Interrail adventure #4 | VENICE

ITALY!! Here we come. Pizza, Ice cream and Pasta = heaven on earth... I think the food was one of the main reasons we wanted to spend most of our time in Italian cities ;) Jokes aside, I really love Italy for many reasons and having been to Venice before, there was no doubt we had to go again. Venice is my all time favourite city with it's romantic canals and beautiful architecture. It is the easiest city to just walk around in and the little vintage/mask shops complete the experience. Oh also, Venice sells the best (expensive) clothes I have ever seen!

We stayed two nights in a super cute B&B in one of the side streets, a 15minutes walk away from the station. On the first day we focused on exploring the outer half of the island. The main aim was to get a feel for the city and to see the St.Marco square, the most famous (and busy) square in Venice. The architecture is stunning and there's more pigeons than people there (watch your food).

Ready to explore

The canals + gondolas

Marzipan fruit are THE thing to eat in Venice

Piazza San Marco

The companile

After we headed towards the Canal Grande and tried to find the Rialto bridge which sadly is under construction and looks less than impressive. We did find tons of cute little streets tho.

When a water blob on the camera blurs your face...

Canal Grande

Dream houses right there!

For dinner we had a massive piece of takeaway pizza that was only 4Euro. Restaurants in Venice are incredibly expensive, especially the ones near the attractions. I'd recommend getting something takeaway or looking in small side streets for restaurants. Always ask for cover charge so you don't have any bad surprises! We went to bed quite early as we were super tired from all the travelling.

The next day started off with a session of exploring the less touristic parts of Venice. We discovered some tiny alley ways and the most beautiful architecture. Surprisingly we landed at the military base of Venice, where you have one of the best views of Venice's 'skyline'.

What we believe is the military base..

"Garden goals"

Trying and failing to look good

We also tried to (unsuccessfully) get a look into some of the beautiful churches, as you have to cover up your shoulders and legs to get in.

Anyway, we went on to explore the inner part of the island, walking over the (more or less functioning) Rialto bridge. I had set into my mind to see the famous Santa Maria della Salute, which took way longer than expected as we walked right past it :D In case I haven't mentioned it yet, Venice is a massive maze. Don't think you'll find the thing you're looking for. Well, instead we found delicious ice cream for 1.50 Euro and an almost 360 degree view of the sea at the furthest east point of the inner island.

Fave mask I've seen

This view tho!!

Oh and we also found the Santa Maria della Salute just around the corner there 😂

For dinner we had seafood risotto which was perfect! When it got dark we walked towards the Canal Grande again to get some nice shots of Venice in the dark. It was a great end to our visit there.

When you can't hold the camera still...

Goodbye Venice

Venice was by far one of my favourite cities, the accommodation was nice and the city is stunning. We had planned to take a gondola but 80 pounds for one hour is way too expensive.
Anyways we had an amazing time and I'd recommend everyone of you to go there sometime. Stay tuned for the next part of my interrail adventures - we're staying in Italy.
Please follow me on bloglovin and comment your thoughts about Venice!

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Types of people in a fitness class

I take part in an aerobics/dance fitness class every Monday night and it made me realise that there are different types of people that go there. I am basing this on my experience, I don't know if it is like that in every fitness class, but I have seen these types at several sport centres now.
Enjoy:

The pro
This is the person that radiates fitness. They can do every move perfectly and make everything look super-easy. Standing next to them makes you feel like a cat next to a leopard.

The hottie
There is always someone who looks fricking amazing no matter how hard the exercise is. Like, 100 crunches and I am sweating on the floor and they look as if they have just sprung out of a magazine cover. Makes my self-confidence go through the roof....

The bunny
This one makes my day every time. I know you shouldn't judge people when they are trying hard, but it is just too adorable. This person adds a little jump to every exercise, e.g. when you have to do standing hamstring curls, they don't stand, they hop. Seriously, it looks like a rabbit doing exercise. I reckon tho that they burn twice the amount of calories that us 'normal' people do.

The aggro
Ever stood next to someone who appears to have a lot of anger to let out? And that while doing aerobic exercises? No? Well it is scary. This person takes the exercises way too serious! If the instructor tells you to WALK to the left, they will sprint. And if you are in the way, that's your problem not theirs.

The millionaire
Some people need to show EVERYWHERE that they have too much money. It is so obvious at the gym. The newest sport shoes, ten Victoria's secret bras, high tech trousers and even the water is special fitness water. Before you ask, yes I am jealous. Who wouldn't be?

The one that thinks they look amazing
This person thinks that they do all the exercises perfectly and look so much better than you do. But when it comes to getting their buttocks down for a squat, they just stand there, moving their behind slightly backwards. Well done *claps*

The one that's given up
We've all been this person before. Some days just aren't meant for a workout and when everyone around you is jumping their heart out, you just can't bring up the strength to do it. However some people just never seem up for a workout which makes me question why they spent their money on a fitness class...


Haha I hope I haven't offended anyone with this, I am certainly not saying that I am flawless when doing a fitness class. I'm pretty certain that I look completely ridiculous, maybe I need to film it sometime ;) Comment telling me if I have left any types out!
Love you lots <3

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Should you go vegan?

Chicken Ceasar Salad without chicken and cheese in the future?

Vegans don't eat or use animal products. It is a lifestyle that is becoming increasingly popular. However there are mixed opinions on it, some claim it is super healthy, others say it can lead to health problems because you miss out on important nutrients.
As a result I decided to look it up myself and find out to the best of my ability the pros and cons of veganism.

So let's tackle the problem of Vegans missing out on nutrients. This is partly true, as animal products are the main source of many of our essential nutrients, but they are repaceable!
Vitamin A is mainly found in animal products. Vegan's can only get it by eating beta carotene which is found in oranges and green vegetables, and they need to eat a lot of it to equal the amount in animal products as the body has to convert the beta carotene into Vitamin A.
You also miss out on Protein in meat and fish, however this is easily replaced by beans, quinoa and tofu.
There are more nutrients mainly found it animal products but fact is, they can all be replaced in a varied vegan diet. All nutrients can be gained by plant based food, so on nutritional basis a vegan diet can get you your nutrients just as well as a normal diet. Find more information on what vegan foods you need to eat to gain which nutrient here.

The question whether a vegan diet is healthy, can consequently only be answered by saying that it depends on what you eat, as with every diet. It can be harder to get all the nutrients but it is possible. There are potential benefits to a vegan diet, it is often higher in vitamin C and fibre, and lower in saturated fat.
If you look at all the pros and cons , a plant based diet is probably not better nor worse than a normal one. However research shows that vegan people often live a healthier lifestyle. How come?
The answer is actually quite simple. If you eat vegan you really have to know your food, know what is plant based and what will get you the essential nutrients. This means that you know the nutritional value of different foods, so you will probably know which foods are good for you. All in all this will lead to you eating foods that are better for you. It's all about knowledge ;)

I am not a Vegan but I am seriously contemplating including it into my diet. However I do like milk and Nandos too much to completely leave them out, so I really want to try out eating vegan 2-3 days of the week. Always being vegan can be difficult, especially when you have a busy schedule, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the benefits of it (did you know that vegans have a lower average BMI than non-vegans?). A plant based diet is great if you want to become fitter and detox your body, as well as eat healthier. Just as I said, you don't have to do it permanently or every single day. Just try it out and if it's not for you, you can always eat 'normally' again. There's no harm in trying, right?

So knowing all this, would you choose to become vegan? Or are you like me and would only want to do it partly? Or maybe you don't want to try it at all for whatever reason? I would love to hear your opinion on this topic, so do leave me a comment.

Love you lots.

Disclaimer: I am in no means a nutritional expert, all my information are from health websites such as http://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-features/features/vegan-diet-healthy/ or http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/vegan.htm#why. I cannot promise you that everything I wrote about is to 100% correct, although I really tried my best to provide you correct information about this important topic. Let me know immediately if any information is incorrect or incomplete. 

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Beauty must-haves to start the New Year

Starting a new year is always exciting, everyone is so energetic and positive, I love it! I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions tho, I think if you really want to improve anything in your life, you should do it right now. Quit waiting for the perfect moment, we all know it will never come!
Anyway on another note I got a few new beauty items for Christmas and really want to talk about 3 of them that I can't believe I've lived without for so long.
Sooo here are the 3 beauty items you really need in your life. (Disclaimer: none of these are newbies to the world of beauty - I am probably the last person to rave about them but oh well)

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I can't even begin to tell you how many brushes and sponges I have tried out for applying foundation. This one is by far the best. It really does what it claims to do: 'creating airbrushed, high-definition results'. It takes longer than a sponge to blend my foundation but once it is blended into my skin it looks flawless. Moreover it is super soft which is always a big plus.

Benefit 'They're Real!' Mascara

Before Christmas I spent days searching the Internet for the best mascara and all of them had mixed results. Some people loved that one mascara, but others claimed it irritated their eyes and so on. The Benefit "they're real" had mostly positive reviews, but also disappointed ones. I decided to give it a try, and I love it. It makes my lashes look super long and stays on forever. It is a bit of a struggle to get off in the evening but I can deal with that. It's perfect for everyone who likes they're lashes to be all out, not so much for the natural girlies out there.

Sleek Make Up 'Face Form'

This is a contour kit that contains contour powder, highlighter and bronzer/blush. I chose the light one and fell for it after the first time using it! I first heard about Sleek through Zoella and always planned on trying it out but never came around doing so. I've been missing out. The contour powder looks natural and the highlighter is gorgeous. Also love the blush in my set, it works great with the bronzer!


Have you guys tried any of these three products? What's your opinion on them?
Love you lots.

The Christmas Tag

 Time to get real. Thanks to the lovely Kerry for tagging me!

1. What is your favourite Christmas movie?
 It's Elf :) Just joking I've actually never seen that film before oops. Anyway my favourite Christmas movie is The Polar Express. It's just the cutest movie ever and it brings back so many good memories from when I was little.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Surprisingly even though I live in the UK I open my presents on Christmas Eve. I was born in Germany and have many relatives there so we traditionally celebrate it on the 24th, as this is the official Christmas day there.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
I honesty can't think of a particular one. I thought it was really special way back when me and my sister (SPOILER) still believed in Santa Claus but every Christmas is just so amazing. Spending time with all your family and making them happy is just the best thing ever.

4. Favourite festive food?
Well we usually have fish and baguette as Christmas dinner but my favourite food is all the Christmas cookies. My Grandma makes hundreds every year and they are just sooo good. I recently tried making some cookies myself which made me feel very festive!

5. Favourite Christmas gift?
Oh I really don't know. I'm so thankful for all the gifts I get but I especially love the ones where the person it's from has put it some thought and love (so probably everything). I do remember getting my cats as a Christmas gift tho and I still love them endlessly!

6. Favourite Christmas scent?
The Christmas tree and that of someone cooking/baking. I mean I love that scent all year round because I love food but at Christmas time it's just that tiny bit more amazing.

7. Do you have any Christmas eve traditions?
As I said before we actually give present then and we also have a lovely dinner. Afterwards my whole family sits together and sings some songs (cringe I know) and just enjoys the evening.

8. What tops your tree?
A really cute silver star that we've had for ages! I think its several generations old.

9. As a kid, what was one crazy gift you asked for but never received?
 I'm pretty sure I asked for a dolphin. I had a few years where I was absolutely obsessed with dolphins (bit of a weird obsession for a kid if you ask me) so instead of a real one I just got several toy ones. It's not as if I still have them somewhere... ;)

10. What's the best part of Christmas for you?
Time to say the cliche: Spending time with my family. It's true though, It is the only time in the year where I see them all at once and actually have time to talk to them. I also adore seeing the people I love receiving gifts that make them happy (hopefully the ones I got them).

I hope you enjoyed this post, I tag everyone reading this! 
Have the most amazing Christmas ever!!!!!

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Christmas cookies

German 'Spitzbuben'

A tradition in my family is to start baking Christmas cookies as soon as December starts. It's one of my favourite things to do as it puts me in the Christmas spirit and I spend some fun time with my family who I normally don't see that much due to work and other stuff.
We have some recipes that have been in our family for several generations and this is one of them. It is a traditional German recipe of Christmas cookies that are called 'Spitzbuben'. Sounds slightly weird but I can't tell you how amazing they are. Sooooo delicious! Anyway, lets get started (Warning: Lot's of pictures are going to follow!)

You'll need:

• 200g butter
• 125g icing sugar
• 1 egg white
• a pinch of salt
• 10g vanilla sugar
• 350g plain flour
• Black currant jam (if possible without fruit pieces in it)

Mix the butter,icing sugar and egg white together. Then add the salt and Vanilla sugar.

 

Now add the flour and use your hands to make it into a smooth dough. Form a ball out of it and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes.

My sister and I got a bit carried away while forming the ball ;)

After 30 minutes take the dough ball out of the fridge and put it on a clean surface that you cover with a bit of flour to prevent the dough from sticking to it. At this point you preheat the oven to 200 °.

Now roll out the dough to a thickness of about 2mm (mine was a bit thicker it really doesn't matter that much).

Now you need cookie cutters of the same form in two different sizes, one has to be about 1/4 the size of the other. I used hearts, stars and weird circles. For one cookie you need to cut out two of the bigger sized forms and then cut out the middle of one of them with the smaller one.

I'm sorry for the bad explanation but this picture should make it clearer. Make sure you have one complete cookie half for each one with a cut out middle.

Put baking paper onto a baking tray and place your cookies on it. Put it in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until they are golden brown.

These aren't quite ready yet.

Then take them out and put them somewhere to cool down before you add your jam. I accidentally bought jam with bits in it which made the next part a lot harder so make sure you buy jam of a jelly like consistency. It doesn't even matter what fruit jam it is but I like it with black currant.

This is the colour they should be when you take them out.

Now spread the jam on one of the hole free cookies. Make sure you use a generous amount so you can taste it in the end. Then place the matching cookie with a hole on top of it. (This is the worst description ever but basically just stick the two cookie parts together)

Don't they look so yummy?

Finally you can sprinkle a bit of icing sugar on top to make them look all fancy.
I hope you enjoyed this post, I am really sorry I am so bad at describing the different steps but the only guideline I had was a really old recipe in German.
If you decide to recreate it send me pictures on twitter:
 https://twitter.com/fashionblogbell
Love you lots!