a year in review
2017 felt as though it flew by. This year has treated me so
well and has given me memories I will cherish forever. I thought I’d reflect on
some of my person highlights of 2017.
January
2017 started well as this was the month me and my boyfriend
made it official. We’d been speaking for a few months and after a cinema date
watching Fantastic Beasts, we decided to make it official.
Me and Joe Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
February
In February, my bestest friend came up to Leeds for the
night, after not seeing her for over a month. This was her first night out in
Leeds and me and my other friend took her to a wagamamas and a night out after.
As Joe lives in Manchester and I live in Leeds, we missed Valentine’s
day that month. We decided to celebrate a week later when we were both free. We
went for a Zizzi’s and exchanged gifts after.
February was a milestone month for me, as I finally
discovered vegan pancakes. After stumbling across a recipe online I gave it a
go and now me and Joe make them for breakfast every time we see each other.
Thank you cannyfood for posting that recipe; it saved my life.
March
March was the month that I left Leeds to go home for Easter.
Me and my future housemates went for an emotional last night in Bierkeller and
parted our ways.
Before going back to my home town, I decided to visit my
friends. My first stop was Manchester to visit Joe, as he had recently moved in
to his new flat. We had a really chilled couple of nights, which is exactly
what I needed after a term at university.
My next stop was to visit Liverpool with my three closet
friends. It is so rare to get us all in the same room nowadays, as we are all
so busy. It was really nice to catch up and finally be reunited. Long distance
really does suck.
Marth, Liv, Katie, Me |
April
In April, I managed to find my dream hairdresser. Being a
natural ginger who has always box dyed their hair blonde, I finally managed to
find someone who made my hair colouring dreams come true. She took me to a true blonde,
which is something I never thought I could do as I had such warm brassy hair. I
loved it so much and I don’t think I will ever change hairdressers again.
(instagram: seanyteague.stylist)
(instagram: seanyteague.stylist)
April was actually a rather boring month for me, as I was at
home revising for my exams so not a lot went on in this month.
A day I do remember however, is when Joe came to visit me in
Leeds at the end of the month. We went to a kilo sale and then I took him for
his first wagamamas, (as you can tell this is my favourite restaurant).
May
This was my last month in Leeds before I went home for
summer. Upon returning to Leeds after going home for the weekend, me and my friend Katie
managed to get on the wrong train and ended up stranded in Manchester. We
called an Uber to take us back to Piccadilly and we managed to get back to Leeds a couple of hours later.
May was the month I finished exams and began my summer. I stayed
in Leeds for a couple of weeks and on the hottest day of the year we went to
Katie’s flat and drank wine and stripped cos we were boiling. It was such a fun
night.
I had my final night out in Leeds before I was ready to go
home for summer.
June
I started my summer by visiting a Jeremy Corbyn rally in
Telford. As a massive Labour supporter, I dragged my mum along and managed to
get her on my side.
I also dyed my hair again in June. This time we went for
purple roots.
July
On 2nd July, I moved in to my new house in Leeds.
We all stayed there for a few days to settle in and it felt so good to finally
be living under the same roof. I also found out I got the grades to go into
second year of university.
Me and Jem |
July was the month that I started my vegan Instagram. I had
loads of photographs on my phone of meals I was eating, so I decided to just
create a page where I could post them. This was probably my best decision of
2017, as now I get so many messages off people asking for advice on how to go
vegan. I love spreading the vegan message and seeing what other people eat has
really opened my eyes to all the amazing vegan food available out there. I hope
to keep growing my Instagram throughout 2018.
Aubergine Katsu Curry (my most requested recipe) Instagram: emeatsvegan |
A vegan fry up Instagram: emeatsvegan |
Dairy free ice cream in Italy Instagram: emeatsvegan |
After three years of university in Liverpool, my sister
finally graduated. My mum, my dad and I booked an apartment for the night and watched
her ceremony. She only reserved two seats so I had to watch a live stream which
I was NOT bitter about. We had a lovely day, and finished it off with dinner
and drinks at Gusto’s.
My sister and I on her graduation Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
Stealing the limelight Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
Joe’s birthday was on 19th July. I booked for us
to go podding for the evening. We drove a little out of Shrewsbury to this
beautiful place that had little huts for us to stay in, and a hot tub. They even
accommodated to my vegan diet, making me a veggie burger to dinner and a vegan
fry up for breakfast. The following morning, we drove to Alton Towers and spent
the day there. His birthday was one of my favourite memories this year.
August
I went on my first holiday as a vegan in August. I’ve linked
the blogposts below about how I got on with eating vegan in Italy.
https://emmeatsvegan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/eating-vegan-in-naples.html
https://emmeatsvegan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/eating-vegan-in-rome.html
https://emmeatsvegan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/eating-vegan-in-naples.html
https://emmeatsvegan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/eating-vegan-in-rome.html
Me and Katie Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
September
This was my last month before going back to Leeds to start
second year, so I just wanted to relax and appreciate home. Around half way
through September, me and Joe went to a wedding reception together. It was so
fun to get all dressed up, as I don’t do it often.
Me and Joe ready for a wedding Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
I ended September by getting a job in an Italian restaurant
in Leeds. I was so happy as after the summer I had, I really needed the money.
October
In October, I finally joined the Leeds Vegan Society. We went
to wagamamas to try out their new vegan menu. It was such a good afternoon and
it only cost £10, and even that went to an animal charity.
Leeds Uni vegan taster session at Wagamamas Instagram: emeatsvegan |
Gyoza Instagram: emeatsvegan |
I was feeling very homesick throughout October, as now I had
a job, I couldn’t just pop home when I felt like it. My mum, my sister and I decided
to meet halfway and went to Manchester for the day. You will not believe where
we chose to eat! (hint: it was wagamamas).
October was also the month of Halloween, which is one of my
favourite times of the year. Any excuse to dress up.
November
November was finally the month where I could go home. I booked
the weekend off work and went back to my beloved Shrewsbury. Joe was DJ’ing at
the club in town, so me and all my friends went to watch him. I was so proud.
December
I finally finished university for Christmas. I had to stay a
week extra because of work, which I was so upset about. However, my amazing
housemate Sophie, who I do not appreciate enough, gave up a week of her
Christmas to stay with me. The week consisted of library trips, coffee and lots
of sushi.
I was finally home for Christmas and after four months I was
reunited with my best friend Liv. We all went out for her birthday. I wish I could
expand on this but I have absolutely no recollection of that night, so let’s
just pretend we all had fun.
Another hair update, but in December I went pink! Pink is my
favourite colour, so I decided to take the plunge, new year new me and all
that.
The end of December marked my 20th birthday. Joe,
my family and my friends made it the best birthday to date. After having a
little cry with Joe in the morning about not being a teenager anymore :(. Joe took me ice
skating. If you know me, you know I am the clumsiest person, but for some
reason I found myself gliding across that ice rink. I was so proud of myself. We
finished the day with a meal and then drinks with all my favourite people.
Joe is bored of me taking photos Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
Me having a photoshoot on the ice Instagram: emmalouisewagstaff |
2017 really was a wonderful year.
Emma xx
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