Dermalogica Skincare Routine and Review

Over the past couple of weeks I have been trying out some new skincare with Dermalogica. I am a huge supporter of this cruelty-free brand and so I was very much looking forward to using some products that I hadn’t tried before!

Firstly I begin with the Precleanse to remove all excess oils and dirt from my skin. The product has a handy pump that I use to dispense a small amount in my hand and rub into my face. This was a new product to me as I have never used any form of precleanser from any brand, but I do really enjoy using this and I feel that it makes a big difference to the rest of the items that I use.

Next is the cleanse. After massaging the precleanse into my face with water to make an emulsion-like solution, I wash it off and apply one small squeeze of the Special Cleansing Gel. I find that this has the best effect when using a flannel to really get into my skin, rather than simply using my hands. This cleanser always makes my skin feel so soft, even before I have exfoliated!

The exfoliator I use is the Daily Microfoliant - I would have to say that out of all my Dermalogica products, this one is my absolute favourite. All you have to do is add water to a small amount of powdered mixture in your hand to create an exfoliating paste. The mixture isn’t harsh on the skin and it contains no microbeads or other ingredients that exfoliators often have, meaning that it doesn’t have a negative impact on our environment!

Once I have exfoliated softly for around a minute, I wash my face and leave it for a while before I apply my moisturising Skin Smoothing Cream. I really like this moisturiser as you don’t need a lot of product for your face, but the only downside to it is that it runs out faster than the other items because it is significantly smaller. Doing this routine twice a day (I only exfoliate in the morning) means that for me this product had depleted quite quickly, but the other things I have hardly made a dent in! This is also quite an expensive product so it’s not exactly something I can replace every 6 weeks, but I am probably going to buy a high street moisturiser to use alongside it.

On top of this short routine, I also like to use a face masque once or twice a week. The Gentle Cream Exfoliant is great for making my skin smooth and the Hydrating Masque works well on dry spots. Sometimes I like to Masque Map by applying small amounts of different ones in specific problem areas, such as the Stress Positive Eye Lift underneath my eyes!

Finally, before applying my makeup I have recently been using the Skinperfect Primer to prep my skin. I find that this product makes such a difference to my foundation and it is definitely the best primer that I have used.

Restyling My Bedroom on a Budget: 'DIY' Bedroom Accessories

After finishing university in May, I moved back in with my family. The bedroom I have in our current house is very small compared to my uni residence, but I was determined to make it work! Over the past couple of months I have been slowly restyling my little boudoir, opting for a white, copper and grey theme with some marble touches. There are still a few things I would like to change, but I am finally starting to like it! I have bought a few accessories and trinkets from high street shops, but I decided to have a go at upcycling some things I already had instead of buying them brand new!

My first 'DIY' isn't very extravagant. In fact, I would hardly call it 'DIY' as all I did was stick some lights in a jar. I bought two packs of copper fairy lights from Poundland and put them in a jar that I already had! I keep it on my shelf and it looks so lovely in the evening. This was a very simple thing to do and it only cost me £2.00 as I already had a jar, but you can find similar ones in charity shops for a pound or less!

For my second project, I wanted to spray paint some containers I already had to store my make up and brushes in. The containers are by a brand called Curver and can be found in lots of supermarkets and shops such as The Range or Wilko for around two or three pounds each. I bought a copper metallic spray from Wilko for £5.00 and sprayed them on an old sheet in my garden. It took them around 20-30 minutes to fully dry in the sun and I had to go over some bits a couple of times. Again, this was cheap for me to do as I already had the storage boxes and the spray was reasonably priced (and nowhere near empty!). Now, instead of boring magnolia containers, I have two beautiful ways to display my things! 

Whilst I was in Wilko buying the metallic spray, I came across a white wire photoboard. I had been searching for a copper one to go with my room for ages, but all the ones that I had found online were £20+! However, I have spotted one or two since then on the high street for much less. Anyway, I decided to buy the memo board for £4.00 and spray it the colour I wanted. This worked out extremely well and now it's proudly positioned on my wall!

Post-University Pressure

So, what are you going to do after university?

The question that everybody asks. Your parents ask you when you go home for the weekend; your friends ask you when you catch up over coffee; and your relatives, who don't know much about you except that you are a student, ask you at the family gatherings.

For some people the answer is easy. Many students apply to university with a specific career path in mind and are certain on becoming a nurse, a teacher, or a doctor, but the reality is that a lot of people arrive and leave university without knowing what they want to do next.

My personal choice to go to university was down to the fact that I was passionate about English Literature and I wanted to continue to learn. When I applied, I did not have a particular job in mind, I just knew that I enjoyed the subject. This explanation may seem simple, however, when discussing this with others, mainly older family members, some found it difficult to understand that I did not go to university solely to grab a career at the end, but because I was passionate about the things I would learn. Of course, this mindset is very normal among the older generation, as attending university was not as common as it is in this day and age and so to go there without a specific plan for the future would seem bizarre.

 I had come to terms with the high possibility that  I would be unemployed after university or that I would have to work a job that I didn't enjoy or one that wasn't relevant to my course of study. However, again, when explaining this, a lot of people would respond with something similar to "what's the point in doing a degree then?" or "you need to have a plan!". 

Of course I wanted a job after my degree, but I just wasn't sure on what exactly it was that I wanted, and I am still unsure. As I entered my third year, I felt an immense pressure to make a decision on what my 'next step' would be and I found myself feeling anxious about my future and envious of those who appeared to have a plan. I had a meeting with my university Careers Advisor, but I was still undecided, and as the end of term drew closer I began to panic. My friends were preparing for their following PGCEs and SCITT courses and I felt completely lost and directionless! The thought of not having any structure or  definitive plan was completely terrifying to me.

From the moment we enter primary school, we are praised for our academic achievements and encouraged to continue our education, but nobody prepares you for the life beyond the classroom. We become conditioned to value ourselves through our grades and define our future potential by our academic performance. As children and young adults, it is constantly reinforced to us that our education should be our number one priority, but what happens when it's over? What happens when the certainty of a fresh year and new September is suddenly gone?

After spending fifteen years in a learning environment, it is difficult for many graduates to break away from the safety net of a new academic year. This is why once university is over, many students are overcome with feelings of hopelessness and purposelessness. They have spent many years being validated by their academic success and suddenly they are hit with the brutal reality that whether they achieve a first, a second, or a third class degree, the possibility of leaving university and falling straight into an ideal career is simply outdated and unrealistic.

What is not made apparent to us (and to those older uncles who try to make polite conversation but just end up offending you) is that it is normal not to have a plan. As daunting as it may be, university is very rarely a one-way ticket to your perfect job. Some people growing up knowing that they will become a teacher, or a lawyer, or a dentist, but many people don't find their calling until much later on. Most people will venture down multiple career paths until they discover what they truly want to do, so if you leave university without a perfectly formulated five-year-plan, just remember that it's okay and you are not alone!

Great Carveries in Worcestershire and Warwickshire

There is nothing I love more than going out for a carvery so I decided to compile a list of my favourite carvery pubs in my local area.

1) The March Hare Inn, Broughton Hackett 

I have visited this pub around five times now and every time I go the food is always brilliant. They offer 3 choices of meat (if you want it) with very generous portions and an amazing selection of vegetables (peas, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, roasted onions, roasties, boiled potatoes, garlic potatoes, cauliflower cheese, sweetcorn and parsnips) that are always fresh and piping hot. The atmosphere is always welcoming and the staff are always polite, however, as a vegetarian I was disappointed to find that even though I opted to only have veg and potatoes, I still had to pay the full price of a meat carvery (£10.95 on Sundays, £10 on Saturday evenings, £8.95 on weekdays, £5 on Mondays). Despite this, The March Hare do actually offer a Mushroom Wellington, but as I'm not a fan of mushrooms I would rather just pay the regular price! They were also very quick to bring out a veggie gravy boat which I really appreciated!

2) The Wheelbarrow Castle, Radford

I have been to The Wheelbarrow Castle five or six times over the last couple of years and have always enjoyed it as the staff are always so welcoming, kind, and accommodating. This carvery offers three choices of meat and a good selection of vegetables including peas, carrots, sweetcorn, broccoli, roasties, mash, cabbage and parsnips. The atmosphere is always pleasant here and the carving chef is always friendly. Again, my only issue with this restaurant is that although they offer a vegetarian substitute, I would love it if they would offer a simple meat-free carvery that was just a few pounds less than the regular one. However, even though I wish they would offer this, I still pay full price (£9.95 on a Sunday, £5.50 on a Wednesday) because it's just so good!

3) The Mother Huff Cap, Alcester

This restaurant has only very recently started offering a carvery, and I have only visited three times, but I must say that I have been very impressed. The Mother Huff Cap offers three or four meats and a great selection of vegetables (peas, carrots, sweetcorn, roasties, red cabbage, green cabbage, cauliflower cheese, leeks, green beans, parsnips). On my first visit, I was happy to see that as I opted to have no meat they had only charged me a child's price. During my second visit, I decided to try the nut roast (£7.95 the same as the standard Sunday carvery price) and I really enjoyed it. The waiting staff and the carvery chefs were very polite and welcoming on both occasions, taking their time to actually exchange a few friendly words which I really appreciated. One of my favourite things about this carvery was that the vegetarian gravy they provided came in a giant gravy boat (because some carveries only give you a little one and you can't smother it). Overall, I think this carvery is very good value for money and they even offer Groupon deals that make the amazing meal ridiculously cheap!

4) The Nailers Arms, Bournheath

The Nailers Arms is a great carvery located just outside of Bromsgrove. I have been six or seven times over the past couple of years and I have enjoyed it every time! From Monday to Friday it is £6.95 for lunch or £7.95 for dinner; on Saturdays it is £6.95 until 6pm then £9.95 for the evening; on Sundays it is £9.95; and for a meat free carvery it is £5.75 any day. This carvery offers three meats and a huge selection of seasonal vegetables (peas, carrots, roasted and boiled potatoes, garlic potatoes, cauliflower cheese, swede mash, green beans, sweetcorn, cabbage, and more). The service is usually very quick and the staff behind the bar and carvery deck are always polite and friendly. I really like that they offer a cheaper price for meals without meat and they always provide a large sized vegetarian gravy boat! The only criticism I have with the The Nailers Arms is that, like most carveries, there is noticeable difference in quality during the week compared to a Sunday. Obviously, the Sunday carvery is more expensive so it should technically be better than the one in the week, but on the odd occasion I have noticed that the vegetables on the week day carvery are colder and less frequently replenished. Despite this very minor issue, I still think that The Nailers Arms is one of the best carveries in my local area and is certainly far better quality and value than any larger chain establishments.


These are my favourite places at the moment but I'm always looking to try new restaurants, so if you have any recommendations please let me know!

Cruelty Free Skincare

Over the past year, I have become increasingly aware of the cosmetic products I am using in my day-to-day life and have tried my best to only use companies that are cruelty free and environmentally friendly. Surprisingly, I found that a lot of the products I used already were not tested on animals and I soon realised that the wide availability of cruelty-free items on the high street meant that it was very easy for me to cut out animal testing companies. Here, I have compiled a short list of the skincare brands and products I use that I believe to be both mindful of the environment and cruelty-free.

Simple

Simple is a brand I have used for a long time. When I Googled whether they are a cruelty-free brand, I found that Simple do not have a cruelty-free certification as "some governments test [their] products on animals as part of their regulatory requirements" but the company do not test on animals themselves. Regarding their environmental impact, in their FAQ's, Simple state that they are "committed to being kinder" to the ecosystem by making many of their packages recyclable and biodegradable, however they know that there is "a lot more to be done" and are determined to become as "green as possible". The Simple products that I use the most are the Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser and the Kind to Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover. The moisturiser retails for £4.29 in Superdrug and Boots but it can be found at a cheaper price in stores such as B&M, Savers and Home Bargains. Similarly, the make-up remover retails at £.3.79, which I feel is a little expensive, but there are usually offers on all Simple products in the larger shops and they can be found for less in budget retailers. Some people aren't a fan of the Simple moisturiser as it can dry out certain skin types, but personally these products work really well for me and I find that the make-up remover lasts a very long time.

Soap and Glory

Soap and Glory is brand that I have only started using within the past 12 months and I have really been enjoying their products! As I have visible pores, I decided to buy some things from the Soap and Glory Fab Pore range on the 3 for 2 offer in Boots. I purchased Fab Pore Purifying Foam Cleanser (£8.00), the Daily Micro Smoothing Moisture Lotion (£12.00), and the Fab Pore Facial Wipes (£4.00) and I really noticed a difference in my skin. I  initially used both the face wash and moisturiser twice a day, but as they were quite expensive I started using them just once as I didn't want to run out of them too fast. As the face wash is a foam, it has lasted me a long time and I still haven't got through it, however, I have had to repurchase the moisturiser as it is significantly smaller. I find the wipes really refreshing as they create a tingling effect on my face, but I was disappointed to find that you only get 20 in a packet and I would usually rip them in half to get more out of them.

For Christmas, I received the Star of Wonder gift set along with some other smaller collections. Initially, when I delved into the big box of stuff I was a little worried as some of the products, such as Scrub Of Your Life, appeared to contain microbeads, however, after tweeting my concern to Soap and Glory, they informed that their company stopped using microbeads in 2014. At the moment, my favourite product is definitely the Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub Body Smoother as it the best body scrub I have ever used and is made from amazing natural ingredients that create a great scent! Although I am pleased that Soap and Glory are against testing on animals, I honestly don't think I would repurchase the body care products individually as they are all quite expensive. That being said, the full-size products do seem to last a very long time and the gift sets that are available in Boots over Christmas are particularly good value for money. If you have never used Soap and Glory but are interesting in trying their stuff, I would recommend asking for a gift set for Christmas (or buying it yourself) as they give you a good selection of full sized products and it will last well into the following year.

The Body Shop

The Body Shop are widely known for their strong position against animal testing and they are  currently petitioning with Cruelty Free International to get cosmetic animal testing banned worldwide. They are certainly not the cheapest shop on the high street, but if you are loyalty card holder you can get access to discounts and they often have sales throughout the year in which their products can be reduced by up to 40%. The products I have bought from The Body Shop are always good quality. I have purchased the Elderflower Eye Gel which I use to reduce puffiness and bags under my eyes and I also use Tea Tree Toner as part of my daily skin routine. The product I use most from The Body Shop is the All In One BB Cream , but I am hoping to discuss that more in a later post about cruelty-free make up. Without their 40% off sales, I would probably never purchase anything from The Body Shop as their prices are just simply not within my budget, however, they usually have discounts and offers available every week (especially near Christmas) that bring their products down to a reasonable price.

Dermalogica

Dermalogica is a high quality brand aiming to create products that improve the health of your skin without using common irritants and ingredients. Whilst their products are great, they are definitely a luxury brand with prices that aren't affordable for the average consumer (including myself). I first came across Dermalogica at my local salon as my beauty therapist gave me some small samples to try out. I was especially pleased with the sample of the Daily Microfoliant that I received as it is a gentle exfoliator containing finely ground rice instead of harmful and abrasive microbeads. As much as I would have liked to, I could not afford to buy full versions of these products but I did receive some travel sized ones for Christmas that have lasted me a really long time. I use the Essential Cleansing Solution or the Ultracalming Cleanser followed by the Daily Microfoliant, and I also have a full version of the Gentle Cream Exfoliant that I use once or twice a week. These products have a phenomenal effect on my skin and leave my face feeling smooth, clean and fresh, but their extremely high prices (£39.50 for the Gentle Cream Exfoliant!) simply make their products too expensive to buy on a regular basis.

5 Simple Meals for New Vegetarians

After being a vegetarian for seven months, I have decided to compile a list of the foods that taste amazing and are super easy to make on a budget. Trying out a meat-free diet after living your whole life eating meat almost every day can be very difficult and involves a lot of trial-and-error, but hopefully the meals I have listed here will be helpful to people that want to eat less meat yet still be able to enjoy their favourite foods.

1. Chili Non Carne

This is certainly my favourite meal to make! All you need is a jar of chili sauce from your local supermarket (I use Asda's own Hot Chili Cooking Sauce for 69p), and a packet of meat free mince. I tend to use Quorn mince that you can buy at almost any supermarket, (the cheapest I've found is £1.49 at Aldi) but you can use any mince that you like or even a bean mix if you prefer. My favourite way to serve my chili is on top of cheesy nachos with guacamole, sour cream and salsa, which is super cheap to do as packets of plain tortillas are around 40/50p at my local shops, but it also tastes great just with rice. When I cook this meal for myself, I like to add some chili flakes to make it extra spicy and I usually cook the entire packet of mince with the whole jar of sauce so I can freeze one portion of it for a later date.

2. Sausage Casserole

This is another great meal to cook in bulk and freeze for later on as it is difficult (and less economical) to just cook one portion for yourself! All that is required is a packet of sausage casserole mix (I've used Colman's here, but Asda's own is just as good for 25p), vegetarian sausages (I use Linda McCartney), and lots of frozen or fresh vegetables. When making a large portion, say four servings, I tend to use two packet mixes instead of one to make it extra thick. The way I cook it is simple: I cook the sausages in the oven beforehand, chop up my potatoes, onions and any other fresh vegetables I want, put the cooked sausages and veg in the slow cooker together, pour in the casserole mixture, then put the slow cooker on low heat for about 3 to 4 hours. Of course, it is not a necessity to use a slow cooker, a regular cooking pot on the hob will do the job just as well!

3. Tikka Massala

For this meal, I use a jar of Tikka Massala sauce (usually about 69p at Asda), half a 300g bag of Quorn pieces, and one white onion. I cook the Quorn in the pan, throw the onions in, add the sauce and mix it all together. As I have done for the other two meals, if I want to cook a large portion and freeze it for later I usually just double the ingredients (two jars, one whole bag of Quorn, two onions) and I will have enough for four meals. Obviously, this can be done with any type of curry that you'd like and you don't need to use a meat replacement if you'd prefer to make it solely with vegetables, but if you want to recreate the taste of a Chicken Tikka Massala, then this cheap and easy method is perfect.

4. Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is a very simple and quick to make, all I use is Asda's Shepherd's Pie packet mix, Quorn mince, frozen mixed vegetables and white potatoes. The amount of each ingredients of course differs depending on how many servings you need, but usually when I make this meal I use one 300g bag of Quorn mince, one packet mix, two large potatoes, then however many vegetables I want. One 300g packet of mince usually gives me 1 individual sized pie in my ceramic dish, then two smaller pies in foil trays that I freeze for a later date. If you want your sauce extra thick, or are making a large portion, I recommend (like the casserole) to use two packets of mixture to make the pie thicker and richer in taste.

5. Spaghetti Bolognese 

Spaghetti Bolognese is a popular dish with everybody and it's super easy to recreate it with vegetarian ingredients. All you need is a bolognese sauce that you can buy in store or make from scratch and a packet of Quorn mince. Sometimes I find that when I cook this meal the "meat" become soft and unappetising, so I have found that although the packet suggests adding the mince to the sauce, it is best to cook the Quorn in the pan first and then add the sauce, just as you would with regular beef mince, to make it a little tougher and less soggy. Just like all the meals listed above, bolognese is cheap and simple to cook in bulk and great to freeze for later on.

8 things to do in Amsterdam

At the beginning of July I visited the wonderful city of Amsterdam. During our visit, we stayed at the Bastion Hotel Zuidwest located just one train stop away from Schipol Airport and just a five minute walk to the nearest tram stop that took us easily around the city. In order to save money, we bought a four day travel pass that allowed us to use all the buses and trams throughout Amsterdam for around twenty-five euros, but if you are staying for three days you can buy travel passes that cover tram, bus and train transport for twenty-six euros if you buy it online in advance. Here are just a few of Amsterdam's wonderful museums and attractions that we had the pleasure of visiting:

1. The Anne Frank House

As soon as we arrived at our hotel we unpacked our things and headed straight back out to visit the Anne Frank House. To get there, we hopped on the tram and got off at Westermarkt in Prinsengracht and the museum was about three minutes from the stop, maybe even less. On planning our trip, we had hoped to book our tickets for the exhibition in advance as we had heard from friends who had previously visited Amsterdam that the queue to buy tickets on the door was often two or three hours long. However, when we went to book our tickets we discovered that all of the tickets for the duration of our trip were completely sold out, so we had no choice but to join the queue and waited just under two hours to get in. The tour itself was very emotional to say the least! Having read Anne Frank's diary as a child, being in the building where Anne and her family had hidden during World War II was an extremely surreal and heartbreaking experience. Before you begin, you are given a headset to listen to an audio tour that runs throughout the entire exhibition, which I enjoyed as I felt it let each visitor create their own personal experience in the museum and allows you to go at your own pace and to listen to what interests you. The Anne Frank House was definitely one of my favourite things to visit during our trip as I have always been fascinated by her life, however, I think that even if you have never read Anne's diary or simply don't know a lot about her, the museum is still worth visiting (especially at the small price of nine euros) as it is a truly unique experience.

2. Van Gogh Museum

The following we day we spent most of our time in Museumplein, which again was not at all far from our hotel. After our breakfast at Bagels and Beans we wandered around the Rijksmuseum gardens (which we had decided not to visit as the admission was quite expensive and it would take at least half a day to look around it all) and took some photos by the famous "I amsterdam" sign before heading to the Van Gogh Museum. Similarly to the Anne Frank House, we knew that the museum was quite popular and tended to have heavy queues so we decided to book our tickets online in advance at seventeen euros each. Although the entry was fairly pricey, the Van Gogh Museum was brilliant. The exhibition not only takes you on a journey of his artwork, but also unveils the ideas and ambitions that drove Van Gogh to invest himself so deeply into becoming an artist. The museum is home to many of his iconic masterpieces, such as Sunflowers and Almond Blossom, however I was rather disappointed to discover that my favourite Van Gogh painting, Starry Night, was not part of the exhibition as it is actually kept at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Overall, our visit to the museum was an enlightening experience that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who enjoys art or is intrigued by the interesting life of Vincent Van Gogh, although I would suggest buying food or drink after you visit as it is very very expensive to dine in the cafe!

3. Moco Museum 

Also located in Museumplein is the Moco Museum, a 20th century townhouse dedicated to the works of Banksy and Salvador Dali. As students, we were able to get a discounted entry fee and ended up paying ten euros each to get in. Although the gallery was not very big, it certainly left an impression on me, particularly the pieces by Banksy. I have always been slightly fascinated by Banksy but I have only ever seen his most famous work online or in photographs, so to come into such close contact with his iconic pieces was certainly a memorable experience. I think what interests me the most in Banksy's work is that his political and social statements are often put forward in  quite an outlandish and comical way that is unlike any other artist. His combination of a unique street-art style and controversial themes definitely distinguishes Banksy's work from that of other artists and I would highly recommend visiting his work at the Moco if you have the time.

4. Canal Tour

During our visit to Amsterdam, the canal tour was the only thing we purchased from one of the many Tours and Tickets Amsterdam stalls sprinkled throughout the city. We paid sixteen euros each and made our way to Leidseplein to hop onto our boat that took us on a one hour audio guided tour around the canals of Amsterdam. Personally, I felt that the canal cruise was not only a nice opportunity to have a rest for an hour, but it also allowed us get our bearings of the city and to see how far certain things were from each other (as we had been travelling around by tram and hadn't got to grips with everything yet). Not only this, but I thought that the tour also gave us new ideas about places  to visit and allowed us to witness some amazing views and take some wonderful photos that we wouldn't necessarily have been able to achieve by travelling on foot. 

5. Vondelpark 

After our canal tour, we had some dinner at one of the many pizzerias in the city then decided to walk through Vondelpark, a huge park that stretches across one hundred and twenty acres of land. The park itself is mostly made up of gardens and ponds, but there are also children's playing areas, a cafe, and even an open air theatre. Vondelpark is a great place to spend the afternoon, especially if the weather is nice, as you can sit on a bench or on the grass and watch the many cyclists or joggers go past whilst enjoying a lovely ice cream and taking in the beautiful scenery. 

6. Sexmuseum

The next morning, we started the day off by going to The Ice Bakery for a Nutella crepe with Kinder ice cream, then walked through Dam Square and down the busiest street in Amsterdam to the Sexmuseum. I can understand that this particular attraction may not be everybody's cup of tea, but for just four euros I think it is definitely worth a visit as there is truly nothing quite like it! The museum is completely dedicated to the phenomenon of human sexuality, displaying everything from photographs and paintings, to ancient sex toys and costumes. Although some may think the museum would be weird or crude, I think that anyone travelling through Amsterdam should stop by if they can. Whether you are fascinated by the history of sexuality or simply just want to have a laugh with your friends, the Sexmuseum is definitely an unforgettable experience.

7. Red Light Secrets

After our visit to the Sexmuseum, we headed towards the famous Red Light District and came across Red Light Secrets, a museum dedicated to the world of prostitution. Again, this may not be of interest to everyone, but if you want to learn more about the history of the Red Light District and are curious about how such a place came to be, then a trip to Red Light Secrets would definitely be worth your while. Some people may think that a museum revolving round prostitution could be a vulgar or uncomfortable experience, but I personally felt that the exhibition was very tastefully done and really shed an interesting light on the history of prostitution and the laws and dangers of sex work. Overall, at the admission price of ten euros, I'd one hundred percent recommend this museum to anyone planning to visit Amsterdam.

8. Body Worlds

Finally, the last big attraction that we visited was Body Worlds. Located very close to Dam Square and just a few minutes walk from Centraal Station, Body Worlds is a science exhibition completely dedicated to the human quest for happiness. Each level of the museum focuses on a different part of the human body, from the impact that exercise and activity can have upon our mentality, to the influence that hormones and neurotransmitters have upon our ability to be happy. However, the most interesting thing about the exhibition is that the bodies that are on display are actually real human bodies of people that have donated their bodies to science and have been preserved through plastination. The entry to the museum is a little on the expensive side at twenty euros each for an adult, although I do think that the price is worth it for this one as it is such a weird and wonderful exhibition that can be enjoyed by everyone.