8 Photos of Happiness

There are a number of adaptations to the happiness theme going around this year, and I love it. It’s so nice and refreshing to see something positive going viral on the internet, so I was even happier when DipityMe nominated me to take part in this lovely trend that Ariel's Little Corner of the Internet started! 
1. My Dog: Tag

The first thought that came to me was my dog: Tag. Sadly he passed away last year in August after having him for almost 15 years, since I was 5 years old, so this choice is bittersweet. He was such a beautiful looking dog, and he had the personality to match. Everyone loved him, and he changed so many people's negative views of dogs! Plus he was super fluffy and great to cuddle. It was lovely to see how much he loved people, in particular my dad; he was his best friend!   

2. Family

My second photo of happiness has to be my family, obviously. The picture above represents just a few of my family! I have a lot of Scottish relatives and we have a family reunion once a year! That year we were in Edinburgh and there was at least 30 of us.
I get on with my family so well, they have given me everything I have ever wanted and I couldn't be more grateful to them. 

3. Friends

My Friends are the third picture, for obvious reasons; they’re like a second family. I have a very close group of friends who come from my hometown, and have also made quite a few close friends through high school, college and university. Friends are family that you can tell more to, we get on so well and we can pick things up even if we haven't spoken for ages!
4. Florida. Disney World.

Why? Duh, it's The Happiest Place on Earth!
I go here almost every year with my family and I love it. 

5. Food

Yes, food makes me very happy, and although the relationship we share is short-lived (I gobble food down so quickly), I love it and it’s my best friend. P.s. I especially love goat's cheese and prawns!

6. Travelling

I love to experience new things, which is why travelling makes me so happy. I feel so lucky being able to see new places and experience different cultures.

7. Events

Events is the industry I want to work in. I’m studying it at university, currently on placement as an event organiser and the best part about it is knowing that you have a positive impact on someone else’s life; it really makes me happy knowing that I’ve helped to make other people happy.

8. Netball

 I’ve been playing netball since I was 7 years old and I love it; being part of a team is one of the best feelings and has meant I have met some of my closest friends.

I don't know many bloggers as of yet, but here are a couple I'd like to nominate:

• Ffion over at  http://www.asouthwalesblog.com/
• Amanda over at http://amandabootes.co.uk/

Have fun and enjoy!
Beth x

Rules and explanation of this tag:

• Thank your nominator/s and link them in your post.
• Link the creator (Ariel’s little corner of the internet)
• Post your 8 photos of happiness;
• The photos can be anything that represents a moment, object, place or feeling that makes you happy.
• Pop in a brief description of the photo, why you chose it or let the photos do the talking!
• Spread the happiness and tag up to ten other bloggers!

Five Fail-proof Birthday gifts

As it was my birthday recently, I’ve been inspired to write a birthday related post! 
I always really struggle to find a gift that I think someone will love, especially gifts within my price range, and I can and have spent hours/days/weeks thinking about what to get someone I care about for their birthday, so here’s a list of ideas that won't break the bank; partly influenced by the presents I received on my birthday and also by what I think can sometimes be over-looked as a great present.

No.1 The watch

 I received a watch for my birthday that I had been looking at for ages, it’s a beautiful rose gold Olivia Burton watch, with a deep blue leather strap and a bee embossed on the face. No, I’m not an insect lover, but my nickname is ‘Bee/B’ (however you want to spell it) and I thought it was such a thoughtful gift for my boyfriend to buy me; it feels really personal and I couldn’t be happier with it. Watches are timeless and really useful, so this really is the gift that keeps on giving.

No.2 A modern twist to an old classic. 

ALCOHOL. 

So I received a LOT of wine for my birthday (I must love it or something..) and although I know alcohol is pretty much a go-to kind of present, last year my brother left a message on a bottle of champagne which read the classic ‘I hope you have a great birthday, love you..’ and I loved it. No one had ever given me personalised alcohol. Similarly a couple of my friends went to a shop in Manchester/Trafford Centre called Vom Fass, and hand picked different spirits they thought I would love. Again, I thought that was really special, and it wasn’t too expensive. A great new t(affordable) take on alcoholic gifts.

No.3 The 'you know it makes them happy' gift

(don’t get weird here...) 

Think ‘Team building’ but less formal. Gifts that you know your friend/family/other half are already really interested in are the BEST. It shows you have really considered their interests and you know it’d be something they would enjoy, however these could end up being quite pricey, so be tactical! For example my family and family friend bought my dad a fishing trip away for him and his friend. Their birthdays are after each other and they both love to fish, so it was a great idea for them, a chance for them to get away and they both really enjoyed themselves. 
Photo below taken from Google.co.uk

 No.4. The adventurous gift

(again, don’t get weird..) 

So my best friend Ange randomly texted me asking when I was free; she basically found a deal on Groupon (great place to looks for these kind of gifts) for a hot air balloon ride, with champagne in Scotland. Now, I have a lot of family in Scotland which is why she thought this would be perfect: we could go visit my family and also enjoy an experience neither of us had had before, together.
Photo below taken from Google,co,uk    

No.5 The original. 

Money makes the world go round, right?
I usually get money for my birthday, and I know a lot of people who think money as a gift is really impersonal, but every year my auntie and uncle have sent me a card with money in and always written something along the lines of ‘Don’t save this money in the bank. Spend it on rubbish and enjoy!’ I love that. It’s a great idea to personalise a card with money in, for example if it’s for your girlfriend/boyfriends birthday, suggest they buy a new outfit ready for the night! 

Do you have a go-to gift? let me know!

Beth x

Travel | Florida | Week Two

WEEK TWO

In our second week we went back to both Epcot and Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure as there's just so much to do in both parks. We also found ourselves heading to waterparks in the morning, as we were still waking up quite early (8/9am); we were usually one of the first ones there too, which meant less time queuing for rides and less congestion on the lazy river.

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

The two main water parks in Disney World. 

Blizzard beach (in my opinion) has a much better family raft as it's longer, faster and more thrilling, however, the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon is insane! The waves are huge although you have to be a confident swimmer and quite strong to be at the very front of the pool where the waves are at their highest. 

We usually spend a full day at the water parks, this is the first time we've only gone for the morning, but it's a really good idea, as I said before, there's less congestion on the lazy river and in all the water attractions as people don't really begin to show up and the park get busy until around 11am.

Must: Family raft at Blizzard Beach and get to the front of the waves at Typhoon Lagoon (if you're a confident swimmer)

Magic Kingdom

Arguably the best known and most popular park within Disney World: Magic Kingdom, like it's name suggests is truly magical. This park is where you will find Walt's best friend: Mickey Mouse, alongside all his Disney friends, whose autographs and pictures you can get, although you may have to queue. 

There are six parts that make up Magic Kingdom:

1) Main Street U.S.A

This is the first area you walk into when you hop off the tram or ferry into Magic Kingdom. It's packed with shops and restaurants, full of classic American items and Disney memorabilia and a great introduction to the park.
Must: Eat at the Crystal Palace, and try to book or stay until Wishes starts (fireworks show at 10pm usually) 

2) Liberty Square
Portrays the colonial era of America and is home to three attractions: The Haunted Mansion, The Hall of Presidents and the Liberty Bell Paddlewheel Boat, which takes you on a cruise around 'America's Rivers'; you will also find plenty of shops and cafes here.
Must: Go on The Haunted Mansions. One of my fave rides here. 

3) Tomorrowland
Like the name suggests, Tomorrowland depict's Disney's idea of the future and is home to three of my favourite attractions in the park: The Carousel of Progress, Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. You can also hop on the Transit Authority People Mover for a great view of Tomorrowland and a detailed explanation of the history behind that particular land.
Must: If you were going to go on one of these rides, it has to be Buzz Lightyear's Spin. It's so much fun!

4) Frontierland
Frontierland is home to some of the more bigger and better rides (in my opinion) such as Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain (my favourite ride here!). You can hop on the train from Main street to Frontierland which only takes a couple of minutes, plus you get to see a part of the park you wouldn't normally.
Must: Go on Splash Mountain. 

5) Adventureland
Adventureland houses some smaller, more relaxing rides and attractions including: Pirates of the Caribbean, Swiss Family Treehouse and the Jungle Cruise.
Must: Try all three attractions I suggested above!  

6) Fantasyland
Probably the best land for a child's playground within the park. With a mix of smaller rides and 'rollercoasters' (small, but children love them), children really love this land. There's also a no-queue water attraction, which is basically a mini water park in Fantasyland that I have spent many an hour on when I was younger (and this year, I won't lie). 
Must: Try all the little rides, they'll make you feel like a child again!

TOP TIP: Pre-book tables at restaurants before you go on holiday (some have waiting lists for months).

Pre-book fast passes for rides, you can do this online and it will save you a good hour of queuing 

Kelly Park, Natural Spring.
While we were staying at The Hard Rock Hotel, one of the waitresses suggested we go to a natural spring; she had been the weekend before and swam with otters and apparently there were bears at one point (so they all had to evacuate). It sounded really nice and relaxing, and was something different to anything we'd ever done before, so she listed down a few and we drove to the closest one: Kelly Park in Apopka.
We rented tubes from a local bar/shop nearby and headed to the spring. It was cold but very clear and really beautiful, the spring was a natural lazy river and lasted for about 40 minutes, people were having Barbecues and you could also camp over. Other activities included: kayaking, scuba diving and loads of other water activities but these were mainly at other, bigger springs.
TOP TIP: Get there early as the spring car parks have a limit and Kelly Park was closed to other visitors by 1pm.

I hope you've enjoyed my two-part Florida Post. If you haven't read the first part you can find it here.
Have you ever been to Florida or any natural springs? Let me know your fave holiday destination too!
Check out my Pinterest for some travel inspo 


Follow Beth's board Wanderlust on Pinterest. Beth x

Travel | Florida | Week One.

This June I was lucky enough to spend two weeks sunning it up in Orlando, Florida with my family for my sister's 21st birthday. Being in Disney (and Universal) is like being in a wonderful dream, it really is the happiest place on Earth and made for a wonderful twenty-first birthday celebration! 

WEEK ONE
The day we arrived it was a cool 30 degrees (yey!), we were staying in a villa so we headed to Publix (small supermarket) and bought supplies for the week. Publix is perfect for a quick shop as it's smaller than larger supermarkets such as Walmart; you'll find that you're only in your villa in the morning and night, so you'll only need to buy breakfast items, drinks and snacks. 
Top Tips: If you ever find yourself in Publix you need to get a Publix sandwich because they are literally the best sandwich in the world! 
We use Alexander Florida Holiday Homes to look for villas every time we go to Florida; clickable link here.

Animal Kingdom
Our first day was spent in Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's one of the smaller parks centered more specifically around younger children, I say this because there's more focus on smaller, less thrilling rides and is quite zoo-esque (as you may have guessed from the name), but still makes for a great day for all. Activities within Animal Kingdom include: safari rides, boat rides, dinosaur excavation and a number of shows to watch such as 'It's a bugs life', one larger roller coaster (Everest Expedition) and other smaller rides including a water ride. If you're visiting here you have to eat at The Rainforest Cafe, the menu is super appealing although quite pricey, but it's totally worth it for the atmosphere, with floor to ceiling jungle themed deco, and an indoor thunderstorm every half hour, it's an amazing and unforgettable experience!
Must: Go on the safari ride, it's always been a fave of mine.

Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM)

We visited Hollywood Studios on our second day which is centered more around shows and movies, with two big rides: Tower of Terror and Rock'n'Roll Roller coaster. If you are a big movie, television or music enthusiast then Hollywood Studios is ideal for you! It's a great place for adults and children alike with something for both. I would recommend The Great Movie ride and staying till the park closes to watch Fantasmic, an amazing 30 minute fireworks and water show!
Must: Watch Fantasmic atleast once!

Epcot
On our third day we traveled to Epcot: home to The World Showcase which represents 11 countries, including: Mexico, Italy, United Kingdom, Norway, United States, Canada, Japan, China, Morocco, Germany and France. Epcot is probably the most relaxed park in Disney. It's lovely to experience all the countries cultures, food and drink; Epcot doesn't miss a thing when it comes to properly representing each country, and it's almost as good as actually visiting each country separately (a lot less expensive too). Soaring is a ride you have to go on, which can be found in The Land, and also Spaceship Earth, which is located in the big globe (the icon of Epcot).  
Must: Try to go when the Food and Wine festival is on, and buy perfume from Norway: Laila (my fave)!!

 

 Hard Rock Hotel (Birthday Surprise) 
Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure
For an additional birthday surprise my parents booked the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando, for 2 nights/3 days. The hotel is amazing; everything you would expect from such a renowned company and more (including the price, but totally worth it). The hotel was enormous and so easy to get lost in. The staff were super friendly and inviting and the food was also amazing! Literally the only word I have to describe the Hotel. It's located right next to Universal studios so you can spend a day in the park (with the bonus of 1 hour early entry from Islands of Adventure). While we were there we went on all the wet rides first (people tend to do this last of all and then go home) but because we were only a 10 minute walk away from the park, we would go on the wet rides while there was no queue and then go back to the hotel and get changed and spend the rest of the day chilling in Universal or Islands of Adventure. You have to visit both these parks when you're there, especially if you love roller-coasters (and Harry Potter). They are perfect for all ages and you can literally spend the day filled going on and off rides; there's so much to do! 
Must: Eat at Bubba Gumps Restaurant and go to Margaritaville!

Chill Day
On the last day of the first week we just chilled out in the villa and had a little retail therapy session at Premium Outlets. Premium Outlets is the best outdoor shopping center ever! There always seem to be deals and sales on and it's home to the kind of shops that everyone knows such as: Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Pac sun and loads more etc..
Later we ordered takeout from Carrabba's which honestly cooks the nicest italian food. (You can also eat in)
Must: Eat from Carrabba's.

Look out for part two of my holiday. In the meanwhile check out my travel inspo on Pinterest!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Follow Beth's board Wanderlust on Pinterest.