August 1, 2018

3 ways I went Plastic Free in July

There are a few things that I am a little passionate and mildly obsessive about and one of them is reducing my use of plastic. Plastic free July was the perfect cause for me to get on aboard with.

A reusable cup. They’re everywhere. I have various ones for a while now. I am currently using a Boden one that I was kindly given at a Giff Gaff saves event. It comes with me to work, in the car, well pretty much everywhere. I am even planning to take it on my next flight as getting a brew in a polystyrene cup is not fun. I wrote post about cute cups for earth day.

Lunch Boxes. In a money saving attempt, I am also inadvertently reducing my plastic use. Making an extra portion at tea time is an easiest way to not only save money but also stop on the single use plastic. (If not I’ve tried to eat in at the work canteen and this eliminates the plastic and you get to be civilised with a plate, knife and folk)

Straws. These are my biggest bug bare. There is no excuse to use a plastic straw. Get a bloody paper one. A fancy metal one or even a bamboo one? Whatever you fancy, just no plastic straws please. If you have them in you cupboard use them up and when you come to rebuy go for a eco-friendly option.

There are ways I can still improve; I will be looking at alternative or plastic free bin liners and rubbish bags and I will be trying to remember to take a clean reusable bag when I go clothes shopping. No one wants to pop your new dress in with your weekly shop.

What I have learnt is not to feel guilty about my plastic use. Yes there are ways I can improve but someone please tell me why everything from the supermarket is wrapped in plastic?!

Plastic Free July Resources

Plastic Free July

Surfers Against Sewage: “Plastic pollution is the ‘new sewage’ is a good place to start.

My Plastic Free Life

June 14, 2018

Styling a New Build House Bedroom Edition

If your looking at buying or renting a house and you are thinking about a new build. I’d say go for it. They’re a blank canvas. Ok they don’t have period features or a sense of history. But what they do have is space for you to make it your own.

One of the things I did just after moving in was paint our bed room wall a navy blue. I’ve had a pinterest board since the moment we first decide we wanted to move house. Our last house the bedroom was black and cream. I new I didn’t want to replicate it, I liked it but we had that colour scheme for almost 7 years.

The new build life has given me endless white walls. For that I am grateful they are not bloody beige. Its crisp clean and means we can really do what ever we want.

I managed to find a home for my portable record player, I mean there was always going to be a record player upstairs. And our bedroom was the perfect spot. It just happens to be the perfect colour to match the wall. Listening too music while getting ready in the morning really sets the day up right. *featuring the Footloose soundtrack

I also purchased a humidifier then I love. Currently there is Lavender oil filling the air. It really helped to get rid of the new build pain smell when we first moved in. Now I love it as it’s relaxing and fills the air.

Other little things in this room that I love is my little gold heart dish that I bought in Target on a trip to Texas. It holds jewellery as well as hair grips and another loose items I have on my bedside table.

So there you have it. Between the real life piles of clothes on the floor and the dirty mirror you have how I style a room that was just 4 white walls with no feelings of home. There is still a few more things I’d like to add, some nice art work and a few pictures maybe. I’m excited to see how this room evolves. Oh and wireless charging you’re my beau.

June 2, 2018

Evolution by surprise

What happens when you find your blog is evolving and it takes you by surprise?

Thats a very good question.

And one I am not sure on the answer just yet.

When I started writing on this little spot on the internet I was unsure on what direction it would take me. It was always going to be a place where my ramblings would be documented.

The direction was always all about Leeds and then a little hint of what was going on in my world.

As it happened people seemed to enjoy reading and I felt comfortable writing that.

There was a pressure to create new content, one that I mainly put on myself. To post once or twice a week. And for a while I was doing that. I kept up with events in Leeds as well as writing new content for myself.

I felt burnt out at a year of doing this (big ups to the folk that have been doing this for years on end). In that year there has been some pretty big changes in my life. I’ve moved house, had major surgery and thrown myself into work. Life seemed to start to move at a million miles an hour, I almost couldn’t keep up.

Now we are here, with a weird sense of guilt for not regularly posting. Along with the fact that the content I want to post isn’t the same as it was in June 2017.

So yeah, alright folks. Lets get ready, for potentially a little change around here.

My blog is evolving and I am trying to keep up with it.

May 21, 2018

Finding Amazing Street Art in Blackpool

Hunting for street art is one of my favourite things to do in a new city. I did it in Sheffield and even Reykjavik. And I know that when you think of Blackpool street art doesn’t immediately spring to mind. Actually it was one of the last things that sprung to my mind.

This piece was my favourite, a weathered fisherman and a one eyed pirate crab? Oh ok Blackpool steal my heart with your hidden gems. Not one of these art works were on the front, you had to step a little further back. Into the back streets and away with the arcades and flashing lights of the piers.

Now some of the art work isn’t quiet as intricate as other pieces but it all stands together in its own right I think. Bold colours and statement lines can be found next to soft sprays of paint. It does however, all end up bring what would be a boring carpark wall into something that is a pleasure to look at.

As Blackpool holds a funny special place in my heart, I’ll be writing another post on what we got up too on our long weekend there shortly so stay tuned for all the fun at the seaside.

May 17, 2018

Just a little catch up

Time is passing by and it is suddenly May. I haven’t blogged in almost a month. So indulge me will you and lets have a little catch up.

2nd April – I drank a breakfast Martini at 1pm in the afternoon

3rd April – I met up with a friend for Thai food and had a girly catch up

7th April – Flew to Heidelberg and spent a week exploring the city

19th April – Sat and drank wine on the balcony afterwork and got a little tipsy on a school night

26th April – Spa day, with 3 of the best girl friends

29th April – First open water swim of the season (remember how much I loved it last season)

1st May – A day trip to Lincoln

5th Mary – Bank holiday weekend in Blackpool

So there you have it. Its been a busy few weeks. Throw in work, life and everything else and this and I some how haven’t blogged in near on a month. So many bloggers apologies for there time away from their blogs but us that work full time and blog on the side have a whole different set of challenges to those that blog full time. Maybe I’ll touch on that at a later date.

For now, I have posts to plan that make me smile!

April 13, 2018

How to Spend a Day in Sheffield

As part of my visit places closer to home resolution I decided to spend a day in Sheffield. I went with a very loose plan and a spare day of annual leave. I mean Sheffield wasn’t really on the top of my must visit list but its only 45 minutes down the motorway and I thought I’d give the steel city a few hours of my time.

Eat & drink

1. Mesters’ Social

I’m just going to start with this was the best French Toast I had ever had. Yes, I’ve eaten a lot of French Toast so I think I’m an authority figure on it now! I stumbled across the very lovely looking instagram of Forge Bakehouse and planned to get a late breakfast and a coffee there. But when I rocked up I saw the menu for Mesters’ Social and the rest they say is history.

2. Tampa

Tampa is a coffee shop and they do damn fine coffee. I find it firstly difficult to get a good decaf and secondly one made hot enough with almond milk. Well Tampa you win. Not only was my coffee hot and decaf it, was hidden away and even though busy the service was excellent.

The Outside Inside

Creative heading I hear you yell. Are you intrigued? Apart from bakery products I knew I wanted to visit:

1. Botanical Gardens

Giant Victorian green houses have always had a place in my heart, they’re intricate often have beautiful plants hidden inside and have been saved from the elements.

The botanical garden in Sheffield isn’t as large as I expected but it was still filled with exotic plants. Plants that I wanted to smuggle home but we all know that Kevin wouldn’t be happy with a 6ft palm tree appearing in the kitchen.

2. The Winter Gardens

The Winter Gardens I pretty much stumbled across. I parked my car in what I think was the University district where I found all the awesome street art and followed the signs into town. This is where the winter gardens are not so secretly hidden. It is the one of the largest greenhouse built in the UK in the last 100 years. So seemed perfect to find into my Sheffield day trip.

Independent Shops

A record shop I hear you cry. Why yes of course I had to visit an independent record store. Now it wasn’t the friendliest I have ever been in but it was full to the brim with records. It was however the only record store ive been in that had a buffet for me to stand on. This is a bloody excellent idea. I can never normally reach the 2nd boxes and have to stand on my tip toes. So well done the Record Collector Sheffield.

There you have it, thats my mini roundup of how to spend a day in Sheffield! Have I missed any of your must visits in the steel city? Please let me know!

April 8, 2018

Finding Amazing Street Art in Sheffield

Hunting for street art is one of my favourite things to do in a new city. I even did it in Reykjavik.

I wish I could create a Sheffield street art map but I didn’t drop a pin in a single location. But just wandered around the Sheffield university area (I think). Basically I parked my car on street, hoped I remembered where I parked it and followed the street signs to the Winter Gardens. These are the ones I spotted along my route.

Sheffield Street Art Colourful fox graffiti on a garage or parking lot wall

Sheffield Street Art Colourful birds, a blue tit and a yellow tit graffiti on a garage or parking lot wall

Sheffield Street Art black and white Skull on a brick wall

These 3 pieces were all together, I guess in a find one find them all kinda thing. I did however almost miss the birds on the wall. And really Sheffield Womens Lib … did you really need to tag this? I don’t think you did. Is there a difference between ‘street art’ and graffiti? I think there maybe. Without hitting up my old friend google, I see graffiti more as a nuisance. A badly written tag or something that destroys property in a negative way. Such as covering signs, maybe this makes me old?

Sheffield Street Art Colourful kingfisher graffiti on a garage or parking lot wall

Sheffield Street Art paper art of brimham rocks

Street art doesn’t have to be spray paint I don’t think, this is fun isn’t it, I don’t even have a GCSE in art. I just like things that catch my eye and grab my interest. A plain brick wall wouldn’t of. It also stopped me looking at the run down building it was attached too. Also the dodgy looking tag that it seems to be hiding.

Controversial Sheffield Street Art

Lets ya know end on a controversial one.

April 1, 2018

Let’s Celebrate Spring 2018

Spring is springing. Today is the 1st April and it’s also Easter Sunday. It’s not raining outside for what feels like the first time in ages. This morning I got up, hand a cup of tea and ate a creme egg. Maybe not the most exotic start to Sunday, but hey why the hell not.

So this Spring what do we have in store?

Exploring more local places. I had a few days off work a couple of weeks back and went exploring Sheffield. Next I want to go to Harrogate, Snaith and Runswick Bay. All places that are close enough for a day trip.

Make use of our National Trust Membership. Long walks around country estates and having a nosey around the grandest houses in the country.

A trip to Heidelberg. This is just next week. A little European city break.

We all know I love open water swimming, well I got a wetsuit for my birthday and I’m hoping to start using it soon. Currently the water temperature is too low. But now spring is here I am hoping that I’ll be able to get out and leave the pool behind again.

Spring cleaning. Urgh. So we’ve almost finished adding the bits to our home, it has taken a good few months but we’re finally nearly there. Just in time to empty the last few boxes and put everything away. Finally.

March 19, 2018

Bundobust and A Snackers Dream

My love for food is never ending. I mean I’m a constant snacker, from the moment I wake until I go to bed I could eat. My name is Michelle and I am a snacker. (I feel like there are a lot of admissions on this blog). I was invited to try the new menu items at Bundobust in Leeds and I suggest you do too. Leeds is absolutely killing it at the moment with menu revamps of some of our favourite places to eat.

Firstly, Bundobust is a little hideaway on Mill Hill, you know next to THAT kebab shop. I promise you the that Bundobust is the better option not only for you late evening after drink snacks but also for an after work pint and food. Its all Veggie too. Please don’t turn your nose up at this fact because it’s actually really good. I was going to write ok, but that doesn’t really do the majority of the items justice.

What we ate:

Onion and Kale Bhajis £4
Okra Fries £3.75
Raghda Pethis £5
Nav Bhaji £6.50
Puri Bread £2
Basmati Rice £1.50

Sounds dreamy right? So the stand out items were definitely the Okra Fries and Raghda Pethis. I could do with a tub of okra fries and a beer any night of the week. Now the actual dream item for this Yorkshire Lass Raghda Pethis. Simply put a Yorkshire/Indian fusion of bloody mushy peas. Heaven in a tub. Honestly I could of eaten 2 or 3 of theses.

What I wouldn’t order again was the Nav Bhaji, a cauliflower based street food dish. It was just a bit meh. Didn’t really do it for me. The brioche bun it came with though. Now that was perfect for dipping into the Raghda Pethis.

Location

BUNDOBUST
6 Mill Hill
Leeds
LS1 5DQ

March 8, 2018

Don’t Call Me Princess – International Women’s Day 2018

Something happened as I was walking through Leeds the other day that really got me cross. Like really chuffin’ cross! And since it’s International Women’s today lets have a chat (rant) about it.

I like to think I’m a nice person and every so often I stop for the promo people in the street and have a chat. After all it is just there job and everyone has to earn a living. See I am a nice person. And I have got to my late 20’s semi successfully.

Now, I spent a good few minuets talking to a young gentleman that was trying to get me to sign up too a new fancy app. I was pretty convinced, to the point of almost agreeing to download it and give him my details. This is where it went wrong very quickly.

‘Miss, Mrs OR PRINCESS?’

Oh. You just did didn’t you! Wow. I was rather polite and gave this young gentleman a quick lesson in why it was very inappropriate to call a 28 year old woman in the street a fucking Princess. Or well any female a princess unless they are under 5, wearing a tiara and dressed like a Disney Princess! Even then do it at your own peril.

I am not someone who normally gets riled about things, but this just really really bugged me. Would he of asked a man if his title was Prince? I very much doubt. In fact I would go with a cold hard NO he wouldn’t of done.

This is the problem.

We need to collectively teach young men that this is not ok. Trying to be funny or even flirty it is still not ok. Just don’t do it. It is condescending and down right rude.

International Women’s Day

“International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.”

As a woman here in the UK, I am lucky that I many more rights than I would have in other countries. I am free to wear what ever I would like, to drive and pursue any career I desire. But there are still problems. Women overall are not paid the same as men, there are more males in politics and business compared to women and overall female health, educations and violence towards women is worse.

So make a stand, even if it’s just teaching someone why calling a total stranger on the street a Princess is wrong. If everyone male or female makes little change then we will eventually get there. Equality is all women want.