10 Loves #8

1.    Obama’s photographer has captured his most heart-warming and historic moments of his 8 years in office

2.    My talented and hard- working friend produced Shout! The Mod Musical to rave reviews

3.    Margot Price, because it turns out I love country music

4.    The Girl on the Train had me on tenterhooks as I devoured it over 4 days (which is fast for me!)

5.    Fearne Cotton’s Cook Happy Cook Healthy is my food bible for the time being

6.    My fish shaped ice from Ikea have been giving me life

7.    The Tate Modern has opened a brand new extension and I can’t wait to visit and take it all in

8.    I’ve been starting my mornings right with this iced coffee recipe which I talked about here. It was great for the 5 days of summer we enjoyed

9.    This Guardian article summarised my frustrations about British Politics and was featured in this post, while Gordon Brown wrote a great op-ed in the New York Times about why the world needs a Britain influencing and cooperating in Europe.

10. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous new collection by Doen.

Workwear Wishin'

I’m starting a new job in the next couple of weeks (hooray!) and the office dress code is the most relaxed vibe yet. It’s office wear- which covers all manner of sins- whereas my previous jobs have either had a uniform or a strict business code.

I’m afraid I can’t afford to be let loose in Zara but I have been let loose on Pinterest and the internet in general. So here is a mixture of workwear inspiration and some good ol’ online window shopping. New work, new wardrobe please?

To Tan, or Not To Tan

I’m a pale gal and I have a problem. I’m not sure whether I should embrace my natural albeit ghostly skin for good, or keep getting my trusty fake tan fix; you could say I have commitment issues.

I’ve only been experimenting with tanning for four or five years, so I’m no die hard fan, and I would never dream of going near anything other than ‘light’. But honestly, when Spring time rolls around and summer approaches, something in the back of my head tells me I don’t look right. Pale skin and summer clothes just don’t feel right without some sort of glow.

My first problem is I don’t tan naturally. Between May and September I’m lucky if I gain a few freckles. In Australia I burnt and it eventually turned into a famer’s tan. Score!

I just want to take a second to check my privilege. I’m lucky to get to worry about what shade of white I am.

So in the absence of a natural tan, I have to spend money on it, and let me tell you, trying to find a natural- looking, non- orange fake tan ain’t cheap. My current tan of choice is the St Tropez Express Tan, and although it’s the perfect olive shade, it’s also a whopping £11.

There comes a time in a girl’s life when she has to either embrace the glow for life or choose permanently pale, and the time for me is now. I so want to rock the pale English rose look but it’s a bit of a leap of faith.

What do you think?

Please share your tanning struggles with me!

What I've read on the web this week

1.    This succinct article in The Guardian perfectly sums up my feelings about the current state of British political culture- albeit much more eloquently than me. It makes me wonder which point I will look back on as the point at which I decided to leave England.

2.    “You won’t hear about this in the mainstream media” tackles the barrage of attacks faced by journalists, particularly the uniquely personal and sexual attacks faced by female journalists. It points out the genuine threat this poses to democracy. You truly won’t hear about this in the MSM.

3.    I loved this piece by Lin Manuel Miranda about making theatre more affordable so it reaches those who would benefit from it most

4.    I have so much love for this HelloGiggles think piece from Rachel Charlene on bodies, race, class, tribalism, and fat phobia at Universities.

5.    Yes, this one may be in the Sociological Review, but give it a chance! Another one about British political culture and the EU referendum. #PostcolonialMelancholy

6.    This Elle article about the important distinction between failing and being a failure is just lovely.

The Graduate's Guide to Voting

I’ve always been that person who says, “It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote”, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the upcoming in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU is too important for just picking a side on the day. I’m fortunate as a politics grad in that I’ve always known which way I would vote if there was ever an in/out referendum, but many friends I’ve spoken to are still undecided. I can’t imagine how overwhelming it must be to have to make your mind up in a matter of weeks. So with that in mind, here is my guide to deciding which way to vote, so you don’t end up voting in the dark.

1.    The newspapers do not equal the truth

Some people seem to think everything they read in newspapers is gospel. Well, I’m here to tell you it’s not. On both sides of any debate, newspapers have agendas too, so they’ll rarely report figures that go against their message, and have even become quite skilled at running pretty flawed and skewed research of their own. Either read a variety of newspapers or none at all, and take everything you read with a pinch of salt.

2.    Educate yourself

It’s important to seek out more information than what is hand-picked for you by the media or your friends and family. You decide what’s important to you. You can do your own research simply by googling the institutions and issues involved. The more you know, the more informed your decision will be on polling day.

3.    Get some perspective

You’ll probably feel more confident in your decision if you keep up with what’s going on in the world beyond our shores; how the UK affects the world, and how the world affects the UK. I find it really helpful to read articles written outside the UK to gain some much needed context to any debate. Good starting points are the New York Times, Politico, The Washington Post and Buzzfeed, where you’ll find they all have columns going on European Affairs and the referendum specifically. Try searching ‘Brexit’ in any of these publications and you should find plenty of global perspective.

4.    Talk it out

Don’t be afraid to listen to the opinions of those close to you and tell them your views too. You’ll probably gain some insight into how people could personally be affected by the result, and debating with people can strengthen your arguments or just make you see things clearly. But maybe don’t bring it up at a special occasion like a family wedding. Champagne, family and politics is a lethal cocktail which won’t end well!

5.    Think about what you want

Have a think about what you want out of life- your goals, ambitions and dreams- and whether the referendum result would effect those things based on what you’ve learnt, and if so how. The arguments from campaigners can get a bit abstract, but if you think of the facts and figures in terms of your job ambitions, travelling goals, family dreams etc the debate gets closer to home and a little more real.

Be critical, open- minded, and good luck…

See you on the flip side!!!

Iced Coffee Recipe

I’ve only been a coffee lover for the last 6 months. I’m 22.

When I realised the errors of my ways I was genuinely saddened that I’d missed out on 21 and a half years of morning goodness. That being said, I tend to limit myself to one dose of caffeine a day in a bid to keep anxiety at bay.

Now just because it’s summer and I don’t fancy a hot bevvy in 25 degree heat, why should I deny myself my coffee rights? The good news is this recipe for iced coffee is outrageously simple, costs nothing if you already have coffee grounds, and perfect for a coffee on the go. Can be enjoyed come rain or shine (but best enjoyed on a warm, sunny day because I’m just happier then anyway). Once you have this recipe in your life, you’ll have no excuse to spend all of your pennies on Starbucks…

All you need is:

·         Coffee grounds

·         A sieve or coffee filter paper

·         Ice

1.    Firstly, place your usual amount of coffee into a mason jar (or, if you’re making a batch, double, triple etc as needed) and fill the mason jar about 2/3 full with cold water

2.    Place a lid on and leave for at least 12 hours (though overnight is best) in the fridge

3.    Once it’s out of the fridge you’ll want to give it a stir

4.    To remove any grit that might be undissolved, simply pour the mixture through either coffee filter paper if you’re feeling fancy or a fine sieve- I use a sieve and it works just fine

5.    Then throw in plenty of ice and add the milk of your choice- or go hard-core and enjoy it black.

Soon you’ll be laughing in Starbuck’s faces!

(This ace recipe is courtesy of the New York Times)

Let's Get Real: TV

Gone are the days when TV was all about escaping your boring life and living out your dreams through SJP on Sex in the City, and pretending to be a spoilt rich kid on The O.C. Don’t get me wrong, I love diving back into those box sets once in a while, but mostly I’m all about the here and now; I want to RELATE, people. I don’t love reality TV (unless I’m nursing a hangover and the Kardashians are on, of course) but give me a storyline a tad close to the bone and you’ve got me hooked. Here are some of my down-to-earth TV favourites that will have you shouting, “I hear ya!”.

WARNING: Don’t watch any of these with your parents

Broad City

This show began its life as a web series, so it’s safe to say it had humble beginnings. It follows Abby and Ilana, who are two twenty-something year olds trying to figure their lives out in New York City, but find themselves not getting very far. Definitely watch this if you’re feeling low about your achievements, it will have you whispering YAS KWEEN, in no time. And how can you resist a Hillary Clinton cameo?

Girls

If you haven’t watched Girls yet, you’ve either been living under a rock for 5 years or you’re moving in the wrong circles. Created by the goddess that is Lena Dunham, the show has broken boundaries and brought us stories that are sometimes crazy, but often universal. I have cried, laughed, been repulsed and amazed by Girls, and I would recommend it to any woman or man. Expect plenty of self-realisation storylines and lots of lessons learnt. The most accurate portrayal of what it’s like to be a young woman in my books. The writing is never lazy or predictable. The most recent season left me with shivers after every episode.

Inside Amy Schumer

This is another show which has seemingly insane storylines but actually reveals universal truths that every woman will be able to relate to. Amy Schumer plays a version of herself, in many strange scenarios and with a boat load of cameos .I am in awe of how honest Amy Schumer is, and she never fails to make me howl with laughter. Just trust me and watch it, okay?

Master of None

I didn’t really know what to expect when I added to this to my Netflix list; all I knew was that it starred and was written by Aziz Ansari, so it was bound to be good. Turns out I wasn’t prepared for quite how complex and multi-faceted it would be, not to mention how freakin stylish. It’s safe to say it’s right up my street. You can definitely enjoy this if you just want a laugh, but also if you want to learn something and have a think. One episode focuses on what it’s like to be a second generation ethnic immigrant compared with what their parents went through, and another explores the absurdity of racial stereotyping in Hollywood. It’s safe to say all bases are covered.

Happy Weekend!