So don’t know what’s gotten into my system, but I’ve been reading like no tomorrow recently. I used to be such a bookworm when I was was younger, going through a book a day sometimes! But growing up, sometimes all I want to do is put Netflix on and relaaaax.

However, it’s one of my ’19 in 2019′ challenges (see my blog here for the full list) and so I’m 1.5 books off of my goal this year of non-fiction. And I tell you what, now I’ve got back in the swing of it, I’m hook, line and fully sunk. But let’s crack on with a review of ‘This is Going To Hurt’ by Adam Lay.

Now, this was released in 2018 and I feel like everyone I knew was reading this book. I saw people on the tube, people on sunbeds on holiday – EVERYWHERE I LOOKED PEOPLE WERE READING IT! And so, deciding to finally take the plunge a whole year later (obvs late to the game…) decided to read it.

First off, it was a nice easy read – although it’s evidently a medical based book, the author has kindly explained in the footnotes those medical terms that are a little bit confusing who are not in the profession. Secondly – it based on the diary format, then split into chapters dependent what job role they were in.

Now – in parts of this book – I laughed hard. As his career focussed on obs & gynae, the book highly focusses on the labour ward. Now I’m nowhere near the having kids part on my life, plus after reading about births and vaginal tears and all that gloriousness in the book – my eyes are deffo open to it all and it deffo isn’t happening any sooner 😂 Sorry mumma, but you’re a long way off being a grandma!

However, this book is also an insight into the NHS. I have friends who work for the NHS, and I already hear stories of their long hours and ridiculously low pay. But this book is a way for people who don’t have a connection to the NHS to begin to understand the stresses our nurses, doctors, medical staff and all other wonderful angels of the NHS go through. We are so incredibly fortunate to have the NHS in the UK. But unfortunately right now, it’s becoming extremely noticeable that more and more of it is becoming privatised – as those who do work for the NHS are not paid what they truly deserve and there just isn’t the funding into the public services anymore.

Whilst this book is side-splitting at times and has nearly made me spit out my tea at points, it’s ending does bring you straight back down to earth. It opens your eyes that not everything can be fixed. It shows that there is clearly times where mistakes can be made and sometimes it can be life-threatening. It’s a sobering ending and makes you realise the extreme stresses of the workers of the NHS.

It took me a year to read this book, and I can only wish that I had read it sooner. Adam has written an incredible book and I can only hope there are more books to follow. I’m definitely looking into attending one of his live shows (he’s now a comedian… not a consultant) and dragging my other half.

Go get it out of the library, pick it up at the book shop, ask a friend to borrow it! Just go read it and thoroughly enjoy every page.

Let me know in the comments below if you’ve read it and what you thought! Also what are you reading at the moment? Always looking for new book recommendations 👀

–

Francesca xo

Where has this year gone? HOW ARE WE 75% THROUGH THE YEAR!?!

At the start of the year, I set 19 goals. 19 goals for 2019. I thought as we’re 75% through the year, I’ll check in and see how I’m doing…

• Run 5km in sub 45 minutes 
• Go to a cocktail making class 🍹
• Take part in a Tough Mudder (?)
• See a pantomime
• Go to Go Ape!
• Take part in a cooking class 👩🏻‍🍳
• Visit somewhere new!
• Save £XXX for House Fund 
• Squat 80kg (including bar)
• Climb Snowdon
• Go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
• Publish at least 26 blog posts in 2019 
• Have a deep clear of my wardrobe / Create a capsule wardrobe
• Read 5 non-fiction books
• Bench Press 20kg 💪🏼
• Go fruit picking!
• See Jon Bellion live!
• Do an elephant experience at the zoo (totes already eyeing up colchester zoo…)
• Plan 12 date days/nights ❤️

So, 9 down and 10 to go. I’ve planned 9 date nights, so almost done that, have a voucher for a cooking class and may have tickets to see Jon Bellion in October 👀

It’s nice to do these check-ins – see what I’ve accomplished so far this year and what I still have left to go.

What goals have you set yourself this year? And how are you getting on with them? Let me know in the comments below!

–

Francesca

xo

So I’m still trying to hold onto summer so badly – as much as I loooove autumn and all things that come with, I don’t feel like this summer has given it’s all just yet…

So in order to try and re-live summer for just one more day, here’s a little recap of my recent trip to Rhodes 🇬🇷

We travelled to the Lindos Imperial (which is located near Kiotari) and spent a beaut week at the hotel and beach. The resort itself was amazing – like honestly I could see myself going back next year 👀 There was so many pools to choose from and going out of school holidays meant it was nice and chilled!

The resort was located close to the beach, but fairly isolated – which was kinda nice (there was still ways to explore the island, but tbh I was READY for a week of relaxing… see my recent post stresshead). We explored 3 of the 4 outdoor pools – mostly the main pool and activity pool, because hey – there was water slides and I’m a little kid at heart 😅

However, despite reading 3 books, sliding into the pools and drinking a lot of cocktails – we did escape the resort a few times!

We joined Lepia Dive Centre for a scuba session in San Paulos Bay, just a bit round the island from where we were based. I had neeeever scuba dived before and I won’t lie, I was just a tiny bit terrified that I wouldn’t be able to do it. Don’t get me wrong, I love being in the water – I was just never very good at sinking to the bottom of the pool as a kid.

The guys at the dive centre were A-MAZ-ING. It was a detailed lesson in scuba above water and they were really helpful in the water too – I was pumped when I finally got the hang of it and was able to inflate and deflate my BCD on my own without crashing into the ocean floor 😂 I passed the test and intial dive, meaning that we could go out for a second dive into some coves just outside of the bay, but unfortunately my ears were not agreeing with me after having some difficulty equalising one of them. So I sent my other half into the ocean to enjoy a second dive (bad choice – he’s now decided for it to be his new hobby… 😂)

If you are in Rhodes and do fancy a bit of scuba, I really recommend these guys – they were fun, helpful and super informative. Plus everything felt safe which was majorly important for me!

Our second trip out was to Rhodes itself, to explore the history and do a lil sightseeing. We walked up to the Acropolis and took in the incredible view (we very luckily managed to stop a taxi for the way down!). I always like to do something a little different if possible and wanted to explore the ruins after someone recommended it in the comments of a previous post 🥰

We then headed into Old Town, Rhodes – yes I did joke about the song Old Town Road a lot… – to explore a bit more of the city and pick up a few souvenirs and possibly my bodyweight in ice cream….

The area was rich with history and views were incredible everywhere you looked. We walked all around the dock and through all the winding streets, stopping for a few ice creams and the biggest fruit smoothie I could imagine (I gave myself brainfreeze 3 or 4 times, drinking something the size of my head 👀) before heading back on the boat to get back to the hotel!

The trip in its entirety was super fun and super relaxing – already possibly looking at going back for next time…

–

Francesca

xo

Bless – my incredible pops has finally hit his mid-fifties ❤️

My pops will probably never see this post (mostly as he literally only got facebook yesterday and is fairly inept with the whole internet)

But I wanted to talk about him, especially as he’s a year older, bless him!

I’ve been incredibly lucky in the parent lottery – my pops is not genetically my pops – but he’s still my pops ❤️

He is my back-cracker, my advice giver and just a general great human being. In general, he’s always been there when I’ve needed him – no issues too big to help. He’s been there when I locked my keys in my car, when I needed to learn how to drive, when I needed to learn to put up a shelf and how to enjoy a nice rum 👀

He’s cooked me food when I was up late studying for my degree, he’s given me pep talks for interviews and has always been there when I need to de-load all the cr*p in my life!

He’s been part of my life since I was little and will always be there to have my back.

Now I know not everyone hit the jackpot with the parent lottery, or unfortunately don’t have their pops around for whatever they might need. To those out there – your pops might be someone who might not conventionally who you’d expect. Your mumma might fit the role, your uncle, your friend. But the comments and my email is always open for those that need it ❤️

However, to my pops – Happy Birthday and welcome to the internet – hope you don’t need too many tutorials on how to use or find things!

–

Francesca

xo

I write this after recently reading ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck’ (book review post pendingggg) and after having possibly one of the more stressful weeks of my life that I’ve encountered so far – I have realised I took on NONE of the learnings of that book.

note to self – re-read the book, learn the lesson, start giving f*cks as and when needed…

However, I thought I’d get this down on paper, or more appropriately, typed on the internet for the world to see.

Pretty much everyone in their lifetime will deal with stress at somepoint in their life. It could be work, family, mental health, personal issues, whatever. But everyone on this planet we call home, will stress about something in their life.

The important thing here is how you deal with that stress, to ensure that you don’t make yourself sick – and that can be both mentally and physically. Stress can affect you in so many ways and most of the time, I reaaaaally let it get the better of me. To the point where my skin breaks out, my hair starts going grey and my heart starts getting palpitations – suuuper not healthy.

I won’t lie – I will never live a stress-free life or at least a life where I don’t let stress get to me. I’m a Type A personality, and a bottler of emotions. My other half knows this too well and luckily just tries to distract me most of the time. However, this stress session has caused me to shut myself off a little bit – at least from social media and blogging and all things I love to do 💔

But I’m getting better, and I swear to god just typing these words out makes me feel a little bit more like me.

But I just wanted to put it out there into the universe for you, lovely reader of mine, that stress is something that can be overcome. Stress is something that can be dealt with. Any mental health issue, big or small, if you ever want to talk – I’m here in the comments or even via email. I know sometimes how amazingly and wonderfully lighter the weight on your shoulders can get, once you’ve been given the opportunity to just release it all to someone who is willing to listen.

In the meantime, I’m going to slowly get back to the things that make me feel like me, get back to posting photos of things I love on insta and get a good book on the go with some ice cream – all about that self-care right?

Let me know your favourite things below for a self-care day – and if you just want somewhere to release those frustrations too ❤️

Francesca

xo

Working on my ’19 in 2019′ list and decided to cross of cocktail making class!

The White Hart in Hertfordshire offer the most incredible cocktail making class – with two different options dependent on the cost you’re able to afford. I went for the £45pp option which they call the Cocktail Masterclass.

Now, Adam was an incredible bartender, and thoroughly made us feel welcome and by the end like experts (very drunk experts). We made a range of cocktails Ike daiquiris, cosmopolitans, espresso martinis and many more!

When someone didn’t like the cocktail we were making (mostly me, cos I secretly don’t like gin – shock horror as everyone loves gin), Adam was super accommodating and allowed us to made a different cocktail for us.

Now, in the option we went for, we also were fed some beaut bar nibbles (the lamb croquettes were insane and can be found on the regular menu – THANK GOD as they were the most beautiful thing I ate all day!

Overall I’d highly recommend a cocktail making class, and if you’re in the shire then definitely give Adam a call – one more off the list 🍹

Francesca xo

Ok, so I’m a little bit in love with this book. Having visited Auschwitz and Birkenau when I was a bit younger, its easy to begin placing this story in the actual place, thinking of the blocks, the cramped beds and the sheer cold (I went in February time, it was a feel-like temperature of minus 20°C…)

Having read the book in it’s entirety, from cover to cover, you can see how it has been adapted from screenplay to novel – it’s still very screenplay-esque (just making up words here…) but the way Heather Morris is able to capture Lale’s story is truly beautiful. The horrors of Auschwitz is something that most people learn in History classes, and all you can begin to do is try and imagine what these people went through and what some of them still live with. The book is a way of allowing people to connect to what they assume as characters, but turn out to being very real people.

The book itself challenges the way we perceive the Holocaust – it does not romanticise it in any way, despite one of the many storylines being the development of Lale and Gita’s relationship. It’s brutal and honest, displaying how people were trying to make the ‘right’ decision in order to survive. There were absolute horrors and the book does not try to hide this in any way at all. It’s clear, open and paints a picture of what was actually happening in these concentration camp. After reading this book, it allows you to see the camps in a different set of eyes, considering the horror through their eyes. By doing so, it makes it ever more real for people who were born 50 years later.

I really enjoyed the book and found it easy to read – it was a hook, line and sinker situation, so after 3 sittings, that was it. I’ve already lent my copy to 3 people and they all find it to be exquisite in its own little way. If you’ve read the book, let me know in the comments what you thought of it! And if you have any recommendations as to what I should read next, let me know.

–

Francesca xo

Where has this year gone? HOW ARE WE 50% THROUGH THE YEAR!?!

At the start of the year, I set 19 goals. 19 goals for 2019. I thought as we’re 50% through the year, I’ll check in and see how I’m doing…

• Run 5km in sub 45 minutes 
• Go to a cocktail making class 🍹
• Take part in a Tough Mudder (?)
• See a pantomime
• Go to Go Ape!
• Take part in a cooking class 👩🏻‍🍳
• Visit somewhere new!
• Save £XXX for House Fund 
• Squat 80kg (including bar)
• Climb Snowdon
• Go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour
• Publish at least 26 blog posts in 2019 
• Have a deep clear of my wardrobe / Create a capsule wardrobe
• Read 5 non-fiction books
• Bench Press 20kg 💪🏼
• Go strawberry picking
• See Jon Bellion live!
• Do an elephant experience at the zoo (totes already eyeing up colchester zoo…)
• Plan 12 date days/nights ❤️

So, 4 down and 15 to go. I’ve planned 6 date nights, so almost done that, published 22 blog posts and have 2 more non-fiction books to read!

Not only that, but I’m getting closer on my bench press, have a voucher for a cooking class and may have tickets to see Jon Bellion in October 👀

It’s nice to do these check-ins – see what I’ve accomplished so far this year and what I still have left to go.

What goals have you set yourself this year? And how are you getting on with them? Let me know in the comments below!

–

Francesca

xo

I’m back for another – is it worth it?

This time I tested out Gatorade Multipack. Now I’m usually a water gal in the gym and if I’m reaaaally feeling it I’ll maybe buy a Lucozade.

So these are the key points we’re gonna look over:

• Packaging – how’s it lookin?

• Price point – is it worth it?

• How’s it tasting?

• Would I buy again?

So, let’s dive right in!

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Packaging – how’s it lookin?

So the variety pack comes with a sports towel and a squeezy bottle – the bottles themselves are pretty vibrant and obviously reflect the flavours (lemon, orange, red orange and cool blue). I am a fan of the bottle tops – easy to sort of grab and go in the gym, but also good for a clutz like me, because I constantly drop things 😂 (take one look at my chillys bottle…)

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Price Point – is it worth it?

So the multipack – which is 12 drinks, a sports towel and water bottle – comes to £29.99. Now at a regular supermarket, you’re looking at about £2 a drink. Those bottles are smaller than those in this multipack – plus the sports towel is super absorbent and soft to the touch. As a whole – I like the fact I can bulk order the drinks to ensure I get all the drinks I need without having to buy one every time. If this is something that you’re guilty of (my other half especially…) then a multipack is a great way to get everything you need in one go!

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How’s it tasting?

So I had a go at all the flavours, and if I had a to rank them, see below 👀

1 – Red Orange

2 – Orange

3 – Cool Blue

4 – Lemon

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Would I buy again?

Based on taste, convenience and also the extra sports towel and bottle, I’d consider purchasing this again – it gives you the option to try multiple flavours and makes purchasing sports drinks suuuuper easy!

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Francesca xo

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Disclaimer: Pepsi (Gatorade) have gifted me this multipack set, but all views are my own.

Long time no post 👀

I may have been celebrating quite hard as I’m a whole 365 days older and closer to mid-twenties than early twenties! I’ve been spoilt rotten by my other half, my friends and I am so incredibly lucky to have all of them in my life.

But this is about a wonderful gift that my other half organised – a trip to Colchester Zoo to see the elephants! Now you may not be aware, but I am a firm lover of elephants, and even have a small elephant tattoo (I may be planning another, larger one… sorry mumma!)

The zoo itself is really easy to get around, well signposted and has plenty of hands on experiences that are free for visitors to take part in, including feeding lorikeets, pigmy goats, giraffes and ELEPHANTS!!!!

Omg, be still my beating heart.

I think it’s fantastic that Colchester Zoo offer these opportunities at no extra cost. Some zoo experiences can be seriously expensive and this allows everyone to have the same opportunity.

The zoo itself has huge enclosures and lots of space for their animals, who looked super happy and chilled out in the beaut sunshine!

The facilities there were great and I would 100% go back, as there was plenty to see and plenty to do – plus the zoo are making some changes the enclosures and I’d love to see what they do!

Francesca xo