Currently #2

[Grand Canyon - October 2011]

Thinking about: A weird limbo stage of growing up and "becoming an adult". Now that it is approaching a year since we returned from travelling, I am starting to feel a bit older. (I fully realise that at 25, I am already an adult). I say limbo stage because I don't think I'm fully into that "settled" part of my life (my own choice), and I'd ideally like to backpack around somewhere again (Europe or NZ!). Obviously there are no set ages for anything in life, but I feel like I do fight a constant battle between wanting to grow up and not. In my opinion though, your twenties are for lots of new adventures and experiences that maybe buying a house or having a child would restrict. Let's hope finances will allow another big trip at some point.

Watching: Very late to the party, I have just started watching Game of Thrones and really liking it so far. Can't wait for the last series of Dexter this summer and as always I am still enjoying my guilty pleasure shows, i.e Revenge. Also - I do love a bit of The Apprentice, even if they are all idiots.

Listening to: Next week I am seeing Andrew McMahon and am rather giddy with over excitement, Something Corporate have been one of my favourite bands since I was 16 (Will most likely revert to 16 year old self at the gig). Also still on my commute playlist; the new Frank Turner album, Tape Deck Heart, and some Gabrielle Aplin.

Reading: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which I am really enjoying. Hoping to start The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle soon. I have been recommended this book many , many times by my good friend James, but never seem to get round to starting it. If you hadn't guessed, I am awful with books, I need to push myself to read more! In terms of blogs, a few of my favourite daily reads are; Rachel Phipps, Betsy Transatlantically & Incurably Curious.

[Me & Lizzie at her hen party]

Looking forward to: A wedding & a christening! Next bank holiday weekend one of my friends, Lizzie, is getting married (the first one of our friends to get married, makes me feel like I am definitely getting older!) then Aled's nephew is getting christened the day after. Plus it's a four day weekend for me, so that will definitely help me get through work this week!

Researching: London neighbourhoods. It's rather hard to find somewhere that is relatively safe with great atmosphere, good transport links AND cheap(er) houses. Gosh. We've spent a few days checking out some of the places we are considering. Our move date might be postponed a month, so we don't have to properly start looking till June/July. I am just hoping for a smooth, hassle free house/flat hunt - which almost definitely won't happen.

[ This post was inspired by the "Currently" posts over on one of my favourite blogs Sometimes Sweet by Danielle. ]

Life lately

I'm not if anyone reads this, but hello if you are! I keep meaning to post a little more regularly, and hopefully i'll start a better posting routine soon.

I'm currently trying to research different neighbourhoods, as we're moving in with friends in a few months and I am trying to find the perfect location equidistant from all our workplaces. I'm looking forward (and slightly stressed) about starting to view places. Only a year since the last estate agent hassle and I hope things run smoothly.

For now, I thought i'd share a few photos from the past months..

Dieting & me

Slightly different post today. I have been toying with the idea of writing about diet and exercise on this blog. I don't want it to be centered on that, but when that certain subject is a big part of my life, it's hard not to post about it. I have to apologise for the lack of posts recently too - I have been rather lazy with my blog of late. I also have (of course) taken a fair few photos these past few months and plan to do a photo catch up type post later in the week.

I am not sure what has happened so far this year with regards to diet and exercise. I feel slightly like I've been on a downhill slope. I have been eating terribly, not going to the gym anywhere near enough and am basically in a vicious circle of self sabotage as I feel myself getting bigger and unhealthier. Fun! I feel like I've been in this weight-related rut for about 5 years now. It's unhappy, embarassing and it is time to change. It's always humiliating when everyone that knows you, knows that you have been trying to lose weight for years and years but never achieved your goal. Yay failure! I am also starting to dislike my Time Hop app as it keeps showing me my Twitter updates from up to three years ago which describe my then current dieting habits. Just a tad depressing that 3 years on I still haven't managed to lose the weight successfully.

I am trying to stay away from fad and set diets plans (i.e Atkins or Weight Watchers) as a) I don't think they work for me and b) I just don't think they are healthy in the long or short run. There are definitely healthy ways of doing something like Weight Watchers, but I hate all their "diet foods", their own brand crisps and chocolate bars which are full of crap and really shouldn't be going into your body during a health kick (or ever). I am starting to dislike anything which advertises itself as "low calorie" more and more. Usually it just means it's full of harmful sweeteners and chemicals. Especially "low fat" options which normally means they are full of sugar.

A few online health & exercise sites I keep coming back to:

• Where Are My Knees - This is a great community diet blog. I don't necessarily agree with some of the posts, like I said above, I am not a fan of WW or SW anymore but I think they have good recipes, interesting guest posts and a definite friendly feel. It's the only UK community diet blog that I know of! Point me in the right direction if you know of any other good ones.
• A Model Recommends - I really like this blog and Ruth does some great posts on exericse and nutrition. It's all very good, sensible advice for a healthier life in the long term.
• Sweat Like a Pig - I came across Tara's personal training and advice site recently. She is a personal trainer based in Kensington and although I sadly cannot afford any of her services, she fortunately does have a few very helpful posts on nutrition and exercise. I especially like the post on how bad sugar is for you. The sad fact is, I know I'd feel amazing if I gave up sugar completely but it is just too DAMN HARD. Maybe one day. Or maybe not.

Let me know if you have any great internet based helpful sources for health, nutrition and exercise tips!

Paris, Je t'aime

Bonjour mes amis!

I went to Paris last week for three days! I love Paris and was so excited to go back. I love France and the French language a lot in general (you could say I am slightly obssessed). Aled & I had booked the week off work ages ago and thought we deserved a bit of a holiday (partly celebrating the fact that we recently both got new jobs!). We went on the Eurostar which was great and such less hassle than flying and being someone who dislikes flying, it will always be a winner for me. We stayed at Hotel Parc Saint Severin, which is a lovely little hotel in the centre of Paris, very near the Notre Dame, which made it perfect for us to walk to a lot of the sights. We spent a great three days visiting all the usual touristy spots and eating our way through mountains of French food and wine. I'd like to return soon and do a lot more non-touristy things. I'd also hope it would be warmer on our return as it was very cold last week and I felt rather frozen most of the time. So much that we ended up returning the hotel in the late afternoons just to warm up for a few hours! The greyness of the weather definitely translates in the photos. I did love Paris in the snow though, très romantic. We actually had some blue skies on the last day which meant we could go up the Eiffel Tower and not have a very limited view which was lucky. I only managed it to the second platform (with a fear of heights I thought I might not get up it at all to be honest!) and Aled went all the way to the top and took a few photos zoomed in of the roads and buildings that I am planning to tilt shift at some point.

I'm not too happy with my photos at the moment, my DSLR is very old and think the quality is fading and auto focus slightly broken. Though I will have the make the most of it as not really sure when I will be able to afford a new one in the near future! Living in London definitely prevents saving of any kind. I'm also hoping to a find a photoraphy course I can attend as I really want to develop my photography skills. I really enjoy taking photos but I hardly know how to use most of the features on my camera!

Hoping the weather here will take a turn for the warmer soon. It's obviously no secret that England is had slightly miserable weather and it has never really bothered me that much although at the moment I feel a bit like I don't remember what it is like to be in the sun!

Definitely hoping for a warmer European holiday in the summer - we are thinking Barcelona - any recommendations for hotels/restaurants/sights? Gracias!

A year ago today - Dog sledding & northern lights

A year ago today I was living in Vancouver and we had decided to spend a weekend away in the Yukon, one of the provinces in Northern Canada. I wish I could repeat my year away every day and I really do miss Canada therefore I do end up living vicariously through my photos and memories. I thought i'd share some of the photos from that weekend, as i'd like to revisit the places we visited on this blog.

The Yukon is totally what people picture when they think of Canada - snow everywhere and a balmy -20 degrees. It was so cold that any condensation on your face turned into tiny icicles! Everyone there seemed to think it was rather warm as it was -40 degrees the previous week! Whitehorse is a tiny little town yet houses most of the population of the Yukon. It has as little as four hours of daylight during the winter and midnight sun during the summer. Despite this very difficult climate, the people we met there genuinely loved living in Whitehorse. It puts us Brits complaining about the weather into perspective!

During the weekend we went dog sledding, witnessed the northern lights, went to a wildlife park and bathed in some hot springs. It was a truly amazing weekend and we were very lucky to see the northern lights.  Dog sledding was so much fun and so very surreal. During the moments when you can't see the person in front or behind you and you are just alone, in a snowy wonderland being pulled on a sled by four dogs. Amazing. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.

Excuse the blurriness of the photos of the northern lights - they were rather difficult to photograph with an average camera!

 Have you ever visited the Yukon?

January details

January has gone past so quickly and much to everyone's delight the evenings are getting slightly lighter and the weather slightly warmer. I definitely feel ready for spring and summer now. Feel like my skin has not felt the sun's warmth for years.

Just thought i'd share a few photos and instagram captures from the past month. The sketches below are by my very talented little sister. I cannot draw like this at all and am constantly in awe of her! She hasn't picked up her pencils and sketchbook for while and recently got inspired whilst watching Africa. I think you'll all agree she needs to keep at it!

Afternoon tea break in Dulwich Village - beautiful area of South London (feels like the countryside, not London!)
Aled & I have this exact photo (see below!) & it made me really miss Canada, travelling & exploring new places

Snowy view outside our flat window - I LOVE the snow and it was amazing to see central London so white
Loved this sign outside a pub in Shoreditch the other day

Had a pedicure & massage at Cowshed last week (Christmas present from Aled!) & it was pure bliss
Trafalgar Square yesterday - finally some sun! Albeit cloudy too.

Instagram  - beznee // Vine - beznee

I really love the new app Vine at the moment (basically like a moving Instagram!)

Anybody else on Vine?

January playlist

My other half Aled is very passionate about music, namely folk, americana and indie rock. He writes live gig & album reviews, contributes to music sites and also writes his own music blog, The Evening's Empire.

I thought it would be a great idea to do a once a month playlist curated by both of us! I wanted to go for mostly new songs with a few older ones thrown in, and also a mixture of well known and lesser known artists. My music taste is fairly varied and most of my new discoveries come inevitably from him. I realise it's the very end of January, but better late than never! You can listen to the songs below on the Grooveshark player.

I hope you like it!