Throwback Thursday!

Making new friends!


In October 2012, my family and I visited the large zoo in Valencia, Bioparc, for my mum's birthday. 

Beautiful view for lunch!

Making a new friend!

All the 'pens' are made of completely natural resources, it's built in a river dam, so you are always above the animals and if not, they are only closed in by rocks, wooden fences (the safe animals) and glass, trust me, all 100% safe and 110% incredible! 
This place has all the African animals you could imagine, elephants, giraffes, zebras, exotic snakes, the lot!

One of our favourite feature's of this park was by far, the lemur walk through attraction. It's a set path and it runs though grassy hills where lemurs and various other small primates roam free! Even though visitors are forbidden to touch them, there are various keepers handling them and explaining their habitats and diet.

Another one of our favourite features is the restaurant, this isn't just like any restaurant, imagine eating on the balcony and having a giraffe's head pop up next to you?! Pretty amazing if I may say so myself!

If you're animal lovers like us, I guarantee you will love it there!

Much Love

Zoe x

Summer touristy flashback!

Viva las....Spain?

Have any of you ever been to Spain?- Even Benidorm? Madrid? 

Well, I'm having a summer flashback and in case you didn't know, I ADORE food, not necessarily cooking it (That's what Ash is for) but eating it ;)

OK, so say you go on holiday to Spain, which you should because it is completely amazing and cool, where do you eat? Local restaurants...tapas bars...and so you should, Spanish tradition. 

But, as much as i love both these options, you should make time to go to Verdi Vent in Jalon. OMG. 

Jalon is in the Valencia area of Spain, and YOU WILL need a sat nav, i'll just say that now...especially when driving back semi-pissed. (Keep reading and i'll explain)

So basically, Verdi Vent is this family run restaurant up in the mountains, yeah, like, the top TOP, totally huge! But the food, is fresh, homemade, just to die for! 

You basically get like a 5 course meal which usually goes a little like this: 

1. Bread and dips

2. Soup ( I'm not a huuuuge soup lover but this is something else!!!)

3. Salad, accompanied with more bread.

4. Main course- like steak, lamb, duck...in various sauces. 

My mouthwatering steak! Not a crumb was left....

5.dessert, ice cream or pancakes or coffee or MORE wine! (If you can hack it obviously)

Oh and did i mention the jug full's of Spanish (aka strong) wine that is ready and waiting on the table, plus if you drink it, they refill it FREE OF CHARGE.  

Probably a good idea to get a designated driver who just doesn't like to drink or you could get stuck up there or pay for a very expensive taxi journey!

Anyway...there's my piece of tourists information for today...enjoy!

Mucho amor

                                                    Zoe x

Blazer haul!

Morning folks!

How are we all? 

As of late, i've had this 'thing' about wanting to make my style and wardrobe a little more 'grown up'. Not saying I dress like a six year old or anything but i'm almost nineteen and want to feel more mature and self confident (if that makes sense, if not, I probably sound crazy)

Anyhoo, on the same night mum and I attacked CASA, the home store, we attacked MANGO, the clothes store and spent....well....more than I planned. Why does growing up mean you have to spend more? :S

I bought these two gorgeous blazers!

Black blazer, 49.99.

Grey blazer, sale item, 17.99

On top of those, I purchased two pairs of loverrrrrly jeans and a pair of 'going out/posh' shorts for summer! 

Denim pair, 17.99. White pair, 35.99.

Summer shorts, 22.99.

Is it bad that I felt guilty for paying 100 plus euros? No? Huh. Oh well they were on sale, wait, only two of those items were on sale?.....and they'll last me a long time......and......oh god, i've got to get used to this!

Much Love

                                                   Zoe x

REUNITED!

Today, I was reunited with one of my best friends, Laura. She used to live out here but moved back last August but she shocked me on Monday night by telling me she was flying over on WEDNESDAY!!! :D

We met up at one o'clock at Acqua, another beach front restaurant, coincidentally Laura's favourite (we've had many deep chats in that place, kind of like our sanctuary) 

Introducing...... Laura Kate Jones!

                                       

So, we had a good old two-hour catch up over Caesar salad and patatas bravas (Spanish for 'spicy chips') before heading back to her house to watch the movie, 'A series of Unfortunate events' which we haven't seen since we were about eleven or so! 

Afterwards, i headed to my boyfriend's bar to pay him a visit and then we headed to dinner at Geographic bar, where I had a sneaky lasagne and Ash had a MASSIVE burger. (I promise, i don't eat out much, today was just a double coincidence!!) 

And now, I'm at home eating milky bar and watching QI.

 My dad and brother returned from England tonight, remember how i was telling you about his flight training interview? Well, unfortunately he just missed the pass mark and didn't get through :( HOWEVER, they have invited him back again in six months and have encouraged him by saying, with a little more studying, he has a very high chance and succeeding next time! Which is awesome! So, well done bruv'!  mwah!

Well, that's all for now i suppose, better get some sleep zzzz....

Good night all!

Much Love

Zoe x 

On a more serious note....

Now, I don't mean to put a downer on everyone's day but I was wondering how many people are aware of something that has been going on now for many years, take a read, I'd love to hear you opinions!


Across the world, there have been many murders. However, over in Taiji, Japan, taking place, to this day, on a daily basis is one of the worst, dolphin slaughters.

 In the Japanese seas, hundreds of dolphins are hunted down and killed weekly. The hunters choose the 'pretty' dolphins to be taken into captivity and kill the ones that don't get through. after the selection has been made, these innocent, harmless mammals are forced into cramped caves using nets and spears. The dolphins are then closed in and stabbed to death by long knives and spears. It's heartbreaking.

 These hunters kill so that they can sell the dolphin's body parts for money as well as adding it to their dinners. This mass murder for their own benefit is disgusting and cruel. It's unfair to the dolphins, who have been living on this planet longer than we have and have done nothing to hurt any of us, yet they get punished for it.  How would the Japanese hunters like it if they were suddenly stabbed to death, cut up and sold as individual pieces at the market? I say 'Hunters' because facts from 'savejapansdolphins.org' state that more than half of the Japanese population are against it. And the rest? They call it tradition. How can it be, if half the country is in disagreement about it?

 Over here, in Spain, similar conflicts occur surrounding bull fighting, many disagree with it, and others love it.

What makes these activities even more horrific is that dolphins are extremely trusting creatures and are well-known for connecting with humans and for entertaining disabled and ill people.

 Despite their strong builds, they are gentle and one of the friendliest mammals known to man. Would you be able to kill one, knowing how much they probably would've trusted you? I couldn't and i wouldn't.

Three emotional volunteers pictured, after being pushed back to shore during a protest against dolphin slaughter.

Thankfully, there have been protests. Surfers, including American actress, Hayden Panettiere and Home and Away star, Isabel Lucas, have gone out on surfboards and tried to force the dolphins back out to sea. Even though, they were poked with blades by the hunters, ushered back to shore, and later arrested, they haven't backed down yet and are finally starting to make a difference. Charities have been formed and protests around the world are taking place involving celebrities such as, Jennifer Aniston. It's a great feeling to know that there are people dolphins can still depend on these days. One day, in my life, i wouldn't hesitate to join a protest, because i believe it is something worth fighting for. Do you?

Much love

                                                Zoe x 

(p.s: I do not own these pictures!)

So apparently, I'm nesting....

So basically, two days ago, mum and I visited a home store called CASA in Denia, which is about 30 minutes from my home town. We go there quite a lot just to browse and stroll around but of course, being just after Christmas, there is that one beautiful thing, the sales. 

As you probably already know, I've been seriously thinking (Or dreaming..) about moving out lately, into a cute little apartment, by the beach, preferably pink. Okay, the pink part sounds fussy BUT there are these gorgeous beach front pink apartments which look dreamy! *SIGH* one day.....

But, for now, anything will do, well not anything, but anything with liveable bedroom, kitchen and bathroom!

Anyway, back to CASA, I grabbed myself a basket and off I went....

                          (Matching coffee and tea tins. Very retro! 3.99 each)

                (Magnetic reminder board for the fridge, think i'll need it!2.99)

(Yes this is a miniature pink frying pan, please don't judge me! 4.99)

(My 'Home Sweet Home' hanging sign, sorry about the neck pain, the photo wouldn't turn around! 1.49)

(Baby pink candles on sale for 1 euro each! Can't go wrong!)

(NYC magnets, also couldn't turn photo around, 1.99 for all three!)

(PARIS picture on canvas, actually a lot bigger in real life! Bought it a couple of weeks ago for 19.99, not a sale item!)

So, there you have it, according to my friend, Sara, from work, i'm nesting. But I thought that was something you did when pregnant and NO I AM NOT PREGNANT. Then mum started on something about a 'bottom drawer' apparently where you put stuff that you've bought for your first home until you buy/rent your actual first home. 
So, there you have it, I guess that's what i'm doing. Call me crazy, but I'm actually quite enjoying it. Anybody out there ever done the same? C'mon, I can't be the only person who has stored a pink frying pan in their room now can I? Right?

Much love

Zoe x 

Good Luck Craig! 

Early this morning (around 8 am) I got up to say good bye to my father and brother who were heading to England for my brother, Craig's, Flight Training Academy interview tomorrow!!! Eeek!!! Basically, training youngsters to become commercial pilots and eventually helping them achieve jobs!  They train in Bournemouth and NEW ZEALAND! So, I really pray to god he gets it as I know he'd love it and be amazing! Good Luck Craig! (Pictured below) Love you! 

As for myself, i've had a pretty normal/boring/nothing exciting happened to me- kind of day. I spent the morning at home, of which I mainly overslept through (oops) and spent the first part of the afternoon cleaning and tidying up the house before walking to L'Arenal (our local beach) to grab a bite to eat and study my driving thoery! Zzzzz....boring! 

Tonight, I am off to 'Champagne', a lovely restaurant on the beach front with Ash and mum for some dinner! So, at the end of it all, a pretty pointless post but I promised you regular info so here you have it! Ciao for now!

Much Love

Zoe x