Films I'm Loving This Month

Here are 5 of the films that I'm Loving This Month!

1. Moana
Yep, I'm still in love with it! I mean, the soundtrack alone is enough to make Moana an instant classic. That iconic 'I am Moana' yaaaassssssss!!!

2. Hacksaw Ridge
I saw this a couple of months ago when it was first released, and (I kid you not) I literally cried from the opening scene until way after the credits. For me, the main character was so relatable even though his circumstances weren't, which I thought was a lovely parallel. I must rewatch, but I'll remember to bring the tissues this time!

3. St Trinian's
Having adored this movie (and it's sequel) for many, many years, I was thrilled to catch it on TV the other day. I still laugh, I'll be honest.

4. Kick-Ass 2
Both Kick-Ass movies are such feel-good guilty pleasures of mine. The characters are wonderful, the plot is hilarious, and yet there are still some gut-and-heart-wrenching scenes and themes. 10/10 would recommend.

5. Zero Day
Do you really expect a best-films list of mine to not contain Zero Day???? It's nearly 15 years since this masterpiece was released in 2003, and it's still just as relevant and just as fantastic. My love.

Florida Easter 2017

Here are some photos from my recent trip to WDW and Universal, Orlando. Enjoy! <3 

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's EPCOT

Disney's EPCOT

Disney's EPCOT

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Universal Studios

Universal Studios

Universal Studios

Universal Studios

Universal Studios

Eating Vegan At Walt Disney World

Hi guys! Over Easter, I visited WDW and Universal Studios in Florida. Before I went, I tried to find a list of everywhere that served vegan food, and now with my own experience I've put together a guide of how to eat vegan at WDW and Universal! My original compilation was from a really great website which has apparently dropped off the face of the internet, because I can no longer find it. (If I do later on, I'll link it in.) Although I'm pretty sure, I can't guarantee that everything on this list is vegan as suppliers are constantly changing and I got some of this list from other people, so it's always best to ask your server and they'll usually know, or be able to find out for you.

Walt Disney World

Disney is truly magical when it comes to allergies. I wasn't expecting much, and I was very pleasantly amazed. WDW's advice for anyone with dietary requirements is to inform your server on entering a Quick Service/Table Service establishment. All of the staff were so well-informed and very conscientious and cautious as to not serving me anything that wasn't completely vegan. In addition to this, every food establishment is equipped with an allergen folder, which you can look through if you request. Also, there were a lot of vegan options! Decent vegan food too, not just fries and/or salad!

Magic Kingdom
Kiosks, Carts and Walk Ups
Aloha Isle, Adventureland
Vegan Option: Pineapple Dole Soft Serve and Dole Whip Float, Pineapple Spear
Prince Eric’s Village Market, Fantasyland
Vegan Option: Mickey Pretzels, Pickles, Pineapple Cup, Whole Fruit, Hummus and Chips, Watermelon
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Main Street USA
Vegan Option: Tofutti and Rice Dream Ice Cream
Cool Ship, Tomorrowland
Vegan Option: Mickey Pretzel
The Lunching Pad, Tomorrowland
Vegan Option: Mickey Pretzels, Soy Milk

Quick Service

Be Our Guest, Fantasyland
Breakfast Vegan Option: Waffles, Oatmeal, Sweet Breads (Erin McKenna’s), Fruit
Lunch Vegan Option: Quinoa Salad, French Onion Soup without cheese
Pinocchio Village Haus, Fantasyland
Vegan Option: Allergy Menu Pizza with Vegan Cheese
Columbia Harbor House, Liberty Square
Vegan Option: Vegetarian Chili without Oyster Crackers, Lighthouse Sandwich without Broccoli Slaw, Steamed Broccoli

Table Service

Jungle Skipper Canteen, Adventureland
Vegan Option: Falls Family Falafel without dip, Curried Vegetable Crew Stew, Sorbet
Be Our Guest, Fantasyland
Vegan Option: Layered Ratatouille
Crystal Palace, Main Street USA
Vegan Option: Veggies, Rice, Pasta, Occasional Tofu Dish, Tofutti Ice Cream – ask Chef for tour of vegan options
Plaza Restaurant, Main Street USA
Vegan Option: Vegetable Sandwich and Root Beer Floats
Tony’s Town Square, Main Street USA
Vegan Option: Pasta Primavera without Feta



EPCOT
Kiosks, Carts and Walk Ups
L’Artisan des Glaces, World Showcase (France)
Vegan Option: Waffle Cone and Fruit Sorbet

Quick Service
Sunshine Seasons, Future World
Vegan Option: Vegan Korma with Gardein® Meatless Chik’n, Vegan Flatbread Sandwich, Various Vegan Snacks
Liberty Inn, World Showcase (America)
Vegan Option: Freshly Grilled Gardein® Vegetarian “Chick’n” Breast (order without sauce on as it contains mayo), you can sub Chicken Sandwich for Vegetarian “Chick’n” Breast
Katsura Grill, World Showcase (Japan)
Vegan Option: Veggie Sushi, Edamame
Tangierine Cafe, World Showcase (Morocco)
Vegan Option: Vegetable Platter, Falafel Sliders, Falafel Wrap, ask to see pita ingredients as supplier often changes

Table Service
Coral Reef Restaurant, Future World
Vegan Option: Crabless Cakes, Earth Balance Vegan Butter Available, Vegan Rolls
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, World Showcase (Norway)
Breakfast Vegan Option: Vegan Mickey waffles (must ask chef), potatoes, fruit
Lunch/Dinner Vegan Option: Fresh vegetables, lentil patties, salads
Biergarten, World Showcase (Germany)
Vegan Option: Tomato Salad, Green Bean Salad, Beet Salad, Cabbage, Fresh Pickles, Breads, Pretzels, Potato Wedges, Rice with Peas, Sautéed Veggies and Red Cabbage (may contain honey)
Via Napoli, World Showcase (Italy)
Vegan Option: Veggie Pizza without Cheese, Salad, Spaghetti Marinara
Teppan Edo, World Showcase (Japan)
Vegan Option: Yasai Fresh Grilled Vegetables swap beef rice for steamed rice, Edamame
Tokyo Dining, World Showcase (Japan)
Vegan Option: Veggie Sushi, Seaweed Salad, Edamame
Restaurant Marrakesh, World Showcase (Morocco)
Vegan Option: Assorted Mediterranean Salads for Two
Le Cellier, World Showcase (Canada)
Vegan Option: Root Vegetable Gnocchi (without sauce), Earth Balance Butter and Bread
Garden Grill
Vegan Option: Breakfast Platter (Fruit, Mickey Waffles, Hash Browns)
San Angel Inn Restaurante, World Showcase (Mexico)
Vegan Option: A whole vegetarian menu that can easily be made vegan, Guacamole, Vegetable Wraps,  others

Garden Grill
Vegan Breakfast Platter

San Angel Inn Restaurante

I can't remember what this is called oops, it's a starter

San Angel Inn Restaurante

Vegetable Wraps (it's actually a lot bigger than it looks lol)

Animal Kingdom
Kiosks, Carts and Walk Ups

Harambe Fruit Market, Africa
Vegan Option: Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Pretzels
Mahindi, Africa
Vegan Option: Popcorn, nuts
Tamu Tamu Refreshments, Africa
Vegan Option: Pineapple Whip Soft-serve
Mr. Kamal’s, Asia
Vegan Option: Hummus, Falafel without tzatziki, Samosas
Discovery Island Kiosk, Discovery Island
Vegan Option: Hummus with Vegetables, Chips, Fruit, Soy Milk, Enjoy Life Cookies

Quick Service

Harambe Market, Africa
Vegan Option: Chickpea Salad, Roasted Broccoli, Tomato Salad (all found at Kitamu Grill)
Restaurantosaurus, Dinoland USA®
Vegan Option: Black Bean Veggie Burger is NOT vegan, ask to swap for Gardenburger® Malibu vegan burger
Pizzafari, Discovery Island
Vegan Option: Vegan Pizza on Pita Bread, Daiya Vegan Cheese available

Table Service
Tusker House, Africa
Breakfast Option: Vegan Waffles (upon request), Various Potatoes, Fresh Fruit
Lunch/Dinner Option: Sautéed Vegetables, Couscous, Tabouleh, Tofu with Zucchini, Samosas, Various Dips, Breads
Yak and Yeti Restaurant, Asia
Vegan Option: Vegetable Lo Mein with Tofu (sub for rice or rice noodles), Miso Salmon (swap for tofu), Sweet and Sour Chicken (swap for tofu)
Tiffins, Discovery Island
Vegan Option: Roasted Market Vegetable Curry

Mr. Kamal’s, Asia

Falafel without tzatziki

Restaurantosaurus, Dinoland USA

Gardenburger Malibu vegan burger

Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM)
Kiosks, Carts and Walk Ups
Anaheim Produce, Sunset Boulevard
Vegan Option: Fruit, Pretzels, Chips

Quick Service
Starring Rolls Cafe, Sunset Boulevard
Vegan Option: Chips, Fruit
ABC Commissary, Commissary Lane
Vegan Option: Gardenburger Malibu Burger available upon request, Mediterranean Salad without cheese or dressing, comes with pitta and humous, dressing can be swapped for oil and vinegar upon request
PizzaRizzo, Muppet Courtyard
Vegan Option: Allergy Menu Pizza with Vegan Cheese

Table Service
50’s Prime Time Cafe, Echo Lake
Vegan Option: Spaghetti, Brownie Sundae, Milkshakes, Allergy Meatless Meatballs are NOT vegan, they contain egg
Hollywood and Vine, Echo Lake
Vegan Option: Build Your Own Pasta, Sautéed Vegetables, Vegan Ice Cream
Hollywood Brown Derby, Hollywood Boulevard
Vegan Option: Noodle Bowl (pho)
Sci Fi Dine-In Theatre, Commissary Lane
Vegan Option: Chef created Tofu and Vegetables, Vegetable Burger (ask for Gardenburger® Malibu Patty instead), Vegan Milkshakes
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, Streets of America
Vegan Option: Pasta with marinara sauce, Rice Dream Ice Cream

ABC Commissary, Commissary Lane

Mediterranean Salad without cheese or dressing

Disney Springs
Kiosks, Carts and Walk Ups
Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, The Landing
Vegan Option: Bakery full of vegan and gluten free treats including donuts, cupcakes, breads, soft serve
Sprinkles, Town Center
Vegan Option: Vegan Red Velvet Cupcake

Quick Service
Wolfgang Puck Express, Marketplace
Vegan Option: Fresh Fruit Salad
Blaze Pizza, Town Center
Vegan Option: Build Your Own Pizza, Daiya Vegan Cheese Available, Gluten Free and Regular crust are both vegan

Table Service
Morimoto Asia, The Landing
Vegan Option: Edamame, Vegetable Sushi, House Green Salad
Paradiso 37, The Landing
Vegan Option: House-made Guacamole, Chips and Salsa, House Salad without cheese
Portobello Country Italian Trattoria, The Landing
Vegan Option: Salads, Pizza without cheese
Raglan Road, The Landing
Vegan Option: Risotto without cheese
T-Rex, The Landing
Vegan Option: Jurassic Salad, Omnivores Delight Salad, Prehistoric Pasta without cheese
Bongos Cuban Cafe, West Side
Vegan Option: Famous Black Bean Hummus without aioli
Splitsville™ Dining Room, West Side
Vegan Option: Edamame, Pizza without cheese

Typhoon Lagoon
Leaning Palms
Vegan Option: Strawberry Fruit Bar, Roasted Almonds
Avalunch
Vegan Option: Fruit Cup
Lottawatta Lodge
Vegan Option: Mushroom Burger without cheese, Fruit, Side Salad



Blizzard Beach

Leaning Palms
Vegan Option: Side Salad, Fruit Cup
Typhoon Tilly's
Vegan Option: Roasted Almonds/Pecans, Side Salad, Fruit Cup

The water parks were the only Disney parks that I could find almost nothing vegan to eat. There are a few options, but I went for bringing in wraps/sandwiches from home.

Universal Studios

Compared to WDW, Universal's vegan food is sparse. That being said, the servers are still very well-informed and helpful, and there are still some good options. The City Walk is probably the easiest place to find proper vegan food (I highly recommend Cowfish), and there are a few places inside the parks as well.

City Walk
Antojitos
Vegan Option: Vegetarian Enchiladas, others (just ask)
Auntie Anne's
Vegan Option: Pretzel without butter
Dippin' Dots
Vegan Option: Rainbow Ice, Blue Raspberry Ice
Vivo
Vegan Option: Margherita Pizza without cheese, NOT pasta (contains egg)
Cowfish
Vegan Option: Edamame, Fried Pickles, Vegetarian Sushi Roll, Tree Hugger Sushi Roll, Heavenly Veggie Burger

Cowfish
Tree Hugger Sushi Roll

Islands Of Adventure

Burger Digs
Vegan Option: Fries (may be an issue with cross-contamination), Veggie Burger is NOT vegan
Fruit and Veg Stands
Doc Sugrue's Kebab House
Vegan Option: Vegetarian Kebab without sauce

Universal Studios
Three Broomsticks
Vegan Option: Pumpkin Juice, Lemon Squash, Gillywater, Orange Juice, Fizzing Tea, Corn on the Cob without butter, Baked Potato without butter or sour cream, Steamed Veg without butter, Garden Salad with Italian Dressing and Croutons, Roasted Potatoes, Fresh Fruit, Breakfast Potatoes, Old Fashioned Steamed Oats, Sautéed Mushrooms, Potato Wedges, Butterbeer is NOT vegan
Leaky Cauldron
Vegan Option: Sautéed Mushrooms, Breakfast Potatoes, Garden Salad with Italian Dressing and Croutons, Minted Peas, Root Veg, Veg Platter without Apple and Beet Salad and Peasant Bread, Lemon Squash, Gillywater, Orange Juice, Fizzing Tea, Margerine IS vegan, Butterscotch Beer, Butterbeer is NOT vegan
Louie's
Vegan Option: Spaghetti and Meatballs without Meatballs

Louie's
Spaghetti and Meatballs without Meatballs

My Favourite Places

I have always been in awe of the world (it’s this fascination that is actually one of the main reasons for my faith in God). I love to look at the stars, I love to see sunsets and sunrises, I love to walk through a forest at any time of day or night, I love the set line of a horizon over the sea.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit for my age, thanks to my dad’s job and his obsession with holiday-booking. I’d like to share with you my favourite places, and if you’d like to then please feel free to share yours with me! They could be in your house, in your country, or anywhere else in the world.

Goa, India

To kickstart this list, I’d like to share with you an experience that truly changed my life. It introduced me to Christianity, charity work, and the rich/poor divide, which was shown to me more clearly then than I had ever seen before, and have ever seen it since.
I won the trip of a lifetime to visit Goa, India in a business competition run by Faith and Football, a Christian charity. My team of 5 friends had to create a product, market it, and sell it to the public. We also had to create a business plan, which we put so much effort into that it won us the competition. The prize was a week in Goa to relax and see the sights, but more importantly to help the charity and try to spread some love and happiness. We visited old people’s homes and met some incredible people, who had nothing but were so content. The whole trip will stick with me forever, but the one highlighted memory for me was our last night in India, when we visited the orphanage we had been getting to know the boys from. Words can genuinely not even begin to express the emotions that filled the air that night. One man even spoke in tongues (which, honestly, is absolutely terrifying if you don’t know what it is) which was incredible looking back on it now, but very frightening for a bunch of 14 year olds who had no connection whatsoever to the Holy Spirit. Goa is such a beautiful place, and I so strongly urge anyone who has the chance to go there to do so. However, it’s also a very unequal place. There are rich people and rich areas of India, and then there are the poorest. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground, which is also true of many other Asian countries and African countries. This level of inequality is one that we are very lucky not to have in England (although I’m definitely not saying that England has true equality, that’s for sure) and that needs to change so that everyone has a chance to not just survive, but thrive.

The Cows

Another of my favourite places is one a little closer to home. On my road, there’s only houses on one side, and on the other there is a big green area. It’s a sort of combination between forest and grassy space, and occasionally there’s horses grazing on the spaces. I love to take my guitar or a book or some song lyrics and just sit and be in the space, surrounded by trees and horses and fresh air. It’s like going to the country but without the smells. My family calls this space ‘The Cows’ because one time, roughly 18 years ago, there were a few cows grazing there when my mum took my brothers up to it. There haven’t been any cows there since, but I have always (and probably always will) see(n) this place as ‘The Cows’.

Orlando, Florida

Creds

My final favourite place of this list is one which I am very, very excited about. I’m excited because in April I’ll be lucky enough to visit once again! When I was a child, my parents took me and my two brothers to Florida relatively frequently, because we were so infatuated with princesses (me), Winnie the Pooh (my brother), and the magic of Disneyworld. I reckon Mickey Mouse has this magic about him that whenever someone sees him, internally they’re instantly seven years old again. But that’s just a theory. When I look back on the old times in Disney, the most prevalent memory is of eating at the Princess Castle, where you would be having dinner and look up to see Jasmine chatting to your mum, or Ariel hugging the kid next to you. It’s moments like these that I’ll remember forever, and even though now I’m a lot older (but no taller. Thanks puberty.) I still cannot wait to wear the Minnie Mouse ears and go on the rides and just experience the magic that (I believe) can only be found at Disney. Also, what can a vegan eat at Disney world? EDIT I’ve actually found a website with a BUNCH of food options for vegans at Disneyworld, if anyone’s interested (I sure am)!

Top 3... Movies

Hello Wednesday!
Today I'll be sharing (and mini-reviewing) my personal 3 favourite underrated films of all time.
In no particular order:

Zero Day (2003, dir. Ben Coccio)
This is by far my favourite film ever. The story is inspired by (well, directly based on) the Columbine high school shooting of April 1999. Andre Kreigman and Calvin Gabriel, the two main characters (played by Andre Keuck and Cal Robertson, respectively) are fictional versions of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (respectively), the perpetrators of the real-life crime. I find this film so enthralling because, having studied the real massacre and perpetrators, it gives a different perspective to the relationship between the two criminals/characters, and also to the mind and inner workings of Dylan/Calvin. In particular, this is shown by in real life, Eric was blamed for being the 'mastermind' being the plan, and Dylan was portrayed as the 'quiet innocent one, led astray by Eric'. However, in the film, there is a scene in which Calvin (Dylan) is talking about how it's funny that people seem to not blame him and instead blame Andre (Eric), even though he has most of the ideas. In short, the film is very well made (and I usually hate found footage films), with incredible complex characters who give your morals a shaking-up and simultaneously make you love and hate them.

St Trinian's (2007, dir. Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson)
This film was my entire childhood oh my. Summarised by IMDb, the plot is thus; In order to save their bankrupt school, a group of troublesome girls stage a robbery with a group of geniuses on their tails. This does not do the movie justice. It is witty, innovative, moving, and all-round hilarious. The typical clique trope is so overdone, but somehow works impeccably in this classic. Plus, I'm pretty sure everyone wanted a cliquey makeover after seeing that amazing makeover scene. I remember always wanting to be one of the Posh Tottys, before realising that they were phone sex workers, of course. In summary; funny, empowering, and sheer genius.

Ratatouille (2007, dir. Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava)
One of my all-time favourite Disney movies, and one of the most underrated! The story is wonderful: a rat with great culinary skills and a sophisticated palette pulls a guy's hair and makes hm move in order to cook better. Simple! Honestly I have no clue why this film isn't more hyped-up, it's so funny and clever! Roger Ebert claims it is 'a triumph of animation, comedy, imagination and, yes, humanity' and asks for a sequel. If any animated film deserves a sequel, it's Ratatouille (excluding the cinematic masterpiece Toy Story 3 of course). But what really proves how wonderful this film is, is that I am a huge germaphobe, and yet I would be totally comfortable with Remy (the chef rat) cooking for me. Magnificent.