Silent Saturday #5

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London Food | Wahaca St. Pauls

If you know me, then you'll know that eating out is probably one of my favourite ways to 'explore' a place and London is no different; in fact, Dena and I had a conversation about how great London is for food as you can find whatever your heart's desire!  

As great as living in Suffolk is, it's not so great for finding Mexican food so whenever I go to London I try to eat Mexican at least once!  My usual haunt is Lupita, in Charing Cross, but we decided this time to try out Wahaca, which seems to be growing in popularity and its name is becoming more well known (I guess bringing out salsas in the supermarket helps a lot!).  The restaurant chain was founded by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, and she has a passion for Mexican food and the restaurant prides itself on it's sustainability - it serves authentic Mexican street food but made with locally sourced ingredients.  

I've been itching to try Wahaca for years and we opted for the St. Paul's branch, a stone's throw away from the cathedral, as the decor is based on the Zócalo, which is the main plaza in Mexico City.  Of course, that holds a special place in my heart and I have visited Mexico City many times so it was natural to choose there.

I was, for some reason, surprised that the restaurant was in a large shopping centre but we were welcomed and shown to our table on the upper level, which was great for me as I'm such a restaurant people watcher!  The waitress asked if we needed any help with the menu but we declined, deciding to order a selection from their 'street food' section and mix and match.  It was so great to see some of my favourites from Mexico on the menu: horchata, agua de jamaica (or as they called it, hibiscus water),  totopos, tostadas and Baja-style fish.  

We ordered totopos (nacho-style fried tortilla chips) which guacamole and salsa.  The salsa was lovely; the tomatoes were so fresh and ripe that the flavours burst in your mouth.  I enjoyed the guacamole but it was quite heavy on the garlic and I prefer mine with more lime and salt but the flavours were straight out of Mexico.  

As I said, our main was a selection of street food, it's great that you can order a few dishes at a time, they arrive where they are ready and then if you want, you can order more.  I love that type of eating; almost  grazing over a meal, picking at whatever you fancy.  We ordered black bean tostadas, pork tacos, chipotle chicken quesadillas, spinach and corn tacos and a side of sweet potato fries.  The dishes look quite small but they are surprisingly filling; I think my favourite was the quesadillas, lovely melted cheese goodness!  I also really enjoyed the fact I could eat frijoles (beans) again... they were a staple in my diet in Mexico.  The food was delicious, I think it has been slightly British-icised for our palates over here but you were really able to try and taste the combination of flavours that are important in Mexican cuisine.  The only thing I wish I could have had was plenty of lime to squeeze over everything! 

We managed to squeeze in churros for dessert, they were good; not too greasy and the chocolate sauce hit my sugar craving in the right spot.  In Mexico, I tended to have churros filled with chocolate instead of with dipping chocolate; I was quite surprised it was served like this. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at Wahaca and it was very reasonably priced too.  The menu is pretty extensive and you can adapt your dining experience to your own personal preference.  I would say the food is fairly authentic: they even had deep fried crickets on the menu (a traditional Mexican snack)!  I would love to go back and try the Baja fish tacos.... maybe next time I'm in London! 

Have you ever been to Wahaca?


 

Benefit Make Up Lesson

I was lucky enough to receive a Benefit Make Up lesson for Christmas and since then, I have been bursting with excitement waiting for the day to arrive.  On Friday, the day finally came around and Dena and I made our way to the Benefit global flagship boutique on Carnaby Street, in London.

Benefit is a brand that I have loved since I pretty much got into make-up and I still covet their new (and old!) products so stepping into this boutique was like a little paradise.  As soon as we stepped inside, we were welcomed by the friendly Benebabes.  First up on my pampering agenda was an eyebrow arch and tint.  Although I've visited a Benefit Brow Bar many times, I'd never had my eyebrows tinted.  Tahlia, who was looking after me, was very helpful and friendly and reassured me that the eyebrow tint would just enhance and give my brows extra definition. I love the Benefit brow arch as they always take into account what you want and don't want and tell you what will make a difference.  The wax and tint was painless, quick, and really enjoyable as we were able to have a giggle with Tahlia, who was very lovely and funny and I loved the tint as well!  The difference is subtle but it really does help to define your brows.  

After that, we were taken downstairs into the Champagne Bar area.  As this was a Red Letter Day experience, we had exclusive use of this space, and I imagine it would be a great environment for an occasion where you want to have a pampering.  There were booths looking over the bar and the make up table and it had the usual 50s vibe that Benefit has going on.  I was brought over a lovely cold glass of Rosé champagne and Kara, the make up artist, chatted with me about what I wanted to have done, what make up I liked etc.

However, me being me and although I love make up, am generally clueless, I left it up to her with only minimal guidance.  I explained that I liked the smoky eye look but more on the natural than dramatic side.  Kara seemed to understand my vague instructions and got to work!  She used the products that I already owned, liked and that worked for me whilst introducing me to a few others that I wouldn't necessarily think to pick up.  

As a base, Kara used Porefessional and then Boing concealer to hide my reddish eyebrow areas!  Then, she used Hello Flawless! Foundation - a foundation that I love, it seems to agree with my combination, blemish-prone, sensitive skin.  Next up, my eyes.  the smokin' eyes palette was on my lust list for a while and I received it at Christmas but only used it a couple of times since I didn't feel entirely confident, but Kara was happy to talk me through the techniques and tips of applying the shadow.  

For my cheeks, Kara used Watt's Up to highlight my cheekbones and then Sugarbomb blush, and finally Hoola for a little contouring.  We had a chat about contouring and what would be the best thing for my lifestyle and personality, and didn't do anything that wouldn't suit me, as a person, which I think was great; instead of piling on any old thing just because it looked amazing.

Benefit isn't a brand that I tend to associate with lip products and I was pleasantly surprised with the look that Kara used.  It was just a sweep of the oldie but goodie, Benetint and followed by the Benetint balm to give the lips and extra pop of colour. 

Finally, she applied the They're Real! eyeliner (again, which I love) and a couple of sweeps of the new Roller Lash.  I love Roller Lash; it's a great every day mascara that can be built up for an evening look.  I think that I even prefer it to They're Real!

... and after!

Before...

In the experience, a giftcard was included and Kara helped me to pick the products that I would use and again, fit into my lifestyle.  She was very honest and helpful with any questions I had and was in no way pushy or forceful with a hard sell.  She filled my bag with lots of extra testers and goodies which I look forward to trying!

Overall, the day was such a perfect and unforgettable experience; the Benebabes were friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable.  I felt truly spoiled and the day has reaffirmed everything I loved about the brand in the first place.  I would not hesitate to recommend this experience and I really hope I can go back and try out the other treatments that they offer at the Carnaby Street store!  

Have you ever tried any Benefit treatments?

 

  

Silent Saturday #4

From Pinterest

A day out in Cambridge

I love living in East Anglia, it's so beautiful and there is a whole wealth of towns and cities on my doorstep.  The only downside to this is that I often take it for granted and never do the 'must-do' things in each place.  Cambridge is an example of this; it's only a 45 minute drive from my house and I've only ever been for work and shopping, I've never done any of the touristy things like visiting the colleges, learning about the city etc.

We went on a guided walk of the city, booked through the tourist information centre and we had an extremely knowledgeable tour guide who filled us in on all the history, culture and anecdotes from around the city.  Having watched The Theory of Everything a couple of weeks ago, I was keen to try and spot Stephen Hawking locations!

The tour lasted for about two hours and we visited King's and Queen's College, the Eagle pub (where DNA was discovered/figured out!), the last British hangman's house and more.  I really enjoyed seeing more than the shops like I usually do when I go to Cambridge.

We were fortunate to have a lovely, wintery, summer's day and I was looking forward to practise what I had learnt from the photography course but I didn't take into the white balance and ended up with a lot of awfully blue tinged photos!  It's a learning process I guess, though!

I had such a lovely day out, I can't wait to go back again... maybe I'll give punting a go in the summer (although we can probably guess where I will end up...)

Have you ever visited Cambridge?

CRP | Pre-screen Vlog

Our first foray into the world of vlogging...

Dena and I have made a Vlog about the Pre-screen process!  We look so grumpy in the thumbnail but I promise we smile in it, I just can't work out how to change it!  

Hope it helps! 

Exploring American culture through literature : East of Eden by John Steinbeck

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I've just finished the third book on my list that deals with American culture, East of Eden by John Steinbeck; perhaps one of the most well-known American authors.

My initial reaction is that I enjoyed this book, I picked it up and put it down over the course of six days and I managed to get through it.  I anticipated it taking me a lot longer to read since it's over 700 pages long so the fact I read it in less than a week speaks volumes to me. 

Steinbeck considered this book to be his greatest work and it does have an air of grandiosity (although I understand why others may say it's pretension!).  

The book meanders across a huge time span, from the American Civil War until the First World War.  We follow the stories of two families throughout the course of a few generations, which means that you are quite invested in the characters' lives and their journeys.  The only downside, for me, was that, a few of the characters weren't present throughout the whole story and they were monumental characters that had a huge impact on me and the book.

The book also alludes to a lot of biblical references; it's called East of Eden, characters have parallels to Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel.  Even as someone who is not particularly well versed when it comes to the Bible, the themes running through the book were pretty clear.  You also have the fact one of the main characters is called Adam and others Cal and Aron.  It obviously gives the book a solid moral backbone.

The book explores the idea of identity as well and this gave me an insight into the melting pot of American culture.  Lee, who is a Chinese immigrant in the States, stated that he got treated as a foreigner in the States and when he went back to China after growing up in the States, he was a foreigner there as well.  It's a very interesting concept as I imagine it's something that a lot of people can relate to.

As I said, I enjoyed this book but the heavy religious symbolism and themes made it a little inaccessible for me.  However, I can see why it is said to be one of the most revealing pieces of American literature.  It reveals the progress of American culture from the Civil War to the First World War, both on an industrial/technological and a family level.

Have you ever read any of Steinbeck's novels?  

Silent Saturday #3

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Sunday stroll

Last Sunday, Dena and I decided to go for a wintery walk to blow away the cobwebs.  I hadn't really ventured out much since my operation and it was considerably warmer than the previous few days, so I donned my wellies, grabbed my camera and off we went.  

It was very muddy and all the trees are very much still bare but as the woods are just behind my house, it's nice to be able to see it change throughout the seasons.  

I'm trying to get to grips with my camera and my course suggested thinking outside the box for creativity so I'm trying to take pictures of things that my eye is immediately drawn to.  Not sure how it's working out, but I'll give it a go!

I'll definitely be going out for a winter walk again soon as I felt so much better and invigorated afterwards. A great way to banish the winter blues!

Disneyland Paris 2015 part deux

One of my favourite things to do in Disney is to try and take "different" photos (although I think Disney parks are designed for this... photo opportunities everywhere!) and as the theming is so good, there is always something to take a photo of! 

I was quite surprised at the lack of Frozen merchandise at Paris this year; I was expecting an Anna and Elsa take over but there were only a handful of things!

Everyone needs a castle and Mickey/Minnie ears shot!  I like these two photos as they offer a different perspective of the parks.  I'm usually so in awe at the parks that I forget to look up and miss out on so much.  

I don't often get photos with characters because I'm too impatient to wait in the queue and I don't want to get in the way of the children's magical experiences.  As we went this time with my nephew, who LOVED meeting all the characters, we decided to jump in the queue behind and meet Buzz! 

There's always an opportunity to make a wish at Disney, whether it be in a fountain or during the Wishes! fireworks.

I loved the sparkly Sleeping Beauty's castle... I'm really looking forward to seeing how Disneyland, Anaheim celebrate their 60th anniversary with a beautiful diamond castle. 

CRP | CV and cover letter

I'm aware that a round of applications has just closed for the CRP program at the time of writing this post, but hopefully it'll help the next round.

Of course, this post, by no means you're guaranteed to get through to pre-screen. Just thought I'd put that in there.  I only mean to offer advice and suggestions! 

It seems that the CV and cover letter are a fairly new part of the Yummy Jobs application and you spend so long focusing on the longer, essay-style questions that when you come to writing your CV and cover letter, you feel like all you have to say is what you've already said.  That's okay!

Tips for your CV:

• Your CV doesn't need to be three pages long; in fact, it's better if you are able to keep it shorter.  Many employers don't look past the first page of a CV so you need to make an impact on your CV: keep it short and snappy!
• Include a brief introduction about yourself at the top of your CV.  It's a great opportunity to hook the reader in so make sure you sell yourself. 
• Try to avoid "buzz words" - google popular or overused phrases used in job applications and avoid!  Everyone is a "hard working team player!"
• Adapt your CV to the job role.  Highlight your transferable skills from your previous jobs/experience.  Even if you don't think it will fit, make it!  If you've worked in an office, for example, talk about your communication skills, your reliability etc. 
• Remember to match up your CV with your online application; you don't want massive gaps or differences between them.

Tips for your cover letter:

• First of all:  check your spelling and grammar!  This is something that can potentially make or break your application.  Simple spelling errors when applying for a job screams of laziness! 
• Swot up on the Disney brands and values.  Disney is much more than a theme park and you need to show them that you understand this.
• Don't forget you're applying to be a cultural representative - you need to explain why you think culture is important and how you can authentically share your culture. 
• The cover letter is a great opportunity to add in the extra information you couldn't fit into the application, so if you have anything you desperately want to share, and it's relevant, put it in your cover letter. 
• Use the cover letter to give a brief overview of what you have to offer them.  Talk about your work experience, any skills you've learnt during education, and a bit about your personality. 
• Be genuine!  Sounds like it an obvious one, but be yourself.  It will be clear if you're trying to be someone else.   
• Have a clear structure for your cover letter.  Use paragraphs appropriately, group the information together (work experience, education, personal qualities, reason why you want to do the program etc) and link them well. 
• Be memorable.  Make Disney want you as much as you want the job.  You have fantastic qualities and skills to offer, so make sure it shows.  
• Keep it relevant to the Walt Disney Company.  Maybe include a quote or link the core company values into your own.  This doesn't mean stick a Walt Disney quote in every other sentence, be subtle but effective. 

At the end of the day, you're going to work for a multi-million dollar company who work hard to maintain their reputation and business.  You need to be an asset to the company: professional, reliable and passionate about the brand and the job. 

Spend time doing your application; the application is open for around a month on Yummy Jobs so you can save your progress and go back to it.  I think we completed our application over three or four lengthy sessions, checking, editing and double checking!  

There are people out there who have applied seven or eight times but don't get disheartened.  It really is an incredibly competitive process and if first you don't succeed, well, you know the rest.

Good luck! 

February Fun | Life lately #6

L-R Miles, the Thomson bear! - Hospital perks - Sleeping Beauty's Castle - From one Disney park to another. 

I feel like I say this all time but: where has time gone?  I cannot believe we are in February... in 2015!  But anyway, enough of my realisation that I'm getting old, here's what I have been up to: 

Eating : After my operation a couple of weeks ago, I ate all the foods that I wasn't able to enjoy pre-op!  I had pizza for the first time in nearly 18 months and it was so good! I need to start focusing again on what I eat but I do feel so much better eating well.    

Drinking : I've been enjoying a lot of Beanie's coffee recently; I love the flavours.  We have Amaretto Almond and Cinder Toffee at the moment, the hint of flavour means that I don't put any extra sugar or sweetener in.  

Reading : I'm reading a lot of books about American culture (which I have blogged about).  I think I'm enjoying it so much as it's reminiscent of my university days; I'm reading to discover and learn something.  As much as I love reading to relax and switch off, it's great to be able to absorb and relax at the same time.  A lot of the books are debate-worthy too.  I am a such a loser.  

Watching : On TV, I am glued to Broadchurch.  I'm  not sure if it's as good as the first series but it's still really gripping and Miller just cracks me up.  Olivia Colman is an amazing actress, David Tennant can do no wrong in my eyes, and the rest of the cast is just stellar, I mean: Charlotte Rampling!  Looking forward to seeing how the storyline unravels.  On the big screen, I feel like I've been disappointed.  I've seen a lot of musicals and they're not my favourite genre.  I did, however, love The Theory of Everything.  Two of my favourite actors (Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones) in a British film, full of Britishness, laugh and cry moments,  A beautiful film. 

Planning : The WDW planning has quietened down a little bit so I'm not really planning that much at the moment.  I'm having to save, save, save which means I'm working my day job, doing private tuition, and working during the school holidays.  I'm feeling quite busy but it'll all be worth it. 

Anticipating : February half term,.  I just said I'm saving but I have a few exciting days planned during the half term, days that have been planned since August last year and Christmas!  In fact, I'm bursting with excitement.   

Buying : Again, trying to save so no beauty products.  I did buy an online photography course, I've mentioned that I want to get to grips with my camera.  I've had it for so many years but never really had the time to dedicate to learning all the settings, tricks etc.  Hopefully this course will help me understand my camera, I'm never going to be a professional photographer but I want to be able to take photos that I will value and treasure forever. 

How's your February looking?

Disney Style Inspiration | Valentine's Day

I've been window shopping again!  This time putting together Disney inspired looks for Valentine's Day.  First up, we have a look based on Elsa.  We've tried to stick to her icy cool palette but given her a bit of edge with a faux leather biker jacket.  Of course, it's accessorised wth very expensive but beautiful diamonds, reminiscent of snow flakes, from Tiffany's!

Leather high heeled strappy shoes from Missguided - £24.99 // Faux leatherless biker jacket Top Shop - £52.00 //
Faye Bardot Bodycon dress from Missguided -£10.99 // Lynn earrings from Tiffany's - £2,600 // Lynn pendant from Tiffany's - £2,125

Next up, we have Princess Aurora or Sleeping Beauty!  She's a little more conservative than Elsa so we have chosen a pretty crochet skirt with a cream jumper and a few statement jewellery pieces.  I think the ring is definitely Aurora-esque!

Black cross strap wedge shoe from New Look - £19.99 // Crochet mini skirt from Top Shop - £25.00 // Monki knitted top from ASOS - £20.00 // Capri stone ring from Accessorize - £10.00 // Moving triangles statement necklace from Accessorize - £10.00

Exploring American culture through literature : Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann

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I've just finished reading the second book on my pre-USA reading reading list:  Let The Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  This one is a little different in that it's a relatively recently written book, published in 2009, and McCann is an Irishman currently living in New York.

The first thing that really struck me about this book is it's portrayal of New York being a living, breathing entity.  The city is described with such precision and life, it really reminded me of A New York Winter's Tale.  New York, it seems, can either be a beautiful creature, presenting its inhabitant's with countless opportunities and pleasures, or a beast that can eat you up, suck out your soul and then spit you back out, and even though it treats you like this, you still  belong to the city and the city belongs to you.   

The novel is set in post-Vietnam, mid 1970s, just after the construction of the Twin Towers.  The World Trade Center acts as a kind of focal point which joins together all the stories and lives of the characters.  The Twin Towers unite people from all creeds, colours and backgrounds, and it seems extra poignant to me that we found ourselves in similar situation only forty years later.  

Let The Great World spin is a multi-layered portrait of life in this area and as I said, overlays and weaves together the lives of very different people, from the a judge and his wife living in the Upper East Side, to prostitutes in the Bronx, ex-pats and more.  It really drives home the message that although these people are incredibly different, they all live through the same fundamentals in life: they love, they grieve, they make bad decisions.    

I really enjoyed this book: it was challenging without being hardwork; it was beautiful, yet gritty and real; it gave a honest insight into a city that struggles to be contained onto pages.  The protagonists came to life in their own chapters, some more likable than others, but all genuine and believable.  There are no less than eleven main characters in this story and it seems like a feat to drive the story forward when you are creating so many in-depth and three dimensional characters.  This book has made quite an impression on me and I'm sure that if I ever get the opportunity to visit New York, I will think more about its complexity and facets as it continues to grow and evolve.

Next on my list is John Steinbeck's East of Eden.