2018 Round Up!

2018 was an all round good year for me. Ive got some of my favourite photos or memories together from 2018 to try and show my year in images. 

We started the year in Australia as our 2 month travels came to a sad end.

Soon after i was home we had loads of snow! Slight change in climate for me...

I left my job and the most amazing people. I worked here for 3 years.

I celebrated my 21st Birthday in April.

Had a fun BBQ at the beach with some old work friends.

Had a 1 night stay at Fritton Arms.

Ate my first ever Five Guys and my god, it was amazing!

Treated myself to a Mulberry purse.

Baked lots of lemon drizzle cakes.

Took my Mum to Dunston Hall for the night for her Birthday. We stayed in the penthouse suite.

I went to Latitude for the first time and even saw Tanya Burr there!

I went tubing with my old work besties.

Booked a last minute holiday to Majorca. Much needed!

Baked a cake for my friends 30th birthday at work.

Made a pact with myself to have nice nails and treat myself to getting them done regularly.

Baked for Children In Need

Had a few Christmassy days in Milton Keynes & Bicester Village

Recent Bakes

I used to spend weekends baking with my Mum in the kitchen and loved it so much. I picked up on so many little techniques that she used. When you're truly interested and invested in something is when you actually pay attention!

When choosing my GCSE's i chose Food Technology as one of them. And as much as i enjoyed the practicals, i found the theory easy as i felt like i actually understood everything. It was one of the best results i got in my GCSE's as i was never very academic and instead loved cooking and sports!

Nowadays i bake whenever i can. I dont take it too seriously and honestly, I'm not artistic! Im not sure i would be capable of doing this as a career, but i still can't help but feel slight jealously of seeing friends-of-friends small baking business's grow so much.

Here are a few cakes I've baked recently. They have the same basic recipe just with either cocoa powder, coffee or vanilla. 

Chocolate Cake (for my friends 30th)

Victoria Sponge

Coffee Cake

My 21st Birthday

My 21st birthday was on the 9th April. 

It was really chilled, and spent at home with a meal out with my family. I didn't want to do anything too extravagant and was happy to be at home as for my 19th birthday i was in Newquay in Cornwall, and last year for my 20th birthday i was travelling all day on my way back from Sydney, Australia. 

I received some lovely gifts and was truly spoilt. 

Here are some snapshots from the day.

Cape Verde 2017

I have recently got back from a holiday to Cape Verde. We landed on the island of Boa Vista and stayed at the a Rui Touareg resort. Here are some photos of our trip. 

You can't buy back time, and you can't buy memories.

Ive tried to be a bit more creative when it comes to giving gifts for occasions. Instead of the typical bath sets that no one really wants I've tried to push the boat out a bit more recently. 

In April 2016 myself and my partner went away for a long weekend to Newquay in Cornwall to celebrate our birthdays, last year for my mums birthday i took her to CenterParcs for the weekend, myself and my partner are off to Cape Verde in September which a gift from me for his 21st. 

You can't buy back time, and you can't buy memories. This is why I've realised its so important to make memories yourself; no one is able to make them for you. 

For my mums birthday this year I took her to a Spa hotel and country club call Park Farm near Norwich, Norfolk. I booked the apartment for one night. It was absolutely gorgeous and her reaction made the surprise so worth it. She was so over the moon and grateful. This was such a special moment and so much happiness was brought upon both of us. I will treasure her reaction and always remember her holding her head in her hands and crying tears of happiness on the edge of the blue chequered sofa. 

Here are some pictures of our gorgeous apartment.