Loving Lately: March

I'm always drawn to little list-like blog posts- they really are some of my favorite reads! So this week when I was so sure that my life wasn't interesting enough to warrant writing about, I thought, why not start my own version?

March has been a pretty good month for me, with a lot of great opportunities coming my way and my life sorting itself out for once. I'm finally looking toward the future and can see a little picture of where I'll be over the next few months emerging. But life isn't all about planning for the future- sometimes you just have to enjoy the little things! So with March being a month of Big Things, here are some smaller things I've been loving lately.

My Favorite Recipes From Our Family Cookbook

Around last summer, my mom and I had this idea to write a cookbook. Nothing super professional or fancy, but just something we could give to friends and family as a gift during the holidays. We spent the summer brainstorming which recipes would make the cut and nagging my dad to "borrow" his iPhone to take advantage of the portrait mode feature for some food photography. 

Fast forward to Christmas, and we have an adorable little cookbook to tuck under the tree! I have to give props to my mom though. While I did have some involvement in the creation of the book (i.e. photography and writing a little blurb here and there), my mom was really the one who took this on. She's probably more tech-savvy than most people her age, but I think we all know how difficult it can be to learn new software!

And while the cookbook is all done and dusted, we're both thinking of "updating" it with new recipes, better photos, and a more sophisticated design. I think the Christmas deadline was a bit tight, but I'm proud that we got it out there!

So before the re-release of our cookbook gets underway, I wanted to share some of my favorite recipes from the book. I was actually going through it with my flatmates and they kept saying "You've never made that!" as they eyed up the dessert section (subtle hint, guys). But they were right- I hadn't made a lot of those recipes yet. A couple of weeks ago, I made the frittata recipe and the layered enchiladas and it was so nostalgic for me. Just the smell of those dishes reminded me of being at home.

Anyway, here are my top dishes from the book! (That are most accessible for students with limited budgets and small kitchens, of course!)

Beer & Skittles, Edinburgh: A sports bar with a twist

I'm not really a sports bar kinda gal. Don't get me wrong- I do love watching a good sports match (I wouldn't throw an annual Super Bowl party if I didn't). But being crammed into a crowded bar fighting for a view of the t.v. with only cheap beer for sustenance isn't exactly my idea of fun. In fact, it might just be my worst nightmare.

So when I was invited to Beer & Skittles Bar to review their new menu you can imagine I was a bit hesitant at first. But once I found out that Beer & Skittles offers cocktails and a pretty substantial food menu, I felt a little better about stepping foot into a sports bar. Oh, and did I mention that this bar is owned by the same amazing team as Steak Restaurant and Brasserie?

10 Tips to Help You Conquer Your Dissertation

Right now, I'm the envy of all my fourth-year friends. I was lucky enough to have my dissertation deadline in December, so my last semester of university is (relatively) smooth sailing! At first, it didn't seem like a good thing that Sociology had an early deadline relative to other courses (other than anthropology). But it really was a blessing in disguise. Sure, I was a bit more stressed out over summer, but I was able to come into the second semester with a fresh mind and little-to-no dissertation stress! That is until I got my results...

... and I did really, really well! So that's why I'm here today to share with you my top 10 tips for not just completing your dissertation, but conquering it! The dissertation (or thesis as my American friends say) is no easy feat, and it's much more than just an elongated essay. It takes creativity,  organization, and a whole lot of grit. But the good thing is, you really do "own" it by the end of the process. After all, no one will have done exactly your research before!

I'm sure some of you are in the thick of it right now, and others might just be starting to think of what you might be interested in researching for next year. So wherever you're at, here are my top tips for tackling your dissertation.