Summer Lovin'

Is anyone else incredulous it’s already summer 2014??? I feel like this year more than ever has passed in such a flash. In honor of the burning days and steamy nights I’m going to give a run-down of my top films for summer which can be enjoyed with this drink.

Hopefully these films will inspire you to make the most of your summer or at the very least offer some escape from the boredom that inevitably occurs 3 weeks into the holidays. 

Happy watching!

1. Grease 

Bad boy meets good girl. Will their love survive the rigid cliques of  high school? This movie makes me so nostalgic!

2. The Lion King

The Disney version of Hamlet. Tragic and hilarious. If you haven’t seen it, where have you been? If you have, it’s always a good time for a re-watch.

3. Star Wars 

The title pretty much says it all. Completely worth a couple of days glued to the sofa. 

4. The Parent Trap 

Summer camp for two young Lindsey Lohans (twins) who swap lives in order to meet both their parents. Prepare for extreme jealously that come from watching twins who not only become best friends but also happen to have the most loving wealthy parents imaginable. 

5. Dirty Dancing

A girl falls for her dance instructor and his whole crazy world. I have never met anyone who does not love this movie. “Nobody puts baby in a corner” *swoon* Also this scene. 

Enjoy!

(images courtesy of Tumblr)

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Christmas.

Everyone has their favorite parts of Christmas and although I admit I love the complete overindulgence of tucking into a chocolate Santa for breakfast, or frantically ripping open a carefully wrapped present,  my favorite part comes just after the frenzied gift opening has drawn to a close.

The family is usually scattered around the lounge. The drone of a cheesy Christmas film clashes pleasantly with the poppy Christmas music drifting from the kitchen.  The clank of our largest pots and pans being pulled out of hibernation to cook gluttonous amounts of food echoes around the house. The air is a mix of rich red wine, peppermint and inevitably burnt bacon.

My favorite perch is by the decidedly non-crackling electric fire, half-reading a new book and listening to the conversation. It’s a moment of real joy, when we're all gathered together that only happens at Christmas.

Merry Christmas and wishing you a happy 2014!

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Back-to-School Essentials 2013

Agenda from Kate Spade- $36.00

Hair Ties from Etsy- $5.00

Oxfords from Urban Outfitters-$29.00

Pencil Case from LongChamp - $29.99

Double Bubble Bubblegum

Satchel from Cambridge Satchel Company-  $174.99

Paris Pencils from Etsy-$12.00

Earrings from Kate Spade-$48.00

Phone Case from Society 6- $35.00

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My name is Beth and I am a vegetarian.

This announcement is usually preceded by 4 different reactions:

 I admire your discipline!

But how do you get your protein?

Wow, you must really love salad!

What do you even eat?

These reactions don’t really bother and to be honest, they make sense given that meat is such a staple in the average person’s diet. To be clear my version of vegetarianism means that I exclude all meat from my diet. Basically anything that has meant the death of an animal I avoid (this includes gelatin, rennet and cochineal (a scale insect used to color foods red).  However milk, eggs and most cheeses are all part of my diet.

Image Credit: kulfoto.com

Why?

I became a vegetarian at seven years old due to a traumatic incident involving cow brains.

My Dad, in an effort to promote our cultural understanding of food, took me to a local market (we were living in Qatar, a state in western Asia at the time). Everything was fine until we approached the meat counter. On display were a bloody assortment of brains, eyeballs, intestines and other unidentified animal parts. Horrified I turned to my Dad and asked the fateful question, ‘Do people actually eat these things?’ To which my Dad replied, 'Yes, of course' very much amused by my reaction. It was from this point on I refused to eat meat.

Now I know what you’re thinking. No one forced you to try these particular types of meat. What about all seven years of loving bacon? Why the sudden switch? I think for me it was the whole realization that what I was eating had an independent life once. Especially back then, I was a huge animal lover and although I enjoyed the taste I couldn't repress my feelings of disgust when I thought of the life what I was eating once had.

Do you miss meat?

The short answer is no.

After a couple of months of being vegetarian I honestly didn't consciously think about my change of lifestyle anymore. Maybe it was the fact I was so young and easily distracted by other things, but to be honest I didn't and still don’t find my diet restrictive.

I think sometimes meat eaters don’t consider that almost every meat dish can be made vegetarian. There are meat-free versions of pastas, pizzas, tacos, quiches, chilies, burgers, stir fries, casseroles, the list goes on. Most desserts, save for some jellies are vegetarian too. Sorry that wasn't actually a short answer haha.

 

In conclusion:

I think it’s also worth mentioning that only two others in my entire family are vegetarian as well. My brother and Dad especially are huge meat lovers despite eating vegetarian about 50% of the time. Making meat a treat rather than a daily occurrence has opened everyone’s eyes to new varieties and types of food.

I don’t write this not to condemn the consumption of meat, but just to give some omnivores an insight into the mindset of a proud vegetarian :).  

I found this video very entertaining and surprisingly accurate haha. 

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5 Must-Do Summer Activities

Image Credit: fanpop.com

Usually around the end of August I get this horrible sinking feeling I’ve wasted the whole summer season. It’s as though I’ve spent 4 months procrastinating, promising myself I won’t let summer pass me by while it does just that. I either haven’t squeezed in enough activities or never fully appreciated the season at all.

However, this year, as September looms around the corner I don’t feel my usual dismay. Why? I made a list. A big list. It was full of all summer themed activities, and apart for some excessively optimistic ideas including building a tree house (we have one rotten tree in the garden) I managed to do a good 95% of the list.

Below are some of my favorites:

I wish this was me.

Yoga Outdoors

Also counts as exercise!

Professional Photo Shoot

Although they usually always make me cringe, I love looking back on my childhood studio photos. This year I got them done with friends in a totally laid-back, natural way. The pictures came out really well, and since we had them taken at target, very inexpensive!

Outdoor Picnic

Bonus points for bunting and tiered trays for the quintessential English feel.

Image Credit: glorioustreats.com

Bake an Ombre Cake

Despite their complex look they are so easy to make if somewhat time consuming! I used this recipe.

Attempt Celebrity Makeovers   

To be honest the less skill you have with makeup the more fun this activity is. We attempted (and failed spectacularly) with the vampires from Twilight and Kim Kardashian. 

Enjoy, and remember summer isn't over yet!

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Listen: Summer Playlist

Image Credit: weheartit.com

When it comes to music my taste really varies. It spans all categories and all ages. Because of this I find it very difficult to define what type of music I actually like.  While I have some friends who are strictly top 40 or a slave to the 1980s my only rule is that I have to have some kind of emotional connection with the music. By that I don’t mean I have to reach some have some deep epiphany through the lyrics; I  just seem to be more drawn to songs that influence my mood or have some effect on what I’m doing or thinking about.

During summer I especially enjoy music that gives me that wistful nostalgic feeling. I think it’s a combination of sunshine, visiting family and old  friends and the stench of sun cream that brings it all back. Below are some new favorites that just seem to have a timeless quality and some oldies but goodies. Happy Listening!

Simple as this by Jake Bugg

Brand New Key by Melanie

The Celtic Soul Brothers by Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys 

Flashbacks by Ram Di Dam

Letter From America by The Proclaimers



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Watch: Broadchurch

To be honest I’ve never really been a huge fan of the whole crime thriller genre.  It usually takes so long to introduce the characters and establish the plot I’ll just switch mindlessly to re-runs of Friends. Broadchurch however was something else.

 Image credit: www.ign.com

A very brooding and Scottish David Tennant takes on the case of Danny Latimer, a young boy murdered in his small town of Broadchurch. I felt the beauty of the programme lay in its longevity (there are 8 episodes total). The story wasn’t crammed into a single episode therefore the storyline was easier to follow, I was far more emotionally invested in the characters and the ending was an even bigger shock. Literally I sat gaping at the TV for at least 5 minutes after the final episode had ended.

Well worth watching, AND HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

 Prepare to spend 90% of all conversations with fellow viewers trying and failing to identify the killer.

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About

Welcome to the world of Beth-Oh-La…

Hello! My name is Beth. I started this blog as a way to write in a purely fun and unstructured way and to document my life a little bit. Posts contain my thoughts on things beauty, fashion, foody and life related. Enjoy!

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