Waste(less)

Last year I set out a few goals for myself (you can read that blog post here) and I'm sad to say I've accomplished zero. Honestly, if I hadn't graduated from university in January, I would be really struggling to mention even one thing I did this year. As I mentioned back in January, 2018 was supposed to be a big year for me, I was supposed to graduate, turn 23 (woo, managed to do those two), get a job and move out. But, turns out, finding a job isn't easy, not that I thought it was but I was kinda misled into thinking "you'll never find a job if you don't have a degree" but, as it turns out, my degree means nothing if I don't have a major or 10 years of work experience, why didn't I think to get a job when I was 12? Silly me.

This year has been hard, and I know that so many other people have it harder than I do, but that doesn't take away from my own experience. Getting zero responses, or a few negative ones, from dozens of job opportunities, being secluded at home because I have absolutely nothing to do, just scrolling through job offers and then going back to being rejected all over again. I've felt depressed, angry, sad and lonely and I've felt nothing at all at the same time. There have been days when I'd wake up and go right back to sleep because my first thought was "what's the point of getting up?", and then there were days when all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry, and that's exactly what I did. I've been too scared to ask for help because I hate the thought of having to rely on anyone else but me to make myself feel okay again. I've completely separated myself from the very few friends I have and it hurts me to think that I don't even miss them.

My main goal for the year was to finally feel somewhat comfortable in my own body and boy oh boy, did I fail that one. I've always been insecure about my body, anyone that knows me knows that, and this year I've managed to at least talk about some of the issues and why I have them with my mum and boyfriend, which felt kinda nice to get off my chest and, in consequence, find a way to get through them. But the reality is, I'm miles away from loving myself and accepting myself for what I am. For a few months at the start of the year, I did try, and succeeded for that matter, to go on a walk every day and do some yoga to get my mind off things, as with most physical activities in my life I eventually stopped, and I don't even know why. I hate working out, so I always quit two months after deciding to do it, but both yoga and walks in the woods are something I love doing, even if it is for just 20 minutes, I'm always left with a feeling that I've accomplished something that day, which does make me feel a bit more productive and, as a consequence, keep up with doing something for the day instead of curling up in a corner wanting to disappear. 

The second goal I mentioned was to travel more and travel alone. I love being alone, I really do, I live for those nights when my mum goes out and my boyfriend has plans and I can just be by myself, what I struggle with is doing exactly that outside. One of the reasons why I stopped going on walks or runs was because I hate being outside alone, I'm completely aware that no one is staring at me or judging me because I'm alone, but all that logic goes out the window once I set my foot outside the door. The whole plan to travel more and travel alone was to learn to be comfortable with my own company, but having no job means no money and having no money means I can't travel so I'll be blaming that one on all of those people who didn't hire me.

Another thing I mentioned was a bit less life changing and I'm not really mad about not having achieved it (and I can also blame it on all of those who refused to get me a job), I didn't get to use all my eleven film cameras, not even close, but I did manage to finally use my Exa, which was the one I wanted to use the most, so I'll take that as a win. On a similar topic, I mentioned I wanted to learn to let go and let people take pictures of me because when I look back on all those holidays in Paris and Amsterdam and Madrid with my friends, there aren't any photos of myself, which does make me kinda sad. Now this one I did kinda achieve, back in September my boyfriend and I went on a little 2-day trip to Sintra, and we got to visit one of the places I've always wanted to go to so, on the last day, I finally bit the bullet and actually asked my boyfriend to take a picture of me, and as embarrassed as I was for the whole 10 seconds it took us to take a few pictures, as soon as we were done I forgot all about it and now I actually have a picture of me I like, smiling and everything... Who'd a thunk it? And there I am, with my beautiful Exa on my lap, with one of my favourite views in the background.

On a more intellectual note, I also mentioned I'd like to get back into reading, which I did do, for around 3 months. I've actually written a whole blog post about this, which you can read here, but basically, when I went on holiday with my boyfriend's family, I finally felt like I was getting back into reading and loving it as I did before I started university, Lolita* wasn't the first book I finished this year, but it was the first one I picked up and read from cover to cover without feeling the need to take a month long break, or starting something different. This was then followed by the amazing Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine* (which I now really want in hardback* btw). I then devoured Call Me By Your Name*, quickly read We Should All Be Feminists* on a slow day at work (yes, I did work for about a month at a store to fill in for someone) and then proceeded to start She Must Be Mad*, The Unbearable Lightness of Being* and Julie & Julia* for an easy read, and I've yet to finish them. I'm pretty sure I'll have both the first and last books read by the end of the year so, I'll call this one half a win.

2019 Resolutions



After the year I've just had, I'm ready for a change. I have no idea what next year will bring, but there are definitely things I can control and change myself. I'd love to get back into yoga, but I'll have to do it gradually. I could definitely start doing it every day for 40 minutes at a time, but knowing me, in a few weeks I'd be quitting, so my strategy is to start small and let myself get used to it, start out with some small stretches in the morning for 5 minutes and then again 5 minutes before bed, Yoga With Adriene also has a video on "couch yoga" which is great for those days when I just don't want to move. By slowly getting used to this, I'll eventually feel the need to keep up with it and maybe, just maybe, I'll want to do more, like go on a daily walk and eventually start running. I've even downloaded an app that is supposed to help you get into the swing of things, so we'll see how that goes.

Secondly, I already eat quite healthy, despite the occasional junk food (but hey, it's all about balance), but I'd really like to go back to being a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for almost 3 years and then, for many reasons, just had to deviate from that diet. Honestly, I very rarely eat any meat or fish, but I'd like to cut it out completely, the only reason why I haven't done it yet is that I usually spend the weekend at my boyfriend's family place and they eat meat for every.single.meal, it's actually insane, but I'll learn to live around that. Along with that, I just need to drink more water, I'm so good at it during summer, but as soon as winter comes I kinda forget about it and it really reflects on my skin and lips, so GET.ON.IT. Also, I need to start drinking more green tea, I always feel better about myself when I do, and maybe it's just placebo effect, but even if it is, whatever makes me feel good... 

I feel like I'm really failing at this adulthood thing, mostly because I go to bed at 3 am, look at my phone until 5 and then wake up at 1 pm mad at myself for not getting up earlier, and even worse, absolutely shattered and ready to go right back to sleep. I'm not expecting to start getting up and ready to go by 6 am, although I'd love to be that person, I know I'd be so much more productive if I got up early. I remember when I had to get up at 5:30 am to go to class, by the time I was getting home from uni I still felt like I had the whole day ahead of me. So, that's another thing I'll gradually ease myself into.

Back in July, with the whole Plastic Free July movement going on, I really started getting into a more sustainable lifestyle, I started out small, first I got a few shopping bags, then came the reusable bottle, the metal straw quickly followed and then a bamboo toothbrush. These can seem like small changes but every little step counts, I began to be more aware of what I was buying, where I was buying it... I bake my own bread, make my own oat milk, laundry detergent, apple cider vinegar, cleaning products among other things (you can read my post about my ACV Rinse here & a list of DIY Sustainable Products here. I make my own produce and tote bags, I try to buy most of my groceries at the farmer's market or a bulk store and only go to the supermarket to buy things I can't buy at those places. You can find my posts on sustainable living here, but the whole point of this is to say, this year I'm really hoping to get fully into this way of living, choosing seasonal produce, trying to make more of my own products and truly live a sustainable life.

Lastly, much like last year, my last goal is to a book-related one. I won't probably be one of those people who read 50 books a year anytime soon, that was the old me, and maybe I'll get back to that one day, but this year I'll settle for a book a month and if by December I've read more than 12 books, the better. I'm thinking of maybe reviewing a few of them, but we shall see. And that's all folks, a very long rant but a much necessary one, if you stuck to the end, let me know in the comments below some of your goals for the year ahead, let's inspire each other to do better and greater things. Talk to you next year, happy New Year everyone.

The end of the year is upon us and with it an enormous amount of reflection is due. A more serious take on that is coming but, for now, I thought I'd share some of my favourite things I discovered and did this year.

During the January sales, I bought two things I love dearly, a white fuzzy crop sweater that is just a huge 90s throwback, and Zara's Oriental perfume. That's also when I started wearing what is now my signature gold necklace, which I've mentioned in my Everyday Gold Accessories post.


For Valentine's, and actually, our 2 year anniversary, my boyfriend and I went over to my favourite place, Porto. This was my third time visiting, and I never want to come back home afterwards. Porto is the most beautiful city, with gorgeous architecture, amazing views and great places to visit and I'm basically living my film photography there because every corner is gorgeous. We stayed at CityBreak Apartments Coliseu and I can say for sure, I'll never book a different place, the room was beautiful and comfortable and everyone was so nice.



By May, two things happened: I turned 23 and decided it was time to chop my hair, and so I donated around 50 cm of hair and I never felt so free. These were some of my favourite gifts, my brother gave me my baby, my Fjallraven Kanken, while my boyfriend bought me this gorgeous silver choker with a mother of pearl horn charm and my mum gave an adorable midi polka dot skirt.

By the beginning of summer, I started getting really into a more sustainable lifestyle, you can read all my blog posts on this here, and that's really becoming a big part of my life. In July I went on our yearly trip to Algarve with my boyfriend's family and honestly, I've never enjoyed a couple of weeks in the sun more, I felt truly relaxed, which was much appreciated after all the stress I'd been dealing with for the past seven months. I had the time to just lay in the sun and read, and that's when I got into reading again, thanks to both Lolita* and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine*, which I must say, was my book of the year. While we were so close to Spain we also went on a little day trip to Ayamonte, where we always go to, and enjoyed a day eating calamari and doing some shopping, my boyfriend's parents even gave me a bottle of my favourite perfume, Black Opium* by YSL.

In August, I started working for a month, which, as great as it was actually being called to work, it also was a dreadful time and I hated every second of it, but every break was truly enjoyed as I read Call Me By Your Name* for the whole 10 minutes of them, and that soon became my second book of the year.


As we got into the cooler months, I stayed in a lot more and decided I wanted a new show to binge watch besides Friends, to be honest, I was afraid I was going to get sick of it, I've been pretty much watching it non stop for the past five years so, I think I was due a break. As everyone was always going on about it, and I actually remembered watching it years and years ago on TV, I decided to watch Gilmore Girls and let me tell you, I couldn't stop watching it (and yes, I was as disappointed as everyone else by the last season and by Year in The Life), I'd watch it from the time I woke up until 5 am when I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore, or I'd have to force myself to go to bed because I just wouldn't stop any other way. Safe to say this was the show of the year for me (although an honourable mention goes to The Walking Dead for seriously upping its game).

In early December I took a few days with my mum to go to Toulouse to visit my brother and it was pretty refreshing. I had visited twice before, once on my own and another time with my mum for Christmas, and it had always been maniac, the first time they were trying to show me around, the second time they did the same for my mum, and now I pretty much know the city so I can get around easily and at will. Although Toulouse will never have the same appeal as Paris to me (I'll never forgive my brother from moving), Toulouse can be so pretty. Winter was also the time when I got super into my Black Opium* YSL and I'm so sad to think it'll be over any day now...

As for a few year-round favourites, I had to mention my Godsend, The Ordinary*. Back in June, I wrote this blog post, all about my skincare routine and an honest review on The Ordinary Skincare and I still can't imagine using any other products. At the time I mentioned the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%* and the Salicylic Acid 2% Solution*, I was also using the Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA*, at the time I didn't think I really needed the Alpha Arbutin, but once I had stopped using it for a while I could really see a difference on my skin and its texture so, I'll be repurchasing it. I'm currently trying out the Lactic Acid 10% + HA* as the Salicylic Acid was out of stock at the time I had to repurchase my products, but it really is no match to my old classic, so I'll be going back to my tried and tested regimen next time.

Lastly, every month this year I decided to add my favourite songs to a playlist which as now created my stuck playlist, with all my favourite songs for this year, it's much better than the Spotify one they make every year, trust me.

And there we go, a year in favourites, how fast did that go by? What were some of your favourite things this year? Let me know in the comments below.

Last year I showed you my Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, which I love, but you do have to make salted caramel and that's something I'm not always in the mood to do so, this year, I'm showing you a hot chocolate base that you can have on its own, and four delicious variations you can make with it, first we have a rich and fresh Peppermint Hot Chocolate, followed by a warm Gingerbread Hot Chocolate, then a spicy and tingly Chai Hot Chocolate and, lastly, a classic, Orange Hot Chocolate, what more do you need? And do you know what? If you still have some Christmas gifts to figure out, why not add all the dry ingredients to a cute jar, write the recipe on a little tag and wrap it around the jar? A tasty gift that keeps on giving and an affordable one at that...

Hot Chocolate Base

This is the hot chocolate base that can be your blank canvas for any flavour combo you like and for it, you'll need:

In a saucepan whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder and cornstarch. The cornstarch is supposed to make it a bit thicker, but it won't make it solid like a pudding so don't worry. Once it's all combined pour in the milk of your choice and whisk until it's all well blended. Bring the mixture to a light boil over medium heat and stir gently but frequently, once it starts lightly boiling reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for around 20 seconds, stirring constantly so it won't burn. Remove from the heat and, if you're using cream, stir it in.

Now that you have your basic recipe you can stop here and add some marshmallows to make it extra Christmasy or you can go a step further and make one of these.







Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Make your hot chocolate base but this time add some crushed candy canes, as many as you like, depending on how strong you want the flavour to be. Remove the hot chocolate from the heat once the candy canes have completely dissolved. Whip up some cream, it doesn't need to be very stiff, just enough for it to hold in a spoon. Pour the milk into your favourite mug and add a spoonful of whipped cream on top, sprinkle some crushed candy cane on top and then add a candy cane on the side and you're ready for a sweet but fresh treat.

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Now, this is a new one for me but I already love it. Once again, make your hot chocolate base but now with a twist, add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger (you can add more or less, according to your own taste), and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the dry mix before you add in the milk. Then proceed as normal. Once you've poured it into your mug you can add a bit of whipped cream, although I don't think it needs it.

Chai Hot Chocolate

This one may seem quite similar to the gingerbread one but wait until you try it. It's more of a twist on your Chai Latte than anything else, but let's move on. Once again, start with our hot chocolate base but this time add around 1 tablespoon of your favourite chai mixture (I particularly like the Twinings Spiced Chai, Palais Des Thés' Chai Imperial and their Spicy Passion) to the dry mix, once you add the milk you'll realize you're basically making a chocolate chai latte and everything will click and make sense and all will be right with the world. Once you're all done make sure to strain your hot chocolate as you pour it into your mug so as not to get any chai bits in your smooth drink. Top it off with some whipped cream, or the classic frothy milk foam, ground cinnamon and whatever you want to help make it prettier and you're ready to warm your soul with this beautiful drink.

Orange Hot Chocolate

This one is already a classic in my home and that's for a reason. To me, nothing screams Christmas like chocolate orange and once I first made this hot chocolate recipe I knew I wanted nothing else on Christmas morning for the rest of my life. As you already know, start with our base but this time add the zest of around half an orange to the mix at the same time you add the milk, this way it'll infuse it perfectly. You can add as much or as little orange zest as you wish, but I like mine quite orangey. If you can't get your hands on a chocolate orange, or any orange chocolate for that matter, you can just add the zest and move on with the recipe as normal but, if you do have some chocolate oranges lying around, chop one or two segments and add them to the pan at the same time as the milk and zest, this way it'll fully melt into the milk, making it richer and even tastier. Pour it into your mug, add a spoonful of whipped cream (although for this one I was actually feeling the milk foam a bit more) and then top it with another chocolate orange segment, this one will slowly melt and you'll occasionally feel a fresh taste swirling around as it does, how tasty does that sound?

And there we go, my five go-to hot chocolate recipes, which one would you love to try?

As I delve more and more into the plastic-free movement and sustainable living I thought I'd share with you some of the DIY products I'll be trying for the foreseeable future. I don't think I ever thought about making my own products, but as I was browsing Pinterest I came to think of how much plastic there is just containing the products we use on a daily basis, be it for hygiene, house cleaning or just general enjoyment. Not only that but, when it came to the ingredients, I couldn't even read half of them, let alone understand why they were really there, were they absolutely necessary? Were they safe? Could I do the same job without them? And so, a journey for a greener home commenced.