AMSTERDAM 2015

Oh my gosh this city. How pretty and how pretty chilled it is. I would move in a heartbeat yano. Just stepping out of Centraal Station and seeing the immediate gorgeous buildings I knew I was going to fall in love. I've been wanting to visit Amsterdam the whole way through university. It seemed like everyone had been but me and it had always been on my list. I know many people see it as just a place to smoke weed and maybe that's why my friends shied away from going but it is so much more than that, so much more. I didn't even smoke a cigarette never mind anything else and it was still an amazing experience. The opportunity came up because my friend is currently inter-railing around Europe and I thought it would be nice to meet him out there for a few days. My friend from home Michaela came with me which made all the travelling a lot easier.

We met Gareth in Durty Nelly's, an Irish pub/hostel which would be our home for the next two nights. It's perfect location, rooms are a bit small but it didn't bother us as we only used it to sleep. If there was a bigger group of us and we were there for longer I would opt for an apartment.

We tried to do as much touristy stuff as we could, sex museum, I Amsterdam sign, canal ride which all lived up to my expectations. My favourite had to be the canal boat ride, it was our last day so it was super nice to relax on the boat for an hour and be told snippets of cities history. The first night we arrived we participated in the red light district pub crawl which started right outside our hostel. It took us to different bars with free drinks on entry. We met people from all over the world, particularly a girl from San Francisco and a boy from Perth, who we stayed with towards the end of the night and became Facebook friends, how cute.

We didn't eat much while we were there, it was mostly liquid meals but we did try Holland's best fries and had dinner at the Hard Rock Café, both were delish! I'd advise buying alcohol in the duty free because we could only find one off-licence that only Gareth knew about because he had been there twice already.

We spent quite a bit to be fair, I think all in all the trip cost £400-450 but it could defiantly be done for cheaper if you book well in advance and just watch what you spend. I would budget £400-500 for a weekend away anyway just to be safe. A weekend in England cost just as much so might as well spend it on a country in Europe I've never been to.

I will take away such great memories of Amsterdam and I am so positive that I will be back. Maybe for longer this time so I can have chilled days just living in the city.

Top Ten | Albums

Another in the Top Ten series. Albums.

I think my cousin introduced me to this album, it was so different to the pop I was listening to at the time and probably opened my mind up to different genres.

This was our family car album. I feel like every family has one of these. It was always on, we never changed it and everyone knew every lyric to every song. Made for really great long drives.

This could be my favourite album, ever. Big statement to make, hence why I said maybe, I just can't commit! Every song is beaut and reminds me of being the age I am now if that makes sense. It makes me nostalgic for now, yeah that doesn't make sense.

Soulful, haunting, mesmerizing voice. I just love her and this album.

They had a bumpy ride but I was a fan right from the start 'brother'.

I was given this album as a present when I spent my first Christmas in Australia. Had no idea who she was or what kind of songs she sang but I now enjoy every song on the album still after however many years it's been.

I saw these guys support Florence and The Machine before The Horrors not knowing who they were. As soon as I got home I done my research, they had made such an impression on me. Ended up loving them and this album.

The most heaviest album on the list and some people would still call it pretty light. I became obsessed with their song Jeremy and the story behind it that I naturally started listening to the album that it was on and loved it.

Summer, summer, summer, is what it reminds me of especially 'Young Blood'. My friend has it on vinyl and we would listen to it and it would take me back to just being outside with my friends in the summer time. We don't really do that anymore, just chill outside.

Me and my friend Katrina's favourite band, we seen them play in our local student's union and it was one of the best night's of our lives. I remember buying this album rushing hoe, putting it into the CD player and just lying on my bed listening to it in full for the first time. Magic.

Top Ten | Lipsticks

MAC - Heroine

Rimmel - Pink Champagne 

Rimmel - Coffee Shimmer

NYC - Blue Rose

Kate Moss - 04

Rimmel - Amethyst Shimmer

Maybelline - Hot Plum

MUA - 11

Kate Moss - 107

Bourjois - Fraise Remix

June | In Frames

It's starting to feel like summer now, so so hot! The weather has been gorgeous the past couple of weeks and so bright all time. I feel like I get a lot more done in these longer days and now that I'm working loads I get up pretty early everyday naturally which is the best. 

Sunny days mean beer garden however I've been saving a lot this month so I've only managed to go out a few time. The wolfpack was complete once more when Niamh flew home for a while and we celebrated in our local. It was super messy. I also made it to Belfast for a night out with Gareth and his friends. Last night out with him before he went interrailling around Europe for the summer. 

It was my little sisters 11th birthday this month and we celebrated with dinner in the town, it was lovely to catch up! I booked two holidays this month, the reasons why I was trying to save so much. I'm off to Amsterdam soon to meet Gareth on his travels and Iceland in January. I am so excited that I get to go to the places I've always wanted to now. Can't wait to explore some more!!

June Motivation.