beat Gateshead. While Thai food isn't typically my first choice, I did really enjoy some of the flavours we had a chance to check out, especially the plum and tamarind sauce on the sweet potatoes. Items such as the red braised belly pork and their sweet and sour salad were great too. There didn't seem to be quite enough for the table of 7, though, which was a little disappointing and some of the dishes were a bit simple (such as popcorn and tempura prawns) but, all in all, I think it's a lovely little spot for a date night if you're a fan of Eastern-inspired food.
22-11-19 - Shoe Tree Cafe, Newcastle
Before heading out to do some photo shooting with a friend, we popped over to Shoe Tree cafe in Heaton for a bite to eat. As it was just before lunchtime, I was still passing it off as brunch so needed no excuse to request pancakes. And, wow! The Vegan Biscoff pancakes were quite possibly the best pancakes I've eaten... EVER (and believe me, I've tried a fair few pancakes). My guess is that they used coconut milk in the recipe and the hint of coconut flavour added such a creamy and unique dimension. They were fluffy, there was just the right amount, and it was covered completely in caramel sauce, crumbled biscuits, and vegan ice cream. Such a dream and most certainly not my last try.
D E C E M B E R
1-12-19 - Babucho, Newcastle
After Mum and Dad finally got around to checking out the Newcastle Christmas markets with us, we ended up in Babucho. This quayside restaurant is a New York-style brasserie which I had always wanted to try out. As we were there on a Sunday, Mum and Dad opted for the Sunday lunch which came with the world's most enormous (maybe) Yorkshire pudding; it was a bit annoying that there was no veggie option for the roast dinner but Jamie was happy to opt for the prawn risotto which looked great and luckily came with some hefty prawns. I, though, couldn't resist a pizza. I went for the Lebanese pizza, which was a great mix of warm flavours and was VERY filling. Mains were topped off with the cutest banoffee tart - always a winner in my eyes. I loved the happy staff (despite it being busy, they remained cheerful), and glamorous interior; I'd definitely visit again.
11-12-19 - My Dehli, Newcastle
I took my readers along with me to my stop at My Dehli over on Instagram as I was invited to try their lunchwala menu. This is a small restaurant devoted to serving real Dehli street food. As someone who always enjoys tasting authentic cuisines, especially as they tend to get very westernised by the time they reach us, I was thrilled to finally try this place! I chose a Powered by Paneer Dehli roll (essentially a wrap) which was the perfect amount of spice and had great big chunks of paneer inside - bonus. I couldn't resist a few Halloumi fries, either. They were deep-fried in golden crumbs, meaning they were super-naughty and came in at £1 per slice - a little on the pricey side but a girl can't help herself when the halloumi craving hits.
22-12-19 - The Open Jar, Norton
A catch up with one of my longest friends was made over an Open Jar parmo. This Teesside delicacy rings home, for me. While I'm used to being served a parmo in a cardboard box, it's always a little treat to go out for a fresh parmo. This was my first time trying out The Open Jar, since it only opened this year, and after hearing some mixed reviews I was pleasantly surprised. As I mentioned above, the parmo's are made fresh to order, so they arrive oozing with goodness. I ordered the Gluten Free Parmo, which was also accompanied by gluten-free 'creamy cabbage', telling me that they really do pay attention. There was plenty of everything too; lots of chunky homemade chips and a big dollop of garlic mayo, and the creamy cabbage comes (as part of the price) in its own separate bowl which I would happily share between 2. My only little blip about this is that service is slow. Understandably, parmos are made fresh so a 30-minute wait is justifiable, but we didn't get asked for drinks until about 15 minutes in.
27-12-19 - Little Italy, York
My uber indulgent Christmas remained completely intact well into our trip to York. A few hours wandering the shambles worked up an appetite so we headed to Little Italy, a place we were all very excited to try. This real Italian bistro is situated in the city centre above their own delicatessen which we took great advantage of with our antipasti platter. A few little niggles did occur - not serving large glasses of wine aside from the house wine, only serving one variety of gluten-free pasta, and not having a single piece of bread in sight (no pizza, no garlic bread, no bread for the antipasti - only the bruschetta dish seemed to be allowed it). It didn't stop us completely devouring our food though. The meats and cheeses on the antipasti were fresh and delicious, drizzled with oil and olives. Then, I ordered Tagliatelle Dettori which was heaped on my plate with no shy portioning (I struggled to eat it all, in fact) and was the perfect combination of rich and creamy. It may be a little pricer here than other York restaurants, but the quality of the food really does reflect that.
Deciding on one favourite would be difficult, given the amazing food I've been able to try these past few months. I have to say the flavours and authenticity of My Dehli were to-die-for, and the pancakes at Shoe Tree Cafe were one of a kind, but I'm an Italian food lover, through-and-through, so would probably add a little star next to Little Italy.
Where have you been eating recently?
Last year I shared some eco-friendly ways to add some flare to Christmas gifts - this year I'm back at it, making sure my Christmas gifts look great while also being sustainable and not costing a bomb.
Just as I did last time, this year I'm still always using brown paper for my wrapping. Not only is this paper easy to recycle and customise, I seriously think it looks better. This year, I went for a patterned brown paper from IKEA. They have some fabulous designed brown paper in IKEA, but I especially loved the simple white print for this year.
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S T A M P E D L A B E L
Using my miniature stamp set from Flying Tiger, I added a little 'Merry Xmas' to a piece of card, not caring too much for it to be perfect - I think the rustic look is gorgeous for this. I then simply carefully tore the card, added some holes with a hole punch, and threaded some red string through it. Tie and tape the string at the back, then arrange the lines to look nice and neat (don't worry about any crossing over at the back).
Obviously, for this one, you can add your own flair to it wherever you wish. I chose red string to match my colour scheme and added a little personal note for the gift receiver on the inside of the card.
It really couldn't be more simple but really does turn out looks sophisticated and full of thought.
W A X O R S C R A B B L E
Or both! Whether you have a wax stamp in your craft draw (which, I admit, not everyone does) or maybe just a few old scrabble letters knocking around - they can definitely be added to your wrapping! I loved the idea of using the wax stamp for the end of the string - it was a little bit tricky but with the addition of a teeny little bit of glue, I managed to keep the string end held down while prepping the stamp.
It was also nice to add a bit of different coloured string; I love the black-white with the brown and white paper and also reckoned my red wax would go better with this one.
Of course, you guessed it, the J is significant for the giftee which I think is a great way to add another personal touch.
M I N I P I N E C O N E S
This has to be one of my favourite designs I've created! I got my hands on some mini pine cones (but you could also find and use acorns, twigs, or leaves) and threaded the string around the bottom wings, knotting it securely.
I placed the cones a bit off from the centre, just to add some dimension then looped the rest of the string around the package. With this, I love the deep red in combination with the dark wooden pine cones - I think dark green or gold would also be a beautiful combination.
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Adding simple touches to your Christmas gifts can be sustainable AND beautiful - I hope this has definitely inspired you to forget about glitter and ribbon this year. Try something new and wow your family.
From Day ...
Layering up in the cold winter's frost is crucial and, when wearing such an elegant dress like this one, I think it is equally important to choose the right layers. For this look, it meant that a fitted overcoat would perfectly complement the wrap dress. The coat, from M&S, is new to my wardrobe this year and, as I'm always a sucker for sophisticated Winter coats, it's barely off my back (and, as an added bonus, it's super soft).
With this, I went for a neutral scarf, a bobble hat that's been keeping my ears safe from frost for a few years now, and THE New Look boots that just about everyone has or wants. The boots themselves are super comfy and will definitely be worth the small dollar as soon as the snow starts to come down.
... To Night
Moving through to the night, whether on the same day or not, it always going to require a little bit more of a glow up. From drinks with friends, a dinner party, or even the actual Christmas Day (!!), it could mean adding accessories, makeup, heeled shoes, or all of the above. This is what I did here.
My makeup stepped up a little bit; adding a darker-nude lip and red/burgundy eyeshadow tones to match with the dress (careful, don't go too heavy with matching colours). What's hiding beneath my hooded eyes is the glittering eye pigment, which I would consider only mandatory for a Christmas party look, by the way.
For accessorising, I repped a fair amount of Oasis here. I've always loved the idea of earrings but, as something that has baffled many others before, I don't have my ears pierced and just don't want to. Lovisa's clip-on adaptors gave me a new lease of life, though, so I was delighted to be able to wear these beautiful heart-shaped ones from Oasis (even despite the numb ear lobes - the clip-ons look good but OUCH). As well as this, I added my trusty, simple H&M gold rings and a Pearl Hairclip.
With the addition of 3 simple things: glam makeup, jewellery, and hair accessories, this dress quickly flashes from a day to night look just like that.
Which festive look will you be choosing this year?
As bloggers, we too often set our sights on working with the big shots and, far too rarely want to really showcase what the local community around us has to offer. Whether you live in a big city or a small town, every place has its quirks and unique areas or businesses and I think it's about time we show them off. Here's why you should be sharing more about your local life...
Rekindle your own desire
Since starting to blog more about what is around me in Newcastle, it’s enabling me to discover exactly that. I would have had no idea about half of the places on offer in the city centre if it wasn’t for other bloggers pointing them out on their feeds. Similarly, as I yearn to blog more and more about places in Newcastle, I’ve found myself researching the next place to go, opening my eyes to places that I probably would’ve walked past beforehand.
SEO reasons
It’s often forgotten about just how powerful local searching can be in terms of blog engagement. I mean, see it from your own point of view; if you’re the kind of person to Google search ‘Place to eat in Edinburgh’ you’re most likely going to come across a blog post. As a local, especially, people may trust you better, ultimately retreating back to your content for more ideas. So, next time you’ve found some great brunch spots in your area, don’t forget that that info could be helping others too, potentially resulting in a healthy handful of page views for you.
Giving Back
We’ve heard it all before; ‘support local businesses’ and ‘give back to the community’. With the likes of Brexit looming over, local businesses really do need your help to not only keep them running but helping to earn livings. For me, whenever I’m invited to check out a new venue in Newcastle, the thing that warms my heart the most is when I hear about how the artwork is local, the food is locally sourced, or the bar celebrates brewers from nearby. If you can help support these kinds of institutes, you’re not only helping one local business, but you’re creating a domino effect; aiding in the upkeep of many small and growing businesses all around you.
We’ve heard it all before; ‘support local businesses’ and ‘give back to the community’. With the likes of Brexit looming over, local businesses really do need your help to not only keep them running but helping to earn livings. For me, whenever I’m invited to check out a new venue in Newcastle, the thing that warms my heart the most is when I hear about how the artwork is local, the food is locally sourced, or the bar celebrates brewers from nearby. If you can help support these kinds of institutes, you’re not only helping one local business, but you’re creating a domino effect; aiding in the upkeep of many small and growing businesses all around you.
Making yourself seen
I often get asked ‘How do you get invited to these blogger events?’ And, a lot of the time, my answer is that I make it seen and heard where I am. The PR companies aren’t going to invite you along if they don’t think you are actually able to get there. Publishing blog posts, tagging Insta locations, and adding local hashtags is just 3 ways of how you can make it obvious that you are interested in joining local events and, believe me, a lot of the time these events are very fun so you’d be treating yourself by doing these simple things.
Don’t let yourself believe that you are closing your audience demographic simply by publishing a blog post about a nearby restaurant. You are widening your repertoire, broadening your portfolio, supporting your town, and falling back in love with what is on your doorstep. We should all be excited by the thought of bloggers sharing the excitement of what their town has to offer, I know I certainly am.
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