Thai Hut

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The other day we decided to try out a new Thai restaurant that we haven't really stumbled across before.
To be honest, I was a little skeptical.
The Thai Hut, as the restaurant is known, is on the side of a seaside town stuck in the middle of a popular takeaway pizza chain as well as an ice cream bar and has a slight pop up shop vibe to it. 
Six tables in rows of three, a kitchen at the top of some stairs, a bar (aka a fridge) and I'm sure there is a toilet somewhere, but all I could see was a curtain - I certainly wasn't going to ask. 
Unfortunately, we definitely chose the wrong day to go. 
Carnival day. 
Amongst the chattering of families and friends sitting down to eat, the seagulls squawking and a persistent bell ringer, the atmosphere wasn't the best, but once a few people left and the carnival died down, we began to chat and have a good time.  
To be honest, the food was worth it - delicious, authentic and really tasty.  

I enjoyed a BBQ pork type dish to start, Moo Yang. Cooked in a honey glaze and served with a smokey yet tangy sauce - it was so good that I didn't even share!
Following this, I had Pad See Ew, similar to Pad Thai, but a little sweeter. I know that this is a popular street food and just fancied giving it ago. It was a safe bet and I love noodles so they couldn't put a foot wrong. Overall, it was a moreish noodle dish, but next time I will be a little more daring and try a spicier dish. 
All in all, I had never eaten out at a Thai restaurant before, but I definitely will again!

"Thai food ain't about simplicity. It's about the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish. Like a complex musical chord it's got to have a smooth surface but it doesn't matter what's happening underneath. Simplicity isn't the dictum here, at all. Some westerners think it's a jumble of flavours, but to a Thai that's important, it's the complexity they delight in."
David Thompson 

Golden cutlery at the Thai Hut in Felixstowe, Suffolk | Victoria Alice Blogs 
 
Singha Beer at the Thai Hut Felixstowe | Victoria Alice Blogs

Moo Yang Pork Starter at the Thai Hut | Victoria Alice Blogs  

Pad See Ew - Sweeter Pad Thai Dish at the Thai Hut | Victoria Alice Blogs

Do you have any favourite Thai dishes? I'm heading there at the end of September, so I'd love to know if there is anything that I must try!


10 Beauty Confessions

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10 Beauty Confessions | Victoria Alice Blogs

I decided to confess  all of my beauty secrets. Some are gross, some I'm pretty sure you do too - All I ask is that you don't judge me!

  1. I have makeup that is over 2, maybe even 3 years old...
  2. I don't really clean my brushes half as often as I should and then complain that I break out 
  3. I have an obsession with makeup - I don't know how many products I have, but it's a little ridiculous now
  4. I will buy a magazine, purely for the free mascara, nail polish or whatever is in there - even if it is a magazine I never ever read... and probably never will 
  5.  I buy product after product, but only really have a selection of five products I use all the time
  6. I hate mascara - it ALWAYS falls down my face 
  7. I fall asleep in my makeup all the time - after a night out, who seriously remembers to wash their face? And anyway, once you're snuggled up in bed, who can be bothered?
  8. I have been known to use a strand of hair as floss - eww gross... but true
  9. I never ever moisturise. It always makes my face feel gross and oily
  10. Sometimes, I just put on foundation. Nothing else, just a base - I get bored ok?!
So, there is my top 10 beauty confessions and now it is your turn!
Leave a note in the comments.

5 Lists

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I saw this post over on one of my favourite blogs and I loved reading it, so I thought I'd give it a go!
Basically, there are five lists, full of five items, read on to find out a few things that I love.

Foods I Love 
Golden Grahams
I must admit that cinnamon grahams are pretty tasty too.

Loyd Grossman tomato and Basil pasta sauce for one
I used to have this all the time at university and it is so good!

Yorkshire puddings, dipped in sugar
They are basically pancakes, so this isn't weird, ok?

Sweet potato fries
SO GOOD

Roasted onion, caramalised onion, onion chutney...
Yep, onion - as long as it's not raw

Blogs I Love 
Away with the Fairies
A really cute blog by Hannah Vickers - I always take a look at this blog and love every post she writes. Hannah was one of the first blogs that I truly loved and inspired me to write and start my blog.

Sprinkle of Glitter
Louise is forever updating her blog so it's a great one to pop back and visit again and again. She also does a weekly advertisers post so it's a great resource for new blogs and sites you may not have come across before. Plus it's Louise - Sprinkle of Glitter Louise - she's lovely!

Beans Beauty Blog
A great blog full of beauty, life and travel posts. She published one of my favourite blog posts I have ever read and she replied to one of my comments - that was a happy day :) 

Dorkface
Jemma writes on her blog all the time and spends her life on Twitter - because of this I never miss a post and her eclectic mix of life, diy, interviews, beauty and more it's always a surprise guessing what you are going to get next.

Victoria Alice... of course!
I had to put my little blog in here didn't I?! I am starting to really love my blog now, a few little design changes still need to be made, but I'm a lot happier with the content and like to try adding posts that are a little different from the norm. 

Songs I Love
Let it Go - Frozen
Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri
Stay With Me - Sam Smith
Panic -The Smiths
Midnight - from Cats
...To be honest, so long as I can sing to it - I love it!

Albums I Love
+ and x by Ed Sheeran - Everything he does is pretty amazing
Flaws - Bombay Bicycle Club
Lungs - Florence and the Machine
David Gray - Greatest Hits
Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim

Things I Love
Technology
I cannot live without my laptop, phone, camera... the list goes on. I'm not sure if this is a bad thing. 

My Job
Day to day I am a digital marketer and I absolutely love it. I work with lots of different businesses and get there business seen online - It's a good job I like technology eh?!

Blogging
Of course I love blogging - I wouldn't do it otherwise. I love it as I can write what I want, when I want and I have a little time by myself in a little blogging bubble - bliss!

Makeup
As I run a beauty, lifestyle and fashion blog, it would be a little silly if I didn't love makeup, but luckily I do! I love the way it makes me feel when I create a new look or transform my face from day to night. However, I don't like that some products are pretty crap.

Sleeping 
Ah bliss... sleeping is one of my favourite hobbies I think. I especially like falling asleep after a bubble bath, there is nothing better.

So, there you have it - a long list of things that I love. I hope you enjoyed this post and now it is over to you - what is the thing you love the most? Leave a note in the comments! 


Beauty Blogger Buzzwords

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Smiley Face | Victoria Alice Blogs

 <I know that this photo doesn't really relate, but there is a smiley face in the floor!> 

Every beauty blog I read is unfortunately becoming more and more similar.
I don't know if you guys have noticed, but with everyone and their son owning a blog of some sort, it is difficult standing out from the crowds.
I love researching blogs, (stealing ideas...ooh naughty), looking for inspiration and reading really great work, but a few posts really grind my gears. Especially this one: What's in My Bag? 


Seriously?
You want to know what is in my bag?

WHO CARES?!

If you are really that bothered, mine is full of reciepts, some stuck together with an old piece of chewing gum, a few coins and the essentials - usually a phone and a purse. If you're lucky, there might even be a camera in there.

How is that interesting?!

Anyway, I thought I'd go through a few beauty blogger buzzwords that I see on virtually every blog I peruse through - some I like, most I don't.

Essentials
Must haves, things you need to survive, makeup essentials, essential tips...
Are they truly needed? Will we really fail summer if we don't have Benefit's Hoola Bronzer on our freckled faces? I don't think so.

Dupe
Something that is practically the same as another product, but a ton cheaper. For me, I like dupes, finding a bargain is always satisfying, but if you love the product, buy the one you want. If I compared one of my Mac lipsticks to drug store brands, Mac wins hands down. Just the classic packaging and the way it makes me feel when it glides across my lips is worth the extra money - girl, you're worth it, get the real deal.

Hack
Ugh - 5 Summer hair hacks, hacks to help you put on eyeliner, hacks to stop you procrastinating, hacks so you can live your life. Ok, we get it. I guess that we are so busy that we need to use hacks all day every day in order to save time so we can do even more stuff in our day whilst looking perfect. To be honest, I don't think I need this in my life - If I was really that busy, I'd just wake up an hour or two earlier...

First Impressions
Why can't we just make our own decisions anymore? With something a little more expensive, ok, I get it - What is it going to be like, is it worth the money? But hey, do you know what? Many people get paid to review products - if you were given money to write your opinion would you be 100% honest? Hmm, let's make up our own minds, eh?

Wishlist
Ok, I like this one. I love crafting them, showing them and ogling at others. A wishlist can be used for so many different things, whether that it holidays, parties, outfits, events etc. and I think they are really fun to research and make.

Tag
Boyfriend tag, list of firsts, xyz tags - these just seem a little lazy to me. If y'all sent me a list of generic questions to answer, it wouldn't take me too long to conjure up a list of gibberish - it just lacks a little passion for me.

NOTD, OOTD, FOTD, HOTD...
...nope. These are for your Instagram, not your blog. 'nuff said.

Empties
Don't all your products get used at one point or another? I don't get it. Well done for finishing that shampoo, or wow - you ran out of foundation, something you use everyday - OMG it must be great!

Monthly Box Reviews
To be honest, I just see these posts as the ultimate spoilers. Looking at some of the boxes though, I like what is in them, but I'd quite happily peruse through the countless videos and blogs unboxing these mail box goodies and if something really excites me... simply buy it!

Anyway, this blog isn't meant to be too negative and I hope you see the funny, not so serious side. I must also say, that I, myself, have most of these buzzwords in my blog and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. To be honest, the only posts I really can't stand are those that really have no meaning or pasion behind them.

For now, have a look out for some wishlists coming up and hopefully a few blog posts that are a little bit different to what you are used to!

Feeling Left Behind

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Feeling Left Behind | Victoria Alice Blogs
Do you know, sometimes I just feel really far behind. 
I mean, every one I know is doing well, has a plan and seems to have their life scheduled out. Compared to me - well I'm a panicky mess when I think about the future!

Take friend number one: she has a really lovely boyfriend who lives with her, a steady job which she enjoys, friends to go out with at the weekend and the most loving family you have ever met. 

Take friend number two: she likes learning. Already has a first from university, but decided to do another course to guarantee a job at the end of it. Crazy, but at least there’s plan there AND she’s going away on holiday in a week or so – just booked it the other day and decided to pop on a plane and travel, (my worst nightmare!) 

Friend number three: she has a house, a husband and a baby on the way… ARE YOU EFFING SERIOUS? Who has a baby before they can drive? Anyway, not my cup of tea, but she is happy, and that is all that matters. 

And then there’s me. 

Don’t get me wrong; it’s not all bad - I have a job that I love, a family who love me, friends I can count on and the kindest, sweetest boyfriend that I could have ever asked for. 

However, when it comes to my position now, I just feel a little behind. I don’t have plans to move out just yet and the long distance relationship situation is really hard. I want to do so many things and start a new adventure, which scares me, but I also think it will do me good, even though for now, we will put them on the back burner.

I know I shouldn’t compare my life to others, but when you see people doing well, moving to exciting places like London, decorating their new place, doing simple things like the food shop and visiting somewhere new for the weekend, it makes me realise that I just want to have a bit of a change and start achieving some of the plans I have in place.

Does anyone else feel left behind sometimes? 
Also, what I really want to know is, when is the right time to move out on your own?! I'm 23 and feel like now might be the right sort of time? 
Let me know :)