Youtube event with Jhene Aiko

A couple of weeks ago I randomly met a really great person, who introduced me to their media company Above and Beyond. Even though I am finishing university, I'm still not too sure what I want to work in forever - forever is a really long time to be stuck in a job you aren't passionate about! 

We luckily just got on straight away and he generously offered me work experience with them - which is perfect for me because I'm pretty sure I want to go into something media related, just not sure what yet! Over the next year I am planning to model, travel and get as much experience in different jobs as I can so I can find something I would like to ultimately settle down in.  

He invited me to come along and help out at their event at the Youtube offices - exciting! Jhene Aiko was performing a 'secret gig' for her fans. I hadn't personally heard of her much before other than that she was supporting Drake on tour but when I met her and saw her sing/ be interviewed I sort of fell in love with her music and now, I am typically obsessed with her music after having the chance to fully appreciate meeting her!

apparently a 'famous otter' of youtube 

The offices were really cool - they are in Google after all! There were loads of different rooms which had been made up to look like different sets, and heaps of random props lying around (see above!). My first job was to meet the team and help change a 'news room' into a performance set.

I think we did a pretty good job! There were bean bags at the front for people to sit on and it was really nice for her fans to be so close to her. Jhene was a really lovely person, not demanding at all and her honesty really came across in her interviews with MTV. I couldn't believe that she was 26, with a daughter and had been through so much - she looked like a cute 16 year old! 

We had to coordinate all of the fans - some turned up without an invite (totally the sort of thing me and my friends would do.. cheeky!) and unfortunately weren't accommodated due to room. However I think they still got a chance to meet her as they waited downstairs and chased her all the way out to the car! 

This is my favourite song of Jhene's - definitely worth a listen, I think she will become very popular, very soon! 

xx

staying healthy during revision

I am in a revision funk. My facebook password has officially been changed for exam period, meaning I have had to resort to other ways of procrastinating... food! It can be difficult whilst revising all day not to reach for the chocolate, or whatever is easiest but I have tried to separate my days with cooking healthy meals, so that doesn't happen! 

I bought some green tea from Amazon (maybe or maybe not because I really liked the mango lychee flavour and couldn't find it anywhere else), here I found four 'variety' packs for £10 - now reduced to £7.50! At 25 bags per box, you basically get 100 bags of tea to work your way through. This was probably quite a good buy as I now drink about ten cups of green tea a day - I just refill the cup with the bag in it over and over again! (you can't over-do green tea right?!) 

My favourite is mango & lychee, but the others are all amazing so it is definitely worth buying if you are trying to up your green tea intake and think regular GT is boring! 

Ok I did technically also buy the years supply of tea because I wanted to buy coconut oil, and amazon have a really irritating new policy where they don't give you free delivery unless something is over £10 :( 

But all's well that ends well - this coconut oil is amazing! The benefits are endless, and as a coconut-obsessor I use it on everything and even as a body moisturiser! 

This is the superfood buckwheat, or 'Kasha' (I stole the pack from my Russian boyfriend muaha - but it is pretty easy to get hold of here.) Buckwheat is really reminiscent of my childhood for some reason, I think my mum used to force us to eat it with everything! 

Apart from tasting really great, it also has endless health benefits. It's not even a wheat, despite the name, it is a fruit seed coming from the rhubarb family! So you are basically eating a giant portion of fruit :') It's also chock-full of proteins and has antioxidants that make it great for regulating blood sugar, to stop you from craving snacks! More health benefits can be found here but it is basically great for you whilst being a great comfort food. 

I ate a massive portion of buckwheat (at an average 150 calories per serving), grilled salmon and spinach and mushroom salad. Can something be called a salad if it was lightly fried in coconut oil?!

 whatever, the 'salad' was pretty incredible for a salad and I definitely recommend making it. To make you simply fry a chopped onion and mushroom together in a little oil and then add spinach at the very end to soften it up! Amazing! 

This deserves a second picture because it was SO GOOD and lifted me out of my unmotivated revision day, even if I am now procrastinating from studying by writing about it! 

xxx

Foxcroft and Ginger

As I may have mentioned, I live in East London. Bar the trendiness of Shoreditch (where recently a cat cafe opened up. and it has a six week waiting list.) there isn't much going on here except Whitechapel market (definitely not a 'must see') and fried chicken shops. 

So when I saw that Foxcroft and Ginger was opening up next door, it was pretty much the highlight of my week (is that sad? yes). Unlike general 'to go to' places in London, which are largely based in Central and thus subject to serious space limitations, east London doesn't really have that problem. Once you get rid of a couple of seriously declining sports shops (fun fact: there are no womens sections in sports shops here!) and chicken shops that were definitely serving up poisoned pigeon, there is a lot of room to work with! This means one thing: no queues!! 

As you can see, there is a lot of space beautifully and naturally lit! They also have a very ambiguous upstairs section which I haven't ventured up to yet, but regardless, I am pretty sure that there will be a lack of depressing-standing-in-the-rain-crying queues here! They also don't rush you at all, providing the perfect place to go and study.

Ok. The FOOD.

I went with my friend when I saw their doors creak open for the first time, and we were a little bit too early for 'hot' food. Which left us with the devastating consolation of eating cake for breakfast! (being an adult is awesome). I can confirm to you all, that their cake is aaaaaaamazing. 

My vain attempt of being healthy consists of eating carrot cake (any cake before 9 is practically negative calories as you aren't really awake right?) 

Their coffee is also exceptionally good, which I have heard about. As a new joiner of coffee-society I haven't got enough background to tell you about the TaSteS and textures but I can tell you that it is good. (also, coffee is AMAZING in general - how have I only just properly discovered it!?) 

We managed to resist these croissants.. but they lookin goooood. Everyday when I walk past Foxcroft to go to university, I inevitably see a ginormous table filled with cakes and croissants inviting me in. 

They have now started serving proper food, hallelujah!! Their menu looks too good not to be! I was pleasantly suprised at a 'healthy' option of poached fruit with honey and yoghurt - it was amazing. A taste orgasm, so good that I think it probably tricked me and wasn't as healthy as I convinced myself it was. 

A sort of sick circle, of being on a diet is wanting to not see any unhealthy food completely, to avoid temptation... but still wanting to know how it tastes. Still wanting to know how this FRENCH FRIED BRIOCHE HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE tasted in the flesh. So when I go out for food nowadays with people, I generally force them to get amazing food whilst I steal snippets of it and moan about how I miss chocolate/pasta/creme eggs/sugar. 

On this particular day I took Nicola for breakfast, and she is currently in study-hell. She gets quite stressed and this results in her losing her appetite (because she studies for 12 hours a day continuously!), therefore I generously helped her out and ate all of her breakfast when she couldn't deal with it. 

Thus I can confirm that the aforementioned sandwich is INCREDIBLE. It is probably most comparable to bacon and maple syrup - something that should be savoury but is deliciously sweet. And so gurrd. I managed to control myself and left a bit on the plate. Then I went to the gym :(( 

Thank you for coming, Foxcroft and Ginger. We are going to be good friends <3

Park frolic

Revision period is once again well and truly upon us. However this year feels a little different to the last one's months of stress, tears and breakdowns because I know that it is (probably/hopefully) the LAST time I will ever be going through it! Yes, after three very quick years I am finishing my law degree. Revision is actually going alright at the moment because I worked really hard this year and really gave everything to have a memorable final year of university (starting up a chess club anyone?) - so it feels sort of like a natural progression. But at the same time, it still sucks!

So the small things in life are currently making me very happy as they provide a distraction from trying to wrap my head around Hart! (Jurisprudence - if you don't know what it is, count yourself lucky.) Last week I went to visit my bestest friend Lisa for a study break :) 

Lisa has joined me on the quest for a perfect summer body and so has also joined me in spending a ridiculous amount of money/time procrastinating by finding new 'healthy' yet amazing recipes. Here is one of  her trademark amazing breakfast's - chia seeks soaked overnight in almond milk, porridge, some strange superfood powder which tastes like cacao, banana and coconut. Amazing. 

It gave us lots of energy to run around the park with Riley! 

wearing a Reiss jumper, Topshop jeans and Nike trainers 

 

My beautiful new Nike trainers.. which I think my feet have had a little trouble adjusting to after getting used to bad quality shoes, but they will get over it! (apparently Achilles heel is a real problem on your body?!)

stripes anybody?

Wearing a Zara trench and Reiss scarf (my favourite scarf ever!) 

Lisa lives on kings road. When I visit her, it is somewhat like stepping into a dream land where the parks are filled with blossom and puppies, the owners of whom chat about their days and say goodmorning (as opposed to the park outside my flat which is alternatively occupied by the local drug dealers and police, searching for needles!). A great thing about London is all of it's hidden parks - the one we went to is literally behind Lisa's flat in Worlds End, and is seriously beautiful! There are lots hidden all over London, it's just a matter of finding them (and sometimes scaling the gates!)

Then we all bundled off to Jak's (also opened up recently in World's End, and seriously amazing) to have a study day where we succeeding in opting for green juice as opposed to their seriously impressive cakes, and the looming waft of freshly baked muffins! 

Riley loves his toothbrush! 

On another random note, I'm in this week's Look magazine! :) 

                            

Don't let revision get you down! xx 

W hotel

The W hotel is quickly becoming my favourite place to hang out. London Village Kids have started up a sort of model-hang out there, (so if you are modeling in London definitely sign up. straight away.) - they also do really great nights out in London for everyone so definitely worth checking them out, some really cool people. Back to the W. It is such a beautiful hotel and located bang in the middle of Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus. 

Hiding behind M&M's world - a gigantic W

Their theme seems to be... disco balls. But instead of one looming conspicuously over a big room, they sort of exploded them into every conceivable place, which looks awesome.  

We are lucky enough to use the gym, and I went to check it out the other day - amazing. Super high tec machines and relatively empty in comparison to my sweaty university gym! 

I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful gym - running on a treadmill that overlooks London is a nice change to running on a treadmill that overlooks.. a wall. 

The best part, is obviously the sauna/steam room. 

The lounge in W is also amazing, a really chilled out and relaxed place to grab a drink or two and study/use their free wifi.

 

Their food is amazing, and they have two very cool sections which remind me of seasons - one 'wintery' section with blazing, swanky fires 

and one section with beautiful floor to ceiling windows, meaning it is a beautifully light place to go and sit. I watched enviously a couple of people having an afternoon tea in there, and it looked incredible! Definitely planning to go and elegantly devour some mini-cakes with Dima soon! 

They also have a club (whatttt!) and I've heard that on the weekends it gets pretty busy there, which must mean it is good! As well as a cinema - they should definitely install these in every hotel! If you are looking to stay in London it is literally perfect and very different from all the other hotels I've been to! Definitely worth checking out, even for a cheeky lunch :) (they have mini burgers - enough said.) 

xxx 

healthy treats!

Incase you hadn't noticed, I am sort of on a major health kick. After three weeks of this 'healthiness' and pretending to enjoy salads and running daily, salads are beginning to wear thin. I truly believe that I have used eggs to their most extreme limits, and desperately need to eat something else! Easter around the corner means that there is chocolate everywhere I look and this makes me very very sad that I can't eat my favourite treats :( 

So the result is searching instagram and food blogs for a very long time to find healthy 'desserts!'  

'Protein' Balls 

The word protein is still quite scary to me, I am still equating it in my mind with butch muscles and lifting 100kg. Probably from cheerleading, where big tubs of protein powder was present at every session. So these are basically just really delicious balls which taste like cookie dough (disclaimer: a little imagination needed). 

Ingredients 

Basically, you can use whatever you find in your kitchen, mash it all up (preferably in a food processor) and add dark chocolate chips to it. (aka a great recipe if you are really not a recipe-sort of follower, and prefer to make it up as you go along... guilty!) 

However, what I used on this particular day was the following:

•  Pinhead porridge oats - I did NOT know these were a thing, but apparently they are. Tiny balls of porridge oats instead of the usual flakes (my boyfriend has an extremely random collection of food in his cupboards!) He claims they are healthier and keep you fuller for longer, any thoughts? Just toss an amount in depending on how oaty you would prefer your balls 8) 
• Organic Peanut butter - I used a tablespoon, but probably the most you use = the more delicious your balls will be because peanut butter = happiness 
• Dessicated Coconut - DELICIOUS. on everything. use LOADS if you are obsessed with coconut like me. 
• Chopped Dates and Walnuts  - most recipes use dates as a good replacement for something sugary and delicious. Basically use any tasty fruit (banana I'm looking at you) and some chopped nuts.
• Sesame Seeds - another thing just lying about, but actually turned out to be a very good addition. 
• Coconut Milk - this is probably also not a requirement, and only use a bit if you are going to add milk, but I found this 'Koko' milk in Tesco's and got wildly excited (and erm.. drank the entire thing in one day)
• Vanilla Essence - note: do not overuse the vanilla essence, tempting as it smells. it will make your balls taste like alcohol. 
• Dark chocolate chips - these are the most important ingredient. Basically just because they are chocolate, and I miss chocolate dearly so will take whatever I can get. Dark chocolate apparently has antioxidants blablabla but they taste FAB <3

As you can see, my ingredients were largely based on what was in Dima's cupboards at the time. Basically you need some form of oats, nut butter, fruit (dates or bananas), nuts and chocolate chips. 

- 

Now for the process.... BLITZ everything except the chocolate chips together! If you don't have a processor just mix by hand! 

Then spoon it into a bowl and add chocolate chips.

 With your hands, shape the amazingly-delicious mixture into balls and place on a plate. When finished, put the plate in the fridge and leave it for however long you can wait, then proceed to eat....

Top tip: DO NOT EAT ALL OF THE BALLS IN ONE GO. Depending on how much ingredients you use, they can probably be quite calorific (probs around 100 calories per ball) and one at a time is the perfect bite size amount of tasty heaven to give you a mid-morning/afternoon energy boost! 

Of course, I made a batch and proceeded to eat all five straight away. Then I decided to make some more to last me for the week... they lasted me until the evening :'( So a disclaimer, these are seriously moreish - but seriously amazing whilst being healthy! 

Chia Seed Pudding 

Chia seeds are AMAZING. I was extremely shocked to find them being sold in Tesco (for about £5 average - not the cheapest superfood but good quality!) and proceeded to force my boyfriend to buy me loads! They have properties in them which absorb liquid, making the teensy seeds expand to double their size and make you feel super full up, so a great snack! 

Another one of my make-it-up-as-you-go-along recipes, this is easy. You will need:

- chia seeds

- milk (preferably almond/coconut) 

- vanilla essence/chocolate chips/cocoa powder/banana

To make, all you do is mix the ingredients in a bowl (around 1/3 seeds, 2/3 milk) and pop it in the fridge for an hour or two! You then take it out and eat to your heart's content! 

If you add cocoa powder, it comes out fabulously chocolate-y as my friend Katherine achieved, however I am trying to wean myself off chocolate again after this weekend's relapse so stuck to dark chocolate chips. Also, if you add chopped banana it makes it extra-thick and filling :) 

Perfect to add to porridge - especially porridge that has been slow-cooked for twelve hours! 

Enjoy! Any more healthy dessert ideas, I would LOVE to hear them! <3

xxx

happiness

Over the past couple of weeks something miraculous has happened. I have stuck to my fitness plan (below) and feel really, really great as a result. Even though my final exams ever are hurtling towards me at a terrifying speed, and I have no real plan of what to do when they are over except hope that my life stays fun and carefree, I wake up everyday feeling happy and grateful to have another day where those are my biggest concerns.



Here are a few things I have managed to do, most of which I never thought I would be able to!

1. Run everyday for 20 minutes. I asked my boyfriend who can exercise all day (even though he doesn't!) for tips on running, because it is something I have always hated/been really bad at and he said there isn't any. You just have to force yourself to do it. So that is what I have done everyday, just literally forced myself to make time, go to the gym and run.
When you fully commit to doing something you don't like, even though you know it will be beneficial for you in the long run (hehehe see what I did there) it becomes more of an achievement than a challenge. By forcing myself to do it everyday I manage to focus better on my work and plan out my day - I'm already out of bed!



2. Eaten Healthily 
I have had a major addiction to chocolate. I ate it at least once a day and found it literally impossible to give up, being able to eat whatever I liked when I was younger with a great metabolism set really bad habits in me  which I really doubted I would ever be able to get rid of. Being given motivation though, as in an actual goal to get into shape for somehow has made me give up the thing I loved so much and realise that I don't actually need it. I haven't eaten chocolate for two weeks and I can honestly say that (most days) I don't miss it.

Instead I have spent a looong time thinking of healthy replacements, and found some really great recipes in the process. Here are a few:

Two Ingredient Pancakes
Mix two eggs and a banana together; fry (preferably with coconut/low fat oil!). This is the easiest and healthiest recipe I have found so far and it has resulted in me and my best friend tweaking it until we found a truly amazing concoction today of adding cinammon, raspberries, coconut and maple syrup. Tastes like normal pancakes but leaves you way more energised.

Eggs
I have literally been living off eggs for two weeks. Boiled, scrambled, poached - they are literally so good for you and at 74 calories each, so easy to incorporate into each meal. Also a really good source of protein for poor students who can't afford(be bothered) to buy/cook meat every night. (Also I just really hate touching dead animals!)

Fruit
Fruit has also become a super massive part of my day, replacing the sugar highs that chocolate once gave me. Lemon water is a really great appetite suppressant, strawberries have become my new addiction, apple and cinnamon (baked, microwaved, raw), an orange on the way to uni, and obviously bananas (for my new 'pancake' addiction) have basically become my staple. I know some diets say you should avoid fruit because of their fructose - but this is good sugar. It isn't going to hurt you, its a natural alternative to processed 
3. Being kind
I thoughtlessly left my Michael Kors watch (21st birthday present) on a treadmill the other day and was absolutely convinced it had gone forever. By some act of pure kindness, someone handed it in the next day. This has made me really believe in the good of general people - Londoners get a bad reputation for scowling and rushing to work, but if you ever actually need something there will be someone there to help you. Every time I'm lost in the middle of nowhere looking for a casting, someone always helps me. Every time I drop something in the street - oyster card, sunglasses, ID - it comes back to me in one form or another.

Maybe I am just really lucky, but the great majority of what I have seen in London is kindness and it is really nice to give it back. Just complimenting strangers, telling them you like something they are wearing, because you actually do can make their whole day and makes you feel good. If I want to compliment a random person or help someone out, I just make myself do it before thinking about their reaction or how weird they will think I am, because 99% of the time they are really happy and grateful too. Make the world a nicer place!



I also really love reading the daily 'good deed feed' in the Metro! :)

4. Seeing/talking to people I love 
This is the most important. I have spent time with most of my best friends this week, and am seeing the rest later on in the week. I was moaning about people not contacting me, when my friend asked 'have you contacted them?' - she's right. Spending time with my boyfriend and seeing my cousin audition for a massive drama school (and getting through to the finals!), seeing my family and going for lunch with my dad all make a massive difference to my general mood. I am really lucky to have some truly amazing people in my life, you probably are too!


 Coming up is massive change in mine and pretty much everyone I know's life - I'm not too worried because I know it will all work out just fine :)



what has made you happy lately?


- all corny pictures shameslessly lifted from pinterest, the internet's prettiest, most entertaining form of procrastination -