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You might remember that back in September I wrote my 'September Healthy Habits' post (if you don't, you might wanna go read it here!). I set myself a monthly challenge to help reduce some not-so-healthy habits and try to create some healthy(er) habits i.e. drink more green tea and less coffee :( It worked. It really helped. I really enjoyed it and it really gave me something to track on a weekly basis. Bullet journal lovers you will love this. In fact i'm doing mine on these free January bullet journal printables by Sandra at Wundertastisch using the 'habit tracker' page.

I'm not the 'new years resolution' type of gal. Instead I prefer to set myself monthly challenges to keep things new and work on things that really need working on. Setting yourself a yearly goal is far too broad. It doesn't help you to improve. Without further ado, let's get on to chatting about my health goals for January - what they are and how i'm going to achieve them...

Eat legumes 3 times a week

Legumes or beans are the perfect source of vegan protein and i'm guilty of not eating enough of them. I love myself a veggie curry but I often forget to add some kind of protein to it. This is something I shouldn't neglect since I strength train and workout on a regular basis. Protein is so important for your body and so this has to be a focus for me in January. It only involves opening a bloody tin for goodness sake.

Run a 10k

Eek this is a challenge an' half considering I don't really love to run that much (it's alright sometimes, in summer, or by the beach). But hopefully me and my flatmates will be taking part in the Wolf Run in April which is 10k + obstacles so, i'd like to be able to run a 10k quite comfortably by that point. So my aim for this month is simply to run a 10k. Send help!

Complete 5 unassisted chin ups once a week

This is something I can do, I just don't. I really want to add more pull ups into my weekly workout routine. They're such a good upper body exercise and a great addition to any workout routine. I want to practice as I used to be able to do a lot more and there's no better way to improve at them. This shouldn't be too difficult, just a nice reminder to add more compound, function moves into my workouts.

8,000 steps per DAY

This is going to be hard for me. Walking was also part of my 'September Healthy Habits' as it's something I definitely let slip. I can probably hit 6000 quite easily on a day of lectures and walking to the gym. It's the other days that will be more difficult. You know what it's like when it's cold outside and you're all warm and snuggly inside - you don't want to leave do you?!

Complete one day a week 'raw til 4' style

This is something I naturally did quite a lot on holiday. I would eat lots of fruit and smoothies for breakfast, a salad for lunch and then have a cooked dinner. I really liked how it made me feel so it's something i'd like to add into my daily life. But it's winter and I prefer warmer food like oats in winter, especially for breakfast, so once a week is enough for me (for now!).

Take some 'me' time to read 5 days a week

Yes once a day. I was guilty of not really giving myself any chill time in the latter half of 2016 and as much as the fitness/food goals above are good, mental health is also equally as important. You can't neglect your mental healthy habits. So i'm really going to try to read (a non academic book) every night before bed. It really helps me relax and switch off. That 'me time' is just so valuable. The reason I have put 5 days is because I probably won't read at weekends if my boyfriend stays over.

January goals come at meh. Let's do this *flex emoji*

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Rewinnnnndddd. Let's take a look back at the goals and challenges I set myself in mid 2016. How many did I achieve? What exactly did I do in the latter half of 2016? Well.. I enjoyed myself a damn lot. As I expressed in my 16 things in 2016 post, I had a bloody good year.

Mid-year Challenges (5 things to do before 2016 is up).

So this challenge was one thing a month. Which (if any) did I do?

Complete a MOOC - Tick! I completed a beginners Spanish course in September.

Read 'The Importance of Being Earnest ' by Oscar Wilde - also completed back in August. I actually really enjoy this play, it was a fairly light and easy to read script.

One month no refined sugar - NO! This was most definitely not achieved. I had too many nights out and trips out for food for this to happen. I really wanted to do it and still do but, I feel like you have to be super organised and prepared for it. I do eat mostly plant-based but I do like my chocolate snacks. It will be hard to give up the chocolate for a whole month :(

Read 'Lord of the Flies' - I read this in December. Someone tell me why I even bothered to. I really didn't enjoy it at all but I persevered on through anyway.

2 weeks living off the £10 a week student challenge - This was definitely a challenge and a challenge which was important to me for quite a few reasons. Firstly, the way student finance works for MSc means I have no 'living' money at all therefore keeping food costs down to a minimum is something I need to do. Secondly, I don't like food waste so keeping your budget low helps to minimise overbuying and wasting products. Thirdly, I do eat plant-based anyway so I can get a decent amount of food to last me a while (it just means no treats!). I definitely did one week of this. I tend to stock up on my toiletries and all that jazz earlier on in the year. So I find it easy to live off £10 a week if I don't go out. I am happy to drink tap water in most places and make packed lunches to take to university with me. I find it easier and so much cheaper to cook myself 3 meals a day. I hope to continue this challenge (and do a blog post on it!). £10 food shop is such a good aim and I can't wait to show you just how much you can get for it when you shop savvy.

So there we have it. I completed most of the mid-year challenges. I found that setting this challenges gave me something to do. Like instead of reading celebrity gossip magazines I was reading Oscar Wilde (lol!). Instead of splurging on my weekly food shop, I had an aim. This is something i particularly stuck with throughout the last few months of 2016. My bi-weekly food shop usually cost around £20. This is definitely something i'll stick with in 2017 and hopefully shopping this way will help me eat more whole foods and less refined sugar. Although with the amount of vegan snacks I got for christmas, I don't think a refined sugar-free month will be coming any time soon.

So what did I tick off my bucket list last year?

Camping (a very cold, rainy weekend in Chester - fun though)
Ice Bar (in Amsterdam!)
Trampolining (who knew it could be such a workout)
Started to learn Spanish (that's kinda failing now.. I need to get back on it)

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What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't end this year with a reflection post?! I'm going to share with you 8 things that have made me a very happy lady this year and 8 things i've learnt throughout the last 12 months. Gosh it has it gone SO fast, I honestly cannot believe it. 2016 has been pretty turbulent but on the most part it's been a good year. I'm reflecting on this year with a humongous smile. Here goes...

8 things i am grateful for:

Meeting new people

2016 has been THE year for meeting a whole bunch of amazing new people (although we can't forget all the existing amazing people I already know! - i love ya). I love getting to know new people and i've been lucky to make some amazing friendships.

Travelling (a lot!)

I have also travelled a lot this year! I experienced my first long-haul flight to Malaysia (eek!), visited two lovely islands with incredibly blue seas (Kos & Cyprus), visited some new cities within the UK, went to 'Dam, spent Christmas in the Canaries. It makes me feel incredibly, incredibly lucky and I am thankful for every single trip I take. Nothing fulfils me more than spending time in nature and exploring new places. Happy, happy days!

Graduating

I made it. I finally bloody made it. Now i'm onto my master's but never mind.. who doesn't want to graduate twice. I feel so lucky to have graduated with 1st Class Honours and fab marks in my dissertation. I am thankful because I worked so hard and i'm so glad it paid off. I'm grateful for having the chance to educate myself, to learn new things and to have the amazing experience I had. Yes it was actually fun sometimes too.

Getting ma car 🚗

Brum Brum. In 2016 I managed to not only pass my driving test but also (with the help of my lovely mother) get myself a little Fiat 500. Yas, hello, i'm happy, I love it. I've only had it around a month but it gives me so much more freedom and independence so I don't have to get my chauffeurs (my mum and my boyfriend) to drive me everywhere.

Becoming 100% vegetarian and 95% vegan

I want to try and avoid labelling myself as much as possible but... I am incredibly happy I found a way to eat that suits me. That makes me happy. It's been a long time coming after a long time with body/food 'issues'. This type of diet suits my beliefs and my loves - nature, animals, compassion, equality etc. It makes me feel great - less binging, more satiating, full of nutrients. Eating like this has helped me a lot and I feel better than ever.

Growth in self-love/body image

Linking to the point above, this has been the year of learning to love myself mentally and physically. In 2015 I struggled a lot with body issues (I eluded to it in this post). Whereas 2016, especially the latter half, has really helped me with those self-esteem issues. I've learnt to love myself a lot more, i'm embracing my flaws and learning to value myself for more than just what I look like. Looks aren't everything believe it or not! This is something that WILL continue in 2017, i'm not quite there yet...

Bringing back my love for blogging

I used to blog back in my college days (2010-2012 ish) and gave up due to A-level demands. Oh the fun. So i'm really glad I managed to rekindle my love for blogging. The community is so lovely - yes i'm talking about you lovely lot! It's been an amazing year of blogging which i've managed to keep up throughout university, exams and all that jazz. Yay me.

Experiences > things (life's short yo', appreciate it!)

This year i'm so grateful for all the wonderful memories i've had chance to make. It's been the year of saying 'yes' for me. I've experienced so many new things (see my bucket list post) and simply learnt to enjoy every moment I do have. I've realised how short life is - I guess that comes with age eh - and learnt to appreciate experiences more than things. That means less shopping and more travelling, going out, eating out, hanging out...

8 things I have learnt in 2016:

Be a good egg

Not that this is new to me. I've always tried to be a good egg. But this year i've focused on being a 'good' person. I've learnt that it is very good to be a good egg not just for yourself but for others. So be a good egg people

There's more to life than food and weight - so love yourself regardless

This is something i'm grateful for like i said above but, it's also something i've had to learn. I've had to learn that loving myself for what and who I am is farrrrrr more important than trying to be a certain weight or look a particular way. I've had to learn that looking in the mirror and liking what I see is about more than what my body looks like. Actually, I can love me. Losing 10lbs will not make me a better, happier or more loveable person. Life is for L I V I N G and not about the number on the scales!

I can venture out the house in joggers and no makeup

Funnily enough this has taking me 21 years to figure out. When I think back to how obsessed I was about how I looked.. it makes me cringe. In 2016 I have embraced my natural, curly hair for the first time in around 10 years (no lie!), I have embraced my bare skin and ventured out without a full face of makeup most days and i've looked like a scruff for the majority. But that's ok, you're allowed, you're you, be you.

Boys are hardwork but some of them are almost always worth it

Some of them, sometimes. Basically ladies, appreciate the good ones and don't let them go!

I am more resilient than I think

I've learnt to doubt myself less. I can overcome everything with a little perseverance, hard work and some help from my nearest and dearest. I've done a lot of things I thought I couldn't in 2016 and i'm still here so...

Family are da bestest

Whoever 'family' is to you. They are the bomb. The bee's knee's. Clearly the most important people ever. I've always appreciated how amazing my family truly are but this year even more so. Maybe it's because i've grown up, I just really understand how much they do for me. They help me out so much.

Sleep is a girls best friend

It is. I'm a grumpy sod without it. I do a whole lot better with it. I've learnt to prioritise it. Having a lie in is fabulous and good for you so why not?!

Happiness is something you create

It doesn't always just come to you. Life is a rollercoaster - the ups and the downs! A positive mindset is everything. That glass half full/half empty thing is ridiculously true. Happiness is something you can create through the way you look at things, react to things and deal with life's shortcomings. Everyday I have learnt to wake up and appreciate the small things, to look at my life through rose-tinted glasses and just TRY every single day to be happy. Try being the key word.

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There's so many cool, hip (did i really just say that!), fancy, cheap, nice food places to try in Amsterdam. I am definitely a foodie and that's the first thing i'll want to try whenever I visit a place. I want to try it all. I definitely felt like a weekend in Amsterdam wasn't enough. I didn't even get to try the infamous Febo (vending machine style fast-food) because i was SO full the whole time. Oh well. Maybe next time eh.

In this post i want to share with you two of my favourite places i ate in Amsterdam. My first ever Wagamama's was also enjoyed here although, it's not very cultural is it?!

Bagels & Beans

This is one of the first places I found when searching Google for places to eat in Amsterdam. There is a few dotted around the city. We went to the one near Vondel Park. This was a perfect spot for brunch after having a photo with the infamous 'I Amsterdam' sign.

I was really undecided between a sweet and savoury option. I went for the sweet option, obviously, it is me, but the Veggie-Chicken option did tempt me! I got the Banana sweet bagel with maple syrup and cinnamon on a cinnamon and raisin bagel. DELICIOUS. Everything you would want from a bagel and actually kept me full all afternoon. I also got an americano alongside with steamed milk (i'm pretty sure this was soya). The perfect midmorning fuel.

Bar Bukowski

A true gem that we just so happened to stumble upon. I'm really glad we did. I would highly recommend this place followed by or after a walk in Oosterpark which is lovely by the way. This is a cafè restaurant by day and cocktail bar by night. Named after the writer Charles Bukowski, his quotes are displayed everywhere and the decor is quirky and very instagram worthy. The menu is in Dutch, most of which you can decipher, but the waiter was super lovely and happy to help translate/answer all my annoying questions. We sat outside because it was July and it was really hot. I opted for an iced americano and the American pancakes! They were pretty amazing too. Totally unhealthy but worth it. The fruit on the side made me feel ever so slightly better about my decision #healthgoals.

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I absolutely love listening to podcasts. I don't listen to them as much now as I used to. I used to listen to them everywhere I went. I was always the girl walking around with headphones in - anti-social, I know. My preference of podcasts has also changed; I used to listen to ones based around food and nutrition now, I'm enjoying more lifestyle-based humorous podcasts (although both are good). Please let me know if there are any podcasts you think I should listen to!

My Dad Wrote A Porno

I finally gave in and started listening to this podcast after hearing about it through social media. I kept hearing SO many good things - as in it's hilarious - and they were so right! This podcast has me laughing out loud (on the train, walking around campus, in the gym - everywhere). If I need a laugh this is definitely top of my list. The presenters (Jamie Morton, James Cooper and Alice Levine) are so funny; they never fail to make me giggle. Bless poor Jamie having to read all his dads' dirty ideas for the world to see. I love how light-hearted these guys are - the book doesn't stand a chance! It's all a bit of a 'piss-take' to be honest. If you love that kind of banter, you will like this.

Be warned: This podcast will make you laugh out loud in public places. You will look slightly crazy.

Fitter Food

An old favourite of mine. This is one of the first podcasts I ever listened to and it's still a firm favourite. This is very nutrition based but i love the principles they hold: move more, eat better and look after your damn self. Although they are paleo-ish and I am vegan now, i still like to listen to their knowledge and their information. They do talk a lot about other health related lifestyle things like sleep, mindfulness and balance. Keris is SO knowledgable and Matt is hilarious - they make the perfect podcast duo, i never get tired of listening to them and their couples banter.

Be warned: You will go away from this podcast feeling like you know EVERYTHING there is to know about living a healthy lifestyle, KNOWLEDGE BOMBS for the win.

Ctrl Alt Delete

Another new favourite of mine. I really enjoy these interview type podcasts where they speak to different people. It means i never get bored and I always love finding new people to ~~stalk~~ check out on social media. The interview with Mara Wilson (Matilda!) was a favourite of mine. This podcast is hosted by Emma Gannon; a fellow blogger and writer, she's all about social media and how that affects our day to day lives. Her book Ctrl Alt Delete is all about 'growing up online - i would love to read it! I'm really picky about the kind of voices i listen to on podcasts but, i love the way Emma speaks, the kind of questions she asks and the range of topics she speaks about.

Be warned: This podcast will leave you wanting to listen on and on and on...

Coffee with Chrachel

Where 'the only thing filtered is the coffee'. This is another chatty podcast about a whole range of things. Chris and Rachel live together in Seattle and as the name suggests, they sit down with cuppa coffee and have a good old natter. Every podcast is unique and each one makes me giggle. They talk about absolutely everything from Harry Potter to veganism to quizzes to coffee (obviously). They naturally bounce off each other and it's really nice to hear both a male and female perspective on everything that's going on. They go through current affairs (including Gilmore Girls, Harry Potter etc), Q&A's and binch time (don't ask, just listen).

Be warned: This will make you giggle, want to take silly Buzzfeed quizzes & make you want a relationship just like theirs (i'm talking about the couple not with the coffee..).

Health, Nutrition and Functional Medicine - Dr Ruscio Radio

Another one with all the knowledge bombs. This is another foodie based nutrition one but again, it focuses on holistic health. Dr Ruscio does some fascinating interviews on all sorts of fascinating topics e.g. ADHD, SIBO, Supplements, Gut microbiome. These all things I find interesting anyway, if you're not into this kind of stuff then you should probably switch off. I have learnt SO much to do with functional medicine and holistic health from this podcast.

Be warned: This is one for the nerds who love to learn about health, biology and nutrition. Lavvv it.

So there you have it. My podcast recommendations. I try to listen to something every evening before bed to help me relax. It's nice to switch everything off, lay in bed and just listen in the dark. Although if you listen to My Dad Wrote A Porno you will probably keep yourself awake by giggling too much!

What are your favourite podcasts? Do you listen to any?

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Pubs

The Medieval Area

Street Art

Parks

Guinness Factory

Eat legumes 3 times a week

Run a 10k

Complete 5 unassisted chin ups once a week

8,000 steps per DAY

Complete one day a week 'raw til 4' style

Take some 'me' time to read 5 days a week

Mid-year Challenges (5 things to do before 2016 is up).

So what did I tick off my bucket list last year?

8 things i am grateful for:

Meeting new people

Travelling (a lot!)

Graduating

Getting ma car 🚗

Becoming 100% vegetarian and 95% vegan

Growth in self-love/body image

Bringing back my love for blogging

Experiences > things (life's short yo', appreciate it!)

8 things I have learnt in 2016:

Be a good egg

There's more to life than food and weight - so love yourself regardless

I can venture out the house in joggers and no makeup

Boys are hardwork but some of them are almost always worth it

I am more resilient than I think

Family are da bestest

Sleep is a girls best friend

Happiness is something you create

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you're all having a wonderful time! xox

Putting up the Christmas tree with Momma

Manchester Christmas Markets

Lancaster University Campus Christmas Markets

Flat Christmas Meal

Date Night with Bae

Bagels & Beans

Bar Bukowski

Mince pies

Graze Mince Pie Flapjack

Aldi Dark Chocolate Lebkuchen

Hot chocolate

Nakd 'Christmas Pud'

My Dad Wrote A Porno

Fitter Food

Ctrl Alt Delete

Coffee with Chrachel

Health, Nutrition and Functional Medicine - Dr Ruscio Radio

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