Making me happy this week.

Every so often, I look at this blog and feel bad for how unloved it is, and how I should probably use it more. But to be quite honest, I'm not a writer or a blogger, and it's not really my forte. Plus, the only sporadic reader I have is my sister, (hey Lu!) - so I guess this space is just gonna be used as a place to make little time capsules of the little things that I am grateful for on the day I write anything on here. Maybe it will start up again as the months go, as an exciting adventure is in the works, but who knows?

So for the happy list?

1. Tomato and Avocado on toast - with a dash of cornish sea salt and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The best! So tasty, so quick to make and now I don't want to eat any other foods.

2. Getting out of my comfort zone and it paying off. I spent last weekend out on the depths of dartmoor with my university's climbing club, hiking, camping and of course climbing, made some lovely new friends, and tried slacklining. It was such a beautiful place, too.

3. Receiving post! Still never gets old.

4. Settling back into uni, going to workshops and realizing once again how cool it is to be studying something that I love so much.

5. Rainstorms and early mornings. Waking up early has become a habit, and as autumn has arrived, the dark stormy mornings have made me feel extra cozy knowing that I have another hour or two in bed.

6. Going on a late night adventure to attempt to see the Supermoon with one of my housemates! And finding out that it wasn't a supermoon in this area of the world.

7. Giggly skypes with my favourite. It's now been 2 months since we last saw each other so we're halfway through. It's so nice to hear all his stories and get to see each other now that we have consistent internet.

8. Showing my 'September' video on the Tv in the house with all my housemates watching, it was a cool way to show them it. Thanks J for the idea!

9. New music - the feel good kind that you want to listen to over and over

10. Planning travels. And hoping everything comes together.

11. The fact that I'm meeting my family in Bristol this weekend. Yay for reunions!

A little happy list!

1. Making Guacamole - this used to be a tradition when I lived in Italy and since summer weather has arrived, the time has come to make this delicious dip once again - so tasty and easy to make! All you need is some avocado, a tomato or two, some red onion, lemon or lime juice and a dash of salt - mix together for the yummiest dip of all the dips!

2. Sunny days: they have so much more potential than rainy ones, many days have been spent lazing about in parks, dipping our toes in the sparkling sea and exploring new places by bike.

3. Making the most of everyone still being around before they go home for summer next week. It will be strange when it's empty here next week, with only four of us around!

4. Holding hands with the boy as we wander through town.

5. Waking up early. I've never been a morning person but recently my body has been waking me up at 8.30am which is nice rather than having to set an alarm to get up.

6. Little adventures - going to Cornwall for the day was fun, finding our way to beach by clambering over the dunes and trekking to a far away to find food on a Sunday night.

7. Girls nights with next year's housemates, excited to live with them all next year, and for more funny movie nights and dinner parties.

8. The Summer Ball on Saturday - excited to dress up for a change and see everyone in suits and dresses!

9. Getting to know Plymouth like the back of my hand, lots of bike exploring is being done on bikes and on foot, finding little harbours and viewpoints that no one else knows about, and are always empty and so beautiful.

10. Cats! On our many walks, we have found lots of cats who seem friendly, I've been missing mine so it's nice to have some feline company!

Making me happy this week.

Hello there,

I haven't used this space in a very long time but decided to give the happy list another go, after reading a few different blogs with similar lists! It's always good to appreciate what you've got right?

1. Falling asleep to the sound of rain. Living in the 2nd wettest city in the UK, rain is an hourly occurance and I've grown accustomed to listening to it, as it now helps me relax and drift off!

2. Going on long evening walks, the last one ended up being a 5 mile round trip cause we may have got a bit lost! 

3. Finishing first year! And getting a first in my final presentation as well as having a big turn out for the end of year exhibition, it's so exciting/scary to be at the end of the year cause now I have four months of summer stretching ahead!

4. Getting into good books! Reading has taken a backseat in recent months so it has been nice to get back into it this week and spend many evenings with my head in a book.

5. Living without sugar during the week! If you know me, then you know that chocolate and I have a very close relationship that should never be messed with, but the past few weeks, I have decided to give it up on everyday but Sunday, and it actually feels really good to not eat it and then treat myself on the Sunday! 

6. Climbing! Last week, me and 2 friends started climbing, our uni offers free starter courses where they teach you all you need to know! It's really good fun, and although I've climbed before, I've never felt quite so confident as I do now, I even managed to reach the top of one of the tallest walls in the south west, I love it, feel right in my element when I'm climbing! 

7. Making little videos of adventures that S and I go on, love that he's so into video too :) 

8. Getting excited for the ball coming up at the end of May! 

9. Listening to really good music! 

10. My favourite boy! 

Kinda wanna do these more often, we shall see if I stick to that promise! 

What has made you happy this week? 

Love Ellie 

Making me smile this week....

This week, I have gone back to Italy after spending three weeks at home with family and friends for Christmas/New Year, it's a bit of a change, and I wasn't really looking forward to coming back (because home is where its at) so am making a conscious effort to note down the little things that are making me happy in order to appreciate things more.

the view at sunset from my host family's terrace.

1. Seeing the sunrise on the way to the airport in England.
2. Being greeted with grande abbraccio's (big hugs) and Peccatino's (little kisses)  from my two little Italian boys - excuse my Italian spelling. And also the happy greetings from my host parents.

the boys and I in the autumn.

3. Riding my bike again, gosh I do love my bike here! (and yes, there is a little seat for a 'bambino' on the back!)

my Italian bike. 

4.Making a friend in the English section of the Italian bookshop, we chatted about books and agreed to meet  up for chats and coffee in the near future - yay! Plus, she was an au pair in Ireland a few years ago so speaks perfect english and knows how it feels to be an au pair and was just genuinely lovely.
5. The fact that my camera does Bokeh (blurry light effects) - so exciting + trying it out all the time.

6. Editing the wedding video I filmed a few weeks back, I'm so excited to share it with the happy couple and hear what they think.

a still from the wedding video.

7. Wearing flowers in my hair every day, I love it, it always makes me feel cheerier. Except when my dad commented: 'I think you have a leaf stuck in your hair." - oh Papi

flowers in the hair. 

8. The market, happens twice a week in this city and is so easy and close and they have fresh delicious fruit + bright flowers and sell everything imaginable that you might need.

The bi-weekly flower market in the main square (maybe I can find some for my hair here?)

9. The prospect of one of my best (+craziest) friends coming to visit and/or coming to Italy for adventure travels together! Yayayayayayay!
10. Listening to a lot of Lucy Rose, her voice is so gorgeous, go check out her music, pronto! I suggest: 'bikes', 'Middle of the bed' and 'Shiver' - they are my personal favourites.

I just need to remind myself that I am very lucky to be living in an Italian city and travelling around such a beautiful country + staying with a lovely host family. Being away from home is difficult, but it isn't forever and I need to enjoy myself and go on adventures and learn Italian all while looking after the sweetest of boys. I've got it pretty good, I do believe.

what made you happy this week?

Ellie xx

Things I'm thankful for, this week.

This week, I'm thankful for:

-The fact that I'm flying home tomorrow! To be reunited, with my family, cats, friends and english food/chocolate (hehe).
-A helpful and caring host mother, who is lovely and looked after me when I was feeling my worst and just wanted to be at home with my real mother.
-My mother who listened to me at all hours when I just needed someone to talk to (being ill in a foreign place is lonely :( ....)
-Sweet Italians.
-A friend who I can call up for coffee dates and riverside walks
-The Sparkly Christmas lights.
-The Christmas Tree and homemade decorations.
-The snow, sticking around for over a week!
-TEA (English Breakfast of course)
-Books (kept me interested this week while in bed!) - especially Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard.
-The Prospect of seeing friends, and being in London
-Christmas is COMING!
-Festive Music (being played on repeat!)

Ellie x