Three things I love about Cambridge (UK)

When my parents moved us from Zambia to United Kingdom they moved us to the best city in the world, granted we lived more in the borough of Cambridge than the city itself but that never stopped us going into the heart of Cambridge and exploring. I have experienced so many wonderful times in cambridge, the city is very very diverse and a home to many different races. Cambridge is known for it's amazing architecture, the historical buildings like the oldest church in Cambridge St Benet's church and as the home of the University of Cambridge one of the top universities in the world. There are so many beautiful gardens to explore in Cambridge, we pride ourselves with the rowing team, the advancement in technology - Silicon Fen. Our technological advances has moved to the types of buses (biofuel) we have running around cambridgeshire, cambridge like london is a home of cyclists there are some many areas in cambridge to cycle and just take in the town. For me Cambridge is even more personal, not only is it my new adopted home but also a town where my church 'New Apostolic Church cambridge congregation' is based. I have been going to this church since 2004 and I love it and makes me proud every day. I have had many dates in cambridge, I have had many times taken my family for meals out on the town and many times spent with friends just exploring the beauty that is cambridge. 

I hope one day you get the opportunity to visit this amazing town and experience 3 of my favourite things

1. Rowing 

2. Dinning.

3. Shopping

November Recap ~ Your Favourite Posts

Today I decided to look through my stats though they are not as impressive as other bloggers they are very impressive ones for me. I wanted to see what has been your favourite posts in the month of November, I will share the top 5 and there snippets to go with them.

5. Claiming Carlos - It's not secret how much I love Rachelle's writing so I was not surprised to find this as a Top 5 most visited and read post. You can get your own copy of claiming Carlos on Amazon.

This book from the get go had me hooked, I read it in one sitting and could not put it down so much that I was very saddened when it end but at least I enjoyed the ending as much as I did the beginning. Claiming Carlos is a wonderfully written book, a romantic book at that as always a prerequisite for me loving the book. The love tension between Choco and Carlos was quite evident early on in the book but obviously not so obvious to the lead characters (well Choco at least), when third party is introduced brought so much change that I actually hated the 'Johnny' character and honestly didn't even when the book ended. I loved that each character had a role to play in the lives Choco and Carlos and how everything fit together, the situations felt real and related (not all but some). 

4  .Terry Tree Top saved the Dolphin - this made me chuckle a bit but then again most of my readers and women and some are mummies so this is again no surprise and I am actually happy with this outcome because apart from Romance novels I do enjoy me a good children's book here and there and I am not ashamed to admit it.

As mentioned this book has good grammar, author has made it easy to understand and fun but what captivated me the most was how the author via story telling teachers the children about what to do if you were at a pool and noticed 'someone' or 'something' needed help, I like that the author talked about the lifeguard and explained his role. As always Terry treetop enjoyed another adventure. The book is less than 5 minutes to read, very colour and fun. I recommend this book to parents who looking to try new ways of teaching their children/child.

3. Lessons learned - once bitten twice shy.  In this post I shared with you all the lessons have learned as a blogger and what mistakes I will not be making again. I am happy that most of you found this post useful and I got a lot of constructive feedback so I am very happy.

When I started blogging I had so many ideas of what I wanted to call my blog, as months went on found myself in need of a new name because I did not feel the name I had for my blog fit who I was (am) at the time and/or what I wanted to portray. My main blog AJD was originally called ‘Myrabev’s world’ this quickly changed to ‘Myrabev against the world’ then changed to ‘purely-by-accident’ (I am sure I have skipped a couple of names in there). I stayed with PBA for almost 9 months before I decided to change it to AJD. Now what I did not do before changing my blog name and URL was research, I think if I had researched this thoroughly I would not have experienced the heartache of every new blogger ‘losing comments’ and ‘losing followers’ – I know people say if they were true followers they would have found you and moved with you but it’s kinda hard when the URL does not work and due to too many name changes people do not know what to search for. Anyway here are some of‘do not do’ tips for new bloggers (even the oldies who might not know).

2. Don't go with the crowd - I am very happy that this post made it to the top 5 because I honestly believe we are all so unique that we should not fall for going with the crowd and be proud of being our very own individuals so thank you.

When I started blogging I had no idea what direction I wanted to take, I thought maybe I should do fashion because people compliment my dress sense which if I am honest and seeing the many posts on the blogsphere I am not that great but its unique to me. I thought maybe I could do makeup and beauty products, well the make-up part failed miserable because though I do wear it now and again I am not really that into it but I do love beauty products and am sure you have seen my many posts on my main blog A July Dreamer. I was very confused when I started, I wanted my little piece of heaven to fit in somewhere. I have never been like that before in real life so I do not know why I wanted to be this on the blogsphere. Almost all the bloggy advice I read always talked about 'finding your blog niche' define it by plonking it in a category, some bloggers have even gone as far as said 'Lifestyle blog' is not really a category its for the undecided. I struggled with this for a while because I did not want to limit my blog to just say 'make-up' or 'out-fit' posts and there is nothing wrong with that I believe each to their own. When I chose to create my blogs I wanted to share me and the 4 corners of my world not just my love of nail polish or my addiction to jewellery or lipstick. I wanted to share my love of 'food', 'books' and share some motivational posts and personal confessions that might help someone somewhere, my advice to new and oddie bloggers is 'don't go with the crowd, follow your own path'. If you want a fashion blog only, do that if you want mummy blog only do that do not follow the crowd follow yourself. I love my blogs because both are LIFESTYLE and PERSONAL and I intend to keep them like that. I want to share all my loves, pevs and wants, I know it wont always be everyone's cup of tea but that's ok 'each to their own'.

1.  Travels thus far - You have no idea how much I enjoyed writing this post, I sat back to reflect on how many opportunities I was afforded this year and how I am so blessed that I was able to travel as many times and I did and not including the little travels I make regularly so very blessed. And cheers to you all. 

Thank you so much to all my readers that have helped this blog move from strength to strength, I am very happy you visit this personal space and are always positive. Thanks, now I have a quick question for you:

What posts would you like to see more of on this blog?

Book Reviews, Personal Confessions , Relationship Advice, Recipes?

{Recipe} Healthier and Easy to make Salad

Hi there and welcome to my first ever recipe post on “The Myrabev Life”, for the last two months I have been sharing with you all the lovely vegetarian books I have been reading and reviewing but I am yet to share with you some recipes that I either came up with or got the idea from the books. Today’s recipe I whipped up myself at work and it actually tastes really really good. This is the 2^nd most ‘Greens or produce’ containing food I have ever consumed in my adult life, like I mentioned in my last book review post – I grew up with a vegetarian lifestyle one not by choice but by necessity. I remember growing up back home and we used avocado (mashed up and added some sugar for taste) only on bread like you would peanut butter or butter so I was very surprised and shocked to see avocado used in salads, since then I have been on a mission to find a way I can have avocado in my salad. Today I am sharing with you my one little creation I am proud of and so excited to share.

Ingredients:

·         Assortment of beans plus herbs (red kidney beans, borlotti beans, cannellini beans, fresh spring onions, red onions, parsley, mint, sliced black olives) I used Three Bean Salad by Delphi which was marinated in olive oil and herbs.

·         Avocado

·         Tomatoes

·         Salt & black pepper

·         Assortment of salad leaves à I bought the Sainsbury assorted salad

·         Optional – German sausages 

Preparation time: under 5 minutes

1.       Cut up the tomatoes to your desired side and sauté with salt/pepper

2.       I prefer my salad leaves really small so I cut mine up and mix with the tomatoes

3.       Microwave the sausages for 1 minute, cut into small desired pieces

4.       Cut up the avocado, I had a whole one (was not too big)

5.       Lastly mix-up everything with the assortment of beans and add a little salt/pepper if you want.

 This is how I made my healthy salad (also vegetarian), it contains all the good stuff I need and the best part I still get my piece of meat (even if it’s just small German sausages). Let me know what you think of my little creation, I am just starting out with trying new things so am very excited for the exploring that I can do.

{All Time Favourite} These boots are made for walking

JustFab - Zane (in Chestnut)

JustFab Boots - Zane in Chesnut

Hello my lovelies, today's post is all about my new justfab boots which if you watch my YouTube videos will know I bought to treat myself for Christmas. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel here.

I am 5'7 (approx. 170m) and I have long legs that run up a mile, when I say this boots are high I mean high and not in heel terms as you can see they are flat boots but go high up the leg passed the junction and land right ontop of my thighs.

A few months back I signed up to justfab VIP membership program which works as follows:

1. Choose your style

2. Every month thee stylists will pick something that they think will match your style

3. You will receive monthly e-mails where you get the chance to buy the items picked or skip that month. 

5. If you do not skip the month, they will charge your account £35 and you can use that to buy whatever you desire in their online shop and the delivery charge is free to VIP members only. 

6. If you do skip they do not charge your account.

7. Every purchase made earns you points which can be used online once you received a certain number of points. 

So I forgot to check the stylist list and decide if I wanted to cancel or not and I am glad I didn't. Though I loved the stylist picks I got, but I wanted something else and these boos were and still are it. So let's get down to what you want to know, the specs.

What's good

These boots are warm, cosy and comfy

They do not let water in and they do not because cold when it's cold

The design and the colour (chestnut) are brilliant

The material is great too and they are easily foldable 

The elastic band at the back gives you extra strength when putting them on without causing damage or trouble. 

What's effy???

Unless you have big calfs these will row down if you packing any stick legs that I have

Don't understand the point of the straps but that's the not so creative and imaginary side of me.

Let me know if you have ever bought any boots or bags from JustFa.com, I know I love their bags, they are strong and they last and I hope the same for my boots. 

Thanks for reading, see you in my next post.

{Favourite Post} October 2013 ~ Volunteering at RDA

Hey my lovelies! Welcome back my blog, happy thanksgiving - belated as you will be reading this day after thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a time to show our thanks and I think to help those in need and that's what myself and 17 other work colleagues did on thanksgiving day. I would like to introduce a UK charity to you, it's called Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).

RDA incorporating carriage driving is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through the provision of horse riding, carriage driving and vaulting. Through a network of 500 volunteer groups throughout the uk, RDA provides opportunities for therapy, achievement and enjoyment, improving health, well being and self-confidence, and benefiting mobility and co-ordination. 

When I read this people in there newsletter I was very moved and happy I was there to help in a small way. 

So before joining the company I work for I had never heard of RDA but I am glad I have been given this opportunity to be involved with this charity. So our tasks for the day included but not limited to - 

* Painting

* Sweeping the grounds

* Cutting up logs and taking to the bon-fire 

* cutting the shrubs 

It was a fun day, we worked as a team. The weather was miserable but it was not raining so that was a plus. The hosts were incredible, fun, caring and open. 

I am very happy to have spent my thanksgiving day giving something back to the community and getting involved in a very very good cause. 

If you would like to support this wonderful charity please visit: www.rda.org.uk.

Week 10: Pink Pimping me out!!

Hand cream
Body mist
Shampoo

Cherish Pink Perfume
Body mist
Face mask
Baby lotion
Palmolive conditioner
Dr. Miracle's Neutralising shampoo

Hello peeps!! So today I have come to  share with you my bathroom pimping ways, like most people I like  to pimp my bath times because I am more of a shower person than bath. I have listed the products  I use above so wont list them below. I don't do face masks but this time I needed to go the whole way. What's you bath pimping like?

{Sweater Tag + Two Favourites} ~ First 2014 vlogs

Hello my lovelies!!! So today I am sharing videos instead of actually writing a post.  I hope you enjoy them and please subscribe and comment and let me know what you think?