We'll fly away

Way back in last January one of my new years resolutions was to travel more. I'd always had such grand plans to see the world but I'd never really had the chance - or the money - to put it into practise. Boy did I make the most of my annual leave at work in 2013! I took mini breaks to Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Bristol, Derry and Cardiff with a week long trip to Bodrum, Turkey.

Now that I'm in my second year of having a proper job - not being an intern is still a novelty! - I'm looking to broaden my horizons and splash the cash. I'm keen to take a lot more luxury holidays next year to see much more of the world and Emirates Holidays offers such an amazing range of holidays if you're looking to go further afield! After all, I work hard for my money so why shouldn't I be globe-trotting in style?! There's no point heading off to exotic places like Mauritius or Dubai if you're going to scrimp getting there. I'm always on the look out for places that have a lot of history - geek alert - and something out of the ordinary. A bit of a culture shock can be a good thing at times. This is why city breaks appeal so much to me at the minute. A beach isn't always a necessity for me personally - although it's nice to have a cheeky week away in the sunshine! Barcelona can kill two birds with one stone as you'll be able to see the city sights and soak up the rays on the beach. One beach i'd love to visit would have to be based in the Caribbean. I'm not that fussed as those pure white sandy beaches and crytsal blue seas are what dreams are made of.

My bucket list seems to get longer by the minute. At the moment finally heading to of Europe is priority. Luckily i'm doing that with this years trip to the Big Apple. I have such a huge fascination with the US. It's just feels so loud, massive and brash - no two places in the country seem the same. High on the top of my list of places to visit include San Francisco, Miami and Chicago. Other than America i'd love to explore Japan, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. Two weeks in Cuba sounds like my type of heaven - not least because of the rum!

This new years resolution looks set to be the same. This year I'm off to New York, Glastonbury festival and hopefully will have the Christmas markets in Bruges and a mini UK break for my boyfriends birthday. Looks like I better start saving my pennies pronto! It's my first time flying outside of Europe so to say i'm excited is an understatement.

Have you got any snazzy holidays planned for this year?

This post was written in collaboration.

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Love is in the air

Outfit:
Quilted fair leather jacket - Zara (similar)
Burgundy heart printed shirt - Topshop (similar)
Denim midi skirt - Topshop
Burgundy patent loafers - Zara (similar)
Glass statement necklace - Primark (similar)

If you can't wear hearts on Valentines Day then when can you?! Following on from the £100 ASOS giveaway a few weeks ago, the Brit Pack have decided to carry on in our adventures and do a linked themed post once a month. This month is Valentines themed and click on the links to see the other girls take on the lovey-dovey holiday. There are some right corkers!

Have you got plans for Valentines tonight? There's an indoor picnic in front of the telly calling my name following a trip to see the Foals at Ally Pally and lunch at The Rum Kitchen on Saturday. I've been wanting to sample the restaurant for a long time so am excited to finally stuff my face!

 (l-r)Maria of Frills n Spills, Kim of What Peggy Said,Christina of Kimi and Me, Donna of Polka-dot Pink, Erica of Being Erica

(l-r)Rachel Of Rachel The Hat, Sophie of The Story of a Girl Who Lives Above Her Means, Sarah of A Million Dresses and Gemma of Fat Frocks

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Recipe - Caribbean Inspired Shepherd's Pie

I have a soft spot for Caribbean food, add some jerk paste into anything and it becomes 100 times better in my opinion. I had the idea of making a Caribbean inspired Shepherd's Pie after having a few sweet potatoes and some jerk paste hanging around. This recipe is a mixture from The Telegraph and Levi Roots. I really just made it up as I went along but it came out amazingly well. It's definitely something i'd make again as it's perfect for a cold winters night. It's really good for you too as it uses lean turkey mince and sweat potato - who says healthy has to be boring?

Serves 4 - 6 depending on how many vegetable sides and how hungry you are! 

Ingredients:

500g of lean turkey breast mince
2 large sweet potatoes
1 chopped red pepper
1 finely diced onion
1 can of chopped tomatoes
Up to 4 teaspoons of jerk paste depending on how you like your spice
Vegetables of your choice to serve - I had spinach and green beans

001. Peel the potatoes and chop into small pieces and boil for around 25-30 minutes until they're soft.

002. Pop the mince, onion and pepper into a large wok and cook for around 20 minutes until the mince is cooked throughout. Add the jerk paste and stir thoroughly.

003. Add the chopped tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes.

004. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain the water and mash them until they're nice and smooth. Pop the mince mixture in the bottom of a rectangular deep dish and layer with the mash on top. Fluff up the top of the mash with a fork.

005. Pop into the oven for about 10-15 until you're happy with the crispy top. It won't go too crispy, just a word of warning! 

006. Cut into equal slices and serve with the veg! 

Please do let me know if you try it out as i'd love to see some pictures! 

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